UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 17, 2021 (December 16, 2021)
North Atlantic Acquisition Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Cayman Islands | 001-39923 | N/A | ||
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation) |
(Commission
File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
c/o Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10105
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
+353 1 567 6959
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
x | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on
which registered |
||
Units, each consisting of one share of Class A Ordinary Share and one-third of one Redeemable Warrant | NAACU | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC | ||
Class A Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0001 per share | NAAC | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC | ||
Redeemable Warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one Class A Ordinary Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per share | NAACW | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company x
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Item 1.01. | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement |
Business Combination Agreement
On December 16, 2021, BICS SA, a Belgian limited liability company (“Seller”), Torino Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation (“TeleSign”), North Atlantic Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“NAAC”), North Atlantic Acquisition, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“New SPAC”), and NAAC Holdco, Inc. a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of NAAC (“New Holdco”), entered into a business combination agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”), pursuant to which, and subject to the terms and conditions contained therein, the business combination of TeleSign, New Holdco, New SPAC and NAAC (“the Business Combination”) will be effected. The terms of the Business Combination Agreement, which contain customary representations and warranties, covenants, closing conditions, termination provisions, and other terms relating to the Business Combination, are summarized below. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Business Combination Agreement.
The Business Combination will be effected in two steps: (a) on the closing date, NAAC will reincorporate to the State of Delaware by merging with and into New SPAC, with New SPAC surviving such merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of New Holdco, and (b) immediately following such merger, New Holdco and Seller will consummate the Share Acquisition, whereby Seller has agreed to sell to New Holdco all of the issued and outstanding shares of TeleSign (the “Purchased Shares”), and New Holdco has agreed to acquire such Purchased Shares from Seller, in exchange for (i) the Cash Consideration and (ii) New Holdco Common Stock issued to the Seller in the quantity equal to (a) (I) the Company Equity Value minus (II) the product of (A) ten dollars ($10.00) multiplied by (B) the number of NAAC Founders Shares forfeited pursuant to the provisions of the Transaction Support Agreement minus (III) Company Transaction Expenses minus (IV) NAAC Transaction Expenses, divided by (b) ten (10). In connection with such transactions, NAAC will be renamed TeleSign, Inc.
A copy of the Business Combination Agreement is filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 2.1 and is incorporated herein by reference, and the foregoing description of the Business Combination Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference thereto.
Representations and Warranties
The Business Combination Agreement contains representations and warranties of the parties thereto that are customary for transactions of this type, including representations and warranties relating to (a) entity organization, formation and authority, (b) capital structure, (c) authorization to enter into the Business Combination Agreement, (d) legal compliance and approvals, (e) financial statements and liabilities, (f) absence of changes, (g) litigation, (h) employee matters, (i) real property, (j) taxes, (k) intellectual property, privacy and data protection, (l) material contracts, (m) transactions with affiliates, and (n) in the case of NAAC only, (i) its public filings, (ii) the Private Placements (as defined below) and (iii) its trust account.
The Business Combination Agreement contains representations, warranties and covenants that the respective parties made to each other as of the date of the Business Combination Agreement or other specific dates. The assertions embodied in those representations, warranties and covenants were made for purposes of the contract among the respective parties and are subject to important qualifications and limitations agreed to by the parties in connection with negotiating such agreement. The representations, warranties and covenants in the Business Combination Agreement are also modified in important part by the underlying disclosure schedules which are not filed publicly and which are subject to a contractual standard of materiality different from that generally applicable to shareholders and were used for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties rather than establishing matters as facts. NAAC does not believe that these schedules contain information that is material to an investment decision.
No Survival
None of the representations, warranties, covenants, obligations or other agreements in the Business Combination Agreement or in any certificate, statement or instrument delivered pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, including any rights arising out of any breach of such representations, warranties, covenants, obligations, agreements and other provisions, shall survive the closing and all such representations, warranties, covenants, obligations or other agreements shall terminate and expire upon the occurrence of the closing (and there shall be no liability after the closing in respect thereof), except for those covenants and agreements contained therein that by their terms expressly apply in whole or in part after the closing and then only with respect to any breaches occurring after the closing.
Conditions to Consummation of the Business Combination Agreement
General Conditions
The consummation of the Business Combination is conditioned upon, among other things, (a) receipt of NAAC’s shareholder approval, (b) NAAC having at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets as described under the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, (c) the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, (d) receipt of NSIA Approval and PRC National Security Approval, and (e) the absence of any governmental order, statute, rule or regulation enjoining or prohibiting the consummation of the Business Combination.
TeleSigns’s Conditions to Closing
The obligations of TeleSign to consummate the Business Combination also are conditioned upon, among other things, (a) customary closing conditions, including, without limitation, NAAC’s delivery of certain agreements, (b) the aggregate cash proceeds from NAAC’s trust account, together with the proceeds from the Private Placements, equaling no less than $200,000,000 (after deducting any amounts paid to NAAC’s shareholders that exercise their redemption rights in connection with the Business Combination and any unpaid transaction expenses incurred or subject to reimbursement by NAAC or TeleSign), and (c) no NAAC material adverse event having occurred.
NAAC’s Conditions to Closing
The obligations of NAAC to consummate the Business Combination are also conditioned upon, among other things, customary closing conditions, including, without limitation, TeleSign’s delivery of certain agreements and no TeleSign material adverse event having occurred.
Termination
The Business Combination Agreement allows the parties to terminate the Business Combination Agreement if certain customary conditions described in the Business Combination Agreement are not satisfied, including, without limitation, each party’s right to terminate, subject to certain limited exceptions, if the Business Combination is not consummated by June 30, 2022.
If the Business Combination Agreement is validly terminated, none of the parties to the Business Combination Agreement will have any liability or any further obligation under the Business Combination Agreement, except as set forth in Article 10 of the Business Combination Agreement, or in the case of termination subsequent to a willful and material breach of the Business Combination Agreement by a party thereto or in the case of fraud.
Transaction Support Agreement
Concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Business Combination Agreement, Seller, TeleSign, NAAC, New Holdco, the Sponsor and certain other parties affiliated with the Sponsor executed and delivered a transaction support agreement (the “Transaction Support Agreement”), pursuant to which the Sponsor and certain of its members agreed to support the approval and adoption of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, including agreeing to vote all NAAC ordinary shares owned by it in favor of the Business Combination, to waive the anti-dilution provisions set forth in Sections 17.3-17.6 of NAAC’s Amended and Restated Articles of Association, and to execute and deliver any further document, agreement or instrument of assignment, transfer or conveyance as necessary to effectuate the purposes thereof and as may be reasonably requested in writing by another party thereto.
In addition, the Sponsor agreed that, in the event that the shareholder redemption amount is greater than 50%, the Sponsor shall transfer to NAAC, for no consideration, the number of founder shares equal to such redemption percentage, minus 50%, multiplied by 3,795,000, subject to a maximum of 948,750 founder shares. The Sponsor further agreed to transfer to NAAC, for no consideration, 948,750 founder shares.
The foregoing description of the Transaction Support Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of the Transaction Support Agreement, the form of which is included as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.
Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement
At the closing of the Business Combination, NAAC, the Sponsor and certain shareholders of NAAC will enter into an amended and restated registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, the parties thereto will be granted certain customary registration rights.
The foregoing description of the Registration Rights Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of the Registration Rights Agreement, the form of which is included as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.
Subscription Agreements
In connection with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, NAAC entered into separate subscription agreements (collectively, the “Subscription Agreements”) with a number of investors (collectively, the “PIPE Investors”), pursuant to which the PIPE Investors agreed to purchase, and NAAC agreed that New Holdco will sell to the PIPE Investors, an aggregate of 11,698,750 shares of New Holdco Common Stock (the “PIPE Shares”) in a private placement or placements (the “Private Placements”) for an aggregate purchase price of $107,500,000.
The closing of the sale of the PIPE Shares pursuant to the Subscription Agreements will take place substantially concurrently with the closing of the Business Combination and is contingent upon customary closing conditions. The purpose of the Private Placements is to raise additional capital for use by the post-combination company following the closing of the Business Combination.
The foregoing description of the Subscription Agreements is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Subscription Agreements, the form of which is included as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.
Stockholders Agreement
At the closing of the Business Combination, New Holdco, Seller, the Sponsor and one of the PIPE Investors will enter into a stockholders agreement (the “Stockholders Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, for 36 months following the closing of the Business Combination, the board of directors of New Holdco shall consist of eight members, including the chief executive officer of Holdco, five individuals designated by Seller in its sole discretion, three of which will be independent directors, one individual designated by the Sponsor in its sole discretion, and one individual designated by such PIPE Investor in its sole discretion, and that the parties thereto will not take any action to remove another party’s designee, and each party will be entitled to replace any vacancy arising in relation to a director previously designated by such party, for the periods of time specified for such party therein.
The foregoing description of the Stockholders Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Stockholders Agreement, the form of which is included as Exhibit 10.4 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 3.02. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities. |
The disclosure set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference herein. The securities of New Holdco that may be issued in connection with the Subscription Agreements will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or Regulation D promulgated thereunder.
Item 7.01. | Regulation FD Disclosure. |
On December 16, 2021, NAAC and TeleSign issued a joint press release announcing the execution of the Business Combination Agreement and announcing that an investor presentation and management remarks were to be posted on December 16, 2021 at 4:15 p.m. EST on the TeleSign investor page. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference. A script of the management remarks is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and incorporated herein by reference.
Attached as Exhibit 99.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference is an investor presentation relating to the Business Combination.
Such exhibits and the information set forth therein will not be deemed to be filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise be subject to the liabilities of that section, nor will it be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
Important Information for Shareholders
This Current Report on Form 8-K does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or constitute a solicitation of any vote or approval. This Current Report on Form 8-K shall also not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act, or an exemption therefrom.
In connection with the Business Combination, New Holdco will file the Registration Statement with the SEC, which will include a proxy statement for NAAC and a prospectus for New of Holdco. NAAC and New Holdco also plan to file other documents with the SEC regarding the Business Combination. After the Registration Statement has been cleared by the SEC, a definitive proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to the shareholders of NAAC. SHAREHOLDERS OF NAAC AND TELESIGN ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS (INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS. Shareholders will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents containing important information about NAAC, TeleSign and New Holdco once such documents are filed with the SEC, through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
Participants in the Solicitation
NAAC and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of NAAC in connection with the Business Combination. TeleSign, New Holdco and their respective officers and directors may also be deemed participants in such solicitation. Information about the directors and executive officers of NAAC is set forth in NAAC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was filed with the SEC on March 31, 2021. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available.
Forward Looking Statements
The information included herein and in any oral statements made in connection herewith include “forward-looking statements”. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained herein are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may generally be identified by the use of words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” “target” or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding estimates and forecasts of other financial and performance metrics, projections of market opportunity and market share. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified herein, and on the current expectations of TeleSign’s and NAAC’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of, fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and may differ from assumptions, and such differences may be material. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of TeleSign and NAAC. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to TeleSign; the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the Business Combination, including the risk that any required regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the Business Combination or that the approval of the shareholders of NAAC or the stockholders of TeleSign is not obtained; the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination; risks related to the rollout of TeleSign’s business and the timing of expected business milestones; the effects of competition on TeleSign’s future business; the amount of redemption requests made by NAAC’s public shareholders; the ability of NAAC or the combined company to issue equity or equity-linked securities or obtain debt financing in connection with the Business Combination or in the future and those factors discussed in NAAC’s final prospectus dated January 21, 2021, Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and any subsequently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, in each case, under the heading “Risk Factors,” and other documents of NAAC filed, or to be filed, with the SEC or to be filed by New Holdco with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or NAAC’s or TeleSign’s assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that neither NAAC nor TeleSign presently know or that NAAC and TeleSign currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect NAAC’s and TeleSign’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date hereof. NAAC and TeleSign anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause NAAC’s and TeleSign’s assessments to change. However, while NAAC, TeleSign and New Holdco may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, NAAC, TeleSign and New Holdco specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing NAAC’s, TeleSign’s and New Holdco’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date hereof. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact NAAC’s, TeleSign’s or New Holdco’s expectations and projections can be found in NAAC’s periodic filings with the SEC, including NAAC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, and New Holdco’s filings with the SEC. NAAC’s and New Holdco’s SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit No. | ||
2.1* | Business Combination Agreement, dated as of December 16, 2021, by and among Seller, TeleSign, NAAC, New SPAC and New Holdco. | |
10.1* | Transaction Support Agreement, dated as of December 16, 2021, by and among Seller, TeleSign, NAAC, New Holdco, the Sponsor and the investors in NAAC party thereto. | |
10.2 | Form of Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement. | |
10.3 | Form of Subscription Agreement. | |
10.4 | Form of Stockholders Agreement. | |
99.1 | Press Release, dated December 16, 2021. | |
99.2 | Conference Call Script. | |
99.3 | Investor Presentation. | |
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (the Cover Page Interactive Data File is embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |
*All schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule and/or exhibit will be furnished to the SEC upon request.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
NORTH ATLANTIC ACQUISITION CORPORATION | ||
Date: December 17, 2021 | By: | /s/ Gary Quin |
Name: | Gary Quin | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 2.1
EXECUTION VERSION
Business Combination Agreement
Dated December 16, 2021
by and among
BICS SA, TORINO HOLDING CORP.,
NORTH ATLANTIC ACQUISITION CORPORATION,
NORTH ATLANTIC ACQUISITION, LLC,
and
NAAC HOLDCO, INC.
Table of Contents
Contents | Page | |
1 | Definitions | 3 |
2 | The Transactions | 20 |
3 | Representations and Warranties of Seller | 25 |
4 | Representations and Warranties of the Company | 27 |
5 | Representations and Warranties of SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC | 46 |
6 | Conduct of Business | 57 |
7 | Additional Agreements | 64 |
8 | Conditions to the Transactions | 78 |
9 | Termination, Amendment and Waiver | 82 |
10 | General Provisions | 84 |
Exhibit A Form of Plan of Merger | 90 | |
Exhibit B Form of Certificate of Merger | 91 | |
Exhibit C Form of Registration Rights Agreement | 92 | |
Exhibit D Proximus Non-Compete Agreement | 93 | |
Exhibit E Stockholders Agreement | 94 | |
Exhibit F Company Tax Notices | 95 | |
Exhibit G Capitalization | 96 | |
Exhibit H New EIP | 97 | |
Exhibit I A&R New Holdco Organizational Documents | 98 |
ii |
This Business Combination Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of December 16, 2021, by and among:
(1) | BICS SA, a Belgian limited liability company (société anonyme) (“Seller”); |
(2) | TORINO HOLDING CORP., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”); |
(3) | NORTH ATLANTIC ACQUISITION CORPORATION, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“SPAC”); |
(4) | NORTH ATLANTIC ACQUISITION, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“New SPAC”); and |
(5) | NAAC HOLDCO, INC., a Delaware corporation (“New Holdco” and together with Seller, the Company, SPAC and New SPAC, collectively, the “Parties”). |
Whereas, as of the date of this Agreement, SPAC owns all of the issued and outstanding common shares of New Holdco, par value $0.01 per share (“New Holdco Common Stock”);
Whereas, as of the date of this Agreement, New Holdco owns all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests in New SPAC (“New SPAC Interests”);
Whereas, Seller owns all of the issued and outstanding common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Company Shares”);
Whereas, immediately prior to the Share Acquisition (as defined below), SPAC and New SPAC shall enter into a plan of merger substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Plan of Merger”) which shall be filed, together with certain other documents, with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands (the “Registrar”), and shall file a certificate of merger substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Certificate of Merger”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, pursuant to which SPAC shall merge with and into New SPAC, with New SPAC being the surviving company in such merger (the “SPAC Merger”) in accordance with this Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the Certificate of Merger;
Whereas, immediately following the SPAC Merger, New Holdco and Seller shall consummate the Share Acquisition;
Whereas, the Board of Directors of SPAC (the “SPAC Board”) has (i) resolved to approve and authorize this Agreement and declared its advisability and approved the Transactions (including the SPAC Merger and the Share Acquisition) pursuant to this Agreement and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including on behalf of New Holdco in SPAC’s capacity as the sole shareholder of New Holdco, and on behalf of New SPAC in SPAC’s capacity as sole shareholder of New Holdco, the sole member of New SPAC, and (ii) has recommended the approval and adoption of this Agreement and the Transactions by the shareholders of SPAC;
Whereas, in connection with the Closing, New Holdco and certain stockholders of New Holdco (after giving effect to the Transactions) shall enter into an Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C;
2 |
Whereas, in connection with the Closing, the Company and Proximus SA/NV shall enter into a non-compete agreement (the “Proximus Non-Compete Agreement”) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D;
Whereas, Seller, the Company, Sponsor, SPAC and its officers and directors are parties to that certain Transaction Support Agreement, dated December 16, 2021 (the “Transaction Support Agreement”), providing that, among other things, (i) such parties will take certain actions in support of the Transactions and (ii) under certain circumstances, forfeit certain of their SPAC Founders Shares (as defined below) immediately prior to the SPAC Merger Effective Time;
Whereas, SPAC, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, is entering into subscription agreements (the “Subscription Agreements”) with certain investors (the “Investors”) pursuant to which such Investors, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, have agreed to purchase New Holdco Common Stock at a purchase price of $10.00 per share of New Holdco Common Stock in a private placement or placements (the “Private Placements”) to be consummated immediately after the SPAC Merger and concurrently with the consummation of the Share Acquisition;
Whereas, in connection with the Closing, New Holdco, Seller, and the sponsor of SPAC, NAAC Sponsor LP, a Delaware series limited liability company (“Sponsor”), and one of the Investors, SFPI SA d’intérêt public / FPIM NV van openbaar nut (“FPIM”), a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of Belgium, shall enter into a stockholders agreement (the “Stockholders Agreement”) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E; and
Whereas, each of the Parties intends for U.S. federal income tax purposes that (i) this Agreement constitute a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code and Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and (ii) the SPAC Merger constitutes a “reorganization” described in Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code (clauses (i) and (ii), collectively, the “Intended Tax Treatment”);
Now, therefore, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
1 | Definitions |
1.1 | Certain Definitions |
For purposes of this Agreement:
“Act” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as amended from time to time;
“Action” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.9;
“Affiliate” of a specified Person means a Person who, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person;
“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble;
“Alternative Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.4.2;
“Ancillary Agreements” means the Registration Rights Agreement, the Subscription Agreements, the Proximus Non-Compete Agreement, the Stockholders Agreement and all other agreements, certificates and instruments executed and delivered by SPAC, New Holdco, New SPAC, Seller or the Company in connection with the Transactions and specifically contemplated by this Agreement;
3 |
“Anti-Corruption Laws” means (i) the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, (ii) the UK Bribery Act 2010, (iii) anti-bribery legislation promulgated by the European Union and implemented by its member states, (iv) legislation adopted in furtherance of the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, and (v) similar legislation applicable to the Company or any Company Subsidiary from time to time;
“Antitrust Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.14.1;
“Asset Credit Support” means all security, collateral, surety bonds, guarantees and letters of credit issued, procured or provided, directly or indirectly, by or for the account of the Company or any Affiliate thereof (other than a Company Group Member), as well as any indemnity, payment or other similar obligation to a third party incurred by or for the account of the Company or any Affiliate thereof (other than a Company Group Member) for the benefit of any Company Group Member;
“Available Cash” shall equal, as of the Closing, the amount of funds contained in the Trust Account (net of the SPAC Shareholder Redemption Amount) plus the amount of Available Financing Proceeds;
“Available Financing Proceeds” shall equal, as of the Closing, the net cash proceeds to New Holdco resulting from the Subscription Agreements;
“Blue Sky Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.2;
“Business Day” means any day on which the principal offices of the SEC in Washington, D.C. are open to accept filings and on which banks are not required or authorized to close in the City of New York in the United States of America, the Cayman Islands, and Belgium; provided that banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or obligated to be closed due to a “shelter in place,” “non-essential employee” or similar closure of physical branch locations at the direction of any Governmental Authority if such banks’ electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) are open for use by customers on such day;
“Business IT” means all Information Technology which is owned or used by the Company;
“Business Systems” means all Software, computer hardware (whether general or special purpose), electronic data processors, databases, communications, telecommunications, networks, interfaces, platforms, servers, peripherals, and computer systems, including any outsourced systems and processes, and any Software and systems provided via the cloud or “as a service”, that are owned or used in the conduct of the business of the Company or any Company Subsidiaries;
“Cash Consideration” means an amount equal to $1,000;
“Cayman Islands Companies Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.1(i);
“Certificate of Merger” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals;
“Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.1;
“Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.1;
4 |
“Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;
“Company” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble;
“Company D&O Insurance” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.6.2;
“Company Disclosure Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Article 4;
“Company Equity Value” means $1,300,000,000 minus the amount of Leakage, if any, occurring between October 1, 2021 (included) and the Closing Date (included) as set forth in the Leakage Certificate;
“Company Group Member” means the Company and each Company Subsidiary;
“Company IP” means, collectively, all Company-Owned IP and Company-Licensed IP;
“Company IRS Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.3(i)(c);
“Company-Licensed IP” means all Intellectual Property rights owned or purported to be owned by a third party and licensed to the Company or any Company Subsidiary or to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary otherwise has a right to use;
“Company Material Adverse Effect” means any event, circumstance, change or effect (collectively “Effect”) that, individually or in the aggregate with all other Effects, (i) has had a material adverse effect on the business, condition (financial or otherwise), assets, liabilities or results of operations of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (ii) would reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay or materially impede the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement or the consummation of the Transactions; provided, however, that none of the following shall be deemed to constitute, alone or in combination, or be taken into account in the determination of whether, there is, has been or will be a Company Material Adverse Effect: (a) any change or proposed change in or change in the interpretation of GAAP or of any Law applicable to the Company including any COVID-19 Measures; (b) events or conditions generally affecting the industries or geographic areas in which the Company and the Company Subsidiaries operate; (c) any downturn in general economic conditions, including changes in the credit, debt, securities, financial or capital markets (including changes in interest or exchange rates, prices of any security or market index or commodity or any disruption of such markets); (d) any geopolitical conditions, outbreak of hostilities, acts of war, sabotage, cyberterrorism, terrorism, military actions, earthquakes, volcanic activity, hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, floods, mudslides, wild fires or other natural disasters, weather conditions, epidemics, pandemics and other force majeure events; (e) any actions taken or not taken by the Company or the Company Subsidiaries as required by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, (f) any Effect attributable to the announcement or execution, pendency, negotiation or consummation of the Transactions (including the impact thereof on relationships with customers, suppliers, employees or Governmental Authorities) (provided that this clause (f) shall not apply to any representation or warranty to the extent the purpose of such representation or warranty is to address the consequences resulting from this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby), (g) any failure to meet any projections, forecasts, guidance, estimates, milestones, budgets or financial or operating predictions of revenue, earnings, cash flow or cash position, provided that this clause (g) shall not prevent a determination that any Effect underlying such failure has resulted in a Company Material Adverse Effect, or (h) any actions taken, or failures to take action, or such other Effects, in each case, which SPAC, New SPAC or New Holdco has requested in writing or to which it has consented in writing, except in the cases of clauses (a) through (d), to the extent that the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are materially disproportionately affected thereby as compared with other participants in the industries in which the Company and the Company Subsidiaries operate;
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“Company-Owned IP” means all Intellectual Property rights owned or purported to be owned by the Company or any Company Subsidiary;
“Company Permits” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6;
“Company Shares” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals;
“Company Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary of the Company;
“Company Transaction Expenses” means all fees and expenses incurred in connection with, or otherwise related to, the Transactions, the negotiation and preparation of this Agreement and the other documents contemplated hereby and the performance and compliance with all agreements and conditions contained herein and therein, including the fees, expenses and disbursements of legal counsel, auditors and accountants, due diligence expenses, advisory and consulting fees (including financial advisors) and expenses, and other third-party fees, in each case, of the Seller, the Company Group Members or their respective Affiliates, and any transaction, change-in-control, retention or similar payments to Company employees or service providers (together with the employer portion of any payroll or employment taxes). For the avoidance of doubt, the Parties expressly acknowledge and agree that the fees and expenses set forth on Section 1.1(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule shall constitute Company Transaction Expenses;
“Confidential Information” means any information, knowledge or data concerning the businesses or affairs of (i) the Company or the Company Subsidiaries that is not already generally available to the public, or (ii) any Suppliers or customers of the Company or any Company Subsidiaries that is protected by any written confidentiality agreements with the Company or any Company Subsidiaries;
“Confidentiality Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3.2;
“Continuing Employees” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5.1;
“Contracting Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.11;
“control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, or as trustee or executor, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, as trustee or executor, by contract or otherwise;
“COVID-19 Measures” means (i) changes or proposed changes of Laws or regulations or (ii) any quarantine, “shelter in place,” “stay at home,” workforce reduction, social distancing, shut down, closure, sequester, safety or similar Law, directive, guidelines or recommendations promulgated by any Governmental Authority, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the relevant Belgian or Serbian federal, national and/or regional authorities and the World Health Organization, in each case, in connection with or in response to the COVID-19 pandemic;
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“Data Protection Authority” means any body responsible for enforcing Data Protection Legislation;
“Data Protection Legislation” means applicable laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to data protection, data privacy, data security, data breach, anti-spam, consumer protection, and cybersecurity, including, in particular, the following regulations: (i) national Laws implementing the Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications (2002/58/EC); (ii) the General Data Protection Regulation (2016/679) and any national Law issued under that regulation; (iii) data protection legislation (as defined in the UK Data Protection Act 2018) and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003; (iv) the California Consumer Privacy Act; (v) Lei General de Protecao de Dados; (vi) the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act; (vii) Serbian Law on Personal Data Protection (ZZPL); and all equivalent Laws of any other jurisdiction;
“Deferred Underwriting Fees” means the amount of deferred underwriting fees held in the Trust Account in connection with SPAC’s initial public offering payable to the underwriters upon consummation of a business combination;
“Effect” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Company Material Adverse Effect”;
“Emergency Actions” means any action (or omission) as being required on short notice for the prevention of danger or damage to any Person or any asset or property;
“Employee Benefit Plan” means any plan that is an “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, any bonus, commission, stock option, stock purchase, restricted stock, phantom stock, other equity-based compensation arrangement, performance award, incentive, deferred compensation, retiree medical or life insurance, death or disability benefit, health or welfare, retirement, supplemental retirement, severance, retention, change in control, employment, consulting, fringe benefit, sick pay and vacation plans or arrangements or other employee benefit plans, programs or arrangements, whether written or unwritten;
“Environmental Laws” means any applicable Laws relating to: (i) releases or threatened releases of, or exposure of any Person to, Hazardous Substances or materials containing Hazardous Substances; (ii) the manufacture, handling, transport, use, treatment, storage or disposal of Hazardous Substances or materials containing Hazardous Substances; or (iii) pollution or protection of the environment, natural resources or human health and safety;
“Equity Interests” means (i) in the case of a corporation, any and all shares (however designated) of capital stock, (ii) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock, (iii) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, any and all partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited) or units (whether common or preferred), (iv) in any case, any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person, and (v) in any case, any right to acquire any of the foregoing;
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“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended;
“ERISA Affiliate” means any entity that together with the Company would be deemed a “single employer” for purposes of Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA and/or Sections 414(b), (c) and/or (m) of the Code;
“Exchange Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.2;
“Exchange Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.1;
“Ex-Im Laws” means all applicable Laws relating to export, re-export, transfer, and import controls, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations, the customs and import Laws administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the EU Dual Use Regulation;
“Foreign Investment Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.14.3;
“FPIM” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals;
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect in the United States from time to time;
“Governing Law” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.6.
“Governmental Authority” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.2;
“Government Official” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.20.2;
“Hazardous Substance(s)” means (i) those substances defined in or regulated under Environmental Laws as “toxic,” “hazardous” or “radioactive” or as a “pollutant” or “contaminant” or words of similar meaning or effect, or for which liability or standards of conduct may be imposed under any Environmental Law, (ii) petroleum and petroleum products, including crude oil and any fractions thereof, (iii) natural gas, synthetic gas, and any mixtures thereof, (iv) polychlorinated biphenyls, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, asbestos and radon, and (v) any substance, material or waste regulated by any Governmental Authority pursuant to any Environmental Law;
“Health Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.10.9;
“HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended;
“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, all obligations and liabilities of such Person (i) for borrowed money, or evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments (including the outstanding principal amount thereof, plus any related interest, fees, expenses and prepayment premiums or penalties created, issued, or incurred in respect thereof), (ii) in respect of “earn-out” obligations and other obligations for the deferred purchase price of property, goods or services, (iii) for any indebtedness evidenced by any letter of credit, performance bond, surety bond, bank guarantees or similar instrument to the extent drawn or called, (iv) under capital leases, (v) with respect to net cash payment obligations under swaps, options, derivatives and other hedging agreements or arrangements that will be payable upon termination thereof (assuming they were terminated as of such date), (vi) for deferred revenues, (vii) under existing pension programs, (viii) in respect of dividend payable balances, or (ix) in the nature of guarantees of or pledges and grants of security interests with respect to the obligations and liabilities described in clauses (i) through (viii) above of any other Person;
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“Information Technology” means computer systems, communication systems, software, hardware and related services;
“Insurance Policies” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.18.1;
“Intellectual Property” means (i) patents, patent applications and patent disclosures, together with all reissues, continuations, continuations-in-part, divisionals, revisions, extensions or reexaminations thereof, (ii) trademarks and service marks, trade dress, logos, trade names, corporate names, brands, slogans, and other source identifiers together with all translations, adaptations, derivations, combinations and other variants of the foregoing, and all applications, registrations, and renewals in connection therewith, together with all of the goodwill associated with the foregoing, (iii) copyrights, and other works of authorship (whether or not copyrightable), and moral rights, and registrations and applications for registration, renewals and extensions thereof, (iv) trade secrets, know-how (including ideas, formulas, compositions, inventions (whether or not patentable or reduced to practice)), and database rights, (v) Internet domain names and social media accounts, (vi) rights of privacy and publicity and all other intellectual property or proprietary rights of any kind or description, (vii) copies and tangible embodiments of any of the foregoing, in whatever form or medium, and (viii) all legal rights arising from clauses (i) through (vii) above, including the right to prosecute, enforce and perfect such interests and rights to sue, oppose, cancel, interfere, enjoin and collect damages based upon such interests, including such rights based on past infringement, if any, in connection with any of the foregoing;
“Intended Tax Treatment” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals;
“Interim Financial Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7.2;
“Investors” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals;
“IRS” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.4(i)(c);
“knowledge” or “to the knowledge” of a Person shall mean in the case of the Company, the actual knowledge of the Persons listed on Section 1 of the Company Disclosure Schedules after reasonable inquiry, and in the case of SPAC, the actual knowledge of the Persons listed on Section 1 of the SPAC Disclosure Schedules after reasonable inquiry;
“Law” means any federal, national, state, county, municipal, provincial, local, foreign or multinational, statute, constitution, common law, ordinance, code, decree, order, judgment, rule, regulation, ruling or requirement issued, enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority;
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“Leakage” means, except in the Ordinary Course and except for Permitted Leakage, (a) any dividend, interim dividend or distribution of profits, reserves, premiums or assets or any other distribution (whether in cash or in kind) declared, authorized, paid, made, agreed or obligated to be made by the Company or any Company Subsidiary to or for the benefit of the stockholders of any Company or any Affiliate of the stockholders of any Company, (b) any management, service, license or other similar charges or fees or compensation; (including out of Ordinary Course directors’ fees and any monitoring fees) paid by any Company or any Company Subsidiary to, on behalf of, or for the benefit of any stockholder(s) of the Company or any Affiliate of any stockholder(s) of the Company, (c) any return of capital (whether by reduction of capital or redemption or purchase of shares or otherwise) by any Company or any Company Subsidiary or any amount payable on the repurchase, repayment, redemption, reduction or cancellation of any share capital, loan capital or other securities of any Company or any Company Subsidiary (to the extent applicable, including both principal and interest elements), in each case, to or for the benefit of any stockholder(s) of any Company or any Affiliate of any stockholder(s) of any Company, (d) any forgiveness, waiver or release by any Company or any Company Subsidiary of any amount or obligation owed or due to any Company or any Company Subsidiary from any stockholder(s) of any Company or any Affiliate of any stockholder(s) of any Company, (e) any payment of any costs, bonuses, compensation or other sums including transaction bonus, retention bonus, equity incentive or similar payment to any director, officer, employee or other natural person serving as a consultant of a Company or any Company Subsidiary by any Company or any Company Subsidiary, triggered by or upon, the execution of this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or the consummation of the Transactions (including any applicable employer portion of all Taxes and/or social charges incurred or to be incurred in relation to such payments), (f) any assumption or discharge by any Company or any Company Subsidiary of any liability (including in relation to any recharging of costs of any kind) on behalf of or for the benefit of any stockholder(s) of any Company or any Affiliate of any stockholder(s) of any Company, (g) any guarantee (including via any encumbrance made, created or granted over the assets of any Company or any Company Subsidiary), indemnity or security provided by any Company or any Company Subsidiary in respect of the obligations or liabilities of any stockholder(s) of any Company or any Affiliate of any stockholder(s) of any Company (that is not released effective as of Closing), (h) any transfer or disposal or pledge of any asset to any stockholder(s) of any Company or any Affiliate of any stockholder(s) of any Company, (i) any acquisition of any asset from any stockholder(s) of any Company or any Affiliate of any stockholder(s) of any Company, (j) any payment by any Company or any Company Subsidiary of any Taxes imposed on any stockholder(s) of any Company or any Affiliate of any stockholder(s) of any Company (other than any Taxes for which any Company or any Company Subsidiary are directly liable to a Taxing Authority), or any agreement or obligation of any Company or any Company Subsidiary to make such payment, (k) any payment by any Company or any Company Subsidiary of any personal expenses or any gift or other gratuitous payment to or of any stockholder(s) of any Company or any Affiliate of any stockholder(s) of any Company, (l) any agreement or undertaking by any Company or any Company Subsidiary to do or give effect to any of the matters set forth in clauses (a) through (k) above, (m) any Tax paid, becoming payable by, or imposed on any Company or any Company Subsidiary, in each case as a result of any of the transactions or actions described in clauses (a) through (k) above, provided that each of the foregoing clauses (a) through (m) above shall be reduced by any Tax benefit realized or expected to be realized in respect of any Leakage by the Company or any Company Subsidiary;
“Leakage Certificate” means a certificate executed by the Chief Financial Officer of the Seller in accordance with Section 2.3.6, certifying that there has been no Leakage (or setting forth any such Leakage that has occurred, including the amount thereof), during the period of time between October 1, 2021 (included) and the Closing (included);
“Lease” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.12.2;
“Lease Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.12.2;
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“Leased Real Property” means the real property leased by the Company or Company Subsidiaries as tenant, together with, to the extent leased by the Company or Company Subsidiaries, all buildings and other structures, facilities or improvements located thereon and all easements, licenses, rights and appurtenances of the Company or Company Subsidiaries relating to the foregoing;
“Letter of Transmittal” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.2;
“Lien” means any lien, security interest, mortgage, pledge, adverse claim or other encumbrance of any kind that secures the payment or performance of an obligation (other than those created under applicable securities laws);
“Lookback Date” means the date that is two years prior to the date hereof;
“Material Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.17.1;
"Nasdaq” means the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market or the Nasdaq Global Select Market, as may be applicable;
“New EIP” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5.2;
“New Holdco” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble;
“New Holdco Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals;
“New Holdco Founder Warrant” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.3(v);
“New Holdco Public Warrant” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.3(i);
“New SPAC” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble;
“New SPAC Interests” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals;
“Nonparty Affiliates” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.11;
“NSIA” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.2;
“NSIA Approval” means, if the Parties, acting reasonably, have agreed that a mandatory notification is required under the NSIA, and a notification has been filed with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (the “Secretary of State”) pursuant to Section 7.14.3, such notification shall have been accepted by the Secretary of State and:
(a) | the Secretary of State shall have confirmed before the end of the NSIA review period that no further action will be taken in relation to the Transactions; |
(b) | if the Secretary of State shall have issued a call-in notice pursuant to the NSIA in relation to the Transactions, the Parties shall have received confirmation that the Secretary of State will take no further action under the NSIA in relation to the call-in notice and the Transactions; or |
(c) | the Secretary of State shall have made a final order in relation to the Transactions (and, to the extent relevant, all conditions or obligations contained in such an order necessary for completion of the Transactions shall been satisfied or complied with or any restriction preventing completion shall have been lifted or released). |
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“Open Source Software” means any Software in source code form that is licensed pursuant to (i) any license that is a license now or in the future approved by the open source initiative and listed at http://www.opensource.org/licenses, which licenses include all versions of the GNU General Public License (GPL), the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL), the GNU Affero GPL, the MIT license, the Eclipse Public License, the Common Public License, the CDDL, the Mozilla Public License (MPL), the Artistic License, the Netscape Public License, the Sun Community Source License (SCSL), and the Sun Industry Standards License (SISL), (ii) any license to Software that is considered “free” or “open source software” by the open source foundation or the free software foundation, or (iii) any Reciprocal License;
“Ordinary Course” means, with respect to any Person, the ordinary course of business consistent with such Person’s past custom and practice; provided that actions taken (or omitted) in response to a condition or conditions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, including as a result of actions of governmental entities taken in connection with the pandemic shall be deemed ordinary course of business;
“Ordinary Resolution Proposals” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2;
“Other Approval” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.14.2(ii);
“Outside Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1.2;
“Parties” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble;
“PCAOB” means the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and any division or subdivision thereof.
“Permitted Leakage” means each and any of the following:
(a) | any Leakage in relation to the matters set forth in Section 1.1(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules; |
(b) | any Leakage which is on arm’s length terms as between the Company and/or Company Subsidiaries and the Seller and/or any Affiliate thereof; |
(c) | any Leakage which has been specifically accrued or provided for in the Interim Financial Information; |
(d) | Company Transaction Expenses; |
(e) | waivers, deferrals and other similar adjustments relating to (traffic) reconciliation following delivery of invoices/services consistent with customary practices; |
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(f) | any payments in respect of salaries, directors’ fees, pension contributions, expenses or bonuses made to, or in respect of services provided by, employees, workers, directors, officers or consultants of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries which are made (or to be made) by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and in accordance with the terms of the related employment or service contract or other arrangement; as well as the accelerated vesting of employees’ existing long term bonuses as may be decided upon Closing; and |
(g) | any Leakage which is (i) expressly contemplated by any other provision of this Agreement and contemplated restructuring steps, or any Ancillary Agreement or (ii) SPAC has expressly approved in writing. |
“Permitted Liens” means (i) such imperfections of title, easements, encumbrances, Liens or restrictions that do not materially impair the current use of the Company’s or any Company Subsidiary’s assets that are subject thereto, (ii) materialmen’s, mechanics’, carriers’, workmen’s, warehousemen’s, repairmen’s, landlord’s and other similar Liens arising in the Ordinary Course, or deposits to obtain the release of such Liens, (iii) Liens for Taxes not yet due and delinquent or, if delinquent, being contested in good faith and for which appropriate reserves have been made in accordance with GAAP, (iv) zoning, entitlement, conservation restriction and other land use and environmental regulations promulgated by Governmental Authorities, (v) revocable, non-exclusive licenses (or sublicenses) of Company-Owned IP granted in the Ordinary Course, (vi) non-monetary Liens, encumbrances and restrictions on real property (including easements, covenants, rights of way and similar restrictions of record) that do not materially interfere with the present uses of such real property, (vii) Liens identified in the Interim Financial Information, and (viii) Liens on leases, subleases, easements, licenses, rights of use, rights to access and rights of way arising from the provisions of such agreements or benefiting or created by any superior estate, right or interest;
“Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, syndicate, person (including, without limitation, a “person” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), trust, association or entity or government, political subdivision, agency or instrumentality of a government;
“Personal Data” means any information or data relating to a natural person who is or can reasonably be identified, directly or indirectly, by that information or data, including by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier, financial information, credit or payment card information, or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that person, and when referring to Data Protection Legislation, has the same meaning as the similar or equivalent term defined thereunder;
“Plan of Merger” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals;
“Plans” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.10.1;
"PPACA” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.10.9;
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“PRC National Security Approval” means, if Seller and SPAC, acting reasonably, have agreed that a mandatory filing is required under one or more of the PRC National Security Laws, and each such filing has been filed with the relevant Governmental Authorities pursuant to Section 7.14.3, that each such filing shall have been accepted by the relevant Governmental Authorities and, for each such filing, the relevant Governmental Authority with which the filing was made shall have either (a) cleared the Transactions, either unconditionally or with conditions reasonably acceptable to Seller and SPAC, or (b) shall not, within the period allowed under the applicable PRC National Security Laws, have announced or notified the Seller and SPAC of any decision to suspend or prohibit the Transactions.
“PRC National Security Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.2;
“Private Placements” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals;
“Products” mean any products or services, developed, manufactured, performed, out-licensed, sold, distributed, offered or otherwise made available by or on behalf of any Company Group Member, or from which any Company Group Member has derived previously, is currently deriving or is scheduled to derive, revenue from the sale or provision thereof;
“Proximus Non-Compete Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals;
“Purchased Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2;
“Reciprocal License” means a license of an item of Software that requires or that conditions any rights granted in such license upon (i) the disclosure, distribution or licensing of any other Software (other than such item of Software as provided by a third party in its unmodified form), (ii) a requirement that any disclosure, distribution or licensing of any other Software (other than such item of Software in its unmodified form) be at no charge, (iii) a requirement that any other licensee of the Software be permitted to access the source code of, modify, make derivative works of, or reverse-engineer any such other Software, (iv) a requirement that such other Software be redistributable by other licensees, or (v) the grant of any patent rights (other than patent rights in such item of Software), including non-assertion or patent license obligations (other than patent obligations relating to the use of such item of Software);
“Redemption Rights” means the redemption rights provided for in Sections 8.1 and 49 of the SPAC Articles of Association;
“Registered Intellectual Property” means all Intellectual Property that is the subject of registration (or an application for registration), including domain names;
“Registrar” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals;
“Registration Rights Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals;
“Registration Statement / Proxy Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.1;
“Released Claims” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3.
“Remedies Exceptions” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2;
“Representatives” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3.1;
“Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country, region or territory which is itself the subject or target of any Sanctions (for example, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria);
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“Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, any Person (i) listed on any Sanctions-related list of designated or blocked Persons, (ii) the government of, resident in, or organized under the Laws of a country or territory that is the subject of comprehensive restrictive Sanctions from time to time (which includes, as of the date of this Agreement, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea region), or (iii) majority-owned or controlled by any of the foregoing;
“Sanctions” means those trade, economic and financial sanctions Laws, regulations, embargoes, and restrictive measures administered or enforced by (i) the United States (including, without limitation, the U.S. Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control), (ii) the European Union and enforced by its member states, (iii) the United Nations, (iv) the UK’s Office of Foreign Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), or (v) any other similar Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the Company or any Company Subsidiary from time to time;
“SEC” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.7.1;
“Secretary of State” has the meaning set forth in the definition of NSIA Approval;
“Securities Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.2;
“Security Breach” means a breach of security leading to the unauthorized access to or acquisition of Personal Data, including ransomware attack or malware intrusion;
“Seller” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble;
“Seller Disclosure Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Article 3;
“Share Acquisition” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2;
“Share Consideration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2;
“Software” means all computer software (in object code or source code format), and related documentation and materials;
“SPAC” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble;
“SPAC Articles of Association” means the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of SPAC adopted by special resolution dated January 21, 2021 and effective on January 21, 2021;
“SPAC Board” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals;
“SPAC Board Recommendation” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2;
“SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares” means SPAC Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share;
“SPAC D&O Insurance” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.6.3;
“SPAC Disclosure Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Article 5;
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“SPAC Founders Shares” means SPAC’s Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share;
“SPAC Founder Warrants” means whole redeemable warrants to purchase SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to that certain Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 21, 2021, by and between SPAC and Sponsor;
“SPAC Material Adverse Effect” means any Effect that, individually or in the aggregate with all other Effects, (i) has had a material adverse effect on the business, condition (financial or otherwise), assets, liabilities or results of operations of SPAC, or (ii) would reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay or materially impede the performance by SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC of their respective obligations under this Agreement or the consummation of the Transactions; provided, however, that none of the following shall be deemed to constitute, alone or in combination, or be taken into account in the determination of whether, there has been or will be a SPAC Material Adverse Effect: (a) any change or proposed change in or change in the interpretation of GAAP or any Law applicable to SPAC including any COVID-19 Measures; (b) events or conditions generally affecting the industries or geographic areas in which SPAC operates; (c) any downturn in general economic conditions, including changes in the credit, debt, securities, financial or capital markets (including changes in interest or exchange rates, prices of any security or market index or commodity or any disruption of such markets); (d) any geopolitical conditions, outbreak of hostilities, acts of war, sabotage, cyberterrorism, terrorism, military actions, earthquakes, volcanic activity, hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, floods, mudslides, wild fires or other natural disasters, weather conditions, epidemics, pandemics and other force majeure events; (e) any actions taken or not taken by SPAC as required by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; (f) any Effect attributable to the announcement or execution, pendency, negotiation or consummation of the Transactions (including the impact thereof on relationships with Governmental Authorities) (provided that this clause (f) shall not apply to any representation or warranty to the extent the purpose of such representation or warranty is to address the consequences resulting from this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby); (g) any failure to meet any projections, forecasts, guidance, estimates, milestones, budgets or financial or operating predictions of revenue, earnings, cash flow or cash position, provided that this clause (g) shall not prevent a determination that any Effect underlying such failure has resulted in a SPAC Material Adverse Effect; or (h) any actions taken, or failures to take action, or such other Effects, in each case, which the Seller or Company has requested in writing or to which it has consented in writing or which actions are contemplated by this Agreement, except in the cases of clauses (a) through (f) above, to the extent that SPAC is materially disproportionately affected thereby as compared with other participants in the industry in which SPAC operates;
“SPAC Merger” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals;
“SPAC Merger Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.1;
“SPAC Merger Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.2;
“SPAC Ordinary Shares” means SPAC’s Class A Ordinary Shares and the SPAC Founders Shares;
“SPAC Organizational Documents” means the organizational documents of SPAC (including the SPAC Articles of Association and Trust Agreement), New Holdco and New SPAC, in each case as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time;
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“SPAC Parties” means SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC.
“SPAC Preferred Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3.1;
“SPAC Public Warrants” means whole redeemable warrants to purchase SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares issued as a component of the units issued in SPAC’s initial public offering, with each unit issued therein including one-third of such a warrant;
“SPAC SEC Reports” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.7.1;
“SPAC Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.3;
“SPAC Shareholder Approval” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.10.2;
“SPAC Shareholder Redemption Amount” means the aggregate amount of cash proceeds required to satisfy any exercise by shareholders of SPAC of the Redemption Rights;
“SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2;
“SPAC Transaction Expenses” means all fees and expenses incurred in connection with, or otherwise related to, the Transactions, the negotiation and preparation of this Agreement and the other documents contemplated hereby and the performance and compliance with all agreements and conditions contained herein and therein, including the fees, expenses and disbursements of legal counsel, auditors and accountants, due diligence expenses, advisory and consulting fees and expenses, other third-party fees and any Deferred Underwriting Fees, in each case of SPAC, New Holdco or any of their respective Subsidiaries. For the avoidance of doubt, the Parties expressly acknowledge and agree that the fees and expenses set forth on Section 1.1 of the SPAC Disclosure Schedule shall constitute SPAC Transaction Expenses;
“SPAC Units” means one (1) SPAC Class A Ordinary Share and one-third of one (1) SPAC Public Warrant;
“SPAC Warrant Agreement” means that certain warrant agreement dated October 9, 2020 by and between SPAC and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company;
“SPAC Warrants” means the SPAC Public Warrants and the SPAC Founder Warrants, each being whole warrants to purchase SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares as contemplated under the SPAC Warrant Agreement, with each whole warrant exercisable for one (1) SPAC Class A Ordinary Share at an exercise price of $11.50;
“Special Resolution Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2;
“Sponsor” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals;
“Stockholders Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals;
“Subscription Agreements” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals;
“Subsidiary” or “Subsidiaries” of any Person means, with respect to such Person, any Affiliate controlled by such Person, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries;
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“Supplier” means any Person that supplies inventory or other materials or personal property, components, or other goods or services (including, design, development and manufacturing services) that comprise or are utilized in, including in connection with the design, development, manufacture or sale of, the Products of the Company Group Members;
“Tax” or “Taxes” means any and all taxes, withholding taxes, duties, levies or other assessments or charges, in each case in the nature of taxes imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any income, estimated, business, occupation, corporate, capital, gross receipts, transfer, stamp, registration, employment, payroll, unemployment, withholding, occupancy, escheat, license, severance, capital, production, ad valorem, excise, windfall profits, customs duties, real property, personal property, sales, use, turnover, value added and franchise taxes, whether disputed or not, together with all interest, penalties, and additions to tax or imposed with respect thereto;
“Taxing Authority” means, with respect to any Tax, the Governmental Authority or political subdivision thereof that imposes, assesses, collects, or determines such Tax, and the agency (if any) charged with the imposition, assessment, collection or determination of such Tax for such authority or subdivision, including any Governmental Authority or agency that imposes, or is charged with collecting, assessing or determining, social security or similar charges or premiums;
“Tax Return” means any return, declaration, form, report, claim for refund, or information return or statement relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto and any amendment thereof, in each case, provided, filed or submitted, or required to be provided, filed or submitted, to a Taxing Authority;
“Terminating Company Breach” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1.5;
“Terminating SPAC Breach” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1.6;
“Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, including all Schedules and Exhibits hereto, the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Ancillary Agreements, and all other agreements, certificates and instruments executed and delivered by SPAC, New Holdco, New SPAC, Seller or the Company in connection with the Transactions and specifically contemplated by this Agreement;
“Transaction Proposals” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2;
“Transactions” means the SPAC Merger, Share Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Transaction Documents;
“Transaction Support Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals;
“Transfer Tax” means any sales, use, value-added, business, goods and services, transfer (including any stamp duty or other similar Tax chargeable in respect of any instrument transferring property), documentary, conveyancing or similar Tax or expense or any recording fee, in each case that is imposed as a result of the Transactions, together with any penalty, interest and addition to any such item with respect to such item; provided, however, for the avoidance of doubt, the term Transfer Tax shall not include any income Tax or similar Tax imposed on any direct or indirect equityholder of Seller, the Company or any Company Subsidiary;
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“Treasury Regulations” means the United States Treasury regulations issued pursuant to the Code;
“Trust Account” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.13;
“Trust Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.13;
“Trustee” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.13;
“Trust Fund” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.13;
“Unaudited Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7.1; and
“Virtual Data Room” means the virtual data room established by the Company, access to which was given to SPAC in connection with its due diligence investigation of the Company relating to the transactions contemplated hereby.
1.2 | Construction |
1.2.1 | 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 definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the other grammatical forms of such terms, (iv) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereto” and derivative or similar words refer to this entire Agreement, (v) the terms “Article,” “Section,” “Schedule” and “Exhibit” refer to the specified Article, Section, Schedule or Exhibit of or to this Agreement, (vi) the word “including” means “including without limitation,” (vii) the word “or” shall be disjunctive but not exclusive, (viii) references to agreements and other documents shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments and other modifications thereto and (ix) references to any Law shall include all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and references to any Law shall be construed as including all statutory, legal and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending or replacing such Law. |
1.2.2 | 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. |
1.2.3 | Whenever this Agreement refers to a number of days, such number shall refer to calendar days unless Business Days are specified, and when counting days, the date of commencement will not be included as a full day for purposes of computing any applicable time periods (except as otherwise may be required under any applicable Law). 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. |
1.2.4 | All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined herein shall have the meanings given to them under GAAP. |
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2 | The Transactions |
2.1 | SPAC Merger |
2.1.1 | SPAC Merger Effects. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Plan of Merger and all other ancillary documents required in connection with the SPAC Merger, including this Agreement (the “SPAC Merger Documents”), and in accordance with the Act and Cayman Islands Companies Act, at the SPAC Merger Effective Time and in accordance with Section 2.3.3(ii), SPAC and New SPAC shall consummate the SPAC Merger, pursuant to which: |
(i) | SPAC shall be merged with and into New SPAC, and the separate corporate existence of SPAC shall thereupon cease and the Registrar shall strike SPAC from the register of companies and issue a certificate of strike off by way of merger with an overseas company in accordance with the provisions of section 237(13) of the Cayman Islands Companies Act (2021 Revision) (the “Cayman Islands Companies Act”); |
(ii) | New SPAC shall (a) be the surviving entity in the SPAC Merger, (b) continue to be governed by the Act and (c) continue as the surviving company within the meaning of the Cayman Islands Companies Act, and its separate existence with all its rights, privileges, immunities, powers and franchises shall continue unaffected by the SPAC Merger. |
(iii) | Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the SPAC Merger Effective Time, all the assets, liabilities, rights, powers, privileges, franchises, contracts, capital assets and property of every description of SPAC shall transfer, vest and become assets, liabilities, rights, powers, privileges, franchises, contracts, capital assets and property of every description of New SPAC, and all debts, obligations, security interests, contracts, claims, restrictions and liabilities of SPAC shall become debts, obligations, security interests, contracts, claims, restrictions and liabilities of New SPAC. |
2.1.2 | SPAC Merger Effective Time. The SPAC Merger shall become effective at the time that (i) the SPAC Merger Documents are filed with and accepted by the Registrar and (ii) the Certificate of Merger is filed with and accepted by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Merger (the “SPAC Merger Effective Time”). |
2.1.3 | Conversion of SPAC Securities. At the SPAC Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the SPAC Merger and without any action on the part of any Party or the holder of any of their securities, the (a) SPAC Units, (b) SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, (c) SPAC Founders Shares, (d) SPAC Public Warrants and (e) SPAC Founder Warrants ((a)-(e) “SPAC Securities”), in each case, issued and outstanding immediately prior to the SPAC Merger Effective Time, shall be converted into the right to receive the following consideration: |
(i) | Each SPAC Unit shall be cancelled in exchange for consideration consisting of (a) the right to receive one (1) validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of New Holdco Common Stock and (b) on substantially equivalent terms and conditions as the SPAC Public Warrants, one-third of one (1) warrant to acquire one (1) share of New Holdco Common Stock (each such whole warrant, a “New Holdco Public Warrant”). |
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(ii) | Each SPAC Class A Ordinary Share (without duplication of the SPAC Ordinary Shares contemplated by Section 2.1.3(i) above) shall be cancelled in exchange for consideration consisting of the right to receive one (1) validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of New Holdco Common Stock. |
(iii) | Each SPAC Founders Share shall be cancelled in exchange for consideration consisting of the right to receive one (1) validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of New Holdco Common Stock in accordance with Article 17 of the SPAC Articles of Association (assuming for such purpose that the Transactions contemplated hereby were consummated by SPAC as the Business Combination (as defined in the SPAC Articles of Association)). |
(iv) | Each SPAC Public Warrant (without duplication of the SPAC Public Warrants contemplated by Section 2.1.3(i) above) shall be cancelled in exchange for consideration consisting of the right to receive, on substantially equivalent terms and conditions as the SPAC Public Warrants, one (1) New Holdco Public Warrant. |
(v) | Each SPAC Founder Warrant shall be cancelled in exchange for consideration consisting of the right to receive, on substantially equivalent terms and conditions as the SPAC Founder Warrants, one (1) warrant to acquire one (1) share of New Holdco Common Stock (each, a “New Holdco Founder Warrant”). |
2.1.4 | Transfer of New Holdco Common Stock. Following the SPAC Merger Effective Time, the New Holdco Common Stock held by New SPAC shall be transferred by New SPAC to New Holdco and such New Holdco Common Stock shall thereafter be cancelled in accordance with applicable Law. |
2.2 | Share Acquisition |
Upon the terms and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, immediately following the SPAC Merger Effective Time, Seller shall sell, transfer, assign and convey to New Holdco all of the issued and outstanding Company Shares (the “Purchased Shares”), and New Holdco shall acquire such Purchased Shares from Seller, free and clear of all Liens (other than as set forth in the organizational documents of the Company and pursuant to applicable securities Laws generally), in exchange for (i) the Cash Consideration and (ii) New Holdco Common Stock issued to the Seller in the quantity equal to (a) (I) the Company Equity Value minus (II) the product of (A) ten (10) dollars ($10.00) multiplied by (B) the number of SPAC Founders Shares forfeited pursuant to the provisions of the Transaction Support Agreement minus (III) Company Transaction Expenses minus (IV) SPAC Transaction Expenses, divided by (b) ten (10) (such New Holdco Common Stock, the “Share Consideration”) (such transaction, the “Share Acquisition”) and together with all rights attaching to them at the Closing (including the right to receive all distributions, returns of capital and dividends declared, paid or made in respect of the Purchased Shares after the Closing).
