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):  June 7, 2022

 

PHOENIX MOTOR INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware 001-41414 85-4319789

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation)

(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

1500 Lakeview Loop

Anaheim, CA

 

 

92807

(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)
     
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:   (909) 987-0815

 

 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ 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   Ticker symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which
registered
Common Stock, par value $0.0004 per share   PEV   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

 

On June 7, 2022, Phoenix Motor Inc. (the “Company”) entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Prime Number Capital, LLC (the “Representative”), as representative of the underwriters named therein (collectively, the “Underwriters”), in connection with the Company’s initial public offering. The Company previously filed a form of underwriting agreement as an exhibit to its Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-261384) (as amended and supplemented, the “Registration Statement”). On June 7, 2022, the Company announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 2,100,000 shares of common stock for a price of $7.50 per share. The Company also granted the Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 315,000 additional shares of the Company’s common stock on the same terms and conditions for the purpose of covering any over-allotments, if any, in connection with the initial public offering.

 

The initial public offering closed on June 10, 2022 and was made pursuant to the Registration Statement, which was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on June 7, 2022 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). A final prospectus describing the terms of the offering was filed with the SEC on June 9, 2022 and is available on the SEC’s website located at http://www.sec.gov.

 

In connection with the closing of the initial public offering, the Company issued to the Representative, and/or its permitted designees, warrants to purchase 105,000 shares of common stock, equal to 5% of the number of shares sold in the initial public offering, an exercise price of $9.375, equal to 125% of the public offering price in the offering (the “Representative Warrants”). The Representative Warrants are exercisable for a period of five years, commencing on the one hundred eightieth (180th) day after the commencement of sales of the initial public offering, and contain customary “cashless” exercise and registration rights provisions.

 

The net proceeds to the Company from its initial public offering are approximately $14.3 million, after deducting underwriting commissions and offering expenses, and assuming no exercise of the over-allotment option. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the initial public offering to invest in its technology, research and development efforts, manufacturing, marketing, maintaining and expanding its intellectual property portfolio and for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

 

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, such as statements related to the use of proceeds from the initial public offering, as well as other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the SEC.

 

A copy of the Underwriting Agreement is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Underwriting Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Underwriting Agreement. The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations and warranties that the parties thereto made to, and solely for the benefit of, the other party in the context of all of the terms and conditions of that Underwriting Agreement and in the context of the specific relationship between the parties. The provisions of the Underwriting Agreement and schedules and exhibits thereto, including the representations and warranties contained therein respectively, are not for the benefit of any party other than the parties to such documents and agreements and are not intended as documents for investors and the public to obtain factual information about the current state of affairs of the parties to those documents and agreements. Rather, investors and the public should look to other disclosures contained in the Company’s filings with the SEC.

 

Concurrently with the execution of the Underwriting Agreement, the Company, the Representative and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as escrow agent, entered into an indemnification escrow agreement (the “Indemnification Escrow Agreement”), pursuant to which $250,000 from gross proceeds from the initial public offering are deposited by the Company at the closing of the offering in an escrow account for a period of two years following the closing of the initial public offering for purposes of covering potential legal action against the Representative for acting as a representative of the Underwriters.

 

A copy of the Indemnification Escrow Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Indemnification Escrow Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Indemnification Escrow Agreement.

 

The Company has also entered into indemnification agreements (the “Indemnification Agreement”) with each of its directors and senior executive officers. Under these Indemnification Agreements, the Company has agreed to indemnify them against certain liabilities and expenses that they incur in connection with claims made by reason of their being a director or officer of the Company.

 

A copy of the form of the Indemnification Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Indemnification Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Indemnification Agreement.

 

 

 

Item 8.01 Other Events

 

On June 10, 2022, the Company issued a press release announcing the closing of the initial public offering. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.
  Description
1.1   Underwriting Agreement, dated June 7, 2022, by and between the Registrant and Prime Number Capital, LLC
10.1   Indemnification Escrow Agreement, dated as of June 7, 2022, by and among the Registrant, Prime Number Capital, LLC and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as escrow agent
10.2   Form of Indemnification Agreement
99.1   Press Release dated June 10, 2022

 

 

 

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.

 

  PHOENIX MOTOR INC.
   
   
Date:  June 13, 2022 By /s/ Wenbing Chris Wang                               
  Name:    Wenbing Chris Wang
  Title:  Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

Exhibit 1.1

 

Execution Version

 

PHOENIX MOTOR INC.

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

June 7, 2022

 

Prime Number Capital, LLC

14 Myrtle Drive

Great Neck, NY 11021

Tel.: 212-590-2303

 

As Representative of the Underwriters named on Schedule A hereto

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned, Phoenix Motor Inc., a Delaware company (the “Company”), hereby confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with several underwriters (such underwriters, including the Representative (as defined below), the “Underwriters” and each an “Underwriter”) named in Schedule A hereto for which Prime Number Capital, LLC acting as the representative of the several Underwriters (in such capacity, the “Representative”) to issue and sell an aggregate of 2,100,000 shares of common stock (the “Firm Shares”) of the Company, par value $0.0004 per share (“Common Stock”). The Company has also granted to the several Underwriters an option to purchase up to 315,000 additional shares of Common Stock, on the terms and for the purposes set forth in Section 2(c) hereof (the “Additional Shares”). The Firm Shares and any Additional Shares purchased pursuant to this Agreement are herein collectively referred to as the “Offered Securities.” The offering and sale of the Offered Securities contemplated by this Agreement is referred to herein as the “Offering.”

 

The Company confirms its agreement with the Underwriters as follows:

 

SECTION 1.           Representations and Warranties of the Company.

 

The Company represents and warrants to the Underwriters as follows with the understanding that the same may be relied upon by the Underwriters in the Offering, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (as defined below) and each Option Closing Date (as defined below), if any:

 

(a)            Filing of the Registration Statement. The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-261384), which contains a form of prospectus to be used in connection with the Offering. Such registration statement, as amended, including the financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto contained in the registration statement at the time such registration statement became effective, in the form in which it was declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Securities Act Regulations”), and including any required information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act, or pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act Regulations”), is called the “Registration Statement.” Any registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act is called the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement,” and from and after the date and time of filing of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the term “Registration Statement” shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Such prospectus, in the form first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act after the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto, or, if no filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act is required, the form of final prospectus relating to the Offering included in the Registration Statement at the effective date of the Registration Statement (“Effective Date”), is called the “Prospectus.” All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement (each, a “preliminary prospectus”), the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, shall include any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”). The preliminary prospectus that was included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below) is hereinafter called the “Pricing Prospectus.” Any reference to the “most recent preliminary prospectus” shall be deemed to refer to the latest preliminary prospectus included in the registration statement. Any reference herein to any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any supplement or amendment to either thereof shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents incorporated by reference therein as of the date of such reference.

 

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(b)           Applicable Time” means 5:00 pm, Eastern Daylight Time, on the date of this Agreement.

 

(c)            Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations on June 7, 2022. The Company has complied, to the Commission’s satisfaction, with all requests of the Commission for additional or supplemental information. No stop order preventing or suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission.

 

Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus when filed complied or will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and, if filed by electronic transmission pursuant to EDGAR (except as may be permitted by Regulation S-T under the Securities Act), was identical in content to the copy thereof delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with the Offering, other than with respect to any artwork and graphics that were not filed. Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, at the time it became effective and at all subsequent times until the expiration of the prospectus delivery period required under Section 5(b) of the Securities Act, complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its date and at all subsequent times until the Underwriters have completed the Offering, did not and will not contain 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. The representations and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, or in the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Underwriters furnished to the Company in writing expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished on behalf of any of the Underwriters consists of (i) the name of the Underwriters contained on the cover page of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and Prospectus, and (ii) each sub-section under the caption “Underwriting” in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus (the “Underwriter Information”). There are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that have not been fairly and accurately described in all material respects or filed as required.

 

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(d)           Disclosure Package. The term “Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the Pricing Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, (ii) each issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act (each, an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”), if any, identified in Schedule B hereto, (iii) the pricing terms set forth in Schedule C to this Agreement, and (iv) any other free writing prospectus that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package. As of the Applicable Time, the Disclosure Package did not contain 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. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

 

(e)            Company Not Ineligible Issuer. (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement and (ii) as of the date of the execution and delivery of this Agreement (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)), the Company was not and is not an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 under the Securities Act that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an Ineligible Issuer.

 

(f)            Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. No Issuer Free Writing Prospectus includes any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement, including any document incorporated by reference therein that has not been superseded or modified. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

 

(g)            Offering Materials Furnished to the Underwriters. The Company has delivered to the Underwriters copies of the Registration Statement and of each consent and certificate of experts filed as a part thereof, and each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, in such quantities and at such places as the Underwriters have reasonably requested in writing.

 

(h)            Distribution of Offering Material by the Company. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the completion of the Offering, any offering material in connection with the Offering other than a preliminary prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus reviewed and consented to by the Underwriters, and the Registration Statement.

 

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(i)             The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement of, the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement hereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles.

 

(j)             Authorization of the Offered Securities. The Offered Securities to be sold by the Company through the Underwriters have been duly and validly authorized by all required corporate action and have been reserved for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when so issued and delivered by the Company, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of all Liens imposed by the Company. The Company has a sufficient number of authorized shares of Common Stock for the issuance of the maximum number of Offered Securities issuable pursuant to the Offering as described in the Prospectus.

 

(k)             No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. There are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any securities of the Company registered for sale under the Registration Statement and included in the Offering.

 

(l)              No Material Adverse Change. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Disclosure Package: (i) there has been no material adverse change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company (any such change, a “Material Adverse Change”); (ii) the Company has not incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, not in the ordinary course of business nor entered into any material transaction or agreement not in the ordinary course of business; and (iii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company in respect of its capital stock.

 

(m)            Independent Accountant. Marcum Bernstein & Pinchuk LLP (the “Accountant”), which has expressed its opinions with respect to the audited financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) of the Company filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

 

(n)            Preparation of the Financial Statements. The financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, presents fairly the information provided as of and at the dates and for the periods indicated (provided that unaudited interim financial statements are subject to year-end audit adjustments that are not expected to be material in the aggregate and do not contain all footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). Such financial statements comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. Except as included therein, no other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus.

 

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(o)            Incorporation and Good Standing. The Company has been duly formed and is validly existing as a company limited by shares under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation and has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement. As of the Closing Date, the Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity that is not otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus.

 

(p)            Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (other than for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans described in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or upon exercise of outstanding options or warrants described in the Disclosure Package and Prospectus, as the case may be). The Common Stock conforms, and, when issued and delivered as provided in this Agreement, the Offered Securities will conform, in all material respects to the description thereof contained in each of the Disclosure Package and Prospectus. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and have been issued in compliance with applicable laws. None of the outstanding shares of Common Stock were issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. There are no authorized or outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of the Company other than those described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The description of the Company’s stock option and other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder, set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights. No further approval from Nasdaq or authorization of any shareholder, the Board of Directors or others is required for the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no shareholders agreements, voting agreements or other similar agreements with respect to the Company’s Common Stock to which the Company is a party or, to the knowledge of the Company, between or among any of the Company’s shareholders.

 

(q)            Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required. The Company is not in violation of its amended and restated certificate of incorporation or in default (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would be in default) (“Default”) under any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, note, contract, franchise, lease or other instrument to which it is a party or by which it may be bound (including, without limitation, any agreement or contract filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or to which any of the property or assets of the Company are subject (each, an “Existing Instrument”)), except for such Defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. The Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not result in any violation of the provisions of the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Company, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument and (iii) will not result in any violation of any law, administrative regulation or administrative or court decree applicable to the Company, except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), to the extent such conflict, breach Default or violation could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency, is required for the Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except the registration or qualification of the Offered Securities under the Securities Act and applicable state securities or blue sky laws and from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. (“FINRA”).

 

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(r)            Subsidiaries. Each of the Company’s direct and indirect subsidiaries (each a “Subsidiary” and collectively, the “Subsidiaries”) has been identified on Schedule E hereto. Each of the Subsidiaries has been duly formed, is validly existing under the laws of Delaware or California, as the case may be, and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has full power and authority (corporate or otherwise) to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Change on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, all of the equity interests of each Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are owned or controlled directly or indirectly by the Company, are fully paid in accordance with its certificate of incorporation and non-assessable and are free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims (“Liens”). None of the outstanding share capital or equity interest in any Subsidiary was issued in violation of preemptive or similar rights of any security holder of such Subsidiary. All of the constitutive or organizational documents of each of the Subsidiaries comply with the requirements of applicable laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and are in full force and effect. Apart from the Subsidiaries, the Company has no direct or indirect subsidiaries or any other company over which it has direct or indirect effective control. Other than the Subsidiaries, the Company does not directly or indirectly control any entity through contractual arrangements or otherwise such that the entity would be deemed a consolidated affiliated entity whose financial results would be consolidated under U.S. GAAP with the financial results of the Company on the consolidated financial statements of the Company, regardless of whether the Company directly or indirectly owns less than a majority of the equity interests of such person.

 

(s)            No Material Actions or Proceedings. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, demands, claims, suits, arbitrations, inquiries or proceedings (collectively, “Actions”) pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened (i) against the Company, (ii) which have as the subject thereof any officer or director (in such capacities) of, or property owned or leased by, the Company, where in any such case (A) there is a reasonable possibility that such Action might be determined adversely to the Company and (B) any such Action, if so determined adversely, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change or adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no material labor dispute with the employees of the Company exists or, to the Company’s knowledge, is threatened or imminent. None of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ employees is a member of a union that relates to such employee’s relationship with the Company or such Subsidiary, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to a collective bargaining agreement, and the Company and its Subsidiaries believe that their relationships with their employees are good. No executive officer, to the knowledge of the Company, is in violation of any material term of any employment contract, confidentiality, disclosure or proprietary information agreement or non-competition agreement, or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive covenant in favor of any third party, and the continued employment of each such executive officer does not subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any liability with respect to any of the foregoing matters. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations relating to employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, except where the failure to be in compliance could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company or any Subsidiary, nor to the knowledge of the Company any director or officer of the Company, is or has within the last 10 years been the subject of any Action involving a claim of violation of or liability under federal or state securities laws or a claim of breach of fiduciary duty. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there has not been, and to the knowledge of the Company, there is no pending or contemplated, any investigation by the Commission involving the Company or any current or former director or officer of the Company.

 

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(t)            Intellectual Property Rights. The Company owns, possesses or licenses, and otherwise has legally enforceable rights to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, domain names, licenses, approvals and trade secrets (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”) reasonably necessary to conduct its business as now conducted or, otherwise, as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except to the extent such failure to own, possess or have other rights to use such Intellectual Property would not be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus: (i) the Company has not received any written notice of infringement or conflict with asserted Intellectual Property Rights of others; (ii) the Company is not a party to or bound by any options, licenses or agreements with respect to the Intellectual Property Rights of any other person or entity that are required to be set forth in the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and are not described in all material respects; (iii) none of the technology employed by the Company has been obtained or is being used by the Company in violation of any contractual obligation binding on the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, in violation of the rights of any persons; and (iv) the Company is not subject to any judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or any governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, or any arbitrator, nor has it entered into nor is it a party to any agreement made in settlement of any pending or threatened litigation, which materially restricts or impairs its use of any Intellectual Property Rights.

 

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(u)            All Necessary Permits, etc. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company possesses such valid and current certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the applicable regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct its business, and the Company has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such certificate, authorization or permit.

 

(v)            Title to Properties. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has good and marketable title to all the properties and assets reflected as owned by it in the financial statements referred to in Section 1(n) above (or elsewhere in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus), in each case free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, lien, encumbrance, equity, adverse claim or other defect, except such as do not materially and adversely affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company. The real property, improvements, equipment and personal property held under lease by the Company are held under valid and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such real property, improvements, equipment or personal property by the Company.

 

(w)            Tax Law Compliance. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and its Subsidiaries have each filed necessary income tax returns or has timely and properly filed requested extensions thereof and has paid taxes required to be paid by them and, if due and payable, any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of them in all material respects. The Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable financial statements referred to in Section 1(n) above in respect of all federal, state and foreign income and franchise taxes for all periods as to which the tax liability of the Company has not been finally determined.

 

(x)            Company Not an “Investment Company.” The Company is not, and after giving effect to payment for the Offered Securities and the application of the proceeds as contemplated under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not be, required to register as an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).

 

(y)            No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Securities.

 

(z)            Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or related-party transactions involving the Company or any other person required to be described or filed in the Registration Statement, or described in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, that have not been as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Prospectus.

 

(aa)           Disclosure Controls and Procedures. To the extent required, the Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act Regulations) designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company is not aware of (a) any significant deficiency in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data or any material weaknesses in internal controls or (b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls.

 

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(bb)         Company’s Accounting System. To the extent required, the Company maintains a system of accounting controls designed to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

 

(cc)          Money Laundering Law Compliance. The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the United States Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Company conducts business, and the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any competent governmental agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company with respect to any Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

(dd)         OFAC.

 

(i)            Neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee or affiliate of the Company or any Subsidiary, is an individual or entity (“Person”) that is, or is owned or controlled by a Person that is:

 

A.the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), the United Nations Security Council (“UNSC”), the European Union (“EU”), Her Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”), or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor

 

B.located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Burma/Myanmar, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Sudan and Syria).

 

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(ii)            The Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the Offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary or affiliated entity, joint venture partner or other Person:

 

A.to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions; or

 

B.in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the Offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).

 

(ee)          Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, employee or affiliate of the Company, any Subsidiary or any other person acting on behalf of the Company has, directly or indirectly, taken any action that (i) would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”) or otherwise subject the Company to any damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding; (ii) if done in the past, might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (iii) if continued in the future, might reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the assets, business, or operations of the Company. The foregoing includes, without limitation, giving or agreeing to give any money, gift or similar benefit (other than legal price concessions to customers in the ordinary course of business) official or employee of any governmental agency or instrumentality of any government (domestic or foreign) or other person who was, is, or may be in a position to help or hinder the business of the Company (or assist it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction).

 

(ff)           Compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Company has taken all necessary actions to ensure that, upon the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, it will be in compliance with any provision applicable to it of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, including, without limitation, Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

(gg)         Exchange Act Filing. A registration statement in respect of the Offered Securities has been filed on Form 8-A pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, which registration statement complies in all material respects with the Exchange Act, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or which to its knowledge is likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Offered Securities under the Exchange Act nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission is contemplating terminating such registration.

 

(hh)         Earning Statements. The Company will make generally available (which includes filings pursuant to the Exchange Act made publicly through the EDGAR system) to its security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 16 months after the end of the Company’s current fiscal year, an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering a 12-month period that shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations.

 

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(ii)            Periodic Reporting Obligations. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission all reports and documents required to be filed under the Exchange Act. Additionally, the Company shall report the use of proceeds from the issuance of the Firm Shares as may be required under Rule 463 under the Securities Act.

 

(jj)            D&O Questionnaires. To the Company’s knowledge, all information contained in the questionnaires (the “Questionnaires”) completed by each of the Company’s directors and officers prior to the Offering (the “Insiders”) as well as in the Lock-Up Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A provided to the Representative is true and correct in all respects and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the Questionnaires completed by each Insider to become inaccurate and incorrect.

 

(kk)          Solvency. Based on the consolidated financial condition of the Company as of each Closing Date, after giving effect to the receipt by the Company of the proceeds from the sale of the Offered Securities hereunder, the current cash flow of the Company, together with the proceeds the Company would receive, were it to liquidate all of its assets, after taking into account all anticipated uses of the cash, are sufficient to pay all amounts on or in respect of its liabilities when such amounts are required to be paid. The Company does not intend to incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its debt). Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances which lead it to believe that it will file for reorganization or liquidation under the bankruptcy or reorganization laws of any jurisdiction within one year from each Closing Date. The Registration Statement and the Prospectus set forth as of the date hereof all outstanding secured and unsecured Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary, or for which the Company or any Subsidiary has commitments. For the purposes of this Agreement, “Indebtedness” means (x) any liabilities for borrowed money or amounts owed in excess of $50,000 (other than trade accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (y) all guaranties, endorsements and other contingent obligations in respect of indebtedness of others, whether or not the same are or should be reflected in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet (or the notes thereto), except guaranties by endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business; and (z) the present value of any lease payments in excess of $50,000 due under leases required to be capitalized in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default with respect to any Indebtedness.

 

(ll)            Regulation M Compliance. The Company has not, and to its knowledge no one authorized to act on its behalf has, (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Offered Securities, (ii) sold, bid for, purchased, or, paid any compensation for soliciting purchases of, any of the Offered Securities, or (iii) paid or agreed to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), compensation paid to the Underwriter in connection with the Offering.

 

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(mm)         Testing the Waters Communications. The Company (i) has not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communications other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representative with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act, and (ii) has not authorized anyone other than the Representative to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company reconfirms that the Representative has been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications (as defined below) other than those listed on Schedule F hereto.

 

(nn)         Margin Securities. The Company owns no “margin securities” as that term is defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”), and none of the proceeds of Offering will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin security, for the purpose of reducing or retiring any indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry any margin security or for any other purpose which might cause any of the Offered Securities to be considered a “purpose credit” within the meanings of Regulation T, U or X of the Federal Reserve Board.

 

(oo)         Integration. Neither the Company, nor any of its affiliates, nor any person acting on its or 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 cause the Offering to be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of the Securities Act that would require the registration of any such securities under the Securities Act.

 

Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to the Representative or to counsel for the Representative shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters set forth therein. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered pursuant to Section 5 hereof, counsel to the Company, will rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of the foregoing representations and hereby consents to such reliance.

 

SECTION 2.           Firm Shares; Additional Shares; Representative Warrants.

 

(a)            Purchase of Firm Shares. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Underwriters an aggregate of 2,100,000 shares of Common Stocks (i.e. the Firm Shares) at a purchase price (net of discounts) of $7.50 per Share. The Underwriters agree to purchase from the Company the Firm Shares in such amounts as set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof.

 

(b)            Delivery of and Payment for Firm Shares. Delivery of and payment for the Firm Shares shall be made at 10:00 A.M., Eastern time, on the third (3rd) business day following the Applicable Time, or at such time as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company, at a place (including remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission) as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company. The hour and date of delivery of and payment for the Firm Shares is called the “Closing Date.” The closing of the payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates representing the Firm Shares, is referred to herein as the “Closing.” Payment for the Firm Shares shall be made on the Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds upon delivery to the Underwriters of certificates (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Firm Shares (or if uncertificated through the full fast transfer facilities of the Depository Trust Company (the “DTC”)) for the account of the Underwriters. The Firm Shares shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as the Underwriters may request in writing at least two business days prior to the Closing Date. If certificated, the Company will permit the Underwriters to examine and package the Firm Shares for delivery at least one full business day prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Firm Shares except upon tender of payment by the Underwriters for all the Firm Shares.

 

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(c)            Additional Shares. The Company hereby grants to the Underwriters an option (the “Over-allotment Option”), at the Underwriters’ sole discretion, to purchase up to an additional 315,000 shares of Common Stock (i.e. the Additional Shares), which are equal to 15% of the Firm Shares, in each case solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments of such securities, if any.

 

(d)            Exercise of Over-allotment Option. The Over-allotment Option granted pursuant to Section 2(c) hereof may be exercised by the Representative on or within 30 days after the Closing Date. The purchase price to be paid per Additional Shares shall be equal to the price per Firm Share in Section 2(a). The Underwriters shall not be under any obligation to purchase any Additional Shares prior to the exercise of the Over-allotment Option. The Over-allotment Option granted hereby may be exercised by the giving of oral notice to the Company from the Underwriters, which shall be confirmed in writing via overnight mail or facsimile or other electronic transmission, setting forth the number of Additional Shares to be purchased and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Additional Shares (the “Option Closing Date”), which shall not be later than five (5) full Business Days after the date of the notice or such other time as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Underwriters, at the offices of the Representative’s counsel or at such other place (including remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission) as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Underwriters. If such delivery and payment for the Additional Shares does not occur on the Closing Date, the Option Closing Date will be as set forth in the notice. Upon exercise of the Over-allotment Option with respect to all or any portion of the Additional Shares, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (i) the Company shall become obligated to sell to the Underwriters the number of Additional Shares specified in such notice and (ii) the Underwriters shall purchase that portion of the total number of Additional Shares.

 

(e)            Delivery and Payment of Additional Shares. Payment for the Additional Shares shall be made on the Option Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds, upon delivery to the Underwriters of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Additional Shares (or through the facilities of DTC) for the account of the Underwriters. The Additional Shares shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Underwriters may request in writing at least two (2) full Business Days prior to the Option Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Additional Shares except upon tender of payment by the Underwriters for applicable Additional Shares. The Option Closing Date may be simultaneous with, but not earlier than, the Closing Date; and in the event that such time and date are simultaneous with the Closing Date, the term “Closing Date” shall refer to the time and date of delivery of the Firm Shares and Additional Shares.

 

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(f)            Representative Warrants. The Company hereby agrees to issue to the Representative (and/or its designees) on the Closing Date warrants (“Representative Warrants”) to purchase such number of shares of common stock, representing 5% of the total number of Offered Securities. The agreement(s) representing the Representative Warrants, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Representative’s Warrant Agreement”), shall be exercisable at any time, and from time to time, in whole or in part, commencing from the one hundred eightieth (180th) days after the commencement of sales of the Offering and expiring on the five-year anniversary of the commencement of sales of the Offering at an initial exercise price per share of $9.375, which is equal to 125% of the offering price of the Firm Shares. The Representative’s Warrant Agreement and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise thereof (the “Warrant Shares”) are hereinafter referred to together as the “Representative’s Securities.” The Representative understands and agrees that there are significant restrictions pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110 against transferring the Representative’s Warrants and the Warrant Shares during the one hundred eighty (180) days after the commencement of sales of the Offering and by its acceptance thereof shall agree that it will not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate the Representative’s Warrants, or any portion thereof, or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of such securities for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days following the commencement of sales of the Offering to anyone other than (i) an Underwriter or a selected dealer in connection with the Offering, or (ii) a bona fide officer or partner of the Representative or of any such Underwriter or selected dealer; and only if any such transferee agrees to the foregoing lock-up restrictions.

 

(g)            Delivery of the Representative Warrants. Delivery of the Representative’s Warrants shall be made on the Closing Date, and shall be issued in the name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request.

 

(h)            Underwriting Discount. In consideration of the services to be provided for hereunder, the Company shall pay to the Underwriters underwriting discount of 7.0% per share.

 

SECTION 3.            Covenants of the Company.

 

The Company covenants and agrees with the Underwriters as follows:

 

(a)            Underwriter’s Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements. During the period beginning at the Applicable Time and ending on the later of the Closing Date or such date as, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus is no longer required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by the Underwriters or selected dealers, including under circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), prior to amending or supplementing the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including any amendment or supplement through incorporation by reference of any report filed under the Exchange Act, the Company shall furnish to the Underwriters for review a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Underwriters reasonably objects.

 

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(b)            Securities Act Compliance. After the date of this Agreement, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company shall promptly advise the Underwriters in writing (i) of the receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental information from, the Commission, (ii) of the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, (iii) of the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or of any order or notice preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or of any proceedings to remove, suspend or terminate from listing or quotation the Offered Securities from any securities exchange upon which they are listed for trading or included or designated for quotation, or of the threatening or initiation of any proceedings for any of such purposes. If the Commission shall enter any such stop order or order or notice of prevention or suspension at any time, the Company will use its best efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at the earliest possible moment, or will file a new registration statement and use its best efforts to have such new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable. Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall comply with the provisions of Rules 424(b) and 430A, as applicable, under the Securities Act, including with respect to the timely filing of documents thereunder and will confirm that any filings made by the Company under such Rule 424(b) were received in a timely manner by the Commission.

 

(c)            Exchange Act Compliance. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, to the extent the Company becomes subject to reporting obligation under the Exchange Act, the Company will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15 of the Exchange Act in the manner and within the time periods required by the Exchange Act.

 

(d)            Amendments and Supplements to the Registration Statement, Prospectus and Other Securities Act Matters. If, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, any event or development shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would 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, as the case may be, not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, as the case may be, not misleading, or if in the opinion of the Underwriters it is otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or to file a new registration statement containing the Prospectus, in order to comply with law, including in connection with the delivery of the Prospectus, the Company agrees to (i) notify the Underwriters of any such event or condition (unless such event or condition was previously brought to the Company’s attention by the Underwriters during the Prospectus Delivery Period) and (ii) promptly prepare (subject to Section 3(a) and Section 3(e) hereof), file with the Commission (and use its best efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement or any new registration statement to be declared effective) and furnish at its own expense to the Underwriters and to dealers, amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any new registration statement, necessary in order to make the statements in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, as the case may be, not misleading or so that the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with law.

 

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(e)            Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company represents that it has not made, and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Underwriters, it will not make, any offer relating to the Offered Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433 under the Securities Act; provided that the prior written consent of the Underwriters hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of each free writing prospectuses listed on Schedule B hereto. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Underwriters is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company agrees that (i) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and (ii) has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping.

 

(f)             Copies of any Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus. The Company agrees to furnish the Underwriters, without charge, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, as many copies of each of the preliminary prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package and any amendments and supplements thereto (including any documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference therein) as the Underwriters may reasonably request.

 

(g)            Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Offered Securities sold by it substantially in the manner described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(h)            Transfer Agent. The Company shall engage and maintain, at its expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Offered Securities.

 

(i)             Internal Controls. The Company will maintain a system of internal accounting controls designed to provide reasonable assurances that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary in order to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The internal controls, upon consummation of the Offering, will be overseen by the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors in accordance with the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”).