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2.3 | Closing |
2.3.1 | Closing. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the closing of the Transactions (the “Closing”) shall take place remotely by the exchange of closing deliverables and the taking of the closing actions contemplated by Section 2.3.3 (except in the case of the payments contemplated by Section 2.3.3, which shall be made as promptly as practicable after such time), which shall occur on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the satisfaction (or waiver in accordance with this Agreement) of the last to occur of the conditions set forth in Article 8 (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, it being understood that the occurrence of the Closing shall remain subject to the satisfaction or, if permissible, waiver of such conditions at the Closing), unless another date or place is agreed to in writing by the Parties (such date on which the Closing occurs, the “Closing Date”). |
2.3.2 | Transaction Expenses. At least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing: |
(i) | SPAC shall cause the Chief Financial Officer of SPAC, solely in his capacity as such, to deliver to the Company a certificate certifying SPAC’s good faith estimate of the SPAC Transaction Expenses; and |
(ii) | the Seller shall cause the Chief Financial Officer of the Seller, solely in his capacity as such, to deliver to SPAC a certificate certified by such Chief Financial Officer (solely in his or her capacity as such) setting forth the Seller’s good faith estimate of the Company Transaction Expenses; |
in each case, including reasonable supporting materials for the amount of each item included therein.
2.3.3 | Closing Order. At the Closing, the Parties shall cause the consummation of the following transactions in the following order, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement: |
(i) | SPAC shall make or cause to be paid any payments required to be made by SPAC in connection with the exercise of the Redemption Rights; |
(ii) | SPAC and New SPAC shall (a) execute the SPAC Merger Documents in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Cayman Islands Companies Act and Act, as applicable, file the applicable SPAC Merger Documents with the Registrar, (b) cause the Certificate of Merger to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, in such form as required by, and executed in accordance with, the relevant provisions of the Act, and (c) make all other filings or recordings, and pay any fees, required under the Cayman Islands Companies Act or the Act to effect the SPAC Merger; |
(iii) | the Investors shall purchase, and New Holdco shall issue and sell to the Investors, the number of shares of New Holdco Common Stock set forth in the Subscription Agreements against payment of the amounts set forth in the Subscription Agreements; and |
(iv) | (a) Seller shall transfer to New Holdco, and New Holdco shall accept from Seller, the Purchased Shares and (b) in exchange therefor, New Holdco shall (I) deliver the Cash Consideration by wire transfer of immediately available funds in U.S. dollars to an account or accounts designated by Seller and (II) issue and deliver to Seller the Share Consideration. |
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2.3.4 | Closing Deliverables. At the Closing: |
(i) | Seller shall deliver (or cause to be delivered) to SPAC and New Holdco: |
(a) | a counterpart of each Ancillary Agreement to be executed prior to or at the Closing by Seller or any of its Affiliates, duly executed by Seller or its Affiliate, as applicable; |
(b) | a duly executed stock power on behalf of Seller with respect to the transfer of the Purchased Shares; and |
(c) | a notice to be delivered to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), in accordance with the requirements of Section 1.897-2(h)(2) of the United States Treasury Regulations, in substantially the form attached as Exhibit F-1, dated as of the Closing Date and duly executed by the Company (the “Company IRS Notice”), and a FIRPTA notification letter, in substantially the form attached as Exhibit F-2, dated as of the Closing Date and duly executed by the Company. |
(ii) | SPAC shall deliver (or cause to be delivered) to Seller: |
(a) | certified copies of the amended and restated SPAC Organizational Documents that have been submitted to, and in each case accepted by, the Registrar or the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, as applicable, in accordance with Section 7.12; and |
(b) | a counterpart of each Ancillary Agreement to be executed prior to or at the Closing by SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC, duly executed by SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC, as applicable. |
2.3.5 | Capitalization. Exhibit G sets forth an illustrative calculation of the capitalization of New Holdco immediately following the consummation of the Transactions. |
2.3.6 | Leakage Certificate. At least three (3) Business Days and not more than five (5) Business Days before the Closing, Seller shall deliver the Leakage Certificate to SPAC. Prior to the Closing, (i) SPAC shall have an opportunity to review the Leakage Certificate and discuss in good faith such certificate with the persons responsible for its preparation, and shall promptly, and not more than one (1) Business Day following the date the Seller delivers the Leakage Certificate to SPAC, provide any good faith and reasonable comments or questions in respect thereof to the Seller in writing, and (ii) Seller shall, and shall cause the Company and its Subsidiaries to, reasonably cooperate with SPAC in good faith to respond to any questions and consider in good faith any comments regarding the Leakage Certificate delivered in accordance with the previous sentence. Seller shall revise such Leakage Certificate prior to the Closing to incorporate any changes that are reasonably appropriate in Seller’s sole and exclusive discretion in light of such comments. The Leakage Certificate, as it may be revised by Seller pursuant to the previous sentence, shall be valid and binding on all parties and for all purposes absent manifest error. |
2.4 | Exchange Agent |
2.4.1 | Exchange Agent. SPAC shall designate a bank or trust company (the “Exchange Agent”), for the benefit of the holders of SPAC Securities, for exchange in accordance with this Article 2, the New Holdco Common Stock and warrants to acquire New Holdco Common Stock contemplated by Section 2.1. SPAC shall cause the Exchange Agent, pursuant to irrevocable instructions, to deliver such New Holdco Common Stock and warrants to acquire New Holdco Common Stock in accordance with this Agreement. SPAC and New Holdco shall enter into an exchange agent agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to Seller with the Exchange Agent, which agreement shall set forth the duties, responsibilities and obligations of the Exchange Agent consistent with the terms of this Agreement, including with regard to the exchanges described in this Section 2.4. |
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2.4.2 | Exchange Procedures. As promptly as practicable after the date hereof, SPAC shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of SPAC Securities a letter of transmittal, which shall be in a form reasonably acceptable to SPAC and Seller (the “Letter of Transmittal”) and shall specify (i) that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the applicable SPAC Securities shall pass, only upon proper surrender of such SPAC Securities to the Exchange Agent or other cancellation, and (ii) instructions for use in effecting the surrender or other cancellation of the SPAC Securities pursuant to the Letter of Transmittal. Following the surrender to the Exchange Agent of all SPAC Securities held by such holder for cancellation, together with a Letter of Transmittal, duly completed and validly executed in accordance with the instructions thereto and such other documents as may be required pursuant to such instructions, each former holder of such SPAC Securities shall be entitled to receive from the Exchange Agent, in exchange therefore, the applicable New Holdco Common Stock, New Holdco Public Warrants and New Holdco Founder Warrants to be issued pursuant to Section 2.1.3. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 2.4, the SPAC Securities shall be deemed at all times after the Closing to represent only the right to receive upon such surrender the New Holdco Common Stock and warrants to acquire New Holdco Common Stock contemplated by Section 2.1. |
2.4.3 | No Further Rights in SPAC Securities. The New Holdco Common Stock and warrants to acquire New Holdco Common Stock contemplated by Section 2.1 issuable in exchange for the SPAC Securities in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been paid and issued in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such SPAC Securities. |
2.4.4 | Adjustments. The New Holdco Common Stock and warrants to acquire New Holdco Common Stock issued as contemplated by Section 2.1 shall be adjusted to reflect appropriately the effect of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or other like change with respect to SPAC or New Holdco Common Stock or warrants occurring on or after the date hereof and prior to the Closing. |
2.4.5 | Liability. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Exchange Agent nor any Party shall be liable to any Person in respect of the consideration payable pursuant to this Agreement delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law. If any SPAC Securities shall not have been surrendered or transferred, respectively, prior to the date on which any consideration payable pursuant to this Agreement in respect thereof would otherwise escheat to or become the property of any Governmental Authority pursuant to applicable Law, any such consideration payable pursuant to this Agreement in respect of such SPAC Securities shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of New Holdco, and any former holders of SPAC Securities who have not theretofore complied with this Article 2 with respect thereto shall thereafter look only to New Holdco for payment of their claim for consideration payable pursuant to this Agreement. |
2.5 | Tax Treatment of SPAC Merger |
2.5.1 | For U.S. federal income tax purposes (and state and local tax purposes, where applicable), the Parties intend that the SPAC Merger will qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code and the Parties shall not, and shall cause their respective Affiliates not to, take or cause to be taken any action, or knowingly fail to take or cause to be taken any action, which action or failure to act would reasonably be expected to prevent the SPAC Merger from qualifying as such. By executing this Agreement, SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC hereby adopt a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3 with respect to the SPAC Merger, and intend to file the statement required by Treasury Regulations Section 1.368-3(a). |
2.5.2 | The Parties shall prepare and file all Tax Returns consistent with the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.5 and shall not take any inconsistent position on any Tax Return, or during the course of any audit, litigation or other proceeding with respect to Taxes, except as otherwise required by applicable Law following a final determination by a court of competent jurisdiction or other administrative settlement with (or final administrative decision by) the relevant Taxing Authority. |
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2.6 | Withholding and other Tax Matters |
2.6.1 | Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company, Seller, SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC shall be entitled to deduct and withhold, from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement, any amount required to be deducted or withheld with respect to the making of such payment under applicable Law, provided, however, that the Parties shall cooperate and use reasonable efforts to reduce, minimize or eliminate any applicable withholding to the extent permitted under applicable Tax law. To the extent that any such amounts are deducted or withheld and paid over to the appropriate Taxing Authority, such deducted or withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction or withholding was made. |
2.6.2 | All Transfer Taxes incurred in connection with the Transactions shall be paid by New Holdco in accordance with Section 9.3. |
3 | Representations and Warranties of Seller |
Except as set forth in the Seller’s disclosure schedule delivered by Seller in connection with this Agreement (the “Seller Disclosure Schedule”), Seller hereby represents and warrants to SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC as follows:
3.1 | Capitalization |
Seller owns 100 percent of the Company Shares free and clear of all Liens, options, rights of first refusal and limitations on the Company’s or any Company Subsidiary’s voting or transfer rights other than transfer restrictions under applicable securities Laws and the Company’s organizational documents. All the Company Shares are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
3.2 | Authority Relative to this Agreement |
Seller has all necessary corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the Transactions. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Seller and the consummation by Seller of the Transactions have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Seller are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the Transactions. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Seller and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Seller, enforceable against Seller in accordance with its terms, except as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, by general equitable principles (the “Remedies Exceptions”).
3.3 | No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents |
3.3.1 | The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Seller does not, and subject to receipt of the consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, filings and notifications, expiration or termination of waiting periods after filings and other actions contemplated by Section 3.3.2 and assuming all other required filings, waivers, approvals, consents, authorizations and notices disclosed in Section 3.3.1 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, the performance of this Agreement by Seller will not (i) conflict with or violate the articles of association (statuten/statuts) or other organizational documents of Seller, (ii) assuming that all consents, approvals, authorizations, expiration or termination of waiting periods and other actions described in Section 3.3.2 have been obtained and all filings and obligations described in Section 3.3.2 have been made, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to Seller or by which any property or asset of Seller is bound or affected, or (iii) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under, or give to others any right of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a Lien (other than any Permitted Lien) on any property or asset of Seller pursuant to, any contract to which Seller is a party or by which any asset or property of Seller is bound, except, with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults or other occurrences which would not have or reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Seller. |
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3.3.2 | The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Seller does not, and the performance of this Agreement by Seller will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to, or expiration or termination of any waiting period by, any U.S. federal, state, county or local or non-U.S. government, governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, agency, instrumentality or commission or any court, tribunal, or judicial or arbitral body (a “Governmental Authority”), except (i) for applicable requirements, if any, of: the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”); the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); state securities or “blue sky” Laws (“Blue Sky Laws”) and state takeover Laws; the pre-merger notification requirements of the HSR Act; the National Security and Investment Act 2021 (the “NSIA”); the Peoples Republic of China Foreign Investment Law, National Security Law and the Measures on Security Review of Foreign Investment (together, the “PRC National Security Laws”); filing and recordation of appropriate merger documents as required by the Cayman Islands Companies Act and the Act; and any Other Approvals; and (ii) where the failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications, would not have or would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Seller. |
3.4 | Seller’s Investigation and Reliance |
Seller is a sophisticated party and has made its own independent investigation, review and analysis regarding SPAC, New Holdco, New SPAC and the Transactions, which investigation, review and analysis were conducted by Seller together with expert advisors, including legal counsel, that it has engaged for such purpose. Seller and its Representatives have been provided with full and complete access to the Representatives, properties, offices, plants and other facilities, books and records of SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC and other information that they have requested in connection with their investigation of SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC and the Transactions. Seller is not relying on any statement, representation or warranty, oral or written, express or implied, made by SPAC, New Holdco, New SPAC or any of their respective Representatives, except as expressly set forth in Article 5 (as modified by the SPAC Disclosure Schedules or SPAC SEC Reports) or in any certificate delivered by SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC pursuant to this Agreement. None of SPAC, New Holdco, New SPAC, nor any of their respective stockholders, Affiliates or Representatives shall have any liability to Seller or any of its respective shareholders, stockholders or other equityholders (as applicable), Affiliates or Representatives resulting from the use of any information, documents or materials made available to Seller or any of its Representatives, whether orally or in writing, in any confidential information memoranda, “data rooms,” management presentations, due diligence discussions or in any other form in expectation of the Transactions. Seller acknowledges that none of SPAC, New Holdco, New SPAC, nor any of their stockholders, Affiliates or Representatives is making, directly or indirectly, any representation or warranty with respect to any estimates, projections or forecasts involving SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC.
3.5 | Exclusivity of Representations and Warranties |
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Article 3 (as modified by the Seller Disclosure Schedule), Seller hereby expressly disclaims and negates any other express or implied representation or warranty whatsoever (whether at Law or in equity) with respect to Seller, the Company, its Affiliates, and any matter relating to any of them, including their affairs, the condition, value or quality of the assets, liabilities, financial condition or results of operations, or with respect to the accuracy or completeness of any other information made available to SPAC, its Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives by, or on behalf of, Seller, and any such representations or warranties are expressly disclaimed. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement (as modified by the Seller Disclosure Schedule) or in any certificate delivered by Seller pursuant to this Agreement, neither Seller nor any other Person on behalf of Seller has made or makes any representation or warranty, whether express or implied, with respect to any projections, forecasts, estimates or budgets made available to SPAC, its Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives of future revenues, future results of operations (or any component thereof), future cash flows or future financial condition (or any component thereof) of the Company (including the reasonableness of the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing), whether or not included in any management presentation or in any other information made available to SPAC, its Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives or any other Person, and any such representations or warranties are expressly disclaimed.
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4 | Representations and Warranties of the Company |
Except as set forth in the Company’s disclosure schedule delivered by the Company in connection with this Agreement (the “Company Disclosure Schedule”), the Company hereby represents and warrants to SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC as follows:
4.1 | Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries |
The Company and each Company Subsidiary is a corporation or other organization duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and has the requisite corporate or other organizational power and authority and all necessary governmental approvals to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. The Company and each Company Subsidiary is duly qualified or licensed to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except for such failures to be so qualified or licensed and in good standing that would not individually or in the aggregate be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
4.2 | Organizational Documents |
The Company has prior to the date of this Agreement made available to SPAC in the Virtual Data Room a complete and correct copy of the certificate of incorporation and the bylaws or equivalent organizational documents, each as amended to date, of the Company and each Company Subsidiary. Such certificates of incorporation, bylaws, articles of association or equivalent organizational documents are in full force and effect. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is in violation of any of the provisions of its certificate of incorporation, bylaws or equivalent organizational documents.
4.3 | Capitalization |
4.3.1 | There are no Equity Interests issued or outstanding in the Company other than the Company Shares. All such Company Shares have been issued and granted in compliance with (i) applicable securities Laws and other applicable Law and (ii) all preemptive rights and other requirements set forth in applicable contracts to which the Company is a Party and the organizational documents of the Company. |
4.3.2 | A true and complete list of all the Company Subsidiaries, together with the jurisdiction of incorporation of each Company Subsidiary and the percentage of the outstanding Equity Interests of each Company Subsidiary owned by the Company and each other Company Subsidiary, is set forth in Section 4.3.2 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, and there are no Equity Interests issued or outstanding in any Company Subsidiary except as set forth thereon. The Company does not directly or indirectly own, and has never owned, any equity or similar interest in, or any interest convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any equity or similar interest in, any other corporation, partnership, joint venture or business association or other entity. All of the outstanding Equity Interests of the Company Subsidiaries are (i)duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and (ii)have been issued and granted in compliance in all material respects with applicable securities Laws and other applicable Law and all preemptive rights and other requirements set forth in applicable contracts to which the applicable Company Subsidiary is a party and the organizational documents of the Company Subsidiaries. Each outstanding Equity Interest of each Company Subsidiary is owned 100 percent by the Company or another Company Subsidiary free and clear of all Liens, options, rights of first refusal and limitations on the Company’s or any Company Subsidiary’s voting or transfer rights other than transfer restrictions under applicable securities laws and their respective organizational documents. |
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4.3.3 | Except as set forth in Section 4.3.3 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, there are no options, warrants, preemptive rights, calls, convertible securities, conversion rights or other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments of any character relating to the issued or unissued Equity Interests of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or obligating the Company or any Company Subsidiary to issue or sell any shares of Equity Interests of, or other equity or voting interests in, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Equity Interests in, the Company or any Company Subsidiary. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is a party to, or otherwise bound by, and neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has granted, any equity appreciation rights, participations, phantom equity, restricted shares, restricted share units, performance shares, contingent value rights or similar securities or rights that are derivative of, or provide economic benefits based, directly or indirectly, on the value or price of, any Equity Interests in the Company or any Company Subsidiary. There are no voting trusts, voting agreements, proxies, shareholder agreements or other agreements to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party, or to the Company’s knowledge, among any holder of Company Shares or any other Equity Interests or other securities of the Company or any Company Subsidiary to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is not a party, with respect to the voting or transfer of the Company Shares or any of the Equity Interests or other securities of the Company. The Company does not own any Equity Interests in any Person. |
4.3.4 | There are no outstanding contractual obligations of the Company or any Company Subsidiary to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Equity Interests of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or to provide funds to or make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in any Person other than a Company Subsidiary. |
4.4 | Authority Relative to this Agreement |
The Company has all necessary corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the Transactions. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the Transactions have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the Transactions. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against each of Seller and the Company in accordance with its terms, except as limited by the Remedies Exceptions.
4.5 | No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents |
4.5.1 | The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company does not, and subject to receipt of the consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, filings and notifications, expiration or termination of waiting periods after filings and other actions contemplated by Section 3.3.2 and assuming all other required filings, waivers, approvals, consents, authorizations and notices disclosed in Section 3.3.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the performance of this Agreement by the Company will not (i) conflict with or violate the certificate of incorporation or bylaws or any equivalent organizational documents of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, (ii) assuming that all consents, approvals, authorizations, expiration or termination of waiting periods and other actions described in Section 3.3.2 have been obtained and all filings and obligations described in Section 3.3.2 have been made, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to the Company or any Company Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Company Subsidiary is bound or affected, or (iii) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under, or give to others any right of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a Lien (other than any Permitted Lien) on any property or asset of the Company or any Company Subsidiary pursuant to, any contract to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party or by which any asset or property of the Company or any Company Subsidiary is bound, except, with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii) above for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults or other occurrences which would not have or reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. |
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4.5.2 | The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company does not, and the performance of this Agreement by the Company will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to, or expiration or termination of any waiting period by, any Governmental Authority, except (i) for applicable requirements, if any, of the Exchange Act, Securities Act, Blue Sky Laws and state takeover Laws, the pre-merger notification requirements of the HSR Act, the NSIA, the PRC National Security Laws, filing and recordation of appropriate merger documents as required by the Cayman Islands Companies Act, and any Other Approvals; and (ii) where the failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications, would not have or would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. |
4.6 | Permits; Compliance |
Each of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries is in possession of all franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, variances, exceptions, consents, certificates, approvals and orders of any Governmental Authority necessary for each of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries to own, lease and operate its properties or to carry on its business as it is now being conducted (the “Company Permits”), except where the failure to have such Company Permits would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. No suspension or cancellation of any of the Company Permits is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is, or has been since the Lookback Date, in conflict with, or in default, breach or violation of, (i) any material Law applicable to the Company or any Company Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Company Subsidiary is bound or affected, or (ii) any Material Contract or Company Permit, except, in each case, for any such conflicts, defaults, breaches or violations that would not have or would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
4.7 | Financial Statements |
4.7.1 | The Company has made available to SPAC in the Virtual Data Room true and complete copies of the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020, and the related unaudited consolidated statements of operations and cash flows of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries for each of the years then ended (collectively, the “Unaudited Financial Statements”), which are attached as Section 4.7.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule. Each of the Unaudited Financial Statements (including any notes thereto) (i) was prepared in accordance with GAAP, applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods indicated and (ii) fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as at the date thereof and for the period indicated therein, except as otherwise noted therein. |
4.7.2 | The Company has made available to SPAC in the Virtual Data Room true and complete copies of the unaudited consolidated interim financial information of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as of and for the nine (9) months ended September 30, 2021 (the “Interim Financial Information”), which are attached as Section 4.7.2 of the Company Disclosure Schedule. The Interim Financial Information fairly present, in all material respects, the financial information of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as at the date thereof and for the period indicated therein, except as otherwise noted therein and subject to normal and recurring adjustments. |
4.7.3 | Except as set forth in Section 4.7.3 of the Company Disclosure Schedule or to the extent set forth on the Interim Financial Information, the Company does not have any liability or obligation of a nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) required to be reflected in a trial balance prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for: (i) liabilities that were incurred in the Ordinary Course since the date of such Interim Financial Information (and, in any event, do not relate to breach of contract, tort or noncompliance with Law), (ii) obligations for future performance under any contract to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party (and, in any event, do not relate to breach of contract, tort or noncompliance with Law) or (iii) such other liabilities and obligations which are not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably expected to be material to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. |
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4.7.4 | Since the Lookback Date, (i) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, employee, auditor, accountant or Representative of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, has received or otherwise had or obtained knowledge of any complaint, allegation, assertion or claim, whether written or, to the knowledge of the Company, oral, regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies or methods of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or their respective internal accounting controls, including any such complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that the Company or any Company Subsidiary has engaged in questionable accounting or auditing practices and (ii) there have been no internal investigations regarding accounting or revenue recognition discussed with, reviewed by or initiated at the direction of the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, general counsel, the Board of Directors of the Company or any committee thereof. |
4.7.5 | To the knowledge of the Company, no employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary has provided or is providing information to any law enforcement agency regarding the commission or possible commission of any crime or the violation or possible violation of any applicable Law. None of the Company, any Company Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company, any officer, employee, contractor, subcontractor or agent of the Company or any Company Subsidiary has discharged, demoted, suspended, threatened, harassed or in any other manner discriminated against an employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary in the terms and conditions of employment because of any act of such employee described in 18 U.S.C. sec. 1514A(a). |
4.8 | Absence of Certain Changes or Events |
4.8.1 | Since December 31, 2020, except as otherwise set forth in Section 4.8.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule or reflected in the Interim Financial Information, or as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, (i) the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses in all material respects in the Ordinary Course, (ii) the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have not sold, assigned, transferred, permitted to lapse, abandoned, or otherwise disposed of any right, title, or interest in or to any of their respective material assets (including Company-Owned IP) other than in the Ordinary Course, (iii) there has not been a Company Material Adverse Effect, and (iv) none of the Company or any Company Subsidiary has taken any action that, if taken after the date of this Agreement, would constitute a material breach of any of the covenants set forth in Section 6.1. |
4.8.2 | Seller represents that no Leakage has occurred between October 1, 2021 (included) and the date of this Agreement (included). |
4.9 | Litigation |
Except as set forth in Section 4.9 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (i) as of the date of this Agreement, there is no (and has not been since the Lookback Date) material litigation, suit, claim, charge, complaint, arbitration, inquiry, grievance, action, proceeding, audit or investigation by or before any Governmental Authority (an “Action”), whether civil, criminal, administrative, regulatory, or otherwise, pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any Company Subsidiary in writing or otherwise, or any property or asset of the Company or any Company Subsidiary and (ii) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary nor any property or asset of the Company or any Company Subsidiary is, subject to any material continuing order of, consent decree, settlement agreement or other similar written agreement with, or continuing investigation by, any Governmental Authority, or any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award of any Governmental Authority.
4.10 | Employee Benefit Plans |
4.10.1 | Section 4.10.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists all executive employment agreements to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party or bound as of the date of this Agreement. Section 4.10.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule also lists, as of the date of this Agreement, all material Employee Benefit Plans that are maintained, contributed to, required to be contributed to, or sponsored by the Company or any Company Subsidiary for the benefit of any current or former employee, officer, director, independent contractor and/or consultant, or under which the Company or any Company Subsidiary has or could reasonably be expected to incur any liability (contingent or otherwise) (collectively, whether or not listed on the Company Disclosure Schedule, the “Plans”). |
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4.10.2 | With respect to each material Plan, the Company has made available to SPAC in the Virtual Data Room, if applicable (i) a true and complete copy of the current plan document and all amendments thereto and each trust or other funding arrangement, (ii) copies of the most recent summary plan description and any summaries of material modifications, (iii) a copy of any annual report and accompanying schedules (or, if not yet filed, the most recent draft thereof) filed with the relevant Governmental Authority, (iv) copies of the most recently received determination from the relevant Governmental Authority, opinion or advisory letter for each such Plan (or, if not yet received, a draft of the application provided to the relevant Governmental Authority for such Plan), and (v) any material non-routine correspondence from any Governmental Authority with respect to any Plan within the past three (3) years. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has any written or other commitment to modify, change or terminate any Plan, other than with respect to a modification, change or termination required by ERISA or the Code, or other applicable Law. |
4.10.3 | None of the Plans is or was within the past six (6) years, nor does the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate have or reasonably expect to have any material liability or obligation under, (i) a multiemployer plan (including within the meaning of Section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA) or defined benefit pension plan, (ii) a single employer pension plan (including within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA) subject to Section 412 of the Code and/or Title IV of ERISA, (iii) a multiple employer plan subject to Section 413(c) of the Code, or (iv) a multiple employer welfare arrangement under Section 3(40) of ERISA. |
4.10.4 | Except as set forth in Section 4.10.4 of the Company Disclosure Schedules, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is nor will be obligated, whether under any Plan or otherwise, to pay any separation, severance, termination or similar benefits to any Person directly as a result of any Transaction contemplated by this Agreement, nor will such Transaction accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or materially increase the amount, of any benefit or other compensation due to any individual. The Transactions shall not be the direct or indirect cause of any amount paid or payable by the Company or any Company Subsidiary being classified as an “excess parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code. |
4.10.5 | Except as set forth on Section 4.10.5 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, none of the Plans provides, nor does the Company nor any Company Subsidiary have or reasonably expect to have any obligation to provide, retiree medical to any current or former employee, officer, director, independent contractor or consultant of the Company or any Company Subsidiary after termination of employment or service except as may be required under Section 4980B of the Code and Parts 6 and 7 of Title I of ERISA and the regulations thereunder or any analogous state or national Law. |
4.10.6 | Each Plan is and has been within the past six (6) years in compliance, in all material respects, with its terms and the requirements of all applicable Laws. The Company and the ERISA Affiliates have performed, in all material respects, all obligations required to be performed by them under, are not in any material respect in default under or in violation of, and have no knowledge of any default or violation in any material respect by any party to, any Plan. No Action is pending or threatened in writing, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened orally, with respect to any Plan (other than claims for benefits in the Ordinary Course) and, to the knowledge of the Company, no fact or event exists that could reasonably be expected to give rise to any such Action, except, in each case, as would not have or would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. |
4.10.7 | Each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code or Section 401(k) of the Code (i) has timely received a favorable determination letter from the IRS with respect to its tax-qualification under Sections 401(a) and 501(a) of the Code or (ii) is entitled to rely on a favorable opinion letter from the IRS, and, in either case, no fact or event has occurred since the date of such determination or opinion letter or letters from the IRS that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualified status of any such Plan. |
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4.10.8 | There has not been any nonexempt prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) nor any reportable events (within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA) with respect to any Plan that could reasonably be expected to result in material liability to the Company. There have been no acts or omissions by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate with respect to a Plan that have given or could reasonably be expected to give rise to any material fines, penalties, Taxes or related charges under Sections 502 or 4071 of ERISA or Section 511 or Chapter 43 of the Code for which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate may be liable. |
4.10.9 | The Company, and each Plan that is a “group health plan” as defined in Section 733(a)(1) of ERISA (each, a “Health Plan”), is and has been in compliance, in all material respects, with the U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (“PPACA”), and no event has occurred, and no condition or circumstance exists, that could reasonably be expected to subject the Company, any ERISA Affiliate, or any Health Plan to any material liability for penalties or excise Taxes under Code Section 4980D or 4980H or any other provision of the PPACA. |
4.10.10 | Each Plan that constitutes a nonqualified deferred compensation plan subject to Section 409A of the Code has been administered and operated in compliance with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, and no additional Tax under Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code has been or could reasonably be expected to be incurred by a participant in any such Plan. |
4.10.11 | All contributions, premiums or payments required to be made with respect to any Plan have been timely made to the extent due or properly accrued on the consolidated financial statements of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, except as would not result in material liability to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries. All non-U.S. Benefit Plans that are intended to be funded and/or book-reserved are funded and/or book-reserved, as appropriate, based upon any applicable law and reasonable actuarial assumptions. |
4.11 | Labor and Employment Matters |
4.11.1 | Section 4.11.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, correct, and complete list of all employees of the Company as of July 26, 2021, and sets forth for each such Person the following: (i) title or position (including whether full or part-time); (ii) classification (exempt or non-exempt); (iii) hire date; (iv) work location; (v) current annual base or hourly compensation rate; (vi) commission, bonus, or other incentive-based compensation and (vii) visa type (including date of expiration), if any. The Company does not have any unsatisfied liability to any previously terminated employee. All employees working in the United States who are classified as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and any applicable state and local wage and hour Laws at all times from the Lookback Date to present have been properly classified as exempt. As of the date of this Agreement, all compensation, including wages, commissions and bonuses, due and payable to all employees of the Company and any Company Subsidiary for services performed on or prior to the date hereof have been paid in full (or accrued in full in the Company’s financial statements). All employees working in the United States are legally authorized to work in the United States and timely completed a Form I-9. The Company nor any Company Subsidiary have made, directly or indirectly, any written or oral representations to any current or former employee promising or guaranteeing, or otherwise concerning, any employment, offer of employment, or terms and conditions of employment (including salary, wages, employee benefits, or visa sponsorship or renewal) to take effect, be implemented, or commence upon or after the date of this Agreement. |
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4.11.2 | Since the Lookback Date and through the date of this Agreement, no employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary is or has been represented by a labor union, works council, trade union, or similar representative of employees and neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is a party to, subject to, or bound by a collective bargaining agreement or any other contract or agreement with a labor union, works council, trade union, or similar representative of employees. Since the Lookback Date and through the date of this Agreement, there are and have been no strikes, lockouts or work stoppages existing or threatened in writing, or, to the knowledge of the Company, orally, with respect to any employees or the Company or any Company Subsidiaries or any other individuals who provide or have provided services with respect to the Company or any Company Subsidiaries. Since the Lookback Date and through the date of this Agreement, there have been no union certification or representation petitions or demands with respect to the Company or any Company Subsidiaries or any of their employees and, to the Company’s knowledge, no union organizing campaign or similar effort is pending or threatened with respect to the Company, any Company Subsidiaries, or any of their employees. Since the Lookback Date and through the date of this Agreement, there are not and have not been any unfair labor practice charges or complaints against the Company or any Company Subsidiaries pending or threatened before the National Labor Relations Board. |
4.11.3 | Except as set forth on Section 4.11.3 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, as of the date of this Agreement, there are no Actions pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any Company Subsidiary by any of their respective current or former employees. There are not any pending or, to the knowledge of Company, threatened, charges against the Company, any Company Subsidiary, or any of its employees before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any state or local agency responsible for the prevention of unlawful employment practices. Except as set forth on Section 4.11.3 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has not received any written communication during the Lookback Date through the date of this Agreement of the intent of any Governmental Entity responsible for the enforcement of labor or employment Laws to conduct an investigation of the Company or any Company Subsidiary and, to the knowledge of the Company, no such investigation is in progress. |
4.11.4 | The Company and the Company Subsidiaries are and have been since the date that is four years prior to the date hereof in material compliance with all applicable Laws relating to labor and employment, including but not limited to all Laws relating to wages, hours, compensation, meal and rest breaks, wage statements, fringe benefits, termination of employment, employment policies or practices, immigration, terms and conditions of employment, child labor, labor or employee relations, classification of employees, affirmative action, equal employment opportunity and fair employment practices, disability rights or benefits, workers’ compensation, unemployment compensation and insurance, health insurance continuation, whistle-blowing, harassment, discrimination, retaliation or employee safety or health (including regulations and guidance promulgated by applicable healthcare and regulatory authorities related to COVID-19), and neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is liable for any arrears of wages, penalties or other sums for failure to comply with any of the foregoing. Each employee of the Company and each Company Subsidiary and any other individual who has provided services with respect to the Company or any Company Subsidiary has been paid (and as of the Closing will have been paid) all wages, bonuses, compensation and other sums owed and due to such individual as of such date in all material respects. |
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4.11.5 | Except as set forth on Section 4.10.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (i) all Persons employed by the Company or any Company Subsidiary in the United States, or engaged by the Company or any Company Subsidiary as independent contractors in the United States, are employed or engaged at-will or otherwise employed or engaged such that the Company or Company Subsidiary may lawfully terminate their employment or engagement at any time, with or without cause, and (ii) such termination will not give rise to any material liability of the Company or any Company Subsidiary. |
4.11.6 | The Company nor any Company Subsidiary has ever incurred liability, penalty or other charge under the Workers Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act, 29 U.S.C. § 2101 et seq., or any comparable state or local Law. No key employee or group of employees has informed the Company or any Company Subsidiary of any plans to terminate his, her or their employment with the Company or any Company Subsidiary as of the date of this Agreement. |
4.12 | Real Property; Title to Assets |
4.12.1 | The Company does not own any real property. |
4.12.2 | Section 4.12.2 of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists the street address of each parcel of Leased Real Property, and sets forth a list of each material lease, sublease, and license pursuant to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary leases, subleases or licenses any real property (each, a “Lease”), with the name of the lessor and the date of the Lease in connection therewith and each material amendment to any of the foregoing (collectively, the “Lease Documents”). True, correct and complete copies of all Lease Documents have been made available to SPAC in the Virtual Data Room. (i) There are no Leases, concessions or other contracts granting to any Person other than the Company or Company Subsidiaries the right to use or occupy any real property, and (ii) all such Leases are in full force and effect, are valid and enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, subject to the Remedies Exceptions, and there is not, under any of such Leases, any existing default or event of default (or event which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) by the Company or any Company Subsidiary or, to the Company’s knowledge, by the other party to such Leases, except those that would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect. |
4.12.3 | There are no contractual or legal restrictions that preclude or restrict the ability of the Company or any Company Subsidiary to use any Leased Real Property by such party for the purposes for which it is currently being used, except those that would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect. There are no latent defects or adverse physical conditions affecting the Leased Real Property, and improvements thereon, except those that would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect. |
4.12.4 | Each of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries has legal and valid title to, or, in the case of Leased Real Property and assets, valid leasehold or subleasehold interests in, all of its properties and assets, tangible and intangible, real, personal and mixed, used or held for use in its business, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens, except those that would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect. |
4.12.5 | The assets owned by the Company and the Company Subsidiaries and the employees of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries are all of the assets and individuals used by the Company and the Company Subsidiaries with respect to the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as conducted in the Ordinary Course, and such assets and individuals comprise all of the assets, individuals and rights necessary for the ownership and operation of the assets of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries and to carry out the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries substantially in the same manner as of the date of this Agreement. |
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4.12.6 | All of the Asset Credit Support that has provided by, on behalf of, or for the benefit of, the Company or any Company Subsidiary is set forth on Section 4.12.6 of the Company Disclosure Schedule. True, correct and complete copies of such Asset Credit Support have been made available to SPAC. Such Asset Credit Support constitute all of the credit and other contractual support and assurance that the Company or any Company Subsidiary is currently required by any Law (including any Company Permit) or agreement to provide. |
4.13 | Intellectual Property |
4.13.1 | Section 4.13.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule contains a true, correct and complete list of all of the following that are owned or purported to be owned, used or held for use by the Company and/or the Company Subsidiaries: (i) Registered Intellectual Property constituting Company-Owned IP (showing in each, as applicable, the filing date, date of issuance, expiration date and registration or application number, and registrar); (ii) all contracts or agreements to use any Company-Licensed IP that are material to the business of the Company and/or the Company Subsidiaries as currently conducted (other than (a) unmodified, commercially available, “off-the-shelf” Software with a replacement cost and aggregate annual license and maintenance fees of less than $50,000 and (b) commercially available service agreements to Business Systems that have an individual service or subscription fee of less than $50,000 per annum); and (iii) any Software or Business Systems constituting Company-Owned IP that are either (a) incorporated into or used in connection with the Products or (b) otherwise material to the business of the Company or any Company Subsidiary as currently conducted or as contemplated to be conducted as of the date hereof. The Company IP (x) constitutes all material Intellectual Property rights used in, or necessary for, the operation of the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries and (y) is sufficient for the conduct of such business substantially as conducted as of the date of this Agreement and intended to be conducted following the date of this Agreement. |
4.13.2 | The Company or one of the Company Subsidiaries solely owns and possesses, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), all right, title and interest in and to the Company-Owned IP and has the right to use pursuant to a valid and enforceable written contract or license, all Company-Licensed IP. All Company-Owned IP is subsisting and valid and enforceable. No loss or expiration of any of the Company-Owned IP is threatened in writing, or, other than upon expiration of its statutory term in the Ordinary Course, pending. |
4.13.3 | The Company and each of its applicable Company Subsidiaries have taken and take reasonable actions to maintain, protect and enforce Intellectual Property rights, including the secrecy, confidentiality and value of its trade secrets and other Confidential Information. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiaries has disclosed any trade secrets or other Confidential Information that relates to the Products or is otherwise material to the business of the Company and any applicable Company Subsidiaries to any other Person other than pursuant to a written confidentiality agreement under which such other Person agrees to maintain the confidentiality and protect such Confidential Information. |
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4.13.4 | Except as set forth in Section 4.13.4 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, since the Lookback Date: (i) as of the date of this Agreement, there have been no claims filed and served or threatened in writing, against the Company or any Company Subsidiary, by any Person (a) contesting the validity, use, ownership, enforceability, patentability or registrability of any of the Company IP or (b) alleging any infringement or misappropriation of, or other violation of, any Intellectual Property rights of other Persons (including any unsolicited demands or offers to license any Intellectual Property rights from any other Person); (ii) the operation of the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries (including the Products) has not and does not infringe, misappropriate or violate any Intellectual Property rights of other Persons; (iii) no other Person has infringed, misappropriated or violated any of the Company-Owned IP in any material respect; and (iv) neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has received written notice of any of the foregoing or received any opinion of counsel regarding the foregoing. |
4.13.5 | Except as set forth on Section 4.13.5 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, all Persons who have contributed, developed or conceived any Company-Owned IP have executed valid and enforceable written agreements with the Company or one of the Company Subsidiaries, substantially in the form made available to SPAC in the Virtual Data Room, and pursuant to which such Persons assigned to the Company or the applicable Company Subsidiary all of their entire right, title, and interest in and to any Intellectual Property created, conceived or otherwise developed by such Person in the course of and related to his, her or its relationship with the Company or the applicable Company Subsidiary, without further consideration or any restrictions or obligations whatsoever, including on the use or other disposition or ownership of such Intellectual Property. |
4.13.6 | None of the Company, any of the Company Subsidiaries or, to the Company’s knowledge, any other Person is in breach or default of any agreement specified in Section 4.13.1(ii) of the Company Disclosure Schedule. |
4.13.7 | Section 4.13.7 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of all Open Source Software that has been used in, incorporated into, integrated or bundled with any Products, and for each such item of Open Source Software, the manner in which such Open Source Software is used in, incorporated into, integrated or bundled with any Products (including, as applicable, the applicable Product or Products, whether such Open Source Software is modified and whether such Open Source Software is dynamically or statically linked). |
4.13.8 | The Company and Company Subsidiaries do not use and have not used any Open Source Software or any modification or derivative thereof (i) in a manner that would grant or purport to grant to any other Person any rights to or immunities under any of the Company IP, or (ii) under any Reciprocal License, to license or provide the source code to any of the Business Systems or Product components for the purpose of making derivative works, or to make available for redistribution to any Person the source code to any of the Business Systems or Product components at no or minimal charge. |
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4.14 | Information Technology |
Except as set forth on Section 4.14 of the Company Disclosure Schedule:
4.14.1 | the Business IT is operational and free from known material defects, operates at the Company’s foreseen capacity, is presently maintained, and runs on versions of the software that are still supported for both functional and technical fixes by the Company or the applicable provider or vendor of the applicable software; |
4.14.2 | in the past two years, there have been no material failures or performance reductions or breakdowns of any Business IT which have had (or are having) a Company Material Adverse Effect; |
4.14.3 | the Information Technology and the databases used by the Company are adequate in all material respects to fulfill the requirements of the operations of its business in the manner, scope, and extent as currently conducted; and |
4.14.4 | the Business IT does not contain 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, any of the following functions: (i) materially disrupting, disabling, harming, or otherwise materially impeding in any manner the operation of, or providing unauthorized access to, a computer system or network or other device on which such code is stored or installed, or (ii) damaging, destroying or rendering inaccessible (e.g., through encryption) any data or file without the user’s consent. |
4.15 | Privacy and Data Protection |
Except as set forth on Section 4.15 of the Company Disclosure Schedule and/or as would not be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect:
4.15.1 | since the Lookback Date, the Company has materially complied with all applicable requirements of applicable Data Protection Legislation; |
4.15.2 | since the Lookback Date, no Data Protection Authority, and no individual, private party, or organization, has alleged that the Company has failed to comply with Data Protection Legislation, or threatened to conduct an investigation into or take enforcement action against the Company or threatened in writing to initiate a complaint or proceeding against the Company, in each foregoing case, in writing or another duly documented manner; |
4.15.3 | the Company has implemented, maintains and has at all times since the Lookback Date complied with a written information security plan, containing commercially reasonable physical, administrative, and technical security measures designed to (a) protect the confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility of the Company’s Business IT, and (b) protect the Personal Data it stores and controls against unauthorized access, modification, disclosure, or use, in a manner appropriate to the risks involved in the processing of the Personal Data and in compliance with applicable Data Protection Legislation and the Company’s internal policies. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such measures may include, as appropriate: (i) periodic testing of data security measures and prompt remediation of any critical or severe vulnerabilities identified; (ii) training of all employees who handle Personal Data, with requirements that all such employees and contractors are contractually bound to written non-disclosure obligations; (iii) execution of written agreements with any third party or subcontractor that processes Personal Data on behalf of the Company; (iv) incident response plans and procedures; (v) a privacy governance program led by a dedicated team responsible for data protection; (vi) encryption of Personal Data transmitted over unsecured networks; (vii) complexity, history, expiration, and/or lockout requirements for employee passwords; (viii) role-based access to Personal Data for employees; or (ix) event logging; |
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4.15.4 | the Company’s privacy policies materially comply with the requirements of applicable Data Protection Legislation and have been communicated to all relevant individuals or posted at the point of collection of Personal Data by the Company. The Company’s privacy policies disclose how the Company collects, uses, retains, and discloses Personal Data it collects in accordance with applicable Data Protection Legislation. The Company’s privacy policies have been updated within the twelve (12) months prior to the date hereof; |
4.15.5 | the Company has put in place appropriate and reasonable policies and procedures, including self-assessment processes to identify and minimize risk when processing Personal Data, with respect to compliance with the requirements of applicable Data Protection Legislation; |
4.15.6 | the Company has taken commercially reasonable steps to ensure that all vendors, third-party service providers, and contractors, or other persons who process, store, or otherwise handle Personal Data for or on behalf of the Company have agreed to materially comply with applicable Data Protection Legislation and taken reasonable steps to protect and secure Personal Data form loss, theft, misuse, or unauthorized access, use, modification, or disclosure; |
4.15.7 | the Company reviews its data retention periods for Personal Data on a regular basis; |
4.15.8 | the Company has policies in place designed to ensure that all cross-border transfers of Personal Data comply with Data Protection Legislation; |
4.15.9 | the Company has complied with and fulfilled all bona fide, verified requests made by individuals regarding the exercise of data subject rights under the Data Protection Legislation, and there are no such requests outstanding at the date of this Agreement; and |
4.15.10 | Except as disclosed in Section 4.15.10 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, for the past three (3) years, the Company has not become aware of or reasonably suspected any material Security Breach requiring notice to impacted individuals or Data Protection Authorities, and to the Company’s knowledge, no vendor or service provider has experienced a material Security Breach affecting Company Personal Data and requiring notice to impacted individuals or Data Protection Authorities. |
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4.16 | Taxes |
4.16.1 | Except as set forth on Section 4.16.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, since the date that is four years prior to the date hereof, all income Tax Returns, and all other material Tax Returns required to be filed by the Company and each of the Company Subsidiaries have been duly and timely filed (taking into account any extension of time to file), and all such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects. |
4.16.2 | Except as set forth on Section 4.16.2 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, since the date that is four years prior to the date hereof, all material Taxes that are required to be paid by the Company and each of the Company Subsidiaries (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been timely paid in full to the appropriate Taxing Authority. |
4.16.3 | Except as set forth on Section 4.16.3 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have provided adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP in the Interim Financial Information for any material Taxes of the Company or any Company Subsidiary as of the date of the Interim Financial Information that have not been paid. |
4.16.4 | Since the date that is four years prior to the date hereof, no outstanding claim, assessment or deficiency against the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries for any material Taxes has been asserted or threatened in writing by any Taxing Authority. |
4.16.5 | No audit, examination, investigation, litigation or other administrative or judicial proceeding in respect of Taxes or Tax matters is pending, being conducted, or has been announced or threatened in writing since the date that is four years prior to the date hereof, with respect to the Company or any Company Subsidiary; |
4.16.6 | Since the date that is four years prior to the date hereof, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has received written notice of any claim from a Taxing Authority in a jurisdiction in which the Company or any Company Subsidiary does not file Tax Returns stating that the Company or any Company Subsidiary is or may be subject to Tax in such jurisdiction. |
4.16.7 | Since the date that is four years prior to the date hereof, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has waived any statute of limitations with respect to Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency (other than pursuant to customary extensions of the due date for filing a Tax Return obtained in the Ordinary Course of business). |
4.16.8 | Except as set forth on Section 4.16.8 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, there are no Liens or encumbrances for material Taxes upon any of the assets of the Company or any Company Subsidiary except for Permitted Liens. |
4.16.9 | Since the date that is four years prior to the date hereof, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have withheld or collected and timely paid to the appropriate Taxing Authority all material Taxes required to have been withheld or collected and paid in connection with any amounts paid or owing to any current or former employee, independent contractor, creditor, equityholder or other Person, and, to the Company’s knowledge, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have in all material respects complied with applicable Tax Laws relating to the payment and withholding of Taxes. |
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4.16.10 | Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is a party to, or bound by, any Tax indemnity, Tax sharing or Tax allocation agreement or similar contract or arrangement, in each case, other than any agreement, contract or arrangement entered into in the Ordinary Course and the primary purpose of which does not relate to Taxes. |
4.16.11 | Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has any material liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than the Company or any Company Subsidiary) as a result of being a member of an affiliated, aggregate, combined, consolidated or unitary Tax group, fiscal unity or unified group (including pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or any similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Law), as a transferee or successor, by contract (other than a contract entered into in the Ordinary Course and the primary purpose of which does not relate to Taxes) or otherwise. |
4.16.12 | Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is a party to any material ruling, closing agreement, or similar agreement or arrangement with a Taxing Authority and neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has any request for a material ruling in respect of Taxes pending between the Company or any Company Subsidiary, on the one hand, and any Taxing Authority, on the other hand. |
4.16.13 | The Company has made available to SPAC true, correct and complete copies of (i) all U.S. federal income Tax Returns filed by the Company for any taxable period ending on or after December 31, 2018, and (ii) all audit or examination reports, notices of proposed adjustments, statements of deficiencies or similar correspondence received by or with respect to the Company or any Company Subsidiary for any taxable period ending on or after December 31, 2018. |
4.16.14 | Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has been a “United States real property holding corporation” within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code. |
4.16.15 | The Company and any Company Subsidiary created or organized in the United States or under the Laws of the United States or of any United States state is, and has been since the date that is four years prior to the date hereof, classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
4.16.16 | Except as set forth on Section 4.16.16 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has within the last two years distributed the Equity Interests of another Person, or has had its Equity Interests distributed by another Person, in a transaction that was purported or intended to be governed in whole or in part by Section 355 or Section 361 of the Code. |
4.16.17 | Except as set forth on Section 4.16.17 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is a resident for income tax purposes or has a permanent establishment (within the meaning of the applicable Tax treaty or convention) in a country other than the country in which it is organized. |
4.16.18 | Except as set forth on Section 4.16.18 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company and each Company Subsidiary is in compliance with all applicable transfer pricing Laws, including the execution and maintenance of contemporaneous documentation substantiating the transfer pricing practice and methodology where material flows are involved. The prices for any property or service (or for the use of any property), including interest and other prices for financial services, provided by or to the Company or any Subsidiary are arm’s length prices for purposes of the relevant transfer pricing Laws, including Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 482 of the Code. |
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4.17 | Material Contracts |
4.17.1 | Section 4.17.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists, as of the date of this Agreement, the following types of contracts and agreements to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party (such contracts and agreements as are required to be set forth on Section 4.17.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule being the “Material Contracts”): |
(i) | each contract and agreement with consideration paid or payable to or by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries of more than $2,750,000, in the aggregate, over the twelve (12)-month period prior to the date hereof; |
(ii) | each contract and agreement with the Company’s top ten (10) customers and top ten (10) Suppliers based on the aggregate amounts paid by or to the Company, as applicable, and the Company Subsidiaries, in the twelve (12)-month period ending on the date hereof; |
(iii) | each agreement to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party (other than this Agreement) that is of a type that would be required to be included as an exhibit to a registration statement on Form S-1 pursuant to Items 601(b)(2), (4), (9) or (10) of Regulation S-K of the SEC if such a registration statement was filed by the Company on the date of this Agreement; |
(iv) | all management contracts (excluding contracts for employment) and contracts with other consultants, in each case, with compensation paid or payable by the Company or any Company Subsidiary of more than $250,000, in the aggregate, over any twelve (12)-month period; |
(v) | all broker, distributor, dealer, manufacturer’s representative, franchise, agency, sales promotion, market research, marketing consulting and advertising contracts and agreements to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party that provide for payments by the Company or any Company Subsidiary or to the Company or any Company Subsidiary in excess of $250,000, in the aggregate, over any twelve (12)-month period; |
(vi) | each contract and agreement (a) with any of the Affiliates of the Company or (b) pursuant to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary receives any “preferred pricing” or similar benefit that is utilized by the Company or any Company Subsidiary in the Ordinary Course; |
(vii) | all contracts or agreements under which the Company has paid royalties or other amounts calculated based upon the revenues or income of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, or income or revenues related to any Product of the Company or any Company Subsidiary to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party, in the twelve (12)-month period ending on the date hereof; |
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(viii) | all contracts and agreements evidencing Indebtedness, and any pledge agreements, security agreements or other collateral agreements in which the Company or any Company Subsidiary granted to any Person a security interest in or Lien on any of the property or assets of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, and all agreements or instruments guaranteeing the debts or other obligations of any Person; |
(ix) | all leases or master leases of personal property reasonably likely to result in annual payments of $100,000 or more in a twelve (12)-month period; |
(x) | all partnership, joint venture or similar agreements; |
(xi) | all contracts and agreements with any Governmental Authority to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party, other than any Company Permits; |
(xii) | all contracts and agreements that limit, or purport to limit, the ability of the Company or any Company Subsidiary to compete in any line of business or with any Person or entity or in any geographic area or during any period of time, excluding customary confidentiality agreements and agreements that contain customary confidentiality clauses; |
(xiii) | all contracts involving use of any Company-Licensed IP required to be listed in Section 4.13.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule; |
(xiv) | contracts which involve the license or grant of rights to Company-Owned IP by the Company; |
(xv) | all contracts or arrangements that result in any person or entity holding a power of attorney from the Company or any Company Subsidiary that relates to the Company, any Company Subsidiary or their respective business; |
(xvi) | all contracts or agreements under which the Company has agreed to purchase goods or services from a vendor, Supplier or other Person on a preferred supplier or “most favored supplier” basis; |
(xvii) | agreement for the development of Company-Owned IP for the benefit of the Company; and |
(xviii) | all contracts and agreements involving any resolution or settlement of any actual or threatened Action or other dispute which require payment in excess of $100,000 or impose continuing obligations on the Company or any Company Subsidiary, including injunctive or other non-monetary relief. |
4.17.2 | (i) Each Material Contract is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, the other parties thereto, and neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is in breach or violation of, or default under, any Material Contract nor has any Material Contract been canceled by the other party; (ii) to the Company’s knowledge, no other party is in breach or violation of, or default under, any Material Contract; and (iii) the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have not received any written or, to the knowledge of the Company, oral claim of default under any such Material Contract. No party to a Material Contract has given written notice of or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened (a) any potential exercise of termination rights with respect to any Material Contract or (b) any non-renewal or modification of any Material Contract, except, in each case of the foregoing (i) through (iii) above, for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults or other occurrences which would not be expected to be material to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. |
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4.17.3 | The Company has furnished or made available to SPAC in the Virtual Data Room true and complete copies of all Material Contracts, including amendments thereto that are material in nature. |
4.18 | Insurance |
4.18.1 | Section 4.18.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth, with respect to each material insurance policy under which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is an insured (the “Insurance Policies”), a named insured or otherwise the principal beneficiary of coverage as of the date of this Agreement (i) the names of the insurer, the principal insured and each named insured, (ii) the policy number, (iii) the period, scope and amount of coverage and (iv) to the extent stated in such Insurance Policy, the premium most recently charged. |
4.18.2 | With respect to each such Insurance Policy, and except as would not be expected to be material to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole: (i) the policy is legal, valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms (subject to the Remedies Exceptions) and, except for policies that have expired under their terms in the Ordinary Course, is in full force and effect; (ii) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is in breach or default (including any such breach or default with respect to the payment of premiums or the giving of notice), and no event has occurred which, with notice or the lapse of time, would constitute such a breach or default, or permit termination or modification, under the policy; and (iii) to the knowledge of the Company, no insurer on the policy has been declared insolvent or placed in receivership, conservatorship or liquidation. |
4.19 | Board Approval; Vote Required |
The approval of Seller is the only corporate approval necessary for the Company to adopt this Agreement and approve the Transactions. Prior to the date hereof, Seller, as sole stockholder of the Company, has approved and adopted this Agreement and the Transactions by written consent, which has not subsequently been rescinded or modified in any way.