 

(j)             Exchange Listing. The shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, subject to official notice of issuance. Upon consummation of the Offering, the Company will be in material compliance with the provisions of the rules and regulations promulgated by Nasdaq and has no reason to believe that it will not in the foreseeable future continue to be, in compliance with all such listing and maintenance requirements (to the extent applicable to the Company as of the date hereof or the Closing Date; and subject to all exemptions and exceptions from the requirements thereof as are set forth therein, to the extent applicable to the Company). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and subject to the qualifications above: (i) all members of the Company’s board of directors who are required to be “independent” (as that term is defined under applicable laws, rules and regulations), including, without limitation, all members of each of the audit committee, compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee of the Company’s board of directors, meet the qualifications of independence as set forth under such laws, rules and regulations, (ii) the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors has at least one member who is an “audit committee financial expert” (as that term is defined under such laws, rules and regulations), and (iii) that, based on discussions with Nasdaq, the Company meets all requirements for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

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(k)            Future Reports to the Underwriters. For one year after the date of this Agreement, the Company will furnish, if not otherwise available on EDGAR, to the Representative at 14 Myrtle Drive, Great Neck, NY 11021, Attention: Xiaoyan Jiang: (i) as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, copies of the Annual Report of the Company containing the balance sheet of the Company as of the close of such fiscal year and statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended and the opinion thereon of the Company’s independent public or certified public accountants; (ii) as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, copies of each proxy statement, Annual Report on Form 20-F, interim financial statements using a Form 6-K or other report filed by the Company with the Commission; and (iii) as soon as available, copies of any report or communication of the Company mailed generally to holders of its capital stock.

 

(l)             No Manipulation of Price. The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company.

 

(m)            Existing Lock-Up Agreements. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no existing agreements between the Company and its security holders that prohibit the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation of any of the Company’s securities. The Company will direct the transfer agent to place stop transfer restrictions upon the securities of the Company that are bound by such “lock-up” agreements for the duration of the periods contemplated therein.

 

(n)            Company Lock-Up.

 

(i)            The Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representative, from the date of execution of this Agreement and continuing for a period of six (6) months from the commencement of the Company’s first day of trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market (the “Lock-Up Period”), (i) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, (ii) complete any offering of debt securities of the Company, other than entering into a line of credit with a traditional bank, or (iii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of Common Stock or any such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, except to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement. The Company agrees not to accelerate the vesting of any option or warrant or the lapse of any repurchase right prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period.

 

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(ii)            The restrictions contained in Section 3(n)(i) hereof shall not apply to: (i) the Offered Securities to be sold hereunder, (ii) the issuance by the Company of Common Stock upon the exercise of a stock option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof and disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, (iii) the issuance by the Company, or the filing by the Company of a Registration Statement related thereto, of stock options or shares of capital stock of the Company under any equity compensation plan of the Company, and (iv) securities issued pursuant to acquisitions or strategic transactions approved by a majority of the disinterested directors of the Company, provided that such securities are issued as “restricted securities” (as defined in Rule 144) and carry no registration rights that require or permit the filing of any registration statement in connection therewith during the Lock-Up Period and provided that any such issuance shall only be to a Person (or to the equity holders of a Person) which is, itself or through its subsidiaries, an operating company or an owner of an asset in a business synergistic with the business of the Company and shall provide to the Company additional benefits in addition to the investment of funds, but shall not include a transaction in which the Company is issuing securities primarily for the purpose of raising capital.

 

(o)            Escrow Agreement. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company, the Representative and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as escrow agent (the “Escrow Agent”), shall enter into an escrow agreement (the “Escrow Agreement”), pursuant to which $250,000 from gross proceeds from the Offering shall be deposited by the Company at Closing in an escrow account (the “Escrow Account”) for a period of two (2) years following the Closing of the initial public offering for purposes of covering any potential legal actions. All remaining funds in the Escrow Account that are not subject to an indemnification claim as of the two-year period following the Closing Date will be returned to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement. The Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Escrow Agent.

 

SECTION 4.            Payment of Fees and Expenses. The Company has agreed to pay the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket accountable expenses of the Representative in total up to one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000). Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company agrees to pay reasonable, actual and accountable costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation the Representative may reasonably request, and agreed upon between the Representative and the Company, (i) all expenses incident to the issuance and delivery of the Offered Securities (including all printing and engraving costs, if any), (ii) all fees and expenses of the clearing firm, registrar and transfer agent of the Offered Securities, (iii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the Offering, (iv) all fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other advisors, (v) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, shipping and distribution of the Registration Statement (including financial statements, exhibits, schedules, consents and certificates of experts), each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, and this Agreement, and (vi) all filing fees, attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Company, or the Representative, in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part of the Offered Securities for offer and sale under the state securities or blue sky laws, and, if requested by the Representative, preparing and printing a “Blue Sky Survey” or memorandum, and any supplements thereto, advising the Representative of such qualifications, registrations and exemptions, less any advances previously paid which as of the date hereof. Any advances will be returned to the Company to the extent such out-of-pocket accountable expenses are not actually incurred, or are less than the advances in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g).

 

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SECTION 5.            Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Offered Securities as provided herein on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date shall be subject to (1) the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company set forth in Section 1 hereof as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date as though then made; (2) the timely performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder; (3) no objections from FINRA as to the amount of compensation allowable or payable to the Underwriters as described in the Registration Statement; and (4) each of the following additional conditions:

 

(a)            Accountant’s Comfort Letter. On the date hereof, the Representative shall have received from the Accountant, a letter dated the date hereof addressed to the Representative, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to Representative, delivered according to Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72 (or any successor bulletin), with respect to the audited and unaudited financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

 

(b)            Effectiveness of Registration Statement; Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order. During the period from and after the execution of this Agreement to and including the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable:

 

(i)            the Company shall have filed the Prospectus with the Commission (including the information required by Rule 430A under the Securities Act) in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act; or the Company shall have filed a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement containing the information required by such Rule 430A, and such post-effective amendment shall have become effective; and

 

(ii)            no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, shall be in effect and no proceedings for such purpose shall have been instituted or threatened by the Commission.

 

(c)            No Material Adverse Change. For the period from and after the date of this Agreement to and including the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable, in the reasonable judgment of the Representative there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Change.

 

(d)            Officers’ Certificate. On the Closing Date and/or the Option Closing Date, the Representative shall have received a written certificate executed by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated as of such date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have reviewed the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and this Agreement, to the effect that, to the knowledge of such individual:

 

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(i)            The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct, as if made on and as of such Closing Date, and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to such Closing Date;

 

(ii)            No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the use of the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened under the Securities Act; no order having the effect of ceasing or suspending the distribution of the Offered Securities or any other securities of the Company has been issued by any securities commission, securities regulatory authority or stock exchange in the United States and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, contemplated by any securities commission, securities regulatory authority or stock exchange in the United States; and

 

(iii)            Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has not been: (a) any Material Adverse Change; (b) any transaction that is material to the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, except transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business; (c) any obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, incurred by the Company or any Subsidiary, except obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business; (d) any material change in the capital stock (except changes thereto resulting from the exercise of outstanding options or warrants or conversion of outstanding indebtedness into Common Stock of the Company) or outstanding indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary (except for the conversion of such indebtedness into Common Stock of the Company); (e) any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made on Common Stock of the Company; or (f) any loss or damage (whether or not insured) to the property of the Company or any Subsidiary which has been sustained or will have been sustained which has a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(e)            Secretary’s Certificate. On the Closing Date and/or the Option Closing Date, the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Secretary of the Company, dated such Closing Date, certifying: (i) that the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation attached to such certificate is true and complete, has not been modified and is in full force and effect; (ii) that the resolutions of the Company’s board of directors relating to the Offering attached to such certificate are in full force and effect and have not been modified; and (iii) the good standing of the Company. The documents referred to in such certificate shall be attached to such certificate.

 

(f)            Bring-down Comfort Letter. On the Closing Date and/or the Option Closing Date, the Representative shall have received from the Accountant, a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, to the effect that the Accountant reaffirms the statements made in the letter furnished by it pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 5, except that the specified date referred to therein for the carrying out of procedures shall be no more than three business days prior to the Closing Date and/or the Option Closing Date.

 

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(g)            Lock-Up Agreement from Certain Securityholders of the Company. On or prior to the date hereof, the Company shall have furnished to the Representative an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto from each of the Company’s officers, directors, security holders of 1% or more of the Company’s shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable for Common Stock listed on Schedule D hereto.

 

(h)            Exchange Listing. The Offered Securities to be delivered on the Closing Date and/or the Option Closing Date shall have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, subject to official notice of issuance.

 

(i)             Company Counsel Opinions. On the Closing Date and/or the Option Closing Date, the Representative shall have received the opinion of Loeb & Loeb LLP, counsel to the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative including negative assurance language; and

 

The Underwriters shall rely on the opinions of Loeb & Loeb LLP, filed as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement, as to the due incorporation, validity of the Offered Securities and due authorization, execution and delivery of the Agreement.

 

(j)             Additional Documents. On or before the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable, the Representative and counsel for the Representative shall have received such information, documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purposes of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities as contemplated herein, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or the satisfaction of any of the conditions or agreements, herein contained.

 

If any condition specified in this Section 5 is not satisfied when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative by written notice to the Company at any time on or prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable, which termination shall be without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that Section 4 (with respect to the reimbursement of out-of-pocket accountable, bona fide expenses actually incurred by the Representative) and Section 7 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

 

SECTION 6.         Effectiveness of this Agreement. This Agreement shall not become effective until the later of (i) the execution of this Agreement by the parties hereto and (ii) notification (including by way of oral notification from the reviewer at the Commission) by the Commission to the Company of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Securities Act.

 

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SECTION 7.         Indemnification.

 

(a)            Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters, their respective affiliates and each of their respective directors, officers, members, employees and agents and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriters within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (collectively, the “Underwriter Indemnified Parties,” and each a “Underwriter Indemnified Party”) from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (including in settlement of any litigation if such settlement is effected with the prior written consent of the Company) arising out of (i) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, including the information deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness and at any subsequent time pursuant to Rules 430A and 430B of the Securities Act Regulations, or arise out of or are based upon the omission from the Registration Statement, or alleged omission to state therein, a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (ii) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any other materials used in connection with the Offering, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and shall reimburse such Underwriter Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with evaluating, investigating or defending against such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, expense or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement in, or omission from any preliminary prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any other materials used in connection with the Offering made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information. The indemnification obligations under this Section 7(a) are not exclusive and will be in addition to any liability, which the Underwriters might otherwise have and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available at law or in equity to each Underwriter Indemnified Party.

 

(b)            Indemnification by the Underwriters. The Underwriters shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Company’s affiliates and each of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (collectively the “Company Indemnified Parties” and each a “Company Indemnified Party”) from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (including in settlement of any litigation if such settlement is effected with the prior written consent of the Underwriters) arising out (i) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act Regulations, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or (ii) the omission to state in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act Regulations, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information and shall reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or preparing to defend or defending against or appearing as third party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action, investigation or proceeding, as such fees and expenses are incurred. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7(b), in no event shall any indemnity by the Underwriters under this Section 7(b) exceed the total discounts received by the Underwriters in connection with the Offering. The indemnification obligations under this Section 7(b) are not exclusive and will be in addition to any liability, which the Company might otherwise have and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available at law or in equity to each Company Indemnified Party.

 

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(c)            Procedure. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, the indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 7, notify such indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of that action; provided, however, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under this Section 7 except to the extent it has been materially adversely prejudiced by such failure; and, provided, further, that the failure to notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 7. If any such action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense of such action with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party (which counsel shall not, except with the written consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party). After notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense of such action, except as provided herein, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party under Section 7(a) or 7(b), as applicable, for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense of such action other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and to participate in the defense of such action but the fees and expenses of such separate counsel (other than reasonable costs of investigation) shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the employment thereof has been specifically authorized in writing by the Company in the case of a claim for indemnification under Section 7(a), (ii) such indemnified party shall have been advised by its counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, or (iii) the indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense of such action and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party within a reasonable period of time after notice of the commencement of the action or the indemnifying party does not diligently defend the action after assumption of the defense, in which case, if such indemnified party notifies the indemnifying party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of (or, in the case of a failure to diligently defend the action after assumption of the defense, to continue to defend) such action on behalf of such indemnified party and the indemnifying party shall be responsible for reasonable legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense of such action; provided, however, that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for any such indemnified party (in addition to any local counsel), which firm shall be designated in writing by the Underwriters if the indemnified party under this Section 7 is an Underwriter Indemnified Party or by the Company if an indemnified party under this Section 7 is a Company Indemnified Party. Subject to this Section 7(c), the amount payable by an indemnifying party under Section 7 shall include, but not be limited to, (x) reasonable legal fees and expenses of counsel to the indemnified party and any other expenses in investigating, or preparing to defend or defending against, or appearing as a third party witness in respect of, or otherwise incurred in connection with, any action, investigation, proceeding or claim, and (y) all amounts paid in settlement of any of the foregoing. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of judgment with respect to any pending or threatened action or any claim whatsoever, in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 7 (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party. Subject to the provisions of the following sentence, no indemnifying party shall be liable for settlement of any pending or threatened action or any claim whatsoever that is effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), but if settled with its written consent, if its consent has been unreasonably withheld or delayed or if there be a judgment for the plaintiff in any such matter, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. In addition, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested that an indemnifying party reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated herein effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than ninety (90) days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the request for reimbursement, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least sixty (60) days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

 

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(d)            Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 7(a) or Section 7(b), then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid, payable or otherwise incurred by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (or any action, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof), as incurred, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other hand from the Offering, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) of this Section 7(d) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) of this Section 7(d) but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other with respect to the statements, omissions, acts or failures to act which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (or any action, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof) as well as any other relevant equitable considerations as determined in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other with respect to such offering shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total proceeds from the Offering purchased by investors as contemplated by this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts received by the Underwriters in connection with the Offering, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement, omission, act or failure to act; provided that the parties hereto agree that the written information furnished to the Company by the Underwriters for use in any preliminary prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, consists solely of the Underwriter Information. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 7(d) be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding referred to above in this Section 7(d) shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 7(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating, preparing to defend or defending against or appearing as a third party witness in respect of, or otherwise incurred in connection with, any such loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7(d), the Underwriters shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the total discounts received in cash by the Underwriters in connection with the Offering less the amount of any damages that the Underwriters have otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged omission, act or alleged act or failure to act or alleged failure to act. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

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SECTION 8.         Termination of this Agreement. Prior to the Closing Date, whether before or after notification by the Commission to the Company of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Securities Act, this Agreement may be terminated by the Underwriters by written notice given to the Company if at any time (i) trading or quotation in the Company’s Common Stock shall have been suspended or limited by the Commission or by Nasdaq; (ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by any U.S. federal authorities; or (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or international hostilities or any crisis or calamity, or any change in the United States or international financial markets, or any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial change in United States’ or international political, financial or economic conditions that, in the reasonable judgment of the Underwriters, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable to market the Offered Securities in the manner and on the terms described in the Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Offered Securities. Any termination pursuant to this Section 8 shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company to any of the Underwriters, except that the Company shall be, subject to demand by the Underwriters, obligated to reimburse the Underwriters for only those reasonable, accountable and properly documented out-of-pocket expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of their counsel, and expenses associated with a due diligence report), actually incurred by the Underwriters in connection herewith as allowed under FINRA Rule 5110, less any amounts previously paid by the Company, (b) the Underwriters to the Company, or (c) of any party hereto to any other party except that the provisions of Section 4 (with respect to the reimbursement of out-of-pocket accountable, bona fide expenses actually incurred by the Underwriters) and Section 7 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

 

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SECTION 9.         No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. The Company hereby acknowledges that the Underwriters are acting solely as underwriters in connection with the Offering. The Company further acknowledges that the Underwriters are acting pursuant to a contractual relationship created solely by this Agreement entered into on an arm’s-length basis and in no event do the parties intend that the Underwriters act or be responsible as a fiduciary to the Company, its management, shareholders, creditors or any other person in connection with any activity that the Underwriters may undertake or have undertaken in furtherance of the Offering, either before or after the date hereof. The Underwriters hereby expressly disclaim any fiduciary or similar obligations to the Company, either in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions, and the Company hereby confirms its understanding and agreement to that effect. The Company hereby further confirms its understanding that no Underwriter has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the Offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including, without limitation, any negotiation related to the pricing of the Offered Securities; and the Company has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate in connection with this Agreement and the Offering. The Company and the Underwriters agree that they are each responsible for making their own independent judgments with respect to any such transactions, and that any opinions or views expressed by the Underwriters to the Company regarding such transactions, including but not limited to any opinions or views with respect to the price or market for the Company’s securities, do not constitute advice or recommendations to the Company. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach or alleged breach of any fiduciary or similar duty to the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions.

 

SECTION 10.       Underwriter Default.

 

(a)            If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall default in its or their obligation to purchase Firm Shares, and if the Firm Shares with respect to which such default relates (the “Default Securities”) do not (after giving effect to arrangements, if any, made by the Representative pursuant to subsection (b) below) exceed in the aggregate 10% of the number of Firm Shares, each non-defaulting Underwriter, acting severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company that number of Default Securities that bears the same proportion to the total number of Default Securities then being purchased as the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter on Schedule A hereto bears to the aggregate number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of the non-defaulting Underwriters; subject, however, to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representative in its sole discretion shall make.

 

(b)            In the event that the aggregate number of Default Securities exceeds 10% of the number of Firm Shares, the Representative may in its discretion arrange for itself or for another party or parties (including any non-defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters who so agree) to purchase the Default Securities on the terms contained herein. In the event that within five (5) calendar days after such a default the Representative does not arrange for the purchase of the Default Securities as provided in this Section 10, this Agreement shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of the Company with respect thereto (except in each case as provided in Sections 4, 7, 8, 10 and 11) or the Underwriters, but nothing in this Agreement shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters of their liability, if any, to the other Underwriters and the Company for damages occasioned by its or their default hereunder.

 

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(c)            In the event that any Default Securities are to be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters, or are to be purchased by another party or parties as aforesaid, the Representative or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for a period, not exceeding five (5) Business Days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or in any other documents and arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which, in the reasonable opinion of Underwriters’ counsel, may be necessary or advisable. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any party substituted under this Section 10 with like effect as if it had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Default Securities.

 

SECTION 11.       Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery; Third Party Beneficiaries. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, of its officers, and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriters or the Company or any of its or their partners, officers or directors or any controlling person, as the case may be, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Offered Securities sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 12.       Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed, hand delivered, emailed or telecopied and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows:

 

If to the Underwriters:

 

Prime Number Capital, LLC 

14 Myrtle Drive 

Great Neck, NY 11021 

Attn: Xiaoyan Jiang 

Email: xj@pncps.com 

Phone No.: 212-590-2303

 

With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Robinson & Cole, LLP 

Chrysler East Building 

666 Third Avenue, 20th floor 

New York, NY 10017 

Attn: Arila Zhou, Esq. 

Email: azhou@rc.com 

Phone No.: 212-451-2908

 

If to the Company:

 

Phoenix Motor Inc. 

1500 Lakeview Loop 

Anaheim, CA 92807 

Attn: W. Chris Wang 

Email: ChrisW@phoenixmotorcars.com

 

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With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Loeb & Loeb LLP 

345 Park Avenue 

New York, NY 10154 

Attn: Mitchell S. Nussbaum, Esq.; David C. Fischer, Esq. 

Email: mnussbaum@loeb.com; dfischer@loeb.com 

Phone No.: 646-269-2414

 

Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving written notice to the others.

 

SECTION 13.       Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and to the benefit of the employees, officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 7, and in each case their respective successors, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. The term “successors” shall not include any purchaser of the Offered Securities as such merely by reason of such purchase.

 

SECTION 14.       Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

 

SECTION 15.       Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Trial by Jury. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the choice of law or conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of, or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any process or summons to be served upon the Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 12 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim. The Company and the Underwriters agree that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefor as determined in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction. The Company and the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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SECTION 16.       General Provisions. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the Offering. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit. The section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it is a sophisticated business person who was adequately represented by counsel during negotiations regarding the provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the indemnification and contribution provisions of Section 7, and is fully informed regarding said provisions. Each of the parties hereto further acknowledges that the provisions of Section 7 hereto fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate the Company, its affairs and its business in order to assure that adequate disclosure has been made in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus (and any amendments and supplements thereto), as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

 

The respective indemnities, contribution agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of the Underwriters, the officers or employees of the Underwriters, any person controlling any of the Underwriters, the Company, the officers or employees of the Company, or any person controlling the Company, (ii) acceptance of the Offered Securities and payment for them as contemplated hereby and (iii) termination of this Agreement.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  Phoenix Motor Inc.
   
  By: /s/ Wenbing Chris Wang
  Name: Wenbing Chris Wang
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the Underwriters as of the date first above written.

 

  For itself and on behalf of the several Underwriters listed on Schedule A hereto
   
  PRIME NUMBER CAPITAL, LLC
   
  By: /s/ Xiaoyan Jiang
  Name: Xiaoyan Jiang
  Title: Chairwoman

 

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SCHEDULE A

 

Underwriter  Number of Firm Shares 
Prime Number Capital, LLC   1,575,000 
Revere Securities LLC   320,000 
Westpark Capital, Inc   205,000 
Total   2,100,000 

 

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SCHEDULE B

 

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus(es)

 

Attached

 

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SCHEDULE C

 

Pricing Information

 

Number of Firm Shares: 2,100,000

 

Number of Additional Shares: 315,000

 

Public Offering Price per Share: $7.50

 

Underwriting Discount per Share: (i) 7.0% per share

 

Proceeds to Company per Share (before expenses): $6.975

 

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SCHEDULE D

 

Lock-Up Parties

 

Name
EdisonFuture, Inc.
Xiaofeng Denton Peng
Liang Lance Zhou
Tarek Helou
Ron Iacobelli
Wenbing Chris Wang
Jose Paul Plackal
Tony Zhou
Edmund Shen
HoongKhoeng Cheong
John F. Perkowski
Steven E. Stivers
Sam Van
Zhenxing Fu

 

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SCHEDULE E

 

Subsidiaries of the Company

 

Subsidiaries   Place of
Incorporation
 
Phoenix Cars, LLC   Delaware 
Phoenix Motorcars Leasing, LLC   California 
EdisonFuture Motor, Inc.   Delaware 

 

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SCHEDULE F

 

Testing the Waters Communications

 

None.

 

36 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Lock-Up Agreement

 

[●], 2022

 

Prime Number Capital, LLC 

14 Myrtle Drive 

Great Neck, NY 11021

 

As Representative of the Underwriters 

named on Annex A to the Underwriting Agreement

 

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

As an inducement to the underwriters, for which Prime Number Capital, LLC is acting as representative (the “Representative”), to execute an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) providing for a public offering (the “Offering”) of common stock (the “Common Stock”), of Phoenix Motor Inc. and any successor (by merger or otherwise) thereto (the “Company”), the undersigned hereby agrees that without, in each case, the prior written consent of the Representative during the period specified in the second succeeding paragraph (the “Lock-Up Period”), the undersigned will not: (1) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right to purchase, make any short sale or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for or that represent the right to receive shares of Common Stock (including Common Stock which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option) whether now owned or hereafter acquired (the “Undersigned’s Securities”); (2) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Undersigned’s Securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of shares of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise; (3) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock; or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing.

 

The undersigned agrees that the foregoing restrictions preclude the undersigned from engaging in any hedging or other transaction which is designed to or which reasonably could be expected to lead to or result in a sale or disposition of the Undersigned’s Securities even if such Securities would be disposed of by someone other than the undersigned. Such prohibited hedging or other transactions would include any short sale or any purchase, sale or grant of any right (including any put or call option) with respect to any of the Undersigned’s Securities or with respect to any security that includes, relates to, or derives any significant part of its value from such Undersigned’s Securities.

 

The Lock-Up Period will commence on the date of this Agreement and continue and include the date six (6) months from the commencement of the Company’s first day of trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.

 

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If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) the Representative agrees that, at least three (3) business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of shares of Common Stock, the Representative will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver, and (ii) the Company has agreed in the Underwriting Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver by issuing a press release through a major news service at least two (2) business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by the Representative hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two (2) business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if both (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration, and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this letter that are applicable to the transferor, to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may transfer the Undersigned’s Securities (i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, (ii) to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned, (iii) if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity (1) transfers to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity that is a direct or indirect affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of the undersigned or (2) distributions of shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable for shares of Common Stock to limited partners, limited liability company members or stockholders of the undersigned, (iv) if the undersigned is a trust, transfers to the beneficiary of such trust, (v) by testate succession or intestate succession or (vi) pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement; provided, in the case of clauses (i)-(v), that (x) such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (y) the transferee agrees in writing with the Representative to be bound by the terms of this Lock-Up Agreement, and (z) no filing by any party under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer. Furthermore, notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may transfer the Undersigned’s Securities in a transaction not involving a public offering or public resale; provided that (x) the transferee agrees in writing with the Representative to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, and (y) no filing by any party under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer. For purposes of this Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, nor more remote than first cousin.

 

In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company and its transfer agent and registrar are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of shares of Common Stock if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Agreement.

 

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and that upon request, the undersigned will execute any additional documents necessary to ensure the validity or enforcement of this Agreement. All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred and any obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs or personal representatives of the undersigned.

 

The undersigned understands that the undersigned shall be released from all obligations under this Agreement if (i) the Company notifies the Representative that it does not intend to proceed with the Offering, (ii) the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective, or if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Common Stock to be sold thereunder, or (iii) the Offering is not completed by December 31, 2022.

 

The undersigned understands that the underwriters named in the Underwriting Agreement are entering into the Underwriting Agreement and proceeding with the Offering in reliance upon this Agreement.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

2 

 

 

This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
   
  Printed Name of Holder
   
  By:                                   
                        Signature
   
   
  Printed Name of Person Signing
   
  (and indicate capacity of person signing if signing as custodian, trustee, or on behalf of an entity)

 

3 

 

Exhibit 10.1

Execution Version

ESCROW
AGREEMENT

This Escrow Agreement dated this 7th day of June, 2022 (the “Escrow Agreement”), is entered into by and among Phoenix Motor Inc., a Delaware company (the “Company” or “Phoenix Motor”), having an address at 1500 Lakeview Loop, Anaheim, CA 92807, Prime Number Capital LLC, having an address at 14 Myrtle Drive, Great Neck, New York 11021, as the representative of the Underwriters (as defined hereafter) (the “Representative”, and together with the Company, each a “Party” and collectively, the “Parties”), and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as escrow agent (“Escrow Agent”). Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Underwriting Agreement (as defined hereafter).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Company proposes to sell an aggregate of 2,500,000 shares of common stock (the “Firm Shares”), par value $0.0004 per share (“Common Stock”) in a public offering (the “Offering”) pursuant to that certain underwriting agreement dated as of June 7, 2022 (the “Underwriting Agreement”) by and between the Company and the Representative as the representative of several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”). The Company has also granted to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to 375,000 additional shares of Common Stock (the “Additional Shares”); and

WHEREAS, upon the closing of the Offering, the Company has agreed to deposit an aggregate amount of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) from the proceeds of the Offering to be received by the Company with the Escrow Agent in an escrow account, to be held, uninvested and disbursed by the Escrow Agent pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Escrow Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, and further consideration of the covenants set forth hereafter, it is hereby agreed mutually as follows:

ARTICLE 1
ESCROW DEPOSIT

1.1            Receipt of Escrow Property.

(a)            Upon the execution of this Escrow Agreement by each of the parties hereto and upon the Closing of the Offering, the Company shall cause to be deposited $250,000 into a United States Dollar denominated account (the “Escrow Account”) established by the Escrow Agent. The Escrow Account is set forth below:

  

Manufacturers & Traders Trust Co.

ABA# 031100092

A/C# 156178-000

A/C Name: Phoenix Motor Inc.

Attn: Ellen Jean-Baptiste

(b)            The Escrow Agent will hold the deposit in the Escrow Account, together with all investments thereof and all interest accumulated thereon and proceeds therefrom (the “Escrow Property”), in escrow upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Escrow Agreement and shall not disburse funds from the Escrow Account except as provided herein.

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1.2            Investments. The Escrow Agent shall hold the Escrow Property un-invested, without interest thereon. In the event that market conditions are such that negative interest applies to amounts deposited with the Escrow Agent, the Company shall be responsible for the payment of such interest and the Escrow Agent shall be entitled to deduct from amounts on deposit with it an amount necessary to pay such negative interest. For the avoidance of doubt, the indemnification protections afforded to the Escrow Agent under Section 3.1 of this Agreement shall cover any interest-related expenses (including, but not limited to, negative interest) incurred by the Escrow Agent in the performance of its duties hereunder.

1.3            Disbursements.

(a)            The Escrowed Property shall be held by the Escrow Agent for the purpose of satisfying the initial $250,000 of the indemnification obligations of the Company, with respect to the Escrow Property, pursuant to Section 3(o) of the Underwriting Agreement, for a period of 24 months from the closing of the Offering. Disbursement of such Escrowed Property upon a claim of indemnity pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement shall be determined by an independent third-party intermediary (who shall have the requisite experience in determining indemnification claims) to be chosen by mutual written consent of the Company and the Representative. If the Company and the Representative are unable to agree on such intermediary within 30 days upon a written claim for indemnity by the Representative, such intermediary shall be a single arbitrator (with the requisite experience in determining indemnification claims) selected by the American Arbitration Association’s New York office.