4.20 | Certain Business Practices |
4.20.1 | The Company and the Company Subsidiaries, their respective officers and directors, and, to the knowledge of the Company, any agents or other third-party representatives acting on behalf of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, are currently, and for the past three (3) years have been, in compliance with all applicable Sanctions and Ex-Im Laws. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary, nor any of their respective officers, directors, or employees, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any agents or other third-party representatives acting on behalf of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, are currently, or have been since the Lookback Date: (i) a Sanctioned Person; (ii) organized, resident, or located in a Sanctioned Country; (iii) operating, conducting business, or participating in any transaction in any Sanctioned Country, to the extent such activities violate applicable Sanctions or Ex-Im Laws; or (iv) to the knowledge of the Company, engaging in dealings with any Sanctioned Person, to the extent such activities violate applicable Sanctions or Ex-Im Laws. |
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4.20.2 | (i) The Company and the Company Subsidiaries, and their respective officers, directors, employees and, to the knowledge of the Company, any agents or other third-party representatives to the extent they act on behalf of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, are currently, and for the past three (3) years have been, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Anti-Corruption Laws, and (ii) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary, nor any of their respective officers, directors, or employees nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any agents or other third-party representatives acting on behalf of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, has, directly or indirectly, corruptly offered, paid, given, promised to pay or give, or authorized the payment or giving of any money or anything of value to any officer or employee of any government, or any department, agency or instrumentality thereof, any public international organization (such as the World Bank or the United Nations) or foreign political party, or to any Person acting on behalf of such government, department, agency, instrumentality, public international organization, or foreign political party (“Government Official”), or to any political official or candidate for political office, in order to influence decisions of such Government Official or political official or candidate, or to induce such Government Official or political official or candidate to take or omit to take any action, to secure any improper business advantage, or for any other prohibited purpose (within the meaning of applicable Anti-Corruption Laws), or to any other Person for a prohibited purpose (within the meaning of applicable Anti-Corruption Laws). |
4.21 | Interested Party Transactions |
Except as set forth on Section 4.21 of the Company Disclosure Schedule and for employment relationships and the payment of compensation, benefits and expense reimbursements and advances in the Ordinary Course: (i) no director, officer or other Affiliate of the Company or any Company Subsidiary has or has had, directly or indirectly: (a) an economic interest in any Person that has furnished or sold, or furnishes or sells, services or Products that the Company or any Company Subsidiary furnishes or sells, or proposes to furnish or sell; (b) an economic interest in any Person that purchases from or sells or furnishes any goods or services to the Company or any Company Subsidiary; or (c) a beneficial interest in any Material Contract; and (ii) the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have not (a) extended or maintained credit, arranged for the extension of credit or renewed an extension of credit in the form of a personal loan to or for any director or executive officer (or equivalent thereof) of the Company, or (b) materially modified any term of any such extension or maintenance of credit.
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4.22 | Exchange Act |
Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is currently (nor has it previously been) subject to the requirements of Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
4.23 | Brokers |
Except as set forth on Section 4.23 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Affiliates. The Company has provided SPAC with a true and complete copy of all contracts, agreements and arrangements, including its engagement letter, between the Company and any entity listed on Section 4.23 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, other than those that have expired or terminated and as to which no further services are contemplated thereunder to be provided in the future.
4.24 | The Company’s Investigation and Reliance |
The Company is a sophisticated party and has made its own independent investigation, review and analysis regarding SPAC, New Holdco, New SPAC and the Transactions, which investigation, review and analysis were conducted by the Company together with expert advisors, including legal counsel, that it has engaged for such purpose. The Company and its Representatives have been provided with full and complete access to the Representatives, properties, offices, plants and other facilities, books and records of SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC and other information that they have requested in connection with their investigation of SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC and the Transactions. The Company is not relying on any statement, representation or warranty, oral or written, express or implied, made by SPAC, New Holdco, New SPAC or any of their respective Representatives, except as expressly set forth in Article 5 (as modified by the SPAC Disclosure Schedules or SPAC SEC Reports) or in any certificate delivered by SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC pursuant to this Agreement. None of SPAC, New Holdco, New SPAC, nor any of their respective stockholders, Affiliates or Representatives shall have any liability to the Company or any of its respective shareholders, stockholders or other equityholders (as applicable), Affiliates or Representatives resulting from the use of any information, documents or materials made available to the Company or any of its Representatives, whether orally or in writing, in any confidential information memoranda, “data rooms,” management presentations, due diligence discussions or in any other form in expectation of the Transactions. The Company acknowledges that none of SPAC, New Holdco, New SPAC, nor any of their stockholders, Affiliates or Representatives is making, directly or indirectly, any representation or warranty with respect to any estimates, projections or forecasts involving SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC.
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4.25 | Exclusivity of Representations and Warranties |
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Article 4 (as modified by the Company Disclosure Schedule), the Company hereby expressly disclaims and negates any other express or implied representation or warranty whatsoever (whether at Law or in equity) with respect to the Company, its Affiliates, and any matter relating to any of them, including their affairs, the condition, value or quality of the assets, liabilities, financial condition or results of operations, or with respect to the accuracy or completeness of any other information made available to SPAC, its Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives by, or on behalf of, the Company, and any such representations or warranties are expressly disclaimed. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement (as modified by the Company Disclosure Schedule) or in any certificate delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, neither the Company nor any other Person on behalf of the Company has made or makes any representation or warranty, whether express or implied, with respect to any projections, forecasts, estimates or budgets made available to SPAC, its Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives of future revenues, future results of operations (or any component thereof), future cash flows or future financial condition (or any component thereof) of the Company (including the reasonableness of the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing), whether or not included in any management presentation or in any other information made available to SPAC, its Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives or any other Person, and any such representations or warranties are expressly disclaimed.
5 | Representations and Warranties of SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC |
Except as set forth in the SPAC’s disclosure schedule delivered by SPAC in connection with this Agreement (the “SPAC Disclosure Schedule”), the SPAC SEC Reports (to the extent the qualifying nature of such disclosure is readily apparent from the content of such SPAC SEC Reports, but excluding disclosures referred to in “Forward-Looking Statements”, “Risk Factors” and any other disclosures therein to the extent they are of a predictive or cautionary nature or related to forward-looking statements, and provided, further, that nothing disclosed in such a SPAC SEC Report will be deemed to modify or qualify the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.1, Section 5.2, Section 5.4, Section 5.12 and Section 5.16, SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC jointly and severally hereby represent and warrant to Seller as follows:
5.1 | Corporate Organization |
5.1.1 | Each of SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC is an exempted company, corporation or limited liability company, as applicable, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, as applicable, and has the requisite corporate or limited liability company power and authority and all necessary governmental approvals to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, except where the failure to have such power, authority and governmental approvals would not be a SPAC Material Adverse Effect. |
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5.1.2 | New Holdco and New SPAC are the only Subsidiaries of SPAC. Except for New Holdco and New SPAC, SPAC does not directly or indirectly own any equity or similar interest in, or any interest convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any equity or similar interest in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture or business association or other Person. |
5.2 | Organizational Documents |
Each of SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC has heretofore furnished to the Company complete and correct copies of the SPAC Organizational Documents relevant to them. The SPAC Organizational Documents are in full force and effect. None of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC is in violation of any of the provisions of the SPAC Organizational Documents relevant to them.
5.3 | Capitalization |
5.3.1 | The authorized share capital of SPAC consists of (i) 200,000,000 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, (ii) 20,000,000 SPAC Founders Shares and (iii) 1,000,000 preference shares, par value $0.0001 per share (“SPAC Preferred Shares”). As of the date of this Agreement (i) 37,950,000 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares are issued and outstanding, all of which are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to any preemptive rights, (ii) 9,487,000 SPAC Founders Shares are issued and outstanding, all of which are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to any preemptive rights, (iii) no SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares or SPAC Founders Shares are held in the treasury of SPAC, (iv) 19,776,667 SPAC Warrants are issued and outstanding, and (v) 7,126,667 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares are reserved for future issuance pursuant to the SPAC Warrants. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no shares of SPAC Preferred Shares issued and outstanding. Each SPAC Warrant is exercisable for one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share at an exercise price of $11.50, subject to the terms of such SPAC Warrant and the SPAC Warrant Agreement. The SPAC Founders Shares will convert into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at the Closing pursuant to the terms of the SPAC Articles of Association. |
5.3.2 | As of the date of this Agreement, the New Holdco Common Stock are the only issued and outstanding Equity Interests in New Holdco and SPAC owns 100 per cent of the New Holdco Common Stock free and clear of all Liens, options, rights of first refusal and limitations on voting or transfer rights other than transfer restrictions under applicable securities laws and New Holdco’s organizational documents. All such New Holdco Common Stock are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. All such New Holdco Common Stock have been issued and granted in compliance in all material respects with (i) applicable securities Laws and other applicable Law and (ii) all preemptive rights and other requirements set forth in applicable contracts to which New Holdco is a party and the organizational documents of New Holdco. |
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5.3.3 | As of the date of this Agreement, the New SPAC Interests are the only issued and outstanding Equity Interests in New SPAC and New Holdco owns 100 per cent of the New SPAC Interests free and clear of all Liens, options, rights of first refusal and limitations on voting or transfer rights other than transfer restrictions under applicable securities laws and New SPAC’s organizational documents. All such New SPAC Interests are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. All such Equity Interests have been issued and granted in compliance in all material respects with (i) applicable securities Laws and other applicable Law and (ii) all preemptive rights and other requirements set forth in applicable contracts to which New SPAC is a party and the organizational documents of New SPAC. |
5.3.4 | All outstanding SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, SPAC Founders Shares and SPAC Warrants have been issued and granted in compliance in all material respects with all applicable securities laws and other applicable Laws and were issued free and clear of all Liens other than transfer restrictions under applicable securities laws and the SPAC Articles of Association. |
5.3.5 | Except for the Subscription Agreements, this Agreement, the SPAC Warrants and the SPAC Founders Shares, or as set forth on Section 5.3.5 of the SPAC Disclosure Schedule, SPAC has not issued any options, warrants, preemptive rights, calls, convertible securities or other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments of any character relating to the issued or unissued share capital of SPAC or obligating SPAC to issue or sell any share capital of, or other Equity Interests in, SPAC. All SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Founders Shares subject to issuance as aforesaid, upon issuance on the terms and conditions specified in the instruments pursuant to which they are issuable, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. Neither SPAC nor any Subsidiary of SPAC is a party to, or otherwise bound by, and neither SPAC nor any Subsidiary of SPAC has granted, any equity appreciation rights, participations, phantom equity or similar rights. Except for the Transaction Support Agreement and any other agreement set forth in the SPAC SEC Reports, SPAC is not a party to any voting trusts, voting agreements, proxies, shareholder agreements or other agreements with respect to the voting or transfer of SPAC Ordinary Shares or any of the Equity Interests or other securities of SPAC or any of its Subsidiaries. Except with respect to the Redemption Rights and the SPAC Warrants, there are no outstanding contractual obligations of SPAC to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of SPAC Ordinary Shares. There are no outstanding contractual obligations of SPAC to make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in any Person. |
5.3.6 | Except for the Subscription Agreements and as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, there are no options, warrants, preemptive rights, calls, convertible securities, conversion rights or other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments of any character relating to the issued or unissued capital stock or other Equity Interests of New Holdco or New SPAC or obligating New Holdco or New SPAC to issue or sell any shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of capital stock, or other equity or other voting interests in, New Holdco or New SPAC. As of the date of this Agreement, neither New Holdco or New SPAC is a party to, or otherwise bound by, and neither New Holdco or New SPAC has granted, any equity appreciation rights, participations, phantom equity, restricted shares, restricted share units, performance shares, contingent value rights or similar securities or rights that are derivative of, or provide economic benefits based, directly or indirectly, on the value or price of, any capital stock of, or other securities or ownership interests in, New Holdco or New SPAC. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no voting trusts, voting agreements, proxies, shareholder agreements or other agreements to which New Holdco or New SPAC is a party or, to the SPAC’s knowledge, among any holder of Equity Interests to which New Holdco or New SPAC is not a party, with respect to the voting or transfer of such Equity Interests. |
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5.4 | Authority Relative to This Agreement |
Each of SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC has all necessary corporate or limited liability company power and authority, as applicable, to execute and deliver this Agreement and, subject to the receipt of SPAC Shareholder Approval, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the Transactions. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC and the consummation by each of SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC of the Transactions have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate or limited liability company action, as applicable, and no other corporate or limited liability company proceedings on the part of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the Transactions (other than the receipt of the SPAC Shareholder Approval). This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by Seller and the Company, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC, enforceable against SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC in accordance with its terms subject to the Remedies Exceptions.
5.5 | No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents |
5.5.1 | The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC does not, and the performance of this Agreement by each of SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC will not, subject to receipt of the SPAC Shareholder Approval, (i) conflict with or violate the relevant SPAC Organizational Documents, (ii) assuming that all consents, approvals, authorizations, expiration or termination of waiting periods and other actions described in Section 5.5.2 have been obtained and all filings and obligations described in Section 5.5.2 have been made, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to each of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC or by which any of their property or assets is bound or affected, or (iii) result in any breach of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a Lien on any property or asset of each of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC pursuant to, any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other instrument or obligation to which each of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC is a party or by which each of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC or any of their property or assets is bound or affected, except, with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults or other occurrences which would not have or reasonably be expected to have a SPAC Material Adverse Effect. |
5.5.2 | The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC do not, and the performance of this Agreement by each of SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to, or expiration or termination of any waiting period by, any Governmental Authority, except (i) for applicable requirements, if any, of the Exchange Act, the Securities Act, Blue Sky Laws and state takeover Laws, the pre-merger notification requirements of the HSR Act, the NSIA, the PRC National Security Laws, filing and recordation of appropriate merger documents as required by Cayman Islands Companies Act, and any Other Approvals; and (ii) where the failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications, would not, individually or in the aggregate, prevent SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC from performing its material obligations under this Agreement. |
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5.6 | Compliance |
None of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC is or has been in conflict with, or in default, breach or violation of, (i) any Law applicable to SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC or by which any property or asset of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC is bound or affected, or (ii) any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other instrument or obligation to which SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC is a party or by which SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC or any property or asset of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC is bound, except, in each case, for any such conflicts, defaults, breaches or violations that would not have or reasonably be expected to have a SPAC Material Adverse Effect. Each of SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC is in possession of all material franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, variances, exceptions, consents, certificates, approvals and orders of any Governmental Authority necessary for SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC to own, lease and operate its properties or to carry on its business as it is now being conducted.
5.7 | SEC Filings; Financial Statements; Sarbanes-Oxley |
5.7.1 | SPAC has filed all forms, reports, schedules, statements and other documents, including any exhibits thereto, required to be filed by it with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) since January 21, 2021, together with any amendments, restatements or supplements thereto (collectively, the “SPAC SEC Reports”). SPAC has heretofore furnished to the Company true and correct copies of all amendments and modifications that have not been filed by SPAC with the SEC to all agreements, documents and other instruments that previously had been filed by SPAC with the SEC and are currently in effect. As of their respective dates, the SPAC SEC Reports (i) complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and (ii) did not, at the time they were filed, or, if amended, as of the date of such amendment, 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 therein not misleading, in the case of any SPAC SEC Report that is a registration statement, or include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in the case of any other SPAC SEC Report. Each director and executive officer of SPAC has filed with the SEC on a timely basis all documents required with respect to SPAC by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. |
5.7.2 | Each of the financial statements (including, in each case, any notes thereto) contained in the SPAC SEC Reports was prepared in accordance with GAAP (applied on a consistent basis) and Regulation S-X and Regulation S-K, as applicable, throughout the periods indicated (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto or, in the case of unaudited financial statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC) and each fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial position, results of operations, changes in shareholders equity and cash flows of SPAC as at the respective dates thereof and for the respective periods indicated therein (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal and recurring year-end adjustments which have not had, and would not reasonably be expected to individually or in the aggregate be material). SPAC has no off-balance sheet arrangements that are not disclosed in the SPAC SEC Reports. |
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5.7.3 | Except as and to the extent set forth in the SPAC SEC Reports, none of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC has any liability or obligation of a nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) required to be reflected on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for (i) liabilities incurred in the Ordinary Course, (ii) liabilities for fees and expenses incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (iii) such other liabilities and obligations which are not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably expected to be material to SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC, taken as a whole. |
5.7.4 | SPAC is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable listing and corporate governance rules and regulations of Nasdaq. |
5.7.5 | SPAC has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act) that effectively fulfill the purposes for which they were designed and implemented. |
5.7.6 | SPAC maintains systems of internal control over financial reporting that are sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP. SPAC has delivered to the Company a true and complete copy of any disclosure (or, if unwritten, a summary thereof) by any representative of SPAC to SPAC’s independent auditors relating to any material weaknesses in internal controls and/or any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls that would adversely affect the ability of SPAC to record, process, summarize and report financial data. SPAC has no knowledge of any fraud or whistle-blower allegations, whether or not material, that involve management or other employees or consultants who have or had a significant role in the internal control over financial reporting of SPAC. Since January 21, 2021, there have been no material changes in SPAC’s internal control over financial reporting. |
5.7.7 | There are no outstanding loans or other extensions of credit made by SPAC to any executive officer (as defined in Rule 3b-7 under the Exchange Act) or director of SPAC, and SPAC has not taken any action prohibited by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. |
5.7.8 | Neither SPAC (including any employee thereof) nor SPAC’s independent auditors has identified or been made aware of (i) any significant deficiency or material weakness in the system of internal accounting controls utilized by SPAC, (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves SPAC’s management or other employees who have a role in the preparation of financial statements or the internal accounting controls utilized by SPAC or (iii) any claim or allegation regarding any of the foregoing. |
5.7.9 | As of the date hereof, there are no outstanding SEC comments from the SEC with respect to the SPAC SEC Reports. To the knowledge of SPAC, none of the SPAC SEC Reports filed on or prior to the date hereof is subject to ongoing SEC review or investigation as of the date hereof. |
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5.7.10 | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.7, no representation or warranty is made in this Agreement as to the accounting treatment of the SPAC Warrants. |
5.8 | Absence of Certain Changes or Events |
Since January 1, 2021, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, SPAC has conducted its business in all material respects in the Ordinary Course.
5.9 | Absence of Litigation |
There is no Action pending or, to the knowledge of SPAC, threatened against SPAC, or any property or asset of SPAC, before any Governmental Authority. Neither SPAC nor any material property or asset of SPAC is subject to any continuing order of, consent decree, settlement agreement or other similar written agreement with, or, to the knowledge of SPAC, continuing investigation by, any Governmental Authority.
5.10 | Board Approval; Vote Required |
5.10.1 | The SPAC Board, by unanimous written resolution, has duly resolved (i) that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are fair to and in the best interests of SPAC and its shareholders, (ii) this Agreement and the Transactions be approved and declared their advisability, (iii) to recommend to the shareholders of SPAC that they approve and authorize this Agreement and the Transactions, and that this Agreement and the Transactions be submitted for consideration by the shareholders of SPAC at the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting. |
5.10.2 | The only vote of the holders of any class of share capital of SPAC necessary to approve the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is the affirmative vote (in person or by proxy) of (x) the holders of a simple majority of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares entitled to vote and actually cast thereon in favor of the Ordinary Resolution Proposals and (y) the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares entitled to vote and actually cast thereon in favor of the Special Resolution Proposal (such affirmative votes, together, the “SPAC Shareholder Approval”). |
5.10.3 | The board of directors of New Holdco, by resolutions duly adopted by unanimous vote of those voting at a meeting duly called and held and not subsequently rescinded or modified in any way, has duly (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are fair to and in the best interests of New Holdco and its sole shareholder, (ii) approved this Agreement and the Transactions and declared their advisability, (iii) recommended that the sole shareholder of New Holdco approve this Agreement and the Transactions, and directed that this Agreement and the Transactions be submitted for consideration by SPAC as the sole shareholder of New Holdco. |
5.10.4 | New Holdco, as the sole member of New SPAC, has, by way of a written consent by the sole member, duly (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are fair to and in the best interests of New SPAC, and (ii) approved this Agreement and the Transactions. |
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5.11 | No Prior Operations |
New Holdco was formed on December 8, 2021 and New SPAC was formed on December 8, 2021. Since each of their respective inceptions, neither New Holdco nor New SPAC has engaged in any activity, other than such actions in connection with (i) its organization and (ii) the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the Transactions contemplated hereby. Neither New Holdco nor New SPAC has operations, has generated any revenues or has any liabilities other than those incurred in connection with the foregoing and in association with the Transactions.
5.12 | Brokers |
Except as set forth on Section 5.12 of the SPAC Disclosure Schedule, no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC.
5.13 | SPAC Trust Fund |
As of the date of this Agreement, SPAC has no less than $330,000,000 in the trust fund established by SPAC for the benefit of its public shareholders (the “Trust Fund”) (including, if applicable, an aggregate of approximately $13,282,500 of deferred underwriting discounts and commissions being held in the Trust Fund) maintained in a trust account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the “Trust Account”). The monies of such Trust Account are invested in United States Government securities or money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and held in trust by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”) pursuant to the Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of January 21, 2021, between SPAC and the Trustee (the “Trust Agreement”). The Trust Agreement has not been amended or modified and is valid and in full force and effect and is enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to the Remedies Exceptions. SPAC has complied in all material respects with the terms of the Trust Agreement and is not in breach thereof or default thereunder and there does not exist any event which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, would constitute such a breach or default by SPAC or the Trustee. There are no separate contracts, agreements, side letters or other agreements or understandings (whether written or unwritten, express or implied): (i) between SPAC and the Trustee that would cause the description of the Trust Agreement in the SPAC SEC Reports to be inaccurate in any material respect; or (ii) that would entitle any Person (other than shareholders of SPAC who shall have elected to redeem their SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares pursuant to the SPAC Organizational Documents) to any portion of the proceeds in the Trust Account. Prior to the Closing, none of the funds held in the Trust Account may be released except: (A) to pay any Taxes owed by SPAC or New SPAC as a result of assets of SPAC or New SPAC or interest or other income earned on the assets of SPAC or New SPAC; and (B) upon the exercise of Redemption Rights in accordance with the provisions of the SPAC Organizational Documents. To SPAC’s and New SPAC’s knowledge, as of the date of this Agreement, following the Closing, no shareholder of SPAC or successor thereof shall be entitled to receive any amount from the Trust Account except to the extent such shareholder is exercising its Redemption Rights. There are no Actions pending or, to the knowledge of SPAC and New SPAC, threatened in writing with respect to the Trust Account. Upon consummation of the Transactions and notice thereof to the Trustee pursuant to the Trust Agreement, New SPAC as successor to SPAC shall cause the Trustee to, and the Trustee shall thereupon be obligated to, release to New SPAC, as promptly as practicable, the Trust Funds in accordance with the Trust Agreement at which point the Trust Account shall terminate; provided, however, that the liabilities and obligations of New SPAC, including as successor to SPAC, due and owing or incurred at or prior to the Closing shall be paid as and when due, including all amounts payable (a) to shareholders of New SPAC who shall have exercised their Redemption Rights, (b) with respect to filings, applications and/or other actions taken pursuant to this Agreement required under Law, (c) to the Trustee for fees and costs incurred in accordance with the Trust Agreement, and (d) to third parties (e.g., professionals, printers, etc.) who have rendered services to SPAC and/or New SPAC in connection with its efforts to effect the Transactions. SPAC and New SPAC have no reason to believe that any of the conditions to the use of funds in the Trust Account will not be satisfied or funds available in the Trust Account will not be available to New SPAC at the Closing.
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5.14 | Employees |
Other than any officers as described in the SPAC SEC Reports, SPAC has no employees, and has not retained any contractors, other than consultants and advisors in the Ordinary Course. Other than reimbursement of any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by SPAC’s officers and directors in connection with activities on SPAC’s behalf in an aggregate amount not in excess of the amount of cash held by SPAC outside of the Trust Account, SPAC has no unsatisfied material liability with respect to any officer or director. SPAC has never and does not currently maintain, sponsor, or contribute to any Employee Benefit Plan.
5.15 | Taxes |
5.15.1 | All income and other material Tax Returns required to be filed by SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC have been duly and timely filed (taking into account any extension of time to file), and all such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects. |
5.15.2 | All material Taxes that are required to be paid by SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been timely paid in full to the appropriate Taxing Authority. |
5.15.3 | SPAC has provided adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP in the most recent consolidated financial statements of SPAC contained in the SPAC SEC Reports for any material Taxes of SPAC as of the date of such financial statements that have not been paid. |
5.15.4 | No outstanding claim, assessment or deficiency against SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC for any material Taxes has been asserted or threatened in writing by any Taxing Authority. |
5.15.5 | No audit, examination, investigation, litigation or other administrative or judicial proceeding in respect of Taxes or Tax matters is pending, being conducted or has been threatened in writing with respect to SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC; |
5.15.6 | None of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC has received written notice of any claim from a Taxing Authority in a jurisdiction in which SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC does not file Tax Returns stating that SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC is or may be subject to Tax in such jurisdiction. |
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5.15.7 | None of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC has waived any statute of limitations with respect to Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency (other than pursuant to customary extensions of the due date for filing a Tax Return obtained in the ordinary course of business). |
5.15.8 | There are no Liens or encumbrances for material Taxes upon any of the assets of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC except for Permitted Liens. |
5.15.9 | SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC have withheld or collected and timely paid to the appropriate Taxing Authority all material Taxes required to have been withheld or collected and paid in connection with any amounts paid or owing to any current or former employee, independent contractor, creditor, equityholder or other Person, and, to SPAC’s knowledge, SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC have in all material respects complied with applicable Tax Law relating to the payment and withholding of Taxes. |
5.15.10 | None of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC is a party to, or bound by, any Tax indemnity, Tax sharing or Tax allocation agreement or similar contract or arrangement, in each case, other than any agreement, contract or arrangement entered into in the Ordinary Course and the primary purpose of which does not relate to Taxes. |
5.15.11 | None of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC has any material liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC) as a result of being a member of an affiliated, aggregate, combined, consolidated or unitary Tax group, fiscal unity or unified group (including pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or any similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Law), as a transferee or successor, by contract (other than a contract entered into in the Ordinary Course and the primary purpose of which does not relate to Taxes) or otherwise. |
5.15.12 | None of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC is a party to any material ruling, closing agreement, or similar agreement or arrangement with a Taxing Authority, and none of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC has any request for a material ruling in respect of Taxes pending between SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC, on the one hand, and any Taxing Authority, on the other hand. |
5.15.13 | None of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC is or has been a “United States real property holding corporation” within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1(A)(ii) of the Code. |
5.15.14 | None of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC is a resident for income tax purposes or has a permanent establishment (within the meaning of the applicable Tax treaty or convention) in a country other than the country in which it is organized. |
5.15.15 | Each of SPAC and New Holdco is, and has been since the date of its formation, classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. New SPAC is, and has been since the date of its formation, classified as an entity disregarded as separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
5.15.16 | SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC are in compliance with all applicable transfer pricing laws, including the execution and maintenance of contemporaneous documentation substantiating the transfer pricing practice and methodology. The prices for any property or service (or for the use of any property), including interest and other prices for financial services, provided by or to the SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC are arm’s length prices for purposes of the relevant transfer pricing laws, including Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 482 of the Code. |
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5.16 | Registration and Listing |
The issued and outstanding SPAC Units are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on Nasdaq under the symbol “NAACU”. The issued and outstanding SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on Nasdaq under the symbol “NAAC”. The issued and outstanding SPAC Warrants are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on Nasdaq under the symbol “NAACW”. As of the date of this Agreement, there is no Action pending or, to the knowledge of SPAC, threatened in writing against SPAC by Nasdaq or the SEC with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister the SPAC Units, the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, or SPAC Warrants or terminate the listing of SPAC on Nasdaq. Other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, none of SPAC or any of its Affiliates has taken any action in an attempt to terminate the registration of the SPAC Units, the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, or the SPAC Warrants under the Exchange Act.
5.17 | SPAC’s Investigation and Reliance |
Each of SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC is a sophisticated purchaser and has made its own independent investigation, review and analysis regarding the Company and any Company Subsidiary and the Transactions, which investigation, review and analysis were conducted by SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC together with expert advisors, including legal counsel, that they have engaged for such purpose. SPAC, New Holdco, New SPAC and their Representatives have been provided with full and complete access to the Representatives, properties, offices, plants and other facilities, books and records of the Company and any Company Subsidiary and other information that they have requested in connection with their investigation of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries and the Transactions. None of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC is relying on any statement, representation or warranty, oral or written, express or implied, made by the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any of their respective Representatives, except as expressly set forth in Article 3 or Article 4 (as modified by the Seller Company Disclosure Schedule and Company Disclosure Schedule, respectively) or in any certificate delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement. Neither the Company nor any of its respective stockholders, Affiliates or Representatives shall have any liability to SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC or any of their respective shareholders, stockholders or other equityholders (as applicable), Affiliates or Representatives resulting from the use of any information, documents or materials made available to SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC or any of their Representatives, whether orally or in writing, in any confidential information memoranda, “data rooms,” management presentations, due diligence discussions or in any other form in expectation of the Transactions. SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC acknowledge that neither the Company nor any of its stockholders, Affiliates or Representatives is making, directly or indirectly, any representation or warranty with respect to any estimates, projections or forecasts involving the Company and/or any Company Subsidiary.
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5.18 | Exclusivity of Representations and Warranties |
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Article 5 (as modified by the SPAC Disclosure Schedule or the SPAC SEC Reports), SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC hereby expressly disclaim and negate any other express or implied representation or warranty whatsoever (whether at Law or in equity) with respect to SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC, their Affiliates, and any matter relating to any of them, including their affairs, the condition, value or quality of the assets, liabilities, financial condition or results of operations, or with respect to the accuracy or completeness of any other information made available to the Company, Seller, their Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives by, or on behalf of, SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC, and any such representations or warranties are expressly disclaimed. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement (as modified by the SPAC Disclosure Schedule or the SPAC SEC Reports) or in any certificate delivered by SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC pursuant to this Agreement, none of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC, nor any other Person on behalf of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC, has made or makes, any representation or warranty, whether express or implied, with respect to any projections, forecasts, estimates or budgets made available to the Company, Seller, their Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives of future revenues, future results of operations (or any component thereof), future cash flows or future financial condition (or any component thereof) of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC (including the reasonableness of the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing), whether or not included in any management presentation or in any other information made available to the Company, Seller, their Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives or any other Person, and any such representations or warranties are expressly disclaimed.
6 | Conduct of Business |
6.1 | Conduct of Business by the Company |
6.1.1 | The Company agrees that it shall, and shall cause each Company Subsidiary to, between the date of this Agreement and the Closing or the earlier termination of this Agreement, except (1) as may be required or expressly contemplated by any other provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, (2) as set forth in Section 6.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (3) as required by applicable Law (including as may be requested or compelled by any Governmental Authority), (4) for any actions taken reasonably and in good faith to respond to COVID-19 Measures (provided that, prior to taking any material actions that the Company intends to take, to the extent the Company intends to take such actions in reliance on this clause (4), the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide advance written notice to and consult with SPAC (if reasonably practicable) prior to taking such actions), unless SPAC shall otherwise consent in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed); provided that SPAC shall be deemed to have consented in writing if it provides no response within five (5) Business Days after the Company has made a request for such consent in writing: |
(i) | conduct their business in the Ordinary Course; and |
(ii) | use its reasonable best efforts to preserve substantially intact the business organization of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, to keep available the services of the current officers, key employees, service partners and consultants of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, to preserve the current relationships of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries with customers, suppliers and other Persons with which the Company or any Company Subsidiary has significant business relations, and to maintain in effect all Company Permits and Insurance Policies (in such amounts and with such deductibles as are currently maintained). |
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6.1.2 | Seller shall, between the date of this Agreement and the Closing or the earlier termination of this Agreement, except (1) as may be required or expressly contemplated by any other provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, (2) as set forth in Section 6.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (3) as required by applicable Law (including as may be requested or compelled by any Governmental Authority), (4) for any actions taken reasonably and in good faith to respond to COVID-19 Measures or Emergency Actions (provided that, prior to taking any material actions that the Company intends to take, to the extent the Company intends to take such actions in reliance on this clause (4), Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide advance written notice to and consult with SPAC (if reasonably practicable) prior to taking such actions), unless SPAC shall otherwise consent in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed), provided that SPAC shall be deemed to have consented in writing if it provides no response within five (5) Business Days after the Company has made a request for such consent in writing, conduct its business in the Ordinary Course solely as it relates to the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries. |
6.1.3 | By way of amplification and not limitation, except (1) as may be required or expressly contemplated by any other provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, (2) as set forth in Section 6.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (3) as required by applicable Law (including as may be requested or compelled by any Governmental Authority), and (4) for any actions taken reasonably and in good faith to respond to COVID-19 Measures or Emergency Actions (provided that, prior to taking any material actions that the Company intends to take, to the extent the Company intends to take such actions in reliance on this clause (4), the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide advance notice to and consult with SPAC (if reasonably practicable) prior to taking such actions), the Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each Company Subsidiary not to, between the date of this Agreement and the Closing or the earlier termination of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, do any of the following without the prior written consent of SPAC (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed), provided that SPAC shall be deemed to have consented in writing if it provides no response within five (5) Business Days after the Company has made a request for such consent in writing: |
(i) | amend or otherwise change any organizational documents of the Company or any Company Subsidiary; |
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(ii) | issue, sell, pledge, dispose of, grant or encumber, or authorize the issuance, sale, pledge, disposition, grant or encumbrance of: (A) any Equity Interests of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, or any options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights of any kind to acquire any Equity Interest (including, without limitation, any phantom interest) of the Company or any Company Subsidiary; or (B) any material assets of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, except for any capital injections made by Seller under Section 6.1.2; |
(iii) | form any Subsidiary or acquire any Equity Interest or other interest in any other entity or enter into a joint venture with any other entity; |
(iv) | declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or other distribution, payable in cash, stock, property or otherwise, with respect to any of its Equity Interests; |
(v) | reclassify, combine, split, subdivide or redeem, or purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any of its Equity Interests; |
(vi) | (a) acquire (including, without limitation, by merger, consolidation, or acquisition of stock or substantially all of the assets or any other business combination) any corporation, partnership, other business organization or any division thereof; (b) incur any Indebtedness or issue any debt securities or assume, guarantee or endorse, or otherwise become responsible for, the obligations of any Person, or make any loans or advances, or intentionally grant any security interest in any of its assets; or (c) merge, consolidate, combine or amalgamate with any Person or authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention to adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution or winding-up; |
(vii) | other than in the Ordinary Course, (a) grant any increase in the compensation, incentives or benefits payable or to become payable to any current or former director, officer, employee or consultant, (b) enter into any new, or materially amend any existing, employment, retention, bonus, change in control, severance or termination agreement with any current or former director, officer, employee or consultant, (c) accelerate or commit to accelerate the funding, payment, or vesting of any compensation or benefits to any current or former director, officer, employee or consultant, (d) establish or become obligated under any collective bargaining agreement or other contract or agreement with a labor union, trade union, works council, or other representative of employees, (e) hire any new employees holding an executive position (i.e., ‘C-level’ employees) or (f) terminate the employment or service of any employee other than any such termination for cause; |
(viii) | adopt, amend and/or terminate any material Plan except as may be required by applicable Law, is necessary in order to consummate the Transactions, or health and welfare plan renewals in the Ordinary Course; |
(ix) | materially amend other than reasonable and usual amendments in the Ordinary Course, with respect to accounting policies or procedures, other than as required by GAAP; |
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(x) | take any action or knowingly fail to take any action where such action or failure could reasonably be expected to prevent the SPAC Merger from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment, or, other than in the Ordinary Course, (a) amend any material Tax Return, (b) take any position on any Tax Return, take any action, omit to take any action or enter into any other transaction that would have the effect of materially increasing the Tax liability or materially reducing any Tax asset of New Holdco, SPAC, New SPAC, the Company or any Company Subsidiary in respect of any taxable period (or portion thereof) beginning after the Closing Date, (c) change any material method of Tax accounting, (d) make, change or rescind any material election relating to Taxes, (e) settle or compromise any material Tax audit, Tax assessment, Tax claim or other controversy or proceeding relating to Taxes, (f) surrender any right to claim a refund of a material amount of Taxes, or (g) agree or consent to the extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any claim or assessment in respect of material Taxes with any Taxing Authority; |
(xi) | (a) amend, or modify or consent to the termination (excluding any expiration in accordance with its terms) of any Material Contract or amend, waive, modify or consent to the termination (excluding any expiration in accordance with its terms) of the Company’s or any Company Subsidiary’s material rights thereunder, or (b) enter into any contract or agreement that would have been a Material Contract had it been entered into prior to the date of this Agreement; |
(xii) | fail to maintain the existence of, or use reasonable efforts to protect, Company-Owned IP; |
(xiii) | other than in the Ordinary Course, enter into any contract, agreement or arrangement that obligates the Company or any Company Subsidiary to develop any Intellectual Property related to the business of the Company or the Products; |
(xiv) | intentionally permit any material item of Company-Owned IP to lapse or to be abandoned, invalidated, dedicated to the public, or disclaimed, or otherwise become unenforceable or fail to perform or make any applicable filings, recordings or other similar actions or filings, or fail to pay all required fees and Taxes required or advisable to maintain and protect its interest in each and every material item of Company-Owned IP; |
(xv) | waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any Action, other than waivers, releases, assignments, settlements or compromises that are solely monetary in nature and do not exceed $100,000 individually or $500,000 in the aggregate; or |
(xvi) | enter into any formal or informal agreement or otherwise make a binding commitment to do any of the foregoing. |
Nothing herein shall require the Company to obtain consent from SPAC to do any of the foregoing if obtaining such consent might reasonably be expected to violate applicable Law, and nothing contained in this Section 6.1 shall give to SPAC, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the Ordinary Course of business operations of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries prior to the Closing Date. Prior to the Closing Date, each of SPAC and the Company shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions hereof, complete control and supervision of its respective operations, as required by Law.
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6.2 | Conduct of Business by SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC |
6.2.1 | Except as expressly contemplated by any other provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (including entering into various Subscription Agreements and consummating the Private Placements) and except as required by applicable Law (including as may be requested or compelled by any Governmental Authority), SPAC agrees that from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement and the Closing, unless the Company shall otherwise consent in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), the businesses of SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC shall be conducted in the Ordinary Course. By way of amplification and not limitation, except as expressly contemplated by any other provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (including entering into various Subscription Agreements and consummating the Private Placements) and as required by applicable Law (including as may be requested or compelled by any Governmental Authority), none of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC shall, between the date of this Agreement and the Closing or the earlier termination of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, do any of the following without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned: |
(i) | amend or otherwise change the SPAC Organizational Documents relevant to them; |
(ii) | declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or other distribution, payable in cash, stock or shares (as applicable), property or otherwise, with respect to any of its capital stock or share capital, as applicable, other than redemptions from the Trust Fund that are required pursuant to the SPAC Articles of Association; |
(iii) | reclassify, combine, split, subdivide or redeem, or purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any of the SPAC Ordinary Shares or SPAC Warrants except for redemptions from the Trust Fund and conversions of the SPAC Founders Shares that are required pursuant to the SPAC Articles of Association; |
(iv) | issue, sell, pledge, dispose of, grant or encumber, or authorize the issuance, sale, pledge, disposition, grant or encumbrance of, any shares of any class of shares or capital stock (as applicable) or other securities of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC, or any options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights of any kind to acquire any shares or shares of such capital stock (as applicable), or any other ownership interest (including, without limitation, any phantom interest), of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC, except in connection with conversion of the SPAC Founders Shares pursuant to the SPAC Articles of Association; |
(v) | acquire (including, without limitation, by merger, consolidation, or acquisition of stock or assets or any other business combination) any corporation, partnership or other business organization or enter into any strategic joint ventures, partnerships or alliances with any other Person; |
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(vi) | incur any Indebtedness or guarantee any such Indebtedness of another Person or Persons, issue or sell any debt securities or options, warrants, calls or other rights to acquire any debt securities of SPAC, as applicable, enter into any “keep well” or other agreement to maintain any financial statement condition or enter into any arrangement having the economic effect of any of the foregoing, in each case, except in the Ordinary Course or except a loan from the Sponsor or an Affiliate thereof or certain of SPAC’s officers and directors to finance SPAC’s transaction costs in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby; |
(vii) | make any change in any method of financial accounting or financial accounting principles, policies, procedures or practices, except as required by a concurrent amendment in GAAP or applicable Law made subsequent to the date hereof, as agreed to by its independent accountants; |
(viii) | take any action or knowingly fail to take any action where such action or failure could reasonably be expected to prevent the SPAC Merger from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment, or, other than in the Ordinary Course, (a) amend any material Tax Return, (b) change any material method of Tax accounting, (c) make, change or rescind any material election relating to Taxes, (d) settle or compromise any material U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. Tax audit, Tax assessment, Tax claim or other controversy or proceeding relating to Taxes, (e) surrender any right to claim a refund of a material amount of Taxes, or (f) agree or consent to the extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any claim or assessment in respect of material Taxes with any Taxing Authority; |
(ix) | liquidate, dissolve, reorganize or otherwise wind up the business and operations of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC; |
(x) | amend the Trust Agreement or any other agreement related to the Trust Account; or |
(xi) | enter into any formal or informal agreement or otherwise make a binding commitment to do any of the foregoing. |
Nothing herein shall require the SPAC to obtain consent from the Company to do any of the foregoing if obtaining such consent might reasonably be expected to violate applicable Law, and nothing contained in this Section 6.2 shall give to the Company, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the Ordinary Course of business operations of SPAC prior to the Closing Date. Prior to the Closing Date, each of SPAC and the Company shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions hereof, complete control and supervision of its respective operations, as required by Law.
6.2.2 | From the date of this Agreement to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Subscription Agreements, SPAC shall use reasonable best efforts to maintain each Subscription Agreement in full force and effect and consummate the Private Placements, and without limitation to the foregoing, SPAC shall not take any action to cause any Subscription Agreement not to be in full force and effect and/or to cause the Private Placements not to be consummated, and shall not refrain from taking any commercially reasonable action necessary to maintain each Subscription Agreement in full force and effect and/or to consummate the Private Placements. |
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6.3 | Claims Against Trust Account |
Each of the Parties hereby acknowledges that the Trust Account contains the proceeds of SPAC’s initial public offering and from certain private placements occurring simultaneously with the initial public offering (including interest accrued from time to time thereon) for the benefit of the SPAC’s public shareholders and certain other parties (including the underwriters of its initial public offering). For and in consideration of the SPAC entering into this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each of the Seller and the Company hereby agrees (on its own behalf and on behalf of its Affiliates and other related parties) that it does not now and shall not at any time hereafter have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to the Trust Account or any monies or other assets in the Trust Account, and shall not make any claim against the Trust Account or any monies or other assets in the Trust Account, regardless of whether such claim arises as a result of, in connection with or relating in any way to this Agreement or any other matter, and regardless of whether such claim arises based on contract, tort, equity or any other theory of legal liability (any and all such claims are collectively referred to hereafter as the “Released Claims”); provided, however, that: (i) nothing herein shall serve to limit or prohibit the Seller or Company’s right to pursue a claim against SPAC for legal relief against monies or other assets of SPAC held outside the Trust Account (including any funds that have been released from the Trust Account and any assets that have been purchased or acquired with any such funds) or for specific performance or other equitable relief in connection with this Agreement or the Transactions (including a claim for SPAC to specially perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents and cause the disbursement of the balance of the cash remaining in the Trust Account to the Seller or Company in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents, to the extent it is fully executed in the future by the parties thereto) or for fraud; and (ii) nothing herein shall serve to limit or prohibit any claims that the Seller or Company may have in the future for breaches of this Agreement and/or pursuant to the other Transaction Documents, in each case, against SPAC’s assets or funds that are not held in the Trust Account and/or SPAC, and/or any of its successor entities in the event this Agreement is terminated for any reason and SPAC consummates, directly or indirectly, a business combination transaction, whether by way of a purchase of assets or securities or merger, consolidation or otherwise, with another party. Each of the Seller and Company hereby irrevocably waives (on its own behalf and on behalf of its Affiliates and other related parties) any Released Claims that it may have against the Trust Account or any monies or other assets in the Trust Account now or in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any discussions, contracts or agreements with SPAC and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account or any monies or other assets in the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.
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7 | Additional Agreements |
7.1 | Registration Statement |
7.1.1 | As promptly as reasonably practicable after the date hereof, SPAC and Seller shall prepare and mutually agree upon (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed by Seller), and SPAC shall cause New Holdco to file with the SEC, a registration statement on Form S-4 relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (as amended from time to time, the “Registration Statement / Proxy Statement”) (it being understood that the Registration Statement / Proxy Statement shall include a proxy statement / prospectus which will be included therein as a prospectus with respect to New Holdco and which will be used as a proxy statement with respect to the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting to adopt and approve the Transaction Proposals (as defined below) and other matters reasonably related to the Transaction Proposals, all in accordance with and as required by the SPAC Articles of Association, any related agreements with Sponsor and its Affiliates, applicable Law, and any applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and Nasdaq). Each of SPAC and Seller shall use its reasonable best efforts to: (i) cause the Registration Statement / Proxy Statement to comply in all material respects with the applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC; (ii) promptly notify the other of, cooperate with each other with respect to and respond promptly to any comments of the SEC or its staff; (iii) 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 (iv) keep the Registration Statement / Proxy Statement effective through the Closing in order to permit the consummation of the Transactions. Each of SPAC and Seller shall promptly furnish the other all information concerning such Party, its Subsidiaries, Representatives and shareholders that may be required or reasonably requested in connection with any action contemplated by this Section 7.1; provided, however, that neither SPAC nor Seller shall use any such information for any purposes other than those contemplated by this Agreement unless: (a) such Party obtains the prior written consent of the other to such use (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); or (b) to the extent that use of such information is required to avoid violation of applicable Law. SPAC shall cause New Holdco to promptly advise the Seller 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 the New Holdco Common Stock for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, and each of SPAC and Seller shall use its reasonable best efforts to have any such stop order or suspension lifted, reversed or otherwise terminated. |
7.1.2 | SPAC represents that the information supplied by SPAC, New SPAC and/or New Holdco for inclusion in the Registration Statement / Proxy Statement shall not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, at (i) the time the Registration Statement / Proxy Statement (or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto) is first mailed to the shareholders of SPAC, (ii) the time of the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting and (iii) the Closing. If, at any time prior to the Closing, any event or circumstance relating to SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC, or their respective officers or directors, should be discovered by SPAC which should be set forth in an amendment or a supplement to the Registration Statement / Proxy Statement, SPAC shall promptly inform the Company. All documents that SPAC is responsible for filing with the SEC in connection with the Transactions shall comply as to form and substance in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. |
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7.1.3 | The Company represents that the information supplied by the Company for inclusion in the Registration Statement / Proxy Statement shall not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, at (i) the time the Registration Statement / Proxy Statement (or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto) is first mailed to the shareholders of SPAC, (ii) the time of the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting and (iii) the Closing. If, at any time prior to the Closing, any event or circumstance relating to the Company or any Company Subsidiary or its officers or directors should be discovered by the Company which should be set forth in an amendment or a supplement to the Registration Statement / Proxy Statement, the Company, as applicable, shall promptly inform SPAC. After the Closing, all documents that the Company is responsible for filing with the SEC in connection with the Transactions shall comply as to form and substance in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. |
7.2 | SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting |
SPAC shall: (i) take all action necessary under applicable Law and the SPAC Articles of Association to call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its shareholders (the “SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting”) to seek (a) authorization to enter into, and approval of this Agreement by the holders of SPAC Ordinary Shares in accordance with applicable Law and exchange rules and regulations and the approval of the issuance of SPAC Ordinary Shares in accordance herewith, (b) approval of the SPAC Merger, and (c) approval of any other proposals reasonably agreed by SPAC and the Company to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (such proposals in clauses (a) through (c) above, together, the “Transaction Proposals”, such proposals in clauses (a) and (c) above, together, the “Ordinary Resolution Proposals” and such proposal in clause (b) above, the “Special Resolution Proposal”, provided that, where any proposal under clause (c) above is required pursuant to applicable law or the SPAC Articles of Association to be approved by way of a Special Resolution (as defined in the Cayman Islands Companies Act), such proposal shall also be a Special Resolution Proposal), which SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting shall be held as promptly as reasonably practicable following the date the Registration Statement / Proxy Statement is declared effective by the SEC (and conditioned upon such declaration of effectiveness); and (ii) submit the Transaction Proposals to, and use its reasonable best efforts to solicit proxies in favor of such Transaction Proposals from, such holders at the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting. SPAC shall, through the SPAC Board, include a statement in the Registration Statement / Proxy Statement to the effect that the SPAC Board recommends that the SPAC shareholders vote in favor of the Transaction Proposals (the “SPAC Board Recommendation”). The SPAC Board shall not change, withdraw, withhold, qualify or modify in a manner adverse to the Seller or the Company, the SPAC Board Recommendation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, and subject to the approval of the holders of a simple majority of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares entitled to vote and actually cast thereon (save that no such approval shall be required where adjournment is as a result of insufficient SPAC Ordinary Shares being represented (either in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum), SPAC may adjourn the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting for a period of up to fifteen (15) days (1) to the extent necessary to ensure that any required supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement / Proxy Statement is provided to SPAC’s shareholders or, if as of the time for which the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting is scheduled there are insufficient SPAC Ordinary Shares represented (either in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct business at such meeting, (2) in order to solicit additional proxies from shareholders of SPAC in favor of the adoption of each of the Transaction Proposals or (3) if the SPAC Shareholder Redemption Amount is such that the condition to Closing in Section 8.1.5 would not be satisfied.
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7.3 | Access to Information; Confidentiality |
7.3.1 | From the date of this Agreement until the Closing, the Company and SPAC shall (and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to): (i) provide to the other Party (and the other Party’s officers, directors, employees, accountants, consultants, legal counsel, agents and other representatives, collectively, “Representatives”) reasonable access at reasonable times upon prior notice to the officers, employees, agents, properties, offices and other facilities of such Party and its Subsidiaries and to the books and records thereof; and (ii) furnish promptly to the other Party such information concerning the business, properties, contracts, assets, liabilities, personnel and other aspects of such Party and its Subsidiaries as the other Party or its Representatives may reasonably request. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Company nor SPAC shall be required to provide access to or disclose information where the access or disclosure would jeopardize the protection of attorney-client privilege or contravene applicable Law (it being agreed that the Parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause such information to be provided in a manner that would not result in such jeopardy or contravention). |
7.3.2 | Prior to Closing, Seller shall deliver to SPAC, or make available in the Virtual Data Room, true and complete copies of the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020, and the related audited consolidated statements of operations and cash flows of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries for each of the years then ended, each audited in accordance with the auditing standards of the PCAOB, the contents of which shall not have material differences from the equivalent information presented in the Unaudited Financial Statements, except for such differences which would not have or reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. |
7.3.3 | Prior to Closing, the Company will provide the following information, with respect to (a) October 2021 and November 2021, on or prior to the date that is fifteen (15) days following the date hereof, and (b) any succeeding calendar month, on or prior to the date that is fifteen (15) days following the last day of each such month: |
(i) | a summary of all invoices between the Company and/or Company Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and Seller and its Affiliates, excluding the Company and Company Subsidiaries, on the other hand; |
(ii) | a summary of cash flows (including amounts netted through the intra group cash pooling) between the Company and/or Company Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and Seller and its Affiliates, excluding the Company and Company Subsidiaries, on the other hand; and |
(iii) | volume of termination messages purchased by the Company and Company Subsidiaries from Seller and its Affiliates, excluding the Company and Company Subsidiaries, on the other hand, and reconciliation of the customers of the Company and Company Subsidiaries that purchased this message volume. |
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7.3.4 | All information obtained by the Parties pursuant to this Section 7.3 shall be kept confidential in accordance with the Mutual Nondisclosure Agreement, dated July 28, 2021 (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), between the Proximus Group and SPAC. |
7.3.5 | Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the Confidentiality Agreement to the contrary, each Party (and its respective Representatives) may consult any Tax advisor as is reasonably necessary regarding the Tax treatment and Tax structure of the Transactions and may disclose to such advisor as is reasonably necessary, the Intended Tax Treatment and Tax structure of the Transactions and all materials (including any Tax analysis) that are provided relating to such treatment or structure, in each case in accordance with the Confidentiality Agreement, and may otherwise disclose any such foregoing information to any Taxing Authority to the extent reasonably necessary or desirable. |
7.4 | Exclusivity |
7.4.1 | From the date of this Agreement and ending on the earlier of (a) the Closing and (b) the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article 9, the Parties shall not, and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries and its and their respective Representatives not to, directly or indirectly, (i) enter into, solicit, initiate or continue any discussions or negotiations with, or encourage or respond to any inquiries, indications of interest, offers or proposals by, or participate in any negotiations with, or provide any information to, or otherwise cooperate in any way with, any Person or other entity or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act concerning an Alternative Transaction, (ii) enter into any agreement regarding, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions regarding, or furnish to any Person any information with respect to, or cooperate in any way that would otherwise reasonably be expected to lead to, any Alternative Transaction, (iii) approve, endorse or recommend, or propose publicly to approve, endorse or recommend, any Alternative Transaction, (iv) approve, endorse, recommend, execute or enter into any agreement in principle, confidentiality agreement, letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, term sheet, acquisition agreement, merger agreement, option agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement or other written arrangement relating to any Alternative Transaction or any proposal or offer that could reasonably be expected to result in an Alternative Transaction, (v) commence, continue or renew any due diligence investigation regarding any Alternative Transaction or (vi) resolve or agree to do any of the foregoing or otherwise authorize or permit any of its Representatives acting on its behalf to take any such action; provided that the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall not be deemed a violation of this Section 7.4. |
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7.4.2 | For purposes of this Agreement, an “Alternative Transaction” shall mean (i) with respect to Seller and the Company, (a) the issuance, sale or transfer to or investment by any Person in any newly issued or currently outstanding Equity Interest in the Company other than in the Ordinary Course, (b) the sale or transfer of the assets of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries to any Person, or (c) any merger or business combination between the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any other Person, on the other hand and (ii) with respect to SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC, any direct or indirect acquisition of the business of any person, whether by way of a purchase of assets or securities or merger, consolidation or otherwise, such as the “initial business combination” under SPAC’s initial IPO prospectus with any third party. |
7.4.3 | Each Party shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries and its and their respective Affiliates and Representatives to, immediately cease any and all existing discussions or negotiations with any Person conducted heretofore with respect to any Alternative Transaction. Each Party also agrees that it shall promptly request each Person (other than the Parties and their respective Representatives) that has prior to the date hereof executed a confidentiality agreement in connection with its consideration of an Alternative Transaction to return or destroy all confidential information furnished to such Person by or on behalf of it prior to the date hereof (to the extent so permitted under, and in accordance with the terms of, such confidentiality agreement). The Company agrees that it will promptly request each special purpose acquisition company that has prior to the date hereof executed a confidentiality agreement in connection with its consideration of an Alternative Transaction to return or destroy all confidential information furnished to such Person by or on behalf of the Company prior to the date hereof. If a Party or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or their respective Representatives receives any inquiry or proposal with respect to an Alternative Transaction at any time prior to the Closing, then such Party shall promptly (and in no event later than twenty-four (24) hours after such Party becomes aware of such inquiry or proposal) notify such Person in writing that such Party is subject to an exclusivity agreement with respect to the Transaction that prohibits such Party from considering such inquiry or proposal. Without limiting the foregoing, the Parties agree that any violation of the restrictions set forth in this Section 7.4 by a Party or any of its Subsidiaries or its or their respective Affiliates or Representatives shall be deemed to be a breach of this Section 7.4 by such Party. The Parties agree that this Section 7.4 shall supersede that certain Non-Binding Letter of Intent entered into by and among SPAC and Proximus SA/NV dated October 5, 2021 in its entirety, and such Non-Binding Letter of Intent shall automatically terminate in its entirety, according to its terms, upon the full execution of this Agreement. |
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7.5 | Employee Benefits Matters |
7.5.1 | New Holdco shall, or shall cause its applicable Subsidiary to, provide the employees of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries who remain employed immediately after the Closing (the “Continuing Employees”) credit for purposes of eligibility to participate, vesting and determining the level of benefits, as applicable, under any employee benefit plan, program or arrangement established or maintained by New Holdco or any of its Subsidiaries (excluding any equity and equity-based compensation, retiree health plans or programs, change in control bonus or retention bonus or defined benefit retirement plans or programs) for service accrued or deemed accrued prior to the Closing with the Company or any Company Subsidiary; provided, however, that such crediting of service shall not operate to duplicate any benefit or the funding of any such benefit. In addition, subject to the terms of all governing documents, New Holdco shall use reasonable best efforts to (i) cause to be waived any eligibility waiting periods, any evidence of insurability requirements and the application of any pre-existing condition limitations under each of the employee benefit plans established or maintained by New Holdco or any of its Subsidiaries that cover the Continuing Employees or their dependents, and (ii) cause any eligible expenses incurred by any Continuing Employee and his or her covered dependents, during the portion of the plan year in which the Closing occurs, under those health and welfare benefit plans in which such Continuing Employee currently participates to be taken into account under those health and welfare benefit plans in which such Continuing Employee participates subsequent to the Closing Date for purposes of satisfying all deductible, coinsurance, and maximum out-of-pocket requirements applicable to such Continuing Employee and his or her covered dependents for the applicable plan year. Following the Closing, New Holdco shall honor all accrued but unused vacation and other paid time off of the Continuing Employees that existed immediately prior to the Closing with respect to the calendar year in which the Closing occurs. |
7.5.2 | Prior to the filing of the definitive Registration Statement / Proxy Statement, SPAC shall cause New Holdco to adopt the equity incentive plan in form substantially attached hereto as Exhibit H (the “New EIP”). |
7.5.3 | The provisions of this Section 7.5 are solely for the benefit of the Parties to this Agreement, and nothing contained in this Agreement, express or implied, shall confer upon any Continuing Employee or legal representative or beneficiary or dependent thereof, or any other Person, any rights or remedies of any nature or kind whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement, whether as a third-party beneficiary or otherwise, including, without limitation, any right to employment or continued employment for any specified period, or level of compensation or benefits. Nothing contained in this Agreement, express or implied, shall constitute an amendment or modification of any Employee Benefit Plan of the Company or shall require the Company, SPAC, New Holdco and/or any of their respective Subsidiaries to continue any Plan or other employee benefit arrangements, or prevent their amendment, modification or termination. |
7.6 | Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification |
7.6.1 | Following the Closing, the certificate of incorporation of the Company shall not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified with respect to indemnification, advancement or expense reimbursement for a period of six (6) years from the Closing in any manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder of individuals who, at or prior to the Closing, were directors, officers, employees, fiduciaries or agents of the Company, unless such modification shall be required by applicable Law. New Holdco further agrees that, with respect to the provisions of the bylaws or limited liability company agreements of the Company Subsidiaries relating to indemnification, advancement or expense reimbursement, such provisions shall not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified for a period of six (6) years from the Closing in any manner that would affect adversely the rights thereunder of individuals who, at or prior to the Closing, were directors, officers, employees, fiduciaries or agents of such Company Subsidiary, unless such modification shall be required by applicable Law. For a period of six (6) years from the Closing, New Holdco agrees that it shall indemnify and hold harmless each present and former director and officer of the Company and each SPAC Party against any costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages or liabilities incurred in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, arising out of or pertaining to matters existing or occurring at or prior to the Closing, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Closing, to the fullest extent that the Company or such SPAC Party, as applicable, would have been permitted under applicable Law and the organizational documents of the Company or such applicable SPAC Party in effect on the date of this Agreement to indemnify such Person (including the advancing of expenses as incurred to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law). |
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7.6.2 | For a period of six (6) years from the Closing, New Holdco shall maintain in effect directors’ and officers’ liability insurance (“Company D&O Insurance”) covering those Persons who are currently covered by the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy (true, correct and complete copies of which have been heretofore made available to SPAC or its agents or Representatives in the Virtual Data Room) on terms not less favorable than the terms of such current insurance coverage. |
7.6.3 | For a period of six (6) years from the Closing, New Holdco shall maintain in effect directors’ and officers’ liability insurance (“SPAC D&O Insurance”) covering those Persons who are currently covered by SPAC’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy (true, correct and complete copies of which have been heretofore made available to the Company or its agents or Representatives in the Virtual Data Room) on terms not less favorable than the terms of such current insurance coverage. |
7.6.4 | Prior to the Closing, the Company may purchase a prepaid “tail” policy with respect to the Company D&O Insurance from an insurance carrier with the same or better credit rating as the Company’s current directors’ and officers’ liability insurance carrier. If the Company elects to purchase such a “tail” policy prior to the Closing, New Holdco shall maintain such “tail” policy in full force and effect for a period of no less than six (6) years after the Closing and continue to honor its obligations thereunder. |
7.6.5 | Prior to the Closing, New Holdco may purchase a prepaid “tail” policy with respect to the SPAC D&O Insurance from an insurance carrier with the same or better credit rating as the Company’s current directors’ and officers’ liability insurance carrier. If New Holdco elects to purchase such a “tail” policy prior to the Closing, New Holdco shall maintain such “tail” policy in full force and effect for a period of no less than six (6) years after the Closing and continue to honor its obligations thereunder. |
7.6.6 | On the Closing Date, New Holdco shall enter into customary indemnification agreements reasonably satisfactory to each of the Company and SPAC with the post-Closing directors and officers of New Holdco, which indemnification agreements shall continue to be effective following the Closing. |
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7.7 | Notification of Certain Matters |
Seller shall give prompt notice to SPAC, and SPAC shall give prompt notice to Seller, of any event which either Party becomes aware of between the date of this Agreement and the Closing (or the earlier termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article 9), the occurrence, or non-occurrence of which causes or would reasonably be expected to cause any of the conditions set forth in Article 8 to fail.