(b)            In the event that any litigation or proceeding arising out of any matter in connection with the Offering and the Representative acting in its capacity as the representative of the Underwriters (which matter would be covered by the Company’s indemnification obligations under the Underwriting Agreement) within 24 months following the Closing Date and in which the Company, the Representative, or the Escrow Property becomes the subject of such litigation or proceeding, the Representative and the Company hereby authorize the Escrow Agent, at the Representative’s sole instruction upon Representative’s written notice to the Escrow Agent, if not otherwise so required, to release and deposit the Escrow Property with the clerk of the court in which the litigation is pending, and thereupon the Escrow Agent shall be relieved and discharged of any further responsibility hereunder and this Agreement shall terminate pursuant to the terms hereof. The Company and the Representative further hereby authorize the Escrow Agent, if it receives conflicting claims to any of the Escrow Property, is threatened with litigation in its capacity as escrow agent under this Escrow Agreement, or if the Escrow Agent determines it is necessary to do so for any other reason relating to this Escrow Agreement or the Offering, to interplead all interested parties in any court of competent jurisdiction and to deposit the Escrow Property with the clerk of that court and thereupon the Escrow Agent shall be relieved and discharged of any further responsibility hereunder and this Agreement shall terminate pursuant to the terms hereof.

(c)            In all instances, if either (i) no claim for indemnity is made by the Representative during the 24-month period from the closing of the Offering or (ii) it is finally determined that the Representative is not entitled to any disbursement (or any further disbursement, as the case may be) of Escrow Property by the conclusion of the 24-month period from the closing of the Offering, the Escrow Agent, upon receipt of a Written Direction, shall disburse to the Company the full balance of the Escrow Property then held by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Company.

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(d)            In the event that Escrow Agent makes any payment to any other party pursuant to this Escrow Agreement and for any reason such payment (or any portion thereof) is required to be returned to the Escrow Account or another party or is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside and/or required to be repaid to a receiver, trustee or other party under any bankruptcy or insolvency law, other federal or state law, common law or equitable doctrine, then the recipient shall repay to the Escrow Agent upon written request the amount so paid to it.

(e)            The Escrow Agent shall, in its sole discretion, comply with judgments or orders issued or process entered by any court with respect to the Escrow Property, including without limitation any attachment, levy or garnishment, without any obligation to determine such court’s jurisdiction in the matter and in accordance with its normal business practices. If the Escrow Agent complies with any such judgment, order or process, then Escrow Agent shall not be liable to either Party or any other person by reason of such compliance, regardless of the final disposition of any such judgment, order or process.

(f)             Each Party understands and agrees that the Escrow Agent shall have no obligation or duty to act upon a Written Direction, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, delivered to the Escrow Agent for the disbursement of Escrow Property under this Escrow Agreement if such Written Direction is not (i) in writing, (ii) signed by, in the case of Company, any individual designated by Company on Exhibit B-1 hereto or, in the case of Representative, any individual designated by Representative on Exhibit B-2 hereto (in each case, each such individual an “Authorized Representative” of such Party), and (iii) delivered to, and able to be authenticated by, the Escrow Agent in accordance with Section 1.4.

(g)            Upon request, the Escrow Agent will furnish monthly statements to each Party setting forth the activity in the Escrow Account.

(h)            A party may specify in a Written Direction whether the Escrow Property shall be disbursed by way of wire transfer or check. If the written notice for the disbursement of funds does not so specify the disbursement means, the Escrow Agent may disburse the Escrow Property by any means chosen by the Escrow Agent.

1.4            Written Direction and Other Instruction.

(a)            With respect to any Written Direction or any other notice, direction or other instruction required to be delivered by a Party to the Escrow Agent under this Escrow Agreement, the Escrow Agent is authorized to follow and rely upon any and all such instructions given to it from time to time if the Escrow Agent believes, in good faith, that such instruction is genuine and to have been signed by an Authorized Representative of such Party. The Escrow Agent shall have no duty or obligation to verify that the person who sent such instruction is, in fact, a person duly authorized to give instructions on behalf of a Party, other than to verify that the signature of the Authorized Representative on any such instruction appears to be the signature of such person. Each Party acknowledges and agrees that it is fully informed of the protections and risks associated with the various methods of transmitting instructions to the Escrow Agent, and that there may be more secure methods of transmitting instructions other than the method selected by such Party. The Escrow Agent shall have no responsibility or liability for any loss which may result from:

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(i)              any action taken or not taken by the Escrow Agent in good faith reliance on any such signatures or instructions;

(ii)             as a result of a Party’s reliance upon or use of any particular method of delivering instructions to the Escrow Agent, including the risk of interception of such instruction and misuse by third parties; or

(iii)            any officer or Authorized Representative of a Party named in an incumbency certificate, Exhibit B-1 or Exhibit B-2 delivered hereunder prior to actual receipt by the Escrow Agent of a more current incumbency certificate or an updated Exhibit B-1 or Exhibit B-2 and a reasonable time for the Escrow Agent to act upon such updated or more current certificate or Exhibit.

(b)            Company may, at any time, update Exhibit B-1 and Representative may, at any time, update Exhibit B-2 by signing and submitting to the Escrow Agent an updated Exhibit. Any updated Exhibit shall not be effective unless the Escrow Agent countersigns a copy thereof. The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to a reasonable time to act to implement any changes on an updated Exhibit.

1.5            Income Tax Allocation and Reporting

(a)            Each Party agrees that, for tax reporting purposes, the Escrow Property shall be deemed to be the property of the Company and all interest and other income from investment of the Escrow Property shall, as of the end of each calendar year and to the extent required by the Internal Revenue Service, be reported as having been earned by such Party, whether or not such income was disbursed during such calendar year. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Escrow Agent shall have no duty to prepare or file any Federal or state tax report or return with respect to the Escrow Property, except for the delivery and filing of tax information reporting forms required to be delivered and filed with the Internal Revenue Service. With respect to the preparation, delivery and filing of such required tax information reporting forms and all matters pertaining to the reporting of earnings on the Escrow Property, the Escrow Agent shall be entitled to request and receive written instructions from the Company, and the Escrow Agent shall be entitled to rely conclusively and without further inquiry on such written instructions. With respect to any other payments made under this Escrow Agreement, the Escrow Agent shall not be deemed the payer and shall have no responsibility for performing tax reporting. The Escrow Agent’s function of making such payments is solely ministerial and upon express direction of the Parties.

(b)            Prior to the execution of this Escrow Agreement, or within two days thereafter, each Party shall provide the Escrow Agent with certified tax identification numbers by furnishing appropriate forms W-9 or W-8 and such other forms and documents that the Escrow Agent may request. Each Party understands that if such tax reporting documentation is not provided and certified to the Escrow Agent, the Escrow Agent may be required by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, to withhold a portion of any interest or other income earned on the investment of the Escrow Property.

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(c)            To the extent that the Escrow Agent becomes liable for the payment of any taxes in respect of income derived from the investment of the Escrow Property, the Escrow Agent shall satisfy such liability to the extent possible from the Escrow Property. The Parties, jointly and severally, hereby indemnify, defend and hold the Escrow Agent harmless from and against any tax, late payment, interest, penalty or other cost or expense that may be assessed against the Escrow Agent on or with respect to the Escrow Property and the investment thereof unless such tax, late payment, interest, penalty or other expense was finally adjudicated to have been directly caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Escrow Agent. The indemnification provided by this Section 1.5(c) is in addition to the indemnification provided in Section 3.1 and shall survive the resignation or removal of the Escrow Agent and the termination of this Escrow Agreement.

1.6            Delivery and Authentication of Written Direction.

(a)            A Written Direction must be delivered to the Escrow Agent by one of the delivery methods set forth in Section 4.3.

(b)            Each Party and the Escrow Agent hereby agree that the following security procedures will be used to verify the authenticity of a Written Direction delivered by any Party to the Escrow Agent under this Escrow Agreement:

(i)            The Written Direction must include the name and signature of the person delivering the disbursement request to the Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent will check that the name and signature of the person identified on the Written Direction appears to be the same as the name and signature of an Authorized Representative of such Party;

(i) The Escrow Agent will make a telephone call to an Authorized Representative of the Party purporting to deliver the Written Direction (which Authorized Representative may be the same as the Authorized Representative who delivered the Written Direction) at any telephone number for such Authorized Representative as set forth on Exhibit B-1 or Exhibit B-2, as applicable, to obtain oral confirmation of delivery of the Written Direction. If the Written Direction is a joint written notice of the Parties, the Escrow Agent shall call back an Authorized Representative of both of those Parties; and

(ii)            If the Written Direction is sent by email to the Escrow Agent, the Escrow Agent also shall review such email address to verify that it appears to have been sent from an email address for an Authorized Representative of such Party as set forth on Exhibit B-1 or Exhibit B-2, as applicable, or from an email address for a person authorized under Exhibit B-1 or Exhibit B-2, as applicable, to email a Written Direction to the Escrow Agent on behalf of the Authorized Representative.

(c)            Each Party acknowledges and agrees that given its particular circumstances, including the nature of its business, the size, type and frequency of its instructions, transactions and files, internal procedures and systems, the alternative security procedures offered by the Escrow Agent and the security procedures in general use by other customers and banks similarly situated, the security procedures set forth in this Section 1.4 are a commercially reasonable method of verifying the authenticity of a payment order in a Written Direction.

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(d)            The Escrow Agent is authorized to execute, and each Party expressly agrees to be bound by any payment order in a Written Direction issued in its name (and associated funds transfer) (i) that is accepted by the Escrow Agent in accordance with the security procedures set forth in this Section 1.4, whether or not authorized by such Party and/or (ii) that is authorized by or on behalf of such Party or for which such Party is otherwise bound under the law of agency, whether or not the security procedures set forth in this Section 1.4 were followed, and to debit the Escrow Account for the amount of the payment order. Notwithstanding anything else, the Escrow Agent shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and without negligence, gross negligence or misconduct if the Escrow Agent is authorized to execute the payment order under this Section 1.4. Any action taken by the Escrow Agent pursuant to this Section 1.4 prior to the Escrow Agent’s actual receipt and acknowledgement of a notice of revocation, cancellation or amendment of a Written Direction shall not be affected by such notice of revocation, cancellation or amendment of a Written Direction.

(e)            The security procedures set forth in this Section 1.4 are intended to verify the authenticity of payment orders provided to the Escrow Agent and are not designed to, and do not, detect errors in the transmission or content of any payment order. The Escrow Agent is not responsible for detecting an error in the payment order, regardless of whether either Party believes the error was apparent, and the Escrow Agent is not liable for any losses arising from any failure to detect an error.

(f)            When instructed to credit or pay a party by both name and a unique numeric or alpha-numeric identifier (e.g. ABA number or account number), the Escrow Agent, and any other banks participating in the funds transfer, may rely solely on the unique identifier, even if it identifies a party different than the party named. Each Party agrees to be bound by the rules of any funds transfer network used in connection with any payment order accepted by the Escrow Agent hereunder.

(g)            The Escrow Agent shall not be obliged to make any payment requested under this Escrow Agreement if it is unable to validate the authenticity of the request by the security procedures set forth in this Section 1.4. The Escrow Agent’s inability to confirm a payment order may result in a delay or failure to act on that payment order. Notwithstanding anything else in this Escrow Agreement, the Escrow Agent shall not be required to treat a payment order as having been received until the Escrow Agent has authenticated it pursuant to the security procedures in this Section 1.4 and shall not be liable or responsible for any losses arising in relation to such delay or failure to act.

1.7            Termination. This Escrow Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) June 10, 2024, or (ii) pursuant to the terms of Section 1.3(b); provided that if the Escrow Agreement terminates by its terms on June 10, 2024, at such time the Escrow Agent is authorized and directed to disburse the Escrow Property in accordance with Section 1.3 (Disbursements). Upon termination pursuant to the terms hereof, this Escrow Agreement shall be of no further force and effect, except that the provisions of Sections 1.5 (Tax Allocation and Reporting), 3.1(Indemnification), 3.2 (Limitation of Liability), and 3.4 (Compensation) hereof shall survive termination.

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ARTICLE 2
DUTIES OF THE ESCROW AGENT

2.1            Scope of Responsibility. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, the Escrow Agent is obligated only to perform the duties expressly and specifically set forth in this Escrow Agreement, which shall be deemed purely ministerial in nature. Under no circumstances will the Escrow Agent be deemed to be a fiduciary to either Party or any other person under this Escrow Agreement or otherwise. The Escrow Agent will not be responsible or liable for the failure of either Party to perform in accordance with this Escrow Agreement. The Escrow Agent shall neither be responsible for, nor chargeable with, knowledge of the terms and conditions of any other agreement, instrument, or document other than this Escrow Agreement, whether or not an original or a copy of such agreement has been provided to the Escrow Agent; and the Escrow Agent shall have no duty to know or inquire as to the performance or nonperformance of any provision of any such agreement, instrument, or document. References in this Escrow Agreement to any other agreement, instrument, or document are for the convenience of the Parties and the Escrow Agent has no duties or obligations with respect thereto. The Escrow Agent acts hereunder as escrow agent only, and is not responsible or liable in any manner whatsoever for the sufficiency, correctness, genuineness or validity of the subject matter of this Escrow Agreement or any part thereof. The Escrow Agent shall have no responsibilities (except as expressly set forth herein) as to the validity, sufficiency, value, genuineness, ownership or transferability of the Escrow Property, written instructions, or any other documents in connection therewith, and will not be regarded as making nor be required to make, any representations thereto. This Escrow Agreement sets forth all matters pertinent to the escrow contemplated hereunder, and no additional obligations of the Escrow Agent shall be inferred or implied from the terms of this Escrow Agreement, any other agreement or otherwise.

2.2            Rights of the Escrow Agent. No provision of this Escrow Agreement shall require the Escrow Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability or potential financial liability in the performance of its duties or the exercise of its rights under this Escrow Agreement. The Escrow Agent shall not be obligated to take any legal action or to commence any proceedings in connection with this Escrow Agreement or any property held hereunder or to appear in, prosecute or defend in any such legal action or proceedings. The Escrow Agent shall be protected in acting upon any written instruction, notice, request, waiver, consent, certificate, receipt, authorization, power of attorney or other paper or document which the Escrow Agent in good faith believes to be genuine and what it purports to be, including, but not limited to, items directing investment or non-investment of funds, items requesting or authorizing release, disbursement or retainage of the subject matter of this Escrow Agreement and items amending the terms of this Escrow Agreement.

2.3            Attorneys and Agents. The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to rely on and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Escrow Agent in accordance with the advice of counsel or other professionals retained or consulted by the Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent shall be reimbursed as set forth in Section 3.1 for reasonable and documented compensation (fees, expenses and other costs) paid and/or reimbursed to such counsel and/or professionals. The Escrow Agent may perform any and all of its duties through its agents, representatives, attorneys, custodians, and/or nominees and shall not be responsible for the acts or omissions of such agents, representatives, attorneys, custodians or nominees appointed with due care.

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2.4            Right Not Duty Undertaken. The permissive rights of the Escrow Agent to do things enumerated in this Escrow Agreement shall not be construed as duties.