7.8 | Further Action; Reasonable Best Efforts |
7.8.1 | Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, each of the Parties shall use its reasonable best efforts (except where a different efforts standard is specifically contemplated by this Agreement, in which case such different standard shall apply) to take, or cause to be taken, appropriate action, and to do, or cause to be done, such things as are necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws or otherwise, and each shall cooperate with the other, to consummate and make effective the Transactions and cause the conditions to the Closing set forth in Article 8 to be satisfied, including, without limitation, (i) using its reasonable best efforts to obtain all permits, consents, approvals, authorizations, qualifications and orders of, and the expiration or termination of waiting periods by, Governmental Authorities and (ii) requesting any consents or approvals from parties to contracts with the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as set forth in Section 3.3, in each case, to the extent necessary for the consummation of the Transactions. In the event that, at any time after the Closing, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, the appropriate officers and directors of each Party shall use their reasonable best efforts to take all such action. |
7.8.2 | Without limitation to the generality of Section 7.8.1, SPAC shall use its best efforts to cause the amount of funds contained in the Trust Account (net of the SPAC Shareholder Redemption Amount) at Closing to equal or exceed the amount equal to $200,000,000 minus the Available Financing Proceeds. |
7.8.3 | Each of the Parties shall keep each other apprised of the status of matters relating to the Transactions, including promptly notifying the other Parties of any communication it or any of its Affiliates receives from any Governmental Authority relating to the matters that are the subject of this Agreement and permitting the other Parties to review in advance, and to the extent practicable consult about, any proposed communication by such Party to any Governmental Authority in connection with the Transactions. No Party to this Agreement shall agree to participate in any meeting, or video or telephone conference, with any Governmental Authority in respect of any filings, investigation or other inquiry unless it consults with the other Parties in advance and, to the extent permitted by such Governmental Authority, gives the other Parties the opportunity to attend and participate at such meeting or conference. Subject to the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, the Parties shall coordinate and cooperate fully with each other in exchanging such information and providing such assistance as the other Parties may reasonably request in connection with the foregoing. Subject to the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, the Parties shall provide each other with copies of all material correspondence, filings or communications, including any documents, information and data contained therewith, between them or any of their Representatives, on the one hand, and any Governmental Authority, on the other hand, with respect to this Agreement and the Transactions contemplated hereby. No Party shall take or cause to be taken any action before any Governmental Authority that is inconsistent with or intended to delay its action on requests for a consent or the consummation of the Transactions. |
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7.8.4 | The Company’s management shall reasonably cooperate with SPAC and New Holdco and their respective Representatives in respect of the matters set forth in Section 7.9.1 and approval of the Transaction Proposals by the SPAC’s shareholders in accordance with Section 7.2, in each case, during normal business hours upon reasonable advance written notice by SPAC, provided that SPAC shall promptly, upon request by Seller, reimburse Seller, the Company and any of their respective Representatives, as applicable, for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ and/or other advisors’ fees) incurred by any of them in connection with any of their actions taken in connection with this Section 7.8.4 prior to the earlier of the Closing and the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1, without regard to whether or not Closing occurs or this Agreement is terminated, and provided, further, that nothing in this Section 7.8.4 shall require the Seller, Company or any of their respective Representatives to: |
(i) | participate in any meetings, presentations or sessions with any third party in connection with the foregoing matters; |
(ii) | take any action to (a) give any indemnity, (b) pay any fee or incur any liability to the extent SPAC does not agree in writing in advance to reimburse, (c) execute or deliver any agreement, certificate, affidavit or instrument, or agree to any change to or modification of any existing agreement, certificate, or instrument, (d) provide access to or disclose information that Seller or the Company reasonably determines would jeopardize any attorney-client privilege of Seller or the Company, (e) deliver or cause its Representatives to deliver any legal opinion or negative assurance letter, or (f) prepare any financial statements or new presentation of financial information, including any pro forma financial information or projections; or |
(iii) | take or permit the taking of any action that would, or would be reasonably likely to (a) materially interfere with, or adversely affect, the business or operations of Seller or the Company, (b) cause any representation or warranty in this Agreement to be breached by Seller or the Company, require the waiver or amendment of any provision of this Agreement, or cause any condition precedent set forth in Article 8 to not be satisfied, (c) cause any equityholder or Representative of Seller or the Company to incur any personal liability or (d) result in a violation or breach of, or a default under, any contract to which the Seller, Company or any of their respective Affiliates is a party, the organizational documents of the Seller, Company or any of their respective Affiliates, or any applicable Law. |
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7.9 | Private Placement |
7.9.1 | Notwithstanding the generality of Section 7.8, from and after the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing and the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1, each of SPAC and New Holdco shall take, or cause to be taken, all reasonable actions and do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the Private Placement in accordance with the Subscription Agreements, including maintaining in effect such Subscription Agreements and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to: |
(i) | satisfy in all material respects on a timely basis all conditions and covenants applicable to such Party in such Subscription Agreements and otherwise comply with its obligations thereunder; and |
(ii) | in the event that all conditions in such Subscription Agreements (other than conditions that such Party or any of its Affiliates waive the satisfaction of and other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing) have been satisfied, consummate transactions contemplated by such Subscription Agreements at or prior to Closing. |
7.9.2 | Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each of SPAC, the Company and New Holdco shall give the other such Party prompt written notice of: |
(i) | any breach or default (or any event or circumstance that, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, could give rise to any breach or default) by any party to any Subscription Agreement known to such Party; |
(ii) | the receipt of any written notice or other written communication from any party to any Subscription Agreement (other than written notices or other written communication from such other Party) with respect to any actual, threatened or claimed expiration, lapse, withdrawal, breach, default, termination or repudiation by any party to any Subscription Agreement or any provisions of any Subscription Agreement; and |
(iii) | if such Party does not expect to receive all or any portion of the amounts contemplated by the Subscription Agreements on the terms, in the manner or from the Investors contemplated by the Subscription Agreements. SPAC, the Company or New Holdco, as applicable, shall deliver all notices it is required to deliver under the Subscription Agreements on a timely basis in order to cause the Investors to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Subscription Agreements at or prior to the Closing. |
7.9.3 | Neither SPAC nor New Holdco shall permit or consent to any amendment, supplement or modification to any executed Subscription Agreement without the prior written consent of the Seller, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned. |
7.9.4 | From and after the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing and the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1, SPAC may only, without the prior written consent of the Seller, enter into a binding agreement or agreements with a financing source or sources relating to a Private Placement or transactions substantially identical to the form of the Subscription Agreements, including with respect to price, in an amount equal to any portion SPAC or New Holdco is notified that an Investor does not intend to perform its obligations. |
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7.10 | Public Announcements |
The initial press releases relating to this Agreement shall be simultaneous releases by SPAC, Seller and the Company, the texts of which, in each case, have been agreed to by each of SPAC and Seller. Thereafter, between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date (or the earlier termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article 9), unless otherwise prohibited by applicable Law or the requirements of Nasdaq or Euronext, as applicable, each Party shall use its reasonable best efforts to consult with each other Party before issuing any press release or otherwise making any public statements (including through social media platforms) with respect to this Agreement and the Transactions, and shall not issue any such press release or make any such public statement (including through social media platforms) without the prior written consent of the other Parties. Furthermore, nothing contained in this Section 7.10 shall prevent SPAC or the Company and/or their respective Affiliates from furnishing customary or other reasonable information concerning the Transactions to their investors and prospective investors that is substantively consistent with public statements previously consented to by the other Party in accordance with this Section 7.10.
7.11 | New Holdco Name Change |
Following the Closing, New Holdco shall, as promptly as practicable, amend its governing documents and take all other actions necessary to change its name to Telesign, Inc.
7.12 | A&R New Holdco Organizational Documents |
Prior to the Closing, New Holdco shall (i) amend and restate its certificate of incorporation and bylaws in the forms attached hereto as Exhibit I and (ii) file such amended and restated certificated of incorporation with, and cause it to be accepted by, the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
7.13 | Stock Exchange Listing |
From the date of this Agreement through the SPAC Merger Effective Time, the Parties shall use reasonable best efforts to ensure that SPAC remains listed as a public company on, and for SPAC Ordinary Shares to be tradable over, Nasdaq. From the date of this Agreement through the Closing, the Parties shall use reasonable best efforts to have New Holdco listed on Nasdaq as of the Closing.
7.14 | Antitrust & Foreign Investment |
7.14.1 | To the extent required under any Laws that are designed to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint of trade, including the HSR Act (“Antitrust Laws”), each Party agrees to promptly make any required filing or application under Antitrust Laws, as applicable, and no later than ten (10) Business Days after the date of this Agreement, Seller and SPAC each shall file (or cause to be filed) with the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission a Notification and Report Form as required by the HSR Act. The Parties agree to supply as promptly as reasonably practicable any additional information and documentary material that may be requested pursuant to Antitrust Laws and to take all other actions necessary, proper or advisable to cause the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting periods or obtain required approvals, as applicable under Antitrust Laws as soon as practicable. |
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7.14.2 | In furtherance, but without limitation to the generality, of Section 7.14.1 and the other terms of this Section 7.14: |
(i) | As promptly as practicable and in any event within five (5) Business Days following the date hereof, SPAC shall provide all information reasonably requested by Seller in connection with any potentially required filing or application under Antitrust Laws, and thereafter shall promptly provide any other such information reasonably requested by Seller and otherwise cooperate with Seller in good faith in respect thereof. |
(ii) | If Seller determines, after consulting with SPAC and considering SPAC’s views in good faith, that any such filing or application under Antitrust Laws is required (each, an “Other Approval”), Seller shall promptly notify SPAC in writing. If Seller has determined pursuant to the previous sentence that any such Other Approval is required, the Parties hereto shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to, use their reasonable best efforts to obtain all such Other Approvals, in accordance with the other terms of this Section 7.14 and this Agreement. |
7.14.3 | To the extent required or desirable (as agreed by the Parties, acting reasonably) under any Laws, including the NSIA and the PRC National Security Laws, that are designed to prohibit, restrict, or regulate cross-border investments for national security, national interest, or other purposes (“Foreign Investment Laws”), each Party agrees to promptly make any required filing under Foreign Investment Laws, as applicable. In the case of any Foreign Investment Laws in effect as of the date of this Agreement, such filing shall be made by the Party responsible for such filing under the relevant Foreign Investment Laws no later than fifteen (15) Business Days after the date of this Agreement. In the case of any Foreign Investment Laws that come into effect after the date of this Agreement but prior to Closing, such filing shall be made by the Party responsible for such filing under the relevant Foreign Investment Laws no later than fifteen (15) Business Days after such Foreign Investment Laws take effect. The Parties agree to supply as promptly as reasonably practicable, but in any case within times specified in applicable Foreign Investment Laws, any additional information and documentary material that may be requested pursuant to Foreign Investment Laws and to take all other actions necessary, proper or advisable to obtain as soon as practicable required approvals or clearances, as applicable, under Foreign Investment Laws. |
7.14.4 | SPAC, and Seller each shall, in connection with its efforts to obtain all requisite approvals and expiration or termination of waiting periods for the Transactions under any Antitrust Law and to obtain any required or desirable approvals or clearances under Foreign Investment Laws, as applicable and in accordance with Section 7.14.3, use its reasonable best efforts to: (i) cooperate in all respects with each other Party or its Affiliates in connection with any filing or submission and in connection with any investigation or other inquiry, including any proceeding initiated by a private Person; (ii) keep the other reasonably informed of any communication received by such Party from, or given by such Party to, any Governmental Authority and of any communication received or given in connection with any proceeding by a private Person, in each case regarding any of the Transactions, and promptly furnish the other with copies of all such written communications (with the exception of the filings, if any, submitted under the HSR Act); (iii) permit the other to review in advance any written communication to be given by it to, and consult with each other in advance of any meeting or video or telephonic conference with, any Governmental Authority or, in connection with any proceeding by a private Person, with any other Person, and, to the extent permitted by such Governmental Authority or other Person, give the other the opportunity to attend and participate in such in person, video or telephonic meetings and conferences; (iv) in the event a Party is prohibited from participating in or attending any in person, video or telephonic meetings or conferences, the other shall keep such Party promptly and reasonably apprised with respect thereto; and (v) use reasonable best efforts to cooperate in the filing of any memoranda, white papers, filings, correspondence or other written communications explaining or defending the Transactions, articulating any regulatory or competitive argument, and/or responding to requests or objections made by any Governmental Authority; provided that materials required to be provided pursuant to this Section 7.14.4 may be restricted to outside counsel and may be redacted (a) to remove references concerning the valuation of the Company, and (b) as necessary to comply with contractual arrangements, applicable Foreign Investment Laws or other applicable Laws. |
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7.14.5 | No Party shall take any action that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect or materially delay the approval of any Governmental Authority, or the expiration or termination of any waiting period under Antitrust Laws, including by agreeing to merge with or acquire any other Person or acquire a substantial portion of the assets of or equity in any other Person. The Parties further covenant and agree, with respect to a threatened or pending preliminary or permanent injunction or other order, decree or ruling or statute, rule, regulation or executive order that would adversely affect the ability of the Parties to consummate the Transactions, to use reasonable best efforts to prevent or lift the entry, enactment or promulgation thereof, as the case may be. |
7.15 | Trust Account |
At least 48 hours prior to the Closing, SPAC shall provide notice to the Trustee in accordance with the Trust Agreement and shall deliver any other documents, opinions or notices required to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to the Trust Agreement and cause the Trustee prior to the Closing to, and the Trustee shall thereupon be obligated to, transfer all funds held in the Trust Account to SPAC and thereafter shall cause the Trust Account and the Trust Agreement to terminate.
7.16 | Directors |
SPAC, New SPAC and New Holdco shall take all necessary action so that, immediately after the Closing, the board of directors of New Holdco is comprised of the individuals designated on Exhibit J.
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7.17 | Filing Fees |
Any filing or similar fees with respect to any regulatory or governmental approval, including the Registration Statement / Proxy Statement and the matters set forth in Sections 7.14 and 8.1.3, shall be borne by the Seller.
7.18 | Joinders |
At or promptly after the Closing, New Holdco will execute a customary joinder to each agreement set forth on Section 7.18 of the Company Disclosure Schedule.
7.19 | Leakage |
7.19.1 | Seller agrees that it shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the occurrence of any Leakage from the date hereof through the Closing Date. |
7.19.2 | Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Parties agree that (i) the sole recourse of SPAC, New SPAC, New Holdco and their respective Affiliates in relation to any Leakage shall be the impact to the Company Equity Value (as provided in the definition thereof) based on the amount of such Leakage set forth in the Leakage Certificate as it may be revised by Seller pursuant to Section 2.3.6, and (ii) from and after the Closing, no Party hereto or respective Affiliate thereof shall have any recourse whatsoever with respect to any Leakage. |
7.19.3 | Prior to the Closing, Seller shall notify SPAC in writing promptly, but in no event later than three (3) Business Days, after becoming aware of any material breach of Section 7.19.1 (including the specific amount of any Leakage, if known). |
7.20 | Litigation |
7.20.1 | With respect to (i) any Action disclosed on Section 4.9 of the Company Disclosure Schedule or (ii) any Action brought after the date of this Agreement that would have been required to be disclosed on Section 4.9 of the Company Disclosure Schedule had such Action been brought prior to the date of this Agreement, the Company shall, (x) to the extent not already disclosed on Section 4.9 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, promptly notify SPAC of any such Action and (y) keep SPAC reasonably informed with respect to the status of any such Action and provide SPAC with copies of all material correspondence, pleadings and updates regarding such Action, provided that provision of any privileged information shall be subject to entry by the Company, SPAC and/or other relevant Persons into a customary joint defense agreement. The Company shall, subject to entry by the Company, SPAC and/or any other relevant Persons into a customary joint defense agreement: consult with SPAC regarding the defense of any such Action (including regarding the choice of any counsel to defend such Action to the extent counsel has not already been engaged with respect to such Action prior to the date of this Agreement), shall give due consideration to SPAC’s advice with respect to such litigation and shall not settle or agree to settle any such Action without the prior written consent of SPAC, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. |
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7.20.2 | With respect to (i) any Action disclosed on Section 5.9 of the SPAC Disclosure Schedule or (ii) any Action brought after the date of this Agreement that would have been required to be disclosed on Section 5.9 of the SPAC Disclosure Schedule had such Action been brought prior to the date of this Agreement, SPAC shall, (x) to the extent not already disclosed on Section 5.9 of the SPAC Disclosure Schedule, promptly notify Seller of any such Action and (y) keep Seller reasonably informed with respect to the status of any such Action and provide Seller with copies of all material correspondence, pleadings and updates regarding such Action, provided that provision of any privileged information shall be subject to entry by Seller, SPAC and/or other relevant Persons into a customary joint defense agreement. SPAC shall, subject to entry by the Seller, SPAC and/or any other relevant Persons into a customary joint defense agreement: consult with Seller regarding the defense of any such Action (including regarding the choice of any counsel to defend such Action to the extent counsel has not already been engaged with respect to such Action prior to the date of this Agreement), shall give due consideration to Seller’s advice with respect to such litigation and shall not settle or agree to settle any such Action without the prior written consent of Seller, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. |
7.21 | Forward Purchase Agreement |
SPAC shall cause that certain forward purchase contract dated as of January 21, 2021, by and between SPAC and its sponsor, NAAC Sponsor LP, to be terminated prior to or at the Closing, and prior to such termination shall not enter into any transactions pursuant thereto.
7.22 | SEC Filings |
In the event SPAC is required by SEC rules, policies or any request by the SEC to amend or modify any filings made with the SEC, including any restatement of its financial statements or any portion thereof, it will complete all such amendments or modifications, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause all such amendments or modifications to be accepted by the SEC, in each case as promptly as reasonably practicable.
8 | Conditions to the Transactions |
8.1 | Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party |
The obligations of Seller, the Company, SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC to consummate the Transactions are subject to the satisfaction or waiver (where permissible) at or prior to the Closing of the following conditions:
8.1.1 | SPAC Shareholders’ Approval. The Transaction Proposals shall have been approved and resolved by the requisite affirmative vote of the shareholders of SPAC in accordance with the Registration Statement / Proxy Statement, applicable Law, the SPAC Articles of Association and the rules and regulations of Nasdaq. |
8.1.2 | No Order. No Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Law, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, executive order or award which is then in effect and has the effect of making the Transactions illegal or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the Transactions. |
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8.1.3 | Regulatory Approvals |
(i) | All required filings under the HSR Act shall have been completed and any applicable waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the consummation of the Transactions under the HSR Act shall have expired. |
(ii) | The NSIA Approval shall have been received. |
(iii) | The PRC National Security Approval shall have been received. |
8.1.4 | Stock Exchange Listing. New Holdco’s initial listing application with Nasdaq in connection with the Transactions shall have been conditionally approved, and the New Holdco Common Stock shall have been accepted for listing on Nasdaq (subject to the Closing occurring), or, in each case, with another national securities exchange mutually agreed to by the Parties in writing, as of the Closing Date. |
8.1.5 | SPAC Net Tangible Assets. SPAC shall have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets after giving effect to the Private Placements and following the exercise of Redemption Rights in accordance with the SPAC Articles of Association. |
8.1.6 | Registration Statement / Proxy Statement. The Registration Statement / Proxy Statement shall have been declared effective under the Securities Act. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement / Proxy Statement shall be in effect, and no proceedings for purposes of suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement / Proxy Statement shall have been initiated or be threatened in writing by the SEC. |
8.1.7 | Private Placements. The sale and issuance by New Holdco of New Holdco Common Stock in connection with the Private Placements shall have been consummated prior to or in connection with the Closing. |
8.2 | Conditions to the Obligations of SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC |
The obligations of SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC to consummate the Transactions are subject to the satisfaction or waiver (where permissible) at or prior to the Closing of the following additional conditions:
8.2.1 | Representations and Warranties |
(i) | The representations and warranties of Seller contained in Article 3 shall each be true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and the Closing (except to the extent that any such representation or warranty expressly is made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such specified date). |
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(ii) | The representations and warranties of the Company in (x) Section 4.1, Section 4.2, Section 4.3, Section 4.4, Section 4.5.1 and Section 4.23 shall each be true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and the Closing (except to the extent that any such representation or warranty expressly is made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such specified date) and (y) the other provisions of Article 4 shall be true and correct in all respects (without giving effect to any “materiality,” “Company Material Adverse Effect” or similar qualifiers contained in any such representations and warranties) as of the date hereof and as of the Closing as though made on and as of such date (except to the extent that any such representation or warranty expressly is made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date), except where the failures of any such representations and warranties to be so true and correct, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. |
8.2.2 | Agreements and Covenants. Seller and the Company shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all agreements and covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing. |
8.2.3 | Officer Certificates. The Company shall have delivered to SPAC a certificate, dated the date of the Closing, signed by an officer of the Company, certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in Section 8.2.1(ii), Section 8.2.2 and Section 8.2.4 as they relate to the Company. Seller shall have delivered to SPAC a certificate, dated the date of the Closing, signed by an officer of Seller, certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in Section 8.2.1(i) and Section 8.2.2 as they relate to Seller. |
8.2.4 | Material Adverse Effect. No Company Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred between the date of this Agreement and the Closing. |
8.3 | Conditions to the Obligations of the Seller and the Company |
The obligations of Seller and the Company to consummate the Transactions are subject to the satisfaction or waiver (where permissible) at or prior to the Closing of the following additional conditions:
8.3.1 | Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC contained in (i) Section 5.1, Section 5.2, Section 5.3, Section 5.4, Section 5.5.1(i) and Section 5.12 shall each be true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and the Closing (except to the extent that any such representation or warranty expressly is made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such specified date) and (ii) the other provisions of Article 5 shall be true and correct in all respects (without giving effect to any “materiality,” “SPAC Material Adverse Effect” or similar qualifiers contained in any such representations and warranties) as of the date hereof and as of the Closing as though made on and as of such date (except to the extent that any such representation or warranty expressly is made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date), except where the failures of any such representations and warranties to be so true and correct, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a SPAC Material Adverse Effect. |
8.3.2 | Agreements and Covenants. SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all other agreements and covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing. |
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8.3.3 | Officer Certificate. SPAC shall have delivered to the Seller a certificate, dated the date of the Closing, signed by the President of SPAC, certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in Section 8.3.1, Section 8.3.2 and Section 8.3.4. |
8.3.4 | Material Adverse Effect. No SPAC Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred between the date of this Agreement and the Closing. |
8.3.5 | Available Cash. The amount of Available Cash shall not be less than an amount equal to $200,000,000. |
8.3.6 | Registration Rights Agreement. All parties to the Registration Rights Agreement (other than Seller) shall have delivered, or cause to be delivered, to Seller copies of the Registration Rights Agreement duly executed by all such parties. |
8.3.7 | Waiver. Sponsor shall deliver an irrevocable and unconditional written waiver, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Seller, of all of its rights pursuant to Section 15 of the Promissory Note, dated August 6, 2021, made by and between SPAC and Sponsor. |
8.3.8 | Resignation. All officers and directors of New SPAC and New Holdco shall have executed written resignations effective as of the SPAC Merger Effective Time, copies of which shall have been delivered to the Seller. |
8.3.9 | Other Approvals. All Other Approvals have been obtained, in a manner in form and substance satisfactory to Seller. |
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9 | Termination, Amendment and Waiver |
9.1 | Termination |
This Agreement may be terminated and the Transactions may be abandoned at any time prior to the Closing, notwithstanding any requisite approval and adoption of this Agreement and the Transactions by the shareholders of SPAC, as follows:
9.1.1 | by mutual written consent of SPAC and Seller; |
9.1.2 | by either SPAC or Seller if the Closing shall not have occurred prior to June 30, 2022 (the “Outside Date”); provided, however, that this Agreement may not be terminated under this Section 9.1.2 by or on behalf of any Party that either directly or indirectly through its Affiliates is in breach or violation of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation contained herein and such breach or violation is the principal cause of the failure of a condition set forth in Article 8 on or prior to the Outside Date; |
9.1.3 | by either SPAC or Seller if any Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any injunction, order, decree or ruling (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) which has become final and nonappealable and has the effect of making consummation of the Transactions illegal or otherwise preventing or prohibiting consummation of the Transactions; |
9.1.4 | by either SPAC or Seller if any of the Transaction Proposals shall fail to receive the requisite vote for approval at the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting; |
9.1.5 | by SPAC upon a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of Seller or the Company set forth in this Agreement, or if any representation or warranty of Seller or the Company shall have become untrue, in either case such that the conditions set forth in Sections 8.2.1 and 8.2.2 would not be satisfied (“Terminating Company Breach”); provided that SPAC has not waived such Terminating Company Breach and SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC are not then in material breach of their representations, warranties, covenants or agreements in this Agreement; provided however, that, if such Terminating Company Breach is curable by Seller or the Company, SPAC may not terminate this Agreement under this Section 9.1.5 for so long as Seller and the Company continue to exercise their reasonable efforts to cure such breach, unless such breach is not cured by the earlier of thirty (30) days after notice of such breach is provided by SPAC to Seller and the Outside Date; or |
9.1.6 | by Seller upon a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC set forth in this Agreement, or if any representation or warranty of SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC shall have become untrue, in either case such that the conditions set forth in Sections 8.3.1 and 8.3.2 would not be satisfied (“Terminating SPAC Breach”); provided that the Company has not waived such Terminating SPAC Breach and Seller and the Company are not then in material breach of their representations, warranties, covenants or agreements in this Agreement; provided, however, that, if such Terminating SPAC Breach is curable by SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC, Seller may not terminate this Agreement under this Section 9.1.6 for so long as SPAC, New Holdco and New SPAC continue to exercise their reasonable efforts to cure such breach, unless such breach is not cured by the earlier of thirty (30) days after notice of such breach is provided by Seller to the SPAC and the Outside Date. |
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9.2 | Effect of Termination |
In the event of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void, and there shall be no liability under this Agreement on the part of any Party, except as set forth in Article 10, and any corresponding definitions set forth in Article 1, or in the case of termination subsequent to a willful and material breach of this Agreement by a Party or in the case of fraud.
9.3 | Expenses |
Except as set forth in this Section 9.3, all expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions shall be paid by the Party incurring such expenses; provided that, if the Closing shall occur, New Holdco shall pay or cause to be paid, (i) Transfer Taxes, (ii) the SPAC Transaction Expenses and (iii) the Company Transaction Expenses; and provided, further, that SPAC and the Company shall each pay one half of the filing fee for the Notification and Report Forms filed under the HSR Act, which payments shall be a SPAC Transaction Expense and a Company Transaction Expense, respectively.
9.4 | Amendment |
This Agreement may be amended in writing by the Parties at any time prior to the Closing. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed by each of the Parties.
9.5 | Waiver |
9.5.1 | At any time prior to the Closing: |
(i) | SPAC may (a) extend the time for the performance of any obligation or other act of Seller or the Company, (b) waive any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of Seller or the Company contained herein or in any document delivered by Seller or the Company pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance with any agreement of Seller or the Company or any condition to its own obligations contained herein; and |
(ii) | Seller may (a) extend the time for the performance of any obligation or other act of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC, (b) waive any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC contained herein or in any document delivered by SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance with any agreement of SPAC, New Holdco or New SPAC or any condition to its own obligations contained herein. |
9.5.2 | Any such extension or waiver shall be valid if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the Party or Parties to be bound thereby. Any such waiver shall constitute a waiver only with respect to the specific matter described in such writing and shall in no way impair the rights of the Party granting such waiver in any other respect or at any other time. Neither the waiver by any of the Parties of a breach of or a default under any of the provisions of this Agreement, nor the failure by any of the Parties, on one or more occasions, to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement or to exercise any right or privilege hereunder, shall be construed as a waiver of any other breach or default of a similar nature, or as a waiver of any of such provisions, rights or privileges hereunder. The rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that each Party may otherwise have at law or in equity. |
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10 | General Provisions |
10.1 | 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 upon receipt) by delivery in person, by email or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 10.1):
if to SPAC, New SPAC or New Holdco:
North Atlantic Acquisition Corporation
c/o Reed Smith LLP
2850 N. Harwood Street, Suite 1500
Dallas, TX 75201
Attention: Lynwood Reinhardt
Email: lreinhardt@reedsmith.com
with a copy to:
Reed Smith LLP
2850 N. Harwood Street, Suite 1500
Dallas, TX 75201
Attention: Lynwood Reinhardt
Email: lreinhardt@reedsmith.com
and a copy to:
McDermott Will & Emery LLP
One Vanderbilt Ave.
New York, NY 10017
Attention: Ari Edelman
Email: AEdelman@mwe.com
if to the Company or Seller:
BICS SA
Boulevard du Roi Albert II 27- 1030
Bruxelles, Belgium
Attention: Guillaume Boutin
Email: guillaume.boutin@proximus.com
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with a copy to:
Linklaters LLP
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104
Attention: Jeffrey Cohen; Peter Cohen-Millstein
Email: jeffrey.cohen@linklaters.com; peter.cohen-millstein@linklaters.com
and
Linklaters LLP
Rue Brederode 13, 1000
Brussels, Belgium
Attention: An-Sofie Van Hootegem; Eric Pottier
Email: ansofie.vanhootegem@linklaters.com; eric.pottier@linklaters.com
10.2 | Non-survival 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 and other provisions, shall survive the Closing and all such representations, warranties, covenants, obligations or other agreements shall terminate and expire upon the occurrence of the Closing (and there shall be no liability after the Closing in respect thereof), except for (i) those covenants and agreements contained herein that by their terms expressly apply in whole or in part after the Closing and then only with respect to any breaches occurring after the Closing and (ii) this Article 10 and any corresponding definitions set forth in Article 1.
10.3 | Severability |
If any term or other provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of Law, or public policy, in whole or in part, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless 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 is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, 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 a mutually acceptable manner in order that the Transactions be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
10.4 | Entire Agreement; Assignment |
This Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements constitute the entire agreement among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede, except as set forth in Section 7.3.2, all prior and contemporaneous agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the Parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof. Neither Party shall assign, grant or otherwise transfer the benefit of the whole or any part of this Agreement or any of the rights hereunder (whether pursuant to a merger, by operation of Law or otherwise) by any Party without the prior express written consent of the other Parties.
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10.5 | Parties in Interest |
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each Party, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement, other than Section 7.6 and Section 10.11 (which are intended to be for the benefit of the Persons covered thereby and may be enforced by such Persons).
10.6 | Governing Law |
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts executed in and to be performed in that State (the “Governing Law”). All legal actions and proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined exclusively in any Delaware Chancery Court; provided that if jurisdiction is not then available in the Delaware Chancery Court, then any such legal Action may be brought in any federal court located in the State of Delaware or any other Delaware state court. The Parties hereby (a) irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts for themselves and with respect to their respective properties for the purpose of any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought by any Party hereto, and (b) agree not to commence any Action relating thereto except in the courts described above in Delaware, other than Actions in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce any judgment, decree or award rendered by any such court in Delaware as described herein. Each of the Parties further agrees that notice as provided herein shall constitute sufficient service of process and the parties further waive any argument that such service is insufficient. Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion or as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Transactions, (a) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the courts in Delaware as described herein for any reason, (b) that it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise) and (c) that (i) the Action in any such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (ii) the venue of such Action is improper or (iii) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.
10.7 | Waiver of Jury Trial |
EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS. EACH OF THE PARTIES (A) CERTIFIES THAT 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 THAT FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.7.
10.8 | Headings |
The descriptive headings contained in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
10.9 | Counterparts |
This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or portable document format (pdf) transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different Parties in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
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10.10 | Specific Performance |
10.10.1 | The Parties agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof, and, accordingly, that the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement or to enforce specifically the performance of the terms and provisions hereof (including the Parties’ obligation to consummate the Transactions) without proof of actual damages or otherwise, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at Law or in equity as expressly permitted in this Agreement. Each of the Parties hereby further waives (i) any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at Law would be adequate and (ii) any requirement under any Law to post security or a bond as a prerequisite to obtaining equitable relief. |
10.10.2 | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if prior to the Outside Date any Party initiates an Action to prevent breaches or threatened breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, then the Outside Date shall be automatically extended by: (i) the amount of time during which such Action is pending plus twenty (20) Business Days; or (ii) such other time period established by the court presiding over such Action. |
10.11 | No Recourse |
All claims, obligations, liabilities, or causes of action (whether in contract or in tort, in Law or in equity or otherwise, or granted by statute or otherwise, whether by or through attempted piercing of the corporate, limited partnership or limited liability company veil or any other theory or doctrine, including alter ego or otherwise) that may be based upon, in respect of, arise under, out or by reason of, be connected with, or relate in any manner to this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, or the negotiation, execution, or performance or non-performance of this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents (including any representation or warranty made in, in connection with, or as an inducement to this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents), may be made only against (and such representations and warranties are those solely of) the Persons that are expressly identified as parties to this Agreement or the applicable Transaction Document (the “Contracting Parties”), except as set forth in this Section 10.11. In no event shall any Contracting Party have any shared or vicarious liability for the actions or omissions of any other Person. No Person who is not a Contracting Party, including without limitation any current, former or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner, manager, stockholder, Affiliate, agent, financing source, attorney or Representative or assignee of any Contracting Party, or any current, former or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner, manager, stockholder, Affiliate, agent, financing source, attorney or Representative or assignee of any of the foregoing (collectively, the “Nonparty Affiliates”), shall have any liability (whether in contract or in tort, in Law or in equity or otherwise, or granted by statute or otherwise, whether by or through attempted piercing of the corporate, limited partnership or limited liability company veil or any other theory or doctrine, including alter ego or otherwise) for any obligations or liabilities arising under, out of, in connection with, or related in any manner to this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents or their negotiation, execution, performance, or breach, except with respect to willful misconduct or fraud against the Person who committed such willful misconduct or fraud, and, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law; and each Party waives and releases all such liabilities, claims, causes of action and obligations against any such Nonparty Affiliates. The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Nonparty Affiliates are intended third-party beneficiaries of this Section 10.11. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, none of the Contracting Parties or any Nonparty Affiliate shall be responsible or liable for any multiple, consequential, indirect, special, statutory, exemplary or punitive damages which may be alleged as a result of this Agreement, the Transaction Documents or any other agreement referenced herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereunder or thereunder, or the termination or abandonment of any of the foregoing, except with respect to willful misconduct or fraud against the Person who committed such willful misconduct or fraud, and, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law.
[Signature Page Follows]
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In witness whereof, SPAC, New Holdco, New SPAC, Seller and the Company have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.
NORTH ATLANTIC ACQUISITION CORP. | ||
By | /s/ Gary Quin | |
Name: Gary Quin | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||
NAAC HOLDCO, INC. | ||
By | /s/ Gary Quin | |
Name: Gary Quin | ||
Title: President | ||
NORTH ATLANTIC ACQUISITION, LLC | ||
By | /s/ Gary Quin | |
Name: Gary Quin | ||
Title: President |
[Signature Page to BCA]
BICS SA | ||
By | /s/ Guillaume Boutin | |
Name: Guillaume Boutin | ||
Title: Chairman | ||
TORINO HOLDING CORP. | ||
By | /s/ Joe Burton | |
Name: Joe Burton | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
[Signature Page to BCA]
Exhibit A
Form of Plan of Merger
[Attached]
90 |
Exhibit B
Form of Certificate of Merger
[Attached]
91 |
Exhibit C
Form of Registration Rights Agreement
[Attached]
92
Exhibit D
Proximus Non-Compete Agreement
[Attached]
93
Exhibit E
Stockholders Agreement
[Attached]
94
Exhibit F
Company Tax Notices
[Attached]
95
Exhibit G
Capitalization
[Attached]
96
Exhibit H
New EIP
[Attached]
97
Exhibit I
A&R New Holdco Organizational Documents
[Attached]
98
Exhibit 10.1
EXECUTION VERSION
TRANSACTION SUPPORT AGREEMENT
This Transaction Support Agreement, dated as of December 16, 2021 (this “Agreement”), is made by and among:
(1) | BICS SA, a Belgian limited liability company (société anonyme) (the “Seller”); |
(2) | Torino Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”); |
(3) | North Atlantic Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“SPAC”); |
(4) | NAAC Holdco, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“New Holdco”); |
(5) | NAAC Sponsor LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Sponsor”); and |
(6) | the undersigned investors in SPAC (the “Investors”, and together with the Sponsor, the “SPAC Holders”). |
Whereas:
(A) | concurrently with the entry into this Agreement, Seller, the Company, SPAC, North Atlantic Acquisition, LLC (“New SPAC”), a Delaware limited liability company and New Holdco are entering into that certain Business Combination Agreement (as amended and/or restated from time to time, the “BCA”), which provides for, among other things, a business combination among New Holdco and the Company pursuant to which the issued and outstanding shares in the Company shall be exchanged for the Cash Consideration and Share Consideration (as defined therein); |
(B) | as of the date hereof, the SPAC Holders own beneficially and/or of record those SPAC Securities set forth opposite such SPAC Holder’s name as set forth on Schedule A hereto; and |
(C) | in order to induce Seller and the Company to enter into the BCA, and consummate the Transactions, each of the SPAC Holders and SPAC desire to enter into this Agreement; |
Now, therefore, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and in the BCA, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1 | Definitions |
1.1 | Capitalized terms used herein shall have the respective meanings given to them in this Agreement, or if not defined herein, as set forth in the BCA. |
1.2 | As used herein, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below: |
“Beneficially Own” has the meaning given to such term under Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act.
“Founder Shares” means each of the SPAC’s Class B ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value, held by the Investors or the Sponsor.
“Ordinary Shares” means each of the SPAC Class A Shares and Founder Shares held by the Investors or the Sponsor.
“SPAC Securities” means each of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, Founder Shares, SPAC Units and SPAC Warrants held by the Investors or the Sponsor.
“Transfer” means to, directly or indirectly, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, hypothecate, or similarly dispose of, either voluntarily or involuntarily, to grant any proxies or powers of attorney with respect to, or to enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or similar disposition of, in each case, any interest owned by a person or any interest (including a beneficial interest) in, or the ownership, control or possession of, any interest owned by a person.
2 | Sponsor Forfeiture |
The Sponsor hereby agrees that, in the event that the SPAC Shareholder Redemption Amount immediately prior to the SPAC Merger Effective Time, when expressed as a percentage of the amount of funds contained in the Trust Account (such percentage, the “Redemption Percentage”), is greater than 50%, the Sponsor, without any further action by any party, shall automatically be deemed to, and shall, irrevocably transfer to SPAC, surrender and forfeit for cancellation (and the Sponsor and SPAC shall take all actions necessary to effect such transfer, surrender and forfeiture for cancellation) for no consideration, the quantity of Founder Shares equal to the lesser of (i) (a) (I) the Redemption Percentage minus (II) 50%, multiplied by (b) 3,795,000, and (ii) 948,750.
3 | Reallocation |
The Sponsor hereby agrees that, at the Closing and immediately prior to the actions set forth in Section 2.3.2(ii) of the BCA, it shall irrevocably transfer to SPAC, surrender and forfeit for cancellation, for no consideration, 948,750 Founder Shares.
4 | Voting Obligations |
4.1 | From the date hereof until the earlier of (i) the Closing and (ii) termination of the BCA in accordance with Article IX thereof (such period, the “Interim Period”), such SPAC Holder, in his, her or its capacity as a holder of Ordinary Shares, severally and not jointly, agrees irrevocably, for so long as this this Agreement has not been terminated in accordance with its terms, and unconditionally that, at each SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting, at any other meeting of the SPAC Shareholders (whether annual, general, special or extraordinary and whether or not an adjourned or postponed meeting, however called and including any adjournment or postponement thereof), in connection with any written consent or written resolution of the SPAC Shareholders and in connection with any similar vote or consent of the holders of SPAC Warrants in their capacities as such, including in each of the SPAC Proposals, such SPAC Holder shall, and shall cause any other holder of record of any of such SPAC Holder’s Ordinary Shares to: |
4.1.1 | when such meeting is held, appear at such meeting or otherwise cause the SPAC Holder’s Ordinary Shares to be counted as present thereat for the purpose of establishing a quorum; |
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4.1.2 | vote (or duly and promptly execute and deliver an action by written consent or written resolution), or cause to be voted at such meeting (or cause such consent or resolution to be duly and promptly executed and delivered with respect to), all of such SPAC Holder’s Ordinary Shares he, she or it is entitled to vote at the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting in favor of each SPAC Proposal and any other matters reasonably necessary for consummation of the Transactions; and |
4.1.3 | vote (or duly and promptly execute and deliver an action by written consent or written resolution), or cause to be voted at such meeting (or cause such consent to be duly and promptly executed and delivered with respect to), all of such SPAC Holder’s Ordinary Shares against any Competing SPAC Transaction and any other action that would reasonably be expected to impede, interfere with or materially delay or postpone the consummation of, or otherwise adversely affect, any of the Transactions, or result in a material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other obligation or agreement of SPAC, under the BCA. |
4.2 | The obligations of the SPAC Holders in this Section 4 shall apply whether or not the SPAC Board or other governing body or any committee, subcommittee or subgroup thereof recommends any of the SPAC Proposals and whether or not such board or other governing body, committee, subcommittee or subgroup thereof changes, withdraws, withholds, qualifies or modifies, or publicly proposes to change, withdraw, withhold, qualify or modify, the SPAC Board’s recommendation to its stockholders. |
5 | Waiver of Certain Rights |
On behalf of herself, himself, itself and its affiliates:
5.1 | Each SPAC Holder hereby irrevocably, for so long as this this Agreement has not been terminated in accordance with its terms, and unconditionally agrees not to (i) demand that SPAC redeem its Ordinary Shares in connection with the Transactions or (ii) otherwise participate in any such redemption by tendering or submitting any of its Ordinary Shares for redemption; and |
5.2 | Each SPAC Holder hereby irrevocably, for so long as this this Agreement has not been terminated in accordance with its terms, and unconditionally (i) waives any rights for (A) the Promissory Note made by SPAC and Sponsor and dated as of August 6, 2021, and (B) any other loans, if any, made by it or its affiliates or on its behalf or on behalf of its affiliates to SPAC or any of its affiliates to, in each case, be converted into securities and/or warrants exercisable for securities, in each case, of SPAC or any of its affiliates or their successors and assigns and (ii) agrees that no such loans, if any, shall be converted into any securities and/or warrants. |
5.3 | With respect to its SPAC Securities, each SPAC Holder hereby (but subject to, conditioned upon and effective as of immediately prior to the Closing) waives (for itself, for its successors, heirs and assigns), to the fullest extent permitted by law and the Amended and Restated Articles of Association of SPAC, adopted by special resolutions dated October 21, 2021 (as may be amended from time to time, the “Articles”), the provisions of Section 17.3-17.6 of the Articles to have the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares convert to SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at a ratio of greater than one-for-one, or any other adjustments or anti-dilution protections that arise in connection with the issuance of any equity of SPAC. The waiver specified in this Section 5.3 shall be applicable only in connection with the Transactions and this Agreement (and any shares of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares or equity-linked securities issued in connection with the Transactions and this Agreement) and shall be void and of no force and effect if the BCA shall be terminated for any reason. |
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6 | Further Efforts & Assurances |
6.1 | SPAC, Sponsor and each other SPAC Holder each hereby agree to take all actions necessary to effect the transfers set forth in, and other provisions of, Section 2 and Section 3, including but not limited to revising and/or terminating, as applicable, the organizational documents of Sponsor and/or any other agreements or arrangements pursuant to which Sponsor undertakes to transfer Founder Shares to any other SPAC Holder or giving any SPAC Holder any other rights to or in any Founder Shares, in each case in accordance with Section 3.05 of the Sponsor’s Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement dated January 21, 2021 (the “Sponsor LPA”). |
6.2 | During the Interim Period, each SPAC Holder (i) shall, and shall cause its affiliates to, use reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions to do, or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the Transactions on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the BCA and (ii) shall not, and shall cause its affiliates not to, take any action that would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay the satisfaction of any of the conditions to the Transactions set forth in Article IX of the BCA. |
6.3 | Each of the parties hereto agrees to execute and deliver hereafter any further document, agreement or instrument of assignment, transfer or conveyance as may be necessary or reasonably requested by a party hereto to effectuate the purposes hereof and as may be reasonably requested in writing by another party hereto. |
7 | Transfer Restrictions |
7.1 | Interim Period |
During the Interim Period, each SPAC Holder shall not, and shall cause any other holder of record of any of such SPAC Holder’s SPAC Securities not to, Transfer any SPAC Securities that she, he or it Beneficially Owns without the prior written consent of Seller; provided, however, and subject to the obligations set forth in Section 2 and Section 3, that the foregoing sentence shall not apply to the following (each, a “Permitted Transfer”):
7.1.1 | transfers to a trust, or other entity formed for estate planning purposes for the primary benefit of the spouse, domestic partner, parent, sibling, child or grandchild of any Investor or any other person with whom such Investor has a relationship by blood, marriage or adoption not more remote than first cousin; |
7.1.2 | if the undersigned is an individual, Transfers by will or intestate succession upon the death of any Investor; |
7.1.3 | transfers by operation of law, such as pursuant to a qualified domestic order or in connection with a divorce settlement; |
7.1.4 | if the undersigned is not a natural person, (i) Transfers to a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, syndicate, association or other business entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control or management with such SPAC Holder and (ii) distributions to managers, partners, limited liability company members or equityholders who control such SPAC Holder; |
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7.1.5 | in the event of SPAC’s liquidation; |
7.1.6 | by virtue of the laws of the jurisdiction of formation of any Sponsor or any of Sponsor’s limited liability company agreement, limited partnership agreement or equivalent organizational document, upon dissolution of such Sponsor; and |
7.1.7 | the establishment of a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 promulgated under the Exchange Act, provided that such plan does not provide for the transfer of SPAC Securities or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for SPAC Securities during the Interim Period; |
provided that in the case of any Transfer or distribution pursuant to Section 7.1.1 through Section 7.1.7, each donee, distributee or other transferee shall agree in writing, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the applicable SPAC Holder, the Company and the Holdco to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement.
7.2 | Any Transfer in violation of the provisions of this Section 7 shall be null and void ab initio and be of no force or effect. |
8 | Representations and Warranties |
Each SPAC Holder hereby represents and warrants (severally and not jointly as to herself, himself or itself only) to SPAC, Seller and the Company as follows:
8.1 | if such person is not an individual, it is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated, formed, organized or constituted, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby are within such person’s corporate, limited liability company or other organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company or other organizational actions on the part of such person; |
8.2 | if such person is an individual, such person has full legal capacity, right and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder; |
8.3 | this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such person and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties to this Agreement, this Agreement constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation of such person, enforceable against such person in accordance with the terms hereof (except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy Laws, other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights and general principles of equity affecting the availability of specific performance and other equitable remedies); |
8.4 | the execution and delivery of this Agreement by such person does not, and the performance by such person of its obligations hereunder will not require any consent or approval that has not been given or other action that has not been taken by any third party, in each case, to the extent such consent, approval or other action would prevent, enjoin or materially delay the performance by such person of its obligations under this Agreement the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the parties hereto does not, and the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder will not, conflict with, or require the consent of any limited partner of Sponsor pursuant to, Section 3.05 of the Sponsor LPA; |
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8.5 | Schedule A hereto sets forth opposite such SPAC Holder’s name the number of all of SPAC Securities of which such SPAC Holder has beneficial or record ownership, or the power to vote (including, without limitation, by proxy or power of attorney) as of the date hereof; and except for the SPAC Securities denoted on Schedule A, as of the date of this Agreement, such SPAC Holder is not a record holder of any (i) SPAC Securities or (ii) any other securities of SPAC having the right to vote on any matters on which the holders of equity securities of SPAC may vote; |
8.6 | such SPAC Holder understands and acknowledges that each of Seller and the Company is entering into the BCA in reliance upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the SPAC Holders. |
8.7 | such SPAC Holder is a sophisticated stockholder and has adequate information concerning the business and financial condition of SPAC, New Holdco, New SPAC and the Company to make an informed decision regarding this Agreement and the Transactions and has independently and without reliance upon SPAC, New Holdco, New SPAC, Seller or the Company and based on such information as such SPAC Holder has deemed appropriate, made its own analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement; such SPAC Holder acknowledges that neither SPAC, Seller nor the Company has made and does not make any representation or warranty, whether express or implied, of any kind or character except as expressly set forth in this Agreement; and such SPAC Holder acknowledges that the agreements contained herein with respect to SPAC Securities held by such SPAC Holder are irrevocable for so long as this this Agreement has not been terminated in accordance with its terms; |
8.8 | as of the date hereof, there is no Action pending or, to the knowledge of such SPAC Holder, threatened, against such SPAC Holder that would reasonably be expected to impair the ability of such SPAC Holder to perform such SPAC Holder’s obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and |
8.9 | without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Sponsor hereby represents and warrants that (i) Sponsor is entitled to give the waiver set forth under Section 5.3 with respect to all of the Founder Shares issued and outstanding as of the date first written above, (ii) all of the Founder Shares issued and outstanding as of the date first written above are subject to the obligations under this Agreement, notwithstanding any entitlements thereto that any equityholders of Sponsor may have. |
9 | Equitable Adjustments |
If, and as often as, there are any changes in SPAC or SPAC Securities by way of stock split, sub-division, stock or share dividend, combination, consolidation or reclassification, or through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or business combination, or by any other means, equitable adjustment shall be made to the provisions of this Agreement as may be required so that the rights, privileges, duties and obligations hereunder shall continue with respect to SPAC or the SPAC Securities each as so changed.
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10 | Stop Transfer Order; Legend |
Each SPAC Holder hereby authorizes SPAC to maintain a copy of this Agreement at either the executive office or the registered office of SPAC. In furtherance of this Agreement, each SPAC Holder hereby authorizes and will instruct SPAC, promptly after the date hereof, to enter, or cause its transfer agent to enter, a stop transfer order with respect to all of such SPAC Holder’s SPAC Securities with respect to any Transfer not permitted hereunder and to include the following legend on any certificates or other instruments representing (or any notice given pursuant to the laws of the Cayman Islands in respect of) such SPAC Holder’s SPAC Securities: “THE SHARES OF STOCK OR OTHER SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN VOTING AND TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS PURSUANT TO THAT CERTAIN TRANSACTION SUPPORT AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF DECEMBER 16, 2021, BY AND AMONG BICS SA, TORINO HOLDING CORP., NORTH ATLANTIC ACQUISITION CORPORATION, NAAC HOLDCO, INC., NAAC SPONSOR LP LLC and certain other PERSONS partY thereto. ANY TRANSFER OF SUCH SHARES OF STOCK OR OTHER SECURITIES IN VIOLATION OF THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF SUCH TRANSACTION SUPPORT AGREEMENT SHALL BE NULL AND VOID AB INITIO AND HAVE NO FORCE OR EFFECT WHATSOEVER.”
11 | Updates to Schedule A; Admission of New SPAC Holders |
During the Interim Period, each SPAC Holder shall promptly notify SPAC of any increase, decrease or other change in the number of SPAC Securities held by or on behalf of such SPAC Holder (for the avoidance of doubt, each SPAC Holder acknowledges and agrees that Section 7.1 prohibits all Transfers of its SPAC Securities, other than Permitted Transfers, during the Interim Period, including any such SPAC Securities hereafter acquired by any SPAC Holder). Promptly following each such notification, SPAC or Holdco (as applicable) shall update Schedule A to reflect the applicable changes as they relate to SPAC Securities and provide a copy of such updated Schedule A to each of the parties hereto, and such updated Schedule A shall control for all purposes of this Agreement (unless and until it is later updated in accordance with this Section 11). Any such update to Schedule A pursuant to this Section 11 shall not be deemed an amendment to this Agreement for purposes of Section 15.
12 | Termination of Existing Registration Rights Agreement |
Prior to Closing, in connection with the entry into the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement by and among Holdco and the SPAC Holders, the SPAC Holders shall cause all existing registration rights agreements (including that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of January 21, 2021, entered into by and among SPAC, Sponsor and the SPAC Holders party thereto) entered into between SPAC and any other party, including the Sponsor but not including any PIPE Investors, to be terminated or restated in its entirely, as applicable, in each case. No parties to any such terminated or superseded registration rights agreements shall have any further rights or obligations thereunder.
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13 | Consent to Disclosure |
Each SPAC Holder hereby consents to the publication and disclosure in the Proxy Statement (and, as and to the extent otherwise required by applicable securities Laws or the SEC or any other securities authorities, any other documents or communications provided by SPAC, New Holdco, New SPAC, Seller or the Company to any Governmental Authority or to securityholders of SPAC) of such SPAC Holder’s identity and beneficial ownership of SPAC Securities and the nature of such SPAC Holder’s commitments, arrangements and understandings under and relating to this Agreement and, if deemed appropriate by SPAC, New Holdco or Seller, a copy of this Agreement. Each SPAC Holder will promptly provide any information reasonably requested by SPAC, New Holdco or Seller for any regulatory application or filing made or approval sought in connection with the Transactions (including filings with the SEC).
14 | No Challenges |
Each SPAC Holder agrees not to commence, join in, facilitate, assist or encourage, and agrees to take all actions necessary to opt out of any class in any class action with respect to, any claim, derivative or otherwise, against SPAC, New SPAC, New Holdco, Seller, the Company or any of their respective successors, directors or officers (i) challenging the validity of, or seeking to enjoin the operation of, any provision of this Agreement or (ii) alleging a breach of any fiduciary duty of any person in connection with the evaluation, negotiation or entry into the BCA or any other agreement in connection with the Transactions.
15 | Entire Agreement; Assignment; Amendment |
15.1 | This Agreement and the other agreements referenced herein constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall not be assigned (whether pursuant to a merger, by operation of law or otherwise) by any party without the prior express written consent of the other parties hereto. This Agreement may be amended in writing by all parties hereto by an instrument in writing signed by each of the parties hereto. |
15.2 | At any time prior to the Closing, (i) the Sponsor, on behalf of SPAC Holders may (a) extend the time for the performance of any obligation or other act of the Seller or Company, (b) waive any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Seller or Company contained herein or in any document delivered by the Seller or Company pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance with any agreement of the Seller or Company or any condition to its own obligations contained herein and (ii) the Seller and Company acting together may (a) extend the time for the performance of any obligation or other act of any SPAC Holder, (b) waive any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of any SPAC Holder contained herein or in any document delivered by any SPAC Holder pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance with any agreement of any SPAC Holder or any condition to the obligations of SPAC Holders contained herein. Any such extension or waiver shall be valid if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the party or parties to be bound thereby. |
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16 | Parties in Interest |
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
17 | Counterparts |
This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or portable document format (pdf) transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
18 | Severability |
If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless 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 is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the Transactions be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
19 | Governing Law; Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial |
Sections 10.06 and 10.07 of the BCA are incorporated herein by reference, mutatis mutandis.
20 | 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 upon receipt) by delivery in person, by email or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to (i) if to SPAC or the Sponsor, the address for SPAC in accordance with the terms of Section 10.01 of the BCA, (ii) if to the Company or Seller, the address for the Company or Seller in accordance with the terms of Section 10.01 of the BCA and (iii) if to any of the Investors, the address set forth in such Investor’s signature block hereto.
21 | Termination |
This Agreement shall automatically terminate on the earliest of: (a) the valid termination of the BCA (in which case this Agreement shall be of no force and effect), (b) the Closing and (c) the mutual written agreement of the parties hereof; provided, that no such termination shall relieve any party hereto from any liability resulting from its pre-termination breach of this Agreement.
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22 | Specific Performance |
The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof, and, accordingly, that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement or to enforce specifically the performance of the terms and provisions hereof (including the parties’ obligation to consummate the Transactions) in any court of the United States located in the State of Delaware without proof of actual damages or otherwise, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity as expressly permitted in this Agreement. Each of the parties hereby further waives (i) any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate and (ii) any requirement under any Law to post security or a bond as a prerequisite to obtaining equitable relief.
23 | Interpretation |
The descriptive headings contained in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Wherever this Agreement uses “it”, “its” or derivations thereof to refer to a natural person, such references shall be deemed references to “her”, “him” or “his”, as applicable.
24 | No Partnership, Agency or Joint Venture |
This Agreement is intended to create a contractual relationship between the parties hereto, and nothing contained herein is intended to create, and does not create, any agency, partnership, joint venture or any like relationship between or among any of the parties hereto. Without in any way limiting the rights or obligations of any party hereto under this Agreement, prior to the Closing, (i) no party is by virtue of this Agreement authorized as an agent, employee or legal representative of any other party, (ii) no party shall have the power by virtue of this Agreement to control the activities and operations of any other and (iii) no party shall have any power or authority by virtue of this Agreement to bind or commit any other party, (iv) each of the SPAC Holders (a) has acted independently regarding its decision to enter into this Agreement and regarding its investment in SPAC and/or Sponsor, as applicable, solely on its own behalf and shall not have any obligation to perform on behalf of any other SPAC Holder of Common Stock or any liability (regardless of the legal theory advanced) for any breach of this Agreement by any other SPAC Holder and (b) by entering into this Agreement does not intend to form a “group” for purposes of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) of the Exchange Act or any other similar provision of applicable Law.
[Signature pages follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
BICS SA | ||
By | /s/ Guillaume Boutin | |
Name: Guillaume Boutin | ||
Title: Chairman | ||
TORINO HOLDING CORP. | ||
By | /s/ Joe Burton | |
Name: Joe Burton | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
[Signature page to the Transaction Support Agreement]
NORTH ATLANTIC ACQUISITION CORPORATION | ||
By | /s/ Gary Quin | |
Name: Gary Quin | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||
NAAC SPONSOR LP | ||
By | /s/ Mark Keating | |
Name: Mark Keating | ||
Title: Managing Member |
[Signature page to the Transaction Support Agreement]
INVESTORS
NORTH OCEAN INVESTMENT COMPANY LIMITED | |
/s/ Gary Quin | |
Name: Gary Quin | |
Title: Director | |
Address: Level 3, Theuma House, 302 St | |
Paul Street, Valletta, VLT1213, | |
Malta | |
KEW FOUR LIMITED | |
/s/ Gary Quin | |
Name: Gary Quin | |
Title: Director | |
Address: 93, Mill Street, Zone 5, | |
Central Business District, | |
Qormi CBD5090, Malta |
[Signature page to the Transaction Support Agreement]
ANDREW MORGAN | |
/s/ Andrew Morgan | |
Name: Andrew Morgan | |
Title: N/A – an individual | |
Address: 30 The Green | |
Richmond | |
TW9 1LX | |
UK | |
DIMITRI PANAYOTOPOULOS | |
/s/ Dimitri Panayotopoulos | |
Name: Dimitri Panayatopoulos | |
Title: N/A – an individual | |
Address: Chemin des Acacias 19, | |
1166 Perroy, | |
Switzerland | |
TAMARA SAKOVSKA | |
/s/ Tamara Sakovska | |
Name: Tamara Sakovska | |
Title: N/A – an individual | |
Address: 33 Lamont Road | |
London | |
SW10 0HS | |
United Kingdom |
[Signature page to the Transaction Support Agreement]
Schedule A
Exhibit 10.2
FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of [󠄛●], 2022, is made and entered into by and among NAAC Holdco, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “Company”), NAAC Sponsor LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Sponsor”), and each of the undersigned parties listed under “Holders” on the signature page hereto (each such party, together with the Sponsor, and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.2 or Section 6.10 of this Agreement, a “Holder” and collectively the “Holders”). Except as otherwise stated, capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings provided in the Business Combination Agreement (as defined below).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, on January 21, 2021, North Atlantic Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“SPAC”), the Sponsor and certain other security holders named therein (the “Existing Holders”) entered into that certain Registration Rights Agreement (the “Existing Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company granted the Sponsor and such other Existing Holders certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of SPAC;
WHEREAS, on December 16, 2021, SPAC, North Atlantic Acquisition, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, (“New SPAC”), BICS SA, a Belgian limited liability company (“BICS”), Torino Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Torino”) and the Company entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, SPAC will merge with and into New SPAC with New SPAC being the surviving company in such Merger (the “SPAC Merger”), and following the SPAC Merger, BICS shall convey all outstanding shares of Torino to the Company in exchange for the Cash Consideration and Common Stock of the Company (as further described in the Business Combination Agreement, such transaction the “Share Acquisition”), resulting in Torino being a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Business Combination”);
WHEREAS, after the closing of the Business Combination (the “Closing”), the Holders will own all of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and the Sponsor will own warrants to purchase [●] shares of Common Stock (the “Private Placement Warrants”); and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Existing Holders desire to amend and restate the Existing Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which the Company shall grant the Holders certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company, as set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, covenants and agreements contained herein, and certain other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
Article
I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions. The terms defined in this Article I shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth below:
“Additional Holder” shall have the meaning given in Section 6.10.
“Additional Holder Common Stock” shall have the meaning given in Section 6.10.
“Adverse Disclosure” shall mean any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or principal financial officer of the Company, after consultation with counsel to the Company, (a) would be required to be made in (i) any Registration Statement in order for the applicable Registration Statement not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (ii) any Prospectus in order for the applicable Prospectus not to include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (b) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, and (c) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.
“Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“BICS” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Blackout Period” shall mean a broadly applicable and regularly scheduled period during which trading in the Company’s securities would not be permitted under the Company’s insider trading policy.
“Block Trade” shall have the meaning given to it in subsection 2.4.1.
“Board” shall mean the board of directors of the Company.
“Business Combination” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Business Combination Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Closing” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Stock” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Company” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Demanding Holder” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.5.
“Effective Date” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.2.
“Effectiveness Period” shall have the meaning given in subsection 3.1.1 of this Agreement.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time.
“Existing Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Existing Registration Rights Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Fall-Away Condition” shall mean the closing price of the Common Stock being equal to or in excess of $15.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations or recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period following the Closing.
“Financial Counterparty” shall have the meaning given in subsection 3.1.10 of this Agreement.
“Holder Indemnified Persons” shall have the meaning given in subsection 4.1.1 of this Agreement.
“Holder Information” shall have the meaning given in subsection 4.1.2.
“Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Joinder” shall have the meaning given in Section 6.10.
“Lock-up” shall have the meaning given in Section 5.1.
“Lock-up Period” shall mean the period beginning on the Acquisition Closing Date and ending on the earlier of the date that is 12 (twelve) months after the Acquisition Closing Date; provided, that if (a) at least one hundred-twenty (120) days have elapsed since the Acquisition Closing Date and (b) the Lock-up Period is scheduled to end during a Blackout Period or within five Trading Days prior to a Blackout Period, the Lock-up Period shall end ten (10) Trading Days prior to the commencement of the Blackout Period (the “Blackout-Related Release”); provided that the Company shall announce the date of the expected Blackout-Related Release through a major news service, or on a Form 8-K, at least two (2) Trading Days in advance of the Blackout-Related Release; and provided further that the Blackout-Related Release shall not occur unless the Company shall have publicly released its earnings results for the quarterly period during which the Closing occurred. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the Lock-up Period end earlier than one hundred-twenty (120) days after the Acquisition Closing Date pursuant to the Blackout-Related Release, subject to certain exceptions related to the satisfaction of the Fall-Away Condition and Second Fall-Away Condition as set forth in Section 5.1.
“Lock-up Shares” shall mean (i) the shares of Common Stock held by the Holders immediately following the Closing; and (ii) any equity securities of the Company that may be issued or distributed or be issuable with respect to the securities referred to in clause (i) by way of conversion, dividend, stock split or other distribution, merger, consolidation, exchange, recapitalization or reclassification or similar transaction; provided that, for clarity, shares of common stock issued in connection with the private placements shall not constitute Lock-up Shares.
“Maximum Number of Securities” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.6 of this Agreement.
“Minimum Underwritten Offering Threshold” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.5.
“Misstatement” shall mean, in the case of a Registration Statement, an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and in the case of a Prospectus, an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
“New SPAC” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Other Coordinated Offering” shall have the meaning given to it in subsection 2.4.1.
“Permitted Transferees” shall mean (a) prior to the expiration of the Lock-up Period, any person or entity to whom a Holder is permitted to transfer Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 5.2 and (b) after the expiration of the Lock-up Period, any person or entity to whom a Holder is permitted to transfer Registrable Securities.
“Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1 of this Agreement.
“Private Placement Warrants” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Pro Rata” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.6 of this Agreement.
“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.
“Registrable Security” shall mean (a) the Private Placement Warrants (including any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such Private Placement Warrants), (b) any equity securities (including the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such equity security) of the Company issuable upon conversion of any working capital loans in an amount up to $1,500,000 made to SPAC by a Holder, (c) any outstanding shares of Common Stock or any other equity security (including the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any other equity security) of the Company held by a Holder as of the date of this Agreement, (d) any Additional Holder Common Stock, (e) any shares of the Company issued or to be issued to any Holders in connection with the Business Combination and (f) any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to any such shares of Common Stock by way of a share capitalization or share sub-division or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or reorganization; provided, however, that, as to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (A) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (B) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such securities not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (C) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; or (D) such securities may be sold without registration pursuant to Rule 144 and Rule 145 (as applicable) promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission) (but with no volume or other restrictions or limitations).
“Registration” shall mean a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and any such registration statement having been declared effective by, or become effective pursuant to the rules promulgated by, the Commission.
“Registration Expenses” shall mean the out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:
(A) all registration and filing fees (including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. and any national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock is then listed);
(B) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);
(C) printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;
(D) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;
(E) reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration or Underwritten Offering;
(F) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of any Registrable Securities on each national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock is then listed;
(G) the fees and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any Underwritten Offerings or other offering involving an Underwriter; and
(H) reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel selected jointly by the majority-in-interest of Registrable Securities held by the Demanding Holders initiating an Underwritten Demand, the Requesting Holders participating in an Underwritten Offering and the Holders participating in a Piggyback Registration, as applicable.
“Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement under the Securities Act that covers the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registration statement and all exhibits to and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
“Requesting Holder” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.5 of this Agreement.
“Second Fall-Away Condition” shall mean the closing price of the Common Stock being equal to or in excess of $20.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations or recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period following the Closing.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“Share Acquisition” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Shelf Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1 of this Agreement.
“SPAC” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“SPAC Merger” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Sponsor” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.3.
“Torino” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Transfer” shall mean the (a) sale or assignment of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to, any security, (b) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (c) public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (a) or (b).
“Trading Day” means a day on which the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market are open for the buying and selling of securities.
“Underwriter” shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal or as broker, placement agent or sales agent pursuant to a Registration and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.
“Underwritten Demand” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.5 of this Agreement.
“Underwritten Offering” shall mean a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.
“Withdrawal Notice” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.7.
Article
II
REGISTRATIONS
2.1 Registration.
2.1.1 Shelf Registration. The Company agrees that, as soon as practicable (but in any case within thirty (30) calendar days after the consummation of the Business Combination), the Company shall file with the Commission (at the Company’s sole cost and expense) a Registration Statement registering the resale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities (a “Shelf Registration”), which Shelf Registration may include shares of Common Stock that may be issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants, or shares that may have been purchased in any private placement that was consummated at the same time as the Closing.
2.1.2 Effective Registration. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective by the Commission as soon as reasonably practicable after the initial filing of the Registration Statement. Subject to the limitations contained in this Agreement, the Company shall effect any Shelf Registration on such appropriate registration form of the Commission (a) as shall be selected by the Company and (b) as shall permit the resale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities by the Holders. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, but no later than the earlier of (i) the 60th calendar day (or 90th calendar day if the Commission notifies the Company that it will “review” the Registration Statement) following the Closing and (ii) the 10th business day after the date the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that the Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review (such earlier date, the “Effective Date”); provided, however, that if the Commission is closed for operations due to a government shutdown, the Effective Date shall be extended by the same amount of days that the Commission remains closed for operations. If at any time a Registration Statement filed with the Commission pursuant to subsection 2.1.1 is effective and a Holder provides written notice to the Company that it intends to effect an offering of all or part of the Registrable Securities included on such Registration Statement, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to amend or supplement such Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to enable such offering to take place in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
2.1.3 Subsequent Shelf Registration. If any Registration Statement ceases to be effective under the Securities Act for any reason at any time while Registrable Securities are still outstanding, the Company shall, subject to Section 3.4, use its commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable cause such Registration Statement to again become effective under the Securities Act (including using its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement), and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable amend such Registration Statement in a manner reasonably expected to result in the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or file an additional Registration Statement as a Shelf Registration (a “Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement”) registering the resale of all Registrable Securities (determined as of two (2) business days prior to such filing), and pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder named therein. If a Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement is filed, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) cause such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is reasonably practicable after the filing thereof (it being agreed that the Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement shall be an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) if the Company is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) at the most recent applicable eligibility determination date) and (ii) keep such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, available for use to permit the Holders named therein to sell their Registrable Securities included therein and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities. Any such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement shall be a Registration Statement on Form S-3 to the extent that the Company is eligible to use such form. Otherwise, such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement shall be on another appropriate form. The Company’s obligation under this subsection 2.1.3, shall, for the avoidance of doubt, be subject to Section 3.4.
2.1.4 Additional Registrable Securities. Subject to Section 3.4, in the event that any Holder holds Registrable Securities that are not registered for resale on a delayed or continuous basis, the Company, upon written request of the Sponsor or a Holder, shall promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the resale of such Registrable Securities to be covered, at the Company’s option, by any then available Registration Statement (including by means of a post-effective amendment) or by filing a Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement and cause the same to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and such Registration Statement or Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement shall be subject to the terms hereof; provided, however, that the Company shall only be required to cause such Registrable Securities to be so covered twice per calendar year for each of the Sponsor and the Holders.
2.1.5 Underwritten Offering. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.6 and Section 2.5 of this Agreement, the Sponsor, a Holder or group of Holders (any of the Sponsor, Holder or group of Holders being in such case, a “Demanding Holder”) may make a written demand for an Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in accordance with subsection 2.1.1 of this Agreement (an “Underwritten Demand”); provided, that the Company shall only be obligated to effect an Underwritten Offering if such offering shall include Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by the Demanding Holder, either individually or together with other Demanding Holders, with a total offering price reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, $40 million (the “Minimum Underwritten Offering Threshold”). The Demanding Holder shall have the responsibility to engage an underwriter(s), which shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company, and the Company shall have no responsibility for engaging any underwriter(s) for an Underwritten Offering. The Company shall, within five (5) business days of the Company’s receipt of the Underwritten Demand, notify, in writing, all other Holders of such demand, and each Holder who thereafter requests to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering pursuant to such Underwritten Demand (each such Holder, a “Requesting Holder”) shall so notify the Company, in writing, within two (2) days (one (1) day if such offering is an overnight or bought Underwritten Offering) after the receipt by such Holder of the notice from the Company. Upon receipt by the Company of any such written notification from a Requesting Holder(s), such Requesting Holder(s) shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in such Underwritten Offering pursuant to such Underwritten Demand. In such event, the right of any Holder or Requesting Holder to registration pursuant to this subsection 2.1.5, shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s or Requesting Holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder’s or Requesting Holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All such Holders or Requesting Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through such Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.1.5 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Demanding Holders initiating such Underwritten Offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company is not obligated to effect more than an aggregate of three (3) Underwritten Offerings demanded by the Holders pursuant to this subsection 2.1.5 and is not obligated to effect an Underwritten Offering pursuant to this subsection 2.1.5 within ninety (90) days after the closing of an Underwritten Offering.
2.1.6 Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Offering, pursuant to an Underwritten Demand, in good faith, advises or advise the Company, the Demanding Holders, the Requesting Holders and other persons or entities holding Registrable Securities or other equity securities of the Company that were requested to be included in such Underwritten Offering, taken together with all other shares of Common Stock or other securities which the Company desires to sell and the shares of Common Stock or other securities, if any, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggyback registration rights held by other equity holders of the Company who desire to sell (if any) that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities or other equity securities of the Company requested to be included in such Underwritten Offering exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities of the Company that can be sold in the Underwritten Offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Securities”), then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering, as follows: (i) first, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Offering, regardless of the number of shares held by each such person and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders have requested be included in such Underwritten Offering (such proportion is referred to herein as “Pro Rata”)) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Registrable Securities of the Requesting Holders, Pro Rata, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company that the Company desires to sell and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (iv) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company held by other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to include pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons or entities and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.
2.1.7 Withdrawal. Prior to the filing of the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement used for marketing such Underwritten Offering, a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating an Underwritten Offering shall have the right to withdraw from such Underwritten Offering for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification (a “Withdrawal Notice”) to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Underwritten Offering; provided that the Sponsor or a Holder may elect to have the Company continue an Underwritten Offering if the Minimum Underwritten Offering Threshold would still be satisfied by the Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the Underwritten Offering by the Sponsor, the Holders or any of their respective Permitted Transferees, as applicable. If withdrawn, a demand for an Underwritten Offering shall constitute a demand for an Underwritten Offering by the withdrawing Demanding Holder for purposes of subsection 2.1.6, unless either (i) such Demanding Holder has not previously withdrawn any Underwritten Offering or (ii) such Demanding Holder reimburses the Company for all Registration Expenses with respect to such Underwritten Offer (or, if there is more than one Demanding Holder, a pro rata portion of such Registration Expenses based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Offering); provided that, if the Sponsor or a Holder elects to continue an Underwritten Offering pursuant to the proviso in the immediately preceding sentence, such Underwritten Offering shall instead count as an Underwritten Offering demanded by the Sponsor or such Holder, as applicable, for purposes of subsection 2.1.6. Following the receipt of any Withdrawal Notice, the Company shall promptly forward such Withdrawal Notice to any other Holders that had elected to participate in such Underwritten Offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with an Underwritten Offering prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.1.7, other than if a Demanding Holder elects to pay such Registration Expenses pursuant to clause (ii) of the second sentence of this subsection 2.1.7.
2.2 Piggyback Registration.
2.2.1 Piggyback Rights. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.2.2 and Section 2.5 hereof, if, at any time on or after the date the Company consummates a Business Combination, the Company proposes to consummate an Underwritten Offering for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed action to all of the Holders as soon as practicable, which notice shall (x) describe the amount and type of securities to be included, the intended method(s) of distribution and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, and (y) offer to all of the Holders the opportunity to include such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within two (2) days (unless such offering is an overnight or bought Underwritten Offering, then one (1) day), in each case after receipt of such written notice (such Registration a “Piggyback Registration”). The Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this subsection 2.2.1 to be included in a Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such Piggyback Registration and to permit the resale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All such Holders proposing to include Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.2.1 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Company.
2.2.2 Reduction of Piggyback Registration. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Offering that is to be a Piggyback Registration, in good faith, advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of equity securities of the Company that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (i) the shares of equity securities of the Company, if any, as to which the Underwritten Offering has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, (ii) the Registrable Securities as to which a Piggyback Registration has been requested pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement and (iii) the shares of equity securities of the Company, if any, as to which inclusion in the Underwritten Offering has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggyback registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:
(a) If the Underwritten Offering is undertaken for the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Underwritten Offering (A) first, the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders requesting a Piggyback Registration pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 of this Agreement, Pro Rata, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company, if any, as to which inclusion in the Underwritten Offering has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggyback registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities;
(b) If the Underwritten Offering is pursuant to a request by persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall include in any such Underwritten Offering (A) first, the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company, if any, of such requesting persons or entities, other than the Holders, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders requesting a Piggyback Registration pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 of this Agreement, Pro Rata, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B), and (C), the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company for the account of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons or entities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; or
(c) If the Underwritten Offering is pursuant to a request by Holder(s) of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, then the Company shall include in any such Registration or registered offering securities in the priority set forth in subsection 2.1.6.
2.2.3 Piggyback Registration Withdrawal. Any Holder of Registrable Securities (other than a Demanding Holder, whose right to withdraw from an Underwritten Offering, and related obligations, shall be governed by subsection 2.1.7) shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of his, her or its intention to withdraw from such Piggyback Registration prior to the commencement of the Underwritten Offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.2.3. The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as a result of a withdrawal by persons making a demand pursuant to written contractual obligations) may withdraw an Underwritten Offering undertaken for the Company’s account at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement.
2.2.4 Unlimited Piggyback Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, subject to subsection 2.1.7, any Piggyback Registration or Underwritten Offering effected pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement shall not be counted as an Underwritten Offering pursuant to an Underwritten Demand effected under Section 2.1 of this Agreement.
2.3 Market Stand-off. In connection with any Underwritten Offering of equity securities of the Company (other than a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering), if requested by the managing Underwriters, each Holder of Registrable Securities in excess of five percent (5%) of the outstanding Common Stock that participates and sells Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering (and for which it is customary for such a Holder to agree to a lock-up) agrees that it shall not Transfer any shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company (other than those included in such offering pursuant to this Agreement), without the prior written consent of the Company, during the sixty (60)-day period (or such shorter time agreed to by the managing Underwriters) beginning on the date of pricing of such offering, except as expressly permitted by such lock-up agreement or in the event the managing Underwriters otherwise agree by written consent. Each such Holder that participates and sells Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering agrees to execute a customary lock-up agreement in favor of the Underwriters to such effect (in each case on substantially the same terms and conditions as all such Holders that execute a lock-up agreement).
2.4 Block Trades Other Coordinated Offerings.
2.4.1 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article II, but subject to Section 3.4, at any time and from time to time when an effective Registration Statement is on file with the Commission, if a Demanding Holder wishes to engage in (a) an underwritten registered offering not involving a “roadshow,” an offer commonly known as a “block trade” (a “Block Trade”) or (b) an “at the market” or similar registered offering through a broker, sales agent or distribution agent, whether as agent or principal, (an “Other Coordinated Offering”), in each case, with a total offering price reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, either (x) $25 million or (y) all remaining Registrable Securities held by the Demanding Holder, then if such Demanding Holder requires any assistance from the Company pursuant to this Section 2.4, such Holder shall notify the Company of the Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering at least five (5) business days prior to the day such offering is to commence and the Company shall as expeditiously as possible use its commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering; provided that the Demanding Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering shall use commercially reasonable efforts to work with the Company and any Underwriters or brokers, sales agents or placement agents (each, a “Financial Counterparty”) prior to making such request in order to facilitate preparation of the registration statement, prospectus and other offering documentation related to the Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering.
2.4.2 Prior to the filing of the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement used in connection with a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering, a majority-in interest of the Demanding Holders initiating such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering shall have the right to submit a Withdrawal Notice to the Company, the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) and Financial Counterparty (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.4.2.
2.4.3 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Section 2.2 shall not apply to a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering initiated by a Demanding Holder pursuant to Section 2.4 of this Agreement.
2.4.4 The Demanding Holder in a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering shall have the right to select the Underwriters and Financial Counterparty (if any) for such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering (in each case, which shall consist of one or more reputable nationally recognized investment banks).
2.4.5 A Holder in the aggregate may demand no more than four (4) Block Trades or Other Coordinated Offerings pursuant to this Section 2.4 in any twelve (12) month period. For the avoidance of doubt, any Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering effected pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall not be counted as a demand for an Underwritten Offering pursuant to subsection 2.1.5 hereof.
2.5 Restrictions on Registration Rights. If the Holders have requested an Underwritten Offering pursuant to an Underwritten Demand and in the good faith judgment of the Board such Underwritten Offering would be seriously detrimental to the Company and the Board concludes as a result that it is essential to defer the undertaking of such Underwritten Offering at such time, then in each case the Company shall furnish to such Holders a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board it would be seriously detrimental to the Company to undertake such Underwritten Offering in the near future and that it is therefore essential to defer the undertaking of such Underwritten Offering. In such event, the Company shall have the right to defer such offering for a period of not more than thirty (30) days; provided, however, that the Company shall not defer its obligations in this manner more than once in any twelve (12) month period.
Article
III
COMPANY PROCEDURES
3.1 General Procedures. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such Registration or Underwritten Offering to permit the resale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof (and including all manners of distribution in such Registration Statement as Holders may reasonably request in connection with the filing of such Registration Statement and as permitted by law, including distribution of Registrable Securities to a Holder’s members, securityholders or partners), and pursuant thereto the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible and to the extent applicable:
3.1.1 prepare and file with the Commission after the consummation of the Business Combination a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective in accordance with Section 2.1, including filing a replacement Registration Statement, if necessary, and remain effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold or are no longer outstanding (such period, the “Effectiveness Period”);
3.1.2 prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, (a) as may be reasonably requested by any Holder that holds at least five-percent (5%) of the Registrable Securities registered on such Registration Statement, any Underwriter or the Sponsor (provided that at the time of such request, the Sponsor holds at least 25% of the amount of outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company that it held at the Closing), or (b) as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the plan of distribution provided by the Holders and as set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or are no longer outstanding;
3.1.3 prior to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriters, if any, and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or Underwritten Offering, and such Holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus (including each preliminary Prospectus) and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or Underwritten Offering or the legal counsel for any such Holders may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders; provided that the Company will not have any obligation to provide any document pursuant to this subsection 3.1.3 that is available on the Commission’s EDGAR system;
3.1.4 prior to any Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request (or provide evidence satisfactory to such Holders that the Registrable Securities are exempt from such registration or qualification) and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject;
3.1.5 cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;
3.1.6 provide a transfer agent or warrant agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement or Underwritten Offering;
3.1.7 advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;
3.1.8 during the Effectiveness Period, furnish a conformed copy of each filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document that is to be incorporated by reference into such Registration Statement or Prospectus, promptly after such filing of such documents with the Commission to each seller of such Registrable Securities or its counsel; provided that the Company will not have any obligation to provide any document pursuant to this subsection 3.1.8 that is available on the Commission’s EDGAR system;
3.1.9 notify the Holders at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.4 of this Agreement;
3.1.10 in the event of an Underwritten Offering, a Block Trade, an Other Coordinated Offering, or sale by a Financial Counterparty pursuant to such Registration, permit a representative of the Holders (such representative to be selected by a majority of the Holders), the Underwriters or other financial institutions facilitating such Underwritten Offering, Block Trade, Other Coordinated Offering or other sale pursuant to such Registration, if any, and any attorney, consultant or accountant retained by such Holders or Underwriter to participate, at each such person’s or entity’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, financial institution, attorney, consultant or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided, however, that such representatives or Underwriters or financial institutions agree to confidentiality arrangements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information;
3.1.11 obtain a comfort letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Offering, a Block Trade or sale by a Financial Counterparty pursuant to such Registration (subject to such Financial Counterparty providing such certification or representation reasonably requested by the Company’s independent registered public accountants and the Company’s counsel), in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by comfort letters as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders;
3.1.12 in the event of an Underwritten Offering, a Block Trade, an Other Coordinated Offering or sale by a Financial Counterparty pursuant to such Registration, on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, obtain an opinion, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the participating Holders, the Financial Counterparty, if any, and the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the participating Holders, Financial Counterparty or Underwriter may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters, and reasonably satisfactory to such participating Holders, Financial Counterparty or Underwriter;
3.1.13 in the event of an Underwritten Offering or a Block Trade, or an Other Coordinated Offering or sale by a Financial Counterparty pursuant to such Registration to which the Company has consented, to the extent reasonably requested by such Financial Counterparty in order to engage in such offering, allow the Financial Counterparty to conduct customary “underwriter’s due diligence” with respect to the Company;
3.1.14 in the event of any Underwritten Offering, a Block Trade, an Other Coordinated Offering or sale by a Financial Counterparty pursuant to such Registration, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting or other purchase or sales agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriter or the Financial Counterparty of such offering or sale;
3.1.15 make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission);
3.1.16 with respect to an Underwritten Offering pursuant to subsection 2.1.5 use its commercially reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in any Underwritten Offering; and
3.1.17 otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the participating Holders, consistent with the terms of this Agreement, in connection with such Registration.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to provide any documents or information to an Underwriter or Financial Counterparty if such Underwriter or Financial Counterparty has not then been named with respect to the applicable Underwritten Offering or other offering involving a registration as an Underwriter or Financial Counterparty, as applicable.
3.2 Registration Expenses. The Registration Expenses in respect of all Registrations shall be borne by the Company. It is acknowledged by the Holders that the Holders shall bear all incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, such as Underwriters’ commissions and discounts, brokerage fees, Underwriter marketing costs and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,” all fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders.
3.3 Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any Holder does not provide the Company with its requested Holder Information, the Company may exclude such Holder’s Registrable Securities from the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus if the Company determines, based on the advice of counsel, that such information is necessary to effect the registration and such Holder continues thereafter to withhold such information. No person or entity may participate in any Underwritten Offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such person or entity (i) agrees to sell such person’s or entity’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Company and (ii) completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
3.4 Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure; Restrictions on Registration Rights.
3.4.1 Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains or includes a Misstatement, each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until he, she or it has received copies of a supplemented or amended Registration Statement or Prospectus correcting the Misstatement (it being understood that the Company hereby covenants to prepare and file such supplement or amendment as soon as practicable after the time of such notice), or until he, she or it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Registration Statement or Prospectus may be resumed.
3.4.2 Subject to subsection 3.4.4, if the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of any Registration or Underwritten Offering at any time would (a) require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure, (b) require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Company’s control, or (c) in the good faith judgment of the majority of the Board, be seriously detrimental to the Company and the majority of the Board concludes as a result that it is essential to defer such filing, initial effectiveness or continued use at such time, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement for the shortest period of time determined in good faith by the Company to be necessary for such purpose. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may delay or suspend continued use of a Registration Statement or Prospectus in respect of a Registration or Underwritten Offering in order to file and make effective a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement in connection with the filing of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, and such suspension shall not be subject to the provisions of subsection 3.4.4. In the event the Company exercises its rights under the preceding sentences in this Section 3.4, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notices referred to in this Section 3.4, their use of the Registration Statement or Prospectus in connection with any resale or other disposition of Registrable Securities. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders of the expiration of any period during which it exercised its rights under this Section 3.4.
3.4.3 Subject to subsection 3.4.4, (a) during the period starting with the date thirty (30) days prior to the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of the filing of, and ending on a date sixty (60) days after the effective date of, a Company-initiated Registration and provided that the Company continues to actively employ, in good faith, all reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the applicable Registration Statement, or (b) if, pursuant to subsection 2.1.5, Holders have requested an Underwritten Offering and the Company and Holders are unable to obtain the commitment of underwriters to firmly underwrite such offering, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay any other registered offering pursuant to subsection 2.1.5 or Section 2.4.
3.4.4 The right to delay or suspend any filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement pursuant to subsection 3.4.2 or a registered offering pursuant to subsection 3.4.3 shall be exercised by the Company on not more than two (2) occasions and, in the aggregate, for not more than sixty (60) consecutive calendar days or more than one hundred-twenty (120) total calendar days in each case, during any twelve (12)-month period.
3.5 Reporting Obligations. As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange Act, covenants to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company further covenants that it shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to resell or otherwise dispose of shares of Registrable Securities held by such Holder without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), including providing any customary legal opinions. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
Article
IV
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION
4.1 Indemnification.
4.1.1 The Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its officers, directors, employees, advisors, agents, representatives, members and each person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) (collectively, the “Holder Indemnified Persons”) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and inclusive of all reasonable attorneys’ fees arising out of the enforcement of each such persons’ rights under this Section 4.1) resulting from any Misstatement or alleged Misstatement, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained or included in any information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder Indemnified Person specifically for use therein.
4.1.2 In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (the “Holder Information”) and, to the extent permitted by law, shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify the Company, its officers, directors, employees, advisors, agents, representatives and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and inclusive of all reasonable attorneys’ fees arising out of the enforcement of each such persons’ rights under this Section 4.1) resulting from any Misstatement or alleged Misstatement, but only to the extent that the same are made in reliance on and in conformity with information relating to the Holder so furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for use therein. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
4.1.3 Any person or entity entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim or there may be reasonable defenses available to the indemnified party that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement includes a statement or admission of fault and culpability on the part of such indemnified party or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.
4.1.4 The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director, employee, advisor, agent, representative, member or controlling person or entity of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities. The Company and each Holder of Registrable Securities participating in an offering also agrees to make such provisions as are reasonably requested by any indemnified party for contribution to such party in the event the Company’s or such Holder’s indemnification is unavailable for any reason.
4.1.5 If the indemnification provided under Section 4.1 of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall to the extent permitted by law contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by a court of law by reference to, among other things, whether the Misstatement or alleged Misstatement relates to information supplied by such indemnifying party or such indemnified party and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however, that the liability of any Holder under this subsection 4.1.5 shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in subsections 4.1.1, 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 of this Agreement, any reasonable legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this subsection 4.1.5. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
Article
V
LOCK-UP
5.1 Lock-up. Subject to Section 5.2, the Holders agree that they shall not Transfer any Lock-up Shares until the end of the Lock-up Period (the “Lock-up”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) upon the satisfaction of the Fall-Away Condition within the Lock-up Period, 10% of each Holder’s total Lock-up Shares shall be released from the Lock-up restrictions, and (b) upon the satisfaction of the Second Fall-Away Condition within the Lock-up Period, an incremental 10% of each Holder’s total Lock-up Shares shall be released from the Lock-up restrictions.
5.2 Permitted Transferees. Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in Section 5.1, the Holders or their respective Permitted Transferees may Transfer the Lock-up Shares during the Lock-up Period (a) to (i) the Company’s officers or directors, (ii) any affiliates or family members of the Company’s officers or directors or (iii) the Holders or any direct or indirect partners, members or equity holders of the Holders, any affiliates of the Holders or any related investment funds or vehicles controlled or managed by such persons or entities or their respective affiliates; (b) in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of the individual’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of the individual’s immediate family or an affiliate of such person or entity, or to a charitable organization; (c) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual; (d) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (e) by virtue of a Holder’s organizational documents, upon dissolution of such Holder; (f) in connection with any bona fide mortgage, encumbrance or pledge to a financial institution in connection with any bona fide loan or debt transaction or enforcement thereunder, including foreclosure thereof; (g) to the Company; or (h) in connection with a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization, tender offer approved by the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the Acquisition Closing Date; provided that in connection with any Transfer of such Lock-up Shares, the restrictions and obligations contained in Section 5.1 will continue to apply to such Lock-up Shares after any Transfer of such Lock-up Shares and such transferee shall continue to be bound by such restrictions and obligations for the balance of the Lock-up Period; provided further, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (e) these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement with the Company agreeing to be bound by the transfer restrictions in this Article V.
Article
VI
MISCELLANEOUS
6.1 Notices. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be in writing and given by (i) deposit in the United States mail, addressed to the party to be notified, postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested, (ii) delivery in person or by courier service or sent by overnight mail via a reputable overnight carrier, in each case providing evidence of delivery or (iii) transmission by facsimile or email. Each notice or communication that is mailed, delivered or transmitted in the manner described above shall be deemed sufficiently given, served, sent, and received, in the case of mailed notices, on the third (3rd) business day following the date on which it is mailed, in the case of notices delivered by courier service, hand delivery, or overnight mail at such time as it is delivered to the addressee (with the delivery receipt or the affidavit of messenger) or at such time as delivery is refused by the addressee upon presentation, and in the case of notices delivered by facsimile or email, at such time as it is successfully transmitted to the addressee. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be addressed, (a) if to the Company, to NAAC Holdco, Inc., 13274 Fiji Way, Suite 600, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292, Attention: Legal or by email at legal@telesign.com, with a copy, which shall not constitute notice (1) to Linklaters LLP, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104, Attention Jeffrey Cohen and Peter Cohen-Millstein or by email at Jeffrey.cohen@linklaters.com and Peter.cohen-millstein@linklaters.com, and (2) if before the Closing and so long thereafter an NAAC director remains on the Board of Directors of the Company, to Reed Smith LLP, 2850 N. Harwood St., Suite 1500, Dallas, TX 75201, Attention: Lynwood Reinhardt, or (b) to any Holder, to the address of such Holder as it appears in the applicable register for the Registrable Securities or such other address as may be designated in writing by such Holder (including on the signature pages hereto). Any party may change its address for notice at any time and from time to time by written notice to the other parties hereto, and such change of address shall become effective thirty (30) days after delivery of such notice as provided in this Section 6.1.
6.2 Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries.
6.2.1 This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part.
6.2.2 This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and its successors.
6.2.3 This Agreement shall not confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not parties hereto, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement and Section 6.2 of this Agreement.
6.2.4 No assignment by any party hereto of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until the Company shall have received (i) written notice of such assignment as provided in Section 6.1 of this Agreement and (ii) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement). Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this Section 6.2 shall be null and void.
6.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts (including facsimile or PDF counterparts), each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute the same instrument, but only one of which need be produced.
6.4 Governing Law; Venue. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AS APPLIED TO AGREEMENTS AMONG NEW YORK RESIDENTS ENTERED INTO AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.
6.5 Trial by Jury. EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT TO ANY ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.
6.6 Amendments and Modifications. Upon the written consent of (i) the Company, (ii) the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities held by the Holders at the time in question and (iii) the Sponsor (provided that at the time of such consent, the Sponsor holds at least 25% of the amount of outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company that it held at the Closing), compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects any Holder, solely in his, her or its capacity as a holder of the shares of capital stock of the Company, in a manner that is materially different from the other Holders (in such capacity) shall require the consent of each such Holder so affected and (b) any amendment or waiver hereof that adversely affects the rights expressly granted to the Sponsor shall require the consent of the Sponsor. No course of dealing between any Holder or the Company and any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the part of a Holder or the Company in exercising any rights or remedies under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Holder or the Company. No single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder by such party.
6.7 Other Registration Rights. The Company represents and warrants that no person, other than (a) a Holder, (b) the parties to those certain Subscription Agreements, dated as of December 16, 2021, by and between the Company and certain investors and (c) holders of the Company’s warrants pursuant to that certain Warrant Agreement, dated as of January 21, 2021 by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, has any right to require the Company to register any securities of the Company for sale or to include such securities of the Company in any Registration filed by the Company for the sale of securities for its own account or for the account of any other person. Further, the Company represents and warrants that this Agreement supersedes any other registration rights agreement or agreement with similar terms and conditions and in the event of a conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.
6.8 Term. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the fifth (5th) anniversary of the date of this Agreement and (ii) with respect to any Holder, the date as of which such Holder ceases to hold any Registrable Securities. The provisions of Article IV shall survive any termination.
6.9 Holder Information. Each Holder agrees, if requested in writing, to represent to the Company the total number of Registrable Securities held by such Holder in order for the Company to make determinations hereunder.
6.10 Additional Holders; Joinder. In addition to persons or entities who may become Holders pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof, subject to the prior written consent of each of the Sponsor (so long as the Sponsor holds at least 25% of the amount of outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company that it held at the Closing) and each Holder (in each case, so long as such Holder (other than the Sponsor) and its affiliates hold, in the aggregate, at least five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company), the Company may make any person or entity who acquires Common Stock or rights to acquire Common Stock after the date hereof a party to this Agreement (each such person or entity, an “Additional Holder”) by obtaining an executed joinder to this Agreement from such Additional Holder in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (a “Joinder”). Such Joinder shall specify the rights and obligations of the applicable Additional Holder under this Agreement. Upon the execution and delivery and subject to the terms of a Joinder by such Additional Holder, the Common Stock of the Company then owned, or underlying any rights then owned, by such Additional Holder (the “Additional Holder Common Stock”) shall be Registrable Securities to the extent provided herein and therein and such Additional Holder shall be a Holder under this Agreement with respect to such Additional Holder Common Stock.
6.11 Severability. It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this Agreement be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, if any particular provision of this Agreement shall be adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable for any reason, such provision, as to such jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision could be more narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be so narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
6.12 Entire Agreement; Restatement. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire agreement and understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to such subject matter. Upon the Closing, the Existing Registration Rights Agreement shall no longer be of any force or effect.
[Signature page follows.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
COMPANY: | ||
NAAC HOLDCO, INC., a Delaware corporation | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
COMPANY: | ||
NAAC HOLDCO, INC., a Delaware corporation | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
HOLDERS: | ||
NAAC SPONSOR, LP, a Delaware limited partnership | ||
By: | ||
Name: Mark Keating | ||
Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
Andrew Morgan | ||
Gary Quin | ||
Patrik Doran | ||
Mark Keating | ||
Dimitri Panayotopoulos | ||
Tamara Sakovska | ||
BICS SA, a Belgian limited liability company | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT JOINDER
The undersigned is executing and delivering this joinder (this “Joinder”) pursuant to the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of [●], 2022 (as the same may hereafter be amended, the “Registration Rights Agreement”), among NAAC Holdco, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the other persons or entities named as parties therein. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings provided in the Registration Rights Agreement.
By executing and delivering this Joinder to the Company, and upon acceptance hereof by the Company upon the execution of a counterpart hereof, the undersigned hereby agrees to become a party to, to be bound by, and to comply with the Registration Rights Agreement as a Holder of Registrable Securities in the same manner as if the undersigned were an original signatory to the Registration Rights Agreement, and the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock shall be included as Registrable Securities under the Registration Rights Agreement to the extent provided therein; provided, however, that the undersigned and its permitted assigns (if any) shall not have any rights as Holders, and the undersigned’s (and its transferees’) shares of Common Stock shall not be included as Registrable Securities, for purposes of the Excluded Sections.
For purposes of this Joinder, “Excluded Sections” shall mean [ ].
Accordingly, the undersigned has executed and delivered this Joinder as of the __________ day of __________, 20__.
Signature of Stockholder | ||
Print Name of Stockholder | ||
Its: | ||
Address: | ||
Agreed and Accepted as
of ____________, 20__
NAAC Holdco, Inc. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Its: |
A-1
Exhibit 10.3
EXECUTION VERSION
SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT
This SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this “Subscription Agreement”) is entered into this 16th of December, 2021, by and among North Atlantic Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“NAAC”), NAAC Holdco, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer” and together with NAAC, the “Issuer Parties”) and the undersigned (“Subscriber”).
WHEREAS, substantially concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Subscription Agreement, NAAC is entering into that certain Business Combination Agreement, dated as of the date of this Subscription Agreement (as may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among NAAC, the Issuer, North Atlantic Acquisition, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Issuer (“Merger Sub”), Torino Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with its direct and indirect subsidiaries, “Target”) and BICS SA, the shareholder of Target (the “Target Shareholder”), pursuant to which, among other things, (i) NAAC will reincorporate in the State of Delaware by merging with and into Merger Sub (the “Domestication Merger”), with Merger Sub surviving the Domestication Merger, and (ii) immediately following the closing of the Domestication Merger, the Target Shareholder will sell to the Issuer, and the Issuer will purchase from the Target Shareholder, one hundred percent (100%) of the equity shares of Target in exchange for (a) cash consideration and (b) equity shares of the Issuer issued to the Target Shareholder (the “Share Exchange”, and together with the Domestication Merger, the “Transactions”);
WHEREAS, in connection with the Transaction, the Issuer is seeking commitments from interested investors to purchase, following the Domestication Merger and prior to the closing of the Share Exchange, the Issuer’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Shares”); and
WHEREAS, in connection with the Transaction, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Subscription Agreement, Subscriber desires to subscribe for and purchase from the Issuer the number of Common Shares, set forth on the signature page hereto (the “Acquired Shares”) for a purchase price of $9.19 per share (the “Share Purchase Price,” and the aggregate purchase price set forth on the signature page hereto for the Acquired Shares, the “Purchase Price”), and the Issuer desires to issue and sell to Subscriber the Acquired Shares in consideration of the payment of the Purchase Price by or on behalf of Subscriber to the Issuer at or prior to the Closing Date (as defined herein);
WHEREAS, in connection with the Transactions, certain other “qualified institutional buyers” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or “accredited investors” (as such term is defined in Rule 501 under the Securities Act, and each such “qualified institutional buyer” or “accredited investor,” an “Other Subscriber”), have entered into separate subscription agreements with NAAC and the Issuer (the “Other Subscription Agreements”) substantially similar to this Subscription Agreement, pursuant to which such Other Subscribers have agreed to subscribe for and purchase, and NAAC and the Issuer have agreed that the Issuer shall issue and sell to such Other Subscribers, on the Closing Date, Common Shares at the Share Purchase Price (the “Other Acquired Shares”).
WHEREAS, the aggregate number of Common Shares to be sold by the Issuer pursuant to this Subscription Agreement and the Other Subscription Agreements as of the date hereof equals 11,698,750 Common Shares at the Share Purchase Price.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual representations, warranties and covenants, and subject to the conditions, herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. Subscription. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, Subscriber hereby agrees to subscribe for and purchase from the Issuer, and NAAC and the Issuer hereby agree that the Issuer shall issue and sell to Subscriber, upon the payment of the Purchase Price, the Acquired Shares (such subscription and issuance, the “Subscription”). Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that, as a result of the Domestication Merger, the Acquired Shares issued pursuant hereto shall be Common Shares of the Issuer (and not, for the avoidance of doubt, ordinary shares of NAAC).
2. Closing.
2.1 Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Section 2 (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the closing of the Subscription contemplated hereby (the “Closing”), but without affecting the requirement that such conditions be satisfied or waived at the Closing), the Closing shall occur following the Domestication Merger and at a time immediately prior to or substantially concurrently with, the consummation of the Share Exchange (such date, the “Closing Date”) in the sequence contemplated in the recitals to this Subscription Agreement and is contingent upon the subsequent occurrence of the consummation of the Transactions. Not less than five business days (as defined herein) prior to the anticipated Closing Date, the Issuer shall provide written notice to Subscriber (the “Closing Notice”) specifying (i) the anticipated Closing Date and (ii) the wire instructions for delivery of the Purchase Price to the Issuer. For the purposes of this Subscription Agreement, “business day” means any other day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks are required or authorized to be closed in the State of New York or Brussels, Belgium.
2.2 Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Section 2.3 and Section 2.4 (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at Closing, but without affecting the requirement that such conditions be satisfied or waived at Closing):
2.2.1 Subscriber shall deliver to the Issuer, no later than one business day before the Closing Date (as specified in the Closing Notice) or such other date as otherwise agreed to by the Issuer and Subscriber (such date, the “Purchase Price Payment Date”) the Purchase Price for the Acquired Shares by wire transfer of U.S. dollars in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Issuer in the Closing Notice (which account shall be for the benefit of Subscriber until the Closing Date), and any information that is reasonably requested in the Closing Notice that is required in order to enable the Issuer to issue the Acquired Shares, including, without limitation, the legal name of the person (or nominee) in whose name such Acquired Shares are to be issued and a duly executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or W-8, as applicable, provided, however, in the case of a Subscriber that is an “investment company” registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, payment may be made to an account specified by the Issuer and subject to such procedures otherwise mutually agreed by Subscriber and the Issuer (“Alternative Settlement Procedures”).
2.2.2 On the Closing Date, the Issuer shall deliver to Subscriber (i) the Acquired Shares against and upon payment by Subscriber in book-entry form, free and clear of any liens or other restrictions whatsoever (other than those arising under state or federal securities laws), in the name of Subscriber (or its nominee in accordance with its delivery instructions) or to a custodian designated by Subscriber, as applicable and (ii) evidence from the Issuer’s transfer agent of the issuance of the Acquired Shares were issued to Subscriber in book-entry form on and as of the Closing Date; provided, however, that the Issuer’s obligation to issue the Acquired Shares to Subscriber is contingent upon the Issuer having received the Purchase Price in full in accordance with this Section 2.
2.2.3 Each book entry for the Acquired Shares shall contain a legend in substantially the following form:
THE OFFER AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM.
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2.3 The Issuer’s obligation to effect the Closing shall be subject to the satisfaction on the Closing Date, or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the waiver by the Issuer, of each of the following conditions:
2.3.1 all representations and warranties of Subscriber contained in this Subscription Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or Subscriber Material Adverse Effect (as defined herein), which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) at and as of the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties made as of a specific date, which shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or Subscriber Material Adverse Effect, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such date) and the consummation of the Closing shall constitute a reaffirmation by Subscriber of each of the representations and warranties of Subscriber contained in this Subscription Agreement as of the Closing Date;
2.3.2 Subscriber shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Subscription Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing; provided, that, this condition shall be deemed satisfied unless written notice of such noncompliance is provided by the Issuer to Subscriber and Subscriber fails to cure such noncompliance in all material respects within five business days of receipt of such notice;
2.3.3 no governmental authority shall have issued, enforced or entered any judgment or order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) which is then in effect and has the effect of making consummation of the Subscription illegal or otherwise preventing or prohibiting consummation of the Subscription;
2.3.4 all conditions precedent to the Issuer’s obligation to effect the Transactions set forth in the Business Combination Agreement shall have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that (i) may only be satisfied at the closing of the Transactions, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions as of the closing of the Transactions or (ii) will be satisfied by the Closing and the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Other Subscription Agreements);
2.3.5 the Domestication Merger shall have been completed and effective in all respects.
2.4 Subscriber’s obligation to effect the Closing shall be subject to the satisfaction on the Closing Date, or to the extent permitted by applicable law, the written waiver by Subscriber, of each of the following conditions:
2.4.1 no suspension of the listing or qualification for offering or sale or trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”), of the Common Shares, and to NAAC’s knowledge, no initiation nor threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes, shall have occurred and be continuing, and the Acquired Shares shall have been approved for listing, subject to official notice of issuance, on Nasdaq;
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2.4.2 all representations and warranties of the Issuer Parties contained in this Subscription Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality, Material Adverse Effect, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) at and as of the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties made as of a specific date, which shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such date), and consummation of the Closing shall constitute a reaffirmation by each of the Issuer Parties of each of their respective representations and warranties contained in this Subscription Agreement as of the Closing Date;
2.4.3 the Issuer Parties shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Subscription Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing, except where the failure of such performance, satisfaction or compliance would not or would not reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Issuer Parties to consummate the Closing;
2.4.4 no governmental authority shall have issued, enforced or entered any judgment or order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) which is then in effect and has the effect of making consummation of the Subscription illegal or otherwise preventing or prohibiting consummation of the Subscription;
2.4.5 without limiting Section 2.4.6, all conditions precedent to the closing of the Transactions as set forth in the Business Combination Agreement shall have been satisfied or waived (as determined by the parties to the Business Combination Agreement and other than those conditions that (i) may only be satisfied at the closing of the Transactions, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions as of the closing of the Transactions or (ii) will be satisfied by the Closing and the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Other Subscription Agreements); and
2.4.6 except to the extent consented to in writing by Subscriber, (x) the Business Combination Agreement (as the same exists on the date hereof as provided to the Investor) shall not have been amended, modified, supplemented or waived in a manner that would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the economic benefits that Subscriber (in its capacity as such) would reasonably expect to receive under this Subscription Agreement, (y) without limiting the foregoing, Section 8.3.5 of the Business Combination Agreement (as the same exists on the date hereof as provided to the Investor) shall not have been amended, modified, supplemented or waived in any respect and (z) there shall have been no amendment, modification, supplement or waiver to any Other Subscription Agreement that economically benefits such Other Subscriber thereunder unless Subscriber has been offered the same benefits.
2.5 Prior to or at the Closing, the parties hereto shall execute and deliver such additional documents and take such additional actions as the parties reasonably may deem to be practical and necessary in order to consummate the Subscription as contemplated by this Subscription Agreement.
2.6 In the event that the closing of the Transactions does not occur within three business days of the Closing Date specified in the Closing Notice, unless otherwise agreed by the Issuer and Subscriber, the Issuer shall promptly (but not later than two business days thereafter) return the Purchase Price to Subscriber by wire transfer of U.S. dollars in immediately available funds to the account specified by Subscriber, and any book entries representing the Acquired Shares shall be deemed cancelled. Notwithstanding such cancellation, failure to close on the Closing Date specified in the Closing Notice shall not, by itself, be deemed to be a failure of any of the conditions to Closing set forth in this Section 2 to be satisfied or waived, unless and until this Subscription Agreement is terminated in accordance with Section 6 herein, Subscriber shall remain obligated (i) to redeliver funds to the Issuer following the Issuer’s delivery to Subscriber of a new Closing Notice with a new Closing Date in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Section 2 and (ii) upon satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in this Section 2 to consummate the Closing immediately prior to or substantially concurrently with the consummation of the Transactions. For the avoidance of doubt, if any termination hereof occurs after the delivery by Subscriber of the Purchase Price for the Acquired Shares, the Issuer shall promptly (and no later than two business days after such termination) return the Purchase Price to Subscriber by wire transfer of U.S. dollars in immediately available funds to the account specified by Subscriber without any deduction for or on account of any tax, withholding, charges or set-off.
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3. Issuer Parties Representations, Warranties and Covenants. NAAC and the Issuer represent and warrant as of the date hereof and covenant on the Closing Date, that:
3.1 As of the date hereof, NAAC is an exempted company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands. As of the Closing Date, following the Domestication Merger, the Issuer will be duly incorporated, validly existing as a corporation and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Issuer has, and will have following the Domestication Merger, the requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as presently conducted and as shall be conducted following the Domestication Merger and to enter into, deliver and perform its obligations under this Subscription Agreement.