 

ARTICLE 3
PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE ESCROW AGENT

3.1            Indemnification. The Parties, jointly and severally, hereby indemnify and defend the Escrow Agent and its directors, officers, employees and agents (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”), and hold the Indemnified Parties harmless from any and against all liabilities, losses, actions, suits or proceedings at law or in equity, and any other expenses, fees or charges of any character or nature, (including, without limitation, negative interest, reasonable and documented attorney’s fees and expenses and the costs of enforcement of this Escrow Agreement or any provision thereof), which an Indemnified Party may incur or with which it may be threatened by reason of acting as or on behalf of the Escrow Agent under this Escrow Agreement or arising out of the existence of the Escrow Account, except to the extent the same shall be have been finally adjudicated to have been directly caused by the Escrow Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Escrow Agent shall have a first lien against the Escrow Account to secure the obligations of the parties hereunder. The terms of this paragraph shall survive termination of this Escrow Agreement.

3.2            Limitation of Liability. THE ESCROW AGENT SHALL NOT BE LIABLE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, FOR ANY (I) DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS ESCROW AGREEMENT, THE ESCROW ACCOUNT, THE ESCROW PROPERTY, OR THE SERVICES PROVIDED HEREUNDER, OTHER THAN DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES WHICH HAVE BEEN FINALLY ADJUDICATED TO HAVE DIRECTLY RESULTED FROM THE ESCROW AGENT’S GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, (II) SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF THE ESCROW AGENT HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH LOSSES OR DAMAGES AND REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF ACTION, OR (III) ANY AMOUNT IN EXCESS OF THE VALUE OF THE ESCROW PROPERTY.

3.3            Resignation or Removal. The Escrow Agent may, at any time, resign as escrow agent hereunder by furnishing written notice of its resignation to each Party. At the effectiveness of such resignation, all fees and expenses to which the Escrow Agent is entitled shall be immediately due and payable to Escrow Agent. The Parties may remove the Escrow Agent by furnishing to the Escrow Agent a joint written notice of its removal along with payment of all fees and expenses to which it is entitled through the date of termination. Such resignation or removal, as the case may be, shall be effective thirty (30) days after the delivery of such notice or upon the earlier appointment of a successor, and the Escrow Agent’s sole responsibility thereafter shall be to safely keep the Escrow Property and to deliver the same to a successor escrow agent as shall be appointed by the Parties, as evidenced by a joint written notice filed with the Escrow Agent or in accordance with a court order. If the Parties have failed to appoint a successor escrow agent prior to the expiration of thirty (30) days following the delivery of such notice of resignation or removal, the Escrow Agent shall be entitled, at its sole discretion and at the expense of Company, to (a) return the Escrow Property to Company, or (b) petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor escrow agent or for other appropriate relief, and any such resulting appointment shall be binding upon the Parties.

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3.4            Compensation. (a) The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to compensation for its services as stated in the fee schedule attached hereto as Exhibit C, which compensation shall be paid by the Company. Such compensation is intended for the Escrow Agent’s services as contemplated by this Escrow Agreement. In addition to such compensation, in the event that the conditions for the disbursement of funds under this Escrow Agreement are not fulfilled, or the Escrow Agent renders any service not contemplated in this Escrow Agreement, or there is any assignment of interest in the subject matter of this Escrow Agreement, or any material modification hereof, or if any material controversy arises hereunder, or the Escrow Agent is made a party to any litigation pertaining to this Escrow Agreement or the subject matter hereof, then the Escrow Agent shall be compensated for such extraordinary services and any services or work performed by Escrow Agent in connection with any delay, controversy, litigation or event, and reimbursed for all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, occasioned by any such delay, controversy, litigation or event. If any amount due to the Escrow Agent hereunder is not paid within thirty (30) days of the date due, the Escrow Agent in its sole discretion may charge interest on such amount up to the highest rate permitted by applicable law.

(b) As security for the due and punctual performance of any and all of the Parties’ obligations to the Escrow Agent hereunder, now or hereafter arising, the Parties, individually and collectively, hereby pledge, assign and grant to the Escrow Agent a continuing security interest in, and a lien on and right of setoff against, the Escrow Property and all distributions thereon, investments thereof or additions thereto (whether such additions are the result of deposits by the Parties or the investment of Escrow Property or otherwise). If any fees, expenses or costs incurred by, or any obligations owed to, the Escrow Agent hereunder are not promptly paid when due, the Escrow Agent may reimburse itself therefor from the Escrow Property, and may sell, convey or otherwise dispose of any Escrow Property for such purpose. The security interest and setoff rights of the Escrow Agent shall at all times be valid, perfected and enforceable by the Escrow Agent against the Parties and all third parties in accordance with the terms of this Escrow Agreement.

The terms of this Section 3.4 shall survive termination of this Escrow Agreement.

3.5            Disagreements. If any conflict, disagreement or dispute arises between, among, or involving any of the parties hereto concerning the meaning or validity of any provision hereunder or concerning any other matter relating to this Escrow Agreement, or the Escrow Agent is in doubt as to the action to be taken hereunder, the Escrow Agent may, at its option, refuse to act until the Escrow Agent (a) receives a final non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction directing delivery of the Escrow Property or (b) receives a written instruction, executed by each of the parties involved in such disagreement or dispute, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Escrow Agent, directing delivery of the Escrow Property. The Escrow Agent will be entitled to act on any such written instruction or final non- appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction without further question, inquiry or consent. The Escrow Agent may file an interpleader action in a state or federal court, and upon the filing thereof, the Escrow Agent will be relieved of all liability as to the Escrow Property and will be entitled to recover reasonable and documented out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees, expenses and other costs incurred in commencing and maintaining any such interpleader action. In the event the Escrow Agent receives conflicting instructions hereunder, the Escrow Agent shall be fully protected in refraining from acting until such conflict is resolved to the satisfaction of the Escrow Agent.

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3.6            Merger or Consolidation. Any corporation or association into which the Escrow Agent may be converted or merged, or with which it may be consolidated, or to which it may sell or transfer all or substantially all of its corporate trust business and assets as a whole or substantially as a whole, or any corporation or association resulting from any such conversion, sale, merger, consolidation or transfer to which the Escrow Agent is a party, shall be and become the successor escrow agent under this Escrow Agreement and shall have and succeed to the rights, powers, duties, immunities and privileges as its predecessor, without the execution or filing of any instrument or paper or the performance of any further act.

3.7            Attachment of Escrow Property; Compliance with Legal Orders. In the event that any Escrow Property shall be attached, garnished or levied upon by any court order, or the delivery thereof shall be stayed or enjoined by an order of a court, or any order, judgment or decree shall be made or entered by any court order affecting the Escrow Property, the Escrow Agent is hereby expressly authorized, in its sole discretion, to respond as it deems appropriate or to comply with all writs, orders or decrees so entered or issued, or which it is advised by legal counsel of its own choosing is binding upon it, whether with or without jurisdiction. In the event that the Escrow Agent obeys or complies with any such writ, order or decree it shall not be liable to any Party or to any other person, firm or corporation, should, by reason of such compliance notwithstanding, such writ, order or decree be subsequently reversed, modified, annulled, set aside or vacated.

3.8            Force Majeure. The Escrow Agent shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligation under this Escrow Agreement arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; wars; acts of terrorism; civil or military disturbances; sabotage; epidemic; riots; interruptions; loss or malfunctions of utilities including but not limited to, computer (hardware or software), payment systems, or communications services; accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authority or governmental action; it being understood that the Escrow Agent shall use commercially reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as reasonably practicable under the circumstances.

3.9            Compliance with Legal Orders. The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to consult with legal counsel in the event that a question or dispute arises with regard to the construction of any of the provisions hereof, and shall incur no liability and shall be fully protected in acting in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

3.10            No Financial Obligation. The Escrow Agent shall not be required to use its own funds in the performance of any of its obligations or duties or the exercise of any of its rights or powers, and shall not be required to take any action which, in the Escrow Agent's sole and absolute judgment, could involve it in expense or liability unless furnished with security and indemnity which it deems, in its sole and absolute discretion, to be satisfactory.

ARTICLE 4
MISCELLANEOUS

4.1            Successors and Assigns. This Escrow Agreement shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of each Party and the Escrow Agent and their respective successors and permitted assigns. No other persons shall have any rights under this Escrow Agreement. No assignment of the interest of any of the Parties and the Escrow Agent shall be binding unless and until written notice of such assignment shall be delivered to the other Party and the Escrow Agent and shall require the prior written consent of the other Party and the Escrow Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld).

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4.2            Escheat. Each Party is aware that under applicable state law, property which is presumed abandoned may under certain circumstances escheat to the applicable state. The Escrow Agent shall have no liability to either Party or any other party, should any or all of the Escrow Property escheat by operation of law.

4.3            Notices. All notices, requests, demands, and other communications required under this Escrow Agreement shall be in writing, in English, and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered (i) personally, (ii) by facsimile transmission with written confirmation of receipt, (iii) by overnight delivery with a reputable national overnight delivery service, (iv) by mail or by certified mail, return receipt requested, and postage prepaid, or (v) by electronic transmission; including by way of e-mail (as long as such email is accompanied by a PDF or similar version of the relevant document bearing the signature of an Authorized Representative for the Party sending the notice) with email confirmation of receipt. If any notice is mailed, it shall be deemed given five (5) business days after the date such notice is deposited in the United States mail. If notice is given to a party, it shall be given at the address for such party set forth below. It shall be the responsibility of each Party to notify the Escrow Agent in writing of any name or address changes. In the case of communications delivered to the Escrow Agent, such communications shall be deemed to have been given on the date received by the Escrow Agent.

If to Company:

Phoenix Motor Inc.

1500 Lakeview Loop

Anaheim, CA 92807

Attention: W. Chris Wang

Telephone: (909) 987-0815

Email: ChrisW@phoenixmotorcars.com

With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Loeb & Loeb LLP

345 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10154

Attention: Mitchell S. Nussbaum, Esq.; David C. Fischer, Esq.

Email: mnussbaum@loeb.com; dfischer@loeb.com

Telephone No.: (212) 407-4000

If to the Representative:

Prime Number Capital LLC

14 Myrtle Drive

Great Neck, NY 11021

Attention: Xiaoyan Jiang

Telephone: 212-590-2303

Email: xj@pncps.com

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With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Robinson & Cole LLP

 Chrysler East Building

 666 Third Avenue, 20th Floor

 Attention: Arila E. Zhou, Esq.; Anna Jinhua Wang, Esq.

 Email: azhou@rc.com; awang@rc.com

 Telephone: (212) 451-2908

If to the Escrow Agent:

Wilmington Trust, National Association

 Corporate Client Services

 350 Park Avenue, 9th Floor

 New York, NY 10022

 Attention: Ellen Jean-Baptiste

 Telephone: (212) 941-4425

 Email: ejean-baptiste@wilmingtontrust.com

4.4            Governing Law. This Escrow Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to any laws relating to choice of laws (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.

4.5            Venue. Each Party and the Escrow Agent hereby consent to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of the courts located in New Castle County in the State of Delaware in the event of a dispute arising out of or under this Escrow Agreement. Each Party and the Escrow Agent hereby irrevocably waives any objection to the laying of the venue of any suit, action or proceeding and irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such court in such suit, action or proceeding.

4.6            Entire Agreement. This Escrow Agreement and the exhibits hereto set forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties related to the Escrow Property and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written. If a court of competent jurisdiction declares a provision invalid, it will be ineffective only to the extent of the invalidity, so that the remainder of the provision and Escrow Agreement will continue in full force and effect. In the event of any direct conflict of the terms of this Escrow Agreement with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, as with respect to the rights of the Company and the Representative, the terms of the Underwriting Agreement shall control and prevail; provided, in no event shall the Escrow Agent be bound by the terms of the Underwriting Agreement. This Escrow Agreement is not intended to confer upon any person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies.

4.7            Amendment. This Escrow Agreement may be amended, modified, supplemented, superseded, rescinded, or canceled only by a written instrument executed by the Parties and the Escrow Agent; provided that Exhibit B-1 or Exhibit B-2, as applicable, may be amended at any time in accordance with Section 1.3.

4.8            Waivers. The failure of any party to this Escrow Agreement at any time or times to require performance of any provision under this Escrow Agreement shall in no manner affect the right at a later time to enforce the same performance. A waiver by any party to this Escrow Agreement of any such condition or breach of any term, covenant, representation, or warranty contained in this Escrow Agreement, in any one or more instances, shall neither be construed as a further or continuing waiver of any such condition or breach nor a waiver of any other condition or breach of any other term, covenant, representation, or warranty contained in this Escrow Agreement.

12

 

4.9            Interpretation. Section headings of this Escrow Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall in no way restrict or otherwise modify any of the terms or provisions of this Escrow Agreement. Unless otherwise indicated by the context, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Any references to an Exhibit is a reference to an Exhibit of this Escrow Agreement.

4.10          Electronic Signatures; Facsimile Signatures; Counterparts. This Escrow Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts. Such execution of counterparts may occur by manual signature, electronic signature, facsimile signature, manual signature transmitted by means of facsimile transmission or manual signature contained in an imaged document attached to an email transmission, and any such execution that is not by manual signature shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manual signature. Each such counterpart executed in accordance with the foregoing shall be deemed an original, with all such counterparts together constituting one and the same instrument. The exchange of executed copies of this Escrow Agreement or of executed signature pages to this Escrow Agreement by electronic transmission, facsimile transmission or as an imaged document attached to an email transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery hereof. Any copy of this Escrow Agreement which is fully executed and transmitted in accordance with the terms hereof may be used for all purposes in lieu of a manually executed copy of this Escrow Agreement and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as if executed by manual signature.

4.11            Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO EXPRESSLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN RESOLVING ANY CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM RELATING TO OR ARISING OUT OF THIS ESCROW AGREEMENT.

[The remainder of this page left intentionally blank.]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Escrow Agreement has been duly executed as of the date first written above.

  PHOENIX MOTOR INC.
   
  By: /s/ W. Chris Wang
  Name: W. Chris Wang
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
   
   
  PRIME NUMBER CAPITAL LLC
   
  By: /s/ Xiaoyan Jiang
  Name: Xiaoyan Jiang
  Title: Chairwoman
   
   
  WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Escrow Agent
   
  By: /s/ Ellen Jean-Baptiste
  Name: Ellen Jean-Baptiste
  Title: Assistant Vice President

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EXHIBIT A

Form of Written Direction

[Form to be provided by Company/the Representative, provided that any alternative form contain substantially all information in the table below]

Example for reference purposes only:

date

Wilmington Trust, National Association

Corporate Client Services

350 Park Avenue, 9th Floor

New York, NY 10022

Attention: Ellen Jean-Baptiste

Re: Escrow Account No.: 156178-000, Phoenix Motor Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to the Escrow Agreement, dated as of      , 2022 entered into by and among Phoenix Motor Inc. (the “Company”), Prime Number Capital LLC (the “Representative”) and WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as escrow agent (the “Escrow Agent”). Capitalized terms defined in the Escrow Agreement shall have the same meanings when used herein. This letter is a [ ] Written Direction referred to in Section [ ] of the Escrow Agreement.

[            ] and [            ] hereby jointly instruct the Escrow Agent to release the funds in the Escrow Account in the amounts, and to the account(s), as follows:

Amount:

Beneficiary Bank Name:

Beneficiary Bank Address

Line 1:

Beneficiary Bank Address

Line 2:

Beneficiary Bank Address

Line 3:

ABA#:

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SWIFT#:

Beneficiary Account Title:

Beneficiary Account No./IBAN:

Beneficiary Address

Line 1:

Beneficiary Address

Line 2:

Beneficiary Address

Line 3:

Additional Information:

  PHOENIX MOTOR INC.
 
  By:  
  Name:
  Title:
 
  PRIME NUMBER CAPITAL LLC
 
  By:  
  Name:
  Title:

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EXHIBIT B

  

EXHIBIT B-1

CERTIFICATE AS TO AUTHORIZED SIGNATURES

OF COMPANY

Company hereby designates each of the following persons as its Authorized Representative for purposes of this Escrow Agreement, and confirms that the title, contact information and specimen signature of each such person as set forth below is true and correct. Each such Authorized Representative is authorized to initiate and approve transactions of all types for the Escrow Account established under this Escrow Agreement to which this Exhibit B-1 is attached, on behalf of Company.

Name (print): Wenbing Chris Wang
Specimen Signature: /s/ Wenbing Chris Wang
Title: CFO
Telephone Number (required): Office: 1500 Lakeview Look,
If more than one, list all Anaheim, CA 92807
Cell:917-386-8650
Home:
E-mail (required): Other:
If more than one, list all Email 1:
Facsimile: Email 2:
Name (print):
Specimen Signature:
Title:
Telephone Number (required):
If more than one, list all Office:
Cell:
Home:
E-mail (required): Other:
If more than one, list all Email 1:
Email 2:
Facsimile:
Name (print):
Specimen Signature:
Title:
Telephone (required):
If more than one, list all Office:
Cell:
Home:
E-mail (required): Other:
If more than one, list all Email 1:
Facsimile: Email 2:

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COMPLETE BELOW TO UPDATE EXHIBIT B-1

If Company wishes to change the names or details of any of its Authorized Representatives, Company must complete, sign and send to Escrow Agent an updated copy of this Exhibit B-1 with such changes. Any updated Exhibit B-1 shall be effective once signed by Company and Escrow Agent and shall entirely supersede and replace any prior Exhibit B-1 attached to this Escrow Agreement or submitted to Escrow Agent.

  PHOENIX MOTOR INC.
 
  By:  
  Name:
  Title:
  Date:
 
  WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
 
  By:  
  Name:
  Title:
  Date:

 

Internal Use Only:

¨Updated details of Authorized Representatives completed in full

¨Signed by a representative of Company per relevant board resolutions/certificate of incumbency on file (if relevant).
¨Call-back performed to Company to confirm authenticity of updated Exhibit B-1:

Person Called: Date of Call: Time of Call: am/pm

Reviewed by (name): Signature: Date:

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EXHIBIT B-2

CERTIFICATE AS TO AUTHORIZED SIGNATURES

OF THE REPRESENTATIVE

The Representative hereby designates each of the following persons as its Authorized Representative for purposes of this Escrow Agreement, and confirms that the title, contact information and specimen signature of each such person as set forth below is true and correct. Each such Authorized Representative is authorized to initiate and approve transactions of all types for the Escrow Account[s] established under this Escrow Agreement to which this Exhibit B-2 is attached, on behalf of the Representative.

 

Name (print): Xiaoyan Jiang
Specimen Signature: /s/ Xiaoyan Jiang
Title: Chairwoman
Telephone Number (required): Office: +1 212590 2303
If more than one, list all Cell: +1 516 209 0619
Home:
Other:
E-mail (required): Email 1: xj@pncps.com
If more than one, list all Email 2:
Facsimile:
Name (print):
Specimen Signature:
Title:
Telephone Number (required): Office:
If more than one, list all Cell:
Home:
Other:
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19

 

COMPLETE BELOW TO UPDATE EXHIBIT B-2

If the Representative wishes to change the names or details of any of its Authorized Representatives, the Representative must complete, sign and send to Escrow Agent an updated copy of this Exhibit B-2 with such changes. Any updated Exhibit B-2 shall be effective once signed by the Representative and Escrow Agent and shall entirely supersede and replace any prior Exhibit B-2 attached to this Escrow Agreement or submitted to Escrow Agent.

  PRIME NUMBER CAPITAL LLC
 
  By:  
  Name:
  Title:
  Date:
 
  WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
 
  By:  
  Name:
  Title:
  Date:

 

Internal Use Only:

 

¨Updated details of Authorized Representatives completed in full

¨Signed by the Representative per relevant board resolutions/certificate of incumbency on file (if relevant).
¨ Call-back performed to the Representative to confirm authenticity of updated Exhibit B-2:

Person Called: Date of Call: Time of Call: am/pm

Reviewed by (name): Signature: Date:

20

 

EXHIBIT C

Fees of Escrow Agent

Acceptance Fee:     Waived     

Initial Fees as they relate to Wilmington Trust, N.A. acting in the capacity of Escrow Agent – includes review of the Escrow Agreement; acceptance of the Escrow appointment; setting up of Escrow Account(s) and accounting records; and coordination of receipt of funds for deposit to the Escrow Account(s). Acceptance Fee payable prior to, or within one business day after, the Escrow Agreement is executed by all parties.

Escrow Agent Administration Fee:$3,500     

 

For ordinary administrative services by Escrow Agent – includes daily routine account management; investment transactions; cash transaction processing (including wire and check processing); monitoring claim notices pursuant to the agreement; disbursement of funds in accordance with the agreement; and mailing of trust account statements to all applicable parties. This fee shall be payable one-time at the time of the execution of this agreement.

Wilmington Trust, N.A.’s fees are based on the following assumptions:

Number of Escrow Accounts to be established: One (1)

Estimated Term of Escrow Agreement: 24 months

Investment of Escrow Property in: TBD

Out-of-Pocket Expenses:Billed At Cost     

 

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Exhibit 10.2

 

PHOENIX MOTOR, INC.

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as of June __, 2022and is between Phoenix Motor, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the undersigned indemnified party (the “Indemnitee”).

 

RECITALS

 

A. Indemnitee’s service to the Company substantially benefits the Company.

 

B. Individuals are reluctant to serve as directors or officers of corporations or in certain other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or indemnification against the risks of claims and actions against them arising out of such service.

 

C. Indemnitee does not regard the protection currently provided by applicable law, the Company’s governing documents and any insurance as adequate under the present circumstances, and Indemnitee may not be willing to serve as a director or officer without additional protection.

 

D. In order to induce Indemnitee to continue to provide services to the Company, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company to contractually obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, Indemnitee as permitted by applicable law.

 

E. This Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the indemnification provided in the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and this Agreement shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor shall this Agreement be deemed to limit, diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

AGREEMENT

 

The parties agree as follows:

 

1. Definitions.

 

(a) Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; provided, however, that “Beneficial Owner” shall exclude any Person otherwise becoming a Beneficial Owner solely by reason of (i) the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another Person, or entering into tender or support agreements relating thereto, provided such merger was approved by the Company’s board of directors, or (ii) the Company’s board of directors approving a sale of securities by the Company to such Person.

 

(b) A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

 

(i) Acquisition of Stock by Third Party. Any Person (as defined below) becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities;

 

(ii) Change in Board Composition. During any period of two consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Company’s board of directors and any Approved Directors cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the members of the Company’s board of directors. “Approved Directors” means new directors whose election or nomination by the board of directors was approved by a vote of at least two thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of such two-year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved; or

 

 

 

 

(iii) Corporate Transactions. The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation that would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such surviving entity.

 

(c) Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, trustee, general partner, managing member, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or any other Enterprise, including as a deemed fiduciary thereto.

 

(d) DGCL” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

(e) Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

(f) Enterprise” means the Company and any other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, trustee, general partner, managing member, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary.

 

(g) Expenses” include all reasonably and actually incurred attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees and costs of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding. Expenses also include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersede as bond or other appeal bond or their equivalent, and (ii) for purposes of Section 10(d), Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

 

(h) Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a partner or member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent (i) the Company, any Enterprise or Indemnitee in any matter material to any such party (other than as Independent Counsel with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term Independent Counsel shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

 

(i) Person” shall have the meaning used for such term in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; provided, however, that Person shall exclude (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

 

(j) Proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative nature, whether formal or informal, including any appeal therefrom and including without limitation any such Proceeding pending as of the date of this Agreement, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party, a potential party, a non-party witness, deponent or otherwise by reason of (i) the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, (ii) any action taken by Indemnitee or any action or inaction on Indemnitee’s part while acting as a director or officer of the Company, or (iii) the fact that he or she is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, trustee, general partner, managing member, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or any other Enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.

 

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(k) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law” means to the fullest extent permitted by all applicable laws, including without limitation: (i) the fullest extent permitted by DGCL as of the date of this Agreement and (ii) the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers and directors.

 

(l) In connection with any Proceeding relating to an employee benefit plan: references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries, including as a deemed fiduciary thereto; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Agreement.

 

2. Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or witness or other participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 2, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on his or her behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

3. Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a witness or other participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee or on his or her behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. No indemnification for Expenses shall be made under this Section 3 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or any court in which the Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification for such expenses as the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

 

4. Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is wholly or partly Successful. To the extent that Indemnitee is a party to, and is successful (on the merits or otherwise) in defense of, any Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith. For purposes of this Section 4 and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal (with or without prejudice), motion for summary judgment, settlement (with or without court approval), or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

 

5. Exclusions. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnity in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding):

 

(a) for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any statute, insurance policy, indemnity provision, vote or otherwise, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid; providedhowever, that payment made to Indemnitee pursuant to an insurance policy purchased and maintained by Indemnitee at his or her own expense of any amounts otherwise indemnifiable or obligated to be made pursuant to this Agreement shall not reduce the Company’s obligations to Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement;

 

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(b) for an accounting or disgorgement of profits pursuant to Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or similar provisions of federal, state or local statutory law or common law, if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements);

 

(c) for any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements);

 

(d) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees, agents or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Company’s board of directors authorized the Proceeding (or the relevant part of the Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law, (iii) otherwise authorized in Section 10(d) or (iv) otherwise required by applicable law; provided, for the avoidance of doubt, Indemnitee shall not be deemed for purposes of this paragraph, to have initiated any Proceeding (or any part of a Proceeding) by reason of (i) having asserted any affirmative defenses in connection with a claim not initiated by Indemnitee or (ii) having made any counterclaim (whether permissive or mandatory) in connection with any claim not initiated by Indemnitee; or

 

(e) if prohibited by the DGCL or other applicable law.

 

6. Advances of Expenses. The Company shall advance the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding prior to its final disposition, and such advancement shall be made as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event no later than 30 days, after the receipt by the Company of a written statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time (which shall include invoices received by Indemnitee in connection with such Expenses but, in the case of invoices in connection with legal services, any references to legal work performed or to expenditure made that would cause Indemnitee to waive any privilege accorded by applicable law shall not be included with the invoice). Advances shall be unsecured and interest free, made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay such advances, and made without regard to Indemnitee’s entitlement to and availability of insurance coverage, including advancement, payment or reimbursement of defense costs, expenses or covered loss under the provisions of any applicable insurance policy (including, without limitation, whether such advancement, payment or reimbursement is withheld, conditioned or delayed by the insurer(s)). Indemnitee hereby undertakes to repay any advance to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company, except, with respect to advances of expenses made pursuant to Section 10(c), in which case Indemnitee makes the undertaking provided in Section 10(c). No other undertaking shall be required. This Section 6 shall not apply to the extent advancement is prohibited by law (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final adjudication not subject to further appeal). The Company shall not seek from a court, or agree to, a “bar order” which would have the effect of prohibiting or limiting the Indemnitee’s rights to receive advancement of expenses under this Agreement. Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, within thirty days after any request by Indemnitee, the Company shall, in accordance with such request (but without duplication), (a) pay such Expenses on behalf of Indemnitee, (b) advance to Indemnitee funds in an amount sufficient to pay such Expenses, or (c) reimburse Indemnitee for such Expenses.

 

7. Procedures for Notification and Defense of Claim.

 

(a) Indemnitee shall notify the Company in writing of any matter with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of notice thereof. . The failure by Indemnitee to notify the Company will not relieve the Company from any liability that it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights, except to the extent that such failure or delay materially prejudices the Company.

 

(b) If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a Proceeding pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in effect that may be applicable to the Proceeding, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of the Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the applicable policies. The Company shall thereafter take all commercially reasonable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies. Further, if requested by Indemnitee, within two business days of such request the Company will instruct the insurance carriers and the Company’s insurance broker that they may communicate directly with Indemnitee regarding such claim.

 

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(c) In the event the Company may be obligated to make any indemnity in connection with a Proceeding, the Company shall be entitled to assume the defense of such Proceeding with counsel approved by Indemnitee, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, upon the delivery to Indemnitee of written notice of its election to do so. After delivery of such notice, approval of such counsel by Indemnitee and the retention of such counsel by the Company, the Company will not be liable to Indemnitee for any fees or expenses of counsel subsequently incurred by Indemnitee with respect to the same Proceeding. Notwithstanding the Company’s assumption of the defense of any such Proceeding, the Company shall be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of Indemnitee’s separate counsel to the extent (i) the employment of separate counsel by Indemnitee is authorized by the Company, (ii) counsel for the Company shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense such that Indemnitee needs to be separately represented, (iii) the Company is not financially or legally able to perform its indemnification obligations, or (iv) the Company shall not have retained, or shall not continue to retain, counsel to defend such Proceeding. Regardless of any provision in this Agreement, Indemnitee shall have the right to employ counsel in any Proceeding at Indemnitee’s personal expense. The Company shall not be entitled, without the consent of Indemnitee, to assume the defense of any claim brought by or in the right of the Company. Indemnitee agrees that any such separate counsel retained by indemnitee will be a member of any approved list of panel counsel under the Company’s applicable directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy, should the applicable policy provide for a panel of approved counsel and should such approved panel list comprise law firms with well-established reputations in the type of litigation at issue. (For clarity, the fact of a firm’s being part of a panel shall not be evidence of a firm’s having a well-established national reputation for the type of litigation at issue).

 

(d) Indemnitee shall give the Company such information and cooperation in connection with the Proceeding as may be reasonably appropriate.

 

(e) The Company shall not be liable to indemnify Indemnitee for any settlement of any Proceeding (or any part thereof) effected without the Company’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. The Company acknowledges that a settlement or other disposition short of final judgment may be successful if it permits a party to avoid expense, delay, distraction, disruption and uncertainty. In the event that any action, claim or proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party is resolved in a settlement to which the Company has given its prior written consent, such settlement shall be treated as a success on the merits in the settled action, suit or proceeding.

 

(f) The Company shall not settle any Proceeding (or any part thereof) in a manner that imposes any penalty or liability on Indemnitee not paid by the Company without Indemnitee’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. The Company shall not, on its own behalf, settle any part of any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is party with respect to other parties (including the Company) if any portion of such settlement is to be funded from corporate insurance proceeds unless approved by (i) the written consent of Indemnitee or (ii) a majority of the independent directors of the board; provided, however, that the right to constrain the Company’s use of corporate insurance as described in this section shall terminate at the time the Company concludes (per the terms of this Agreement) that (i) Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification pursuant to this agreement, or (ii) such indemnification obligation to Indemnitee has been fully discharged by the Company.

 

8. Procedures upon Application for Indemnification.

 

(a) To obtain indemnification, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and as is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of the Proceeding. Any delay in providing the request will not relieve the Company from its obligations under this Agreement, except to the extent such failure is prejudicial.

 

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(b) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 8(a), a determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made as follows, provided that a Change in Control shall not have occurred: (i) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Company’s board of directors; (ii) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Company’s board of directors; (iii) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if a majority of Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Company’s board of directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; or (iv) if so directed by the Company’s board of directors, by the stockholders of the Company. If a Change in Control shall have occurred, a determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be made by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Company’s board of directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee. If it is determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information that is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and that is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any costs or expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

 

(c) In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 8(b), the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 8(c). If a Change in Control shall not have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Company’s board of directors, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising him or her of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. If a Change in Control shall have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Company’s board of directors, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 1, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within 20 days after the later of (i) submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 8(a) and (ii) the final disposition of the Proceeding, the parties have not agreed upon an Independent Counsel, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition a court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection that shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the court or by such other person as the court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 8(b). Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 10(a), the Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

(d) The Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of any Independent Counsel and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

(e) If the person or persons so empowered to make a determination pursuant to Section 8(b) hereof shall have failed to make the requested determination within ninety (90) days after any judgment, order, settlement, dismissal, arbitration award, conviction, acceptance of a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, or other disposition or partial disposition of any Proceeding or any other event that could enable the Corporation to determine Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, the requisite determination that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall be deemed to have been made.

 

9. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.

 

(a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person, persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, and the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption by clear and convincing evidence.

 

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(b) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner that he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

(c) For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith to the extent Indemnitee relied in good faith on (i) the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, (ii) information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, (iii) the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or its board of directors or counsel selected by any committee of the board of directors or (iv) information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant, an appraiser, investment banker or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Enterprise or its board of directors or any committee of the board of directors. The provisions of this Section 11(c) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

 

(d) Neither the knowledge, actions nor failure to act of any other director, officer, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

10. Remedies of Indemnitee.

 

(a) Subject to Section 10(e), in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 9 that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 6 or 10(d), (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 8 within 30 days after the later of the receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification or the final disposition of the Proceeding, (iv) payment of indemnification pursuant to this Agreement is not made (A) within ten days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or (B) with respect to indemnification pursuant to Sections 4, 5 and 10(d), within 30 days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, or (v) the Company or any other person or entity takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of competent jurisdiction of his or her entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his or her option, may seek an award in arbitration with respect to his or her entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses, to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 12 months following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 10(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply in respect of a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his or her rights under Section 4. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration in accordance with this Agreement.

 

(b) Neither (i) the failure of the Company, its board of directors, any committee or subgroup of the board of directors, Independent Counsel or stockholders to have made a determination that indemnification of Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor (ii) an actual determination by the Company, its board of directors, any committee or subgroup of the board of directors, Independent Counsel or stockholders that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that Indemnitee has or has not met the applicable standard of conduct. In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 8 that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 10 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits, and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 10, the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be, and the burden of proof shall be by clear and convincing evidence.

 

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(c) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 10 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 10 that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 10, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statements not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

(d) The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action for indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement, any other agreement, the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company to the extent Indemnitee is successful in such action, and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event no later than 30 days, after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance such Expenses to Indemnitee, subject to the provisions of Section 6. Indemnitee hereby undertakes to repay such advances to the extent the Indemnitee is ultimately unsuccessful in such action or arbitration.

 

(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement to indemnification shall be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.

 

11. Contribution. To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amounts incurred by Indemnitee, whether for Expenses, judgments, fines or amounts paid or to be paid in settlement, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the events and transactions giving rise to such Proceeding; and (ii) the relative fault of Indemnitee and the Company (and its other directors, officers, employees and agents) in connection with such events and transactions. The Company hereby agrees to fully indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee from any claims for contribution which may be brought by officers, directors or employees of the Company (other than Indemnitee) who may be jointly liable with Indemnitee.

 

12. Non-exclusivity. The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change, subject to the restrictions expressly set forth herein or therein. Except as expressly set forth herein, no right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. Except as expressly set forth herein, the assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

13. Primary Responsibility. The Company acknowledges that to the extent Indemnitee is serving as a director on the Company’s board of directors at the request or direction of a private equity or venture capital fund or other entity and/or certain of its affiliates (collectively, the “Secondary Indemnitors”), Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by such Secondary Indemnitors. The Company agrees that, as between the Company and the Secondary Indemnitors, the Company is primarily responsible for amounts required to be indemnified or advanced under the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or this Agreement and any obligation of the Secondary Indemnitors to provide indemnification or advancement for the same amounts is secondary to those Company obligations. To the extent not in contravention of any insurance policy or policies providing liability or other insurance for the Company or any director, trustee, general partner, managing member, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or any other Enterprise, the Company waives any right of contribution or subrogation against the Secondary Indemnitors with respect to the liabilities for which the Company is primarily responsible under this Section 13. In the event of any payment by the Secondary Indemnitors of amounts otherwise required to be indemnified or advanced by the Company under the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or this Agreement, the Secondary Indemnitors shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement of expenses under the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or this Agreement or, to the extent such subrogation is unavailable and contribution is found to be the applicable remedy, shall have a right of contribution with respect to the amounts paid. The Secondary Indemnitors are express third-party beneficiaries of the terms of this Section 13.

 

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14. No Duplication of Payments. Subject to Section 13, the Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder (or for which advancement is provided hereunder) if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment for such amounts under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise; providedhowever, that payment made to Indemnitee pursuant to an insurance policy purchased and maintained by Indemnitee at his or her own expense of any amounts otherwise indemnifiable or obligated to be made pursuant to this Agreement shall not reduce the Company’s obligations to Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement.

 

15. Insurance. To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, trustees, general partners, managing members, officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries of the Company or any other Enterprise, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies to the same extent as the most favorably-insured persons under such policy or policies in a comparable position. In the event of a change of control or the Company’s becoming insolvent, the Company shall maintain in force any and all insurance policies then maintained by the Company in providing insurance—directors’ and officers’ liability, fiduciary, employment practices or otherwise--in respect of the individual directors and officers of the Company, for a fixed period of six years thereafter (a “Tail Policy”). Such coverage shall be non-cancellable and shall be placed and serviced for the duration of its term by the Company’s incumbent insurance broker. Such broker shall place the Tail policy with the incumbent insurance carriers using the policies that were in place at the time of the change of control event (unless the incumbent carriers will not offer such policies, in which case the Tail Policy placed by the Company’s insurance broker shall be substantially comparable in scope and amount as the expiring policies, and the insurance carriers for the Tail Policy shall have an AM Best rating that is the same or better than the AM Best ratings of the expiring policies).

 

16. Subrogation. Subject to Section 13, in the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

17. Services to the Company. Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director or officer of the Company or, at the request of the Company, as a director, trustee, general partner, managing member, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another Enterprise, for so long as Indemnitee is duly elected or appointed or until Indemnitee tenders his or her resignation or is removed from such position. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Company shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that any employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) is at will, and Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, with or without notice, except as may be otherwise expressly provided in any executed, written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), any existing formal severance policies adopted by the Company’s board of directors or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Company, the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or the DGCL. No such document shall be subject to any oral modification thereof.

 

18. Duration. All the rights and privileges afforded by this agreement, including the right to indemnification and the advancement of legal fees provided under this Agreement, shall continue as to Indemnitee for any action taken or not taken while serving in an indemnified capacity pertaining to an Indemnifiable Event even though Indemnitee may have ceased to serve in such capacity at the time of any Proceeding.

 

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19. Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns, including any direct or indirect successor, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. Further, the Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company, by written agreement, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

20. Severability. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to require or shall be construed as requiring the Company to do or fail to do any act in violation of applicable law. The Company’s inability, pursuant to court order or other applicable law, to perform its obligations under this Agreement shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (ii) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (iii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

 

21. EnforcementMonetary Damages Insufficient/Specific Performance. The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director or officer of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director or officer of the Company. The Company and Indemnitee agree that a monetary remedy for breach of this Agreement may be inadequate, impracticable and difficult of proof, and further agree that such breach may cause Indemnitee irreparable harm. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that Indemnitee may enforce this Agreement by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance hereof, without any necessity of showing actual damage or irreparable harm (having agreed that actual and irreparable harm will result in not forcing the Company to specifically perform its obligations pursuant to this Agreement) and that by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance, Indemnitee shall not be precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which he may be entitled. The Company and Indemnitee further agree that Indemnitee shall be entitled to such specific performance and injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions, without the necessity of posting bonds or other undertaking in connection therewith. The Company acknowledges that in the absence of a waiver, a bond or undertaking may be required of Indemnitee by the Court, and the Company hereby waives any such requirement of a bond or undertaking. If Indemnitee seeks mandatory injunctive relief, it shall not be a defense to enforcement of the Company’s obligations set forth in this Agreement that Indemnitee has an adequate remedy at law for damages

 

22. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; providedhowever, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws and applicable law.

 

23. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification or amendment to this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement shall adversely affect any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his or her Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall constitute or be deemed a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

24. Notices. All notices and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, sent by facsimile or electronic mail or otherwise delivered by hand, messenger or courier service addressed:

 

(a) if to Indemnitee, to Indemnitee’s address, facsimile number or electronic mail address as shown on the signature page of this Agreement or in the Company’s records, as may be updated in accordance with the provisions hereof; or

 

(b) if to the Company, to Phoenix Motor Inc., 1500 Lakeview Loop, Anahein, CA, Attention: Chief Financial Officer, or at such other current address as the Company shall have furnished to Indemnitee.

 

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Each such notice or other communication shall for all purposes of this Agreement be treated as effective or having been given (i) if delivered by hand, messenger or courier service, when delivered (or if sent via a nationally-recognized overnight courier service, freight prepaid, specifying next-business-day delivery, one business day after deposit with the courier), or (ii) if sent via mail, at the earlier of its receipt or five days after the same has been deposited in a regularly-maintained receptacle for the deposit of the United States mail, addressed and mailed as aforesaid, or (iii) if sent via facsimile, upon confirmation of facsimile transfer or, if sent via electronic mail, upon confirmation of delivery when directed to the relevant electronic mail address, if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, or if not sent during normal business hours of the recipient, then on the recipient’s next business day.

 

25. Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 10(a), the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Delaware Court of Chancery, and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court of Chancery for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) appoint, to the extent such party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, The Corporation Trust Company, Wilmington, Delaware as its agent in the State of Delaware as such party’s agent for acceptance of legal process in connection with any such action or proceeding against such party with the same legal force and validity as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware, (iv) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court of Chancery, and (v) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court of Chancery has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

26. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. This Agreement may also be executed and delivered by facsimile signature and in counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

27. Captions. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

(signature page follows)

 

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The parties are signing this Indemnification Agreement as of the date stated in the introductory sentence.

 

  PHOENIX MOTOR, INC.

 

  By:  
     
  Name:  
     
  Title:  

 

   
  [INDEMNITEE NAME]

 

  Address:  

 

     

 

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Exhibit 99.1

 

Phoenix Motor Inc. Announces Closing of $15,750,000 Initial Public Offering

 

Anaheim, California, June 10, 2022 /BUSINESS WIRE/ -- Phoenix Motor Inc. (“Phoenix” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: PEV), a California based company that designs, assembles, and integrates electric drive systems and light and medium duty electric vehicles (“EVs”), today announced the closing of its initial public offering (the “Offering”) of 2,100,000 shares of common stock at a public offering price of $7.50 per share (the “Common Stock”), for aggregate gross proceeds of $15.75 million before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses. The Offering closed on June 10, 2022 and the Common Stock began trading on June 8, 2022 on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol “PEV.”

 

Prime Number Capital LLC acted as the sole book runner and representative of the underwriters for the Offering. Revere Securities LLC and Westpark Capital, Inc. acted as co-managers for the Offering. Loeb & Loeb LLP served as counsel to the Company, and Robinson & Cole LLP served as counsel to Prime Number Capital LLC.

 

A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-261384) relating to the Offering has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and was declared effective by the SEC on June 7, 2022. The Offering is made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the Offering prospectus may be obtained from Prime Number Capital LLC by email at info@pncps.com. In addition, a copy of the final prospectus relating to the Offering may be obtained via the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these 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.

 

About Phoenix Motor Inc.

 

Phoenix Motor Inc., a pioneer in the electric vehicles (“EVs”) industry, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, designs, assembles, and integrates electric drive systems and light and medium duty EVs and markets and sells electric vehicle chargers for the commercial and residential markets.  Phoenix operates two primary brands, “Phoenix Motorcars” focused on commercial products including medium duty EVs, chargers and electric forklifts, and “EdisonFuture” which intends to offer light-duty EVs. As an EV pioneer, the Company delivered its first commercial EV in 2014 and deployed the very first zero emission airport shuttle bus at the Los Angeles International Airport (“LAX”); the LAX fleet has grown to 39 electric shuttle buses, one of the largest of its kind. Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California are among customers for the Company’s first generation E Series Zeus EVs. Phoenix intends to be a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of electric vehicles and electric vehicle technologies. For more information, please visit: www.phoenixmotorcars.com and www.edisonfuture.com.

 

Forward-Looking Statement

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the Company uses words such as “may,” “will,” “intend,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate” or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements.  No assurance can be given that the net proceeds of the Offering will be used as indicated. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the following:  the Company’s ability to convert concept trucks and vans into production and sales; the Company’s product development timeline and expected start of production; development of competitive trucks and vans manufactured and sold by the Company’s competitors and major industry vehicle companies; the Company’s ability to scale in a cost-effective manner; the Company’s future capital requirements and sources and uses of cash; the Company’s ability to obtain funding for its future operations; the Company’s financial and business performance; changes in the Company’s strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects and plans; the implementation, market acceptance and success of its business model; expectations regarding the Company’s ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection and not infringe on the rights of others; and other risks contained in the Offering prospectus and reports filed by the Company with the SEC.  For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company's registration statement and Offering prospectus, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.

 

For more information, please contact:

 

Underwriter

 

Prime Number Capital LLC
Ms. Xiaoyan Jiang, Chairwoman
Emailxj@pncps.com
Phone: 516-582-9666