3.2 As of the Closing Date, the Acquired Shares will have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered to Subscriber against full payment for the Acquired Shares in accordance with the terms of this Subscription Agreement, the Acquired Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of any liens or other restrictions whatsoever (other than those arising under state or federal securities laws) and will not have been issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive or similar rights created under the Issuer’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws (as in effect at such time of issuance) or under the laws of the State of Delaware.
3.3 This Subscription Agreement, the Other Subscription Agreements and the Business Combination Agreement (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”) have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer Parties and, assuming that the Transaction Documents have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the other parties thereto, constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of the Issuer Parties, enforceable against the Issuer Parties in accordance with their respective terms, except as may be limited or otherwise affected by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally and (ii) principles of equity, whether considered at law or equity.
3.4 Assuming the accuracy of Subscriber’s representations and warranties in Section 4, the execution and delivery by the Issuer Parties of the Transaction Documents, and the performance by the Issuer Parties of their obligations under the Transaction Documents, including the issuance and sale of the Acquired Shares and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated herein and therein, do not and will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of the Issuer Parties pursuant to the terms of (i) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which either Issuer Party is a party or by which either Issuer Party is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Issuer Parties is subject, which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the business, properties, financial condition, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Issuer Parties (a “Material Adverse Effect”) or materially affect the validity of the Acquired Shares or the legal authority of the Issuer Parties to comply in all material respects with the terms of this Subscription Agreement; (ii) the organizational documents of the Issuer Parties; or (iii) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Issuer Parties or any of their properties that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or materially affect the validity of the Acquired Shares or the legal authority of the Issuer Parties to comply in all material respects with the terms of this Subscription Agreement.
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3.5 There are no securities or instruments issued by or to which the Issuer Parties are a party containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered by the issuance of (i) the Acquired Shares or (ii) the Common Shares to be issued pursuant to any Other Subscription Agreement, in each case, that have not been or will not be validly waived on or prior to the Closing Date.
3.6 The Issuer Parties are not in default or violation (and no event has occurred which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a default or violation) of any term, condition or provision of (i) the organizational documents of the Issuer Parties, (ii) any loan or credit agreement, guarantee, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or other agreement, permit, franchise or license to which the Issuer Parties are now a party or by which the Issuer Parties’ properties or assets are bound, or (iii) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Issuer Parties or any of their properties, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), for defaults or violations that have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
3.7 Assuming the accuracy of Subscriber’s representations and warranties in Section 4, the Issuer is not required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local or other governmental authority, self-regulatory organization, or other person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Issuer of this Subscription Agreement (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Acquired Shares), other than: (i) the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) of the Registration Statement (as defined below); (ii) the filings required by applicable state or federal securities laws; (iii) the filings required in accordance with Section 8.13, (iv) those required by Nasdaq, including with respect to obtaining shareholder approval; (v) any filing, the failure of which to obtain would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or have a material adverse effect of the Issuer’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, including the sale and issuance of the Acquired Shares; and (vi) as set forth in the Business Combination Agreement.
3.8 As of the date hereof, the authorized share capital of NAAC consists of (i) 1,000,000 preference shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “NAAC Preference Shares”), (ii) 200,000,000 Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “NAAC Class A Shares”) and (iii) 20,000,000 Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “NAAC Class B Shares”). As of the date hereof and as of immediately prior to the Domestication Merger: (A) no NAAC Preference Shares are or will be issued and outstanding, (B) 37,950,000 NAAC Class A Shares are and will be issued and outstanding, (C) 9,487,500 NAAC Class B Shares are and will be issued and outstanding, and (D) 19,776,667 warrants (the “NAAC Warrants”), each evidencing the right to purchase one NAAC Class A Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per NAAC Class A Share, are and will be outstanding. All (i) issued and outstanding NAAC Class A Shares and NAAC Class B Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and are non-assessable and are not subject to preemptive rights and (ii) outstanding warrants have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and are not subject to preemptive rights. Except as set forth above and pursuant to the Other Subscription Agreements and the Business Combination Agreement, there are no outstanding options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for, purchase or acquire from NAAC any NAAC Class A Shares, NAAC Class B Shares, or other equity interests in NAAC, or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such equity interests. As of the date hereof, NAAC has no direct subsidiaries (other than the Issuer) and does not own, directly or indirectly, interests or investments (whether equity or debt) in any person, whether incorporated or unincorporated. There are no shareholder agreements, voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which NAAC is a party or by which it is bound relating to the voting of any securities of NAAC, other than (A) as set forth in the SEC Documents (as defined below) and (B) as contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement.
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3.9 As of immediately prior to the Domestication Merger, the authorized share capital of the Issuer will consist of (i) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”) and (ii) 500,000,000 Common Shares. As of immediately prior to the Domestication Merger: (A) no shares of Preferred Stock will be issued and outstanding, (B) Common Shares will be issued and outstanding, and (C) 0 warrants, each evidencing the right to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per Common Share, will be outstanding. All (i) issued and outstanding Common Shares will have been duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and are non-assessable and are not subject to preemptive rights, and (ii) outstanding warrants will have been duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and will not be subject to preemptive rights. Except as set forth above and pursuant to the Other Subscription Agreements and the Business Combination Agreement, there will be no outstanding options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for, purchase or acquire from the Issuer any Common Shares or other equity interests in the Issuer, or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such equity interests. As of immediately prior to the Domestication Merger, the Issuer will have no direct subsidiaries (other than Merger Sub) and will not own, directly or indirectly, interests or investments (whether equity or debt) in any person, whether incorporated or unincorporated. There will be no shareholder agreements, voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which the Issuer is a party or by which it is bound relating to the voting of any securities of the Issuer, other than (A) as set forth in the SEC Documents (as defined below) and (B) as contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement.
3.10 The Issuer Parties are in compliance with all applicable laws, except where such non-compliance would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. The Issuer Parties have not received any written communication from a governmental entity that alleges that the Issuer Parties are not in compliance with or are in default or violation of any applicable law, except where such non- compliance, default or violation would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
3.11 The issued and outstanding NAAC Class A Shares are (and following the Closing, the Common Shares will be) registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and are listed for trading on Nasdaq. There is no suit, action, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Issuer Parties, threatened against the Issuer Parties by Nasdaq or the Commission with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister the NAAC Class A Shares or prohibit or terminate the listing of the NAAC Class A Shares or Common Shares on Nasdaq. Except in the connection with the Transactions, the Issuer Parties have taken no action that is designed to terminate the registration of the NAAC Class A Shares under the Exchange Act or the listing of the NAAC Class A Shares on Nasdaq.
3.12 Assuming the accuracy of Subscriber’s representations and warranties set forth in Section 4, no registration under the Securities Act is required for the offer and sale of the Acquired Shares by the Issuer to Subscriber in the manner contemplated by this Subscription Agreement, and the Acquired Shares are not being offered in a manner involving a public offering under, or in a distribution in violation of, the Securities Act or any state securities laws.
3.13 Neither the Issuer nor any person acting on its behalf has engaged or will engage in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D of the Securities Act) in connection with any offer or sale of the Acquired Shares.
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3.14 The Issuer has made available to Subscriber (including via the Commission’s EDGAR system) a copy of each form, report, statement, schedule, prospectus, proxy, registration statement and other document, if any, filed by the Issuer with the Commission since its initial registration of the NAAC Class A Shares (the “SEC Documents”), which SEC Documents, as of their respective filing dates, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and Securities Act applicable to the SEC Documents and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder applicable to the SEC Documents. None of the SEC Documents filed under the Exchange Act (except to the extent that information contained in any SEC Document has been superseded by a later timely filed SEC Document) contained, when filed, any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in the case of any SEC Document that is a registration statement, or included, when filed, any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in the case of all other SEC Documents; provided, that, with respect to the Transactions or any other information relating to the Transactions or to Target or any of its affiliates that is included the proxy statement/prospectus to be filed by the Issuer in connection with the Transactions, any SEC Document or exhibit thereto filed by the Issuer, the representation and warranty in this sentence is made to the Issuer’s knowledge. NAAC has timely filed each SEC Document that the Issuer was required to file with the Commission since its inception. There are no material outstanding or unresolved comments in comment letters from the staff of the Commission with respect to any of the SEC Documents.
3.15 Except for such matters as have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, there is no (i) action, suit, claim or other proceeding pending, or, to the knowledge of the Issuer Parties, threatened against the Issuer Parties or (ii) judgment, decree, injunction, ruling or order of any governmental entity or arbitrator outstanding against the Issuer Parties.
3.16 Other than (i) the Other Subscription Agreements, (ii) any other agreement expressly contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, (iii) any other subscription agreement entered into after the date hereof on terms substantially consistent with the terms hereof and (iv) any agreement described in the SEC Documents as of the date hereof, none of Issuer Parties has entered into any side letter or similar agreement with any investor in connection with such investor’s direct or indirect investment in any of the Issuer Parties. No Other Subscription Agreement includes terms and conditions that are materially more advantageous to any such Other Investor than Investor hereunder, other than representations, warranties and terms particular to the regulatory requirements of such investor or its affiliates or related funds, and such Other Subscription Agreements have not been amended (including via a side letter or other agreement) in any material respect following the date of this Subscription Agreement.
3.17 For the avoidance of doubt, neither J.P. Morgan Securities LLC nor Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC are acting as placement agents for the offer and sale of the Acquired Shares and neither is making any recommendation to Subscriber in respect of the Acquired Shares. Furthermore, Subscriber is deemed not to be “retail investors” or “retail customers” of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC or Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, for purposes of either SEC Form CRS or Regulation Best Interest under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
3.18 The Issuer is not, and immediately after receipt of payment for the Acquired Shares will not be, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
3.19 None of the Issuer Parties, their respective subsidiaries or any of their affiliates, nor any person acting on their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would require registration of the issuance of any of the Acquired Shares under the Securities Act, whether through integration with prior offerings pursuant to Rule 502(a) of the Securities Act or otherwise.
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3.20 The Issuer will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the sale of the Acquired Shares, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to a subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, (i) to fund a person or entity named on the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons, the Executive Order 13599 List, the Foreign Sanctions Evaders List, or the Sectoral Sanctions Identification List, each of which is administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) (collectively “OFAC Lists”), (ii) owned or controlled by, or acting on behalf of, a person, that is named on an OFAC List, (iii) organized, incorporated, established, located, resident or born in, or a citizen, national, or the government, including any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, of, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, the Crimea region of Ukraine, or any other country or territory embargoed or subject to substantial trade restrictions by the United States, (iv) that is a Designated National (as defined in the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 515) or (v) that is a non-U.S. shell bank or providing banking services indirectly to a non-U.S. shell bank.
4. Subscriber Representations and Warranties. Subscriber represents and warrants as of the date hereof and covenants that on the Closing Date, that:
4.1 Subscriber has been duly formed or incorporated and is validly existing in good standing (to the extent the concept of good standing is applicable in such jurisdiction) under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, with the requisite entity power and authority to enter into, deliver and perform its obligations under this Subscription Agreement.
4.2 This Subscription Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Subscriber. Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the same by the Issuer Parties, this Subscription Agreement constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of Subscriber, enforceable against Subscriber in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited or otherwise affected by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally and (ii) principles of equity, whether considered at law or equity.
4.3 The execution and delivery by Subscriber of this Subscription Agreement, and the performance by Subscriber of its obligations under this Subscription Agreement, including the purchase of the Acquired Shares and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated herein, will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of Subscriber pursuant to the terms of (i) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which Subscriber is a party or by which Subscriber is bound or to which any of the property or assets of Subscriber is subject, which would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, financial condition, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of Subscriber, taken as a whole (a “Subscriber Material Adverse Effect”), or materially affect the legal authority of Subscriber to comply in all material respects with the terms of this Subscription Agreement; (ii) the organizational documents of Subscriber; or (iii) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over Subscriber or any of Subscriber’s properties that would reasonably be expected to have a Subscriber Material Adverse Effect or materially affect the legal authority of Subscriber to comply in all material respects with this Subscription Agreement.
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4.4 Subscriber (i) is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) or an “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501) under the Securities Act), in each case, satisfying the applicable requirements set forth on Schedule A, (ii) is acquiring the Acquired Shares only for its own account and not for the account of others, or if Subscriber is subscribing for the Acquired Shares as a fiduciary or agent for one or more investor accounts, each owner of such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” or an “accredited investor” (each as defined above) and Subscriber has full investment discretion with respect to each such account, and the full power and authority to make the acknowledgements, representations and agreements herein on behalf of each owner of each such account and (iii) is not acquiring the Acquired Shares with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act. Subscriber has completed Schedule A following the signature page hereto and the information contained therein is accurate and complete in all material respects. Subscriber is not an entity formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the Acquired Shares, unless Subscriber is a newly formed entity in which all of the equity owners are accredited investors, and is an “institutional account” as defined by FINRA Rule 4512(c). Accordingly, Subscriber is aware that this offering of the Acquired Shares meets the exemptions from filing under FINRA Rule 5123(b)(1)(A), (C) or (J).
4.5 Subscriber understands that the Acquired Shares are being offered in a transaction not involving any public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act and that the Acquired Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act. Subscriber understands that the Acquired Shares may not be offered, resold, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of by Subscriber absent an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, except: (i) to the Issuer or a subsidiary thereof; (ii) to non-U.S. persons pursuant to offers and sales that occur outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act; (iii) pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (“Rule 144”), provided that all of the applicable conditions thereof have been met; or (iv) pursuant to another applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, including pursuant to a private sale effected under Section 4(a)(7) of the Securities Act or applicable formal or informal Commission interpretation or guidance, such as a so-called “4(a)(1) and a half” sale, and that any book-entry records representing the Acquired Shares shall contain a legend to such effect. Subscriber acknowledges that the Acquired Shares will not be eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act. Subscriber understands and agrees that the Acquired Shares will be subject to the foregoing transfer restrictions and, as a result of these transfer restrictions, Subscriber may not be able to readily resell the Acquired Shares and may be required to bear the financial risk of an investment in the Acquired Shares for an indefinite period of time. Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that the Acquired Shares will not be eligible for offer, resale, transfer, pledge or disposition pursuant to Rule 144 until at least one year from the filing of certain required information with the Commission after the Closing Date. Subscriber understands that it has been advised to consult legal counsel prior to making any offer, resale, pledge or transfer of any of the Acquired Shares.
4.6 Subscriber understands and agrees that Subscriber is purchasing the Acquired Shares directly from the Issuer. Subscriber further acknowledges that there have been no representations, warranties, covenants and agreements made to Subscriber by the Issuer or any of its control persons, officers, directors, employees, partners, agents or representatives, any other party to the Transactions or any other person or entity, expressly or by implication, other than those representations, warranties, covenants and agreements included in this Subscription Agreement.
4.7 Subscriber’s acquisition and holding of the Acquired Shares will not constitute or result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under section 406 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or any applicable similar law.
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4.8 In making its decision to subscribe for and purchase the Acquired Shares, Subscriber represents that it has relied solely upon its own independent investigation and the Issuer’s representations and warranties in Section 3. Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that Subscriber has received and has had the opportunity to review such information as Subscriber deems necessary in order to make an investment decision with respect to the Acquired Shares, including with respect to the Issuer, Target, and the Transaction. Subscriber represents and agrees that Subscriber and Subscriber’s professional advisor(s), if any, have (i) had the full opportunity to ask such questions, receive such answers and obtain such information as Subscriber and such Subscriber’s professional advisor(s), if any, have deemed necessary to make an investment decision with respect to the Acquired Shares and (ii) conducted and completed its own independent due diligence with respect to the Transaction. Except for the representations, warranties and agreements of the Issuer expressly set forth in this Subscription Agreement, Subscriber is relying exclusively on its own sources of information, investment analysis and due diligence (including professional advice it deems appropriate) with respect to the Transaction, the Acquired Shares and the business, condition (financial and otherwise), management, operations, properties and prospects of the Issuer including, but not limited to, all business, legal, regulatory, accounting, credit and tax matters.
4.9 Subscriber became aware of this offering of the Acquired Shares solely by means of direct contact between Subscriber and the Issuer Target or a representative of the Issuer and the Acquired Shares were offered to Subscriber solely by direct contact between Subscriber and the Issuer or Target or a representative of the Issuer. Subscriber did not become aware of this offering of the Acquired Shares, nor were the Acquired Shares offered to Subscriber, by any other means. Subscriber acknowledges that the Issuer represents and warrants that the Acquired Shares (i) were not offered by any form of general solicitation or general advertising and (ii) are not being offered in a manner involving a public offering under, or in a distribution in violation of, the Securities Act, or any state securities laws.
4.10 Subscriber acknowledges that it is aware that there are substantial risks incident to the purchase and ownership of the Acquired Shares. Subscriber has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Acquired Shares, and Subscriber has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as Subscriber has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision. Accordingly, Subscriber acknowledges that the offering of the Acquired Shares meets the institutional account exemptions from filing under FINRA Rule 2111(b).
4.11 Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that none of the Issuer Parties nor any of their respective affiliates (nor any officer, director, employee or representative of any of the Issuer Parties or their respective affiliates) has provided Subscriber with any advice with respect to the Acquired Shares, nor is such advice necessary or desired. Subscriber acknowledges that none of the Issuer Parties, the respective affiliates of any of the Issuer Parties, nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives or controlling persons have acted as Subscriber’s financial advisor or fiduciary in connection with the issuance and purchase of the Acquired Shares.
4.12 Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that none of the Issuer Parties, any affiliate of any of the Issuer Parties or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives or controlling persons will have any liability to Subscriber or any Other Subscriber in connection with each Subscriber or Other Subscriber’s purchase of the Acquired Shares. Without limitation of the foregoing, Subscriber hereby further acknowledges and agrees that the Issuer Parties will have no responsibility with respect to any representations, warranties or agreements made by any other person or entity under or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or any of the documents furnished pursuant thereto or in connection therewith, or the execution, legality, validity or enforceability (with respect to any person) of any thereof.
4.13 Subscriber represents and acknowledges that Subscriber, alone or together with any professional advisor(s), has analyzed and considered the risks of an investment in the Acquired Shares and determined that the Acquired Shares are a suitable investment for Subscriber and that Subscriber is able at this time and in the foreseeable future to bear the economic risk of a total loss of Subscriber’s investment in the Issuer. Subscriber acknowledges specifically that a possibility of total loss exists.
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4.14 Subscriber understands that no federal or state agency has passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Acquired Shares or made any findings or determination as to the fairness of an investment in the Acquired Shares.
4.15 Subscriber is not (i) a person or entity named on the OFAC Lists, (ii) owned or controlled by, or acting on behalf of, a person, that is named on an OFAC List, (iii) organized, incorporated, established, located, resident or born in, or a citizen, national, or the government, including any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, of, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, the Crimea region of Ukraine, or any other country or territory embargoed or subject to substantial trade restrictions by the United States, (iv) a Designated National as defined in the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 515, or (v) a non-U.S. shell bank or providing banking services indirectly to a non-U.S. shell bank. Subscriber represents that if it is a financial institution subject to the Bank Secrecy Act (31 U.S.C. section 5311 et seq.), as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and its implementing regulations (collectively, the “BSA/PATRIOT Act”), that Subscriber maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to comply with applicable obligations under the BSA/PATRIOT Act. Subscriber also represents that, to the extent required, it maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with OFAC-administered sanctions programs, including for the screening of its investors against the OFAC Lists. Subscriber further represents and warrants that, to the extent required, it maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the funds held by Subscriber and used to purchase the Acquired Shares were legally derived.
4.16 Subscriber is not currently (and at all times through the Closing will refrain from being or becoming) a member of a “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision) acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of equity securities of the Issuer (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act).
4.17 If Subscriber is or is acting on behalf of (i) an employee benefit plan that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (ii) a plan, an individual retirement account or other arrangement that is subject to section 4975 of the Code, (iii) an entity whose underlying assets are considered to include “plan assets” of any such plan, account or arrangement described in clauses (i) and (ii) (each, an “ERISA Plan”), or (iv) an employee benefit plan that is a governmental plan (as defined in section 3(32) of ERISA), a church plan (as defined in section 3(33) of ERISA), a non-U.S. plan (as described in section 4(b)(4) of ERISA) or other plan that is not subject to the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) but may be subject to provisions under any other federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other laws or regulations that are similar to such provisions of ERISA or the Code (collectively, “Similar Laws,” and together with the ERISA Plans, the “Plans”) Subscriber represents and warrants that (i) neither the Issuer, nor any of its respective affiliates (the “Transaction Parties”) has provided investment advice or has otherwise acted as a Plan’s fiduciary, with respect to its decision to acquire and hold the Acquired Shares, and none of the Transaction Parties is or shall at any time be a Plan’s fiduciary with respect to any decision to acquire and hold the Acquired Shares, and none of the Transaction Parties is or shall at any time be a Plan’s fiduciary with respect to any decision in connection with Subscriber’s investment in the Acquired Shares; and (ii) its purchase of the Acquired Shares will not result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under section 406 of ERISA or section 4975 of the Code, or any applicable Similar Law.
4.18 At the Purchase Price Payment Date, Subscriber will have sufficient funds to pay the Purchase Price pursuant to Section 2.2.1.
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4.19 Subscriber agrees that none of (i) the Other Subscribers pursuant to the Other Subscription Agreements entered into in connection with the offer and sale of Common Shares (including the controlling persons, members, officers, directors, partners, agents or employees of any such Other Subscribers) or (ii) any party to the Business Combination Agreement, including any such party’s representatives, affiliates or any of its or their control persons, officers, directors or employees, that is not a party hereto, shall be liable to Subscriber pursuant to this Subscription Agreement for any action heretofore or hereafter taken or omitted to be taken by any of them in connection with the purchase of the Acquired Shares.
5. Registration Rights.
5.1 The Issuer agrees that, as soon as practicable (but in any case within 30 calendar days after the consummation of the Transactions (the “Filing Date”)), the Issuer shall file with the Commission (at the Issuer’s sole cost and expense) a registration statement on Form S-1 (the “Registration Statement”), registering the resale of the Acquired Shares, which Registration Statement may include shares of the Issuer’s common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants or those held by NAAC Sponsor LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and the Issuer shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, but no later than the earlier of (i) the 60th calendar day (or 90th calendar day if the Commission notifies the Issuer that it will “review” the Registration Statement) following the Closing and (ii) the 10th business day after the date the Issuer is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that the Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review (such earlier date, the “Effective Date”); provided, however, that if the Commission is closed for operations due to a government shutdown, the Effective Date shall be extended by the same amount of days that the Commission remains closed for operations, provided, however, that the Issuer’s obligations to include the Acquired Shares in the Registration Statement are contingent upon Subscriber furnishing in writing to the Issuer such information regarding Subscriber, the securities of the Issuer held by Subscriber, and the intended method of disposition of the Acquired Shares as shall be reasonably requested by the Issuer to effect the registration of the Acquired Shares, and Subscriber shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Issuer may reasonably request that are customary of a selling stockholder in similar situations; provided, that, Subscriber shall not in connection with the foregoing be required to execute any lock-up or similar agreement or otherwise be subject to any contractual restriction on the ability to transfer the Acquired Shares (other than any such restrictions that may exist hereunder). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Commission prevents the Issuer from including any or all of the shares proposed to be registered under the Registration Statement due to limitations on the use of Rule 415 of the Securities Act for the resale of the Acquired Shares or other shares included in the Registration Statement by the applicable stockholders or otherwise, such Registration Statement shall register for resale such number of Acquired Shares which is equal to the maximum number of Acquired Shares as is permitted by the Commission. In such event, the number of Common Shares to be registered for each selling stockholder named in the Registration Statement shall be reduced pro rata among all such selling stockholders and as promptly as practicable after being permitted to register additional shares under Rule 415 of the Securities Act, the Issuer shall amend the Registration Statement or file a new Registration Statement to register such shares not included in the initial Registration Statement and cause such amendment or Registration Statement to become effective as promptly as practicable. Upon notification by the Commission that the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission, within two business days thereafter, the Issuer shall file the final prospectus under Rule 424 of the Securities Act. The Issuer will provide a draft of the Registration Statement to Subscriber for review at least two business days in advance of filing the Registration Statement; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the Issuer be required to delay or postpone the filing of such Registration Statement as a result of or in connection with Subscriber’s review. In no event shall Subscriber be identified as a statutory underwriter in the Registration Statement unless requested by the Commission; provided, that if the Commission requests that Subscriber be identified as a statutory underwriter in the Registration Statement, Subscriber will have an opportunity to withdraw from the Registration Statement. Subscriber shall not be entitled to use the Registration Statement for an underwritten offering of Acquired Shares. For purposes of clarification, any failure by the Issuer to file the Registration Statement by the Filing Date or to effect such Registration Statement by the Effective Date shall not otherwise relieve the Issuer of its obligations to file the Registration Statement or effect the registration of the Acquired Shares set forth in this Section 5. For purposes of this Section 5, “Acquired Shares” shall include any equity security of the Issuer issued or issuable with respect to the Acquired Shares by way of share split, dividend, distribution, recapitalization, merger, exchange, replacement or similar event or otherwise.
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5.2 In the case of the registration effected by the Issuer pursuant to this Subscription Agreement, the Issuer shall, upon reasonable request, inform Subscriber as to the status of such registration. At its expense the Issuer shall:
5.2.1 except for such times as the Issuer is permitted hereunder to suspend the use of the prospectus forming part of a Registration Statement, use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep such registration, and any qualification, exemption or compliance under state securities laws that the Issuer determines to obtain, continuously effective with respect to Subscriber, and to keep the applicable Registration Statement or any subsequent shelf registration statement free of any material misstatements or omissions, until the earliest of the following to occur: (i) Subscriber ceases to hold any Acquired Shares, (ii) the first date all Acquired Shares held by Subscriber may be sold under Rule 144, without limitation as to any public information, volume and manner of sale restrictions and without the requirement for the Issuer to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144(c)(1) or Rule 144(i)(2), and (iii) the date that is two years from the Effective Date of the Registration Statement.
5.2.2 advise Subscriber within three business days:
(a) when a Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has been filed with the Commission and when such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;
(b) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to any Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or for additional information;
(c) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for such purpose;
(d) of the receipt by the Issuer of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Acquired Shares included therein for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and
(e) in accordance with Section 5.3 of this Subscription Agreement, of the occurrence of any event that requires the making of any changes in any Registration Statement or prospectus so that, as of such date, any Registration Statement does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or does not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any prospectus does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or does not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Issuer shall not, when so advising Subscriber of such events, provide Subscriber with any material, nonpublic information regarding the Issuer other than to the extent that providing notice to Subscriber of the occurrence of the events listed in Section 5.2.2(a) through Section 5.2.2(e) above constitutes material, nonpublic information regarding the Issuer;
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5.2.3 use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement as soon as reasonably practicable;
5.2.4 upon the occurrence of any event contemplated in Section 5.2.2(e), except for such times as the Issuer is permitted hereunder to suspend, and has suspended, the use of a prospectus forming part of a Registration Statement, the Issuer shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to as soon as reasonably practicable prepare a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus, or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Acquired Shares included therein, such prospectus will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
5.2.5 use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Acquired Shares to be listed on each securities exchange or market, if any, on which the NAAC Class A Shares issued by the Issuer have been listed;
5.2.6 use its commercially reasonable efforts to timely file all reports and other materials, and provide all customary and reasonable cooperation, necessary to enable Subscriber to sell the Acquired Shares under Rule 144;
5.2.7 in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by Subscriber, consistent with the terms of this Subscription Agreement, in connection with the registration of the resale of the Acquired Shares; and
5.2.8 subject to receipt from Subscriber by the Issuer and its transfer agent of customary representations and other documentation reasonably acceptable to the Issuer and the transfer agent in connection therewith, including, if required by the transfer agent, an opinion of the Issuer’s counsel, in a form reasonably acceptable to the transfer agent, to the effect that the removal of such restrictive legends in such circumstances may be effected under the Securities Act, upon Subscriber’s request, the Issuer shall promptly (and no later than five business days following such request and receipt of such customary representations and other documentation) cause the removal of any legend from the book entry position evidencing its Acquired Shares following the earliest of such time as such Acquired Shares (i) are subject to or have been or are about to be sold or transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement or (ii) have been or are about to be sold pursuant to Rule 144. The Issuer shall be responsible for the fees of its transfer agent, its legal counsel and all Depository Trust Company fees associated with such issuance.
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5.3 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Subscription Agreement, the Issuer shall be entitled to delay or postpone the filing or effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and from time to time to require Subscriber not to sell under the Registration Statement or to suspend the effectiveness or use thereof (a “Suspension Event”), if Issuer reasonably determines, upon the advice of outside legal counsel, that the Registration Statement fails to comply with the applicable disclosure requirements because either (i) it contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any related prospectus includes any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (ii) the negotiation or consummation of a transaction by the Issuer or its subsidiaries is pending or an event has occurred, which negotiation, consummation or event, the board of the Issuer reasonably believes would require additional disclosure by the Issuer in the Registration Statement of material information that the Issuer has a bona fide business purpose for keeping confidential and the non-disclosure of which in the Registration Statement would be required); provided, however, that the Issuer may not delay or postpone filing or effectiveness, or suspend the effectiveness or use of any Registration Statement, on (x) more than two occasions or (y) for more than 60 consecutive calendar days or more than 90 total calendar days in any 12-month period. Upon receipt of any written notice from the Issuer of the happening of any Suspension Event (which notice shall not contain any material non-public information regarding the Issuer), Subscriber agrees that (i) it will immediately discontinue offers and sales of the Acquired Shares under the Registration Statement until Subscriber receives copies of a supplemental or amended prospectus (which the Issuer agrees to promptly prepare) that corrects the misstatement(s) or omission(s) referred to above and receives notice that any post-effective amendment has become effective or unless otherwise notified by the Issuer that it may resume such offers and sales and (ii) it will maintain the confidentiality of any information included in such written notice delivered by the Issuer unless otherwise required by law or subpoena. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Issuer shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause its transfer agent to deliver unlegended shares to a transferee of Subscriber in connection with any sale of Acquired Shares with respect to which Subscriber has entered into a contract for sale, prior to Subscriber’s receipt of the notice of a Suspension Event and which has not yet settled. If so directed by the Issuer, Subscriber will deliver to the Issuer or, in Subscriber’s sole discretion destroy, all copies of the prospectus covering the Acquired Shares in Subscriber’s possession; provided, however, that this obligation to deliver or destroy all copies of the prospectus covering the Acquired Shares shall not apply (A) to the extent Subscriber is required to retain a copy of such prospectus (x) in order to comply with applicable legal, regulatory, self-regulatory or professional requirements or (y) in accordance with a bona fide pre-existing document retention policy or (B) to copies stored electronically on archival servers as a result of automatic data back-up. The Issuer shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to limit any Suspension Event and shall notify Subscriber when sales can recommence under the Registration Statement within two business days.
5.4 Subscriber may deliver written notice (an “Opt-Out Notice”) to the Issuer requesting that Subscriber not receive notices from the Issuer otherwise required by this Section 5; provided, however, that Subscriber may later revoke any such Opt-Out Notice in writing. Following receipt of an Opt-Out Notice from Subscriber (unless subsequently revoked), (i) the Issuer shall not deliver any such notices to Subscriber and Subscriber shall no longer be entitled to the rights associated with any such notice and (ii) each time prior to Subscriber’s intended use of an effective Registration Statement, Subscriber will notify the Issuer in writing at least two business days in advance of such intended use, and if a notice of a Suspension Event was previously delivered (or would have been delivered but for the provisions of this Section 5.4) and the related Suspension Event remains in effect, the Issuer will so notify Subscriber, within one business day of Subscriber’s notification to the Issuer, by delivering to Subscriber a copy of such previous notice of Suspension Event, and thereafter will provide Subscriber with the related notice of the conclusion of such Suspension Event or other event immediately upon its availability.
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5.5 The Issuer shall, indemnify, defend and hold harmless Subscriber (to the extent a seller under the Registration Statement), its directors, officers, agents, trustees, affiliates, advisers and employees and each person who controls Subscriber (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all out-of-pocket losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) and expenses (collectively, “Losses”), as incurred, that arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (ii) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any prospectus included in the Registration Statement, or any form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Issuer of the Securities Act, Exchange Act or any state securities law or any rule or regulation thereunder in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Section 5, except to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statements, alleged untrue statements, omissions or alleged omissions are based upon information regarding Subscriber furnished in writing to the Issuer by Subscriber expressly for use therein or Subscriber has omitted a material fact from such information; provided, however, that the indemnification contained in this Section 5 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Losses if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Issuer (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), nor shall the Issuer be liable for any Losses to the extent they arise out of or are based upon a violation that occurs (A) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by Subscriber, (B) in connection with any failure of such person to deliver or cause to be delivered a prospectus made available by the Issuer in a timely manner or (C) in connection with any offers or sales effected by or on behalf of Subscriber in violation of Section 5.3 hereof. The Issuer shall notify Subscriber promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Section 5 of which the Issuer receives notice in writing.
5.6 Subscriber shall, severally and not jointly with any person that is a party to the Other Subscription Agreements, indemnify and hold harmless the Issuer, its directors, officers, agents and employees, and each person who controls the Issuer (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as incurred, that arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or in any amendment or supplement thereto or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (ii) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any prospectus included in the Registration Statement, or any form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading but, with respect to both clause (i) or (ii), only to the extent, that such untrue or alleged untrue statements or omissions or alleged omissions, are based upon information regarding Subscriber furnished in writing to the Issuer by Subscriber expressly for use therein or a material fact that Subscriber has omitted from such information; provided, however, that the indemnification contained in this Section 5.6 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Losses if such settlement is effected without the consent of Subscriber (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). In no event shall the liability of Subscriber be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by Subscriber upon the sale of the Acquired Shares giving rise to such indemnification obligation. Subscriber shall notify the Issuer promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Section 5.6 of which Subscriber is aware.
5.7 Any person or entity entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s or entity’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless, in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment, a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of legal counsel to any indemnified party a conflict of interest exists between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement includes a statement or admission of fault and culpability on the part of such indemnified party or which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.
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5.8 The indemnification provided for under this Subscription Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director, employee, agent, affiliate or controlling person or entity of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of the Acquired Shares purchased pursuant to this Subscription Agreement.
5.9 If the indemnification provided under Section 5.5 and Section 5.6 from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any Losses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such Losses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided, however, the liability of Subscriber shall be limited to the net proceeds received by Subscriber from the sale of the Acquired Shares giving rise to such indemnification obligation. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by (or not made by, in the case of an omission), or relates to information supplied by or on behalf of (or not supplied by or on behalf of, in the case of an omission), such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the Losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in this Section 5, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this Section 5.9 from any person or entity who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in no event will any party be liable for consequential, special, exemplary or punitive damages in connection with this Subscription Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
6. Termination. This Subscription Agreement shall terminate and be void and of no further force and effect (except for those provisions expressly contemplated to survive termination of this Subscription Agreement in accordance with Section 8.4), and all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall terminate without any further liability on the part of any party in respect thereof (except for those provisions expressly contemplated to survive termination of this Subscription Agreement in accordance with Section 8.4), upon the earliest to occur of (i) such date and time as the Business Combination Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms without being consummated, (ii) upon the mutual written agreement of each of the parties hereto to terminate this Subscription Agreement, (iii) if any of the conditions of Closing set forth in Section 2 are not satisfied on or prior to the earlier of the Closing Date and the Outside Date (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement as the same exists on the date hereof as provided to the Investor) and, as a result thereof, the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement are not consummated at the Closing, and (iv) June 30, 2022; provided that nothing herein will relieve any party from liability for any willful breach hereof prior to the time of termination or common law intentional fraud in the making of any representation or warranty hereunder, and each party will be entitled to any remedies at law or in equity to recover losses, liabilities or damages arising from such breach or fraud. The Issuer shall promptly notify Subscriber of the termination of the Business Combination Agreement promptly after the termination of such agreement.
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7. Trust Account Waiver. Subscriber acknowledges that the Issuer is a blank check company with the powers and privileges to effect a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination involving the Issuer and one or more businesses or assets. Subscriber further acknowledges that, as described in the Issuer’s prospectus relating to its initial public offering dated January 21, 2021 (the “Prospectus”), available at www.sec.gov, substantially all of the Issuer’s assets consist of the cash proceeds of the Issuer’s initial public offering and private placements of its securities, and substantially all of those proceeds have been deposited in a trust account (the “Trust Account”) for the benefit of the Issuer, its public shareholders and the underwriters of the Issuer’s initial public offering. Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account that may be released to the Issuer to pay its tax obligations, if any, the cash in the Trust Account may be disbursed only for the purposes set forth in the Prospectus. For and in consideration of the Issuer entering into this Subscription Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Subscriber, on behalf of itself and its affiliates, hereby irrevocably waives any and all right, title and interest, or any claim of any kind they have or may have in the future arising out of this Subscription Agreement, in or to any monies held in the Trust Account, and agrees not to seek recourse against the Trust Account as a result of, or arising out of, this Subscription Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby, or the Acquired Shares, regardless of whether such claim arises based on contract, tort, equity or any other theory of legal liability; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 7 shall (i) serve to limit or prohibit Subscriber’s right to pursue a claim against the Issuer for legal relief against assets held outside the Trust Account, for specific performance or other equitable relief, (ii) serve to limit or prohibit any claims that Subscriber may have in the future against the Issuer’s assets or funds that are not held in the Trust Account (including any funds that have been released from the Trust Account and any assets that have been purchased or acquired with any such funds) or (iii) be deemed to limit any Subscriber’s right, title, interest or claim to the Trust Account by virtue of such Subscriber’s record or beneficial ownership of NAAC Class A Shares acquired by any means other than pursuant to this Subscription Agreement, including, but not limited to, any redemption right with respect to any such securities of the Issuer.
8. Miscellaneous.
8.1 Each party hereto acknowledges that the other party hereto will rely on the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties contained in this Subscription Agreement; provided, however, that this Section 8.1 shall not give any such party any rights other than those expressly set forth herein. Prior to the Closing, each party hereto agrees to promptly notify the other party hereto if any of the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties made by such party as set forth herein are no longer accurate in all material respects. Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that each purchase by Subscriber of Acquired Shares from the Company will constitute a reaffirmation to the Company of the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties herein (as modified by any such notice) by Subscriber as of the time of such purchase.
8.2 Each of the Issuer and Subscriber is irrevocably authorized to produce this Subscription Agreement or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby to the extent required by law or by regulatory bodies.
8.3 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Subscription Agreement, prior to the Closing, Subscriber may not transfer or assign all or a portion of its rights under this Subscription Agreement, other than to one or more of its affiliates (including other investment funds or accounts managed or advised by Subscriber or the investment manager or advisor who acts on behalf of Subscriber or an affiliate thereof or by an affiliate of such investment manager or advisor) without the prior consent of the Issuer; provided that such transferee or assignee agrees in writing to be bound by and subject to the terms and conditions of this Subscription Agreement, makes the representations and warranties in Section 4 and completes Schedule A hereto. In the event of such a transfer or assignment, Subscriber shall complete the form of assignment attached as Schedule B hereto.
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8.4 All the agreements, representations, warranties, and covenants made by each party hereto in this Subscription Agreement shall survive the Closing. All of the covenants and agreements made by each party in this Subscription Agreement shall survive the Closing until the applicable statute of limitations or in accordance with their respective terms.
8.5 The Issuer may request from Subscriber such additional information as the Issuer may reasonably deem necessary to evaluate the eligibility of Subscriber to acquire the Acquired Shares and to register the resale of the Acquired Shares, and Subscriber shall provide such information as may be reasonably requested, to the extent readily available and to the extent consistent with its internal policies and procedures; provided that the Issuer agrees to keep any such information provided by Subscriber confidential.
8.6 This Subscription Agreement constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all other prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties, both written and oral, among the parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
8.7 Except as otherwise provided herein, this Subscription Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective affiliates and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns, and the agreements, representations, warranties, covenants and acknowledgments contained herein shall be deemed to be made by, and be binding upon, such heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.
8.8 If any provision of this Subscription Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Subscription Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall continue in full force and effect.
8.9 This Subscription Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts (including by electronic means), all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart.
8.10 Each party shall pay all of its own expenses in connection with this Subscription Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein.
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8.11 Any notice or communication required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and either delivered personally, emailed or telecopied, sent by overnight mail via a reputable overnight carrier, or sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, and shall be deemed to be given and received (i) when so delivered personally, (ii) upon receipt of an appropriate electronic answerback or confirmation when so delivered by telecopy (to such number specified below or another number or numbers as such person may subsequently designate by notice given hereunder), (iii) when sent, with no mail undeliverable or other rejection notice, if sent by email or (iv) five business days after the date of mailing to the address below or to such other address or addresses as such person may hereafter designate by notice given hereunder:
if to Subscriber, to such address or addresses set forth on the signature page hereto;
if to the Issuer prior to the completion of the Domestication Merger, to:
North Atlantic Acquisition Corporation
c/o Reed Smith LLP
2850 N. Harwood St., Suite 1500
Dallas, TX 75201
Attention: Lynwood Reinhardt
Email: lreinhardt@reedsmith.com
with required copies (which copies shall not constitute notice) to:
c/o Reed Smith LLP
2850 N. Harwood St., Suite 1500
Dallas, TX 75201
Attention: Lynwood Reinhardt
Email: lreinhardt@reedsmith.com
if to the Issuer after the completion of the Domestication Merger, to:
North Atlantic Acquisition Corporation
c/o Reed Smith LLP
2850 N. Harwood St., Suite 1500
Dallas, TX 75201
Attention: Lynwood Reinhardt
Email: lreinhardt@reedsmith.com
with required copies (which copies shall not constitute notice) to:
c/o Reed Smith LLP
2850 N. Harwood St., Suite 1500
Dallas, TX 75201
Attention: Lynwood Reinhardt
Email: lreinhardt@reedsmith.com
8.12 This Subscription Agreement, and any claim or cause of action hereunder based upon, arising out of or related to this Subscription Agreement (whether based on law, in equity, in contract, in tort or any other theory) or the negotiation, execution, performance or enforcement of this Subscription Agreement, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.
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8.12.1 THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA LOCATED IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, SOLELY IN RESPECT OF THE INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT AND THE DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT AND IN RESPECT OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, AND HEREBY WAIVE, AND AGREE NOT TO ASSERT, AS A DEFENSE IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING FOR INTERPRETATION OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF OR ANY SUCH DOCUMENT THAT IS NOT SUBJECT THERETO OR THAT SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING MAY NOT BE BROUGHT OR IS NOT MAINTAINABLE IN SAID COURTS OR THAT VENUE THEREOF MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE OR THAT THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT OR ANY SUCH DOCUMENT MAY NOT BE ENFORCED IN OR BY SUCH COURTS, AND THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AGREE THAT ALL CLAIMS WITH RESPECT TO SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE HEARD AND DETERMINED BY SUCH A NEW YORK STATE OR FEDERAL COURT. THE PARTIES HEREBY CONSENT TO AND GRANT ANY SUCH COURT JURISDICTION OVER THE PERSON OF SUCH PARTIES AND OVER THE SUBJECT MATTER OF SUCH DISPUTE AND AGREE THAT MAILING OF PROCESS OR OTHER PAPERS IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING IN THE MANNER PROVIDED IN SECTION 8.11 OR IN SUCH OTHER MANNER AS MAY BE PERMITTED BY LAW SHALL BE VALID AND SUFFICIENT SERVICE THEREOF.
8.12.2 EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY THAT MAY ARISE UNDER THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) 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; (II) SUCH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (III) SUCH PARTY MAKES THE FOREGOING WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (IV) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVER AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 8.12.
8.13 The Issuer shall, by 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second business day immediately following the date of this Subscription Agreement, issue one or more press releases or file with the Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K (collectively, the “Disclosure Document”) disclosing all material terms of the transactions contemplated hereby, the Transactions and any other material, nonpublic information that the Issuer Parties have provided to Subscriber at any time prior to the filing of the Disclosure Document. From and after the issuance of the Disclosure Document, to the Issuer’s knowledge, Subscriber shall not be in possession of any material, nonpublic information received from the Issuer or any of its officers, directors or employees. Notwithstanding anything in this Subscription Agreement to the contrary, the Issuer shall not publicly disclose the name of Subscriber or any of its affiliates, or include the name of Subscriber or any of its affiliates, without the prior written consent of Subscriber, (i) in any press release (ii) or in any filing with the Commission or any regulatory agency or trading market, except (A) as required by the federal securities law in connection with the Registration Statement, or (B) to the extent such disclosure is required by law, at the request of the staff of the Commission or regulatory agency or under the regulations of Nasdaq or by any other governmental authority, in which case the Issuer shall provide Subscriber with prior written notice of such disclosure permitted under the foregoing clause (ii).
8.14 This Subscription Agreement may not be amended, modified, supplemented or waived except by an instrument in writing, signed by the party against whom enforcement of such amendment, modification, supplement or waiver is sought; provided that any rights (but not obligations) of a party under this Subscription Agreement may be waived, in whole or in part, by an instrument in writing, signed by the party against whom enforcement of such waiver is sought.
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8.15 No failure or delay by a party hereto in exercising any right, power or remedy under this Subscription Agreement, and no course of dealing between the parties hereto, shall operate as a waiver of any such right, power or remedy of such party. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy under this Subscription Agreement by a party hereto, nor any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce any such right, power or remedy, shall preclude such party from any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy hereunder. The election of any remedy by a party hereto shall not constitute a waiver of the right of such party to pursue other available remedies. No notice to or demand on a party not expressly required under this Subscription Agreement shall entitle the party receiving such notice or demand to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances or constitute a waiver of the rights of the party giving such notice or demand to any other or further action in any circumstances without such notice or demand.
8.16 The obligations of Subscriber under this Subscription Agreement are several and not joint with the obligations of any Other Subscriber or any other investor under the Other Subscription Agreements, and Subscriber shall not be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any Other Subscriber or other investor under the Other Subscription Agreements. The decision of Subscriber to purchase Acquired Shares pursuant to this Subscription Agreement has been made by Subscriber independently of any Other Subscriber or any other investor and independently of any information, materials, statements or opinions as to the business, affairs, operations, assets, properties, liabilities, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries that may have been made or given by any Other Subscriber or investor or by any agent or employee of any Other Subscriber or investor, and neither Subscriber nor any of its agents or employees shall have any liability to any Other Subscriber or investor (or any other person) relating to or arising from any such information, materials, statements or opinions. Nothing contained herein or in any Other Subscription Agreement, and no action taken by Subscriber or investor pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute Subscriber and Other Subscribers or other investors as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that Subscriber and Other Subscribers or other investors are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement and the Other Subscription Agreements. Subscriber acknowledges that no Other Subscriber has acted as agent for Subscriber in connection with making its investment hereunder and no Other Subscriber will be acting as agent of Subscriber in connection with monitoring its investment in the Acquired Shares or enforcing its rights under this Subscription Agreement. Subscriber shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation the rights arising out of this Subscription Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any Other Subscriber or investor to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.
8.17 If Subscriber is a Massachusetts Business Trust, a copy of the Declaration of Trust of Subscriber or any affiliate thereof is on file with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and notice is hereby given that the Subscription Agreement is executed on behalf of the trustees of Subscriber or any affiliate thereof as trustees and not individually and that the obligations of the Subscription Agreement are not binding on any of the trustees, officers or stockholders of Subscriber or any affiliate thereof individually but are binding only upon Subscriber or any affiliate thereof and its assets and property.
[Signature pages follow.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of NAAC, the Issuer, and Subscriber has executed or caused this Subscription Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized representative as of the date first written above.
NORTH ATLANTIC ACQUISITION CORP. | ||
By: | ||
Name: Gary Quin | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||
NAAC HOLDCO, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: Gary Quin | ||
Title: President |
Signature Page to
Subscription Agreement
SUBSCRIBER: | ||
Name of Subscriber: | ||
Signature of Subscriber: | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Name in which securities are to be registered | ||
(if different): | ||
Email Address: | ||
Subscriber’s EIN: _______________ | ||
Address: | ||
Attn: | ||
_______________________________ | ||
Telephone No.: | ||
__________________________ | ||
Facsimile No.: | ||
__________________________ | ||
Aggregate Number of Acquired Shares subscribed for: _________ | ||
Aggregate Purchase Price: $_________ |
You must pay the Purchase Price by wire transfer of U.S. dollars in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Issuer in the Closing Notice.
Signature Page to
Subscription Agreement
SCHEDULE A
ELIGIBILITY REPRESENTATIONS OF SUBSCRIBER
This Schedule must be completed by Subscriber and forms a part of the Subscription Agreement to which it is attached. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined in this Schedule have the meanings given to them in the Subscription Agreement. Subscriber must check the applicable box in either Part A or Part B below and the applicable box in Part C below.
A. | QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER STATUS |
(Please check the applicable subparagraphs):
¨ | Subscriber is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act (a “QIB”)). |
¨ | Subscriber is subscribing for the Acquired Shares as a fiduciary or agent for one or more investor accounts, and each owner of such accounts is a QIB. |
*** OR ***
B. | ACCREDITED INVESTOR STATUS |
(Please check the applicable subparagraphs):
Subscriber is an “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act) and has checked below the box(es) for the applicable provision under which Subscriber qualifies as such:
¨ | Subscriber is an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, corporation, Massachusetts or similar business trust, limited liability company or partnership not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities of the Issuer being offered in this offering, with total assets in excess of $5,000,000. |
¨ | Subscriber is a “private business development company” as defined in Section 202(a)(22) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. |
¨ | Subscriber is a “bank” as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act. |
¨ | Subscriber is a “savings and loan association” or other institution as defined in Section 3(a)(5)(A) of the Securities Act, whether acting in its individual or fiduciary capacity. |
¨ | Subscriber is a broker or dealer registered pursuant to Section 15 of the Exchange Act. |
¨ | Subscriber is an “insurance company” as defined in Section 2(a)(13) of the Securities Act. |
¨ | Subscriber is an investment adviser registered pursuant to Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or registered pursuant to the laws of a state. |
¨ | Subscriber is an investment adviser relying on the exemption from registering with the Commission under Section 203(l) or (m) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. |
¨ | Subscriber is an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940. |
¨ | Subscriber is a “business development company” as defined in Section 2(a)(48) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. |
¨ | Subscriber is a “Small Business Investment Company” licensed by the U.S. Small Business Administration under either Section 301(c) or (d) of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958. |
¨ | Subscriber is a “Rural Business Investment Company” as defined in Section 384A of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act. |
¨ | Subscriber is a plan established and maintained by a state, its political subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality of a state or its political subdivisions, for the benefit of its employees, and such plan has total assets in excess of $5,000,000. |
Schedule A-1
¨ | Subscriber is an employee benefit plan within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 if the investment decision is made by a plan fiduciary, as defined in Section 3(21) of such act, which is one of the following. | |
¨ | A bank; | |
¨ | A savings and loan association; | |
¨ | An insurance company; or | |
¨ | A registered investment adviser. | |
¨ | Subscriber is an employee benefit plan within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 with total assets in excess of $5,000,000. | |
¨ | Subscriber is an employee benefit plan within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 that is a self-directed plan with investment decisions made solely by persons that are accredited investors. | |
¨ | Subscriber is a trust with total assets in excess of $5,000,000, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered by the Issuer in this offering, whose purchase is directed by a sophisticated person as described in Rule 506(b)(2)(ii) under the Securities Act. |
¨ | Subscriber is an entity, including Indian tribes, governmental bodies, funds, and entities organized under the laws of foreign countries, that own “investments,” as defined in Rule 2a51-1(b) under the Investment Company Act, in excess of $5,000,000 and that was not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities of the Issuer being offered in this offering. |
¨ | Subscriber is a “family office,” as defined in rule 202(a)(11)(G)-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 that was not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities of the Issuer being offered in this offering, with total assets in excess of $5,000,000 and whose prospective investment is directed by a person who has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that such family office is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment. |
¨ | Subscriber is a “family client,” as defined in rule 202(a)(11)(G)-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (17 CFR 275.202(a)(11)(G)-1), of a family office meeting the requirements in paragraph (a)(12) of Rule 501(a) and whose prospective investment in the Issuer is directed by such family office pursuant to paragraph (a)(12)(iii) of Rule 501(a). |
*** AND ***
C. | AFFILIATE STATUS |
(Please check the applicable box)
SUBSCRIBER:
¨ | is: |
¨ | is not: |
an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of the Issuer or acting on behalf of an affiliate of the Issuer.
Schedule A-2
SCHEDULE B
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
This Subscription Assignment and Joinder Agreement (this “Assignment Agreement”), dated , 2021, is made and entered into by and between (“Subscriber”) and (“Assignee”) and acknowledged by North Atlantic Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“NAAC”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Subscription Agreement (as defined below).
WHEREAS, NAAC and Subscriber entered into that certain Subscription Agreement (the “Subscription Agreement”), dated , 2021, pursuant to which Subscriber agreed to subscribe for and purchase the Issuer’s Common Shares (the “Acquired Shares”) and NAAC has agreed that the Issuer shall issue and sell to Subscriber such Acquired Shares;
WHEREAS, Subscriber and Assignee are affiliated investment funds; and
WHEREAS, for administrative reasons, Subscriber desires to assign its rights to subscribe for and purchase of the Acquired Shares along with the rights and obligations set forth in the Subscription Agreement of such Acquired Shares (the “Assigned Shares”) to Assignee.
NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to Section 8.3 of the Subscription Agreement, and as further described in the table below, Subscriber hereby assigns its rights to subscribe for and purchase the Assigned Shares to Assignee and Assignee hereby (i) accepts the rights to subscribe for and purchase the Assigned Shares and agrees to be bound by and subject to the terms and conditions of the Subscription Agreement, (ii) expressly makes the representations and warranties in Section 4 of the Subscription Agreement with respect to the Assigned Shares and (iii) completed Schedule A to the Subscription Agreement and attached it hereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Assignment Agreement shall not relieve Subscriber of any of its obligations under the Subscription Agreement.
The following assignment by Subscriber to Assignee of its rights to subscribe for and purchase all or a portion of the Acquired Shares have been made:
Date of
Assignment |
Subscriber | Assignee |
Number of
Acquired Shares Assigned |
Subscriber Revised
Subscription Amount |
Assignee
Subscription Amount |
|||||
[Signature Page Follows]
Schedule B-1
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Subscription Assignment and Joinder Agreement has been executed by Subscriber and Assignee acknowledged by NAAC by its duly authorized representative as of the date set forth above.
SUBSCRIBER | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
ASSIGNEE | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
Assignee’s EIN: _______________ | ||
Address: | ||
Attn: | ||
_______________________________ |
Acknowledgement by NAAC: | ||
NORTH ATLANTIC ACQUISITION CORPORATION | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
[Signature Page to Assignment]
Schedule B-2
Exhibit 10.4
FORM OF STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT
THIS STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT (as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, this “Stockholders Agreement”), dated as of [●], 2022, is made by and among (i) NAAC Holdco, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“New Holdco”); (ii) BICS SA, a Belgian limited liability company (société anonyme) (“Seller”); (iii) NAAC Sponsor LP, a Delaware series limited partnership (the “Sponsor”) and (iv) SFPI SA d’intérêt public / FPIM NV van openbaar nut, a limited liability company of public interest organized and existing under the laws of Belgium (“FPIM”). Each of New Holdco, Seller, Sponsor and FPIM may be referred to herein as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”.
Whereas:
(A) | on December 16, 2021, Seller, Torino Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation, North Atlantic Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company, North Atlantic Acquisition, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and New Holdco are entering into that certain Business Combination Agreement (as amended and/or restated from time to time, the “BCA”), providing for the business combination transactions set forth therein; |
(B) | as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the BCA, Seller, Sponsor and FPIM became stockholders of New Holdco; and |
(C) | the Parties desire to set forth their agreement with respect to governance and certain other matters relating to New Holdco, in each case, as set forth in, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of, this Stockholders Agreement. |
Now, therefore, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained in this Stockholders Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
1 | Definitions |
1.1 | Capitalized terms used herein shall have the respective meanings given to them in this Agreement, or if not defined herein, as set forth in the BCA. |
1.2 | As used herein, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below: |
“BCA” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Board” means the board of directors of New Holdco.
“Bylaws” means the bylaws of New Holdco, as in effect on the Effective Date, and as the same may be amended from time to time.
“CEO Director” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.1.
“Certificate of Incorporation” means the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of New Holdco, as in effect as and from the Closing, and as the same may be amended from time to time.
“Director” means a member of the Board.
“Disqualified Person” means any individual prohibited or disqualified from serving as a Director of New Holdco pursuant to (i) rules or regulations of the SEC, (ii) rules of the securities exchange on which New Holdco’s securities are listed or (iii) applicable Law.
“Equity Securities” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any shares of capital or capital stock, partnership, membership, joint venture or similar interest, or other voting securities of, or other ownership interest in, such Person, (ii) any securities of such Person convertible into or exchangeable for cash or shares of capital or capital stock or other voting securities of, or other ownership interests in, such Person, (iii) any warrants, calls, options or other rights to acquire from such Person, or other obligations of such Person to issue, any shares of capital or capital stock or other voting securities of, or other ownership interests in, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital or capital stock or other voting securities of, or other ownership interests in, such Person, and (iv) any restricted shares, stock appreciation rights, restricted units, performance units, contingent value rights, “phantom” stock or similar securities or rights issued by or with the approval of such Person that are derivative of, or provide economic benefits based, directly or indirectly, on the value or price of, any shares of capital or capital stock or other voting securities of, other ownership interests in, or any business, products or assets of, such Person.
“FPIM” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“FPIM Designee” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.4.
“Independent Director” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.5.
“Investor Party” means any Party other than New Holdco.
“Necessary Action” means, with respect to any Party and a specified result, all actions (to the extent such actions are not prohibited by applicable Law and are within such Party’s control, and in the case of any action that requires a vote or other action on the part of the Board to the extent such action is not inconsistent with fiduciary duties that New Holdco’s directors may have in such capacity) necessary to cause such result, including (i) calling special meetings of stockholders, (ii) voting or providing a written consent or proxy, if applicable in each case, with respect to shares of New Holdco Common Stock, (iii) causing the adoption of stockholders’ resolutions and amendments to the Organizational Documents, (iv) executing agreements and instruments, (v) making, or causing to be made, with Governmental Authorities, all filings, registrations or similar actions that are required to achieve such result and (vi) nominating or appointing certain Persons (including to fill vacancies), and providing the highest level of support for election of such Persons to the Board in connection with the annual or special meeting of stockholders of New Holdco.
“New Holdco” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Organizational Documents” means the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and any other similar organizational documents of New Holdco.
“”Permitted Transferees” has the meaning given such term in Exhibit C to the BCA (Form of Registration Rights Agreement).
“Party” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
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“Seller” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Seller Designee” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.2.
“Sponsor” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Sponsor Designee” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.3.
“Stockholders Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Transaction Agreements” has the meaning given to such term in the BCA.
2 | Governance |
2.1 | Board Composition |
Subject to the other provisions of this Section 2, each Party agrees, severally and not jointly, to take all Necessary Action to cause the Board as of the Closing to be comprised of eight (8) Directors designated in accordance with this Section 2, as follows:
2.1.1 | the individual serving as the Chief Executive Officer of New Holdco (the “CEO Director”); |
2.1.2 | two (2) individuals designated by Seller in its sole discretion (each, a “Seller Designee”), provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, no Seller Designee need be an Independent Director; |
2.1.3 | one (1) individual designated by the Sponsor in its sole discretion (the “Sponsor Designee”); |
2.1.4 | one (1) individual designated by FPIM in its sole discretion (the “FPIM Designee”), provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, no FPIM Designee need be an Independent Director; and |
2.1.5 | three (3) individuals who satisfy the requirements necessary for such individual to be “independent” in accordance with the rules and regulations governing companies listed on the Nasdaq, including Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605 regarding independence, and the SEC rules regarding audit committee independence, designated by Seller in its sole discretion (each, an “Independent Director”). |
2.2 | Directors Designation |
Seller, Sponsor and FPIM shall, at or promptly following the Closing, notify New Holdco of the respective Directors they are entitled to designate pursuant to Section 2.1.
2.3 | Removal; Vacancies |
Prior to the termination date of this Stockholders Agreement in accordance with Section 3.3:
2.3.1 | each Party agrees not to take action to remove any Director designee of another Party from office unless such removal is for cause in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws; and |
2.3.2 | each Investor Party may designate designees for election or appointment, as applicable, to the Board to fill vacancies created by reason of death, removal or resignation of such Investor Party’s designees to the Board, and New Holdco shall take all Necessary Action to nominate or cause the Board to appoint, as applicable, replacement designees designated by the applicable Party to fill any such vacancies created pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above as promptly as practicable after such designation (and in any event prior to the next meeting or action of the Board or applicable committee). |
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2.4 | Review of Designees |
Any Director designee of an Investor Party shall be subject to customary due diligence process, including a review of a completed questionnaire and a background check. Based on the foregoing, New HoldCo may reasonably object to any such designee within fifteen (15) days of receiving such completed questionnaire, (i) provided it does so in good faith and (ii) solely to the extent such objection is based upon any of the following: (1) such designee was convicted in a criminal proceeding or is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding misdemeanors, traffic violations and other minor offenses); (2) such designee was the subject of any order, judgment or decree not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining such proposed director from, or otherwise limiting, the following activities: (A) engaging in any type of business practice, or (B) engaging in any activity in connection with the purchase or sale of any security or in connection with any violation of federal securities laws; (3) such designee was the subject of any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any federal authority barring, suspending or otherwise limiting for more than sixty (60) days the right of such person to engage in any activity described in clause (2)(B), or to be associated with persons engaged in such activity; (4) such designee was found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the SEC to have violated any federal securities law, and the judgment in such civil action or finding by the SEC has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated; or (5) such designee was the subject of, or a party to, any federal judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree or finding, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, relating to a violation of any federal securities laws or regulations. In the event the Board reasonably finds any such designee to be unsuitable based upon one or more of the foregoing clauses (1) through (5) and reasonably objects to such designee, the applicable Investor Party shall be entitled to propose a different designee to the Board within thirty (30) days of New Holdco’s notice to such Party of its objection to such designee and such replacement designee shall be subject to the review process outlined in this Section 2.4. No Party will designate a Disqualified Person and, if any designee of an Investor Party becomes a Disqualified Person, such designating Investor Party shall take all Necessary Action to cause such Director to tender his or her resignation or be removed immediately.
2.5 | Restrictions on Other Agreements |
No Party shall grant any proxy or enter into or agree to be bound by any voting trust, agreement or arrangement of any kind with any Person with respect to the Equity Securities of New Holdco owned by such Party if and to the extent the terms thereof conflict with the provisions of this Stockholders Agreement.
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3 | General Provisions |
3.1 | Incorporation of Terms |
Sections 1.2 (Construction), 10.3 (Severability), 10.4 (Entire Agreement, Assignment), 10.6 (Governing Law), 10.8 (Headings), 10.9 (Counterparts), 10.10 (Specific Performance) and 10.11 (No Recourse) of the BCA are hereby incorporated by reference, mutatis mutandis.
3.2 | Assignment; Successors and Assigns |
3.2.1 | No Party may assign, directly or indirectly, such Party’s rights and obligations under this Stockholders Agreement, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the other Parties. Any attempted assignment of rights or obligations in violation of this Section 3.2.1 shall be null and void. |
3.2.2 | This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each Party, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement. |
3.3 | Termination |
This Stockholders Agreement shall terminate automatically (without any action by any Party):
3.3.1 | with respect to the Sponsor, on the date that is the earlier of (a) the date that is three years following the date of this Stockholders Agreement, (b) the date on which the Sponsor owns less than 50% of the number of New HoldCo Common Stock it held immediately following Closing and (c) the date on which the Seller and its Permitted Transferees own less than 50% of the number of New HoldCo Common Stock held by Seller immediately following Closing; |
3.3.2 | with respect to FPIM, on the date that is the earlier of (a) the date that is five years following the date of this Stockholders Agreement, (b) the date on which FPIM owns less than 50% of the number of New HoldCo Common Stock it held immediately following Closing and (c) the date on which the Seller and its Permitted Transferees own less than 50% of the number of New HoldCo Common Stock held by Seller immediately following Closing; |
3.3.3 | with respect to each of New Holdco and Seller, on the date that is the earlier of (a) the date on which this Stockholders Agreement has been terminated with respect to both of Sponsor and FPIM in accordance with Section 3.3.1 and Section 3.3.2, respectively and (b) the date on which the Seller and its Permitted Transferees own less than 50% of the number of New HoldCo Common Stock held by Seller immediately following Closing. |
3.4 | Waiver of Jury Trial |
EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS. EACH OF THE PARTIES (A) CERTIFIES THAT 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 THAT FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 3.4.
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3.5 | Amendments; No Waiver |
3.5.1 | No provision of this Stockholders Agreement may be amended or modified in whole or in part at any time without the express written consent of each party hereto; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, the consent of a party as to which this Stockholders Agreement has terminated pursuant to Section 3.3 shall not be required for any such amendment or modification after the date of such termination. |
3.5.2 | No waiver of any provision or default under, nor consent to any exception to, the terms of this Stockholders Agreement shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the Party to be bound and then only to the specific purpose, extent and instance so provided. |
3.6 | 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 upon receipt) by delivery in person, by email or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 3.6):
if to New Holdco or Seller:
BICS SA
Boulevard du Roi Albert II 27- 1030
Bruxelles, Belgium
Attention: Guillaume Boutin
Email: guillaume.boutin@proximus.com
with a copy to:
Linklaters LLP
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104
Attention: Jeffrey Cohen; Peter Cohen-Millstein
Email: jeffrey.cohen@linklaters.com; peter.cohen-millstein@linklaters.com
and
Linklaters LLP
Rue Brederode 13, 1000
Brussels, Belgium
Attention: An-Sofie Van Hootegem; Eric Pottier
Email: ansofie.vanhootegem@linklaters.com; eric.pottier@linklaters.com
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if to Sponsor:
North Atlantic Acquisition Corporation
c/o Reed Smith LLP
2850 N. Harwood Street, Suite 1500
Dallas, TX 75201
Attention: Lynwood Reinhardt
Email: lreinhardt@reedsmith.com
with a copy to:
Reed Smith LLP
2850 N. Harwood Street, Suite 1500
Dallas, TX 75201
Attention: Lynwood Reinhardt
Email: lreinhardt@reedsmith.com
and a copy to:
McDermott Will & Emery LLP
One Vanderbilt Ave.
New York, NY 10017
Attention: Ari Edelman
Email: AEdelman@mwe.com
if to FPIM:
Federal Holding and Investment Company / Federale Participatie- en Investeringsmaatschappij / Société Fédérale de Participations et d'Investissement (SFPI/FPIM)
Avenue Louise-Louizalaan, 32 b4
1050 Brussels
Belgium
Attention: Jos Callens
E-mail: j.callens@SFPI-FPIM.be
with a copy to:
Clifford Chance LLP
Avenue Louise 65, box 2
1050 Brussels
Belgium
Attention: Xavier Rémy
E-mail: Xavier.Remy@CliffordChance.com
3.7 | Representations and Warranties of the Parties |
Each of the Parties hereby represents and warrants to each of the other Parties as follows:
3.7.1 | Such Party, to the extent applicable, is duly organized, formed or incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, formation or incorporation and has all requisite power and authority to conduct its business as it is now being conducted and is proposed to be conducted. |
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3.7.2 | Such Party has the full power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform this Stockholders Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance of this Stockholders Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action, corporate or otherwise, of such Party. This Stockholders Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Party and constitutes its, his or her legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it, him or her in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally. |
3.7.3 | The execution and delivery by such Party of this Stockholders Agreement, the performance by such Party of its, his or her obligations hereunder by such Party does not and will not violate (i) any provision of its by-laws, charter, articles of association, partnership agreement or other similar organizational document, (ii) any provision of any material agreement to which it is a Party or by which it is bound or (iii) any law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree to which it is subject. |
3.7.4 | Such Party is not currently in violation of any law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree, which violation could reasonably be expected at any time to have a material adverse effect upon such Party’s ability to enter into this Stockholders Agreement or to perform its, his or her obligations hereunder. |
3.7.5 | There is no pending legal action, suit or proceeding that would materially and adversely affect the ability of such Party to enter into this Stockholders Agreement or to perform its, his or her obligations hereunder. |
3.8 | Expenses |
All expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement shall be paid by the Party incurring such expenses.
3.9 | Further Assurances |
Without limiting anything contained elsewhere in this Stockholders Agreement, at any time or from time to time after the date hereof, the Parties agree to cooperate with each other, and at the request of any other Party, to execute and deliver any further instruments or documents and to take all such further action as any other Party may reasonably request in order to evidence or effectuate the provisions of this Stockholders Agreement and to otherwise carry out the intent of the Parties hereunder.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties has duly executed this Stockholders Agreement as of the Effective Date.
NAAC HOLDCO, INC. | ||
By | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
BICS SA | ||
By | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
NAAC SPONSOR LP | ||
By | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
SFPI SA D’INTÉRÊT PUBLIC / FPIM NV VAN OPENBAAR NUT | ||
By | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
By | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
[Signature page to the Stockholders Agreement]
Exhibit 99.1
TeleSign and North Atlantic Acquisition Corporation
Announce Business Combination and Intent To Go Public
TeleSign, a Leader in Digital Identity and CPaaS Software Solutions for Global Enterprises, Intends to go Public at an Enterprise Value of $1.3 Billion via a Business Combination with North Atlantic Acquisition Corporation
Total capital raised to be up to approximately $487 million including proceeds from North Atlantic Acquisition Corporation and a $107.5 million PIPE
NEW YORK, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --
· | TeleSign is a pioneer and leader in connecting, protecting and defending the world's leading brands and their customers as they engage in the digital economy. TeleSign does this via its unique software platform developed over 15 years and continually enhanced via its machine learning algorithm |
· | TeleSign intends to go public via a business combination with North Atlantic Acquisition Corporation (Nasdaq: NAAC), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), with $380 million in trust |
· | TeleSign has also secured $107.5 million in Private Investment in Public Equity (PIPE) financing from a group of investors including SFPI-FPIM as a key investor |
· | With this transaction, TeleSign expects to accelerate its investment and fund its growth. TeleSign is expecting to generate revenues of $391 million in 2021 with an expected increase to approximately $1.1 billion in 2026 |
· | The transaction implies a pro forma enterprise value of approximately $1.3 billion for TeleSign |
· | The transaction is expected to close in Q2 of 2022 subject to SEC review, regulatory and NAAC shareholder approvals and other customary closing conditions |
· | Investor presentation and management remarks to be posted at 4:15 p.m. EST on December 16th, 2021 on the TeleSign investor page, www.telesign.com/investor |
North Atlantic Acquisition Corporation ("NAAC") (NASDAQ: NAAC), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company ("SPAC"), with $380 million in trust, today announces that it has entered into a definitive business combination agreement with TeleSign ("Telesign" or "the Company"), an industry pioneer with more than 15 years of operating history of connecting, protecting, and defending the world's leading brands and their customers as they engage in the digital economy. Upon closing of the transaction, the company will be named TeleSign, Inc., and shares of TeleSign's common stock are expected to trade on Nasdaq.
Founded in 2005, TeleSign provides solutions for security, authentication, fraud detection, compliance and reputation scoring through its easy-to-integrate APIs, combining digital identity with global communications capabilities to help enterprises connect, protect and engage with their customers, while assisting those customers in securely engaging with their preferred digital platforms. TeleSign is a trusted partner to global enterprises including eight of the 10 world's largest digital enterprises, providing services in virtually every country in the world.[1] TeleSign processes 21 billion transactions per year based on a proprietary behavior model with over 2,200 variables which provides accurate results instantaneously.
With today's transaction, TeleSign aims to accelerate its investment to further reinforce its position as a digital identity provider as well as build out its international organization. Beyond that, TeleSign intends to target new customer segments, including mid-market and SMB, and develop new use cases to expand its identity offering. TeleSign estimates its total addressable market will grow from $18 billion in 2019 to approximately $55 billion by 2024, a 24 percent compound annual growth rate.[2]
TeleSign has recorded an organic 42% compound annual revenue growth rate since 2018, driven by its state of the art technology platform and long-standing blue-chip customer base. For fiscal year 2021, TeleSign anticipates revenues of $391 million and is targeting revenues of approximately $1.1 billion in 2026.
Proximus Group, a leading European telecoms company, acquired TeleSign in 2017 through its then majority-owned subsidiary BICS. Since February 2021, Proximus has had sole ownership of TeleSign and helped the company in scaling globally, developing its industry leading digital identity access platform.
NAAC raised gross proceeds of approximately $380 million and listed on Nasdaq in January 2021, with the aim to combine with a leading corporate with global ambition. NAAC targeted opportunities in the technology sector in Europe and North America, and is delighted to achieve the signing of this transaction within one year of its listing on Nasdaq. The CEO of NAAC, Gary Quin, will join the board of the new combined company. Gary is an experienced TMT executive, having served in numerous senior roles at leading financial, corporate and public sector institutions. The company believes Gary's experience and background will be very valuable to the board.
"TeleSign empowers companies to transact, communicate and engage with their customers safely and securely. Building and maintaining continuous trust is our commitment to making the digital economy possible," said Joe Burton, CEO of TeleSign. "This transaction will allow us to increase our global trajectory and deliver our solutions where they are needed the most."
"The global digital economy has never been more integral to people's lives than today, and for it to expand, transactions of all kinds need to remain fast, safe and reliable," said Gary Quin, CEO of NAAC. "From fraud management, authentication and access management to secure CPaaS, TeleSign is a leader in these critical areas. This is a great business combination, and by facilitating TeleSign's intended introduction to public equity markets we can accelerate its next phase of growth, addressing the underserved digital identity and engagement space. This combination fits perfectly with our stated objectives and I look forward to serving on the board of the combined operating entity and partnering with the teams at TeleSign and Proximus."
"Since its integration in the Proximus Group, TeleSign has evolved quickly to become a leading player in secure authentication and digital identity, and a trusted partner for many of the world's most renowned brands," said Guillaume Boutin, CEO of Proximus. "I am convinced that a public market listing is the most logical route to leverage TeleSign's full potential and create additional value for Proximus shareholders. More broadly, I believe that, thanks to the unique characteristic of a global asset as part of a locally anchored group, Proximus Group can act as an accelerator of Belgium's digital agenda, generating attractive opportunities for local talent and bringing Belgium into a globally leading position in integrated digital identity. I have full confidence in Joe and his team to guide TeleSign to the next level on its impressive growth track."
Transaction Overview
The transaction implies a pro forma TeleSign enterprise value of $1.3 billion. It is estimated that post-transaction, TeleSign will have approximately $437 million in net cash on the balance sheet (assuming no redemptions of the ordinary shares held by NAAC's shareholders and after transaction expenses). This includes a fully committed PIPE of $107.5 million from a group of investors including SFPI-FPIM as a key investor, to fund TeleSign's growth plans. Proximus Group is not selling any of its shares in the transaction and will own 66.5 percent of the combined company upon completion of the transaction (assuming no redemptions of the ordinary shares held by NAAC's shareholders).
The transaction, which has been approved by the boards of directors of TeleSign, Proximus Group and NAAC, is expected to close in Q2 2022, subject to, among other things, SEC review, approval of NAAC shareholders and regulatory approvals, and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. As part of the agreement, NAAC has agreed to relocate its country of incorporation to the US (Delaware), a firm condition which will be fully executed in conjunction with the closing of the transaction.
Upon closing, the combined operating entity will be renamed as "TeleSign, Inc." and will continue to be led by Mr. Burton as CEO, along with his experienced management team.
Investor Presentation
A copy of the investor presentation can be found by accessing the TeleSign Investor Page, www.telesign.com/investors.
Advisors
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC ("Morgan Stanley") acted as sole financial advisor to Proximus. Lazard acted as lead financial and capital markets advisor to NAAC. Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a division of J.V.B. Financial Group LLC ("Cohen"), and BTIG LLC acted as capital markets advisors to NAAC. Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC ("J.P. Morgan") acted as lead placement agents for NAAC with respect to a portion of the PIPE financing raised from certain Qualified Institution Buyers and Institutional "Accredited Investors". Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan did not act as placement agents or participate in any role with respect to, and will not earn any fees from, the portion of the PIPE financing which was conducted by Proximus. Cohen also acted as placement agent for NAAC in connection with a portion of the PIPE financing. Blueshirt Capital Advisors is also serving as an investor relations advisor to TeleSign.
Reed Smith LLP and McDermott Will & Emery LLP acted as legal counsel to NAAC. Sidley Austin LLP acted as legal counsel to Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan in connection with the PIPE financing. Linklaters LLP acted as legal counsel to Proximus Group.
*All 2021 projections in this press release are taken from the investor presentation being filed by NAAC today with the SEC as an exhibit to its current report on Form 8-K which will be available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Those projections are subject to the limitations contained in such presentation and in this press release. See "Forward-Looking Statements" below.
Additional Information about the Business Combination and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed business combination, an affiliate of TeleSign ("NewCo") will file a registration statement on Form S-4 (the "Form S-4") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The Form S-4 will include a proxy statement of NAAC and a prospectus of TeleSign, referred to as a proxy statement/prospectus. The proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to all NAAC shareholders. Additionally, NewCo and NAAC will file other relevant materials with the SEC in connection with the proposed business combination. Copies of the Form S-4, the proxy statement/prospectus and all other relevant materials filed or that will be filed with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Before making any voting or investment decision, investors and security holders of NAAC are urged to read the Form S-4, the proxy statement/prospectus and all other relevant materials filed or that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed business combination because they will contain important information about the proposed business combination and the parties to the proposed business combination.
Participants in Solicitation
Proximus, BICS, NAAC and TeleSign and their respective directors and executive officers, under SEC rules, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of NAAC's stockholders in connection with the proposed business combination. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names and interests in the proposed business combination of NAAC's directors and officers in NAAC's filings with the SEC, including NAAC's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 (the "Form 10-K") and NAAC's initial public offering prospectus, which was filed with the SEC on January 21, 2021, and NAAC's subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. To the extent that holdings of NAAC's securities by NAAC's insiders have changed from the amounts reported therein, any such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies to NAAC's shareholders in connection with the business combination will be included in the proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed business combination when it becomes available. You may obtain free copies of these documents as described in the preceding paragraph.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication shall not constitute a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed business combination. This communication shall also not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of NAAC or TeleSign, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the proposed business combination between NAAC and TeleSign. Words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believe," "predict," "potential," "continue," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "would," "seem," "seek," "outlook" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this communication. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by an investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, TeleSign's and NAAC's expectations with respect to anticipated financial impacts of the proposed business combination, the satisfaction of closing conditions to the proposed business combination, and the timing of the completion of the proposed business combination. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of NAAC's Form 10-K and initial public offering prospectus, and its subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. In addition, there will be risks and uncertainties described in the Form S-4 and other documents filed by NAAC or NewCo from time to time with the SEC. These filings would identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Many of these factors are outside TeleSign's and NAAC's control and are difficult to predict. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ from the forward-looking statements in this communication, including but not limited to: (1) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against NAAC or TeleSign following the announcement of the proposed business combination; (2) the inability to complete the proposed business combination, including due to the inability to concurrently close the business combination and related transactions, including the private placement of common stock or due to failure to obtain approval of the shareholders of NAAC; (3) the risk that the proposed business combination may not be completed by NAAC's business combination deadline and the potential failure to obtain an extension of the business combination deadline if sought by NAAC; (4) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the proposed business combination, including the approval by the shareholders of NAAC, the satisfaction of the minimum cash requirement following any redemptions by NAAC's public shareholders and the receipt of certain governmental and regulatory approvals; (5) delays in obtaining, adverse conditions contained in, or the inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals or complete regulatory reviews required to complete the proposed business combination; (6) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the business combination agreement; (7) volatility in the price of NAAC's or TeleSign's securities; (8) the risk that the proposed business combination disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the announcement and consummation of the business combination; (9) the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain key employees; (10) costs related to the proposed business combination; (11) changes in the applicable laws or regulations; (12) the possibility that the combined company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (13) the risk of downturns and a changing regulatory landscape in the highly competitive industry in which TeleSign operates; (14) the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic; (15) the potential inability of TeleSign to raise additional capital needed to pursue its business objectives or to achieve efficiencies regarding other costs; (16) the enforceability of TeleSign's intellectual property, including its patents, and the potential infringement on the intellectual property rights of others, cyber security risks or potential breaches of data security; and (17) other risks and uncertainties described in NAAC's Annual Report, its initial public offering prospectus, and its subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These risks and uncertainties may be amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused significant economic uncertainty. TeleSign and NAAC caution that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive or exhaustive and not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, including projections, which speak only as of the date made. Neither TeleSign nor NAAC gives any assurance that TeleSign or NAAC will achieve its expectations. None of TeleSign or NAAC undertakes or accepts any obligation to publicly provide revisions or updates to any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, or should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws.
About TeleSign
TeleSign provides continuous trust to leading global enterprises by connecting, protecting and proactively defending their digital identities. TeleSign verifies over five billion unique phone numbers a month, representing half of the world's mobile users, and provides critical insight into the remaining billions. The company's powerful AI and extensive data science deliver identity with a unique combination of speed, accuracy and global reach. TeleSign solutions prevent fraud, secure communications and enable the digital economy by allowing companies and customers to engage with confidence. Learn more at www.telesign.com and follow us on Twitter at @TeleSign.
About NAAC
NAAC is a blank check company, also commonly referred to as a SPAC, formed for the purpose of effecting a business combination with a company with global ambition, with a primary focus on the consumer, industrials and TMT sectors in Europe or North America, where its Board of Directors has multiple decades of experience.
About Proximus
Proximus Group (Euronext Brussels: PROX) is a provider of digital services and communication solutions operating in the Belgian and international markets. Delivering communication and entertainment experiences for residential consumers and enabling digital transformation for enterprises, we open up a world of digital opportunities, so people live better and work smarter. Thanks to advanced interconnected fixed and mobile networks, Proximus provides access anywhere and anytime to digital services and data, as well as to a broad offering of multimedia content. Proximus is a pioneer in ICT innovation, with integrated solutions based on IoT, data analytics, cloud and security.
Proximus has the ambition to become the reference operator in Europe through next generation networks, a truly digital mindset and a spirit of openness towards partnerships and ecosystems, while contributing to a safe, sustainable, inclusive and prosperous digital Belgium.
In Belgium, Proximus' core products and services are offered under the Proximus, Mobile Vikings and Scarlet brands. The Group is also active in Luxembourg as Proximus Luxembourg SA, under the brand names Tango and Telindus Luxembourg, and in the Netherlands through Telindus Netherlands. The Group's international carrier activities are managed by BICS, a leading international communications enabler, one of the key global voice carriers and the leading provider of mobile data services worldwide. With TeleSign, the Group also encompasses a fast-growing leader in digital identity services, serving the world's largest internet brands, digital champions and cloud native businesses.
With 11,423 employees, all engaged to offer customers a superior experience, the Group realized an underlying Group revenue of 5,479 million Euros end-2020.
For more information, visit www.proximus.com and www.proximus.be
Proximus Contacts
Media Contact:
Fabrice Gansbeke
fabrice.gansbeke@proximus.com
Haroun Fenaux
haroun.fenaux@proximus.com
Investor Relations Contact:
Nancy Goossens
nancy.goossens@proximus.com
TeleSign Contacts
Media Contact:
Kristi Melani
kmelani@telesign.com
Exhibit 99.2
TeleSign Transcript
Max Forgan - Blueshirt Group
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen and welcome to North Atlantic Acquisition Corp and TeleSign's investor call regarding the recently announced merger agreement. We appreciate everyone's time and I would note that management will not be taking questions following the presentation. Before I turn it over to management, I would like to remind everyone of the safe harbor language that governs today's presentation. Specifically, the information discussed today is qualified in its entirety by the form 8-K that has been filed today by North Atlantic Acquisition Corp, and may be access on the SEC website, including the exhibits. There is an investor presentation that has been filed by North Atlantic Acquisition Corp with the SEC and that will be helpful to reference in conjunction with today's discussion. Please review the disclaimers included therein and refer to that as the guide for today's call. Statements made during this call that are not statements of historical facts constitute forward looking statements that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results to differ from historical results and or from our forecast. These risks uncertainties and other factors include those set forth in the form 8-K, filed today by North Atlantic Acquisition Corp with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the exhibits there too. For more information, please refer to the risks, uncertainties, and other factors discussed in the North Atlantic Acquisition Corp's SEC filings. All cautionary statements that we make during are applicable to any forward looking statements we make whenever they appear. You should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties, and other factors discussed in the SEC filings should not place undue reliance on forward looking statements which we assume no responsibility for updating. With that, let me turn it over to Gary Quinn, CEO of North Atlantic Acquisition Corp, who will start the presentation.
Gary Quin - CEO NAAC 02:07
Welcome to our presentation today which will bring you up to speed on the amazing opportunity which is the proposed merger between North Atlantic Acquisition Corp and Telesign. Today you will hear from TeleSign CEO Joe Burton, TeleSign CFO Thomas Dhondt, as well as myself, Gary Quin, CEO of North Atlantic. Let me give you a quick overview of North Atlantic. We put NAAC together to bring North American capital to ambitious growth opportunities, within European nexus. My background was originally in TMT, and I was a senior advisor to Blackstone in TMT as well as Vice Chairman of Credit Suisse in Europe, covering the same sector. Other members of our team have blue chip backgrounds, as global vice chairman of Procter and Gamble, president of Diageo, as well as private equity and investment banking. With over 180 years of cumulative team experience in blue chip organizations, we intended raising $300 million in our IPO in Q1 this year, but we upsize that to $380 million given over $3 billion in demand. It is proposed that I will join the board of TeleSign post combination. TeleSign is the secret sauce behind many situations that you deal with daily. When you log into Tik Tok using two factor authentication, you're using TeleSign. When you need to reset your password on Alibaba, and you're sent a one time passcode you're using TeleSign. When your food is being delivered, and you message the driver, you're using TeleSign. And anytime I log into various websites, I now understand that TeleSign is working in the background to keep my family safe. I wasn't aware how much I use
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TeleSign until last week, we counted it up. In my family, we are using TeleSign up to 12 times a day across multiple platforms. It is ubiquitous. So we are hugely excited about this opportunity with TeleSign. TeleSign is an industry pioneer with over 15 years of growth in an attractive market, benefiting from tremendous tailwinds not withstanding the recent global growth in e-commerce and associated need for security. TeleSign is connected to over 50% of all mobile users across the globe and has 15 years have historical data patterns, feeding machine learning algorithms. This is a huge differentiator. TeleSign has a state of the art technology stack and a unique data platform, as well as long standing blue chip customer relationships, which is helping TeleSign's international growth, as these blue chip organizations expand globally as well. Moreover, Telesign's organic growth of 42% since 2018, combined with excellent consolidation opportunities makes this a hugely exciting opportunity. So the proposed transaction is a business combination between TeleSign Corporation and North Atlantic Acquisition Corporation. This is expected to close in Q1 early Q2 2022. NAAC is a NASDAQ listed SPAC with $380 million in trust and has a 33.3% warrant structure. The proposed enterprise value of TeleSign is $1.3 billion which implies an enterprise value of 2.2 times 2023 revenue. It is expected that PIPE investors will commit $107.5 million. Proximus group, the current parent of TeleSign will have a 67% Proforma ownership of the merged entity post transaction. There is a minimum cash condition $200 million. NAAC and Proximus have agreed to a 12 month lockup of their shares. Additionally, PIPE investors will receive 10% of sponsored promote as part of their participation in the PIPE. With that, I will hand you over to Joe Burton, CEO of TeleSign.
Joe Burton - CEO TeleSign 06:52
Thanks, Gary, I'll give a brief overview of TeleSign’s business. First, who we are. At Telesign, we believe trust is the currency of today's digital economy. With more than 5 billion people conducting their lives online, social networking to gaming, education, entertainment, paying their bills or enterprises interacting with millions of customers, the stakes have never been higher. TeleSign helps connect, protect and defend enterprises and their customers from bad actors, scams and hackers. So we can have a safe, trusted human experience anywhere in the world online. And we're already off to a great start. telesign offers solutions across the full spectrum of end user account security, communications and engagement. We have a global footprint. We have customers in over 60 countries across the world. 21% of our revenue currently comes from companies outside the United States, eight of the 10 most valuable companies on the internet are already scaled customers of TeleSign. Along with hundreds of other enterprises. We're doing about 21 billion annual verify transactions per year. This year, we'll end with about $390 million in annual revenue with a 42% revenue compound annual growth rate and a profitable business model. So the reason this happens is because digital transformation is everywhere and continues to accelerate. As banking, travel, education, entertainment and business all consolidate online and increasingly to the mobile device. Unfortunately, the cybersecurity challenges move in as well. A lack of identity data, fraud, trust and security issues, difficulty reaching end users, operational risks and more. TeleSign is here to sort it out and make the digital economy safe and trustworthy for everyone. We believe to do that requires a posture of continuous trust. TeleSign does this in many ways. We have lots of products, but we feel like our big four use cases are the one listed on this slide. Anytime an enterprise and a consumer want to form a relationship online, it starts with in the lower left onboarding. We have to be able to quickly create a consumer account with the enterprise and yet have it be extremely safe. We got to be sure that the person is really who they're supposed to be, that it's not a bot, a hacker or some other identity takeover, and yet keep it very simple. TeleSign
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has unique solutions to make that happen once the account has been created, account integrity is key through the entire lifecycle of the relationship between the enterprise and the consumer. So everytime the user logs into their app or the website, we've got to be able to quickly reestablish identity without asking too many questions and making it burdensome. Once we have identity established, rich digital engagement via voice messaging, SMS messaging, or social texting from applications like WhatsApp, or Viber, are critically important. TeleSign has the ability to deliver high quality messaging into virtually every country in the world safely, quickly and economically to allow brands to engage their customers any way they want. And lastly of course, anytime something of value is being exchanged on the internet TeleSign is there to protect against fraud, ensuring if it's hailing a taxi, a large financial transaction, or even exchanging even a digital good in a gaming platform TeleSign is there to make sure that transaction can occur without fraud. All the people and all the devices are really who they're supposed to be. So let's look one step under the four big use cases. These are the main five API's, the main web services that telesign offers almost like Legos to build up those four big use cases and others for our customers. Starting on the left, phone ID is a detailed actionable global phone number in subscriber data intelligence system. So the enterprise will pass us a phone number, and IP address and email address. And we'll pass back an incredible amount of insight that will help the enterprise assess fraud risk and enhance the online user experience by asking the end user for exactly what they need to keep them safe, but not creating a cumbersome process every time. Score is actually our machine learning and artificial intelligence fraud scoring system. This system once again, you pass it a phone number, an email address, an IP address. And and very, very quickly, in 100 milliseconds or less. In most cases, were able to process a fraud score from one to 1000 of how likely is this to be fraud right now, along with an Explainable AI reason code list that says exactly why we made the decision we made; incredibly dynamic system. If you asked the same question about the same phone number, just a few seconds or minutes later, if we've detected any changes in the security posture of that user, a sim swap on their mobile phone, suddenly, they're associated with a different IP address that we consider questionable, we might give a very different score and a very different set of explanations. Phone verification API, I'll skip here, because on the next slide, we're actually going to show it since it's the way many people have experienced TeleSign already, even if they didn't know. Our secure message and voice API's are about that digital engagement I was talking about on the last slide. And enterprise can drop a voice message or a text message into our API's and say deliver this to a user anywhere around the world, be it over SMS, WhatsApp, Viber other messaging systems, or of course voice messaging, and we will find the most efficient, high quality route to deliver that message. Moving over to an illustrative consumer journey here. In this case, our friend John is trying to log on to a social media platform. So John tries to log on in step one. In step two, the website decides that they're going to challenge John because they don't recognize him as recently having logged on. They actually pass John's info over to TeleSign and we actually send a one time password to John over SMS voice or possibly some other media. John receives the code on his phone in step four, like almost all of us have in the past. He types that number in, the company receives that in step five, and passes it on to TeleSign. In step six and seven really is where the TeleSign magic occurs in this customer journey. In step six, we not only check to make sure that it is the same number that we sent to John in step three, but we go much farther. We actually look at the carrier name, the roaming status of John's phone. We look at some or all of as many as 2200 different variables we track in order to assess fraud, and we decide whether we believe this is John's identity or not. Optionally, in step seven, we can run that whole machine learning scoring system that I talked about, to say how likely this is to be John M. and why do
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we say that, and then we pass all of that authentication information back to the website in step eight, and they let John in to get on with his day. What's so exciting is TeleSign, step six and step seven, that incredible amount of authentication insight in about a 10th of a second or less in most cases, anywhere in the world. This enables websites and consumers to enjoy a very fast, secure, and yet easy to use authentication process no matter what they are. So TeleSign has a number of clear differentiators that keep us ahead of the competition, just naming a few. Of course, we have an integrated digital identity solution. By integrated I mean that we can not only do some of those authentication use cases around account onboarding, account integrity. But we can also do the customer engagement and the fraud protection all through a single set of easy to use API's. We've been at this a while; 15 years of historical data patterns and supporting analytics that help us understand whether this is fraud that we've been seeing for years, or a newly emerging fraud pattern that's just happening over the last few hours or minutes. I mentioned before we look at 2200 plus behavioral variables, we're constantly adding more in a near global footprint to keep people safe, long standing customer relationships with the most demanding digital platforms in the world. I mentioned eight of the 10 most valuable companies on the internet use TeleSign at scale already, along with hundreds of other enterprise customers as well. And we have an innovative proven organization that has put us ahead and will keep us ahead for years into the future. As I mentioned, no other player provides a comprehensive digital identity solution. We feel that to have an in the head end relationship between enterprises and consumers requires fraud management, authentication and access management, and secure CPaaS, or secure communications platform as a service. TeleSign is the only vendor we believe that is at scale in all three and global. Were at scale in fraud management, in authentication, and in CPaaS, and in virtually every country around the world. Very unique. To get here, the TeleSign journey has been exciting. Starting in 2005, the company was founded in the Los Angeles area as a startup, rapidly scaled, established a headquarters in Europe, filed patents, did an acquisition or two, and really grew as one of the pioneers in one step passwords, one time passwords and digital identity from 2005 all the way to 2017. In 2017-18 the company was acquired by Bix, a European division of Proximus. Bix actually acquired TeleSign because they were one of the major deliverers of of SMS messages in the world. And they saw the synergy between integrating TeleSign's unique application directly with the world class Bix, a message delivery business. This has been great for TeleSign over the last three years or so, the company has continued to grow now delivering more than 21 billion annual transactions through our systems, great new partnerships with companies like Skype, and others. But now we're at a point as TeleSign really scales up and tries to take the place as being a premiere digital identity provider on the global stage, we're looking to unlock the potential of the company with this transaction. There's a large number of sources that make this the right time for us. As we can see here, we have an amazing amount of data and insight available to us, direct connections to 60 plus carriers accounting for more than 50% of mobile users worldwide. The ability to connect to the rest of the mobile users through interconnection. Fantastic amounts of data and insights on 85% of the North American population more than half of Europe, 2 billion people in Asia along with insights on IP addresses We have over 99.9% of the IP addresses in the world, we know where they ought to be; geo location, what they ought to be associated with, tremendous amount of email information. 5 billion unique phone numbers, trends at the TeleSign platforms on a monthly basis. All of this drives our data flywheel as we call it on the right side of this diagram, the more CPaaS we do, the more authentication information that we have, we know where a particular person likely should be, what kind of device they likely should be on, we know how frequently they should be authenticating. So we're able to take all of that behavioral insight and do
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a really great job on fast, easy authentications. The more authentications we do, the more we understand about fraud. The more we understand about authentication and fraud, the more we can target and do even better CPaaS communications for digital engagement. So the more we do of one, the better the other two get. And we goa round and around and create this really unique business model at TeleSign. We're already a trusted partner for top brands around the world. By revenue split about 38% of our revenue comes from e-commerce, about 25% each from enterprise software companies and social networking companies with a nice start in the on demand economy, fintech, gaming, and others. As mentioned about eight of the 10 top companies on the internet are already customers of telesign along with hundreds of others. Most of those companies aren't mentioned here due to contractual issues. But just taking a few off here the list is still impressive over under social networks where we work with Skype on robo call prevention, toll fraud prevention; companies like Tencent Tik Tok, Baidu and others, leading on TeleSign to help them do digital engagement and fraud protection for customers literally around the world. Fintech companies like Affirm looking to TeleSign for account onboarding, digital engagement, and beyond. So many stories of how we're helping connect, protect and defend the best brands on the internet against fraudsters and make for that simple and easy customer experience. Any company does its work based on the the talented people that are in the company, and I am thrilled about the TeleSign team. You see a lot of experience here from Proximus and Bix on the service provider side coming out of Europe. Some people out of Cisco that are used to building mission critical software products that power the internet and communications and a deep bench of people that have come from the security and CPaaS industries like Kola coming to us from Sinch and Syniverse. Several people coming to us from Symantec, and so forth. We believe we have the team that not only got us here, but can continue driving TeleSign to new heights over the next five years and beyond. So let's talk a little bit about what we're doing over the next few years to become the leader in integrated digital identity. We see ourselves having four growth vectors, we're going to continue growing with the market, we're going to expand into new use cases, we're going to deliver to new customer segments in geographic expansion. The plan that we see here is all built on an organic growth plan, we believe we can build, compete, and win on our own. But certainly there may be opportunities to accelerate the capturing of all of this through M&A in the future. First of all, growing with the market; it's a large and rapidly growing global addressable market. Just a few years ago, the market that TeleSign competed in was about an $18 billion dollar total addressable market in 2019. By 2024, it's projected to be over $55 billion or nearly a 25% CAGR. As this market just explodes going forward, there's tailwinds for TeleSign. This is going to be driven by digital identity. Mobile phones are going to become one of the primary sources of identity, there's going to be accelerating amounts of digital communications, and the only way to keep up, and stay ahead of cyber threat is going to be built with machine learning and analytics that can be deployed on a global basis, which is exactly what TeleSign has been doing for 15 years. When we talk about use case expansion TeleSign already does fantastic in the areas in the white: multi factor authentication, account registration and fraud management account takeover prevention, inbound call center fraud management, risk authentication, secures CPaaS, and more. But as we continue working with some of the biggest customers in the world, and some of our other security partners, we see great thingsTeleSign can do to help contribute to single sign on platforms, privileged access management, certificate management, and more. As we move out a little bit farther, getting involved in lead scoring and prioritization, audience delivery, customer segmentation, and much more. All areas where TeleSign can deliver great solutions over the next couple of years to make digital engagement and secure interactions on the internet, even more on
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target, and even more simple and natural for the consumers that are using them. Cross sell upsell into the TeleSign customer base is another incredible opportunity for us. About 35% of TeleSign's customers already purchase two or more of our secure communications platform as a service, fraud management and authentication. Typically, you sign up for one use case, you very quickly understand what TeleSign is capable of. And you go ahead and buy a second or a third product from us as well. 35% is a great number, but it's not high enough. 35% is enough to prove that cross sell upsell works. But I see significant headroom for growth in the current TeleSign customer base as we bundle these solutions, as we expose our customers to the capabilities that they're not using already. I think we can drive this number a lot higher. When we talk about expanding into new customer segments. What we're really talking about is being able to go down market TeleSign already has the most sophisticated demanding customers in the world. Eight of the 10 most valuable brands on the internet require redundancy, security audits, GDPR, and In similar data privacy regulations around the world, we've already satisfied these brands for years on end. Now, what we're really looking to is how do we deliver that same power, that same ability to connect, protect and defend companies and consumers? How do we extend that into the mid market and SMB. Our product is already is already suited for that market, it's ready to go. But we've directed our marketing team to start focusing additionally on finding the rest of those customers down market, and our engineering team to work on integrating with some no code, low code tools. So we can graphically be integrated into the websites of some of these new companies. So we see a tremendous growth opportunity down market. The last growth piece that I'm extremely excited about is internationalization or growing globally. So what's interesting about this slide is some of the statistics at the top show that TeleSign is already delivering digital engagement, and fraud scoring, and authentication literally across the world. We see utility companies in Russia listed here that we're doing great things for, people in South America, people in India, people in Australia, we're already covering the globe with great fraud scoring, great authentication, and great communications and engagement. But if we look at the two circles, in the bottom left, what we see is number one, revenue by customer geography, about 80% of our revenue is US companies today, and only about 20% Are rest of world companies. But if we look at the revenue by traffic destination, where is the end user with the mobile phone that we're connecting and protecting? Very different story. We're already delivering about 40% of our digital interactions into Asia, about 40% into EMEA in about 10% Each for North and South America. What this means is we already have a proven hardened product that works in virtually every country around the world. Now, we just need to expand our sales and marketing team to go capture the other headquarters companies in those geographies. So in summary for me, the TeleSign investment highlights, one, we're a large and rapidly growing addressable market. Two, we're a leading digital identity player that already has a blue chip customer base. We have a competitive and efficient business model. It's a high quality organization with strong execution capabilities. We have an excellent track record of profitable organic growth in cash generation. And we have a proven growth strategy that's driving attractive future value creation. With that, I'll turn the presentation over to Thomas to talk about our financial profile.
Thomas Dhondt - CFO Telesign 33:42
Thanks, Joe. And I very much want to build on the investments highlights you just talked about, as I will take the next couple of minutes to walk through our financials and our exciting development. In essence, there are five elements I want to bring forward which are either on the historical state of our business, and again, the exciting growth opportunity ahead of us. Let me start by highlighting our stable
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business model. As we are a transaction based business, we have grown and scaled as our existing loyal customers have grown a lot in their core businesses. On that basis, we've secured best in class organic growth over the past few years and I'll come back to that later, and particularly to compare us to some of the peers, which are listed today. We remain equally excited by the strong growth opportunity ahead of us as we operate in fast international, large growing markets, which is at our sweet spot. Within that growth opportunity, we see very strong potential for margin expansion over the next few years, fueled by our display identity solutions about which Joe talked about and we really believe we have a strong competitive edge to really capitalize on. This will not come for free. We intend to meaningfully invest over the next few years, particularly over the next two years. Afterwards, we want to come back to social profitability and run the business in a profitable way as we've done for past few years. On the basis of these foundation elements, we have laid out an ambitious but certainly achievable business plan for the next five years. Let me quickly talk about key highlights of that plan. We aim to be a $1.1 billion revenue business in 2026, essentially driven by a strong growth in our identity solutions, which will fuel an increase of our gross profit margin, at least a target percentage of 29%. Driven by again, the strong increase in overall revenue mix, whereby identity will contribute 74% of our total direct margin plus 12% profitability target on an EBITDA level in 26 after a couple of years of strong investments over the next few years. If I now take a step back and zoom in a couple of these financial highlights in a bit further detail, we have quite some data points to share which underpin our exciting equity story. We have a high net revenue retention ratio, 141% over the past three years, and we have structurally managed to grow our business across the different customer cohorts over the past few years. Again, pointing to the strong, loyal customer base we've managed to drive best in class growth. As you can see on this slide, the 42% revenue growth over the past few years, psoitions us particularly well versus Twilio and Sinch to only name a few. What I'm particularly excited about is that growth has been fueled by both customer segments, both communication, and digital identity have grown very strong. And in particular, I want to highlight already our digital identity codes, as by the end of this year, it will contribute more than 30% of our total direct margin contribution. This is no longer a small business. This is already a business in which achieving scale. And as we talk about that forward looking growth opportunity, we very much want to capitalize on. Small comments I want to make on this side as well. If we look at our year over year growth 20 to 21. Our growth has been somewhat impacted by some negative currency effects between euro and USD, normalizing for these we targeted growth of at least six percent year-over-year. Now coming back to that growth opportunity and forward looking plan I mentioned before already, it is really about accelerating on growth and building on this historical momentum within the identity business targeting plus 55% revenue and direct margin CAGR for digital identity solutions. While growth numbers on the communication side are somewhat more muted, we remain very excited about this market as well as it continues to go as fast. As Joe mentioned before, we believe there's a strong competitive differentiation on being able to offer these two solutions together as they reinforce each other. I already mentioned the investment before, but it's really over the next two years, we want to accelerate our investments within R&D and our go to market strategy, taking up our OPEX to revenue ratios to about 27%. Afterwards, they will come down and be more in line with what have been historical averages, which will drive our EBITDA target of at least 12% in 26. Clearly, a public listing will help TeleSign to accelerate and to achieve this growth plan as it will on the one hand fund our organic growth opportunity. It will really provide the opportunity for geographic expansion over the next few years, it will create strategic optionality for TeleSign to do M&A, important in some of the dynamic markets in which telesign is active today. It will allow us to further attract top talent across the
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globe. And definitely show some of our visibility and credibility visibly via some of our partners and customers today. With that said I want to give the floor to Gary to talk about some of the valuation and transaction considerations.
Gary Quin - CEO NAAC 39:20
TeleSign sits at the intersection of CPaaS and digital identity. Because of TeleSign's effective 2200 factor authentication, it was inevitable that we will move into digital identity which is faster growing, higher margin and valued higher. In light of TeleSign's broad suite of products, it is important to compare the business to both CPaaS and digital identity peers. Regardless of the peers that have been referenced, this deal's implied relative valuation is highly attractive. Enterprise value as a multiple of 2023 revenue is 2.2 times below CPaaS peers, and over 15 times below digital identity peers. On a growth adjusted basis, the implied valuation here points to a greater than 50% discount. We've priced this opportunity at a discount to allow for upside. As we continue to look at TeleSign's valuation, it is important to remember that TeleSign's growth compares favorably to both CPaaS and digital identity peers. When we look at this slide of TeleSign's peers across the SaaS and CPaaS universe, we can quickly see that growth is the primary determinant of value. There is no quantitative evidence that gross profit correlates with growth and is essentially an irrelevant metric from a valuation perspective in this sector. TeleSign has an efficient operating cost structure and a profitable business model. Operating expenses as a percentage of revenue are approximately half the average level of those CPaaS peers. And about 30% of those for digital identity peers. Remembering that there isn't $1 of cost structure that's more important than another. This offsets the current gross margin structure, resulting in EBITDA margins for TeleSign that are above sea pass peers, and close to the average to digital identity. So to reiterate, this is an extremely compelling opportunity. Enterprise value as a multiple of 2023 revenue is 2.2 times below CPaaS peers, and over 15 times below digital identity peers. On a growth adjusted basis, the implied valuation of TeleSign points to a greater than 50% discount. With that, I will hand it back to Joe Burton to sum up.
Joe Burton - CEO TeleSign 42:07
Thank you, Gary. So why invest in TeleSign? We're a high-quality business with high growth at scale, leadership position in a large and fast growing total addressable market. We are a passionate team and organization, with compelling value creation against our public peer set. Thank you so much for listening today.
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Exhibit 99.3
Investor Presentation December 2021
Disclaimer © 2021 TeleSign 2 This investor presentation (“Presentation”) has been prepared by Proximus SA/NV (“Proximus”) and North Atlantic Acquisition Corporation (“NAAC”) in connection with the proposed business combination (the “Business Combination”) of NAAC with Torino Holding Corp., a wholly - owned indirect subsidiary of Proximus and the indirect parent company of TeleSign Corp., (“TeleSign”). No Representations and Warranties This presentation is for informational purposes only and does not purport to contain all of the information that may be required to evaluate a possible investment decision with respect to the proposed Business Combination. The recipient agrees and acknowledges that this presentation is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision by the recipient. This Presentation is not intended to constitute and should not be construed as investment advice and does not constitute investment, tax, or legal advice. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be given by NAAC, Proximus or TeleSign or any of their respective affiliates, directors, officers, employees or advisers or any other person as to the accuracy or completeness of the information in this Presentation or any other written, oral or other communications transmitted or otherwise made available to any party in the course of its evaluation of a possible Business Combination, and no responsibility or liability whatsoever is accepted for the accuracy or sufficiency thereof or for any errors, omissions, misstatements, negligent or otherwise, relating thereto. The recipient also acknowledges and agrees that the information contained in this Presentation is preliminary in nature and is subject to change, and any such changes may be material. Use of Projections This Presentation contains financial forecasts with respect to certain financial metrics of TeleSign, including, but not limited to, [revenues, gross profit, gross margin, adjusted gross margin, operating expenses, EBITDA, and capital expenditures]. Neither Proximus’ nor NAAC’s independent auditors, nor the independent registered public accounting firm of TeleSign, audited, reviewed, compiled, or performed any procedures with respect to the projections for the purpose of their inclusion in this Presentation, and accordingly, neither of them expressed an opinion or provided any other form of assurance with respect thereto for the purpose of this Presentation. The financial forecasts and projections in this Presentation should not be relied upon as being necessarily indicative of future results. Neither Proximus nor NAAC nor TeleSign undertakes any commitment to update or revise the projections, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Furthermore, the financial forecasts and historical numbers included throughout this Presentation have been prepared using generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“US GAAP”). Because the US GAAP audit was not complete at the time the projections contained herein were prepared, such projections do not take into account certain adjustments that may be made during the audit process, as further discussed below. [In addition, certain projections contained herein relate to results for the year ending December 31, 2021. The US GAAP audit of such results is currently in process. Such results represent projections prepared prior to entry into definitive agreements relating to the proposed Business Combination. Unless otherwise indicated, such results are not intended to represent, and do not represent, audited results for such period or preliminary data resulting from such audit process. Customary reporting processes with respect to such 2021 information have not been completed and TeleSign’s auditors have not completed an audit of such estimates. During the course of the audit and review on TeleSign’s 2021 results, items may be identified that would result in material adjustments as compared to such projections. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on such projections.] In this Presentation, certain of the above - mentioned projected information has been repeated (in each case, with an indication that the information is an estimate) and is subject to the qualifications presented herein, for purposes of providing comparisons with historical data. The assumptions and estimates underlying the prospective financial information are inherently uncertain and are subject to a wide variety of significant business, economic, and competitive risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the prospective financial information. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the prospective forecasts are indicative of the future performance of TeleSign or the combined company after completion of the proposed Business Combination or that actual results will not differ materially from those presented in the prospective financial information. Inclusion of the prospective financial information in this Presentation should not be regarded as a representation by any person that the results contained in the prospective financial information will be achieved. Cautionary Language Regarding Forward - Looking Statements The Presentation and oral statements made in connection herewith include “forward - looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included herein, regarding the proposed Business Combination, NAAC’s and Proximus’ ability to consummate the transaction, the benefits of the transaction and TeleSign future financial performance following the transaction, as well as TeleSign’s strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues, and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward looking statements. When used herein, including any oral statements made in connection herewith, the words “outlook,” “believes,” “expects,” “potential,” “continues,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “predicts,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward - looking statements, although not all forward - looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward - looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, NAAC, Proximus and TeleSign disclaim any duty to update any forward - looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. NAAC and Proximus caution you that these forward - looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of NAAC and Proximus. These risks include, but are not limited to, (1) the inability to complete the transactions contemplated by the proposed Business Combination; (2) the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, and the ability of the combined business to grow and manage growth profitably; (3) risks related to the rollout of TeleSign’s business and expansion strategy; (4) overall demand for the products offered by TeleSign; (5) the possibility that TeleSign’s technology and products could have undetected defects or errors; (6) the effects of competition on TeleSign’s future business; (7) the inability to successfully retain or recruit officers, key employees, or directors following the proposed Business Combination; (8) the market’s reaction to the proposed Business Combination; (9) TeleSign’s financial performance following the proposed Business Combination; (10) costs related to the proposed Business Combination; (11) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (12) the possibility that the novel coronavirus (“COVID - 19”) may hinder Proximus’ ability to consummate the Business Combination; (13) the possibility that COVID - 19 may adversely affect the results of operations, financial position and cash flows of TeleSign; (14) the possibility that Proximus or TeleSign may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and (15) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in documents filed or to be filed with the SEC by the companies. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described herein and in any oral statements made in connection therewith occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward - looking statements. UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND DATA CONTAINED IN THIS PRESENTATION IS UNAUDITED AND DOES NOT CONFORM TO REGULATION S - X. ACCORDINGLY, SUCH INFORMATION AND DATA MAY NOT BE INCLUDED IN, MAY BE ADJUSTED IN, OR MAY BE PRESENTED DIFFERENTLY IN, ANY PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS OR REGISTRATION STATEMENT TO BE FILED BY NAAC WITH THE SEC. IN ADDITION, ALL TELESIGN HISTORICAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION INCLUDED HEREIN IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE PENDING FINALIZATION OF THE AUDITS OF THE TARGET AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020 AND DECEMBER 31, 2019 IN ACCORDANCE WITH PCAOB AUDITING STANDARDS. Use of Non - GAAP Financial Measures This Presentation includes non - GAAP financial measures, including EBITDA and adjusted gross margin. EBITDA is calculated as revenue less cost of goods sold, and operating expenses. Adjusted gross margin is calculated as gross profit plus inventory write downs divided by revenue. Management believes that these non - GAAP measures of financial results provide useful information to management and investors regarding certain financial and business trends relating to TeleSign’s financial condition and results of operations. NAAC and Proximus believe that the use of these non - GAAP financial measures provides an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends. Management does not consider these non - GAAP measures in isolation or as an alternative to financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. Other companies may calculate non - GAAP measures differently, and therefore the non - GAAP measures of TeleSign included in this Presentation may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.
Disclaimer © 2021 TeleSign 3 Industry and Market Data; Trademarks and Trade Names Information and opinions in this Presentation rely on and refer to information and statistics regarding the sectors in which TeleSign competes and other industry data. Proximus obtained this information and statistics from third - party sources, including reports by market research firms. NAAC, Proximus and TeleSign have not independently verified the information and make no representation or warranty, express or implied, as to its accuracy or completeness. NAAC, Proximus and TeleSign have supplemented this information where necessary with information from TeleSign’s own internal estimates, taking into account publicly available information about other industry participants and TeleSign’s management’s best view as to information that is not publicly available. The industry and market data included herein presents information only as of and for the periods indicated, is subject to change at any time, and is not, and should not be assumed to be, complete or to constitute all the information necessary to adequately make an informed decision regarding your engagement with NAAC, Proximus or TeleSign. NAAC, Proximus and TeleSign also own or have rights to various trademarks, service marks and trade names that they use in connection with the operation of their respective businesses. This Presentation also contains trademarks, service marks and trade names of third parties, which are the property of their respective owners. The use or display of third parties’ trademarks, service marks, trade names or products in this Presentation is not intended to, and does not imply a relationship with NAAC, Proximus or TeleSign, or an endorsement or sponsorship by or of NAAC, Proximus or TeleSign. Solely for convenience, the trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to in this Presentation may appear without the ®, TM or SM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that NAAC, Proximus or TeleSign will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, their rights or the right of the applicable licensor to these trademarks, service marks and trade names. Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom The communication of this presentation and any other document or materials relating to the transaction have not been approved, by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Accordingly, this presentation and any such documents and/or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom. The communication of this presentation and other documentation or materials relating to the transaction as a financial promotion is only being made to those persons in the United Kingdom (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments and who fall within the definition of investment professionals (as defined in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Financial Promotion Order")), (ii) who fall within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Financial Promotion Order, or (iii) who are any other persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be made under the Financial Promotion Order (all such persons together being referred to as "FPO Persons"). In the United Kingdom, any investment or investment activity to which this presentation relates will be engaged in only with FPO Persons. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not an FPO Person should not act or rely on this presentation or any of its contents. Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom The information in this presentation is not intended to be, and should not be, provided, distributed or otherwise made available to: (a) any person in the European Economic Area who (i) is a retail investor, as defined in Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 or (ii) is not a qualified investor, as defined in Regulation (EU 2017/1129 (all, “EEA Relevant Persons”); or (b) any person in the United Kingdom (“UK”) who (i) is a retail investor, as defined in Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law or (ii) is not a qualified investor, as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law in the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended by the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (all, “UK Relevant Persons”). None of TeleSign or NAAC have authorized and nor do they authorize the provision, distribution or making available of the information herein to any EEA Relevant Person or any UK Relevant Person. No Offer or Solicitation This Presentation is for informational purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities pursuant to the proposed Business Combination or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act. Confidentiality All recipients agree that they will keep confidential all information contained herein and not already in the public domain and will use this Presentation solely for evaluation purposes. Recipient will maintain all such information in strict confidence, including in strict accordance with any underlying contractual obligations and all applicable laws, including United States federal and state securities laws. Participants in the Solicitation NAAC, Proximus, TeleSign and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from shareholders of NAAC in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available. Additional Information In connection with the proposed Business Combination, NAAC (or, if applicable, the surviving public entity of the Business Combination) will publicly file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S - 4 and a related proxy statement/prospectus with the SEC. Additionally, NAAC (and, if applicable, the surviving public entity of the Business Combination) will publicly file other relevant materials with the SEC in connection with the proposed Business Combination. The materials to be filed with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Investors and security holders are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus and the other relevant materials when they become available before making any voting or investment decision with respect to the proposed Business Combination because they will contain important information about the Business Combination and the parties to the Business Combination.
Today’s Presenters Joe Burton CEO TeleSign Thomas Dhondt CFO TeleSign Gary Quin CEO NAAC Guillaume Boutin CEO Proximus Chairman TeleSign © 2021 TeleSign 4
Overview of NAAC NAAC raised gross proceeds of ~$380MM and went public on Nasdaq in January 2021 (Nasdaq: NAACU) *Proposed Board Member post - transaction Industry leaders with over 180 years of combined experience operating, investing and capital raising in public and private markets and across various geographies Extensive experience in corporate governance and management of blue chip global corporates First - hand knowledge of technology and telecoms sectors Support TeleSign’s transition to US public markets and its global expansion • Di age o • Gillette Gary Quin* | CEO • Digicel • Blackrock Communications • Blackstone, Credit Suisse Patrick Doran | President • Americk Packaging • Woodberry Capital Mark Keating | CFO • Accenture • Woodberry Capital Dimitri Panayotopoulos | Director • Procter & Gamble • Boston Consulting Group Tamara Sakovska | Director • Permira • Eton Park • Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Leadership Team Andrew Morgan | Chairman Jendrik Kurzke | Head of Corporate Development • METRO • Credit Suisse, UBS © 2021 TeleSign 5
You Use TeleSign For… Soci a l Media Fin T ec h E - Commerce O n - de ma nd Services G a ming Signing up for an account or receiving two - factor authentication text - messages Receiving friendly payment reminders and confirmations Receiving receipts and shipping status updates or receiving a one - time passcode to reset your account password Communicating with drivers through private, secure channels Receiving SMS messages on updates for upcoming product launches En te rpri se Software Receiving two - factor authentication text - messages Note: Companies are actual TeleSign clients © 2021 TeleSign 6
Why We Are Excited to Invest in TeleSign © 2021 TeleSign 7 Leading Authentication and Digital Identity Player Industry pioneer with 15+ years of growth in a large and growing market Long - standing, bluechip customer relationships with the most demanding digital platforms in the world Strong management team ready to bring the company to the next level Differentiated Product Suite Powered by State - of - the - Art Technology Stack and Unique Data Platform 15+ years of historical data patterns driving deep analytics 2,200+ behavioral variables, constantly adding more, near global footprint Connected to 60+ carriers accounting for over 50% of total mobile users worldwide Effective machine learning algorithms delivering continuous performance improvement Proven Growth Strategy Supported by Multiple Pillars Significant potential to strengthen core product offering and accelerate geographic expansion Unique opportunity to access new customer segments, expand across the value chain and use case expansion
Proposed Transaction Overview 8 Transaction Overview Sources & Uses Pro Forma Ownership % at $10 / Share • Business combination whereby a new HoldCo will acquire both NAAC and TeleSign Corporation (the “Company”) • Expected to close late Q1’22 or early Q2’22 • Post - closing, the Company will maintain “TeleSign” name and will be listed on Nasdaq • North Atlantic Acquisition Corporation (“NAAC”) is a SPAC with $380MM 1 held in trust and 33.3% warrant structure • PIPE Investors expected to commit $108MM • 10% Sponsor Promote (0.95MM shares) to be allocated to PIPE Investors 4 • TeleSign will receive up to $437 MM in primary capital • No secondary share sale by existing shareholders • Minimum cash at closing $200MM 2 • $1,300MM (Enterprise Value 6 ) • Implies 2.2x EV / Revenue 2023E T r a ns a ct ion Overview Offering Size Pro Forma Capital Structure Valuation Sources of Funds 2 ($MM) Equity Rollover to Proximus $1 , 155 .1 SPAC Cash 1 $379 .5 PIPE Cash $107 .5 Total Sources $ 1,642. 1 Uses of Funds ($MM) Equity Consideration to Proximus $1 , 155 .1 Cash to Balance Sheet $437 .0 Transaction Expenses $50 .0 Total Uses $ 1 , 642 .1 $MM, except share price metrics Enterprise Value 6 $1 , 300 .0 SPAC Size $379 .5 PIPE Size $107 .5 Transaction Expenses $(50 . 0 ) Post - money Equity Value at $10 / Share $1 , 737 .0 66.5% Proximus 66.5% Proximus 3 21.8% SPAC Shareholders 6.7% PIPE Investors 4 4.9% Sponsor Promote 5 1. Assumes no SPAC stockholder has exercised its redemption rights to receive cash from the trust account. This amount will be reduced by the amount of cash used to satisfy any redemptions. 2. The Company is not required to close the business combination unless the total of (i) the trust account of the SPAC, (ii) the PIPE funding amounts, and (iii) any backstop commitments implemented by the Sponsor equals at least $200MM in the aggregate. NAAC has committed, on a “best efforts” basis, to bridge any gap between PIPE Size and minimum cash 3. Share Consideration issued to Proximus will be subject to a 12 - month lock - up (the “ Proximus Lock - Up ”). If, after the consummation of the business combination, the trading price of the common shares exceeds $15.00 for 20 trading days within any 30 trading day period, then the Proximus Lock - Up shall cease to apply to 10% of the existing holder’s position. If the trading price of the common shares exceeds $20.00 for 20 trading days within any 30 trading day period then the Lock - Up shall cease to apply to an incremental 10% of the existing holder’s position. The shares and warrants held by the Sponsor (and its assignees) will be subject to a 12 - month lock - up (the “ Sponsor Lock - up ”). If, after the consummation of the business combination, the common shares exceeds $12.00 for 20 trading days within any 30 trading day period, then the Sponsor Lock - Up shall cease to apply with respect to 100% of the existing Sponsor’s shares 4. PIPE Investors’ pro forma ownership represents the subscription of 11MM shares. In addition, for the subscription of each share, PIPE Investors will be entitled to receive an additional amount of shares equal to each investor pro rata share of 0.95MM shares, which will be funded out of the Sponsor Promote (representing 10% of Sponsor Promote, assuming no redemptions). Hence, PIPE Investors will receive a total of circa 11.7MM shares 5. Includes shares held by certain NAAC anchor investors. Up to 10% of the Sponsor Promote to be forfeited proportionally between 50% and 75% redemption level 6. Enterprise Value assumes cash free and debt free basis for TeleSign and is subject to adjustments for leakage events
Introduction and Business Overview
Who We Are Connect Connect with your customers anywhere in the world, instantly. Safely. Verified. Protect Online experiences with real - time feedback helping you protect your assets and mitigate risk. Defend Proactively understand the risk of new users, transactions and actions to stop theft and fraud Trust is the currency of today’s digital economy . Businesses that earn and keep that trust, thrive. With more than 5 billion people conducting their lives online , whether it's a teen interacting with friends overseas, a busy mobile professional paying their bills, or an enterprise transacting with millions of customers at a time – the stakes have never been higher. TeleSign helps connect, protect and defend you and your customers from bad actors, scams and hackers so you can create safe, trusted, and human experiences anywhere in the world. Connect. Protect. Defend. 10 © 2021 TeleSign
TeleSign is a Leading Authentication and Digital Identity Player 440 + Employees 2 Sticky Blue Chip Customer Base Excellent Financial Profile Global F o otpr i nt Strong Technological Moat 60 + Countries with active customers 21 % Revenue 1 outside the US TOP Company in the Gartner leader quadrant for user authentication 35 + Patents in mobile identity and MFA 21 Bn+ Annual transactions verified p.a. $391 MM 2021E annual revenue 4 2 %+ Revenue CAGR 5 © 2021 TeleSign 11 8/10 Top internet companies are customers 3 141% Average Net Retention Rate 4 TeleSign offers solutions across the full spectrum of end user account security, communications and engagement Platform to protect and engage users with SMS and voice messaging, Mobile SDKs, and Data and Analytics APIs Primarily usage - based revenue model with minimum commitments and other features B u s in e ss O v er v iew 1. 2020 Revenue 2. YTD as of June 3. Based on market capitalization Pro f i ta ble business model 4. 2018 - 2021 YTD Average Net Retention Rate 5. TeleSign’s revenue 2018 - 21E CAGR
Digital Transformation is Everywhere and Continues to Accelerate …but this transformation also creates new cybersecurity challenges Digital transformation is accelerating and customers now expect seamless digital experiences… Chal l enges Offline to online drivers Offline consumer activities Technology De v e lo p m en t Digital & Financial Inclusion Digital T ran sf or m a tion Customer E x per ie n ce COVID - 19 Lack of identity data Cyberfraud, trust & safety issues End user reach & fragmentation Technological & operational risks Preventing fraud vs. conversion Regu lat or y f ra m e w or k © 2021 TeleSign 12
Connecting, Protecting, and Defending Enterprises and their Customers Cybersecurity Threats Create Requirement For Continuous Trust Fraud Protection On b o a rd i ng E n g a g e m e n t Account Integrity E nterpr i s e s Consumers © 2021 TeleSign 13
TeleSign’s Integrated Product Suite Connects, Protects and Defends Enterprises and their Customers Phone ID Detailed and actionable global phone number and subscriber data intelligence to strengthen authentications, evaluate fraud risks and enhance user experience Score Delivers reputation scoring based on phone number intelligence, traffic patterns, machine learning and a global data consortium Phone Verification API Delivers patented phone - based verification and two - factor authentication using a time based, one - time passcode sent over SMS, voice message or SDK for authentication enablement (MFA) Secure Message and Voice API Enables developer to build communication and account security messaging (SMS, Voice, Omnichannel) into web and mobile applications Phone Numbers SIP Trunking Voice WhatsApp SMS RCS OTTs Short Codes © 2021 TeleSign 14
TeleSign checks carrier name / roaming status, validates 6 - digit code and confirms John’s identity 1 TeleSign shares John’s identity confirmation and Score 2 (with reason codes) with the company TeleSign sends one - time password (OTP) to John John can post his vacation images! John goes to Company A’s website and types in his password after being gone for a 2 - week vacation John receives a 6 - digit code on his phone and inputs it into the company’s mobile app The company does not recognize him and wants to verify John is truly John; The company sends authentication request to TeleSign The company server passes code through to TeleSign The company approves John’s login and leverages his risk score for other applications Illustrative Consumer Journey © 2021 TeleSign Consumer (John) 9 4 Company A would like to verify that it is y o u 2 5 1 TeleSign data stack / “flywheel” 8 3 6 Carrier Roa m i n g OTP 7 Social Media Platform L o g i n Company A 1 2 3 4 5 6 O T P Company A Company A Log i n succes s ful Risk score Company A Company A 1 Based on detailed risk assessment (e.g., leverage proprietary database, check against blacklists and other data sources) 2 Assessment of risk score based on analysis of all available data (e.g., CDR, observed behavioral, 3rd party), evaluation against adjacent and known fraudulent numbers, and identity graph 15
Providing an Integrated Digital Identity Solution 2,200+ behavioural variables, constantly adding more, near - global footprint Long standing customer relations with most demanding digital platforms in the world Innovative Organization and Proven Team TeleSign Has a Number of Clear Differentiators and Competitive Moat Digital Identity A uthen t ic a tion 15+ years of historical data patterns supporting analytics © 2021 TeleSign 16
A uth e nt ica t i o n & access management Fraud ma nage me nt S ecure CPaaS Product P l a t f orm VALUE CHAIN ROLE Data I ns i ght TeleSign participates today TeleSign is actively expanding into No Other Player Provides a Comprehensive Digital Identity Solution © 2021 TeleSign 17
Source: Press search, TeleSign website, Crunchbase T eleSign founded Partnered with BehavioSec, Orange and Klab Partners Partnered with Skype Annual transactions verified 2005 2012 2016 2018 2011 2015 2019 2017 2021 Opened European HQ in London, UK Awarded US patent for PhoneID verification technology Geo expansion Product launch Pa rtn e rsh i p M & A Launched self service Comm APIs Made two - way SMS available in 84 countries Launched Mobile Identity solutions in France Partnered with MaxMind & Deepnet Security Introduced PhoneID to UK and Germany 21Bn+ Launched TeleSign AuthID Kit Integrated SMS Messaging with Microsoft Dynamics 365 solutions in China, Brazil and other emerging m ar k e ts Launched Smart Verify Launched operations in Belgrade, Serbia Acquired Routo T e lec o mm un ica t io n s TeleSign Is an Industry Pioneer with 15+ Years of Growth Start - up phase Scale - up phase (BICS / Proximus ownership) Launched Mobile Identity Unlocking the potential 2020 2026 … Appointed new executive team to fast - track growth Accelerating investments in Digital Identity 2014 2013 18
CP AA S FRAUD M A N A GE M ENT AUTHENTICATION TeleSign Leverages a Large Number of Sources to Provide Reliable Insights © 2021 TeleSign 19 Accurate risk scores and insights enable more secure authentication and CPaaS and improve user experience Higher authentication and CPaaS usage generates behavioral data that supports accuracy of risk scores required for effective fraud management …drive our flywheel and reliable insights Connected to 60+ carriers accounting for over 50% of total mobile users worldwide 8 5 % North American popu l a t i on 300MM+ Users in LATAM 5Bn+ unique phone numbers transit through TeleSign platform on a monthly basis 14 of the largest web properties in the world contributing to our consortium A myriad of data sources… 99.99% IP Geo - location IP DATA Access CUSTOMER LABEL PHONE N UM B E R C U S T O M ER TRAFFIC 5 0 % mobile users in EU 250MM+ users to be connected in MENA by end of 2021 2 B n+ users in APAC EMAIL ADDRESS
E - commer c e TeleSign helps merchants and marketplaces minimize fake accounts and reviews, promotion fraud, and chargeback fraud with identity driven risk scoring while delivering important alerts, reminders, and notifications to consumers. TeleSign is a Trusted Partner of Choice for Top Brands Revenue Split By Cus t omer Segment 1 8/ 10 Top internet companies are customers 2 141% Net retention rate 3 Social Net w o r ks TeleSign creates a safer, more authentic social experience by protecting against fake users and account takeovers with risk scoring and MFA authentication. Gaming TeleSign protects online gaming communities by preventing fake users and protecting against account takeovers with risk scoring and MFA authentication. On - Demand Services TeleSign connects distributed workforces with your customers while protecting privacy of your customers and your employees. E nte r p r ise Software TeleSign adds a layer of security with MFA verification, account takeovers protection, and continuous risk assessment for high - value interactions. FinTech TeleSign provides valuable data inputs for credit assessment, MFA verification, and transactional risk scoring to lower risk and prevent fraud. 38% E - Commerce 25% Social Network 2% On - Demand 3% FinTech 7% Gaming 25% Enterprise 1. Based on 2020A Financials 2. Based on market capitalization 3. 2018 - 2021 YTD Average Net Retention Rate 20 © 2021 TeleSign
Joe Burton | Chief Executive Officer CEO and transformational leader in tech industry, with 30+ years of experience driving new product portfolios and market strategies James Miller | Corporate Controller 20+ years of experience working in technology, telecom, and professional services industries; 35+ Post - acquisition integrations, Instil BIO IPO; experience in high - growth environments Nenad Vucinic | General Manager, Belgrade 30+ years of experience working in IT, Telco and Service industries; established numerous successful companies in CEE region, including P&G West Balkans and Nelt, Orbico Yoon Ahn | Vice President, Global Tech Ops 15+ years of experience providing reliable operations in various industries and has served as a leader in mobile identity and cybersecurity sector Aaron Seyler | Vice President, Sales 10+ years of experience as Sales leader in tech industry; extensive experience in cybersecurity, data analytics, identity and cloud solutions Wei Lin | Vice President, Engineering 25+ years of experience as Engineering leader; former Sr. Director of Engineering at Symantec Kola Layoku | Snr. Director, Portfolio Product Mgmt. 18+ years of Telecommunication industry experience specialized in communication software development, designing customer engagement experience and growth strategies Guillaume Bourcy | Vice President, Data & Identity Solutions 15+ years of experience in rapidly growing the Enterprise Messaging and Identity Solutions at BICS, a subsidiary of Proximus, from the ground up to becoming an industry leader using both organic and M&A growth Deep and Diverse Talent Bench Thomas Dhondt | Chief Financial Officer 10+ years of experience in Finance roles in telecommunications and mobile identity industries; former M&A Director at Proximus Kristi Melani | Chief Marketing Officer Marketing leader with 25+ years experience in leading all facets of the marketing mix. An expert in digital marketing, demand generation, messaging, branding, advertising and ecommerce. Cynthia Ng | Chief Legal Officer 20+ years’ experience in Software IT Licensing. Previously with CA Technologies in their Sydney, Beijing and New York offices. Tom Wesselman | Chief Technology Officer 25+ years of experience as Engineering leader with a proven track record of product delivery and business results; former VP/GM of Software BU at Poly Peter Vermeulen | Chief People Officer 20+ years of experience supporting global organizations, in tech and healthcare; former Head of Human Resources WW Customer Experience at Amazon © 2021 TeleSign 21
On Track to Become the Integrated Digital Identity Leader
Proven Growth Strategy Enabled by Multiple Pillars Continued Market Growth Value Chain & Use Case Expansion G e ographic Expansion New Customer Segments Acceleration Opportunity Through M&A © 2021 TeleSign 23
~$24.0Bn CPaaS ~$ 3 0. 5 B n Di g i ta l Id en t i ty ~$4.6Bn CPaaS ~$ 13 . 7 B n Di g i ta l Id en t i ty Total Large And Rapidly Growing Global Addressable Market Source: Markets & Markets Analysis, IDC Note: CPaaS includes Video, Data (Messaging/Push), Voice and Other 2024 ~$ 5 4.5 B n T o ta l 2019 ~$1 8 . 3 B n Digital T ran sf or m a tion Mobile becoming primary source of identity Accelerating digital communications ML & analytics to prevent fraud TAILWINDS 24 © 2021 TeleSign
TeleSign Is Well Positioned to Accelerate Use Case Expansion Digital Channel Measurement Lead Scoring and Prioritization Identity Lifecycle Management Customer Segmentation Audience Delivery Online Offline Matching Cross - device Targeting Cross - device Matching Individual Level Content Targeting Content Personalization Privileged Access Management Single Sign On Digital Certificate & Key Management Document V eri f i c at i on CURRENT FOCUS MID - TEAM OPPORTUNITY M F A Transaction & Registration Fraud Management Account Takeover Inbound Call Center Fraud Management Risk Based Authentication Secure CPaaS NEAR - TEAM OPPORTUNITY © 2021 TeleSign 25
Creates significant synergies across the three customer needs that TeleSign covers Substantial opportunity for further penetration of integrated authentication and fraud management solutions to the remaining customers Customers value having an integrated solution across fraud management, authentication and secure CPaaS, but no other major player actively participates in all three markets, providing a unique opportunity for TeleSign Providing services at the intersection of customer needs COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL IDENTITY Cross - selling Opportunities across TeleSign’s Customer Base ~35% of TeleSign’s customers already purchase products from two or more categories A ut h e n t i c at i on Fraud M a n a g e m e n t C P a a S © 2021 TeleSign 26
The Most Sophisticated Customers Choose TeleSign Providing the Opportunity to Expand into Other Segments Enterprise 1 Mid - m a rket companies S M B Core focus today High level of customer sophistication Uncompromising security requirements 1. Enterprise defined as having >5,000 employees, Mid - market 500 - 5000 employees; SMB <500 employees Opportunity to Extend Customer Focus Significant opportunity for TeleSign to extend its leadership in enterprise segment to Mid - market companies and SMBs Ability to leverage existing credentials with industry leaders to win new business with smaller customers Margin - accretive growth opportunity 27 © 2021 TeleSign Market Strategy Integrating with several low code/ no code graphical design tools popular with SMBs, joint marketing and sales Digital marketing and internal sales resources being increased to address SMB
Geographic Expansion Levers Grow internationally with existing large - cap US customers Acquisition of leading non - US customers Potential M&A to establish footprint in strategic regions TeleSign Has the Opportunity to Grow Globally with Existing and New Customers US 79% Non - US 21% 2020 Revenue by Customer Geography Online Multi Utility Company 70% fraud registrations stopped Online Marketplace 55 % Reduction in fraud chargebacks Mobility Company 45% Reduction in fraud rides Leading Software Company 104 million blocked user recommendations in 1 year Leading Buy Now Pay Later Provider 200K - 300K USD of bad loans prevented monthly Leading Gaming Provider 7 % of all Phone Verification were identified to be high risk & blocked Mobile Wallet Co m pan y Reduced 52% fraud transactions Mobility & Marketplace 89% fraud registrations stopped 21 Million fraud transactions stopped in 1 year Credit Risk Platform Provider Successfully utilizing Score & PhoneID solutions to build credit risk models Revenue by Traffic Destination APAC 40% E M EA 41% L ATAM 10% US 9% 2020 Onboarding of additional sales and marketing resources outside North America Hirings include demand generation, account managers, customer success managers and account - based marketing Market Strategy © 2021 TeleSign 28
TeleSign Investment Highlights 1 4 2 5 3 6 Large and Rapidly Growing Addressable M a r k et Leading Digital Identity Player with Blue Chip Customer Base Competitive and Efficient Business Model High Quality Organization with Strong Execution Capabilities Excellent Track Record of Profitable Organic Growth and Cash Generation Proven Growth Strategy Driving Attractive Future Value Creation © 2021 TeleSign 29
Attractive Financial Profile
TeleSign’s Financial Highlights Stable business model with loyal customer base Best - in - class organic growth track record Strong future growth opportunity Attractive margin expansion driven by shift towards Digital Identity Significant investments driving efficient growth and future opportunity © 2021 TeleSign 31
Summary of Future KPIs and Targets © 2021 TeleSign 32 Revenue Gross Profit Margin Digital Identity Direct Margin 1 Contribution EBITDA Margin Customer Focus 2026E ~$1.1Bn +29% LT Target 74% +12% LT Target Global Company 2021E $391MM 22% 31% 5% Mainly US Centric 1. Direct Margin is a non - GAAP metric calculated as revenue less direct variable product specific costs including network termination fees, data acquisition costs and variable cloud hosting fees
Stable Business Model with Loyal Customer Base 33 1. Net Revenue Retention Rate calculated based on 2. For 9 months of 2021 total spend of active customers in the same quarter 3. 2017 Cohort revenue primarily driven by one large one year prior customer 100 200 300 0 F Y 1 6 F Y 1 7 F Y 1 8 F Y 1 9 F Y 2 0 F Y 21 E Attractive Revenue Growth Across Customer Cohorts 3 $MM 400 Baseline customers <FY17 New in FY17 New in FY20 New in FY21 New in FY18 New in FY19 122% 150% 162% 128% 2018 2019 2020 141% Avg. NRR since 2018 Strong Net Revenue Retention 1 2021 YTD 2
TeleSign’s Revenue Growth Profile Is among the Best © 2021 TeleSign 2018A 2019A 2020A 2021E 138 200 80% 69% 20% 31% 2018A 2019A 2020A 2021E 50 63 84 391 84 Revenue by Segment ($MM) Gross Profit 1 by Segment ($MM) 18 - 21 E CAGR 18 - 21 E CAGR 35 % 14 % 42 % 36% Communication Digital Identity 42 % 314 19 % 35% 60% 47% 51% 47% 18% CY2019 - 2020 Organic Revenue Growth (%) CY2018 - 2019 Organic Revenue Growth (%) Adjusting for constant currency effect 2 2021 yoy growth would amount to 6.1% Source: Company Information 1. Gross Profit = Communication + Digital Identity + Unallocated Cost of Sales 2. Constant Currency view adjusting for currency fluctuations between EUR and USD impacting revenues and termination fees Unallocated Cost of Sales Communication Direct Margin 3 Digital Identity Direct Margin 3 3. Direct Margin is a non - GAAP metric calculated as revenue less direct variable product specific costs including network termination fees, data acquisition costs and variable cloud hosting fees 34
Attractive Margin Expansion Driven by Mix Shift towards Digital Identity © 2021 TeleSign 35 Revenue by Segment ($MM) Communication Digital Identity 2021E 2022E 2023E 2024E 2025E 2026E 391 485 603 776 941 1 , 13 2 Gross Profit by Segment ($MM) Digital Identity Direct Margin 1 69% 26% 31% 74% 2021E 2022E Communication Direct Margin 1 2023E 2024E 2025E 2026E 21E - 26E CAGR 84 97 127 181 245 327 21E - 26E CAGR 56% 7% 59% 17% 24% 3 1% Unallocated Cost of Sales 1. Direct Margin is a non - GAAP metric calculated as revenue less direct variable product specific costs including network termination fees, data acquisition costs and variable cloud hosting fees
Reinvestments Enable Acceleration of Product Development & Sales Opex as % of Revenues 27% 21% 18% 19% 27% 27% 25% 21% 20% 2018A 2019A 2020A 2021E 2022E 2023E 2024E 2025E 2026E Continued accelerated investments in R&D, Product Development and Sales 12% 5% EBITDA margin % © 2021 TeleSign 36
Public Market Listing to Enable the Next Phase of TeleSign’s Growth Funding future organic growth opportunity Opportunity for geographic expansion Investment funds for M&A Attract top talent Enhanced visibility / credibility with partners and customers © 2021 TeleSign 37
V alu a tion
TeleSign Sits at the Intersection of CPaaS and Digital Identity 39 Source: Capital IQ as of 06 December 2021 Average Revenue Growth CY21E - 23E CAGR CPaaS TeleSign Implied Digital Identity 24% 24% 28% Average EV / Revenue CY23E 4.3x 2.2x 17.5x Average EV / Revenue CY23E / CY21E - 23E CAGR 0.17x 0.09x 0.58x Digital Identity A uthen t ic a tion © 2021 TeleSign
TeleSign’s Growth Profile is Best - in - Class Source: Capital IQ as of 06 December 2021 1. Sinch 2021 - 2023 Revenue CAGR calculated based on Broker Consensus 21PF Revenue, adjusting for Inteliquent, MessengerPeople, MessageMedia and Pathwire acquisitions 2021E - 2023E Revenue CAGR 24 . 2 % 31.1% 28 . 9 % 25.8% 25.5% 23 . 8 % 23 . 0 % 19 . 5 % 17 . 5 % 36.8% 36.6% 36 . 0 % 35 . 2 % 18 . 5 % 16 . 3 % 15 . 0 % Average: 24.4% Average: 27.8% CPaaS Peers Digital Identity Peers © 2021 TeleSign 40 ( 1 )
Source: Company filings, FactSet as of 06 December 2021 Note: Twilio, Bandwidth and Sinch MRQ growth represents MRQ organic revenue growth; SaaS universe includes: ADBE, CRM, SHOP, NOW, TEAM, TWLO, CRWD, WDAY, DOCU, VEEV, DDOG, OKTA, ZS, HUBS, PAYC, ZI, RNG, COUP, CDAY, ZEN, XRO - AU, AVLR, DBX, PCTY, FIVN, BKI, SMAR, PLAN, WTC - AU, WK, BL, NCNO, INOV, DSG - CA, CDK, NEWR, EVBG, QTWO, APPF, ALRM, LPSN, BOX, SPSC, QLYS, MIME, CSOD, PD, JAMF, VG, SVMK, TWOU, EGHT, BAND, INST, DOMO, ZUO, PRO, PING, YEXT, UPLD, ECOM, BAS1V - FI, OOMA, BNFT, CSLT, SINCH - SE; EV/23E growth adj. revenue defined as EV/23E revenue / (2021E - 2023E Revenue CAGR*100) 2023E Gross Profit Margin vs. EV/23E Growth Adj. Revenue Growth Is the Main Driver of Valuations in Tech MRQ Revenue Growth vs. EV/23E Revenue FSLY BAND ADP C D AY M ANH M ODN SH O P Q T W O T W L O ALKT SINCH - SE R² = 0.062 0 . 0 x 5 . 0 x 1 0 .0x 1 5 .0x 2 0 .0x 2 5 .0x 3 0 .0x 3 5 .0x EV/23E Revenue SaaS Universe Low Gross Margin Comps R 2 = 0.4827 T W L O FSLY B AN D ADP M ANH M ODN CDAY SH O P Q T W O AL KT SINCH - SE R² = 0.0249 © 2021 TeleSign 41 0 . 0 0 x 0 . 2 0 x 0 . 4 0 x 0. 6 0x 0 . 8 0 x 1 . 0 0 x 1 . 2 0 x 1 . 4 0 x EV/23E Growth Adjusted Revenue 0% 2 0 % 40% 60% 80% 25% 35% 45% 55% 65% MRQ Revenue Growth 2023E Gross margin
2020A Opex 1 as % of Revenues TeleSign Has an Efficient Operating Cost Structure and a Profitable Business Model Source: Capital IQ as of 06 December 2021 Comparables in descending order of 2020A Gross Margin 2020A Gross Margin 2020A EBITDA Margin 86 .0 % 81.0% 79 .7 % 78 .8 % 77 .9 % 77 .6 % 75 .7 % Average: 79.5% ( 64 .9) % ( 60 .6) % ( 64 .9) % ( 65 .1) % ( 74 .0) % ( 74 .7 )% ( 65 .2) % Average: (67.0)% CPaaS Peers Digital Identity Peers 21 .1 % 20 .4 % 14 .8 % 13.7% 3 .9 % 2 .9 % 10 .6 % Average: 12.5% 10 .4 % 14 .2 % 10 .3 % ( 2 .5 )% 7 .1 % 8 .8 % 13 .4 % ( 1 .0) % 11 .3 % Average: 7.7% 26 .7 % 76 .6 % 73 .3 % 60 .4 % 56 .0 % 49 .0 % 27 .2 % 23 .5 % 20 .2 % Average: 48.3% ( 16 .3) % ( 62 .3) % ( 63 .0) % ( 62 .9) % ( 48 .9) % ( 40 .2) % ( 13 .8 )% ( 24 .6) % ( 8 .8) % Average: (40.6)% 42 1. Excluding D&A © 2021 TeleSign
EV / Growth Adj. Revenue 2023E (2) Opportunity to Invest at a Compelling Valuation Level Comparables in descending order of EV/23E Revenue EV / Revenue 2023E Source: Capital IQ as of 06 December 2021 1. Sinch multiples adjusted for $1.3 Bn Inteliquent and $1.6Bn Pathwire acquisitions (enterprise value and revenue proforma for these acquisitions) based on public disclosure and broker estimates. 2021 - 2023 Revenue CAGR calculated based on Broker Consensus 21PF Revenue, adjusting for Inteliquent, MessengerPeople, MessageMedia and Pathwire acquisitions. Unadjusted Capital IQ multiples of 2.3x EV/23E Sales and 0.10x EV / Growth Adj. 2. Adjusted for 2021 - 2023 Revenue CAGR CPaaS Peers Digital Identity Peers 2 . 2 x 8 . 7 x 7 . 9 x 4 . 0 x 3 . 4 x 3 . 1 x 2 . 9 x 2 . 8 x 1 . 9 x Average: 4.3x 41 . 9 x 25 . 8 x 17.1 x 16 . 1 x 8 . 1 x 8 . 1 x 5 . 2 x Average: 17.5x 1 . 19 x 0 . 71 x 0 . 46 x 0 . 45 x 0 . 50 x 0 . 44 x 0.35 x Average: 0.58x 0 . 09 x 0 . 28 x 0 . 31 x 0 . 17 x 0.13x 0.14x 0 . 17 x 0 . 15 x 0 . 06 x Average: 0.17x ( 1 ) © 2021 TeleSign 43 ( 1 )
Why Invest in TeleSign? High quality business with high growth at scale Leadership position in a large and fast - gro w ing TAM Passionate team and organi z ation Compelling valuation level against public peer set © 2021 TeleSign 44
Ap p endix
Management Financial Summary 1 © 2021 TeleSign 46 Millions USD FY - 18A FY - 19A FY - 20A FY - 21E FY - 22E FY - 23E FY - 24E FY - 25E FY - 26E Revenue 138 200 314 391 485 603 776 941 1,132 Cost of Sales (88) (137) (230) (306) (389) (475) (594) (696) (805) Gross Profit 50 63 84 84 97 127 181 245 327 % Gross Profit 36% 32% 27% 22% 20% 21% 23% 26% 29% Operating Expenses (37) (42) (56) (74) (129) (163) (191) (205) (222) Operating Profit 13 21 27 11 (33) (36) (10) 40 105 D&A 5 5 5 8 10 13 18 24 27 EBITDA 17 26 33 18 (23) (22) 8 64 132 1. The above presentation excludes historical and forecasted incidental costs which do not impact the forward - looking financials. The financial statements contained in this presentation are unaudited and are subject to change. See Disclaimer
P&L 1,2 © 2021 TeleSign 47 Thousands USD F Y - 19A F Y - 20A Net revenues 194 , 75 0 310 , 76 4 Net revenues - related party 5 , 34 5 2 , 93 4 Total revenue 200 , 09 5 313 , 69 8 Cost of revenues 104 , 30 1 185 , 09 7 Cost of revenues - related party 32 , 74 5 44 , 73 7 Total cost of revenue 137 , 04 6 229 , 83 4 Gross profit 63 , 04 9 83 , 86 4 Operating expenses Research and development 19 , 30 8 26 , 17 5 Sales and marketing 12 , 18 5 17 , 29 0 General and administrative 10 , 51 4 16 , 96 7 Total operating expenses 42 , 00 7 60 , 43 2 Income from operations 21 , 04 2 23 , 43 2 Other income (expense), net (910) 38 Income before provision for income taxes 20 , 13 2 23 , 47 0 Income tax provision (4 , 124 ) (4 , 704 ) Net income attributable to common stockholders 16 , 00 8 18 , 76 6 Net income per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted 160 188 Weighted - average shares used in computing net income per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted 100 , 00 0 100 , 00 0 1. The financial statements contained in this presentation are unaudited and are subject to change. See Disclaimer 2. For Operating Profit Reconciliation see next page
Operating Profit Reconciliation 1 © 2021 TeleSign 48 1. The financial statements contained in this presentation are unaudited and are subject to change. See Disclaimer Thousands USD F Y - 19A F Y - 20A Operating Profit in Management Financial Summary 21 , 49 2 27 , 45 5 Exceptional Litigation Expenses 486 3 , 93 9 M&A Expenses - 101 Audit Adjustments (36) (17) Income from Operations in P&L 21 , 04 1 23 , 43 1
Thousands USD F Y - 19A F Y - 20A ASSETS Current assets Cash and Cash Equivalents 31,643 14,841 Accounts receivable, net 35,381 62,741 Accounts receivable - related party 283 289 Prepaid expenses 7,543 4,310 Other current assets 424 2,658 Total current assets 75,274 84,839 Property and equipment, net 6,931 9,480 Operating right - of - use asset 3,855 2,694 Intangible assets, net 1,910 1,123 Goodwill 5,785 6,000 Deferred tax asset 2,416 1,065 Other assets 439 465 Total assets 96,610 105,667 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities Accounts payable 4,680 7,467 Accrued expenses 20,296 28,698 Accounts payable and Accrued expenses - related party 2,383 5,906 Operating lease liability, current 1,447 1,521 Deferred revenue 218 4,905 Deferred tax liability, current - - Other current liabilities 9 222 Total current liabilities 29,033 48,719 Other liabilities 994 1,480 Operating lease liability, non - current 3,295 1,889 Deferred tax liability, non - current - 184 Total liabilities 33,322 52,272 Commitments and contingencies (Note 12) Stockholders' equity Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 100 shares authorized; 100 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 Additional paid - in - capital 33,841 33,841 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (100) (642) Retained earnings 29,547 20,196 Total stockholders' equity 63,288 53,395 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity 96,610 105,667 © 2021 TeleSign 49 Balance Sheet 1 1. The financial statements contained in this presentation are unaudited and are subject to change. See Disclaimer
Thousands USD F Y - 19A F Y - 20A Cash Flows from Operating Activities Net income 16 , 00 8 18 , 76 6 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities Depreciation and amortization 4 , 47 6 5 , 12 7 Non - cash operating lease expense 1 , 17 9 1 , 17 9 Bad debt expense 50 203 Gain on disposal of subsidiaries ( 70 ) - Unrealized foreign currency transaction (gain) loss ( 15 ) 104 Other non - cash charges 1 1 Changes in operating assets and liabilities Accounts receivable ( 15 , 757 ) ( 27 , 050 ) Accounts receivable - related party 115 (2) Prepaid expenses ( 4 , 844 ) 3 , 25 0 Other current assets ( 117 ) ( 2 , 227 ) Other assets ( 1 ) ( 20 ) Operating lease liability ( 1 , 478 ) ( 1 , 471 ) Accounts payable and Accrued expenses - related party 262 3 , 52 3 Deferred revenue 47 3 , 79 0 Accounts payable 2 , 77 2 2 , 73 8 Accrued expenses 10 , 01 7 9 , 03 8 Deferred tax liability - 184 Deferred tax asset 3 , 60 5 1 , 35 1 Other current liabilities ( 1 , 114 ) 210 Other liabilities 21 485 Net cash provided by operating activities 15 , 15 7 19 , 17 9 Cash Flows from Investing Activities Purchases of property and equipment ( 1 , 962 ) ( 3 , 448 ) Capitalized software development costs ( 2 , 152 ) ( 4 , 295 ) Patent costs ( 207 ) ( 181 ) Proceeds from sale of subsidiary 67 - Net cash used in investing activities ( 4 , 254 ) ( 7 , 924 ) Cash Flows from Financing Activities Cash dividends declared - ( 28 , 117 ) Net cash used in financing activities - ( 28 , 117 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 628 42 Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 11 , 53 1 ( 16 , 820 ) Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash - Beginning of the period 20 , 39 6 31 , 92 7 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash - End of the period 31 , 92 7 15 , 10 7 Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information Noncash investing and financing activities Purchases of PPE not yet paid for 1 , 02 1 57 Cash paid for Income taxes ( 198 ) ( 3 , 783 ) © 2021 TeleSign 50 Cash Flow Statement 1 1. The financial statements contained in this presentation are unaudited and are subject to change. See Disclaimer
TeleSign’s Communications Solutions Address the Full Spectrum of End User Account Security and Engagement How it Works What it Solves Cha ll enge TeleSign benefits Authentication Authenticate users and provide controlled access across applications CPaaS Deliver reliable, secure messaging and voice via an API USERNAME PASSWORD ENTER CODE SMS and Voice Verify SMS/MMS/RCS Provide timely, personalized information through text and multimedia alerts, reminders, notifications, invites, one - time - passcodes (OTPs), and two - way messaging Over - the - Top (WhatsApp & Viber) Enrich user engagement with default or custom message templates. Deliver engaging text, media, and location communications in a secure and encrypted channel. Voice Make, receive and control calls for one - way and two - way communications. Collect digits, create interactive voice response (IVR) flows, record calls and more. End user reach and fragmentation 700+ direct carrier connections allow clients to reach users in over 200 countries in 87 languages. Advanced phone number cleansing increases delivery rates 10% - 15% while dynamic routing automatically retries “Failed Messages” © 2021 TeleSign 51 Regu lat or y framework Global compliance expertise and regulatory assistance helps clients adhere to Telephone Consumer Protection Act in the US and similar local policies and regulations worldwide Account takeover attempts One - time SMS and voice verification codes authenticate identities and verify transactions while automatic answering machine detection prevents passcodes from being left on vulnerable voicemail
TeleSign’s Digital Identity Solutions Assess Fraud Risk With Phone Number Intelligence and Machine Learning How it Works What it Solves Cha ll enge TeleSign benefits Cyberfraud, trust & safety issues TeleSign Score returns a numerical risk assessment, fraud score reason codes, and recommendations while allowing customized score thresholds based on business needs Preventing fraud vs. conversion Streamline the account verification process, increase conversions, and securely grow ecosystem of verified and valuable users Lack of identity data Metadata - based risk scoring leveraging phone number data & analytics, proprietary database of phone number reputation information and Global Telco Fraud Database, a crowdsourced telco incidents database of suspicious network activity © 2021 TeleSign 52
Risk Factors © 2021 TeleSign 53 Risks Related to TeleSign’s Business and Industry 1. TeleSign may experience significant fluctuations in its operating results and rates of growth. 2. TeleSign may see a decline in its margins or the market share in its products and services over time due to market and competitive pressures and may not continue to sustain profitability in the future. TeleSign’s solutions or TeleSign’s customers’ personal data, TeleSign’s reputation, business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected. continue to do business with TeleSign. 5. TeleSign has material customer concentration, with a limited number of customers accounting for a material portion of its 2020 revenues. 6. If TeleSign’s solutions fail to help its customers or it does not innovate quickly enough to help its customers achieve and maintain compliance with certain government regulations and industry standards, TeleSign’s business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected. 7. TeleSign’s sales cycle in certain segments or geography may be long and its sales efforts require considerable time. 8. TeleSign faces intense competition, especially from larger, well - established companies, and it may lack sufficient financial or other resources to maintain or improve its competitive position. 9. TeleSign has an aggressive growth plan in the next 5 years; if TeleSign fails to execute its growth plan effectively, it may be unable to adequately address competitive challenges and its business and prospects may be materially and adversely affected. operations could be adversely affected. 11. If TeleSign is unable to efficiently acquire new customers, retain its existing customers, or expand the level of adoption of its products with its existing customers, TeleSign’s business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected. 12. TeleSign’s GAAP compliant financials are still being audited and therefore still subject to restatements. 13. The economic impact of COVID - 19 restrictions may have impacted the growth of businesses of certain segments of TeleSign’s customers (e.g. hospitality, travel) which may negatively affect TeleSign’s business, financial condition, and results of operations. operating results. 15. TeleSign’s international operations and continued international expansion subject TeleSign to additional costs and risks, which could adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations. and financial condition. 17. If TeleSign services fails to deliver time critical communication, produce reliable and fast results or provide a global reach, its business and reputation could suffer. 18. TeleSign has an important strategic partnership with BICS, and if it were to lose that partnership, it could adversely affect TeleSign’s business, results of operations and financial condition while alternative relationships are established. 19. A substantial part of Telesign’s cost basis is driven by termination charges. Material price increases by telecom operators could have an adverse effect on Telesign’s financial results. 20. If TeleSign does not set optimal prices for its solutions, its business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected. 21. If TeleSign is unable to manage the costs associated with its providers, its profit margins could be adversely affected. 22. TeleSign may be unable to prevent unlawful or fraudulent activities in its operations, and it could be liable for such fraudulent or unlawful activities. 23. Any significant interruptions or delays in IT service or any undetected errors or design faults in IT systems could result in limited capacity, reduced demand, processing delays and loss of customers, suppliers or marketplace merchants and a reduction in commercial activity. 24. If TeleSign fails to efficiently maintain, protect and enhance its brand, TeleSign’s ability to attract new customers could be impaired and its business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected. 25. TeleSign may not be able to attract or retain employees in critical roles at a reasonable cost. 26. TeleSign’s services may receive poor positioning in analyst reports, which could negatively affect TeleSign’s business, financial condition, and results of 3. If TeleSign or its third - party service providers experience a data security breach or network incident that allows, or is perceived to allow, unauthorized access to operations. 27. If TeleSign cannot maintain its corporate culture as it grows, TeleSign may not be able to retain employees or its culture of innovation and its business could be adversely affected. 4. If TeleSign is perceived to breach its personal data compliance requirements, it could lead to negative publicity. As a result, customers may be reluctant to do or 28. TeleSign may be unable to make acquisitions and investments or successfully integrate acquired companies into its business, or TeleSign’s acquisitions and investments may not meet its expectations, any of which could adversely affect TeleSign’s business, financial condition, and results of operations. 29. TeleSign’s failure to raise additional capital or generate cash flows necessary to expand its operations and invest in new technologies in the future could reduce TeleSign’s ability to compete successfully and harm its results of operations. 30. TeleSign’s results of operations may be adversely affected by changes in accounting principles applicable to it. 31. TeleSign’s estimates or judgments relating to its critical accounting policies may be based on assumptions that change or prove to be incorrect, which could cause TeleSign’s results of operations to fall below expectations of securities analysts and investors, resulting in a decline in the market price of TeleSign’s common stock. 32. TeleSign may have significant deficiencies or material weaknesses over internal reporting. 33. TeleSign tracks certain operational metrics with internal systems and tools and does not independently verify such metrics. Certain of TeleSign’s operational 10. f TeleSign fails to innovate in response to rapid technological change, evolving industry standards, and changing customer needs, requirements, or preferences metrics are subject to inherent challenges in measurement, and any real or perceived inaccuracies in such metrics may adversely affect TeleSign’s business and and bring such innovation to market, TeleSign’s competition could deliver similar or alternative solutions and TeleSign’s business, financial condition, and results of reputation. 34. Adverse macro - economic conditions and their impact on consumer spending patterns could adversely affect TeleSign. 35. TeleSign’s business could be adversely affected by pandemics, natural disasters, political crises or other unexpected or unforeseen events. 36. If TeleSign’s solutions do not effectively interoperate with its customers’ existing or future IT infrastructures, TeleSign’s business would be harmed. 37. Real or perceived errors, failures, vulnerabilities or bugs in TeleSign’s products, including deployment complexity, or doubts about reliability, redundancy and scalability of TeleSign’s technology or infrastructure could harm its business, financial condition, and results of operations. 38. A customer or reseller may misconfigure or negligently use TeleSign’s servicers or a direct attack on Telesign or other entities in the same intellectual property 14. The COVID - 19 pandemic and any future outbreak or other public health emergency could materially affect TeleSign’s business, liquidity, financial condition and space could lead to the unavailability or serious performance degradation of TeleSign’s services. 39. TeleSign could be subject to the unauthorized disclosure of its confidential information to the competition. A malicious insider could disclose sensitive TeleSign information, including information on pricing, cost structure, business practices, intellectual property or artificial intelligence to its competition 40. The quality of TeleSign’s Digital Identity products depend heavily on the availability of meaningful data insights lawfully acquired through third party suppliers 16. TeleSign faces exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, and such fluctuations could adversely affect TeleSign’s business, results of operations (carriers and data brokers) and customers. A loss of such contracts and consequential access to such data could have a direct impact on performance of TeleSign’s data models used and quality of its products. 41. A substantial increase of data acquisition costs could harm TeleSign’s business, financial condition, and results of operations 42. Telesign has no direct control over the data quality it acquires from its suppliers which are needed to provide its digital identity services. If the data quality it acquires deteriorates over time, TeleSign’s coverage may decrease and become irrelevant for the customer. 43. As a result of changing customer expectations, advances by competition, or due to growing product complexity, TeleSign’s user interfaces or automation requirements may no longer be in - line with customer expectations, which could have an adverse effect on TeleSign’s business, financial condition, and results of operations. 44. Newer or more innovative technology may disrupt the adoption of SMS as a solution in the communication and authentication space. 45. TeleSign’s ability to introduce new products and features is dependent on adequate research and development resources and TeleSign’s ability to successfully complete acquisitions. If TeleSign does not adequately fund its research and development efforts or complete acquisitions successfully, TeleSign may not be able to compete effectively and its business and results of operations may be harmed.
Risk Factors © 2021 TeleSign 54 impaired and it may lose valuable assets, generate less revenue and incur costly litigation. review and analysis could negatively affect TeleSign’s ability to license its services and may subject it to possible litigation. Risks Related to The Legal and Regulatory Environmen t termination with refunds of prepaid unused amounts, which could adversely affect TeleSign’s business, financial condition, and results of operations. 53. Indemnity provisions in various agreements potentially expose TeleSign to substantial liability for breach of data protection laws, intellectual property infringement and other losses. 54. TeleSign may be subject to liability claims if it breaches its contracts and TeleSign’s insurance may be inadequate to cover its losses. or significant fines and harm TeleSign’s business and reputation. 56. TeleSign’s international operations may give rise to potentially adverse tax consequences. 57. TeleSign’s ability to use its net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be limited. 58. Any successful action by state, foreign or other authorities to collect additional or past indirect taxes, including sales tax and others could adversely affect TeleSign’s business, financial condition, and results of operations. 59. Changes in data localization requirements for personal data may require a change in technology or infrastructure or operation changes. 60. A violation of applicable telecommunications laws and regulations by TeleSign’s customer or resellers could lead TeleSign to violate its carrier compliance requirements. Risks Related to the Business Combination subject to a number of conditions. If those conditions are not satisfied or waived, the Business Combination may not be completed. 62. Resales of the shares of common stock in the stock consideration could depress the market price of the combined company’s common stock. 63. The exercise of discretion by the NAAC directors and officers in agreeing to changes to the terms of or waivers of closing conditions in the Business Combination Agreement may result in a conflict of interest when determining whether such changes to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement or waivers of conditions are appropriate and in the best interest of the stockholders of the combined company. 64. A market for the combined company’s securities may not continue, which would adversely affect the liquidity and price of the combined company’s securities. 65. If the Business Combination’s benefits do not meet the expectations of investors, stockholders or financial analysts, the market price of NAAC’s securities or, Risks Related to TeleSign’s Intellectual Property following the consummation of the Business Combination, the combined company’s securities, may decline. 46. If TeleSign fails to adequately obtain, maintain, defend, protect or enforce its intellectual property or proprietary rights, TeleSign’s competitive position could be 66. Both NAAC and TeleSign will incur significant transaction costs in connection with the Business Combination. 67. The ability to successfully effect the Business Combination and following the consummation of the Business Combination, the combined company’s ability to 47. If TeleSign is subject to a claim that it infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates a third party’s intellectual property rights, TeleSign’s business, financial successfully operate the business thereafter will be largely dependent upon the efforts of certain key personnel of TeleSign. The loss of such key personnel could condition, or results of operations could be adversely affected. negatively impact the operations and financial results of the combined business. 48. TeleSign may be obligated to disclose its proprietary source code to certain of its customers, which may limit TeleSign’s ability to protect its intellectual property 68. Delays in completing the Business Combination may substantially reduce the expected benefits of the Business Combination. and proprietary rights and could reduce the renewals of TeleSign’s solutions. Additionally, use of open - source software in TeleSign’s solutions without proper prior 69. Subsequent to the completion of the Business Combination, the combined company may be required to take write - downs or write - offs, restructuring and impairment or other charges that could have a significant negative effect on its financial condition, results of operations and the combined company’s common share price, which could cause you to lose some or all of your investment. 49. TeleSign is subject to stringent laws and regulations with regards to data protection. Any actual, suspected or perceived failure by TeleSign to comply with such 70. There can be no assurance that the combined company’s common shares will be approved for listing on Nasdaq or that the combined company will be able to laws and regulations would materially affect its business. comply with the continued listing standards of Nasdaq. 50. TeleSign’s business is subject to a wide range of laws and regulations, many of which are evolving, and failure to comply or adapt/adopt quickly with such laws 71. There can be no assurance as to the timing of the commencement or completion of the SEC review of the proxy statement/prospectus relating to the Business and regulations or if more stringent laws and regulations come into law, it could negatively affect TeleSign’s business, financial condition, and results of operations. Combination, which in turn will determine the timing of the closing of the Business Combination. 51. Any breach of data protection laws or regulations or contractual obligations may result reputational damage, legal proceedings, actions, claims, fines, penalties 72. Regulatory investigations or legal proceedings in connection with the Business Combination, the outcomes of which are uncertain, could delay or prevent the against TeleSign, which could have an adverse effect on its business, financial condition, and results of operations. completion of the Business Combination. 52. If TeleSign fails to meet the service level commitments under its customer contracts, it could be obligated to provide credits for future service, or face contract 73. Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with existing or future laws and regulations may adversely affecting our business, financial condition and results of operations. Risks Related to Owning the Combined Company’s Shares 74. A market for the combined company’s common shares may not develop or be sustained, which would adversely affect the liquidity and price of the combined company’s common shares. 55. TeleSign is subject to anti - corruption, anti - bribery, US export and sanctions restrictions, and non - compliance with such laws can subject it to criminal penalties 75. Sales of a substantial number of the combined company’s common shares in the public market, including those issued upon exercise of warrants or options, could cause the share price to decline. 76. The combined company’s future ability to pay cash dividends to shareholders is subject to the discretion of its board of directors and will be limited by its ability to generate sufficient earnings and cash flows. 77. There can be no assurance that the combined company will not be a passive foreign investment company for any taxable year, which could subject U.S. shareholders to significant adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences. Risks Related to Being a Public Company 78. The combined company will incur increased costs as a result of operating as a public company, and its management will devote substantial time to new compliance initiatives. 79. If estimates or judgments relating to critical accounting standards prove to be incorrect, or such standards change over time, results of operations could be adversely affected. 61. TeleSign has not yet entered into a definitive agreement for the Business Combination and, when it does, the completion of the Business Combination will be 80. It is expected that the combined company will be a “foreign private issuer” and will follow certain home country corporate governance practices. As a foreign private issuer, there will be different disclosure and other requirements than U.S. domestic registrants. The shareholders may not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all Nasdaq corporate governance requirements. The combined company may lose its foreign private issuer status in the future, which could result in significant additional expense and the need to present financial statements in accordance with US GAAP. 81. The combined company could, in the future, need to disclose, and be required to remediate, material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting.