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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 11, 2022.
Registration No. 333-    
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM F-4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
ECARX Holdings Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Cayman Islands
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
7373
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
Not Applicable
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
16/F, Tower 2, China Eastern Airline Binjiang Center
277 Longlan Road
Xuhui District, Shanghai 200041
People’s Republic of China
+86 (571) 8530-6757
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)
Cogency Global Inc.
122 East 42nd Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10168
+1(800) 221-0102
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Shu Du, Esq.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher &
Flom LLP
c/o 42/F, Edinburgh Tower,
The Landmark
15 Queen’s Road Central
Hong Kong
Tel: +852 3740-4700
Peter X. Huang, Esq.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher &
Flom LLP
30/F, China World Office 2
1 Jian Guo Men Wai Avenue
Beijing 100004
People’s Republic of China
Tel: +86 (10) 6535-5500
Albert W. Vanderlaan, Esq.
Hari Raman, Esq.
Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
222 Berkeley Street, Suite 2000
Boston, MA 02116
Tel: +1 (617) 880-1800
Jeff Zhang, Esq.
Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
5701 China World Tower A
No. 1 Jianguomenwai Avenue
Beijing 100004, PRC
Tel: +86 10 8595 5600
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration for the share offering. ☐
If applicable, place an X in the box to designate the appropriate rule provision relied upon in conducting this transaction:
Exchange Act Rule 13e-4(i) (Cross-Border Issuer Tender Offer) ☐
Exchange Act Rule 14d-1(d) (Cross-Border Third-Party Tender Offer) ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, 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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.

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The information in this preliminary proxy statement/prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not issue these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary proxy statement/prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PRELIMINARY — SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED OCTOBER 11, 2022
PROXY STATEMENT FOR EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF
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COVA Acquisition Corp.
and
PROSPECTUS FOR UP TO 62,372,000 ECARX CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES AND 24,872,000 ECARX WARRANTS
OF
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ECARX Holdings Inc.
The board of directors of COVA Acquisition Corp. (“COVA”), a Cayman Islands exempted company, has approved the Agreement and Plan of Merger (“Merger Agreement”), dated as of May 26, 2022 by and among COVA, ECARX Holdings Inc. (“ECARX Holdings”), a Cayman Islands exempted company, Ecarx Temp Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX (“Merger Sub 1”), and Ecarx&Co Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX ( “Merger Sub 2”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (i) Merger Sub 1 will merge with and into COVA (the “First Merger”), with COVA surviving the First Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of ECARX Holdings (such company, as the surviving entity of the First Merger, “Surviving Entity 1”), and (ii) immediately following the First Merger and as part of the same overall transaction as the First Merger, Surviving Entity 1 will merge with and into Merger Sub 2 (the “Second Merger,” and together with the First Merger, the “Mergers”), with Merger Sub 2 surviving the Second Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX Holdings (such company, as the surviving entity of the Second Merger, “Surviving Entity 2”) (collectively, the “Business Combination”).
COVA shareholders are being asked to consider a vote upon the Business Combination and certain proposals related thereto as described in this proxy statement/prospectus. As a result of the Business Combination, and upon consummation of the Business Combination and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (the “Transactions”), Merger Sub 2 will become a wholly owned subsidiary of ECARX Holdings, with the shareholders of COVA becoming shareholders of ECARX Holdings.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, on the Closing Date (as defined below), immediately prior to the effective time of the First Merger (the “First Effective Time”), (i) the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of ECARX Holdings (“Amended ECARX Articles”) shall be adopted and become effective; (ii) each of the preferred shares of ECARX Holdings that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to such time shall be re-designated and re-classified into one ordinary share of ECARX Holdings on a one-for-one basis (the “Preferred Share Conversion”); (iii) immediately following the Preferred Share Conversion but immediately prior to the Recapitalization (as defined below), the authorized share capital of ECARX Holdings shall be re-designated as follows (the “Re-designation”): (A) each of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of ECARX Holdings (other than the Co-Founder Shares (as defined below)) and each of 7,766,956,008 authorized but unissued ordinary shares of ECARX Holdings shall be re-designated as one Class A ordinary share, par value of US$0.000005 per share (“ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares”), where each ECARX Class A Ordinary Share shall entitle its holder to one vote on all matters subject to vote at general meetings of ECARX Holdings; (B) each of the issued and outstanding Co-Founder Shares and each of the 958,958,360 authorized but unissued ordinary shares of ECARX Holdings shall be re-designated as one Class B ordinary share, par value of US$0.000005 per share (“ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares” and collectively with ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares, “ECARX Ordinary Shares”), where each ECARX Class B Ordinary Share shall entitle its holder to ten votes on all matters subject to vote at general meetings of ECARX Holdings; and (C) 1,000,000,000 authorized but unissued ordinary shares of ECARX Holdings shall be re-designated as shares of par value of US$0.000005 each of such class or classes (however designated) as the board of directors of ECARX Holdings may determine in accordance with the Amended ECARX Articles; and (iv) (A) each issued and outstanding ECARX Ordinary Share immediately following the Re-designation and prior to the First Effective Time shall be recapitalized by way of a repurchase in exchange for issuance of such number of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares, in each case, equal to the Recapitalization Factor (as defined below); (B) each outstanding option exercisable to purchase shares of ECARX Holdings (“ECARX Options”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Recapitalization shall be adjusted to give effect to the foregoing transactions, such that each ECARX Option shall be exercisable for that number of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares equal to the product of (a) the number of shares of ECARX Holdings subject to such ECARX Option immediately prior to the Recapitalization multiplied by (b) the Recapitalization Factor (such product rounded down to the nearest whole number), and the per share exercise price for each ECARX Class A Ordinary Share issuable upon exercise of the ECARX Options, as adjusted, shall be equal to the quotient (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) obtained by dividing (y) the per share exercise price for each share of ECARX Holdings subject to such ECARX Option immediately prior to the First Effective Time by (z) the Recapitalization Factor (the “Recapitalization”). Actions set forth in (i) through (iv) above are collectively referred to as the “Capital Restructuring.”

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In addition, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (i) immediately prior to the First Effective Time, each Class B ordinary share of COVA, par value $0.0001 per share (“COVA Founder Shares”), outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time (after giving effect to the forfeiture of certain COVA Founder Shares held by Sponsor pursuant to the applicable terms of the Sponsor Support Agreement) will be automatically converted into one Class A ordinary share of COVA, par value $0.0001 per share (“COVA Public Shares,” together with COVA Founder Shares, “COVA Shares”) in accordance with the terms of the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of COVA (“COVA Articles”) (such automatic conversion, the “COVA Class B Conversion”), and each COVA Founder Share shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled, and each former holder of COVA Founder Share shall thereafter cease to have any rights with respect to such shares; (ii) at the First Effective Time, each of COVA’s units (“Units”) (each consisting of one COVA Public Share (as defined above) and one-half of one COVA Public Warrant (as defined below)) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time shall be automatically detached and the holder thereof shall be deemed to hold one COVA Public Share and one-half of one COVA Public Warrant in accordance with the terms of the applicable Unit (the “Unit Separation”); provided, that, no fractional COVA Public Warrants shall be issued in connection with the Unit Separation such that if a holder of such Units would be entitled to receive a fractional COVA Public Warrant upon the Unit Separation, the number of COVA Public Warrants to be issued to such holder upon such separation will be rounded down to the nearest whole number of COVA Public Warrants; (iii) immediately following the Unit Separation and after giving effect to the COVA Class B Conversion, each COVA Public Share (excluding COVA Public Shares that are held by COVA shareholders that validly exercise their redemption rights, Dissenting COVA Shares and COVA treasury shares) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time shall be cancelled and cease to exist and each holder thereof shall be entitled to receive one newly issued ECARX Class A Ordinary Share; and (iv) each whole warrant of COVA outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time shall cease to be a warrant with respect to COVA Public Shares and be assumed by ECARX Holdings and converted into a warrant (“ECARX Warrant,” and collectively with “ECARX Ordinary Shares,” the “ECARX Securities”) to purchase one ECARX Class A Ordinary Share, subject to substantially the same terms and conditions prior to the First Effective Time.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (i) each ordinary share, par value US$0.000005 per share, of Merger Sub 1, that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time shall continue existing and constitute the only issued and outstanding share capital of Surviving Entity 1, (ii) each ordinary share of Surviving Entity 1 that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Second Effective Time will be automatically cancelled and cease to exist without any payment therefor, and (iii) each ordinary share, par value US$0.000005 per share, of Merger Sub 2 immediately prior to the Second Effective Time shall remain outstanding and continue existing and constitute the only issued and outstanding share capital of Surviving Entity 2 and shall not be affected by the Second Merger.
Immediately after the consummation of the Business Combination, the outstanding share capital of ECARX Holdings will consist of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares. Each holder of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares is entitled to one vote per share and each holder of ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares is entitled to 10 votes per share on all matters submitted to them for a vote. ECARX Class A Ordinary Share is not convertible into ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares under any circumstances. Each ECARX Class B Ordinary Share is convertible into one ECARX Class A Ordinary Share at any time by the holder thereof. Holders of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares have the same rights except for voting and conversion rights.
Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, Luminar Technologies, Inc. and Geely Investment Holding Ltd. (each a “Strategic Investor”) have entered into certain strategic investment agreements with ECARX Holdings (each, a “Strategic Investment Agreement”), pursuant to which the Strategic Investors will subscribe for and purchase ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares at US$10.00 per share for an aggregate investment amount of US$35 million. Pursuant to the Strategic Investment Agreements, the obligations of the parties to consummate the Strategic Investments are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain customary closing conditions of the respective parties, including, among others, (i) all conditions precedent under the Merger Agreement having been satisfied or waived (other than those to be satisfied at the closing of the Business Combination) and the Business Combination having been consummated, (ii) the accuracy of representations and warranties in all material respects and (iii) material compliance with covenants. Prior to the execution of the Merger Agreement, ECARX Holdings issued US$10 million aggregate principal amount of convertible note (the “Note”) under a convertible note purchase agreement to Lotus Technology Inc., a related party of ECARX Holdings. The Note will mature on May 12, 2023 (the “Maturity Date”). If the consummation of the Business Combination occurs prior the Maturity Date, the Note shall be automatically converted into fully paid and nonassessable ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares at a conversion price (the “Note Conversion Price”) of (i) the lesser of (A) US$10.00, and (B) the lowest per share price at which any ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares are issued in connection with PIPE investments, if any, if the Business Combination is consummated on a date that is no more than six (6) months following May 13, 2022 (the “Initial Conversion Price”), or (ii) if the Business Combination is consummated on a date that is more than six (6) months following May 13, 2022, 95% of the Initial Conversion Price, in each case, subject to adjustment pursuant to the terms of the Note. The Note bears interest at a rate of 5% per annum until and including the Maturity Date if and only if no Business Combination or an initial public offering is consummated on or prior to the Maturity Date and the holder of the Note elects to request ECARX Holdings to repay the Note in full.
We estimate that, immediately after the Closing, (i) the existing shareholders of ECARX Holdings will own 89.0% of the issued and outstanding ECARX Ordinary Shares (and Mr. Eric Li (Li Shufu) and Mr. Ziyu Shen, founders of ECARX, will own 43.7% and 6.3% of the outstanding ECARX Ordinary Shares, respectively, representing 76.7% of ECARX Holdings’ total voting power, and collectively own all of the outstanding ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares), (ii) holders of COVA Public Shares (“COVA Public Shareholders”) will own 7.9% of the outstanding ECARX Ordinary Shares, and (iii) COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”) will own 2.0% of the outstanding ECARX Ordinary Shares, assuming (a) none of the COVA Public Shareholders exercise their redemption rights, (b) no COVA shareholder exercises its dissenters’ rights, (c) the Strategic Investments are fully funded at the Closing, (d) the Note is fully converted into ECARX Ordinary Shares at a conversion price of US$10.00 per share, and (e) 16,617,591 shares reserved for the share options of ECARX Holdings prior to the date of the Merger Agreement (after considering the impact of the Recapitalization) are issued, and excluding shares underlying the COVA Public Warrants and COVA Private Warrants.
ECARX Holdings is not an operating company but a Cayman Islands holding company. ECARX (as defined below) conducts its operations through its subsidiaries and its operations in mainland China are currently conducted by its mainland China subsidiaries. The securities registered herein are securities of ECARX Holdings, not those of its operating subsidiaries. Therefore, investors in ECARX Holdings are not acquiring equity interest in any operating company but instead are acquiring interest in a Cayman Islands holding company. Historically, ECARX conducted its operations in mainland China through its mainland China subsidiaries as well as through Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd. (“Hubei ECARX”), its former consolidated variable interest entity (“VIE”) based in mainland China, with which ECARX Holdings, its subsidiary, and the nominee shareholders of Hubei ECARX entered into certain contractual arrangements (“VIE Agreements”). Since early 2022, ECARX has been implementing a series of transactions to restructure its organization and business operations (the “Restructuring”). As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the Restructuring has been completed and ECARX’s operations in China are conducted by its PRC subsidiaries and ECARX does not have any VIE. The holding company structure involves unique risks to investors. As a holding company, ECARX Holdings may rely on dividends from its subsidiaries for cash requirements, including any payment of dividends to its shareholders. The ability of subsidiaries of ECARX Holdings to pay dividends or make distributions to ECARX Holdings may be restricted by laws and regulations applicable to them or the debt they incur on their own behalf or the instruments governing their debt. In addition, PRC regulatory authorities could disallow this holding company structure and limit or hinder ECARX’s ability to conduct its business through, receive dividends or distributions from, or transfer funds to, the operating companies or list on a U.S. or other

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foreign exchange, which could cause the value of the securities of ECARX Holdings to significantly decline or become worthless. See “Summary of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus — Corporate Structure of ECARX.” Unless otherwise stated or unless the context otherwise requires, references in this proxy statement/prospectus to (i) “ECARX Holdings” are to ECARX Holdings Inc., (ii) “ECARX” are to ECARX Holdings and its subsidiaries (and, in the context of describing ECARX’s operations and consolidated financial information, also to its VIEs and their subsidiaries for the periods ended prior to the Restructuring), and (iii) “mainland China subsidiaries” are to subsidiaries of ECARX Holdings in mainland China.
Cash is transferred from ECARX Holdings to its subsidiaries through capital contributions, loans and inter-company advances. In addition, cash may be transferred among subsidiaries of ECARX Holdings, through capital contributions, loans, and settlement of transactions. Under ECARX’s cash management policy, the amount of inter-company transfer of funds is determined based on the working capital needs of the subsidiaries and inter-company transactions, and is subject to internal approval process and funding arrangements. ECARX Holdings’ management regularly reviews and monitors the cash flow forecast and working capital needs of its subsidiaries. In 2020, ECARX Holdings made advances in the principal amount of US$15.0 million to a subsidiary and an intermediary holding company of the group, ECARX Technology Limited. In 2021 (i) ECARX Holdings made advances in the principal amount of US$478.5 million to ECARX Technology Limited and provided loans in the principal amount of US$11.0 million to its subsidiaries, and (ii) ECARX Technology Limited provided a loan in the principal amount of US$2.3 million to its subsidiary, ECARX Europe AB, and ECARX Technology Limited received US$2.4 million as repayment from ECARX Europe AB. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, (i) ECARX Holdings made advances in the principal amount of US$44.5 million to ECARX Technology Limited, and (ii) ECARX Holdings provided loans in the principal amount of US$3.0 million to ECARX Europe AB. In 2021, ECARX Technology Limited made capital contribution of US$7.6 million, US$250.0 million, and US$75.0 million to its subsidiaries, ECARX Europe AB, ECARX (Wuhan) Technology Co., Ltd. and ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co., Ltd., respectively. In 2021, ECARX (Wuhan) Technology Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of ECARX Holdings, made capital contribution of RMB10.0 million to ECARX (Shanghai) Technology Co., Ltd., another subsidiary of ECARX Holdings. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, ECARX Technology Limited made capital contribution of US$8.6 million and US$25.0 million to its subsidiaries, ECARX Limited and ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co., Ltd. In 2020, 2021 and for the six months ended June 30, 2022, Hubei ECARX received nil, RMB2.1 billion, and RMB157 million in the form of loans from subsidiaries of ECARX Holdings, respectively. In 2020 and 2021, subsidiaries of Hubei ECARX made payments totaling US$0.7 million and US$1.7 million to ECARX Technology Limited relating to certain sales transactions. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, Hubei ECARX and ECARX Technology made payments totaling RMB36.1 million and US$2.2 million, respectively, to ECARX Europe AB relating to certain R&D expense. ECARX Holdings, its subsidiaries, and Hubei ECARX have not declared or paid dividends or made any distributions as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus. ECARX Holdings and its subsidiaries do not intend to declare dividends or make distributions in the near future. Any determination to pay dividends in the future will be at the discretion of the ECARX board of directors. For more details, see “Summary of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus — Cash Transfers and Dividend Distribution.”
ECARX faces various risks and uncertainties relating to doing business in China. ECARX’s business operations are primarily conducted in China, and it is subject to complex and evolving PRC laws and regulations. For example, it faces risks associated with regulatory approvals on overseas offerings, anti-monopoly regulatory actions, and oversight on cybersecurity, data security and data privacy, as well as the lack of inspection on its auditors by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or the PCAOB, which may impact its ability to conduct certain businesses, accept foreign investments, or list and conduct offerings on a United States or other foreign exchange. The PRC government’s significant authority in regulating ECARX’s operations and the PRC government’s oversight and control over offerings conducted overseas by, and foreign investment in, China-based issuers could result in a material adverse change in ECARX’s operations and the value of its securities, significantly limit or completely hinder its ability to continue to offer securities to investors, or cause the value of such securities to significantly decline. For a detailed description of risks relating to doing business in China, see “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China.”
The PCAOB is currently unable to inspect ECARX’s auditor in relation to its audit work performed for ECARX’s financial statements and the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections over ECARX’s auditor deprives its investors with the benefits of such inspections. ECARX’s securities will be prohibited from trading on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the United States under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or the HFCAA, if the Securities and Exchange Commission determines that ECARX has filed audit reports issued by a registered public accounting firm that has not been subject to inspection by the PCAOB for three consecutive years beginning in 2021. On December 16, 2021, PCAOB issued the HFCAA Determination Report, according to which ECARX’s auditor is subject to the determinations that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely. In accordance with the HFCAA and assuming the Business Combination is consummated in 2022, ECARX securities will be delisted and prohibited from trading on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the United States in 2025, or in 2024 if proposed changes to the law, or the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, are enacted. On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB signed a Statement of Protocol with the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Finance of China, taking the first step toward opening access for the PCAOB to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. The delisting of ECARX’s securities, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment. For more details, see “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China — The PCAOB is currently unable to inspect our auditor in relation to their audit work performed for our financial statements and the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections over our auditor deprives our investors with the benefits of such inspections” and “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China — Assuming the Business Combination is consummated in 2022, our securities will be prohibited from trading in the United States under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or the HFCAA, in 2025 if the PCAOB is unable to inspect or fully investigate auditors located in China, or as early as 2024 if proposed changes to the law are enacted. The delisting of our securities, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment.”
Proposals to approve the Merger Agreement and the other matters discussed in this proxy statement/prospectus shall be presented at the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders of COVA scheduled to be held on           .
Although ECARX Holdings is not currently a public reporting company, following the effectiveness of the registration statement of which the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus is a part and the closing of the Business Combination, ECARX Holdings will become subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). ECARX Holdings intends to apply for the listing of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Warrants on The Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) under the proposed symbols “ECX” and “ECXWW,” respectively, to be effective at the consummation of the Business Combination. It is a condition of the consummation of the Business Combination that ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and the ECARX Warrants to be issued in connection with the Transactions are approved for listing on Nasdaq (subject to official notice of issuance).While trading on Nasdaq is expected to begin on the first business day following the date of completion of the Business Combination, there can be no assurance that the securities of ECARX Holdings will be listed on Nasdaq or that a viable and active trading market will develop. This proxy statement/prospectus provides you with detailed information about the Business Combination and other matters to be considered at the extraordinary general meeting of COVA shareholders. We encourage you to carefully read this entire document. You should, in particular, carefully consider the risk factors described in “Risk Factors” beginning on page 68 of this proxy statement/prospectus.
The COVA board of directors has unanimously approved and adopted the Merger Agreement and unanimously recommends that the COVA shareholders vote FOR all of the proposals presented to the shareholders at the extraordinary general meeting. When you consider the COVA board of

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directors’ recommendation of these proposals, you should keep in mind that COVA’s directors and officers have interests in the Business Combination that may conflict with your interests as a shareholder. See “Proposal One — The Business Combination Proposal — Interests of COVA’s Directors and Officers in the Business Combination.”
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES REGULATORY AGENCY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE TRANSACTIONS DESCRIBED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS OR ANY OF THE SECURITIES TO BE ISSUED IN THE BUSINESS COMBINATION, PASSED UPON THE MERITS OR FAIRNESS OF THE BUSINESS COMBINATION OR RELATED TRANSACTIONS OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE DISCLOSURE IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY CONSTITUTES A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
This proxy statement/prospectus is dated       and is first being mailed to COVA shareholders on or about        .

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This proxy statement/prospectus incorporates important business and financial information about ECARX and COVA that is not included in or delivered with this proxy statement/prospectus. This information is available to you without charge upon written or oral request. If you would like to receive any of the additional information, please contact:
COVA Acquisition Corp.
1700 Montgomery Street, Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111
Telephone: (415) 800-2289
To obtain timely delivery of the documents, you must request them no later than five business days before the date of the extraordinary general meeting, or no later than            , 2022.
 

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PRELIMINARY — SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED OCTOBER 11, 2022
COVA ACQUISITION CORP.
1700 Montgomery Street, Suite 240
San Francisco, CA 94111
Dear COVA Acquisition Corp. Shareholders:
You are cordially invited to attend the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders of COVA Acquisition Corp., an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (“COVA”), at           AM           time, on           , 2022 at             and virtually over the Internet via live audio webcast at           , and on such other date and at such other place to which the meeting may be adjourned. While as a matter of Cayman Islands law we are required to have a physical location for the meeting, we are pleased to utilize virtual shareholder meeting technology to (i) provide ready access and cost savings for COVA shareholders and COVA and (ii) to promote social distancing pursuant to guidance provided by the SEC due to COVID-19. We encourage shareholders to attend the extraordinary general meeting virtually. The virtual meeting format allows attendance from any location in the world. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus.
The extraordinary general meeting shall be held for the following purpose:
1.
to consider and vote upon, as an ordinary resolution, a proposal (the “Business Combination Proposal”) to approve and authorize the Agreement and Plan of Merger (“Merger Agreement”), dated as of May 26, 2022 by and among COVA, ECARX Holdings Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company” or “ECARX”), Ecarx Temp Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX (“Merger Sub 1”), and Ecarx&Co Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX (“Merger Sub 2”), a copy of which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A, and the transactions contemplated therein, including the business combination whereby Merger Sub 1 will merge with and into COVA (the “First Merger”), with COVA surviving the First Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of ECARX (such company, as the surviving entity of the First Merger, “Surviving Entity 1”), and immediately following the First Merger and as part of the same overall transaction as the First Merger, Surviving Entity 1 will merge with and into Merger Sub 2 (the “Second Merger,” and together with the First Merger, the “Mergers”), with Merger Sub 2 surviving the Second Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX (such company, as the surviving entity of the Second Merger, “Surviving Entity 2”) (collectively, the “Business Combination”);
2.
to consider and vote upon, as a special resolution, a proposal (the “Merger Proposal”) to approve and authorize the First Merger and the First Plan of Merger, substantially in the form attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex C; and
3.
to consider and vote upon, as an ordinary resolution, a proposal (the “Adjournment Proposal”) to adjourn the extraordinary general meeting to a later date or dates to be determined by the chairman of the extraordinary general meeting, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies if, based upon the tabulated vote at the time of the extraordinary general meeting, there are not sufficient votes to approve one or more proposals presented to shareholders for a vote.
The closing of the Business Combination is conditioned on approval of the Business Combination Proposal and the Merger Proposal. If either of these proposals is not approved and the applicable closing condition in the Merger Agreement is not waived, then COVA will not consummate the Business Combination. The Adjournment Proposal is not conditioned on the approval of any other proposal listed above.
Each of these proposals is more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus, which each shareholder is encouraged to read carefully and in its entirety. Only holders of record of COVA Shares at the close of business on            , 2022 (the “record date”) are entitled to notice of the extraordinary general meeting and to vote at the extraordinary general meeting and any adjournments or postponements of the extraordinary general meeting.
 

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Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of COVA (“COVA Articles”), a COVA Public Shareholder may request that COVA redeem all or a portion of such COVA Public Shares for cash in connection with the completion of the Business Combination. Holders of Units must elect to separate the Units into the underlying COVA Public Shares and COVA Public Warrants prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to the COVA Public Shares. If holders hold their Units in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, holders must notify their broker or bank that they elect to separate the Units into the underlying COVA Public Shares and COVA Public Warrants, or if a holder holds Units registered in its own name, the holder must contact Continental directly and instruct it to do so. The redemption rights include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in writing as a beneficial holder and provide its legal name, phone number and address to Continental in order to validly redeem its shares. COVA Public Shareholders are not required to affirmatively vote for or against the Business Combination Proposal, to vote on the Business Combination Proposal at all, or to be holders of record on the record date in order to have their COVA Public Shares redeemed. If the Business Combination is not consummated, the COVA Public Shares will not be redeemed and will instead be returned to the respective holder, broker or bank. In such case, COVA shareholders may only share in the assets of the Trust Account upon the liquidation of COVA. This may result in COVA shareholders receiving less than they would have received if the Business Combination was completed and they had exercised redemption rights in connection therewith due to potential claims of creditors. If the Business Combination is consummated, and if a COVA Public Shareholder properly exercises its right to redeem all or a portion of the COVA Public Shares that it holds, COVA will redeem such COVA Public Shares for a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the pro rata portion of the amount on deposit in the Trust Account calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to COVA to pay income taxes. For illustrative purposes, as of          , 2022, the record date, this would have amounted to US$     per issued and outstanding COVA Public Share. If a COVA Public Shareholder exercises its redemption rights in full, then it will be electing to exchange its COVA Public Shares for cash and will no longer own COVA Public Shares (but will continue to own any COVA Public Warrants it may hold). See “Extraordinary General Meeting of COVA Shareholders —  Redemption Rights” in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus for a detailed description of the procedures to be followed if you wish to redeem your COVA Public Shares for cash.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a COVA Public Shareholder, together with any affiliate of such COVA Public Shareholder or any other person with whom such COVA Public Shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” ​(as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”)), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the COVA Public Shares without the prior consent of COVA. Accordingly, if a COVA Public Shareholder, alone or acting in concert or as a group, seeks to redeem more than 15% of the COVA Public Shares, then any such shares in excess of that 15% limit would not be redeemed for cash.
The Sponsor has agreed to, among other things, vote all of their COVA Shares in favor of the proposals being presented at the extraordinary general meeting in connection with the Business Combination and waive their redemption rights with respect to their COVA Shares in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination.
The Merger Agreement is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain other closing conditions as described in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus. There can be no assurance that the parties to the Merger Agreement would waive any such closing condition. In addition, in no event will COVA redeem COVA Public Shares in an amount that would cause COVA’s net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Exchange Act) to be less than US$5,000,001 after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
COVA is providing the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus and accompanying proxy card to COVA shareholders in connection with the solicitation of proxies to be voted at the extraordinary general meeting and at any adjournments or postponements of the extraordinary general meeting. Information about the extraordinary general meeting, the Business Combination and other related business to be considered by COVA shareholders at the extraordinary general meeting is included in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus. Whether or not you plan to attend the extraordinary general meeting, all of COVA shareholders should read the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus, including the Annexes and other documents referred
 

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to therein, carefully and in their entirety. You should also carefully consider the risk factors described in “Risk Factors” beginning on page 68 of the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus.
After careful consideration, the COVA board of directors has unanimously approved the Business Combination and determined that the Business Combination Proposal, the Merger Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal are advisable and fair to and in the best interest of COVA and unanimously recommends that you vote or give instruction to vote “FOR” the Business Combination Proposal, “FOR” the Initial Merger Proposal and “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal, if presented. When you consider the COVA board of directors’ recommendation of these proposals, you should keep in mind that our directors and our officers have interests in the Business Combination that may conflict with, or are different from, your interests as a shareholder of COVA. See “Proposal One — The Business Combination Proposal — Interests of COVA’s Directors and Officers in the Business Combination” in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus for a further discussion of these considerations.
The approval of the Business Combination Proposal will require an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law and the COVA Articles, being the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding COVA Shares entitled to vote, who attend, in person or by proxy, and vote thereupon at the extraordinary general meeting. The approval of the Merger Proposal will require a special resolution under Cayman Islands law and the COVA Articles, being the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the issued and outstanding COVA Shares entitled to vote, who attend, in person or by proxy, and vote thereupon at the extraordinary general meeting. The approval of the Adjournment Proposal, if presented, will require an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law and the COVA Articles, being the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding COVA Shares entitled to vote, who attend, in person or by proxy, and vote thereupon at the extraordinary general meeting. Brokers are not entitled to vote on the Business Combination Proposal, the Merger Proposal or the Adjournment Proposal absent voting instructions from the beneficial holder. An abstention or broker non-vote will be counted towards the quorum requirement but will not count as a vote cast at the extraordinary general meeting.
Your vote is important regardless of the number of COVA Shares you own. Whether or not you plan to attend the extraordinary general meeting, please complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card as soon as possible in the pre-addressed postage paid envelope provided and in any event so as to be received by COVA no later than at            AM            time, on               , 2022, being 48 hours before the time appointed for the holding of the extraordinary general meeting (or, in the case of an adjournment, no later than 48 hours before the time appointed for the holding of the adjourned meeting) to make sure that your COVA Shares are represented at the extraordinary general meeting. If your COVA Shares are held in “street name” or are in a margin or similar account, you should contact your broker, bank or nominee to ensure that votes related to the COVA Shares you beneficially own are properly counted.
If you sign, date and return your proxy card without indicating how you wish to vote, your proxy will be voted FOR each of the proposals presented at the extraordinary general meeting. If you are a shareholder of record and fail to return your proxy card and do not attend the extraordinary general meeting in person (including virtually), or if you fail to instruct your bank, broker or other nominee how to vote the COVA Shares you beneficially own, the effect will be, among other things, that your COVA Shares will not be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the extraordinary general meeting and will not be voted.
TO EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS, YOU MUST DEMAND IN WRITING THAT COVA REDEEM YOUR COVA PUBLIC SHARES FOR A PRO RATA PORTION OF THE FUNDS HELD IN THE TRUST ACCOUNT AND EITHER TENDER YOUR SHARE CERTIFICATES (IF ANY) TO CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, COVA’S TRANSFER AGENT OR DELIVER YOUR COVA PUBLIC SHARES TO THE TRANSFER AGENT ELECTRONICALLY USING THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY’S DWAC (DEPOSIT WITHDRAWAL AT CUSTODIAN) SYSTEM, IN EACH CASE AT LEAST TWO BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR TO THE VOTE AT THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING. ANY HOLDER THAT HOLDS COVA PUBLIC SHARES BENEFICIALLY THROUGH A NOMINEE MUST IDENTIFY ITSELF AS A BENEFICIAL HOLDER AND PROVIDE ITS LEGAL NAME, PHONE NUMBER AND ADDRESS IN ITS WRITTEN DEMAND IN ORDER TO VALIDLY REDEEM SUCH SHARES. IF THE BUSINESS COMBINATION IS NOT COMPLETED, THEN THESE SHARES SHALL BE RETURNED TO YOU OR YOUR
 

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ACCOUNT. IF YOU HOLD YOUR COVA PUBLIC SHARES IN “STREET NAME”, YOU NEED TO INSTRUCT THE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE AT YOUR BROKER, BANK OR OTHER NOMINEE TO WITHDRAW THE SHARES FROM YOUR ACCOUNT IN ORDER TO EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS. SEE “EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF COVA SHAREHOLDERS — REDEMPTION RIGHTS” FOR MORE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS.
If you have any questions or need assistance voting your COVA Shares, please contact D.F. King & Co., Inc. at (800) 347-4826. Questions can also be sent by email to COVA@dfking.com.
On behalf of COVA’s board of directors, I would like to thank you for your support and look forward to the successful completion of the Business Combination.
Sincerely,
Jun Hong Heng
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES REGULATORY AGENCY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE TRANSACTIONS DESCRIBED IN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, PASSED UPON THE MERITS OR FAIRNESS OF THE BUSINESS COMBINATION OR RELATED TRANSACTIONS OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE DISCLOSURE IN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY CONSTITUTES A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The accompanying proxy statement/prospectus is dated                 , 2022, and is first being mailed to shareholders of COVA on or about                 , 2022.
 

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Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders
of COVA Acquisition Corp.
To Be Held on                 , 2022
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF COVA ACQUISITION CORP.:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders of Cova Acquisition Corp. (“COVA”), a Cayman Islands exempted company, will be held at                 a.m. Eastern Time, on                 , 2022 at                 and virtually over the Internet by means of a live audio webcast at https://                 (the “extraordinary general meeting”). Due to health concerns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, and to support the health and well-being of our shareholders, we encourage shareholders to attend the extraordinary general meeting virtually via the live webcast. You are cordially invited to attend and participate in the extraordinary general meeting online by visiting https://                 . The extraordinary general meeting will be held for the following purposes:
1.   Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — to consider and vote upon, as an ordinary resolution, a proposal (the “Business Combination Proposal”) to approve and authorize the Agreement and Plan of Merger (“Merger Agreement”), dated as of May 26, 2022 by and among COVA, ECARX Holdings Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company” or “ECARX”), Ecarx Temp Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX (“Merger Sub 1”), and Ecarx&Co Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX ( “Merger Sub 2”), a copy of which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A, and the transactions contemplated therein, including the business combination whereby Merger Sub 1 will merge with and into COVA (the “First Merger”), with COVA surviving the First Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of ECARX (such company, as the surviving entity of the First Merger, “Surviving Entity 1”), and immediately following the First Merger and as part of the same overall transaction as the First Merger, Surviving Entity 1 will merge with and into Merger Sub 2 (the “Second Merger,” and together with the First Merger, the “Mergers”), with Merger Sub 2 surviving the Second Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX (such company, as the surviving entity of the Second Merger, “Surviving Entity 2”) (collectively, the “Business Combination”);
2.   Proposal No. 2 — The Merger Proposal — to consider and vote upon, as a special resolution, a proposal (the “Merger Proposal”) to approve and authorize the First Merger and the First Plan of Merger, substantially in the form attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex C; and
3.   Proposal No. 3 — The Adjournment Proposal — to consider and vote upon, as an ordinary resolution, a proposal (the “Adjournment Proposal”) to adjourn the extraordinary general meeting to a later date or dates to be determined by the chairman of the extraordinary general meeting, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies if, based upon the tabulated vote at the time of the extraordinary general meeting, there are not sufficient votes to approve one or more proposals presented to shareholders for a vote.
We also will transact any other business as may properly come before the extraordinary general meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
The full text of the resolutions to be voted on at the extraordinary general meeting is as follows:
Resolution No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal
RESOLVED, as an ordinary resolution, that COVA’s entry into the Agreement and Plan of Merger (“Merger Agreement”), dated as of May 26, 2022 by and among COVA, ECARX Holdings Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company” or “ECARX”), Ecarx Temp Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX (“Merger Sub 1”), and Ecarx&Co Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX ( “Merger Sub 2”), a copy of which is attached to the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A, pursuant to which, among other things, Merger Sub 1 will merge with and into COVA (the “First Merger”), with COVA surviving the First Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of ECARX (such company, as the surviving entity of the First Merger, “Surviving Entity 1”), and immediately following the First Merger and as part of the same overall transaction as the First Merger, Surviving Entity 1 will merge with and into Merger Sub 2 (the “Second Merger,” and together with the First Merger, the “Mergers”), with Merger Sub 2 surviving the Second Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX (such company, as the surviving
 

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entity of the Second Merger, “Surviving Entity 2”), in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement, and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement be and are hereby authorized, approved, ratified and confirmed in all respects.”
Resolution No. 2 — The Merger Proposal
RESOLVED, as a special resolution, that the First Plan of Merger, substantially in the form attached to the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus as Annex C (the “First Plan of Merger”), and the merger of Merger Sub 1 with and into COVA with COVA surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of ECARX be and are hereby authorized, approved and confirmed in all respects and that COVA be and is hereby authorized to enter into the First Plan of Merger.”
Resolution No. 3 — The Adjournment Proposal
RESOLVED, as an ordinary resolution, that the adjournment of the extraordinary general meeting to a later date or dates to be determined by the chairman of the extraordinary general meeting, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes for the approval of one or more proposals at the extraordinary general meeting, be and is hereby approved.”
The items of business listed above are more fully described elsewhere in the proxy statement/prospectus. Whether or not you intend to attend the extraordinary general meeting, we urge you to read the proxy statement/prospectus in its entirety, including the annexes and accompanying financial statements, before voting. IN PARTICULAR, WE URGE YOU TO CAREFULLY READ THE SECTION IN THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS ENTITLED “RISK FACTORS.”
Only holders of record of COVA Shares at the close of business on           , 2022 (the “record date”) are entitled to notice of the extraordinary general meeting and to vote and have their votes counted at the extraordinary general meeting and any adjournments or postponements of the extraordinary general meeting.
After careful consideration, COVA’s board of directors has determined that each of the proposals listed is fair to and in the best interests of COVA and its shareholders and unanimously recommends that you vote or give instruction to vote “FOR” each of the proposals set forth above. When you consider the recommendations of COVA’s board of directors, you should keep in mind that COVA’s directors and officers may have interests in the Business Combination that conflict with, or are different from, your interests as a shareholder of COVA. See the section in the proxy statement/prospectus entitled “Proposal One — The Business Combination Proposal.”
The closing of the Business Combination is conditioned on approval of the Business Combination Proposal and the Merger Proposal. If either of these proposals is not approved and the applicable closing condition in the Merger Agreement is not waived, then COVA will not consummate the Business Combination. The Adjournment Proposal is not conditioned on the approval of any other proposal listed above.
All COVA shareholders at the close of business on the record date are cordially invited to attend the extraordinary general meeting, which will be held at                 and virtually over the Internet by means of a live audio webcast at https://                 . To ensure your representation at the extraordinary general meeting, however, you are urged to complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card as soon as possible in the postage-paid return envelope provided and, in any event so as to be received by COVA no later than at          a.m. Eastern Time, on                 , 2022, being 48 hours before the time appointed for the holding of the extraordinary general meeting (or, in the case of an adjournment, no later than 48 hours before the time appointed for the holding of the adjourned meeting). In the case of joint shareholders, where more than one of the joint shareholder purports to appoint a proxy, only the appointment submitted by the most senior holder (being the first named holder in respect of the shares in COVA’s register of members) will be accepted. If you are a holder of record of COVA Shares at the close of business on the record date, you may also cast your vote at the extraordinary general meeting. If you hold your COVA Shares in “street name,” which means your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or nominee, you must instruct your broker or bank on how to vote the shares you beneficially own or, if you wish to attend and vote at the extraordinary general meeting, you must obtain a legal proxy from the shareholder
 

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of record and e-mail a copy (a legible photograph is sufficient) of your proxy to proxy@continentalstock.com no later than 72 hours prior to the extraordinary general meeting. Holders should contact their broker, bank or nominee for instructions regarding obtaining a legal proxy. Holders who e-mail a valid legal proxy will be issued a meeting control number that will allow them to register to attend and participate in the extraordinary general meeting virtually. You will receive an e-mail prior to the meeting with a link and instructions for entering the extraordinary general meeting.
A complete list of COVA shareholders of record entitled to vote at the extraordinary general meeting will be available for ten days before the extraordinary general meeting at the principal executive offices of COVA for inspection by shareholders during business hours for any purpose germane to the extraordinary general meeting.
Voting on all resolutions at the extraordinary general meeting will be conducted by way of a poll rather than on a show of hands. On a poll, votes are counted according to the number of COVA Shares registered in each shareholder’s name which are voted, with each COVA Share carrying one vote.
Your vote is important regardless of the number of shares you own. Whether you plan to attend the extraordinary general meeting, please complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card as soon as possible in the envelope provided. Submitting a proxy now will NOT prevent you from being able to attend and vote in person at the extraordinary general meeting. If your shares are held in “street name” or are in a margin or similar account, you should contact your broker, bank or nominee to ensure that votes related to the shares you beneficially own are properly voted and counted.
If you have any questions or need assistance voting your COVA Shares, please contact D.F. King & Co., Inc. at (800) 347-4826. Questions can also be sent by email to COVA@dfking.com. This notice of extraordinary general meeting is and the proxy statement/prospectus relating to the Business Combination will be available at https://                 .
Thank you for your participation. We look forward to your continued support.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Jun Hong Heng
Chairman of the Board of Directors
                 , 2022
IF YOU RETURN YOUR SIGNED PROXY CARD WITHOUT AN INDICATION OF HOW YOU WISH TO VOTE, YOUR SHARES WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF EACH OF THE PROPOSALS.
ALL HOLDERS OF COVA PUBLIC SHARES HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE THEIR PUBLIC SHARES REDEEMED FOR CASH IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED BUSINESS COMBINATION. COVA PUBLIC SHAREHOLDERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO AFFIRMATIVELY VOTE FOR OR AGAINST THE BUSINESS COMBINATION PROPOSAL, TO VOTE ON THE BUSINESS COMBINATION PROPOSAL AT ALL, OR TO BE HOLDERS OF RECORD ON THE RECORD DATE IN ORDER TO HAVE THEIR COVA PUBLIC SHARES REDEEMED FOR CASH.
THIS MEANS THAT ANY COVA PUBLIC SHAREHOLDER HOLDING COVA PUBLIC SHARES MAY EXERCISE REDEMPTION RIGHTS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY ARE EVEN ENTITLED TO VOTE ON THE BUSINESS COMBINATION PROPOSAL.
TO EXERCISE REDEMPTION RIGHTS, COVA PUBLIC SHAREHOLDERS MUST DEMAND THAT COVA REDEEM THEIR COVA PUBLIC SHARES AND EITHER TENDER THEIR SHARE CERTIFICATES (IF ANY) TO CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, COVA’S TRANSFER AGENT, OR DELIVER THEIR COVA PUBLIC SHARES TO THE TRANSFER AGENT ELECTRONICALLY USING THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY’S DEPOSIT/WITHDRAWAL AT CUSTODIAN (DWAC) SYSTEM, IN EACH CASE NO LATER THAN TWO (2) BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR TO THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING. IF THE BUSINESS COMBINATION IS NOT COMPLETED, THEN THESE SHARES WILL NOT BE REDEEMED FOR CASH AND WILL
 

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BE RETURNED TO YOU OR YOUR ACCOUNT. IF YOU HOLD THE SHARES IN STREET NAME, YOU WILL NEED TO INSTRUCT THE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE AT YOUR BANK OR BROKER TO WITHDRAW THE SHARES FROM YOUR ACCOUNT IN ORDER TO EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS. ANY HOLDER THAT HOLDS COVA PUBLIC SHARES BENEFICIALLY THROUGH A NOMINEE MUST IDENTIFY ITSELF BY LEGAL NAME, PHONE NUMBER AND ADDRESS TO COVA IN CONNECTION WITH ANY REDEMPTION ELECTION IN ORDER TO VALIDLY REDEEM SUCH COVA PUBLIC SHARES. SEE “EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF COVA SHAREHOLDERS — REDEMPTION RIGHTS” FOR MORE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS.
 

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ABOUT THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
This proxy statement/prospectus, which forms a part of a registration statement on Form F-4 filed with the SEC by ECARX, constitutes a prospectus of ECARX under Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with respect to the ECARX Ordinary Shares and ECARX Warrants to be issued to COVA shareholders in connection with the Business Combination. This document also constitutes a proxy statement of COVA under Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act, and the rules thereunder, and a notice of meeting with respect to the extraordinary general meeting of the COVA shareholders to consider and vote upon the proposals to adopt the Merger Agreement, to adopt the First Plan of Merger and to adjourn the meeting, if necessary, to permit further solicitation of proxies because there are not sufficient votes to adopt the Business Combination Proposal or the Merger Proposal.
References to “U.S. Dollars”, “USD”, “US$” and “$” in this proxy statement/prospectus are to United States dollars, the legal currency of the United States. Discrepancies in any table between totals and sums of the amounts listed are due to rounding. Certain amounts and percentages have been rounded; consequently, certain figures may add up to be more or less than the total amount and certain percentages may add up to be more or less than 100% due to rounding.
 
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT U.S. GAAP AND NON-U.S. GAAP FINANCIAL
MEASURES
To evaluate the performance of its business, ECARX relies on both its results of operations recorded in accordance with U.S. GAAP and certain non-U.S. GAAP financial measures, including adjusted net loss and adjusted EBITDA. These measures, as defined below, are not defined or calculated under principles, standards or rules that comprise U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, the non-U.S. GAAP financial measures ECARX uses and refers to should not be viewed as a substitute for ECARX’s consolidated financial statements prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP or any other performance measure derived in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and you are encouraged not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate the business, financial condition or results of operations of ECARX. ECARX’s definitions of adjusted net loss and adjusted EBITDA are specific to its business and you should not assume that they are comparable to similarly titled financial measures of other companies.
 
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INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA
Unless otherwise indicated, information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus concerning ECARX’s industry and the regions in which it operates, including ECARX’s general expectations and market position, market size, market opportunity, market share and other management estimates, is based on information obtained from industry publications and reports and forecasts provided to ECARX, including an independent market research carried out by Frost & Sullivan and commissioned by ECARX. In some cases, ECARX does not expressly refer to the sources from which this information is derived. This information is subject to significant uncertainties and limitations and is based on assumptions and estimates that may prove to be inaccurate. You are therefore cautioned not to give undue weight to this information.
ECARX has not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of any such information. Similarly, internal surveys, industry forecasts and market research, which ECARX believes to be reliable based upon its management’s knowledge of the industry, have not been independently verified. While ECARX believes that the market data, industry forecasts and similar information included in this proxy statement/prospectus are generally reliable, such information is inherently imprecise. In addition, assumptions and estimates of ECARX’s future performance and growth objectives and the future performance of its industry and the markets in which it operates are necessarily subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those discussed under the headings “Risk factors,” “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” and “ECARX’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this proxy statement/prospectus.
 
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TRADEMARKS, TRADE NAMES AND SERVICE MARKS
ECARX owns or has proprietary rights to trademarks used in this proxy statement/prospectus that are important to its business, many of which are registered under applicable intellectual property laws. This proxy statement/prospectus also contains trademarks, trade names and service marks of other companies, which are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, trademarks, trade names and service marks referred to in this proxy statement/prospectus may appear without the ®, or SM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that ECARX or the applicable owner or licensor will not assert, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, its rights or the right to these trademarks, trade names and service marks. ECARX does not intend its use or display of other parties’ trademarks, trade names or service marks to imply, and such use or display should not be construed to imply, a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of ECARX by, any other parties.
 
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT EXCHANGE RATES
Certain information presented in this proxy statement/prospectus, excluding ECARX’s audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus, has been converted from Renminbi to U.S. dollars at a rate of RMB6.6981 to US$1.00, the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board on June 30, 2022. The certified noon buying rate in effect as of September 30, 2022 was RMB7.1135 to US$1.00. Exchange rates fluctuate, and such fluctuation can be significant. No representation is made that any Renminbi amounts referred to in this proxy statement/prospectus could have been, or could be, converted to U.S. dollars at any particular rate, or at all.
 
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FREQUENTLY USED TERMS
Unless otherwise stated or unless the context otherwise requires in this document:
“Amended ECARX Articles” means the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of ECARX Holdings, which shall be adopted and become effective immediately prior to the First Effective Time;
“Business Combination” means, collectively, the First Merger, the Second Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement;
“Business Combination Proposal” means a proposal to approve and authorize the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 26, 2022 by and among COVA, ECARX Holdings, Merger Sub 1, and Merger Sub 2;
“Capital Restructuring” means, collectively, the adoption of the Amended ECARX Articles, the Preferred Share Conversion, the Re-designation and the Recapitalization;
“China” or “PRC” means the People’s Republic of China;
“Closing” means the closing of the Transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement;
“Closing Date” means the day on which the Closing occurs;
“Continental” means Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company;
“COVA” means COVA Acquisition Corp., an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands;
“COVA Articles” means Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of COVA;
“COVA Founder Shares” means Class B ordinary shares of COVA, par value US$0.0001 per share;
“COVA Public Shares” means Class A ordinary shares of COVA, par value US$0.0001 per share;
“COVA Public Shareholders” means the holders of COVA Public Shares;
“COVA Public Warrants” means the redeemable warrants issued in the IPO, each entitling its holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share of COVA at an exercise price of US$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment;
“COVA Private Warrants” means the warrants issued to the Sponsor in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, each entitling its holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share of COVA at an exercise price of US$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment;
“COVA Shareholders” means holders of COVA Shares;
“COVA Shareholder Redemption Amount” means the aggregate amount payable with respect to all redeeming COVA Shares;
“COVA Shares” means, collectively, COVA Public Shares and COVA Founder Shares;
“Co-Founder Shares” means all of the ECARX shares held by Mr. Ziyu Shen and 20,520,820 ECARX shares held by Mr. Eric Li (Li Shufu) immediately prior to the Re-designation;
“COVA Warrants” means, collectively, the COVA Public Warrants and COVA Private Warrants;
“Dissenting COVA Shareholders” means the holders of such Dissenting COVA Shares;
“Dissenting COVA Shares” means COVA Shares that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time and that are held by COVA shareholders who shall have validly exercised their dissenters’ rights for such COVA Shares;
“ECARX” means ECARX Holdings and its subsidiaries (and, in the context of describing ECARX’s operations and consolidated financial information, also its VIEs and their subsidiaries for the periods ended
 
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prior to the Restructuring). References to the share capital, securities (including shares, options, and warrants), shareholders, directors, board of directors, auditors of “ECARX” are to the share capital, securities (including shares, options and warrants), shareholders, directors, board of directors, and auditors of ECARX Holdings, respectively;
“ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares” means Class A ordinary shares of ECARX Holdings, par value US$0.000005 per share;
“ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares” means Class B ordinary shares of ECARX Holdings, par value US$0.000005 per share;
“ECARX Holdings” means ECARX Holdings Inc., an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands;
“ECARX Options” means all outstanding options exercisable to purchase shares of ECARX Holdings;
“ECARX Ordinary Shares” means, collectively, ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares;
“ECARX Warrant” means the warrants into which the COVA Warrants convert at the First Effective Time, each entitling its holder to purchase one ECARX Class A Ordinary Share at a price of US$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment;
“ECARX Securities” means, collectively, ECARX Ordinary Shares and ECARX Warrants;
“ESOP” means the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan of ECARX adopted on July 30, 2021, as may be amended from time to time;
“First Effective Time” means the effective time of the First Merger;
“First Merger” means the merger between Merger Sub 1 and COVA, with COVA as a wholly owned subsidiary of ECARX Holdings;
“First Plan of Merger” means the plan of merger for the First Merger;
“Fully-Diluted Company Shares” means, without duplication, (a) the aggregate number of shares of ECARX Holdings (i) that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Re-designation and (ii) that are issuable upon the exercise of all ECARX Options and other equity securities of ECARX Holdings that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Re-designation (whether or not then vested or exercisable as applicable), minus (b) the shares of ECARX Holdings held by it or any subsidiary of ECARX Holdings (if applicable) as treasury shares;
“Geely Auto” means Geely Automobile Holdings Limited, which manages brands including Geely, Lynk & Co, Geometry, Zeekr and others;
“Geely ecosystem” means Geely Auto, Volvo Car, smart, Lotus, Proton, LEVC and other OEMs that are affiliated with or are investee companies of Geely Holding;
“Geely Holding” means Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd;
“IPO” means COVA’s initial public offering, which was consummated on February 9, 2021;
“mainland China subsidiaries” means the subsidiaries of ECARX Holdings in mainland China;
“Maturity Date” means May 12, 2023, being the date on which the Note will mature;
“Maximum Redemptions Scenario” means the scenario assuming that COVA Shareholders holding 30,000,000 COVA Public Shares will exercise their redemption rights;
“Merger Agreement” means the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 26, 2022 by and among COVA, ECARX Holdings, Merger Sub 1, and Merger Sub 2;
“Merger Proposal” means a proposal to approve and authorize the First Merger and the First Plan of Merger;
 
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“Merger Sub 1” means Ecarx Temp Limited, an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of ECARX Holdings;
“Merger Sub 2” means Ecarx&Co Limited, an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of ECARX Holdings;
“Mergers” means, collectively, the First Merger and the Second Merger;
“Minimum Available Cash Condition” means the condition, to which the obligations of ECARX Holdings, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2 to consummate, or cause to be consummated, the Transactions to occur at the Closing are subject under the Merger Agreement, that (a) all amounts in the Trust Account as of immediately prior to the Closing, plus (b) cash proceeds that will be funded prior to, concurrently with, or immediately after, the Closing to ECARX Holdings in connection with the purchase of equity securities of ECARX Holdings by investors on or prior to the Closing Date pursuant to a subscription or similar agreement executed by such investors and ECARX after the date hereof, plus (c) proceeds in the form of cash or securities that have been funded or issued or will be funded or issued prior to, concurrently with, or immediately after, the Closing to ECARX Holdings in connection with certain permitted financing, minus (d) the aggregate amount payable to COVA Shareholders exercising their redemption rights, in the aggregate equaling no less than US$100,000,000, prior to payment of any unpaid or contingent liabilities, deferred underwriting fees of COVA, and certain other transaction expenses;
“Nasdaq” means The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC;
“No Redemptions Scenario” means the scenario assuming that no COVA Shareholder exercises redemption rights with respect to their COVA Public Shares;
“Note” means the convertible note issued by ECARX Holdings under a convertible note purchase agreement to Lotus Technology Inc. in the aggregate principal amount of US$10 million;
“Note Conversion Price” means the price at which the Note shall be automatically converted into fully paid and nonassessable ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares if the Business Combination is consummated prior to the Maturity Date, being (i) the lesser of (A) US$10.00, and (B) the lowest per share price at which any ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares are issued in connection with PIPE investments, if any, if the Business Combination is consummated on a date that is no more than six (6) months following May 13, 2022 (the “Initial Conversion Price”), or (ii) if the Business Combination is consummated on a date that is more than six (6) months following May 13, 2022, 95% of the Initial Conversion Price, subject to adjustment pursuant to the terms of the Note;
“PRC domestic company” means a company incorporated under the laws of mainland China;
“Recapitalization” means (i) the recapitalization of authorized issued ECARX Ordinary Share immediately following the Re-designation and prior to the First Effective Time by way of a repurchase in exchange for issuance of such number of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares, in each case, equal to the Recapitalization Factor, and (ii) the adjustment of each ECARX Options issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Recapitalization, such that each ECARX Option shall be exercisable for that number of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares equal to the product of (A) the number of ECARX shares subject to such ECARX Option immediately prior to the Recapitalization multiplied by (B) the Recapitalization Factor (such product rounded down to the nearest whole number), and the per share exercise price for each ECARX Class A Ordinary Share issuable upon exercise of the ECARX Options, as adjusted, shall be equal to the quotient (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) obtained by dividing (x) the per share exercise price for each ECARX share subject to such ECARX Option immediately prior to the First Effective Time by (y) the Recapitalization Factor;
“Recapitalization Factor” means the number resulting from dividing (i) US$3,400,000,000, being the pre-money equity value of ECARX as agreed between ECARX and COVA, by (ii) the product of (x) the Fully-Diluted Company Shares, and (y) US$10.00.
“Re-designation” means the re-designation of authorized share capital of ECARX immediately following the Preferred Share Conversion but immediately prior to the Recapitalization as follows: (A) each of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of ECARX (other than the Co-Founder Shares) and each
 
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of 7,766,956,008 authorized but unissued ordinary share of ECARX Holdings shall be re-designated as one ECARX Class A Ordinary Share, where each ECARX Class A Ordinary Share shall entitle its holder to one vote on all matters subject to vote at general meetings of ECARX Holdings; (B) each of the issued and outstanding Co-Founder Shares and each of the 958,958,360 authorized but unissued ordinary shares of ECARX shall be re-designated as one ECARX Class B Ordinary Share, where each ECARX Class B Ordinary Share shall entitle its holder to ten votes on all matters subject to vote at general meetings of ECARX Holdings; and (C) 1,000,000,000 authorized but unissued ordinary shares of ECARX Holdings shall be re-designated as shares of par value of US$0.000005 each of such class or classes (however designated) as the board of directors of ECARX Holdings may determine in accordance with the Amended ECARX Articles;
“Renminbi” or “RMB” means the legal currency of mainland China;
“Restructuring” means a series of transactions ECARX has implemented to restructure its organization and business operations since early 2022;
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission;
“Second Merger” means the merger between Surviving Entity 1 and Merger Sub 2, with Merger Sub 2 surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX Holdings;
“Second Plan of Merger” means the plan of merger for the Second Merger;
“Sponsor” means COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC, a Cayman Islands limited liability company;
“Strategic Investors” means Luminar Technologies, Inc. and Geely Investment Holding Ltd.;
“Strategic Investments” means the strategic investments contemplated by the Strategic Investment Agreements;
“Strategic Investment Agreements” means certain strategic investment agreements entered into between the Strategic Investors, on the one hand, and ECARX Holdings, on the other hand, concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement;
“Surviving Entity 1” means the surviving entity of the First Merger;
“Surviving Entity 2” means the surviving entity of the Second Merger;
“Transactions” means the Business Combination and other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement;
“Units” means the units issued in the IPO, each consisting of one COVA Public Share and one-half of one COVA Public Warrant;
“U.S. Dollars,” “USD,” “US$,” and “$” means United States dollars, the legal currency of the United States;
“U.S. GAAP” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; and
“VIE” means variable interest entity. “Our VIE,” “our former VIE,” or “Hubei ECARX” means Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd., a former consolidated variable interest entity of ECARX.
 
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE BUSINESS COMBINATION AND THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
The questions and answers below highlight only selected information set forth elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus and only briefly address some commonly asked questions about the extraordinary general meeting and the proposals to be presented at the extraordinary general meeting, including with respect to the proposed Business Combination. The following questions and answers do not include all the information that may be important to COVA shareholders. COVA shareholders are urged to carefully read this entire proxy statement/prospectus, including the annexes and the other documents referred to herein, to fully understand the proposed Business Combination and the voting procedures for the extraordinary general meeting.
Q:
Why am I receiving this proxy statement/prospectus?
A:
COVA and ECARX have agreed to a business combination under the terms of the Merger Agreement that is described in this proxy statement/prospectus. A copy of the Merger Agreement is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A and COVA encourages its shareholders to read it in its entirety. COVA’s shareholders are being asked to consider and vote upon a proposal to approve the Merger Agreement and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. See “Proposal One — The Business Combination Proposal.”
Q:
Are there any other matters being presented to shareholders at the meeting?
A:
In addition to voting on the Business Combination Proposal, the shareholders of COVA will vote on the following proposals:

To authorize the First Merger and the First Plan of Merger. See the section of this proxy statement/prospectus titled “Proposal Two — The Merger Proposal.”

To consider and vote upon a proposal to adjourn the extraordinary general meeting to a later date or dates to be determined by the chairman of the extraordinary general meeting, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies if, based upon the tabulated vote at the time of the extraordinary general meeting, there are not sufficient votes to approve one or more proposals presented to shareholders for a vote. See the section of this proxy statement/prospectus titled “Proposal Three — The Adjournment Proposal.”
COVA will hold the extraordinary general meeting of its shareholders to consider and vote upon these proposals. This proxy statement/prospectus contains important information about the proposed Business Combination and the other matters to be acted upon at the extraordinary general meeting. Shareholders should read it carefully.
The vote of shareholders is important. Regardless of how many shares you own, you are encouraged to vote as soon as possible after carefully reviewing this proxy statement/prospectus.
Q:
Why is COVA providing shareholders with the opportunity to vote on the Business Combination?
A:
Pursuant to the COVA Articles, COVA is required to provide COVA Public Shareholders with an opportunity to have their COVA Public Shares redeemed for cash upon the consummation of its initial business combination, either in conjunction with a shareholder vote or tender offer. Due to the structure of the Business Combination, COVA is providing this opportunity in conjunction with a shareholder vote.
Q:
What will happen to COVA’s securities upon consummation of the Business Combination?
A:
COVA’s securities, namely the Units (trading symbol “COVAU”), COVA Public Shares (trading symbol “COVA”) and COVA Public Warrants (trading symbol “COVAW”), are currently listed on Nasdaq. The Units, COVA Public Shares and COVA Public Warrants will cease trading upon consummation of the Business Combination and will be delisted from Nasdaq and deregistered under the Exchange Act. ECARX intends to apply for listing of the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares on Nasdaq under the proposed symbol “ECX” and ECARX Warrants under the proposed symbol “ECXWW”, each to
 
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be effective upon the consummation of the Business Combination. While trading on Nasdaq is expected to begin on the first business day following the consummation of the Business Combination, there can be no assurance that the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Warrants will be listed on Nasdaq or that a viable and active trading market will develop. See “Risk Factors” for more information.
Q:
Why is COVA proposing the Business Combination?
A:
COVA was organized to effect a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities.
On February 9, 2021, COVA consummated its initial public offering of 30,000,000 Units (which includes the partial exercise of the underwriter’s option to purchase up to an additional 3,900,000 Units to cover over-allotments) at an offering price of US$10.00 per Unit, generating total gross proceeds of US$300,000,000. Following the closing of the IPO, an amount equal to US$300,000,000 from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units in the IPO and the sale of the warrants issued to the Sponsor in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of the IPO (the “COVA Private Warrants,” and together with the COVA Public Warrants, the “COVA Warrants”) was placed into a trust account (the “Trust Account”). Since the IPO, COVA’s activity has been limited to the evaluation of business combination candidates.
COVA believes that ECARX is a company with an appealing market opportunity and growth profile, a strong position in its industry and a compelling valuation. As a result, COVA believes that the Business Combination will provide COVA shareholders with an opportunity to participate in the ownership of a company with significant growth potential. See the section entitled “Proposal One — The Business Combination Proposal.”
Q:
Did COVA’s board of directors obtain a third-party valuation or fairness opinion in determining whether or not to proceed with the Business Combination?
A:
No. COVA’s board of directors did not obtain a third-party valuation or fairness opinion in connection with its determination to approve the Business Combination. Accordingly, investors will be relying solely on the judgment of COVA’s board of directors, its management team and its advisors in valuing ECARX and will be assuming the risk that COVA’s board of directors may not have properly valued the business. However, COVA’s officers and directors have substantial experience in evaluating the operating and financial merits of companies from a wide range of industries and have substantial experience with financial investments and mergers and acquisitions. Furthermore, in analyzing the Business Combination, COVA’s management conducted significant due diligence on ECARX and COVA’s board of directors reviewed such due diligence as part of its review and approval of the Business Combination. For a complete discussion of the factors utilized by COVA’s board of directors in approving the Business Combination, see the section of this proxy statement entitled “The Business Combination — COVA Board of Directors' Reasons for the Business Combination.” Based on the foregoing, COVA’s board of directors concluded that its members’ collective experience and backgrounds, together with the experience and sector expertise of COVA’s advisors, enabled it to make the necessary analyses and determinations regarding the Business Combination, including that the Business Combination was fair from a financial perspective to its shareholders and that ECARX’s fair market value was at least 80% of the assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on interest earned on the Trust Account) at the time the Merger Agreement was entered into with respect to the Business Combination. There can be no assurance, however, that COVA’s board of directors was correct in its assessment of the Business Combination. For a complete discussion of the factors utilized by COVA’s board of directors in approving the Business Combination, see the section entitled “Proposal One — The Business Combination Proposal.”
Q:
Do I have redemption rights?
A:
If you are a COVA Public Shareholder, you have the right to demand that COVA redeem your COVA Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the cash held in COVA’s Trust Account, calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the Business Combination in accordance with the
 
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COVA Articles. In this proxy statement/prospectus, these rights to demand redemption of the COVA Public Shares are sometimes referred to as “redemption rights.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, a COVA Public Shareholder, together with any affiliate of his or any other person with whom such holder is acting in concert or as a “group” ​(as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than 15% of the COVA Public Shares. Accordingly, all COVA Public Shares in excess of 15% held by a COVA Public Shareholder, together with any affiliate of such holder or any other person with whom such holder is acting in concert or as a “group,” will not be redeemed and converted into cash. Under the COVA Articles, the Business Combination may not be consummated if COVA has net tangible assets of less than US$5,000,001 either immediately prior to or upon consummation of the Business Combination after taking into account the redemption for cash of all COVA Public Shares properly demanded to be redeemed by holders of COVA Public Shares.
Q:
Will how I vote on the Business Combination affect my ability to exercise my redemption rights?
A:
No. A COVA Public Shareholder may exercise redemption rights regardless of whether he, she or it votes for or against the Business Combination Proposal or does not vote on such proposal at all, or if he, she or it is a COVA Public Shareholder on the record date. This means that any COVA Public Shareholder holding COVA Public Shares may exercise redemptions rights regardless of whether they are even entitled to vote on the Business Combination Proposal.
Q:
How do I exercise my redemption rights?
A:
If you are a COVA Public Shareholder and wish to exercise your redemption rights, you must:

submit a written request to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, COVA’s transfer agent, in which you (i) request that COVA redeem all or a portion of your COVA Public Shares for cash, and (ii) identify yourself as the beneficial holder of the COVA Public Shares and provide your legal name, phone number and address; and

either tender your share certificates (if any) to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, COVA’s transfer agent, or deliver your COVA Public Shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian (DWAC) System.
Holders must complete the procedures for electing to redeem their COVA Public Shares in the manner described above prior to on       , 2022, two business days prior to the extraordinary general meeting, in order for their COVA Public Shares to be redeemed. If you hold the shares in “street name,” you will have to coordinate with your broker, bank or nominee to have the COVA Public Shares you beneficially own certificated and delivered electronically.”
Any COVA Public Shareholder satisfying the requirements for exercising redemption rights will be entitled to a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account (which, for illustrative purposes, was US$      , or US$      per share, as of the record date) calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, including interest earned on the funds in the Trust Account and not previously released to COVA to pay income taxes. Such amount will be paid promptly upon consummation of the Business Combination. There are currently no owed but unpaid income taxes on the funds in the Trust Account.
There is a nominal cost associated with this tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC system. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker US$80.00 and it would be up to the broker whether or not to pass this cost on to the redeeming shareholder. In the event the Business Combination is not consummated this may result in an additional cost to shareholders for the return of their shares.
Any request for redemption, once made by a COVA Public Shareholder, may be withdrawn at any time up to two business days prior to the time the vote is taken with respect to the Business Combination Proposal at the extraordinary general meeting (unless otherwise agreed to by COVA). If you tender your share certificates (if any) to COVA’s transfer agent and later decide prior to the extraordinary general
 
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meeting not to elect redemption, you may request that COVA’s transfer agent return your share certificates (physically or electronically). You may make such request by contacting COVA’s transfer agent at the address listed below.
No demand for redemption will be honored unless the holder’s COVA Public Shares have been delivered (either physically or electronically) to the transfer agent in the manner described above no later than two business days prior to the extraordinary general meeting.
COVA’s transfer agent can be contacted at the following address:
Mark Zimkind
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
E-mail: mzimkind@continentalstock.com
Q:
Can I exercise redemption rights and dissenter rights under the Cayman Companies Act?
A:
No. Any COVA Public Shareholder who elects to exercise Dissent Rights (which dissenter rights are discussed in the section entitled “Do I have appraisal rights if I object to the proposed Business Combination?”) will lose their right to have their COVA Public Shares redeemed in accordance with the COVA Articles. The certainty provided by the redemption process may be preferable for COVA Public Shareholders wishing to exchange their COVA Public Shares for cash. This is because Dissent Rights may be lost or extinguished, including where COVA and the other parties to the Merger Agreement determine to delay the consummation of the Business Combination in order to invoke the limitation on dissenter rights under Section 239 of the Cayman Companies Act, in which case any COVA Public Shareholder who has sought to exercise Dissent Rights would only be entitled to receive the merger consideration contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
Q:
If I am a holder of COVA Units, can I exercise redemption rights with respect to my Units?
A:
No. Holders of outstanding Units must first separate the Units into the underlying COVA Public Shares and COVA Public Warrants prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to COVA Public Shares. If you hold Units registered in your own name, you must deliver the certificate for such Units (if any) to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, COVA’s transfer agent, with written instructions to separate such Units into COVA Public Shares and COVA Public Warrants. This must be completed far enough in advance to permit the mailing of the share certificates back to you so that you may then exercise your redemption rights upon the separation of the COVA Public Shares from the Units. If you hold the Units in “street name,” you will need to instruct your broker, bank or nominee to separate the Units you beneficially own. Your nominee must send written instructions to COVA’s transfer agent. Such written instructions must include the number of Units to be split and the nominee holding such Units. Your nominee must also initiate electronically, using The Depository Trust Company’s Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian (DWAC) System, a withdrawal of the relevant Units and a deposit of the number of COVA Public Shares and COVA Public Warrants represented by such Units. This must be completed far enough in advance to permit your nominee to exercise redemption rights upon the separation of the COVA Public Shares from the Units. While this is typically done electronically the same business day, you should allow at least one full business day to accomplish the separation. If you fail to cause your COVA Public Shares to be separated in a timely manner, you shall likely not be able to exercise your redemption rights.
Q:
If I am a holder of COVA Warrants, can I exercise redemption rights with respect to my warrants?
A:
No. The holders of COVA Warrants have no redemption rights with respect to such securities.
Q:
What are the U.S. federal income tax consequences to me if I exercise my redemption rights?
A:
A U.S. Holder (as defined below) who exercises its redemption rights will receive cash in exchange for the tendered shares, and either will be considered for U.S. federal income tax purposes to have made a sale
 
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or exchange of the tendered shares, or will be considered for U.S. federal income tax purposes to have received a distribution with respect to such shares that may be treated as: (i) dividend income, (ii) a nontaxable recovery of basis in his investment in the tendered shares, or (iii) gain (but not loss) as if the shares with respect to which the distribution was made had been sold. See the section entitled “Material Tax Considerations — U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations to U.S. Holders — U.S. Holders Exercising Redemption Rights with Respect to COVA Public Shares.”
Q:
What are the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Business Combination to me?
A:
It is intended that the Business Combination qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) with respect to U.S. Holders of the COVA Public Shares and/or COVA Warrants. However, there are significant factual and legal uncertainties as to whether the Business Combination will qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. If any requirement for Section 368(a) of the Code is not met, then a U.S. Holder of COVA Public Shares and/or COVA Warrants would generally recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference, if any, between the fair value of ECARX Ordinary Shares and/or ECARX Warrants, as applicable, received in the Business Combination, over such U.S. Holder’s aggregate tax basis in the corresponding COVA Public Shares and/or COVA Warrants surrendered by such U.S. Holder in the Business Combination. Even if the Business Combination otherwise qualifies as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, U.S. Holders may be required to recognize gain (but not loss) on account of the application of the Passive Foreign Investment Company (“PFIC”) rules, as described in more detail below under “Material Tax Considerations — U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations to U.S. Holders — The Business Combination — Application of the PFIC Rules to the Business Combination.” U.S. Holders of COVA Public Shares and/or COVA Warrants should consult their tax advisors to determine the tax consequences if the Business Combination does not qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and the application of the PFIC rules to their specific situation in connection with the Business Combination.
Q:
Do I have appraisal rights if I object to the proposed Business Combination?
A:
Holders of record of COVA Shares may have appraisal rights in connection with the Business Combination under the Cayman Companies Act. Holders of record of COVA Shares wishing to exercise such statutory dissenter rights and make a demand for payment of the fair value for their COVA Shares must give written objection to the First Merger to COVA prior to the shareholder vote to approve the First Merger and follow the procedures set out in Section 238 of the Cayman Companies Act, noting that any such dissenter rights may subsequently be lost and extinguished pursuant to Section 239 of the Cayman Companies Act which states that no such dissenter rights shall be available in respect of shares of any class for which an open market exists on a recognized stock exchange or recognized interdealer quotation system at the expiry date of the period allowed for written notice of an election to dissent provided that the merger consideration constitutes inter alia shares of any company which at the effective date of the merger are listed on a national securities exchange. COVA believes that such fair value would equal the amount that COVA shareholders would obtain if they exercised their redemption rights as described herein. A COVA shareholder which elects to exercise appraisal rights must do so in respect of all of the COVA Shares that person holds and will lose their right to exercise their redemption rights as described herein. See the section of this proxy statement/prospectus titled “Extraordinary General Meeting of COVA Shareholders.” COVA shareholders are recommended to seek their own advice as soon as possible on the application and procedure to be followed in respect of the appraisal rights under the Cayman Companies Act.
Q:
What happens to the funds deposited in the Trust Account after consummation of the Business Combination?
A:
The net proceeds of the IPO, together with a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the COVA Private Warrants in a private placement to the Sponsor, equal in the aggregate to US$300,000,000, was placed in the Trust Account immediately following the IPO. After consummation of the Business Combination, the funds in the Trust Account will be used to pay, on a pro rata basis, COVA Public
 
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Shareholders who exercise redemption rights and to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Business Combination (including fees to the underwriter of the IPO as deferred underwriting commissions). Any remaining cash will be used for ECARX’s working capital and general corporate purposes.
Q:
What happens if a substantial number of public shareholders vote in favor of the Business Combination Proposal and exercise their redemption rights?
A:
COVA Public Shareholders may vote in favor of the Business Combination and still exercise their redemption rights, although they are not required to vote in any way to exercise such redemption rights. Accordingly, the Business Combination may be consummated even though the funds available from the Trust Account and the number of COVA Public Shareholders are substantially reduced as a result of redemptions by COVA Public Shareholders.
If a COVA Public Shareholder exercises his, her or its redemption rights, such exercise will not result in the loss of any warrants that such COVA Public Shareholder may hold. As a result, any non-redeeming COVA Public Shareholders would experience dilution to the extent such COVA Public Warrants are exercised and additional ECARX Ordinary Shares are issued.
However, the Business Combination will not be consummated if, either immediately prior to or upon consummation of the Business Combination, COVA would have net tangible assets of less than US$5,000,001 after taking into account the redemption for cash of all COVA Public Shares properly demanded to be redeemed by holders of COVA Public Shares. To the extent that there are fewer public shares and public shareholders, the trading market for ECARX Ordinary Shares may be less liquid than the market was for COVA Public Shares prior to the Business Combination, and ECARX may not be able to meet the listing standards of a national securities exchange. In addition, to the extent of any redemptions, fewer funds from the Trust Account would be available to ECARX to be used in its business following the consummation of the Business Combination.
The sensitivity table below shows the potential impact of redemptions on the pro forma book value per share of the shares owned by COVA Public Shareholders under different redemption scenarios, taking into account certain potential sources of dilution, namely, 16,617,591 shares reserved for the share options of ECARX prior to the date of the Merger Agreement (after considering the impact of the Recapitalization), the ECARX Ordinary Shares underlying the COVA Public Warrants and COVA Private Warrants, and the ECARX Ordinary Shares to be issued to the holder of the Note.
 
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Assuming No
Redemption
Assuming 25%
Redemption(1)
Assuming 50%
Redemption(2)
Assuming 75%
Redemption(3)
Assuming
Maximum
Redemption(4)
Ownership
in shares
Equity
%
Ownership
in shares
Equity
%
Ownership
in shares
Equity
%
Ownership
in shares
Equity
%
Ownership
in shares
Equity
%
Shareholders
Existing COVA Shareholders (excluding the Sponsor)(5)
30,000,000 8.2 22,500,000 6.3 15,000,000 4.3 7,500,000 2.2
The Sponsor(6)
7,500,000 2.1 7,500,000 2.1 5,250,000 1.5 5,250,000 1.5 5,250,000 1.6
Existing ECARX Shareholders(7)
323,382,409 88.7 323,382,409 90.6 323,382,409 93.2 323,382,409 95.2 323,382,409 97.4
Shares underlying Strategic Investments(8)
3,500,000 1.0 3,500,000 1.0 3,500,000 1.0 3,500,000 1.0 3,500,000 1.1
Total ECARX Ordinary Shares Outstanding at
Closing
364,382,409 100.0 356,882,409 100.0 347,132,409 100 339,632,409 100.0 332,132,409 100.0
Total ECARX Ordinary Shares outstanding at Closing not reflecting potential sources of dilution
364,382,409 89.6 356,882,409 89.4 347,132,409 89.1 339,632,409 88.9 332,132,409 88.7
Potential sources of dilution:
Shares underlying COVA Public Warrants
15,000,000 3.7 15,000,000 3.8 15,000,000 3.8 15,000,000 3.9 15,000,000 4.0
Shares underlying COVA Private Warrants
9,872,000 2.4 9,872,000 2.5 9,872,000 2.5 9,872,000 2.6 9,872,000 2.6
Shares underlying granted option shares
16,617,591 4.1 16,617,591 4.2 16,617,591 4.3 16,617,591 4.3 16,617,591 4.4
Shares underlying the Note(9)
1,000,000 0.2 1,000,000 0.3 1,000,000 0.3 1,000,000 0.3 1,000,000 0.3
Total ECARX Ordinary Shares
outstanding at Closing (including shares underlying
Public Warrants, Private Warrants, granted option shares, and shares underlying the Note)
406,872,000 100.0 399,372,000 100.0 389,622,000 100.0 382,122,000 100.0 374,622,000 100.0
Assuming No
Redemption
Assuming 25%
Redemption(1)
Assuming 50%
Redemption(2)
Assuming 75%
Redemption(3)
Assuming
Maximum
Redemption(4)
Ownership
in shares
Equity
%
Ownership
in shares
Equity
%
Ownership
in shares
Equity
%
Ownership
in shares
Equity
%
Ownership
in shares
Equity
%
Holders of ECARX Ordinary Shares reflecting
potential sources of dilution:
Existing COVA Shareholders (excluding the Sponsor)(10)
45,000,000 11.1 37,500,000 9.4 30,000,000 7.7 22,500,000 5.9 15,000,000 4.0
The Sponsor(11)
17,372,000 4.3 17,372,000 4.3 15,122,000 3.9 15,122,000 4.0 15,122,000 4.0
Holder of the Note(9)
1,000,000 0.2 1,000,000 0.3 1,000,000 0.3 1,000,000 0.3 1,000,000 0.3
Strategic Investors(8)
3,500,000 0.9 3,500,000 0.9 3,500,000 0.9 3,500,000 0.9 3,500,000 0.9
Existing ECARX Shareholders(12)
340,000,000 83.6 340,000,000 85.1 340,000,000 87.3 340,000,000 89.0 340,000,000 90.8
Total Pro Forma Equity Value of ECARX Ordinary Shares outstanding at Closing (including shares underlying granted option shares, Strategic Investor shares and shares underlying the Note)(13)
4,068,720,000 3,993,720,000 3,896,220,000 3,821,220,000 3,746,220,000
Per Share Pro Forma Equity Value of ECARX
Ordinary Shares outstanding at
Closing(13)
10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00
Per Share Pro Forma Book Value of ECARX Ordinary Share outstanding at Closing (including shares underlying granted option shares, Strategic Investor shares and shares underlying the Note)(14)
5.69
4.46
3.21
1.87
0.47
(1)
This scenario assumes that 7,500,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders.
(2)
This scenario assumes that 15,000,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders.
(3)
This scenario assumes that 22,500,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders.
(4)
This scenario assumes that 30,000,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders. COVA’s obligations under the Merger Agreement are subject to certain customary closing conditions. Furthermore, COVA will only proceed with the Business Combination if it will have net tangible assets of at least US$5,000,001 (after taking into account the redemption for cash of all COVA Public Shares properly demanded to be redeemed by holders of COVA Public Shares) upon consummation of the Business Combination (as determined in accordance with Rule3a5l-l(g)(1) of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)). The Maximum Redemption Scenario does not take into account the Minimum Available Cash Condition.
 
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(5)
Does not include COVA Public Warrants that will remain outstanding immediately following the Business Combination and may be exercised thereafter to acquire ECARX Ordinary Shares. The COVA Public Warrants represent 15,000,000 redeemable warrants issued in the IPO, each entitling its holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share of COVA at an exercise price of US$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. In connection with the Business Combination, COVA Public Warrants will be automatically and irrevocably assumed by ECARX Holdings and converted into ECARX Warrants each entitling its holder to purchase one ECARX Class A Ordinary Share at a price of US$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment.
(6)
Does not include COVA Private Warrants that will remain outstanding immediately following the Business Combination and may be exercised thereafter to acquire ECARX Ordinary Shares. The COVA Private Warrants represent (i) 8,872,000 warrants sold to Sponsor in the private placement consummated concurrently with the IPO, each entitling its holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share of COVA at an exercise price of US$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment and (ii) 1,000,000 warrants underlying the Second Promissory Note that the Sponsor has the option, but not the obligation, to convert, in whole or in part, into COVA Private Warrants, at a price of US$1.00 per COVA Private Warrant upon the consummation of the Business Combination. In connection with the Business Combination, COVA Private Warrants will be automatically and irrevocably assumed by ECARX Holdings and converted into ECARX Warrants each entitling its holder to purchase one ECARX Class A Ordinary Share at a price of US$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. Pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, up to 30% of the 7,500,000 COVA Founder Shares are subject to forfeiture as described therein.
(7)
Excluding 16,617,591 shares reserved for the share options of ECARX prior to the date of the Merger Agreement (after considering the impact of the Recapitalization) and 1,000,000 shares underlying the Note, which is convertible into fully paid, validly issued and nonassessable ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares upon the Closing pursuant to the terms of the convertible note purchase agreement.
(8)
Representing the aggregate of 3,500,000 ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares to be issued to Geely Investment Holding Ltd. and Luminar Technologies, Inc. at US$10.00 per share for an aggregate investment amount of US$35,000,000. See “Agreements Entered into in Connection with the Business Combination — Strategic Investment Agreements” and “Beneficial Ownership of Securities” for additional details.
(9)
Representing the Note, which, if the Closing occurs prior to the Maturity Date, shall be automatically converted into fully paid, validly issued and non-assessable ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares at the Note Conversion Price. For purpose of this table, it is assumed that the Note Conversion Price is US$10.00 per share.
(10)
Includes 15,000,000 shares underlying COVA Public Warrants.
(11)
Includes 9,872,000 shares underlying COVA Private Warrants. Pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, up to 30% of the 7,500,000 COVA Founder Shares are subject to forfeiture as described therein.
(12)
Includes 16,617,591 shares reserved for the share options of ECARX prior to the date of the Merger Agreement (after considering the impact of the Recapitalization).
(13)
In each redemption scenario, the per share pro forma equity value of ECARX Ordinary Shares will be US$10.00 at Closing in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.
(14)
The per share pro forma book value of ECARX Ordinary Shares is based on the pro forma book value of ECARX at Closing. See the row entitled “Total equity attributable to ordinary shareholders of ECARX Holdings Inc” in the section entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information — Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Balance Sheet.” The calculation of per share pro forma book value of ECARX Ordinary Shares does not take into account ECARX Ordinary Shares underlying the COVA Public Warrants and COVA Private Warrants for the reason that their inclusion will have an anti-dilutive impact on the per share pro forma book value of ECARX Ordinary Shares.
Q:
What happens if the Business Combination is not consummated?
A:
If COVA does not complete the Business Combination with ECARX for whatever reason, COVA would search for another target business with which to complete a business combination. If COVA does not complete the Business Combination with ECARX or another business combination by February 9, 2023 (or such later date as may be approved by COVA’s shareholders in an amendment to the COVA Articles), COVA must redeem 100% of the outstanding COVA Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to an amount then held in the Trust Account (net of taxes payable and less up to US$100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses) divided by the number of outstanding COVA Public Shares and, following such redemption, COVA will liquidate and dissolve. COVA’s initial shareholders have waived their redemption rights with respect to their COVA Founder Shares in the event a business combination is not effected in the required time period, and, accordingly, their COVA Founder Shares will be worthless.
Q:
How does the Sponsor of COVA intend to vote on the proposals?
A:
The Sponsor beneficially owns and is entitled to vote an aggregate of 20% of the outstanding COVA Shares. The Sponsor has agreed to vote its shares in favor of the Business Combination Proposal. These holders have also indicated that they intend to vote their shares in favor of all other proposals being
 
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presented at the extraordinary general meeting. In addition to the COVA Shares held by the Sponsor, COVA would need 11,250,001 COVA Public Shares, or 37.5%, of the 30,000,000 COVA Public Shares to be voted in favor of the Business Combination Proposal and 17,500,000 COVA Public Shares, or 58.3%, of the 30,000,000 COVA Public Shares to be voted in favor of the Merger Proposal in order for them to be approved (assuming all outstanding shares are voted on each proposal). The Sponsor has agreed, prior to the IPO, to waive their redemption rights.
Q:
Can the Sponsor redeem its Shares in connection with consummation of the Business Combination?
A:
No. The Sponsor has agreed to waive, for no consideration and for the sole purpose of facilitating the Business Combination, their redemption rights with respect to their COVA Founder Shares in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination.
Q:
What interests does the Sponsor have in the Business Combination?
A:
In considering the recommendation of COVA’s board of directors to vote in favor of the Business Combination, shareholders should be aware that, aside from their interests as shareholders, the Sponsor has interests in the Business Combination that are different from, or in addition to, those of other shareholders generally. COVA’s directors were aware of and considered these interests, among other matters, in evaluating the Business Combination, in recommending to shareholders that they approve the Business Combination and in agreeing to vote their shares in favor of the Business Combination. Shareholders should take these interests into account in deciding whether to approve the Business Combination. These interests include, among other things, the fact that:

If the Business Combination with ECARX or another business combination is not consummated by February 9, 2023 (or such later date as may be approved by COVA shareholders in an amendment to the COVA Articles), COVA will cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, redeeming 100% of the outstanding COVA Public Shares for cash and, subject to the approval of its remaining shareholders and COVA’s board of directors, dissolving and liquidating. In such event, the COVA Founder Shares held by the Sponsor, which were acquired for an aggregate purchase price of US$25,000 prior to the IPO, are expected to be worthless because the holders are not entitled to participate in any redemption or distribution of proceeds in the Trust Account with respect to such shares. On the other hand, if the Business Combination is consummated, each outstanding COVA Founder Share will be converted into one ECARX Ordinary Share, subject to adjustment described herein.

If COVA is unable to complete a business combination within the required time period, the Sponsor will be liable under certain circumstances described herein to ensure that the proceeds in the Trust Account are not reduced by the claims of target businesses or claims of vendors or other entities that are owed money by COVA for services rendered to, or contracted for or for products sold to COVA. If COVA consummates a business combination, on the other hand, COVA will be liable for all such claims.

The Sponsor acquired the COVA Founder Shares, which will be converted into ECARX Ordinary Shares in connection with the Business Combination, for an aggregate purchase price of US$25,000 prior to the IPO. Based on the closing price of COVA’s Public Shares of US$      on Nasdaq on           , the record date for the extraordinary general meeting, the COVA Founder Shares, if unrestricted and freely tradable, would be valued at US$      .

The Sponsor acquired the COVA Private Warrants, which will be converted into ECARX Warrants in connection with the Business Combination, for an aggregate purchase price of US$8.9 million in the IPO. Based on the closing price of COVA’s Public Warrants of US$      on Nasdaq on           , the record date for the extraordinary general meeting, the COVA Private Warrants would be valued at US$      .

As a result of the prices at which the Sponsor acquired the COVA Founder Shares and the COVA Private Warrants, and their current value, the Sponsor could make a substantial profit after the completion of the Business Combination even if COVA Public Shareholders lose money on their investments as a result of a decrease in the post-combination value of their COVA Public Shares.
 
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The Sponsor and COVA’s officers and directors and their affiliates are entitled to reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with certain activities on COVA’s behalf, such as identifying and investigating possible business targets and business combinations. However, if COVA fails to consummate a business combination within the required period, they will not have any claim against the Trust Account for reimbursement. Accordingly, COVA may not be able to reimburse these expenses if the Business Combination or another business combination is not completed by February 9, 2023 (or such later date as may be approved by COVA’s shareholders in an amendment to the COVA Articles). As of the record date, the Sponsor and COVA’s officers and directors and their affiliates had incurred US$      of unpaid reimbursable expenses.

If COVA is unable to complete a business combination within the required time period, the aggregate dollar amount of non-reimbursable funds would be US$     million, reflecting the market value of COVA Founder Shares, the market value of COVA Private Warrants and out-of-pocket unpaid reimbursable expenses.

COVA has provisions in the COVA Articles waiving the corporate opportunities doctrine on an ongoing basis, which means that COVA’s officers and directors have not been obligated and continue to not be obligated to bring all corporate opportunities to COVA. The potential conflict of interest relating to the waiver of the corporate opportunities doctrine in the COVA Articles did not impact its search for an acquisition target and COVA was not prevented from reviewing any opportunities as a result of such waiver.

The Merger Agreement provides for the continued indemnification of COVA’s current directors and officers and the continuation of directors and officers liability insurance covering COVA’s current directors and officers.

COVA’s Sponsor, affiliates of the Sponsor, officers and directors may make loans from time to time to COVA to fund certain capital requirements. On December 15, 2020, the Sponsor agreed to loan COVA an aggregate of up to US$300,000 to cover expenses related to the IPO pursuant to a promissory note that was repaid in full on February 9, 2021. On May 26, 2022, COVA issued another unsecured promissory note to the Sponsor (the “Second Promissory Note”), pursuant to which COVA may borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of US$2,000,000. The Second Promissory Note is non-interest bearing and payable upon the consummation of a business combination. Upon consummation of a business combination, the Sponsor shall have the option, but not the obligation, to convert up to US$1,000,000 of the principal balance of the promissory note, into COVA Private Warrants, at a price of US$1.00 per COVA Private Warrant. Additional loans may be made after the date of this proxy statement/prospectus. If the Business Combination is not consummated, any outstanding loans will not be repaid and will be forgiven except to the extent there are funds available to COVA outside of the Trust Account.

COVA entered into an agreement, commencing on the date COVA’s securities were first listed on Nasdaq through the earlier of the consummation of a business combination or its liquidation, to pay the Sponsor a monthly fee of US$10,000 for office space, utilities, secretarial and administrative services.
Q:
What equity stake will current ECARX shareholders and current COVA shareholders hold in the combined company immediately after the completion of the Business Combination, and what effect will potential sources of dilution have on the same?
A:
The following table presents the anticipated share ownership of various holders of ECARX Ordinary Shares after the completion of the Business Combination after considering the impact of the Recapitalization, based on the assumption that no additional equity securities of ECARX will be issued at or prior to Closing except to the any Strategic Investors, and that there are no Dissenting COVA Shareholders, under the following redemption scenarios:

Assuming No Redemption: This presentation assumes that no COVA Shareholder exercises redemption rights with respect to their COVA Public Shares.

Assuming 25% Redemption: This presentation assumes that COVA Public Shareholders holding 7,500,000 COVA Public Shares will exercise their redemption rights.
 
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Assuming 50% Redemption: This presentation assumes that COVA Public Shareholders holding 15,000,000 COVA Public Shares will exercise their redemption rights.

Assuming 75% Redemption: This presentation assumes that COVA Public Shareholders holding 22,500,000 COVA Public Shares will exercise their redemption rights.

Assuming Maximum Redemption: This presentation assumes that COVA Public Shareholders holding 30,000,000 COVA Public Shares will exercise their redemption rights. This presentation does not take into account the Minimum Available Cash Condition.
Assuming No
Redemption(1)
Assuming 25%
Redemption(1)(2)
Assuming 50%
Redemption(1)(3)
Assuming 75%
Redemption(1)(4)
Assuming
Maximum
Redemption(1)(5)
Shares
%
Shares
%
Shares
%
Shares
%
Shares
%
ECARX Ordinary Shares:
Existing COVA Shareholders (excluding the Sponsor)
30,000,000 8.2 22,500,000 6.3 15,000,000 4.3 7,500,000 2.2
The Sponsor(6)
7,500,000 2.1 7,500,000 2.1 5,250,000 1.5 5,250,000 1.5 5,250,000 1.6
Existing ECARX Shareholders(7)
323,382,409 88.7 323,382,409 90.6 323,382,409 93.2 323,382,409 95.2 323,382,409 97.4
Strategic Investors(8)
3,500,000 1.0 3,500,000 1.0 3,500,000 1.0 3,500,000 1.0 3,500,000 1.1
Total ECARX Ordinary Shares Outstanding at Closing
364,382,409 100.0 356,882,409 100.0 347,132,409 100 339,632,409 100.0 332,132,409 100.0
Per Share Pro Forma Equity Value of ECARX Ordinary Shares
outstanding at Closing(9)
10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00
(1)
The share amounts and ownership and voting power percentages set forth above do not take into account COVA Public Warrants and COVA Private Warrants that will remain outstanding immediately following the Business Combination and may be exercised thereafter to acquire ECARX Ordinary Shares. The COVA Public Warrants represent 15,000,000 redeemable warrants issued in the IPO, each entitling its holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share of COVA at an exercise price of US$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. The COVA Private Warrants represent (i) 8,872,000 warrants sold to Sponsor in the private placement consummated concurrently with the IPO, each entitling its holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share of COVA at an exercise price of US$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment and (ii) 1,000,000 warrants underlying the Second Promissory Note that the Sponsor has the option, but not the obligation, to convert, in whole or in part, into COVA Private Warrants, at a price of US$1.00 per COVA Private Warrant upon the consummation of the Business Combination. In connection with the Business Combination, COVA Public Warrants and COVA Private Warrants will be automatically and irrevocably assumed by ECARX Holdings and converted into ECARX Warrants each entitling its holder to purchase one ECARX Class A Ordinary Share at a price of US$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment.
(2)
This scenario assumes that 7,500,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders.
(3)
This scenario assumes that 15,000,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders.
(4)
This scenario assumes that 22,500,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders.
(5)
This scenario assumes that 30,000,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders. COVA’s obligations under the Merger Agreement are subject to certain customary closing conditions. Furthermore, COVA will only proceed with the Business Combination if it will have net tangible assets of at least US$5,000,001 (after taking into account the redemption for cash of all COVA Public Shares properly demanded to be redeemed by holders of COVA Public Shares) upon consummation of the Business Combination (as determined in accordance with Rule3a5l-l(g)(1) of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)). Unless ECARX Holdings elects to waive the US$100,000,000 Minimum Available Cash Condition, the Maximum Redemption Scenario cannot occur.
(6)
Pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, up to 30% of the 7,500,000 COVA Founder Shares are subject to forfeiture as described therein.
(7)
Excluding 16,617,591 shares reserved for the share options of ECARX prior to the date of the Merger Agreement (after considering the impact of the Recapitalization) and 1,000,000 shares underlying the Note, which is convertible into fully paid, validly issued and nonassessable ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares upon the Closing pursuant to the terms of the convertible note purchase agreement.
(8)
Representing the aggregate of 3,500,000 ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares to be issued to Geely Investment Holding Ltd. and Luminar Technologies, Inc. at US$10.00 per share for an aggregate investment amount of US$35,000,000. See “Agreements Entered into in Connection with the Business Combination — Strategic Investment Agreements” and “Beneficial Ownership of Securities” for additional details.
(9)
In each redemption scenario, the per share pro forma equity value of ECARX Ordinary Shares will be US$10.00 at Closing in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.
However, if the actual facts are different than the assumptions laid out above, the anticipated share ownership of various holders of ECARX Ordinary Shares after the completion of the Business Combination
 
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will be different. ECARX shareholders would experience dilution to the extent ECARX Holdings issues additional shares after Closing. In addition, the table above excludes certain potential sources of dilution, namely, 16,617,591 shares reserved for the share options of ECARX prior to the date of the Merger Agreement (after considering the impact of the Recapitalization) and ECARX Ordinary Shares underlying the Note. The following table presents the anticipated share ownership of various holders of ECARX Ordinary Shares after the completion of the Business Combination after considering the impact of the Recapitalization assuming (i) the issuance of 16,617,591 shares reserved for the share options of ECARX prior to the date of the Merger Agreement (after considering the impact of the Recapitalization), and the issuance of ECARX Ordinary Shares underlying the Note, (ii) no other additional equity securities of ECARX will be issued at or prior to Closing, and (iii) there are no Dissenting COVA Shareholders, under the following redemption scenarios:
Assuming No
Redemption
Assuming 25%
Redemption(1)
Assuming 50%
Redemption(2)
Assuming 75%
Redemption(3)
Assuming
Maximum
Redemption(4)
Shares
%
Shares
%
Shares
%
Shares
%
Shares
%
Total ECARX Ordinary Shares Outstanding at Closing not reflecting potential sources of dilution(5)
364,382,409
89.6
356,882,409
89.4
347,132,409
89.1
339,632,409
88.9
332,132,409
88.7
Potential sources of dilution:
Shares underlying COVA Public Warrants
15,000,000 3.7 15,000,000 3.8 15,000,000 3.8 15,000,000 3.9 15,000,000 4.0
Shares underlying COVA Private Warrants
9,872,000 2.4 9,872,000 2.5 9,872,000 2.5 9,872,000 2.6 9,872,000 2.6
Shares underlying granted option shares
16,617,591 4.1 16,617,591 4.2 16,617,591 4.3 16,617,591 4.3 16,617,591 4.4
Shares underlying the Note(6)
1,000,000 0.2 1,000,000 0.3 1,000,000 0.3 1,000,000 0.3 1,000,000 0.3
Total ECARX Ordinary Shares outstanding at Closing
(including shares underlying granted option shares and shares
underlying the Note)
406,872,000 100.0 399,372,000 100.0 389,622,000 100.0 382,122,000 100.0 374,622,000 100.0
Holders of ECARX Ordinary Shares reflecting potential sources of dilution:
Existing COVA Shareholders (excluding the
Sponsor)(7)
45,000,000 11.1 37,500,000 9.4 30,000,000 7.7 22,500,000 5.9 15,000,000 4.0
The Sponsor(8)
17,372,000 4.3 17,372,000 4.3 15,122,000 3.9 15,122,000 4.0 15,122,000 4.0
Existing ECARX Shareholders(9)
340,000,000 83.6 340,000,000 85.1 340,000,000 87.3 340,000,000 89.0 340,000,000 90.8
Holder of the Note(6)
1,000,000 0.2 1,000,000 0.3 1,000,000 0.3 1,000,000 0.3 1,000,000 0.3
Strategic Investors(10)
3,500,000 0.9 3,500,000 0.9 3,500,000 0.9 3,500,000 0.9 3,500,000 0.9
Per Share Pro Forma Equity Value of ECARX Ordinary Shares outstanding at Closing(11)
10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00
(1)
This scenario assumes that 7,500,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders.
(2)
This scenario assumes that 15,000,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders.
(3)
This scenario assumes that 22,500,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders.
(4)
This scenario assumes that 30,000,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders. COVA’s obligations under the Merger Agreement are subject to certain customary closing conditions. Furthermore, COVA will only proceed with the Business Combination if it will have net tangible assets of at least US$5,000,001 (after taking into account the redemption for cash of all COVA Public Shares properly demanded to be redeemed by holders of COVA Public Shares) upon consummation of the Business Combination (as determined in accordance with Rule3a5l-l(g)(1) of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)). Unless ECARX Holdings elects to waive the US$100,000,000 Minimum Available Cash Condition, the Maximum Redemption Scenario cannot occur.
(5)
Does not include COVA Public Warrants and COVA Private Warrants that will remain outstanding immediately following the Business Combination and may be exercised thereafter to acquire ECARX Ordinary Shares. The COVA Public Warrants represent 15,000,000 redeemable warrants issued in the IPO, each entitling its holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share of COVA at an exercise price of US$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. The COVA Private Warrants represent (i) 8,872,000 warrants sold to Sponsor in the private placement consummated concurrently with the IPO, each entitling its holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share of COVA at an exercise price of US$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment and (ii) 1,000,000 warrants underlying the Second Promissory Note that the Sponsor has the option, but not the obligation, to convert, in whole or in part, into COVA Private Warrants, at a price of US$1.00 per COVA Private Warrant upon the consummation of the Business Combination. In connection with the Business Combination, COVA Public Warrants and COVA Private Warrants will be automatically and irrevocably assumed by ECARX Holdings and converted into ECARX Warrants each entitling its holder to purchase one ECARX Class A Ordinary Share at a price of US$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment.
 
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(6)
Representing the Note, which, if the Closing occurs prior to the Maturity Date, shall be automatically converted into fully paid, validly issued and nonassessable ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares at the Note Conversion Price. For purpose of this table, it is assumed that the Note Conversion Price is US$10.00 per share.
(7)
Includes 15,000,000 shares underlying COVA Public Warrants.
(8)
Includes 9,872,000 shares underlying COVA Private Warrants. Pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, up to 30% of the 7,500,000 COVA Founder Shares are subject to forfeiture as described therein.
(9)
Includes 16,617,591 shares reserved for the share options of ECARX prior to the date of the Merger Agreement (after considering the impact of the Recapitalization).
(10)
Representing the aggregate of 3,500,000 ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares to be issued to Geely Investment Holding Ltd. and Luminar Technologies, Inc. at US$10.00 per share for an aggregate investment amount of US$35,000,000. See “Agreements Entered into in Connection with the Business Combination — Strategic Investment Agreements” and “Beneficial Ownership of Securities” for additional details.
(11)
In each redemption scenario, the per share pro forma equity value of ECARX Ordinary Shares will be US$10.00 at Closing in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.
This information should be read together with the pro forma combined financial information in the section entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information.”
Q:
What is the effective underwriting fee that will be received by the underwriter for the IPO?
A:
Irrespective of the amount of redemptions by COVA Public Shareholders, ECARX will pay the underwriter for the IPO US$10,500,000 of deferred underwriting commissions upon consummation of the Business Combination. Although this amount of deferred underwriting commissions is fixed, the level of redemptions will impact the effective underwriting fee incurred in connection with the IPO. For example, (i) based on the approximately US$300 million in the Trust Account, the US$10,500,000 of deferred underwriting commissions would represent an effective underwriting fee of 3.5%, (ii) assuming, for illustrative purposes, that COVA Public Shareholders holding 15,000,000 COVA Public Shares will exercise their redemption rights for US$150 million of the US$300 million of funds in the Trust Account, the funds remaining in the Trust Account following such redemption would be US$150 million and the effective underwriting fee would be 7% and (iii) under the Maximum Redemption Scenario and assuming the Minimum Available Cash Condition is waived, the amount of cash left in the Trust Account would not be sufficient to cover the deferred underwriting compensation.
Q:
When do you expect the Business Combination to be completed?
A:
It is currently anticipated that the Business Combination will be consummated promptly following the COVA extraordinary general meeting, which is set for                 , 2022; however, such meeting could be adjourned or postponed to a later date, as described above. The Closing is also subject to other customary closing conditions. For a description of the conditions for the completion of the Business Combination, see the section entitled “The Merger Agreement.”
Q:
What do I need to do now?
A:
COVA urges you to carefully read and consider the information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus, including the annexes, and to consider how the Business Combination will affect you as a shareholder of COVA. Shareholders should then vote as soon as possible in accordance with the instructions provided in this proxy statement/prospectus and on the enclosed proxy card.
Q:
When and where will the extraordinary general meeting take place?
A:
The extraordinary general meeting will be held on                 , 2022, at                 a.m., Eastern Time, at                 and virtually over the Internet by means of a live audio webcast. You may attend the extraordinary general meeting webcast by accessing the web portal located at https://                 . We encourage shareholders to attend the extraordinary general meeting virtually via the live webcast.
 
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Q:
How do I vote?
A:
If you are a holder of record of COVA Shares at the close of business on the record date, you may vote by (a) attending the extraordinary general meeting and voting in person, including virtually over the Internet by joining the live audio webcast and voting electronically by submitting a ballot through the web portal during the extraordinary general meeting webcast or (b) by submitting a proxy for the extraordinary general meeting. You may submit your proxy by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card so that it is received no later than 48 hours before the time appointed for the holding of the extraordinary general meeting (or, in the case of an adjournment, no later than 48 hours before the time appointed for the holding of the adjourned meeting). By signing the proxy card and returning it, you are authorizing the individuals named on the proxy card to vote your shares at the extraordinary general meeting in the manner you indicate. If you hold your shares in “street name,” you should contact your broker, bank or nominee to ensure that votes related to the shares you beneficially own are properly voted and counted. In this regard, you must provide the broker, bank or nominee with instructions on how to vote your shares or, if you wish to attend the extraordinary general meeting virtually, and vote through the web portal, obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or nominee.
Q:
If my shares are held in “street name,” will my broker, bank or nominee automatically vote my shares for me?
A:
Your broker, bank or nominee can vote your shares without receiving your instructions on “routine” proposals only. Your broker, bank or nominee cannot vote your shares with respect to “non-routine” proposals unless you provide instructions on how to vote in accordance with the information and procedures provided to you by your broker, bank or nominee.
The Business Combination Proposal, the Merger Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal are non-routine proposals. Accordingly, your broker, bank or nominee may not vote your shares with respect to these proposals unless you provide voting instructions.
Q:
May I change my vote after I have mailed my signed proxy card?
A:
Yes. Shareholders of record may send a later-dated, signed proxy card to COVA’s transfer agent at the address set forth below so that it is received no later than 48 hours before the time appointed for the holding of the extraordinary general meeting (or, in the case of an adjournment, no later than 48 hours before the time appointed for the holding of the adjourned meeting) or attend the extraordinary general meeting and vote in person, including virtually over the Internet by joining the live audio webcast and voting electronically during the extraordinary general meeting webcast. Shareholders of record also may revoke their proxy by sending a notice of revocation to COVA’s secretary, which must be received prior to the vote at the extraordinary general meeting. If you hold your shares in “street name,” you should contact your broker, bank or nominee to change your instructions on how to vote. If you hold your shares in “street name” and wish to virtually attend the extraordinary general meeting and vote through the web portal, you must obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or nominee.
Q:
What constitutes a quorum for the extraordinary general meeting?
A:
A quorum is the minimum number of COVA Shares that must be present to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will be present at the COVA extraordinary general meeting if one or more shareholders holding a majority of the issued and outstanding COVA Shares entitled to vote at the meeting are represented at the extraordinary general meeting in person or by proxy. Abstentions and broker non-votes will count as present for the purposes of establishing a quorum.
Q:
What shareholder vote thresholds are required for the approval of each proposal brought before the extraordinary general meeting?

Business Combination Proposal — The approval of the Business Combination Proposal will require an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law and pursuant to the COVA Articles, being the affirmative vote of shareholders holding a majority of the COVA Shares which are voted on such resolution in person or by proxy at the extraordinary general meeting at which a quorum is present.
 
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The Transactions will not be consummated if COVA has less than US$5,000,001 of net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Exchange Act) either immediately prior to or upon consummation of the Transactions.

Merger Proposal — The approval of the Merger Proposal will require a special resolution under Cayman Islands law and pursuant to the COVA Articles, being the affirmative vote of shareholders holding at least two thirds of the COVA Shares which are voted on such resolution in person or by proxy at the extraordinary general meeting at which quorum is present.

Adjournment Proposal — The approval of the Adjournment Proposal will require an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law and pursuant to the COVA Articles, being the affirmative vote of shareholders holding a majority of the COVA Shares which are voted on such resolution in person or by proxy at the extraordinary general meeting at which a quorum is present.
The COVA Public Shares and COVA Founder Shares are entitled to vote together as a single class on all matters to be considered at the extraordinary general meeting. Voting on all resolutions at the extraordinary general meeting will be conducted by way of a poll vote. Shareholders will have one vote for each COVA Share owned at the close of business on the record date.
Brokers are not entitled to vote on the Business Combination Proposal, the Merger Proposal or the Adjournment Proposal absent voting instructions from the beneficial holder. Abstentions and broker non-votes, while considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as votes cast at the extraordinary general meeting, and otherwise will have no effect on a particular proposal.
Q:
What happens if I fail to take any action with respect to the extraordinary general meeting?
A:
If you fail to take any action with respect to the extraordinary general meeting and fail to redeem your COVA Public Shares following the procedure described in this proxy statement/prospectus and the Business Combination is approved by the COVA shareholders and consummated, you will become a shareholder of ECARX.
If you fail to take any action with respect to the extraordinary general meeting and the Business Combination is not approved, you will continue to be a shareholder of COVA, as applicable, and COVA will continue to search for another target business with which to complete an initial business combination. If COVA does not complete an initial business combination by February 9, 2023 (or such later date as may be approved by COVA’s shareholders in an amendment to the COVA Articles), COVA must cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, redeem 100% of the outstanding COVA Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to an amount then held in the Trust Account (net of taxes payable and less up to US$100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses) divided by the number of then-outstanding COVA Public Shares, and as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of COVA’s remaining shareholders and its board of directors, dissolve and liquidate.
Q:
What should I do with my share certificates?
A:
Shareholders who do not elect to have their COVA Shares redeemed for a pro rata share of the Trust Account should wait for instructions from COVA’s transfer agent regarding what to do with their certificates.
COVA Public Shareholders who elect to exercise their redemption rights must either tender their share certificates (if any) to COVA’s transfer agent or deliver their COVA Public Shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC System, in each case no later than two (2) business days prior to the extraordinary general meeting as described above.
Q:
What should I do if I receive more than one set of voting materials?
A:
Shareholders may receive more than one set of voting materials, including multiple copies of this proxy statement/prospectus and multiple proxy cards or voting instruction cards. For example, if you hold your shares in more than one brokerage account, you will receive a separate voting instruction card for
 
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each brokerage account in which you hold shares. If you are a holder of record and your shares are registered in more than one name, you will receive more than one proxy card. Please complete, sign, date and return each proxy card and voting instruction card that you receive in order to cast a vote with respect to all of your COVA Shares.
Q:
Who can help answer my questions?
A:
If you have questions about the Business Combination or if you need additional copies of this proxy statement/prospectus or the enclosed proxy card, you should contact COVA’s proxy solicitor at:
D.F. King & Co., Inc.
48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor
New York, New York 10005
Banks and Brokers may call: (212) 269-5550
Shareholders may call toll free: (800) 347-4826
COVA@dfking.com
You may also obtain additional information about COVA from documents filed with the SEC by following the instructions in the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.” If you are a COVA Public Shareholder and you intend to seek redemption of your shares, you will need to either tender your share certificates (if any) to COVA’s transfer agent at the address below or deliver your COVA Public Shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC System, in each case at least two business days prior to the extraordinary general meeting. If you have questions regarding the certification of your position or delivery of your share certificates and redemption request, please contact:
Mark Zimkind
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
E-mail: mzimkind@continentalstock.com
 
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SUMMARY OF THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
This summary highlights selected information from this proxy statement/prospectus and does not contain all of the information that is important to you. To better understand the proposals to be submitted for a vote at the extraordinary general meeting, including the Business Combination, you should read this entire document carefully, including the Merger Agreement attached as Annex A to this proxy statement/prospectus. The Merger Agreement is the principal legal document that governs the Business Combination and the other transactions that shall be undertaken in connection with the Business Combination. It is also described in detail in this proxy statement/prospectus in the section entitled “Proposal One — The Business Combination Proposal — The Merger Agreement.”
The Parties to the Business Combination
ECARX
ECARX is transforming vehicles into seamlessly integrated information, communications and transportation devices. It is shaping the interaction between people and cars by rapidly advancing the technology at the heart of smart mobility. ECARX’s current core products include infotainment head units, digital cockpits, vehicle chip-set solutions, a core operating system and integrated software stack. Beyond this, ECARX is developing a full-stack automotive computing platform.
The mailing address of ECARX’s principal executive office is 16/F, Tower 2, China Eastern Airline Binjiang Center, 277 Longlan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200041, People’s Republic of China, and its phone number is +86 (571) 8530-6757. ECARX’s corporate website address is https://www.ecarxgroup.com/. ECARX’s website and the information contained on, or that can be accessed through, the website is not deemed to be incorporated by reference in, and is not considered part of, this proxy statement/prospectus.
COVA
COVA was incorporated for the purpose of effectuating a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses. COVA was incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company on December 11, 2020.
COVA is affiliated with Crescent Cove Advisors LP (“Crescent Cove”), a San Francisco-based leading credit-focused investment firm with a track record of investing in high growth ventures within the technology, media and telecommunications (“TMT”) middle-market, differentiated by its speed and flexibility in solving complex financing needs for tech entrepreneurs.
The mailing address of COVA’s principal executive office is 1700 Montgomery Street, Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111, and its telephone number is (415) 800-2289.
Merger Sub 1
Ecarx Temp Limited (“Merger Sub 1”) is a newly formed Cayman Islands exempted company and a wholly owned subsidiary of ECARX. Merger Sub 1 was formed solely for the purpose of effecting the Transactions and has not carried on any activities other than those in connection with the Transactions. The address and telephone number for Merger Sub 1’s principal executive offices are the same as those for ECARX.
Merger Sub 2
Ecarx&Co. Limited (“Merger Sub 2”) is a newly formed Cayman Islands exempted company and a wholly owned subsidiary of ECARX. Merger Sub 2 was formed solely for the purpose of effecting the Transactions and has not carried on any activities other than those in connection with the Transactions. The address and telephone number for Merger Sub 2’s principal executive offices are the same as those for ECARX.
 
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Corporate Structure of ECARX
ECARX commenced its operations in March 2017. ECARX Holdings Inc. is a Cayman Islands holding company that conducts its operations through its subsidiaries and its operations in China are currently conducted by its PRC subsidiaries.
Historically, ECARX conducted its operations in China through its PRC subsidiaries as well as through Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd. (“Hubei ECARX”), its former consolidated variable interest entity (“VIE”) based in mainland China, with which ECARX, its subsidiary, and the nominee shareholders of Hubei ECARX entered into certain contractual arrangements (“VIE Agreements”). Laws, regulations, and rules in mainland China restrict and impose conditions on direct foreign investment in certain types of businesses, and ECARX operated certain businesses, including businesses that were subject to such restrictions and conditions in mainland China such as surveying and mapping services and ICP businesses, through Hubei ECARX. ECARX did not own equity interest in Hubei ECARX or its subsidiaries and relied on the VIE Agreements to control the business operations of Hubei ECARX and its subsidiaries. The VIE structure was adopted to enable ECARX to have power to direct activities of Hubei ECARX and to receive economic benefits from Hubei ECARX where the law in mainland China prohibits, restricts or imposes conditions on direct foreign investment in Hubei ECARX.
Since early 2022, ECARX has been implementing a series of transactions to restructure its organization and business operations (the “Restructuring”). In connection with the Restructuring, ECARX, Hubei ECARX and shareholders of Hubei ECARX entered into a VIE Termination Agreement in April 2022, pursuant to which, the VIE Agreements were terminated with immediate effect; in addition, as agreed between ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co., Ltd. (“ECARX (Hubei) Tech”), a wholly-owned mainland China subsidiary of ECARX, and Hubei ECARX, (i) all of Hubei ECARX’s assets and related liabilities, contracts, intellectual properties and employees should be transferred to ECARX (Hubei) Tech and its subsidiaries, with certain exclusion which were inconsequential to ECARX’s operations in 2020 and 2021 and which ECARX believes will not subsequently have any material impact on its business operations or financial results, such as businesses and assets relating to surveying and mapping services, ICP businesses, and certain retained investments; (ii) all of Hubei ECARX’s businesses should be assumed and undertaken by ECARX (Hubei) Tech save for certain business activities that will continue to be undertaken by Hubei ECARX which were inconsequential to ECARX’s operations in 2020 and 2021 and which ECARX believes will not subsequently have any material impact on its business operations or financial results. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the Restructuring has been completed and ECARX does not have any VIE in China.
 
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The following diagram illustrates ECARX’s corporate structure, including its principal and other subsidiaries as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus.
[MISSING IMAGE: tm2218315d4-fc_ecarxbw.jpg]
ECARX Holdings is not an operating company but a Cayman Islands holding company. ECARX Holdings conducts its operations through its subsidiaries and its operations in China are currently conducted by its PRC subsidiaries. The securities registered herein are securities of ECARX Holdings, not those of its operating companies. Therefore, investors in ECARX Holdings are not acquiring equity interest in any operating company but instead are acquiring interest in a Cayman Islands holding company. This holding company structure involves unique risks to investors. As a holding company, ECARX Holdings may rely on dividends from its subsidiaries for cash requirements, including any payment of dividends to its shareholders. The ability of its subsidiaries to pay dividends or make distributions to ECARX Holdings may be restricted by laws and regulations applicable to them or the debt they incur on their own behalf or the instruments governing their debt. In addition, PRC regulatory authorities could disallow this holding company structure and limit or hinder ECARX’s ability to conduct its business through, receive dividends or distributions from, or transfer funds to, the operating companies or list on a U.S. or other foreign exchange, which could cause the value of ECARX’s securities to significantly decline or become worthless.
Cash Transfers and Dividend Distribution
Cash is transferred from ECARX Holdings to its subsidiaries through capital contributions, loans, and inter-company advances. In addition, cash may be transferred among subsidiaries of ECARX Holdings, through capital contributions, loans and settlement of transactions. Under ECARX’s cash management policy, the amount of inter-company transfer of funds is determined based on the working capital needs of the subsidiaries and inter-company transactions, and is subject to internal approval process and funding arrangements. ECARX Holdings’ management regularly reviews and monitors the cash flow forecast and working capital needs of its subsidiaries.
Advances and loans.   In 2020, ECARX Holdings made advances in the principal amount of US$15.0 million to a subsidiary and an intermediary holding company of the group, ECARX Technology Limited. In 2021 (i) ECARX Holdings made advances in the principal amount of US$478.5 million to ECARX Technology Limited and provided loans in the principal amount of US$11.0 million to its subsidiaries, and (ii) ECARX Technology Limited provided a loan in the principal amount of US$2.3 million to its subsidiary, ECARX Europe AB, and ECARX Technology Limited received US$2.4 million as repayment from ECARX Europe AB. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, (i) ECARX Holdings made
 
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advances in the principal amount of US$44.5 million to ECARX Technology Limited, and (ii) ECARX Holdings provided loans in the principal amount of US$3.0 million to ECARX Europe AB.
Capital contribution.   In 2021, ECARX Technology Limited made capital contribution of US$7.6 million, US$250.0 million, and US$75.0 million to its subsidiaries, ECARX Europe AB, ECARX (Wuhan) Technology Co., Ltd. and ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co., Ltd., respectively. In 2021, ECARX (Wuhan) Technology Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of ECARX Holdings, made capital contribution of RMB10.0 million to ECARX (Shanghai) Technology Co., Ltd., another subsidiary of ECARX Holdings. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, ECARX Technology Limited made capital contribution of US$8.6 million and US$25.0 million to its subsidiaries, ECARX Limited and ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co., Ltd.
Cash transfers involving Hubei ECARX, the former VIE.   In 2020, 2021 and for the six months ended June 30, 2022, Hubei ECARX received nil, RMB2.1 billion and RMB157 million in the form of loans from subsidiaries of ECARX Holdings, respectively. In 2020 and 2021, subsidiaries of Hubei ECARX made payments totaling US$0.7 million and US$1.7 million to ECARX Technology Limited relating to certain sales transactions. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, Hubei ECARX and ECARX Technology made payments totaling RMB36.1 million and US$2.2 million, respectively, to ECARX Europe AB relating to certain R&D expense.
ECARX Holdings, its subsidiaries, and Hubei ECARX have not declared or paid dividends or made any distributions as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus. ECARX Holdings and its subsidiaries do not intend to declare dividends or make distributions in the near future. Any determination to pay dividends in the future will be at the discretion of the ECARX board of directors.
ECARX and its mainland China subsidiaries are subject to various restrictions on inter-company fund transfers and foreign exchange control.
Dividends.   ECARX Holdings is a holding company and may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by its mainland China subsidiaries for its cash and financing requirements. Restrictions on the ability of ECARX’s mainland China subsidiaries to pay dividends to an offshore entity primarily include: (i) the mainland China subsidiaries may pay dividends only out of their accumulated after-tax profits upon satisfaction of relevant statutory conditions and procedures, if any, determined in accordance with accounting standards and regulations in mainland China; (ii) each of the mainland China subsidiaries is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds until the total amount set aside reaches 50% of its registered capital; (iii) the mainland China subsidiaries are required to complete certain procedural requirements related to foreign exchange control in order to make dividend payments in foreign currencies; and (iv) a withholding tax, at the rate of 10% or lower, is payable by the mainland China subsidiary upon dividend remittance. Such restrictions could have a material and adverse effect on the ability if ECARX Holdings to distribute profits to its shareholders. Under Cayman Islands Law, while there are no exchange control regulations or currency restrictions, ECARX Holdings is also subject to certain restrictions under Cayman Islands law on dividend distribution to its shareholders, namely that it may only pay dividends out of profits or share premium account, and provided always that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in ECARX being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business.
Capital expenses.   Approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is required where Renminbi is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of mainland China to pay capital expenses, such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. As a result, ECARX’s mainland China subsidiaries are required to obtain approval from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, or complete certain registration process in order to use cash generated from their operations to pay off their respective debt in a currency other than Renminbi owed to entities outside mainland China, or to make other capital expenditure payments outside mainland China in a currency other than Renminbi.
Shareholder loans and capital contributions.   ECARX’s subsidiaries may only access the proceeds from the Business Combination through loans or capital contributions from ECARX. Loans by ECARX to its mainland China subsidiaries to finance their operations shall not exceed certain statutory limits and must be
 
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registered with the local counterpart of the SAFE, and any capital contribution from ECARX to its mainland China subsidiaries is required to be registered with the competent government authorities in China.
Arrangements with Respect to Certain Personal Data
In response to the PRC government authorities’ move to tighten the regulatory framework governing data security, cybersecurity and privacy, ECARX initiated an internal process in September 2021 to transfer the rights of its mainland China subsidiaries and of Hubei ECARX to access and process personal data relevant to their respective business operations to Zhejiang Huanfu Technology Co., Ltd., or Zhejiang Huanfu. The transfer was completed in December 2021 and as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, ECARX’s mainland China subsidiaries do not have any right to access or process any personal data other than a limited amount of such data relating to the employees and business partners of ECARX and 4,000 to 5,000 vehicle identification numbers provided by OEMs in association with the provision of product repair and maintenance services by ECARX. ECARX has entered into a procurement framework agreement with Zhejiang Huanfu in January 2022 and concluded several procurement-related contracts pursuant to the procurement framework agreement for the sole purpose of contracting Zhejiang Huanfu to, in the place of ECARX, discharge ECARX’s outstanding obligations to provide certain data-related services to its customers.
Permission Required from the Authorities in Mainland China with Respect to the Operations of ECARX’s Mainland China Subsidiaries
ECARX conducts its operations in China through its PRC subsidiaries. Each of ECARX’s mainland China subsidiaries is required to obtain, and has obtained, a business license issued by the PRC State Administration for Market Regulation and its local counterparts, or the SAMR. ECARX’s mainland China subsidiaries are also required to obtain, and have obtained, additional operating licenses and permits in connection with their operations, including but not limited to the model confirmation, compulsory product certifications for certain ECARX products, and network connection licenses for certain ECARX products. None of ECARX’s mainland China subsidiaries has been subject to any penalties or other disciplinary actions from any authority in mainland China for the failure to obtain or insufficiency of any approvals or permits in connection with the conduct of its business operations as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus.
If (i) ECARX does not receive or maintain any permits or approvals required of it, (ii) ECARX inadvertently concluded that certain permits or approvals have been acquired or are not required, or (iii) applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations thereof change and ECARX becomes subject to the requirement of additional permits or approvals in the future, it may have to expend significant time and costs to procure them. If ECARX is unable to do so, on commercially reasonable terms, in a timely manner or otherwise, it may become subject to sanctions imposed by the PRC regulatory authorities, which could include fines and penalties, proceedings against it, and other forms of sanctions, and ECARX’s ability to conduct its business, invest into China as foreign investments or accept foreign investments, complete the Transactions, or list on a U.S. or other overseas exchange may be restricted, and its business, reputation, financial condition, and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. For more detailed information, see “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China — Uncertainties in the PRC legal system and the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations could limit the legal protections available to you and us, hinder our ability and the ability of any holder of our securities to offer or continue to offer such securities, result in a material adverse change to our business operations, and damage our reputation, which would materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and cause our securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless.”
Permission, Review and Filing Required from the Authorities in Mainland China Relating to the Transactions
The PRC government has recently sought to exert more control and impose more restrictions on China-based companies raising capital offshore and such efforts may continue or intensify in the future. On July 6, 2021, the relevant PRC authorities promulgated the Opinions on Severely Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities According to Law, which emphasized the need to strengthen the supervision over overseas listings by mainland China-based companies. Effective measures, such as promoting the
 
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establishment of relevant regulatory systems, are to be taken to deal with the risks and incidents of mainland China-based overseas-listed companies, cybersecurity and data privacy protection requirements and similar matters. The revised Measures for Cybersecurity Review issued by Cyberspace Administration of China (the “CAC”) and several other administrations on December 28, 2021 (which took effect on February 15, 2022) also requires that, in addition to critical information infrastructure operators purchasing network products or services that affect or may affect national security, any “online platform operator” carrying out data processing activities that affect or may affect national security should also be subject to a cybersecurity review, and any “online platform operator” possessing personal information of more than one million users must apply for a cybersecurity review before its listing overseas. In the event a member of the cybersecurity review working mechanism is in the opinion that any network product or service or any data processing activity affects or may affect national security, the Office of Cybersecurity Review shall report the same to the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission for its approval under applicable procedures and then conduct cybersecurity review in accordance with the revised Measures for Cybersecurity Review. In addition, on November 14, 2021, the CAC released the Regulations on Network Data Security (Draft for Comments), which clarified that data processors refer to individuals or organizations that autonomously determine the purpose and the manner of processing data, and if a data processor that processes personal data of more than one million users intends to list overseas, it must apply for a cybersecurity review. In addition, data processors that are listed overseas must carry out an annual data security assessment. Nonetheless, there remain substantial uncertainties with respect to the interpretation and implementation of these rules and regulations.
Further, according to the Provisions of the State Council on the Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (Draft for Comments) and the Administrative Measures for the Filing of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (Draft for Comments), issued by the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, on December 24, 2021, collectively the Overseas Listing Rules, if a PRC domestic company intends to complete a direct or indirect overseas (i) initial public offering and listing, or (ii) listing of its assets through a single or multiple acquisitions, share swaps, shares transfers or other means, the issuer (if the issuer is a PRC domestic company) or its designated major PRC domestic operating entity (if the issuer is an offshore holding company), in each applicable event, the reporting entity, shall complete the filing procedures with the CSRC within three business days after the issuer submits its application documents relating to the initial public offering and/or listing or after the first public announcement of the relevant transaction (if the submission of relevant application documents is not required). According to the draft Overseas Listing Rules and a set of Q&A published on the CSRC’s official website in connection with the release of the draft Overseas Listing Rules, if it is explicitly required (in the form of institutional rules) by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the relevant industry and field that regulatory procedures should be performed prior to the overseas listing of a PRC domestic company, such company must obtain the regulatory opinion, approval and other documents from and complete any required filing with such competent authority before submitting a CSRC filing. The reporting entity shall make a timely report to the CSRC and update its CSRC filing within three business days after the occurrence of any of the following material events, if any of them occurs before the completion of the offering and/or listing: (i) any material change to principal business, licenses or qualifications of the issuer; (ii) any material change to equity structure or a change of control of the issuer; and (iii) any material change to the offering and listing plan. The reporting entity shall also submit a report to the CSRC after the completion of the initial public offering and listing. Once listed overseas, the reporting entity will be further required to report the occurrence of any of the following material events within three business days after the occurrence thereof to the CSRC: (i) a change of control of the issuer; (ii) the investigation, sanction or other measures undertaken by any foreign securities regulatory agencies or relevant competent authorities in respect of the issuer; and (iii) the voluntary or mandatory delisting of the issuer. In addition, the completion of any overseas follow-on offerings by an issuer would necessitate a filing with the CSRC within three business days thereafter.
The draft Overseas Listing Rules was released for public comments only and there remain substantial uncertainties as to when and in what form would it be enacted, and also with respect to its interpretation and implementation once enacted. ECARX cannot predict the impact of the draft Overseas Listing Rules, if any, at this stage, and ECARX will closely monitor and assess the statutory developments in this regard. Based on a set of Q&A published on the CSRC’s official website in connection with the release of the draft Overseas Listing Rules, a CSRC official indicated that the filing requirements proposed under the
 
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draft Overseas Listing Rules will apply to future offerings and listings, including initial public offerings of private PRC domestic companies and follow-on offerings by PRC domestic companies that are already listed overseas. The regulator will separately provide for other filing requirements applicable to PRC domestic companies that are already listed overseas and will allow sufficient time for transition. Both the draft Overseas Listing Rules and the Q&A, however, are silent on the requirements applicable to any offering or listing that commences prior to the enactment of the draft Overseas Listing Rules but the completion of which occurs after the draft Overseas Listing Rules becomes effective. If the Overseas Listing Rules is enacted in the current form before the Closing, it is possible that ECARX will be required to make a filing with the CSRC or to comply with other requirements under the draft Overseas Listing Rules in connection with the Transactions.
As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, ECARX has not been involved in any investigations on cybersecurity review initiated by the CAC and ECARX has not received any official inquiry, notice, warning, or sanctions regarding cybersecurity and overseas listing from the CAC, CSRC or any other PRC authorities. Based on the opinion of our mainland China legal counsel, Han Kun Law Offices, according to its interpretation of the currently in-effect mainland China laws and regulations, ECARX believes that, as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the completion of the Transactions, including the issuance of its securities to foreign investors in connection with the Business Combination, does not require the application or completion of any cybersecurity review or any other permission or approval from government authorities in mainland China including the CSRC. However, given (i) the uncertainties with respect to the enactment, implementation, and interpretation of the draft Overseas Listing Rules and laws and regulations relating to data security, privacy, and cybersecurity; and (ii) that the PRC government authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory provisions in general, it cannot be assured that the relevant PRC government authorities will not take a contrary position or adopt different interpretations, or that there will not be changes in the regulatory landscape. In other words, the application and completion of a cybersecurity review and other permissions and approvals from PRC government authorities, including the CSRC, may be required in connection with the Transactions.
If (i) ECARX does not receive or maintain any required permission, or fails to complete any required review or filing, (ii) ECARX inadvertently conclude that such permission, review or filing is not required, or (iii) applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change such that it becomes mandatory for ECARX to obtain any permission, review or filing in the future, ECARX may have to expend significant time and costs to comply with these requirements. If ECARX is unable to do so, on commercially reasonable terms, in a timely manner or otherwise, it may become subject to sanctions imposed by the PRC regulatory authorities, which could include fines and penalties, proceedings against it, and other forms of sanctions, and ECARX’s ability to conduct its business, invest into China as foreign investments or accept foreign investments, complete the Transactions, or list on a U.S. or other overseas exchange may be restricted, and its business, reputation, financial condition, and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. Further, ECARX’s ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors may be significantly limited or completely hindered, and the value of ECARX’s securities may significantly decline and such securities may become worthless. For more detailed information, see “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China — Uncertainties in the PRC legal system and the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations could limit the legal protections available to you and us, hinder our ability and the ability of any holder of our securities to offer or continue to offer such securities, result in a material adverse change to our business operations, and damage our reputation, which would materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and cause our securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless,” and “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China — The approval of and filing with the CSRC or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection with this offering under PRC law, and, if so required, we cannot predict whether or when we will be able to obtain such approval or complete such filing, and even if we obtain such approval, it could be rescinded. Any failure to or delay in obtaining such approval or complying with such filing requirements in relation to this offering, or a rescission of such approval, could subject us to sanctions imposed by the CSRC or other PRC government authorities.”
The Business Combination Proposal
The COVA shareholders will vote on a separate proposal to approve and authorize the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated therein, including the Business Combination.
 
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The Merger Agreement
On May 26, 2022, COVA, ECARX Holdings, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2 entered into the Merger Agreement. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the parties to the Merger Agreement have agreed that (i) Merger Sub 1 will merge with and into COVA, with COVA being the surviving company and becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX Holdings, and (ii) immediately following the consummation of the First Merger, Surviving Entity 1 will merge with and into Merger Sub 2, with Merger Sub 2 being the surviving company and remaining a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX Holdings, and the shareholders of COVA becoming shareholders of ECARX Holdings. The terms and conditions of the Business Combination are contained in the Merger Agreement, which is attached as Annex A to this proxy statement/prospectus. We encourage you to read the Merger Agreement carefully, as it is the principal legal document that governs the Business Combination. Capitalized terms in this summary of the Merger Agreement not otherwise defined in this proxy statement/prospectus shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.
Pro Forma Capitalization
The pro forma equity valuation of ECARX Holdings upon consummation of the Transactions is estimated to be US$3.8 billion. It is estimated that, immediately after the Closing, (i) the existing shareholders of ECARX Holdings will own 89.0% of the issued and outstanding ECARX Ordinary Shares, (ii) COVA Public Shareholders will own 7.9% of the outstanding ECARX Ordinary Shares, and (iii) the Sponsor will own 2.0 % of the outstanding ECARX Ordinary Shares, assuming (a) none of the COVA Public Shareholders exercise their redemption rights, (b) no COVA shareholder exercises its dissenters’ rights, (c) the Strategic Investments are fully funded at the Closing, (d) the Note is fully converted into ECARX Ordinary Shares at a conversion price of US$10.00 per share, and (e) 16,617,591 shares reserved for the share options of ECARX prior to the date of the Merger Agreement (after considering the impact of the Recapitalization) are issued, and excluding the shares underlying COVA Public Warrants and COVA Private Warrants.
Merger Consideration
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, on the Closing Date, immediately prior to the First Effective Time, (i) the Amended ECARX Articles shall be adopted and become effective; (ii) each of the preferred shares of ECARX Holdings that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to such time shall be re-designated and re-classified into one ordinary share of ECARX Holdings on a one-for-one basis; (iii) each of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of ECARX Holdings shall be re-designated as one ECARX Class A Ordinary Share, ECARX Class B Ordinary Share or shares of such class or classes as the board of directors of ECARX Holdings may determine in accordance with the Amended ECARX Articles; and (iv) each authorized and issued ECARX Ordinary Share immediately following the Re-designation and prior to the First Effective Time shall be recapitalized by way of a repurchase in exchange for issuance of such number of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares, in each case, equal to the Recapitalization Factor, such that each ECARX Ordinary Share will have a value of US$10.00 per share after giving effect to the Recapitalization.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, immediately prior to the First Effective Time, each COVA Founder Share will be automatically converted into one COVA Public Share in accordance with the terms of the COVA Articles and each COVA Founder Share shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled, and each former holder of COVA Founder Shares shall thereafter cease to have any rights with respect to such shares and, after giving effect to the conversion, at the First Effective Time and as a result of the First Merger, each issued and outstanding COVA Public Share (including in connection with the Unit Separation) will no longer be outstanding and will automatically be converted into the right of the holder thereof to receive one ECARX Class A Ordinary Share (after giving effect to the Capital Restructuring).
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, immediately prior to the First Effective Time, the COVA Public Shares and the COVA Public Warrants comprising each issued and outstanding Unit, consisting of one COVA Public Share and one-half of one COVA Public Warrant, will be automatically separated and the holder thereof will be deemed to hold one COVA Public Share and one-half of one COVA Public Warrant (the “Unit Separation”). No fractional COVA Public Warrants will be issued in connection with such separation such that if a holder of such Units would be entitled to receive a fractional COVA Public Warrant
 
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upon such separation, the number of COVA Public Warrants to be issued to such holder upon such separation will be rounded down to the nearest whole number of COVA Public Warrants and no cash will be paid in lieu of such fractional Public Warrants. At the First Effective Time and as a result of the First Merger, each issued and outstanding COVA Warrant will automatically and irrevocably be assumed by ECARX Holdings and converted into a corresponding ECARX Warrant exercisable for ECARX Ordinary Shares.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (i) each ordinary share, par value US$0.000005 per share, of Merger Sub 1, that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time shall continue existing and constitute the only issued and outstanding share capital of Surviving Entity 1, (ii) each ordinary share of Surviving Entity 1 that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Second Effective Time will be automatically cancelled and cease to exist without any payment therefor, and (iii) each ordinary share, par value US$0.000005 per share, of Merger Sub 2 immediately prior to the Second Effective Time shall remain outstanding and continue existing and constitute the only issued and outstanding share capital of Surviving Entity 2 and shall not be affected by the Second Merger.
Related Agreements
Strategic Investment Agreements
Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, the Strategic Investors and ECARX Holdings entered into certain Strategic Investment Agreements, pursuant to which the Strategic Investors will subscribe for and purchase ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares at US$10.00 per share for an aggregate investment amount of US$35,000,000. See “Agreements Entered Into in Connection with the Business Combination — Strategic Investment Agreements.”
Sponsor Support Agreement
Concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement, ECARX Holdings, COVA and the Sponsor have entered into the Sponsor Support Agreement and Deed (the “Sponsor Support Agreement”). Pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, the Sponsor agreed to, among other things and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, (i) vote in favor of the Merger Agreement and the Transaction Proposals, and (ii) for a period after the Closing specified therein, not to transfer ECARX Ordinary Shares, ECARX Warrants, and ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares received upon the exercise of any ECARX Warrants, if any, subject to certain exceptions. See “Agreements Entered Into in Connection with the Business Combination — Sponsor Support Agreement.”
ECARX Shareholder Support Agreement
Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, ECARX Holdings, COVA and certain ECARX shareholders have entered into the ECARX Shareholder Support Agreement and Deed (the “ECARX Shareholder Support Agreement”), pursuant to which certain ECARX shareholders have agreed, among other things: (a) to vote in favor of the Transactions, and (b) for a period after the Closing specified therein, not to transfer any ECARX Ordinary Shares held by such shareholder, subject to certain exceptions. See “Agreements Entered Into in Connection with the Business Combination — ECARX Shareholder Support Agreement.”
Registration Rights Agreement
The Merger Agreement contemplates that, at the Closing, ECARX Holdings, the Sponsor and certain shareholders of ECARX will enter into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), which provides for the customary registration rights of the Sponsor and other parties thereto, including certain shareholders of ECARX. See the section of this proxy statement/prospectus titled “Agreements Entered into in Connection with the Business Combination — Registration Rights Agreement.”
Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement
The Merger Agreement contemplates that, at the Closing, ECARX Holdings, COVA and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“Continental”) will enter into the Assignment, Assumption and
 
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Amendment Agreement, pursuant to which COVA Warrants will be assumed by ECARX Holdings. See the section of this proxy statement/prospectus titled “Agreements Entered into in Connection with the Business Combination —  Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement.”
The Merger Proposal
The COVA shareholders will vote on a separate proposal to authorize the plan of merger for the First Merger (the “First Plan of Merger”). The plan of merger for the Second Merger (the “Second Plan of Merger”) will be approved by ECARX Holdings as the sole shareholder of both Surviving Entity 2 and Merger Sub II following the First Effective Time.
The Adjournment Proposal
In the event that there are insufficient votes for the approval of one or more proposals at the extraordinary general meeting, the chairman presiding over the extraordinary general meeting may submit a proposal to adjourn the extraordinary general meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary.
Date, Time and Place of Extraordinary General Meeting of COVA’s Shareholders
The extraordinary general meeting will be held at                 , Eastern time, on                 , 2022, at                 and via live webcast at                 , or such other date, time and place to which such meeting may be adjourned, to consider and vote upon the proposals.
Voting Power; Record Date
COVA shareholders will be entitled to vote or direct votes to be cast at the extraordinary general meeting if they owned COVA Shares at the close of business on                 , 2022, which is the record date for the extraordinary general meeting. COVA shareholders will have one vote for each COVA Share owned at the close of business on the record date. If your shares are held in “street name” or are in a margin or similar account, you should contact your broker, bank or nominee to ensure that votes related to the shares you beneficially own are properly counted. On the record date, there were                 COVA Shares outstanding, of which                 were COVA Public Shares with the rest being held by the Sponsor.
Redemption Rights
Pursuant to the COVA Articles, COVA Public Shareholders, excluding the Sponsor and COVA’s officers and directors, may demand that COVA convert their COVA Public Shares into cash if the Business Combination is consummated; provided that COVA may not consummate the Business Combination if it has less than US$5,000,001 of net tangible assets either immediately prior to or upon consummation of the Business Combination. COVA Public Shareholders will be entitled to receive cash for these shares only if they deliver their share certificates (if any) and other redemption forms to COVA’s transfer agent no later than two business days prior to the extraordinary general meeting. COVA Public Shareholders do not need to affirmatively vote on the Business Combination Proposal or be a holder of such COVA Public Shares as of the record date to exercise redemption rights. If the Business Combination is not consummated, these shares will not be converted into cash. If a COVA Public Shareholder properly demands conversion, delivers his, her or its share certificates (if any) and other redemption forms to COVA’s transfer agent as described above, and the Business Combination is consummated, COVA will convert each COVA Public Share into a full pro rata portion of the Trust Account, calculated as of two business days prior to the date of the extraordinary general meeting. It is anticipated that this would amount to US$      per share. If a COVA Public Shareholder exercises his, her or its redemption rights, then it will be exchanging its COVA Public Shares for cash and will not become a shareholder of ECARX. See the section of this proxy statement/prospectus titled “Extraordinary General Meeting of COVA Shareholders — Redemption Rights” for a detailed description of the procedures to be followed if you wish to convert your shares into cash.
If COVA Shareholders fail to take any action with respect to the extraordinary general meeting and fail to redeem their COVA Public Shares following the procedure described in this proxy statement/prospectus
 
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and the Business Combination is approved by the COVA shareholders and consummated, such COVA Shareholders will become shareholders of ECARX.
The following table presents the anticipated share ownership of various holders of ECARX Ordinary Shares after the completion of the Business Combination after considering the impact of the Recapitalization, based on the assumption that no additional equity securities of ECARX will be issued at or prior to Closing except to the Strategic Investors, and that there are no Dissenting COVA Shareholders, under the following redemption scenarios:

Assuming No Redemption: This presentation assumes that no COVA Shareholder exercises redemption rights with respect to their COVA Public Shares.

Assuming 25% Redemption: This presentation assumes that COVA Public Shareholders holding 7,500,000 COVA Public Shares will exercise their redemption rights.

Assuming 50% Redemption: This presentation assumes that COVA Public Shareholders holding 15,000,000 COVA Public Shares will exercise their redemption rights.

Assuming 75% Redemption: This presentation assumes that COVA Public Shareholders holding 22,500,000 COVA Public Shares will exercise their redemption rights.

Assuming Maximum Redemption: This presentation assumes that COVA Public Shareholders holding 30,000,000 COVA Public Shares will exercise their redemption rights. This presentation does not take into account the Minimum Available Cash Condition.
Assuming No
Redemption(1)
Assuming 25%
Redemption(1)(2)
Assuming 50%
Redemption(1)(3)
Assuming 75%
Redemption(1)(4)
Assuming
Maximum
Redemption(1)(5)
Shares
%
Shares
%
Shares
%
Shares
%
Shares
%
ECARX Ordinary Shares:
Existing COVA Shareholders (excluding
the Sponsor)
30,000,000 8.2 22,500,000 6.3 15,000,000 4.3 7,500,000 2.2
The Sponsor(6)
7,500,000 2.1 7,500,000 2.1 5,250,000 1.5 5,250,000 1.5 5,250,000 1.6
Existing ECARX Shareholders(7)
323,382,409 88.7 323,382,409 90.6 323,382,409 93.2 323,382,409 95.2 323,382,409 97.4
Strategic Investors(8)
3,500,000 1.0 3,500,000 1.0 3,500,000 1.0 3,500,000 1.0 3,500,000 1.1
Total ECARX Ordinary Shares Outstanding at Closing
364,382,409 100.0 356,882,409 100.0 347,132,409 100 339,632,409 100.0 332,132,409 100.0
Per Share Pro Forma Equity Value of
ECARX Ordinary Shares outstanding
at Closing(9)
10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00
(1)
The share amounts and ownership and voting power percentages set forth above do not take into account COVA Public Warrants and COVA Private Warrants that will remain outstanding immediately following the Business Combination and may be exercised thereafter to acquire ECARX Ordinary Shares. The COVA Public Warrants represent 15,000,000 redeemable warrants issued in the IPO, each entitling its holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share of COVA at an exercise price of US$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. The COVA Private Warrants represent (i) 8,872,000 warrants sold to Sponsor in the private placement consummated concurrently with the IPO, each entitling its holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share of COVA at an exercise price of US$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment and (ii) 1,000,000 warrants underlying the Second Promissory Note that the Sponsor has the option, but not the obligation, to convert, in whole or in part, into COVA Private Warrants, at a price of US$1.00 per COVA Private Warrant upon the consummation of the Business Combination. In connection with the Business Combination, COVA Public Warrants and COVA Private Warrants will be automatically and irrevocably assumed by ECARX Holdings and converted into ECARX Warrants each entitling its holder to purchase one ECARX Class A Ordinary Share at a price of US$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment.
(2)
This scenario assumes that 7,500,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders.
(3)
This scenario assumes that 15,000,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders.
(4)
This scenario assumes that 22,500,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders.
(5)
This scenario assumes that 30,000,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders. COVA’s obligations under the Merger Agreement are subject to certain customary closing conditions. Furthermore, COVA will only proceed with the Business Combination if it will have net tangible assets of at least US$5,000,001 (after taking into account the redemption for cash of all COVA Public Shares properly demanded to be redeemed by holders of COVA Public Shares) upon consummation of the Business Combination (as determined in accordance with Rule3a5l-l(g)(1) of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)). Unless ECARX Holdings elects to waive the US$100,000,000 Minimum Available Cash Condition, the Maximum Redemption Scenario cannot occur.
 
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(6)
Pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, up to 30% of the 7,500,000 COVA Founder Shares are subject to forfeiture as described therein.
(7)
Excluding 16,617,591 shares reserved for the share options of ECARX prior to the date of the Merger Agreement (after considering the impact of the Recapitalization) and 1,000,000 shares underlying the Note, which is convertible into fully paid, validly issued and nonassessable ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares upon the Closing pursuant to the terms of the convertible note purchase agreement.
(8)
Representing the aggregate of 3,500,000 ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares to be issued to Geely Investment Holding Ltd. and Luminar Technologies, Inc. at US$10.00 per share for an aggregate investment amount of US$35,000,000. See “Agreements Entered into in Connection with the Business Combination — Strategic Investment Agreements” and “Beneficial Ownership of Securities” for additional details.
(9)
In each redemption scenario, the per share pro forma equity value of ECARX Ordinary Shares will be US$10.00 at Closing in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.
However, if the actual facts are different than the assumptions laid out above, the anticipated share ownership of various holders of ECARX Ordinary Shares after the completion of the Business Combination will be different. ECARX shareholders would experience dilution to the extent ECARX Holdings issues additional shares after Closing. In addition, the table above excludes certain potential sources of dilution, namely, 16,617,591 shares reserved for the share options of ECARX prior to the date of the Merger Agreement (after considering the impact of the Recapitalization) and ECARX Ordinary Shares underlying the Note. The following table presents the anticipated share ownership of various holders of ECARX Ordinary Shares after the completion of the Business Combination after considering the impact of the Recapitalization assuming (i) the issuance of 16,617,591 shares reserved for the share options of ECARX prior to the date of the Merger Agreement (after considering the impact of the Recapitalization), and the issuance of ECARX Ordinary Shares underlying the Note, (ii) no other additional equity securities of ECARX will be issued at or prior to Closing, and (iii) there are no Dissenting COVA Shareholders, under the following redemption scenarios:
Assuming No
Redemption
Assuming 25%
Redemption(1)
Assuming 50%
Redemption(2)
Assuming 75%
Redemption(3)
Assuming
Maximum
Redemption(4)
Shares
%
Shares
%
Shares
%
Shares
%
Shares
%
Total ECARX Ordinary Shares
Outstanding at Closing not reflecting
potential sources of dilution(5)
364,382,409
89.6
356,882,409
89.4
347,132,409
89.1
339,632,409
88.9
332,132,409
88.7
Potential sources of dilution:
Shares underlying COVA Public Warrants
15,000,000 3.7 15,000,000 3.8 15,000,000 3.8 15,000,000 3.9 15,000,000 4.0
Shares underlying COVA Private Warrants
9,872,000 2.4 9,872,000 2.5 9,872,000 2.5 9,872,000 2.6 9,872,000 2.6
Shares underlying granted option shares
16,617,591 4.1 16,617,591 4.2 16,617,591 4.3 16,617,591 4.3 16,617,591 4.4
Shares underlying the Note(6)
1,000,000 0.2 1,000,000 0.3 1,000,000 0.3 1,000,000 0.3 1,000,000 0.3
Total ECARX Ordinary Shares outstanding at Closing (including shares underlying granted option shares and shares underlying the Note)
406,872,000 100.0 399,372,000 100.0 389,622,000 100.0 382,122,000 100.0 374,622,000 100.0
Holders of ECARX Ordinary Shares
reflecting potential sources of dilution:
Existing COVA Shareholders (excluding the Sponsor)(7)
45,000,000 11.1 37,500,000 9.4 30,000,000 7.7 22,500,000 5.9 15,000,000 4.0
The Sponsor(8)
17,372,000 4.3 17,372,000 4.3 15,122,000 3.9 15,122,000 4.0 15,122,000 4.0
Existing ECARX Shareholders(9)
340,000,000 83.6 340,000,000 85.1 340,000,000 87.3 340,000,000 89.0 340,000,000 90.8
Holder of the Note(6)
1,000,000 0.2 1,000,000 0.3 1,000,000 0.3 1,000,000 0.3 1,000,000 0.3
Strategic Investors(10)
3,500,000 0.9 3,500,000 0.9 3,500,000 0.9 3,500,000 0.9 3,500,000 0.9
Per Share Pro Forma Equity Value of
ECARX Ordinary Shares outstanding
at Closing(11)
10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00
 
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(1)
This scenario assumes that 7,500,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders.
(2)
This scenario assumes that 15,000,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders.
(3)
This scenario assumes that 22,500,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders.
(4)
This scenario assumes that 30,000,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders. COVA’s obligations under the Merger Agreement are subject to certain customary closing conditions. Furthermore, COVA will only proceed with the Business Combination if it will have net tangible assets of at least US$5,000,001 (after taking into account the redemption for cash of all COVA Public Shares properly demanded to be redeemed by holders of COVA Public Shares) upon consummation of the Business Combination (as determined in accordance with Rule3a5l-l(g)(1) of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)). Unless ECARX Holdings elects to waive the US$100,000,000 Minimum Available Cash Condition, the Maximum Redemption Scenario cannot occur.
(5)
Does not include COVA Public Warrants and COVA Private Warrants that will remain outstanding immediately following the Business Combination and may be exercised thereafter to acquire ECARX Ordinary Shares. The COVA Public Warrants represent 15,000,000 redeemable warrants issued in the IPO, each entitling its holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share of COVA at an exercise price of US$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. The COVA Private Warrants represent (i) 8,872,000 warrants sold to Sponsor in the private placement consummated concurrently with the IPO, each entitling its holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share of COVA at an exercise price of US$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment and (ii) 1,000,000 warrants underlying the Second Promissory Note that the Sponsor has the option, but not the obligation, to convert, in whole or in part, into COVA Private Warrants, at a price of US$1.00 per COVA Private Warrant upon the consummation of the Business Combination. In connection with the Business Combination, COVA Public Warrants and COVA Private Warrants will be automatically and irrevocably assumed by ECARX Holdings and converted into ECARX Warrants each entitling its holder to purchase one ECARX Class A Ordinary Share at a price of US$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment.
(6)
Representing the Note, which, if the Closing occurs prior to the Maturity Date, shall be automatically converted into fully paid, validly issued and nonassessable ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares at the Note Conversion Price. For purpose of this table, it is assumed that the Note Conversion Price is US$10.00 per share.
(7)
Includes 15,000,000 shares underlying COVA Public Warrants.
(8)
Includes 9,872,000 shares underlying COVA Private Warrants. Pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, up to 30% of the 7,500,000 COVA Founder Shares are subject to forfeiture as described therein.
(9)
Includes 16,617,591 shares reserved for the share options of ECARX prior to the date of the Merger Agreement (after considering the impact of the Recapitalization).
(10)
Representing the aggregate of 3,500,000 ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares to be issued to Geely Investment Holding Ltd. and Luminar Technologies, Inc. at US$10.00 per share for an aggregate investment amount of US$35,000,000. See “Agreements Entered into in Connection with the Business Combination — Strategic Investment Agreements” and “Beneficial Ownership of Securities” for additional details.
(11)
In each redemption scenario, the per share pro forma equity value of ECARX Ordinary Shares will be US$10.00 at Closing in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.
This information should be read together with the pro forma combined financial information in the section entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information.”
Appraisal Rights
The Cayman Companies Act prescribes when shareholder appraisal rights will be available and sets the limitations on such rights. Where such rights are available, shareholders are entitled to receive fair value for their shares. However, regardless of whether such rights are or are not available, shareholders are still entitled to exercise the rights of redemption as set out herein, and the COVA board of directors has determined that the redemption proceeds payable to shareholders who exercise such redemption rights represents the fair value of those shares.
Holders of COVA Shares have appraisal rights in connection with the Business Combination under the Cayman Companies Act. COVA Public Shareholders are entitled to give notice to COVA prior to the meeting that they wish to dissent to the Business Combination and to receive payment of fair market value for his, her or its COVA Shares if they follow the procedures set out in the Cayman Companies Act.
In essence, that procedure is as follows: (i) the shareholder must give his written objection to the merger or consolidation to the constituent company before the vote on the merger or consolidation, including a statement that the shareholder proposes to demand payment for his shares if the merger or consolidation is authorized by the vote; (ii) within 20 days following the date on which the merger or consolidation is approved by the shareholders, the constituent company must give written notice to each shareholder who made a written objection; (iii) a shareholder must within 20 days following receipt of such notice from the
 
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constituent company, give the constituent company a written notice of his intention to dissent, including, among other details, a demand for payment of the fair value of his shares; (iv) within seven days following the date of the expiration of the period set out in (ii) above or seven days following the date on which the plan of merger or consolidation is filed, whichever is later, the constituent company, the surviving company or the consolidated company must make a written offer to each dissenting shareholder to purchase his, her or its shares at a price that the company determines is the fair value and if the company and the shareholder agree the price within 30 days following the date on which the offer was made, the company must pay the shareholder such amount; and (v) if the company and the shareholder fail to agree on a price within such 30 day period, within 20 days following the date on which such 30 day period expires, the company (and any dissenting shareholder) must file a petition with the Cayman Islands courts to determine the fair value and such petition must be accompanied by a list of the names and addresses of the dissenting shareholders with whom agreements as to the fair value of their shares have not been reached by the company. At the hearing of that petition, the court has the power to determine the fair value of the shares together with a fair rate of interest, if any, to be paid by the company upon the amount determined to be the fair value. Any dissenting shareholder whose name appears on the list filed by the company may participate fully in all proceedings until the determination of fair value is reached.
COVA Public Shareholders who elect to exercise appraisal rights will lose their right to exercise their redemption rights as described herein.
Proxy Solicitation
Proxies may be solicited by mail, telephone or in person. COVA has engaged D.F. King to assist in the solicitation of proxies. COVA will pay to D.F. King a fee of US$25,000, plus disbursements.
If a shareholder grants a proxy, it may still vote its shares in person if it revokes its proxy before the extraordinary general meeting. A shareholder may also change its vote by submitting a later-dated proxy as described herein in the section “Extraordinary General Meeting of COVA Shareholders”.
The COVA Board of Directors’ Reasons for the Approval of the Business Combination
COVA’s board of directors, in evaluating the Business Combination, consulted with COVA’s management and financial and legal advisors. In reaching its unanimous resolution (i) that the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby are advisable and in the best interests of COVA and its shareholders and (ii) to recommend that the shareholders adopt the Merger Agreement and approve the Business Combination and the transactions contemplated thereby, COVA’s board of directors considered a range of factors, including, but not limited to, the factors discussed in the section referenced below. In light of the number and wide variety of factors considered in connection with its evaluation of the Business Combination, COVA’s board of directors did not consider it practicable to, and did not attempt to, quantify or otherwise assign relative weights to the specific factors that it considered in reaching its determination and supporting its decision. COVA’s board of directors viewed its decision as being based on all of the information available and the factors presented to and considered by it. In addition, individual directors may have given different weight to different factors. This explanation of COVA’s reasons for the Business Combination and all other information presented in this section is forward-looking in nature and, therefore, should be read in light of the factors discussed under “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Industry and Market Data.” In approving the Business Combination, COVA’s board of directors determined not to obtain a fairness opinion. The officers and directors of COVA have substantial experience in evaluating the operating and financial merits of companies from a wide range of industries and concluded that their experience and background and sector expertise enabled them to make the necessary analyses and determinations regarding the Business Combination. In addition, COVA’s officers and directors have substantial experience with financial investments and mergers and acquisitions.
COVA’s board of directors considered a number of factors pertaining to the Business Combination as generally supporting its decision to enter into the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby. COVA’s board of directors also considered a variety of uncertainties and risks and other potentially negative factors concerning the Business Combination.
 
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COVA’s board of directors concluded that the potential benefits that it expected COVA and its shareholders to achieve as a result of the Business Combination outweighed the potentially negative factors associated with the Business Combination. Accordingly, COVA’s board of directors unanimously determined that the Merger Agreement and the Business Combination contemplated therein were advisable, fair to and in the best interests of COVA and its shareholders. See the section of this proxy statement/prospectus titled “Proposal One — The Business Combination Proposal — COVA Board of Directors’ Reasons for the Business Combination.”
Interests of COVA’s Directors and Officers in the Business Combination
In considering the recommendation of COVA’s board of directors to vote in favor of approval of the Business Combination Proposal and the Merger Proposal, shareholders should keep in mind that the Sponsor and COVA’s directors and officers have interests in such proposals that are different from, or in addition to, those of COVA’s shareholders generally. If COVA does not complete the Business Combination with ECARX or another business combination by February 9, 2023 (or such later date as may be approved by COVA’s shareholders in an amendment to the COVA Articles), COVA must redeem 100% of the outstanding COVA Public Shares and liquidate and dissolve. As a result, and given the Sponsor’s interests in the Business Combination, the Sponsor may be incentivized to complete a business combination with a less favorable combination partner or on terms less favorable to COVA Public Shareholders rather than fail to complete a business combination and be forced to liquidate and dissolve COVA. In particular:

If the Business Combination with ECARX or another business combination is not consummated by February 9, 2023 (or such later date as may be approved by COVA’s shareholders in an amendment to the COVA Articles), COVA will cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, redeeming 100% of the outstanding COVA Public Shares for cash and, subject to the approval of its remaining shareholders and COVA’s board of directors, dissolving and liquidating. In such event, the COVA Founder Shares held by the Sponsor, which were acquired for an aggregate purchase price of US$25,000 prior to the IPO, are expected to be worthless because the holders are not entitled to participate in any redemption or distribution of proceeds in the Trust Account with respect to such shares. On the other hand, if the Business Combination is consummated, each outstanding COVA Founder Share will be converted into one ECARX Ordinary Share, subject to adjustment described herein.

If COVA is unable to complete a business combination within the required time period, the Sponsor will be liable under certain circumstances described herein to ensure that the proceeds in the Trust Account are not reduced by the claims of target businesses or claims of vendors or other entities that are owed money by COVA for services rendered to, or contracted for or for products sold to COVA. If COVA consummates a business combination, on the other hand, COVA will be liable for all such claims.

The Sponsor acquired the COVA Founder Shares, which will be converted into ECARX Ordinary Shares in connection with the Business Combination, for an aggregate purchase price of US$25,000 prior to the IPO. Based on the closing price of COVA’s Public Shares of US$      on Nasdaq on           , the record date for the extraordinary general meeting, the COVA Founder Shares, if unrestricted and freely tradable, would be valued at US$      .

The Sponsor acquired the COVA Private Warrants, which will be converted into ECARX Warrants in connection with the Business Combination, for an aggregate purchase price of US$8.9 million in the IPO. Based on the closing price of COVA’s Public Warrants of US$      on Nasdaq on           , the record date for the extraordinary general meeting, the COVA Private Warrants would be valued at US$      .

As a result of the prices at which the Sponsor acquired the COVA Founder Shares and the COVA Private Warrants, and their current value, the Sponsor could make a substantial profit after the completion of the Business Combination even if COVA Public Shareholders lose money on their investments as a result of a decrease in the post-combination value of their COVA Public Shares.

The Sponsor and COVA’s officers and directors and their affiliates are entitled to reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with certain activities on COVA’s behalf, such
 
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as identifying and investigating possible business targets and business combinations. However, if COVA fails to consummate a business combination within the required period, they will not have any claim against the Trust Account for reimbursement. Accordingly, COVA may not be able to reimburse these expenses if the Business Combination or another business combination is not completed by February 9, 2023 (or such later date as may be approved by COVA’s shareholders in an amendment to the COVA Articles). As of the record date, the Sponsor and COVA’s officers and directors and their affiliates had incurred US$      of unpaid reimbursable expenses.

If COVA is unable to complete a business combination within the required time period, the aggregate dollar amount as of the record date of non-reimbursable funds would be US$    million, reflecting the market value of COVA Founder Shares, the market value of COVA Private Warrants and out-of-pocket unpaid reimbursable expenses.

COVA has provisions in the COVA Articles waiving the corporate opportunities doctrine on an ongoing basis, which means that COVA’s officers and directors have not been obligated and continue to not be obligated to bring all corporate opportunities to COVA. The potential conflict of interest relating to the waiver of the corporate opportunities doctrine in the COVA Articles did not impact its search for an acquisition target and COVA was not prevented from reviewing any opportunities as a result of such waiver.

The Merger Agreement provides for the continued indemnification of COVA’s current directors and officers and the continuation of directors and officers liability insurance covering COVA’s current directors and officers.

COVA’s Sponsor, affiliates of the Sponsor, officers and directors may make loans from time to time to COVA to fund certain capital requirements. On September 28, 2020, the Sponsor agreed to loan COVA an aggregate of up to US$300,000 to cover expenses related to the IPO pursuant to a promissory note that was repaid in full on January 22, 2021. On May 26, 2022, COVA issued another unsecured promissory note to the Sponsor, pursuant to which COVA may borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of US$2,000,000. The Second Promissory Note is non-interest bearing and payable upon the consummation of a business combination. Upon consummation of a business combination, the Sponsor shall have the option, but not the obligation, to convert up to US$1,000,000 of the principal balance of the promissory note, into COVA Private Warrants, at a price of US$1.00 per COVA Private Warrant. Additional loans may be made after the date of this proxy statement/prospectus. If the Business Combination is not consummated, any outstanding loans will not be repaid and will be forgiven except to the extent there are funds available to COVA outside of the Trust Account.

COVA entered into an agreement, commencing on the date its securities were first listed on Nasdaq and through the earlier of the consummation of a business combination or its liquidation, to pay the Sponsor a monthly fee of US$10,000 for office space, utilities, secretarial and administrative services.
Recommendation to COVA Shareholders
COVA’s board of directors has determined that each of the proposals outlined herein is fair to and in the best interests of COVA and its shareholders and recommended that COVA shareholders vote “FOR” the Business Combination proposal, “FOR” the Merger Proposal and “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal, if presented.
Emerging Growth Company
Each of COVA and ECARX is, and consequently, following the Business Combination, the combined company will be, an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). As such, the combined company will be eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation
 
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in their periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find the combined company’s securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for the combined company’s securities and the prices of the combined company’s securities may be more volatile.
The combined company will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of: (i) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the IPO, (b) in which ECARX has total annual gross revenue of at least US$1.235 billion, or (c) in which the combined company is deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of the combined company’s common equity that is held by non-affiliates exceeds US$700 million as of the last business day of its most recently completed second fiscal quarter; and (ii) the date on which the combined company has issued more than US$1.00 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. References herein to “emerging growth company” have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.
Foreign Private Issuer
ECARX is a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act and, as such, ECARX is permitted to follow the corporate governance practices of its home country, the Cayman Islands, in lieu of the corporate governance standards of Nasdaq applicable to U.S. domestic companies. For example, ECARX is not required to have a majority of the board consisting of independent directors nor have a compensation committee or a nominating and corporate governance committee consisting entirely of independent directors. As a result, ECARX’s shareholders may not have the same protection afforded to shareholders of U.S. domestic companies that are subject to Nasdaq corporate governance requirements. As a foreign private issuer, ECARX is also subject to reduced disclosure requirements and are exempt from certain provisions of the U.S. securities rules and regulations applicable to U.S. domestic issuers such as the rules regulating solicitation of proxies and certain insider reporting and short-swing profit rules.
Certain Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
For a description of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Business Combination, the exercise of redemption rights in respect of COVA Public Shares and the ownership and disposition of ECARX Ordinary Shares, please see “Material Tax Considerations.”
Anticipated Accounting Treatment
ECARX prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In determining the accounting treatment of the Mergers, management has evaluated all pertinent facts and circumstances, including whether COVA, which is a special purpose acquisition company, meets the definition of a business. COVA has raised significant capital through the issuance of shares and warrants and was formed to effect a merger, capital, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more operating businesses. Although COVA has substantial activities related to its formation, capital raise and search for is a business combination, it does not meet the definition of a business.
The determination of the accounting acquirer in a business combination considers many factors, including the relative voting rights in the combined company after the business combination, the existence of a large minority interest in the combined company if no other owner or organized group of owners has a significant voting interest, the composition of the governing body of the combined company, the composition of the senior management of the combined company, the terms of the exchange of equity securities, the relative size of the combining companies and which of the combining companies initiated the combination. There is no hierarchical guidance on determining the accounting acquirer in a business combination effected through an exchange of equity interests.
ECARX has determined that it is the accounting acquirer based on its evaluation of the facts and circumstances of the acquisition. The purpose of the Mergers was to assist ECARX with the refinancing and recapitalization of its business. ECARX is the larger of the two entities and is the operating company
 
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within the combining companies. ECARX will have control of the board as it will hold a majority of the seats on the board of directors with COVA only taking two seats in the board members after the Mergers. ECARX’s senior management will be continuing as senior management of the combined company. In addition, a larger portion of the voting rights in the combined entity will be held by existing ECARX’s shareholders.
As ECARX was determined to be the acquirer for accounting purposes, the accounting for the transaction will be similar to that of a capital infusion as the only significant pre-combination asset of COVA is the cash in the Trust Account. No intangibles or goodwill will arise through the accounting for the transaction. The accounting is the equivalent of ECARX issuing shares of common stock and warrants for the net monetary assets of COVA.
Comparison of Rights of Shareholders of COVA and Shareholders of ECARX
See the section of this proxy statement/prospectus entitled “Comparison of Corporate Governance and Shareholder Rights.”
Summary Risk Factors
You should consider all the information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus in deciding how to vote for the proposals presented in this proxy statement/prospectus. In particular, you should consider the risk factors described under “Risk Factors” beginning on page 68. Such risks include, but are not limited to:
Risks Relating to ECARX’s Business and Industry

ECARX has a limited operating history and face significant challenges in a fast-developing industry.

If ECARX’s solutions do not appropriately address the evolution of the automotive industry or automotive intelligence technologies, its business could be adversely affected.

Changes in automobile sales and market demand can adversely affect ECARX’s business.

Disruptions in the supply of components or the underlying raw materials used in ECARX’s products may materially and adversely affect ECARX’s business and profitability.

A reduction in the market share or changes in the product mix offered by ECARX’s customers could materially and adversely affect ECARX’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.

The automotive intelligence industry is highly competitive, and ECARX may not be successful in competing in this industry.

ECARX has had negative net cash flows from operations in the past and has not been profitable, which may continue in the future.

ECARX currently has a concentrated customer base with a limited number of key customers, particularly including certain related parties of ECARX such as Geely Holding’s subsidiaries. The loss of one or more of ECARX’s key customers, or a failure to renew ECARX’s agreements with one or more of its key customers, could adversely affect ECARX’s results of operations and ability to market our products and services.

ECARX is subject to risks and uncertainties associated with international operations, which may harm our business.

ECARX’s automotive intelligence technologies and related hardware and software could have defects, errors, or bugs, undetected or otherwise, which could create safety issues, reduce market adoption, damage its reputation with current or prospective customers, or expose us to product liability and other claims that could materially and adversely affect its business, financial condition, and results of operations.

ECARX relies on its business partners and other industry participants. Business collaboration with partners is subject to risks, and these relationships may not lead to significant revenue. Any adverse change in ECARX’s cooperation with its business partners could harm its business.
 
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The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact ECARX’s business and could materially and adversely affect ECARX’s financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Relating to Doing Business in China
ECARX also faces various legal and operational risks associated with doing business in China, which could result in a material change to the operations of ECARX in China following the Business Combination, cause the value of ECARX’s securities to significantly decline or become worthless, and significantly limit or completely hinder its ability to accept foreign investments and offer or continue to offer securities to foreign investors. These risks include, but are not limited to:

The PRC government has significant oversight and discretion over ECARX’s business operations, and it may influence or intervene in ECARX’s operations as part of its efforts to enforce PRC law, which could result in a material adverse change in ECARX’s operations and the value of ECARX’s securities. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China —The PRC government has significant oversight and discretion over our business operations, and it may influence or intervene in our operations as part of its efforts to enforce PRC law, which could result in a material adverse change in our operations and the value of our securities” beginning on page 82.

Uncertainties in the PRC legal system and the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations could limit the legal protections available to you and to ECARX, hinder ECARX’s ability and the ability of any holder of its securities to offer or continue to offer such securities, result in a material adverse change to ECARX’s business operations, and damage ECARX’s reputation, which would materially and adversely affect ECARX’s financial condition and results of operations and cause ECARX’s securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China — Uncertainties in the PRC legal system and the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations could limit the legal protections available to you and us, hinder our ability and the ability of any holder of our securities to offer or continue to offer such securities, result in a material adverse change to our business operations, and damage our reputation, which would materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and cause our securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless” beginning on page 83.

The approval of and filing with the CSRC or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection with this offering under PRC law, and, if so required, ECARX cannot predict whether or when it will be able to obtain such approval or complete such filing, and even if it obtains such approval, it could be rescinded. Any failure to or delay in obtaining such approval or complying with such filing requirements in relation to this offering, or a rescission of such approval, could subject ECARX to sanctions imposed by the CSRC or other PRC government authorities. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China — The approval of and filing with the CSRC or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection with this offering under PRC law, and, if so required, we cannot predict whether or when we will be able to obtain such approval or complete such filing, and even if we obtain such approval, it could be rescinded. Any failure to or delay in obtaining such approval or complying with such filing requirements in relation to this offering, or a rescission of such approval, could subject us to sanctions imposed by the CSRC or other PRC government authorities” beginning on page 84.

The PCAOB is currently unable to inspect ECARX’s auditor in relation to their audit work performed for ECARX’s financial statements and the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections over ECARX’s auditor deprives ECARX’s investors with the benefits of such inspections. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China — The PCAOB is currently unable to inspect our auditor in relation to their audit work performed for our financial statements and the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections over our auditor deprives our investors with the benefits of such inspections” beginning on page 87.

Assuming the Business Combination is consummated in 2022, ECARX’s securities will be prohibited from trading in the United States under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or the HFCAA, in 2025 if the PCAOB is unable to inspect or fully investigate auditors located in China, or
 
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as early as 2024 if proposed changes to the law are enacted. The delisting of ECARX’s securities, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China — Assuming the Business Combination is consummated in 2022, our securities will be prohibited from trading in the United States under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or the HFCAA, in 2025 if the PCAOB is unable to inspect or fully investigate auditors located in China, or as early as 2024 if proposed changes to the law are enacted. The delisting of our securities, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment” beginning on page 87.
Risks Relating to Government Regulation

ECARX’s business is subject to complex and evolving laws and regulations regarding cybersecurity, privacy, data protection and information security in China and elsewhere. Any privacy or data security breach or any failure to comply with these laws and regulations could damage ECARX’s reputation and brand, result in negative publicity, legal proceedings, increased cost of operations, warnings, fines, service or business suspension, or otherwise harm ECARX’s business and results of operations.

ECARX may be subject to anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, financial and economic sanctions, and similar laws, and noncompliance with such laws can subject ECARX to administrative, civil, and criminal penalties, collateral consequences, remedial measures, and legal expenses, all of which could adversely affect ECARX’s business, results of operations, financial condition, and reputation.

ECARX plans to expand its business and operations internationally to various jurisdictions in which ECARX does not currently operate and where ECARX has limited operating experience, all of which exposes ECARX to business, regulatory, political, operational and financial risk.
Risks Relating to Intellectual Property and Legal Proceedings

ECARX may need to defend itself against intellectual property right infringement claims, which may be time-consuming and would cause ECARX to incur substantial costs.

ECARX may not be able to prevent others from unauthorized use of its intellectual property, which could harm ECARX’s business and competitive position.

As ECARX’s patents may expire and may not be extended, its patent applications may not be granted, and its patent rights may be contested, circumvented, invalidated, or limited in scope, ECARX’s patent rights may not protect it effectively. In particular, ECARX may not be able to prevent others from developing or exploiting competing technologies, which could materially and adversely affect its business, financial condition, and results of operations.
For additional detail on these and other risks, see “Risk Factors” starting on page 68 of this proxy statement/prospectus.
 
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SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA OF ECARX
The following tables present the selected consolidated financial data of ECARX. ECARX prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Except for numbers in U.S. dollars, the selected consolidated statements of comprehensive loss data for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021 and for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 and June 30, 2022, and the selected consolidated statement of cash flows data for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021 and for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022 have been derived from ECARX’s audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021 and unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, which are included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. ECARX’s historical results for any prior period are not necessarily indicative of results expected in any future period.
The financial data set forth below should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified by reference to “ECARX’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus.
Selected Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss Data
Year ended December 31,
Six months ended June 30,
2020
2021
2021
2022
(in thousands except share and per share data)
RMB
RMB
US$
RMB
RMB
US$
Revenues
Sales of goods revenues (including related parties
amounts of RMB1,275,777 and
RMB1,466,340 for the years ended
December 31, 2020 and 2021, and
RMB597,777 and RMB613,655 for the six
months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022,
respectively)
1,678,234 1,983,817 296,176 802,679 858,080 128,108
Software license revenues (including related
parties amounts of RMB18,168 and
RMB24,788 for the years ended December 31,
2020 and 2021, and RMB10,791 and
RMB15,481 for the six months ended June 30,
2021 and 2022, respectively)
71,297 261,265 39,006 162,303 78,995 11,794
Service revenues (including related parties
amounts of RMB444,709 and RMB532,625
for the years ended December 31, 2020 and
2021, and RMB114,054 and RMB375,298 for
the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022,
respectively)
491,532 533,981 79,721 119,880 375,495 56,060
Total revenues
2,241,063
2,779,063
414,903
1,084,862
1,312,570
195,962
Cost of goods sold (including related parties
amounts of RMB6,073 and RMB220,062 for
the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021,
and RMB1,329 and RMB164,888 for the six
months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022,
respectively)
(1,524,744) (1,749,188) (261,146) (689,052) (687,208) (102,597)
Cost of software licenses
(27,926) (32,164) (4,802) (16,167) (29,577) (4,416)
 
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Year ended December 31,
Six months ended June 30,
2020
2021
2021
2022
(in thousands except share and per share data)
RMB
RMB
US$
RMB
RMB
US$
Cost of services (including related parties amounts of nil and RMB22,097 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
(137,005) (180,518) (26,951) (82,984) (169,138) (25,252)
Total cost of revenues
(1,689,675) (1,961,870) (292,899) (788,203) (885,923) (132,265)
Gross profit
551,388
817,193
122,004
296,659
426,647
63,697
Research and development expenses (including
related parties amounts of RMB2,118 and
RMB21,069 for the years ended December 31,
2020 and 2021, and RMB926 and RMB29,642
for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and
2022, respectively)
(706,018) (1,209,385) (180,556) (485,894) (596,055) (88,989)
Selling and marketing expenses (including related
parties amounts of RMB192 and nil for
the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021,
and nil and RMB64 for the six months ended
June 30, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
(60,643) (82,827) (12,366) (30,806) (34,738) (5,186)
General and administrative expenses (including related parties amounts of RMB2,447 and RMB2,343 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, and RMB213 and RMB1,004 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
(215,008) (506,873) (75,674) (186,335) (408,007) (60,914)
Others, net
(200) 207 31 (455) (1,534) (229)
Total operating expenses
(981,869) (1,798,878) (268,565) (703,490) (1,040,334) (155,318)
Loss from operation
(430,481) (981,685) (146,561) (406,831) (613,687) (91,621)
Interest income (including related parties amounts of nil and RMB2,759 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
28,480 11,783 1,759 7,111 4,584 684
Interest expenses (including related parties
amounts of RMB872 and RMB212 for
the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021,
and RMB131 and RMB4,517 for the six
months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022,
respectively)
(59,128) (131,666) (19,657) (111,054) (19,153) (2,859)
Share of results of equity method investments
148 (2,519) (376) 487 (65,995) (9,853)
Unrealized gains on equity securities
34,615 5,168
Gains on deconsolidation of a subsidiary
10,579 1,579 71,974 10,745
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities
(39,635) (111,299) (16,617) (111,299)
Government grants
5,998 4,507 673 3,031 28,154 4,203
Foreign currency exchange gain (loss), net
54,842 18,315 2,734 13,637 (10,656) (1,591)
Loss before income taxes
(439,776) (1,181,985) (176,466) (604,918) (570,164) (85,124)
Income tax expenses
(228) (3,447) (514) (1,418) (432) (64)
 
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Year ended December 31,
Six months ended June 30,
2020
2021
2021
2022
(in thousands except share and per share data)
RMB
RMB
US$
RMB
RMB
US$
Net loss
(440,004)
(1,185,432)
(176,980)
(606,336)
(570,596)
(85,188)
Net (income) loss attributable to non-redeemable
non-controlling interests
345 5,011 748 (1,584) 1,444 216
Net loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests
806 120 464 69
Net loss attributable to ECARX Holdings Inc.
(439,659)
(1,179,615)
(176,112)
(607,920)
(568,688)
(84,903)
Accretion of redeemable non-controlling
interests
(1,306) (195) (714) (107)
Net loss available to ECARX Holdings Inc.
(439,659) (1,180,921) (176,307) (607,920) (569,402) (85,010)
Accretion of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares
(101,286) (243,564) (36,363) (67,078) (177,842) (26,551)
Net loss available to ECARX Holdings Inc. ordinary shareholders
(540,945) (1,424,485) (212,670) (674,998) (747,244) (111,561)
Loss per ordinary share
– Basic and diluted
(2.70) (7.18) (1.07) (3.40) (3.77) (0.56)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used
in computing loss per ordinary share
200,000,000
198,407,045
198,407,045
198,777,778
198,035,714
198,035,714
Net loss
(440,004)
(1,185,432)
(176,980)
(606,336)
(570,596)
(85,188)
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of
nil income taxes
1,497  4,551 679 (13,646) (214,315) (31,996)
Comprehensive loss
(438,507) 
(1,180,881)
(176,301)
(619,982)
(784,911)
(117,184)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to non-redeemable non-controlling interests
345  5,011 748 (1,584) 1,444 216
Comprehensive loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests
806 120 464 69
Comprehensive loss attributable to ECARX Holdings Inc.
(438,162)  (1,175,064) (175,433) (621,566) (783,003) (116,899)
 
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Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
As of December 31,
As of June 30,
2020
2021
2022
(in thousands)
RMB
RMB
US$
RMB
US$
Total current assets
2,427,699 2,456,638 366,766 1,635,239 244,135
Total non-current assets
150,387 1,510,064 225,447 1,685,262 251,603
Total assets
2,578,086 3,966,702 592,213 3,320,501 495,738
Total current liabilities
3,267,598 3,022,657 451,271 2,678,001 399,815
Total non-current liabilities
1,142,056 489,358 73,059 462,083 68,987
Total liabilities
4,409,654 3,512,015 524,330 3,140,084 468,802
Total mezzanine equity
232,475 4,563,407 681,299 5,111,846 763,179
Total shareholders’ deficit
(2,064,043) (4,108,720) (613,416) (4,931,429) (736,243)
Selected Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows Data
Year ended December 31,
Six months ended June 30,
2020
2021
2021
2022
(in thousands except per share data)
RMB
RMB
US$
RMB
RMB
US$
Net cash used in operating activities
(368,046) (872,325) (130,235) (294,029) (286,977) (42,845)
Net cash used in investing activities
(91,112) (1,391,361) (207,725) (223,018) (175,563) (26,211)
Net cash provided by financing activities
1,138,126 2,192,792 327,375 1,477,362 195,356 29,166
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash and restricted cash
(10,023) (32,019) (4,780) (22,553) 4,367 652
Net increase (decrease) in cash and restricted cash
668,945 (102,913) (15,365) 937,762 (262,817) (39,238)
Cash and restricted cash at the beginning of the period
334,931 1,003,876 149,875 1,003,876 900,963 134,510
Cash and restricted cash at the end of the period
1,003,876 900,963 134,510 1,941,638 638,146 95,272
 
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In December 2019, ECARX (Wuhan) Technology Co., Ltd. (“ECARX WH” or “WFOE”) was established in the PRC as a wholly owned subsidiary of ECARX Holdings. ECARX Holdings, through the WFOE, is the primary beneficiary of the VIEs. Since early 2022, ECARX Holdings has implemented the Restructuring. In association with the Restructuring, in April 2022 ECARX Holdings, Hubei ECARX and shareholders of Hubei ECARX entered into a VIE Termination Agreement, pursuant to which, the VIE Agreements were terminated with immediate effect.
The following tables present ECARX’s condensed consolidating schedule depicting the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021 and for the six months ended June 30, 2022.
Six Months Ended June 30, 2022
(RMB in thousands)
ECARX
Holdings
WFOE
VIEs
Other
Subsidiaries
Elimination
adjustments
Consolidated
Revenues 936,520 678,520 (302,470) (1) 1,312,570
Cost of revenue
(680,699) (507,694) 302,470 (1) (885,923)
Gross profit
255,821 170,826 426,647
Operating expenses
(199,335) (217) (253,107) (626,718) 39,043 (5) (1,040,334)
Loss from operation
(199,335) (217) 2,714 (455,892) 39,043 (613,687)
Interest income
3,346 2,548 1,448 510 (3,268) (3) 4,584
Interest expenses
(463) (17,370) (4,588) 3,268 (3) (19,153)
Share of loss of subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs
(360,944) 360,944 (4)
Share of results of equity method investments
(86,588) 20,593 (65,995)
Gains on deconsolidation of a subsidiary
71,974 71,974
(Gain) / loss on the Restructuring
(1,337,832) 1,639,979 (302,147)
Gains on intellectual property transfers
1,171,300 (1,171,300) (5)
Other income (expenses)
(12,006) 9,844 54,275 52,113
Loss before income taxes
(569,402) (1,335,501) 2,793,301 (687,249) (771,313) (570,164)
Income tax expenses
(432) (432)
Net loss
(569,402) (1,335,501) 2,793,301 (687,681) (771,313) (570,596)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of nil income taxes
(214,315) (69,183) 69,183 (4) (214,315)
Comprehensive loss
(783,717) (1,335,501) 2,793,301 (756,864) (702,130) (784,911)
 
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Year Ended December 31, 2021
(RMB in thousands)
ECARX
Holdings.
WFOE
VIEs
Other
Subsidiaries
Elimination
adjustments
Consolidated
Revenues
2,755,780 120,224 (96,941)
(1)(2)
2,779,063
Cost of revenue
(400) (1,938,222) (56,711) 33,463
(1)
(1,961,870)
Gross profit
(400) 817,558 63,513 (63,478) 817,193
Operating expenses
(17,660) (1) (1,726,430) (118,265) 63,478
(2)
(1,798,878)
Loss from operation
(17,660) (401) (908,872) (54,752) (981,685)
Interest income
885 20 11,696 67 (885)
(3)
11,783
Interest expenses
(514) (131,152) (885) 885
(3)
(131,666)
Share of loss of subsidiaries and
consolidated VIEs
(1,176,110) 1,176,110
(4)
Share of results of equity method investments
14,433 (16,952) (2,519)
Gains on deconsolidation of a subsidiary
10,579 10,579
Other income (expenses)
12,478 (100,220) (735) (88,477)
Loss before income taxes
(1,180,921) (381) (1,103,536) (73,257) 1,176,110 (1,181,985)
Income tax expenses
(3,329) (118) (3,447)
Net loss
(1,180,921) (381) (1,106,865) (73,375) 1,176,110 (1,185,432)
Foreign currency translation
adjustments, net of nil income
taxes
4,551 (20,310) 20,310
(4)
4,551
Comprehensive loss
(1,176,370) (381) (1,106,865) (93,685) 1,196,420 (1,180,881)
 
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Year Ended December 31, 2020
(RMB in thousands)
ECARX
Holdings.
WFOE
VIEs
Other
Subsidiaries
Elimination
adjustments
Consolidated
Revenues
2,241,536 40,365 (40,838)
(1)
2,241,063
Cost of revenue
(1,690,518) (39,995) 40,838
(1)
(1,689,675)
Gross profit
551,018 370 551,388
Operating expenses
(981,866) (3) (981,869)
Loss from operation
(430,848) 367 (430,481)
Interest income
431 28,047 2 28,480
Interest expenses
(59,128) (59,128)
Share of loss of subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs
(495,303) 495,303
(4)
Share of results of equity method investments
148 148
Other income (expenses)
55,213 (33,732) (276) 21,205
Loss before income taxes
(439,659) (495,513) 93 495,303 (439,776)
Income tax expenses
(228) (228)
Net loss
(439,659) (495,741) 93 495,303 (440,004)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of nil income
taxes
1,497 (11) 11
(4)
1,497
Comprehensive loss
(438,162) (495,741) 82 495,314 (438,507)
(1)
To eliminate the inter-company sales of goods transactions between subsidiaries of ECARX Holdings and consolidated VIEs.
(2)
To eliminate the inter-company sales of services transactions between subsidiaries of ECARX Holdings and consolidated VIEs.
(3)
To eliminate the interest income and interest expenses recognized in ECARX Holdings and subsidiaries of ECARX Holdings respectively for the loans that ECARX Holdings has provided to its subsidiaries.
(4)
To reflect the elimination on share of comprehensive loss that ECARX Holdings picked up from its subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs.
(5)
To eliminate the gains,related intangible assets and amortization expenses relating to the inter-company transfer of intellectual properties from Hubei ECARX to ECARX (Hubei) Tech.
 
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The following tables present ECARX’s condensed consolidating schedule depicting the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 and as of June 30, 2022. As a result of the Restructuring, ECARX Holdings did not consolidate Hubei ECARX as of June 30, 2022.
As of June 30, 2022
(RMB in thousands)
ECARX
Holdings
WFOE
VIEs
Other
Subsidiaries
Elimination
adjustments
Consolidated
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash
7,739 15 575,392 583,146
Restricted cash
55,000 55,000
Accounts receivable – related parties, net
217,563 217,563
Amounts due from related parties
3,689,313 520 51,863 (3,709,659)
(1)
32,037
Other current assets
6,042 515 740,936 747,493
Total current assets
3,703,094 1,050 1,640,754 (3,709,659) 1,635,239
Non-current assets
Investment in WFOE
1,674,524 (1,674,524)
(4)
Long-term investments
1,225,301 1,225,301
Intangible assets, net
1,162,229 (1,132,257)
(5)
29,972
Other non-current assets
208,503 221,486 429,989
Total non-current assets
208,503 4,283,540 (2,806,781) 1,685,262
Total assets
3,703,094 209,553 5,924,294 (6,516,440) 3,320,501
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Share of losses in excess of investments in subsidiaries and VIEs
3,436,581 (3,436,581)
(3)
Accounts payable – related parties
142,305 142,305
Amounts due to related parties
18,853 1,446 4,401,571 (3,709,659)
(1)
712,211
Other current liabilities
67,243 217 1,756,025 1,823,485
Total current liabilities
3,522,677 1,663 6,299,901 (7,146,240) 2,678,001
Non-current liabilities
Total non-current liabilities
462,083 462,083
Total liabilities
3,522,677 1,663 6,761,984 (7,146,240) 3,140,084
MEZZANINE EQUITY 5,111,846 5,111,846
SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
Ordinary Shares
7 1,600,105 (1,600,105)
(3) (4)
7
Additional paid-in capital
17,195 190,899 (190,899)
(3)
17,195
Accumulated deficit
(4,740,364) (1,392,215) (941,610) 2,333,825
(3)
(4,740,364)
Accumulated other comprehensive income /
(loss)
(208,267) (86,979) 86,979
(3) (4)
(208,267)
Non-redeemable non-controlling interests
Total shareholders’ deficit
(4,931,429) 207,890 (837,690) 629,800 (4,931,429)
Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and shareholders’ deficit
3,703,094 209,553 5,924,294 (6,516,440) 3,320,501
 
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Year Ended December 31, 2021
(RMB in thousands)
ECARX
Holdings.
WFOE
VIEs
Other
Subsidiaries
Elimination
adjustments
Consolidated
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash
158,755 6 642,293 76,905 877,959
Restricted cash
23,004 23,004
Accounts receivable – related parties,
net
813,364 72,044 (116,661)
(1)
768,747
Amounts due from related
parties
3,217,624 1,590,639 42,604 568,906 (5,378,495)
(1)(2)
41,278
Other current assets
5,751 728,164 11,735 745,650
Total current assets
3,382,130 1,590,645 2,249,429 729,590 (5,495,156) 2,456,638
Non-current assets
Investment in WFOE
1,593,925 (1,593,925)
(4)
Long-term investments
441,586 912,463 1,354,049
Other non-current assets
147,246 8,769 156,015
Total non-current assets
588,832 2,515,157 (1,593,925) 1,510,064
Total assets
3,382,130 1,590,645 2,838,261 3,244,747 (7,089,081) 3,966,702
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Share of losses in excess of investments in subsidiaries and VIEs
2,866,711 (2,866,711)
(3)
Accounts payable – related
parties
159,528 68,664 (116,661)
(1)
111,531
Amounts due to related parties
85,390 521 2,452,787 3,216,703 (5,378,495)
(1)(2)
376,906
Other current liabilities
108 400 2,490,729 42,983 2,534,220
Total current liabilities
2,952,209 921 5,103,044 3,328,350 (8,361,867) 3,022,657
Non-current liabilities
Total non-current liabilities
489,358 489,358
Total liabilities
2,952,209 921 5,592,402 3,328,350 (8,361,867) 3,512,015
MEZZANINE EQUITY
4,532,907 30,500 4,563,407
SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
Ordinary Shares
7 1,600,105 10,000 (1,610,105)
(3)(4)
7
Additional paid-in capital
611,643 (611,643)
(3)
Accumulated deficit
(4,109,041) (10,381) (3,400,550) (63,282) 3,474,213
(3)
(4,109,041)
Accumulated other comprehensive income / (loss)
6,048 (20,321) 20,321
(3)(4)
6,048
Non-redeemable non-controlling
interests
(5,734) (5,734)
Total shareholders’ deficit
(4,102,986) 1,589,724 (2,784,641) (83,603) 1,272,786 (4,108,720)
Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and
shareholders’ deficit
3,382,130 1,590,645 2,838,261 3,244,747 (7,089,081) 3,966,702
 
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Year Ended December 31, 2020
(RMB in thousands)
ECARX
Holdings.
WFOE
VIEs
Other
Subsidiaries
Elimination
adjustments
Consolidated
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash
98,271    — 597,772 33,893 729,936
Restricted cash
273,940 273,940
Accounts receivable – related parties,
net
691,871 19,813 (37,900)
(1)
673,784
Amounts due from related parties
97,873 78,616 86,102 (183,975)
(1)
78,616
Other current assets
671,423 671,423
Total current assets
196,144 2,313,622 139,808 (221,875) 2,427,699
Non-current assets
Long-term investments
2,653 2,653
Other non-current assets
147,734 147,734
Total non-current assets
150,387 150,387
Total assets
196,144 2,464,009 139,808 (221,875) 2,578,086
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Share of losses in excess of investments in
subsidiaries and VIEs
2,031,416 (2,031,416)
(3)
Accounts payable – related parties
349,523 31,394 (37,900)
(1)
343,017
Amounts due to related parties
7,803 132,204 97,873 (183,975)
(1)
53,905
Other current liabilities
2,860,217 10,459 2,870,676
Total current liabilities
2,039,219 3,341,944 139,726 (2,253,291) 3,267,598
Non-current liabilities
Total non-current liabilities
1,142,056 1,142,056
Total liabilities
2,039,219 4,484,000 139,726 (2,253,291) 4,409,654
MEZZANINE EQUITY
232,475 232,475
SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
Ordinary Shares
7 10,000 (10,000)
(3)
7
Additional paid-in capital
165,412 256,698 (256,698)
(3)
165,412
Accumulated deficit
(2,242,466) (2,298,196) 93 2,298,103
(3)
(2,242,466)
Accumulated other comprehensive income / (loss)
1,497 (11) 11
(3)
1,497
Non-redeemable non-controlling
interests
11,507 11,507
Total shareholders’ deficit
(2,075,550) (2,019,991) 82 2,031,416 (2,064,043)
Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and shareholders’ deficit
196,144 2,464,009 139,808 (221,875) 2,578,086
(1)
To eliminate the balances resulted from related party transactions between subsidiaries of ECARX Holdings as of June 30, 2022 and the balances and transactions between subsidiaries of ECARX Holdings and consolidated VIEs as of December 31, 2020 and 2021.
(2)
To eliminate the amounts related to the loans provided by ECARX Holdings to its subsidiaries as of June 30, 2022 and the loans provided by subsidiaries of ECARX Holdings to the VIEs and the loans provided by ECARX Holdings to its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2020 and 2021.
(3)
To eliminate ECARX Holdings’ equity pick-up from consolidated entities under respective equity accounts with corresponding long-term investment balances.
(4)
To eliminate the ordinary shares of WFOE and the investment made by ECARX Technology Limited to WFOE upon consolidation.
(5)
To eliminate the gains, related intangible assets and amortization expenses relating to the inter-company transfer of intellectual properties from Hubei ECARX to ECARX (Hubei) Tech.
 
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The following tables present ECARX’s condensed consolidating schedule depicting the consolidated cash flows for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021 and for the six months ended June 30, 2022 of ECARX Holdings, the WFOE, the VIEs, other subsidiaries, and corresponding eliminating adjustments separately.
Six Months Ended June 30, 2022
(RMB in thousands)
ECARX
Holdings
WFOE
VIEs
Other
Subsidiaries
Elimination
adjustments
Consolidated
Operating activities:
Net cash generated from / (used in) operating activities
(299) 9 224,031 (510,718) (286,977)
Investing activities:
Purchase of property, equipment and intangible assets
(36,074) (38,496) (74,570)
Cash disposed in deconsolidation of Suzhou Photon-Matrix
(22,643) (22,643)
Cash paid for acquisition of equity investments
(67,790) (67,790)
Proceeds from (cash paid for) transfer of long-term investments in the Restructuring
234,949 (234,949)
Consideration received in deconsolidation
of a subsidiary
1,000 1,000
Financial support to an equity method investee
(28,500) (28,500)
Cash contribution to subsidiaries
Loans to related parties
(18,354) (8,060) (157,000) 175,354
(1) (3)
(8,060)
Repayment received of loans to related parties
25,000 25,000
Advances to related parties
(297,737) 297,737
(2)
Collection of advances to a related party
Net cash (used in) / provided by investing activities
(383,881) 165,672 (430,445) 473,091 (175,563)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of Series B Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares
159,485 159,485
Cash contributed by the respective parent companies
Cash contributed by redeemable non-controlling shareholders
10,000 10,000
Proceeds from short-term borrowings
400,000 480,000 880,000
Repayment for short-term borrowings
(1,332,000) (1,332,000)
Borrowings from related parties
157,000 918,354 (175,354)
(1)(3)
900,000
Repayment of borrowings from related parties
(270,000) (200,000) (470,000)
Proceeds from advances from related parties
297,737 (297,737)
(2)
Cash disposed in the Restructuring
(20,000) (20,000)
Proceeds from issuance of convertible senior notes
67,871 67,871
Net cash provided by / (used in) financing activities
227,356 (1,055,000) 1,496,091 (473,091) 195,356
 
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Six Months Ended June 30, 2022
(RMB in thousands)
ECARX
Holdings
WFOE
VIEs
Other
Subsidiaries
Elimination
adjustments
Consolidated
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash and restricted cash
5,808 (1,441) 4,367
Net increase (decrease) in cash and restricted cash
(151,016) 9 (665,297) 553,487 (262,817)
Cash and restricted cash at the beginning of the period
158,755 6 665,297 76,905 900,963
Cash and restricted cash at the end of the period
7,739 15 630,392 638,146
 
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Year Ended December 31, 2021
(RMB in thousands)
ECARX
Holdings.
WFOE
VIEs
Other
Subsidiaries
Elimination
adjustments
Consolidated
Operating activities:
Net cash generated from / (used in) operating activities
(22,741) 20 (817,989) (31,615) (872,325)
Investing activities:
Purchase of property, equipment and
intangible assets
(69,419) (9,444) (78,863)
Cash contribution to subsidiaries
(10,000) (1,600,105) 1,610,105
(4)
Acquisition of long-term
investments
(400,000) (945,637) (1,345,637)
Cash surrendered from deconsolidation of a subsidiary
(8,360) (8,360)
Loans to related parties
(70,365) (1,590,119) (28,850) (477,149) 2,137,633
(1)(3)
(28,850)
Advances to related parties
(3,050,956) (19,806) 3,050,956
(2)
(19,806)
Proceeds from collection of advances
to a related party
90,155 90,155
Net cash used in investing activities
(3,121,321) (1,600,119) (436,280) (3,032,335) 6,798,694 (1,391,361)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of Convertible
Redeemable Preferred Shares
3,222,206 3,222,206
Refundable deposits in connection with the issuance of Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares
461,849 461,849
Repayment of refundable deposits in connection with the issuance of Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares
(1,493,953) (1,493,953)
Payment for issuance cost of Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares
(10,000) (10,000)
Cash contributed by the respective parent companies
1,600,105 10,000 (1,610,105)
(4)
Cash contributed by non-controlling shareholders
32,000 32,000
Proceeds from short-term
borrowings
947,000 947,000
Repayment for short-term
borrowings
(91,000) (91,000)
Borrowings from related parties
45,152 2,337,268 70,365 (2,137,633)
(1)(3)
315,152
Repayment of borrowings from related parties
(45,152) (20,000) (65,152)
Proceeds from advances from related
parties
3,050,956 (3,050,956)
(2)
Repayment of long-term debt
(1,125,310) (1,125,310)
Net cash provided by financing activities
3,222,206 1,600,105 1,047,854 3,121,321 (6,798,694) 2,192,792
Effect of foreign currency exchange
rate changes on cash and restricted
cash
(17,660) (14,359) (32,019)
Net increase in cash and restricted cash
60,484 6 (206,415) 43,012 (102,913)
Cash and restricted cash at the beginning of the year
98,271 871,712 33,893 1,003,876
Cash and restricted cash at the end of the year
158,755 6 665,297 76,905 900,963
 
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Year Ended December 31, 2020
(RMB in thousands)
ECARX
Holdings.
WFOE
VIEs
Other
Subsidiaries
Elimination
adjustments
Consolidated
Operating activities:
Net cash used in operating activities
(266)    — (312,311) (55,469) (368,046)
Investing activities:
Purchase of property, equipment and intangible assets
(69,114) (69,114)
Advances to related parties
(97,873) (103,024) 97,873
(2)
(103,024)
Proceeds from collection of advances to
a related party
81,026 81,026
Net cash used in investing activities
(97,873) (91,112) 97,873 (91,112)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares
206,422 206,422
Refundable deposits in connection with
the issuance of Convertible
Redeemable Preferred Shares
1,032,104 1,032,104
Payment for issuance cost of Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares
(8,500) (8,500)
Proceeds from short-term
borrowings
76,000 76,000
Repayment for short-term
borrowings
(167,900) (167,900)
Proceeds from advances from related parties
97,873 (97,873)
(2)
Net cash provided by financing
activities
206,422 940,204 89,373 (97,873) 1,138,126
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate
changes on cash and restricted
cash
(10,012) (11) (10,023)
Net increase in cash and restricted
cash
98,271 536,781 33,893 668,945
Cash and restricted cash at the beginning of the year
334,931 334,931
Cash and restricted cash at the end of the year
98,271 871,712 33,893 1,003,876
(1)
For the year ended December 31, 2021, ECARX Holdings provided loans in the amount of US$11.0 million (equivalent to RMB70.4 million) to its two subsidiaries, ECARX Europe AB and ECARX Limited. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, ECARX Holdings provided loans in the amount of US$3.0 million (equivalent to RMB18.4 million) to ECARX Europe AB. These transactions were eliminated as inter-company transactions upon preparation of the consolidated information.
(2)
For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, ECARX Holdings paid advances of US$15.0 million (equivalent to RMB97.9 million) and US$478.5 million (equivalent to RMB3,051.0 million) respectively to its subsidiary, ECARX Technology Limited. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, ECARX Holdings paid advances of US$44.5 million (equivalent to RMB297.7 million) to ECARX Technology Limited. These transactions were eliminated as inter-company transactions upon preparation of the consolidated information.
(3)
For the year ended December 31, 2021, the WFOE and ECARX (Hubei) Tech respectively provided loans in the amount of RMB1,590.1 million and RMB477.1 million to the VIEs. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, ECARX (Hubei) Tech provided
 
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loans in the amount of RMB157.0 million to the VIEs. These transactions were eliminated as inter-company transactions upon preparation of the consolidated information.
(4)
For the year ended December 31, 2021, ECARX Technology Limited made capital contribution of RMB1,600.1 million to WFOE, and the WFOE made capital contribution of RMB10.0 million to ECARX (Shanghai) Technology Co., Ltd. The cash transfer among the subsidiaries were eliminated upon consolidation.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In this proxy statement/prospectus, ECARX has included adjusted net loss and adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP financial measures. Adjusted net loss and adjusted EBITDA are key measures used by ECARX’s management and board of directors in evaluating its operating performance and making strategic decisions regarding capital allocation.
Adjusted net loss represents net loss excluding share-based compensation expenses, and such adjustment has no impact on income tax. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net loss excluding interest income, interest expense, income tax expenses, depreciation of property and equipment, amortization of intangible assets, and share-based compensation expenses.
ECARX believes that the exclusion of certain items in calculating adjusted net loss and adjusted EBITDA facilitates operating performance comparisons on a period-to-period basis. Accordingly, ECARX believes that adjusted net loss and adjusted EBITDA provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating ECARX’s operating results in the same manner as its management and board of directors.
Each of adjusted net loss and adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of its results as reported under U.S. GAAP. See “ECARX’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”
The tables below set forth a reconciliation of ECARX’s net loss to adjusted net loss and to adjusted EBITDA for the periods indicated:
Year Ended December 31,
Six months ended June 30,
2020
2021
2021
2022
(in thousands)
RMB
RMB
US$
RMB
RMB
US$
Net loss
(440,004)
(1,185,432)
(176,980)
(606,336)
(570,596)
(85,188)
Share-based compensation expenses
11,410 179,933 26,863 38,694 195,037 29,118
Adjusted net loss
(428,594) (1,005,499) (150,117) (567,642) (375,559) (56,070)
Net loss
(440,004)
(1,185,432)
(176,980)
(606,336)
(570,596)
(85,188)
Interest income
(28,480) (11,783) (1,759) (7,111) (4,584) (684)
Interest expense
59,128 131,666 19,657 111,054 19,153 2,859
Income tax expenses
228 3,447 514 1,418 432 64
Depreciation of property and equipment
38,480 43,137 6,440 21,118 22,542 3,365
Amortization of intangible assets
20,478 21,875 3,266 11,401 11,300 1,687
Share-based compensation expenses
11,410 179,933 26,863 38,694 195,037 29,118
Adjusted EBITDA
(338,760) (817,157) (121,999) (429,762) (326,716) (48,779)
 
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SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA OF COVA
COVA is providing the following selected historical financial information to assist you in your analysis of the financial aspects of the Business Combination. COVA’s balance sheet data as of June 30, 2022, December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2020 along with the statement of operations data for the six months ended June 30, 2022, year ended December 2021 and for the period from December 11, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020 are derived from COVA’s financial statements included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus.
The information is only a summary and should be read in conjunction with COVA’s financial statements and related notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of COVA” contained elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. COVA’s historical results are not necessarily indicative of future results, and the results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full fiscal year.
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
Income Statement Data:
For the six months
ended June 30,
2022
Year Ended
December 31,
2021
For the Period
from
December 11,
2020
(inception)
Through
December 31,
2020
Revenue
$ $ $
Loss from operations
(3,882) (1,831) (9)
Interest income
560 54
Offering costs allocated to warrants
(990)
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities
9,349 14,374
Net income (loss)
6,027 11,607 (9)
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted, Class A ordinary shares
30,000,000 26,794,521
Basic and diluted net income per share, Class A ordinary shares
0.16 0.34
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic and diluted, Class B ordinary shares
7,500,000 7,395,822 742,857
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share, Class B ordinary shares
0.16 0.34 (0.01)
Balance Sheet Data:
As of
June 30, 2022
As of
December 31,
2021
As of
December 31,
2020
Total current assets
$ 510 $ 796 $
Trust Account
300,614 300,054
Total assets
301,123 300,925 249
Total liabilities
16,944 22,773 233
Value of Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption
300,614 300,000
Shareholders’ (deficit) equity
(16,434) (21,847) 16
 
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SUMMARY UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements present the combination of the financial information of COVA and ECARX, adjusted to give effect to the Business Combination and the Transactions. The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X as amended by the final rule, Release No. 33-10786 “Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses.”
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet combines the unaudited historical balance sheet of COVA as of June 30, 2022, with the unaudited historical consolidated balance sheet of ECARX as of June 30, 2022, as if the Transaction occurred on June 30, 2022. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and for the year ended December 31, 2021 presents the pro forma effect of the Transaction as if the Transaction has been completed on January 1, 2021.
The unaudited pro forma combined financial statements do not necessarily reflect what the combined company’s financial condition or results of operations would have been had the Transactions occurred on the dates indicated. The unaudited pro forma combined financial information also may not be useful in predicting the future financial condition and results of operations of the combined company. The actual financial position and results of operations may differ significantly from the pro forma amounts reflected herein due to a variety of factors.
This information should be read together with COVA’s and ECARX’s audited financial statements and related notes, the sections titled “COVA’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “ECARX’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and other financial information included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus.
Under both the no redemption scenario and the maximum redemption scenarios, the Business Combination will be accounted for in a manner similar to a reverse recapitalization, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded, in accordance with GAAP.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared using the assumptions below:

Assuming No Redemption: This presentation assumes that no COVA Public Shareholder exercises redemption rights with respect to their COVA Public Shares.

Assuming Maximum Redemption: This presentation assumes that COVA Public Shareholders holding 30,000,000 COVA Public Shares will exercise their redemption rights for US$300,000,000 of funds in the Trust Account. COVA’s obligations under the Merger Agreement are subject to certain customary closing conditions. Furthermore, COVA will only proceed with the Business Combination if it will have net tangible assets of at least US$5,000,001 upon consummation of the Business Combination (as determined in accordance with Rule3a5l-l(g)(1) of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)). This presentation does not take into account the Minimum Available Cash Condition.
In each case, the pro forma share and per share information assume that the Transactions are effective on January 1, 2021.
The historical financial statements of COVA have been translated into RMB, from COVA’s reporting currency of United States dollars (US$) using a published exchange rates of US$1.00 to RMB6.6981, the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board on June 30, 2022.
 
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Selected Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
Pro Forma Combined
(Assuming No Redemption)
Pro Forma Combined
(Assuming Maximum Redemption)
RMB
US$
RMB
US$
Balance Sheet Data as of June 30, 2022
Total assets
5,290,570 789,861 3,281,140 489,861
Total liabilities
3,116,264 465,246 3,116,264 465,246
Total shareholders’ equity
2,174,306 324,615 164,876 24,615
Selected Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed
Combined Statement of Operations Data For
the Six Months Ended June 30, 2022
Total revenue
1,312,570 195,962 1,312,570 195,962
Net loss
(486,334) (72,608) (486,334) (72,608)
Loss per ordinary share
Basic and diluted
(1.34) (0.20) (1.48) (0.22)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing loss per ordinary share
Basic and diluted
360,882,409 360,882,409 328,632,409 328,632,409
Selected Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed
Combined Statement of Operations Data For
the Year Ended December 31, 2021
Total revenue
2,779,063 414,903 2,779,063 414,903
Net loss
(1,289,614) (192,534) (1,289,614) (192,534)
Loss per ordinary share
– Basic and diluted
(3.56) (0.53) (3.91) (0.58)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing loss per ordinary share
– Basic and diluted
360,882,409 360,882,409 328,632,409 328,632,409
 
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COMPARATIVE PER SHARE DATA
The following tables set forth the per share data of each of ECARX and COVA on a stand-alone basis and the unaudited pro forma combined per share data for the year ended December 31, 2021 after giving effect to the Business Combination, prepared using the assumptions below:

Assuming No Redemption: This presentation assumes that no COVA Public Shareholder exercises redemption rights with respect to their COVA Public Shares.

Assuming Maximum Redemption: This presentation assumes that COVA Public Shareholders holding 30,000,000 COVA Public Shares will exercise their redemption rights for US$300,000,000 of funds in the Trust Account. COVA’s obligations under the Merger Agreement are subject to certain customary closing conditions. Furthermore, COVA will only proceed with the Business Combination if it will have net tangible assets of at least US$5,000,001 (after taking into account the redemption for cash of all COVA Public Shares properly demanded to be redeemed by holders of COVA Public Shares) upon consummation of the Business Combination (as determined in accordance with Rule3a5l-l(g)(1) of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)). This presentation does not take into account the Minimum Available Cash Condition.
In the case, the per share data assume that the Recapitalization (as defined herein) is effective on January 1, 2021.
You should read the information in the following table in conjunction with the selected historical financial information summary included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus, and the historical financial statements of ECARX and COVA and related notes that are included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. The unaudited ECARX and COVA pro forma combined per share information is derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. See “Unaudited Pro forma Condensed Combined Financial Information.”
The unaudited pro forma combined loss per share information below does not purport to represent the loss per share which would have occurred had the companies been combined during the periods presented, nor loss per share for any future date or period. The unaudited pro forma combined book value per share information below does not purport to represent what the value of ECARX and COVA would have been had the companies been combined during the periods presented.
(In thousands of RMB, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
For Six Months Ended June 30, 2022
RMB
ECARX
COVA
Pro Forma
Combined
Assuming No
Redemption
Pro Forma
Combined
Assuming
Maximum
Redemption
Basic and diluted loss per ordinary share
(3.77) (1.34) (1.48)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares
198,035,714 360,882,409 328,632,409
Basic and diluted loss per COVA
Class A ordinary shares
1.08
Class B ordinary shares
1.08
Weighted average number of COVA
Class A ordinary shares
30,000,000
Class B ordinary shares
7,500,000
 
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Year Ended December 31, 2021
RMB
ECARX
COVA
Pro Forma
Combined
Assuming No
Redemption
Pro Forma
Combined
Assuming
Maximum
Redemption
Basic and diluted loss per ordinary share
(7.18) (3.56) (3.91)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares
198,407,045 360,882,409 328,632,409
Basic and diluted loss per COVA
Class A ordinary shares
2.16
Class B ordinary shares
2.16
Weighted average number of COVA
Class A ordinary shares
26,794,521
Class B ordinary shares
7,395,822
 
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This proxy statement/prospectus includes statements that express COVA’s and ECARX’s opinions, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or projections regarding future events or future results of operations or financial condition and therefore are, or may be deemed to be, “forward-looking statements.” These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts and can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “believes,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “seeks,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “is/are likely to,” “potential,” “may,” “will” or “should” or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology. They appear in a number of places throughout this proxy statement/prospectus and include statements regarding COVA’s and ECARX’s intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, the Business Combination, the benefits and synergies of the Business Combination, including anticipated cost savings, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies, future market conditions or economic performance and developments in the capital and credit markets and expected future financial performance, the markets in which ECARX operates as well as any information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations of the combined company after the consummation of the Business Combination.
Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and actual results or events may differ materially from those projected or implied in those statements. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to:

Developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including, among others, with respect to stay-at-home orders, social distancing measures, the success of vaccine rollouts, numbers of COVID-19 cases and the occurrence of new COVID-19 strains;

The regulatory environment and changes in laws, regulations or policies in the jurisdictions in which ECARX operates;

The overall economic environment and general market and economic conditions in the jurisdictions in which ECARX operates;

The progress and results of the research and development of ECARX’s products and services, as well as of their manufacturing, launch, commercialization, and delivery;

The conditions and outlook of the automobile and automotive intelligence industries in China and globally;

ECARX’s relationships with OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and its other customers, suppliers, other business partners, and stakeholders;

ECARX’s ability to successfully compete in highly competitive industries and markets;

ECARX’s ability to continue to adjust its offerings to meet market demand, attract customers to choose its products and services and grow its ecosystem;

ECARX’s ability to execute its strategies, manage growth and maintain its corporate culture as it grows;

ECARX’s anticipated investments in new products, services, collaboration arrangements, technologies and strategic acquisitions, and the effect of these investments on its results of operations;

Changes in the needs for capital and the availability of financing and capital to fund these needs;

Anticipated technology trends and developments and ECARX’s ability to address those trends and developments with its products and services;

The safety, price-competitiveness, quality and breadth of the ECARX products and services;

The loss of key personnel and the inability to replace such personnel on a timely basis or on acceptable terms;

The number and percentage of COVA shareholders voting against the Business Combination Proposal, the Merger Proposal and/or seeking redemption, the risk that the Business Combination
 
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may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement;

Man-made or natural disasters, health epidemics, and other outbreaks including war, acts of international or domestic terrorism, civil disturbances, occurrences of catastrophic events and acts of God such as floods, earthquakes, wildfires, typhoons and other adverse weather and natural conditions that affect ECARX’s business or assets;

Exchange rate fluctuations;

Changes in interest rates or rates of inflation;

Legal, regulatory and other proceedings;

ECARX’s ability to initially list, and once listed, maintain the listing of its securities on Nasdaq following the Business Combination;

The results of future financing efforts; and

The other matters described in the section entitled “Risk factors,” and “ECARX’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
COVA and ECARX caution you against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect current expectations and beliefs and are based on information currently available as of the date a forward-looking statement is made. Forward-looking statements set forth herein speak only as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus. COVA and ECARX will not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. In the event that any forward-looking statement is updated, no inference should be made that COVA or ECARX will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related matters, or any other forward-looking statements. Any corrections or revisions and other important assumptions and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements, including discussions of significant risk factors, may appear, up to the consummation of the Business Combination, in COVA’s public filings with the SEC or, upon and following the consummation of the Business Combination, in ECARX’s public filings with the SEC, which are or will be (as appropriate) accessible at www.sec.gov, and which you are advised to consult. For additional information, please see the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”
In addition, the Business Combination is subject to the satisfaction of the conditions to the completion of the Business Combination set forth in the Merger Agreement and the absence of events that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement, the possibility that the Business Combination does not close, and risks that the proposed Business Combination disrupts current plans and operations and business relationships, or poses difficulties in attracting or retaining employees for ECARX.
Market, ranking and industry data used throughout this proxy statement/prospectus, including statements regarding market size and market potential, is based on the good faith estimates of ECARX’s management, which in turn are based upon ECARX’s management’s review of internal surveys, independent industry surveys and publications and other third-party research and publicly available information. These data involve a number of assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to such estimates. While ECARX is not aware of any misstatements regarding the industry data presented herein, its estimates involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the heading “Risk factors” and “ECARX’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of this proxy statement/prospectus.
 
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RISK FACTORS
If the Business Combination is completed, the combined company will operate in a market environment that is difficult to predict and that involves significant risks, many of which will be beyond its control. You should carefully consider the following risk factors, together with all of the other information included in this proxy statement/prospectus, before you decide whether to vote or instruct your vote to be cast to approve the proposals described in this proxy statement/prospectus.
The occurrence of one or more of the events or circumstances described in these risk factors, alone or in combination with other events or circumstances, may adversely affect the ability to complete or realize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination, and may have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects and trading price of ECARX following the Business Combination. The risks discussed below may not prove to be exhaustive and are based on certain assumptions made by COVA and ECARX, which later may prove to be incorrect or incomplete. COVA and ECARX may face additional risks and uncertainties that are not presently known to them, or that are currently deemed immaterial, but which may also ultimately have an adverse effect on any such party or on the Business Combination. If any of the events, contingencies, circumstances or conditions described in the following risks actually occur, the combined company’s business, financial condition or results of operations could be seriously harmed. If that happens, the trading price of ECARX Ordinary Shares or, if the Business Combination is not consummated, COVA Public Shares, could decline, and you may lose part or all of the value of any ECARX Ordinary Shares or COVA Public Shares that you hold.
In this section, “ECARX,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to ECARX Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries (in the context of describing ECARX’s operations and consolidated financial information, also to its VIEs and their subsidiaries for the periods ended prior to the Restructuring).
Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry
We have a limited operating history and face significant challenges in a fast-developing industry.
We commenced our business in 2017. As we only have a limited operating history in the areas of our current focus, it is difficult to predict our future revenues and appropriately budget for our expenses, and we may have limited insight into trends that may emerge and affect our business. You should consider our business and prospects in light of the risks and challenges that we face as a new entrant into a fast-developing industry, including with respect to our ability to:

advance our technologies continuously;

design and deliver intelligent, reliable, and quality solutions that ultimately appeal to customers continuously;

establish, expand, and diversify our customer base continuously;

build a well-recognized and respected brand cost-effectively;

successfully market our products and services;

optimize our pricing strategy;

maintain a reliable, secure, high-performance, and scalable technology infrastructure;

enhance our cybersecurity and data security;

attract, retain, and motivate talented employees;

improve and maintain our operating efficiency;

anticipate and adapt to changing market conditions, including technological developments and changes in the competitive landscape;

navigate an evolving and complex regulatory environment;

manage supply chain effectively; and
 
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manage our growth effectively.
If we fail to address any or all of these risks and challenges, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.
If our solutions do not appropriately address the evolution of the automotive industry or automotive intelligence technologies, our business could be adversely affected.
The automotive industry and automotive intelligence technologies are rapidly evolving. Our business and prospects will depend on our ability to identify consumer needs, and to develop, introduce, and achieve market acceptance of our new and enhanced products in a cost-effective manner. We cannot assure you that our products and services will be or will continue to be accepted by the market.
We are in the process of developing a myriad of automotive computing platform, SoC Core Module, and software solution and products. Although we believe that our technologies and products are promising, we cannot assure you that we can achieve our development goals and successfully commercialize all of these automotive intelligence technologies. In addition, we cannot assure you that, once commercialized, these technologies can stand the test of time.
We believe that the confidence and trust of our customers are essential in the success of our automotive intelligence technologies. Customers will be less likely to purchase our products if they are not convinced of the technical or functional superiority of our technologies. Any defects in or significant malfunctioning of our automotive intelligence products and services, or any negative perceptions of such, with or without any grounds, may weaken such confidence and trust in us, which may adversely affect our reputation, financial condition, and results of operations. Similarly, suppliers and other third parties will be less likely to invest time and resources in developing business relationships with us if they are not convinced that our business or our technologies will succeed.
Changes in automobile sales and market demand can adversely affect our business.
Our business is directly related to automobile sales and production by OEMs. Automobile sales and production could sometimes be highly cyclical and, in addition to general economic conditions, also depend on other factors such as consumer confidence and preferences. Lower automobile sales would be expected to result in substantially all of our OEM customers lowering vehicle production schedules, which has a direct impact on our earnings and cash flows. In addition, automobile sales and production can be affected by labor relations issues, regulatory requirements, trade agreements, the availability of consumer financing, and other factors. Economic declines that result in a significant reduction in automobile sales and production by OEMs could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The demand for our products and services is also dependent on consumers’ demand for and adoption of intelligent vehicles, in general. The market for intelligent vehicles is still rapidly evolving, characterized by rapidly changing technologies, intense competition, evolving government regulation and industry standards, and changing consumer demands and behaviors. If the market for intelligent vehicles does not develop as we expect or develops more slowly than we expect, our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects will be affected.
In addition, there has also been a change in consumer preferences favoring mobility on demand services, such as car- and ride-sharing, as opposed to automobile ownership, which may result in a long-term reduction in the number of vehicles per capita.
Disruptions in the supply of components or the underlying raw materials used in our products may materially and adversely affect our business and profitability.
Our hardware products are comprised of electronic and mechanical components sourced from various third-party suppliers. A significant disruption in the supply of these components or the underlying raw materials, such as metals, petroleum-based resins, and chemicals, for any reason could impede production and delivery levels, which could materially increase our operating costs and materially decrease our profit margins.
 
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Such supply chain disruptions could be caused by a range of incidents, such as total or partial shutdown of our suppliers’ plants or critical manufacturing lines due to strikes, mechanical breakdowns, electrical outages, fires, explosions, or political upheaval, as well as logistical complications due to weather conditions, natural disasters, nuclear accidents, mechanical failures, delayed customs clearance, or pandemics. In particular, following the disruptions to semiconductor manufacturers due to the COVID-19 pandemic and an increase in global demand for personal computers for work-from-home economies, there is an ongoing global chip shortage, which would materially and adversely affect the industries we operate in. Any of such supply chain disruptions may force us to suspend or cease production, even for a prolonged period of time.
We do not control our suppliers or their business practices. Accordingly, we cannot guarantee that the quality of the components manufactured by them will be consistent and maintained to a high standard. Any defects of or quality issues with these components or any noncompliance incidents associated with these suppliers could result in quality issues with our products and hence force us to delay production or deliveries and compromise our brand image and results of operations. In addition, we cannot assure you that the suppliers will comply with ethical business practices, such as environmental responsibilities, fair wage practices and child labor laws, among others. A lack of demonstrated compliance could lead us to seek alternative suppliers, which could increase our costs and results in delayed delivery of our products, product shortages, or other disruptions of our operations.
Any supply chain disruptions, whether or not involving a single-source supplier, could require us to make significant additional efforts until an alternative supplier is fully qualified by us or is otherwise able to resume the supply. We cannot assure you that we would be able to successfully retain alternative suppliers or supplies on a timely basis, on acceptable terms, or at all. Moreover, if we experience a significant increase in demand or need to replace our existing suppliers, we cannot assure you that additional supplies will be available when required on terms that are favorable to us, or at all, or that any supplier would allocate sufficient supplies to us in order to meet our requirements or fill our orders in a timely manner. Any of the foregoing could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects
A reduction in the market share or changes in the product mix offered by our customers could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We depend on the continued growth, viability, and financial stability of our customers. Our customers primarily include OEMs and tier 1 automotive suppliers. The automotive industry is subject to rapid technological change, vigorous competition, short product life cycles, and cyclical consumer demand patterns and industry consolidation. When our customers are adversely affected by these factors, we may be similarly affected to the extent that our customers reduce the volume of orders for our products and services. As a result of changes affecting our customers, sales mix can shift, which may have either favorable or unfavorable impact on our revenues. For example, a shift in sales demand favoring a particular OEM’s vehicle model for which we do not have a supply contract may adversely affect our business. A shift in regional sales demand toward certain markets could adversely affect the sales of those of our customers that have a low market share in those regions, which in turn could materially and adversely affect our business.
The mix of vehicle offerings by our OEM customers, which can be affected by industry consolidation, also could affect our business. Any merger between major OEMs may result in the discontinuation of certain major vehicle brands previously marketed under separate companies, which may materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, a decrease in consumer demand for specific types of vehicles where we have traditionally supplied significantly could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The automotive intelligence industry is highly competitive, and we may not be successful in competing in this industry.
The automotive intelligence markets are highly competitive. We have strategically entered into the markets and we expect this segment to become more competitive in the future as more players make their entrance. Competition is based primarily on technology, innovation, quality, delivery, and price. Many of our current and potential competitors, particularly international competitors, have significantly greater
 
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financial, technical, manufacturing, marketing, and other resources than we do and may be able to devote greater resources to the design, development, manufacturing, distribution, promotion, sale, and support of their products. We cannot assure you that our products and services will be able to compete successfully with those of our existing and any new competitors. If we fail to compete successfully in the markets, our prospects, results of operations, and financial condition could be adversely affected.
We expect competition to intensify in the future in light of the increased demand for automotive intelligence technologies, the continuing globalization, and the consolidation in the automotive industry worldwide. Our future success will depend on our ability to develop superior advanced technology and to maintain our competitive position with respect to our technological advances over our competitors. Furthermore, the rapidly evolving nature of the markets in which we compete has attracted, and may continue to attract, new entrants, particularly in areas of evolving automotive technologies such as computing platform technologies and advanced driver-assistance systems, which have attracted new entrants from outside the traditional automotive industry, and any of these competitors may develop and introduce technologies that gain greater customer or consumer acceptance, which could adversely affect our future growth.
In addition, increased competition may lead to lower unit sales and increased inventory, which may in turn result in downward price pressure and adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results, and prospects. Therefore, the ability to stay ahead of our competitors will be fundamental to our future success. Our competitors may foresee the course of market development more accurately than us, develop products and services that are superior to ours, have the ability to produce similar products at a lower cost than us, adapt more quickly than us to new technologies or evolving customer requirements, or develop or introduce new products or solutions before we do, particularly related to potential transformative technologies such as automotive central computing platform solutions and advanced driver-assistance systems. As a result, our products and services may not be able to compete successfully with those of our competitors. These trends may adversely affect our sales as well as the profit margins on our offerings. If we do not continue to innovate to develop or acquire new and compelling products that capitalize upon new technologies, this could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations.
We had negative net cash flows from operations in the past and have not been profitable, which may continue in the future.
We incurred net losses of RMB440.0 million, RMB1,185.4 million (US$177.0 million) and RMB570.6 million (US$85.2 million) in 2020, 2021 and for the six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, and we have not been profitable since our inception. In addition, we had negative cash flows from operating activities of RMB368.0 million, RMB872.3 million (US$130.2 million) and RMB287.0 million (US$42.8 million) in 2020, 2021 and for the six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively. We have made significant up-front investments in research and development, service network, and sales and marketing to rapidly develop and expand our business. We expect to continue to invest significantly in these areas to establish and expand our business, and these investments may not result in an increase in revenue or positive cash flow on a timely basis, or at all.
We may not be able to generate sufficient revenues and we may incur substantial losses for a number of reasons, including lack of demand for our products and services, increasing competition, challenging macro-economic environment due to the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as other risks discussed herein, and we may incur unforeseen expenses, or encounter difficulties, complications, or delays in generating revenue or achieving profitability. If we are unable to achieve profitability, we may have to reduce the scale of our operations, which may impede our business growth and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, our continuous operation depends on our capability to obtain sufficient external equity or debt financing. If we do not succeed in doing so, we may need to curtail our operations, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.
We currently have a concentrated customer base with a limited number of key customers, particularly including certain of our related parties such as Geely Holding’s subsidiaries. The loss of one or more of our key customers, or a failure to renew our agreements with one or more of our key customers, could adversely affect our results of operations and ability to market our products and services.
We derive a substantial portion of our revenue from a limited number of key customers, particularly including certain of our related parties such as Geely Holding’s subsidiaries. Although we are expanding
 
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and diversifying our customer base, we may continue to have a concentrated customer base. In particular, Geely Holding and its subsidiaries have and are expected to continue to account for a substantial portion of our revenues. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021 and for the six months ended June 30, 2022, sales to Geely Holding and its subsidiaries (which, for the avoidance of doubt, exclude sales of SoC Core Modules or software licenses by us to third party customers which are then integrated into their infotainment and cockpit products and sold by such third party customers to Geely Holding and its subsidiaries) accounted for 74.1%, 70.4% and 73.6% of our total revenues, respectively. The agreements between us and Geely Holding’s subsidiaries are described in more details in this proxy statement/prospectus under “— Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions — ECARX Relationships and Related Party Transactions —  Development and Supply Agreements with Geely Holding’s Subsidiaries.”
We have maintained and will continue to maintain a close business relationship with Geely Holding and its subsidiaries. If we fail to continue our cooperation with Geely Holding, or if Geely Holding determines to conduct its business in a way that is not aligned with our business interests, or to take other actions that are detrimental to our interests, we will need to enter into renegotiation with Geely Holding relating to our partnership and to secure alternative and comparable business partners, which may be costly, time-consuming, and disruptive to our operations and financial performance. As a result, our business and operations could be severely disrupted, which could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
We are subject to risks and uncertainties associated with international operations, which may harm our business.
We conduct our business worldwide and we have offices in various countries. In June 2019, we established a joint venture with Proton Edar Sdn. Bhd., the sales and marketing arm of Proton Holdings Bhd., and Altel Communications Sdn. Bhd., a Malaysian-based telecommunications services provider. We established our product development center in Gothenburg, Sweden in December 2020, and we established our international operations office in London in July 2021.
The global nature of our business subjects us to a number of risks and uncertainties, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations, including:

international economic and political conditions, and other political tensions between countries in which we do business;

unexpected changes in, or impositions of, legislative or regulatory requirements, including changes in tax laws;

differing legal standards with respect to protection of intellectual property and employment practices;

local business and cultural factors that differ from our normal standards and practices, including business practices that we are prohibited from engaging in by the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other anticorruption laws and regulations;

exporting or importing issues related to export or import restrictions, including deemed export restrictions, tariffs, quotas and other trade barriers and restrictions;

disruptions of capital and trading markets and currency fluctuations; and

increased costs due to imposition of climate change regulations, such as carbon taxes, fuel or energy taxes, and pollution limits.
If our sales outside of China are delayed or cancelled because of any of the above factors, our revenue may be adversely affected.
Our automotive intelligence technologies and related hardware and software could have defects, errors, or bugs, undetected or otherwise, which could create safety issues, reduce market adoption, damage our reputation with current or prospective customers, or expose us to product liability and other claims that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Our automotive intelligence technologies are highly technical and complex, and our products and services built upon such technologies have in the past and may in the future experience defects, errors, or
 
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bugs at various stages of their usage and development. We may be unable to correct problems to our customers’ and users’ satisfaction in a timely manner. In addition, there may be undetected errors or defects especially as we introduce new products or release new versions. Defects, errors, or bugs in our products may only be discovered after they have been tested, commercialized, and deployed, and in that case, we may incur significant additional development costs and product recall, repair, or replacement costs. Moreover, we may be liable for personal injury, property damage, or other claims caused by such defects, errors, or bugs resulting in legal actions against us that are costly to defend, which could cause irreparable harm to our reputation and brand and hence our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We rely on our business partners and other industry participants. Business collaboration with partners is subject to risks, and these relationships may not lead to significant revenue. Any adverse change in our cooperation with our business partners could harm our business.
Strategic business relationships are and will continue to be an important factor in the growth and success of our business. We have alliances and partnerships with other companies in various industries to help us enhance our technologies and commercialize our products. For example, we have formed partnerships with leading semiconductor companies to develop advanced automotive SoC Core Modules for vehicles. We have also formed a 60/40 joint venture with Volvo Cars (Volvo Cars as the 60% shareholder) in Gothenburg, Sweden to develop and commercialize an operating system for automotive digital cockpit products. In addition, we need to continue to identify and negotiate for opportunities to collaborate with other industry participants, such as those who can provide key technology solutions, manufacturing and distribution services. If we are unable to maintain the existing relationships with our business partners, or if we fail to identify and negotiate additional relationships that are essential to our future expansion or success at attractive terms or at all, we may incur increased costs to develop and provide these capabilities on our own, and our business and operating results could be adversely affected.
Collaboration with third parties is subject to challenges and risks, some of which are beyond our control. For example, certain partnership agreements grant our partner or us the right to terminate such agreements for cause or without cause, including in some cases by paying a termination for convenience fee. In addition, such agreements have in the past and may in the future contain certain exclusivity provisions which, if triggered, could preclude us from working with other businesses with superior technologies or with whom we may prefer to partner with for other reasons.
We could experience delays in the development or delivery of our products to the extent our partners do not meet agreed upon timelines or experience capacity constraints. We could also experience disagreement in budget or funding for any joint development project. There is also a risk of potential disputes with partners in the future, including with respect to intellectual property rights. Moreover, if our existing partner agreements were to be terminated, we may be unable to timely find alternative agreements on terms and conditions acceptable to us. Any of the foregoing could adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
Our business plans require a significant amount of capital. In addition, our future capital needs may require us to sell additional equity or debt securities that may dilute our shareholders or introduce covenants that may restrict our operations or our ability to pay dividends.
We will need significant capital to, among other things, conduct research and development, expand our production capacity, and roll out our new and enhanced products and services. As we ramp up our operations, we may also require significant capital to maintain our property, plant, and equipment and such costs may be greater than what we currently anticipate. We expect that our level of capital expenditures will be significantly affected by demand for our products and services. The fact that we have a limited operating history means we have limited historical data to project the demand for our products and services in the future. As a result, our future capital requirements may be uncertain and actual capital requirements may be different from what we currently anticipate. We may seek equity or debt financing to finance a portion of our capital expenditures. Such financing might not be available to us in a timely manner or on terms that are acceptable, or at all. If we cannot obtain sufficient capital on acceptable terms, our business, financial condition, and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.
 
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Our ability to obtain the necessary financing to carry out our business plan is subject to a number of factors, including general market conditions and investor acceptance of our business plan. These factors may make the timing, amount, terms, and conditions of such financing unattractive or unavailable to us. If we are unable to raise sufficient funds, we will have to significantly reduce our spending, delay, or cancel our planned activities, or substantially change our corporate structure. We might not be able to obtain any funding, and we might not have sufficient resources to conduct our business as projected, both of which could mean that we would be forced to curtail or discontinue our operations.
In addition, our future capital needs and other business reasons could require us to issue additional equity or debt securities or obtain a credit facility. The issuance of additional equity or equity-linked securities could dilute our shareholders’ interests. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in an increase in debt service obligations and could result in operating and financing covenants that would restrict our operations or our ability to pay dividends to our shareholders.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our business and could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
The COVID-19 pandemic has spread worldwide, resulting in government authorities implementing numerous measures to try to contain the disease, such as travel bans and restrictions, quarantines, shelter-in-place orders, and shutdowns. These measures have impacted, and may further impact, our workforce and operations, the operations of our customers and our partners, and those of our manufacturers and suppliers.
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased economic and demand uncertainty. It continues to affect our business in both positive and negative ways, and there is uncertainty around its duration and impact. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the timing and overall demand from customers and the availability of supply chain, logistical services and component supply may have an adverse effect on our business and financial results. We primarily operate in China and have established joint ventures or other business branches globally including in Southeast Asia and Europe. Each of these countries and locations has been affected by the pandemic and has taken measures to try to contain it, including restrictions on manufacturing facilities, commerce, travel, on our support operations or workforce, or on our customers, partners, and suppliers. There is considerable uncertainty regarding the impact of such measures and potential future measures. Such measures, as well as restrictions or disruptions of transportation, such as reduced availability or increased cost of air transport, port closures and increased border controls or closures, could limit our capacity to meet customer demand and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Since 2020, the supply of semiconductor chips used for automotive manufacturing has experienced a global shortage following the disruption to the operations of semiconductor manufacturers worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting from March 2022, with the new Omicron variant spreading rapidly in certain parts of China, many social restrictions and quarantine measures have been reintroduced and tightened, and there have been substantial disruptions and delays to the supply chain and warehousing and logistics networks that are critical to the business operations of our customers and business partners and of ourselves. Such disruptions and delays could expose us to several sources of delivery failures and component shortages.
The spread of COVID-19 has caused us to modify our business practices (including employee travel, mandatory work-from-home policies and cancellation of physical participation in meetings, events and conferences), and we may take further actions as required by government authorities and regulations or that we determine are in the best interests of our employees, customers, partners and suppliers. There is no certainty that such measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks posed by the disease, and our ability to perform critical functions could be harmed.
The pandemic has also resulted in, and may continue to result in, significant disruption to global financial markets, which may reduce our ability to access capital or our customers’ ability to pay us for past or future purchases, which could adversely affect our liquidity. A recession or financial market correction resulting from the lack of containment and spread of COVID-19 could impact overall technology spending, adversely affecting demand for our products and services, our business, and the value of our common stock.
We cannot assure you that the COVID-19 pandemic can be eliminated or contained in the near future, or at all, or a similar outbreak will not occur again. The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or a
 
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similar health epidemic is highly uncertain and subject to change. The extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operational and financial performance, including our ability to execute our business strategies and initiatives in the expected time frame, will depend on future developments, including, but not limited to, the duration and continued spread of the pandemic, its severity, the actions to contain the disease or treat its impact, availability of vaccines or other treatments, further related restrictions on travel, and the duration, timing, and severity of the impact on consumer spending, supply chain and logistics networks, including any recession resulting from the pandemic, all of which are uncertain and cannot be predicted. An extended period of global supply chain and economic disruption as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, access to sources of liquidity, and financial condition, though the full extent and duration is uncertain.
We are subject to risks relating to the Restructuring.
Historically, we conducted our operation in mainland China through our subsidiaries in mainland China as well as through Hubei ECARX, our former consolidated VIE based in mainland China. Since early 2022, we have implemented the Restructuring and in connection therewith, we, Hubei ECARX and shareholders of Hubei ECARX entered into a VIE Termination Agreement in April 2022, pursuant to which, the VIE Agreements were terminated with immediate effect; in addition, as agreed between ECARX (Hubei) Tech, a wholly-owned mainland China subsidiary of ECARX, and Hubei ECARX (i) all of Hubei ECARX’s assets and related liabilities, contracts, intellectual properties and employees should be transferred to ECARX (Hubei) Tech and its subsidiaries, with certain exclusion which were inconsequential to our operations in 2020 and 2021 and which we believe will not subsequently have any material impact on our business operations or financial results, such as businesses and assets relating to surveying and mapping services, ICP businesses, and certain retained investments; (ii) all of Hubei ECARX’s businesses should be assumed and undertaken by ECARX (Hubei) Tech save for certain business activities that will continue to be undertaken by Hubei ECARX which were inconsequential to our operations in 2020 and 2021 and which we believe will not subsequently have any material impact on our business operations or financial results.
As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the Restructuring has been completed and we do not have any VIE in China. See “Summary of the Proxy Statement/ Prospectus — Corporate Structure of ECARX.”
We are subject to several risks associated with the Restructuring. We are in the process of adjusting and may continue to make adjustment to our business operations as a result of the Restructuring and there is no assurance that such adjustment will be successful or beneficial to us. We may further experience a loss of continuity, loss of accumulated knowledge or loss of efficiency in connection with the Restructuring.
We may not be able to realize the potential financial or strategic benefits of business ventures, acquisitions or strategic investments and we may not be able to successfully integrate acquisition targets, which could impact our ability to grow our business, develop new products or sell our products.
We have completed a number of strategic long-term investments in recent years and we expect to continue to invest in other businesses that offer products, services, and technologies that we believe will help expand or enhance our existing products, strategic objectives, and business. While we believe that such transactions are an integral part of our long-term strategy, there are risks and uncertainties related to these activities, which could impair our ability to grow our business and have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial conditions. Given that our resources are limited, the decision to pursue business ventures, acquisitions, and strategic alliances has opportunity costs. Accordingly, if we pursue a particular transaction, we may need to forgo the prospect of entering into other transactions that could help us achieve our strategic objectives. Additional risks related to business ventures, acquisitions, or strategic investments include, but are not limited to:

difficulty in combining the technology, products, operations, or workforce of the acquired business with our business;

diversion of capital and other resources, including management’s attention;
 
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assumption of liabilities and incurring amortization expenses, impairment charges to goodwill or write-downs of acquired assets;

integrating financial forecasting and controls, procedures, and reporting cycles;

coordinating and integrating operations in countries in which we have not previously operated;

acquiring business challenges and risks, including, but not limited to, disputes with management and integrating international operations and joint ventures;

difficulty in realizing a satisfactory return, if at all;

difficulty in obtaining or inability to obtain governmental and regulatory consents and approvals, and other approvals or financing;

potential failure in complying with governmental or regulatory restrictions placed on acquisitions;

failure and costs associated with the failure to consummate a proposed acquisition or other strategic investment;

legal proceedings initiated as a result of an acquisition or investment;

the potential for our acquisitions to result in dilutive issuances of our equity securities;

the potential variability of the amount and form of any performance-based consideration;

uncertainties and time needed to realize the benefits of an acquisition or strategic investment, if at all;

negative changes in general economic conditions in the regions or the industries in which we or our target operate;

the need to determine an alternative strategy if an acquisition does not meet our expectations;

potential failure of our due diligence processes to identify significant issues with the acquired assets or company; and

impairment of relationships with, or loss of our or our target’s employees, vendors, and customers, as a result of our acquisition or investment.
We may incur material losses and costs as a result of warranty claims, product recalls, and product liabilities that may be brought against us.
We face an inherent business risk of exposure to warranty claims and product liability in the event that our products fail to perform as expected and, in the case of product liability, such failure of our products results in bodily injury or property damage. The fabrication process of our products is complex and precise. Our customers specify quality, performance, and reliability standards. If flaws in either the design or manufacture of our products were to occur, we could experience a rate of failure in our products that could result in significant delays in delivery and product re-work or replacement costs. Although we engage in extensive product quality programs and processes, these may not be sufficient to avoid product failures, which could cause us to:

lose revenue;

incur increased costs such as warranty expense and costs associated with customer support;

experience delays, cancellations, or rescheduling of orders for our products;

experience increased product returns or discounts; or

damage our reputation.
All of these could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
If any of our products are or are alleged to be defective, we may be required to participate in a recall involving such products. A recall claim brought against us, or a product liability claim brought against us in excess of our available insurance, may have a material adverse effect on our business.
 
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We have limited insurance coverage, which could expose us to significant costs and business disruption.
We have limited liability insurance coverage for our products, services, and business operations. A successful liability claim against us, regardless of whether due to injuries suffered by our users could materially and adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, and reputation. In addition, we do not have business disruption insurance. Any business disruption event could result in substantial cost to us and diversion of our resources.
Our business depends substantially on the continued efforts of our executive officers, key employees and qualified personnel, and our operations may be severely disrupted if we lose their services.
Our success depends substantially on the continued efforts of our executive officers and key employees with expertise in various areas. If one or more of our executive officers or key employees were unable or unwilling to continue their services with us, we may not be able to replace them easily in a timely manner, or at all. As we build up our brand awareness and become more well-known, the risk that competitors or other companies may poach our talent increases.
Our industry is characterized by high demand and intense competition for talent, in particular with respect to qualified talent in the areas of automotive intelligence technologies, and therefore, we cannot assure you that we will be able to continue to attract or retain qualified staff or other highly skilled employees. In addition, because we are operating in a new and challenging industry that requires continuous innovations of technologies and solutions, we may not be able to hire qualified individuals with sufficient trainings in a timely manner, and we will need to spend significant time and resources training the employees we hire. We also require sufficient talent in areas such as software development. Furthermore, as our company is relatively young, our ability to train and integrate new employees into our operations may not meet the growing demands of our business, which may materially and adversely affect our ability to grow our business and our results of operations.
If any of our executive officers and key employees terminates his or her services with us, our business may be severely disrupted, our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected, and we may incur additional expenses to recruit, train, and retain qualified personnel. If any of our executive officers or key employees joins a competitor or forms a competing company, we may lose customers, know-how, and key professionals and staff members. While each of our executive officers and key employees has entered into an employment agreement and a non-compete agreement with us, if any dispute arises between our executive officers or key employees and us, the relevant non-competition provisions may not be enforceable, especially under PRC laws, on the ground that we have not provided adequate compensation to them for their non-competition obligations.
Our management team has limited experience managing a public company.
Most of the members of our management team have limited experience in managing a publicly traded company, interacting with public company investors, and complying with the increasingly complex laws and regulations pertaining to public companies. Our management team may not successfully or efficiently manage our transition to being a public company subject to significant regulatory oversight and reporting obligations under the federal securities laws and the continuous scrutiny of securities analysts and investors. These new obligations and constituents will require significant attention from our senior management and may divert their attention away from the day-to-day management of our business, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and operating results.
We may not succeed in continuing to establish, maintain, and strengthen our brand, and our brand and reputation could be harmed by negative publicity with respect to us, our directors, officers, employees, shareholders, peers, business partners, or our industry in general.
Our business and prospects are affected by our ability to develop, maintain, and strengthen our brand. If we fail to do so we may lose the opportunity to build business relationships with critical customers. Promoting and positioning our brand will depend significantly on our ability to provide innovative and high quality products and services, in which we have limited experience. In addition, we expect that our ability to develop, maintain, and strengthen the brand will depend heavily on the success of our branding efforts. We
 
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market our brand through media, word-of-mouth, trade shows, and advertising. Such efforts may not achieve the desired results. If we do not develop and maintain a strong brand, our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects will be materially and adversely affected.
Our reputation and brand are vulnerable to many threats that can be difficult or impossible to predict, control, and costly or impossible to remediate. From time to time, our products are reviewed by media or other third parties. Any negative reviews or reviews that compare us unfavorably to competitors could adversely affect public perception about our products. Negative publicity about us, such as alleged misconduct, unethical business practices or other improper activities, or rumors relating to our business, directors, officers, employees, or shareholders, can harm our reputation, business, and results of operations, even if they are baseless or satisfactorily addressed. These allegations, even if unproven or meritless, may lead to inquiries, investigations, or other legal actions against us by regulatory or government authorities as well as private parties. Any regulatory inquiries or investigations and lawsuits against us, perceptions of inappropriate business conduct by us, or perceived wrongdoings by any member of our management team, among other things, could substantially damage our reputation, and cause us to incur significant costs to defend ourselves. Any negative market perception or publicity regarding our suppliers or other business partners that we closely cooperate with, or any regulatory inquiries or investigations and lawsuits initiated against them, may also have an adverse effect on our brand and reputation, or subject us to regulatory inquiries or investigations or lawsuits. Moreover, any negative media publicity about the automotive intelligence technologies, especially the autonomous driving technologies, or product or service quality problems of other players in the industry in which we operate, including our competitors, may also adversely affect our reputation and brand. In particular, given the popularity of social media, including Weixin and Weibo in China, any negative publicity, whether true or not, could quickly proliferate and harm customer and user perceptions and confidence in our brand. If we are unable to maintain a good reputation or further enhance our brand recognition, our ability to attract and retain customers, third-party partners, and key employees could be harmed and, as a result, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
We have granted, and may continue to grant options and other types of awards under our share incentive plan, which may result in increased share-based compensation expenses.
We adopted a share incentive plan in 2019 and an additional incentive plan in 2021. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021 and for the six months ended June 30, 2022, we recorded RMB11.4 million, RMB179.9 million (US$26.9 million) and RMB195.0 million (US$29.1 million) in share-based compensation expenses, respectively. Competition for highly skilled personnel is often intense and we may incur significant costs or may not be successful in attracting, integrating, or retaining qualified personnel to fulfill our current or future needs. We believe the granting of share-based awards is of significant importance to our ability to attract and retain key personnel and employees, and we will continue to grant share-based awards in the future. As a result, our expenses associated with share-based compensation may increase, which may have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
Our revenues and financial results may be adversely affected by any economic slowdown in China as well as globally.
The success of our business ultimately depends on consumer spending. We derive substantially all of our revenues from China. As a result, our revenues and financial results are impacted to a significant extent by economic conditions in China and globally. The global macroeconomic environment is facing numerous challenges. The growth rate of the Chinese economy has gradually slowed since 2010 and the trend may continue. Any slowdown could significantly reduce domestic commerce in China. In addition, there is considerable uncertainty over the long-term effects of the expansionary monetary and fiscal policies adopted by the central banks and financial authorities of some of the world’s leading economies, including the United States and China. Unrest, terrorist threats and the potential for war in the Middle East and elsewhere may increase market volatility across the globe. There have also been concerns about the relationship between China and other countries, including the surrounding Asian countries, which may potentially have economic effects. In particular, there is significant uncertainty about the future relationship between the United States and China with respect to trade policies, treaties, government regulations and tariffs. Economic conditions in China are sensitive to global economic conditions, as well as changes in domestic economic
 
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and political policies and the expected or perceived overall economic growth rate in China. Any severe or prolonged slowdown in the global or Chinese economy may materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Sales of our products and services depend in part on discretionary consumer spending and are even more exposed to adverse changes in general economic conditions. In response to consumers’ perceived uncertainty in economic conditions, customers might delay, reduce, or cancel purchases of our products and our results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
Heightened tensions in international relations, particularly between the United States and China, may adversely impact our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Recently there have been heightened tensions in international relations, particularly between the United States and China, but also as a result of the conflict in Ukraine and sanctions on Russia. These tensions have affected both diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries. Heightened tensions could reduce levels of trade, investments, technological exchanges, and other economic activities between the two major economies. The existing tensions and any further deterioration in the relationship between the United States and China may have a negative impact on the general, economic, political, and social conditions in both countries and, given our reliance on the Chinese market, adversely impact our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Natural disasters, terrorist activities, political unrest, and other outbreaks could disrupt our production, delivery, and operations, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Global pandemics, epidemics in China or elsewhere in the world, or fear of spread of contagious diseases, such as Ebola virus disease, Middle East respiratory syndrome, severe acute respiratory syndrome, H1N1 flu, H7N9 flu, and avian flu, as well as hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, or other natural disasters could disrupt our business operations, reduce or restrict our supply of materials and services, incur significant costs to protect our employees and facilities, or result in regional or global economic distress, which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Actual or threatened war, terrorist activities, political unrest, civil strife, and other geopolitical uncertainty could have a similar adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Any one or more of these events may impede our production and delivery efforts and adversely affect our sales results, or even for a prolonged period of time, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We are also vulnerable to natural disasters and other calamities. Although we have servers that are hosted in an offsite location, our backup system does not capture data on a real-time basis and we may be unable to recover certain data in the event of a server failure. We cannot assure you that any backup systems will be adequate to protect us from the effects of fire, floods, typhoons, earthquakes, power loss, telecommunications failures, break-ins, war, riots, terrorist attacks, or similar events. Any of the foregoing events may give rise to interruptions, damage to our property, delays in production, breakdowns, system failures, technology platform failures, or internet failures, which could cause the loss or corruption of data or malfunctions of software or hardware as well as adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Unexpected termination of leases, failure to renew the lease of our existing premises or to renew such leases at acceptable terms could materially and adversely affect our business.
We lease the premises for research and development, delivery and servicing centers, and offices. We cannot assure you that we would be able to renew the relevant lease agreements without substantial additional cost or increase in the rental cost payable by us. If a lease agreement is renewed at a rent substantially higher than the current rate, or currently existing favorable terms granted by the lessor are not extended, our business and results of operations may be adversely affected.
 
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If we fail to implement and maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may be unable to accurately report our results of operations, meet our reporting obligations or prevent fraud, which may have material and adverse effect to investor confidence and the market price of our securities.
In the course of auditing our consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, we and our independent registered public accounting firm identified one material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting and other control deficiencies. The material weakness identified relates to the lack of sufficient financial reporting and accounting personnel with appropriate knowledge of U.S. GAAP and the SEC reporting requirements to formalize, design, implement and operate key controls over financial reporting process to address complex U.S. GAAP accounting issues and related disclosures in accordance with U.S. GAAP and financial reporting requirements set forth by the SEC. This has resulted in a number of accounting errors and omissions, including but not limited to the accounting for the complex transactions such as share based compensation and redeemable convertible preferred shares. Following the identification of the material weakness, we have taken measures and plan to continue to take measures to remedy this material weakness. See “ECARX’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Internal Control over Financial Reporting.” However, we cannot assure you that the implementation of these measures will be sufficient to eliminate such material weakness, or that material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting will not be identified in the future. Our failure to correct this material weakness or our failure to discover and address any other material weaknesses or significant deficiencies could result in inaccuracies in our financial statements and impair our ability to comply with applicable financial reporting requirements and related regulatory filings on a timely basis. Moreover, ineffective internal control over financial reporting could significantly hinder our ability to prevent fraud.
Once we become a public company in the United States, we will be subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or Section 404, will require that we include a report from management on our internal control over financial reporting in our annual report on Form 20-F beginning with our annual report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 assuming the Business Combination is consummated in 2022. In addition, once we cease to be an “emerging growth company” as such term is defined in the JOBS Act, our independent registered public accounting firm must attest to and report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Our management may conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is not effective. Moreover, even if our management concludes that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, our independent registered public accounting firm, after conducting its own independent testing, may issue a report that is qualified if it is not satisfied with our internal controls or the level at which our controls are documented, designed, operated, or reviewed, or if it interprets the relevant requirements differently from us. In addition, after we become a public company, our reporting obligations may place a significant strain on our management, operational and financial resources and systems for the foreseeable future. We may be unable to timely complete our evaluation testing and any required remediation.
During the course of documenting and testing our internal control procedures, in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 404, we may identify other or more material weaknesses or deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting. In addition, if we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting, as these standards are modified, supplemented, or amended from time to time, we may not be able to conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404. Generally speaking, if we fail to achieve and maintain an effective internal control environment, we could suffer material misstatements in our financial statements and fail to meet our reporting obligations, which would likely cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information. This could in turn limit our access to capital markets, harm our results of operations and lead to a decline in the trading price of our securities. Additionally, ineffective internal control over financial reporting could expose us to increased risk of fraud or misuse of corporate assets and subject us to potential delisting from the stock exchange on which we list, regulatory investigations, and civil or criminal sanctions.
It may be difficult for overseas regulators to conduct investigations or collect evidence within mainland China.
Shareholder claims or regulatory investigation that are common in jurisdictions outside mainland China are difficult to pursue as a matter of law or practicality in mainland China. For example, in mainland
 
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China, there are significant legal and other obstacles to providing information needed for regulatory investigations or litigation initiated outside mainland China. Although the authorities in mainland China may establish a regulatory cooperation mechanism with the securities regulators of another country or region to implement cross-border supervision and administration, such cooperation with the securities regulators in the United States or other jurisdictions may not be efficient in the absence of mutual and practical cooperation mechanism. Furthermore, according to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law which became effective in March 2020, no overseas securities regulator is allowed to directly conduct investigations or evidence collection activities within mainland China, and without the consent by the Chinese securities government authorities and the other competent governmental agencies, no entity or individual may provide documents or materials related to securities business to any foreign party. While detailed interpretation of or implementation rules under the article have yet to be promulgated, the inability for an overseas securities regulator to directly conduct investigations or evidence collection activities within mainland China and the potential obstacles for information provision may further increase difficulties faced by you in protecting your interests.
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”) may delay, prevent, or impose conditions on the Business Combination.
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”) has authority to review certain direct or indirect foreign investments in U.S. businesses. Among other things, CFIUS is authorized to require certain foreign investors to make mandatory filings and to self-initiate national security reviews of certain foreign direct and indirect investments in U.S. businesses if the parties to that investment choose not to file voluntarily. With respect to transactions that CFIUS considers to present unresolved national security concerns, CFIUS has the power to suspend transactions, impose mitigation measures, and/or recommend that the President block pending transactions or order divestitures of completed transactions when national security concerns cannot be mitigated. Whether CFIUS has jurisdiction to review an acquisition or investment transaction depends on, among other factors, the nature and structure of the transaction, whether the target company is a U.S. business, the level of beneficial ownership and voting interests acquired by foreign persons, and the nature of any information, control or governance rights received by foreign persons. For example, any investment that results in “control” of a U.S. business by a foreign person is within CFIUS’s jurisdiction. CFIUS’s expanded jurisdiction under the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 and implementing regulations further includes investments that do not result in control of a U.S. business by a foreign person but that afford foreign persons certain information or governance rights in a “TID U.S. business,” that is, a U.S. business that (1) produces, designs, tests, manufactures, fabricates, or develops “critical technologies”; (2) owns or operates certain “critical infrastructure”; and/or (3) maintains or collects “sensitive personal data.”
The Sponsor is a “foreign person” under CFIUS’s regulations. The Sponsor is organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands and its principal place of business is San Francisco, California. Mr. Jun Hong Heng, a Singapore national and a U.S. permanent resident (green card holder), exercises control over the Sponsor. Mr. Heng is the sole member of CC Acquisition Sponsor Manager, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (with a principal place of business in San Francisco, California), that is the manager of the Sponsor (the “Manager”). Under the organizational documents of the Sponsor, management and control of the Sponsor have been vested exclusively in the Manager. Accordingly, Mr. Heng, as the sole member of the Manager, has voting and investment discretion with respect to the ordinary shares of COVA held of record by the Sponsor. In addition, the Sponsor and COVA have substantial ties to foreign persons, given that certain of the members of COVA’s board of directors and management are foreign persons and a majority of the funds invested in the Sponsor were provided by foreign persons.
The Sponsor held 20.0% of the ordinary shares of COVA as of June 30, 2022. Prior to COVA’s initial business combination, only holders of its COVA Founder Shares (which are all held by the Sponsor) have the right to vote on the appointment of directors. Holders of COVA’s Public Shares are not entitled to vote on the appointment of directors during such time. It is expected that upon the Closing, the Sponsor will hold between 1.6% and 2.1% of the ECARX Ordinary Shares. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions of the Amended ECARX Articles, ECARX Holdings shall take all such action within its power as may be necessary or appropriate such that immediately following the Closing, the board of directors of ECARX Holdings shall consist of seven directors, which shall include five directors
 
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determined by ECARX Holdings and two directors designated by COVA (the “COVA designees”). Neither COVA nor the Sponsor will have any right to further designate any directors, and following the Closing the COVA designees will stand for re-election to the board of directors of ECARX Holdings as any other independent director beginning with the ECARX Holdings’ first annual shareholder meeting following the Closing.
ECARX Holdings is organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. It is not an operating company. It conducts its operations through its subsidiaries and its operations in China are currently conducted by its PRC subsidiaries. The operations of ECARX’s subsidiaries are focused in China and Europe. ECARX Holdings has no U.S. subsidiaries. ECARX Holdings and its subsidiaries have no place of business or physical locations in the United States, no employees or assets in the United States, and only a limited number of U.S.-based advisors.
CFIUS has broad discretion to interpret its regulations, and we cannot predict whether CFIUS may seek to review the Business Combination. If CFIUS were to determine that the Business Combination or any portion thereof is within its jurisdiction, it might request the parties submit a filing with respect to the Business Combination. A CFIUS review of the Business Combination could delay the completion of the Business Combination. And, if CFIUS identifies unresolved national security concerns as part of that review, CFIUS could impose conditions with respect to the Business Combination, recommend that the President of the United States prohibit the Business Combination, or if the Closing has occurred, recommend that the President of the United States order COVA to divest all or a portion of the ECARX Ordinary Shares that COVA acquired without first obtaining CFIUS approval. Moreover, should CFIUS determine that any parties to the Business Combination were required to make a filing with CFIUS but failed to do so, CFIUS could impose a civil penalty not to exceed $250,000 or the value of the relevant transaction, whichever is greater, on the parties it determines were subject to a mandatory filing requirement.
The time necessary for CFIUS review of the Business Combination or a decision by CFIUS to prohibit the Business Combination may also prevent the Business Combination from occurring within the applicable time period required under the COVA Articles, even if an extension is approved. These risks may limit the attractiveness of, and/or delay or prevent COVA from pursuing, the Business Combination or another proposed business combination should the Business Combination not be completed with certain target companies that COVA believes would otherwise be attractive to its and its shareholders.
If COVA is unable to consummate the Business Combination within the applicable time period required under the COVA Articles, COVA will be required to wind up, redeem and liquidate. In such event, COVA’s shareholders will miss the opportunity to benefit from an investment in a target company and the appreciation in value of such investment through a business combination. Additionally, there will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to COVA’s warrants, which will expire worthless in the event of our winding up.
In addition, depending on ECARX Holdings’ ultimate share ownership following the Business Combination and other factors, post-Closing ECARX Holdings may be deemed to be a foreign person under CFIUS’s regulations. If a future particular proposed investment by ECARX Holdings in a U.S. business falls within CFIUS’s jurisdiction, ECARX Holdings may determine that it is required to make a mandatory filing with CFIUS or that it will submit a filing to CFIUS on a voluntary basis, or, if a filing is not mandatory, ECARX Holdings may determine to proceed with such investment without submitting to CFIUS and risk CFIUS intervention, before or after closing such investment.
Risks Relating to Doing Business in China
The PRC government has significant oversight and discretion over our business operations, and it may influence or intervene in our operations as part of its efforts to enforce PRC law, which could result in a material adverse change in our operations and the value of our securities.
A major part of our operations is located in China. The PRC government has significant authority to influence and intervene in the China operations of an offshore holding company, such as ECARX, at any time. Accordingly, our business, prospects, financial condition, and results of operations may be influenced to a significant degree by political, economic, and social conditions in China generally.
 
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The Chinese economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the degree of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. Although the Chinese government has implemented measures to underscore the importance of the utilization of market forces for economic reform, the divestment of state ownership in productive assets and the establishment of improved corporate governance in business enterprises, a substantial portion of productive assets in mainland China are still owned by the government. In addition, the Chinese government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies. The Chinese government also exercises significant control over China’s economic growth through resources allocation, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to selected industries or companies.
While the Chinese economy has experienced significant growth over the past decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among different sectors of the economy. The Chinese government has implemented various measures to generate economic growth and guide the allocation of resources. Some of these measures may benefit the Chinese economy overall, but may have a negative effect on us. Any slowdown in the Chinese economy may reduce the demand for our products and services and materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Uncertainties in the PRC legal system and the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations could limit the legal protections available to you and us, hinder our ability and the ability of any holder of our securities to offer or continue to offer such securities, result in a material adverse change to our business operations, and damage our reputation, which would materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and cause our securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless.
The PRC legal system is evolving rapidly and PRC laws, regulations, and rules may change quickly with little or no advance notice. In particular, the legal system in mainland China is based on written statutes, and court decisions have limited precedential value. The interpretations of many laws, regulations, and rules in mainland China are done inconsistently, subjecting the enforcement of the same to a great deal of uncertainties. From time to time, we may have to resort to court and administrative proceedings to enforce our legal rights. However, since the administrative authorities in mainland China have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be more difficult to predict the outcome of a judicial or administrative proceeding in mainland China than in more developed legal systems. Furthermore, the PRC legal system is, in part, based on government policies and internal rules, some of which are not published in a timely manner, or at all, but which may have retroactive effect. As a result, we may not always be aware of an instance of violation of these policies and rules even after its occurrence. Such unpredictability towards our contractual, property (including intellectual property), and procedural rights could adversely affect our business and impede our ability to continue our operations.
Laws and regulations concerning our industries are also constantly evolving in China and the PRC government authorities may further promulgate new laws and regulations regulating our industries and other businesses we have already engaged in or may further expand into in the future. Although we have taken measures to comply with and avoid violation of applicable laws and regulations, we cannot assure you that our practice is and will remain in full compliance with applicable PRC laws and regulations.
In addition, the PRC government may regulate or intervene in our operations at any time, or may exercise more oversight and control at any time over offerings conducted outside of China and foreign investment in China-based companies. For example, the recently issued Opinions on Severely Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities According to Law emphasized the need to strengthen the management over illegal securities activities and the supervision on overseas listings by mainland China-based companies. These opinions propose to take effective measures, such as promoting the establishment of relevant regulatory systems, to deal with the risks and incidents facing mainland China-based overseas-listed companies, and fulfill the demand for cybersecurity and data privacy protection. These opinions and any future related implementation rules may subject us to additional compliance requirement in the future. As these opinions were recently issued, official guidance and interpretation of these opinions are absent in several material respects at this time.
Therefore, we cannot assure you that we will remain fully compliant with any new regulatory requirements or any future implementation rules on a timely basis, or at all. Any failure of us to fully
 
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comply with applicable laws and regulations may significantly limit or completely hinder our ability and the ability of any holder of our securities to offer or continue to offer such securities, cause significant disruption to our business operations, and severely damage our reputation, which would materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and cause our securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless.
The approval of and filing with the CSRC or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection with this offering under PRC law, and, if so required, we cannot predict whether or when we will be able to obtain such approval or complete such filing, and even if we obtain such approval, it could be rescinded. Any failure to or delay in obtaining such approval or complying with such filing requirements in relation to this offering, or a rescission of such approval, could subject us to sanctions imposed by the CSRC or other PRC government authorities.
The Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Companies by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, adopted by six different PRC regulatory authorities in 2006 and amended in 2009, purports to require offshore special purpose vehicles that are controlled by PRC domestic companies, or individuals and that have been formed for the purpose of seeking a public listing on an overseas stock exchange through acquisitions of PRC domestic companies or assets to obtain CSRC approval prior to publicly listing their securities on an overseas stock exchange. The interpretation and application of the regulations remain unclear. If CSRC approval is required, it is uncertain whether we are able to and how long it will take for us to obtain such approval, and, even if we obtain such CSRC approval, the approval could be rescinded. Any failure to obtain or any delay in obtaining CSRC approval for our listing may subject us to sanctions imposed by the CSRC and other PRC regulatory authorities, which could include fines and penalties on our operations in China, restrictions or limitations on our ability to pay dividends outside of China, and other forms of sanctions that may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Furthermore, the PRC government has recently indicated an intent to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers. On July 6, 2021, the relevant PRC authorities promulgated the Opinions on Severely Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities According to Law, or the Opinions, which, among others, emphasizes the need to strengthen cross-border regulatory cooperation and the administration and supervision of mainland China-based issuers, and to establish a comprehensive regulatory system for the application of mainland PRC capital market laws and regulations outside mainland China. Subsequently, on December 24, 2021, the CSRC released the Provisions of the State Council on the Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (Draft for Comments) and the Administrative Measures for the Filing of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (Draft for Comments), collectively the Overseas Listing Rules. According to the draft Overseas Listing Rules, the offering or listing of shares, depository receipts, convertible corporate bonds, or other equity-like securities by a PRC domestic company in an overseas stock market, whether directly or indirectly through an offshore holding company, should be filed with the CSRC. If a PRC domestic company intends to complete a direct or indirect overseas (i) initial public offering and listing, or (ii) listing of its assets through a single or multiple acquisitions, share swaps, shares transfers or other means, the issuer (if the issuer is a PRC domestic company) or its designated major operating entity in mainland China (if the issuer is an offshore holding company), in each applicable event, the reporting entity, shall complete the filing procedures with the CSRC within three business days after the issuer submits its application documents relating to the initial public offering and/or listing or after the first public announcement of the relevant transaction (if the submission of relevant application documents is not required). The determination of whether any offering or listing is “indirect” will be made on a “substance over form” basis. An offering or listing of an issuer will be considered as an overseas indirect offering or listing by PRC domestic companies if the following conditions are met with respect to such issuer: (i) the operating income, gross profit, total assets, or net assets of PRC domestic companies in the most recent fiscal year constitute more than 50% of the relevant line item in the issuer’s audited consolidated financial statement for that year; and (ii) the majority of the senior management personnel responsible for its business operations and management are citizens of mainland China or have their ordinary residence in mainland China, or if its main place of business is in mainland China or if its business operation is primarily conducted in mainland China. The draft Overseas Listing Rules also draw the regulatory redline for overseas offerings and listings by PRC domestic companies. In addition, according to the draft Overseas Listing Rules and a
 
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set of Q&A published on the CSRC’s official website in connection with the release of the draft Overseas Listing Rules, if it is explicitly required (in the form of institutional rules) by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the relevant industry and field that regulatory procedures should be performed prior to the overseas listing of a PRC domestic company, such company must obtain the regulatory opinion, approval and other documents from and complete any required filing with such competent authority before submitting a CSRC filing. The reporting entity shall make a timely report to the CSRC and update its CSRC filing within three business days after the occurrence of any of the following material events, if any of them occurs before the completion of the offering and/or listing: (i) any material change to principal business, licenses or qualifications of the issuer; (ii) any material change to equity structure or a change of control of the issuer; and (iii) any material change to the offering and listing plan. The reporting entity shall also submit a report to the CSRC after the completion of the initial public offering and listing. Once listed overseas, the reporting entity will be further required to report the occurrence of any of the following material events within three business days after the occurrence thereof to the CSRC: (i) a change of control of the issuer; (ii) the investigation, sanction or other measures undertaken by any foreign securities regulatory agencies or relevant competent authorities in respect of the issuer; and (iii) the voluntary or mandatory delisting of the issuer. In addition, the completion of any overseas follow-on offerings by an issuer would necessitate a filing with the CSRC within three business days thereafter. Failure to comply with the applicable filing requirements may result in fines being imposed on the relevant PRC domestic companies and their controlling shareholders and other responsible person, suspension of such PRC domestic companies’ businesses, and revocation of their business licenses and operation permits. For more details of the Opinions and the Overseas Listing Rules, see “Information about ECARX —Government Regulations — Regulation on Mergers and Acquisitions and Overseas Listing.”
As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the draft Overseas Listing Rules remains in draft form. The draft Overseas Listing Rules may be further amended and there are substantial uncertainties as to when and in what form will the rules be enacted. The draft Overseas Listing Rules are also silent on detailed requirements relating to the substance and form of the documents to be filed, and the CSRC may subsequently formulate and publish guidelines in this regard. Based on a set of Q&A published on the CSRC’s official website in connection with the release of the draft Overseas Listing Rules, a CSRC official indicated that the filing requirements proposed under the said rules will apply to future offerings and listings, including initial public offerings of private PRC domestic companies and follow-on offerings by PRC domestic companies that are already listed overseas. The regulator will separately provide for other filing requirements applicable to PRC domestic companies that are already listed overseas and will allow sufficient time for transition. Both the draft Overseas Listing Rules and the Q&A, however, are silent on the requirements applicable to any offering or listing that commences prior to the enactment of the draft Overseas Listing Rules but the completion of which occurs after the draft Overseas Listing Rules becomes effective.
In addition, on December 28, 2021, the CAC and several other administrations jointly issued the revised Measures for Cybersecurity Review, or the Revised Review Measures, which became effective and replaced the existing Measures for Cybersecurity Review on February 15, 2022. According to the Revised Review Measures, if an “online platform operator” that is in possession of personal data of more than one million users intends to list in a foreign country, it must apply for a cybersecurity review. Based on a set of Q&A published on the official website of the CAC in connection with the issuance of the Revised Review Measures, an official of the CAC indicated that an online platform operator should apply for a cybersecurity review prior to the submission of its listing application with securities regulators outside mainland China. After the receipt of all required application materials, the authorities must determine, within ten business days thereafter, whether a cybersecurity review will be initiated. If a review is initiated and the authorities conclude after such review that the listing will affect national security, the listing of the relevant applicant will be prohibited. Given the recency of the issuance of the Revised Review Measures and its pending effectiveness, there is a general lack of guidance and substantial uncertainties exist with respect to its interpretation and implementation. On November 14, 2021, the CAC released the Regulations on Network Data Security Management (draft for public comments), which provide that if a data processor that processes personal data of more than one million users intends to list in a foreign country, it must apply for a cybersecurity review. Pending the finalization, adoption, enforcement and interpretation of these new measures and regulations, we cannot rule out the possibility that the measures and regulations may be enacted, interpreted or implemented in ways that will negatively affect us.
 
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On April 2, 2022, the CSRC and several other administrations jointly released the revised Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archiving Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (Draft for Comments), or the Draft Archives Rules. The Draft Archives Rules apply to both overseas direct offerings and overseas indirect offerings. The Draft Archives Rules provides that, among other things, (i) in relation to the overseas listing activities of PRC domestic companies, the PRC domestic companies are required to strictly comply with the relevant requirements on confidentiality and archives management, establish a sound confidentiality and archives system, and take necessary measures to discharge their confidentiality and archives management responsibilities; (ii) if a PRC domestic company is required to publicly disclose or provide to any securities companies, accounting firms or other securities service providers or overseas regulators, any materials that contain state secrets or are sensitive (i.e. having detrimental impact on national security or public interest if divulged), during the course of its overseas offering or listing, the PRC domestic company should obtain required approvals, and complete applicable filings and other regulatory procedures; and (iii) working papers produced in China by securities companies and other securities service institutions, who provide such PRC domestic companies with securities services during their overseas issuance and listing, should be stored in mainland China, and the transmission of any such working papers to recipients outside mainland China must be approved by competent PRC authorities.
As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, ECARX has not been involved in any investigations on cybersecurity review initiated by the CAC and ECARX has not received any official inquiry, notice, warning, or sanctions regarding cybersecurity and overseas listing from the CAC, CSRC or any other PRC authorities. Based on the opinion of our mainland China legal counsel, Han Kun Law Offices, according to its interpretation of the currently in effect mainland PRC laws and regulations, we believe that, as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the completion of the Transactions, including the issuance of its securities to foreign investors in connection with the Business Combination, does not require the application or completion of any cybersecurity review or any other permission or approval from government authorities in mainland China including the CSRC. However, given (i) the uncertainties with respect to the enactment, implementation and interpretation of the draft Overseas Listing Rules and laws and regulations relating to data security, privacy and cybersecurity; and (ii) that the PRC government authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory provisions in general, it cannot be assured that the relevant PRC government authorities will not take a contrary position or adopt different interpretations, or that there will not be changes in the regulatory landscape. In other words, the application and completion of a cybersecurity review and other permissions and approvals from PRC government authorities, including the CSRC, may be required in connection with the Transactions.
If (i) we do not receive or maintain any required permission, or fail to complete any required review or filing, (ii) ECARX inadvertently conclude that such permission, review or filing is not required, or (iii) applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change such that it becomes mandatory for ECARX to obtain any permission, review or filing in the future, ECARX may have to expend significant time and costs to comply with these requirements. If ECARX is unable to do so, on commercially reasonable terms, in a timely manner or otherwise, it may become subject to sanctions imposed by the PRC regulatory authorities, which could include fines and penalties, proceedings against it, and other forms of sanctions, and ECARX’s ability to conduct its business, invest into China as foreign investments or accept foreign investments, complete the Transactions, or list on a U.S. or other overseas exchange may be restricted, and its business, reputation, financial condition, and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. Further, ECARX’s ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors may be significantly limited or completely hindered, and the value of ECARX’s securities may significantly decline and such securities may become worthless. For more detailed information, see “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China — Uncertainties in the PRC legal system and the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations could limit the legal protections available to you and us, hinder our ability and the ability of any holder of our securities to offer or continue to offer such securities, result in a material adverse change to our business operations, and damage our reputation, which would materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and cause our securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless,” and “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China — The approval of and filing with the CSRC or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection with this offering under PRC law, and, if so required, we cannot predict whether or when we will be able to obtain such approval or complete such filing, and even if we obtain such approval, it could be rescinded. Any failure to or delay in
 
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obtaining such approval or complying with such filing requirements in relation to this offering, or a rescission of such approval, could subject us to sanctions imposed by the CSRC or other PRC government authorities.”
If it is determined in the future that approval from or filing with CSRC, CAC or other governmental agencies are required for our listing or for this offering, it is uncertain whether we can, or how long it will take us to, obtain such approval or complete such filing procedures and any such approval could be rescinded. Any failure to obtain or delay in obtaining clearance of such approval or completing such filing procedures for our listing or this offering, or a rescission of any such approval if obtained by us, would subject us to regulatory actions or other sanctions by the CSRC, CAC or other PRC regulatory authorities for failure to seek required government authorization in respect of the same. These government authorities may impose fines, restrictions and penalties on our operations in China, such as suspension of our apps, revocation of our licenses, or shutting down part or all of our operations, limit our ability to pay dividends outside mainland China, limit our operating privileges in China or take other actions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, as well as the trading price of our securities. The PRC government authorities may also take actions requiring us, or making it advisable for us, to suspend this offering before settlement and delivery. Consequently, if you engage in market trading or other activities in anticipation of and prior to settlement and delivery, you do so at the risk that settlement and delivery may not occur.
In addition, if CSRC or other government authorities subsequently promulgate new rules or issue explanations mandating that we complete filings or obtain approvals, registrations or other kinds of authorizations for this offering or our previous offerings, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain such approvals or authorizations (or that once obtained such approvals or authorizations will not be revoked), or to complete the required procedures (including filing procedures) or other requirements in a timely manner, or at all, or to obtain any waiver of the aforesaid regulatory requirements if and when procedures are established to obtain such a waiver. All of these could have a material adverse effect on the trading price of our securities and could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability and the ability of any holder of our securities to offer or continue to offer such securities.
The PCAOB is currently unable to inspect our auditor in relation to their audit work performed for our financial statements and the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections over our auditor deprives our investors with the benefits of such inspections.
Our auditor, the independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or the PCAOB, is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess its compliance with the applicable professional standards. Since our auditor is located in China, a jurisdiction where the PCAOB has been unable to fully conduct inspections without the approval of the PRC authorities, our auditor is not currently inspected by the PCAOB.
As a result, we and investors in our securities are deprived of the benefits of such PCAOB inspections. The inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections of auditors in China makes it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of our independent registered public accounting firm’s audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside of China that are subject to the PCAOB inspections, which could cause investors and potential investors in our securities to lose confidence in our audit procedures and reported financial information and the quality of our financial statements.
Assuming the Business Combination is consummated in 2022, our securities will be prohibited from trading in the United States under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or the HFCAA, in 2025 if the PCAOB is unable to inspect or fully investigate auditors located in China, or as early as 2024 if proposed changes to the law are enacted. The delisting of our securities, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment.
The HFCAA was signed into law on December 18, 2020. The HFCAA states that if the SEC determines that we have filed audit reports issued by a registered public accounting firm that has not been subject to inspection for the PCAOB for three consecutive years beginning in 2021, the SEC shall prohibit our shares
 
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or ADS from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the United States. On December 2, 2021, the SEC adopted final amendments implementing the disclosure and submission requirements of the HFCAA, pursuant to which the SEC will identify an issuer as a “Commission Identified Issuer” if the issuer has filed an annual report containing an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that the PCAOB has determined it is unable to inspect or investigate completely, and will then impose a trading prohibition on an issuer after it is identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer for three consecutive years. On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report to notify the SEC of its determination that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong, and our auditor is subject to this determination. In accordance with the HFCAA and assuming the Business Combination is consummated in 2022, our securities will be prohibited from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the United States in 2025 if the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in China, or in 2024 if proposed changes to the law, or the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, are enacted. As a result, our securities may be delisted.
On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB signed a Statement of Protocol with the CSRC and the Ministry of Finance of China, taking the first step toward opening access for the PCAOB to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. However, whether the PCAOB will be able to conduct inspections of PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in China before the issuance of our financial statements on Form 20-F for the year ending December 31, 2024 which is due by April 30, 2025, or at all, is subject to substantial uncertainty and depends on a number of factors out of our, and our auditor’s, control. If our securities are prohibited from trading in the United States, there is no certainty that we will be able to list on a non-U.S. exchange or that a market for our securities will develop outside of the United States. Such a prohibition would substantially impair your ability to sell or purchase our securities when you wish to do so, and the risk and uncertainty associated with delisting would have a negative impact on the price of our securities. Also, such a prohibition would significantly affect our ability to raise capital on terms acceptable to us, or at all, which would have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and prospects.
On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed a bill which would reduce the number of consecutive non-inspection years required for triggering the prohibitions under the HFCAA from three years to two. On February 4, 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill which contained, among other things, an identical provision. If this provision is enacted into law and the number of consecutive non-inspection years required for triggering the prohibitions under the HFCAA is reduced from three years to two, then our securities could be prohibited from trading in the United States as early as 2024.
Additional disclosure requirements to be adopted by and regulatory scrutiny from the SEC in response to risks related to companies with substantial operations in China, which could increase our compliance costs, subject us to additional disclosure requirements, and/or suspend or terminate our future securities offerings, making capital-raising more difficult.
On July 30, 2021, in response to the recent regulatory developments in China and actions adopted by the PRC government, the Chairman of the SEC issued a statement asking the SEC staff to seek additional disclosures from offshore issuers associated with China-based operating companies before their registration statements will be declared effective. As such, the offering of our securities may be subject to additional disclosure requirements and review that the SEC or other regulatory authorities in the United States may adopt for companies with China-based operations, which could increase our compliance costs, subject us to additional disclosure requirements, and/or suspend or terminate our future securities offerings, making capital-raising more difficult.
The M&A Rules and certain other PRC regulations establish complex procedures for certain acquisitions of PRC domestic companies, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions in China.
A number of PRC laws and regulations have established procedures and requirements that could make merger and acquisition activities in China by foreign investors more time consuming and complex. In addition
 
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to the Anti-monopoly Law itself, these include the Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, adopted by six PRC regulatory agencies in 2006 and amended in 2009, the Rules of the Ministry of Commerce on Implementation of Security Review System of Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors promulgated in 2011, and the Measures for the Security Review of Foreign Investment promulgated by NDRC and the MOFCOM in December 2020 and came into force on January 18, 2021. These laws and regulations impose requirements in some instances that the MOFCOM be notified in advance of any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC domestic company. In addition, pursuant to relevant anti-monopoly laws and regulations, the SAMR should be notified in advance of any concentration of undertaking if certain thresholds are triggered. In light of the uncertainties relating to the interpretation, implementation and enforcement of the anti-monopoly laws and regulations of the PRC, we cannot assure you that the anti-monopoly law enforcement agency will not deem our future acquisitions or investments to have triggered filing requirement for anti-monopoly review. Moreover, mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors that raise “national defense and security” concerns and mergers and acquisitions through which foreign investors may acquire de facto control over PRC domestic companies that raise “national security” concerns are subject to strict review by NDRC and the MOFCOM, and prohibit any attempt to bypass a security review, including by structuring the transaction through a proxy or contractual control arrangement.
In the future, we may grow our business by acquiring complementary businesses. Complying with the requirements of the relevant regulations to complete such transactions could be time consuming, and any required approval processes, including clearance from the SAMR and approval from the MOFCOM, may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions, which could affect our ability to expand our business or maintain our market share.
Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation and implementation of newly enacted 2019 PRC Foreign Investment Law and its Implementation Rules.
On March 15, 2019, the PRC National People’s Congress approved the 2019 PRC Foreign Investment Law, which came into effect on January 1, 2020 and replaced the trio of existing laws regulating foreign investment in mainland China, namely, the Sino-foreign Equity Joint Venture Enterprise Law, the Sino-foreign Cooperative Joint Venture Enterprise Law, and the Wholly Foreign-invested Enterprise Law, together with their implementation rules and ancillary regulations. On December 26, 2019, the PRC State Council approved the Implementation Rules of Foreign Investment Law, which came into effect on January 1, 2020. The 2019 PRC Foreign Investment Law and its Implementation Rules embody a regulatory trend in mainland China that aims to bring its foreign investment regulatory regime in line with prevailing international practices, and represent the legislative endeavors to unify corporate legal requirements applicable to foreign and domestic investments. However, since the 2019 PRC Foreign Investment Law and its Implementation Rules are relatively new, substantial uncertainties exist with respect to their interpretations and implementations.
The 2019 PRC Foreign Investment Law specifies that foreign investments shall be conducted in line with the “negative list” to be issued by or approved to be issued by the State Council. A foreign invested enterprise would not be allowed to make investments in prohibited industries set out in the “negative list” while a foreign invested enterprise must satisfy certain conditions stipulated in the “negative list” for investment in restricted industries. While ECARX’s mainland China subsidiaries are not currently subject to foreign investment restrictions as set forth in the presently effective Special Administrative Measures for Entry of Foreign Investment (Negative List) (2021 Version), or the 2021 Negative List, it is uncertain whether any of their business operation will be subject to foreign investment restrictions or prohibitions set forth in the “negative list” to be issued in the future. If any part of our business operation falls in the “negative list” or if the interpretation and implementation of the 2019 PRC Foreign Investment Law and any future “negative list” mandate further actions, such as market entry clearance granted by the PRC Ministry of Commerce, we face uncertainties as to whether such clearance can be timely obtained, or at all. We cannot assure you that the relevant government authorities will not interpret or implement the 2019 PRC Foreign Investment Law in the future in a way that will materially impact the viability of our current corporate governance and business operations.
 
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Regulations in mainland China of loans to and direct investment in PRC domestic companies by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may delay or prevent us from making loans to or make additional capital contributions to our mainland China subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
We are an offshore holding company conducting our operations in mainland China primarily through our mainland China subsidiaries. We may make additional capital contributions or loans to our mainland China subsidiaries, which are treated as foreign invested enterprises under the law in mainland China. Any loans by us to our mainland China subsidiaries are subject to regulations and foreign exchange loan registrations of mainland China. For example, with respect to the registration, loans by us to our mainland China subsidiaries to finance their activities must be registered with the relevant local counterpart of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the PRC, or SAFE, or filed with SAFE in its information system; with respect to the outstanding amounts of loans, (i) if the relevant mainland China subsidiaries adopt the traditional foreign exchange administration mechanism, the outstanding amount of loans shall not exceed the difference between the total investment and the registered capital of the mainland China subsidiaries; and (ii) if the relevant mainland China subsidiaries adopt the relatively new foreign debt mechanism, the outstanding amount of loans shall not exceed 200% of the net asset of the relevant mainland China subsidiaries. We may also finance our mainland China subsidiaries by means of capital contributions. These capital contributions must be reported to or filed or registered with the MOFCOM, and the SAMR, or their local counterparts.
Pursuant to the Circular on the Reforming of the Management Method of the Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 19, which became effective on June 1, 2015 and was last amended on December 30, 2019, and the Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming and Regulating Policies on the Control over Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital Accounts, or SAFE Circular 16, which was promulgated in June 2016, foreign-invested enterprises may either continue to follow the current payment-based foreign currency settlement system or choose to follow the “conversion-at-will” system for foreign currency settlement. SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16, therefore, have substantially lifted the restrictions on the use by a foreign-invested enterprise of its Renminbi registered capital, foreign debt and repatriated funds raised through overseas listing converted from foreign currencies. Nevertheless, SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16 reiterate the principle that Renminbi converted from the foreign currency-denominated capital of a foreign invested company may not be directly or indirectly used for purposes beyond its business scope and prohibit foreign-invested companies from using such Renminbi fund to provide loans to persons other than affiliates unless otherwise permitted under their business scopes.
Under the laws and regulations in mainland China, we are permitted to utilize the proceeds of any financing outside mainland China to fund our mainland China subsidiaries by making loans to or additional capital contributions to our mainland China subsidiaries, subject to applicable government registration, statutory limitations on amount and approval requirements. These laws and regulations may significantly limit our ability to use Renminbi converted from the net proceeds of any financing outside mainland China to fund the establishment of new entities in mainland China by our mainland China subsidiaries, to invest in or acquire any other PRC domestic companies through our mainland China subsidiaries.
We may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our mainland China subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our mainland China subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.
We are a holding company, and we may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our mainland China subsidiaries for our cash and financing requirements, including the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash distributions to our shareholders and service any debt we may incur. Current regulations in mainland China permit our mainland China subsidiaries to pay dividends to us only out of their accumulated after-tax profits upon satisfaction of relevant statutory conditions and procedures, if any, determined in accordance with the accounting standards and regulations in mainland China. In addition, each of our mainland China subsidiaries is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds until the total amount set aside reaches 50% of its registered capital.
 
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As of June 30, 2022, most of our mainland China subsidiaries at that time had not made appropriations to statutory reserves as our mainland China subsidiaries at that time reported accumulated loss. For a detailed discussion of applicable PRC regulations governing distribution of dividends, see “Information about ECARX — Government Regulations — Regulation on Dividend Distribution.”
Additionally, if our mainland China subsidiaries incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing their debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to us. In addition, the incurrence of indebtedness by our mainland China subsidiaries could result in operating and financing covenants and undertakings to creditors that would restrict the ability of our mainland China subsidiaries to pay dividends to us.
Any limitation on the ability of our mainland China subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other distributions to us could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our business, pay dividends, or otherwise fund and conduct our business. See “— If we are classified as a mainland China resident enterprise for purposes of income tax in mainland China, such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-mainland China shareholders.”
Increases in labor costs and enforcement of stricter labor laws and regulations in China may adversely affect our business and our profitability.
China’s overall economy and the average wage in China have increased in recent years and are expected to grow. The average wage level for our employees has also increased in recent years. We expect that our labor costs, including wages and employee benefits, will increase. Unless we are able to pass on these increased labor costs to those who pay for our services, our profitability and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
In addition, we have been subject to stricter regulatory requirements in terms of entering into labor contracts with our employees, limitation with respect to utilization of labor dispatching, applying for foreigner work permits, labor protection and labor condition and paying various statutory employee benefits, including pensions, housing fund, medical insurance, work-related injury insurance, unemployment insurance and maternity insurance to designated government agencies for the benefit of our employees. Pursuant to the PRC Labor Contract Law and its implementation rules, employers are subject to stricter requirements in terms of signing labor contracts, minimum wages, paying remuneration, determining the term of employee’s probation and unilaterally terminating labor contracts. In the event that we decide to terminate some of our employees or otherwise change our employment or labor practices, the PRC Labor Contract Law and its implementation rules may limit our ability to effect those changes in a desirable or cost-effective manner, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Companies registered and operating in mainland China are required under the PRC Social Insurance Law (latest amended in 2018) and the Regulations on the Administration of Housing Funds (latest amended in 2019) to, apply for social insurance registration and housing fund deposit registration within 30 days of their establishment, and to pay for their employees different social insurance including pension insurance, medical insurance, work-related injury insurance, unemployment insurance, and maternity insurance to the extent required by law.
As the interpretation and implementation of labor-related laws and regulations are still evolving, our employment practices may violate labor-related laws and regulations in China, which may subject us to labor disputes or government investigations. We cannot assure you that we have complied or will be able to comply with all labor-related law and regulations including those relating to obligations to make full social insurance payments and contribute to the housing provident funds. If we are found to have violated applicable labor laws and regulations, we could be required to provide additional compensation to our employees and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
You may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments or bringing actions in China against us or our management based on foreign laws.
We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, while we conduct substantially all of our operations in China, and substantially all of our assets are located in China. As a
 
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result, it may be difficult for our shareholders to effect service of process upon us or those persons inside China. In addition, mainland China does not have treaties providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments of courts with the Cayman Islands and many other countries and regions. Therefore, recognition and enforcement in mainland China of judgments of a court in any of these jurisdictions in relation to any matter not subject to a binding arbitration provision may be difficult or impossible.
For additional information, please see the section entitled “Enforceability of Civil Liability.”
Fluctuations in exchange rates could have a material and adverse effect on our results of operations.
The conversion of Renminbi into foreign currencies, including U.S. dollars, is based on rates set by the People’s Bank of China. Renminbi has fluctuated against the U.S. dollar, at times significantly and unpredictably. The value of Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies is affected by changes in China’s political and economic conditions and by China’s foreign exchange policies, among other things. We cannot assure you that Renminbi will not appreciate or depreciate significantly in value against the U.S. dollar in the future. It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between Renminbi and the U.S. dollar in the future.
There remains significant international pressure on the PRC government to adopt a more flexible currency policy. Any significant appreciation or depreciation of Renminbi may materially and adversely affect our revenues, earnings and financial position, and the value of, and any dividends payable on, our securities in U.S. dollars. For example, to the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars we receive into Renminbi to pay our operating expenses, appreciation of Renminbi against the U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on the Renminbi amount we would receive from the conversion. Conversely, a significant depreciation of Renminbi against the U.S. dollar may significantly reduce the U.S. dollar equivalent of our earnings, which in turn could adversely affect the price of our securities.
Very limited hedging options are available in mainland China to reduce our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations. To date, we have not entered into any hedging transactions to reduce our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk. While we may decide to enter into hedging transactions in the future, the availability and effectiveness of these hedges may be limited and we may not be able to adequately hedge our exposure or at all. In addition, our currency exchange losses may be magnified by exchange control regulations in mainland China that restrict our ability to convert Renminbi into foreign currency. As a result, fluctuations in exchange rates may have a material adverse effect on your investment.
Moreover, certain information presented in this proxy statement/prospectus has been converted from Renminbi to U.S. dollars at a rate of RMB6.6981 to US$1.00. While such conversions are provided for convenience only, any appreciation or depreciation in the value of Renminbi relative to the U.S. dollar could cause the results of conversion using a rate that is different from the foregoing rate to differ materially from those contained in this proxy statement/prospectus.
Governmental control of currency conversion may limit our ability to utilize our revenues effectively.
The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of Renminbi into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of mainland China. Under existing foreign exchange regulations in mainland China, payments of current account items, such as profit distributions and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, by complying with certain procedural requirements. However, approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is required where Renminbi is to be converted into a foreign currency and remitted out of mainland China to pay capital expenses, such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. See “Information about ECARX — Government Regulations —Regulation on Foreign Exchange.”
Since 2016, the PRC government has tightened its foreign exchange policies again and stepped up scrutiny of major outbound capital movement. More restrictions and a substantial vetting process have been put in place by SAFE to regulate cross-border transactions falling under the capital account. The PRC government may also restrict access in the future to foreign currencies for current account transactions, at
 
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its discretion. We receive substantially all of our revenues in Renminbi. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currencies to satisfy our foreign currency demands, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholder.
Regulations in mainland China relating to offshore investment activities by mainland China residents may limit our mainland China subsidiaries’ ability to increase their registered capital or distribute profits to us or otherwise expose us or our mainland China resident beneficial owners to liability and penalties under the law of mainland China.
SAFE requires mainland China residents or entities to register with SAFE or its local branch in connection with their establishment or control of an offshore entity established for the purpose of overseas investment or financing. In addition, such mainland China residents or entities must update their SAFE registrations when the offshore special purpose vehicle undergoes certain material events. See “Information about ECARX — Government Regulations — Regulation on Foreign Exchange — Offshore Investment by PRC Residents.”
If our shareholders who are mainland China residents or entities do not complete their registration with the local SAFE branches, our mainland China subsidiaries may be prohibited from distributing their profits and any proceeds from any reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation to us, and we may be restricted in our ability to contribute additional capital to our mainland China subsidiaries. Moreover, failure to comply with SAFE registration requirements could result in liability under the law of mainland China for evasion of applicable foreign exchange restrictions.
However, we may not be informed of the identities of all the mainland China residents or entities holding direct or indirect interests in our company, nor can we compel our beneficial owners to comply with SAFE registration requirements. As a result, we cannot assure you that all of our shareholders or beneficial owners who are mainland China residents or entities have complied with, and will in the future make any registrations or obtain any approvals required by, SAFE regulations. Failure by such shareholders or beneficial owners to comply with SAFE regulations, or failure by us to amend the foreign exchange registrations of our mainland China subsidiaries, could subject us to fines or legal sanctions, restrict our overseas or cross-border investment activities, limit our mainland China subsidiaries’ ability to make distributions or pay dividends to us or affect our ownership structure, which could adversely affect our business and prospects.
Any failure to comply with PRC regulations regarding the registration requirements for employee stock incentive plans may subject plan participants in mainland China or us to fines and other legal or administrative sanctions.
Under SAFE regulations, mainland China residents who participate in a stock incentive plan in an overseas publicly listed company are required to register with SAFE or its local branches and complete certain other procedures. See “Information about ECARX — Government Regulations — Regulation on Labor — Employee Stock Incentive Plan.” We and our mainland China resident employees who participate in our share incentive plans are subject to these regulations since we became a public company listed in the United States. If we or any of these resident employees fail to comply with these regulations, we or such employees may be subject to fines and other legal or administrative sanctions. We also face regulatory uncertainties that could restrict our ability to adopt additional incentive plans for our directors, executive officers, and employees under PRC laws.
Discontinuation of any of the preferential tax treatments and government subsidies or imposition of any additional taxes and surcharges could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Our mainland China subsidiaries have received various financial subsidies from PRC local government authorities. The financial subsidies result from discretionary incentives and policies adopted by PRC local government authorities. Local governments may decide to change or discontinue such financial subsidies at any time. The discontinuation of such financial subsidies or imposition of any additional taxes could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
 
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If we are classified as a mainland China resident enterprise for purposes of income tax in mainland China, such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-mainland China shareholders.
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, an enterprise established outside of mainland China with a “de facto management body” within mainland China is considered a mainland China resident enterprise. The implementation rules define the term “de facto management body” as the body that exercises full and substantial control over and overall management of the business, productions, personnel, accounts and properties of an enterprise. The State Administration of Taxation, or the SAT, issued a circular in April 2009 and amended it in January 2014, known as Circular 82, which provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the “de facto management body” of a mainland China-controlled enterprise that is incorporated offshore is located in mainland China. Although Circular 82 only applies to offshore enterprises controlled by enterprises or enterprise groups in mainland China, not those controlled by individuals in mainland China or foreigners like us, the criteria set forth in the circular may reflect the SAT’s general position on how the “de facto management body” test should be applied in determining the tax resident status of all offshore enterprises. According to Circular 82, an offshore incorporated enterprise controlled by a PRC domestic company or a PRC domestic company group will be regarded as a mainland China tax resident by virtue of having its “de facto management body” in mainland China and will be subject to enterprise income tax in mainland on its global income only if all of the following conditions are met: (i) the primary location of the day-to-day operational management is in mainland China; (ii) decisions relating to the enterprise’s financial and human resource matters are made or are subject to approval by organizations or personnel in mainland China; (iii) the enterprise’s primary assets, accounting books and records, company seals, and board and shareholder resolutions, are located or maintained in mainland China; and (iv) at least 50% of voting board members or senior executives habitually reside in mainland China.
We believe that none of our entities outside of mainland China is a mainland China resident enterprise for tax purposes. However, the tax resident status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the tax authorities in mainland China and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term “de facto management body.” If the tax authorities in mainland China determine that we are a mainland China resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes, we will be subject to the enterprise income tax on our global income at the rate of 25% and we will be required to comply with mainland China enterprise income tax reporting obligations. In addition, we may be required to withhold a 10% withholding tax from interest or dividends we pay to our shareholders that are non-mainland China resident enterprises. In addition, non-mainland China resident enterprise shareholders may be subject to mainland China tax at a rate of 10% on gains realized on the sale or other disposition of ordinary shares, if such income is treated as sourced from within mainland China. Furthermore, if tax authorities in mainland China determine that we are a mainland China resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes, interest or dividends paid to our non-mainland China individual shareholders and any gain realized on the transfer of ordinary shares by such holders may be subject to mainland China tax at a rate of 20% (which, in the case of interest or dividends, may be withheld at source by us), if such gains are deemed to be from mainland China sources. These rates may be reduced by an applicable tax treaty, but it is unclear whether our non-mainland China shareholders would be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and mainland China in the event that we are treated as a mainland China resident enterprise.
We may not be able to obtain certain benefits under relevant tax treaty on dividends paid by our mainland China subsidiaries to us through our Hong Kong subsidiary.
We are a holding company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and as such rely on dividends and other distributions on equity from our mainland China subsidiaries to satisfy part of our liquidity requirements. Pursuant to the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, a withholding tax rate of 10% currently applies to dividends paid by a mainland China resident enterprise to a foreign enterprise investor, unless any such foreign investor’s jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with mainland China that provides for preferential tax treatment. Pursuant to the Arrangement between Mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Tax Evasion on Income, such withholding tax rate may be lowered to 5% if a Hong Kong resident enterprise owns no less than 25% of a PRC domestic company. Furthermore, the Administrative Measures for Non-Resident Enterprises to Enjoy Treatments under Treaties, which became effective in January 2020, require non-resident
 
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enterprises to determine whether they are qualified to enjoy the preferential tax treatment under the tax treaties and file relevant report and materials with the tax authorities. There are also other conditions for enjoying the reduced withholding tax rate according to other relevant tax rules and regulations. See “ECARX’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Result of Operations — Taxation — China.”
As of June 30, 2022, most of our subsidiaries at that time located in mainland China reported accumulated loss and therefore they had no retained earnings for offshore distribution. In the future, we intend to re-invest all earnings, if any, generated from our mainland China subsidiaries for the operation and expansion of our business in China. Should our tax policy change to allow for offshore distribution of our earnings, we would be subject to a significant withholding tax. Our determination regarding our qualification to enjoy the preferential tax treatment could be challenged by the relevant tax authority and we may not be able to complete the necessary filings with the relevant tax authority and enjoy the preferential withholding tax rate of 5% under the arrangement with respect to dividends to be paid by our mainland China subsidiaries to our Hong Kong subsidiary.
We face uncertainty with respect to indirect transfers of equity interests in mainland China resident enterprises by their non-mainland China holding companies.
In February 2015, the State Administration of Taxation, or the SAT, issued the Circular on Issues of Enterprise Income Tax on Indirect Transfers of Assets by Non-PRC Resident Enterprises, or Circular 7. Circular 7 extends its tax jurisdiction to not only indirect transfers but also transactions involving transfer of other taxable assets, through the offshore transfer of a foreign intermediate holding company. In addition, Circular 7 provides certain criteria on how to assess reasonable commercial purposes and has introduced safe harbors for internal group restructurings and the purchase and sale of equity through a public securities market. Circular 7 also brings challenges to both the foreign transferor and transferee (or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer) of the taxable assets. Where a non-mainland China resident enterprise conducts an “indirect transfer” by transferring the taxable assets indirectly by disposing of the equity interests of an overseas holding company, the non-mainland China resident enterprise being the transferor, or the transferee, or the mainland China entity which directly owned the taxable assets may report to the relevant tax authority such indirect transfer. Using a “substance over form” principle, the tax authority in mainland China may disregard the existence of the overseas holding company if it lacks a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of reducing, avoiding or deferring tax in mainland China. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to enterprise income tax in mainland China, and the transferee or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer is obligated to withhold the applicable taxes, currently at a rate of 10% for the transfer of equity interests in a mainland China resident enterprise. On October 17, 2017, the SAT issued Circular on Issues of Tax Withholding regarding Non-PRC Resident Enterprise Income Tax, or Circular 37, which came into effect on December 1, 2017 and was amended on June 15, 2018. Circular 37 further clarifies the practice and procedure of the withholding of nonresident enterprise income tax.
We face uncertainties on the reporting and consequences of future private equity financing transactions, share exchanges or other transactions involving the transfer of shares in our company by investors that are non-mainland China resident enterprises. The tax authorities in mainland China may pursue such non-mainland China resident enterprises with respect to a filing or the transferees with respect to withholding obligations, and request our mainland China subsidiaries to assist in the filing. As a result, we and non-mainland China resident enterprises in such transactions may become at risk of being subject to filing obligations or being taxed under Circular 7 and Circular 37, and may be required to expend valuable resources to comply with them or to establish that we and our non-mainland China resident enterprises should not be taxed under these regulations, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
If the custodians or authorized users of controlling non-tangible assets of our company, including our corporate chops and seals, fail to fulfill their responsibilities, or misappropriate or misuse these assets, our business and operations could be materially and adversely affected.
Under PRC laws, legal documents of PRC domestic companies for corporate transactions are executed using the chops or seal of the signing entity or with the signature of a legal representative whose designation is registered and filed with the relevant branch of the SAMR.
 
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Although we usually utilize chops to enter into contracts, the designated legal representatives of each of our mainland China subsidiaries have the apparent authority to enter into contracts on behalf of such entities without chops and bind such entities. In order to maintain the physical security of our chops and chops of our mainland China entities, we generally store these items in secured locations accessible only by the authorized personnel in the legal or finance department of each of our subsidiaries. Although we monitor such authorized personnel, there is no assurance such procedures will prevent all instances of abuse or negligence. Accordingly, if any of our authorized personnel misuse or misappropriate our corporate chops or seals, we could encounter difficulties in maintaining control over the relevant entities and experience significant disruption to our operations. If a designated legal representative obtains control of the chops in an effort to obtain control over any of our mainland China subsidiaries, we or our mainland China subsidiaries would need to pass a new shareholders or board resolution to designate a new legal representative and we would need to take legal action to seek the return of the chops, apply for new chops with the relevant authorities, or otherwise seek legal redress for the violation of the representative’s fiduciary duties to us, which could involve significant time and resources and divert management attention away from our regular business. In addition, the affected entity may not be able to recover corporate assets that are sold or transferred out of our control in the event of such a misappropriation if a transferee relies on the apparent authority of the representative and acts in good faith.
Our leased property interest or entitlement to other facilities or assets may be defective or subject to lien and our right to lease, own or use the properties affected by such defects or lien challenged, which could cause significant disruption to our business.
Under the laws in mainland China, all lease agreements are required to be registered with the local housing authorities. We presently lease several premises in mainland China, some of which have not completed the registration of the ownership rights or the registration of our leases with the relevant authorities. Failure to complete these required registrations may expose our landlords, lessors and us to potential monetary fines. If these registrations are not obtained in a timely manner or at all, we may be subject to monetary fines or may have to relocate our offices and incur the associated losses.
Some of the ownership certificates or other similar proof of certain leased properties have not been provided to us by the relevant lessors. Therefore, we cannot assure you that such lessors are entitled to lease the relevant real properties to us. If the lessors are not entitled to lease the real properties to us and the owners of such real properties decline to ratify the lease agreements between us and the respective lessors, we may not be able to enforce our rights to lease such properties under the respective lease agreements against the owners. Meanwhile, registered mortgage of property right exists over certain leased properties before such properties are leased to some of our mainland China subsidiaries. In addition, some registered addresses of mainland China subsidiaries are inconsistent with the actual operating addresses, and the actual uses of some land leased to some of our mainland China subsidiaries are inconsistent with the planned use indicated on the ownership certificate of such land. If our lease agreements are claimed as null and void by third parties who are the real owners of such leased real properties, we could be required to vacate the properties, in the event of which we could only initiate the claim against the lessors under relevant lease agreements for indemnities for their breach of the relevant leasing agreements. In addition, we may not be able to renew our existing lease agreements before their expiration dates, in which case we may be required to vacate the properties. We cannot assure you that suitable alternative locations are readily available on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, and if we are unable to relocate our operations in a timely manner, our operations may be adversely affected.
Risks Relating to Government Regulation
Our business is subject to complex and evolving laws and regulations regarding cybersecurity, privacy, data protection and information security in China and elsewhere. Any privacy or data security breach or any failure to comply with these laws and regulations could damage our reputation and brand, result in negative publicity, legal proceedings, increased cost of operations, warnings, fines, service or business suspension, or otherwise harm our business and results of operations.
The offering of our products and services involves the collection, storage, and transmission of data and we face significant challenges with respect to cybersecurity, privacy, data protection and information security amid a complex and evolving regulatory framework in China and other geographies that we operate in.
 
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In response to the PRC government authorities’ move to tighten the regulatory framework governing data security, cybersecurity and privacy, we initiated an internal process in September 2021 to transfer the rights of our mainland China subsidiaries and of Hubei ECARX, our former VIE, to access and process personal data relevant to their respective business operations to Zhejiang Huanfu Technology Co., Ltd., or Zhejiang Huanfu. The transfer was completed in December 2021 and as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, our mainland China subsidiaries do not have any right to access or process any personal data other than a limited amount of such data relating to the employees and business partners of ECARX and 4,000 to 5,000 vehicle identification numbers provided by OEMs in association with the provision of product repair and maintenance services by ECARX. We have entered into a procurement framework agreement with Zhejiang Huanfu in January 2022 and concluded several procurement-related contracts pursuant to the procurement framework agreement for the sole purpose of contracting Zhejiang Huanfu to discharge our outstanding obligations to provide certain data-related services to its customers.
Information stored on our systems may be targeted in cyber-attacks, including computer viruses, worms, phishing attacks, malicious software programs, and other information security breaches, which could result in the unauthorized release, gathering, monitoring, misuse, loss, or destruction of such information. If cybercriminals are able to circumvent our security measures, or if we are unable to detect and prevent an intrusion into our systems, data stored with us may be compromised and susceptible to unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction, which could subject us to liabilities, fines and other penalties. Additionally, If any of our employees accesses, converts, or misuses any sensitive information, we could be liable for damages, and our business reputation could be damaged or destroyed. Any actual or perceived breach of our security could damage our reputation, cause existing users to discontinue the use of our products and services, prevent us from attracting new users, or subject us to third- party lawsuits, regulatory fines or other actions or liabilities, any of which could adversely affect our business, operating results, or financial condition.
We have adopted strict information security policies and deployed advanced security measures to comply with these requirements and to prevent data loss and other security breaches, including, among others, advanced encryption technologies. Nonetheless, these measures could be breached as a result of third-party action, employee error, third- party or employee malfeasance or otherwise. Because the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access or to sabotage systems change frequently, we may not be able to anticipate these techniques and implement adequate preventative or protective measures.
We are subject to a multitude of laws and regulations that are aimed to address information security, privacy, and the collection, storing, sharing, use, disclosure, protection of data in various jurisdictions.
Specifically, our operations in China are subject to a variety of PRC laws and regulations covering cybersecurity, privacy, data protection and information security and the PRC government authorities have recently heightened their supervision on the protection of data security by initiating investigations on certain companies in mainland China regarding their cybersecurity and use of personal information and data, and enacted and implemented laws and regulations and proposed additional regulatory agenda concerning data protection and privacy, under which internet service providers and other network operators are required to, amongst others, clearly indicate the purposes, methods and scope of any information collection and usage, to obtain appropriate user consent, to establish user information protection systems with appropriate remedial measures and to address national security concerns.
According to the PRC National Security Law, the state shall establish institutions and mechanisms for national security review and regulation and conduct national security review on key technologies and IT products and services that affect or may affect national security.
In November 2016, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, or the SCNPC, released the Cyber Security Law, which took effect in June 2017. The Cyber Security Law requires network operators to conduct certain activities relating to the protection of internet security and the strengthening of network information management. Under the said law, network operators, including ECARX, are obligated to provide assistance and support in accordance with the law to public security and national security authorities to safeguard national security, and to assist with criminal investigations. In addition, the Cyber Security Law provides that personal information and important data collected and generated by operators of critical information infrastructure in the course of their operations in mainland China should be stored in
 
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mainland China, and the law prescribes heightened scrutiny over and imposes additional security obligations on operators of critical information infrastructure. Further, according to the Measures for Cybersecurity Review, which was promulgated by the Cyberspace Administration of China and certain other PRC government authorities in April 2020 and became effective in June 2020, and was later replaced by the Revised Review Measures taking effect from February 15, 2022, operators of critical information infrastructure must pass a cybersecurity review when procuring network products and services which actually affect or may affect national security. On July 30, 2021, the State Council promulgated the Regulations of Security Protection for Critical Information Infrastructure, or the CII Protection Regulations, which became effective on September 1, 2021. The CII Protection Regulations clarifies that, among others, critical information infrastructures, or CIIs, refer to important network facilities and information systems in important industries such as public communications and information services, energy, transportation, water conservancy, finance, public services, e-government, national defense technology industry and others that may seriously harm national security, national economy and people’s livelihood and public interests when they are damaged, disabled or suffer from data leakage. The competent supervisory departments of these important industries will make rules for and administer the identification of CII and promptly notify the operators of CII and the Public Security Department of the State Council of the results thereof. Pursuant to these provisions, the relevant government authorities are responsible for formulating rules for the identification of CII with reference to factors set forth in the provisions, and should further arrange for CII identification to be conducted in certain industries and fields in accordance with such rules. The relevant authorities shall also notify operators who are being identified as critical information infrastructure operators, or CIIOs. On December 28, 2021, the CAC and several other administrations jointly issued the revised Measures for Cybersecurity Review, or the Revised Review Measures, which became effective and replaced the previously existing Measures for Cybersecurity Review on February 15, 2022. According to the Revised Review Measures, in addition to critical information infrastructure operators purchasing network products or services that affect or may affect national security, any “online platform operator” carrying out data processing activities that affect or may affect national security should also be subject to a cybersecurity review, and any “online platform operator” possessing personal information of more than one million users must apply for a cybersecurity review before its listing overseas. In the event a member of the cybersecurity review working mechanism is in the opinion that any network product or service or any data processing activity affects or may affect national security, the Office of Cybersecurity Review shall report the same to the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission for its approval under applicable procedures and then conduct cybersecurity review in accordance with the revised Measures for Cybersecurity Review. The foregoing rules and regulations were newly issued and the PRC government authorities may further enact detailed rules or issue guidance with respect to the interpretation and implementation of these rules and regulations, including rules on the identification of CII in different industries and fields and the exact definition of “online platform operator”. As such it remains uncertain whether ECARX or other operators ECARX provide network products and services to may be identified as CIIOs or “online platform operator”. If ECARX provide or are deemed to be providing network products and services to CIIOs, or if ECARX are deemed to be a CIIO or “online platform operator,” ECARX would be required to follow the relevant cybersecurity review procedures and subject to cybersecurity review by the CAC and other relevant PRC regulatory authorities. During such review, ECARX may be required to suspend new user registration in mainland China and/or experience other disruptions to its operations. Such review, if undertaken, could also result in negative publicity with respect to ECARX and diversion of the managerial and financial resources of ECARX. Furthermore, if ECARX are identified as a CIIO, additional obligations will be imposed on ECARX with respect to the protection of CII according to the Cyber Security Law, including the obligation to set up a special security administration department and to conduct security background review on persons in charge of such department or holding other key positions in such department. If ECARX is identified as an “online platform operator” and its data processing activities are considered to be affecting or may affect national security, ECARX might be subject to a cybersecurity review. Because the Revised Review Measures do not define “online platform operator” or clarify the meaning of “affects or may affect national security,” and given the PRC government authority’s discretion to initiate a cybersecurity review, it is possible that ECARX would be subject to an ex officio cybersecurity review. If ECARX is subject to a cybersecurity review, it may be ordered to, among others, suspend all of its business activities. Failure to complete the cybersecurity review could result in penalties such as fines, suspension of business, closing down of websites, revocation of business licenses and permits, any of which could have a material adverse effect on ECARX’s business and results of operations.
 
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On November 14, 2021, the CAC released the Regulations on Network Data Security Management (draft for public comments), which set out general guidelines applicable to the protection of personal information, security of important data, security management of cross-border data transfer, obligations of internet platform operators, as well as the supervision, management and legal liabilities with respect to the foregoing. The draft regulations require data processors that process important data or are listed overseas to carry out an annual data security assessment on their own or by engaging a data security services institution, and the data security assessment report for a given year should be submitted to the local cyberspace affairs administration department before January 31 of the following year. It remains to be seen when and in what form will the draft Regulations on Network Data Security Management be enacted, although based on the current provisions being proposed, we will be required to carry out an annual data security review and comply with the relevant reporting obligations after we have completed our listing outside mainland China.
On June 10, 2021, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China promulgated the Data Security Law, which took effect on September 1, 2021. The Data Security Law provides for, amongst others, data security and privacy obligations on entities and individuals carrying out data activities, introduces a data classification and hierarchical protection system based on the importance of data in economic and social development, as well as the degree of harm it will cause to national security, public interests, or legitimate rights and interests of individuals or organizations when such data is tampered with, destroyed, leaked, or illegally acquired or used, provides for a national security review procedure for those data activities which may affect national security and imposes export restrictions on certain data and information.
On August 20, 2021, the Personal Information Protection Law was promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and took effect on November 1, 2021. The law integrated previously scattered rules with respect to personal information rights and privacy protection. The Personal Information Protection Law aims at protecting personal information rights and interests, regulating the processing of personal information, ensuring the orderly transmission of personal information in accordance with law and promoting the reasonable use of personal information. The Personal Information Protection Law applies to the processing of personal information within mainland China, as well as certain personal information processing activities outside mainland China, including those for the provision of products and services to natural persons within mainland China or for the analysis and assessment of acts of natural persons within mainland China. As a result, all of our subsidiaries, whether within or outside mainland China, could potentially become subject to the Personal Information Protection Law. The Civil Code promulgated in 2020 also contains specific provisions regarding the protection of personal information. Given the novelty of these laws and regulations, there are substantial uncertainties with respect to their interpretation and implementation and additional laws and regulations on this subject may be promulgated in the future which may in turn impose further requirements on us. We cannot guarantee that we will or will continue to be in compliance with all regulatory requirement that will be imposed on us, and we may be faced with additional compliance expenses, increased obligations, and potential liability and negative publicity for non-compliance.
On February 10, 2022, the MIIT issued the draft Administrative Measures for Data Security in the Field of Industry and Information Technology, or the Draft Data Security Measures in the IT Field, which stipulates that all businesses which handle industrial and telecoms data in mainland China are required to categorize such information into “general,” “important” and “core” and businesses processing “important” and “core” data shall comply with certain filing and reporting obligations. Industrial data refer to data produced and collected in the course of research and development design, manufacturing, operation and management, operating and maintenance, and platform operation in various sectors and fields of industry. Telecoms data refer to the data generated and collected in the course of telecommunications business operations.
Given that the Draft Data Security Measures in the IT Field is published for public comments only, it remains uncertain as to whether and in what form would the final measures be enacted. We are unable to evaluate or predict the impact of these draft measures at present, but we will closely monitor and assess any development in the rule-making process. Nonetheless, we cannot assure you that these laws, once enacted, would not have a material adverse effect on ECARX’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
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On July 6, 2021, the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council jointly promulgated the Opinions on Severely Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities According to Law, which further emphasized the need to strengthen cross-border regulatory collaboration, to improve relevant laws and regulations on data security, cross-border data transmission and confidential information management, and stipulated that efforts will be made to revise the regulations on strengthening the confidentiality and file management framework relating to the offering and listing of securities overseas, to enforce the responsibility of overseas listed companies with respect to information security, and to strengthen and standardize the management of cross-border information transmission mechanisms and procedures.
Furthermore, on July 7, 2022, the CAC issued the Measures for Security Assessment of Cross-border Data Transfers, which took effect on September 1, 2022 and aims to establish a continuous assessment and monitoring mechanism with respect to cross-border data transfers. It applies to the security assessment of important data and personal information that is collected and generated in the course of operations within mainland China and to be provided abroad by data processors.
For a comprehensive discussion on the aforementioned laws and regulations, see “Information about ECARX — Government Regulations — Regulation on Cyber Security and Privacy Protection.”
We expect that PRC operations in the areas referenced above will receive greater public scrutiny and attention from regulators and more frequent and rigid investigation or review by regulators, which will increase our compliance costs and subject us to heightened risks. We are closely monitoring the development in the regulatory landscape and we are constantly in the process of evaluating the potential impact of the Cyber Security Law, the Civil Code, the Data Security Law, the Personal Information Protection Law and other relevant laws and regulations on our current business practices. It also remains uncertain whether any future regulatory changes would impose additional restrictions on companies like ECARX. If further changes to our business practices are required under the evolving regulatory framework governing cybersecurity, information security, privacy and data protection in China, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.
As of the date of the prospectus, we have not been informed that we are a critical information infrastructure operator or a “data processor” carrying out data processing activities that affect or may affect national security by any government authority, and it is uncertain whether we would be categorized as such under the law of mainland China. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, we have not been involved in any investigations on cybersecurity review made by the CAC and we have not received any official inquiry, notice, warning, or sanctions in this respect. We cannot rule out the possibility that the foregoing measures may be enacted, interpreted or implemented in ways that will negatively affect us. There is also no assurance that we would be able to accomplish any review (including the cybersecurity review), obtain any approval, complete any procedures, or comply with any other requirements applicable to us in a timely manner, or at all, if we are subject to the same. In the event of non-compliance, we may be subject to government investigations and enforcement actions, fines, penalties, and suspension of our noncompliant operations, among other sanctions, which could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Aside from our operations in China, we are also required to comply with increasingly complex and rigorous regulatory standards enacted to protect business and personal data in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere. For example, the European Union adopted the General Data Protection Regulation, or the GDPR, which became effective on May 25, 2018. The GDPR imposes additional obligations on companies regarding the handling of personal data and provides certain individual privacy rights to persons whose data is stored.
We generally comply with industry standards and are subject to the terms of our own privacy policies. We have incurred, and will continue to incur, significant expenses in an effort to comply with privacy, data protection and information security standards and protocols imposed by laws, regulations, industry standards, or contractual obligations. Changes in existing laws or regulations or adoption of new laws and regulations relating to privacy, data protection and information security, particularly any new or amended laws or regulations that require enhanced protection for certain types of data or new obligations with regard to data retention, transfer or disclosure, could greatly increase our cost in providing our service offerings, require
 
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significant changes to our operations or even prevent us from providing certain service offerings in jurisdictions in which we currently operate or in which we may operate in the future. Compliance with these laws and regulations could cause us to incur substantial costs, and may place restrictions on the conduct of our business and the manner in which we interact with our users or require us to change our business practices, including our data practices, in a manner adverse to our business. Despite our efforts to comply with applicable laws, regulations and other obligations relating to cybersecurity, privacy, data protection and information security, it is possible that our practices, offerings, services or platform could fail to meet all of the requirements imposed on us by such laws, regulations or obligations. We cannot assure you that we will or will be able to comply with such laws and regulations regarding cybersecurity, privacy, data protection and information security in all respects and any failure or perceived failure to comply with the same may result in inquiries or other proceedings being instituted against, or other actions, decisions or sanctions being imposed on us by government authorities, users, consumers or other parties, including warnings, fines, penalties, directions for rectifications, service suspension or removal of our application from application stores, as well as in negative publicity on us and damage to our reputation, any of which could cause us to lose users and business partners and have a material adverse effect on our operations, revenues and profits.
We may be subject to anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, financial and economic sanctions, and similar laws, and noncompliance with such laws can subject us to administrative, civil, and criminal penalties, collateral consequences, remedial measures, and legal expenses, all of which could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, and reputation.
We may be subject to anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, financial and economic sanctions, and similar laws and regulations in various jurisdictions in which we conduct activities, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, and other anti-corruption laws and regulations. The FCPA prohibits us and our officers, directors, employees, and business partners acting on our behalf, including agents, from corruptly offering, promising, authorizing, or providing anything of value to a “foreign official” for the purposes of influencing official decisions or obtaining or retaining business or otherwise obtaining favorable treatment. The FCPA also requires companies to make and keep books, records, and accounts that accurately reflect transactions and dispositions of assets and to maintain a system of adequate internal accounting controls. A violation of these laws or regulations could adversely affect our business, reputation, financial condition, and results of operations.
We have direct or indirect interactions with officials and employees of government agencies and state-owned affiliated entities in the ordinary course of business. We also have business collaborations with government agencies and state-owned affiliated entities. These interactions subject us to an increasing level of compliance-related concerns. We are in the process of implementing policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by us and our directors, officers, employees, consultants, agents, and business partners with applicable anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, financial and economic sanctions, and similar laws and regulations. However, our policies and procedures may not be sufficient and our directors, officers, employees, consultants, agents, and business partners could engage in improper conduct for which we may be held responsible.
Non-compliance with anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, or financial and economic sanctions laws could subject us to whistleblower complaints, adverse media coverage, investigations, and severe administrative, civil and criminal sanctions, collateral consequences, remedial measures, and legal expenses, all of which could materially and adversely affect our business, reputation, financial condition, and results of operations.
We plan to expand our business and operations internationally to various jurisdictions in which we do not currently operate and where we have limited operating experience, all of which exposes us to business, regulatory, political, operational and financial risk.
One of our key business strategies is to pursue international expansion of our business operations and market our products in multiple jurisdictions.
As a result, our business is and we expect that our business will be subject to a variety of risks associated with doing business internationally, including an increase in our expenses and diversion of the management’s
 
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attention from other aspects of our business. Accordingly, our business and financial results in the future could be adversely affected due to a variety of factors, including:

political, social and/or economic instability;

risks related to governmental regulations in foreign jurisdictions and unexpected changes in regulatory requirements and enforcement;

fluctuations in currency exchange rates;

higher levels of credit risk and payment fraud;

burdens of complying with a variety of foreign laws;

complexities and difficulties in obtaining intellectual property protection and reduced protection for intellectual property rights in some countries;

difficulties in staffing and managing global operations and the increased travel, infrastructure and legal compliance costs associated with multiple international locations and subsidiaries;

management of tax consequences and compliance; and

other challenges caused by distance, language, and cultural differences, making it harder to do business in certain international jurisdictions.
In addition, we may be subject to increased regulatory risks and local competition in various jurisdictions where we plan to expand operations but has limited operating experience. Such increased regulatory burden and competition may limit the available market for our products and services and increase the costs associated with marketing the products and services where we are able to offer our products. If we are unable to manage the complexity of global operations successfully, or fail to comply with any of the regulations in other jurisdictions, our financial performance and operating results could suffer.
Risks Relating to Intellectual Property and Legal Proceedings
We may need to defend ourselves against intellectual property right infringement claims, which may be time-consuming and would cause us to incur substantial costs.
Entities or individuals, including our competitors, may hold or obtain patents, copyrights, trademarks, or other proprietary rights that would prevent, limit, or interfere with our ability to make, use, develop, sell, or market our products, services, or technologies, which could make it more difficult for us to operate our business. From time to time, we may receive communications from intellectual property right holders regarding their proprietary rights. Companies holding patents or other intellectual property rights may bring suits alleging infringement of such rights or otherwise assert their rights and urge us to take licenses. Our applications and uses of intellectual property relating to our design, software, or technologies could be found to infringe upon existing intellectual property rights. If we are determined to have infringed upon a third party’s intellectual property rights, we may be required to do one or more of the following:

cease selling or incorporating certain components into our products or services, or offering products or services that incorporate or use the challenged intellectual property;

pay substantial damages;

seek a license from the holder of the infringed intellectual property right, which may not be available on reasonable terms or at all;

redesign our products; or

establish and maintain alternative branding for our products and services.
In the event of a successful claim of infringement against us and our subsequent failure or inability to obtain a license for the infringed technology or other intellectual property right, our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects could be materially and adversely affected. In addition, parties making the infringement claim may also obtain an injunction that can prevent us from selling our products
 
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or using technology that contains the allegedly infringing contents. Any litigation or claims, whether or not valid, could result in substantial costs, negative publicity, and diversion of resources and management attention.
We may not be able to prevent others from unauthorized use of our intellectual property, which could harm our business and competitive position.
We regard our trademarks, service marks, patents, domain names, trade secrets, proprietary technologies, and similar intellectual property as critical to our success. We rely on trademark and patent law, trade secret protection, and confidentiality and license agreements with our employees and others to protect our proprietary rights. We have invested significant resources to develop our own intellectual property. Failure to maintain or protect these rights could harm our business. In addition, any unauthorized use of our intellectual property by third parties may adversely affect our current and future revenues and our reputation.
Implementation and enforcement of laws in mainland China relating to intellectual property have historically been deficient and ineffective. Accordingly, protection of intellectual property rights in mainland China may not be as effective as in the United States or other developed countries. Furthermore, policing unauthorized use of proprietary technology is difficult and expensive. We rely on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secret laws and restrictions on disclosure to protect our intellectual property rights. Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, third parties may attempt to copy or otherwise obtain and use our intellectual property or seek court declarations that they do not infringe upon our intellectual property rights. Monitoring unauthorized use of our intellectual property is difficult and costly, and we cannot assure you that the steps we have taken or will take will prevent misappropriation of our intellectual property. From time to time, we may have to resort to litigation to enforce our intellectual property rights, which could result in substantial costs and diversion of our resources.
As our patents may expire and may not be extended, our patent applications may not be granted, and our patent rights may be contested, circumvented, invalidated, or limited in scope, our patent rights may not protect us effectively. In particular, we may not be able to prevent others from developing or exploiting competing technologies, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
As of June 30, 2022, we had 407 registered patents and 326 pending patent applications in mainland China. We cannot assure you that all our pending patent applications will result in issued patents. Even if our patent applications are granted and we are issued patents accordingly, it is still uncertain whether these patents will be contested, circumvented, or invalidated in the future. In addition, the rights granted under any issued patents may not provide us with meaningful protection or competitive advantages. The claims under any patents may not be broad enough to prevent others from developing technologies that are similar or that achieve results similar to ours. It is also possible that the intellectual property rights of others could bar us from licensing and exploiting our patents. Numerous patents and pending patent applications owned by others exist in the fields where we have developed and are developing our technologies. These patents and patent applications might have priority over our patent applications and could subject our patent applications to invalidation. Finally, in addition to those who may claim priority, any of our existing patents or pending patent applications may also be challenged by others on the basis that they are otherwise invalid or unenforceable.
In addition to patented technologies, we rely on our unpatented proprietary technologies, trade secrets, processes, and know-how.
We rely on proprietary information, such as trade secrets, know-how, and confidential information, to protect intellectual property that may not be patentable, or that we believe is best protected by means that do not require public disclosure. We generally seek to protect this proprietary information by entering into confidentiality agreements, or consulting, services, or employment agreements that contain non-disclosure and non-use provisions with our employees, consultants, contractors, scientific advisors, and third parties. However, we cannot guarantee that we have entered into such agreements with every party that has or may have had access to our trade secrets or proprietary information and, even if entered into, these agreements may be breached or may otherwise fail to prevent disclosure, third-party infringement or misappropriation of
 
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our proprietary information, may be limited as to their term and may not provide an adequate remedy in the event of unauthorized disclosure or use of proprietary information. We have limited control over the protection of trade secrets used by our third-party manufacturers and suppliers and could lose future trade secret protection if any unauthorized disclosure of such information occurs. In addition, our proprietary information may otherwise become known or be independently developed by our competitors or other third parties. To the extent that our employees, consultants, contractors, and other third parties use intellectual property owned by others in their work for us, disputes may arise as to the rights in related or resulting know-how and inventions. Costly and time-consuming litigation could be necessary to enforce and determine the scope of our proprietary rights, and failure to obtain or maintain protection for our proprietary information could adversely affect our competitive business position. Furthermore, laws regarding trade secret rights in certain markets where we operate may afford little or no protection to our trade secrets. If any of our trade secrets were to be lawfully obtained or independently developed by a competitor or other third party, we would have no right to prevent them from using that trade secret to compete with us. If any of our trade secrets were to be disclosed, whether lawfully or otherwise, to or independently developed by a competitor or other third party, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition.
We also rely on physical and electronic security measures to protect our proprietary information, but we cannot guarantee that these security measures provide adequate protection for such proprietary information or will never be breached. There is a risk that third parties may obtain unauthorized access to and improperly utilize or disclose our proprietary information, which would harm our competitive advantages. We may not be able to detect or prevent the unauthorized access to or use of our information by third parties, and we may not be able to take appropriate and timely steps to mitigate the damages, or the damages may not be capable of being mitigated or remedied.
We depend on information technology to conduct our business. Any significant disruptions to our information technology systems or facilities, or those of third parties with which we do business, such as disruptions caused by cyber-attacks, could adversely impact our business.
Our ability to keep our business operating effectively depends on the functional and efficient operation of information technology systems and facilities, both internally and externally. We rely on these systems to, among other things, make a variety of day-to-day business decisions as well as to record and process transactions, billings, payments, inventory, and other data, in many currencies, on a daily basis, and across numerous and diverse markets and jurisdictions. Our systems, as well as those of our customers, suppliers, partners, and service providers, also contain sensitive confidential information or intellectual property and are susceptible to interruptions, including those caused by systems failures, cyber-attacks, and other natural or man-made incidents or disasters, which may be prolonged or go undetected. Cyber-attacks, both domestically and abroad, are increasing in their frequency, sophistication, and intensity, and have become increasingly difficult to detect. Although we have and continue to take precautions to prevent, detect, and mitigate such events, a significant or large-scale interruption of our information technology systems or facilities could adversely affect our ability to manage and keep our operations running efficiently and effectively, and could result in significant costs, fines or litigation. An incident that results in a wider or sustained disruption to our business or products could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Additionally, certain of our products contain complex information technology systems designed to support today’s increasingly connected vehicles, and could be susceptible to similar interruptions, including the possibility of unauthorized access. Further, as we transition to offering more cloud-based solutions which are dependent on the Internet or other networks to operate, we may increasingly be the target of cyber threats, including computer viruses or breaches due to misconduct of employees, contractors, or others who have access to our networks and systems, or those of third parties with which we do business. Although we have designed and implemented security measures to prevent and detect such unauthorized access or cyber threats from occurring, we cannot assure you that vulnerabilities will not be identified in the future, or that our security efforts will be successful. Any unauthorized access to our components could adversely affect our brand and harm our business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results. Further, maintaining and updating these systems may require significant costs and often involves implementation, integration, and security risks, including risks that we may not adequately anticipate the market or
 
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technological trends or that we may experience unexpected challenges that could cause financial, reputational, and operational harm. However, failing to properly respond to and invest in information technology advancements may limit our ability to attract and retain customers, prevent us from offering similar products and services as those offered by our competitors or inhibit our ability to meet regulatory or other requirements.
To date, we have not experienced a system failure, cyber-attack or security breach that has resulted in a material interruption in our operations or material adverse effect on our financial condition. While we continuously seek to expand and improve our information technology systems and maintain adequate disclosure controls and procedures, we cannot assure you that such measures will prevent interruptions or security breaches that could adversely affect our business.
We use open source software, which may pose particular risks to our proprietary software and source code. We may face claims from open source licensors claiming ownership of, or demanding the release of, the intellectual property that we developed using or derived from such open source software.
We use open source software in our proprietary software and will use open source software in the future. Companies that incorporate open source software into their proprietary software and products have, from time to time, faced claims challenging the use of open source software and compliance with open source license terms. By the terms of certain open source licenses, we could be required to release the source code of our proprietary software, and to make our proprietary software available under open source licenses to third parties at no cost, if we combine our proprietary software with open source software in certain manners. Although we monitor our use of open source software, we cannot assure you that all open source software is reviewed prior to use in our software, that our developers have not incorporated open source software into our proprietary software, or that they will not do so in the future. In addition, companies that incorporate open source software into their products have, in the past, faced claims seeking enforcement of open source license provisions and claims asserting ownership of open source software incorporated into their proprietary software. If an author or other third party that distributes such open source software were to allege that we have not complied with the conditions of an open source license, we could incur significant legal costs defending ourselves against such allegations. In the event such claims were successful, we could be subject to significant damages or be enjoined from the distribution of our proprietary software. In addition, the terms of open source software licenses may require us to provide software that we develop using such open source software to others on unfavorable license terms.
As a result of our current or future use of open source software, we may face claims or litigation, be required to release our proprietary source code, pay damages for breach of contract, re-engineer our proprietary software, discontinue making our proprietary software available in the event re-engineering cannot be accomplished on a timely basis or take other remedial action. Any such re-engineering or other remedial efforts could require significant additional research and development resources, and we may not be able to successfully complete any such re-engineering or other remedial efforts. Further, in addition to risks related to license requirements, use of certain open source software can lead to greater risks than use of third-party commercial software, as open source licensors generally do not provide warranties or controls on the origin of the software. Any of these risks could be difficult to eliminate or manage, and, if not addressed, could have a negative effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Relating to COVA and the Business Combination
COVA’s current directors’ and executive officers’ affiliates own COVA Shares that will be worthless if the Business Combination is not approved. Such interests may have influenced their decision to approve the Business Combination.
If the Business Combination or another business combination is not consummated by February 9, 2023 (or such later date as may be approved by COVA’s shareholders in an amendment to the COVA Articles), COVA will cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, redeeming 100% of the outstanding COVA Public Shares for cash and, subject to the approval of its remaining shareholders and its board of directors, liquidating and dissolving. In such event, the 7,500,000 COVA Founder Shares held by the Sponsor, which were acquired prior to the IPO for an aggregate purchase price of US$25,000, and the
 
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8,872,000 COVA Private Warrants held by the Sponsor, which were acquired concurrently with the IPO for an aggregate purchase price of US$8.9 million, would be worthless because the holders of the COVA Founder Shares are not entitled to participate in any redemption or liquidating distribution with respect to these shares and the COVA Private Warrants will not be exercisable. On the other hand, if the Business Combination is consummated, each outstanding COVA Founder Share outstanding immediately prior to the Business Combination will convert into one ECARX Ordinary Share, subject to adjustment described herein, at the closing, and each COVA Warrant will be converted into an ECARX Warrant. Based on the closing price of COVA’s Public Shares of US$      on Nasdaq on           , the record date for the extraordinary general meeting, the COVA Founder Shares, if unrestricted and freely tradable, would be valued at US$      . Based on the closing price of COVA’s Public Warrants of US$      on Nasdaq on           , the record date for the extraordinary general meeting, the COVA Private Warrants would be valued at US$      . Given (i) the differential in the purchase price that the Sponsor paid for the COVA Founder Shares as compared to the price of the COVA Public Shares, (ii) the differential in the purchase price that the Sponsor paid for the COVA Private Warrants as compared to the price of the COVA Public Warrants, and (iii) the substantial number of ECARX Ordinary Shares that the Sponsor will receive upon conversion of the COVA Founder Shares and/or COVA Private Warrants, the Sponsor and these directors can earn a positive return on their investment, even if COVA Public Shareholders have a negative return on their investment.
The exercise of COVA’s directors’ discretion in agreeing to changes or waivers in the terms of the Business Combination may result in a conflict of interest when determining whether such changes to the terms of the Business Combination or waivers of conditions are appropriate and in COVA’s best interest.
In the period leading up to the Closing of the Business Combination, events may occur that, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, would require COVA to agree to amend the Merger Agreement, to consent to certain actions taken by ECARX or to waive rights that COVA is entitled to under the Merger Agreement. Such events could arise because of changes in the course of ECARX’s business, a request by ECARX to undertake actions that would otherwise be prohibited by the terms of the Merger Agreement or the occurrence of other events that would have a material adverse effect on ECARX’s business or could entitle COVA to terminate the Merger Agreement. In any of such circumstances, it would be at COVA’s discretion, acting through the COVA board of directors, to grant its consent or waive those rights; provided that under the terms of the Merger Agreement, such consent or waiver in certain cases is not to be unreasonably withheld. The existence of financial and personal interests of one or more of the directors may result in conflicts of interest on the part of such director(s) between what he, she or they may believe is best for COVA and what he, she or they may believe is best for himself, herself or themselves in determining whether or not to take the requested action. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, COVA does not believe there will be any changes or waivers that COVA’s directors and officers would be likely to make after shareholder approval of the Business Combination Proposal and Merger Proposal have been obtained. While certain changes could be made without further shareholder approval, COVA will circulate a new or amended proxy statement/prospectus and resolicit COVA shareholders if changes to the terms of the transaction that would have a material impact on its shareholders are required prior to the vote on the Business Combination Proposal and Merger Proposal. As a matter of Cayman Islands law, the directors of COVA are under a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of COVA.
COVA may be forced to close the Business Combination even if it determines that it is no longer in COVA shareholders’ best interest.
COVA Public Shareholders are protected from a material adverse event of ECARX arising between the date of the Merger Agreement and the date of the extraordinary general meeting, primarily by the right to redeem their COVA Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the Trust Account, calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the Business Combination. If a material adverse event were to occur after approval of the Business Combination Proposal and Merger Proposal at the extraordinary general meeting, COVA may be forced to close the Business Combination even if it determines it is no longer in its shareholders’ best interest to do so (as a result of such material adverse event), which could have a significant negative impact on COVA’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
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COVA’s initial shareholders agreed to vote in favor of the Business Combination, regardless of how COVA Public Shareholders vote.
COVA’s initial shareholders have agreed to vote all of their COVA Founder Shares in favor of all the proposals being presented at the extraordinary general meeting, including the Business Combination Proposal and the transactions contemplated thereby (including the First Merger). In addition, the Sponsor and each COVA director and officers also may from time to time purchase COVA Public Shares before the Business Combination. The COVA Articles provide that COVA will complete the Business Combination only if it obtains the requisite votes as described under “Extraordinary General Meeting of COVA Shareholders.” As a result, in addition to the COVA Founder Shares, COVA would need 11,250,001 COVA Public Shares, or 37.5%, of the 30,000,000 COVA Public Shares to be voted in favor of the Business Combination Proposal and 17,500,000 COVA Public Shares, or 58.3%, of the 30,000,000 COVA Public Shares to be voted in favor of the Merger Proposal in order for them to be approved (assuming all outstanding shares are voted on each proposal). Accordingly, the agreement by COVA’s initial shareholders to vote in favor of the Business Combination Proposal and the Merger Proposal will increase the likelihood that COVA will receive the requisite shareholder approval for such proposals.
COVA’s board of directors did not obtain a third-party valuation or fairness opinion in determining whether or not to proceed with the Business Combination.
COVA’s board of directors did not obtain a third-party valuation or fairness opinion in connection with its determination to approve the Business Combination. Accordingly, investors will be relying solely on the judgment of COVA’s board of directors, its management team and its advisors in valuing ECARX and will be assuming the risk that COVA’s board of directors may not have properly valued the business. However, COVA’s officers and directors have substantial experience in evaluating the operating and financial merits of companies from a wide range of industries and have substantial experience with financial investments and mergers and acquisitions. Furthermore, in analyzing the Business Combination, COVA’s management conducted significant due diligence on ECARX and COVA’s board of directors reviewed such due diligence as part of its review and approval of the Business Combination. For a complete discussion of the factors utilized by COVA’s board of directors in approving the Business Combination, see the section of this proxy statement entitled “The Business Combination — COVA Board of Directors’ Reasons for the Business Combination.” Based on the foregoing, COVA’s board of directors concluded that its members’ collective experience and backgrounds, together with the experience and sector expertise of COVA’s advisors, enabled it to make the necessary analyses and determinations regarding the Business Combination, including that the Business Combination was fair from a financial perspective to its shareholders and that ECARX’s fair market value was at least 80% of the assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on interest earned on the Trust Account) at the time the Merger Agreement was entered into with respect to the Business Combination. There can be no assurance, however, that COVA’s board of directors was correct in its assessment of the Business Combination. The lack of a third-party valuation or fairness opinion may also lead an increased number of shareholders to vote against the proposed Business Combination or demand redemption of their shares for cash, which could potentially impact COVA’s ability to consummate the Business Combination or adversely affect COVA’s liquidity following the consummation of the Business Combination.
COVA is dependent upon its directors and officers and their loss could adversely affect COVA’s ability to complete the Business Combination.
COVA’s operations are dependent upon a relatively small group of individuals and, in particular, its directors and officers. COVA’s ability to complete its Business Combination depends on the continued service of its directors and officers. COVA does not have an employment agreement with, or key-person insurance on the life of, any of its officers or directors.
The unexpected loss of the services of one or more of its directors or officers could have a detrimental effect on COVA’s ability to consummate the Business Combination.
COVA’s directors and officers will allocate their time to other businesses, thereby causing conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to COVA’s affairs. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on COVA’s ability to complete the Business Combination.
COVA’s directors and officers are not required to, and do not and will not, commit their full time to its affairs, which may result in a conflict of interest in allocating their time between COVA’s operations and the
 
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closing of the Business Combination, on the one hand, and their other business endeavors. Each of COVA’s directors and officers is engaged in other businesses for which he or she may be entitled to significant compensation. Furthermore, COVA’s directors and officers are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to COVA’s affairs and may also serve as officers or board members for other entities. If its officers’ and directors’ other business affairs require them to devote time to such other affairs, this may have a negative impact on COVA’s ability to complete the Business Combination.
Sponsor, COVA’s directors, officers and their affiliates may elect to purchase shares or warrants from COVA Public Shareholders or public warrantholders, which may influence a vote on the Business Combination and reduce COVA’s public “float.”
Sponsor, COVA’s directors, officers or any of their affiliates may purchase shares and/or warrants from investors, or they may enter into transactions with such investors and others to provide them with incentives to acquire shares from COVA Public Shareholders, vote their shares in favor of the Business Combination Proposal and the Merger Proposal or not redeem such shares. The purpose of any such transaction could be to vote such shares in favor of the Business Combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining shareholder approval of the Business Combination and/or decrease the number of redemptions. Any such share purchases and other transactions may thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining shareholder approval of the Business Combination. This may result in the completion of the Business Combination in a way that may not otherwise have been possible. While the exact nature of any such incentives has not been determined as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, they might include, without limitation, arrangements to protect such investors or holders against potential loss in value of their shares, including the granting of put options and the transfer to such investors or holders of COVA Shares or rights owned by COVA’s initial shareholders for nominal value. However, other than as expressly stated herein, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds in the Trust Account will be used to pay for such transactions.
Entering into any such arrangements may have a depressive effect on COVA Public Shares. For example, as a result of these arrangements, an investor or holder may have the ability to effectively purchase COVA Public Shares at a price lower than market and may therefore be more likely to sell the shares it owns, either prior to or immediately after the extraordinary general meeting.
Shareholder litigation could prevent or delay the closing of the Business Combination or otherwise negatively impact business, operating results and financial condition.
COVA may incur additional costs in connection with the defense or settlement of any shareholder litigation in connection with the proposed Business Combination. Litigation may adversely affect COVA’s ability to complete the proposed Business Combination. COVA could incur significant costs in connection with any such litigation lawsuits, including costs associated with the indemnification of obligations to COVA’s directors. Consequently, if a plaintiff were to secure injunctive or other relief prohibiting, delaying or otherwise adversely affecting COVA’s ability to complete the proposed Business Combination, then such injunctive or other relief may prevent the proposed Business Combination from becoming effective within the expected time frame or at all.
The COVID-19 pandemic triggered an economic crisis which may delay or prevent the consummation of the Business Combination.
The COVID-19 pandemic triggered an economic crisis which may delay or prevent the consummation of the Business Combination. In December 2019, a coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak was reported in China, and, in March 2020, the World Health Organization declared it a pandemic. Since being initially reported in China, the coronavirus has spread throughout the world and has resulted in unprecedented restrictions and limitations on operations of many businesses, educational institutions and governmental entities. Given the ongoing and dynamic nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is difficult to predict the impact on the business of COVA and ECARX, and there is no guarantee that efforts by COVA and ECARX to address the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will be effective. If COVA or ECARX are unable to recover from a business disruption on a timely basis, the Business Combination and ECARX’s business and financial
 
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conditions and results of operations following the completion of the Business Combination would be adversely affected. The Business Combination may also be delayed and adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic and become more costly. Each of COVA and ECARX may also incur additional costs to remedy damages caused by such disruptions, which could adversely affect its financial condition and results of operations.
Delays in completing the Business Combination may substantially reduce the expected benefits of the Business Combination.
Satisfying the conditions to, and completion of, the Business Combination may take longer than, and could cost more than, COVA expects. Any delay in completing or any additional conditions imposed in order to complete the Business Combination may materially adversely affect the benefits that COVA expects to achieve from the Business Combination.
COVA may not have sufficient funds to consummate the Business Combination.
At June 30, 2022, we had US$2,444 of cash held outside of the Trust Account. If COVA is required to seek additional capital, it may need to borrow funds from the Sponsor, directors, officer, their affiliates or other third parties to operate or may be forced to liquidate. COVA believes that the funds available to it outside of the Trust Account, together with funds available from loans from Sponsor, its affiliates or members of COVA’s management team, including the funds available as a result of the Second Promissory Note, will be sufficient to allow it to operate for at least the period ending on February 9, 2023 or such later date as may be approved by COVA’s shareholders in an amendment to the COVA Articles (such date the “Final Redemption Date”); however, COVA cannot assure you that its estimate is accurate.
If COVA is unable to complete this Business Combination, or another business combination, within the prescribed time frame, COVA would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and redeem all the COVA Public Shares and liquidate.
COVA must complete its initial Business Combination by the Final Redemption Date. If COVA has not completed this Business Combination, or another business combination, within such time period, COVA will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the COVA Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to COVA to pay income taxes, if any (less up to US$100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of the then-outstanding COVA Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish COVA Public Shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of COVA’s remaining shareholders and the COVA board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to COVA’s obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. The COVA Articles provide that, if COVA voluntarily winds up for any other reason prior to the consummation of its initial Business Combination, it will follow the foregoing procedures with respect to the liquidation of the Trust Account as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, subject to applicable Cayman Islands law. In either such case, COVA Public Shareholders may receive only US$10.00 per share, or less than US$10.00 per share, on the redemption of their shares, and COVA Warrants will expire worthless.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the Trust Account to COVA Public Shareholders, COVA files a bankruptcy or insolvency petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or insolvency petition is filed against it that is not dismissed, the claims of creditors in such proceeding may have priority over the claims of its shareholders, even for funds in the Trust Account and the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by its shareholders in connection with its liquidation may be reduced.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the Trust Account to COVA Public Shareholders, COVA files a bankruptcy or insolvency petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or insolvency petition is filed against it that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy or
 
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insolvency law, and may be included in COVA’s bankruptcy or insolvency estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of its shareholders. To the extent any bankruptcy or insolvency claims deplete the Trust Account, the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by shareholders in connection with COVA’s liquidation may be reduced.
If the Adjournment Proposal is not approved, and an insufficient number of votes have been obtained to authorize the consummation of the Business Combination, the COVA board of directors will not have the ability to adjourn the extraordinary general meeting to a later date in order to solicit further votes, and, therefore, the Business Combination will not be approved.
The COVA board of directors is seeking approval to adjourn the extraordinary general meeting to a later date or dates if, at the extraordinary general meeting, based upon the tabulated votes, there are insufficient votes to approve the consummation of the Business Combination or if holders of COVA Public Shares, have elected to redeem an amount of COVA Public Shares such that the Minimum Available Cash Condition would not be satisfied. If the Adjournment Proposal is not approved, the COVA board of directors will not have the ability to adjourn the extraordinary general meeting to a later date and, therefore, will not have more time to solicit votes to approve the consummation of the Business Combination. In such an event, the Business Combination would not be completed.
If third parties bring claims against COVA, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by shareholders may be less than US$10.00 per share.
COVA’s placing of funds in the Trust Account may not protect those funds from third-party claims against us. Although COVA will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses and other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account for the benefit of COVA’s public shareholders, such parties may not execute such agreements, or even if they execute such agreements, they may not be prevented from bringing claims against the Trust Account, including, but not limited to, fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the trust account. If any third-party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the Trust Account, COVA’s management will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to COVA than any alternative.
Examples of possible instances where COVA may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third-party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where management is unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with COVA and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason. Upon redemption of COVA Public Shares, if COVA is unable to complete its initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe, or upon the exercise of a redemption right in connection with its business combination, COVA will be required to provide for payment of claims of creditors that were not waived that may be brought against COVA within the 10 years following redemption. Accordingly, the per-share redemption amount received by COVA Public Shareholders could be less than the US$10.00 per public share initially held in the Trust Account, due to claims of such creditors. The Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to COVA if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than our independent public accountants) for services rendered or products sold to COVA, or a prospective target business with which we have entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) US$10.00 per public share and (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the Trust Account, if less than US$10.00 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, in each case including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to pay our income taxes, less income taxes payable, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed
 
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a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of the IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. However, COVA has not asked the Sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether the Sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and we believe that the Sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company. Therefore, we cannot assure you that the Sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the Trust Account, the funds available for the initial business combination and redemptions could be reduced to less than US$10.00 per public share. In such event, we may not be able to complete the Business Combination, and you would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of the COVA Public Shares. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
If, after COVA distributes the proceeds in the Trust Account to COVA Public Shareholders, COVA files a bankruptcy or insolvency petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or insolvency petition is filed against it that is not dismissed, a bankruptcy or insolvency court may seek to recover such proceeds, and the members of the COVA board of directors may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to its creditors, thereby exposing the members of its board of directors and COVA to claims of punitive damages.
If COVA files a bankruptcy or insolvency petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or insolvency petition is filed against it that is not dismissed, any distributions received by shareholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy or insolvency laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy or insolvency court could seek to recover some or all amounts received by COVA shareholders. In addition, the COVA board of directors may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to its creditors and/or having acted in bad faith, thereby exposing itself and COVA to claims of punitive damages, by paying COVA Public Shareholders from the Trust Account prior to addressing the claims of creditors.
The Business Combination may be completed even though material adverse effects may result from the announcement of the Business Combination, industry-wide changes and other causes.
In general, either COVA or ECARX can refuse to complete the Business Combination if there is a material adverse effect affecting the other party between the signing date of the Merger Agreement and the planned closing. However, the occurrence of certain types of events that might be said to have a material adverse effect on a party do not permit the other party to refuse to complete the Business Combination, including, among others, the following events (except, in some cases, where the change has a disproportionate effect on a party):

any change in applicable laws or U.S. GAAP or any interpretation thereof following the date of the Merger Agreement;

any change in interest rates or economic, political, business or financial market conditions generally;

the taking or refraining from taking of any action required to be taken or refrained from being taken under the Merger Agreement;

any natural disaster (including hurricanes, storms, tornados, flooding, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or similar occurrences), epidemic or pandemic (including any COVID-19 Measures (as defined above) or any change in such COVID-19 Measures or interpretations following the date of the Merger Agreement), acts of nature or change in climate;

any acts of terrorism or war, the outbreak or escalation of hostilities, geopolitical conditions, local, national or international political conditions, riots or insurrections;

any action taken by, or at the request of, the other party;

the announcement of the Merger Agreement and the Transactions, including any termination of, reduction in or similar adverse impact (but in each case only to the extent attributable to such announcement or consummation) on either party’s relationships, contractual or otherwise, with any government authority, third parties or other person; or
 
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any change in the trading price or volume of the COVA Units, COVA Shares or COVA Warrants (provided that the underlying causes of such changes referred to in this paragraph may be considered in determining whether there is a COVA Material Adverse Effect except to the extent such cause is within the scope of any other exception within this definition).
Furthermore, COVA or ECARX may waive the occurrence of a material adverse effect affecting the other party. If a material adverse effect occurs and the parties still complete the Business Combination, ECARX’s share price may suffer.
Subsequent to the completion of the Business Combination, ECARX may be required to take write-downs or write-offs, restructure its operations, or incur unanticipated losses, impairment or other charges or liabilities that could have a significant negative effect on its financial condition, results of operations and the price of ECARX Securities, which could cause COVA shareholders to lose some or all of their investment.
Although COVA has conducted due diligence on ECARX, COVA cannot assure you that this diligence identified all material issues that may be present with the business of ECARX. COVA cannot rule out that factors outside of the target business and outside of its control will not later arise. As a result of these factors, ECARX may be forced to later write down or write off assets, restructure its operations, or incur unanticipated losses impairment or other charges or liabilities that could result in it reporting losses. Even if COVA’s due diligence successfully identifies certain risks, unexpected risks may arise and previously known risks may materialize in a manner not consistent with COVA’s preliminary risk analysis. Even though these charges may be non-cash items and not have an immediate impact on ECARX’s liquidity, the fact that ECARX reports charges of this nature could contribute to negative market perceptions about the post-combination company or its securities. In addition, charges of this nature may cause ECARX to be unable to obtain future financing on favorable terms or at all.
During the interim period, COVA is prohibited from entering into certain transactions that might otherwise be beneficial to COVA or its shareholders.
Until the earlier of consummation of the Business Combination or termination of the Merger Agreement, COVA is subject to certain limitations on the operations of its business, including restrictions on its ability to merge, consolidate or amalgamate with or into, or acquire (by purchasing a substantial portion of the assets of or equity in, or by any other manner) any entity other than ECARX, as summarized under the “The Merger Agreement — Covenants of the Parties — Covenants of COVA. The limitations on COVA’s conduct of its business during this period could have the effect of delaying or preventing other strategic transactions and may, in some cases, make it impossible to pursue business opportunities that are available only for a limited time.
The Business Combination remains subject to conditions that COVA cannot control and if such conditions are not satisfied or waived, the Business Combination may not be consummated.
The Business Combination is subject to a number of conditions. There are no assurances that all conditions to the Business Combination will be satisfied or that the conditions will be satisfied in the time frame expected. If the conditions to the Business Combination are not met (and are not waived, to the extent waivable), then either COVA or ECARX may, subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, terminate the Merger Agreement or amend the termination date.
COVA shareholders may have limited remedies if their shares suffer a reduction in value following the Business Combination, and because COVA (and also ECARX, the surviving company) is incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, shareholders may face difficulties in protecting their interests, and a shareholder’s ability to protect its rights through the U.S. federal courts may be limited
Any shareholders who choose to remain shareholders following the Business Combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares. Such shareholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value, unless they are able to successfully claim that the reduction was due to the breach by COVA’s officers or directors of a duty of care or other fiduciary duty, or if they are able to successfully bring a private claim under securities laws that the proxy/registration statement relating to the Business Combination contained an actionable material misstatement or material omission.
 
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COVA and ECARX are both exempted companies incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. COVA and ECARX’s Cayman Islands counsel are not aware of any reported class action having been brought in a Cayman Islands court. Derivative actions have been brought in the Cayman Islands courts, and the Cayman Islands courts have confirmed the availability for such actions. In most cases, COVA or ECARX, as applicable, will be the proper plaintiff in any claim based on a breach of duty owed to COVA or ECARX, as applicable, and a claim against (for example) COVA or ECARX’s officers or directors usually may not be brought by a shareholder. However, based on both Cayman Islands authorities and on English authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority and be applied by a court in the Cayman Islands, exceptions to the foregoing principle apply in circumstances in which:

a company is acting, or proposing to act, illegally or beyond the scope of its authority;

the act complained of, although not beyond the scope of the authority, could be effected if duly authorized by more than the number of votes which have actually been obtained; or

those who control the company are perpetrating a “fraud on the minority.”
In addition to the foregoing exceptions, a shareholder may have a direct right of action against COVA or ECARX where the individual rights of that shareholder have been infringed or are about to be infringed by such company.
Risks Relating to Ownership of Securities of ECARX
There will be material differences between your current rights as a holder of COVA Public Shares and the rights you will have as a holder of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares, some of which may adversely affect you.
Upon completion of the Business Combination, COVA shareholders (other than COVA Public Shareholders that validly exercise their redemption rights with respect to their COVA Public Shares and Dissenting COVA Shareholders) will no longer be shareholders of COVA, but will be shareholders of ECARX. There will be material differences between the current rights of COVA shareholders and the rights you will have as a holder of the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares, some of which may adversely affect you. For a more detailed discussion of the differences in the rights of COVA shareholders and the ECARX shareholders, see the section of this proxy statement/prospectus titled “Comparison of Corporate Governance and Shareholder Rights.”
Upon completion of the Business Combination, COVA shareholders will become ECARX shareholders, COVA warrantholders will become holders of ECARX Warrants and the market price for the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Warrants may be affected by factors different from those that historically have affected COVA.
Upon completion of the Business Combination, COVA shareholders (other than COVA Public Shareholders that validly exercise their redemption rights with respect to their COVA Public Shares and Dissenting COVA Shareholders) will become ECARX shareholders and COVA warrantholders will become holders of ECARX Warrants, which may be exercised to acquire ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares. ECARX’s business differs from that of COVA’s, and, accordingly, the results of operations of ECARX will be affected by some factors that are different from those currently affecting the results of operations of COVA. COVA is a special purpose acquisition company incorporated in the Cayman Islands that is not engaged in any operating activity, directly or indirectly. ECARX is a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands and, after the consummation of the Business Combination, will continue to offer automotive intelligence technology platforms and solutions through its consolidated subsidiaries. ECARX’ business and results of operations will be affected by regional, country, and industry risks and operating risks to which COVA was not exposed. For a discussion of the business that is currently conducted and proposed to be conducted by ECARX, see the section of this proxy statement/prospectus titled “Information about ECARX.”
ECARX Warrants will become exercisable for ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares, which would increase the number of ECARX shares eligible for future resale in the public market and result in dilution to ECARX shareholders.
ECARX Warrants to purchase an aggregate of 24,872,000 ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares will become exercisable in accordance with the terms of the Assignment, Assumption and Amendment
 
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Agreement and the Existing Warrant Agreement governing those securities. Assuming the Business Combination closes, the ECARX Warrants will become exercisable 30 days after the completion of the Business Combination. The exercise price of the ECARX Warrants will be US$11.50 per share. To the extent such ECARX Warrants are exercised, additional ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares will be issued, which will result in dilution to the existing holders of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and increase the number of ECARX shares eligible for resale in the public market. Sales of substantial numbers of such shares in the public market or the fact that such ECARX Warrants may be exercised could adversely affect the market price of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares. However, there is no guarantee that the ECARX Warrants will ever be in the money prior to their expiration, and as such, the ECARX Warrants may expire worthless.
We may redeem your unexpired ECARX Warrants prior to their exercise at a time that is disadvantageous to you, thereby making your ECARX Warrants worthless.
After the consummation of the Business Combination, we will have the ability to redeem outstanding ECARX Warrants at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at a price of US$0.01 per warrant, provided that the last reported sales price of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds US$18.00 per share (as adjusted for share subdivisions, share dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading-day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which we give proper notice of such redemption and there is an effective registration statement covering the issuance of the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the ECARX Warrants. Redemption of the outstanding ECARX Warrants could force you (i) to exercise your ECARX Warrants and pay the exercise price therefor at a time when it may be disadvantageous for you to do so, (ii) to sell your ECARX Warrants at the then-current market price when you might otherwise wish to hold your ECARX Warrants, or (iii) to accept the nominal redemption price, which, at the time the outstanding ECARX Warrants are called for redemption, is likely to be substantially less than the market value of your ECARX Warrants.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research, publish inaccurate or unfavorable research or cease publishing research about ECARX, its share price and trading volume could decline significantly.
The trading market for ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares will depend, in part, on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about ECARX or its business. We may be unable to sustain coverage by well-regarded securities and industry analysts. If either none or only a limited number of securities or industry analysts maintain coverage of ECARX, or if these securities or industry analysts are not widely respected within the general investment community, the demand for ECARX Ordinary Shares could decrease, which might cause its share price and trading volume to decline significantly. In the event that ECARX obtains securities or industry analyst coverage, if one or more of the analysts who cover ECARX downgrade their assessment of ECARX or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the market price and liquidity for ECARX Ordinary Shares and ECARX Warrants could be negatively impacted.
Future resales of ECARX Ordinary Shares issued to ECARX shareholders and other significant shareholders may cause the market price of the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares to drop significantly, even if ECARX’s business is doing well.
Pursuant to the ECARX Shareholder Support Agreement and Sponsor Support Agreement, the Sponsor and certain ECARX shareholders will be restricted, subject to certain exceptions, from selling any of the ECARX Ordinary Shares that they receive as a result of the share exchange, which restrictions will expire, and therefore additional ECARX Ordinary Shares will be eligible for resale six months after the consummation of the Business Combination.
Subject to the ECARX Shareholder Support Agreement, certain ECARX shareholders party thereto may sell ECARX Securities pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, if available. In these cases, the resales must meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of that rule.
Upon expiration or waiver of the applicable lock-up periods, and upon effectiveness of the registration statement ECARX files pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement or upon satisfaction of the requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, certain ECARX shareholders and certain other significant
 
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shareholders of ECARX may sell large amounts of ECARX Securities in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, which could have the effect of increasing the volatility in our share price or putting significant downward pressure on the price of the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares.
A market for ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares may not develop, which would adversely affect the liquidity and price of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares.
An active trading market for ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares may never develop or, if developed, may not be sustained. You may be unable to sell your ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares unless a market can be established and sustained. This risk will be exacerbated if there is a high level of redemptions of COVA Public Shares in connection with the Closing of the Business Combination.
The trading prices of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Warrants may be volatile and may fluctuate due to a variety of factors, some of which are beyond our control, including, but not limited to:

actual or anticipated fluctuations in our financial condition or results of operations;

variance in our financial performance from expectations of securities analysts;

changes in our projected operating and financial results;

changes in laws and regulations affecting our business, our customers, suppliers, or our industry;

announcements of new services and expansions by us or our competitors;

our ability to continue to innovate and bring products to market in a timely manner;

our involvement in actual or potential litigation or regulatory investigations;

negative publicity about us, our products or our industry;

changes in our senior management or key personnel;

announcements of new investments, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, or joint ventures by us or our competitors;

sales of our securities by us, our shareholders or our warrant holders, as well as the anticipation of lockup releases;

general economic, political, regulatory, industry, and market conditions; and

natural disasters or major catastrophic events.

other events or factors, including those resulting from war, incidents of terrorism, natural disasters, pandemics or responses to these events.
These and other factors may cause the market price and demand for ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Warrants to fluctuate substantially, which may limit or prevent investors from readily selling their shares and may otherwise negatively affect the liquidity of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Warrants. Fluctuations may be even more pronounced in the trading market for ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or ECARX Warrants shortly following the Business Combination. Following periods of such volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been brought against that company. Because of the potential volatility of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Warrants, ECARX may become the target of securities litigation in the future. Securities litigation could result in substantial costs and divert management’s attention and resources from its business.
The process of taking a company public by means of a business combination with a special purpose acquisition company is different from taking a company public through an initial public offering and may create risks for our unaffiliated investors.
An initial public offering involves a company engaging underwriters to purchase its shares and resell them to the public. An underwritten offering imposes statutory liability on the underwriters for material misstatements or omissions contained in the registration statement unless they are able to sustain the burden
 
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of proving that they did not know and could not reasonably have discovered such material misstatements or omissions. This is referred to as a “due diligence” defense and results in the underwriters undertaking a detailed review of an IPO company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. Going public via a business combination with a special purpose acquisition company (“SPAC”), such as COVA, does not involve any underwriters and may therefore result in less careful vetting of information that is presented to the public.
In addition, going public via a business combination with a SPAC does not involve a bookbuilding process as is the case in an initial public offering. In any initial public offering, the initial value of a company is set by investors who indicate the price at which they are prepared to purchase shares from the underwriters. In the case of a business combination involving a SPAC, the value of the target company is established by means of negotiations between the target company and the SPAC. The process of establishing the value of a target company in a SPAC business combination may be less effective than an initial public offering bookbuilding process and also does not reflect events that may have occurred between the date of the Merger Agreement and the closing of the transaction. In addition, while initial public offerings are frequently oversubscribed, resulting in additional potential demand for shares in the aftermarket following an initial public offering, there is no comparable process of generating investor demand in connection with a business combination between a target company and a SPAC, which may result in lower demand for our securities after closing, which could in turn decrease liquidity and trading prices as well as increase trading volatility.
COVA’s Existing Warrant Agreement, which is being assigned to ECARX pursuant to the Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement upon the Closing of the Business Combination and under which one COVA Warrant will become one ECARX Warrant upon such Closing, designates the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by holders of the warrants, which could limit the ability of warrantholders to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with ECARX in connection with such warrants.
Under the terms of the Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement, COVA’s Existing Warrant Agreement is being assigned by COVA to ECARX at the Closing of the Business Combination. In connection with this assignment, each COVA Warrant will convert into an ECARX Warrant at such time and all of the terms of the Existing Warrant Agreement not amended by the Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement will remain in effect and applicable to each warrant holder and to ECARX after such Closing.
The Existing Warrant Agreement provides that, subject to applicable law, (i) any action, proceeding or claim against COVA arising out of or relating in any way to the warrant agreement, will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and (ii) COVA irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. Each of COVA and ECARX has waived any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, these provisions of the Existing Warrant Agreement do not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any of warrants under the Existing Warrant Agreement shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions of the Existing Warrant Agreement. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions of the Existing Warrant Agreement, is filed in a court other than a court of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign action”) in the name of any holder of the warrants, such holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such warrant holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such warrant holder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such warrant holder.
Since the provisions of the Existing Warrant Agreement will continue to apply unless amended by the Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement after the Closing of the Business Combination and
 
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the conversion of each warrant from a COVA Warrant into an ECARX Warrant, and since the choice-of-forum and related provisions have not been amended by the Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement, the choice-of-forum provision may limit a warrant holder’s ability after the Closing of the Business Combination to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with ECARX, which may discourage such lawsuits. Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of the Existing Warrant Agreement inapplicable or unenforceable with respect to one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, ECARX may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could materially and adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations and result in a diversion of the time and resources of ECARX’s management and board of directors.
Our issuance of additional share capital in connection with financings, acquisitions, investments, our equity incentive plans or otherwise will dilute all other shareholders.
We expect to issue additional share capital in the future that will result in dilution to our shareholders. We expect to grant equity awards to key employees under our equity incentive plans. We may also raise capital through equity financings in the future. As part of our business strategy, we may acquire or make investments in companies, solutions or technologies and issue equity securities to pay for any such acquisition or investment. Any such issuances of additional share capital may cause shareholders to experience significant dilution of their ownership interests and the per share value of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares to decline.
The requirements of being a public company may strain our resources, divert our management’s attention and affect our ability to attract and retain qualified board members.
We will be subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, Nasdaq listing requirements and other applicable securities rules and regulations. As such, we will incur additional legal, accounting and other expenses following completion of the Business Combination. These expenses may increase even more if we no longer qualify as an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act. The Exchange Act requires, among other things, that we file annual and current reports with respect to our business and operating results. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. We may need to hire more employees post-Business Combination or engage outside consultants to comply with these requirements, which will increase our post-Business Combination costs and expenses.
Changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure are creating uncertainty for public companies, increasing legal and financial compliance costs and making some activities more time-consuming. These laws, regulations and standards are subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity, and, as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. This could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices. We expect these laws and regulations to increase our legal and financial compliance costs after the Business Combination and to render some activities more time-consuming and costly, although we are currently unable to estimate these costs with any degree of certainty.
Many members of our management team will have limited experience managing a publicly traded company, interacting with public company investors and complying with the increasingly complex laws pertaining to public companies. Our management team may not successfully or efficiently manage the transition to being a public company subject to significant regulatory oversight and reporting obligations under the federal securities laws and regulations and the continuous scrutiny of securities analysts and investors. The need to establish the corporate infrastructure demanded of a public company may divert the management’s attention from implementing its growth strategy, which could prevent us from improving our business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, we expect these rules and regulations to make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and consequently we may be required to incur substantial costs to maintain the same or similar coverage. These additional obligations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results
 
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of operations and prospects. These factors could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified members of its board of directors, particularly to serve on our audit committee, and qualified executive officers.
As a result of disclosure of information in this proxy statement/prospectus and in filings required of a public company, our business and financial condition will become more visible, which we believe may result in threatened or actual litigation, including by competitors and other third parties. If such claims are successful, our business and operating results could be adversely affected, and, even if the claims do not result in litigation or are resolved in our favor, these claims, and the time and resources necessary to resolve them, could cause an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects and reputation.
We will be an “emerging growth company,” and it cannot be certain if the reduced SEC reporting requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares less attractive to investors, which could have a material and adverse effect on us, including our growth prospects.
Upon consummation of the Business Combination, we will be an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act. We will remain an “emerging growth company” until the earliest to occur of (i) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the closing of the Business Combination, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least US$1.235 billion or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of ECARX shares held by non-affiliates exceeds US$700 million as of the last business day of our prior second fiscal quarter, and (ii) the date on which we issued more than US$1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period. We intend to take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to most other public companies, including, but not limited to, an exemption from the provisions of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requiring that our independent registered public accounting firm provide an attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting and reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation.
In addition, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts “emerging growth companies” from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies, but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with certain other public companies difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Furthermore, even after we no longer qualify as an “emerging growth company,” as long as we continue to qualify as a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we will be exempt from certain provisions of the Exchange Act that are applicable to U.S. domestic public companies.
As a result, our shareholders may not have access to certain information they deem important or at the same time if we were a non-foreign private issuer. We cannot predict if investors will find ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares less attractive because we rely on these exemptions. If some investors find ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market and share price for ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares may be more volatile.
We will qualify as a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act, and as such we are exempt from certain provisions applicable to United States domestic public companies.
Because we will qualify as a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act immediately following the consummation of the Business Combination, we are exempt from certain provisions of the securities rules and regulations in the United States that are applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, including: (i) the rules under
 
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the Exchange Act requiring the filing of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K with the SEC; (ii) the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents, or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act; (iii) the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their share ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time; and (iv) the selective disclosure rules by issuers of material nonpublic information under Regulation FD.
We will be required to file an annual report on Form 20-F within four months of the end of each fiscal year. In addition, we intend to publish our results on a quarterly basis through press releases, distributed pursuant to the rules and regulations of Nasdaq. Press releases relating to financial results and material events will also be furnished to the SEC on Form 6-K. However, the information we are required to file with or furnish to the SEC will be less extensive and less timely compared to that required to be filed with the SEC by U.S. domestic issuers. Accordingly, after the Business Combination, if you continue to hold our securities, you may receive less or different information about us than you currently receive about COVA or that you would receive about a U.S. domestic public company.
We could lose our status as a foreign private issuer under current SEC rules and regulations if more than 50% of our outstanding voting securities become directly or indirectly held of record by U.S. holders and any one of the following is true: (i) the majority of our directors or executive officers are U.S. citizens or residents; (ii) more than 50% of our assets are located in the United States; or (iii) our business is administered principally in the United States. If we lose our status as a foreign private issuer in the future, we will no longer be exempt from the rules described above and, among other things, will be required to file periodic reports and annual and quarterly financial statements as if we were a company incorporated in the United States. If this were to happen, we would likely incur substantial costs in fulfilling these additional regulatory requirements, and members of our management would likely have to divert time and resources from other responsibilities to ensuring these additional regulatory requirements are fulfilled.
As a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, we are permitted to adopt certain home country practices in relation to corporate governance matters that differ significantly from Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards applicable to domestic U.S. companies; these practices may afford less protection to shareholders than they would enjoy if we complied fully with Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards.
We are an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and, after the consummation of the Business Combination, will be listed on Nasdaq as a foreign private issuer. Nasdaq listing rules permit a foreign private issuer like us to follow the corporate governance practices of its home country. Certain corporate governance practices in the Cayman Islands, which is our home country, may differ significantly from Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards applicable to domestic U.S. companies.
Among other things, we are not required to have: (i) a majority of the board of directors consist of independent directors; (ii) a compensation committee consisting of independent directors; (iii) a nominating committee consisting of independent directors; or (iv) regularly scheduled executive sessions with only independent directors each year.
Although not required and as may be changed from time to time, we intend to have, as of the consummation of the Business Combination, a majority-independent compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee. Subject to the foregoing, we intend to rely on the exemptions listed above. As a result, you may not be provided with the benefits of certain corporate governance requirements of Nasdaq applicable to U.S. domestic public companies.
You may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through U.S. courts may be limited, because we are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and we conduct substantially all of its operations, and a majority of its directors and executive officers reside, outside of the United States.
We are an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and, following the Business Combination, will conduct a majority of our operations through our subsidiaries in China. Substantially all of our assets are located outside the United States. A majority of our officers and directors reside outside the United States and a substantial portion of the assets of those persons are
 
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located outside of the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon our directors or officers, or to enforce judgments obtained in the United States courts against our directors or officers. For more information regarding the relevant laws of the Cayman Islands and mainland China, see “Enforceability of Civil Liability.”
Our corporate affairs will be governed by the seventh amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of ECARX, or the Amended ECARX Articles, the Cayman Islands Companies Act and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders to take action against our directors, actions by minority ECARX shareholders and the fiduciary duties of our directors to us under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from the common law of England, the decisions of whose courts are of persuasive authority, but are not binding, on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary duties of our directors under Cayman Islands law are different from what they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a different body of securities laws than the United States and some U.S. states, such as Delaware, may have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law than the Cayman Islands. In addition, shareholders of Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in a federal court of the United States.
Shareholders of Cayman Islands exempted companies like us have no general rights under Cayman Islands law to inspect corporate records (other than the memorandum and articles of association, special resolutions, and the register of mortgages and charges, of such companies) or to obtain copies of lists of shareholders of these companies. Our directors have discretion under our post-offering articles of association that will become effective immediately prior to completion of the Business Combination to determine whether or not, and under what conditions, our corporate records may be inspected by our shareholders, but are not obliged to make them available to our shareholders. This may make it more difficult for you to obtain the information needed to establish any facts necessary for a shareholder motion or to solicit proxies from other shareholders in connection with a proxy contest.
Certain corporate governance practices in the Cayman Islands, which is our home country, differ significantly from requirements for companies incorporated in other jurisdictions such as the United States. If we choose to follow home country practice in the future, our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they otherwise would under rules and regulations applicable to U.S. domestic issuers.
As a result of all of the above, our public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a company incorporated in the United States. For a discussion of significant differences between the provisions of the Companies Act of the Cayman Islands and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders, see “Comparison of Corporate Governance and Shareholder Rights.”
It is not expected that we will pay dividends in the foreseeable future after the Business Combination.
It is expected that we will retain most, if not all, of its available funds and any future earnings after the Business Combination to fund the development and growth of our business. As a result, it is not expected that we will pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
Following completion of the Business Combination, our board of directors will have discretion as to whether to distribute dividends. Even if the board of directors decides to declare and pay dividends, the timing, amount and form of future dividends, if any, will depend on the future results of operations and cash flow, capital requirements and surplus, the amount of distributions, if any, received by us from subsidiaries, our financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by the board of directors. Accordingly, you may need to rely on sales of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares after price appreciation, which may never occur, as the only way to realize any future gains on your investment. There is no guarantee that the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares will appreciate in value after the Business Combination or that the market price of the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares will not decline.
 
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Our dual-class voting structure will limit your ability to influence corporate matters and could discourage others from pursuing any change of control transactions that holders of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares may consider beneficial.
Upon consummation of the Business Combination, we will adopt a dual-class voting structure such that our ordinary shares will consist of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Class B ordinary shares. Holders of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares have the same rights other than voting and conversion rights. Each holder of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares is entitled to one vote per share and each holder of ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares is entitled to 10 votes per share on all matters submitted to them for a vote. ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders, except as may otherwise be required by law. The memorandum and articles of association of ECARX, as amended from time to time, may provide for the instances where the holders of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares may vote as a separate class. Under the Amended ECARX Articles, ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares will vote as a separate class if any rights attaching to either ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares are being materially and adversely varied. Such variation requires the consent in writing of the holders of at least two-thirds of the issued ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares (as the case may be) or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares (as the case may be). The Cayman Islands Companies Act also provides where a compromise or arrangement is proposed between a Cayman Islands company and its shareholders or any class of them, the court may, on the application of the company or of any shareholder of the company, order a meeting of the shareholders of the company or class of shareholders, as the case may be, to be summoned in such manner as the court directs. Each ECARX Class B Ordinary Share is convertible into one ECARX Class A Ordinary Share, whereas ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares are not convertible into ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares under any circumstances. Upon any transfer of ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares by a holder thereof to any person or entity which is not an affiliate of such holder, such ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares are automatically and immediately converted into the equal number of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares.
We estimate that, immediately after the Closing, (i) the existing shareholders of ECARX will own 89.0% of the issued and outstanding ECARX Ordinary Shares (and Mr. Eric Li (Li Shufu) and Mr. Ziyu Shen, founders of ECARX, will own 43.7% and 6.3% of the outstanding ECARX Ordinary Shares, respectively, representing 76.7% of ECARX Holdings’ total voting power, and collectively own all of the outstanding ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares), (ii) COVA Public Shareholders will own 7.9% of the outstanding ECARX Ordinary Shares, and (iii) the Sponsor will own 2.0 % of the outstanding ECARX Ordinary Shares, assuming (a) none of the COVA Public Shareholders exercise their redemption rights, (b) no COVA shareholder exercises its dissenters’ rights, (c) the Strategic Investments are fully funded at the Closing, (d) the Note is fully converted into ECARX Ordinary Shares at a conversion price of US$10.00 per share, and (e) 16,617,591 shares reserved for the share options of ECARX prior to the date of the Merger Agreement (after considering the impact of the Recapitalization) are issued, and excluding shares underlying the COVA Public Warrants and COVA Private Warrants. After the consummation of the Business Combination, Mr. Li and Mr. Shen will continue to have considerable influence over matters requiring shareholder approval, over matters such as electing directors and approving material mergers, acquisitions or other business combination transactions. This concentrated control will limit your ability to influence corporate matters and could also discourage others from pursuing any potential merger, takeover, or other change of control transaction, which could have the effect of depriving the holders of our Class A ordinary shares of the opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over the prevailing market price.
Our dual-class voting structure may render ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Warrants ineligible for inclusion in certain stock market indices, and thus adversely affect the trading price and liquidity of such securities.
Certain index providers have announced restrictions on including companies with multi-class share structures in certain of their indices. For example, S&P Dow Jones and FTSE Russell have changed their eligibility criteria for inclusion of shares of public companies on certain indices, including the S&P 500, to exclude companies with multiple classes of shares and companies whose public shareholders hold no more
 
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than 5% of total voting power from being added to such indices. As a result, our dual-class voting structure may prevent the inclusion of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Warrants in such indices, which could adversely affect the trading price and liquidity of such securities.
If ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or the ECARX Warrants are not eligible for deposit and clearing within the facilities of the Depository Trust Company, then transactions in the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or the ECARX Warrants may be disrupted.
The facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) are a widely used mechanism that allow for rapid electronic transfers of securities between the participants in the DTC system, which include many large banks and brokerage firms. We expect that ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and the ECARX Warrants will be eligible for deposit and clearing within the DTC system. We expect to enter into arrangements with DTC whereby we will agree to indemnify DTC for stamp duty that may be assessed upon it as a result of its service as a depository and clearing agency for the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and the ECARX Warrants. We expect these actions, among others, will result in DTC agreeing to accept the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and the ECARX Warrants for deposit and clearing within its facilities.
DTC is not obligated to accept ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or the ECARX Warrants for deposit and clearing within its facilities in connection with the listing, and even if DTC does initially accept ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or the ECARX Warrants, it will generally have discretion to cease to act as a depository and clearing agency for ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or the ECARX Warrants.
If DTC determines prior to the consummation of the Business Combination that ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or the ECARX Warrants are not eligible for clearance within the DTC system, then we would not expect to consummate the Business Combination or the listing contemplated by this proxy statement/prospectus in its current form. However, if DTC determines at any time after the completion of the transactions and the listing that ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or the ECARX Warrants were not eligible for continued deposit and clearance within its facilities, then we believe that ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or ECARX Warrants would not be eligible for continued listing on a U.S. securities exchange and trading in the securities or warrants would be disrupted. While we would pursue alternative arrangements to preserve its listing and maintain trading of its securities, any such disruption could have a material adverse effect on the market price of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and the ECARX Warrants.
Risks Relating to Taxation
The Business Combination may not qualify as a reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code, in which case U.S. Holders of COVA Public Shares would generally recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
The U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Business Combination will depend on whether it qualifies as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. There are significant factual and legal uncertainties as to whether the Business Combination will qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. For example, under Section 368(a) of the Code, the acquiring corporation must continue, either directly or indirectly through certain controlled corporations, either a significant line of the acquired corporation’s historic business or use a significant portion of the acquired corporation’s historic business assets in a business. However, there is an absence of direct guidance as to how the provisions of Section 368(a) of the Code apply in the case of an acquisition of a corporation with only investment-type assets, such as COVA. Moreover, the qualification of the Business Combination as a reorganization is based on certain facts that will not be known until or following the closing of the Business Combination, the closing of the Business Combination is not conditioned upon the receipt of an opinion of counsel that the Business Combination qualifies as a reorganization, and neither COVA nor ECARX intends to request a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) regarding the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Business Combination. In addition, if a significant number of shareholders of COVA decide to redeem their COVA Public Shares, the “continuity of business enterprise” requirement that is necessary to qualify as a reorganization under Sections 368(a) of the Code may not be satisfied. The Company has undertaken to use reasonable best efforts to comply with certain covenants intended to support the qualification of the Business Combination as a “reorganization” under the provisions of Section 368(a)
 
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of the Code, but no assurances can be given that compliance with such covenants will be sufficient to ensure the Business Combination qualifies as a “reorganization”. Due to the absence of guidance bearing directly on whether an acquisition of a corporation with no active business can qualify as a “reorganization” under Section 368(a) of the Code, legal counsel to COVA on U.S. federal income tax matters is not rendering an opinion regarding whether the Business Combination qualifies as a “reorganization” under Section 368(a) of the Code. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the IRS will not challenge the treatment of the Business Combination as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code or that a court will not sustain a challenge by the IRS.
If any requirement for Section 368(a) of the Code is not met, then a U.S. Holder of COVA Public Shares and/or COVA Public Warrants would generally recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference, if any, between the fair market value of the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and/or ECARX Warrants received in the Business Combination over such U.S. Holder’s aggregate tax basis in the corresponding COVA Public Shares and/or COVA Public Warrants surrendered by such U.S. Holder in the Business Combination.
Additionally, even if the Business Combination qualifies as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, proposed Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 1291(f) of the Code (which have a retroactive effective date) generally require that, unless certain elections have been made by a U.S. Holder, a U.S. Holder who disposes of stock of a PFIC must recognize gain equal to the excess of the fair market value of such PFIC stock over its adjusted tax basis, notwithstanding any other provision of the Code. COVA believes that it may currently be classified as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, these proposed Treasury Regulations, if finalized in their current form, would generally require a U.S. Holder of COVA Public Shares to recognize gain under the PFIC rules on the exchange of COVA Public Shares for ECARX Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Business Combination unless such U.S. Holder has made certain tax elections with respect to such U.S. Holder’s COVA Public Shares. Any gain recognized from the application of the PFIC rules would be taxable income with no corresponding receipt of cash. The tax on any such gain would be imposed at the rate applicable to ordinary income and an interest charge would apply based on complex rules designed to offset the tax deferral to such U.S. Holder on the undistributed earnings, if any, of COVA. It is not possible to determine at this time whether, in what form, and with what effective date, final Treasury Regulations under Section 1291(f) of the Code may be adopted or how any such Treasury Regulations would apply.
U.S. Holders of COVA Public Shares should consult their tax advisors to determine the tax consequences if the Business Combination does not qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and the application of the PFIC rules to their specific situations in connection with the Business Combination.
ECARX may be or become a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”), which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders.
A non-U.S. entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes will generally be a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any taxable year if either (i) at least 75% of its gross income for such year is passive income or (ii) at least 50% of the value of its assets (generally based on an average of the quarterly values of the assets) during such year is attributable to assets that produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income. Passive income generally includes, among other things, dividends, interest, rents, royalties, and gains from the disposition of passive assets. ECARX will be treated as owning its proportionate share of the assets and earning its proportionate share of the income of any other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes in which ECARX owns, directly or indirectly, 25% or more (by value) of the stock.
Based on the current and anticipated value of the assets and the composition of the income and assets, including goodwill and other unbooked intangibles, of ECARX and its subsidiaries, ECARX does not currently expect to be treated as a PFIC for the taxable year that includes the Business Combination or foreseeable future taxable years. However, this conclusion is a factual determination that must be made annually at the close of each taxable year on the basis of the composition of the income and assets of ECARX and its subsidiaries and, thus, is subject to change. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that ECARX or any of its subsidiaries will not be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year. If ECARX or any of its subsidiaries
 
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is a PFIC for any taxable year, or portion thereof, that is included in the holding period of a beneficial owner of the ECARX Ordinary Shares or ECARX Warrants that is a U.S. Holder, such U.S. Holder may be subject to certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences and may be subject to additional reporting requirements.
Please see “Material Tax Considerations” for a more detailed discussion with respect to ECARX’s PFIC status. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the possible application of the PFIC rules to holders of the ECARX Ordinary Shares and ECARX Warrants.
Future changes to tax laws could materially and adversely affect ECARX and reduce net returns to ECARX’s shareholders.
ECARX’s tax treatment is subject to changes in tax laws, regulations, and treaties, or the interpretation thereof, tax policy initiatives and reforms under consideration, and the practices of tax authorities in jurisdictions in which we operate. The income and other tax rules in the jurisdictions in which ECARX operate are constantly under review by taxing authorities and other governmental bodies. Changes to tax laws (which changes may have retroactive application) could adversely affect ECARX or its shareholders. We are unable to predict what tax proposals may be proposed or enacted in the future or what effect such changes would have on ECARX business, but such changes, to the extent they are brought into tax legislation, regulations, policies or practices, could affect ECARX’s financial position and overall or effective tax rates in the future in countries where we have operations and where ECARX is organized or resident for tax purposes, and increase the complexity, burden and cost of tax compliance. We urge investors to consult with their legal and tax advisors regarding the implication of potential changes in tax laws on an investment in ECARX Ordinary Shares and ECARX Warrants.
Risks Relating to Redemption of COVA Public Shares
You will not have any rights or interests in funds from the Trust Account, except under certain limited circumstances. To liquidate your investment, therefore, you may be forced to redeem or sell your COVA Public Shares or COVA Public Warrants, potentially at a loss.
COVA’s Public Shareholders will be entitled to receive funds from the Trust Account only upon the earliest to occur of: (i) the redemption of any COVA Public Shares properly submitted in connection with COVA’s completion of an initial business combination (including the release of funds to pay any amounts due to any public shareholders who properly exercise their redemption rights in connection therewith), (ii) the redemption of any COVA Public Shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to the COVA Articles that would modify the substance or timing of COVA’s obligation to redeem 100% of its public shares if COVA has not consummated an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of the IPO, and (iii) the redemption of COVA’s Public Shares if it is unable to complete an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of the IPO, subject to applicable law and as further described herein. In no other circumstances will COVA Public Shareholder have any right or interest of any kind in the Trust Account. Holders of warrants will not have any right to the proceeds held in the Trust Account with respect to the warrants. Accordingly, to liquidate your investment, holders may be forced to sell their public shares or warrants, potentially at a loss.
COVA does not have a specified maximum redemption threshold. The absence of such a redemption threshold may make it possible for COVA to complete a business combination with which a substantial majority of its shareholders do not agree.
The COVA Articles do not provide a specified maximum redemption threshold, except that in no event will COVA redeem COVA Public Shares in an amount that would cause its net tangible assets to be less than US$5,000,0001, such that COVA is not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules. This minimum net tangible asset amount is also required as an obligation to each party’s obligation to consummate the Business Combination under the Merger Agreement. If the Business Combination is not consummated, COVA will not redeem any COVA Public Shares, all COVA Public Shares submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof, and COVA instead may search for an alternate business combination.
 
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The grant and future exercise of registration rights may adversely affect the market price of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares upon consummation of the Business Combination.
Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement entered into in connection with the Business Combination and which is described elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus, Sponsor and certain ECARX Holders that entered into such agreement can each demand that ECARX register their registrable securities and assist in underwritten takedown of such securities under certain circumstances and will each also have piggyback registration rights for these securities in connection with certain registrations of securities that ECARX undertakes. In addition, following the consummation of the Business Combination, ECARX is required to file and maintain an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering such securities and certain other securities of ECARX.
The registration of these securities will permit the public sale of such securities subject to any contractual lock-up any such shareholder may have signed. The registration and availability of such a significant number of securities for trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares post-Business Combination.
If you or a “group” of shareholders of which you are a part are deemed to hold an aggregate of more than 15% of the COVA Public Shares issued in the IPO, you (or, if a member of such a group, all of the members of such group in the aggregate) will lose the ability to redeem all such shares in excess of 15% of the COVA Public Shares issued in the IPO.
Pursuant to the COVA Articles, a COVA Public Shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” ​(as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in the IPO, which we refer to as the “Excess Shares,” without COVA’s prior consent. However, COVA would not be restricting its shareholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against the Business Combination. Your inability to redeem the Excess Shares will reduce your influence over COVA’s ability to complete the Business Combination and you could suffer a material loss on your investment in COVA if you sell Excess Shares in open market transactions. Additionally, you will not receive redemption distributions with respect to the Excess Shares if COVA completes an initial business combination. And as a result, you will continue to hold that number of shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose of such shares, would be required to sell your shares in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.
There is no guarantee that a shareholder’s decision whether to redeem its COVA Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the Trust Account will put the shareholder in a better future economic position.
There is no assurance as to the price at which a COVA shareholder may be able to sell its COVA Public Shares (or ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares received in exchange therefor) in the future following the completion of the Business Combination or any alternative business combination. Certain events following the consummation of any initial business combination, including the Business Combination, may cause an increase in the share price, and may result in a lower value realized now than a COVA Public Shareholder might realize in the future had the shareholder not redeemed its COVA Public Shares. Similarly, if a COVA Public Shareholder does not redeem its COVA Public Shares, the shareholder will bear the risk of ownership of the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares after the consummation of the Business Combination, and there can be no assurance that a shareholder can sell its shares in the future for a greater amount than the redemption price set forth in this proxy statement/prospectus. A COVA shareholder should consult the shareholder’s tax and/or financial advisor for assistance on how this may affect his, her or its individual situation.
 
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EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF COVA SHAREHOLDERS
General
COVA is furnishing this proxy statement/prospectus to its shareholders as part of the solicitation of proxies by its board of directors for use at the extraordinary general meeting of the COVA shareholders and at any adjournment or postponement thereof. This proxy statement/prospectus provides you with information you need to know to be able to vote or instruct your vote to be cast at the extraordinary general meeting.
Date, Time and Place of Extraordinary General Meeting of COVA’s Shareholders
The extraordinary general meeting will be held on                 , 2022, at                 a.m., Eastern Time, at                 and over the Internet by means of a live audio webcast. You may attend the extraordinary general meeting webcast by accessing the web portal located at             and following the instructions set forth on your proxy card.
Purpose of the COVA Extraordinary General Meeting
At the extraordinary general meeting, COVA is asking its shareholders:
Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — to consider and vote upon, as an ordinary resolution, a proposal to approve and authorize the Merger Agreement, a copy of which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A, and the transactions contemplated therein, including the Business Combination;
Proposal No. 2 — The Merger Proposal — to consider and vote upon, as a special resolution, a proposal to approve and authorize the First Plan of Merger; and
Proposal No. 3 — The Adjournment Proposal — to consider and vote upon, as an ordinary resolution, a proposal to adjourn the extraordinary general meeting to a later date or dates, to, among other things, permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes for the approval of one or more proposals at the extraordinary general meeting.
Notwithstanding the order in which the proposals are set out herein, the COVA board of directors may put the above proposals in such order as it may determine at the meeting.
Record Date; Persons Entitled to Vote
COVA shareholders will be entitled to vote or direct votes to be cast at the extraordinary general meeting if they owned COVA Shares at the close of business on                 , 2022, which is the record date for the extraordinary general meeting. Shareholders will have one vote for each COVA Share owned at the close of business on the record date. If your shares are held in “street name” or are in a margin or similar account, you should contact your broker, bank or nominee to ensure that votes related to the shares you beneficially own are properly counted. On the record date, there were                 COVA Shares outstanding, of which                 are Public Shares.
Quorum
A quorum is the minimum number of COVA Shares that must be present to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will be present at the COVA extraordinary general meeting if holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding COVA Shares entitled to vote at the extraordinary general meeting are present in person or are represented at the extraordinary general meeting by proxy. Abstentions and broker non-votes will count as present for the purposes of establishing a quorum. The COVA Public Shares and the COVA Founder Shares are entitled to vote together as a single class on all matters to be considered at the extraordinary general meeting.
Vote Required
The proposals to be presented at the extraordinary general meeting will require the following votes:
 
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Business Combination Proposal — The approval of the Business Combination Proposal will require an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law, being the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of COVA Shares who, being present and entitled to vote at the extraordinary general meeting, vote at the extraordinary general meeting. The Transactions will not be consummated if COVA has less than US$5,000,001 of net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Exchange Act) either immediately prior to or upon consummation of the Transactions.
Merger Proposal — The approval of the First Plan of Merger will require a special resolution under Cayman Islands law, being the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two thirds of the COVA Shares who, being present and entitled to vote at the extraordinary general meeting, vote at the extraordinary general meeting.
Adjournment Proposal — The approval of the Adjournment Proposal will require an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law, being the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the COVA Shares who, being present and entitled to vote at the extraordinary general meeting, vote at the extraordinary general meeting.
Brokers are not entitled to vote on the Business Combination Proposal or the Merger Proposal absent voting instructions from the beneficial holder. Abstentions and broker non-votes, while considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as votes cast at the extraordinary general meeting, and otherwise will have no effect on a particular proposal.
Voting Your Shares
If you are a holder of record of COVA Shares, there are two ways to vote your COVA Shares at the extraordinary general meeting:
By Mail.   You may vote by proxy by completing the enclosed proxy card and returning it in the postage-paid return envelope. If you vote by proxy card, your “proxy,” whose name is listed on the proxy card, will vote your shares as you instruct on the proxy card. If you sign and return the proxy card but do not give instructions on how to vote your shares, your shares will be voted “FOR” all of the proposals in accordance with the recommendation of COVA’s board of directors. Proxy cards received after a matter has been voted upon at the extraordinary general meeting will not be counted.
In Person.   You may attend the extraordinary general meeting in person or by webcast and vote electronically using the ballot provided to you at the extraordinary general meeting or during the webcast. You may attend the extraordinary general meeting webcast by accessing the web portal located at             and following the instructions set forth on your proxy card.
Revoking Your Proxy
If you are a holder of record of COVA Shares and you give a proxy, you may revoke it at any time before it is exercised by doing any one of the following:

you may send another signed proxy card to COVA’s secretary with a later date so that it is received prior to the vote at the extraordinary general meeting or attend the extraordinary general in person or by live webcast of the extraordinary general meeting and vote electronically;

you may notify COVA’s secretary in writing, prior to the vote at the extraordinary general meeting, that you have revoked your proxy; or

you may attend the live webcast of the extraordinary general meeting and vote electronically or revoke your proxy electronically, although your attendance alone will not revoke any proxy that you have previously given.
If you hold your COVA Shares in “street name,” you may submit new instructions on how to vote your shares by contacting your broker, bank or other nominee.
 
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Who Can Answer Your Questions About Voting Your Shares
If you are a COVA shareholder and have any questions about how to vote or direct a vote in respect of your COVA Shares, you may contact COVA’s proxy solicitor at:
D.F. King & Co., Inc.
48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor
New York, New York 10005
Banks and Brokers may call: (212) 269-5550
Shareholders may call toll free: (800) 347-4826
COVA@dfking.com
Redemption Rights
COVA Public Shareholders, excluding the Sponsor and COVA’s officers and directors, may seek to redeem their COVA Public Shares for cash, regardless of whether they vote for or against, or whether they abstain from voting on, the Business Combination Proposal. Any COVA Public Shareholder may demand that COVA redeem such shares for a full pro rata portion of the Trust Account (which, for illustrative purposes, was US$      per share as of                 , 2022, the extraordinary general meeting record date), calculated as of two business days prior to the anticipated consummation of the Business Combination. If a holder properly seeks redemption as described in this section and the Business Combination is consummated, COVA will redeem these shares for a pro rata portion of funds deposited in the Trust Account and the holder will no longer own these shares following the Business Combination.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a COVA Public Shareholder, together with any affiliate of his or any other person with whom he is acting in concert or as a “group” ​(as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than 15% of the COVA Public Shares without COVA’s prior consent. Accordingly, a COVA Public Shareholder, together with any affiliate of such holder or any other person with whom such holder is acting in concert or as a “group,” will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the COVA Public Shares.
Holders of the COVA Founder Shares will not have redemption rights with respect to such shares.
Holders of the COVA Public Shares may demand redemption by delivering their share certificates (if any) and other redemption forms, either physically or electronically using Depository Trust Company’s DWAC System, to COVA’s transfer agent prior to the vote at the extraordinary general meeting. If you hold the shares in “street name,” you will have to coordinate with your broker, bank or nominee to have your shares certificated and delivered electronically. Certificates that have not been tendered (either physically or electronically) in accordance with these procedures will not be redeemed for cash. There is a nominal cost associated with this tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC system. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker US$80.00 and it would be up to the broker whether or not to pass this cost on to the redeeming shareholder. In the event the proposed Business Combination is not consummated this may result in an additional cost to shareholders for the return of their shares.
COVA’s transfer agent can be contacted at the following address:
Mark Zimkind
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
E-mail: mzimkind@continentalstock.com
Any request to redeem such shares, once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to two business days prior to the vote on the Business Combination Proposal (unless otherwise agreed to by COVA). Furthermore, if a COVA Public Shareholder delivered its share certificate and other redemption forms in connection
 
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with an election of its redemption and subsequently decides prior to the applicable date not to elect to exercise such rights, it may simply request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically or electronically).
If the Business Combination is not approved or completed for any reason, then COVA Public Shareholders who elected to exercise their redemption rights will not be entitled to redeem their shares for a full pro rata portion of the Trust Account, as applicable. In such case, COVA will promptly return any shares tendered for redemption by COVA Public Shareholders. If COVA would be left with less than US$5,000,001 of net tangible assets as a result of COVA Public Shareholders properly demanding redemption of their shares for cash, COVA will not be able to consummate the Business Combination.
The closing price of the COVA Public Shares on                 , 2022, the extraordinary general meeting record date, was US$      . The cash held in the Trust Account on such date was US$      million ($      per COVA Public Share). Prior to exercising redemption rights, shareholders should verify the market price of the COVA Public Shares as they may receive higher proceeds from the sale of their COVA Public Shares in the public market than from exercising their redemption rights if the market price per share is higher than the redemption price. COVA cannot assure its shareholders that they will be able to sell their COVA Public Shares in the open market, even if the market price per share is higher than the redemption price stated above, as there may not be sufficient liquidity in its securities when its shareholders wish to sell their shares.
If a COVA Public Shareholder exercises his, her or its redemption rights, then he, she or it will be exchanging its COVA Public Shares for cash and will no longer own those shares. You will be entitled to receive cash for these shares only if, prior to the deadline for submitting redemption requests, you properly demand redemption no later than the close of the vote on the Business Combination Proposal by delivering your share certificate (if any) and other redemption forms (either physically or electronically) to COVA’s transfer agent prior to the vote at the extraordinary general meeting, and the Business Combination consummated.
For a detailed discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations for shareholders with respect to the exercise of these redemption rights, seeMaterial Tax Considerations. The consequences of a redemption to any particular shareholder will depend on that shareholder’s particular facts and circumstances. Accordingly, you should consult your tax advisor to determine your tax consequences from the exercise of your redemption rights, including the applicability and effect of U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and other tax laws in light of your particular circumstances.
If COVA Shareholders fail to take any action with respect to the extraordinary general meeting and fail to redeem their Public Shares following the procedure described in this proxy statement/prospectus and the Business Combination is approved by the COVA shareholders and consummated, such COVA Shareholders will become shareholders of ECARX.
The following table presents the anticipated share ownership of various holders of ECARX Ordinary Shares after the completion of the Business Combination, based on the assumption that no additional equity securities of ECARX will be issued at or prior to Closing except to the Strategic Investors, and that there are no Dissenting COVA Shareholders, under the following redemption scenarios:

Assuming No Redemption:    This presentation assumes that no COVA Shareholder exercises redemption rights with respect to their COVA Public Shares.

Assuming 25% Redemption:    This presentation assumes that COVA Public Shareholders holding 7,500,000 COVA Public Shares will exercise their redemption rights.

Assuming 50% Redemption:    This presentation assumes that COVA Public Shareholders holding 15,000,000 COVA Public Shares will exercise their redemption rights.

Assuming 75% Redemption:    This presentation assumes that COVA Public Shareholders holding 22,500,000 COVA Public Shares will exercise their redemption rights.

Assuming Maximum Redemption:    This presentation assumes that COVA Shareholders holding 30,000,000 COVA Public Shares will exercise their redemption rights. This presentation does not take into account the Minimum Available Cash Condition.
 
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Assuming No
Redemption(1)
Assuming 25%
Redemption(1)(2)
Assuming 50%
Redemption(1)(3)
Assuming 75%
Redemption(1)(4)
Assuming
Maximum
Redemption(1)(5)
Shares
%
Shares
%
Shares
%
Shares
%
Shares
%
ECARX Ordinary Shares:
Existing COVA Shareholders (excluding the Sponsor)
30,000,000 8.2 22,500,000 6.3 15,000,000 4.3 7,500,000 2.2
The Sponsor(6)
7,500,000 2.1 7,500,000 2.1 5,250,000 1.5 5,250,000 1.5 5,250,000 1.6
Existing ECARX Shareholders(7)
323,382,409 88.7 323,382,409 90.6 323,382,409 93.2 323,382,409 95.2 323,382,409 97.4
Strategic Investors(8)
3,500,000 1.0 3,500,000 1.0 3,500,000 1.0 3,500,000 1.0 3,500,000 1.1
Total ECARX Ordinary Shares Outstanding at Closing
364,382,409 100.0 356,882,409 100.0 347,132,409 100 339,632,409 100.0 332,132,409 100.0
Per Share Pro Forma Equity Value of ECARX Ordinary Shares outstanding at Closing(9)
10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00
(1)
The share amounts and ownership and voting power percentages set forth above do not take into account COVA Public Warrants and COVA Private Warrants that will remain outstanding immediately following the Business Combination and may be exercised thereafter to acquire ECARX Ordinary Shares. The COVA Public Warrants represent 15,000,000 redeemable warrants issued in the IPO, each entitling its holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share of COVA at an exercise price of US$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. The COVA Private Warrants represent (i) 8,872,000 warrants sold to Sponsor in the private placement consummated concurrently with the IPO, each entitling its holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share of COVA at an exercise price of US$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment and (ii) 1,000,000 warrants underlying the Second Promissory Note that the Sponsor has the option, but not the obligation, to convert, in whole or in part, into COVA Private Warrants, at a price of US$1.00 per COVA Private Warrant upon the consummation of the Business Combination. In connection with the Business Combination, COVA Public Warrants and COVA Private Warrants will be automatically and irrevocably assumed by ECARX Holdings and converted into ECARX Warrants each entitling its holder to purchase one ECARX Class A Ordinary Share at a price of US$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment.
(2)
This scenario assumes that 7,500,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders.
(3)
This scenario assumes that 15,000,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders.
(4)
This scenario assumes that 22,500,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders.
(5)
This scenario assumes that 30,000,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders. COVA’s obligations under the Merger Agreement are subject to certain customary closing conditions. Furthermore, COVA will only proceed with the Business Combination if it will have net tangible assets of at least US$5,000,001 (after taking into account the redemption for cash of all COVA Public Shares properly demanded to be redeemed by holders of COVA Public Shares) upon consummation of the Business Combination (as determined in accordance with Rule3a5l-l(g)(1) of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)). Unless ECARX Holdings elects to waive the US$100,000,000 Minimum Available Cash Condition, the Maximum Redemption Scenario cannot occur.
(6)
Pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, up to 30% of the 7,500,000 COVA Founder Shares are subject to forfeiture as described therein.
(7)
Excluding 16,617,591 shares reserved for the share options of ECARX prior to the date of the Merger Agreement (after considering the impact of the Recapitalization) and 1,000,000 shares underlying the Note, which is convertible into fully paid, validly issued and nonassessable ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares upon the Closing pursuant to the terms of the convertible note purchase agreement.
(8)
Representing the aggregate of 3,500,000 ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares to be issued to Geely Investment Holding Ltd. and Luminar Technologies, Inc. at US$10.00 per share for an aggregate investment amount of US$35,000,000. See “Agreements Entered into in Connection with the Business Combination — Strategic Investment Agreements” and “Beneficial Ownership of Securities” for additional details.
(9)
In each redemption scenario, the per share pro forma equity value of ECARX Ordinary Shares will be US$10.00 at Closing in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.
However, if the actual facts are different than the assumptions laid out above, the anticipated share ownership of various holders of ECARX Ordinary Shares after the completion of the Business Combination will be different. ECARX shareholders would experience dilution to the extent ECARX Holdings issues additional shares after Closing. In addition, the table above excludes certain potential sources of dilution, namely, 16,617,591 shares reserved for the share options of ECARX prior to the date of the Merger Agreement (after considering the impact of the Recapitalization) and ECARX Ordinary Shares underlying the Note. The following table presents the anticipated share ownership of various holders of ECARX Ordinary Shares after the completion of the Business Combination after considering the impact of the Recapitalization assuming (i) the issuance of 16,617,591 shares reserved for the share options of ECARX prior to the date of
 
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the Merger Agreement (after considering the impact of the Recapitalization), and the issuance of ECARX Ordinary Shares underlying the Note, (ii) no other additional equity securities of ECARX will be issued at or prior to Closing, and (iii) there are no Dissenting COVA Shareholders, under the following redemption scenarios:
Assuming No
Redemption
Assuming 25%
Redemption(1)
Assuming 50%
Redemption(2)
Assuming 75%
Redemption(3)
Assuming
Maximum
Redemption(4)
Shares
%
Shares
%
Shares
%
Shares
%
Shares
%
Total ECARX Ordinary Shares Outstanding at Closing not reflecting potential sources of dilution(5)
364,382,409
89.6
356,882,409
89.4
347,132,409
89.1
339,632,409
88.9
332,132,409
88.7
Potential sources of dilution:
Shares underlying COVA Public Warrants
15,000,000 3.7 15,000,000 3.8 15,000,000 3.8 15,000,000 3.9 15,000,000 4.0
Shares underlying COVA Private Warrants
9,872,000 2.4 9,872,000 2.5 9,872,000 2.5 9,872,000 2.6 9,872,000 2.6
Shares underlying granted option shares
16,617,591 4.1 16,617,591 4.2 16,617,591 4.3 16,617,591 4.3 16,617,591 4.4
Shares underlying the Note(6)
1,000,000 0.2 1,000,000 0.3 1,000,000 0.3 1,000,000 0.3 1,000,000 0.3
Total ECARX Ordinary Shares outstanding at
Closing (including shares underlying granted option
shares and shares underlying the
Note)
406,872,000 100.0 399,372,000 100.0 389,622,000 100.0 382,122,000 100.0 374,622,000 100.0
Holders of ECARX Ordinary Shares reflecting potential sources of dilution:
Existing COVA Shareholders (excluding the Sponsor)(7)
45,000,000 11.1 37,500,000 9.4 30,000,000 7.7 22,500,000 5.9 15,000,000 4.0
The Sponsor(8)
17,372,000 4.3 17,372,000 4.3 15,122,000 3.9 15,122,000 4.0 15,122,000 4.0
Existing ECARX Shareholders(9)
340,000,000 83.6 340,000,000 85.1 340,000,000 87.3 340,000,000 89.0 340,000,000 90.8
Holder of the Note(6)
1,000,000 0.2 1,000,000 0.3 1,000,000 0.3 1,000,000 0.3 1,000,000 0.3
Strategic Investors(10)
3,500,000 0.9 3,500,000 0.9 3,500,000 0.9 3,500,000 0.9 3,500,000 0.9
Per Share Pro Forma Equity Value of ECARX Ordinary Shares outstanding at Closing(11)
10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00
(1)
This scenario assumes that 7,500,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders.
(2)
This scenario assumes that 15,000,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders.
(3)
This scenario assumes that 22,500,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders.
(4)
This scenario assumes that 30,000,000 shares of COVA Shares are redeemed by the COVA Shareholders. COVA’s obligations under the Merger Agreement are subject to certain customary closing conditions. Furthermore, COVA will only proceed with the Business Combination if it will have net tangible assets of at least US$5,000,001 (after taking into account the redemption for cash of all COVA Public Shares properly demanded to be redeemed by holders of COVA Public Shares) upon consummation of the Business Combination (as determined in accordance with Rule3a5l-l(g)(1) of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)). Unless ECARX Holdings elects to waive the US$100,000,000 Minimum Available Cash Condition, the Maximum Redemption Scenario cannot occur.
(5)
Does not include COVA Public Warrants and COVA Private Warrants that will remain outstanding immediately following the Business Combination and may be exercised thereafter to acquire ECARX Ordinary Shares. The COVA Public Warrants represent 15,000,000 redeemable warrants issued in the IPO, each entitling its holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share of COVA at an exercise price of US$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. The COVA Private Warrants represent (i) 8,872,000 warrants sold to Sponsor in the private placement consummated concurrently with the IPO, each entitling its holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share of COVA at an exercise price of US$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment and (ii) 1,000,000 warrants underlying the Second Promissory Note that the Sponsor has the option, but not the obligation, to convert, in whole or in part, into COVA Private Warrants, at a price of US$1.00 per COVA Private Warrant upon the consummation of the Business Combination. In connection with the Business Combination, COVA Public Warrants and COVA Private Warrants will be automatically and irrevocably assumed by ECARX Holdings and converted into ECARX Warrants each entitling its holder to purchase one ECARX Class A Ordinary Share at a price of US$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment.
(6)
Representing the Note, which, if the Closing occurs prior to the Maturity Date, shall be automatically converted into fully paid, validly issued and nonassessable ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares at the Note Conversion Price. For purpose of this table, it is assumed that the Note Conversion Price is US$10.00 per share.
(7)
Includes 15,000,000 shares underlying COVA Public Warrants.
 
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(8)
Includes 9,872,000 shares underlying COVA Private Warrants. Pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, up to 30% of the 7,500,000 COVA Founder Shares are subject to forfeiture as described therein.
(9)
Includes 16,617,591 shares reserved for the share options of ECARX prior to the date of the Merger Agreement (after considering the impact of the Recapitalization).
(10)
Representing the aggregate of 3,500,000 ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares to be issued to Geely Investment Holding Ltd. and Luminar Technologies, Inc. at US$10.00 per share for an aggregate investment amount of US$35,000,000. See “Agreements Entered into in Connection with the Business Combination — Strategic Investment Agreements” and “Beneficial Ownership of Securities” for additional details.
(11)
In each redemption scenario, the per share pro forma equity value of ECARX Ordinary Shares will be US$10.00 at Closing in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.
This information should be read together with the pro forma combined financial information in the section entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information.”
Appraisal Rights
The Cayman Companies Act prescribes when shareholder appraisal rights will be available and sets the limitations on such rights. Where such rights are available, shareholders are entitled to receive fair value for their shares. However, regardless of whether such rights are or are not available, shareholders are still entitled to exercise the rights of redemption as set out herein, and the COVA board of directors has determined that the redemption proceeds payable to shareholders who exercise such redemption rights represents the fair value of those shares.
Holders of COVA Shares have appraisal rights in connection with the Business Combination under the Cayman Companies Act. COVA Public Shareholders are entitled to give notice to COVA prior to the meeting that they wish to dissent to the Business Combination and to receive payment of fair market value for his, her or its COVA Shares if they follow the procedures set out in the Cayman Companies Act.
In essence, that procedure is as follows: (i) the shareholder must give his written objection to the merger or consolidation to the constituent company before the vote on the merger or consolidation, including a statement that the shareholder proposes to demand payment for his shares if the merger or consolidation is authorized by the vote; (ii) within 20 days following the date on which the merger or consolidation is approved by the shareholders, the constituent company must give written notice to each shareholder who made a written objection; (iii) a shareholder must within 20 days following receipt of such notice from the constituent company, give the constituent company a written notice of his intention to dissent, including, among other details, a demand for payment of the fair value of his shares; (iv) within seven days following the date of the expiration of the period set out in (ii) above or seven days following the date on which the plan of merger or consolidation is filed, whichever is later, the constituent company, the surviving company or the consolidated company must make a written offer to each dissenting shareholder to purchase his, her or its shares at a price that the company determines is the fair value and if the company and the shareholder agree the price within 30 days following the date on which the offer was made, the company must pay the shareholder such amount; and (v) if the company and the shareholder fail to agree on a price within such 30 day period, within 20 days following the date on which such 30 day period expires, the company (and any dissenting shareholder) must file a petition with the Cayman Islands courts to determine the fair value and such petition must be accompanied by a list of the names and addresses of the dissenting shareholders with whom agreements as to the fair value of their shares have not been reached by the company. At the hearing of that petition, the court has the power to determine the fair value of the shares together with a fair rate of interest, if any, to be paid by the company upon the amount determined to be the fair value. Any dissenting shareholder whose name appears on the list filed by the company may participate fully in all proceedings until the determination of fair value is reached.
COVA Public Shareholders who elect to exercise appraisal rights will lose their right to exercise their redemption rights as described herein.
Proxy Solicitation Costs
COVA is soliciting proxies on behalf of its board of directors. This solicitation is being made by mail but also may be made by telephone. COVA and its directors, officers and employees may also solicit proxies online. COVA will bear the cost of the solicitation.
 
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COVA has hired D.F. King & Co., Inc. to assist in the proxy solicitation process. COVA will pay to D.F. King & Co., Inc. a fee of US$25,000, plus disbursements.
COVA will ask banks, brokers and other institutions, nominees and fiduciaries to forward the proxy materials to their principals and to obtain their authority to execute proxies and voting instructions. COVA will reimburse them for their reasonable expenses.
Other Matters
As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, COVA’s board of directors does not know of any business to be presented at the extraordinary general meeting other than as set forth in the notice accompanying this proxy statement/prospectus. If any other matters should properly come before the extraordinary general meeting, it is intended that the shares represented by proxies will be voted with respect to such matters in accordance with the judgment of the persons voting the proxies.
Purchases of COVA Shares
At any time prior to the extraordinary general meeting, during a period when they are not then aware of any material nonpublic information regarding COVA or its securities, the Sponsor, COVA’s officers and directors, ECARX, ECARX shareholders and/or their respective affiliates may purchase shares from institutional and other investors who vote, or indicate an intention to vote, against the Business Combination Proposal, or execute agreements to purchase shares from such investors in the future, or they may enter into transactions with such investors and others to provide them with incentives to acquire COVA Shares or vote their shares in favor of the Business Combination Proposal. The purpose of such share purchases and other transactions would be to increase the likelihood of satisfaction of the requirements to consummate the Business Combination where it appears that such requirements would otherwise not be met. While the exact nature of any such incentives has not been determined as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, they might include, without limitation, arrangements to protect such investors or holders against potential loss in the value of their shares, including the granting of put options and, with ECARX’s consent, the transfer to such investors or holders of shares owned by the Sponsor for nominal value.
Entering into any such arrangements may have a depressive effect on COVA Shares. For example, as a result of these arrangements, an investor or holder may have the ability to effectively purchase shares at a price lower than market and may therefore be more likely to sell the shares it owns, either prior to or immediately after the extraordinary general meeting.
If such transactions are effected, the consequence could be to cause the Business Combination to be approved in circumstances where such approval could not otherwise be obtained. Purchases of shares by the persons described above would allow them to exert more influence over the approval of the Business Combination Proposal and other proposals and would likely increase the chances that such proposals would be approved. No agreements dealing with the above arrangements or purchases have been entered into as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus by the Sponsor, COVA officers and directors, ECARX, ECARX shareholders or any of their respective affiliates. COVA will file a Current Report on Form 8-K to disclose arrangements entered into or significant purchases made by any of the aforementioned persons that would affect the vote on the Business Combination Proposal or the satisfaction of any closing conditions. Any such report will include descriptions of any arrangements entered into or significant purchases by any of the aforementioned persons.
 
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THE MERGER AGREEMENT
This section of the proxy statement/prospectus describes the material provisions of the Merger Agreement, but does not purport to describe all of the terms of the Merger Agreement. The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Merger Agreement, which is attached as Annex A hereto. You are urged to read carefully the Merger Agreement in its entirety because it is the primary legal document that governs the Business Combination. The legal rights and obligations of the parties to the Merger Agreement are governed by the specific language of the Merger Agreement, and not this summary.
The Merger Agreement contains representations, warranties and covenants that the respective parties made to each other as of the date of the Merger Agreement or other specific dates. The assertions embodied in those representations, warranties and covenants were made for purposes of the contract among the parties to the Merger Agreement and are subject to important qualifications and limitations agreed to by such parties in connection with negotiating the Merger Agreement. The representations, warranties and covenants in the Merger Agreement are also modified in important part by the disclosure letters referred to therein which are not filed publicly and are subject to a contractual standard of materiality different from that generally applicable to shareholders and were used for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to the Merger Agreement rather than for the purpose of establishing matters as facts. COVA and ECARX do not believe that the disclosure letters contain information that is material to an investment decision. Moreover, certain representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement may, may not have been or may not be, as applicable, accurate as of any specific date and do not purport to be accurate as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus. Accordingly, no person should rely on the representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement or the summaries thereof in this proxy statement/prospectus as characterizations of the actual state of facts about COVA or ECARX or any other matter. Capitalized terms in this section not otherwise defined in this proxy statement/prospectus shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement. References in this section to “ECARX” are to ECARX Holdings Inc.
Overview of the Transactions Contemplated by the Merger Agreement
On May 26, 2022, COVA, ECARX, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2 entered into the Merger Agreement. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the parties to the Merger Agreement have agreed that (i) Merger Sub 1 will merge with and into COVA, with COVA being the surviving company and becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX, and (ii) immediately following the consummation of the First Merger, Surviving Entity 1 will merge with and into Merger Sub 2, with Merger Sub 2 being the surviving company and remaining a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX, and the shareholders of COVA becoming shareholders of ECARX. We refer to the Mergers along with the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement as the “Transactions.”
Closing of the Business Combination
The Closing will take place on the date that is three business days after the first date on which all conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement that are required thereunder to be satisfied on or prior to the Closing have been satisfied or waived (other than the conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions) (such date, the “Closing Date”), or at such other time as may be agreed upon by ECARX and COVA in writing. See “— Conditions to Closing” for a more detailed description of the conditions that must be satisfied prior to Closing.
Effects of Mergers on Securities of ECARX, COVA, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2
Pre-Closing Transactions of ECARX
On the Closing Date and immediately prior to the First Effective Time, the following actions shall take place or be effected:
(a)
Organizational Documents of ECARX.   The Amended ECARX Articles shall be adopted and become effective.
 
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(b)
Preferred Share Conversion.   Each preferred share of ECARX that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to such time shall be re-designated and re-classified into one ECARX Ordinary Share on a one-for-one basis in accordance with the Company Charter;
(c)
Re-designation.   Immediately following the Preferred Share Conversion but immediately prior to the Recapitalization, the authorized share capital of ECARX shall be re-designated as follows:
(i)
each of the issued and outstanding ECARX Ordinary Shares (other than the Co-Founder Shares) and each of 7,766,956,008 authorized but unissued ECARX Ordinary Shares shall be re-designated as one ECARX Class A Ordinary Share, where each ECARX Class A Ordinary Share shall entitle its holder to one vote on all matters subject to vote at general meetings of ECARX;
(ii)
each of the issued and outstanding Co-Founder Shares and each of the 958,958,360 authorized but unissued ECARX Ordinary Shares shall be re-designated as one ECARX Class B Ordinary Share, where each ECARX Class B Ordinary Share shall entitle its holder to ten votes on all matters subject to vote at general meetings of ECARX; and
(iii)
1,000,000,000 authorized but unissued ECARX Ordinary Shares shall be re-designated as shares of a par value of US$0.000005 each of such class or classes (however designated) as the board of directors of ECARX may determine in accordance with the Amended ECARX Articles.
(d)
Recapitalization.
(i)
Immediately following the Re-designation and prior to the First Effective Time, each authorized issued ECARX Class A Ordinary Share and ECARX Class B Ordinary Share shall be recapitalized by way of a repurchase in exchange for issuance of such number of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares, in each case, equal to the Recapitalization Factor (i.e., one such ECARX Class A Ordinary Share or ECARX Class B Ordinary Share, as the case may be, multiplied by the Recapitalization Factor); provided that no fraction of a ECARX Ordinary Share will be issued by virtue of the Recapitalization, and each ECARX shareholder that would otherwise be so entitled to a fraction of a ECARX Ordinary Share (after aggregating all fractional ECARX Ordinary Shares that otherwise would be received by such ECARX shareholders) shall instead be entitled to receive such number of ECARX Ordinary Shares to which such ECARX shareholders would otherwise be entitled, rounded down to the nearest whole number.
(ii)
Any ECARX Options issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Recapitalization shall be adjusted to give effect to the foregoing transactions, such that (a) each ECARX Option, shall be exercisable for that number of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares equal to the product of (x) the number of ECARX Ordinary Shares subject to such ECARX Option immediately prior to the Recapitalization multiplied by (y) the Recapitalization Factor (such number of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares to be rounded down to the nearest whole number), and (b) the per share exercise price for each ECARX Class A Ordinary Share, as the case may be, issuable upon exercise of the ECARX Options, as adjusted, shall be equal to the quotient (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) obtained by dividing (x) the per share exercise price for each ECARX Ordinary Share subject to such ECARX Option immediately prior to the First Effective Time by (y) the Recapitalization Factor. The Recapitalization Factor shall be adjusted to reflect appropriately the effect of any share subdivision, capitalization, share dividend or share distribution (including any dividend or distribution of securities convertible into ECARX shares), reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation, exchange of shares or other like change (in each case, other than the Capital Restructuring) with respect to ECARX shares occurring on or after the date of the Merger Agreement and prior to the Closing Date.
Effect of Mergers on Securities of COVA
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Closing, the following will occur:
 
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(i)
Immediately prior to the First Effective Time, each COVA Founder Share will be automatically converted into one COVA Public Share in accordance with the terms of the COVA Articles, and each COVA Founder Share shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled, and each former holder of COVA Founder Shares shall thereafter cease to have any rights with respect to such shares;
(ii)
At the First Effective Time, each COVA Unit outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time shall be automatically detached and the holder thereof shall be deemed to hold one COVA Public Share and one-half of a COVA Warrant in accordance with the terms of the applicable COVA Unit; provided that no fractional COVA Warrant will be issued in connection with the Unit Separation such that if a holder of COVA Units would be entitled to receive a fractional COVA Warrant upon the Unit Separation, the number of COVA Warrants to be issued to such holder upon the Unit Separation shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number of COVA Warrants.
(iii)
Immediately following the Unit Separation, each COVA Public Share (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes the COVA Public Shares (A) issued in connection with the COVA Class B Conversion and (B) held as a result of the Unit Separation) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time (other than any COVA Shares that are held by COVA Shareholders that validly exercise their redemption rights, Dissenting COVA Shares and COVA treasury shares) shall automatically be cancelled and cease to exist in exchange for the right to receive one newly issued, fully paid and non-assessable ECARX Class A Ordinary Share. As of the First Effective Time, each COVA Shareholder shall cease to have any other rights in and to such COVA Shares, except as expressly provided therein; and
(iv)
Each COVA Warrant (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes the COVA Warrants held as a result of the Unit Separation) outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time shall cease to be a warrant with respect to ordinary shares of COVA and be assumed by ECARX and converted into a warrant to purchase one ECARX Class A Ordinary Share. Each ECARX Warrant shall continue to have and be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions as were applicable to such COVA Warrant immediately prior to the First Effective Time (including any repurchase rights and cashless exercise provisions) in accordance with the provisions of the Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement.
The sum of all ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares receivable by COVA Shareholders is referred to as the “Merger Consideration.”
Effect of Mergers on Securities of Merger Sub 1
As a result of the First Merger, each ordinary share, par value US$0.000005 per share, of Merger Sub 1 that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time shall continue existing and will constitute the only issued and outstanding share capital of Surviving Entity 1.
Effect of Mergers on Securities of Merger Sub 2
Each ordinary share of Surviving Entity 1 that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Second Effective Time will be automatically cancelled and cease to exist without any payment therefor. Each ordinary share, par value US$0.000005 per share, of Merger Sub 2 immediately prior to the Second Effective Time shall remain outstanding and continue existing and constitute the only issued and outstanding share capital of Surviving Entity 2 and shall not be affected by the Second Merger.
COVA Dissenting Shares
If any COVA Shareholder gives to COVA, before the approval by the COVA Shareholders is obtained at the meeting of the COVA Shareholders, written objection to the First Merger (each, a “Written Objection”) in accordance with Section 238(2) of the Cayman Islands Companies Act, (i) COVA shall promptly give written notice of the authorization of the First Merger (the “Authorization Notice”) to each such COVA Shareholder who has made a Written Objection, and (ii) unless COVA and ECARX elect to waive by agreement in writing, no party shall be obligated to commence the Closing, and the First Plan of Merger
 
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shall not be filed with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands until at least twenty days shall have elapsed since the date on which the Authorization Notice is given, but in any event subject to the satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement.
Subject to the paragraph above, to the extent available under the Cayman Islands Companies Act, the Dissenting COVA Shares shall not be converted into, and such Dissenting COVA Shareholders shall have no right to receive, the applicable Merger Consideration unless and until such Dissenting COVA Shareholder fails to perfect or withdraws or otherwise loses his, her or its right to dissenters’ rights under the Cayman Islands Companies Act. The COVA Shares owned by any COVA Shareholder who fails to perfect or who effectively withdraws or otherwise loses his, her or its dissenters’ rights pursuant to the Cayman Islands Companies Act shall cease to be Dissenting COVA Shares and shall thereupon be deemed to have been converted into, and to have become exchangeable for, as of the First Effective Time, the right to receive the applicable Merger Consideration, without any interest thereon.
Prior to the Closing, COVA shall give ECARX (i) prompt written notice of any demands for dissenters’ rights received by COVA from COVA Shareholders and any withdrawals of such demands and (ii) the opportunity to direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to any such notice or demand for dissenters’ rights under the Cayman Islands Companies Act. COVA shall not, except with the prior written consent of ECARX, make any offers or payment or otherwise agree or commit to any payment or other consideration with respect to any exercise by a COVA Shareholder of its rights to dissent from the First Merger or any demands for appraisal or offer or agree or commit to settle or settle any such demands or approve any withdrawal of any such dissenter rights or demands.
Representations and Warranties
The Merger Agreement contains representations and warranties of ECARX, its subsidiaries, including Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2, and COVA, relating to, among other things, their ability to enter into the Merger Agreement and their outstanding capitalization. In the Merger Agreement, ECARX also made certain other customary representations and warranties to COVA, including among others, representations and warranties related to the following: compliance with laws; tax matters; financial statements; absence of changes; actions; undisclosed liabilities; material contracts and commitments; title, properties; intellectual property rights and data; privacy and cybersecurity; labor and employee matters; environmental matters.
The representations and warranties are, in certain cases, subject to specified exceptions and materiality, Company Material Adverse Effect and SPAC Material Adverse Effect (see “— Material Adverse Effect” below), knowledge and other qualifications contained in the Merger Agreement and may be further modified and limited by the Disclosure Letters to the Merger Agreement.
Material Adverse Effect
With respect to ECARX, “Company Material Adverse Effect” as used in the Merger Agreement means any Event that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on (i) the business, assets and liabilities, results of operations or financial condition of ECARX and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (ii) the ability of ECARX, any of its Subsidiaries or either Merger Sub to consummate the Transactions; provided, however, that in no event would any of the following, alone or in combination, be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been or will be, a “Company Material Adverse Effect”:
(a)
any change in applicable laws or U.S. GAAP or any interpretation thereof following the date of the Merger Agreement;
(b)
any change in interest rates or economic, political, business or financial market conditions generally;
(c)
the taking or refraining from taking of any action required to be taken or refrained from being taken under the Merger Agreement;
(d)
any natural disaster (including hurricanes, storms, tornados, flooding, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or similar occurrences), epidemic or pandemic (including any COVID-19 Measures or
 
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any change in such COVID-19 Measures or interpretations following the date of the Merger Agreement), acts of nature or change in climate;
(e)
any acts of terrorism or war, the outbreak or escalation of hostilities, geopolitical conditions, local, national or international political conditions, riots or insurrections;
(f)
any failure in and of itself of ECARX and any of its Subsidiaries to meet any projections or forecasts (provided that this exception shall not prevent or otherwise affect a determination that any change, effect or development underlying such change has resulted in or contributed to a Company Material Adverse Effect);
(g)
any Events generally applicable to the industries or markets in which ECARX or any of its Subsidiaries operate;
(h)
any action taken by, or at the written request of, COVA;
(i)
the announcement of the Merger Agreement and consummation of the Transactions, including any termination of, reduction in or similar adverse impact (but in each case only to the extent attributable to such announcement or consummation) on ECARX’s and its Subsidiaries’ relationships with any customers, suppliers, employees or government authorities (provided that this clause (i) shall not apply to any representations or warranty to the extent the purpose of such representation or warranty is to address the consequences resulting from this Agreement or the consummation of the Transaction); or
(j)
any Events that are cured by ECARX prior to the Closing;
provided, however, that in the case of each of clauses (a), (b), (d), (e) and (g), any such Event to the extent it disproportionately affects ECARX or any of its Subsidiaries relative to other similarly situated participants in the industries and geographies in which such Persons operate shall not be excluded from the determination of whether there has been, or would reasonably be expected to be, a Company Material Adverse Effect, but only to the extent of the incremental disproportionate effect on ECARX and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to such similarly situated participants.
With respect to COVA, “SPAC Material Adverse Effect” as used in the Merger Agreement means any Event that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on (i) the business, assets and liabilities, results of operations or financial condition of COVA or (ii) the ability of COVA to consummate the Transactions; provided, however, that in no event would any of the following, alone or in combination, be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been or will be, an “SPAC Material Adverse Effect”:
(i)
any change in applicable laws or U.S. GAAP or any interpretation thereof following the date of the Merger Agreement;
(ii)
any change in interest rates or economic, political, business or financial market conditions generally;
(iii)
the taking or refraining from taking of any action required to be taken or refrained from being taken under the Merger Agreement;
(iv)
any natural disaster (including hurricanes, storms, tornados, flooding, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or similar occurrences), epidemic or pandemic (including any COVID-19 Measures or any change in such COVID-19 Measures or interpretations following the date of the Merger Agreement), acts of nature or change in climate;
(v)
any acts of terrorism or war, the outbreak or escalation of hostilities, geopolitical conditions, local, national or international political conditions, riots or insurrections;
(vi)
any action taken by, or at the written request of, ECARX;
(vii)
the announcement of the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions, including any termination of, reduction in or similar adverse impact (but in each case only to the
 
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extent attributable to such announcement or consummation) on COVA’s relationships with any employees or government authorities (provided that this clause shall not apply to any representations or warranty to the extent the purpose of such representation or warranty is to address the consequences resulting from the Merger Agreement or the consummation of the Transaction); or
(viii)
any change in the trading price or volume of the COVA Units, ordinary shares of COVA or COVA Warrants (provided that the underlying causes of such changes referred to in this clause (viii) may be considered in determining whether there is a SPAC Material Adverse Effect except to the extent such cause is within the scope of any other exception within this definition);
provided, however, that in the case of each of clauses (i), (ii), (iv) and (v), any such Event to the extent it disproportionately affects COVA relative to other special purpose acquisition companies shall not be excluded from the determination of whether there has been, or would reasonably be expected to be, a SPAC Material Adverse Effect, but only to the extent of the incremental disproportionate effect on COVA relative to such similarly situated participants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to COVA, the number of COVA Shareholders who exercise their SPAC Shareholder Redemption Right or the failure to obtain shareholders’ approval from COVA shall not be deemed to be a SPAC Material Adverse Effect.
Covenants of the Parties
Covenants of ECARX
ECARX made certain covenants under the Merger Agreement (subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein), including, among others, the following:

From the signing date of the Merger Agreement through the earlier of the Closing or valid termination of the Merger Agreement (the “Interim Period”), subject to certain exceptions, ECARX (i) shall use commercially reasonable efforts to operate the business of ECARX and its Subsidiaries in the Ordinary Course, (ii) shall use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve the Group’s business and operational relationships in all material respects with the suppliers, customers and others having business relationships with the Group that are material to the Group taken as a whole, in each case where commercially reasonable to do so, and (iii) shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not, except as otherwise expressly required or permitted by the Merger Agreement or the other Transaction Documents or required by law, to:

(i) amend its memorandum and articles of association or other organizational documents (whether by merger, consolidation, amalgamation or otherwise), except in the case of any of ECARX’s Subsidiaries only, for any such amendment which is not material to the business of ECARX and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or (ii) liquidate, dissolve, reorganize or otherwise wind up its business and operations, or propose or adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation or dissolution, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization, reclassification or similar change in capitalization or other reorganization (other than liquidation or dissolution of any dormant Subsidiary);

incur, assume, guarantee or repurchase or otherwise become liable for any indebtedness for borrowed money, or issue or sell any debt securities or options, warrants or other rights to acquire debt securities, in any such case in a principal amount exceeding US$1,000,000, except for certain exceptions provided therein;

transfer, issue, sell, grant, pledge or otherwise dispose of (i) any equity securities of ECARX or its Subsidiaries to a third party, or (ii) any options, warrants, rights of conversion or other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitment obligations of ECARX or any of its Subsidiaries to purchase or obtain any equity securities of ECARX or any of its Subsidiaries to a third party, other than (A) the grant of awards under the ESOP in the Ordinary Course, (B) the issuance of ECARX shares upon the exercise of ECARX Options under the ESOP, (C) the issuance of ECARX shares pursuant to obligations incurred by ECARX prior to the date of the Merger Agreement as set forth in the Company Disclosure Letter, (D) the issuance of equity securities by a Subsidiary of ECARX (x) to ECARX or a wholly owned Subsidiary of ECARX
 
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or (y) on a pro rata basis to all shareholders of such Subsidiary, or (E) the issuance of any equity securities of a Subsidiary of ECARX pursuant to a transaction permitted below;

sell, lease, sublease, exclusively license, transfer, abandon, allow to lapse or dispose of any material property or assets (other than Owned IP)), in any single transaction or series of related transactions, except for (i) transactions pursuant to Contracts entered into in the Ordinary Course, or (ii) dispositions of obsolete, surplus or worn out assets that are no longer useful in the conduct of the business of ECARX or its Subsidiaries in the Ordinary Course;

sell, assign, transfer, lease, license or sublicense, abandon, permit to lapse or otherwise dispose of or impose any Encumbrance (other than Permitted Encumbrances) upon any material Owned IP, in each case, except for non-exclusive licenses under material Owned IP granted in the Ordinary Course;

disclose any (i) trade secrets or material confidential information or (ii) Personal Data to any Person (other than in the Ordinary Course in circumstances in which it has imposed reasonable and customary confidentiality restrictions);

make any acquisition of, or investment in, a business, by purchase of stock, securities or assets, merger or consolidation, or contributions to capital, or loans or advances, in any such case with a value or purchase price in excess of US$25,000,000 individually and US$50,000,000 in the aggregate;

settle any charge, claim, action, complaint, petition, prosecution, investigation, appeal, suit, litigation, arbitration or other similar proceeding by any government authority or any other third-party material to the business of ECARX and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

(i) subdivide, split, consolidate, combine, reclassify or amend any terms of its equity securities, except for any such transaction by a wholly-owned Subsidiary of ECARX that remains a wholly-owned Subsidiary of ECARX after consummation of such transaction; (ii) redeem, repurchase, cancel or otherwise acquire or offer to redeem, repurchase, or otherwise acquire any of its equity securities, except for the redemption of equity securities issued under the ESOP; (iii) declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or other distribution, payable in cash, shares, property or otherwise, with respect to any of its share capital other than dividends or distributions by any Subsidiary of ECARX on a pro rata basis to its shareholders; or (iv) amend any term or alter any rights of any of its outstanding equity securities;

authorize, make or incur any capital expenditures or obligations or liabilities in connection therewith, except in the Ordinary Course or other than any capital expenditures or obligations or liabilities in an amount not to exceed US$5,000,000 in the aggregate;

except in the Ordinary Course, (i) enter into any Material Contract, or (ii) amend any such Material Contract or extend, transfer, terminate or waive any right or entitlement of material value under any Material Contract, in each case in a manner that is adverse to ECARX and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than in any immaterial respect; provided, however, that to the extent that the Merger Agreement would specifically permit the entry into of a Material Contract in a higher dollar threshold than in the definition of “Material Contract,” then this clause shall not prevent the entry into of such Material Contract in a higher dollar threshold;

voluntarily terminate (other than expiration in accordance with its terms), suspend, abrogate, amend or modify any Material Permit except in the Ordinary Course or as would not be material to the business of ECARX and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

make any material change in its accounting principles or methods unless required by U.S. GAAP or applicable laws;

amend or modify any Subsequent Equity Subscription Agreement, Permitted Financing Agreement or Strategic Investment Agreement in a manner adverse or reasonably likely to be adverse to COVA;

except as contemplated by this Agreement, the Transaction Documents, or the Transactions, knowingly take any action where such action could reasonably be expected to prevent, impair or impede the Intended Tax Treatment;
 
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increase the compensation or benefits payable or provided, or to become payable or provided to, any directors, officers or individual service providers of ECARX or any Subsidiary whose total annual compensation opportunity exceeds US$200,000, except for bonuses, base salary increases or in connection with any promotions in the Ordinary Course not exceeding US$100,000 on an individual basis, subject to certain exceptions;

except in the Ordinary Course, as required by any Benefit Plan as in effect on the date of the Merger Agreement or as otherwise required by Law, amend, modify, or terminate any Benefit Plan or adopt or establish a new Benefit Plan (or any plan, program, agreement or other arrangement that would be a Benefit Plan if in effect as of the date of the Merger Agreement);

waive or release any noncompetition or non-solicitation obligation of any current or former directors, officers or individual service providers (whose total annual compensation exceeds US$200,000) of ECARX or any Subsidiary; or

enter into any agreement or otherwise make a commitment to do any of the foregoing (except to the extent that such an agreement or commitment would be permitted by the foregoing).

ECARX will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause, (i) ECARX’s initial listing application with Nasdaq in connection with the Transactions to be approved, (ii) immediately following the Closing, ECARX to satisfy any applicable initial and continuing listing requirements of Nasdaq, and (iii) ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Warrants to be issued in connection with the Transactions to be approved for listing on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance.

ECARX shall approve and adopt an equity incentive plan containing such material terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement prior to the Closing Date.

During the Interim Period, ECARX shall not and shall cause its Controlled Affiliates and its and their respective representatives not to, directly or indirectly (a) solicit, initiate, submit, facilitate, discuss or negotiate any inquiry, proposal or offer (written or oral) with any third party with respect to a Company Acquisition Proposal, (b) furnish or disclose any non-public information to any third party in connection with or that would reasonably be expected to lead to a Company Acquisition Proposal, (c) enter into any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any third party regarding a Company Acquisition Proposal, (d) prepare or take any steps in connection with any public offering of any equity securities of ECARX, any of its subsidiaries, or a newly-formed holding company of ECARX or such subsidiaries, or (e) otherwise cooperate in any way with, or assist or participate in, or knowingly facilitate or encourage any effort or attempt by any Person to do or seek to do any of the foregoing.

From and after the Closing, ECARX and Surviving Entity 2 shall jointly and severally indemnify and hold harmless each present and former directors and officers of COVA as provided in COVA’s organizational documents, which indemnification will survive the Closing and will continue in full force and effect for a period of not less than six years from the Closing.

For a period of six years from the Closing, ECARX shall, at its cost and expense, maintain in effect directors’ and officers’ liability insurances covering those Persons who are currently covered by directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies of COVA with respect to acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the Closing, on terms not less favorable than the terms of such current insurance coverage.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Amended ECARX Articles, ECARX shall take all such action within its power as may be necessary or appropriate such that immediately following the Closing, the board of directors of ECARX (i) shall consist of seven directors, which shall include five directors determined by ECARX and two directors designated by COVA pursuant to a written notice to be delivered to ECARX sufficiently in advance of the date on which the Proxy/Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act, subject to such Person being reasonably acceptable to and passing customary background checks, and (ii) shall have reconstituted its applicable committees to consist of the directors designated by ECARX prior to the Closing Date; provided that any such directors designated by ECARX in accordance with clause (ii) of this sentence as members of the audit committee shall qualify as “independent” under the Nasdaq listing rules. The
 
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Parties currently expect that the initial directors of ECARX will be the individuals set forth in the Company Disclosure Letter.

ECARX shall use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver or cause to be delivered to COVA lock-up agreements, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to COVA, executed by ECARX and each ECARX shareholder that is not a Consent Party.

Prior to the Closing Date, the VIE Restructuring will be completed (i) in accordance with the VIE Restructuring Plan, (ii) in compliance with all applicable Laws in all material respects, and (iii) in a manner that does not materially alter or impair the conduct of the business of the Group Companies as currently proposed to be conducted. For the avoidance of doubt, prior to the Closing and as part of the VIE Restructuring Plan, ECARX or a Subsidiary of ECARX will enter into an agreement, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to COVA, for the provision of surveying and mapping services from Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd., which agreement will include commercially reasonable non-compete covenants binding on Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd.; provided, however, such non-compete covenants shall not apply to any Contract entered into by Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd. prior to the date of Merger Agreement that has been made available to COVA.
Covenants of COVA
COVA made certain covenants under the Merger Agreement (subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein), including, among others, the following:

During the Interim Period, subject to certain exceptions, COVA shall operate its business in the ordinary course and shall not:

(i) seek any approval from COVA Shareholders to change, modify or amend the Trust Agreement or the COVA Articles, except as contemplated by the Transaction Proposals or (ii) change, modify or amend the Trust Agreement or its Organizational Documents, except as expressly contemplated by the Transaction Proposals;

(i) subdivide, consolidate, reclassify or amend any terms of its equity securities; (ii) redeem, repurchase, cancel or otherwise acquire or offer to redeem, repurchase, or otherwise acquire any of its equity securities, other than a redemption of COVA Public Shares in connection with the exercise of any COVA Shareholder redemption right by any COVA Shareholder or upon conversion of any COVA Founder Shares in accordance with the COVA Articles, or (iii) declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or other distribution, payable in cash, shares, property or otherwise, with respect to any of its share capital;

merge, consolidate or amalgamate with or into, or acquire (by purchasing a substantial portion of the assets of or equity in, or by any other manner) or make any advance or loan to or investment in any other person or be acquired by any other Person;

except as contemplated by this Agreement, the Transaction Documents, or the Transactions, knowingly take any action that could reasonably be expected to prevent, impair or impede the Intended Tax Treatment;

(i) enter into, renew or amend in any material respect, any transaction or material Contract, except for material Contracts entered into in the Ordinary Course or (ii) extend, transfer, terminate or waive any right or entitlement of material value under any material Contract, in a manner that is adverse to COVA;

incur, assume, guarantee or repurchase or otherwise become liable for any indebtedness, or issue or sell any debt securities or options, warrants or other rights to acquire debt securities, in any such case in a principal amount, as applicable, exceeding US$500,000 in the aggregate, subject to certain exceptions;

make any change in accounting principles or methods unless required by U.S. GAAP or applicable Laws;
 
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(i) issue any equity securities, other than the issuance of COVA Public Shares upon conversion of COVA Founder Shares in accordance with the COVA Articles or (ii) grant any options, warrants or other equity-based awards;

settle or agree to settle any Action before any government authority or any other third party or that imposes injunctive or other non-monetary relief on COVA;

form any Subsidiary;

liquidate, dissolve, reorganize or otherwise wind-up the business and operations of COVA or propose or adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation or dissolution, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization, reclassification or similar change in capitalization or other reorganization of COVA; or

enter into any agreement or otherwise make any commitment to do any action prohibited under any of the foregoing.

During the Interim Period, COVA will not and will cause its Affiliates and its and their respective Representatives not to directly or indirectly (a) solicit, initiate, submit, facilitate, discuss or negotiate any inquiry, proposal or offer (written or oral) with respect to a SPAC Acquisition Proposal, (b) furnish or disclose any non-public information to any person or entity in connection with or that could reasonably be expected to lead to a SPAC Acquisition Proposal, (c) enter into any agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding a SPAC Acquisition Proposal, or (d) otherwise cooperate in any way with, or assist or participate in, or knowingly facilitate or encourage any effort or attempt by any person to do or seek to do any of the foregoing.

From the date of the Merger Agreement through the Closing, COVA shall use reasonable best efforts to ensure COVA remains listed as a public company on Nasdaq.

From the date of the Merger Agreement through the Closing, COVA will accurately and timely file all reports required to be filed or furnished with the SEC and otherwise comply in all material respects with its reporting obligations under applicable Laws.

Prior to the Closing Date, COVA shall take all such steps (to the extent permitted under applicable Law) as are reasonably necessary to cause any acquisition or disposition of COVA Public Shares or any derivative thereof that occurs or is deemed to occur by reason of or pursuant to the Transactions by each Person who is or will be or may become subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to ECARX, including by virtue of being deemed a director by deputization, to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
Joint Covenants
The Merger Agreement also contains certain other covenants and agreements including, among other, that each of ECARX, COVA, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2 shall use commercially reasonable efforts to, subject to the terms and conditions contained therein:

use their commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate in good faith with any government authority and to undertake promptly any and all action required to obtain any necessary or advisable regulatory approvals, consents, Actions, nonactions or waivers in connection with the Transactions as soon as practicable and any and all action necessary to consummate the Transactions, and to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the expiration or termination of the waiting, notice or review periods under any applicable regulatory approval with respect to the Transactions as promptly as possible after the execution of the Merger Agreement;

diligently and expeditiously defend and use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any necessary clearance, approval, consent or Regulatory Approval under any applicable Laws prescribed or enforceable by any government authority for the Transactions and to resolve any objections as may be asserted by any government authority with respect to the Transactions, and cooperate fully with each other in the defense of such matters;

make all filings, to provide all information required of such party and to reasonably cooperate with each other, in each case, in connection with the Regulatory Approvals, and jointly devise and implement
 
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the strategy for obtaining any necessary clearance or approval, for responding to any request, inquiry, or investigation, for electing whether to defend, and, if so, defending any lawsuit challenging the Transactions, and for all meetings and communications with any government authority concerning the Transactions; and

ECARX and COVA shall each be responsible for and pay one-half of the filing fees payable to the government authorities and the Exchange Agent in connection with the Transactions.
Further, the Merger Agreement also contains additional covenants and agreements among the parties thereto in respect of, among other matters:

access to information, properties and personnel;

preparing, filing and distributing this proxy statement/prospectus on Form F-4 (including any amendments or supplements thereto);

preparing and delivering certain accounts and financial statements;

tax matters, including with respect to the Intended Tax Treatment;

shareholder litigation matters with respect to the Transactions; and

written notice (i) of the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event the occurrence or non-occurrence of which has caused or is reasonably likely to cause any condition to the obligations of any party to effect the Transactions not to be satisfied or (ii) of any notice or other communication from any government authority which is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the parties to the Merger Agreement to consummate the Transactions or to materially delay the timing thereof.
Conditions to Closing
Mutual Conditions
The obligations of COVA, ECARX, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2 to effect the Mergers and the other Transactions are each subject to the satisfaction of the following mutual conditions (in each case, unless waived in writing by the party or parties whose obligations are conditioned thereupon):

the Capital Restructuring shall have been completed;

receipt of the approval of the COVA Shareholders and approval and consent of the transactions contemplated thereby by ECARX shareholders;

effectiveness of the Proxy/Registration Statement under the Securities Act and the absence of any stop order issued by the SEC and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the SEC and not withdrawn;

ECARX’s initial listing application with Nasdaq in connection with the Transactions shall have been conditionally approved and, immediately following the Closing, ECARX shall satisfy any applicable initial and continuing listing requirements of Nasdaq and ECARX shall not have received any notice of non-compliance therewith, and (ii) the Registrable Securities to be issued in connection with the Mergers shall have been conditionally approved for listing on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance;

after deducting the SPAC Shareholder Redemption Amount, COVA shall have at least US$5,000,001 of net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Exchange Act); and

the absence of any Law or Governmental Order that is then in effect and which has the effect of making the Closing illegal or which otherwise prohibits the consummation of the Closing (any of the foregoing, a “restraint”), other than any such restraint that is immaterial.
Unless waived by COVA in writing, the obligations of COVA to consummate, or cause to be consummated, the Transactions are also subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions:
 
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the accuracy of the representations and warranties of ECARX, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2 (subject to certain materiality standards set forth in the Merger Agreement);

ECARX’s delivery of a certificate signed by an authorized director or officer of ECARX, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying (i) that the conditions to obligations of COVA to close have been fulfilled, and (ii) that the Restructuring has been completed in accordance with the VIE Restructuring Plan attached to the Merger Agreement and all actions required to be taken to complete the Restructuring have been performed in all material respects;

ECARX’s delivery of an opinion issued by its mainland China legal counsel to COVA to the effect that no pending approval is required by any government authority in mainland China for Mergers, issuance of the equity securities in connection with the Mergers, and Company’s listing on Nasdaq, including but not limited to China Securities Regulatory Commission and Cyberspace Administration of China; and

material compliance by ECARX with its pre-closing covenants.
Unless waived by ECARX in writing, the obligations of ECARX, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2 to consummate, or cause to be consummated, the Transactions to occur at the Closing are also subject to the satisfaction of each the following conditions:

the accuracy of the representations and warranties of COVA (subject to certain materiality standards set forth in the Merger Agreement);

material compliance by COVA with its pre-closing covenants;

COVA’s delivery of a certificate signed by an authorized director or officer of COVA, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying that the conditions to obligations of ECARX, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2 to close have been fulfilled; and

(a) all amounts in the trust account established for the purpose of holding the net proceeds of COVA’s initial public offering as of immediately prior to the Closing, plus (b) cash proceeds that will be funded prior to, concurrently with, or immediately after, the Closing to ECARX in connection with the purchase of equity securities of ECARX by investors on or prior to the Closing Date pursuant to a subscription or similar agreement executed by such investors and ECARX after the date hereof, plus (c) proceeds in the form of cash or securities that have been funded or issued or will be funded or issued prior to, concurrently with, or immediately after, the Closing to ECARX in connection with the Permitted Financing, minus (d) the aggregate amount payable to COVA Shareholders exercising their redemption rights, in the aggregate equaling no less than US$100,000,000, prior to payment of any unpaid or contingent liabilities, deferred underwriting fees of COVA, Company Transaction Expenses, or SPAC Transaction Expenses (“Minimum Available Cash Condition”).
Termination
The Merger Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated thereby abandoned at any time prior to the Frist Effective Time:

by mutual written consent of ECARX and COVA;

by written notice from ECARX or COVA to the other if any government authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any governmental order which has become final and non-appealable and has the effect of making consummation of the Transactions illegal or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the Transactions;

by ECARX if the COVA board of directors (i) shall have withheld, withdrawn, qualified, amended or modified, or publicly proposed or resolved to withhold, withdraw, qualify, amend or modify, the recommendation of COVA board of directors or (ii) shall have failed to include the recommendation of COVA board of directors in the Proxy Statement distributed to the COVA Shareholders;

by written notice from ECARX to COVA if the COVA Shareholders’ approval shall not have been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the required vote at COVA’s extraordinary general meeting duly convened therefor or at any adjournment or postponement thereof taken in accordance with the Merger Agreement;
 
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by written notice from COVA to ECARX if there is any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of ECARX set forth in the Merger Agreement, such that the conditions to COVA’s obligations to consummate the Transactions would not be satisfied at the Closing Date, except that, if such breach is curable by ECARX then, for a period of up to 60 days after receipt by ECARX of written notice from COVA of such breach, such termination shall not be effective, and such termination shall become effective only if such breach is not cured within such 60-day period; provided that COVA shall not have the right to terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to this paragraph if it is then in material breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in the Merger Agreement;

by written notice from ECARX to COVA if there is any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of COVA set forth in the Merger Agreement, such that the conditions to ECARX’s obligation to consummate the Transactions would not be satisfied at the Closing Date, except that if any such breach is curable by COVA then, for a period of up to 60 days after receipt by COVA of written notice from ECARX of such breach, such termination shall not be effective, and such termination shall become effective only if such breach is not cured within such 60-day period; provided that ECARX shall not have the right to terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to this paragraph if it is then in material breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in the Merger Agreement;

by written notice from COVA to ECARX if the required approval of ECARX shareholders shall not have been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the required vote (whether at the ECARX shareholders’ meeting or by unanimous written resolutions) duly convened therefor or at any adjournment or postponement thereof taken in accordance with the Merger Agreement; or

by written notice from COVA or ECARX to the other, if the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement shall not have been consummated on or prior to the 300th day after the date of the Merger Agreement (and if such 300th day shall not be a business day, then the next following business day).
In the event of termination of the Merger Agreement, the Merger Agreement shall become void and have no effect, without any liability on the part of any party thereto or its respective affiliates, officers, directors or shareholders, other than liability of any party for any willful and material breach of the Merger Agreement by such party prior to such termination; provided that obligations under the NDA (as defined in the Merger Agreement) and certain obligations related to the trust account and certain other provisions required under the Merger Agreement shall, in each case, survive any termination of the Merger Agreement.
Enforcement
Each party is entitled under the Merger Agreement to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of the Merger Agreement and to specific enforcement of the terms and provisions of the Merger Agreement, in addition to any other remedy to which any party is entitled at law or in equity.
Non-Recourse
All claims or causes of action that are based upon, arising out of, or related to the Merger Agreement or the Transactions contemplated therein may only be brought against the entities expressly named as parties to the Merger Agreement. Further, unless a named party to the Merger Agreement, and then only to the extent of the specific obligations undertaken by such named party under the Merger Agreement, no past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner, shareholder, Affiliate, agent, attorney, advisor or other Representative of a named party to the Merger Agreement or Affiliate of any of the foregoing shall have any liability (whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise) for any one or more of the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations or liabilities of any other party for any claim based on, arising out of, or related to the Merger Agreement or the Transactions contemplated thereby.
Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants
Except, in the event of termination of the Merger Agreement, for obligations under the NDA and certain obligations related to the trust account and certain other provisions of the Merger Agreement, none
 
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of the representations, warranties, covenants, obligations or other agreements in the Merger Agreement, or in any certificate (including confirmations therein), statement or instrument delivered pursuant to the Merger Agreement, including any rights arising out of any breach of such representations, warranties, covenants, obligations, agreements and other provisions, shall survive the Closing and shall terminate and expire upon the occurrence of the Closing except for (i) those covenants and agreements contained therein that expressly by their terms expressly apply either in part or in whole after the Closing and (ii) the miscellaneous provisions thereof, which include, among others, provisions regarding trust account waiver, waiver, notice, assignment, no third-party rights, expenses, headings and counterparts, Disclosure Letters, entire agreement, amendments, publicity, confidentiality, severability and conflicts and privilege.
Governing Law and Jurisdiction
The Merger Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of New York, except that certain provisions including with respect to fiduciary duties are governed by the laws of the Cayman Islands. Any action based upon, arising out of or related to the Merger Agreement or the Transactions contemplated thereby shall be brought in federal and state courts located in the State of New York. Each party has waived its rights to trial by jury in any action based upon, arising out of or related to the Merger Agreement or the Transactions contemplated thereby.
 
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AGREEMENTS ENTERED INTO IN CONNECTION WITH THE BUSINESS COMBINATION
This section describes the material provisions of certain additional agreements entered into or to be entered into pursuant to the Merger Agreement (the “Related Agreements”) but does not purport to describe all of the terms thereof. The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of each of the Related Agreements, and you are urged to read such Related Agreements in their entirety. References in this section to “ECARX” are to ECARX Holdings Inc.
Strategic Investment Agreements
Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, ECARX and the Strategic Investors entered into certain Strategic Investment Agreements, pursuant to which the Strategic Investors will subscribe for and purchase ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares at US$10.00 per share for an aggregate investment amount of US$35,000,000. Pursuant to the Strategic Investment Agreements, the obligations of the parties to consummate the Strategic Investments are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain customary closing conditions of the respective parties, including, among others, (i) all conditions precedent under the Merger Agreement having been satisfied or waived (other than those to be satisfied at the Closing of the Business Combination) and the Business Combination having been consummated, (ii) the accuracy of representations and warranties in all material respects and (iii) material compliance with covenants.
The ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares to be issued in connection with the Strategic Investment Agreements have not been registered under the Securities Act, and will be issued in reliance on the exemption from registration requirements thereof provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or Regulation D promulgated thereunder. The Strategic Investment Agreements provide that ECARX will, within 60 days after the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, file with the SEC a registration statement registering the resale of such ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and will use its commercially reasonable efforts to have such registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof.
Each Strategic Investment Agreement will terminate and be void and of no further force and effect upon the earliest to occur of: (i) the termination of the Merger Agreement; (ii) upon mutual written agreement of ECARX and the Strategic Investor; (iii) on the 300th day after the date of the Merger Agreement, if the Closing has not occurred by such date other than as a result of a breach of the Strategic Investor’s obligations thereunder.
Sponsor Support Agreement
Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, COVA, Sponsor and ECARX entered into the Sponsor Support Agreement, pursuant to which Sponsor has agreed, among other things and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein: (a) in connection with the Closing, to surrender to COVA such number of COVA Founder Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the COVA Shareholder Redemption Amount by US$10.00 without consideration therefor, in the event that the amounts in the Trust Account immediately prior to the Closing (after deducting the COVA Shareholder Redemption Amount) is less than US$210 million, provided that the number of COVA Founder Shares so surrendered shall not exceed thirty percent (30%) of the aggregate number of COVA Founder Shares held by Sponsor as of the date of the Merger Agreement, (b) to vote all COVA Shares in favor of the transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement and the other Transaction Proposals, (c) to waive the anti-dilution rights of the holders of COVA Founder Shares under the COVA Articles, (d) to appear at the shareholders meeting of COVA in person or by proxy for purposes of constituting a quorum, (e) to vote all COVA Shares against any proposals that would materially impede the transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement or any other Transaction Proposal, (f) not to redeem any COVA Shares held by Sponsor in connection with the transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement, (g) not to amend that certain letter agreement between COVA, Sponsor and certain other parties thereto, dated as of February 4, 2021, (h) not to transfer any COVA Securities held by Sponsor, subject to certain exceptions, (i) to unconditionally and irrevocably waive the dissenters’ rights pursuant to the Cayman Act in respect to all COVA Shares held by Sponsor with respect to the First Merger, to the extent applicable, and (j) not to transfer ECARX Ordinary Shares, ECARX
 
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Warrants, or ECARX Ordinary Shares received upon the exercise of any ECARX Warrants, if any, during the respective periods as set forth therein, subject to certain exceptions.
ECARX Shareholder Support Agreement
Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, COVA, ECARX and certain of the shareholders of ECARX entered into the ECARX Shareholder Support Agreement, pursuant to which certain shareholders who hold ECARX Shares that constitute the required approval of ECARX shareholders to approve the Transactions have agreed, among other things, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein: (a) to vote in favor of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (b) to, if applicable, appear at the ECARX shareholders’ meeting in person or by proxy for purposes of counting towards a quorum, (c) to vote against any proposals that would or would be reasonably likely to in any material respect impede the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (d) not to transfer any ECARX Shares held by such shareholder from the date of the ECARX Shareholder Support Agreement to the Closing, subject to certain exceptions, and (f) for the lock-up period after the Closing specified therein, not to transfer certain ECARX Shares held by such shareholder, if any, subject to certain exceptions.
Registration Rights Agreement
The Merger Agreement contemplates that, at the Closing, ECARX, Sponsor and certain shareholders of ECARX will enter into a registration rights agreement, to be effective as of the Closing, pursuant to which, among other things, ECARX will agree to undertake certain resale shelf registration obligations in accordance with the Securities Act and Sponsor and certain shareholders of ECARX will be granted customary demand and piggyback registration rights.
The Registration Rights Agreement also provides that ECARX will pay certain expenses relating to such registrations and indemnify the securityholders against certain liabilities. The rights granted under the Registration Rights Agreement supersede any prior registration, qualification or similar rights of the parties with respect to their ECARX Securities.
Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement
The Merger Agreement contemplates that, at the Closing, COVA, ECARX and Continental will enter into the Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, COVA will assign all of its rights, interests and obligations in the Existing Warrant Agreement to ECARX effective upon the Closing, and the Existing Warrant Agreement will be amended to change all references to COVA to ECARX and so that each warrant will represent the right to receive one whole ECARX Class A Ordinary Share.
 
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PROPOSAL ONE — THE BUSINESS COMBINATION PROPOSAL
General
Holders of COVA Shares are being asked to adopt the Merger Agreement, approve the terms thereof and approve the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Business Combination. COVA shareholders should read carefully this proxy statement/prospectus in its entirety for more detailed information concerning the Merger Agreement, which is attached as Annex A to this proxy statement/prospectus. Please see the section entitled “The Merger Agreement” above, for additional information and a summary of key terms of the Merger Agreement. You are urged to read carefully the Merger Agreement in its entirety before voting on this proposal.
COVA may consummate the Business Combination only if the Business Combination Proposal is approved by an ordinary resolution, requiring the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding COVA Shares entitled to vote, who attend, in person or by proxy, and vote thereupon at the extraordinary general meeting, and the Merger Proposal is approved by a special resolution, requiring the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the issued and outstanding COVA Shares entitled to vote, who attend, in person or by proxy, and vote thereupon at the extraordinary general meeting.
The Merger Agreement and Related Agreements
Please see sections entitled “The Merger Agreement” and “Agreements Entered Into in Connection with the Business Combination” for additional information and a summary of key terms of the Merger Agreement and the related agreements. You are urged to read carefully the Merger Agreement in its entirety before voting on this proposal.
Pro Forma Capitalization
The pro forma equity valuation of ECARX upon consummation of the Transactions is estimated to be US$3.8 billion.
It is estimated that, immediately after the Closing, (i) the existing shareholders of ECARX will own 89.0% of the issued and outstanding ECARX Ordinary Shares, (ii) COVA Public Shareholders will own 7.9% of the outstanding ECARX Ordinary Shares, and (iii) the Sponsor will own 2.0 % of the outstanding ECARX Ordinary Shares, assuming (a) none of the COVA Public Shareholders exercise their redemption rights, (b) no COVA shareholder exercises its dissenters’ rights, (c) the Strategic Investments are fully funded at the Closing, (d) the Note is fully converted into ECARX Ordinary Shares at a conversion price of US$10.00 per share, and (e) 16,617,591 shares reserved for the share options of ECARX prior to the date of the Merger Agreement (after considering the impact of the Recapitalization) are issued, and excluding shares underlying the COVA Public Warrants and COVA Private Warrants.
Assuming alternatively the maximum redemption by COVA Public Shareholders and the waiver of Minimum Available Cash Condition, it is anticipated that the existing shareholders of ECARX will own 97.2% of the issued and outstanding ECARX Ordinary Shares, COVA Public Shareholders will own 0% of the issued and outstanding ECARX Ordinary Shares, and the Sponsor will own 1.5% of the issued and outstanding ECARX Ordinary Shares, immediately after the Closing.
Background of the Business Combination
The terms of the Merger Agreement and related ancillary documents are the result of extensive negotiations between COVA, ECARX and their respective representatives. The following is a brief description of the background of these negotiations, the proposed Business Combination and related transactions. It is not, and does not purport to be, a complete catalogue of every interaction between the applicable parties.
COVA is a blank check company incorporated on December 11, 2020 as a Cayman Islands exempted company. COVA was formed to complete a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. COVA’s objective was to identify and complete a business combination with a company with operations and prospects focusing on high
 
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growth technology and tech-enabled businesses in Southeast Asia in the consumer internet, ecommerce, and software industries, though COVA reserved the right to pursue an acquisition opportunity in any business, industry or geographic region.
On February 9, 2021, COVA consummated its initial public offering of 30,000,000 Units (including 3,900,000 Units that were issued pursuant to the underwriters’ partial exercise of their over-allotment option), at a price of US$10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds to COVA of US$300.0 million. Each Unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-half of one COVA Public Warrant. Concurrently to the closing of the initial public offering, COVA consummated a private placement of 8,872,000 COVA Private Warrants with the Sponsor at a price of US$1.00 per COVA Private Warrant, generating gross proceeds to us of US$8.9 million. US$300.0 million of the net proceeds from the IPO and the sale of the COVA Private Warrants was deposited in a trust account established for the benefit of COVA’s public shareholders. The underwriters will receive deferred underwriting compensation from COVA if the Business Combination is completed.
Prior to consummation of the IPO, neither COVA, nor anyone on its behalf, contacted any prospective target business or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to any potential business combination transaction with COVA. After its IPO and consistent with COVA’s business purpose, COVA’s directors and management team commenced an active, targeted search for an initial set of potential business combination targets, leveraging COVA’s and the Sponsor’s network of relationships and intimate knowledge of the private company marketplace, as well as the prior experience and network of COVA’s directors and management team.
In evaluating potential businesses and assets for an initial business combination, COVA, together with its management team and the Sponsor, considered acquisition candidates across various industry categories. COVA generally focused on targets: (i) that are high growth technology and tech-enabled businesses; (ii) with high growth potential and disruptive technologies and products; (iii) with synergies with Sponsor’s ecosystem and (iv) that are led by experienced and focused management teams. When evaluating potential targets, COVA generally judged opportunities against these criteria, in addition to others.
During COVA’s active search for prospective business combination candidates which commenced after closing of its IPO and continued through September 21, 2021 when COVA entered into exclusive discussions with ECARX, COVA reviewed, and held preliminary discussions with respect to, a number of acquisition opportunities in addition to ECARX. In this process, COVA’s management: (i) developed an initial list of potential business combination candidates that were primarily identified by the knowledge and network of COVA, its management team and the Sponsor; and (ii) considered and conducted analyses of 21 potential business combination candidates, other than ECARX. COVA entered into 13 non-disclosure agreements and engaged in discussions and due diligence with several of these potential targets other than ECARX. These potential targets operated in the businesses of mobility, transportation/travel, AI/automation, and SaaS.
COVA did not further pursue a potential transaction with the other potential business combination targets with which it engaged in discussions for a variety of reasons, including, among other things: (i) COVA’s assessment of each target company’s ability to execute its business and financial plans and scale its business; (ii) COVA’s assessment of each target company’s business model, customer concentration, competitive landscape and corresponding risk to future financial performance; and (iii) the parties’ inability to reach an agreement on valuation.
On July 22, 2021, ECARX was introduced to COVA as a target of a potential business combination through representatives of UBS AG Hong Kong Branch (“UBS”) and Morgan Stanley Asia Limited (“Morgan Stanley”), financial advisor to ECARX in connection with the Business Combination.
On July 22, 2021, COVA and ECARX entered into a customary confidentiality agreement. The confidentiality agreement did not contain a standstill provision.
During the course of July 2021, as part of the broader sell-side process, representatives of UBS and Morgan Stanley also reached out to several other blank check companies with respect to an initial potential business combination, followed by further discussions by UBS and Morgan Stanley, with those that were interested. In connection with these discussions, these interested blank check companies also attended a
 
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management presentation with ECARX through video conference. The discussions with these potential counterparties did not ultimately lead to a transaction.
On July 29, 2021, COVA’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Jun Hong Heng, and Andrew Faubel, then Vice President of Crescent Cove, ECARX’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ziyu Shen, ECARX’s then Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Tony Chen, together with other key management from both parties, and representatives of UBS, held a management presentation session through video conference. During the session, representatives of ECARX made a management presentation to COVA, describing the business and financial performance of ECARX and sharing their vision for ECARX’s future development. The parties also discussed certain next steps for the potential business combination.
On August 7, 2021, COVA received from ECARX an initial draft of a non-binding letter of intent (the “LOI”), which outlined the proposed terms for the proposed Business Combination for discussion purposes, including, among other things, valuation and transaction consideration, transaction financing, proposed post-closing governance and an exclusivity arrangement. The LOI also provided for key terms regarding a sponsor promote, an equity compensation plan, lock-up and registration rights arrangements with respect to securities of the combined entity after the Business Combination to be held by the Sponsor and certain shareholders of ECARX and closing conditions. The LOI also contemplated that the initial composition of the board of directors of the combined entity would be seven directors, of which five will be determined by the existing board of directors of ECARX, and two directors would be designated by the Sponsor and reasonably acceptable to ECARX. The LOI also contemplated that the management team of the combined entity would consist of ECARX’s current management team.
On August 24, 2021, ECARX received from COVA a marked up copy of the LOI.
Between August 23 and September 21, 2021, multiple discussions were held between the parties and their respective advisors, and multiple drafts of the LOI were exchanged between ECARX’s legal counsel, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (“Skadden”), and COVA’s legal counsel, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP (“Orrick”).
On September 21, 2021, COVA and ECARX finalized and executed the LOI. The LOI set forth the key terms of the proposed Business Combination as well as standard confidentiality and exclusivity terms. The LOI contemplated a business combination which would value ECARX at a fully-diluted pre-money equity value of US$3.8 billion. The LOI also stated that a minimum of US$200 million of proceeds (without taking into account the payment of transaction expenses of COVA and ECARX) would be provided to the combined company, which would be financed with proceeds in COVA’s trust account and up to an additional US$300 million to be generated by the PIPE investment. Pursuant to the LOI, each of ECARX and COVA agreed to be subject to an exclusivity period from the date of the LOI and ending at 11:59 p.m., Hong Kong time, on the 45th day following the date of the LOI (the “Exclusivity Period”). During the Exclusivity Period, each of ECARX, on the one hand, and COVA, on the other hand, agreed that it would not (a) solicit, initiate, submit, facilitate (including by means of furnishing or disclosing information), discuss or negotiate, directly or indirectly, any inquiry, proposal or offer (written or oral) relating to, with respect to ECARX, an Alternative Target Transaction (as defined in the LOI), and with respect to COVA, an Alternative SPAC Acquisition (as defined in the LOI, together with an Alternative Target Transaction, each a “Alternative Transaction”), (b) furnish or disclose any non-public information to any person or entity in connection with or that would reasonably be expected to lead to an Alternative Transaction; (c) enter into any agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding an Alternative Transaction; or (d) otherwise cooperate in any way with, or assist or participate in, or knowingly facilitate or encourage any effort or attempt by any person or entity to do or seek to do any of the foregoing. The LOI was non-binding and subject to execution of a definitive agreement signed by all parties with respect to the proposed Business Combination, except for provisions relating to transaction expenses, waiver of claims against COVA’s trust account, exclusivity, confidentiality and governing law.
On September 23, 2021, ECARX provided COVA and its advisors with access to a virtual data room for purposes of conducting business, operational, financial, legal, tax and other due diligence with respect to ECARX. The virtual data room included, among other things, ECARX’s business plan, financial model, historical financial statements, and certain operational information relating to ECARX’s products, suppliers and customers. Beginning on such date, COVA and its advisors conducted extensive legal due
 
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diligence regarding ECARX’s business, including, but not limited to, diligence on ECARX’s corporate structure, historical financing activities, intellectual property, cyber security, material contracts and employee matters. On September 28, 2021, COVA’s legal advisors had an initial legal due diligence call with the ECARX management team, where COVA’s legal advisors raised questions based on the initial virtual data room review and requested additional information and documentation. During the period from October 4, 2021 to November 19, 2021, COVA and its advisors, based on review of the due diligence documents, sent numerous lists of follow-up due diligence questions and document requests to ECARX; and ECARX and its advisors in turn provided written responses and uploaded additional due diligence documents to the virtual data room in response to such diligence request lists. COVA’s legal advisors provided COVA with a written report summarizing their initial legal due diligence findings on December 6, 2021. During the period from April 12, 2022 to May 25, 2022, COVA and its advisors sent additional due diligence questions and document request lists to ECARX; and ECARX and its advisors provided responses to the additional request lists and uploaded additional due diligence documents to the virtual data room in response to the additional request lists. COVA’s legal advisors provided COVA with a written report summarizing their additional legal due diligence findings on May 25, 2022.
On September 24, 2021, an all-parties kick-off video conference call was held between COVA, ECARX, and their respective advisor to discuss a proposed transaction timetable, key transaction documentation work allocation and coordination matters.
Beginning on October 6, 2021 through to October 25, 2021, COVA’s financial and tax due diligence advisor, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”), and COVA’s technical due diligence advisor, Roland Berger, conducted extensive financial, tax and technical due diligence on ECARX. As part of the due diligence process, PwC and Roland Berger were granted access to the VDR on October 6, 2021 and October 8, 2021, respectively. Additionally, interviews with the key management of ECARX and site visits to ECARX’s China and Europe offices were also arranged during this period which PwC, Roland Berger and UBS sent onsite representatives, with other financial advisor attending through video conferencing. Separately, PwC also had 2 onsite financial and tax due diligence sessions The due diligence process included, but was not limited to: (i) review of ECARX business and products, (ii) relationship of different entities under ECARX, (iii) labor cost and talent acquisition, (iv) competitors and (v) product roadmap and company vision.
On November 23, 2021, representatives of Skadden and Orrick discussed and generally aligned on the proposed transaction structure of the Business Combination.
On March 24, 2022, Skadden circulated an initial draft of the Merger Agreement to Orrick. Subsequently and up until the execution of the Merger Agreement and related agreements on May 26, 2022, Skadden and Orrick exchanged multiple drafts of the Merger Agreement and the related ancillary documents, the most significant exchanges of which are summarized in further details below. In connection with these exchanged drafts and discussions, Skadden and Orrick also held a number of phone discussions regarding the Merger Agreement and the other ancillary documents and had regular contact with their respective clients during this period to keep them informed of the status of the Merger Agreement and the ancillary documents and solicit their feedback in connection with these documents. The principal terms of the Merger Agreement and the related ancillary documents being negotiated during such time related to, among other things, (i) the scope of representations, warranties and covenants, (ii) the applicable conditions and approvals required to consummate the Business Combination, (iii) certain provisions related to the Strategic Investments and the Permitted Financing and Subsequent Equity Financing, (iv) the scope of the terms of ECARX Shareholder Support Agreement, Sponsor Support Agreement, Registration Rights Agreement and other ancillary documents relating to the Business Combination, and (v) corporate governance of the combined company following the Business Combination, including the terms of the Amended ECARX Articles.
On April 15, 2022, ECARX circulated to COVA an updated financial model reflecting the updated business plan that was prepared based on ECARX’s draft 2021 management accounts.
On April 16, 2022, Orrick sent Skadden initial drafts of the Sponsor Support Agreement and the Warrant Assignment, Assumption and Amendment.
On April 19, 2022, Orrick sent Skadden a revised draft of the Merger Agreement that proposed various revisions to, among others, tighten representations, warranties and covenants to be provided by
 
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each party under the Merger Agreement, add certain closing conditions of the transactions contemplated, and tighten the interim operating covenants of ECARX under the Merger Agreement.
On April 19, 2022, Skadden sent Orrick revised drafts of the Sponsor Support Agreement and the Warrant Assignment, Assumption and Amendment. Multiple discussions and multiple drafts of such draft agreements were exchanged until such agreements were finalized prior to signing of the Merger Agreement.
On April 20, 2022, Skadden sent Orrick an initial draft of the ECARX Shareholder Support Agreement.
During April 20 and May 17, 2022, Skadden and Orrick exchanged drafts of the Sponsor Support Agreement and the ECARX Shareholder Support Agreement to reflect changes with respect to various business and legal drafting issues including, among others, the scope of exceptions to transfer and lock-up restrictions imposed on ECARX Securities during the Interim Period and following the Closing.
On April 21, 2022, ECARX circulated its 2021 management accounts to COVA.
On April 24, 2022, ECARX circulated the further updated financial model reflecting the further updated business plan in conjunction with the latest 2021 management accounts to COVA.
On April 25, 2022, Skadden sent Orrick a further revised draft of the Merger Agreement that reflected numerous changes to provisions concerning, among other things, certain representations and warranties and covenants, as well as conditions to closing.
On April 28, 2022, ECARX held a board meeting to report to its board members on the transaction process and details, including but not limited to: (i) structure of the deal, (ii) key terms of the transaction, (iii) estimated timetable of the transaction, and (iv) information of potential investments to be in place at the time of announcement of the transactions. ECARX’s advisors UBS, Morgan Stanley, China International Capital Corporation Hong Kong Securities Limited and Skadden assisted ECARX in the preparation of the presentation.
On May 1, 2022, Skadden circulated an initial draft of the Strategic Investment Agreement prepared based upon the term sheet provided to the Strategic Investor and its legal counsel. Thereafter, the terms of the Strategic Investment Agreement, including with respect to the conditions to closing of the Strategic Investor, representations and warranties, registration rights, among other terms and conditions, were further negotiated between Skadden and the legal counsel to the Strategic Investor.
On May 1, 2022, Orrick sent Skadden a further revised draft of the Merger Agreement that proposed, among other things, (i) further revisions to the scope of representations, warranties and covenants to be provided by ECARX under the Merger Agreement, including tightened representations and warranties with respect to ECARX’s intellectual property and business data, (ii) further revisions to COVA’s conditions to closing to include ECARX’s delivery of executed shareholder lock-up agreements and legal opinions issued by its mainland China legal counsel regarding inapplicability of certain approvals required by government authorities in mainland China for specific matters, (iii) a “fiduciary out” construct which gives COVA the right to change its board recommendation that the COVA Shareholders vote in favor of the Transaction Proposals at the COVA shareholders’ meeting if, at any time prior to the receipt of the COVA shareholders’ approval, the COVA Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that the failure to change its board recommendation would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties.
On May 3, 2022, Skadden and Orrick held a conference call to discuss certain issues and other matters related to the draft of the Merger Agreement dated May 1, 2022, including the scope of representations and warranties, “fiduciary out” for COVA Board, the scope of interim operating covenants of ECARX and certain closing conditions of COVA, including ECARX’s delivery of executed shareholder lock-up agreements and legal opinions issued by its mainland China legal counsel.
On May 4, 2022, Skadden sent Orrick an initial draft of the Registration Rights Agreement. Multiple revised drafts of the Registration Rights Agreement were circulated between Orrick and Skadden through May 18, 2022.
On May 10, 2022, Skadden sent Orrick a further revised draft of the Merger Agreement that reflected numerous changes to provisions that were discussed on the conference call held on May 3, 2022 and further discussed with ECARX.
 
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On May 12, 2022, Skadden and Orrick held another conference call to discuss certain remaining issues related to the draft of the Merger Agreement dated May 10, 2022. Also on May 12, 2022, Orrick circulated to Skadden a further revised draft of the Merger Agreement. Between May 15, 2022 to May 18, 2022, Skadden and Orrick exchanged several drafts of Merger Agreement, had extensive discussions with their respective clients and held several conference calls to discuss the remaining outstanding issues related to the draft of the Merger Agreement, which was substantially finalized on May 18, 2022.
From May 14, 2022 and until the Strategic Investment Agreement was finalized on May 26, 2022, Skadden held several phone discussions with one Strategic Investor to discuss its final comments on the Strategic Investment Agreement.
On May 24, 2022, Skadden sent ECARX an initial draft Strategic Investment Agreement for the other Strategic Investor. Multiple discussions of such draft agreement took place among the relevant parties and multiple drafts were exchanged until such agreement was finalized prior to signing of the Merger Agreement.
On May 15, 2022, the COVA board of directors held a board meeting to discuss the proposed business combination with ECARX and a discussion ensued regarding, among other things, the key terms and structure of the Business Combination, the related financings and fiduciary duties under Cayman law. In connection therewith, representatives of Orrick and Walkers made presentations to the COVA board of directors. At the conclusion of the meeting, COVA’s board of directors unanimously approved COVA’s entry into the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby. On May 26, 2022, the board of directors of ECARX approved ECARX’s entry into the Merger Agreement and the related documents and agreements. On the same day, the respective board of Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2 approved their respective entry into the Merger Agreement.
On May 26, 2022, the parties executed and delivered the Merger Agreement and related documents and agreements.
On May 26, 2022, substantially concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement and the related documents and agreements, the Strategic Investors entered into the Strategic Investment Agreements with ECARX, pursuant to which the Strategic Investors will subscribe for and purchase ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares at US$10.00 per share for an aggregate investment amount of US$35,000,000.
Before the market opened on May 26, 2022, COVA and ECARX issued a joint press release announcing the execution of the Merger Agreement. On the same date, COVA filed with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K announcing the execution of the Merger Agreement. The Current Report on Form 8-K also contained other ancillary documents and the investor presentations prepared by members of the COVA and ECARX management teams and their respective representatives.
COVA Board of Directors’ Reasons for the Business Combination
At a meeting of COVA’s board of directors held on May 15, 2022, COVA’s board of directors unanimously determined that the form, terms and provisions of the Merger Agreement, including all exhibits and schedules attached thereto, are in the best interests of COVA, adopted and approved the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, determined to recommend to COVA shareholders that they approve and adopt the Merger Agreement and approve the Business Combination and the other matters proposed in this proxy statement/prospectus and determined that the foregoing be submitted for consideration by COVA shareholders at the meeting. When you consider the recommendation of COVA’s board of directors, you should be aware that COVA’s directors may have interests in the Business Combination that may be different from, or in addition to, the interests of COVA shareholders generally. These interests are described in the section entitled “— Interests of COVA’s directors and officers in the Business Combination.”
COVA’s board of directors unanimously recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” the Business Combination Proposal, “FOR” the Merger Proposal and “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal if the Adjournment Proposal is presented to the meeting.
In evaluating the Business Combination, COVA’s board of directors consulted with COVA’s management, financial, legal and capital markets advisors and discussed with COVA’s management various
 
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industry, commercial, operational and financial information of ECARX. In addition, COVA’s management, with the assistance of COVA’s legal, commercial and financial advisors, conducted an extensive financial, operational, industry and legal due diligence review of ECARX, including the following:

participated in multiple meetings with ECARX’s management team and representatives regarding operations, regulatory compliance and financial prospects, among other customary due diligence matters;

reviewed industry-related financial information and consulted with industry experts;

reviewed ECARX’s business model and historical audited and unaudited financial statements, among other financial information;

reviewed financial projections provided by ECARX’s management and the assumptions underlying those projections;

reviewed ECARX’s readiness to operate as a publicly-traded company;

reviewed ECARX’s material business contracts and certain other legal and commercial diligence; and

reviewed other financial aspects of ECARX and the Business Combination.
In the opinion of COVA’s board of directors, COVA’s management, including its directors and officers, was suitably qualified to conduct the due diligence review and other investigations required in connection with the search for a business combination partner and to evaluate the operating and financial merits of companies like ECARX. COVA’s board of directors believed, based on the operational, investment and financial experience, and the background of its directors, that COVA’s board of directors was qualified to conclude that the Business Combination was fair, from a financial point of view, to COVA’s shareholders and to make other necessary assessments and determinations regarding the Business Combination. A detailed description of the experience of COVA’s directors is included in the section of this proxy statement/prospectus entitled “Information about COVA.”
In reaching its unanimous resolution as described above, COVA’s board of directors considered a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

Large and fast-growing market.   ECARX’s future growth underpinned by rapid development within various market verticals;

Strong product offering.   ECARX offers a technology portfolio that has the potential to transform vehicles into seamlessly integrated information, communications, and transportation devices;

Experienced and Proven Management Team.   The expertise and experience of ECARX’s senior management team, who are a proven, public company-ready team;

Alternatives.   COVA’s belief that the proposed Business Combination represents a very attractive opportunity based upon the process utilized to evaluate and assess other potential acquisition targets, and COVA’s belief that such process has not presented a better alternative;

Results of Due Diligence.   The review by the board of directors and discussions with COVA’s management and consultants and advisors concerning the due diligence examination of the operations, financial condition and prospects of ECARX;

Negotiated Transaction.   COVA’s belief that the financial and other terms of the Merger Agreement are reasonable and were the product of arm’s-length negotiations between COVA and ECARX;

Public Company Readiness.   The belief in the readiness of ECARX to operate in the scrutiny of public markets, with strong management, corporate governance and reporting policies in place;

Platform for Future Development and Expansion.   ECARX’s potential public company status following the consummation of the Business Combination, together with the capital to be provided to ECARX in connection with the Business Combination, is expected to provide ECARX with an optimal platform and strong financial foundation for further development and expansion;
 
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Attractive Valuation.   COVA’s board of directors’ belief that ECARX’s implied valuation and growth potentials following the Business Combination relative to certain selected publicly-traded companies in the same sector is favorable for COVA;

Terms of the Merger Agreement.   The review by the COVA board of directors with its consultants and advisors of the terms of the Merger Agreement and its review with its legal advisors of the other terms of the Merger Agreement, including the representations, covenants and termination provisions; and

Shareholder Approval.   COVA’s board of directors considered the fact that in connection with the Business Combination, shareholders have the option to (i) remain shareholders of the combined company, (ii) sell their shares on the open market or (iii) subject to certain shareholders that have agreed not to exercise redemption rights, redeem their shares for the per share amount held in the Trust Account.
COVA’s board of directors also considered a variety of uncertainties and risks and other potentially negative factors concerning the Business Combination, including, but not limited to, the following:

Future Financial Performance.   The risk that future financial performance may not meet expectations due to factors in ECARX’s control or out of ECARX’s control, including due to economic cycles, macroeconomic factors and COVID-19;

Competition.   Competition in ECARX’s industry is intense, which may cause reductions in the price ECARX can charge or the demand ECARX can generate for its products, thereby potentially lowering ECARX’s profits;

Loss of Key Personnel.   Key personnel in ECARX’s industry are vital and competition for such personnel is intense. The loss of any key personnel could be detrimental to ECARX’s operations;

Macroeconomic Risks.   Macroeconomic uncertainty and the effects it could have on ECARX’s revenues;

Benefits Not Achieved.   The risk that the potential benefits of the Business Combination may not be fully achieved or may not be achieved within the expected timeframe;

COVA Shareholders Holding Minority Position.   The fact that existing COVA shareholders will hold a minority position in ECARX following consummation of the Business Combination;

Closing Uncertainty.   The risk that the Business Combination might not be consummated in a timely manner or that consummation of the Business Combination might not occur despite COVA’s efforts, including by reason of a failure to obtain requisite shareholder approval; and

Other Risks.   Various other risks associated with ECARX’s business, as described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” appearing elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus, including consideration of the risks described in the section entitled “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China”.
Summary of COVA’s Financial and Valuation Analysis
The following is a summary of the material financial and valuation analyses presented to and reviewed by the board of directors of COVA in connection with the valuation of ECARX in the Business Combination. The summary set forth below does not purport to be a complete description of the financial and valuation analyses reviewed or factors considered by COVA’s management, nor does the order of the financial analyses described represent the relative importance or weight given to those financial analyses by the board of directors of COVA. COVA may have deemed various assumptions more or less probable than other assumptions. Some of the summaries of the financial analyses set forth below include information presented in tabular format. Considering the data in the tables specified below without considering all financial analyses or factors or the full narrative description of such analyses or factors, including the methodologies and assumptions underlying such analyses or factors, could create a misleading or incomplete view of the processes underlying COVA’s financial analyses and the recommendation of the board of directors of COVA.
The valuation analyses reviewed by the board of directors of COVA were conducted based upon numerous material assumptions with respect to, among other things, the market size, commercial efforts,
 
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industry performance, general business and economic conditions and numerous other matters, many of which are beyond the control of COVA, ECARX or any other parties to the Business Combination. None of COVA, ECARX or any other person assumes responsibility if future results are materially different from those discussed. Any estimates contained in these analyses are not necessarily indicative of actual values or predictive of future results or values, which may be significantly more or less favorable than as set forth below. In addition, analyses relating to the value of ECARX do not purport to be appraisals or reflect the prices at which ECARX shares may actually be valued or traded at in the open market after the consummation of the Business Combination. Accordingly, the assumptions and estimates used in, and the results derived from, the financial analysis are inherently subject to substantial uncertainty. The following quantitative information, to the extent that it is based on market data, is not necessarily indicative of current market conditions.
Comparable Company Analysis
For the purpose of this valuation assessment, the board of directors of COVA took into account two comparable company sets as follows: (a) intelligent cockpit/automotive suppliers and (b) automotive chip makers.
The table below sets forth the comparable companies selected as part of the financial analyses of ECARX.
Comparable Company
Description
Intelligent cockpit/automotive suppliers
Huizhou Desay SV Automotive Co Ltd
(“Desay SV”)
Desay SV is a mobility technology company providing smart mobility solution in the fields of intelligent cabin, intelligent driving and connected services.
Thunder Software Technology Co Ltd
(“ThunderSoft”)
ThunderSoft is a provider of operating system technologies, with expertise in edge intelligence and a middleware, application, and algorithm technology portfolio. The company primarily provides its products and solutions to the smart vehicle, smart phone and smart IoT industry.
NavInfo Co Ltd
(“NavInfo”)
NavInfo engages in the research and development of electronic navigation maps. It provides digital map content, dynamic traffic information and location-based vertical application service of big data. The company’s products and solutions are widely adopted in navigation, connected vehicle service and autonomous driving.
Automotive chip makers
NVIDIA Corporation (“NVIDIA”) NVIDIA is a global semiconductor company focused on the design and manufacture of graphic processing unit for scientific computing, artificial intelligence, data science, autonomous vehicles, robotics, augmented reality and virtual reality.
Qualcomm Incorporated (“Qualcomm”) Qualcomm focuses on the development and commercialization of foundational technologies for the wireless industry. Qualcomm’s products are sold across mobile handsets and the automotive industry.
NXP Semiconductors N.V. (“NXP”) NXP is a global semiconductor company providing solutions used in automotive, industrial & Internet of Things, mobile, and communication infrastructure.
 
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Comparable Company
Description
Ambarella, Inc.
(“Ambarella”)
Ambarella is a developer of low-power SoC semiconductors providing AI, processing, image signal processing and high-resolution video compression. The company specializes in the development of deployable, scalable designs for intelligent cameras.
indie Semiconductor, Inc.
(“indie Semiconductor”)
indie Semiconductor offers automotive semiconductors and software solutions for ADAS, connected car, user experience and electrification applications.
Although none of the selected public companies are directly comparable to ECARX, the key selection criteria used to determine the comparable companies included, among others, the following factors: (i) the product/service offerings, (ii) business model similarity in revenue recurrence, (iii) revenue growth profile, and (iv) gross margin. Companies were selected because they demonstrate similar product/service offerings as ECARX’s. The comparable companies are broken down into two sets of public companies, which can be summarized as follows:
Intelligent cockpit/automotive suppliers: These selected companies operate in the automotive industry and supply products and services to OEMs, similar to ECARX in terms of positioning in the value chain. These companies benefit from similar mega trends in the intelligent cockpit industry driven by advancement in automotive technologies and increasing consumer demand for intelligent features. These companies may differ from ECARX in terms of growth and margin profile due to differences inherent in the nature of the product offerings and level of technologies adopted. For example, NavInfo is focused on research and development of electronic navigation maps within the smart mobility sector, which is not a focus of ECARX, but NavInfo was selected based on the technologies in the automotive industry and adjacent verticals within the automotive industry’s movement to intelligent cockpit technology driven by consumer demand.
Automotive chip makers: These selected companies offer semiconductor products and solutions across various applications including automotive. Given a meaningful portion of ECARX’s revenue streams also comes from the development and sales of auto-grade SoC products, along with compatible software and OS, in addition to the fact that chip technology is a core part of their cockpit product offerings. These companies are generally expected to have comparable estimated revenue growth as ECARX.
Operational Benchmarking
The board of directors of COVA compared the estimated revenue growth rate and gross margin of ECARX against each of the comparable companies in the two comparable company sets. These were estimates based on publicly available information as of May 10, 2022.
The estimated revenue growth rate and gross margin are summarized in the table below:
2022E Revenue
Growth Rate
2022E Gross
Margin
ECARX
30% 31%
Desay SV
34% 25%
ThunderSoft
44% 40%
NavInfo
27% 67%
NVIDIA
61% 88%
Qualcomm
24% 59%
NXP
19% 58%
Ambarella
19% 63%
indie Semiconductor
129% 48%
 
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Valuation Benchmarking
The board of directors of COVA reviewed an analysis of the estimated total enterprise value/revenue of each of the comparable companies in the two comparable company sets. These were estimates based on publicly available information as of May 10, 2022.
The multiples of enterprise value are summarized in the table below:
Enterprise Value /
2022E Revenue
ECARX
6.0x
Desay SV
5.1x
ThunderSoft
6.7x
NavInfo
6.9x
NVIDIA
16.8x
Qualcomm
3.6x
NXP
4.3x
Ambarella
7.0x
indie Semiconductor
5.5x
Based on the data above and COVA’s view of the opportunities and challenges facing ECARX, COVA’s board concluded that ECARX’s enterprise value as multiples of estimated 2022 revenue represented an attractive valuation relative to the enterprise value as multiples of estimated 2022 revenue of the two sets of comparable companies. The results of the above-referenced analyses supported COVA’s board of directors’ determination that, based on a number of factors, it was fair to and in the best interests of COVA and its shareholders, and that it was advisable, to enter into the Merger Agreement and the ancillary documents to which COVA is, or will be, a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby (including the Business Combination).
While COVA’s board of directors considered potentially positive and potentially negative factors, COVA’s board of directors concluded that, overall, the potentially positive factors outweighed the potentially negative factors. The foregoing discussion is not intended to be an exhaustive list of the information and factors considered by COVA’s board of directors in its consideration of the Business Combination, but includes the material positive factors and material negative factors considered by COVA’s board of directors in that regard. In view of the number and variety of factors and the amount of information considered, COVA’s board of directors did not find it practicable to, nor did it attempt to, make specific assessments of, quantify, or otherwise assign relative weights to, the specific factors considered in reaching its determination. In addition, individual members of COVA’s board of directors may have given different weights to different factors. Based on the totality of the information presented, COVA’s board of directors collectively reached the unanimous decision to reach the determinations described above in light of the foregoing factors and other factors that the members of COVA’s board of directors felt were appropriate. Portions of this explanation of COVA’s board of directors’ reasons for the Business Combination and other information presented in this section are forward-looking in nature and, therefore, should be read in light of the sections entitled “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Industry and Market Data.” COVA’s board of directors does not believe that the waiver of corporate opportunities doctrine in the COVA Articles impacted COVA’s search for an acquisition target.
Certain Prospective Operational and Financial Information
Prior to COVA’s board of directors approving the Business Combination and the execution of the Merger Agreement and related agreements, at the request of COVA for management materials as part of its due diligence and evaluation process, ECARX provided COVA with internally prepared forecasts, including estimates for revenue, gross profit and adjusted EBITDA for calendar years 2022 to 2024. This prospective financial information was not prepared with a view toward compliance with published guidelines of the SEC or the guidelines established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for preparation and presentation of prospective financial information, or U.S. GAAP with respect to forward looking
 
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financial information. As a private company, ECARX does not, as a matter of course, make public projections as to future performance, revenues, earnings, or other results of operations. The forecasts were previously prepared and solely for internal reference, capital budgeting and other management purposes. The forecasts are subjective in many respects and therefore susceptible to varying interpretations and the need for periodic revision based on actual occurrence and business developments, and were not intended for third-party use, including by investors or equity or debt holders.
This summary of the forecasts is not being included in this proxy statement/prospectus to influence your decision whether to vote in favor of any proposal. None of ECARX, COVA or their respective affiliates, advisors, officers, directors, partners or representatives can give you any assurance that actual results will not differ from the forecasts, and none of them undertake any obligation to update or otherwise revise or reconcile the forecasts to reflect circumstances existing after the date the forecasts were generated, including in respect of the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (or any escalation thereof), or to reflect the occurrence of future events even in the event that any or all of the assumptions underlying the forecasts are shown to be erroneous, in each case, except as may be required under applicable law. While presented with numerical specificity, these forecasts were based on numerous variables and assumptions known to ECARX at the time of preparation. These variables and assumptions are inherently uncertain and many are beyond the control of ECARX. Important factors that may affect actual results and cause the forecasts to not be achieved include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to the businesses of ECARX (including its ability to achieve strategic goals, objectives and targets over applicable periods), industry performance, the competitive environment, changes in technology, general business and economic conditions and other factors described or referenced under the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” The forecasts also reflect assumptions as to certain business strategies or plans that are subject to change. Assumptions underlying the forecasts may prove to not have been, or may no longer be, accurate. As a result, the inclusion of the forecasts in this proxy statement/prospectus should not be relied on as “guidance” or otherwise indicative or predictive of actual future events. The forecasts may not be realized, and actual results may be significantly higher or lower than projected in the forecasts or otherwise differ materially from the forecasts. For all of these reasons, the forward-looking financial information described below and the assumptions upon which they are based (i) are not guarantees of future results, (ii) are inherently speculative, and (iii) are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, and readers of this proxy statement/prospectus are cautioned not to rely on them.
Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that should not be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or superior to, financial information presented in compliance with US GAAP. ECARX believes adjusted EBITDA in the forecasts facilitates better understanding of ECARX’s operating results and provide ECARX’s management with a better capability to plan and forecast future periods. The non-GAAP financial measure as used by COVA and ECARX may not be comparable to similarly titled amounts used by other companies. Financial measures provided to a financial advisor in connection with a business combination transaction are excluded from the definition of non-GAAP financial measures and therefore are not subject to SEC rules regarding disclosures of non-GAAP financial measures, which would otherwise require a reconciliation of a non-GAAP financial measure to a US GAAP financial measure. Accordingly, ECARX is not providing a reconciliation of its non-GAAP financial measure for the full years 2022 — 2024 to the most directly comparable financial measure prepared in accordance with US GAAP because ECARX is unable to provide this reconciliation without unreasonable effort due to the uncertainty and inherent difficulty of predicting the occurrence, the financial impact, and the periods in which the adjustments may be recognized. There will be differences between actual and projected results, and actual results may be materially greater or materially less than those contained in the forecasts. The inclusion of the forecasts in this proxy statement/prospectus should not be regarded as an indication that ECARX or its representatives considered or currently consider the forecasts to be a reliable prediction of future events, and reliance should not be placed on the forecasts.
The forecasts are a component of COVA’s overall evaluation of ECARX and are included in this proxy statement/prospectus because they were provided to the board of directors of COVA for its evaluation of the Business Combination. ECARX has not warranted the accuracy, reliability, appropriateness or completeness of the forecasts to anyone, including COVA. Neither ECARX’s management nor any of its representatives has made or makes any representation to any person regarding the ultimate performance of ECARX compared to the information contained in the forecasts, and none of them intends to or undertakes
 
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any obligation to update or otherwise revise the forecasts to reflect circumstances existing after the date when made or to reflect the occurrence of future events in the event that any or all of the assumptions underlying the forecasts are shown to be in error. Accordingly, they should not be looked upon as “guidance” of any sort. COVA will not refer back to the forecasts in future periodic reports filed under the Exchange Act following the Business Combination.
The prospective financial information included in this document has been prepared by, and is the responsibility of, ECARX’s management. Neither ECARX’s independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG Huazhen LLP, nor any other independent accountants, have audited, reviewed, examined, compiled nor applied agreed-upon procedures with respect to the prospective financial information contained herein. Accordingly, KPMG Huazhen LLP does not express an opinion or any other form of assurance with respect thereto. The audit reports included in this proxy statement/prospectus relate to historical financial information. They do not extend to the prospective financial information and should not be read to do so.
The following table presents the selected forecasted financial information that COVA management reviewed with COVA’s board of directors and which was used by COVA in connection with the financial analysis summarized below:
Year Ended December 31,
2022E
2023E
2024E
(US$, in millions, except otherwise stated)
Total Revenues
539 797 1,317
Gross Profit
167 266 456
Gross Margin
31.0% 33.3% 34.6%
Adjusted EBITDA(1)
(162) (122) 31
Adjusted EBITDA Margin
(30.0%) (15.4%) 2.3%
(1)
ECARX defines adjusted EBITDA as net loss or income before income tax expenses, interest expenses, interest income, depreciation and amortization and share-based compensation.
ECARX cautions investors that amounts presented in accordance with the definition of adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by other issuers, because not all issuers calculate adjusted EBITDA in the same manner. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net profit or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP or as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of ECARX’s liquidity.
The ECARX prospective financial information was prepared using several assumptions, including the following assumptions that ECARX’s management believed to be material:

Projected total revenues are based on numerous assumptions associated with ECARX’s different revenue streams and respective product lines:
Sales of goods revenues capture revenues generated from the sales of Automotive Computing Platform products, SoC (“system on a chip”) Core Modules and automotive merchandise and other products. The projected revenues are based on:
(1)
expected volume, of which the main drivers vary across different product lines. Automotive Computing Platform: Sales volume is expected to exceed 500,000 units in 2022 and grow at a CAGR of approximately 50% during the forecast period (2022 — 2024). The expected sales volume of Automotive Computing Platform products is based on the projected sales volume of vehicle models with ECARX’s products installed from the OEM customers for the same period; SoC Core Modules: Sales volume for E-Series SoC Core Modules is expected to exceed 700,000 units in 2022 and grow at a CAGR of approximately 100% during the forecast period (2022 — 2024). The expected sales volume is based on the expected orders received from the Tier 1 supplier customers whose procurement is further determined by the sales volume of vehicle models to which they will supply the finished products to; Automotive merchandise and other products: given the nature of products in this segment is mostly basic
 
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electronic components complementary to certain products under the Automotive Computing Platform category, the expected sales volume is directly correlated to the sales volume of such Automotive Computing Platform products.
(2)
expected pricing, which is based on a series of assumptions including, but not limited to: the expected average selling prices for the potential new product lines, the expected increases in average selling prices for the upgraded new iterations of existing product lines, e.g. different generations of Digital Cockpit products, and the assumed annual decreases in average selling prices for certain existing product lines.
Software license revenues capture revenues generated from the licensing of rights to ECARX’s intellectual property of bundled software. The expected volume of software licensing is directly correlated with the expected sales volume of the aforementioned Automotive Computing Platform products and SoC Core Modules. The expected pricing of licensing is determined by the specific types of software catered to each product line and thus differs subject to complexity and functionality.
Service revenues capture revenues generated from various types of services that ECARX provides, namely automotive computing platform design and development services and other services. The expected revenue from design and development services, and other services, is based on particular projects in the pipeline with various automotive companies.

Cost of revenues is expected to decline moderately over the forecast period, accounting for approximately 69.0% of total revenues in 2022 to 65.4% in 2024. It is assumed that ECARX will be able to reduce or constrain growth in its variable costs such as procurement costs of raw materials and certain components due to improved cost efficiencies and operating leverage.

Projected gross profit is based on a variety of operational assumptions, including, among others, average selling prices of different products and services and the associated unit costs of such products and services that ECARX offers. During the forecast period, gross margin is expected to experience moderate growth from 31.0% in 2022 to 34.6% in 2024, primarily driven by margin improvements from Automotive Computing Platform products and SoC Core Modules as a result of new iterations of existing product lines, the introduction of new product lines and a increasingly diversified client base consisting of global OEMs, in addition to improved operating leverage and lower procurement costs of certain components.

Projected adjusted EBITDA is based on a variety of operational assumptions, including, among others, assumptions regarding research and development expenses, general and administrative expenses, selling and marketing expenses, and others. ECARX’s expectation is that the total operating expenses as a percentage of total revenues will decrease during the forecast period on the back of topline expansion.
Research and development expenses are assumed to represent the most significant expense item during the forecast period for the development of products and technologies needed to support the continuous growth of the business, representing approximately 70% of total operating expenses in 2022. During the forecast period, research and development expenses are expected to decrease as a percentage of total revenues from approximately 40% in 2022 to below 30% in 2024, driven by continuous topline growth. Research and development expenses mainly consist of, among others, payroll costs, outsourced R&D expenses, and procurement costs of hardware and software required for the R&D process.
Administrative and selling expenses, the sum of general and administrative expenses and selling and marketing expenses, are expected to decrease as a percentage of total revenues from approximately 15% in 2022 to below 10% in 2024, driven by continuous topline growth. Administrative and selling expenses mainly consist of, among others, staffing costs under different administrative functions, including domestic business operations, international business operations, IT, finance, legal, supply chain management, and others.

Considering the factors above, adjusted EBITDA margin is expected to stay negative from 2022 to 2023, whilst turning positive for the first time in 2024.
 
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Satisfaction of 80% Test
COVA’s initial business combination must occur with one or more operating businesses or assets that together have an aggregate fair market value equal to at least 80% of the assets held in its trust account (excluding the amount of deferred underwriting commissions held in the trust account and taxes payable on the interest earned on the trust account) at the time of signing the definitive agreement to enter into a business combination. The COVA board of directors determined that this test was met in connection with the proposed Business Combination. In determining whether the 80% requirement was met, rather than relying on any one factor, COVA’s board of directors concluded that it was appropriate to base such valuation on all of the qualitative factors described in this section and the section of this proxy statement entitled “— Cova Board of Directors’ Reasons for the Business Combination” as well as quantitative factors, such as the anticipated implied equity value of the combined company. COVA’s board of directors believes that the financial skills and background of its members qualify it to conclude that the acquisition met the 80% net asset requirement.
Interests of COVA’s Directors and Officers in the Business Combination
When considering the COVA board of directors’ recommendation to vote in favor of approving the Business Combination Proposal and the Merger Proposal, COVA shareholders should keep in mind that Sponsor and COVA’s directors and officers have interests in such proposals that are different from, or in addition to (and which may conflict with), those of COVA shareholders and warrantholders generally. These interests include, among other things, the interests listed below:

If the Business Combination with ECARX or another business combination is not consummated by February 9, 2023 (or such later date as may be approved by COVA’s shareholders in an amendment to the COVA Articles), COVA will cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, redeeming 100% of the outstanding COVA Public Shares for cash and, subject to the approval of its remaining shareholders and COVA’s board of directors, dissolving and liquidating. In such event, the COVA Founder Shares held by the Sponsor, which were acquired for an aggregate purchase price of US$25,000 prior to the IPO, are expected to be worthless because the holders are not entitled to participate in any redemption or distribution of proceeds in the Trust Account with respect to such shares. On the other hand, if the Business Combination is consummated, each outstanding COVA Founder Share will be converted into one ECARX Ordinary Share, subject to adjustment described herein.

If COVA is unable to complete a business combination within the required time period, the Sponsor will be liable under certain circumstances described herein to ensure that the proceeds in the Trust Account are not reduced by the claims of target businesses or claims of vendors or other entities that are owed money by COVA for services rendered to, contracted for or for products sold to COVA. If COVA consummates a business combination, on the other hand, COVA will be liable for all such claims.

The Sponsor acquired the COVA Founder Shares, which will be converted into ECARX Ordinary Shares in connection with the Business Combination, for an aggregate purchase price of US$25,000 prior to the IPO. Based on the closing price of COVA’s Public Shares of US$      on Nasdaq on        , the record date for the extraordinary general meeting, the COVA Founder Shares, if unrestricted and openly tradable, would be valued at US$      .

The Sponsor acquired the COVA Private Warrants, which will be converted into ECARX Warrants in connection with the Business Combination, for an aggregate purchase price of US$8.9 million in the IPO. Based on the closing price of COVA’s Public Warrants of US$      on Nasdaq on          , the record date for the extraordinary general meeting, the COVA Private Warrants would be valued at US$      .

As a result of the prices at which the Sponsor acquired the COVA Founder Shares and the COVA Private Warrants, and their current value, the Sponsor could make a substantial profit after the completion of the Business Combination even if COVA Public Shareholders lose money on their investments as a result of a decrease in the post-combination value of their COVA Public Shares.
 
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The Sponsor and COVA’s officers and directors and their affiliates are entitled to reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with certain activities on COVA’s behalf, such as identifying and investigating possible business targets and business combinations. However, if COVA fails to consummate a business combination within the required period, they will not have any claim against the Trust Account for reimbursement. Accordingly, COVA may not be able to reimburse these expenses if the Business Combination or another business combination is not completed by February 9, 2023 (or such later date as may be approved by COVA’s shareholders in an amendment to the COVA Articles). As of the record date, the Sponsor and COVA’s officers and directors and their affiliates had incurred US$      of unpaid reimbursable expenses.

If COVA is unable to complete a business combination within the required time period, the aggregate dollar amount as of the record date of non-reimbursable funds would be US$      million, reflecting the market value of COVA Founder Shares, the market value of COVA Private Warrants and unpaid out-of-pocket reimbursable expenses.

COVA has provisions in the COVA Articles waiving the corporate opportunities doctrine on an ongoing basis, which means that COVA’s officers and directors have not been obligated and continue to not be obligated to bring all corporate opportunities to COVA.

The Merger Agreement provides for the continued indemnification of COVA’s current directors and officers and the continuation of directors and officers liability insurance covering COVA’s current directors and officers.

COVA’s Sponsor, affiliates of the Sponsor, officers and directors may make loans from time to time to COVA to fund certain capital requirements. On September 28, 2020, the Sponsor agreed to loan COVA an aggregate of up to US$300,000 to cover expenses related to the IPO pursuant to a promissory note that was repaid in full on January 22, 2021. On May 26, 2022, COVA issued another unsecured promissory note to the Sponsor, pursuant to which COVA may borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of US$2,000,000. The Second Promissory Note is non-interest bearing and payable upon the consummation of a business combination. Upon consummation of a business combination, the Sponsor shall have the option, but not the obligation, to convert up to US$1,000,000 of the principal balance of the promissory note into COVA Private Warrants, at a price of US$1.00 per COVA Private Warrant. Additional loans may be made after the date of this proxy statement/prospectus. If the Business Combination is not consummated, any outstanding loans will not be repaid and will be forgiven except to the extent there are funds available to COVA outside of the Trust Account.

COVA entered into an agreement, commencing on the date its securities were first listed on Nasdaq and up to the earlier of the consummation of a business combination or its liquidation, to pay the Sponsor a monthly fee of US$10,000 for office space, utilities, secretarial and administrative services.
The Sponsor has agreed to, among other things, vote all of their COVA Shares in favor of the proposals being presented at the extraordinary general meeting in connection with the Business Combination and waive their redemption rights with respect to their COVA Shares in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, on an as-converted basis, the Sponsor owns, collectively, 20% of the issued and outstanding COVA Shares.
At any time at or prior to the Business Combination, during a period when they are not then aware of any material nonpublic information regarding COVA or its securities, the Sponsor, ECARX, and/or COVA’s or ECARX’s directors, officers, or respective affiliates may purchase COVA Public Shares from institutional and other investors who vote, or indicate an intention to vote, against the Business Combination Proposal or Merger Proposal, or execute agreements to purchase such shares from such investors in the future, or they may enter into transactions with such investors and others to provide them with incentives to acquire COVA Public Shares or vote their COVA Public Shares in favor of the Business Combination Proposal or Merger Proposal. Such a purchase may include a contractual acknowledgement that such shareholder, although still the record holder of COVA Shares, is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights
 
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If the Sponsor, ECARX, and/or COVA’s or ECARX’s directors, officers, or respective affiliates purchase COVA Public Shares in privately negotiated transactions from COVA Public Shareholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, then such selling shareholder would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their COVA Public Shares. The Sponsor, ECARX, and/or COVA’s or ECARX’s directors, officers, or respective affiliates may also purchase COVA Public Shares from institutional and other investors who indicate an intention to redeem COVA Public Shares, or, if the price per share of COVA Public Shares falls below US$10.00 per share, then such parties may seek to enforce their redemption rights. The above-described activity could be especially prevalent in and around the time of closing. The purpose of such share purchases and other transactions would be to increase the likelihood that the following requirements are satisfied: (i) the Business Combination Proposal is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding COVA Shares entitled to vote, who attend, in person or by proxy, and vote thereupon at the extraordinary general meeting; (ii) the Merger Proposal is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the issued and outstanding COVA Shares entitled to vote, who attend, in person or by proxy, and vote thereupon at the extraordinary general meeting; (iii) otherwise limit the number of COVA Public Shares electing to redeem; and (iv) ECARX Holdings Inc.’s net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Exchange Act) being at least US$5,000,001 after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement. The Sponsor, ECARX and/or COVA or ECARX’s directors, officers, or respective affiliates may also purchase shares from institutional and other investors for investment purposes.
Entering into any such arrangements may have a depressive effect on the COVA Shares. For example, as a result of these arrangements, an investor or holder may have the ability to effectively purchase COVA Public Shares at a lower-than-market price and may therefore be more likely to sell the shares he, she, or they own, either at or before the Business Combination.
If such transactions are executed, then the Business Combination could be completed in circumstances where such consummation would not have otherwise occurred. Share purchases by the persons described above would allow them to exert more influence over approving the proposals to be presented at the extraordinary general meeting and would likely increase the chances that such proposals would be approved. COVA will file or submit a Current Report on Form 8-K to disclose any material arrangements entered into or significant purchases made by any of the aforementioned persons that would affect the vote on the proposals to be put to the extraordinary general meeting or the redemption threshold. Any such report will include descriptions of any arrangements entered into or significant purchases by any of the aforementioned persons.
The existence of financial and personal interests of one or more of COVA’s directors and officers results in conflicts of interest on the part of such director(s) between what he, she, or they may believe is in the best interests of COVA and what he, she, or they may believe is best for himself, herself, or themselves in determining to recommend that shareholders vote for the proposals.
Anticipated Accounting Treatment
ECARX prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In determining the accounting treatment of the Mergers, management has evaluated all pertinent facts and circumstances, including whether COVA, which is a special purpose acquisition company, meets the definition of a business. COVA has raised significant capital through the issuance of shares and warrants and was formed to effect a merger, capital, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more operating businesses. Although COVA has substantial activities related to its formation, capital raise and search for is a business combination, it does not meet the definition of a business.
The determination of the accounting acquirer in a business combination considers many factors, including the relative voting rights in the combined company after the business combination, the existence of a large minority interest in the combined company if no other owner or organized group of owners has a significant voting interest, the composition of the governing body of the combined company, the composition of the senior management of the combined company, the terms of the exchange of equity securities, the relative size of the combining companies and which of the combining companies initiated the
 
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combination. There is no hierarchical guidance on determining the accounting acquirer in a business combination effected through an exchange of equity interests.
ECARX has determined that it is the accounting acquirer based on its evaluation of the facts and circumstances of the acquisition. The purpose of the Mergers was to assist ECARX with the refinancing and recapitalization of its business. ECARX is the larger of the two entities and is the operating company within the combining companies. ECARX will have control of the board as it will hold a majority of the seats on the board of directors with COVA only taking two seats in the board members after the Mergers. ECARX’s senior management will be continuing as senior management of the combined company. In addition, a larger portion of the voting rights in the combined entity will be held by existing ECARX’s shareholders.
As ECARX was determined to be the acquirer for accounting purposes, the accounting for the transaction will be similar to that of a capital infusion as the only significant pre-combination asset of COVA is the cash in the Trust Account. No intangibles or goodwill will arise through the accounting for the transaction. The accounting is the equivalent of ECARX issuing shares of common stock and warrants for the net monetary assets of COVA.
Regulatory Matters
On December 28, 2021, the CAC and several other administrations jointly issued the revised Measures for Cybersecurity Review, or the Revised Review Measures, which became effective on February 15, 2022. According to the Revised Measures for Cybersecurity Review, in addition to critical information infrastructure operators purchasing network products or services that affect or may affect national security, any “online platform operator” carrying out data processing activities that affect or may affect national security should also be subject to a cybersecurity review, and any “online platform operator” possessing personal information of more than one million users must apply for a cybersecurity review before its listing overseas. In the event a member of the cybersecurity review working mechanism is in the opinion that any network product or service or any data processing activity affects or may affect national security, the Office of Cybersecurity Review shall report the same to the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission for its approval under applicable procedures and then conduct cybersecurity review in accordance with the revised Measures for Cybersecurity Review.
On November 14, 2021, the CAC released the Regulations on Network Data Security (Draft for Comments), which clarified that data processors refer to individuals or organizations that autonomously determine the purpose and the manner of processing data, and if a data processor that processes personal data of more than one million users intends to list overseas, it must apply for a cybersecurity review. In addition, data processors that are listed overseas must carry out an annual data security assessment.
On July 6, 2021, the relevant PRC authorities made public the Opinions on Severely Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities According to Law. These opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities and the supervision on overseas listings by mainland China-based companies and proposed to take effective measures, such as promoting the establishment of relevant regulatory systems to deal with the risks and incidents faced by mainland China-based overseas-listed companies. As these opinions are recently issued, official guidance and related implementation rules have not been issued yet and the interpretation of these opinions remains unclear at this stage. According to the Provisions of the State Council on the Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (Draft for Comments) and the Administrative Measures for the Filing of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (Draft for Comments), issued by the CSRC on December 24, 2021, collectively the Overseas Listing Rules, if a PRC domestic company intends to complete a direct or indirect overseas (i) initial public offering and listing, or (ii) listing of its assets through a single or multiple acquisitions, share swaps, shares transfers or other means, the issuer (if the issuer is a PRC domestic company) or its designated major operating entity in mainland China (if the issuer is an offshore holding company), in each applicable event, the reporting entity, shall complete the filing procedures with the CSRC within three business days after the issuer submits its application documents relating to the initial public offering and/or listing or after the first public announcement of the relevant transaction (if the submission of relevant application documents is not required). According to the draft Overseas Listing Rules and a set of Q&A published on the CSRC’s official website in connection with the release of the draft Overseas Listing Rules,
 
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if it is explicitly required (in the form of institutional rules) by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the relevant industry and field that regulatory procedures should be performed prior to the overseas listing of a PRC domestic company, such company must obtain the regulatory opinion, approval and other documents from and complete any required filing with such competent authority before submitting a CSRC filing. The reporting entity shall make a timely report to the CSRC and update its CSRC filing within three business days after the occurrence of any of the following material events, if any of them occurs before the completion of the offering and/or listing: (i) any material change to principal business, licenses or qualifications of the issuer; (ii) any material change to equity structure or a change of control of the issuer; and (iii) any material change to the offering and listing plan. The reporting entity shall also submit a report to the CSRC after the completion of the initial public offering and listing. Once listed overseas, the reporting entity will be further required to report the occurrence of any of the following material events within three business days after the occurrence thereof to the CSRC: (i) a change of control of the issuer; (ii) the investigation, sanction or other measures undertaken by any foreign securities regulatory agencies or relevant competent authorities in respect of the issuer; and (iii) the voluntary or mandatory delisting of the issuer. In addition, the completion of any overseas follow-on offerings by an issuer would necessitate a filing with the CSRC within three business days thereafter.
The above regulations were newly issued or released for public comment only, the PRC government authorities may further enact detailed rules or issue official guidance with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the newly issued regulations, and the provisions and anticipated adoption or effective date of the draft regulations may be subject to change, and thus the above regulations’ interpretation and implementation remain substantially uncertain. ECARX cannot predict the impact of these regulations, if any, at this stage, and ECARX will closely monitor and assess the statutory developments in this regard. For more detailed information, see “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China — Uncertainties in the PRC legal system and the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations could limit the legal protections available to you and us, hinder our ability and the ability of any holder of our securities to offer or continue to offer such securities, result in a material adverse change to our business operations, and damage our reputation, which would materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and cause our securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless,” and “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China — The approval of and filing with the CSRC or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection with this offering under PRC law, and, if so required, we cannot predict whether or when we will be able to obtain such approval or complete such filing, and even if we obtain such approval, it could be rescinded. Any failure to or delay in obtaining such approval or complying with such filing requirements in relation to this offering, or a rescission of such approval, could subject us to sanctions imposed by the CSRC or other PRC government authorities.”
Resolution To Be Voted On
The full text of the resolution to be proposed is as follows:
“RESOLVED, as an ordinary resolution, that COVA’s entry into the Agreement and Plan of Merger (“Merger Agreement”), dated as of May 26, 2022 by and among COVA, ECARX Holdings Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company” or “ECARX”), Ecarx Temp Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX (“Merger Sub 1”), and Ecarx&Co Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX (“Merger Sub 2”), a copy of which is attached to the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A, pursuant to which, among other things, Merger Sub 1 will merge with and into COVA (the “First Merger”), with COVA surviving the First Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of ECARX (such company, as the surviving entity of the First Merger, “Surviving Entity 1”), and immediately following the First Merger and as part of the same overall transaction as the First Merger, Surviving Entity 1 will merge with and into Merger Sub 2 (the “Second Merger,” and together with the First Merger, the “Mergers”), with Merger Sub 2 surviving the Second Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX (such company, as the surviving entity of the Second Merger, “Surviving Entity 2”), in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement, and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement be and are hereby authorized, approved, ratified and confirmed in all respects.”
 
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Votes Required for Approval
The approval of the Business Combination Proposal will require an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law and the COVA Articles, being the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding COVA Shares entitled to vote, who attend, in person or by proxy, and vote thereupon at the extraordinary general meeting.
The approval of the Business Combination Proposal is a condition to the consummation of the Business Combination Transactions. If the Business Combination Proposal is not approved, the other proposals (except the Adjournment Proposal, as described below) shall not be presented to the COVA shareholders for a vote.
An abstention or broker non-vote will be counted towards the quorum requirement but will not count as a vote cast at the extraordinary general meeting.
Recommendation of COVA Board of Directors
THE COVA BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE COVA SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE BUSINESS COMBINATION PROPOSAL.
Appraisal Rights under the Cayman Companies Law
Holders of record of COVA Shares may have appraisal rights in connection with the Business Combination to dissent from the First Merger and receive payment of the fair value of their COVA Shares under the Cayman Islands Companies Act (“Dissent Rights”). This is not a complete statement of the law, and is qualified in its entirety by the complete text of Section 238 of the Cayman Islands Companies Act. If you are contemplating the possibility of dissenting from the First Merger, you should follow the procedures set out in Section 238 of the Cayman Islands Companies Act required to perfect your dissenters’ rights. These procedures are complex and you should consult your Cayman Islands legal counsel. If you do not fully and precisely satisfy the procedural requirements of the Cayman Islands Companies Act, you will lose your dissenters’ rights.
Holders of record of COVA Shares wishing to exercise such Dissent Rights and make a demand for payment of the fair value for his, her or its COVA Shares must give written notice to COVA prior to the shareholder vote at the extraordinary general meeting to approve the First Merger and follow the procedures set out in Section 238 of the Cayman Islands Companies Act. These statutory appraisal rights are separate to and mutually exclusive of the right of COVA Public Shareholder to demand that their COVA Public Shares are redeemed for cash for a pro rata share of the funds on deposit in the trust account in accordance with the COVA Articles. It is possible that if a COVA shareholder exercises appraisal rights, the fair value of the COVA Shares determined under Section 238 of the Cayman Islands Companies Act could be more than, the same as, or less than such holder would obtain they exercised their redemption rights as described herein. COVA believes that such fair value would equal the amount that COVA Public Shareholders would obtain if they exercise their redemption rights as described herein.
COVA shareholders need not vote against any of the proposals at the extraordinary general meeting in order to exercise Dissent Rights. A COVA shareholder which elects to exercise Dissent Rights must do so in respect of all of the COVA Shares that person holds and will lose their right to exercise their redemption rights as described herein.
At the First Effective Time, the COVA Dissenting Shares shall automatically be cancelled by virtue of the First Merger, and each COVA Dissenting Shareholder will thereafter cease to have any rights with respect to such shares, except the right to be paid the fair value of such shares and such other rights as are granted by the Cayman Islands Companies Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any such holder shall have failed to perfect or withdraws or shall have otherwise lost his, her or its rights under Section 238 of the Cayman Islands Companies Act (including in the circumstances described in the immediately following paragraph) or a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that such holder is not entitled to the relief provided by Section 238 of the Cayman Islands Companies Act, then the right of such holder to be paid the fair value of such holder’s COVA Dissenting Shares under Section 238 of the Cayman Islands Companies Act will cease,
 
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the shares will no longer be considered COVA Dissenting Shares and such holder’s former COVA Shares will thereupon be deemed to have been converted into, and to have become exchangeable for, as of First Effective Time, the right to receive the merger consideration comprising one ECARX Class A Ordinary Share for each COVA Share, without any interest thereon. As a result, such COVA shareholder would not receive any cash for their COVA Shares and would become a shareholder of ECARX.
Resale of ECARX Ordinary Shares
The ECARX Ordinary Shares to be issued to shareholders of COVA in connection with the Mergers will be freely transferable under the Securities Act except for (i) certain shares subject to lock-up or other transfer restrictions in connection with the Transactions, and (ii) shares issued to any shareholder who may be deemed for purposes of Rule 144 under the Securities Act an “affiliate” of COVA immediately prior to the First Effective Time or an “affiliate” of ECARX following the Mergers. Persons who may be deemed to be affiliates include individuals or entities that control, are controlled by, or are under common control with, ECARX or COVA (as appropriate) and may include the executive officers, directors and significant shareholders of ECARX or COVA (as appropriate).
Stock Exchange Listing of ECARX Ordinary Shares and ECARX Warrants
ECARX will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause, (i) ECARX’s initial listing application with Nasdaq in connection with the Transactions to be approved, (ii) immediately following the Closing, ECARX to satisfy any applicable initial and continuing listing requirements of Nasdaq, and (iii) ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Warrants to be issued in connection with the Transactions to be approved for listing on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance. Approval of the listing on Nasdaq of the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares as well as the ECARX Warrants (subject to official notice of issuance) is a condition to each party’s obligation to consummate the Mergers.
Delisting and Deregistration of COVA Ordinary Shares
If the Mergers are completed, the COVA Public Shares and COVA Public Warrants will be delisted from Nasdaq and will be deregistered under the Exchange Act.
Combined Company Status as a Foreign Private Issuer under the Exchange Act
As of the date hereof, ECARX expects to qualify as a “foreign private issuer” ​(under SEC rules) following the completion of the Business Combination. Consequently, upon consummation of the Mergers, the combined company will be subject to the reporting requirements under the Exchange Act applicable to foreign private issuers. The combined company will be required to file its annual report on Form 20-F for the year ending December 31, 2022 with the SEC by April 30, 2023. In addition, the combined company will furnish reports on Form 6-K to the SEC regarding certain information required to be publicly disclosed by the combined company in Cayman Islands or that is distributed or required to be distributed by the combined company to its shareholders.
Based on its foreign private issuer status, the combined company will not be required to file periodic reports or financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as a U.S. company whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act. The combined company will also not be required to comply with Regulation FD, which addresses certain restrictions on the selective disclosure of material information, nor with SEC rules relating to proxy solicitation in connection with shareholder meetings and presentation of shareholder proposals. In addition, among other matters, the combined company officers, directors and principal shareholders will be exempt from the reporting and “short-swing” profit recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules under the Exchange Act with respect to their purchases and sales of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares.
Combined company Status as an Emerging Growth Company under U.S. Federal Securities Laws and Related Implications
As of the date hereof, ECARX is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, it is expected that the combined company will be eligible
 
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to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in the combined company’s periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find the combined company’s securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for the combined company’s securities and the prices of the combined company’s securities may be more volatile.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The combined company is expected to elect not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the combined company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the combined company’s financial statements with certain other public companies difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
The combined company will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of: (i) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the IPO, (b) in which the combined company’s has total annual gross revenue of at least US$1.235 billion, or (c) in which the combined company is deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of the combined company’s common equity that is held by non-affiliates exceeds US$700 million as of the last Business Day of its most recently completed second fiscal quarter; and (ii) the date on which the combined company has issued more than US$1 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. References herein to “emerging growth company” have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.
 
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PROPOSAL TWO — THE MERGER PROPOSAL
The Merger Proposal, if approved, will authorize the First Merger and the First Plan of Merger.
Under the Merger Agreement, the approval of the Merger Proposal is a condition to the adoption of the Business Combination Proposal and vice versa. Accordingly, if the Business Combination Proposal is not approved, the Merger Proposal will not be presented at the extraordinary general meeting.
A copy of the Plan of Merger is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex C.
Required Vote
The approval of the Merger Proposal will require a special resolution under Cayman Islands law and pursuant to the COVA Articles, being the affirmative vote of shareholders holding at least two thirds of the COVA Shares which are voted on such resolution in person or by proxy at the extraordinary general meeting at which a quorum is present.
Brokers are not entitled to vote on the Merger Proposal absent voting instructions from the beneficial holder. Abstentions and broker non-votes, while considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as votes cast at the extraordinary general meeting, and otherwise will have no effect on a particular proposal.
Resolution to be Voted Upon
The full text of the resolution to be proposed is as follows:
“RESOLVED, as a special resolution, that the First Plan of Merger, substantially in the form attached to the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus as Annex C (the “First Plan of Merger”), and the merger of Merger Sub 1 with and into COVA with COVA surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of ECARX be and are hereby authorized, approved and confirmed in all respects and that COVA be and is hereby authorized to enter into the First Plan of Merger.”
Recommendation
COVA’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT COVA SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE MERGER PROPOSAL.
 
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PROPOSAL THREE — THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL
The Adjournment Proposal, if adopted, will allow the chairman of the extraordinary general meeting to adjourn the extraordinary general meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary. In no event will COVA solicit proxies to adjourn the extraordinary general meeting or consummate the Transactions beyond the date by which it may properly do so under the COVA Articles and the law of the Cayman Islands. The purpose of the Adjournment Proposal is to provide more time to meet the requirements that are necessary to consummate the Transactions. See the section entitled “Proposal One — The Business Combination Proposal  —  Interests of Cova’s Directors and Officers in the Business Combination.”
Consequences If the Adjournment Proposal Is Not Approved
If the Adjournment Proposal is presented to the meeting and is not approved by the shareholders, COVA’s board of directors may not be able to adjourn the extraordinary general meeting to a later date or dates. In such event, the Transactions would not be completed.
Required Vote
The approval of the Adjournment Proposal will require an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law and pursuant to the COVA Articles, being the affirmative vote of shareholders holding a majority of the COVA Shares which are voted on such resolution in person or by proxy at the extraordinary general meeting at which a quorum is present.
Brokers are not entitled to vote on the Adjournment Proposal absent voting instructions from the beneficial holder. Abstentions and broker non-votes, while considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as votes cast at the extraordinary general meeting, and otherwise will have no effect on a particular proposal.
Resolution to be Voted On
The full text of the resolution to be proposed is as follows:
“RESOLVED, as an ordinary resolution, that the adjournment of the extraordinary general meeting to a later date or dates to be determined by the chairman of the extraordinary general meeting, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes for the approval of one or more proposals at the extraordinary general meeting, be and is hereby approved.”
Recommendation
COVA’s BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT COVA SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL.
 
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INFORMATION ABOUT COVA
Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this section to the “Company,” “COVA,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to COVA prior to the consummation of the Business Combination.
Introduction
We are a blank check company incorporated on December 11, 2020, as a Cayman Islands exempted company and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities.
We reviewed a number of opportunities to enter into a business combination with an operating business, and entered into the Merger Agreement on May 26, 2022. We intend to effectuate the Business Combination using cash from the proceeds of our IPO and the sale of the COVA Private Warrants.
In December 2020, our Sponsor purchased 5,750,000 COVA Founder Shares for US$25,000, or US$0.004 per share. In January and February 2021, we declared two share dividends, resulting in our Sponsor holding an aggregate of 7,503,750 COVA Founder Shares (up to 978,750 shares of which were subject to forfeiture to the extent the underwriters of our IPO did not exercise their over-allotment option). On February 9, 2021, the underwriters partially exercised their over-allotment option. On February 11, 2021, the underwriters informed us that they would not exercise the full over-allotment and therefore the remaining 3,750 COVA Founder Shares were forfeited.
On the closing date of the IPO, we consummated our IPO of 30,000,000 Units, including 3,900,000 Units that were issued pursuant to the underwriters’ partial exercise of their over-allotment option. The Units were sold at a price of US$10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds to us of US$300.0 million. Each Unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-half of one redeemable warrant. Each COVA Public Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one of our Class A ordinary shares at a price of US$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, and only whole warrants are exercisable. The COVA Public Warrants will become exercisable on the later of 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination and 12 months from the closing of our IPO, and will expire five years after the completion of our initial business combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
Simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO, we completed the private sale of 8,872,000 COVA Private Warrants at a purchase price of US$1.00 per warrant to our Sponsor, generating gross proceeds to us of approximately US$8.9 million. Each COVA Private Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one of our Class A ordinary shares at US$11.50 per share. The COVA Private Warrants (including the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise thereof) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holder until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination.
US$300.0 million of the net proceeds from our IPO and the sale of the COVA Private Warrants has been deposited in a Trust Account established for the benefit of our public shareholders.
The US$300.0 million of net proceeds held in the Trust Account includes US$10.5 million of deferred underwriting discounts and commissions that will be released to the underwriters of our IPO upon completion of our initial business combination. Of the gross proceeds from our Initial Public Offering and the sale of the COVA Private Warrants that were not deposited in the Trust Account, US$6.0 million was used to pay underwriting discounts and commissions in connection with our IPO, approximately US$0.71 million was used to repay loans and advances from our Sponsor, and the balance was reserved to pay accrued offering and formation costs, business, legal and accounting due diligence expenses on prospective acquisitions and continuing general and administrative expenses.
COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC, our Sponsor, is founded by Jun Hong Heng, who has extensive experience investing across the capital structure in high-growth technology ventures both domestically and in Asia. Our management team is led by Jun Hong Heng, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and K.V. Dhillon, our President and one of our directors.
The proceeds held in the Trust Account may only be invested in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act having a maturity of 185 days or
 
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less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. Pursuant to the trust agreement, the trustee is not permitted to invest in other securities or assets. By restricting the investment of the proceeds to these instruments, and by having a business plan targeted at acquiring and growing businesses for the long term (rather than on buying and selling businesses in the manner of a merchant bank or private equity fund), we intend to avoid being deemed an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. The Trust Account is intended as a holding place for funds pending the earliest to occur of: (i) the completion of our initial business combination; (ii) the redemption of any COVA Public Shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to the COVA Articles that would affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our COVA Public Shares if we have not consummated an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of our IPO; and (iii) the redemption of our COVA Public Shares if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of the IPO, subject to applicable law. If we are unable to complete an initial business combination, the COVA Public Shareholders may only receive their pro rata portion of the funds in the Trust Account that are available for distribution to COVA Public Shareholders, and our warrants will expire worthless.
Effecting Our Business Combination
Fair Market Value of ECARX’s Business
COVA’s initial business combination must occur with one or more operating businesses or assets that together have an aggregate fair market value equal to at least 80% of the assets held in our Trust Account (excluding the amount of deferred underwriting commissions held in the Trust Account and taxes payable on the interest earned on the Trust Account) at the time of signing a definitive agreement to enter into a business combination. COVA will not complete a business combination unless the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target business sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.
Sponsor Consent Right
In connection with COVA’s IPO, COVA agreed that it would not enter into a definitive agreement regarding an initial business combination without the prior written consent of the Sponsor. The Sponsor has consented to our entry into the Merger Agreement.
Voting Restrictions in Connection with Extraordinary General Meeting
Our Sponsor, directors and officers have agreed to vote in favor of the Business Combination, regardless of how COVA Public Shareholders vote.
Permitted Purchases and Other Transactions with Respect to Our Securities
Our Sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase public shares or warrants in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. Additionally, at any time at or prior to our initial business combination, subject to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material nonpublic information), our Sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates may enter into transactions with investors and others to provide them with incentives to acquire public shares, vote their public shares in favor of our initial business combination or not redeem their public shares. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares or warrants in such transactions. If they engage in such transactions, they will be restricted from making any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act.
In the event that our Sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions from public shareholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights
 
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or submitted a proxy to vote against our initial business combination, such selling shareholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares and any proxy to vote against our initial business combination. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will be required to comply with such rules.
The purpose of any such transaction could be to (i) vote in favor of the business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining shareholder approval of the business combination, (ii) reduce the number of public warrants outstanding or vote such warrants on any matters submitted to the warrant holders for approval in connection with our initial business combination or (iii) satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our initial business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our Class A ordinary shares or public warrants may be reduced and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, which may make it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
Our Sponsor, officers, directors and/or their affiliates anticipate that they may identify the shareholders with whom our Sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates may pursue privately negotiated transactions by either the shareholders contacting us directly or by our receipt of redemption requests submitted by shareholders (in the case of COVA Public Shares) following our mailing of proxy materials in connection with our initial business combination. To the extent that our Sponsor, officers, directors, advisors or their affiliates enter into a private transaction, they would identify and contact only potential selling or redeeming shareholders who have expressed their election to redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the trust account or vote against our initial business combination, whether or not such shareholder has already submitted a proxy with respect to our initial business combination but only if such shares have not already been voted at the general meeting related to our initial business combination. Our Sponsor, executive officers, directors, advisors or their affiliates will select which shareholders to purchase shares from based on the negotiated price and number of shares and any other factors that they may deem relevant, and will be restricted from purchasing shares if such purchases do not comply with Regulation M under the Exchange Act and the other federal securities laws.
Redemption Rights for COVA Public Shareholders upon Completion of the Business Combination
COVA Public Shareholders may redeem all or a portion of their COVA Public Shares upon our initial business combination’s completion at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account calculated as of two business days before the closing of the initial business combination, including interest and other income earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to pay our income taxes, if any, divided by the number of then-outstanding COVA Public Shares, subject to the limitations described herein. The amount in the Trust Account is initially anticipated to be US$10.00 per COVA Public Share. The per share amount we will distribute to investors who properly redeem their COVA Public Shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions we will pay to the underwriters of our IPO. The redemption rights will include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in order to validly redeem its COVA Public Shares. There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of our initial business combination with respect to COVA Warrants. Further, we will not proceed with redeeming COVA Public Shares, even if a COVA Public Shareholder has properly elected to redeem its COVA Public Shares, if a business combination does not close. See “Extraordinary General Meeting of COVA Shareholders — Redemption Rights” for the procedures to be followed if you wish to redeem your COVA Public Shares for cash.
Our Sponsor and each member of our management team have entered into an agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any COVA Founder Shares and public shares held by them in connection with (i) the completion of our initial business combination
 
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and (ii) a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to the COVA Articles (A) that would modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our public shares the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing date of our IPO or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of our public shares.
Limitations on Redemption Rights
The COVA Articles provide that in no event will we redeem COVA Public Shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than US$5,000,001 (so that we do not then become subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules). In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all COVA Public Shares that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the business combination or redeem any shares, and all COVA Public Shares submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof, and we instead may search for an alternate business combination.
Redemption of Public Shares and Liquidation if No Business Combination
The COVA Articles provide that we will have only 24 months from the closing date of the IPO to consummate an initial business combination. If we have not consummated an initial business combination by this date, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the COVA Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest and other income earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to pay our income taxes, if any (less up to US$100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of the then-outstanding COVA Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish COVA Public Shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to COVA Warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to consummate an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing date of the IPO. The COVA Articles provide that, if COVA winds up for any other reason prior to the consummation of its initial Business Combination, it will follow the foregoing procedures with respect to the liquidation of the Trust Account as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, subject to applicable Cayman Islands law.
Our Sponsor, directors and officers have each entered into an agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any COVA Founder Shares they hold if we fail to consummate an initial business combination within 24 months of the closing date of the IPO (although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any COVA Public Shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame).
Our Sponsor, directors and officers have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to the COVA Articles (A) that would modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of COVA Public Shares the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of the COVA Public Shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of the IPO or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of COVA Public Shares, unless we provide COVA Public Shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their COVA Public Shares upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest and other income earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to pay our income taxes, if any, divided by the number of the then-outstanding COVA Public Shares. However, we may not redeem the COVA Public Shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than US$5,000,001 (so that we do not then become subject to the SEC’s
 
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“penny stock” rules). If this optional redemption right is exercised with respect to an excessive number of COVA Public Shares such that we cannot satisfy the net tangible asset requirement, we would not proceed with the amendment or the related redemption of the COVA Public Shares at such time. This redemption right shall apply in the event of the approval of any such amendment, whether proposed by our Sponsor, any officer or director, or any other person. Our board of directors may propose such an amendment if it determines that additional time is necessary to complete our initial business combination. In such event, we will conduct a proxy solicitation and distribute proxy materials pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act seeking shareholder approval of such proposal and, in connection therewith, provide COVA Public Shareholders with the redemption rights described above upon shareholder approval of such amendment.
We expect that all costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, as well as payments to any creditors, will be funded from amounts remaining out of the funds held outside the Trust Account plus up to US$100,000 of funds from the Trust Account available to us to pay dissolution expenses, although we cannot assure you that there will be sufficient funds for such purpose.
The proceeds deposited in the Trust Account could become subject to the claims of our creditors, which would have higher priority than the claims of COVA Public Shareholders. While we intend to pay such amounts, if any, we cannot assure you that we will have funds sufficient to pay or provide for all creditors’ claims. Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses and other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account for the benefit of COVA Public Shareholders, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements or even if they execute such agreements that they would be prevented from bringing claims against the Trust Account including, but not limited, to fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain an advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the Trust Account. If any third-party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the Trust Account, our management will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third-party that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third-party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third-party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third-party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where management is unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. Cantor Fitzgerald &Co. will not execute an agreement with us waiving such claims to the monies held in the Trust Account. In addition, there is no guarantee that any such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason. In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, our Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third-party for services rendered or products sold to us (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amounts in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) US$10.00 per COVA Public Share and (ii) the actual amount per COVA Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account if less than US$10.00 per COVA Public Share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest that may be withdrawn to pay our tax obligations; provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third-party or prospective target business that executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of our IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, our Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. However, we have not asked our Sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether our Sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and we believe that our Sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our Sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
 
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In the event that the proceeds in the Trust Account are reduced below the lesser of (i) US$10.00 per COVA Public Share and (ii) the actual amount per COVA Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account if less than US$10.00 per COVA Public Share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest that may be withdrawn to pay our income tax obligations, and our Sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its indemnification obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against our Sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our Sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment and subject to their fiduciary duties may choose not to do so in any particular instance. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that due to claims of creditors the actual value of the per-share redemption price will not be less than US$10.00 per COVA Public Share.
We will seek to reduce the possibility that our Sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account. Our Sponsor will also not be liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of our IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. At the IPO closing date, we had access to up to US$2,148,484 to pay any such potential claims (including costs and expenses incurred in connection with our liquidation, currently estimated to be no more than approximately US$100,000). In the event that we liquidate and it is subsequently determined that the reserve for claims and liabilities is insufficient, shareholders who received funds from our Trust Account could be liable for claims made by creditors, however such liability will not be greater than the amount of funds from our Trust Account received by any such shareholder.
If we file a bankruptcy or winding-up petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or winding-up petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy or insolvency law, and may be included in our bankruptcy or insolvency estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our shareholders. To the extent any bankruptcy or insolvency claims deplete the Trust Account, we cannot assure you we will be able to return US$10.00 per COVA Public Share to COVA Public Shareholders. Additionally, if we file a bankruptcy or winding-up petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or winding-up petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by shareholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy or insolvency laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy or insolvency court could seek to recover some or all amounts received by our shareholders. Furthermore, our board of directors may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, and thereby exposing itself and our company to claims of punitive damages, by paying COVA Public Shareholders from the Trust Account before addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons.
COVA Public Shareholders will be entitled to receive funds from the Trust Account only (i) in the event of the redemption of COVA Public Shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of the IPO, (ii) in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the COVA Articles (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of COVA Public Shares the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of COVA Public Shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of the IPO or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of COVA Public Shares, or (iii) if they redeem their respective shares for cash upon the completion of the initial business combination. COVA Public Shareholders who redeem their COVA Public Shares in connection with a shareholder vote described in clause (ii) in the preceding sentence shall not be entitled to funds from the Trust Account upon the subsequent completion of an initial business combination or liquidation if we have not consummated an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of the IPO, with respect to such COVA Public Shares so redeemed. In no other circumstances will a shareholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the Trust Account. In the event we seek shareholder approval in connection with our initial business combination, such as in connection with the Business Combination, a shareholder’s voting in connection with the business combination alone will not result in a shareholder’s
 
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redeeming its shares to us for an applicable pro rata share of the Trust Account. Such shareholder must have also exercised its redemption rights described above. These provisions of the COVA Articles, like all provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, may be amended with a shareholder vote.
See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Redemption of COVA Public Shares” and “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to COVA and the Business Combination.”
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Our current officers and directors are as follows:
Name
Age
Position
Jun Hong Heng
41
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer
Karanveer “K.V.” Dhillon
55
President and Director
Pandu Sjahrir
43
Director
Alvin W. Sariaatmadja
38
Director
Jack Smith
33
Director
Jun Hong Heng.   Jun Hong Heng, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer and Chairman of our board of directors, is the Founder of Crescent Cove Advisors, LP (“Crescent Cove”) and has served as the Chief Investment Officer of Crescent Cove since August 2018. Mr. Heng is also the Founder of Crescent Cove Capital Management LLC and has served as its Chief Investment Officer since February 2016. Mr. Heng has also served as a member of the board of directors of Luminar Technologies, Inc. since June 2021. Prior to Crescent Cove Capital Management LLC, Mr. Heng served as Principal of Myriad Asset Management, an investment firm, from August 2011 to January 2015, where he focused on Asian credit and equity, including special situations. From June 2008 to June 2011, he served as Vice President of Argyle Street Management, a spin-off from Goldman Sachs Asian Special Situations Group. Previously, Mr. Heng served as an analyst at Morgan Stanley, where he focused on Asia, and as an analyst at Bear, Stearns & Co., where he served in a multi-disciplinary role across technology, media and telecommunications, mergers and acquisitions, and equity and debt capital markets. Mr. Heng holds a B.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. We believe Mr. Heng is qualified to serve as a director due to his significant leadership experience and his extensive experience investing across the capital structure in high-growth technology ventures both domestically and in Asia.
K.V. Dhillon.   Karanveer “K.V.” Dhillon, our President and Secretary and member of our board of directors, currently leads Crescent Cove’s business development, where he has been Managing Director since April 2020. Since April 2007, Mr. Dhillon has served as a Director of Mainstreet Equities, a publicly listed real estate firm. Mr. Dhillon served as full-time Managing Director and head of Guggenheim Capital Management Asia from December 2008, where he was responsible for all business activities in the region, including setting the firm’s strategic direction in Asia and delivering alternative investment solutions to global institutional investors, and Mr. Dhillon continues to provide limited advisory services to Guggenheim. During his tenure at Guggenheim Capital Management Asia, Mr. Dhillon’s investment focus included management of the private equity and special situations portfolio, while leading the firm’s investment efforts into sovereign debt, infrastructure lending and distressed secondary private equity transactions. Previously, Mr. Dhillon was a partner at Thomas Weisel Partners, where he spearheaded the firm’s asset management and research operations in Asia and held a senior role in their domestic equity business. Mr. Dhillon holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Calgary and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University. We believe Mr. Dhillon is qualified to serve as a director due to his significant leadership experience and extensive investment experience.
Pandu Sjahrir.   Pandu Sjahrir, a member of our board of directors, has served as a Managing Partner of Indies Capital Partners, a leading alternative asset manager focusing on Southeast Asia, since November 2017. He is also the Founding Partner of AC Ventures, an early-stage technology venture fund. Mr. Sjahrir served as a Managing Director in the Private Equity group at Abraaj Group, a private equity firm, from April 2015 to November 2017. Mr. Sjahrir has served as board member of Go-Jek, a technology
 
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company since April 2017, and also serves on the boards of several other Indonesian investment companies, including Agaeti Ventures Partners Limited, East Capital Global Limited and PT Toba Bara Sejahtra Tbk. He currently serves as a Commissioner of the Indonesia Stock Exchange, PT Shopee International Indonesia, PT Toba Bara Energi, PT Batu Hitam Perkasa, PT Garena Indonesia, PT Airpay International Indonesia and PT Elang Mahkota Teknologi Tbk. He has also served as Chairman of SEA Indonesia since April 2017 and as Chairman of the Indonesian Coal Mining Association since September 2015. Previously, Mr. Sjahrir served as a Senior Analyst at MatlinPatterson and at Lehman Brothers. Mr. Sjahrir holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Chicago, an M.B.A. from Stanford University and an Executive M.B.A. from Tsinghua University. We believe Mr. Sjahrir is qualified to serve as a director due to his significant business and investment experience.
Alvin Widarta Sariaatmadja.   Alvin Widarta Sariaatmadja, a member of our board of directors, has served as the Chief Executive Officer of PT Elang Mahkota Teknologi Tbk (“EMTEK”), a leading Indonesian group focused on the technology, media and healthcare sectors, since June 2015. Mr. Sariaatmadja’s passion to digitize EMTEK’s business has led to a far reaching cultural and technological transformation across the group’s different businesses. Since August 2020, Mr. Sariaatmadja has served as Chairman of PT Surya Citra Media Tbk, an Indonesian mass media company. He also served as a director of PT Surya Citra Televisi, a television broadcasting station, from 2009 to 2017 and as director of PT Indosiar Visual Mandiri, an over-the-air television network, from 2011 to 2017. Mr. Sariaatmadja holds a Bachelor of Law and Commerce from the University of New South Wales. We believe Mr. Sariaatmadja is qualified to serve as a director due to his extensive leadership and business experience in the technology, media and healthcare industries.
Jack Smith.   Jack Smith, a member of our board of directors, is a serial entrepreneur, investor and advisor with a focus on identifying and nurturing early-stage startups. Mr. Smith currently serves as a board member of several startups and non-profits. He has served as a board member of Hustle Con Media, Inc., a media company, since October 2020. He has also served as a board director of the charity Give A Book since August 2020 and as a board director of The Prison Mathematics Project, Inc., a nonprofit organization, since October 2020. In 2011, Mr. Smith co-founded Vungle, a mobile advertising technology company, and he served as Vungle’s President until November 2013. Mr. Smith holds a BA in English from King’s College London. We believe Mr. Smith is qualified to serve as a director due to his significant investment experience in the technology sector.
Advisory Board
From time to time we may utilize the services of certain advisors and/or form an advisory board consisting of individuals whom we believe will help us execute our business strategy. Austin Russell currently serves as senior advisor to COVA.
Number and Terms of Office of Officers and Directors
Our board of directors is divided into three classes, with only one class of directors being appointed in each year, and with each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual general meeting) serving a three-year term. In accordance with the Nasdaq corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual general meeting until one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on the Nasdaq. The term of office of the first class of directors, consisting of Mr. Smith, will expire at our first annual general meeting. The term of office of the second class of directors, consisting of Mr. Dhillon and Mr. Sariaatmadja, will expire at our second annual general meeting. The term of office of the third class of directors, consisting of Mr. Heng and Mr. Sjahrir, will expire at our third annual general meeting.
Prior to the completion of an initial business combination, any vacancy on the board of directors may be filled by a nominee chosen by holders of a majority of our COVA Founder Shares. In addition, prior to the completion of an initial business combination, holders of a majority of our COVA Founder Shares may remove a member of the board of directors for any reason.
Our officers are appointed by the board of directors and serve at the discretion of the board of directors, rather than for specific terms of office. Our board of directors is authorized to appoint persons to the offices set forth in the COVA Articles as it deems appropriate. The COVA Articles provide that our
 
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officers may consist of one or more chairman of the board, chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, vice presidents, secretary, treasurer and such other offices as may be determined by the board of directors.
Committees of the Board of Directors
We have three standing committees: an audit committee, a nominating committee and a compensation committee. Subject to phase-in rules and a limited exception, the rules of Nasdaq and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act require that the audit committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors. Subject to phase-in rules and a limited exception, the rules of Nasdaq require that the compensation committee and the nominating committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors.
Audit Committee
Mr. Sariaatmadja, Mr. Sjahrir and Mr. Smith serve as members of our audit committee. Each of Mr. Sariaatmadja, Mr. Sjahrir and Mr. Smith meets the independence standard under the Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Each member of the audit committee is financially literate and it is expected that Mr. Sjahrir will qualify as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules.
We have adopted an audit committee charter, which details the principal functions of the audit committee, including:

appointing or replacing a firm to serve as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit our financial statements;

meeting with our independent registered public accounting firm regarding, among other issues, audits, and adequacy of our accounting and control systems;

monitoring the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm;

discussing the scope and results of the audit with the independent registered public accounting firm, and reviewing, with management and the independent accountants, our interim and year-end operating results;

developing procedures for employees to anonymously submit concerns about questionable accounting or audit matters;

pre-approving all audit and non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm or any other registered public accounting firm engaged by us, and establishing pre-approval policies and procedures; and

considering the adequacy of our internal accounting controls and audit procedures.
Nominating Committee
The sole member of our nominating committee is Mr. Smith. Our board of directors has determined that Mr. Smith meets the independence standard under the Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules.
The nominating committee is responsible for overseeing the selection of persons to be nominated to serve on our board of directors. The nominating committee considers persons identified by its members, management, shareholders and others.
We have adopted a nominating and corporate governance committee charter, which details the purpose and responsibilities of the nominating and corporate governance committee, including:

identifying, screening and reviewing individuals qualified to serve as directors, consistent with criteria approved by the board, and recommending to the board of directors candidates for nomination for appointment at the annual general meeting or to fill vacancies on the board of directors;
 
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developing and recommending to the board of directors and overseeing implementation of our corporate governance guidelines;

coordinating and overseeing the annual self-evaluation of the board of directors, its committees, individual directors and management in the governance of the company; and

reviewing on a regular basis our overall corporate governance and recommending improvements as and when necessary.
The nominating committee will consider a number of qualifications relating to management and leadership experience, background and integrity and professionalism in evaluating a person’s candidacy for membership on the board of directors. The nominating committee may require certain skills or attributes, such as financial or accounting experience, to meet specific board needs that arise from time to time and will also consider the overall experience and makeup of its members to obtain a broad and diverse mix of board members. Prior to our initial business combination, holders of our public shares will not have the right to recommend director candidates for nomination to our board of directors.
Compensation Committee
The members of our compensation committee are Mr. Sjahrir and Mr. Smith. Our board of directors has determined that Mr. Sjahrir and Mr. Smith meets the independence standard under the Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules.
We have adopted a compensation committee charter, which details the principal functions of the compensation committee, including:

reviewing and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our chief executive officer’s compensation, evaluating our chief executive officer’s performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving the remuneration (if any) of our chief executive officer based on such evaluation;

reviewing and making recommendations to our board of directors with respect to the compensation, and any incentive compensation and equity based plans that are subject to board approval of all of our other officers;

reviewing our executive compensation policies and plans;

implementing and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans;

assisting management in complying with our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements;

approving all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for our executive officers and employees;

producing a report on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement; and

reviewing, evaluating and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors.
The charter also provides that the compensation committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, legal counsel or other advisor and will be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any such advisor. However, before engaging or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, external legal counsel or any other advisor, the compensation committee will consider the independence of each such advisor, including the factors required by the Nasdaq and the SEC.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of our executive officers currently serves, and in the past year has not served, as a member of the compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our board of directors.
 
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Code of Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct (“Code of Ethics”) applicable to our directors, officers and employees. A copy of the Code of Ethics will be provided without charge upon request from us. We intend to disclose any amendments to or waivers of certain provisions of our Code of Ethics in a Current Report on Form 8-K.
Conflicts of Interest
Under Cayman Islands law, officers and directors owe the following fiduciary duties:

duty to act in good faith in what the officer or director believes to be in the best interests of the company as a whole;

duty to exercise powers for the purposes for which those powers were conferred and not for a collateral purpose;

directors should not improperly fetter the exercise of future discretion;

duty to exercise powers fairly as between different sections of shareholders;

duty not to put themselves in a position in which there is a conflict between their duty to the company and their personal interests; and

duty to exercise independent judgment.
In addition to the above, directors also owe a duty of care, which is not fiduciary in nature. This duty has been defined as a requirement to act as a reasonably diligent person having both the general knowledge, skill and experience that may reasonably be expected of a person carrying out the same functions as are carried out by that director in relation to the company and the general knowledge, skill and experience of that director.
As set out above, directors have a duty not to put themselves in a position of conflict and this includes a duty not to engage in self-dealing, or to otherwise benefit as a result of their position. However, in some instances what would otherwise be a breach of this duty can be forgiven and/or authorized in advance by the shareholders provided that there is full disclosure by the directors. This can be done by way of permission granted in the relevant company’s memorandum and articles of association or alternatively by shareholder approval at general meetings.
Certain of our officers and directors presently have, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary and contractual duties to other entities. As a result, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, then, subject to their fiduciary duties under Cayman Islands law, he or she will need to honor such fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity, before we can pursue such opportunity. If these other entities decide to pursue any such opportunity, we may be precluded from pursuing the same. However, we do not expect these duties to materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law: (i) no individual serving as a director or an officer shall have any duty, except and to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as us; and (ii) we renounce any interest or expectancy in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for any director or officer, on the one hand, and us, on the other.
 
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Below is a table summarizing the entities to which our executive officers and directors currently have fiduciary duties, contractual obligations or other material management relationships:
Individual
Entity
Entity’s Business
Affiliation
Jun Hong Heng
Crescent Cove Advisors LP(1)
Credit-led Technology Investment Firm
Founder and Chief Investment Officer
Luminar Technologies, Inc. Automotive Technology Director
K.V. Dhillon
Crescent Cove Advisors LP(1)
Credit-led Technology Investment Firm
Managing Director, Business Development Lead
Mainstreet Equities(1) Real Estate Director
Pandu Sjahrir
AC Ventures(1)
Venture Firm
Founding Partner
Indies Capital Partners Venture Firm Managing Partner
Go-Jek Technology Director
PT Roesma Mulia Sehati Trading Director
Paloma Partners Pte Ltd Business Management Consultancy Services Director
PT Paloma Padma Sehati Business Consultancy Services Director
PT Adimitra Baratama Nusantara
Mining Director
PT Toba Bara Sejahtra Tbk Investment Holding Director
PT Agaeti Integra Investama Business Consultancy Services General Partner
Agaeti Ventures Partners Limited
Investment Director
East Capital Global Limited Investment Holding Director
PT Airpay International Indonesia
Technology (financial services) President Commissioner
PT Shopee International Indonesia
Technology (e-commerce) President Commissioner
PT Garena Indonesia Technology (gaming) President Commissioner
Indonesia Stock Exchange Stock Exchange Commissioner
Alvin Sariaatmadja
PT Elang Mahkota Teknologi Tbk
Venture Firm
Chief Executive Officer
PT Surya Citra Media Tbk Mass Media Chairman
PT Elang Andalan Nusantara
Investment Holding for joint venture in e-commerce
Chairman
(1)
Includes certain of its funds and other affiliates.
Potential investors should also be aware of the following other potential conflicts of interest:

Our directors and officer are not required to, and will not, commit their full time to our affairs, which may result in a conflict of interest in allocating their time between our operations and our search for a business combination and their other businesses. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination. Each of our directors and officer is engaged in several other business endeavors for which he or she may be entitled to substantial compensation, and our directors and officer are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to our affairs.

The Sponsor subscribed for the COVA Founder Shares and purchased COVA Private Warrants in connection with the consummation of the IPO.

Our Sponsor, directors and officers have entered into an agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any COVA Founder Shares and COVA Public Shares held by them in connection with (i) the completion of our initial business combination and (ii) a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to the COVA Articles (A) that would modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of COVA Public Shares the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of the COVA Public Shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of the IPO or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of COVA Public Shares. Additionally, our Sponsor, directors and officers have agreed to waive their
 
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rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to their COVA Founder Shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe. If we do not complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe, the COVA Private Warrants will expire worthless.

Except as described herein, pursuant to a letter agreement that our Sponsor and each member of our management team have entered into with us, our Sponsor and each member of our management team have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their COVA Founder Shares until the earliest of (A) one year after the completion of our initial business combination and (B) subsequent to our initial business combination, (x) if the closing price of our Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds US$12.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and other similar transactions) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of our public shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property. Except as described herein, the COVA Private Warrants will not be transferable until 30 days following the completion of our initial business combination. Because each of our executive officers and directors will own ordinary shares or warrants directly or indirectly, they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination.

Our directors and officers may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such directors and officers is included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination. In addition, our Sponsor, directors and officers may sponsor, form or participate in other blank check companies similar to ours during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination. Any such companies may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an acquisition target, particularly in the event there is overlap among investment mandates. Further, the potential conflict of interest relating to the waiver of the corporate opportunities doctrine in the COVA Articles did not impact its search for an acquisition target and COVA was not prevented from reviewing any opportunities as a result of such waiver.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our Sponsor, officers or directors or making the acquisition through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our Sponsor, directors or officers. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our Sponsor or any of our officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.
Furthermore, in no event will our Sponsor or any of our existing officers or directors, or their respective affiliates, be paid by us any finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the completion of our initial business combination. Further, commencing on the date our securities are first listed on Nasdaq and through the earlier of the consummation of our initial business combination and our liquidation, we will also reimburse an affiliate of our Sponsor for office space, secretarial and administrative services provided to us in the amount of US$10,000 per month.
We cannot assure you that any of the above mentioned conflicts will be resolved in our favor.
If we seek shareholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if we obtain the approval of an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law, which requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shareholders who attend and vote at a general meeting of the company. In such case, our Sponsor and each member of our management team have agreed to vote their COVA Founder Shares and public shares in favor of our initial business combination.
Legal Proceedings
There is no material litigation, arbitration or governmental proceeding currently pending against us or any members of our management team in their capacity as such.
 
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Periodic Reporting and Financial Information
We have registered our Units, COVA Public Shares and COVA Public Warrants under the Exchange Act and have reporting obligations, including the requirement that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, our annual reports will contain financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public accountants.
We will provide shareholders with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of the proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, sent to shareholders. These financial statements may be required to be prepared in accordance with, or reconciled to, GAAP, or IFRS, depending on the circumstances, and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may acquire because some targets may be unable to provide such statements in time for us to disclose such statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe. We cannot assure you that any particular target business identified by us as a potential acquisition candidate will have financial statements prepared in accordance with the requirements outlined above, or that the potential target business will be able to prepare its financial statements in accordance with the requirements outlined above. To the extent that these requirements cannot be met, we may not be able to acquire the proposed target business. While this may limit the pool of potential acquisition candidates, we do not believe that this limitation will be material.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that we evaluate and report on our system of internal controls beginning with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021. Only in the event we are deemed to be a large, accelerated filer or an accelerated filer will we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. Further, for as long as we remain an emerging growth company, we will not be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. The fact that we are a blank check company makes compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act particularly burdensome on us as compared to other public companies because a target business with which we seek to complete our business combination may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of its internal controls. The development of the internal control of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our IPO, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least US$1.235 billion (as adjusted for inflation pursuant to SEC rules from time to time), or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of the COVA Public Shares that are held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds US$700 million as of the prior June 30, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than US$1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period.
 
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Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (i) the market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates exceeds US$250 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter or (ii) our annual revenues exceeded US$100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates exceeds US$700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter. To the extent we take advantage of such reduced disclosure obligations, it may also make comparison of our financial statements with other public companies difficult or impossible.
 
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COVA’S MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION
The following discussion and analysis of COVA’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with COVA’s financial statements and the related notes to those statements included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. In addition to historical financial information, the following discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. COVA’s actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including those factors set forth in the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”, which you should review for a discussion of some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis and elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. References to the “Company,” “COVA Acquisition Corp.,” “COVA,” “our,” “us” or “we” refer to COVA Acquisition Corp.
Overview
We are a blank check company incorporated on December 11, 2020 as a Cayman Islands exempted company and incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (for purpose of this section, the “Business Combination”). Although we are not limited to a particular industry or sector for purposes of consummating a Business Combination, we intend to focus our search for a target in the high growth technology and tech-enabled businesses in Southeast Asia in the consumer internet, ecommerce, and software industries. We are an emerging growth company and, as such, we are subject to all of the risks associated with emerging growth companies. We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our entire activity since inception has been to prepare for our initial public offering, which was consummated on February 9, 2021 and, after our IPO, identifying a target company for a Business Combination.
Results of Operations
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities since inception through June 30, 2022 were organizational activities, those necessary to prepare for the initial public offering, described above, and, subsequent to the initial public offering, identifying a target company for a Business Combination. We do not expect to generate any operating revenues until after the completion of our Business Combination. We generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on marketable securities held after the initial public offering. We are incurring expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting, and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses in connection with completing a Business Combination.
For the three months ended June 30, 2022, we had net loss of US$828,056, which consisted of operating costs of US$3,181,421, offset by gain from change in fair value on warrant liability of US$1,902,663 and interest income on investments held in Trust Account of US$450,702.
For the six months ended June 30, 2022, we had net income of US$6,026,898, which consisted of a gain from change in fair value on warrant liability of US$9,349,117 and interest income on investments held in Trust Account of US$559,627, offset by operating costs of US$3,881,846.
For the three months ended June 30, 2021, we had net income of US$6,598,856, which consisted of a gain from change in fair value on warrant liability of US$6,876,556 and interest income on investments held in Trust Account of US$3,053, offset by formation and operating costs of US$280,753.
For the six months ended June 30, 2021, we had net income of US$3,331,979, which consisted of a gain from change in fair value on warrant liability of US$4,835,996 and interest income on investments held in Trust Account of US$3,053, offset by offering costs allocated to warrant liability of US$989,589 and formation and operating costs of US$517,481.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, we had net income of US$11,607,395, which consisted of a gain from change in fair value on warrant liability of US$14,374,150 and interest income on marketable
 
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securities held in Trust Account of US$53,995, offset by offering costs allocated to warrant liability of US$989,589, and operating costs of US$1,831,161.
For the period from December 11, 2020 (Inception) to December 31, 2020, we had net loss of US$8,927, which consisted of operating costs of US$8,927.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
On February 9, 2021, we consummated the IPO of 30,000,000 Units, which includes the partial exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option in the amount of 3,900,000 Units, at a price of US$10.00 per Unit, generating aggregate gross proceeds of US$300,000,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, we consummated a private placement of 8,872,000 COVA Private Warrants to the Sponsor at a price of US$1.00 per COVA Private Warrant, generating total proceeds of US$8,872,000.
Following the IPO and the sale of the COVA Private Warrants, a total of US$300,000,000 was placed in a Trust Account. We incurred US$17,210,247 in offering costs, consisting of US$6,000,000 of underwriting discount, US$10,500,000 of deferred underwriting discount, and US$710,247 of other offering costs.
On December 31, 2021, we had cash and marketable securities held in the Trust Account of US$300,053,996. At June 30, 2022, we had cash and marketable securities held in the Trust Account of US$300,613,622. We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the Trust Account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the Trust Account (excluding deferred underwriting commissions and less taxes payable) to complete our initial Business Combination. We may withdraw interest from the Trust Account to pay our taxes. To the extent that our equity or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete our initial Business Combination, the remaining proceeds held in the Trust Account will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.
On December 31, 2021, we had cash of US$7,181 held outside of the Trust Account. At June 30, 2022, we had cash of US$2,444 held outside of the Trust Account. We intend to use the funds held outside the Trust Account primarily to identify and evaluate target businesses, perform business due diligence on prospective target businesses, travel to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses or their representatives or owners, review corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, and structure, negotiate, and complete a Business Combination.
In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with an initial Business Combination, our Sponsor, officers, directors, or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our initial Business Combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that the initial Business Combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account to repay such loaned amounts, but no proceeds from our Trust Account would be used for such repayment. Up to US$1,000,000 of such loans may be convertible into private placement warrants of the post Business Combination entity at a price of US$1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the COVA Private Warrants. As of June 30, 2022, no such loans were made.
On May 26, 2022, COVA issued an unsecured promissory note to the Sponsor, pursuant to which COVA may borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of US$2,000,000. The Second Promissory Note is non-interest bearing and payable upon the consummation of a business combination. Upon consummation of a business combination, the Sponsor shall have the option, but not the obligation, to convert up to US$1,000,000 of the principal balance of the promissory note, in whole or in part at the option of the Sponsor, into COVA Private Warrants, at a price of US$1.00 per COVA Private Warrant.
Prior to the completion of the initial Business Combination, the Company does not expect to seek loans from parties other than the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor as the Company does not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in the Trust Account. Management believes that we will have sufficient working capital and borrowing capacity to meet our needs through the earlier of a Business Combination or for the next 12 months. If we are unable to complete our initial Business Combination because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the Trust Account.
 
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Off-Balance Sheet Financing Arrangements
As of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
Commitments and Contractual Obligations
We do not have any long-term debt, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations or long-term liabilities as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021.
The underwriters are entitled to a deferred fee of US$0.35 per Unit, or US$10,500,000, in aggregate. The underwriters’ deferred commissions will be paid to the underwriters from the funds held in the Trust Account upon and concurrently with the completion of our initial business combination. The deferred underwriting fees will be waived by the underwriters solely in the event that we do not complete a business combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and income and expenses during the periods reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. We have identified the following critical accounting policies:
Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption
We account for our ordinary shares subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Ordinary shares subject to mandatory redemption is classified as a liability instrument and is measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable ordinary shares (including ordinary shares that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within our control) is classified as temporary equity. At all other times, ordinary shares are classified as shareholders’ deficit. Our ordinary shares feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of our control and subject to occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, ordinary shares subject to possible redemption is presented as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders’ deficit section of our balance sheets.
Offering Costs Associated with the Initial Public Offering
We complied with the requirements of the ASC 340-10-S99-1 and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) Topic 5A — “Expenses of Offering”. Offering costs consist principally of professional and registration fees incurred through the balance sheet date that are related to our initial public offering. We allocate the offering costs between its ordinary shares and COVA Public Warrants using relative fair value method, with the offering costs allocated to the COVA Public Warrants expensed immediately. Offering costs associated with the Class A ordinary shares have been charged to temporary equity.
Net Income (Loss) Per Ordinary Share
Net income (Loss) per ordinary share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding for each of the periods. The calculation of diluted income (loss) per ordinary share does not consider the effect of the warrants issued in connection with the (i) initial public offering, (ii) exercise of the overallotment option and (iii) the private placement to our Sponsor since the exercise of the warrants are contingent upon the occurrence of future events and the inclusion of such warrants would be anti-dilutive. The COVA Public Warrants and the COVA Private Warrants are exercisable to purchase a total of 23,872,000 Class A ordinary shares of COVA.
Warrant Liabilities
The Company evaluated the COVA Public Warrants and COVA Private Warrants (which are discussed in Note 2 and Note 3 in accordance with ASC 815-40, “Derivatives and Hedging — Contracts in Entity’s
 
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Own Equity”, and concluded that a provision in the COVA Warrant Agreement related to certain tender or exchange offers precludes the COVA Warrants from being accounted for as components of equity. As the COVA Warrants meet the definition of a derivative as contemplated in ASC 815, the COVA Warrants are recorded as derivative liabilities on the COVA Balance Sheets and measured at fair value at inception (on the date of the initial public offering) and at each reporting date in accordance with ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurement,” with changes in fair value recognized in the Statements of Operations in the period of change.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on our unaudited condensed COVA’s financial statements.
JOBS Act
The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”) contains provisions that, among other things, relax certain reporting requirements for qualifying public companies. We qualify as an “emerging growth company” and under the JOBS Act are allowed to comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements based on the effective date for private (not publicly traded) companies. We are electing to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards, and as a result, we may not comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. As a result, the financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.
Additionally, we are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on the other reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, if, as an “emerging growth company,” we choose to rely on such exemptions we may not be required to, among other things, (i) provide an independent registered public accounting firm’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, (ii) provide all of the compensation disclosure that may be required of non-emerging growth public companies under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, (iii) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the PCAOB regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the report of the independent registered public accounting firm providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis) and (iv) disclose certain executive compensation related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation to median employee compensation. These exemptions will apply for a period of five years following the completion of our initial public offering or until we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” whichever is earlier.
 
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INFORMATION ABOUT ECARX
Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this section (i) to “ECARX,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to ECARX Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries, and in the context of describing ECARX’s operations and consolidated financial information for the periods ended prior to the Restructuring, also to its VIEs and their subsidiaries, and (ii) “China” or “PRC” refer to mainland China.
Our Vision/Mission
Our vision is to power a better, more sustainable life through smart mobility. Our mission is to shape the future bond between people and cars by rapidly advancing the technology at the heart of smart mobility.
Overview of Our Business
ECARX is transforming vehicles into seamlessly integrated information, communications and transportation devices. It is shaping the interaction between people and cars by rapidly advancing the technology at the heart of smart mobility. ECARX’s current core products include infotainment head units, digital cockpits, vehicle chip-set solutions, a core operating system and integrated software stack. Beyond this, ECARX is developing a full-stack automotive computing platform.
ECARX was co-founded in 2017 by renowned Chinese entrepreneurs Mr. Eric Li (Li Shufu) and Mr. Ziyu Shen to develop a full stack automotive computing platform to reshape the global mobility market by transforming next-generation vehicles into seamlessly integrated information, communications, and transportation devices.
We have established a successful track record during the 5 years since our inception. As of June 30, 2022, there were more than 3.7 million vehicles on the road with ECARX products and solutions onboard. We have a team of close to 2,000 full-time employees globally, among which approximately 1,400 belong to our R&D division, providing the foundation for us to serve 12 vehicle brands across Asia-Pacific and Europe.
Trends in vehicle electrification and implementation of connected and automated driving technology are reshaping the automotive industry as automotive OEMs develop new vehicle platforms from ground up, incorporating greater vehicle intelligence and a more centralized electrical/electronic architecture (“E/E architecture”). To meet these demands, we are developing an automotive technology platform that is uniquely informed by our strategic OEM collaborations, with a clear product roadmap.
Automotive Computing Platform
Infotainment Head Unit (“IHU”):   As the foundation for the development of our automotive computing platform, we started to offer our IHU products in 2017, covering various vehicle models within the Geely ecosystem. In addition to supporting regular infotainment functions including speech assistant service, navigation service, and multi-media, our IHU products also support Around View Monitoring (“AVM”) integration, augmented reality navigation and local-end natural language understanding (“NLU”) and natural language processing (“NLP”). Our IHU product line consists of a series of IHU models, as we have continued to upgrade and revolutionize our IHU products from IHU 1.0 to IHU 5.0.
Digital Cockpit:   Modern day cars are highly influenced by the advancements in digital technologies and diversified consumer demands. We commenced research and development of our Digital Cockpit in 2019, and adopted a centralized system design by breaking the boundaries of silos in the vehicle systems, so that, through unified system architecture and virtualization, multiple systems can be simultaneously run on a single SoC platform, reducing the system complexity and soliciting ECUs without sacrificing functionality. Our Digital Cockpit products offer more advanced features such as driver information module, heads-up display, rear seat entertainment, multiple-displays, multi-zone voice recognition, full 3D user experience, and global function support. Our first and second-generation Digital Cockpit products have been deployed on Geely and Lynk & Co models since July 2021. We plan to continue our rapid innovation in our Digital Cockpit products. We are now collaborating with our key strategic partner, SiEngine Technology
 
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Co., Ltd. (“SiEngine”), to customize the next-generation E04 Core Module powered by StarEagle1000. StarEagle1000 is an automotive smart cockpit SoC developed by SiEngine, our joint venture with ARM China.
Automotive Central Computing Platform:   Building on our IHU and Digital Cockpit products, we plan to launch the Automotive Central Computing Platform that facilitates the transition from a domain-based E/E architecture to a more centralized computing platform. The Automotive Central Computing Platform is intended to be more compatible with more software solutions, simplifying and better enabling functional upgrades and future evolution. Our first-generation Automotive Central Computing Platform is currently in development.
SoC (System on a Chip) Core Modules
Increasing demands for vehicle intelligence and centralization of vehicle architecture have accelerated the transition from microcontroller units (“MCU”), which contain CPU as the only processing unit, to SoC, which comprises multiple processing units with significantly higher computing power.
ECARX’s vehicle chip-set solutions focus on SoC Core Modules. The SoC Core Module is a complete computing board that efficiently integrates SoC together with core and peripheral integrated circuits (“ICs”), and underpins the high performance of ECARX computing platforms, reduces the complexity of the product design and provides an easy-to-develop core component for our customers.

MCU = CPU + Storage + Interface Unit

SoC = CPU + GPU + Digital Signal Processor (DSP) + NPU + Storage + Interface Unit

SoC Core Module = SoC + Key ICs (i.e. power management IC + Storage (module storage) + Interface Units (rich peripheral interfaces))
We develop SoC Core Modules with partners and semiconductor manufacturers. Our current production E-Series (E01, E02 and E03) Core Modules are utilized in our IHU and Digital Cockpit platforms. As of June 30, 2022, we supplied over 1.5 million units of E-series Core Modules to our OEM and Tier 1 automotive supplier customers.
We are in the process of developing our next-generation SoC Core Modules in collaboration with SiEngine. Our pipeline product, E04 Core Module, is purpose-built to support more advanced vehicle intelligent features and will be incorporated into our future Digital Cockpit and Automotive Central Computing Platform products. SiEngine is primarily responsible for the design and development of, and holds the relevant intellectual property to, the StarEagle1000 SoC of our E04 Core Module. ECARX is contributing to define the automotive requirements and is responsible for the software-hardware development and integration of SoC Core Modules based on the SiEngine SoC. ECARX continues to invest in the development to enhance the capability of SoC Core Modules for the automotive industry.
Operating System (“OS”)
The operating system plays a pivotal role in the automotive technology stack as it connects the hardware with application software. The architecture of the operating system directly impacts the performance of the automotive computing platform products while the functionalities offered by the OS can simplify the development of applications that run on top of it. As such, the OS is another building block of our technology platform. Our OS efforts are focused on maximizing the power of ECARX SoC Core Modules and enabling application developers to build innovative functions and applications for the devices powered by ECARX SoC Core Modules.
Software Stack
Our software integrates intelligent, connected technology to enhance the rider experience. We provide a service software framework to connect the application layer to the OS layer of the overall cockpit system, in addition to a host of digital cockpit applications that can be further categorized as customized auto API service, localization functions and deep integration with mobile phones. We are also developing software to
 
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deliver advanced driver-assistance systems (“ADAS”) and unsupervised highway driving features as well as control over key vehicle systems to enable functionality and improve performance (such as functional safety).
Go-to-market Approach
We employ a unique go-to-market strategy that creates multiple development and commercialization opportunities. Firstly, we provide automotive computing platform products and solutions to automotive OEMs. Under this business model, we work closely with Geely Holding and many of its ecosystem OEMs, to redefine the system topology, software, hardware and the overall E/E architecture of their vehicles. Distinct from the traditional OEM-supplier relationship where suppliers take a passive role and receive orders and requirements once the vehicle structure and production plan are determined, our early involvement in the vehicle design stage facilitates the vertical integration of our products, ensuring optimal compatibility and performance. We also take advantage of our full stack capabilities by offering vehicle intelligence-related technologies including E-series Core Modules, OS and software modules to other Tier 1 suppliers. Finally, we have formed strategic partnerships through both commercial and equity arrangements in various verticals, including but not limited to SiEngine for SoC Core Modules and HaleyTek AB (“HaleyTek”) for OS. We believe our unique go-to-market strategy maximizes the value of our technology platform and capabilities, creating diversified revenue streams and development opportunities to support our business growth.
Market Opportunity
Global Passenger Vehicle Market
As a pioneer in the development of full stack automotive computing platform, our products and solutions empower a variety of industry participants in the global passenger vehicle market, of which the annual sales volume is projected to grow from 59.3 million units in 2020 to 74.5 million units in 2025 at a compounded annual growth rate (“CAGR”) of 4.7%, according to Frost & Sullivan.
The passenger vehicle market can be further categorized into Conventional Energy Vehicle and Electric Vehicle (“EV”) segments. Despite the modest projected growth rate for the global passenger vehicle market overall, the EV market is projected to experience robust growth from 2020 to 2025 at a CAGR of 51.1% to reach annual sales volumes of 15.6 million vehicles, according to Frost & Sullivan.
The transition towards EV is leading to a rapid transformation in vehicle platforms. According to Frost & Sullivan, the top 10 global OEMs are expected to introduce around 300 new EV models between now and 2030, presenting vast opportunities for products and solutions required at the basic structure level.
Growing Importance of Vehicle Intelligence
We believe there are fundamental industry trends that are defining the future of automotive development.
With the transition to electric powertrains, OEMs have the opportunity to redefine their vehicles’ E/E architectures with a focus on reducing complexity and implementing advanced computational capabilities. As such, electronic components are expected to represent a greater portion of product value on these platforms as software further enhances onboard experiences. Accordingly, electronic components are expected to account for an increasing proportion of the manufacturing cost for an EV, according to Frost & Sullivan.
 
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Source: Frost & Sullivan
Further, consumers’ growing demand for connected technology as well as ADAS and unsupervised driving functionality is transforming the role of automobiles from traditionally a transportation tool into a seamlessly integrated information, communication, and transportation device. As passenger vehicles begin to exhibit characteristics of a consumer product, such as smart phones, more intelligent in-vehicle features are called for, leading to the trend of “software defined vehicle” where OEMs are competing in software technology. The ability to push software updates over the air allows for further innovation and cost reduction while improving customer experience.
We believe the “DNA” of automobiles will significantly change in the coming decade as all new technologies and government requirements motivate OEMs to develop “all-new” vehicle platforms. We believe these new vehicle platforms will serve as the foundation for future product development for the next 10 years and beyond.
ECARX is well positioned to partner with and supply OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers with a full stack of platform technology including automotive computing platforms, SoC Core Modules, OS and key software to facilitate the transition.
The Road to Central Computing
Vehicles have traditionally followed a decentralized structure, with independent electronic control units (“ECUs”) powering isolated functions. However, as new technology is implemented, the number of sensors and other electronic components has drastically increased, making it no longer feasible for the traditional ECU-based architecture to manage.
This has given rise to a clear trend towards the implementation of a centralized E/E architecture, which centralizes the computing power to minimize and ultimately eliminate delay in operation and allows for more accurate controls across different domains. A centralized E/E architecture also significantly simplifies the wire harness structure, reduces the difficulty of assembly, and solves the fragmentation of the automobile internal information system from the chip level, leading to lower engineering costs and faster time to market. Over the years, several OEMs have initiated the transition from distributed E/E architecture towards the cross domain centralized E/E architecture with dedicated domain controllers (“DCUs”), enabling one control unit to manage multiple functions. Today, various leading OEMs are implementing the new domain centralized E/E architecture in their current models.
Underpinned by increasing software complexity and higher computing power requirements for advanced level automated driving, we believe the evolution towards an even more centralized architecture will continue, leading to the era of central computing where the concept of virtual domains will be introduced while data transmission is processed through cloud platforms and DCUs are connected through ethernet. The centralized E/E architecture is able to achieve high computing power by having a cluster of high-performance computers within the structure and enabling the execution of virtualized functions.
 
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Source: Frost & Sullivan
According to Frost & Sullivan, domain centralized E/E architectures and vehicle centralized E/E architectures are projected to experience robust increases in penetration rate from 2020 to 2030. The trend is even more evident within the EV market where domain centralized E/E architectures are projected to take up 32.7% of all E/E architectures in 2025 and become the most widely adopted E/E architecture in 2030 with a penetration rate of 45.8%.
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Source: Frost & Sullivan
A centralized E/E architecture is instrumental in the realization of central computing, and provides the optimal infrastructure to support advanced intelligent cockpit features, advanced driver assistance and high-level automated driving functionality, which requires centralized holistic decision making to handle real time traffic complexities.
ECARX’s product and technology roadmaps have been designed to capture opportunities in parallel to the ongoing centralization of vehicle E/E architecture. We believe we are best positioned to take advantage of the future centralization trends with our Automotive Central Computing Platform, which is being built on the technology and know-how that we have accumulated through previous iterations of automotive computing platform products.
Our Addressable Markets
Given our strong capabilities in both hardware and software which are essential to the development of an industry leading automotive computing platform, we are exposed to several rapidly growing automotive sub-verticals, namely the intelligent cockpit, automotive SoC Core Modules, automotive software, and advanced driver assistance and automated driving market.
 
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Overview of the Intelligent Cockpit Market
Intelligent cockpits were developed to facilitate high-level human-vehicle interactions and meet the demand for advanced in-vehicle features such as multi-function infotainment system, driving assistance, heads-up display, and voice/gesture recognition. As a central control hub connecting drivers and riders with their vehicles through an integrated set of solutions, intelligent cockpits function as a bridge to achieve high-level vehicle intelligence, ultimately becoming an indispensable part of advanced driver assistance and automated driving features.
We observed rapid market development in the global intelligent cockpit market from 2015 to 2020 at a CAGR of 8.8%. The market size is expected to further expand at an accelerated rate of 12.9% to reach US$53.9 billion in 2025, with China leading in growth rate, according to Frost & Sullivan.
Overview of the Automotive SoC Market
SoC is an integrated chip that combines all or most components of a computer or other electronic system. Automotive SoCs are highly integrated and centralized and address a wide range of automotive applications with the power to support a variety of functions such as processing, detection, and connectivity.
The intelligent cockpit market remains the major near term driving force for automotive SoCs. However, the tremendous market potential for advanced SoCs with increased computing power to meet the requirements for unsupervised and automated highway driving related applications, to a large extent, defines the future direction of automotive SoCs, especially in the areas below:

The pursuit of power consumption efficiency in addition to computing power: according to Frost & Sullivan, the power consumption efficiency ratio is calculated based on the TOPS/chip power consumption. To date, the power consumption efficiency ratio of mainstream products has increased from the initial level of 0.4TOPS/W (EyeQ4), 1TOPS/W (Xavier) to 2TOPS/W (Journey 2) and 2.4TOPS/W (EyeQ5). We expect that future mainstream offerings will achieve a ratio of 3TOPS/W or above.

More advanced process requirement: the production of chips for applications such as traditional infotainment system may usually require 10nm+ process. However, due to the higher requirements of advanced automated driving, the planned SoCs for L4/L5 automated driving in general may require 7nm, or even 5nm advanced process.
According to Frost & Sullivan, the market size of the global automotive SoC market is expected to increase from US$14.8 billion in 2020 to US$60.0 billion in 2025, representing a CAGR of 32.3%.
Overview of the Automotive Software Market
Software is defining the next generation of on-board experience and creating the opportunity for OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers to differentiate through customer experiences. With the increasing compute power of automotive SoC and evolution towards a more centralized E/E architecture, software solutions compatible with the relevant hardware are required to complete the full smart driving experience.
According to Frost & Sullivan, the automotive software industry, consisting of OS, functions, middleware, applications and related in-car service, is expected to grow from a market size of US$22.1 billion in 2020 to US$57.7 billion in 2025.
Overview of the Advanced Driver Assistance and Automated Driving Market
In light of the aforementioned evolution and trends in the centralization of vehicle E/E architecture, vehicle electrification and level of vehicle intelligence in general, the advanced driver assistance and automated driving market is expected to experience significant growth.
Since 2010, advanced driver assistance and automated driving technology has gradually progressed to achieve Level 2 capabilities, where steering and acceleration/deceleration can be controlled by the vehicle. Automated driving technology is now entering the Level 3 capability of achieving conditional automation, in which human intervention is required under certain circumstance.
 
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According to Frost & Sullivan, the global automated driving market is expected to maintain rapid growth from 2020 to 2025 at a CAGR of 21.4%, with increasing penetration rate in the China market, currently the largest market in which we operate, expected to reach 33.6% by 2025.
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Source: Frost & Sullivan
Our Competitive Strengths
We aspire to provide best-in-class technologies to enable next-generation vehicles to become seamlessly integrated information, communication, and transportation devices. We believe our success is built upon the following pillars:
Established Business Well Positioned to Capture Significant and Rapidly Growing Addressable Markets
The global mobility industry is undergoing a profound technology-driven transformation along the mega trends of electrification, connected vehicles, advanced driver assist and automated driving technology. These key trends are reinforcing and accelerating one another. According to Frost & Sullivan, vehicle electrification will further propel the adoption of digital cockpit, advanced driver assist and automated driving technology. We believe the “DNA” of automobiles will continue to evolve in the coming decade as new technologies and government requirements motivate OEMs to develop “all-new” vehicle platforms. Electronic components are expected to represent a greater portion of product value on these new platforms as software further enables onboard experiences.
The shift towards fully electric platforms, connected vehicles, and advanced driver assistance technologies creates an unprecedented opportunity. Mainstream OEMs are committing to the expedited roll out of EVs. According to Frost & Sullivan, the global passenger EV market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 51.1% from 2020 to 2025 reaching 15.6 million units in terms of annual sales volume at the end of the period. We provide a robust set of intelligent vehicle solutions to the global passenger vehicle market that is worth US$1.8 trillion today and which will be further expanded to $2.2 trillion by 2025 according to Frost & Sullivan.
Founded in 2017, we have been a pioneer in this shift with vertically integrated full stack solutions including automotive computing platform, SoC Core Modules, vehicle software and OS, and digital cockpit. We are also developing ADAS and unsupervised driving software. We have established expertise in the Chinese automotive market, having successfully commercialized various automotive electronic components, including infotainment head units, digital cockpits, automotive-grade SoC Core Modules. We also have several service applications through collaborations with various third party service and application partners. In addition to partnering with Geely Holding and many of its ecosystem OEMs, we also supply our technology to non-Geely OEMs for their vehicles in the China market (including both domestic and global OEM brands). We believe this approach also creates opportunities to expand our business with these customers in international markets.
 
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As of June 30, 2022, we were serving 12 brands in Asia Pacific and Europe, and had more than 3.7 million vehicles on the road with ECARX products and solutions onboard.
Automotive Computing Platform Technology Built from SoC Level Up
Automotive E/E architectures are transitioning from distributed E/E architecture to domain centralized E/E architectures and further to vehicle centralized E/E architectures. A centralized computing platform empowers cross-functional connection, can handle more complex functions, and can achieve the high computing power required for advanced driver assistance and other high level vehicle intelligence functions.
We have developed a robust SoC technology roadmap leveraging our collaboration with chip partners, laying a solid foundation for building the next-generation computing architecture for smart mobility. Our unique experience enabled by working closely with OEMs facilitates the development of automotive SoC and SoC Core Modules. We are able to deliver complete automotive-grade SoC Core Module offerings with matching middleware, toolchain, and software applications. We believe our E-series Core Modules reduce resource and investment requirements and shorten development lead time for our customers. As of June 30, 2022, we have delivered more than 1.5 million E-series Core Modules which have been deployed on both our own IHU and Digital Cockpit systems and on our Tier 1 partners’ systems.
Full Stack Solution with Strong Software Capability
We provide comprehensive vertically integrated full stack solutions to automobile manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers. To ensure compatibility among software and hardware solutions and the vehicle itself, we employ a multi-disciplinary approach to the design of the key software and hardware components of the solution we provide from the ground up. We believe that software capabilities play a critical role in optimizing the deployment of hardware platforms and that our versatile operating system can maximize the benefits of SoC to enable broad automotive applications.
Our software stack integrates intelligent and connected technology with the vehicle platform to enhance rider experience by empowering automotive OEMs to provide a wide range of infotainment options. We plan to partner with domestic and international partners to develop ADAS and unsupervised highway driving technologies to further propel the future of mobility.
We hope to enable the intelligent vehicle industry similar to the way Android has empowered smartphone brands. By offering our standardized brand agnostic operating system and the middleware and software toolchain behind our platform, we bring significant value to our Tier 1 supplier customers and application developers by empowering them to integrate their products and services into various vertical platforms. By being vertically integrated and reducing the number of ECUs, control units and wiring required to deliver our world class intelligent vehicle solution, our products enable OEMs to reduce cost and weight.
As a result, more Tier 1 suppliers, application developers and OEMs are eager to join our interconnected ecosystem. Their enrollment creates a flywheel effect to attract additional Tier 1 suppliers and OEM customers. We believe the unique business model we employ will allow us to be a key enabler of the industry.
Uniquely Informed by Strong OEM Partnerships for Expansion into International Intelligent Vehicle Market
Since our incorporation, we have maintained a close business relationship with Geely Holding and many of its ecosystem OEMs. We are the key strategic partner to various Geely ecosystem brands with respect to global automotive products and services, including Geely, Lynk & Co, Geometry, Zeekr, Volvo Cars, Proton, smart and Lotus. We work closely together with many of those OEMs to define next-generation smart automobile technologies that address new challenges in the fast changing mobility industry and evolving customer demand.
This unique partnership with the Geely ecosystem and its automotive expertise, provides valuable inputs as we continuously develop and improve our products as well as to expand our geographic reach. We are able to get involved early in the product design and engineering phase of certain Geely ecosystem brands, which provides us with unique insight and invaluable feedback that is not typically available to suppliers operating under the traditional Tier 1 model. This relationship with the Geely ecosystem also provides us with confidence of our order book and accelerates and informs our future product pipeline. As
 
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we expand our geographic footprint, our relationship with the Geely ecosystem has created pathways to securing international orders from OEMs worldwide. We have established deployment capabilities in Europe and Southeast Asia in order to serve our global customers effectively. We are able to roll out production in Southeast Asia through our ACO Tech joint venture, the first smart mobility car company headquartered in Malaysia, by partnering with Proton. We have also assembled a team in Sweden. These international delivery capabilities are critical to our expansion into the international market, and to third party OEMs, as we believe it is important to be geographically close to our customers to maintain a deep relationship and to respond to their needs in a timely manner.
Further, we have established several capital efficient international technology partnerships. We formed a joint venture, HaleyTek, with Volvo Cars in 2021 to develop an operating system to empower digital cockpit products. We will also cooperate in areas of research and development and delivery of driver assist functions targeted at China market with JICA Intelligent Robotics Co., Ltd. (“JICA Intelligent”), our joint venture with a subsidiary of Geely Holding. We hold a 13.5% strategic investment in Zenseact AB (“Zenseact”), an automated driving software development company majority owned by Volvo Cars focusing on automated driving and safety technologies. We will explore potential collaborative arrangements with Zenseact to deploy advanced driver assistance and unsupervised highway driving solutions.
We believe this mutually beneficial collaboration with Geely Holding and its ecosystem OEMs creates opportunities for Geely to implement our advanced technology to increase value and enhance rider experience while also providing us with insight and inputs from a robust group of OEMs, covering many geographies and segments.
Visionary Founders and Management Team With Deep International Industry Know-how
Our company is founded and led by seasoned entrepreneurs with passion for the smart automotive industry and deep international experience in automotive technology. Both Mr. Eric Li (Li Shufu) and Mr. Ziyu Shen are well-known industry veterans. Mr. Li is the founder and Chairman of Geely Holding, which is one of the largest automotive groups in the world, and possesses over three decades of experience in the investment and management of automotive business.
Mr. Ziyu Shen, our founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is an expert in the automotive intelligence industry and a pioneer in the automotive networking industry. He was a founding member of GM’s OnStar project (the first Internet-of-Vehicles project in China) and had significant Geely leadership team experience working across Asia, Europe and in the U.S.
Mr. Peter Cirino, our Chief Operating Officer, has more than 25 years’ experience in automotive technology and electronics having led organizations across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Most recently, Mr. Cirino led Aptiv’s connections systems business in the Americas. Prior to Aptiv, he led A123 Systems, an emerging lithium-ion battery business operating across China, Europe and North America.
Mr. Ramesh Narasimhan, our Chief Financial Officer, is a highly experienced finance, marketing, sales and strategy executive who has worked with OEMs, distributers and retail businesses across the global automotive industry. He recently served as Chief Financial Officer for Al Futtaim, an automotive distribution and retailing company. Prior to that, he joined Nissan Australia and New Zealand as Chief Financial Officer and subsequently served as President and Managing Director for the Philippines and Thailand managing both manufacturing and distribution. Mr. Narasimhan began his career with Ford Motor Company where he worked through a number of senior financial roles.
Mr. Andrew Winterton, our General Counsel, has over 20 years’ experience advising private and listed companies in the transportation and mobility sectors. He started his career at global law firm, Clyde & Co. before moving in-house to senior positions at Virgin Atlantic and easyJet, where he was Head of Legal and Compliance. He later moved to the technology sector as Group General Counsel and Company Secretary of the Flit Technologies (subsidiary of Groupe Renault) and held Head of Legal positions within ANI Technologies and, most recently, Didi Chuxing.
Our Strategies
Continue to build our technology platform, including our Automotive Central Computing Platform, based on the ECARX SoC Core Modules, operating system, software, and tool chain
We aim to create technology that enables next-generation vehicles to become seamlessly integrated information, communication, and transportation devices. To accomplish this, we are developing a full stack
 
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automotive computing platform which incorporates our hardware and software in a single solution. We will also continue to advance core automotive technology, including advanced automotive SoC Core Modules, operating system and software stack. We are implementing a clear and robust development roadmap, building on IHU and Digital Cockpit products, and striving to develop and launch the Automotive Central Computing Platform in the coming years.
We will continue developing and collaborating on core hardware modules and software solutions to further enrich our product portfolio and address our customers’ ever-changing demands. We plan to collaborate with SiEngine to continue defining next-generation SoC Core Modules intended for automotive applications. We are also committed to further developing the common automotive operating system through enhancing multi-runtime capabilities and OS virtualization, to support cross domain integration and communication. Through HaleyTek, our joint venture with Volvo Cars, we will continue the development of the Android-based automotive operating system and introduce an Android-based infotainment system platform available to global OEMs.
Continue the development of ECARX automotive software stack to address three major domains of automotive applications: Digital Cockpit, ADAS and Unsupervised Highway Driving, and Functional Safety
We will continue to provide immersive digital automotive experience through our digital cockpit. We will work with OEMs to expand our product base and to deliver next-generation digital cockpit products equipped with customized auto API service, localization functions and deep integration with mobile phones.
We aim to be a pioneer in advanced driver assistance technologies through in-house development as well as partnerships. We will explore potential collaborative arrangements with Zenseact, Volvo Cars’ automated driving software development subsidiary, to support the development and deployment of ADAS and unsupervised highway driving technology. Our joint venture with a subsidiary of Geely Holding, JICA Intelligent, will also focus on driving assistance technology.
Our vehicle domain software forms the basis for ensuring functionality of key vehicle systems. We will continue to focus our research and development efforts on vehicle functional safety solutions.
Continue to empower Geely Holding and its ecosystem OEMs
We maintain a strategic business relationship with Geely Holding and many of its ecosystem OEMs, which provides us with a stable revenue foundation. We are the key strategic partner to various Geely ecosystem brands with respect to their automotive products and services, including brands such as Geely, Lynk & Co, Geometry, Zeekr, Lotus, smart, Volvo Cars and Proton.
Given this partnership, Geely Holding and many of its ecosystem OEMs offer us early involvement in vehicle programs and provide unique insight that allows us to ensure our products are optimized to meet customer requirements today and in the future. Our innovative products and services help those OEMs improve overall customer experience. We intend to continue to deepen our partnership as well as jointly launch trend setting solutions and products that empower the flagship car brands of the Geely ecosystem in both China domestic and international market.
Capitalize on our established operations to expand our global customer base
Since our founding in 2017, we have served 12 OEM brands and 8 Tier 1 automotive suppliers. There are more than 3.7 million vehicles on the road with ECARX technology on board, including, but not limited to, our IHU and Digital Cockpit products. We plan to capitalize on our deep experience and expertise in the China market and grow our customer base with other automotive OEMs and Tier 1 automotive suppliers in China. In addition to partnering with Geely Holding and many of its ecosystem OEMs, we also supply our technology to non-Geely OEMs for their vehicles in the China market (including both domestic and global OEM brands).
While the majority of our customer base is in China today we also intend to grow our business in international markets. Building on our footprint in China, we recently launched our international operations office in London and a product development center in Sweden. We believe the customer base we have built in China offers another robust pathway to international markets. We believe delivering products for
 
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international OEMs and Tier 1 automotive suppliers for the China market will create opportunities to expand with these customers in international markets.
Our Business Model
We are primarily engaged in the development of SoC Core Modules, automotive computing platforms and software solutions. We bring innovation to our products, technologies, and services to empower connected intelligent vehicles that benefit OEMs, Tier 1 automotive suppliers, as well as our other business partners.
We have capitalized on the experience we have in the intelligent vehicles by building an interconnected vehicle ecosystem with our upstream and downstream partners. At the center of this ecosystem is our unique collaborative approach involving automotive OEMs, Tier 1 automotive suppliers, and strategic partners. We provide computing systems and solutions (including on a full stack basis) to OEMs, and have the unique opportunity to take part in early vehicle development programs with Geely Holding and many of its ecosystem OEMs. We also provide standard E-series Core Modules with SW products to Tier 1 automotive suppliers, empowering them to improve product competitiveness and development efficiency with our offerings. We have benefited from and we continue to explore joint ventures and other forms of strategic partnerships for capital efficient and robust product development and distribution opportunities. Together, these relationships allow us to form unique go-to-market strategies which create multiple development and commercialization opportunities.
OEMs
We provide computing systems and solutions (including on a full stack basis) to OEMs. Our OEM product lines cover automotive computing platform and software that leverage our SoC core module and automotive OS capabilities as well as display products and other electronic parts and components.
We have been working with Geely Holding and many of its ecosystem OEMs to redefine the system topology, software, hardware and the overall E/E architecture of their vehicles. Many of these OEM relationships offer us unique “day one” involvement in their development programs which allow for bottom-up structural changes to facilitate the vertical integration of our automotive products and solutions, while also providing insight into pipeline planning and technical specifications and creating opportunities to shorten the development timeline. A typical supplier engagement with OEMs, on the other hand, only commences after the vehicle definition process is completed thereby preventing a deep coupling with the OEMs’ product roadmap.
Leveraging the diverse international OEM network of Geely Holding and its ecosystem OEMs, we have secured long-term business relationships with various brands within the Geely ecosystem to support their production of vehicles in China and beyond. Moving forward, we intend to build on this success and expand into more geographies starting with our Geely ecosystem pipeline products. We expect our business to benefit from the expansion of our growing international footprint.
Tier 1 Automotive Suppliers
We offer our products to certain Tier 1 automotive suppliers with our E-series Core Modules to enable them to develop and enhance their own automotive products. We license our software, middleware infrastructure, safety operating system and real-time operating system, to Tier 1 automotive suppliers. We provide additional and optional services and applications, including customized auto API service, localization functions and deep integration with mobile phones.
We also offer comprehensive and flexible software and hardware development toolchains to Tier 1 automotive suppliers, OEM partners and ecosystem developers.
Joint Venture and Other Strategic Partnerships
We collaborate with leading OEMs and other strategic business partners to solidify the technical leadership of our products and services. These engagements have resulted in a number of capital efficient technology partnerships including strategic international co-development.
 
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We completed our strategic investment into Zenseact AB, founded by Volvo Cars, in July 2021. We currently hold a 13.5% equity interest in Zenseact. The strategic investment laid the ground for collaboration as we explore potential collaborative arrangements in the development and deployment of technical solutions and systems for advanced driving assistance and unsupervised highway driving technology.
We have also formed a 60/40 joint venture with Volvo Cars (as the 60% owner) in Gothenburg, Sweden to develop and commercialize an operating system for automotive digital cockpit products.
We are the largest shareholder of SiEngine and we are working with SiEngine to develop automotive chip technologies. This joint venture with ARM China benefits from our solid understanding of and experience with the automotive industry as well as ARM’s intellectual property in integrated circuit design, and aims to develop automotive-grade chip products.
In May 2022, we entered into a strategic collaboration agreement with Luminar LLC, a leading automotive technology company, to collaborate on automotive grade technologies, with the intent to enable advanced safety and automated driving capabilities. The collaboration will help Luminar LLC accelerate deployment of its industry-leading long-range lidar and software in China and beyond through ECARX’s deep connection with Geely Holding and its brands. In conjunction therewith, Luminar Technologies, Inc. entered into the Strategic Investment with us.
Our Core Capabilities
We are developing an automotive technology platform uniquely informed by our strategic OEM collaborations.
Our SoC Core Modules are tailored for automotive applications. Our operating system and tool chain are built to maximize the power of SoCs. We combine our SoC Core Modules and OS technologies with our software stacks to provide a technology platform to help our customers simplify and speed-up their product development.
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Note:
(1)
Estimated
We have a clear platform roadmap consisting of one SoC Core Module family, versatile operating system, and an expansive software stack as illustrated above, with each new generation building on our experience and the technical capabilities embodied in the previous generations.
Automotive Computing Platform
Since the launch of our first-generation automotive computing platform in the second quarter of 2017, we have rapidly revolutionized our platform, taking part in more than 70 vehicle development projects of Geely Holding and its ecosystem OEMs. Some of our automotive computing platforms are backed up with
 
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SoCs from mainstream chip providers while others run on ECARX SoC Core Modules, which we expect to underpin most of our future product offerings.
Our IHU, our first-generation automotive computing platform product launched in 2017, was designed for mainstream distributed E/E architectures. We began working on our Digital Cockpit in 2019 and launched our first-generation and second-generation Digital Cockpit products in 2021. In addition, we plan to launch the Automotive Central Computing Platform to cater to centralized E/E architectures, which we believe represent the future of vehicle design.
Infotainment Head Unit
As the foundation for the development of our automotive computing platform, our IHU supports AVM integration, augmented reality navigation, local-end NLU and NLP in addition to regular infotainment functions such as speech assistant service, navigation service, and multi-media. As we have continued to upgrade and revolutionize our products, our IHU product line now consists of a series IHU models, ranging from IHU 1.0 to IHU 5.0.
IHU 1.0.   In 2017, we launched our first-generation IHU with integrated 4G connectivity technology, which allows for extended connectivity of the cockpit beyond vehicle remote control and call center services. Our IHU offerings have subsequently become our lead product designed for the mainstream distributed E/E architectures.
IHU 3.0.   The first major upgrade of our IHU was made at the end of 2018 with the advent of the E01 SoC Core Module. IHU 3.0 supports high-definition 1080p dual-screen display, connectivity via 4G Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Our IHU 3.0 has been widely deployed across multiple vehicle product lines in China and in Malaysia.
IHU 5.0.   We have further revolutionized our IHU with the second-generation E-series Core Module, E02, which supports three separate displays, up to six camera inputs, and augmented navigation functionality. Our IHU 5.0 can be equipped with V01, our first-generation of automotive-grade AI Voice SoC co-developed with our partners. V01 shifts the majority of the computing power for voice processing, such as signal enhancement, automatic speech recognition, and NLU from main SoCs to specific neutral network-based SoC while also significantly improving the performance of personal voice assistant, regardless of network condition. We have based our operating system on Android P but optimized to reduce boot time. With enhanced computing resources and power, improved interfaces for connectivity, and greater integration capability, IHU 5.0 has been deployed in certain Geely ecosystem brand vehicles since 2021.
Digital Cockpit
Modern day cars are highly influenced by advancements in digital technologies and diversified consumer demands. The industry is increasingly moving towards offering more personalized experiences to drivers and passengers alike. A digital cockpit solution is designed to offer a unified digital experience, by breaking the silos between the various in-vehicle interfaces. It is the convergence of interfaces like the instrument cluster, heads-up display, and infotainment systems.
We started the development effort of our Digital Cockpit product in 2019. By breaking the boundaries of various silos, we were able to run multiple systems simultaneously on a single SoC platform, thereby reducing the complexity of the system and consolidating ECUs without sacrificing functionalities. Our Digital Cockpit products allow our collaborating automotive developers to manage fewer platforms and toolsets, add new features, and integrate the next-generation in-vehicle experience with reduced development and manufacturing timeframe and costs. It also allows OEMs to respond faster to customer demands for new apps and services, which is a key step in the transition towards software-defined vehicles.
Our Digital Cockpit products offer more advanced features such as driver information module, heads-up display, rear seat entertainment, multiple-displays, multi-zone voice recognition, full 3D user experience, and global function support. Our first-generation and second-generation Digital Cockpit products, powered by E03 Core Module and Snapdragon8155, respectively, have been deployed on Geely and Lynk & Co models since July 2021.
 
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We plan to continue our rapid innovation in our Digital Cockpit products. We are now collaborating with our key strategic partner, SiEngine, to customize the next-generation E04 Core Module powered by StarEagle1000, with enhanced capacity to support a slate of new features and services including high-definition maps, localization and lane-level navigation.
Automotive Central Computing Platform
We plan to launch the Automotive Central Computing Platform to move from a domain-based E/E architecture to a more centralized computing platform that uses less harness and consolidates software in fewer ECUs. We are developing the Automotive Central Computing Platform to allow for better integration of different domains including the cockpit, ADAS, and other vehicle management functions such as powertrain, chassis and battery management. We plan for the Automotive Central Computing Platforms to feature greater compatibility with more software offerings and better support over-the-air upgrades, vehicle-to-everything communication, auto-parking, climate control, vehicle body control, and Navigation on Pilot functions. Our first-generation of Automotive Central Computing Platform is in development and will utilize E04 Core Module.
In June 2021, we entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Lotus Wuhan, a subsidiary of Lotus Technology for the planned launch of Lotus models equipped with our Automotive Central Computing Platforms. For more information on this partnership, see “— Key Strategic Cooperation — Lotus.”
SoC Core Modules
SoC technology has been the key component of our technology portfolio from the early stages of ECARX. We started out by working with several semiconductor companies, providing automotive application inputs and collaborating to ensure the SoC Core Modules meet automotive requirements. Our current production E-Series (E01, E02 and E03) Core Modules are utilized in our IHU and Digital Cockpit platforms.
We are the largest shareholder of SiEngine and we are in the process of developing our next-generation E04 Core Module in collaboration with SiEngine, based on SiEngine’s StarEagle1000 SoC which was taped out in June 2021.
E-Series (E01,E02 and E03) Core Modules
The E-Series Core Modules incorporate 4G baseband technology and a powerful AI engine core that greatly enhances edge computing capabilities and speed of data analysis at the local end. As the computing-module basis, E Series Core Modules simplify the re-development process for our Tier 1 automotive supplier customers and reduce the associated development cost and timeframe.
We launched E01 and E02 Core Modules in 2018 and 2020 respectively. E01 Core Module is made specifically for connected vehicles, to further enhance user experience. E01 Core Module utilizes a high-speed 64-bit quad-core central processing unit, or CPU, combined with a dedicated graphics processing unit, or GPU, supporting high-definition 1080p dual-screen display and a 4G modem that provides seamless in-vehicle connectivity and content delivery. E01 Core Module supports connectivity via 4G, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. We commenced mass-production of the E01 Core Module in 2018, which has since been featured in more than 1.2 million vehicles and more than 25 vehicle models.
In 2020, we launched a more powerful E02 Core Module, which is configured with an eight-core CPU and an independent neural processing unit, or NPU. It has a built-in 4G TBOX and AVM, which can deliver exceptional computing, graphics, and media processing performance, and is capable of operating in an extended range of thermal conditions. E02 Core Module has received AEC-Q104 standard certification and has NPU capacity and product integration and supports three separate displays, video and multi-camera (up to six) input, 360-degree surround view system, instrument cluster integration, augmented reality navigation system, driver monitor system, facial recognition and speed reverse functionalities.
E03 Core Module is based on a high-performance chip customized for in-vehicle digital cockpit systems that we launched in 2021. E03 Core Module inherits the high computing power, high performance,
 
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and cost-effectiveness of prior generations, and is dedicated to the development of infotainment and smart digital cockpit systems. E03 Core Module utilizes a hardware assisted virtualization architecture to accommodate multiple systems and provide a hypervisor-less cockpit solution. It optimizes graphics processing unit performance and integrates excellent vision processing units. E03 Core Module also incorporates a Hardware Security Module and is certified according to the AEC-Q100 G3 Grade3 and ISO-26262-ASIL-B standards, boasting enhanced security. E03 Core Module has been deployed on Lynk & Co models since the third quarter of 2021.
E04 (in development)
Our pipeline product, E04 Core Module, is purpose-built to support more advanced vehicle intelligent features and expected to be incorporated into our future Digital Cockpit and Automotive Central Computing Platform products.
We are developing the E04 Core Module, based on SiEngine’s StarEagle1000 SoC which is designed with industry-leading 7nm process technology. Combing high-performance customized CPU clusters with a heterogeneous computing system, such as multi-core GPU and AI-powered NPU, E04 Core Module is expected to be capable of processing inputs from 11 cameras simultaneously and supports multiple high-definition outputs through a high-performance 2D or 3D hardware acceleration engine. In addition, it is planned to have a built-in high-performance acoustics capability to support echo cancellation, noise reduction, voice assistant and other applications. E04 Core Module is expected to satisfy the AEC-Q100 Grade 3 automotive certification standard and offer enhanced vehicle functional safety. Given its robust feature set, the E04 Core Module is expected to provide consumers with state-of-the-art automotive smart digital cockpit experience with advanced driver assistance functionality.
SiEngine is primarily responsible for the design and development of, and holds the relevant intellectual property to, the StarEagle1000 SoC of our E04 SoC Core Module. ECARX is contributing to define the automotive system requirements and is responsible for the software-hardware development and integration of SoC Core Modules based on the SiEngine SoC.
ECARX continues to invest in development to enhance the capability of SoC Core Modules for the automotive industry.
Operating System (“OS”)
The operating system plays a pivotal role in the automotive technology stack as it connects hardware with application software. As such, the architecture of the operating system directly impacts the performance of the automotive computing platform products while the functionalities offered by the OS can simplify the development of applications that run on top. As software plays increasingly important roles in modern vehicle functions, more application domains are becoming software centric requiring broader coverage by the OS.
The OS is another building block of our technology platform. Our OS efforts are focused on maximizing the power of ECARX SoC Core Modules and enabling application developers to build innovative functions and applications for the devices powered by ECARX SoC Core Modules.
We started with the intelligent cockpit domain, where we built OS components to bridge the functionalities of SoC and hardware with upper level services and applications. Further, we extended the functions of Google’s Android for Automotive so application developers can access more features. We are working to expand our OS coverage beyond the digital cockpit domain, to also include vehicle domains with safety OS for automotive grade functional safety, and an advanced OS for ADAS and unsupervised highway driving, focusing on safety and security.
While we are working on an OS to cover each application domain, we are also developing our own cross domain software architecture and components to address the challenges facing advanced automotive systems such as our Automotive Central Computing Platform. Our OS architecture provides a platform framework for the cross-domain integration of kernel components for smart digital cockpit and signifies progress towards the standardization and enhanced reusability of components across different systems and
 
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hardware platforms. OS components can be individually selected and combined to achieve high levels of customization. As a result, our OS is highly scalable and capable of significantly lowering the development timeframe and associated costs.
We established a joint venture, HaleyTek, with Volvo Cars, in 2021 to develop an OS for infotainment suitable for multiple vehicle platforms aimed at addressing the global market.
Software Stack
We provide a service software framework to connect the application layer to the OS layer of the overall cockpit system, in addition to a host of digital cockpit applications that can be further categorized as customized auto API service, localization functions and deep integration with mobile phones. We are also developing software to deliver ADAS and unsupervised highway driving features as well as control over key vehicle systems to enable functionality and improve performance (such as functional safety).
Digital Cockpit Software Stack
We provide a service software framework to connect the application layer to the OS layer of the overall cockpit system. It comprises a library of fundamental software that provides the basic structure to support the development of applications within the specific environment presented by our OS.
We also offer a host of applications that can be further categorized as customized auto API service, localization functions and deep integration with mobile phone depending on their respective functionalities.
Customized Auto Application Programming Interface (API) Services
We offer a set of API services to connect developers with the different vehicle functions available on different vehicle models. These API services enable the apps they develop to gain access to vehicle status information (such as tire pressure and temperature) or acquire control over certain vehicle functions (such as to raise or lower vehicle windows).
Localization Functions
We provide an API to help application developers utilize the positioning functions such as Global Navigation Satellite System hardware as well as certain sensors installed on the vehicle. With our APIs, application developers can receive basic positioning information as well as lane-based position. We also provide a unified API to allow application developers to access the map database installed in the vehicle regardless of the map supplier selected by the OEM.
Deep Integration with Mobile Phone
Our integration technology enables the seamless operation of mobile applications in an intelligent cockpit environment and allows for a superior in-vehicle experience through the diversified hardware support (including the central control display, camera and sound system) offered by the intelligent cockpit.
ADAS and Unsupervised Highway Driving Software Stack
We aim to provide our users with comprehensive, safe, and reliable solutions for ADAS and unsupervised highway driving.
We started the development of automated parking assistance technology in early 2019. We continued our development efforts on some of the key technology components that empower ADAS and unsupervised highway driving functions and services. Built on top of that, we are developing ECARX Navigation on Pilot function which is an enhanced level 2 automated driving function.
We formed JICA Intelligent, our joint venture with a subsidiary of Geely Holding, to cooperate in the research and development and delivery of driver assist functions targeted at China. We are developing ADAS package with NCAP safety fulfillment and deliver to our customers via JICA Intelligent. Further, we completed our strategic investment into Zenseact AB, founded by Volvo Cars, in July 2021. The strategic
 
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investment laid the ground to explore potential collaborative arrangements in the development and deployment of technical solutions and systems for advanced driver assistance and unsupervised highway driving technology.
Functional Safety Software Stack
More vehicle control functions are moving out of dedicated ECUs to a central computer. These functions will be hosted by vehicle applications running in an environment with the most stringent safety and security requirements.
At ECARX, we have a dedicated engineering team that is backed by substantial experience from the automotive industry. Our team is devoted to the research and development of vehicle functional safety solutions and related tool chains and the enhancement of vehicle control. It is also focused on improving the efficiency of developers in pushing the boundary of vehicle features and vehicle domain applications.
Research and Development
Our research and development efforts are focused on our core technology relating to the development of vehicle intelligence and provides us with a competitive edge as we seek additional business with new and existing customers.
Our research and development team has extensive experience in automotive and technology industries. As of June 30, 2022, our research and development team had approximately 1,400 engineers primarily working in five workstreams comprising automotive product development and delivery teams, SoC technology and platform team, OS team, ADAS and unsupervised highway driving technology team, and automotive central computing product team.
Our Long-term Strategic Business Relationship with Geely Holding and its Ecosystem OEMs
Since our incorporation, we have maintained a strategic business relationship with Geely Holding and many of its ecosystem OEMs.
Geely Holding is a globally competitive smart electric mobility technology enterprise and energy service provider headquartered in Hangzhou, China. Geely Holding owns and has invested in various leading innovative automotive OEMs, which collectively form an unparalleled ecosystem. Members of the Geely ecosystem include Geely Auto, Volvo Car, smart, Group Lotus, Proton, LEVC as well as certain other OEMs, several of which have adopted new energy related technologies.
Leveraging this globally innovative automobile ecosystem, Geely Holding is developing new automobiles that adopt a variety of advanced connected and intelligent technologies. As such, it has a significant and ongoing need for the type of automotive intelligence products and services provided by us. Our innovative products and services have helped Geely Holding and its ecosystem OEMs reduce their manufacturing costs of vehicles while improving their technological capabilities and enhancing overall customer experience. Beyond providing a stable revenue foundation, Geely Holding and many of its ecosystem OEMs offer us early involvement in vehicle programs and offer unique insight that allows us to ensure our products are optimized for customer requirements.
Key Strategic Cooperation
We have forged strong relationships with our business partners and industry participants to maintain our lead in our technology and research and development capabilities. This allows us to continue to deliver leading products and solutions to our customers.
Volvo Cars
ECARX and Volvo Cars established HaleyTek AB and entered into a series of agreements in July 2021 to set out the basis of collaboration among ECARX, Volvo Cars and HaleyTek. ECARX currently holds 40% equity interest in HaleyTek.
 
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HaleyTek is charged with developing a common operating system for infotainment suitable for multiple vehicle platforms aimed at addressing the global market. HaleyTek has appointed ECARX as its global reseller of licenses to the OS platform with exceptions of Volvo Cars, Polestar and other vehicles developed by or for Volvo Cars.
ECARX completed its strategic investment into Zenseact AB in July 2021, which was founded by Volvo Cars. ECARX currently owns 13.5% of the total equity interest. The strategic investment laid the ground for potential collaboration in the development of technical solutions and systems for ADAS and unsupervised driving. Zenseact and ECARX will continue to explore potential collaborative arrangements to enable Zenseact’s Advanced Driver Assistance System and unsupervised highway driving software platform for consumer vehicles in China.
Lotus
We entered into a supply agreement with Lotus in November 2020 pursuant to which we will supply our Digital Cockpit products to various Lotus models. These Digital Cockpit products are expected to commence mass production in the Chinese market in the first quarter of 2023.
In June 2021, we entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Lotus. Pursuant to the terms of the memorandum, we will partner with Lotus for the development and deployment of our Automotive Central Computing Platform, and will collaborate to develop a smart automotive product targeting the global market.
smart
We entered into a supply agreement with smart in August 2021 pursuant to which we will supply our Digital Cockpit products for various smart models. These Digital Cockpit products are expected to commence mass production in both China and European market in 2022.
Luminar
In May 2022, we entered into a strategic collaboration agreement with Luminar LLC, a leading automotive technology company, to collaborate on automotive grade technologies, with the intent to enable advanced safety and automated driving capabilities. The collaboration will help Luminar LLC accelerate deployment of its industry-leading long-range lidar and software in China and beyond through ECARX’s deep connection with Geely Holding and its brands. In conjunction therewith, Luminar Technologies, Inc. entered into the Strategic Investment with us.
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD)
In August 2022, we announced a strategic collaboration agreement with AMD, a leading computing, graphics and visualization technology company, to work together on an in-vehicle computing platform for next generation electric vehicles, expected to be in mass production for global roll-out in late 2023. The collaboration will combine the advanced computing power and visual graphic rendering capabilities of AMD with ECARX’s extensive experience in automotive digital cockpit design, aiming to deliver a cutting-edge in-car experience to the global market.
International Footprint
China
Upon our founding in 2017, ECARX was based in China and we believe the customer base we have built in China offers a robust pathway to international markets.
There are more than 3.7 million vehicles on the road with ECARX technology on board. We have served 12 OEM brands and 8 Tier 1 automotive suppliers around the world, and we have a close partnership with Geely Holding and its ecosystem OEMs.
 
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United Kingdom
In July 2021, we established our office in London, United Kingdom. This office serves as our international operations office and is a key step in our global strategy.
Sweden
In December 2020, we established our product development center in Gothenburg, Sweden. This team is primarily responsible for Digital Cockpit OS development, including the management of development and delivery with HaleyTek. Additionally, Sweden will manage certain EU-based customer interactions.
Malaysia
In June 2019, we established a joint venture, ACO Tech Sdn. Bhd. (“ACO Tech”), with Proton Edar Sdn. Bhd., the sales and marketing arm of Proton Holdings Bhd. This joint venture aims to localize the automotive computing platform products, including IHU and digital cockpit, for Proton and to supply its hardware and software solutions in the region. Proton will also enjoy cost reduction benefits upon the localization of the IHU hardware and its software can be tailored to better suit local user preferences, resulting in a superior user experience.
ACO Tech’s localization services, such as vehicle infotainment, carrier/SIM, and cloud services, have been deployed in more than 100,000 connected vehicles. ACO Tech has partnered with several local content and service providers.
Marketing
Our marketing activities include public relations, branding, digital marketing, social media, technical marketing, product marketing, participation in technical conferences and trade shows, competitive analyses and industry intelligence, and other marketing programs such as co-marketing with our customers or partners. Our Marketing Department provides information on our company website and WeChat platform and through other channels regarding our products, strategies, and technology.
User Privacy and Data Security
Data security is crucial to our business operations. We have internal rules and policies to govern how we may use and share personal information, as well as protocols, technologies and systems in place to ensure that such information will not be accessed or disclosed improperly.
We limit access to our servers where data is stored on a “need-to-know” basis. We also adopt a data encryption system intended to ensure the secured storage and transmission of data, and to prevent any unauthorized member of the public or third parties from accessing or using our data in any unauthorized manner.
In response to the PRC government authorities’ move to tighten the regulatory framework governing data security, cybersecurity and privacy, we initiated an internal process in September 2021 to transfer the rights of our subsidiaries and Hubei ECARX, our former VIE, to access and process personal data relevant to their respective business operations to Zhejiang Huanfu Technology Co., Ltd., or Zhejiang Huanfu. The transfer was completed in December 2021 and as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, our mainland China subsidiaries do not have any right to access or process any personal data other than a limited amount of such data relating to the employees and business partners of ECARX and 4,000 to 5,000 vehicle identification numbers provided by OEMs in association with the provision of product repair and maintenance services by ECARX.
Intellectual Property
We regard our patents, trademarks, copyrights, domain names, know-how, proprietary technologies and similar intellectual property as critical to our success. Our IP portfolio consists of intellectual property rights in, among others, ADAS and unsupervised highway driving, centralized computing and SoC.
 
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As of June 30, 2022, we had 407 registered patents and 326 pending patent applications in mainland China, including patents for our SoC, OS software stack related technologies. We also had 337 registered trademarks, including “ECARX,” copyrights to 261 software programs developed by us relating to various aspects of our operations, as well as 3 registered domain names, including “ecarxgroup.com.”
The following table presents key technologies covered by our patents:
Category
Related Patents
SoC related technology
CN202020096517.6, CN202111062050.9
Software Stack related technology
CN202010215143.X, CN202111168332.7
OS related technology
CN202110892738.3, CN202111351078.4
Our ability to remain at the forefront of innovation in the industries in which we operate depends largely on our ability to obtain, maintain, and protect our intellectual property and other proprietary rights relating to our technology and to successfully enforce these rights against third parties. To accomplish this, we rely on a combination of intellectual property rights, such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets (including know-how), in addition to internal policies, and employee and third-party nondisclosure agreements, intellectual property licenses, and other contractual rights. Specifically, we enter into confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements with our employees, ecosystem partners (including suppliers) and other relevant parties to protect our proprietary rights. We also enact internal policies and procedures and employ encryptions and data security measures to provide additional safeguards. The foregoing notwithstanding, there can be no assurance that our efforts will be successful. Even if our efforts are successful, we may incur significant costs in defending our rights.
It is equally important for us to operate without infringing, misappropriating, or otherwise violating the intellectual property or proprietary rights of others. From time to time, third parties may initiate litigation against us alleging infringement of their proprietary rights.
A comprehensive discussion on risks relating to intellectual property is provided under the sections titled “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Intellectual Property and Legal Proceedings.”
Competition
Competition in the intelligent cockpit market and relevant sub-verticals is based primarily on technology, functionality, quality, delivery capability and price. We may face competition from Tier 1 supplier automotive companies, technology companies and new entrants to the market. Some of our competitors may be capable of offering innovative service and product offerings and more desirable pricing models. As a result, such competitors may be able to respond more quickly and effectively in such markets to new or changing opportunities, technologies, consumer preferences, regulations, or standards, which may render our products or offerings less attractive.
We believe our strong and long-standing partnerships with Geely Holding and its ecosystem OEMs and our accumulation of experience, particularly in the China market, and technology from these partnerships gives us a competitive edge and allows us to formulate highly differentiated go-to-market strategy. Our product and technology portfolio enables us to provide solutions covering various vehicle intelligence related areas. As a result, we believe that we do not currently have a direct competitor in the intelligent cockpit market. While our long-term strategic business relationship with Geely Holding and its ecosystem OEMs allows us to compete effectively, our competitiveness in the future may depend on factors including our financial viability, product quality, price competitiveness, technical expertise, development capability, new product innovation, reliability and timeliness of delivery, product design, manufacturing capability, flexibility, customer service, and overall management.
Employees
As of June 30, 2022, we had 1,923 full-time employees globally, comprising 1,413 employees engaged in research and development and related technical and engineering functions, 145 employees engaged in quality operation, 318 employees engaged in general management and administration, and 47 employees engaged in marketing and sales.
 
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As of
June 30, 2022
Number
%
Functions:
Research and development
1,413 73.5
Quality operation
145 7.5
General and administration
318 16.5
Marketing and sales
47 2.4
Total
1,923 100.0
Our success depends on our ability to attract, motivate, train and retain qualified personnel. We believe we offer our employees competitive compensation packages and an environment that encourages self-development and, as a result, have generally been able to attract and retain qualified personnel and maintain a stable core management team.
As required by regulations in China, we participate in various employee social security plans that are organized by municipal and provincial governments, including pension, unemployment insurance, maternity insurance, work-related injury insurance, medical insurance and housing insurance. We are required under PRC law to make contributions to employee benefit plans at specified percentages of the salaries, bonuses, and certain allowances of our employees, up to a maximum amount specified by the local government from time to time. Bonuses are generally discretionary and based in part on employee performance and in part on the overall performance of our business. We have granted, and plan to continue to grant, share-based incentive awards to our employees to incentivize their contributions to our growth and development.
We enter into standard labor contracts and confidentiality agreements with our employees. We are party to a collective labor agreement applicable to our employees in Sweden. None of our other employees are represented by a union or are subject to collective bargaining agreements. To date, we have not experienced any significant labor disputes.
Properties and Facilities
Our main offices are located in Hangzhou, Shanghai, Wuhan, Beijing, Dalian, Chengdu and Suzhou in China, in Gothenburg, Sweden, and in London, England. As of June 30, 2022, we had leased premises as summarized below and under operating lease agreements from independent third parties. We believe that our existing facilities are generally adequate to meet our current needs, but we expect to seek additional space as needed to accommodate future growth.
Location
Approximate Size
(Building) in
Square Meters
Primary Use
Lease Term (years)
Hangzhou
7,680
Operation, R&D 2~3 years
Beijing
1,150
Product R&D 1 year
Shanghai
4,978
Operation, R&D 2~3 years
Wuhan
13,062
Product R&D 1~3 years
Dalian
3,337
Product R&D 1~3 year
Chengdu
648
Product R&D 1~2 years
Suzhou
1,629
Operation, R&D 2 years
Gothenburg
2,164
Product R&D 5 years
London
1,504
Operation 10 years
Insurance
We maintain various insurance policies to safeguard ourselves against risks and unexpected events. We maintain employer’s liability insurance, statutory automobile liability insurance and commercial insurance for company vehicles, property all risk insurances for our office premises, as well as public liability insurance. In addition to providing social security insurance for our employees as required by PRC law, we also provide supplemental commercial medical insurance for our employees.
 
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Legal Proceedings
We may from time to time be subject to various legal or administrative claims and proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business. We are currently not a party to any material legal or administrative proceedings.
Litigation or any other legal or administrative proceeding, regardless of the outcome, is likely to result in substantial costs and diversion of our resources, including our management’s time and attention.
Government Regulations
This section sets forth a summary of the most significant rules and regulations that affect our business activities in China.
Regulation on Foreign Investment
Guidance Catalog of Industries for Foreign Investment
Investments in China by foreign investors and foreign-invested enterprises were regulated by the Guidance Catalog of Industries for Foreign Investment jointly promulgated by the PRC Ministry of Commerce and the NDRC on June 28, 1995, as amended. The Guidance Catalog of Industries for Foreign Investment was repealed by (i) the Special Management Measures (Negative List) for the Access of Foreign Investment (2021 Version), or the 2021 Negative List, which was jointly promulgated by the Ministry of Commerce and the NDRC on December 27, 2021 and took effect on January 1, 2022, and (ii) the Catalog of Industries for Encouraged Foreign Investment (2020 Version), or the 2020 Encouraged Catalog, which was jointly promulgated by the Ministry of Commerce and the NDRC on December 27, 2020 and took effect on January 27, 2021. The 2020 Encouraged Catalog and the 2021 Negative List set out the industries and economic activities in which foreign investment in China is encouraged, restricted, or prohibited. Pursuant to the 2020 Encouraged Catalog, the research and development and manufacture of automobile electronic devices, the research and development and manufacture of key parts and components of intelligent vehicles, and the manufacture of Level 3 to Level 5 autonomous driving hardware fall within the encouraged category.
Foreign Investment Law
On March 15, 2019, the PRC National People’s Congress promulgated the PRC Foreign Investment Law, which took effect on January 1, 2020. It replaced three previously existing laws on foreign investment in China, namely, the PRC Equity Joint Venture Law, the PRC Cooperative Joint Venture Law, and the PRC Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise Law, together with their implementation rules and ancillary regulations. The Foreign Investment Law embodies an expected PRC regulatory trend to rationalize its foreign investment regulatory regime in line with prevailing international practice and the legislative efforts to unify the corporate legal requirements for both PRC domestic companies and foreign-invested enterprises in China. The Foreign Investment Law establishes the basic framework for the access to, and the promotion, protection, and administration of, foreign investment in view of investment protection and fair competition. Furthermore, the Foreign Investment Law stipulates that foreign-invested enterprises established according to the previously existing laws regulating foreign investment may maintain their structure and corporate governance within five years after the implementation of the Foreign Investment Law.
According to the Foreign Investment Law, “foreign investment” refers to investment activities in China directly or indirectly conducted by one or more natural persons, business entities, or other organizations of a foreign country, and the investment activities include: (i) a foreign investor, individually or collectively with other investors, establishing a foreign-invested enterprise in China, (ii) a foreign investor acquiring stock, equity shares, shares in assets, or other similar rights and interests of an enterprise in China, (iii) a foreign investor, individually or collectively with other investors, investing in a new project in China, and (iv) investing through other means as provided for by laws, administrative regulations, or the PRC State Council.
The Foreign Investment Law authorizes the State Council to publish or approve to publish a catalog for special administrative measures, or the Negative List, and grants national treatment to foreign-invested
 
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enterprises except for those that operate in industries deemed to be either “restricted” or “prohibited” in the Negative List. As the 2022 Negative List has not yet been published, it is unclear whether it will differ from the 2021 Negative List. The Foreign Investment Law stipulates that foreign-invested enterprises operating in “restricted” or “prohibited” industries will be required to obtain market-entry clearance and other approvals from relevant PRC government authorities.
In addition, the Foreign Investment Law provides protective principles and rules for foreign investors and their investment in China. For example, local PRC government authorities must abide by their undertaking made to foreign investors; foreign-invested enterprises are allowed to issue stocks and corporate bonds; expropriation or requisition of foreign investment is prohibited, except in special circumstances where statutory procedures must be followed and fair and reasonable compensation must be timely made; mandatory technology transfer is prohibited; and the capital contribution, profit, capital gain, proceeds of asset disposal, intellectual property right licensing fees, indemnity or compensation legally obtained, or proceeds received upon settlement by foreign investors in China may be freely remitted inbound and outbound in Renminbi or a foreign currency.
On December 26, 2019, the State Council promulgated the Implementation Regulations on the Foreign Investment Law, which took effect on January 1, 2020, and further requires equal treatment of PRC domestic companies and foreign-invested enterprises in terms of policy making and implementation. Pursuant to the Implementation Regulations on the Foreign Investment Law, if the existing foreign-invested enterprises fail to change their pre-existing, incompatible forms by January 1, 2025, the relevant market government authorities will suspend processing any other registration matters for such foreign-invested enterprises and may publicize such non-compliance. On December 26, 2019, the PRC Supreme People’s Court issued an Interpretation on the Application of Foreign Investment Law, which took effect on January 1, 2020. This interpretation applies to all contractual disputes arising from the acquisition of the relevant rights and interests by a foreign investor by way of gift, division of property, merger of enterprises, or division of enterprises.
To coordinate with the implementation of the Foreign Investment Law and the Implementation Regulations of the Foreign Investment Law, the Ministry of Commerce and the SAMR promulgated the Measures for Reporting of Information on Foreign Investment on December 30, 2019, which took effect from January 1, 2020. These measures stipulate that foreign investors or foreign-invested enterprises must submit investment information by initial reports, change reports, deregistration reports, and annual reports through an enterprise registration system and a national enterprise credit information publicity system. The Announcement on Matters Concerning the Reporting of Information on Foreign Investment promulgated by the Ministry of Commerce on December 31, 2019 and the Circular on Effective Work on Registration of Foreign-Invested Enterprises for the Implementation of the Foreign Investment Law promulgated by the SAMR on December 28, 2019 further refine the relevant regulatory regime. Foreign investors or foreign-invested enterprises will bear legal liabilities for failing to report investment information as required.
Regulation on Road Tests of Intelligent Connected Vehicles
On July 27, 2021, the MIIT, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Transport jointly issued the Good Practices for the Administration of Road Test and Demonstration Application of Intelligent Connected Vehicles (for Trial Implementation), or Circular 97, which became effective on September 1, 2021, and is the primary regulation governing road tests and demonstrations of intelligent connected vehicles in China. Pursuant to Circular 97, road test refers to the test of self-driving function of intelligent connected vehicles carried out on the designated sections of highways (including expressways), urban roads, regional roads and other roads used for the passage of social motor vehicles. Prior to conducting a road test, the relevant entity must ensure the vehicle to be tested has undergone sufficient tests in specific areas such as a testing areas or sites, and complies with the relevant national and industry standards and specifications, requirements imposed by the relevant departments of the provincial or municipal government as well as the evaluation rules of the entity intending to conduct the road tests. Conditions for road tests must also be met, including that (i) the self-driving function of the vehicle shall be tested by a third-party testing agency that is engaged in automobile-related business and recognized by the State or the provincial or municipal government; (ii) the operator of the testing area or site for the field test shall be an independent legal entity registered within the territory of China; and (iii) the third-party testing agency shall publish items of
 
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its testing service and fee standards, be responsible for the authenticity of the test results and bear the corresponding legal liability. Any entity intending to conduct road tests shall submit an Intelligent Connected Vehicles Road Test Security Self Declaration to the relevant authorities at the provincial and municipal levels for confirmation. Such declaration shall specify the entity intending to conduct the road tests, the identification code of the vehicle, the name and ID number of the test driver, the duration of the test, the sections of roads and areas where tests will be conducted, the list of test items, and other relevant information. The testing duration shall not exceed 18 months in principle, and shall not exceed the validity period of the quality certificate of safety technical inspection and the insurance voucher. Any entity intending to conduct road tests shall apply to the administrative department of traffic under the Ministry of Public Security for a temporary car plate for each vehicle being tested.
According to the Notice on Promoting the Development of Intelligent Connected Vehicles and Maintaining the Security of Surveying and Mapping Geographic Information issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources on August 25, 2022, if an intelligent connected vehicle is equipped with or integrated with certain sensors, the collection, storage, transmission and processing of surveying and mapping geographic information and data, including spatial coordinates, images, point clouds and their attribute information, of vehicles and surrounding road facilities in the process of road test, will be considered surveying and mapping activities. Persons who collect, store, transmit and process such surveying and mapping geographic information and data, will be the main actors of surveying and mapping activities. Additionally, if any vehicle manufacturer, service provider or smart driving software provider that is a foreign-invested enterprise needs to engage in the collection, storage, transmission and processing of surveying and mapping geographic information and data, it shall entrust an agency with surveying and mapping qualification to carry out the intended activities, and the entrusted agency shall undertake the collection, storage, transmission and processing of the relevant spatial coordinates, images, point clouds and their attribute information and other businesses, and provide geographic information service and support. With respect to the road test activities conducted by ECARX (Hubei) Tech, it has entrusted Hubei ECARX, our former VIE and an entity with the required qualification for surveying and mapping under applicable law, to engage in the collection, storage, transmission and processing of relevant data throughout the road tests ECARX (Hubei) Tech only obtains the road test results from Hubei ECARX which do not contain any surveying and mapping geographic information and data.
Regulation on Compulsory Product Certification
Pursuant to the Regulations on Certification and Accreditation promulgated on September 3, 2003 and last amended on November 29, 2020, certification and accreditation activities in the PRC shall comply with these regulations. Under the Administrative Regulations on Compulsory Product Certification, which was promulgated on July 3, 2009 and took effect on September 1, 2009, the List of the First Batch of Products Subject to Compulsory Product Certification, which was promulgated on December 3, 2001 and took effect on May 1, 2002, and the Compulsory Product Certification Catalogue Description and Definition Form, which was promulgated on April 17, 2007 and last amended on April 21, 2020, the SAMR is responsible for the regulation and quality certification, and vehicle wireless terminal and vehicle wireless module cannot be delivered, sold, imported, or used in operating activities until certified by designated PRC certification authorities as qualified products and granted certification marks, otherwise the violator shall be ordered to make correction and be imposed with a fine ranging from RMB50,000 to RMB200,000 and the illegal income shall be confiscated. ECARX (Hubei) Tech has obtained compulsory product certifications for the relevant ECARX products.
Regulation on Radio Transmitting Equipment
According to the PRC Radio Regulations promulgated on September 11, 1993 and last amended on November 11, 2016, except for micro power short-distance radio transmitting equipment, for any production or import of other radio transmitting equipment for domestic sale and use, an application for model confirmation shall be filed with the radio regulatory authority. For anyone who, in violation of these regulations, produces or imports any radio transmitting equipment sold or used within the PRC without obtaining model confirmation, the radio regulatory authority shall order the violator to take corrective action and impose a fine ranging from RMB50,000 to RMB200,000 on the violator. If the violator refuses to take corrective action, the radio regulatory authority shall confiscate the radio transmitting equipment without
 
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model confirmation and impose a fine ranging from RMB200,000 to RMB1,000,000 on the violator. ECARX (Hubei) Tech has obtained the model confirmation for the relevant ECARX products.
Regulation on Import and Export of Goods
Pursuant to PRC Foreign Trade Law promulgated on May 12, 1994 and last amended on November 7, 2016, foreign trade operators engaging in import or export of goods shall file records with the foreign trade department of the State Council or its authorized agency unless otherwise stipulated by the laws, administrative regulations or the foreign trade department of the State Council, and the Customs shall not process import and export declaration and clearance formalities for foreign trade operators which have not filed records in accordance with the relevant provisions. Under the Measures for the Record Registration of Foreign Trade Operators, which was promulgated on June 25, 2004 and last amended on May 10, 2021, the Ministry of Commerce shall be in charge of the record registration of foreign trade operators nationwide and it entrusts the eligible local foreign trade authorities to be responsible for processing the formalities of record registration of local foreign trade operators. Where there is any alteration to any of the items registered in the registration form, the foreign trade operator shall go through the formalities of altering the registration form within 30 days. In case of failure to go through the formalities of altering the registration form within the time limit, the registration form shall be invalidated automatically. ECARX (Hubei) Tech has completed the record registration of foreign trade operator with the local registration agency.
According to the PRC Customs Law promulgated on January 22, 1987 and last amended on April 29, 2021, where a consignee or consignor of import or export goods goes through customs declaration procedures, it shall file for record with the customs, and in the event customs declaration business is engaged in without being filed with the customs, the customs shall impose a fine against the entity concerned. Under the Administrative Provisions of the Customs on Record-filing of Customs Declaration Entities, which was promulgated on November 19, 2021 and took effect on January 1, 2022, customs declaration entities include consignees or consignors of import or export goods that have filed for record with customs in accordance with these provisions, and consignors or consignees of import or export goods that apply for record-filing shall have obtained market entity qualifications and completed the record registration of foreign trade operators. Record-filing of customs declaration entities shall be valid permanently. ECARX (Hubei) Tech has completed the record-filing of customs declaration entity (consignee or consignor of import or export goods).
Regulation on Product Liability and Consumer Protection
On May 28, 2020, the National People’s Congress approved the PRC Civil Code, which took effect on January 1, 2021. According to the Civil Code, if defective products are identified after they have been put into circulation, their manufacturers or sellers must timely take remedial measures such as warning announcement and product recall. If damage arises from a defective product, the aggrieved party may seek compensation from either the manufacturer or the seller of the product. If the defect is caused by the seller, the manufacturer will be entitled to seek indemnification from the seller upon compensation of the aggrieved party. If the products are manufactured or sold with known defects causing deaths or severe health issues, punitive damages may be claimed in addition to compensatory damages.
Pursuant to the PRC Product Quality Law promulgated on February 22, 1993 and last amended on December 29, 2018, a manufacturer is prohibited from making or selling products that do not meet applicable standards and requirements for safeguarding human health and ensuring human and property safety. Products must be free from unreasonable dangers threatening human and property safety. Where a defective product causes physical injury to a person or property damage, the aggrieved party may claim compensation against the manufacturer or the seller of the product. Manufacturers and sellers of non-compliant products may be ordered to cease the manufacture or sale of the products and could be subject to confiscation of the products or fines. Income from sales in contravention of such standards or requirements may also be confiscated, and in severe cases, the business license may be revoked.
Our business is subject to a variety of consumer protection laws, including the PRC Consumer Rights and Interests Protection Law, which was amended in 2013 and took effect on March 15, 2014. This law imposes stringent requirements and obligations on business operators. For example, business operators should guarantee that the products and services they provide satisfy the requirements for personal or property
 
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safety, and provide consumers with authentic information about the quality, function, usage, and term of validity of the products or services. Failure to comply with these consumer protection laws could subject us to administrative sanctions, such as the issuance of a warning, confiscation of illegal income, imposition of fines, an order to cease business operations, or revocation of business licenses, as well as potential civil or criminal liabilities.
Regulation on Cyber Security and Privacy Protection
Regulations related to Cybersecurity and Data Security
The SCNPC, China’s national legislative body, enacted the Decisions on the Maintenance of Internet Security on December 28, 2000 and further amended on August 27, 2009, which may subject persons to criminal liabilities in China for any attempt to use the internet to (i) gain improper entry to a computer or system of strategic importance; (ii) disseminate politically disruptive information; (iii) leak state secrets; (iv) spread false commercial information; or (v) infringe upon intellectual property rights. In 1997, the Ministry of Public Security issued the Administration Measures on the Security Protection of Computer Information Network with International Connections, as later amended by the PRC State Council on January 8, 2011, which prohibits using the internet to leak state secrets or to spread socially destabilizing materials.
According to the PRC National Security Law issued by the SCNPC on February 22, 1993 and latest revised on July 1, 2015, China shall establish systems and mechanisms for national security review and supervision, conduct national security review on key technology, network information technology products and services related to national security to prevent and neutralize national security risks in an effective way. The Cyber Security Law of the PRC, or the Cyber Security Law, which was promulgated on November 7, 2016 by the SCNPC and came into effect on June 1, 2017, provides that network operators shall perform their cyber security obligations and shall take technical measures and other necessary measures to protect the safety and stability of their networks. Under the Cyber Security Law, network operators are subject to various security protection-related obligations, including, among others, (i) network operators shall comply with certain obligations regarding maintenance of the security of internet systems; (ii) network operators shall verify users’ identities before signing agreements or providing certain services such as information publishing or real-time communication services; (iii) when collecting or using personal information, network operators shall clearly indicate the purposes, methods and scope of the information collection, the use of information collection, and obtain the consent of those from whom the information is collected; (iv) network operators shall strictly preserve the privacy of user information they collect, and establish and maintain systems to protect user privacy; (v) network operators shall strengthen management of information published by users, and when they discover information prohibited by laws and regulations from publication or dissemination, they shall immediately stop dissemination of that information, including taking measures such as deleting the information, preventing the information from spreading, saving relevant records, and reporting to the relevant governmental agencies. In addition, the Cyber Security Law requires that CIIOs, including CIIOs in the finance industry, generally shall store, within the territory of the PRC, the personal information and important data collected and produced during their operations in the PRC and their purchase of network products and services that affect or may affect national securities shall be subject to national cybersecurity review. CIIOs who use network products and services that have not been filed for or passed a cybersecurity review may be subject to the following penalties: (i) suspension of using such network products and services; (ii) a fine of more than one time and less than ten times the purchase price of such network products and services; (iii) a fine of more than RMB10,000 and less than RMB100,000 on the senior staff in and other staff directly responsible. On September 12, 2022, the CAC newly released the Decision on Amending the Cyber Security Law (Draft for Comments), which proposes to adjust the penalty imposable under (ii) above to a fine of more than one time and less than ten times the purchase price of such network products and services or a fine less than 5% of the previous year's turnover.
On April 13, 2020, the CAC, the NDRC, and several other administrations jointly promulgated the Measures for Cybersecurity Review, or the Review Measures, which became effective on June 1, 2020. The Review Measures establish the basic framework for national security reviews of network products and services, and provide the principal provisions for undertaking cybersecurity reviews. According to the Review Measures, when the purchase of network products and services by a CIIO influences or may influence national security, a cybersecurity review shall be conducted pursuant to the Review Measures. In addition,
 
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the relevant regulatory authorities are still entitled to impose security reviews on network products and services that are deemed capable of affecting national security. CIIOs may voluntarily file for a cybersecurity review with CAC prior to purchasing network products and services if they deem their behavior affects or may affect national security based on self-assessment and self-evaluation. Notwithstanding the voluntary filing, the relevant authorities are entitled to initiate cybersecurity reviews accordingly. Cybersecurity reviews focus on assessing the national security risks associated with purchasing network products and services, mainly taking the following factors into account: (i) the risk of illegal control, interference or destruction of critical information infrastructure and of its important data being stolen, leaked or destroyed, arising from the purchase and utilization of network products and services; (ii) the potential harm on the business continuity of critical information infrastructure incurring from a disruption of network products and services supply; (iii) the safety, openness, transparency, diversity of sources of Network Products and Services; the reliability of suppliers; and the risk of supply disruption due to political, diplomatic, trade and other reasons; (iv) the level of compliance with PRC laws, administrative regulations and ministry rules of the suppliers of Network Products and Services; and (v) other factors that may harm critical information infrastructure and/or national security. In addition, on July 22, 2020, the Ministry of Public Security issued the Guiding Opinions on Implementing the Cybersecurity Graded Protection System and Critical Information Infrastructure Security Protection System to further improve the national cyber security prevention and control system. On December 28, 2021, the CAC and several other administrations jointly issued the revised Measures for Cybersecurity Review, or the Revised Review Measures, which became effective and replace the Review Measures on February 15, 2022. According to the Revised Review Measures, in addition to critical information infrastructure operators purchasing network products or services that affect or may affect national security, any “online platform operator” carrying out data processing activities that affect or may affect national security should also be subject to a cybersecurity review, and any “online platform operator” possessing personal information of more than one million users must apply for a cybersecurity review before its listing overseas. In the event a member of the cybersecurity review working mechanism is in the opinion that any network product or service or any data processing activity affects or may affect national security, the Office of Cybersecurity Review shall report the same to the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission for its approval under applicable procedures and then conduct cybersecurity review in accordance with the revised Measures for Cybersecurity Review.
The Revised Review Measures further elaborate on the range of factors to be considered when assessing the level of national security risks involved in the relevant activities. In addition to those set forth in the Review Measures, the list has been expanded to include the following factors: (i) the risk of core data, important data or a large amount of personal information being stolen, leaked, destroyed, and illegally used or illegally transferred abroad, and (ii) in connection with the listing of a company, the risk of critical information infrastructure, core data, important data or a large amount of personal information being affected, controlled, or used with malicious intent by foreign governments, as well as the risk relating to network information security. Specifically, the Revised Review Measures provide that an “online platform operator” who is in possession of personal information of more than one million users must report to the relevant cybersecurity review office for a cybersecurity review before listing in a foreign country. An operator undergoing cybersecurity review must take risk prevention and mitigation measures during such review in accordance with the relevant requirements of the cybersecurity review. Based on a set of Q&A published on the official website of the CAC in connection with the release of the Revised Review Measures, an official of the CAC indicated that an “online platform operator” should apply for a cybersecurity review prior to the submission of its listing application with non-PRC securities regulators. After the receipt of all required application materials, the authorities must determine, within ten business days thereafter, whether a cybersecurity review will be initiated. If a review is initiated and the authorities conclude after such review that the listing will affect national security, the listing of the relevant applicant will be prohibited.
Furthermore, on July 30, 2021, the State Council promulgated the Regulations of Security Protection for Critical Information Infrastructure, which took effect on September 1, 2021 and provides that critical information infrastructures, or CIIs, refer to important network facilities and information systems involved in important industries and fields such as public communication and information services, energy, transportation, water conservancy, finance, public services, e-government, national defense related science and technology industry, as well as those which may seriously endanger national security, national economy and citizen’s livelihood and public interests if damaged, malfunctioned, or if leakage of data relating thereto occurs. Pursuant to these provisions, the relevant government authorities are responsible for
 
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formulating the rules on identifying the CII and organizing to identify such the CII in the related industries and fields, taking into account the factors set forth in the provisions and shall notify the operators identified as CIIOs. On November 14, 2021, the CAC released the Regulations on Network Data Security Management (draft for public comments), which sets out general guidelines applicable to the protection of personal information, security of important data, security management of cross-border data transfer, obligations of internet platform operators, as well as the supervision, management and legal liabilities with respect to the foregoing. The draft Regulations on Network Data Security Management require data processors that process important data or are listed overseas to carry out an annual data security assessment on their own or by engaging a data security services institution, and the data security assessment report for a given year should be submitted to the local cyberspace affairs administration department before January 31 of the following year. If the draft Regulations on Network Data Security Management are enacted in the current form, we, as an overseas listed company, will be required to carry out an annual data security review and comply with the relevant reporting obligations. However, as these provisions were newly issued and the government authorities may further formulate detailed rules or explanations with respect to the interpretation and implementation of such provisions, including the rules on identifying the CII in different industries and fields, it remains unclear whether we or other operators we provide network products and services to may be identified as CIIOs or “online platform operator”.
At the end of 2019, the CAC, issued the Provisions on Ecological Governance of Network Information Content, or the CAC Order 5, which became effective on March 1, 2020, to further strengthen the regulation and management of network information content. Pursuant to the CAC Order 5, each network information content service platform is required, among others, (i) not to disseminate any information prohibited by laws and regulations, such as information jeopardizing national security; (ii) to strengthen the examination of advertisements published on such network information content service platform; (iii) to promulgate management rules and platform convention and improve user agreement, such that such network information content service platform could clarify users’ rights and obligations and perform management responsibilities required by laws, regulations, rules and convention; (iv) to establish convenient means for complaints and reports; and (v) to prepare annual work report regarding its ecological governance of network information content. In addition, a network information content service platform must not, among others, (i) utilize new technologies such as deep-learning and virtual reality to engage in activities prohibited by laws and regulations; (ii) engage in online traffic fraud, malicious traffic rerouting and other activities related to fraudulent account, illegal transaction account or maneuver of users’ account; and (iii) infringe a third party’s legitimate rights or seek illegal interests by way of interfering with information display. On July 12, 2021, the CAC, the MIIT and the Ministry of Public Security jointly issued the Circular of Issuing the Administrative Provisions on Security Vulnerabilities of Network Products, or Circular 66, which took effect on September 1, 2021. Circular 66 states that, no organization or individual may abuse the security vulnerabilities of network products to engage in activities that endanger network security, or to illegally collect, sell, or publish information relating to such security vulnerabilities. Anyone who is aware of the aforesaid offences should not provide any technical support, advertising, payment settlement and other assistance to the offenders. According to Circular 66, network product providers, network operators, and platforms collecting network product security vulnerabilities must establish and improve channels for receiving network product security vulnerability information and keep such channels available, and retain network product security vulnerability information reception logs for at least six months. In order to ensure that security vulnerabilities in network products are fixed on a timely basis and reasonably reported, network product providers should perform certain obligations on the management of security vulnerabilities in their network products, including, among others, reporting the relevant vulnerability information to the Cybersecurity Threat and Vulnerability Information Sharing Platform of the MIIT within two days, which shall include the name, model, and version of the product affected by such security vulnerability, as well as the technical characteristics, degree of harm and scope of impact of such vulnerability. Circular 66 also prohibits the disclosure of undisclosed vulnerabilities to overseas organizations or individuals other than to the product providers. On June 10, 2021, the SCNPC promulgated the Data Security Law, which took effect on September 1, 2021. The Data Security Law provides for data security and privacy obligations on entities and individuals carrying out data activities. The Data Security Law also introduces a data classification and hierarchical protection system based on the importance of data in economic and social development, as well as the degree of harm it will cause to national security, public interests, or legitimate rights and interests of individuals or organizations when such data is tampered with, destroyed, leaked, or illegally acquired or
 
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used. The appropriate level of protection measures is required to be taken for each respective category of data. For example, a processor of important data shall designate the personnel and the management body responsible for data security, carry out risk assessments for its data processing activities and file the risk assessment reports with the competent authorities. In addition, the Data Security Law provides a national security review procedure for those data activities which may affect national security and imposes export restrictions on certain data and information.
On February 10, 2022, the MIIT issued the draft Administrative Measures for Data Security in the Field of Industry and Information Technology, or the Draft Data Security Measures in the IT Field, which stipulates that all businesses which handle industrial and telecoms data in China are required to categorize such information into “general”, “important” and “core” and businesses processing “important” and “core” data shall comply with certain filing and reporting obligations. Industrial data refer to data produced and collected in the course of research and development design, manufacturing, operation and management, operation and maintenance, and platform operation in various sectors and fields of industry. Telecoms data refer to the data generated and collected in the course of telecommunications business operations. The Draft Data Security Measures in the IT Field also notes that sharing “important” data to a foreign party requires a special review and approval process, and all “core” industrial and telecoms data are barred from being transferred out of China under any circumstance. However, given that the Draft Data Security Measures in the IT Field is published for public comments only, it remains uncertain as to whether and in what form would the final measures be enacted. We are unable to evaluate or predict the impact of these draft measures at present, and we will closely monitor and assess any development in the rule-making process. Nonetheless, we cannot assure you that these laws, once enacted, would not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
On July 7, 2022, the CAC promulgated the Measures for Security Assessment of Cross-border Data Transfers, or the Security Assessment Measures, which took effect on September 1, 2022 and aims to establish a continuous assessment and monitoring mechanism with respect to cross-border data transfers. It applies to the security assessment of important data and personal information that is collected and generated in the course of operations within mainland China and to be provided abroad by data processors. According to the Security Assessment Measures, if any of the following circumstances is implicated in a cross-border data transfer, the relevant data processor shall apply to the competent cyberspace administration authority for a security assessment: (i) where a data processor provides important data abroad; (ii) where a CIIO or a data processor processing the personal information of more than one million individuals provides personal information abroad; (iii) where a data processor who has provided personal information of 100,000 individuals or sensitive personal information of 10,000 individuals in total since January 1 of the previous year provides personal information abroad; and (iv) other circumstances where a security assessment of cross-border data transfer is required as prescribed by the national cyberspace administration. Prior to applying for security assessment, a data processor shall conduct self-assessment on the risks of cross-border data transfers, with an emphasis on the following matters: (i) the legality, legitimacy and necessity of the purpose, scope and method of cross-border data transfers and data processing of the overseas recipient; (ii) the scale, scope, type and sensitivity of the data to be provided cross-border, and the risks to national security, public interests or the legitimate rights and interests of individuals or organizations caused by cross-border data transfers; (iii) the responsibilities and obligations that the overseas recipient promises to undertake, and whether the overseas recipient’s management and technical measures and capabilities for performing its responsibilities and obligations could guarantee the security of the data; (iv) risks of the data to be tampered with, destroyed, divulged, lost, transferred, illegally obtained or illegally used during and after cross-border data transfers, and whether the channel for the maintenance of personal information rights and interests is unobstructed; (v) whether the relevant contracts on the data to be concluded with the overseas recipient or other legally binding documents have fully agreed on the responsibilities and obligations to protect the data security; and (vi) other matters that may affect the security of cross-border data transfers. The result of a security assessment of cross-border data transfer would be valid for two years, commencing from the date when the result is issued, and the data processor shall re-apply for an assessment if certain circumstances occur within the period of validity or 60 business days prior to the expiration of the period of validity. For cross-border data transfers that have been carried out before the effectiveness of the Security Assessment Measures, if not in compliance with these measures, rectification shall be completed within six months from the effectiveness of the Security Assessment Measures.
 
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Privacy Protection
Internet information service providers are required to maintain the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of network data. The Cyber Security Law reaffirms the basic principles and requirements specified in other existing laws and regulations on personal information protection, such as the requirements on the collection, use, processing, storage, and disclosure of personal information, and internet information service providers are required to take technical and other necessary measures to ensure the security of the personal information collected and prevent the personal information from being divulged, damaged, or lost. Any violation of the Cyber Security Law may subject an internet information service provider to warnings, fines, confiscation of illegal gains, revocation of licenses, cancellation of filings, shutdown of websites, or otherwise criminal liabilities. Furthermore, the Rules on the Protection of Personal Information of Telecommunications and Internet Users promulgated by the MIIT on July 16, 2013 and effective on September 1, 2013 prescribe detailed requirement on the use and collection of personal information and require security measures to be taken by telecommunications business operators and internet information service providers.
Pursuant to the Notice of the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, and the Ministry of Public Security on Legally Punishing Criminal Activities Infringing upon the Personal Information of Citizens, which was issued and took effect on April 23, 2013, and the Interpretation of the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate on Several Issues Regarding Legal Application in Criminal Cases Infringing upon the Personal Information of Citizens, which was issued on May 8, 2017 and took effect on June 1, 2017, the following activities may constitute the crime of infringing upon a citizen’s personal information: (i) providing a citizen’s personal information to specified persons or releasing a citizen’s personal information online or through other methods in violation of relevant national provisions; (ii) providing legitimately collected information relating to a citizen to others without such citizen’s consent (unless the information is processed, not traceable to a specific person and not recoverable); (iii) collecting a citizen’s personal information in violation of applicable rules and regulations when performing a duty or providing services; or (iv) collecting a citizen’s personal information by purchasing, accepting, or exchanging such information in violation of applicable rules and regulations.
On August 16, 2021, the CAC, the NDRC and several other administrations jointly promulgated the Several Provisions on Automobile Data Security Management (for Trial Implementation), or the Provisions on Automobile Data Security, which took effect from October 1, 2021 and aims to regulate the collection, analysis, storage, utilization, provision, publication, and cross-border transmission of personal information and critical data generated throughout the lifecycle of automobiles by automobile designers, producers and service providers. Relevant automobile data processor including automobile manufacturers, compartment and software providers, dealers, maintenance providers are required to process personal information and critical data in accordance with applicable laws during the automobile design, manufacture, sales, operation, maintenance and management. To process personal information, automobile data processors shall obtain the consent of the individual or conform to other circumstances stipulated by laws and regulations. Pursuant to the Provisions on Automobile Data Security, personal information and critical data related to automobiles shall in principle be stored within the PRC and a cross-border data security assessment shall be conducted by the national cyberspace administration authority in concert with relevant departments under the State Council if there is a need to provide such data overseas. To process critical data, automobile data processors shall conduct risk assessment in accordance with regulations and submit risk assessment reports to related departments at provincial levels.
Pursuant to the Civil Code, the collection, storage, use, process, transmission, provision, and disclosure of personal information should follow the principles of legitimacy, properness, and necessity. Furthermore, on August 20, 2021, the Personal Information Protection Law was promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and took effect on November 1, 2021. The law integrated previously scattered rules with respect to personal information rights and privacy protection. The Personal Information Protection Law aims at protecting personal information rights and interests, regulating the processing of personal information, ensuring the orderly transmission of personal information in accordance with law and promoting the reasonable use of personal information. The Personal Information Protection Law applies to the processing of personal information within China, as well as certain personal information processing activities outside China, including those for the provision of products and services to natural
 
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persons within China or for the analysis and assessment of acts of natural persons within China. As a result, all of our subsidiaries, whether within or outside China, could potentially become subject to the Personal Information Protection Law. Entities processing personal information exceeding the threshold to be set by the relevant authorities and CIIOs are required to store, within the territory of China, all personal information collected and produced within China. In addition, the Personal Information Protection Law imposes pre-approval and other requirements for any cross-border data transfer by PRC entities.
Regulation on Telecommunications Services
Telecommunications Regulations
The PRC Telecommunications Regulations promulgated by the State Council on September 25, 2000 and last amended on February 6, 2016, are the primary PRC regulations governing telecommunications services, which set out the general framework for the provision of telecommunications services in China. The Telecommunications Regulations require that the network connection licensing system shall be implemented to telecommunications terminal equipment, radio telecommunications equipment and interconnection-related equipment, and the network connection license shall not be transferred. Whoever sells telecommunications terminal equipment without the network connection license shall be ordered to make correction and be imposed with a fine ranging from RMB10,000 to RMB100,000. ECARX (Hubei) Tech has obtained network connection licenses for the relevant ECARX products.
Internet Information Services
On September 25, 2000, the State Council promulgated the Measures for the Administration of Internet Information Services, which was amended on January 8, 2011. Under these measures, internet information services are categorized into commercial internet information services and non-commercial internet services. Non-commercial internet information service providers in China must file with the competent government authorities, and commercial internet information service providers in China must obtain an ICP License from the competent government authorities. Operators of certain specific information services, such as news, publishing, education, healthcare, medicine, and medical instruments must also comply with relevant laws and regulations and obtain approval from the competent government authorities.
Internet information service providers are required to monitor their websites. They cannot post or disseminate any content that falls within prohibited categories stipulated under relevant laws and regulations, and must stop providing any such content on their websites once identified. The competent government authorities may order internet information services operators that violate the content restrictions to rectify such violations and, in cases of serious violations, either revoke the ICP Licenses of commercial internet information services operators, or shutdown websites of non-commercial internet information services operators.
Regulation on Intellectual Property Rights
China is a party to several international treaties with respect to intellectual property right protection, including the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks, and the Patent Cooperation Treaty.
Patents
According to the PRC Patent Law promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on March 12, 1984 and currently effective from June 1, 2021, and the Implementation Rules of the PRC Patent Law promulgated by the State Council on June 15, 2001 and last amended on January 9, 2010, there are three types of patents in China: invention patents, utility model patents, and design patents. The protection period is 20 years for an invention patent and 10 years for a utility model patent and 15 years for a design patent (or 10 years for design patents filed prior to June 1, 2021), commencing from their respective application dates. The PRC patent system adopts a first-to-file principle, under which the person who files the patent application first is entitled to the patent if two or more persons file patent applications for the same subject. Any person or entity that utilizes a patent or conducts any other activities that infringe a patent
 
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without authorization of the patent holder must compensate the patent holder and is subject to a fine imposed by the relevant government authorities, and may be criminally liable in case of patent passing-off. In addition, any person or entity that files a patent application in a foreign country for an invention or utility model patent accomplished in China is required to report in advance to the State Council’s patent administrative authority for a confidentiality examination.
Copyrights
The PRC Copyright Law, which was last amended on November 11, 2020 and became effective on June 1, 2021, provides that Chinese citizens, legal persons, or other organizations will own copyright in their copyrightable works, including works of literature, art, natural science, social science, engineering technology, and computer software, regardless of whether published or not. Copyright owners enjoy certain legal rights, including the right of publication, the right of authorship, and the right of reproduction. The Copyright Law extends copyright protection to internet activities, products disseminated over the internet, and software products. In addition, the Copyright Law provides for a voluntary registration system administered by the China Copyright Protection Center. According to the Copyright Law, a copyright infringer will be subject to various civil liabilities, which include ceasing infringement activities, apologizing to the copyright owner, and compensating for the loss of the copyright owner. Copyright infringers may also be subject to fines and administrative or criminal liabilities in severe situations.
Pursuant to the Computer Software Protection Regulations promulgated by the State Council on December 20, 2001 and last amended on January 30, 2013, a software copyright owner may go through the registration procedures with a software registration authority recognized by the State Council’s copyright administrative authority. The software copyright owner may authorize others to exercise that copyright and is entitled to receive remuneration.
Trademarks
Trademarks are protected by the PRC Trademark Law last amended on April 23, 2019 and the Implementation Regulations of the PRC Trademark Law promulgated by the State Council last amended on April 29, 2014. The PRC Trademark Office grants a ten-year term to registered trademarks, and the term may be renewed for another ten-year period upon request by the trademark owner. Where the trademark owner fails to do so, a grace period of six months may be granted. In the absence of renewal upon expiry, the registered trademark will be canceled. A trademark owner may license its registered trademarks to another party by entering into trademark license agreements, which must be filed with the Trademark Office for its records. As with patents, the Trademark Law has adopted a first-to-file principle with respect to trademark registration. If a trademark that is applied for is identical or similar to another trademark that has already been registered or subject to a preliminary examination and approval for use on the same or similar kinds of products or services, such trademark application may be rejected. Any person applying for the registration of a trademark shall not infringe upon prior existing trademark rights of others, nor may any person register in advance a trademark that has already been used by another party and has already gained a “sufficient degree of reputation” through such party’s use. market regulatory departments have the authority to investigate any behavior that infringes the exclusive right under a registered trademark in accordance with the law. In case of a suspected criminal offense, the case will be timely referred to a judicial authority and decided according to the law.
Domain Names
The MIIT promulgated the Administrative Measures of Internet Domain Names on August 24, 2017, which took effect on November 1, 2017 and replaced the Administrative Measures on China Internet Domain Names promulgated by the MIIT on November 5, 2004. According to these measures, the MIIT is in charge of the administration of PRC internet domain names. The domain name registration follows a first-to-file principle. Applicants for registration of domain names must provide true, accurate, and complete information of their identities to domain name registration service institutions. The applicants will become holders of such domain names upon the completion of the registration procedure.
 
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Trade Secrets
According to the PRC Anti-Unfair Competition Law promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on September 2, 1993 and last amended on April 23, 2019, a “trade secret” refers to technical and business information that is unknown to the public, may create business interests or profits for its legal owners or holders, and is maintained as a secret by its legal owners or holders. Under the Anti-Unfair Competition Law, business operators are prohibited from infringing others’ trade secrets by: (i) obtaining the trade secrets from the legal owners or holders by any unfair methods such as theft, bribery, fraud, coercion, electronic intrusion, or any other illicit means; (ii) disclosing, using, or permitting others to use the trade secrets obtained illegally under item (i) above; (iii) disclosing, using, or permitting others to use the trade secrets in violation of any contractual agreements or any requirements of the legal owners or holders to keep such trade secrets confidential; or (iv) instigating, inducing, or assisting others to violate a confidentiality obligation or to violate a rights holder’s requirements on keeping the confidentiality of trade secrets, disclosing, using, or permitting others to use the trade secrets of the rights holder. If a third party knows or should have known the above-mentioned illegal conduct but nevertheless obtains, uses, or discloses trade secrets of others, the third party may be deemed to have misappropriated the others’ trade secrets.
Business operators who violate the provisions of the Anti-Unfair Competition Law and cause others to suffer damages shall bear civil liability, and where the legitimate rights and interests of a business operator are harmed by unfair competition, the business operator may file a lawsuit with a People’s Court. The amount of compensation for a business operator who suffer damages due to unfair competition shall be determined on the basis of the actual losses suffered as a result of the infringement; where it is difficult to ascertain the actual losses, the amount of compensation shall be determined in accordance with the benefits gained by the infringing party from the infringement. If a business operator maliciously commits an act of infringing trade secrets and the case is serious, the amount of compensation may be determined at not less than one time and not more than five times the amount determined in accordance with the foregoing method. The amount of compensation shall also include reasonable expenses paid by the business operator to stop the infringement. If it is difficult to ascertain the actual losses suffered or benefits gained, the People’s Court shall, in consideration of the extent of the infringement, award compensation of less than RMB5,000,000 to the rights holder. Additionally, government authorities shall stop any illegal activities which infringe upon trade secrets and confiscate the illegal income from the infringing parties, and impose a fine between RMB100,000 to RMB1,000,000 (or where the circumstances are serious, between RMB500,000 to RMB5,000,000).
Pursuant to the PRC Criminal Law promulgated by the National People’s Congress on July 1, 1979 and last amended on December 26, 2020, anyone that commits any of the following acts of trade secrets infringement, if the circumstances are serious, shall be sentenced to a fixed-term imprisonment of not more than 3 years and/or shall be fined; if the circumstances are especially serious, the infringing party shall be sentenced to a fixed-term imprisonment of not less than 3 years but not more than 10 years and shall be subject to fines: (i) obtaining trade secrets from their legal owners or holders through unfair methods such as theft, bribery, fraud, coercion, electronic intrusion, or any other illicit means; (ii) disclosing, using, or permitting others to use trade secrets obtained illegally under item (i) above; (iii) disclosing, using, or permitting others to use trade secrets in violation of any contractual agreements or any requirements of the legal owners or holders to keep such trade secrets confidential. Any person who has knowledge of the circumstances referred to above but nevertheless obtains, discloses, uses or allows others to use such trade secrets shall be deemed to have infringed upon trade secrets.
Regulation on Foreign Exchange
General Administration of Foreign Exchange
Under the PRC Foreign Exchange Administrative Regulations promulgated on January 29, 1996 and last amended on August 5, 2008, and various regulations issued by the SAFE and other relevant PRC government authorities, Renminbi is convertible into other currencies for current account items, such as trade-related receipts and payments and payment of interest and dividends. The conversion of Renminbi into other currencies and remittance of the converted foreign currencies outside China for capital account items, such as direct equity investments, loans, and repatriation of investment, requires prior approval from the SAFE or its local branch.
 
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Payments for transactions that take place in China must be made in Renminbi. Unless otherwise approved, PRC domestic companies may not repatriate payments denominated in foreign currencies received from abroad or retain the same abroad. Foreign-invested enterprises may retain foreign currencies under the current account with designated foreign exchange banks subject to a limit set by the SAFE or its local branch. Foreign currencies under the current account may be either retained or sold to a financial institution engaged in the settlement and sale of foreign currencies pursuant to the relevant SAFE rules and regulations. For foreign currencies under the capital account, approval by the SAFE is generally required for the retention or sale of such foreign currencies to a financial institution engaged in settlement and sale of foreign currencies.
Pursuant to the Circular on Further Improving and Adjusting Foreign Exchange Administration Policies for Direct Investment promulgated by the SAFE on November 19, 2012 and last amended on December 30, 2019, or the SAFE Circular 59, approval of the SAFE is not required for opening a foreign exchange account and depositing foreign currencies into the accounts relating to direct investments. The SAFE Circular 59 also simplifies foreign exchange-related registration required for foreign investors to acquire the equity interest in PRC domestic companies and further improves the administration of foreign exchange settlement for foreign-invested enterprises. The Circular on Further Simplifying and Improving the Foreign Exchange Administration Policies for Direct Investment promulgated by the SAFE and effective on June 1, 2015 and last amended on December 30, 2019, or the SAFE Circular 13, cancels the administrative approvals of foreign exchange registration of direct domestic investment and direct overseas investment, and simplifies the procedure for foreign exchange-related registration. Pursuant to the SAFE Circular 13, investors must register with banks for direct domestic investment and direct overseas investment.
Pursuant to SAFE Circular 19 promulgated by the SAFE on March 30, 2015 and amended on December 30, 2019, a foreign-invested enterprise may, according to its actual business needs, settle with a bank the portion of the foreign exchange capital in its capital account for which the relevant foreign exchange administration has confirmed monetary capital contribution rights and interests (or for which the bank has registered the injection of the monetary capital contribution into the account). Pursuant to SAFE Circular 19, for the time being, foreign-invested enterprises are allowed to settle 100% of their foreign exchange capital on a discretionary basis; a foreign-invested enterprise must truthfully use its capital for its own operating purposes within the scope of business; and where an ordinary foreign-invested enterprise makes domestic equity investment with the amount of foreign exchanges settled, the foreign-invested enterprise must first go through domestic re-investment registration and open a corresponding account for foreign exchange settlement, pending payment with the foreign exchange administration or the bank at the place where it is registered.
The Circular on Reforming and Regulating Policies on the Control over Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital Accounts promulgated by the SAFE and effective on June 9, 2016, or the SAFE Circular 16, stipulates that PRC domestic companies may also convert their foreign debts denominated in foreign currencies into Renminbi on a self-discretionary basis. The SAFE Circular 16 also provides an integrated standard for conversion of foreign exchange under capital account items (including foreign exchange capital and foreign debts) on a self-discretionary basis, which applies to all PRC domestic companies.
According to the PRC Market Entities Registration Administrative Regulations promulgated by the State Council on July 27, 2021 and effective on March 1, 2022, and other laws and regulations governing foreign-invested enterprises and company registrations, the establishment of a foreign-invested enterprise and any capital increase and other major changes in a foreign-invested enterprise must be registered with the SAMR or its local counterparts, and must be filed via the foreign investment comprehensive administrative system, if such foreign-invested enterprise does not involve special market-entry administrative measures prescribed by the PRC government.
On October 23, 2019, the SAFE issued the Circular on Further Promoting Cross-Border Trade and Investment Facilitation. This circular allows foreign-invested enterprises whose approved business scopes do not contain equity investment to use their capital obtained from foreign exchange settlement to make domestic equity investment as long as the investment is real and complies with the foreign investment-related laws and regulations. In addition, this circular stipulates that qualified enterprises in certain pilot areas may use their capital income from registered capital, foreign debt, and overseas listing, for the purpose of domestic payments without providing authenticity certifications to the relevant banks in advance for
 
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those domestic payments. Payments for transactions that take place in China must be made in Renminbi. Income denominated in foreign currencies received by PRC domestic companies may be repatriated into China or retained outside of China in accordance with requirements and terms specified by the SAFE.
Pursuant to the SAFE Circular 13 and other foreign exchange laws and regulations, when setting up a new foreign-invested enterprise, the foreign-invested enterprise must register with a bank located at its place of registration after obtaining its business license, and if there is any change in capital or other changes relating to the basic information of the foreign-invested enterprise, including any increase in its registered capital or total investment, the foreign-invested enterprise must register such changes with the bank located at its place of registration after obtaining approval from or completing the filing with competent authorities. Pursuant to the relevant foreign exchange laws and regulations, the above-mentioned foreign exchange registration with the banks will typically take less than four weeks upon the acceptance of the registration application.
Based on the foregoing, if we intend to fund our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries through capital injection at or after their establishment, we must register the establishment of and any follow-on capital increase in our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries with the SAMR or its local counterparts, file such via the foreign investment comprehensive administrative system, and register such with the local banks for the foreign exchange related matters.
Offshore Investment by PRC Residents
Under the Circular on Issues Concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration over the Overseas Investment and Financing and Round-Trip Investment by Domestic Residents via Special Purpose Vehicles issued by the SAFE and effective on July 4, 2014, or the SAFE Circular 37, PRC residents are required to register with local branches of the SAFE in connection with their direct or indirect offshore investment in overseas special purpose vehicles directly established or indirectly controlled by PRC residents for offshore investment and financing with their legally owned assets or interests in PRC domestic companies, or their legally owned offshore assets or interests. Such PRC residents are also required to amend their registrations with the SAFE when there is a change to the basic information of the special purpose vehicles, such as changes of an individual PRC resident, the name or operating period of the special purpose vehicles, or when there is a significant change to the special purpose vehicles, such as changes of the individual PRC residents’ increase or decrease of the capital contribution in the special purpose vehicles, or any share transfer or exchange, merger, or division of the special purpose vehicles. At the same time, the SAFE issued the Operation Guidance for Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration over Round-Trip Investment regarding the procedures for SAFE registration under the SAFE Circular 37, which took effect on July 4, 2014, as an attachment to the SAFE Circular 37.
Under the SAFE Circular 13, PRC residents may register with qualified banks instead of the SAFE in connection with their establishment or control of an offshore entity established for the purpose of overseas direct investment. The SAFE and its branches will implement indirect supervision over foreign exchange registration of direct investment via the banks.
Failure to comply with the registration procedures set forth in the SAFE Circular 37 may result in restrictions on foreign exchange activities of the relevant onshore company, including the payment of dividends and other distributions to its offshore parent or affiliate, the capital inflow from the offshore entities, and settlement of foreign exchange capital, and may also subject relevant onshore company or PRC residents to penalties under PRC foreign exchange administration regulations.
Regulation on Dividend Distribution
The principal laws and regulations regulating the distribution of dividends by foreign-invested enterprises in China include the Company Law and the Foreign Investment Law and its implementation rules. Under the current regulatory regime in China, foreign-invested enterprises in China may pay dividends only out of their retained earnings, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. A PRC domestic company is required to set aside as statutory reserve funds at least 10% of its after-tax profit, until the cumulative amount of such reserve funds reaches 50% of its registered capital unless laws regarding foreign investment provide otherwise. A PRC domestic company cannot distribute any
 
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profits until any losses from prior fiscal years have been offset. Profits retained from prior fiscal years may be distributed together with distributable profits from the current fiscal year.
Regulation on Taxation
Enterprise Income Tax
According to the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law promulgated by the National People’s Congress on March 16, 2007 and last amended on December 29, 2018 and the Implementation Rules of the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law promulgated by the State Council on December 6, 2007 and amended on April 23, 2019, the income tax rate for both PRC domestic companies and foreign-invested enterprises is 25% unless otherwise provided for specifically. Enterprises are classified as either PRC resident enterprises or non-PRC resident enterprises. In addition, enterprises established outside China whose de facto management bodies are located in China are considered PRC resident enterprises and subject to the 25% enterprise income tax rate for their global income. An income tax rate of 10% applies to dividends declared to non-PRC resident enterprise investors that do not have an establishment or place of business in China, or that have such establishment or place of business but the relevant income is not effectively connected with the establishment or place of business, to the extent such dividends are derived from sources within China.
In addition, an enterprise certified as a High-Tech Enterprise enjoys a reduced enterprise income tax rate of 15%. According to the Administrative Measures for the Certification of High-Tech Enterprises amended in January 2016, the provincial counterparts of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Finance, and the STA jointly determine whether an enterprise is a High-Tech Enterprise considering the ownership of core technology, whether the main technologies underlying the key products or services fall within the officially supported high-tech fields, the proportion of research and development personnel of the total staff, the proportion of research and development expenditure of total revenue, the proportion of high-tech products or services of total revenue, and other factors prescribed.
Value-Added Tax
According to the PRC Provisional Regulations on Value-Added Tax effective on January 1, 1994 and last amended on November 19, 2017 and its implementation rules effective on December 25, 1993 and last amended on October 28, 2011, unless stipulated otherwise, taxpayers who sell goods, labor services, or tangible personal property leasing services, or import goods will be subject to a 17% tax rate; taxpayers who sell transport services, postal services, basic telecommunications services, construction services, or real property leasing services, sell real property or transfer land use rights will be subject to an 11% tax rate; and taxpayers who sell services or intangible assets will be subject to a 6% tax rate. On November 19, 2017, the State Council promulgated the Decisions on Abolishing the PRC Provisional Regulations on Business Tax and Amending the PRC Provisional Regulations on Value-Added Tax, pursuant to which all enterprises and persons engaged in the sale of goods, provision of processing, repairing, and replacement services, sales of services, intangible assets, and real property, and the importation of goods into the PRC territory are VAT taxpayers.
According to the Circular of the Ministry of Finance and the State Taxation Administration on Adjusting Value-Added Tax Rates effective on May 1, 2018, where a taxpayer engages in taxable sales activity for the value-added tax purpose or imports goods, the previously applicable 17% and 11% rates are adjusted to 16% and 10%, respectively.
According to the Announcement on Relevant Policies for Deepening Value-Added Tax Reform effective on April 1, 2019, the generally applicable value-added tax rates are simplified as 13%, 9%, 6%, and 0%, and the value-added tax rate applicable to small-scale taxpayers is 3%.
Dividend Withholding Tax
The Enterprise Income Tax Law stipulates that an income tax rate of 10% applies to dividends declared to non-PRC resident investors that do not have an establishment or place of business in China, or that have such establishment or place of business but the relevant income is not effectively connected with the establishment or place of business, to the extent that such dividends are derived from sources within China.
Pursuant to the Arrangement between the Mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes
 
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on Income and Capital and other applicable PRC laws, if a Hong Kong resident enterprise is determined by the competent tax authority to have satisfied the relevant conditions and requirements, the 10% withholding tax rate on the dividends received by the Hong Kong resident enterprise from a PRC resident enterprise may be reduced to 5%. According to the Circular on Several Questions Regarding the Beneficial Owner in Tax Treaties, which was issued by the STA on February 3, 2018 and took effect on April 1, 2018, when determining an applicant’s status as the beneficial owner regarding tax treatments in connection with dividends, interest, or royalties in the tax treaties, several factors are considered, including whether the applicant is obligated to pay over 50% of the income in twelve months to residents in a third country or region, whether the business operated by the applicant constitutes the actual business activities, and whether the counterparty country or region to the tax treaties does not levy any tax or grant any tax exemption on relevant incomes or levies tax at an extremely low rate, and such factors will be analyzed according to the actual circumstances of the specific cases.
Tax on Indirect Transfer
Pursuant to the Circular on Issues of Enterprise Income Tax on Indirect Transfers of Assets by Non-PRC Resident Enterprises issued by the STA on February 3, 2015 and last amended on December 29, 2017, or the STA Circular 7, an indirect transfer of assets, including equity interest in a PRC resident enterprise, by non-PRC resident enterprises may be recharacterized and treated as a direct transfer of PRC taxable assets, if such arrangement does not have a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of avoiding payment of PRC enterprise income tax. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax. When determining whether there is a reasonable commercial purpose of the transaction arrangement, several factors are considered, including whether the main value of the equity interest of the relevant offshore enterprise derives directly or indirectly from PRC taxable assets, whether the assets of the relevant offshore enterprise mainly consists of direct or indirect investment in China or if its income is mainly derived from China, and whether the offshore enterprise and its subsidiaries directly or indirectly holding PRC taxable assets have a real commercial nature that is evidenced by their actual function and risk exposure. The STA Circular 7 does not apply to sales of shares by investors through a public stock exchange where such shares were acquired on a public stock exchange. On October 17, 2017, the STA issued the Circular on Issues Concerning the Withholding of Enterprise Income Tax at Source on Non-PRC Resident Enterprises, or the STA Circular 37, which was amended by the Announcement of the State Taxation Administration on Certain Taxation Normative Documents issued by the STA on June 15, 2018. The STA Circular 37 further elaborates the relevant implementing rules regarding the calculation, reporting, and payment obligations of the withholding tax by non-PRC resident enterprises. Nevertheless, there remain uncertainties as to the interpretation and application of the STA Circular 7. The STA Circular 7 may be determined by the tax authorities to be applicable to our offshore transactions or sale of our shares or those of our offshore subsidiaries where non-PRC resident enterprises, being the transferors, were involved.
Regulation on Labor
Labor Law and Labor Contract Law
Pursuant to the PRC Labor Law effective on January 1, 1995 and last amended on December 29, 2018 and its implementation rules, employers must establish and improve work safety and health systems, enforce relevant national standards, and carry out work safety and health education for employees. In addition, pursuant to the PRC Labor Contract Law effective on January 1, 2008 and amended on December 28, 2012 and its implementation rules, employers must execute written labor contracts with full-time employees and comply with local minimum wage standards. Violations of the Labor Law and the Labor Contract Law may result in the imposition of fines and other administrative and criminal liability in the case of serious violations.
Social Insurance and Housing Fund
According to the PRC Social Insurance Law promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on October 28, 2010 and amended on December 29, 2018 and the Administrative Regulations on Housing Provident Funds promulgated by the State Council on April 3, 1999 and last amended on March 24, 2019, employers are required to contribute to a number of social security funds, including funds for basic pension insurance, unemployment insurance, basic medical insurance, occupational
 
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injury insurance, and maternity insurance, and also to housing funds. Any employer who fails to make such contribution may be fined and ordered to make good the deficit within a stipulated time limit.
Employee Stock Incentive Plan
Pursuant to the Notice of Issues Relating to the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Persons Participating in Stock Incentive Plan of Overseas Listed Company issued by the SAFE on February 15, 2012, employees, directors, supervisors, and other senior management who participate in any stock incentive plan of a publicly listed overseas company and who are PRC citizens or non-PRC citizens residing in China for a continuous period of no less than one year are, subject to a few exceptions, required to register with the SAFE through a qualified domestic agent, which may be a PRC subsidiary of such overseas listed company, and complete certain other procedures.
Regulation on Mergers and Acquisitions and Overseas Listing
On August 8, 2006, six PRC governmental and regulatory authorities, including MOFCOM and CSRC, promulgated the Rules on Mergers and Acquisition of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, effective as of September 8, 2006 and later revised on June 22, 2009, which governs the mergers and acquisitions of domestic enterprises by foreign investors. The M&A Rules, among other things, requires that if an overseas company established or controlled by PRC companies or individuals intends to acquire equity interests or assets of any other PRC domestic company affiliated with such PRC companies or individuals, such acquisition must be submitted to MOFCOM for approval. The M&A Rules also requires that an offshore special purpose vehicle formed for overseas listing purposes and controlled directly or indirectly by the PRC individuals or companies shall obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to overseas listing and trading of such special purpose vehicle’s securities on an overseas stock exchange. After the PRC Foreign Investment Law and its Implementation Regulations became effective on January 1, 2020, the provisions of the M&A Rules remain effective to the extent they are not inconsistent with the PRC Foreign Investment Law and its Implementation Regulations.
On July 6, 2021, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly promulgated the Opinions on Severely Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities According to Law, or the Opinions. The Opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities, and the need to strengthen the supervision over overseas listings by Chinese companies. Effective measures, such as promoting the establishment of relevant regulatory systems will be taken to deal with the risks and incidents of China-based overseas listed companies, and cybersecurity and data privacy protection requirements and etc. On December 24, 2021, the CSRC released the Provisions of the State Council on the Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (Draft for Comments) and the Administrative Measures for the Filing of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (Draft for Comments), collectively the Overseas Listing Rules, both of which have a comment period that expires on January 23, 2022. According to the draft Overseas Listing Rules, the offering or listing of shares, depository receipts, convertible corporate bonds, or other equity-like securities by a PRC domestic company in an overseas stock market, whether directly or indirectly through an offshore holding company, should be filed with the CSRC. The determination of whether any offering or listing is “indirect” will be made on a “substance over form” basis. An offering or listing of an issuer will be considered as an overseas indirect offering or listing by PRC domestic companies if the following conditions are met with respect to such issuer: (i) the operating income, gross profit, total assets, or net assets of PRC domestic companies in the most recent fiscal year constitute more than 50% of the relevant line item in the issuer’s audited consolidated financial statement for that year; and (ii) the majority of the senior management personnel responsible for its business operations and management are PRC citizens or have their ordinary residence in China, or if its main place of business is in China or if its business operation is primarily conducted in China.
Under the draft Overseas Listing Rules, if a PRC domestic company intends to complete a direct or indirect overseas (i) initial public offering and listing, or (ii) listing of its assets through a single or multiple acquisitions, share swaps, shares transfers or other means, the issuer (if the issuer is a PRC domestic company) or its designated major PRC domestic operating entity (if the issuer is an offshore holding company), in each applicable event, the reporting entity, shall complete the filing procedures with the CSRC within three business days after the issuer submits its application documents relating to the initial public offering and/or
 
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listing or after the first public announcement of the relevant transaction (if the submission of relevant application documents is not required). In addition, according to the draft Overseas Listing Rules and a set of Q&A published on the CSRC’s official website in connection with the release of the draft Overseas Listing Rules, if it is explicitly required (in the form of institutional rules) by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the relevant industry and field that regulatory procedures should be performed prior to the overseas listing of a PRC domestic company, such company must obtain the regulatory opinion, approval and other documents from and complete any required filing with such competent authority before submitting a CSRC filing. The reporting entity shall make a timely report to the CSRC and update its CSRC filing within three business days after the occurrence of any of the following material events, if any of them occurs before the completion of the offering and/or listing: (i) any material change to principal business, licenses or qualifications of the issuer; (ii) any material change to equity structure or a change of control of the issuer; and (iii) any material change to the offering and listing plan. The reporting entity shall also submit a report to the CSRC after the completion of the initial public offering and listing. Once listed overseas, the reporting entity will be further required to report the occurrence of any of the following material events within three business days after the occurrence thereof to the CSRC: (i) a change of control of the issuer; (ii) the investigation, sanction or other measures undertaken by any foreign securities regulatory agencies or relevant competent authorities in respect of the issuer; and (iii) the voluntary or mandatory delisting of the issuer. In addition, the completion of any overseas follow-on offerings by an issuer would necessitate a filing with the CSRC within three business days thereafter.
Based on a set of Q&A published on the CSRC’s official website in connection with the release of the draft Overseas Listing Rules, a CSRC official indicated that the filing requirements proposed under the said rules will apply to future offerings and listings, including initial public offerings of private PRC domestic companies and follow-on offerings by PRC domestic companies that are already listed overseas. The regulator will separately provide for other filing requirements applicable to PRC domestic companies that are already listed overseas and will allow sufficient time for transition. Both the draft Overseas Listing Rules and the Q&A, however, are silent on the requirements applicable to any offering or listing that commences prior to the enactment of the draft Overseas Listing Rules but the completion of which occurs after the draft Overseas Listing Rules becomes effective.
According to the draft Overseas Listing Rules, an overseas offering or listing must not be undertaken if any of the following circumstances apply: (i) if the intended securities offering or listing is specifically prohibited by national laws or regulations; (ii) if the intended securities offering or listing may constitute a threat to or endangers national security as determined by competent authorities under the State Council in accordance with law; (iii) if there are material ownership disputes over the equity, major assets, and core technology, etc. of the issuer; (iv) if, in the past three years, the PRC domestic companies or their controlling shareholders or actual controllers have committed corruption, bribery, embezzlement, misappropriation of property, or other criminal offenses disruptive to the order of the socialist market economy, or are currently under judicial investigation for suspected criminal offenses, or are under investigation for suspected major violations; (v) if, in the past three years, any director, supervisor, or senior executive has been subject to administrative penalties for severe violations, or is currently under judicial investigation for suspected criminal offenses, or are under investigation for suspected major violations; (vi) other circumstances as prescribed by the State Council.
Based on the draft Overseas Listing Rules, PRC domestic companies are primarily responsible for compliance with the rules. Violation of the Overseas Listing Rules or the completion of an overseas listing in breach of the Overseas Listing Rules may result in a warning or a fine ranging from RMB1,000,000 to RMB10,000,000. Serious violations may further result in the suspension of business (pending rectification or otherwise), or revocation of operating permits or businesses licenses. Furthermore, the controlling shareholders, actual controllers, directors, supervisors, and other senior management personnel of the relevant PRC domestic companies may be subject to warning, or a fine ranging from RMB500,000 to RMB5,000,000, either individually or collectively.
On April 2, 2022, the CSRC and several other administrations jointly released the revised Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (Draft for Comments), or the Draft Archives Rules. The Draft Archives Rules applies to both overseas direct offerings and overseas indirect offerings. The Draft Archives Rules provide that, among other things, (i) in relation to the overseas listing activities of domestic enterprises, the domestic enterprises are required to strictly comply with the relevant requirements on confidentiality and archives
 
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management, establish a sound confidentiality and archives system, and take necessary measures to implement their confidentiality and archives management responsibilities; (ii) if during the course of an overseas offering and listing, if a domestic enterprise needs to publicly disclose or provide to securities companies, accounting firms or other securities service providers and overseas regulators, any materials that contain relevant state secrets or that have a sensitive impact (i.e. be detrimental to national security or the public interest if divulged), the domestic enterprise should complete the relevant approval/filing and other regulatory procedures; and (iii) working papers produced in the PRC by securities companies and securities service institutions, which provide domestic enterprises with securities services during their overseas issuance and listing, should be stored in the PRC, and the transmission of all such working papers to recipients outside of the PRC is required to be approved by competent authorities of the PRC.
Additional Information
Our main website is https://www.ecarxgroup.com. Neither the information on our main website, nor the information on the websites of any of our brands and businesses, is incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/consent solicitation statement/prospectus, or into any other filings with, or into any other information furnished or submitted to, the SEC.
 
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ECARX’S MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this section to “ECARX,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to ECARX Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries, and in the context of describing ECARX’s operations and consolidated financial information for the periods ended prior to the Restructuring, also to its VIEs and their subsidiaries.
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with “Information about ECARX,” “Selected Historical Financial Data of ECARX” and our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes and other financial information included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. This discussion and analysis should also be read together with the pro forma combined financial information in the section entitled “Summary Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information.” In addition to historical consolidated financial information, the following discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates, and beliefs that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including those factors set forth in the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” which you should review for a discussion of some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis and elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus.
Overview of Our Business
ECARX is transforming vehicles into seamlessly integrated information, communications and transportation devices. It is shaping the interaction between people and cars by rapidly advancing the technology at the heart of smart mobility. ECARX’s current core products include infotainment head units, digital cockpits, vehicle chip-set solutions, a core operating system and integrated software stack. Beyond this, ECARX is developing a full-stack automotive computing platform.
ECARX was co-founded in 2017 by renowned Chinese entrepreneurs Mr. Eric Li (Li Shufu) and Mr. Ziyu Shen to develop a full stack automotive computing platform to reshape the global mobility market by transforming next-generation vehicles into seamlessly integrated information, communications, and transportation devices.
We have established a successful track record during the 5 years since our inception. As of June 30, 2022, there were more than 3.7 million vehicles on the road with ECARX products and solutions onboard. We have a team of close to 2,000 full-time employees globally, among which approximately 1,400 belong to our R&D division, providing the foundation for us to serve 12 vehicle brands across Asia-Pacific and Europe.
Trends in vehicle electrification and implementation of connected and automated driving technology are reshaping the automotive industry as automotive OEMs develop new vehicle platforms from ground up, incorporating greater vehicle intelligence and a more centralized E/E architecture. To meet these demands, we are developing an automotive technology platform that is uniquely informed by our strategic OEM collaborations, with a clear product roadmap.
Automotive Computing Platform
Infotainment Head Unit:   As the foundation for the development of our automotive computing platform, we started to offer our IHU products in 2017, covering various vehicle models within the Geely ecosystem. In addition to supporting regular infotainment functions including speech assistant service, navigation service, and multi-media, our IHU products also support AVM integration, augmented reality navigation and local-end NLU and NLP. Our IHU product line consists of a series of IHU models, as we have continued to upgrade and revolutionize our IHU products from IHU 1.0 to IHU 5.0.
Digital Cockpit:   Modern day cars are highly influenced by the advancements in digital technologies and diversified consumer demands. We commenced research and development of our Digital Cockpit in 2019, and adopted a centralized system design by breaking the boundaries of silos in the vehicle systems, so
 
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that, through unified system architecture and virtualization, multiple systems can be simultaneously run on a single SoC platform, reducing the system complexity and soliciting ECUs without sacrificing functionality. Our Digital Cockpit products offer more advanced features such as driver information module, heads-up display, rear seat entertainment, multiple-displays, multi-zone voice recognition, full 3D user experience, and global function support. Our first and second-generation Digital Cockpit products have been deployed on Geely and Lynk & Co models since July 2021. We plan to continue our rapid innovation in our Digital Cockpit products. We are now collaborating with our key strategic partner, SiEngine, to customize the next-generation E04 Core Module powered by StarEagle1000. StarEagle1000 is an automotive smart cockpit SoC developed by SiEngine, our joint venture with ARM China.
Automotive Central Computing Platform:   Building on our IHU and Digital Cockpit products, we plan to launch the Automotive Central Computing Platform that facilitates the transition from a domain-based E/E architecture to a more centralized computing platform. The Automotive Central Computing Platform is intended to be more compatible with more software solutions, simplifying and better enabling functional upgrades and future evolution. Our first-generation Automotive Central Computing Platform is currently in development.
SoC (System on a Chip) Core Modules
Increasing demands for vehicle intelligence and centralization of vehicle architecture have accelerated the transition from MCU, which contain CPU as the only processing unit, to SoC, which comprises multiple processing units with significantly higher computing power.
ECARX’s vehicle chip-set solutions focus on SoC Core Modules. The SoC Core Module is a complete computing board that efficiently integrates SoC together with core and peripheral integrated circuits, and underpins the high performance of ECARX computing platforms, reduces the complexity of the product design and provides an easy-to-develop core component for our customers.

MCU = CPU + Storage + Interface Unit

SoC = CPU + GPU + DSP + NPU + Storage + Interface Unit

SoC Core Module = SoC + Key ICs (i.e. power management IC + Storage (module storage) + Interface Units (rich peripheral interfaces))
We develop SoC Core Modules with partners and semiconductor manufacturers. Our current production E-Series (E01, E02 and E03) Core Modules are utilized in our IHU and Digital Cockpit platforms. As of June 30, 2022, we supplied over 1.5 million units of E-series Core Modules to our OEM and Tier 1 automotive supplier customers.
We are in the process of developing our next-generation SoC Core Modules in collaboration with SiEngine. Our pipeline product, E04 Core Module, is purpose-built to support more advanced vehicle intelligent features and will be incorporated into our future Digital Cockpit and Automotive Central Computing Platform products. SiEngine is primarily responsible for the design and development of, and holds the relevant intellectual property to, the StarEagle1000 SoC of our E04 SoC Core Module. ECARX is contributing to define the automotive requirements and is responsible for the software-hardware development and integration of SoC Core Modules based on the SiEngine SoC. ECARX continues to invest in the development to enhance the capability of SoC Core Modules for the automotive industry.
Operating System
The operating system plays a pivotal role in the automotive technology stack as it connects the hardware with application software. The architecture of the operating system directly impacts the performance of the automotive computing platform products while the functionalities offered by the OS can simplify the development of applications that run on top of it. As such, the OS is another building block of our technology platform. Our OS efforts are focused on maximizing the power of ECARX SoC Core Modules and enabling application developers to build innovative functions and applications for the devices powered by ECARX SoC Core Modules.
 
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Software Stack
Our software integrates intelligent, connected technology to enhance the rider experience. We provide a service software framework to connect the application layer to the OS layer of the overall cockpit system, in addition to a host of digital cockpit applications that can be further categorized as customized auto API service, localization functions and deep integration with mobile phones. We are also developing software to deliver ADAS and unsupervised highway driving features as well as control over key vehicle systems to enable functionality and improve performance (such as functional safety).
Key Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations
Our results of operations are affected by the following company-specific factors.
Our ability to continue to increase the sales of our products and services
Since our incorporation, Geely Holding and its ecosystem OEMs have been important contributors to our revenues. We began to market and sell our products and services to other OEMs and Tier 1 automotive suppliers in 2019 and 2020 respectively. Our results of operations depend significantly on our ability to continue to attract orders from OEMs and Tier 1 automotive supplier, which can affect our sales volume. In addition, it is critical for us to successfully manage production ramp-up and quality control in order to deliver in computing platform, SoC products and software solutions to our customers in adequate volume and high quality.
Continued investments in R&D and innovation
Our financial performance will be significantly dependent on our ability to maintain our position as a leading automotive computing platform provider. We expect to incur substantial and potentially increasing research and development expenses. We develop most of our key technologies in-house to support a rapid pace of innovation. Accordingly, we dedicate significant resources towards research and development and invest heavily in recruiting talent. We have a team of over 2,000 full-time employees globally, among which nearly 1,700 belong to our R&D division.
Our ability to maintain and improve operating efficiency
Our results of operations are further affected by our ability to maintain and improve our operating efficiency, as measured by our total operating expenses as a percentage of our revenues. This is critical to the success of our business and our future profitability. As our business grows, we expect to further improve our operating efficiency and achieve economies of scale.
Key Components of Results of Operations
Revenues
We generate revenues primarily through sales of goods, software licensing and services provision.
Sales of goods revenues.   Our main products include:

Automotive computing platform, which we supply to OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers to be assembled on cars with infotainment head unit or digital cockpit;

SoC (“system on a chip”) Core Modules, where we sell standardized computing board, which integrates SoC with core integrated circuits and peripheral to OEMs or Tier 1 suppliers ; and

Automotive merchandise and other products, which are primarily basic electronic components such as resistor, capacitor and circuit board sold to automotive suppliers.
Software licensing.   We generate revenues for licensing our customers the rights to the intellectual property of bundled software. Such bundled software is configured into standardized in-vehicle operating system by us to support the overall in-vehicle software framework and infrastructure of OEMs.
 
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Service revenues.   We generate revenues by providing the following services:

Automotive computing platform design and development service

Connectivity service, which enables end-users of automobiles access to the internet; and,

Other services, including technical consulting services provided to automotive companies. The performance obligations are satisfied, and revenues recognized, upon customers’ acceptance of the services.
The following table sets forth a breakdown of revenues by type both in absolute amount and as a percentage of our revenues for the periods indicated.
For the Year Ended December 31,
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
2020
2021
2021
2022
RMB
%
RMB
US$
%
RMB
%
RMB
US$
%
(in thousands, except percentages)
Revenues
Sales of goods revenues
1,678,234 74.9 1,983,817 296,176 71.4 802,679 74.0 858,080 128,108 65.4
Software license revenues
71,297 3.2 261,265 39,006 9.4 162,303 15.0 78,995 11,794 6.0
Service revenues
491,532 21.9 533,981 79,721 19.2 119,880 11.0 375,495 56,060 28.6
Total 2,241,063 100.0 2,779,063 414,903 100.0 1,084,862 100.0 1,312,570 195,962 100.0
Cost of revenues
Our cost of revenues can be categorized as cost of goods sold, cost of software license and cost of services, which are the costs and expenses that are directly related to providing the Group’s products and services to customers. These cost and expenses primarily include (i) costs of raw materials and processing fee charged by outsourced factories, (ii) warehousing and transportation costs of inventories, (iii) staff costs of the employees of the quality control department and supply chain department, including share-based compensation expenses; and (iv) others, primarily consisted of depreciation, warranty cost, and license fees of software purchased from suppliers.
We expect that our cost of revenues will increase in absolute amounts in the foreseeable future as we continue to expand our business.
The following table sets forth a breakdown of our cost of revenues by nature both in absolute amount and as a percentage of our revenues for the periods indicated.
For the Year Ended December 31,
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
2020
2021
2021
2022
RMB
%
RMB
US$
%
RMB
%
RMB
US$
%
(in thousands, except percentages)
Cost of revenues
Cost of goods sold
1,524,744 68.1 1,749,188 261,146 62.9 689,052 63.6 687,208 102,597 52.3
Cost of software license
27,926 1.2 32,164 4,802 1.2 16,167 1.5 29,577 4,416 2.3
Cost of services
137,005 6.1 180,518 26,951 6.5 82,984 7.6 169,138 25,252 12.9
Total 1,689,675 75.4 1,961,870 292,899 70.6 788,203 72.7 885,923 132,265 67.5
Operating expenses
Our operating expenses consist of (i) research and development expenses, (ii) selling and marketing expenses, (iii) general and administrative expenses, and (iv) others, net.
 
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The following table sets forth a breakdown of our operating expenses both in absolute amount and as a percentage of our revenues for the periods indicated.
For the Year Ended December 31,
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
2020
2021
2021
2022
RMB
%
RMB
US$
%
RMB
%
RMB
US$
%
(in thousands, except percentages)
Operating expenses
Research and development expenses
706,018 31.5 1,209,385 180,556 43.5 485,894 44.8 596,055 88,989 45.4
Selling and marketing expenses
60,643 2.7 82,827 12,366 3.0 30,806 2.8 34,738 5,186 2.6
General and administrative expenses
215,008 9.6 506,873 75,674 18.2 186,335 17.2 408,007 60,914 31.1
Others, net
200 (207) (31) 455 1,534 229 0.1
Total 981,869 43.8 1,798,878 268,565 64.7 703,490 64.8 1,040,334 155,318 79.2
Our research and development expenses primarily consist of direct material cost, outsourced development expenses, payroll and related costs including share-based compensation related to researching and developing new technologies and expenses associated with the use by these functions of facilities and equipment, such as rental and depreciation expenses. We expect our research and development expenses to increase as we expand our business operations and our research and development team, enhance our technologies, and develop new features and functionalities on our platform.
Our selling and marketing expenses primarily consist of payroll and related cost including share-based compensation related to the selling and marketing activities, advertising costs, rental, depreciation related to selling and marketing functions. Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. We expect to continue to strategically incur selling and marketing expenses in strengthening our brand image.
General and administrative expenses primarily consist of (i) employee benefit expenses, (ii) share-based compensation, (iii) travelling and general expenses, and (iv) professional service fees. We expect our general and administrative expenses to increase in absolute amount in the foreseeable future, as we will incur additional expenses related to the anticipated growth of our business and our operations as a public company after the completion of the Business Combination.
Taxation
Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands currently levies no taxes on individuals or corporations based upon profits, income, gains or appreciation and there is no taxation in the nature of inheritance tax or estate duty. There are no other taxes likely to be material to us levied by the government of the Cayman Islands except for stamp duties which may be applicable on instruments executed in, or brought within the jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands. In addition, the Cayman Islands does not impose withholding tax on dividend payments.
China
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law effective from January 1, 2008 and last amended on December 29, 2018, our mainland China subsidiaries, and consolidated affiliated entities and their subsidiaries are subject to the statutory rate of 25%, subject to preferential tax treatments available to qualified enterprises in certain encouraged sectors of the economy.
Enterprises that qualify as “high and new technology enterprises” are entitled to a preferential rate of 15% for three years. In November 2019, Hubei ECARX, our former VIE, received the High and New Technology Enterprise (“HNTE”) certificate from the Hubei provincial government. This certificate entitled Hubei ECARX to enjoy a preferential income tax rate of 15% for a period of three years from 2019 to 2021 if all criteria for HNTE status are satisfied in the relevant year.
 
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We are currently subject to value added tax, or VAT, at rates between 6% and 13% on the products and services we provide, less any deductible VAT we have already paid or borne. We are also subject to surcharges on VAT payments in accordance with the law in mainland China.
Dividends paid by our wholly foreign-owned subsidiary in mainland China to our intermediary holding company in Hong Kong will be subject to a withholding tax rate of 10%, unless the relevant Hong Kong entity satisfies all the requirements under the Arrangement between the Mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and receives approval from the relevant tax authority. If our Hong Kong subsidiary satisfies all the requirements under the tax arrangement and receives approval from the relevant tax authority, then the dividends paid to the Hong Kong subsidiary would be subject to withholding tax at the standard rate of 5%.
If our company in the Cayman Islands or any of our subsidiaries outside of mainland China were deemed a “resident enterprise” under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, it would be subject to enterprise income tax on its worldwide income at a rate of 25%. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China — If we are classified as a mainland China resident enterprise for purposes of income tax in mainland China, such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-mainland China shareholders.”
Impact of COVID-19
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted China and the rest of the world, and it has resulted in quarantines, travel restrictions, and the temporary closure of offices and facilities in China and many other countries. Our revenue growth was negatively impacted in the first quarter of 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic. We started to recover in April 2020. Starting from March 2022, with the new Omicron variant spreading rapidly in certain parts of China, many social restrictions and quarantine measures have been reintroduced and tightened, and there have been substantial disruptions and delays to the supply chain and warehousing and logistics networks that are critical to the business operations of our customers and business partners and of ourselves. The potential downturn brought by and the duration of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may be difficult to assess or predict, and any associated negative impact on us will depend on many factors beyond our control, such as the availability and effectiveness of any vaccines. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts our long-term results remains uncertain, and we are closely monitoring its impact on us. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry — The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our business and could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.”
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth our results of operations with line items in absolute amount and as a percentage of our revenues for the periods indicated.
For the Year Ended December 31,
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
2020
2021
2021
2022
RMB
%
RMB
US$
%
RMB
%
RMB
US$
%
(in thousands, except percentages)
Revenue
– Sales of goods revenues
1,678,234 74.9 1,983,817 296,176 71.4 802,679 74.0 858,080 128,108 65.4
– Software license revenues
71,297 3.2 261,265 39,006 9.4 162,303 15.0 78,995 11,794 6.0
– Service revenues
491,532 21.9 533,981 79,721 19.2 119,880 11.0 375,495 56,060 28.6
Total revenues
2,241,063
100.0
2,779,063
414,903
100.0
1,084,862
100.0
1,312,570
195,962
100.0
Cost
– Cost of goods sold
(1,524,744) (68.1) (1,749,188) (261,146) (62.9) (689,052) (63.6) (687,208) (102,597) (52.3)
– Cost of software licenses
(27,926) (1.2) (32,164) (4,802) (1.2) (16,167) (1.5) (29,577) (4,416) (2.3)
 
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For the Year Ended December 31,
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
2020
2021
2021
2022
RMB
%
RMB
US$
%
RMB
%
RMB
US$
%
(in thousands, except percentages)
– Cost of services
(137,005) (6.1) (180,518) (26,951) (6.5) (82,984) (7.6) (169,138) (25,252) (12.9)
Total cost of revenues
(1,689,675)
(75.4)
(1,961,870)
(292,899)
(70.6)
(788,203)
(72.7)
(885,923)
(132,265)
(67.5)
Gross profit
551,388
24.6
817,193
122,004
29.4
296,659
27.3
426,647
63,697
32.5
Operating expenses:
– Research and development expenses
(706,018) (31.5) (1,209,385) (180,556) (43.5) (485,894) (44.8) (596,055) (88,989) (45.4)
– Selling and marketing expenses
(60,643) (2.7) (82,827) (12,366) (3.0) (30,806) (2.8) (34,738) (5,186) (2.6)
– General and administrative expenses
(215,008) (9.6) (506,873) (75,674) (18.2) (186,335) (17.2) (408,007) (60,914) (31.1)
– Others, net
(200) 207 31 (455) (1,534) (229) (0.1)
Total operating expenses
(981,869) (43.8) (1,798,878) (268,565) (64.7) (703,490) (64.8) (1,040,334) (155,318) (79.2)
Loss from operation
(430,481) (19.2) (981,685) (146,561) (35.3) (406,831) (37.5) (613,687) (91,621) (46.7)
Interest income
28,480 1.3 11,783 1,759 0.4 7,111 0.7 4,584 684 0.3
Interest expenses
(59,128) (2.6) (131,666) (19,657) (4.7) (111,054) (10.2) (19,153) (2,859) (1.5)
Share of results of equity method investments
148 (2,519) (376) (0.1) 487 (65,995) (9,853) (5.0)
Unrealized gains on equity securities
34,615 5,168 2.6
Gains on deconsolidation of a subsidiary
10,579 1,579 0.4 71,974 10,745 5.5
Change in fair value of warrant
liabilities
(39,635) (1.8) (111,299) (16,617) (4.0) (111,299) (10.3)
Government grants
5,998 0.3 4,507 673 0.2 3,031 0.3 28,154 4,203 2.1
Foreign currency exchange gains, net
54,842 2.4 18,315 2,734 0.7 13,637 1.3 (10,656) (1,591) (0.8)
Loss before income taxes
(439,776) (19.6) (1,181,985) (176,466) (42.4) (604,918) (55.7) (570,164) (85,124) (43.5)
Income tax expenses
(228) (3,447) (514) (0.1) (1,418) (0.1) (432) (64)
Net loss
(440,004) (19.6) (1,185,432) (176,980) (42.5) (606,336) (55.8) (570,596) (85,188) (43.5)
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We use adjusted net loss and adjusted EBITDA in evaluating our operating results and for financial and operational decision-making purposes. Adjusted net loss represents net loss excluding share-based compensation expenses, and such adjustment has no impact on income tax. We define adjusted EBITDA as net loss excluding interest income, interest expense, income tax expenses, depreciation of property and equipment, amortization of intangible assets, and share-based compensation expenses.
We present these non-GAAP financial measures because they are used by our management to evaluate our operating performance and formulate business plans. We believe that adjusted net loss and adjusted EBITDA help identify underlying trends in our business that could otherwise be distorted by the effect of certain expenses that are included in net loss. We also believe that the use of the non-GAAP measures facilitates investors’ assessment of our operating performance. We believe that adjusted net loss and adjusted EBITDA provide useful information about our operating results, enhance the overall understanding of our past performance and future prospects and allow for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by our management in its financial and operational decision making.
 
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Adjusted net loss and adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or construed as alternatives to net loss or any other measures of performance or as indicators of our operating performance. Investors are encouraged to compare our historical adjusted net loss and adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, net loss. Adjusted net loss and adjusted EBITDA presented here may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Other companies may calculate similarly titled measures differently, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures to our data. We encourage investors and others to review our financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.
The tables below set forth a reconciliation of our net loss to adjusted net loss and adjusted EBITDA for the periods indicated:
Year Ended December 31,
Six Months Ended June 30,
2020
2021
2021
2022
(in thousands)
RMB
RMB
US$
RMB
RMB
US$
Net loss
(440,004)
(1,185,432)
(176,980)
(606,336)
(570,596)
(85,188)
Share-based compensation expenses
11,410 179,933 26,863 38,694 195,037 29,118
Adjusted net loss
(428,594) (1,005,499) (150,117) (567,642) (375,559) (56,070)
Net loss
(440,004) (1,185,432) (176,980) (606,336) (570,596) (85,188)
Interest income
(28,480) (11,783) (1,759) (7,111) (4,584) (684)
Interest expense
59,128 131,666 19,657 111,054 19,153 2,859
Income tax expenses
228 3,447 514 1,418 432 64
Depreciation of property and equipment
38,480 43,137 6,440 21,118 22,542 3,365
Amortization of intangible assets
20,478 21,875 3,266 11,401 11,300 1,687
Share-based compensation expenses
11,410 179,933 26,863 38,694 195,037 29,118
Adjusted EBITDA
(338,760) (817,157) (121,999) (429,762) (326,716) (48,779)
Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2021
Revenues
For the Six months ended June 30,
2021
2022
Change
RMB
RMB
US$
RMB
US$
%
(in thousands, except percentages)
Sales of Goods Revenues
802,679
858,080
128,108
55,401
8,271
6.9
Automotive computing platform
579,219 608,078 90,784 28,859 4,309 5.0
SoC Core Modules
119,661 188,338 28,118 68,677 10,253 57.4
Merchandise and other products
103,799 61,664 9,206 (42,135) (6,291) (40.6)
Software License Revenues
162,303
78,995
11,794
(83,308)
(12,438)
(51.3)
Service Revenues
119,880
375,495
56,060
255,615
38,162
213.2
Automotive computing Platform –  Design and development service
21,848 241,090 35,994 219,242 32,732 1,003.5
Connectivity service
88,562 107,949 16,116 19,387 2,894 21.9
Other services
9,470 26,456 3,950 16,986 2,536 179.4
Total Revenues
1,084,862 1,312,570 195,962 227,708 33,995 21.0
Our revenues increased by RMB227.7 million (US$34.0 million) from RMB1,084.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 to RMB1,312.6 million (US$196.0 million) for the six months ended
 
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June 30, 2022, primarily driven by an increase in the demand for automotive computing platform design and development service from OEM customers and Tier 1 partners and in the sales of our newly launched Digital Cockpit platform (developed based on E03 Core Module and Snapdragon8155), as well as an expansion of the sales of E-series Core Modules through Tier 1 partners.
Sales of Goods Revenues.   Sales of goods revenues increased by RMB55.4 million (US$8.3 million) from RMB802.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 to RMB858.1 million (US$128.1 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2022, primarily due to an increase in the sales of our newly launched Digital Cockpit platform and the resultant shift in our portfolio revenue mix from IHU to Digital Cockpit, which carries a higher total revenue per unit.
Software License Revenues.   Software license service revenues decreased significantly by RMB83.3 million (US$12.4 million) from RMB162.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 to RMB79.0 million (US$11.8 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2022. We generated software license revenues by licensing Tier 1 automotive suppliers with vehicle intelligence-related technologies. The downtrend in this revenue stream is mainly caused by a one-off RMB48.8 million software license deal signed in the first half of 2021, as well as the scheduling of new platform product launches.
Service Revenues.   Service revenues increased significantly by RMB255.6 million (US$38.2 million) from RMB119.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 to RMB375.5 million (US$56.1 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2022. Revenue from other services increased mainly due to an increase in the demand for automotive computing platform design and development services from OEM customers and Tier 1 partners.
Cost of revenues
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
2021
2022
Change
RMB
RMB
US$
RMB
US$
%
(in thousands, except percentages)
Cost of revenues
Cost of goods sold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
689,052 687,208 102,597 (1,844) (275) (0.3)
Cost of software licenses . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16,167 29,577 4,416 13,410 2,002 82.9
Cost of services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
82,984 169,138 25,252 86,154 12,862 103.8
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
788,203 885,923 132,265 97,720 14,589 12.4
Our cost of revenues increased by RMB97.7 million (US$14.6 million) from RMB788.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 to RMB885.9 million (US$132.3 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2022. The increase was primarily due to the increased impairment losses of contract cost assets and increased cost of outsourcing related to the connectivity service. We outsourced the work for end users after we completed the transfer of the rights to access and process personal data in December 2021.
Gross profit and gross margin
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
2021
2022
Change
RMB
RMB
US$
RMB
US$
%
(in thousands, except percentages)
Gross profit
296,659 426,647 63,697 129,988 19,407 43.8
Gross margin (%)
27.3 32.5 32.5
As a result of the successful expansion of our product and service categories, our gross profit increased from RMB296.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 to RMB426.6 million (US$63.7 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and our gross margin increased from 27.3% for the six months ended June 30, 2021 to 32.5% for the six months ended June 30, 2022. Product innovation was a key driver of
 
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profitability improvement, such as the launch of new Digital Cockpit platform. We also expanded our research and development service to meet the demand of our customers.
The change in gross margin was primarily due to a shift to newly launched products and an increased demand by OEM customers of such products, along with an increase in the demand for automotive computing platform design and development services from OEM customers and Tier 1 partners.
Operating expenses
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
2021
2022
Change
RMB
RMB
US$
RMB
US$
%
(in thousands, except percentages)
Operating expenses
Research and development expenses
485,894 596,055 88,989 110,161 16,447 22.7
Selling and marketing expenses
30,806 34,738 5,186 3,932 587 12.8
General and administrative expenses
186,335 408,007 60,914 221,672 33,095 119.0
Others, net
455 1,534 229 1,079 161 237.1
Total 703,490 1,040,334 155,318 336,844 50,290 47.9
Research and development expenses.    Research and development expenses consist primarily of (i) employee-related costs, including salaries, benefits, bonuses and share-based compensation, for our research and development personnel, (ii) outsourced research and development expenses, (iii) rental expenses, (iv) depreciation, and (v) other expenses associated with our research and development activities. Our research and development expenses increased by RMB110.2 million (US$16.4 million) from RMB485.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 to RMB596.1 million (US$89.0 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2022, mainly because we dedicated significant resources towards research and development and invested heavily in recruiting talent in developing Automotive Central Computing Platform and innovation in Digital Cockpit products. Specifically research and development employee-related costs increased by RMB84.0 million (US$12.5 million) and outsourced research and development expenses increased by RMB62.0 million (US$9.3 million), while information system expenses decreased by RMB57.2 million (US$8.5 million).
Selling and marketing expenses.   Our selling and marketing expenses consist primarily of (i) employee-related costs, including salaries, bonuses, benefits and share-based compensation, for our employees responsible for business development, branding and marketing, and (ii) other selling and marketing expenses, including related to advertising, events, brand building and product marketing activities. Our selling and marketing expenses increased by RMB3.9 million (US$0.6 million) from RMB30.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 to RMB34.7 million (US$5.2 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2022, primarily because we expanded our marketing team to support business growth and brand building.
General and administrative expenses.    Our general and administrative expenses consist of employee-related costs, including salaries, bonuses, benefits and share-based compensation paid to general and administrative personnel and other expenses associated with our general and administrative activities. Our general and administrative expenses increased by RMB221.7 million (US$33.1 million) from RMB186.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 to RMB408.0 million (US$60.9 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2022, primarily due to the recognition of share-based compensation expenses in the amount of RMB167.6 million (US$25.0 million), the increase of RMB49.6 million (US$7.4 million) in employee-related costs, such as salaries, bonuses, benefits, and the increase of RMB11.4 million (US$1.7 million) in professional services fees associated with our international expansion and compliance requirements.
Loss from operation
As a result of the foregoing, we had a loss from operation of RMB613.7 million (US$91.6 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2022, in comparison with a loss from operation of RMB406.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021.
 
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Interest income
Interest income primarily consists of interest earned on cash deposits in banks. Our interest income decreased by RMB2.5 million (US$0.4 million) from RMB7.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 to RMB4.6 million (US$0.7 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2022, primarily due to the reduction in our cash deposits which were used to repay borrowings.
Interest expenses
Our interest expenses decreased by RMB91.9 million (US$13.7 million) from RMB111.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 to RMB19.2 million (US$2.9 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2022, primarily attributable to a decrease in outstanding loan due to repayment.
Share of results of equity method investment
We recognized a loss from equity method investments of RMB66.0 million (US$9.9 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2022, primarily due to the share of loss from our equity method investments.
Unrealized gains on equity securities
In April 2022, Volvo Car Corporation, the controlling interest holder of Zenseact, made capital contribution of SEK800 million to Zenseact to obtain 6,447 newly issued common shares. The capital contribution provided the observable price for our investment in Zenseact. We evaluated its investment’s carrying amount based on the observable price, and recognized a gain of RMB34.6 million (US$5.17 million) in unrealized gains on equity securities for the six months ended June 30, 2022.
Gains on deconsolidation of a subsidiary
In January 2022, Suzhou Photon-Matrix Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd (“Suzhou Photon-Matrix”), our PRC subsidiary, entered into certain financing agreements with third party investors, pursuant to which such investors contributed a total amount of RMB10.0 million in cash in exchange for 3.45% of equity interests of Suzhou Photon-Matrix. As a result of the transaction, our equity interest in Suzhou Photon-Matrix decreased from 50.9% to 49.2%, and we no longer control Suzhou Photon-Matrix. On the date we lost control in Suzhou Photon-Matrix, we remeasured our retained equity interest in Suzhou Photon-Matrix at a fair value of RMB64.0 million with backsolve method, a market approach, plus the carrying amount of noncontrolling interest in Suzhou Photon-Matrix of RMB33.6 million, minus the carrying amount of Suzhou Photon-Matrix’s net assets of RMB25.6 million. We therefore recorded a gain of RMB72.0 million (US$10.7 million) as a result of the deconsolidation.
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities
We recorded loss in fair value of warrant liabilities of RMB111.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021, compared to nil for the six months ended June 30, 2022. The warrant holder exercised the warrants to purchase Series Angel Preferred Shares in May 2021, therefore the change in fair value of warrant liabilities was nil for the six months ended June 30, 2022.
Government grants
For the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, we received government grants totaling RMB3.0 million and RMB28.2 million (US$4.2 million), respectively, as a result of support and incentives from local governments, which primarily consisted of subsidies for investment in research and development activities.
Foreign currency exchange gains, net
We recorded foreign currency exchange gains of RMB13.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021, compared to a loss of RMB10.7 million (US$1.6 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2022. The net change in foreign currency exchange gains was primarily attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates.
 
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Year Ended December 31, 2021 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2020
Revenues
For the Year Ended December 31,
2020
2021
Change
RMB
RMB
US$
RMB
US$
%
(in thousands, except percentages)
Sales of Goods Revenues
1,678,234
1,983,817
296,176
305,583
45,622
18.2
Automotive computing platform
1,265,227 1,423,548 212,530 158,321 23,637 12.5
SoC Core Modules
203,402 333,421 49,778 130,019 19,411 63.9
Merchandise and other products
209,605 226,848 33,868 17,243 2,574 8.2
Software License Revenues
71,297
261,265
39,006
189,968
28,361
266.4
Service Revenues
491,532 533,981 79,721 42,449 6,338 8.6
Automotive computing Platform – Design
and development service
297,801 306,358 45,738 8,557 1,278 2.9
Connectivity service
172,841 188,349 28,120 15,508 2,315 9.0
Other services
20,890 39,274 5,863 18,384 2,745 88.0
Total Revenues
2,241,063
2,779,063
414,903
538,000
80,321
24.0
Our revenues increased by RMB538.0 million (US$80.3 million) from RMB2,241.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 to RMB2,779.1 million (US$414.9 million) for the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily due to an increase in the sales of automotive computing platform products and the sales of newly launched Digital Cockpit platform, as well as expansion of the sales of E-series Core Modules through Tier 1 partners.
Sales of Goods Revenues.   Sales of goods revenues increased by RMB305.6 million (US$45.6 million) from RMB1,678.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 to RMB1,983.8 million (US$296.2 million) for the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily driven by an increase in the selling prices of IHU products, as well as the launch of new Digital Cockpit platform that resulted in a shift in our portfolio revenue mix from IHU to Digital Cockpit which has a higher total revenue per unit.
Software License Revenues.   Software license service revenues increased significantly by RMB190.0 million (US$28.4 million) from RMB71.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 to RMB261.3 million (US$39.0 million) for the year ended December 31, 2021. We generated software license revenues by licensing Tier 1 automotive suppliers with vehicle intelligence-related technologies.
Service Revenues.   Service revenues increased by RMB42.5 million (US$6.3 million) from RMB491.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 to RMB534.0 million (US$79.7 million) for the year ended December 31, 2021. Revenue from other services increased mainly due to the increase of demand on technical consulting services from OEM customers and Tier 1 partners and because we continued to provide connectivity services for which prepayments had been made by our customers.
Cost of revenues
For the Year Ended December 31,
2020
2021
Change
RMB
RMB
US$
RMB
US$
%
(in thousands, except percentages)
Cost of revenues
Cost of goods sold
1,524,744 1,749,188 261,146 224,444 33,509 14.7
Cost of software licenses
27,926 32,164 4,802 4,238 633 15.2
Cost of services
137,005 180,518 26,951 43,513 6,496 31.8
Total
1,689,675
1,961,870
292,899
272,195
40,638
16.1
 
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Our cost of revenues increased by RMB272.2 million (US$40.6 million) from RMB1,689.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 to RMB1,961.9 million (US$292.9 million) for the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase was primarily driven by the shift to new Digital Cockpit platform and E series Core Modules products which had higher cost per unit than last generation of products. The increased sales of these new products also contributed to the increase of cost of goods sold.
Gross profit and gross margin
For the Year Ended December 31,
2020
2021
Change
RMB
RMB
US$
RMB
US$
%
(in thousands, except percentages)
Gross profit
551,388 817,193 122,004 265,805 39,684 48.2
Gross margin (%)
24.6 29.4 29.4
As a result of successful expansion of the sales of our product and service categories, our gross profits increased from RMB551.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 to RMB817.2 million (US$122.0 million) for the year ended December 31, 2021 and our gross margins increased from 24.6% for the year ended December 31, 2020 to 29.4% for the year ended December 31, 2021. Product innovation was a key driver of profitability improvement, such as the launch of new Digital Cockpit platform. We also expanded our research and development service to meet the demand of our customers.
The change in gross margin was primarily due to a shift to newly launched products and an increased demand by OEM customers of such products, along with an expansion of sales channel to Tier 1 partners for E series Core Modules.
Operating expenses
For the Year Ended December 31,
2020
2021
Change
RMB
RMB
US$
RMB
US$
%
(in thousands, except percentages)
Operating expenses
Research and development expenses
706,018 1,209,385 180,556 503,367 75,151 71.3
Selling and marketing expenses
60,643 82,827 12,366 22,184 3,312 36.6
General and administrative expenses
215,008 506,873 75,674 291,865 43,574 135.7
Others, net
200 (207) (31) (407) (61) (203.5)
Total
981,869
1,798,878
268,565
817,009
121,976
83.2
Research and development expenses.   Our research and development expenses increased by RMB503.4 million (US$75.2 million) from RMB706.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 to RMB1,209.4 million (US$180.6 million) for the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily driven by our increased talent recruitment activities, and investment on developing of our central computing platform, autonomous driving technology and core operating system. Payroll costs related to research and development increased by RMB346.7 million (US$51.8 million), outsourced research and development expenses increased by RMB83.1 million (US$12.4 million), and costs related to non-employee contract personnel increased by RMB31.8 million (US$4.7 million).
Selling and marketing expenses.   Our selling and marketing expenses increased by RMB22.2 million (US$3.3 million) from RMB60.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 to RMB82.8 million (US$12.4 million) for the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily driven by our continued investments in advertising, marketing, and promotional activities as part of our commercial expansion across several geographic markets.
General and administrative expenses.   Our general and administrative expenses increased by RMB291.9 million (US$43.6 million) from RMB215.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 to
 
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RMB506.9 million (US$75.7 million) for the year ended December 31, 2021, as a result of our business expansion. The increase primarily reflects higher staffing costs to support the daily operation and managements as well as higher leasing costs to support business site expansion.
Loss from operation
As a result of the foregoing, we had a loss from operation of RMB981.7 million (US$146.6 million) for the year ended December 31, 2021, in comparison with a loss from operation of RMB430.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Interest income
Our interest income decreased by RMB16.7 million (US$2.5 million) from RMB28.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 to RMB11.8 million (US$1.8 million) for the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily due to a decrease in our bank deposits as we allocated an increasing amount of working capital for our business expansion endeavors.
Interest expenses
Our interest expenses increased by RMB72.6 million (US$10.8 million) from RMB59.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 to RMB131.7 million (US$19.7 million) for the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily due to an increase in the amount of loans taken for working capital and general corporate purpose.
Gains on deconsolidation of a subsidiary
ECARX sold 2% equity interest of a PRC subsidiary at the cash consideration of RMB1.0 million in September 2021. As a result of the transaction, our equity interest in such subsidiary decreased from 51% to 49% and we lost control over the subsidiary. On the date we lost control in the subsidiary, we remeasured our retained equity interest in the entity at fair value in the amount of RMB24.5 million and recorded a gain of RMB10.6 million (US$1.6 million) as a result the deconsolidation.
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities
We recorded loss in fair value of warrant liabilities of RMB39.6 million for the year ended December 31,2020, compared to a loss of RMB111.3 million (US$16.6 million) for the year ended December 31,2021. The increase in loss in fair value of warrant liabilities was primarily due to the changes in the valuation of warrant liabilities.
Government grants
For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, we received government grants totaling RMB4.5 million (US$0.7 million) and RMB6.0 million, respectively, as a result of support and incentives from local governments, which primarily consisted of subsidies for investment in research and development activities.
Foreign currency exchange gains, net
We recorded foreign currency exchange gains of RMB54.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to a gain of RMB18.3 million (US$2.7 million) for the year ended December 31, 2021. The net change in foreign currency exchange gains was primarily attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates.
 
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash flows and working capital
The following table sets forth a summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated.
For the year ended December 31,
For the six months ended June 30,
2020
2021
2021
2022
RMB
RMB
US$
RMB
RMB
US$
(in thousands)
Summary Consolidated Cash Flow Data
Net cash used in operating activities
(368,046) (872,325) (130,235) (294,029) (286,977) (42,845)
Net cash used in investing activities
(91,112) (1,391,361) (207,725) (223,018) (175,563) (26,211)
Net cash provided by financing
activities
1,138,126 2,192,792 327,375 1,477,362 195,356 29,166
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate
changes on cash and restricted cash
(10,023) (32,019) (4,780) (22,553) 4,367 652
Net increase (decrease) in cash and restricted cash
668,945 (102,913) (15,365) 937,762 (262,817) (39,238)
Cash and restricted cash at the beginning of the year
334,931 1,003,876 149,875 1,003,876 900,963 134,510
Cash and restricted cash at the end of the year
1,003,876 900,963 134,510 1,941,638 638,146 95,272
To date, we have funded our operating and investing activities primarily through cash generated from historical financing activities and drawdowns on credit facilities.
In 2020 and 2021, we issued a total of 22,500,000 Series A preferred shares for a total cash consideration of US$180.0 million. In March 2021, we issued 3,356,949 Series A+ preferred shares for a total cash consideration of US$28.2 million. In May 2021, we issued 5,043,104 Series Angel Preferred Shares for a total cash consideration of US$12.7 million to certain investor. In May 2021, we issued 21,255,132 Series A+ preferred shares for a total cash consideration of US$178.5 million. In December 2021, we issued 7,164,480 Series A++ Preferred Shares to certain investors for a total cash consideration of US$71.0 million. In September 2021, we issued 4,321,521 Series B Preferred Shares for a total cash consideration of US$50.0 million. In December 2021, we issued 2,160,760 Series B Preferred Shares for a total cash consideration of US$25.0 million. In May 2022, we completed the private placement of the Note with an aggregate principal of US$10.0 million.
In July 2020, we entered into a credit facility agreement with China Merchant Bank under which we were granted a credit line of RMB200 million (US$29.9 million). We have drawn an aggregate amount of RMB181 million (US$27.0 million) from the facility as working capital loan and any outstanding amount under the facility has been fully repaid as of the date of this prospectus/proxy statement.
In February 2021, we entered into a credit facility agreement with the China Merchant Bank under which we were granted a credit line of RMB400 million (US$59.7 million). In April 2021, we entered into a working capital loan agreement with the Industrial Bank for a loan facility of up to a principal amount of RMB300 million (US$44.8 million). The loan bore interest at Loan Prime Rate of one-year term grade minus 0.25% per annum. These facilities were fully drawn down and have been repaid in full as of the date of this prospectus/proxy statement.
In April 2022, we were granted a credit line of RMB240 million (US$35.8 million) for a term of one year from China CITIC Bank. In June 2022, we were granted a credit line of RMB680 million (US$101.5 million) for a term of one year from the Industrial Bank and we entered into a one-year term loan agreement with the Industrial Bank under the credit line for a principal amount of RMB480 million (US$71.7 million) bearing interest at Loan Prime Rate of one-year term grade plus 0.68% per annum.
 
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We had cash and restricted cash of RMB638.1 million (US$95.3 million) as of June 30, 2022. Upon consummation of the Business Combination, we expect to receive cash of US$345 million, assuming no redemptions and full commitment of the Strategic Investments. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic uncertainty could adversely affect our liquidity and capital resources in the future, and our cash requirements may fluctuate based on the timing and extent of many factors such as those discussed above.
We believe our existing sources of liquidity, together with (i) the cash that we expect to receive from the Business Combination and related financings, (ii) additional loan facilities from banks and renewal of existing bank borrowings when they are due, (iii) financial support from controlling shareholders, and (iv) issuance of convertible notes to new investor, will be sufficient to meet our anticipated working capital requirements and capital expenditures for at least the next 12 months from the date of this prospectus. We may seek additional equity or debt financing in the future to satisfy capital requirements, respond to adverse developments or changes in our circumstances or unforeseen events or conditions, or fund organic or inorganic growth. We cannot assure you that financing will be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all. In the event that additional financing is required from third party sources, we may not be able to raise it on acceptable terms or at all. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry — Our business plans require a significant amount of capital. In addition, our future capital needs may require us to sell additional equity or debt securities that may dilute our shareholders or introduce covenants that may restrict our operations or our ability to pay dividends.” The issuance and sale of additional equity would also result in further dilution to our shareholders. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increasing fixed obligations and could result in operating covenants that would restrict our operations.
As of June 30, 2022, RMB561.7 million (US$83.9 million) of our cash and cash equivalents were held in China and RMB547.8 million (US$81.8 million) were denominated in Renminbi. Substantially all of our revenues have been, and we expect to continue to be, denominated in Renminbi. Under existing foreign exchange regulations in mainland China, payments of current account items, including profit distributions, interest payments and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior SAFE approval as long as certain routine procedural requirements are fulfilled. Therefore, our mainland China subsidiaries are allowed to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior SAFE approval by following certain routine procedural requirements. However, approval from or registration with competent government authorities is required where the Renminbi is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of mainland China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. The PRC government may at its discretion restrict access to foreign currencies for current account transactions in the future.
Operating activities
Net cash used in operating activities decreased by RMB7.1 million (US$1.1 million) from the six months ended June 30, 2021 to the six months ended June 30, 2022, primarily due to the improved management of our cash conversion cycle.
Net cash used in operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was RMB287.0 million (US$42.8 million), as compared to a net loss of RMB570.6 million (US$85.2 million) for the same period. The difference was primarily due to the recognition of share-based compensation of RMB195.0 million (US$29.1 million), a decrease of RMB504.6 million (US$75.3 million) in accounts receivable, and a decrease of RMB34.7 million (US$5.2 million) in inventories, partially offset by a decrease of RMB229.2 million (US$34.2 million) in contract liabilities as we ceased to enter into new connectivity service contracts, and a decrease of RMB129.0 million (US$19.3 million) in accounts payable.
Net cash used in operating activities increased by RMB504.3 million (US$75.3 million) from 2020 to 2021, primarily due to an increase in research and development expenses, the dedication of significant resources towards research and development efforts and substantial investment in recruiting talent to support continued innovation.
Net cash used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2021 was RMB872.3 million (US$130.2 million), as compared to a net loss of RMB1,185.4 million (US$177.0 million) for the same year.
 
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The difference was primarily due to adjustments for non-cash items that primarily include share-based compensation of RMB179.9 million (US$26.9 million), and change in fair value of warrant liabilities of RMB111.3 million (US$16.6 million), as well as an increase of RMB353.7 million (US$52.8 million) in contract liabilities from related parties, and an increase of RMB186.0 million (US$27.8 million) in accrued expenses and other current liabilities, partially offset by a decrease of RMB218.1 million (US$32.6 million) in accounts payable to related parties, a decrease of RMB144.5 million (US$21.6 million) in notes payable, and an increase of RMB111.0 million (US$16.6 million) in prepayments and other current assets.
Net cash used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2020 was RMB368.0 million, as compared to a net loss of RMB440.0 million for the same year. The difference was primarily due to adjustments for non-cash items that primarily include depreciation and amortization of RMB59.0 million, amortization of debt issuance costs of RMB55.4 million, unrealized exchange gains of RMB55.2 million, write-down of inventories of RMB44.1 million, as well as cash released from a decrease in working capital mainly resulting from a decrease of RMB499.5 million in accounts receivable from third parties, and an increase of RMB111.3 million in notes payable, partially offset by a decrease of RMB811.6 million in accounts payable to third parties and an increase of RMB9.3 million in inventories.
Investing activities
Net cash used in investing activities decreased by RMB47.5 million (US$7.1 million) from RMB223.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 to RMB175.6 million (US$26.2 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2022, mainly due to a reduction in equity investment activities during the six months ended June 30, 2022.
For the six months ended June 30, 2022, net cash used in investing activities was RMB175.6 million (US$26.2 million), which was mainly attributable to (i) payments for purchase of property and equipment and intangible assets of RMB74.6 million (US$11.1 million), (ii) cash paid for acquisition of equity investments of RMB67.8 million (US$10.1 million), (iii) financial support to an equity method investee of RMB28.5 million (US$4.3 million) and (iv) cash disposed in deconsolidation of Suzhou Photon-Matrix of RMB22.6 million (US$3.4 million), partially offset by collection of loans lent to related parties of RMB25 million (US$3.7 million).
Net cash used in investing activities increased by RMB1,300.3 million (US$194.1 million) from 2020 to 2021, mainly due to the several strategic investments we made, including our investment in Zenseact for automated driving software development and in HaleyTek AB for operating system.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, net cash used in investing activities was RMB1,391.4 million (US$207.7 million), which was mainly attributable to (i) payments for acquisition of long-term investments of RMB1,345.6 million (US$200.9 million), (ii) payments for purchase of property, equipment and intangible assets of RMB78.9 million (US$11.8 million), (iii) collection of advances to a related party of RMB90.2 million (US$13.5 million), and (iv) advances to a related party of RMB19.8 million (US$3.0 million).
For the year ended December 31, 2020, net cash used in investing activities was RMB91.1 million, which was mainly attributable to (i) payments for purchase of property, equipment and intangible assets of RMB69.1 million, (ii) payments for advances to a related party of RMB103.0 million, and (iii) collection of advances to a related party of RMB81.0 million.
Financing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities decreased significantly by RMB1,282.0 million (US$191.4 million) from RMB1,477.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 to RMB195.4 million (US$29.2 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2022.
For the six months ended June 30, 2022, net cash provided by financing activities was RMB195.4 million (US$29.2 million), primarily consisting of (i) borrowings from related parties of RMB900 million (US$134.4 million), (ii) proceeds from short-term borrowings of RMB880 million (US$131.4 million), and (iii) proceeds from issuance of Series B Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares of RMB159.5 million
 
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(US$23.8 million), largely offset by (i) repayment for short-term borrowings of RMB1,332 million (US$198.9 million) and (ii) repayment of borrowings from related parties of RMB470 million (US$70.2 million).
Net cash provided by financing activities increased by RMB1,054.7 million (US$157.5 million) from 2020 to 2021, primarily due to net proceeds from the issuance of convertible redeemable preferred shares during 2021.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, net cash provided by financing activities was RMB2,192.8 million (US$327.4 million), primarily consisting of proceeds from issuance of Series A+ convertible redeemable preferred shares of RMB1,331.6 million (US$198.8 million), proceeds from issuance of Series A++ Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares of RMB452.2 million (US$67.5 million) and proceeds from issuance of Series B Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares of RMB324.3 million (US$48.4 million), repayment of long-term debt of RMB1,125.3 million (US$168.0 million), proceeds from short-term borrowings of RMB947.0 million (US$141.4 million), repayment for short-term borrowings of RMB91.0 million (US$13.6 million), borrowings from related parties of RMB315.2 million (US$47.1 million), and repayment of borrowings from related parties of RMB65.2 million (US$9.7 million).
For the year ended December 31, 2020, net cash provided by financing activities was RMB1,138.1 million, primarily consisting of refundable deposits in connection with the issuance of Series A convertible redeemable preferred shares of RMB1,032.1 million repayment for short-term borrowings of RMB167.9 million, and proceeds from short-term borrowings of RMB76.0 million.
Capital expenditures
Our capital expenditures are primarily incurred for the purchase of property, equipment and intangible assets. Our total capital expenditures were RMB78.9 million (US$11.8 million) and RMB74.6 million (US$11.1 million) for the year ended December 31, 2021 and for the six months ended June 30, 2021. We intend to acquire more equipment for our research and development team and to accommodate our expanded business operations and may incur additional capital expenditure. We intend to fund our future capital expenditures with our existing cash balance. We will continue to make capital expenditures to meet the needs of our research and development.
Material Cash Requirements
Other than the ordinary cash requirements for our operations, our material cash requirements as of June 30, 2022 and any subsequent interim period primarily include interest and principal payments for our borrowings from banks and related parties, operating lease commitment, purchase commitment, and capital commitment.
Our operating lease commitment primarily consists of future minimum lease commitments, all under office non-cancellable operating lease agreements.
Our purchase commitment primarily consists of future minimum purchase commitment related to the purchase of research and development services.
Our capital commitment primarily consists of total capital expenditures contracted but not yet reflected in the consolidated financial statements.
We intend to fund our existing and future material cash requirements with our existing cash balance and other financing alternatives. We will continue to make cash commitments, including capital expenditures, to support the growth of our business.
The following table sets forth our contractual obligations as of June 30, 2022.
 
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Payment Due by Period
Total
Less Than
1 year
1 – 2
Years
2 – 3
Years
3 – 5
Years
Over 5
Years
(RMB in thousands)
Operating lease commitment
127,236 32,069 18,729 14,567 22,629 39,242
Purchase commitment
66,550 66,550
Capital commitment
3,225 3,225
Short-term borrowings from banks
480,000 480,000
Short-term borrowings from related parties
700,000 700,000
Interest on short-term borrowings
38,206 38,206
Total
1,415,217
1,320,050
18,729
14,567
22,629
39,242
Other than as shown above, we did not have any significant capital and other commitments, long-term obligations, or guarantees as of June 30, 2022.
Off-Balance Sheet Commitments and Arrangements
We have not entered into any financial guarantees or other commitments to guarantee the payment obligations of any third parties. In addition, we have not entered into any derivative contracts that are indexed to our shares and classified as shareholders’ equity or that are not reflected in our consolidated financial statements. Furthermore, we do not have any retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity that serves as credit, liquidity, or market risk support to such entity. We do not have any variable interest in any unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk, or credit support to us or engages in leasing, hedging, or product development services with us.
Critical Accounting Policies, Judgments and Estimates
An accounting policy is considered critical if it requires an accounting estimate to be made based on assumptions about matters that are uncertain and requires significant judgment at the time such estimate is made, and if different accounting estimates that reasonably could have been used, or changes in the accounting estimates that are reasonably likely to occur periodically, could materially impact the consolidated financial statements.
We prepare our financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, which requires us to make judgments, estimates and assumptions. We continually evaluate these estimates and assumptions based on the most recently available information, our own historical experiences and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Since the use of estimates is an integral component of the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from our expectations as a result of changes in our estimates. Some of our accounting policies require a higher degree of judgment than others in their application and require us to make significant accounting estimates.
The following descriptions of critical accounting policies, judgments and estimates should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and other disclosures included in this prospectus. When reviewing our financial statements, you should consider (i) our selection of critical accounting policies, (ii) the judgments and other uncertainties affecting the application of such policies and (iii) the sensitivity of reported results to changes in conditions and assumptions.
Fair value of our ordinary shares
The following table sets forth the fair value of our ordinary shares on various dates estimated for the following purposes:

determining the fair value of our ordinary shares at the date of issuance of redeemable convertible preferred shares as one of the inputs into determining the intrinsic value of the beneficial conversion feature, if any;
 
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determining the fair value of our ordinary shares at the date of the grant of a share-based compensation award as one of the inputs into determining the grant date fair value; and

determining the fair value of our financial liabilities for warrants at the issuance date and each period end.
Date
Fair Value per share
Discount Rate
DLOM
(US$)
December 31, 2019
3.44 19% 20%
August 30, 2020
4.43 18% 20%
October 31, 2020
4.65 18% 20%
December 31, 2020
4.80 18% 20%
March 5, 2021*
5.36 NA* NA*
March 31, 2021
6.35 18% 15%
July 26, 2021*
8.31 NA* NA*
December 27, 2021*
9.01 NA* NA*
May 9, 2022
9.56 17% 10%
*
The equity value in these dates is determined by backsolve method reference to the recent equity finance transaction, which has already factored in the discount rate and DLOM.
Since there is no public trading market for our ordinary shares, the fair value of ordinary shares were determined with the assistance from an independent valuation firm using retrospective valuations. As at various valuation dates from 2020 to June 2022, we firstly estimated 100% equity value and then applied it into our allocation model to derive the fair value of each class of shares.
In determining the fair values of our ordinary shares, the third-party valuation estimates the 100% equity value using the income approach (Discounted cash flow, or DCF method) and the precedent transaction method (backsolve method). The income approach is based on the present value of projected cash flows applied a reasonable discount rate (WACC). The precedent transaction method estimates value by considering the sale price of equity securities in a recent financing and backsolve method with our capitalization structure and rights of preferred and common stock holders. The determination of the fair value of our ordinary shares requires complex and subjective judgments to be made regarding our projected financial and operating results, our unique business risks, the liquidity of our shares and our operating history and prospects at the time of valuation.
The income approach involves applying appropriate weighted average costs of capital (“WACCs”) to estimated cash flows that are based on projected earnings. Our revenue growth rates, as well as major milestones that we have achieved, contributed to the increase in the fair value of our ordinary shares from 2019 to June 2022. The assumptions used in deriving the fair values are consistent with our business plan. These assumptions include: no material changes in the existing political, legal and economic conditions in our operating region; our ability to retain competent management, key personnel and staff to support our ongoing operations; and no material deviation in market conditions from economic forecasts. These assumptions are inherently uncertain. The risk associated with achieving our forecasts were assessed in selecting the appropriate WACCs, which ranged from 19% to 17%.
The equity value is then allocated to each class of shares using the Option Pricing Method (“OPM”) and the hybrid method. Under the OPM, the value of an equity interest is modelled as a call option with a distinct claim on the equity value. The call right is valued using a Black-Scholes option pricing model. The hybrid method estimated the ordinary shares value per share under three scenarios: IPO, redemption and liquidation.
The major assumptions used in calculating the fair value of ordinary shares include:

WACCs: The WACCs were determined based on a consideration of the factors including risk-free rate, comparative industry risk, equity risk premium, company size and non-systematic risk factors.
 
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Discount for lack of marketability or DLOM: DLOM was quantified by the Finnerty’s Average-Strike put options mode. Under this option-pricing method, which assumed that the put option is struck at the average price of the stock before the privately held shares can be sold, the cost of the put option was considered as a basis to determine the DLOM.
The fair value of our ordinary shares was shown on the table mentioned above. The fair value increased from US$3.44 to US$9.56. This increase was primarily attributed to the following factors:

The growth of our business;

Our successful completion of financing which provided us with the funding needed for our expansion; and

The decrease of DLOM and discount rate considering the initial public offering expected date and business growth.
Holding Company Structure
ECARX Holdings Inc. is a holding company with no material operations of its own. We conduct our operations in mainland China through our mainland China subsidiaries and, prior to the Restructuring, also through our former VIE, Hubei ECARX. As a result, our ability to pay dividends depends significantly upon dividends paid by our mainland China subsidiaries. If our existing mainland China subsidiaries or any newly formed ones incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing their debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends to us. In addition, our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries in mainland China are permitted to pay dividends to us only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with the accounting standards and regulations in mainland China. Under the PRC law, each of our mainland China subsidiaries and, prior to the Restructuring, Hubei ECARX is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, after making up previous years’ accumulated losses, if any, to fund certain statutory reserve funds until such reserve funds reach 50% of its registered capital. In addition, each of our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries in mainland China may allocate a portion of its after-tax profits based on the accounting standards in mainland China to enterprise expansion funds and staff bonus and welfare funds at its discretion. The statutory reserve funds and the discretionary funds are not distributable as cash dividends. Remittance of dividends by a wholly foreign-owned company out of mainland China is subject to examination by the banks designated by the SAFE. Our mainland China subsidiaries have not paid dividends and will not be able to pay dividends until they generate accumulated profits and meet the requirements for statutory reserve funds.
Inflation
To date, inflation in mainland China has not materially impacted our results of operations. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the year-over-year percent change in the consumer price index was 2.5% in December 2020, 1.5% in December 2021 and 2.5% in June 2022. Although we have not been materially affected by inflation in the past, we can provide no assurance that we will not be affected by higher rates of inflation in mainland China in the future.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk
Foreign exchange risk
The revenue and expenses of our entities in mainland China are generally denominated in Renminbi and their assets and liabilities are denominated in Renminbi. Our international revenues are denominated in foreign currencies and expose us to the risk of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates against the Renminbi. A significant portion of our cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments are denominated in U.S. dollars, and fluctuations in exchange rates between U.S. dollars and Renminbi may result in foreign exchange gains or losses. We have not used any derivative financial instruments to hedge exposure to such risk. In addition, the value of your investment in our securities will be affected by the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and Renminbi because the value of our business is effectively denominated in Renminbi, while our securities will be traded in U.S. dollars.
 
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Renminbi is not freely convertible into foreign currencies. Remittances of foreign currencies into mainland China or remittances of Renminbi out of mainland China as well as exchange between Renminbi and foreign currencies require approval by foreign exchange administrative authorities with certain supporting documentation. The State Administration for Foreign Exchange, under the authority of the People’s Bank of China, controls the conversion of Renminbi into other currencies.
The value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies is affected by changes in China’s political and economic conditions and by China’s foreign exchange policies, among other things. In July 2005, the PRC government changed its decades-old policy of pegging the value of the Renminbi to the U.S. dollar, and the Renminbi appreciated more than 20% against the U.S. dollar over the following three years. Between July 2008 and June 2010, this appreciation subsided and the exchange rate between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar remained within a narrow band. Since June 2010, the Renminbi has fluctuated against the U.S. dollar, at times significantly and unpredictably. It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar in the future.
To the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars into Renminbi for our operations, appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on the Renminbi amount we receive from the conversion. Conversely, if we decide to convert Renminbi into U.S. dollars for the purpose of making payments for dividends on our ordinary shares or for other business purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollars against the Renminbi would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amounts available to us.
Interest rate risk
Our exposure to interest rate risk primarily relates to (i) our liabilities to credit institutions which subject us to cash flow interest rate risk as well as interest expenses, and (ii) the interest income generated by excess cash, which is mostly held in interest-bearing bank deposits and wealth management products. We have not been exposed to material risks due to changes in market interest rates. Investments in both fixed-rate and floating rate interest-earning instruments carry a degree of interest rate risk. Fixed-rate securities may have their fair market value adversely impacted due to a rise in interest rates, while floating-rate securities may produce less income than expected if interest rates fall.
We closely monitor the effects of changes in the interest rates on our interest rate risk exposures, but we currently do not take any measures to hedge interest rate risks.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Prior to our initial public offering, we have been a private company with limited accounting personnel and other resources with which to address our internal control over financial reporting. In connection with the audits of our consolidated financial statements included in this prospectus, we and our independent registered public accounting firm identified one material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. As defined in the standards established by the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, a “material weakness” is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
The material weakness that has been identified relates to the lack of sufficient financial reporting and accounting personnel with appropriate knowledge of U.S. GAAP and the SEC reporting requirements to formalize, design, implement and operate key controls over financial reporting process to address complex U.S. GAAP accounting issues and related disclosures in accordance with U.S. GAAP and financial reporting requirements set forth by the SEC. This has resulted in a number of accounting errors and omissions, including but not limited to the accounting for the complex transactions such as share based compensation and redeemable convertible preferred shares.
We are in the process of implementing a number of measures to address the material weakness identified, including: (i) hiring additional accounting and financial reporting personnel with U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting experience, (ii) expanding the capabilities of existing accounting and financial reporting personnel through continuous training and education in the accounting and reporting requirements
 
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under U.S. GAAP, and SEC rules and regulations, (iii) developing, communicating and implementing an accounting policy manual for our accounting and financial reporting personnel for recurring transactions and period-end closing processes, and (iv) establishing controls to identify nonrecurring and complex transactions and assess the impact of the adoption of new accounting standards to ensure the accuracy and completeness of our company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
The process of designing and implementing an effective financial reporting system is a continuous effort that requires us to anticipate and react to changes in our business and the economic and regulatory environments and to devote significant resources to maintain a financial reporting system that is adequate to satisfy our reporting obligation. However, we cannot assure you that all of these measures will be sufficient to remediate our material weakness in time, or at all. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry — If we fail to implement and maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may be unable to accurately report our results of operations, meet our reporting obligations or prevent fraud, which may have material and adverse effect to investor confidence and the market price of our securities.”
As a company with less than US$1.235 billion in revenues for fiscal year of 2020, we qualify as an “emerging growth company” pursuant to the JOBS Act. An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include exemption from the auditor attestation requirement under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 in the assessment of the emerging growth company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
A list of recently issued accounting pronouncements that are relevant to us is included in Note 2 of our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
 
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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Introduction
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements present the combination of the financial information of COVA Acquisition Corp. (“COVA”) and ECARX Holdings Inc. (“ECARX”), adjusted to give effect to the Business Combination and related transactions (collectively, “the Transaction”). The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X as amended by the final rule, Release No. 33-10786 “Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses.”
COVA is a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company on December 11, 2020, for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar Business Combination with one or more businesses or entities. On February 4, 2021, the registration statement for COVA’s initial public offering was declared effective and on February 9, 2021, COVA consummated its initial public offering of 30,000,000 units (the “Units” and, with respect to the shares of COVA’s Class A Ordinary Shares included in the Units sold), including the issuance of 3,900,000 Units as a result of the underwriters’ partial exercise of their over-allotment option. The Units were sold at an offering price of US$10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of US$300.0 million which is held in the Trust Account. As of June 30, 2022, COVA had assets of US$301,123,413 (RMB2,016,954,733) and net current liabilities of US$3,535,181 (RMB23,678,996).
ECARX is transforming vehicles into seamlessly integrated information, communications and transportation devices. It is shaping the interaction between people and cars by rapidly advancing the technology at the heart of smart mobility. ECARX’s current core products include infotainment head units, digital cockpits, vehicle chip-set solutions, a core operating system and integrated software stack. Beyond this, ECARX is developing a full-stack automotive computing platform.
Historically, ECARX conducted its operation in China through its wholly-owned PRC subsidiaries as well as through Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd ("Hubei ECARX” or “the VIE”), and its subsidiaries based in China. Since early 2022, ECARX has implemented a series of transactions to restructure its organization and business operations (the “Restructuring”). In connection with the Restructuring, in April 2022, the Company, Hubei ECARX and shareholders of Hubei ECARX entered into a VIE Termination Agreement, pursuant to which, the VIE Agreements were terminated with immediate effect. In addition, ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co., Ltd. (“ECARX (Hubei) Tech”), a wholly-owned PRC subsidiary of the Company, and Hubei ECARX reached an agreement that,

All of the business and operations which are not subject to restrictions on the foreign investments, including the sales of automotive computing platforms, SoC core modules, automotive merchandise or other products, software licensing and the provision of automotive computing platform design and development service and other services of Hubei ECARX, and related assets and liabilities, contracts, intellectual properties and employees, will be transferred from Hubei ECARX to ECARX (Hubei) Tech, at nil consideration.

The remaining business and operations, which are subject to the restrictions on foreign investments, including mapping and surveying licenses and related activities, the internet content provider license, related assets and liabilities, contracts, intellectual properties and employees will be retained by Hubei ECARX and spun off from ECARX upon the completion of the Restructuring. The operating results of the remaining business operations in 2020 and 2021 were inconsequential. In addition, ECARX also spun off three equity method investments.
 
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As of June 30, 2022, ECARX has completed the Restructuring, pursuant to which, the following assets were derecognized by ECARX:
 Assets
RMB in thousands
Cash 20,000
Long-term investments
211,908
Property and equipment, net
34,873
Intangible assets, net
1,094
In addition, ECARX recognized amounts due from Hubei ECARX in the amount of RMB205,954 thousand which represented the net present value of a loan provided by ECARX to Hubei ECARX in the amount of RMB252,287 thousand. The loan is interest free and will be settled in cash no later than May 2026. The present value of the loan is discounted at an effective annual interest rate of 5%. The excess of the assets derecognized over the amounts due from the VIE was recorded in accumulated deficit.
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet combines the unaudited historical balance sheet of COVA as of June 30, 2022, with the unaudited historical consolidated balance sheet of ECARX as of June 30, 2022, as if the Transaction occurred on June 30, 2022. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and the year ended December 31, 2021 presents the pro forma effect of the Transaction as if the Transaction has been completed on January 1, 2021.
The unaudited pro forma combined financial statements do not necessarily reflect what the combined company’s financial condition or results of operations would have been had the Transactions occurred on the dates indicated. The unaudited pro forma combined financial information also may not be useful in predicting the future financial condition and results of operations of the combined company. The actual financial position and results of operations may differ significantly from the pro forma amounts reflected herein due to a variety of factors.
This information should be read together with COVA’s and ECARX’s audited financial statements and related notes, the sections titled “COVA’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “ECARX’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and other financial information included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus.
Under both the no redemption scenario and the maximum redemption scenarios, the Business Combination will be accounted for in a manner similar to a reverse recapitalization, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded, in accordance with GAAP.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared using the assumptions below:

Assuming No Redemption: This presentation assumes that no COVA Public Shareholder exercises redemption rights with respect to their COVA Public Shares.

Assuming Maximum Redemption: This presentation assumes that COVA Public Shareholders holding 30,000,000 COVA Public Shares will exercise their redemption rights for US$300,000,000 of funds in the Trust Account. COVA’s obligations under the Merger Agreement are subject to certain customary closing conditions. Furthermore, COVA will only proceed with the Business Combination if it will have net tangible assets of at least US$5,000,001 upon consummation of the Business Combination (as determined in accordance with Rule3a5l-l(g)(1) of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)). This presentation does not take into account the Minimum Available Cash Condition.
In each case, the pro forma share and per share information assume that the Transactions are effective on January 1, 2021.
 
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Description of the Transactions
On May 26, 2022, COVA entered into the Merger Agreement with ECARX, Ecarx Temp Limited (“Merger Sub 1”) and Ecarx&Co Limited (“Merger Sub 2”, collectively referred to as “Merger Subs”). The Merger Subs are wholly owned subsidiaries of ECARX, which are exempted companies limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, (i) Merger Sub 1 will merge with and into COVA (the “First Merger”), with COVA surviving the First Merger, and (ii) COVA will merge with and into Merger Sub 2 (the “Second Merger” and together with the First Merger, the “Mergers”), with Merger Sub 2 surviving the Second Merger. The Mergers shall become effective at the time when the Mergers are registered by the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands or at such later time permitted by the Cayman Act as may be agreed by Merger Sub and the surviving company in writing and specified in the Mergers’ filing documents.
Upon the consummation of the Mergers: (i) each of COVA’s Units (each consisting of one COVA Public Share (as defined below) and one-half of one COVA Public Warrant issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the First Merger (the “First Effective Time”)) shall be automatically separated and the holder thereof shall be deemed to hold one COVA Public Share and one-half of one COVA Public Warrant; provided, that, no fractional COVA Public Warrants shall be issued in connection with such separation such that if a holder of such Units would be entitled to receive a fractional COVA Public Warrant. Upon such separation, the number of COVA Public Warrants to be issued to such holder upon such separation will be rounded down to the nearest whole number of COVA Public Warrants and no cash will be paid in lieu of such fractional COVA Public Warrants; (ii) immediately following the separation of each Unit, each Class A ordinary share, par value US$0.0001 per share, of COVA (“COVA Public Shares”) and each Class B ordinary share, par value US$0.0001 per share, of COVA (“Founder Shares”; collectively with COVA Public Shares, “COVA Shares”) (excluding COVA Public Shares that are held by COVA shareholders that validly exercise their redemption rights, COVA Shares that are held by COVA shareholders that exercise and perfect their relevant dissenters’ rights and COVA treasury shares) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time shall be cancelled in exchange for the right to receive one newly issued ECARX Class A Ordinary Share; and (iii) each whole warrant of COVA outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time shall cease to be a warrant with respect to COVA Public Shares and be assumed by ECARX and converted into a warrant to purchase one ECARX Class A Ordinary Share, subject to substantially the same terms and conditions prior to the First Effective Time.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, as a result of the Second Merger, each ordinary share of COVA that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Second Merger (the “Second Effective Time”) will be automatically cancelled and extinguished without any conversion thereof or payment therefor; (ii) each ECARX Ordinary Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Second Effective Time shall remain outstanding as a ECARX’s Ordinary Share of the surviving company and shall not be affected by the Second Merger.
Consideration
The following represents the aggregate merger consideration under the no redemption scenario and the maximum redemption scenario:
Assuming No Redemption
Assuming Maximum Redemption
(in thousands, except share amounts)
Purchase Price
Shares Issued
Purchase Price
Shares Issued
Shares Consideration to COVA(a)(b)
37,500,000 5,250,000
(a)
The value of ECARX’s Ordinary Shares is reflected at US$0.000005 per share which was based on a pre-transaction enterprise value of ECARX equal to the transaction consideration on a cash-free, debt-free basis.
(b)
Under the no redemption scenario, each ordinary share of COVA issued and outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time shall automatically be cancelled and cease to exist in exchange for the right to receive one newly issued, fully paid and non-assessable ECARX Class A Ordinary Share. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, under the maximum redemption scenario when COVA Public Shares are fully redeemed at the value of US$10.00, Sponsor could only receive 5,250,000 newly issued, fully paid and non-assessable ECARX Class A Ordinary Share.
 
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In accordance with the Merger Agreement, each COVA Warrant outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time shall cease to be a warrant with respect to ordinary shares of COVA and be assumed by ECARX and converted into a warrant to purchase one ECARX Class A Ordinary Share. Each warrant converted shall continue to have and be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions as were applicable to such warrants immediately prior to the First Effective Time. Given the terms of the warrants as summarized in the section entitled “Description of ECARX Securities,” Public Warrants are classified as liabilities because the terms include a cash tender offer that is outside of the control of ECARX and if triggered, all warrants holders would be entitled to cash, whereas only certain ordinary shareholders would be entitled to cash; Private Warrants are classified as liabilities because the terms include potential changes to the settlement amounts dependent on the characteristics of the holders.
Ownership
As of the date of the Merger Agreement, the authorized share capital of ECARX is comprised of 198,035,714 Ordinary Shares and 76,049,918 Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding.
Prior to the First Effective Time, ECARX’s Ordinary Shares and Preferred Shares shall be recapitalized by way of a repurchase in exchange for issuance of such number of shares, multiplied by a Recapitalization Factor (as defined below) (the “Recapitalization”); provided that no fraction of an Ordinary Share will be issued.
“Recapitalization Factor” means the quotient obtained by dividing the Price per Share (as defined below) by US$10.00. Price per Share is referred to the quotient of US$3,400,000,000, being the pre-money equity value of ECARX as agreed between ECARX and COVA, prior to the First Effective Time divided by the aggregated number of (a) ECARX’s Ordinary Shares excluding the shares to be issued upon the exercise of the warrants and the Note as well as the shares to be issued to strategic investors upon the closing of the Transaction, (b) ECARX’s Preferred Shares, and (c) 14,084,387 shares reserved as of the date of the Merger Agreement for the benefit of the exercise of ECARX’s options. Assuming the Transaction completed on June 30, 2022, the Recapitalization Factor would be 1.18.
Assuming No Redemption
Assuming Maximum Redemption
Shares
%
Shares
%
Holders of ECARX Ordinary Shares without reflecting potential sources of dilution:
COVA Ordinary Shareholders (including the Sponsor)
A  37,500,000 10.30% 5,250,000 1.58%
Existing ECARX Ordinary Shareholders
B 233,654,226 64.12% 233,654,226 70.35%
Existing ECARX Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shareholder
C 89,728,183 24.62% 89,728,183 27.02%
Shares underlying strategic investments
F 3,500,000 0.96% 3,500,000 1.05%
Total Ordinary Shares Outstanding at Closing (excluding options and warrants)
364,382,409 100.00% 332,132,409 100.00%
Potential sources of dilution:
Shares underlying Public Warrants
15,000,000 15,000,000
Shares underlying Private Warrants
9,872,000 9,872,000
Shares underlying ECARX options
D 16,617,591 16,617,591
Shares underlying the convertible bond
E 1,000,000 1,000,000
Total ECARX Ordinary Shares
outstanding at Closing
406,872,000 374,622,000
(A)
Under the no redemption scenario, each COVA’s Ordinary Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time shall automatically be cancelled and cease to exist in exchange for the right to receive one newly issued, fully paid and non-assessable ECARX’s Class A Ordinary Share. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, under the maximum redemption scenario when COVA Public Shares are fully redeemed at the value of US$10.00, Sponsor is only entitled to 5,250,000 newly issued, fully paid and non-assessable ECARX’s Class A Ordinary Share.
(B)
Including ordinary shares outstanding as of June 30, 2022, after considering the impact of the Recapitalization.
(C)
Representing the Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares issued and outstanding prior to the First Effective Time, given the impact of the Recapitalization.
 
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(D)
Representing the shares reserved for the share options of ECARX prior to the date of the Merger Agreement, after considering the impact of the Recapitalization.
(E)
Representing the convertible bond (the “Note”), which was issued in May 2022 and will be converted into ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares at a conversion price equal to US$10.00 per share upon the consummation of the Transaction.
(F)
Representing the aggregate of 3,500,000 ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares to be issued to strategic investors, which are Geely Investment Holding Ltd. and Luminar Technologies, Inc., at US$10.00 per share for an aggregate investment amount of US$35,000,000.
Accounting for the Business Combination
ECARX has determined that it is the accounting acquirer based on its evaluation of the facts and circumstances of the acquisition. The purpose of the merger was to assist ECARX with the refinancing and recapitalization of its business. ECARX is the larger of the two entities and is the operating company within the combining companies. ECARX will have control of the board as it will hold a majority of the seats on the board of directors with COVA only taking two seats in the board members after the Mergers. ECARX’ senior management will be continuing as senior management of the combined company. In addition, a larger portion of the voting rights in the combined entity will be held by existing ECARX’s shareholders.
As ECARX was determined to be the acquirer for accounting purposes, the accounting for the transaction will be similar to that of a capital infusion as the only significant pre-combination asset of COVA is the cash in the Trust Account. No intangibles or goodwill will arise through the accounting for the transaction. The accounting is the equivalent of ECARX issuing shares and warrants for the net monetary assets of COVA.
 
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Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Balance Sheet
As of June 30, 2022
(In thousands of RMB, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
Assuming No Redemption
Assuming Maximum Redemption
ECARX
COVA
Pro
Forma
Combined
Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
Notes
Pro
Forma
Combined
Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
Notes
Pro
Forma
Combined
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash
583,146 17 583,163 2,013,540 1 2,556,851 (2,009,430) 4 547,421
(274,286) 2
234,434 8
Restricted cash
55,000 55,000 55,000 55,000
Accounts receivable – third parties, net
227,964 227,964 227,964 227,964
Accounts receivable – related parties,
net
217,563 217,563 217,563 217,563
Notes receivable
113,839 113,839 113,839 113,839
Inventories
183,471 183,471 183,471 183,471
Amounts due from related parties
32,037 32,037 32,037 32,037
Prepayments and other current
assets
222,219 3,398 225,617 (7,034) 2 218,583 218,583
Total current assets
1,635,239
3,415
1,638,654
1,966,654
3,605,308
(2,009,430)
1,595,878
Non-current assets
Long-term investments
1,225,301 1,225,301 1,225,301 1,225,301
Property and equipment, net
100,684 100,684 100,684 100,684
Intangible assets, net
29,972 29,972 29,972 29,972
Operating lease right-of-use assets
101,663 101,663 101,663 101,663
Amounts due from the VIE
208,503 208,503 208,503 208,503
Other non-current assets – third parties
19,139 19,139 19,139 19,139
Investments held in Trust Account
2,013,540 2,013,540 (2,013,540) 1
Total non-current assets
1,685,262 2,013,540 3,698,802 (2,013,540) 1,685,262 1,685,262
Total assets
3,320,501
2,016,955
5,337,456
(46,886)
5,290,570
(2,009,430)
3,281,140
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Short-term borrowings
480,000 480,000 480,000 480,000
Accounts payable – third parties
490,178 490,178 490,178 490,178
Accounts payable – related parties
142,305 142,305 142,305 142,305
Notes payable
155,000 155,000 155,000 155,000
Convertible notes payable, net
66,981 66,981 (66,981) 7
Amounts due to related parties
712,211 5,776 717,987 717,987 717,987
Contract liabilities, current – third parties
993 993 993 993
Contract liabilities, current – related parties
235,276 235,276 235,276 235,276
Current operating lease liabilities
31,900 31,900 31,900 31,900
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
363,157 21,318 384,475 384,475 384,475
Total current liabilities
2,678,001 27,094 2,705,095 (66,981) 2,638,114 2,638,114
 
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Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Balance Sheet (Continued)
As of June 30, 2022
(In thousands of RMB, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
Assuming No Redemption
Assuming Maximum Redemption
ECARX
COVA
Pro
Forma
Combined
Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
Notes
Pro
Forma
Combined
Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
Notes
Pro
Forma
Combined
Non-current liabilities
Contract liabilities, non-current – third parties
193 193 193 193
Contract liabilities, non-current – related parties
373,365 373,365 373,365 373,365
Operating lease liabilities, non-current
68,476 68,476 68,476 68,476
Other non-current liabilities
20,049 20,049 20,049 20,049
Deferred underwriting fee
70,330 70,330 (70,330) 2
Warrant liabilities, non-current
16,067 16,067 16,067 16,067
Total non-current liabilities
462,083 86,397 548,480 (70,330) 478,150 478,150
Total liabilities
3,140,084 113,491 3,253,575 (137,311) 3,116,264 3,116,264
Commitments and contingencies
Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption
2,013,540 2,013,540 (2,013,540) 4
MEZZANINE EQUITY
Series Angel Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares
309,181 309,181 (309,181) 3
Series A Redeemable Convertible
Preferred Shares
1,553,405 1,553,405 (1,553,405) 3
Series A+ Redeemable Convertible
Preferred Shares
1,511,727 1,511,727 (1,511,727) 3
Series A++ Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares
518,320 518,320 (518,320) 3
Series B Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares
1,219,213 1,219,213 (1,219,213) 3
Total mezzanine equity
5,111,846 5,111,846 (5,111,846)
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Class A ordinary shares
3 3 4 (1) 4 3
1 4
Class B ordinary shares
5 5 (5) 5 7 7
7 9
Ordinary Shares
7 7 (7) 9
Treasury Shares, at cost
Additional paid-in capital
17,195 17,195 (210,990) 2 7,355,444 (2,009,429) 4 5,346,015
5,111,843 3
2,013,539 4
(110,076) 5
232,518 6
66,981 7
234,434 8
Accumulated deficit
(4,740,364) (110,081) (4,850,445) 110,081 5 (4,972,882) (4,972,882)
(232,518) 6
Accumulated other comprehensive
income (loss)
(208,267) (208,267) (208,267) (208,267)
Total equity attributable to ordinary shareholders of ECARX Holdings Inc.
(4,931,429) (110,076) (5,041,505) 7,215,811 2,174,306 (2,009,430) 164,876
 
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Assuming No Redemption
Assuming Maximum Redemption
ECARX
COVA
Pro
Forma
Combined
Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
Notes
Pro
Forma
Combined
Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
Notes
Pro
Forma
Combined
Non-redeemable non-controlling interests
Total shareholders’ equity
(4,931,429)
(110,076)
(5,041,505)
7,215,811
2,174,306
(2,009,430)
164,876
Total liabilities, mezzanine equity,
commitments and shareholders’
equity
3,320,501 2,016,955 5,337,456 (46,886) 5,290,570 (2,009,430) 3,281,140
 
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Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Statement of Operations
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2022
(In thousands of RMB, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
Assuming
No Redemption
Assuming
Maximum
Redemption
ECARX
VIE
Restructuring
Adjustments
Pro
Forma
ECARX
COVA
Pro
Forma
Combined
Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
Notes
Pro
Forma
Combined
Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
Notes
Pro
Forma
Combined
Revenues
Sales of goods revenues
858,080 858,080 858,080 858,080 858,080
Software license revenues
78,995 78,995 78,995 78,995 78,995
Service revenues
375,495 375,495 375,495 375,495 375,495
Total revenues
1,312,570 1,312,570 1,312,570 1,312,570 1,312,570
Cost of goods sold
(687,208) (687,208) (687,208) (687,208) (687,208)
Cost of software licenses
(29,577) (29,577) (29,577) (29,577) (29,577)
Cost of services
(169,138) (169,138) (169,138) (169,138) (169,138)
Total cost of revenues
(885,923) (885,923) (885,923) (885,923) (885,923)
Gross profit
426,647 426,647 426,647 426,647 426,647
Research and development expenses
(596,055) 8,476 (587,579) (587,579) 9,511 A (578,068) (578,068)
Selling and marketing expenses
(34,738) 307 (34,431) (34,431) (985) A (35,416) (35,416)
General and administrative expenses
(408,007) 3,467 (404,540) (26,001) (430,541) (6,444) A (436,985) (436,985)
Others, net
(1,534) (1,534) (1,534) (1,534) (1,534)
Total operating expenses
(1,040,334) 12,250 (1,028,084) (26,001) (1,054,085) 2,082 (1,052,003) (1,052,003)
Loss from operation
(613,687) 12,250 (601,437) (26,001) (627,438) 2,082 (625,356) (625,356)
Interest income
4,584 2,490 7,074 3,748 10,822 10,822 10,822
Interest expenses
(19,153) (19,153) (19,153) (19,153) (19,153)
Share of results of equity method investments
(65,995) 27,072 (38,923) (38,923) (38,923) (38,923)
Unrealized gains on equity securities
34,615 34,615 34,615 34,615 34,615
Gains on deconsolidation of a subsidiary
71,974 71,974 71,974 71,974 71,974
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities
62,621 62,621 62,621 62,621
Government grants
28,154 28,154 28,154 28,154 28,154
Foreign currency exchange loss, net
(10,656) (10,656) (10,656) (10,656) (10,656)
Offering costs allocated to warrants
Loss before income taxes
(570,164) 41,812 (528,352) 40,368 (487,984) 2,082 (485,902) (485,902)
Income tax expenses
(432) (432) (432) (432) (432)
Net loss
(570,596) 41,812 (528,784) 40,368 (488,416) 2,082 (486,334)  — (486,334)
Net loss attributable to non-redeemable
non-controlling interests
1,444 1,444 1,444 1,444 1,444
Net loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests
464 464 464 464 464
Net loss attributable to ECARX Holdings Inc.
(568,688) 41,812 (526,876) 40,368 (486,508) 2,082 (484,426) (484,426)
Accretion of redeemable non-controlling interests
(714) (714) (714) (714) (714)
Net loss available to ECARX Holdings Inc.
(569,402) 41,812 (527,590) 40,368 (487,222) 2,082 (485,140) (485,140)
Accretion of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares
(177,842) (177,842) (4,110) (181,952) 181,952 B
Net loss available to ECARX Holdings Inc. ordinary shareholders
(747,244) 41,812 (705,432) 36,258 (669,174) 184,034 (485,140) (485,140)
Basic and diluted loss per ordinary share
(3.77) (1.34) (1.48)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares
198,035,714 360,882,409 328,632,409
Basic and diluted loss per share, Class A
ordinary shares
1.08
Weighted average number of ordinary shares, Class A ordinary shares
30,000,000
Basic and diluted loss per share, Class B
ordinary shares
1.08
Weighted average number of ordinary shares, Class B ordinary shares
7,500,000
 
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Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Statement of Operations
For the Year Ended December 31, 2021
(In thousands of RMB, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
Assuming No Redemption
Assuming Maximum Redemption
ECARX
VIE
Restructuring
Adjustments
Pro
Forma
ECARX
COVA
Pro
Forma
Combined
Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
Notes
Pro
Forma
Combined
Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
Notes
Pro
Forma
Combined
Revenues
Sales of goods revenues
1,983,817 1,983,817 1,983,817 1,983,817 1,983,817
Software license revenues
261,265 261,265 261,265 261,265 261,265
Service revenues
533,981 533,981 533,981 533,981 533,981
Total revenues
2,779,063 2,779,063 2,779,063 2,779,063 2,779,063
Cost of goods sold
(1,749,188) (1,749,188) (1,749,188) (1,749,188) (1,749,188)
Cost of software licenses
(32,164) (32,164) (32,164) (32,164) (32,164)
Cost of services
(180,518) (180,518) (180,518) (180,518) (180,518)
Total cost of revenues
(1,961,870) (1,961,870) (1,961,870) (1,961,870) (1,961,870)
Gross profit
817,193 817,193 817,193 817,193 817,193
Research and development expenses
(1,209,385) 33,478 (1,175,907) (1,175,907) (59,029) A (1,234,936) (1,234,936)
Selling and marketing expenses
(82,827) 1,174 (81,653) (81,653) (5,512) A (87,165) (87,165)
General and administrative expenses
(506,873) 13,305 (493,568) (11,669) (505,237) (158,659) A (663,896) (663,896)
Others, net
207 207 207 207 207
Total operating expenses
(1,798,878) 47,957 (1,750,921) (11,669) (1,762,590) (223,200) (1,985,790) (1,985,790)
Loss from operation
(981,685) 47,957 (933,728) (11,669) (945,397) (223,200) (1,168,597) (1,168,597)
Interest income
11,783 5,844 17,627 344 17,971 17,971 17,971
Interest expenses
(131,666) (131,666) (131,666) (131,666) (131,666)
Share of results of equity method investments
(2,519) (8,753) (11,272) (11,272) (11,272) (11,272)
Gains on deconsolidation of a subsidiary
10,579 10,579 10,579 10,579 10,579
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities
(111,299) (111,299) 91,601 (19,698) (19,698) (19,698)
Government grants
4,507 4,507 4,507 4,507 4,507
Foreign currency exchange loss, net
18,315 18,315 18,315 18,315 18,315
Offering costs allocated to warrants
(6,306) (6,306) (6,306) (6,306)
Loss before income taxes
(1,181,985) 45,048 (1,136,937) 73,970 (1,062,967) (223,200) (1,286,167) (1,286,167)
Income tax expenses
(3,447) (3,447) (3,447) (3,447) (3,447)
Net loss
(1,185,432) 45,048 (1,140,384) 73,970 (1,066,414) (223,200) (1,289,614) (1,289,614)
Net loss attributable to non-redeemable non-controlling interests
5,011 5,011 5,011 5,011 5,011
Net loss attributable to
redeemable non-controlling
interests
806 806 806 806 806
Net loss attributable to ECARX Holdings Inc.
(1,179,615) 45,048 (1,134,567) 73,970 (1,060,597) (223,200) (1,283,797) (1,283,797)
Accretion of redeemable non-controlling interests
(1,306) (1,306) (1,306) (1,306) (1,306)
Net loss available to ECARX
Holdings Inc.
(1,180,921) 45,048 (1,135,873) 73,970 (1,061,903) (223,200) (1,285,103) (1,285,103)
 
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Assuming No Redemption
Assuming Maximum Redemption
ECARX
VIE
Restructuring
Adjustments
Pro
Forma
ECARX
COVA
Pro
Forma
Combined
Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
Notes
Pro
Forma
Combined
Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments
Notes
Pro
Forma
Combined
Accretion of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares
(243,564) (243,564) (213,295) (456,859) 456,859 B
Net loss available to ECARX
Holdings Inc. ordinary
shareholders
(1,424,485) 45,048 (1,379,437) (139,325) (1,518,762) 233,659 (1,285,103) (1,285,103)
Basic and diluted loss per ordinary share
(7.18) (3.56) (3.91)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares
198,407,045 360,882,409 328,632,409
Basic and diluted loss per share, Class A ordinary shares
2.16
Weighted average number of ordinary shares, Class A ordinary shares
26,794,521
Basic and diluted loss per share, Class B ordinary shares
2.16
Weighted average number of ordinary shares, Class B ordinary shares
7,395,822
 
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NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA
CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
1.
Basis of Presentation
The Business Combination will be accounted for as a reverse recapitalization, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded, in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Under this method of accounting, COVA will be treated as the “accounting acquiree” and ECARX as the “accounting acquirer” for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the Business Combination will be treated as the equivalent of ECARX issuing shares and warrants for the net assets of COVA, followed by a recapitalization. The net assets of COVA will be stated at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2022 combines the unaudited historical consolidated balance sheet of ECARX as of June 30, 2022, included elsewhere in this prospectus, with the unaudited historical balance sheet of COVA as of June 30, 2022, included elsewhere in this prospectus, assumes that the Business Combination and related transactions occurred on June 30, 2022.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2022 combines the unaudited historical consolidated statement of operations of ECARX for the six months ended June 30, 2022, with the unaudited historical statement of operations of COVA for the six months ended June 30, 2022, included elsewhere in this prospectus, gives pro forma effect to the Business Combination as if it had been completed on January 1, 2021.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021 combines the audited historical consolidated statement of operations of ECARX for the year ended December 31, 2021, with the audited historical statement of operations of COVA for the year ended December 31, 2021, included elsewhere in this prospectus, gives pro forma effect to the Business Combination as if it had been completed on January 1, 2021. These periods are presented on the basis that ECARX is the acquirer for accounting purposes.
The historical financial statements of COVA have been translated into RMB, from COVA’s reporting currency of United States dollars (US$) using a published exchange rates of US$1.00 to RMB6.6981, the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board on June 30, 2022.
The accounting adjustments for the Transactions consist of those necessary to account for the transaction. The unaudited pro forma adjustments are based on information currently available, and assumptions and estimates underlying the unaudited pro forma adjustments are described in the accompanying notes. Actual results may differ materially from the assumptions used to present the accompanying unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
ECARX and COVA did not have any historical relationship prior to the Business Combination. Accordingly, no pro forma adjustments were required to eliminate activities between the companies.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information does not give effect to any anticipated synergies, operating efficiencies, tax savings, or cost savings that may be associated with the Transactions. The pro forma adjustments reflecting the consummation of the Transactions are based on certain currently available information and certain assumptions and methodologies that management believes are reasonable under the circumstances. The unaudited condensed pro forma adjustments, which are described in the accompanying notes, may be revised as additional information becomes available and is evaluated. Therefore, it is likely that the actual adjustments will differ from the pro forma adjustments and it is possible the difference may be material. Management believes that these assumptions and methodologies provide a reasonable basis for presenting all of the significant effects of the Transactions based on information available to management at the time and that the pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions and are properly applied in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is not necessarily indicative of what the actual results of operations and financial position would have been had the Transactions taken
 
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place on the dates indicated, nor are they indicative of the future consolidated results of operations or financial position of the combined company. They should be read in conjunction with the historical financial statements and notes thereto of COVA and ECARX.
2.
Accounting Policies
Upon consummation of the Transactions, management will perform a comprehensive review of the two entities’ accounting policies. As a result of the review, management may identify differences between the accounting policies of the two entities which, when conformed, could have a material impact on the financial statements of the Post-Combination Company. Based on its initial analysis, management did not identify any differences that would have a material impact on the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information. As a result, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information does not assume any differences in accounting policies.
3.
Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared to illustrate the effect of the Transactions and has been prepared for informational purposes only.
The unaudited pro forma combined financial information has been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X as amended by the final rule, Release No. 33-10786 “Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses”. Release No. 33-10786 replaces the existing pro forma adjustment criteria with simplified requirements to depict the accounting for the transaction (“Transaction Accounting Adjustments”) and the option to present the reasonably estimable synergies and other transaction effects that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur (“Management’s Adjustments”). COVA has elected not to present Management’s Adjustments and will only be presenting Transaction Accounting Adjustments in the unaudited pro forma combined financial information.
The unaudited pro forma basic and diluted loss per share amounts presented in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations are based upon the number of ECARX Ordinary Shares outstanding, assuming the Transactions occurred on January 1, 2021. The transaction assumes 323,382,409 ECARX’s shares are outstanding. Assuming the no redemption scenario, ECARX shall newly issue 37,500,000 Class A Ordinary Shares to Sponsor and COVA’s Public Shareholders. Assuming the maximum redemption scenario, ECARX will only be obligated to newly issue 5,250,000 Class A Ordinary Shares to Sponsor.
Adjustments on the Restructuring
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021 and the six months ended June 30, 2022 assume the Business Combination were completed on January 1, 2021. Pursuant to this assumption,

For the year ended December 31, 2021, in association with the Restructuring, depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and intangible assets in the amount of US$1,426 (equivalent to RMB9,088) and employee expenses in the amount of US$6,099 (equivalent to RMB38,869) relating to the mapping and surveying business, were reversed; in addition, the equity pick-up amount of US$1,374 (equivalent to RMB8,753) of the three equity method investments that were spun off in the Restructuring was also reversed. ECARX also recognized interest income of US$917 (equivalent to RMB5,844) on amounts due from the VIE.

For the six months ended June 30, 2022, in association with the Restructuring, depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and intangible assets in the amount of US$400 (equivalent to RMB2,678) and employee expenses in the amount of US$1,430 (equivalent to RMB9,572) relating to the mapping and surveying business, were reversed; in addition, the equity pick-up amount of US$4,042 (equivalent to RMB27,072) of the three equity method investments that were spun off in the Restructuring was also reversed. ECARX also recognized interest income of US$372 (equivalent to RMB2,490) on amounts due from the VIE.
 
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There are no adjustments on the Restructuring in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet, because the Restructuring has been consummated prior to June 30, 2022.
Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Balance Sheet
The adjustments included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2022 are as follows:
1.
Reflects the reclassification of US$300,614 (equivalent to RMB2,013,540) held in COVA’s Trust Account to cash.
Under a scenario of maximum redemptions by COVA’s Public Shareholders, 30,000,000 shares are redeemed thereby reducing proceeds that become available at the closing of the Transaction by US$300,000 (equivalent to RMB2,009,430).
2.
Reflects an adjustment of US$42,000 (equivalent to RMB281,320) in association with offering costs, which includes the prepaid offering costs of US$1,050 (equivalent to RMB7,034) and the deferred underwriting costs of US$40,950 (equivalent to RMB274,286) to reduce cash for transaction costs expected to be incurred by COVA and ECARX in relation to the Business Combination, including advisory, banking, etc.
3.
Reflects the adjustment for the conversion of ECARX’s redeemable convertible preferred shares into the Class A Ordinary Shares and additional paid-in capital of the combined company, upon of the consummation of the Business Combination.
4.
Reflects the reclassification of COVA’s Ordinary Shares subject to possible redemption into ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares, at par value US$0.000005 per share. Under a maximum redemption scenario, 30,000,000 COVA’s Ordinary Shares are to be redeemed for aggregate redemption payments of US$300,000 (equivalent to RMB2,009,430).
5.
Reflects the reclassification of COVA’s permanent equity and historical accumulated deficit to additional paid-in capital of the combined company as part of the Business Combination.
6.
Represent US$34,714 (equivalent to RMB232,518) of share-based compensation expenses associated with ECARX’s restricted share units and share options that will vest upon the closing of the Transaction.
7.
Reflects the conversion of the Note at the principal amount of US$10,000 (equivalent to RMB66,981) with increase to (i) Class A Ordinary Shares at the par value of US$0.000005 per share, and (ii) additional paid-in capital, assuming the conversion was completed upon the closing of the Transaction. As stipulated in the Note agreement, in the event when ECARX consummates a public offering of Class A ordinary shares that is no more than six (6) months following the issuance, the outstanding principal amount of the Note shall be mandatorily converted to Class A Ordinary Shares at the conversion price of US$10.00.
8.
Reflects the investments from strategic investors, which are Geely Investment Holding Ltd. and Luminar Technologies, Inc., and the impact on Class A Ordinary Shares and additional paid-in capital. Pursuant to the investment agreements, assuming the investments are made in cash, ECARX will receive the cash of US$35,000 (equivalent to RMB234,434). In the case where the investment of US$20,000 from Geely Investment Holdings Ltd. were made in cash while the investment of US$15,000 from Luminar Technologies, Inc. were made with 1,891,551 shares which equal to the quotient of US$15,000 divided by $7.93 per share, representing volume-weighted average price of Luminar’s shares listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market for twenty (20) consecutive trading days immediately preceding June 30, 2022 when the Transaction was assumed to be closed, provided that the shares are at par value of US$0.0001 per share and no fractional shares will be issued, ECARX will record the cash of US$20,000 (equivalent to RMB133,962) and an investment of US$15,000 (equivalent to RMB100,472), instead.
The investors will make the investments upon the completion of ECARX’s merger with COVA, when ECARX will issue 2,000,000 and 1,500,000 Class A Ordinary Shares, par value
 
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US$0.000005 per share, at the issue price of US$10.00 per share to Geely Investment Holding Ltd. and Luminar Technologies, Inc., respectively. The investment amount in excess of the par value of Class A Ordinary Shares will be recorded as additional paid-in capital.
9.
Reflects the reclassification of the ECARX’s Ordinary Shares, which are held by the controlling shareholders of ECARX, into ECARX Class B ordinary shares, at par value US$0.000005, upon the consummation of Business Combination.
COVA’s warrants were exchanged into ECARX’s warrants that contained terms that were identical to the former COVA’s warrants. These warrants contain elements that preclude the instruments from equity classification. Accordingly, the fair value of the warrants is based on terms and assumptions similar to the previously issued COVA’s warrants as there are no material differences. ECARX’s warrants are currently presented at COVA’s historical value that may materially differ from their value at issuance.
COVA established the initial fair value of the Public Warrants on the date of the COVA’s initial public offering, using a Monte Carlo simulation model, and as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022 by using the associated trading price of the Public Warrants. COVA established the fair value of the Private Placement Warrants on the date of the COVA’s initial public offering and on December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022 by using a modified Monte Carlo simulation model. The Public and Private Warrants were classified as Level 3 at the initial measurement date due to the use of unobservable inputs. The Public Warrants were subsequently classified as Level 1 as the subsequent valuation was based upon the trading price of the Public Warrants.
The key inputs into the Monte Carlo simulation model for the warrants were as follows:
December 31,
2021
June 30,
2022
Risk-free interest rate
1.09% 2.95%
Expected term to merger
0.60 0.10
Expected volatility
12.40% 4.23%
Notional Exercise price
US$1.00
US$1.00
The warrants entitled its holder to purchase one share of the Class A Ordinary Shares of the combine company at a price of US$11.50 per share.
Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Statement of Operations
The pro forma adjustments included in the unaudited pro forma combined statements of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and the year ended December 31, 2021 are as follows:
A.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, represents US$35,025 (equivalent to RMB223,200) share-based compensation expenses associated with ECARX’s restricted share units and share options that vest assuming the Transaction closed on January 1, 2021. A reversal of share-based compensation expenses in the amount of $311 (equivalent to RMB2,082) was recorded during the six months ended June 30, 2022, which was due to the forfeiture that occurred in the period.
B.
Reflects the reversal of accretion of redeemable convertible preferred shares to redemption value as all the preferred shares of ECARX will be convert to the Class A Ordinary Shares of the combine company upon the completion of the Business Combination, and the reversal of accretion of COVA’s Ordinary Shares subject to redemption from carrying value to redemption value.
4.
Loss Per Share
Net loss per share is calculated using the historical weighted average shares outstanding, and the issuance of additional shares in connection with the Transactions, assuming the shares were outstanding since January 1, 2021. If the maximum number of shares are redeemed, this calculation is retroactively adjusted to eliminate such shares for the entire periods.
 
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The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared assuming two alternative levels of redemption for the year ended December 31, 2021 and six months ended June 30, 2022:
For the Year Ended
December 31, 2021
For the Six Months
Ended June 30, 2022
Assuming No
Redemption
Assuming
Maximum
Redemption
Assuming No
Redemption
Assuming
Maximum
Redemption
Pro forma net loss attributable
(1,285,103) (1,285,103) (485,140) (485,140)
Weighted average share outstanding – basic and
diluted
360,882,409 328,632,409 360,882,409 328,632,409
Pro forma net loss per share – basic and
diluted
(3.56) (3.91) (1.34) (1.48)
Assuming No Redemption
Assuming Maximum Redemption
Shares
%
Shares
%
Pro Forma Shares Outstanding
ECARX Ownership(1)(2)
323,382,409 89.61% 323,382,409 98.40%
COVA Public Ownership
30,000,000 8.31%
COVA Sponsor Ownership
7,500,000 2.08% 5,250,000 1.60%
360,882,409 100.00% 328,632,409 100.00%
(1)
The pro forma diluted shares exclude ECARX’s underlying share options, shares underlying the Note and the strategic investments because the impact would be antidilutive if they are included.
(2)
The pro forma shares outstanding include ECARX’s vested and unvested restricted share units.
For the purposes of applying the if-converted method for calculating diluted loss per share, it was assumed that as of the consummation of the Transactions, each COVA Warrant that was outstanding shall be converted into the right to receive a warrant relating to ECARX’s Ordinary Shares. However, since the impact of these in the loss per share calculation results in anti-dilutive, the effect of such exchange was not included in calculation of diluted loss per share.
 
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MANAGEMENT FOLLOWING THE BUSINESS COMBINATION
The following table sets forth certain information relating to the executive officers and directors of ECARX immediately after the consummation of the Business Combination.
Directors and Executive Officers
Age
Position/Title
Ziyu Shen
38
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Zhenyu Li
46
Director
Ni Li
38
Director
Jim Zhang (Zhang Xingsheng)
67
Independent Director
Grace Hui Tang
63
Independent Director
Jun Hong Heng
41
Independent Director
Peter Cirino
50
Chief Operating Officer
Ramesh Narasimha
51
Chief Financial Officer
Ziyu Shen has served as our director and Chief Executive Officer since November 2019 and our Chairman since May 2021. Mr. Shen has served as director and Chief Executive Officer of Hubei ECARX since 2017. He has also served as General Manager of Shanghai Pateo Network Technology Service Co., Ltd. from October 2012 to March 2016, and as an industry director of T-Systems P.R. China Ltd. from October 2011 to October 2012. Before joining T-Systems P.R. China Ltd., Mr. Shen worked at Shanghai OnStar Telematics Service Co., Ltd. as senior manager from August 2009 to October 2011, and worked as an engineer and then as a senior manager at Shanghai General Motors Company Limited from August 2006 to August 2008. Mr. Shen received a master’s degree in information security from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2008.
Zhenyu Li has served as our director since January 2020. Mr. Li, Senior Vice President of Baidu Company, General Manager of the Baidu Intelligent Driving Group (IDG), has the overall responsibility for Baidu’s autonomous vehicle business and management. Since 2007, Mr. Li has held various leadership positions within Baidu’s Technology and Artificial Intelligence divisions. In October 2015, Mr. Li built Baidu’s Autonomous Driving Unit (ADU) and led the drafting and implementation of the autonomous driving business plan. Before joining Baidu, Mr. Li worked for Huawei from 2001 to 2007, specializing in network technology development. Mr. Li received a master’s degree in 2001 and a bachelor’s degree in 1998 in Computer Science, both from Beihang University.
Ni Li has served as our director since March 2021. Ms. Li founded Hone Invest in 2017 and was the legal representative of Shanghai Kaixin Investment Co., Ltd. from September 2015 to July 2017. Ms. Li also served as an investment manager at Rothschild Holdings Co., Ltd. from January 2008 to April 2011. Ms. Li received a bachelor’s degree in financial management from the Nottingham University.
Jim Zhang (Zhang Xingsheng) has served as our director since March 2021. Mr. Zhang is the founding partner of Daotong Investment Co., Ltd. which was established in December 2013. Mr. Zhang has served as an independent director at Volvo Car Group since August 2018 and as a director at The Nature Conservancy’s North Asia Region from 2008 to 2013. Mr. Zhang also served as Chairman at Beijing Link Capital Investment Co., Ltd. from 2005 to 2008. Prior to that, Mr. Zhang held various leadership position at Asiainfo Holdings, Inc., a company previously listed on Nasdaq, from 2003 to 2005, including as its director, president, and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Zhang served as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Ericsson (China) Co., Ltd. from 1990 to 2003. Mr. Zhang served as deputy manager at China Telecom Construction Corporation from 1986 to 1990 and worked as an engineer at Beijing Long Distance Telecom Office from 1977 to 1986. Mr. Zhang received his MBA from BI-Fudan MBA program offered in partnership by BI Norwegian Business School and School of Management Fudan University in 1999 and a bachelor’s degree in 1981 from Beijing University of Post and Telecommunications.
Grace Hui Tang has served as our director since March 2021. Ms. Tang was an audit partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers from 2001 to 2020 and retired from PricewaterhouseCoopers in June 2020. Ms. Tang serves as a director at Textainer Group Holdings Limited (NYSE: TGH), a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, since July 2020 and as a director at Elkem ASA (ELK: Oslo), a company
 
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listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange, since April 2021. Ms. Tang also serves as a director at Brii Biosciences Ltd (HKG: 2137), a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, since July 2021. Ms. Tang is a member of the AICPA and HKICPA. Ms. Tang has dedicated herself to social, welfare and educational affairs. She serves as an advisor to the Beijing Capital Market and Securities Legal Affairs Committee since March 2006 and as a supervising board member of Beijing New Sunshine Charity Foundation, a public fund that had been awarded the highest (AAAAA-grade) social evaluation qualification by the Civil Affairs Bureau, since December 2011. Ms. Tang has been an adjunct professor at the Guanghua School of Management of Peking University since 2018. Ms. Tang received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Utah in June 1982 and an MBA from Utah State University in June 1984.
Jun Hong Heng will begin service on the board of directors upon consummation of the Business Combination. Mr. Heng is Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of COVA as well as the Chairman of COVA’s board of directors. Mr. Heng is the Founder of Crescent Cove Advisors, LP (“Crescent Cove”) and has served as Chief Investment Officer of Crescent Cove since August 2018. Mr. Heng is also the Founder of Crescent Cove Capital Management LLC and has served as its Chief Investment Officer since February 2016. Mr. Heng has also served as a member of the board of directors of Luminar Technologies, Inc. since June 2021. Prior to Crescent Cove Capital Management LLC, Mr. Heng served as Principal of Myriad Asset Management, an investment firm, from August 2011 to January 2015, where he focused on Asian credit and equity, including special situations. From June 2008 to June 2011, he served as Vice President of Argyle Street Management, a spin-off from Goldman Sachs Asian Special Situations Group. Previously, Mr. Heng served as an analyst at Morgan Stanley, where he focused on Asia, and as an analyst at Bear, Stearns & Co., where he served in a multi-disciplinary role across technology, media and telecommunications, mergers and acquisitions, and equity and debt capital markets. Mr. Heng holds a B.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.
Peter Cirino has served as our Chief Operating Officer since September 2022. Mr. Cirino has more than 25 years’ experience in automotive technology and electronics having led organizations across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Most recently, Mr. Cirilo led Aptiv’s connections systems business in the Americas. Prior to Aptiv, he led A123 Systems, an emerging lithium-ion battery business operating across China, Europe and North America. Mr. Cirino has a BS Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University and MBA from Duke University, both in the US.
Ramesh Narasimhan has served as our Chief Financial Officer since September 2022. Mr. Narasimhan is a highly experienced finance, marketing, sales and strategy executive who has worked with OEMs, distributers and retail businesses across the global automotive industry. He recently served as Chief Financial Officer for Al Futtaim, an automotive distribution and retailing company. Prior to that, he joined Nissan Australia and New Zealand as Chief Financial Officer and subsequently served as President and Managing Director for the Philippines and Thailand managing both manufacturing and distribution. Mr. Narasimhan began his career with Ford Motor Company where he worked through a number of senior financial roles. Mr. Narasimhan has an MBA from Monash University in Australia.
Board of Directors
The board of directors of ECARX will initially consist of six directors immediately after the consummation of the Business Combination. The Amended ECARX Articles provide that the minimum number of directors shall be three and the exact number of directors shall be determined from time to time by the ECARX board of directors.
A director is not required to hold any shares in ECARX by way of qualification. A director who is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a contract or transaction or proposed contract or transaction with ECARX is required to declare the nature of his or her interest at a board meeting. Subject to Nasdaq listing rules and disqualification by the chairman of the relevant board meeting, a director may vote in respect of any contract or proposed contract or arrangement in which such director may be interested provided that (a) the nature of his/her interest is declared at a meeting of the directors, either specifically or by way of a general notice, and such director’s vote may be counted in the quorum at any meeting of directors at which any such contract or proposed contract or arrangement is considered, and (b) if such contract or arrangement is a transaction with a related party, such transaction has been approved by the audit committee.
 
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The directors may exercise all the powers of the company to raise or borrow money, mortgage, or charge its undertaking, property, and assets (present or future), uncalled capital or any part thereof, and to issue debentures, debenture stock, bonds, or other securities, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability, or obligation of our company or of any third party.
No ECARX non-employee director has a service contract with ECARX that provides for benefits upon termination of service.
Board Committees
The ECARX board of directors will have an audit committee, a compensation committee, a nominating and corporate governance committee and a cybersecurity committee, and a charter will be adopted for each of the foregoing committees. Each committee’s members and functions are described below.
Audit Committee
The audit committee will consist of Ms. Grace Hui Tang and Mr. Jim Zhang (Zhang Xingsheng). Ms. Grace Hui Tang will be the chairperson of the audit committee. Ms. Grace Hui Tang satisfies the criteria of an audit committee financial expert as set forth under the applicable rules of the SEC. Each of Ms. Grace Hui Tang and Mr. Jim Zhang (Zhang Xingsheng) satisfies the requirements for an “independent director” within the meaning of the Nasdaq listing rules and the criteria for independence set forth in Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act.
The audit committee will oversee ECARX’s accounting and financial reporting processes. The audit committee will be responsible for, among other things:

appointing the independent auditors and pre-approving all auditing and non-auditing services permitted to be performed by the independent auditors;

reviewing with the independent auditors any audit problems or difficulties and management’s response;

discussing the annual audited financial statements with management and the independent auditors;

reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of ECARX’s accounting and internal control policies and procedures and any steps taken to monitor and control major financial risk exposures;

reviewing and approving all proposed related party transactions;

meeting separately and periodically with management and the independent auditors; and

monitoring compliance with ECARX’s code of business conduct and ethics, including reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of ECARX’s procedures to ensure proper compliance.
Compensation Committee
The compensation committee will consist of Mr. Jim Zhang (Zhang Xingsheng) and Ms. Grace Hui Tang. Mr. Jim Zhang (Zhang Xingsheng) will be the chairperson of the compensation committee. Each of Mr. Jim Zhang (Zhang Xingsheng) and Ms. Grace Hui Tang satisfies the requirements for an “independent director” within the meaning of the Nasdaq listing rules.
The compensation committee will assist the board in reviewing and approving the compensation structure, including all forms of compensation, relating to ECARX’s directors and executive officers. ECARX’s chief executive officer may not be present at any committee meeting during which his compensation is deliberated. The compensation committee will be responsible for, among other things:

reviewing and approving, or recommending to the board for its approval, the compensation for ECARX’s chief executive officer and other executive officers;

reviewing and recommending to the board for determination with respect to the compensation of ECARX’s non-employee directors;
 
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reviewing periodically and approving any incentive compensation or equity plans, programs similar arrangements; and

selecting compensation consultant, legal counsel or other advisor only after taking into consideration all factors relevant to that person’s independence from management.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The nominating and corporate governance committee will consist of Mr. Jim Zhang (Zhang Xingsheng) and Ms. Grace Hui Tang. Mr. Jim Zhang (Zhang Xingsheng) will be the chairperson of the nominating and corporate governance committee. Each of Mr. Jim Zhang (Zhang Xingsheng) and Ms. Grace Hui Tang satisfies the requirements for an “independent director” within the meaning of the Nasdaq listing rules.
The nominating and corporate governance committee will assist the board of directors in selecting individuals qualified to become directors of ECARX and in determining the composition of the board and its committees. The nominating and corporate governance committee will be responsible for, among other things:

selecting and recommending to the board nominees for election by the shareholders or appointment by the board;

reviewing annually with the board the current composition of the board with regards to characteristics such as independence, knowledge, skills, experience and diversity;

making recommendations on the frequency and structure of board meetings and monitoring the functioning of the committees of the board; and

advising the board periodically with regards to significant developments in the law and practice of corporate governance as well as compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and making recommendations to the board on all matters of corporate governance and on any remedial action to be taken.
Cybersecurity Committee
The cybersecurity committee will consist of Mr. Ziyu Shen and Ms. Ni Li. Mr. Ziyu Shen will be the chairperson of the cybersecurity committee.
The cybersecurity committee will assist the ECARX board of directors in ensuring that ECARX will comply with all applicable laws and regulations in mainland China on cybersecurity and national security. The cybersecurity committee will be responsible for, among other things:

implementing safeguards and security policies on the collection, storage, transfer and dissemination of personal data and other important data in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations in mainland China on cybersecurity and national security;

preserving the privacy of personal data and security of other important data collected, and preventing such information from being divulged, damaged, or lost;

mitigating the risk of core data, important data or a large amount of personal information being stolen, leaked, destroyed, and illegally used or illegally transferred abroad;

mitigating the risk of critical information infrastructure, core data, important data or a large amount of personal information being affected, controlled, or used with malicious intent by foreign governments, as well as the risk relating to information security;

ensuring that personal data and important data collected and produced during operations in mainland China is stored within the territory of mainland China;

reviewing and approving disclosures, transfer and dissemination of personal data and important data;

overseeing the conduct of security assessment of information to be provided overseas, prior to the cross-border transfer of any data;
 
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ensuring the legality, appropriateness and necessity of the cross-border data transfer and the purpose, scope and method of the data processing activities of the relevant overseas recipient;

ensuring that any cross-border transfer of data will not create any risk to national security, public interests, or the legitimate rights and interests of individuals or organizations that may arise from such transfer;

ensuring that any products and services that affect or may affect national securities must be compliant with national cybersecurity review;

maintaining the security of internet systems; and

advising the ECARX board of director with regards to significant developments in the law and practice of cybersecurity, national security as well as compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and making recommendations to the board on all matters of cybersecurity and national security.
Duties of Directors
Under Cayman Islands law, directors owe fiduciary duties to the company, including a duty of loyalty, a duty to act honestly, and a duty to act in what they consider in good faith to be in the company’s best interests. Directors must also exercise their powers only for a proper purpose. Directors also have a duty to act with skill and care. It was previously considered that a director need not exhibit in the performance of his or her duties a greater degree of skill than may reasonably be expected from a person of his or her knowledge and experience. However, English and Commonwealth courts have moved towards an objective standard with regard to the required skill and care and these authorities are likely to be followed in the Cayman Islands. In fulfilling their duty of care to ECARX, directors of ECARX must ensure compliance with ECARX’s memorandum and articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time, and the class rights vested thereunder in the holders of the shares. ECARX has the right to seek damages if a duty owed by its directors is breached. A shareholder may in certain circumstances have rights to seek damages in the name of the company if a duty owed by its directors is breached.
Appointment and Removal of Directors
The Amended ECARX Articles provide that all directors may be appointed by ordinary resolution and removed by ordinary resolution. The Amended ECARX Articles also provide that the directors may, so long as a quorum of directors remains in office, appoint any person to be a director so as to fill a casual vacancy or as an addition to the existing board of director. Directors of ECARX do not serve for a fixed term and there is no requirement for them to retire by rotation nor to make themselves eligible for re-election.
The office of a director shall be vacated if, amongst other things, such director (a) becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his or her creditors, (b) dies or is found to be or becomes of unsound mind, (c) resigns his or her office by notice in writing to ECARX, (d) without special leave of absence from the board, is absent from meetings of the board for three consecutive meetings, and the board resolves that his or her office be vacated; or (e) is removed from office pursuant to any other provision of the Amended ECARX Articles.
Terms of Directors
A director shall hold office until such time as he or she resigns his office by notice in writing to ECARX, is removed from office by ordinary resolution or is otherwise disqualified from acting as a director or removed in accordance with the Amended ECARX Articles.
Foreign Private Issuer Status
ECARX is an exempted company limited by shares incorporated in 2019 under the laws of the Cayman Islands. After the consummation of the Business Combination, ECARX will report under the Exchange Act as a non-U.S. company with foreign private issuer status. Under Rule 405 of the Securities Act, the determination of foreign private issuer status is made annually on the last business day of an issuer’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter and, accordingly, the next determination will be made with
 
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respect to ECARX on June 30, 2023. For so long as ECARX qualifies as a foreign private issuer, it will be exempt from certain provisions of the Exchange Act that are applicable to U.S. domestic public companies, including:

the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K with the SEC;

the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents, or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act;

the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their share ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time; and

the selective disclosure rules by issuers of material nonpublic information under Regulation Fair Disclosure, or Regulation FD, which regulates selective disclosure of material non-public information by issuers.
ECARX will be required to file an annual report on Form 20-F within four months of the end of each fiscal year. In addition, ECARX intends to publish its results on a quarterly basis through press releases, distributed pursuant to the rules and regulations of Nasdaq. Press releases relating to financial results and material events will also be furnished to the SEC on Form 6-K. However, the information ECARX is required to file with or furnish to the SEC will be less extensive and less timely compared to that required to be filed with the SEC by U.S. domestic issuers. Accordingly, after the Business Combination, ECARX shareholders will receive less or different information about ECARX than a shareholder of a U.S. domestic public company would receive.
ECARX is a non-U.S. company with foreign private issuer status, and, after the consummation of the Business Combination, will be listed on Nasdaq. Nasdaq listing rules permit a foreign private issuer like ECARX to follow the corporate governance practices of its home country. Certain corporate governance practices in the Cayman Islands, which is ECARX’s home country, may differ significantly from NASDAQ corporate governance listing standards. Among other things, ECARX is not required to have:

a majority of the board of directors consist of independent directors;

a compensation committee consisting of independent directors;

a nominating committee consisting of independent directors; or

regularly scheduled executive sessions with only independent directors each year.
Although not required and as may be changed from time to time, ECARX intends to have, as of the consummation of the Business Combination, a majority-independent compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee. Subject to the foregoing, ECARX intends to rely on the exemptions listed above. As a result, you may not be provided with the benefits of certain corporate governance requirements of Nasdaq applicable to U.S. domestic public companies.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
ECARX has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to its directors, officers and employees. ECARX seeks to conduct business ethically, honestly, and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. ECARX’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics sets out the principles designed to guide ECARX’s business practices — compliance, integrity, respect and dedication. The code applies to all directors, officers, employees and extended workforce, including chairperson and chief executive officer and chief financial officer. Relevant sections of the code also apply to members of the ECARX board of directors. ECARX expects its suppliers, contractors, consultants, and other business partners to follow the principles set forth in its code when providing goods and services to ECARX or acting on ECARX’s behalf.
Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers
For the year ended December 31, 2021, ECARX paid an aggregate of RMB3.03 million (US$0.5 million) in cash and benefits to ECARX’s executive officers as a group and it did not pay any compensation to our non-executive directors. ECARX has not set aside or accrued any amount to provide pension, retirement or
 
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other similar benefits to its executive officers. ECARX’s mainland China subsidiaries are required by law to make contributions equal to certain percentages of each employee’s salary for his or her pension insurance, medical insurance, unemployment insurance, work-related injury insurance and maternity insurance and other statutory benefits, and a housing provident fund.
For information regarding share awards granted to ECARX’s directors and executive officers, see the section entitled “— Share Incentive Plans.”
Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements
Each of the executive officers is party to an employment agreement with ECARX. Under these agreements, the employment of each of executive officers is for a specified time period, and may be terminated for cause, at any time and without advance notice or compensation, for certain acts of the executive officer, such as conviction or plea of guilty to a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude, negligent or dishonest acts to our detriment, or misconduct or a failure to perform agreed duties. In such case of termination, ECARX will provide severance payments to the relevant executive officer as expressly required by applicable law of the jurisdiction where the executive officer is based. The employment may also be terminated without cause upon three-month advance written notice. The executive officer may resign at any time with three-month advance written notice.
Each executive officer of ECARX has agreed to hold, both during and after the termination or expiry of his or her employment agreement, in strict confidence and not to use, except as required in the performance of his or her duties in connection with the employment or pursuant to applicable law, any confidential information of ECARX or trade secrets, any confidential information or trade secrets of ECARX’s customers or prospective customers, or the confidential or proprietary information of any third party received by ECARX and for which ECARX has confidential obligations. The executive officers have also agreed to disclose in confidence to ECARX all inventions, designs, and trade secrets which they conceive, develop, or reduce to practice during the executive officer’s employment with ECARX and to assign all right, title, and interest in them to ECARX, and assist ECARX in obtaining and enforcing patents, copyrights, and other legal rights for these inventions, designs, and trade secrets.
In addition, each executive officer of ECARX has agreed to be bound by non-competition and non-solicitation restrictions during the term of his or her employment and typically for one year following the last date of employment. Specifically, each executive officer has agreed not to (a) approach any suppliers, clients, customers, or contacts of ECARX or other persons or entities introduced to the executive officer in his or her capacity as a representative of ECARX for the purpose of doing business with such persons or entities that will harm the business relationships between ECARX and these persons or entities, (b) assume employment with or provide services to any of the competitors of ECARX, or engage, whether as principal, partner, licensor, or otherwise, any of such competitors, without the express consent of ECARX; or (c) seek directly or indirectly, to solicit the services of any employees of ECARX on or after the date of the executive officer’s termination, or in the year preceding such termination, without the express consent of ECARX.
ECARX will enter into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers. Under these agreements, ECARX may agree to indemnify its directors and executive officers against certain liabilities and expenses incurred by such persons in connection with claims made by reason of their being a director or officer of ECARX.
Share Incentive Plans
The 2019 Share Incentive Plan
In December 2019, the board of directors of ECARX approved and adopted a share incentive plan which was subsequently restated and amended in December 2021 (the plan as restated and amended is referred to as the “2019 Share Incentive Plan”). The principal purpose of the 2019 Share Incentive Plan is to attract, retain and motivate selected members of the senior management, consultants, and employees of ECARX and its consolidated affiliates through the granting of share-based compensation awards.
 
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As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, and without considering the effect of the Recapitalization, (i) the maximum aggregate number of ordinary shares which may be issued pursuant to all awards under the 2019 Share Incentive Plan is 23,000,000, and (ii) awards to purchase 20,600,000 ordinary shares have been granted and outstanding.
The following paragraphs describe the principal terms of the 2019 Share Incentive Plan.
Types of awards.   The 2019 Share Incentive Plan permits the awards of restricted shares.
Plan administration.   Mr. Ziyu Shen, or any committee or person authorized by Mr. Shen, administers the 2019 Share Incentive Plan. The plan administrator determines, among other things, the participants eligible to receive awards, the type or types of awards to be granted to each eligible participant, the number of awards to be granted to each eligible participant, and the terms and conditions of each award grant.
Award Agreement.   Awards granted under the 2019 Share Incentive Plan are evidenced by an award agreement that sets forth terms, conditions and limitations for each award, which may include the terms of the award, the provisions applicable in the event that the grantee’s employment or service terminates, and the authority of ECARX to unilaterally or bilaterally amend, modify, suspend, cancel or rescind the award.
Eligibility.   ECARX may grant awards to its members of the senior management, consultants, and employees.
Vesting schedule.   In general, the plan administrator determines the vesting schedule, which is specified in the relevant award agreement.
Payment for Awards.   The plan administrator determines the purchase price, as applicable, for each award, which is stated in the relevant award agreement. All or part of awards that are not fully paid will terminate after five years from the date of award, unless otherwise provided in the relevant award agreement.
Transfer restrictions.   Awards may not be transferred in any manner by the eligible participant other than in accordance with the terms of the 2019 Share Incentive Plan, or the relevant award agreement or otherwise as determined by the plan administrator. Subject to the fulfilment of stipulated conditions, participants may request for the sale of ordinary shares of ECARX underlying his/her awards in which case ECARX will have the discretion to allow the transfer of either such ordinary shares, or the relevant participant’s interests in such ordinary shares.
Termination and amendment of the 2019 Share Incentive Plan.   Unless terminated earlier, the 2019 Share Incentive Plan has a term of ten years. ECARX’s board of directors has the authority to terminate, amend, suspend or modify the 2019 Share Incentive Plan, provided that certain amendments to the plan require the approval of the shareholders of ECARX. However, unless otherwise determined by the plan administrator in good faith, no such action may adversely affect in any material way any award previously granted pursuant to the 2019 Share Incentive Plan.
The 2021 Share Incentive Plan
In July 2021, the board of directors of ECARX approved and adopted the 2021 Share Incentive Plan, to attract and retain the best available personnel, provide additional incentives to employees, directors and consultants, and promote the success of ECARX’s business. The maximum aggregate number of ordinary shares that may be issued under the 2021 Share Incentive Plan is 14,084,387. As of September 30, 2022, and without considering the effect of the Recapitalization, a total of 13,280,500 ordinary shares have been granted under the 2021 Share Incentive Plan and outstanding, excluding awards that were forfeited or cancelled after the relevant grant dates.
The following paragraphs summarize the principal terms of the 2021 Share Incentive Plan.
Type of Awards.   The 2021 Share Incentive Plan permits the awards of options.
Plan Administration.   ECARX’s board of directors will administer the 2021 Share Incentive Plan. The plan administrator will determine the participants to receive awards, the type and number of awards to be granted to each participant, and the terms and conditions of each grant.
 
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Award Agreement.   Awards granted under the 2021 Share Incentive Plan are evidenced by an award agreement that sets forth the terms, conditions and limitations for each award, which may include the term of the award, the provisions applicable in the event that the grantee’s employment or service terminates, and ECARX’s authority to unilaterally or bilaterally amend, modify, suspend, cancel or rescind the award.
Eligibility.   ECARX may grant awards to its members of the senior management and key employees.
Vesting Schedule.   In general, the plan administrator determines the vesting schedule, which is specified in the relevant award agreement.
Exercise of Options.   The plan administrator determines the exercise price for each award, which is stated in the relevant award agreement. Options that are vested and exercisable will terminate if they are not exercised prior to the time as the plan administrator determines at the time of grant. However, the maximum exercisable term is ten years from the date of grant.
Transfer Restrictions.   Awards may not be transferred in any manner by the participant other than in accordance with the exceptions provided in the 2021 Share Incentive Plan or the relevant award agreement or otherwise determined by the plan administrator.
Termination and Amendment of the Plan.   Unless terminated earlier, the 2021 Share Incentive Plan has a term of ten years from the date of its effectiveness. ECARX’s board of directors has the authority to terminate, amend, suspend or modify the 2021 Share Incentive Plan, provided that certain amendments to the plan require the approval of the shareholders of ECARX. However, unless otherwise determined by the plan administrator in good faith, no such action may adversely affect in any material way any award previously granted pursuant to the 2021 Share Incentive Plan.
Equity Incentive Trust
Ordinary shares underlying all awards issuable under the 2019 Share Incentive Plan have been issued and are currently held by Shine Link Venture Limited (“Shine Link”), which is owned by J&H Trust. J&H Trust was established under a trust deed between Mr. Ziyu Shen and Trident Trust company (HK) Limited as the trustee, dated November 26, 2019. Through J&H Trust, interests in ordinary shares of ECARX and other rights and interests under awards granted pursuant to the 2019 Share Incentive Plan have been and may be provided to certain grant recipients. Specifically, upon the payment of purchase price and the satisfaction of vesting and other conditions, eligible participants are assigned beneficial interests in the J&H Trust corresponding to the number of ordinary shares granted to such participant under the 2019 Share Incentive Plan.
Awards Granted
No awards were granted by ECARX to its directors or executive officers in 2020, 2021 or during the six months ended June 30, 2022.
 
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MATERIAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations to U.S. Holders
The following is a discussion of the U.S. federal income tax considerations of the Business Combination generally applicable to U.S. Holders (as defined below) of COVA Public Shares and COVA Public Warrants (together, the “COVA Securities”). The following also discusses the U.S. federal income tax consequences generally applicable to U.S. Holders of COVA Public Shares that elect to have their COVA Public Shares redeemed for cash, and the U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to U.S. Holders of the ownership and disposition of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Warrants following the Business Combination. This discussion applies only to U.S. Holders of COVA Securities, ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and/or ECARX Warrants, as the case may be, that are held as “capital assets” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment).
The following does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax considerations arising in connection with the Business Combination, the redemptions of COVA Public Shares or the acquisition, ownership and disposition of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Warrants. In addition, this discussion does not address any tax consequences to persons or entities that held equity interests in ECARX prior to the Business Combination. With respect to the consequences of holding ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or ECARX Warrants, this discussion is limited to holders who acquire such ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or ECARX Warrants in connection with the Business Combination, and with respect to ECARX Warrants, this discussion is limited to holders who hold such ECARX Warrants as a result of their ownership of COVA Public Warrants prior to and through the Business Combination. The effects and considerations of other U.S. federal tax laws, such as estate and gift tax laws, alternative minimum tax or Medicare contribution tax considerations and any applicable state, local or non-U.S. tax laws are not discussed. This discussion is based on the Code, Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions and published rulings and administrative pronouncements of the IRS, in each case in effect as of the date hereof. These authorities may change or be subject to differing interpretations. Any such change or differing interpretation may be applied retroactively in a manner that could adversely affect the tax consequences discussed below. Neither COVA nor ECARX has sought nor will seek any rulings from the IRS regarding the matters discussed below. There can be no assurance the IRS will not take or a court will not sustain a contrary position to that discussed below regarding the tax considerations discussed below.
This discussion does not address all U.S. federal income tax considerations relevant to a holder’s particular circumstances. In addition, it does not address considerations relevant to holders subject to special rules, including, without limitation:

persons that are not U.S. Holders;

the Sponsor and its direct and indirect owners and officers or directors of COVA;

banks, insurance companies, and certain other financial institutions;

regulated investment companies and real estate investment trusts;

brokers, dealers or traders in securities;

traders in securities that elect to mark to market;

tax-exempt organizations or governmental organizations;

U.S. expatriates and former citizens or long-term residents of the United States;

persons holding COVA Securities, ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and/or ECARX Warrants, as the case may be, as part of a hedge, straddle, constructive sale or other risk reduction strategy, or as part of a conversion transaction or other integrated investment;

persons subject to special tax accounting rules as a result of any item of gross income with respect to COVA Public Shares, ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and/or ECARX Warrants, as the case may be, being taken into account in an applicable financial statement;

persons that actually or constructively own 5% or more (by vote or value) of the outstanding COVA Public Shares or, after the Business Combination, the issued ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares;
 
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S corporations, partnerships or other entities or arrangements treated as partnerships or other flow-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and investors therein);

persons subject to the “base erosion and anti-abuse” tax;

U.S. Holders having a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar;

persons who hold or received COVA Securities, ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and/or ECARX Warrants, as the case may be, pursuant to the exercise of any employee share option or otherwise as compensation; and

pension plans and tax-qualified retirement plans.
If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds COVA Securities, ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and/or ECARX Warrants, the tax treatment of an owner of such entity or arrangement will generally depend on the status of the owner, the activities of the entity or arrangement and certain determinations made at the owner level. Accordingly, entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes and the owners in such entities or arrangements should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences to them.
THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX TREATMENT OF THE BUSINESS COMBINATION AND THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX TREATMENT TO HOLDERS OF COVA SECURITIES DEPENDS, IN SOME INSTANCES, ON DETERMINATIONS OF FACT AND INTERPRETATIONS OF COMPLEX PROVISIONS OF U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAW FOR WHICH NO CLEAR PRECEDENT OR AUTHORITY MAY BE AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX TREATMENT OF THE BUSINESS COMBINATION AND THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS OF OWNING ECARX CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES AND/OR ECARX WARRANTS FOR ANY PARTICULAR HOLDER WILL DEPEND ON THE HOLDER’S PARTICULAR TAX CIRCUMSTANCES. YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE U.S. FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL, AND NON-U.S. INCOME AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES TO YOU, IN LIGHT OF YOUR PARTICULAR INVESTMENT OR TAX CIRCUMSTANCES, OF ACQUIRING, HOLDING AND/OR DISPOSING OF COVA PUBLIC SHARES, COVA WARRANTS, ECARX CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES AND/OR ECARX WARRANTS.
U.S. Holders
For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” is any beneficial owner of COVA Securities, ECARX Ordinary and/or ECARX Warrants, as the case may be, that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

a corporation (or any entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;

an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or

a trust if (1) a court within the U.S. is able to exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of the trust’s substantial decisions, or (ii) the trust has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.
The Business Combination
Tax Consequences of the Business Combination Under Section 368(a) of the Code
The tax treatment of the Business Combination will depend on whether it qualifies as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. There are significant factual and legal uncertainties as to such qualification. For example, under Section 368(a) of the Code, the acquiring corporation must continue, either directly or indirectly through certain controlled corporations, either a significant line of the acquired corporation’s historic business or use a significant portion of the acquired corporation’s historic business assets in a business. However, there is an absence of guidance bearing directly on how certain requirements
 
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for Section 368(a) of the Code would apply in the case of an acquisition of a corporation with only investment-type assets, such as COVA. Moreover, qualification of the Business Combination as a reorganization is based on certain facts that will not be known until or following the closing of the Business Combination, including the extent to which COVA Public Shareholders exercise their redemption rights, and the closing of the Business Combination is not conditioned upon the receipt of an opinion of counsel that the Business Combination will qualify as a reorganization, and neither COVA nor ECARX intends to request a ruling from the IRS regarding the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Business Combination. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the IRS will not challenge the Business Combination’s qualification as a reorganization or that a court will not sustain such a challenge by the IRS.
If any requirement of Section 368(a) of the Code is not met with respect to the Business Combination, a U.S. Holder of COVA Securities would generally recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference, if any, between the fair market value of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and/or ECARX Warrants received by such U.S. Holder in the Business Combination over such U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the COVA Securities surrendered by such U.S. Holder in the Business Combination. Any gain or loss so recognized would generally be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder had held the COVA Securities for more than one year (or short-term capital gain or loss otherwise). It is unclear, however, whether certain redemption rights (described above) may suspend the running of the applicable holding period for this purpose. Long-term capital gains of non-corporate U.S. Holders (including individuals) currently are eligible for preferential U.S. federal income tax rates. However, the deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. If any requirement of Section 368(a) of the Code is not satisfied, a U.S. Holder’s holding period in the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and/or ECARX Warrants received in the Business Combination, if any, would begin on the day following the Closing Date and would not include the holding period for the COVA Securities surrendered in exchange therefor.
U.S. Holders Exchanging COVA Securities for ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and/or ECARX Warrants if the Business Combination Qualifies as a Reorganization
If the Business Combination qualifies as a reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code, subject to the discussion below under the heading “— Application of the PFIC Rules to the Business Combination,” a U.S. Holder should generally not recognize gain or loss if, pursuant to the Business Combination, the U.S. Holder (i) exchanges only COVA Public Shares (but not COVA Warrants) for ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares, (ii) exchanges only COVA Warrants for ECARX Warrants, or (iii) both exchanges COVA Public Shares for ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and exchanges COVA Warrants for ECARX Warrants.
If so, the aggregate tax basis of the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares received by a U.S. Holder in the Business Combination should be equal to the aggregate adjusted tax basis of COVA Public Shares surrendered in exchange therefor. The tax basis in the ECARX Warrants received by a U.S. Holder in the Business Combination should be equal to the adjusted tax basis of the COVA Warrants exchanged therefor. The holding period of the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and/or ECARX Warrants received by a U.S. Holder in the Business Combination should include the period during which the COVA Public Shares and/or COVA Warrants, respectively, exchanged therefor were held by such U.S. Holder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a U.S. Holder exercises its redemption rights to receive cash from the trust account in exchange for a portion of its COVA Public Shares (or who exercises its redemption rights with respect to all of its COVA Public Shares but maintains ownership of COVA Warrants), such redemption may be treated as integrated with the Business Combination rather than as a separate transaction. In such case, cash received by such U.S. Holder in the redemption may also be treated as taxable boot received in a “reorganization” ​(which, depending on the circumstances applicable such U.S. Holder, may be treated as capital gain or dividend income to the extent of COVA’s accumulated earnings and profits, in each case, taxable as described below under the heading “— U.S. Holders Exercising Redemption Rights with Respect to COVA Public Shares”). Under this characterization, such U.S. Holder may be required to recognize more gain or income than if the redemption of COVA Public Shares was treated as a separate transaction from the exchange pursuant to the Business Combination and would not be entitled to recognize any loss with respect to its redeemed COVA Public Shares.
 
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Application of the PFIC Rules to the Business Combination
Based upon the composition of its income and assets, COVA believes that it may be considered a PFIC for its current taxable year that ends as a result of the Business Combination.
Section 1291(f) of the Code requires that, to the extent provided in Treasury Regulations, a U.S. person who disposes of stock of a PFIC (including for this purpose exchanging warrants for newly issued warrants) recognizes gain notwithstanding any other provision of the Code. No final Treasury Regulations are currently in effect under Section 1291(f) of the Code. However, proposed Treasury Regulations under Section 1291(f) of the Code have been promulgated with a retroactive effective date. If finalized in their current form, those proposed Treasury Regulations may require gain recognition to U.S. Holders of COVA Public Shares in connection with the Business Combination if:
(i)   COVA were classified as a PFIC at any time during such U.S. Holder’s holding period for such COVA Public Shares; and
(ii)   the U.S. Holder had not timely made, effective from the first taxable year of its holding period of COVA Public Shares during which COVA qualified as a PFIC, either (a) a valid election to treat COVA as a “qualified electing fund” under Section 1295 of the Code (a “QEF election”) or (b) a valid “mark-to-market election” under Section 1296 of the Code, with respect to such COVA Public Shares.
The application of the PFIC rules to COVA Warrants is unclear. A proposed Treasury Regulation issued under the PFIC rules generally treats an “option” ​(which would include a COVA Warrant) to acquire stock of a PFIC as stock of the PFIC, while a final Treasury Regulation issued under the PFIC rules provides that a QEF Election does not apply to options and no mark-to-market election (as described above) is currently available with respect to options. Therefore, if finalized in their current form, these proposed Treasury Regulations may require gain recognition on the exchange of COVA Warrants for ECARX Warrants pursuant to the Merger Agreement.
The tax on any such recognized gain would be imposed based on the Excess Distribution Rules, discussed below under “— Ownership and Disposition of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Warrants by U.S. Holders — Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules.”
It is difficult to predict whether, in what form and with what effective date, final Treasury Regulations under Section 1291(f) of the Code will be adopted. Therefore, U.S. Holders of COVA Public Shares that have not made a timely QEF election or a mark-to-market election and U.S. Holders of COVA Warrants may, pursuant to the proposed Treasury Regulations, be subject to taxation under the PFIC rules on the Business Combination to the extent their COVA Public Shares and/or COVA Warrants have a fair market value in excess of their tax basis therein.
THE RULES DEALING WITH PFICS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE BUSINESS COMBINATION ARE VERY COMPLEX AND ARE IMPACTED BY VARIOUS FACTORS. ALL U.S. HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS CONCERNING THE CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE PFIC RULES, WHETHER A QEF ELECTION, A MARK-TO-MARKET ELECTION OR ANY OTHER ELECTION IS AVAILABLE AND THE CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF ANY SUCH ELECTION, AND THE IMPACT OF ANY PROPOSED OR FINAL PFIC TREASURY REGULATIONS.
U.S. Holders Exercising Redemption Rights with Respect to COVA Public Shares
In the event that a U.S. Holder’s COVA Public Shares are redeemed for cash pursuant to the redemption provisions described herein, the treatment of such redemption for U.S. federal income tax purposes will depend on whether the redemption qualifies as a sale of stock under Section 302 of the Code. Whether a redemption qualifies as a sale of stock under Section 302 of the Code will depend largely on the total number of COVA Public Shares treated as held by the U.S. Holder relative to all of the COVA Public Shares outstanding, both before and after the redemption.
The redemption of COVA Public Shares will generally be treated as a sale of stock under Section 302 of the Code (rather than a distribution) if the redemption (i) results in a “complete termination” of the
 
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U.S. Holder’s interest in COVA, (ii) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to the U.S. Holder or (iii) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to the U.S. Holder. These tests (determined immediately after the Business Combination) are explained more fully below.
In determining whether any of the foregoing tests are satisfied, a U.S. Holder generally takes into account not only COVA Public Shares actually owned by such U.S. Holder but also COVA Public Shares constructively owned by it. A U.S. Holder may constructively own, in addition to shares owned directly, shares owned by certain related individuals and entities in which the U.S. Holder has an interest or that have an interest in such U.S. Holder, as well as any shares the U.S. Holder has a right to acquire by exercise of an option (including the COVA Warrants).
There will be a complete termination of a U.S. Holder’s interest if either: (i) all of the COVA Public Shares actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder are redeemed, or (ii) all of the COVA Public Shares actually owned by the U.S. Holder are redeemed and the U.S. Holder is eligible to waive, and effectively waives in accordance with specific rules set forth in the Code and Treasury Regulations, the attribution of shares owned by certain family members and the U.S. Holder does not constructively own any other shares.
In order to meet the “substantially disproportionate” test, the percentage of outstanding voting stock actually or constructively owned by a U.S. Holder immediately following the redemption generally must be less than 80% of the voting stock actually or constructively owned by such U.S. Holder immediately prior to the redemption. Because holders of COVA Public Shares are not entitled to vote on the election of directors prior to the completion of the Business Combination, the COVA Public Shares may not be treated as voting shares for this purpose and, consequently, this substantially disproportionate test may not apply.
The redemption of COVA Public Shares will not be essentially equivalent to a dividend if a U.S. Holder’s redemption results in a “meaningful reduction” of the U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in COVA. Whether the redemption will result in a meaningful reduction in a U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in COVA will depend on such U.S. Holder’s particular facts and circumstances. However, the IRS has indicated in a published ruling that even a small reduction in the proportionate voting interest of a small minority shareholder in a publicly held corporation who exercises no control over corporate affairs may constitute such a “meaningful reduction.”
If the redemption of COVA Public Shares qualifies as a sale of stock by a U.S. Holder under Section 302 of the Code, the U.S. Holder would generally recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference, if any, between the amount of cash received and the tax basis of the shares of COVA Public Shares redeemed. Such gain or loss would generally be treated as capital gain or loss if such shares were held as a capital asset on the date of the redemption. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in such U.S. Holder’s COVA Public Shares will generally equal the cost of such shares.
If the redemption of COVA Public Shares does not qualify as a sale of stock under Section 302 of the Code, then the U.S. Holder will be treated as receiving a corporate distribution. Such distribution will generally constitute a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a return of capital that will be applied against and reduce (but not below zero) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such U.S. Holder’s COVA Public Shares. Any remaining excess will be treated as capital gain realized on the sale or other disposition of the COVA Public Shares. After the application of the foregoing rules, any remaining tax basis a U.S. Holder has in the redeemed COVA Public Shares will be added to the adjusted tax basis in such holder’s remaining COVA Public Shares. If there are no such remaining COVA Public Shares, a U.S. Holder should consult its tax advisor as to the allocation of any remaining basis.
Certain U.S. Holders may be subject to special reporting requirements with respect to a redemption of ordinary shares, and such holders should consult with their own tax advisors with respect to their reporting requirements.
ALL U.S. HOLDERS OF COVA PUBLIC SHARES SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF REDEMPTION.
 
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Ownership and Disposition of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Warrants by U.S. Holders
Distributions on ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares
If ECARX makes distributions of cash or property to a U.S. Holder with respect to such holder’s ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares, such distributions will generally be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes first as a dividend to the extent of ECARX’s current and accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles), and then as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in its ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares, with any excess treated as capital gain from the sale or exchange of the shares. ECARX does not intend to provide calculations of its earnings and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles. A U.S. Holder should expect all cash distributions to be reported as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Any dividend will generally not be eligible for the dividends received deduction allowed to corporations in respect of dividends received from U.S. corporations.
Subject to the discussion below under “— Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules,” dividends received by certain non-corporate U.S. Holders (including individuals) may be “qualified dividend income,” which currently is taxed at the lower applicable capital gains rate, provided that:

the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, or, in the event that ECARX is deemed to be a mainland China resident enterprise under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, ECARX is eligible for benefits of the U.S.-PRC income tax treaty (the “Treaty”);

ECARX is neither a PFIC (as discussed below under below under “— Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules”) nor treated as such with respect to the U.S. Holder in any taxable year in which the dividend is paid or the preceding taxable year;

ECARX is not and does not become a “surrogate foreign corporation” ​(within the meaning of Section 7874(a) of the Code), other than a surrogate foreign corporation which is treated as a domestic corporation under Section 7874(b) of the Code;

the U.S. Holder satisfies certain holding period requirements; and

the U.S. Holder is not under an obligation to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property.
There can be no assurance that ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares will be considered “readily tradable” on an established securities market in the United States in accordance with applicable legal authorities. Furthermore, there can no assurance that ECARX will not be treated as a PFIC in any taxable year. See discussion below under “— Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules.” U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability of the lower rate for dividends paid with respect to ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares.
Subject to certain exceptions, dividends on ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares will constitute foreign source income for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. If such dividends are qualified dividend income (as discussed above), the amount of the dividend taken into account for purposes of calculating the foreign tax credit limitation will be limited to the gross amount of the dividend, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the reduced rate applicable to qualified dividend income and the denominator of which is the highest rate of tax normally applicable to dividends. For this purpose, dividends distributed by ECARX with respect to the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares will generally constitute “passive category income.” In the event that ECARX is deemed to be a mainland China resident enterprise under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, a U.S. Holder may be subject to withholding taxes in mainland China on dividends paid on ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares. Depending on the U.S. Holder’s particular facts and circumstances and subject to a number of complex conditions and limitations, withholding taxes in mainland China on dividends that are non-refundable under the Treaty may be treated as foreign taxes eligible for credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability. A U.S. Holder who does not elect to claim a foreign tax credit for foreign tax withheld may instead claim a deduction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in respect of such withholding, but only for a year in which such holder elects to do so for all creditable
 
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foreign income taxes. The rules governing foreign tax credits are complex and U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability of the foreign tax credit under their particular circumstances.
Sale, Exchange, Redemption or Other Taxable Disposition of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or ECARX Warrants
Subject to the discussion below under “— Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules,” a U.S. Holder will generally recognize gain or loss on any sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or ECARX Warrants in an amount equal to the difference between (i) the amount realized on the disposition and (ii) such U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or such ECARX Warrants, as applicable. Any gain or loss recognized by a U.S. Holder on a taxable disposition of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or ECARX Warrants will generally be capital gain or loss. A non-corporate U.S. Holder, including an individual, who has held the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or ECARX Warrants for more than one year will generally be eligible for reduced tax rates for such long-term capital gains. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. Any such gain or loss recognized will generally be treated as U.S. source gain or loss, which will generally limit the availability of foreign tax credits.
If ECARX is deemed to be a mainland China resident enterprise under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, gains from the disposition of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or ECARX Warrants may be subject to income tax in mainland China and will generally be U.S. source, which may limit the ability to receive a foreign tax credit. If a U.S. Holder is eligible for the benefits of the Treaty, such holder may be able to elect to treat such gain as mainland China source income under the Treaty. Pursuant to recently issued Treasury Regulations, however, if a U.S. Holder is not eligible for the benefits of the Treaty or does not elect to apply the Treaty, then such holder may not be able to claim a foreign tax credit arising from any mainland China tax imposed on the disposition of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or ECARX Warrants. The rules regarding foreign tax credits and deduction of foreign taxes are complex. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability of a foreign tax credit or deduction in light of their particular circumstances, including their eligibility for benefits under the Treaty, and the potential impact of the recently issued Treasury Regulations.
Exercise or Lapse of an ECARX Warrant
A U.S. Holder will generally not recognize gain or loss upon the acquisition of an ECARX Ordinary Share on the exercise of an ECARX Warrant for cash. A U.S. Holder’s initial tax basis in its ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares received upon exercise of the ECARX Warrant will generally equal the sum of its tax basis in the COVA Warrant exchanged therefor and the exercise price. It is unclear whether a U.S. Holder’s holding period for an ECARX Ordinary Share received upon exercise of the ECARX Warrant will commence on the date of exercise of the ECARX Warrant or the following date; in either case, such holding period will not include the period during which the U.S. Holder held the ECARX Warrant. If an ECARX Warrant is allowed to lapse unexercised, a U.S. Holder will generally recognize a capital loss equal to such U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the ECARX Warrant.
The tax consequences of a cashless exercise of an ECARX Warrant are unclear under current tax law. Subject to the PFIC rules discussed under “— Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules” below, a cashless exercise may be tax-deferred, either because the exercise is not a gain realization event or because the exercise is treated as a recapitalization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In either situation, a U.S. Holder’s basis in the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares received would generally equal the U.S. Holder’s basis in the ECARX Warrants exercised therefor. If the cashless exercise is not treated as a gain realization event, it is unclear whether a U.S. Holder’s holding period in the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares would commence on the date of exercise or the following date. If the cashless exercise were treated as a recapitalization, the holding period of the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares would include the holding period of the ECARX Warrants exercised therefor.
It is also possible that a cashless exercise of an ECARX Warrant should be treated in part as a taxable exchange in which gain or loss would be recognized in the manner set forth above under “— Sale, Exchange, Redemption or Other Taxable Disposition of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or ECARX Warrants.” In
 
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such event, a U.S. Holder could be deemed to have surrendered warrants having an aggregate fair market value equal to the aggregate exercise price for the total number of warrants to be exercised. Subject to the discussion below under “— Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules,” the U.S. Holder would recognize capital gain or loss with respect to the ECARX Warrants deemed surrendered in an amount generally equal to the difference between (i) the fair market value of the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares that would have been received in a regular exercise of the ECARX Warrants deemed surrendered, net of the aggregate exercise price of such ECARX Warrants and (ii) the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in such ECARX Warrants. In this case, a U.S. Holder’s aggregate tax basis in the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares received would equal the sum of (i) the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the ECARX Warrants deemed exercised and (ii) any gain recognized by such U.S. Holder in the exchange. It is unclear whether a U.S. Holder’s holding period in the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares would commence on the date of exercise or the following date.
ECARX expects a U.S. Holder’s cashless exercise of ECARX Warrants (including after ECARX provides notice of its intent to redeem ECARX Warrants for cash) to be treated as a recapitalization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, there can be no assurance regarding which, if any, of the alternative tax characterizations and holding periods described above would be adopted by the IRS or a court of law. Accordingly, U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of a cashless exercise of ECARX Warrants.
If ECARX redeems ECARX Warrants for cash pursuant to the redemption provisions of the ECARX Warrants or if ECARX purchases ECARX Warrants in an open market transaction, such redemption or purchase will generally be treated as a taxable disposition of such ECARX Warrants by the U.S. Holder, which will generally be subject to tax as described above under “— Sale, Exchange, Redemption or Other Taxable Disposition of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or ECARX Warrants.
Possible Constructive Distributions
The terms of each ECARX Warrant provide for an adjustment to the number of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares for which the ECARX Warrant may be exercised or to the exercise price of the ECARX Warrant in certain events. An adjustment that has the effect of preventing dilution is generally not treated as a constructive distribution. Nevertheless, a U.S. Holder of an ECARX Warrant will generally be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from ECARX if, for example, the adjustment increases the holder’s proportionate interest in ECARX’s assets or earnings and profits (e.g., through an increase in the number of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares that would be obtained upon exercise of such warrant) as a result of a distribution of cash to the holders of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares. Any such constructive distribution will generally be subject to tax as described above under “— Distributions on ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares” in the same manner as if the U.S. Holder of such ECARX Warrant had received a cash distribution from ECARX in an amount equal to the fair market value of such increased interest.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules
The treatment of U.S. Holders of the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and/or ECARX Warrants could be materially different from that described above if ECARX is treated as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A non-U.S. entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes will generally be a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any taxable year if either:

at least 75% of its gross income for such year is passive income; or

at least 50% of the value of its assets (generally based on an average of the quarterly values of the assets) during such year is attributable to assets that produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income.
For this purpose, ECARX will be treated as owning its proportionate share of the assets and earning its proportionate share of the income of any other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes in which ECARX owns, directly or indirectly, 25% or more (by value) of the stock.
Based on the current and anticipated value of the assets and the composition of the income and assets, including goodwill and other unbooked intangibles, of ECARX and its subsidiaries, ECARX does not currently expect to be treated as a PFIC for the taxable year that includes the Business Combination or
 
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foreseeable future taxable years. However, this conclusion is a factual determination that must be made annually at the close of each taxable year on the basis of the composition of the income and assets of ECARX and its subsidiaries and, thus, is subject to change. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that ECARX or any of its subsidiaries will not be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year. Furthermore, fluctuations in the market price of the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares may cause ECARX to be classified as a PFIC for the taxable year that includes the Business Combination or future taxable years because the value of its assets, including goodwill and other unbooked intangibles, for purposes of the asset test may be determined by reference to the market price of the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares from time to time (which may be volatile). Among other matters, if ECARX’s market capitalization subsequently declines, it may be or become classified as a PFIC for the taxable year that includes the Business Combination or future taxable years. Furthermore, under circumstances where ECARX’s income from activities that produce passive income significantly increases relative to income from activities that produce non-passive income, or where ECARX determines not to deploy significant amounts of cash for active purposes, ECARX’s risk of becoming classified as a PFIC may substantially increase.
The discussion above under “— Distributions on ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares” and “— Sale, Exchange, Redemption or Other Taxable Disposition of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or ECARX Warrants” is written on the basis that ECARX will not be or become classified as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
If ECARX is classified as a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and/or ECARX Warrants, and unless the U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election (as described below), the U.S. Holder will generally be subject to special tax rules on (i) any excess distribution that ECARX makes to the U.S. Holder (which generally means any distribution paid during a taxable year to a U.S. Holder that is greater than 125% of the average annual distributions paid in the three preceding taxable years or, if shorter, the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and/or ECARX Warrants), and (ii) any gain realized on the sale or other disposition, including, under certain circumstances, a pledge, of the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and/or ECARX Warrants (the “Excess Distribution Rules”). Under these special tax rules:

the excess distribution or gain will be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and/or ECARX Warrants;

the amount allocated to the current taxable year, and any taxable years in the U.S. Holder’s holding period prior to the first taxable year in which ECARX is a PFIC, each a pre-PFIC year, will be taxable as ordinary income; and

the amount allocated to each prior taxable year, other than the taxable year of the distribution or gain or a pre-PFIC year, will be subject to tax at the highest tax rate in effect applicable to the U.S. Holder for that year, increased by an additional tax equal to interest on the resulting tax deemed deferred with respect to such years.
If ECARX is classified as a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and/or ECARX Warrants and any of the non-U.S. subsidiaries or other corporate entities in which ECARX owns equity interests are also classified as a PFIC, such U.S. Holder would be treated as owning a proportionate amount (by value) of the shares of the lower-tier PFIC for purposes of the application of these rules. U.S. Holders are advised to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the PFIC rules to any of ECARX’s subsidiaries.
As an alternative to Excess Distribution Rules, a U.S. Holder of “marketable stock” in a PFIC may make a mark-to-market election with respect to such stock, provided that certain requirements are met. If a valid mark-to-market election is made with respect to the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares, the U.S. Holder will generally (i) include as ordinary income for each taxable year that ECARX is classified as a PFIC the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares held at the end of the taxable year over the adjusted tax basis of such ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and (ii) deduct as an ordinary loss the excess, if any, of the adjusted tax basis of the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares held at the end of the taxable year over the fair market value of such ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares held at the end of the taxable year, but only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election. The U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the ECARX Class A Ordinary
 
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Shares would be adjusted to reflect any income or loss resulting from the mark-to-market election. If a U.S. Holder makes an effective mark-to-market election, any gain recognized upon the sale or other disposition of the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares will be treated as ordinary income and loss will be treated as ordinary loss, but only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election.
The mark-to-market election is available only for “marketable stock,” which is stock that is regularly traded on a qualified exchange or other market, as defined in applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations. The ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares, which are expected to be listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, are expected to qualify as marketable stock for purposes of the PFIC rules, but there can be no assurance that they will be “regularly traded” for purposes of these rules.
Because a mark-to-market election cannot technically be made for any lower-tier PFICs that ECARX may own, a U.S. Holder may continue to be subject to the Excess Distribution Rules with respect to such U.S. Holder’s indirect interest in any investments held by ECARX that are treated as an equity interest in a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
ECARX does not intend to provide information necessary for U.S. Holders to make QEF elections which, if available, would result in tax treatment different from (and generally less adverse than) the general tax treatment for PFICs described above.
A U.S. Holder of a PFIC generally is required to file an IRS Form 8621 on an annual basis. U.S. Holders are strongly encouraged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of the PFIC rules and the associated reporting requirements to their particular circumstances.
Foreign Financial Asset Reporting
Certain U.S. Holders may be required to report their holdings of certain foreign financial assets, including equity of foreign entities, if the aggregate value of all of these assets exceeds $50,000 at the end of a taxable year or $75,000 at any time during a taxable year (or, for certain individuals living outside the United States and married individuals filing joint returns, certain higher thresholds). COVA Securities, ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Warrants are expected to constitute foreign financial assets subject to these requirements unless COVA Securities, ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Warrants are held in an account at certain financial institutions. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of these reporting requirements.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Information reporting requirements may apply to cash received in redemption of COVA Public Shares, distributions on the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares, and the proceeds received on sale or other taxable disposition of the COVA Securities, the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or ECARX Warrants effected within the United States (and, in certain cases, outside the United States), in each case other than U.S. Holders that are exempt recipients (such as corporations). Backup withholding may apply to such amounts if the U.S. Holder fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number (generally on an IRS Form W-9 provided to the paying agent of the U.S. Holder’s broker) or is otherwise subject to backup withholding. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of the U.S. information reporting and backup withholding rules.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding generally may be credited against the taxpayer’s U.S. federal income tax liability, and a taxpayer may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by timely filing the appropriate claim for a refund with the IRS and furnishing any required information.
The preceding discussion of certain material U.S. federal tax considerations is for general information purposes only. It is not tax advice to holders of COVA Securities, ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or ECARX Warrants. Each such holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the particular U.S. federal, state and local, and non-U.S. tax considerations of purchasing, holding, and disposing of COVA Securities, ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares or ECARX Warrants, including the consequences of any proposed change in applicable law.
 
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Cayman Islands Tax Considerations
The following summary contains a description of certain Cayman Islands income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of ordinary shares, but it does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all the tax considerations that may be relevant to a decision to purchase ordinary shares. The summary is based upon the tax laws of Cayman Islands and regulations thereunder as of the date hereof, which are subject to change.
Prospective investors should consult their professional advisors on the possible tax consequences of buying, holding or selling any shares under the laws of their country of citizenship, residence or domicile.
The following is a discussion on certain Cayman Islands income tax consequences of an investment in the COVA Public Shares and ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares. The discussion is a general summary of present law, which is subject to prospective and retroactive change. It is not intended as tax advice, does not consider any investor’s particular circumstances, and does not consider tax consequences other than those arising under Cayman Islands law.
Under Existing Cayman Islands Laws:
Payments of dividends and capital in respect of COVA Securities and ECARX Securities will not be subject to taxation in the Cayman Islands and no withholding will be required on the payment of interest and principal or a dividend or capital to any holder of COVA Public Shares or ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares, as the case may be, nor will gains derived from the disposal of the COVA Public Shares or ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares be subject to Cayman Islands income or corporation tax. The Cayman Islands currently have no income, corporation or capital gains tax and no estate duty, inheritance tax or gift tax.
No stamp duty is payable in respect of the issue of COVA Securities or ECARX Securities or on an instrument of transfer in respect of COVA Securities or ECARX Securities.
Both COVA and ECARX have been incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands as exempted companies with limited liability and, as such, have obtained undertakings from the Governor in Cabinet of the Cayman Islands in the following form:
The Tax Concessions Law
Undertaking as to Tax Concessions
In accordance with Section 6 of the Tax Concessions Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands, the Governor in Cabinet undertakes with COVA:
(a)
that no law which is hereafter enacted in the Cayman Islands imposing any tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations shall apply to COVA or its operations; and
(b)
in addition, that no tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations or which is in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax shall be payable:
(i)
on or in respect of the shares, debentures or other obligations of COVA; or
(ii)
by way of the withholding in whole or part, of any relevant payment as defined in Section 6(3) of the Tax Concessions Act.
These concessions shall be for a period of 20 years from December 16, 2020.
The Tax Concessions Law
Undertaking as to Tax Concessions
In accordance with section 6 of the Tax Concessions Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands, the Governor in Cabinet of the Cayman Islands has undertaken with ECARX that:
(a)
no law which is thereafter enacted in the Cayman Islands imposing any tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations shall apply to ECARX or its operations; and
 
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(b)
in addition, that no tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations or which is in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax shall be payable:
(i)
on or in respect of the shares, debentures or other obligations of ECARX; or
(ii)
by way of the withholding in whole or in part of any relevant payment as defined in Section 6(3) of the Tax Concessions Act.
The concessions apply for a period of 20 years from February 18, 2022.
The Cayman Islands currently levy no taxes on individuals or corporations based upon profits, income, gains or appreciations and there is no taxation in the nature of inheritance tax or estate duty. There are no other taxes likely to be material to ECARX levied by the Government of the Cayman Islands save certain stamp duties which may be applicable, from time to time, on certain instruments executed in or brought within the jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands.
 
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DESCRIPTION OF ECARX SECURITIES
The following description of the material terms of the securities of ECARX includes a summary of specified provisions of the Amended ECARX Articles that will be in effect on the Closing Date and immediately prior to the First Effective Time. This description is qualified by reference to the Amended ECARX Articles as will be in effect on the Closing Date and immediately prior to the First Effective Time. In this section, the terms “we”, “our” or “us” refer to ECARX following the consummation of the Business Combination, and all capitalized terms used in this section are as defined in the Amended ECARX Articles, unless elsewhere defined herein.
ECARX is a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability and immediately following the consummation of the Business Combination its affairs will be governed by the Amended ECARX Articles, the Cayman Islands Companies Act, and the common law of the Cayman Islands.
ECARX’s authorized share capital consists of 10,000,000,000 shares of a par value of US$0.000005 each, consisting of 8,000,000,000 ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares, 1,000,000,000 ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares and 1,000,000,000 shares of a par value of US$0.000005 each of such class or classes (however designated) as the ECARX board of directors may determine in accordance with the Amended ECARX Articles. All ECARX Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding at the consummation of the Business Combination will be fully paid and non-assessable.
The Amended ECARX Articles will become effective on the Closing Date and immediately prior to the First Effective Time. The following are summaries of material provisions of the Amended ECARX Articles and the Cayman Islands Companies Act insofar as they relate to the material terms of the ECARX Ordinary Shares.
Ordinary Shares
General
Holders of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares will generally have the same rights except for voting, conversion and director appointment and removal rights. ECARX will maintain a register of its shareholders and a shareholder will only be entitled to a share certificate if the board of directors of ECARX resolves that share certificates be issued.
We estimate that, immediately after the Closing, (i) the existing shareholders of ECARX will own 89.0% of the issued and outstanding ECARX Ordinary Shares (and Mr. Eric Li (Li Shufu) and Mr. Ziyu Shen, founders of ECARX, will own 43.7% and 6.3% of the outstanding ECARX Ordinary Shares, respectively, representing 76.7% of ECARX Holdings’ total voting power, and collectively own all of the outstanding ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares), (ii) COVA Public Shareholders will own 7.9% of the outstanding ECARX Ordinary Shares, and (iii) the Sponsor will own 2.0 % of the outstanding ECARX Ordinary Shares, assuming (a) none of the COVA Public Shareholders exercise their redemption rights, (b) no COVA shareholder exercises its dissenters’ rights, (c) the Strategic Investments are fully funded at the Closing, (d) the Note is fully converted into ECARX Ordinary Shares at a conversion price of US$10.00 per share, and (e) 16,617,591 shares reserved for the share options of ECARX prior to the date of the Merger Agreement (after considering the impact of the Recapitalization) are issued, and excluding shares underlying the COVA Public Warrants and COVA Private Warrants.
Although Mr. Li and Mr. Shen will control the voting power of all of the issued and outstanding ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares immediately following the consummation of the Business Combination, their controls over those shares are not permanent and are subject to reduction or elimination. As further described below, upon any transfer of ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares by a holder thereof to any person which is not Mr. Li or Mr. Shen or an affiliate of them, those shares will automatically and immediately convert into ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares.
Dividends
The holders of ECARX Ordinary Shares will be entitled to such dividends as the board of directors may in its discretion lawfully declare from time to time, or as ECARX shareholders may declare by ordinary
 
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resolution. ECARX Class A Ordinary and ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares rank equally as to dividends and other distributions. Dividends may be paid either in cash or in specie.
Voting Rights
In respect of all matters upon which holders of ECARX Ordinary Shares are entitled to vote, each ECARX Class A Ordinary Share will be entitled to one vote and each ECARX Class B Ordinary Share will be entitled to ten votes. Voting at any meeting of shareholders will be decided by way of a poll and not by way of a show of hands. A poll shall be taken in such manner as the chairperson of the meeting directs and the result of a poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting.
ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares will vote together on all matters as a single class except as otherwise required by law. An ordinary resolution to be passed by the shareholders will require a simple majority of votes cast, including by all holders of a specific class of shares, if applicable, while a special resolution will require not less than two-thirds of votes cast. Both ordinary resolutions and special resolutions may also be passed by a unanimous written resolution signed by all members entitled to vote. A special resolution will be required for important matters such as a change of name or making changes to our post-offering memorandum and articles of association.
Optional and Mandatory Conversion
Each ECARX Class B Ordinary Share will be convertible into one ECARX Class A Ordinary Share at any time at the option of the holder thereof. ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares will not be convertible into ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares under any circumstances.
Upon any transfer of ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares by a holder thereof to any person which is not a Co-Founder or a Co-Founder Affiliate, each such ECARX Class B Ordinary Share will automatically and immediately convert into one ECARX Class A Ordinary Share.
Transfer of Ordinary Shares
Subject to applicable laws, including securities laws, and the restrictions contained in the Amended ECARX Articles and to any lock-up agreements to which an ECARX shareholder may be a party, any ECARX shareholders may transfer all or any of their ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual or common form or any other form approved by the board of directors of ECARX.
ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares may be transferred only to a Co-Founder or a Co-Founder Affiliate and any ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares transferred otherwise will be converted into ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares as described above. See “— Optional and Mandatory Conversion.”
The board of directors of ECARX may decline to register any transfer of any share in the event that any of the following is known by the directors not to be both applicable and true with respect to such transfer:

the instrument of transfer is lodged with ECARX, or the designated transfer agent or share registrar, accompanied by the certificate for the shares to which it relates (if any) and such other evidence as the board of directors of ECARX may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer;

the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of shares;

the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required;

in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the share is to be transferred does not exceed four; or

a fee of such maximum sum as Nasdaq may determine to be payable, or such lesser sum as the board of directors of ECARX may from time to time require, is paid to ECARX in respect thereof.
If the board of directors of ECARX refuses to register a transfer they shall, within three calendar months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal stating the facts which are considered to justify the refusal to register the transfer.
 
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Liquidation
The ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares will rank equally upon occurrence of any liquidation or winding up of ECARX, in the event of which ECARX’s assets will be distributed to, or the losses will be borne by, shareholders in proportion to the par value of the shares held by them.
Calls on Ordinary Shares and Forfeiture of Ordinary Shares
The board of directors of ECARX may from time to time make calls upon shareholders for any amounts unpaid on their ECARX Ordinary Shares. The ECARX Ordinary Shares that have been called upon and remain unpaid are, after a notice period, subject to forfeiture.
Redemption of Ordinary Shares
Subject to the provisions of the Cayman Islands Companies Act, ECARX may issue shares that are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the shareholder or ECARX. The redemption of such shares will be effected in such manner and upon such other terms as ECARX may, by either the board of directors of ECARX or by the shareholders by ordinary resolution, determine before the issue of the shares.
Variations of Rights of Shares
If at any time the share capital of ECARX is divided into different classes of shares, all or any of the rights attached to any class (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class) may only be materially and adversely varied with the consent in writing of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the issued shares of that class, or with the approval of a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the votes cast at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of that class where at least one-third (1/3) in nominal or par value amount of the issued shares of that class are present (provided that if at any adjourned meeting of such holders a quorum as above defined is not present, those Shareholders who are Present shall form a quorum).
General Meetings of Shareholders
ECARX may (but shall not be obliged to) in each calendar year hold an annual general meeting. The annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place as the board of directors of ECARX may determine. At least seven calendar days’ notice shall be given for any general meeting. The chairperson of our board of directors or the board of directors of ECARX may call extraordinary general meetings. The board of directors of ECARX must convene an extraordinary general meeting upon the requisition of shareholders holding at least one third of the votes that may be cast at such meeting. One or more shareholders holding shares which carry in aggregate (or representing by proxy) not less than one-third (1/3) of all votes attaching to all shares in issue and entitled to vote at such general meeting present shall be a quorum for all purposes; provided, that the presence in person or by proxy of holders of a majority of ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares shall be required in any event.
Inspection of Books and Records
The board of directors of ECARX will determine whether, to what extent, at what times and places and under what conditions or regulations the accounts and books of ECARX will be open to the inspection by ECARX shareholders, and no ECARX shareholder will otherwise have any right of inspecting any account or book or document of ECARX except as required by law or authorized by the board of directors of ECARX or ECARX shareholders by special resolution.
Changes in Capital
ECARX may from time to time by ordinary resolution:

increase its share capital by new shares of such amount as it thinks expedient;
 
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consolidate and divide all or any share capital into shares of a larger amount than existing shares;

sub-divide its existing shares or any of them into shares of a smaller amount; provided that in the subdivision the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced share will be the same as it was in case of the share from which the reduced share is derived; or

cancel any shares that at the date of the passing of the resolution have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled.
ECARX may by special resolution reduce its share capital or any capital redemption reserve fund in any manner permitted by the Cayman Islands Companies Act.
Warrants
Upon the consummation of the Business Combination, each COVA Warrant outstanding immediately prior will be assumed by ECARX and converted into an ECARX Warrant. Each ECARX Warrant will continue to have and be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions as were applicable to such COVA Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of the Business Combination (including any repurchase rights and cashless exercise provisions). A summary description of the existing COVA Warrants is set forth below.
Public COVA Warrants
Each whole COVA Warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one COVA Public Share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, at any time commencing on the later of one year from the closing of the IPO and 30 days after the completion of COVA’s initial business combination, except as discussed in the immediately succeeding paragraph. Pursuant to the COVA warrant agreement, a COVA Warrant holder may exercise its COVA Warrants only for a whole number of COVA Public Shares. This means only a whole COVA Warrant may be exercised at a given time by a COVA Warrant holder. No fractional COVA Warrants will be issued upon separation of Units and only whole COVA Warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless an investor purchases at least two Units, they will not be able to receive or trade a whole COVA Warrant. The COVA Warrants will expire five years after the completion of COVA’s initial business combination, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
COVA will not be obligated to deliver any COVA Public Shares pursuant to the exercise of a COVA Warrant and will have no obligation to settle such exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the COVA Public Shares underlying the COVA Warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to COVA satisfying its obligations described below with respect to registration, or a valid exemption from registration is available. No COVA Warrant will be exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis, and COVA will not be obligated to issue a COVA Public Share upon exercise of a COVA Warrant unless the COVA Public Share issuable upon such COVA Warrant exercise has been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the registered holder of the COVA Warrants. In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a COVA Warrant, the holder of such COVA Warrant will not be entitled to exercise such COVA Warrant and such COVA Warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In no event will COVA be required to net cash settle any COVA Warrant. In the event that a registration statement is not effective for the exercised COVA Warrants, the purchaser of a Unit containing such COVA Warrant will have paid the full purchase price for the Unit solely for the COVA Public Share underlying such Unit.
COVA has agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 business days after the closing of its initial business combination, COVA will use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the COVA Public Shares issuable upon exercise of the COVA Warrants, and it will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective within 60 business days after the closing of its initial business combination, and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement and a current prospectus relating to those COVA Public Shares until the COVA Warrants expire or are redeemed, as specified in the COVA warrant
 
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agreement. If the COVA Public Shares are at the time of any exercise of a COVA Warrant are not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, COVA may, at its option, require holders of public COVA Warrants who exercise their COVA Warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event COVA so elects, it will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but it will use its commercially reasonably efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available. If a registration statement covering the COVA Public Shares issuable upon exercise of the COVA Warrants is not effective by the 60 day after the closing of the initial business combination, COVA Warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when COVA will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise COVA Warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption; provided that if the exemption under Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act, or another exemption, is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their COVA Warrants on a cashless basis.
In the case of a cashless exercise, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the COVA Warrants for that number of COVA Public Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of COVA Public Shares underlying the COVA Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” less the exercise price of the COVA Warrants by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” as used in this paragraph means the volume-weighted average price of the COVA Public Shares as reported during the 10 trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the date on which the notice of exercise is received by the COVA Warrant agent.
A holder of a COVA Warrant may notify COVA in writing in the event it elects to be subject to a requirement that such holder will not have the right to exercise such COVA Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates), to the COVA warrant agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 9.8% (or such other amount as a holder may specify) of the COVA Public Shares issued and outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.
Redemption of COVA Warrants when the price per COVA Public Share equals or exceeds $18.00.   Once the COVA Warrants become exercisable, COVA may redeem the outstanding COVA Warrants (except as described herein with respect to the private placement COVA Warrants):

in whole and not in part;

at a price of $0.01 per COVA Warrant;

upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each COVA Warrant holder; and

if, and only if, the closing price of the COVA Public Shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a COVA Warrant as described under the heading “— Warrants — Public Shareholders’ Warrants —Anti-Dilution Adjustments”) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending three trading days before COVA sends the notice of redemption to the COVA Warrant holders.
If and when the COVA Warrants become redeemable by COVA, it may not exercise its redemption right if the issuance of COVA Public Shares upon exercise of the COVA Warrants is not exempt from registration or qualification under applicable state blue sky laws or COVA is unable to effect such registration or qualification.
COVA has established the last of the redemption criterion discussed above to prevent a redemption call unless there is at the time of the call a significant premium to the COVA Warrant exercise price. If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and COVA issues a notice of redemption of the COVA Warrants, each COVA Warrant holder will be entitled to exercise his, her or its COVA Warrant prior to the scheduled redemption date. However, the price of the COVA Public Shares may fall below the $18.00 redemption trigger price (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a COVA Warrant as described below under the heading “— Warrants — Public Shareholders’ Warrants — Anti-dilution Adjustments”) as well as the $11.50 (for whole shares) COVA Warrant exercise price after the redemption notice is issued.
 
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If COVA calls the COVA Warrants for redemption as described above, COVA management will have the option to require any holder that wishes to exercise its COVA Warrant to do so on a “cashless basis.” In determining whether to require all holders to exercise their COVA Warrants on a “cashless basis,” COVA management will consider, among other factors, COVA’s cash position, the number of COVA Warrants that are outstanding and the dilutive effect on its shareholders of issuing the maximum number of COVA Public Shares issuable upon the exercise of the COVA Warrants. If COVA management takes advantage of this option, all holders of COVA Warrants would pay the exercise price by surrendering their COVA Warrants for that number of COVA Public Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of COVA Public Shares underlying the COVA Warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the COVA Warrants and the “fair market value” by (y) the fair market value. For this purpose, “fair market value” means the average reported last sale price of the COVA Public Shares for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of COVA Warrants. If COVA management takes advantage of this option, the notice of redemption will contain the information necessary to calculate the number of shares of COVA Public Shares to be received upon exercise of the COVA Warrants, including the “fair market value” in such case.
Anti-dilution Adjustments.   If the number of outstanding COVA Public Shares is increased by a capitalization or share dividend payable in COVA Public Shares, or by a subdivision of ordinary shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such capitalization or share dividend, subdivision or similar event, the number of COVA Public Shares issuable on exercise of each COVA Warrant will be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding ordinary shares. A rights offering made to all or substantially all holders of ordinary shares entitling holders to purchase COVA Public Shares at a price less than the “historical fair market value” ​(as defined below) will be deemed a share dividend of a number of COVA Public Shares equal to the product of (i) the number of COVA Public Shares actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for COVA Public Shares) and (ii) one minus the quotient of (x) the price per COVA Public Share paid in such rights offering and (y) the historical fair market value. For these purposes, (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for COVA Public Shares, in determining the price payable for COVA Public Shares, there will be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) “historical fair market value” means the volume weighted average price of COVA Public Shares as reported during the 10 trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the COVA Public Shares trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.
In addition, if COVA, at any time while the COVA Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pays a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to all or substantially all of the holders of the COVA Public Shares on account of such COVA Public Shares (or other securities into which the COVA Warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described above, (b) any cash dividends or cash distributions which, when combined on a per share basis with all other cash dividends and cash distributions paid on the COVA Public Shares during the 365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution does not exceed $0.50 (as adjusted to appropriately reflect any other adjustments and excluding cash dividends or cash distributions that resulted in an adjustment to the exercise price or to the number of COVA Public Shares issuable on exercise of each COVA Warrant) but only with respect to the amount of the aggregate cash dividends or cash distributions equal to or less than $0.50 per share, (c) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of COVA Public Shares in connection with a proposed initial business combination, (d) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of COVA Public Shares in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) to modify the substance or timing of COVA’s obligation to provide holders of the COVA Public Shares the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with an initial business combination or to redeem 100% of the public shares if COVA does not complete the initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of the IPO or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of the COVA Public Shares, or (e) in connection with the redemption of the public shares upon COVA’s failure to complete an initial business combination, then the COVA Warrant exercise price will be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such event, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value of any securities or other assets paid on each COVA Public Share in respect of such event.
 
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If the number of outstanding COVA Public Shares is decreased by a consolidation, combination or reclassification of COVA Public Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reclassification or similar event, the number of COVA Public Shares issuable on exercise of each COVA Warrant will be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding COVA Public Shares.
Whenever the number of COVA Public Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the COVA Warrants is adjusted, as described above, the COVA Warrant exercise price will be adjusted by multiplying the COVA Warrant exercise price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which will be the number of COVA Public Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the COVA Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment and (y) the denominator of which will be the number of COVA Public Shares so purchasable immediately thereafter.
In addition, if (x) COVA issues additional COVA Public Shares or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of the initial business combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per ordinary share (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by COVA’s board of directors and, in the case of any such issuance to the Sponsor or its affiliates, without taking into account any founder shares held by the Sponsor or such affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance) (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of the initial business combination on the date of the consummation of the initial business combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of the COVA Public Shares during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which COVA consummates its initial business combination (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, the exercise price of the COVA Warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price described above under “— Redemption of COVA Warrants when the price per COVA Public Share equals or exceeds $18.00” will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.
In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding COVA Public Shares (other than those described above or that solely affects the par value of such COVA Public Shares), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of COVA with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which COVA is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding COVA Public Shares), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of COVA as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which COVA is dissolved, the holders of the COVA Warrants will thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the COVA Warrants and in lieu of the COVA Public Shares immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of COVA Public Shares or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the COVA Warrants would have received if such holder had exercised their COVA Warrants immediately prior to such event. However, if such holders were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable upon such consolidation or merger, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets for which each COVA Warrant will become exercisable will be deemed to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per share by such holders in such consolidation or merger that affirmatively make such election, and if a tender, exchange or redemption offer has been made to and accepted by such holders (other than a tender, exchange or redemption offer made by the company in connection with redemption rights held by shareholders of the company as provided for in the company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or as a result of the redemption of COVA Public Shares by the company if a proposed initial business combination is presented to the shareholders of the company for approval) under circumstances in which, upon completion of such tender or exchange offer, the maker thereof, together with members of any group (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act) of which such maker is a part, and together with any affiliate or associate of such maker (within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) and any members of any such group of which any such affiliate or associate is a part, own beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) more than
 
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50% of the issued and outstanding COVA Public Shares, the holder of a COVA Warrant will be entitled to receive the highest amount of cash, securities or other property to which such holder would actually have been entitled as a shareholder if such COVA Warrant holder had exercised the COVA Warrant prior to the expiration of such tender or exchange offer, accepted such offer and all of the COVA Public Shares held by such holder had been purchased pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, subject to adjustment (from and after the consummation of such tender or exchange offer) as nearly equivalent as possible to the adjustments provided for in the COVA warrant agreement. If less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of COVA Public Shares in such a transaction is payable in the form of COVA Public Shares in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the registered holder of the COVA Warrant properly exercises the COVA Warrant within 30 days following public disclosure of such transaction, the COVA Warrant exercise price will be reduced as specified in the COVA warrant agreement based on the Black-Scholes value (as defined in the COVA warrant agreement) of the COVA Warrant. The purpose of such exercise price reduction is to provide additional value to holders of the COVA Warrants when an extraordinary transaction occurs during the exercise period of the COVA Warrants pursuant to which the holders of the COVA Warrants otherwise do not receive the full potential value of the COVA Warrants. The purpose of such exercise price reduction is to provide additional value to holders of the COVA Warrants when an extraordinary transaction occurs during the exercise period of the COVA Warrants pursuant to which the holders of the COVA Warrants otherwise do not receive the full potential value of the COVA Warrants.
The COVA Warrants were issued in registered form under a COVA warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and COVA. The COVA warrant agreement provides that the terms of the COVA Warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder for the purpose of (i) curing any ambiguity or correct any mistake, including to conform the provisions of the COVA warrant agreement to the description of the terms of the COVA Warrants and the COVA warrant agreement set forth in this prospectus, or defective provision (ii) amending the provisions relating to cash dividends on ordinary shares as contemplated by and in accordance with the COVA warrant agreement or (iii) adding or changing any provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the COVA warrant agreement as the parties to the COVA warrant agreement may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem to not adversely affect the rights of the registered holders of the COVA Warrants, provided that the approval by the holders of at least 65% of the then-outstanding public COVA Warrants is required to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders. COVA and ECARX expect to amend the COVA warrant agreement or enter into a new warrant agreement in order to effect the provisions described herein regard the COVA Warrants to the ECARX Warrants and provide the same rights, preferences and privileges to such ECARX Warrant holders following Closing.
The COVA Warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of ordinary shares and any voting rights until they exercise their COVA Warrants and receive COVA Public Shares. After the issuance of COVA Public Shares upon exercise of the COVA Warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by shareholders.
No fractional COVA Warrants will be issued upon separation of the Units and only whole COVA Warrants will trade. If, upon exercise of the COVA Warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, COVA will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of COVA Public Shares to be issued to the COVA Warrant holder.
Private Placement Warrants
Except as described below, the private placement COVA Warrants have terms and provisions that are identical to those of the COVA Warrants being sold as part of the Units in the IPO. The private placement COVA Warrants (including the COVA Public Shares issuable upon exercise of the private placement COVA Warrants) will not be transferable, assignable or saleable until 30 days after the completion of the initial business combination (except pursuant to limited exceptions to COVA’s officers and directors and other persons or entities affiliated with the initial purchasers of the private placement COVA Warrants) and they will not be redeemable by COVA so long as they are held by the Sponsor or its permitted transferees (except as otherwise set forth herein). The Sponsor, or its permitted transferees, has the option to exercise the private
 
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placement COVA Warrants on a cashless basis. If the private placement COVA Warrants are held by holders other than the Sponsor or its permitted transferees, the private placement COVA Warrants will be redeemable by COVA in all redemption scenarios and exercisable by the holders on the same basis as the COVA Warrants included in the Units. Any amendment to the terms of the private placement COVA Warrants or any provision of the COVA warrant agreement with respect to the private placement COVA Warrants will require a vote of holders of at least 65% of the number of the then outstanding private placement COVA Warrants.
If holders of the private placement COVA Warrants elect to exercise them on a cashless basis, they would pay the exercise price by surrendering his, her or its COVA Warrants for that number of COVA Public Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of COVA Public Shares underlying the COVA Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Sponsor fair market value” ​(defined below) over the exercise price of the COVA Warrants by (y) the Sponsor fair market value. For these purposes, the “Sponsor fair market value” shall mean the average reported closing price of the COVA Public Shares for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of COVA Warrant exercise is sent to the COVA Warrant agent. The reason that COVA agreed that these COVA Warrants will be exercisable on a cashless basis so long as they are held by the Sponsor and its permitted transferees is because it is not known at this time whether they will be affiliated with COVA following a business combination. If they remain affiliated with COVA, their ability to sell COVA securities in the open market will be significantly limited. COVA has policies in place that restrict insiders from selling COVA securities except during specific periods of time. Even during such periods of time when insiders will be permitted to sell COVA securities, an insider cannot trade in COVA securities if he or she is in possession of material non-public information. Accordingly, unlike public shareholders who could exercise their COVA Warrants and sell the COVA Public Shares received upon such exercise freely in the open market in order to recoup the cost of such exercise, the insiders could be significantly restricted from selling such securities. As a result, COVA believes that allowing the holders to exercise such COVA Warrants on a cashless basis is appropriate.
In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of COVA’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan COVA funds as may be required. Up to $1,000,000 of such loans may be convertible into COVA Warrants of the post business combination entity at a price of $1.00 per COVA Warrant at the option of the lender. Such COVA Warrants would be identical to the private placement COVA Warrants.
Exempted Company
ECARX is an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands Companies Act distinguishes between ordinary resident companies and exempted companies. Any company that is registered in the Cayman Islands but conducts business mainly outside of the Cayman Islands may apply to be registered as an exempted company. The requirements for an exempted company are essentially the same as for an ordinary company except for the exemptions and privileges listed below:

an exempted company does not have to file an annual return of its shareholders with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands;

an exempted company’s register of members is not open to inspection;

an exempted company does not have to hold an annual general meeting;

an exempted company may issue no par value shares;

an exempted company may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation (such undertakings are usually given for 20 years in the first instance);

an exempted company may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands;

an exempted company may register as a limited duration company; and

an exempted company may register as a segregated portfolio company.
 
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COMPARISON OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS
This section describes the material differences between the rights of COVA shareholders before the consummation of the Business Combination, and the rights of ECARX shareholders after the Business Combination. These differences in shareholder rights result from the differences between the respective governing documents of COVA and ECARX.
This section does not include a complete description of all differences among such rights, nor does it include a complete description of such rights. Furthermore, the identification of some of the differences of these rights as material is not intended to indicate that other differences that may be equally important do not exist. COVA shareholders are urged to carefully read the relevant provisions of the Amended ECARX Articles that will be in effect as of consummation of the Business Combination (which form is included as Annex B to this proxy statement/prospectus). References in this section to the Amended ECARX Articles are references thereto as they will be in effect upon consummation of the Business Combination. However, the Amended ECARX Articles may be amended at any time prior to consummation of the Business Combination by mutual agreement of COVA and ECARX or after the consummation of the Business Combination by amendment in accordance with their terms. If the Amended ECARX Articles are amended, the below summary may cease to accurately reflect the Amended ECARX Articles as so amended.
COVA
ECARX
Authorized Share Capital
COVA’s authorized share capital is US$55,500 divided into 500,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each, 50,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each and 5,000,000 preference shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each.
Subject to the COVA Articles, each COVA Public Share and COVA Founder Share shall be entitled to one vote on all matters subject to a vote of the shareholders.
ECARX’s authorized share capital is US$50,000 divided into 10,000,000,000 shares comprising of (i) 8,000,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.000005 each, (ii) 1,000,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.000005 each, and (iii) 1,000,000,000 shares of a par value of US$0.000005 each of such class or classes (however designated) as the ECARX board of directors may determine in accordance with the Amended ECARX Articles.
Each ECARX Class A Ordinary Share shall be entitled to one vote on all matters subject to a vote of the shareholders, and each ECARX Class B Ordinary Share shall be entitled to ten votes on all matters subject to a vote of the shareholders.
Rights of Preference Shares
Subject to the COVA Articles, the directors may issue preference shares in one or more series from time to time with such voting rights, designations, powers, preferences or other special rights and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions as determined by the directors in their sole discretion from time to time. Subject to the Amended ECARX Articles, the directors may issue, out of the authorized share capital of ECARX (other than authorized but unissued ECARX Ordinary Shares), series of preference shares in their absolute discretion and without approval of ECARX shareholders and to establish the number of shares to constitute such series and any voting rights, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions of such series.
Number and Qualification of Directors
The board of directors must consist of no less than one director and the exact number of directors shall be determined from time to time by the board of directors.
Directors will not be required to hold any shares in COVA.
The board of directors must consist of no less than three directors and the exact number of directors shall be determined from time to time by the board of directors.
Directors will not be required to hold any shares in ECARX.
 
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COVA
ECARX
Election/Removal of Directors
Prior to an initial Business Combination, only holders of COVA Founder Shares will have the right to vote on the appointment of directors. Prior to the completion of an initial Business Combination, holders of a majority of COVA Founder Shares may remove a director for any reason.
Prior to the closing of an initial Business Combination, holders of COVA Public Shares shall have no right to vote on the appointment or removal of any director.
The directors may, by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the remaining directors present and voting at a board meeting, appoint any person to be a director so as to fill a casual vacancy or as an addition to the existing board of directors.
ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares voting together as a single class may by ordinary resolution appoint any person to be a director and may in like manner remove any director and may appoint another person to replace that director.
Cumulative Voting
Holders of COVA Shares will not have cumulative voting rights. Holders of ECARX Ordinary Shares will not have cumulative voting rights.
Vacancies on the Board of Directors
The office of any director shall be vacated if:
(a) the director gives notice in writing to COVA that he resigns the office of director;
(b) the director absents himself (for the avoidance of doubt, without being represented by proxy) from three consecutive meetings of the board of directors without special leave of absence from the directors, and the directors pass a resolution that he has by reason of such absence vacated office;
(c) the director dies, becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors generally;
(d) the director is found to be or becomes of unsound mind; or
(e) all of the other directors (being not less than two in number) determine that he should be removed as a director, either by a resolution passed by all of the other directors at a meeting of the directors duly convened and held in accordance with the COVA Articles or by a resolution in writing signed by all of the other directors.
The office of any director shall be vacated if:
(a) such director resigns their office by notice in writing to ECARX;
(b) such director becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with such director’s creditors generally;
(c) such director dies or is found to be or becomes of unsound mind;
(d) such director without special leave of absence from the board, is absent from meetings of the board for three consecutive meetings and the board resolves that his office be vacated; or
(e) such director is removed from office by ordinary resolution, pursuant to the provisions summarized under “Election/Removal of Directors” above.
Amendment to Articles of Association
The COVA Articles may only be amended by shareholders by a special resolution of the shareholders in the manner prescribed by the Companies Act, provided that, prior to the closing of an initial Business Combination, Article 29.1 (regarding the appointment and removal of directors prior to an initial Business Combination) may only be amended by a special resolution of the shareholders (which shall include a simple majority of the holders of COVA Founder Shares). The Amended ECARX Articles may only be amended by shareholders by a special resolution of the shareholders in the manner prescribed by the Companies Act.
 
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COVA
ECARX
Quorum
Shareholders.   A quorum will be present at a COVA extraordinary general meeting if holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding COVA Shares entitled to vote at such extraordinary general meeting are present in person or are represented at such extraordinary general meeting or by proxy.
Board of Directors.   The quorum for the transaction of the business of the COVA board of directors may be fixed by the directors, and unless so fixed shall be a majority of the directors then in office.
Shareholders.   One or more shareholders holding in the aggregate of no less than one-third (1/3) of all votes attaching to all shares in issue and entitled to vote at general meeting present shall be a quorum for such general meeting of ECARX; provided, that the presence in person or by proxy of holders of a majority of ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares shall be required in any event.
Board of Directors.   The quorum for the transaction of the business of the ECARX Board may be fixed by the directors, and unless so fixed shall be a majority of the directors then in office, including the chairperson.
Shareholder Meetings
COVA may (but shall not be obliged to) hold an annual general meeting in each calendar year and will specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it. The annual general meeting will be held at such time and place as the directors may determine.
The chairperson or the directors may call general meetings. COVA shareholders do not have the ability to call or requisition general meetings.
ECARX may (but shall not be obliged to) hold an annual general meeting in each calendar year and will specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it. The annual general meeting will be held at such time and place as the directors may determine.
The chairperson or the directors may call general meetings, and must convene an extraordinary general meeting at the requisition of upon the requisition of shareholders holding at least one-third (1/3) of the votes that may be cast at such meeting.
Notice of Shareholder Meetings
At least five calendar days’ notice will be given for any general meeting. Every notice will be exclusive of the day on which it is given or deemed to be given and of the day for which it is given and will specify the place, the day and the hour of the meeting and the general nature of the business and will be given in the manner mentioned in the COVA Articles or in such other manner as may be prescribed by COVA; provided that a general meeting of COVA will, whether or not the notice has been given and whether or not the provisions of the COVA Articles regarding general meetings have been complied with, be deemed to have been duly convened if it is so agreed:
(a) in the case of an annual general meeting, by all shareholders (or their proxies) entitled to attend and vote thereat; and
(b) in the case of an extraordinary general meeting, by a majority of the shareholders having a right to attend and vote at the meeting and present at the meeting, together holding not less than ninety-five per cent in par value of the Shares giving that right.
At least seven calendar days’ notice will be given for any general meeting. Every notice will be exclusive of the day on which it is given or deemed to be given and of the day for which it is given and will specify the place, the day and the hour of the meeting and the general nature of the business and will be given in the manner mentioned in the Amended ECARX Articles or in such other manner as may be prescribed by ECARX; provided that a general meeting of ECARX will, whether or not the notice has been given and whether or not the provisions of the Amended ECARX Articles regarding general meetings have been complied with, be deemed to have been duly convened if it is so agreed:
(a) in the case of an annual general meeting, by all shareholders (or their proxies) entitled to attend and vote thereat; and
(b) in the case of an extraordinary general meeting, by a majority of the shareholders having a right to attend and vote at the meeting and present at the meeting.
Indemnification, liability insurance of Directors and Officers
Every director and officer, for the time being and from time to time of COVA (but not including Every director and officer, for the time being and from time to time of ECARX (but not including
 
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COVA
ECARX
COVA’s auditors), will be indemnified out of the assets of COVA against any liability, action, proceeding, claim, demand, costs, damages or expenses, including legal expenses, whatsoever which they or any of them may incur in or about the conduct of COVA’s business or affairs or in the execution or discharge of his duties other than by reason of such indemnified person’s actual fraud, willful neglect or willful default.
The directors on behalf of COVA, shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any person who is or was a director or officer of COVA indemnifying them against any liability which may lawfully be insured against by COVA.
ECARX’s auditors), will be indemnified out of the assets of ECARX against any liability, action, proceeding, claim, demand, costs, damages or expenses, including legal expenses, whatsoever which they or any of them may incur in or about the conduct of ECARX’s business or affairs (including as a result of any mistake of judgment) or in the execution or discharge of his duties other than by reason of such indemnified person’s own dishonesty, fraud or willful default.
The directors on behalf of ECARX, shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any person who is or was a director or officer of ECARX indemnifying them against any liability which may lawfully be insured against by ECARX.
Dividends
Subject to the Cayman Islands Companies Act, rights and restrictions attached to any class of shares and the COVA Articles, the directors may from time to time declare dividends and other distributions on COVA Shares in issue and authorize payment of the same out of the funds of COVA lawfully available therefor.
The directors when paying dividends to the shareholders may make such payment either in cash or in specie.
Subject to the Cayman Islands Companies Act, rights and restrictions attached to any class of shares and the Amended ECARX Articles, the directors may from time to time declare dividends and other distributions on ECARX Ordinary Shares in issue and authorize payment of the same out of the funds of ECARX lawfully available therefor.
Subject to rights and restrictions attached to any class of shares and the Amended ECARX Articles, shareholders may by ordinary resolution declare dividends, but no dividend may exceed the amount recommended by the directors.
The directors when paying dividends to the shareholders may make such payment either in cash or in specie.
Winding up
Subject to the rights attaching to any shares, in a winding up:
(a) if the assets available for distribution amongst the shareholders are insufficient to repay the whole of COVA’s issued share capital, such assets will be distributed so that, as nearly as may be, the losses be borne by the shareholders in proportion to the par value of the shares held by them; or
(b) if the assets available for distribution amongst the shareholders are more than sufficient to repay the whole of COVA’s issued share capital at the commencement of the winding up, the surplus will be distributed amongst the shareholders in proportion to the par value of the shares held by them at the commencement of the winding up subject to a deduction from those shares in respect of which there are monies due, of all monies payable to COVA for unpaid calls or otherwise. If COVA is
Subject to the rights attaching to any shares, in a winding up:
(a) if the assets available for distribution amongst the shareholders are insufficient to repay the whole of ECARX’s issued share capital, such assets will be distributed so that, as nearly as may be, the losses be borne by the shareholders in proportion to the par value of the shares held by them; or
(b) if the assets available for distribution amongst the shareholders are more than sufficient to repay the whole of ECARX’s issued share capital at the commencement of the winding up, the surplus will be distributed amongst the shareholders in proportion to the par value of the shares held by them at the commencement of the winding up subject to a deduction from those shares in respect of which there are monies due, of all monies payable to ECARX for unpaid calls or otherwise. If
 
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COVA
ECARX
wound up, the liquidator may, subject to the rights attaching to any shares and with the approval of a special resolution and any other approval required by the Cayman Islands Companies Act, divide amongst the shareholders in species or in kind the whole or any part of the assets of COVA (whether they shall consist of property of the same kind or not) and may for that purpose value any assets and determine how the division shall be carried out as between the shareholders or different classes of shareholders. ECARX is wound up, the liquidator may, subject to the rights attaching to any shares and with the approval of a special resolution and any other approval required by the Cayman Islands Companies Act, divide amongst the shareholders in species or in kind the whole or any part of the assets of ECARX (whether they shall consist of property of the same kind or not) and may for that purpose value any assets and determine how the division shall be carried out as between the shareholders or different classes of shareholders.
Supermajority Voting Provisions
A special resolution, being a resolution passed by not less than a two-thirds of the votes cast by such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, whether in person or by proxy, at a general meeting of COVA, or approved in writing by all of the shareholders entitled to vote at a general meeting of COVA, is required to:
(a) change its name;
(b) alter or add to the COVA Articles;
(c) alter or add to the COVA memorandum of association with respect to any objects, powers or other matters specified therein; and
(d) reduce its share capital or any capital redemption reserve fund.
Prior to an initial Business Combination, only holders of COVA Founder Shares will have the right to vote on the appointment of directors. Prior to the completion of an initial Business Combination, holders of a majority of COVA Founder Shares may remove a director for any reason.
A special resolution, being a resolution passed by not less than a two-thirds of the votes cast by such shareholders as, being entitled to do so, whether in person or by proxy, at a general meeting of ECARX, or approved in writing by all of the shareholders entitled to vote at a general meeting of ECARX, is required to:
(a) amend the Amended ECARX Articles;
(b) change ECARX’s name;
(c) change ECARX’s registration to a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands;
(d) reduce ECARX’s share capital and any capital redemption reserve; and
(e) in a winding up, direct the liquidator to divide amongst the shareholders the assets of ECARX, value the assets for that purpose and determine how the division will be carried out between the shareholders or different classes of shareholders.
Anti-Takeover Provisions
The COVA Articles authorizes the board of directors to issue and set the voting and other rights of preference shares from time to time.
The COVA Articles require that directors be divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. The Class I directors shall stand appointed for a term expiring at COVA’s first annual general meeting, the Class II directors shall stand appointed for a term expiring at COVA’s second annual general meeting and the Class III directors shall stand appointed for a term expiring at COVA’s third annual general meeting. Commencing at COVA’s first annual general meeting, and at each annual general meeting thereafter, directors appointed to succeed those directors whose terms expire shall be appointed for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual general meeting after their appointment.
The Amended ECARX Articles authorizes the board of directors to issue and set the voting and other rights of preference shares from time to time.
 
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BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of COVA Shares as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus by:

each person known by COVA to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of its outstanding ordinary shares;

each of COVA’s named executive officers and directors that beneficially owns its ordinary shares; and

all of COVA’s executive officers and directors as a group.
Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all ordinary shares beneficially owned by them. The following table does not reflect record or beneficial ownership of the COVA Public Warrants or the COVA Private Warrants.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1)
Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
Approximate
Percentage of
Outstanding
Ordinary
Shares
COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC (our Sponsor)(2)(3)
7,500,000 20.0%
Jun Hong Heng(2)(3)
7,500,000 *
Karanveer “K.V.” Dhillon
*
Pandu Sjahrir
*
Alvin W. Sariaatmadja
*
Jack Smith
*
All directors and executive officers as a group (5 individuals)
7,500,000 20.0%
Aristeia Capital, L.L.C.(4)
1,663,000 5.5%
*
Less than one percent.
(1)
This table is based on 37,500,000 ordinary shares outstanding on March 23, 2022, of which 30,000,000 were Class A ordinary shares and 7,500,000 were Class B ordinary shares. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of our shareholders is 1700 Montgomery Street, Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111.
(2)
Interests shown consist solely of COVA Founder Shares, classified as Class B ordinary shares. Such shares will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares at the time of our initial business combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment.
(3)
The shares reported above are held in the name of our Sponsor. Our Sponsor is controlled by Jun Hong Heng.
(4)
The address of Aristeia Capital, L.L.C. is One Greenwich Plaza, 3rd Floor, Greenwich, CT 06830, based on a Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2022 (the “Aristeia 13G”). According to the Aristeia 13G, Aristeia Capital, L.L.C. is the investment manager of, and has voting control with respect to the securities held by, one or more private investment funds, and therefore Aristeia Capital, L.L.C. has beneficial ownership of the shares of Class A ordinary shares directly owned such private investment funds.
The following table sets forth information regarding the expected beneficial ownership of ECARX Ordinary Shares (i) as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus and (ii) immediately following the consummation of the Business Combination by:

each person who is expected to beneficially own 5% or more of the issued and outstanding ECARX Ordinary Shares;

each person who is expected to be an executive officer or director of ECARX following the consummation of the Business Combination Business Combination; and

all of those executive officers and directors of ECARX as a group following the consummation of the Business Combination.
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and includes voting or investment power with respect to, or the power to receive the economic benefit of ownership of, the securities. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, shares that the person has the right to acquire within 60 days are included, including through the
 
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exercise of any option or other right or the conversion of any other security. However, these shares are not included in the computation of the percentage ownership of any other person. Each holder of ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares will be entitled to one vote per share and each holder of ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares will be entitled to ten votes per share, with all ECARX Ordinary Shares voting together as a single class on most matters.
The expected beneficial ownership of shares of ECARX Ordinary Shares after the consummation of the Business Combination assumes two scenarios:

Assuming No Redemption:   This presentation assumes that no COVA Shareholder exercises redemption rights with respect to their COVA Public Shares.

Assuming Maximum Redemption:   This presentation assumes that COVA Public Shareholders holding 30,000,000 COVA Public Shares will exercise their redemption rights. COVA’s obligations under the Merger Agreement are subject to certain customary closing conditions. Furthermore, COVA will only proceed with the Business Combination if it will have net tangible assets of at least US$5,000,001 (after taking into account the redemption for cash of all COVA Public Shares properly demanded to be redeemed by holders of COVA Public Shares) upon consummation of the Business Combination (as determined in accordance with Rule3a5l-l(g)(1) of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)). Unless ECARX Holdings elects to waive the US$100,000,000 Minimum Available Cash Condition, the Maximum Redemption Scenario cannot occur.
The total number of ECARX Ordinary Shares expected to be issued and outstanding after the consummation of the Business Combination will be (i) assuming a No Redemption Scenario and that no COVA shareholder and no ECARX shareholder exercises its dissenters’ rights, 390,254,409, consisting of 341,831,059 ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and 48,423,350 ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares, and (ii) assuming a Maximum Redemption Scenario, 358,004,409, consisting of 309,581,059 ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and 48,423,350 ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares.
The expected beneficial ownership percentages (after considering the impact of Recapitalization), assuming the No Redemption Scenario, set forth in the table below have been determined based on the followings: (i) the Recapitalization Factor is calculated as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus and is 1.18, (ii) 30,000,000 ECARX Ordinary Shares are issued to COVA Public Shareholders (excluding the Sponsor), (iii) 7,500,000 ECARX Ordinary Shares are issued to the Sponsor, (iv) 24,872,000 ECARX Ordinary Shares are issued upon exercise of the COVA Public Warrants and COVA Private Warrants, (v) 1,000,000 ECARX Ordinary Shares are issued upon conversion of the Note, and (vi) 3,500,000 ECARX Ordinary Shares are issued to Strategic Investors, immediately following the consummation of the Business Combination. If the actual facts differ from these assumptions, these amounts will differ.
The expected beneficial ownership percentages (after considering the impact of Recapitalization), assuming the Maximum Redemption Scenario, set forth in the table below have been determined based on the followings: (i) the Recapitalization Factor is calculated as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus and is 1.18, (ii) 0 ECARX Ordinary Shares are issued to COVA Public Shareholders (excluding the Sponsor), (iii) 5,250,000 ECARX Ordinary Shares are issued to the Sponsor, (iv) 24,872,000 ECARX Ordinary Shares are issued upon exercise of the COVA Public Warrants and COVA Private Warrants, (v) 1,000,000 ECARX Ordinary Shares are issued upon conversion of the Note, and (vi) 3,500,000 ECARX Ordinary Shares are issued to Strategic Investors, immediately following the consummation of the Business Combination. If the actual facts differ from these assumptions, these amounts will differ.
 
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Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned Immediately
After Closing of the Business Combination(2)
Ordinary Shares Beneficially
Owned as of the date of this proxy
statement/prospectus
No Redemption Scenario
Maximum Redemption Scenario
Pre-closing
ordinary
share
equivalents
% of
total
ordinary
shares
% of
voting
power
Class A
ordinary
shares
Class B
ordinary
shares
% of
total
ordinary
shares
% of
voting
power
Class A
ordinary
shares
Class B
ordinary
shares
% of
total
ordinary
shares
% of
voting
power
Directors and Executive Officers(1):
Ziyu Shen(2)
20,520,820 7.5 7.5 24,211,675 6.2 29.3 24,211,675 6.8 30.5
Zhenyu Li
Ni Li
Jim Zhang (Zhang Xingsheng)
Grace Hui Tang
Jun Hong Heng(5)
17,372,000 4.5 2.1 15,122,000 4.2 1.9
Peter Cirino
Ramesh Narasimhan
All Directors and
Executive Officers
as a Group
20,520,820 7.5 7.5 17,372,000 24,211,675 10.7 31.4 15,122,000 24,211,675 11.0 32.4
5.0% Shareholders:
Fu&Li Industrious Innovators Limited(3)
141,598,580 51.7 51.7 142,854,689 24,211,675 42.8 46.6 142,854,689 24,211,675 46.7 48.5
Jie&Hao Holding Limited(2)
20,520,820 7.5 7.5 24,211,675 6.2 29.3 24,211,675 6.8 30.5
Baidu (Hong Kong)
Limited(4)
18,750,000 6.8 6.8 22,122,357 5.7 2.7 22,122,357 6.2 2.8
*
Less than 1%.
(1)
The business address for the directors and executive officers of ECARX is 16/F, Tower 2, China Eastern Airline Binjiang Center, 277 Longlan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200041, People’s Republic of China.
(2)
Prior to the Business Combination, consists of 18,035,714 ordinary shares and 2,485,106 preferred shares of ECARX Holdings Inc. held by Jie&Hao Holding Limited, a limited liability company incorporated in British Virgin Islands and wholly owned by Shen Ziyu. Following the Business Combination, consists of 24,211,675 ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares held by Jie&Hao Holding Limited. The address of Jie&Hao Holding Limited is Craigmuir Chambers, Road Town, Tortola, VG 1110, British Virgin Islands.
(3)
Prior to the Business Combination, consists of 135,800,000 ordinary shares and 5,798,580 preferred shares of ECARX Holdings Inc. held by Fu&Li Industrious Innovators Limited, a limited liability company incorporated in British Virgin Islands. Industrious Innovators Limited and Minghao Group Limited hold 99% and 1% of shares in Fu&Li Industrious Innovators Limited, respectively. Industrious Innovators Limited and Minghao Group Limited are wholly owned by Shufu Li. Following the Business Combination, consists of 142,854,689 ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and 24,211,675 ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares held by Fu&Li Industrious Innovators Limited. The address of Fu&Li Industrious Innovators Limited, Minghao Group Limited and Industrious Innovators is Craigmuir Chambers, Road Town, Tortola, VG 1110, British Virgin Islands.
(4)
Prior to the Business Combination, consists of 18,750,000 preferred shares of ECARX Holdings Inc. held by Baidu (Hong Kong) Limited, a limited liability company incorporated in Hong Kong and wholly owned by Baidu, Inc., a Nasdaq and Hong Kong Stock Exchange listed company. Following the Business Combination, consists of 22,122,357 ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares held by Baidu (Hong Kong) Limited. The address of Baidu (Hong Kong) Limited is Room 2609, China Resources Building 26 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong.
(5)
The shares reported above are held in the name of COVA’s sponsor, which is controlled by Jun Hong Heng. Includes 9,872,000 shares underlying COVA Private Warrants. Pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, up to 30% of the 7,500,000 COVA Founder Shares are subject to forfeiture as described therein.
 
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
COVA Relationships and Related Party Transactions
COVA Founder Shares
In December 2020, the Sponsor purchased 5,750,000 COVA Founder Shares for US$25,000, or US$0.004 per share. In January and February 2021, COVA declared two share dividends, resulting in the Sponsor holding an aggregate of 7,503,750 COVA Founder Shares (up to 978,750 shares of which were subject to forfeiture to the extent the underwriters of the IPO did not exercise their over-allotment option). The number of COVA Founder Shares issued was determined based on the expectation that such COVA Founder Shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares upon completion of the IPO. On February 9, 2021, the underwriters partially exercised their over-allotment option. On February 11, 2021, the underwriter informed COVA that they would not exercise the full over-allotment and therefore the remaining 3,750 COVA Founder Shares were forfeited.
Private Placement Warrants
The Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 8,872,000 COVA Private Warrants for a purchase price of US$1.00 per warrant in a private placement that occurred simultaneously with the closing of the IPO. Each COVA Private Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one of our Class A ordinary shares at US$11.50 per share. The COVA Private Warrants (including the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise thereof) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holder until 30 days after the completion of the Business Combination.
Administrative Services Agreement
On September 10, 2020, COVA entered into an administrative services agreement with the Sponsor, pursuant to which COVA agreed to pay the Sponsor a total of US$10,000 per month for office space, utilities, secretarial support and administrative services. Upon completion of COVA’s initial business combination or liquidation, COVA will cease paying these monthly fees.
Other than these monthly fees, no compensation of any kind, including finder’s and consulting fees, will be paid by COVA to our Sponsor, officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates, for services rendered prior to or in connection with the completion of an initial business combination. However, these individuals will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our Sponsor, officers, directors or our or their affiliates and will determine which expenses and the amount of expenses that will be reimbursed. There is no cap or ceiling on the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such persons in connection with activities on our behalf.
After the initial business combination, members of COVA’s management team who remain may be paid consulting, management or other fees from the combined company with any and all amounts being fully disclosed to COVA shareholders, to the extent then known. It is unlikely that the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of distribution of such tender offer materials or at the time of a shareholders meeting held to consider our initial business combination, as applicable, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation.
Related Party Loans and Advances
Until the consummation of the IPO, COVA’s only source of liquidity was its initial sale of COVA Founder Shares to its Sponsor. Additionally, the Sponsor advanced COVA funds totaling US$83,046 to cover expenses related to its IPO and certain operating expenses. On February 9, 2021, COVA repaid the Sponsor in full.
On May 26, 2022, COVA issued another unsecured promissory note to the Sponsor, pursuant to which COVA may borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of US$2,000,000. The Second Promissory Note is
 
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non-interest bearing and payable upon the consummation of a business combination. Upon consummation of a business combination, the Sponsor shall have the option, but not the obligation, to convert up to US$1,000,000 of the principal balance of the promissory note, into COVA Private Warrants, at a price of US$1.00 per COVA Private Warrant.
Prior to the completion of COVA’s initial business combination, COVA does not expect to seek loans from parties other than its Sponsor or an affiliate of its Sponsor as does not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in COVA’s Trust Account.
ECARX Relationships and Related Party Transactions
Contractual Arrangements with Hubei ECARX and Its Subsidiaries
See “Summary of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus — Corporate Structure of ECARX.”
Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements
See “Management Following The Business Combination — Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements.”
Share Incentive Plans
See “Management Following The Business Combination — Share Incentive Plans.”
Agreements with Geely Holding’s Subsidiaries
ECARX has developed various products and services and supplied them to Geely Holding’s subsidiaries. A product development agreement has typically been entered into between ECARX (through a ECARX subsidiary or, prior to the Restructuring, Hubei ECARX) and a Geely Holding subsidiary regarding the customization and development of automotive products for specific Geely Holding’s vehicle models. The product development agreement has either taken the form of a new product development agreement or a development agreement depending on the requirement of the relevant Geely Holding subsidiary. A new product development agreement or a development agreement sets forth the fees payable to ECARX and is accompanied by technical and quality specifications or engineering statement of work applicable to the relevant products. The purchase price of the relevant product is subsequently agreed to between the parties. The fees typically are of a fixed amount and payable by the relevant Geely Holding subsidiary in one lump sum or by milestones.
The purchase of products and services by the Geely Holding subsidiary from ECARX is and has been typically completed through purchase orders under one of the following sets of standard terms adopted by the relevant Geely Holding subsidiary in respect of its suppliers.

Purchasing Contract General Terms and Conditions.   These general terms and conditions apply to all documents between ECARX and the signing Geely Holding subsidiary, including all purchase orders, executed between the parties during the development, supply, post-sales, and other phases of the relevant automotive products, service parts, assemblies, accessories, raw materials, tooling, design, engineering, or other services, and software embedded in goods or provided separately. The specific products and services to be purchased by the relevant Geely Holding subsidiary and their quantity are set forth in the purchase orders issued by such Geely Holding subsidiary under these general terms and conditions. The prices for the specific products and services to be purchased by the relevant Geely Holding subsidiary are separately agreed between the parties . ECARX issues invoices monthly, typically payable within 60 or 75 days, depending on the nature of the products and services subject to the purchase orders.

Direct Material Global Purchasing Terms and Conditions.   These terms and conditions apply to the purchases of production goods and services by the relevant Geely Holding subsidiary from ECARX including: (i) production and service parts, components, assemblies, and accessories, (ii) raw materials, (iii) tooling, (iv) design, engineering, or other services, and (v) software embedded in
 
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goods or provided separately. The specific goods and services to be purchased and the price, quantity, and payment terms are set forth in the purchase orders. These terms and conditions include certain pricing principles to guide the good faith negotiations between the parties. The initial term of a production purchase order begins on its effective date and expires on June 30 of the next calendar year and is renewed automatically on July 1 for an additional 12 months unless a notice of non- renewal is issued.
Related Party Transactions
ECARX sold automotive computing platform products and provided related technology development services, merchandise and other products, connectivity service, software licenses, and other consulting services to a number of related parties. Accounts receivable, net, due from related parties arising from the sale of products and provision of services were (i) RMB217,563 thousand (US$32,481 thousand) as of June 30, 2022, of which, the amount of RMB158,356 thousand (US$23,642 thousand) were subsequently received by August 2022, (ii) RMB768,747 thousand (US$114,771 thousand) as of December 31, 2021, of which, the amount of RMB749,579 thousand (US$111,909 thousand) were subsequently received by May 2022, and (iii) RMB673,784 thousand as of December 31, 2020, which amount was fully received in 2021.
ECARX purchased raw materials, technology development services, and other consulting services from a number of related parties. RMB747 thousand, RMB51.2 million (US$7.6 million), and RMB47.2 million (US$7.0 million) of purchase of raw materials were recorded as inventories as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 and June 30, 2022, respectively. Amounts due to related parties includes payables arising from purchase of raw materials and services, which were RMB142,305 thousand (US$21,246 thousand) as of June 30, 2022. Amounts due to related parties includes payables arising from purchase of raw materials and services totaling RMB343,017 thousand and RMB111,531 thousand (US$16,651 thousand) as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively. Amount due from related parties includes prepayments arising from purchase of raw materials and services totaling RMB8,267 thousand and RMB41,278 thousand (US$6,163 thousand) as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively.
On March 29, 2018, Hubei ECARX entered into an unsecured loan agreement with Geely Holding in an amount of RMB20,000 thousand with an interest rate of 4.35% per annum, which was repayable on demand. The loan has been fully repaid on February 25, 2021. On August 25, 2021, ECARX entered into an unsecured loan agreement with its controlling shareholder to obtain a loan of US$7 million which was fully repaid on October 8, 2021. On December 1, 2021, Hubei ECARX entered into an unsecured loan agreement with JICA Intelligent in an amount of RMB270,000 thousand with an interest rate of 0.35% per annum. Interest expenses on borrowings from related parties were RMB872 thousand and RMB212 thousand (US$32 thousand) for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively. The borrowings and the interest payable on borrowings from related parties was included in the amounts due to related parties and was RMB22,612 thousand and RMB272,825 thousand (US$40,732 thousand) as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively. On March 28, 2022, ECARX (Hubei) Tech entered into an unsecured loan agreement with Hubei Xingji Times Technology Co., Ltd. for the principal amount of RMB200,000 thousand with an interest rate of 2.25% per annum, which was repaid at the maturity date on June 30, 2022. On June 27, 2022, ECARX (Hubei) Tech entered into an unsecured loan agreement with Geely for the principal amount of RMB500,000 thousand with an interest rate of 4.35% per annum, which is repayable on December 26, 2022. On June 29, 2022, ECARX (Hubei) Tech entered into an unsecured loan agreement with JICA Intelligent for the principal amount of RMB200,000 thousand with an interest rate of 3.7% per annum, which is repayable on September 30, 2022. A principal amount of RMB150,000 thousand remained outstanding as of September 30, 2022 and is repayable on December 31, 2022 pursuant to a supplementary agreement to the original loan agreement. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, interest expenses on borrowings from related parties were RMB4,517 thousand (US$674 thousand). Except for the foregoing loans, ECARX also accrued interest expenses for the Note in the amount of US$71 thousand for the six months ended June 30, 2022. The borrowings and the interest payable on borrowings from related parties, were included in the amounts due to related parties and amounted to RMB272,825 thousand and RMB703,258 thousand (US$104,994 thousand), respectively, as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022.
In 2020 and 2021, ECARX respectively paid advances of RMB103,024 thousand and RMB19,806 thousand (US$2,957 thousand), and received collection of RMB81,026 thousand and RMB90,155 thousand
 
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(US$13,460 thousand), from a related party. The payments were interest-free and due on demand. The amounts due from the said related party as of December 31, 2020 was fully collected in 2021. In 2021, ECARX provided loans of RMB28,850 thousand (US$4,307 thousand) to related parties. Interest incomes on loans due from related parties were RMB717 thousand (US$107 thousand) for the year ended December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, the total balances of amounts due from related parties was RMB78,616 thousand and RMB42,854 thousand (US$6,398 thousand), respectively. In 2022, ECARX provided loans of RMB8,060 thousand (US$1,203 thousand) to related parties, and received repayment of RMB25,000 thousand (US$3,732 thousand) from related parties. Interest income on loans due from related parties were RMB2,759 thousand (US$412 thousand) for the six months ended June 30, 2022. As of June 30, 2022, the total balances of amounts due from related parties was RMB32,037 thousand (US$4,823 thousand).
In July 2021, ECARX acquired 34.61% equity interest of SiEngine Technology Co., Ltd. from ECARX’s controlling shareholder. As of December 31, 2021, ECARX recorded the consideration of US$10.6 million payable in amounts due to the controlling shareholder. The amounts were fully settled in January 2022.
In October 2021, Hubei ECARX disposed certain property and equipment to Zhejiang Huanfu at RMB745 thousand (US$111 thousand) and recorded a gain of RMB38 thousand (US$6 thousand) as a result of the disposal. In February 2022, Hubei ECARX disposed of certain property and equipment to Zhejiang Huanfu at RMB1,697 thousand (US$253 thousand) and recorded a gain of RMB93 thousand (US$14 thousand) as a result of the disposal.
As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, ECARX respectively recorded RMB353 thousand and RMB1,929 thousand (US$288 thousand) in other non-current assets due from related parties, which included lease deposits and ECARX’s advances for purchase of long-term assets from such related parties.
As of June 30, 2022, the balance of other non-current assets due from related parties also included the amounts due from its former VIE, Hubei ECARX. As of June 30, 2022, the amounts due from Hubei ECARX was RMB208,503 thousand (US$31,129 thousand), which represented the net present value of a loan provided by ECARX to Hubei ECARX with the principal of RMB252,287 thousand (US$37,665 thousand) at an effective annual interest rate of 5.0%.
ECARX also incurred other payables in association with technical services and logistics expenses with related parties in 2020 and 2021. As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, the balance due to related parties amounted to RMB31,293 thousand and RMB36,185 thousand (US$5,402 thousand), respectively.
As of June 30, 2022, the balances due to related parties were related to purchase of logistics services, which were in the amounts of RMB8,953 thousand (US$1,337 thousand),
In February and March 2022, ECARX provided cash in the amount of RMB28,500 thousand (US$4,255 thousand) to Anhui Xinzhi as financial support. The investment was derecognized as part of the Restructuring.
 
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PRICE RANGE OF SECURITIES AND DIVIDEND INFORMATION
COVA’s Units, the COVA Public Shares and the COVA Public Warrants are each traded on Nasdaq under the symbols “COVAU,” “COVA” and “COVAW,” respectively.
The closing price of the Units, COVA Public Shares and COVA Public Warrants on May 25, 2022, the last trading day before announcement of the execution of the Merger Agreement, was US$9.84, US$9.81 and US$0.11, respectively. As of                 , 2022, the record date for the extraordinary general meeting, the most recent closing price for each Unit, COVA Public Share and COVA Public Warrant was US$      , US$      and US$      , respectively.
Holders of the Units, COVA Public Shares and COVA Public Warrants should obtain current market quotations for their securities. The market price of COVA’s securities could vary at any time before the Business Combination.
Historical market price information regarding ECARX is not provided because there is no public market for its securities. ECARX has applied to list the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Warrants on Nasdaq under the symbols “ECX” and “ECXWW”, respectively. It is a condition to consummation of the Business Combination in the Merger Agreement that the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares and ECARX Warrants to be issued in connection with the Business Combination shall have been approved for listing on Nasdaq, subject only to official notice of issuance thereof. ECARX, ECARX and COVA have certain obligations in the Merger Agreement to use reasonable best efforts in connection with the Business Combination, including with respect to satisfying this Nasdaq listing condition. The Nasdaq listing condition in the Merger Agreement may be waived by the parties to the Merger Agreement.
Holders
As of the date hereof, there was one holder of record of Units, one holder of record of COVA Public Shares, one holder of record of COVA Founder Shares, one holder of record of COVA Public Warrants and one holder of record of COVA Private Warrants. As of                 , 2022, there were            holders of record of ECARX’s Ordinary Shares,                 holders of record of ECARX’s preferred shares.
Dividend Policy
COVA has not paid any cash dividends on its ordinary shares to date and does not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of its initial business combination. In January and February 2021, COVA declared two share dividends, resulting in the Sponsor holding an aggregate of 7,503,750 COVA Founder Shares (up to 978,750 shares of which were subject to forfeiture to the extent the underwriters of the IPO did not exercise their over-allotment option). COVA’s board of directors is not currently contemplating and does not anticipate declaring any other share dividends in the foreseeable future. Further, if COVA incurs any indebtedness in connection with its initial business combination, its ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants it may agree to in connection therewith.
In addition, ECARX has not paid any dividends to its shareholders. The payment of any cash dividends after consummation of the Business Combination shall be dependent upon the revenue, earnings and financial condition of ECARX from time to time. The payment of any dividends subsequent to the Business Combination shall be within the discretion of the board of directors of ECARX.
 
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APPRAISAL RIGHTS
Holders of record of COVA Shares may have appraisal rights in connection with the Business Combination to dissent from the First Merger and receive payment of the fair value of their COVA Shares under the Cayman Islands Companies Act (“Dissent Rights”). This is not a complete statement of the law, and is qualified in its entirety by the complete text of Section 238 of the Cayman Islands Companies Act. If you are contemplating the possibility of dissenting from the First Merger, you should follow the procedures set out in Section 238 of the Cayman Islands Companies Act required to perfect your dissenters’ rights. These procedures are complex and you should consult your Cayman Islands legal counsel. If you do not fully and precisely satisfy the procedural requirements of the Cayman Islands Companies Act, you will lose your dissenters’ rights.
Holders of record of COVA Shares wishing to exercise such Dissent Rights and make a demand for payment of the fair value for his, her or its COVA Shares must give written notice to COVA prior to the shareholder vote at the extraordinary general meeting to approve the First Merger and follow the procedures set out in Section 238 of the Cayman Islands Companies Act. These statutory appraisal rights are separate to and mutually exclusive of the right of COVA Public Shareholder to demand that their COVA Public Shares are redeemed for cash for a pro rata share of the funds on deposit in the trust account in accordance with the COVA Articles. It is possible that if a COVA shareholder exercises appraisal rights, the fair value of the COVA Shares determined under Section 238 of the Cayman Islands Companies Act could be more than, the same as, or less than such holder would obtain they exercised their redemption rights as described herein. COVA believes that such fair value would equal the amount that COVA Public Shareholders would obtain if they exercise their redemption rights as described herein.
COVA shareholders need not vote against any of the proposals at the extraordinary general meeting in order to exercise Dissent Rights. A COVA shareholder which elects to exercise Dissent Rights must do so in respect of all of the COVA Shares that person holds and will lose their right to exercise their redemption rights as described herein.
At the First Effective Time, the COVA Dissenting Shares shall automatically be cancelled by virtue of the First Merger, and each COVA Dissenting Shareholder will thereafter cease to have any rights with respect to such shares, except the right to be paid the fair value of such shares and such other rights as are granted by the Cayman Islands Companies Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any such holder shall have failed to perfect or withdraws or shall have otherwise lost his, her or its rights under Section 238 of the Cayman Islands Companies Act (including in the circumstances described in the immediately following paragraph) or a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that such holder is not entitled to the relief provided by Section 238 of the Cayman Islands Companies Act, then the right of such holder to be paid the fair value of such holder’s COVA Dissenting Shares under Section 238 of the Cayman Islands Companies Act will cease, the shares will no longer be considered COVA Dissenting Shares and such holder’s former COVA Shares will thereupon be deemed to have been converted into, and to have become exchangeable for, as of First Effective Time, the right to receive the merger consideration comprising one ECARX Class A Ordinary Share for each COVA Share, without any interest thereon. As a result, such COVA shareholder would not receive any cash for their COVA Shares and would become a shareholder of ECARX.
 
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FUTURE SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS AND NOMINATIONS
If the Business Combination is consummated and you become a holder of ECARX Ordinary Shares, you shall be entitled to attend and participate in ECARX’s annual meetings of shareholders. If ECARX holds a 2022 annual meeting of shareholders, it shall provide notice of or otherwise publicly disclose the date on which such annual meeting shall be held. As a foreign private issuer, ECARX shall not be subject to the SEC’s proxy rules.
 
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SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS
Shareholders and interested parties may communicate with COVA’s board of directors, any committee chairperson or the non-management directors as a group by writing to the board or committee chairperson in care of COVA, 1700 Montgomery Street, Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111. Following the Business Combination, such communications should be sent in care of ECARX, 16/F, Tower 2, China Eastern Airline Binjiang Center, 277 Longlan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200041. Each communication shall be forwarded, depending on the subject matter, to the board of directors, the appropriate committee chairperson or all non-management directors.
 
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LEGAL MATTERS
The legality of the ECARX Ordinary Shares offered by this proxy statement/prospectus and certain other Cayman Islands legal matters will be passed upon for ECARX by Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP. Certain legal matters relating to U.S. law will be passed upon for ECARX by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Certain legal matters relating to the law in mainland China will be passed upon for ECARX by Han Kun Law Offices. Certain legal matters relating to U.S. law will be passed upon for COVA by Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. Certain Cayman Islands matters will be passed upon for COVA by Walkers (Cayman) LLP.
 
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EXPERTS
The financial statements of COVA Acquisition Corp. as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 and for the year ended December 31, 2021 and the period from December 11, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020 appearing in this proxy statement/prospectus have been audited by WithumSmith+Brown, PC, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, appearing elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus, and are included in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated financial statements of ECARX Holdings Inc. as of and for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, have been included herein in reliance upon the report of KPMG Huazhen LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, appearing elsewhere herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The audit report covering the December 31, 2021 consolidated financial statements contains an explanatory paragraph that states that the Company’s recurring losses from operations and has net cash used in operating activities and net current liabilities that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of that uncertainty.
 
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DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
Pursuant to the rules of the SEC, COVA and services that it employs to deliver communications to its shareholders are permitted to deliver to two or more shareholders sharing the same address a single copy of each of COVA’s annual report to shareholders and COVA’s proxy statement. Upon written or oral request, COVA shall deliver a separate copy of the annual report and/or proxy statement to any shareholder at a shared address to which a single copy of each document was delivered and who wishes to receive separate copies of such documents. Shareholders receiving multiple copies of such documents may likewise request that COVA deliver single copies of such documents in the future. Shareholders may notify COVA of their requests by calling or writing COVA at its principal executive offices at 1700 Montgomery Street, Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111. Following the Business Combination, such requests should be made by calling +86 (571) 8530-6757 or writing to ECARX at 16/F, Tower 2, China Eastern Airline Binjiang Center, 277 Longlan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200041.
 
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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITY
ECARX is incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Service of process upon ECARX and upon its directors and officers named in this proxy statement/prospectus, may be difficult to obtain within the United States. Furthermore, because substantially all of ECARX’s assets are located outside the United States, any judgment obtained in the United States against ECARX may not be collectible within the United States.
ECARX has been advised by its Cayman Islands legal counsel that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands would (i) recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or the securities laws of any state in the United States, or (ii) entertain original actions brought in the Cayman Islands that are predicated upon the federal securities laws of the United States or the securities laws of any state in the United States.
ECARX has also been advised by its Cayman Islands legal counsel that although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the federal or state courts of the United States (and the Cayman Islands are not a party to any treaties for the reciprocal enforcement or recognition of such judgments), a judgment obtained in such jurisdiction will be recognized and enforced in the courts of the Cayman Islands at common law, without any re-examination of the merits of the underlying dispute, by an action commenced on the foreign judgment debt in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands; provided that such judgment (i) is given by a foreign court of competent jurisdiction, (ii) imposes on the judgment debtor a liability to pay a liquidated sum for which the judgment has been given, (iii) is final, (iv) is not in the nature of taxes, a fine, or a penalty, and (v) was not obtained in a manner and is not of a kind the enforcement of which is contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands. However, the Cayman Islands are unlikely to enforce a judgment obtained from U.S. courts under civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws if such judgment is determined by the courts of the Cayman Islands to give rise to obligations to make payments that are penal or punitive in nature. A Cayman Islands court may stay enforcement proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere
In addition, ECARX has been advised by its mainland China legal counsel that there is uncertainty as to whether courts in mainland China would (i) recognize or enforce judgments of United States courts predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States, or (ii) entertain original actions brought in mainland China predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.
ECARX has also been advised by its mainland China legal counsel that the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. Courts in mainland China may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements, public policy considerations and conditions set forth in applicable provisions of the laws in mainland China relating to the enforcement of civil liability, including the PRC Civil Procedures Law, based either on treaties between mainland China and the country where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. There exists no treaty or other forms of reciprocity between mainland China and the United States or the Cayman Islands governing the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus.
In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, courts in mainland China will not enforce a foreign judgment if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of the law in mainland China or national sovereignty, security or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a court in mainland China would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the U.S. or the Cayman Islands.
 
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
As a foreign private issuer, after the consummation of the Business Combination, ECARX shall be required to file its annual report on Form 20-F with the SEC no later than four months following its fiscal year end. COVA files reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC as required by the Exchange Act. You may access information on COVA at the SEC web site containing reports, proxy statements and other information at: http://www.sec.gov.
Information and statements contained in this proxy statement/prospectus or any Annex to this proxy statement/prospectus are qualified in all respects by reference to the copy of the relevant contract or other Annex filed as an exhibit to this proxy statement/prospectus.
All information contained in this document relating to COVA has been supplied by COVA, and all such information relating to ECARX has been supplied by ECARX. Information provided by one entity does not constitute any representation, estimate or projection of the other entity.
If you would like additional copies of this document or if you have questions about the Business Combination, you should contact via phone or in writing COVA’s proxy solicitation agent at the following address, telephone number and email:
D.F. King & Co., Inc.
48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor
New York, New York 10005
Banks and Brokers may call: (212) 269-5550
Shareholders may call toll free: (800) 347-4826
COVA@dfking.com
If you are a COVA shareholder and would like to request documents, please do so by           , 2022 to receive them before the COVA extraordinary general meeting of shareholders. If you request any documents from us, we shall mail them to you by first class mail, or another equally prompt means.
None of COVA or ECARX has authorized anyone to give any information or make any representation about the Business Combination or their companies that is different from, or in addition to, that which is contained in this proxy statement/prospectus or in any of the materials that have been incorporated in this proxy statement/prospectus. Therefore, if anyone does give you information of this sort, you should not rely on it. If you are in a jurisdiction where offers to exchange or sell, or solicitations of offers to exchange or purchase, the securities offered by this proxy statement/prospectus or the solicitation of proxies is unlawful, or if you are a person to whom it is unlawful to direct these types of activities, then the offer presented in this proxy statement/prospectus does not extend to you.
The information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus speaks only as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies.
 
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Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
Contents
Page (s)
ECARX Holdings Inc.
Audited Financial Statements
F-2
F-3
F-6
F-7
F-8
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
F-59
F-63
F-64
F-65
F-66
COVA Acquisition Corp.
Audited Financial Statements
F-88
F-89
F-90
F-91
F-92
F-93
Unaudited Financial Statements
F-106
F-107
F-108
F-109
F-110
 
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors
ECARX Holdings Inc.:
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of ECARX Holdings Inc. and subsidiaries (“the Company”) as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive loss, changes in shareholders’ deficit, and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively, “the consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Going Concern
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2(a) to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations and has net cash used in operating activities and net current liabilities that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 2(a). The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ KPMG Huazhen LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2021.
Shanghai, China
June 23, 2022
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
As of December 31,
Note
2020
2021
RMB
RMB
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash
3
729,936 877,959
Restricted cash (including restricted cash of VIEs that can only be used to settle the VIEs’ obligation of RMB273,940 and RMB23,004 as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
3
273,940 23,004
Accounts receivable – third parties, net
4
201,126 184,546
Accounts receivable – related parties, net
4, 25
673,784 768,747
Notes receivable (including notes receivable of VIEs that can only be used to settle the VIEs’ obligation of RMB117,893 and RMB110,550 as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
5
118,304 137,710
Inventories
6
233,864 223,319
Amounts due from related parties
25
78,616 41,278
Prepayments and other current assets
7
118,129 200,075
Total current assets
2,427,699 2,456,638
Non-current assets
Long-term investments
8
2,653 1,354,049
Property and equipment, net
9
106,083 103,156
Intangible assets, net
10
30,043 31,026
Other non-current assets – third parties
11,255 19,904
Other non-current assets – related parties
25
353 1,929
Total non-current assets
150,387 1,510,064
Total assets
2,578,086 3,966,702
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-3

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (continued)
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
As of December 31,
Note
2020
2021
RMB
RMB
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Short-term borrowings (including short-term borrowings of the VIEs without recourse to the Company of RMB76,000 and RMB932,000 as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
11
76,000 932,000
Current instalments of long-term debt (including current instalments of long-term debt of the VIEs without recourse to the Company of RMB250,000 and nil as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
15
250,000
Accounts payable – third parties (including accounts payable – third parties of the VIEs without recourse to the Company of RMB715,737 and 622,867 as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
724,189 649,967
Accounts payable – related parties (including accounts payable – related parties of the
VIEs without recourse to the Company of RMB343,017 and RMB99,906 as of
December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
25
343,017 111,531
Notes payable (including notes payable of the VIEs without recourse to the Company
of RMB271,833 and RMB127,304 as of December 31, 2020 and 2021,
respectively)
271,833 127,304
Amounts due to related parties (including amounts due to related parties of the VIEs without recourse to the Company of RMB53,905 and RMB309,010 as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
25
53,905 376,906
Contract liabilities, current – third parties (including contract liabilities, current – third
parties of the VIEs without recourse to the Company of RMB5,713 and RMB2,685
as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
12
7,677 2,685
Contract liabilities, current – related parties (including contract liabilities, current – related parties of the VIEs without recourse to the Company of RMB151,694 and RMB363,285 as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
12
151,694 363,285
Warrant liabilities (including warrant liabilities of the VIEs without recourse to the Company of RMB80,270 and nil as of December 31, 2020 and 2021,
respectively)
13
80,270
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (including accrued expenses and other current liabilities of the VIEs without recourse to the Company of RMB1,308,970 and RMB442,588 as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
14
1,309,013 458,979
Total current liabilities
3,267,598 3,022,657
Non-current liabilities
Contract liabilities, non-current – third parties (including contract liabilities, non-current – third parties of the VIEs without recourse to the Company of RMB55 and RMB317 as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
12
55 317
Contract liabilities, non-current – related parties (including contract liabilities, non-current – related parties of the VIEs without recourse to the Company of RMB359,091 and RMB472,749 as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
12
359,091 472,749
Long-term debt, net, excluding current instalments (including long-term debt, net, excluding current instalments of the VIEs without recourse to the Company of RMB775,387 and nil as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
15
775,387
Other non-current liabilities (including other non-current liabilities of the VIEs without recourse to the Company of RMB7,523 and RMB16,292 as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
7,523 16,292
Total non-current liabilities
1,142,056 489,358
Total liabilities
4,409,654 3,512,015
Commitments and contingencies
24
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-4

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (continued)
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
As of December 31,
Note
2020  
2021
RMB
RMB
MEZZANINE EQUITY
Series Angel Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares (US$0.000005 par value, nil
and 5,043,104 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31,
2020 and 2021; Redemption value of nil and RMB283,585 as of December 31,
2020 and 2021; Liquidation preference of nil and RMB273,519 as of
December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
17
283,585
Series A Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares (US$0.000005 par value, 22,500,000 and 24,464,286 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and 2021; Redemption value of RMB1,264,579 and RMB1,429,313 as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively; Liquidation preference of RMB1,238,526 and RMB1,336,186 as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
17
1,264,579  1,429,313
Series A+ Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares (US$0.000005 par value, nil
and 24,612,081 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31,
2020 and 2021; Redemption value of nil and RMB1,386,671 as of December 31,
2020 and 2021; Liquidation preference of nil and RMB1,331,641 as of
December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
17
1,386,671
Series A++ Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares (US$0.000005 par value, nil and 7,164,480 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and 2021; Redemption value of nil and RMB475,413 as of December 31, 2020 and 2021; Liquidation preference of nil and RMB452,241 as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
17
475,413
Series B Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares (US$0.000005 par value, nil and
14,765,967 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020
and 2021; Redemption value of nil and RMB1,117,317 as of December 31, 2020
and 2021; Liquidation preference of nil and RMB1,104,188 as of December 31,
2020 and 2021, respectively)
17
1,117,317
Subscription receivable from a Series A Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shareholder
17
(1,032,104) 
Subscription receivable from a Series B Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shareholder
17
(159,392)
Redeemable non-controlling interests
18
30,500
Total mezzanine equity
232,475 4,563,407
SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
Ordinary Shares (US$0.000005 par value, 9,977,500,000 and 9,923,950,082 shares authorized as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively; 200,000,000 and 193,835,714 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
19
7  7
Treasury Shares, at cost (nil and 4,200,000 shares held as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
19
Additional paid-in capital
165,412 
Accumulated deficit
(2,242,466)  (4,109,041)
Accumulated other comprehensive income
1,497  6,048
Total deficit attributable to ordinary shareholders of ECARX Holdings Inc.
(2,075,550)  (4,102,986)
Non-redeemable non-controlling interests
11,507  (5,734)
Total shareholders’ deficit
(2,064,043) (4,108,720)
Liabilities, mezzanine equity and shareholders’ deficit
2,578,086  3,966,702
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-5

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Year ended December 31,
Note
2020
2021
RMB
RMB
Revenues
21
Sales of goods revenues (including related parties amounts of RMB1,275,777 and RMB1,466,340
for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
1,678,234 1,983,817
Software license revenues (including related parties amounts of RMB18,168 and RMB24,788 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
71,297 261,265
Service revenues (including related parties amounts of RMB444,709 and RMB532,625 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
491,532 533,981
Total revenues
2,241,063 2,779,063
Cost of goods sold (including related parties amounts of RMB6,073 and RMB220,062 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
(1,524,744) (1,749,188)
Cost of software licenses
(27,926) (32,164)
Cost of services
(137,005) (180,518)
Total cost of revenues
(1,689,675) (1,961,870)
Gross profit
551,388 817,193
Research and development expenses (including related parties amounts of RMB2,118 and RMB21,069 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
(706,018) (1,209,385)
Selling and marketing expenses (including related parties amounts of RMB192 and nil for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
(60,643) (82,827)
General and administrative expenses (including related parties amounts of RMB2,447 and RMB2,343 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
(215,008) (506,873)
Others, net
(200) 207
Total operating expenses
(981,869) (1,798,878)
Loss from operation
(430,481) (981,685)
Interest income
28,480 11,783
Interest expenses (including related parties amounts of RMB872 and RMB212 for the years ended
December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively)
(59,128) (131,666)
Share of results of equity method investments
148 (2,519)
Gains on deconsolidation of a subsidiary
8
10,579
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities
13
(39,635) (111,299)
Government grants
5,998 4,507
Foreign currency exchange gains, net
54,842 18,315
Loss before income taxes
(439,776) (1,181,985)
Income tax expenses
22
(228) (3,447)
Net loss
(440,004) (1,185,432)
Net loss attributable to non-redeemable non-controlling interests
345 5,011
Net loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests
806
Net loss attributable to ECARX Holdings Inc.
(439,659) (1,179,615)
Accretion of redeemable non-controlling interests
(1,306)
Net loss available to ECARX Holdings Inc.
(439,659) (1,180,921)
Accretion of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares
17
(101,286) (243,564)
Net loss available to ECARX Holdings Inc. ordinary shareholders
(540,945) (1,424,485)
Loss per ordinary share
− Basic and diluted
23
(2.70) (7.18)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing loss per ordinary share
− Basic and diluted
23
200,000,000 198,407,045
Net loss
(440,004) (1,185,432)
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of nil income taxes
1,497 4,551
Comprehensive loss
(438,507) (1,180,881)
Comprehensive loss attributable to non-redeemable non-controlling interests
345 5,011
Comprehensive loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests
806
Comprehensive loss attributable to ECARX Holdings Inc.
(438,162) (1,175,064)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-6

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Ordinary Shares
Treasury Shares
Additional
paid-in
capital
Accumulated
deficit
Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income
Total deficit
attributable
to ordinary
shareholders
of the Company
Non-redeemable
non-controlling
interests
Total
shareholders’
deficit
Number of
shares
Amount
Number of
shares
Amount
RMB
RMB
RMB
RMB
RMB
RMB
RMB
RMB
Balance as of January 1,
2020
200,000,000
7
255,288 (1,802,807) (1,547,512) 11,852 (1,535,660)
Net loss
(439,659) (439,659) (345) (440,004)
Share-based compensation (Note 20)
11,410 11,410 11,410
Accretion of
Redeemable
Convertible Preferred
Shares
(101,286) (101,286) (101,286)
Foreign currency
translation
adjustments, net of nil
income taxes
1,497 1,497 1,497
Balance as of December 31, 2020
200,000,000
7
165,412 (2,242,466) 1,497 (2,075,550) 11,507 (2,064,043)
Net loss*
(1,179,615) (1,179,615) (5,011) (1,184,626)
Share-based compensation (Note 20)
163,481 163,481 163,481
Re-designation of ordinary shares to Series A Preferred Shares (Note 17)
(1,964,286) (81,208) (81,208) (81,208)
Deemed dividend in association with acquisition of an equity-method investment (Note 8)
(689,670) (689,670) (689,670)
Deconsolidation of a subsidiary (Note 8)
(14,335) (14,335)
Accretion of redeemable
non-controlling
interests Note 18(b)
(1,306) (1,306) (1,306)
Contribution from non-controlling shareholders
Note 18(a)
(105) (105) 2,105 2,000
Repurchase of ordinary
shares (Note 19)
(4,200,000) 4,200,000
Accretion of redeemable
convertible preferred
shares (Note 17)
(247,580) 4,016 (243,564) (243,564)
Foreign currency
translation
adjustment, net of nil
income taxes
4,551 4,551 4,551
Balance as of December 31, 2021
193,835,714 7 4,200,000 (4,109,041) 6,048 (4,102,986) (5,734) (4,108,720)
*
Exclude net loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests of RMB806 for the year ended December 31, 2021.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-7

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Year ended December 31,
2020
2021
RMB
RMB
Operating activities:
Net loss
(440,004) (1,185,432)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Allowance for doubtful accounts
360
Provision of prepayments and other current assets
3,245
Write-down of inventories
44,134 49,485
Share-based compensation
11,410 179,933
Depreciation and amortization
58,958 65,012
Share of results of equity method investments
(148) 2,519
Gains on deconsolidation of a subsidiary
(10,579)
Amortization of debt issuance costs
55,351 99,923
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities
39,635 111,299
Loss on disposal of property, equipment and intangible assets
577 1,562
Unrealized exchange gains
(55,213) (12,478)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of deconsolidation of subsidiary:
Accounts receivable – third parties, net
499,485 (45,166)
Accounts receivable – related parties, net
(1,799) (96,169)
Notes receivable
(3,991) (19,406)
Inventories
(9,268) (105,557)
Amounts due from related parties
(2,633) (5,737)
Prepayments and other current assets
32,261 (110,035)
Accounts payable – third parties
(811,649) 18,699
Accounts payable – related parties
(21,235) (218,143)
Notes payable
111,327 (144,529)
Contract liabilities – third parties
(2,391) (4,565)
Contract liabilities – related parties
30,927 353,659
Amounts due to related parties
27,376 5,334
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
69,834 186,032
Other non-current liabilities
(1,350) 8,769
Net cash used in operating activities
(368,046) (872,325)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-8

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Year ended December 31,
2020
2021
RMB
RMB
Investing activities:
Purchase of property, equipment and intangible assets
(69,114) (78,863)
Acquisition of long-term investments
(1,345,637)
Cash disposed on deconsolidation of a subsidiary
(8,360)
Loans to related parties
(28,850)
Advances to a related party
(103,024) (19,806)
Collection of advances to a related party
81,026 90,155
Net cash used in investing activities
(91,112) (1,391,361)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of Series Angel Convertible Redeemable Preferred
Shares
81,950
Proceeds from issuance of Series A Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares
206,422 1,032,104
Payment for issuance cost of Series A Convertible Redeemable Preferred
Shares
(8,500)
Refundable deposits in connection with the issuance of Series A Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares
1,032,104
Repayment of refundable deposits in connection with the issuance of Series A Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares
(1,032,104)
Proceeds from issuance of Series A+ Convertible Redeemable Preferred
Shares
1,331,641
Payment for issuance cost of Series A+ Convertible Redeemable Preferred
Shares
(10,000)
Proceeds from issuance of Series A++ Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares
452,241
Proceeds from issuance of Series B Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares
324,270
Refundable deposits received in connection with the issuance of Series A++ Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares
461,849
Repayment of refundable deposits in connection with the issuance of Series A++ Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares
(461,849)
Cash contributed by redeemable non-controlling shareholders
30,000
Cash contributed by non-redeemable non-controlling shareholders
2,000
Proceeds from short-term borrowings
76,000 947,000
Repayment for short-term borrowings
(167,900) (91,000)
Borrowings from related parties
315,152
Repayment of borrowings from related parties
(65,152)
Repayment of long-term debt
(1,125,310)
Net cash provided by financing activities
1,138,126 2,192,792
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash and restricted cash
(10,023) (32,019)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and restricted cash
668,945 (102,913)
Cash and restricted cash at the beginning of the year
334,931 1,003,876
Cash and restricted cash at the end of the year
1,003,876 900,963
Supplemental information:
Income tax paid
35 1,644
Interest paid
2,905 28,983
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Payable for purchase of property, equipment and intangible assets
4,123 17,882
Re-designation of ordinary shares to Series A Preferred Shares (Note 17)
97,660
Issuance of Series B Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares in connection with acquisition of an equity-method investment (Note 8)
620,703
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-9

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
1.
Description of business and organization
(a)
Description of business
ECARX Holdings Inc. (“the Company”) was incorporated as an exempted company with limited liability in the Cayman Islands on November 12, 2019. The Company through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, consolidated variable interest entity (“VIE”) and VIE’s subsidiaries (collectively referred to as “the Group”) is engaged in the sales of system-on-chip core modules, automotive computing platform products, software stacks as well as the provision of research and development services primarily in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”).
(b)
Reorganization
The Group’s history began in March 2017 with the commencement of operation of Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd (“Hubei ECARX”) and its subsidiaries. All of the equity interests of Hubei ECARX were beneficially held by Mr. Shufu Li, the founder and controlling shareholder of the Company, and Mr. Ziyu Shen, the co-founder, chairman of Board of Directors and chief executive officer of the Company.
The Company was incorporated in the Cayman Islands on November 12, 2019 with an authorized share capital of US$50 divided into 10,000,000,000 shares with a par value of US$0.000005 each. Upon incorporation, the Company issued 140,000,000 ordinary shares to Mr. Shufu Li’s holding vehicle and 60,000,000 ordinary shares to Mr. Ziyu Shen’s holding vehicles, which is in same proportion to the percentage of Mr. Shufu Li and Mr. Ziyu Shen’s respective equity interests in Hubei ECARX. On the same date, Mr. Shufu Li and Mr. Ziyu Shen signed an agreement under which Mr. Ziyu Shen agreed to vote in concert with Mr. Shufu Li.
After the incorporation of the Company, the Group undertook a series of reorganization transactions described below (“the Reorganization”) to establish the Company as the parent company of the Group in preparation for its initial public offering. In November 2019, ECARX Group Limited and ECARX Technology Limited (“ECARX HK”) were established by the Company in the British Virgin Islands and Hong Kong respectively, as the intermediate holding companies within the Group. In December 2019, ECARX (Wuhan) Technology Co., Ltd. (“ECARX WH” or “WFOE”) was established in the PRC as a wholly owned subsidiary of ECARX HK. In January 2020, ECARX WH entered into a series of contractual agreements (collectively, the “VIE agreements”) with Hubei ECARX and its equity interest holders. Those arrangements effectively resulted in the Company, through ECARX WH, obtaining the controlling financial interest of Hubei ECARX. Hubei ECARX and its subsidiaries are collectively referred to as VIEs thereafter. On January 10, 2020, upon consummation of the Reorganization, the ownership structure of the Company is identical to the ownership structure of Hubei ECARX.
Since the shares and equity holding percentages were identical in the Company and Hubei ECARX and the rights of each shareholder and equity interest holder were identical immediately before and after the Reorganization, the establishment of corporate structure of the Company is treated as a recapitalization of Hubei ECARX, and the Company is deemed as a continuation of Hubei ECARX. The Reorganization was accounted for in a manner similar to a pooling of interest and the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared as if the corporate structure of the Company had been in existence since the beginning of the periods presented.
(c)
Variable interest entity (“VIE”)
The Group operated all of its business in the PRC through Hubei ECARX, a limited liability company established under the laws of the PRC prior to the Restructuring in April 2022 as described in Note 26. The recognized and unrecognized revenue-producing assets of the VIE and VIE’s subsidiaries primarily consisted of property and equipment, internally developed software and intellectual property, patents and trademarks and other licenses necessary for the operation and assembled workforce.
 
F-10

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
1.
Description of business and organization (continued)
The equity interests of Hubei ECARX were legally held by Mr. Shufu Li and Mr. Ziyu Shen, who acted as the nominee equity holders of Hubei ECARX on behalf of ECARX WH. A series of VIE agreements, including the Power of Attorney, the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Purchase Option Agreement, the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Spousal Consent, as amended, were entered among the VIE, the WFOE and the nominee equity holders of the VIE. Through the VIE Agreements, the nominee equity holders of the VIE had granted all their legal rights including voting rights and disposition rights of their equity interests in the VIE to the WFOE. The nominee equity holders of the VIE did not participate significantly in income and loss and did not have the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact their economic performance. Accordingly, the VIE was considered a variable interest entity.
In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 810-10-25-38A, the Company, through the WFOE, had a controlling financial interest in the VIE because the WFOE had (i) the power to direct activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE; and (ii) the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Thus, the Company, through the WFOE, is the primary beneficiary of the VIE.
Under the terms of the VIE Agreements, the Company, through the WFOE, had (i) the right to receive economic benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE in the form of service fees under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement; (ii) the right to receive all dividends declared by the VIEs and the right to all undistributed earnings of the VIE under the Power of Attorney; (iii) the right to receive the residual benefits of the VIE through its exclusive option to acquire 100% of the equity interests and assets in the VIE, to the extent permitted under PRC law, under the Exclusive Purchase Option Agreement. Accordingly, the financial statements of the VIE were consolidated in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Under the terms of the VIE Agreements, the VIE’s nominee equity holders had no rights to the net assets nor had the obligations to fund the deficit, and such rights and obligations had been vested to the Company. All of the deficit (net liabilities) and net loss of the VIE were attributed to the Company.
The principal terms of the VIE Agreements are as follows:
Power of Attorney
Pursuant to the power of attorney agreement entered into among WFOE and each of the equity holders of VIE, the equity holders of VIE unconditionally and irrevocably appointed WFOE as their sole attorney-in-fact to exercise all equity holder rights, including, but not limited to, the right to convene and attend equity holders’ meeting, to exercise voting rights and sign any resolution and minutes of the meetings as a shareholder or director, the rights to sale, transfer, pledge or disposal of all or any part of the equity interests in VIE, to appoint the legal representative, director, supervisor and other senior management personnel, of VIE and to exercise all other equity holders’ rights stipulated by PRC laws and regulations and the articles of association of VIE. The powers of attorney will remain effective until such equity holders cease to be equity holders of the VIE.
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement
Pursuant to the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, WFOE has agreed to provide to the VIEs with comprehensive technical support, consulting services and other services, including but not limited to software licensing legally owned by WFOE; development, maintenance and update of software involved in VIEs’ business; design, installation, daily management, maintenance and updating of network system, hardware and database design; technical support and training for employees of VIEs; assisting VIEs in consultancy, collection and research of technology and market information; providing business management
 
F-11

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
1.
Description of business and organization (continued)
consultation, marketing and promotion services, customer order management, customer services, leasing of equipment or properties and other related services. The VIEs shall pay WFOE service fees determined by WFOE in its sole discretion. WFOE has the right to determine the level of service fees paid and therefore receives substantially all of the economic benefits of its VIEs in the form of service fees. WFOE, as appropriate, will exclusively own any intellectual property rights arising from the performance of these agreements. The aforementioned agreement will terminate automatically when WFOE terminates it by written notice.
Exclusive Purchase Option Agreements
Under the exclusive purchase option agreements, Mr. Shufu Li and Mr. Ziyu Shen granted WFOE or its designee an option to purchase their equity interest in VIE at RMB1.00 or a price equal to the minimum amount of consideration permitted by PRC law. Mr. Shufu Li and Mr. Ziyu Shen should remit to the VIE any amount that is paid by the WFOE or its designated person(s) in connection with the purchased equity interest. Mr. Shufu Li and Mr. Ziyu Shen also granted WFOE or its designee an option to purchase all or a portion of the assets of VIE for the minimum amount of consideration permitted by PRC law. Mr. Shufu Li and Mr. Ziyu Shen also agreed not to transfer or mortgage any equity interest in or dispose of or cause the management to dispose of any material assets of VIE without the prior written consent of WFOE. The Exclusive Purchase Option Agreement shall remain in effect until all of the equity interests in VIE have been acquired by WFOE or its designee.
Equity Interest Pledge Agreements
Under the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement, Mr. Shufu Li and Mr. Ziyu Shen pledged their respective equity interest in VIE to WFOE to secure obligations under the Power of Attorney, Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, and Exclusive Purchase Option Agreement. Mr. Shufu Li and Mr. Ziyu Shen further agreed not to transfer or pledge their equity interests in VIE without the prior written consent of WFOE. The Equity Interest Pledge Agreement will remain binding until the pledgers, Mr. Shufu Li and Mr. Ziyu Shen, as the case may be, discharge all of their obligations under the above-mentioned agreements. On January 10, 2020, the equity pledges under the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement were registered with competent PRC regulatory authority.
Spousal Consents
The spouses of Mr. Shufu Li and Mr. Ziyu Shen, have each signed a spousal consent. Under the spousal consent, the signing spouse unconditionally and irrevocably agreed that the equity interest in VIE which is held by and registered under the name of her spouse will be disposed of pursuant to the abovementioned Equity Interest Pledge Agreements, Exclusive Purchase Option Agreements, the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement and the Power of Attorney. Moreover, the spouse confirmed she has no rights, and will not assert in the future any right, over the equity interests in VIE held by her spouse. In addition, in the event that the spouse obtains any equity interest in VIE held by her spouse for any reason, she agrees to be bound by and sign any legal documents substantially similar to the contractual arrangements entered into by her spouse, as may be amended from time to time.
The Company relied on the VIE Agreements to operate and control VIEs. All of the VIE Agreements are governed by PRC laws and provide for the resolution of disputes through arbitration in China. Accordingly, these contracts would be interpreted in accordance with PRC laws and any disputes would be resolved in accordance with PRC legal procedures. The legal environment in the PRC is not as developed as in some other jurisdictions, such as the United States. As a result, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit the Company’s ability to enforce these contractual arrangements. In the event that the Company is unable to enforce these contractual arrangements, or if the Company suffers significant time delays or other obstacles in the process of enforcing these contractual arrangements, it would be difficult to exert
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
1.
Description of business and organization (continued)
effective control over VIEs, and the Company’s ability to conduct its business and the results of operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.
In the opinion of management, based on the legal opinion obtained from the Company’s mainland PRC legal counsel, the above contractual arrangements were legally binding and enforceable and did not violate current mainland PRC laws and regulations. However, there were uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of existing and future PRC laws and regulations. Accordingly, the Company could not be assured that PRC regulatory authorities would not ultimately take a contrary view to its opinion. If the Company’s corporate structure and contractual arrangements are found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws or regulations, the relevant regulatory authorities would have broad discretion in dealing with such violations, including:

revoking the business license and/or operating license of such entities;

placing restrictions on the operations or the Company’s right to collect revenues;

imposing fines, confiscating the income from the WFOE or VIEs, or imposing other requirements with which the Company or the VIEs may not be able to comply;

requiring the Company to restructure the ownership structure or operations, including terminating the contractual arrangements and deregistering equity pledges made by the equity holders of the VIEs, which in turn would affect the ability to consolidate, derive economic interests from, or exert effective control over the VIEs;

restricting or prohibiting the Company’s use of the proceeds of public offerings to finance the business and operations in China; or

taking other regulatory or enforcement actions that could be harmful to the business.
If the imposition of any of these penalties or requirement to restructure the Company’s corporate structure causes it to lose the rights to direct the activities of the VIEs or the Company’s right to receive its economic benefits, the Company would no longer be able to consolidate the financial results of the VIEs in its consolidated financial statements.
The Company’s involvement with the VIE under the VIE Agreements affected the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows as indicated below.
The following consolidated assets and liabilities information of the Group’s VIEs as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, and consolidated revenues, net loss and cash flow information for the years then ended, have been included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. All intercompany transactions and balances with the Company, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries have been eliminated upon consolidation.
As of December 31,
2020
2021
Current assets
Cash
597,772 642,293
Restricted cash(i)
273,940 23,004
Accounts receivable – third parties, net 
201,126 184,546
Accounts receivable – related parties, net(ii)
691,871 813,364
Notes receivable(iii)
118,304 137,710
Inventories
233,864 223,319
Amounts due from related parties(iv)
78,616 42,604
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
1.
Description of business and organization (continued)
As of December 31,
2020
2021
Prepayments and other current assets
118,129 182,589
Total current assets
2,313,622 2,249,429
Non-current assets
Long-term investments
2,653 441,586
Property and equipment, net
106,083 94,387
Intangible assets, net
30,043 31,026
Other non-current assets – third parties
11,255 19,904
Other non-current assets – related parties
353 1,929
Total non-current assets
150,387 588,832
Total assets
2,464,009 2,838,261
Current liabilities
Short-term borrowings
76,000 932,000
Current instalments of long-term debt
250,000
Accounts payable – third parties
715,737 622,867
Accounts payable – related parties(ii)
349,523 159,528
Notes payable
271,833 127,304
Amounts due to related parties (iv)
132,204 2,452,787
Contract liabilities, current – third parties
5,713 2,685
Contract liabilities, current – related parties
151,694 363,285
Warrant liabilities
80,270
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
1,308,970 442,588
Total current liabilities
3,341,944 5,103,044
Non-current liabilities
Contract liabilities, non-current – third parties
55 317
Contract liabilities, non-current – related parties
359,091 472,749
Long-term debt, net, excluding current instalments
775,387
Other non-current liabilities
7,523 16,292
Total non-current liabilities
1,142,056 489,358
Total liabilities
4,484,000 5,592,402
(i)
Restricted cash of RMB273,940 and RMB23,004 as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively, were pledged for notes payable.
(ii)
As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, accounts receivable — related parties, net, include amounts of RMB31,394 and RMB57,039 due from the Company and its subsidiaries, and accounts payable — related parties include amounts of RMB6,506 and RMB59,622 due to the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are eliminated upon consolidation.
(iii)
Notes receivable of RMB117,893 and RMB110,550 as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively, were pledged for notes payable.
(iv)
As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, amounts due from related parties include amounts of nil and RMB1,326 due from the Company and its subsidiaries, respectively; and amounts due to related parties include amounts of RMB78,299 and RMB2,143,777 due to the Company and its subsidiaries, respectively. All of the amounts are eliminated upon consolidation.
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
1.
Description of business and organization (continued)
Year ended December 31,
2020
2021
Revenues(v) 2,241,536 2,755,780
Net loss
(495,741) (1,106,865)
Net cash used in operating activities(vi)
(312,311) (817,989)
Net cash used in investing activities
(91,112) (436,280)
Net cash provided by financing activities(vii)
940,204 1,047,854
Net increase in cash and restricted cash
536,781 (206,415)
Cash and restricted cash at the beginning of the year
334,931 871,712
Cash and restricted cash at the end of the year
871,712 665,297
(v)
For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, revenues including amounts of RMB31,394 and RMB26,290, respectively, are from the Company and its subsidiaries, which are eliminated upon consolidation.
(vi)
Net cash used in operating activities respectively includes amounts of RMB75,361 and RMB33,405 generated from the Company and its subsidiaries for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, which are eliminated upon consolidation.
(vii)
Net cash provided by financing activities respectively includes amounts of nil and RMB2,067,268 provided by the Company and its subsidiaries for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, which are eliminated upon consolidation.
The Company considers that there are no assets in the VIEs that can be used only to settle obligations of the VIEs, except for restricted cash of RMB23,004, notes receivables of RMB110,550 that were pledged for notes payable, and paid-in-capital of RMB10,000 as of December 31, 2021. The creditors of VIEs do not have recourse to the general credit of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.
The unrecognized revenue-producing assets that are held by the VIEs comprise of internally developed software and intellectual property, patents and trademarks and other licenses, which were not recorded on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as they do not meet all the capitalization criteria.
During the year presented, the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries provided financial support to VIEs that they were not previously contractually required to provide in the form of advances. To the extent VIEs requires financial support, the Company may, at its option and to the extent permitted under the PRC law, provide such support to VIEs through loans to VIEs’ nominee equity holders or entrustment loans to VIEs.
2.
Summary of significant accounting policies
(a)
Basis of presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”).
The consolidated financial statements are presented in Renminbi (“RMB”), rounded to the nearest thousand.
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP assuming the Company will continue as a going concern. The going concern assumption contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. However, substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern exists.
The Company has incurred losses since its inception. As of December 31, 2021, the Group had an accumulated deficit of RMB4,109,041, and its consolidated current liabilities exceeded current assets in the
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2.
Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
amount of RMB566,019. In addition, the Group recorded net cash used in operating activities in the amount of RMB872,325 for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Historically, the Group had relied principally on proceeds from the issuance of redeemable convertible preferred shares and bank borrowings to finance its operations and business expansion. The Company will require additional liquidity to continue its operations over the next 12 months.
The Company has evaluated plans to continue as a going concern which include: a) external financing in conjunction with the mergers with Cova Acquisition Corp., obtaining additional loan facilities from banks and renewal of existing bank borrowings when they are due, obtaining financial support from controlling shareholders, and issuance of convertible notes to new investors, though there is no assurance that the Company will be successful in obtaining such additional liquidity on terms acceptable to the Company, if at all; or failing that, b) a business plan to accelerate the pace of collections of amounts due from related parties and optimize operational efficiency to improve the Company’s cash flow from operations. The feasibility of such plan is contingent upon many factors out of the control of the Company, including the severity of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Chinese economy and the Company’s business operations, which is highly uncertain and difficult to predict.
The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to the carrying amounts and classification of assets, liabilities, and reported expenses that may be necessary if the Company were unable to continue as a going concern.
(b)
Principles of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, its wholly-owned subsidiaries, the VIE in which the Company, through its WFOE, has a controlling financial interest, and the VIE’s subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances among the Company, its subsidiaries and the VIEs have been eliminated upon consolidation. Noncontrolling interests are separately presented as a component of shareholders’ deficit in the consolidated financial statements.
(c)
Use of estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date, and the reported revenues and expenses during the reported period in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant accounting estimates include, but not limited to, estimated service period of connectivity services, the allowance for doubtful accounts receivables, the realizability of inventories, the accrual for warranty obligations, useful lives and recoverability of property, equipment and intangible assets, recoverability of long-term investments, valuation allowance of deferred tax assets, the fair values of share-based compensation awards, redeemable convertible preferred shares, warrant liabilities and financial guarantee. Changes in facts and circumstances may result in revised estimates. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and as such, differences may be material to the consolidated financial statements.
(d)
Cash and restricted cash
Cash consists of cash at bank. Restricted cash represents cash that cannot be withdrawn without the permission of third parties. The Group’s restricted cash are bank deposits pledged for notes payable.
(e)
Contract liabilities
The timing of revenue recognition, billings and cash collections result in accounts receivable and contract liabilities. A contract liability is recognized when the Group has an obligation to transfer goods or
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2.
Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
services to a customer for which the Group has received consideration from the customer, or for which an amount of consideration is due from the customer.
(f)
Accounts receivable
Accounts receivable represent those receivables derived in the ordinary course of business when the Group has sold the products or provided services to its customers and when its right to consideration is unconditional. Accounts receivable are presented net of allowance for doubtful accounts. The Group maintains a general and specific allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses inherent in its accounts receivable portfolio. Accounts receivable balances with large creditworthy customers are reviewed by management individually for collectability. All other balances are reviewed on a pooled basis. A percentage of general allowance is applied to the balances of accounts receivable in each aging category, excluding those which are assessed individually for collectability. Management considers various factors, including historical loss experience, current market conditions, the financial condition of its debtors, any receivables in dispute, the aging of receivables and current payment patterns of its debtors, in establishing the required allowance.
An allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded into general and administrative expenses. Accounts receivable which are deemed to be uncollectible are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. The Group does not have any off-balance-sheet credit exposure related to its customers.
(g)
Notes receivable
Notes receivable are primarily bank acceptance notes issued by reputable financial institutions that entitle the Group to receive the full face value amount from the financial institutions at maturity, which is typically six months from the date of issuance. The Group accepts bank acceptance notes from customers for products sold or services performed in the ordinary course of business. Upon receipt of the bank acceptance notes, the Group’s accounts receivable from the customer is derecognized.
(h)
Inventories
Inventories, comprised of raw materials, work in process, and finished goods, are accounted for using the first-in-first-out cost method and are valued at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price of the inventory in the ordinary course of business less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation.
Cost of work-in-process and finished goods comprise primarily direct materials and manufacturing charges from outsourced factories. The Group identifies potentially slow-moving and obsolete inventories through physical counts, monitoring of inventories on hand and specific identification. The Group records inventory write-downs for excess or obsolete inventories based upon assumptions on current and future demand forecasts, if the inventory on hand is in excess of future demand forecast, the excess amounts are written off. Write-downs to inventory are recorded in the cost of revenues to reduce the carrying amount of any obsolete and excess inventories to their estimated net realizable value.
(i)
Long-term investments
Equity method investments
The Group applies the equity method to account for equity interests in investees over which the Group has significant influence but does not own a majority equity interest or otherwise control.
Under the equity method of accounting, the Group’s share of the investees’ results of operations is reported as share of results of equity method investments in the consolidated statements of comprehensive
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2.
Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
loss. When the Group’s share of losses in the equity investee equals or exceeds its interest in the equity investee, the Group does not recognize further losses, unless the Group has incurred obligations or made payments or guarantees on behalf of the equity investee, or the Group holds other investments in the equity investee.
The Group recognizes an impairment loss when there is a decline in value below the carrying value of the equity method investment that is considered to be other than temporary. The process of assessing and determining whether impairment on an investment is other than temporary requires a significant amount of judgment. To determine whether an impairment is other than temporary, management considers whether it has the ability and intent to hold the investment until recovery and whether evidence indicating the carrying value of the investment is recoverable outweighs evidence to the contrary. Evidence considered in this assessment includes the reasons for the impairment, the severity and duration of the decline in value, any change in value subsequent to the period end, and forecasted performance of the investee.
Equity securities
Equity investments without readily determinable fair values which do not qualify for net asset value per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient and over which the Group does not have the ability to exercise significant influence through the investments in common stock, are accounted for under the measurement alternative. The carrying values of equity investments without readily determinable fair values are measured at cost, less any impairment, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments of the same issuer. All gains and losses on these investments, realized and unrealized, are recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss.
The Group makes a qualitative assessment considering impairment indicators to evaluate whether the equity investments without a readily determinable fair value is impaired at each reporting period and recognizes an impairment loss equal to the difference between the carrying value and fair value in earnings. No impairment loss was recognized for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021. As a result of adoption of ASU 2016-01, the Company is not required to disclose the fair value for equity investments without readily determinable fair value.
(j)
Property and equipment, net
Property and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment, if any.
Depreciation on property and equipment is calculated on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as below:
Category
Estimated useful life
Machinery and electronic equipment
3 – 10 years
Transportation vehicles
4 years
Office and other equipment
5 years
Leasehold improvement
Shorter of the lease term and the estimated useful lives of the assets
Construction in progress represents property and equipment under construction. Construction in progress is transferred to property and equipment and depreciation commences when an asset is ready for its intended use.
Gains or losses arising from the disposal of an item of property and equipment are determined based on the difference between the net disposal proceeds and the carrying amount of the item and are recognized in profit or loss on the date of disposal.
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2.
Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
(k)
Intangible assets, net
Intangible assets primarily comprise of purchased software, which are carried at cost less accumulated amortization and impairment, if any. Intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives between 3 and 10 years.
(l)
Impairment of long-lived assets
Long-lived assets, including property and equipment, intangible assets subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. If circumstances require a long-lived asset or asset group be tested for possible impairment, the Group first compares undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by that asset or asset group to its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of the long-lived asset or asset group is not recoverable on an undiscounted cash flow basis, an impairment is recognized to the extent that the carrying amount exceeds its fair value. Fair value is determined through various valuation techniques including discounted cash flow models, quoted market values and third-party independent appraisals, as considered necessary. No impairment losses were recognized for long-lived assets for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021.
(m)
Product warranties
The Group provides product warranties on all applicable products based on the contracts with its customers at the time of sale of products. The Group accrues a warranty reserve for the products sold, which includes the best estimate of projected costs to settle indemnity for claims under warranties. Factors that affect the Group’s warranty obligation include product defect rates and costs of repair or replacement. These factors are estimates that may change based on new information that becomes available each period. The portion of the warranty reserve expected to be incurred within the next 12 months is included within accrued expense and other current liabilities while the remaining balance is included within other non-current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Warranty cost is recorded as a component of cost of goods sold in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss. The Group reevaluates the adequacy of the warranty accrual on a regular basis.
The Group recognizes the benefit from a recovery of the costs associated with the warranty when specifics of the recovery have been agreed with the Group’s suppliers and the amount of the recovery is virtually certain.
(n)
Value added taxes
The Company’s PRC subsidiaries and VIEs are subject to value added tax (“VAT”) on its products and services, less any deductible VAT the Group has already paid or borne. They are also subject to surcharges on VAT payments in accordance with PRC law. VAT is not included in the revenue recognized for the Group. Revenue from sales of products and provision of services are generally subject to VAT at the rate of 6% and 13%, respectively, since April 1, 2019, or 6% to 16% between January 1, 2019 and March 31, 2019, and subsequently paid to PRC tax authorities after netting input VAT on purchases.
The excess of output VAT over input VAT is reflected in accrued expenses and other current liabilities, and the excess of input VAT over output VAT is reflected in prepayments and other current assets in the consolidated balance sheets.
(o)
Commitments and contingencies
In the normal course of business, the Group is subject to loss contingencies, such as legal proceedings and claims arising out of its business, that cover a wide range of matters, including, among others,
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2.
Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
government investigations, shareholder lawsuits, and non-income tax matters. An accrual for a loss contingency is recognized when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. If a potential material loss contingency is not probable but is reasonably possible, or is probable but cannot be estimated, then the nature of the contingent liability, together with an estimate of the range of possible loss if determinable and material, is disclosed.
(p)
Fair value measurement
Fair value represents the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability.
ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”) defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. Accounting guidance establishes a three-level fair value hierarchy and requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. A financial instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three levels of inputs are:
Level 1 — Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
Level 2 — Include other inputs that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace.
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity.
Accounting guidance also describes three main approaches to measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities: (1) market approach; (2) income approach and (3) cost approach. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated from market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities. The income approach uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts to a single present value amount. The measurement is based on the value indicated by current market expectations about those future amounts. The cost approach is based on the amount that would currently be required to replace an asset.
Financial assets and liabilities of the Group primarily consist of cash, restricted cash, accounts receivables, amounts due from related parties, notes receivable, short-term borrowings, accounts payable, amounts due to related parties, notes payable and warrant liabilities, long-term debt and other payables included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities. The Group measures warrant liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs and categorized in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. As of December 31, 2020, the carrying amounts of long-term debt approximate the fair value as those borrowings carry interest rates which approximate rates currently offered by financial institutions for similar debt instruments with comparable maturities. As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, the carrying values of other financial instruments approximate to their fair values due to the short-term maturity of these instruments.
(q)
Revenue recognition
The Group accounts for revenue in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”) since January 1, 2018. In accordance with ASC 606, the Group recognizes revenue upon the transfer of control of promised products or services to the Group’s customers, in the amount of consideration the Group expects to receive for those products or services (excluding VAT collected on behalf of government authorities).
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2.
Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
The Group generates revenues from sales of goods, software license and services.
Sales of goods revenues
Sales of goods revenues include sales of following products:
a.
Automotive computing platform, which Tier 1 automotive suppliers or the Original Equipment Manufacturers (“OEM”) purchase from the Group and assemble on cars with infotainment head unit or digital cockpit;
b.
SoC (“system-on-chip”) core modules, where the Group sells standardized computing board, which integrates SoC with core integrated circuits and peripheral to Tier 1 automotive suppliers or the OEMs; and
c.
Automotive merchandise and other products, which are primarily basic electronic components such as resistor, capacitor and circuit board sold to automotive suppliers.
The Group is mainly engaged by the related parties to manufacture and sell automotive computing platforms. The Group also generates revenue from the sales of SoC core modules, automotive merchandise and other products. Revenues are recognized when the automotive computing platform, SoC core modules, automotive merchandise or other products are accepted by the customers, which is the point in time that control of the product is transferred to the customers. The selling price, which is specified in the purchase orders, is fixed. The Group determines that it is the principal of the contract and presents the revenue generated from sales of products on a gross basis as the Group has control of products before they are transferred to the customers.
Unless a product was defective, the Group does not provide customers any right of product return.
Software license revenues
Software license revenues include revenues from the sales of software stack, which incorporates the service software framework to connect the application layer to the operating system layer of the overall cockpit system.
The Group generates revenues from licensing its software to its customers, which are Tier 1 automotive suppliers. The Group licenses the rights to the intellectual property of the software in two types of contracts. Customers may subscribe to licenses or purchase perpetual licenses, which provide customer with same functionality and differ mainly in the duration of the license period.
For subscription to licenses, the Group licenses its software to its customers for a fixed period. The customers then indicate their acceptance upon receiving the software by providing a written notice. For perpetual licenses, the Group does not license customers for a specific period and it is accepted by customer with an acceptance notice.
The software has significant stand-alone functionality which is not expected to substantively change during the license period. The nature of the software is functional and a right to use the Group’s intellectual property according to ASC 606. Revenues related to the fixed period software licenses, which is a fixed consideration, are recognized at a point in time upon customers’ acceptance when the control over the licences is transferred to customers. Revenues related to the perpetual licenses are recognised when subsequent sale occurs according to the sales-based royalties guidance under ASC 606 as this type of software is charged based on the subsequent sale made by Tier 1 automotive suppliers to the OEMs after the software has been configured into Tier 1’s auto parts. The license does not have a renewal term. Post-contract customer support,
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2.
Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
which include technical support and unspecified minor bug fixes, are provided to all customers. The Post-contract customer support is not material and not accounted for as a distinct performance obligation.
Service revenues
The Group generates revenues by provision of the following services:
a.
Automotive computing platform design and development service
b.
Connectivity service, which enables end-users of automobiles the access to internet; and,
c.
Other services, including technical consulting services provided to automotive companies. The performance obligations are satisfied, and revenues are recognised, at point in time upon customers’ acceptance of the services given the overtime criteria under ASC 606 are not met.
The Group provides design and development services on automotive computing platform for OEMs. The contracts for design and development services are separate from the contracts for manufacture of automotive computing platform because they are not entered into at or near the same time. The service contracts for design and development services are entered into with the customers near the end of the development process. The Group does not have any enforceable right to payment before the agreed deliverables are accepted by customers. Therefore, the Group recognizes revenue at a point in time when the agreed deliverables are accepted by customers.
The Group purchases data traffic from its suppliers and maintain a data pool to provide connectivity service to its related parties with the provision of data service packs. The connectivity services commence upon activation of the data service packs and remain effective with agreed standard connectivity speed (1) over the duration of ownership under the first registered owner of the automobiles or (2) over the shorter of (i) an agreed fixed period or (ii) the duration of ownership under the first registered owner. Therefore, the Group estimates the period when the data services packs is activated and recognizes revenue over the estimated period on a straight-line basis. The Group determines that it is the principal in providing such connectivity service, as it has control over the services, including negotiating arrangement details with customers, establishing prices for service packs sold, selecting data traffic suppliers and management of the data traffic pool to fulfil users’ needs.
(r)
Research and development expenses
Research and development expenses mainly consist of direct material cost, outsourced development expenses, payroll and share-based compensation related to researching and developing new technologies and expenses associated with the use of facilities and equipment by these functions, such as rental and depreciation expenses. Research and development expenses are expensed as incurred.
(s)
Selling and marketing expenses
Selling and marketing expense mainly consists of payroll and share-based compensation related to the selling and marketing activities, advertising costs, rental, depreciation related to selling and marketing functions. Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. The advertising costs were RMB5,139 and RMB13,674 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively.
(t)
Government grants
Government grants are recognized when there is reasonable assurance that the Group will comply with the conditions attached to it and the grants will be received. Government grant for the purpose of giving
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2.
Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
immediate financial support to the Group with no future related costs is recognized as government grants in the Group’s consolidated statement of comprehensive loss when the grant becomes receivable.
(u)
Income tax
Current income taxes are provided on the basis of income before income taxes for financial reporting purposes and adjusted for income and expense items which are not taxable or deductible for income tax purposes, in accordance with the regulations of the relevant tax jurisdictions.
Deferred income taxes are provided using the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the tax consequences attributable to differences between carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and their respective tax basis, and operating loss carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss in the period that includes the enactment date.
A valuation allowance is provided to reduce the amount of deferred income tax assets if based on the weight of available evidence, it is more-likely-than-not that some portion, or all, of the deferred income tax assets will not be realized. This assessment considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses, forecasts of futures profitability, the duration of statutory carryforward periods, the Group’s operating history and tax credit carryforwards, if any, not expiring.
The Group applies a “more-likely-than-not” recognition threshold in the evaluation of uncertain tax positions. The Group recognizes the benefit of a tax position in its consolidated financial statements if the tax position is “more-likely-than-not” to prevail based on the facts and technical merits of the position. Tax positions that meet the “more-likely-than-not” recognition threshold are measured at the largest amount of tax benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon settlement. Unrecognized tax benefits may be affected by changes in interpretation of laws, rulings of tax authorities, tax audits, and expiry of statutory limitations. In addition, changes in facts, circumstances and new information may require the Group to adjust the recognition and measurement estimates with regard to individual tax positions. Accordingly, unrecognized tax benefits are periodically reviewed and re-assessed. Adjustments, if required, are recorded in the Group’s consolidated financial statements in the period in which the change that necessities the adjustments occur. The ultimate outcome for a particular tax position may not be determined with certainty prior to the conclusion of a tax audit and, in certain circumstances, a tax appeal or litigation process. The Group records interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits (if any) in interest expense and general and administrative expenses, respectively.
(v)
Share-based compensation
The Group measures the cost of employee and non-employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award and recognizes the cost over the period the employee and non-employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, which generally is the vesting period. For graded vesting awards with only service condition, the Group recognizes compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award, provided that the cumulative amount of compensation cost recognized at any date at least equals the portion of the grant-date value of such award that is vested at that date. For awards with performance conditions, compensation cost is expensed over the estimated vesting period if it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved.
The Group elects to recognize the effect of forfeitures in compensation costs when they occur. To the extent the required vesting conditions are not met resulting in the forfeiture of the share-based awards, previously recognized compensation expense relating to those awards is reversed.
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2.
Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
(w)
Employee benefits
The Company’s subsidiaries and the VIEs in the PRC participate in a government mandated, multi-employers, defined contribution plan, pursuant to which certain retirement, medical, housing and other welfare benefits are provided to employees. PRC labor laws require the entities incorporated in the PRC to pay to the local labor bureau a monthly contribution calculated at a stated contribution rate on the monthly basic compensation of qualified employees. The Group has no further commitments beyond its monthly contribution. Employee social benefits included as expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of comprehensive loss amounted to RMB95,913 and RMB165,935 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the PRC government has implemented relief policies to exempt or reduce enterprises’ payments to certain social benefits provided to employees during 2020. The amount of exemption and reduction for employee social benefits for the Company’s PRC subsidiaries, the VIE and VIE’s subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2020 was RMB22,473.
(x)
Operating lease
The Group leases premises for offices under non-cancellable operating leases. Leases with escalated rent provisions are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
(y)
Foreign currency
The Group use RMB as its reporting currency. The functional currency of the Company and its subsidiaries incorporated in British Virgin Islands and Hong Kong S.A.R. is the US$. The Group’s entities incorporated in Kingdom of Sweden and the United Kingdom use their respective local currencies as their functional currencies. The functional currency of its PRC subsidiaries and VIEs is the RMB.
Transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are remeasured into the functional currency at the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are remeasured into the functional currency using the applicable exchange rate at the balance sheet date. The resulted exchange differences are recorded as foreign currency exchange gains (losses), net in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss.
The financial statements of the Company, its subsidiary incorporated at British Virgin Islands, Hong Kong S.A.R., Sweden and United Kingdom are translated from the functional currency into RMB. Assets and liabilities are translated into RMB using the applicable exchange rates at the balance sheet date. Equity accounts other than earnings (deficits) generated in the current period are translated into RMB using the appropriate historical rates. Revenues, expenses, gains and losses are translated into RMB using the average exchange rates for the relevant period. The resulted foreign currency translation adjustments are recorded as a component of other comprehensive loss in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss, and the accumulated foreign currency translation adjustments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in the consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ deficit.
RMB is not a freely convertible currency. The PRC State Administration for Foreign Exchange, under the authority of the PRC government, controls the conversion of RMB to foreign currencies. The value of RMB is subject to changes of central government policies and international economic and political developments affecting supply and demand in the PRC foreign exchange trading system market.
(z)
Risks and Concentration
Concentration of credit risk
Financial instruments that potentially expose the Group to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash, restricted cash and accounts receivables and notes receivable.
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2.
Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
The Group’s policy requires cash and restricted cash to be placed with high quality financial institutions. The Group regularly evaluates the credit standing of the counterparties or financial institutions.
The Group conducts credit evaluations on its customers prior to delivery of goods or services. The assessment of customer creditworthiness is primarily based on historical collection records, research of publicly available information and customer on site visits by senior management. Based on this analysis, the Group determines what credit terms, if any, to offer to each customer individually. If the assessment indicates a likelihood of collection risk, the Group will not deliver the services or sell the products to the customer or require the customer to pay cash to secure payment or to make significant down payments.
Concentration of customers and suppliers
The Group currently has a concentrated customer base with a limited number of key customers, particularly Geely Group. Geely Group represents 94.8% and 95.8% of the Group’s accounts receivable — related parties, net, as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, Geely Group contributed 74.1% and 70.4% of the Group’s total revenues, respectively, which excluded the sales of SoC core modules or software licenses by the Group to its third-party customers that were integrated into infotainment and cockpit products and sold by such third-party customers to Geely Group.
Four third-party customers account for 37.2%, 12.0%, 11.4%, 11.3% of the Group’s accounts receivable — third parties, net, as of December 31, 2020, respectively, and three third-party customers account for 51.1%, 11.0%, 10.6% of the Group’s accounts receivable — third parties, net, as of December 31, 2021, respectively. No third-party customers contributed more than 10.0% of the Group’s total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021.
The following table summarizes suppliers with greater than 10.0% of the accounts payable:
As of December 31,
2020
2021
Supplier A, a related party
29.8%
Less than 10.0%
Supplier B, a third party
15.2%
15.5%
Supplier C, a third party
Less than 10.0%
13.8%
Supplier D, a related party
Less than 10.0%
10.3%
Suppliers contributed more than 10.0% of total purchases are as below:
As of December 31,
2020
2021
Supplier B, a third party
35.2% 23.6%
(aa)
Loss per share
Basic loss per share is computed by dividing net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders, taking into consideration the accretions to redemption value of redeemable convertible preferred shares, by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year using the two-class method. Under the two‑class method, any net income is allocated between ordinary shares and other participating securities based on their participating rights. Warrants and redeemable convertible preferred shares are participating securities, as they participate in undistributed earnings on an if-converted basis. A net loss is not allocated to participating securities when the participating securities do not have contractual obligations to share losses.
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2.
Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
Diluted loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders, as adjusted for the effect of dilutive ordinary equivalent shares, if any, by the weighted average number of ordinary and dilutive ordinary equivalent shares outstanding during the year. Ordinary equivalent shares consist of shares issuable upon the conversion of the redeemable convertible preferred shares, using the if-converted method, and ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants and share options using the treasury stock method. Ordinary equivalent shares are not included in the denominator of the diluted loss per share calculation when inclusion of such share would be anti-dilutive.
(bb)
Segment reporting
The Group uses the management approach in determining its operating segments. The Group’s chief operating decision maker has been identified as the chief executive officer, who reviews consolidated results when making decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance of the Group. For the purpose of internal reporting and management’s operation review, the Group’s chief executive officer does not segregate the Group’s business by product or service. Management has determined that the Group has one operating segment, which is automotive intelligence and networking segment.
The Group’s long-lived assets are substantially all located in the PRC and substantially all the Group’s revenues are derived from within the PRC, therefore, no geographical information is presented.
(cc)
Statutory reserves
In accordance with the PRC Company Law, the paid-in capitals of the PRC subsidiaries and VIEs are not allowed to be transferred to the Company by way of cash dividends, loans or advances, nor can they be distributed except for liquidation.
In addition, in accordance with the PRC Company Law, the Group’s PRC subsidiaries and VIEs must make appropriations from their after-tax profits as determined under the generally accepted accounting principles in the PRC (“PRC GAAP”) to non-distributable reserve funds including statutory surplus fund and discretionary surplus fund. The appropriation to the statutory surplus fund must be 10% of the after-tax profits after offsetting any prior year losses as determined under PRC GAAP. Appropriation is not required if the statutory surplus fund has reached 50% of the registered capital of the PRC companies. Appropriation to the discretionary surplus fund is made at the discretion of the PRC companies.
The statutory surplus fund and discretionary surplus fund are restricted for use. They may only be applied to offset losses or increase the registered capital of the respective companies. These reserves are not allowed to be transferred to the Company by way of cash dividends, loans or advances, nor can they be distributed except for liquidation.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, the profit appropriation to statutory surplus fund for the Group’s entities incorporated in the PRC was RMB248. As of December 31, 2020, the balance of such statutory surplus fund amounted to RMB282. The Group disposed of a PRC subsidiary in September 2021(see Note 8), nil appropriation to statutory surplus fund was made during the year ended December 31, 2021. The balance of the statutory surplus was nil as of December 31, 2021.
No appropriation to the discretionary surplus fund was made by the Group’s PRC subsidiaries and VIEs.
(dd)
Recent accounting pronouncements
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02 (“ASU 2016-02”), Leases. ASU 2016-02 specifies the accounting for leases. For operating leases, ASU 2016-02 requires a lessee to recognize a right-of-use asset
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2.
Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
and a lease liability, initially measured at the present value of the lease payments, in its balance sheet. The standard also requires a lessee to recognize a single lease cost, calculated so that the cost of the lease is allocated over the lease term, on a generally straight-line basis. ASU 2016-02 was further amended in November 2019 by ASU 2019-09, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842), and in June 2020 by ASU 2020-05, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and Leases (Topic 842), which deferred the effective date of new leases standard. As a result, ASC 842, Leases, is effective for public companies for annual reporting periods, and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2018. For all other entities, it is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. Early adoption is permitted.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”), which increases transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 was further amended in June 2020 by ASU 2020-05, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and Leases (Topic 842), ASU 2020-05 deferred the effective date of new lease standard. As a result, ASC 842, Leases, is effective for public companies for annual reporting periods, and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15,2018. For all other entities, it is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. Early adoption is permitted. As the Group is an “emerging growth company” and elects to apply for the new and revised accounting standards at the effective date for a private company, the Group will adopt ASU 2016-02 for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022. The Group currently plans to elect the modified retrospective transition approach, which allows the Group to record a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the effective date without restating prior periods. Additionally, the Group currently plans to use the package of practical expedients that allows the Group not to reassess: (1) whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases, (2) lease classification for any expired or existing leases and (3) initial direct costs for any existing leases. The Group also plans to elect the hindsight practical expedient to determine the reasonably certain lease term for existing leases. The Group expects that this standard will have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements. The Group currently believes the most significant change relate to the recognition of right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets for operating leases of offices. The adoption of the standard on January 1, 2022 is expected to result in recognition of ROU assets and lease liabilities of approximately RMB70.0 million on the consolidated balance sheets. The Group does not believe the standard will materially affect the Group’s consolidated statements of comprehensive loss, except for additional impairment of ROU assets, which could be material given the size of ROU assets.
In June 2016, the FASB amended ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. ASU 2016-13 was further amended in November 2019 by ASU 2019-09, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842). As a result, ASC 326, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses is effective for public companies for annual reporting periods, and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2019. For all other entities, it is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. As the Group is an “emerging growth company” and elects to apply for the new and revised accounting standards at the effective date for a private company, ASU 2016-13 will be applied for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. The Group is currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance on its consolidated financial statements.
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt — Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging — Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815 — 40). This guidance simplifies the accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity, including convertible instruments and contracts on an entity’s own equity. ASU 2020-06 is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2.
Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
those fiscal years. For all other entities, it is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Group early adopted ASU 2020-06 on January 1, 2021. The adoption of ASU 2020-06 did not have a material impact on the Group’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.
3.
Cash and restricted cash
A reconciliation of cash and restricted cash in the consolidated balance sheets to the amounts in the consolidated statement of cash flows is as follows:
As of December 31,
2020
2021
Cash at bank
729,936 877,959
Restricted cash
273,940 23,004
Cash and restricted cash shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows
1,003,876 900,963
Cash and restricted cash are deposited in financial institutions at below locations:
As of December 31,
2020
2021
Financial institutions in the mainland of the PRC
– Denominated in RMB
868,411 667,686
– Denominated in US$
135,425 182,141
Total cash balances held at mainland PRC financial institutions
1,003,836 849,827
Financial institutions in Kingdom of Sweden
– Denominated in Swedish Krona (“SEK”)
40 28,986
Total cash balances held at Kingdom of Sweden financial institutions
40 28,986
Financial institutions in the United Kingdom (“UK”)
– Denominated in Great Britain Pound (“GBP”)
22,150
Total cash balances held at UK financial institutions
22,150
Total cash balances held at financial institutions in RMB
1,003,876 900,963
As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, the Group’s restricted cash of RMB273,940 and RMB23,004 were pledged for notes payable.
4.
Accounts receivable, net
Accounts receivable, net consisted of the following
As of December 31,
2020
2021
Accounts receivable – third parties
201,126 184,546
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts, third parties
Accounts receivable – third parties, net
201,126 184,546
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
4.
Accounts receivable, net (continued)
As of December 31,
2020
2021
Accounts receivable – related parties
673,784 768,747
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts
Accounts receivable – related parties, net
673,784 768,747
The movement of the allowance for doubtful accounts of accounts receivables due from related parties is as follows:
As of December 31,
2020
2021
Balance at the beginning of the year
Additions
360
Write-off
(360)
Balance at the end of the year
Nil provisions were provided to accounts receivables — third parties as of December 31, 2020 and 2021.
5.
Notes receivable
The Company collects notes receivable from its customers for sales of automotive computing platform, SoC Core Modules and other products. Notes receivable as of December 2020 and 2021 are bank acceptance notes, among which, RMB117,893 and RMB110,550, respectively, are pledged as collateral to secure notes payable issued by China Merchants Bank (“CMB”). The notes payables are used for settlement between the Group and its suppliers on the purchase of raw materials and other inventories.
6.
Inventories
Inventories consisted of the following:
As of December 31,
2020
2021
Raw material
103,822 117,845
Work in process
9,112 2,690
Finished goods
120,930 102,784
Total 233,864 223,319
The Group recorded inventory write-down of RMB44,134 and RMB49,485 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively.
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
7.
Prepayments and other current assets
Prepayments and other current assets consisted of the following:
As of December 31,
2020
2021
Prepayments to suppliers
109,773 174,860
Prepaid rental and deposits
4,563 5,256
Deferred offering costs
5,719
Others
3,793 14,240
Prepayments and other current assets
118,129 200,075
As of December 31, 2021, deferred offering costs consisted of legal expenses incurred through the balance sheet date that were directly related to the initial public offering. Such costs are deferred until the closing of the offering, at which time the deferred costs are offset against the offering proceeds. In the event the offering is unsuccessful or aborted, the costs will be expensed.
Nil and RMB3,245 provision were provided to prepayments and other current assets as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively.
8.
Long-term investments
As of December 31,
2020
2021
Equity method investments
2,653 678,225
Less: Impairment of equity method investments
Total equity method investments, net
2,653 678,225
Equity securities
675,824
Less: Impairment of equity securities
Total equity securities, net
675,824
Total long-term investments
2,653 1,354,049
Equity method investments
As of December 31, 2020, the Group had a number of equity method investments, which were individually and in aggregate immaterial to the Group’s financial condition or results of operations.
The Group made several equity method investments in 2021, which included:

On April 28, 2021, Hubei ECARX entered into an investment agreement with a related party, Geely Group, to establish an investee in the PRC, in which the Group owns 50% of the equity interest. The Group contributed RMB200.0 million in cash to the investment. The Group accounted for this investment as equity method investment since the investee is a corporate joint venture and the Group can exert significant influence in the investee.

In May 2021, Hubei ECARX entered into a limited partnership agreement to subscribe 9.416% equity interest of Suzhou Chenling Investment LLP (“Suzhou Chenling”), a private equity fund which is focused on new energy and biotechnology industries, with the cash consideration of RMB200.0 million. The Group accounted for the investment in the limited partnership as equity method investment, as it has more than virtually no influence on the investee.
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
8.
Long-term investments (continued)

In July 2021, ECARX HK entered into an investment agreement with Volvo Cars, a related party, to establish a joint venture of HaleyTek AB with cash consideration of SEK360.0 million (equivalent to RMB269,813), in which the Group owns 40% equity interest and can exert significant influence.

On July 26, 2021, the Group acquired 34.61% equity interest of SiEngine Technology Co., Ltd. (“SiEngine”) from the controlling shareholder of the Company, at the cash consideration of US$10.6 million (equivalent to RMB68,967) plus the issuance of 8,283,686 Series B Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares at the issuance price of US$11.57 per share, or US$95.8 million (equivalent to RMB620,703). The Group accounted for the investment in SiEngine as equity method investment, as it can exert significant influence on SiEngine. The Group initially recognized the investment at the carrying amount of the Company’s controlling shareholder, which was nil, as the acquisition of equity method investment is a transaction between companies under common control. The excess of consideration over the carrying amount of the equity investment was recorded as a deemed dividend in the amount of RMB689.7 million to the controlling shareholder.

On September 1, 2021, the Group sold 2% equity interest of Hubei Dongjun Automotive Electronics Technology Co., Ltd. (“Hubei Dongjun”) at the cash consideration of RMB1.0 million. Hubei Dongjun was established by the Group and a third-party investor, Hubei Dongjun Industrial Group Co., Ltd., and has not been a material subsidiary of the Group since the establishment. As a result of the transaction, the Group’s equity interest in the subsidiary decreased from 51% to 49% and the Group lost control over the subsidiary. On the date when the Group lost control in the subsidiary, the Group remeasured its retained equity interest of the entity at fair value in the amount of RMB24,500 and recorded a gain of RMB10,579 as a result the deconsolidation (See Note 18(a)). Since the Group still retains significant influence over the investment, it accounts for the investment as equity method investment prospectively from the date of deconsolidation.
Summary combined financial information for the investee companies as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021 follows:
As of
December 31,
2021
Financial position:
Current assets
1,464,896
Non-current assets
1,259,714
Total assets
2,724,610
Current liabilities
675,927
Non-current liabilities
956,934
Total liabilities
1,632,861
Shareholders’ equity
1,091,749
Total liabilities and shareholders’ deficit
2,724,610
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
8.
Long-term investments (continued)
Year ended
December 31,
2021
Results of operations:
Total revenues
711,800
Loss from operation
(500,388)
Net loss 
(389,593)
Management evaluated whether there was other than temporary impairment based on the facts, including recent financing activities, projected and historical financial performance of the investees. No impairment loss was recognized for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021.
Equity securities
On July 1, 2021, the Group subscribed 8,834 newly issued common shares of Zenseact AB (“Zenseact”), representing 15% equity interest of Zenseact, at the cash consideration of US$106.0 million (equivalent to RMB675,824). Zenseact is a private-owned entity and a related party of the Group.
There was no orderly transaction for an identical or a similar investment of Zenseact for the year ended December 31, 2021. The Group measures the equity security without a readily determinable fair value at cost less any impairments, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar securities of the same issuer.
No impairment loss was recognized for the year ended December 31, 2021.
9.
Property and equipment, net
Property and equipment, net, consisted of the following:
As of December 31,
2020
2021
Machinery and electronic equipment
148,096 158,849
Transportation vehicles
5,245 7,600
Office and other equipment
4,101 7,219
Leasehold improvements
30,065 39,166
Construction in progress
365 5,994
Property and equipment
187,872 218,828
Less: accumulated depreciation
(81,789) (115,672)
Property and equipment, net
106,083 103,156
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
9.
Property and equipment, net (continued)
Depreciation expenses on property and equipment were allocated to the following expense items:
Year ended December 31,
2020
2021
Cost of revenues
1,684 1,401
Selling and marketing expenses
355 290
General and administrative expenses
23,148 26,530
Research and development expenses 
13,293  14,916
Total depreciation expenses
38,480  43,137
10.
Intangible assets, net
Intangible assets, net consisted of the following:
As of December 31,
2020
2021
Software
71,841 69,732
Less: accumulated amortization
(41,798) (38,706)
Intangible assets, net
30,043 31,026
Amortization expenses on intangible assets were allocated to the following expense items:
Year ended December 31,
2020
2021
Cost of revenues
96 77
Selling and marketing expenses
1,027 876
General and administrative expenses
2,535 5,845
Research and development expenses
16,820 15,077
Total amortization expenses
20,478 21,875
The estimated amortization expenses for intangible assets in each of the next five years were RMB18,473, RMB10,253, RMB2,300, nil, and nil, respectively.
11.
Short-term borrowings
Short-term borrowings consisted of the following:
As of December 31,
2020
2021
Unsecured bank loans
76,000  932,000
As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, the Group’s short-term borrowings bear an interest rate of 4.00% per annum. As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, the Group had a total line of credit in the amount of RMB700,000 and RMB1,000,000, among which the unused portion were RMB410,688 and RMB172,696, respectively.
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
12.
Contract liabilities
Contract liabilities consisted of the following:
As of December 31,
2020
2021
Current liabilities – third parties
7,677 2,685
Current liabilities – related parties
151,694 363,285
Non-current liabilities – third parties
55 317
Non-current liabilities – related parties
359,091 472,749
Contract liabilities, current and non-current
518,517 839,036
The contract liabilities primarily relate to up-front non-refundable payments from the Group’s customers for purchase of connectivity services and automotive computing platform products in advance of transfer of the control of the products and services under the contract. Amounts that are expected to recognize as revenues within one-year are included as current contract liabilities with the remaining balance recognized as non-current contract liabilities.
The amount of revenue recognized that was included in the contract liabilities balance at the beginning of the year was RMB163,225 and RMB159,371 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively.
As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, the aggregated amounts of the transaction price allocated to the remaining performance obligation under the Group’s existing contracts is RMB518,517 and RMB839,036, respectively.
As of December 31, 2021, revenue expected to be recognized in the future related to remaining performance obligations that are unsatisfied were as follows:
Year ending December 31,
Amount
2022
365,970
2023
190,916
2024
148,155
2025
96,651
2026
36,835
2027
322
2028
187
The Group has elected the practical expedient not to disclose the information about remaining performance obligations which are part of contracts that have an original duration of one year or less.
13.
Warrant liabilities
In April 2017, Hubei ECARX entered into an investment arrangement with a government fund. The arrangement, as subsequently amended, entitled Hubei ECARX to borrow interest-free loans in an aggregate amount of RMB1,125,310 over a three-year drawdown period. See Note 15. In conjunction with the arrangement, ECARX issued warrants to the government fund, which entitled the government fund to purchase 2% of total equity interests of Hubei ECARX at the time of exercise in the total consideration of RMB81,950. The warrants are exercisable from the date of issuance of the loan facility to the maturity date of the last tranche of the drawdown of the loan.
Since the number of shares to be issued upon the exercise of the warrants cannot be determined until the exercise date, the settlement provision of the warrants does not meet the fixed-for-fixed requirement.
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
13.
Warrant liabilities (continued)
Hence, the warrants are not indexed to its own stock and are recorded as liability-classified financial instruments in accordance with ASC Topic 815 (“ASC 815”), Derivatives and Hedging. The warrants are recognized at fair value at the issuance date and measured subsequently at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings or losses.
The warrants are remeasured utilizing the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model as of December 31, 2020 with the following key assumptions:
As of December 31,
2020
Risk-free rate of return (%)
3.34%
Volatility
46.85%
Expected dividend yield
0.0%
Expected term
3.6 years
Fair value of the underlying ordinary shares
RMB31.34
The risk-free rate of return was based on China Government Bond for the expected remaining life of the warrant liabilities. The expected volatility was estimated based on the historical volatility of comparable peer public companies with a time horizon close to the expected term of the warrant liabilities. Expected dividend yield is zero as the Company does not anticipate any dividend payments in the foreseeable future. Expected term to exercise the warrant liabilities is up to July 2024. The fair value of the Company’s ordinary shares was estimated by management involving assumptions including discount rate, risk free interest rate and subjective judgments regarding projected financial and operating results, its unique business risks, the liquidity and operating history and prospects.
Upon settlement, the backsolve method, a market approach, was utilized in estimating the Company’s equity value with reference to the Company’s equity transactions close to the settlement. Based on the estimated equity value, the Option-Pricing Method was applied in equity allocation in determining the fair value of warrant liabilities, which involved a number of complex variables and subjective judgements that might not be observable in the market, including the anticipated timing and probability of a potential event, such as an initial public offering, a merger or liquidation of the Company.
The warrant liability is measured at fair value using unobservable inputs and categorized in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. The tables below reflect the reconciliation from the opening balances to the closing balances of financial liabilities for recurring fair value measurements categorized as level 3 of the fair value hierarchy for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021:
January 1,
2020
Addition
Change in
fair value
included
in losses
Settlement
December 31,
2020
Liabilities
Warrant liabilities
40,635 39,635 80,270
January 1,
2021
Addition
Change in
fair value
included
in losses
Settlement
(See Note 17)
December 31,
2021
Liabilities
Warrant liabilities 
80,270  111,299  (191,569)
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
14.
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
Accrued expenses and other liabilities, current and non-current consisted of the following:
As of December 31,
2020
2021
Refundable deposit for Series A Preferred Shares (see Note 17)
1,032,104
Salaries and benefits payables
162,329 228,999
Taxes payable
31,078 39,094
Product warranties
15,070 40,263
Other payables and accrued charges*
68,432 150,623
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
1,309,013 458,979
*
Other payables and accrued charges primarily include accrual for research and development expenses.
15.
Long-term debt
The long-term debt as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 consisted of the following:
As of December 31,
2020
2021
Long-term interest-free government loans
1,125,310
Less:
Unamortized debt issuance costs
(99,923)
Long-term debt, net unamortized debt issuance costs
1,025,387
Current instalments
250,000
Long-term debt, net, excluding current instalments
775,387
In April 2017, Hubei ECARX entered into an investment arrangement with a government fund. The arrangement, as subsequently amended, entitled Hubei ECARX to borrow interest-free loans in an aggregate amount of RMB1,125,310 over a three-year drawdown period. Hubei ECARX borrowed RMB330,000 in 2017, RMB420,000 in 2018 and RMB375,310 in 2019, respectively. Repayments of these loans were guaranteed by a related party which is controlled by Mr. Shufu Li. In conjunction with the arrangement, a warrant was issued to the government fund (see Note 13). These interest-free loans were mandatorily repayable to the government fund within three months upon the fourth anniversary of each tranche.
The interest-free government loans were recorded initially based on the amount of cash proceeds received at issuance dates. The guarantees provided by the related party were accounted for as shareholder contributions at its estimated fair value at the respective issuance date of each tranche of loans. The fair value of the guarantees was RMB44,967 in 2017, RMB99,387 in 2018 and RMB84,991 in 2019, respectively. It was treated as issuance cost of interest-free loans and subsequently amortised with applicable effective interest rates over the repayment period of each tranche and charged to the interest expenses.
Debt issuance costs are presented as a direct reduction of the Group’s long-term debt and amounted to RMB99,923 in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2020. The amount of debt issuance costs included in interest expenses for the year ended December 31, 2020 was RMB55,351.
In May 2021, Hubei ECARX and the government fund agreed on early repayment of these interest-free loans, and RMB1,125,310 was fully repaid to the government fund on June 28, 2021.
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
16.
Share split
On August 18, 2020, a 20-for-1 share split of the Company’s issued and unissued ordinary shares and convertible preferred shares was affected with par value per share divided by 20. All information related to the Company’s ordinary shares, convertible preferred shares and share-based awards has been retroactively adjusted to give effect to the 20-for-1 share split. The par value per ordinary share and the par value per convertible preferred share also have been retroactively revised as if they had been adjusted in proportion to the share split.
17.
Mezzanine equity
The activities of the Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021 consist of the following:
Series Angel
Preferred Shares
Series A
Preferred Shares
Series A+
Preferred Shares
Series A++
Preferred Shares
Series B
Preferred Shares
Shares
Carrying
amount
Shares
Carrying
amount
Subscription
receivable
Shares
Carrying
amount
Shares
Carrying
amount
Shares
Carrying
amount
Subscription
receivable
Total
Balance as of January 1,
2020
Issuance of preferred shares
22,500,000 1,238,526 (1,032,104) 206,422
Issuance cost
(8,500) (8,500)
Accretion of
Redeemable
Convertible Preferred
Shares
101,286 101,286
Foreign currency translation adjustment
(66,733) (66,733)
Balance as of December 31,
2020
22,500,000 1,264,579 (1,032,104) 232,475
Issuance of preferred shares
5,043,104 273,519 24,612,081 1,331,641 7,164,480 452,241 14,765,967 1,104,188 (159,215) 3,002,374
Issuance cost
(10,000) (10,000)
Re-designation of
ordinary shares into
Series A Preferred
Shares
1,964,286 97,660 97,660
Subscription contributions from shareholders
1,032,104 1,032,104
Accretion of
Redeemable
Convertible Preferred
Shares
13,655 99,161 79,336 23,005 28,407 243,564
Foreign currency translation adjustment
(3,589) (32,087) (14,306) 167 (15,278) (177)  (65,270)
Balance as of December 31,
2021
5,043,104 283,585 24,464,286 1,429,313 24,612,081 1,386,671 7,164,480 475,413 14,765,967 1,117,317 (159,392) 4,532,907
Series A Preferred Shares
On January 16, 2020, the Company issued 22,500,000 Series A redeemable convertible preferred shares (“Series A Preferred Shares”) at US$8 per share to two investors with a total consideration of US$180,000 (equivalent to RMB1,238,526). The issuance costs were RMB8,500. Since one of the investors is a PRC domestic institution that has not completed the foreign exchange registration procedures of overseas direct investments (“ODI”) and obtained the government approval on such investment, the Company has
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
17.
Mezzanine equity (continued)
agreed to issue 18,750,000 Series A redeemable convertible preferred shares to a foreign affiliate of the investor at par value and concurrently the investor made deposits of RMB1,032,104 (equivalent to US$150,000) to Hubei ECARX for 18,750,000 Series A Preferred Shares subscribed. Once the investor obtains the ODI approval, the deposits should be refunded by Hubei ECARX to the investor and the subscription amount for 18,750,000 Series A Preferred Shares should be paid by the investor to the Company after the investor received the refunded deposits.
In January 2020, US$30,000 (equivalent to RMB206,422) of the consideration were received by the Company and RMB1,032,104 of refundable deposits for 18,750,000 Series A Preferred Shares were received by Hubei ECARX.
As of December 31, 2020, the subscription receivable of RMB1,032,104 from one of the investors was recorded as a reduction of mezzanine equity, and the related refundable deposits in the amount of RMB1,032,104 was recorded in accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
In June 2021, the investor has completed the ODI procedures. The refundable deposits were returned by Hubei ECARX and concurrently subscription receivables of the Company were settled in full by the investor.
On February 26, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement with one of its ordinary shareholders, who is also a member of management, pursuant to which the Company shall redesignate 1,964,286 ordinary shares held by the ordinary shareholder to Series A Preferred Shares. On March 10, 2021, the ordinary shares were redesignated as Series A Preferred Shares, and the ordinary shareholder became a Series A Preferred Shareholder. The Company considered the redesignation, in substance, was effectively a repurchase and retirement of the ordinary shares and simultaneously an issuance of Series A Preferred Shares. The excess of the ordinary shares’ fair value over their par value in the amount of RMB81,208 was charged to additional paid-in capital. The excess of the preferred shares’ fair value over the ordinary shares’ fair value in the amount of RMB16,452 was recognized as share-based compensation.
Series Angel Preferred Shares
On March 5, 2021, the Company, Hubei ECARX and the government fund agreed that the warrants disclosed in Note 13, could be exercised to purchase 5,043,104 Series Angel Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares (“Series Angel Preferred Shares”), representing 2% of total outstanding shares of the Company on a fully diluted basis, at US$2.52 (equivalent to RMB16.25) per share, for a cash consideration of RMB81,950. On May 17, 2021, the government fund exercised the warrants to purchase 5,043,104 Series Angel Preferred Shares.
The Company involved an independent valuation firm to estimate the fair value of Series Angel Preferred Shares on the issuance date, which was also the warrant exercise date. Considering the equity transactions close to that date, the Company estimated the fair value of Series Angel Preferred Shares as RMB273,519, based on the estimation of the Company's equity value using the back solve method, a market approach. The fair value of Series Angel Preferred Shares equaled to the total of the fair value of warrant liabilities of US$191,569 as of the date, and the cash consideration of RMB81,950 that government fund agreed to pay. On June 29,2021, the government fund paid the cash consideration to the Company.
Series A+ Preferred Shares
Between February and March 2021, the Company entered into share purchase agreements with certain investors, to issue 24,612,081 shares of Series A+ Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares (“Series A+
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
17.
Mezzanine equity (continued)
Preferred Shares”) at the issuance price of US$8.4 per share, for a total consideration of US$206.7 million (equivalent to RMB1,331,641). The issuance costs were RMB10,000.
Series A++ Preferred Shares
Between March and July 2021, the Company, Hubei ECARX entered into share purchase agreements with four investors, to issue 7,164,480 shares of Series A++ Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares (“Series A++ Preferred Shares”) at the issuance price of US$9.91 per share, for a total consideration of US$71.0 million.
The four investors are PRC domestic institution, which shall complete their ODI procedures before the issuance of the Series A++ Preferred Shares to them. The investors made deposits of RMB461,849 (equivalent to US$71,000) in total to Hubei ECARX for the 7,164,480 Series A++ Preferred Shares subscribed. Once the investor obtained the ODI approval, the deposits should be refunded by Hubei ECARX to the investors and the subscription amount for the 7,164,480 Series A++ Preferred Shares should be paid by the investors to the Company within five (5) business days after it received the deposits.
In December 2021, the four investors completed the ODI procedures, and as a result, the refundable deposits of RMB461,849 were returned by Hubei ECARX to the four investors. Concurrently, the 7,164,480 shares of Series A++ Preferred Shares were issued by the Company to the investors, with the subscription amount of US$71,000 (equivalent to RMB452,241) settled in full.
Series B Preferred Shares
As disclosed in the Note 8, in July 2021, the Group issued 8,283,686 Series B Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares (“Series B Preferred Shares”) at the issuance price of US$11.57 per share, or US$95.8 million in total (equivalent to RMB620,703), plus cash in the amount of US$10.6 million, in exchange for an equity method investment.
Between September and December 2021, the Company entered into share purchase agreements with two investors to issue 6,482,281 shares of Series B Preferred Shares at the issuance price of US$11.57 per share, for a total consideration of US$75.0 million.
In September 2021, the consideration of US$50,000 (equivalent to RMB324,270) was received by the Company. As of December 31, 2021, the subscription receivable of US$25,000 (equivalent to RMB159,392) was recorded as a reduction of mezzanine equity on the consolidated balance sheets.
The rights, preferences and privileges of all tranches of preferred shares are as follows:
Redemption Rights
The investors of Preferred Shares have the right to require the Company to redeem their investments, at any time upon the earlier occurrence of:

the failure by the Company to complete a qualified initial public offering (“IPO”) on or before January 16, 2027;

any material breach as defined in the Preferred Shares agreement by the Company, which has not been cured within thirty (30) days after being requested by relevant Preferred Shares holder;

any material illegal act by the Group or by any direct or indirect owners of the ordinary shares of any of their respective representations which has not been cured within thirty (30) days after being requested by relevant Preferred Shares holder;
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
17.
Mezzanine equity (continued)

the Group fails to retain or renew any indispensable approval or license in connection with the principal business or the revocation of any aforesaid approval or license by any governmental authority, or any principal business is prohibited or imposed of material restrictions by applicable jurisdiction laws.

upon the Company’s failure to nominate and appoint a successor of Mr. Ziyu Shen recognized as proper and competent by at least two thirds (2/3) of the investor directors, within thirty (30) days after the resignation of Mr. Ziyu Shen from the Group Companies, or the dismissal of Mr. Ziyu Shen by the Group Companies due to any material breach of the transaction documents (as confirmed by the judgment of a competent court or the decision of a competent arbitration institution) or any other conducts that are detrimental to the benefits and interests of the Company.
The redemption price for each Preferred Share shall be one hundred percent (100%) of the issuance price plus interest on issuance price at a simple rate of eight percent (8%) per annum from the issuance date to the redemption payment date plus any declared but unpaid distributions.
Conversion Rights
Each Preferred Share may, at the option of the holders, be converted at any time after the original issuance date into fully-paid and non-assessable ordinary shares at an initial conversion ratio of 1:1 subject to adjustment for share division, share combination, share dividend, reorganization, mergers, consolidations, reclassifications, exchanges, substitutions, recapitalization or similar events. Each Preferred Share shall automatically be converted into ordinary shares, at the applicable then-effective conversion price upon the closing of a qualified IPO.
Voting Rights
Each Preferred Share has voting rights equivalent to the number of ordinary shares into which such Preferred Shares could be then convertible.
Dividend Rights
All the Preference Shareholders are entitled to receive the dividends on pro-rata basis according to the relative number of shares held by them on an as-converted basis. The dividends shall not be cumulative and shall be paid when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors.
Liquidation Preferences
In the event of any liquidation, 1) holders of the Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of any ordinary shares, the liquidation preference amount per share is equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the original issuance price on each Preferred Share, plus any declared but unpaid dividends (the “Preferred Preference Amount”); provided that, if the Company’s assets and funds are insufficient for the full payment of the Preferred Preference Amount to all the holders of the Preferred Shares, then the entire assets and funds of the Company legally available for distribution shall be distributed ratably among the holders of the Preferred Shares in proportion to the aggregate Preferred Preference Amount each such holder of the Preferred Shares is otherwise entitled to receive; 2) after the full Preferred Preference Amount has been paid, the holders of the ordinary shares shall be entitled to receive, on a pro-rata and pari passu basis, for each outstanding ordinary share held, an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the ordinary purchase price (the “Ordinary Preference Amount”); and 3) after the full Preferred Preference Amount and Ordinary Preference Amount have been paid, the remaining assets and funds of the Company legally available for distribution to the shareholders
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
17.
Mezzanine equity (continued)
shall be distributed ratably among all shareholders (including preferred shareholders) in proportion to the relative number of ordinary shares held by such shareholders on an as converted basis.
Liquidation preference from the highest to the lowest is as follows in sequence: Series B Preferred Shares, Series A++ Preferred Shares, Series A+ Preferred Shares, Series A Preferred Shares, Series Angel Preferred Shares and ordinary shares.
Accounting of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares
The Company has classified the Preferred Shares as mezzanine equity in the consolidated balance sheet as they are contingently redeemable upon the occurrence of certain events outside of the Company’s control.
The Company concluded the embedded conversion and redemption option of the Preferred Shares did not need to be bifurcated pursuant to ASC 815 because these terms do not permit net settlement, nor they can be readily settled net by a means outside the contract, nor they can provide for delivery of an asset that puts the holders in a position not substantially different from net settlement.
The Company also determined that there was no beneficial conversion feature attributable to the Preferred Shares because the initial effective conversion prices of these Preferred Shares were higher than the fair value of the Company’s ordinary shares at the relevant commitment dates. The fair value of the Company’s ordinary shares on the commitment date was estimated by management with the assistance of an independent valuation firm.
The Preferred Shares were recorded initially at fair value, net of issuance cost. The Company recognized changes in the redemption value immediately as they occur and adjust the carrying value of the Preferred Shares to their maximum redemption amount at the end of each reporting period, as if it were also the redemption date for the Preferred Shares.
Assuming a qualified IPO is not consummated on or before January 16, 2027 and no other contingent event occurs which could result in the request of redemption by the shareholders, the aggregate amount of redemption for all Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares on January 16, 2027 is US$987.9 million.
18.
Non-controlling interests
(a)
Non-redeemable non-controlling interests
In May 2021, Hubei ECARX and a third party established Suzhou Photon-Matrix Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd (“Suzhou Photon-Matrix”), in which Hubei ECARX held 60% equity interest in exchange for total cash contribution of RMB6,000 and the non-controlling interest holder held 40% equity interest with a total cash consideration of RMB4,000, of which, RMB2,000 has not been received as of December 31, 2021.
In August 2021, a third-party investor made a capital contribution of RMB520 to Suzhou Photon-Matrix, as a result, the Group's equity interest in Suzhou Photon-Matrix decreased by 2.97%. The Group recorded the decrease of RMB105 in additional paid-in capital due to the change of its equity interest in Suzhou Photon-Matrix.
In September 2021, as stated in the Note 8, the Group sold 2% equity interest of a PRC subsidiary at the cash consideration of RMB1.0 million, with 49% equity interest retained. The relevant non-redeemable non-controlling interests in the amount of RMB14,335 was derecognized along with the sale of equity interests.
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
18.
Non-controlling interests (continued)
(b)
Redeemable non-controlling interests
In October 2021, Suzhou Photon-Matrix entered into financing agreements with third party investors, pursuant to which these investors contributed RMB30,000 in cash in exchange for 10.71% of equity interests of Suzhou Photon-Matrix. These investors have the right to request Suzhou Photon-Matrix to redeem all of the equity interest they holds if Suzhou Photon-Matrix does not achieve a qualified IPO within 7 years after their investment, at the redemption price of RMB30,000 plus 10% of interest per annum.
The redeemable non-controlling interest was recorded outside permanent equity as mezzanine equity- redeemable non-controlling interests in the consolidated balance sheets and initially recorded at the carrying amount of RMB30,000. The amount presented in redeemable non-controlling interest should be the greater of the non-controlling interest balance after attribution of net income or loss of the subsidiary and related dividends to the non-controlling interest or the amount of redemption value. As of December 31, 2021, the balance of redeemable non-controlling interests was RMB30,500.
Year ended
December 31,
2021
Balance as of January 1, 2021
Add: Capital contribution
30,000
Less: Comprehensive loss
(806)
Accretion of redeemable non-controlling interests
1,306
Balance as of December 31, 2021
30,500
19.
Ordinary Share
Upon incorporation on November 12, 2019, the Company’s authorized shares were 500,000,000 shares with a par value of US$0.0001 per share, and the Company issued 10,000,000 shares to the founders.
Upon consummation of the Reorganization on January 16, 2020, the ownership of ordinary shares of the Company held by each of the shareholders was identical with the ownership of ordinary equity interest of Hubei ECARX held by such shareholders.
Pursuant to the share split (see Note 16) and the Memorandum of Association of the Company on January 16, 2020, the authorized shares of the Company were divided into 10,000,000,000 shares with a par value of US$0.000005, of which 9,977,500,000 were designated as ordinary shares and 22,500,000 were designated as preferred shares. The number of ordinary shares issued and outstanding was 200,000,000 as of December 31, 2020.
According to the Amended Memorandum of Association of the Company on December 27, 2021, of the 10,000,000,000 authorized shares of the Company, 9,923,950,082 shares were designated as ordinary shares, 5,043,104 shares were designated as Series Angel Preferred Shares, 24,464,286 shares were designated as Series A Preferred Shares, 24,612,081 shares were designated as Series A+ Preferred Shares, 7,164,480 shares were designated as Series A++ Preferred Shares, and 14,765,967 shares were designated as Series B Preferred Shares.
On December 20, 2021, four members from the Group’s management, who are also the ordinary shareholders of the Group, voluntarily sold 4,200,000 ordinary shares in total back to the Group at par value at US$0.000005 per share. Such ordinary shares are transferred to the Group for 2019 RSU Plan which was modified in December 2021 to attract more talents (see Note 20). The repurchased ordinary shares were accounted for as treasury shares of the Group. As the treasury shares were repurchased for purposes
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
19.
Ordinary Share (continued)
other than retirement, the cost of the treasury shares in the amount less than RMB1, which is the cash consideration the Group paid to the four ordinary shareholders, is presented as treasury shares in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2021.
20.
Share based compensation
2019 RSU Plan
In December 2019, Mr. Ziyu Shen set up a trust (the “Trust”), of which he acted at the sole beneficiary. He transferred 20,000,000 ordinary shares he owned, representing 10.0% of total outstanding shares of the Company, to the Trust, and entered into 2019 RSU agreements (the “2019 RSU Plan”) with key employees and external consultants. 2019 RSU Plan entitled the grantees to purchase the economic beneficiary right of the ordinary shares in the Trust. As of December 31, 2021, the share number in the Trust under the 2019 RSU Plan was 23,000,000.
Between August and December 2020, an aggregate number of 13,600,000 RSUs were granted to employees and non-employee consultants, at a weighted average exercise price of RMB0.4 per RSU. Between March and November 2021, 2,423,117 RSUs were granted to employees at a weighted average exercise price of US$1.47 per RSU.
The RSUs vest following the three approaches, pursuant to the share award agreements which were entered into between the Group and the grantees:

50% of the RSUs shall vest upon a qualified IPO, the other 50% granted has a requisite service condition of 5 years since the service commencement in the Group; while upon the achievement of a qualified IPO, all unvested RSUs become immediately vested.

Before a qualified IPO is achieved, the grantees are entitled to vest 50% of the RSUs when they complete five-year continuous service since their respective service commencement in the Group; upon a qualified IPO, the employees are entitled to cumulatively vest 20% of the total grants for every twelve-month service period since their employment commencement; and, after the completion of a qualified IPO, the grantees could continue to vest 20% of the total grants for every twelve-month service period since their service commencement. Upon employment termination, any remaining unvested portion shall be forfeited.

For those RSUs granted to non-employees in exchange for technical and strategic consultancy services over the service period of 60 months, the RSUs shall vest immediately upon the completion of a qualified IPO.
In December 2021, Mr. Ziyu Shen and the Company entered into 2021 Restricted Share Units agreements (the “2021 RSU Replacement Plan”) with certain employees, who were subject to 2019 RSU Plan. The 2021 RSU Replacement Plan modified the 2019 RSU Plan, pursuant to which the condition of the qualified IPO is excluded. As a result, the RSUs can vest in equal tranches at the first, second, third, fourth and fifth anniversary since the grantees’ service commencement in the Group. The Group accounted for the modification as a Type III (not probable-to-probable) modification, which represents the modification of the award that is not expected to vest under the original vest condition at the date of the modification. The Group recognizes compensation cost equal to the modified award’s fair value at the date of the modification. As a result of the modification, 4,276,000 RSUs became vested immediately, and share based compensation expenses of US$16,311 (equivalent to RMB105,211) were recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2021. The remaining portion of RSUs is to be vested over the remaining term between 0.1 and 4.9 years.
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
20.
Share based compensation (continued)
The following table summarizes activities of the Company’s RSUs for the year ended December 31, 2021:
Number of RSUs
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
Weighted
Average
Fair value at
grant date
Weighted
remaining
contractual years
Aggregate
intrinsic value
US$
US$
Outstanding at January 1, 2021
13,600,000 0.06 4.36
Granted (new RSUs)
2,423,117 1.47 6.14
Granted (replacement RSUs)
6,461,559 0.34 8.21
Forfeited
(100,000) 0.01 4.42
Replaced
(6,461,559) 0.34 4.64
Outstanding at December 31, 2021
15,923,117 0.27 6.08
Vested and expected to vest as of December 31, 2021
15,923,117
0.27 6.08 8.85 5.97
Exercisable as of December 31, 2021
4,276,000
0.10 6.74 8.79 6.65
The fair value of the RSUs granted in 2020 and 2021 are estimated using the binomial model with the following assumptions used:
Year ended December 31,
2020
2021
Risk-free rate of return
0.17% – 2.91%
0.35% – 2.70%
Volatility
44.68% – 54.39%
41.13% – 50.60%
Expected dividend yield
0.0%
0.0%
Fair value of underlying ordinary share
US$3.77 – US$4.80 (equivalent to
RMB25.95 – RMB31.34)
US$5.08 – US$8.89 (equivalent to
RMB33.37 – RMB56.61)
Expected terms
10 years
10 years
The expected volatility was estimated based on the historical volatility of comparable peer public companies with a time horizon close to the expected term of the Company’s RSUs. With respect to the RSUs issued in US$ or RMB, the risk-free interest rate was separately estimated based on the yield to maturity of U.S. Treasury bonds or China Government Bond for a term consistent with the expected term of the Company’s RSUs in effect at the valuation date. Expected dividend yield is zero as the Company does not anticipate any dividend payments in the foreseeable future. Expected term is the contract life of the RSUs.
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
20.
Share based compensation (continued)
Compensation expense recognized for RSUs for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021 is allocated to the following expense items:
Year ended December 31,
2020
2021
Research and development expenses
6,501 80,872
Selling and marketing expenses
723 7,321
Cost of revenues
6,524
General and administrative expenses
4,186 68,764
Total 11,410 163,481
In addition to the share-based expenses from the vested RSUs during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, share-based expenses of nil and RMB16,452 are recorded due to the redesignation from ordinary shares to preferred shares (see Note 17).
As of December 31, 2021, US$57,764 (equivalent to RMB368,286) of total unrecognized compensation expense related to the RSUs is expected to be recognised over a weighted-average period of 2.8 years. The unrecognized compensation cost may be adjusted for actual forfeitures occurring in the future. In addition, there were US$12,300 (equivalent to RMB78,421) of unrecognized share-based compensation expenses related to the RSUs with a performance condition of the IPO.
2021 Option Plan
In July 2021, the Company’s shareholders and Board of Directors approved a share option plan (the “2021 Option Plan”), which granted the employees an option to purchase the ordinary shares of the Company at an exercise price of US$11.57 per share. Between August and December 2021, 11,379,900 share options were granted to employees. Upon a qualified IPO, the grantees are entitled to cumulatively vest 25% of the total grants for every twelve-month service period since their employment commencement; and after the completion of a qualified IPO, the grantees could continue to vest 25% of the total grants for every twelve-month service period since their service commencement. The share options can only be exercised upon the occurrence a qualified IPO.
The following table summarizes activities of the options for the year ended December 31, 2021:
Number of
options
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
Weighted
Average
Fair value at
grant date
Weighted
remaining
contractual
years
Aggregate
intrinsic
value
US$
US$
Outstanding at January 1, 2021
Granted
11,379,900 11.57 3.49
Forfeited
(247,025) 11.57 3.48
Outstanding at December 31, 2021
11,132,875 11.57 3.49
Vested and expected to vest as of December 31, 2021
11,132,875
11.57
3.49 9.68
Exercisable as of December 31, 2021
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
20.
Share based compensation (continued)
The fair value of the options granted in 2021 are estimated using the binomial model with the following assumptions used:
Year ended December 31,
2021
Risk-free rate of return
1.20% – 1.65%
Volatility
44.03% – 44.47%
Expected dividend yield
0.0%
Fair value of underlying ordinary share
US$8.33 – US$9.01
Expected terms
10 years
The expected volatility was estimated based on the historical volatility of comparable peer public companies with a time horizon close to the expected term of the option awards. The risk-free interest rate was separately estimated based on the yield to maturity of U.S. Treasury bonds for a term consistent with the expected term of the options in effect at the valuation date. Expected dividend yield is zero as the Group does not anticipate any dividend payments in the foreseeable future. Expected term is the contract life of the option awards.
As of December 31, 2021, the fair value of non-vested share options granted to employees amounted to US$38,839 (equivalent to RMB247,626). The Group will recognize compensation expenses relating to the option awards cumulatively for the vested portion upon the consummation of a qualified IPO.
21.
Revenue information
Revenues are disaggregated as follow:
Major products/services lines:
Year ended December 31,
2020
2021
Sales of goods revenues
1,678,234
1,983,817
Automotive computing platform
1,265,227 1,423,548
SoC Core Modules
203,402 333,421
Automotive merchandise and other products
209,605 226,848
Software license revenues
71,297
261,265
Service revenues
491,532
533,981
Automotive computing Platform – Design and development service
297,801 306,358
Connectivity service
172,841 188,349
Other services
20,890 39,274
Total revenues
2,241,063 2,779,063
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
21.
Revenue information (continued)
Timing of revenue recognition:
Year ended December 31,
2020
2021
Point in time
2,068,222 2,590,714
Over time
172,841 188,349
Total revenues
2,241,063 2,779,063
For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, 97.8% and 97.1% of the Group’s revenues were generated in the PRC.
22.
Income taxes
Cayman Islands
Under the current laws of the Cayman Islands, the Company is not subject to income or capital gains taxes. Additionally, the Cayman Islands does not impose a withholding tax on payments of dividends to shareholders.
British Virgin Islands
Under the current laws of the British Virgin Islands, ECARX BVI is not subject to income or capital gains taxes. Additionally, the British Virgin Islands does not impose a withholding tax on payments of dividends to shareholders.
Hong Kong
Under the current Hong Kong Inland Revenue Ordinance, ECARX HK is subject to Hong Kong profits tax at a rate of 16.5%. A Two-tiered Profits Tax rates regime was introduced since year 2018 where the first HK$2 million of assessable profits earned by a company will be taxed at half the current tax rate (8.25%) whilst the remaining profits will continue to be taxed at 16.5%. Additionally, upon payments of dividends to the shareholders, no Hong Kong withholding tax will be imposed.
Mainland PRC
Under the Enterprise Income Tax Law (“EIT Law”) in mainland PRC, domestic companies are subject to EIT at a uniform rate of 25%. The Company’s PRC subsidiaries and VIEs are subject to the statutory income tax rate at 25%, unless a preferential EIT rate is otherwise stipulated.
In November 2019, Hubei ECARX received the High and New Technology Enterprise (“HNTE”) certificate from the Hubei provincial government. This certificate entitled Hubei ECARX to enjoy a preferential income tax rate of 15% for a period of three years from 2019 to 2021 if all the criteria for HNTE status could be satisfied in the relevant year. Hubei ECARX would renew the HNTE certificate in 2022.
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
22.
Income taxes (continued)
The components of income / (loss) before income taxes are as follows:
Year ended December 31,
2020
2021
The Cayman Islands
55,644 (4,811)
Hong Kong S.A.R
93 (53,347)
Sweden
(310)
United Kingdom
(11,164)
The PRC, excluding Hong Kong S.A.R.
(495,513) (1,112,353)
Total (439,776) (1,181,985)
Withholding tax on undistributed dividends
Dividends paid to non-PRC-resident corporate investor from profits earned by the PRC subsidiaries after January 1, 2008 would be subject to a withholding tax. The EIT Law and its relevant regulations impose a withholding tax at 10%, unless reduced by a tax treaty or agreement, for dividends distributed by a PRC-resident enterprise to its non-PRC-resident corporate investor for earnings generated beginning on January 1, 2008.
The Company’s subsidiaries and VIEs located in the PRC were in accumulated loss status as of December 31, 2020 and 2021. Accordingly, no deferred tax liability had been accrued for the Chinese dividend withholding taxes as of December 31, 2020 and 2021.
The Group does not file combined or consolidated tax returns, therefore, losses from individual subsidiaries or the VIEs may not be used to offset other subsidiaries’ or the VIEs’ earnings within the Group.
(a)
Income taxes
Income tax expense recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss consisted of the following
Year ended December 31,
2020
2021
Current income tax expense
228
3,447
(b)
Tax reconciliation
Reconciliation of the differences between PRC statutory income tax rate and the Group’s effective income tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021 are as follows:
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
22.
Income taxes (continued)
Year ended December 31,
2020
2021
Computed expected income tax benefit
(25)% (25)%
Effect of preferential tax rate
11% 10%
Effect of different tax jurisdiction
(3)% (1)%
Non-deductible expenses
4% 5%
Research and development expenses additional deduction
(8)% (6)%
Change in valuation allowance
21% 17%
Actual income tax expense
According to the PRC Tax Administration and Collection Law, the statute of limitation is three years if the underpayment of taxes is due to computational errors made by the taxpayer or the withholding agent. The statute of limitation is extended to five years under special circumstances where the underpayment of taxes is more than RMB100. In the case of transfer pricing issues, the statute of limitation is 10 years. There is no statute of limitation in the case of tax evasion. The income tax returns of the Company’s PRC subsidiary and the VIEs for the years from establishment (i.e., 2017) to 2021 are open to examination by the PRC tax authorities.
(c)
Deferred taxes
The principal components of the deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:
As of December 31,
2020
2021
Deferred tax assets:
Inventories
6,658 6,431
Bad debt provision
487
Accrued product warranties
3,389 8,483
Accrued salaries and benefits
7,398 8,704
Uninvoiced expenditures and other liabilities
50,764 48,520
Unrealized investment loss of equity method investments
1,217 3,395
Donation
450
Net operating loss carryforwards
292,945 473,845
Total deferred tax assets
362,371 550,315
Less: valuation allowance
(362,371) (550,315)
Net deferred income tax assets
The following table presents the movement of the valuation allowance for the deferred tax assets:
As of December 31,
2020
2021
Balance as of January 1,
268,702 362,371
Increase during the year
93,669 187,944
Balance as of December 31
362,371
550,315
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
22.
Income taxes (continued)
Net operating loss carryforwards of the Company’s subsidiaries and VIEs in jurisdictions other than the PRC do not expire. As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, the balance of net operating loss carryforwards of the Company’s subsidiaries and VIEs in jurisdictions other than the PRC amounted to nil and RMB11,893, respectively.
The net operating loss carryforwards of the Company’s PRC subsidiaries and VIE amounted to RMB1,851,297 and RMB3,033,513 as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively. As of December 31, 2021, the net operating loss carryforwards by the PRC companies will expire during the period from year 2022 to year 2031, if unused by the following year-end:
Year ending December 31,
Amount
2022
7,771
2023
21,870
2024
13,017
2025
2,135
2026
42,047
Thereafter
2,946,673
Total 3,033,513
The recoverability of these future tax deductions is evaluated by assessing the adequacy of future expected taxable income from all sources, including reversal of taxable temporary differences, forecasted operating earnings and available tax planning strategies. To the extent the Company does not consider it more-likely-than-not that a deferred tax asset will be recovered, a valuation allowance is generally established. To the extent that a valuation allowance was established, and it is subsequently determined that it is more-likely-than-not that the deferred tax assets will be recovered, the change in the valuation allowance is recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss.
As of December 31, 2021, the valuation allowances were related to the deferred income tax assets of subsidiaries and VIEs of the Company which were in loss position. These entities were in a cumulative loss position, which is a significant negative indicator to overcome that sufficient income will be generated over the periods in which the deferred income tax assets are deductible or utilized. The Company has provided full valuation allowance for the deferred income tax assets as of December 31, 2020 and 2021.
23.
Loss per share
Basic and diluted net loss per share for the years ended December 2020 and 2021 have been calculated as follows:
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
23.
Loss per share (continued)
Year ended December 31,
2020
2021
Numerator:
Net loss attributable to ECARX Holdings Inc.
(439,659) (1,180,921)
Accretion of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares
(101,286) (243,564)
Numerator for basic and diluted net loss per share calculation
(540,945) (1,424,485)
Denominator:
Weighted average number of ordinary shares – basic and diluted
200,000,000 198,407,045
Denominator for basic and diluted net loss per share calculation
200,000,000 198,407,045
Net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders
– Basic and diluted
(2.70) (7.18)
For the purpose of calculating loss per share for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding used in the calculation has been retrospectively adjusted to reflect the issuance of ordinary shares in connection with the Reorganization (see Note 1), as if the Reorganization had occurred at the beginning of the year.
The potential dilutive instruments that have not been included in the calculation of diluted loss per share as their inclusion would be anti-dilutive are as follows:
Year ended December 31,
2020
 2021
Redeemable convertible preferred shares
22,500,000 76,049,918
Warrants
5,043,104
For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, nil and 11,132,875 outstanding share options are not included in the calculation of diluted loss per share, as the issuance of such awards is contingent upon a qualified IPO, which was not satisfied as of each year end.
24.
Commitments and contingencies
Operating lease commitments
The Group leases its offices under non-cancellable operating lease agreements. Rental expenses were RMB23,474 and RMB35,253 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively.
As of December 31, 2021, future minimum lease commitments, all under office non-cancellable operating lease agreements, were as follows:
Total
Less than
one year
1-2 Years
2-3 Years
Operating lease commitment
59,226 34,882 21,169 3,175
Purchase commitment
As of December 31, 2021, the Group has future minimum purchase commitment related to the purchase of research and development services. Total purchase obligations contracted but not yet reflected in the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2021 were as follows:
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
24.
Commitments and contingencies (continued)
Total
Less than
one year
Purchase commitment
126,494 126,494
Capital commitment
Total capital expenditures contracted but not yet reflected in the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2021 were as follows:
Total
Less than
one year
Capital commitment
14,597 14,597
25.
Related party balances and transactions
(a)
Related Parties
Names of the major related parties
Nature of relationship
Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd and its subsidiaries (“Geely Group”)
Entity controlled by the controlling shareholder of the Company
Proton Holdings Berhad and its subsidiaries (“Proton Group”)
Entity that the controlling shareholder of the Company has significant influence
Zhejiang Huanfu Technology Co., Ltd., (“Zhejiang Huanfu”, formerly known as Zhejiang Yikatong Technology Co., Ltd., “Zhejiang Yikatong”)
Entity controlled by the controlling shareholder of the Company
Xi’an Liansheng Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. Entity controlled by the controlling shareholder of the Company
SiEngine Technology Co., Ltd. (“SiEngine”) Entity which is under significant influence of the Company
Anhui Xinzhi Technology Co., Ltd. Entity which is under significant influence of the Company
Suzhou Tongjie Automotive Electronics Co., Ltd. Entity which is under significant influence of the Company
JICA Intelligent Robotics Co., Ltd. (“JICA Intelligent”)
Entity which is under significant influence of the Company
Hubei Dongjun Automotive Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. and its subsidiary
Entity which is under significant influence of the Company
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
25.
Related party balances and transactions (continued)
(b)
Significant transactions with related parties:
Year ended December 31,
2020
2021
Revenues(i):
Sales of goods revenues
1,275,777
1,466,340
Automotive computing platform
1,231,429 1,410,566
Automotive merchandise and other products
44,348 55,774
Software license revenues
18,168
24,788
Service revenues
444,709
532,625
Automotive computing platform – Design and development service
251,471 306,027
Connectivity service
172,490 187,781
Other services
20,748 38,817
Total 1,738,654 2,023,753
Year ended December 31,
2020
2021
Purchase of products and services(ii)
8,186 293,552
Rental of office space, and administrative services(ii)
3,391 1,093
Interest income on loans due from related parties(iv)
717
Interest expense on borrowings due to related parties(iii)
872 212
Loans to related parties(iv)
28,850
Advances to Zhejiang Huanfu(iv)
103,024 19,806
Collection of advances to Zhejiang Huanfu(iv)
81,026 90,155
Repayment of borrowings from related parties(iii)
65,152
Borrowings from related parties(iii)
315,152
Transfer of property and equipment to Zhejiang Huanfu(v)
707
(c)
Balances with related parties:
As of December 31,
2020
2021
Accounts receivable – related parties, net(i)
673,784 768,747
Amounts due from related parties(ii)(iv)
78,616 41,278
Accounts payable – related parties(ii)
343,017 111,531
Amounts due to related parties(iii)(vi)(viii)
53,905 376,906
Other non-current assets – related parties(vii)
353 1,929
Note:
(i)
The Group sold automotive computing platform products and provided related technology development services, merchandise and other products, connectivity service, software licenses and other consulting services to a number of related parties. Accounts receivable, net due from related parties arising from sales of products and provision of services were RMB673,784 and RMB768,747 as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively. The balance as of December 31, 2020 was fully received in 2021. Of the balance of RMB768,747 as of December 31, 2021, the amount of RMB749,579 were subsequently received by May 2022.
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
25.
Related party balances and transactions (continued)
(ii)
The Group purchased raw materials, technology development services and other consulting services from a number of related parties, among which RMB747 and RMB51,171 of purchase of raw materials were recorded as inventories as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively. Amounts due to related parties includes payables arising from purchase of raw materials and services of RMB343,017 and RMB111,531, amount due from related parties includes prepayments arising from purchase of raw materials and services of RMB8,267 and RMB41,278, as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively.
(iii)
On March 29, 2018, Hubei ECARX entered into an unsecured loan agreement with Geely Group in an amount of RMB20,000 with an interest rate of 4.35% per annum, which was repayable on demand. The loan has been fully repaid on February 25, 2021. On August 25, 2021, the Company entered into an unsecured loan agreement with the controlling shareholder of the Company to obtain a loan of US$7.0 million (equivalent to RMB45,152), which was fully repaid on October 8, 2021. On December 1, 2021, Hubei ECARX entered into an unsecured loan agreement with JICA Intelligent in an amount of RMB270,000 with an interest rate of 0.35% per annum, which was repayable on demand. Interest expenses on borrowings from related parties were RMB872 and RMB212 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively. The borrowings and the interest payable on borrowings from related parties was included in the amounts due to related parties and was RMB22,612 and RMB272,825 as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively.
(iv)
In 2020 and 2021, the Group respectively paid advances of RMB103,024 and RMB19,806, and received collection of RMB81,026 and RMB90,155, from Zhejiang Huanfu. The payments were interest-free and due on demand. In 2021, the Group provided loans of RMB28,850 to related parties. Interest incomes on loans due from related parties were RMB717 for the year ended December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, the total balances of amounts due from related parties was RMB78,616 and RMB42,854, respectively, which included amounts due from Zhejiang Huanfu was RMB70,349 and nil, respectively. The amounts due from Zhejiang Huanfu as of December 31, 2020 was fully collected in 2021.
(v)
In October 2021, Hubei ECARX disposed certain property and equipment to Zhejiang Huanfu at RMB745 and recorded a gain of RMB38 as a result of the disposal.
(vi)
As disclosed in the Note 8, in July 2021, the Group acquired 34.61% equity interest of SiEngine from the controlling shareholder of the Company. As of December 31, 2021, the Group recorded the consideration of US$10.6 million payable in amounts due to the controlling shareholder. The amounts were fully settled in January 2022.
(vii)
As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, the Group respectively recorded RMB353 and RMB1,929 in other non-current assets due from related parties, which included lease deposits and advances for purchase of long-term assets from such related parties.
(viii)
Except for those specified as above, the Group also incurred other payables in association with technical services and logistics expenses with the related parties in each of the reporting periods. As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, the balance due to related parties amounted to RMB31,293 and RMB36,185, respectively.
26.
Subsequent events
Management has considered subsequent events through June 23, 2022, which was the date the consolidated financial statements were issued.
(i)
Financial support to an equity method investee
In February and March 2022, the Group provided cash in the amount of RMB29 million to an equity-method investee as financial support. The investment was derecognized as part of the Restructuring as described below.
(ii)
VIE restructuring
Historically, the Company conducted its operation in China through its wholly-owned PRC subsidiaries as well as through Hubei ECARX and its subsidiaries based in China. Since early 2022, the Company has implemented a series of transactions to restructure its organization and business operations (the “Restructuring”). In connection with the Restructuring, in April 2022, the Company, Hubei ECARX and shareholders of Hubei ECARX entered into a VIE Termination Agreement, pursuant to which, the VIE Agreements were terminated with immediate effect. In addition, ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co., Ltd. (“ECARX (Hubei) Tech”), a wholly-owned PRC subsidiary of the Company, and Hubei ECARX reached an agreement that,

All of the business and operations which are not subject to restrictions on the foreign investments, including the sales of automotive computing platforms, SoC core modules, automotive merchandise
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
26.
Subsequent events (continued)
or other products, software licensing and the provision of automotive computing platform design and development service and other services of Hubei ECARX, and related assets and liabilities, contracts, intellectual properties and employees, will be transferred from Hubei ECARX to ECARX (Hubei) Tech, at nil consideration.

The remaining business and operations, which are subject to the restrictions on foreign investments, including mapping and surveying licenses and related activities, the internet content provider license, related assets and liabilities, contracts, intellectual properties and employees will be retained by Hubei ECARX and spun off from the Group upon the completion of the Restructuring. The operating results of the remaining business operations in 2020 and 2021 were inconsequential. In addition, the Group also spun off three equity method investments, primarily including the equity method investment in Suzhou Chenling to Hubei ECARX.
The amount of total assets derecognized pursuant to the VIE Termination Agreement, which primarily consisted of cash, long-term investments, property and equipment were approximately RMB294 million. The amount of total liabilities derecognized were approximately RMB284 million.
The Company concludes that the Restructuring does not represent a strategic shift, nor it will have a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results.
(iii)
New grants of RSUs and share options
In January 2022, the Company granted an aggregate number of 5,500,000 RSUs to employees, at a weighted average exercise price of US$0.6 per RSU. The RSUs vest following the two approaches:

20% of the grants vest every twelve-month service period since the service commencement of the employees.

Half of the RSUs vest on April 1, 2022, and the remaining 50% of the RSUs vest on a monthly basis over thirty-six (36) months since May 2022.
Between January and May 2022, the Company granted an aggregated number of 1,685,200 share options to employees pursuant to the 2021 Option Plan. Upon a qualified IPO, the grantees are entitled to cumulatively vest 25% of the total grants for every twelve-month service period since their employment commencement; and after the completion of a qualified IPO, the grantees could continue to vest 25% of the total grants for every twelve-month service period since their service commencement. The share options can only be exercised upon the occurrence a qualified IPO.
(iv)
Issuance of convertible senior notes
In May 2022, the Company completed the private placement of convertible senior notes due in twelve (12) months following the issuance (the “Note”) with aggregate principal of US$10.0 million (equivalent to RMB63.8 million) to one investor, which is a related party. The Note bears a rate of 5% per annum.

In the event the Company consummates a public offering of Class A ordinary shares that is no more than six (6) months following the issuance date, the outstanding principal amount of the Note shall be mandatorily converted to Class A Ordinary Shares at the conversion price of (i) US$10.00, if the offering is via mergers with a special purpose acquisition company, or (ii) the per share offering price in an IPO (the “Initial Conversion Price”). In the event the Company consummates a public offering of Class A ordinary shares that is more than six (6) months following the issuance date, the outstanding principal amount of the Note shall be mandatorily converted to Class A Ordinary Shares at the conversion price of 95% of the Initial Conversion Price.
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
26.
Subsequent events (continued)

If the Company fails to consummate a public offering of Class A ordinary shares on or prior to the maturity date, the Note holder is entitled to deliver a written notice to the Company within ten (10) business days after the maturity date, electing to convert the Note, the outstanding principal amount of the Note shall be converted into such number of fully paid and non-assessable Series B Preferred Shares at the conversion price equal to US$11.57.
(v)
Strategic investments
In May 2022, the Group entered into strategic investment agreements with Luminar Technologies, Inc. (“Luminar”), a Delaware corporation, and Geely Investment Holding Ltd. (“Geely Investment”), a related party of the Group and a company incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, respectively.
Pursuant to the strategic investment agreement that the Group entered into with Luminar, Luminar shall fulfil the agreement obligation by electing on its sole discretion to (1) pay cash in the amount of US$15.0 million to the Group, or (2) issue shares to the Group in the number equal to the quotient of US$15.0 million divided by the volume-weighted average price of Luminar’s shares listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market for twenty (20) consecutive trading days immediately preceding the closing date of the Group’s mergers with Cova Acquisition Corp. (“COVA”), at the par value of US$0.0001 per share, provided that no fractional shares will be issued, upon the completion of the Group’s mergers with COVA.
According to the strategic investment agreement that the Group entered into with Geely Investment, Geely Investment shall subscribe for 2,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares at the par value of US$0.000005 per share at the aggregated cash consideration of US$20.0 million, upon the completion of the Group’s mergers with COVA.
27.
Parent only financial information
The following condensed financial statements of the Company have been prepared using the same accounting policies as set out in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. As of December 31, 2020, there were no material contingencies, significant provisions of long-term obligations, mandatory dividend or redemption requirements of convertible redeemable preferred shares or guarantees of the Company, except for those, which have been separately disclosed in the consolidated financial statements.
(a)
Condensed Balance Sheets
As of December 31,
2020
2021
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash
98,271 158,755
Prepayments and other assets
5,751
Amounts due from related parties
97,873 3,217,624
Total current assets
196,144 3,382,130
Total assets
196,144 3,382,130
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable
108
Amounts due to related parties
7,803 85,390
Share of losses in excess of investments in subsidiaries and VIEs
2,031,416 2,866,711
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
27.
Parent only financial information (continued)
As of December 31,
2020
2021
Total current liabilities
2,039,219 2,952,209
Total liabilities
2,039,219 2,952,209
MEZZANINE EQUITY
Series Angel Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares
283,585
Series A Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares
1,264,579 1,429,313
Series A+ Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares
1,386,671
Series A++ Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares
475,413
Series B Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares
1,117,317
Subscription receivable from Series A Redeemable Convertible Preferred
Shares
(1,032,104)
Subscription receivable from a Series B Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shareholder
(159,392)
Total mezzanine equity
232,475 4,532,907
SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
Ordinary Shares
7 7
Treasury Shares
Additional paid-in capital
165,412
Accumulated deficit
(2,242,466) (4,109,041)
Accumulated other comprehensive income
1,497 6,048
Total shareholders’ deficit
(2,075,550) (4,102,986)
Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and shareholders’ deficit
196,144 3,382,130
(b)
Condensed statements of comprehensive loss
Year end of December 31,
2020
2021
General and administrative expenses
(17,660)
Interest income
431 885
Interest expenses
(514)
Foreign currency exchange gains
55,213 12,478
Share of losses from subsidiaries and VIEs
(495,303) (1,176,110)
Loss before income taxes
(439,659) (1,180,921)
Income tax expenses
Net loss
(439,659) (1,180,921)
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
27.
Parent only financial information (continued)
(c)
Condensed statements of cash flows
Year ended December 31,
2020
2021
Net cash used in operating activities
(266) (22,741)
Net cash used in investing activities
(97,873) (3,121,321)
Net cash provided by financing activities
206,422 3,222,206
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash
(10,012) (17,660)
Net increase in cash
98,271 60,484
Cash at beginning of the year
98,271
Cash at end of the year
98,271 158,755
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Note
As of
December 31,
2021
As of June 30,
2022
RMB
RMB
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash
1(d)
877,959 583,146
Restricted cash (including restricted cash of VIEs that can only be used to settle the VIEs’ obligation of RMB23,004 and nil as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022, respectively)
1(d)
23,004 55,000
Accounts receivable – third parties, net
2
184,546 227,964
Accounts receivable – related parties, net
2, 21(c)
768,747 217,563
Notes receivable (including notes receivable of VIEs that can only be
used to settle the VIEs’ obligation of RMB110,550 and nil as of
December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022, respectively)
3
137,710 113,839
Inventories
4
223,319 183,471
Amounts due from related parties
21(c)
41,278 32,037
Prepayments and other current assets
5
200,075 222,219
Total current assets
2,456,638 1,635,239
Non-current assets
Long-term investments
6
1,354,049 1,225,301
Property and equipment, net
7
103,156 100,684
Intangible assets, net
8
31,026 29,972
Operating lease right-of-use assets
12
101,663
Other non-current assets – third parties
19,904 19,139
Other non-current assets – related parties
21(c)
1,929 208,503
Total non-current assets
1,510,064 1,685,262
Total assets
3,966,702 3,320,501
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (continued)
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Note
As of
December 31,
2021
As of June 30,
2022
RMB
RMB
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Short-term borrowings (including short-term borrowings of the VIEs without recourse to the Company of RMB932,000 and nil as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022, respectively)
9
932,000 480,000
Accounts payable – third parties (including accounts payable of the VIEs without recourse to the Company of RMB622,867 and nil as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022, respectively)
649,967 490,178
Accounts payable – related parties (including accounts payable of the VIEs
without recourse to the Company of RMB99,906 and nil as of
December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022, respectively)
21(c)
111,531 142,305
Notes payable (including notes payable of the VIEs without recourse to the
Company of RMB127,304 and nil as of December 31, 2021 and June 30,
2022, respectively)
127,304 155,000
Convertible notes payable to a related party
11
66,981
Amounts due to related parties (including amounts due to related parties of
the VIEs without recourse to the Company of RMB309,010 and nil as of
December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022, respectively)
21(c)
376,906 712,211
Contract liabilities, current – third parties (including contract liabilities, current – third parties, of the VIEs without recourse to the Company of RMB2,685 and nil as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022, respectively)
17
2,685 993
Contract liabilities, current – related parties (including contract liabilities,
current – related parties, of the VIEs without recourse to the Company of
RMB363,285 and nil as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022,
respectively)
17
363,285 235,276
Current operating lease liabilities
12
31,900
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (including accrued expenses
and other current liabilities of the VIEs without recourse to the Company
of RMB442,588 and nil as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022,
respectively)
10
458,979 363,157
Total current liabilities
3,022,657 2,678,001
Non-current liabilities
Contract liabilities, non-current – third parties (including contract liabilities,
non-current – third parties of the VIEs without recourse to the Company
of RMB317 and nil as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022,
respectively)
17
317 193
Contract liabilities, non-current – related parties (including contract liabilities, non-current – related parties of the VIEs without recourse to the Company of RMB472,749 and nil as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022, respectively)
17
472,749 373,365
Operating lease liabilities, non-current
12
68,476
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (continued)
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Note
As of
December 31,
2021
As of June 30,
2022
RMB
RMB
Other non-current liabilities (including other non-current liabilities of the VIEs without recourse to the Company of RMB16,292 and nil as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022, respectively)
16,292 20,049
Total non-current liabilities
489,358 462,083
Total liabilities
3,512,015 3,140,084
Commitments and contingencies
20
MEZZANINE EQUITY
Series Angel Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares (US$0.000005 par value, 5,043,104 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022; Redemption value of RMB283,585 and RMB309,181 as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022; Liquidation preference of RMB273,519 as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022, respectively)
13
283,585 309,181
Series A Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares (US$0.000005 par value,
24,464,286 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31,
2021 and June 30, 2022; Redemption value of RMB1,429,313 and
RMB1,553,405 as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022; Liquidation
preference of RMB1,336,186 as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022,
respectively)
13
1,429,313 1,553,405
Series A+ Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares (US$0.000005 par value, 24,612,081 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022; Redemption value of RMB1,386,671 and RMB1,511,727 as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022; Liquidation preference of RMB1,331,641 as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022, respectively)
13
1,386,671 1,511,727
Series A++ Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares (US$0.000005 par value, 7,164,480 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022; Redemption value of RMB475,413 and RMB518,320 as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022; Liquidation preference of RMB452,241 as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022, respectively)
13
475,413 518,320
Series B Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares (US$0.000005 par value,
14,765,967 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31,
2021 and June 30, 2022; Redemption value of RMB1,117,317 and
RMB1,219,213 as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022; Liquidation
preference of RMB1,104,188 as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022,
respectively)
13
1,117,317 1,219,213
Subscription receivable from a Series B Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shareholder
13
(159,392)
Redeemable non-controlling interests
14(a)
30,500
Total mezzanine equity
4,563,407 5,111,846
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (continued)
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Note
As of
December 31,
2021
As of June 30,
2022
RMB
RMB
SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
Ordinary Shares (US$0.000005 par value, 9,923,950,082 shares authorized
as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022; 193,835,714 and 198,035,714
shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and June 30,
2022, respectively)
7 7
Treasury Shares, at cost (4,200,000 and nil shares held as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022, respectively)
Additional paid-in capital
17,195
Accumulated deficit
(4,109,041) (4,740,364)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
6,048 (208,267)
Total deficit attributable to ordinary shareholders of ECARX Holdings Inc.
(4,102,986) (4,931,429)
Non-redeemable non-controlling interests
14(b)
(5,734)
Total shareholders’ deficit
(4,108,720) (4,931,429)
Liabilities, mezzanine equity and shareholders’ deficit
3,966,702 3,320,501
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Six Months Ended June 30,
Note
2021
2022
RMB
RMB
Revenues
17
Sales of goods revenues (including related parties amounts of RMB597,777 and RMB613,655 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
802,679 858,080
Software license revenues (including related parties amounts of RMB10,791 and RMB15,481 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
162,303 78,995
Service revenues (including related parties amounts of RMB114,054 and RMB375,298 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
119,880 375,495
Total revenues
1,084,862 1,312,570
Cost of goods sold (including related parties amounts of RMB1,329 and RMB164,888 for
the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
(689,052) (687,208)
Cost of software licenses
(16,167) (29,577)
Cost of services (including related parties amounts of nil and RMB22,097 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
(82,984) (169,138)
Total cost of revenues
(788,203) (885,923)
Gross profit
296,659 426,647
Research and development expenses (including related parties amounts of RMB926 and RMB29,642 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
(485,894) (596,055)
Selling and marketing expenses (including related parties amounts of nil and RMB64 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
(30,806) (34,738)
General and administrative expenses (including related parties amounts of RMB213 and RMB1,004 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
(186,335) (408,007)
Other general expenses
(455) (1,534)
Total operating expenses
(703,490) (1,040,334)
Loss from operation
(406,831) (613,687)
Interest income (including related parties amounts of nil and RMB2,759 for the six months
ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
7,111 4,584
Interest expenses (including related parties amounts of RMB131 and RMB4,517 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
(111,054) (19,153)
Share of results of equity method investments
487 (65,995)
Unrealized gains on equity securities
6
34,615
Gains on deconsolidation of a subsidiary
6
71,974
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities
(111,299)
Government grants
15
3,031 28,154
Foreign currency exchange gain (loss), net
13,637 (10,656)
Loss before income taxes
(604,918) (570,164)
Income tax expenses
18
(1,418) (432)
Net loss
(606,336) (570,596)
Net (income) loss attributable to non-redeemable non-controlling interests
(1,584) 1,444
Net loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests
464
Net loss attributable to ECARX Holdings Inc.
(607,920) (568,688)
Accretion of redeemable non-controlling interests
14
(714)
Net loss available to ECARX Holdings Inc.
(607,920) (569,402)
Accretion of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares
13
(67,078) (177,842)
Net loss available to ECARX Holdings Inc. ordinary shareholders
(674,998) (747,244)
Loss per ordinary share
— Basic and diluted
19
(3.40) (3.77)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing loss per ordinary share
— Basic and diluted
19
198,777,778 198,035,714
Net loss
(606,336) (570,596)
Other comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of nil income taxes
(13,646) (214,315)
Comprehensive loss
(619,982) (784,911)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to non-redeemable non-controlling interests
(1,584) 1,444
Comprehensive loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests
464
Comprehensive loss attributable to ECARX Holdings Inc.
(621,566) (783,003)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Ordinary Shares
Treasury Shares
Additional
paid-in
capital
Accumulated
deficit
Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income
Total deficit
attributable
to ordinary
shareholders
of the Company
Non-redeemable
non-controlling
interests
Total
shareholders’
deficit
Number
of
shares
Amount
Number
of
shares
Amount
RMB
RMB
RMB
RMB
RMB
RMB
RMB
RMB
Balance as of January 1, 2021
200,000,000 7 165,412 (2,242,466) 1,497 (2,075,550) 11,507 (2,064,043)
Net loss
(607,920) (607,920) 1,584 (606,336)
Share-based compensation (Note 16)
23,365 23,365 23,365
Accretion of redeemable
convertible preferred shares
(67,078) (67,078) (67,078)
Re-designation of ordinary shares into Series A Preferred Shares
(1,964,286) (81,208) (81,208) (81,208)
Contribution from non-controlling shareholders
2,000 2,000
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of nil income taxes
(13,646) (13,646) (13,646)
Balance as of June 30, 2021
198,035,714
7
40,491 (2,850,386) (12,149) (2,822,037) 15,091 (2,806,946)
Ordinary Shares
Treasury Shares
Additional
paid-in
capital
Accumulated
deficit
Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income
Total deficit
attributable
to ordinary
shareholders
of the Company
Non-redeemable
non-controlling
interests
Total
shareholders’
deficit
Number
of
shares
Amount
Number
of
shares
Amount
RMB
RMB
RMB
RMB
RMB
RMB
RMB
RMB
Balance as of January 1, 2022
193,835,714 7 4,200,000 (4,109,041) 6,048 (4,102,986) (5,734) (4,108,720)
Net loss*
(568,688) (568,688) (1,444) (570,132)
Accretion of redeemable
non-controlling interests
(Note 14)
(714) (714) (714)
Deconsolidation of a subsidiary
(Note 14)
7,178 7,178
Reissuance of ordinary shares
4,200,000 (4,200,000)
Share-based compensation
(Note 16)
195,037 195,037 195,037
Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred shares (Note 13)
(177,842) (177,842) (177,842)
Deemed distribution to shareholders in the Restructuring
(Note 1(b))
(61,921) (61,921) (61,921)
Foreign currency translation
adjustment, net of nil
income taxes
(214,315) (214,315) (214,315)
Balance as of June 30, 2022
198,035,714 7 17,195 (4,740,364) (208,267) (4,931,429) (4,931,429)
*
Exclude net loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests of RMB464 for the six months ended June 30, 2022.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Six Months Ended June 30,
2021
2022
RMB
RMB
Operating activities:
Net cash used in operating activities
(294,029) (286,977)
Investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment and intangible assets
(33,367) (74,570)
Cash disposed in deconsolidation of Suzhou Photon-Matrix
(22,643)
Cash paid for acquisition of equity investments
(260,000) (67,790)
Cash received in deconsolidation of Hubei Dongjun
1,000
Financial support to an equity method investee
(28,500)
Loans to related parties
(8,060)
Collection of loans lent to related parties
25,000
Advances to a related party
(19,806)
Collection of advances to a related party
90,155
Net cash used in investing activities
(223,018) (175,563)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of Series Angel Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares
81,950
Proceeds from issuance of Series A Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares
1,032,104
Repayment of refundable deposits in connection with the issuance of Series A Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares
(1,032,104)
Proceeds from issuance of Series A+ Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares
1,273,952
Refundable deposits received in connection with the issuance of Series A++ Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares
332,770
Proceeds from issuance of Series B Convertible Redeemable Preferred Shares
159,485
Cash contributed by redeemable non-controlling shareholders
10,000
Cash contributed by non-redeemable non-controlling shareholder
2,000
Proceeds from short-term borrowings
947,000 880,000
Repayment for short-term borrowings
(15,000) (1,332,000)
Borrowings from related parties
900,000
Repayment of borrowings from related parties
(20,000) (470,000)
Repayment of long-term debt
(1,125,310)
Cash disposed in the Restructuring
(20,000)
Proceeds from issuance of convertible senior notes to a related party
67,871
Net cash provided by financing activities
1,477,362 195,356
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash and restricted cash
(22,553) 4,367
Net increase (decrease) in cash and restricted cash
937,762 (262,817)
Cash and restricted cash at the beginning of the period
1,003,876 900,963
Cash and restricted cash at the end of the period
1,941,638 638,146
Supplemental information:
Income tax paid
858
Interest paid
6,151 20,649
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Payable for purchase of property and equipment and intangible assets
8,044 15,110
Re-designation of ordinary shares to Series A Preferred Shares
97,660
Non-cash assets distributed to shareholders of the Company in the
Restructuring
247,875
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
1.
Summary of significant accounting policies
(a)
Basis of presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of ECARX Holdings Inc. (“the Company”), its consolidated subsidiaries, variable interest entity (“VIE”) and VIE’s subsidiaries (the “VIEs”, collectively referred to “the Group”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted as permitted by rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2021 was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Group. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated balance sheet of the Group as of December 31, 2021, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive loss, changes in shareholders’ deficit and cash flows for the year then ended.
In the opinion of the management, all adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present a fair statement of the financial position as of June 30, 2022, the results of operations and cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, have been made.
The preparation of unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported revenues and expenses during the reported periods in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant accounting estimates include, but not limited to, estimated service period of connectivity services, the allowance for doubtful accounts receivables, the realizability of inventories, the accrual for warranty obligations, useful lives and recoverability of property, equipment and intangible assets, recoverability of long-term investments, valuation allowance of deferred tax assets, the fair values of share-based compensation awards, redeemable convertible preferred shares, warrant liabilities and financial guarantee, incremental borrowing rates of leases and lease terms. Changes in facts and circumstances may result in revised estimates. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and as such, differences may be material to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
(b)
Reorganization
Historically, the Company conducted its operation in China through its PRC consolidated subsidiaries as well as through the VIE and VIE’s subsidiaries based in China. Since early 2022, the Company has implemented a series of transactions to restructure its organization and business operations (the “Restructuring”). In connection with the Restructuring, in April 2022, the Company, Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd (“Hubei ECARX”) and shareholders of Hubei ECARX entered into a VIE Termination Agreement, pursuant to which, the VIE Agreements were terminated with immediate effect. In addition, ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co., Ltd. (“ECARX (Hubei) Tech”), a wholly-owned PRC subsidiary of the Company, and Hubei ECARX reached an agreement, pursuant to which:

All of the business and operations which are not subject to restrictions on the foreign investments, including the sales of automotive computing platforms, SoC core modules, automotive merchandise or other products, software licensing and the provision of automotive computing platform design and development service and other services of Hubei ECARX, and related assets and liabilities, contracts, intellectual properties and employees, were transferred from Hubei ECARX to ECARX (Hubei) Tech, at nil consideration.

The remaining business and operations, which are subject to the restrictions on foreign investments, including mapping and surveying licenses and related activities, the internet content provider license,
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
related assets and liabilities, contracts, intellectual properties and employees were retained by Hubei ECARX and spun off from the Group upon the completion of the Restructuring. The operating results of the remaining business operations in 2020 and 2021 were inconsequential for the Group. In addition, the Group also spun off three equity method investments to Hubei ECARX (see Note 6).
Pursuant to the Restructuring, the following assets of Hubei ECARX were derecognized by the Group:
RMB
Assets
Cash 
20,000
Long-term investments 
211,908
Property and equipment, net 
34,873
Intangible assets, net 
1,094
In addition, the Group recognized amounts due from Hubei ECARX in the amount of RMB205,954, which represented the net present value of a loan provided by the Group in June 2021 to Hubei ECARX in the amount of RMB252,287. The loan is interest free and will be settled in cash no later than May 2026. The present value of the loan is discounted at an effective annual interest rate of 5%. The excess of the assets derecognized over the amounts due from the VIE was recorded in accumulated deficit.
The Group concludes that the Restructuring does not represent a strategic shift, nor it will have a major effect on the Group’s operations and financial results.
(c)
Summary financial information of the Group’s VIEs in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
Pursuant to the Restructuring, the Group did not consolidate Hubei ECARX as of June 30, 2022. The following unaudited condensed consolidated revenues, net loss and cash flow information of the VIEs for the period between January 1, 2022 and the completion of the Restructuring, have been included in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Group for the six months ended June 30, 2022. All intercompany transactions and balances with the Company, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, prior to the Restructuring, have been eliminated upon consolidation.
Six Months Ended June 30,
2021
2022
Revenues(i) 1,084,856 936,520
Net (loss) income(ii)
(583,660) 2,793,301
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities(iii)
(320,825) 224,031
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
(219,271) 165,672
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities(iv)
679,475 (1,055,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and restricted cash
139,379 (665,297)
Cash and restricted cash at the beginning of the period
871,712 665,297
Cash and restricted cash at the end of the period
1,011,091
(i)
For the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, revenues including amount of RMB15,060 and RMB265,452, respectively, are from the Company and its subsidiaries, which are eliminated upon consolidation.
(ii)
For the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, net income including amount of RMB8,102 and RMB2,981,707, respectively, are from the Company and its subsidiaries, which are eliminated upon consolidation.
(iii)
Net cash used in operating activities respectively includes amounts of RMB52,208 and RMB228,428 generated from the Company and its subsidiaries for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, which are eliminated upon consolidation.
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
(iv)
Net cash provided by financing activities respectively includes amounts of RMB1,590,119 and RMB157,000 provided by the Company and its subsidiaries for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, which are eliminated upon consolidation.
(d)
Risks and Concentration
Concentration of cash
Cash consists of cash at bank. Restricted cash represents cash that cannot be withdrawn without the permission of third parties. The Group’s restricted cash are bank deposits pledged for notes payable. Cash and restricted cash are deposited in financial institutions at below locations:
As of December 31,
2021
As of June 30,
2022
Financial institutions in the mainland of the PRC
– Denominated in RMB
667,686 547,761
– Denominated in US$
182,141 13,898
– Denominated in Hong Kong dollars (“HKD”)
29
Total balances held at mainland PRC financial institutions
849,827 561,688
Financial institutions in the Kingdom of Sweden
– Denominated in Swedish Krona (“SEK”)
28,986 35,668
Total balances held at Kingdom of Sweden financial institutions
28,986 35,668
Financial institutions in the United Kingdom (“UK”)
– Denominated in Great Britain Pound (“GBP”)
22,150 40,790
Total balances held at UK financial institutions
22,150 40,790
Total balances held at financial institutions
900,963 638,146
A reconciliation of cash and restricted cash in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets to the amounts in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows is as follows:
As of December 31,
2021
As of June 30,
2022
Cash at bank
877,959 583,146
Restricted cash
23,004 55,000
Cash and restricted cash shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows
900,963 638,146
As of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022, the Group’s restricted cash of RMB23,004 and RMB55,000 were pledged for notes payable.
Concentration of credit risk
Financial instruments that potentially expose the Group to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash, restricted cash, accounts receivables, amounts due from related parties and notes receivable.
The Group’s policy requires cash and restricted cash to be placed with high quality financial institutions. The Group regularly evaluates the credit standing of the counterparties or financial institutions.
The Group conducts credit evaluations on its customers prior to delivery of goods or services. The assessment of customer creditworthiness is primarily based on historical collection records, research of publicly available information and customer on site visits by senior management. Based on this analysis, the
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
Group determines what credit terms, if any, to offer to each customer individually. If the assessment indicates a likelihood of collection risk, the Company will not deliver the services or sell the products to the customer or require the customer to pay cash to secure payment or to make significant down payments.
Concentration of customers and suppliers
The Group currently has a concentrated customer base with a limited number of key customers, particularly Geely Group. Geely Group individually represents 95.8% and 86.9% of the Group’s accounts receivable — related parties, net, as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022, respectively. During the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, Geely Group contributed 64.3% and 73.6% of the Group’s total revenues, respectively, which excluded the sales of SoC core modules or software licenses by the Group to its third-party customers that were integrated into infotainment and cockpit products and sold by such third-party customers to Geely Group.
Three third-party customers account for 51.1%, 11.0%, 10.6% of the Group’s accounts receivable — third parties, net, as of December 31, 2021, respectively, and two third-party customers individually represent 49.7%, 38.6% of the Group’s accounts receivable — third parties, net, as of June 30, 2022.
The following table summarizes related-party customers with greater than 10.0% of the accounts receivable — related parties, net:
As of December 31,
2021
As of June 30,
2022
Customer A, a related party
95.8% 86.9%
The following table summarizes third-party customers with greater than 10.0% of the accounts receivable — third parties, net:
As of December 31,
2021
As of June 30,
2022
Customer B, a third party
51.1%
50.4%
Customer C, a third party
11.0%
39.1%
Customer D, a third party
10.6%
Less than 10%
Customers contributed more than 10.0% of total revenues are as below:
Six Months Ended June 30,
2021
2022
Customer A, a related party
64.3%
73.6%
Customer B, a third party
Less than 10%
11.4%
Customer C, a third party
15.3%
Less than 10%
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
The following table summarizes suppliers with greater than 10.0% of the accounts payable:
As of December 31,
2021
As of June 30,
2022
Supplier A, a third party
15.5%
10.1%
Supplier B, a third party
13.8%
18.5%
Supplier C, a related party
10.3%
Less than 10%
Supplier D, a related party
Less than 10%
14.4%
Suppliers contributed more than 10.0% of total purchases are as below:
Six Months Ended June 30,
2021
2022
Supplier A, a third party
33.0%
13.7%
Supplier B, a third party
Less than 10%
15.9%
Supplier C, a related party
10.1%
11.7%
(e)
Leases
The Group leases premises for offices under non-cancellable operating leases. There are no capital improvement funding, lease concessions, escalated rent provisions or contingent rent in the lease agreements. The Group has no legal or contractual asset retirement obligations at the end of the lease term.
The Group adopted Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 842 Leases, as of January 1, 2022, using a modified retrospective method for leases that exist at, or are entered into after, January 1, 2022, and has not recast the comparative period presented in the condensed consolidated financial statements.
Prior to the adoption of ASC Topic 842, operating leases were not recognized on the balance sheet of the Group, but payments made under operating lease are charged to the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss on a straight-line basis over the term of underlying lease.
Upon adoption of ASC Topic 842, Right of use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities are recognized upon lease commencement for operating leases based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As the rate implicit in the lease cannot be readily determined, the Group uses different incremental borrowing rates for subsidiaries in different countries at the lease commencement date in determining the imputed interests and present value of lease payments. The incremental borrowing rates were determined based on the rates of interest that each subsidiary would have to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments on a collateralized basis over a similar term. The incremental borrowing rates are primarily influenced by the risk-free interest rates of China and Europe, the subsidiaries’ credit rating and lease terms.
The Group has elected not to recognize ROU assets or lease liabilities for leases with an initial term of 12 months or less and recognizes a single lease cost on a straight-line basis over the remaining lease term for the operating leases.
The adoption of ASC 842 does not have impact to the retained earnings of the Group as of January 1, 2022. The following table summarizes the effect on the consolidated balance sheet as a result of adopting ASC 842.
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
As of December 31,
Adjustments
due to adoption of
ASC 842
As of January 1,
2021
2022
ASSETS
Prepayments and other current assets
200,075 (4,458)(a) 195,617
Operating lease right-of-use assets
74,892(b) 74,892
LIABILITIES
Operating lease liabilities, current
(37,414)(c) (37,414)
Operating lease liabilities, non-current
(33,020)(c) (33,020)
(a)
Represents the prepaid rent reclassified to operating lease right-of-use assets.
(b)
Represents the operating lease right-of-use assets, which includes discounting operating lease payments, and the reclassification of prepaid rent from prepayments and other current assets.
(c)
Represents the recognition of operating lease liabilities, current and non-current.
(f)
Revenue recognition
Starting from January 1, 2022, the Group entered into a number of contracts with Original Equipment Manufacturers (“OEM”) upon the commencement of design and development services on automotive computing platform. The contracts for design and development services are separate from the contracts for manufacturing of automotive computing platform because they are not entered into at or near the same time. After the fulfilment of the design and development services, the Group delivers customized prototype pieces to the OEMs.
The Group concludes that revenue should be recognized at a point in time because (1) the customer does not receive benefits until the delivery of prototype pieces; (2) the Company does not create or enhance assets which the customer controls as the assets are created or enhanced; (3) the Group does not have any enforceable rights to payment before the prototype pieces are accepted by customers.
Costs incurred to fulfill such service contracts which are not in the scope of other guidance are recognized as contract cost assets, as the costs relate directly to the service contracts that the Group can specifically identify. The costs are expected to be recovered which generate or enhance resources of the Group that will be used in performance obligations of design and development services for the OEMs in the future.
In the process of executing the service contracts, the Group recognizes an impairment loss of contract cost assets in profit or loss to the extent that the carrying amount of the assets exceeds:
a.
The amount of consideration that the Group expects to receive in the future and that the Group has received but has not recognized as revenue, for providing the design and development services, less
b.
The costs in the amount of the total that relate directly to providing those services and that have not been recognized as expenses.
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2.
Accounts receivable, net
Accounts receivable, net consisted of the following:
As of December 31,
2021
As of June 30,
2022
Accounts receivable – third parties
184,546 231,128
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts, third parties
(3,164)
Accounts receivable – third parties, net
184,546 227,964
Accounts receivable – related parties
768,747 217,563
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts
Accounts receivable – related parties, net
768,747 217,563
Nil provision was provided to accounts receivables — related parties as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022. The movement of the allowance for doubtful accounts of accounts receivables from third parties is as follows:
As of December 31,
2021
As of June 30,
2022
Balance at the beginning of the period
Additions
3,164
Write-off
Balance at the end of the period
3,164
3.
Notes receivable
The Company collects notes receivable from its customers for sales of automotive computing platform, SoC Core Modules and other products. Notes receivable as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022 are bank acceptance notes, among which RMB110,550 and nil, respectively, are pledged as collateral to secure notes payable issued by China Merchants Bank. The notes payables are used for settlement between the Group and its suppliers on the purchase of raw materials and other inventories.
4.
Inventories
Inventories consisted of the following:
As of December 31,
2021
As of June 30,
2022
Raw materials
117,845 126,374
Work in process
2,690 1,135
Finished goods
102,784 55,962
Total 223,319 183,471
The Group recorded inventory write-down of RMB1,036 and RMB5,162 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
5.
Prepayments and other current assets
Prepayments and other current assets consisted of the following:
As of December 31,
2021
As of June 30,
2022
Prepayments to suppliers
174,860 162,223
Deposits*
5,256 604
Deferred offering costs
5,719 7,034
Contract cost assets**
34,024
Others
14,240 18,334
Prepayments and other current assets
200,075 222,219
*
As of June 30, 2022, the balance represents short-term deposits made to lessors for leasing office. The deposits which will be received beyond a year are recorded in other non-current assets — third parties.
**
For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Group recognized an impairment loss amounting to RMB35,397 of contract cost assets in cost of services.
The provisions of RMB3,245 and nil were provided to prepayments and other current assets as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022.
6.
Long-term investments
As of December 31,
2021
As of June 30,
2022
Equity method investments
678,225 479,826
Less: Impairment of equity method investments
Total equity method investments, net
678,225 479,826
Equity securities
675,824 745,475
Less: Impairment of equity securities
Total equity securities, net
675,824 745,475
Total long-term investments
1,354,049 1,225,301
Equity method investments
In January 2022, Suzhou Photon-Matrix Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd (“Suzhou Photon-Matrix”), a majority-owned subsidiary of the Group, entered into financing agreements with third party investors, pursuant to which these investors aggregately contributed RMB10,000 in cash in exchange for 3.45% of equity interests of Suzhou Photon-Matrix. As a result of the transaction, the Group’s equity interest in the subsidiary decreased from 50.92% to 49.17%, and the Group lost control in Suzhou Photon-Matrix. On the date when the Group lost control in the subsidiary, the Group remeasured its retained equity interest in Suzhou Photon-Matrix at fair value of RMB64,000 with backsolve method, a market approach. A gain of RMB71,974 as a result of the deconsolidation is calculated as follows. Since the Group still retains significant influence over the investment, it accounts for the investment as equity method investment prospectively from the date of deconsolidation.
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
Fair value of the consideration received
Fair value of retained equity interest in Suzhou Photon-Matrix
64,000
Carrying amount of redeemable noncontrolling interest
40,750
Carrying amount of non-redeemable noncontrolling interest
(7,178)
Less: Carrying amount of Suzhou Photon-Matrix’s net assets
(25,598)
Gains on deconsolidation of Suzhou Photon-Matrix
71,974
In April 2022, as part of the Restructuring, the Group spun off three equity method investments, including the equity method investment in Suzhou Chenling Investment LLP (“Suzhou Chenling”) to Hubei ECARX. See Note 1(b).
Management evaluated whether there was other-than-temporary impairment based on the facts for the long-term investments, including recent financing activities, projected and historical financial performance. No impairment loss was recognized for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Equity securities
As of December 31, 2021, the Group held 8,834 common shares of Zenseact AB (“Zenseact”), representing 15% equity interest of the investee. Zenseact is a private-owned entity and a related party of the Group. The investment was accounted for as an equity security without a readily determinable fair value and measured at cost less any impairments.
In April 2022, Volvo Car Corporation (“Volvo Cars”), the controlling interest holder of Zenseact, made capital contribution of SEK800 million to Zenseact to obtain 6,447 newly issued common shares. As a result of the transaction, the Group’s equity interest in Zenseact decreased to 13.5%. The capital contribution provided the observable price for the Group’s investment in Zenseact. The Group evaluated its investment’s carrying amount based on the observable price, and recognized a gain of RMB34,615 in unrealized gains on equity securities for the six months ended June 30, 2022.
No impairment loss was recognized for the six months ended June 30, 2022.
7.
Property and equipment, net
Property and equipment, net consisted of the following:
As of December 31,
2021
As of June 30,
2022
Machinery and electronic equipment
158,849 154,757
Transportation vehicles
7,600
Office and other equipment
7,219 7,519
Leasehold improvements
39,166 26,220
Construction in progress
5,994 3,922
Property and equipment
218,828 192,418
Less: accumulated depreciation
(115,672) (91,734)
Property and equipment, net
103,156 100,684
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
Depreciation expenses on property and equipment were allocated to the following expense items:
Six Months Ended June 30,
2021
2022
Cost of revenues
816
Selling and marketing expenses
161 324
General and administrative expenses
13,054 14,334
Research and development expenses
7,087 7,884
Total depreciation expenses
21,118 22,542
8.
Intangible assets, net
Intangible assets, net consisted of the following:
As of December 31,
2021
As of June 30,
2022
Software
69,732 76,099
Less: accumulated amortization
(38,706) (46,127)
Intangible assets, net
31,026 29,972
Amortization expenses on intangible assets were allocated to the following expense items:
Six Months Ended June 30,
2021
2022
Selling and marketing expenses
778 254
General and administrative expenses
2,164 4,627
Research and development expenses
8,459 6,419
Total amortization expenses
11,401 11,300
9.
Short-term borrowings
Short-term borrowings consisted of the following:
As of December 31,
2021
As of June 30,
2022
Unsecured bank loans
932,000 480,000
Short-term borrowings
932,000 480,000
As of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022, the Group’s short-term borrowings bear an interest rate of 4.00% and 4.38% per annum, respectively. As of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022, the Group had a total line of credit in the amount of RMB1,000,000 and RMB920,000, which were used for borrowing bank loans and issuing notes payable for the Group. As of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022, the unused portion of the line of credit was RMB172,696 and RMB340,000, respectively.
The shorting-term borrowings in the respective amount of nil and RMB480,000 as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022 were guaranteed by Hubei ECARX, which was a related party of the Group after the Restructuring as disclosed in the Note 1(b).
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
10.
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
Accrued expenses and other liabilities, current and non-current consisted of the following:
As of December 31,
2021
As of June 30,
2022
Salaries and benefits payables
228,999 162,393
Taxes payable
39,094 6,057
Product warranties
40,263 40,098
Other payables and accrued charges*
150,623 154,609
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
458,979 363,157
*
Other payables and accrued charges primarily include accrual for research and development expenses.
11. Convertible notes payable to a related party
On May 13, 2022, the Company issued convertible notes due in twelve (12) months following the issuance (the “Note”) with aggregate principal of US$10.0 million to one investor, which is a related party. The Note bears an interest rate of 5% per annum.
The Note holder shall have the right to require the Company to redeem for cash all of the Note on the date (the “Redemption Date”) notified in writing by the Company that is not less than 20 business days and not more than 35 business days following the date of the notice of an Event of Default or a Fundamental Change as defined below, or in the event the Company fails to deliver such a notice, the date on which the Note holder becomes aware of the occurrence of an Event of Default or a Fundamental Change, at a price equal to the Redemption Price, which equal to the principal plus interests accrued thereon at an interest rate of 5% per annum.

An Event of Default refers to the occurrence of any of the events, including the Company’s breach of conversion obligations, the individual or aggregated amount of the Group’s subsidiaries’ indebtedness, indemnity or guarantee obligations in excess of US$100,000 (or an equivalent amount in any other currency), ECARX (Hubei) Tech’s bankruptcy or involuntary proceeding after seeking liquidation, winding-up, reorganization;

a Fundamental Change includes the change of control of the Company via any share exchange, consolidation or mergers or any similar transaction, any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the Group’s consolidated assets, to any person outside of the Group, the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, and other events which prohibits listing of the Company.
Conversion of the Note is stipulated as below:

In the event the Company consummates a public offering of Class A ordinary shares that is no more than six (6) months following the issuance date, the outstanding principal amount of the Note shall be mandatorily converted to Class A Ordinary Shares at the conversion price of (i) the lesser of (A) US$10.00 per share (assuming that the Company’s authorized shares will be subdivided based on the pre-money equity valuation in connection with an offering via mergers with a special purpose acquisition company to give each ordinary share of the Company a deemed value of US$10.00) and (B) the lowest per share price at which any Class A ordinary shares or ordinary shares of the Company are issued in any subscription by certain investors of the Company’s securities to be issued concurrently, if the offering is via mergers with a special purpose acquisition company; or (ii) the per share offering price in an IPO (the “Initial Conversion Price”). In the event the Company consummates a public offering of Class A ordinary shares that is more than six (6) months following
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
the issuance date, the outstanding principal amount of the Note shall be mandatorily converted to Class A Ordinary Shares at the conversion price of 95% of the Initial Conversion Price.

If the Company fails to consummate a public offering of Class A ordinary shares on or prior to the maturity date, the Note holder is entitled to deliver a written notice to the Company within ten (10) business days after the maturity date, electing to convert the Note, the outstanding principal amount of the Note shall be converted into such number of fully paid and non-assessable Series B Preferred Shares at the conversion price equal to US$11.57 per share.
The Group concluded that it would not be considered to have an obligation to deliver a variable number of shares, since the event that may trigger variable-share settlement is in the control of the Group. The Group further concluded that the embedded conversion feature did not need to be bifurcated pursuant to ASC815 because these terms do not permit net settlements, nor they can be readily settled net by a means outside the contract, nor they can provide for delivery of an asset that puts the holders in a position not substantially different from net settlement. Since the Group has adopted ASU2020-06 on January 1, 2021, the Group did not assess whether the instrument contains beneficial conversion features. The Group accounted for the Note as current debt at carrying value net of issuance costs, which was nil.
As of June 30, 2022, the unpaid principal balance of the Note was US$10,000 (equivalent to RMB66,981). The interest expense accrued for the Note was US$71 (equivalent to RMB474), which was recorded in amounts due to related parties (see Note 21).
12.
Leases
The Group considers various factors such as market conditions and the terms of any renewal options that may exist to determine whether it will renew or replace the lease. In the event the Group is reasonably certain to exercise the option to extend a lease, the Group will include the extended terms in the operating lease right-of-use asset and operating lease liability.
The components of lease cost were as follows:
Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
Operating lease cost
21,017 
Short-term lease cost
763 
Total 21,780
The lease cost was allocated to the following expense items:
Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
Selling and marketing expenses
662
General and administrative expenses
5,323
Research and development expenses
15,795
Total 21,780
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
The operating lease right-of-use assets and the amortization were summarized as follows:
As of June 30,
2022
Operating lease right-of-use assets
120,779
Less: accumulated depreciation
(19,116)
Total 101,663
As of June 30,
2022
Weighted average remaining lease term (years):
Operating leases
5.67
Weighted average discount rate:
Operating leases
6.72% 
Future minimum lease payments as of June 30, 2022, including rental payments for lease renewal options the Group is reasonably certain to exercise were as follows:
As of June 30,
2022
2022
19,491 
2023
24,247 
2024
14,344 
2025
13,832 
2026 and thereafter
55,322 
Total lease payments
127,236 
Less imputed interest
(26,860) 
Present value of lease liabilities
100,376 
Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows:
Six months ended
June 30, 2022
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities
Operating cash flows from operating leases
17,846 
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations
Operating leases
45,887 
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
13.
Mezzanine equity
The Company’s activities with respect to the redeemable convertible preferred shares for the six months ended June 30, 2022 are as below:
Series Angel
Preferred Shares
Series A Preferred
Shares
Series A+
Preferred Shares
Series A++
Preferred Shares
Series B
Preferred Shares
Total
Shares
Carrying
amount
Shares
Carrying
amount
Shares
Carrying
amount
Shares
Carrying
amount
Shares
Carrying
amount
Subscription
receivable
Balance as of January 1, 2022
5,043,104 283,585 24,464,286 1,429,313 24,612,081 1,386,671 7,164,480 475,413 14,765,967 1,117,317 (159,392) 4,532,907
Subscription contributions from shareholders
159,485 159,485
Accretion of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares
10,983 50,557 53,601 18,408 44,293 177,842
Foreign currency translation adjustment
14,613 73,535 71,455 24,499 57,603 (93) 241,612
Balance as of June 30, 2022
5,043,104 309,181 24,464,286 1,553,405 24,612,081 1,511,727 7,164,480 518,320 14,765,967 1,219,213 5,111,846
Assuming a qualified initial public offering (the “IPO”) is not consummated on or before January 16, 2027 and no other contingent event occurs which could result in the request of redemption by the shareholders, the aggregate amount of redemption for all Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares on January 16, 2027 is US$1,012.9 million.
14.
Non-controlling interests
(a) Redeemable non-controlling interests
In January 2022, Suzhou Photon-Matrix entered into financing agreements with third party investors, pursuant to which these investors aggregately contributed RMB10,000 in cash in exchange for 3.45% of equity interests of Suzhou Photon-Matrix. These investors have the right to request Suzhou Photon-Matrix to redeem all of the equity interest they hold if Suzhou Photon-Matrix does not achieve a qualified IPO within 7 years after their investment, at the redemption price of RMB10,000 plus 10% of interest per annum.
Before the deconsolidation of Suzhou Photon-Matrix as stated in the Note 6, the redeemable non-controlling interest was recorded outside permanent equity as mezzanine equity- redeemable non-controlling interests in the consolidated balance sheets. The amount presented in redeemable non-controlling interest should be the greater of the non-controlling interest balance after attribution of net income or loss of the subsidiary and related dividends to the non-controlling interest or the amount of redemption value.
During the six months ended June 30, 2022, changes of redeemable non-controlling interests were as follows:
Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
Balance as of January 1, 2022
30,500
Add: Capital contribution
10,000 
Less: Comprehensive loss
(464) 
Accretion of redeemable non-controlling interests before the deconsolidation of Suzhou Photon-Matrix
714 
Deconsolidation of Suzhou Photon-Matrix
(40,750)
Balance as of June 30, 2022
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
(b) Non-redeemable non-controlling interests
As stated in the Note 6, the Group lost control in Suzhou Photon-Matrix in January 2022, with 49.17% equity interest retained. The carrying value of relevant non-redeemable non-controlling interests in the amount of RMB(7,178) was derecognized upon deconsolidation.
15.
Government grants
Government grants for the purpose of giving immediate financial support to the Group with no future related costs is recognized as government grants in the Group’s unaudited condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive loss when the grant becomes receivable. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Group received unconditional government grants of RMB28,154 as a result of support and incentives from local governments, which primarily consisted of subsidies to ECARX (Hubei) Tech for its investment in research and development activities.
16.
Share based compensation
2019 RSU Plan
On December 20, 2021, four members from the Group’s management, who are also the ordinary shareholders of the Group, voluntarily sold 4,200,000 ordinary shares in total back to the Group at par value of US$0.000005 per share. Such ordinary shares are transferred to the Group for 2019 RSU Plan which was modified in December 2021 to attract more talents. Such shares were reissued to the employees under the 2019 RSU Plan in the first half of 2022.
Pursuant to the 2019 RSU Plan, in January 2022, the Company granted an aggregate number of 5,500,000 RSUs to employees, at a weighted average exercise price of US$0.64 per RSU. The RSUs vest following the two approaches:

20% of the grants vest every twelve-month service period since the service commencement of the employees.

Half of the RSUs vest on April 1, 2022, and the remaining 50% of the RSUs vest on a monthly basis over thirty-six (36) months since May 2022.
The following table summarizes activities of the Company’s RSUs for the six months ended June 30, 2022:
Number of
RSUs
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
Weighted
Average
Fair value at
grant
date
Weighted
remaining
contractual 
years
Aggregate
intrinsic
value
US$
US$
Outstanding at January 1, 2022
15,923,117 0.27 6.08
Granted
5,500,000 0.64 8.27
Forfeited
(760,000) 0.03 7.18
Outstanding at June 30, 2022
20,663,117 0.38 6.62
Vested and expected to vest as of June 30, 2022
20,663,117 0.38 6.62 8.64 6.52
Exercisable as of June 30, 2022
7,963,735 0.18 7.32 8.43 7.29
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
The fair value of the RSUs granted for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022 are estimated on the dates of grant using the binomial model with the following assumptions used:
Six Months Ended June 30,
2021
2022
Grant dates
Risk-free rate of return
0.35% – 2.58%
1.61% – 2.36%
Volatility
45.96% – 48.05%
44.15% – 44.38%
Expected dividend yield
0%
0%
Fair value of underlying ordinary share
US$5.08 – US$6.35 (equivalent
to RMB33.37 – RMB41.71)
US$9.03 – US$9.15 (equivalent
to RMB57.60 – RMB58.31)
Expected terms
10 years
10 years
The expected volatility was estimated based on the historical volatility of comparable peer public companies with a time horizon close to the expected term of the Company’s RSUs. With respect to the RSUs issued in US$ or RMB, the risk-free interest rate was separately estimated based on the yield to maturity of U.S. Treasury bonds or China Government Bond for a term consistent with the expected term of the Company’s RSUs in effect at the valuation date. Expected dividend yield is zero as the Company does not anticipate any dividend payments in the foreseeable future. Expected term is the contract life of the RSUs.
Compensation expenses recognized for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022 are allocated to the following expense items.
Six months ended June 30, 
2021
2022
Research and development expenses
11,257 23,492
Selling and marketing expenses
1,008 3,969
General and administrative expenses
11,100 167,576
Total 23,365 195,037
As of June 30, 2022, US$61,939 (equivalent to RMB404,793) of the unrecognized compensation expense related to RSUs is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.82 years. The unrecognized compensation cost may be adjusted for actual forfeitures occurring in the future. Besides, there were US$12,279 (equivalent to RMB80,248) unrecognized share-based compensation expenses related to the RSUs with a performance condition of the IPO.
2021 Option Plan
Pursuant to the 2021 Option Plan, between January and May 2022, the Company granted an aggregated number of 1,788,900 share options to employees. Upon a qualified IPO, the grantees are entitled to cumulatively vest 25% of the total grants for every twelve-month service period since their employment commencement; and after the completion of a qualified IPO, the grantees could continue to vest 25% of the total grants for every twelve-month service period since their service commencement. The share options can only be exercised upon the occurrence a qualified IPO.
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
The following table summarizes activities of the options for the six months ended June 30, 2022:
Number of
options
 Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
Weighted
Average
Fair value at
grant date
Weighted
remaining
contractual 
years
Aggregate
intrinsic
value
US$
US$
Outstanding at January 1, 2022
11,132,875 11.57 3.49
Granted
1,788,900 11.57 3.93
Forfeited
(1,107,275) 11.57 3.50
Outstanding at June 30, 2022
11,814,500 11.57 3.55
Vested and expected to vest as of June 30, 2022
11,814,500 11.57 3.55 9.24
Exercisable as of June 30, 2022
The fair value of the options granted in 2022 are estimated using the binomial model with the following assumptions used:
Six months ended
June 30, 2022
Risk-free rate of return
1.63% – 3.05%
Volatility
44.18% – 44.64%
Expected dividend yield
0.0%
Fair value of underlying ordinary share
US$9.03 – US$9.56
Expected terms
10 years
The expected volatility was estimated based on the historical volatility of comparable peer public companies with a time horizon close to the expected term of the option awards. The risk-free interest rate was separately estimated based on the yield to maturity of U.S. Treasury bonds for a term consistent with the expected term of the options in effect at the valuation date. Expected dividend yield is zero as the Group does not anticipate any dividend payments in the foreseeable future. Expected term is the contract life of the option awards.
As of June 30, 2022, the fair value of non-vested share options granted to employees amounted to US$41,976 (equivalent to RMB274,328). The Group will recognize compensation expenses relating to the option awards cumulatively for the vested portion upon the consummation of a qualified IPO.
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
17.
Revenue information
Revenues are disaggregated as follow:
Major products/services lines:
Six months ended June 30,
 2021
2022
Sales of goods revenues
802,679
858,080
Automotive computing platform
579,219 608,078
SoC Core Modules
119,661 188,338
Automotive merchandise and other products
103,799 61,664
Software license revenues
162,303
78,995
Service revenues
119,880
375,495
Automotive computing Platform – Design and development service
21,848 241,090
Connectivity service
88,562 107,949
Other services
9,470 26,456
Total revenues
1,084,862  1,312,570
Timing of revenue recognition:
Six Months Ended June 30,
2021
2022
Point in time
996,300 1,204,621
Over time
88,562 107,949
Total revenues
1,084,862 1,312,570
For the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, 97.2% and 98.9% of the Group’s revenues were generated in the PRC.
Contract liabilities
Contract liabilities consisted of the following:
As of December 31,
2021
As of June 30,
2022
Current liabilities – third parties
2,685 993
Current liabilities – related parties
363,285 235,276
Non-current liabilities – third parties
317 193
Non-current liabilities – related parties
472,749 373,365
Contract liabilities, current and non-current
839,036 609,827
The amount of revenue recognized that was included in the contract liabilities balance at the beginning of the period was RMB78,030 and RMB107,949 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
As of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022, the aggregated amounts of the transaction price allocated to the remaining performance obligation under the Group’s existing contracts is RMB839,036 and RMB609,827, respectively.
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
The Group has elected the practical expedient not to disclose the information about remaining performance obligations which are part of contracts that have an original duration of one year or less.
18.
Income taxes
The statutory income tax rate for the Group is 25% for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022. The effective income tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022 was nil. The effective income tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022 differs from the PRC statutory income tax rate of 25%, primarily due to the recognition of full valuation allowance for deferred income tax assets of loss-making entities.
19.
Loss per share
Basic and diluted net loss per share for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022 have been calculated as follows:
Six Months Ended June 30,
2021
2022
Numerator:
Net loss available to ECARX Holdings Inc.
(607,920) (569,402)
Accretion of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares
(67,078) (177,842)
Numerator for basic and diluted net loss per share calculation
(674,998) (747,244)
Denominator:
Weighted average number of ordinary shares – basic and diluted
198,777,778 198,035,714
Denominator for basic and diluted net loss per share calculation
198,777,778 198,035,714
Loss per ordinary share
– Basic and diluted
(3.40)
(3.77)
The potential dilutive instruments that have not been included in the calculation of diluted loss per share as their inclusion would be anti-dilutive are as follows:
Six Months Ended June 30,
2021
 2022
Redeemable convertible preferred shares
54,119,471 76,049,918
For the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, nil and 11,814,500 outstanding share options are not included in the calculation of diluted loss per share, as the issuance of such awards is contingent upon a qualified IPO, which was not satisfied as of each period end.
20.
Commitments and contingencies
Operating lease commitments
The Group’s lease commitments are disclosed in Note 12.
Purchase commitment
As of June 30, 2022, the Group has future minimum purchase commitment related to the purchase of research and development services. Total purchase obligations contracted but not yet reflected in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2022 were as follows:
Total
Less than
one year
Purchase commitment
66,550 66,550
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
Capital commitment
Total capital expenditures contracted but not yet reflected in the consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2022 were as follows:
Total
Less than
one year
Capital commitment
3,225 3,225
21.
Related party balances and transactions
(a)
Related Parties
Names of the major related parties
Nature of relationship
Zhejiang Geely Holding Group and its subsidiaries (“Geely Group”) Entity controlled by the controlling shareholder of the Company
Proton Holdings Berhad and its subsidiaries (“Proton Group”) Entity that the controlling shareholder of the Company has significant influence
Anhui Xinzhi Technology Co., Ltd. (“Anhui Xinzhi”) Entity controlled by the controlling shareholder of the Company
Zhejiang Huanfu Technology Co., Ltd., (“Zhejiang Huanfu”, formerly known as Zhejiang Yikatong Technology Co., Ltd.,”Zhejiang Yikatong”) Entity controlled by the controlling shareholder of the Company
Xi’an Liansheng Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. Entity controlled by the controlling shareholder of the Company
Hubei Yuanshidai Technology Co., Ltd. Entity controlled by the controlling shareholder of the Company
Hubei Xingji Times Technology Co., Ltd Entity controlled by the controlling shareholder of the Company
Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd (“Hubei ECARX”) Entity controlled by the controlling shareholder of the Company
Apollo Intelligent Connectivity (Beijing)Technology Co., Ltd. Entity that one board of director of the Company has significant influence
SiEngine Technology Co., Ltd. (“SiEngine”) Entity which is under significant influence of the Company
Suzhou Tongjie Automotive Electronics Co., Ltd. Entity which is under significant influence of the Company
JICA Intelligent Robotics Co., Ltd. (“JICA Intelligent”) Entity which is under significant influence of the Company
Hubei Dongjun Automotive Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. and its subsidiary (“Hubei Dongjun”) Entity which is under significant influence of the Company
Suzhou Photon-Matrix Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd (“Suzhou Photon-Matrix”) Entity which is under significant influence of the Company
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
(b)
Significant transactions with related parties:
Six Months Ended June 30,
2021
2022
Revenues (i):
Sales of goods revenues
597,777
613,655
Automotive computing platform
578,033 603,112
SoC Core Modules
22
Automotive merchandise and other products
19,744 10,521
Software licence revenues
10,791
15,481
Service revenues
114,054
375,298
Automotive computing platform – Design and development service
16,467 241,090
Connectivity service
88,529 107,752
Other services
9,058 26,456
Total 722,622 1,004,434
Six Months Ended June 30,
2021
2022
Purchase of products and services(ii)
5,966 261,483
Rental of office space, and administrative services(ii)
479 3,421
Interest income on loans due from related parties(iv)
2,759
Interest expense on borrowings and the Note due to related parties(iii)
131 4,980
Loans to related parties(iv)
8,060
Repayment received of loans to related parties(iv)
25,000
Financial support to Anhui Xinzhi(viii)
28,500
Advances to Zhejiang Huanfu(iv)
19,806
Collection of advances to Zhejiang Huanfu(iv)
90,155
Repayment of borrowings from related parties(iii)
20,000 470,000
Borrowings from related parties(iii)
900,000
Transfer of property and equipment to Zhejiang Huanfu(v)
1,604
(c)
Balances with related parties:
As of December 31,
2021
As of June 30,
2022
Accounts receivable – related parties, net(i)
768,747 217,563
Amounts due from related parties(ii)(iv)
41,278 32,037
Accounts payable – related parties(ii)
111,531 142,305
Amounts due to related parties(iii)(vi)
376,906 712,211
Other non-current assets – related parties(vii)
1,929 208,503
Note:
(i)
The Group sold automotive computing platform products and provided related technology development services, merchandise and other products, connectivity service, software licenses and other consulting services to a number of related parties. Accounts receivable, net, due from related parties arising from sales of products and provision of services were RMB768,747 and
 
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ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
RMB217,563 as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022, respectively. Of the balance as of June 30, 2022, the amount of RMB158,356 were subsequently received by August 2022.
(ii)
The Group purchased raw materials, technology development services and other consulting services from a number of related parties, among which RMB4,637 and RMB47,209 of purchase of raw materials were recorded as inventories as of June 30, 2021 and 2022, respectively. Amounts due to related parties includes payables arising from purchase of raw materials and services, which were RMB111,531 and RMB142,305 as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022, respectively.
(iii)
During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Group obtained the following loans from related parties:
On March 28, 2022, ECARX (Hubei) Tech entered into an unsecured loan agreement with Hubei Xingji Times Technology Co., Ltd. in an amount of RMB200,000 with an interest rate of 2.25% per annum, which was repaid at the maturity date on June 30, 2022.
On June 27, 2022, ECARX (Hubei) Tech entered into an unsecured loan agreement with Geely in an amount of RMB500,000 with an interest rate of 4.35% per annum, which was repayable on December 26, 2022.
On June 29, 2022, ECARX (Hubei) Tech entered into an unsecured loan agreement with JICA Intelligent in an amount of RMB200,000 with an interest rate of 3.7% per annum, which was repayable on September 30, 2022.
For the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, interest expenses on borrowings from related parties were RMB131 and RMB4,517, respectively. Except for the loans above stated, the Group also accrued interest expenses for the Note disclosed in the Note 11 at the amount of US$71 (equivalent to RMB463) for the six months ended June 30, 2022.
The borrowings and the interest payable on borrowings from related parties, were included in the amounts due to related parties with the amount of RMB272,825 and RMB703,258, respectively, as of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022.
(iv)
For the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, the Group respectively paid advances of RMB19,806 and nil, and received collection of RMB90,155 and nil, from Zhejiang Huanfu. The advances were interest-free and due on demand. In 2022, the Group provided loans of RMB8,060 to related parties, and received repayment of RMB25,000 from related parties. Interest incomes on loans due from related parties were RMB2,759 for the six months ended June 30, 2022. As of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022, the total balances of amounts due from related parties was RMB41,278 and RMB32,037, respectively.
(v)
In February 2022, Hubei ECARX disposed certain property and equipment to Zhejiang Huanfu at RMB1,697 and recorded a gain of RMB93 as a result of the disposal.
(vi)
As of December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022, the balances due to related parties were related to purchase of logistics services, which were in the amounts of RMB36,185 and RMB8,953, respectively.
(vii)
As of December 31, 2021, the Group recorded RMB1,929 in other non-current assets due from related parties, which included deposits and advances for purchase of long-term assets from such related parties; as of June 30, 2022, the balance of other non-current assets due from related parties not only included the amounts as such, but also included the amounts due from its former VIE, Hubei ECARX. As of June 30, 2022, the amounts due from Hubei ECARX was RMB208,503, which represented the net present value of a loan provided by the Group to Hubei ECARX with the principal of RMB252,287 and an effective annual interest rate of 5.0%.
(viii)
In February and March 2022, the Group provided cash in the amount of RMB28,500 to Anhui Xinzhi as financial support. The investment was derecognized as part of the Restructuring.
22.
Subsequent events
Management has considered subsequent events through October 11, 2022, which was the date when the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements were issued.
In July and August, the Company approved to grant a total number of 111,700 share options to certain employees at an exercise price of US$11.57 per option. Upon a qualified IPO, the grantees are entitled to cumulatively vest 25% of the total grants for every twelve-month service period since their employment commencement; and after the completion of a qualified IPO, the grantees could continue to vest 25% of the total grants for every twelve-month service period since their service commencement. The share options can only be exercised upon the occurrence a qualified IPO.
On August 20, 2022, the Company approved the modification to change the exercise price of RSUs granted to certain employees in an aggregated number of 1,200,000 under 2019 RSU Plan. The RSUs were granted at a weighted average exercise price of US$3.53 per RSU. After the modification, the exercise price was changed to US$0.38 per RSU.
On September 30, 2022, the Company approved to grant 100,000 RSUs to an eligible employee at an exercise price of US$2.0 per RSU subject to 2019 RSU Plan. 20% of the grants vest every twelve-month service period since the service commencement of the employee.
 
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of
COVA Acquisition Corp.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of COVA Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related statements of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity (deficit) and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2021 and the period from December 11, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2021 and the period from December 11, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Going Concern
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, if the Company is unable to raise additional funds to alleviate liquidity needs and complete a business combination by February 9, 2023 then the Company will cease all operations except for the purpose of liquidating. The liquidity condition and date for mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2020.
New York, New York
March 24, 2022
PCAOB ID Number 100
 
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COVA ACQUISITION CORP.
BALANCE SHEETS
December 31,
2021
December 31,
2020
Assets:
Cash
$ 7,181 $
Prepaid expenses and other assets
788,561
Total current assets
795,742
Deferred offering costs
248,611
Prepaid expenses – non-current portion
75,616
Investments held in Trust Account
300,053,996
Total Assets
$ 300,925,354 $ 248,611
Liabilities, Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption, and Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
$ 507,310 $ 207,038
Due to related party
17,384
Promissory note – related party
25,500
Total current liabilities
524,694 232,538
Deferred underwriting fee
10,500,000
Warrant liabilities
11,747,850
Total Liabilities
22,772,544 232,538
Commitments
Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, $0.0001 par value, 30,000,000 and no shares issued and outstanding, at redemption value of $10.00 at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively
300,000,000
Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit):
Preference shares, $0.0001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued
or outstanding
Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized; no
shares issued or outstanding (excluding 30,000,000 and no shares subject to
possible redemption) at December 31, 2021 and 2020
Class B ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 7,500,000 and 7,503,750 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively
750 750
Additional paid-in capital
24,250
Accumulated deficit
(21,847,940) (8,927)
Total Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit)
(21,847,190) 16,073
Total Liabilities, Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption, and
Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit)
$ 300,925,354 $ 248,611
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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COVA ACQUISITION CORP.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the
Year Ended
December 31,
2021
For the
Period from
December 11,
2020
(Inception)
through
December 31,
2020
Formation and operating costs
$ 1,831,161 $ 8,927
Loss from Operations
(1,831,161) (8,927)
Other income (expense):
Interest income on investments held in Trust Account
53,995
Offering costs allocated to warrants
(989,589)
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities
14,374,150
Total other income (expense)
13,438,556
Net income (loss)
$ 11,607,395 $ (8,927)
Weighted average shares outstanding of Class A ordinary shares
26,794,521
Basic and diluted net income per share, Class A ordinary shares
$ 0.34 $
Weighted average shares outstanding of Class B ordinary shares
7,395,822 742,857
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share, Class B ordinary shares
$ 0.34 $ (0.01)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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COVA ACQUISITION CORP.
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND
FOR THE PERIOD FROM DECEMBER 11, 2020 (INCEPTION) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2020
Class A
Ordinary shares
Class B
Ordinary shares
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
Accumulated
Deficit
Total
Shareholders’
Equity
(Deficit)
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Balance as of December 11, 2020
(Inception)
$  — $ $ $ $
Issuance of Founder Shares
7,503,750 750 24,250 25,000
Net loss
(8,927) (8,927)
Balance as of December 31,
2020
7,503,750 750 24,250 (8,927) 16,073
Forfeiture due to partial exercise
of overallotment
(3,750)
Net income
11,607,395 11,607,395
Accretion of Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption
(24,250) (33,446,408) (33,470,658)
Balance as of December 31,
2021
$ 7,500,000 $ 750 $ $ (21,847,940) $ (21,847,190)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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COVA ACQUISITION CORP.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the
Year Ended
December 31,
2021
For the
Period from
December 11,
2020
(Inception)
through
December 31,
2020
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)
$ 11,607,395 $ (8,927)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:
Interest earned on investments held in Trust Account
(53,995)
Offering costs allocated to warrants
989,589
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities
(14,374,150)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other assets
(864,177)
Due to related party
17,384
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
507,309 8,927
Net cash used in operating activities
(2,170,645)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Cash deposited into Trust Account
(300,000,000)
Net cash used in investing activities
(300,000,000)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of Units, net of underwriter’s discount
294,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of Private Placement Warrants
8,872,000
Proceeds from promissory note – related party
57,546
Payment of promissory note – related party
(83,046)
Payment of offering costs
(668,674)
Net cash provided by financing activities
302,177,826
Net change in cash
7,181
Cash, beginning of period
Cash, end of the period
$ 7,181 $
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Deferred offering costs paid by Sponsor in exchange for issuance of Founder
shares
$ $ 25,000
Accrued deferred offering costs
$ $ 207,038
Deferred offering costs paid by Sponsor
$ $ 16,573
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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COVA ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 — Organization and Business Operations
COVA Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) is a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company on December 11, 2020. The Company was incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses that the Company has not yet identified (“Business Combination”).
As of December 31, 2021, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity for the period from December 11, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2021 relates to the Company’s formation and the Initial Public Offering (the “IPO”) described below. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of its initial Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents from the proceeds derived from the IPO.
The registration statement for the Company’s IPO was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 4, 2021 (the “Effective Date”). On February 9, 2021, the Company consummated the IPO of 30,000,000 units (the “Units” and, with respect to the shares of Class A ordinary shares included in the Units sold, the “Public Shares”), including the issuance of 3,900,000 Units as a result of the underwriters’ partial exercise of their over-allotment option. Each Unit consists of one share of Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value, and one-half of one redeemable warrant, with each whole warrant entitling its holder to purchase one share of Class A ordinary shares at a price of $11.50 per share. The Units were sold at an offering price of $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $300,000,000 (see Note 3).
Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Company consummated the private placement (“Private Placement”) with the Sponsor of an aggregate of 8,872,000 warrants (“Private Placement Warrants”) to purchase Class A ordinary shares, each at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant, generating total proceeds of $8,872,000 (see Note 3).
Transaction costs amounted to $17,210,247, consisting of $6,000,000 of underwriting discount, $10,500,000 of deferred underwriters’ fee and $710,247 of other offering costs.
Following the closing of the IPO on February 9, 2021, an amount of $300,000,000 ($10.00 per Unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units in the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement was placed in a trust account (“Trust Account”) which will be invested in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act, which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, until the earlier of (a) the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination, (b) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the Company’s certificate of incorporation, or (c) the redemption of the Company’s public shares if the Company is unable to complete the initial Business Combination within 24 months from February 9, 2021 (the “Combination Period”), the closing of the IPO.
The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to complete a Business Combination successfully. The Company must complete a Business Combination with one or more operating businesses or assets that together have an aggregate fair market value equal to at least 80% of the net assets held in the Trust Account (net of amounts disbursed to management for working capital purposes, if permitted, and excluding the amount of any deferred underwriting commissions) at the time of the Company’s signing a definitive agreement in connection with its initial Business Combination. However, the Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the
 
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target or otherwise acquires an interest in the target business or assets sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.
The Company will provide its holders of the outstanding Public Shares (the “public shareholders”) with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of a Business Combination either (i) in connection with a shareholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek shareholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company. The public shareholders will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account (initially anticipated to be $10.00 per Public Share, plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its tax obligations). There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of a Business Combination with respect to the Company’s warrants.
The Company will only proceed with a Business Combination if the Company has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 either prior to or upon such consummation of a Business Combination and, if the Company seeks shareholder approval, a majority of the shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination. If a shareholder vote is not required by applicable law or stock exchange rules and the Company does not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”), conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination.
If, however, shareholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, or the Company decides to obtain shareholder approval for business or other reasons, the Company will offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. If the Company seeks shareholder approval in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor has agreed to vote its Founder Shares (as defined in Note 4), and any Public Shares purchased during or after the IPO in favor of approving a Business Combination. In addition, the Initial Shareholders have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their Founder Shares and Public Shares in connection with the completion of a Business Combination. In addition, the Company has agreed not to enter into a definitive agreement regarding an initial Business Combination without the prior consent of the Sponsor.
Notwithstanding the above, if the Company seeks shareholder approval of a Business Combination and it does not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that a public shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” ​(as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% or more of the Public Shares, without the prior consent of the Company. The Sponsor has agreed (a) to waive its redemption rights with respect to its Founder Shares and Public Shares held by it in connection with the completion of a Business Combination and (b) not to propose an amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Company’s initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of its Public Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights (including redemption rights) or pre-initial business combination activity, unless the Company provides the public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares in conjunction with any such amendment.
There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to the Company’s warrants, which will expire worthless if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. The Sponsor has agreed to waive its liquidation rights with respect to the Founder Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. However, if the Sponsor acquires Public Shares in or after the IPO, such Public Shares will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period.
 
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In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Sponsor has agreed to be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (1) $10.00 per Public Share and (2) the actual amount per Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided that such liability will not apply to claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account nor will it apply to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, the Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. The Company will seek to reduce the possibility that the Sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers (except the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses and other entities with which the Company does business, execute agreements with the Company waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account.
Liquidity, Capital Resources and Going Concern
At December 31, 2021, the Company had cash of $7,181 held outside of the Trust Account. The Company intends to use the funds held outside the Trust Account primarily to identify and evaluate target businesses, perform business due diligence on prospective target businesses, travel to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses or their representatives or owners, review corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, and structure, negotiate, and complete a Business Combination.
In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with an initial Business Combination, the Company’s Sponsor, officers, directors, or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required. If the Company completes its initial Business Combination, the Company would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that the initial Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account to repay such loaned amounts, but no proceeds from its Trust Account would be used for such repayment. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into private placement warrants of the post Business Combination entity at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the Private Warrants. To date, there have been no such loans.
Prior to the completion of the initial Business Combination, the Company does not expect to seek loans from parties other than the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor as the Company does not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in the Trust Account. Management believes that the Company will have sufficient working capital and borrowing capacity to meet its needs through the earlier of a Business Combination or for the next 12 months. However, if the Company’s estimates of the costs of undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating a Business Combination is less than the actual amount necessary to do so, the Company may have insufficient funds available to operate its business prior to the initial Business Combination. If the Company is unable to complete its initial Business Combination because the Company does not have sufficient funds available to it, the Company will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the Trust Account.
The Company will have until February 4, 2023 to complete a Business Combination or it would be required to cease all operations and liquidate. The liquidity concerns and the date for mandatory liquidation and dissolution raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern until the earlier of the consummation of a Business Combination or one year from the issuance date of the financial statements. The Company believes it has access to the funds from the Sponsor it needs to continue until it completes a Business Combination and plans on completing a Business Combination prior to the mandatory liquidation date. These financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recovery of the recorded assets or the classification of the liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
 
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Note 2 — Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Emerging Growth Company Status
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can elect to opt-out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt-out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt-out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make the comparison of the Company’s financial statements with another public company that is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company that has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of these financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of these financial statements.
Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of these financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
One of the more significant accounting estimates included in these financial statements is the determination of the fair value of the warrant liability. Such estimates may be subject to change as more current information becomes available and accordingly the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2020, the Company had no cash equivalents.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of a cash account in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance
 
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Corporation coverage of $250,000. At December 31, 2021, the Company has not experienced losses on this account and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such account.
Investments Held in Trust Account
At December 31, 2021, the investments held in the Trust Account were held in U.S. Treasury Bills with a maturity of 185 days or less. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company did not withdraw any of the interest income from the Trust Account to pay its tax obligations.
The Company classifies its United States Treasury securities as held-to-maturity in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 320, “Investments — Debt and Equity Securities.” Held-to-maturity securities are those securities which the Company has the ability and intent to hold until maturity. Held-to-maturity treasury securities are recorded at amortized cost and adjusted for the amortization or accretion of premiums or discounts.
A decline in the market value of held-to-maturity securities below cost that is deemed to be other than temporary, results in an impairment that reduces the carrying costs to such securities’ fair value. The impairment is charged to earnings and a new cost basis for the security is established. To determine whether an impairment is other than temporary, the Company considers whether it has the ability and intent to hold the investment until a market price recovery and considers whether evidence indicating the cost of the investment is recoverable outweighs evidence to the contrary. Evidence considered in this assessment includes the reasons for the impairment, the severity and the duration of the impairment, changes in value subsequent to year-end, forecasted performance of the investee, and the general market condition in the geographic area or industry in which the investee operates.
Premiums and discounts are amortized or accreted over the life of the related held-to-maturity security as an adjustment to yield using the effective-interest method. Such amortization and accretion are included in the “interest income” line item in the statements of operations. Interest income is recognized when earned.
Derivative Warrant Liabilities
The Company evaluated the Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants (collectively, “Warrants”, which are discussed in Note 3, Note 6 and Note 8) in accordance with ASC 815-40, “Derivatives and Hedging — Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity”, and concluded that a provision in the Warrant Agreement related to certain tender or exchange offers precludes the Warrants from being accounted for as components of equity. As the Warrants meet the definition of a derivative as contemplated in ASC 815, the Warrants are recorded as derivative liabilities on the balance sheet and measured at fair value at inception (on the date of the IPO) and at each reporting date in accordance with ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurement”, with changes in fair value recognized in the statement of operations in the period of change.
Offering Costs Associated with the Initial Public Offering
The Company complies with the requirements of the ASC 340-10-S99-1. Offering costs consisted of legal, accounting, underwriting fees and other costs incurred through the Initial Public Offering that were directly related to the Initial Public Offering. Offering costs are allocated to the separable financial instruments issued in the Initial Public Offering based on a relative fair value basis, compared to total proceeds received. Offering costs associated with warrant liabilities are expensed as incurred, presented as non-operating expenses in the statement of operations. Offering costs associated with the Class A ordinary shares in the amount of $710,247 was charged to shareholders’ deficit upon the completion of the IPO.
Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption
The Company accounts for its Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Class A ordinary shares subject to mandatory redemption (if any) are classified as a liability instrument and are measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable Class A ordinary shares (including Class A ordinary shares that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence
 
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of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, Class A ordinary shares are classified as shareholders’ equity. The Company’s Class A ordinary shares feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to the occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, all of the Company’s 30,000,000 Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption are presented at redemption value as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders’ equity (deficit) section of the Company’s balance sheet.
The Company recognizes changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and adjusted the carrying value of redeemable ordinary shares to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period.
At December 31, 2021, the Class A ordinary shares reflected in the balance sheets are reconciled in the following table:
Gross Proceeds
$ 300,000,000
Less: Proceeds allocated to Public Warrants
(17,250,000)
Less: Issuance costs allocable to Class A ordinary shares
(16,220,658)
Plus: Accretion of carrying value to redemption value
33,470,658
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption
$ 300,000,000
Income Taxes
ASC Topic 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for these financial statements’ recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return.
For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company’s management determined that the Cayman Islands is the Company’s only major tax jurisdiction. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The deferred tax assets were deemed to be de minimis as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
There is currently no taxation imposed on income by the Government of the Cayman Islands. In accordance with Cayman federal income tax regulations, income taxes are not levied on the Company. Consequently, income taxes are not reflected in the Company’s financial statements. The Company’s management does not expect that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will materially change over the next twelve months. The provision for income taxes was deemed to be de minimis for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Net Income (Loss) Per Ordinary Share
The Company complies with accounting and disclosure requirements of FASB ASC Topic 260, “Earnings Per Shares.” The Company has two classes of ordinary shares, which are referred to as Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Income and losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of ordinary shares. Net income per ordinary share is computed by dividing the pro rata net income between the Class A ordinary shares and the Class B ordinary shares by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding for each of the periods. The calculation of diluted income per ordinary share does not consider the effect of the warrants issued in connection with the IPO since the exercise of the warrants are contingent upon the occurrence of future events and the inclusion of such warrants would be anti-dilutive. The warrants are exercisable for 23,872,000 shares of Class A ordinary shares in the aggregate.
 
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Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) per Ordinary Share
The following table presents a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used to compute basic and diluted net income (loss) per ordinary share for each class of ordinary shares:
For the year ended
December 31, 2021
For the period from
December 11, 2020
(inception) through
December 31, 2020
Class A
Class B
Class A
Class B
Basic and diluted net income per ordinary share:
Numerator:
Allocation of net income (loss)
$ $ 2,510,833 $ $ (8,927)
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares outstanding
7,395,822 742,857
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per ordinary share
$ $ 0.34 $ $ (0.01)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company follows the guidance in ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurement,” for its financial assets and liabilities that are re-measured and reported at fair value at each reporting period, and non-financial assets and liabilities that are re-measured and reported at fair value at least annually.
The fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities reflects management’s estimate of amounts that the Company would have received in connection with the sale of the assets or paid in connection with the transfer of the liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In connection with measuring the fair value of its assets and liabilities, the Company seeks to maximize the use of observable inputs (market data obtained from independent sources) and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs (internal assumptions about how market participants would price assets and liabilities). The following fair value hierarchy is used to classify assets and liabilities based on the observable inputs and unobservable inputs used in order to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1 — 
Valuations based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access. Valuation adjustments and block discounts are not being applied. Since valuations are based on quoted prices that are readily and regularly available in an active market, valuation of these securities does not entail a significant degree of judgment.
Level 2 — 
Valuations based on (i) quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities, (ii) quoted prices in markets that are not active for identical or similar assets, (iii) inputs other than quoted prices for the assets or liabilities, or (iv) inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by market through correlation or other means.
Level 3 — 
Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.
See Note 8 for additional information on liabilities measured at fair value.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In August 2020, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2020-06, “Debt — Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging — Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40)” ​(“ASU 2020-06”) to simplify accounting for certain financial instruments. ASU 2020-06 eliminates the current models that require separation of beneficial conversion and cash conversion features from convertible instruments and simplifies the derivative scope exception guidance pertaining to equity classification of contracts in an entity’s own equity. The new standard also introduces additional disclosures for convertible debt and freestanding instruments that are indexed to and settled in an entity’s own equity. ASU 2020-06 amends the diluted earnings per share guidance, including the requirement
 
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to use the if-converted method for all convertible instruments. ASU 2020-06 is effective January 1, 2022 and should be applied on a full or modified retrospective basis, with early adoption permitted beginning on January 1, 2021. The Company is currently assessing the impact, if any, that ASU 2020-06 would have on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
Note 3 — Initial Public Offering
Public Units
On February 9, 2021, the Company sold 30,000,000 Units, at a purchase price of $10.00 per Unit, including the issuance of 3,900,000 Units as a result of the underwriters’ partial exercise of their over-allotment option. Each Unit consists of one share of Class A ordinary share, and one-half of one redeemable warrant (each, a “Public Warrant”).
Private Placement
Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 8,872,000 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant, for an aggregate purchase price of $8,872,000, in a private placement. A portion of the proceeds from the private placement was added to the proceeds from the IPO held in the Trust Account.
Note 4 — Related Party Transactions
Founder Shares
On December 15, 2020, the Sponsor paid $25,000 to cover certain offering costs of the Company in consideration of 5,750,000 shares of the Company’s Class B ordinary shares (the “Founder Shares”). In January 2021, the Company declared a share dividend satisfied by way of issuance of 0.25 share for each Class B ordinary share in issue, resulting in the Sponsor holding an aggregate of 7,187,500 Founder Shares. In February 2021, the Company declared a share dividend satisfied by way of issuance of 0.044 share for each Class B ordinary share in issue, resulting in 7,503,750 Class B ordinary shares outstanding. The Founder Shares included an aggregate of up to 978,750 shares subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option was not exercised in full. On February 9, 2021, the underwriters partially exercised their over-allotment option, therefore 975,000 Founder Shares were no longer subject to forfeiture, and 3,750 Founder Shares were subject to forfeiture. On February 11, 2021, the underwriter informed the Company that they would not exercise the full over-allotment and therefore the remaining 3,750 shares were forfeited.
Promissory Note — Related Party
The Sponsor had agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $300,000 under the promissory note (the “Note”) to be used for the payment of costs related to the IPO. The promissory note was non-interest bearing, unsecured and was due on the earlier of December 31, 2021 or the closing of the IPO.
The Company had borrowed $83,046 under the promissory note, and the Note was paid in full at the closing of the IPO on February 9, 2021. As of December 31, 2021, there was no balance and borrowing is no longer available under the promissory note.
Working Capital Loans
The holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and any warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans (and any Class A ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans) will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration and shareholder rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of the IPO. The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to
 
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three demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company registers such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the Company’s completion of the initial Business Combination. However, the registration and shareholder rights agreement provide that the Company will not permit any registration statement filed under the Securities Act to become effective until termination of the applicable lock-up periods with respect to such securities. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements. As of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, there were no amounts outstanding under the Working Capital Loans.
Administrative Support Agreement
Commencing on the date the Company’s securities are first listed on the Nasdaq and through the earlier of the consummation of the initial Business Combination and the Company’s liquidation, the Company will reimburse an affiliate of the Sponsor for office space, secretarial and administrative services provided to the Company in the amount of $10,000 per month. For the year ended December 31, 2021 and for the period from December 11, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, the Company incurred $135,006 and $0 of administrative support expense, respectively.
Note 5 — Commitments and Contingencies
Registration Rights
The holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and any warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans (and any Class A ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans) were entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration and shareholder rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of the IPO. The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company registers such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the Company’s completion of the initial Business Combination. However, the registration and shareholder rights agreement provides that the Company will not permit any registration statement filed under the Securities Act to become effective until termination of the applicable lock-up periods with respect to such securities. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Underwriting Agreement
The underwriter had a 45-day option from the date of the IPO to purchase up to an aggregate of 3,915,000 additional Units at the public offering price less the underwriting commissions to cover over-allotments, if any. On February 9, 2021, the underwriters partially exercised the over-allotment option purchasing an additional 3,900,000 Units.
On February 9, 2021, the underwriters were paid a cash underwriting fee of 2% of the gross proceeds of the IPO, totaling $6,000,000. In addition, $0.35 per unit, or approximately $10,500,000 in the aggregate, will be payable to the underwriters for deferred underwriting commissions. The deferred fee will become payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that the Company completes a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.
Risks and Uncertainties
Management continues to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its financial statements and has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that the virus could have a negative effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and/or search for a target company, the specific impact is not readily determinable as of the date of these financial statements. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
 
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Note 6 — Warrant Liabilities
Public Warrants
Each whole warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares at a price of $11.50 per share. The warrants will become exercisable on the later of (a) 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination or (b) 12 months from the closing of the IPO; provided in each case that the Company has an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to them is available (or the Company permits holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis and such cashless exercise is exempt from registration under the Securities Act). The Company has agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days after the closing of the initial Business Combination, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective within 60 business days after the closing of the initial Business Combination and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating to those Class A ordinary shares until the warrants expire or are redeemed, as specified in the warrant agreement; provided that if the Company’s Class A ordinary shares are at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, the Company may, at its option, require holders of public warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event the Company so elects, the Company will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but the Company will use its commercially reasonably efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available. If a registration statement covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the 60th day after the closing of the initial Business Combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when the Company will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption, but the Company will use its commercially reasonably efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.
The warrants will expire five years after the completion of a Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
The exercise price and number of shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a share dividend or recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. In addition, if (x) the Company issues additional Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of the initial Business Combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per Class A ordinary share (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the Company’s board of directors and in the case of any such issuance to the Company’s sponsors or their affiliates, without taking into account any Founder Shares held by the Company’s Sponsors or such affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of the initial Business Combination on the date of the consummation of the initial Business Combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company consummates its initial Business Combination (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, then the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price described below under “Redemption of warrants when the price per Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $18.00” will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.
 
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Redemption of warrants when the price per Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $18.00:
Once the warrants become exercisable, the Company may call the outstanding warrants for redemption (except as described herein with respect to the Private Placement Warrants):

in whole and not in part;

at a price of $0.01 per warrant;

upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder; and

if, and only if, the last reported sale price (the “closing price”) of Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders.
If the Company calls the Public Warrants for redemption, management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise the Public Warrants to do so on a “cashless basis,” as described in the warrant agreement. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle any Warrants. If the Company is unable to complete the initial Business Combination within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of warrants will not receive any of such funds with respect to their warrants, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company’s assets held outside of the Trust Account with the respect to such warrants. Accordingly, the warrants may expire worthless.
Private Warrants
The Private Placement Warrants are identical to those of the warrants being sold as part of the units in the IPO. The Private Placement Warrants (including the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination and they will not be redeemable by the Company so long as they are held by the Sponsor or its permitted transferees.
Note 7 — Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit)
Preference Shares — The Company is authorized to issue a total of 5,000,000 preference shares at par value of $0.0001 each. At December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, there were no shares of preference shares issued or outstanding.
Class A Ordinary Shares — The Company is authorized to issue a total of 500,000,000 Class A ordinary shares at par value of $0.0001 each. At December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, there were no shares issued and outstanding, excluding 30,000,000 and no shares subject to possible redemption, respectively.
Class B Ordinary Shares — The Company is authorized to issue a total of 50,000,000 Class B ordinary shares at par value of $0.0001 each. At December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, there were 7,500,000 and 7,503,750 shares issued and outstanding, respectively.
Ordinary shareholders of record are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by shareholders. Except as described below, holders of Class A ordinary shares and holders of Class B ordinary shares will vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders except as required by law. The Class B ordinary shares will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares (which such Class A ordinary shares delivered upon conversion will not have redemption rights or be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account if the Company does not consummate an initial business combination) at the time of the initial Business Combination or earlier at the option of the holders thereof at a ratio such that the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of all Founder Shares will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the sum of (i) the total number of ordinary shares issued and outstanding upon completion of the IPO, plus (ii) the total number of Class A ordinary shares issued or deemed issued or issuable upon conversion or exercise of any equity-linked securities or rights issued or deemed issued, by the Company in connection with or in relation to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, excluding any Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities exercisable
 
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for or convertible into Class A ordinary shares issued, deemed issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial Business Combination and any Private Placement Warrants issued to the Sponsor, its affiliates or any member of the Company’s management team upon conversion of Working Capital Loans. In no event will the Class B ordinary shares convert into Class A ordinary shares at a rate of less than one-to-one.
Note 8 — Fair Value Measurements
The following table presents information about the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2021, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation inputs the Company utilized to determine such fair value:
December 31,
2021
Quoted
Prices In
Active
Markets
(Level 1)
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Other
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Assets:
U.S. government securities and sweep funds in Trust account
$ 300,053,996 $ 300,053,996 $ $
Liabilities:
Public Warrants Liabilities
$ 7,350,000 $ 7,350,000 $ $
Private Placement Warrants Liabilities
4,397,850 4,397,850
$ 11,747,850 $ 7,350,000 $ $ 4,397,850
The Warrants are accounted for as liabilities in accordance with ASC 815-40 and are presented within warrant liabilities on the balance sheet. The warrant liabilities are measured at fair value at inception and on a recurring basis, with changes in fair value presented within change in fair value of warrant liabilities in the statement of operations.
The Company established the initial fair value of the Public Warrants on February 9, 2021, the date of the Company’s IPO, using a Monte Carlo simulation model, and as of December 31, 2021 by using the associated trading price of the Public Warrants. The Company established the fair value of the Private Placement Warrants on February 9, 2021 and on December 31, 2021 by using a modified Monte Carlo simulation model. The Public and Private Warrants were classified as Level 3 at the initial measurement date due to the use of unobservable inputs. The Public Warrants were subsequently classified as Level 1 as the subsequent valuation was based upon the trading price of the Public Warrants.
The key inputs into the Monte Carlo simulation as of December 31, 2021 were as follows:
Inputs
Risk-free interest rate
1.09%
Expected term to merger
0.60
Expected volatility
12.40%
Notional Exercise price
$ 1.00
The following table provides a reconciliation of changes in fair value of the beginning and ending balances for the Company’s assets and liabilities classified as level 3:
Warrant
Liabilities
Fair value at January 1, 2021
$
Initial classification of Public and Private Warrant liability at February 9, 2021
27,807,680
Change in fair value
(6,159,830)
Public Warrants reclassified to level 1
(17,250,000)
Fair Value at December 31, 2021
$ 4,397,850
 
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The carrying value, excluding gross unrealized holding loss and fair value of held to maturity securities on December 31, 2021, is as follows:
Carrying
Value as of
December 31,
2021
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Fair Value
as of
December 31,
2021
U.S. Treasury Securities
$ 300,053,216 $ 4,157 $ $ 300,057,373
$ 300,053,216 $ 4,157 $ $ 300,057,373
Note 9 — Subsequent Events
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date up to the date that the financial statements were issued. Based upon this review, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements.
 
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COVA ACQUISITION CORP.
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
June 30,
2022
December 31,
2021
(Unaudited)
Assets:
Cash
$ 2,444 $ 7,181
Prepaid expenses and other assets
507,347 788,561
Total current assets
509,791 795,742
Prepaid expenses – non-current portion
75,616
Investments held in Trust Account
300,613,622 300,053,996
Total Assets
$ 301,123,413 $ 300,925,354
Liabilities, Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption, and Shareholders’ Deficit
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
$ 3,182,707 $ 507,310
Due to related party
862,265 17,384
Total current liabilities
4,044,972 524,694
Deferred underwriting fee
10,500,000 10,500,000
Warrant liabilities
2,398,733 11,747,850
Total Liabilities
16,943,705 22,772,544
Commitments and Contingencies (See Note 5)
Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, $0.0001 par value,
30,000,000 shares issued and outstanding, at redemption value of $10.02
at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021
300,613,622 300,000,000
Shareholders’ Deficit:
Preference shares, $0.0001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding
Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized;
no shares issued or outstanding (excluding 30,000,000 shares subject to
possible redemption) at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021
Class B ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 7,500,000 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021
750 750
Additional paid-in capital
Accumulated deficit
(16,434,664) (21,847,940)
Total Shareholders’ Deficit
(16,433,914) (21,847,190)
Total Liabilities, Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption, and Shareholders’ Deficit
$ 301,123,413 $ 300,925,354
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.
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COVA ACQUISITION CORP.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For The Three
Months Ended
June 30,
2022
For The Three
Months Ended
June 30,
2021
For The Six
Months Ended
June 30,
2022
For The Six
Months Ended
June 30,
2021
General and administrative expenses
$ 3,181,421 $ 280,753 $ 3,881,846 $ 517,481
Loss from Operations
(3,181,421) (280,753) (3,881,846) (517,481)
Other income (expense):
Interest income on investments held in Trust Account
450,702 3,053 559,627 3,053
Offering costs allocated to warrants
(989,589)
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities
1,902,663 6,876,556 9,349,117 4,835,996
Total other income (expense), net
2,353,365 6,879,609 9,908,744 3,849,460
Net (loss) income
$ (828,056) $ 6,598,856 $ 6,026,898 $ 3,331,979
Weighted average shares outstanding of Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemptions
30,000,000 30,000,000 30,000,000 23,370,166
Basic and diluted net (loss) income per share, Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemptions
$ (0.02) $ 0.18 $ 0.16 $ 0.11
Weighted average shares outstanding of Class B ordinary shares
7,500,000 7,500,000 7,500,000 7,284,530
Basic and diluted net (loss) income per share, Class B ordinary shares
$ (0.02) $ 0.18 $ 0.16 $ 0.11
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.
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COVA ACQUISITION CORP.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2022
Class A
Ordinary shares
Class B
Ordinary shares
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
Accumulated
Deficit
Total
Shareholders’
Deficit
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Balance as of December 31, 2021
$
7,500,000
$
750
$
$
(21,847,940)
$
(21,847,190)
Net income
6,854,954 6,854,954
Balance as of March 31, 2022 (unaudited)
7,500,000
750
(14,992,986)
(14,992,236)
Accretion of carrying value to redemption value
(613,622) (613,622)
Net loss
(828,056) (828,056)
Balance as of June 30, 2022 (unaudited)
$
7,500,000
$
750
$
$
(16,434,664)
$
(16,433,914)
FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2021
Class A
Ordinary shares
Class B
Ordinary shares
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
Accumulated
Deficit
Total
Shareholders’
Equity
(Deficit)
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Balance as of December 31, 2020
$
7,503,750 $ 750 $ 24,250 $ (8,927) $ 16,073
Forfeiture due to partial exercise of overallotment
(3,750)
Net loss
(3,266,877) (3,266,877)
Accretion for Class A ordinary shares to redemption amount
(24,250) (33,446,408) (33,470,658)
Balance as of March 31, 2021 (unaudited)
7,500,000
750
(36,722,212)
(36,721,462)
Net income
6,598,856 6,598,856
Balance as of June 30, 2021 (unaudited)
$
7,500,000 $ 750 $ $ (30,123,356) $ (30,122,606)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.
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COVA ACQUISITION CORP.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For The Six
Months Ended
June 30,
2022
For The Six
Months Ended
June 30,
2021
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income
$ 6,026,898 $ 3,331,979
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Interest earned on investments held in Trust Account
(559,626) (3,053)
Offering costs allocated to warrants
989,589
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities
(9,349,117) (4,835,996)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other assets
356,830 (1,264,557)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
2,675,397 4,437
Due to related party
844,881
Net cash used in operating activities
(4,737) (1,777,601)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Cash deposited into Trust Account
(300,000,000)
Net cash used in investing activities
(300,000,000)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from sale of Units, net of underwriter’s discount
294,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of Private Placement Warrants
8,872,000
Proceeds from promissory note – related party
57,546
Payment of promissory note – related party
(83,046)
Payment of offering costs
(668,674)
Net cash provided by financing activities
302,177,826
Net change in cash
(4,737) 400,225
Cash, beginning of period
7,181
Cash, end of the period
$ 2,444 $ 400,225
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Accretion of carrying value to redemption value
$ 613,622 $
Deferred underwriters’ discount payable charged to additional paid-in capital
$ $ 10,500,000
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.
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COVA ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2022
Note 1 — Organization and Business Operations
COVA Acquisition Corp. (the “Company” or “COVA”) is a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company on December 11, 2020. The Company was incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses that the Company has not yet identified (“Business Combination”).
As of June 30, 2022, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity for the period from December 11, 2020 (inception) through June 30, 2022 relates to the Company’s formation and the Initial Public Offering (the “IPO”) described below. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of its initial Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income from the proceeds derived from the IPO.
The registration statement for the Company’s IPO was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 4, 2021 (the “Effective Date”). On February 9, 2021, the Company consummated the IPO of 30,000,000 units (the “Units” and, with respect to the shares of Class A ordinary shares included in the Units sold, the “Public Shares”), including the issuance of 3,900,000 Units as a result of the underwriters’ partial exercise of their over-allotment option. Each Unit consists of one share of Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value, and one-half of one redeemable warrant, with each whole warrant entitling its holder to purchase one share of Class A ordinary shares at a price of $11.50 per share. The Units were sold at an offering price of $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $300,000,000 (see Note 3).
Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Company consummated the private placement (“Private Placement”) with the Sponsor of an aggregate of 8,872,000 warrants (“Private Placement Warrants”) to purchase Class A ordinary shares, each at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant, generating total proceeds of $8,872,000 (see Note 3).
Transaction costs amounted to $17,210,247, consisting of $6,000,000 of underwriting discount, $10,500,000 of deferred underwriters’ fee and $710,247 of other offering costs.
Following the closing of the IPO on February 9, 2021, an amount of $300,000,000 ($10.00 per Unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units in the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement was placed in a trust account (“Trust Account”) which will be invested in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act, which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, until the earlier of (a) the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination, (b) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the Company’s certificate of incorporation, or (c) the redemption of the Company’s public shares if the Company is unable to complete the initial Business Combination within 24 months from February 9, 2021 (the “Combination Period”), the closing of the IPO.
The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to complete a Business Combination successfully. The Company must complete a Business Combination with one or more operating businesses or assets that together have an aggregate fair market value equal to at least 80% of the net assets held in the Trust Account (net of amounts disbursed to management for working capital purposes, if permitted, and excluding the amount of any deferred underwriting commissions) at the time of the Company’s signing a definitive agreement in connection with its initial Business Combination. However, the Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires an interest in the target business or assets sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.
 
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The Company will provide its holders of the outstanding Public Shares (the “public shareholders”) with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of a Business Combination either (i) in connection with a shareholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek shareholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company. The public shareholders will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account (initially anticipated to be $10.00 per Public Share, plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its tax obligations). There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of a Business Combination with respect to the Company’s warrants.
The Company will only proceed with a Business Combination if the Company has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 either prior to or upon such consummation of a Business Combination and, if the Company seeks shareholder approval, a majority of the shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination. If a shareholder vote is not required by applicable law or stock exchange rules and the Company does not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”), conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination.
If, however, shareholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, or the Company decides to obtain shareholder approval for business or other reasons, the Company will offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. If the Company seeks shareholder approval in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor has agreed to vote its Founder Shares (as defined in Note 4), and any Public Shares purchased during or after the IPO in favor of approving a Business Combination. In addition, the Initial Shareholders have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their Founder Shares and Public Shares in connection with the completion of a Business Combination. In addition, the Company has agreed not to enter into a definitive agreement regarding an initial Business Combination without the prior consent of the Sponsor.
Notwithstanding the above, if the Company seeks shareholder approval of a Business Combination and it does not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that a public shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” ​(as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% or more of the Public Shares, without the prior consent of the Company. The Sponsor has agreed (a) to waive its redemption rights with respect to its Founder Shares and Public Shares held by it in connection with the completion of a Business Combination and (b) not to propose an amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Company’s initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of its Public Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights (including redemption rights) or pre-initial business combination activity, unless the Company provides the public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares in conjunction with any such amendment.
There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to the Company’s warrants, which will expire worthless if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. The Sponsor has agreed to waive its liquidation rights with respect to the Founder Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. However, if the Sponsor acquires Public Shares in or after the IPO, such Public Shares will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period.
In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Sponsor has agreed to be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction
 
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agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (1) $10.00 per Public Share and (2) the actual amount per Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided that such liability will not apply to claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account nor will it apply to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, the Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. The Company will seek to reduce the possibility that the Sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers (except the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses and other entities with which the Company does business, execute agreements with the Company waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account.
Merger Agreement
On May 26, 2022, the Company, ECARX Holdings Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“ECARX”), Ecarx Temp Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company and wholly owned subsidiary of ECARX (“Merger Sub 1”), and Ecarx&Co Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company and wholly owned subsidiary of ECARX ( “Merger Sub 2”) entered into the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) pursuant to which, among other things, (a) Merger Sub 1 will merge with and into the Company (the “First Merger”), with the Company surviving the First Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of ECARX (such company, as the surviving entity of the First Merger, “Surviving Entity 1”), and (b) immediately following the First Merger and as part of the same overall transaction as the First Merger, Surviving Entity 1 will merge with and into Merger Sub 2 (the “Second Merger,” and together with the First Merger, the “Mergers”), with Merger Sub 2 surviving the Second Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of ECARX (such company, as the surviving entity of the Second Merger, “Surviving Entity 2”) (the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Mergers, collectively, the “Proposed Business Combination”). Capitalized terms in this summary of the Merger Agreement not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement. Completion of the Proposed Business Combination is subject to the satisfaction of the conditions stated in the Merger Agreement, as set forth in more detail below.
Liquidity, Capital Resources and Going Concern
At June 30, 2022, the Company had cash of $2,444 held outside of the Trust Account. The Company intends to use the funds held outside the Trust Account primarily to identify and evaluate target businesses, perform business due diligence on prospective target businesses, travel to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses or their representatives or owners, review corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, and structure, negotiate, and complete a Business Combination.
In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with an initial Business Combination, the Company’s sponsor, officers, directors, or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required. If the Company completes its initial Business Combination, the Company would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that the initial Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account to repay such loaned amounts, but no proceeds from its Trust Account would be used for such repayment. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into private placement warrants of the post Business Combination entity at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the Private Warrants. To date, there have been no such loans.
Prior to the completion of the initial Business Combination, the Company does not expect to seek loans from parties other than the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor as the Company does not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in the Trust Account. Management believes that the Company will have sufficient working capital and borrowing capacity to meet its needs through the earlier of a Business Combination or for the next 12 months. However, if the Company’s estimates of the costs of undertaking in-depth due diligence and
 
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negotiating a Business Combination is less than the actual amount necessary to do so, the Company may have insufficient funds available to operate its business prior to the initial Business Combination. If the Company is unable to complete its initial Business Combination because the Company does not have sufficient funds available to it, the Company will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the Trust Account.
The Company will have until February 4, 2023 to complete a Business Combination or it would be required to cease all operations and liquidate. The liquidity concerns and the date for mandatory liquidation and dissolution raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern until the earlier of the consummation of a Business Combination or one year from the issuance date of the unaudited condensed financial statements. The Company believes it has access to the funds from the Sponsor it needs to continue until it completes a Business Combination and plans on completing a Business Combination prior to the mandatory liquidation date. These unaudited condensed financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recovery of the recorded assets or the classification of the liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
Risks and Uncertainties
Management is currently evaluating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that the virus could have a negative effect on the Company’s financial position, results of its operations and/or search for a target company, the specific impact is not readily determinable as of the date of this unaudited condensed financial statements. The unaudited condensed financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
In February 2022, the Russian Federation and Belarus commenced a military action with the country of Ukraine. As a result of this action, various nations, including the United States, have instituted economic sanctions against the Russian Federation and Belarus. Further, the impact of this action and related sanctions on the world economy is not determinable as of the date of these unaudited condensed financial statements and the specific impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows is also not determinable as of the date of these unaudited condensed financial statements.
Note 2 — Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information or footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC for interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of a normal recurring nature, which are necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, operating results and cash flows for the period presented.
The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Company with the SEC on March 24, 2022, and the unaudited condensed financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2021 included in the Form 10-Q filed with by the Company with the SEC on August 16, 2021. The interim results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2022, or for future periods.
Emerging Growth Company Status
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor
 
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attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can elect to opt-out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt-out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt-out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make the comparison of the Company’s unaudited condensed financial statements with another public company that is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company that has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of these unaudited condensed financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of these unaudited condensed financial statements.
Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of these unaudited condensed financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
One of the more significant accounting estimates included in these unaudited condensed financial statements is the determination of the fair value of the warrant liability. Such estimates may be subject to change as more current information becomes available and accordingly the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. As of June 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021, the Company had no cash equivalents.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of a cash account in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation coverage of $250,000. At June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company has not experienced losses on this account and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such account.
Investments Held in Trust Account
At June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the investments held in the Trust Account were held in U.S. Treasury Bills with a maturity of 185 days or less. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, the Company did not withdraw any of the interest income from the Trust Account to pay its tax obligations.
 
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The Company classifies its United States Treasury securities as held-to-maturity in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 320, “Investments — Debt and Equity Securities.” Held-to-maturity securities are those securities which the Company has the ability and intent to hold until maturity. Held-to-maturity treasury securities are recorded at amortized cost and adjusted for the amortization or accretion of premiums or discounts.
A decline in the market value of held-to-maturity securities below cost that is deemed to be other than temporary, results in an impairment that reduces the carrying costs to such securities’ fair value. The impairment is charged to earnings and a new cost basis for the security is established. To determine whether an impairment is other than temporary, the Company considers whether it has the ability and intent to hold the investment until a market price recovery and considers whether evidence indicating the cost of the investment is recoverable outweighs evidence to the contrary. Evidence considered in this assessment includes the reasons for the impairment, the severity and the duration of the impairment, changes in value subsequent to year-end, forecasted performance of the investee, and the general market condition in the geographic area or industry in which the investee operates.
Premiums and discounts are amortized or accreted over the life of the related held-to-maturity security as an adjustment to yield using the effective-interest method. Such amortization and accretion are included in the “interest income” line item in the statements of operations. Interest income is recognized when earned.
Derivative Warrant Liabilities
The Company evaluated the Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants (collectively, “Warrants”, which are discussed in Note 3, Note 6 and Note 8) in accordance with ASC 815-40, “Derivatives and Hedging — Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity”, and concluded that a provision in the Warrant Agreement related to certain tender or exchange offers precludes the Warrants from being accounted for as components of equity. As the Warrants meet the definition of a derivative as contemplated in ASC 815, the Warrants are recorded as derivative liabilities on the balance sheets and measured at fair value at inception (on the date of the IPO) and at each reporting date in accordance with ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurement”, with changes in fair value recognized in the statements of operations in the period of change.
Offering Costs Associated with the Initial Public Offering
The Company complies with the requirements of the ASC 340-10-S99-1. Offering costs consisted of legal, accounting, underwriting fees and other costs incurred through the Initial Public Offering that were directly related to the Initial Public Offering. Offering costs are allocated to the separable financial instruments issued in the Initial Public Offering based on a relative fair value basis, compared to total proceeds received. Offering costs associated with warrant liabilities are expensed as incurred, presented as non-operating expenses in the statements of operations. Offering costs associated with the Class A ordinary shares in the amount of $710,247 was charged to temporary equity upon the completion of the IPO.
Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption
The Company accounts for its Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Class A ordinary shares subject to mandatory redemption (if any) are classified as a liability instrument and are measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable Class A ordinary shares (including Class A ordinary shares that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, Class A ordinary shares are classified as shareholders’ deficit. The Company’s Class A ordinary shares feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to the occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, all of the Company’s 30,000,000 Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption are presented at redemption value as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders’ deficit section of the Company’s condensed balance sheets.
The Company recognizes changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and adjusted the carrying value of redeemable ordinary shares to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period.
 
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At June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Class A ordinary shares reflected in the condensed balance sheets are reconciled in the following table:
Gross Proceeds
$ 300,000,000
Less: Proceeds allocated to Public Warrants
(17,250,000)
Less: Issuance costs related to Class A ordinary shares
(16,220,658)
Plus: Accretion of carrying value to redemption value
33,470,658
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, December 31, 2021
300,000,000
Plus: Accretion of carrying value to redemption value
613,622
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, June 30, 2022
$ 300,613,622
Income Taxes
ASC Topic 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for these financial statements’ recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return.
For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company’s management determined that the Cayman Islands is the Company’s only major tax jurisdiction. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The deferred tax assets were deemed to be de minimis as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021.
There is currently no taxation imposed on income by the Government of the Cayman Islands. In accordance with Cayman federal income tax regulations, income taxes are not levied on the Company. Consequently, income taxes are not reflected in the Company’s unaudited condensed financial statements. The Company’s management does not expect that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will materially change over the next twelve months. The provision for income taxes was deemed to be de minimis for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021.
Net (Loss) Income Per Ordinary Share
The Company complies with accounting and disclosure requirements of FASB ASC Topic 260, “Earnings Per Shares.” The Company has two classes of ordinary shares, which are referred to as Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Income and losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of ordinary shares. Net (loss) income per ordinary share is computed by dividing the pro rata net (loss) income between the Class A ordinary shares and the Class B ordinary shares by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding for each of the periods. The calculation of diluted income (loss) per ordinary share does not consider the effect of the warrants issued in connection with the IPO since the exercise of the warrants are contingent upon the occurrence of future events and the inclusion of such warrants would be anti-dilutive. The warrants are exercisable for 23,872,000 shares of Class A ordinary shares in the aggregate.
Reconciliation of Net (Loss) Income per Ordinary Share
The following table presents a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used to compute basic and diluted net (loss) income per ordinary share for each class of ordinary shares:
For the three months ended
June 30, 2022
For the three months ended
June 30, 2021
Class A
Class B
Class A
Class B
Basic and diluted net (loss) income per ordinary share:
Numerator:
Allocation of net (loss) income
$ (662,445) $ (165,611) $ 5,279,085 $ 1,319,771
 
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For the three months ended
June 30, 2022
For the three months ended
June 30, 2021
Class A
Class B
Class A
Class B
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares outstanding
30,000,000 7,500,000 30,000,000 7,500,000
Basic and diluted net (loss) income per ordinary share
$ (0.02) $ (0.02) $ 0.18 $ 0.18
For the six months ended
June 30, 2022
For the six months ended
June 30, 2021
Class A
Class B
Class A
Class B
Basic and diluted net income per ordinary share:
Numerator:
Allocation of net income
$ 4,821,518 $ 1,205,380 $ 2,540,195 $ 791,784
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares outstanding
30,000,000 7,500,000 23,370,166 7,284.530
Basic and diluted net income per ordinary share
$ 0.16 $ 0.16 $ 0.11 $ 0.11
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company follows the guidance in ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurement,” for its financial assets and liabilities that are re-measured and reported at fair value at each reporting period, and non-financial assets and liabilities that are re-measured and reported at fair value at least annually.
The fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities reflects management’s estimate of amounts that the Company would have received in connection with the sale of the assets or paid in connection with the transfer of the liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In connection with measuring the fair value of its assets and liabilities, the Company seeks to maximize the use of observable inputs (market data obtained from independent sources) and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs (internal assumptions about how market participants would price assets and liabilities). The following fair value hierarchy is used to classify assets and liabilities based on the observable inputs and unobservable inputs used in order to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1 — 
Valuations based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access. Valuation adjustments and block discounts are not being applied. Since valuations are based on quoted prices that are readily and regularly available in an active market, valuation of these securities does not entail a significant degree of judgment.
Level 2 — 
Valuations based on (i) quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities, (ii) quoted prices in markets that are not active for identical or similar assets, (iii) inputs other than quoted prices for the assets or liabilities, or (iv) inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by market through correlation or other means.
Level 3 — 
Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.
See Note 8 for additional information on liabilities measured at fair value.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which requires entities to measure all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. ASU 2016-13 also requires additional disclosures regarding significant estimates and judgments
 
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used in estimating credit losses, as well as the credit quality and underwriting standards of an entity’s portfolio. The Company expects to adopt the provisions of this guidance on January 1, 2023. The adoption is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s condensed financial statements.
Management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s unaudited condensed financial statements.
Note 3 — Initial Public Offering
Public Units
On February 9, 2021, the Company sold 30,000,000 Units, at a purchase price of $10.00 per Unit, including the issuance of 3,900,000 Units as a result of the underwriters’ partial exercise of their over- allotment option. Each Unit consists of one share of Class A ordinary share, and one-half of one redeemable warrant (each, a “Public Warrant”).
Private Placement
Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, the Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 8,872,000 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant, for an aggregate purchase price of $8,872,000, in a private placement. A portion of the proceeds from the private placement was added to the proceeds from the IPO held in the Trust Account.
Note 4 — Related Party Transactions
Founder Shares
On December 15, 2020, the Sponsor paid $25,000 to cover certain offering costs of the Company in consideration of 5,750,000 shares of the Company’s Class B ordinary shares (the “Founder Shares”). In January 2021, the Company declared a share dividend satisfied by way of issuance of 0.25 share for each Class B ordinary share in issue, resulting in the Sponsor holding an aggregate of 7,187,500 Founder Shares. In February 2021, the Company declared a share dividend satisfied by way of issuance of 0.044 share for each Class B ordinary share in issue, resulting in 7,503,750 Class B ordinary shares outstanding. The Founder Shares included an aggregate of up to 978,750 shares subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option was not exercised in full. On February 9, 2021, the underwriters partially exercised their over-allotment option, therefore 975,000 Founder Shares were no longer subject to forfeiture, and 3,750 Founder Shares were subject to forfeiture. On February 11, 2021, the underwriter informed the Company that they would not exercise the full over-allotment and therefore the remaining 3,750 shares were forfeited.
Promissory Note — Related Party
The Sponsor had agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $300,000 under the promissory note (the “Note”) to be used for the payment of costs related to the IPO. The promissory note was non-interest bearing, unsecured and was due on the earlier of June 30, 2022 or the closing of the IPO.
The Company had borrowed $83,046 under the promissory note, and the Note was paid in full at the closing of the IPO on February 9, 2021. As of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there was no balance and borrowing is no longer available under the promissory note.
Working Capital Loans
The holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and any warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans (and any Class A ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans) will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration and shareholder rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of the IPO. The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company registers such securities. In addition,
 
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the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the Company’s completion of the initial Business Combination. However, the registration and shareholder rights agreement provide that the Company will not permit any registration statement filed under the Securities Act to become effective until termination of the applicable lock-up periods with respect to such securities. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
On May 26, 2022, the Company issued a promissory note (the “Note”) in the amount of up to $2,000,000 to the Sponsor. The Note bears no interest and is repayable in full upon the earlier to occur of (i) the consummation of the Company’s initial business combination and (ii) the winding up of the Company. The Note also provides that up to $1,000,000 of the Note may be converted into a number of warrants, at a price of $1.00 per warrant, at the option of the Sponsor and at any time prior to payment in full of the outstanding principal amount of the Note. Such warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants issued to the Sponsor at the Company’s initial public offering. As of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there were no amounts outstanding under the Working Capital Loans.
Administrative Support Agreement
Commencing on the date the Company’s securities are first listed on the Nasdaq and through the earlier of the consummation of the initial Business Combination and the Company’s liquidation, the Company will reimburse an affiliate of the Sponsor for office space, secretarial and administrative services provided to the Company in the amount of $10,000 per month. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company incurred $30,000 and $60,000, respectively, of administrative support expense, respectively. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company incurred $30,000 and $47,143, respectively, of administrative support expense.
Due to Related Party
As of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company will reimburse an affiliate of the sponsor for expenses paid on its behalf in the amount of $862,265, and $17,384 respectively. The expenses include payment of professional fees, filing fees, and other operating expenses.
Note 5 — Commitments and Contingencies
Registration Rights
The holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and any warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans (and any Class A ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans) were entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration and shareholder rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of the IPO. The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company registers such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the Company’s completion of the initial Business Combination. However, the registration and shareholder rights agreement provide that the Company will not permit any registration statement filed under the Securities Act to become effective until termination of the applicable lock-up periods with respect to such securities. The company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Underwriting Agreement
The underwriter had a 45-day option from the date of the IPO to purchase up to an aggregate of 3,915,000 additional Units at the public offering price less the underwriting commissions to cover over-allotments, if any. On February 9, 2021, the underwriters partially exercised the over-allotment option purchasing an additional 3,900,000 Units.
On February 9, 2021, the underwriters were paid a cash underwriting fee of 2% of the gross proceeds of the IPO, totaling $6,000,000. In addition, $0.35 per unit, or approximately $10,500,000 in the aggregate,
 
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will be payable to the underwriters for deferred underwriting commissions. The deferred fee will become payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that the Company completes a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.
Merger Agreement
As described above, on May 26, 2022, the Company entered into the Merger Agreement.
Business Combination
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, immediately prior to the First Effective Time on the Closing Date, (i) the Seventh Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of ECARX (the “Amended Company Articles”) shall be adopted and become effective; (ii) each of the preferred shares of ECARX that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to such time shall be re-designated and re-classified into one ordinary share of ECARX (the “Preferred Share Conversion”); (iii) immediately after the Preferred Share Conversion, (x) issued and outstanding ordinary shares of ECARX (other than the Co-Founder Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement)) and certain authorized but unissued ordinary share of ECARX shall each be re-designated into one Class A ordinary shares of ECARX, par value of US$0.000005 per share (“ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares”), where each ECARX Class A Ordinary Share shall entitle its holder to one (1) vote on all matters subject to vote at general meetings of ECARX, (y) issued and outstanding Co-Founder Shares and certain authorized but unissued ordinary shares shall each be re-designated as one Class B ordinary shares of ECARX, par value of US$0.000005 per share (“ECARX Class B Ordinary Shares” and collectively with ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares, “ECARX Ordinary Shares”), where each ECARX Class B Ordinary Share shall entitle its holder to ten (10) votes on all matters subject to vote at general meetings of ECARX, and (z) certain authorized but unissued ordinary shares of ECARX shall each be re-designated as shares of par value of US$0.000005 each of such class or classes (however designated) as the board of directors of ECARX may determine in accordance with the Amended Company Articles (actions set forth in clause (iii) are referred to as the “Re-designation”); and (iv) each authorized issued and unissued ECARX Ordinary Share immediately prior to the First Effective Time shall be recapitalized by way of a repurchase in exchange for issuance of such number of ECARX Ordinary Shares equal to the Recapitalization Factor (as defined below) as described further in the Merger Agreement. Actions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) above are collectively referred to as the “Capital Restructuring.” The “Recapitalization Factor” is a number determined by dividing the Price per Share by $10.00. “Price per Share” is defined in the Merger Agreement as the amount equal to $3,400,000,000 divided by such amount equal to (a) the aggregate number of ECARX shares (i) that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Re-designation and (ii) that are issuable upon the exercise of all ECARX options and other equity securities of ECARX that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Re-designation (whether or not then vested or exercisable, as applicable), minus (b) the ECARX shares held by ECARX or any of its subsidiaries (if applicable) as treasury shares.
In addition, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the First Effective Time: (i) each of the Company’s units (“Units”) (each consisting of one of the Company’s Public Share (as defined below) and half of one of the Company’s public warrant (the “Public Warrants”)) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time shall be automatically separated and the holder thereof shall be deemed to hold one Public Share and one-half of one Public Warrant; provided, that, no fractional Public Warrants shall be issued in connection with such separation such that if a holder of such Units would be entitled to receive a fractional Public Warrant upon such separation, the number of Public Warrants to be issued to such holder upon such separation will be rounded down to the nearest whole number of Public Warrants and no cash will be paid in lieu of such fractional Public Warrants; (ii) immediately following the separation of each Unit, each Class A ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (“Public Shares”) and each Class B ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (“Founder Shares” collectively with Public Shares, “COVA Shares”) (excluding Public Shares that are held by the Company’s shareholders that validly exercise their redemption rights, COVA Shares that are held by the Company’s shareholders that exercise and perfect their relevant dissenters’ rights and the Company’s treasury shares) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time shall be cancelled and cease to exist and each holder thereof shall be entitled to receive one newly issued ECARX Class A Ordinary Share; and (iii) each whole warrant of the Company’s outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time shall cease to be a warrant with respect to Public Shares and be assumed by ECARX and converted into a warrant to
 
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purchase one ECARX Class A Ordinary Share (“ECARX Warrants”), subject to substantially the same terms and conditions prior to the First Effective Time.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (i) each ordinary share, par value US$0.000005 per share, of Merger Sub 1 that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time shall continue existing and constitute the only issued and outstanding share capital of Surviving Entity 1, (ii) each ordinary share of Surviving Entity 1 that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Second Effective Time will be automatically cancelled and cease to exist without any payment therefor, and (iii) each ordinary share, par value US$0.000005 per share, of Merger Sub 2 issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Second Effective Time shall remain outstanding and continue existing and constitute the only issued and outstanding share capital of Surviving Entity 2 and shall not be affected by the Second Merger.
Covenants
The Merger Agreement includes customary covenants of the parties with respect to operation of their respective businesses prior to consummation of the Proposed Business Combination and efforts to satisfy conditions to the consummation of the Proposed Business Combination. The Merger Agreement also contains additional covenants of the parties, including, among others, (i) a covenant providing for COVA and ECARX to cooperate in the preparation of the Registration Statement on Form F-4 required to be prepared and filed with the SEC in connection with the Mergers, (ii) covenants requiring COVA to establish a record date for, duly call and give notice of, convene and hold an extraordinary general meeting of the COVA shareholders as promptly as practicable following the date that the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), (iii) covenants requiring ECARX to establish a record date for, duly call and give notice of, convene and hold an extraordinary general meeting of the ECARX shareholders as promptly as practicable following the date that the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC under the Securities Act, and (iv) covenants prohibiting COVA and ECARX from, among other things, soliciting or negotiating with third parties regarding alternative transactions and agreeing to certain related restrictions and ceasing discussions regarding alternative transactions.
Conditions to the Consummation of the Transaction
Consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval of the Proposed Business Combination by the shareholders of COVA and ECARX. The Merger Agreement also contains other conditions, including, among others: (i) the accuracy of representations and warranties to various standards, from no materiality qualifier to a material adverse effect qualifier, (ii) the bringdown to Closing of a representation that no material adverse effect has occurred (both for COVA and ECARX); (iii) material compliance with pre-closing covenants, (iv) the delivery of customary closing certificates, (v) the absence of a legal prohibition on consummating the Transactions, (vi) ECARX’s listing application with Nasdaq being approved, (vii) COVA having at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets remaining after taking into account redemptions by COVA shareholders; and (viii) (a) all amounts in the trust account established for the purpose of holding the net proceeds of COVA’s initial public offering as of immediately prior to the Closing, plus (b) cash proceeds that will be funded prior to, concurrently with, or immediately after, the Closing to the Company in connection with the purchase of equity securities of the Company by investors on or prior to the Closing Date pursuant to a subscription or similar agreement executed by such investors and the Company after the date hereof, plus (c) proceeds in the form of cash or securities that have been funded or issued or will be funded or issued prior to, concurrently with, or immediately after, the Closing to the Company in connection with the Permitted Financing, minus (d) the aggregate amount payable to COVA shareholders exercising their redemption rights, in the aggregate equaling no less than $100,000,000.
Termination
The Merger Agreement may be terminated under customary and limited circumstances prior to the closing of the Proposed Business Combination, including, but not limited to: (i) by mutual written consent of COVA and ECARX, (ii) by either COVA or ECARX if the Proposed Business Combination is not consummated on or prior to the 300th day after the date of the Merger Agreement, (iii) by either COVA or ECARX if there is a final and nonappealable order issued by a Governmental Authority prohibiting the
 
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Proposed Business Combination, (iv) by ECARX if the board of directors of COVA (“COVA Board”) shall have failed to include a statement to the effect that COVA Board has unanimously recommended that COVA’s shareholders vote in favor of the Transaction Proposals at the duly convened meeting of COVA’s shareholders (such statement, the “COVA Board Recommendation”) in the proxy statement distributed to COVA’s shareholders or shall have withheld, withdrawn, qualified, amended or modified, or publicly proposed or resolved to withhold, withdraw, qualify, amend or modify, the COVA Board Recommendation, (v) by COVA if there is any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of ECARX set forth in the Merger Agreement, such that the conditions to COVA’s obligations to consummate the Transactions would not be satisfied at the Closing, and such breach cannot be or has not been cured within 60 days following receipt by ECARX of notice from COVA of such breach; provided that COVA shall not have the right to terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to this paragraph if it is then in material breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in the Merger Agreement, (vi) by ECARX if there is any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of COVA set forth in the Merger Agreement, such that the conditions to ECARX’s obligation to consummate the Transactions would not be satisfied at the closing, and such breach cannot be or has not been cured within 60 days following receipt by COVA of notice from ECARX of such breach; provided that ECARX shall not have the right to terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to this paragraph if it is then in material breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in the Merger Agreement, (vii) by COVA if the Proposed Business Combination and other related proposals are not approved by ECARX’s shareholders at the duly convened meeting of ECARX shareholders, and (viii) by ECARX if the Proposed Business Combination and other related proposals are not approved by COVA’s shareholders at the duly convened meeting of COVA’s shareholders.
Other Agreements
Strategic Investment Agreements
Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, ECARX entered into a strategic investment agreement with Luminar Technologies, Inc. (“Luminar”), pursuant to which Luminar agreed to subscribe for and purchase ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share for an aggregate investment amount of $15,000,000, payable in a certain number of shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Luminar or, at Luminar’s election, in cash. Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, ECARX entered into a strategic investment agreement with Geely Investment Holding Ltd. (“Geely”), pursuant to which Geely agreed to subscribe for and purchase ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $20,000,000 (together with the strategic investment by Luminar, the “Strategic Investments”). Pursuant the Strategic Investment Agreements, the obligations of the parties to consummate the Strategic Investments are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain customary closing conditions of the respective parties, including, among others, (i) all conditions precedent under the Merger Agreement having been satisfied or waived (other than those to be satisfied at the closing of the Proposed Business Combination) and the Proposed Business Combination having been consummated, (ii) the accuracy of representations and warranties in all material respects and (iii) material compliance with covenants.
Sponsor Support Agreement
Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, the Company, the Sponsor and ECARX entered into the Sponsor Support Agreement and Deed, pursuant to which Sponsor has agreed, among other things and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein: (a) in connection with the Closing, to surrender to COVA such number of Founder Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the aggregate amount payable with respect to all redeeming COVA Shares by $10.00, without consideration therefor, in the event that the amounts in the Trust Account immediately prior to the Closing (after deducting the SPAC Shareholder Redemption Amount) is less than $210 million, provided that the number of Founder Shares so surrendered shall not exceed 30% of the aggregate number of Founder Shares held by Sponsor as of immediately prior to the consummation of the Mergers (b) to vote in favor of the transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement and the other Transaction Proposals, (c) to waive the anti-dilution rights it held in respect of the Founder Shares under the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of COVA, (d) to appear at the extraordinary general meeting for purposes of constituting a
 
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quorum, (e) to vote against any proposals that would materially impede the transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement and the other Transaction Proposals, (f) not to redeem any COVA Shares held by Sponsor, (g) not to amend that certain letter agreement between COVA, Sponsor and certain other parties thereto, dated as of February 4, 2021, (h) not to transfer any COVA Shares held by Sponsor, subject to certain exceptions, (i) to unconditionally and irrevocably waive the dissenters’ rights pursuant to the Cayman Act in respect to all COVA Shares held by Sponsor with respect to the First Merger, to the extent applicable, and (j) for a period after the Closing specified therein, not to transfer ECARX Ordinary Shares, ECARX Warrants, and ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares received upon the exercise of any ECARX Warrants, if any, subject to certain exceptions.
ECARX Shareholder Support Agreement
Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, COVA, ECARX and certain of the shareholders of ECARX entered into the ECARX Shareholder Support Agreement and Deed, pursuant to which certain shareholders holding sufficient number, type and classes of the issued and outstanding ECARX Shares to approve the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement have agreed, among other things: (a) to vote in favor of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (b) to appear at the ECARX shareholders’ meeting in person or by proxy for purposes of counting towards a quorum, (c) to vote against any proposals that would or would be reasonably likely to in any material respect impede the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (d) not to transfer any ECARX shares held by such shareholder, subject to certain exceptions, and (e) for a period after the Closing specified therein, not to transfer certain ECARX shares held by such shareholder, if any, subject to certain exceptions.
Registration Rights Agreement
The Merger Agreement contemplates that, at the Closing, ECARX, COVA, Sponsor and certain shareholders of ECARX will enter into a registration rights agreement, to be effective as of the Closing, pursuant to which, among other things, ECARX will agree to undertake certain resale shelf registration obligations in accordance with the Securities Act and Sponsor and certain shareholders of ECARX will be granted customary demand and piggyback registration rights.
Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement
At the Closing, COVA, ECARX and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“Continental”) will enter into the Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement pursuant to which, among other things, COVA will assign all of its rights, interests and obligations in its existing warrant agreement with Continental (the “Warrant Agreement”) to ECARX, and the Warrant Agreement will be amended to change all references to COVA to ECARX and so that each warrant will represent the right to receive one whole ECARX Class A Ordinary Share
Note 6 — Warrant Liabilities
Public Warrants
Each whole warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares at a price of $11.50 per share. The warrants will become exercisable on the later of (a) 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination or (b) 12 months from the closing of the IPO; provided in each case that the Company has an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to them is available (or the Company permits holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis and such cashless exercise is exempt from registration under the Securities Act). The Company has agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days after the closing of the initial Business Combination, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective within 60 business days after the closing of the initial Business Combination and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating to those Class A ordinary shares until the warrants expire or are redeemed, as specified in the warrant agreement; provided that if the Company’s Class A ordinary shares are at the time of any
 
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exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, the Company may, at its option, require holders of public warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event the Company so elects, the Company will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but the Company will use its commercially reasonably efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available. If a registration statement covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the 60th day after the closing of the initial Business Combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when the Company will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption, but the Company will use its commercially reasonably efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.
The warrants will expire five years after the completion of a Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
The exercise price and number of shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a share dividend or recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. In addition, if (x) the Company issues additional Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of the initial Business Combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per Class A ordinary share (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the Company’s board of directors and in the case of any such issuance to the Company’s sponsors or their affiliates, without taking into account any Founder Shares held by the Company’s Sponsors or such affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of the initial Business Combination on the date of the consummation of the initial Business Combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company consummates its initial Business Combination (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, then the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price described below under “Redemption of warrants when the price per Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $18.00” will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.
Redemption of warrants when the price per Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $18.00:
Once the warrants become exercisable, the Company may call the outstanding warrants for redemption (except as described herein with respect to the Private Placement Warrants):

in whole and not in part;

at a price of $0.01 per warrant;

upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder; and

if, and only if, the last reported sale price (the “closing price”) of Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders.
If the Company calls the Public Warrants for redemption, management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise the Public Warrants to do so on a “cashless basis,” as described in the warrant agreement. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle any Warrants. If the Company is unable to complete the initial Business Combination within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of warrants will not receive any of such funds with respect to their warrants, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company’s assets held outside of the Trust Account with the respect to such warrants. Accordingly, the warrants may expire worthless.
 
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Private Warrants
The Private Placement Warrants are identical to those of the warrants being sold as part of the units in the IPO. The Private Placement Warrants (including the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination and they will not be redeemable by the Company so long as they are held by the Sponsor or its permitted transferees.
Note 7 — Shareholders’ Deficit
Preference shares — The Company is authorized to issue a total of 5,000,000 preference shares at par value of $0.0001 each. At June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there were no shares of preference shares issued or outstanding.
Class A Ordinary shares — The Company is authorized to issue a total of 500,000,000 Class A ordinary shares at par value of $0.0001 each. At June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there were no shares issued and outstanding, excluding 30,000,000 shares subject to possible redemption.
Class B Ordinary shares — The Company is authorized to issue a total of 50,000,000 Class B ordinary shares at par value of $0.0001 each. At June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there were 7,500,000 shares issued and outstanding.
Ordinary shareholders of record are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by shareholders. Except as described below, holders of Class A ordinary shares and holders of Class B ordinary shares will vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders except as required by law. The Class B ordinary shares will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares (which such Class A ordinary shares delivered upon conversion will not have redemption rights or be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account if the Company does not consummate an initial business combination) at the time of the initial Business Combination or earlier at the option of the holders thereof at a ratio such that the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of all Founder Shares will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the sum of (i) the total number of ordinary shares issued and outstanding upon completion of the IPO, plus (ii) the total number of Class A ordinary shares issued or deemed issued or issuable upon conversion or exercise of any equity-linked securities or rights issued or deemed issued, by the Company in connection with or in relation to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, excluding any Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities exercisable for or convertible into Class A ordinary shares issued, deemed issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial Business Combination and any Private Placement Warrants issued to the Sponsor, its affiliates or any member of the Company’s management team upon conversion of Working Capital Loans. In no event will the Class B ordinary shares convert into Class A ordinary shares at a rate of less than one-to-one.
Note 8 — Fair Value Measurements
The following tables present information about the Company’s liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation inputs the Company utilized to determine such fair value:
June 30,
2022
Quoted
Prices In
Active
Markets
(Level 1)
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Other
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Assets:
U.S. government securities and sweep funds in Trust account
$ 300,613,622 $ 300,613,622 $ $
Liabilities:
Public Warrants Liabilities
$ 1,500,000 $ 1,500,000 $ $
Private Placement Warrants Liabilities
898,733 898,733
$ 2,398,733 $ 1,500,000 $ $ 898,733
 
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December 31,
2021
Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets
(Level 1)
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Other
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Assets:
U.S. government securities and sweep funds in Trust account
$ 300,053,996 $ 300,053,996 $ $
Liabilities:
Public Warrants Liabilities
$ 7,350,000 $ 7,350,000 $ $
Private Placement Warrants Liabilities
4,397,850 4,397,850
$ 11,747,850 $ 7,350,000 $ $ 4,397,850
The Warrants are accounted for as liabilities in accordance with ASC 815-40 and are presented within warrant liabilities on the condensed balance sheets. The warrant liabilities are measured at fair value at inception and on a recurring basis, with changes in fair value presented within change in fair value of warrant liabilities in the unaudited condensed statements of operations.
The Company established the initial fair value of the Public Warrants on February 9, 2021, the date of the Company’s IPO, using a Monte Carlo simulation model, and as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 by using the associated trading price of the Public Warrants. The Company established the fair value of the Private Placement Warrants on February 9, 2021 and on June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 by using a modified Monte Carlo simulation model. The Public and Private Warrants were classified as Level 3 at the initial measurement date due to the use of unobservable inputs. The Public Warrants were subsequently classified as Level 1 as the subsequent valuation was based upon the trading price of the Public Warrants. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, there were no transfer between Levels 1, 2 or 3.
The key inputs into the Monte Carlo simulation as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 were as follows:
June 30,
2022
December 31,
2021
Inputs
Risk-free interest rate
2.95% 1.09%
Expected term to merger
0.10 0.60
Expected volatility
4.23% 12.40%
Notional exercise price
$ 1.00 $ 1.00
The following table provides a reconciliation of changes in fair value of the beginning and ending balances for the Company’s assets and liabilities classified as Level 3:
Warrant
Liabilities
Fair Value at January 1, 2021
$
Initial classification of Public and Private Warrant liability at February 9, 2021
27,807,680
Change in Fair Value
354,880
Public Warrants reclassified to Level 1
(17,250,000)
Fair Value at March 31, 2021
10,912,560
Change in Fair Value
(6,514,710)
Fair Value at December 31, 2021
$ 4,397,850
Change in Fair Value
(3,499,117)
Fair Value at June 30, 2022
$ 898,733
 
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The carrying value, excluding gross unrealized holding loss and fair value of held-to-maturity securities on June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, is as follows:
Carrying
Value as of
June 30, 2022
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Fair Value
as of
June 30, 2022
U.S. Treasury Securities
$ 300,604,289 $ $ (137,487) $ 300,466,802
$ 300,604,289 $ $ (137,487) $ 300,466,802
Carrying
Value as of
December 31,
2021
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Fair Value
as of
December 31,
2021
U.S. Treasury Securities
$ 300,053,216 $ 4,157 $ $ 300,057,373
$ 300,053,216 $ 4,157 $ $ 300,057,373
Note 9 — Subsequent Events
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the condensed balance sheet date up to the date that the unaudited condensed financial statements were issued. Based upon this review, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the unaudited condensed financial statements.
 
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Annex A
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
by and among
ECARX Holdings Inc.,
Ecarx Temp Limited,
Ecarx&Co Limited
and
COVA Acquisition Corp.
dated as of May 26, 2022
 
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
A-4
A-18
ARTICLE II
TRANSACTIONS; CLOSING
A-19
A-20
A-22
A-23
A-24
A-25
A-25
A-25
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
A-26
A-26
A-26
A-27
A-28
A-28
A-29
A-30
A-31
A-32
A-32
A-33
A-33
A-33
A-34
A-37
A-38
A-39
A-39
A-39
A-39
A-39
A-40
 
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Page
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SPAC
A-40
A-40
A-41
A-41
A-42
A-42
A-43
A-44
A-44
A-44
A-44
A-44
A-45
A-45
A-45
A-46
A-46
A-46
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
A-46
A-48
A-48
A-48
A-49
A-49
A-50
A-50
A-50
A-51
A-51
A-51
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS OF SPAC
A-51
A-52
A-53
A-53
A-53
A-53
 
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Page
ARTICLE VII
JOINT COVENANTS
A-53
A-54
A-57
A-57
A-58
A-58
ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS
A-58
A-59
A-59
A-60
ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION/EFFECTIVENESS
A-60
A-61
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
A-61
A-61
A-61
A-62
A-63
A-63
A-63
A-63
A-64
A-64
A-64
A-64
A-64
A-65
A-65
A-65
A-65
A-65
A-66
 
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Exhibits
Exhibit A
Sponsor Support Agreement
Exhibit B
Company Support Agreement
Exhibit C
Registration Rights Agreement
Exhibit D
Form of First Plan of Merger
Exhibit E
Form of Second Plan of Merger
Exhibit F
Form of A&R Company Charter
Exhibit G
Material Terms of Company 2022 Equity Incentive Plan
Exhibit H
Form of Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement
Exhibit I
Strategic Investment Agreement
Exhibit J
VIE Restructuring Plan
Exhibit K
Strategic Investment Agreement
Schedules
SPAC Disclosure Letter
Company Disclosure Letter
 
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INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS
A&R Company Charter
2.1(a)
Action
1.1
Affiliate
1.1
Aggregate Proceeds
1.1
Agreement
Preamble
AI Technologies
1.1
Anti-Corruption Laws
3.7(d)
Anti-Money Laundering Laws
1.1
Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement
Recitals
Audited Financial Statements
3.9(a)
Authorization Notice
2.2(c)(i)
Benefit Plan
1.1
Business Combination
1.1
Business Data
1.1
Business Day
1.1
CAC
8.2(c)
Capital Restructuring
2.1(d)(ii)
Cayman Act
Recitals
Closing
2.2(a)
Closing Date
2.2(a)
Code
1.1
Co-Founder Shares
1.1
Company
Preamble
Company 2022 Equity Incentive Plan
5.4
Company Acquisition Proposal
1.1
Company AI Policies
3.15(h)
Company Board
Recitals
Company Board Recommendation
7.2(c)(ii)
Company Charter
1.1
Company Class A Ordinary Shares
1.1
Company Class B Ordinary Shares
1.1
Company Closing Statement
2.4(a)(ii)
Company Contract
1.1
Company Directors
5.7
Company Disclosure Letter
III
Company Financial Statements
3.9(a)
Company IP
1.1
Company Lease
3.14(c)
Company Material Adverse Effect
1.1
Company Material Lease
3.14(c)
Company Options
1.1
 
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Company Ordinary Shares
1.1
Company Product
1.1
Company Shareholder
1.1
Company Shareholders’ Approval
1.1
Company Shareholders’ Meeting
7.2(c)(i)
Company Shares
1.1
Company Source Code
3.15(j)
Company Support Agreement
Recitals
Company Transaction Expenses
1.1
Company Warrant
2.3(d)
Competing SPAC
1.1
Consent Party
Recitals
Contract
1.1
Control
1.1
Controlled
1.1
Controlling
1.1
Copyleft License
1.1
COVID-19
1.1
COVID-19 Measures
1.1
CSRC
8.2(c)
Cybersecurity Laws
1.1
Data Secutity Laws
1.1
Disclosure Letter
1.1
Dissenting SPAC Shareholders
2.7(a)
Dissenting SPAC Shares
2.7(a)
DTC
1.1
Encumbrance
1.1
Enforceability Exceptions
Section 3.5(a)
Environmental Laws
1.1
Equity Securities
1.1
ERISA
1.1
ERISA Affiliate
1.1
ESOP
1.1
Event
1.1
Exchange Act
1.1
Exchange Agent
2.5(a)
First Effective Time
2.2(a)
First Merger
Recitals
First Merger Filing Documents
2.2(a)
First Plan of Merger
1.1
Fully-Diluted Company Shares
1.1
GAAP
1.1
Government Official
1.1
Governmental Authority
1.1
 
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Governmental Order
1.1
Group
1.1
Group Companies
1.1
Group Company
1.1
Indebtedness
1.1
Intellectual Property
1.1
Intended Tax Treatment
7.4
Interim Period
5.1
Intervening Event
1.1
Intervening Event Notice
7.2(b)(ii)
Intervening Event Notice Period
7.2(b)(ii)
Investment Company Act
1.1
Investors Rights Agreement
1.1
IP Contributor
3.15(b)
IPO
10.1
IT Systems
3.16(g)
Knowledge of SPAC
1.1
Knowledge of the Company
1.1
Law
1.1
Leased Real Property
1.1
Liabilities
1.1
Major Customers
1.1
Major Suppliers
1.1
Management Accounts
3.9(b)
Material Contracts
1.1
Material Permit
3.7(g)
Merger Consideration
1.1
Merger Sub 1
Preamble
Merger Sub 2
Preamble
Merger Subs
Preamble
Mergers
Recitals
Nasdaq
4.16
NDA
1.1
Non-Recourse Parties
10.17
Non-Recourse Party
10.17
OFAC
1.1
Open Source Software
1.1
Ordinary Course
1.1
Ordinary Shares
1.1
Organizational Documents
1.1
Orrick
10.19
Owned IP
1.1
Parties
Preamble
Party
Preamble
 
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Patents
1.1
Permitted Encumbrances
1.1
Permitted Financing
1.1
Permitted Financing Agreement
1.1
Permitted Financing Proceeds
1.1
Person
1.1
Personal Data
1.1
PRC
1.1
Preferred Share Conversion
2.1(b)
Preferred Shares
1.1
Price per Share
1.1
Privacy Laws
1.1
Privacy Obligation
1.1
Privacy Policy
1.1
Process
1.1
Processed
1.1
Processing
1.1
Prohibited Person
1.1
Proxy Statement
1.1
Proxy/Registration Statement
7.2(a)(i)
Recapitalization
2.1(d)(i)
Recapitalization Factor
1.1
Redeeming SPAC Shares
1.1
Re-designation
2.1(c)
Registered IP
1.1
Registrable Securities
1.1
Registration Rights Agreement
Recitals
Regulatory Approvals
7.1(a)
Regulatory Opinion
8.2(c)
Related Party
1.1
Remaining Trust Fund Proceeds
2.4(b)(iv)
Representatives
1.1
Required Governmental Authorizations
1.1
Required Shareholders’ Approval
1.1
Requisite Shareholder Consent
1.1
restraint
8.1(f)
Sanctioned Territory
1.1
Sanctions
1.1
Sarbanes-Oxley Act
1.1
SEC
1.1
Second Effective Time
2.2(b)
Second Merger
Recitals
Second Merger Filing Documents
2.2(b)
Second Plan of Merger
1.1
 
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Securities Act
1.1
Security Incident
1.1
Series A Preferred Shares
1.1
Series A+ Preferred Shares
1.1
Series A++ Preferred Shares
1.1
Series Angel Preferred Shares
1.1
Series B Preferred Shares
1.1
Shareholder Litigation
7.5
SPAC
Preamble
SPAC Accounts Date
1.1
SPAC Acquisition Proposal
1.1
SPAC Board
Recitals
SPAC Board Recommendation
7.2(b)(ii)
SPAC Change in Recommendation
7.2(b)(ii)
SPAC Charter
1.1
SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares
1.1
SPAC Class B Conversion
2.3(a)
SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares
1.1
SPAC Closing Statement
2.4(a)(i)
SPAC D&O Indemnified Parties
5.6(a)
SPAC D&O Insurance
5.6(b)
SPAC D&O Tail
5.6(b)
SPAC Disclosure Letter
IV
SPAC Financial Statements
4.7(a)
SPAC Material Adverse Effect
1.1
SPAC Ordinary Shares
1.1
SPAC Preference Shares
1.1
SPAC SEC Filings
4.12
SPAC Securities
1.1
SPAC Shareholder
1.1
SPAC Shareholder Redemption Amount
1.1
SPAC Shareholder Redemption Right
1.1
SPAC Shareholders’ Approval
1.1
SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting
7.2(b)(i)
SPAC Shares
1.1
SPAC Transaction Expenses
1.1
SPAC Unit
1.1
SPAC Warrant
1.1
Sponsor
Recitals
Sponsor Group
10.19
Sponsor Shares Forfeiture
Recitals
Sponsor Support Agreement
Recitals
Strategic Investment Agreements
Recitals
Subsequent Equity Financing
1.1
 
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Subsequent Equity Financing Proceeds
1.1
Subsequent Equity Subscription Agreements
1.1
Subsidiary
1.1
Surviving Entity 1
Recitals
Surviving Entity 2
Recitals
Tax
1.1
Tax Returns
1.1
Taxes
1.1
Terminating Company Breach
9.1(e)
Terminating SPAC Breach
9.1(f)
Third Party Data
1.1
Trade Control Laws
1.1
Trade Secrets
1.1
Trademarks
1.1
Training Data
1.1
Transaction Document
1.1
Transaction Documents
1.1
Transaction Proposals
1.1
Transactions
1.1
Trust Account
10.1
Trust Agreement
4.13
Trustee
4.13
U.S.
1.1
under common Control with
1.1
Union
1.1
Unit Separation
2.3(a)
VIE Restructuring
1.1
VIE Restructuring Agreement
1.1
Warrant Agreement
1.1
Written Objection
2.2(c)
 
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
This Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 26, 2022 (this “Agreement”), is made and entered into by and among (i) ECARX Holdings Inc., an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”), (ii) Ecarx Temp Limited, an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub 1”), (iii) Ecarx&Co Limited, an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub 2”, and together with Merger Sub 1, the “Merger Subs”), and (iv) COVA Acquisition Corp., an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (“SPAC”). Each of the Company, Merger Sub 1, Merger Sub 2 and SPAC are individually referred to herein as a “Party” and, collectively, as the “Parties.”
RECITALS
WHEREAS, SPAC is a blank check company and was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses;
WHEREAS, each of the Merger Subs is a newly incorporated Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares, wholly owned by the Company, and was formed for the purpose of effectuating the Mergers (as defined below);
WHEREAS, immediately following the Capital Restructuring (as defined below), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the “Cayman Act”), at the Closing (as defined below), Merger Sub 1 will merge with and into SPAC (the “First Merger”), with SPAC being the surviving company (as defined in the Cayman Act) and becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (SPAC is hereinafter referred to for the periods from and after the First Effective Time as “Surviving Entity 1”);
WHEREAS, immediately following the consummation of the First Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Cayman Act, Surviving Entity 1 will merge with and into Merger Sub 2 (the “Second Merger” and together with the First Merger, collectively, the “Mergers”), with Merger Sub 2 being the surviving company (as defined in the Cayman Act) and remaining a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (Merger Sub 2 is hereinafter referred to for the periods from and after the Second Effective Time as the “Surviving Entity 2”);
WHEREAS, the Company has received, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, a Sponsor Support Agreement and Deed in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Sponsor Support Agreement”) signed by the Company, SPAC, COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC, a Cayman Islands limited liability company (“Sponsor”), pursuant to which, among other things, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, Sponsor agrees (a) that if immediately prior to the Closing the amounts in the Trust Account (after deducting the SPAC Shareholder Redemption Amount) are less than $210 million, it will surrender to SPAC such number of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the SPAC Shareholder Redemption Amount by $10.00, without consideration therefor; provided that the number of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares so surrendered shall not under any circumstances exceed thirty percent (30%) of the aggregate number of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares held by Sponsor as of the date hereof (the “Sponsor Shares Forfeiture”); (b) to vote all SPAC Shares held by Sponsor in favor of (i) the Transactions and (ii) the other Transaction Proposals; (c) to waive the anti-dilution rights of the holders of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares under the SPAC Charter; (d) to appear at the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting in person or by proxy for purposes of counting towards a quorum; (e) to vote all SPAC Shares held by Sponsor against any proposals that would or would be reasonably likely to materially impede the Transactions or any other Transaction Proposal; (f) not to redeem any SPAC Shares held by Sponsor in connection with the Transactions; (g) not to amend that certain letter agreement between SPAC, Sponsor and certain other parties thereto, dated as of February 4, 2021 (other than any terms set forth therein that are amended and restated in accordance with the Sponsor Support Agreement); (h) not to transfer any SPAC Securities held by Sponsor, subject to certain exceptions; (i) to unconditionally and irrevocably waive the dissenters’ rights pursuant to the Cayman Act in respect to all SPAC Shares held by Sponsor with respect to the First Merger,
 
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to the extent applicable; and (j) not to transfer Company Ordinary Shares, Company Warrants, or Company Ordinary Shares received upon the exercise of any Company Warrants, if any, during the respective periods as set forth therein, subject to certain exceptions;
WHEREAS, SPAC has received concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, a Shareholder Support Agreement and Deed in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Company Support Agreement”) signed by the Company, SPAC and Company Shareholders holding sufficient number, type and classes of Company Shares to obtain the Company Shareholders’ Approval (each such Company Shareholder, a “Consent Party”), pursuant to which, among other things, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, each Consent Party agrees (a) to vote all of such Consent Party’s Company Shares in favor of the Transactions, (b) to, if applicable, appear at the Company Shareholders’ Meeting in person or by proxy for purposes of counting towards a quorum, (c) to vote all Company Shares held by such Consent Party against any proposals that would or would be reasonably likely to materially impede the Transactions, (d) not to transfer any Company Shares held by such Company Shareholders, subject to certain exceptions, and (e) for the period after the Closing specified therein, not to transfer certain Company Shares held by such Company Shareholders, if any, subject to certain exceptions;
WHEREAS, at the Closing, the Company, Sponsor, SPAC and certain Company Shareholders shall enter into a registration rights agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “Registration Rights Agreement”);
WHEREAS, at the Closing, the Company, SPAC and the warrant agent thereunder shall enter into an assignment, assumption and amendment agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit H (the “Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement”) pursuant to which, among other things, (i) SPAC will assign to the Company all of its rights, interests, and obligations in and under the Warrant Agreement, and (ii) the Warrant Agreement will be amended (a) to change all references to Warrants (as such term is defined therein) to Company Warrants (and all references to Ordinary Shares (as such term is defined therein) underlying such warrants to Company Class A Ordinary Shares) and (b) to cause each outstanding Company Warrant to represent the right to receive, from the Closing, one whole Company Class A Ordinary Share;
WHEREAS, on or before the date of this Agreement, certain strategic investor has agreed to make a private investment in the Company to purchase an aggregate of 2,000,000 Company Class A Ordinary Shares in the aggregate cash amount of $20,000,000 at a price per share equal to $10.00 on the Closing Date and substantially concurrent with the Closing (but after the consummation of the Capital Restructuring), pursuant to a Strategic Investment Agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit I;
WHEREAS, on or before the date of this Agreement, certain strategic investor has agreed to make a private investment in the Company to purchase an aggregate of 1,500,000 Company Class A Ordinary Shares at a price per share equal to $10.00 on the Closing Date and substantially concurrent with the Closing (but after the consummation of the Capital Restructuring), and as consideration, to issue and sell to the Company certain number of shares of Class A common stock of such strategic investor with an aggregate value of $15,000,000 or, at such strategic investor’s election, pay cash in the aggregate amount of $15,000,000, pursuant to a Strategic Investment Agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit K (together with the Strategic Investment Agreement in the preceding paragraph, collectively, the “Strategic Investment Agreements”);
WHEREAS, the board of directors of SPAC (the “SPAC Board”) has unanimously (a) determined that (x) it is fair to, advisable and in the best interests of SPAC to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the Mergers and the other Transactions, and (y) the Transactions constitute a “Business Combination” as such term is defined in the SPAC Charter, (b) (i) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the execution, delivery and performance hereof, the Mergers and the other Transactions, and (ii) approved and declared advisable the First Plan of Merger, the Second Plan of Merger, the Sponsor Support Agreement, the Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement, the Company Support Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, each other Transaction Document to which SPAC is a party and the execution, delivery and performance thereof, (c) resolved to recommend the adoption of this Agreement, the First Plan of Merger and the Second Plan of Merger by the shareholders of SPAC, and
 
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(d) directed that this Agreement, the First Plan of Merger and the Second Plan of Merger be submitted to the shareholders of SPAC for their approval at the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting;
WHEREAS, (a) the sole director of Merger Sub 1 has (i) determined that it is desirable and in the commercial interests of Merger Sub 1 to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the First Merger and the other Transactions, (ii) approved and declared desirable this Agreement and the First Plan of Merger and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the First Plan of Merger and the consummation of the Transactions and (b) the Company, in its capacity as the sole shareholder of Merger Sub 1, has approved the First Plan of Merger by a written resolution;
WHEREAS, (a) the sole director of Merger Sub 2 has (i) determined that it is desirable and in the commercial interests of Merger Sub 2 to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the Second Merger and the other Transactions, (ii) approved and declared desirable this Agreement and the Second Plan of Merger and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Second Plan of Merger and the consummation of the Transactions and (b) the Company, in its capacity as the sole shareholder of Merger Sub 2 and in its capacity as the sole shareholder of Surviving Entity 1 at the time of the Second Merger, respectively, has approved the Second Plan of Merger by a written resolution; and
WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company (the “Company Board”) has (a) determined that this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party and the consummation of the Transactions would be in the best interests of the Company, (b) (i) authorized and approved the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party and the consummation of the Transactions, and (iii) resolved to direct this Agreement be submitted to the shareholders of the Company for adoption.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Company, Merger Sub 1, Merger Sub 2 and SPAC agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1.   Definitions.   As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Action” means any charge, claim, action, complaint, petition, prosecution, investigation, appeal, suit, litigation, arbitration or other similar proceeding initiated or conducted by a mediator, arbitrator or Governmental Authority, whether administrative, civil, regulatory or criminal, and whether at law or in equity, or otherwise under any applicable Law;
Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person which, directly or indirectly, Controls, is Controlled by or is under common Control with such Person. In the case of a Person which is a fund or which is directly or indirectly Controlled by a fund, the term “Affiliate” also includes (a) any of the general partners of such fund, (b) the fund manager managing such fund, any other person which, directly or indirectly, Controls such fund or such fund manager, or any other funds managed by such fund manager and (c) trusts (excluding the Trust Account for all purposes other than for the sole purpose of the release of the proceeds of the Trust Account in accordance with this Agreement and the Trust Agreement) Controlled by or for the benefit of any Person referred to in (a) or (b);
Aggregate Proceeds” means, without duplication, an amount equal to (a) all amounts in the Trust Account immediately prior to the Closing (after deducting the SPAC Shareholder Redemption Amount) plus (b) Permitted Financing Proceeds plus (c) Subsequent Equity Financing Proceeds.
Anti-Money Laundering Laws” means all financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements and all money laundering related Laws and any related or similar Law issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Authority and applicable to the Group Companies.
AI Technologies” means any and all deep learning, machine learning, and other artificial intelligence technologies, including any and all: (a) proprietary algorithms, software, or systems that make use of or employ neural networks, statistical learning algorithms (such as linear and logistic regression, support vector
 
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machines, random forests, or k-means clustering), or reinforcement learning; and (b) proprietary embodied artificial intelligence and related hardware or equipment.
Benefit Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” ​(as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not subject to ERISA) and compensation or benefit plan, program, policy, practice, Contract or other arrangement, including any compensation, severance, termination pay, deferred compensation, retirement, profit sharing, incentive, bonus, health, welfare, performance awards, equity or equity-based compensation (including stock option, equity purchase, equity ownership and restricted stock unit), disability, death benefit, life insurance, fringe benefits, indemnification, retention or stay-bonus, transaction or change-in control agreement, or other compensation or benefits, whether written, unwritten or otherwise, that is sponsored, maintained, contributed to or required to be contributed to by the Company or its ERISA Affiliates for the benefit of any current or former employee, director or officer or individual contractor of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case other than any statutory benefit plan mandated by Law;
Business Combination” has the meaning given in the SPAC Charter;
Business Data” means confidential or proprietary data, databases, data compilations and data collections (including customer databases, Training Data and Third-Party Data), and technical, business and other information and data, including Personal Data collected, used, stored, shared, distributed, transferred, disclosed, destroyed, disposed of or otherwise Processed by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
Business Day” means a day on which commercial banks are open for business in New York, U.S., the Cayman Islands and the PRC, except a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday (gazetted or ungazetted and whether scheduled or unscheduled);
Co-Founder Shares” means all of the Company Shares held by Mr. Ziyu Shen and 20,520,820 Company Shares held by Mr. Shufu Li immediately prior to the Re-designation;
Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;
Company Acquisition Proposal” means (a) any, direct or indirect, acquisition by any third party, in one transaction or a series of transactions, of the Company or of more than 20% of the consolidated total assets, Equity Securities or businesses of the Company and its Controlled Affiliates taken as a whole (whether by merger, consolidation, scheme of arrangement, business combination, reorganization, recapitalization, purchase or issuance of Equity Securities, purchase of assets, tender offer or otherwise) other than the Transactions; (b) any direct or indirect acquisition by any third party, in one transaction or a series of transactions, of voting Equity Securities representing more than 20%, by voting power, of (x) the Company (whether by merger, consolidation, recapitalization, purchase or issuance of Equity Securities, tender offer or otherwise) or (y) the Company’s Controlled Affiliates which comprise more than 20% of the consolidated total assets, revenues or earning power of the Company and its Controlled Affiliates taken as a whole other than the Transactions, (c) any direct or indirect acquisition by any third party, in one transaction or a series of transactions, of more than 20% of the consolidated total assets, revenues or earning power of the Company and its Controlled Affiliates taken as a whole, other than by SPAC or its Affiliates or pursuant to the Transactions or (d) the issuance by the Company of more than 20% of its voting Equity Securities as consideration for the assets or securities of a third party (whether an entity, business or otherwise), except in any such case as permitted under Section 5.1(c) or Section 5.1(d);
Company Charter” means the Sixth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, adopted pursuant to a special resolution passed on December 27, 2021;
Company Class A Ordinary Shares” means class A ordinary shares of the Company, par value $0.000005 per share, as further described in the A&R Company Charter;
Company Class B Ordinary Shares” means class B ordinary shares of the Company, par value $$0.000005 per share, as further described in the A&R Company Charter;
Company Contract” means any Contract to which a Group Company is a party or by which a Group Company is bound and for which performance of substantive obligations is ongoing;
 
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Company IP” means, collectively:   (a) all Owned IP and (b) all other Intellectual Property that has been licensed to the Group Companies under a valid and enforceable written agreement, or any valid and enforceable written agreement under which the Company is the beneficiary of a covenant not to sue, or any other agreement not to assert claims involving Intellectual Property (or any rights therein) or that is otherwise used in, held for use in, or necessary to the Company’s conduct of its business.
Company Material Adverse Effect” means any Event that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on (i) the business, assets and liabilities, results of operations or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (ii) the ability of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or either Merger Sub to consummate the Transactions; provided, however, that in no event would any of the following, alone or in combination, be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been or will be, a “Company Material Adverse Effect”: (a) any change in applicable Laws or GAAP or any interpretation thereof following the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in interest rates or economic, political, business or financial market conditions generally, (c) the taking or refraining from taking of any action required to be taken or refrained from being taken under this Agreement, (d) any natural disaster (including hurricanes, storms, tornados, flooding, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or similar occurrences), epidemic or pandemic (including any COVID-19 Measures or any change in such COVID-19 Measures or interpretations following the date of this Agreement), acts of nature or change in climate, (e) any acts of terrorism or war, the outbreak or escalation of hostilities, geopolitical conditions, local, national or international political conditions, riots or insurrections, (f) any failure in and of itself of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries to meet any projections or forecasts, provided, however, that the exception in this clause (f) shall not prevent or otherwise affect a determination that any change, effect or development underlying such change has resulted in or contributed to a Company Material Adverse Effect, (g) any Events generally applicable to the industries or markets in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries operate, (h) any action taken by, or at the written request of, SPAC, (i) the announcement of this Agreement and consummation of the Transactions, including any termination of, reduction in or similar adverse impact (but in each case only to the extent attributable to the announcement of this Agreement or consummation of the Transactions) on the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ relationships with any customers, suppliers, employees or Governmental Authorities (provided that this clause (i) shall not apply to any representations or warranty to the extent the purpose of such representation or warranty is to address the consequences resulting from this Agreement or the consummation of the Transaction) or (j) any Events that are cured by the Company prior to the Closing; provided, however, that in the case of each of clauses (a), (b), (d), (e) and (g), any such Event to the extent it disproportionately affects the Company or any of its Subsidiaries relative to other similarly situated participants in the industries and geographies in which such Persons operate shall not be excluded from the determination of whether there has been, or would reasonably be expected to be, a Company Material Adverse Effect, but only to the extent of the incremental disproportionate effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to such similarly situated participants;
Company Options” means all outstanding options exercisable to purchase Company Shares pursuant to the ESOP or otherwise, as adjusted to give effect to the Re-designation and Recapitalization;
Company Ordinary Shares” means, collectively, Company Class A Ordinary Shares and Company Class B Ordinary Shares;
Company Product” means each of the products and services that have been (i) developed and are scheduled for release within the twelve (12) months after the date hereof or (ii) marketed, distributed, licensed, sold, offered, or otherwise provided or made available, in each case, by any of the Group Companies, including with respect to (i) and (ii) products and services of any of the Group Companies that employ or make use of AI Technologies, including all versions of all of the foregoing.
Company Shareholder” means any holder of any issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares, Preferred Shares or Company Ordinary Shares, as applicable, as of any determination time prior to the First Effective Time;
Company Shares” means, collectively, the Ordinary Shares and the Preferred Shares;
Company Transaction Expenses” means any out of pocket fees and expenses payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates (whether or not billed or accrued for) as a result of or in connection
 
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with the negotiation, documentation and consummation of the Transactions, including (a) all fees, costs, expenses, brokerage fees, commissions, finders’ fees and disbursements of financial advisors, investment banks, data room administrators, attorneys, accountants and other advisors and service providers, including consultants and public relations firms, (b) any and all filing fees payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates to the Governmental Authorities in connection with the Transactions and (c) the cost of the SPAC D&O Insurance or SPAC D&O Tail, as applicable, except that the Company shall only be responsible for fifty percent (50%) of the fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with (y) any filing, submission or application for the Governmental Order pertaining to the anti-trust Laws applicable to the Transactions, and (z) the preparation, filing and mailing of the Proxy/Registration Statement in connection with the Transactions.
Company Shareholders’ Approval” means (i) (x) the adoption of the A&R Company Charter and (y) the Re-designation, in each case, by the Company Shareholders by a special resolution passed by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the issued and outstanding Company Shares, voting together as a single class, which, being entitled to do so, attend and vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting of the Company at which a quorum is present and of which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been duly given, or by unanimous written resolutions approved by all of the Company Shareholders entitled to vote at a general meeting of the Company, pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of the Company Charter and applicable Law, (ii) the approval of the Recapitalization by the Company Shareholders by an ordinary resolution passed by the affirmative vote of the holders of a simple majority of the issued and outstanding Company Shares which, being entitled to do so, attend and vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting of the Company at which a quorum is present and of which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as an ordinary resolution has been duly given, or by unanimous written resolutions approved by all of the Company Shareholders entitled to vote at a general meeting of the Company, pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of the Company Charter and applicable Law ((i) and (ii) are collectively referred to as the “Required Shareholders’ Approval”), and (iii) the approval of the Mergers, the Recapitalization and other Transactions by written consent of each of Baidu and Suzhou Fund (each as defined in the Company Charter and the Investors Rights Agreement) (the “Requisite Shareholder Consent”);
Competing SPAC” means any publicly traded special purpose acquisition company other than SPAC;
Contract” means any legally binding written, oral or other agreement, contract, subcontract, lease, instrument, note, option, warranty, purchase order, license, sublicense, mortgage, guarantee, purchase order, insurance policy or commitment or undertaking of any nature that has any outstanding rights or obligations;
Control” in relation to any Person means (a) the direct or indirect ownership of, or ability to direct the casting of, more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting rights conferred by all the shares then in issue and conferring the right to vote at all general meetings of such Person; (b) the ability to appoint or remove a majority of the directors of the board or equivalent governing body of such Person; (c) the right to control the votes at a meeting of the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of such Person; or (d) the ability to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by Contract or otherwise, and “Controlled”, “Controlling” and “under common Control with” shall be construed accordingly;
Copyleft License” means any license applicable to Open Source Software that requires, as a condition of using such Open Source Software in the manner used by the Company: (a) the disclosure, licensing, or distribution of any source code of any Company Product to any third-party (in each case other than the source code of the Open Source Software itself); (b) the creation of any obligation for the Company to grant to any third-party any rights or immunities under or with respect to any Company IP (other than the Open Source Software itself); (c) the licensing thereof for the purpose of making derivative works or (d) the imposition of any restriction on the consideration to be charged for the distribution thereof. Copyleft Licenses include any version of the following licenses: (i) Common Development and Distribution License (CDDL), Common Public License, Eclipse Public License, Erlang Public License, IBM Public License, GNU Lesser or Library General Public License (LGPL), Mozilla Public License, Microsoft Reciprocal License, Sun Public License, and any other “weak copyleft” license; (ii) BSD Protection License, any Creative Commons “Share Alike” license, GNU General Public License (GPL), Q Public License, Sleepycat License, and any
 
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other “strong copyleft” license; and (iii) Affero General Public License (AGPL), Common Public Attribution License (CPAL), Non-Profit Open Software License, Open Software License (OSL), and any other “network copyleft” license.
COVID-19” means SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19, and any evolutions or mutations thereof or related or associated epidemics, pandemics or disease outbreaks;
COVID-19 Measures” means (i) any quarantine, “shelter in place,” “stay at home,” workforce reduction, social distancing, shut down, closure, sequester, safety or similar Law, directive, guidelines or recommendations promulgated by any Governmental Authority, including the Hong Kong Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, in each case, in connection with or in response to COVID-19; and (ii) any action reasonably taken or refrained from being taken in response to COVID-19;
Cybersecurity Laws” means all applicable Laws to the extent concerning the security protection of cyber systems and security of cyberspace, including but not limited to PRC Cybersecurity Law;
Data Security Laws” means all applicable Laws to the extent concerning the security protection of Business Data, including but not limited to PRC Data Protection Law;
Disclosure Letter” means, as applicable, the Company Disclosure Letter or the SPAC Disclosure Letter;
DTC” means the Depository Trust Company;
Encumbrance” means any mortgage, charge (whether fixed or floating), pledge, lien, option, right of first offer, refusal or negotiation, hypothecation, assignment, deed of trust, title retention or other similar encumbrance of any kind whether consensual, statutory or otherwise;
Environmental Laws” means all Laws concerning pollution, protection of the environment, or human health or safety;
Equity Securities” means, with respect to any Person, any capital stock, shares, equity interests, membership interests, partnership interests or registered capital, joint venture or other ownership interests in such person and any options, warrants or other securities (for the avoidance of doubt, including debt securities) that are directly or indirectly convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, such capital stock, shares, equity interests, membership interests, partnership interests or registered capital, joint venture or other ownership interests (whether or not such derivative securities are issued by such Person);
ERISA” means the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended;
ERISA Affiliate” of any entity means each entity that is or was at any time treated as a single employer with such entity for purposes of Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA or Section 414 of the Code;
ESOP” means the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan of the Company adopted on July 13, 2021, as may be amended from time to time;
Event” means any event, state of facts, development, change, circumstance, occurrence or effect;
Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;
First Plan of Merger” means the plan of merger substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D and any amendment or variation thereto made in accordance with the provisions of the Cayman Act with the consent of the Company;
Fully-Diluted Company Shares” means, without duplication, (a) the aggregate number of Company Shares (i) that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Re-designation and (ii) that are issuable upon the exercise of all Company Options and other Equity Securities of the Company that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Re-designation (whether or not then vested or exercisable as applicable), minus (b) the Company Shares held by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (if applicable) as treasury shares;
 
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GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as in effect from time to time;
Government Official” means any (i) officer, cadre, civil servant, employee, representative, or any other person acting in an official capacity for any Governmental Authority; (ii) officer, employee or representative of any commercial enterprise or entity that is owned or controlled by a Governmental Authority; (iii) officer, employee or representative of any public international organization, such as the African Union, the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations or the World Bank; (iv) Person acting in an official capacity for any Governmental Authority, enterprise or organization identified above; or (v) political party or official thereof, or any candidate for political office;
Governmental Authority” means the government of any nation, province, state, city, locality or other political subdivision of any thereof, any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory, taxing or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, regulation or compliance, or any arbitrator or arbitral body, any self-regulated organization, stock exchange, or quasi-governmental authority;
Governmental Order” means any applicable order, ruling, decision, verdict, decree, writ, subpoena, mandate, precept, command, directive, consent, approval, award, judgment, injunction or other similar determination or finding by, before or under the supervision of any Governmental Authority;
Group” or “Group Companies” means the Company and its Subsidiaries, and “Group Company” means any of them;
Indebtedness” means with respect to any Person, without duplication, any obligations, contingent or otherwise, in respect of (a) the principal of and premium (if any) in respect of all indebtedness for borrowed money, including accrued interest and any per diem interest accruals, (b) the principal and accrued interest components of capitalized lease obligations under GAAP, (c) amounts drawn (including any accrued and unpaid interest) on letters of credit, bank guarantees, bankers’ acceptances and other similar instruments (solely to the extent such amounts have actually been drawn), (d) the principal of and premium (if any) in respect of obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes and similar instruments, (e) the termination value of interest rate protection agreements and currency obligation swaps, hedges or similar arrangements (without duplication of other indebtedness supported or guaranteed thereby), (f) the principal component of all obligations to pay the deferred and unpaid purchase price of property and equipment which have been delivered, including “earn outs”, “seller notes”, “exit fees” and “retention payments”, but excluding payables arising in the Ordinary Course, (g) breakage costs, prepayment or early termination premiums, penalties, or other fees or expenses payable as a result of the consummation of the Transactions in respect of any of the items in the foregoing clauses (a) through (f), and (h) all Indebtedness of another Person referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above guaranteed directly or indirectly, jointly or severally;
Intellectual Property” means all intellectual property and proprietary rights in any and all jurisdictions worldwide, including: (a) Patents, (b) Trademarks, (c) copyrights and rights in works of authorship, mask works, computer software programs (including object code, binary code, source code, firmware, microcode, libraries, routines, subroutines or other code, whether embodied in hardware, firmware or otherwise), integrated circuits, architecture, schematics, hardware description language, (d) rights in all inventions (whether or not patentable), invention disclosures, improvements, (e) Trade Secrets, (f) “moral” and economic rights of authors and inventors, however denominated, throughout the world, (g) rights of publicity or privacy, (h) data base or data collection rights and other similar intellectual property rights, (i) other proprietary rights in intellectual property, (j) registrations, applications, extensions, combinations, divisions, reissues and renewals for any of the foregoing in (a)-(d) and all rights of priority thereto, and (k) all rights in all of the foregoing (a)-(j) including all claims for damages by reason of past infringement thereof, with the right to sue for, and collect the same;
Intervening Event” means an event, fact, development, circumstance or occurrence (but specifically excluding any SPAC Acquisition Proposal) that materially and negatively affects the business, assets or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that was not known by and was not reasonably foreseeable to the SPAC Board as of the date of this Agreement (or the consequences of which were not reasonably foreseeable to the SPAC Board as of the date hereof), and that becomes known to the SPAC Board after the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that no fact, development,
 
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circumstance or occurrence that would fall within clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h) or (i) to the definition of “Company Material Adverse Effect” ​(other than as contemplated by (A) the proviso in clause (f), (B) the proviso in clause (i), and (C) the final proviso, in each case, in the definition of Company Material Adverse Effect) shall be deemed to contribute to or otherwise be taken into account in determining whether there has been an Intervening Event.
Investment Company Act” means the United States Investment Company Act of 1940;
Investors Rights Agreement” means the Fifth Amended and Restated Investors Rights Agreement in respect of the Company, dated as of December 27, 2021;
Knowledge of SPAC” or any similar expression means the knowledge that Jun Hong Heng actually has, or the knowledge that he would have actually had after reasonable inquiry of direct reports responsible for the applicable subject matter;
Knowledge of the Company” or any similar expression means the knowledge that each of Mr. Ziyu Shen , Mr. Tony Chen, Mr. Mark Burton or Mr. Henry Yu actually has, or the knowledge that any of them would have actually had after reasonable inquiry of direct reports responsible for the applicable subject matter;
Law” means any statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation or Governmental Order, in each case, of any Governmental Authority, or any provisions or interpretations of the foregoing, including general principles of common and civil law and equity;
Leased Real Property” means any real property subject to a Company Lease;
Liabilities” means debts, liabilities and obligations (including Taxes), whether accrued or fixed, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, deferred or actual, determined or determinable, known or unknown, including those arising under any law, action or Governmental Order and those arising under any Contract;
Major Customers” means the top five (5) customers of the Group for the past twelve (12) months ended on December 31, 2021, listed on Section 1.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter;
Major Suppliers” means the top five (5) suppliers of the Group Companies for the past twelve (12) months ended on December 31, 2021, listed on Section 1.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter;
Material Contracts” means, collectively, each currently effective Company Contract (other than any Benefit Plan, but including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Company Contract with outstanding obligations) that:
(i)
involves obligations (contingent or otherwise), payments or revenues to or by the Group in excess of $5,000,000 during the twelve-month period ending on December 31, 2021;
(ii)
is with a Related Party (other than those employment agreements, indemnification agreements, Contracts covered by any Benefit Plan, confidentiality agreements, non-competition agreements or any other agreement of similar nature entered into in the Ordinary Course with employees or technical consultants) with an amount of over $5,000,000;
(iii)
involves (A) indebtedness for borrowed money having an outstanding principal amount in excess of $5,000,000 or (B) an extension of credit, a guaranty, surety, deed of trust, or the grant of an Encumbrance, in each case, to secure any Indebtedness having a principal or stated amount in excess of $5,000,000;
(iv)
involves the lease, license, sale, use, disposition or acquisition of a business, assets constituting a business or the acquisition or disposition of any Equity Securities involving (A) purchase price, payments or revenues in excess of $5,000,000 or (B) any “earn out” or deferred purchase price payment obligation in each case that remains outstanding or under which there are continuing obligations (excluding acquisitions or dispositions in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or dispositions of assets that are obsolete, worn out, surplus or no longer used in the conduct of the Company’s business);
 
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(v)
involves the waiver, compromise, or settlement of any dispute, claim, litigation or arbitration resulting in payment obligation of any Group Company with an amount higher than $1,000,000;
(vi)
grants a right of first refusal, right of first offer or similar right with respect to any material properties, assets or businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(vii)
contains covenants of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries (A) prohibiting or limiting the right of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries to engage in or compete with any Person in any line of business in any material respect or (B) prohibiting or restricting the Company’s and the Company’s Subsidiaries’ ability to conduct their respective business with any Person in any geographic area in any material respect, in each case, other than Contracts (including partnership or distribution Contracts) entered into in the Ordinary Course which include exclusivity provisions;
(viii)
with each of the Major Customers involving payments to the Group in the twelve (12) months ended on December 31, 2021 in excess of $3,500,000, other than purchase orders under a master agreement;
(ix)
with each of the Major Suppliers involving payments by the Group in the twelve (12) months ended on December 31, 2021 in excess of $3,500,000, other than purchase orders under a master agreement;
(x)
with any Governmental Authority which involves obligations (contingent or otherwise), payments or revenues to or by the Group in excess of $1,000,000 in the twelve (12) months ended on December 31, 2021;
(xi)
involves the establishment, contribution to, or operation of a partnership, joint venture, alliance, collaboration, variable interest entity or similar entity, or involving a sharing of profits or losses (including joint development Contracts) involving payments to or by any Group Company of an amount higher than $5,000,000 in the twelve (12) months ended on December 31, 2021;
(xii)
(1) relates to the material license, sublicense, grant of other rights, creation, development, or transfer of material Owned IP or any material Company Product or under which any Group Company is the beneficiary of a covenant not to sue or other agreement not to assert claims involving, material Owned IP, (2) materially restricts the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ ability to assign, use or enforce any material Owned IP, (3) primarily relates to the license or grant of other rights of material Company IP by a third party to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (4) with any Governmental Authority which materially restricts Company’s ability to use any Intellectual Property or Business Data or (5) includes any obligation of any Group Company to pay any royalties in excess of $500,000 on an annual basis for the use of any Company IP; in each case of (1) to (5), other than (a) Open Source Software Licenses and non-exclusive end user licenses of commercially-available, off-the-shelf software with a replacement cost of less than $200,000, (b) any non-exclusive license of Company IP in connection with the manufacture, sale and use of the Company’s products pursuant to business or sales contracts similar in all material respects to the Company’s form in the Ordinary Course, and (c) assignments of Intellectual Property to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under Contracts with their employees and contractors similar in all material respects to the Company’s form entered into in the Ordinary Course;
(xiii)
requires capital expenditure in a single transaction for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries after the date of this Agreement in the amount in excess of $1,000,000;
(xiv)
contains any exclusivity, “most favored nation”, minimum use or purchase requirements;
(xv)
is a collective bargaining agreement with a Union; or
(xvi)
is a VIE Restructuring Agreement.
Merger Consideration” means the right to receive such number of Company Class A Ordinary Shares by SPAC Shareholders pursuant to Section 2.3(c);
 
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NDA” means the Confidentiality Agreement, dated as of July 22, 2021, between SPAC and the Company;
Open Source Software” means any computer software that is distributed or otherwise made available under “open source”, “community”, or “free software” terms, including: (a) any license that has been approved by the Open Source Initiative, a list of which is available at https://opensource.org/licenses; (b) any license that meets the Open Source Definition promulgated by the Open Source Initiative, which is available at https://opensource.org/osd; (c) any Copyleft License; and (d) any license that is substantially similar to those described in any, all, or any combination of the foregoing clauses (a)-(c).
OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Ordinary Course” means, with respect to an action taken or refrained from being taken by a Person, that such action or omission is taken in the ordinary course of the operations of such Person, including any COVID-19 Measures (whether taken prior to or following the date of this Agreement);
Ordinary Shares” has the meaning given to that term in the Company Charter;
Organizational Documents” means, with respect to any Person that is not an individual, its certificate of incorporation and bylaws, memorandum and articles of association, limited liability company agreement, or similar organizational documents, in each case, as amended or restated;
Owned IP” means all Intellectual Property owned by (or purported to be owned by) any Group Company, including any and all Intellectual Property to be transferred to any Group Company pursuant to the VIE Restructuring;
Patents” means patents, including utility models, industrial designs and design patents, and applications therefor (and any patents that issue as a result of those patent applications), and including all divisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, continuing prosecution applications, substitutions, reissues, re-examinations, renewals, provisionals and extensions thereof, and any counterparts worldwide claiming priority therefrom;
Permitted Encumbrances” means (a) Encumbrances for Taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies not yet due and payable or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP; (b) mechanics’, carriers’, workmen’s, repairmen’s, materialmen’s or other Encumbrances arising or incurred in the Ordinary Course in respect of amounts that are not yet due and payable; (c) rights of any third parties that are party to or hold an interest in any Contract to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party (in each case not arising as a result of any default by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries thereunder); (d) defects or imperfections of title, easements, encroachments, covenants, rights-of-way, conditions, matters that would be apparent from a physical inspection or current, accurate survey of such real property, restrictions and other similar charges or Encumbrances that do not materially interfere with the present use of the Leased Real Property, (e) with respect to any Leased Real Property (i) the interests and rights of the respective lessors with respect thereto, including any statutory landlord liens and any Encumbrances thereon, (ii) any Encumbrances permitted under the Company Lease, and (iii) any Encumbrances encumbering the real property of which the Leased Real Property is a part, (iv) zoning, building, entitlement and other land use and environmental regulations promulgated by any Governmental Authority that do not materially interfere with the current use of the Leased Real Property, (f) non-exclusive licenses of Intellectual Property granted by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the Ordinary Course, (g) Ordinary Course purchase money Encumbrances and Encumbrances securing rental payments under operating or capital lease arrangements for amounts not yet due or payable, (h) other Encumbrances arising in the Ordinary Course and not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money and on a basis consistent with past practice in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or other types of social security (in each case not arising as a result of any default by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries thereunder), (i) reversionary rights in favor of landlords under any Company Leases with respect to any of the buildings or other improvements owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and (j) any other Encumbrance that have been incurred or suffered in the Ordinary Course and do not materially impair the existing use of the property affected by such Encumbrance;
 
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Permitted Financing” means, without duplication, (a) any financing transaction entered into by the Company with one or more investors after the date hereof and prior to the Closing by issuance of the Equity Securities of the Company (other than the Subsequent Equity Financing), and (b) the financing transactions contemplated by the Agreements set forth on Section 1.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter.
Permitted Financing Agreement” means a financing agreement executed by any investor and the Company prior to, concurrently with or after the date hereof and prior to the Closing in connection with any Permitted Financing;
Permitted Financing Proceeds” means proceeds in the form of cash or securities that have been funded or issued or will be funded or issued prior to, concurrently with, or immediately after, the Closing to the Company in connection with the Permitted Financing.
Person” means any individual, firm, corporation, company, partnership, limited liability company, incorporated or unincorporated association, trust, estate, joint venture, joint stock company, Governmental Authority or instrumentality or other entity of any kind;
Personal Data” means (a) all data and information that, whether alone or in combination with any other data or information, identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with a natural person, household, or his, her or its device, including, to the extent constituting or comprising the foregoing, name, street address, telephone number, email address, photograph, social security number, government-issued ID number, customer or account number, health information, financial information, device identifiers, transaction identifier, cookie ID, browser or device fingerprint or other probabilistic identifier, IP addresses, physiological and behavioral biometric identifiers, viewing history, platform behaviors, and any other similar piece of data or information; or (b) all other data or information that is otherwise protected by any Privacy Laws;
PRC” means the People’s Republic of China excluding, for the purposes of this Agreement only, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan;
Preferred Shares” means, collectively, Series Angel Preferred Shares, Series A Preferred Shares, Series A+ Preferred Shares, Series A++ Preferred Shares and Series B Preferred Shares;
Price per Share” means $3,400,000,000 divided by the Fully-Diluted Company Shares;
Privacy Laws” means all applicable Laws concerning the Processing of Personal Data, including incident reporting and Security Incident notifying requirements;
Privacy Obligation” means each applicable Privacy Law, Cybersecurity Law, Data Security Law, obligation arising under Contract, applicable self-regulatory standard, enforceable industry standard, Privacy Policy and individual consent obtained by or on behalf of the Company or its Subsidiaries, each that is related to privacy, data security, data protection, transfer (including cross-border transfer), or other Processing of Personal Data;
Privacy Policy” means the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ internal or external privacy policies relating to the Processing of Personal Data;
Process,” “Processing” or “Processed” means, with respect to Business Data, the use, collection, creation, processing, receipt, storage, recording, organization, structuring, adaption, alteration, transfer, retrieval, consultation, disclosure, dissemination, making available, alignment, combination, restriction, erasure or destruction of such data;
Prohibited Person” means any Person that is (a) a national or resident of or organized or located in any Sanctioned Territory, (b) included on any Sanctions-related list of blocked or designated parties maintained by the U.S. Commerce Department, the U.S. Department of Treasury, and the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, HM Treasury of the United Kingdom, and the European Union; (c) owned fifty percent or more or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any such Person or Persons; (d) is a Person acting in his or her official capacity as a director, officer, employee, or agent of a Person included on any Sanctions-related list of blocked or designated parties, as described in clause (b) above; or
 
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(e) a Person with whom business transactions, including exports and imports, as the case may be, are otherwise restricted by Sanctions, including, in each clause above, any updates or revisions to the foregoing and any newly published rules;
Proxy Statement” means the proxy statement forming part of the Proxy/Registration Statement filed with the SEC, with respect to the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting and the Transactions, to be used for the purpose of soliciting proxies from SPAC Shareholders to approve the Transaction Proposals;
Recapitalization Factor” means the quotient obtained by dividing the Price per Share by $10.00;
Redeeming SPAC Shares” means SPAC Ordinary Shares in respect of which the eligible (as determined in accordance with the SPAC Charter) holder thereof has validly exercised (and not validly revoked, withdrawn or lost) his, her or its SPAC Shareholder Redemption Right;
Registered IP” means Owned IP issued by, registered, recorded or filed with, renewed by or the subject of a pending application before any Governmental Authority, Internet domain name registrar or other authority;
Registrable Securities” means (a) the Company Class A Ordinary Shares representing the Merger Consideration, (b) the Company Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Company Warrants and (c) the Company Warrants;
Related Party” means (a) any member, shareholder or equity interest holder who, together with its Affiliates, directly or indirectly holds no less than 2% of the total outstanding share capital of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) any director or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case of clauses (a) and (b), excluding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
Representatives” of a Person means, collectively, officers, directors, employees, accountants, consultants, legal counsel, agents and other representatives of such Person or its Affiliates;
Required Governmental Authorizations” means all material franchises, approvals, permits, consents, qualifications, certifications, authorizations, licenses, orders, registrations, certificates, variances or other similar permits, rights and all pending applications therefor from or with the relevant Governmental Authority required to operate the business of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries, as currently conducted, in accordance with applicable Law;
Sanctioned Territory” means, at any time, a country or territory which is itself the subject or target of any Sanctions and is subject to a general export, import, financial or investment embargo (at the time of this Agreement, the Crimea region of Ukraine, Cuba, the Donetsk People’s Republic, Iran, the Luhansk People’s Republic, North Korea, and Syria).
Sanctions” means those trade, economic and financial sanctions laws, regulations, embargoes, and restrictive measures administered, enacted or enforced from time to time by (a) the United States (including the U.S. Commerce Department, the U.S. Department of Treasury, and the U.S. Department of State), (b) the European Union and its member states, (c) the United Nations Security Council, (d) Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom and (e) any other similar economic sanctions administered by a Governmental Authority;
Sarbanes-Oxley Act” means the United States Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002;
SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission;
Second Plan of Merger” means the plan of merger substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E and any amendment or variation thereto made in accordance with the provisions of the Cayman Act with the consent of the Company;
Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933;
Security Incident” means any actual or reasonably suspected data breach or other security incident or Event that resulted in or is, to the Knowledge of the Company, expected to have resulted in the accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, corruption, or unauthorized disclosure of, or access to or use of,
 
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(i) any Personal Data included in the Business Data, which has been, or is required to be, notified to a natural person or supervisory or regulatory authority in accordance with Privacy Laws, or (ii) any Business Data (not comprising Personal Data) which exposes the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any material Action or Liabilities or results in a material disruption of the business or services of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
Series A Preferred Shares” has the meaning given to that term in the Company Charter;
Series A±Preferred Shares” has the meaning given to that term in the Company Charter;
Series A±±Preferred Shares” has the meaning given to that term in the Company Charter;
Series Angel Preferred Shares” has the meaning given to that term in the Company Charter;
Series B Preferred Shares” has the meaning given to that term in the Company Charter;
SPAC Accounts Date” means December 11, 2020;
SPAC Acquisition Proposal” means:   (a) any, direct or indirect, acquisition, merger, domestication, reorganization, business combination, “initial business combination” under SPAC’s IPO prospectus or similar transaction, in one transaction or a series of transactions, involving SPAC or involving all or a material portion of the assets, Equity Securities or businesses of SPAC (whether by merger, consolidation, recapitalization, purchase or issuance of equity securities, purchase of assets, tender offer or otherwise); or (b) any equity or similar investment in SPAC or any of its Controlled Affiliates, in each case, other than the Transactions;
SPAC Charter” means the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of SPAC, adopted pursuant to a special resolution passed on February 4, 2021;
SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares” means Class A ordinary shares of SPAC, par value $0.0001 per share, as further described in the SPAC Charter;
SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares” means Class B ordinary shares of SPAC, par value $0.0001 per share, as further described in the SPAC Charter;
SPAC Material Adverse Effect” means any Event that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on (i) the business, assets and liabilities, results of operations or financial condition of SPAC or (ii) the ability of SPAC to consummate the Transactions; provided, however, that in no event would any of the following, alone or in combination, be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been or will be, a “SPAC Material Adverse Effect”: (a) any change in applicable Laws or GAAP or any interpretation thereof following the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in interest rates or economic, political, business or financial market conditions generally, (c) the taking or refraining from taking of any action required to be taken or refrained from being taken under this Agreement, (d) any natural disaster (including hurricanes, storms, tornados, flooding, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or similar occurrences), epidemic or pandemic (including any COVID-19 Measures or any change in such COVID-19 Measures or interpretations following the date of this Agreement), acts of nature or change in climate, (e) any acts of terrorism or war, the outbreak or escalation of hostilities, geopolitical conditions, local, national or international political conditions, riots or insurrections, (f) any action taken by, or at the written request of, the Company, (g) the announcement of this Agreement and consummation of the Transactions, including any termination of, reduction in or similar adverse impact (but in each case only to the extent attributable to the announcement of this Agreement or consummation of the Transactions) on SPAC’s relationships with any employees or Governmental Authorities (provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to any representations or warranty to the extent the purpose of such representation or warranty is to address the consequences resulting from this Agreement or the consummation of the Transaction) or (h) any change in the trading price or volume of the SPAC Units, SPAC Ordinary Shares or SPAC Warrants (provided that the underlying causes of such changes referred to in this clause (f) may be considered in determining whether there is a SPAC Material Adverse Effect except to the extent such cause is within the scope of any other exception within this definition); provided, however, that in the case of each of clauses (a), (b), (d) and (e), any such Event to the extent it disproportionately affects SPAC relative to other special purpose acquisition companies shall not be excluded
 
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from the determination of whether there has been, or would reasonably be expected to be, a SPAC Material Adverse Effect, but only to the extent of the incremental disproportionate effect on SPAC relative to such similarly situated participants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to SPAC, the number of SPAC Shareholders who exercise their SPAC Shareholder Redemption Right or the failure to obtain SPAC Shareholders’ Approval shall not be deemed to be a SPAC Material Adverse Effect;
SPAC Ordinary Shares” means, collectively, SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares;
SPAC Preference Shares” means preference shares of SPAC, par value $0.0001 per share, as further described in the SPAC Charter;
SPAC Securities” means, collectively, the SPAC Shares and the SPAC Warrants;
SPAC Shareholder” means any holder of any SPAC Shares;
SPAC Shareholder Redemption Amount” means the aggregate amount payable with respect to all Redeeming SPAC Shares;
SPAC Shareholder Redemption Right” means the right of an eligible (as determined in accordance with the SPAC Charter) holder of SPAC Ordinary Shares to redeem all or a portion of the SPAC Ordinary Shares held by such holder as set forth in the SPAC Charter in connection with the Transaction Proposals;
SPAC Shareholders’ Approval” means the vote of SPAC Shareholders required to approve the Transaction Proposals, as determined in accordance with applicable Law and the SPAC Charter;
SPAC Shares” means the SPAC Ordinary Shares and SPAC Preference Shares;
SPAC Transaction Expenses” means any out of pocket fees and expenses paid or payable by SPAC or Sponsor (whether or not billed or accrued for) as a result of or in connection with the negotiation, documentation and consummation of the Transactions, including (a) all fees (including deferred underwriting fees), costs, expenses, brokerage fees, commissions, finders’ fees and disbursements of financial advisors, investment banks, data room administrators, attorneys, accountants and other advisors and service providers, (b) any Indebtedness of SPAC owed to Sponsor, its Affiliates or its or their respective shareholders or Affiliates in an amount not exceeding $2,000,000, and (c)any and all filing fees to the Governmental Authorities in connection with the Transactions, except that SPAC shall only be responsible for fifty percent (50%) of the fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with (x) any filing, submission or application for the Governmental Order pertaining to the anti-trust Laws applicable to the Transactions and (y) the preparation, filing and mailing of the Proxy/Registration Statement in connection with the Transactions;
SPAC Unit” means the units issued by SPAC in SPAC’s IPO or the exercise of the underwriters’ overallotment option each consisting of one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share and one-half of a SPAC Warrant;
SPAC Warrant” means all outstanding and unexercised warrants issued by SPAC to acquire SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares;
Subsequent Equity Financing” means purchase of equity securities of the Company by an investor on or prior to the Closing Date pursuant to any Subsequent Equity Subscription Agreement.
Subsequent Equity Financing Proceeds” means cash proceeds that will be funded prior to, concurrently with, or immediately after, the Closing to the Company in connection with the Subsequent Equity Financing;
Subsequent Equity Subscription Agreement” means a subscription or similar agreement executed by any investor and the Company after the date hereof in connection with any Subsequent Equity Financing;
Subsidiary” means, with respect to a Person, any other Person Controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person and, in case of a limited partnership, limited liability company or similar entity, such Person is a general partner or managing member and has the power to direct the policies, management and affairs of such Person, respectively;
 
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Tax” or “Taxes” means all U.S. federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other taxes imposed by any Governmental Authority, including all income, gross receipts, license, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profits, environmental, customs duties, capital stock, ad valorem, value added, inventory, franchise, profits, withholding, social security (or similar), unemployment, disability, real property, personal property, sales, use, transfer, registration, alternative or add-on minimum, or estimated taxes, and including any interest, penalty, or addition thereto;
Tax Returns” means all U.S. federal, state, local, provincial and non-U.S. income and other material returns, declarations, computations, notices, statements, claims, reports, schedules, forms and information returns, including any attachment thereto or amendment thereof, required or permitted to be supplied to, or filed with, a Governmental Authority with respect to Taxes;
Third-Party Data” means all data of any kind or character contained in or generated by the IT Systems or any databases in each case to the extent owned or controlled by or on behalf of the Company or its designees (including any and all Trade Secrets, user data or Training Data), and all other information and data compilations used by the Company that was licensed, received, or collected from any other Person.
Trade Secrets” means all trade secrets (including those trade secrets defined in the Uniform Trade Secrets Act and Defend Trade Secrets Act and under corresponding foreign statutory and common law) and other confidential or proprietary information, including confidential or proprietary know-how, inventions (whether or not patentable), source code, documentation, processes, models, technology, formulae, customer lists, supplier lists, data, databases and data collections and all rights therein, business and marketing plans, methodologies and all other information that derives economic value (actual or potential) from not being generally known to other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use;
Trade Control Laws” means those Laws applicable to the Group Companies regulating the export, import reexport, transfer, disclosure or provision of commodities, software, technology, defense articles or defense services, including Sanctions and customs Laws.
Trademarks” means trade names, logos, trademarks, service marks, service names, trade dress, company names, collective membership marks, certification marks, slogans, toll-free numbers, domain names and other forms indicia of origin, whether or not registerable as a trademark in any given jurisdiction, together with registrations, renewals, and applications therefor, and the goodwill of the business associated with any of the foregoing;
Training Data” means training data, validation data, and test data or databases used to train or improve an algorithm.
Transaction Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement, the NDA, the Strategic Investment Agreements, the Subsequent Equity Subscription Agreements, the Permitted Financing Agreements, the Sponsor Support Agreement, the Company Support Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement, the First Merger Filing Documents, the Second Merger Filing Documents; and any other agreements, documents or certificates entered into or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, and the expression “Transaction Document” means any one of them;
Transaction Proposals” means the adoption and approval of each proposal reasonably agreed to by SPAC and the Company as necessary or appropriate in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, but in any event including unless otherwise agreed upon in writing by SPAC and the Company: (i) the approval and authorization of this Agreement and the Transactions as a Business Combination, (ii) the approval and authorization of the First Merger and the First Plan of Merger, (iii) the adoption and approval of a proposal for the adjournment of the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies because there are not sufficient votes to approve and adopt any of the foregoing or in order to seek withdrawals from SPAC Shareholders who have exercised their SPAC Shareholder Redemption Right if the number of Redeeming SPAC Shares is such that the condition in Section 8.3(d) would not be satisfied, and (iv) the adoption and approval of each other proposal that the Nasdaq or the SEC (or staff members thereof) indicates (x) are necessary in its comments to the Proxy/Registration Statement or correspondence related thereto and (y) are required to be approved by the SPAC Shareholders in order for the Closing to be consummated;
 
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Transactions” means, collectively, the Mergers and each of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents;
Union” means any union, works council or other employee representative body;
U.S.” means the United States of America;
VIE Restructuring” means, in connection with the termination of a series of contractual arrangements pursuant to which the Company’s Subsidiary in the PRC used to exercise effective control over a variable interest entity in the PRC, the transfer of business from such variable interest entity to one or more Subsidiaries of the Company in accordance with the restructuring steps set forth on Exhibit J attached hereto and upon completion of the corporate actions as set forth on Section 5.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter, following which the Company’s business operations in the PRC (except in relation to surveying and mapping activities) will be conducted entirely by the Company’s Subsidiaries in the PRC and not through any variable interest entities;
VIE Restructuring Agreement” means any material agreement in existence as of the date hereof governing the VIE Restructuring; and
Warrant Agreement” means the Warrant Agreement, dated as of February 4, 2021, by and between SPAC and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as warrant agent.
Section 1.2.   Construction.
(a)   Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires or unless otherwise specified, (i) words of any gender shall be construed as masculine, feminine, neuter or any other gender, as applicable; (ii) words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively; (iii) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby,” “herewith,” “hereto” and derivative or similar words refer to this entire Agreement; (iv) the terms “Article” or “Section” refer to the specified Article or Section of this Agreement; (v) the terms “Schedule” or “Exhibit” refer to the specified Schedule or Exhibit of this Agreement; (vi) the words “including,” “included,” or “includes” shall mean “including, without limitation”; and shall not be construed to limit any general statement that it follows to the specific or similar items or matters immediately following it; (vii) the word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” means the degree to which a subject or thing extends and such phrase shall not simply mean “if”; (viii) the word “or” shall be disjunctive but not exclusive; (ix) the word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning as the word “shall”; (x) unless the context otherwise clearly indicates, each defined term used in this Agreement shall have a comparable meaning when used in its plural or singular form; (xi) words in the singular shall be held to include the plural and vice versa, and words of one gender shall be held to include the other gender as the context requires; (xii) references to “written” or “in writing” include in electronic form; (xiii) a reference to any Person includes such Person’s predecessors, successors and permitted assigns; and (xiv) “made available to SPAC” ​(and all similar phrases used herein that mean such) shall mean present in the online data room maintained for purposes of the Transactions at least two (2) Business Days prior to the date hereof;
(b)   Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, references to statutes shall include all regulations promulgated thereunder and references to statutes or regulations shall be construed as including all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending or replacing the statute or regulation.
(c)   References to “$,” “dollar,” or “cents” are to the lawful currency of the United States of America.
(d)   Whenever this Agreement refers to a number of days or months, such number shall refer to calendar days or months unless Business Days are expressly specified. Time periods within or following which any payment is to be made or act is to be done under this Agreement shall be calculated by excluding the calendar day on which the period commences and including the calendar day on which the period ends, and by extending the period to the next following Business Day if the last calendar day of the period is not a Business Day.
 
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(e)   All accounting terms used in this Agreement and not expressly defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings given to them under GAAP.
(f)   Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, (i) references to SPAC with respect to periods following the First Effective Time shall be construed to mean Surviving Entity 1 and vice versa and (ii) references to Merger Sub 2 with respect to periods following the Second Effective Time shall be construed to mean Surviving Entity 2 and vice versa.
(g)   The table of contents and the section and other headings and subheadings contained in this Agreement and the Exhibits hereto are solely for the purpose of reference, are not part of the agreement of the parties hereto, and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement or any Exhibit hereto.
(h)   Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, references to agreements and other documents shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments and other modifications thereto.
(i)   Capitalized terms used in the Exhibits and the Disclosure Letter and not otherwise defined therein have the meanings given to them in this Agreement.
(j)   With regard to each and every term and condition of this Agreement, the parties hereto understand and agree that the same has been mutually negotiated, prepared and drafted, and if at any time the parties hereto desire or are required to interpret or construe any such term or condition or any agreement or instrument subject hereto, no consideration shall be given to the issue of which party actually prepared, drafted or requested any term or condition of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
TRANSACTIONS; CLOSING
Section 2.1.   Pre-Closing Actions.   On the Closing Date, immediately prior to the First Effective Time, the following actions shall take place or be effected (in the order set forth in this Section 2.1):
(a)   Organizational Documents of the Company.   The amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company attached hereto as Exhibit F (the “A&R Company Charter”) shall be adopted and become effective.
(b)   Preferred Share Conversion.   Each of the Preferred Shares that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to such time shall be re-designated and re-classified into one Ordinary Share on a one-for-one basis in accordance with the Company Charter (the “Preferred Share Conversion”).
(c)   Re-designation.   Immediately following the Preferred Share Conversion and immediately prior to the Recapitalization, the authorized share capital of the Company shall be re-designated as follows (the “Re-designation”):
(i)   each of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares (other than the Co-Founder Shares) (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes the Ordinary Shares converted from the Preferred Shares in accordance with Section 2.1(b)) and each of the 7,766,956,008 authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares shall be re-designated as one Company Class A Ordinary Shares, where each Company Class A Ordinary Share shall entitle its holder to one (1) vote on all matters subject to vote at general meetings of the Company;
(ii)   each of the issued and outstanding Co-Founder Shares and each of the 958,958,360 authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares shall be re-designated as one Company Class B Ordinary Shares, where each Company Class B Ordinary Share shall entitle its holder to ten (10) votes on all matters subject to vote at general meetings of the Company; and
(iii)   1,000,000,000 authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares shall be re-designated as shares of a par value of US$0.000005 each of such class or classes (however designated) as the board of directors of the Company may determine in accordance with the A&R Company Charter,
 
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such that the authorized share capital of the Company shall be US$50,000 divided into 10,000,000,000 shares of par value of US$0.000005 each consisting of 8,000,000,000 Company Class A Ordinary Shares, 1,000,000,000 Company Class B Ordinary Shares, and 1,000,000,000 shares of a par value of US$0.000005 each of such class or classes (however designated) as the board of directors of the Company may determine in accordance with the A&R Company Charter.
(d)   Recapitalization.
(i)   Immediately following the Re-designation and prior to the First Effective Time, each authorized issued Company Class A Ordinary Share and Company Class B Ordinary Share shall be recapitalized by way of a repurchase in exchange for issuance of such number of Company Class A Ordinary Shares and Company Class B Ordinary Shares, in each case, equal to the Recapitalization Factor (i.e., one such Company Class A Ordinary Share or Company Class B Ordinary Share, as the case may be, multiplied by the Recapitalization Factor) (the “Recapitalization”); provided that no fraction of a Company Ordinary Share will be issued by virtue of the Recapitalization, and each Company Shareholder that would otherwise be so entitled to a fraction of a Company Ordinary Share (after aggregating all fractional Company Ordinary Shares that otherwise would be received by such Company Shareholder) shall instead be entitled to receive such number of Company Ordinary Shares to which such Company Shareholder would otherwise be entitled, rounded down to the nearest whole number.
(ii)   any Company Options issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Recapitalization shall be adjusted to give effect to the foregoing transactions, such that (a) each Company Option, shall be exercisable for that number of Company Class A Ordinary Shares equal to the product of (x) the number of Ordinary Shares subject to such Company Option immediately prior to the Recapitalization multiplied by (y) the Recapitalization Factor, such number of Company Class A Ordinary Shares to be rounded down to the nearest whole number; and (b) the per share exercise price for each Company Class A Ordinary Share, as the case may be, issuable upon exercise of the Company Options, as adjusted, shall be equal to the quotient (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) obtained by dividing (x) the per share exercise price for each Ordinary Share subject to such Company Option immediately prior to the First Effective Time by (y) the Recapitalization Factor (together with the adoption of the A&R Company Charter, Preferred Share Conversion, the Re-designation and the Recapitalization, the “Capital Restructuring”). Subject to and without limiting anything contained in Section 6.1, the Recapitalization Factor shall be adjusted to reflect appropriately the effect of any share subdivision, capitalization, share dividend or share distribution (including any dividend or distribution of securities convertible into Company Shares), reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation, exchange of shares or other like change (in each case, other than the Capital Restructuring) with respect to Company Shares occurring on or after the date hereof and prior to the Closing Date.
Section 2.2.   The Mergers.
(a)   The First Merger.   Subject to Section 2.2(c), on the date which is three (3) Business Days after the first date on which all conditions set forth in Article VIII that are required hereunder to be satisfied on or prior to the Closing shall have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver thereof), or at such other time or in such other manner as shall be agreed upon by the Company and SPAC in writing, the closing of the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement with respect to the Mergers (the “Closing”) shall take place remotely by conference call and exchange of documents and signatures in accordance with Section 10.9. At the Closing, Merger Sub 1 shall merge with and into SPAC, with SPAC being the surviving company (as defined in the Cayman Act) in the First Merger (the day on which the Closing occurs, the “Closing Date”). On the Closing Date, SPAC and Merger Sub 1 shall execute and cause to be filed with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands the First Plan of Merger and such other documents as may be required in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Cayman Act or by any other applicable Law to make the First Merger effective (collectively, the “First Merger Filing Documents”). The First Merger shall become effective at the time when the First Plan of Merger is registered by the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands or at such later time permitted by the Cayman Act as may be agreed by Merger Sub 1 and SPAC in writing and specified in the First Plan of Merger (the “First Effective Time”).
 
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(b)   The Second Merger.   Immediately following the consummation of the First Merger, Surviving Entity 1 shall merge with and into Merger Sub 2, with Merger Sub 2 being the surviving company (as defined in the Cayman Act) in the Second Merger. Immediately following the consummation of the First Merger, Surviving Entity 1 and Merger Sub 2 shall execute and cause to be filed with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands, the Second Plan of Merger and such other documents as may be required in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Cayman Act or by any other applicable Law to make the Second Merger effective (collectively, the “Second Merger Filing Documents”). The Second Merger shall become effective at the time when the Second Plan of Merger is registered by the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands or at such later time permitted by the Cayman Act as may be agreed by Surviving Entity 1 and Merger Sub 2 in writing and specified in the Second Plan of Merger (the “Second Effective Time”).
(c)   Notice to SPAC Shareholders Delivering Written Objection.   If any SPAC Shareholder gives to SPAC, before the SPAC Shareholders’ Approval is obtained at the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting, written objection to the First Merger (each, a “Written Objection”) in accordance with Section 238(2) of the Cayman Act:
(i)   SPAC shall, in accordance with Section 238(4) of the Cayman Act, promptly give written notice of the authorization of the First Merger (the “Authorization Notice”) to each such SPAC Shareholder who has made a Written Objection, and
(ii)   unless SPAC and the Company elect by agreement in writing to waive this Section 2.2(c)(ii), no party shall be obligated to commence the Closing, and the First Plan of Merger shall not be filed with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands until at least twenty (20) days shall have elapsed since the date on which the Authorization Notice is given (being the period allowed for written notice of an election to dissent under Section 238(5) of the Cayman Act, as referred to in Section 239(1) of the Cayman Act), but in any event subject to the satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions set forth in Section 8.1, Section 8.2 and Section 8.3.
(d)   Subsequent Equity Financing Notices.   Promptly following the First Effective Time, the Company shall deliver notices to the parties to the Subsequent Equity Financing, if any, to cause the release of funds from escrow to the Company.
(e)   Effect of the Mergers.   The Mergers shall have the effects set forth in this Agreement, the First Plan of Merger, the Second Plan of Merger and the applicable provisions of the Cayman Act. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, (a) at the First Effective Time, all the property, rights, privileges, agreements, powers and franchises, Liabilities and duties of Merger Sub 1 and SPAC shall become the property, rights, privileges, agreements, powers and franchises, Liabilities and duties of Surviving Entity 1 (including all rights and obligations with respect to the Trust Account), which shall include the assumption by Surviving Entity 1 of any and all agreements, covenants, duties and obligations of Merger Sub 1 and SPAC to be performed after the First Effective Time set forth in this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which Merger Sub 1 or SPAC is a party, and Surviving Entity 1 shall thereafter exist as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub 1 shall cease to exist, and (b) at the Second Effective Time, all the property, rights, privileges, agreements, powers and franchises, Liabilities, and duties of Surviving Entity 1 and Merger Sub 2 shall become the property, rights, privileges, agreements, powers and franchises, Liabilities and duties of Surviving Entity 2, which shall include the assumption by Surviving Entity 2 of any and all agreements, covenants, duties and obligations of Surviving Entity 1 and Merger Sub 2 to be performed after the Second Effective Time set forth in this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which Surviving Entity 1 or Merger Sub 2 is a party, and Surviving Entity 2 shall thereafter exist as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and the separate corporate existence of Surviving Entity 1 shall cease to exist.
(f)   Organizational Documents of Surviving Entity 1.   At the First Effective Time, in accordance with the First Plan of Merger, SPAC will adopt the memorandum and articles of association of Merger Sub 1, as in effect immediately prior to the First Effective Time, as the memorandum and articles of association of Surviving Entity 1, save and except that all references to the share capital of Surviving Entity 1 shall be amended to refer to the correct authorized share capital of Surviving Entity 1 consistent
 
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with the First Plan of Merger, until thereafter amended in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Cayman Act and such memorandum and articles of association.
(g)   Organizational Documents of Surviving Entity 2.   At the Second Effective Time, in accordance with the Second Plan of Merger, the memorandum and articles of association of Merger Sub 2, as so amended and restated, shall be the memorandum and articles of association of Surviving Entity 2, save and except that all reference to the share capital of Surviving Entity 2 shall be amended to refer to the correct authorized share capital of Surviving Entity 2 consistent with the Plan of Second Merger, until thereafter amended in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Cayman Act and such memorandum and articles of association.
(h)   Directors and Officers.   At the First Effective Time, the directors and officers of Merger Sub 1 immediately prior to the First Effective Time shall be the initial directors and officers of Surviving Entity 1, each to hold office in accordance with the Organizational Documents of Surviving Entity 1. At the Second Effective Time, the directors and officers of Merger Sub 2 immediately prior to the Second Effective Time shall be the initial directors and officers of Surviving Entity 2, each to hold office in accordance with the Organizational Documents of Surviving Entity 2.
Section 2.3.   Effect of the Mergers on Issued Securities of SPAC, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2. At the Closing, by virtue of the Mergers and without any action on the part of any party hereto or any other Person, the following shall occur:
(a)   SPAC Class B Conversion.   Immediately prior to the First Effective Time, each SPAC Class B Ordinary Share (after giving effect to the Sponsor Shares Forfeiture pursuant to the applicable terms of the Sponsor Support Agreement) shall be automatically converted into one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share in accordance with the terms of the SPAC Charter (such automatic conversion, the “SPAC Class B Conversion”) and each SPAC Class B Ordinary Share shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled, and each former holder of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares shall thereafter cease to have any rights with respect to such shares.
(b)   SPAC Units.   At the First Effective Time, each SPAC Unit outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time shall be automatically detached and the holder thereof shall be deemed to hold one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share and one-half of a SPAC Warrant in accordance with the terms of the applicable SPAC Unit (the “Unit Separation”), which underlying SPAC Securities shall be adjusted in accordance with the applicable terms of this Section 2.3; provided that no fractional SPAC Warrant will be issued in connection with the Unit Separation such that if a holder of SPAC Units would be entitled to receive a fractional SPAC Warrant upon the Unit Separation, the number of SPAC Warrants to be issued to such holder upon the Unit Separation shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number of SPAC Warrants.
(c)   SPAC Ordinary Shares.   Immediately following the Unit Separation in accordance with Section 2.3(b), each SPAC Class A Ordinary Share (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares (A) issued in connection with the SPAC Class B Conversion and (B) held as a result of the Unit Separation) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time (other than any SPAC Shares referred to in Section 2.3(e), Redeeming SPAC Shares and Dissenting SPAC Shares) shall automatically be cancelled and cease to exist in exchange for the right to receive one newly issued, fully paid and non-assessable Company Class A Ordinary Share. As of the First Effective Time, each SPAC Shareholder shall cease to have any other rights in and to such SPAC Shares, except as expressly provided herein.
(d)   Exchange of SPAC Warrants.   Each SPAC Warrant (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes the SPAC Warrants held as a result of the Unit Separation) outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time shall cease to be a warrant with respect to SPAC Ordinary Shares and be assumed by the Company and converted into a warrant to purchase one Company Class A Ordinary Share (each, a “Company Warrant”). Each Company Warrant shall continue to have and be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions as were applicable to such SPAC Warrant immediately prior to the First Effective Time (including any repurchase rights and cashless exercise provisions) in accordance with the provisions of the Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement.
 
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(e)   SPAC Treasury Shares.   Notwithstanding Section 2.3(c) above or any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if there are any SPAC Shares that are owned by SPAC as treasury shares or any SPAC Shares owned by any direct or indirect Subsidiary of SPAC immediately prior to the First Effective Time, such SPAC Shares shall be canceled and shall cease to exist without any conversion thereof or payment or other consideration therefor.
(f)   Redeeming SPAC Shares.   Each Redeeming SPAC Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time shall automatically be cancelled and cease to exist and shall thereafter represent only the right of the holder thereof to be paid a pro rata share of the SPAC Shareholder Redemption Amount in accordance with SPAC’s Charter.
(g)   Dissenting SPAC Shares.   Each Dissenting SPAC Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time held by a Dissenting SPAC Shareholder shall automatically be cancelled and cease to exist in accordance with Section 2.7(a) and shall thereafter represent only the right of such Dissenting SPAC Shareholder to be paid the fair value of such Dissenting SPAC Share and such other rights as are granted by the Cayman Act.
(h)   Merger Sub 1 Share.   Each ordinary share, par value $0.000005 per share, of Merger Sub 1, issued and outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time shall continue existing and constitute the only issued and outstanding share capital of Surviving Entity 1.
(i)   Surviving Entity 1 Share; Merger Sub 2 Share.   Each ordinary share of Surviving Entity 1 that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Second Effective Time will be automatically cancelled and cease to exist without any payment therefor. Each ordinary share, par value $0.000005 per share, of Merger Sub 2 immediately prior to the Second Effective Time shall remain outstanding and continue existing and constitute the only issued and outstanding share capital of Surviving Entity 2 and shall not be affected by the Second Merger.
Section 2.4.   Closing Deliverables.
(a)   No later than two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date:
(i)   SPAC shall deliver to the Company written notice (the “SPAC Closing Statement”) setting forth: (i) the amount of cash in the Trust Account (after deducting the SPAC Shareholder Redemption Amount) as of the Closing Date, (ii) the amount of Aggregate Proceeds, (iii) the number of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares and SPAC Warrants to be outstanding as of immediately prior to the Closing after giving effect to the Unit Separation and exercise of all SPAC Shareholder Redemption Rights, (iv) the calculation of the Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 2.3(c), and (v) SPAC’s good faith estimate of the amount of SPAC Transaction Expenses, including the respective amounts and wire transfer instructions for the payment thereof; provided, that SPAC will consider in good faith the Company’s comments to the SPAC Closing Statement, and if any adjustments are made to the SPAC Closing Statement prior to the Closing, such adjusted SPAC Closing Statement shall thereafter become the SPAC Closing Statement for all purposes of this Agreement; and
(ii)   The Company shall deliver to SPAC written notice (the “Company Closing Statement”) setting forth: (i) the number of Company Class A Ordinary Shares and Company Class B Ordinary Shares to be outstanding as of immediately prior to the Closing after giving effect to the Capital Restructuring and the issuance of shares of Company Class A Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Strategic Investment Agreements, Permitted Financing Agreements and Subsequent Equity Subscription Agreements, and (ii) the Company’s good faith estimate of the amount of Company Transaction Expenses, including the respective amounts and wire transfer instructions for the payment thereof; provided, that the Company will consider in good faith SPAC’s comments to the Company Closing Statement, and if any adjustments are made to the Company Closing Statement prior to the Closing, such adjusted Company Closing Statement shall thereafter become the Company Closing Statement for all purposes of this Agreement.
 
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(b)   At the Closing,
(i)   SPAC shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company, a certificate signed by an authorized director or officer of SPAC, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying that the conditions specified in Section 8.3 have been fulfilled;
(ii)   The Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to SPAC, a certificate signed by an authorized director or officer of the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying (i) that the conditions specified in Section 8.2 have been fulfilled, and (ii) that the VIE Restructuring has been completed in accordance with the VIE Restructuring Plan attached hereto as Exhibit J and all actions required to be taken to complete the VIE Restructuring, including as set forth on Section 5.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter, have been performed in all material respects;
(iii)   The Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered the Regulatory Opinion;
(iv)   SPAC or Surviving Entity 2, as applicable, shall pay, or cause the Trustee to pay at the direction and on behalf of Surviving Entity 2, by wire transfer of immediately available funds from the Trust Account (i) as and when due all amounts payable on account of the SPAC Shareholder Redemption Amount to former SPAC Shareholders pursuant to their exercise of the SPAC Shareholder Redemption Right, (ii) (A) all accrued and unpaid Company Transaction Expenses, as set forth on the Company Closing Statement, and (B) all accrued and unpaid SPAC Transaction Expenses, as set forth on the SPAC Closing Statement, and (iii) immediately thereafter, all remaining amounts then available in the Trust Account (if any) (the “Remaining Trust Fund Proceeds”) to a bank account designated by Surviving Entity 2 for its immediate use, subject to this Agreement and the Trust Agreement, and thereafter, the Trust Account shall terminate, except as otherwise provided in the Trust Agreement; and
(v)   If a bank account of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is designated by Surviving Entity 2 under Section 2.4(b)(iv), the payment of the Remaining Trust Fund Proceeds to such bank account may be treated as (i) an advance from Surviving Entity 2 to the Company or such Subsidiary of the Company, or (ii) a dividend from Surviving Entity 2 to the Company, in each case, as determined by Surviving Entity 2 in its sole discretion, subject to applicable Laws.
Section 2.5.   Cancellation of SPAC Equity Securities and Disbursement of Merger Consideration(a).
(a)   Prior to the First Effective Time, the Company shall appoint Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, or another exchange agent reasonably acceptable to the Company, as exchange agent (in such capacity, the “Exchange Agent”), for the purpose of exchanging each SPAC Class A Ordinary Share for the Merger Consideration issuable to the SPAC Shareholders. At or before the First Effective Time, the Company shall deposit, or cause to be deposited, with the Exchange Agent the Merger Consideration.
(b)   Each SPAC Shareholder shall be entitled to receive its portion of the Merger Consideration, pursuant to Section 2.3(c) (excluding any SPAC Shares referred to in Section 2.3(e), Redeeming SPAC Shares and any Dissenting SPAC Shares), upon the receipt of an “agent’s message” by the Exchange Agent (or such other evidence of transfer, if any, as the Exchange Agent may reasonably request), together with such other documents as may reasonably be requested by the Exchange Agent. No interest shall be paid or accrued upon the transfer of any share. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.5, any obligation of the Company under this Agreement to issue Company Ordinary Shares to SPAC Shareholders entitled to receive Company Class A Ordinary Shares shall be satisfied by the Company issuing such Company Class A Ordinary Shares to DTC or to such other clearing service or issuer of depositary receipts (or their nominees, in either case) as may be necessary or expedient, and each such SPAC Shareholder shall hold such Company Class A Ordinary Shares in book-entry form or through a holding of depositary receipts and DTC or its nominee or the relevant clearing service or issuer of depositary receipts (or their nominees, as the case may be), will be the holder of record of such Company Class A Ordinary Shares.
(c)   Promptly following the date that is one (1) year after the First Effective Time, the Company shall instruct the Exchange Agent to deliver to the Company all documents in its possession relating to
 
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the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Exchange Agent’s duties shall terminate. Thereafter, any portion of the Merger Consideration that remains unclaimed shall be returned to the Company and the unclaimed Company Ordinary Shares comprising the Merger Consideration shall be held by the Company as treasury shares, and any Person that was a holder of SPAC Shares (other than any SPAC Shares referred to in Section 2.3(e), Redeeming SPAC Shares and any Dissenting SPAC Shares) as of immediately prior to the First Effective Time that has not claimed their applicable portion of the Merger Consideration in accordance with this Section 2.5 prior to the date that is one (1) year after the First Effective Time, may (subject to applicable abandoned property, escheat and similar Laws) claim from the Company, and the Company shall promptly transfer and deliver, such applicable portion of the Merger Consideration without any interest thereupon. None of the Parties or Surviving Entity 2 or the Exchange Agent shall be liable to any Person in respect of any of the Merger Consideration delivered to a public official pursuant to and in accordance with any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Laws. If any portion of the Merger Consideration shall not have not been claimed immediately prior to such date on which any amounts payable pursuant to this Article II would otherwise escheat to or become the property of any Governmental Authority, any such amount shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of the Company, free and clear of all claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.
Section 2.6.   Further Assurances.   If, at any time after the First Effective Time, any further action is necessary, proper or advisable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, SPAC and Merger Sub 1 (or their respective designees) shall take all such actions as are necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws, so long as such action is consistent with and for the purposes of implementing the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 2.7.   Dissenter’s Rights.
(a)   Subject to Section 2.2(c)(ii) but notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary and to the extent available under the Cayman Act, SPAC Shares that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the First Effective Time and that are held by SPAC Shareholders who shall have validly exercised their dissenters’ rights for such SPAC Shares in accordance with Section 238 of the Cayman Act and otherwise complied with all of the provisions of the Cayman Act relevant to the exercise and perfection of dissenters’ rights (the “Dissenting SPAC Shares,” and the holders of such Dissenting SPAC Shares being the “Dissenting SPAC Shareholders”) shall not be converted into, and such Dissenting SPAC Shareholders shall have no right to receive, the applicable Merger Consideration unless and until such Dissenting SPAC Shareholder fails to perfect or withdraws or otherwise loses his, her or its right to dissenters’ rights under the Cayman Act. The SPAC Shares owned by any SPAC Shareholder who fails to perfect or who effectively withdraws or otherwise loses his, her or its dissenters’ rights pursuant to the Cayman Act shall cease to be Dissenting SPAC Shares and shall thereupon be deemed to have been converted into, and to have become exchangeable for, as of the First Effective Time, the right to receive the applicable Merger Consideration, without any interest thereon in accordance with Section 2.3(c).
(b)   Prior to the Closing, SPAC shall give the Company (i) prompt written notice of any demands for dissenters’ rights received by SPAC from SPAC Shareholders and any withdrawals of such demands and (ii) the opportunity to direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to any such notice or demand for dissenters’ rights under the Cayman Act. SPAC shall not, except with the prior written consent of the Company, make any offers or payment or otherwise agree or commit to any payment or other consideration with respect to any exercise by a SPAC Shareholder of its rights to dissent from the First Merger or any demands for appraisal or offer or agree or commit to settle or settle any such demands or approve any withdrawal of any such dissenter rights or demands.
Section 2.8.   Withholding.   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, each of the Parties (and their respective Affiliates and Representatives) shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement such amount as it is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code, or any provision of state, local or non-U.S. Tax Law. Other than in respect of amounts subject to compensatory withholding, each of the Parties (or their respective Affiliates or Representatives) shall use commercially reasonable efforts to notify the Person in respect of whom such deduction or withholding is expected to be made at least five (5) Business
 
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Days prior to making any such deduction or withholding, which notice shall be in writing and include the amount of and basis for such deduction or withholding. Each of the Parties (or their Affiliates or Representatives), as applicable, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with such Person to reduce or eliminate any such requirement to deduct or withhold to the extent permitted by Law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld by the Parties (or their Affiliates or Representatives), as the case may be, and timely paid over to the appropriate taxing authority, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Except (a) as set forth in the disclosure letter delivered to SPAC by the Company on the date of this Agreement (the “Company Disclosure Letter”), or (b) as otherwise explicitly contemplated by this Agreement, the Company represents and warrants to SPAC as of the date of this Agreement as follows:
Section 3.1.   Organization, Good Standing and Qualification.   The Company is an exempted company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the Cayman Islands and has requisite corporate power and authority to own and operate its properties and assets, to carry on its business as presently conducted and contemplated to be conducted. The Company is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing as a foreign or extra-provincial corporation (or other entity, if applicable) in each jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the character of its activities is such as to require it to be so licensed or qualified or in good standing, as applicable, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified or in good standing would not be material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Prior to the execution of this Agreement, true and accurate copies of the Company Charter, the Investors Rights Agreement and the Organizational Documents of the other Group Companies, each as in effect as of the date of this Agreement, have been made available by or on behalf of the Company to SPAC, such governing documents are in full force and effect, and the Company and each of the Group Companies is not in default of any term or provision of such governing documents in any material respect.
Section 3.2.   Subsidiaries.   A complete list, as of the date of this Agreement, of each Subsidiary of the Company and its jurisdiction of incorporation, formation or organization, outstanding Equity Securities, and holders of Equity Securities, as applicable, is set forth on Section 3.2 of the Company Disclosure Letter. Except as set forth in Section 3.2 of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company does not directly or indirectly own any equity or similar interests in, or any interest convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any equity or similar interest in, any other corporation, company, partnership, joint venture or business association or other entity. Each Subsidiary of the Company has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has requisite corporate power and authority to own and operate its properties and assets, to carry on its business as presently conducted and contemplated to be conducted. Each Subsidiary of the Company is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing (to the extent such concept is applicable in such Subsidiary’s jurisdiction of formation) as a foreign or extra-provincial corporation (or other entity, if applicable) in each jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the character of its activities is such as to require it to be so licensed or qualified or in good standing (to the extent such concept is applicable in such Subsidiary’s jurisdiction of formation), as applicable, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified or in good standing would not be material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
Section 3.3.   Capitalization of the Company.
(a)   As of the date of this Agreement, the authorized share capital of the Company is $50,000 divided into 10,000,000,000 shares of $0.000005 par value each, comprised of (x) 9,923,950,082 ordinary shares of the Company, par value of $0.000005 each, of which 198,035,714 ordinary shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and (y) 76,049,918 Preferred Shares, of which (i) 5,043,104 shares are designated Series Angel Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, (ii) 24,464,286 shares are designated Series A Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, (iii) 24,612,081 shares are designated Series A+ Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement,
 
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(iv) 7,164,480 shares are designated Series A++ Preferred Shares, all of which is issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, and (v) 14,765,967 shares are designated Series B Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement.
(b)   Set forth in Section 3.3(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter is a true and correct list of each holder of Company Shares and the number of Company Shares held by each such holder as of the date hereof. Except as set forth in Section 3.3(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no other shares of the Company issued or outstanding as of the date of this Agreement. All of the issued and outstanding Company Shares (w) have been duly authorized and validly issued and allotted and are fully paid and non-assessable; (x) have been offered, sold and issued by the Company in compliance with applicable Law, including the Cayman Act, U.S. federal and state securities Laws, and all requirements set forth in (1) the Company Charter and (2) any other applicable Contracts governing the issuance or allotment of such securities to which the Company is a party or otherwise bound; and (y) are not subject to, nor have they been issued in violation of, any Encumbrance, purchase option, call option, pre-emptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of any applicable Law, the Company Charter, the Investors Rights Agreement or any other Contract, in any such case to which the Company is a party or otherwise bound.
(c)   Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 3.3 or on Section 3.3(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter or as contemplated by this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, there are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, rights or other securities (including debt securities) exercisable or exchangeable for Company Shares, any other commitments, calls, conversion rights, rights of exchange or privilege (whether pre-emptive, contractual or by matter of Law), plans or other agreements of any character providing for the issuance of additional shares, the sale of treasury shares or other Equity Securities of the Company, or for the repurchase or redemption by the Company of shares or other Equity Securities of the Company or the value of which is determined by reference to shares or other Equity Securities of the Company, and there are no voting trusts, proxies or agreements of any kind which may obligate the Company to issue, purchase, register for sale, redeem or otherwise acquire any Company Shares or other Equity Securities of the Company.
(d)   The Company shall have provided to SPAC a true, correct and anonymized list of each individual who, as of the date of this Agreement, holds Company Options, and the grant date, the number of Company Options granted and the number of Company options vested thereof as of April 30, 2022. All Company Options outstanding as of the date of this Agreement were granted pursuant to the ESOP and an option award agreement, in each case, in substantially the forms previously made available to SPAC.
Section 3.4.   Capitalization of Subsidiaries.
(a)   Except as set forth on Section 3.4(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter or as contemplated by this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, the outstanding share capital or other Equity Securities of each of the Company’s Subsidiaries (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued and allotted, and are, to the extent applicable, fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) have been offered, sold, issued and allotted in compliance with applicable Law, including federal and state securities Laws, and all requirements set forth in (1) the Organizational Documents of each such Subsidiary, and (2) any other applicable Contracts governing the issuance or allotment of such securities to which such Subsidiary is a party or otherwise bound; and (iii) are not subject to, nor have they been issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, pre-emptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of any applicable Law, the Organizational Documents of each such Subsidiary or any other Contract, in any such case to which each such Subsidiary is a party or otherwise bound.
(b)   Except as contemplated by this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, the Company owns, directly or indirectly through its Subsidiaries, of record and beneficially all the issued and outstanding Equity Securities of such Subsidiaries free and clear of any Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances.
(c)   Except as contemplated by this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, there are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, rights or other securities (including debt securities) of any
 
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such Subsidiary exercisable or exchangeable for any Equity Securities of such Subsidiary, any other commitments, calls, conversion rights, rights of exchange or privilege (whether pre-emptive, contractual or by matter of Law), plans or other agreements of any character providing for the issuance by any such Subsidiary of additional shares, the sale of treasury shares or other Equity Securities, or for the repurchase or redemption by such Subsidiary of shares or other Equity Securities of such Subsidiary the value of which is determined by reference to shares or other Equity Securities of such Subsidiary, and there are no voting trusts, proxies or agreements of any kind which may obligate any such Subsidiary to issue, purchase, register for sale, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its Equity Securities.
Section 3.5.   Authorization.
(a)   Other than the Company Shareholders’ Approval, as applicable, each of the Company and each Merger Sub has all corporate power, and authority to (i) enter into, execute and deliver this Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents to which it is or will be a party, and (ii) consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the Transactions) and perform all of its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which the Company and each Merger Sub is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the Transactions) have been duly and validly authorized and approved by the Company Board, and the board of directors of each Merger Sub, and other than the Company Shareholders’ Approval, no other company or corporate proceeding on the part of the Company or either Merger Sub is necessary to authorize this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which the Company or either Merger Sub is a party. This Agreement has been, and on or prior to the Closing, the other Transaction Documents to which the Company or either Merger Sub is a party will be, duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company or either Merger Sub, as applicable, and, assuming due and valid authorization, execution and delivery by each other party hereto and thereto, this Agreement constitutes, and on or prior to the Closing, the other Transaction Documents to which the Company or either Merger Sub is a party will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, Merger Sub 1 or Merger Sub 2, as applicable, enforceable against the Company or either Merger Sub, as applicable, in accordance with its terms, except (a) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other applicable Laws now or hereafter in effect of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and (b) as limited by applicable Laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies (collectively, the “Enforceability Exceptions”).
(b)   The Company Shareholders’ Approval are the only votes and approvals of holders of Company Shares and other Equity Securities of the Company necessary in connection with execution by the Company of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
(c)   On or prior to the date of this Agreement, the Company Board has duly adopted resolutions (i) determining that this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the Transactions) would be in the best interests of the Company (ii) authorizing and approving the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the Transactions), and (iii) directing that this Agreement be submitted to the Company Shareholders for adoption.
Section 3.6.   Consents; No Conflicts.   Assuming the representations and warranties in Article IV are true and correct, except (a) for the Company Shareholders’ Approval, (b) for the registration or filing with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands, the SEC or applicable state blue sky or other securities laws filings with respect to the Transactions and the publication of notification of the Mergers in the Cayman Islands Government Gazette pursuant to the Cayman Act and (c) for such other filings, notifications, notices, submissions, applications or consents the failure of which to be obtained or made would not, individually or in the aggregate, have, or reasonably be likely to have, a material effect on the ability of the Company to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, all filings, notifications, notices, submissions, applications, or consents from or with any Governmental Authority or any other Person required in connection with the valid execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, and the consummation of the Transactions, in each case on the part of the
 
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Company, have been duly obtained or completed (as applicable) and are in full force and effect. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is or will be a party by the Company does not, and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not, assuming the representations and warranties in Article IV are true and correct, and except for the matters referred to in clauses (a) through (c) of the immediately preceding sentence, (i) result in any violation of, be in conflict with, or constitute a default under, require any consent under, or give any Person rights of termination, amendment, acceleration (including acceleration of any obligation of any Group Company) or cancellation under, (A) any Governmental Order, (B) any provision of the Organizational Documents of any Group Company, each as currently in effect, (C) any applicable Law, (D) any Material Contract or (ii) result in the creation of any Encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of any Group Company other than any restrictions under federal or state securities laws, this Agreement, the Company Charter and Permitted Encumbrances, except in the case of sub-clauses (A), (C), and (D) of clause (i) or clause (ii), as would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.7.   Compliance with Laws; Consents; Permits.   Except as disclosed in Section 3.7 of the Company Disclosure Letter:
(a)   Except as would not be or reasonably be expected to be material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in the three (3) years prior to the date hereof, (i) the Group Companies are, and have been, in compliance with all applicable Laws; (ii) no Group Company, to the Knowledge of the Company, is or has been subject to any investigation by or for any Governmental Authority with respect to any violation of any applicable Laws.
(b)   In the three (3) years prior to the date hereof, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any letter or other written communication from, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, there has not been any public notice of a type customary as a form of notification of such matters in the jurisdiction by, any Governmental Authority threatening in writing or providing notice of (i) the revocation or suspension of any Required Governmental Authorizations issued to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any alleged or finding of any violation of Law in respect of the activities carried out by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case except as would not be or reasonably be expected to be material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(c)   Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is, or, in the three (3) years prior to the date hereof, has been engaged in any actions, proceedings, demands, inquiries, investigations, or hearings before any court, statutory or governmental body, department, board or agency relating to applicable Anti-Corruption Laws, Trade Control Laws or Anti-Money Laundering Laws, and to the Knowledge of the Company, no such action, proceeding, demand, inquiry, investigation or hearing has been threatened. No Group Company has made, or, as of the date hereof, is aware of any reason to or intends to make any disclosure (voluntary or otherwise) to any Governmental Authority with respect to any violation, potential violation, or liability arising under or relating to any Anti-Corruption Laws, Trade Control Laws or Anti-Money Laundering Laws. No Group Company is aware of any event, fact or circumstance that has occurred or exists that is reasonably likely to result in a finding of noncompliance with any Anti-Corruption Laws, Trade Control Laws or Anti-Money Laundering Laws.
(d)   Neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, any of their respective directors, officers, employees, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, agents or any other Persons acting for or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has at any time in the three (3) years prior to the date hereof: (i) made any bribe, influence payment, kickback, payoff, or any other type of payment (whether tangible or intangible) or provided any benefits that would be unlawful under any applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption (governmental or commercial) laws (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any guiding, detailing or implementing regulations), including Laws that prohibit the corrupt payment, offer, promise or authorization of the payment or transfer of anything of value (including gifts or entertainment), directly or indirectly, to any Government Official or commercial entity to obtain a business advantage, such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, or any other applicable local or foreign anti-corruption or anti-bribery Law (collectively, “Anti-Corruption Laws”); (ii) has taken any action in violation of any Anti-Corruption Law, offered, paid, given, promised to pay or give, or authorized any payment or transfer of anything of value, directly or indirectly, to any person for the purpose of (A) influencing any act or decision of any Government
 
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Official in his official capacity, (B) inducing a Government Official to do or omit to do any act in relation to his lawful duty, (C) securing any improper advantage, (D) inducing a Government Official to improperly influence or affect any act, decision or omission of any Governmental Authority or commercial enterprise owned or controlled by any Governmental Authority, or (E) assisting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any agent or any other Person acting for or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in obtaining or retaining business for or with, or in directing business to, any Person; or (iii) accepted or received any contributions, payments, gifts, or expenditures that would be unlawful under any Anti-Corruption Law, or (iv) has made or authorized any other Person to make any payments or transfers of value which had the purpose or effect of commercial bribery or acceptance or acquiescence in kickbacks or other unlawful or improper means of obtaining or retaining business.
(e)   Neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, any of their respective directors or officers, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, and of their respective employees or agents acting for or on their behalf, has at any time in the three (3) years prior to the date hereof been found by a Governmental Authority to have violated any Anti-Corruption Laws, Trade Control Laws or Anti-Money Laundering Laws, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, is subject to any indictment or any government investigation with respect to any Anti-Corruption Laws, Trade Control Laws or Anti-Money Laundering Laws.
(f)   Neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, any of their respective directors, officers, employees, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, agent or any other Person acting for or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, is a Prohibited Person, and no Prohibited Person has at any time in the three (3) years prior to the date hereof been given an offer to become an employee, officer, consultant or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. None of the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has at any time in the three (3) years prior to the date hereof conducted or agreed to conduct any business, or knowingly entered into or agreed to enter into any transaction with a Prohibited Person in violation of any Trade Control Laws or otherwise violated any Trade Control Laws.
(g)   Except as disclosed in Section 3.7(g) of the Company Disclosure Letter, each of the Group Companies has all material approvals, authorizations, clearances, licenses, registrations, permits or certificates of a Governmental Authority (each, a “Material Permit”) that are required to own, lease or operate its properties and assets and to conduct its business as currently conducted in all material respects. The Material Permits are in effect and have been complied with in all material respects. To the Knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice that any Governmental Authority that has issued any Material Permit intends to suspend, cancel, terminate, or not renew any such Material Permit, except to the extent such Material Permit may be amended, replaced, or reissued as a result of and as necessary to reflect the transactions contemplated hereby or may be terminated in the ordinary and usual course of a reissuance or replacement process.
(h)   None of the Group Companies incorporated within PRC is or, following the completion of the VIE Restructuring, will be engaged in any business falling under the current Special Administrative Measures for Access of Foreign Investment (Negative List) (2021 Edition) promulgated by the PRC government which took effect on January 1, 2022.
(i)   The Group Companies have carried out the VIE Restructuring in material compliance with all applicable Laws and no Group Company is or has been subject to any investigation by or for any Governmental Authority with respect to any violation of any applicable Laws related to the VIE Restructuring. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any letter or other written communication from, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, there has not been any public notice of a type customary as a form of notification of such matters in the jurisdiction by, any Governmental Authority threatening in writing or providing notice of any alleged or finding of any violation of Law in respect of the VIE Restructuring.
Section 3.8.   Tax Matters.
(a)   All material Tax Returns required to be filed by or with respect to each Group Company have been timely filed (taking into account any extensions) and such Tax Returns are true, correct and
 
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complete in all material respects. All material Taxes due and payable by any Group Company have been timely paid, except with respect to matters being contested in good faith by appropriate proceeding and with respect to which adequate reserves have been made in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
(b)   No material deficiencies for any Taxes that are currently outstanding with respect to any Tax Returns of a Group Company have been asserted in writing by, and to the Knowledge of the Company, no written notice of any action, audit, assessment or other proceeding, in each case that is currently pending, with respect to such Tax Returns or any Taxes of a Group Company has been received from, any Tax authority, and no dispute or assessment relating to such Tax Returns or such Taxes with any such Tax authority is currently outstanding.
(c)   No material claim that is currently outstanding has been made in writing in the past three years (or, to the Knowledge of the Company, at any time) by any Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction where a Group Company does not file Tax Returns that such Group Company is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction.
(d)   Except as contemplated by this Agreement, the Transaction Documents, or the Transactions, the Company has not taken any action (nor permitted any action to be taken), and is not aware of any fact or circumstance, that would reasonably be expected to prevent, impair or impede the Intended Tax Treatment.
(e)   To the Knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a “passive foreign investment company” within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code a “PFIC” for its current taxable year. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is treated (i) as an “expatriated entity” as defined in Section 7874(a)(2)(A) of the Code, (ii) as a “surrogate foreign corporation” as defined in Section 7874(a)(2)(B) of the Code or (iii) otherwise as a domestic corporation as a result of the application of Section 7874(b) of the Code.
(f)   The Company and Merger Sub 1 each is and since its formation has been treated as a foreign corporation (within the meaning of the Code) for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income Tax purposes. Merger Sub 2 has elected (or will elect) to be treated as an entity which is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner (within the meaning of Section 301.7701-2 of the Treasury Regulations) for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income Tax purposes, as of the effective date of its formation and has not subsequently changed such classification.
(g)   There are no liens for material Taxes (other than such liens that are Permitted Encumbrances) upon the assets of any Group Company.
(h)   Each Group Company has complied in all material respects with all applicable transfer pricing requirement imposed by any Governmental Authority.
(i)   Each Group Company is in compliance with all terms and conditions of any material Tax incentives, exemption, holiday or other material Tax reduction agreement or order of a Governmental Authority applicable to a Group Company, and the consummation of the Transactions will not have any material adverse effect on the continued validity and effectiveness of any such material Tax incentives, exemption, holiday or other material Tax reduction agreement or order.
Section 3.9.   Financial Statements.
(a)   The Company has made available to SPAC true and complete copies of the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2021, and the related audited consolidated statements of income and profit and loss, and cash flows, for the fiscal year then ended (the “Audited Financial Statements”).
(b)   The Company has made available to SPAC true and complete copies of the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of March 31, 2022, and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income and profit and loss, and cash flows, for the fiscal year then ended (the “Management Accounts” and together with the Audited Financial Statements, the “Company Financial Statements”).
 
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(c)   The Company Financial Statements delivered by the Company (i) have been prepared in accordance with the books and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (ii) fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition and the results of operations and cash flow of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of the dates indicated therein and for the periods indicated therein, except in the case of the Management Accounts as set forth on Section 3.9(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter and subject in the case of the Management Accounts to (A) normal year-end adjustments or and (B) the absence of footnotes required under GAAP, (iii) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto), except in the case of the Management Accounts as set forth on Section 3.9(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter and except that the Management Accounts (A) are subject to adjustments by auditors or normal year-end adjustments and (B) do not include the footnotes required under GAAP and (iv) in the case of any audited financial statements delivered in accordance with Section 5.9, will, when so delivered, (A) be audited in accordance with the standards of the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and (B) comply in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements and with the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act applicable to a registrant, in effect as of the respective dates thereof (including, to the extent applicable to the Company, Regulation S-X).
(d)   Except as set forth in Section 3.9(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls which is reasonably sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
(e)   Since December 31, 2021, none of the Company or its Subsidiaries has been made aware in writing of (i) any fraud that involves the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s management who have a role in the preparation of financial statements or the internal accounting controls utilized by the Company and its Subsidiaries or (ii) to the Knowledge of the Company, any allegation, assertion or claim regarding any of the foregoing.
Section 3.10.   Absence of Changes.   Except as set forth in Section 3.10 of the Company Disclosure Letter, since December 31, 2021, (a) to the date of this Agreement, the Group Companies have operated their business in the Ordinary Course, (b) the Group Companies have not sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of ownership in any material Company IP or material Business Data, and (c) there has not been any occurrence of any event which would have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.11.   Actions.
(a)   (i) There is no Action pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing against or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective directors or officers (solely in their capacity as such), and (ii) there is no judgment or award unsatisfied against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, nor is there any Governmental Order in effect and binding on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective directors or officers (solely in their capacity as such) or assets or properties, except in each case, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, (A) have, or reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on the ability of the Company to enter into and perform its obligations contemplated hereby (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the completion of the VIE Restructuring), or (B) be or reasonably be expected to be material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(b)   (i) No order has been made, petition presented and received by any Group Company, resolution of any Group Company passed or meeting of any Group Company convened for the purpose of considering a resolution for the dissolution and liquidation of any Group Company or the establishment of a liquidation group of any Group Company, (ii) no administrator has been appointed for any Group Company nor to the Knowledge of the Company steps taken to appoint an administrator, and (iii) to the Knowledge of the Company, there are no Actions under any applicable insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization Laws concerning any Group Company.
 
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Section 3.12.   Undisclosed Liabilities.   Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any Liabilities that would be required to be reflected or reserved on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP, except for Liabilities (a) set forth in the Audited Financial Statements that have not been satisfied since December 31, 2021, (b) that are Liabilities incurred since December 31, 2021 in the Ordinary Course, (c) that are executory obligations under any Contract to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it is bound, (d) set forth in Section 3.12 of the Company Disclosure Letter, (e) arising under this Agreement or other Transaction Documents, (f) that will be discharged or paid off prior to the Closing, or (g) which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
Section 3.13.   Material Contracts and Commitments.
(a)   Section 3.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a true and correct list of all Material Contracts as of the date of this Agreement and as of the date of this Agreement no Group Company is a party to or bound by any Material Contract that is not listed in Section 3.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter. True and complete copies of each Material Contract, including all material amendments, modifications, supplements, exhibits and schedules and addenda thereto, have been made available to SPAC.
(b)   Except for any Material Contract that will terminate upon the expiration of the stated term thereof prior to the Closing Date or the termination of which is otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, each Material Contract listed on Section 3.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter is (A) in full force and effect and (B) represents the legal, valid and binding obligations of the applicable Group Company which is a party thereto and, to the Knowledge of the Company, represents the legal, valid and binding obligations of the counterparties thereto. Except, in each case, where the occurrence of such breach or default or failure to perform would not be material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (x) the applicable Group Company has duly performed all of its material obligations under each such Material Contract as set forth in Section 3.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter to which it is a party to the extent that such obligations to perform have accrued, (y) no breach or default thereunder by the Group Company with respect thereto, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any other party or obligor with respect thereto, has occurred, and (z) no event has occurred that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute such a default or breach of such Material Contract by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto, or would entitle any third party to prematurely terminate any Material Contract.
(c)   None of the Group Companies has within the last twelve (12) months provided to or received from the counterparty to any Material Contract written notice or written communication to terminate, or not renew, any Material Contract.
(d)   All Contracts required to be transferred to or from a Group Company in connection with the VIE Restructuring (i) have been transferred in compliance with applicable Laws, except for the Contracts listed in Section 3.13(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (ii) are in full force and effect and (iii) represent the legal, valid and binding obligations of the applicable Group Company which is a party thereto and, to the Knowledge of the Company, represents the legal, valid and binding obligations of the counterparties thereto. None of the Group Companies has provided to or received from the counterparty to any such Contract written notice or written communication to terminate, or not renew, any such Contract.
(e)   The VIE Restructuring has not altered or impaired the conduct of the business of the Group Companies, including the offerings of any Company Products, and after the completion of the VIE Restructuring will not alter or impair the conduct of the business of the Group Companies as currently proposed to be conducted.
Section 3.14.   Title; Properties.
(a)   Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries owns any real property.
(b)   Each of the Group Companies has good and valid title to all of the assets owned by it, whether tangible or intangible (including those reflected in the Management Accounts, together with all assets acquired thereby since December 31, 2021, including any tangible or intangible assets that have been acquired
 
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since December 31, 2021 in connection with the VIE Restructuring, but excluding any tangible or intangible assets that have been disposed of since December 31, 2021 in the Ordinary Course or in connection with the VIE Restructuring), and in each case free and clear of all Encumbrances, other than Permitted Encumbrances. For clarity, the foregoing Section 3.14(b) does not apply to Intellectual Property and Business Data, which is addressed in Section 3.15.
(c)   No Group Company owns or has ever owned or has a leasehold interest in any real property other than as held pursuant to their respective leases or leasehold interests (including tenancies) in such property (each Contract evidencing such interest, a “Company Lease”, and any Company Lease involving rent payments in excess of $1,000,000 on an annual basis, a “Company Material Lease”). Section 3.14(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth as of the date of this Agreement each Company Material Lease that is currently effective and the address of the property demised under each such Company Material Lease. Each Company Lease is in material compliance with applicable Law, and all Governmental Orders required under applicable Law in respect of any Company Lease have been obtained, including with respect to the operation of such property and conduct of business on such property as now conducted by the applicable Group Company which is a party to such Company Lease, except in any such case where the failure to so be in compliance or obtain such Governmental Order would not, individually or in the aggregate, be or reasonably be expected to be material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(d)   Each Company Lease is a valid and binding obligation of the applicable Group Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms against such Group Company, and to the Knowledge of the Company, each other party thereto, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. There is no material breach by the relevant Group Company under any Company Lease.
(e)   To the Knowledge of the Company, no Person or Governmental Authority has challenged, disputed, or threatened in writing to challenge or dispute, a Group Company’s right to occupy, use or enjoy each Leased Real Property subject to the Company Leases as such leased property is currently occupied, used or enjoyed.
(f)   No Group Company has received any written notice alleging a material breach of any covenant, restriction, burden or stipulation from any person or Governmental Authority in relation to the existing use of any Leased Real Property, and to the Knowledge of the Company, no circumstance exists which constitutes a breach of this type or nature.
Section 3.15.   Intellectual Property Rights and Data.
(a)   Section 3.15(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and accurate list as of the date of this Agreement of all Registered IP, including: (i) with respect to Patents, the jurisdiction of filing, owner, filing number, date of issue or filing, expiration date, and title and also identifying each Patent that is material to the operation of the business of the Group Companies as currently conducted and as currently proposed to be conducted (including the offering of any Company Products); (ii) with respect to Trademarks, the jurisdiction of filing, owner, registration or application number and date of issue or with respect to domain names, the owner, domain name administrator, date of registration, and date of renewal; and (iii) with respect to registered copyrights or copyright applications, the country of filing, owner, filing number, date of issue and expiration date, and description of the covered work. Each Group Company has made all required filings and registrations (and corresponding payments of fees therefor) to Governmental Authorities in connection with all registrations and applications for the Registered IP material to the operation of business of the Group Companies. No interference, opposition, cancellation, reissue, reexamination or other proceeding (other than ex parte proceedings in the ordinary course of Intellectual Property prosecution) is or in the three (3) years prior to the date hereof has been pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing, in which the scope, validity or enforceability of any Owned IP is being, or in the three (3) years prior to the date hereof has been, challenged. Each item of Registered IP is subsisting, valid and enforceable.
(b)   The Group Companies own, or have a valid right to use all Intellectual Property and Business Data used in or necessary for the conduct of the business of the Group Companies including the offering of any Company Products, as currently conducted and, to the Knowledge of the Company, as currently proposed to be conducted within the twelve (12) months after the date hereof (subject to obtainment of any
 
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necessary standard non-exclusive licenses in the ordinary course), free and clear of any Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances. Except as otherwise provided under Section 3.6, all material Company IP and material Business Data will be available immediately after Closing for use and enjoyment by the Group Companies on terms substantially similar to those under which the Group Companies owned or used such Company IP and Business Data immediately prior to Closing. The Group Companies own and possess all right, title and interest in and to any Owned IP, including each item of Registered IP, free and clear of any Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing: Each Person (including any current or former employee or consultant of a Group Company) who is or has been involved in the authorship, discovery, development, conception, or reduction to practice of any Owned IP (including any Company Product) on behalf of the Group Companies (each an “IP Contributor”) has signed a valid and enforceable Contract containing (or has obligations by operation of Law providing): (A) an irrevocable assignment to the applicable Group Company of all such Intellectual Property authored, discovered, developed, conceived, or reduced to practice by such Person in the course of that IP Contributor’s work for or on behalf of the applicable Group Company; and (B) customary confidentiality provisions protecting such Intellectual Property, and to the Knowledge of the Company, no such IP Contributor has any conflicting obligation to any Person with respect to such Intellectual Property or has any claim, right (whether or not currently exercisable) or interest in or to any Owned IP in any material respect;
(c)   To the Knowledge of the Company, the operation of the business of the Group Companies and the Owned IP does not and, in the three (3) years prior to the date hereof, has not violated, infringed or misappropriated any Intellectual Property of any Person, nor has any Group Company received in the three (3) years prior to the date hereof any written notice alleging any of the foregoing. During the three (3) years prior to the date hereof, (i) to the Knowledge of the Company, no Person has violated, infringed or misappropriated any Owned IP in any material respect and (ii) no Group Company has given any written notice to any other Person alleging any of the foregoing. No Company Product, Owned IP, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, Intellectual Property licensed to any Group Company is subject to any proceeding or outstanding order or settlement agreement or stipulation that materially restricts in any manner the use, provision, transfer, assignment, or licensing thereof by any Group Company or materially impairs the validity, use, or enforceability of such Company Product, Owned IP, or Intellectual Property licensed to any Group Company.
(d)   (i) The Group Companies have taken reasonable steps, consistent with industry practices of companies offering similar services or products, to (a) maintain the Owned IP material to the conduct of the business of the Group Companies, and (b) protect the confidentiality of confidential information and trade secrets of the Group Companies or of any third party to whom the Group Companies owe a contractual obligation of confidentiality, and (ii) the Intellectual Property and IT Systems owned or used (or held for use) by the Group Companies are sufficient in all material respects for the conduct of the business of the Group Companies as presently conducted and as conducted during the three (3) years prior to the date of this Agreement. During the three (3) years prior to the date of this Agreement, there has been no material failure or other material substandard performance of any IT System, in each case, which has caused a material disruption to any of the Group Companies and has not been reasonably remedied.
(e)   (i) To the Knowledge of the Company, neither the Company Products nor any IT Systems contain any “back door,” “drop dead device,” “time bomb,” “Trojan horse,” “virus,” or “worm” ​(as such terms are commonly understood in the software industry) or any other code designed or intended to have, or capable of performing, any of the following functions: (A) materially disrupting, disabling, harming or otherwise impeding in any manner the operation of, or providing unauthorized access to, a computer system or network or other device on which such code is stored or installed or (B) materially damaging or destroying any material data or file without the user’s consent; and (ii) to the Knowledge of the Company, none of the material Company Products contain any bug, defect, or error in such a manner that would materially and adversely affect the functionality of such material Company Products. The Group Companies have taken reasonable steps to prevent the introduction into any Company Product or IT System any of the foregoing.
(f)   The Group Companies have a valid right to use and exploit the Business Data as currently exploited in connection with the business of the Group Companies and, to the Knowledge of the Company, as currently proposed to be exploited in connection with any Company Products (subject to obtainment of any necessary standard non-exclusive licenses in the ordinary course).
 
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(g)   Except as would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company complies, and during the past three (3) years has complied, with: (i) any Contract governing the Company’s use of any API used to receive or collect Third-Party Data; (ii) any Contract governing the Company’s collection and use of any Third-Party Data collected or generated using web scraping, web crawling, or web harvesting software, or any software, service, tool, or technology that turns the unstructured data found on the internet into machine-readable, structured data; (iii) any Contract with any other Person that has provided to the Company, or from which the Company has received or collected, any Third-Party Data; and (iv) all applicable Laws relating to the Company’s collection and use of Third-Party Data and Business Data.
(h)   Each Group Company maintains or adheres to commercially reasonable policies and procedures consistent with standards in the industry relating to the ethical or responsible use of AI Technologies at and by such Group Company, including policies, protocols, and procedures for: (a) developing and implementing AI Technologies in a way that promotes transparency, accountability, and human interpretability; (b) identifying and mitigating bias in Training Data or in the AI Technologies used in the Company Products, including implicit racial, gender, or ideological bias; and (c) management oversight and approval of such Group Company employees’ and contractors’ use and implementation of AI Technologies (collectively for all Group Companies, “Company AI Policies”). During the three (3) years prior to the date of this Agreement, there has been: (i) no material actual or alleged non-compliance with any Company AI Policies; (ii) no material actual or alleged failure of a Company Product to satisfy the requirements specified in any Company AI Policies; (iii) no complaint, claim, proceeding, or litigation alleging that Training Data used in the development, improvement, or testing of any Company Product was falsified, biased, untrustworthy, or manipulated in an unethical or unscientific way and no report, finding, or impact assessment of any internal or external auditor, technology review committee, independent technology consultant, whistle-blower, transparency or privacy advocate, labor union, journalist, academic, or similar third-party that makes any such allegation; and (iv) no request from any Governmental Authority concerning any Company Product or related AI Technologies (except for requests that do not and are not reasonably expected to adversely affect in any material respect the Group Companies’ use of any Company Product or related AI Technologies) in each case of (i)  — (iv), in any material respect.
(i)   No funding, facilities or resources of any government, international organization, university, college, other educational institution, or research center was used in the development of the Company Products or Owned IP.
(j)   No source code owned by any Group Company, including any source code contained in the Company Products (collectively, the “Company Source Code”), has been delivered, licensed, or made available to any escrow agent or other Person who is not an employee or contractor of any Group Company and subject to confidentiality obligations under written and enforceable agreements (or similar obligations by operation of Law), nor does any Group Company have any duty or obligation (whether present, contingent, or otherwise) to do so. To the Knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred, and no circumstance or condition exists including the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or any other agreements referred to in this Agreement or the consummation of any of the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement that, with or without notice or lapse of time, will, or would reasonably be expected to, result in the delivery, license, or disclosure of any such source code to any other Person (other than an employee or contractor of any Group Company and subject to confidentiality obligations under written and enforceable agreements or similar obligations by operation of Law).
(k)   Except as disclosed in Section 3.15(k) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no Group Company has used during the three (3) years prior to the date of this Agreement or is currently using any Open Source Software in any manner that, with respect to any of the Company Products, Company Source Code, or other Company IP (other than the Open Source Software itself): (A) requires its disclosure or distribution in source code form, (B) requires the licensing thereof for the purpose of making derivative works, (C) imposes any material restriction on the consideration to be charged for the distribution thereof, (D) creates, or purports to create, material obligations for any Group Company or SPAC with respect to any Company IP owned by, or licensed to any Group Company or SPAC, or grants, or purports to grant, to any Person, any material rights or immunities under any Company IP owned by any Group Company or SPAC or (E) imposes any other material limitation, restriction, or condition on the right of any Group Company with respect to its use or distribution of any Company IP. With respect to the Open Source Software, each
 
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Group Company is, and has at all times been, in compliance with all applicable Open Source Software licenses. Except as disclosed in Section 3.15(k) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no Open Source Software subject to a Copyleft License is embedded with, linked to, or otherwise included in, any Company Product.
Section 3.16.   Privacy and Cybersecurity.
(a)   Except as would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Group Companies are, and during the three (3) years prior to the date of this Agreement have been, in compliance with Privacy Obligations, Cybersecurity Laws and Data Security Laws.
(b)   To the extent required by applicable Privacy Obligations, the Group Companies have provided notice to individuals about whom the Group Companies Process or direct the Processing of Personal Data regarding the applicable Group Company’s Personal Data Processing activities, and such notice fully and accurately discloses in all material respects how the Group Companies Process Personal Data about such individuals. Complete and correct copies of all written privacy notices have been made available to SPAC.
(c)   The Group Companies have, where required by Privacy Laws, contractually obligated third parties Processing Personal Data on behalf of the Group Companies to comply with applicable Privacy Laws.
(d)   The Group Companies have taken reasonable steps to protect and secure Business Data from loss, theft, unauthorized or unlawful Processing.
(e)   The Group Companies have contractually obligated all third parties Processing material Business Data on behalf of the Group Companies to (i) comply with applicable Privacy Obligations and (ii) take reasonable steps to protect and secure Business Data from loss, theft, unauthorized or unlawful Processing or other misuse.
(f)   The Group Companies have obtained or will obtain any and all necessary rights, approvals, permissions, and consents relating to its Processing of Personal Data necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement such that the transaction will not violate in any material respect any Privacy Laws, except to the extent attributable to the actions or omissions of a third party, including the Merger Subs and/or SPAC.
(g)   The Group Companies have implemented and maintained a written information security program that is comprised of reasonable and appropriate policies and technical, physical, administrative and organizational security measures designed to ensure a level of protection, security, confidentiality, integrity and availability of the information technology software and systems utilized by any Group Company in the operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries (“IT Systems”) as appropriate for the risk, including by being designed to protect all Business Data Processed thereby, against loss, theft, unauthorized access, unauthorized disclosure or unlawful Processing, or other misuse, as reasonably consistent with (i) reasonable practices in the industry in which the Group Companies operate, and (ii) the Group Companies’ Privacy Obligations, including, but not limited to, business continuity and disaster recovery plans.
(h)   Except as would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect, during the three (3) years prior to the date of this Agreement there has been no Security Incident or other breach of security or unauthorized access by third parties to (i) the IT Systems, (ii) confidential information, or (iii) any Personal Data collected, held, or otherwise managed by or, to the Knowledge of the Company, on behalf of any Group Company with respect to the business of any Group Company. During the three (3) years prior to the date of this Agreement, no Group Company has been notified in writing, or been required by any Privacy Obligation or Governmental Authority to notify in writing, any Person of any Security Incident.
(i)   The Group Companies use reasonable efforts to execute agreements with all employees, agents, and consultants to the Company or its Subsidiaries who have access to or Process Business Data of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ containing obligations to maintain the confidentiality and security of Business Data, and where Personal Data is accessed or processed, to inform them of the relevant written Privacy Policies, if applicable.
(j)   During the three (3) years prior to the date of this Agreement, no Group Company has: (i) received any written notice of any claims, investigations (including investigations by a Governmental Authority), or alleged material violations of Privacy Obligations; (ii) received any written complaints, correspondence or
 
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other communications from or on behalf of an individual or any other personal claiming a right to compensation under any applicable Privacy Obligation, or alleging any material breach of any applicable Privacy Obligation; or (iii) been subject to any data protection enforcement action (including any fine or other sanction) from any Governmental Authority with respect to Personal Data under the custody or control of the Group Companies.
Section 3.17.   Labor and Employee Matters.
(a)   Section 3.17(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a complete and correct list of each Benefit Plan.
(b)   Except as disclosed in Section 3.17(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter or as would not have be material to the business of the Group taken as a whole, (i) the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is, and for the three (3) years prior to the date hereof has been, in compliance with all applicable Law related to labor or employment, including provisions thereof relating to wages and payrolls, working hours and resting hours, overtime, working conditions, benefits, recruitment, retrenchment, retirement, pension, minimum employment and retirement age, equal opportunity, discrimination, worker classification, occupational health and safety, wrongful discharge, layoffs or plant closings, immigration, employees provident fund (including compulsory housing fund), social security organization and collective bargaining, trade union, compulsory employment insurance, work and residence permits, public holiday and leaves, labor disputes, statutory labor or employment reporting and filing obligations and contracting arrangements; (ii) there is no pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing Action relating to the violation of any applicable Law by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries related to labor or employment, including any charge or complaint filed by any of its current or former employees, directors, officers, individual consultants, or individual contractors with any Governmental Authority or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and (iii) the Company and its Subsidiaries have properly classified for all purposes (including (x) for Tax purposes, (y) for purposes of minimum wage and overtime and (z) for purposes of determining eligibility to participate in any statutory and non-statutory Benefit Plan) all Persons who have performed services for or on behalf of each such entity, and have properly withheld and paid all applicable Taxes and statutory contributions and made all required filings in connection with services provided by such persons to the Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance with such classifications.
(c)   Except as disclosed in Section 3.17(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter or would not be material to the business of the Group taken as a whole, (i) each of the Benefit Plans (A) has been operated and administered in accordance with its terms, (B) is in compliance with all applicable Law, and, all contributions to each Benefit Plan have been timely made, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no event, transaction or condition has occurred or exists that would result in any Liability to any of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries under any Benefit Plan; (ii) there are no pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing Actions involving any Benefit Plan (except for routine claims for benefits payable in the normal operation of any Benefit Plan) and to the Knowledge of the Company, no facts or circumstances exist that could give rise to any such Actions; (iii) no Benefit Plan is under investigation or audit by any Governmental Authority and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no such investigation or audit is contemplated or under consideration; and (iv) the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable Laws and Contracts relating to its provision of any form of social insurance, and has paid, or made provision for the payment of, all social insurance contributions required under applicable Law and Contracts.
(d)   Neither the execution or delivery of any of the Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereunder (either alone or in combination with another event) will or will reasonably be expected to (i) result in any payment or benefit becoming due to any Company employees or any current or former director, officer, employee, individual independent contractor or individual consultant of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) increase the amount of compensation or any benefits otherwise payable under any of the Benefit Plans; and (iii) result in any acceleration of the time of payment, exercisability, funding or vesting of any such benefits, or provide any additional rights or benefits with respect to, any compensation or benefits payable to any current or former director, officer, employee, individual independent consultant or individual independent service provider of the Company or its Subsidiaries; (iv) limit or restrict the ability of the Company to merge, amend, or terminate any Benefit Plan; or (v) result in the payment of any amount (whether in cash or property or the
 
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vesting of property) that could, individually or in combination with any other such payment, constitute “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code or result in the imposition on any Person of an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate thereof has any Liability with respect to or under: (i) a “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA; (ii) a “defined benefit plan” ​(as defined in Section 3(35) of ERISA, whether or not subject to ERISA) or a plan that is or was subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code; or (iii) a “multiple employer plan” within the meaning of Section 413(c) of the Code or Section 210 of ERISA. No Benefit Plan is subject to ERISA or the Code or U.S. Law.
(e)   Except as disclosed in Section 3.17(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter or as would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect, as of the date of this Agreement (i) no employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is represented by a Union; (ii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is negotiating any collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with any Union; (iii) to the Knowledge of the Company, there is no effort currently being made or threatened by or on behalf of any Union to organize any employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and (iv) there are no labor disputes (including any work slowdown, lockout, stoppage, picketing or strike) pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. No notice, consent or consultation obligations with respect to any employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Union will be a condition precedent to, or triggered by, the execution of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(f)   All employees and contractors transferred to or from a Group Company in connection with the VIE Restructuring (i) have been transferred in compliance with applicable Laws in all material respects, including with respect to the payment of any severance, (ii) for those transferred to a Group Company, are currently working for a Group Company pursuant to a written Contract with the applicable Group Company, and (iii) there are currently no material employment-related disputes with any such employees related to the transfer of employment.
Section 3.18.   Brokers.   Except as set forth in Section 3.18 of the Company Disclosure Letter, no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission or expense reimbursement in connection with the Transactions contemplated based upon arrangements made by and on behalf of the Company or any of its Controlled Affiliates.
Section 3.19.   Environmental Matters.   Except as would not be or reasonably be expected to be material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (i) the Group Companies are in compliance in all material respects with the applicable Environmental Laws in the respective jurisdictions where they conduct their business, including obtaining and complying in all material respects with all permits, licenses, consents and other authorizations required pursuant to applicable Environmental Laws for the lawful operation of their business as currently conducted; and (ii) no Group Company has in the three (3) years prior to the date hereof received any written notice of any actual or alleged material non-compliance with or material liability under Environmental Laws.
Section 3.20.   Insurance.   Section 3.20 of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth each insurance policy (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the social insurance and other statutory insurance mandated by Law) of the Group Companies. All such policies are in full force and effect, all premiums due and payable thereon as of the date of this Agreement have been paid in full as of the date of this Agreement. To the Knowledge of the Company, (a) no material claims have been made which remain outstanding and unpaid under such insurance policies, and (b) no circumstances exist that would reasonably be expected to give rise to a material claim of under such insurance policies.
Section 3.21.   Company Related Parties.   Except as set forth in Section 3.21 of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company has not engaged in any transactions with Related Parties that would be required to be disclosed in the Proxy/Registration Statement.
Section 3.22.   Proxy/Registration Statement.   The information supplied or to be supplied by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or their respective Representatives in writing specifically for inclusion in the Proxy/Registration Statement shall not, at (a) the time the Proxy/Registration Statement is declared
 
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effective, (b) the time the Proxy/Registration Statement (or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto) is first mailed to the SPAC Shareholders, and (c) the time of the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representation, warranty or covenant with respect to any information supplied by or on behalf of SPAC, its Affiliates or their respective Representatives.
Section 3.23.   No Additional Representations or Warranties.   The Company acknowledges and agrees that neither SPAC nor any of its Affiliates, agents or Representatives is making any representation or warranty whatsoever to the Company beyond those set forth in Article IV.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SPAC
Except (a) as set forth in any SPAC SEC Filings filed or submitted on or prior to the date hereof (excluding (i) any disclosures in any risk factors section that do not constitute statements of fact, any disclosures in any forward-looking statements disclaimer and any other disclosures that are generally cautionary, predictive or forward-looking in nature and (ii) any exhibits or other documents appended thereto) (it being acknowledged that nothing disclosed in such SPAC SEC Filings will be deemed to modify or qualify the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.2, Section 4.6 and Section 4.13); (b) as set forth in the disclosure letter delivered by SPAC to the Company on the date of this Agreement (the “SPAC Disclosure Letter”); or (c) as otherwise explicitly contemplated by this Agreement, SPAC represents and warrants to the Company as of the date of this Agreement as follows:
Section 4.1.   Organization, Good Standing, Corporate Power and Qualification.   SPAC is an exempted company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the Cayman Islands and has requisite corporate power and authority to own and operate its properties and assets, to carry on its business as presently conducted and contemplated to be conducted. SPAC is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing as a foreign or extra-provincial corporation in each jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the character of its activities is such as to require it to be so licensed or qualified or in good standing, as applicable, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified or in good standing would not be material to SPAC. Prior to the execution of this Agreement, a true and correct copy of the SPAC Charter has been made available by or on behalf of SPAC to the Company, the SPAC Charter is in full force and effect, and SPAC is not in default of any term of provision of the SPAC Charter in any material respect.
Section 4.2.   Capitalization and Voting Rights.
(a)   Capitalization of SPAC.   As of the date of this Agreement, the authorized share capital of SPAC consists of $55,500 divided into (i) 500,000,000 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, of which 25,497,614 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, (ii) 50,000,000 SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares, of which 7,500,000 SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, and (iii) 5,000,000 preference shares of par value $0.0001 each, of which no preference share is issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement. There are no other issued or outstanding SPAC Shares as of the date of this Agreement. All of the issued and outstanding SPAC Shares (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued and allotted and are fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) have been offered, sold and issued by SPAC in compliance with applicable Law, including the Cayman Act, U.S. federal and state securities Laws, and all requirements set forth in (1) the SPAC Charter, and (2) any other applicable Contracts governing the issuance or allotment of such securities to which SPAC is a party or otherwise bound; and (iii) are not subject to, nor have they been issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, pre-emptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of any applicable Law, the SPAC Charter or any Contract to which SPAC is a party or otherwise bound.
(b)   As of the date of this Agreement, 4,502,386 SPAC Units are issued and outstanding (in respect of which 4,502,386 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and up to 2,251,193 SPAC Warrants would be issued if these
 
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SPAC Units were separated on the date hereof pursuant to Section 2.3(a)). There are no other issued or outstanding SPAC Units as of the date of this Agreement. All of the issued and outstanding SPAC Units (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued; (ii) have been offered, sold and issued by SPAC in compliance with applicable Law, including the Cayman Act, U.S. federal and state securities Laws, and all requirements set forth in (1) the SPAC Charter, and (2) any other applicable Contracts governing the issuance of such SPAC Units to which SPAC is a party or otherwise bound; and (iii) are not subject to, nor have they been issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, pre-emptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of any applicable Law, the SPAC Charter or any Contract to which SPAC is a party or otherwise bound.
(c)   As of the date of this Agreement, 21,620,789 SPAC Warrants are issued and outstanding. The SPAC Warrants are exercisable for 21,620,789 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares. The SPAC Warrants are not exercisable until the later of (x) thirty (30) days after the closing of a Business Combination and (y) twelve (12) months from the closing of the IPO. All outstanding SPAC Warrants (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued and constitute valid and binding obligations of SPAC, enforceable against SPAC in accordance with their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions; (ii) have been offered, sold and issued by SPAC in compliance with applicable Law, including federal and state securities Laws, and all requirements set forth in (1) the SPAC Charter and (2) any other applicable Contracts governing the issuance of such securities to which SPAC is a party or otherwise bound; and (iii) are not subject to, nor have they been issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, pre-emptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of any applicable Law, the SPAC Charter or any Contract to which SPAC is a party or otherwise bound. Except for the SPAC Charter or this Agreement, there are no outstanding Contracts of SPAC to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any SPAC Shares.
(d)   Except as set forth in this Section 4.2 or Section 4.2 of the SPAC Disclosure Letter, there are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, rights or other securities (including debt securities) of SPAC exercisable or exchangeable for SPAC Shares, any other commitments, calls, conversion rights, rights of exchange or privilege (whether pre-emptive, contractual or by matter of Law), plans or other agreements of any character providing for the issuance of additional shares, the sale of treasury shares or other Equity Securities of SPAC, or for the repurchase or redemption of shares or other Equity Securities of SPAC or the value of which is determined by reference to shares or other Equity Securities of SPAC, and there are no voting trusts, proxies or agreements of any kind which may obligate SPAC to issue, purchase, register for sale, redeem or otherwise acquire any SPAC Shares or other Equity Securities of SPAC.
Section 4.3.   Corporate Structure; Subsidiaries.   SPAC has no Subsidiaries, and does not own, directly or indirectly, any Equity Securities or other interests or investments (whether equity or debt) in any Person, whether incorporated or unincorporated. SPAC is not obligated to make any investment in or capital contribution to or on behalf of any other Person.
Section 4.4.   Authorization.
(a)   Other than the SPAC Shareholders’ Approval, SPAC has all requisite corporate power and authority to (i) enter into, execute and deliver this Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents to which it is or will be a party, and (ii) consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the Transactions) and perform all of its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which SPAC is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the Transactions) have been duly and validly authorized and approved by the SPAC Board and, other than the SPAC Shareholders’ Approval, no other company or corporate proceeding on the part of SPAC is necessary to authorize this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which SPAC is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been, and at or prior to the Closing, the other Transaction Documents to which SPAC is a party will be, duly and validly executed and delivered by SPAC, and this Agreement constitutes, and on or prior to the Closing, the other Transaction Documents to which SPAC is a party will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of SPAC, enforceable against SPAC in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.
 
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(b)   Assuming that a quorum (as determined pursuant to the SPAC Charter) is present:
(i)   The approval and authorization of the First Merger and the First Plan of Merger shall require approval by a special resolution passed by the affirmative vote of SPAC Shareholders holding at least two-thirds of the outstanding SPAC Shares which, being so entitled, are voted thereon in person or by proxy at a general meeting of SPAC of which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been duly given, pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of the SPAC Charter and applicable Law; and
(ii)   The approval and authorization of this Agreement and the Transactions as a Business Combination and the adoption and approval of a proposal for the adjournment of the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting in each case shall require approval by an ordinary resolution passed by the affirmative vote of SPAC Shareholders holding at least a majority of the outstanding SPAC Shares which, being so entitled, are voted thereon in person or by proxy at a general meeting of SPAC, pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of the SPAC Charter and applicable Law.
(c)   The SPAC Shareholders’ Approval are the only votes of any SPAC Shares necessary in connection with execution of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which SPAC is a party by SPAC and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
(d)   On or prior to the date of this Agreement, the SPAC Board has duly adopted resolutions (i) determining that this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which SPAC is a party contemplated hereby and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the Transactions) are advisable and fair to, and in the best interests of, SPAC and constitute a Business Combination, (ii) authorizing and approving the execution, delivery and performance by SPAC of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which SPAC is a party contemplated hereby and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the Transactions) (iii) making the SPAC Board Recommendation, and (iv) directing that this Agreement, the Transaction Documents and the Transactions be submitted to the SPAC Shareholders for adoption at an extraordinary general meeting called for such purpose pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
Section 4.5.   Consents; No Conflicts.   Assuming the representations and warranties in Article III are true and correct, except (a) for the SPAC Shareholders’ Approval, (b) for the registration or filing with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands, the SEC or applicable state blue sky or other securities laws filings with respect to the Transactions and the publication of notification of the Mergers in the Cayman Islands Government Gazette pursuant to the Cayman Act and (c) for such other filings, notifications, notices, submissions, applications, or consents the failure of which to be obtained or made would not individually or in the aggregate, have, or reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on the ability of SPAC to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, all filings, notifications, notices, submissions, applications, or consents from or with any Governmental Authority or any other Person required in connection with the valid execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, and the consummation of the Transactions, in each case on the part of SPAC, have been duly obtained or completed (as applicable) and are in full force and effect. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is or will be a party by SPAC does not, and the consummation by SPAC of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (assuming the representations and warranties in Article III are true and correct, except for the matters referred to in clauses (a) through (c) of the immediately preceding sentence) (i) result in any violation of, be in conflict with, or constitute a default under, require any consent under, or give any Person rights of termination, amendment, acceleration (including acceleration of any obligation of SPAC) or cancellation under, (A) any Governmental Order, (B) the SPAC Charter, (C) any applicable Law, (D) any Contract to which SPAC is a party or by which its assets are bound, or (ii) result in the creation of any Encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of SPAC other than any restrictions under federal or state securities laws, this Agreement or the SPAC Charter, except in the case of sub-clauses (A), (C), and (D) of clause (i) or clause (ii), as would not have a SPAC Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.6.   Tax Matters.
(a)   All material Tax Returns required to be filed by or with respect to SPAC have been timely filed (taking into account any extensions) and such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all
 
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material respects. All material Taxes due and payable by SPAC have been or will be timely paid, except with respect to matters being contested in good faith by appropriate proceeding and with respect to which adequate reserves have been made in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
(b)   No material deficiencies for any Taxes that are currently outstanding with respect to any Tax Returns of SPAC have been asserted in writing by, and to the Knowledge of SPAC, no written notice of any action, audit, assessment or other proceeding, in each case that is currently pending, with respect to such Tax Returns or any Taxes of SPAC has been received from, any Tax authority, and no dispute or assessment relating to such Tax Returns or such Taxes with any such Tax authority is currently outstanding.
(c)   No material claim that is currently outstanding has been made in writing by any Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction where SPAC does not file Tax Returns that SPAC is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction.
(d)   Except as contemplated by this Agreement, the Transaction Documents, or the Transactions, SPAC has not taken any action (nor permitted any action to be taken), and is not aware of any fact or circumstance, that would reasonably be expected to prevent, impair or impede the Intended Tax Treatment.
(e)   SPAC is not treated (i) as an “expatriated entity” as defined in Section 7874(a)(2)(A) of the Code, (ii) as a “surrogate foreign corporation” as defined in Section 7874(a)(2)(B) of the Code or (iii) otherwise as a domestic corporation as a result of the application of Section 7874(b) of the Code.
(f)   There are no liens for material Taxes (other than such liens that are Permitted Encumbrances) upon the assets of SPAC.
(g)   SPAC has complied in all material respects with all applicable transfer pricing requirement imposed by any Governmental Authority.
(h)   SPAC is in compliance with all terms and conditions of any material Tax incentives, exemption, holiday or other material Tax reduction agreement or order of a Governmental Authority applicable to SPAC, and the consummation of the Transactions will not have any material adverse effect on the continued validity and effectiveness of any such material Tax incentives, exemption, holiday or other material Tax reduction agreement or order.
Section 4.7.   Financial Statements.
(a)   The financial statements of SPAC contained in SPAC SEC Filings (the “SPAC Financial Statements”) (i) have been prepared in accordance with the books and records of SPAC, (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of SPAC on a consolidated basis as of the dates indicated therein, and the results of operations and cash flows of SPAC on a consolidated basis for the periods indicated therein, (iii) were prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, and (iv) comply in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements and with the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act applicable to SPAC, in effect as of the respective dates thereof (including, to the extent applicable to SPAC, Regulation S-X).
(b)   SPAC has in place disclosure controls and procedures that are (i) designed to reasonably ensure that material information relating to SPAC is made known to the management of SPAC by others within SPAC; and (ii) effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established. SPAC maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (w) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (x) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability, (y) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (z) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
 
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(c)   SPAC has no Liability, and there is no existing condition, situation or set of circumstances which is reasonably expected to result in any Liability, other than (i) Liabilities incurred after the SPAC Accounts Date in the Ordinary Course or other Liabilities that individually and in the aggregate are immaterial, (ii) Liabilities reflected, or reserved against, in the SPAC Financial Statements or (iii) as set forth in Section 4.7(c) of the SPAC Disclosure Letter.
(d)   Since December 31, 2021, SPAC has not been made aware in writing of (i) any fraud that involves SPAC’s management who have a role in the preparation of financial statements or the internal accounting controls utilized by SPAC or (ii) to the Knowledge of SPAC, any allegation, assertion or claim regarding any of the foregoing.
Section 4.8.   Absence of Changes.   Since the SPAC Accounts Date, (i) to the date of this Agreement, SPAC has operated its business in the Ordinary Course, and (ii) there has not been any SPAC Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.9.   Actions.   (a) There is no Action pending or, to the Knowledge of SPAC, threatened in writing against or affecting or affecting SPAC or any of its directors or officers (solely in their capacity as such); and (b) there is no judgment or award unsatisfied against SPAC, nor is there any Governmental Order in effect and binding on SPAC or its directors or officers (solely in their capacity as such) or assets or properties. No order has been made, petition presented and received by SPAC, resolution passed or meeting convened for the purpose of considering a resolution for the dissolution and liquidation of SPAC or the establishment of a liquidation group, no administrator has been appointed for SPAC nor to the Knowledge of SPAC steps taken to appoint an administrator, and to the Knowledge of SPAC there are no Actions under any applicable insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization Laws concerning SPAC.
Section 4.10.   Brokers.   Except as set forth in Section 4.10 of the SPAC Disclosure Letter, no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission or expense reimbursement in connection with the Transactions contemplated based upon arrangements made by and on behalf of SPAC or any of its Affiliates.
Section 4.11.   Proxy/Registration Statement.   The information supplied or to be supplied by SPAC, its Affiliates or their respective Representatives in writing specifically for inclusion in the Proxy/Registration Statement shall not, at (a) the time the Proxy/Registration Statement is declared effective, (b) the time the Proxy/Registration Statement (or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto) is first mailed to the SPAC Shareholders, and (c) the time of the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, SPAC makes no representation, warranty or covenant with respect to any information supplied by or on behalf of Company, its Subsidiaries or their respective Representatives.
Section 4.12.   SEC Filings.   SPAC has timely filed or furnished all statements, prospectuses, registration statements, forms, reports and documents required to be filed or furnished by it with the SEC, pursuant to the Exchange Act or the Securities Act (collectively, as they have been amended since the time of their filing or furnishing through the date of this Agreement, the “SPAC SEC Filings”). Each of the SPAC SEC Filings, as of the respective date of its filing, and as of the date of any amendment, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act applicable to such SPAC SEC Filings. As of the respective date of its filing (or if amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this Agreement or the Closing Date, then on the date of such filing), the SPAC SEC Filings did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no outstanding or unresolved comments in comment letters received from the SEC with respect to any SPAC SEC Filing. To the Knowledge of SPAC, none of the SPAC SEC Filings filed on or prior to the date of this Agreement is subject to ongoing SEC review or investigation as of the date of this Agreement. All documents that SPAC is responsible for filing with the SEC in connection with the Transactions will comply as to form and substance in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
 
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Section 4.13.   Trust Account.   As of the date of this Agreement, SPAC has at least $300,162,921 in the Trust Account (including an aggregate of approximately $10,500,000 of deferred underwriting commissions being held in the Trust Account), such monies invested in United States government securities or money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act pursuant to the Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of February 4, 2021, between SPAC and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee,” and such Investment Management Trust Agreement, the “Trust Agreement”). There are no separate Contracts or side letters that would cause the description of the Trust Agreement in the SPAC SEC Filings to be inaccurate in any material respect or that would entitle any Person (other than SPAC Shareholders holding SPAC Ordinary Shares (prior to the First Effective Time) sold in SPAC’s IPO who shall have elected to redeem their SPAC Ordinary Shares (prior to the First Effective Time) pursuant to the SPAC Charter and the underwriters of SPAC’s IPO with respect to deferred underwriting commissions) to any portion of the proceeds in the Trust Account. Prior to the Closing, none of the funds held in the Trust Account may be released other than to pay Taxes and payment to SPAC Shareholders who have validly exercised their SPAC Shareholder Redemption Right. There are no Actions pending or, to the Knowledge of SPAC, threatened with respect to the Trust Account. SPAC has performed all material obligations required to be performed by it to date under, and is not in default, breach or delinquent in performance or any other respect (claimed or actual) in connection with, the Trust Agreement, and no event has occurred which, with due notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default or breach thereunder. As of the Closing, the obligations of SPAC to dissolve or liquidate pursuant to the SPAC Charter shall terminate, and as of the Closing, SPAC shall have no obligation whatsoever pursuant to the SPAC Charter to dissolve and liquidate the assets of SPAC by reason of the consummation of the Transactions. To the Knowledge of SPAC, as of the date of this Agreement, following the Closing, no SPAC Shareholder is entitled to receive any amount from the Trust Account except to the extent such SPAC Shareholder has exercised his, her or its SPAC Shareholder Redemption Right. As of the date of this Agreement, assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties contained in Article III and the compliance by the Company with its obligations hereunder, SPAC has no reason to believe that any of the conditions to the use of funds in the Trust Account will not be satisfied or funds available in the Trust Account will not be available to SPAC on the Closing Date.
Section 4.14.   Investment Company Act; JOBS Act.   SPAC is not an “investment company” or a Person directly or indirectly “controlled” by or acting on behalf of an “investment company,” in each case within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. SPAC constitutes an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012.
Section 4.15.   Business Activities.
(a)   Since its incorporation, SPAC has not conducted any business activities other than activities related to SPAC’s IPO or directed toward the accomplishment of a Business Combination. Except as set forth in the SPAC Charter or as otherwise contemplated or by which SPAC is bound by the Transaction Documents and the Transactions, there is no Contract to which SPAC is a party which has or would reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting or impairing in any material respect any business practice of SPAC or any acquisition of property by SPAC or the conduct of business by SPAC as currently conducted or as contemplated to be conducted as of the Closing.
(b)   Except for the Transactions, SPAC does not own or have a right to acquire, directly or indirectly, any interest or investment (whether equity or debt) in any corporation, partnership, joint venture, business, trust or other entity. Except for this Agreement and the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, SPAC has no material interests, rights, obligations or liabilities with respect to, and is not party to, bound by or has its assets or property subject to, in each case whether directly or indirectly, any Contract or transaction which is, or would reasonably be interpreted as constituting, a Business Combination.
(c)   Except (i) as set forth in Section 4.15(c) of the SPAC Disclosure Letter, (ii) for this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including with respect to SPAC Transaction Expenses) and (ii) for contracts with the underwriters of SPAC’s IPO, SPAC is not party to any Contract with any other Person that would require payments by SPAC after the date hereof in excess of $100,000 in the aggregate.
 
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Section 4.16.   Nasdaq Quotation.   SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, SPAC Warrants and SPAC Units are each registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on the Nasdaq Stock Markets (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “COVA,” “COVAW” and “COVAU,” respectively. SPAC is in compliance with the rules of Nasdaq and the rules and regulations of the SEC related to such listing and there is no Action pending or, to the Knowledge of SPAC, threatened against SPAC by Nasdaq or the SEC with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, SPAC Warrants or SPAC Units or terminate the listing thereof on Nasdaq. SPAC has not taken any action in an attempt to terminate the registration of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, SPAC Warrants or SPAC Units under the Exchange Act except as contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 4.17.   SPAC Related Parties.   Except as set forth in Section 4.17 of the SPAC Disclosure Letter, SPAC has not engaged in any transactions with related parties that would be required to be disclosed in the Proxy/Registration Statement.
Section 4.18.   No Additional Representations or Warranties.   SPAC acknowledges and agrees that neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates, agents or Representatives is making any representation or warranty whatsoever to the Company beyond those set forth in Article III.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
Section 5.1.   Conduct of Business.   Except (i) as contemplated or permitted by the Transaction Documents, (ii) as required by applicable Law (including for this purpose any COVID-19 Measures) or relevant PRC Governmental Authorities, (iii) as set forth on Section 5.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter or (iv) as consented to by SPAC in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld, delayed or denied), from the date of this Agreement through the earlier of the Closing or valid termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article IX (the “Interim Period”), the Company (1) shall use commercially reasonable efforts to operate the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries in the Ordinary Course, (2) shall use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve the Group’s business and operational relationships in all material respects with the suppliers, customers and others having business relationships with the Group that are material to the Group taken as a whole, in each case where commercially reasonable to do so, and (3) shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, except as otherwise expressly required or permitted by this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents or required by Law, to:
(a)   (i) amend its memorandum and articles of association or other Organizational Documents (whether by merger, consolidation, amalgamation or otherwise), except in the case of any of the Company’s Subsidiaries only, for any such amendment which is not material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or (ii) liquidate, dissolve, reorganize or otherwise wind up its business and operations, or propose or adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation or dissolution, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization, reclassification or similar change in capitalization or other reorganization (other than liquidation or dissolution of any dormant Subsidiary);
(b)   incur, assume, guarantee or repurchase or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness, or issue or sell any debt securities or options, warrants or other rights to acquire debt securities, in any such case in a principal amount exceeding $1,000,000, except for (i) borrowings or drawdowns under facility agreements disclosed in Section 5.1(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter and (ii) Indebtedness incurred in connection with the Permitted Financing;
(c)   transfer, issue, sell, grant, pledge or otherwise dispose of (i) any of the Equity Securities of the Company or its Subsidiaries to a third party, or (ii) any options, warrants, rights of conversion or other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitment obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to purchase or obtain any Equity Securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to a third party, other than (A) the grant of awards under the ESOP in the Ordinary Course, (B) the issuance of Company Shares upon the exercise of Company Options under the ESOP, (C) the issuance of Company Shares pursuant to obligations incurred by the Company prior to the date hereof as set forth in Section 5.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter, (D) the issuance of Equity Securities by a Subsidiary of the Company (x) to the Company or a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company or
 
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(y) on a pro rata basis to all shareholders of such Subsidiary, or (E) the issuance of any Equity Securities of a Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to a transaction permitted under Section 5.1(d);
(d)   sell, lease, sublease, exclusively license, transfer, abandon, allow to lapse or dispose of any material property or assets (other than Owned IP), in any single transaction or series of related transactions, except for (i) transactions pursuant to Contracts entered into in the Ordinary Course, or (ii) dispositions of obsolete, surplus or worn out assets that are no longer useful in the conduct of the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries in the Ordinary Course;
(e)   sell, assign, transfer, lease, license or sublicense, abandon, permit to lapse or otherwise dispose of or impose any Encumbrance (other than Permitted Encumbrances) upon any material Owned IP, in each case, except for non-exclusive licenses under material Owned IP granted in the Ordinary Course;
(f)   disclose any (i) trade secrets or material confidential information or (ii) Personal Data to any Person (other than in the Ordinary Course in circumstances in which it has imposed reasonable and customary confidentiality restrictions);
(g)   make any acquisition of, or investment in, a business, by purchase of stock, securities or assets, merger or consolidation, or contributions to capital, or loans or advances, in any such case with a value or purchase price in excess of $25,000,000 individually and $50,000,000 in the aggregate;
(h)   settle any Action by any Governmental Authority or any other third-party material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
(i)   (i) subdivide, split, consolidate, combine, reclassify or amend any terms of its Equity Securities, except for any such transaction by a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company that remains a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company after consummation of such transaction, (ii) redeem, repurchase, cancel or otherwise acquire or offer to redeem, repurchase, or otherwise acquire any of its Equity Securities, except for the redemption of Equity Securities issued under the ESOP, (iii) declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or other distribution, payable in cash, shares, property or otherwise, with respect to any of its share capital other than dividends or distributions by any Subsidiary of the Company on a pro rata basis to its shareholders, or (iv) amend any term or alter any rights of any of its outstanding Equity Securities;
(j)   authorize, make or incur any capital expenditures or obligations or liabilities in connection therewith, except in the Ordinary Course or other than any capital expenditures or obligations or liabilities in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate;
(k)   except in the Ordinary Course, (i) enter into any Material Contract, or (ii) amend any such Material Contract or extend, transfer, terminate or waive any right or entitlement of material value under any Material Contract, in each case in a manner that is adverse to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than in any immaterial respect; provided, however, that to the extent that another subsection of this Section 5.1 would specifically permit the entry into of a Material Contract in a higher dollar threshold than in the definition of “Material Contract,” then this Section 5.1(k) shall not prevent the entry into of such Material Contract in a higher dollar threshold;
(l)   voluntarily terminate (other than expiration in accordance with its terms), suspend, abrogate, amend or modify any Material Permit except in the Ordinary Course or as would not be material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(m)   make any material change in its accounting principles or methods unless required by GAAP or applicable Laws;
(n)   amend or modify any Subsequent Equity Subscription Agreement, Permitted Financing Agreement or Strategic Investment Agreement in a manner adverse or reasonably likely to be adverse to SPAC;
(o)   except as contemplated by this Agreement, the Transaction Documents, or the Transactions, knowingly take any action where such action could reasonably be expected to prevent, impair or impede the Intended Tax Treatment;
 
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(p)   (w) increase the compensation or benefits payable or provided, or to become payable or provided to, any directors, officers or individual service providers of the Company or any Subsidiary whose total annual compensation opportunity exceeds $200,000, except for bonuses, base salary increases or in connection with any promotions in the Ordinary Course not exceeding $100,000 on an individual basis, (x) except in the Ordinary Course, grant or announce any cash or equity or equity-based incentive awards, bonuses, transaction, retention, severance or other additional compensation or benefits to any directors, officers or individual consultants or individual contractors of the Company or any Subsidiary, (y) accelerate the time of payment, vesting or funding of any compensation or increase in the benefits or compensation provided under any Benefit Plan or otherwise due to any current or former directors, officers or individual service providers of the Company or any Subsidiary, or (z) hire, engage, terminate (other than for “cause”), furlough or temporary layoff any employee of the Company or any Subsidiary whose total annual compensation exceeds $200,000;
(q)   except in the Ordinary Course, as required by any Benefit Plan as in effect on the date of this Agreement or as otherwise required by Law, amend, modify, or terminate any Benefit Plan or adopt or establish a new Benefit Plan (or any plan, program, agreement or other arrangement that would be a Benefit Plan if in effect as of the date of this Agreement);
(r)   waive or release any noncompetition or non-solicitation obligation of any current or former directors, officers or individual service providers (whose total annual compensation exceeds $200,000) of the Company or any Subsidiary; or
(s)   enter into any agreement or otherwise make a commitment to do any of the foregoing (except to the extent that such an agreement or commitment would be permitted by a subsection of the foregoing subsections (a) through (r)).
For the avoidance of doubt, if any action taken or refrained from being taken by the Company or a Subsidiary is covered by a subsection of this Section 5.1 and not prohibited thereunder, the taking or not taking of such action shall be deemed not to be in violation of any other part of this Section 5.1.
Section 5.2.   Access to Information.   Upon reasonable prior notice and subject to applicable Law and appropriate COVID-19 Measures, during the Interim Period, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its wholly owned Subsidiaries’, and of its and its wholly owned Subsidiaries’ officers, directors and employees to, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause its Representatives to, afford SPAC and its Representatives, following reasonable notice from SPAC in accordance with this Section 5.2, in such manner as to not interfere with the normal operation of the Company and its wholly owned Subsidiaries, reasonable access during normal business hours to the officers, employees, agents, properties, offices and other facilities, books and records of each of it and its wholly owned Subsidiaries, as shall be reasonably requested solely for purposes of and that are necessary for consummating the Transactions; provided, however, that in each case, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be required to disclose any document or information, or permit any inspection, that would, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, (a) result in the disclosure of any trade secrets or violate the terms of any confidentiality provisions in any agreement with a third party, (b) result in a violation of applicable Law, including any fiduciary duty, (c) waive the protection of any attorney-client work product or other applicable privilege or (d) result in the disclosure of any sensitive or personal information that would expose the Company to the risk of Liabilities. All information and materials provided pursuant to this Agreement will be subject to the provisions of the NDA.
Section 5.3.    Company Listing.   The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause: (i) the Company’s initial listing application with Nasdaq in connection with the Transactions to be approved, (ii) immediately following the Closing, the Company to satisfy any applicable initial and continuing listing requirements of Nasdaq, and (iii) the Company Class A Ordinary Shares and the Company Warrants to be issued in connection with the Transactions to be approved for listing on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance.
Section 5.4.    Company Equity Incentive Plan.   Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall approve and adopt an equity incentive plan containing such material terms and conditions set forth on Exhibit G (the “Company 2022 Equity Incentive Plan”), which form of equity incentive plan shall be subject
 
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to SPAC’s prior written approval, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or denied. As promptly as reasonably practicable following the expiration of the sixty (60) day period following the date the Company has filed current Form 10 information with the SEC reflecting its status as an entity that is not a shell company, the Company shall file a registration statement on Form S-8 (or other applicable form) with respect to the Company Ordinary Shares issuable under the ESOP and Company 2022 Equity Incentive Plan, and the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement(s) (and maintain the current status of the prospectus or prospectuses contained therein) for so long as awards granted pursuant to the ESOP and Company 2022 Equity Incentive Plan remain outstanding.
Section 5.5.    Acquisition Proposals and Alternative Transactions.   During the Interim Period, the Company shall not, and it shall cause its Controlled Affiliates and its and their respective Representatives not to, directly or indirectly: (a) solicit, initiate, submit, facilitate (including by means of furnishing or disclosing information), discuss or negotiate, directly or indirectly, any inquiry, proposal or offer (written or oral) with any third-party (including any Competing SPAC) with respect to a Company Acquisition Proposal; (b) furnish or disclose any non-public information to any third-party (including to any Competing SPAC) in connection with or that would reasonably be expected to lead to a Company Acquisition Proposal; (c) enter into any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any third party (including a Competing SPAC) regarding a Company Acquisition Proposal; (d) prepare or take any steps in connection with any public offering of any Equity Securities of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or a newly-formed holding company of the Company or such Subsidiaries or (e) otherwise cooperate in any way with, or assist or participate in, or knowingly facilitate or encourage any effort or attempt by any Person to do or seek to do any of the foregoing.
Section 5.6.    D&O Indemnification and Insurance.
(a)   From and after the Closing, the Company and Surviving Entity 2 shall jointly and severally indemnify and hold harmless each present and former director and officer, as the case may be, of SPAC (in each case, solely to the extent acting in his or her capacity as such and to the extent such activities are related to the business of SPAC) (each, a “SPAC D&O Indemnified Parties”) against any costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages or liabilities incurred in connection with any Action, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, arising out of or pertaining to matters existing or occurring at or prior to the Closing, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Closing, to the fullest extent that SPAC would have been permitted under applicable Law and its respective certificate of incorporation, certificate of formation, bylaws, memorandum and articles of association, limited liability company agreement, limited liability partnership agreement, limited liability limited partnership agreement or other Organizational Documents in effect on the date of this Agreement to indemnify such SPAC D&O Indemnified Parties (including the advancing of expenses as incurred to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law). Without limiting the foregoing, the Company and Surviving Entity 2 shall, (i) for a period of not less than six years from the Closing, maintain in effect provisions in their Organizational Documents concerning the indemnification and exoneration (including provisions relating to expense advancement) of SPAC’s former and current officers, directors, employees, and agents that are no less favorable to those Persons than such provisions in SPAC’s Organizational Documents as in effect as of the date of this Agreement, and (ii) not amend, repeal or otherwise modify such provisions in any respect that would adversely affect the rights of those Persons thereunder, in each case, except as required by Law.
(b)   For a period of six years from the Closing, the Company shall, at its cost and expense, maintain in effect directors’ and officers’ liability insurance (a “SPAC D&O Insurance”) covering those Persons who are currently covered by SPAC’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies (including, in any event, the SPAC D&O Indemnified Parties) with respect to acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the Closing, on terms not less favorable than the terms of such current insurance coverage; provided that the aggregate cost of the SPAC D&O Insurance shall not be in excess of 300% of the aggregate annual premium payable by SPAC for such insurance policy for the year ended December 31, 2021; provided, however, that (i) SPAC may, at the Company’s cost and expense, cause coverage to be extended under the current directors’ and officers’ liability insurance by obtaining a six-year “tail” policy with respect to acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the Closing (a “SPAC D&O Tail”) and if and to the
 
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extent such policies have been obtained prior to the Closing with respect to any such Persons, SPAC shall maintain such policies in effect and continue to honor the obligations thereunder, and (ii) if any claim is asserted or made within such six-year period, any insurance required to be maintained under this Section 5.6 shall be continued in respect of such claim until the final disposition thereof.
(c)   Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, this Section 5.6 shall survive the Closing and shall be binding, jointly and severally, on the Company and Surviving Entity 2 and all of their respective successors and assigns. In the event that the Company and Surviving Entity 2 or any of their respective successors or assigns consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving company or entity of such consolidation or merger or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in each such case, the Company and Surviving Entity 2 shall ensure that proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of the Company and Surviving Entity 2, as the case may be, shall succeed to the obligations set forth in this Section 5.6.
(d)   The provisions of Section 5.6(a) through (c) (i) are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each Person who is now, or who has been at any time prior to the date of this Agreement or who becomes prior to the Closing, a SPAC D&O Indemnified Party, his or her heirs and his or her personal representatives, (ii) are in addition to, and not in substitution for, any other rights to indemnification or contribution that any such Person may have, whether pursuant to Law, Contract, Organizational Documents, or otherwise and (iii) shall not be terminated or modified in such a manner as to adversely affect any SPAC D&O Indemnified Party without the consent of such SPAC D&O Indemnified Party.
Section 5.7.    Post-Closing Board of Directors of the Company.   Subject to the terms of the A&R Company Charter, the Company shall take all such action within its power as may be necessary or appropriate such that immediately following the Closing, the board of directors of the Company (i) shall consist of seven (7) directors, which shall include (A) five (5) directors determined by the Company and (B) two (2) directors designated by SPAC pursuant to a written notice to be delivered to the Company sufficiently in advance of the date on which the Proxy/Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act, subject to such Person being reasonably acceptable to the Company and passing customary background checks (all such directors of the Company following the Closing, the “Company Directors”) and (ii) shall have reconstituted its applicable committees to consist of the directors designated by the Company prior to the Closing Date; provided, however, that any such directors designated by the Company in accordance with clause (ii) of this sentence as members of the audit committee shall qualify as “independent” under Nasdaq listing rules. The Parties currently expect that the initial Company Directors will be the individuals set forth on Section 5.7 of the Company Disclosure Letter.
Section 5.8.    Notice of Developments.   During the Interim Period, the Company shall promptly (and in any event prior to the Closing) notify SPAC in writing, and SPAC shall promptly (and in any event prior to the Closing) notify the Company in writing, upon any of the Group Companies or SPAC, as applicable, becoming aware (awareness being determined with reference to the Knowledge of the Company or the Knowledge of SPAC, as the case may be) (i) of the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event the occurrence or non-occurrence of which has caused or is reasonably likely to cause any condition to the obligations of any party to effect the Transactions not to be satisfied or (ii) of any notice or other communication from any Governmental Authority which is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the parties hereto to consummate the Transactions or to materially delay the timing thereof. The delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section 5.8 shall not cure any breach of any representation or warranty requiring disclosure of such matter or any breach of any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document or otherwise limit or affect the rights of, or the remedies available to, SPAC or the Company, as applicable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any failure to give such notice pursuant to this Section 5.8 shall not give rise to any liability of the Company or SPAC or be taken into account in determining whether the conditions in Article VIII have been satisfied or give rise to any right of termination set forth in Article IX.
Section 5.9.   Financials.   As promptly as reasonably practicable after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall deliver to SPAC (i) the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2021, and the related audited consolidated statements of income and profit and loss,
 
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and cash flows, for the fiscal year then ended together with the auditor’s reports thereon and any other audited and unaudited consolidated balance sheets and (ii) any other audited and unaudited consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the related audited or unaudited consolidated statements of income and profit and loss, and cash flows that are required to be included in the Proxy/Registration Statement (in each case to the extent not already delivered by the Company to SPAC prior to the date hereof). The Company and SPAC shall each use its reasonable efforts (a) to assist the other, upon advance written notice, during normal business hours and in a manner such as to not unreasonably interfere with the normal operation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or SPAC, in preparing in a timely manner any other financial information or statements (including customary pro forma financial statements) that are required to be included in the Proxy/Registration Statement and any other filings to be made by SPAC or the Company with the SEC in connection with the Transactions and (b) to obtain the consents of its auditors with respect thereto as may be required by applicable Law or requested by the SEC in connection therewith.
Section 5.10.   No Trading.   The Company acknowledges and agrees that it is aware, and that its Controlled Affiliates have been made aware of the restrictions imposed by U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder or otherwise and other applicable foreign and domestic Laws on a Person possessing material nonpublic information about a publicly traded company. The Company hereby agrees that it shall not acquire, offer or propose to acquire, agree to acquire, sell or transfer or offer or propose to sell or transfer, or engage in any other transactions involving the securities of SPAC in violation of such Laws, or encourage any Person to do any of the foregoing.
Section 5.11.   Shareholder Lock-Up.   The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver or cause to be delivered to SPAC lock-up agreements, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to SPAC, executed by the Company and each Company Shareholder that is not a Consent Party.
Section 5.12.   VIE Restructuring.   Prior to the Closing Date, the VIE Restructuring will be completed (i) in accordance with the VIE Restructuring Plan, (ii) in compliance with all applicable Laws in all material respects, and (iii) in a manner that does not materially alter or impair the conduct of the business of the Group Companies as currently proposed to be conducted. For the avoidance of doubt, prior to the Closing and as part of the VIE Restructuring Plan, the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company will enter into an agreement, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to SPAC, for the provision of surveying and mapping services from Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd., which agreement will include commercially reasonable non-compete covenants binding on Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd.; provided, however, such non-compete covenants shall not apply to any Contract entered into by Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd. prior to the date of this Agreement that has been made available to SPAC.
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS OF SPAC
Section 6.1.    Conduct of Business.   Except (i) as contemplated or permitted by the Transaction Documents, (ii) as required by applicable Law (including for this purpose any COVID-19 Measures), (iii) as set forth on Section 6.1 of the SPAC Disclosure Letter or (iv) as consented to by the Company in writing (which consent with respect to the matters set forth in 6.1(e), (f), (g) and (i) shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), during the Interim Period, SPAC (1) shall operate its business in the Ordinary Course and (2) shall not:
(a)   (i) seek any approval from SPAC Shareholders to change, modify or amend the Trust Agreement or the SPAC Charter, except as contemplated by the Transaction Proposals or (ii) change, modify or amend the Trust Agreement or its Organizational Documents, except as expressly contemplated by the Transaction Proposals;
(b)   (i) subdivide, consolidate, reclassify or amend any terms of its Equity Securities, (ii) redeem, repurchase, cancel or otherwise acquire or offer to redeem, repurchase, or otherwise acquire any of its Equity Securities, other than a redemption of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares in connection with the exercise of any SPAC Shareholder Redemption Right by any SPAC Shareholder or upon conversion
 
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of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares in accordance with the SPAC Charter, or (iii) declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or other distribution, payable in cash, shares, property or otherwise, with respect to any of its share capital;
(c)   merge, consolidate or amalgamate with or into, or acquire (by purchasing a substantial portion of the assets of or any equity in, or by any other manner) or make any advance or loan to or investment in any other Person or be acquired by any other Person;
(d)   except as contemplated by this Agreement, the Transaction Documents, or the Transactions, knowingly take any action could reasonably be expected prevent, impair or impede the Intended Tax Treatment;
(e)   (i) enter into, renew or amend in any material respect, any transaction or material Contract, except for material Contracts entered into in the Ordinary Course or (ii) extend, transfer, terminate or waive any right or entitlement of material value under any material Contract, in a manner that is adverse to SPAC;
(f)   incur, assume, guarantee or repurchase or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness, or issue or sell any debt securities or options, warrants or other rights to acquire debt securities, in any such case in a principal amount, as applicable, exceeding $500,000 in the aggregate, other than (i) Indebtedness or other Liabilities expressly set out in the SPAC Disclosure Letter or (ii) Liabilities that qualify as SPAC Transaction Expenses;
(g)   make any change in its accounting principles or methods unless required by GAAP or applicable Laws;
(h)   (i) issue any Equity Securities, other than the issuance of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares upon conversion of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares in accordance with the SPAC Charter or (ii) grant any options, warrants or other equity-based awards;
(i)   settle or agree to settle any Action before any Governmental Authority or any other third party or that imposes injunctive or other non-monetary relief on SPAC;
(j)   form any Subsidiary;
(k)   liquidate, dissolve, reorganize or otherwise wind-up the business and operations of SPAC or propose or adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation or dissolution, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization, reclassification or similar change in capitalization or other reorganization of SPAC; or
(l)   enter into any agreement or otherwise make any commitment to do any action prohibited under this Section 6.1.
Section 6.2.   Access to Information.   Upon reasonable prior notice and subject to applicable Law and appropriate COVID-19 Measures, during the Interim Period, SPAC shall, and shall cause each of its officers, directors and employees to, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause its Representatives to, afford the Company and its Representatives, following reasonable notice from SPAC in accordance with this Section 6.2, in such manner as to not interfere with the normal operation of SPAC, reasonable access during normal business hours to the officers, employees, agents, properties, offices and other facilities, books and records of it, as shall be reasonably requested solely for purposes of and that are necessary for consummating the Transactions; provided, however, that in each case, SPAC shall not be required to disclose any document or information, or permit any inspection, that would, in the reasonable judgment of SPAC, (a) result in the disclosure of any trade secrets or violate the terms of any confidentiality provisions in any agreement with a third party, (b) result in a violation of applicable Law, including any fiduciary duty, (c) waive the protection of any attorney-client work product or other applicable privilege or (d) result in the disclosure of any sensitive or personal information that would expose SPAC to the risk of Liabilities. All information and materials provided pursuant to this Agreement will be subject to the provisions of the NDA.
 
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Section 6.3.    Acquisition Proposals and Alternative Transactions.   During the Interim Period, SPAC will not, and it will cause its Affiliates and its and their respective Representatives not to, directly or indirectly: (a) solicit, initiate, submit, facilitate (including by means of furnishing or disclosing information), discuss or negotiate, directly or indirectly, any inquiry, proposal or offer (written or oral) with respect to a SPAC Acquisition Proposal; (b) furnish or disclose any non-public information to any person or entity in connection with or that could reasonably be expected to lead to a SPAC Acquisition Proposal; (c) enter into any agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding a SPAC Acquisition Proposal; or (d) otherwise cooperate in any way with, or assist or participate in, or knowingly facilitate or encourage any effort or attempt by any Person to do or seek to do any of the foregoing.
Section 6.4.   Nasdaq Listing.   From the date of this Agreement through the Closing, SPAC shall use reasonable best efforts to ensure SPAC remains listed as a public company on Nasdaq.
Section 6.5.   SPAC Public Filings.   From the date of this Agreement through the Closing, SPAC will accurately and timely file all reports required to be filed or furnished with the SEC and otherwise comply in all material respects with its reporting obligations under applicable Laws.
Section 6.6.   Section 16 Matters.   Prior to the Closing Date, SPAC shall take all such steps (to the extent permitted under applicable Law) as are reasonably necessary to cause any acquisition or disposition of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares or any derivative thereof that occurs or is deemed to occur by reason of or pursuant to the Transactions by each Person who is or will be or may become subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to the Company, including by virtue of being deemed a director by deputization, to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
ARTICLE VII
JOINT COVENANTS
Section 7.1.   Regulatory Approvals; Other Filings.
(a)   Each of the Parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate in good faith with any Governmental Authority and to undertake promptly any and all action required to obtain any necessary or advisable regulatory approvals, consents, Actions, nonactions or waivers in connection with the Transactions (the “Regulatory Approvals”) as soon as practicable and any and all action necessary to consummate the Transactions as contemplated hereby. Each of the Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the expiration or termination of the waiting, notice or review periods under any applicable Regulatory Approval with respect to the Transactions as promptly as possible after the execution of this Agreement.
(b)   With respect to each of the Regulatory Approvals and any other requests, inquiries, Actions or other proceedings by or from Governmental Authorities, each of the Parties shall (i) diligently and expeditiously defend and use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any necessary clearance, approval, consent or Regulatory Approval under any applicable Laws prescribed or enforceable by any Governmental Authority for the Transactions and to resolve any objections as may be asserted by any Governmental Authority with respect to the Transactions; and (ii) cooperate fully with each other in the defense of such matters. To the extent not prohibited by Law, the Company shall promptly furnish to SPAC, and SPAC shall promptly furnish to the Company, copies of any material, substantive notices or written communications received by such party or any of its Affiliates from any Governmental Authority with respect to the Transactions, and each such party shall permit counsel to the other parties an opportunity to review in advance, and each such party shall consider in good faith the views of such counsel in connection with, any proposed material, substantive written communications by such party or its Affiliates to any Governmental Authority concerning the Transactions; provided, however, no Party may enter into any agreement with any Governmental Authority relating to any Regulatory Approval contemplated in this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other Parties. To the extent not prohibited by Law, the Company agrees to provide SPAC and its counsel, and SPAC agrees to provide to the Company and its counsel, the opportunity, to the extent practical, on reasonable advance notice, to participate in any material substantive meetings or discussions, either in person or by telephone, between such party or any of its Affiliates or Representatives, on the one
 
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hand, and any Governmental Authority, on the other hand, concerning or in connection with the Transactions. Each of the Parties agrees to make all filings, to provide all information required of such party and to reasonably cooperate with each other, in each case, in connection with the Regulatory Approvals; provided, further, that such party shall not be required to provide information to the extent that (w) any applicable Law requires it or its Affiliates to restrict or prohibit access to such information, (x) in the reasonable judgment of such party, the information is subject to confidentiality obligations to a third party, (y) in the reasonable judgment of such party, the information is commercially sensitive and disclosure of such information would have a material impact on the business, results of operations or financial condition of such party, or (z) disclosure of any such information would reasonably be likely to result in the loss or waiver of the attorney-client work product or other applicable privilege. The Company and SPAC shall jointly devise and implement the strategy for obtaining any necessary clearance or approval, for responding to any request, inquiry, or investigation, for electing whether to defend, and, if so, defending any lawsuit challenging the Transactions, and for all meetings and communications with any Governmental Authority concerning the Transactions.
(c)   Subject to Section 10.6, the Company, on the one hand, and SPAC, on the other, shall each be responsible for and pay one-half of the filing fees payable to the Governmental Authorities and the Exchange Agent in connection with the Transactions.
Section 7.2.   Proxy/Registration Statement; SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting and Approvals; Company Shareholders’ Approval.
(a)   Proxy/Registration Statement.
(i)   As promptly as reasonably practicable after the execution of this Agreement, the Company and SPAC shall jointly prepare, and the Company shall file with the SEC, a registration statement on Form F-4 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, and including the Proxy Statement, the “Proxy/Registration Statement”) relating to (x) the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting to approve and adopt the Transaction Proposals and (y) the registration under the Securities Act of the Registrable Securities. Each of the Company and SPAC shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to (1) cause the Proxy/Registration Statement when filed with the SEC to comply in all material respects with all Laws applicable thereto and rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, (2) respond as promptly as reasonably practicable to and resolve all comments received from the SEC concerning the Proxy/Registration Statement, (3) cause the Proxy/Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable and (4) keep the Proxy/Registration Statement effective as long as is necessary to consummate the Transactions. Prior to the effective date of the Proxy/Registration Statement, the Company and SPAC shall take all or any action required under any applicable federal or state securities Laws in connection with the issuance of Company Ordinary Shares and Company Warrants pursuant to this Agreement. Each of the Company and SPAC also agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all necessary state securities law or “Blue Sky” permits and approvals required to carry out the Transactions, and the Company and SPAC shall furnish all information respectively, concerning SPAC and the Company and its Subsidiaries and any of their respective members or shareholders as may be reasonably requested in connection with any such action. As promptly as practicable after finalization and effectiveness of the Proxy/Registration Statement, SPAC shall, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to within five (5) Business Days of such finalization and effectiveness, mail the Proxy/Registration Statement to the SPAC Shareholders. Each of the Company and SPAC shall furnish to the other parties all information concerning itself, its Subsidiaries, officers, directors, managers, shareholders, and other equityholders and information regarding such other matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable or as may be reasonably requested by any of them or any Governmental Authority in connection with the Proxy/Registration Statement, or any other statement, filing, notice or application made by or on behalf of the Company, SPAC, or their respective Affiliates to any Governmental Authority (including Nasdaq) in connection with the Transactions. Subject to Section 10.6, the Company, on the one hand, and SPAC, on the other, shall each be responsible for and pay one-half of the cost for the preparation, filing and mailing of the Proxy/Registration Statement and other related fees.
 
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(ii)   Any filing of, or amendment or supplement to, the Proxy/Registration Statement will be mutually prepared and agreed upon by the Company and SPAC. The Company will advise SPAC, promptly after receiving notice thereof, of the time when the Proxy/Registration Statement has become effective or any supplement or amendment has been filed, of the issuance of any stop order, of the suspension of the qualification of Company Ordinary Shares and Company Warrants to be issued or issuable in connection with this Agreement for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of any request by the SEC for amendment of the Proxy/Registration Statement or comments thereon and responses thereto or requests by the SEC for additional information and responses thereto, and shall provide SPAC a reasonable opportunity to provide comments and amendments to any such filing. The Company and SPAC shall cooperate and mutually agree upon (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), any response to comments of the SEC or its staff with respect to the Proxy/Registration Statement and any amendment to the Proxy/Registration Statement filed in response thereto.
(iii)   If, at any time prior to the First Effective Time, any event or circumstance relating to SPAC or the Company, or their respective officers or directors, should be discovered by SPAC or the Company which is required to be set forth in an amendment or a supplement to the Proxy/Registration Statement so that any of such documents would not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the Party that discovers such information shall promptly inform the other Party(ies). Thereafter, the Company and SPAC shall promptly cooperate in the preparation and filing of an appropriate amendment or supplement to the Proxy/Registration Statement describing or correcting such information to be promptly filed with the SEC and, to the extent required by Law, disseminate such amendment or supplement to the SPAC Shareholders.
(b)   SPAC Shareholders’ Approval.
(i)   Prior to or as promptly as practicable after the Proxy/Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act, SPAC shall establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of the SPAC Shareholders (including any adjournment or postponement thereof, the “SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting”) in accordance with the SPAC Charter to be held as promptly as reasonably practicable and, unless otherwise agreed by SPAC and the Company in writing, in any event not more than forty-five (45) days following the date that the Proxy/Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act for the purpose of voting on the Transaction Proposals and obtaining the SPAC Shareholders’ Approval (including the approval of any adjournment or postponement of such meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies in favor of the adoption of the Transaction Proposals), providing SPAC Shareholders with the opportunity to elect to exercise their SPAC Shareholder Redemption Right and such other matters as may be mutually agreed by SPAC and the Company. SPAC will use its reasonable best efforts (A) to solicit from its shareholders proxies in favor of the adoption of the Transaction Proposals, including the SPAC Shareholders’ Approval, and will take all other action necessary or advisable to obtain such proxies and SPAC Shareholders’ Approval and (B) to obtain the vote or consent of its shareholders required by and in compliance with all applicable Law, Nasdaq rules and the SPAC Charter. SPAC (x) shall consult with the Company regarding the record date and the date of the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting prior to determining such dates and (y) shall not adjourn or postpone the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting without the prior written consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); provided, however, that SPAC shall adjourn or postpone the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting (1) to the extent necessary to ensure that any supplement or amendment to the Proxy/Registration Statement that SPAC or the Company reasonably determines is necessary to comply with applicable Laws, is provided to the SPAC Shareholders in advance of a vote on the adoption of the Transaction Proposals, (2) if, as of the time that the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting is originally scheduled, there are insufficient SPAC Shares represented at such meeting (either in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct the business of the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting, (3) if, as of the time that the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting is originally scheduled, adjournment or postponement of the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting is necessary to enable SPAC to solicit additional
 
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proxies required to obtain SPAC Shareholders’ Approval, (4) in order to seek withdrawals from SPAC Shareholders who have exercised their SPAC Shareholder Redemption Right if a number of SPAC Shares have been elected to be redeemed such that SPAC reasonably expects that the condition set forth in Section 8.3(d) will not be satisfied at the Closing, or (5) to comply with applicable Law; provided, further, however, that without the prior written consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed), SPAC shall not adjourn or postpone on more than two (2) occasions and so long as the date of the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting is not adjourned or postponed more than fifteen (15) consecutive days in connection with such adjournment or postponement.
(ii)   The Proxy/Registration Statement shall include a statement to the effect that SPAC Board has unanimously recommended that the SPAC Shareholders vote in favor of the Transaction Proposals at the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting (such statement, the “SPAC Board Recommendation”) and neither the SPAC Board nor any committee thereof shall withhold, withdraw, qualify, amend or modify, or publicly propose or resolve to withhold, withdraw, qualify, amend or modify, the SPAC Board Recommendation (a “SPAC Change in Recommendation”). Notwithstanding anything in this Section 7.2(b)(ii) to the contrary, if, at any time prior to obtaining the SPAC Shareholders’ Approval, the SPAC Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel and financial advisor, that in response to an Intervening Event, the failure to make a SPAC Change in Recommendation would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law, the SPAC Board may, prior to obtaining the SPAC Shareholders’ Approval, make a SPAC Change in Recommendation; provided, however, that SPAC will not be entitled to make, or agree or resolve to make, a SPAC Change in Recommendation unless (i) SPAC delivers to the Company a written notice (an “Intervening Event Notice”) advising the Company that the SPAC Board intends to make a SPAC Change in Recommendation, which notice shall specify the material facts underlying the SPAC Board’s determination that an Intervening Event has occurred, (ii) at or after 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the fourth (4th) Business Day immediately following the date on which SPAC delivered the Intervening Event Notice (such period from the time the Intervening Event Notice is provided until 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the fourth (4th) Business Day immediately following the day on which SPAC delivered the Intervening Event Notice (it being understood that any material development with respect to an Intervening Event shall require a new notice but with an additional three (3) Business Day (instead of four (4) Business Day) period from the date of such notice), the “Intervening Event Notice Period”), the SPAC Board reaffirms in good faith (after consultation with its outside legal counsel and financial advisor and after considering in good faith any revisions or adjustments to the terms and conditions of this Agreement that the Company shall have, prior to the expiration of the Intervening Event Notice Period, proposed) that the failure to make a SPAC Change in Recommendation would constitute a breach of its fiduciary duties under applicable Law, and (iii) during the Intervening Event Notice Period, if requested by the Company, SPAC and its Representatives shall have engaged in good faith negotiations with the Company and its Representatives regarding any revisions or adjustments proposed by the Company to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as would enable SPAC to proceed with the SPAC Board Recommendation and not make the SPAC Change in Recommendation. SPAC agrees that, unless this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, its obligation to establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting for the purpose of voting on the Transaction Proposals in accordance with the terms of this Agreement shall not be affected by any SPAC Change in Recommendation, and SPAC agrees to establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting and submit for the approval of the SPAC Shareholders’ Shareholders the matters contemplated by the Proxy Statement in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, regardless of whether or not there shall be any SPAC Change in Recommendation.
(c)   Company Shareholders’ Approval.
(i)   Prior to or as promptly as practicable after the Proxy/Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act, the Company shall establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of the Company Shareholders (including any adjournment thereof, the “Company Shareholders’ Meeting”) in accordance with the Company Charter to be
 
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held as promptly as reasonably practicable following the date that the Proxy/Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act for the purpose of obtaining the Required Shareholders’ Approval (including the approval of any adjournment of such meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies in favor of the Required Shareholders’ Approval) and such other matter as may be mutually agreed by SPAC and the Company. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the vote or consent of its shareholders required by and in compliance with all applicable Law, the Company Charter and the Investors Rights Agreement. The Company (y) shall set the date of the Company Shareholders’ Meeting not more than thirty (30) days after the Proxy/Registration Statement is declared effective and (z) shall not adjourn the Company Shareholders’ Meeting without the prior written consent of SPAC (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed); provided, however, that the Company may adjourn the Company Shareholders’ Meeting (1) if, as of the time that the Company Shareholders’ Meeting is originally scheduled, there are insufficient Company Shares represented at such meeting (either in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct the business of the Company Shareholders’ Meeting, (2) if, as of the time that the Company Shareholders’ Meeting is originally scheduled, adjournment of the Company Shareholders’ Meeting is necessary to enable the Company to solicit additional proxies required to obtain the Required Shareholders’ Approval, or (3) to comply with applicable Law; provided, however, that for both prior clauses (1) and (2) in the aggregate the Company may adjourn on only one occasion and so long as the date of the Company Shareholders’ Meeting is not adjourned or postponed more than fifteen (15) consecutive days.
(ii)   The Company shall send meeting materials to the Company Shareholders which shall seek the Required Shareholders’ Approval and shall include in all such meeting materials it sends to the Company Shareholders in connection with the Company Shareholders’ Meeting a statement to the effect that the Company Board has unanimously recommended that the Company Shareholders vote in favor of the Required Shareholders’ Approval (such statement, the “Company Board Recommendation”) and neither the Company Board nor any committee thereof shall withhold, withdraw, qualify, amend or modify, or publicly propose or resolve to withhold, withdraw, qualify, amend or modify, the Company Board Recommendation.
Section 7.3.    Support of Transaction.   Without limiting any covenant contained in Article V or Article VI (a) the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, and (b) SPAC shall, (i) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all material consents and approvals of third parties that the Company and any of its Subsidiaries or SPAC, as applicable, are required to obtain in order to consummate the Transactions, (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to take such other action as may be reasonably necessary or as another party hereto may reasonably request to satisfy the conditions of Article VIII (including the use of commercially reasonable efforts to enforce their respective rights under the Subsequent Equity Subscription Agreements and the subscription or similar agreements entered into with respect to the Permitted Financing, where applicable) or otherwise to comply with this Agreement and to consummate the Transactions as soon as practicable; provided, however, that, notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement, including this Article VII, shall require the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or SPAC or any of their respective Affiliates to (A) commence or threaten to commence, pursue or defend against any Action, whether judicial or administrative, (B) seek to have any stay or Governmental Order vacated or reversed, (C) propose, negotiate, commit to or effect by consent decree, hold separate order or otherwise, the sale, divestiture, licensing or disposition of any assets or businesses of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or SPAC, (D) take or commit to take actions that limit the freedom of action of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or SPAC with respect to, or the ability to retain, control or operate, or to exert full rights of ownership in respect of, any of the businesses, product lines or assets of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or SPAC or (E) grant any financial, legal or other accommodation to any other Person, including agreeing to change any of the terms of the Transactions.
Section 7.4.    Tax Matters.   The Parties intend the treatment described in Section 7.4(a) of the SPAC Disclosure Letter (the “Intended Tax Treatment”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes and the Parties shall reasonably cooperate with each other and their respective tax counsel to document and support the Intended Tax Treatment and take all the actions described in Section 7.4(b) of the SPAC Disclosure Letter. Except as contemplated by this Agreement, the Transaction Documents, or the Transactions, each of the
 
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Parties shall not take any action (nor permit any action to be taken), which action would reasonably be expected to prevent, impair or impede the Intended Tax Treatment. Each of the Parties shall (and shall cause their respective Affiliates to) report the Mergers consistently with the Intended Tax Treatment unless otherwise required pursuant to a “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code.
Section 7.5.    Shareholder Litigation.   Each Party shall promptly advise the other Parties of any Action commenced (or to the Knowledge of the Company or the Knowledge of SPAC, as applicable, threatened) on or after the date of this Agreement against such party, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its directors or officers by any Company Shareholder or SPAC Shareholder relating to this Agreement, the Mergers or any of the other Transactions (any such Action, “Shareholder Litigation”), and such party shall keep the other party informed regarding any such Shareholder Litigation. Other than with respect to any Shareholder Litigation where the parties identified in this sentence are adverse to each other or in the context of any Shareholder Litigation related to or arising out of a Company Acquisition Proposal or a SPAC Acquisition Proposal, (a) the Company shall give SPAC a reasonable opportunity to participate in the defense or settlement of any such Shareholder Litigation (and consider in good faith the suggestions of SPAC in connection therewith) brought against the Company, any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of their respective directors or officers and no such settlement shall be agreed to without the SPAC’s prior consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) and (b) SPAC shall give the Company a reasonable opportunity to participate in the defense or settlement of any such Shareholder Litigation (and consider in good faith the suggestions of the Company in connection therewith) brought against SPAC, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its directors or officers, and no such settlement shall be agreed to without the Company’s prior consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
Section 7.6.   Subsequent Equity Financing and Permitted Financing.   During the Interim Period, SPAC and the Company may execute any Subsequent Equity Subscription Agreement or Permitted Financing Agreement; provided, that the Company give SPAC reasonable prior notice and that any such Subsequent Equity Subscription Agreement or Permitted Financing Agreement is in a form reasonably acceptable to both the Company and SPAC. Each of SPAC and the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with each other in connection with the arrangement of any Subsequent Equity Financing or Permitted Financing as may be reasonably requested by each other.
ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS
Section 8.1.   Conditions to Obligations of Each Party.   The respective obligations of each Party to this Agreement to effect the Mergers and the other Transactions, shall be subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Closing of the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing by the party or parties whose obligations are conditioned thereupon:
(a)   The Capital Restructuring shall have been completed;
(b)   The SPAC Shareholders’ Approval and the Company Shareholders’ Approval shall have been obtained;
(c)   The Proxy/Registration Statement shall have become effective under the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Proxy/Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the SEC and not withdrawn;
(d)   (i) the Company’s initial listing application with Nasdaq in connection with the Transactions shall have been conditionally approved and, immediately following the Closing, the Company shall satisfy any applicable initial and continuing listing requirements of Nasdaq and the Company shall not have received any notice of non-compliance therewith, and (ii) the Registrable Securities to be issued in connection with the Mergers shall have been conditionally approved for listing on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance;
 
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(e)   After deducting the SPAC Shareholder Redemption Amount, SPAC shall have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Exchange Act); and
(f)   No Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Law (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) or Governmental Order that is then in effect and which has the effect of making the Closing illegal or which otherwise prohibits consummation of the Closing (any of the foregoing, a “restraint”), other than any such restraint that is immaterial.
Section 8.2.   Additional Conditions to Obligations of SPAC.   The obligations of SPAC to consummate, or cause to be consummated, the Transactions shall be subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Closing Date of each of the following additional conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing by SPAC:
(a)   The representations and warranties contained in the first and second sentences of Section 3.1 (Organization, Good Standing and Qualification), Section 3.5 (Authorization) and Section 3.10(b) (Absence of Changes) shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date as if made at and as of the Closing Date. The representations and warranties contained in Section 3.1 (Organization, Good Standing and Qualification) (other than the first and second sentences), Section 3.2 (Subsidiaries), Section 3.4 (Capitalization of Subsidiaries) and Section 3.18 (Brokers) shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date as if made at the Closing Date (except with respect to such representations and warranties which speak as to an earlier date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects at and as of such date). The representations and warranties contained in Section 3.3(a) (Capitalization and Voting Rights) shall be true and correct in all respects except for de minimis inaccuracies as of the Closing Date as if made at and as of the Closing Date (except with respect to such representations and warranties which speak as to an earlier date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects except for de minimis inaccuracies at and as of such date). Each of the other representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date as if made at and as of the Closing Date (except with respect to such representations and warranties which speak as to an earlier date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct at and as of such date) except for inaccuracies in or the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct that (disregarding any qualifications or exceptions contained therein relating to materiality, “material” or “Company Material Adverse Effect” or any similar qualification or exception) individually or in the aggregate, has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, a Company Material Adverse Effect;
(b)   The Company shall have delivered or caused to be delivered the certificate required to be delivered by the Company pursuant to Section 2.4(b)(ii);
(c)   The Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered an opinion issued by its PRC counsel to SPAC to the effect that no pending approval is required by any PRC Governmental Authorities for Mergers, issuance of the Equity Securities in connection with the Mergers, and Company’s listing on Nasdaq, including but not limited to China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) and Cyberspace Administration of China (“CAC”) (the “Regulatory Opinion”); and
(d)   Each of the covenants of the Company to be performed as of or prior to the Closing Date shall have been performed in all material respects.
Section 8.3.   Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Company, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2.    The obligations of the Company and each Merger Sub to consummate, or cause to be consummated, the Transactions shall be subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Closing Date of each of the following additional conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing by the Company:
(a)   The representations and warranties contained in Section 4.1 (Organization, Good Standing, Corporate Power and Qualification), Section 4.4 (Authorization) and Section 4.8(ii) (Absence of Changes) shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date as if made at and as of the Closing Date. The representations and warranties contained in Section 4.3 (Corporate Structure; Subsidiaries) and Section 4.10 (Brokers) shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing
 
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Date as if made at the Closing Date (except with respect to such representations and warranties which speak as to an earlier date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects at and as of such date). The representations and warranties contained in Section 4.2 (Capitalization and Voting Rights) shall be true and correct in all respects except for de minimis inaccuracies as of the Closing Date as if made at and as of the Closing Date. Each of the other representations and warranties of SPAC contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date (except with respect to such representations and warranties which speak as to an earlier date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct at and as of such date) except for inaccuracies in or the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct that (disregarding any qualifications or exceptions contained therein relating to materiality, “material” or “SPAC Material Adverse Effect” or any similar qualification or exception) individually or in the aggregate, has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, a SPAC Material Adverse Effect;
(b)   Each of the covenants of SPAC to be performed as of or prior to the Closing Date shall have been performed in all material respects;
(c)   SPAC shall have delivered or caused to be delivered to the Company the certificate required to be delivered by SPAC pursuant to Section 2.4(b)(i); and
(d)   The Aggregate Proceeds shall not be less than $100 million prior to payment of any unpaid or contingent liabilities, deferred underwriting fees of SPAC, Company Transaction Expenses, or SPAC Transaction Expenses.
Section 8.4.   Frustration of Conditions.   None of SPAC, Merger Sub 1, Merger Sub 2 or the Company may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in this Article VIII to be satisfied if such failure was caused by such party’s failure to comply in all material respects with its obligations under Section 7.3.
ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION/EFFECTIVENESS
Section 9.1.   Termination.   This Agreement may be terminated and the Transactions abandoned at any time prior to the First Effective Time:
(a)   by mutual written consent of the Company and SPAC;
(b)   by written notice from the Company or SPAC to the other if any Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Governmental Order which has become final and nonappealable and has the effect of making consummation of the Transactions illegal or otherwise preventing or prohibiting consummation of the Transactions;
(c)   by the Company if the SPAC Board (i) shall have made a SPAC Change in Recommendation or (ii) shall have failed to include the SPAC Board Recommendation in the Proxy Statement distributed to the SPAC Shareholders;
(d)   by written notice from the Company to SPAC if the SPAC Shareholders’ Approval shall not have been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the required vote at the SPAC Shareholders’ Meeting duly convened therefor or at any adjournment or postponement thereof taken in accordance with this Agreement;
(e)   by written notice from SPAC to the Company if there is any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of the Company set forth in this Agreement, such that the conditions specified in Section 8.2 would not be satisfied at the relevant Closing Date (a “Terminating Company Breach”), except that, if such Terminating Company Breach is curable by the Company then, for a period of up to 60 days after receipt by the Company of written notice from SPAC of such breach, such termination shall not be effective, and such termination shall become effective only if the Terminating Company Breach is not cured within such 60-day period; provided that SPAC shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(e) if it is then in material breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement;
 
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(f)   by written notice from the Company to SPAC if there is any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of SPAC set forth in this Agreement, such that the conditions specified in Section 8.3 would not be satisfied at the Closing Date (a “Terminating SPAC Breach”), except that if any such Terminating SPAC Breach is curable by SPAC then, for a period of up to 60 days after receipt by SPAC of written notice from the Company of such breach, such termination shall not be effective, and such termination shall become effective only if the Terminating SPAC Breach is not cured within such 60-day period; provided that the Company shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(f) if it is then in material breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement; or
(g)   by written notice from SPAC to the Company if the Required Shareholders’ Approval shall not have been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the required vote (whether at the Company Shareholders’ Meeting or by unanimous written resolutions) duly convened therefor or at any adjournment or postponement thereof taken in accordance with this Agreement; or
(h)   by written notice from SPAC or the Company to the other, if the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall not have been consummated on or prior to the 300th day after the date hereof (and if such 300th day shall not be a Business Day, then the next following Business Day).
Section 9.2.   Effect of Termination.   In the event of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and have no effect, without any liability on the part of any party hereto or its respective Affiliates, officers, directors or shareholders, other than liability of any Party for any willful and material breach of this Agreement occurring prior to such termination, except that the provisions of this Section 9.2, Section 7.1(c), the last sentence of Section 7.2(a)(i), Article X and the NDA shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.1.   Trust Account Waiver.   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, each of the Company, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2 acknowledges that it has read the publicly filed final prospectus of SPAC, filed with the SEC on February 4, 2021 (File No. 333-252273), including the Trust Agreement, and understands that SPAC has established the trust account described therein (the “Trust Account”) for the benefit of SPAC’s public shareholders and that disbursements from the Trust Account are available only in the limited circumstances set forth therein. Each of the Company, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2 further acknowledges and agrees that SPAC’s sole assets consist of the cash proceeds of SPAC’s initial public offering (the “IPO”) and private placements of its securities occurring simultaneously with the IPO, and that substantially all of these proceeds have been deposited in the Trust Account for the benefit of its public shareholders. Accordingly, each of the Company (on behalf of itself and its Affiliates), Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2 hereby waives any past, present or future claim of any kind arising out of this Agreement against, and any right to access, the Trust Account, any trustee of the Trust Account to collect from the Trust Account any monies that may be owed to them by SPAC or any of its Affiliates for any reason whatsoever, and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account at any time for any reason whatsoever, including, without limitation, for any knowing and intentional material breach by any of the parties to this Agreement of any of its representations or warranties as set forth in this Agreement, or such party’s breach of any of its covenants or other agreements set forth in this Agreement. This Section 10.1 shall survive the termination of this Agreement for any reason.
Section 10.2.   Waiver.   Any party to this Agreement may, at any time prior to the Closing, by action taken by its board of directors or officers or Persons thereunto duly authorized, (a) extend the time for the performance of the obligations or acts of the other parties hereto, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties (of another party hereto) that are contained in this Agreement or (c) waive compliance by the other parties hereto with any of the agreements or conditions contained in this Agreement, but such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the party granting such extension or waiver.
Section 10.3.   Notices.   All general notices, demands or other communications required or permitted to be given or made hereunder shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by courier or sent by
 
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registered post or sent by electronic mail to the intended recipient thereof at its address or at its email address set out below (or to such other address or email address as a party may from time to time notify the other parties). Any such notice, demand or communication shall be deemed to have been duly served (a) if given personally or sent by courier, upon delivery during normal business hours at the location of delivery or, if later, then on the next Business Day after the day of delivery; (b) if sent by electronic mail during normal business hours at the location of delivery, immediately, or, if later, then on the next Business Day after the day of delivery; (c) the third Business Day following the day sent by reputable international overnight courier (with written confirmation of receipt), and (d) if sent by registered post, five days after posting. The initial addresses and email addresses of the parties for the purpose of this Agreement are:
(a)   If to SPAC, to:
COVA Acquisition Corp.
1700 Montgomery Street, Suite 240
San Francisco, CA 94111
Attention: Jun Heng Hong
Email: junhong@crescentcove.com
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
222 Berkeley Street, Suite 2000
Boston, MA 02116
Attention:
Albert Vanderlaan
   Hari Raman
Email:
avanderlaan@orrick.com
hraman@orrick.com
and
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
5701 China World Tower A
No.1 Jianguomenwai Avenue, Beijing 100004
Attention: Jeff Zhang
Email: Jeffzhang@orrick.com
(b)   If to the Company, Merger Sub 1 or Merger Sub 2, to:
ECARX Holdings Inc.
16/F, Tower 2, China Eastern Airline Binjiang Center
277 Longlan Road
Xuhui District, Shanghai 200041
People’s Republic of China
Attention: Tony Chen
Email: tony.chen@ecarxgroup.com
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
30/F, China World Office 2
No. 1, Jian Guo Men Wai Avenue
Beijing 100004, China
Email: peter.huang@skadden.com
Attention: Peter X. Huang
Section 10.4.   Assignment.   No party hereto shall assign this Agreement or any part hereof without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto and any such transfer without prior written consent shall be void. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns.
 
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Section 10.5.   Rights of Third Parties.   Nothing expressed or implied in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to (a) confer upon or give any Person (including any equityholder, any current or former director, manager, officer, employee or independent contractor of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any participant in any Benefit Plan or other employee benefit plan, agreement or other arrangement (or any dependent or beneficiary thereof)), other than the parties hereto, any right or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement, (b) establish, amend or modify any employee benefit plan, program, policy, agreement or arrangement or (c) limit the right of SPAC, the Company or their respective Affiliates to amend, terminate or otherwise modify any Benefit Plan or other employee benefit plan, policy, agreement or other arrangement following the Closing; provided, however, that (i) the SPAC D&O Indemnified Parties (and their successors, heirs and representatives) are intended third-party beneficiaries of, and may enforce, Section 6.5, and (ii) the Non-Recourse Parties (and their successors, heirs and representatives) are intended third-party beneficiaries of, and may enforce, Section 10.17.
Section 10.6.   Expenses.   Except as set forth in Sections 7.1(c) and Section 7.2(a)(i), each party hereto shall be responsible for and pay its own expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions, including all fees of its legal counsel, financial advisers and accountants; provided, however, that if the Closing shall occur, the Company shall pay or cause to be paid, in accordance with Section 2.4(b)(iv), the SPAC Transaction Expenses and the Company Transaction Expenses.
Section 10.7.   Governing Law.   This Agreement, and any claim or cause of action hereunder based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement (whether based on law, in equity, in contract, in tort or any other theory) or the negotiation, execution, performance or enforcement of this Agreement, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws that would otherwise require the application of the law of any other state (provided that the fiduciary duties of the Company Board and the SPAC Board, the Mergers and any exercise of appraisal and dissenters’ rights under the laws of the Cayman Islands with respect to the Mergers, shall in each case be governed by the laws of the Cayman Islands).
Section 10.8.   Consent to Jurisdiction.   THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE STATE OR FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN NEW YORK COUNTY, STATE OF NEW YORK (OR ANY APPELLATE COURTS THEREFROM) SOLELY IN RESPECT OF THE INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, AND HEREBY WAIVE, AND AGREE NOT TO ASSERT, AS A DEFENSE IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING FOR INTERPRETATION OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF OR THAT SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING MAY NOT BE BROUGHT OR IS NOT MAINTAINABLE IN SAID COURTS OR THAT VENUE THEREOF MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE OR THAT THIS AGREEMENT MAY NOT BE ENFORCED IN OR BY SUCH COURTS, AND THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AGREE THAT ALL CLAIMS WITH RESPECT TO SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE HEARD AND DETERMINED BY ANY SUCH COURT. THE PARTIES HEREBY CONSENT TO AND GRANT ANY SUCH COURT JURISDICTION OVER THE PERSON OF SUCH PARTIES AND OVER THE SUBJECT MATTER OF SUCH DISPUTE AND AGREE THAT MAILING OF PROCESS OR OTHER PAPERS IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING IN THE MANNER PROVIDED IN SECTION 10.3 OR IN SUCH OTHER MANNER AS MAY BE PERMITTED BY LAW SHALL BE VALID AND SUFFICIENT SERVICE THEREOF. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (II) SUCH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (III) SUCH PARTY MAKES THE FOREGOING WAIVER
 
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VOLUNTARILY AND (IV) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVER AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.8.
Section 10.9.   Headings; Counterparts.   The headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be considered a part of or affect the construction or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, and by different parties in separate counterparts, with the same effect as if all parties hereto had signed the same document, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Copies of executed counterparts of this Agreement transmitted by electronic transmission (including by email or in .pdf format) or facsimile as well as electronically or digitally executed counterparts (such as DocuSign) shall have the same legal effect as original signatures and shall be considered original executed counterparts of this Agreement.
Section 10.10.   Disclosure Letters.   The Disclosure Letters (including, in each case, any section thereof) referenced in this Agreement are a part of this Agreement as if fully set forth herein. All references in this Agreement to the Disclosure Letters (including, in each case, any section thereof) shall be deemed references to such parts of this Agreement, unless the context shall otherwise require. Any disclosure made by a party in the applicable Disclosure Letter, or any section thereof, with reference to any section of this Agreement or section of the applicable Disclosure Letter shall be deemed to be a disclosure with respect to such other applicable sections of this Agreement or sections of the applicable Disclosure Letter to which it is reasonably apparent on the face of such disclosure that such disclosure is responsive to such other section of this Agreement or section of the applicable Disclosure Letter. Certain information set forth in the Disclosure Letters is included solely for informational purposes and may not be required to be disclosed pursuant to this Agreement. The disclosure of any information shall not be deemed to constitute an acknowledgement that such information is required to be disclosed in connection with the representations and warranties made in this Agreement, nor shall such information be deemed to establish a standard of materiality or that the facts underlying such information constitute a Company Material Adverse Effect or a SPAC Material Adverse Effect, as applicable.
Section 10.11.   Entire Agreement.   This Agreement (together with the Disclosure Letters), the NDA and the other Transaction Documents constitute the entire agreement among the parties to this Agreement relating to the Transactions and supersede any other agreements, whether written or oral, that may have been made or entered into by or among any of the parties hereto or any of their respective Subsidiaries relating to the Transactions (including the Summary of Certain Proposed Terms and Conditions between SPAC and the Company, dated as of September 21, 2021). No representations, warranties, covenants, understandings, agreements, oral or otherwise, relating to the Transactions exist between such parties except as expressly set forth in the Transaction Documents.
Section 10.12.   Amendments.   This Agreement may be amended or modified in whole or in part prior to the First Effective Time, only by a duly authorized agreement in writing in the same manner as this Agreement, which makes reference to this Agreement and which shall be executed by the Company and SPAC; provided, however, that after the Company Shareholders’ Approval or the SPAC Shareholders’ Approval has been obtained, there shall be no amendment or waiver that by applicable Law requires further approval by the shareholders of the Company or the shareholders of SPAC, respectively, without such approval having been obtained.
Section 10.13.   Publicity.
(a)   All press releases or other public communications relating to the Transactions, and the method of the release for publication thereof, shall prior to the Closing, be subject to the prior mutual approval of the Company and SPAC; provided that no such party shall be required to obtain consent pursuant to this Section 10.13(a) to the extent any proposed release or statement is substantially equivalent to the information that has previously been made public without breach of the obligation under this Section 10.13(a).
(b)   The restriction in Section 10.13(a) shall not apply to the extent the public announcement is required by applicable securities Law, any Governmental Authority or stock exchange rule; provided,
 
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however, that in such an event, the party making the announcement shall, to the extent practicable, use its commercially reasonable efforts to consult with the other party in advance as to its form, content and timing.
Section 10.14.   Confidentiality.   The existence and terms of this Agreement are confidential and may not be disclosed by either party hereto, their respective Affiliates or any Representatives of any of the foregoing, and shall at all times be considered and treated as “Confidential Information” as such term is defined in the NDA. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the preceding sentence or in the NDA, each party shall be permitted to disclose Confidential Information, including the Transaction Documents, the fact that the Transaction Documents have been signed and the status and terms of the Transactions to its existing or potential Affiliates, joint ventures, joint venture partners, shareholders, lenders, underwriters, financing sources and any Governmental Authority (including Nasdaq), and to the extent required, in regulatory filings, and their respective Representatives; provided that such parties entered into customary confidentiality agreements or are otherwise bound by fiduciary or other duties to keep such information confidential.
Section 10.15.   Severability.   If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. The parties hereto further agree that if any provision contained in this Agreement is, to any extent, held invalid or unenforceable in any respect under the Laws governing this Agreement, they shall take any actions necessary to render the remaining provisions of this Agreement valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by Law and, to the extent necessary, shall amend or otherwise modify this Agreement to replace any provision contained in this Agreement that is held invalid or unenforceable with a valid and enforceable provision giving effect to the intent of the parties hereto.
Section 10.16.   Enforcement.   The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to specific enforcement of the terms and provisions of this Agreement, in addition to any other remedy to which any party is entitled at law or in equity. In the event that any Action shall be brought in equity to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, no party shall allege, and each party hereby waives the defense, that there is an adequate remedy at law, and each party agrees to waiver any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection therewith.
Section 10.17.   Non-Recourse.   This Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the Transactions may only be brought against, the Company, SPAC, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2 as named parties hereto. Except to the extent a Party (and then only to the extent of the specific obligations undertaken by such Party), (i) no past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner, shareholder, Affiliate, agent, attorney, advisor or other Representative of the Company, SPAC, Merger Sub 1 or Merger Sub 2 and (ii) no past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner, shareholder, Affiliate, agent, attorney, advisor or other Representative of any of the foregoing shall have any liability (whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise) for any one or more of the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations or liabilities of any one or more of the Company, SPAC, Merger Sub 1 or Merger Sub 2 under this Agreement for any claim based on, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the Transactions (each of the Persons identified in the foregoing sub-clauses (a) or (b), a “Non-Recourse Party,” and collectively, the “Non-Recourse Parties”).
Section 10.18.   Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants.   Except as otherwise contemplated by Section 9.2, the representations, warranties, covenants, obligations or other agreements in this Agreement or in any certificate (including confirmations therein), statement or instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement, including any rights arising out of any breach of such representations, warranties, covenants, obligations, agreements and other provisions, shall not survive the Closing and shall terminate and expire upon the occurrence of the Closing (and there shall be no liability after the Closing in respect thereof), except for (a) those covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement that by their terms expressly apply in whole or in part after the Closing, and then only with respect to any breaches occurring after the Closing and (b) this Article X.
 
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Section 10.19.   Conflicts and Privilege.   The Company, on behalf of its successors and assigns, hereby agrees that, in the event a dispute with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby arises after the Closing involving the Sponsor, the shareholders or holders of other equity interests of SPAC or the Sponsor or any of their respective directors, members, partners, officers, employees or Affiliates (other than the Company or Surviving Entity 2) (collectively, the “Sponsor Group”), any legal counsel, including Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP (“Orrick”), that represented SPAC or the Sponsor prior to the Closing may represent the Sponsor or any other member of the Sponsor Group, in such dispute even though the interests of such Persons may be directly adverse to the Company or Surviving Entity 2, and even though such counsel may have represented SPAC in a matter substantially related to such dispute, or may be handling ongoing matters for the Company, Surviving Entity 2 or the Sponsor. The Company, on behalf of its successors and assigns (including, after the Closing, Surviving Entity 2), further agree that, as to all legally privileged communications prior to the Closing (made in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance under, or any dispute or Action arising out of or relating to, this Agreement, any Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby) between or among SPAC, the Sponsor or any other member of the Sponsor Group, on the one hand, and Orrick, on the other hand, the attorney/client privilege and the expectation of client confidence shall survive the Mergers and belong to the Sponsor Group after the Closing, and shall not pass to or be claimed or controlled by the Company or Surviving Entity 2. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any privileged communications or information shared by the Company prior to the Closing with SPAC or the Sponsor under a common interest agreement shall remain the privileged communications or information of the Company and Surviving Entity 2.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]
 
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Parties have hereunto caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
SPAC:
COVA Acquisition Corp.
By:
/s Jun Hong Heng
Name:
Jun Hong Heng
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]
 

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COMPANY:
ECARX Holdings Inc.
By:
/s/ Ziyu Shen
Name:
Ziyu Shen
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
MERGER SUB 1:
Ecarx Temp Limited
By:
/s/ Ziyu Shen
Name:
Ziyu Shen
Title:
Director
MERGER SUB 2:
Ecarx&Co Limited
By:
/s/ Ziyu Shen
Name:
Ziyu Shen
Title:
Director
[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]
 

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Annex B
Final Form
THE COMPANIES ACT (AS REVISED)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
SEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
OF
ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
(adopted by a Special Resolution dated [•] and effective on [•])
1.
The name of the Company is ECARX Holdings Inc.
2.
The Registered Office of the Company will be situated at Harneys Fiduciary (Cayman) Limited, 4th Floor, Harbour Place, 103 South Church Street, P.O. Box 10240, Grand Cayman KY1-1002, Cayman Island, or at such other location within the Cayman Islands as the Directors may from time to time determine.
3.
The objects for which the Company is established are unrestricted and the Company shall have full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by the Companies Act (As Revised) or any other law of the Cayman Islands.
4.
The Company shall have and be capable of exercising all the functions of a natural person of full capacity irrespective of any question of corporate benefit as provided by the Companies Act.
5.
The Company will not trade in the Cayman Islands with any person, firm or corporation except in furtherance of the business of the Company carried on outside the Cayman Islands; provided that nothing in this section shall be construed as to prevent the Company effecting and concluding contracts in the Cayman Islands, and exercising in the Cayman Islands all of its powers necessary for the carrying on of its business outside the Cayman Islands.
6.
The liability of each Shareholder is limited to the amount, if any, unpaid on the Shares held by such Shareholder.
7.
The authorized share capital of the Company is US$50,000 divided into 10,000,000,000 shares comprising of (i) 8,000,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.000005 each, (ii) 1,000,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.000005 each, and (iii) 1,000,000,000 shares of a par value of US$0.000005 each of such class or classes (however designated) as the Board of Directors may determine in accordance with the Articles. Subject to the Companies Act and the Articles, the Company shall have power to redeem or purchase any of its Shares and to increase or reduce its authorized share capital and to sub-divide or consolidate the said Shares or any of them and to issue all or any part of its capital whether original, redeemed, increased or reduced with or without any preference, priority, special privilege or other rights or subject to any postponement of rights or to any conditions or restrictions whatsoever and so that unless the conditions of issue shall otherwise expressly provide every issue of shares whether stated to be ordinary, preference or otherwise shall be subject to the powers on the part of the Company hereinbefore provided.
8.
The Company has the power contained in the Companies Act to deregister in the Cayman Islands and be registered by way of continuation in some other jurisdiction.
9.
Capitalized terms that are not defined in this Memorandum of Association bear the same meanings as those given in the Articles of Association of the Company.
 
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THE COMPANIES ACT (AS REVISED)
OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
SEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
(adopted by a Special Resolution dated [•] and effective on [•])
TABLE A
The regulations contained or incorporated in Table ‘A’ in the First Schedule of the Companies Act shall not apply to the Company and the following Articles shall comprise the Articles of Association of the Company.
INTERPRETATION
1.
In these Articles the following defined terms will have the meanings ascribed to them, if not inconsistent with the subject or context:
“Affiliate”
means in respect of a Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person, and (i) in the case of a natural person, shall include, without limitation, such person’s spouse, parents, children, siblings, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, a trust for the benefit of any of the foregoing, and a corporation, partnership or any other entity wholly or jointly owned by any of the foregoing, and (ii) in the case of an entity, shall include a partnership, a corporation or any other entity or any natural person which directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such entity. The term “control” shall mean the ownership, directly or indirectly, of shares possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the corporation, partnership or other entity (other than, in the case of a corporation, securities having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency), or having the power to control the management or elect a majority of members to the board of directors or equivalent decision-making body of such corporation, partnership or other entity;
“Articles”
means these Articles of Association of the Company, as amended or substituted from time to time;
“Board” or “Board of Directors”
means the board of Directors of the Company;
“Chairperson”
means the chairperson of the Board;
“Class A Ordinary Share”
means an Ordinary Share of a par value of US$0.000005 in the capital of the Company, designated as a Class A Ordinary Share and having the rights, benefits and privileges provided for in these Articles;
 
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“Class B Ordinary Share”
means an Ordinary Share of a par value of US$0.000005 in the capital of the Company, designated as a Class B Ordinary Share and having the rights, benefits and privileges provided for in these Articles;
“Co-Founder”
means each of Mr. Shufu Li and Mr. Ziyu Shen;
“Co-Founder Affiliate”
means, with respect to a Co-Founder:
(a)
any Person in respect of which such Co-Founder has, directly or indirectly:
(i)
control with respect to the voting of all the Class B Ordinary Shares held or to be transferred to such Person;
(ii)
the ability to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person or any other Person having the authority referred to in the preceding clause (b)(i) (whether by contract, as executor, trustee, trust protector or otherwise); or
(iii)
the operational or practical control of such Person, including through the right to appoint, designate, remove or replace the Person having the authority referred to in the preceding clauses (b)(i) or (ii);
(b)
any trust the beneficiaries of which consist primarily of such Co-Founder, his or her Family Members, and/or any Persons controlled directly or indirectly controlled by such a trust; or
(c)
any Person controlled by a trust described in the immediately preceding clause (b);
“Commission”
means the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States of America or any other federal agency for the time being administering the Securities Act;
“Communication Facilities”
means video, video-conferencing, internet or online conferencing applications, telephone or tele-conferencing and/or any other video-communications, internet or online conferencing application or telecommunications facilities by means of which all Persons participating in a meeting are capable of hearing and being heard by each other;
“Companies Act”
means the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands and any statutory amendment or re-enactment thereof;
“Company”
means ECARX Holdings Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company;
“Company’s Website”
means the main corporate/investor relations website of the Company, the address or domain name of which has been notified to the Shareholders;
“Designated Stock Exchange”
means NASDAQ or any other internationally recognized stock exchange on which the Company’s securities are traded;
“Designated Stock Exchange Rules”
means the relevant code, rules and regulations, as amended, from time to time, applicable as a result of the original and continued listing of any securities of the Company on the Designated Stock Exchange;
“Directors”
means the directors of the Company for the time being, or as the case may be, the directors assembled as a Board or as a committee thereof;
“electronic”
has the meaning given to it in the Electronic Transactions Act and any amendment thereto or re-enactments thereof for the time being in force and includes every other law incorporated therewith or substituted therefor;
 
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“electronic communication”
means electronic posting to the Company’s Website, transmission to any number, address or internet website or other electronic delivery methods as otherwise decided and approved by not less than two-thirds of the vote of the Board;
“electronic record”
has the meaning given to it in the Electronic Transactions Act and any amendment thereto or re-enactments thereof for the time being in force and includes every other law incorporated therewith or substituted therefor;
“Electronic Transactions Act”
means the Electronic Transactions Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands and any statutory amendment or re-enactment thereof;
“Family Members”
means and includes only the following individuals: the applicable individual, the spouse of the applicable individual (including former spouses), the parents of the applicable individual, the lineal descendants of the applicable individual, the siblings of the applicable individual, and the lineal descendants of a sibling of the applicable individual. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the descendants of any individual shall include adopted individuals and their issue but only if the adopted individual was adopted prior to attaining age 18;
“Memorandum of Association”
means the Memorandum of Association of the Company, as amended or substituted from time to time;
“Ordinary Resolution”
means a resolution:
(a)
passed by a simple majority of the votes cast by such Shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy or, in the case of corporations, by their duly authorized representatives, at a general meeting of the Company held in accordance with these Articles; or
(b)
approved in writing by all of the Shareholders entitled to vote at a general meeting of the Company in one or more instruments each signed by one or more of the Shareholders and the effective date of the resolution so adopted shall be the date on which the instrument, or the last of such instruments, if more than one, is executed;
“Ordinary Share”
means a Class A Ordinary Share or a Class B Ordinary Share;
“paid up”
means paid up as to the par value in respect of the issue of any Shares and includes credited as paid up;
“Person”
means any natural person, firm, company, joint venture, partnership, corporation, association or other entity (whether or not having a separate legal personality) or any of them as the context so requires;
“Present”
means in respect of any Person, such Person’s presence at a general meeting of Shareholders (or any meeting of the holders of any class of Shares), which may be satisfied by means of such Person or, if a corporation or other non-natural Person, its duly authorized representative (or, in the case of any Shareholder, a proxy which has been validly appointed by such Shareholder in accordance with these Articles), being: (a) physically present at the meeting; or (b) in the case of any meeting at which Communication Facilities are permitted in accordance with these Articles, including any Virtual Meeting, connected by means of the use of such Communication Facilities;
“Register”
means the Register of Members of the Company maintained in accordance with the Companies Act;
 
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“Registered Office”
means the registered office of the Company as required by the Companies Act;
“Seal”
means the common seal of the Company (if adopted) including any facsimile thereof;
“Secretary”
means any Person appointed by the Directors to perform any of the duties of the secretary of the Company;
“Securities Act”
means the Securities Act of 1933 of the United States of America, as amended, or any similar federal statute and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time;
“Share”
means a share in the share capital of the Company. All references to “Shares” herein shall be deemed to be Shares of any or all classes as the context may require. For the avoidance of doubt in these Articles the expression “Share” shall include a fraction of a Share;
“Shareholder”
means a Person who is registered as the holder of one or more Shares in the Register;
“Share Premium Account”
means the share premium account established in accordance with these Articles and the Companies Act;
“signed”
means bearing a signature or representation of a signature affixed by mechanical means or an electronic symbol or process attached to or logically associated with an electronic communication and executed or adopted by a Person with the intent to sign the electronic communication;
“Special Resolution”
means a special resolution of the Company passed in accordance with the Companies Act, being a resolution:
(a)
passed by not less than two-thirds of the votes cast by such Shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy or, in the case of corporations, by their duly authorized representatives, at a general meeting of the Company of which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been duly given; or
(b)
approved in writing by all of the Shareholders entitled to vote at a general meeting of the Company in one or more instruments each signed by one or more of the Shareholders and the effective date of the special resolution so adopted shall be the date on which the instrument or the last of such instruments, if more than one, is executed;
“Treasury Share”
means a Share held in the name of the Company as a treasury share in accordance with the Companies Act;
“United States”
means the United States of America, its territories, its possessions and all areas subject to its jurisdiction; and
“Virtual Meeting”
means any general meeting of the Shareholders (or any meeting of the holders of any class of Shares) at which the Shareholders (and any other permitted participants of such meeting, including without limitation the chairperson of the meeting and any Directors) are permitted to attend and participate solely by means of Communication Facilities.
2.
In these Articles, save where the context requires otherwise:
(a)
words importing the singular number shall include the plural number and vice versa;
(b)
words importing the masculine gender only shall include the feminine gender and any Person as the context may require;
 
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(c)
the word “may” shall be construed as permissive and the word “shall” shall be construed as imperative;
(d)
reference to a dollar or dollars (or US$) and to a cent or cents is reference to dollars and cents of the United States of America;
(e)
reference to a statutory enactment shall include reference to any amendment or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force;
(f)
reference to any determination by the Directors shall be construed as a determination by the Directors in their sole and absolute discretion and shall be applicable either generally or in any particular case;
(g)
reference to “in writing” shall be construed as written or represented by any means reproducible in writing, including any form of print, lithograph, email, facsimile, photograph or telex or represented by any other substitute or format for storage or transmission for writing including in the form of an electronic record or partly one and partly another;
(h)
any requirements as to delivery under the Articles include delivery in the form of an electronic record or an electronic communication;
(i)
any requirements as to execution or signature under the Articles, including the execution of the Articles themselves, can be satisfied in the form of an electronic signature as defined in the Electronic Transactions Act; and
(j)
Sections 8 and 19(3) of the Electronic Transactions Act shall not apply.
3.
Subject to the last two preceding Articles, any words defined in the Companies Act shall, if not inconsistent with the subject or context, bear the same meaning in these Articles.
PRELIMINARY
4.
The business of the Company may be conducted as the Directors see fit.
5.
The Registered Office shall be at such address in the Cayman Islands as the Directors may from time to time determine. The Company may in addition establish and maintain such other offices and places of business and agencies in such places as the Directors may from time to time determine.
6.
The expenses incurred in the formation of the Company and in connection with the offer for subscription and issue of Shares shall be paid by the Company. Such expenses may be amortized over such period as the Directors may determine and the amount so paid shall be charged against income and/or capital in the accounts of the Company as the Directors shall determine.
7.
The Directors shall keep, or cause to be kept, the Register at such place as the Directors may from time to time determine and, in the absence of any such determination, the Register shall be kept at the Registered Office.
SHARES
8.
Subject to these Articles, all Shares for the time being unissued shall be under the control of the Directors who may, in their absolute discretion and without the approval of the Shareholders, cause the Company to:
(a)
issue, allot and dispose of Shares (including, without limitation, preferred shares) (whether in certificated form or non-certificated form) to such Persons, in such manner, on such terms and having such rights and being subject to such restrictions as they may from time to time determine;
(b)
grant rights over Shares or other securities to be issued in one or more classes or series as they deem necessary or appropriate and determine the designations, powers, preferences, privileges and other rights attaching to such Shares or securities, including dividend rights, voting rights, conversion rights, terms of redemption and liquidation preferences, any or all of which may be
 
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greater than the powers, preferences, privileges and rights associated with the then issued and outstanding Shares, at such times and on such other terms as they think proper; and
(c)
grant options with respect to Shares and issue warrants or similar instruments with respect thereto.
9.
The Directors may authorize the division of Shares into any number of classes and the different classes shall be authorized, established and designated (or re-designated as the case may be) and the variations in the relative rights (including, without limitation, voting, dividend and redemption rights), restrictions, preferences, privileges and payment obligations as between the different classes (if any) may be fixed and determined by the Directors or by an Ordinary Resolution. The Directors may issue Shares with such preferred or other rights, all or any of which may be greater than the rights of Ordinary Shares, at such time and on such terms as they may think appropriate. Notwithstanding Article 18, the Directors may issue from time to time, out of the authorized share capital of the Company (other than the authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares), series of preferred shares in their absolute discretion and without approval of the Shareholders; provided, however, before any preferred shares of any such series are issued, the Directors shall by resolution of Directors determine, with respect to any series of preferred shares, the terms and rights of that series, including:
(a)
the designation of such series, the number of preferred shares to constitute such series and the subscription price thereof if different from the par value thereof;
(b)
whether the preferred shares of such series shall have voting rights, in addition to any voting rights provided by law, and, if so, the terms of such voting rights, which may be general or limited;
(c)
the dividends, if any, payable on such series, whether any such dividends shall be cumulative, and, if so, from what dates, the conditions and dates upon which such dividends shall be payable, and the preference or relation which such dividends shall bear to the dividends payable on any shares of any other class or any other series of shares;
(d)
whether the preferred shares of such series shall be subject to redemption by the Company, and, if so, the times, prices and other conditions of such redemption;
(e)
whether the preferred shares of such series shall have any rights to receive any part of the assets available for distribution amongst the Shareholders upon the liquidation of the Company, and, if so, the terms of such liquidation preference, and the relation which such liquidation preference shall bear to the entitlements of the holders of shares of any other class or any other series of shares;
(f)
whether the preferred shares of such series shall be subject to the operation of a retirement or sinking fund and, if so, the extent to and manner in which any such retirement or sinking fund shall be applied to the purchase or redemption of the preferred shares of such series for retirement or other corporate purposes and the terms and provisions relative to the operation thereof;
(g)
whether the preferred shares of such series shall be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or any other series of preferred shares or any other securities and, if so, the price or prices or the rate or rates of conversion or exchange and the method, if any, of adjusting the same, and any other terms and conditions of conversion or exchange;
(h)
the limitations and restrictions, if any, to be effective while any preferred shares of such series are outstanding upon the payment of dividends or the making of other distributions on, and upon the purchase, redemption or other acquisition by the Company of, the existing shares or shares of any other class of shares or any other series of preferred shares;
(i)
the conditions or restrictions, if any, upon the creation of indebtedness of the Company or upon the issue of any additional shares, including additional shares of such series or of any other class of shares or any other series of preferred shares; and
(j)
any other powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof;
 
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and, for such purposes, the Directors may reserve an appropriate number of Shares for the time being unissued. The Company shall not issue Shares to bearer.
10.
The Company may insofar as may be permitted by law, pay a commission to any Person in consideration of his subscribing or agreeing to subscribe whether absolutely or conditionally for any Shares. Such commissions may be satisfied by the payment of cash or the lodgment of fully or partly paid-up Shares or partly in one way and partly in the other. The Company may also pay such brokerage as may be lawful on any issue of Shares.
11.
The Directors may refuse to accept any application for Shares, and may accept any application in whole or in part, for any reason or for no reason.
CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES AND CLASS B ORDINARY SHARES
12.
Holders of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares shall at all times vote together as a single class on all resolutions submitted to a vote by the Shareholders. Each Class A Ordinary Share shall entitle the holder thereof to one (1) vote on all matters subject to vote at general meetings of the Company, and each Class B Ordinary Share shall entitle the holder thereof to ten (10) votes on all matters subject to vote at general meetings of the Company.
13.
Each Class B Ordinary Share is convertible into one (1) Class A Ordinary Share at any time at the option of the holder thereof. The right to convert shall be exercisable by the holder of the Class B Ordinary Share delivering a written notice to the Company that such holder elects to convert a specified number of Class B Ordinary Shares into Class A Ordinary Shares.
14.
Any number of Class B Ordinary Shares held by a holder thereof will be automatically and immediately converted into an equal number of Class A Ordinary Shares upon the occurrence of any of the following:
(a)
any direct or indirect sale, transfer, assignment or disposition of such number of Class B Ordinary Shares by the holder thereof or the direct or indirect transfer or assignment of the voting power attached to such number of Class B Ordinary Shares through voting proxy or otherwise to any person that is not a Co-Founder or a Co-Founder Affiliate; provided, that any such direct or indirect sale, transfer, assignment or disposition to a Co-Founder Affiliate, shall result in the automatic and immediate conversion of the Class B Ordinary Shares into an equal number of Class A Ordinary Shares if the Co-Founder does not continue to have sole dispositive power and exclusive voting control over the Class B Ordinary Shares after such sale, transfer, assignment or disposition;
for the avoidance of doubt, the creation of any pledge, charge, encumbrance or other third party right of whatever description on any of Class B Ordinary Shares to secure contractual or legal obligations shall not be deemed as a sale, transfer, assignment or disposition under this clause (a) unless and until any such pledge, charge, encumbrance or other third party right is enforced and results in a Person other than the Co-Founder holding directly or indirectly beneficial ownership or voting power through voting proxy or otherwise to the related Class B Ordinary Shares, in which case all the related Class B Ordinary Shares shall be automatically converted into the same number of Class A Ordinary Shares;
(b)
any direct or indirect sale, transfer, assignment or disposition of a majority of the issued and outstanding voting securities of, or the direct or indirect transfer or assignment of the voting power attached to such voting securities through voting proxy or otherwise, or the direct or indirect sale, transfer, assignment or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of, a holder of Class B Ordinary Shares that is an entity to any person that is not a Co-Founder or a Co-Founder Affiliate; provided, that any such direct or indirect sale, transfer, assignment or disposition to a Co-Founder Affiliate, shall result in the automatic and immediate conversion of the Class B Ordinary Shares into an equal number of Class A Ordinary Shares if the Co-Founder does not continue to have sole dispositive power and exclusive voting control over the Class B Ordinary Shares after such sale, transfer, assignment or disposition; or
 
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for the avoidance of doubt, the creation of any pledge, charge, encumbrance or other third party right of whatever description on the issued and outstanding voting securities or the assets of a holder of Class B Ordinary Shares that is an entity to secure contractual or legal obligations shall not be deemed as a sale, transfer, assignment or disposition under this clause (b) unless and until any such pledge, charge, encumbrance or other third party right is enforced and results in a Person other than the Co-Founder holding directly or indirectly beneficial ownership or voting power through voting proxy or otherwise to the related issued and outstanding voting securities or the assets.
15.
Any conversion of Class B Ordinary Shares into Class A Ordinary Shares pursuant to these Articles shall be effected by means of the re-designation and re-classification of each relevant Class B Ordinary Share as a Class A Ordinary Share. Such conversion shall become effective forthwith upon entries being made in the Register to record the re-designation and re-classification of the relevant Class B Ordinary Shares as Class A Ordinary Shares.
16.
Class A Ordinary Shares are not convertible into Class B Ordinary Shares under any circumstances.
17.
Save and except for voting rights and conversion rights as set out in Articles 12 to 16 (inclusive), the Class A Ordinary Shares and the Class B Ordinary Shares shall rank pari passu with one another and shall have the same rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions.
MODIFICATION OF RIGHTS
18.
Whenever the capital of the Company is divided into different classes the rights attached to any such class may, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to any class, only be materially and adversely varied with the consent in writing of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the issued Shares of that class or with the sanction of a Special Resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the Shares of that class. To every such separate meeting all the provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings of the Company or to the proceedings thereat shall, mutatis mutandis, apply, except that the necessary quorum shall be one or more Persons holding or representing by proxy at least one-third (1/3) in nominal or par value amount of the issued Shares of the relevant class (provided that if at any adjourned meeting of such holders a quorum as above defined is not Present, those Shareholders who are Present shall form a quorum) and that, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to the Shares of that class, every Shareholder of that class shall on a poll have one (1) vote for each Share of that class held by him. For the purposes of this Article the Directors may treat all classes or any two or more classes as forming one class if they consider that all such classes would be affected in the same way by the proposals under consideration, but in any other case shall treat them as separate classes.
19.
The rights conferred upon the holders of the Shares of any class issued with preferred or other rights shall not, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to the Shares of that class, be deemed to be materially and adversely varied by, inter alia, the creation, allotment or issue of further Shares ranking pari passu with or subsequent to them or the redemption or purchase of any Shares of any class by the Company. The rights of the holders of Shares shall not be deemed to be materially and adversely varied by the creation or issue of Shares with preferred or other rights including, without limitation, the creation of Shares with enhanced or weighted voting rights.
CERTIFICATES
20.
The Shares will be issued in fully registered, book-entry form. Certificates will not be issued unless the Directors determine otherwise. All share certificates (if any) shall specify the Share or Shares held by that Person, provided that in respect of a Share or Shares held jointly by several Persons the Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate, and delivery of a certificate for a Share to one of several joint holders shall be sufficient delivery to all. All certificates for Shares shall be delivered personally or sent through the post addressed to the Shareholder entitled thereto at the Shareholder’s registered address as appearing in the Register.
21.
Every share certificate of the Company shall bear legends required under the applicable laws, including the Securities Act.
 
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22.
Any two or more certificates representing Shares of any one class held by any Shareholder may at the Shareholder’s request be cancelled and a single new certificate for such Shares issued in lieu on payment (if the Directors shall so require) of one dollar (US$1.00) or such smaller sum as the Directors shall determine.
23.
If a share certificate shall be damaged or defaced or alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, a new certificate representing the same Shares may be issued to the relevant Shareholder upon request, subject to delivery up of the old certificate or (if alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed) compliance with such conditions as to evidence and indemnity and the payment of out-of-pocket expenses of the Company in connection with the request as the Directors may think fit.
24.
In the event that Shares are held jointly by several Persons, any request may be made by any one of the joint holders and if so made shall be binding on all of the joint holders.
FRACTIONAL SHARES
25.
The Directors may issue fractions of a Share and, if so issued, a fraction of a Share shall be subject to and carry the corresponding fraction of liabilities (whether with respect to nominal or par value, premium, contributions, calls or otherwise), limitations, preferences, privileges, qualifications, restrictions, rights (including, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, voting and participation rights) and other attributes of a whole Share. If more than one fraction of a Share of the same class is issued to or acquired by the same Shareholder such fractions shall be accumulated.
LIEN
26.
The Company has a first and paramount lien on every Share (whether or not fully paid) for all amounts (whether presently payable or not) payable at a fixed time or called in respect of that Share. The Company also has a first and paramount lien on every Share registered in the name of a Person indebted or under liability to the Company (whether he is the sole registered holder of a Share or one of two or more joint holders) for all amounts owing by him or his estate to the Company (whether or not presently payable). The Directors may at any time declare a Share to be wholly or in part exempt from the provisions of this Article. The Company’s lien on a Share extends to any amount payable in respect of it, including but not limited to dividends.
27.
The Company may sell, in such manner as the Directors in their absolute discretion think fit, any Share on which the Company has a lien, but no sale shall be made unless an amount in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable nor until the expiration of fourteen (14) calendar days after a notice in writing, demanding payment of such part of the amount in respect of which the lien exists as is presently payable, has been given to the registered holder for the time being of the Share, or the Persons entitled thereto by reason of his death or bankruptcy.
28.
For giving effect to any such sale the Directors may authorize a Person to transfer the Shares sold to the purchaser thereof. The purchaser or the purchaser’s nominee shall be registered as the holder of the Shares comprised in any such transfer and he shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the sale.
29.
The proceeds of the sale after deduction of expenses, fees and commissions incurred by the Company shall be received by the Company and applied in payment of such part of the amount in respect of which the lien exists as is presently payable, and the residue shall (subject to a like lien for sums not presently payable as existed upon the Shares prior to the sale) be paid to the Person entitled to the Shares immediately prior to the sale.
CALLS ON SHARES
30.
Subject to the terms of the allotment, the Directors may from time to time make calls upon the Shareholders in respect of any moneys unpaid on their Shares, and each Shareholder shall (subject to receiving at least fourteen (14) calendar days’ notice specifying the time or times of payment) pay to the
 
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Company at the time or times so specified the amount called on such Shares. A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Directors authorizing such call was passed.
31.
The joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay calls in respect thereof.
32.
If a sum called in respect of a Share is not paid before or on the day appointed for payment thereof, the Person from whom the sum is due shall pay interest upon the sum at the rate of eight percent (8%) per annum from the day appointed for the payment thereof to the time of the actual payment, but the Directors shall be at liberty to waive payment of that interest wholly or in part.
33.
The provisions of these Articles as to the liability of joint holders and as to payment of interest shall apply in the case of non-payment of any sum which, by the terms of issue of a Share, becomes payable at a fixed time, whether on account of the amount of the Share, or by way of premium, as if the same had become payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified.
34.
The Directors may make arrangements with respect to the issue of partly paid Shares for a difference between the Shareholders, or the particular Shares, in the amount of calls to be paid and in the times of payment.
35.
The Directors may, if they think fit, receive from any Shareholder willing to advance the same all or any part of the moneys uncalled and unpaid upon any partly paid Shares held by him, and upon all or any of the moneys so advanced may (until the same would, but for such advance, become presently payable) pay interest at such rate (not exceeding without the sanction of an Ordinary Resolution, eight percent (8%) per annum) as may be agreed upon between the Shareholder paying the sum in advance and the Directors. No such sum paid in advance of calls shall entitle the Shareholder paying such sum to any portion of a dividend declared in respect of any period prior to the date upon which such sum would, but for such payment, become presently payable.
FORFEITURE OF SHARES
36.
If a Shareholder fails to pay any call or instalment of a call in respect of partly paid Shares on the day appointed for payment, the Directors may, at any time thereafter during such time as any part of such call or instalment remains unpaid, serve a notice on him requiring payment of so much of the call or instalment as is unpaid, together with any interest which may have accrued.
37.
The notice shall name a further day (not earlier than the expiration of fourteen calendar days from the date of the notice) on or before which the payment required by the notice is to be made, and shall state that in the event of non-payment at or before the time appointed, the Shares in respect of which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited.
38.
If the requirements of any such notice as aforesaid are not complied with, any Share in respect of which the notice has been given may at any time thereafter, before the payment required by notice has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Directors to that effect.
39.
A forfeited Share may be sold or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the Directors think fit, and at any time before a sale or disposition the forfeiture may be cancelled on such terms as the Directors think fit.
40.
A Person whose Shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a Shareholder in respect of the forfeited Shares, but shall, notwithstanding, remain liable to pay to the Company all moneys which at the date of forfeiture were payable by him to the Company in respect of the Shares forfeited, but his liability shall cease if and when the Company receives payment in full of the amount unpaid on the Shares forfeited.
41.
A certificate in writing under the hand of a Director that a Share has been duly forfeited on a date stated in the certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the facts in the declaration as against all Persons claiming to be entitled to the Share.
42.
The Company may receive the consideration, if any, given for a Share on any sale or disposition thereof pursuant to the provisions of these Articles as to forfeiture and may execute a transfer of the Share in favor of the Person to whom the Share is sold or disposed of and that Person shall be registered
 
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as the holder of the Share and shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, if any, nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the disposition or sale.
43.
The provisions of these Articles as to forfeiture shall apply in the case of non-payment of any sum which by the terms of issue of a Share becomes due and payable, whether on account of the amount of the Share, or by way of premium, as if the same had been payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified.
TRANSFER OF SHARES
44.
The instrument of transfer of any Share shall be in writing and in any usual or common form or such other form as the Directors may, in their absolute discretion, approve and be executed by or on behalf of the transferor and if in respect of a nil or partly paid up Share, or if so required by the Directors, shall also be executed on behalf of the transferee and shall be accompanied by the certificate (if any) of the Shares to which it relates and such other evidence as the Directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer. The transferor shall be deemed to remain a Shareholder until the name of the transferee is entered in the Register in respect of the relevant Shares.
45.
(a)
The Directors may in their absolute discretion decline to register any transfer of Shares which is not fully paid up or on which the Company has a lien.
(b)
The Directors may also decline to register any transfer of any Share unless:
(i)
the instrument of transfer is lodged with the Company, accompanied by the certificate for the Shares to which it relates and such other evidence as the Board may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer;
(ii)
the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of Shares;
(iii)
the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required;
(iv)
in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the Share is to be transferred does not exceed four; and
(v)
a fee of such maximum sum as the Designated Stock Exchange may determine to be payable, or such lesser sum as the Board of Directors may from time to time require, is paid to the Company in respect thereof.
46.
The registration of transfers may, on ten (10) calendar days’ notice being given by advertisement in such one or more newspapers, by electronic means or by any other means in accordance with the Designated Stock Exchange Rules, be suspended and the Register closed at such times and for such periods as the Directors may, in their absolute discretion, from time to time determine, provided always that such registration of transfer shall not be suspended nor the Register closed for more than thirty (30) calendar days in any calendar year.
47.
All instruments of transfer that are registered shall be retained by the Company. If the Directors refuse to register a transfer of any Shares, they shall within three (3) calendar months after the date on which the transfer was lodged with the Company send notice of the refusal to each of the transferor and the transferee.
TRANSMISSION OF SHARES
48.
The legal personal representative of a deceased sole holder of a Share shall be the only Person recognized by the Company as having any title to the Share. In the case of a Share registered in the name of two or more holders, the survivors or survivor, or the legal personal representatives of the deceased survivor, shall be the only Person recognized by the Company as having any title to the Share.
49.
Any Person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Shareholder shall, upon such evidence being produced as may from time to time be required by the Directors, have the
 
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right either to be registered as a Shareholder in respect of the Share or, instead of being registered himself, to make such transfer of the Share as the deceased or bankrupt Person could have made; but the Directors shall, in either case, have the same right to decline or suspend registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the Share by the deceased or bankrupt Person before the death or bankruptcy.
50.
A Person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy of a Shareholder shall be entitled to the same dividends and other advantages to which he would be entitled if he were the registered Shareholder, except that he shall not, before being registered as a Shareholder in respect of the Share, be entitled in respect of it to exercise any right conferred by membership in relation to meetings of the Company, provided however, that the Directors may at any time give notice requiring any such Person to elect either to be registered himself or to transfer the Share, and if the notice is not complied with within ninety (90) calendar days, the Directors may thereafter withhold payment of all dividends, bonuses or other monies payable in respect of the Share until the requirements of the notice have been complied with.
REGISTRATION OF EMPOWERING INSTRUMENTS
51.
The Company shall be entitled to charge a fee not exceeding one U.S. dollar (US$1.00) on the registration of every probate, letters of administration, certificate of death or marriage, power of attorney, notice in lieu of distringas, or other instrument.
ALTERATION OF SHARE CAPITAL
52.
The Company may from time to time by Ordinary Resolution increase the share capital by such sum, to be divided into Shares of such classes and amount, as the resolution shall prescribe.
53.
The Company may by Ordinary Resolution:
(a)
increase its share capital by new Shares of such amount as it thinks expedient;
(b)
consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of a larger amount than its existing Shares;
(c)
subdivide its Shares, or any of them, into Shares of an amount smaller than that fixed by the Memorandum of Association, provided that in the subdivision the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced Share shall be the same as it was in case of the Share from which the reduced Share is derived; and
(d)
cancel any Shares that, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any Person and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the Shares so cancelled.
54.
The Company may by Special Resolution reduce its share capital and any capital redemption reserve in any manner authorized by the Companies Act.
REDEMPTION, PURCHASE AND SURRENDER OF SHARES
55.
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and these Articles, the Company may:
(a)
issue Shares that are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Shareholder or the Company. The redemption of Shares shall be effected in such manner and upon such terms as may be determined, before the issue of such Shares, by either the Board or by the Shareholders by Ordinary Resolution;
(b)
purchase its own Shares (including any redeemable Shares) on such terms and in such manner and terms as have been approved by the Board or by the Shareholders by Ordinary Resolution, or are otherwise authorized by these Articles; and
 
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(c)
make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own Shares in any manner permitted by the Companies Act, including out of its capital, profits or the proceeds of a fresh issue of Shares.
56.
The redemption or purchase of any Share shall not oblige the Company to redeem or purchase any other Share other than as may be required pursuant to applicable law and any other contractual obligations of the Company.
57.
The holder of the Shares being purchased shall be bound to deliver up to the Company the certificate(s) (if any) thereof for cancellation and thereupon the Company shall pay to him the purchase or redemption monies or consideration in respect thereof.
58.
Unless the Directors determine otherwise, any Share in respect of which notice of redemption has been given shall not be entitled to participate in the profits of the Company in respect of the period after the date specified as the date of redemption in the notice of redemption.
59.
The Directors may accept the surrender for no consideration of any fully paid Share.
TREASURY SHARES
60.
The Directors may, prior to the purchase, redemption or surrender of any Share, determine that such Share shall be held as a Treasury Share.
61.
The Directors may determine to cancel a Treasury Share or transfer a Treasury Share on such terms as they think proper (including, without limitation, for nil consideration).
62.
No dividend may be declared or paid, and no other distribution (whether in cash or otherwise) of the Company’s assets (including any distribution of assets to Shareholders on a winding up) may be declared or paid in respect of a Treasury Share.
GENERAL MEETINGS
63.
All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings.
64.
(a)
The Company may (but shall not be obliged to) in each calendar year hold a general meeting as its annual general meeting and shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it. The annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by the Directors.
(b)
At these meetings the report of the Directors (if any) shall be presented.
65.
(a)
The Chairperson or the Directors (acting by a resolution of the Board) may call general meetings, and they shall on a Shareholders’ requisition forthwith proceed to convene an extraordinary general meeting of the Company.
(b)
A Shareholders’ requisition is a requisition of Shareholders holding at the date of deposit of the requisition Shares which carry in aggregate not less than one-third (1/3) of all votes attaching to all issued and outstanding Shares of the Company that as at the date of the deposit carry the right to vote at general meetings of the Company.
(c)
The requisition must state the objects of the meeting and must be signed by the requisitionists and deposited at the Registered Office, and may consist of several documents in like form each signed by one or more requisitionists.
(d)
If there are no Directors as at the date of the deposit of the Shareholders’ requisition, or if the Directors do not within twenty-one (21) calendar days from the date of the deposit of the requisition duly proceed to convene a general meeting to be held within a further twenty-one (21) calendar days, the requisitionists, or any of them representing more than one-third (1/3) of the total voting rights of all of them, may themselves convene a general meeting, but any meeting so convened shall not be held after the expiration of three (3) calendar months after the expiration of the said twenty-one (21) calendar days.
 
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(e)
A general meeting convened as aforesaid by requisitionists shall be convened in the same manner as nearly as possible as that in which general meetings are to be convened by Directors.
NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS
66.
At least seven (7) calendar days’ notice shall be given for any general meeting. Every notice shall be exclusive of the day on which it is given or deemed to be given and of the day for which it is given and shall specify the place, the day and the hour of the meeting and the general nature of the business and shall be given in the manner hereinafter mentioned or in such other manner if any as may be prescribed by the Company, provided that a general meeting of the Company shall, whether or not the notice specified in this Article has been given and whether or not the provisions of these Articles regarding general meetings have been complied with, be deemed to have been duly convened if it is so agreed:
(a)
in the case of an annual general meeting, by all the Shareholders (or their proxies) entitled to attend and vote thereat; and
(b)
in the case of an extraordinary general meeting, by a majority of the Shareholders having a right to attend and vote at the meeting and Present at the meeting.
67.
The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to or the non-receipt of a notice of a meeting by any Shareholder shall not invalidate the proceedings at any meeting.
PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS
68.
No business except for the appointment of a chairperson for the meeting shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum of Shareholders is Present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business. One or more Shareholders holding Shares which carry in aggregate (or representing by proxy) not less than one-third (1/3) of all votes attaching to all Shares in issue and entitled to vote at such general meeting Present shall be a quorum for all purposes; provided, that the presence in person or by proxy of holders of a majority of Class B Ordinary Shares shall be required in any event.
69.
If within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not Present, the meeting shall be dissolved.
70.
If the Directors wish to make this facility available for a specific general meeting or all general meetings of the Company, attendance and participation in any general meeting of the Company may be by means of Communication Facilities. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Directors may determine that any general meeting may be held as a Virtual Meeting. The notice of any general meeting at which Communication Facilities will be utilized (including any Virtual Meeting) must disclose the Communication Facilities that will be used, including the procedures to be followed by any Shareholder or other participant of the meeting who wishes to utilize such Communication Facilities for the purposes of attending and participating in such meeting, including attending and casting any vote thereat.
71.
The Chairperson, if any, shall preside as chairperson at every general meeting of the Company. If there is no such Chairperson, or if at any general meeting he is not Present within fifteen (15) minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting or is unwilling to act as chairperson of the meeting, any Director or Person nominated by the Directors shall preside as chairperson of that meeting, failing which the Shareholders Present shall choose any Person Present to be chairperson of that meeting.
72.
The chairperson of any general meeting (including any Virtual Meeting) shall be entitled to attend and participate at any such general meeting by means of Communication Facilities, and to act as the chairperson of such general meeting, in which event the following provisions shall apply:
72.1
 The chairperson of the meeting shall be deemed to be Present at the meeting; and
72.2
 If the Communication Facilities are interrupted or fail for any reason to enable the chairperson of the meeting to hear and be heard by all other Persons participating in the meeting, then the other Directors Present at the meeting shall choose another Director Present to act as chairperson of
 
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the meeting for the remainder of the meeting; provided that if no other Director is Present at the meeting, or if all the Directors Present decline to take the chair, then the meeting shall be automatically adjourned to the same day in the next week and at such time and place as shall be decided by the Board of Directors.
73.
The chairperson of the meeting may with the consent of any general meeting at which a quorum is Present (and shall if so directed by the meeting) adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. When a meeting, or adjourned meeting, is adjourned for fourteen (14) calendar days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Save as aforesaid it shall not be necessary to give any notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting.
74.
The Directors may cancel or postpone any duly convened general meeting at any time prior to such meeting, except for general meetings requisitioned by the Shareholders in accordance with these Articles, for any reason or for no reason, upon notice in writing to Shareholders. A postponement may be for a stated period of any length or indefinitely as the Directors may determine.
75.
At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided by way of a poll and not on a show of hands.
76.
A poll shall be taken in such manner as the chairperson of the meeting directs, and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting.
77.
All questions submitted to a meeting shall be decided by an Ordinary Resolution except where a greater majority is required by these Articles or by the Companies Act. In the case of an equality of votes, the chairperson of the meeting shall be entitled to a second or casting vote.
VOTES OF SHAREHOLDERS
78.
Subject to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any Share, every Shareholder Present at the meeting shall have one (1) vote for each Class A Ordinary Share and ten (10) votes for each Class B Ordinary Share of which he is the holder.
79.
In the case of joint holders the vote of the senior who tenders a vote whether in person or by proxy (or, if a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorized representative or proxy) shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders and for this purpose seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names stand in the Register.
80.
Shares carrying the right to vote that are held by a Shareholder of unsound mind, or in respect of whom an order has been made by any court having jurisdiction in lunacy, may be voted by his committee or other Person in the nature of a committee appointed by that court, and any such committee or other Person may vote in respect of such Shares by proxy.
81.
No Shareholder shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting of the Company unless all calls, if any, or other sums presently payable by him in respect of Shares carrying the right to vote held by him have been paid.
82.
On a poll votes may be given either personally or by proxy.
83.
Each Shareholder, other than a recognized clearing house (or its nominee(s)) or depositary (or its nominee(s)), may only appoint one proxy on a show of hand. The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing under the hand of the appointor or of his attorney duly authorized in writing or, if the appointor is a corporation, either under Seal or under the hand of an officer or attorney duly authorized. A proxy need not be a Shareholder.
84.
An instrument appointing a proxy may be in any usual or common form or such other form as the Directors may approve.
 
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85.
The instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited at the Registered Office or at such other place as is specified for that purpose in the notice convening the meeting, or in any instrument of proxy sent out by the Company:
(a)
not less than forty-eight (48) hours before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote; or
(b)
in the case of a poll taken more than forty-eight (48)hours after it is demanded, be deposited as aforesaid after the poll has been demanded and not less than twenty-four (24) hours before the time appointed for the taking of the poll; or
(c)
where the poll is not taken forthwith but is taken not more than forty-eight (48) hours after it was demanded be delivered at the meeting at which the poll was demanded to the chairperson of the meeting or to the secretary or to any Director;
provided that the Directors may in the notice convening the meeting, or in an instrument of proxy sent out by the Company, direct that the instrument appointing a proxy may be deposited at such other time (no later than the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting) at the Registered Office or at such other place as is specified for that purpose in the notice convening the meeting, or in any instrument of proxy sent out by the Company. The chairperson of the meeting may in any event at his discretion direct that an instrument of proxy shall be deemed to have been duly deposited. An instrument of proxy that is not deposited in the manner permitted shall be invalid.
86.
The instrument appointing a proxy shall be deemed to confer authority to demand or join in demanding a poll.
87.
A resolution in writing signed by all the Shareholders for the time being entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at general meetings of the Company (or being corporations by their duly authorized representatives) shall be as valid and effective as if the same had been passed at a general meeting of the Company duly convened and held.
CORPORATIONS ACTING BY REPRESENTATIVES AT MEETINGS
88.
Any corporation which is a Shareholder or a Director may by resolution of its directors or other governing body authorize such Person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or of any meeting of holders of a class or of the Directors or of a committee of Directors, and the Person so authorized shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the corporation which he represents as that corporation could exercise if it were an individual Shareholder or Director.
DEPOSITARY AND CLEARING HOUSES
89.
If a recognized clearing house (or its nominee(s)) or depositary (or its nominee(s)) is a Shareholder of the Company it may, by resolution of its directors or other governing body or by power of attorney, authorize such Person(s) as it thinks fit to act as its representative(s) at any general meeting of the Company or of any class of Shareholders provided that, if more than one Person is so authorized, the authorization shall specify the number and class of Shares in respect of which each such Person is so authorized. A Person so authorized pursuant to this Article shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the recognized clearing house (or its nominee(s)) or depositary (or its nominee(s)) which he represents as that recognized clearing house (or its nominee(s)) or depositary (or its nominee(s)) could exercise if it were an individual Shareholder holding the number and class of Shares specified in such authorization.
DIRECTORS
90.
(a)
Unless otherwise determined by the Company in general meeting, the number of Directors shall not be less than three (3) Directors, the exact number of Directors to be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.
 
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(b)
The Board of Directors shall elect and appoint a Chairperson by a majority of the Directors then in office, and the period for which the Chairperson will hold office will also be determined by a majority of all of the Directors then in office. The Chairperson shall preside as chairperson at every meeting of the Board of Directors. To the extent the Chairperson is not present at a meeting of the Board of Directors within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the same, the attending Directors may choose one of their number to be the chairperson of the meeting.
(c)
The Company may by Ordinary Resolution appoint any person to be a Director.
(d)
The Board may, by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the remaining Directors present and voting at a Board meeting, appoint any person as a Director, to fill a casual vacancy on the Board, or as an addition to the existing Board.
(e)
An appointment of a Director may be on terms that the Director shall automatically retire from office (unless he has sooner vacated office) at the next or a subsequent annual general meeting or upon any specified event or after any specified period in a written agreement between the Company and the Director, if any; but no such term shall be implied in the absence of express provision. Each Director whose term of office expires shall be eligible for re-election at a meeting of the Shareholders or re-appointment by the Board.
91.
A Director may be removed from office by Ordinary Resolution of the Company, notwithstanding anything in these Articles or in any agreement between the Company and such Director (but without prejudice to any claim for damages under such agreement). A vacancy on the Board created by the removal of a Director under the previous sentence may be filled by Ordinary Resolution or by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the remaining Directors present and voting at a Board meeting.
92.
The Board may, from time to time, and except as required by applicable law or Designated Stock Exchange Rules, adopt, institute, amend, modify or revoke the corporate governance policies or initiatives of the Company and determine on various corporate governance related matters of the Company as the Board shall determine by resolution of Directors from time to time.
93.
A Director shall not be required to hold any Shares in the Company by way of qualification. A Director who is not a Shareholder of the Company shall nevertheless be entitled to attend and speak at general meetings.
94.
The remuneration of the Directors may be determined by the Directors or by Ordinary Resolution.
95.
The Directors shall be entitled to be paid for their travelling, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by them in going to, attending and returning from meetings of the Directors, or any committee of the Directors, or general meetings of the Company, or otherwise in connection with the business of the Company, or to receive such fixed allowance in respect thereof as may be determined by the Directors from time to time, or a combination partly of one such method and partly the other.
ALTERNATE DIRECTOR OR PROXY
96.
Any Director may in writing appoint another Person to be his alternate and, save to the extent provided otherwise in the form of appointment, such alternate shall have authority to sign written resolutions on behalf of the appointing Director, but shall not be required to sign such written resolutions where they have been signed by the appointing director, and to act in such Director’s place at any meeting of the Directors at which the appointing Director is unable to be present. Every such alternate shall be entitled to attend and vote at meetings of the Directors as a Director when the Director appointing him is not personally present and where he is a Director to have a separate vote on behalf of the Director he is representing in addition to his own vote. A Director may at any time in writing revoke the appointment of an alternate appointed by him. Such alternate shall be deemed for all purposes to be a Director and shall not be deemed to be the agent of the Director appointing him. The remuneration of such alternate shall be payable out of the remuneration of the Director appointing him and the proportion thereof shall be agreed between them.
 
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97.
Any Director may appoint any Person, whether or not a Director, to be the proxy of that Director to attend and vote on his behalf, in accordance with instructions given by that Director, or in the absence of such instructions at the discretion of the proxy, at a meeting or meetings of the Directors which that Director is unable to attend personally. The instrument appointing the proxy shall be in writing under the hand of the appointing Director and shall be in any usual or common form or such other form as the Directors may approve, and must be lodged with the chairperson of the meeting of the Directors at which such proxy is to be used, or first used, prior to the commencement of the meeting.
POWERS AND DUTIES OF DIRECTORS
98.
Subject to the Companies Act, these Articles and any resolutions passed in a general meeting, the business of the Company shall be managed by the Directors, who may pay all expenses incurred in setting up and registering the Company and may exercise all powers of the Company. No resolution passed by the Company in general meeting shall invalidate any prior act of the Directors that would have been valid if that resolution had not been passed.
99.
Subject to these Articles, the Directors may from time to time appoint any natural person or corporation, whether or not a Director to hold such office in the Company as the Directors may think necessary for the administration of the Company, including but not limited to, chief executive officer and chief financial officer, and for such term and at such remuneration (whether by way of salary or commission or participation in profits or partly in one way and partly in another), and with such powers and duties as the Directors may think fit. Any natural person or corporation so appointed by the Directors may be removed by the Directors. The Directors may also appoint one or more of their number to the office of managing director upon like terms, but any such appointment shall ipso facto terminate if any managing director ceases for any cause to be a Director, or if the Company by Ordinary Resolution resolves that his tenure of office be terminated.
100.
The Directors may appoint any natural person or corporation to be a Secretary (and if need be an assistant Secretary or assistant Secretaries) who shall hold office for such term, at such remuneration and upon such conditions and with such powers as they think fit. Any Secretary or assistant Secretary so appointed by the Directors may be removed by the Directors or by the Shareholders by Ordinary Resolution.
101.
The Directors may delegate any of their powers to committees consisting of such member or members of their body as they think fit; any committee so formed shall in the exercise of the powers so delegated conform to any regulations that may be imposed on it by the Directors.
102.
The Directors may from time to time and at any time by power of attorney (whether under Seal or under hand) or otherwise appoint any company, firm or Person or body of Persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Directors, to be the attorney or attorneys or authorized signatory (any such Person being an “Attorney” or “Authorized Signatory”, respectively) of the Company for such purposes and with such powers, authorities and discretion (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Directors under these Articles) and for such period and subject to such conditions as they may think fit, and any such power of attorney or other appointment may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of Persons dealing with any such Attorney or Authorized Signatory as the Directors may think fit, and may also authorize any such Attorney or Authorized Signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretion vested in him.
103.
The Directors may from time to time provide for the management of the affairs of the Company in such manner as they shall think fit and the provisions contained in the three next following Articles shall not limit the general powers conferred by this Article.
104.
The Directors from time to time and at any time may establish any committees, local boards or agencies for managing any of the affairs of the Company and may appoint any natural person or corporation to be a member of such committees or local boards and may appoint any managers or agents of the Company and may fix the remuneration of any such natural person or corporation.
 
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105.
The Directors from time to time and at any time may delegate to any such committee, local board, manager or agent any of the powers, authorities and discretions for the time being vested in the Directors and may authorize the members for the time being of any such local board, or any of them to fill any vacancies therein and to act notwithstanding vacancies and any such appointment or delegation may be made on such terms and subject to such conditions as the Directors may think fit and the Directors may at any time remove any natural person or corporation so appointed and may annul or vary any such delegation, but no Person dealing in good faith and without notice of any such annulment or variation shall be affected thereby.
106.
Any such delegates as aforesaid may be authorized by the Directors to sub-delegate all or any of the powers, authorities, and discretion for the time being vested in them.
BORROWING POWERS OF DIRECTORS
107.
The Directors may from time to time at their discretion exercise all the powers of the Company to raise or borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and assets (present and future) and uncalled capital or any part thereof, to issue debentures, debenture stock, bonds and other securities, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party.
THE SEAL
108.
The Seal shall not be affixed to any instrument except by the authority of a resolution of the Directors provided always that such authority may be given prior to or after the affixing of the Seal and if given after may be in general form confirming a number of affixings of the Seal. The Seal shall be affixed in the presence of a Director or a Secretary (or an assistant Secretary) or in the presence of any one or more Persons as the Directors may appoint for the purpose and every Person as aforesaid shall sign every instrument to which the Seal is so affixed in their presence.
109.
The Company may maintain a facsimile of the Seal in such countries or places as the Directors may appoint and such facsimile Seal shall not be affixed to any instrument except by the authority of a resolution of the Directors provided always that such authority may be given prior to or after the affixing of such facsimile Seal and if given after may be in general form confirming a number of affixings of such facsimile Seal. The facsimile Seal shall be affixed in the presence of such Person or Persons as the Directors shall for this purpose appoint and such Person or Persons as aforesaid shall sign every instrument to which the facsimile Seal is so affixed in their presence and such affixing of the facsimile Seal and signing as aforesaid shall have the same meaning and effect as if the Seal had been affixed in the presence of and the instrument signed by a Director or a Secretary (or an assistant Secretary) or in the presence of any one or more Persons as the Directors may appoint for the purpose.
110.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Secretary or any assistant Secretary shall have the authority to affix the Seal, or the facsimile Seal, to any instrument for the purposes of attesting authenticity of the matter contained therein but which does not create any obligation binding on the Company.
DISQUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS
111.
The office of Director shall be vacated, if the Director:
(a)
becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors;
(b)
dies or is found to be or becomes of unsound mind;
(c)
resigns his office by notice in writing to the Company;
(d)
without special leave of absence from the Board, is absent from meetings of the Board for three consecutive meetings and the Board resolves that his office be vacated; or
(e)
is removed from office pursuant to any other provision of these Articles.
 
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PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS
112.
The Directors may meet together (either within or outside the Cayman Islands) for the dispatch of business, adjourn, and otherwise regulate their meetings and proceedings as they think fit. Questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. At any meeting of the Directors, each Director present in person or represented by his proxy or alternate shall be entitled to one (1) vote. In case of an equality of votes the Chairperson shall have a second or casting vote. A Director may, and a Secretary or assistant Secretary on the requisition of a Director shall, at any time summon a meeting of the Directors.
113.
A Director may participate in any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee appointed by the Directors of which such Director is a member, by means of Communication Facilities and such participation shall be deemed to constitute presence in person at the meeting.
114.
The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the Board may be fixed by the Directors, and unless so fixed, the quorum shall be a majority of Directors then in office, including the Chairperson; provided, however, a quorum shall nevertheless exist at a meeting at which a quorum would exist but for the fact that the Chairperson is voluntarily absent from the meeting and notifies the Board of his decision to be absent from that meeting, before or at the meeting. A Director represented by proxy or by an alternate Director at any meeting shall be deemed to be present for the purposes of determining whether or not a quorum is present.
115.
A Director who is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a contract or transaction or proposed contract or transaction with the Company shall declare the nature of his interest at a meeting of the Directors. A general notice given to the Directors by any Director to the effect that he is a member of any specified company or firm and is to be regarded as interested in any contract or transaction which may thereafter be made with that company or firm shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of interest in regard to any contract so made or transaction so consummated. Subject to the Designated Stock Exchange Rules and disqualification by the chairperson of the relevant Board meeting, a Director may vote in respect of any contract or transaction or proposed contract or transaction notwithstanding that he may be interested therein and if he does so his vote shall be counted and he may be counted in the quorum at any meeting of the Directors at which any such contract or transaction or proposed contract or transaction shall come before the meeting for consideration.
116.
A Director may hold any other office or place of profit under the Company (other than the office of auditor) in conjunction with his office of Director for such period and on such terms (as to remuneration and otherwise) as the Directors may determine and no Director or intending Director shall be disqualified by his office from contracting with the Company either with regard to his tenure of any such other office or place of profit or as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, nor shall any such contract or arrangement entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which any Director is in any way interested be liable to be avoided, nor shall any Director so contracting or being so interested be liable to account to the Company for any profit realized by any such contract or arrangement by reason of such Director holding that office or of the fiduciary relation thereby established. A Director, notwithstanding his interest, may be counted in the quorum present at any meeting of the Directors whereat he or any other Director is appointed to hold any such office or place of profit under the Company or whereat the terms of any such appointment are arranged and he may vote on any such appointment or arrangement.
117.
Any Director may act by himself or through his firm in a professional capacity for the Company, and he or his firm shall be entitled to remuneration for professional services as if he were not a Director; provided that nothing herein contained shall authorize a Director or his firm to act as auditor to the Company.
118.
The Directors shall cause minutes to be made for the purpose of recording:
(a)
all appointments of officers made by the Directors;
(b)
the names of the Directors present at each meeting of the Directors and of any committee of the Directors; and
 
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(c)
all resolutions and proceedings at all meetings of the Company, and of the Directors and of committees of Directors.
119.
When the chairperson of a meeting of the Directors signs the minutes of such meeting the same shall be deemed to have been duly held notwithstanding that all the Directors have not actually come together or that there may have been a technical defect in the proceedings.
120.
A resolution in writing signed by all the Directors or all the members of a committee of Directors entitled to receive notice of a meeting of Directors or committee of Directors, as the case may be (an alternate Director, subject as provided otherwise in the terms of appointment of the alternate Director, being entitled to sign such a resolution on behalf of his appointer), shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a duly called and constituted meeting of Directors or committee of Directors, as the case may be. When signed a resolution may consist of several documents each signed by one or more of the Directors or his duly appointed alternate.
121.
The continuing Directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their body but if and for so long as their number is reduced below the number fixed by or pursuant to these Articles as the necessary quorum of Directors, the continuing Directors may act for the purpose of increasing the number, or of summoning a general meeting of the Company, but for no other purpose.
122.
Subject to any regulations imposed on it by the Directors, a committee appointed by the Directors may elect a chairperson of its meetings. If no such chairperson is elected, or if at any meeting the chairperson is not present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, the committee members present may choose one of their members to be chairperson of the meeting.
123.
A committee appointed by the Directors may meet and adjourn as it thinks proper. Subject to any regulations imposed on it by the Directors, questions arising at any meeting shall be determined by a majority of votes of the committee members present and in case of an equality of votes the chairperson shall have a second or casting vote.
124.
All acts done by any meeting of the Directors or of a committee of Directors, or by any Person acting as a Director, shall notwithstanding that it be afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any such Director or Person acting as aforesaid, or that they or any of them were disqualified, be as valid as if every such Person had been duly appointed and was qualified to be a Director.
PRESUMPTION OF ASSENT
125.
A Director who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors at which an action on any Company matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless his dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless he shall file his written dissent from such action with the person acting as the chairperson or secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered post to such person immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a Director who voted in favor of such action.
DIVIDENDS
126.
Subject to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any Shares, the Directors may from time to time declare dividends (including interim dividends) and other distributions on Shares in issue and authorize payment of the same out of the funds of the Company lawfully available therefor.
127.
Subject to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any Shares, the Company by Ordinary Resolution may declare dividends, but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the Directors.
128.
The Directors may, before recommending or declaring any dividend, set aside out of the funds legally available for distribution such sums as they think proper as a reserve or reserves which shall, in the absolute discretion of the Directors, be applicable for meeting contingencies or for equalizing dividends or for any other purpose to which those funds may be properly applied, and pending such
 
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application may in the absolute discretion of the Directors, either be employed in the business of the Company or be invested in such investments (other than Shares of the Company) as the Directors may from time to time think fit.
129.
Any dividend payable in cash to the holder of Shares may be paid in any manner determined by the Directors. If paid by cheque it will be sent by mail addressed to the holder at his address in the Register, or addressed to such person and at such addresses as the holder may direct. Every such cheque or warrant shall, unless the holder or joint holders otherwise direct, be made payable to the order of the holder or, in the case of joint holders, to the order of the holder whose name stands first on the Register in respect of such Shares, and shall be sent at his or their risk and payment of the cheque or warrant by the bank on which it is drawn shall constitute a good discharge to the Company.
130.
The Directors may determine that a dividend shall be paid wholly or partly by the distribution of specific assets (which may consist of the shares or securities of any other company) and may settle all questions concerning such distribution. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Directors may fix the value of such specific assets, may determine that cash payment shall be made to some Shareholders in lieu of specific assets and may vest any such specific assets in trustees on such terms as the Directors think fit.
131.
Subject to any rights and restrictions for the time being attached to any Shares, all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up on the Shares, but if and for so long as nothing is paid up on any of the Shares dividends may be declared and paid according to the par value of the Shares. No amount paid on a Share in advance of calls shall, while carrying interest, be treated for the purposes of this Article as paid on the Share.
132.
If several Persons are registered as joint holders of any Share, any of them may give effective receipts for any dividend or other moneys payable on or in respect of the Share.
133.
No dividend shall bear interest against the Company.
134.
Any dividend unclaimed after a period of six (6) calendar years from the date of declaration of such dividend may be forfeited by the Board of Directors and, if so forfeited, shall revert to the Company.
ACCOUNTS, AUDIT AND ANNUAL RETURN AND DECLARATION
135.
The books of account relating to the Company’s affairs shall be kept in such manner as may be determined from time to time by the Directors.
136.
The books of account shall be kept at the Registered Office, or at such other place or places as the Directors think fit, and shall always be open to the inspection of the Directors.
137.
The Directors may from time to time determine whether and to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions or regulations the accounts and books of the Company or any of them shall be open to the inspection of Shareholders not being Directors, and no Shareholder (not being a Director) shall have any right to inspect any account or book or document of the Company except as conferred by law or authorized by the Directors or by Special Resolution.
138.
The accounts relating to the Company’s affairs shall be audited in such manner and with such financial year end as may be determined from time to time by the Directors or failing any determination as aforesaid shall not be audited.
139.
The Directors may appoint an auditor of the Company who shall hold office until removed from office by a resolution of the Directors and may fix his or their remuneration.
140.
Every auditor of the Company shall have a right of access at all times to the books and accounts and vouchers of the Company and shall be entitled to require from the Directors and officers of the Company such information and explanation as may be necessary for the performance of the duties of the auditors.
 
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141.
The auditors shall, if so required by the Directors, make a report on the accounts of the Company during their tenure of office at the next annual general meeting following their appointment, and at any time during their term of office, upon request of the Directors or any general meeting of the Shareholders.
142.
The Directors in each calendar year shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, an annual return and declaration setting forth the particulars required by the Companies Act and deliver a copy thereof to the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands.
CAPITALIZATION OF RESERVES
143.
Subject to the Companies Act, the Directors may:
(a)
resolve to capitalize an amount standing to the credit of reserves (including a Share Premium Account, capital redemption reserve and profit and loss account), which is available for distribution;
(b)
appropriate the sum resolved to be capitalized to the Shareholders in proportion to the nominal amount of Shares (whether or not fully paid) held by them respectively and apply that sum on their behalf in or towards:
(i)
paying up the amounts (if any) for the time being unpaid on Shares held by them respectively, or
(ii)
paying up in full unissued Shares or debentures of a nominal amount equal to that sum,
and allot the Shares or debentures, credited as fully paid, to the Shareholders (or as they may direct) in those proportions, or partly in one way and partly in the other, but the Share Premium Account, the capital redemption reserve and profits which are not available for distribution may, for the purposes of this Article, only be applied in paying up unissued Shares to be allotted to Shareholders credited as fully paid;
(c)
make any arrangements they think fit to resolve a difficulty arising in the distribution of a capitalized reserve and in particular, without limitation, where Shares or debentures become distributable in fractions the Directors may deal with the fractions as they think fit;
(d)
authorize a Person to enter (on behalf of all the Shareholders concerned) into an agreement with the Company providing for either:
(i)
the allotment to the Shareholders respectively, credited as fully paid, of Shares or debentures to which they may be entitled on the capitalization, or
(ii)
the payment by the Company on behalf of the Shareholders (by the application of their respective proportions of the reserves resolved to be capitalized) of the amounts or part of the amounts remaining unpaid on their existing Shares,
and any such agreement made under this authority being effective and binding on all those Shareholders; and
(e)
generally do all acts and things required to give effect to the resolution.
SHARE PREMIUM ACCOUNT
144.
The Directors shall in accordance with the Companies Act establish a Share Premium Account and shall carry to the credit of such account from time to time a sum equal to the amount or value of the premium paid on the issue of any Share.
145.
There shall be debited to any Share Premium Account on the redemption or purchase of a Share the difference between the nominal value of such Share and the redemption or purchase price provided always that at the discretion of the Directors such sum may be paid out of the profits of the Company or, if permitted by the Companies Act, out of capital.
 
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NOTICES
146.
Except as otherwise provided in these Articles, any notice or document may be served by the Company or by the Person entitled to give notice to any Shareholder either personally, or by posting it by airmail or a recognized courier service in a prepaid letter addressed to such Shareholder at his address as appearing in the Register, or by electronic mail to any electronic mail address such Shareholder may have specified in writing for the purpose of such service of notices, or by facsimile to any facsimile number such Shareholder may have specified in writing for the purpose of such service of notices, or by placing it on the Company’s Website should the Directors deem it appropriate. In the case of joint holders of a Share, all notices shall be given to that one of the joint holders whose name stands first in the Register in respect of the joint holding, and notice so given shall be sufficient notice to all the joint holders.
147.
Notices sent from one country to another shall be sent or forwarded by prepaid airmail or a recognized courier service.
148.
Any Shareholder Present at any meeting of the Company shall for all purposes be deemed to have received due notice of such meeting and, where requisite, of the purposes for which such meeting was convened.
149.
Any notice or other document, if served by:
(a)
post, shall be deemed to have been served five (5) calendar days after the time when the letter containing the same is posted;
(b)
facsimile, shall be deemed to have been served upon production by the transmitting facsimile machine of a report confirming transmission of the facsimile in full to the facsimile number of the recipient;
(c)
recognized courier service, shall be deemed to have been served forty-eight (48) hours after the time when the letter containing the same is delivered to the courier service; or
(d)
electronic means, shall be deemed to have been served immediately (i) upon the time of the transmission to the electronic mail address supplied by the Shareholder to the Company or (ii) upon the time of its placement on the Company’s Website.
In proving service by post or courier service it shall be sufficient to prove that the letter containing the notice or documents was properly addressed and duly posted or delivered to the courier service.
150.
Any notice or document delivered or sent by post to or left at the registered address of any Shareholder in accordance with the terms of these Articles shall notwithstanding that such Shareholder be then dead or bankrupt, and whether or not the Company has notice of his death or bankruptcy, be deemed to have been duly served in respect of any Share registered in the name of such Shareholder as sole or joint holder, unless his name shall at the time of the service of the notice or document have been removed from the Register as the holder of the Share, and such service shall for all purposes be deemed a sufficient service of such notice or document on all Persons interested (whether jointly with or as claiming through or under him) in the Share.
151.
Notice of every general meeting of the Company shall be given to:
(a)
all Shareholders holding Shares with the right to receive notice and who have supplied to the Company an address for the giving of notices to them; and
(b)
every Person entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Shareholder, who but for his death or bankruptcy would be entitled to receive notice of the meeting.
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INFORMATION
152.
Subject to the relevant laws, rules and regulations applicable to the Company, no Shareholder shall be entitled to require discovery of any information in respect of any detail of the Company’s trading or any information which is or may be in the nature of a trade secret or secret process which may relate to the conduct of the business of the Company and which in the opinion of the Board would not be in the interests of the Shareholders to communicate to the public.
153.
Subject to due compliance with the relevant laws, rules and regulations applicable to the Company, the Board shall be entitled to release or disclose any information in its possession, custody or control regarding the Company or its affairs to any of its Shareholders including, without limitation, information contained in the Register and transfer books of the Company.
INDEMNITY
154.
Every Director (including for the purposes of this Article any alternate Director appointed pursuant to the provisions of these Articles), Secretary, assistant Secretary, or other officer for the time being and from time to time of the Company (but not including the Company’s auditors) and the personal representatives of the same (each an “Indemnified Person”) shall be indemnified and secured harmless against all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by such Indemnified Person, other than by reason of such Indemnified Person’s own dishonesty, willful default or fraud, in or about the conduct of the Company’s business or affairs (including as a result of any mistake of judgment) or in the execution or discharge of his duties, powers, authorities or discretions, including without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, any costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by such Indemnified Person in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil proceedings concerning the Company or its affairs in any court whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere.
155.
No Indemnified Person shall be liable:
(a)
for the acts, receipts, neglects, defaults or omissions of any other Director or officer or agent of the Company; or
(b)
for any loss on account of defect of title to any property of the Company; or
(c)
on account of the insufficiency of any security in or upon which any money of the Company shall be invested; or
(d)
for any loss incurred through any bank, broker or other similar Person; or
(e)
for any loss occasioned by any negligence, default, breach of duty, breach of trust, error of judgement or oversight on such Indemnified Person’s part; or
(f)
for any loss, damage or misfortune whatsoever which may happen in or arise from the execution or discharge of the duties, powers, authorities, or discretions of such Indemnified Person’s office or in relation thereto;
unless the same shall happen through such Indemnified Person’s own dishonesty, willful default or fraud.
FINANCIAL YEAR
156.
Unless the Directors otherwise prescribe, the financial year of the Company shall end on December 31st in each calendar year and shall begin on January 1st in each calendar year.
NON-RECOGNITION OF TRUSTS
157.
No Person shall be recognized by the Company as holding any Share upon any trust (other than any trust recognized as a Co-Founder Affiliate) and the Company shall not, unless required by law, be bound by or be compelled in any way to recognize (even when having notice thereof) any equitable, contingent,
 
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future or partial interest in any Share or (except only as otherwise provided by these Articles or as the Companies Act requires) any other right in respect of any Share except an absolute right to the entirety thereof in each Shareholder registered in the Register.
WINDING UP
158.
If the Company shall be wound up the liquidator may, with the sanction of a Special Resolution of the Company and any other sanction required by the Companies Act, divide amongst the Shareholders in species or in kind the whole or any part of the assets of the Company (whether they shall consist of property of the same kind or not) and may for that purpose value any assets and subject to Article 159, determine how the division shall be carried out as between the Shareholders or different classes of Shareholders. The liquidator may, with the like sanction, vest the whole or any part of such assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the Shareholders as the liquidator, with the like sanction, shall think fit, but so that no Shareholder shall be compelled to accept any asset upon which there is a liability.
159.
If the Company shall be wound up, and the assets available for distribution amongst the Shareholders shall be insufficient to repay the whole of the share capital, such assets shall be distributed so that, as nearly as may be, the losses shall be borne by the Shareholders in proportion to the par value of the Shares held by them. If in a winding up the assets available for distribution amongst the Shareholders shall be more than sufficient to repay the whole of the share capital at the commencement of the winding up, the surplus shall be distributed amongst the Shareholders in proportion to the par value of the Shares held by them at the commencement of the winding up subject to a deduction from those Shares in respect of which there are monies due, of all monies payable to the Company for unpaid calls or otherwise. This Article is without prejudice to the rights of the holders of Shares issued upon special terms and conditions.
AMENDMENT OF MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
160.
Subject to the Companies Act, the Company may at any time and from time to time by Special Resolution alter or amend the Memorandum of Association or these Articles in whole or in part.
CLOSING OF REGISTER OR FIXING RECORD DATE
161.
For the purpose of determining those Shareholders that are entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at any meeting of Shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or those Shareholders that are entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or in order to make a determination as to who is a Shareholder for any other purpose, the Directors may provide that the Register shall be closed for transfers for a stated period which shall not exceed in any case thirty (30) calendar days in any calendar year.
162.
In lieu of or apart from closing the Register, the Directors may fix in advance a date as the record date for any such determination of those Shareholders that are entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at a meeting of the Shareholders and for the purpose of determining those Shareholders that are entitled to receive payment of any dividend the Directors may, at or within ninety (90) calendar days prior to the date of declaration of such dividend, fix a subsequent date as the record date for such determination.
163.
If the Register is not so closed and no record date is fixed for the determination of those Shareholders entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at a meeting of Shareholders or those Shareholders that are entitled to receive payment of a dividend, the date on which notice of the meeting is posted or the date on which the resolution of the Directors declaring such dividend is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of Shareholders. When a determination of those Shareholders that are entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at a meeting of Shareholders has been made as provided in this Article, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof.
REGISTRATION BY WAY OF CONTINUATION
164.
The Company may by Special Resolution resolve to be registered by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands or such other jurisdiction in which it is for the time being incorporated,
 
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registered or existing. In furtherance of a resolution adopted pursuant to this Article, the Directors may cause an application to be made to the Registrar of Companies to deregister the Company in the Cayman Islands or such other jurisdiction in which it is for the time being incorporated, registered or existing and may cause all such further steps as they consider appropriate to be taken to effect the transfer by way of continuation of the Company.
DISCLOSURE
165.
The Directors, or any service providers (including the officers, the Secretary and the registered office provider of the Company) specifically authorized by the Directors, shall be entitled to disclose to any regulatory or judicial authority or to any stock exchange on which securities of the Company may from time to time be listed any information regarding the affairs of the Company including without limitation information contained in the Register and books of the Company.
MERGERS AND CONSOLIDATION
166.
The Company shall have the power to merge or consolidate with one or more other constituent companies (as defined in the Companies Act) upon such terms as the Directors may determine and (to the extent required by the Companies Act) with the approval of a Special Resolution.
EXCLUSIVE FORUM
167.
Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the courts of the Cayman Islands shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear, settle and/or determine any dispute, controversy or claim (including any non-contractual dispute, controversy or claim) whether arising out of or in connection with these Articles or otherwise, including any questions regarding their existence, validity, formation or termination. For the avoidance of doubt and without limiting the jurisdiction of the Cayman Courts to hear, settle and/or determine disputes related to the Company, the courts of the Cayman Islands shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any Director, officer, or other employee of the Company to the Company or the Shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Companies Act or these Articles including but not limited to any purchase or acquisition of Shares, security, or guarantee provided in consideration thereof, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Company which if brought in the United States of America would be a claim arising under the internal affairs doctrine (as such concept is recognized under the laws of the United States from time to time).
168.
Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (or, if the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York lacks subject matter jurisdiction over a particular dispute, the state courts in New York County, New York) shall be the exclusive forum within the United States for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising out of or relating in any way to the federal securities laws of the United States, regardless of whether such legal suit, action, or proceeding also involves parties other than the Company. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any Share or other securities in the Company, or purchasing or otherwise acquiring depositary shares representing the Company’s Shares issued pursuant to relevant deposit agreements, shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article and Article 167 above. Without prejudice to the foregoing, if any part of this Article and Article 167 is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under applicable law, the legality, validity or enforceability of the rest of these Articles shall not be affected and this Article and Article 167 shall be interpreted and construed to the maximum extent possible to apply in the relevant jurisdiction with whatever modification or deletion may be necessary so as best to give effect to the intention of the Company.
 
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Annex C
Form of First Plan of Merger
The Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands
Plan of Merger
THIS PLAN OF MERGER (the “Plan of Merger”) is made on [•].
BETWEEN
(1)
COVA Acquisition Corp., an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, with its registered office situated at the offices of Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands (the “Surviving Company”); and
(2)
Ecarx Temp Limited, an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, with its registered office situated at the offices of Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands (the “Merging Company”).
WHEREAS
(a)
The Merging Company and the Surviving Company are entering into this Plan of Merger pursuant to the provisions of Part XVI of the Companies Act (As Revised) (the “Companies Act”).
(b)
The sole director of the Merging Company and the directors of the Surviving Company deem it desirable and in the commercial interests of the Merging Company and the Surviving Company, respectively, that the Merging Company be merged with and into the Surviving Company and that the undertaking, property and liabilities of the Merging Company vest in the Surviving Company (the “Merger”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the agreement and plan of merger dated [•] between ECARX Holdings Inc., Ecarx&Co Limited, the Surviving Company and the Merging Company (the “Agreement”) and this Plan of Merger and pursuant to provisions of the Companies Act.
(c)
The sole shareholder of the Merging Company and the shareholders of the Surviving Company have authorized this Plan of Merger pursuant to the Companies Act.
NOW THEREFORE THIS PLAN OF MERGER PROVIDES AS FOLLOWS:
1.
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
1.1.
Terms not otherwise defined in this Plan of Merger shall have the meanings given to them in the Agreement, a copy of which is annexed at Annexure 1 hereto.
2.
CONSTITUENT COMPANIES
2.1.
The constituent companies (as defined in the Companies Act) to this Merger are the Surviving Company and the Merging Company (together the “Constituent Companies” and each a “Constituent Company”).
3.
THE SURVIVING COMPANY
3.1.
The surviving company (as defined in the Companies Act) is the Surviving Company.
4.
RIGISTERED OFFICE
4.1.
The registered office of the Surviving Company is c/o Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands and the registered office of the Merging Company is c/o Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands.
 
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5.
AUTHORISED AND ISSUED SHARE CAPITAL
5.1.
Immediately prior to the Effective Date (as defined below), the authorised share capital of the Surviving Company is US$55,500 divided into 500,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each (“Class A Ordinary Shares”), 50,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each (“Class B Ordinary Shares”) and 5,000,000 preference shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each (“Preference Shares”), of which [•] Class A Ordinary Shares and [•] Class B Ordinary Shares have been issued and fully paid and no Preference Shares have been issued.
5.2.
Immediately prior to the Effective Date, the authorised share capital of the Merging Company is US$50,000 divided into 10,000,000,000 shares of a par value of US$0.000005 each, of which 1 share has been issued and fully paid.
5.3.
From the Effective Date, the authorised share capital of the Surviving Company shall be US$50,000 divided into 10,000,000,000 shares of a par value of US$0.000005 each.
6.
EFFECTIVE DATE
6.1.
The date on which it is intended that the Merger is to take effect is the date that this Plan of Merger is registered by the Registrar of the Companies in accordance with section 233(13) of the Companies Act or at such later time permitted by the Companies Act as may be agreed by the Constituent Companies in writing (the “Effective Date”).
7.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS; SHARE RIGHTS
7.1.
The terms and conditions of the Merger, including the manner and basis of converting shares in each Constituent Company into shares in the Surviving Company or into other property, are set out in the Agreement, in particular it is noted that at the Effective Date:
7.1.1.
immediately prior to the Effective Date, each SPAC Class B Ordinary Share (after giving effect to the Sponsor Shares Forfeiture) shall be automatically converted into one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share in accordance with the terms of the SPAC Charter (such automatic conversion, the “SPAC Class B Conversion”) and each SPAC Class B Ordinary Share shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled, and each former holder of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares shall thereafter cease to have any rights with respect to such shares;
7.1.2.
on the Effective Date, each SPAC Unit outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Date shall be automatically detached and the holder thereof shall be deemed to hold one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share and one-half of a SPAC Warrant in accordance with the terms of the applicable SPAC Unit (the “Unit Separation”), which underlying SPAC Securities shall be adjusted in accordance with the applicable terms of Section 2.3 of the Agreement; provided that no fractional SPAC Warrant will be issued in connection with the Unit Separation such that if a holder of SPAC Units would be entitled to receive a fractional SPAC Warrant upon the Unit Separation, the number of SPAC Warrants to be issued to such holder upon the Unit Separation shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number of SPAC Warrants;
7.1.3.
immediately following the separation of each SPAC Unit, each SPAC Class A Ordinary Share (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares (A) issued in connection with the SPAC Class B Conversion and (B) held as a result of the Unit Separation) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Date (other than any SPAC Shares referred to in paragraph 7.1.5, Redeeming SPAC Shares and Dissenting SPAC Shares) shall automatically be cancelled and cease to exist in exchange for the right to receive one newly issued, fully paid and non-assessable Company Class A Ordinary Share. As of the Effective Date, each SPAC Shareholder shall cease to have any other rights in and to such SPAC Shares, except as expressly provided herein;
7.1.4.
each SPAC Warrant (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes the SPAC Warrants held as a result of the Unit Separation) outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Date shall
 
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cease to be a warrant with respect to SPAC Ordinary Shares and be assumed by the Company and converted into a warrant to purchase one Company Class A Ordinary Share (each, a “Company Warrant”). Each Company Warrant shall continue to have and be subject to substantially the same terms and conditions as were applicable to such SPAC Warrant immediately prior to the Effective Date (including any repurchase rights and cashless exercise provisions) in accordance with the provisions of the Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement;
7.1.5.
if there are any SPAC Shares that are owned by SPAC as treasury shares or any SPAC Shares owned by any direct or indirect Subsidiary of SPAC immediately prior to the Effective Date, such SPAC Shares shall be cancelled and shall cease to exist without any conversion thereof or payment or other consideration therefor;
7.1.6.
each Redeeming SPAC Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Date shall automatically be cancelled and cease to exist and shall thereafter represent only the right to be paid a pro rata share of the SPAC Shareholder Redemption Amount in accordance with SPAC’s Charter;
7.1.7.
each Dissenting SPAC Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Date held by a Dissenting SPAC Shareholder shall automatically be cancelled and cease to exist in accordance with Section 2.7(a) of the Agreement and shall thereafter represent only the right to be paid the fair value of such Dissenting SPAC Share and such other rights as are granted by the Companies Act; and
7.1.8.
each ordinary share, par value US$0.000005 per share, of the Merging Company, issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Date shall continue existing and constitute the only issued and outstanding share in the capital of Surviving Company.
7.2.
The rights and restrictions attaching to the shares in the Surviving Company are set out in the Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Surviving Company in the form annexed at Annexure 2 hereto.
7.3.
The Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Surviving Company shall be amended and restated by the deletion in their entirety and the substitution in their place of the Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association in the form annexed at Annexure 2 hereto on the Effective Date.
8.
PROPERTY
8.1.
On the Effective Date, the rights, property of every description including choses in action, and the business, undertaking, goodwill, benefits, immunities and privileges of each of the Constituent Companies shall immediately vest in the Surviving Company which shall be liable for and subject, in the same manner as the Constituent Companies, to all mortgages, charges, or security interests and all contracts, obligations, claims, debts and liabilities of each of the Constituent Companies.
9.
DIRECTORS BENEFITS
9.1.
There are no amounts or benefits which are or shall be paid or payable to any director or manager of either Constituent Company upon the Merger becoming effective.
10.
SECURITY INTERESTS
10.1.
The Merging Company has granted no fixed or floating security interests that are outstanding as of the date of this Plan of Merger.
10.2.
The Surviving Company has granted no fixed or floating security interests that are outstanding as of the date of this Plan of Merger.
11.
DIRECTORS OF THE SURVIVING COMPANY
11.1.
The name and address of the sole director of the Surviving Company are:
 
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11.1.1.
SHEN Ziyu of Room 503, No. 12, Lane 800, Zunyi Road, Changning District, Shanghai, China.
12.
APPROVAL AND AUTHORISATION
12.1.
This Plan of Merger has been approved by the sole director of the Merging Company and the board of directors of the Surviving Company pursuant to section 233(3) of the Companies Act.
12.2.
This Plan of Merger has been authorised by the sole shareholder of the Merging Company and the shareholders of the Surviving Company pursuant to section 233(6) of the Companies Act.
13.
AMENDMENTS AND RIGHT OF TERMINATION
13.1.
At any time prior to the Effective Date, this Plan of Merger may be:
13.1.1.
terminated by the board of directors of either the Surviving Company or the Merging Company, provided that such termination is in accordance with Article IX of the Agreement;
13.1.2.
amended by the directors of both the Surviving Company and the Merging Company to:
13.1.2.1.
change the name of the Surviving Company;
13.1.2.2.
change the Effective Date provided that such changed date shall not be a date later than the ninetieth day after the date of registration of this Plan of Merger with the Registrar of Companies; and
13.1.2.3.
effect any other changes to this Plan of Merger required to give effect to any amendment to the Agreement made in accordance with Section 10.12 of the Agreement.
14.
COUNTERPARTS
14.1.
This Plan of Merger may be executed by facsimile and in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
15.
GOVERNING LAW
15.1.
This Plan of Merger shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Cayman Islands.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]
 
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In witness whereof the parties hereto have caused this Plan of Merger to be executed on the day and year first above written.
SIGNED by:
)
Duly authorised for and on behalf of )
COVA Acquisition Corp.
) 
 
) Name:
) Title: Director
 
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SIGNED by:
)
Duly authorised for and on behalf of )
Ecarx Temp Limited
) 
 
) Name:
) Title: Director
 
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Annexure 1
Agreement and Plan of Merger
 
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Annexure 2
Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association
 
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 20.   Indemnification of Directors and Officers
The laws of the Cayman Islands do not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against willful default, willful neglect, civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime.
The Amended ECARX Articles provides that every director (including alternate director), secretary, assistant secretary, or other officer for the time being and from time to time of the Company (but not including the Company’s auditors) and the personal representatives of the same (each an “Indemnified Person”) shall be indemnified and secured harmless against all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by such Indemnified Person, other than by reason of such Indemnified Person’s own dishonesty, willful default or fraud, in or about the conduct of the Company’s business or affairs (including as a result of any mistake of judgment) or in the execution or discharge of his duties, powers, authorities or discretions, including without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, any costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by such Indemnified Person in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil proceedings concerning the Company or its affairs in any court whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere.
We have and will also be entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers under the laws of the Cayman Islands, pursuant to which we have agreed to indemnify each such person and hold him harmless against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts payable under settlement agreements in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding to which he has been made a party or in which he became involved by reason of the fact that he is or was our director or officer. Except with respect to expenses to be reimbursed by us in the event that the indemnified person has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of the action, suit or proceeding, our obligations under the indemnification agreements are subject to certain customary restrictions and exceptions.
In addition, we maintain standard policies of insurance under which coverage is provided to our directors and officers against loss rising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act, and to us with respect to payments which may be made by us to such directors and officers pursuant to the above indemnification provision or otherwise as a matter of law.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is theretofore unenforceable.
Item 21.   Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
Exhibit
Number
Description
2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 26, 2022, by and among COVA Acquisition Corp., ECARX Holdings Inc., Ecarx Temp Limited, and Ecarx&Co Limited (included as Annex A to the proxy statement/prospectus).
3.1# Sixth Memorandum of Association of ECARX Holdings Inc. in effect prior to completion of the Business Combination.
3.2 Seventh Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of ECARX Holdings Inc. (to be effective upon completion of the Business Combination) (included as Annex B to the proxy statement/prospectus).
 
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Exhibit
Number
Description
3.3 Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of COVA Acquisition Corp.
4.1 Specimen Unit Certificate of COVA Acquisition Corp.
4.2 Specimen Class A Ordinary Share Certificate of COVA Acquisition Corp.
4.3 Specimen Warrant Certificate of COVA Acquisition Corp.
4.4 Warrant Agreement, dated February 4, 2021, between COVA Acquisition Corp. and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
4.5* Specimen Ordinary Share Certificate of ECARX Holdings Inc.
4.6 Specimen Warrant Certificate of ECARX Holdings Inc.
4.7 Form of Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement by and among COVA Acquisition Corp., ECARX Holdings Inc., and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
4.8 Registration and Shareholder Rights Agreement dated February 4, 2021, by and among COVA Acquisition Corp., COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC and certain shareholders of COVA Acquisition Corp.
4.9 Form of Registration Rights Agreement by and among ECARX Holdings Inc., COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC and certain shareholders of ECARX Holdings Inc.
5.1# Opinion of Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP as to validity of ordinary shares of ECARX Holdings Inc.
5.2* Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP as to the warrants of ECARX Holdings Inc.
10.1 Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated February 4, 2021, by and between Continental Stock & Trust Company and COVA Acquisition Corp.
10.2 Administrative Services Agreement, dated February 4, 2021 by and between COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC and COVA Acquisition Corp.
10.3 Letter Agreement, dated February 4, 2021, among COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC, COVA Acquisition Corp. and officers and directors of COVA Acquisition Corp.
10.4 Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement between COVA Acquisition Corp. and COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC.
10.5 Promissory Note between COVA Acquisition Corp. and COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC, dated May 26, 2022.
10.6 Strategic Investment Agreement, dated May 26, 2022 by and between ECARX Holdings Inc. and Luminar Technologies, Inc.
10.7 Strategic Investment Agreement, dated May 26, 2022 by and between ECARX Holdings Inc. and Geely Investment Holding Ltd.
10.8 Sponsor Support Agreement and Deed, dated May 26, 2022 by and among ECARX Holdings Inc., COVA Acquisition Corp., COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC and other parties named therein.
10.9 ECARX Shareholder Support Agreement and Deed, dated May 26, 2022, by and among ECARX Holdings Inc., COVA Acquisition Corp., and other parties named therein.
10.10†† ECARX Holdings Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan.
10.11†† ECARX Holdings Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.
10.12 Form of Indemnification Agreement between ECARX Holdings Inc. and its directors and executive officers.
10.13† English Translation of Working Capital Loan Contract, dated April 22, 2021, by and between Industrial Bank Co., Ltd. Wuhan Branch and Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd.
 
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Exhibit
Number
Description
10.14# English Translation of Credit Facility Agreement, dated July 7, 2020, by and between China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., Wuhan Branch and Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd.
10.15#† English Translation of Credit Facility Agreement, dated February 1, 2021, by and between China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., Wuhan Branch and Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd.
10.16# English Translation of Termination Agreement of Current Control Documents dated April 8, 2022, by and between ECARX (Wuhan) Technology Co., Ltd. and Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd.
10.17# English Translation of Restructuring Framework Agreement, dated April 8, 2022, by and between ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co., Ltd. and Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd.
10.18 English Translation of Supplemental Agreement to the Restructuring Framework Agreement, dated May 13, 2022, by and between ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co., Ltd. and Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd.
10.19# Master Commercialization Agreement, dated September 14, 2021, by and between Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd. (referred to as ECARX (Hubei) Technology Co., Ltd.) and HaleyTek AB (previously known as Volvo Car Services 10 AB)
10.20 Transfer Agreement of Rights and Obligations, dated March 1, 2022, by and among Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd, HaleyTek AB (previously known as Volvo Car Services 10 AB) and ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co., Ltd.
10.21 English Translation of Working Capital Loan Contract, dated June 28, 2022, by and between Industrial Bank Co., Ltd. Wuhan Branch and ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co., Ltd., as amended on June 29, 2022.
21.1 List of subsidiaries of ECARX Holdings Inc.
23.1 Consent of WithumSmith+Brown, PC, independent registered accounting firm for COVA Acquisition Corp.
23.2 Consent of KPMG Huazhen LLP, independent registered accounting firm for ECARX Holdings Inc.
23.3 Consent of Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.4* Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2).
23.5 Consent of Han Kun Law Offices.
23.6 Consent of Frost & Sullivan.
24.1 Power of Attorney (included on signature page to the initial filing of the Registration Statement).
99.1 Form of Proxy Card.
99.2 Consent of Jun Hong Heng to be named as a director.
107 Filing Fee Table
*
To be filed by amendment.
#
Schedules and certain portions of the exhibits omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of such schedules, or any section thereof, to the SEC upon request.

Certain portions of this exhibit have been redacted pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iv) of Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish supplementally an unredacted copy of the exhibit to the SEC upon its request.
††
Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan.
Item 22.   Undertakings
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
 
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i.
To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
ii.
To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.
iii.
To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.
(2)
That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3)
To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4)
To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering.
(5)
That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
i.
any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
ii.
any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
iii.
the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
iv.
any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes as follows: that prior to any public reoffering of the securities registered hereunder through use of a prospectus which is a part of this registration statement, by any person or party who is deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Rule 145(c), the issuer undertakes that such reoffering prospectus shall contain the information called for by the applicable registration form with respect to reofferings by persons who may be deemed underwriters, in addition to the information called for by the other items of the applicable form.
The registrant undertakes that every prospectus: (a) that is filed pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph, or (b) that purports to meet the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the Act and is used in connection with an offering of securities subject to Rule 415, shall be filed as a part of an amendment to the
 
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registration statement and shall not be used until such amendment is effective, and that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and shall be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to respond to requests for information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to Item 4, 10(b), 11, or 13 of this form, within one business day of receipt of such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or other equally prompt means. This includes information contained in documents filed subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through the date of responding to the request.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supply by means of a post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and included in the registration statement when it became effective.
 
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement on Form F-4 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in London, United Kingdom, on October 11, 2022.
ECARX Holdings Inc.
By:
/s/ Ziyu Shen
Name: Ziyu Shen
Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Ziyu Shen as an attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution for him or her in any and all capacities to do any and all acts and all things and to execute any and all instruments that said attorney and agent may deem necessary or desirable to enable the registrant to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of ordinary shares of the registrant (the “Shares”), including, without limitation, the power and authority to sign the name of each of the undersigned in the capacities indicated below to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to such Shares, to any and all amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement, whether such amendments or supplements are filed before or after the effective date of such Registration Statement, to any related Registration Statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, and to any and all instruments or documents filed as part of or in connection with such Registration Statement or any and all amendments thereto, whether such amendments are filed before or after the effective date of such Registration Statement; and each of the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that such attorney and agent will do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Ziyu Shen
Ziyu Shen
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
October 11, 2022
/s/ Zhenyu Li
Zhenyu Li
Director
October 11, 2022
/s/ Ni Li
Ni Li
Director
October 11, 2022
/s/ Zhenkun Wang
Zhenkun Wang
Director
October 11, 2022
/s/ Xiaohong Zhou
Xiaohong Zhou
Director
October 11, 2022
/s/ Xingsheng Zhang
Xingsheng Zhang
Independent Director
October 11, 2022
/s/ Grace Hui Tang
Grace Hui Tang
Independent Director
October 11, 2022
/s/ Ramesh Narasimhan
Ramesh Narasimhan
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
October 11, 2022
 
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, solely in his capacity as the duly authorized representative of ECARX Holdings Inc., has signed this registration statement in the City of New York, State of New York, on October 11, 2022.
By:
/s/ Colleen A. De Vries
Name: Colleen A. De Vries
Title: Senior Vice-President
 
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Exhibit 3.1

 

THE COMPANIES ACT (AS AMENDED) 

OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS 

COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES 

 

SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATED MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION

 

OF

 

ECARX HOLDINGS INC.

 

(adopted by Special Resolution on December 27, 2021)

 

1The name of the Company is ECARX Holdings Inc.

 

2The registered office of the Company shall be at Harneys Fiduciary (Cayman) Limited, 4th Floor, Harbour Place, 103 South Church Street, P.O. Box 10240, Grand Cayman KY1-1002, Cayman Island, or at such other place as the Directors may determine.

 

3The objects for which the Company is established are unrestricted and the Company shall have full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by the Companies Act (as amended) or as the same may be revised from time to time, or any other law of the Cayman Islands.

 

4The liability of each Shareholder is limited to the amount from time to time unpaid on such Shareholder’s shares.

 

5The Company has power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate limited by shares under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands.

 

6Capitalised terms that are not defined in this Memorandum of Association bear the same meaning as those given in the Articles of Association of the Company.

 

7The authorised share capital of the Company is US$50,000 divided into 10,000,000,000 shares of par value US$0.000005 each, of which (i) 9,923,950,082 shares are designated as Ordinary Shares, (ii) 5,043,104 shares are designated as Series Angel Preferred Shares, (iii) 24,464,286 shares are designated as Series A Preferred Shares, (iv) 24,612,081 shares are designated as Series A+ Preferred Shares, (v) 7,164,480 shares are designated as Series A++ Preferred Shares, and (vi) 14,765,967 shares are designated as Series B Preferred Shares.

 

     
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Auth Code: F61896501344

 

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THE COMPANIES ACT (AS AMENDED)

 

OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

 

COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES

 

SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

 

OF

 

ECARX HOLDINGS INC.

 

(adopted by Special Resolution on December 27, 2021)

 

INTERPRETATION

 

1In these Articles Table A in the First Schedule to the Statute does not apply and, unless there is something in the subject or context inconsistent therewith; capitalised terms that are not defined in the main body of these Articles bear the same meaning as those given in the Schedule A attached to the main body of these Articles:

 

Articles means these articles of association of the Company (including Schedule A attached hereto), as amended from time to time.
   
Auditor means the person for the time being performing the duties of auditor of the Company (if any).
   
Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in the PRC are required or authorized by law or executive order to be closed.
   
Company means the above named company.
   
Directors means the directors for the time being of the Company.
   
Memorandum means the memorandum of association of the Company, as amended from time to time.
   
Memorandum and Articles means the Memorandum and these Articles.
   
Person shall be construed as broadly as possible and shall include an individual, a partnership (including a limited liability partnership), a proprietorship, a company, an association, a joint stock company, a limited liability company, a trust, firm, a joint venture, a legal person, an unincorporated organization, a governmental authority, estate or other enterprise or entity.

 

     
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Seal means the common seal of the Company and includes every duplicate seal.
   
Series A Preferred Shares means the Company’s series A preferred shares, par value US$0.000005 each.
   
Series A+ Preferred Shares means the Company’s series A+ preferred shares, par value US$0.000005 each.
   
Series A++ Preferred Shares means the Company’s series A++ preferred shares, par value US$0.000005 each.
   
Series Angel Preferred Shares means the Company’s series angel preferred shares, par value US$0.000005 each.
   
Series B Preferred Shares means the Company’s series B preferred shares, par value US$0.000005 each.
   
Shareholder means a Person whose name is entered in the register of members as the holder of one or more Shares or fractional Shares.
   
Share” and “Shares means a share or shares in the Company and includes a fraction of a share, including the Ordinary Shares and the Preferred Shares.
   
Special Resolution has the same meaning as in the Statute, and includes a unanimous written resolution.
   
Statute means the Companies Act (as amended) of the Cayman Islands.

 

2       In the Articles:

 

2.1words importing the singular number include the plural number and vice versa;

 

2.2words importing the masculine gender include the feminine gender;

 

2.3words importing persons include corporations;

 

2.4“written” and “in writing” include all modes of representing or reproducing words in visible form, including in the form of an electronic record;

 

2.5references to provisions of any law or regulation shall be construed as references to those provisions as amended, modified, re-enacted or replaced from time to time;

 

2.6any phrase introduced by the terms “including”, “include”, “in particular” or any similar expression shall be construed as illustrative and shall not limit the sense of the words preceding those terms;

 

     
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2.7headings are inserted for reference only and shall be ignored in construing these Articles; and

 

2.8in these Articles Section 8 of the Electronic Transactions Act (2003 Revision) shall not apply.

 

PRIORITY OF THE PROVISIONS SET OUT IN THE SCHEDULE

 

3All provisions set out in the main body of these Articles shall be read in conjunction with and shall be subject to the terms set out in Schedule A attached hereto, which provide further details on the rights of holders of preferred shares. In the event of any difference between the provisions set out in the main body of these Articles and the provisions set out in Schedule A, the provisions set out in Schedule A shall prevail.

 

COMMENCEMENT OF BUSINESS

 

4The business of the Company may be commenced as soon after incorporation as the Directors shall see fit.

 

5The Directors may pay, out of the capital or any other monies of the Company, all expenses incurred in or about the formation and establishment of the Company, including the expenses of registration.

 

ISSUE OF SHARES

 

6Subject to the other provisions in the Memorandum and Articles (and to any direction that may be given by the Company in general meeting) and the Investors Rights Agreement and without prejudice to any rights attached to any existing Shares, the Directors may allot, issue, grant options over or otherwise dispose of Shares (including fractions of a Share) with or without preferred, deferred or other rights or restrictions, whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise and to such persons, at such times and on such other terms as they think proper.

 

7       The Company shall not issue Shares to bearer.

 

REGISTER OF SHAREHOLDERS

 

8The Company shall maintain or cause to be maintained the register of members in accordance with the Statute.

 

CLOSING REGISTER OF MEMBERS OR FIXING RECORD DATE

 

9For the purpose of determining Shareholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at any meeting of Shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or Shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or in order to make a determination of Shareholders for any other purpose, the Directors may provide that the register of members shall be closed for transfers for a stated period which shall not in any case exceed forty (40) days. If the register of members shall be closed for the purpose of determining Shareholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, a meeting of Shareholders the register of members shall be closed for at least ten days immediately preceding the meeting and the record date for such determination shall be the date of the closure of the register of Members.

 

     
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10In lieu of, or apart from, closing the register of members, the Directors may fix in advance a date as the record date for any such determination of Shareholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at any meeting of the Shareholders, and for the purpose of determining the Shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend, the Directors may, at or within 90 days prior to the date of declaration of such dividend, fix a subsequent date as the record date for such determination.

 

11If the register of members is not so closed and no record date is fixed for the determination of Shareholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, a meeting of Shareholders or Shareholders entitled to receive payment of a dividend, the date on which notice of the meeting is sent or the date on which the resolution of the Directors declaring such dividend is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of Shareholders. When a determination of Shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of Shareholders has been made as provided in this Article, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof.

 

CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES

 

12Share certificates representing Shares, if any, shall be in such form as the Directors may determine. Share certificates shall be signed by one or more Directors or other person authorised by the Directors. The Directors may authorise certificates to be issued with the authorised signature(s) affixed by mechanical process. All certificates for Shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified and shall specify the Shares to which they relate. All certificates surrendered to the Company for transfer shall be cancelled and subject to these Articles, no new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate representing a like number of relevant Shares shall have been surrendered and cancelled.

 

13The Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for Shares held jointly by more than one person and delivery of a certificate to one joint holder shall be a sufficient delivery to all of them. Any Shareholder receiving a share certificate shall indemnify and hold the Company and its Directors and officers harmless from any loss or liability which it or they may incur by reason of any wrongful or fraudulent use or representation made by any person by virtue of the possession thereof.

 

14If a share certificate is defaced, worn out, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on such terms (if any) as to evidence and indemnity and on the payment of such expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating evidence, as the Directors may prescribe, and (in the case of defacement or wearing out) upon delivery of the old certificate.

 

REDEMPTION, REPURCHASE AND SURRENDER OF SHARES

 

15Subject to the Statute and the other provisions in the Memorandum and Articles and the Investors Rights Agreement, the Company may issue Shares that are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Shareholder or the Company. The redemption of such Shares shall be effected in such manner as the Company may determine before the issue of the Shares or as set forth in the Articles.

 

16Subject to the Statute and other provisions in the Memorandum and Articles and the Investors Rights Agreement, the Company may purchase its own Shares (including any redeemable Shares) and permit the surrender of fully paid Shares for no consideration.

 

     
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17The Company may make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own Shares in any manner permitted by the Statute, including out of capital.

 

VARIATION OF RIGHTS OF SHARES

 

18The provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings shall apply, to the extent applicable, mutatis mutandis, to every class meeting of the holders of one class of Shares except that the necessary quorum shall be one or more Persons holding or representing by proxy at least two thirds of the issued Shares of the class.

 

19Subject to these Articles (including Schedule A), if at any time the share capital is divided into different classes of Shares, the rights attaching to any class (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class) may, whether or not the Company is being wound up, be varied or abrogated with the consent in writing of the holders of two-thirds of the issued shares of that class, or with the sanction of a resolution passed by at least a two-thirds majority of the holders of Shares of the class present in person or by proxy at a separate general meeting of the holders of the Shares of the class. Subject to these Articles (including Schedule A), the rights conferred upon the holders of the Shares of any class issued with preferred or other rights shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the Shares of that class, be deemed to be varied by (i) the creation or issue of further Shares ranking pari passu therewith, (ii) the redemption or purchase of Shares of any class or series by the Company in accordance with the Transaction Documents, or (iii) the change to the director’s appointment rights of any shareholders of the Company in accordance with the Transaction Documents.

 

COMMISSION ON SALE OF SHARES

 

20The Company may, in so far as the Statute permits, pay a commission to any person in consideration of his subscribing or agreeing to subscribe whether absolutely or conditionally for any Shares of the Company. Such commissions may be satisfied by the payment of cash and/or the issue of fully or partly paid-up Shares. The Company may also on any issue of Shares pay such brokerage as may be lawful.

 

NON RECOGNITION OF TRUSTS

 

21The Company shall not be bound by or compelled to recognise in any way (even when notified) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any Share, or (except only as is otherwise provided by these Articles, the other Transaction Documents or the Statute) any other rights in respect of any Share other than an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the registered holder.

 

LIEN ON SHARES

 

22Unless agreed otherwise by the Company and any Shareholder, the Company shall have a first and paramount lien on all Shares (not being a fully paid-up share) registered in the name of a Shareholder (whether solely or jointly with others) for all debts, liabilities or engagements to or with the Company (whether presently payable or not) by such Shareholder or his estate, either alone or jointly with any other person, whether a Shareholder or not, but the Directors may at any time declare any Share to be wholly or in part exempt from the provisions of this Article. The registration of a transfer of any such Share shall operate as a waiver of the Company’s lien thereon. The Company’s lien on a Share shall also extend to any amount payable in respect of that Share, unless the Company expressly waives such lien thereon.

 

     
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23The Company may sell, in such manner as the Directors think fit, any Shares on which the Company has a lien, if a sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable, and is not paid within fourteen (14) calendar days after notice has been given to the holder of the Shares, or to the person entitled to it in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of the holder, demanding payment and stating that if the notice is not complied with the Shares may be sold.

 

24To give effect to any such sale the Directors may authorise any person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares sold to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The purchaser or his nominee shall be registered as the holder of the Shares comprised in any such transfer, and he shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the sale or the exercise of the Company’s power of sale under these Articles.

 

25The net proceeds of such sale after payment of costs, shall be applied in payment of such part of the amount in respect of which the lien exists as is presently payable and any residue shall (subject to a like lien for sums not presently payable as existed upon the Shares before the sale) be paid to the person entitled to the Shares at the date of the sale.

 

CALL ON SHARES

 

26Subject to the terms of the allotment and any agreement between the Company and the Shareholders, the Directors may make calls upon the Shareholders in respect of any monies unpaid on their Shares (whether in respect of par value or premium), and each Shareholder shall (subject to receiving at least fourteen (14) days notice specifying the time or times of payment) pay to the Company at the time or times so specified the amount called on the Shares. A call may be revoked or postponed as Directors may determine. A call may be required to be paid by instalments. A person upon whom a call is made shall remain liable for calls made upon him notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the Shares in respect of which the call was made.

 

27The joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect thereof.

 

FORFEITURE OF SHARES

 

28If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the Directors may give to the person from whom it is due not less than fourteen (14) calendar days notice requiring payment of the amount unpaid together with any interest, which may have accrued. The notice shall specify where payment is to be made and shall state that if the notice is not complied with the Shares in respect of which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited.

 

     
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29If the notice is not complied with any Share in respect of which it was given may, before the payment required by the notice has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Directors. Such forfeiture shall include all dividends or other monies declared payable in respect of the forfeited Share and not paid before the forfeiture.

 

30A forfeited Share may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the Directors think fit and at any time before a sale, re-allotment or disposition the forfeiture may be cancelled on such terms as the Directors think fit. Where for the purposes of its disposal a forfeited Share is to be transferred to any person the Directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Share in favour of that person.

 

31A person any of whose Shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a Shareholder in respect of them and shall surrender to the Company for cancellation the certificate for the Shares forfeited and shall remain liable to pay to the Company all monies which at the date of forfeiture were payable by him to the Company in respect of those Shares together with interest at such rate as may be agreed upon between such person and the Company, but his liability shall cease if and when the Company shall have received payment in full of all monies due and payable by him in respect of those Shares.

 

32A certificate in writing under the hand of one Director or officer of the Company that a Share has been forfeited on a specified date shall be conclusive evidence of the fact as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the Share. The certificate shall (subject to the execution of an instrument of transfer) constitute a good title to the Share and the person to whom the Share is disposed of shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, if any, nor shall his title to the Share be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the forfeiture, sale or disposal of the Share.

 

33The provisions of these Articles as to forfeiture shall apply in the case of non payment of any sum which, by the terms of issue of a Share, becomes payable at a fixed time, whether on account of the par value of the Share or by way of premium as if it had been payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified.

 

TRANSFER AND TRANSMISSION OF SHARES

 

34The instrument of transfer of any Share shall be in writing and shall be executed by or on behalf of the transferor (and if the Directors so require, signed by the transferee). The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of a Share until the name of the transferee is entered in the register of members. The Directors may decline to register any transfer of Shares if such transfer of Shares does not comply with the terms of any agreement between the Company and such transferring Shareholder or the Investors Rights Agreement. If the Directors refuse to register a transfer, they shall notify the transferee of such refusal within five Business Days after receipt of a request for such transfer, providing a detailed explanation of the reason therefor.

 

35If a Shareholder dies, the survivor or survivors where he was a joint holder, and his legal personal representatives where he was a sole holder, shall be the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to his interest. The estate of a deceased Shareholder is not thereby released from any liability in respect of any Share, which had been jointly held by him.

 

     
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36Any person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution of a Shareholder (or in any other way than by transfer) may, upon such evidence being produced as may from time to time be required by the Directors, elect either to become the holder of the Share or to have some person nominated by him as the transferee. If he elects to become the holder, he shall give notice to the Company to that effect, but the Directors shall, in either case, have the same right to decline or suspend registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the Share by that Shareholder before his death or bankruptcy, as the case may be.

 

37If the person so becoming entitled shall elect to be registered himself as holder he shall deliver or send to the Company a notice in writing signed by him stating that he so elects.

 

38A person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution of the holder (or in any other case than by transfer) shall be entitled to the same dividends and other advantages to which he would be entitled if he were the registered holder of the Share. However, he shall not, before being registered as a Shareholder in respect of the Share, be entitled in respect of it to exercise any right conferred by ownership in relation to meetings of the Company and the Directors may at any time give notice requiring any such person to elect either to be registered himself or to transfer the Share. If the notice is not complied with within ninety (90) days of being received or deemed to be received as determined pursuant to the Articles, the Directors may thereafter withhold payment of all dividends, bonuses or other monies payable in respect of the Share until the requirements of the notice have been complied with.

 

REGISTERED OFFICE

 

39Subject to the Statute, the Company may by resolution of the Directors change the location of its registered office.

 

GENERAL MEETINGS

 

40All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings.

 

41The Company shall, if required by the Statute, in each year hold a general meeting as its annual general meeting, and shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it. The annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place as the Directors shall appoint. At these meetings the report of the Directors (if any) shall be presented.

 

42The Company may hold an annual general meeting, but shall not (unless required by Statute) be obliged to hold an annual general meeting.

 

43The Directors may call general meetings, and they shall on a Shareholders requisition forthwith proceed to convene an extraordinary general meeting of the Company.

 

44A Shareholders requisition is a requisition of Shareholders of the Company holding at the date of deposit of the requisition not less than, any of (i) the Ordinary Majority, (ii) the Series Angel Preferred Majority, (iii) the Series A Preferred Majority, (iv) the Series A+ Preferred Majority, (v) the Series A++ Preferred Majority, or (vi) the Series B Preferred Majority.

 

     
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45The requisition must state the objects of the meeting and must be signed by the requisitionists and deposited at the registered office, and may consist of several documents in like form each signed by one or more requisitionists.

 

46If the Directors do not within twenty-one (21) days from the date of the deposit of the requisition duly proceed to convene a general meeting to be held within a further twenty-one (21) days, the requisitionists, or any of them representing more than one-half of the total voting rights of all of them, may themselves convene a general meeting, but any meeting so convened shall not be held after the expiration of three months after the expiration of the said twenty-one (21) days.

 

47A general meeting convened as aforesaid by requisitionists shall be convened in the same manner as nearly as possible as that in which general meetings are to be convened by Directors.

 

NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS

 

48Written notice shall be given not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of any general meeting unless such notice is waived either before, at or after such meeting by (i) the Ordinary Majority, (ii) the Series Angel Preferred Majority, (iii) the Series A Preferred Majority, (iv) the Series A+ Preferred Majority, (v) the Series A++ Preferred Majority, and (vi) the Series B Preferred Majority. Every notice shall be exclusive of the day on which it is given or deemed to be given and of the day for which it is given and shall specify the place, the day and the hour of the meeting and the general nature of the business and shall be given in manner hereinafter mentioned or in such other manner if any as may be prescribed by the Company, provided that a general meeting of the Company shall, whether or not the notice specified in this regulation has been given and whether or not the provisions of the Articles regarding general meetings have been complied with, be deemed to have been duly convened if it is so agreed:

 

48.1in the case of an annual general meeting, by all the Shareholders (or their proxies) entitled to attend and vote thereat; and

 

48.2in the case of an extraordinary general meeting, by (i) the Ordinary Majority, (ii) the Series Angel Preferred Majority, (iii) the Series A Preferred Majority, (iv) Series A+ Preferred Majority, (v) the Series A++ Preferred Majority, and (vi) the Series B Preferred Majority.

 

49       Intentionally left blank.

 

PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS

 

50Subject to Section 4 of Schedule A attached hereto, no business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present. Unless otherwise provided by law or the Articles, more than 50% of the Shares entitled to vote, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of Shareholders.

 

     
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51A person may participate at a general meeting by conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all the persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other. Participation by a person in a general meeting in this manner is treated as presence in person at that meeting.

 

52A resolution (including a Special Resolution) in writing (in one or more counterparts) signed by all Shareholders for the time being entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at general meetings (or, being corporations, signed by their duly authorised representatives) shall be as valid and effective as if the resolution had been passed at a general meeting of the Company duly convened and held.

 

53Subject to Section 4 of Schedule A attached hereto and unless otherwise provided by law or these Articles, if notice of the general meeting has been duly delivered to all Shareholders ten (10) days prior to the scheduled meeting in accordance with the notice procedures provided under this Memorandum and Articles, and a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting or if during such a meeting a quorum ceases to be present, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and place or to such other day, time or such other place as the Directors may determine, with notice delivered to all Shareholders five (5) days prior to the adjourned meeting in accordance with the notice procedures provided under this Memorandum and Articles and, if at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting the Shareholders present shall be a quorum, provided that matters discussed in such adjourned meeting shall be limited to those stated in the written notices and agendas of such meeting.

 

54The chairman, if any, of the board of Directors shall preside as chairman at every general meeting of the Company, or if there is no such chairman, or if he shall not be present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for the holding of the meeting, or is unwilling to act, the Directors present shall elect one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.

 

55If no Director is willing to act as chairman or if no Director is present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, the Shareholders present shall choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.

 

56The chairman may, with the consent of a meeting at which a quorum is present, (and shall if so directed by the meeting), adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. When a general meeting is adjourned for thirty (30) days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any such notice.

 

57At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided through a poll.

 

58A poll shall be taken in such manner as the chairman of the general meeting directs and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the general meeting. In the case of an equality of votes, the chairman of the general meeting shall not be entitled to a second or casting vote, and such resolution shall fail.

 

     
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59Intentionally left blank.

 

60Intentionally left blank.

 

61Intentionally left blank.

 

VOTES OF SHAREHOLDERS

 

62Subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any Shares, every Shareholder who (being an individual) is present in person or by proxy or, if a corporation or other non-natural person is present by its duly authorised representative or proxy, every Shareholder shall have one vote for every Share of which he is the holder.

 

63In the case of joint holders of record the vote of the senior holder who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders, and seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names of the holders stand in the register of members.

 

64A Shareholder of unsound mind, or in respect of whom an order has been made by any court, having jurisdiction in lunacy, may vote, by his committee, receiver, curator bonis, or other person on such Shareholder’s behalf appointed by that court, and any such committee, receiver, curator bonis or other person may vote by proxy.

 

65No person shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting or at any separate meeting of the holders of a class of Shares unless he is registered as a Shareholder on the record date for such meeting nor unless all calls or other monies then payable by him in respect of Shares have been paid.

 

66No objection shall be raised to the qualification of any voter except at the general meeting or adjourned general meeting at which the vote objected to is given or tendered and every vote not disallowed at the meeting shall be valid. Any objection made in due time shall be referred to the chairman whose decision shall be final and conclusive.

 

67Votes may be cast either personally or by proxy.

 

68A Shareholder holding more than one Share need not cast the votes in respect of his Shares in the same way on any resolution and therefore may vote a Share or some or all such Shares either for or against a resolution and/or abstain from voting a Share or some or all of the Shares and, subject to the terms of the instrument appointing him, a proxy appointed under one or more instruments may vote a Share or some or all of the Shares in respect of which he is appointed either for or against a resolution and/or abstain from voting.

 

PROXIES

 

69The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing, be executed under the hand of the appointor or of his attorney duly authorised in writing, or, if the appointor is a corporation under the hand of an officer or attorney duly authorised for that purpose. A proxy need not be a Shareholder of the Company.

 

     
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70The instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited at the registered office or at such other place as is specified for that purpose in the notice convening the meeting, or in any instrument of proxy sent out by the Company not less than 48 hours before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote.

 

71The instrument appointing a proxy may be in any usual or common form and may be expressed to be for a particular meeting or any adjournment thereof or generally until revoked.

 

72Votes given in accordance with the terms of an instrument of proxy shall be valid notwithstanding the previous death or insanity of the principal or revocation of the proxy or of the authority under which the proxy was executed, or the transfer of the Share in respect of which the proxy is given unless notice in writing of such death, insanity, revocation or transfer was received by the Company at the registered office before the commencement of the general meeting, or adjourned meeting at which it is sought to use the proxy.

 

CORPORATE SHAREHOLDERS

 

73Any corporation or other non-natural person which is a Shareholder may in accordance with its constitutional documents, or in the absence of such provision by resolution of its directors or other governing body, authorise such person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or of any class of Shareholders, and the person so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the corporation which he represents as the corporation could exercise if it were an individual Shareholder.

 

SHARES THAT MAY NOT BE VOTED

 

74Shares in the Company that are beneficially owned by the Company shall not be voted, directly or indirectly, at any meeting and shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding Shares at any given time.

 

DIRECTORS

 

75Except as otherwise provided in these Articles (including any Schedule attached hereto) and the Investors Rights Agreement, each Director shall hold office until such Director’s successor is elected and qualified or until such Director’s earlier resignation or removal. Any Director may resign at any time upon written notice to the Company.

 

POWERS OF DIRECTORS

 

76Subject to the Statute and the other provisions in the Memorandum and Articles, the Investors Rights Agreement and to any directions given by Special Resolution, the business of the Company shall be managed by the Directors who may exercise all the powers of the Company, provided, however, that the Company shall not carry out any action inconsistent with Schedule A attached hereto. No alteration of the Memorandum or Articles and no such direction shall invalidate any prior act of the Directors which would have been valid if that alteration had not been made or that direction had not been given. A duly convened meeting of Directors at which a quorum is present may exercise all powers exercisable by the Directors.

 

     
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77All cheques, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange and other negotiable instruments and all receipts for monies paid to the Company shall be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed or otherwise executed as the case may be in such manner as the Directors shall determine by resolution.

 

78The Directors on behalf of the Company may pay a gratuity or pension or allowance on retirement to any Director who has held any other salaried office or place of profit with the Company or to his widow or dependants and may make contributions to any fund and pay premiums for the purchase or provision of any such gratuity, pension or allowance.

 

79The Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and uncalled capital or any part thereof and to issue debentures, debenture stock, mortgages, bonds and other such securities whether outright or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party.

 

APPOINTMENT AND REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS

 

80Directors shall be appointed in accordance with Schedule A attached hereto.

 

81A Director shall be removed from the Board, with or without cause, upon, and only upon, the request of the shareholder who nominated him, unless such Director resigns voluntarily or the term of his service expires or in accordance with Article 82, in which case the shareholder entitled to appoint a replacement Director shall be entitled to nominate a replacement to be appointed to the Board to fill the vacancy thus created. Each Director may only be appointed to and removed from the Board by the relevant shareholder in accordance with the Investors Rights Agreement and these Articles.

 

VACATION OF OFFICE OF DIRECTOR

 

82       The office of a Director shall be vacated if:

 

82.1he gives notice in writing to the Company that he resigns the office of Director; or

 

82.2he dies, becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors generally; or

 

82.3he is found to be or becomes of unsound mind.

 

PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS

 

83Subject to the other provisions in the Memorandum and Articles, the Directors may regulate their proceedings as they think fit. At all meetings of the board of Directors a majority of the number of the Directors in office elected in accordance with Schedule A that includes at least a majority of Directors (including the Baidu Director, the CJJK Director and Series A+ Director) shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the vote of a majority of the Directors present (in person or in alternate) at any meeting at which there is a quorum, shall be the act of the board of Directors, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by the Statute, the Memorandum and Articles. A Director who is also an alternate Director shall be entitled in the absence of his appointor to a separate vote on behalf of his appointor in addition to his own vote.

 

     
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84A person may participate in a meeting of the Board or committee of the Board by conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all the persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other at the same time. Participation by a person in a meeting in this manner is treated as presence in person at that meeting. Meetings shall be held in a location approved by a majority of the Directors.

 

85A resolution in writing (in one or more counterparts) signed by all the Directors or all the members of a committee of the Board (an alternate Director being entitled to sign such a resolution on behalf of his appointor) shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Board, or committee of the Board as the case may be, duly convened and held.

 

86A Director or alternate Director may, or other officer of the Company on the requisition of a Director or alternate Director shall, call a meeting of the Board by at least five (5) days’ notice in writing to every Director and alternate Director which notice shall set forth the general nature of the business to be considered unless notice is waived by all the Directors (or their alternates) either at, before or after the meeting is held.

 

87The continuing Directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their body, but if and so long as their number is reduced below the number fixed by or pursuant to these Articles as the necessary quorum of Directors the continuing Directors or Director may act for the purpose of increasing the number of Directors to that number, or of summoning a general meeting of the Company, but for no other purpose.

 

88The Directors may elect a chairman of their board and determine the period for which he is to hold office; but if no such chairman is elected, or if at any meeting the chairman is not present within five minutes after the time appointed for holding the same, the Directors present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.

 

89All acts done by any meeting of the Board or of a committee of the Board (including any person acting as an alternate Director) shall, notwithstanding that it be afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any Director or alternate Director, or that they or any of them were disqualified, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and qualified to be a Director or alternate Director as the case may be.

 

90Any non-employee Director who expects to be unable to attend a board of Director meeting because of absence, illness or otherwise, may appoint any Person to be an alternate Director to act in his stead and such appointee whilst he holds office as an alternate director shall, in the event of absence therefrom of his appointor, be entitled to attend the board of Director meeting and to vote thereat and to do, in the place and stead of his appointor, any other act or thing that his appointor is permitted or required to do by virtue of his being a director as if the alternate director were the appointor, other than appointment of an alternate to himself, and he shall ipso facto vacate office if and when his appointor ceases to be a director or removes the appointee from office. A Director but not an alternate Director may be represented at any meetings of the board of Directors by a proxy appointed in writing by him. The proxy shall count towards the quorum and the vote of the proxy shall for all purposes be deemed to be that of the appointing Director.

 

     
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PRESUMPTION OF ASSENT

 

91A Director of the Company who is present at a meeting of the board of Directors at which action on any Company matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless his dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless he shall file his written dissent from such action with the person acting as the chairman or secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered post to such person immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a Director who voted in favour of such action.

 

DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS

 

92A Director may hold any other office or place of profit under the Company (other than the office of Auditor) in conjunction with his office of Director for such period and on such terms as to remuneration and otherwise as the Directors may determine.

 

93A Director may act by himself or his firm in a professional capacity for the Company and he or his firm shall be entitled to remuneration for professional services as if he were not a Director or alternate Director.

 

94A Director or alternate Director of the Company may be or become a director or other officer of or otherwise interested in any company promoted by the Company or in which the Company may be interested as shareholder or otherwise, and no such Director or alternate Director shall be accountable to the Company for any remuneration or other benefits received by him as a director or officer of, or from his interest in, such other company.

 

95No person shall be disqualified from the office of Director or alternate Director or prevented by such office from contracting with the Company (either by such person or the Shareholder appointing such person), either as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, nor shall any such contract or any contract or transaction entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which any Director or alternate Director (or the Shareholder appointing such Director) shall be in any way interested be or be liable to be avoided, nor shall any Director or alternate Director so contracting or being so interested be liable to account to the Company for any profit realised by any such contract or transaction by reason of such Director holding office or of the fiduciary relation thereby established. Subject to the other provisions in the Memorandum and Articles, a Director (or his alternate Director in his absence) shall be at liberty to vote in respect of any contract or transaction in which he (or the Shareholder appointing such Director) is interested; provided that the nature of the interest of any Director or alternate Director in any such contract or transaction shall be disclosed by him at or prior to its consideration and any vote thereon; provided further that, if a Director (or his alternate Director in his absence or the Shareholder appointing such Director) is interested in a transaction with the Company or otherwise has interest in any resolution submitted for voting by the Directors, such Director shall be disqualified from or abstain from voting in respect of such transaction or matter if two thirds (2/3) or more of the Directors in office (other than such interested Director) so require.

 

     
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96A general notice that a Director or alternate Director is a shareholder, director, officer or employee of any specified firm or company and is to be regarded as interested in any transaction with such firm or company shall be sufficient disclosure for the purposes of voting on a resolution in respect of a contract or transaction in which he or the Shareholder appointed such Director has an interest, and after such general notice it shall not be necessary to give special notice relating to any particular transaction.

 

MINUTES

 

97The Directors shall cause minutes to be made in books kept for the purpose of all appointments of officers made by the Directors, all proceedings at meetings of the Company or the holders of any class of Shares and of the Directors, and of committees of the Board including the names of the Directors or alternate Directors present at each meeting.

 

DELEGATION OF DIRECTORS’ POWERS

 

98Subject to the other provisions in the Memorandum and Articles and the Investors Rights Agreement, the Directors may delegate any of their powers to any committee (of the Board) consisting of one or more Directors. They may also delegate to any managing director or any Director holding any other executive office such of their powers as they consider desirable to be exercised by him provided that an alternate Director may not act as managing director and the appointment of a managing director shall be revoked forthwith if he ceases to be a Director. Any such delegation may be made subject to any conditions the Directors may impose, and may be revoked or altered at any time. Subject to any such conditions, the proceedings of a committee of the Board shall be governed by the Articles regulating the proceedings of Directors, so far as they are capable of applying.

 

99The Directors may establish any committees, local boards or agencies or appoint any person to be a manager or agent for managing the affairs of the Company and may appoint any person to be a member of such committees or local boards. Any such appointment may be made subject to any conditions the Directors may impose, and may be revoked or altered at any time. Subject to any such conditions, the proceedings of any such committee, local board or agency shall be governed by the Articles regulating the proceedings of Directors, so far as they are capable of applying.

 

100The Directors may by power of attorney or otherwise appoint any person to be the agent of the Company on such conditions as the Directors may determine, provided that the delegation is not to the exclusion of their own powers and may be revoked by the Directors at any time.

 

101The Directors may by power of attorney or otherwise appoint any company, firm, person or body of persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Directors, to be the attorney or authorised signatory of the Company for such purpose and with such powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Directors under these Articles) and for such period and subject to such conditions as they may think fit and the Directors may at any time remove any person so appointed and may vary any such delegation, and any such powers of attorney or other appointment may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such attorneys or authorised signatories as the Directors may think fit and may also authorise any such attorney or authorised signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in him.

 

     
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102The Directors may appoint such officers as they consider necessary on such terms, at such remuneration and to perform such duties, and subject to such provisions as to disqualification and removal as the Directors may think fit. Unless otherwise specified in the terms of his appointment an officer may be removed by resolution of the Directors or Shareholders.

 

ALTERNATE DIRECTORS

 

103Any Director (other than an alternate Director) may by writing appoint any other Director, or any other person willing to act, to be an alternate Director and by writing may remove from office an alternate Director so appointed by him.

 

104An alternate Director shall be entitled to receive notice of all meetings of Directors and of all meetings of committees of the Board of which his appointor is a member, to attend and vote at every such meeting at which the Director appointing him is not personally present, and generally to perform all the functions of his appointor as a Director in his absence.

 

105An alternate Director shall cease to be an alternate Director if his appointor ceases to be a Director.

 

106Any appointment or removal of an alternate Director shall be by notice to the Company signed by the Director making or revoking the appointment or in any other manner approved by the Directors.

 

107An alternate Director shall be deemed for all purposes to be a Director and shall alone be responsible for his own acts and defaults and shall not be deemed to be the agent of the Director appointing him.

 

NO MINIMUM SHAREHOLDING

 

108There is no minimum shareholding required to be held by a Director.

 

REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS

 

109The remuneration to be paid to the Directors, if any, shall be such remuneration as the Directors shall determine. The Directors shall also be entitled to be paid all out-of-pocket travelling, hotel and other expenses reasonably and properly incurred by them in connection with their attendance at meetings of Directors or committees of the Board, or general meetings of the Company, or separate meetings of the holders of any class of Shares or debentures of the Company, or otherwise in connection with the business of the Company, or to receive a fixed allowance in respect thereof as may be determined by the Directors, or a combination partly of one such method and partly the other.

 

     
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110The Directors may by resolution approve additional remuneration to any Director for any services other than his ordinary routine work as a Director. Any fees paid to a Director who is also counsel or solicitor to the Company, or otherwise serves it in a professional capacity shall be in addition to his remuneration as a Director.

 

SEAL

 

111The Company may, if the Directors so determine, have a Seal. The Seal shall only be used by the authority of the Directors or of a committee of the Board authorised by the Directors. Every instrument to which the Seal has been affixed shall be signed by at least one person who shall be either a Director or some officer or other person appointed by the Directors for the purpose.

 

112The Company may have for use in any place or places outside the Cayman Islands a duplicate Seal or Seals each of which shall be a facsimile of the common Seal of the Company and, if the Directors so determine, with the addition on its face of the name of every place where it is to be used.

 

113A Director or officer, representative or attorney of the Company may without further authority of the Directors affix the Seal over his signature alone to any document of the Company required to be authenticated by him under seal or to be filed with the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere wheresoever.

 

DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND RESERVE

 

114Subject to the Statute and the other provisions in the Memorandum and Articles, the Directors may declare dividends and distributions on Shares in issue and authorise payment of the dividends or distributions out of the funds of the Company lawfully available therefor. No dividend or distribution shall be paid except out of the realised or unrealised profits of the Company, or out of the share premium account or as otherwise permitted by the Statute. All dividends and distributions shall be declared and paid according to the provisions of Schedule A attached hereto.

 

115The Directors may declare that any dividend or distribution be paid wholly or partly by the distribution of specific assets and in particular of shares, debentures, or securities of any other company or in any one or more of such ways and where any difficulty arises in regard to such distribution, the Directors may settle the same as they think expedient and in particular may issue fractional Shares and fix the value for distribution of such specific assets or any part thereof and may determine that cash payments shall be made to any Shareholders upon the basis of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of all Shareholders and may vest any such specific assets in trustees as may seem expedient to the Directors.

 

116Any dividend, distribution, interest or other monies payable in cash in respect of Shares may be paid by wire transfer to the holder or by cheque or warrant sent through the post directed to the registered address of the holder or, in the case of joint holders, to the registered address of the holder who is first named on the register of members or to such person and to such address as such holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Every such cheque or warrant shall be made payable to the order of the person to whom it is sent. Any one of two or more joint holders may give effectual receipts for any dividends, bonuses, or other monies payable in respect of the Share held by them as joint holders.

 

     
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117No dividend or distribution shall bear interest against the Company.

 

118Any dividend which cannot be paid to a Shareholder and/or which remains unclaimed after six months from the date of declaration of such dividend may, in the discretion of the Directors, be paid into a separate account in the Company’s name, provided that the Company shall not be constituted as a trustee in respect of that account and the dividend shall remain as a debt due to the Shareholder.

 

CAPITALISATION

 

119Subject to these Articles (including Schedule A) and the Investors Rights Agreement, the Company may upon the recommendation of the Directors by ordinary resolution authorize the Directors to capitalise any sum standing to the credit of any of the Company’s reserve accounts (including share premium account and capital redemption reserve fund) or any sum standing to the credit of profit and loss account or otherwise available for distribution and to appropriate such sum to Shareholders in the proportions in which such sum would have been divisible amongst them had the same been a distribution of profits by way of dividend and to apply such sum on their behalf in paying up in full unissued Shares for allotment and distribution credited as fully paid-up to and amongst them in the proportion aforesaid. In such event the Directors shall do all acts and things required to give effect to such capitalisation, with full power to the Directors to make such provisions as they think fit for the case of Shares becoming distributable in fractions (including provisions whereby the benefit of fractional entitlements accrue to the Company rather than to the Shareholders concerned). The Directors may authorise any person to enter on behalf of all of the Shareholders interested into an agreement with the Company providing for such capitalisation and matters incidental thereto and any agreement made under such authority shall be effective and binding on all concerned.

 

BOOKS OF ACCOUNT

 

120The Directors shall cause proper books of account to be kept with respect to all sums of money received and expended by the Company and the matters in respect of which the receipt or expenditure takes place, all sales and purchases of goods by the Company and the assets and liabilities of the Company. Such books of account must be retained for a minimum period of ten years from the date on which they are prepared. Proper books shall not be deemed to be kept if there are not kept such books of account as are necessary to give a true and fair view of the state of the Company’s affairs and to explain its transactions.

 

121Subject to the Investors Rights Agreement, the Directors shall from time to time determine whether and to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions or regulations the accounts and books of the Company or any of them shall be open to the inspection of Shareholders not being Directors and no Shareholder (not being a Director) shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or document of the Company except as conferred by Statute or authorised by the Directors or by the Company in general meeting or in accordance with the Investors Rights Agreement.

 

     
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122The Directors may from time to time cause to be prepared and to be laid before the Company in general meeting profit and loss accounts, balance sheets, group accounts (if any) and such other reports and accounts as may be required by law.

 

AUDIT

 

123Subject to these Articles (including Schedule A) and the Investors Rights Agreement, the Directors may appoint an Auditor of the Company who shall hold office until removed from office by a resolution of the Directors, and may fix his or their remuneration.

 

124Every Auditor of the Company shall have a right of access at all times to the books and accounts and vouchers of the Company and shall be entitled to require from the Directors and officers of the Company such information and explanation as may be necessary for the performance of the duties of the Auditor.

 

125Auditors shall, if so required by the Directors, make a report on the accounts of the Company during their tenure of office at the next annual general meeting following their appointment in the case of a company which is registered with the Registrar of Companies as an ordinary company, and at the next extraordinary general meeting following their appointment in the case of a company which is registered with the Registrar of Companies as an exempted company, and at any other time during their term of office, upon request of the Directors or any general meeting of the Shareholders.

 

NOTICES

 

126All notices, requests, demands and other communications under these Articles to be given to the Company or to any Shareholder shall be in writing and shall be given either personally or by sending it by next-day or second-day courier service, fax, electronic mail or similar means to the address of the Company or to such Shareholder at its address as shown in the Investors Rights Agreement unless otherwise notified by the Company or such Shareholder. Where a notice is sent by next-day or second-day courier service, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, pre-paying and sending by next-day or second-day service through an internationally-recognized courier a letter containing the notice, with a written confirmation of delivery, and to have been effected at the earlier of (i) delivery (or when delivery is refused) and (ii) expiration of seven (7) days after the letter containing the same is sent as aforesaid. Where a notice is sent by fax or electronic mail, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, and sending such notice through a transmitting organization, with a written confirmation of delivery, and to have been effected on the day the same is sent as aforesaid, if such day is a Business Day and if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, otherwise the next Business Day. Where a notice is sent in person, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly signing off by the receiver.

 

     
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127Intentionally left blank.

 

128A notice may be given by the Company to the person or persons which the Company has been advised are entitled to a Share or Shares in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Shareholder in the same manner as other notices which are required to be given under these Articles and shall be addressed to them by name, or by the title of representatives of the deceased, or trustee of the bankrupt, or by any like description at the address supplied for that purpose by the persons claiming to be so entitled, or at the option of the Company by giving the notice in any manner in which the same might have been given if the death or bankruptcy had not occurred.

 

129Notice of every general meeting shall be given in any manner hereinbefore authorised to every person shown as a Shareholder in the register of members on the record date for such meeting except that in the case of joint holders the notice shall be sufficient if given to the joint holder first named in the register of members and every person upon whom the ownership of a Share devolves by reason of his being a legal personal representative or a trustee in bankruptcy of a Shareholder of record where the Shareholder of record but for his death or bankruptcy would be entitled to receive notice of the meeting, and no other person shall be entitled to receive notices of general meetings.

 

INDEMNITY

 

130To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law and subject to the terms of the Director Indemnification Agreements, the Directors and officers for the time being of the Company and any trustee for the time being acting in relation to any of the affairs of the Company and their heirs, executors, administrators and personal representatives respectively shall be indemnified out of the assets of the Company from and against all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, losses, damages and expenses which they or any of them shall or may incur or sustain by reason of any act done or omitted in or about the execution of their duty in their respective offices or trusts, except such (if any) as they shall incur or sustain by or through their own wilful misconduct or fraud respectively and no such Director, officer or trustee shall be answerable for the acts, receipts, neglects or defaults of any other Director, officer or trustee or for joining in any receipt for the sake of conformity or for the solvency or honesty of any banker or other persons with whom any monies or effects belonging to the Company may be lodged or deposited for safe custody or for any insufficiency of any security upon which any monies of the Company may be invested or for any other loss or damage due to any such cause as aforesaid or which may happen in or about the execution of his office or trust unless the same shall happen through the wilful misconduct or fraud of such Director, Officer or trustee.

 

131To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the Directors and officers for the time being of the Company and any trustee for the time being acting in relation to any of the affairs of the Company and their heirs, executors, administrators and personal representatives respectively shall not be personally liable to the Company or its Members for monetary damages for breach of their duty in their respective offices, except such (if any) as they shall incur or sustain by or through their own wilful neglect or wilful default respectively.

 

     
  www.verify.gov.ky File#: 357139

Filed: 04-Jan-2022 16:40 EST

Auth Code: F61896501344

 

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FINANCIAL YEAR

 

132Unless the Directors otherwise prescribe, the financial year of the Company shall end on 31st December in each year and, following the year of incorporation, shall begin on 1st January in each year.

 

TRANSFER BY WAY OF CONTINUATION

 

133If the Company is exempted as defined in the Statute, it shall, subject to the provisions of the Statute and the Memorandum and Articles and with the approval of a Special Resolution, have the power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands.

 

VOLUNTARY WINDING UP AND DISSOLUTION

 

134Subject to the other provisions of these Articles (including any Schedule attached hereto), the Company may voluntarily commence to wind up and dissolve by a Special Resolution. If the Company shall be wound up, the assets available for distribution amongst the Shareholders shall be distributed in accordance with Section 2 of Schedule A.

 

ALTERATION OF SHARE CAPITAL

 

135The Company may by ordinary resolution:

 

(a)            increase the share capital by such sum, to be divided into Shares of such amount, and with such rights, privileges, priorities and restrictions attached to them as the resolution shall prescribe;

 

(b)            consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of larger amount than its existing Shares;

 

(c)            subject to section 13 of the Statute, sub-divide its existing Shares, or any of them, into Shares of smaller amounts than is fixed by the Memorandum; and

 

(d)            cancel any Shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person.

 

136Subject to the provisions of the Statute and these Articles, the Company may, by Special Resolution, reduce its share capital and any capital redemption reserve in any manner.

 

AMENDMENT OF THE MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES

 

137Subject to the Statute and the rights attaching to any class or series of Shares, the Company may by Special Resolution change its name or alter or amend these Articles and/or the Memorandum in whole or in part.

 

     
  www.verify.gov.ky File#: 357139

Filed: 04-Jan-2022 16:40 EST

Auth Code: F61896501344

 

23

 

Exhibit 3.3

 

THE COMPANIES ACT (AS REVISED)

 

OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

 

COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

 

OF

 

COVA Acquisition Corp.

 

(adopted by special resolution dated 4 FEBRUARY 2021 and effective on 4 FEBRUARY 2021)

 

 

 

THE COMPANIES ACT (AS REVISED)

 

OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

 

COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION

 

OF

 

COVA Acquisition Corp.

 

(adopted by special resolution dated 4 FEBRUARY 2021 and effective on 4 FEBRUARY 2021)

 

1The name of the Company is COVA Acquisition Corp.

 

2The Registered Office of the Company shall be at the offices of Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands, or at such other place within the Cayman Islands as the Directors may decide.

 

3The objects for which the Company is established are unrestricted and the Company shall have full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by the laws of the Cayman Islands.

 

4The liability of each Member is limited to the amount unpaid on such Member’s shares.

 

5The share capital of the Company is US$55,500 divided into 500,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each, 50,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each and 5,000,000 preference shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each.

 

6The Company has power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate limited by shares under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands.

 

7Capitalised terms that are not defined in this Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association bear the respective meanings given to them in the Amended and Restated Articles of Association of the Company.

 

2

 

 

 

THE COMPANIES ACT (AS REVISED)

 

OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

 

COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

 

OF

 

COVA Acquisition Corp.

 

(adopted by special resolution dated 4 FEBRUARY 2021 and effective on 4 FEBRUARY 2021)

 

1Interpretation

 

1.1In the Articles Table A in the First Schedule to the Statute does not apply and, unless there is something in the subject or context inconsistent therewith:

 

 

“Affiliate”

  in respect of a person, means any other person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such person, and (a) in the case of a natural person, shall include, without limitation, such person’s spouse, parents, children, siblings, mother-in-law and father-in-law and brothers and sisters-in-law, whether by blood, marriage or adoption or anyone residing in such person’s home, a trust for the benefit of any of the foregoing, a company, partnership or any natural person or entity wholly or jointly owned by any of the foregoing and (b) in the case of an entity, shall include a partnership, a corporation or any natural person or entity which directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such entity.
“Applicable Law”   means, with respect to any person, all provisions of laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, permits, certificates, judgments, decisions, decrees or orders of any governmental authority applicable to such person.
“Articles”   means these amended and restated articles of association of the Company.
“Audit Committee”   means the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee.
“Auditor”   means the person for the time being performing the duties of auditor of the Company (if any).

 

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“Business Combination”   means a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganisation or similar business combination involving the Company, with one or more businesses or entities (the “target business”), which Business Combination: (a) as long as the securities of the Company are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80 per cent of the assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the interest and other income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the signing of the definitive agreement to enter into such Business Combination; and (b) must not be solely effectuated with another blank cheque company or a similar company with nominal operations.
“business day”   means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorised or obligated by law to close in New York City.
“Clearing House”   means a clearing house recognised by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on a stock exchange or interdealer quotation system in such jurisdiction.
“Class A Share”   means a Class A ordinary share of a par value of US$0.0001 in the share capital of the Company.
“Class B Share”   means a Class B ordinary share of a par value of US$0.0001 in the share capital of the Company.
“Company”   means the above named company.
“Company’s Website”   means the website of the Company and/or its web-address or domain name (if any).
“Compensation Committee”   means the compensation committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee.
“Designated Stock Exchange”   means any United States national securities exchange on which the securities of the Company are listed for trading, including the Nasdaq Capital Market.
“Directors”   means the directors for the time being of the Company.
“Dividend”   means any dividend (whether interim or final) resolved to be paid on Shares pursuant to the Articles.
“Electronic Communication”   means a communication sent by electronic means, including electronic posting to the Company’s Website, transmission to any number, address or internet website (including the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission) or other electronic delivery methods as otherwise decided and approved by the Directors.
“Electronic Record”   has the same meaning as in the Electronic Transactions Act.
“Electronic Transactions Act”   means the Electronic Transactions Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands.

 

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“Equity-linked Securities”   means any debt or equity securities that are convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Shares issued in a financing transaction in connection with a Business Combination, including but not limited to a private placement of equity or debt.
“Exchange Act”   means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar U.S. federal statute and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.
“Founders”   means all Members immediately prior to the consummation of the IPO.
“Independent Director”   has the same meaning as in the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange or in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, as the case may be.
“IPO”   means the Company’s initial public offering of securities.
“Member”   has the same meaning as in the Statute.
“Memorandum”   means the amended and restated memorandum of association of the Company.
“Nominating Committee”   means the nominating and corporate governance committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee.
“Officer”   means a person appointed to hold an office in the Company.
“Ordinary Resolution”   means a resolution passed by a simple majority of the Members as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting, and includes a unanimous written resolution. In computing the majority when a poll is demanded regard shall be had to the number of votes to which each Member is entitled by the Articles.
“Over-Allotment Option”   means the option of the Underwriters to purchase up to an additional 15 per cent of the firm units (as described in the Articles) issued in the IPO at a price equal to US$10 per unit, less underwriting discounts and commissions.
“Preference Share”   means a preference share of a par value of US$0.0001 in the share capital of the Company.
“Public Share”   means a Class A Share issued as part of the units (as described in the Articles) issued in the IPO.
“Redemption Notice”   means a notice in a form approved by the Company by which a holder of Public Shares is entitled to require the Company to redeem its Public Shares, subject to any conditions contained therein.
“Register of Members”   means the register of Members maintained in accordance with the Statute and includes (except where otherwise stated) any branch or duplicate register of Members.
“Registered Office”   means the registered office for the time being of the Company.
“Representative”   means a representative of the Underwriters.
“Seal”   means the common seal of the Company and includes every duplicate seal.

 

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“Securities and Exchange Commission”   means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Share”   means a Class A Share, a Class B Share or a Preference Share and includes a fraction of a share in the Company.
“Special Resolution”   subject to Article 29.4, has the same meaning as in the Statute, and includes a unanimous written resolution.
“Sponsor”   means COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC, a Cayman Islands limited liability company, and its successors or assigns.
“Statute”   means the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands.
“Treasury Share”   means a Share held in the name of the Company as a treasury share in accordance with the Statute.
“Trust Account”   means the trust account established by the Company upon the consummation of the IPO and into which a certain amount of the net proceeds of the IPO, together with a certain amount of the proceeds of a private placement of warrants simultaneously with the closing date of the IPO, will be deposited.
“Underwriter”   means an underwriter of the IPO from time to time and any successor underwriter.

 

1.2In the Articles:

 

(a)words importing the singular number include the plural number and vice versa;

 

(b)words importing the masculine gender include the feminine gender;

 

(c)words importing persons include corporations as well as any other legal or natural person;

 

(d)“written” and “in writing” include all modes of representing or reproducing words in visible form, including in the form of an Electronic Record;

 

(e)“shall” shall be construed as imperative and “may” shall be construed as permissive;

 

(f)references to provisions of any law or regulation shall be construed as references to those provisions as amended, modified, re-enacted or replaced;

 

(g)any phrase introduced by the terms “including”, “include”, “in particular” or any similar expression shall be construed as illustrative and shall not limit the sense of the words preceding those terms;

 

(h)the term “and/or” is used herein to mean both “and” as well as “or.” The use of “and/or” in certain contexts in no respects qualifies or modifies the use of the terms “and” or “or” in others. The term “or” shall not be interpreted to be exclusive and the term “and” shall not be interpreted to require the conjunctive (in each case, unless the context otherwise requires);

 

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(i)headings are inserted for reference only and shall be ignored in construing the Articles;

 

(j)any requirements as to delivery under the Articles include delivery in the form of an Electronic Record;

 

(k)any requirements as to execution or signature under the Articles including the execution of the Articles themselves can be satisfied in the form of an electronic signature as defined in the Electronic Transactions Act;

 

(l)sections 8 and 19(3) of the Electronic Transactions Act shall not apply;

 

(m)the term “clear days” in relation to the period of a notice means that period excluding the day when the notice is received or deemed to be received and the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect; and

 

(n)the term “holder” in relation to a Share means a person whose name is entered in the Register of Members as the holder of such Share.

 

2Commencement of Business

 

2.1The business of the Company may be commenced as soon after incorporation of the Company as the Directors shall see fit.

 

2.2The Directors may pay, out of the capital or any other monies of the Company, all expenses incurred in or about the formation and establishment of the Company, including the expenses of registration.

 

3Issue of Shares and other Securities

 

3.1Subject to the provisions, if any, in the Memorandum (and to any direction that may be given by the Company in general meeting) and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, and without prejudice to any rights attached to any existing Shares, the Directors may allot, issue, grant options over or otherwise dispose of Shares (including fractions of a Share) with or without preferred, deferred or other rights or restrictions, whether in regard to Dividends or other distributions, voting, return of capital or otherwise and to such persons, at such times and on such other terms as they think proper, and may also (subject to the Statute and the Articles) vary such rights, save that the Directors shall not allot, issue, grant options over or otherwise dispose of Shares (including fractions of a Share) to the extent that it may affect the ability of the Company to carry out a Class B Ordinary Share Conversion set out in the Articles.

 

3.2The Company may issue rights, options, warrants or convertible securities or securities of similar nature conferring the right upon the holders thereof to subscribe for, purchase or receive any class of Shares or other securities in the Company on such terms as the Directors may from time to time determine.

 

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3.3The Company may issue units of securities in the Company, which may be comprised of whole or fractional Shares, rights, options, warrants or convertible securities or securities of similar nature conferring the right upon the holders thereof to subscribe for, purchase or receive any class of Shares or other securities in the Company, upon such terms as the Directors may from time to time determine. The securities comprising any such units which are issued pursuant to the IPO can only be traded separately from one another on the 52nd day following the date of the prospectus relating to the IPO unless the Representative(s) determines that an earlier date is acceptable, subject to the Company having filed a current report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission and a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Prior to such date, the units can be traded, but the securities comprising such units cannot be traded separately from one another.

 

3.4The Company shall not issue Shares to bearer.

 

4Register of Members

 

4.1The Company shall maintain or cause to be maintained the Register of Members in accordance with the Statute.

 

4.2The Directors may determine that the Company shall maintain one or more branch registers of Members in accordance with the Statute. The Directors may also determine which register of Members shall constitute the principal register and which shall constitute the branch register or registers, and to vary such determination from time to time.

 

5Closing Register of Members or Fixing Record Date

 

5.1For the purpose of determining Members entitled to notice of, or to vote at any meeting of Members or any adjournment thereof, or Members entitled to receive payment of any Dividend or other distribution, or in order to make a determination of Members for any other purpose, the Directors may, after notice has been given by advertisement in an appointed newspaper or any other newspaper or by any other means in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, provide that the Register of Members shall be closed for transfers for a stated period which shall not in any case exceed forty days.

 

5.2In lieu of, or apart from, closing the Register of Members, the Directors may fix in advance or arrears a date as the record date for any such determination of Members entitled to notice of, or to vote at any meeting of the Members or any adjournment thereof, or for the purpose of determining the Members entitled to receive payment of any Dividend or other distribution, or in order to make a determination of Members for any other purpose.

 

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5.3If the Register of Members is not so closed and no record date is fixed for the determination of Members entitled to notice of, or to vote at, a meeting of Members or Members entitled to receive payment of a Dividend or other distribution, the date on which notice of the meeting is sent or the date on which the resolution of the Directors resolving to pay such Dividend or other distribution is passed, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of Members. When a determination of Members entitled to vote at any meeting of Members has been made as provided in this Article, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof.

 

6Certificates for Shares

 

6.1A Member shall only be entitled to a share certificate if the Directors resolve that share certificates shall be issued. Share certificates representing Shares, if any, shall be in such form as the Directors may determine. Share certificates shall be signed by one or more Directors or other person authorised by the Directors. The Directors may authorise certificates to be issued with the authorised signature(s) affixed by mechanical process. All certificates for Shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified and shall specify the Shares to which they relate. All certificates surrendered to the Company for transfer shall be cancelled and, subject to the Articles, no new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate representing a like number of relevant Shares shall have been surrendered and cancelled.

 

6.2The Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for Shares held jointly by more than one person and delivery of a certificate to one joint holder shall be a sufficient delivery to all of them.

 

6.3If a share certificate is defaced, worn out, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on such terms (if any) as to evidence and indemnity and on the payment of such expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating evidence, as the Directors may prescribe, and (in the case of defacement or wearing out) upon delivery of the old certificate.

 

6.4Every share certificate sent in accordance with the Articles will be sent at the risk of the Member or other person entitled to the certificate. The Company will not be responsible for any share certificate lost or delayed in the course of delivery.

 

6.5Share certificates shall be issued within the relevant time limit as prescribed by the Statute, if applicable, or as the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law may from time to time determine, whichever is shorter, after the allotment or, except in the case of a Share transfer which the Company is for the time being entitled to refuse to register and does not register, after lodgement of a Share transfer with the Company.

 

7Transfer of Shares

 

7.1Subject to the terms of the Articles, any Member may transfer all or any of his Shares by an instrument of transfer provided that such transfer complies with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. If the Shares in question were issued in conjunction with rights, options, warrants or units issued pursuant to the Articles on terms that one cannot be transferred without the other, the Directors shall refuse to register the transfer of any such Share without evidence satisfactory to them of the like transfer of such right, option, warrant or unit.

 

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7.2The instrument of transfer of any Share shall be in writing in the usual or common form or in a form prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law or in any other form approved by the Directors and shall be executed by or on behalf of the transferor (and if the Directors so require, signed by or on behalf of the transferee) and may be under hand or, if the transferor or transferee is a Clearing House or its nominee(s), by hand or by machine imprinted signature or by such other manner of execution as the Directors may approve from time to time. The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of a Share until the name of the transferee is entered in the Register of Members.

 

8Redemption, Repurchase and Surrender of Shares

 

8.1Subject to the provisions of the Statute, and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, the Company may issue Shares that are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Member or the Company. The redemption of such Shares, except Public Shares, shall be effected in such manner and upon such other terms as the Company may, by Special Resolution, determine before the issue of such Shares. With respect to redeeming or repurchasing the Shares:

 

(a)Members who hold Public Shares are entitled to request the redemption of such Shares in the circumstances described in the Business Combination Article hereof;

 

(b)Class B Shares held by the Founders shall be surrendered by the Founders for no consideration to the extent that the Over-Allotment Option is not exercised in full so that the Founders will own 20 per cent of the Company’s issued Shares after the IPO (exclusive of any securities purchased in a private placement simultaneously with the IPO); and

 

(c)Public Shares shall be repurchased by way of tender offer in the circumstances set out in the Business Combination Article hereof.

 

8.2Subject to the provisions of the Statute, and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, the Company may purchase its own Shares (including any redeemable Shares) in such manner and on such other terms as the Directors may agree with the relevant Member. For the avoidance of doubt, redemptions, repurchases and surrenders of Shares in the circumstances described in the Article above shall not require further approval of the Members.

 

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8.3The Company may make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own Shares in any manner permitted by the Statute, including out of capital.

 

8.4The Directors may accept the surrender for no consideration of any fully paid Share.

 

9Treasury Shares

 

9.1The Directors may, prior to the purchase, redemption or surrender of any Share, determine that such Share shall be held as a Treasury Share.

 

9.2The Directors may determine to cancel a Treasury Share or transfer a Treasury Share on such terms as they think proper (including, without limitation, for nil consideration).

 

10Variation of Rights of Shares

 

10.1Subject to Article 3.1, if at any time the share capital of the Company is divided into different classes of Shares, all or any of the rights attached to any class (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the Shares of that class) may, whether or not the Company is being wound up, be varied without the consent of the holders of the issued Shares of that class where such variation is considered by the Directors not to have a material adverse effect upon such rights; otherwise, any such variation shall be made only with the consent in writing of the holders of not less than two thirds of the issued Shares of that class (other than with respect to a waiver of the provisions of the Class B Ordinary Share Conversion Article hereof, which as stated therein shall only require the consent in writing of the holders of a majority of the issued Shares of that class), or with the approval of a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two thirds of the votes cast at a separate meeting of the holders of the Shares of that class. For the avoidance of doubt, the Directors reserve the right, notwithstanding that any such variation may not have a material adverse effect, to obtain consent from the holders of Shares of the relevant class. To any such meeting all the provisions of the Articles relating to general meetings shall apply mutatis mutandis, except that the necessary quorum shall be one person holding or representing by proxy at least one third of the issued Shares of the class and that any holder of Shares of the class present in person or by proxy may demand a poll.

 

10.2For the purposes of a separate class meeting, the Directors may treat two or more or all the classes of Shares as forming one class of Shares if the Directors consider that such class of Shares would be affected in the same way by the proposals under consideration, but in any other case shall treat them as separate classes of Shares.

 

10.3The rights conferred upon the holders of the Shares of any class issued with preferred or other rights shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the Shares of that class, be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further Shares ranking pari passu therewith or Shares issued with preferred or other rights.

 

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11Commission on Sale of Shares

 

The Company may, in so far as the Statute permits, pay a commission to any person in consideration of his subscribing or agreeing to subscribe (whether absolutely or conditionally) or procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions (whether absolutely or conditionally) for any Shares. Such commissions may be satisfied by the payment of cash and/or the issue of fully or partly paid-up Shares. The Company may also on any issue of Shares pay such brokerage as may be lawful.

 

12Non Recognition of Trusts

 

The Company shall not be bound by or compelled to recognise in any way (even when notified) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any Share, or (except only as is otherwise provided by the Articles or the Statute) any other rights in respect of any Share other than an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the holder.

 

13Lien on Shares

 

13.1The Company shall have a first and paramount lien on all Shares (whether fully paid-up or not) registered in the name of a Member (whether solely or jointly with others) for all debts, liabilities or engagements to or with the Company (whether presently payable or not) by such Member or his estate, either alone or jointly with any other person, whether a Member or not, but the Directors may at any time declare any Share to be wholly or in part exempt from the provisions of this Article. The registration of a transfer of any such Share shall operate as a waiver of the Company’s lien thereon. The Company’s lien on a Share shall also extend to any amount payable in respect of that Share.

 

13.2The Company may sell, in such manner as the Directors think fit, any Shares on which the Company has a lien, if a sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable, and is not paid within fourteen clear days after notice has been received or deemed to have been received by the holder of the Shares, or to the person entitled to it in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of the holder, demanding payment and stating that if the notice is not complied with the Shares may be sold.

 

13.3To give effect to any such sale the Directors may authorise any person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares sold to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The purchaser or his nominee shall be registered as the holder of the Shares comprised in any such transfer, and he shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the sale or the exercise of the Company’s power of sale under the Articles.

 

13.4The net proceeds of such sale after payment of costs, shall be applied in payment of such part of the amount in respect of which the lien exists as is presently payable and any balance shall (subject to a like lien for sums not presently payable as existed upon the Shares before the sale) be paid to the person entitled to the Shares at the date of the sale.

 

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14Call on Shares

 

14.1Subject to the terms of the allotment and issue of any Shares, the Directors may make calls upon the Members in respect of any monies unpaid on their Shares (whether in respect of par value or premium), and each Member shall (subject to receiving at least fourteen clear days’ notice specifying the time or times of payment) pay to the Company at the time or times so specified the amount called on the Shares. A call may be revoked or postponed, in whole or in part, as the Directors may determine. A call may be required to be paid by instalments. A person upon whom a call is made shall remain liable for calls made upon him notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the Shares in respect of which the call was made.

 

14.2A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Directors authorising such call was passed.

 

14.3The joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect thereof.

 

14.4If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable, the person from whom it is due shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from the day it became due and payable until it is paid at such rate as the Directors may determine (and in addition all expenses that have been incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment), but the Directors may waive payment of the interest or expenses wholly or in part.

 

14.5An amount payable in respect of a Share on issue or allotment or at any fixed date, whether on account of the par value of the Share or premium or otherwise, shall be deemed to be a call and if it is not paid all the provisions of the Articles shall apply as if that amount had become due and payable by virtue of a call.

 

14.6The Directors may issue Shares with different terms as to the amount and times of payment of calls, or the interest to be paid.

 

14.7The Directors may, if they think fit, receive an amount from any Member willing to advance all or any part of the monies uncalled and unpaid upon any Shares held by him, and may (until the amount would otherwise become payable) pay interest at such rate as may be agreed upon between the Directors and the Member paying such amount in advance.

 

14.8No such amount paid in advance of calls shall entitle the Member paying such amount to any portion of a Dividend or other distribution payable in respect of any period prior to the date upon which such amount would, but for such payment, become payable.

 

15Forfeiture of Shares

 

15.1If a call or instalment of a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the Directors may give to the person from whom it is due not less than fourteen clear days’ notice requiring payment of the amount unpaid together with any interest which may have accrued and any expenses incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment. The notice shall specify where payment is to be made and shall state that if the notice is not complied with the Shares in respect of which the call was made will be liable to be forfeited.

 

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15.2If the notice is not complied with, any Share in respect of which it was given may, before the payment required by the notice has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Directors. Such forfeiture shall include all Dividends, other distributions or other monies payable in respect of the forfeited Share and not paid before the forfeiture.

 

15.3A forfeited Share may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the Directors think fit and at any time before a sale, re-allotment or disposition the forfeiture may be cancelled on such terms as the Directors think fit. Where for the purposes of its disposal a forfeited Share is to be transferred to any person the Directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Share in favour of that person.

 

15.4A person any of whose Shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a Member in respect of them and shall surrender to the Company for cancellation the certificate for the Shares forfeited and shall remain liable to pay to the Company all monies which at the date of forfeiture were payable by him to the Company in respect of those Shares together with interest at such rate as the Directors may determine, but his liability shall cease if and when the Company shall have received payment in full of all monies due and payable by him in respect of those Shares.

 

15.5A certificate in writing under the hand of one Director or Officer that a Share has been forfeited on a specified date shall be conclusive evidence of the facts stated in it as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the Share. The certificate shall (subject to the execution of an instrument of transfer) constitute a good title to the Share and the person to whom the Share is sold or otherwise disposed of shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, if any, nor shall his title to the Share be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the forfeiture, sale or disposal of the Share.

 

15.6The provisions of the Articles as to forfeiture shall apply in the case of non payment of any sum which, by the terms of issue of a Share, becomes payable at a fixed time, whether on account of the par value of the Share or by way of premium as if it had been payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified.

 

16Transmission of Shares

 

16.1If a Member dies, the survivor or survivors (where he was a joint holder), or his legal personal representatives (where he was a sole holder), shall be the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to his Shares. The estate of a deceased Member is not thereby released from any liability in respect of any Share, for which he was a joint or sole holder.

 

16.2Any person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution of a Member (or in any other way than by transfer) may, upon such evidence being produced as may be required by the Directors, elect, by a notice in writing sent by him to the Company, either to become the holder of such Share or to have some person nominated by him registered as the holder of such Share. If he elects to have another person registered as the holder of such Share he shall sign an instrument of transfer of that Share to that person. The Directors shall, in either case, have the same right to decline or suspend registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the Share by the relevant Member before his death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution, as the case may be.

 

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16.3A person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution of a Member (or in any other case than by transfer) shall be entitled to the same Dividends, other distributions and other advantages to which he would be entitled if he were the holder of such Share. However, he shall not, before becoming a Member in respect of a Share, be entitled in respect of it to exercise any right conferred by membership in relation to general meetings of the Company and the Directors may at any time give notice requiring any such person to elect either to be registered himself or to have some person nominated by him be registered as the holder of the Share (but the Directors shall, in either case, have the same right to decline or suspend registration as they would have had in the case of a transfer of the Share by the relevant Member before his death or bankruptcy or liquidation or dissolution or any other case than by transfer, as the case may be). If the notice is not complied with within ninety days of being received or deemed to be received (as determined pursuant to the Articles), the Directors may thereafter withhold payment of all Dividends, other distributions, bonuses or other monies payable in respect of the Share until the requirements of the notice have been complied with.

 

17Class B Ordinary Share Conversion

 

17.1The rights attaching to the Class A Shares and Class B Shares shall rank pari passu in all respects, and the Class A Shares and Class B Shares shall vote together as a single class on all matters (subject to the Variation of Rights of Shares Article and the Appointment and Removal of Directors Article hereof) with the exception that the holder of a Class B Share shall have the conversion rights referred to in this Article.

 

17.2Class B Shares shall automatically convert into Class A Shares on a one-for-one basis (the “Initial Conversion Ratio”): (a) at any time and from time to time at the option of the holders thereof; and (b) automatically on the day of the closing of a Business Combination.

 

17.3Notwithstanding the Initial Conversion Ratio, in the case that additional Class A Shares or any other Equity-linked Securities, are issued, or deemed issued, by the Company in excess of the amounts offered in the IPO and related to the closing of a Business Combination, all Class B Shares in issue shall automatically convert into Class A Shares at the time of the closing of a Business Combination at a ratio for which the Class B Shares shall convert into Class A Shares will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the Class B Shares in issue agree to waive such anti-dilution adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of Class A Shares issuable upon conversion of all Class B Shares will equal, on an as-converted basis, in the aggregate, 20 per cent of the sum of all Class A Shares and Class B Shares in issue upon completion of the IPO plus all Class A Shares and Equity-linked Securities issued or deemed issued in connection with a Business Combination, excluding any Shares or Equity-linked Securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in a Business Combination and any private placement warrants issued to the Sponsor, its Affiliates, a Director or an Officer upon conversion of working capital loans made to the Company.

 

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17.4Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the foregoing adjustment to the Initial Conversion Ratio may be waived as to any particular issuance or deemed issuance of additional Class A Shares or Equity-linked Securities by the written consent or agreement of holders of a majority of the Class B Shares then in issue consenting or agreeing separately as a separate class in the manner provided in the Variation of Rights of Shares Article hereof.

 

17.5The foregoing conversion ratio shall also be adjusted to account for any subdivision (by share subdivision, exchange, capitalisation, rights issue, reclassification, recapitalisation or otherwise) or combination (by share consolidation, exchange, reclassification, recapitalisation or otherwise) or similar reclassification or recapitalisation of the Class A Shares in issue into a greater or lesser number of shares occurring after the original filing of the Articles without a proportionate and corresponding subdivision, combination or similar reclassification or recapitalisation of the Class B Shares in issue.

 

17.6Each Class B Share shall convert into its pro rata number of Class A Shares pursuant to this Article. The pro rata share for each holder of Class B Shares will be determined as follows: each Class B Share shall convert into such number of Class A Shares as is equal to the product of 1 multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the total number of Class A Shares into which all of the Class B Shares in issue shall be converted pursuant to this Article and the denominator of which shall be the total number of Class B Shares in issue at the time of conversion.

 

17.7References in this Article to “converted”, “conversion” or “exchange” shall mean the compulsory redemption without notice of Class B Shares of any Member and, on behalf of such Members, automatic application of such redemption proceeds in paying for such new Class A Shares into which the Class B Shares have been converted or exchanged at a price per Class B Share necessary to give effect to a conversion or exchange calculated on the basis that the Class A Shares to be issued as part of the conversion or exchange will be issued at par. The Class A Shares to be issued on an exchange or conversion shall be registered in the name of such Member or in such name as the Member may direct.

 

17.8Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article, in no event may any Class B Share convert into Class A Shares at a ratio that is less than one-for-one.

 

18Amendments of Memorandum and Articles of Association and Alteration of Capital

 

18.1The Company may by Ordinary Resolution:

 

(a)increase its share capital by such sum as the Ordinary Resolution shall prescribe and with such rights, priorities and privileges annexed thereto, as the Company in general meeting may determine;

 

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(b)consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of larger amount than its existing Shares;

 

(c)convert all or any of its paid-up Shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into paid-up Shares of any denomination;

 

(d)by subdivision of its existing Shares or any of them divide the whole or any part of its share capital into Shares of smaller amount than is fixed by the Memorandum or into Shares without par value; and

 

(e)cancel any Shares that at the date of the passing of the Ordinary Resolution have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the Shares so cancelled.

 

18.2All new Shares created in accordance with the provisions of the preceding Article shall be subject to the same provisions of the Articles with reference to the payment of calls, liens, transfer, transmission, forfeiture and otherwise as the Shares in the original share capital.

 

18.3Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the provisions of the Articles as regards the matters to be dealt with by Ordinary Resolution and Article 29.4, the Company may by Special Resolution:

 

(a)change its name;

 

(b)alter or add to the Articles;

 

(c)alter or add to the Memorandum with respect to any objects, powers or other matters specified therein; and

 

(d)reduce its share capital or any capital redemption reserve fund.

 

19Offices and Places of Business

 

Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Company may by resolution of the Directors change the location of its Registered Office. The Company may, in addition to its Registered Office, maintain such other offices or places of business as the Directors determine.

 

20General Meetings

 

20.1All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings.

 

20.2The Company may, but shall not (unless required by the Statute) be obliged to, in each year hold a general meeting as its annual general meeting, and shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it. Any annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place as the Directors shall appoint. At these meetings the report of the Directors (if any) shall be presented.

 

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20.3The Directors, the chief executive officer or the chairman of the board of Directors may call general meetings, and, for the avoidance of doubt, Members shall not have the ability to call general meetings.

 

20.4Members seeking to bring business before the annual general meeting or to nominate candidates for appointment as Directors at the annual general meeting must deliver notice to the principal executive offices of the Company not less than 120 calendar days before the date of the Company’s proxy statement released to Members in connection with the previous year’s annual general meeting or, if the Company did not hold an annual general meeting the previous year, or if the date of the current year’s annual general meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from the date of the previous year’s annual general meeting, then the deadline shall be set by the board of Directors with such deadline being a reasonable time before the Company begins to print and send its related proxy materials.

 

21Notice of General Meetings

 

21.1At least five clear days’ notice shall be given of any general meeting. Every notice shall specify the place, the day and the hour of the meeting and the general nature of the business to be conducted at the general meeting and shall be given in the manner hereinafter mentioned or in such other manner if any as may be prescribed by the Company, provided that a general meeting of the Company shall, whether or not the notice specified in this Article has been given and whether or not the provisions of the Articles regarding general meetings have been complied with, be deemed to have been duly convened if it is so agreed:

 

(a)in the case of an annual general meeting, by all of the Members entitled to attend and vote thereat; and

 

(b)in the case of an extraordinary general meeting, by a majority in number of the Members having a right to attend and vote at the meeting, together holding not less than ninety-five per cent in par value of the Shares giving that right.

 

21.2The accidental omission to give notice of a general meeting to, or the non receipt of notice of a general meeting by, any person entitled to receive such notice shall not invalidate the proceedings of that general meeting.

 

22Proceedings at General Meetings

 

22.1No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present. The holders of a majority of the Shares being individuals present in person or by proxy or if a corporation or other non-natural person by its duly authorised representative or proxy shall be a quorum.

 

22.2A person may participate at a general meeting by conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all the persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other. Participation by a person in a general meeting in this manner is treated as presence in person at that meeting.

 

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22.3A resolution (including a Special Resolution) in writing (in one or more counterparts) signed by or on behalf of all of the Members for the time being entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at general meetings (or, being corporations or other non-natural persons, signed by their duly authorised representatives) shall be as valid and effective as if the resolution had been passed at a general meeting of the Company duly convened and held.

 

22.4If a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting to commence, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and/or place or to such other day, time and/or place as the Directors may determine, and if at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting to commence, the Members present shall be a quorum.

 

22.5The Directors may, at any time prior to the time appointed for the meeting to commence, appoint any person to act as chairman of a general meeting of the Company or, if the Directors do not make any such appointment, the chairman, if any, of the board of Directors shall preside as chairman at such general meeting. If there is no such chairman, or if he shall not be present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for the meeting to commence, or is unwilling to act, the Directors present shall elect one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.

 

22.6If no Director is willing to act as chairman or if no Director is present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for the meeting to commence, the Members present shall choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.

 

22.7The chairman may, with the consent of a meeting at which a quorum is present (and shall if so directed by the meeting) adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place.

 

22.8When a general meeting is adjourned for thirty days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any such notice of an adjourned meeting.

 

22.9If, prior to a Business Combination, a notice is issued in respect of a general meeting and the Directors, in their absolute discretion, consider that it is impractical or undesirable for any reason to hold that general meeting at the place, the day and the hour specified in the notice calling such general meeting, the Directors may postpone the general meeting to another place, day and/or hour provided that notice of the place, the day and the hour of the rearranged general meeting is promptly given to all Members. No business shall be transacted at any postponed meeting other than the business specified in the notice of the original meeting.

 

22.10When a general meeting is postponed for thirty days or more, notice of the postponed meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any such notice of a postponed meeting. All proxy forms submitted for the original general meeting shall remain valid for the postponed meeting. The Directors may postpone a general meeting which has already been postponed.

 

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22.11A resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a poll.

 

22.12A poll shall be taken as the chairman directs, and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the general meeting at which the poll was demanded.

 

22.13A poll demanded on the election of a chairman or on a question of adjournment shall be taken forthwith. A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken at such date, time and place as the chairman of the general meeting directs, and any business other than that upon which a poll has been demanded or is contingent thereon may proceed pending the taking of the poll.

 

22.14In the case of an equality of votes the chairman shall be entitled to a second or casting vote.

 

23Votes of Members

 

23.1Subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any Shares, including as set out at Article 29.4, every Member present in any such manner shall have one vote for every Share of which he is the holder.

 

23.2In the case of joint holders the vote of the senior holder who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy (or, in the case of a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorised representative or proxy), shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders, and seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names of the holders stand in the Register of Members.

 

23.3A Member of unsound mind, or in respect of whom an order has been made by any court, having jurisdiction in lunacy, may vote by his committee, receiver, curator bonis, or other person on such Member’s behalf appointed by that court, and any such committee, receiver, curator bonis or other person may vote by proxy.

 

23.4No person shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting unless he is registered as a Member on the record date for such meeting nor unless all calls or other monies then payable by him in respect of Shares have been paid.

 

23.5No objection shall be raised as to the qualification of any voter except at the general meeting or adjourned general meeting at which the vote objected to is given or tendered and every vote not disallowed at the meeting shall be valid. Any objection made in due time in accordance with this Article shall be referred to the chairman whose decision shall be final and conclusive.

 

23.6Votes may be cast either personally or by proxy (or in the case of a corporation or other non-natural person by its duly authorised representative or proxy). A Member may appoint more than one proxy or the same proxy under one or more instruments to attend and vote at a meeting. Where a Member appoints more than one proxy the instrument of proxy shall specify the number of Shares in respect of which each proxy is entitled to exercise the related votes.

 

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23.7A Member holding more than one Share need not cast the votes in respect of his Shares in the same way on any resolution and therefore may vote a Share or some or all such Shares either for or against a resolution and/or abstain from voting a Share or some or all of the Shares and, subject to the terms of the instrument appointing him, a proxy appointed under one or more instruments may vote a Share or some or all of the Shares in respect of which he is appointed either for or against a resolution and/or abstain from voting a Share or some or all of the Shares in respect of which he is appointed.

 

24Proxies

 

24.1The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing and shall be executed under the hand of the appointor or of his attorney duly authorised in writing, or, if the appointor is a corporation or other non natural person, under the hand of its duly authorised representative. A proxy need not be a Member.

 

24.2The Directors may, in the notice convening any meeting or adjourned meeting, or in an instrument of proxy sent out by the Company, specify the manner by which the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited and the place and the time (being not later than the time appointed for the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting to which the proxy relates) at which the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited. In the absence of any such direction from the Directors in the notice convening any meeting or adjourned meeting or in an instrument of proxy sent out by the Company, the instrument appointing a proxy shall be deposited physically at the Registered Office not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the meeting or adjourned meeting to commence at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote.

 

24.3The chairman may in any event at his discretion declare that an instrument of proxy shall be deemed to have been duly deposited. An instrument of proxy that is not deposited in the manner permitted, or which has not been declared to have been duly deposited by the chairman, shall be invalid.

 

24.4The instrument appointing a proxy may be in any usual or common form (or such other form as the Directors may approve) and may be expressed to be for a particular meeting or any adjournment thereof or generally until revoked. An instrument appointing a proxy shall be deemed to include the power to demand or join or concur in demanding a poll.

 

24.5Votes given in accordance with the terms of an instrument of proxy shall be valid notwithstanding the previous death or insanity of the principal or revocation of the proxy or of the authority under which the proxy was executed, or the transfer of the Share in respect of which the proxy is given unless notice in writing of such death, insanity, revocation or transfer was received by the Company at the Registered Office before the commencement of the general meeting, or adjourned meeting at which it is sought to use the proxy.

 

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25Corporate Members

 

25.1Any corporation or other non-natural person which is a Member may in accordance with its constitutional documents, or in the absence of such provision by resolution of its directors or other governing body, authorise such person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or of any class of Members, and the person so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the corporation which he represents as the corporation could exercise if it were an individual Member.

 

25.2If a Clearing House (or its nominee(s)), being a corporation, is a Member, it may authorise such persons as it sees fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or at any meeting of any class of Members provided that the authorisation shall specify the number and class of Shares in respect of which each such representative is so authorised. Each person so authorised under the provisions of this Article shall be deemed to have been duly authorised without further evidence of the facts and be entitled to exercise the same rights and powers on behalf of the Clearing House (or its nominee(s)) as if such person was the registered holder of such Shares held by the Clearing House (or its nominee(s)).

 

26Shares that May Not be Voted

 

Shares in the Company that are beneficially owned by the Company shall not be voted, directly or indirectly, at any meeting and shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding Shares at any given time.

 

27Directors

 

27.1There shall be a board of Directors consisting of not less than one person provided however that the Company may by Ordinary Resolution increase or reduce the limits in the number of Directors.

 

27.2The Directors shall be divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. The number of Directors in each class shall be as nearly equal as possible. Upon the adoption of the Articles, the existing Directors shall by resolution classify themselves as Class I, Class II or Class III Directors. The Class I Directors shall stand appointed for a term expiring at the Company’s first annual general meeting, the Class II Directors shall stand appointed for a term expiring at the Company’s second annual general meeting and the Class III Directors shall stand appointed for a term expiring at the Company’s third annual general meeting. Commencing at the Company’s first annual general meeting, and at each annual general meeting thereafter, Directors appointed to succeed those Directors whose terms expire shall be appointed for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual general meeting after their appointment. Except as the Statute or other Applicable Law may otherwise require, in the interim between annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings called for the appointment of Directors and/or the removal of one or more Directors and the filling of any vacancy in that connection, additional Directors and any vacancies in the board of Directors, including unfilled vacancies resulting from the removal of Directors for cause, may be filled by the vote of a majority of the remaining Directors then in office, although less than a quorum (as defined in the Articles), or by the sole remaining Director. All Directors shall hold office until the expiration of their respective terms of office and until their successors shall have been appointed and qualified. A Director appointed to fill a vacancy resulting from the death, resignation or removal of a Director shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the Director whose death, resignation or removal shall have created such vacancy and until his successor shall have been appointed and qualified.

 

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28Powers of Directors

 

28.1Subject to the provisions of the Statute, the Memorandum and the Articles and to any directions given by Special Resolution, the business of the Company shall be managed by the Directors who may exercise all the powers of the Company. No alteration of the Memorandum or Articles and no such direction shall invalidate any prior act of the Directors which would have been valid if that alteration had not been made or that direction had not been given. A duly convened meeting of Directors at which a quorum is present may exercise all powers exercisable by the Directors.

 

28.2All cheques, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange and other negotiable or transferable instruments and all receipts for monies paid to the Company shall be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed or otherwise executed as the case may be in such manner as the Directors shall determine by resolution.

 

28.3The Directors on behalf of the Company may pay a gratuity or pension or allowance on retirement to any Director who has held any other salaried office or place of profit with the Company or to his widow or dependants and may make contributions to any fund and pay premiums for the purchase or provision of any such gratuity, pension or allowance.

 

28.4The Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and assets (present and future) and uncalled capital or any part thereof and to issue debentures, debenture stock, mortgages, bonds and other such securities whether outright or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party.

 

29Appointment and Removal of Directors

 

29.1Prior to the closing of a Business Combination, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution of the holders of the Class B Shares appoint any person to be a Director or may by Ordinary Resolution of the holders of the Class B Shares remove any Director. For the avoidance of doubt, prior to the closing of a Business Combination, holders of Class A Shares shall have no right to vote on the appointment or removal of any Director.

 

29.2The Directors may appoint any person to be a Director, either to fill a vacancy or as an additional Director provided that the appointment does not cause the number of Directors to exceed any number fixed by or in accordance with the Articles as the maximum number of Directors.

 

29.3After the closing of a Business Combination, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution appoint any person to be a Director or may by Ordinary Resolution remove any Director.

 

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29.4Prior to the closing of a Business Combination, Article 29.1 may only be amended by a Special Resolution passed by at least two-thirds of such Members (which shall include a simple majority of the holders of Class B Shares) as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting of which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been given, or by way of unanimous written resolution.

 

30Vacation of Office of Director

 

The office of a Director shall be vacated if:

 

(a)the Director gives notice in writing to the Company that he resigns the office of Director; or

 

(b)the Director absents himself (for the avoidance of doubt, without being represented by proxy) from three consecutive meetings of the board of Directors without special leave of absence from the Directors, and the Directors pass a resolution that he has by reason of such absence vacated office; or

 

(c)the Director dies, becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors generally; or

 

(d)the Director is found to be or becomes of unsound mind; or

 

(e)all of the other Directors (being not less than two in number) determine that he should be removed as a Director, either by a resolution passed by all of the other Directors at a meeting of the Directors duly convened and held in accordance with the Articles or by a resolution in writing signed by all of the other Directors.

 

31Proceedings of Directors

 

31.1The quorum for the transaction of the business of the Directors may be fixed by the Directors, and unless so fixed shall be a majority of the Directors then in office.

 

31.2Subject to the provisions of the Articles, the Directors may regulate their proceedings as they think fit. Questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. In the case of an equality of votes, the chairman shall have a second or casting vote.

 

31.3A person may participate in a meeting of the Directors or any committee of Directors by conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all the persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other at the same time. Participation by a person in a meeting in this manner is treated as presence in person at that meeting. Unless otherwise determined by the Directors, the meeting shall be deemed to be held at the place where the chairman is located at the start of the meeting.

 

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31.4A resolution in writing (in one or more counterparts) signed by all the Directors or all the members of a committee of the Directors or, in the case of a resolution in writing relating to the removal of any Director or the vacation of office by any Director, all of the Directors other than the Director who is the subject of such resolution shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Directors, or committee of Directors as the case may be, duly convened and held.

 

31.5A Director may, or other Officer on the direction of a Director shall, call a meeting of the Directors by at least two days’ notice in writing to every Director which notice shall set forth the general nature of the business to be considered unless notice is waived by all the Directors either at, before or after the meeting is held. To any such notice of a meeting of the Directors all the provisions of the Articles relating to the giving of notices by the Company to the Members shall apply mutatis mutandis.

 

31.6The continuing Directors (or a sole continuing Director, as the case may be) may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their body, but if and so long as their number is reduced below the number fixed by or pursuant to the Articles as the necessary quorum of Directors the continuing Directors or Director may act for the purpose of increasing the number of Directors to be equal to such fixed number, or of summoning a general meeting of the Company, but for no other purpose.

 

31.7The Directors may elect a chairman of their board and determine the period for which he is to hold office; but if no such chairman is elected, or if at any meeting the chairman is not present within five minutes after the time appointed for the meeting to commence, the Directors present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.

 

31.8All acts done by any meeting of the Directors or of a committee of the Directors shall, notwithstanding that it is afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any Director, and/or that they or any of them were disqualified, and/or had vacated their office and/or were not entitled to vote, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and/or not disqualified to be a Director and/or had not vacated their office and/or had been entitled to vote, as the case may be.

 

31.9A Director may be represented at any meetings of the board of Directors by a proxy appointed in writing by him. The proxy shall count towards the quorum and the vote of the proxy shall for all purposes be deemed to be that of the appointing Director.

 

32Presumption of Assent

 

A Director who is present at a meeting of the board of Directors at which action on any Company matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless his dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless he shall file his written dissent from such action with the person acting as the chairman or secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered post to such person immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a Director who voted in favour of such action.

 

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33Directors’ Interests

 

33.1A Director may hold any other office or place of profit under the Company (other than the office of Auditor) in conjunction with his office of Director for such period and on such terms as to remuneration and otherwise as the Directors may determine.

 

33.2A Director may act by himself or by, through or on behalf of his firm in a professional capacity for the Company and he or his firm shall be entitled to remuneration for professional services as if he were not a Director.

 

33.3A Director may be or become a director or other officer of or otherwise interested in any company promoted by the Company or in which the Company may be interested as a shareholder, a contracting party or otherwise, and no such Director shall be accountable to the Company for any remuneration or other benefits received by him as a director or officer of, or from his interest in, such other company.

 

33.4No person shall be disqualified from the office of Director or prevented by such office from contracting with the Company, either as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, nor shall any such contract or any contract or transaction entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which any Director shall be in any way interested be or be liable to be avoided, nor shall any Director so contracting or being so interested be liable to account to the Company for any profit realised by or arising in connection with any such contract or transaction by reason of such Director holding office or of the fiduciary relationship thereby established. A Director shall be at liberty to vote in respect of any contract or transaction in which he is interested provided that the nature of the interest of any Director in any such contract or transaction shall be disclosed by him at or prior to its consideration and any vote thereon.

 

33.5A general notice that a Director is a shareholder, director, officer or employee of any specified firm or company and is to be regarded as interested in any transaction with such firm or company shall be sufficient disclosure for the purposes of voting on a resolution in respect of a contract or transaction in which he has an interest, and after such general notice it shall not be necessary to give special notice relating to any particular transaction.

 

34Minutes

 

The Directors shall cause minutes to be made in books kept for the purpose of recording all appointments of Officers made by the Directors, all proceedings at meetings of the Company or the holders of any class of Shares and of the Directors, and of committees of the Directors, including the names of the Directors present at each meeting.

 

35Delegation of Directors’ Powers

 

35.1The Directors may delegate any of their powers, authorities and discretions, including the power to sub-delegate, to any committee consisting of one or more Directors (including, without limitation, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee). Any such delegation may be made subject to any conditions the Directors may impose and either collaterally with or to the exclusion of their own powers and any such delegation may be revoked or altered by the Directors. Subject to any such conditions, the proceedings of a committee of Directors shall be governed by the Articles regulating the proceedings of Directors, so far as they are capable of applying.

 

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35.2The Directors may establish any committees, local boards or agencies or appoint any person to be a manager or agent for managing the affairs of the Company and may appoint any person to be a member of such committees, local boards or agencies. Any such appointment may be made subject to any conditions the Directors may impose, and either collaterally with or to the exclusion of their own powers and any such appointment may be revoked or altered by the Directors. Subject to any such conditions, the proceedings of any such committee, local board or agency shall be governed by the Articles regulating the proceedings of Directors, so far as they are capable of applying.

 

35.3The Directors may adopt formal written charters for committees and, if so adopted, shall review and assess the adequacy of such formal written charters on an annual basis. Each of these committees shall be empowered to do all things necessary to exercise the rights of such committee set forth in the Articles and shall have such powers as the Directors may delegate pursuant to the Articles and as required by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. Each of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee, if established, shall consist of such number of Directors as the Directors shall from time to time determine (or such minimum number as may be required from time to time by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law). For so long as any class of Shares is listed on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee shall be made up of such number of Independent Directors as is required from time to time by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law.

 

35.4The Directors may by power of attorney or otherwise appoint any person to be the agent of the Company on such conditions as the Directors may determine, provided that the delegation is not to the exclusion of their own powers and may be revoked by the Directors at any time.

 

35.5The Directors may by power of attorney or otherwise appoint any company, firm, person or body of persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Directors, to be the attorney or authorised signatory of the Company for such purpose and with such powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Directors under the Articles) and for such period and subject to such conditions as they may think fit, and any such powers of attorney or other appointment may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such attorneys or authorised signatories as the Directors may think fit and may also authorise any such attorney or authorised signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in him.

 

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35.6The Directors may appoint such Officers as they consider necessary on such terms, at such remuneration and to perform such duties, and subject to such provisions as to disqualification and removal as the Directors may think fit. Unless otherwise specified in the terms of his appointment an Officer may be removed by resolution of the Directors or Members. An Officer may vacate his office at any time if he gives notice in writing to the Company that he resigns his office.

 

36No Minimum Shareholding

 

The Company in general meeting may fix a minimum shareholding required to be held by a Director, but unless and until such a shareholding qualification is fixed a Director is not required to hold Shares.

 

37Remuneration of Directors

 

37.1The remuneration to be paid to the Directors, if any, shall be such remuneration as the Directors shall determine, provided that no cash remuneration shall be paid to any Director by the Company prior to the consummation of a Business Combination. The Directors shall also, whether prior to or after the consummation of a Business Combination, be entitled to be paid all travelling, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by them in connection with their attendance at meetings of Directors or committees of Directors, or general meetings of the Company, or separate meetings of the holders of any class of Shares or debentures of the Company, or otherwise in connection with the business of the Company or the discharge of their duties as a Director, or to receive a fixed allowance in respect thereof as may be determined by the Directors, or a combination partly of one such method and partly the other.

 

37.2The Directors may by resolution approve additional remuneration to any Director for any services which in the opinion of the Directors go beyond his ordinary routine work as a Director. Any fees paid to a Director who is also counsel, attorney or solicitor to the Company, or otherwise serves it in a professional capacity shall be in addition to his remuneration as a Director.

 

38Seal

 

38.1The Company may, if the Directors so determine, have a Seal. The Seal shall only be used by the authority of the Directors or of a committee of the Directors authorised by the Directors. Every instrument to which the Seal has been affixed shall be signed by at least one person who shall be either a Director or some Officer or other person appointed by the Directors for the purpose.

 

38.2The Company may have for use in any place or places outside the Cayman Islands a duplicate Seal or Seals each of which shall be a facsimile of the common Seal of the Company and, if the Directors so determine, with the addition on its face of the name of every place where it is to be used.

 

38.3A Director or Officer, representative or attorney of the Company may without further authority of the Directors affix the Seal over his signature alone to any document of the Company required to be authenticated by him under seal or to be filed with the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere wheresoever.

 

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39Dividends, Distributions and Reserve

 

39.1Subject to the Statute and this Article and except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to any Shares, the Directors may resolve to pay Dividends and other distributions on Shares in issue and authorise payment of the Dividends or other distributions out of the funds of the Company lawfully available therefor. A Dividend shall be deemed to be an interim Dividend unless the terms of the resolution pursuant to which the Directors resolve to pay such Dividend specifically state that such Dividend shall be a final Dividend. No Dividend or other distribution shall be paid except out of the realised or unrealised profits of the Company, out of the share premium account or as otherwise permitted by law.

 

39.2Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to any Shares, all Dividends and other distributions shall be paid according to the par value of the Shares that a Member holds. If any Share is issued on terms providing that it shall rank for Dividend as from a particular date, that Share shall rank for Dividend accordingly.

 

39.3The Directors may deduct from any Dividend or other distribution payable to any Member all sums of money (if any) then payable by him to the Company on account of calls or otherwise.

 

39.4The Directors may resolve that any Dividend or other distribution be paid wholly or partly by the distribution of specific assets and in particular (but without limitation) by the distribution of shares, debentures, or securities of any other company or in any one or more of such ways and where any difficulty arises in regard to such distribution, the Directors may settle the same as they think expedient and in particular may issue fractional Shares and may fix the value for distribution of such specific assets or any part thereof and may determine that cash payments shall be made to any Members upon the basis of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of all Members and may vest any such specific assets in trustees in such manner as may seem expedient to the Directors.

 

39.5Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to any Shares, Dividends and other distributions may be paid in any currency. The Directors may determine the basis of conversion for any currency conversions that may be required and how any costs involved are to be met.

 

39.6The Directors may, before resolving to pay any Dividend or other distribution, set aside such sums as they think proper as a reserve or reserves which shall, at the discretion of the Directors, be applicable for any purpose of the Company and pending such application may, at the discretion of the Directors, be employed in the business of the Company.

 

39.7Any Dividend, other distribution, interest or other monies payable in cash in respect of Shares may be paid by wire transfer to the holder or by cheque or warrant sent through the post directed to the registered address of the holder or, in the case of joint holders, to the registered address of the holder who is first named on the Register of Members or to such person and to such address as such holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Every such cheque or warrant shall be made payable to the order of the person to whom it is sent. Any one of two or more joint holders may give effectual receipts for any Dividends, other distributions, bonuses, or other monies payable in respect of the Share held by them as joint holders.

 

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39.8No Dividend or other distribution shall bear interest against the Company.

 

39.9Any Dividend or other distribution which cannot be paid to a Member and/or which remains unclaimed after six months from the date on which such Dividend or other distribution becomes payable may, in the discretion of the Directors, be paid into a separate account in the Company’s name, provided that the Company shall not be constituted as a trustee in respect of that account and the Dividend or other distribution shall remain as a debt due to the Member. Any Dividend or other distribution which remains unclaimed after a period of six years from the date on which such Dividend or other distribution becomes payable shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company.

 

40Capitalisation

 

The Directors may at any time capitalise any sum standing to the credit of any of the Company’s reserve accounts or funds (including the share premium account and capital redemption reserve fund) or any sum standing to the credit of the profit and loss account or otherwise available for distribution; appropriate such sum to Members in the proportions in which such sum would have been divisible amongst such Members had the same been a distribution of profits by way of Dividend or other distribution; and apply such sum on their behalf in paying up in full unissued Shares for allotment and distribution credited as fully paid-up to and amongst them in the proportion aforesaid. In such event the Directors shall do all acts and things required to give effect to such capitalisation, with full power given to the Directors to make such provisions as they think fit in the case of Shares becoming distributable in fractions (including provisions whereby the benefit of fractional entitlements accrue to the Company rather than to the Members concerned). The Directors may authorise any person to enter on behalf of all of the Members interested into an agreement with the Company providing for such capitalisation and matters incidental or relating thereto and any agreement made under such authority shall be effective and binding on all such Members and the Company.

 

41Books of Account

 

41.1The Directors shall cause proper books of account (including, where applicable, material underlying documentation including contracts and invoices) to be kept with respect to all sums of money received and expended by the Company and the matters in respect of which the receipt or expenditure takes place, all sales and purchases of goods by the Company and the assets and liabilities of the Company. Such books of account must be retained for a minimum period of five years from the date on which they are prepared. Proper books shall not be deemed to be kept if there are not kept such books of account as are necessary to give a true and fair view of the state of the Company’s affairs and to explain its transactions.

 

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41.2The Directors shall determine whether and to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions or regulations the accounts and books of the Company or any of them shall be open to the inspection of Members not being Directors and no Member (not being a Director) shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or document of the Company except as conferred by Statute or authorised by the Directors or by the Company in general meeting.

 

41.3The Directors may cause to be prepared and to be laid before the Company in general meeting profit and loss accounts, balance sheets, group accounts (if any) and such other reports and accounts as may be required by law.

 

42Audit

 

42.1The Directors may appoint an Auditor of the Company who shall hold office on such terms as the Directors determine.

 

42.2Without prejudice to the freedom of the Directors to establish any other committee, if the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on the Designated Stock Exchange, and if required by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, the Directors shall establish and maintain an Audit Committee as a committee of the Directors and shall adopt a formal written Audit Committee charter and review and assess the adequacy of the formal written charter on an annual basis. The composition and responsibilities of the Audit Committee shall comply with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. The Audit Committee shall meet at least once every financial quarter, or more frequently as circumstances dictate.

 

42.3If the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Company shall conduct an appropriate review of all related party transactions on an ongoing basis and shall utilise the Audit Committee for the review and approval of potential conflicts of interest.

 

42.4The remuneration of the Auditor shall be fixed by the Audit Committee (if one exists).

 

42.5If the office of Auditor becomes vacant by resignation or death of the Auditor, or by his becoming incapable of acting by reason of illness or other disability at a time when his services are required, the Directors shall fill the vacancy and determine the remuneration of such Auditor.

 

42.6Every Auditor of the Company shall have a right of access at all times to the books and accounts and vouchers of the Company and shall be entitled to require from the Directors and Officers such information and explanation as may be necessary for the performance of the duties of the Auditor.

 

42.7Auditors shall, if so required by the Directors, make a report on the accounts of the Company during their tenure of office at the next annual general meeting following their appointment in the case of a company which is registered with the Registrar of Companies as an ordinary company, and at the next extraordinary general meeting following their appointment in the case of a company which is registered with the Registrar of Companies as an exempted company, and at any other time during their term of office, upon request of the Directors or any general meeting of the Members.

 

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42.8Any payment made to members of the Audit Committee (if one exists) shall require the review and approval of the Directors, with any Director interested in such payment abstaining from such review and approval.

 

42.9The Audit Committee shall monitor compliance with the terms of the IPO and, if any non-compliance is identified, the Audit Committee shall be charged with the responsibility to take all action necessary to rectify such non-compliance or otherwise cause compliance with the terms of the IPO.

 

42.10At least one member of the Audit Committee shall be an “audit committee financial expert” as determined by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. The “audit committee financial expert” shall have such past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting, or any other comparable experience or background which results in the individual’s financial sophistication.

 

43Notices

 

43.1Notices shall be in writing and may be given by the Company to any Member either personally or by sending it by courier, post, cable, telex, fax or e-mail to him or to his address as shown in the Register of Members (or where the notice is given by e-mail by sending it to the e-mail address provided by such Member). Notice may also be served by Electronic Communication in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any other competent regulatory authority or by placing it on the Company’s Website.

 

43.2Where a notice is sent by:

 

(a)courier; service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by delivery of the notice to a courier company, and shall be deemed to have been received on the third day (not including Saturdays or Sundays or public holidays) following the day on which the notice was delivered to the courier;

 

(b)post; service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, pre paying and posting a letter containing the notice, and shall be deemed to have been received on the fifth day (not including Saturdays or Sundays or public holidays in the Cayman Islands) following the day on which the notice was posted;

 

(c)cable, telex or fax; service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing and sending such notice and shall be deemed to have been received on the same day that it was transmitted;

 

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(d)e-mail or other Electronic Communication; service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by transmitting the e-mail to the e-mail address provided by the intended recipient and shall be deemed to have been received on the same day that it was sent, and it shall not be necessary for the receipt of the e-mail to be acknowledged by the recipient; and

 

(e)placing it on the Company’s Website; service of the notice shall be deemed to have been effected one hour after the notice or document was placed on the Company’s Website.

 

43.3A notice may be given by the Company to the person or persons which the Company has been advised are entitled to a Share or Shares in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member in the same manner as other notices which are required to be given under the Articles and shall be addressed to them by name, or by the title of representatives of the deceased, or trustee of the bankrupt, or by any like description at the address supplied for that purpose by the persons claiming to be so entitled, or at the option of the Company by giving the notice in any manner in which the same might have been given if the death or bankruptcy had not occurred.

 

43.4Notice of every general meeting shall be given in any manner authorised by the Articles to every holder of Shares carrying an entitlement to receive such notice on the record date for such meeting except that in the case of joint holders the notice shall be sufficient if given to the joint holder first named in the Register of Members and every person upon whom the ownership of a Share devolves by reason of his being a legal personal representative or a trustee in bankruptcy of a Member where the Member but for his death or bankruptcy would be entitled to receive notice of the meeting, and no other person shall be entitled to receive notices of general meetings.

 

44Winding Up

 

44.1If the Company shall be wound up, the liquidator shall apply the assets of the Company in satisfaction of creditors’ claims in such manner and order as such liquidator thinks fit. Subject to the rights attaching to any Shares, in a winding up:

 

(a)if the assets available for distribution amongst the Members shall be insufficient to repay the whole of the Company’s issued share capital, such assets shall be distributed so that, as nearly as may be, the losses shall be borne by the Members in proportion to the par value of the Shares held by them; or

 

(b)if the assets available for distribution amongst the Members shall be more than sufficient to repay the whole of the Company’s issued share capital at the commencement of the winding up, the surplus shall be distributed amongst the Members in proportion to the par value of the Shares held by them at the commencement of the winding up subject to a deduction from those Shares in respect of which there are monies due, of all monies payable to the Company for unpaid calls or otherwise.

 

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44.2If the Company shall be wound up the liquidator may, subject to the rights attaching to any Shares and with the approval of a Special Resolution of the Company and any other approval required by the Statute, divide amongst the Members in kind the whole or any part of the assets of the Company (whether such assets shall consist of property of the same kind or not) and may for that purpose value any assets and determine how the division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members. The liquidator may, with the like approval, vest the whole or any part of such assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the Members as the liquidator, with the like approval, shall think fit, but so that no Member shall be compelled to accept any asset upon which there is a liability.

 

45Indemnity and Insurance

 

45.1Every Director and Officer (which for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include auditors of the Company), together with every former Director and former Officer (each an “Indemnified Person”) shall be indemnified out of the assets of the Company against any liability, action, proceeding, claim, demand, costs, damages or expenses, including legal expenses, whatsoever which they or any of them may incur as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out their functions other than such liability (if any) that they may incur by reason of their own actual fraud, wilful neglect or wilful default. No Indemnified Person shall be liable to the Company for any loss or damage incurred by the Company as a result (whether direct or indirect) of the carrying out of their functions unless that liability arises through the actual fraud, wilful neglect or wilful default of such Indemnified Person. No person shall be found to have committed actual fraud, wilful neglect or wilful default under this Article unless or until a court of competent jurisdiction shall have made a finding to that effect.

 

45.2The Company shall advance to each Indemnified Person reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with the defence of any action, suit, proceeding or investigation involving such Indemnified Person for which indemnity will or could be sought. In connection with any advance of any expenses hereunder, the Indemnified Person shall execute an undertaking to repay the advanced amount to the Company if it shall be determined by final judgment or other final adjudication that such Indemnified Person was not entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article. If it shall be determined by a final judgment or other final adjudication that such Indemnified Person was not entitled to indemnification with respect to such judgment, costs or expenses, then such party shall not be indemnified with respect to such judgment, costs or expenses and any advancement shall be returned to the Company (without interest) by the Indemnified Person.

 

45.3The Directors, on behalf of the Company, may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any Director or Officer against any liability which, by virtue of any rule of law, would otherwise attach to such person in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which such person may be guilty in relation to the Company.

 

46Financial Year

 

Unless the Directors otherwise prescribe, the financial year of the Company shall end on 31st December in each year and, following the year of incorporation, shall begin on 1st January in each year.

 

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47Transfer by Way of Continuation

 

If the Company is exempted as defined in the Statute, it shall, subject to the provisions of the Statute and with the approval of a Special Resolution, have the power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands.

 

48Mergers and Consolidations

 

The Company shall have the power to merge or consolidate with one or more other constituent companies (as defined in the Statute) upon such terms as the Directors may determine and (to the extent required by the Statute) with the approval of a Special Resolution.

 

49Business Combination

 

49.1Notwithstanding any other provision of the Articles, this Article shall apply during the period commencing upon the adoption of the Articles and terminating upon the first to occur of the consummation of a Business Combination and the full distribution of the Trust Account pursuant to this Article. In the event of a conflict between this Article and any other Articles, the provisions of this Article shall prevail.

 

49.2Prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company shall either:

 

(a)submit such Business Combination to its Members for approval; or

 

(b)provide Members with the opportunity to have their Shares repurchased by means of a tender offer for a per-Share repurchase price payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of such Business Combination, including interest earned on the Trust Account (net of taxes paid or payable, if any), divided by the number of then issued Public Shares, provided that the Company shall not repurchase Public Shares in an amount that would cause the Company’s net tangible assets to be less than US$5,000,001 either immediately prior to or upon consummation of such Business Combination. Such obligation to repurchase Shares is subject to the completion of the proposed Business Combination to which it relates.

 

49.3If the Company initiates any tender offer in accordance with Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act in connection with a proposed Business Combination, it shall file tender offer documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to completing such Business Combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about such Business Combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act. If, alternatively, the Company holds a general meeting to approve a proposed Business Combination, the Company will conduct any redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules, and file proxy materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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49.4At a general meeting called for the purposes of approving a Business Combination pursuant to this Article, in the event that such Business Combination is approved by Ordinary Resolution, the Company shall be authorised to consummate such Business Combination, provided that the Company shall not consummate such Business Combination unless the Company has net tangible assets of at least US$5,000,001 immediately prior to, or upon such consummation of, or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement that may be contained in the agreement relating to, such Business Combination.

 

49.5Any Member holding Public Shares who is not the Sponsor, a Founder, Officer or Director may, at least two business days’ prior to any vote on a Business Combination, elect to have their Public Shares redeemed for cash, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided for in the related proxy materials (the “IPO Redemption”), provided that no such Member acting together with any Affiliate of his or any other person with whom he is acting in concert or as a partnership, limited partnership, syndicate, or other group for the purposes of acquiring, holding, or disposing of Shares may exercise this redemption right with respect to more than 15 per cent of the Public Shares in the aggregate without the prior consent of the Company and provided further that any beneficial holder of Public Shares on whose behalf a redemption right is being exercised must identify itself to the Company in connection with any redemption election in order to validly redeem such Public Shares. If so demanded, the Company shall pay any such redeeming Member, regardless of whether he is voting for or against such proposed Business Combination, a per-Share redemption price payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, including interest earned on the Trust Account (such interest shall be net of taxes payable) and not previously released to the Company to pay its taxes, divided by the number of then issued Public Shares (such redemption price being referred to herein as the “Redemption Price”), but only in the event that the applicable proposed Business Combination is approved and consummated. The Company shall not redeem Public Shares that would cause the Company’s net tangible assets to be less than US$5,000,001 following such redemptions (the “Redemption Limitation”).

 

49.6A Member may not withdraw a Redemption Notice once submitted to the Company unless the Directors determine (in their sole discretion) to permit the withdrawal of such redemption request (which they may do in whole or in part).

 

49.7In the event that the Company does not consummate a Business Combination within 24 months from the consummation of the IPO, or such later time as the Members may approve in accordance with the Articles, the Company shall:

 

(a)cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up;

 

(b)as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-Share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company (less taxes payable and up to US$100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then Public Shares in issue, which redemption will completely extinguish public Members’ rights as Members (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and

 

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(c)as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining Members and the Directors, liquidate and dissolve,

 

subject in each case to its obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of Applicable Law.

 

49.8In the event that any amendment is made to the Articles:

 

(a)to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with a Business Combination or redeem 100 per cent of the Public Shares if the Company does not consummate a Business Combination within 24 months from the consummation of the IPO, or such later time as the Members may approve in accordance with the Articles; or

 

(b)with respect to any other provision relating to Members’ rights or pre-Business Combination activity,

 

each holder of Public Shares who is not the Sponsor, a Founder, Officer or Director shall be provided with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares upon the approval or effectiveness of any such amendment at a per-Share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares. The Company’s ability to provide such redemption in this Article is subject to the Redemption Limitation.

 

49.9A holder of Public Shares shall be entitled to receive distributions from the Trust Account only in the event of an IPO Redemption, a repurchase of Shares by means of a tender offer pursuant to this Article, or a distribution of the Trust Account pursuant to this Article. In no other circumstance shall a holder of Public Shares have any right or interest of any kind in the Trust Account.

 

49.10After the issue of Public Shares, and prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company shall not issue additional Shares or any other securities that would entitle the holders thereof to:

 

(a)receive funds from the Trust Account; or

 

(b)vote as a class with Public Shares on a Business Combination.

 

37

 

 

49.11The uninterested Independent Directors shall approve any transaction or transactions between the Company and any of the following parties:

 

(a)any Member owning an interest in the voting power of the Company that gives such Member a significant influence over the Company; and

 

(b)any Director or Officer and any Affiliate of such Director or Officer.

 

49.12A Director may vote in respect of a Business Combination in which such Director has a conflict of interest with respect to the evaluation of such Business Combination. Such Director must disclose such interest or conflict to the other Directors.

 

49.13As long as the securities of the Company are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Company must complete one or more Business Combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80 per cent of the assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the interest and other income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the Company’s signing a definitive agreement in connection with a Business Combination. A Business Combination must not be effectuated with another blank cheque company or a similar company with nominal operations.

 

49.14The Company may enter into a Business Combination with a target business that is Affiliated with the Sponsor, a Founder, a Director or an Officer. In the event the Company seeks to consummate a Business Combination with a target that is Affiliated with the Sponsor, a Founder, a Director or an Officer, the Company, or a committee of Independent Directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another valuation or appraisal firm that regularly renders fairness opinions on the type of target business the Company is seeking to acquire that is a member of the United States Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or an independent accounting firm that such a Business Combination is fair to the Company from a financial point of view.

 

50Business Opportunities

 

50.1To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, no individual serving as a Director or an Officer (“Management”) shall have any duty, except and to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Company. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company renounces any interest or expectancy of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for Management, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other. Except to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, Management shall have no duty to communicate or offer any such corporate opportunity to the Company and shall not be liable to the Company or its Members for breach of any fiduciary duty as a Member, Director and/or Officer solely by reason of the fact that such party pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself, himself or herself, directs such corporate opportunity to another person, or does not communicate information regarding such corporate opportunity to the Company.

 

50.2Except as provided elsewhere in this Article, the Company hereby renounces any interest or expectancy of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for both the Company and Management, about which a Director and/or Officer who is also a member of Management acquires knowledge.

 

50.3To the extent a court might hold that the conduct of any activity related to a corporate opportunity that is renounced in this Article to be a breach of duty to the Company or its Members, the Company hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, any and all claims and causes of action that the Company may have for such activities. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the provisions of this Article apply equally to activities conducted in the future and that have been conducted in the past.

 

38

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

NUMBER
U-

 

UNITS
SPECIMEN UNIT CERTIFICATE
SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

CUSIP [ ]

 

COVA Acquisition Corp.
UNITS CONSISTING OF ONE CLASS A ORDINARY SHARE AND ONE-half OF ONE REDEEMABLE WARRANT TO PURCHASE ONE CLASS A ORDINARY SHARE

 

THIS CERTIFIES THAT ____________________ is the owner of ___________ Units.

 

Each Unit (“Unit”) consists of one (1) Class A ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share (“Ordinary Shares”), of COVA Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and one-half (1/2) of one redeemable warrant (each whole warrant, a “Warrant”). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) Ordinary Share for $11.50 per share (subject to adjustment). Each Warrant will become exercisable on the later of (i) thirty (30) days after the Company’s completion of a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses (each, a “Business Combination”), and (ii) twelve (12) months from the closing of the Company’s initial public offering, and will expire unless exercised before 5:00 p.m., New York City Time, on the date that is five (5) years after the date on which the Company completes its initial Business Combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation (the “Expiration Date”). The Ordinary Shares and Warrants comprising the Units represented by this certificate are not transferable separately prior to __________, 2021, unless Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. elects to allow earlier separate trading, subject to the Company’s filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of a Current Report on Form 8-K containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the Company’s receipt of the gross proceeds of the Company’s initial public offering and issuing a press release announcing when separate trading will begin. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the Units and only whole Warrants are exercisable. The terms of the Warrants are governed by a Warrant Agreement, dated as of __________, 2021, between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Warrant Agent, and are subject to the terms and provisions contained therein, all of which terms and provisions the holder of this certificate consents to by acceptance hereof. Copies of the Warrant Agreement are on file at the office of the Warrant Agent at 1 State Street, 30th Floor, New York, New York 10004, and are available to any Warrant holder on written request and without cost.

 

Upon the consummation of the Business Combination, the Units represented by this certificate will automatically separate into the Class A Ordinary Shares and Warrants comprising such Units.

 

This certificate is not valid unless countersigned by the Transfer Agent and Registrar of the Company.

 

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

 

Witness the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers.

 

 
Chief Executive Officer   Secretary

 

 

 

 

COVA Acquisition Corp.

 

The Company will furnish without charge to each unitholder who so requests, a statement of the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of shares or series thereof of the Company and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.

 

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

 

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT — Custodian
TEN COM — as tenants in common   _____________ _____________
TEN ENT — as tenants by the entireties   (Cust) (Minor)
JT TEN — as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common   under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act
      _____________________________
      (State)

 

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

 

 

For value received, ________________ hereby sells, assigns, and transfers unto

 

 

 

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

 

 

 2 

 

 

(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)

 

___________________________Units represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint _______________________________ Attorney to transfer the said Units on the books of the within named Company with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated ____________

 

     
    Notice: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 

Signature(s) Guaranteed:

 

 

THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED (OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULES)).

 

In each case, as more fully described in the Company’s final prospectus dated ___________, 2021, the holder(s) of this certificate shall be entitled to receive a pro-rata portion of certain funds held in the trust account established in connection with the Company’s initial public offering only in the event that (i) the Company redeems the Ordinary Shares sold in its initial public offering and liquidates because it does not consummate an initial business combination within the period of time set forth in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as the same may be amended from time to time, (ii) the Company redeems the Ordinary Shares sold in its initial public offering in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) that would modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to provide holders of the Ordinary Shares the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with the Company’s initial business combination or to redeem 100% of the Ordinary Shares if the Company does not complete its initial business combination within the time period set forth therein or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of the Ordinary Shares, or (iii) if the holder(s) seek(s) to redeem for cash his, her or its respective Ordinary Shares in connection with a tender offer (or proxy solicitation, solely in the event the Company seeks shareholder approval of the proposed initial business combination) setting forth the details of a proposed initial business combination. In no other circumstances shall the holder(s) have any right or interest of any kind in or to the trust account.

 

 3 

Exhibit 4.2

 

NUMBER SHARES

 

SEE REVERSE FOR
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

CUSIP [  ]

 

SPECIMEN CLASS A ORDINARY SHARE CERTIFICATE

 


COVA Acquisition Corp.
INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES

 

This Certifies that ___________________________is the owner of _______________

 

FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES, PAR VALUE US$0.0001 PER SHARE, OF COVA Acquisition CORP. (THE “COMPANY”) subject to the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as the same may be amended from time to time, and transferable on the books of the Company in person or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this certificate properly endorsed.

 

The Company will be forced to redeem all of its Class A ordinary shares if it is unable to complete a business combination within the period set forth in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as the same may be amended from time to time, all as more fully described in the Company’s final prospectus dated __________, 2021.

 

This certificate is not valid unless countersigned by the Transfer Agent and registered by the Registrar.

 

Witness the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers.

 

Dated: _____________

 

Chief Executive Officer   Secretary
     

 

 

 

 

COVA Acquisition Corp.

 

The Company will furnish without charge to each shareholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of shares or series thereof of the Company and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. This certificate and the shares represented thereby are issued and shall be held subject to all the provisions of the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as the same may be amended from time to time, and resolutions of the Board of Directors providing for the issue of Class A ordinary shares (copies of which may be obtained from the secretary of the Company), to all of which the holder of this certificate by acceptance hereof assents.

 

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

      UNIF GIFT MIN ACT —   Custodian
TEN COM     —  as tenants in common        
TEN ENT  —  as tenants by the entireties   (Cust)   (Minor)
JT TEN  —  as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common   under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act
         
        (State)

 

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

 

For value received, ________________________ hereby sells, assigns, and transfers unto

 

 

 

(PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER(S) OF ASSIGNEE(S))

 

 

 

(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES), INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE(S))

 

 

 

Class A ordinary shares represented by the within Certificate, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint

 

 

 

Attorney to transfer the said shares on the books of the within named Company with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated: __________

 

   
  Shareholder

 

 2 

 

 

NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE(S) TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.

 

Signature(s) Guaranteed:
By:
 
 
 
 

 

THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED (OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE)).

 

In each case, as more fully described in the Company’s final prospectus dated ________, 2021, the holder(s) of this certificate shall be entitled to receive a pro-rata portion of certain funds held in the trust account established in connection with its initial public offering only in the event that (i) the Company redeems the Class A ordinary shares sold in its initial public offering and liquidates because it does not consummate an initial business combination within the period of time set forth in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as the same may be amended from time to time, (ii) the Company redeems the Class A ordinary shares sold in its initial public offering in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) that would modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to provide holders of the Class A ordinary shares the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with the Company’s initial business combination or to redeem 100% of the Class A ordinary shares if the Company does not complete its initial business combination within the time period set forth therein or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of the Class A ordinary shares, or (iii) if the holder(s) seek(s) to redeem for cash his, her or its respective Class A ordinary shares in connection with a tender offer (or proxy solicitation, solely in the event the Company seeks shareholder approval of the proposed initial business combination) setting forth the details of a proposed initial business combination. In no other circumstances shall the holder(s) have any right or interest of any kind in or to the trust account.

 

 3 

Exhibit 4.3

 

[FACE]

 

Number

 

Warrants

 

THIS WARRANT SHALL BE VOID IF NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO
THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXERCISE PERIOD PROVIDED FOR
IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT DESCRIBED BELOW
COVA Acquisition Corp.
Incorporated Under the Laws of the Cayman Islands

 

CUSIP [  ]

 

Warrant Certificate

 

This Warrant Certificate certifies that __________, or registered assigns, is the registered holder of __________ warrant(s) (the “Warrants” and each, a “Warrant”) to purchase Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value (“Ordinary Shares”), of COVA Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”). Each Warrant entitles the holder, upon exercise during the period set forth in the Warrant Agreement referred to below, to receive from the Company that number of fully paid and non-assessable Ordinary Shares as set forth below, at the exercise price (the “Exercise Price”) as determined pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, payable in lawful money (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) of the United States of America upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment of the Exercise Price at the office or agency of the Warrant Agent referred to below, subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Each whole Warrant is initially exercisable for one fully paid and non-assessable Ordinary Share. Fractional shares shall not be issued upon exercise of any Warrant. If, upon the exercise of Warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in an Ordinary Share, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to the Warrant holder. The number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

The initial Exercise Price per one Ordinary Share for any Warrant is equal to $11.50 per share. The Exercise Price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Subject to the conditions set forth in the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants may be exercised only during the Exercise Period and to the extent not exercised by the end of such Exercise Period, such Warrants shall become void. The Warrants may be redeemed, subject to certain conditions, as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

 

 

 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

 

This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid unless countersigned by the Warrant Agent, as such term is used in the Warrant Agreement.

 

This Warrant Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

 

  COVA ACQUISITION CORP.
   
  By:                   
  Name:   
  Title:  
   
  CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent
   
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

 2 

 

 

[Form of Warrant Certificate]

 

[Reverse]

 

The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate are part of a duly authorized issue of Warrants entitling the holder on exercise to receive __________ Ordinary Shares of the Company and are issued or to be issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of __________, 2021 (the “Warrant Agreement”), duly executed and delivered by the Company to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”), which Warrant Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby referred to for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Warrant Agent, the Company and the holders (the words “holders” or “holder” meaning the Registered Holders or Registered Holder, respectively) of the Warrants. A copy of the Warrant Agreement may be obtained by the holder hereof upon written request to the Company. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Warrants may be exercised at any time during the Exercise Period set forth in the Warrant Agreement. The holder of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may exercise them by surrendering this Warrant Certificate, with the form of Election to Purchase set forth hereon properly completed and executed, together with payment of the Exercise Price as specified in the Warrant Agreement (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent. In the event that upon any exercise of Warrants evidenced hereby the number of Warrants exercised shall be less than the total number of Warrants evidenced hereby, there shall be issued to the holder hereof or his, her or its assignee, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrants not exercised.

 

Notwithstanding anything else in this Warrant Certificate or the Warrant Agreement, no Warrant may be exercised unless at the time of exercise (i) a registration statement covering the issuance of the Ordinary Shares to be issued upon exercise is effective under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and (ii) a prospectus thereunder relating to the Ordinary Shares is current, except through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement.

 

The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the occurrence of certain events the number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants set forth on the face hereof may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted. If, upon exercise of a Warrant, the holder thereof would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in an Ordinary Share, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to the holder of the Warrant.

 

Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent by the Registered Holder thereof in person or by legal representative or attorney duly authorized in writing, may be exchanged, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, but without payment of any service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants.

 

 

 

 

Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of this Warrant Certificate at the office of the Warrant Agent a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants shall be issued to the transferee(s) in exchange for this Warrant Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, without charge except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.

 

The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the Registered Holder(s) hereof as the absolute owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of any distribution to the holder(s) hereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. Neither the Warrants nor this Warrant Certificate entitles any holder hereof to any rights of a shareholder of the Company.

 

 2 

 

 

Election to Purchase

 

(To Be Executed Upon Exercise of Warrant)

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to receive __________ Class A Ordinary Shares (“Ordinary Shares”) of COVA Acquisition Corp. (Company) and herewith tenders payment for such Ordinary Shares to the order of the Company in the amount of US$ __________ in accordance with the terms hereof. The undersigned requests that a certificate for such Ordinary Shares be registered in the name of __________, whose address is __________ and that such Ordinary Shares be delivered to __________ whose address is __________. If said number of Ordinary Shares is less than all of the Ordinary Shares purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such Ordinary Shares be registered in the name of __________, whose address is __________ and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to __________, whose address is __________.

 

In the event that the Warrant is a Private Placement Warrant that is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(c) of the Warrant Agreement, the number of Ordinary Shares that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(c) of the Warrant Agreement.

 

In the event that the Warrant is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement, the number of Ordinary Shares that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement.

 

In the event that the Warrant may be exercised, to the extent allowed by the Warrant Agreement, through cashless exercise (i) the number of Ordinary Shares that this Warrant is exercisable for would be determined in accordance with the relevant section of the Warrant Agreement which allows for such cashless exercise and (ii) the holder hereof shall complete the following: The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, through the cashless exercise provisions of the Warrant Agreement, to receive Ordinary Shares. If said number of shares is less than all of the Ordinary Shares purchasable hereunder (after giving effect to the cashless exercise), the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such Ordinary Shares be registered in the name of __________, whose address is and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to __________, whose address is __________.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 3 

 

 

Date: __________, 202__

 

   
  (Signature)
   
   
  (Address)
   
   
  (Tax Identification Number)

 

Signature Guaranteed:

 

THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED (OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE)).

 

 4 

Exhibit 4.4

 

WARRANT AGREEMENT

 

COVA ACQUISITION CORP.

 

and

 

CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY

 

THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated February 4, 2021, is by and between COVA Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York limited purpose trust company, as warrant agent (in such capacity, the “Warrant Agent”).

 

WHEREAS, it is proposed that the Company enter into that certain Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, with COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC, a Cayman Islands limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), pursuant to which the Sponsor will purchase an aggregate of 7,725,000 warrants (or up to 8,875,000 warrants if the underwriters in the Public Offering (as defined below) exercise their Over-allotment Option (as defined below) in full) simultaneously with the closing of the Public Offering (and the closing of the Over-allotment Option, if applicable), bearing the legend set forth in Exhibit B hereto (the “Private Placement Warrants”) at a purchase price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant. Each Private Placement Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Ordinary Share (as defined below) at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described herein; and

 

WHEREAS, in order to finance the Company’s transaction costs in connection with an intended initial merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses (a “Business Combination”), the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as the Company may require, of which up to $1,000,000 of such loans may be convertible into up to an additional 1,000,000 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant (the “Working Capital Warrants”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in an initial public offering (the “Public Offering”) of units of the Company’s equity securities, each such unit comprised of one Ordinary Share and one-half of one Public Warrant (as defined below) (the “Units”) and, in connection therewith, has determined to issue and deliver up to 15,007,500 redeemable warrants (including up to 1,957,500 redeemable warrants subject to the Over-allotment Option) to public investors in the Public Offering (the “Public Warrants” and, together with the Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants, the “Warrants”). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Class A ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (“Ordinary Shares”), for $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described herein. Only whole Warrants are exercisable. A holder of the Public Warrants will not be able to exercise any fraction of a Warrant; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-252273 (the “Initial Registration Statement”), and a prospectus (the “Prospectus”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and will file a registration statement on Form S-1 under Section 462(b) of the Securities Act relating to the Initial Registration Statement, for the registration of the Units, the Public Warrants and the Ordinary Shares included in the Units; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption and exercise of the Warrants; and

 

 

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the form and provisions of the Warrants, the terms upon which they shall be issued and exercised, and the respective rights, limitation of rights, and immunities of the Company, the Warrant Agent and the holders of the Warrants; and

 

WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on behalf of the Warrant Agent (if a physical certificate is issued), as provided herein, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. Appointment of Warrant Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent for the Company for the Warrants, and the Warrant Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the same in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

2. Warrants.

 

2.1 Form of Warrant. Each Warrant shall initially be issued in registered form only.

 

2.2 Effect of Countersignature. If a physical certificate is issued, unless and until countersigned by the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a certificated Warrant shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exercised by the holder thereof.

 

2.3 Registration.

 

2.3.1 Warrant Register. The Warrant Agent shall maintain books (the “Warrant Register”), for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants in book-entry form, the Warrant Agent shall issue and register the Warrants in the names of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with instructions delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Company. Ownership of beneficial interests in the Public Warrants shall be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership shall be effected through, records maintained by institutions that have accounts with The Depository Trust Company (the “Depositary”) (such institution, with respect to a Warrant in its account, a “Participant”). If the Depositary subsequently ceases to make its book-entry settlement system available for the Public Warrants, the Company may instruct the Warrant Agent regarding making other arrangements for book-entry settlement. In the event that the Public Warrants are not eligible for, or it is no longer necessary to have the Public Warrants available in, book-entry form, the Warrant Agent shall provide written instructions to the Depositary to deliver to the Warrant Agent for cancellation each book-entry Public Warrant, and the Company shall instruct the Warrant Agent to deliver to the Depositary definitive certificates in physical form evidencing such Warrants (“Definitive Warrant Certificates”) which shall be in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A. Physical certificates, if issued, shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chairman of the Board, Co-Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel, Secretary or other principal officer of the Company. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Warrant shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant before such Warrant is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.

 

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2.3.2 Registered Holder. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Warrant, the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name such Warrant is registered in the Warrant Register (the “Registered Holder”) as the absolute owner of such Warrant and of each Warrant represented thereby, for the purpose of any exercise thereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

2.4 Detachability of Warrants. The Ordinary Shares and Public Warrants comprising the Units shall begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of the Prospectus or, if such 52nd day is not on a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday, on which banks in New York City are generally open for normal business (a “Business Day”), then on the immediately succeeding Business Day following such date, or earlier (the “Detachment Date”) with the consent of Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., but in no event shall the Ordinary Shares and the Public Warrants comprising the Units be separately traded until (A) the Company has filed a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the receipt by the Company of the gross proceeds of the Public Offering, including the proceeds then received by the Company from the exercise by the underwriters of their right to purchase additional Units in the Public Offering (the “Over-allotment Option”), if the Over-allotment Option is exercised prior to the filing of the Current Report on Form 8-K, and (B) the Company issues a press release announcing when such separate trading shall begin.

 

2.5 Fractional Warrants. The Company shall not issue fractional Warrants other than as part of the Units, each of which is comprised of one Ordinary Share and one-half of one whole Public Warrant. If, upon the detachment of Public Warrants from the Units or otherwise, a holder of Warrants would be entitled to receive a fractional Warrant, the Company shall round down to the nearest whole number the number of Warrants to be issued to such holder.

 

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2.6 Private Placement Warrants and Working Capital Warrants. The Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants shall be identical to the Public Warrants, except that so long as they are held by the Sponsor or any of its Permitted Transferees (as defined below), the Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants: (i) may be exercised for cash or on a “cashless basis,” pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(c) hereof, (ii) including the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants, may not be transferred, assigned or sold until thirty (30) days after the completion by the Company of an initial Business Combination, and (iii) shall not be redeemable by the Company pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof; provided, however, that in the case of (ii), the Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants and any Ordinary Shares issued upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants may be transferred by the holders thereof:

 

2.6.1 to the Company’s officers or directors, any affiliates or family members of any of the Company’s officers or directors, any members or partners of the Sponsor or their affiliates, any affiliates of the Sponsor, or any employees of such affiliates;

 

2.6.2 in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of one of the individual’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of the individual’s immediate family, an affiliate of such person or to a charitable organization;

 

2.6.3 in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual;

 

2.6.4 in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order;

 

2.6.5 by private sales or transfers made in connection with any forward purchase agreement or similar agreement or in connection with the consummation of the Company’s Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the Private Placement Warrants or Ordinary Shares, as applicable, were originally purchased;

 

2.6.6 by virtue of the Sponsor’s organizational documents upon liquidation or dissolution of the Sponsor;

 

2.6.7 to the Company for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of our initial Business Combination;

 

2.6.8 in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to the completion of its initial Business Combination; or

 

2.6.9 in the event of the Company’s completion of a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the public shareholders having the right to exchange their Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination;

 

provided, however, that, in the case of subsections 2.6.1 through 2.6.6, these permitted transferees (the “Permitted Transferees”) must enter into a written agreement with the Company agreeing to be bound by the transfer restrictions in this Agreement and the other restrictions contained in the letter agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Company, the Sponsor, and the Company’s officers and directors.

 

2.7 Working Capital Warrants. The Working Capital Warrants shall be identical to the Private Placement Warrants.

 

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3. Terms and Exercise of Warrants.

 

3.1 Warrant Price. Each whole Warrant shall entitle the Registered Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number of Ordinary Shares stated therein, at the price of $11.50 per share, subject to the adjustments provided in Section 4 hereof and in the last sentence of this Section 3.1. The term “Warrant Price” as used in this Agreement shall mean the price per share (including in cash or by payment of Warrants pursuant to a “cashless exercise,” to the extent permitted hereunder) described in the prior sentence at which Ordinary Shares may be purchased at the time a Warrant is exercised. The Company in its sole discretion may lower the Warrant Price at any time prior to the Expiration Date (as defined below) for a period of not less than fifteen Business Days (unless otherwise required by the Commission, any national securities exchange on which the Warrants are listed or applicable law); provided, that the Company shall provide at least five days’ prior written notice of such reduction to Registered Holders of the Warrants; and provided further, that any such reduction shall be identical among all of the Warrants.

 

3.2 Duration of Warrants. A Warrant may be exercised only during the period (the “Exercise Period”) (A) commencing on the later of: (i) the date that is thirty (30) days after the first date on which the Company completes a Business Combination, and (ii) the date that is twelve (12) months from the date of the closing of the Public Offering, and (B) terminating at the earliest to occur of (x) 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the date that is five (5) years after the date on which the Company completes its initial Business Combination, (y) the liquidation of the Company in accordance with the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as amended from time to time, if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination, and (z) other than with respect to the Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants then held by the Sponsor or its Permitted Transferees with respect to a redemption pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof as provided in Section 6.2 hereof (the “Expiration Date”); provided, however, that the exercise of any Warrant shall be subject to the satisfaction of any applicable conditions, as set forth in subsection 3.3.2 below, with respect to an effective registration statement or a valid exemption therefrom being available. Except with respect to the right to receive the Redemption Price (as defined below) (other than with respect to a Private Placement Warrant or a Working Capital Warrant then held by the Sponsor or its Permitted Transferees in connection with a redemption pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof) in the event of a redemption (as set forth in Section 6 hereof), each Warrant (other than a Private Placement Warrant or a Working Capital Warrant then held by the Sponsor or its Permitted Transferees in the event of a redemption pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof) not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Agreement shall cease at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the Expiration Date. The Company in its sole discretion may extend the duration of the Warrants by delaying the Expiration Date; provided that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of any such extension to Registered Holders of the Warrants and, provided further that any such extension shall be identical in duration among all the Warrants.

 

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3.3 Exercise of Warrants.

 

3.3.1 Payment. Subject to the provisions of the Warrant and this Agreement, a Warrant may be exercised by the Registered Holder thereof by delivering to the Warrant Agent at its corporate trust department (i) the Definitive Warrant Certificate evidencing the Warrants to be exercised, or, in the case of a Warrant represented by a book-entry, the Warrants to be exercised (the “Book-Entry Warrants”) on the records of the Depositary to an account of the Warrant Agent at the Depositary designated for such purposes in writing by the Warrant Agent to the Depositary from time to time, (ii) an election to purchase (“Election to Purchase”) any Ordinary Shares pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant, properly completed and executed by the Registered Holder on the reverse of the Definitive Warrant Certificate or, in the case of a Book-Entry Warrant, properly delivered by the Participant in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures, and (iii) the payment in full of the Warrant Price for each Ordinary Share as to which the Warrant is exercised and any and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Warrant, the exchange of the Warrant for the Ordinary Shares and the issuance of such Ordinary Shares, as follows:

 

(a) in lawful money of the United States, in good certified check or good bank draft payable to the order of the Warrant Agent;

 

(b) in the event of a redemption pursuant to Section 6 hereof in which the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) has elected to require all holders of the Warrants to exercise such Warrants on a “cashless basis,” by surrendering the Warrants for that number of Ordinary Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the difference between the Warrant Price and the “Fair Market Value”, as defined in this subsection 3.3.1(b) by (y) the Fair Market Value. Solely for purposes of this subsection 3.3.1(b) and Section 6.3, the “Fair Market Value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Ordinary Shares for the ten (10) trading days ending on the third (3rd) trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of the Warrants, pursuant to Section 6 hereof;

 

(c) with respect to any Private Placement Warrant or Working Capital Warrant, so long as such Private Placement Warrant or Working Capital Warrant is held by the Sponsor or a Permitted Transferee, by surrendering the Warrants for that number of Ordinary Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Sponsor Exercise Fair Market Value” (as defined in this subsection 3.3.1(c)) less the Warrant Price by (y) the Sponsor Exercise Fair Market Value. Solely for purposes of this subsection 3.3.1(c), the “Sponsor Exercise Fair Market Value” shall mean the average last reported sale price of the Ordinary Shares for the ten (10) trading days ending on the third (3rd) trading day prior to the date on which notice of exercise of the Private Placement Warrant is sent to the Warrant Agent; or

 

(d) as provided in Section 7.4 hereof.

 

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3.3.2 Issuance of Ordinary Shares on Exercise. As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrant and the clearance of the funds in payment of the Warrant Price (if payment is pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(a)), the Company shall issue to the Registered Holder of such Warrant a book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for the number of Ordinary Shares to which he, she or it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it on the register of members of the Company, and if such Warrant shall not have been exercised in full, a new book-entry position or countersigned Warrant, as applicable, for the number of Ordinary Shares as to which such Warrant shall not have been exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any Ordinary Shares pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant and shall have no obligation to settle such Warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Ordinary Shares underlying the Public Warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to the Company’s satisfying its obligations under Section 7.4 or a valid exemption from registration is available. No Warrant shall be exercisable and the Company shall not be obligated to issue Ordinary Shares upon exercise of a Warrant unless the Ordinary Shares issuable upon such Warrant exercise have been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt from registration or qualification under the securities laws of the state of residence of the Registered Holder of the Warrants. Subject to Section 4.6 of this Agreement, a Registered Holder of Warrants may exercise its Warrants only for a whole number of Ordinary Shares. The Company may require holders of Public Warrants to settle the Warrant on a “cashless basis” pursuant to Section 7.4. If, by reason of any exercise of Warrants on a “cashless basis”, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in an Ordinary Share, the Company shall round down to the nearest whole number, the number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to such holder.

 

3.3.3 Valid Issuance. All Ordinary Shares issued upon the proper exercise of a Warrant in conformity with this Agreement and the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, following the necessary updates to the Register of Members of the Company, shall be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

3.3.4 Date of Issuance. Each person in whose name any book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for Ordinary Shares is issued and who is registered in the register of members of the Company shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such Ordinary Shares on the date on which the Warrant, or book-entry position representing such Warrant, was surrendered and payment of the Warrant Price was made, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate in the case of a certificated Warrant, except that, if the date of such surrender and payment is a date when the register of members of the Company or book-entry system of the Warrant Agent are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such Ordinary Shares at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which the share transfer books or book-entry system are open.

 

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3.3.5 Maximum Percentage. A holder of a Warrant may notify the Company in writing in the event it elects to be subject to the provisions contained in this subsection 3.3.5; however, no holder of a Warrant shall be subject to this subsection 3.3.5 unless he, she or it makes such election. If the election is made by a holder, the Warrant Agent shall not effect the exercise of the holder’s Warrant, and such holder shall not have the right to exercise such Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates), to the Warrant Agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 9.8% (the “Maximum Percentage”) of the Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the aggregate number of Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates shall include the number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrant with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude Ordinary Shares that would be issuable upon (x) exercise of the remaining, unexercised portion of the Warrant beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates and (y) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Company beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates (including, without limitation, any convertible notes or convertible preferred shares or warrants) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this paragraph, beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). For purposes of the Warrant, in determining the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares, the holder may rely on the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares as reflected in (1) the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the Commission as the case may be, (2) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (3) any other notice by the Company or Continental Stock Transfer& Trust Company, as transfer agent (in such capacity, the “Transfer Agent”), setting forth the number of Ordinary Shares outstanding. For any reason at any time, upon the written request of the holder of the Warrant, the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days, confirm orally and in writing to such holder the number of Ordinary Shares then outstanding. In any case, the number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of equity securities of the Company by the holder and its affiliates since the date as of which such number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares was reported. By written notice to the Company, the holder of a Warrant may from time to time increase or decrease the Maximum Percentage applicable to such holder to any other percentage specified in such notice; provided, however, that any such increase shall not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Company.

 

4. Adjustments.

 

4.1 Share Capitalizations.

 

4.1.1 Sub-Divisions. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 below, the number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares is increased by a capitalization or share dividend of Ordinary Shares, or by a sub-division of Ordinary Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such share capitalization, sub-division or similar event, the number of Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares. A rights offering made to all or substantially all holders of Ordinary Shares entitling holders to purchase Ordinary Shares at a price less than the “Historical Fair Market Value” (as defined below) shall be deemed a capitalization of a number of Ordinary Shares equal to the product of (i) the number of Ordinary Shares actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for the Ordinary Shares) multiplied by (ii) one (1) minus the quotient of (x) the price per Ordinary Share paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the Historical Fair Market Value. For purposes of this subsection 4.1.1, (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for Ordinary Shares, in determining the price payable for Ordinary Shares, there shall be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) “Historical Fair Market Value” means the volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the Ordinary Shares trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights. No Ordinary Shares shall be issued at less than their par value.

 

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4.1.2 Extraordinary Dividends. If the Company, at any time while the Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pays to all or substantially all of the holders of the Ordinary Shares a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets on account of such Ordinary Shares (or other shares into which the Warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described in subsection 4.1.1 above, (b) Ordinary Cash Dividends (as defined below), (c) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of the Ordinary Shares in connection with a proposed initial Business Combination, (d) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of the Ordinary Shares in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, (i) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to provide holders of Ordinary Shares the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with the Company’s initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Company’s public shares if it does not complete its initial Business Combination within the time period required by the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as amended from time to time, or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of Ordinary Shares, (e) as a result of the repurchase of Ordinary Shares by the Company if a proposed initial Business Combination is presented to the shareholders of the Company for approval or (f) in connection with the redemption of public shares upon the failure of the Company to complete its initial Business Combination and any subsequent distribution of its assets upon its liquidation (any such non-excluded event being referred to herein as an “Extraordinary Dividend”), then the Warrant Price shall be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such Extraordinary Dividend, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value (as determined by the Board, in good faith) of any securities or other assets paid on each Ordinary Share in respect of such Extraordinary Dividend. For purposes of this subsection 4.1.2, “Ordinary Cash Dividends” means any cash dividend or cash distribution which, when combined on a per share basis, with the per share amounts of all other cash dividends and cash distributions paid on the Ordinary Shares during the 365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution to the extent it does not exceed $0.50 (which amount shall be adjusted to appropriately reflect any of the events referred to in other subsections of this Section 4 and excluding cash dividends or cash distributions that resulted in an adjustment to the Warrant Price or to the number of Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant).

 

4.2 Aggregation of Shares. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 hereof, the number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse share split or reclassification of Ordinary Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse share split, reclassification or similar event, the number of Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares.

 

4.3 Adjustments in Exercise Price. Whenever the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, as provided in subsection 4.1.1 or Section 4.2 above, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) by multiplying such Warrant Price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which shall be the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which shall be the number of Ordinary Shares so purchasable immediately thereafter.

 

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4.4 Raising of the Capital in Connection with the Initial Business Combination. If (x) the Company issues additional Ordinary Shares or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of its initial Business Combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per Ordinary Share (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the Board and, in the case of any such issuance to the Sponsor or its affiliates, without taking into account any Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company held by the Sponsor or such affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance) (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of the Company’s initial Business Combination on the date of the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume-weighted average trading price of Ordinary Shares during the twenty (20) trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company consummates its initial Business Combination (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, the and the Redemption Trigger Price (as defined below) shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.

 

4.5 Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares (other than a change under Section 4.1 or Section 4.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such Ordinary Shares), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the holders of the Warrants shall thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Warrants and in lieu of the Ordinary Shares of the Company immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares or stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the Warrants would have received if such holder had exercised his, her or its Warrant(s) immediately prior to such event (the “Alternative Issuance” ); provided, however, that (i) if the holders of the Ordinary Shares were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable upon such consolidation or merger, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets constituting the Alternative Issuance for which each Warrant shall become exercisable shall be deemed to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per share by the holders of the Ordinary Shares in such consolidation or merger that affirmatively make such election, and (ii) if a tender, exchange or redemption offer shall have been made to and accepted by the holders of the Ordinary Shares (other than a tender, exchange or redemption offer made by the Company in connection with redemption rights held by shareholders of the Company as provided for in the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as amended from time to time, or as a result of the redemption of Ordinary Shares by the Company if a proposed initial Business Combination is presented to the shareholders of the Company for approval) under circumstances in which, upon completion of such tender or exchange offer, the maker thereof, together with members of any group (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act) of which such maker is a part, and together with any affiliate or associate of such maker (within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) and any members of any such group of which any such affiliate or associate is a part, own beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) more than 50% of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares, the holder of a Warrant shall be entitled to receive as the Alternative Issuance, the highest amount of cash, securities or other property to which such holder would actually have been entitled as a shareholder if such Warrant holder had exercised the Warrant prior to the expiration of such tender or exchange offer, accepted such offer and all of the Ordinary Shares held by such holder had been purchased pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, subject to adjustments (from and after the consummation of such tender or exchange offer) as nearly equivalent as possible to the adjustments provided for in this Section 4; provided further that if less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of the Ordinary Shares in the applicable event is payable in the form of shares in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the Registered Holder properly exercises the Warrant within thirty (30) days following the public disclosure of the consummation of such applicable event by the Company pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission, the Warrant Price shall be reduced by an amount (in dollars) equal to the difference of (i) the Warrant Price in effect prior to such reduction minus (ii) (A) the Per Share Consideration (as defined below) (but in no event less than zero) minus (B) the Black-Scholes Warrant Value (as defined below). The “Black-Scholes Warrant Value” means the value of a Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of the applicable event based on the Black-Scholes Warrant Model for a Capped American Call on Bloomberg Financial Markets (assuming zero dividends) (“Bloomberg”). For purposes of calculating such amount, (i) Section 6 of this Agreement shall be taken into account, (ii) the price of each Ordinary Share shall be the volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event, (iii) the assumed volatility shall be the 90 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg determined as of the trading day immediately prior to the day of the announcement of the applicable event and (iv) the assumed risk-free interest rate shall correspond to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of the Warrant. “Per Share Consideration” means (i) if the consideration paid to holders of the Ordinary Shares consists exclusively of cash, the amount of such cash per Ordinary Share, and (ii) in all other cases, the volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event. If any reclassification or reorganization also results in a change in Ordinary Shares covered by subsection 4.1.1, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to subsection 4.1.1 or Sections 4.2, 4.3 and this Section 4.4. The provisions of this Section 4.4 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers. In no event shall the Warrant Price be reduced to less than the par value per share issuable upon exercise of such Warrant.

 

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4.6 Notices of Changes in Warrants. Upon every adjustment of the Warrant Price or the number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant, the Company shall give written notice thereof to the Warrant Agent, which notice shall state the Warrant Price resulting from such adjustment and the increase or decrease, if any, in the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable at such price upon the exercise of a Warrant, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 or 4.5, the Company shall give written notice of the occurrence of such event to each holder of a Warrant, at the last address set forth for such holder in the Warrant Register, of the record date or the effective date of the event. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such event.

 

4.7 No Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of Warrants. If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 4, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share, the Company shall, upon such exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to such holder.

 

4.8 Form of Warrant. The form of Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment pursuant to this Section 4, and Warrants issued after such adjustment may state the same Warrant Price and the same number of shares as is stated in the Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that the Company may at any time in its sole discretion make any change in the form of Warrant that the Company may deem appropriate and that does not affect the substance thereof, and any Warrant thereafter issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or substitution for an outstanding Warrant or otherwise, may be in the form as so changed.

 

5. Transfer and Exchange of Warrants.

 

5.1 Registration of Transfer. The Warrant Agent shall register the transfer, from time to time, of any outstanding Warrant upon the Warrant Register, upon surrender of such Warrant for transfer, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions for transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Warrant representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants shall be issued and the old Warrant shall be cancelled by the Warrant Agent. In the case of certificated Warrants, the Warrants so cancelled shall be delivered by the Warrant Agent to the Company from time to time upon request.

 

5.2 Procedure for Surrender of Warrants. Warrants may be surrendered to the Warrant Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Warrant Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Warrants as requested by the Registered Holder of the Warrants so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants; provided, however, that except as otherwise provided herein or with respect to any Book-Entry Warrant, each Book-Entry Warrant may be transferred only in whole and only to the Depositary, to another nominee of the Depositary, to a successor depository, or to a nominee of a successor depository; provided further, however that in the event that a Warrant surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend (as in the case of the Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants), the Warrant Agent shall not cancel such Warrant and issue new Warrants in exchange thereof until the Warrant Agent has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the new Warrants must also bear a restrictive legend.

 

5.3 Fractional Warrants. The Warrant Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which shall result in the issuance of a warrant certificate or book-entry position for a fraction of a warrant, except as part of the Units.

 

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5.4 Service Charges. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Warrants.

 

5.5 Warrant Execution and Countersignature. The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Warrants required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5, and the Company, whenever required by the Warrant Agent, shall supply the Warrant Agent with Warrants duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose.

 

5.6 Transfer of Warrants. Prior to the Detachment Date, the Public Warrants may be transferred or exchanged only together with the Unit in which such Warrant is included, and only for the purpose of effecting, or in conjunction with, a transfer or exchange of such Unit. Furthermore, each transfer of a Unit on the register relating to such Units shall operate also to transfer the Warrants included in such Unit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 5.6 shall have no effect on any transfer of Warrants on and after the Detachment Date.

 

6. Redemption.

 

6.1 Redemption of Warrants for Cash. Subject to Section 6.4 hereof, not less than all of the outstanding Warrants may be redeemed, at the option of the Company, at any time while they are exercisable and prior to their expiration, at the office of the Warrant Agent, upon notice to the Registered Holders of the Warrants, as described in Section 6.2 below, at the price of $0.01 per Warrant (the “Redemption Price”), provided that the last sales price of the Ordinary Shares reported has been at least $18.00 per share (the “Redemption Trigger Price”; subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof), on each of twenty (20) trading days within the thirty (30) trading-day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which notice of the redemption is given and provided that there is an effective registration statement covering the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, and a current prospectus relating thereto, available throughout the 30-day Redemption Period (as defined in Section 6.2 below) or the Company has elected to require the exercise of the Warrants on a “cashless basis” pursuant to subsection 3.3.1; provided, however, that if and when the Public Warrants become redeemable by the Company, the Company may not exercise such redemption right if the issuance of Ordinary Shares upon exercise of the Public Warrants is not exempt from registration or qualification under applicable state blue sky laws or the Company is unable to effect such registration or qualification.

 

6.2 Date Fixed for, and Notice of, Redemption; Redemption Price. In the event that the Company elects to redeem the Warrants pursuant to Section 6.1, the Company shall fix a date for the redemption (the “Redemption Date”). Notice of redemption shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, by the Company not less than thirty (30) days prior to the Redemption Date (the “30-day Redemption Period”) to the Registered Holders of the Warrants to be redeemed at their last addresses as they shall appear on the registration books. Any notice mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not the Registered Holder received such notice.

 

6.3 Exercise After Notice of Redemption. The Warrants may be exercised, for cash at any time after notice of redemption shall have been given by the Company pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof and prior to the Redemption Date. In the event that the Company determines to require all holders of Warrants to exercise their Warrants on a “cashless basis” pursuant to subsection 3.3.1, the notice of redemption shall contain the information necessary to calculate the number of Ordinary Shares to be received upon exercise of the Warrants, including the “Fair Market Value” (as such term is defined in subsection 3.3.1(b) hereof) in such case. On and after the Redemption Date, the record holder of the Warrants shall have no further rights except to receive, upon surrender of the Warrants, the Redemption Price.

 

12

 

 

6.4 Exclusion of Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants. The Company agrees that the redemption rights provided in Section 6.1 hereof shall not apply to the Private Placement Warrants or the Working Capital Warrants if at the time of the redemption such Private Placement Warrants or Working Capital Warrants continue to be held by the Sponsor or its Permitted Transferees. However, once such Private Placement Warrants or Working Capital Warrants are transferred (other than to Permitted Transferees in accordance with Section 2.6 hereof), the Company may redeem the Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof, provided that the criteria for redemption are met, including the opportunity of the holder of such Private Placement Warrants or Working Capital Warrants to exercise the Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants prior to redemption pursuant to Section 6.3 hereof. Private Placement Warrants and Working Capital Warrants that are transferred to persons other than Permitted Transferees shall upon such transfer cease to be Private Placement Warrants or Working Capital Warrants and shall become Public Warrants under this Agreement, including for purposes of Section 9.8 hereof.

 

7. Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Warrants.

 

7.1 No Rights as Shareholder. A Warrant does not entitle the Registered Holder thereof to any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends, or other distributions, exercise any preemptive rights to vote or to consent or to receive notice as shareholders in respect of the meetings of shareholders or the election of directors of the Company or any other matter.

 

7.2 Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Warrants. If any Warrant is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company and the Warrant Agent may on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as they may in their discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Warrant, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Warrant of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Warrant so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed. Any such new Warrant shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Warrant shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.

 

7.3 Reservation of Ordinary Shares. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares that shall be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to this Agreement.

 

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7.4 Registration of Ordinary Shares; Cashless Exercise at Company’s Option.

 

7.4.1 Registration of the Ordinary Shares. The Company agrees that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than twenty (20) Business Days after the closing of its initial Business Combination, it shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective within sixty (60) Business Days following the closing of its initial Business Combination and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration or redemption of the Warrants in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. If any such registration statement has not been declared effective by the sixtieth (60th) Business Day following the closing of the Business Combination, holders of the Warrants shall have the right, during the period beginning on the sixty-first (61st) Business Day after the closing of the Business Combination and ending upon such registration statement being declared effective by the Commission, and during any other period when the Company shall fail to have maintained an effective registration statement covering the issuance of the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, to exercise such Warrants on a “cashless basis,” by exchanging the Warrants (in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption) for that number of Ordinary Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Fair Market Value” (as defined below) less the Warrant Price by (y) the Fair Market Value. Solely for purposes of this subsection 7.4.1, “Fair Market Value” shall mean the volume-weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the date that notice of exercise is received by the Warrant Agent from the holder of such Warrants or its securities broker or intermediary. The date that notice of “cashless exercise” is received by the Warrant Agent shall be conclusively determined by the Warrant Agent. In connection with the “cashless exercise” of a Public Warrant, the Company shall, upon request, provide the Warrant Agent with an opinion of counsel for the Company (which shall be an outside law firm with securities law experience) stating that (i) the exercise of the Warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with this subsection 7.4.1 is not required to be registered under the Securities Act and (ii) the Ordinary Shares issued upon such exercise shall be freely tradable under United States federal securities laws by anyone who is not an affiliate (as such term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of the Company and, accordingly, shall not be required to bear a restrictive legend. Except as provided in subsection 7.4.2, for the avoidance of doubt, unless and until all of the Warrants have been exercised or have expired, the Company shall continue to be obligated to comply with its registration obligations under the first three sentences of this subsection 7.4.1.

 

7.4.2 Cashless Exercise at Company’s Option. If the Ordinary Shares are at the time of any exercise of a Public Warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, the Company may, at its option, (i) require holders of Public Warrants who exercise Public Warrants to exercise such Public Warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act as described in subsection 7.4.1 and (ii) in the event the Company so elects, the Company shall (x) not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, and (y) use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify for sale the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrant under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.

 

14

 

 

8. Concerning the Warrant Agent and Other Matters.

 

8.1 Payment of Taxes. The Company shall from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company or the Warrant Agent in respect of the issuance or delivery of Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of the Warrants, but the Company shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Warrants or such shares.

 

8.2 Resignation, Consolidation, or Merger of Warrant Agent.

 

8.2.1 Appointment of Successor Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving sixty (60) days’ notice in writing to the Company. If the office of the Warrant Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor Warrant Agent in place of the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of a Warrant (who shall, with such notice, submit his, her or its Warrant for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Warrant may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Warrant Agent at the Company’s cost. Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation or other entity organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing and having its principal office in the United States of America, and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. After appointment, any successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Warrant Agent with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Warrant Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Warrant Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Warrant Agent the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Warrant Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations.

 

8.2.2 Notice of Successor Warrant Agent. In the event a successor Warrant Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor Warrant Agent and the Transfer Agent for the Ordinary Shares not later than the effective date of any such appointment.

 

8.2.3 Merger or Consolidation of Warrant Agent. Any entity into which the Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any entity resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without any further act.

 

15

 

 

8.3 Fees and Expenses of Warrant Agent.

 

8.3.1 Remuneration. The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable remuneration for its services as such Warrant Agent hereunder and shall, pursuant to its obligations under this Agreement, reimburse the Warrant Agent upon demand for all expenditures that the Warrant Agent may reasonably incur in the execution of its duties hereunder.

 

8.3.2 Further Assurances. The Company agrees to perform, execute, acknowledge, and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged, and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments, and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out or performing of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

8.4 Liability of Warrant Agent.

 

8.4.1 Reliance on Company Statement. Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a statement signed by the Co-Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the General Counsel, the Secretary or the Chairman of the Board of the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent may rely upon such statement for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

 

8.4.2 Indemnity. The Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith. The Company agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, out-of-pocket costs and reasonable outside counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Warrant Agent in the execution of this Agreement, except as a result of the Warrant Agent’s gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith.

 

8.4.3 Exclusions. The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Warrant (except its countersignature thereof). The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible to make any adjustments required under the provisions of Section 4 hereof or responsible for the manner, method, or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any Ordinary Shares shall, when issued, following the necessary updates to the Register of Members of the Company, be valid and fully paid and non-assessable.

 

8.5 Acceptance of Agency. The Warrant Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth and among other things, shall account promptly to the Company with respect to Warrants exercised and concurrently account for, and pay to the Company, all monies received by the Warrant Agent for the purchase of Ordinary Shares through the exercise of the Warrants.

 

16

 

 

8.6 Waiver. The Warrant Agent has no right of set-off or any other right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) in, or to any distribution of, the Trust Account (as defined in that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company as trustee thereunder) and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. The Warrant Agent hereby waives any and all Claims against the Trust Account and any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account.

 

9. Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

9.1 Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.

 

9.2 Notices. Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of any Warrant to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrant Agent), as follows:

 

COVA Acquisition Corp.
530 Bush Street, Suite 703
San Francisco, CA 94108
Attention: Jun Hong Heng

 

With a copy to:

 

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
222 Berkeley St., Suite 2000
Boston, MA 02116
Attention: Albert W. Vanderlaan

 

Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the holder of any Warrant or by the Company to or on the Warrant Agent shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Warrant Agent with the Company), as follows:

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
One State Street, 30th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Attention: Compliance Department

 

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9.3 Applicable Law and Exclusive Forum. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Warrants shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York. Subject to applicable law, 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 courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this paragraph will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in the Warrants shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in this Section 9.3. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions above, is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign action”) in the name of any warrant holder, such warrant holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such warrant holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such warrant holder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such warrant holder.

 

9.4 Persons Having Rights Under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person, corporation or other entity other than the parties hereto and the Registered Holders of the Warrants any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and assigns and of the Registered Holders of the Warrants.

 

9.5 Examination of the Warrant Agreement. A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent in the United States of America, for inspection by the Registered Holder of any Warrant. The Warrant Agent may require any such holder to submit such holder’s Warrant for inspection by the Warrant Agent.

 

9.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Signatures to this Agreement transmitted via facsimile or e-mail shall be valid and effective to bind the party so signing (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com).

 

9.7 Effect of Headings. The section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.

 

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9.8 Amendments. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto without the consent of any Registered Holder for the purpose of (i) curing any ambiguity or to correct any mistake, including to conform the provisions hereof to the description of the terms of the Warrants and this Agreement set forth in the Prospectus, or defective provision contained herein, (ii) amending the definition of “Ordinary Cash Dividend” as contemplated by and in accordance with the second sentence of subsection 4.1.2 or (iii) adding or changing any provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement as the parties may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem shall not adversely affect the rights of the Registered Holders under this Agreement. All other modifications or amendments, including any modification or amendment to increase the Warrant Price or shorten the Exercise Period, shall require the vote or written consent of the Registered Holders of 65% of the then-outstanding Public Warrants and, solely with respect to any amendment to the terms of the Private Placement Warrants or the Working Capital Warrants or any provision of this Agreement with respect to the Private Placement Warrants or the Working Capital Warrants, 65% of the then-outstanding Private Placement Warrants or Working Capital Warrants, as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may lower the Warrant Price or extend the duration of the Exercise Period pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, without the consent of the Registered Holders.

 

9.9 Severability. This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.

 

Exhibit A   Form of Warrant Certificate
     
Exhibit B   Legend — Private Placement Warrants

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

  COVA ACQUISITION CORP.
   
  By: /s/ Jun Hong Heng
  Name:  Jun Hong Heng
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
   
  CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent
   
  By: /s/ Erika Young
  Name:  Erika Young
  Title: Vice President & Account Administrator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Warrant Agreement]

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

[FACE]

 

Number

 

SPECIMEN warrant CERTIFICATE

 

Warrants

 

THIS WARRANT SHALL BE VOID IF NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO
THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXERCISE PERIOD PROVIDED FOR
IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT DESCRIBED BELOW
COVA Acquisition Corp.

Incorporated Under the Laws of the Cayman Islands

 

CUSIP G2554Y 120

 

Warrant Certificate

 

This Warrant Certificate certifies that _________, or registered assigns, is the registered holder of _________ warrant(s) (the “Warrants” and each, a “Warrant”) to purchase Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value (“Ordinary Shares”), of COVA Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”). Each Warrant entitles the holder, upon exercise during the period set forth in the Warrant Agreement referred to below, to receive from the Company that number of fully paid and non-assessable Ordinary Shares as set forth below, at the exercise price (the “Exercise Price”) as determined pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, payable in lawful money (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) of the United States of America upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment of the Exercise Price at the office or agency of the Warrant Agent referred to below, subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Each whole Warrant is initially exercisable for one fully paid and non-assessable Ordinary Share. Fractional shares shall not be issued upon exercise of any Warrant. If, upon the exercise of Warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in an Ordinary Share, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to the Warrant holder. The number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

The initial Exercise Price per one Ordinary Share for any Warrant is equal to $11.50 per share. The Exercise Price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

A-1

 

 

Subject to the conditions set forth in the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants may be exercised only during the Exercise Period and to the extent not exercised by the end of such Exercise Period, such Warrants shall become void. The Warrants may be redeemed, subject to certain conditions, as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

 

This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid unless countersigned by the Warrant Agent, as such term is used in the Warrant Agreement.

 

This Warrant Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

 

  COVA ACQUISITION CORP.
   
  By:                      
  Name:   
  Title:  
   
  CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent
   
  By:   
  Name:   
  Title:   

 

A-2

 

 

[Form of Warrant Certificate]

 

[Reverse]

 

The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate are part of a duly authorized issue of Warrants entitling the holder on exercise to receive _________ Ordinary Shares and are issued or to be issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of February 4, 2021 (the “Warrant Agreement”), duly executed and delivered by the Company to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”), which Warrant Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby referred to for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Warrant Agent, the Company and the holders (the words “holders” or “holder” meaning the Registered Holders or Registered Holder, respectively) of the Warrants. A copy of the Warrant Agreement may be obtained by the holder hereof upon written request to the Company. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Warrants may be exercised at any time during the Exercise Period set forth in the Warrant Agreement. The holder of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may exercise them by surrendering this Warrant Certificate, with the form of Election to Purchase set forth hereon properly completed and executed, together with payment of the Exercise Price as specified in the Warrant Agreement (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent. In the event that upon any exercise of Warrants evidenced hereby the number of Warrants exercised shall be less than the total number of Warrants evidenced hereby, there shall be issued to the holder hereof or his, her or its assignee, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrants not exercised.

 

Notwithstanding anything else in this Warrant Certificate or the Warrant Agreement, no Warrant may be exercised unless at the time of exercise (i) a registration statement covering the issuance of the Ordinary Shares to be issued upon exercise is effective under the Securities Act and (ii) a prospectus thereunder relating to the Ordinary Shares is current, except through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement.

 

The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the occurrence of certain events the number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants set forth on the face hereof may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted. If, upon exercise of a Warrant, the holder thereof would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in an Ordinary Share, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to the holder of the Warrant.

 

Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent by the Registered Holder thereof in person or by legal representative or attorney duly authorized in writing, may be exchanged, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, but without payment of any service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants.

 

Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of this Warrant Certificate at the office of the Warrant Agent a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants shall be issued to the transferee(s) in exchange for this Warrant Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, without charge except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.

 

The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the Registered Holder(s) hereof as the absolute owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of any distribution to the holder(s) hereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. Neither the Warrants nor this Warrant Certificate entitles any holder hereof to any rights of a shareholder of the Company.

 

A-3

 

 

Election to Purchase

 

(To Be Executed Upon Exercise of Warrant)

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to receive _________ Ordinary Shares and herewith tenders payment for such Ordinary Shares to the order of COVA Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) in the amount of $ _________ in accordance with the terms hereof. The undersigned requests that a certificate for such Ordinary Shares be registered in the name of _________, whose address is _________ and that such Ordinary Shares be delivered to _________ whose address is _________. If said _________ number of Ordinary Shares is less than all of the Ordinary Shares purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such Ordinary Shares be registered in the name of _________, whose address is _________ and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to _________, whose address is _________.

 

In the event that the Warrant is a Private Placement Warrant that is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(c) of the Warrant Agreement, the number of Ordinary Shares that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(c) of the Warrant Agreement.

 

In the event that the Warrant is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement, the number of Ordinary Shares that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement.

 

In the event that the Warrant may be exercised, to the extent allowed by the Warrant Agreement, through cashless exercise (i) the number of Ordinary Shares that this Warrant is exercisable for would be determined in accordance with the relevant section of the Warrant Agreement which allows for such cashless exercise and (ii) the holder hereof shall complete the following: The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, through the cashless exercise provisions of the Warrant Agreement, to receive Ordinary Shares. If said number of shares is less than all of the Ordinary Shares purchasable hereunder (after giving effect to the cashless exercise), the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such Ordinary Shares be registered in the name of , whose address is _________ and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to _________, whose address is _________.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

A-4

 

 

Date: _________, 20___

 

   
  (Signature)
   
   
  (Address)
   
   
  (Tax Identification Number)

 

Signature Guaranteed:

 

THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED).

 

A-5

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

LEGEND

 

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, SUBJECT TO ANY ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER DESCRIBED IN THE LETTER AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG COVA ACQUISITION CORP. (THE “COMPANY”), COVA ACQUISITION SPONSOR LLC AND THE OTHER PARTIES THERETO, THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE UPON WHICH THE COMPANY COMPLETES ITS INITIAL BUSINESS COMBINATION (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3 OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN) EXCEPT TO A PERMITTED TRANSFEREE (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2 OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT) WHO AGREES IN WRITING WITH THE COMPANY TO BE SUBJECT TO SUCH TRANSFER PROVISIONS.

 

SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES OF THE COMPANY ISSUED UPON EXERCISE OF SUCH SECURITIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS UNDER A REGISTRATION AND SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT TO BE EXECUTED BY THE COMPANY.

 

NO. [   ] WARRANT

 

B-1

 

 

Exhibit 4.6

 

[Form of Warrant Certificate]

 

[FACE]

 

Number

 

WARRANTS

THIS WARRANT SHALL BE VOID IF NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXERCISE PERIOD PROVIDED FOR IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT DESCRIBED BELOW

ECARX Holdings Inc.

Incorporated Under the Laws of the Cayman Islands

 

CUSIP [●]

 

Warrant Certificate

 

This Warrant Certificate certifies that          , or registered assigns, is the registered holder of __________ warrant(s) (the “Warrants” and each, a “Warrant”) to purchase Class A ordinary shares, $0.000005 par value per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), of ECARX Holdings Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”). Each Warrant entitles the holder, upon exercise during the period set forth in the Warrant Agreement referred to below, to receive from the Company that number of fully paid and non-assessable Ordinary Shares as set forth below, at the exercise price (the “Exercise Price”) as determined pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, payable in lawful money (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) of the United States of America upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment of the Exercise Price at the office or agency of the Warrant Agent referred to below, subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Each whole Warrant is initially exercisable for one fully paid and non-assessable Ordinary Share. Fractional shares shall not be issued upon exercise of any Warrant. If, upon the exercise of Warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in an Ordinary Share, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to the Warrant holder. The number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

The initial Exercise Price per one Ordinary Share for any Warrant is equal to $11.50 per share. The Exercise Price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Subject to the conditions set forth in the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants may be exercised only during the Exercise Period and to the extent not exercised by the end of such Exercise Period, such Warrants shall become void. The Warrants may be redeemed, subject to certain conditions, as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

 

 

  

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

 

This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid unless countersigned by the Warrant Agent, as such term is used in the Warrant Agreement.

 

This Warrant Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

  

  ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
   
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:
     
  CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY,
  AS WARRANT AGENT
     
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

 

 

  

[Form of Warrant Certificate]

 

[Reverse]

 

The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate are part of a duly authorized issue of Warrants entitling the holder on exercise to receive __________ Ordinary Shares of the Company and are issued or to be issued pursuant to (i) the Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement (the “Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement”) dated as of __________ duly executed and delivered by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”), the Company, and COVA Acquisition Corp. and (ii) the Warrant Agreement dated as of February 4, 2021 duly executed and delivered by COVA Acquisition Corp. to the Warrant Agent and as amended by the Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement (the “Warrant Agreement”). The Warrant Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby referred to for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Warrant Agent, the Company and the holders (the words “holders” or “holder” meaning the Registered Holders or Registered Holder, respectively) of the Warrants. A copy of the Warrant Agreement may be obtained by the holder hereof upon written request to the Company. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Warrants may be exercised at any time during the Exercise Period set forth in the Warrant Agreement. The holder of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may exercise them by surrendering this Warrant Certificate, with the form of Election to Purchase set forth hereon properly completed and executed, together with payment of the Exercise Price as specified in the Warrant Agreement (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent. In the event that upon any exercise of Warrants evidenced hereby the number of Warrants exercised shall be less than the total number of Warrants evidenced hereby, there shall be issued to the holder hereof or his, her or its assignee, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrants not exercised.

 

Notwithstanding anything else in this Warrant Certificate or the Warrant Agreement, no Warrant may be exercised unless at the time of exercise (i) a registration statement covering the issuance of the Ordinary Shares to be issued upon exercise is effective under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and (ii) a prospectus thereunder relating to the Ordinary Shares is current, except through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement.

 

The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the occurrence of certain events the number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants set forth on the face hereof may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted. If, upon exercise of a Warrant, the holder thereof would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in an Ordinary Share, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to the holder of the Warrant.

 

 

 

  

Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent by the Registered Holder thereof in person or by legal representative or attorney duly authorized in writing, may be exchanged, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, but without payment of any service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants.

 

Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of this Warrant Certificate at the office of the Warrant Agent a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants shall be issued to the transferee(s) in exchange for this Warrant Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, without charge except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.

 

The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the Registered Holder(s) hereof as the absolute owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of any distribution to the holder(s) hereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. Neither the Warrants nor this Warrant Certificate entitles any holder hereof to any rights of a shareholder of the Company.

  

 

 

 

Election to Purchase

 

(To Be Executed Upon Exercise of Warrant)

 

Election to Purchase

 

(To Be Executed Upon Exercise of Warrant)

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to receive __________ Class A Ordinary Shares (“Ordinary Shares”) of ECARX Holdings Inc. (“Company”) and herewith tenders payment for such Ordinary Shares to the order of the Company in the amount of US$ __________ in accordance with the terms hereof. The undersigned requests that a certificate for such Ordinary Shares be registered in the name of __________, whose address is __________ and that such Ordinary Shares be delivered to __________ whose address is __________. If said number of Ordinary Shares is less than all of the Ordinary Shares purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such Ordinary Shares be registered in the name of __________, whose address is __________ and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to __________, whose address is __________.

 

In the event that the Warrant is a Private Placement Warrant that is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(c) of the Warrant Agreement, the number of Ordinary Shares that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(c) of the Warrant Agreement.

 

In the event that the Warrant is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement, the number of Ordinary Shares that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement.

 

In the event that the Warrant may be exercised, to the extent allowed by the Warrant Agreement, through cashless exercise (i) the number of Ordinary Shares that this Warrant is exercisable for would be determined in accordance with the relevant section of the Warrant Agreement which allows for such cashless exercise and (ii) the holder hereof shall complete the following: The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, through the cashless exercise provisions of the Warrant Agreement, to receive Ordinary Shares. If said number of shares is less than all of the Ordinary Shares purchasable hereunder (after giving effect to the cashless exercise), the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such Ordinary Shares be registered in the name of __________, whose address is and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to __________, whose address is __________.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

 

 

Date: __, 20__

 

  (Signature)
  (Address)
  (Tax Identification Number)

 

Signature Guaranteed:  

 

THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED (OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE)).

  

 

 

Exhibit 4.7

 

ASSIGNMENT, ASSUMPTION AND AMENDMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS ASSIGNMENT, ASSUMPTION AND AMENDMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of [___], 2022, by and among (i) COVA Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “SPAC”), (ii) ECARX Holdings Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and (iii) Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York limited purpose trust company, as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the Warrant Agreement (as defined below) (and if such term is not defined in the Warrant Agreement, then the Merger Agreement (as defined below)).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, SPAC and the Warrant Agent are parties to that certain Warrant Agreement, dated as of February 4, 2021 (as amended, including without limitation by this Agreement, the “Warrant Agreement”), pursuant to which the Warrant Agent agreed to act as the SPAC’s warrant agent with respect to the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption and exercise of (i) warrants to purchase ordinary shares of the SPAC issued in SPAC’s initial public offering (“IPO”) (the “Public Warrants”), (ii) warrants to purchase ordinary shares underlying the units of SPAC acquired by COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”), in a private placement concurrent with the IPO (the “Private Placement Warrants”), and (iii) warrants to purchase ordinary shares issuable to the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain officers and directors of SPAC upon conversion of up to $1,000,000 of working capital loans (the “Working Capital Warrants” and together with the Public Warrants and the Private Placement Warrants, the “Warrants”);

 

WHEREAS, on [____], 2022, (i) SPAC, (ii) the Company, (iii) Ecarx Temp Limited, an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub 1”), and (iv) Ecarx&Co Limited, an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub 2”), entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (as it may be amended after the date hereof, the “Merger Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby (the “Closing”), among other matters and subject to the terms and conditions thereof, (a) Merger Sub 1 will merge with and into SPAC (the “First Merger”), with SPAC being the surviving entity, and (b) immediately following the First Merger and as part of the same overall transaction as the First Merger, SPAC, in its capacity as the surviving entity of the First Merger, will merge with and into Merger Sub 2 (the “Second Merger” and together with the First Merger, collectively, the “Mergers”), with Merger Sub 2 being the surviving entity, and as a result of which, among other matters, (i) Merger Sub 2, in its capacity as the surviving entity of the Second Merger, shall remain a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and (ii) each SPAC Class A Ordinary Share (which includes each SPAC Class A Ordinary Share (A) issued in connection with the SPAC Class B Conversion and (B) held as a result of the Unit Separation) immediately prior to the effective time of the First Merger (the “Effective Time”) shall automatically be cancelled and cease to exist in exchange for the right to receive one newly issued, fully paid and non-assessable class A ordinary shares, par value $[0.000005] per share, of the Company (together with any other securities of the Company or any successor entity issued in consideration of (including as a stock split, dividend or distribution) or in exchange for any of such securities, the “Company Class A Ordinary Shares”), all upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement and in accordance with the provisions of applicable law;

 

 

 

WHEREAS, upon consummation of the Mergers, as provided in the Merger Agreement and Section 4.5 of the Warrant Agreement, each of the issued and outstanding Warrants will no longer be exercisable for SPAC Ordinary Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement) but instead will be exercisable (subject to the terms and conditions of the Warrant Agreement as amended hereby) for the same number of Company Class A Ordinary Shares at the same exercise price per share; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company Class A Ordinary Shares constitute an Alternative Issuance as defined in said Section 4.5 of the Warrant Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, all references to “Ordinary Shares” in the Warrant Agreement (including all Exhibits thereto) shall mean the Company Class A Ordinary Shares;

 

WHEREAS, the board of directors of SPAC has determined that the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement will constitute a Business Combination (as defined in the Warrant Agreement); and

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Mergers, SPAC desires to assign all of its right, title and interest in the Warrant Agreement to the Company, and the Company wishes to accept such assignment and assume all the liabilities and obligations of SPAC under the Warrant Agreement with the same force and effect as if the Company were initially a party to the Warrant Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual promises herein made, and in consideration of the representations, warranties and covenants herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.             Assignment and Assumption; Consent.

 

(a)           Assignment and Assumption. SPAC hereby assigns to the Company all of SPAC’s right, title and interest in and to the Warrant Agreement and the Warrants (each as amended hereby) as of the Effective Time. The Company hereby assumes, and agrees to pay, perform, satisfy and discharge in full, as the same become due, all of SPAC’s liabilities and obligations under the Warrant Agreement and the Warrants (each as amended hereby) arising from and after the Effective Time with the same force and effect as if the Company were initially a party to the Warrant Agreement.

 

(b)           Consent. The Warrant Agent hereby consents to the assignment of the Warrant Agreement and the Warrants by SPAC to the Company and the assumption by the Company of the SPAC’s obligations under the Warrant Agreement pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof effective as of the Effective Time, the assumption of the Warrant Agreement and Warrants by the Company from SPAC pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof effective as of the Effective Time, and to the continuation of the Warrant Agreement and Warrants in full force and effect from and after the Effective Time, subject at all times to the Warrant Agreement and Warrants (each as amended hereby) and to all of the provisions, covenants, agreements, terms and conditions of the Warrant Agreement and this Agreement.

 

2

 

 

2.             Amendments to Warrant Agreement. The parties hereto hereby agree to the following amendments to the Warrant Agreement and acknowledge and agree that the amendments to the Warrant Agreement set forth in this Section 2 (i) are necessary and desirable and do not adversely affect the rights of the Registered Holders under the Warrant Agreement in any material respect and (ii) are to provide for the delivery of Alternative Issuance pursuant to Section 4.5 of the Warrant Agreement:

 

(a)           Preamble and References to the “Company”. The preamble of the Warrant Agreement is hereby amended by deleting “COVA Acquisition Corp.” and replacing it with “ECARX Holdings Inc.”. As a result thereof, all references to the “Company” in the Warrant Agreement (including all exhibits thereto) shall be amended such that they refer to the Company rather than SPAC.

 

(b)           Recitals. The recitals on pages one and two of the Warrant Agreement are hereby deleted and replaced in their entirety as follows:

 

“WHEREAS, on February 4, 2021, COVA Acquisition Corp. (“COVA”) entered into that certain Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement with COVA Acquisition Sponsor, a Cayman Islands limited liability company, (the “Sponsor”), pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to purchase an aggregate of 7,725,000 warrants (or up to 8,875,000 warrants if the Over-allotment Option (as defined below) in connection with the Public Offering (as defined below) is exercised in full) simultaneously with the closing of the Public Offering (and the closing of the Over-allotment Option, if applicable) bearing the legend set forth in Exhibit B hereto (the “Private Placement Warrants”) at a purchase price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant; and

 

WHEREAS, in order to finance COVA’s transaction costs in connection with an intended initial merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of COVA’s officers and directors could, but were not obligated to, loan COVA funds as COVA required, of which up to $1,000,000 of such loans may be convertible into up to an additional 1,000,000 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant (the “Working Capital Warrants”); and

 

WHEREAS, COVA consummated an initial public offering (the “Public Offering”) of units of COVA’s equity securities, each such unit comprised of one Class A ordinary share and one-half of one Public Warrant (as defined below) (the “Units”) and, in connection therewith, issued and delivered up to 15,007,500 warrants (including up to 1,957,500 warrants subject to the Over-allotment Option) to public investors in the Public Offering (the “Public Warrants” and together with the Private Placement Warrants and Working Capital Warrants, the “COVA Warrants”). Each whole COVA Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Class A ordinary share of COVA for $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. Only whole warrants are exercisable; and

 

3

 

 

WHEREAS, COVA has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-252273 (the “Registration Statement”) and prospectus (the “Prospectus”), for the registration, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the Units, and the Public Warrants and the Class A ordinary shares included in the Units; and

 

WHEREAS, on [____], 2022, (i) SPAC, (ii) the Company, (iii) Ecarx&Co Limited, an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub 1”), and (iv) Ecarx Temp Limited, an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub 2”), entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (as it may be amended after the date hereof, the “Merger Agreement”) and, as a result, all Class A ordinary shares of COVA shall be exchanged for the right to receive class A ordinary shares, par value $[0.000005] per share, of the Company (“Company Class A Ordinary Shares”); and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Merger Agreement and Section 4.5 of this Agreement, immediately after the First Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement), each of the issued and outstanding COVA Warrants will no longer be exercisable for Ordinary Shares but instead will become exercisable (subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement) for Company Class A Ordinary Shares (each a “Warrant” and collectively, the “Warrants”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption and exercise of the Warrants; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the form and provisions of the Warrants, the terms upon which they shall be issued and exercised, and the respective rights, limitation of rights, and immunities of the Company, the Warrant Agent, and the holders of the Warrants; and

 

WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on behalf of the Warrant Agent, as provided herein, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:”

 

(c)           Detachability of Warrants. Section 2.4 of the Warrant Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with the following: “[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]”

 

(d)           Reference to Ordinary Shares. All references to “Ordinary Shares” in the Warrant Agreement (including all Exhibits thereto) shall mean Company Class A Ordinary Shares.

 

4

 

 

(e)            Reference to Business Combination. All references to “Business Combination” in the Warrant Agreement (including all Exhibits thereto) shall be references to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and references to “the completion of the Business Combination” and all variations thereof in the Warrant Agreement (including all Exhibits thereto) shall be references to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

 

(f)            Notices. Section 9.2 of the Warrant Agreement is hereby amended to delete the address of the Company for notices under the Warrant Agreement and instead add the following address for notices to the Company:

 

 

 

ECARX Holdings Inc.
16/F, Tower 2, China Eastern Airline Binjiang Center
277 Longlan Road
Xuhui District, Shanghai 200041
People’s Republic of China
Attention:
Email:

with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to:

 

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
c/o 42/F, Edinburgh Tower, The Landmark
15 Queen’s Road Central
Hong Kong
Email:
Attention:

 

and

 

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
30/F, China World Office 2
No. 1, Jian Guo Men Wai Avenue
Beijing 100004, China
Email:
Attention:

 

3.             Effectiveness. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, this Agreement shall be expressly subject to the occurrence of and only become effective upon the Closing. In the event that the Merger Agreement is terminated for any reason in accordance with its terms prior to the Closing, this Agreement and all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall automatically terminate and be of no further force or effect.

 

4.             Miscellaneous. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, all of the terms and provisions in the Warrant Agreement are and shall remain in full force and effect, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein. This Agreement does not constitute, directly or by implication, an amendment or waiver of any provision of the Warrant Agreement, or any other right, remedy, power or privilege of any party thereto, except as expressly set forth herein. Any reference to the Warrant Agreement in the Warrant Agreement or any other agreement, document, instrument or certificate entered into or issued in connection therewith, shall hereinafter mean the Warrant Agreement as the case may be, as amended by this Agreement (or as such agreement may be further amended or modified in accordance with the terms thereof). The terms of this Agreement shall be governed by, enforced and construed and interpreted in a manner consistent with the provisions of the Warrant Agreement, as it applies to the amendments to the Warrant Agreement herein, including without limitation Section 9 of the Warrant Agreement.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK; SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each party hereto has caused this Agreement to be signed and delivered by its respective duly authorized officer as of the date first above written.

 

  SPAC:

 

  COVA ACQUISITION CORP.

 

  By:  

  Name:
  Title:

 

  The Company:

 

  ECARX HOLDINGS INC.

 

  By:  

  Name:
  Title:

 

  Warrant Agent:

 

  CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY

 

  By:  

  Name:
  Title:

 

[Signature Page to Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement]

 

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Exhibit 4.8

 

REGISTRATION AND SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS REGISTRATION AND SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of February 4, 2021, is made and entered into by and among COVA Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC, a Cayman Islands limited liability company (the “Sponsor”, and together with any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.2 of this Agreement, a “Holder” and collectively, the “Holders”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Sponsor currently owns 7,187,000 shares (up to 937,500 of which are subject to forfeiture) of the Company’s Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Ordinary Shares”);

 

WHEREAS, the Class B Ordinary Shares are convertible into the Company’s Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), at the time of the initial Business Combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment, on the terms and conditions provided in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as may be amended from time to time;

 

WHEREAS, on February 4, 2021, the Company and the Sponsor entered into that certain Private Placement Warrant Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to purchase 7,725,000 warrants (or up to 8,875,000 warrants if the Underwriter’s (as defined below) option to purchase additional units in connection with the Company’s initial public offering is exercised in full) (the “Private Placement Warrants”), in a private placement transaction occurring simultaneously with the closing of the Company’s initial public offering; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Holders desire to enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which the Company shall grant the Holders certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company, as set forth in this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual representations, covenants and agreements contained herein, and certain other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS

 

1.1 Definitions. The terms defined in this Article I shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth below:

 

Adverse Disclosure” shall mean any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the principal executive officer or principal financial officer of the Company, after consultation with counsel to the Company, (i) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (ii) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, and (iii) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.

 

 

 

Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Business Combination” shall mean any merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses, involving the Company.

 

Commission” shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Company” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Demand Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.

 

Demanding Holder” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.

 

Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Form S-1” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.

 

Form S-3” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.1.

 

Founder Shares” shall mean the Class B Ordinary Shares and shall be deemed to include the Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion thereof.

 

Founder Shares Lock-up Period” shall mean, with respect to the Founder Shares, the period ending on the earlier of (A) one year after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination and (B) subsequent to the Company’s initial Business Combination, (x) if the last reported sales price of the Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30 trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Company’s initial Business Combination or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property.

 

Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Insider Letter” shall mean that certain letter agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Company, the Sponsor and each of the Company’s officers, directors and director nominees.

 

Maximum Number of Securities” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.4.

 

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Misstatement” shall mean an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus (in the case of a Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.

 

Nominee” is defined in Section 6.1.

 

Ordinary Shares” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Permitted Transferees” shall mean a person or entity to whom a Holder of Registrable Securities is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities prior to the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-up Period or Private Placement Lock-up Period, as the case may be, under the Insider Letter, the Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement and any other applicable agreement between such Holder and the Company, and to any transferee thereafter.

 

Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1.

 

Private Placement Lock-up Period” shall mean, with respect to Private Placement Warrants that are held by the initial purchasers of such Private Placement Warrants or their Permitted Transferees, and the Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise of such Private Placement Warrants, the period ending thirty (30) days after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination.

 

Private Placement Warrants” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

 

Registrable Security” shall mean (a) the Founder Shares (including any Ordinary Shares or other equivalent equity security issued or issuable upon the conversion of any such Founder Shares or exercisable for Ordinary Shares), (b) the Private Placement Warrants (including any Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of such private placement warrants), (c) any outstanding Ordinary Shares or any other equity security (including the Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of any other equity security) of the Company held by a Holder as of the date of this Agreement, and (d) any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to any such Ordinary Shares by way of a share capitalization or share split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or reorganization; provided, however, that, as to any particular Registrable Security, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (i) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (ii) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such securities not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (iii) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; (iv) such securities may be sold without registration pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission) (but with no volume or other restrictions or limitations); or (v) such securities have been sold to, or through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction.

 

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Registration” shall mean a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.

 

Registration Expenses” shall mean the out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:

 

(A) all registration and filing fees (including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.) and any securities exchange on which the Ordinary Shares are then listed;

 

(B) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);

 

(C) printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;

 

(D) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;

 

(E) reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration; and

 

(F) reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel selected by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration to be registered for offer and sale in the applicable Registration or the Takedown Requesting Holder initiating an Underwritten Shelf Takedown.

 

Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement that covers the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registration statement, and all exhibits to and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

 

Requesting Holder” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.

 

Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Shelf” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.1.

 

Sponsor” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Sponsor Director” means an individual elected to the Board that has been nominated by the Sponsor pursuant to this Agreement.

 

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Subsequent Shelf Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.2.

 

Takedown Requesting Holder” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.3.

 

Underwriter” shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.

 

Underwritten Registration” or “Underwritten Offering” shall mean a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.

 

Underwritten Shelf Takedown” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.3.

 

ARTICLE 2 REGISTRATIONS

 

2.1 Demand Registration.

 

2.1.1 Request for Registration. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.4 and Section 2.4 hereof, at any time and from time to time on or after the date the Company consummates the initial Business Combination, the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the then-outstanding number of Registrable Securities (the “Demanding Holders”) may make a written demand for Registration under the Securities Act of all or part of their Registrable Securities, which written demand shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such Registration and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof (such written demand a “Demand Registration”). The Company shall, within five (5) days of the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, notify, in writing, all other Holders of Registrable Securities of such demand, and each Holder of Registrable Securities who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration (each such Holder that includes all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Registration, a “Requesting Holder”) shall so notify the Company, in writing, within three (3) business days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company. Upon receipt by the Company of any such written notification from a Requesting Holder(s) to the Company, such Requesting Holder(s) shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration and the Company shall effect, as soon thereafter as practicable, but not more than forty five (45) days immediately after the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, the Registration of all Registrable Securities requested by the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders pursuant to such Demand Registration. Under no circumstances shall the Company be obligated to effect more than an aggregate of three (3) Registrations pursuant to a Demand Registration under this subsection 2.1.1 with respect to any or all Registrable Securities; provided, however, that a Registration shall not be counted for such purposes unless a Form S-1 or any similar long-form registration statement that may be available at such time (“Form S-1”) has become effective and all of the Registrable Securities requested by the Requesting Holders to be registered on behalf of the Requesting Holders in such Form S-1 Registration have been sold, in accordance with Section 3.1 of this Agreement; provided, further, that an Underwritten Shelf Takedown shall not count as a Demand Registration.

 

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2.1.2 Effective Registration. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 2.1.1 above or any other part of this Agreement, a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration shall not count as a Registration unless and until (i) the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration has been declared effective by the Commission and (ii) the Company has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto; provided, further, that if, after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, an offering of Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration is subsequently interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission, federal or state court or any other governmental agency the Registration Statement with respect to such Registration shall be deemed not to have been declared effective, unless and until, (i) such stop order or injunction is removed, rescinded or otherwise terminated and (ii) a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating such Demand Registration thereafter affirmatively elect to continue with such Registration and accordingly notify the Company in writing, but in no event later than five (5) days, of such election; provided, further, that the Company shall not be obligated or required to file another Registration Statement until the Registration Statement that has been previously filed with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration becomes effective or is subsequently terminated.

 

2.1.3 Underwritten Offering. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.4 and Section 2.4 hereof, if a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders so advise the Company as part of their Demand Registration that the offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration shall be in the form of an Underwritten Offering, then the right of such Demanding Holder or Requesting Holder (if any) to include its Registrable Securities in such Registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such Underwritten Offering and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering to the extent provided herein. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.1.3 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating the Demand Registration.

 

2.1.4 Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration, in good faith, advises the Company, the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other Ordinary Shares or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell and the Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which a Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by any other shareholders who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities that can be sold in the Underwritten Offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Securities”), then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering, as follows: (i) first, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder and Requesting Holder (if any) has requested be included in such Underwritten Registration and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders have requested be included in such Underwritten Registration (such proportion is referred to herein as “Pro Rata”)) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Ordinary Shares or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Ordinary Shares or other equity securities of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register in a Registration pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.

 

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2.1.5 Demand Registration Withdrawal. A majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration or a majority-in-interest of the Requesting Holders (if any), pursuant to a Registration under subsection 2.1.1 shall have the right to withdraw from a Registration pursuant to such Demand Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to the Registration of their Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.1.5.

 

2.2 Piggyback Registration.

 

2.2.1 Piggyback Rights. If, at any time on or after the date the Company consummates a Business Combination, the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into equity securities, for its own account or for the account of shareholders of the Company (or by the Company and by the shareholders of the Company including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof), other than a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing shareholders, (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company or (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but not less than seven (7) days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement, which notice shall (A) describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, in such offering, and (B) offer to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to register the sale of such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within three (3) business days after receipt of such written notice (such Registration a “Piggyback Registration”). The Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and shall use its best efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this subsection 2.2.1 to be included in a Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such Registration and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.2.1 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Company. The notice periods set forth in this subsection 2.2.1 shall not apply to an Underwritten Shelf Takedown conducted in accordance with subsection 2.3.3.

 

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2.2.2 Reduction of Piggyback Registration. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration that is to be a Piggyback Registration (other than Underwritten Shelf Takedown), in good faith, advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that the dollar amount or number of the Ordinary Shares that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (i) the Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which Registration has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, (ii) the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested pursuant Section 2.2 hereof, and (iii) the Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other shareholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:

 

(a) If the Registration is undertaken for the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Registration (A) first, the Ordinary Shares or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 hereof, Pro Rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has so requested exercising its rights to register its Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 hereof, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other shareholders of the Company, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities;

 

(b) If the Registration is pursuant to a request by persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall include in any such Registration (A) first, the Ordinary Shares or other equity securities, if any, of such requesting persons or entities, other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1, Pro Rata, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Ordinary Shares or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the Ordinary Shares or other equity securities for the account of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons or entities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.

 

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2.2.3 Piggyback Registration Withdrawal. Any Holder of Registrable Securities shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of his, her or its intention to withdraw from such Piggyback Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Piggyback Registration. The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by persons pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.2.3.

 

2.2.4 Unlimited Piggyback Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, any Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof shall not be counted as a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration effected under Section 2.1 hereof.

 

2.3 Shelf Registrations.

 

2.3.1 The Holders of Registrable Securities may at any time, and from time to time, request in writing that the Company, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), register the resale of any or all of their Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or similar short form registration statement that may be available at such time (“Form S-3”), or if the Company is ineligible to use Form S-3, on Form S-1; a registration statement filed pursuant to this subsection 2.3.1 (a “Shelf”) shall provide for the resale of the Registrable Securities included therein pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder. Within three (3) days of the Company’s receipt of a written request from a Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities for a Registration on a Shelf, the Company shall promptly give written notice of the proposed Registration to all other Holders of Registrable Securities, and each Holder of Registrable Securities who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Registration shall so notify the Company, in writing, within three (3) business days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company. As soon as practicable thereafter, but not more than ten (10) days after the Company’s initial receipt of such written request for a Registration on a Shelf, the Company shall register all or such portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities as are specified in such written request, together with all or such portion of Registrable Securities of any other Holder or Holders joining in such request as are specified in the written notification given by such Holder or Holders; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such Registration pursuant to this subsection 2.3.1 if the Holders of Registrable Securities, together with the Holders of any other equity securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such Registration, propose to sell the Registrable Securities and such other equity securities (if any) at any aggregate price to the public of less than $10,000,000. The Company shall maintain each Shelf in accordance with the terms hereof, and shall prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements as may be necessary to keep such Shelf continuously effective, available for use and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities included on such Shelf. In the event the Company files a Shelf on Form S-1, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to convert the Form S-1 to a Form S-3 as soon as practicable after the Company is eligible to use Form S-3.

 

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2.3.2 If any Shelf ceases to be effective under the Securities Act for any reason at any time while Registrable Securities included thereon are still outstanding, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable cause such Shelf to again become effective under the Securities Act (including obtaining the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf), and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable amend such Shelf in a manner reasonably expected to result in the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf or file an additional registration statement (a “Subsequent Shelf Registration”) registering the resale of all Registrable Securities including on such Shelf, and pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder. If a Subsequent Shelf Registration is filed, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) cause such Subsequent Shelf Registration to become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is reasonably practicable after the filing thereof and (ii) keep such Subsequent Shelf Registration continuously effective, available for use and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities included thereon. Any such Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be on Form S-3 to the extent that the Company is eligible to use such form. Otherwise, such Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be on another appropriate form. In the event that any Holder holds Registrable Securities that are not registered for resale on a delayed or continuous basis, the Company, upon request of a Holder shall promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the resale of such Registrable Securities to be covered by either, at the Company’s option, a Shelf (including by means of a post-effective amendment) or a Subsequent Shelf Registration and cause the same to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and such Shelf or Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be subject to the terms hereof; provided, however, the Company shall only be required to cause such Registrable Securities to be so covered once annually after inquiry of the Holders.

 

2.3.3 At any time and from time to time after a Shelf has been declared effective by the Commission, the Sponsor may request to sell all or any portion of its Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering that is registered pursuant to the Shelf (each, an “Underwritten Shelf Takedown”); provided that the Company shall only be obligated to effect an Underwritten Shelf Takedown if such offering shall include securities with a total offering price (including piggyback securities and before deduction of underwriting discounts) reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, $10,000,000. All requests for Underwritten Shelf Takedowns shall be made by giving written notice to the Company at least 48 hours prior to the public announcement of such Underwritten Shelf Takedown, which shall specify the approximate number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the Underwritten Shelf Takedown and the expected price range (net of underwriting discounts and commissions) of such Underwritten Shelf Takedown. The Company shall include in any Underwritten Shelf Takedown the securities requested to be included by any holder (each a “Takedown Requesting Holder”) at least 24 hours prior to the public announcement of such Underwritten Shelf Takedown pursuant to written contractual piggyback registration rights of such holder (including to those set forth herein). The Sponsor and the Takedown Requesting Holders (if any) shall have the right to select the underwriter(s) for such offering (which shall consist of one or more reputable nationally recognized investment banks), subject to the Company’s prior approval which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. For purposes of clarity, any Registration effected pursuant to this subsection 2.3.3 shall not be counted as a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration effected under Section 2.1 hereof.

 

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2.3.4 Of the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Shelf Takedown, in good faith, advises the Company, the Sponsor and the Takedown Requesting Holders (if any) in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Sponsor and the Takedown Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other Ordinary Shares or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown, as follows: (i) first, the Registrable Securities of the Sponsor that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Ordinary Shares or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Ordinary Shares or other equity securities of the Takedown Requesting Holders, if any, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities, determined Pro Rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Takedown Requesting Holder has so requested to be included in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown.

 

2.3.5 The Sponsor and the Takedown Requesting Holders (if any) shall have the right to withdraw from an Underwritten Shelf Takedown for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of its intention to withdraw from such Underwritten Shelf Takedown prior to the public announcement of such Underwritten Shelf Takedown. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with an Underwritten Shelf Takedown prior to a withdrawal under this subsection 2.3.5.

 

2.4 Restrictions on Registration Rights. If (A) during the period starting with the date sixty (60) days prior to the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of the filing of, and ending on a date one hundred and twenty (120) days after the effective date of, a Company initiated Registration and provided that the Company has delivered written notice to the Holders prior to receipt of a Demand Registration pursuant to subsection 2.1.1 and it continues to actively employ, in good faith, all reasonable efforts to cause the applicable Registration Statement to become effective; (B) the Holders have requested an Underwritten Registration and the Company and the Holders are unable to obtain the commitment of underwriters to firmly underwrite the offer; or (C) in the good faith judgment of the Board such Registration would be seriously detrimental to the Company and the Board concludes as a result that it is essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement at such time, then in each case the Company shall furnish to such Holders a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board it would be seriously detrimental to the Company for such Registration Statement to be filed in the near future and that it is therefore essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement. In such event, the Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a period of not more than thirty (30) days; provided, however, that the Company shall not defer its obligation in this manner more than once in any 12-month period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not be required to effect or permit any Registration or cause any Registration Statement to become effective, with respect to any Registrable Securities held by any Holder, until after the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-Up Period or the Private Placement Lock-Up Period, as the case may be.

 

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ARTICLE 3 COMPANY PROCEDURES

 

3.1 General Procedures. If at any time on or after the date the Company consummates an initial Business Combination the Company is required to effect the Registration of Registrable Securities, the Company shall use its best efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible:

 

3.1.1 prepare and file with the Commission as soon as practicable a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold;

 

3.1.2 prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as may be requested by the Holders or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;

 

3.1.3 prior to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriters, if any, and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration, and such Holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus), and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or the legal counsel for any such Holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders;

 

3.1.4 prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject;

 

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3.1.5 cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;

 

3.1.6 provide a transfer agent or warrant agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;

 

3.1.7 advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;

 

3.1.8 at least five (5) days prior to the filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus (other than by way of a document incorporated by reference) furnish a copy thereof to each seller of such Registrable Securities or its counsel;

 

3.1.9 notify the Holders at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.4 hereof;

 

3.1.10 permit a representative of the Holders, the Underwriters, if any, and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders or Underwriter to participate, at each such person’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided, however, that such representatives or Underwriters enter into a confidentiality agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information;

 

3.1.11 obtain a “cold comfort” letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Registration, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders;

 

3.1.12 on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, obtain an opinion, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the Holders, the placement agent or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the Holders, placement agent, sales agent, or Underwriter may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority in interest of the participating Holders;

 

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3.1.13 in the event of any Underwritten Offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriter of such offering;

 

3.1.14 make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission);

 

3.1.15 if the Registration involves the Registration of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of $50,000,000, use its reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in any Underwritten Offering; and

 

3.1.16 otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the Holders, in connection with such Registration.

 

3.2 Registration Expenses. The Registration Expenses of all Registrations shall be borne by the Company. It is acknowledged by the Holders that the Holders shall bear all incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, such as Underwriters’ commissions and discounts, brokerage fees, Underwriter marketing costs and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,” all reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders.

 

3.3 Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings. No person may participate in any Underwritten Offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Company and (ii) completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

3.4 Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure. Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement, each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until he, she or it has received copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement (it being understood that the Company hereby covenants to prepare and file such supplement or amendment as soon as practicable after the time of such notice), or until he, she or it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed. If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of any Registration at any time would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure or would require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Company’s control, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement for the shortest period of time, but in no event more than thirty (30) days, determined in good faith by the Company to be necessary for such purpose. In the event the Company exercises its rights under the preceding sentence, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders of the expiration of any period during which it exercised its rights under this Section 3.4.

 

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3.5 Reporting Obligations. As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange Act, covenants to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and to promptly furnish the Holders with true and complete copies of all such filings. The Company further covenants that it shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Ordinary Shares held by such Holder without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission, to the extent that such rule or such successor rule is available to the Company), including providing any legal opinions. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

 

ARTICLE 4 INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION

 

4.1 Indemnification.

 

4.1.1 The Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its officers and directors and each person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein. The Company shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to the indemnification of the Holder.

 

4.1.2 In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its directors and officers and agents and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders of Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Holder of Registrable Securities shall be in proportion to and limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. The Holders of Registrable Securities shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers, directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company.

 

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4.1.3 Any person entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which he, she or it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.

 

4.1.4 The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities. The Company and each Holder of Registrable Securities participating in an offering also agrees to make such provisions as are reasonably requested by any indemnified party for contribution to such party in the event the Company’s or such Holder’s indemnification is unavailable for any reason.

 

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4.1.5 If the indemnification provided under Section 4.1 hereof from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however, that the liability of any Holder under this subsection 4.1.5 shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in subsections 4.1.1, 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 above, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this subsection 4.1.5. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

ARTICLE 5 SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

 

5.1 Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at any time and from time to time on or after the date that the Company consummates an initial Business Combination and for so long as the Sponsor holds any Registrable Securities:

 

5.1.1 The Sponsor shall have the right, but not the obligation, to designate three (3) individuals to be appointed or nominated, as the case may be, for election to the Board (including any successor, each, a “Nominee”) by giving written notice to the Company on or before the time such information is reasonably requested by the Board or the Nominating Committee of the Board, as applicable, for inclusion in a proxy statement for a meeting of shareholders provided to the Sponsor.

 

5.1.2 The Company will, as promptly as practicable, use its best efforts to take all necessary and desirable actions (including, without limitation, calling special meetings of the Board and the shareholders and recommending, supporting and soliciting proxies) so that there are three Sponsor Directors serving on the Board at all times.

 

5.1.3 The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, use its best efforts to take all actions necessary to ensure that: (i) each Nominee is included in the Board’s slate of nominees to the shareholders of the Company for each election of Directors; and (ii) each Nominee is included in the proxy statement prepared by management of the Company in connection with soliciting proxies for every meeting of the shareholders of the Company called with respect to the election of members of the Board, and at every adjournment or postponement thereof, and on every action or approval by written consent of the shareholders of the Company or the Board with respect to the election of members of the Board.

 

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5.1.4 If a vacancy occurs because of the death, disability, disqualification, resignation, or removal of a Sponsor Director or for any other reason, the Sponsor shall be entitled to designate such person’s successor, and the Company will, as promptly as practicable following such designation, use its best efforts to take all necessary and desirable actions, to the fullest extent permitted by law, within its control such that such vacancy shall be filled with such successor Nominee.

 

5.1.5 If a Nominee is not elected because of such Nominee’s death, disability, disqualification, withdrawal as a nominee or for any other reason, the Sponsor shall be entitled to designate promptly another Nominee and the Company will take all necessary and desirable actions within its control such that the director position for which such Nominee was nominated shall not be filled pending such designation or the size of the Board shall be increased by one and such vacancy shall be filled with such successor Nominee as promptly as practicable following such designation.

 

5.1.6 As promptly as reasonably practicable following the request of any Sponsor Director, the Company shall enter into an indemnification agreement with such Sponsor Director, in the form entered into with the other members of the Board. The Company shall pay the reasonable, documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Sponsor Director in connection with his or her services provided to or on behalf of the Company, including attending meetings or events attended explicitly on behalf of the Company at the Company’s request.

 

5.1.7 The Company shall (i) purchase directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in an amount determined by the Board to be reasonable and customary and (ii) for so long as a Sponsor Director serves as a Director of the Company, maintain such coverage with respect to such Sponsor Director; provided that upon removal or resignation of such Sponsor Director for any reason, the Company shall take all actions reasonably necessary to extend such directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage for a period of not less than six (6) years from any such event in respect of any act or omission occurring at or prior to such event.

 

5.1.8 For so long as a Sponsor Director serves on the Board, the Company shall not amend, alter or repeal any right to indemnification or exculpation covering or benefiting any Sponsor Director nominated pursuant to this Agreement as and to the extent consistent with applicable law, whether such right is contained in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, each as amended, or another document (except to the extent such amendment or alteration permits the Company to provide broader indemnification or exculpation rights on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto).

 

5.1.9 Each Nominee may, but does not need to qualify as “independent” pursuant to listing standards of the Nasdaq Capital Market (or such other national securities exchange upon which the Company’s securities are then listed).

 

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5.1.10 Any Nominee will be subject to the Company’s customary due diligence process, including its review of a completed questionnaire and a background check. Based on the foregoing, the Company may object to any Nominee provided (a) it does so in good faith, and (b) such objection is based upon any of the following: (i) such Nominee was convicted in a criminal proceeding or is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses), (ii) such Nominee was the subject of any order, judgment, or decree not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining such proposed director from, or otherwise limiting, the following activities: (A) engaging in any type of business practice, or (B) engaging in any activity in connection with the purchase or sale of any security or in connection with any violation of federal or state securities laws, (iii) such Nominee was the subject of any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any federal or state authority barring, suspending or otherwise limiting for more than sixty (60) days the right of such person to engage in any activity described in clause (ii)(B), or to be associated with persons engaged in such activity, (iv) such proposed director was found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the Commission to have violated any federal or state securities law, and the judgment in such civil action or finding by the Commission has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, or (v) such proposed director was the subject of, or a party to any federal or state judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree, or finding, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, relating to a violation of any federal or state securities laws or regulations. In the event the Board reasonably finds the Nominee to be unsuitable based upon one or more of the foregoing clauses (i) through (v) and reasonably objects to the identified director, Sponsor shall be entitled to propose a different Nominee to the Board within thirty (30) calendar days of the Company’s notice to Sponsor of its objection to the Nominee and such replacement Nominee shall be subject to the review process outlined above.

 

5.1.11 The Company shall take all necessary action to cause a Nominee chosen by the Sponsor, at the request of such Nominee to be elected to the board of directors (or similar governing body) of each material operating subsidiary of the Company. The Nominee, as applicable, shall have the right to attend (in person or remotely) any meetings of the board of directors (or similar governing body or committee thereof) of each subsidiary of the Company.

 

ARTICLE 6 MISCELLANEOUS

 

6.1 Notices. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be in writing and given by (i) deposit in the United States mail, addressed to the party to be notified, postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested, (ii) delivery in person or by courier service providing evidence of delivery, or (iii) transmission by hand delivery, electronic mail, telecopy, telegram or facsimile. Each notice or communication that is mailed, delivered, or transmitted in the manner described above shall be deemed sufficiently given, served, sent, and received, in the case of mailed notices, on the third business day following the date on which it is mailed and, in the case of notices delivered by courier service, hand delivery, electronic mail, telecopy, telegram or facsimile, at such time as it is delivered to the addressee (with the delivery receipt or the affidavit of messenger) or at such time as delivery is refused by the addressee upon presentation. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be addressed, if to the Company, to: c/o COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC, 530 Bush Street, Suite 703, San Francisco, CA 94108, with copy to: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, 222 Berkeley Street, Suite 2000, Boston, MA 02116, Attention: Albert W. Vanderlaan, and, if to any Holder, at such Holder’s address or facsimile number as set forth in the Company’s books and records. Any party may change its address for notice at any time and from time to time by written notice to the other parties hereto, and such change of address shall become effective thirty (30) days after delivery of such notice as provided in this Section 6.1.

 

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6.2 Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries.

 

6.2.1 This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part.

 

6.2.2 Prior to the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-up Period or the Private Placement Lock-up Period, as the case may be, no Holder may assign or delegate such Holder’s rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, except in connection with a transfer of Registrable Securities by such Holder to a Permitted Transferee.

 

6.2.3 This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and its successors and the permitted assigns of the Holders, which shall include Permitted Transferees.

 

6.2.4 This Agreement shall not confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not parties hereto, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement and Section 6.2 hereof.

 

6.2.5 No assignment by any party hereto of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until the Company shall have received (i) written notice of such assignment as provided in Section 6.1 hereof and (ii) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement). Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this Section 6.2 shall be null and void.

 

6.3 Severability. This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible that is valid and enforceable.

 

6.4 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts (including facsimile or PDF counterparts), each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute the same instrument, but only one of which need be produced.

 

6.5 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including all agreements entered into pursuant hereto and all certificates and instruments delivered pursuant hereto and thereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements, representations, understandings, negotiations and discussions between the parties, whether oral or written.

 

6.6 Governing Law; Venue. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AS APPLIED TO AGREEMENTS AMONG NEW YORK RESIDENTS ENTERED INTO AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.

 

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6.7 WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, COUNTERCLAIM OR OTHER PROCEEDING (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF, CONNECTED WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, OR THE ACTIONS OF THE SPONSOR IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.

 

6.8 Amendments and Modifications. Upon the written consent of the Company and the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities at the time in question, compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects one (1) Holder, solely in its capacity as a holder of the shares of the Company, in a manner that is materially different from the other Holders (in such capacity) shall require the consent of the Holder so affected. No course of dealing between any Holder or the Company and any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the part of a Holder or the Company in exercising any rights or remedies under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Holder or the Company. No single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder by such party.

 

6.9 Titles and Headings. Titles and headings of sections of this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of any provision of this Agreement.

 

6.10 Waivers and Extensions. Any party to this Agreement may waive any right, breach or default which such party has the right to waive, provided that such waiver will not be effective against the waiving party unless it is in writing, is signed by such party, and specifically refers to this Agreement. Waivers may be made in advance or after the right waived has arisen or the breach or default waived has occurred. Any waiver may be conditional. No waiver of any breach of any agreement or provision herein contained shall be deemed a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach thereof nor of any other agreement or provision herein contained. No waiver or extension of time for performance of any obligations or acts shall be deemed a waiver or extension of the time for performance of any other obligations or acts.

 

6.11 Remedies Cumulative. In the event that the Company fails to observe or perform any covenant or agreement to be observed or performed under this Agreement, the Holders may proceed to protect and enforce its rights by suit in equity or action at law, whether for specific performance of any term contained in this Agreement or for an injunction against the breach of any such term or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Agreement or to enforce any other legal or equitable right, or to take any one or more of such actions, without being required to post a bond. None of the rights, powers or remedies conferred under this Agreement shall be mutually exclusive, and each such right, power or remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to any other right, power or remedy, whether conferred by this Agreement or now or hereafter available at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.

 

6.12 Other Registration Rights. The Company represents and warrants that no person, other than a Holder of Registrable Securities, has any right to require the Company to register any securities of the Company for sale or to include such securities of the Company in any Registration filed by the Company for the sale of securities for its own account or for the account of any other person. Further, the Company represents and warrants that this Agreement supersedes any other registration rights agreement or agreement with similar terms and conditions and in the event of a conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.

 

6.13 Term. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the tenth anniversary of the date of this Agreement and (ii) the date as of which no Registrable Securities remain outstanding. The provisions of Section 3.5 and Article IV shall survive any termination.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.

 

COMPANY:  
   
COVA ACQUISITION CORP.  
   
By: /s/ Jun Hong Heng  

Name: Jun Hong Heng

Title: Chief Executive Officer

 
   
HOLDERS:  
   
COVA ACQUISITION SPONSOR LLC  
   
By: /s/ Jun Hong Heng  

Name: Jun Hong Heng

Title: Manager and Member

 

 

[Signature page to Registration and Shareholder Rights Agreement]

 

Exhibit 4.9

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of           , is made and entered into by and among (i) ECARX Holdings Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), (ii) COVA Acquisition Corp, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“SPAC”), (iii) COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC, a Cayman Islands limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), and (iv) the other undersigned parties listed on the signature page hereto (each such party, together with the Sponsor and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Agreement, a “Holder” and collectively the “Holders”).

 

WHEREAS, SPAC, the Sponsor and each of the other “Holders” as defined therein entered into that certain Registration and Shareholder Rights Agreement dated as of February 4, 2021 (the “Prior SPAC Agreement”) and Company and certain of its existing shareholders are parties to that certain Fifth Amended and Restated Investors Rights Agreement dated as of December 27, 2021 (the “Prior Company Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, on           , 2022, the Company, SPAC, Ecarx Temp Limited, a Cayman Islands limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub 1”) and Ecarx&Co Limited, a Cayman Islands limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub 2”) entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other matters, (i) Merger Sub 1 will merge with and into SPAC with SPAC continuing as the surviving entity and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the “First Merger,” and the closing of the First Merger, the “First Merger Closing”), (ii) immediately following the consummation of the First Merger,  SPAC will merge with and into Merger Sub 2 with Merger Sub 2 continuing as the surviving entity and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Second Merger” and together with the First Merger, collectively, the “Mergers,” and the closing of the Mergers, the “Closing”);

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms and provisions of the Merger Agreement, prior to the effective time of the First Merger, the Company will have undertaken the Re-designation (as defined in the Merger Agreement) whereby the ordinary shares, par value $0.000005 per share, of the Company held by the Holders immediately prior to the Re-designation (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes ordinary shares of the Company held by the Holders as a result of the Preferred Share Conversion) will be re-designated into Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.000005 per share, or Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.000005 per share, as the case may be, of the Company;

 

WHEREAS, at the First Merger Closing and subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, (i) all of the outstanding shares of SPAC will automatically be cancelled and cease to exist in exchange for the right to receive newly issued Class A ordinary shares of the Company, and (ii) all of the outstanding warrants of SPAC will automatically be assumed by the Company and become Company Warrants;

 

WHEREAS, (i) the parties to the Prior SPAC Agreement desire to terminate, effective as of the Closing, the same to provide for the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and (ii) the parties to the Prior Company Agreement desire to terminate, effective as of the Closing, the provisions of the Prior Company Agreement relating to the Registration of Registrable Securities to provide for the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, covenants and agreements contained herein, and certain other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS

 

The terms defined in this Article 1 shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth below:

 

Adverse Disclosure” shall mean any public disclosure of material non-public information, (a) which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company, after consultation with counsel to the Company, (i) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, and (ii) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, declared effective or used, as the case may be, and (b) as to which the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.

 

Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Board” shall mean the board of directors of the Company.

 

Business Day” shall mean a day on which commercial banks are open for business in New York, the Cayman Islands, the People’s Republic of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, except a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday (gazetted or ungazetted and whether scheduled or unscheduled).

 

Closing” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

Commission” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Company” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Company Shares” shall mean collectively, Class A ordinary shares of the Company, par value US$0.000005 per share, and Class B ordinary shares of the Company, par value US$0.000005 per share.

 

Company Warrants” shall mean the warrants exercisable for Class A ordinary shares of the Company to be issued by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

 

Demanding Holder” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.4.

 

Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

Financing Agreements” shall mean (a) the subscription agreement(s) or similar agreement(s) entered into by and between any investor and the Company on or after the date of the Merger Agreement, pursuant to which such investor will subscribe for Class A ordinary shares of the Company on the date of the Closing (collectively, the “Equity Subscription Agreements”), and (b) the Permitted Financing Agreements (as defined in the Merger Agreement) (other than the Equity Subscription Agreements).

 

First Merger Closing” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

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Form F-1shall mean such form under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof or any successor registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the Commission.

 

Form F-1 Shelf” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.

 

Form F-3” shall mean such form under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof or any registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the Commission that permits forward incorporation of substantial information by reference to other documents filed by the Company with the Commission.

 

Form F-3 Shelf” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.3.

 

Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Investor Securities” shall mean those securities issued pursuant to the Financing Agreements.

 

Lock-Up Agreement” shall mean, as applicable, the agreements and undertakings of the Holders set forth in (i) Section 4.9 of that certain Shareholder Support Agreement dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Company, SPAC and certain shareholders of the Company identified therein, and (ii) Section 4.13 of that certain Sponsor Support Agreement dated as of the date hereof by and among the Company, SPAC, the Sponsor and certain other persons identified therein, in each case pursuant to which a Holder has agreed not to transfer the Registrable Securities held by such Holder for a certain period of time after the Closing.

 

Maximum Number of Securities” shall mean, as to a given Underwritten Offering, the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities that can be sold in such Underwritten Offering, in the reasonable determination of the managing Underwriter(s), without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering.

 

Merger Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

Misstatement” shall mean an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus (in the case of a Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.

 

New Registration Statement” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1.

 

Permitted Transferees” shall mean a person or entity to whom a Holder of Registrable Securities is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities prior to the expiration of the lock-up period under the applicable Lock-Up Agreement, and to any transferee thereafter.

 

Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.7.1.

 

Prior Company Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

Prior SPAC Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

Pro Rata” shall mean, with respect to a given Registration, offering or Transfer of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement, pro rata based on (A) the number of Registrable Securities that each Holder, as applicable, has requested or proposed to be included in such Registration, offering or Transfer and (B) the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that all Holders have requested or proposed to be included in such Registration, offering or Transfer.

 

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Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

 

Registrable Securities” shall mean:

 

(A)          any outstanding Company Shares or Company Warrants that are held by a Holder as of immediately following the Closing;

 

(B)          any Company Shares that may be acquired by a Holder upon the exercise of any of the Company Warrants (or any other option or right to acquire Company Shares) that are held by a Holder as of immediately following the Closing; and

 

(C)          any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to any securities referenced in clauses (A) or (B) above by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, reorganization or similar transaction;

 

provided, however, as to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (i) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (ii) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such securities not bearing (or book-entry positions not subject to) a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (iii) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; (iv) such securities have been sold to, or through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction.

 

Registration” shall mean a registration, including any related Underwritten Takedown, effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.

 

Registration Expenses” shall mean the out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:

 

(A)          all registration and filing fees (including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.) and any securities exchange on which the Company Shares are then listed;

 

(B)          fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);

 

(C)           printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses of the Company;

 

(D)          reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;

 

(E)           reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration;

 

(F)          the Company’s roadshow and travel expenses, if any; and

 

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(G)          reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel selected by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating an Underwritten Takedown .

 

Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement that covers the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registration statement, and all exhibits to and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

 

Requesting Holder” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.5.

 

SEC Guidance” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1.

 

Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

 

Shelf” shall mean the Form F-1 Shelf, the Form F-3 Shelf or any Subsequent Shelf, as the case may be.

 

Shelf Registration” shall mean a Registration of securities pursuant to a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in accordance with and pursuant to Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule then in effect).

 

SPAC” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Sponsor” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

Subsequent Shelf” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.2.

 

Takedown Demand” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.4.1.

 

Takedown Threshold” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.4.

 

Transfer” shall mean the (a) sale of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to, any security, (b) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (c) public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (a) or (b).

 

Underwriter” shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.

 

Underwritten Registration” or “Underwritten Offering” shall mean a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.

 

Underwritten Takedown” shall mean an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf, as amended or supplemented.

 

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ARTICLE 2
registrations

 

2.1          Resale Shelf Registration.

 

2.1.1        The Company shall use its reasonable efforts to file within thirty (30) days following the Closing, and use commercially reasonable efforts to (a) cause to be declared effective as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, a Registration Statement for a Shelf Registration on Form F-1 (the “Form F-1 Shelf”) covering the resale of all the Registrable Securities (determined as of two (2) Business Days prior to such filing) on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor or similar provision adopted by the Commission then in effect), and (b) subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, keep such Form F-1 Shelf effective and available for use in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as a Form F-3 Shelf is declared effective pursuant to subsection 2.1.3.

 

2.1.2        Such Shelf shall provide for the resale of the Registrable Securities included therein pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder named therein.

 

2.1.3        Following the filing of a Form F-1 Shelf, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to convert the Form F-1 Shelf (and any Subsequent Shelf) to, and/or to file, and to cause to become effective, a Registration Statement for a Shelf Registration on Form F-3 (the “Form F-3 Shelf”) as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company is eligible to use Form F-3.

 

2.2          Rule 415 Cutback.

 

2.2.1        Notwithstanding the registration obligations set forth in Section 2.1, in the event the Commission informs the Company that all of the Registrable Securities cannot, as a result of the application of Rule 415 of the Securities Act, be registered for resale as a secondary offering on a single registration statement, the Company agrees to promptly (a) inform each of the Holders and use its commercially reasonable efforts to file amendments to the Shelf Registration as required by the Commission and/or (b) withdraw the Shelf Registration and file a new Registration Statement (a “New Registration Statement”), on Form F-3, or if Form F-3 is not then available to the Company for such Registration Statement, on such other form available to register for resale the Registrable Securities as a secondary offering; provided, however, that prior to filing such amendment or New Registration Statement, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with any publicly-available written or oral guidance, comments, requirements or requests of the Commission staff (the “SEC Guidance”).

 

2.2.2        Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any SEC Guidance sets forth a limitation of the number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered on a particular Registration Statement as a secondary offering (and notwithstanding that the Company used commercially reasonable efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all or a greater number of Registrable Securities), unless otherwise directed in writing by a Holder as to its Registrable Securities and subject to a determination by the Commission that certain Holders must be reduced first based on the number of Registrable Securities held by such Holders, the number of Registrable Securities to be registered on such Registration Statement will be reduced (a) firstly, on a Pro Rata basis among the Holders; and (b) secondly, only if the number of Registrable Securities of Holders permitted to be registered has been reduced to zero, on a Pro Rata basis among holders of Investor Securities.

 

2.2.3        If the Company amends the Shelf Registration or files a New Registration Statement, as the case may be, under this Section 2.2, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission, as promptly as allowed by the Commission or SEC Guidance, one or more registration statements on Form F-3 or such other form available to register for resale those Registrable Securities (a) that were not registered for resale on the Shelf Registration, as amended, or the New Registration Statement and (b) are no longer restricted by any Lock-Up Agreement.

 

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2.3          Amendment, Supplement and Subsequent Shelf.

 

2.3.1        The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain a Shelf in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and shall prepare and file with the Commission from time to time such amendments and supplements to the Shelf as may be necessary to keep the Shelf continuously effective, available for use and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities.

 

2.3.2        If a Shelf ceases to be effective under the Securities Act for any reason at any time while Registrable Securities are still outstanding, the Company shall, subject to Section 3.4, use commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable (a) cause such Shelf to again become effective under the Securities Act (including using commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf), (b) amend such Shelf in a manner reasonably expected to result in the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf, or (c) prepare and file an additional Registration Statement for a Shelf Registration (a “Subsequent Shelf”) registering the resale of all Registrable Securities (determined as of two (2) Business Days prior to such filing), and pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder named therein.

 

2.3.3        If a Subsequent Shelf is filed pursuant to Section 2.3.2, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to (a) cause such Subsequent Shelf to become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is reasonably practicable after the filing thereof, and (b) keep such Subsequent Shelf continuously effective, available for use and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities. Any such Subsequent Shelf shall be on Form F-3 to the extent that the Company is eligible to use such form, and shall be an automatic shelf registration statement as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act if the Company is a well-known seasoned issuer as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act at the most recent applicable eligibility determination date.

 

2.4          Demand for Underwritten Takedown. Subject to the Lock-Up Agreements and to the provisions of this Section 2.4 and Sections 2.5 and 3.4, at any time and from time to time when an effective Shelf is on file with the Commission, any Holder (each, a “Demanding Holder”), may request to sell all or a portion of its Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Takedown in accordance with this Section 2.4; provided that the Company shall only be obligated to effect an Underwritten Takedown if such Underwritten Offering shall include Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by the Demanding Holder with a total offering price reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, US$10,000,000 (the “Takedown Threshold”).

 

2.4.1        Takedown Demand Notice. All requests for an Underwritten Takedown shall be made by giving written notice to the Company, which shall specify the number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the Underwritten Takedown (such written notice, a “Takedown Demand”).

 

2.4.2        Underwriters. The majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating an Underwritten Takedown shall have the right to select the Underwriter(s) for such Underwritten Offering (which shall consist of one or more internationally recognized investment banks), subject to the approval of the Company (which shall not be unreasonably withheld). The Company shall not be required to include any Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Takedown unless such Holder accepts the terms of the underwriting as agreed between the Company and its Underwriter(s) and enters into and complies with an underwriting agreement with such Underwriter(s) in customary form (after having considered in good faith the comments from a single U.S. counsel for the Holders which are selling in the Underwritten Takedown). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company may effect any Underwritten Takedown pursuant to any then effective Registration Statement, including a Form F-3, that is then available for such offering.

 

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2.4.3        Number and Frequency of Underwritten Takedowns. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.4, under no circumstances shall the Company be obligated to effect (a) more than one (1) Underwritten Takedowns within the first year following the Closing, (b) for the period commencing one year after the Closing, more than two (2) Underwritten Takedown within any twelve-month period, (c) more than two (2) Underwritten Takedowns where the Sponsor is a Demanding Holder. For the avoidance of doubt, a Registration will not count as an Underwritten Takedown until the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Underwritten Takedown has been declared effective and the Company has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement in all material respects with respect to such Underwritten Takedown; provided, however, that if, after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Underwritten Takedown is interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission or any other governmental agency or court, the Registration Statement with respect to such Underwritten Takedown will be deemed not to have been declared effective, unless and until (i) such stop order or injunction is removed, rescinded or otherwise terminated, and (ii) the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders, thereafter elects to continue the offering; provided, further, that the Company shall not be obligated to file a second Registration Statement until the Registration Statement that has been previously filed with respect to such Registration becomes effective or is subsequently terminated.

 

2.5          Reduction of Underwritten Takedown. If the managing Underwriter(s) in an Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Takedown Demand advises the Company and the Demanding Holders and the Holders requesting piggy-back rights pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such Underwritten Offering (the “Requesting Holders”) (if any) in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other Company Shares or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell and the Company Shares, if any, as to which a Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by any other shareholders who desire to sell, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering:

 

2.5.1        first, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities (to be allocated Pro Rata among the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders if the Registrable Securities desired to be sold by such Holders in the aggregate would exceed the Maximum Number of Securities);

 

2.5.2        second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing subsection 2.5.1, the Company Shares or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and

 

2.5.3        third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing subsections 2.5.1 and 2.5.2, any Company Shares or other equity securities as to which a Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other shareholders of the Company that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.

 

2.6          Withdrawal of Underwritten Takedown.

 

2.6.1        Prior to the filing of the applicable preliminary or “red herring” Prospectus used for marketing an Underwritten Takedown, if the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders disapprove of the terms of any underwriting or are not entitled to include all of their Registrable Securities in the relevant offering, such majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders shall have the right to withdraw from such Underwritten Takedown upon written notification to the Company, each other Demanding Holder and Requesting Holder, and the applicable Underwriter(s).

 

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2.6.2        Following the receipt of any notice of withdrawal pursuant to subsection 2.6.1, the other Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders, provided that the Takedown Threshold would still be satisfied, may elect to continue with the Underwritten Offering and such continued Takedown Demand shall count as a Takedown Demand of the continuing Demanding Holders for purposes of subsection 2.4.3 and not of the withdrawing Demanding Holders.

 

2.6.3        If an Underwritten Takedown is withdrawn and not continued pursuant to subsection 2.6.2, the withdrawn Takedown Demand shall not count as an Underwritten Takedown for purposes of subsection 2.4.3 if and only if one or more of the Demanding Holders reimburse the Company for all Registration Expenses with respect to such Underwritten Takedown. For the avoidance of doubt, the withdrawn Takedown Demand shall count as an Underwritten Takedown if the Company is responsible for the Registration Expenses with respect to such Underwritten Takedown.

 

2.7Piggyback Registration.

 

2.7.1        Piggyback Rights. If the Company or any Holder proposes to conduct a registered offering of, or if the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Registration of, equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into equity securities, for its own account or for the account of shareholders of the Company (or by the Company and by the shareholders of the Company, including an Underwritten Takedown pursuant to Section 2.4), other than a Registration Statement (a) filed in connection with any employee share option or other benefit plan, (b) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing shareholders, (c) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company, (d) for a dividend reinvestment plan or (e) for a rights offering, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing or offering to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but not less than fifteen (15) days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement, or, in the case of an Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration, the applicable preliminary “red herring” Prospectus or prospectus supplement used for marketing such offering, which notice shall (x) describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter (s), if any, in such offering, and (y) offer to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to register the sale of such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within ten (10) days after receipt of such written notice (such Registration, a “Piggyback Registration”). Subject to subsection 2.7.2, the Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and shall use reasonable efforts to cause the managing Underwriter(s) of a proposed Underwritten Offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this subsection 2.7.1 to be included in such Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such Registration and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. The inclusion of any Holder’s Registrable Securities in a Piggyback Registration shall be subject to such Holder’s agreement to enter into and comply with an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) duly selected for such Underwritten Offering.

 

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2.7.2        Reduction of Piggyback Registration. If the managing Underwriter(s) in an Underwritten Registration that is to be a Piggyback Registration advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that the dollar amount or number of the Company Shares or other equity securities that Company desires to sell, taken together with (x) the Company Shares or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration or a registered offering has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, (y) the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested pursuant to Section 2.7 hereof, and (z) the Company Shares or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration or a registered offering has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other shareholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:

 

(a)           If the Registration or registered offering is undertaken for the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Registration or registered offering:

 

(i)            first, the Company Shares or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities;

 

(ii)           second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.7.1, Pro Rata among such Holders, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and

 

(iii)          third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Company Shares or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration or a registered offering has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other shareholders of the Company, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and

 

(b)          If the Registration or registered offering is pursuant to a request by persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall include in any such Registration or registered offering:

 

(i)            first, the Company Shares or other equity securities, if any, of such requesting persons or entities, other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities;

 

(ii)           second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.7.1, Pro Rata among such Holders, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities;

 

(iii)          third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Company Shares or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and

 

(iv)          fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the Company Shares or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration or a registered offering has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other shareholders of the Company, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.

 

(c)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing clauses (a) and (b), if the Registration or registered offering is pursuant to a request by Holder(s) of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.4, then the Company shall include in any such Registration or registered offering securities pursuant to Section 2.5.

 

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2.7.3        Piggyback Registration Withdrawal. Any Holder of Registrable Securities shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Piggyback Registration. The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by persons pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.7.3.

 

2.8          Restrictions on Registration Rights. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if Holders have requested an Underwritten Takedown and the Company and such Holders are unable to obtain the commitment of underwriters to firmly underwrite such offering, the Company shall have the right to defer the filing of the Registration Statement or conduct of an Underwritten Offering for a period of not more than sixty (60) days, if the Company determines, in the good faith judgment of the Board, that it would be materially detrimental to the Company to do otherwise than defer such filing or conduct.

 

2.9          Market Stand-Off Agreement. Each Holder given an opportunity to participate in an Underwritten Offering of the Company (other than a Block Trade) pursuant to the terms of this Agreement agrees that it shall not Transfer any Company Shares or other equity securities of the Company (other than those included in such offering pursuant to this Agreement), without the prior written consent of the Company, during the ninety (90)-day period beginning on the date of pricing of such offering, except (i) in the event the managing Underwriter(s) otherwise agree by written consent or (ii) pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 trading plans (or similar plan) in effect prior to such 90-day period. Each Holder agrees to execute a customary lock-up agreement in favor of the relevant Underwriter(s) to such effect (in each case on substantially the same terms and conditions as all such Holders).

 

2.10         Block Trade.

 

2.10.1      Notwithstanding the forgoing, at any time and from time to time when an effective Shelf is on file with the Commission, if a Demanding Holder wishes to engage in an underwritten or other coordinated registered offering not involving a “roadshow,” an offer commonly known as a “block trade” (a “Block Trade”), with a total offering price reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, either (x) US$10,000,000 or (y) all remaining Registrable Securities held by the Demanding Holder, then such Demanding Holder shall use commercially reasonable efforts to notify the Company of the Block Trade in advance and prior to the day such offering is to commence and the Company shall as expeditiously as possible use commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate such Block Trade; provided that the Demanding Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the Block Trade shall use commercially reasonable efforts to work with the Company and any Underwriters prior to making such request in order to facilitate preparation of the registration statement, prospectus and other offering documentation related to the Block Trade.

 

2.10.2      Prior to the filing of the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement used in connection with a Block Trade, the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating such Block Trade shall have the right to withdraw upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Block Trade prior to its withdrawal under this section.

 

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2.10.3     The Demanding Holder in a Block Trade shall have the right to select the Underwriters for such Block Trade (which shall consist of one or more reputable nationally recognized investment banks).

 

2.10.4      Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Section 2.7 hereof shall not apply to a Block Trade initiated by a Demanding Holder pursuant to this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE 3
COMPANY PROCEDURES

 

3.1          General Procedures. In connection with any Shelf and/or Underwritten Takedown, the Company shall use reasonable efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible:

 

3.1.1        prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are disposed of in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;

 

3.1.2        prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus as may be reasonably requested by the Holders or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are disposed of in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or such securities have been withdrawn;

 

3.1.3        prior to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriter(s), if any, and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration, and such Holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus), and such other documents as the Underwriter(s) and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or the legal counsel for any such Holders may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders;

 

3.1.4        prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use commercially reasonable efforts to (a) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may reasonably request and (b) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be reasonably necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; providedhowever, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject;

 

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3.1.5        cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;

 

3.1.6        provide a transfer agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;

 

3.1.7        advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly, and in no event later than two (2) Business Day, after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;

 

3.1.8        notify the Holders at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the occurrence of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.4 hereof;

 

3.1.9        permit a representative of the Holders (such representative to be selected by a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders), the Underwriters, if any, and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders or Underwriter to participate, at each such person’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with the Registration; providedhowever, that such representative, or Underwriters enter into a confidentiality agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information;

 

3.1.10      obtain a “comfort” letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Registration, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “comfort” letters as the managing Underwriter(s) may reasonably request;

 

3.1.11      in the event of an Underwritten Registration, on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, obtain an opinion and a negative assurance letter, each dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the participating Holders, the placement agent or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriter(s), if any, as the case may be, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion or negative assurance letter is being given as the participating Holders, placement agent, sales agent, or Underwriter, as the case may be, may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders;

 

3.1.12      in the event of any Underwritten Offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriter(s) of such offering;

 

3.1.13      make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule then in effect);

 

3.1.14      with respect to an Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.4, use commercially reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter(s) in such Underwritten Offering; and

 

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3.1.15      otherwise cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the participating Holders, consistent with the terms of this Agreement, in connection with such Registration.

 

3.2          Registration Expenses. The Registration Expenses of all Registrations shall be borne by the Company. It is acknowledged by the Holders that the Holders shall bear all incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, such as Underwriters’ commissions and discounts, brokerage fees and Underwriter marketing costs and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,” all reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders.

 

3.3          Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings. Each Holder shall provide such information as may reasonably be requested by the Company, or the managing Underwriter(s) or placement agent or sales agent, if any, in connection with the preparation of any Registration Statement or Prospectus, including amendments and supplements thereto, in order to effect the Registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to ARTICLE 2 and in connection with the Company’s obligation to comply with federal and applicable state securities laws. No person may participate in any Underwritten Offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such person:

 

3.3.1        agrees to sell such person’s securities on the basis provided in any customary underwriting arrangements approved by the Company (after having considered and given good faith consideration to the comments from a single U.S. counsel for the Holders that are selling in the Underwritten Offering); and

 

3.3.2        completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

The exclusion of a Holder’s Registrable Securities as a result of this Section 3.3 shall not affect the Registration of the other Registrable Securities to be included in such Registration.

 

3.4          Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure. Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement (including pursuant to subsection 3.1.8), each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until it has received copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement (it being understood that the Company hereby covenants to prepare and file such supplement or amendment as soon as practicable after the time of such notice), or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed. In addition, if the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of any Registration at any time would (a) require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Company’s control, (b) in the good faith view of the Company, require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure, or (c) in the good faith judgment of the Company, be materially detrimental to the Company as a result that it is essential to defer such filing, initial effectiveness or continued use at such time, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement for the period of time determined in good faith by the Company to be necessary for such purpose; provided, however, that the Company shall not have the right to exercise the rights set forth in this Section 3.4 for more than 90 consecutive days or more than 120 days, in any such case, in any 12 month period . In the event the Company exercises its rights under the preceding sentence, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities.

 

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3.5          Reporting Obligations. As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange Act, covenants to use commercially reasonable efforts to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and to promptly furnish the Holders with true and complete copies of all such filings; provided that any documents publicly filed or furnished with the Commission pursuant to the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system shall be deemed to have been furnished or delivered to the Holders pursuant to this Section 3.5. The Company further covenants that it shall use commercially reasonable efforts to take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Company Shares held by such Holder without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule then in effect). Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

 

ARTICLE 4
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION

 

4.1          Indemnification by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its officers, directors, agents and each person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) (each, a “Holder Indemnified Party”) against all losses, judgements, claims, damages, liabilities and out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from, arising out of or that are based on (a) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any violation by the Company of the Securities Act or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any such registration, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information or affidavit furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or (b) if such losses, judgments, claims, damages, liabilities or out-of-pocket expenses are based on any such Holder’s violation of the federal securities laws or failure to sell the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution contained in the Prospectus. The Company shall promptly reimburse a Holder Indemnified Party for any reasonable expenses incurred by such Holder Indemnified Party in connection with investigating and defending any proceeding or action to which this Section 4.1 applies (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of legal counsel) except insofar as such proceeding or action arise out of or are based on any information or affidavit furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder, or if such proceeding or action are based on any such Holder’s violation of the federal securities laws or failure to sell the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution contained in the Prospectus.

 

4.2          Information Provided by and Indemnification by Holders. In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers and agents and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from, arising out of or that are based on any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission are caused by or contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use therein, or if such losses, judgments, claims, damages, liabilities or out-of-pocket expenses are based on any such Holder’s violation of the federal securities laws or failure to sell the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution contained in the Prospectus; providedhowever, that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders of Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Holder of Registrable Securities shall be in proportion to and limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. The Holders of Registrable Securities shall indemnify the Underwriter(s), their officers, directors and each person who controls such Underwriter(s) (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company.

 

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4.3          Indemnification Process.

 

4.3.1        Any person entitled to indemnification pursuant to Sections 4.1 or 4.2 (each, an “Indemnified Party”) shall:

 

(a)           if a claim is to be made against any person (the “Indemnifying Party”) for indemnification hereunder, give prompt written notice to the Indemnifying Party of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or out-of-pocket expenses (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not prejudiced the Indemnifying Party); and

 

(b)          unless in the Indemnified Party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such Indemnified Party and Indemnifying Party may exist with respect to such claim, permit such Indemnifying Party to assume control of the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party. If such defense is assumed, the Indemnifying Party shall not, without its consent (such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the Indemnified Party.

 

4.3.2        If such control of defense is assumed, the Indemnifying Party shall not be subject to any liability to the Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof.

 

4.3.3        An Indemnifying Party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the control of defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one (1) counsel for all parties indemnified by such Indemnifying Party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any Indemnified Party a conflict of interest may exist between such Indemnified Party and any other of such Indemnified Parties with respect to such claim.

 

4.3.4        No Indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the Indemnifying Party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement includes a statement or admission of fault and culpability on the part of such Indemnified Party or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.

 

4.3.5        The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party or any officer, director or controlling person of such Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of securities.

 

16

 

 

4.4          Contribution. If the indemnification provided under Sections 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3 from the Indemnifying Party is judicially determined to be unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified Party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and out-of-pocket expenses referred to herein, then the Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying the Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the Indemnified Party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and out-of-pocket expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by (or omitted to be made by, in the case of an omission), or relates to any information or affidavit supplied by (or not supplied by, in the case of an omission), such Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party, and the Indemnifying Party’s and the Indemnified Party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however, that the liability of any Holder under this subsection 4.4 shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in subsections 4.14.2 and 4.3 above, any legal or other fees, charges or out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.4 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this subsection 4.4. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.4 from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

ARTICLE 5
MISCELLANEOUS

 

5.1          Notices. All general notices, demands or other communications required or permitted to be given or made hereunder (“Notices”) shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by courier or sent by electronic mail to the intended recipient thereof. Any such Notice shall be deemed to have been duly served (a) if given personally or sent by local courier, upon delivery during normal business hours at the location of delivery or, if later, then on the next Business Day after the day of delivery; (b) if sent by electronic mail during normal business hours at the location of delivery, immediately, or, if later, then on the next Business Day after the day of delivery; or (c) the third Business Day following the day sent by reputable international overnight courier (with written confirmation of receipt). Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be addressed:

 

If to the Company:

 

ECARX Holdings Inc.
16/F, Tower 2, China Eastern Airline Binjiang Center
277 Longlan Road, Xuhui District
Shanghai 200041, People’s Republic of China
Attention:
E-mail:

 

17

 

 

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

 

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
30/F, China World Office 2
No. 1, Jian Guo Men Wai Avenue
Beijing 100004, China
Attention:
Email:

 

and

 

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
c/o 42/F, Edinburgh Tower, The Landmark
15 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong
Attention:
Email:

 

If to SPAC or the Sponsor:

 

COVA Acquisition Corp./COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC
530 Bush Street, Suite 703, San Francisco, California 94108
Attention:
E-mail:

 

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

 

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

222 Berkeley Street, Suite 2000

Boston, MA 02116

Attention:

Email:

 

If to any Holder, at such Holder’s address or contact information as set forth under such Holder’s signature to this Agreement or to such Holder’s address as found in Company’s books and records.

 

Any party may change its address for notice at any time and from time to time by written notice to the other parties hereto, and such change of address shall become effective thirty (30) days after delivery of such notice as provided in this Section 5.1. Any Holder not desiring to receive Notices at any time and from time to time may so notify the other parties, who shall thereafter not make, give or deliver any Notice to such Holder until duly notified otherwise (or until the expiry of any period specified in such Holder’s notice).

 

5.2Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries.

 

5.2.1        This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part.

 

5.2.2        Prior to the expiration of the lock-up period applicable to such Holder pursuant to any Lock-Up Agreement, no Holder may assign or delegate such Holder’s rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, except in connection with a transfer of Registrable Securities by such Holder to a Permitted Transferee but only if such Permitted Transferee agrees to become bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement. After the expiration of the lock-up period applicable to such Holder pursuant to any Lock-Up Agreement, the Holder may assign or delegate such Holder’s rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, to any person to whom it transfers Registrable Securities; provided that such Registrable Securities remain Registrable Securities following such transfer, and such person agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

18

 

 

5.2.3        This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and its successors and the permitted assigns of the Holders, which shall include Permitted Transferees.

 

5.2.4        This Agreement shall not confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not parties hereto, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement and Section 5.2 hereof.

 

5.2.5        No assignment by any party hereto of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until the Company shall have received (i) written notice of such assignment as provided in Section 5.1 hereof and (ii) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement). Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this Section 5.2 shall be null and void.

 

5.3          Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts (including by electronic means), each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute the same instrument, but only one of which need be produced.

 

5.4          Governing Law; Venue. Each party expressly agrees that this Agreement, and all claims or causes of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to principles or rules of conflict of laws to the extent such principles or rules would require or permit the applicable of laws of another jurisdiction. Any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be brought in federal and state courts in New York county in the State of New York, and each of the parties irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of each such court, waives any obligation it may now or hereafter have to personal jurisdiction, venue or to convenience of forum, agrees that all claims in respect of any cause of action may be heard and determined only in any such court, and agrees not to bring any cause of action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in any other court. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to affect the right of any party to serve process in any manner permitted by law or to commence legal proceedings or otherwise proceed against any other party in any other jurisdiction, in each case, to enforce judgments obtained in any action brought pursuant to this Section 5.4. EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

5.5          Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any specific provision of this Agreement shall not invalidate or render unenforceable any of its other provisions. The parties hereto further agree that if any provision contained in this Agreement is, to any extent, held invalid or unenforceable in any respect under the laws governing this Agreement, they shall take any actions necessary to render the remaining provisions of this Agreement valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law and, to the extent necessary, shall amend or otherwise modify this Agreement to replace any provision contained in this Agreement that is held invalid or unenforceable with a valid and enforceable provision giving effect to the intent of the parties hereto.

 

19

 

 

5.6          Entire Agreement. This Agreement (together with the Merger Agreement, and any applicable Lock-Up Agreement to the extent incorporated herein, and including all agreements entered into pursuant hereto or thereto or referenced herein or therein and all certificates and instruments delivered pursuant hereto and thereto) set forth the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all other prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings between the parties, whether oral or written, with respect to such subject matter.

 

5.7          Construction. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction will be applied against any party. Unless the context otherwise requires: (a) “or” is disjunctive but not exclusive; (b) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular; (c) the words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and section and subsection references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified; (d) the term “including” is not limiting and means “including without limitation”; (e) whenever the context requires, any pronouns used herein shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms; (f) references to agreements and other documents shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments and other modifications or supplements thereto; and (g) references to statutes shall include all regulations promulgated thereunder and references to statutes or regulations shall be construed as including all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending or replacing the statute or regulation. Where any Company Shares are held by the Depository Trust Company or any person who operates a clearing system or issues depositary receipts (or their nominees) and/or a nominee, custodian or trustee for any person, that person shall (unless the context requires otherwise) be treated for the purposes of this Agreement as the holder of those shares and references to shares being “held by” a person, to a person “holding” shares or to a person who “holds” any such shares, or equivalent formulations, shall be construed accordingly. The headings, subheadings and captions contained in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only, and in no way define, limit or describe the scope of this Agreement or the intent of any provision hereof.

 

5.8          Amendments and Modifications. Upon the prior written consent of the Company and the Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities at the time in question, compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; providedhowever, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment or modification to this Agreement that would have a disproportionately adverse effect on any party’s rights hereunder in any material respect shall require the prior written consent of such party.

 

5.9          Termination of Prior SPAC Agreement and Termination and Effectiveness of this Agreement.

 

5.9.1        Each of SPAC, the Sponsor and the “Holders” (as defined in the Prior SPAC Agreement) hereby agrees that the Prior SPAC Agreement shall terminate as of the First Merger Closing, and thereafter shall be of no further force and effect.

 

5.9.2        The registration rights granted under this Agreement shall supersede any registration, qualification or similar rights of the Holders with respect to the securities of SPAC or the Company granted under any other agreement (including the Prior Company Agreement), and any of such preexisting registration, qualification or similar rights and such agreements shall be terminated and of no further force and effect. With effect from the First Merger Closing, each party to this Agreement hereby irrevocably waives and agrees not to exercise or enforce any rights it may have (a) in respect of the registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to any other agreement, in general and (b) arising from or pursuant to the Prior Company Agreement, in particular.

 

20

 

 

5.9.3        This Agreement shall take effect as of and from the First Merger Closing; provided, that if the Merger Agreement is terminated prior to the First Merger Closing, this Agreement shall not become effective and shall be deemed void.

 

5.10        Term. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of (a) the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date of this Agreement and (b) with respect to any Holder, on the date that such Holder no longer holds any Registrable Securities. The provisions of Section 3.5 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

21

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.

 

  Company:
   
  ECARX Holdings Inc.
   
  By:  
    Name:  
    Title:  

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.

 

  SPAC:
   
  COVA Acquisition Corp.
   
  By:  
    Name:  
    Title:  

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.

 

  Sponsor:
   
  COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC
   
  By:  
    Name:  
    Title:  

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.

 

  Holder:
   
   
   
  By:  
    Name:  
    Title:  
       
  Address for Notices:

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

ECARX Holdings Inc.

c/o Harneys Fiduciary (Cayman) Limited

4th Floor, Harbour Place

103 South Church Street

P.O. Box 10240

Grand Cayman

KY1-1002

 

11 October 2022

 

Dear Sirs

 

ECARX Holdings Inc.

 

We have acted as Cayman Islands legal advisers to ECARX Holdings Inc. (the "Company") in connection with the Company’s registration statement on Form F-4, including all amendments or supplements thereto, filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”) (including its exhibits, the "Registration Statement") for the purposes of, registering with the Commission under the Act, the issuance of:

 

(i)37,500,000 class A ordinary shares of the Company of par value US$0.000005 each (the "Shares") to the existing shareholders of COVA Acquisition Corp. (“COVA”);

 

(ii)24,872,000 warrants to acquire Shares to the holders of warrants to acquire shares of COVA (the “Warrants”); and

 

(iii)24,872,000 Shares that may be issued upon exercise of the Warrants,

 

pursuant to certain transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement dated as of 26 May 2022 by and among the Company, COVA, Ecarx Temp Limited and Ecarx&Co Limited (the “Merger Agreement”) and the Sponsor Support Agreement and Deed dated as of 26 May 2022 by and among the Company, COVA, COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC and other parties named therein (the “Sponsor Support Agreement and Deed”).

 

We are furnishing this opinion as Exhibits 5.1 and 23.3 to the Registration Statement.

 

1Documents Reviewed

 

For the purposes of this opinion, we have reviewed only originals, copies or final drafts of the following documents:

 

1.1The certificate of incorporation of the Company dated 12 November 2019 issued by the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands.

 

 

 

 

1.2The sixth amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company as adopted by special resolution on 27 December 2021 (the "Pre-Merger Memorandum and Articles").

 

1.3The form of the seventh amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company to be conditionally adopted by a special resolution of the Company and to be effective upon Closing (as defined under the Merger Agreement), a copy of which is attached hereto as Annexure A (the "Memorandum and Articles").

 

1.4The written resolutions of the board of directors of the Company dated 26 May 2022 (the "Board Resolutions").

 

1.5The form of minutes of the meeting of the shareholders of the Company to be held on or before Closing (as defined under the Merger Agreement)(the "Meeting"), a copy of which is attached hereto as Annexure B (the "EGM Minutes").

 

1.6A certificate from a director of the Company, a copy of which is attached hereto as Annexure C (the "Director's Certificate").

 

1.7A certificate of good standing dated 5 October 2022, issued by the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands (the "Certificate of Good Standing").

 

1.8The Merger Agreement.

 

1.9The Sponsor Support Agreement and Deed.

 

1.10The Registration Statement.

 

1.11The warrant agreement dated 4 February 2021, by and between COVA and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“Continental”), the warrant certificate constituting the Warrants and the form of the assignment, assumption and amendment agreement to be entered into between COVA, the Company and Continental, a copy of which is attached hereto as Annexure D (together, the “Warrant Documents”).

 

2Assumptions

 

The following opinions are given only as to, and based on, circumstances and matters of fact existing and known to us on the date of this opinion letter. These opinions only relate to the laws of the Cayman Islands which are in force on the date of this opinion letter. In giving these opinions we have relied (without further verification) upon the completeness and accuracy, as of the date of this opinion letter, of the Director's Certificate and the Certificate of Good Standing. We have also relied upon the following assumptions, which we have not independently verified:

 

2.1Copies of documents, conformed copies or drafts of documents provided to us are true and complete copies of, or in the final forms of, the originals.

 

2.2All signatures, initials and seals are genuine.

 

2.3The EGM Minutes will be a true and correct record of the proceedings of the Meeting, which will be duly convened and held, and at which a quorum will be present throughout, in each case, in the manner prescribed in the Pre-Merger Memorandum and Articles. The resolutions set out in the EGM Minutes will be duly passed in the manner prescribed in the Pre-Merger Memorandum and Articles and will not be amended, varied or revoked in any respect.

 

2

 

 

2.4The Company will receive money or money's worth in consideration for the issue of the Shares and none of the Shares were or will be issued for less than par value.

 

2.5There is nothing contained in the minute book or corporate records of the Company (which we have not inspected) which would or might affect the opinions set out below.

 

2.6There is nothing under any law (other than the law of the Cayman Islands), which would or might affect the opinions set out below.

 

2.7Upon Closing (as defined under the Merger Agreement), the Company will not be subject to the requirements of Part XVIIA of the Companies Act (As Revised) (the "Companies Act").

 

3Opinion

 

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications set out below and having regard to such legal considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:

 

3.1The Company has been duly incorporated as an exempted company with limited liability and is validly existing and in good standing with the Registrar of Companies under the laws of the Cayman Islands.

 

3.2With effect from the Closing (as defined under the Merger Agreement), the authorised share capital of the Company will be US$50,000 divided into 10,000,000,000 shares of a par value of US$0.000005 each consisting of (i) 8,000,000,000 class A ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.000005 each, (ii) 1,000,000,000 class B ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.000005 each and (iii) 1,000,000,000 shares of a par value of US$0.000005 each of such class or classes (however designated) as the board of directors of the Company may determine in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles.

 

3.3The issue and allotment of the Shares as contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Merger Agreement (including the issuance of the Shares upon the exercise of the Warrants as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Merger Agreement) will have been duly authorised for issue and when allotted, issued and paid for as contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Merger Agreement (including the issuance of the Shares upon the exercise of the Warrants as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Merger Agreement), the Shares will be validly issued and allotted, fully paid and non-assessable. As a matter of Cayman Islands law, a share is only issued when it has been entered in the register of members (shareholders).

 

3.4The execution, delivery and performance of the Warrant Documents have been authorised by and on behalf of the Company and, once the Warrant Documents have been executed and delivered by any director of the Company, the Warrant Documents will have been duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Company and will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms.

 

3

 

 

3.5The statements under the caption "Cayman Islands Tax Considerations" in the prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement, to the extent that they constitute statements of Cayman Islands law, are accurate in all material respects and that such statements constitute our opinion.

 

4Qualifications

 

The opinions expressed above are subject to the following qualifications:

 

4.1To maintain the Company in good standing with the Registrar of Companies under the laws of the Cayman Islands, annual filing fees must be paid and returns made to the Registrar of Companies within the time frame prescribed by law.

 

4.2Under the Companies Act, the register of members of a Cayman Islands company is by statute regarded as prima facie evidence of any matters which the Companies Act directs or authorises to be inserted therein. A third party interest in the shares in question would not appear. An entry in the register of members may yield to a court order for rectification (for example, in the event of fraud or manifest error).

 

4.3In this opinion the phrase "non-assessable" means, with respect to shares in the Company, that a shareholder shall not, solely by virtue of its status as a shareholder and in absence of a contractual arrangement, or an obligation pursuant to the memorandum and articles of association, to the contrary, be liable for additional assessments or calls on the shares by the Company or its creditors (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstances in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil).

 

Except as specifically stated herein, we make no comment with respect to any representations and warranties which may be made by or with respect to the Company in any of the documents or instruments cited in this opinion or otherwise with respect to the commercial terms of the transactions, which are the subject of this opinion.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our name under the heading "Legal Matters" and elsewhere in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act, or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

Yours faithfully

 

/s/ Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP

 

Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP

 

4

 

 

Annexure A

Memorandum and Articles

 

5

 

 

Annexure B

EGM Minutes

 

6

 

 

Annexure C

Director's Certificate

 

7

 

 

Annexure D

Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement

 

8

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT

 

This Investment Management Trust Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made effective as of February 4, 2021 by and between COVA Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York limited purpose trust company (the “Trustee”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-252273 (the “Initial Registration Statement”), registration statement to be filed on Form S-1, File No. 333-252768, relating to the Initial Registration Statement (the “462(b) Registration Statement” and, together with the Initial Registration Statement, the “Registration Statement”) and prospectus (the “Prospectus”) for the initial public offering of the Company’s units (the “Units”), each of which consists of one of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), and one-half of one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Ordinary Share (such initial public offering hereinafter referred to as the “Public Offering”), has been declared effective as of the date hereof by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company has entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., as representative (the “Representative”) to the several underwriters (the “Underwriters”) named therein; and

 

WHEREAS, as described in the Prospectus, $261,000,000 of the gross proceeds of the Public Offering and sale of the Private Placement Warrants (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) (or $300,150,000 if the Underwriters’ option to purchase additional units is exercised in full) will be delivered to the Trustee to be deposited and held in a segregated trust account located at all times in the United States (the “Trust Account”) for the benefit of the Company and the holders of Ordinary Shares included in the Units issued in the Public Offering as hereinafter provided (the amount to be delivered to the Trustee (and any interest subsequently earned thereon) is referred to herein as the “Property,” the shareholders for whose benefit the Trustee shall hold the Property will be referred to as the “Public Shareholders,” and the Public Shareholders and the Company will be referred to together as the “Beneficiaries”); and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, a portion of the Property equal to $9,135,000, or $10,505,250 if the Underwriters’ option to purchase additional units is exercised in full, is attributable to deferred underwriting discounts and commissions that will be payable by the Company to the Underwriters upon the consummation of the Business Combination (as defined below) (the “Deferred Discount”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee desire to enter into this Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Trustee shall hold the Property.

 

 

 

 

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:

 

1. Agreements and Covenants of Trustee. The Trustee hereby agrees and covenants to:

 

(a) Hold the Property in trust for the Beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of this Agreement in the Trust Account established by the Trustee in the United States at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (or at another U.S. chartered commercial bank with consolidated assets of $100 billion or more) in the United States, maintained by Trustee and at a brokerage institution selected by the Trustee that is reasonably satisfactory to the Company;

 

(b) Manage, supervise and administer the Trust Account subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein;

 

(c) In a timely manner, upon the written instruction of the Company, invest and reinvest the Property in United States government securities within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, having a maturity of 185 days or less, or in money market funds meeting the conditions of paragraphs (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3) and (d)(4) of Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (or any successor rule), which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, as determined by the Company; the Trustee may not invest in any other securities or assets, it being understood that the Trust Account will earn no interest while account funds are uninvested awaiting the Company’s instructions hereunder and the Trustee may earn bank credits or other consideration;

 

(d) Collect and receive, when due, all principal, interest or other income arising from the Property, which shall become part of the “Property,” as such term is used herein;

 

(e) Promptly notify the Company and the Representative of all communications received by the Trustee with respect to any Property requiring action by the Company;

 

(f)   Supply any necessary information or documents as may be requested by the Company (or its authorized agents) in connection with the Company’s preparation of the tax returns relating to assets held in the Trust Account;

 

(g) Participate in any plan or proceeding for protecting or enforcing any right or interest arising from the Property if, as and when instructed by the Company to do so;

 

(h) Render to the Company monthly written statements of the activities of, and amounts in, the Trust Account reflecting all receipts and disbursements of the Trust Account;

 

(i) Commence liquidation of the Trust Account only after and promptly after (x) receipt of, and only in accordance with, the terms of a letter from the Company (“Termination Letter”) in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as either Exhibit A or Exhibit B, as applicable, signed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or other authorized officer of the Company and, in the case of a Termination Letter in the form of Exhibit A, on behalf of the Representative by an authorized signatory of the Representative, and complete the liquidation of the Trust Account and distribute the Property in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to pay our income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), only as directed in the Termination Letter and the other documents referred to therein, or (y) upon the date which is the later of (1) 24 months after the closing of the Public Offering and (2) such later date as may be approved by the Company’s shareholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, if a Termination Letter has not been received by the Trustee prior to such date, in which case the Trust Account shall be liquidated in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Termination Letter attached as Exhibit B and the Property in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), shall be distributed to the Public Shareholders of record as of such date. It is acknowledged and agreed that there should be no reduction in the principal amount per share initially deposited in the Trust Account;

 

2 

 

 

(j) Upon written request from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit C (a “Tax Payment Withdrawal Instruction”), withdraw from the Trust Account and distribute to the Company the amount of interest earned on the Property requested by the Company to cover any tax obligation owed by the Company as a result of assets of the Company or interest or other income earned on the Property, which amount shall be delivered directly to the Company by electronic funds transfer or other method of prompt payment, and the Company shall forward such payment to the relevant taxing authority, so long as there is no reduction in the principal amount per share initially deposited in the Trust Account; provided, however, that to the extent there is not sufficient cash in the Trust Account to pay such tax obligation, the Trustee shall liquidate such assets held in the Trust Account as shall be designated by the Company in writing to make such distribution (it being acknowledged and agreed that any such amount in excess of interest income earned on the Property shall not be payable from the Trust Account). The written request of the Company referenced above shall constitute presumptive evidence that the Company is entitled to said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility to look beyond said request;

 

(k) Upon written request from the Company, which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit D (a “Shareholder Redemption Withdrawal Instruction”), the Trustee shall distribute to the remitting brokers on behalf of Public Shareholders redeeming Ordinary Shares the amount required to pay redeemed Ordinary Shares from Public Shareholders pursuant to the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association; and

 

(l) Not make any withdrawals or distributions from the Trust Account other than pursuant to Section 1(i), (j) or (k) above.

 

2. Agreements and Covenants of the Company. The Company hereby agrees and covenants to:

 

(a) Give all instructions to the Trustee hereunder in writing, signed by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or other authorized officer of the Company. In addition, except with respect to its duties under Sections 1(i), (j) or (k) hereof, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, any verbal or telephonic advice or instruction which it, in good faith and with reasonable care, believes to be given by any one of the persons authorized above to give written instructions, provided that the Company shall promptly confirm such instructions in writing;

 

3 

 

 

(b) Subject to Section 4 hereof, hold the Trustee harmless and indemnify the Trustee from and against any and all expenses, including reasonable counsel fees and disbursements, or losses suffered by the Trustee in connection with any action taken by it hereunder and in connection with any action, suit or other proceeding brought against the Trustee involving any claim, or in connection with any claim or demand, which in any way arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the services of the Trustee hereunder, or the Property or any interest earned on the Property, except for expenses and losses resulting from the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct. Promptly after the receipt by the Trustee of notice of demand or claim or the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, pursuant to which the Trustee intends to seek indemnification under this Section 2(b), it shall notify the Company in writing of such claim (hereinafter referred to as the “Indemnified Claim”). The Trustee shall have the right to conduct and manage the defense against such Indemnified Claim; provided that the Trustee shall obtain the consent of the Company with respect to the selection of counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Trustee may not agree to settle any Indemnified Claim without the prior written consent of the Company, which such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company may participate in such action with its own counsel;

 

(c) Pay the Trustee the fees set forth on Schedule A hereto, including an initial acceptance fee, annual administration fee, and transaction processing fee which fees shall be subject to modification by the parties from time to time. It is expressly understood that the Property shall not be used to pay such fees unless and until it is distributed to the Company pursuant to Sections 1(i) through 1(k) hereof. The Company shall pay the Trustee the initial acceptance fee and the first annual administration fee at the consummation of the Public Offering. The Company shall not be responsible for any other fees or charges of the Trustee except as set forth in this Section 2(c) and as may be provided in Section 2(b) hereof;

 

(d) In connection with any vote of the Company’s shareholders regarding a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination involving the Company and one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”), provide to the Trustee an affidavit or certificate of the inspector of elections for the shareholder meeting verifying the vote of such stockholders regarding such Business Combination;

 

(e) Provide the Representative with a copy of any Termination Letter(s) and/or any other correspondence that is sent to the Trustee with respect to any proposed withdrawal from the Trust Account promptly after it issues the same;

 

(f) Unless otherwise agreed between the Company and the Representative, ensure that any Instruction Letter (as defined in Exhibit A) delivered in connection with a Termination Letter in the form of Exhibit A expressly provides that the Deferred Discount is paid directly to the account or accounts directed by the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters prior to any transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account to the Company or any other person;

 

4 

 

 

(g) Instruct the Trustee to make only those distributions that are permitted under this Agreement, and refrain from instructing the Trustee to make any distributions that are not permitted under this Agreement;

 

(h) If the Company seeks to amend any provisions of its amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to provide holders of the Ordinary Shares the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with the Company’s initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Ordinary Shares if the Company does not complete its initial Business Combination within the time period set forth therein or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of the Ordinary Shares (in each case, an “Amendment”), the Company will provide the Trustee with a letter (an “Amendment Notification Letter”) in the form of Exhibit D providing instructions for the distribution of funds to Public Shareholders who exercise their redemption option in connection with such Amendment; and

 

(i) Within five (5) business days after the Underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional units (or any unexercised portion thereof) or such option to purchase additional units expires, provide the Trustee with a notice in writing of the total amount of the Deferred Discount.

 

3. Limitations of Liability. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability to:

 

(a) Imply obligations, perform duties, inquire or otherwise be subject to the provisions of any agreement or document other than this Agreement and that which is expressly set forth herein;

 

(b) Take any action with respect to the Property, other than as directed in Section 1 hereof, and the Trustee shall have no liability to any third party except for liability arising out of the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct;

 

(c) Institute any proceeding for the collection of any principal and income arising from, or institute, appear in or defend any proceeding of any kind with respect to, any of the Property unless and until it shall have received written instructions from the Company given as provided herein to do so and the Company shall have advanced or guaranteed to it funds sufficient to pay any expenses incident thereto;

 

(d) Change the investment of any Property, other than in compliance with Section 1 hereof;

 

(e) Refund any depreciation in principal of any Property;

 

(f) Assume that the authority of any person designated by the Company to give instructions hereunder shall not be continuing unless provided otherwise in such designation, or unless the Company shall have delivered a written revocation of such authority to the Trustee;

 

5 

 

 

(g) The other parties hereto or to anyone else for any action taken or omitted by it, or any action suffered by it to be taken or omitted, in good faith and in the Trustee’s best judgment, except for the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct. The Trustee may rely conclusively and shall be protected in acting upon any order, notice, demand, certificate, opinion or advice of counsel (including counsel chosen by the Trustee, which counsel may be the Company’s counsel), statement, instrument, report or other paper or document (not only as to its due execution and the validity and effectiveness of its provisions, but also as to the truth and acceptability of any information therein contained) which the Trustee believes, in good faith and with reasonable care, to be genuine and to be signed or presented by the proper person or persons. The Trustee shall not be bound by any notice or demand, or any waiver, modification, termination or rescission of this Agreement or any of the terms hereof, unless evidenced by a written instrument delivered to the Trustee, signed by the proper party or parties and, if the duties or rights of the Trustee are affected, unless it shall give its prior written consent thereto;

 

(h) Verify the accuracy of the information contained in the Registration Statement;

 

(i) Provide any assurance that any Business Combination entered into by the Company or any other action taken by the Company is as contemplated by the Registration Statement;

 

(j) File information returns with respect to the Trust Account with any local, state or federal taxing authority or provide periodic written statements to the Company documenting the taxes payable by the Company, if any, relating to any interest income earned on the Property;

 

(k) Prepare, execute and file tax reports, income or other tax returns and pay any taxes with respect to any income generated by, and activities relating to, the Trust Account, regardless of whether such tax is payable by the Trust Account or the Company, including, but not limited to, income tax obligations, except pursuant to Section 1(j) hereof; or

 

(l) Verify calculations, qualify or otherwise approve the Company’s written requests for distributions pursuant to Sections 1(i), 1(j) or 1(k) hereof.

 

4. Trust Account Waiver. The Trustee has no right of set-off or any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account, and hereby irrevocably waives any Claim to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account that it may have now or in the future. In the event the Trustee has any Claim against the Company under this Agreement, including, without limitation, under Section 2(b) or Section 2(c) hereof, the Trustee shall pursue such Claim solely against the Company and its assets outside the Trust Account and not against the Property or any monies in the Trust Account.

 

6 

 

 

5. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate as follows:

 

(a) If the Trustee gives written notice to the Company that it desires to resign under this Agreement, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to locate a successor trustee, pending which the Trustee shall continue to act in accordance with this Agreement. At such time that the Company notifies the Trustee that a successor trustee has been appointed by the Company and has agreed to become subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Trustee shall transfer the management of the Trust Account to the successor trustee, including but not limited to the transfer of copies of the reports and statements relating to the Trust Account, whereupon this Agreement shall terminate; provided, however, that in the event that the Company does not locate a successor trustee within ninety (90) days of receipt of the resignation notice from the Trustee, the Trustee may submit an application to have the Property deposited with any court in the State of New York or with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and upon such deposit, the Trustee shall be immune from any liability whatsoever; or

 

(b) At such time that the Trustee has completed the liquidation of the Trust Account and its obligations in accordance with the provisions of Section 1(i) hereof and distributed the Property in accordance with the provisions of the Termination Letter, this Agreement shall terminate except with respect to Section 2(b).

 

6. Miscellaneous.

 

(a) The Company and the Trustee each acknowledge that the Trustee will follow the security procedures set forth below with respect to funds transferred from the Trust Account. The Company and the Trustee will each restrict access to confidential information relating to such security procedures to authorized persons. Each party must notify the other party immediately if it has reason to believe unauthorized persons may have obtained access to such confidential information, or of any change in its authorized personnel. In executing funds transfers, the Trustee shall rely upon all information supplied to it by the Company, including, account names, account numbers, and all other identifying information relating to a Beneficiary, Beneficiary’s bank or intermediary bank. Except for any liability arising out of the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct, the Trustee shall not be liable for any loss, liability or expense resulting from any error in the information or transmission of the funds.

 

(b) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. This Agreement may be executed in several original or facsimile counterparts, each one of which shall constitute an original, and together shall constitute but one instrument.

 

(c) This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. Except for Section 1(i), 1(j) and 1(k) hereof (which sections may not be modified, amended or deleted without the affirmative vote of sixty-five percent (65%) of the then outstanding Ordinary Shares and Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company, voting together as a single class; provided that no such amendment will affect any Public Shareholder who has properly elected to redeem his or her Ordinary Shares in connection with a shareholder vote to amend this Agreement to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to provide for the redemption of the Ordinary Shares in connection with an initial Business Combination or an Amendment or to redeem 100% of its Ordinary Shares if the Company does not complete its initial Business Combination within the time frame specified in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association), this Agreement or any provision hereof may only be changed, amended or modified (other than to correct a typographical error) by a writing signed by each of the parties hereto.

 

7 

 

 

(d) The parties hereto consent to the jurisdiction and venue of any state or federal court located in the City of New York, State of New York, for purposes of resolving any disputes hereunder. AS TO ANY CLAIM, CROSS-CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

 

(e) Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery or by electronic mail:

 

if to the Trustee, to:

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

1 State Street, 30th Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attn: Francis E. Wolf, Jr. & Celeste Gonzalez

Email: fwolf@continentalstock.com

     cgonzalez@continentalstock.com

 

if to the Company, to:

 

COVA Acquisition Corp.

530 Bush Street, Suite 703

San Francisco, CA 94108

Attention: Jun Hong Heng

Email: JunHong@crescentcove.com

 

in each case, with copies to:

 

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

222 Berkeley St., Suite 2000

Boston, MA 02116

Attention: Albert W. Vanderlaan

Email: avanderlaan@orrick.com

 

and

 

Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

499 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attn: General Counsel

Fax No.: (212) 829-4708

 

and

 

Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10105

Attn: Stuart Neuhauser

Email: sneuhauser@egsllp.com

 

8 

 

 

(f) Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby represents that it has the full right and power and has been duly authorized to enter into this Agreement and to perform its respective obligations as contemplated hereunder. The Trustee acknowledges and agrees that it shall not make any claims or proceed against the Trust Account, including by way of set-off, and shall not be entitled to any funds in the Trust Account under any circumstance.

 

(g) This Agreement is the joint product of the Trustee and the Company and each provision hereof has been subject to the mutual consultation, negotiation and agreement of such parties and shall not be construed for or against any party hereto.

 

(h) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Signatures to this Agreement transmitted via facsimile or e-mail shall be valid and effective to bind the party so signing (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com).

 

(i) Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters is a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement.

 

(j) Except as specified herein, no party to this Agreement may assign its rights or delegate its obligations hereunder to any other person or entity.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

9 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Investment Management Trust Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

  CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER &
  TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee
   
  By: /s/ Francis Wolf
  Name: Francis Wolf
  Title: Vice President
     
  COVA ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By: /s/ Jun Hong Heng
  Name: Jun Hong Heng
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Investment Management Trust Agreement]

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

Fee Item  Time and method of payment  Amount 
Initial acceptance fee  Initial closing of IPO by wire transfer  $3,500.00 
Annual fee  First year, initial closing of IPO by wire transfer; thereafter on the anniversary of the effective date of the IPO by wire transfer or check  $10,000.00 
Transaction processing fee for disbursements to Company under Sections 1(i),(j), and (k)  Billed by Trustee to Company under Section 1  $250.00 
Paying Agent services as required pursuant to Section 1(i) and 1(k)  Billed to Company upon delivery of service pursuant to Section 1(i) and 1(k)   Prevailing rates 

 

S-1 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf & Celeste Gonzalez

 

Re: Trust Account Termination Letter

 

Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between COVA Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“Trustee”), dated as of February 4, 2021 (the “Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has entered into an agreement with ___________ (the “Target Business”) to consummate a business combination with Target Business (the “Business Combination”) on or about [insert date]. The Company shall notify you at least seventy-two (72) hours in advance of the actual date (or such shorter time period as you may agree) of the consummation of the Business Combination (the “Consummation Date”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to commence to liquidate all of the assets of the Trust Account, and to transfer the proceeds into the trust operating account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. to the effect that, on the Consummation Date, all of the funds held in the Trust Account will be immediately available for transfer to the account or accounts that the Representative (with respect to the Deferred Discount) and the Company shall direct on the Consummation Date. It is acknowledged and agreed that while the funds are on deposit in said trust operating account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. awaiting distribution, neither the Company nor the Representative will earn any interest or dividends.

 

On the Consummation Date (i) counsel for the Company shall deliver to you written notification that the Business Combination has been consummated, or will be consummated substantially concurrently with your transfer of funds to the accounts as directed by the Company (the “Notification”), and (ii) the Company shall deliver to you (a) a certificate by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or other authorized officer of the Company, which verifies that the Business Combination has been approved by a vote of the Company’s shareholders, if a vote is held and (b) joint written instruction signed by the Company and the Representative with respect to the transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account, including payment of the Deferred Discount from the Trust Account (the “Instruction Letter”). You are hereby directed and authorized to transfer the funds held in the Trust Account immediately upon your receipt of the Notification and the Instruction Letter, in accordance with the terms of the Instruction Letter. In the event that certain deposits held in the Trust Account may not be liquidated by the Consummation Date without penalty, you will notify the Company in writing of the same and the Company shall direct you as to whether such funds should remain in the Trust Account and be distributed after the Consummation Date to the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds, net of any payments necessary for reasonable unreimbursed expenses related to liquidating the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.

 

In the event that the Business Combination is not consummated on the Consummation Date described in the notice thereof and we have not notified you on or before the original Consummation Date of a new Consummation Date, then upon receipt by the Trustee of written instructions from the Company, the funds held in the Trust Account shall be reinvested as provided in Section 1(c) of the Trust Agreement on the business day immediately following the Consummation Date as set forth in such notice as soon thereafter as possible.

 

  Very truly yours,
     
  COVA ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By:                  
  Name:  
  Title:  
     
  CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO.
     
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

A-1 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf & Celeste Gonzalez

 

Re: Trust Account Termination Letter

 

Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between COVA Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of February 4, 2021 (the “Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has been unable to effect a business combination with a Target Business (the “Business Combination”) within the time frame specified in the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as described in the Company’s Prospectus relating to the Public Offering. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate all of the assets in the Trust Account and to transfer the total proceeds into the trust operating account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. to await distribution to the Public Shareholders. The Company has selected __________ as the effective date for the purpose of determining when the Public Shareholders will be entitled to receive their share of the liquidation proceeds. It is acknowledged that no interest will be earned by the Company on the liquidation proceeds while on deposit in the trust operating account. You agree to be the Paying Agent of record and, in your separate capacity as Paying Agent, agree to distribute said funds directly to the Company’s Public Shareholders in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds, net of any payments necessary for reasonable unreimbursed expenses related to liquidating the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated, except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 1(j) of the Trust Agreement.

 

  Very truly yours,
     
  COVA ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  
     
  cc: CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO.

 

B-1 

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf & Celeste Gonzalez

 

Re: Trust Account Tax Payment Withdrawal Instruction

 

Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(j) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between COVA Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of February 4, 2021 (the “Trust Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the Company $___________ of the interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

The Company needs such funds to pay for the tax obligations as set forth on the attached tax return or tax statement. In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter to the Company’s operating account at:

 

[WIRE INSTRUCTION INFORMATION]

 

  Very truly yours,
     
  COVA ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  
     
  cc: CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO.

 

C-1 

 

 

EXHIBIT D

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf & Celeste Gonzalez

 

Re: Trust Account Stockholder Redemption Withdrawal Instruction

 

Dear Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(k) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between COVA Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of February 4, 2021 (the “Trust Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the Company’s shareholders $___________ of the principal and interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

 

Pursuant to Section 1(k) of the Trust Agreement, this is to advise you that the Company has sought an Amendment. Accordingly, in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate a sufficient portion of the Trust Account and to transfer $ of the proceeds of the Trust Account to the trust operating account at for distribution to the shareholders that have requested redemption of their shares in connection with such Amendment.

 

  Very truly yours,
     
  COVA ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  
     
  cc: CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO.

 

D-1 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

COVA Acquisition Corp.

 

February 4, 2021

 

COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC
530 Bush Street, Suite 703
San Francisco, CA 94108

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This letter will confirm our agreement that, commencing on the effective date (the “Effective Date”) of the registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) for the initial public offering (the “IPO”) of the securities of COVA Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and continuing until the earlier of (i) the consummation by the Company of an initial business combination and (ii) the Company’s liquidation (in each case as described in the Registration Statement) (such earlier date hereinafter referred to as the “Termination Date”), COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”) shall take steps directly or indirectly to make available to the Company certain office space, secretarial and administrative services as may be required by the Company from time to time, situated at 530 Bush Street, Suite 703, San Francisco, CA 94108 (or any successor location). In exchange therefore, the Company shall pay the Sponsor a sum of up to $10,000 per month commencing on the Effective Date and continuing monthly thereafter until the Termination Date. The Sponsor hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (a “Claim”) in or to any monies that may be set aside in a trust account (the “Trust Account”) that may be established in connection with and upon the consummation of the IPO and hereby irrevocably waives any Claim it presently has or may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction of any Claim against the Trust Account or any monies or other assets in the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.

 

This letter agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of its subject matter and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

This letter agreement may not be amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by the parties hereto.

 

The parties may not assign this letter agreement and any of their rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the consent of the other party. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee.

 

This letter agreement shall be governed by, construed in accordance with, and interpreted pursuant to the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to its choice of laws principles that will apply the laws of another jurisdiction.

 

This letter 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. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this letter agreement.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

 

 

      Very truly yours,
       
      COVA ACQUISITION CORP.
         
      By: /s/ Jun Hong Heng
      Name: Jun Hong Heng
      Title: Chief Executive Officer
         
AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED BY:      
         
COVA ACQUISITION SPONSOR LLC      
         
By: /s/ Jun Hong Heng      
Name: Jun Hong Heng      
Title: Manager and Member      

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

February 4, 2021

 

COVA Acquisition Corp.
530 Bush Street, Suite 703
San Francisco, CA 94108

 

Re: Initial Public Offering

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This letter (this “Letter Agreement”) is being delivered to you in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) entered into by and among COVA Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”) and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. as representative (the “Representative”) of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”), relating to an underwritten initial public offering (the “Public Offering”) of 28,750,000 of the Company’s units (including 3,750,000 units that may be purchased pursuant to the Underwriters’ option to purchase additional units, the “Units”), each comprised of one of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), and one-half one redeemable warrant (each whole warrant, a “Warrant”). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Ordinary Share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. The Units will be sold in the Public Offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 and a prospectus (the “Prospectus”) filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in paragraph 1 hereof.

 

In order to induce the Company and the Underwriters to enter into the Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the Public Offering and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”) and each of the undersigned (each, an “Insider” and, collectively, the “Insiders”) hereby agree with the Company as follows:

 

1. Definitions. As used herein, (i) “Business Combination” shall mean a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities; (ii) “Founder Shares” shall mean the 7,187,000 Class B ordinary shares of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share, outstanding prior to the consummation of the Public Offering; (iii) “Private Placement Warrants” shall mean the warrants that will be acquired by the Sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $7,500,000 (or up to $8,625,000 if the Underwriters’ exercise their option to purchase additional units in full) in a private placement that shall close simultaneously with the consummation of the Public Offering (including the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of such Private Placement Warrants thereof); (iv) “Public Shareholders” shall mean the holders of Ordinary Shares included in the Units issued in the Public Offering; (v) “Public Shares” shall mean the Ordinary Shares included in the Units issued in the Public Offering; (vi) “Trust Account” shall mean the trust account into which a portion of the net proceeds of the Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants shall be deposited; (vii) “Transfer” shall mean the (a) sale of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder with respect to, any security, (b) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (c) public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (a) or (b); and (viii) “Charter” shall mean the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

 

 

 

2. Representations and Warranties.

 

(a) The Sponsor and each Insider, with respect to itself, herself or himself, represent and warrant to the Company that it, she or he has the full right and power, without violating any agreement to which it, she or he is bound (including, without limitation, any non-competition or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or former employer), to enter into this Letter Agreement, and, as applicable, to serve as an officer of the Company and/or a director on the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), as applicable, and each Insider hereby consents to being named in the Prospectus, road show and any other materials as an officer and/or director of the Company, as applicable.

 

(b) Each Insider represents and warrants, with respect to herself or himself, that such Insider’s biographical information furnished to the Company (including any such information included in the Prospectus) is true and accurate in all material respects and does not omit any material information with respect to such Insider’s background. The Insider’s questionnaire furnished to the Company is true and accurate in all material respects. Each Insider represents and warrants that such Insider is not subject to or a respondent in any legal action for, any injunction, cease-and-desist order or order or stipulation to desist or refrain from any act or practice relating to the offering of securities in any jurisdiction; such Insider has never been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, any crime (i) involving fraud, (ii) relating to any financial transaction or handling of funds of another person, or (iii) pertaining to any dealings in any securities and such Insider is not currently a defendant in any such criminal proceeding; and such Insider has never been suspended or expelled from membership in any securities or commodities exchange or association or had a securities or commodities license or registration denied, suspended or revoked.

 

3. Business Combination Vote. It is acknowledged and agreed that the Company shall not enter into a definitive agreement regarding a proposed Business Combination without the prior consent of the Sponsor. The Sponsor and each Insider, with respect to itself or herself or himself, agrees that if the Company seeks shareholder approval of a proposed initial Business Combination, then in connection with such proposed initial Business Combination, it, she or he, as applicable, shall vote all Founder Shares and any Public Shares held by it, her or him, as applicable, in favor of such proposed initial Business Combination (including any proposals recommended by the Board in connection with such Business Combination) and not redeem any Public Shares held by it, her or him, as applicable, in connection with such shareholder approval.

 

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4. Failure to Consummate a Business Combination; Trust Account Waiver.

 

(a) The Sponsor and each Insider hereby agree, with respect to itself, herself or himself, that in the event that the Company fails to consummate its initial Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Charter, the Sponsor and each Insider shall take all reasonable steps to cause the Company to (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining shareholders and the Board, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and in all cases subject to the other requirements of applicable law. The Sponsor and each Insider agree not to propose any amendment to the Charter (i) that would modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to provide holders of the Public Shares the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with an initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Public Shares if the Company does not complete an initial Business Combination within the required time period set forth in the Charter or (ii) with respect to any provision relating to the rights of holders of Public Shares unless the Company provides its Public Shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay income taxes, if any, divided by the number of then-outstanding Public Shares.

 

(b) The Sponsor and each Insider, with respect to itself, herself or himself, acknowledges that it, she or he has no right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account or any other asset of the Company as a result of any liquidation of the Company with respect to the Founder Shares held by it, her or him, if any. The Sponsor and each Insider hereby further waives, with respect to any Founder Shares and Public Shares held by it, her or him, as applicable, any redemption rights it, she or he may have in connection with (x) the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination, and (y) a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to the Charter (i) that would modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to provide holders of the Public Shares the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with an initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Public Shares if the Company has not consummated an initial Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Charter or (ii) with respect to any provision relating to the rights of holders of Public Shares (although the Sponsor and the Insiders shall be entitled to liquidation rights with respect to any Public Shares they hold if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the required time period set forth in the Charter).

 

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5. Lock-up; Transfer Restrictions.

 

(a) The Sponsor and the Insiders agree that they shall not Transfer any Founder Shares (the “Founder Shares Lock-up”) until the earliest of (A) one year after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination and (B) the date following the completion of an initial Business Combination on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Public Shareholders having the right to exchange their Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property (the “Founder Shares Lock-up Period”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, subsequent to a Business Combination, the closing price of the Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Company’s initial Business Combination, the Founder Shares shall be released from the Founder Shares Lock-up.

 

(b) Subject to the provisions set forth in paragraph 5(c), the Sponsor and Insiders agree that they shall not effectuate any Transfer of Private Placement Warrants or the Ordinary Shares underlying such Private Placement Warrants until 30 days after the completion of an initial Business Combination.

 

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in paragraphs 5(a) and (b), Transfers of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants or Ordinary Shares underlying the Private Placement Warrants are permitted (a) to the Company’s officers or directors, any affiliates or family member of any of the Company’s officers or directors, any members or partners of the Sponsor or their affiliates, any affiliates of the Sponsor, or any employees of such affiliates; (b) in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of one of the individual’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of the individual’s immediate family, an affiliate of such person or to a charitable organization; (c) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual; (d) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (e) by private sales or transfers made in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants or Ordinary Shares, as applicable, were originally purchased; (f) by virtue of the Sponsor’s organizational documents upon liquidation or dissolution of the Sponsor; (g) to the Company for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of its initial Business Combination, (h) in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to the completion of its initial Business Combination; or (i) in the event of completion of a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s Public Shareholders having the right to exchange their Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the completion of an initial Business Combination; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (f) these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions.

 

(d) During the period commencing on the effective date of the Underwriting Agreement and ending 180 days after such date, the Sponsor and each Insider shall not, without the prior written consent of the Representative, Transfer any Units, Ordinary Shares, Warrants or any other securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, Ordinary Shares held by it, her or him, as applicable.

 

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6. Remedies. The Sponsor and each of the Insiders hereby agree and acknowledge that (i) each of the Underwriters and the Company would be irreparably injured in the event of a breach by the Sponsor or such Insider of its, her or his obligations, as applicable under paragraphs 3, 4, 5, 7, 10 and 11, (ii) monetary damages may not be an adequate remedy for such breach and (iii) the non-breaching party shall be entitled to injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedy that such party may have in law or in equity, in the event of such breach.

 

7. Payments by the Company. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the Sponsor nor any affiliate of the Sponsor nor any director or officer of the Company nor any affiliate of the directors and officers shall receive from the Company any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting fee, monies in respect of any payment of a loan or other compensation prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is).

 

8. Director and Officer Liability Insurance. The Company will maintain an insurance policy or policies providing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, and the Insiders shall be covered by such policy or policies, in accordance with its or their terms, to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any of the Company’s directors or officers.

 

9. Termination. This Letter Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock- up Period and (ii) the liquidation of the Company; provided, however, that this Letter Agreement shall terminate in the event that the Public Offering is not consummated and closed by March 31, 2021; provided further that paragraph 10 of this Letter Agreement shall survive such liquidation.

 

10. Indemnification. In the event of the liquidation of the Trust Account upon the failure of the Company to consummate its initial Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Charter, the Sponsor (the “Indemnitor”) agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, whether pending or threatened) to which the Company may become subject as a result of any claim by (i) any third party for services rendered or products sold to the Company (except for the Company’s independent auditors) or (ii) any prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement (a “Target”); provided, however, that such indemnification of the Company by the Indemnitor (x) shall apply only to the extent necessary to ensure that such claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to the Company or a Target do not reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per Public Share and (ii) the actual amount per Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account if less than $10.00 per Public Share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of interest that may be withdrawn to pay the Company’s tax obligations, (y) shall not apply to any claims by a third party or Target who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) and (z) shall not apply to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Indemnitor shall have the right to defend against any such claim with counsel of its choice reasonably satisfactory to the Company if, within 15 days following written receipt of notice of the claim to the Indemnitor, the Indemnitor notifies the Company in writing that it shall undertake such defense.

 

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11. Forfeiture of Founder Shares. To the extent that the Underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional Units within 45 days from the date of the Prospectus in full (as further described in the Prospectus), the Sponsor agrees to automatically surrender to the Company for no consideration, for cancellation at no cost, an aggregate number of Founder Shares so that the number of Founder Shares will equal of 20% of the sum of the total number of Ordinary Shares and Founder Shares outstanding at such time. The Sponsor and Insiders further agree that to the extent that the size of the Public Offering is increased or decreased, the Company will effect a share capitalization or a share repurchase, as applicable, with respect to the Founder Shares immediately prior to the consummation of the Public Offering in such amount as to maintain the number of Founder Shares at 20% of the sum of the total number of Ordinary Shares and Founder Shares outstanding at such time.

 

12. Entire Agreement. This Letter Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Letter Agreement may not be changed, amended, modified or waived (other than to correct a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by (1) each Insider that is the subject of any such change, amendment, modification or waiver and (2) the Sponsor.

 

13. Assignment. No party hereto may assign either this Letter Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other parties. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee. This Letter Agreement shall be binding on the Sponsor, each of the Insiders and each of their respective successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns and permitted transferees.

 

14. Counterparts. This Letter Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts, and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

15. Effect of Headings. The paragraph headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Letter Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.

 

16. Severability. This Letter Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Letter Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Letter Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.

 

17. Governing Law. This Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. The parties hereto (i) all agree that any action, proceeding, claim or dispute arising out of, or relating in any way to, this Letter Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of New York City, in the State of New York, and irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction and venue, which jurisdiction and venue shall be exclusive, and (ii) waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and venue or that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.

 

18. Notices. Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Letter Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery or facsimile or other electronic transmission.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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  Sincerely,
   
  COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC
   
 

By:

/s/ Jun Hong Heng

  Name:  Jun Hong Heng
  Title: Manager and Member
   
  Acknowledge and Agreed:
   
  COVA Acquisition Corp.
   
  By: /s/ Jun Hong Heng
  Name: Jun Hong Heng
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
   
  Jun Hong Heng
   
 

By:

/s/ Jun Hong Heng 

     
  Alvin Widarta Sariaatmadja
   
  By: /s/ Alvin Widarta Sariaatmadja  
   
  Jack Smith
   
  By: /s/ Jack Smith
   
  Pandu Sjahrir
   
  By: /s/ Pandu Sjahrir
   
  Karanveer Dhillon
   
  By: /s/ Karanveer Dhillon

 

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Exhibit 10.4

 

PRIVATE PLACEMENT WARRANTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

THIS PRIVATE PLACEMENT WARRANTS PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of February 4, 2021 (as it may from time to time be amended and including all exhibits referenced herein, this “Agreement”), is entered into by and among COVA Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”) and COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC, a Cayman Island limited liability company (the “Purchaser”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company intends to consummate an initial public offering of the Company’s units (the “Public Offering”), each unit consisting of one share of the Company’s Class A Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0001 per share (each, a “Share”), and one-half of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per Share. The Purchaser has agreed to purchase an aggregate of 7,725,000 warrants (or up to 8,875,000 warrants in the aggregate to the extent the over-allotment option in connection with the Public Offering is exercised) (the “Private Placement Warrants”), each Private Placement Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per Share.

 

WHEREAS, the number of Private Placement Warrants to be purchased by the Purchaser is correlated to the amount of underwriting discounts or commissions payable by the Company to the underwriters upon completion of the Public Offering.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby, intending legally to be bound, agree as follows:

 

AGREEMENT

 

Section 1. Authorization, Purchase and Sale; Terms of the Private Placement Warrants.

 

A. Authorization of the Private Placement Warrants. The Company has duly authorized the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants to the Purchaser.

 

B. Purchase and Sale of the Private Placement Warrants.

 

(i) On the date of the consummation of the Public Offering or on such earlier time and date as may be mutually agreed by the Purchaser and the Company (the “Initial Closing Date”), the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase from the Company, an aggregate of 7,500,000 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant for an aggregate purchase price of up to $7,500,000 (the “Purchase Price”), which shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the trust account maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee (the “Trust Account”) in accordance with the Company’s wiring instructions at least one business day prior to the date of effectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-252273) filed in connection with the Public Offering. On the Initial Closing Date, the Company, shall either, at its option, deliver certificates evidencing the Private Placement Warrants purchased by the Purchaser on such date duly registered in the Purchaser’s name to the Purchaser, or effect such delivery in book-entry form. On the date of the consummation of the closing of the over-allotment option in connection with the Public Offering or on such earlier time and date as may be mutually agreed by the Purchaser and the Company (each such date, an “Over-allotment Closing Date,” and each Over-allotment Closing Date (if any) and the Initial Closing Date being sometimes referred to herein as a “Closing Date”), the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase from the Company, up to an aggregate of 600,000 Private Placement Warrants, in the same proportion as the amount of the over-allotment option that is exercised, at a price of $1.00 per warrant for an aggregate purchase price of up to $600,000 (if the over-allotment option in connection with the Public Offering is exercised in full) (the “Over-allotment Purchase Price”), which shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Trust Account in accordance with the Company’s wiring instructions. On the Over-allotment Closing Date, upon the payment by the Purchaser of the Over-allotment Purchase Price payable by them by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Company, the Company shall either, at its option, deliver certificates evidencing the Private Placement Warrants purchased by the Purchaser on such date duly registered in the Purchaser’s name to the Purchaser, or effect such delivery in book-entry form.

 

 

 

 

C. Terms of the Private Placement Warrants.

 

(i) The Private Placement Warrants shall have their terms set forth in a Warrant Agreement to be entered into by the Company and a warrant agent, in connection with the Public Offering (a “Warrant Agreement”).

 

(ii) At or prior to the time of the Initial Closing Date, the Company and the Purchaser shall enter into a registration and shareholder rights agreement (the “Registration and Shareholder Rights Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company will grant certain registration rights to the Purchaser relating to the Private Placement Warrants and the Shares underlying the Private Placement Warrants.

 

Section 2. Representations and Warranties of the Company. As a material inducement to the Purchaser to enter into this Agreement and purchase the Private Placement Warrants, the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser (which representations and warranties shall survive each Closing Date) that:

 

A. Incorporation and Corporate Power. The Company is an exempted company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, operating results or assets of the Company. The Company possesses all requisite corporate power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Warrant Agreement.

 

B. Authorization; No Breach.

 

(i) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Private Placement Warrants have been duly authorized and approved by the Company as of each Closing Date. This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms. Upon each issuance of Private Placement Warrants in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms of the Warrant Agreement and this Agreement, the Private Placement Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms.

 

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(ii) The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the Private Placement Warrants, the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants, the issuance of the Shares upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and the fulfillment of, and compliance with, the respective terms hereof and thereof by the Company, do not and will not as of each Closing Date (a) conflict with or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, (b) constitute a default under, (c) result in the creation of any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance upon the Company’s capital stock or assets under, (d) result in a violation of, or (e) require any authorization, consent, approval, exemption, action, notice, declaration or filing, in each case, by or to any court or administrative or governmental body or agency pursuant to the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company (in effect on the date hereof or as may be amended prior to completion of the contemplated Public Offering), or any material law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject, or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject, except for any filings required after the date hereof under federal or state securities laws.

 

C. Title to Securities. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the Warrant Agreement and the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, the Private Placement Warrants will be duly and validly issued and the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and following the necessary updates to the Register of Members of the Company, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. On the date of issuance of the Private Placement Warrants, the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants shall have been reserved for issuance. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the Warrant Agreement, each Purchaser will have good title to the Private Placement Warrants and the Shares issuable upon exercise of such Private Placement Warrants, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances of any kind, other than (i) transfer restrictions hereunder and under the other agreements contemplated hereby, (ii) transfer restrictions under federal and state securities laws, and (iii) liens, claims or encumbrances imposed due to the actions of either Purchaser.

 

D. Governmental Consents. No permit, consent, approval or authorization of, or declaration to or filing with, any governmental authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement or the consummation by the Company of any other transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 3. Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser. As a material inducement to the Company to enter into this Agreement and issue and sell the Private Placement Warrants to the Purchaser, the Purchaser hereby, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to the Company (which representations and warranties shall survive each Closing Date) that:

 

A. Organization and Requisite Authority. The Purchaser possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

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B. Authorization; No Breach.

 

(i) This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law).

 

(ii) The execution and delivery by the Purchaser of this Agreement and the fulfillment of and compliance with the terms hereof by the Purchaser does not and shall not as of each Closing Date conflict with or result in a breach by the Purchaser of the terms, conditions or provisions of any agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to which the Purchaser is subject that would materially impact its ability to perform its obligations hereunder.

 

C. Investment Representations.

 

(i) The Purchaser is acquiring the Private Placement Warrants and, upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants, the Shares issuable upon such exercise (collectively, the “Securities”), for the Purchaser’s own account, for investment purposes only and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, any public sale or distribution thereof.

 

(ii) The Purchaser is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a)(3) of Regulation D of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the Purchaser has not experienced a disqualifying event as enumerated pursuant to Rule 506(d) of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

 

(iii) The Purchaser understands that the Securities are being offered and will be sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and the Purchaser’s compliance with, the representations and warranties of the Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Purchaser to acquire such Securities.

 

(iv) The Purchaser did not decide to enter into this Agreement as a result of any general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act.

 

(v) The Purchaser has been furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and materials relating to the offer and sale of the Securities which have been requested by the Purchaser. The Purchaser has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the executive officers and directors of the Company. The Purchaser understands that its investment in the Securities involves a high degree of risk and it has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to the acquisition of the Securities.

 

(vi) The Purchaser understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities by the Purchaser nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities.

 

4 

 

 

(vii) The Purchaser understands that: (a) the Securities have not been and are not being registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (1) subsequently registered thereunder or (2) sold in reliance on an exemption therefrom; and (b) except as specifically set forth in the Registration and Shareholder Rights Agreement, neither the Company nor any other person is under any obligation to register the Securities under the Securities Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder. While the Purchaser understands that Rule 144 under the Securities Act is not available for the resale of securities initially issued by shell companies (other than business combination related shell companies) or issuers that have been at any time previously a shell company, the Purchaser understands that Rule 144 includes an exception to this prohibition if the following conditions are met: (i) the issuer of the securities that was formerly a shell company has ceased to be a shell company; (ii) the issuer of the securities is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”); (iii) the issuer of the securities has filed all Exchange Act reports and material required to be filed, as applicable, during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the issuer was required to file such reports and materials), other than Form 8-K reports; and (iv) at least one year has elapsed from the time that the issuer filed current Form 10 type information with the SEC reflecting its status as an entity that is not a shell company.

 

(viii) The Purchaser has knowledge and experience in financial and business matters, understands the high degree of risk associated with investments in the securities of companies in the development stage such as the Company, is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities and is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities in the amount contemplated hereunder for an indefinite period of time. The Purchaser has adequate means of providing for its current financial needs and contingencies and will have no current or anticipated future needs for liquidity which would be jeopardized by the investment in the Securities. The Purchaser can afford a complete loss of its investment in the Securities.

 

(ix) The Purchaser understands that the Private Placement Warrants shall bear the legend substantially in the form set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Section 4. Conditions of the Purchaser’s Obligations. The obligations of the Purchaser to purchase and pay for the Private Placement Warrants are subject to the fulfillment, on or before each Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:

 

A. Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 2 shall be true and correct at and as of such Closing Date as though then made.

 

B. Performance. The Company shall have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by it on or before such Closing Date.

 

5 

 

 

C. No Injunction. No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Warrant Agreement.

 

D. Warrant Agreement and Registration and Shareholder Rights Agreement. The Company shall have entered into the Warrant Agreement and the Registration and Shareholder Rights Agreement, each on terms satisfactory to the Purchaser.

 

E. Corporate Consents. The Company shall have obtained the consent of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Warrant Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants hereunder.

 

Section 5. Conditions of the Company’s Obligations. The obligations of the Company to the Purchaser under this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment, on or before each Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:

 

A. Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in Section 3 shall be true and correct at and as of such Closing Date as though then made.

 

B. Performance. The Purchaser shall have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by the Purchaser on or before such Closing Date.

 

C. Corporate Consents. The Company shall have obtained the consent of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Warrant Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants hereunder.

 

D. No Injunction. No litigation, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Warrant Agreement.

 

E. Warrant Agreement. The Company shall have entered into the Warrant Agreement on terms satisfactory to the Company.

 

Section 6. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time after March 31, 2021 upon the election by either the Company or the Purchaser upon written notice to the other party if the closing of the Public Offering does not occur prior to such date.

 

Section 7. Survival of Representations and Warranties. All of the representations and warranties contained herein shall survive each Closing Date.

 

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Section 8. Definitions. Terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the registration statement on Form S-1 the Company plans to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act.

 

Section 9. Miscellaneous.

 

A. Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors of the parties hereto whether so expressed or not. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, the parties may not assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party hereto, other than assignments by the Purchaser to its affiliates (including, without limitation, one or more of its members).

 

B. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of this Agreement.

 

C. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, none of which need contain the signatures of more than one party, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.

 

D. Descriptive Headings; Interpretation. The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a substantive part of this Agreement. The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation.

 

E. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

 

F. Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement to be effective as of the date first set forth above.

 

  COMPANY:
   
  COVA Acquisition Corp.,
  a Cayman Islands exempted company
   
  By: /s/ Jun Hong Heng
  Name: Jun Hong Heng
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

  PURCHASER:
   
  COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC,
  a Cayman Islands limited liability company
   
  By: /s/ Jun Hong Heng
  Name: Jun Hong Heng
  Title: Manager and Member

 

 

[Signature Page to Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement]

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.5

 

THIS PROMISSORY NOTE (this “NOTE”) HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”). THIS NOTE HAS BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT ONLY AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF REGISTRATION OF THE RESALE THEREOF UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY IN FORM, SCOPE AND SUBSTANCE TO THE MAKER THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

 

PROMISSORY NOTE

     
Principal Amount: $2,000,000   Dated as of May 26, 2022
    San Francisco, California

 

COVA Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Maker”), promises to pay to the order of COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC, a Cayman Islands limited liability company, or its registered assigns or successors in interest (“Payee”), or order, the principal sum of Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) or such lesser amount as shall have been advanced by Payee to Maker and shall remain unpaid under this Note on the Maturity Date (as defined below) in lawful money of the United States of America, on the terms and conditions described below. All payments on this Note shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds or as otherwise determined by Maker to such account as Payee may from time to time designate by written notice in accordance with the provisions of this Note.

 

1. Principal. The entire unpaid principal balance of this Note shall be payable on the earlier of: (i) the date on which Maker consummates an initial business combination (the “Business Combination”) and (ii) the date that the winding up of Maker is effective (such earlier date, the “Maturity Date”). The principal balance may be prepaid at any time by Maker, at its election and without premium or penalty. Under no circumstances shall any individual, including but not limited to any officer, director, employee or shareholder of the Maker, be obligated personally for any obligations or liabilities of the Maker hereunder.

 

2. Drawdown Requests. Maker and Payee agree that Maker may request, from time to time, up to Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) in drawdowns under this Note to be used for Maker’s working capital needs. Principal of this Note may be drawn down from time to time prior to the Maturity Date upon written request from Maker to Payee (each, a “Drawdown Request”). Each Drawdown Request must state the amount to be drawn down, and must not be an amount less than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000). Payee shall fund each Drawdown Request no later than three (3) business days after receipt of a Drawdown Request; provided, however, that the maximum amount of drawdowns collectively under this Note may not exceed Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000). No fees, payments or other amounts shall be due to Payee in connection with, or as a result of, any Drawdown Request by Maker.

 

3. Interest. No interest shall accrue on the unpaid principal balance of this Note.

 

4. Optional Conversion.

 

(a) Upon consummation of the Business Combination and at Payee’s option, Payee may elect, by written notice to Maker, to convert up to One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) of this Note into that number of warrants (the “Conversion Warrants”) to purchase a number of Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of Maker equal to: (i) the portion of the principal amount of this Note being converted pursuant to this Section 4, divided by (ii) $1.00. The Conversion Warrants shall be identical to the warrants issued by Maker to Payee in a private placement upon the consummation of Maker’s initial public offering (the “IPO”). The Conversion Warrants and their underlying securities, and any other equity security of Maker issued or issuable with respect to the foregoing by way of a share dividend or share split or in connection with a combination of shares recapitalization, amalgamation, consolidation or reorganization, shall be entitled to registration rights on the same terms as the registration rights with respect to the private placement warrants set forth in that certain Registration and Shareholder Rights Agreement, dated as of February 4, 2021, by and between Maker and Payee.

 

 

 

(b) Upon any complete or partial conversion of the principal amount of this Note (i) such principal amount shall be so converted and such converted portion of this Note shall become fully paid and satisfied, (ii) Payee shall surrender and deliver this Note, duly endorsed, to Maker or such other address which Maker shall designate against delivery of the Conversion Warrants, (iii) Maker shall promptly deliver a new duly executed Note to Payee in the principal amount that remains outstanding, if any, after giving effect to any such conversion and (iv) in exchange for all or any portion of the surrendered Note described in Section 4(a), Maker shall, at the direction of Payee, deliver to Payee (or its members or their respective affiliates) (Payee or such other persons, the “Holders”) the Conversion Warrants, which shall bear such legends as are required, in the opinion of counsel to Maker or by any other agreement between Maker and Payee and applicable state and federal securities laws.

 

(c) The Holders shall pay any and all issue and other taxes that may be payable with respect to any issue or delivery of the Conversion Warrants upon conversion of this Note pursuant hereto; provided, however, that Payee shall pay any transfer taxes resulting from any transfer requested by the Holders in connection with any such conversion.

 

(d) The Conversion Warrants shall not be issued upon conversion of this Note unless such issuance and such conversion comply with all applicable provisions of law.

 

5. Application of Payments. All payments shall be applied first to payment in full of any costs incurred in the collection of any sum due under this Note, including (without limitation) reasonable attorney’s fees, then to the payment in full of any late charges and finally to the reduction of the unpaid principal balance of this Note.

 

6. Events of Default. The following shall constitute an event of default (“Event of Default”):

 

(a) Failure to Make Required Payments. Failure by Maker to pay the principal amount due pursuant to this Note within five (5) business days of the Maturity Date.

 

(b) Voluntary Bankruptcy, Etc. The commencement by Maker of a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, rehabilitation or other similar law, or the consent by it to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other similar official) of Maker or for any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of any assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the failure of Maker generally to pay its debts as such debts become due, or the taking of corporate action by Maker in furtherance of any of the foregoing.

 

(c) Involuntary Bankruptcy, Etc. The entry of a decree or order for relief by a court having jurisdiction in the premises in respect of Maker in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of Maker or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days.

 

7. Remedies.

 

(a) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 6(a) hereof, Payee may, by written notice to Maker, declare this Note to be due immediately and payable, whereupon the unpaid principal amount of this Note, and all other amounts payable hereunder, shall become immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, anything contained herein or in the documents evidencing the same to the contrary notwithstanding.

 

(b) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Sections 6(b) or 6(c), the unpaid principal balance of this Note, and all other sums payable with regard to this Note, shall automatically and immediately become due and payable, in all cases without any action on the part of Payee.

 

 

 

8. Waivers. Maker and all endorsers and guarantors of, and sureties for, this Note waive presentment for payment, demand, notice of dishonor, protest, and notice of protest with regard to the Note, all errors, defects and imperfections in any proceedings instituted by Payee under the terms of this Note, and all benefits that might accrue to Maker by virtue of any present or future laws exempting any property, real or personal, or any part of the proceeds arising from any sale of any such property, from attachment, levy or sale under execution, or providing for any stay of execution, exemption from civil process, or extension of time for payment; and Maker agrees that any real estate that may be levied upon pursuant to a judgment obtained by virtue hereof, or any writ of execution issued hereon, may be sold upon any such writ in whole or in part in any order desired by Payee.

 

9. Unconditional Liability. Maker hereby waives all notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default, or enforcement of the payment of this Note, and agrees that its liability shall be unconditional, without regard to the liability of any other party, and shall not be affected in any manner by any indulgence, extension of time, renewal, waiver or modification granted or consented to by Payee, and consents to any and all extensions of time, renewals, waivers, or modifications that may be granted by Payee with respect to the payment or other provisions of this Note, and agrees that additional makers, endorsers, guarantors, or sureties may become parties hereto without notice to Maker or affecting Maker’s liability hereunder.

 

10. Notices. All notices, statements or other documents which are required or contemplated by this Note shall be: in writing and delivered (i) personally or sent by first class registered or certified mail, overnight courier service or facsimile or electronic transmission to the address designated in writing, (ii) by facsimile to the number most recently provided to such party or such other address or fax number as may be designated in writing by such party and (iii) by electronic mail, to the electronic mail address most recently provided to such party or such other electronic mail address as may be designated in writing by such party. Any notice or other communication so transmitted shall be deemed to have been given on the day of delivery, if delivered personally, on the business day following receipt of written confirmation, if sent by facsimile or electronic transmission, one (1) business day after delivery to an overnight courier service or five (5) days after mailing if sent by mail.

 

11. Construction. THIS NOTE SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS THEREOF.

 

12. Severability. Any provision contained in this Note which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

13. Trust Waiver. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Payee hereby waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) in or to any distribution of or from the trust account (the “Trust Account”) established in connection with the IPO, and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever; provided however that Maker, may, in its sole discretion, repay the principal balance of this Note out of the proceeds released to Maker from the Trust Account in connection with a Business Combination.

 

14. Amendment; Waiver. Any amendment hereto or waiver of any provision hereof may be made with, and only with, the written consent of Maker and Payee.

 

15. Assignment. No assignment or transfer of this Note or any rights or obligations hereunder may be made by any party hereto (by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other party hereto and any attempted assignment without the required consent shall be void.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Maker, intending to be legally bound hereby, has caused this Note to be duly executed by the undersigned as of the day and year first above written.

     
  COVA Acquisition Corp.
     
  By:

/s/ Jun Hong Heng

  Name:  Jun Hong Heng
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

Acknowledged and Agreed to

as of the date first written above.

COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC  
By:

/s/ Jun Hong Heng

 
Name: Jun Hong Heng  
Title: Manager and Member  
     

 

Exhibit 10.6

 

STRATEGIC INVESTMENT AGREEMENT

 

This STRATEGIC INVESTMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into on May 26, 2022, by and between ECARX Holdings Inc., an exempted company incorporated with limited liability in the Cayman Islands (the “Issuer”), and Luminar Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Investor”). Capitalized terms used and not defined in this Agreement have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Transaction Agreement (as defined below).

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is being entered into in connection with that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (as may be amended, modified, supplemented or waived from time to time in accordance with its terms, the “Transaction Agreement”), by and among the Issuer, COVA Acquisition Corp., an exempted company incorporated with limited liability in the Cayman Islands (“SPAC”), Ecarx Temp Limited, an exempted company incorporated with limited liability in the Cayman Islands and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of the Issuer (“Merger Sub 1”), and Ecarx&Co Limited, an exempted company incorporated with limited liability in the Cayman Islands and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of the Issuer (“Merger Sub 2”), pursuant to which, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, among other things, (a) Merger Sub 1 will merge with and into SPAC (the “First Merger”), with SPAC as the surviving company in the First Merger and, after giving effect to the First Merger, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of the Issuer, and (b) SPAC will merge with and into Merger Sub 2 (the “Second Merger,” and together with the First Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement, the “Transaction”), with Merger Sub 2 as the surviving company in the Second Merger and, after giving effect to the Second Merger, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of the Issuer;

 

WHEREAS, in connection with, and contingent on the closing of, the Transaction, the Investor desires to subscribe for and purchase and the Issuer desires to issue and sell to the Investor, on the Closing Date, 1,500,000 Class A ordinary shares in the Issuer, par value $0.000005 per share (the “Issuer Shares”) at a purchase price of $10.00 per share (the “Per Share Purchase Price”), and as consideration for the Issuer Shares, the Investor intends to issue and sell to the Issuer a certain number of shares of Class A common stock of the Investor, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Investor Shares”) with an aggregate value of US$15,000,000 (the “Subscription Amount”) or at the Investor’s election, pay cash in the amount of the Subscription Amount, all on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Transaction, the Issuer and/or SPAC (a) are entering into subscription agreements on the date hereof, and may enter into after the date hereof, Subsequent Equity Subscription Agreements (together with the subscription agreements entered into on the date hereof, the “Equity Subscription Agreements”) with certain investors (the “Other Equity Investors,” together with the Investor, collectively, the “Equity Investors”), pursuant to which the Other Equity Investors have agreed to or will agree to subscribe for and purchase, and the Issuer has agreed to or will agree to issue and sell to the Other Equity Investors, on the Closing Date, the Issuer Shares at the Per Share Purchase Price, and (b) may enter into certain Permitted Financing Agreements (other than the Equity Subscription Agreements) with certain parties (each, a “Financing Party”, and collectively, the “Financing Parties”, together with the Equity Investors, the “Ecarx Investors”) pursuant to which the Issuer may agree to, among other matters, issue Equity Securities of the Issuer to such Financing Parties.

 

 

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual representations, warranties and covenants, and subject to the conditions, herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

1.Subscription. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Investor hereby irrevocably subscribes for and agrees to purchase from the Issuer, and the Issuer hereby agrees to issue and sell to the Investor, the Issuer Shares, on the terms and subject to the conditions provided for herein. In its sole discretion, the Investor may elect, as consideration for the Issuer Shares, to pay cash in the amount of US$15,000,000 (the “Cash Option”) or issue the Investor Shares (the “Share Issuance Option”). If the Investor elects the Share Issuance Option, the number of the Investor Shares to be issued to the Issuer on the Closing Date shall be equal to the quotient of (a) US$15,000,000 divided by (b) the volume-weighted average price of the Investor Shares listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market for twenty (20) consecutive trading days immediately preceding the Closing Date; provided that no fractional Investor Shares will be issued. If the number of the Investor Shares to be received by the Issuer (if the Investor elects the Share Issuance Option) pursuant to this Agreement is not a whole number, the number of Investor Shares that the Issuer shall be entitled to receive pursuant to this Agreement shall be rounded off to the nearest whole number.

 

2.Closing.

 

2.1The closing of the issuance and sale of the Issuer Shares and the Investor Shares, if applicable, contemplated hereby (the “Closing”) shall occur on the closing date of the Transaction (the “Closing Date”) and substantially concurrent with (and subject to), the consummation of the Transaction and satisfaction or waiver of the other conditions set forth in Section 3 hereof.

 

2.2At least five (5) business days before the expected Closing Date, the Issuer shall deliver written notice to the Investor (the “Closing Notice”) specifying the expected Closing Date and that the Issuer reasonably expects all conditions to the closing of the Transaction to be satisfied or waived on an expected closing date that is not less than five (5) business days from the date on which the Closing Notice is delivered to the Investor,

 

(a)if the Investor elects the Cash Option, (i) the Investor shall deliver to the Issuer, (A) three (3) business days prior to the expected closing date specified in the Closing Notice, the Subscription Amount by wire transfer of U.S. dollars in immediately available funds to the account in an escrow bank specified by the Issuer in the Closing Notice, to be held in a segregated escrow account on behalf of the Investor until the closing of the First Merger, or (B) on the expected closing date specified in the Closing Notice, the Subscription Amount to an account specified by the Issuer, or otherwise mutually agreed by the Investor and the Issuer due to regulatory reasons that apply to the Investor, by wire transfer of U.S. dollars in immediately available funds, and (ii) as soon as practicable following, but not later than one (1) business day after the Closing Date, the Issuer shall (A) issue the Issuer Shares to the Investor, free and clear of any liens or other restrictions (other than those arising under applicable securities laws) and subsequently (but not later than two (2) business days thereafter) cause the Issuer Shares to be registered in book-entry form in the name of the Investor on the Issuer’s register of members and (B) provide to the Investor evidence of such issuance from the Issuer’s transfer agent; or

 

(b)if the Investor elects the Share Issuance Option, as soon as practicable following, but not later than one (1) business day after the Closing Date, (i) the Investor shall (A) issue the Investor Shares to the Issuer, free and clear of any liens or other restrictions (other than those arising under applicable securities laws) and subsequently (but not later than two (2) business days thereafter) cause the Investor Shares to be registered in book-entry form in the name of the Issuer on the Investor’s stock ledger and (B) provide to the Issuer evidence of such issuance from the Investor’s transfer agent, and (ii) the Issuer shall (A) issue the Issuer Shares to the Investor, free and clear of any liens or other restrictions (other than those arising under applicable securities laws) and subsequently (but not later than two (2) business days thereafter) cause the Issuer Shares to be registered in book-entry form in the name of the Investor on the Issuer’s register of members and (B) provide to the Investor evidence of such issuance from the Issuer’s transfer agent.

 

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2.3If the Closing does not occur within five (5) business days following the expected closing date specified in the Closing Notice,

 

(a)if the Investor elected the Cash Option, unless otherwise agreed to by the Issuer and the Investor, the Issuer shall promptly (but not later than two (2) business days following the expected closing date specified in the Closing Notice) cause the escrow agent to return the Subscription Amount in full, without any deduction or penalty of any kind, for or on account of any tax, withholding, charges, set-off or otherwise, to the Investor by wire transfer of U.S. dollars in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Investor, and any book-entries for the Issuer Shares shall be deemed cancelled; provided that unless this Agreement has been terminated pursuant to Section 7, such return of funds shall not terminate this Agreement or relieve the Investor of its obligation to purchase the Issuer Shares at the Closing upon delivery by the Issuer of a subsequent Closing Notice in accordance with the terms of this Section 2; or

 

(b)if the Investor elected the Share Issuance Option, unless this Agreement has been terminated pursuant to Section 7, the Investor’s obligation to purchase the Issuer Shares at the Closing upon delivery by the Issuer of a subsequent Closing Notice in accordance with the terms of this Section 2 is not relieved; provided, however, in no event whatsoever shall the Investor be required to purchase the Issuer Shares if, in the aggregate, the Other Equity Investors fail to purchase fifty percent (50%) or more of the Issuer Shares originally subscribed for by the Other Equity Investors pursuant to the Equity Subscription Agreements.

 

2.4Prior to or on the Closing Date, each of the Investor and the Issuer shall deliver to the other party any other information that is reasonably requested in order for the other party to issue the Issuer Shares or the Investor Shares (if the Investor elects the Share Issuance Option), as the case may be, including, without limitation, the legal name of the person in whose name such Issuer Shares or Investor Shares (if the Investor elects the Share Issuance Option) are to be issued and a duly executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or W-8, as applicable. For purposes of this Agreement, “business day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York, the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and mainland China are authorized or required by law to close.

 

3.Conditions to Closing

 

3.1Conditions to Closing of the Issuer. The Issuer’s obligations to sell and issue the Issuer Shares at the Closing are subject to the fulfillment or (to the extent permitted by applicable law) written waiver, on or prior to the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a)Closing of the Transaction. All conditions precedent to effect the closing of the Transaction shall have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that, by their nature, may only be satisfied at the consummation of the closing of the Transaction but subject to satisfaction or waiver thereof).

 

(b)Representations and Warranties Correct. The representations and warranties made by the Investor in Section 4.2 shall be true and correct in all material aspects as of the Closing Date other than (i) such representations and warranties qualified by materiality, Investor Material Adverse Effect or similar qualification, which shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date and (ii) such representations and warranties which speak as to an earlier date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, if qualified by materiality, Investor Material Adverse Effect or similar qualification, in all respects) as of such date.

 

(c)Legality. There shall not be in force any order, judgment, injunction, decree, writ, stipulation, determination or award, in each case, entered by or with any governmental authority, law, statute, rule or regulation enjoining or prohibiting the issuance and sale of the Issuer Shares and the Investor Shares (if the Investor elects the Share Issuance Option) under this Agreement.

 

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(d)Performance and Compliance under the Agreement. The Investor shall have wired the Subscription Amount in accordance with Section 2 of this Agreement (if applicable) and otherwise performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing, except where the failure of such performance or compliance would not or would not reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay, or materially impair the ability of the Investor to consummate the Closing.

 

3.2Conditions to Closing of the Investor. The Investor’s obligation to subscribe for and purchase the Issuer Shares at the Closing, and, if the Investor elects the Share Issuance Option, issue and sell the Investor Shares at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment or (to the extent permitted by applicable law) written waiver, on or prior to the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a)Closing of the Transaction. All conditions precedent to effect the Transaction shall have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that, by their nature, may only be satisfied at the closing of the Transaction but subject to satisfaction or waiver thereof) and the consummation of the Transaction shall have occurred.

 

(b)Representations and Warranties Correct. The representations and warranties made by the Issuer in Section 4.1 shall be true and correct in all material aspects as of the Closing Date other than (i) such representations and warranties qualified by materiality, Issuer Material Adverse Effect (as defined below) or similar qualification, which shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date and (ii) such representations and warranties which speak as to an earlier date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, if qualified by materiality, Issuer Material Adverse Effect or similar qualification, in all respects) as of such date.

 

(c)Legality. There shall not be in force any order, judgment, injunction, decree, writ, stipulation, determination or award, in each case, entered by or with any governmental authority, law, statute, rule or regulation enjoining or prohibiting the issuance and sale of the Issuer Shares and the Investor Shares (if the Investor elects the Share Issuance Option) under this Agreement.

 

(d)Performance and Compliance under the Agreement. The Issuer shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing, except where the failure of such performance or compliance would not or would not reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay, or materially impair the ability of the Issuer to consummate the Closing.

 

(e)Transaction Agreement. The terms of the Transaction Agreement (including the conditions thereto) shall not have been amended or waived in a manner that materially and adversely affect the economic benefits the Investor reasonably expects to receive under this Agreement.

 

4.Representations, Warranties and Agreements.

 

4.1Issuer’s Representations, Warranties and Agreements. The Issuer hereby represents and warrants to the Investor as follows:

 

(a)The Issuer is an exempted company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands. The Issuer has all power (corporate or otherwise) and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as presently conducted and contemplated to be conducted and to enter into, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

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(b)At the Closing, the Issuer Shares will have been duly authorized, and when issued and delivered to the Investor against (i) full payment in cash for the Issuer Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement if the Investor elects the Cash Option or (ii) issuance of the Investor Shares in full in accordance with the terms of this Agreement if the Investor elects the Share Issuance Option, and in each case registered in the Issuer’s register of members, the Issuer Shares will be validly issued and allotted and fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of any liens or other encumbrances (other than those arising under applicable securities laws) and will not have been issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive or similar rights created under the Issuer’s organizational documents (as in effect at such time of issuance) or the laws of the Cayman Islands.

 

(c)This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer and, assuming that this Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Investor, is enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited or otherwise affected by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally and (ii) principles of equity, whether considered at law or equity.

 

(d)The issuance and sale of the Issuer Shares and the compliance by the Issuer with all of the provisions of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of the Issuer pursuant to the terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which the Issuer is a party or by which the Issuer is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Issuer is subject, which would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Issuer to enter into and timely perform its obligations under this Agreement (an “Issuer Material Adverse Effect”), (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the organizational documents of the Issuer or (iii) result in any violation of any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Issuer or any of its properties that would reasonably be expected to have an Issuer Material Adverse Effect.

 

(e)Assuming the accuracy of the Investor’s representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.2, in connection with the offer, sale and delivery of the Issuer Shares in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, no registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) is required for the offer and sale of the Issuer Shares by the Issuer to the Investor. The Issuer Shares (i) were not offered to the Investor by any form of general solicitation or general advertising, including methods described in section 502(c) of Regulation D under the Securities Act and (ii) are not being offered in a manner involving a public offering under, or in a distribution in violation of, the Securities Act, or any state securities laws.

 

(f)The Issuer will use the cash proceeds of the sale of the Issuer Shares contemplated by the Equity Subscription Agreements and this Agreement exclusively to operate the Issuer’s business post-Closing and will not, directly or indirectly, or in any way, use the proceeds, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any affiliates, subsidiaries, or its parent or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person, entity or country currently subject to sanctions imposed by any of the laws of a relevant and applicable jurisdiction, including the jurisdiction(s) in which the Agreement will take place, the United States (including sanctions programs administered by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control), United Kingdom and the European Union.

 

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(g)If the Issuer will receive the Investor Shares due to the Investor’s election of the Share Issuance Option pursuant to this Agreement, the Issuer (i) is an “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act), (ii) is acquiring the Investor Shares only for its own account and not for the account of others, and (iii) is not acquiring the Investor Shares with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act.

 

(h)If the Issuer will receive the Investor Shares due to the Investor’s election of the Share Issuance Option pursuant to this Agreement, the Issuer acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Investor Shares were not offered by any form of general solicitation or general advertising and are being offered in a transaction not involving any public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act and, that the Investor Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act and the Investor is not required to register the Investor Shares except as set forth in Section 6, (ii)  the Investor Shares may not be offered, resold, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of by the Issuer absent an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, except (A) to the Investor or a subsidiary thereof, (B) to non-U.S. persons pursuant to offers and sales that occur solely outside the United States within the meaning of and in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act or (C) pursuant to another applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and, in each case, in accordance with any applicable securities laws of the states of the United States and other applicable jurisdictions, and that any book-entry position or certificates representing the Investor Shares shall contain a restrictive legend to such effect, (iii) the Investor Shares will be subject to transfer restrictions and, as a result of these transfer restrictions, the Issuer may not be able to readily offer, resell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of the Investor Shares and may be required to bear the financial risk of an investment in the Investor Shares for an indefinite period of time, (iv) the Investor Shares will not be eligible for offer, resale, transfer, pledge or disposition pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act until at least six months from the issuance date thereof and to the extent Rule 144 is available, and (v) it has been advised to consult legal counsel and tax and accounting advisors prior to making any offer, resale, transfer, pledge or disposition of any of the Investor Shares.

 

(i)If the Issuer will receive the Investor Shares due to the Investor’s election of the Share Issuance Option pursuant to this Agreement, the Issuer acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Issuer is purchasing the Investor Shares directly from the Investor and (ii) there have been no representations, warranties, covenants and agreements made to the Issuer by or on behalf of the Investor, any of its affiliates or any control persons, officers, directors, employees, partners, agents or representatives of any of the foregoing or any other person or entity, expressly or by implication, other than those representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Investor expressly set forth in Section 4.2 of this Agreement.

 

(j)If the Investor elects the Share Issuance Option, the Issuer acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Issuer has received such information as the Issuer deems necessary in order to make an investment decision with respect to the Investor Shares, including, with respect to the Investor and the business of the Investor and its subsidiaries, (ii) the Issuer has sufficient knowledge and experience in financial and business matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Investor, and (iii) the Issuer is capable of bearing the economic risks of such investment, including a complete loss of its investment.

 

(k)If the Investor elects the Share Issuance Option, the Issuer acknowledges and agrees that no federal or state agency has passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Investor Shares or made any findings or determination as to the fairness of this investment.

 

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(l)The Issuer is not (i) a person or entity named on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) or in any Executive Order issued by the President of the United States and administered by OFAC, or a person or entity prohibited by any OFAC Sanctions program, or any similar list of sanctioned persons administered by the European Union or the United Kingdom (collectively, “Sanctions Lists”); (ii) directly or indirectly, owned or controlled by, or acting on behalf of, one or more persons that are named on the Sanctions Lists; (iii) organized, incorporated, established, located, resident or born in, or a citizen, national or the government, including any political subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, of, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, the Crimea region of Ukraine or any other country or territory embargoed or subject to substantial trade restrictions by the United States, the European Union or the United Kingdom; (iv) a Designated National as defined in the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 515; or (v) a non-U.S. shell bank or providing banking services indirectly to a non-U.S. shell bank (each, a “Prohibited Investor”). The Issuer agrees to provide law enforcement agencies, if requested thereby, such records as required by applicable law; provided that the Issuer is permitted to do so under applicable law. To the extent required, the Issuer maintains procedures that it reasonably believes to be in compliance with sanctions programs administered by the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom. To the extent required and from and after the closing of the Transaction, the Issuer shall maintain procedures adequate and necessary to ensure its compliance with sanctions programs administered by the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom, and the Issuer shall comply with such sanctions programs to which it is legally subject and with which it is legally obligated to comply.

 

(m)No broker, finder or other financial consultant is acting on behalf of the Issuer in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in such a way as to create any liability of the Investor for the payment of any fees, costs, expenses or commissions.

 

(n)(i) The Equity Subscription Agreements reflect or will reflect the same Per Share Purchase Price and other material terms and conditions (including the registration rights) with respect to the purchase of the Issuer Shares that are no more favorable to any Other Equity Investor thereunder in any material respect than the terms of this Agreement, other than terms particular to the issuance of the Investor Shares to the Issuer hereunder (if the Investor elects the Share Issuance Option), SPAC as a signing party thereto, the nature of cash investment by such Other Equity Investor, the regulatory requirements of the Other Equity Investors or their respective affiliates or related funds that are mutual funds or are otherwise subject to regulations related to the timing of funding and the issuance of the related Issuer Shares (collectively, the “Excluded Terms”), and (ii) any Permitted Financing Agreement to the extent it provides for the issuance of Equity Securities of the Issuer, other than (A) the convertible note purchase agreement dated May 9, 2022 by and between the Issuer and Lotus Technology Inc. and the convertible note dated May 13, 2022 issued by the Issuer to Lotus Technology Inc., and (B) any Permitted Financing Agreement pursuant to which (I) the Equity Securities of the Issuer to be issued thereunder are convertible into the Issuer Shares at an effective conversion price of no less than the Per Share Purchase Price, and (II) the Permitted Financing Proceeds thereunder will be funded prior to (and not subject to) the consummation of the Transaction (the agreements in (A) and (B) are collectively referred to as the “Excluded Subscription Agreements”), will not contain any terms (other than the Excluded Terms as applied mutatis mutandis) that provide a greater economic benefit with respect to such Equity Securities of the Issuer to be received by the Financing Party than the benefits to be received by the Investor under this Agreement.

 

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(o)None of the Equity Subscription Agreements shall be amended, modified or terminated, and no provision thereof may be waived, in each case, in any way which would adversely affect the rights of the Investor in a manner disproportionate to any adverse effect such amendment, modification, termination or waiver would have on the rights of any of the Other Equity Investors. In addition, no Permitted Financing Agreement shall be entered into, amended, modified or terminated, and no provision thereof may be waived, in each case, in any way which would adversely affect the rights of the Investor solely with respect to the Issuer Shares in a manner disproportionate to any adverse effect such amendment, modification, termination or waiver would have on the rights of any Financing Party solely with respect to the Equity Securities of the Issuer to be received by such Financing Party pursuant to the applicable Permitted Financing Agreement. In addition, if the Issuer provides any terms more favorable to any of the Other Equity Investors with respect to the Issuer Shares under the Equity Subscription Agreements (but excluding the Excluded Terms) or terms more favorable to any of the Financing Parties with respect to the Equity Securities of the Issuer under the Permitted Financing Agreements (but excluding the Excluded Terms as applied mutatis mutandis) than those terms provided to the Investor, either directly or indirectly by amendment, merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification, or otherwise, the Issuer shall promptly provide the Investor with written notice thereof, and, upon written request of the Investor, any additional information related to such terms as may be reasonably requested by the Investor. In the event the Investor determines that such terms are preferable to the terms contemplated herein and seeks to receive any such terms, the Investor shall notify the Issuer in writing within 10 days of the receipt of the Issuer’s notice. Promptly after receipt of such written notice from the Investor, the Issuer agrees to amend and restate any required documents to provide identical terms to the Investor. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, this Section 4.1(o) shall not apply to the Excluded Subscription Agreements.

 

4.2Investor’s Representations, Warranties and Agreements. The Investor hereby represents and warrants to the Issuer and acknowledges as follows:

 

(a)The Investor is a company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Investor has all power (corporate or otherwise) and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as presently conducted and contemplated to be conducted and to enter into, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(b)If the Investor elects the Share Issuance Option, at the Closing, upon issuance, the Investor Shares will be duly authorized, and when issued and delivered to the Issuer against issuance of the Issuer Shares in full in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Investor Shares will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of any liens or other encumbrances (other than those arising under applicable securities laws) and will not have been issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive or similar rights created under the Investor’s organizational documents (as in effect at such time of issuance) or the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

(c)This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Investor and, assuming that this Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Issuer, is enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited or otherwise affected by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally and (ii) principles of equity, whether considered at law or equity.

 

(d)The compliance by the Investor with all of the provisions of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and, if the Investor elects the Share Issuance Option, the issuance and sale of the Investor Shares, will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of the Investor pursuant to the terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which the Investor is a party or by which the Investor is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Investor is subject, which would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Investor to enter into and timely perform its obligations under this Agreement (an “Investor Material Adverse Effect”), (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the organizational documents of the Investor or (iii) result in any violation of any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Investor or any of its properties that would reasonably be expected to have an Investor Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(e)If the Investor elects the Share Issuance Option and assuming the accuracy of the Issuer’s representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.1, in connection with the offer, sale and delivery of the Investor Shares in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, no registration under the Securities Act is required for the offer and sale of the Investor Shares by the Investor to the Issuer. The Investor Shares (i) were not offered to the Issuer by any form of general solicitation or general advertising, including methods described in section 502(c) of Regulation D under the Securities Act and (ii) are not being offered in a manner involving a public offering under, or in a distribution in violation of, the Securities Act, or any state securities laws.

 

(f)The Investor (i) is an “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act), (ii) is acquiring the Issuer Shares only for its own account and not for the account of others, and (iii) is not acquiring the Issuer Shares with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act.

 

(g)The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Issuer Shares were not offered by any form of general solicitation or general advertising and are being offered in a transaction not involving any public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act and, that the Issuer Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act and the Issuer is not required to register the Issuer Shares except as set forth in Section 5. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Issuer Shares may not be offered, resold, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of by the Investor absent an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, except (i) to the Issuer or a subsidiary thereof, (ii) to non-U.S. persons pursuant to offers and sales that occur solely outside the United States within the meaning of and in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act, or (iii) pursuant to another applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and, in each case, in accordance with any applicable securities laws of the states of the United States and other applicable jurisdictions, and that any book-entry position or certificates representing the Issuer Shares shall contain a restrictive legend to such effect. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Issuer Shares will be subject to transfer restrictions and, as a result of these transfer restrictions, the Investor may not be able to readily offer, resell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of the Issuer Shares and may be required to bear the financial risk of an investment in the Issuer Shares for an indefinite period of time. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Issuer Shares will not be eligible for offer, resale, transfer, pledge or disposition pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act until at least six months from the issuance date thereof and to the extent Rule 144 is available. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that it has been advised to consult legal counsel and tax and accounting advisors prior to making any offer, resale, transfer, pledge or disposition of any of the Issuer Shares.

 

(h)The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Investor is purchasing the Issuer Shares directly from the Issuer. The Investor further acknowledges that there have been no representations, warranties, covenants and agreements made to the Investor by or on behalf of the Issuer, any of their respective affiliates or any control persons, officers, directors, employees, partners, agents or representatives of any of the foregoing or any other person or entity, expressly or by implication, other than those representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Issuer expressly set forth in Section 4.1 of this Agreement.

 

(i)The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Investor has received such information as the Investor deems necessary in order to make an investment decision with respect to the Issuer Shares, including, with respect to the Issuer, the Transaction and the business of the Issuer and its subsidiaries. The Investor has sufficient knowledge and experience in financial and business matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Issuer. The Investor is capable of bearing the economic risks of such investment, including a complete loss of its investment.

 

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(j)The Investor acknowledges that certain information provided to the Investor was based on projections, and such projections were prepared based on assumptions and estimates that are inherently uncertain and are subject to a wide variety of significant business, economic and competitive risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the projections.

 

(k)The Investor acknowledges and agrees that no federal or state agency has passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Issuer Shares or made any findings or determination as to the fairness of this investment.

 

(l)The Investor is not a Prohibited Investor. The Investor agrees to provide law enforcement agencies, if requested thereby, such records as required by applicable law; provided that the Investor is permitted to do so under applicable law. To the extent required, it maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with sanctions programs administered by the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom.

 

(m)Except as expressly disclosed in a Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G (or amendments thereto) filed by the Investor with the SEC with respect to the beneficial ownership of SPAC’s ordinary shares prior to the date hereof, the Investor is not currently (and at all times through Closing will refrain from being or becoming) a member of a “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of equity securities of SPAC (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act).

 

(n)If the Investor elects the Cash Option, the Investor has or has commitments to have and, when required to deliver payment to the Issuer pursuant to Section 2, will have, sufficient funds to pay the Subscription Amount and consummate the purchase and sale of the Issuer Shares pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(o)The Investor does not have, as of the date hereof, and during the 30-day period immediately prior to the date hereof, the Investor has not entered into, any “put equivalent position” as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act or end of day short sale positions with respect to the securities of SPAC.

 

(p)No broker, finder or other financial consultant is acting on the Investor’s behalf in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in such a way as to create any liability of the Issuer or SPAC for the payment of any fees, costs, expenses or commissions.

 

(q)The Investor agrees that, from the date of this Agreement until the Closing Date (or earlier termination of this Agreement), none of the Investor or any person or entity acting on behalf of the Investor or pursuant to any understanding with the Investor will engage in any Short Sales with respect to securities of the Issuer or SPAC. For purpose of this Section 4.2(q), “Short Sales” shall mean all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 of Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act and all types of direct and indirect share pledges (other than pledges in the ordinary course of business as part of prime brokerage arrangements), forward sale contracts, options, puts, calls, swaps and similar arrangements (including on a total return basis), and sales and other short transactions through non-U.S. broker dealers or foreign regulated brokers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the restrictions in this Section 4.2(q) shall not apply to any sale of securities of the Issuer or SPAC (A) held by the Investor or any person or entity acting on behalf of the Investor prior to the execution of this Agreement or (B) purchased by the Investor or any person or entity acting on behalf of the Investor in an open market transaction after the execution of this Agreement. Further, notwithstanding the foregoing, (ii) nothing herein shall prohibit other entities under common management with the Investor that have no knowledge of this Agreement or of the Investor’s subscription of the Issuer Shares (including the Investor’s controlled affiliates and/or affiliates) from entering into any Short Sales.

 

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(r)As of their respective filing dates, each form, report, statement, schedule, prospectus, proxy, registration statement or other document filed by the Investor with the SEC prior to the Closing Date (each, an “Investor SEC Document” and collectively, the “Investor SEC Documents”) complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and Exchange Act applicable to the Investor SEC Documents and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to the Investor SEC Documents. None of the Investor SEC Documents contained, when filed or, if amended prior to the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing, as of the date of such amendment with respect to those disclosures that are amended, any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and the financial statements of the Investor included in the Investor SEC Documents complied in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing and fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Investor as of and for the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, year-end audit adjustments. The Investor has timely filed each Investor SEC Document that the Investor was required to file with the SEC since its inception and through the date hereof. As of the date hereof, there are no material outstanding or unresolved comments in comment letters from the SEC staff with respect to any of the Investor SEC Documents.

 

5.Investor’s Registration Rights

 

5.1The Issuer agrees that, within sixty (60) calendar days after the Closing Date, it will file with the SEC (at the Issuer’s sole cost and expense) a registration statement registering the resale of the Issuer Shares (the “Issuer Registration Statement”), and it shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the Issuer Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof; provided, however, that the Issuer’s obligations to include such shares in the Issuer Registration Statement are contingent upon Investor furnishing in writing to the Issuer such information regarding Investor, the securities of the Issuer beneficially owned by Investor and the intended method of disposition of the Issuer Shares as shall be reasonably requested by the Issuer to effect the registration of the Issuer Shares, and Investor shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Issuer may reasonably request that are customary of a selling shareholder in similar situations, including providing that the Issuer shall be entitled to postpone and suspend the effectiveness or use of the Issuer Registration Statement as permitted hereunder.

 

5.2The Issuer agrees to, except for such times as the Issuer is permitted hereunder to suspend the use of the prospectus forming part of an Issuer Registration Statement, use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Issuer Registration Statement (including any post-effective amendment to such Issuer Registration Statement), or another shelf registration statement that includes the Issuer Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement, to remain effective until the earliest of (i) the second anniversary of the Closing, (ii) the date on which the Investor ceases to hold any Issuer Shares issued pursuant to this Agreement, or (iii) on the first date on which the Investor is able to sell all of its Issuer Shares issued pursuant to this Agreement (or shares received in exchange therefor) under Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (“Rule 144”) without the public information, volume or manner of sale limitations of such rule (such date, the “Issuer End Date”).

 

5.3The Issuer will use all commercially reasonable efforts, at all times from the Closing Date through the Issuer End Date, to satisfy any applicable continuing listing requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market in respect of the Issuer Shares. The Investor agrees to disclose its ownership to the Issuer upon request to assist it in making the determination with respect to Rule 144 described in clause (iii) of Section 5.2 above. The Issuer may amend the Issuer Registration Statement so as to convert the Issuer Registration Statement to an Issuer Registration Statement on Form F-3 at such time after the Issuer becomes eligible to use such Form F-3. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Issuer may suspend the use of any such registration statement if it determines that in order for such registration statement not to contain a material misstatement or omission, an amendment thereto would be needed to include information that would at that time not otherwise be required in a current, quarterly, or annual report under the Exchange Act, provided that any such suspension shall be for the shortest period of time, determined in good faith by the Issuer’s Board of Directors to be necessary for such purpose.

 

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5.4Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the SEC prevents the Issuer from including any or all of the shares proposed to be registered under the Issuer Registration Statement due to limitations on the use of Rule 415 of the Securities Act for the resale of the Issuer Shares by the applicable shareholders or otherwise, such Issuer Registration Statement shall register for resale such number of the Issuer Shares which is equal to the maximum number of the Issuer Shares as is permitted by the SEC. In such event, the number of the Issuer Shares to be registered shall be reduced (a) firstly, pro rata among all the selling shareholders other than the Ecarx Investors; and (b) secondly, only if the number of the Issuer Shares to be registered for the selling shareholders other than the Ecarx Investors has been reduced to zero, pro rata among the Ecarx Investors, and the Issuer shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC, as promptly as practicable and as allowed by the SEC, one or more registration statements to register the resale of those Issuer Shares that were not registered on the initial Issuer Registration Statement, as so amended.

 

5.5Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Issuer shall be entitled to delay or postpone the effectiveness of the Issuer Registration Statement, and from time to time to require the Investor not to sell under the Issuer Registration Statement or to suspend the effectiveness thereof, if (a) the use of the Issuer Registration Statement would require the inclusion of financial statements that are unavailable for reasons beyond the Issuer’s control, (b) the Issuer determines that in order for the Issuer Registration Statement to not contain a material misstatement or omission, (i) an amendment thereto would be needed to include information that would at that time not otherwise be required in a current, quarterly, or annual report under the Exchange Act or (ii) the negotiation or consummation of a transaction by the Issuer or its subsidiaries is pending or an event has occurred, which negotiation, consummation or event that the Issuer reasonably believes would require additional disclosure by the Issuer in the Issuer Registration Statement of material information that the Issuer has a bona fide business purpose for keeping confidential and the non-disclosure of which in the Issuer Registration Statement would be expected, in the reasonable determination of the Issuer’s board of directors to cause the Issuer Registration Statement to fail to comply with applicable disclosure requirements (each such circumstance, an “Issuer Suspension Event”). Upon receipt of any written notice from the Issuer of the happening of any Issuer Suspension Event during the period that the Issuer Registration Statement is effective or if as a result of an Issuer Suspension Event the Issuer Registration Statement or related prospectus contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made (in the case of the prospectus) not misleading, the Investor agrees that (i) it will immediately discontinue offers and sales of the Issuer Shares under the Issuer Registration Statement (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, sales conducted pursuant to Rule 144) until the Investor receives copies of a supplemental or amended prospectus that corrects the misstatement(s) or omission(s) referred to above and receives notice that any post-effective amendment has become effective or unless otherwise notified by the Issuer that it may resume such offers and sales; provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Issuer shall not include any material non-public information in any such written notice. If so directed by the Issuer, the Investor will deliver to the Issuer or destroy all copies of the prospectus covering the Issuer Shares in the Investor’s possession. The Issuer may not delay or suspend any filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of an Issuer Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 5.5 on more than three (3) occasions or for more than sixty (60) consecutive days or for more than one hundred and twenty (120) total calendar days, in each case, in any 12-month period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Investor agrees and acknowledges that any offer or sale of the Issuer Shares shall be in compliance with applicable securities laws, and if applicable, the Issuer’s customary insider trading policy.

 

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5.6Indemnification.

 

(a)The Issuer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the extent permitted by law, the Investor, its directors, and officers, employees, and agents, and each person who controls the Investor (within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, any reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Issuer Registration Statement, prospectus included in any Issuer Registration Statement or preliminary prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information furnished in writing to the Issuer by or on behalf of the Investor expressly for use therein or such Investor has omitted a material fact from such information or otherwise violated the Securities Act, Exchange Act or any state securities law or any other law, rule or regulation thereunder; provided, however, that the indemnification contained in this Section 5.6(a) shall not apply to amounts paid by the Investor in settlement of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or out-of-pocket expenses if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Issuer, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. In no event shall the liability of the Issuer be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by the Issuer upon the sale of the Investor Shares purchased pursuant to this Agreement, or if the Investor elects the Cash Option, US$15,000,000.

 

(b)In connection with any Issuer Registration Statement in which the Investor is participating, the Investor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Issuer, its directors and officers and agents and each person who controls the Issuer (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue statement of material fact contained in the Issuer Registration Statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained (or not contained, in the case of an omission) in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Investor expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the liability of the Investor shall be several and not joint with any other selling shareholder and in no event shall the liability of the Investor be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by the Investor upon the sale of the Issuer Shares purchased pursuant to this Agreement giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

 

(c)Any person entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel it elects in its sole discretion. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party will not be liable to the indemnified party for any legal or other expenses incurred by the indemnified party and shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent. An indemnifying party who elects not to assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of legal counsel to any indemnified party a conflict of interest exists between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.

 

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(d)The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director, employee, agent, affiliate or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of the Issuer Shares purchased pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(e)If the indemnification provided under this Section 5.6 from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by, or relates to information supplied by or on behalf of, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this Section 5.6(e) from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Any contribution pursuant to this Section 5.6(e) by any seller of Issuer Shares shall be limited in amount to the amount of net proceeds received by such seller from the sale of such Issuer Shares pursuant to the Issuer Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in no event will any party be liable for consequential, special, exemplary or punitive damages in connection with this Agreement.

 

6.Issuer’s Registration Rights

 

The following shall be applicable only if the Investor elects the Share Issuance Option:

 

6.1The Investor agrees that, within sixty (60) calendar days after the Closing Date, it will file with the SEC (at the Investor’s sole cost and expense) a registration statement registering the resale of the Investor Shares (the “Investor Registration Statement”), and it shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the Investor Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof; provided, however, that the Investor’s obligations to include such shares in the Investor Registration Statement are contingent upon Issuer furnishing in writing to the Investor such information regarding Issuer, the securities of the Investor beneficially owned by Issuer and the intended method of disposition of the Investor Shares as shall be reasonably requested by the Investor to effect the registration of the Investor Shares, and Issuer shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Investor may reasonably request that are customary of a selling shareholder in similar situations, including providing that the Investor shall be entitled to postpone and suspend the effectiveness or use of the Investor Registration Statement as permitted hereunder.

 

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6.2The Investor agrees to, except for such times as the Investor is permitted hereunder to suspend the use of the prospectus forming part of an Investor Registration Statement, use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Investor Registration Statement (including any post-effective amendment to such Investor Registration Statement), or another shelf registration statement that includes the Investor Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement, to remain effective until the earliest of (i) the second anniversary of the Closing, (ii) the date on which the Issuer ceases to hold any Investor Shares issued pursuant to this Agreement, or (iii) on the first date on which the Issuer is able to sell all of its Investor Shares issued pursuant to this Agreement (or shares received in exchange therefor) under Rule 144 without the public information, volume or manner of sale limitations of such rule (such date, the “Investor End Date”).

 

6.3The Investor will use all commercially reasonable efforts, at all times from the Closing Date through the Investor End Date, to satisfy any applicable continuing listing requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market in respect of the Investor Shares. The Issuer agrees to disclose its ownership to the Investor upon request to assist it in making the determination with respect to Rule 144 described in clause (iii) of Section 6.2 above. The Issuer acknowledges and agrees that the Investor may suspend the use of any such registration statement if it determines that in order for such registration statement not to contain a material misstatement or omission, an amendment thereto would be needed to include information that would at that time not otherwise be required in a current, quarterly, or annual report under the Exchange Act, provided that any such suspension shall be for the shortest period of time, determined in good faith by the Investor’s Board of Directors to be necessary for such purpose.

 

6.4Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the SEC prevents the Investor from including any or all of the shares proposed to be registered under the Investor Registration Statement due to limitations on the use of Rule 415 of the Securities Act for the resale of the Investor Shares by the applicable shareholders or otherwise, such Investor Registration Statement shall register for resale such number of the Investor Shares which is equal to the maximum number of the Investor Shares as is permitted by the SEC. In such event, the number of the Investor Shares to be registered shall be reduced (a) firstly, pro rata among all the selling shareholders other than the Issuer; and (b) secondly, only if the number of the Investor Shares to be registered for the selling shareholders other than the Issuer has been reduced to zero, the Issuer, and the Investor shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC, as promptly as practicable and as allowed by the SEC, one or more registration statements to register the resale of those Investor Shares that were not registered on the initial Investor Registration Statement, as so amended.

 

6.5Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Investor shall be entitled to delay or postpone the effectiveness of the Investor Registration Statement, and from time to time to require the Issuer not to sell under the Investor Registration Statement or to suspend the effectiveness thereof, if (a) the use of the Investor Registration Statement would require the inclusion of financial statements that are unavailable for reasons beyond the Investor’s control, (b) the Investor determines that in order for the Investor Registration Statement to not contain a material misstatement or omission, (i) an amendment thereto would be needed to include information that would at that time not otherwise be required in a current, quarterly, or annual report under the Exchange Act or (ii) the negotiation or consummation of a transaction by the Investor or its subsidiaries is pending or an event has occurred, which negotiation, consummation or event that the Investor reasonably believes would require additional disclosure by the Investor in the Investor Registration Statement of material information that the Investor has a bona fide business purpose for keeping confidential and the non-disclosure of which in the Investor Registration Statement would be expected, in the reasonable determination of the Investor’s board of directors to cause the Investor Registration Statement to fail to comply with applicable disclosure requirements (each such circumstance, an “Investor Suspension Event”). Upon receipt of any written notice from the Investor of the happening of any Investor Suspension Event during the period that the Investor Registration Statement is effective or if as a result of an Investor Suspension Event the Investor Registration Statement or related prospectus contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made (in the case of the prospectus) not misleading, the Issuer agrees that (i) it will immediately discontinue offers and sales of the Investor Shares under the Investor Registration Statement (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, sales conducted pursuant to Rule 144) until the Issuer receives copies of a supplemental or amended prospectus that corrects the misstatement(s) or omission(s) referred to above and receives notice that any post-effective amendment has become effective or unless otherwise notified by the Investor that it may resume such offers and sales; provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Investor shall not include any material non-public information in any such written notice. If so directed by the Investor, the Issuer will deliver to the Investor or destroy all copies of the prospectus covering the Investor Shares in the Issuer’s possession. The Investor may not delay or suspend any filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of an Investor Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 6.5 on more than three (3) occasions or for more than sixty (60) consecutive days or for more than one hundred and twenty (120) total calendar days, in each case, in any 12-month period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Issuer agrees and acknowledges that any offer or sale of the Investor Shares shall be in compliance with applicable securities laws, and if applicable, the Investor’s customary insider trading policy.

 

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6.6Indemnification.

 

(a)The Investor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the extent permitted by law, the Issuer, its directors, and officers, employees, and agents, and each person who controls the Issuer (within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, any reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Investor Registration Statement, prospectus included in any Investor Registration Statement or preliminary prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information furnished in writing to the Investor by or on behalf of the Issuer expressly for use therein or such Issuer has omitted a material fact from such information or otherwise violated the Securities Act, Exchange Act or any state securities law or any other law, rule or regulation thereunder; provided, however, that the indemnification contained in this Section 6.6(a) shall not apply to amounts paid by the Issuer in settlement of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or out-of-pocket expenses if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. In no event shall the liability of the Investor be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by the Investor upon the sale of the Issuer Shares purchased pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(b)In connection with any Investor Registration Statement in which the Issuer is participating, the Issuer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Investor, its directors and officers and agents and each person who controls the Investor (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue statement of material fact contained in the Investor Registration Statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained (or not contained, in the case of an omission) in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Issuer expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the liability of the Issuer shall be several and not joint with any other selling shareholder and in no event shall the liability of the Issuer be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by the Issuer upon the sale of the Investor Shares purchased pursuant to this Agreement giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

 

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(c)Any person entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel it elects in its sole discretion. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party will not be liable to the indemnified party for any legal or other expenses incurred by the indemnified party and shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent. An indemnifying party who elects not to assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of legal counsel to any indemnified party a conflict of interest exists between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.

 

(d)The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director, employee, agent, affiliate or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of the Investor Shares purchased pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(e)If the indemnification provided under this Section 6.6 from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by, or relates to information supplied by or on behalf of, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this Section 6.6(e) from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Any contribution pursuant to this Section 6.6(e) by any seller of Investor Shares shall be limited in amount to the amount of net proceeds received by such seller from the sale of such Investor Shares pursuant to the Investor Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in no event will any party be liable for consequential, special, exemplary or punitive damages in connection with this Agreement.

 

7.Termination. This Agreement shall terminate and be void and of no further force and effect, and all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall terminate without any further liability on the part of any party in respect thereof, upon the earliest to occur of (a) such date and time as the Transaction Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms without being consummated, (b) upon the mutual written agreement of each of the parties hereto to terminate this Agreement, and (c) on the 300th day after the date hereof (and if such 300th day shall not be a business day, then the next following business day), if the Closing has not occurred by such date other than as a result of a breach of the Investor’s obligations hereunder; provided that nothing herein will relieve any party from liability for any willful breach hereof prior to the time of termination, and each party will be entitled to any remedies at law or in equity to recover losses, liabilities or damages arising from any such willful breach. The Issuer shall notify the Investor in writing of the termination of the Transaction Agreement promptly after the termination of such agreement. In the event the Investor elects the Cash Option, upon the termination of this Agreement in accordance with this Section 7, any monies paid by the Investor to the Issuer in connection herewith shall be promptly (and in any event within two (2) business days after such termination) returned to the Investor without any deduction for or on account of any tax, withholding, charges, or set-off.

 

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8.Miscellaneous.

 

8.1Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any rights, interests or obligations that may accrue to the parties hereunder (other than the Issuer Shares and the Investor Shares acquired hereunder, if any) may be transferred or assigned without the prior written consent of each of the other parties hereto, other than (a) an assignment by the Investor to any affiliate of the Investor; provided that prior to such assignment any such assignee shall agree in writing to be bound by the terms hereof; provided, further, that no assignment pursuant to the foregoing terms shall relieve the Investor of its obligations hereunder, (b) an assignment of the Investor’s rights under Section 5 to an assignee or transferee of the Issuer Shares, (c) an assignment by the Issuer to any affiliate of the Issuer; provided that prior to such assignment any such assignee shall agree in writing to be bound by the terms hereof; provided, further, that no assignment pursuant to the foregoing terms shall relieve the Issuer of its obligations hereunder, and (d) an assignment of the Issuer’s rights under Section 6 to an assignee or transferee of the Investor Shares.

 

8.2Additional Information.

 

(a)The Issuer may request from the Investor such additional information as is reasonably necessary for SPAC or the Issuer, as applicable, to comply with public disclosure requirements of applicable securities laws or any filing requirements pursuant to the rules of any stock exchange or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and the Investor shall provide such information; provided that, subject to Section 5.5, the Issuer shall keep any such information provided by the Investor confidential except (a) as necessary to include in any registration statement the Issuer is required to file hereunder, (b) as required by the federal securities law or pursuant to other routine proceedings of regulatory authorities or (c) to the extent such disclosure is required by law, at the request of the staff of the SEC or regulatory agency or under the regulations of any national securities exchange on which SPAC’s securities are listed or the Issuer’s securities will be listed for trading. The Investor acknowledges that SPAC and/or the Issuer may file a copy of the form of this Agreement with the SEC as an exhibit to a current or periodic report or a registration statement of SPAC or the Issuer, as applicable. The Issuer may request from the Investor such additional information as the Issuer may reasonably deem necessary to register the resale of the Issuer Shares and evaluate the eligibility of the Investor to acquire the Issuer Shares, and the Investor shall promptly provide such information as may reasonably be requested to the extent readily available. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that if it does not provide the Issuer with such requested information, the Issuer may not be able to register the Investor’s Issuer Shares for resale pursuant to Section 5 hereof.

 

(b)The Investor may request from the Issuer such additional information as is reasonably necessary for the Investor to comply with public disclosure requirements of applicable securities laws or any filing requirements pursuant to the rules of any stock exchange or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and the Issuer shall provide such information; provided that, subject to Section 6.5, the Investor shall keep any such information provided by the Issuer confidential except (a) as necessary to include in any registration statement the Investor is required to file hereunder, (b) as required by the federal securities law or pursuant to other routine proceedings of regulatory authorities or (c) to the extent such disclosure is required by law, at the request of the staff of the SEC or regulatory agency or under the regulations of any national securities exchange on which the Investor’s securities are listed for trading. The Issuer acknowledge that the Investor may file a copy of the form of this Agreement with the SEC as an exhibit to a current or periodic report or a registration statement of the Investor. The Investor may request from the Issuer such additional information as the Investor may reasonably deem necessary to register the resale of the Investor Shares and evaluate the eligibility of the Issuer to acquire the Investor Shares, and the Issuer shall promptly provide such information as may reasonably be requested to the extent readily available. The Issuer acknowledges and agrees that if it does not provide the Investor with such requested information, the Investor may not be able to register the Issuer’s Investor Shares for resale pursuant to Section 6 hereof.

 

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8.3Further Assurances.

 

(a)The Investor acknowledges that the Issuer will rely on the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, covenants, representations and warranties of the Investor contained in this Agreement. Prior to the Closing, the Investor agrees to promptly notify the Issuer if any of the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, covenants representations and warranties made by the Investor set forth herein are no longer accurate in all material respects. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that each purchase by the Issuer of the Investor Shares from the Investor or each purchase by the Investor of the Issuer Shares from the Issuer will constitute a reaffirmation of the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties herein (as modified by any such notice) by the Investor as of the time of such purchase.

 

(b)The Issuer acknowledges that the Investor will rely on the acknowledgements, understandings, agreements, covenants, representations and warranties of the Issuer contained in this Agreement. Prior to the Closing, the Issuer agrees to promptly notify the Investor if any of the acknowledgements, understandings, agreements, covenants, representations and warranties made by the Issuer, as applicable, set forth herein are no longer accurate in all material respects. The Issuer acknowledges and agrees that each purchase by the Investor of the Issuer Shares from the Issuer or each purchase by the Issuer of the Investor Shares from the Investor will constitute a reaffirmation of the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties herein (as modified by any such notice) by the Issuer as of the time of such purchase.

 

(c)Each of the Investor and the Issuer is irrevocably authorized to produce this Agreement or a copy hereof to any interested party in any action, suit, hearing, claim, charge, audit, lawsuit, litigation, inquiry or proceeding (in each case, whether civil, criminal or administrative or at law or in equity) with respect to the matters covered hereby.

 

(d)The Investor acknowledges and agrees that none of any other party to the Transaction Agreement (other than the Issuer) or any Issuer Non-Party Affiliate, shall have any liability (including in contract, tort, under federal or state securities laws or otherwise) to the Investor pursuant to this Agreement related to the private placement of the Issuer Shares, the negotiation hereof or thereof or the subject matter hereof or thereof, or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, for any action heretofore or hereafter taken or omitted to be taken by any of them in connection with the purchase of the Issuer Shares, or with respect to any claim (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) for breach of this Agreement or in respect of any written or oral representations made or alleged to be made in connection herewith, as expressly provided herein, or for any actual or alleged inaccuracies, misstatements or omissions with respect to any information or materials of any kind furnished by the Issuer or any Issuer Non-Party Affiliate concerning the Issuer, any of their respective controlled affiliates, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. For purposes of this Agreement, “Issuer Non-Party Affiliates” means each former, current or future officer, director, employee, partner, member, manager, direct or indirect equityholder or affiliate of the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s controlled affiliates or any family member of the foregoing.

 

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(e)The Issuer acknowledges and agrees that none of any other party to the Transaction Agreement (other than the Investor) or any Investor Non-Party Affiliate, shall have any liability (including in contract, tort, under federal or state securities laws or otherwise) to the Issuer pursuant to this Agreement related to the private placement of the Investor Shares, the negotiation hereof or thereof or the subject matter hereof or thereof, or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, for any action heretofore or hereafter taken or omitted to be taken by any of them in connection with the purchase of the Investor Shares, or with respect to any claim (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) for breach of this Agreement or in respect of any written or oral representations made or alleged to be made in connection herewith, as expressly provided herein, or for any actual or alleged inaccuracies, misstatements or omissions with respect to any information or materials of any kind furnished by the Investor or any Investor Non-Party Affiliate concerning the Investor, any of their respective controlled affiliates, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. For purposes of this Agreement, “Investor Non-Party Affiliates” means each former, current or future officer, director, employee, partner, member, manager, direct or indirect equityholder or affiliate of the Investor, or any of the Investor’s controlled affiliates or any family member of the foregoing.

 

8.4Survival of Representations and Warranties and Covenants. All of the agreements, representations and warranties contained in this Agreement shall survive the Closing.

 

8.5Modifications and Amendments. This Agreement may not be modified, waived or terminated (other than pursuant to the terms of Section 7 above) except by an instrument in writing, signed by each of the parties hereto. No failure or delay of either party in exercising any right or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such right or power, or any course of conduct, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the parties hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have hereunder.

 

8.6Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the schedule hereto) constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all other prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties, both written and oral, among the parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof. Except as set forth in Section 5.6 and Section 6.6, with respect to the persons specifically referenced therein, this Agreement shall not confer any rights or remedies upon any person other than the parties hereto, and their respective successors and assigns.

 

8.7Benefit. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives, and permitted assigns, and the agreements, representations, warranties, covenants and acknowledgments contained herein shall be deemed to be made by, and be binding upon, such heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.

 

8.8Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall continue in full force and effect.

 

8.9Transaction Expenses. Subject to Section 5.1 and Section 6.1, each party shall pay all of its own costs and expenses incurred in anticipation of, relating to and in connection with the negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, whether or not such transactions are consummated.

 

8.10Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts (including by facsimile or electronic mail or in .pdf) and by different parties in separate counterparts, with the same effect as if all parties hereto had signed the same document. All counterparts so executed and delivered shall be construed together and shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

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8.11Remedies. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement, without posting a bond or undertaking and without proof of damages, to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such party is entitled at law, in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that it may be difficult to prove damages with reasonable certainty, that it may be difficult to procure suitable substitute performance, and that injunctive relief and/or specific performance will not cause an undue hardship to the parties hereto. The parties hereto further acknowledge that the existence of any other remedy contemplated by this Agreement does not diminish the availability of specific performance of the obligations hereunder or any other injunctive relief. Each party hereto further agrees that in the event of any action by the other party for specific performance or injunctive relief, it will not assert that a remedy at law or other remedy would be adequate or that specific performance or injunctive relief in respect of such breach or violation should not be available on the grounds that money damages are adequate or any other grounds.

 

8.12Adjustment of Number of Shares. If any change in the number, type or classes of authorized shares of the Issuer (including the Issuer Shares) or the Investor (including the Investor Shares), shall occur between the date hereof and immediately prior to the Closing by reason of reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including reverse stock split) or combination, exchange or readjustment of shares, or any stock dividend, the number of the Issuer Shares issued to the Investor or the number of the Investor Shares issued to the Issuer, as applicable, shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect such change.

 

8.13Governing Law. This Agreement, and any claim or cause of action hereunder based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement (whether based on law, in equity, in contract, in tort or any other theory) or the negotiation, execution, performance or enforcement of this Agreement, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws that would otherwise require the application of the law of any other state.

 

8.14Dispute Resolution. Any proceeding or action based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby must be referred to and finally settled by arbitration administered by the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (the “ICDR”) under the ICDR Rules in force at the time of commencement of the arbitration. The seat of arbitration shall be New York. There shall be three arbitrators. The claimant and respondent shall each nominate one (1) arbitrator and the third arbitrator shall be appointed by the ICDR. The arbitration proceedings shall be conducted in English. The award of the arbitral tribunal shall be final and binding upon the parties thereto, and the prevailing party may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of such award.

 

8.15Notice. Any notice or communication required or permitted hereunder to be given to the Investor shall be in writing and either delivered personally, emailed or sent by overnight mail via a reputable overnight carrier, or sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, to such address(es) or email address(es) set forth on the signature page hereto, and shall be deemed to be given and received (i) when so delivered personally, (ii) when sent, with no mail undeliverable or other rejection notice, if sent by email, or (iii) three (3) business days after the date of mailing to the address below or to such other address or addresses as the Investor may hereafter designate by notice to the Issuer.

 

(a)if to the Investor, to:

 

Luminar Technologies, Inc.
1891 Page Mill Road

Palo Alto CA 94304

Attn: Tom Fennimore
Email: tom@luminartech.com

 

with a required copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
631 Wilshire Boulevard

Santa Monica, CA 90401
Attention: Daniel S. Kim, Esq.
Email: dan.kim@orrick.com

 

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(b)if to the Issuer, to:

 

ECARX Holdings Inc.
16/F, Tower 2, China Eastern Airline Binjiang Center

277 Longlan Road

Xuhui District, Shanghai 200041

People’s Republic of China
Attention: Tony Chen
Email: tony.chen@ecarxgroup.com
 

with a required copy (which will not constitute notice) to:

 

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
30/F, China World Office 2

No. 1, Jian Guo Men Wai Avenue

Beijing 100004, China
Attention: Peter X. Huang, Esq.
Email: peter.huang@skadden.com

 

9.Disclosure. The Issuer shall cause the SPAC to by 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the first (1st) business day immediately following the date of the Transaction Agreement, issue one or more press releases or file with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K (collectively, the “Disclosure Document”) disclosing all material terms of the transactions contemplated hereby and the Transaction and any other material, nonpublic information that the Issuer or SPAC or their respective representatives have provided to Investor at any time prior to the filing of the Disclosure Document. From and after the issuance of the Disclosure Document, to the Issuer’s knowledge, the Investor shall not be in possession of any material, non-public information received from the Issuer or any of its respective officers, directors, employees or agents relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Issuer shall ensure that the SPAC shall not publicly disclose the name of the Investor or any of its affiliates or advisers, or include the name of the Investor or any of its affiliates or advisers in any press release or in any filing with the SEC or any regulatory agency or trading market, without the prior written consent of the Investor and the Issuer, except (i) as required by the federal securities law or pursuant to other routine proceedings of regulatory authorities, (ii) to the extent such disclosure is required by law, at the request of the staff of the SEC or regulatory agency or under the regulations of any national securities exchange on which SPAC’s securities are listed for trading or (iii) to the extent such announcements or other communications contain only information previously disclosed in a public statement, press release or other communication previously approved in accordance with this Section 9.

 

10.Allocation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Issuer shall have the right, with the prior written consent of SPAC, to, by written notice to the Investor at least three (3) business days before the Closing, reduce the number of the Issuer Shares to be issued to the Investor pursuant to this Agreement, upon which the Subscription Amount shall be reduced proportionally based on the Per Share Purchase Price; provided, however, that any reduction shall also apply to the Other Equity Investors and such reduction shall apply pro rata to the Equity Investors based on the number of the Issuer Shares to be purchased.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Investor has executed or caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized representative as of the date first written above.

 

  LUMINAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
   
  By: /s/ Thomas Fennimore
    Name: Thomas Fennimore
    Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Strategic Investment Agreement]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has executed or caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized representative as of the date first set forth above.

 

  ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
   
  By:  /s/ Ziyu Shen
    Name: Ziyu Shen
    Title: Director

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.7

 

STRATEGIC INVESTMENT AGREEMENT

 

This STRATEGIC INVESTMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into on May 26, 2022, by and between ECARX Holdings Inc., an exempted company incorporated with limited liability in the Cayman Islands (the “Issuer”), and Geely Investment Holding Ltd., a company incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands (the “Investor”). Capitalized terms used and not defined in this Agreement have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Transaction Agreement (as defined below).

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is being entered into in connection with that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (as may be amended, modified, supplemented or waived from time to time in accordance with its terms, the “Transaction Agreement”), by and among the Issuer, COVA Acquisition Corp., an exempted company incorporated with limited liability in the Cayman Islands (“SPAC”), Ecarx Temp Limited, an exempted company incorporated with limited liability in the Cayman Islands and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of the Issuer (“Merger Sub 1”), and Ecarx&Co Limited, an exempted company incorporated with limited liability in the Cayman Islands and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of the Issuer (“Merger Sub 2”), pursuant to which, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, among other things, (a) Merger Sub 1 will merge with and into SPAC (the “First Merger”), with SPAC as the surviving company in the First Merger and, after giving effect to the First Merger, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of the Issuer, and (b) SPAC will merge with and into Merger Sub 2 (the “Second Merger,” and together with the First Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement, the “Transaction”), with Merger Sub 2 as the surviving company in the Second Merger and, after giving effect to the Second Merger, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of the Issuer;

 

WHEREAS, in connection with, and contingent on the closing of, the Transaction, the Investor desires to subscribe for and purchase and the Issuer desires to issue and sell to the Investor, on the Closing Date, 2,000,000 Class A ordinary shares in the Issuer, par value $0.000005 per share (the “Shares”) at a purchase price of $10.00 per share (the “Per Share Purchase Price”), for the aggregate purchase price of US$20,000,000 (the “Subscription Amount”), all on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Transaction, the Issuer and/or SPAC (a) are entering into subscription agreements on the date hereof, and may enter into after the date hereof, Subsequent Equity Subscription Agreements (together with the subscription agreements entered into on the date hereof, the “Equity Subscription Agreements”) with certain investors (the “Other Equity Investors,” together with the Investor, collectively, the “Equity Investors”), pursuant to which the Other Equity Investors have agreed to or will agree to subscribe for and purchase, and the Issuer has agreed to or will agree to issue and sell to the Other Equity Investors, on the Closing Date, the Shares at the Per Share Purchase Price, and (b) may enter into certain Permitted Financing Agreements (other than the Equity Subscription Agreements) with certain parties (each, a “Financing Party”, and collectively, the “Financing Parties”, together with the Equity Investors, the “Ecarx Investors”) pursuant to which the Issuer may agree to, among other matters, issue Equity Securities of the Issuer to such Financing Parties.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual representations, warranties and covenants, and subject to the conditions, herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

1.Subscription. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Investor hereby irrevocably subscribes for and agrees to purchase from the Issuer, and the Issuer hereby agrees to issue and sell to the Investor, the Shares, on the terms and subject to the conditions provided for herein.

 

2.Closing.

 

2.1The closing of the issuance and sale of the Shares contemplated hereby (the “Closing”) shall occur on the closing date of the Transaction (the “Closing Date”) and substantially concurrent with (and subject to), the consummation of the Transaction and satisfaction or waiver of the other conditions set forth in Section 3 hereof.

 

 

 

 

2.2At least five (5) business days before the expected Closing Date, the Issuer shall deliver written notice to the Investor (the “Closing Notice”) specifying the expected Closing Date and that the Issuer reasonably expects all conditions to the closing of the Transaction to be satisfied or waived on an expected closing date that is not less than five (5) business days from the date on which the Closing Notice is delivered to the Investor, (a) the Investor shall deliver to the Issuer, (i) three (3) business days prior to the expected closing date specified in the Closing Notice, the Subscription Amount by wire transfer of U.S. dollars in immediately available funds to the account in an escrow bank specified by the Issuer in the Closing Notice, to be held in a segregated escrow account on behalf of the Investor until the closing of the First Merger, or (ii) on the expected closing date specified in the Closing Notice, the Subscription Amount to an account specified by the Issuer, or otherwise mutually agreed by the Investor and the Issuer due to regulatory reasons that apply to the Investor, by wire transfer of U.S. dollars in immediately available funds, and (b) as soon as practicable following, but not later than one (1) business day after the Closing Date, the Issuer shall (i) issue the Shares to the Investor, free and clear of any liens or other restrictions (other than those arising under applicable securities laws) and subsequently (but not later than two (2) business days thereafter) cause the Shares to be registered in book-entry form in the name of the Investor on the Issuer’s register of members and (ii) provide to the Investor evidence of such issuance from the Issuer’s transfer agent.

 

2.3If the Closing does not occur within five (5) business days following the expected closing date specified in the Closing Notice, unless otherwise agreed to by the Issuer and the Investor, the Issuer shall promptly (but not later than two (2) business days following the expected closing date specified in the Closing Notice) cause the escrow agent to return the Subscription Amount in full, without any deduction or penalty of any kind, for or on account of any tax, withholding, charges, set-off or otherwise, to the Investor by wire transfer of U.S. dollars in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Investor, and any book-entries for the Shares shall be deemed cancelled; provided that unless this Agreement has been terminated pursuant to Section 6, such return of funds shall not terminate this Agreement or relieve the Investor of its obligation to purchase the Shares at the Closing upon delivery by the Issuer of a subsequent Closing Notice in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.

 

2.4Prior to or on the Closing Date, the Investor shall deliver to the Issuer any other information that is reasonably requested in order for the Issuer to issue the Shares , including, without limitation, the legal name of the person in whose name such Shares are to be issued and a duly executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or W-8, as applicable. For purposes of this Agreement, “business day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York, the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and mainland China are authorized or required by law to close.

 

3.Conditions to Closing

 

3.1Conditions to Closing of the Issuer. The Issuer’s obligations to sell and issue the Shares at the Closing are subject to the fulfillment or (to the extent permitted by applicable law) written waiver, on or prior to the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a)Closing of the Transaction. All conditions precedent to effect the closing of the Transaction shall have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that, by their nature, may only be satisfied at the consummation of the closing of the Transaction but subject to satisfaction or waiver thereof).

 

(b)Representations and Warranties Correct. The representations and warranties made by the Investor in Section 4.2 shall be true and correct in all material aspects as of the Closing Date other than (i) such representations and warranties qualified by materiality, Investor Material Adverse Effect or similar qualification, which shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date and (ii) such representations and warranties which speak as to an earlier date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, if qualified by materiality, Investor Material Adverse Effect or similar qualification, in all respects) as of such date.

 

(c)Legality. There shall not be in force any order, judgment, injunction, decree, writ, stipulation, determination or award, in each case, entered by or with any governmental authority, law, statute, rule or regulation enjoining or prohibiting the issuance and sale of the Shares under this Agreement.

 

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(d)Performance and Compliance under the Agreement. The Investor shall have wired the Subscription Amount in accordance with Section 2 of this Agreement and otherwise performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing, except where the failure of such performance or compliance would not or would not reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay, or materially impair the ability of the Investor to consummate the Closing.

 

3.2Conditions to Closing of the Investor. The Investor’s obligation to subscribe for and purchase the Shares at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment or (to the extent permitted by applicable law) written waiver, on or prior to the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a)Closing of the Transaction. All conditions precedent to effect the Transaction shall have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that, by their nature, may only be satisfied at the closing of the Transaction but subject to satisfaction or waiver thereof) and the consummation of the Transaction shall have occurred.

 

(b)Representations and Warranties Correct. The representations and warranties made by the Issuer in Section 4.1 shall be true and correct in all material aspects as of the Closing Date other than (i) such representations and warranties qualified by materiality, Issuer Material Adverse Effect (as defined below) or similar qualification, which shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date and (ii) such representations and warranties which speak as to an earlier date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, if qualified by materiality, Issuer Material Adverse Effect or similar qualification, in all respects) as of such date.

 

(c)Legality. There shall not be in force any order, judgment, injunction, decree, writ, stipulation, determination or award, in each case, entered by or with any governmental authority, law, statute, rule or regulation enjoining or prohibiting the issuance and sale of the Shares under this Agreement.

 

(d)Performance and Compliance under the Agreement. The Issuer shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing, except where the failure of such performance or compliance would not or would not reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay, or materially impair the ability of the Issuer to consummate the Closing.

 

(e)Transaction Agreement. The terms of the Transaction Agreement (including the conditions thereto) shall not have been amended or waived in a manner that materially and adversely affect the economic benefits the Investor reasonably expects to receive under this Agreement.

 

4.Representations, Warranties and Agreements.

 

4.1Issuer’s Representations, Warranties and Agreements. The Issuer hereby represents and warrants to the Investor as follows:

 

(a)The Issuer is an exempted company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands. The Issuer has all power (corporate or otherwise) and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as presently conducted and contemplated to be conducted and to enter into, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(b)At the Closing, the Shares will have been duly authorized, and when issued and delivered to the Investor against full payment in cash for the Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and registered in the Issuer’s register of members, the Shares will be validly issued and allotted and fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of any liens or other encumbrances (other than those arising under applicable securities laws) and will not have been issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive or similar rights created under the Issuer’s organizational documents (as in effect at such time of issuance) or the laws of the Cayman Islands.

 

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(c)This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer and, assuming that this Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Investor, is enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited or otherwise affected by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally and (ii) principles of equity, whether considered at law or equity.

 

(d)The issuance and sale of the Shares and the compliance by the Issuer with all of the provisions of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of the Issuer pursuant to the terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which the Issuer is a party or by which the Issuer is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Issuer is subject, which would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Issuer to enter into and timely perform its obligations under this Agreement (an “Issuer Material Adverse Effect”), (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the organizational documents of the Issuer or (iii) result in any violation of any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Issuer or any of its properties that would reasonably be expected to have an Issuer Material Adverse Effect.

 

(e)Assuming the accuracy of the Investor’s representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.2, in connection with the offer, sale and delivery of the Shares in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, no registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) is required for the offer and sale of the Shares by the Issuer to the Investor. The Shares (i) were not offered to the Investor by any form of general solicitation or general advertising, including methods described in section 502(c) of Regulation D under the Securities Act and (ii) are not being offered in a manner involving a public offering under, or in a distribution in violation of, the Securities Act, or any state securities laws.

 

(f)The Issuer will use the cash proceeds of the sale of the Shares contemplated by the Equity Subscription Agreements and this Agreement exclusively to operate the Issuer’s business post-Closing and will not, directly or indirectly, or in any way, use the proceeds, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any affiliates, subsidiaries, or its parent or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person, entity or country currently subject to sanctions imposed by any of the laws of a relevant and applicable jurisdiction, including the jurisdiction(s) in which the Agreement will take place, the United States (including sanctions programs administered by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control), United Kingdom and the European Union.

 

(g)The Issuer is not (i) a person or entity named on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) or in any Executive Order issued by the President of the United States and administered by OFAC, or a person or entity prohibited by any OFAC Sanctions program, or any similar list of sanctioned persons administered by the European Union or the United Kingdom (collectively, “Sanctions Lists”); (ii) directly or indirectly, owned or controlled by, or acting on behalf of, one or more persons that are named on the Sanctions Lists; (iii) organized, incorporated, established, located, resident or born in, or a citizen, national or the government, including any political subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, of, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, the Crimea region of Ukraine or any other country or territory embargoed or subject to substantial trade restrictions by the United States, the European Union or the United Kingdom; (iv) a Designated National as defined in the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 515; or (v) a non-U.S. shell bank or providing banking services indirectly to a non-U.S. shell bank (each, a “Prohibited Investor”). The Issuer agrees to provide law enforcement agencies, if requested thereby, such records as required by applicable law; provided that the Issuer is permitted to do so under applicable law. To the extent required, the Issuer maintains procedures that it reasonably believes to be in compliance with sanctions programs administered by the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom. To the extent required and from and after the closing of the Transaction, the Issuer shall maintain procedures adequate and necessary to ensure its compliance with sanctions programs administered by the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom, and the Issuer shall comply with such sanctions programs to which it is legally subject and with which it is legally obligated to comply.

 

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(h)No broker, finder or other financial consultant is acting on behalf of the Issuer in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in such a way as to create any liability of the Investor for the payment of any fees, costs, expenses or commissions.

 

(i)(i) The Equity Subscription Agreements reflect or will reflect the same Per Share Purchase Price and other material terms and conditions (including the registration rights) with respect to the purchase of the Shares that are no more favorable to any Other Equity Investor thereunder in any material respect than the terms of this Agreement, other than terms particular to the issuance of any Other Equity Investor’s shares to the Issuer (if such Other Equity Investor elects to issue and sell its shares to the Issuer), SPAC as a signing party thereto, the regulatory requirements of the Other Equity Investors or their respective affiliates or related funds that are mutual funds or are otherwise subject to regulations related to the timing of funding and the issuance of the related Shares (collectively, the “Excluded Terms”), and (ii) any Permitted Financing Agreement to the extent it provides for the issuance of Equity Securities of the Issuer, other than (A) the convertible note purchase agreement dated May 9, 2022 by and between the Issuer and Lotus Technology Inc. and the convertible note dated May 13, 2022 issued by the Issuer to Lotus Technology Inc., and (B) any Permitted Financing Agreement pursuant to which (I) the Equity Securities of the Issuer to be issued thereunder are convertible into the Shares at an effective conversion price of no less than the Per Share Purchase Price, and (II) the Permitted Financing Proceeds thereunder will be funded prior to (and not subject to) the consummation of the Transaction (the agreements in (A) and (B) are collectively referred to as the “Excluded Subscription Agreements”), will not contain any terms (other than the Excluded Terms as applied mutatis mutandis) that provide a greater economic benefit with respect to such Equity Securities of the Issuer to be received by the Financing Party than the benefits to be received by the Investor under this Agreement.

 

(j)None of the Equity Subscription Agreements shall be amended, modified or terminated, and no provision thereof may be waived, in each case, in any way which would adversely affect the rights of the Investor in a manner disproportionate to any adverse effect such amendment, modification, termination or waiver would have on the rights of any of the Other Equity Investors. In addition, no Permitted Financing Agreement shall be entered into, amended, modified or terminated, and no provision thereof may be waived, in each case, in any way which would adversely affect the rights of the Investor solely with respect to the Shares in a manner disproportionate to any adverse effect such amendment, modification, termination or waiver would have on the rights of any Financing Party solely with respect to the Equity Securities of the Issuer to be received by such Financing Party pursuant to the applicable Permitted Financing Agreement. In addition, if the Issuer provides any terms more favorable to any of the Other Equity Investors with respect to the Shares under the Equity Subscription Agreements (but excluding the Excluded Terms) or terms more favorable to any of the Financing Parties with respect to the Equity Securities of the Issuer under the Permitted Financing Agreements (but excluding the Excluded Terms as applied mutatis mutandis) than those terms provided to the Investor, either directly or indirectly by amendment, merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification, or otherwise, the Issuer shall promptly provide the Investor with written notice thereof, and, upon written request of the Investor, any additional information related to such terms as may be reasonably requested by the Investor. In the event the Investor determines that such terms are preferable to the terms contemplated herein and seeks to receive any such terms, the Investor shall notify the Issuer in writing within 10 days of the receipt of the Issuer’s notice. Promptly after receipt of such written notice from the Investor, the Issuer agrees to amend and restate any required documents to provide identical terms to the Investor. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, this Section 4.1(j) shall not apply to the Excluded Subscription Agreements.

 

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4.2Investor’s Representations, Warranties and Agreements. The Investor hereby represents and warrants to the Issuer and acknowledges as follows:

 

(a)The Investor is a company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the British Virgin Islands. The Investor has all power (corporate or otherwise) and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as presently conducted and contemplated to be conducted and to enter into, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(b)This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Investor and, assuming that this Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Issuer, is enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited or otherwise affected by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally and (ii) principles of equity, whether considered at law or equity.

 

(c)The compliance by the Investor with all of the provisions of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of the Investor pursuant to the terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which the Investor is a party or by which the Investor is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Investor is subject, which would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Investor to enter into and timely perform its obligations under this Agreement (an “Investor Material Adverse Effect”), (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the organizational documents of the Investor or (iii) result in any violation of any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Investor or any of its properties that would reasonably be expected to have an Investor Material Adverse Effect.

 

(d)The Investor (i) is not a “U.S. Person” (as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act), (ii) is acquiring the Shares only for its own account and not for the account of others, and (iii) is not acquiring the Shares with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act.

 

(e)The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Shares were not offered by any form of general solicitation or general advertising and are being offered in a transaction not involving any public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act and, that the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act and the Issuer is not required to register the Shares except as set forth in Section 5. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Shares may not be offered, resold, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of by the Investor absent an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, except (i) to the Issuer or a subsidiary thereof, (ii) to non-U.S. persons pursuant to offers and sales that occur solely outside the United States within the meaning of and in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act, or (iii) pursuant to another applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and, in each case, in accordance with any applicable securities laws of the states of the United States and other applicable jurisdictions, and that any book-entry position or certificates representing the Shares shall contain a restrictive legend to such effect. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Shares will be subject to transfer restrictions and, as a result of these transfer restrictions, the Investor may not be able to readily offer, resell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of the Shares and may be required to bear the financial risk of an investment in the Shares for an indefinite period of time. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Shares will not be eligible for offer, resale, transfer, pledge or disposition pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act until at least six months from the issuance date thereof and to the extent Rule 144 is available. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that it has been advised to consult legal counsel and tax and accounting advisors prior to making any offer, resale, transfer, pledge or disposition of any of the Shares.

 

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(f)The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Investor is purchasing the Shares directly from the Issuer. The Investor further acknowledges that there have been no representations, warranties, covenants and agreements made to the Investor by or on behalf of the Issuer, any of their respective affiliates or any control persons, officers, directors, employees, partners, agents or representatives of any of the foregoing or any other person or entity, expressly or by implication, other than those representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Issuer expressly set forth in Section 4.1 of this Agreement.

 

(g)The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Investor has received such information as the Investor deems necessary in order to make an investment decision with respect to the Shares, including, with respect to the Issuer, the Transaction and the business of the Issuer and its subsidiaries. The Investor has sufficient knowledge and experience in financial and business matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Issuer. The Investor is capable of bearing the economic risks of such investment, including a complete loss of its investment.

 

(h)The Investor acknowledges that certain information provided to the Investor was based on projections, and such projections were prepared based on assumptions and estimates that are inherently uncertain and are subject to a wide variety of significant business, economic and competitive risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the projections.

 

(i)The Investor acknowledges and agrees that no federal or state agency has passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Shares or made any findings or determination as to the fairness of this investment.

 

(j)The Investor is not a Prohibited Investor. The Investor agrees to provide law enforcement agencies, if requested thereby, such records as required by applicable law; provided that the Investor is permitted to do so under applicable law. To the extent required, it maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with sanctions programs administered by the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom.

 

(k)Except as expressly disclosed in a Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G (or amendments thereto) filed by the Investor with the SEC with respect to the beneficial ownership of SPAC’s ordinary shares prior to the date hereof, the Investor is not currently (and at all times through Closing will refrain from being or becoming) a member of a “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of equity securities of SPAC (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act).

 

(l)The Investor has or has commitments to have and, when required to deliver payment to the Issuer pursuant to Section 2, will have, sufficient funds to pay the Subscription Amount and consummate the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(m)The Investor does not have, as of the date hereof, and during the 30-day period immediately prior to the date hereof, the Investor has not entered into, any “put equivalent position” as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act or end of day short sale positions with respect to the securities of SPAC.

 

(n)No broker, finder or other financial consultant is acting on the Investor’s behalf in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in such a way as to create any liability of the Issuer or SPAC for the payment of any fees, costs, expenses or commissions.

 

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(o)The Investor agrees that, from the date of this Agreement until the Closing Date (or earlier termination of this Agreement), none of the Investor or any person or entity acting on behalf of the Investor or pursuant to any understanding with the Investor will engage in any Short Sales with respect to securities of the Issuer or SPAC. For purpose of this Section 4.2(o), “Short Sales” shall mean all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 of Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act and all types of direct and indirect share pledges (other than pledges in the ordinary course of business as part of prime brokerage arrangements), forward sale contracts, options, puts, calls, swaps and similar arrangements (including on a total return basis), and sales and other short transactions through non-U.S. broker dealers or foreign regulated brokers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the restrictions in this Section 4.2(o) shall not apply to any sale of securities of the Issuer or SPAC (A) held by the Investor or any person or entity acting on behalf of the Investor prior to the execution of this Agreement or (B) purchased by the Investor or any person or entity acting on behalf of the Investor in an open market transaction after the execution of this Agreement. Further, notwithstanding the foregoing, (ii) nothing herein shall prohibit other entities under common management with the Investor that have no knowledge of this Agreement or of the Investor’s subscription of the Shares (including the Investor’s controlled affiliates and/or affiliates) from entering into any Short Sales.

 

5.Registration Rights

 

5.1The Issuer agrees that, within sixty (60) calendar days after the Closing Date, it will file with the SEC (at the Issuer’s sole cost and expense) a registration statement registering the resale of the Shares (the “Registration Statement”), and it shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof; provided, however, that the Issuer’s obligations to include such shares in the Registration Statement are contingent upon Investor furnishing in writing to the Issuer such information regarding Investor, the securities of the Issuer beneficially owned by Investor and the intended method of disposition of the Shares as shall be reasonably requested by the Issuer to effect the registration of the Shares, and Investor shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Issuer may reasonably request that are customary of a selling shareholder in similar situations, including providing that the Issuer shall be entitled to postpone and suspend the effectiveness or use of the Registration Statement as permitted hereunder.

 

5.2The Issuer agrees to, except for such times as the Issuer is permitted hereunder to suspend the use of the prospectus forming part of an Registration Statement, use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement (including any post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement), or another shelf registration statement that includes the Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement, to remain effective until the earliest of (i) the second anniversary of the Closing, (ii) the date on which the Investor ceases to hold any Shares issued pursuant to this Agreement, or (iii) on the first date on which the Investor is able to sell all of its Shares issued pursuant to this Agreement (or shares received in exchange therefor) under Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (“Rule 144”) without the public information, volume or manner of sale limitations of such rule (such date, the “End Date”).

 

5.3The Issuer will use all commercially reasonable efforts, at all times from the Closing Date through the End Date, to satisfy any applicable continuing listing requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market in respect of the Shares. The Investor agrees to disclose its ownership to the Issuer upon request to assist it in making the determination with respect to Rule 144 described in clause (iii) of Section 5.2 above. The Issuer may amend the Registration Statement so as to convert the Registration Statement to an Registration Statement on Form F-3 at such time after the Issuer becomes eligible to use such Form F-3. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Issuer may suspend the use of any such registration statement if it determines that in order for such registration statement not to contain a material misstatement or omission, an amendment thereto would be needed to include information that would at that time not otherwise be required in a current, quarterly, or annual report under the Exchange Act, provided that any such suspension shall be for the shortest period of time, determined in good faith by the Issuer’s Board of Directors to be necessary for such purpose.

 

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5.4Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the SEC prevents the Issuer from including any or all of the shares proposed to be registered under the Registration Statement due to limitations on the use of Rule 415 of the Securities Act for the resale of the Shares by the applicable shareholders or otherwise, such Registration Statement shall register for resale such number of the Shares which is equal to the maximum number of the Shares as is permitted by the SEC. In such event, the number of the Shares to be registered shall be reduced (a) firstly, pro rata among all the selling shareholders other than the Ecarx Investors; and (b) secondly, only if the number of the Shares to be registered for the selling shareholders other than the Ecarx Investors has been reduced to zero, pro rata among the Ecarx Investors, and the Issuer shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC, as promptly as practicable and as allowed by the SEC, one or more registration statements to register the resale of those Shares that were not registered on the initial Registration Statement, as so amended.

 

5.5Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Issuer shall be entitled to delay or postpone the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and from time to time to require the Investor not to sell under the Registration Statement or to suspend the effectiveness thereof, if (a) the use of the Registration Statement would require the inclusion of financial statements that are unavailable for reasons beyond the Issuer’s control, (b) the Issuer determines that in order for the Registration Statement to not contain a material misstatement or omission, (i) an amendment thereto would be needed to include information that would at that time not otherwise be required in a current, quarterly, or annual report under the Exchange Act or (ii) the negotiation or consummation of a transaction by the Issuer or its subsidiaries is pending or an event has occurred, which negotiation, consummation or event that the Issuer reasonably believes would require additional disclosure by the Issuer in the Registration Statement of material information that the Issuer has a bona fide business purpose for keeping confidential and the non-disclosure of which in the Registration Statement would be expected, in the reasonable determination of the Issuer’s board of directors to cause the Registration Statement to fail to comply with applicable disclosure requirements (each such circumstance, an “Suspension Event”). Upon receipt of any written notice from the Issuer of the happening of any Suspension Event during the period that the Registration Statement is effective or if as a result of an Suspension Event the Registration Statement or related prospectus contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made (in the case of the prospectus) not misleading, the Investor agrees that (i) it will immediately discontinue offers and sales of the Shares under the Registration Statement (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, sales conducted pursuant to Rule 144) until the Investor receives copies of a supplemental or amended prospectus that corrects the misstatement(s) or omission(s) referred to above and receives notice that any post-effective amendment has become effective or unless otherwise notified by the Issuer that it may resume such offers and sales; provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Issuer shall not include any material non-public information in any such written notice. If so directed by the Issuer, the Investor will deliver to the Issuer or destroy all copies of the prospectus covering the Shares in the Investor’s possession. The Issuer may not delay or suspend any filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of an Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 5.5 on more than three (3) occasions or for more than sixty (60) consecutive days or for more than one hundred and twenty (120) total calendar days, in each case, in any 12-month period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Investor agrees and acknowledges that any offer or sale of the Shares shall be in compliance with applicable securities laws, and if applicable, the Issuer’s customary insider trading policy.

 

5.6Indemnification.

 

(a)The Issuer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the extent permitted by law, the Investor, its directors, and officers, employees, and agents, and each person who controls the Investor (within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, any reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, prospectus included in any Registration Statement or preliminary prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information furnished in writing to the Issuer by or on behalf of the Investor expressly for use therein or such Investor has omitted a material fact from such information or otherwise violated the Securities Act, Exchange Act or any state securities law or any other law, rule or regulation thereunder; provided, however, that the indemnification contained in this Section 5.6(a) shall not apply to amounts paid by the Investor in settlement of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or out-of-pocket expenses if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Issuer, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. In no event shall the liability of the Issuer be greater than the dollar amount of the Subscription Amount.

 

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(b)In connection with any Registration Statement in which the Investor is participating, the Investor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Issuer, its directors and officers and agents and each person who controls the Issuer (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue statement of material fact contained in the Registration Statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained (or not contained, in the case of an omission) in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Investor expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the liability of the Investor shall be several and not joint with any other selling shareholder and in no event shall the liability of the Investor be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by the Investor upon the sale of the Shares purchased pursuant to this Agreement giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

 

(c)Any person entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel it elects in its sole discretion. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party will not be liable to the indemnified party for any legal or other expenses incurred by the indemnified party and shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent. An indemnifying party who elects not to assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of legal counsel to any indemnified party a conflict of interest exists between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.

 

(d)The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director, employee, agent, affiliate or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of the Shares purchased pursuant to this Agreement.

 

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(e)If the indemnification provided under this Section 5.6 from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by, or relates to information supplied by or on behalf of, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this Section 5.6(e) from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Any contribution pursuant to this Section 5.6(e) by any seller of Shares shall be limited in amount to the amount of net proceeds received by such seller from the sale of such Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in no event will any party be liable for consequential, special, exemplary or punitive damages in connection with this Agreement.

 

6.Termination. This Agreement shall terminate and be void and of no further force and effect, and all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall terminate without any further liability on the part of any party in respect thereof, upon the earliest to occur of (a) such date and time as the Transaction Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms without being consummated, (b) upon the mutual written agreement of each of the parties hereto to terminate this Agreement, and (c) on the 300th day after the date hereof (and if such 300th day shall not be a business day, then the next following business day), if the Closing has not occurred by such date other than as a result of a breach of the Investor’s obligations hereunder; provided that nothing herein will relieve any party from liability for any willful breach hereof prior to the time of termination, and each party will be entitled to any remedies at law or in equity to recover losses, liabilities or damages arising from any such willful breach. The Issuer shall notify the Investor in writing of the termination of the Transaction Agreement promptly after the termination of such agreement. Upon the termination of this Agreement in accordance with this Section 6, any monies paid by the Investor to the Issuer in connection herewith shall be promptly (and in any event within two (2) business days after such termination) returned to the Investor without any deduction for or on account of any tax, withholding, charges, or set-off.

 

7.Miscellaneous.

 

7.1Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any rights, interests or obligations that may accrue to the parties hereunder (other than the Shares acquired hereunder, if any) may be transferred or assigned without the prior written consent of each of the other parties hereto, other than (a) an assignment by the Investor to any affiliate of the Investor; provided that prior to such assignment any such assignee shall agree in writing to be bound by the terms hereof; provided, further, that no assignment pursuant to the foregoing terms shall relieve the Investor of its obligations hereunder, (b) an assignment of the Investor’s rights under Section 5 to an assignee or transferee of the Shares, and (c) an assignment by the Issuer to any affiliate of the Issuer; provided that prior to such assignment any such assignee shall agree in writing to be bound by the terms hereof; provided, further, that no assignment pursuant to the foregoing terms shall relieve the Issuer of its obligations hereunder.

 

7.2Additional Information. The Issuer may request from the Investor such additional information as is reasonably necessary for SPAC or the Issuer, as applicable, to comply with public disclosure requirements of applicable securities laws or any filing requirements pursuant to the rules of any stock exchange or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and the Investor shall provide such information; provided that, subject to Section 5.5, the Issuer shall keep any such information provided by the Investor confidential except (a) as necessary to include in any registration statement the Issuer is required to file hereunder, (b) as required by the federal securities law or pursuant to other routine proceedings of regulatory authorities or (c) to the extent such disclosure is required by law, at the request of the staff of the SEC or regulatory agency or under the regulations of any national securities exchange on which SPAC’s securities are listed or the Issuer’s securities will be listed for trading. The Investor acknowledges that SPAC and/or the Issuer may file a copy of the form of this Agreement with the SEC as an exhibit to a current or periodic report or a registration statement of SPAC or the Issuer, as applicable. The Issuer may request from the Investor such additional information as the Issuer may reasonably deem necessary to register the resale of the Shares and evaluate the eligibility of the Investor to acquire the Shares, and the Investor shall promptly provide such information as may reasonably be requested to the extent readily available. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that if it does not provide the Issuer with such requested information, the Issuer may not be able to register the Investor’s Shares for resale pursuant to Section 5 hereof.

 

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7.3Further Assurances.

 

(a)The Investor acknowledges that the Issuer will rely on the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, covenants, representations and warranties of the Investor contained in this Agreement. Prior to the Closing, the Investor agrees to promptly notify the Issuer if any of the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, covenants representations and warranties made by the Investor set forth herein are no longer accurate in all material respects. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that each purchase by the Investor of the Shares from the Issuer will constitute a reaffirmation of the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties herein (as modified by any such notice) by the Investor as of the time of such purchase.

 

(b)The Issuer acknowledges that the Investor will rely on the acknowledgements, understandings, agreements, covenants, representations and warranties of the Issuer contained in this Agreement. Prior to the Closing, the Issuer agrees to promptly notify the Investor if any of the acknowledgements, understandings, agreements, covenants, representations and warranties made by the Issuer, as applicable, set forth herein are no longer accurate in all material respects. The Issuer acknowledges and agrees that each purchase by the Investor of the Shares from the Issuer will constitute a reaffirmation of the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties herein (as modified by any such notice) by the Issuer as of the time of such purchase.

 

(c)Each of the Investor and the Issuer is irrevocably authorized to produce this Agreement or a copy hereof to any interested party in any action, suit, hearing, claim, charge, audit, lawsuit, litigation, inquiry or proceeding (in each case, whether civil, criminal or administrative or at law or in equity) with respect to the matters covered hereby.

 

(d)The Investor acknowledges and agrees that none of any other party to the Transaction Agreement (other than the Issuer) or any Issuer Non-Party Affiliate, shall have any liability (including in contract, tort, under federal or state securities laws or otherwise) to the Investor pursuant to this Agreement related to the private placement of the Shares, the negotiation hereof or thereof or the subject matter hereof or thereof, or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, for any action heretofore or hereafter taken or omitted to be taken by any of them in connection with the purchase of the Shares, or with respect to any claim (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) for breach of this Agreement or in respect of any written or oral representations made or alleged to be made in connection herewith, as expressly provided herein, or for any actual or alleged inaccuracies, misstatements or omissions with respect to any information or materials of any kind furnished by the Issuer or any Issuer Non-Party Affiliate concerning the Issuer, any of their respective controlled affiliates, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. For purposes of this Agreement, “Issuer Non-Party Affiliates” means each former, current or future officer, director, employee, partner, member, manager, direct or indirect equityholder or affiliate of the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s controlled affiliates or any family member of the foregoing.

 

(e)The Issuer acknowledges and agrees that none of any other party to the Transaction Agreement (other than the Investor) or any Investor Non-Party Affiliate, shall have any liability (including in contract, tort, under federal or state securities laws or otherwise) to the Issuer pursuant to this Agreement related to the negotiation hereof or thereof or the subject matter hereof or thereof, or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or with respect to any claim (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) for breach of this Agreement or in respect of any written or oral representations made or alleged to be made in connection herewith, as expressly provided herein, or for any actual or alleged inaccuracies, misstatements or omissions with respect to any information or materials of any kind furnished by the Investor or any Investor Non-Party Affiliate concerning the Investor, any of their respective controlled affiliates, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. For purposes of this Agreement, “Investor Non-Party Affiliates” means each former, current or future officer, director, employee, partner, member, manager, direct or indirect equityholder or affiliate of the Investor, or any of the Investor’s controlled affiliates or any family member of the foregoing.

 

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7.4Survival of Representations and Warranties and Covenants. All of the agreements, representations and warranties contained in this Agreement shall survive the Closing.

 

7.5Modifications and Amendments. This Agreement may not be modified, waived or terminated (other than pursuant to the terms of Section 6 above) except by an instrument in writing, signed by each of the parties hereto. No failure or delay of either party in exercising any right or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such right or power, or any course of conduct, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the parties hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have hereunder.

 

7.6Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the schedule hereto) constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all other prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties, both written and oral, among the parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof. Except as set forth in Section 5.6, with respect to the persons specifically referenced therein, this Agreement shall not confer any rights or remedies upon any person other than the parties hereto, and their respective successors and assigns.

 

7.7Benefit. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives, and permitted assigns, and the agreements, representations, warranties, covenants and acknowledgments contained herein shall be deemed to be made by, and be binding upon, such heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.

 

7.8Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall continue in full force and effect.

 

7.9Transaction Expenses. Subject to Section 5.1, each party shall pay all of its own costs and expenses incurred in anticipation of, relating to and in connection with the negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, whether or not such transactions are consummated.

 

7.10Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts (including by facsimile or electronic mail or in .pdf) and by different parties in separate counterparts, with the same effect as if all parties hereto had signed the same document. All counterparts so executed and delivered shall be construed together and shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

7.11Remedies. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement, without posting a bond or undertaking and without proof of damages, to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such party is entitled at law, in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that it may be difficult to prove damages with reasonable certainty, that it may be difficult to procure suitable substitute performance, and that injunctive relief and/or specific performance will not cause an undue hardship to the parties hereto. The parties hereto further acknowledge that the existence of any other remedy contemplated by this Agreement does not diminish the availability of specific performance of the obligations hereunder or any other injunctive relief. Each party hereto further agrees that in the event of any action by the other party for specific performance or injunctive relief, it will not assert that a remedy at law or other remedy would be adequate or that specific performance or injunctive relief in respect of such breach or violation should not be available on the grounds that money damages are adequate or any other grounds.

 

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7.12Adjustment of Number of Shares. If any change in the number, type or classes of authorized shares of the Issuer (including the Shares), shall occur between the date hereof and immediately prior to the Closing by reason of reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including reverse stock split) or combination, exchange or readjustment of shares, or any stock dividend, the number of the Shares issued to the Investor shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect such change.

 

7.13Governing Law. This Agreement, and any claim or cause of action hereunder based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement (whether based on law, in equity, in contract, in tort or any other theory) or the negotiation, execution, performance or enforcement of this Agreement, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws that would otherwise require the application of the law of any other state.

 

7.14Dispute Resolution. Any proceeding or action based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby must be referred to and finally settled by arbitration administered by the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (the “ICDR”) under the ICDR Rules in force at the time of commencement of the arbitration. The seat of arbitration shall be New York. There shall be three arbitrators. The claimant and respondent shall each nominate one (1) arbitrator and the third arbitrator shall be appointed by the ICDR. The arbitration proceedings shall be conducted in English. The award of the arbitral tribunal shall be final and binding upon the parties thereto, and the prevailing party may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of such award.

 

7.15Notice. Any notice or communication required or permitted hereunder to be given to the Investor shall be in writing and either delivered personally, emailed or sent by overnight mail via a reputable overnight carrier, or sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, to such address(es) or email address(es) set forth on the signature page hereto, and shall be deemed to be given and received (i) when so delivered personally, (ii) when sent, with no mail undeliverable or other rejection notice, if sent by email, or (iii) three (3) business days after the date of mailing to the address below or to such other address or addresses as the Investor may hereafter designate by notice to the Issuer.

 

(a)if to the Investor, to:

 

Geely Investment Holding Ltd.

Attn: Buqing Ma

Email: Buqing.Ma@geely.com

 

with a required copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Zhejiang Geely Holding (Group) Co., Ltd.

Attn: Tihua Huang

Email: Tihua.Huang@geely.com

 

(b)if to the Issuer, to:

 

ECARX Holdings Inc.
16/F, Tower 2, China Eastern Airline Binjiang Center

277 Longlan Road

Xuhui District, Shanghai 200041

People’s Republic of China
Attention: Tony Chen
Email: tony.chen@ecarxgroup.com

 

with a required copy (which will not constitute notice) to:

 

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
30/F, China World Office 2

No. 1, Jian Guo Men Wai Avenue

Beijing 100004, China
Attention: Peter X. Huang, Esq.
Email: peter.huang@skadden.com

 

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8.Disclosure. The Issuer shall cause the SPAC to by 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the first (1st) business day immediately following the date of the Transaction Agreement, issue one or more press releases or file with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K (collectively, the “Disclosure Document”) disclosing all material terms of the transactions contemplated hereby and the Transaction and any other material, nonpublic information that the Issuer or SPAC or their respective representatives have provided to Investor at any time prior to the filing of the Disclosure Document. From and after the issuance of the Disclosure Document, to the Issuer’s knowledge, the Investor shall not be in possession of any material, non-public information received from the Issuer or any of its respective officers, directors, employees or agents relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Issuer shall ensure that the SPAC shall not publicly disclose the name of the Investor or any of its affiliates or advisers, or include the name of the Investor or any of its affiliates or advisers in any press release or in any filing with the SEC or any regulatory agency or trading market, without the prior written consent of the Investor and the Issuer, except (i) as required by the federal securities law or pursuant to other routine proceedings of regulatory authorities, (ii) to the extent such disclosure is required by law, at the request of the staff of the SEC or regulatory agency or under the regulations of any national securities exchange on which SPAC’s securities are listed for trading or (iii) to the extent such announcements or other communications contain only information previously disclosed in a public statement, press release or other communication previously approved in accordance with this Section 8.

 

9.Allocation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Issuer shall have the right, with the prior written consent of SPAC, to, by written notice to the Investor at least three (3) business days before the Closing, reduce the number of the Shares to be issued to the Investor pursuant to this Agreement, upon which the Subscription Amount shall be reduced proportionally based on the Per Share Purchase Price; provided, however, that any reduction shall also apply to the Other Equity Investors and such reduction shall apply pro rata to the Equity Investors based on the number of the Shares to be purchased.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Investor has executed or caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized representative as of the date first written above.

 

  GEELY INVESTMENT HOLDING LTD.
     
  By: /s/ Donghui Li
    Name: Donghui Li
    Title: CEO

 

[Signature Page to Strategic Investment Agreement]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has executed or caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized representative as of the date first set forth above.

 

  ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
     
  By:  /s/ Ziyu Shen
    Name: Ziyu Shen
    Title: Director

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 10.8

 

SPONSOR SUPPORT AGREEMENT AND DEED

  

This SPONSOR SUPPORT AGREEMENT AND DEED (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of May 26, 2022, by and among ECARX Holdings Inc., an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”), COVA Acquisition Corp., an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (“SPAC”), and COVA Acquisition Sponsor, LLC, a Cayman Islands limited liability company (“Sponsor”).

 

WHEREAS, capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) dated as of the date hereof, entered into by and among the Company, Ecarx Temp Limited, an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub 1”), Ecarx&Co Limited, an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub 2”), and SPAC, pursuant to which, among other things, (i) Merger Sub 1 will merge with and into SPAC, with SPAC surviving the First Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the “First Merger”), and (ii) SPAC will merge with and into Merger Sub 2, with Merger Sub 2 surviving the Second Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Second Merger” and together with the First Merger, collectively, the “Mergers”);

 

WHEREAS, Sponsor is, as of the date of this Agreement, the sole beneficial and legal owner of (a) 7,500,000 SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares and (b) 8,872,000 SPAC Warrants exercisable for 8,872,000 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares (all such securities set forth in clauses (a) and (b), being collectively referred to herein as the “Owned Shares”; and the Owned Shares and any other SPAC Securities (or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for SPAC Securities) acquired by Sponsor after the date of this Agreement and during the term of this Agreement, being collectively referred to herein as the “Subject Shares”); and

 

WHEREAS, as a condition to their willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement, the Company and SPAC have requested that Sponsor enter into this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, which are incorporated into this Agreement as if fully set forth below, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

 

 

Article I

 

Representations and Warranties of Sponsor

 

Sponsor hereby represents and warrants to the Company and SPAC as follows:

 

Section 1.1      Corporate Organization. Sponsor is a limited liability company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the Cayman Islands and has the requisite power and authority to own, lease or operate its assets and properties and to conduct its business as it is now being conducted.

 

Section 1.2      Due Authorization. Sponsor has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized and no other corporate or equivalent proceeding on the part of Sponsor is necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement or Sponsor’s performance hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Sponsor and, assuming due authorization and execution by each other party hereto, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Sponsor, enforceable against Sponsor in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

Section 1.3      Governmental Authorities; Consents. No consent of or with any Governmental Authority on the part of Sponsor is required to be obtained or made in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by Sponsor of this Agreement or the consummation by Sponsor of the transactions contemplated hereby, other than (a) applicable requirements, if any, of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and/ or any state “blue sky” securities Laws, and the rules and regulations thereunder and (b) where the failure to obtain or make such consents or to make such filings or notifications would not reasonably be expected to prevent, impede or, in any material respect, delay or adversely affect the execution and performance by Sponsor of its obligations under this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 1.4      No-Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance by Sponsor of this Agreement do not and will not (a) contravene or conflict with or violate any provision of, or result in the breach of the Organizational Documents of Sponsor, (b) contravene or conflict with or result in a violation of any provision of any Law or Governmental Order binding upon or applicable to Sponsor or any of its properties or assets, (c) violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in the termination or acceleration of, or a right of termination, cancellation, modification, acceleration or amendment under, accelerate the performance required by, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Contract to which Sponsor is a party, or (d) result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance on any properties or assets of Sponsor, except in the case of each of clauses (b) through (d) that do not, and would not reasonably be expected to, prevent, impede or, in any material respect, delay or adversely affect the performance by Sponsor of its obligations under this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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Section 1.5      Owned Shares. As of the date hereof, Sponsor is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the Owned Shares, and all such Owned Shares are owned by Sponsor free and clear of all liens or encumbrances, other than liens or encumbrances pursuant to this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, the Organizational Documents of SPAC, the Letter Agreement (as defined below), any applicable securities Laws. As of the date hereof, Sponsor does not legally or beneficially own any shares or warrants of SPAC other than the Owned Shares. Sponsor has the sole right to vote the Owned Shares (to the extent such securities have voting rights), and none of the Owned Shares is subject to any voting trust or other agreement, arrangement or restriction with respect to the voting of the Owned Shares, except as contemplated by (i) this Agreement and (ii) the Letter Agreement, dated as of February 4, 2021, among SPAC, Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors (the “Letter Agreement”).

 

Section 1.6      Acknowledgement. Sponsor understands and acknowledges that each of the Company and SPAC is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon Sponsor’s execution and delivery of this Agreement. Sponsor has received a copy of the Merger Agreement and is familiar with the provisions of the Merger Agreement.

 

Section 1.7      Absence of Litigation. As of the date hereof, there is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding pending against, or, to the knowledge of Sponsor, threatened against, Sponsor or any of Sponsor’s properties or assets (including Sponsor’s Owned Shares) that could reasonably be expected to prevent, delay or impair the ability of Sponsor to perform its obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 1.8      Adequate Information. Sponsor is a sophisticated shareholder and has adequate information concerning the business and financial condition of SPAC and the Company to make an informed decision regarding this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and has independently and without reliance upon SPAC or the Company and based on such information as Sponsor has deemed appropriate, made its own analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Sponsor acknowledges that SPAC and the Company have not made and do not make any representation or warranty, whether express or implied, of any kind or character except as expressly set forth in this Agreement. Sponsor acknowledges that the agreements contained herein with respect to the Subject Shares held by Sponsor are irrevocable and shall only terminate pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof.

 

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Section 1.9      Restricted Securities. Sponsor understands that the Merger Consideration that Sponsor may receive for its Subject Shares in connection with the Transactions will be “restricted securities” under applicable U.S. federal and state securities Laws and, if Sponsor is an affiliate of the Company, “control securities” as such term is used under Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, and that, pursuant to these Laws, Sponsor must hold such Merger Consideration indefinitely unless (a) they are registered with the SEC and qualified by state authorities, or (b) an exemption from such registration and qualification requirements is available, and that any certificates or book entries representing the Company Ordinary Shares constituting such Merger Consideration shall contain a legend to such effect.

 

Article II

 

Representations and Warranties of SPAC

 

SPAC hereby represents and warrants to Sponsor and the Company as follows:

 

Section 2.1      Corporate Organization. SPAC is an exempted company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the Cayman Islands and has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease or operate its assets and properties and to conduct its business as it is now being conducted.

 

Section 2.2      Due Authorization. SPAC has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized and approved by the board of directors of SPAC and no other corporate or equivalent proceeding on the part of SPAC is necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement or SPAC’s performance hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby (except that the SPAC Shareholders’ Approval is a condition to the respective obligations of each party to the Merger Agreement to consummate the Mergers). This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by SPAC and, assuming due authorization and execution by each other party hereto, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of SPAC, enforceable against SPAC in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

Section 2.3      No-Conflict. Subject to obtaining the SPAC Shareholders’ Approval, the execution, delivery and performance by SPAC of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions by SPAC contemplated hereby do not and will not (a) contravene or conflict with or violate any provision of, or result in the breach of the Organizational Documents of SPAC, (b) contravene or conflict with or result in a violation of any provision of any Law, Permit or Governmental Order binding upon or applicable to SPAC or any of its properties or assets, (c) violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in the termination or acceleration of, or a right of termination, cancellation, modification, acceleration or amendment under, accelerate the performance required by, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Contract to which SPAC is a party, or (d) result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of SPAC (including the Trust Account), except in the case of each of clauses (b) through (d) that do not, and would not reasonably be expected to, prevent, impede or, in any material respect, delay or adversely affect the performance by SPAC of its obligations under this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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Article III

 

Representations and Warranties of the Company

 

The Company hereby represents and warrants to Sponsor and SPAC as follows:

 

Section 3.1      Corporate Organization. The Company is an exempted company duly incorporated, is validly existing and is in good standing under the Laws of the Cayman Islands and has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease or operate its assets and properties and to conduct its business as it is now being conducted.

 

Section 3.2      Due Authorization. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by the Company Board, and no other corporate proceeding on the part of the Company is necessary to authorize this Agreement or the Company’s performance hereunder (except that the Company Shareholders’ Approval is a condition to the respective obligations of each party to the Merger Agreement to consummate of the Transactions). This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due and valid authorization, execution and delivery by each other party hereto, constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

Section 3.3      No-Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not, (a) contravene or conflict with, violate any provision of, trigger shareholder rights that have not been duly waived under, or result in the breach of the Organizational Documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) contravene or conflict with or constitute a violation of any provision of any Law, Material Permit or Governmental Order binding upon or applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, (c) violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in the termination or acceleration of, or a right of termination, cancellation, modification, acceleration or amendment under, accelerate the performance required by, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Contracts to which the Company is a party, or (d) result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance on any properties or assets or Equity Security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any Permitted Encumbrance), except in the case of clauses (b) through (d) above that do not, and would not reasonably be expected to prevent, impede or, in any material respect, delay or adversely affect the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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Article IV

 

Agreement to Vote; Certain Other Covenants of Sponsor

 

Sponsor covenants and agrees during the term of this Agreement as follows:

 

Section 4.1             Agreement to Vote.

 

(a)            In Favor of the SPAC Shareholders’ Approval. From the date of this Agreement until the date of termination of this Agreement, at any meeting of SPAC Shareholders called to seek the SPAC Shareholders’ Approval, including any extraordinary general meeting (as defined in the SPAC Charter), or at any adjournment thereof or postponement thereof, or in connection with any written consent of SPAC Shareholders or in any other circumstances upon which a vote, consent or other approval with respect to the Transactions, the Merger Agreement or any other Transaction Documents is sought, Sponsor shall (i) if a meeting is held, appear at such meeting in person or by proxy or otherwise cause the Subject Shares to be counted as present at such meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum, and (ii) vote or cause to be voted (including by proxy, withholding class vote and/or written consent, if applicable) the Subject Shares in favor of granting the SPAC Shareholders’ Approval or, if there are insufficient votes in favor of granting the SPAC Shareholders’ Approval, in favor of the adjournment or postponement of such meeting of SPAC Shareholders to a later date.

 

(b)            Against Other Transactions. From the date of this Agreement until the date of termination of this Agreement, at any meeting of SPAC Shareholders or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, or in connection with any written consent of SPAC Shareholders or in any other circumstances upon which Sponsor’s vote, consent or other approval is sought, Sponsor shall (i) if a meeting is held, appear at such meeting in person or by proxy or otherwise cause the Subject Shares to be counted as present at such meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum, (ii) vote (or cause to be voted) the Subject Shares (including by proxy, withholding class vote and/or written consent, if applicable) against (w) any business combination agreement, merger agreement or merger, scheme of arrangement, business combination, consolidation, combination, sale of substantial assets, reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up of or by SPAC or any public offering of any Equity Securities of SPAC (other than the Merger Agreement, the First Merger and the Transactions), (x) other than in connection with the Transactions, any SPAC Acquisition Proposal, (y) allowing SPAC to execute or enter into, any agreement related to a SPAC Acquisition Proposal other than in connection with the Transactions, and (z) any amendment of Organizational Documents of SPAC (other than in connection with the Transactions), or entering into any agreement or agreement in principle or other proposal or transaction involving SPAC or any of its Subsidiaries, which amendment, agreement or other proposal or transaction, would be reasonably likely to in any material respect impede, interfere with, delay or attempt to discourage, frustrate the purposes of, result in a breach by SPAC of, prevent or nullify any provision of the Merger Agreement or any other Transaction Document, the Transactions or change in any manner the voting rights of any class of SPAC’s share capital.

 

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(c)            Revoke Other Proxies. Sponsor represents and warrants that any proxies or powers of attorney heretofore given in respect of the Subject Shares that may still be in effect are not irrevocable, and such proxies or powers of attorney have been or are hereby revoked, other than the voting and other arrangements under the Letter Agreement.

 

Section 4.2              No Transfer. From the date of this Agreement until the date of termination of this Agreement, Sponsor shall not, directly or indirectly, (i) (a) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer, dispose of or agree to transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder, with respect to any Subject Share, (b) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Subject Shares, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (c) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (a) or (b) (the actions specified in clauses (a) to (c), collectively, “Transfer”), other than pursuant to the Mergers, (ii) grant any proxies or powers of attorney or enter into any voting arrangement, whether by proxy, voting agreement, voting trust, voting deed or otherwise (including pursuant to any loan of Subject Shares), or enter into any other agreement, with respect to any Subject Shares, in each case, other than as set forth in this Agreement, any existing voting arrangements expressly forth in the Letter Agreement, the Merger Agreement or other Transaction Documents, (iii) take any action that would reasonably be expected to make any representation or warranty of Sponsor herein untrue or incorrect, or would reasonably be expected to have the effect of preventing or disabling Sponsor from performing its obligations hereunder, or (iv) commit or agree to take any of the foregoing actions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Sponsor may make Transfers of the Subject Shares (w) pursuant to this Agreement, (x) between Sponsor and any of the Permitted Transferees (provided that prior notice of such transfer shall be given to the Company and such Permitted Transferee shall enter into a written agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company and SPAC, agreeing to be bound by this Agreement to the same extent as Sponsor was with respect to such transferred Subject Shares), (y) upon the consent of the Company and SPAC, and (z) by virtue of Sponsor’s Organizational Documents upon liquidation or dissolution of Sponsor; provided, further, that in the case of clause (z), the transferee will not be required to assume voting obligations if the transferee’s assumption of such obligations would violate any applicable Laws, including any securities Laws, or would reasonably be expected to materially delay or impede the Registration Statement or Proxy Statement being declared effective under the Securities Act. Any action attempted to be taken in violation of the preceding sentence will be null and void. For purpose of this Section 4.2, “Permitted Transferee” shall mean any of Crescent Cove Capital Management and Crescent Cove Advisors.

 

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Section 4.3         Waiver of Dissenters’ Rights. Sponsor hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to exercise or assert, any dissenters’ rights under Section 238 of the Cayman Companies Act and any other similar statute in connection with the Transactions and the Merger Agreement.

 

Section 4.4      Waiver of Anti-Dilution Protection. Sponsor hereby waives, and agrees not to exercise, assert or claim, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, the ability to adjust the Initial Conversion Ratio (as defined in the SPAC Charter) pursuant to Paragraph 17.3 of the SPAC Charter in connection with the Transactions.

 

Section 4.5      No Redemption. Sponsor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that, from the date hereof and until the termination of this Agreement, Sponsor shall not elect to cause SPAC to redeem any Subject Shares now or at any time legally or beneficially owned by Sponsor, or submit or surrender any of its Subject Shares for redemption, in connection with the Transactions.

 

Section 4.6      New Securities. In the event that prior to the Closing (i) any SPAC Securities or other securities are issued or otherwise distributed to Sponsor, including, without limitation, pursuant to any share dividend or distribution, or any change occurs in any of the SPAC Securities or other share capital of SPAC by reason of any share subdivision, recapitalization, combination, reverse share split, consolidation, exchange of shares or the like, (ii) Sponsor acquires legal or beneficial ownership of any SPAC Securities after the date of this Agreement, including upon exercise of options or warrants, settlement of restricted share units or capitalization of working capital loans, or (iii) Sponsor acquires the right to vote or share in the voting of any SPAC Securities after the date of this Agreement (collectively, the “New Securities”), the term “Subject Shares” shall be deemed to refer to and include such New Securities (including all such share dividends and distributions and any securities into which or for which any or all of the Subject Shares may be changed or exchanged into).

 

Section 4.7      Sponsor Letter Agreement. Each of Sponsor and SPAC hereby agree that (a) from the date hereof until the termination of this Agreement, none of them shall, or shall agree to, amend, modify or vary the Letter Agreement, except as otherwise provided for under this Agreement, the Merger Agreement or any other Transaction Document; and (b) the Lock-Up Restrictions (as defined below) shall supersede the lock-up provisions applicable to Founder Shares (as defined in the Letter Agreement) contained in the Letter Agreement.

 

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Section 4.8      Sponsor Affiliate Agreements. Each of Sponsor and SPAC hereby agree that (i) each of the agreements set forth on Schedule A attached hereto, and (ii) each agreement in effect as of the First Effective Time between SPAC (or any of its Subsidiaries), on the one hand, and Sponsor or any of Sponsor’s Affiliates (other than SPAC or any of SPAC’s Subsidiaries), on the other hand (but excluding any Transaction Document and the Letter Agreement) (such agreements, collectively, the “Sponsor Affiliate Agreements”) will be terminated effective as of the First Effective Time (other than those Sponsor Affiliate Agreements with obligations that will be discharged in connection with the Closing, in which case such Sponsor Affiliate Agreements will be terminated as of immediately following the discharge of such obligations upon the Closing), and thereupon shall be of no further force or effect, without any further action on the part of any of the Sponsor or SPAC, and on and from the effectiveness of such terminations neither SPAC, the Sponsor, nor any of their respective affiliates or subsidiaries shall have any further rights, duties, liabilities or obligations under any of the Sponsor Affiliate Agreements and each of Sponsor and SPAC (for and on behalf of its Affiliates and Subsidiaries) hereby releases in full any and all claims with respect thereto with effect on and from the effectiveness of such terminations.

 

Section 4.9      Additional Matters. Sponsor shall, from time to time, (i) execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such additional or further consents, documents and other instruments as the Company or SPAC may reasonably request for the purpose of effectively consummating the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Merger Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and (ii) refrain from exercising any veto right, consent right or similar right (whether under the Organizational Documents of SPAC or the Cayman Companies Act) which would prevent, impede or, in any material respect, delay or adversely affect the consummation of the Transactions.

 

Section 4.10      Acquisition Proposals; Confidentiality. Sponsor shall be bound by and comply with Section 6.2 (Acquisition Proposals and Alternative Transactions) and Section 10.14 (Confidentiality) of the Merger Agreement (and any relevant definitions contained in any such sections) as if (a) Sponsor was an original signatory to the Merger Agreement with respect to such provisions, and (b) each reference to “SPAC” contained in Section 6.2 of the Merger Agreement and “Affiliates” contained in Section 10.14 of the Merger Agreement shall also refer to Sponsor.

 

Section 4.11      Consent to Disclosure. Sponsor consents to and authorizes the Company or SPAC, as applicable, to publish and disclose in all documents and schedules filed with the SEC or any other Governmental Authority or applicable securities exchange, and any press release or other disclosure document that the Company or SPAC, as applicable, reasonably determines to be necessary or advisable in connection with the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, Sponsor’s identity and ownership of the Subject Shares, the existence of this Agreement and the nature of Sponsor’s commitments and obligations under this Agreement, and Sponsor acknowledges that the Company or SPAC may, in their sole discretion, file this Agreement or a form hereof with the SEC or any other Governmental Authority or securities exchange to promptly give the Company or SPAC, as applicable, any information that is in its possession that the Company or SPAC, as applicable, may reasonably request for the preparation of any such disclosure documents, and Sponsor agrees to promptly notify the Company and SPAC of any required corrections with respect to any written information supplied by it specifically for use in any such disclosure document, if and to the extent that Sponsor shall become aware that any such information shall have become false or misleading in any material respect.

 

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Section 4.12         Forfeiture of SPAC Shares. If, immediately prior to the Closing, the amounts in the Trust Account (after deducting the SPAC Shareholder Redemption Amount) are less than $210 million, then Sponsor shall surrender to SPAC such number of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the SPAC Shareholder Redemption Amount, by (ii) $10.00, without consideration therefor, and with any fractional shares rounded down to the nearest full share; provided that the number of SPAC B Ordinary Shares so surrendered shall not under any event exceed thirty percent (30%) of the aggregate number of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares held by Sponsor as of the date hereof.

 

Section 4.13           Lock-Up Provisions.

 

(a)            Subject to the exceptions set forth herein, during the applicable Lock-Up Period (as defined below), Sponsor agrees not to, without the prior written consent of the Company Board, Transfer any Locked-Up Securities held by it. The foregoing limitations shall remain in full force and effect for a period of six (6) months from and after the Closing (such period, the “Lock-Up Period”) with respect to all the Locked-Up Securities. For purpose of this Section 4.13, “Locked-Up Securities” means any Company Ordinary Shares or Company Warrants that are held by Sponsor immediately after the First Effective Time and any Company Ordinary Shares acquired by Sponsor upon the conversion, exercise or exchange of the SPAC Warrants or Company Warrants.

 

(b)            The restrictions set forth in Section 4.13(a) (the “Lock-Up Restrictions”) shall not apply to:

 

(i)            transfers by the Sponsor to (A) any shareholder, partner or member of the Sponsor via dividend or share repurchase as part of a distribution, or (B) any Person that is an affiliate of the Sponsor;

 

(ii)            transfers by virtue of the Laws of the state of Sponsor’s organization and Sponsor’s Organizational Documents upon dissolution of Sponsor;

 

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(iii)            pledges of any Locked-Up Securities to a financial institution that create a mere security interest in such Locked-Up Securities pursuant to a bona fide loan or indebtedness transaction so long as Sponsor continues to control the exercise of the voting rights of such pledged Locked-Up Securities (as well as any foreclosures on such pledged Locked-Up Securities so long as the transferee in such foreclosure agrees to become a party to this Agreement and be bound by all obligations applicable to Sponsor, provided that such agreement shall only take effect in the event that the transferee takes possession of the Locked-Up Securities as a result of foreclosure);

 

(iv)           transfers of any Company Ordinary Shares acquired as part of the Permitted Financing or Subsequent Equity Financing;

 

(v)            transactions relating to Company Ordinary Shares or other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Company Ordinary Shares acquired in open market transactions after the Closing, provided that no such transaction is required to be, or is, publicly announced (whether on Form 4, Form 5 or otherwise, other than a required filing on Schedule 13F, 13G or 13G/A) during the applicable Lock-Up Period;

 

(vi)            the exercise of any options or warrants to purchase Company Ordinary Shares (which exercises may be effected on a cashless basis to the extent the instruments representing such options or warrants permit exercises on a cashless basis);

 

(vii)           the establishment, at any time after the Closing, by the Company of a trading plan providing for the sale of Company Ordinary Shares that meets the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c) under the Exchange Act (a “Trading Plan”); provided, however, that no sales of Locked-Up Securities, shall be made by Sponsor pursuant to such Trading Plan during the applicable Lock-Up Period and no public announcement or filing is voluntarily made regarding such plan during the applicable Lock-Up Period;

 

(viii)          transfers made in connection with a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their Company Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the Closing Date; and

 

(ix)            transactions to satisfy any U.S. federal, state, or local income tax obligations of Sponsor (or its direct or indirect owners) arising from a change in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), a change in or promulgation of new U.S. Treasury Regulations, or promulgation of any judicial or administrative guidance, in each case, after the date on which the Merger Agreement was executed by the parties, and such change or promulgation prevents the Mergers from qualifying as a “reorganization” pursuant to Section 368 of the Code, in each case, solely to the extent necessary to cover the increase in the U.S. income tax liability of Sponsor directly resulting from such revised tax treatment of the Mergers;

 

provided, however, that in the case of clauses (i) through (iii), these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement, in substantially the form of this Agreement, agreeing to be bound by the Lock-Up Restrictions and shall have the same rights and benefits under this Agreement. For purposes of this paragraph, “affiliate” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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(c)            For the avoidance of doubt, Sponsor shall retain all of its rights as a shareholder of the Company during the Lock-Up Period, including the right to vote any Locked-Up Securities or receive any dividends or distributions thereon.

 

(d)            In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company, and any duly appointed transfer agent for the registration or transfer of the Locked-Up Securities, are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of securities if such Transfer would constitute a violation or breach of the Lock-Up Restrictions.

 

Article V

 

Additional Agreements of the Parties

 

Section 5.1            Mutual Release.

 

(a)Sponsor Release. Sponsor, on its own behalf and on behalf of each of its Affiliates (other than SPAC or any of SPAC’s Subsidiaries) and each of its and their successors, assigns and executors (each, a “Sponsor Releasor”), effective as at the First Effective Time, shall be deemed to have, and hereby does, irrevocably, unconditionally, knowingly and voluntarily release, waive, relinquish and forever discharge the Company, SPAC, their respective Subsidiaries and each of their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, officers, directors, partners, managers and employees (in each case in their capacity as such) (each, a “Sponsor Releasee”), from (x) any and all obligations or duties the Company, SPAC or any of their respective Subsidiaries has prior to or as of the First Effective Time to such Sponsor Releasor or (y) all claims, demands, Liabilities, defenses, affirmative defenses, setoffs, counterclaims, actions and causes of action of whatever kind or nature, whether known or unknown, which any Sponsor Releasor has prior to or as of the First Effective Time, against any Sponsor Releasee arising out of, based upon or resulting from any Contract, transaction, event, circumstance, action, failure to act or occurrence of any sort or type, whether known or unknown, and which occurred, existed, was taken, permitted or begun prior to the First Effective Time (except in the event of fraud on the part of a Sponsor Releasee); provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 5.1 shall release, waive, relinquish, discharge or otherwise affect the rights or obligations of any party (i) arising under this Agreement, the Merger Agreement, the other Transaction Documents or SPAC’s Organizational Documents, (ii) for indemnification or contribution, in any Sponsor Releasor’s capacity as an officer or director of SPAC, (iii) arising under any then-existing insurance policy of SPAC, or (iv) for any claim for fraud.

 

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(b)            Company Release. Each of the Company, SPAC and their respective Subsidiaries and each of its and their successors, assigns and executors (each, a “Company Releasor”), effective as at the First Effective Time, shall be deemed to have, and hereby does, irrevocably, unconditionally, knowingly and voluntarily release, waive, relinquish and forever discharge Sponsor and its respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, officers, directors, partners, members, managers and employees (in each case in their capacity as such) (each, a “Company Releasee”), from (x) any and all obligations or duties such Company Releasee has prior to or as of the First Effective Time to such Company Releasor or (y) all claims, demands, Liabilities, defenses, affirmative defenses, setoffs, counterclaims, actions and causes of action of whatever kind or nature, whether known or unknown, which any Company Releasor has, may have or might have or may assert now or in the future, against any Company Releasee arising out of, based upon or resulting from any Contract, transaction, event, circumstance, action, failure to act or occurrence of any sort or type, whether known or unknown, and which occurred, existed, was taken, permitted or begun prior to the First Effective Time (except in the event of fraud on the part of a Company Releasee); provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 5.1(b) shall release, waive, relinquish, discharge or otherwise affect the rights or obligations of any party (i) arising under this Agreement, the Merger Agreement or the other Transaction Documents or (ii) for any claim for fraud.

 

Section 5.2             Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of:

 

(a)            the Closing, provided, however, that upon such termination, (i) Section 4.3, Section 4.7, Section 4.9, this Section 5.2, Section 6.2 and Section 6.5 shall survive indefinitely; and (ii) Section 4.13, and Section 6.1 shall survive until the date on which none of the Company, Sponsor or any holder of a Locked-Up Security (as defined below) has any rights or obligations hereunder; and

 

(b)            the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms, and upon such termination, no party shall have any liability hereunder other than for its actual fraud or willful and material breach of this Agreement prior to such termination.

 

Article VI

 

General Provisions

 

Section 6.1              Legends. The Company shall remove, and shall cause to be removed (including by causing its transfer agent to remove), any legends, marks, stop-transfer instructions or other similar notations pertaining to the lock-up arrangements herein from the book-entries evidencing any Locked-Up Securities at the time any such share is no longer subject to the Lock-Up Restrictions (any such Locked-Up Security, a “Free Security”), and shall take all such actions (and shall cause to be taken all such actions) necessary or proper to cause the Free Securities to be consolidated under the CUSIP(s) and/or ISIN(s) applicable to the unrestricted Company Ordinary Shares or Company Warrants so that the Free Securities are in a like position. Any holder of a Locked-Up Security is an express third-party beneficiary of this Section 5.1 and entitled to enforce specifically the obligations of the Company set forth in this Section 5.1 directly against the Company.

 

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Section 6.2             Notice. All general notices, demands or other communications required or permitted to be given or made hereunder shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by courier or sent by registered post or sent by electronic mail to the Company or SPAC in accordance with Section 10.3 of the Merger Agreement and to Sponsor at its address set forth below (or at such other address or email address as a party may from time to time notify the other parties by like notice).

 

 

COVA Acquisition Sponsor LLC

530 Bush Street, Suite 703

San Francisco, CA 94108

  Attention: Jun Hong Heng
  Email: junhong@crescentcove.com
   
  with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
   
  Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
  222 Berkeley Street, Suite 2000
  Attention: Albert Vanderlaan
  Hari Raman
 

Email: avanderlaan@orrick.com

     hraman@orrick.com

 

Any such notice, demand or communication shall be deemed to have been duly served (a) if given personally or sent by courier, upon delivery during normal business hours at the location of delivery or, if later, then on the next Business Day after the day of delivery; (b) if sent by electronic mail during normal business hours at the location of delivery, immediately, or, if later, then on the next Business Day after the day of delivery; (c) the third Business Day following the day sent by reputable international overnight courier (with written confirmation of receipt); and (d) if sent by registered post, five (5) days after posting.

 

Section 6.3            Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof and the transactions contemplated hereby and supersedes any other agreements, whether written or oral, that may have been made or entered into by or between the parties hereto or any of their respective Subsidiaries relating to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement may not be changed, amended, modified or waived (other than to correct a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.

 

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Section 6.4          Assignment. Other than in connection with the Transfer of any Subject Shares or Locked-Up Securities in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, which shall not be deemed to be an assignment of this Agreement or the rights or obligations hereunder, no party hereto shall assign this Agreement or any part hereof without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto and any such transfer without prior written consent shall be void. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns.

 

Section 6.5           Governing Law. This Agreement, and any claim or cause of action hereunder based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement (whether based on law, in equity, in contract, in tort or any other theory) or the negotiation, execution, performance or enforcement of this Agreement, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws that would otherwise require the application of the law of any other state.

 

Section 6.6           Enforcement. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties hereto shall be entitled to seek an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to specific enforcement of the terms and provisions of this Agreement, in addition to any other remedy to which any party is entitled at law or in equity. In the event that any Action shall be brought in equity to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, no party shall allege, and each party hereby waives the defense, that there is an adequate remedy at law, and each party agrees to waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection therewith.

 

Section 6.7          Counterparts This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts (any of which may be delivered by electronic transmission), each of which shall constitute an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery by email to counsel for the other parties of a counterpart executed by a party shall be deemed to meet the requirements of the previous sentence.

 

[Signature pages follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunto caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date hereof as a Deed.

 

EXECUTED AND DELIVERED AS A DEED for and on behalf of:

 

COVA Acquisition Corp.  
   
   
By: /s/ Jun Hong Heng  
Name: Jun Hong Heng  
Title: Chief Executive Officer    

 

 

In the presence of:  
Witness  
   
Signature: /s/ Karanveer Dhillon  
Print Name: Karanveer Dhillon  

 

[Signature Page to Sponsor Support Agreement]

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunto caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date hereof as a Deed.

 

EXECUTED AND DELIVERED AS A DEED for and on behalf of:

 

ECARX Holdings Inc.  
   
   
By: /s/ Ziyu Shen  
Name: Ziyu Shen  
Title: Director  
   

 

   
In the presence of:  
Witness  
   
Signature: /s/ Xiangru Song  
Print Name: Xiangru Song  

 

[Signature Page to Sponsor Support Agreement]

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunto caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date hereof as a Deed.

 

EXECUTED AND DELIVERED AS A DEED for and on behalf of:

 

COVA Acquisition Sponsor, LLC  
   
   
By: /s/ Jun Hong Heng  
Name: Jun Hong Heng  
Title: Manager and Member  
   

 

In the presence of:  
Witness  
   
Signature: /s/ Karanveer Dhillon  
Print Name: Karanveer Dhillon  

 

[Signature Page to Sponsor Support Agreement]

 

 

 

Schedule A

 

1.Amended and Restated Promissory Note, dated as of February 9, 2021, between SPAC and Sponsor.

 

2.Amended and Restated Securities Subscription Agreement, dated February 9, 2021, between SPAC and Sponsor.

 

3.Substantially concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, SPAC is issuing a promissory note to Sponsor in the principal amount of $2,000,000, with $1,000,000 of such principal convertible to Private Placement Warrants.

 

 

EXHIBIT 10.9

 

SHAREHOLDER SUPPORT AGREEMENT AND DEED

 

This SHAREHOLDER SUPPORT AGREEMENT AND DEED (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of May 26, 2022, by and among ECARX Holdings Inc., an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”), COVA Acquisition Corp., an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (“SPAC”), and certain Persons listed on Schedule A hereto (each, a “Shareholder” and collectively, the “Shareholders”).

 

WHEREAS, capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) dated as of the date hereof, entered into by and among the Company, Ecarx Temp Limited, an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub 1”), Ecarx&Co Limited, an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub 2”), and SPAC, pursuant to which, among other things, (i) Merger Sub 1 will merge with and into SPAC, with SPAC surviving the First Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the “First Merger”), and (ii) SPAC will merge with and into Merger Sub 2, with Merger Sub 2 surviving the Second Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Second Merger” and together with the First Merger, collectively, the “Mergers”);

 

WHEREAS, each Shareholder is, as of the date of this Agreement, the beneficial and sole legal owner of such number of Ordinary Shares and Preferred Shares of the Company set forth opposite such Shareholder’s name on Schedule A hereto (such Ordinary Shares and Preferred Shares being collectively referred to herein as the “Owned Shares”; and the Owned Shares and any other Company Shares, Company Ordinary Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Company Shares or Company Ordinary Shares, as the case may be, acquired by such Shareholder after the date of this Agreement and during the term of this Agreement, including upon exercise of Company Options, being collectively referred to herein as the “Subject Shares” of such Shareholder); and

 

WHEREAS, as a condition to their willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement, the Company and SPAC have requested that the Shareholders enter into this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, which are incorporated into this Agreement as if fully set forth below, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

 

 

 

Article I

 

Representations and Warranties of THE SHAREHOLDERS

 

Each Shareholder hereby represents and warrants to the Company and SPAC as follows:

 

Section 1.1             Corporate Organization. Such Shareholder has been duly formed and is validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the place of its incorporation or establishment and has the requisite power and authority to own, lease or operate its assets and properties and to conduct its business as it is now being conducted.

 

Section 1.2             Due Authorization. Such Shareholder has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized and no other corporate or equivalent proceeding on the part of such Shareholder is necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement or such Shareholder’s performance hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by such Shareholder and, assuming due authorization and execution by each other party hereto, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Shareholder, enforceable against such Shareholder in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

Section 1.3             Governmental Authorities; Consents. No consent of or with any Governmental Authority on the part of such Shareholder is required to be obtained or made in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by such Shareholder of this Agreement or the consummation by such Shareholder of the transactions contemplated hereby, other than (a) applicable requirements, if any, of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and/ or any state “blue sky” securities Laws, and the rules and regulations thereunder and (b) where the failure to obtain or make such consents or to make such filings or notifications would not reasonably be expected to prevent, impede or, in any material respect, delay or adversely affect the execution and performance by such Shareholder of its obligations under this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 1.4             No-Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance by such Shareholder of this Agreement do not and will not (a) contravene or conflict with or violate any provision of, or result in the breach of the Organizational Documents of such Shareholder, (b) contravene or conflict with or result in a violation of any provision of any Law or Governmental Order binding upon or applicable to such Shareholder or any of its properties or assets, (c) violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in the termination or acceleration of, or a right of termination, cancellation, modification, acceleration or amendment under, accelerate the performance required by, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Contract to which such Shareholder is a party, or (d) result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance on any properties or assets of such Shareholder, except in the case of each of clauses (b) through (d) that do not, and would not reasonably be expected to, prevent, impede or, in any material respect, delay or adversely affect the performance by such Shareholder of its obligations under this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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Section 1.5             Owned Shares. Such Shareholder is the beneficial and sole legal owner of the Owned Shares, and all such Owned Shares are owned by such Shareholder free and clear of all liens or encumbrances, other than liens or encumbrances pursuant to this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, the Organizational Documents of the Company, the Investors Rights Agreement and any applicable securities Laws. Such Shareholder does not legally or beneficially own any shares of the Company other than the Owned Shares. Such Shareholder has the sole right to vote the Owned Shares (to the extent such securities have voting rights), and none of the Owned Shares is subject to any voting trust or other agreement, arrangement or restriction with respect to the voting of the Owned Shares, except as contemplated by this Agreement, the Investors Rights Agreement and the Company Charter.

 

Section 1.6             Acknowledgement. Such Shareholder understands and acknowledges that each of the Company and SPAC is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon such Shareholder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement. Such Shareholder has received a copy of the Merger Agreement and is familiar with the provisions of the Merger Agreement.

 

Section 1.7             Absence of Litigation. As of the date hereof, there is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding pending against, or, to the knowledge of such Shareholder, threatened against, such Shareholder or any of such Shareholder’s properties or assets (including such Shareholder’s Owned Shares) that could reasonably be expected to prevent, delay or impair the ability of such Shareholder to perform its obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 1.8             Adequate Information. Such Shareholder is a sophisticated shareholder and has adequate information concerning the business and financial condition of SPAC and the Company to make an informed decision regarding this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and has independently and without reliance upon SPAC or the Company and based on such information as such Shareholder has deemed appropriate, made its own analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Such Shareholder acknowledges that SPAC and the Company have not made and do not make any representation or warranty, whether express or implied, of any kind or character except as expressly set forth in this Agreement. Such Shareholder acknowledges that the agreements contained herein with respect to the Subject Shares held by such Shareholder are irrevocable and shall only terminate pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof.

 

Section 1.9             Restricted Securities. Such Shareholder understands that the Company Ordinary Shares to be held by it immediately following the consummation of the Mergers will be “restricted securities” under applicable U.S. federal and state securities Laws and, if such Shareholder is an affiliate of the Company, “control securities” as such term is used under Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, and that, pursuant to these Laws, such Shareholder may be required to hold such Company Ordinary Shares indefinitely unless (a) they are registered with the SEC and qualified by state authorities, or (b) an exemption from such registration and qualification requirements is available, and that any certificates or book entries representing the Company Ordinary Shares shall contain a legend to such effect.

 

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Article II

 

Representations and Warranties of SPAC

 

SPAC hereby represents and warrants to the Company and each Shareholder as follows:

 

Section 2.1             Corporate Organization. SPAC is an exempted company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the Cayman Islands and has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease or operate its assets and properties and to conduct its business as it is now being conducted.

 

Section 2.2             Due Authorization. SPAC has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized and approved by the board of directors of SPAC and no other corporate or equivalent proceeding on the part of SPAC is necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement or SPAC’s performance hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby (except that the SPAC Shareholders’ Approval is a condition to the respective obligations of each party to the Merger Agreement to consummate the Mergers). This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by SPAC and, assuming due authorization and execution by each other party hereto, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of SPAC, enforceable against SPAC in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

Section 2.3             No-Conflict. Subject to obtaining the SPAC Shareholders’ Approval, the execution, delivery and performance by SPAC of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions by SPAC contemplated hereby do not and will not (a) contravene or conflict with or violate any provision of, or result in the breach of the Organizational Documents of SPAC, (b) contravene or conflict with or result in a violation of any provision of any Law, Permit or Governmental Order binding upon or applicable to SPAC or any of its properties or assets, (c) violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in the termination or acceleration of, or a right of termination, cancellation, modification, acceleration or amendment under, accelerate the performance required by, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Contract to which SPAC is a party, or (d) result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of SPAC (including the Trust Account), except in the case of each of clauses (b) through (d) that do not, and would not reasonably be expected to prevent, impede or, in any material respect, delay or adversely affect the performance by SPAC of its obligations under this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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Article III

 

Representations and Warranties of the Company

 

The Company hereby represents and warrants to SPAC and each Shareholder as follows:

 

Section 3.1             Corporate Organization. The Company is an exempted company duly incorporated, is validly existing and is in good standing under the Laws of the Cayman Islands and has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease or operate its assets and properties and to conduct its business as it is now being conducted.

 

Section 3.2             Due Authorization. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by the Company Board, and no other corporate proceeding on the part of the Company is necessary to authorize this Agreement or the Company’s performance hereunder (except that the Company Shareholders’ Approval is a condition to the respective obligations of each party to the Merger Agreement to consummate of the Transactions). This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due and valid authorization, execution and delivery by each other party hereto, constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

Section 3.3             No-Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not, (a) contravene or conflict with, violate any provision of, trigger shareholder rights that have not been duly waived under, or result in the breach of the Organizational Documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) contravene or conflict with or constitute a violation of any provision of any Law, Material Permit or Governmental Order binding upon or applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, (c) violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in the termination or acceleration of, or a right of termination, cancellation, modification, acceleration or amendment under, accelerate the performance required by, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Contracts to which the Company is a party, or (d) result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance on any properties or assets or Equity Security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any Permitted Encumbrance), except in the case of clauses (b) through (d) above that do not, and would not reasonably be expected to, prevent, impede or, in any material respect, delay or adversely affect the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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Article IV

 

Agreement to Vote; Certain Other Covenants of THE ShareholderS

 

Each Shareholder covenants and agrees during the term of this Agreement as follows:

 

Section 4.1             Agreement to Vote.

 

(a)            In Favor of the Company Shareholders’ Approval. From the date of this Agreement until the date of termination of this Agreement, at any meeting of the Company Shareholders called to seek the Company Shareholders’ Approval, including any extraordinary general meeting (as defined in the Company Charter), or at any adjournment thereof or postponement thereof, or in connection with any written consent of the Company Shareholders or in any other circumstances upon which a vote, consent or other approval with respect to the Transactions, the Merger Agreement or any other Transaction Documents is sought, such Shareholder shall (i) if a meeting is held, appear at such meeting in person or by proxy or otherwise cause the Subject Shares to be counted as present at such meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum, and (ii) vote or cause to be voted (including by proxy, withholding class vote and/or written consent, if applicable) the Subject Shares in favor of granting the Company Shareholders’ Approval or, if there are insufficient votes in favor of granting the Company Shareholders’ Approval, in favor of the adjournment or postponement of such meeting of the Company Shareholders to a later date.

 

(b)            Against Other Transactions. From the date of this Agreement until the date of termination of this Agreement, at any meeting of the Company Shareholders or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, or in connection with any written consent of the Company Shareholders or in any other circumstances upon which such Shareholder’s vote, consent or other approval is sought, such Shareholder shall (i) if a meeting is held, appear at such meeting in person or by proxy or otherwise cause the Subject Shares to be counted as present at such meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum, (ii) vote (or cause to be voted) the Subject Shares (including by proxy, withholding class vote and/or written consent, if applicable) against (w) any business combination agreement, merger agreement or merger, scheme of arrangement, business combination, consolidation, combination, sale of substantial assets, reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up of or by the Company or any public offering of any Equity Securities of the Company (other than the Merger Agreement and the Transactions), (x) other than in connection with the Transactions, any Company Acquisition Proposal, (y) allowing the Company to execute or enter into, any agreement related to a Company Acquisition Proposal other than in connection with the Transactions, and (z) any amendment of Organizational Documents of the Company or entering into any agreement or agreement in principle or other proposal or transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which amendment, agreement or other proposal or transaction would be reasonably likely to in any material respect impede, interfere with, delay or attempt to discourage, frustrate the purposes of, result in a breach by the Company of, prevent or nullify any provision of the Merger Agreement or any other Transaction Document, the Transactions or change in any manner the voting rights of any class of the Company’s share capital.

 

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(c)            Revoke Other Proxies. Such Shareholder represents and warrants that any proxies or powers of attorney heretofore given in respect of the Subject Shares that may still be in effect are not irrevocable, and such proxies or powers of attorney have been or are hereby revoked.

 

Section 4.2             No Transfer. From the date of this Agreement until the date of termination of this Agreement, such Shareholder shall not, directly or indirectly, (i) (a) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer, dispose of or agree to transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder, with respect to any Subject Share, (b) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Subject Shares, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (c) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (a) or (b) (the actions specified in clauses (a) to (c), collectively, “Transfer”), (ii) grant any proxies or powers of attorney or enter into any voting arrangement, whether by proxy, voting agreement, voting trust, voting deed or otherwise (including pursuant to any loan of Subject Shares), or enter into any other agreement, with respect to any Subject Shares, in each case, other than as set forth in this Agreement or any Transaction Documents, (iii) take any action that would reasonably be expected to make any representation or warranty of such Shareholder herein untrue or incorrect, or would reasonably be expected to have the effect of preventing or disabling such Shareholder from performing its obligations hereunder, or (iv) commit or agree to take any of the foregoing actions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such Shareholder may make Transfers of the Subject Shares (x) pursuant to this Agreement, (y) upon the consent of the Company and SPAC, and (z) by virtue of such Shareholder’s Organizational Documents upon liquidation or dissolution of such Shareholder; provided, further, that in the case of clause (z), the transferee will not be required to assume voting obligations if the transferee’s assumption of such obligations would violate any applicable Laws, including any securities Laws, or would reasonably be expected to materially delay or impede the Registration Statement or Proxy Statement being declared effective under the Securities Act. Any action attempted to be taken in violation of the preceding sentence will be null and void.

 

Section 4.3             Waiver of Anti-Dilution Protection. Such Shareholder hereby waives, and agrees not to exercise, assert or claim, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, the anti-dilution protection pursuant to the Company Charter in connection with the Transactions.

 

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Section 4.4             No Redemption. Such Shareholder irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that, from the date hereof and until the termination of this Agreement, such Shareholder shall not elect to cause the Company to redeem any Subject Shares now or at any time legally or beneficially owned by such Shareholder, or submit or surrender any of its Subject Shares for redemption, in each case pursuant to the Company Charter.

 

Section 4.5             New Securities. In the event that prior to the Closing (i) any Company Shares or other securities are issued or otherwise distributed to such Shareholder, including, without limitation, pursuant to any share dividend or distribution, or any change occurs in any of the Company Shares or other share capital of the Company by reason of any share subdivision, recapitalization, combination, reverse share split, consolidation, exchange of shares or the like, (ii) such Shareholder acquires legal or beneficial ownership of any Company Shares after the date of this Agreement, including upon exercise of options, or (iii) such Shareholder acquires the right to vote or share in the voting of any Company Shares after the date of this Agreement (collectively, the “New Securities”), the term “Subject Shares” shall be deemed to refer to and include such New Securities (including all such share dividends and distributions and any securities into which or for which any or all of the Subject Shares may be changed or exchanged into).

 

Section 4.6             Shareholders’ Consent, Authorization or Approval. Each Shareholder hereby irrevocably agrees and confirms that, insofar as such Shareholder’s consent, authorization or approval is required in respect of or in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, including without limitation, the matters as set out in items (c) and (e) of Part I and item (a) of Part IV of Exhibit B of the Investors Rights Agreement and as may be required by Article 18 (Variation of Rights of Shares), Article 137 (Amendment of the Memorandum and Articles) and Section 4.3.1 of Schedule A (Protective Provisions) of the Company Charter, such Shareholder hereby grants, provides and gives such consent, authorization or approval, and all specific resolutions that may be required to have been adopted by such Shareholder or class of shareholders in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and the other Transaction Documents are hereby deemed adopted and approved by such Shareholder. To the extent a director appointed by such Shareholder will not serve as a director of the Company after the Closing, upon request of the Company, such Shareholder shall deliver a notice to the Company to remove such director or cause such director to execute and deliver a resignation letter to the Company providing for such director’s resignation from the board of directors of the Company at the First Effective Time.

 

Section 4.7             Existing Investors Rights Agreement. Each of the Shareholders and the Company hereby agrees that, in accordance with the terms thereof, (i) the Investors Rights Agreement, (ii) any rights of such Shareholder under the Investors Rights Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any registration rights of such Shareholder with respect to any Company Shares thereunder) and (iii) any rights under any other agreement providing for redemption rights, put rights, purchase rights or other similar rights not generally available to the shareholders of the Company, shall be terminated effective as of the First Effective Time, and thereupon shall be of no further force or effect, without any further action on the part of any of the Shareholders or the Company, and neither the Company, the Shareholders, nor any of their respective affiliates or subsidiaries shall have any further rights, duties, liabilities or obligations thereunder and each Shareholder and the Company hereby releases in full any and all claims with respect thereto with effect on and from the First Effective Time.

 

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Section 4.8             Additional Matters. Each Shareholder shall, from time to time, (i) execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such additional or further consents, documents and other instruments as the Company or SPAC may reasonably request for the purpose of effectively consummating the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Merger Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and (ii) refrain from exercising any veto right, consent right or similar right (whether under the Organizational Documents of the Company or the Cayman Companies Act) which would prevent, impede or, in any material respect, delay or adversely affect the consummation of the Transactions.

 

Section 4.9             Acquisition Proposals; Confidentiality. Such Shareholder shall be bound by and comply with Section 5.5 (Acquisition Proposals and Alternative Transactions) and Section 10.14 (Confidentiality) of the Merger Agreement (and any relevant definitions contained in any such sections) as if (a) such Shareholder was an original signatory to the Merger Agreement with respect to such provisions, and (b) each reference to “the Company” contained in Section 5.5 of the Merger Agreement and “Affiliates” contained in Section 10.14 of the Merger Agreement shall also refer to such Shareholder.

 

Section 4.10           Lock-Up Provisions.

 

(a)            Subject to the exceptions set forth herein, during the applicable Lock-Up Period (as defined below), such Shareholder agrees not to, without the prior written consent of the Company Board, Transfer any Locked-Up Shares held by it. The foregoing limitations shall remain in full force and effect for a period of six (6) months from and after the Closing (such period, the “Lock-Up Period”) with respect to all the Locked-Up Shares. For purpose of this Section 4.10, “Locked-Up Shares” means any Company Ordinary Shares that are held by such Shareholder immediately after the First Effective Time and any Company Ordinary Shares acquired by such Shareholder upon the exercise of Company Options.

 

(b)           The restrictions set forth in Section 4.10(a) (the “Lock-Up Restrictions”) shall not apply to:

 

(i)            transfers by such Shareholder to (A) any shareholder, partner or member of such Shareholder via dividend or share repurchase as part of a distribution, or (B) any Person that is an affiliate of such Shareholder;

 

(ii)           transfers by virtue of the Laws of the state of such Shareholder’s organization and such Shareholder’s Organizational Documents upon dissolution of such Shareholder;

 

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(iii)          pledges of any Locked-Up Shares to a financial institution that create a mere security interest in such Locked-Up Shares pursuant to a bona fide loan or indebtedness transaction so long as such Shareholder continues to control the exercise of the voting rights of such pledged Locked-Up Shares (as well as any foreclosures on such pledged Locked-Up Shares so long as the transferee in such foreclosure agrees to become a party to this Agreement and be bound by all obligations applicable to such Shareholder, provided that such agreement shall only take effect in the event that the transferee takes possession of the Locked-Up Shares as a result of foreclosure);

 

(iv)          transfers of any Company Ordinary Shares acquired as part of the Permitted Financing or Subsequent Equity Financing;

 

(v)           transactions relating to Company Ordinary Shares or other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Company Ordinary Shares acquired in open market transactions after the Closing, provided that no such transaction is required to be, or is, publicly announced (whether on Form 4, Form 5 or otherwise, other than a required filing on Schedule 13F, 13G or 13G/A) during the applicable Lock-Up Period;

 

(vi)          the exercise of any options to purchase Company Ordinary Shares (which exercises may be effected on a cashless basis to the extent the instruments representing such options or warrants permit exercises on a cashless basis);

 

(vii)         transfers to the Company to satisfy tax withholding obligations pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans or arrangements;

 

(viii)        the establishment, at any time after the Closing, by a Shareholder of a trading plan providing for the sale of Company Ordinary Shares that meets the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c) under the Exchange Act (a “Trading Plan”); provided, however, that no sales of Locked-Up Shares, shall be made by such Shareholder pursuant to such Trading Plan during the applicable Lock-Up Period and no public announcement or filing is voluntarily made regarding such plan during the applicable Lock-Up Period; and

 

(ix)          transfers made in connection with a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their Company Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the Closing Date;

 

provided, however, that in the case of clauses (i) through (iv), these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement, in substantially the form of this Agreement, agreeing to be bound by the Lock-Up Restrictions and shall have the same rights and benefits under this Agreement. For purposes of this paragraph, “affiliate” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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(c)            For the avoidance of doubt, such Shareholder shall retain all of its rights as a shareholder of the Company during the Lock-Up Period, including the right to vote any Locked-Up Shares or receive any dividends or distributions thereon.

 

(d)            In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company, and any duly appointed transfer agent for the registration or transfer of the Locked-Up Securities, are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of securities if such Transfer would constitute a violation or breach of the Lock-Up Restrictions.

 

Article V

 

General Provisions

 

Section 5.1             Mutual Release.

 

(a) Shareholder Release. Such Shareholder, on its own behalf and on behalf of each of its Affiliates (other than the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries) and each of its and their successors, assigns and executors (each, a “Shareholder Releasor”), effective as at the First Effective Time, shall be deemed to have, and hereby does, irrevocably, unconditionally, knowingly and voluntarily release, waive, relinquish and forever discharge the Company, SPAC, their respective Subsidiaries and each of their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, officers, directors, partners, managers and employees (in each case in their capacity as such) (each, a “Shareholder Releasee”), from (x) any and all obligations or duties the Company, SPAC or any of their respective Subsidiaries has prior to or as of the First Effective Time to such Shareholder Releasor or (y) all claims, demands, Liabilities, defenses, affirmative defenses, setoffs, counterclaims, actions and causes of action of whatever kind or nature, whether known or unknown, which any Shareholder Releasor has prior to or as of the First Effective Time, against any Shareholder Releasee arising out of, based upon or resulting from any Contract, transaction, event, circumstance, action, failure to act or occurrence of any sort or type, whether known or unknown, and which occurred, existed, was taken, permitted or begun prior to the First Effective Time (except in the event of fraud on the part of a Shareholder Releasee); provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 5.1 shall release, waive, relinquish, discharge or otherwise affect the rights or obligations of any party (i) arising under this Agreement, the Merger Agreement, the other Transaction Documents or the Company’s Organizational Documents, (ii) for indemnification or contribution, in any Shareholder Releasor’s capacity as an officer or director of the Company, (iii) arising under any then-existing insurance policy of the Company, or (iv) for any claim for fraud.

 

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(b)            Company Release. Each of the Company, SPAC and their respective Subsidiaries and each of its and their successors, assigns and executors (each, a “Company Releasor”), effective as at the First Effective Time, shall be deemed to have, and hereby does, irrevocably, unconditionally, knowingly and voluntarily release, waive, relinquish and forever discharge such Shareholder and its respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, officers, directors, partners, members, managers and employees (in each case in their capacity as such) (each, a “Company Releasee”), from (x) any and all obligations or duties such Company Releasee has prior to or as of the First Effective Time to such Company Releasor or (y) all claims, demands, Liabilities, defenses, affirmative defenses, setoffs, counterclaims, actions and causes of action of whatever kind or nature, whether known or unknown, which any Company Releasor has, may have or might have or may assert now or in the future, against any Company Releasee arising out of, based upon or resulting from any Contract, transaction, event, circumstance, action, failure to act or occurrence of any sort or type, whether known or unknown, and which occurred, existed, was taken, permitted or begun prior to the First Effective Time (except in the event of fraud on the part of a Company Releasee); provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 5.1(b) shall release, waive, relinquish, discharge or otherwise affect the rights or obligations of any party (i) arising under this Agreement, the Merger Agreement or the other Transaction Documents or (ii) for any claim for fraud.

 

Section 5.2             Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of:

 

(a)            the Closing, provided, however, that upon such termination, (i)  Section 4.8, this Section 5.1, Section 5.4 and Section 5.7 shall survive indefinitely; and (ii) Section 4.10 and Section 5.3 shall survive until the date on which none of the Company, such Shareholder or any holder of a Locked-Up Share (as defined below) has any rights or obligations hereunder; and

 

(b)           the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms, and upon such termination, no party shall have any liability hereunder other than for its actual fraud or willful and material breach of this Agreement prior to such termination.

 

Section 5.3             Legends. The Company shall remove, and shall cause to be removed (including by causing its transfer agent to remove), any legends, marks, stop-transfer instructions or other similar notations pertaining to the lock-up arrangements herein from the book-entries evidencing any Locked-Up Shares at the time any such share is no longer subject to the Lock-Up Restrictions (any such Locked-Up Share, a “Free Share”), and shall take all such actions (and shall cause to be taken all such actions) necessary or proper to cause the Free Shares to be consolidated under the CUSIP(s) and/or ISIN(s) applicable to the unrestricted Company Ordinary Shares so that the Free Shares are in a like position. Any holder of a Locked-Up Share is an express third-party beneficiary of this Section 5.3 and entitled to enforce specifically the obligations of the Company set forth in this Section 5.3 directly against the Company.

 

Section 5.4             Notice. All general notices, demands or other communications required or permitted to be given or made hereunder shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by courier or sent by registered post or sent by electronic mail to the Company and SPAC in accordance with Section 10.3 of the Merger Agreement and to each Shareholder at its address set forth on Schedule A hereto (or at such other address or email address as a party may from time to time notify the other parties by like notice).

 

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Section 5.5             Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof and the transactions contemplated hereby and supersedes any other agreements, whether written or oral, that may have been made or entered into by or between the parties hereto or any of their respective Subsidiaries relating to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement may not be changed, amended, modified or waived (other than to correct a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.

 

Section 5.6             Assignment. Other than in connection with the Transfer of any Subject Shares or Locked-Up Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, which shall not be deemed to be an assignment of this Agreement or the rights or obligations hereunder, no party hereto shall assign this Agreement or any part hereof without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto and any such transfer without prior written consent shall be void. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns.

 

Section 5.7             Governing Law. This Agreement, and any claim or cause of action hereunder based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement (whether based on law, in equity, in contract, in tort or any other theory) or the negotiation, execution, performance or enforcement of this Agreement, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws that would otherwise require the application of the law of any other state.

 

Section 5.8             Enforcement. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties hereto shall be entitled to seek an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to specific enforcement of the terms and provisions of this Agreement, in addition to any other remedy to which any party is entitled at law or in equity. In the event that any Action shall be brought in equity to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, no party shall allege, and each party hereby waives the defense, that there is an adequate remedy at law, and each party agrees to waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection therewith.

 

Section 5.9             Counterparts This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts (any of which may be delivered by electronic transmission), each of which shall constitute an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery by email to counsel for the other parties of a counterpart executed by a party shall be deemed to meet the requirements of the previous sentence.

 

[Signature pages follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunto caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date hereof as a Deed.

 

EXECUTED AND DELIVERED AS A DEED for and on behalf of:

 

COVA Acquisition Corp.  
   
By: /s/ Jun Hong Heng  
Name: Jun Hong Heng  

Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

In the presence of:  
Witness  
   
Signature: /s/ Karanveer Dhillon  
Print Name: Karanveer Dhillon  

 

[Signature Page to Company Shareholder Support Agreement]

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunto caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date hereof as a Deed.

 

EXECUTED AND DELIVERED AS A DEED for and on behalf of:

 

ECARX Holdings Inc.  
   
By: /s/ Ziyu Shen  
Name: Ziyu Shen  
Title: Director  

 

In the presence of:  
Witness  
   
Signature: /s/ Xiangru Song  
Print Name: Xiangru Song  

 

[Signature Page to Company Shareholder Support Agreement]

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunto caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date hereof as a Deed.

 

EXECUTED AND DELIVERED AS A DEED for and on behalf of:

 

Fu&Li Industrious Innovators Limited  
   
By: /s/ Shufu Li  
Name: Shufu Li  
Title: Director  

 

In the presence of:  
Witness  
   
Signature: /s/ Weilie Ye  
Print Name: Weilie Ye  

 

[Signature Page to Company Shareholder Support Agreement]

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunto caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date hereof as a Deed.

 

EXECUTED AND DELIVERED AS A DEED for and on behalf of:

 

Jie&Hao Holding Limited  
   
By: /s/ Ziyu Shen  
Name:

Ziyu Shen

 
Title: Director  

 

In the presence of:  
Witness  
   
Signature: /s/ Xiangru Song  
Print Name: Xiangru Song  

 

[Signature Page to Company Shareholder Support Agreement]

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunto caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date hereof as a Deed.

 

EXECUTED AND DELIVERED AS A DEED for and on behalf of:

 

SHINE LINK VENTURE LIMITED  
   
By: For and on behalf on T Proteus Limited  
/s/ Catherine Yim  
  /s/ Edward Gumbley  
Name: T Proteus Limited  
Title: Director  
   
In the presence of:  
Witness  

 

Signature:  /s/ Claudia Ng                                     

Print Name: Claudia Ng

 

[Signature Page to Company Shareholder Support Agreement]

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunto caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date hereof as a Deed.

 

EXECUTED AND DELIVERED AS A DEED for and on behalf of:

 

Baidu (Hong Kong) Limited  
   
By: /s/ Herman Yu  
Name: Herman Yu  
Title: Director  
   
In the presence of:  
Witness  

 

Signature:  /s/ Maonan Wei                                      

Print Name: Maonan Wei

 

[Signature Page to Company Shareholder Support Agreement]

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunto caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date hereof as a Deed.

 

EXECUTED AND DELIVERED AS A DEED for and on behalf of:

 

Suzhou Xiangcheng Venture Capital Co., Ltd.  
   
By: /s/ Chenling Tao  
Name: Chenling Tao  
Title: Legal Representative  
   
In the presence of:  
Witness  

 

Signature:  /s/ Yuewen Gu                                      

Print Name:  Yuewen Gu

 

[Signature Page to Company Shareholder Support Agreement]

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunto caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date hereof as a Deed.

 

EXECUTED AND DELIVERED AS A DEED for and on behalf of:

 

Suzhou Huanxiu Lake Yihao Investment Co., Ltd.  
   
By: /s/ Dongjun Li  
Name: Dongjun Li  
Title: Legal Representative  
   
In the presence of:  
Witness  

 

Signature:  /s/ Wenlong He                                      

Print Name: Wenlong He

 

Exhibit 10.10

 

ECARX HOLDINGS INC.

 

2021 Restrictive Share Incentive Plan (Trust)

 

(Effective from December 1, 2021)

 

 

 

 

ECARX HOLDINGS INC.

  

2021 Restrictive Share Incentive Plan (Trust)

  

1.       Purpose. The 2021 Restrictive Share Incentive Plan (Trust) (hereinafter referred to as the “Plan”) is intended to attract and retain the best talents on the market, to motivate the Company’s or its related entities’ senior management members, core experts, employees of level P5-2 or higher, and those who have made outstanding contribution to the Company’s technological breakthroughs and created commercial value for the Company (Hereinafter the “Eligible Incentive Parties”).

 

2.       Definition. In this Plan and Grant Agreement, the following terms shall apply, except where otherwise defined in a separate grant agreement. If a certain term is otherwise defined in a separate grant agreement, then such definition shall replace that set out in Article 2 hereof.

 

(a) “Grantee” means an Eligible Incentive Party to whom a grant is made hereunder.

 

(b) “Disability” means the situation in which a Grantee becomes unable to perform his/her function and duty for no less than ninety (90) consecutive days due to any medically assessable physiological or mental impairment. A Grantee shall not be deemed to be disabled unless he/she has provided the Administrator with evidence of his/her impairment which is reasonably satisfactory as determined by the Administrator at its discretion.

 

 

 

 

(c) “Continuous Service” means the rendering of service by a Grantee for the Company or its related entities in the capacity of an Eligible Incentive Party which is not suspended or terminated. If pursuant to the applicable law of the jurisdiction where the Grantee is, the service of a Grantee must not be effectively terminated unless a prior notice is given, then the Continuous Service of the Grantee shall terminate at the time when he/she actually ceases to provide service for the Company or its related entities, notwithstanding any requirement for notification period which must be satisfied under applicable law in order to effectively terminate the service of the Grantee. When the Continuous Service of a Grantee has actually terminated, or the subject for which the Grantee renders service is no longer a related entity, then the Continuous Service of the Grantee shall be deemed to have been terminated. Under the following conditions, the Continuous Service of a Grantee shall not be deemed to have been terminated: (i) approved leave; (ii) transfer of an Eligible Incentive Party between the Company, any of its related entities or any successor; or (iii) any change in capacity notwithstanding which the Grantee continues being employed by the Company or its related entity in the capacity of an Eligible Incentive Party(unless otherwise provided in the Grant Agreement). Approved leave includes sick leave, leave for military service or any other private leave of absence approved.

 

(d) “Director” means a member of the board of directors of the Company or any related entity.

 

(e) “Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.

 

(f) “Split-Up Transaction” means a transaction in which the Company distributes all or a part of the shares in any of its subsidiaries to its shareholders.

 

(g) “Senior Management Members” mean any individual hired by the Company or its related entity who holds a senior managerial position such as [CEO, COO, CFO, CTO and Strategic Advisor];

 

 

 

 

(h) “Company” means ECARX HOLDINGS INC., a company incorporated under the laws of Cayman Islands, or any successor-in-interest of this Plan under the circumstance where a Sale in Entirety of the Company occurs.

 

(i) A “Sale in Entirety of the Company” means any of the transactions mentioned below (as reasonably determined by the Administrator):

 

(i)       Merger of the Company with or into, acquisition of it by, or other business combination between it and any other entity, in which the Company is not the surviving entity, or any other single transaction or a series of transactions in which the shareholders of the Company existing immediately before such transaction or transactions cease to own the majority of voting rights in the surviving entity immediately after the completion of the transaction, except for a transaction of which the main purpose is to change the Company’s place of incorporation;

 

(ii)       the sale, transfer, granting of an exclusive license in respect of and otherwise disposing of all or substantially all the assets of the Company, its subsidiaries, related companies;

 

(iii)       completion of liquidation or winding up by the Company;

 

(iv)       a reverse takeover or a series of related transactions leading to a reverse takeover where the Company is the surviving entity(including but not limited to a takeover bid prior to a reverse takeover), except the situations mentioned below which are deemed by the Administrator not constituting a Sale in Entirety or a series of related transactions leading to the Sale in Entirety: (A) the ordinary shares issued and outstanding prior to the takeover are converted into or exchanged for other properties (whether it being securities, cash or other form of properties) pursuant to the takeover, or (B) shares issued and outstanding representing fifty percent (50%) of the Company’s voting rights are transferred to one or several entities other than the entity which owns such shares prior to the takeover or a series of related transactions leading to the takeover; or

 

 

 

 

(v)       except the situation in which any entity or a group related to such entity (other than the Company or an employee benefit plan initiated by the Company) acquires the beneficial ownership of fifty percent (50%) or more of the Company’s outstanding voting shares, which, as the Administrator deems, does not constitute a Sale in Entirety of the Company or a series of transactions leading to a Sale in Entirety.

 

(j) “Shares” mean the ordinary shares of the Company.

 

(k) “Administrator” means Mr. Shen Ziyu or any committee or individual appointed by him to administer this plan.

 

(l) “Related Parties” mean: (a) as to an entity, any other entity which directly or indirectly controls the first-mentioned entity, which is controlled by the first-mentioned entity or which is under common control with the first-mentioned entity; or(b) in the case of an individual, a “related party” shall include his/her parents, spouse, children(and the spouse of his/her children, if any), siblings (and the spouse of his/her siblings), or other lineal relatives, or any entity which is controlled by any of the individuals mentioned above.

 

(m) “Related Entities” mean any parent company, subsidiary or related party of the Company, and any company, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity which is directly or indirectly beneficially owned by the Company, its parent company, subsidiary or related party.

 

 

 

 

(n) “Core Experts” mean any individual employed by the Company or its related entity, who holds a core R&D position in the Company or its related entity, such as [Chief Scientist/Senior Researcher/Chief Engineer].

 

(o) “Succession” means that, as at the time when a Sale in Entirety of the Company occurs: (i) the Company expressly acknowledges the grant, or (ii) the successor involved in the Sale in Entirety of the Company or the parent company thereof expressly indicates that (rather than solely a mandatory requirement of law) it would inherit the contractual obligations under a grant, such inheritance may give rise to appropriate adjustment of the number and type of shares to be issued by the successor or its parent company under the grant, the grant price and conditions for disposal of the shares, provided that such adjustment shall at least retain the indemnification elements under the grant which are determined pursuant to the instrument giving consent to the inheritance of the grant as at the time when the Sale in Entirety of the Company occurs.

 

(p) “Plan” means this 2021 Restrictive Share Incentive Plan (Trust).

 

(q) “Change in Control” means (as reasonably determined by the Administrator) a change in the ownership or control of the Company resulting from the situations mentioned below: any entity or a group related to such entity directly or indirectly acquires the beneficial ownership of fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding voting shares of the Company (except for acquisition by the Company, the employee benefit plan initiated by the Company or a related party of the Company), which acquisition is done through directly making a tender offer or exchange offer to the Company’s shareholders, and in which the majority of directors who are not related parties of the offer or have advised the shareholders not to accept such offer.

 

 

 

 

(r) “Control”, as to a specific entity, means the power and authority (whether or not exercised) to directly or indirectly give instructions on such entity’s business, management or decision-making through the ownership of voting shares, by contract or otherwise. Such power or authority shall be conclusively deemed to exist if the following conditions are met: beneficially owning fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting power represented by all the votable shares at the general meeting of such entity, or having the power to control the majority of the members of the entity’s board of directors.

 

(s) “Parent Company” means any company (other than the “Company” ) on a continuous company chain of which the Company forms the end, and in which every company (other than the “Company”) owns or controls fifty percent (50%) or more interest in the aggregate voting power represented by the various classes of shares of another company on the company chain. Any company which meets the criteria for a parent company after the entry into effect of this Plan shall be deemed to be a parent company from the date on which such criteria are met.

 

(t) “Ordinary Shares” mean the ordinary shares of the Company with par value of US$0.000005 each, the par value per share may be adjusted proportionately to reflect dividend distribution, share split or similar transactions.

 

(u) “Applicable Laws” mean laws and regulations relating to this Plan and Grant made hereunder, including: applicable laws, statutes, regulations, federal securities laws, state corporation laws and state securities laws, the rules of any applicable share exchange or national trading systems, as well as the laws, regulations, orders or rules of any jurisdiction which apply to a grant made to residents in such jurisdiction or the Grantee.

 

 

 

 

(v) “Initial Public Offering” means the Company’s undertaking to offer and issue any of its securities(or securities of its successor) to the general public for the first time in pursuance of: (a) registration statements submitted in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933 and subsequent amendment thereto, or(b) in the case that such securities shall be listed for trading on other internationally recognized share exchange, the securities law of the jurisdiction where the share exchange is located, which apply to the issuance of securities.

  

(w) “Grant” means the grant of restrictive share made hereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, as the shares intended to be issued in connection with the grant made hereunder are actually held through a trust platform, a grant made in pursuance hereof shall be fulfilled through the appointment of the trust platform and the related trust beneficiary by the settlor of trust and through distribution of interest in the trust.

 

(x) “Grant Agreement” means a written agreement executed between the Company and a Grantee evidencing the grant, and the subsequent amendment made thereto.

 

(y) “Substitution” means the replacement of a grant made hereunder pursuant to the Sale in Entirety of the Company, with comparable shares, share incentive or cash incentive plan of the Company, its successor (if applicable) or its parent company, where the comparable shares, share incentive or cash incentive plan has retained the indemnification element existing in the grant as at the time when the Sale in Entirety of the Company occurs, and has provided the Grantee with the same (or more favorable) conditions for the disposal of shares as compared with the original grant. The “Comparability” of a grant shall be determined by the Administrator, whose decision shall be final, binding and conclusive.

 

(z) “Restrictive Shares” mean shares issued to a Grantee hereunder for a certain consideration (if any), which are subject to terms governing the transfer, repossession and confiscation of such shares and other restrictive terms as may be imposed by the Administrator.

 

 

 

 

(aa) “Trust” means a trust created for the purpose of this plan.

 

(bb) “Settlor of Trust” means Mr. Shen Ziyu.

 

(cc) “Trust Platform” is a collective term referring to BRAND MARKET INTERNATIONAL LIMITED which is one hundred percent (100%) controlled by the Trust and SHINE LINK VENTURE LIMITED which is one hundred percent (100%) controlled by BRAND MARKET INTERNATIONAL LIMITED (i.e. the Trust actually owns shares in the Company through indirectly owning one hundred percent (100%) shares in SHINE LINK VENTURE LIMITED).

 

(dd) “Entities” mean any individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, institution, joint venture, estate, trust, unincorporated organization, association, enterprise, firm, corporation not-for-profit, entity, governmental and regulatory body, or entity of any other kind or nature.

 

(ee) “Subsidiary”, as to a specific entity, means (i) any entity, (x) in respect of which the specific entity owns more than fifty percent (50%) shares or other interest granting voting power for the election of directors of such entity, or (y) more than fifty percent (50%) of whose profit or capital is directly or indirectly owned by such specific entity (or indirectly through one or more of its subsidiaries); (ii) any entity, all or a part of whose assets are consolidated with the net income of the specific entity and recorded in the financial statements of the specific entity for the purpose of financial reporting in accordance with applicable accounting standards; or (iii) any entity, in respect of which the specific entity has the power to give instructions directly or indirectly regarding its business or decision-making.

 

 

 

 

3.       Shares under this Plan

  

(a) The aggregate number of shares intended for issuance in connection with a grant made hereunder shall not exceed the number of the entire ordinary shares held by the Trust Platform (which, subject to the provisions of Article 10 below, may be adjusted proportionately in order to reflect dividend distributions, share split or similar transactions).

 

(b) If a grant (or part of a grant) is confiscated, cancelled or withdrawn (whether or not voluntarily), any shares corresponding with such grant shall not be deemed to be outstanding shares for the purpose of computing the maximum number of shares issuable hereunder. The shares actually issued hereunder by virtue of a grant shall not be returned and be used as shares for the purpose hereof, and shall not be used as shares for future issuance hereunder, unless the relevant shares are confiscated, cancelled or withdrawn by the Company pursuant to this Plan, in which case, such shares may be used in connection with future grants made hereunder.

  

4.       Plan Administration

 

(a) Plan Administrator

 

(i)       Administration. This Plan shall be administered by the Administrator. The Administrator may authorize one or more senior managers or directors to make a grant, and may impose restrictions on such grant from time to time at its discretion.

 

(ii)       Binding force. Any grant made or interpretation of any grant agreement made by the Administrator in respect or in pursuance of this Plan, as well as all decisions and elections made by the Administrator in respect of this Plan shall be final, binding and conclusive.

 

 

 

 

(b) Powers of the Administrator. Subject to applicable laws and the terms hereof (including any other rights conferred upon the Administrator hereunder), the Administrator shall exercise the following rights at its discretion:

 

(i)       To select and determine, from time to time, the list of individuals who shall be eligible for a grant hereunder as Eligible Incentive Parties;

  

(ii)       to determine whether to make a grant in pursuance hereof and the scope of such grant;

 

(iii)       to determine the type or number of grant, and to determine the number of shares or amount of consideration which corresponds with each grant made hereunder;

 

(iv)       to approve the standard text of a grant agreement to be used in connection herewith, and to amend the terms thereunder;

 

(v)       to determine or amend the terms and conditions under which any grant shall be made hereunder(including but not limited to the Share Grant Notice and the conditions for disposal of such shares under the grant agreement and the grant price);

 

(vi)       to amend the terms of any grant made hereunder in respect of which issuance has been made, provided that, without the Grantee’s written consent, no amendment shall be made which has a material adverse effect on the rights of the Grantee under a grant in respect of which issuance has been made;

 

 

 

 

(vii)       to interpret the terms of this Plan and grant made hereunder, including but not limited to a Share Grant Notice or Grant Agreement made in accordance herewith;

 

(viii)       to request the Grantee to provide a statement or evidence, guaranteeing that the money used by him/her for paying the price of any grant is lawfully obtained and remitted from the jurisdiction where the Grantee resides in accordance with applicable law;

 

(ix)       to take other actions that the Administrator deems appropriate, which do not contravene the terms of this Plan and applicable laws.

  

(c) Indemnification. In addition to other rights of indemnification which may be available to board members or employees of the Company or its related entities, the board members or employees who are authorized to represent the Administrator or the Company in administering this Plan shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law and approved by the Administrator, receive protection and indemnification from the Company (on an after-tax basis), be indemnified against all actual and necessary expenses including attorney’s fee (arising from the defense or appeal of any claim, investigation, action or other proceedings to which such individuals are made a party as a result of their action or omission to act pursuant to this Plan or the grant made hereunder), as well as all amounts paid by such individuals as a result of settlement (if the Company agrees to settle) or suit, investigation, action, litigation or other proceeding, unless in such claim, investigation, action, suit or other proceedings, such individuals are held to be legally liable as a result of bad faith or willful misconduct. The above-mentioned indemnification is subject to the condition that, within thirty (30) days from the occurrence of any such claim, investigation, action, suit or other proceedings, such individuals shall have provided the Company with a written notice, thereby affording the Company an opportunity to defend, at its own expense, such claim, investigation, action, suit or proceedings.

 

 

 

 

 

5.         Eligibility

 

Authorization may be granted to Eligible Incentive Parties. Unless otherwise decided by the Manager, the Eligible Incentive Parties who have been granted Authorization will no longer participate in the Company’s other equity or option incentive Plans.

 

6.         Authorization-related Terms

 

(a) Authorization Category. Under this Plan, the Manager has the right to grant Restrictive Shares of the Company to Eligible Incentive Parties that do not conflict with the terms of this Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing stipulations, since the Shares used for authorized issuance under this Plan have been actually held through the Trust Platform, the Company Shares granted under this Plan will be reflected in the corresponding share of the Trust Platform’s right to benefit distribution.

 

(b) Designation of Authorization. Each Authorization shall be specified in the Grant Agreement.

 

(c) Authorization Conditions. Within the limitations of the terms of this Plan, the Manager has the right to determine the terms and conditions of each Authorization, including but not limited to conditions for the disposal of Restrictive Shares, recovery provisions, forfeiture provisions, payment methods at the time of Authorization settlement, contingent payment arrangements, and conditions for satisfaction of any performance. Each Authorization shall be subject to the terms of the specific Grant Agreement. Manager may independently set Authorization criteria, and the number or value of Authorizations a Grantee can obtain depends on the extent to which they meet those Authorization criteria. The granting criteria formulated by the Manager may include, but are not limited to, the Grantee’s post category, post level, personal performance, etc. These granting criteria may apply to the Company and/or Related Entity.

 

 

 

 

(d) Independent Program. For the purpose of granting a particular form of Authorization to one or more categories of Grantees, the Manager may establish one or more separate programs under this Plan, and the terms and conditions of which may be determined by the Manager from time to time.

 

(e) Authorization Validity Period. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the grant notice and/or Grant Agreement, each Authorization shall be valid for a period not exceeding [five (5) years] from the date of Authorization.

 

(f) Transferability of Authorization and/or Shares.

 

(i)        Except as otherwise provided in this Plan or the Grant Agreement, the Grantee shall not sell, assign, delegate, mortgage, pledge or otherwise dispose of the Authorizations it has accepted and/or any Shares (including the right to distribute benefits obtained from the Trust Platform) acquired under the Authorizations without the approval of the Manager.

 

 

 

 

(ii)       After the Company completes the IPO (Initial Public Offering) and releases the restrictions, subject to Applicable Laws, the requirements of the underwriters (including but not limited to the requirements regarding the lock-up period) and the provisions of this Plan, the Grantee may dispose of the Shares under the Authorization through secondary market sales. Following the completion of the Company’s IPO and the release of the restrictions, the Grantee may sell the Shares under the Authorization in the following two circumstances: (x) the Grantee’s Continuous Service with the Company or Related Entity has been five (5) years, then he/she has the right to sell all or part of the Shares under the Authorization at any subsequent time; or (y) the Grantee’s Continuous Service with the Company or Related Entity is less than five (5) years, for each full one (1) year of Continuous Service of the Grantee in the Company or the Related Entity, his/her cumulative right to sell the Shares under the Authorization does not exceed the total number of Shares he/her has acquired under the Authorization * twenty percent (20%) * the complete number of his/her Continuous Service year number. If the Grantee intends to sell the Shares under any Authorization, the Grantee may give written notice to the Company to sell all or part (as the case may be) of the Shares he/she has acquired under the Authorization, and the Company will receive such written notice within [five (5) trading days] after the notification, and when the stock exchange allows, it will deal with the request for the sale of Shares by the Grantee, and have the right to choose: (x) to dispose of the relevant Shares by instructing the Trust Platform, and to distribute the relevant income to the Grantee; or (y) to distribute the relevant Shares to the individual securities account designated by the Grantee by instructing the Trust Platform. After the income distribution is completed, the Grantee is no longer the beneficiary of the Trust for all or part of the disposed Authorization and the Shares thereunder, and the Manager has the right to directly instruct the Settlor of Trust to order the Trust Platform and its related Trusts to change the beneficiary share or list accordingly without the cooperation of the Grantee to sign any further documents. Any tax incurred by the Grantee on the disposal of any Shares under the Authorization pursuant to this Article shall be borne by the Grantee.

 

 

 

 

(iii)      In the event that the Continuous Service of the Grantee is terminated due to the death of the Grantee, the Authorization and Shares that the Grantee may retain under Article 9(a) shall be inherited and distributed in accordance with the will of the Grantee or the Applicable Laws, and the following Subjects may obtain the reserved Authorization and Shares : (x) one (and only one) authorized beneficiary Subject named by the deceased Grantee; or (y) if there is no effectively named beneficiary Subject, the legal representative of the deceased Grantee, or the authorized Subject according to the will of the Grantee or stipulated by the Applicable Laws are the beneficiary subject. The terms of the Authorization are binding on the executors, managers, heirs, successors and assigns (collectively “Heirs”) of the deceased Grantee.

 

(g) Date of Authorization. In any event, the date on which an Authorization is granted shall be the date on which the Manager decides to grant the Authorization or such other date as the Manager may designate. The date of Authorization shall be expressly agreed in the grant notice and/or Grant Agreement.

 

7.         Grant Price, Consideration and Taxes of Authorization

 

(a) Grant Price. The grant price, if any, for an Authorization shall be determined by the Manager and expressly agreed in the grant notice and/or Grant Agreement. The Grantee shall pay the grant price in full within the validity period of the Authorization, and the overdue payment or failure to pay in full shall be deemed to be a waiver of the Authorization by the Grantee with regard to that part of the unpaid grant price.

 

(b) Consideration. Within the limits of Applicable Laws, the consideration paid for Shares issued as a result of the purchase Authorization, including the method of payment, shall be determined by the Manager. Considering that the Settlor of Trust has completed the actual capital contribution obligation to the Company through the Trust Platform, the grant consideration shall be paid to the Settlor of Trust. Except for any other kind of consideration that the Manager may determine, the Authorization consideration shall be paid in cash.

 

 

 

 

(c) Tax. The Grantee shall be responsible for all taxes related to the Authorization and the acceptance, transfer and disposal of Shares. Shares under this Plan (represented as the right to distribute the Trust interests) shall not be transferred to any Grantee until the Grantee has made arrangements acceptable to the Manager for the fulfillment of the income tax and payroll tax payment obligations to be undertaken in accordance with the requirements of Applicable Laws. Once the Shares are delivered, the Company and/or the Related Entity and/or Trust Platform for which the Grantee serves shall have the right to withhold or collect from the Grantee an amount sufficient to meet the aforesaid tax obligations. At the time of grant of the Shares, the Grantee shall have the right to elect: (x) to cause the full lump sum tax on the Shares under the Authorization (whether all or part of the grant price is paid or not) as required by Applicable Laws at the time of grant to be paid by the Company or other eligible Subject; (y) after the Company completes the IPO and releases the restriction, when the Grantee disposes of the Shares under the Authorization, the tax on the disposed Shares shall be withheld and paid by the Company or other eligible Subject in accordance with the requirements of the then Applicable Laws.

 

8.       Issue of Shares

 

(a) The Shares used for authorized issuance under this Plan have been actually issued to the Trust Platform for holding, and the Shares issued under the Authorization under this Plan will be reflected as the right to distribute the interests of the corresponding Shares of the Trust Platform.

 

(b) Considering that the Grantee does not actually hold the Company’s Shares issued under the Authorization, the Grantee does not have the corresponding voting rights of the relevant Shares; the Grantee, as the beneficiary of the Trust Platform, the Company may require the Grantee to recognize and agree not to challenge or take legal actions against the Trust.

 

 

 

 

9.       Termination of Continuous Service, Loss of Authority and Right of Recovery.

 

(a) Continuous Service terminated due to death or Disability. Unless otherwise specified by the Plan or otherwise determined by the Manager, in the event that a Grantee’s Continuous Service terminates due to death or Disability,

 

(i)       If the death or Disability of the Grantee is caused by work-related reason, the Grantee or the successor of the Grantee under Article 6(f)(iii) may retain all the Shares issued under the Authorization (whether or not the Grantee’s Continuous Service with the Company or Related Entity has been five (5) years), and disposal shall be carried out in accordance with this Plan and the Grant Agreement.

 

(ii)       If the death or Disability of the Grantee is not caused by work-related reason, the Grantee or the successor of the Grantee under Article 6(f)(iii) may retain twenty percent (20%) of the Shares issued under the Authorization (the maximum shall not exceed one hundred percent (100%) for each consecutive one (1) year of the Grantee’s service, and the remaining Shares shall be recovered by the Company and the Settlor of Trust. If the Grantee has paid the grant price for the remaining Shares, the interest shall be recovered calculated as initial price of the remaining Shares plus the annualized 4% simple interest of the initial price from the date of actual payment to the date of payment of recovery price. If the Grantee has not paid the grant price for the remaining Shares, it shall be recovered free of charge.

 

 

 

 

(b) Other Circumstances of Termination of Continuous Service. Unless otherwise provided in the Plan or determined otherwise by the Manager, in the event that the Grantee’s Continuous Service is terminated for any reason other than death or Disability, the Grantee may retain twenty percent (20%) of the Shares issued under the Authorization (the maximum shall not exceed one hundred percent (100%) for each (1) year of Continuous Service, the remaining Shares shall be recovered by the Company and the Settlor of Trust. If the Grantee has paid the grant price for the remaining Shares, the interest shall be recovered calculated as initial price of the remaining Shares plus the annualized 4% simple interest of the initial price from the date of actual payment to the date of payment of recovery price. If the Grantee has not paid the grant price for the remaining Shares, it shall be recovered free of charge.

 

(c) Payment of Repurchase Price. Among the aforesaid recovery prices:

 

(i)       Before the Company completes the IPO (x) the part below or equal to the initial price shall be actually paid by the Settlor of Trust to the Grantee; (y) the part exceeding the initial price shall be actually paid by the Company to the Grantee;

 

(ii)       on and after the date on which Company completes the IPO, the recovery price shall be actually paid by the Settlor of Trust to the Grantee, but if it is still in the lock-up period, the actual payment of the recovery price will be completed by the Settlor of Trust [within five (5) working days].

 

(d) If the identity of the Grantee changes between the specific positions corresponding to the eligible incentive parties, the Continuous Service shall not be regarded as interrupted or terminated, and the Authorization shall remain valid unless otherwise determined by the Manager. If the identity of the Grantee is changed to another identity that does not meet the Authorization qualification conditions, the Authorization and the Shares issued thereunder shall remain valid only provided that the Manager confirms that the new identity status does not affect the Authorization, otherwise, it will be deemed that the Continuous Service is terminated, and it shall be dealt with in accordance with Articles 9(a) and (b) above depending on the reasons for the change of status.

 

 

 

 

(e) Loss of Authorization. In the event of any of the following circumstances (each of which constitutes a “Major Violation”) during the Continuous Service of the Grantee, whether or not the Continuous Service of the Grantee is terminated due to such circumstances, all Shares issued by the Grantee under the Authorization shall be recovered immediately by the Settlor of Trust at the initial price:

 

(i)        The Grantee violates the provisions of non-competition agreement, non-solicitation agreement or agreement with similar substance entered into with the Company or Related Entity;

 

(ii)       the Grantee violates the provisions of confidentiality agreement or obligation, intellectual property agreement or agreement with similar substance entered into with the Company or Related Entity;

 

(iii)      the Grantee violates the labor contract entered into with the Company or Related Entity, various rules and regulations, or policies and regulations of the Company or Related Entity, and thus causes significant economic losses to the Company or Related Entity;

 

 

 

 

(iv)      the Grantee seriously violates the duty of loyalty, or conducts dereliction of duty, misconduct of duty or malpractice, and thus causes significant damage to the Company or Related Entity;

 

(v)       the Grantee accepts bribes, solicits bribes, embezzles, steals, embezzles the property of the Company or Related Entity, etc., which damages the interests and reputation of the Company or Related Entity, or conducts other acts of dishonesty, fraud, or breach of Trust, which cause losses to the Company or Related Entity;

 

(vi)      the Grantee defames, slanders, spreads rumors that are unfavorable to the Company or Related Entity, etc., which has a bad influence on the Company or Related Entity;

 

(vii)     the Grantee has violated criminal law or violated civil law by virtue of his official conduct (excluding less serious acts such as violations of traffic laws);

 

(viii)    in case that the Grantee is a senior executive, the Grantee’s annual performance for two (2) consecutive years after the Authorization is obtained is at Level C or below;

 

(ix)      in case that the Grantee is a senior executive, the Grantee fails in the annual duty reporting for two (2) consecutive years after obtaining the Authorization;

 

(x)       other circumstances that adversely or negatively affect the Company or Related Entity as agreed by the Manager.

 

 

 

 

If, after the Grantee’s Continuous Service has been terminated not due to a Major Violation, the Grantee is determined to have committed a Major Violation during the Continuous Service, in case that the Grantee or his/her successor retains any part of the Authorization or Shares pursuant to Article 9(a) and (b) at that time, all such retained Authorization and Shares shall be immediately recovered by the Settlor of Trust at the initial price.

 

(f) Recovery. If the Company and the Settlor of Trust withdraw all or part of the Authorization or the Shares under this Plan, the Manager shall have the right to directly instruct the Settlor of Trust to instruct the Trust Platform and its related Trusts to change the beneficiary Shares or the list of beneficiaries without Grantee’s cooperation in signing any further documents.

 

10.       Adjustment after Capital Change. Subject to the required corporate shareholder procedures, the number of Shares corresponding to each Authorization issued, the number of Shares authorized to issue under the Plan, for which however the corresponding Authorization has not been granted, or which has been withdrawn into the Plan, the grant price of the Authorization issued, and any other conditions the Manager deems necessary to be adjusted, will be adjusted proportionally as follows: (i) the increase or decrease in the number of Shares issued, which has been made due to stock split, reverse stock split, Share dividend, Share consolidation or reclassification, or similar transactions affecting the Share; (ii) any other increase or decrease in the number of Shares issued, which has been carried out without consideration received; or (iii) other transactions related to the ordinary Shares determined at the discretion of the Manager, including establishment of new company or merger, merger by absorption, acquisition of assets or equity interests, division (including spin-offs or other distributions of shares or property), reorganizations, liquidations (whether in part or in whole), or other similar transactions; however, the conversion of the Company’s convertible securities shall not be deemed as a transaction “which has been carried out without consideration received”. The aforesaid adjustments shall be made by the Manager and his decision shall be final, binding and conclusive. Unless otherwise determined by the Manager, the issuance of Shares of any type or securities convertible into Shares of any type in the Company shall not affect nor adjust the number or price of Shares under the Authorization. In the event of a spin-off transaction, the Manager shall have the right to make such adjustments or other actions it deems appropriate to the Authorizations issued under the Plan at its sole discretion, including but not limited to: (i) adjusting the number, type of the Shares, the exercise or purchase price of each Share and the conditions for the disposal of the Shares under the issued Authorization, or (ii) the replacement, exchange or authorization to purchase securities of the subsidiary; however, the Manager shall not be obligated to make or taken any of the aforesaid adjustments or actions.

 

 

 

 

11.       Entire Company Sale and Change of Control

 

(a)       Entire Company Sale. Unless otherwise provided in a separate Grant Agreement or other written agreement between the Company and the Grantee, in case of an Entire Company Sale (excluding an Entire Company Sale that is also a Change of Control), each Authorization may be Inherited and Superseded before the effective date of the Entire Company Sale; for the part of the Authorization that is not Inherited or Superseded, if the Continuous Service of the Grantee with the Company is not terminated before the specific effective date of the Entire Company Sale, any right of repurchase or forfeiture or other restrictions on Shares under the Authorization shall be automatically and fully released before the effective date.

 

(b)       Change of Control. Unless otherwise provided in a separate Grant Agreement or other written agreement between the Company and the Grantee, in case of a Change of Control (excluding a Change of Control that is also an Entire Company Sale), if the Grantee’s Continuous Service with the Company is not terminated before the specific effective date of the Change of Control of the Company, for each Authorization issued under the Plan, any right of repurchase or forfeiture or other restrictions on Shares under the Authorization shall be automatically and fully released before the effective date.

 

 

 

 

(c)       Termination of the non-Inherited and Superseded portion of Authorization in the Entire Company Sale. Upon the effective completion of the Entire Sale, all Authorizations issued under the Plan shall terminate, but all portions of the Entire Sale that have been Inherited or Superseded shall not terminate.

 

(d)       Other Mechanisms. Except as otherwise provided in a separate Grant Agreement or other written agreement between the Company and the Grantee, subject to the provisions of Applicable Laws, in case of an Entire Company Sale or a Change of Control, the Manager may make other mechanisms, such as terminating any Authorization and withdrawing the Authorization in cash based on the value of the Shares at the time of the Entire Company Sale or Change of Control (as the case may be).

 

(e)       Participation in Transactions. Unless otherwise requested by the counterparty to the transaction of the Entire Company Sale or Change of Control, the Trust Platform will participate in the relevant transaction in proportion jointly with Jie&Hao Holding Limited controlled by Shen Ziyu and Minghao Group Limited controlled by Li Shufu.

 

12.       Effective Date and Duration of Plan. The Plan shall take effect on the date of approval by the Board of Directors of the Company, and if it is subject to the approval of the Company’s Shareholders in accordance with Applicable Laws before it takes effect, the Plan shall take effect on the date of approval by the Company’s Board of Directors or the Board of Shareholders, whichever is later (the “Effective Date”). Subject to Applicable Laws, Authorization may be granted after the Plan becomes effective. Unless terminated earlier, the Plan will be valid for ten (10) years from the Effective Date (“Plan Validity”) and no further Authorizations may be made under the Plan after the Plan expires. Any issued Authorizations shall remain in effect in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the applicable Grant Agreement until the expiry of the Plan Validity.

 

 

 

 

13.       Amendment, Suspension and Termination of the Plan

 

(a) Any amendments to the Plan by the Manager (including amendment to the Validity of the Plan), suspension and termination shall be approved by the Board of Directors, provided, however, that such amendment, suspension or termination shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s shareholders if required by Applicable Laws, or if the amendment involves any content of Article 4(b)(vi) or 13(a) of the Plan, no amendment shall be made accordingly without the approval of the shareholders of the Company.

 

(b) No Authorization may be made during the suspension of plan or after the termination of plan.

 

(c) Except as determined in good faith by the Manager, any suspension or termination of the Plan (including termination of the Plan pursuant to Article 11) shall not materially adversely affect any rights that have been granted to Grantee.

 

14.       Reservation of Share. During the validity of the Plan, the Company shall always ensure that the Trust Platform holds sufficient Shares to ensure that the needs of the Plan are satisfied.

 

15.       No Impact on Employment Relationship Terms. This Plan does not confer any rights to the Grantee in relation to continued employment, nor does it affect the right of the Grantee, or the Company or Related Entity, to terminate the Grantee’s continued employment at any time.

 

 

 

 

16.       No Impact on Retirement and Other Benefit Plans. Unless expressly agreed otherwise in the Company’s or the Related Entity’s retirement plan or other benefit plan, Authorization shall not be deemed compensation in the calculation of earnings or contributions to any of the Company’s or Related Entity’s retirement plans, and shall not affect any other type of benefit plans, or the benefit under any benefit plan established thereafter, under which an amount of available benefit is related to the salary level. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, unless otherwise determined by the Manager, the Grantees who have obtained Authorization under this Plan will no longer participate in other equity or option incentive plans of the Company.

 

17.       No Reward Rights. No person eligible to participate in the Plan may unilaterally assert rights authorized under the Plan, and the Company or the Manager is not obliged to treat all persons eligible to participate in the Plan in a consistent manner.

 

18.       No Shareholder Rights. All Authorizations made under this Plan do not grant the rights of the Grantee to any shareholder of the Company.

 

19.       IPO. At the IPO of Shares, the Grantee shall agree that the Trust Platform signs all agreements with any underwriters, coordinators, bankers or sponsors appointed by the Company for the purpose of the IPO. To this end, the Grantee shall confirm that the Trust Platform has the right to sign on its own behalf, or authorize the Board of Directors or other Subjects designated by the Board of Directors sign on behalf of the Trust Platform, all agreements with any underwriters, coordinators, bankers or sponsors appointed by the Company for the purpose of completing the IPO, and to take all necessary and appropriate actions and sign all necessary and appropriate documents.

 

20.       No Financial Preparation Obligations. Regardless of the purpose, the Company or the Trust Platform has no obligation to reserve funds or to mortgage with regard to the payables to the Grantee under this Plan. Neither the Company nor the Trust Platform will be required to segregate any amounts from its general funds or establish any Trust or any special account for such obligation. Any investment by the Company or Trust Platform, or any establishment or maintenance of a Trust or the Grantee’s account, will not constitute a fiduciary or loyal relationship between the Manager, the Company or Trust Platform and the Grantee, nor will any encashment or beneficial rights of the Grantee or the Grantee’s creditors in the assets of the Company or Trust Platform. Regardless of any changes in the value of any assets invested or reinvested by the Company or Trust Platform based on this Plan, the Grantee shall have no right to make any claims against the Company or Trust Platform.

 

21.       Entire Plan. This Plan, the separate Grant Agreement, the grant notice, together with all Exhibits, are restatements and amendments to the 2019 Restrictive Share Incentive Plan (Trust) (the “Original Incentive Plan”) adopted in December 6, 2019, constitute and become the entire Restrictive Share Incentive Plan and the Parties’ entire understanding of the matters referred to herein, supersede any or all prior negotiations, correspondences, agreements, understandings, memorandums, responsibilities or obligations between the Parties on the relevant matters, and shall supersede and replace the Original Inventive Plan in all respects from the date this Plan being effective.

 

22.       Interpretation. Headings in this Plan are for convenience only and shall not affect any meaning or interpretation of the terms of this Plan. The use of “or” is not intended to be exclusive, unless otherwise expressly indicated in the context.

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.11

 

ECARX HOLDINGS INC.

 

2021 Option Incentive Plan

 

 

 

 

ECARX HOLDINGS INC.

 

2021 Option Incentive Plan

 

1.Purposes of the Plan.

 

The purposes of the 2021 Option Incentive Plan are to attract and retain the best talent in the market, to provide incentives to employees of the Company or Related Entities who brought business value and to promote the success of the Company’s business.

 

2.Definitions.

 

The following definitions shall apply herein and in the Award Agreements except as defined otherwise in an individual Award Agreement. In the event a term is separately defined in an individual Award Agreement, such definition shall supersede the definition contained in this Section 2:

 

(a)Circular 7” means the Notices on Issues Concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in a Stock Incentive Plan of an Overseas Publicly-Listed Company (Hui Fa [2012] No.7);

 

(b)Grantee” means an eligible participant of the Plan (Eligible Participant) who receives an Award under the Plan;

 

(c)Disability” means that a Grantee is unable to carry out the responsibilities and functions of the position held by the Grantee by reason of any medically determinable physical impairment for a period of not less than ninety (90) days. A Grantee will not be considered to have incurred a Disability unless he or she furnishes proof of such impairment sufficient to satisfy the Administrator in its discretion;

 

(d)Continuous Service” means that the provision of services to the Company or a Related Entity in the capacity of an Eligible Participant is not interrupted or terminated. In jurisdictions requiring notice in advance of an effective termination as a Grantee, Continuous Service shall be deemed terminated upon the actual cessation of providing services to the Company or a Related Entity notwithstanding any required notice period that must be fulfilled before a termination as a Grantee can be effective under Applicable Laws. A Grantee’s Continuous Service shall be deemed to have terminated either upon an actual termination of Continuous Service or upon the entity for which the Grantee provides services ceasing to be a Related Entity. Continuous Service shall not be considered interrupted in the case of (i) any approved leave of absence; (ii) transfers among the Company, any Related Entity, or any successor, in the capacity of an Eligible Participant; or (iii) any change in status or position as long as the Grantee remains in the service of the Company or a Related Entity in the capacity of an Eligible Participant (except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement). An approved leave of absence shall include sick leave or any other authorized personal leave;

 

 

 

 

(e)Director(s)” means a member of the Board of Directors of the Company or any Related Entity;

 

(f)Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company;

 

(g)Registration Date” means the first to occur of (i) the closing of the IPO; and (ii) in the event of a Corporate Transaction, the date of the consummation of the Corporate Transaction if the same class of shares of the successor (or its Parent) issuable in such Corporate Transaction have completed the IPO on or prior to the date of consummation of such Corporate Transaction;

 

(h)Spin-off Transaction(s)” means a distribution by the Company to its shareholders of all or any portion of the shares of any Subsidiary of the Company;

 

(i)Company” means ECARX HOLDINGS INC., a company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands or, in the event of a Corporate Transaction, any successor that adopts the Plan;

 

(j)Corporate Transaction” means (as reasonably determined by the Administrator) any of the following transactions:

 

(i)a consolidation, merger, acquisition or other business combination of the Company with or by any other Subject in which the Company is not the surviving entity, or any other transaction or series of transactions in which the original shareholders of the Company immediately prior to the consummation of the transaction or series of transactions cease to have a majority of the voting rights of the surviving entity immediately after the consummation of the transaction or series of transactions, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the state in which the Company is incorporated;

 

(ii)the sale, transfer, exclusive license or other disposal of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates;

 

(iii)the complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

 

(iv)any reverse merger or series of related transactions resulting in a reverse merger (including, but not limited to, a tender offer prior to a reverse merger) in which the Company is the surviving entity but (A) the Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately prior to such merger are converted or exchanged by virtue of the merger into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise, or (B) in which shares possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding shares are transferred to a Subject or Subjects different from those who held such shares immediately prior to such merger or series of related transactions resulting in such merger, but excluding any such transaction or series of related transactions that the Administrator determines shall not be a Corporate Transaction; or

 

 

 

 

(v)acquisition in a single or series of related transactions by any Subject or related group of Subjects (other than the Company or by a Company-sponsored employee benefit plan) of beneficial ownership of shares possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding shares but excluding any such transaction or series of transactions that the Administrator determines shall not be a Corporate Transaction;

 

(k)Share(s)” means the Ordinary Share(s) of the Company;

 

(l)Administrator” means the Board of Directors of the Company;

 

(m)Affiliate(s)” means (a) with respect to a Subject, any Subject that, directly or indirectly, Controls, is Controlled by or is under common Control with such Subject; or (b) in the case of a natural person, a parent, spouse, child (and his/her spouse, if any), full brother or sister (and his/her spouse, if any), or other immediate family member, or a subject Controlled by any of the foregoing;

 

(n)Related Entity(ies)” means any Parent or Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company and any business, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity in which the Company or a Parent or a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of the Company holds a substantial ownership interest, directly or indirectly;

 

(o)Succeeded” means that pursuant to a Corporate Transaction either (i) the Award is expressly affirmed by the Company or (ii) the contractual obligations represented by the Award are expressly succeeded (and not simply by reason of a mandatory legal requirement) by the successor or its Parent in connection with the Corporate Transaction with appropriate adjustments to the number and type of shares of the successor or its Parent subject to the Award and the exercise or purchase price thereof which at least preserves the compensation element of the Award existing at the time of the Corporate Transaction as determined in accordance with the instruments evidencing the agreement to succeed the Award;

 

(p)Plan” means this 2021 Option Incentive Plan;

 

(q)Change in Control” means (as reasonably determined by the Administrator) a change in ownership or control of the Company effected through the direct or indirect acquisition by any Subject or related group of Subjects (other than an acquisition from or by the Company or by a Company-sponsored employee benefit plan or by an Affiliate of the Company) of beneficial ownership of shares possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding shares pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly to the Company’s shareholders which a majority of the Directors who are not Affiliates of the offeror do not recommend such shareholders to accept;

 

 

 

 

(r)Control” of a given Subject means the power or authority, whether exercised or not, to direct the business, management and decisions of such Subject, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting shares, by contract or otherwise. Such power or authority shall conclusively be presumed to exist upon possession of beneficial ownership or power to direct the vote of more than fifty percent (50%) of the votes entitled to be cast at a meeting of shareholders of such Subject or power to control the composition of a majority of the Board of Directors of such Subject;

 

(s)Parent” means any company (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of companies ending with the Company, and each of the companies (other than the Company) owns or Controls stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other companies in such chain. A company that attains the status of a Parent on a date after the adoption of the Plan shall be considered a Parent commencing as of such date;

 

(t)Ordinary Share(s)” means the Company’s ordinary shares, par value US$0.00005 per share;

 

(u)Option(s)” means an option to purchase shares pursuant to an Award Agreement granted under the Plan;

 

(v)Applicable Laws” means legal requirements relating to the Plan and the Awards under applicable laws, regulations, rules, federal securities laws, state corporate and securities laws, the rules of any applicable stock exchange or national market system, and the laws, regulations, orders or rules of any jurisdiction applicable to the Awards granted to residents therein or the Grantees receiving such Awards;

 

(w)IPO” means the Company’s first firm commitment underwritten public offering of any of its securities (or the securities of a successor corporation) to the general public pursuant to (a) a registration statement filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or (b) the securities laws applicable to an offering of securities in another jurisdiction pursuant to which such securities will be listed on an internationally recognized securities exchange;

 

(x)Award” means an Option under the Plan;

 

(y)Award Agreement” means the written agreement evidencing the grant of an Award executed by the Company and the Grantee, including any subsequent amendments thereto;

 

(z)Replaced” means that pursuant to a Corporate Transaction the Award is replaced with a comparable share or share award or a cash incentive program of the Company, the successor (if applicable) or Parent of either of them which preserves the compensation element of such Award existing at the time of the Corporate Transaction and provides for subsequent payout in accordance with the same (or a more favorable) vesting schedule applicable to such Award. The determination of Award comparability shall be made by the Administrator and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive;

 

 

 

 

(aa)M&A” means the currently effective memorandum and articles of association of the Company (including any subsequent amendments thereto);

 

(bb)“Subject” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, institution, joint venture, estate, trust, unincorporated organization, association, business, firm, public benefit corporation, entity, governmental regulatory body, or any other entity of any type or nature;

 

(cc)Subsidiary(ies)” of a given entity means (i) any entity (x) in whose election of directors the given entity owns shares possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power or other interests, or (y) in whose profits or capital more than fifty percent (50%) interest is owned or Controlled, directly or indirectly, by the given entity (or through one or more subsidiaries thereof); (ii) any entity, all or a portion of whose assets are consolidated with the net income of the given entity and included in the financial statements thereof for financial statement purposes in accordance with applicable accounting standards; or (iii) any entity over whose business or decisions the given entity has the power to direct, directly or indirectly.

 

3.Shares Subject to the Plan

 

3.1The Shares to be issued pursuant to the Awards under the Plan shall be reserved, but unissued, Ordinary Shares of the Company. The maximum aggregate number of Shares to be issued is [ ] Ordinary Shares of the Company (subject to the provisions of Section 11 below, which may be adjusted pro rata to reflect any share dividends, share splits or similar transactions).

 

3.2Any Shares covered by an Award (or portion of an Award) which is forfeited, canceled or expires (whether voluntarily or not) shall be deemed not to have been issued for purposes of determining the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan. Shares that actually have been issued under the Plan pursuant to an Award shall not be returned to the Plan and shall not become available for future issuance under the Plan, except that the relevant Shares are forfeited or canceled by the Company under the Plan, in which case such Shares shall become available for future grant under the Plan.

 

 

 

 

4.Administration of the Plan

 

4.1Plan Administrator

 

(a)Administration. The Plan shall be administered by the Administrator. The Administrator may authorize one or more officers or Directors to grant such Awards and may limit such authority as the Administrator determines from time to time.

 

(b)Binding. The Administrator’s interpretation of the Plan, any Award granted pursuant to the Plan, any Award Agreement, and all decisions made by the Administrator with respect to the Plan shall be final, binding and conclusive.

 

(c)Powers of the Administrator. Subject to Applicable Laws and the provisions of the Plan (including any other powers given to the Administrator hereunder), the Administrator shall have the authority, in its discretion:

 

(i)to select the Eligible Participants to whom Awards may be granted from time to time under the Plan;

 

(ii)to determine whether and to what extent Awards are granted under the Plan;

 

(iii)to determine the type or number of the Awards as well as the number of Shares or the amount of consideration to be covered by each Award granted under the Plan;

 

(iv)to approve standard forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan and amend the terms of the Award Agreements;

 

(v)to determine or amend the terms and conditions of any Award granted under the Plan (including, but not limited to, the vesting schedule and exercise price set forth in the notice of Share Award and Award Agreement);

 

(vi)to amend the terms of any outstanding Award granted under the Plan, provided that any amendment that would adversely affect the Grantee’s rights under an outstanding Award shall not be made without the Grantee’s written consent;

 

(vii)to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards, including without limitation, any notice of Award or Award Agreement, granted pursuant to the Plan;

 

(viii)to require the Grantee to provide a statement or proof that the currency in which the exercise price of any Award to be paid is lawfully obtained in accordance with Applicable Laws and is remitted from the jurisdiction where the Grantee resides;

 

(ix)to take such other actions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator deems appropriate.

 

4.2Indemnification. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members of the Board of Directors or employees of the Company or a Related Entity, members of the Board of Directors and any employees of the Company or a Related Entity to whom authority to execute the Plan for the Administrator or the Company is delegated shall be defended and indemnified by the Company (on an after-tax basis) to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws and approved by Administrator against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan, or any Award granted hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding that such Person is liable for bad faith or intentional misconduct; provided, however, that within thirty (30) days after the institution of such claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding, such person shall offer to the Company, in writing, the opportunity at the Company’s expense to defend the same.

 

 

 

 

5.Eligibility

 

5.1Awards may be granted to eligible participants, who should, in principle, be senior management and core personnel having a direct impact on the overall performance and sustainable development of the Company (“Eligible Participant(s)”).

 

5.2However, unless specifically agreed by the Administrator, an employee may not participate in the Award under the Plan if he/she:

 

(i)has been disciplined by the Company for an accident involving serious consequences in the previous year;

 

(ii)has materially breached agreements with the Company or Related Entities, including the labor contract, non-competition agreement, non-solicitation agreement or covenants with similar substance, confidentiality agreement or obligation, intellectual property agreement or covenant, or covenants with similar substance;

 

(iii)has seriously violated rules, policies and regulations of the Company or Related Entities and has been disciplined by the Company for such violations;

 

(iv)has committed serious breach of duty of loyalty, dereliction of duty, malfeasance, selfishness and fraud, causing significant damage to the Company or Related Entities;

 

(v)has committed any illegal or disciplinary offences such as bribery, solicitation of bribe, embezzlement, theft, misappropriation of the property of the Company or Related Entities, which damage the interests and reputation of the Company or Related Entities, or has committed other acts of unfaithfulness, fraud or breach of trust, causing damages to the Company or Related Entities;

 

(vi)has defamed, slandered, or spread rumours against the Company or Related Entities, imposing bad influence on the Company or Related Entities;

 

(vii)has committed a criminal offence or a civil offence by virtue of his/her duty-related behavior (excluding less serious offences such as traffic violations);

 

(viii)has committed other acts that, in the opinion of the Administrator, may adversely or negatively affect the Company or Related Entities.

 

 

 

 

6.Award Plan

 

6.1Number of Awards

 

The Administrator will determine the number of Awards to be granted to a participant in consideration of the following factors:

 

(i)post level in the Company;

 

(ii)post category;

 

(iii)annual performance rating;

 

(iv)historical contribution;

 

(v)comprehensive evaluation, including personal growth potential and value recognition.

 

6.2Vesting of Awards

 

For each Grantee, up to 25% of the number of Options to be granted may be vested on each anniversary of the date of grant (the “Vesting Date”), subject to the Company’s administrative measures and the approval of the Administrator.

 

6.3Promotion after Awards

 

In the event of a promotion between the date of grant and the expiry date, the Company shall be entitled to grant further Options at the grant amount corresponding to the promoted rank, subject to the relevant management policy and the approval of the Administrator, in respect of the promoted employee who is still in service in the Company.

 

7.Terms of Awards

 

7.1Types of Awards. The Administrator is authorized under the Plan to award Eligible Participants Options that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan.

 

 

 

 

7.2Designation of Award. Each Award shall be designated in the Award Agreement.

 

7.3Conditions of Award. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Administrator shall determine the provisions, terms, and conditions of each Award including, but not limited to, the Award vesting schedule, forfeiture provisions, form of payment upon settlement of the Award, payment contingencies, and satisfaction of any performance criteria. Each Award shall be subject to the terms of the specific Award Agreement. The Administrator may independently set the criteria for the Award, and the number or value of the Award available to the Grantees depends on the extent to which they meet the criteria. The criteria for the Award made by the Administrator may include but not limited to the post category, post level, individual performance and special contribution of the Grantees. These criteria for the Award may apply to the Company and/or Related Entities.

 

7.4Separate Programs. The Administrator may establish one or more separate programs under the Plan for the purpose of issuing particular forms of Awards to one or more classes of Grantees on such terms and conditions as determined by the Administrator from time to time.

 

7.5Early Exercise. The Award Agreement may, but need not, include a provision whereby the Grantee may be entitled to exercise any part or all of the Award at any time during which he or she is an Eligible Participant prior to full vesting of the Award, subject to compliance with the Applicable Laws. Any early vested Shares received pursuant to such exercise may be subject to any other restriction the Administrator determines to be appropriate.

 

7.6Term of Award. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the notice of Award and/or the Award Agreement, the term of each Award will not be longer than ten (10) years from the date of grant (“Term of Award”).

 

7.7Transferability of Awards and/or Shares.

 

(a)In no event shall the Grantee sell, transfer, delegate, mortgage, pledge or otherwise dispose of any Share obtained through the Awards and/or exercise of the Awards at its sole discretion.

 

(b)Upon completion of the IPO and Lock-up expiration, subject to applicable laws and the Underwriter’s requirements (including but not limited to the requirements for Lock-up Period), the Grantee may exercise the vested Awards according to the vesting schedule, provided that unless otherwise decided by the Administrator, at the time of exercise, the Grantee shall dispose of the Shares obtainable upon exercise of Awards by sales on the secondary market. For the avoidance of any doubt, unless otherwise decided by the Administrator, the exercise of Awards and the disposal of Shares shall be made at the same time. If the Grantee contemplate to exercise the Awards and dispose of the Shares, it may send a notice requiring so, in writing to the Company, while the Company may, within five (5) business days after receiving the notice, proceed with the Grantee’s requirements for selling Shares when the stock exchange permits, and dispose of the relevant Shares and distribute the relevant proceeds on his/her own or through an agency designated by the Company. On demand of the Administrator, the Grantee shall work with the Company or the agency designated by the Company to register foreign exchanges under Circular 7. The Grantee shall be solely liable for any tax or charge arising from the exercise of Options or the disposal of Shares hereunder.

 

 

 

 

(c)If the Grantee’s Continuous Service is terminated by his/her death, the Awards retainable under Section 10(a) shall be succeeded and distributed according to the Grantee’s will or Applicable Laws, while the following Subjects may obtain the retained Awards: (x) one and the only one beneficiary appointed by the deceased Grantee; or (y) if there is no beneficiary so appointed, the legal representative of the deceased Grantee, or the eligible Subject according to the Grantee’s will or Applicable Laws. The terms of the Awards shall be binding on the executors, administrators, heirs, successors and assigns (collectively, the “Successors”) of the deceased Grantee.

 

7.8Awarding Date. In any circumstance, the date of granting an Award shall be the date when the Administrator decides to grant the Award or other date designated by the Administrator. The Awarding Date shall be explicitly defined in the notice of Award and/or the Award Agreement.

 

8.Award Exercise Price, Consideration and Taxes

 

8.1Exercise or Purchase Price. The exercise price for an Award shall be determined by the Administrator, and shall explicitly defined in the notice of Award and/or the Award Agreement.

 

8.2Consideration. Subject to Applicable Laws, the consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Award including the method of payment, shall be determined by the Administrator. The exercise consideration shall be paid to the Company or the party designated by the Company. In addition to any other types of consideration the Administrator may determine, the exercise consideration shall be paid in cash. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, the exercise of an Award shall coincide with the disposal of Shares, while the exercise consideration may be directly charged when the Company or the agency designated by the Company is distributing the transfer consideration of the Shares derived from the exercise of an Award to the payer.

 

8.3Taxes. The Grantee shall be responsible for all taxes associated with the receipt, vesting, exercise, transfer and disposal of the Awards and the Shares. No Shares under the Plan shall be delivered to any Grantee until such Grantee has made arrangements acceptable to the Administrator for the satisfaction of any income and salary tax withholding obligations under Applicable Laws. Upon exercise of an Award, the Company and/or the Related Entity which is an employer of the Grantee shall have the right to withhold or collect from Grantee an amount sufficient to satisfy such tax obligations.

 

 

 

 

9.Exercise of Awards

 

(a)Exercise Time and Conditions. The Administrator shall determine the time or frequency of the exercise all or some Awards, including the exercise before the vesting. Provided that the exercise period of any Award granted under the Plan shall not exceed the term of the Award. The Administrator shall meanwhile determine the conditions (if any) for the exercise of all or some Awards. If the Administrator judges that the Grantee’s exercise of Awards (i) is prohibited under Applicable Laws, or subject to any approval and/or registry requirements under Applicable Laws, or (ii) may subject the Company and/or the Related Entity to the legal limitations under Applicable Laws, then the Grantee may not exercise the Awards without prior consent in writing from the Administrator.

 

(b)Procedure for Exercise. Any Award granted under the Plan shall be exercised at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator under the terms of the Plan and specified in the Award Agreement. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, the exercise of Awards hereunder shall coincide with the disposal of Shares obtained from such exercise.

 

(c)No Exercise Shall be in Violation of Applicable Laws. Notwithstanding the foregoing, regardless of whether an Award has otherwise become exercisable, the Award shall not be exercised if the Administrator (in its sole discretion) determines that an exercise would violate any Applicable Laws.

 

(d)Restrictions on Exercise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, regardless of whether an Award has been vested and become exercisable, the Award may not be exercised as determined by the Administrator before the consummation of (i) an IPO and Lock-up expiration of the Shares the Company, or (ii) a Corporate Transaction or Change in Control, except as otherwise stated in the Award Agreement.

 

10.Issuance of Shares

 

10.1Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Award unless the exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all Applicable Laws, M&A and the relevant Award Agreement, and shall be further subject to the approval of the Company with respect to such compliance.

 

10.2As a condition to the exercise of an Award, the Company may require the Subject exercising such Award to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of the Company, such a representation is required by any Applicable Laws.

 

10.3As a condition to the exercise of an Award, the relevant Award Agreement may provide for Grantee to grant a power of attorney to the Board of Directors or any Subject designated by the Board of Directors to exercise the voting rights with respect to the Shares. The Company may require the Subject exercising such Award to acknowledge and agree to be bound by the provisions of the currently effective M&A and other agreements of the Company in relation to the Shares (if any), as if the Grantee is a holder of the Ordinary Shares.

 

 

 

 

10.4Unless otherwise decided by the Administrator, the exercise of Awards shall coincide with the disposal of Shares; upon such exercise and disposal, and after the Grantee has received the portion of transfer consideration under the Plan (net of exercise price, if necessary), the Grantee shall no longer benefit from the Company in respect of such Awards.

 

11.Termination of Continuous Service and Loss of Award.

 

11.1Termination of Continuous Service due to death or Disability. Unless otherwise required by the Plan or otherwise decided by the Administrator, in the event that the Continuous Service of the Grantee is terminated due to his/her death or Disability,

 

(a)if his/her death or Disability is caused at work, then the Grantee or his/her Successor (as defined in Section 7.7(c) hereof) may retain all the Options under the Award, whether vested or not (“Retainable Award”);

 

(b)if his/her death or Disability is not caused at work, then the Grantee or his/her Successor (as defined in Section 7.7(c) hereof) may retain all the Options under the Award (“Retainable Award”), and upon the completion of the IPO and Lock-up expiration of the Company, may exercise and dispose of the Retainable Award according to the Plan. The remaining unvested Options will become invalid on the termination date.

 

11.2Termination of Continuous Service for Other Reasons. Unless otherwise specified herein or otherwise decided by the Administrator, in the event that the Grantee’s Continuous Service is terminated through negotiation with the Company for any reason other than death, Disability, or material violation, then the Grantee may retain all the vested Options under the Award (“Retainable Award”), and upon the completion of the IPO and Lock-up expiration of the Company, may exercise and dispose of the Retainable Award according to the Plan. The remaining unvested Options will become invalid on the termination date. The Company will not archive the information of any employee who has left the Company, according to the Circular 7, while the exercise consideration shall be managed by the employee later on his/her own.

 

11.3If the Grantee’s identity is changed between the specific functions corresponding to the Eligible Participants, then his/her Continuous Service shall not be deemed as interrupted or terminated, and his/her Awards shall continue to be effective, unless otherwise decided by the Administrator. If the Grantee’s identity is changed to be ineligible, then his/her Awards shall not continue to be effective unless the Administrator confirms that its new identity does not affect the Awards; or else, the Continuous Service of the Grantee shall be deemed as terminated, in which case, the above Section 11.2 shall apply, depending on the different reasons for the change of identity.

 

 

 

 

11.4Loss of Award. If the Grantee commits any of the following acts (each may constitute a “Material Violation”) during his/her Continuous Service, no matter whether his/her Continuous Service is terminated due to such act or not, his/her Awards (whether vested or not) shall lapse immediately on the date of such Material Violation:

 

(i)The Grantee violates the non-competition agreement, non-solicitation agreement or other agreements similar in substance signed with the Company or Related Entities;

 

(ii)The Grantee violates the confidentiality agreement or obligation, intellectual property agreement or covenant or other agreements similar in substance signed with the Company or Related Entities;

 

(iii)The Grantee violates the labour contract signed with the Company or Related Entities, or violates various regulations, policies and requirements of the Company or Related Entities, causing significant economic loss to the Company or Related Entities;

 

(iv)The Grantee commits serious breach of duty of loyalty, dereliction of duty, malfeasance, selfishness and fraud, causing significant damage to the Company or Related Entities;

 

(v)The Grantee commits any illegal or disciplinary offences such as bribery, solicitation of bribe, embezzlement, theft, misappropriation of the property of the Company or Related Entities, which damage the interests and reputation of the Company or Related Entities, or commits other acts of unfaithfulness, fraud or breach of trust, causing damages to the Company or Related Entities;

 

(vi)The Grantee defames, slanders, or spreads rumours against the Company or Related Entities, imposing bad influence on the Company or Related Entities;

 

(vii)The Grantee commits a criminal offence or a civil offence by virtue of his/her duty-related behavior (excluding less serious offences such as traffic violations);

 

(viii)Other acts that, as agreed by the Administrator, may adversely or negatively affect the Company or Related Entities.

 

 

 

 

12.Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization.

 

Subject to the required procedures of the shareholders of the Company, the number of Shares covered by each outstanding Award, and the number of Shares which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Awards have yet been granted or which have been returned to the Plan, the exercise or purchase price of each such outstanding Award, as well as any other terms that the Administrator determines require adjustment shall be equitably adjusted for (i) any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares resulting from a share split, reverse share split, share dividend, combination or reclassification of the Shares, or similar transaction affecting the Shares; (ii) any other increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares effected without receipt of consideration; or (iii) as the Administrator may determine in its discretion, any other transaction with respect to Ordinary Shares including a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or equity, separation (including a spin-off or other distribution of shares or property), reorganization, liquidation (whether partial or complete) or any similar transaction; provided, however that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt of consideration”. Such adjustment shall be made by the Administrator and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as the Administrator determines, no issuance by the Company of shares of any class, or securities convertible into shares of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason hereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares subject to an Award. In the event of a Spin-off Transaction, the Administrator may in its discretion make such adjustments and take such other action as it deems appropriate with respect to outstanding Awards under the Plan, including but not limited to: (i) adjustments to the number and type of Shares, the exercise or purchase price per Share and the vesting schedule of outstanding Awards, (ii) prohibit the exercise of Awards during certain periods of time prior to the consummation of the Spin-off Transaction, or (iii) the substitution, exchange or grant of Awards to purchase securities of the Subsidiary; provided that the Administrator shall not be obligated to make any such adjustments or take any such action hereunder.

 

13.Corporate Transactions and Changes in Control

 

13.1Corporate Transaction. Except as provided otherwise in an individual Award Agreement or other written agreements between the Company and the Grantee, in the event of a Corporate Transaction (other than a Corporate Transaction which is also a Change in Control), each Award may be succeeded and replace before the effective date of such Corporate Transaction; for the portion of each Award that is neither succeeded nor replaced, if the Grantee’s Continuous Service in the Company is not terminated before the specified effective date of such Corporate Transaction, such portion of the Award shall, prior to such effective date, automatically become fully vested and exercisable and be released from any forfeiture rights or other restrictions on Shares that may be acquired by exercise of the Award. The portion of the Award that is not succeeded or replaced shall terminate under this Section if it is not exercised prior to the consummation of such Corporate Transaction.

 

13.2Change in Control. Except as provided otherwise in an individual Award Agreement or other written agreements between the Company and the Grantee, in the event of a Change in Control (other than a Change in Control which is also a Corporate Transaction), if the Grantee’s Continuous Service in the Company is not terminated before the specified effective date of such Change in Control, each Award which is at the time outstanding under the Plan shall, prior to such effective date, automatically become fully vested and exercisable and be released from any forfeiture rights or other restrictions on Shares that may be acquired by exercise of the Award.

 

 

 

 

13.3Termination of the Portion of an Award not Succeeded or Replaced in a Corporate Transaction. Upon effective completion of a Corporate Transaction, all outstanding Awards hereunder shall be terminated, except for the portion of the Award that is already succeeded or replaced in the Corporate Transaction.

 

13.4Other Mechanism. Except as provided otherwise in an individual Award Agreement or other written agreements between the Company and the Grantee, subject to Applicable Laws, in the event of either a Corporate Transaction or a Change in Control, the Administrator may develop other mechanisms, for example, (i) the Administrator may terminate any Award and recover such Award in cash equivalent to the share value at the time of the Corporate Transaction or Change in Control (as case may be); or (ii) the Administrator may permit any Grantee to exercise the rights of outstanding Awards during any period decided by the Administrator.

 

14.Effective Date and Term of Plan.

 

The Plan shall become effective on the date of adoption by the Board of Directors (or on the date of adoption by the Board of Directors or the date of approval at the General Meeting (whichever is later) if, under Applicable Laws, it shall become effective upon the approval by the shareholders of the Company)(“Effective Date”). Subject to Applicable Laws, Awards may be granted under the Plan upon its becoming effective. The Plan shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years after the Effective Date (“term of the Plan”), unless early terminated. Upon expiry, no further Awards shall be granted hereunder. Before expiry of the term of the Plan, any outstanding Award shall continue in effect under the Plan and applicable Award Agreements.

 

15.Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan

 

(a)To make any amendment to (including amendment to the term of the Plan), or suspension and termination of the Plan, the Administrator shall obtain the approval from the Board of Directors; however, if under the Applicable Laws, such amendment, suspension or termination requires the approval of the shareholders of the Company, or involves any provisions of Section 4(b) (vi) or Section 14(a) hereof, the Administrator shall not make such amendment, suspension or termination without approval of the shareholders of the Company.

 

(b)No Award may be granted during any suspension of the Plan or after termination of the Plan.

 

(c)Unless decided by the Administrator in good faith, no suspension or termination of the Plan (including termination of the Plan under Section 12) shall adversely affect any rights under Awards already granted to a Grantee.

 

 

 

 

16.Reservation of Shares.

 

The Company, during the term of the Plan, shall at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

 

17.No Effect on Terms of Employment Relationship.

 

The Plan shall not confer upon any Grantee any right with respect to the Grantee’s Continuous Service, nor shall it interfere in any way with his/her right or the right of the Company or any Related Entity to terminate the Grantee’s Continuous Service at any time.

 

18.No Effect on Retirement and Other Benefit Plans.

 

Except as specifically provided in a retirement or other benefit plan of the Company or a Related Entity, Awards shall not be deemed compensation for purposes of computing benefits or contributions under any retirement plan of the Company or a Related Entity, and shall not affect any benefits under any other benefit plan of any kind or any benefit plan subsequently instituted under which the amount of the available benefits is related to level of compensation.

 

19.No Awarding Right.

 

Any eligible participant in the Plan shall not unilaterally claim rights of the Award granted under the Plan, while the Company or the Administrator is not obliged to treat all eligible participants consistently.

 

20.No shareholder’s right.

 

All Awards granted under the Plan shall not vest any right of shareholders of the Company to the Grantee before the exercise. In principle, the exercise of Awards shall coincide with the disposal of shares. With consent of the Administrator, if the Grantee holds any shares of the Company upon exercise of Awards, then the Grantee shall authorize the Board of Directors or any other Subject designated by the Board of Directors to exercise all shareholder’s rights (including but not limited to voting rights).

 

21.Vesting Schedule.

 

The Awards to be granted to the Grantee under the Plan shall be granted within the Vesting Schedule specified in the Award Agreement. The Administrator shall be entitled to adjust the Vesting Schedule of the Awards granted to the Grantee.

 

 

 

 

22.IPO”.

 

In the case of an IPO of the Shares, the Grantees shall enter into any agreements with any underwriter, coordinator, banker or sponsor appointed by the Company for the purpose of the IPO, and each of such Grantees shall grant to the Board of Directors or other Subject designated by the Board of Directors, a power of attorney to enter into any agreements with any underwriter, coordinator, banker or sponsor appointed by the Company and to carry out all the acts and to execute all the documents that are necessary or advisable to complete the IPO.

 

23.No Reserve Obligation.

 

For whatever purpose, the Company or any Related Entity shall have no reserve obligation or mortgage obligation for the amounts payable to the Grantee under the Plan. Neither the Company nor any Related Entity shall be required to segregate any monies from its general funds, or to create any trusts, or establish any special accounts with respect to such obligations. Any investments or the creation or maintenance of any trust or any Grantee account by the Company or any Related Entity shall not constitute a trust or loyalty relationship between the Administrator, the Company or any Related Entity and a Grantee, or otherwise create any vested or beneficial interest in any Grantee or the Grantee’s creditors in any assets of the Company or a Related Entity. The Grantees shall have no claim against the Company or any Related Entity for any changes in the value of any assets that may be invested or reinvested by the Company with respect to the Plan.

 

24.Entire Plan.

 

The Plan, the individual Award Agreements, the notice of Award, together with all the attachments hereto and thereto, constitute and become the entire option incentive plan and full understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all prior negotiations, correspondence, agreements, understandings, memos, duties or obligations between the parties respecting the subject matter hereof.

 

25.Construction.

 

The titles contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of the Plan. Use of the term “or” is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.12

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of             by and between ECARX Holdings Inc., an exempted company incorporated and existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”), and                  , an individual (Passport/ID Card No.                      ) (the “Indemnitee”).

 

WHEREAS, the Indemnitee has agreed to serve as a director or officer of the Company and in such capacity will render valuable services to the Company; and

 

WHEREAS, in order to induce and encourage highly experienced and capable persons such as the Indemnitee to render valuable services to the Company, the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that this Agreement is not only reasonable and prudent, but necessary to promote and ensure the best interests of the Company and its shareholders;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual agreements hereinafter set forth, and other good and valuable consideration, including, without limitation, the service of the Indemnitee, the receipt of which hereby is acknowledged, and in order to induce the Indemnitee to render valuable services the Company, the Company and the Indemnitee hereby agree as follows:

 

1.                  Definitions. As used in this Agreement:

 

(a)               Change in Control” shall mean a change in control of the Company of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or in response to any similar item on any similar or successor schedule or form) promulgated under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Act”), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement; provided, however, that, without limitation, such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred (irrespective of the applicability of the initial clause of this definition) if (i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Act, but excluding any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities pursuant to an employee benefit or welfare plan or employee share plan of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, or any entity organized, appointed, established or holding securities of the Company with voting power for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities without the prior approval of at least two-thirds of the Continuing Directors (as defined below) in office immediately prior to such person’s attaining such interest; (ii) the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, scheme of arrangement, sale of assets or other reorganization, or a proxy contest, as a consequence of which Continuing Directors in office immediately prior to such transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Board of the Company (or any successor entity) thereafter; or (iii) during any period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of the Company (including for this purpose any new director whose election or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of such period) (such directors being referred to herein as “Continuing Directors”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of the Company.

 

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(b)               Disinterested Director” with respect to any request by the Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement of expenses hereunder shall mean a director of the Company who neither is nor was a party to the Proceeding (as defined below) in respect of which indemnification or advancement is being sought by the Indemnitee.

 

(c)               The term “Expenses” shall mean, without limitation, expenses of Proceedings, including attorneys’ fees, disbursements and retainers, accounting and witness fees, expenses related to preparation for service as a witness and to service as a witness, travel and deposition costs, expenses of investigations, judicial or administrative proceedings and appeals, amounts paid in settlement of a Proceeding by or on behalf of the Indemnitee, costs of attachment or similar bonds, any expenses of attempting to establish or establishing a right to indemnification or advancement of expenses, under this Agreement, the Company’s Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association as currently in effect (the “Articles”), applicable law or otherwise, and reasonable compensation for time spent by the Indemnitee in connection with the investigation, defense or appeal of a Proceeding or action for indemnification for which the Indemnitee is not otherwise compensated by the Company or any third party. The term “Expenses” shall not include the amount of judgments, fines, interest or penalties, or excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, which are actually levied against or sustained by the Indemnitee to the extent sustained after final adjudication.

 

(d)               The term “Independent Legal Counsel” shall mean any firm of attorneys reasonably selected by the Board of the Company, so long as such firm has not represented the Company, the Company’s subsidiaries or affiliates, the Indemnitee, any entity controlled by the Indemnitee, or any party adverse to the Company, within the preceding five (5) years. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Legal Counsel” shall not include any person who, under applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or the Indemnitee in an action to determine the Indemnitee’s right to indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Agreement, the Company’s Articles, applicable law or otherwise.

 

(e)               The term “Proceeding” shall mean any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, or other proceeding (including, without limitation, an appeal therefrom), formal or informal, whether brought in the name of the Company or otherwise, whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative nature, and whether by, in or involving a court or an administrative, other governmental or private entity or body (including, without limitation, an investigation by the Company or its Board), by reason of (i) the fact that the Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as an agent of another enterprise, whether or not the Indemnitee is serving in such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification or reimbursement is to be provided under this Agreement, (ii) any actual or alleged act or omission or neglect or breach of duty, including, without limitation, any actual or alleged error or misstatement or misleading statement, which the Indemnitee commits or suffers while acting in any such capacity, or (iii) the Indemnitee attempting to establish or establishing a right to indemnification or advancement of expenses pursuant to this Agreement, the Company’s Articles, applicable law or otherwise.

 

(f)                The phrase “serving at the request of the Company as an agent of another enterprise” or any similar terminology shall mean, unless the context otherwise requires, serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, employee benefit or welfare plan or other enterprise, foreign or domestic. The phrase “serving at the request of the Company” shall include, without limitation, any service as a director/an executive officer of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director/executive officer with respect to the Company or any of the Company’s subsidiaries, affiliates, employee benefit or welfare plans, such plan’s participants or beneficiaries or any other enterprise, foreign or domestic. In the event that the Indemnitee shall be a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, employee benefit or welfare plan or other enterprise, foreign or domestic, 50% or more of the ordinary shares, combined voting power or total equity interest of which is owned by the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof, then it shall be presumed conclusively that the Indemnitee is so acting at the request of the Company.

 

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2.                  Services by the Indemnitee. The Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director or officer of the Company under the terms of the Indemnitee’s agreement with the Company for so long as the Indemnitee is duly elected or appointed or until such time as the Indemnitee tenders a resignation in writing or is removed from the Indemnitee’s position; provided, however, that the Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or other obligation imposed by operation of law).

 

3.                  Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. The Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee if the Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as an agent of another enterprise, against all Expenses, judgments, fines, interest or penalties, and excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, which are actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the defense or settlement of such a Proceeding, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company; except that no indemnification under this section shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudicated by final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to be liable to the Company for willful misconduct in the performance of his/her duty to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the court in which such Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such amounts which such other court shall deem proper.

 

4.                  Proceeding Other Than a Proceeding by or in the Right of the Company. The Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee if the Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any Proceeding (other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company), by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as an agent of another enterprise, against all Expenses, judgments, fines, interest or penalties, and excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, which are actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such a Proceeding, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law; provided, however, that any settlement of a Proceeding must be approved in advance in writing by the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld).

 

5.                  Indemnification for Costs, Charges and Expenses of Witness or Successful Party. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (except as set forth in subparagraph 9(a) hereof), and without a requirement for determination as required by Paragraph 8 hereof, to the extent that the Indemnitee (a) has prepared to serve or has served as a witness in any Proceeding in any way relating to (i) the Company or any of the Company’s subsidiaries, affiliates, employee benefit or welfare plans or such plan’s participants or beneficiaries or (ii) anything done or not done by the Indemnitee as a director or officer of the Company or in connection with serving at the request of the Company as an agent of another enterprise, or (b) has been successful in defense of any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, on the merits or otherwise, including the dismissal of a Proceeding without prejudice or the settlement of a Proceeding without an admission of liability, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection therewith to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

 

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6.                  Partial Indemnification. If the Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for a portion of the Expenses, judgments, fines, interest or penalties, or excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, which are actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in the investigation, defense, appeal or settlement of any Proceeding, but not, however, for the total amount of the Indemnitee’s Expenses, judgments, fines, interest or penalties, or excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, then the Company shall nevertheless indemnify the Indemnitee for the portion of such Expenses, judgments, fines, interest or penalties or excise taxes to which the Indemnitee is entitled.

 

7.                  Advancement of Expenses. The Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in any Proceeding shall be paid promptly by the Company in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding at the written request of the Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law; provided, however, that the Indemnitee shall set forth in such request reasonable evidence that such Expenses have been incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding, a statement that such Expenses do not relate to any matter described in subparagraph 9(a) of this Agreement, and an undertaking in writing to repay any advances if it is ultimately determined as provided in subparagraph 8(b) of this Agreement that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

8.                  Indemnification Procedure; Determination of Right to Indemnification.

 

(a)               Promptly after receipt by the Indemnitee of notice of the commencement of any Proceeding, the Indemnitee shall, if a claim for indemnification or advancement of Expenses in respect thereof is to be made against the Company under this Agreement, notify the Company of the commencement thereof in writing. The failure and delay to so notify the Company will not relieve the Company from any liability which the Company may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement unless the Company shall have lost significant substantive or procedural rights with respect to the defense of any Proceeding as a result of such omission to so notify.

 

(b)               The Indemnitee shall be conclusively presumed to have met the relevant standards of conduct, if any, as defined by applicable law, for indemnification pursuant to this Agreement and shall be absolutely entitled to such indemnification, unless a determination is made that the Indemnitee has not met such standards by (i) the Board by a majority vote of a quorum thereof consisting of Disinterested Directors, (ii) the shareholders of the Company by majority vote of a quorum thereof consisting of shareholders who are not parties to the Proceeding due to which a claim for indemnification is made under this Agreement, (iii) Independent Legal Counsel as set forth in a written opinion (it being understood that such Independent Legal Counsel shall make such determination only if the quorum of Disinterested Directors referred to in clause (i) of this subparagraph 8(b) is not obtainable or if the Board of the Company by a majority vote of a quorum thereof consisting of Disinterested Directors so directs), or (iv) a court of competent jurisdiction; provided, however, that if a Change in Control shall have occurred and the Indemnitee so requests in writing, such determination shall be made only by a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

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(c)               If a claim for indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Agreement is not paid by the Company within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of written notice thereof, the rights provided by this Agreement shall be enforceable by the Indemnitee in any court of competent jurisdiction. Such judicial proceeding shall be made de novo. The burden of proving that indemnification or advances are not appropriate shall be on the Company. Neither the failure of the directors or shareholders of the Company or Independent Legal Counsel to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification or advancement of Expenses is proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, if any, nor an actual determination by the directors or shareholders of the Company or Independent Legal Counsel that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct shall be a defense to an action by the Indemnitee or create a presumption for the purpose of such an action that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct. The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself (i) create a presumption that the Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Company and/or its shareholders, and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful or (ii) otherwise adversely affect the rights of the Indemnitee to indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Agreement, except as may be provided herein.

 

(d)               If a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that the Indemnitee is entitled to any indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder, the Company shall pay all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such adjudication (including, but not limited to, any appellate proceedings).

 

(e)               With respect to any Proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of Expenses is requested, the Company will be entitled to participate therein at its own expense and, except as otherwise provided below, to the extent that it may wish, the Company may assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee. After notice from the Company to the Indemnitee of its election to assume the defense of a Proceeding, the Company will not be liable to the Indemnitee under this Agreement for any Expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the defense thereof, other than as provided below. The Company shall not settle any Proceeding in any manner which would impose any penalty or limitation on the Indemnitee without the Indemnitee’s written consent. The Indemnitee shall have the right to employ his/her own counsel in any Proceeding, but the fees and expenses of such counsel incurred after notice from the Company of its assumption of the defense of the Proceeding shall be at the expense of the Indemnitee, unless (i) the employment of counsel by the Indemnitee has been authorized by the Company, (ii) the Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and the Indemnitee in the conduct of the defense of a Proceeding, or (iii) the Company shall not in fact have employed counsel to assume the defense of a proceeding, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of the Indemnitee’s counsel shall be advanced by the Company. The Company shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any Proceeding brought by or on behalf of the Company or as to which the Indemnitee has reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and the Indemnitee.

 

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9.                  Limitations on Indemnification. No payments pursuant to this Agreement shall be made by the Company:

 

(a)               To indemnify or advance funds to the Indemnitee for Expenses with respect to (i) Proceedings initiated or brought voluntarily by the Indemnitee and not by way of defense, except with respect to Proceedings brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification under this Agreement or any other statute or law or otherwise as required under applicable law or (ii) Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with preparing to serve or serving, prior to a Change in Control, as a witness in cooperation with any party or entity who or which has threatened or commenced any action or proceeding against the Company, or any director, officer, employee, trustee, agent, representative, subsidiary, parent corporation or affiliate of the Company, but such indemnification or advancement of Expenses in each such case may be provided by the Company if the Board finds it to be appropriate;

 

(b)               To indemnify the Indemnitee for any Expenses, judgments, fines, interest or penalties, or excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, sustained in any Proceeding for which payment is actually made to the Indemnitee under a valid and collectible insurance policy, except in respect of any excess beyond the amount of payment under such insurance;

 

(c)               To indemnify the Indemnitee for any Expenses, judgments, fines, interest or penalties sustained in any Proceeding for an accounting of profits made from the purchase or sale by the Indemnitee of securities of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 16(b) of the Act or similar provisions of any foreign or United States federal, state or local statute or regulation;

 

(d)               To indemnify the Indemnitee for any Expenses, judgments, fines, interest or penalties, or excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, for which the Indemnitee is indemnified by the Company otherwise than pursuant to this Agreement;

 

(e)               To indemnify the Indemnitee for any Expenses (including without limitation any Expenses relating to a Proceeding attempting to enforce this Agreement), judgments, fines, interest or penalties, or excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, on account of the Indemnitee’s conduct if such conduct shall be finally adjudged to have been knowingly fraudulent, deliberately dishonest or willful misconduct, including, without limitation, breach of the duty of loyalty; or

 

(f)                If a court of competent jurisdiction finally determines that any indemnification hereunder is unlawful. In this respect, the Company and the Indemnitee have been advised that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission takes the position that indemnification for liabilities arising under securities laws is against public policy and is, therefore, unenforceable and that claims for indemnification should be submitted to appropriate courts for adjudication;

 

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(g)               To indemnify the Indemnitee in connection with Indemnitee’s personal tax matter; or

 

(h)               To indemnify the Indemnitee with respect to any claim related to any dispute or breach arising under any contract or similar obligation between the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates and such Indemnitee.

 

10.              Continuation of Indemnification. All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period that the Indemnitee is a director or officer of the Company (or is or was serving at the request of the Company as an agent of another enterprise, foreign or domestic) and shall continue thereafter so long as the Indemnitee shall be subject to any possible Proceeding by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee was a director or officer of the Company or serving in any other capacity referred to in this Paragraph 10.

 

11.              Indemnification Hereunder Not Exclusive. The indemnification provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed to be exclusive of any other rights to which the Indemnitee may be entitled under the Company’s Articles, any agreement, vote of shareholders or vote of Disinterested Directors, provisions of applicable law, or otherwise, both as to action or omission in the Indemnitee’s official capacity and as to action or omission in another capacity on behalf of the Company while holding such office.

 

12.              Successors and Assigns.

 

(a)               This Agreement shall be binding upon the Indemnitee, and shall inure to the benefit of, the Indemnitee and the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, whether or not the Indemnitee has ceased to be a director or officer, and the Company and its successors and assigns. Upon the sale of all or substantially all of the business, assets or share capital of the Company to, or upon the merger of the Company into or with, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other person, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon both the Indemnitee and such purchaser or successor person. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement may not be assigned by either party without the prior written consent of the other party hereto.

 

(b)               If the Indemnitee is deceased and is entitled to indemnification under any provision of this Agreement, the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee’s estate and the Indemnitee’s spouse, heirs, executors, administrators and assigns against, and the Company shall, and does hereby agree to assume, any and all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by or for the Indemnitee or the Indemnitee’s estate, in connection with the investigation, defense, appeal or settlement of any Proceeding. Further, when requested in writing by the spouse of the Indemnitee, and/or the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, the Company shall provide appropriate evidence of the Company’s agreement set out herein to indemnify the Indemnitee against and to itself assume such Expenses.

 

13.              D&O Liability Insurance. To the extent that the Company maintains a policy or policies of insurance (the “D&O Liability Insurance”) providing liability insurance for directors and officers of the Company in their capacities as such (and for any capacity in which any director or officer of the Company serves any other enterprise at the request of the Company), in respect of acts or omissions occurring while serving in such capacity, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies, in accordance with its or their terms, to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any other director or officer under such policy or policies.

 

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14.              Insurance and Subrogation.

 

(a)               If, at the time the Company receives notice of a claim hereunder, the Company has D&O Liability Insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable 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. The failure or refusal of any such insurer to pay any such amount shall not affect or impair the obligations of the Company under this Agreement.

 

(b)               In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee, who shall execute all documents required and shall do all acts that may be necessary to secure such rights and to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

(c)               The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable (or for which advancement is provided) hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has actually received such payment under any insurance policy (including without limitation to policies of the D&O Liability Insurance) or other indemnity provision.

 

15.              Severability. Each and every paragraph, sentence, term and provision of this Agreement is separate and distinct so that if any paragraph, sentence, term or provision thereof shall be held to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable for any reason, such invalidity, unlawfulness or unenforceability shall not affect the validity, unlawfulness or enforceability of any other paragraph, sentence, term or provision hereof. To the extent required, any paragraph, sentence, term or provision of this Agreement may be modified by a court of competent jurisdiction to preserve its validity and to provide the Indemnitee with the broadest possible indemnification permitted under applicable law. The Company’s inability, pursuant to a court order or decision, to perform its obligations under this Agreement shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement.

 

16.              Savings Clause. If this Agreement or any paragraph, sentence, term or provision hereof is invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify the Indemnitee as to any Expenses, judgments, fines, interest or penalties, or excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit or welfare plan, which are incurred with respect to any Proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by any (a) applicable paragraph, sentence, term or provision of this Agreement that has not been invalidated or (b) applicable law.

 

17.              Interpretation; Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed as a whole and in accordance with its fair meaning and any ambiguities shall not be construed for or against either party. Headings are for convenience only and shall not be used in construing meaning. This Agreement shall be governed and interpreted in all respects in accordance with the laws of the Cayman Islands without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

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18.              Amendments. No amendment, waiver, modification, termination or cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought. The indemnification rights afforded to the Indemnitee hereby are contract rights and may not be diminished, eliminated or otherwise affected by amendments to the Company’s Articles, or by other agreements, including directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies, of the Company.

 

19.              Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other.

 

20.              Notices. Any notice required to be given under this Agreement shall be directed to the Company at [16/F, Tower 2, China Eastern Airline Binjiang Center 277 Longlan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200041 People’s Republic of China], and to the Indemnitee at                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     or to such other address as either party shall designate to the other in writing.

 

[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Indemnification Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

  ECARX HOLDINGS INC.
   
  By:         
  Name:  
  Title:  
   
  INDEMNITEE
   
  By:                          
  Name:  

 

[Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement]

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.13

 

THE SYMBOL “[***]” DENOTES PLACES WHERE CERTAIN IDENTIFIED INFORMATION

HAS BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THE EXHIBIT BECAUSE IT IS (1) NOT MATERIAL AND (2)

THE TYPE THAT THE REGISTRANT TREATS AS PRIVATE OR CONFIDENTIAL. 

Working Capital Loan Contract 

(Model Form) 

No.: X.Y.E.L.D. Zi 2104 No. Z004

 

Lender: Industrial Bank Co., Ltd. Wuhan Branch 

Domicile: 108 Zhongbei Road, Wuchang District 

Legal Representative/Person in Charge: Liu Bingwen

 

Borrower: Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd. 

Domicile: Building 7B (QDXX-F7B), Tusincere Pioneering Park, Nantaizi Lake Innovation Valley, Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone 

 

Legal Representative/Person in Charge: Shen Ziyu 

 

Place of Execution of Contract: ___ District/County, ___ City

 

 

Page 1 of 24

 

Important Notes for Signing

 

In order to protect your rights and interests, please carefully read, inspect and verify the following matters before you sign this Contract:

 

I. You have the right to sign this Contract. If it is necessary to obtain the consent of others according to the law, you shall have received full authorization;

 

II. You have carefully read and fully understood the provisions hereof, and have paid special attention to the content that has a major interest in you, such as the assumption of responsibilities, the exemption or reduction of the responsibilities of Industrial Bank, and the content in bold font;

 

III. You and the Company have fully understood the meaning of the provisions hereof and the corresponding legal consequences, and are willing to accept these agreed provisions;

 

IV. This Contract provided by Industrial Bank is only a model form, there are blank lines after the relevant provisions hereof, and “supplementary provisions” are added at the end of this Contract for all parties to modify, supplement or delete this Contract;

 

V. If you still have questions about this Contract, please call Industrial Bank for consultation in time;

 

VI. If you find that this Contract and the business charges hereunder are in violation of laws and regulations, please call Industrial Bank’s complaint hotline to complain about illegal charges. Tel.: 95561.

 

Page 2 of 24

 

The Lender has reviewed the application by the Borrower and agreed to grant the Borrower a working capital loan. In order to ascertain the rights and obligations of both parties and stick to the principle of good faith, in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China, both parties hereby agree to enter into and abide by this Contract after negotiating with each other on an equal footing.

 

The Lender and the Borrower confirm that the loan hereunder is under the following condition (2):

 

(1) This Contract is a sub-contract of the Limit Credit Contract (which is the general contract) signed by the Lender and the Borrower on _/__month _/__day, _/__year, No._/_, and the amount of the loan is included in the credit line under the Limit Credit Contract. Of which, the amount of foreign currency loan shall be converted into RMB and included in the credit line according to the intermediate price announced by the Lender on the date of execution of this Contract.

 

(2) This Contract is an independent legal text signed by the Lender and the Borrower.

 

Article 1 Definition and Interpretation

 

Unless otherwise agreed in writing by both parties, the following terms in this Contract shall be defined and interpreted as follows:

 

I. The “working capital loan” refers to the standard money loan and foreign currency loan applied for by the Borrower to the Lender, which are used for the Borrower’s routine production, operation and turnover.

 

II. The “creditor’s right”, also known as the principal creditor’s right, refers to the claims (including principal, interest, penalty interest, compound interest, liquidated damages, damages, the cost of the creditor to realize the creditor’s right, etc.) formed by the financing provided to the Borrower under this Contract, after being applied for by the Borrower (debtor) to the Lender (creditor) and being reviewed and approved by the Lender. The creditor’s rights against the Borrower owned by the Lender hereunder correspond to the Borrower’s debts to the Lender hereunder.

 

The “cost of the creditor to realize the creditor’s right” refers to the litigation (arbitration) fees, attorney fees, traveling expenses, execution fees, preservation fees and other costs paid by the Lender when realizing its creditor’s right by means of litigation, arbitration, applying to notary authorities for enforcement certificates, etc.

 

III. The following terms in Article 5 of this Contract are defined and interpreted as follows:

 

The “fixed interest rate” refers to the interest rate that remains unchanged during the loan period. Taking loans in installments as an example, the fixed interest rate means that the interest rate remains unchanged between the actual extension date of each installment and the maturity date of the loan herein.

 

The “floating interest rate” refers to the interest rate that changes according to the period and range agreed by the Borrower and the Lender during the loan period.

 

The “floating period” refers to the frequency of changes in the lending rate agreed by the Borrower and the Lender. During a floating period, the lending rate shall be calculated and determined based on the pricing benchmark interest rate and according to the pricing method agreed herein, and the lending rate shall remain unchanged during the floating period: when a floating period expires and the next floating period is entered, the lending rate shall be calculated and determined based on the pricing benchmark interest rate of the new floating period and according to the pricing method agreed herein, and the lending rate shall remain unchanged during the floating period.

 

The “pricing benchmark interest rate” refers to the interest rate standard used to determine the lending rate hereof, including but not limited to the quoted interest rates announced by China or relevant countries, regions, and markets, such as LPR, SHIBOR, LIBOR, HIBOR, SIBOR, and the RMB Benchmark Deposit Interest Rates of the People’s Bank of China (“PBC”).

 

The “LPR” refers to the Loan Prime Rate (LPR) calculated and quoted by the National Interbank Funding Center authorized by the People’s Bank of China. According to the usual practices of the banking industry, both parties agree to determine the pricing benchmark interest rate rules hereunder as the LPR on T-1 day, of which “T” is the day when the lending rate is determined, and “T-1” is the working day before that day.

 

The “SHIBOR” refers to the Shanghai Inter-bank Offered Rate quoted by the National Interbank Funding Center, which is applicable on that day.

 

Page 3 of 24

 

The “LIBOR” refers to the London Inter-Bank Offer Rate in USD, EUR, JAP, etc. According to the usual practices of the banking industry, both parties agree to determine the pricing benchmark interest rate rules hereunder as the LIBOR on T-2 day, of which “T” is the day when the lending rate is determined, and “T-2” is two working days before that day.

 

The “HIBOR” refers to the HKD Inter-bank Borrowing Offered Rate in the Hong Kong financial market. According to the usual practices of the banking industry, both parties agree to determine the pricing benchmark interest rate rules hereunder as the HIBOR on T-2 day, of which “T” is the day when the lending rate is determined, and “T-2” is two working days before that day.

 

The “SIBOR” refers to the Singapore Inter-bank Borrowing Offered Rate, only applicable to SGD. According to the usual practices of the banking industry, both parties agree to determine the pricing benchmark interest rate rules hereunder as the SIBOR on T-2 day, of which “T” is the day when the lending rate is determined, and “T-2” is two working days before that day.

 

The “RMB Benchmark Deposit Interest Rates of PBC” refer to the RMB Benchmark Deposit Interest Rates quoted by the People’s Bank of China, which are applicable on that day.

 

Among the above, the currencies and specific values of “LPR”, “SHIBOR”, “LIBOR”, “HIBOR”, “SIBOR” and “RMB Benchmark Deposit Interest Rates of PBC” determined based on the applicable pricing benchmark interest rate rules hereunder shall be subject to the query results of the core system in Industrial Bank. The date when the lending rate is determined can be the date when the loan is actually issued, the date when this Contract is signed, or the date when the price is reset.

 

The “lending rate” refers to the interest rate for the execution of this Contract formed by adding and subtracting points upon consent from both parties, based on the pricing benchmark interest rate on that day when the lending rate hereof is determined, and in accordance with the pricing formula of the lending rate hereof.

 

IV. The “material transactions” as agreed in Article 13 of this Contract refer to (including but not limited to): any determined or potential transactions that will seriously affect the basic structure, changes in shareholders, contingent liabilities, cash flow, profitability, core trade secrets, core competitiveness, important assets, significant claims and debts, solvency, and capabilities to perform this Contract of the Borrower’s company, or other transactions that the Lender and/or Borrower consider(s) to be material transactions.

 

V. The “material events” agreed in Article 13 of this Contract refer to (including but not limited to): any determined or potential events that will seriously affect the capabilities of the senior management to perform their duties, employment and dismissal of employees engaged in core business, core trade secrets, core competitiveness, basic structure, changes in shareholders, contingent liabilities, renewing, legality of business, stability, development, profitability, solvency, and capabilities to perform this Contract of the Borrower’s company, and other events that the Lender and/or Borrower consider(s) to be material events.

 

VI. The “working day(s)” in this Contract refer(s) to the business days of the Lender bank. During the performance of this Contract, if a withdrawal or repayment day is a non-business day, it shall be postponed to the next business day.

 

Article 2 Amount of Loan

 

The Lender agrees to grant the Borrower a loan (currency) of RMB Three Hundred Million Only

 

(amount in words).

 

Article 3 Purpose of Loan

 

This loan is used for daily operating turnover, and the Borrower shall not use the loan for other purposes without the written consent of the Lender.

 

Article 4 Term of Loan

 

I. The term of the loan is 12 months, from April 28, 2021 to April 27, 2022.

 

II. The extension date of the one-time loan shall be subject to the actual extension date recorded in the loan certificate of indebtedness and loan voucher. If the actual extension date is later than the loan extension date recorded in the preceding paragraph, the loan maturity date shall be postponed accordingly.

 

Page 4 of 24

 

III. The loan installment plan is as follows:

 

/ month / day, / year/million; / month / day, / year/RMB80 million;

 

/ month / day, / year/million; /month /day, / year/ / million:

 

/ month / day, / year/million; /month /day, / year/ / million:

 

/ month / day, / year/million; /month /day, / year/ / million:

 

/ month / day, / year/million; /month /day, / year/ / million:

 

The Borrower shall apply to the Lender to process the withdrawal procedures three working days before the withdrawal date of each installment or other time as required by the Lender in writing.

 

If the Borrower fails to withdraw the loan according to the above-agreed installment term and amount, the Lender has the right to require the Borrower to pay _/10,000 of the loan amount that shall be withdrawn in that installment as liquidated damages. If the Borrower is a small- or micro-sized enterprise as defined by the regulations and policies in China, the liquidated damages will not be charged.

 

IV. The Lender shall pay the loan capital in accordance with the provisions in Article 7 of this Contract under the conditions precedent for withdrawal agreed in Article 6.

 

V. The Lender has the right to appropriately adjust the loan installment plan based on whether the loan complies with the relevant laws, regulations and policies, the conditions precedent for withdrawal agreed herein, the conditions for payment of the loan capital, the time for execution of the guarantee contract and processing of the guarantee procedures corresponding to this Contract, and other factors deemed necessary by the Lender.

 

VI. If the loan is installments, the date of each extension shall be based on the actual extension date recorded in the loan certificate of indebtedness and loan voucher, and the same maturity date shall be implemented, which means that the same maturity date of the loan issued for each installment shall be based on the loan maturity date determined by the loan certificate of indebtedness or loan voucher of the first loan.

 

VII. If the Lender collects the loan in advance according to the circumstances agreed herein, the maturity date of the loan shall be considered to have been correspondingly advanced.

 

Article 5 Lending Rate and Interest Accrual & Settlement

 

I. Lending rate

 

(i) The pricing benchmark interest rate shall follow the following agreement (1):

 

(1) One-year term grade LPR.

 

(2) _/__ term grade SHIBOR.

 

(3) _/__ term grade LIBOR

 

(4) / term grade HIBOR.

 

(5) / term grade SIBOR.

 

(6) / term grade RMB Benchmark Deposit Interest Rates of PBC.

 

Among the above, LPR shall be selected as the pricing benchmark interest rate for RMB fixed interest rate loan.

 

(ii) Pricing formula of lending rate: lending rate = pricing benchmark interest rate + / % or -0.25%.

 

(iii) The lending rate (which refers to the annualized interest rate, the same below) shall follow the following agreement (1):

 

(1) Fixed interest rate. The interest rate is determined in accordance with the following method A:

 

A. The lending rate is determined based on the pricing benchmark interest rate and pricing formula on the actual extension date, and the interest rate remains unchanged between the actual extension date of each installment and the maturity date of the loan herein.

 

Page 5 of 24

 

B. According to the pricing benchmark interest rate and pricing formula on the signing date of this Contract, the fixed interest rate of the loan is / % (annualized interest rate). If the pricing benchmark interest rate is adjusted on the actual extension date, the plus or minus point value in the pricing formula will be adjusted accordingly, and the annualized interest rate above-agreed herein remains unchanged.

 

(2) Floating interest rate. The lending rate is determined according to the pricing benchmark interest rate and pricing formula on the actual extension date and repricing date, and the interest is calculated in stages. The repricing date is executed in accordance with the following method / :

 

A. The floating period is _/_ (month/quarter/half year/year/other periods), the corresponding day of each full period from the actual extension date is the contractual repricing date. If there is no corresponding day in that month, the last day of the month shall be the corresponding day.

 

B. _/__________.

 

During the loan period, unless otherwise agreed herein, if the lending rate is adjusted according to this Contract, the Borrower will no longer be notified.

 

(3) Other interest rate methods: _/__.

 

(iv) The determination date of the pricing benchmark interest rate corresponding to the loans used hereunder shall be the actual extension date (or repricing date, if any) of each loan.

 

(v) For the loans issued hereunder, if the pricing benchmark interest rate is cancelled in China or relevant countries/regions, or the market no longer announces the pricing benchmark interest rate, or it is required by the regulatory authorities, the Lender has the right to notify the Borrower after re-determining the lending rate based on the interest rate policies in China or relevant countries/regions, in accordance with the principle of fairness and integrity, and with reference to industry practices, interest rate status and other factors. For any objection, the Borrower shall negotiate with the Lender. If the negotiation fails within five working days from the date when the Lender issues the notice, the Lender has the right to collect the loan in advance, and the Borrower shall immediately repay the remaining principal and interest of the loan. If it is required by the Lender or the national or regulatory policies that the Borrower shoulder sign a supplementary agreement on relevant matters at that time, the Borrower shall cooperate.

 

II. Repayment method of the interest of the loan

 

(i) Calculation of the interest of the loan. The interest of the principal of standard money loan and foreign currency loan will begin to be calculated from the date when the Lender transfers it to the Borrower’s account agreed herein. The accrued interest of the loan per diem = the balance of the loan on that day × the interest rate per diem. The conversion of interest rate per diem and annual interest rate shall be executed in accordance with the regulations of the People’s Bank of China and international usual practices.

 

(ii) The repayment method of the interest of the loan shall be executed in accordance with the following agreement (2):

 

(1) The interest payment date of the loan agreed herein is the 21st of each / (month/end month of quarter/end month of half year/end month of year/other periods). The Borrower shall pay the Lender the current interest of the loan on the interest payment date. The remaining principal and interest shall be settled on the loan maturity date.

 

(2) The interest payment date of each installment is the corresponding day of each full quarter (month/quarter/half year/year/other periods) from the actual extension date (if there is no corresponding day in that month, the last day of the month shall be the corresponding day). The Borrower shall pay the Lender the current interest of the loan on the interest payment date. The remaining principal and interest shall be settled on the loan maturity date.

 

(3) The first interest payment date is _/_month _/_day, _/_year, and the interest payment date of each installment is the corresponding day of each full / (month/quarter/half year/year/other periods) from the first interest payment date (if there is no corresponding day in that month, the last day of the month shall be the corresponding day). The Borrower shall pay the Lender the current interest of the loan on the interest payment date. The remaining principal and interest shall be settled on the loan maturity date.

 

(4) Other repayment methods:___/______ .

 

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III. Penalty interest and compound interest

 

(i) If the Borrower fails to use the loan for the purposes agreed herein, the Lender has the right to accrue and settle penalty interest on the misappropriated loan from the date of misappropriation, and the penalty interest rate shall be 200% of the lending rate; if the Borrower fails to repay the loan on time and has not reached an agreement with the Lender on the overdue matters, which means that the loan is overdue, the Lender has the right to accrue and settle penalty interest on the overdue loan from the overdue date, and the penalty interest rate shall be 150% of the lending rate; for the interest not paid on time (including interest, misappropriation penalty interest and overdue penalty interest before and after the loan maturity date), the Lender has the right to accrue and settle compound interest at the overdue penalty interest rate of the loan agreed herein. If the same loan is both overdue and not used for the purposes agreed herein, the penalty interest rate shall be calculated according to the higher one.

 

(ii) If the lending rate adopts a fixed interest rate, the penalty interest rate shall also be a fixed interest rate; if the lending rate adopts a floating interest rate, the penalty interest rate shall also be a floating interest rate, the floating period of which shall be consistent with the floating period of the lending rate.

 

(iii) The accrual and settlement method of penalty interest and compound interest shall be executed in accordance with the repayment method of the interest of the loan agreed herein.

 

Article 6 Conditions Precedent for Withdrawal

 

I. The Borrower may apply to the Lender for the extension of the loan hereunder only after meeting the following conditions precedent for withdrawal as required by the Lender:

 

(i) The Borrower has delivered the following documents to the Lender, which remain unchanged and valid, or the Borrower has made satisfying explanations to the Lender for any changes thereof:

 

1. The loan application, the main contents of which include but are not limited to: the loan project’s name, amount, purposes, term, repayment plan, and repayment sources;

 

2. The Borrower’s legal and valid business license, articles of association, loan card and password/credit code, legal representative registered with the administration department for industry and commerce and members of the board of directors and main persons in charge, list of main persons in charge of finance and signature samples, valid identification documents of legal representative or its authorized representative, and other corporate documents that the Lender deems necessary;

 

3. The true, legal and effective resolution of the board of directors or shareholders’ meeting to apply to the Lender for the loan hereunder and to define the purposes of the loan, as well as to accept various loan requirements of the Lender, which has been voted through by the quorum of directors or shareholders at the meeting convened by the Borrower according to legal procedures, or other documents deemed necessary by the Lender;

 

4. The annual reports for the past three years (with audit reports and notes) recognized by the Lender, financial statements for the latest period and the same period of the previous year. For the Borrower that has been established for less than three years, the annual reports since its establishment shall be submitted:

 

5. Information about related enterprises;

 

6. Relevant contracts, vouchers or information, such as procurement contracts, order contracts, and debt certificates, shall be provided to apply for a temporary working capital loan;

 

7. If a mortgage/pledge guarantee is to be adopted, the ownership certificates and value assessment reports of the mortgage/pledge collaterals shall be provided, the mortgage/pledge registration procedures that shall be processed in accordance with the requirements of relevant laws and regulations have been properly processed, and the originals of relevant ownership certificates and registration certificates have been handed over to the Lender for storage as required by the Lender; if a third-party guarantee is to be adopted, relevant guarantee documents shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of above-mentioned item 2 to 4, and the guarantee contract has come into effect; the above-mentioned guarantee shall continue to be valid;

 

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8. If the insurance for the mortgaged/pledged collaterals needs to be processed as required by the Lender, the insurance procedures with the Lender as the first beneficiary have been completed and the original insurance policy has been handed over to the Lender for storage; and the insurance shall continue to be valid; for mortgaged/pledged collaterals provided by the Borrower, the Borrower hereby assigns the right to claim insurance benefits due to the occurrence of insured events to the Lender;

 

9. Enterprises in special industries must provide production and operation licenses for special industries or enterprise qualification certificates issued by the competent authorization departments;

 

10. If any party to this Contract requires notarization and other procedures, the relevant notarization procedures have been completed;

 

11. The Borrower has opened an account in the Lender as required by the Lender, and voluntarily accepts the Lender’s supervision on credit, payment and settlement;

 

12. In order to apply for a foreign exchange project loan, the Borrower must provide valid foreign exchange loan purpose certificates and approval documents issued by relevant departments, and comply with the relevant foreign exchange management policies;

 

13. The value added tax, business tax and income tax returns required by the Lender;

 

14. Other documents, statements, and vouchers required by the Lender.

 

(ii) The Borrower has been established in accordance with the law, with legal and compliant production and operation, and the capabilities of continuous operation, as well as legal repayment sources;

 

(iii) The purpose of the loan is clear, legal and compliant;

 

(iv) The statements and commitments made by the Borrower in Article 11 hereof are continuously true and valid: no default events or potential default events have occurred on or before the applied extension date;

 

(v) The Borrower has completed the certificate of indebtedness or loan voucher related to the loan. The certificate of indebtedness or loan voucher is a part of this Contract, with the same legal effect as this Contract. If the loan amount, loan period, and lending rate hereunder are inconsistent with the records in the certificate of indebtedness or loan voucher, such records shall prevail;

 

(vi) The Borrower has good credit status, with no major bad records; if the Borrower is a new legal person, its controlling shareholder shall have good credit status, with no major bad records:

 

(vii) Other conditions precedent for withdrawal required by the Lender.

 

II. The Lender’s performance of the obligations hereunder is premised on the conditions precedent for withdrawal agreed in this Article being met. The Lender has the right to unilaterally decide to lower or waive part of the conditions precedent for withdrawal, and the Borrower or the Guarantor shall not use that condition as a defense against the Lender.

 

III. The Lender has the right to appropriately adjust the extension of the loan according to factors, such as whether the financing project complies with the provisions of relevant laws, regulations, and policies and the conditions precedent for withdrawal required by the Lender, the execution of the guarantee contract corresponding to this Contract, and the time for the processing of guarantee procedures.

 

IV. The Borrower hereby agrees: after the execution of this Contract, if any withdrawal by the Borrower fails to meet the conditions precedent for withdrawal or the payment conditions of the loan capital agreed herein, the Lender has the right to stop extension, stop paying the loan capital, or terminate this Loan Contract, and the responsibilities or losses arising therefrom shall be assumed by the Borrower. The Lender shall notify the Borrower of the cancellation of this Contract. The objection period of the Borrower is five working days, starting from the date when the cancellation notice has been delivered to the Borrower in the manner agreed herein. If the Borrower has no objection, this Contract will be automatically terminated after the expiration of the objection period. If the Borrower has objections but both parties still fail to reach a solution through negotiation within five working days after the expiration of the objection period, the Lender has the right to collect the loan in advance according to this Contract.

 

V. Upon review by the Lender, if the Borrower meets the conditions precedent for withdrawal agreed herein, the Lender shall pay the loan capital in accordance with Article 7 hereof.

 

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Article 7 Account Monitoring and Payment of the Loan Capital

 

I. Account Monitoring

 

According to the relevant laws and regulations and requirements of regulatory policies in China, the Borrower shall make a commitment that it has met the conditions precedent for withdrawal agreed herein before applying for the loan, and that it accepts the Lender’s supervision on the use of the loan capital for the agreed purposes. The Lender has the right to monitor the basic deposit account, general deposit account and special deposit account opened by the Borrower, and supervise and control the extension, payment and repayment of the loan capital in accordance with this Contract.

 

The Borrower designates the following account as the special fund recovery account, and shall provide the information about the fund flow of the account in a timely manner:

 

Account name: Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd.       Account number: ____[***]_______

 

Account opening bank: sub-branch of Industrial Bank in Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone

 

The Lender may negotiate with the Borrower to enter into a separate account management agreement according to the Borrower’s credit status and financing status, defining the management of the recovery fund flow in the designated account. The Lender has the right to take back the loan in advance according to the Borrower’s fund recovery status.

 

II. Payment of the loan capital

 

(i) The Lender has the right to manage and control the payment of the loan capital through designated payment by the Lender or self-payment by the Borrower.

 

1. The “designated payment” by the Lender means that the Borrower authorizes the Lender to pay the loan capital to the Borrower’s counterparties for the purposes agreed herein.

 

For the designated payment by the Lender, before the extension of the loan capital, the Borrower shall provide the relevant transaction documents in conformity with the purposes agreed herein, and the loan capital will be promptly paid to the Borrower’s counterparties through its account after being reviewed and approved by the Lender.

 

For the designated payment by the Lender, after the loan capital is paid to the Borrower’s counterparties, if the loan capital is returned due to the revocation, cancellation, or invalidity of the underlying transaction contract, the Lender has the right to collect the loan in advance for the returned loan capital as agreed in Article 12 of this Contract.

 

2. The “self-payment” by the Borrower means that after the Lender issues the loan capital to the Borrower’s account, the Borrower voluntarily pays to its counterparties who meet the purposes agreed herein.

 

For the self-payment by the Borrower, the Borrower shall report the payment of the loan capital to the Lender on a regular basis, and the Lender has the right to inspect whether the loan payment meets the agreed purposes by means of account analysis, voucher inspection, on-site investigation, etc.

 

(ii) Designated payment

 

The payment of the loan capital under one of the following circumstances shall be implemented through the designated payment by the Lender:

 

1. The credit business relationship between the Borrower and the Lender is newly established, and the Borrower’s internal rating in the Lender is below B3 (inclusive). “Newly established credit business relationship” means that the Lender and the Borrower have established a credit business relationship for the first time or have not had a credit business relationship within 2 years:

 

2. Working capital loan for replacement;

 

3. The payment object is clear or the amount of a single payment exceeds RMB10 million (inclusive) (the foreign currency loan shall be converted at the intermediate price announced by the Lender on the payment date);

 

4. Others: _____/ _______________.

 

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(iii) During the extension and payment of the loan, if the Borrower is under the following circumstances, the conditions for the extension and payment of the loan shall be supplemented as required by the Lender, and the Lender has the right to adopt stricter conditions for the extension and payment of the loan, as well as to stop the extension and payment of the loan capital, and take corresponding measures as agreed in the second paragraph of Article 14 hereof:

 

1. The credit standing is decreased;

 

2. The profitability of main business is not strong;

 

3. The use of loan capital is abnormal;

 

4. Other circumstances considered by the Lender.

 

Article 8 Repayment of Principal and Interest of the Loan

 

I. The principal of the loan hereunder shall be repaid by the following method (2):

 

(1) If the principal of the loan is repaid in installments, the amount and date of principal repayment are as follows:

 

/ month / day, / year/repayment of / million; / month / day, / year/repayment of / million;

 

/ month / day, / year/repayment of / million; / month / day, / year/repayment of / million;

 

/ month / day, / year/repayment of / million; / month / day, / year/repayment of / million;

 

/ month / day, / year/repayment of / million; / month / day, / year/repayment of / million;

 

__/ _______.

 

If the Lender adjusts the loan installment plan, the date and amount of the loan installment repayment agreed in this Article remain unchanged, and the Borrower shall repay the principal of the loan on schedule.

 

(2) The principal of the loan is repaid in one lump sum on its maturity date.

 

(3) Other repayment methods of the principal of the loan: _____/ __________.

 

II. The Borrower shall fully repay the principal and interest of the loan hereunder on time to the Lender on the repayment date and interest payment date as agreed herein.

 

III. If the repayment date is not a business day of the Lender, the repayment shall be postponed to the next business day, and the non-business day of the Lender will be included in the actual number of days occupied by the loan. When the Borrower repays the principal of the final installment, the interest shall be settled with the repayment of principal, and such repayment shall not be constrained by the interest payment date agreed in Article 5 hereof.

 

IV. If the loan hereunder fails to be repaid on time and needs an extension repayment, the Borrower shall submit a written extension application for the loan to the Lender 10 working days before the loan maturity date. Upon approval by the Lender, the two parties shall sign the Loan Extension Contract as a supplementary contract hereto.

 

V. Prepayment

 

The Borrower shall repay the principal and interest of the loan on the date agreed herein.

 

If the Borrower requires to partially or fully repay the principal and interest of the loan in advance, it shall notify the Lender in writing 10 working days in advance, and obtain the written consent of the Lender. With the written consent of the Lender, after repaying part of the principal and interest of the loan in advance, the Borrower shall negotiate with the Lender to determine the number of repayment installments, repayment time and repayment amount thereafter. The interest of the loan principal that has been repaid in advance shall be charged according to the actual use period and the lending rate agreed herein. The Lender will not adjust the interest of the loan accrued and settled before the prepayment.

 

If the Borrower requires a prepayment, the Lender has the right to require the Borrower to pay the liquidated damages based on 0.05 % of the amount of the prepayment. If the Borrower is a small- or micro-sized enterprise as defined by the regulations and policies in China, the liquidated damages will not be charged.

 

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VI. If the Borrower fails to perform its obligations as agreed herein, the Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes the Lender to directly deduct and collect money from any accounts opened by the Borrower in the Lender and all branches and subsidiaries of Industrial Bank without going through judicial proceedings. The deduction and collection include but are not limited to the principal and interest of the loan (including principal, interest, penalty interest, compound interest), liquidated damages, damages, and expenses of the Lender to realize its creditor’s rights. The Borrower agrees that the Lender has the right to decide the specific order of deduction. If the currency of the money in the account is inconsistent with the currency of the loan, the Lender has the right to deduct the money by converting it into the currency of the loan according to the intermediate price announced by the Lender on the deduction date. If any account herein involves products such as wealth management products or structured deposits, the Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes the Lender to directly initiate a redemption application for the relevant products or take other necessary measures to ensure the successful deduction of the above-mentioned money, and the Borrower shall provide any necessary cooperation.

 

Article 9 Guarantee

 

I. The guarantee contracts of this Contract include but are not limited to the following contracts:

 

(i)  _/___ (name of this Contract), No.: _/___ , with the guarantee method of __/__ , and __/_ as the guarantor;

 

(ii)  /___ (name of this Contract), No.: _/___ , with the guarantee method of __/__ , and __/__ as the guarantor;

 

(iii) _/___ (name of this Contract), No.: _/___ , with the guarantee method of __/__ , and __/__ as the guarantor;

 

(iv) _/___ (name of this Contract), No.: _/___ , with the guarantee method of __/__ , and __/__ as the guarantor;

 

(v) _/___ (name of this Contract), No.: _/___ , with the guarantee method of __/__ , and __/__ as the guarantor;

 

(vi) _/___ (name of this Contract), No.: _/ ___, with the guarantee method of __/__ , and __/__ as the guarantor;

 

II. In addition to the above-mentioned signed guarantee contracts, in the event of exchange rate fluctuations or any other event that the Lender considers may affect the Borrower’s or the Guarantors’ capabilities to perform the Contract, the Lender has the right to require the Borrower to supplement the security deposit or provide new guarantees, and to enter into relevant guarantee contracts. The Borrower shall cooperate with the Lender as required.

 

III. Before completing the signing of guarantee contracts hereunder and the guarantee procedures, the Lender has the right to temporarily refrain from performing all obligations hereunder, such as the extension of the loan.

 

Article 10 Rights and Obligations of Both Parties

 

I. Rights and obligations of the Lender

 

(i) Rights of the Lender:

 

1. The right to require the Borrower to repay the principal and interest of the loan on schedule;

 

2. The right to require the Borrower to provide various information related to the loan;

 

3. The right to understand the Borrower’s production, operation and financial status;

 

4. The right to supervise the Borrower’s use of the loan for the purposes agreed herein;

 

5. The right to supervise the use of the loan and propose requirements;

 

6. If the Borrower owes the Lender’s multiple debts that are the same type, and the payment of Borrower is insufficient or may be insufficient to repay all debts, the Lender has the right to decide the specific repayment or deduction order at the time of repayment;

 

7. The right to directly deduct the principal and interest of the loan (including principal, interest, penalty interest, compound interest), liquidated damages, damages, and expenses of the Lender to realize its creditor’s rights from any account opened by the Borrower in the Lender and all branches and subsidiaries of Industrial Bank without going through judicial proceeding. The Borrower agrees that the Lender has the right to decide the specific order of deduction. If the currency of the money in the account is inconsistent with the currency of the loan, the Lender has the right to deduct the money by converting it into the currency of the loan according to the intermediate price announced by the Lender on the deduction date; if any account herein involves products such as wealth management products or structured deposits, the Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes the Lender to directly initiate a redemption application for the relevant products or take other necessary measures to ensure the successful deduction of the above-mentioned money;

 

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8. The Lender has the right to transfer all or part of the creditor’s rights and security interests hereunder to third parties at any time without the Borrower’s consent; If the Lender transfers the loan and security interests hereunder, the Borrower still assumes all obligations hereof;

 

9. If the Borrower fails to repay the principal and interest of the loan as agreed herein, or fails to implement the repayment of the principal and interest, or violates any obligations agreed herein, the Lender has the right to report and disclose the Borrower’s default and untrustworthiness information to the People’s Bank of China and the credit agencies and credit reporting systems established or approved by the People’s Bank of China, or the Banking Association, banking supervisory agencies, or other administrative/judicial/supervisory departments and the information management systems or news media established or recognized by these departments, and to take legal measures, such as collection, litigation, arbitration, or applying to notary authorities for enforcement certificates. At the same time, the Lender may take or jointly take joint untrustworthy punishment and rights protection measures with other banking financial institutions, such as reducing or stopping the credit, stopping opening new settlement accounts, and stopping processing the credit card for the legal representative of the Borrower/the Borrower;

 

10. The right to unilaterally decide to collect the loan in advance according to the Borrower’s fund recovery status;

 

11. In the event of exchange rate fluctuations and other circumstances that the creditor considers may affect the safety of its claims, the debtor is obliged to supplement the pledge such as security deposits as required by the creditor, or implement other risk mitigation measures approved by the creditor;

 

12. The right to enjoy other rights agreed by laws, regulations and rules or agreed herein.

 

(ii) Obligations of the Lender:

 

1. Issuing and paying the loan capital as agreed herein;

 

2. Keeping confidential of the Borrower’s debts, finance, production and operation status, except for the following circumstances:

 

(1) Provisions of laws and regulations;

 

(2) Regulations or requirements of regulatory authorities;

 

(3) Disclosure to the Lender’s partners.

 

II. Rights and obligations of the Borrower

 

(i) The Borrower has the following rights:

 

1. The right to fully withdraw and use the loan as agreed herein;

 

2. The right to require the Lender to assume confidentiality obligations for the information provided as agreed herein.

 

(ii) Obligations of the Borrower

 

1. Truthfully providing the documents required by the Lender, including all opening banks, account numbers, and balances of deposits and loans, and cooperating with the Lender’s investigation, review and inspection;

 

2. Accepting the Lender’s supervision or inspection on the use of credit funds and related production, operation and financial activities, and taking reasonable resolution measures for the Lender’s suggestions or requirements in a timely manner;

 

3. Using the loan according to the purposes agreed herein. The loan shall not be used for other purposes, and the Borrower shall guarantee not to use the loan for fixed asset investment; the loan shall not be used in the production/operation fields and purposes prohibited by China; the loan shall not be used for equity investment; the loan shall not be used for purchasing and selling securities, futures, real estate, etc.; the loan shall not be used for engaging in inter-enterprise mutual lending activities and other illegal activities restricted by China; the loan shall not be squeezed or misappropriated by other methods;

 

4. Accepting the Lender’s monitoring of the Borrower’s account and the Lender’s management of the loan capital payment according to Article 7 hereof.

 

5. The Borrower should repay the principal and interest in full on time as required by this Contract;

 

6. Without the written consent of the Lender, the Borrower should not transfer the debt under this Contract to any third person in whole or in part;

 

7. The Borrower should not reduce the registered capital in any way; and should not extend the time limit for subscription of the registered capital, without the written consent of the Lender;

 

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8. In case of a merger, separation, equity transfer, external investment, substantial increase of debt financing and other major issues in respect of the Borrower, the Borrower should notify the Lender thereof in writing at least 30 working days in advance, should seek the written consent of the Lender, and should actively implement the measures under this Contract to guarantee that the borrowing principal and interest are repaid in full on time, as required by the Lender. The aforementioned major issues include but are not limited to:

 

(1) applying to a bank or other third parties for borrowing or debt, or providing any loan to a third party, or substantially increasing the debt financing by providing guarantee for a third party’s debt, etc., which affects or may affect the repayment of borrowing principal and interest;

 

(2) a material change in equity or an adjustment to the mode of business operation (including but not limited to the signing of a joint venture or partnership contract with a foreign-owned enterprise or an enterprise from Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan; cancellation, closure, shutdown, switch to other production; separation, combination, merger, takeover; reorganization, incorporation, or restructuring into a joint stock company; external investment; becoming a shareholder of, or investing in, a joint stock company or investment company, with fixed assets such as buildings or machinery equipment, or with intangible assets such as trademarks, patents, know-how or land use right, conducting an equity or management right transaction by means of lease, contract, joint venture, trusteeship, etc.);

 

(3) change of 10% or more of equities (including but not limited to transfer, trusteeship, escrow, pledge of equity, etc.)

 

9. In case of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any of the following, the Borrower should notify the Lender thereof in writing, within seven working days from the date thereof, and should actively implement the measures under this Contract to guarantee that the borrowing principal and interest are repaid in full on time, as required by the Lender:

 

(1) a material financial loss, loss to assets or other financial crisis;

 

(2) a shutdown, revocation or cancellation of the business license, application for bankruptcy by the Borrower or other applicant, dissolution, etc.;

 

(3) a material crisis in the operation or finance of the controlling shareholder or any other affiliate of the Borrower, which affects the normal operation of the Borrower;

 

(4) any change of any of the legal representative, directors or senior management of the Borrower, which affects the normal operation of the Borrower;

 

(5) a change of 10% or more of the equities of the guarantor (including but not limited to transfer, trusteeship, escrow, pledge of equity, etc.);

 

(6) any material related-party transaction between the Borrower and its controlling shareholder and any other affiliate, affecting the normal operation of the Borrower;

 

(7) any lawsuit, arbitration or criminal or administrative punishment, which has a material adverse impact on the operation or property of the Borrower; and

 

(8) other major issues that may affect the solvency of the Borrower.

 

10. At the request of the Lender (which request should be communicated to the Borrower in advance in a reasonable manner, unless it’s unnecessary to notify the Borrower thereof in advance, due to the occurrence of default or potential default or in a specific environment), during the normal office hours, the Borrower should allow the delegate of the Lender to:

 

(1) visit the place where the Borrower conducts business activities;

 

(2) check the premise, facilities, factory and equipment of the Borrower;

 

(3) make enquiries for the Borrower’s books and records and all the other records;

 

(4) ask any of the employees, agents, contractors or subcontractors of the Borrower who know or may know the relevant information the Lender requires.

 

11. The Borrower guarantees that it will maintain its current assets, the net value of its assets, asset liability ratio, liquidity ratio and other financial positions within the following ranges as required by the Lender: __/___ .

 

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12. The Borrower should sign for the letter of collection or the document on collection sent by the Lender to the Borrower or served by other means, and hand over the receipt to the Lender.

 

Article 11 The Borrower’s statement and commitment

 

The Borrower voluntarily makes the following statement and commitment, and bears the legal liability for the truth of the contents thereof:

 

I. The Borrower is a legal entity incorporated and validly existing under the laws of the People’s Republic of China, and has the full capacity for civil conduct. The Borrower guarantees that it will provide the relevant proofs, licenses, certificates and other documents required by the Lender, at the request of the Lender.

 

II. The Borrower is able enough to perform all of its obligations and responsibilities under this Contract, and neither a change of order or financial position nor any agreement signed with any entity will diminish or exclude the Borrower’s responsibility for paying off the debt.

 

III. The Borrower has been fully empowered to and has the legal right to sign this Contract, has obtained all the internal approval and authorization and gone through all the other relevant internal formalities, which are necessary for signing and fulfilling this Contract, and has obtained all the approval, registration, authorization, consent, license of, and gone through all the other relevant formalities with, any government department or other authorities, which are necessary for signing and fulfilling this Contract. And all the approval, registration, consent, license, authorization and other relevant formalities necessary for signing of this Contract are kept fully legal and effective.

 

IV. The signing of this Contract by the Borrower fully complies with the relevant articles of association, internal decisions and resolutions of the board of shareholders and the board of directors of the Borrower, and the Borrower makes a commitment that such internal decisions and resolutions of the board of shareholders and the board of directors fully comply with the provisions of national laws and regulations and the articles of association, and that none of them is ineffective, invalid or revocable. This Contract is not in conflict with or in violation of any articles of association, internal decisions, resolutions of the board of shareholders and the board of directors, and policies of the Borrower.

 

V. The signing and performance of this Contract are based on the true intention of the Borrower. The debt financing complies with the requirements of laws and regulations, and the signing and performance of this Contract don’t violate any provisions of laws, regulations, rules or contracts binding upon the Borrower. This Contract is legal, valid and enforceable. If a defect of the Borrower’s right at the time of signing and performance of this Contract invalidates this Contract, the Borrower will immediately compensate the Lender for all losses unconditionally.

 

VI. All the documents, financial statements and other information provided to the Lender by the Borrower under this Contract are true, complete, accurate and effective, and the Borrower will constantly maintain all financial indicators required by the Lender.

 

VII. The Borrower agrees that the borrowing business under this Contract is bound by the provisions, convention and practices of the Lender. The Lender should have the right to recover the loan in advance according to the condition of the withdrawal of the Borrower’s funds.

 

VIII. If the types of the multiple debts lent by the Lender to the Borrower are the same, and the Borrower fails to repay the debts in full or may fail to pay off all the debts, the Lender will determine the specific order of the payoff of debts or the deduction.

 

IX. If the Borrower fails to perform its obligations according to the provisions of this Contract, the Borrower hereby authorizes the Lender to directly deduct the borrowing principal and interest (including the principal, interest, default interest and compound interest), liquidated damages, damages, expenses of realization of creditor’s right by the Lender, etc. from any account opened with any of the Lender and all branches and subsidiaries of Industrial Bank Co., Ltd. by the Borrower, without going through the judicial process, and the Borrower agrees that the Lender should have the right to determine the specific order of the deduction. If the currency of funds in the account differs from that of the borrowing, the Lender should have the right to convert it at the middle rate announced by the Lender on the day of deduction for the deduction. If any account mentioned in this article involves any finance product, structural deposit or some other product, the Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes the Lender to directly apply for redemption of the relevant product or to take some other necessary measure on behalf of the Borrower, so as to ensure that the Lender deducts the aforementioned expenses smoothly, and the Borrower should be cooperative as necessary.

 

X. If the Borrower submits any document on a specific transaction to the Lender for review, before or after the signing of this Contract, the Borrower should guarantee the authenticity of all such documents, and the Lender will just decide on the apparent authenticity of such transaction documents, and will not participate in or know the substance of the specific transaction in which the Borrower participates, nor take any responsibility for such transaction.

 

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XI. The Borrower confirms that except for the situations that have been disclosed to the Lender in writing, it does not hide any of the following, which has occurred or will immediately occur and may cause the Lender to disapprove the issue of borrowing under this Contract:

 

(1) the Borrower assumes a debt and contingent liability, including but not limited to the mortgage, pledge and lien of the Borrower’s assets or revenue and other debt burden on the same, which haven’t been disclosed to the Lender;

 

(2) the Borrower or any of its major managers is involved in a material violation of discipline or law, or a claim against the Borrower for compensation;

 

(3) the Borrower is in violation of the contract on the creditor’s right and debt between the Borrower and any other creditor;

 

(4) there is no lawsuit, arbitration or administrative punishment against the Borrower or its property that has occurred, is pending or may occur to the knowledge of the Borrower, and there is no liquidation or discontinuation of business or other similar procedures against the Borrower, applied for by the Borrower positively or a third party;

 

(5) other situations that may affect the Borrower’s financial position or solvency.

 

XII. The Borrower makes a commitment that it will use the borrowing for the purpose specified by this Contract, and will not use the same for any other purpose or any purpose in violation of the agreed intent of this Contract instead. The Borrower will accept and be cooperative in the management of payment from borrowing, post-loan management and the relevant examination by the Lender, and be cooperative in the supervision, examination and check of the use of borrowed funds by the Borrower and of the Borrower’s production and operation, financial activities, material inventory, assets and liabilities, bank deposit, cash, etc. by the Lender, or other requirements the Lender deems necessary or appropriate.

 

XIII. A full and effective guarantee recognized by the Lender or a guarantee deemed as appropriate and acceptable by some other lender should be provided. If any guarantee under this Contract involves the real estate mortgage, the Borrower should perform the obligation to inform the Lender thereof in a timely manner, when it knows that the real estate mortgaged will be subject to demolition. If the compensation for demolition of the real estate mortgaged is in the form of exchange of the property right, the Lender should have the right to require the Borrower to pay off the debt in advance, or to require another collateral and sign a new mortgage agreement, under which the guarantee should be provided by a guarantor eligible for guarantee, after the loss of the original mortgaged real estate and before the registration of the new collateral. If the compensation for demolition of the real estate mortgaged is in the form of compensation, the Borrower should require the mortgager to continue to provide guarantee for the principal creditor’s right by means of a special security deposit account opened, a deposit receipt, etc. in connection with the compensation for demolition.

 

XIV. The Borrower should not reduce the registered capital in any way. Without the written consent of the Lender, the Borrower should not transfer the debt under this Contract to a third person in part or in whole. Without the written consent of the Lender, the Borrower should not pay off any debt owed by the Borrower to any other creditor (except for the other branches of Industrial Bank Co., Ltd.) in advance, before it pays off all the debt under this Contract.

 

XV. The Borrower should notify the Lender of any material adverse event that affects the Borrower’s solvency in a timely manner, and should seek the Lender’s written consent, before carrying out any merger, separation, equity transfer, external investment, substantial increase of debt financing, or other major issue.

 

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XVI. In case of any litigation, arbitration or other dispute between the Lender and the Borrower or any third party associated with the Borrower as a result of the fulfillment of the Lender’s obligations under this Contract, forcing the Lender to be involved in the dispute between the Borrower and any third party, the Borrower should be responsible for the litigation or arbitration fee, attorney fee and other fees paid by the Lender therefor.

 

XVII. The settlement business under this Contract should be handled by the Borrower through the settlement account opened with the Lender.

 

XVIII. The Borrower makes a commitment that the information about it announced through the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System is true, complete, legal and effective, that it constantly agrees that the Lender can make enquiries for information in the system, which is announced or not announced at the option of the enterprise. If the Lender requires the capital verification, the Borrower will agree to have its capital verified according to the requirements of the Lender and to provide a capital verification report issued by a professional institution.

 

XIX. The Borrower hereby makes a statement that the Lender is empowered to conduct a necessary investigation of the Borrower’s credit, including making enquiries for information about the Borrower’s credit in the basic database of financial credit information set up by the state, in accordance with the national laws and regulations as well as the relevant policies, that the Lender can submit information about credit to the national basic database of financial credit information, as required by the People’s Bank of China for credit of enterprises and individuals, and that lawful enquiries for relevant information are allowed within the empowerment scope.

 

XX. The Borrower hereby declares and authorizes that the Lender has the right to submit the information related to this Contract and other relevant information to administrative, judicial, and supervisory departments, banking regulators, and banking associations and the information management systems established or recognized by them according to the needs of relevant information management work of the aforesaid departments and institutions, and hereby allows legitimate query of the relevant information.

 

XXI. In case of the Borrower’s breach of this Contract or circumstances that may endanger the Lender’s realization of its creditor’s rights, the Lender shall have the right to require accelerated maturity of the subscribed capital contribution obligations of the Borrower’s shareholders, and the Borrower promises that its shareholders shall subscribe for capital as required by the Lender in a timely manner. The Lender is entitled to require the Borrower and its shareholders not to receive dividends.

 

XXII. The Borrower promises that the transaction background of the loan business is true and legal, and there is no money laundering or other illegal purposes.

 

XXIII. The Borrower hereby irrevocably promises that, in case of breach of any contractual obligation under this Contract, the Lender may submit and disclose the Borrower’s breach information and untrustworthiness information to the People’s Bank of China and the credit agencies and credit reporting systems established or approved by the People’s Bank of China, or the banking association, banking regulatory authority, or other administrative, judicial, and supervisory departments and the information management systems established or recognized by them, or news media.

 

In addition, the Borrower irrevocably authorizes relevant banking associations to share the Borrower’s untrustworthiness information among banking financial institutions and even make it known to the public through appropriate means.

 

The Borrower knows that the Lender has the right to take various measures in accordance with this Contract and that the Lender has the right to take or jointly take untrustworthiness punishment and rights protection measures with other banking financial institutions, such as reducing or stopping the credit, stopping opening new settlement accounts, and stopping processing new credit cards for the legal representative of the Borrower/the Borrower.

 

XXIV. Other matters stated and promised by the Borrower: ____/ _____.

 

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Article 12 Advance Loan Collection

 

I. During the borrowing period, in case that the Borrower or the Guarantor (including, but not limited to, the guarantor, mortgagor, or pledgor, similarly hereinafter) is involved in any of the following circumstances, the Lender shall be entitled to unilaterally decide to stop paying the unused loan to the Borrower, and recover part or all of the loan principal and interest in advance; for the installment loans, if the Lender collects the loan in advance for one installment in accordance with the Contract, the other undue loans shall be deemed matured in advance:

 

(I) False materials are provided or important operating financial facts are concealed, or any certificate and document submitted to the Lender or any statement or commitment in Article 11 of this Contract is proved to be untrue, inaccurate, incomplete, or deliberately misleading;

 

(II) The original purpose of the loan is changed without the written consent of the Lender, and the loan is misappropriated or used to be engaged in illegal or rule-breaking transactions;

 

(III) A false contract with a related party is used to discount or pledge creditor’s rights such as notes receivable and accounts receivable without actual trade background to the Lender to obtain the Lender’s capital or credit;

 

(IV) Refusing to accept the Lender’s supervision and inspection of the use of its credit funds and relevant operation and financial activities;

 

(V) Material events such as merger, separation, acquisition, reorganization, share transfer, foreign investment, substantial increase in debt financing, etc., that the Lender believes may affect the security of the loan;

 

(VI) Intentionally evading the creditor’s rights of the Lender through related-party transactions;

 

(VII) The credit status has deteriorated, and the solvency (including the contingent liabilities) is significantly weakened;

 

(VIII) The Borrower or its associated enterprise and the Guarantor or its associated enterprise are involved in cross defaults as agreed in Article 15 of this Contract;

 

(IX) The Borrower fails to repay the principal and interest of the loan under the Contract on schedule;

 

(X) The Borrower ceases to repay its debts, or is unable to or indicates that it is unable to repay its maturing debt;

 

(XI) The Borrower’s business is suspended or closed, or the Borrower is declared bankrupt or dissolved, or its business license is canceled or revoked, or its financial condition is deteriorating, etc.;

 

(XII) The Borrower fails to perform the obligations agreed in Articles 10 and 13 of this Contract and other obligations agreed in this Contract, or the Guarantor fails to perform the obligations agreed in the guarantee contract;

 

(XIII) The value of the collateral and pledged property used for security has been or may be significantly reduced, or the pledged right must be realized before the maturity of the loan;

 

(XIV) The Borrower’s or Guarantor’s legal representative, main individual investors, directors, supervisors, and senior executives have changed or disappeared abnormally, or have been investigated or restricted by judicial authorities according to law, which has affected or may affect the performance of obligations under this Contract;

 

(XV) The Borrower/Guarantor or their controlling shareholders, actual controllers, or affiliates are involved in major litigation, arbitration, or other disputes, or their major assets have been sealed up, frozen, deducted, or enforced or other measures with similar effects are taken, which may endanger or damage the interests of the Lender;

 

(XVI) The events otherwise agreed in this Contract, or the Borrower’s fund recovery status, or other events that endanger or damage or may endanger or damage the interests of the Lender.

 

II. In case of the above-mentioned advance loan collection, the Lender may unilaterally decide whether to grant the Borrower a certain grace period according to the Borrower’s production and operation situation, financial status, and fund recovery status. Where the Lender grants the Borrower a grace period, but the Borrower fails to take remedial measures or the remedial measures taken cannot meet the Lender’s requirements within the grace period, the Lender shall have the right to unilaterally decide to collect the loan in advance; the Lender may also directly decide to collect the loan in advance without giving the Borrower a grace period.

 

III. In case that the loan is collected in advance, the Lender shall be entitled to take corresponding measures in accordance with the provision in paragraph 2 of Article 14 hereof.

 

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Article 13 The Borrower’s Obligation to Disclose Material Transactions and Events to the Lender

 

I. The Borrower shall report to the Lender in writing its material transactions and events in a timely manner.

 

II. Where the Borrower is a group customer, the Borrower shall report to the Lender the related-party transactions of more than 10% of the Borrower’s net assets in time in accordance with relevant provisions, including, but not limited to:

 

(I) The association relationships of the parties to the transaction;

 

(II) Transaction items and transaction nature;

 

(III) The amount of the transaction or the corresponding proportion;

 

(IV) Pricing policy (including transactions with no amount or only a symbolic amount).

 

III. In case of a major change in the basic conditions of the Contract that cannot be foreseen at the time of signing the Contract and that is not a commercial risk, with renegotiation needed, the Lender shall be notified in time within three working days after the change takes place.

 

Article 14 Liability for Breach of Contract

 

I. After this Contract takes effect, both the Borrower and the Lender shall perform the obligations agreed in this Contract. If either party fails to perform or fails to fully perform its obligations stipulated in this Contract, it shall bear the corresponding liabilities for breach of contract.

 

II. If the Borrower fails to use the loan for the purpose agreed herein, fails to pay the loan fund in the agreed manner, fails to comply with the statement and commitment, distorts the information in the loan application document, breaks through the agreed financial indicators, gets involved in a major cross default event, or fails to perform any other provision of this Contract, the Lender shall have the right to take one or more of the following measures:

 

(I) Require remedying the breach of contract within a time limit;

 

(II) Stop issuing the loan that has not been issued hereunder and stop paying the loan funds that have not been paid hereunder;

 

(III) Require the Borrower to supplement the loan issuance and payment conditions that meet the Lender’s requirements or cancel the Borrower’s use of the loan in the form of “self-payment”;

 

(IV) Unilaterally decide early maturity of the debt in whole or in part;

 

(V) Unilaterally terminate or cancel this Contract, and require the Borrower to repay the principal and interest of the matured or undue loan and pay or compensate for the relevant losses;

 

(VI) If the loan is overdue, require the Borrower to pay the penalty interest for the overdue loan; if the Borrower misappropriates the loan, require the Borrower to pay the penalty interest for misappropriation; require the Borrower to pay the compound interest of the unpaid interest (including the interest before and after the maturity of the loan, the penalty interest for misappropriation, and the penalty interest for the overdue loan);

 

(VII) Require the Borrower to add or replace the Guarantor, collateral, and pledged property/pledge rights;

 

(VIII) Enforce or realize the rights under any security in respect of the loan;

 

(IX) Directly deduct a sum of money from any account opened by the Borrower with the Lender or any branches and subsidiaries of Industrial Bank without going through judicial procedures, or entrust the Borrower’s bank of deposit to deduct a sum of money from its account, including, but not limited to, the loan principal and interest (including the principal, interest, penalty interest, and compound interest), liquidated damages, damages, expenses for the Lender to realize its creditor’s rights, etc,; the Borrower agrees that the Lender has the right to determine the specific deduction order, and, if the currency of the money in the account is inconsistent with that of the loan, the Lender has the right to convert it into the loan currency for deduction according to the intermediate price published by the Lender on the day of deduction; where any account specified in this paragraph involves financial products or structured deposits, the Lender has the right to directly initiate the redemption application of relevant products or take other necessary measures on behalf of the Borrower to ensure that the Lender can smoothly deduct the above sum of money;

 

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(X) Bring a lawsuit or arbitration or apply to a notary office to issue an execution certificate, requiring the Borrower to repay the principal and interest of the loan, and the expenses for the Creditor to realize the creditor’s rights shall be borne by the Borrower;

 

(XI) The Lender has the right to seize or retain any movable or immovable property, or tangible or intangible property of the Borrower under the control and possession of the Lender or take other measures as the Lender thinks appropriate;

 

(XII) The Lender has the right to submit and disclose the Borrower’s breach information and untrustworthiness information to the People’s Bank of China and the credit agencies and credit reporting systems established or approved by the People’s Bank of China, or the banking association, banking regulatory authority, or other administrative, judicial, and supervisory departments and the information management systems established or recognized by them, or news media, and may also take or jointly take untrustworthiness punishment and rights protection measures with other banking financial institutions, such as reducing or stopping the credit, stopping opening new settlement accounts, and stopping processing new credit cards for the legal representative of the Borrower/the Borrower;

 

(XIII) Other measures stipulated by laws and regulations or agreed in this Contract or deemed appropriate by the Lender.

 

III. Where the Lender fails to provide the loan according to the agreed date and amount and causes losses to the Borrower, it shall compensate the Borrower for the direct economic losses caused thereby, provided that the conditions precedent to withdrawal and the payment conditions of the loan fund agreed in this Contract are satisfied. However, in any case, the Lender shall not be liable for compensation for any foreseeable or unforeseeable indirect losses incurred by the Borrower.

 

IV. During the performance of this Contract, the Lender shall not be liable for any error in the designated payment by the Lender, delay in payment, self-payment by the Borrower in violation of this Contract, or other losses caused by the untruth, inaccuracy, incompleteness, or other defects of the materials provided by the Borrower.

 

V. The Lender shall not be liable for any loan granting and payment disputes or other losses arising from the freezing of the loan granting account or the payment object account agreed herein or other reasons.

 

VI. If the Guarantor (i.e. the guarantor, mortgagor, or pledgor) hereunder is involved in any of the following events, the Lender shall be entitled to take measures in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article:

 

(I) The guarantor fails to perform the provisions of the guarantee contract, or its credit status deteriorates, or other events that weaken its guarantee capacity take place;

 

(II) The mortgagor fails to perform the provisions of the mortgage contract, or intentionally damages the collateral, or the value of the collateral may be or has been significantly reduced, or other events that damage the mortgage right of the Lender occur;

 

(III) The pledgor fails to perform the pledge contract, or the value of the pledged property has been or may be significantly reduced, or the pledged right must be realized before the loan is repaid, or other events that damage the Lender’s pledge rights occur.

 

Article 15 Cross Default

 

In case of any of the following circumstances that occur to the Borrower or its associated enterprises and the Guarantor or its associated enterprises, the Borrower shall be deemed to have breached the Contract at the same time, and the Lender shall have the right to collect the loan in advance in accordance with Article 12 herein and require the Borrower to bear the liability for breach of contract in accordance with Article 14 herein:

 

(I) Any loan, financing, or debt is or may be in default or is declared to be premature;

 

(II) Any guarantee or similar obligations have not been performed, or there is a possibility of non-performance;

 

(III) Non-performance or breach of legal documents or contracts related to debt guarantee and other similar obligations, or a possibility of non-performance or breach;

 

(IV) There is or will be inability to pay off matured debts or matured loans/financing;

 

(V) It has been declared or is about to be declared bankrupt through legal proceedings;

 

(VI) Its assets or properties are transferred to other creditors;

 

(VII) Other circumstances that endanger the security of the loan principal and interest under this Contract.

 

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Article 16 Continuity of Obligations

 

All obligations of the Borrower hereunder shall be continuous and fully and equally binding on its successors, agents, receivers, assignees, and its entities upon merger, reorganization, or name change.

 

Article 17 Accelerated Maturity of Principal and Interest

 

The Borrower agrees that, once the Borrower fails to perform the statement and commitment in Article 11 herein or fails to perform any of its obligations hereunder, the Lender shall be entitled to decide that any other obligation of the Borrower to the Lender, including the repayment obligations of all the principals and interests (including the penalty interest and compound interest) due and undue hereunder, will immediately expire.

 

Article 18 Right of Subrogation

 

The Borrower hereby specifically declares that, regardless of whether the creditor’s right of the Lender has expired, the limitation of action for the creditor’s right of the Borrower or the subordinate right related to such creditor’s right is about to expire or the credit of bankruptcy is not declared in time, or the Borrower breaches the contract or is unable to repay the Lender’s advances (including, but not limited to, the principal, interest, and expenses) due for repayment, or other circumstances that affect the realization of the creditor’s right of the Lender, for any creditor’s rights, accounts receivable, and other property rights and interests owned by the Borrower against a third party and the subordinate rights related to the foregoing rights, the Lender shall be entitled to exercise the right of subrogation, including, but not limited to, subrogating to request the Borrower’s counterparty to perform the contract, report to the bankruptcy administrator, or take other necessary actions for the Borrower, and the Borrower shall waive all defenses.

 

Article 19 Law Application, Jurisdiction, and Dispute Resolution

 

I. The conclusion, effectiveness, performance, dissolution, interpretation, and dispute settlement of this Contract shall be governed by the laws of the People’s Republic of China (for the purpose of this Contract, excluding the laws of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region, and Taiwan).

 

II. Any dispute arising from this Contract shall be settled through friendly negotiation between the Borrower and the Lender; in case that friendly negotiation fails, both parties agree to settle the dispute in the (I) way as follows:

 

(I) Bring a lawsuit in the People’s Court at the place where the Lender has its domicile.

 

(II) Apply to /__ Arbitration Committee for arbitration; the arbitration rules in force at the time of arbitration of the Arbitration Committee shall apply to resolve the dispute. To the extent permitted by the arbitration rules, both parties agree to use the summary procedure for trial. The arbitration award is final and binding upon both parties. The venue of the arbitral tribunal shall be / __.

 

(III) Other ways: / __.

 

III. During the period of dispute, the provisions of this Contract that do not involve the dispute shall still be performed.

 

Article 20 Document Exchange, Communication, and Notification

 

I. The Borrower agrees and confirms that the following addresses shall be used as the addresses for service of notices under this Contract and relevant litigation (arbitration), notarization and other legal documents in case of disputes (including, but not limited to, all kinds of notices and documents of the contracting parties; the indictments (or arbitration applications) and evidences, summons, notices of response to litigation, notices of proof, notices of court session, payment orders, judgments (awards), rulings in writing, conciliation documents, notices of enforcement, notices of deadline for performance, and other legal instruments of litigation or arbitration hearings, the procedure for realizing security interest, and the execution stage; various notices and legal instruments served by the notary office), and further agrees that the Lender, notary office, court, and other judicial offices, and other servers of notices and legal instruments have the right to choose paper or electronic means for service, including, but not limited to, e-mail, China Judicial Process Information Online, national unified service platform, local or specialized court network service platform, the server’s electronic network platform and electronic app, etc.:

 

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(I) Addresses of the Borrower:

 

1. Name of the Borrower: Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd.

 

Address of the Borrower: Unit B (QDXX-F7B), Building 7, Tus Park, South Taizihu Innovation Valley, Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone

 

Postal code: 430000__ ;          Tel: / __ ;

 

Contact person: ______.

 

2. Name of designated receiver (if any): __/____ ;

 

Address of designated receiver: __/___ ;

 

Postal code: ___/__ ; Tel: ___/ __.

 

(II) The Borrower agrees and confirms that any of the following electronic mailing addresses is also a valid address for service:

 

1. For fax reception, number: __/___ ;

 

2. E-mail address: __/ ___;

 

3. SMS, receiving number: __/ ___;

 

4. WeChat, WeChat number: __/___ ;

 

5. For QQ reception, number: __/___ ;

 

6. Other electronic communication addresses: __/ ___.

 

II. The applicable period of the addresses for service agreed in the first paragraph of this Article includes the non-litigation stage, the first instance, the second instance, the retrial, the execution, the procedures for realizing the real interests for security, the supervision procedure, the compulsory notarization, and all the other stages after the dispute enters the arbitration and litigation procedures. In case of any change to the above addresses for service, the Borrower shall notify the Lender in writing in advance (the arbitral tribunal or court shall also be notified in writing in advance during the litigation or arbitration, and the original notary office shall also be notified in writing if compulsory notarization has been handled) to reconfirm the addresses for service and obtain the receipt. If the notice is not sent in advance, the addresses shall be deemed unchanged, and the corresponding legal consequences shall be borne by the Borrower. The address for service agreed in the first paragraph of this Article shall still be deemed as a valid address for service.

 

III. Any documents, communications, notices and legal documents, as long as they are sent to any address as agreed in the first paragraph of this Article, shall be deemed to have been served on the following dates (service to the designated recipient shall be deemed as service to the person):

 

(1) for postal delivery (including express mail service, ordinary mail, and registered mail), the fifth working day after the date of mailing shall be deemed to be the date of delivery;

 

(2) for fax, e-mail, cellphone message, WeChat, QQ or other electronic mailing addresses, the date of sending shall be deemed to be the date of delivery;

 

(3) for personal delivery, the date on which the recipient signs the receipt shall be deemed to be the date of delivery. Where the recipient refuses delivery, it is also deemed to be delivered if the delivery person takes pictures and videos to record the delivery process and leaves the document.

 

IV. In the event that the address for service provided or confirmed by the Borrower is inaccurate or untrue, or that the address for service is not promptly communicated to the other party, the arbitration institution, the people’s court, or the notary office following a change of address for service and results in the failure of delivery, the Borrower shall be liable for any corresponding legal consequences and the delivery shall be deemed to have been made effectively:

 

(1) for postal delivery, the date of return of the document shall be deemed to be the date of delivery;

 

(2) for personal delivery, the date on which the delivery is recorded on the certificate of service shall be deemed to be the date of delivery;

 

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(3) for electronic delivery, the date of service shall be deemed to be the date of delivery.

 

V. The Lender regards the place of domicile specified in the Contract as the address for service. If the Lender delivers a notice by making an announcement on its website, online bank, telephone bank or business outlets, the date on which the announcement is published shall be deemed to be the date of delivery. Under no circumstances shall the Lender be liable for any transmission error, omission or delay in the delivery by mail, fax, telephone or any other communication system.

 

VI. The Parties agree that their official seals, office seals, special seals for finance, special seals for contract, special seals for sending and receiving and the Lender’s special seal for credit business shall be valid seals for notice or contact, service of legal documents and correspondence between the Parties. All staff members of the Borrower’s unit are the authorized recipients of documents, communications and notices.

 

VII. This Article shall be deemed as an independent article in the Contract and shall not be affected by the validity of this Contract and other articles hereof.

 

Article 21 Validity of this Contract and Other Matters

 

I. The Contract comes into force from the date of signature, seal or fingerprint of contracting parties.

 

II. During the valid period hereof, any tolerance, grace or delay in exercising its rights and interests as granted by the Lender to the Borrower and Guarantor herein shall not harm, affect or restrict the Lender’s entitlement to all rights and interests in accordance with relevant laws and this Contract, shall not be construed as a waiver of the rights and interests of the Lender hereunder, and shall not affect any obligations of the Borrower hereunder.

 

III. In the event that the Lender’s performance of the lending obligations as agreed herein does not comply with the laws and regulations or supervision requirements due to changes in national laws and regulations or supervision policies, the Lender has the right to unilaterally terminate the Contract, and announce that all loans issued have matured in advance, and the Borrower shall repay immediately at the request of the Lender. If the Lender fails to perform or fails to perform as agreed in the Contract due to such reasons, the Lender shall not bear any legal liability.

 

IV. The Lender shall not be liable for any failure to issue loans or process payments on time due to force majeure, communication or network failure, failure of the Lender system, and other reasons but shall promptly notify the Borrower of such failure.

 

V. The Borrower accepts that the Lender, according to the needs of business management, has the right to authorize or entrust other branches of Industrial Bank to perform the rights and obligations hereunder (including but not limited to: authorize or entrust other branches of Industrial Bank to sign related contracts, etc.), or to assign the loan hereunder into other branches of Industrial Bank for acceptance and management. The above behavior by the Lender does not require consent from the Borrower.

 

VI. The Borrower agrees that the Lender has the right to unilaterally change and reduce or cancel the amount of unused loans herein based on factors such as the Borrower’s production and operation condition, repayment condition and credit extension in other financial institutions. Where the Lender decides to change and reduce or cancel the amount of unused loans herein, it shall notify the Borrower five working days in advance, without procuring the Borrower’s consent.

 

VII. In case that at any time any provision hereof is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect, the legality, validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof will not in any way be affected or impaired.

 

VIII. At the Lender’s request, the Borrower has paid close attention to the Important Notes for Signing contained herein, carefully read and fully, accurately understood all the terms and conditions of the rights and obligations of the contracting parties and the Important Notes for Signing. The Lender has provided a full explanation and interpretation of the relevant provisions and personal information processing rules at the request of the Borrower. Both parties have a common understanding of the terms of the Contract and have no objection to the contents of the Contract.

 

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IX. The subtitles hereof are added for reading convenience only and shall not be used for interpretation hereof or for any other purpose.

 

X. The Annex to this Contract is an integral part of this Contract and has the same legal effect as the body of this Contract.

 

XI. This Contract is made in four (4) originals. The Lender holds three originals, the Borrower holds one original, and / holds / original with the same legal effect.

 

Article 22 Notarization and voluntary acceptance of compulsory execution

 

I. Where a party hereto requests notarization, the other party may agree to notarize the Contract at a notary office prescribed by the State.

 

II. A contract with compulsory enforcement notarization performed has the effect of compulsory enforcement. When the Borrower fails to fulfill or improperly fulfills its debts or the Lender realizes its creditor’s right agreed herein or stipulated in the laws and regulations, the Borrower agrees that the Lender may apply to the notary office for issuing an enforcement certificate with compulsory enforcement capability, and voluntarily accepts that the Lender may apply for compulsory enforcement measures with the enforcement certificate directly to the people’s court with jurisdiction. The Borrower is aware of the corresponding legal consequences and undertakes not to raise any objection or defense.

 

III. Both parties agree: prior to the issuance of an enforcement certificate, notarization institutions have the right to use one or more measures of communication, including post, telephone, fax, E-mail, SMS, WeChat, QQ, personal delivery and face-to-face talk, to verify the Borrower’s non-performance or improper performance of indebtedness and other breaches in accordance with the article of Document Correspondence, Communication and Notice stipulated in this Contract. If it is verified by telephone or face-to-face talk, it shall be deemed to have been served at the end of the talk or call; if it is verified by post, fax, E-mail, SMS, WeChat, QQ, personal delivery and other measures, the service date should be in accordance with the article of Document Correspondence, Communication and Notice.

 

IV. If the Borrower has any objection to the above breach verified in the preceding paragraph, it should provide written proof and sufficient evidence to the notarization institutions within 5 working days of service. In the case of delay to provide proof or a notary office’s determination that the evidence is insufficient to support its claim, the Borrower’s non-performance or improper performance of indebtedness and other breaches will be deemed to be facts, and an enforcement certificate will be issued upon the Lender’s request. Where the notary offices have other provisions on the verification method and the period of proof, such provisions shall govern.

 

Article 23 Supplementary Provisions

 

______/______________________________________________

 

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The Lender (official seal): Person-in-charge or authorized person (signature or seal):

 

The Lender (official seal): Seal of Industrial Bank Co., Ltd. Wuhan Branch Person-in-charge or authorized person (signature or seal):

 

/s/ Industrial Bank Co., Ltd. Wuhan Branch 35010210026976             /s/ Liu Bingwen

 

April 22, 2021

The Borrower (official seal): Seal of Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd. Legal representative or authorized person (signature or fingerprint):

 

/s/ Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd.              /s/ Shen Ziyu

 

April 22, 2021

 

Page 24 of 24

 

 

Exhibit 10.14

 

Credit Facility Agreement

 

(applicable to loan as working capital without requiring a loan contract to be separately executed)

 

No.: 127XY2020018819

 

The Credit Grantor: China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., Wuhan Branch (hereinafter referred to as “Party A”)

 

The Credit Applicant: Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Party B”)

 

Upon Party B’s application, Party A agrees to grant to Party B a credit line for Party B’s use. Now therefore, both Parties hereby, in accordance with the relevant laws and through full consultation, enter into this Agreement subject to the following terms and conditions.

 

1. Credit Line

 

1.1 Party A hereby grants to Party B the credit line of RMB Two Hundred Million Only (or the equivalent amount in other currencies converted at the exchange rate issued by Party A when each specific business actually occurs, the same as below) (inclusive of revolving credit line and/or one-time credit line).

 

Any balance outstanding (if any) in a specific business accepted and handled under the original Credit Facility Agreement No.127XY2019010505 (fill in the name of the agreement here) executed between Party A (or its subsidiary) and Party B, shall be automatically incorporated into this Agreement and directly use and accordingly reduce the credit line under this Agreement.

 

1.2 The credit period shall be 12 months, i.e., from July 6, 2020 to July 5, 2021. If Party B needs to utilize the credit line to handle any specific credit business, it shall submit its application for use of the credit line to Party A within the said credit period, and Party A will reject any application for use of the credit line as submitted by Party B after the expiration of such credit period, except as otherwise specified in this Agreement.

 

1.3 The types of credit businesses under the credit line shall include but not limited to one or more of the following: loan/purchase order loan, trade financing, bill discounting, acceptance of commercial drafts, confirming/committed discounting of commercial acceptance draft, international and domestic letter of guarantee, guarantee for payment of customs duties, overdraft in corporate account, derivative transactions and gold lease, among other things.

 

“Trade financing” shall include but not limited to international/domestic L/C, inward documentary bill, delivery against bank guarantee, inward documentary bill for collection, packing credit, outward documentary bill, export negotiation, outward documentary bill for collection, import and export remittance financing, credit insurance financing, factoring and certified bill, among other things.

 

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1.4 Revolving credit line shall mean the maximum limit of total principal balance under one or more of the aforesaid credit businesses, which is granted by Party A to Party B during the credit period and may be used in continuous and revolving way.

 

One-time credit line shall mean the amount of one-time credit line approved by Party A, which shall not be exceeded by the accumulative amounts under various aforesaid credit business provided by Party A to Party B during the credit period. Party B shall not use the one-time credit line in a revolving way, and the corresponding amount under the several businesses as applied for by Party B will use and accordingly reduce the one-time credit line, until the full one-time credit line is accumulatively used up.

 

2. Arrangement for Using and Accordingly Reducing the Credit Line

 

2.1 Any specific credit business as applied for by Party B and examined and approved by Party A during the credit period shall be automatically incorporated into this Agreement and use and accordingly reduce the credit line under this Agreement.

 

2.2 Where Party A handles any factoring business under which Party B is the payer (the debtor of receivables), then the claim of receivables assigned from a third party to Party A against Party B in such business will use and accordingly reduce the above-mentioned credit line. Where Party B applies to Party A for handling any factoring business under which Party B is the payee (the creditor of receivables), then the amount of acquisition (amount of purchase) under such business for the purpose of purchase of the claim of receivables held by Party B, as paid to Party B by Party A out of its own funds or other funds from lawful source, will use and accordingly reduce the above-mentioned credit line.

 

2.3 Where Party A, after opening a L/C, entrusts other branches of China Merchants Bank to open a back-to-back letter of credit to beneficiary in accordance with its internal process, such opening of L/C as well as documentary bill and delivery against bank guarantee thereunder will use and accordingly reduce the above-mentioned line of credit.

 

Where the business of opening import L/C is handled, if subsequently, the business of inward documentary bill actually occurs under the same L/C, then opening import L/C and inward documentary bill will use the same amount of credit line based on different stage, that is, when the business of inward documentary bill occurs, the amount of credit line resumed after external payment of L/C may be used again to handle the business of inward documentary bill, which shall be deemed to use the same amount of credit line originally used by opening import L/C.

 

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3. Examination, Approval and Use of the Credit Line

 

3.1 The type of credit line hereunder (revolving or one-time credit line) and applicable type of credit businesses, the amount of credit line corresponding to each specific type of credit business, whether or not such amount may be adjusted among different types of credit businesses, and the specific conditions for such adjustment, among other things, shall be subject to examination and approval by Party A. In case of any change by Party A in its original opinions on examination and approval upon Party B’s application during the credit period, the opinions on examination and approval subsequently issued by Party A shall constitute supplement to and change in the original opinions, by analogy.

 

3.2 To use the line of credit, Party B must apply to Party A one by one and provide the materials as required by Party A, and such application shall be examined and approved by Party A one by one before the relevant business is accepted and handled. Party A shall have the right to decide whether or not to approve any application in light of the requirement for its internal management and Party B’s operating status, and may at its sole discretion reject Party B’s application for use of credit line without incurring any legal liability in any way towards Party B. In case of any discrepancy between the provisions of this Sub-Clause 3.2 and other clauses herein, this Sub-Clause shall prevail.

 

3.3 Where Party A agrees to accept and handle any specific credit business upon its examination and approval, the documents in connection with such specific business as executed by Party A and Party B (including but not limited to individual agreement/application, framework agreement or specific business contract) shall constitute an integral part of this Agreement. The specific amount, interest rate, term, purpose and fees of each loan or other credit facilities, among other business elements shall be determined in specific business documents, business vouchers (including but not limited to promissory note) as confirmed by Party A and business records in Party A’s system.

 

Where Party B applies for any loan as working capital to the extent of the credit line, no Loan Contract is required to be executed one by one by Party A and Party B. To apply for loan, Party B shall submit the application for drawing one by one, and Party A will examine and approve such application one by one.

 

3.4 Party A may, according to change in the State’s relevant policies, the international and domestic market situation or its own credit policy, regularly or irregularly change the base rate of loan/other credit facilities or pricing method of interest hereunder. Such change shall become effective upon notification by Party A to Party B (Party A may notify Party B by issuing public announcement at its business premises or on the official website of China Merchants Bank, or give a notice according to any communication address/method provided by Party B herein); if Party B refuses to accept such change, it may prepay any loan hereunder; otherwise, it shall be deemed to accept the notice of such change.

 

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In case of any discrepancy between the provisions of this Sub-Clause 3.4 and other clauses herein, this Sub-Clause shall prevail.

 

3.5 The specific use term of each loan or other credit facilities within the line of credit shall be determined according to Party B’s demands for its business operation and Party A’s provisions on business management, and the expiration date of each specific business may be later than the expiration date of the credit period (except as otherwise required by Party A).

 

3.6 Party A may, within the credit period, regularly review and appraise Party B’s business operation and financial standing on an annual basis, and may adjust the credit line available to Party B based on the results of appraisal.

 

4. Interest Rate of Loan as Working Capital

 

4.1 The interest rate of any loan hereunder shall be specified in the relevant application for drawing submitted by Party B and be subject to examination and approval by Party A; in case of any discrepancy between the application for drawing and the promissory note of such loan or the records in Party A’s records, the promissory note or the records in Party A’s promissory note shall prevail.

 

4.2 If Party B fails to use any loan as agreed herein, the default interests shall be charged on the part of the loan not used for the agreed purpose, at the original rate plus 100% thereof, accrued from the date when the agreed purpose of loan is changed. The original rate shall mean the interest rate applicable prior to change in the agreed purpose of the loan.

 

If Party B fails to repay any loan timely, the overdue interests (default interests) shall be charged on the part of the loan outstanding, at the original rate plus 50% thereof (the interest rate of overdue loan), accrued from the overdue date of loan. The original rate shall mean the interest rate applicable prior to the maturity date of the loan (inclusive of accelerated maturity of the loan), or, in case of floating rate, the interest rate applicable to the last floating period prior to the maturity date of the loan (inclusive of accelerated maturity of the loan).

 

If a single loan becomes overdue and concurrently has not been used for the agreed purpose, the higher of the said default rates shall apply.

 

4.3 In case of any adjustment in the loan rate by the People’s Bank of China during the loan term, the relevant provisions of the People’s Bank of China shall apply.

 

4.4 Where the maturity date of a loan is a holiday, it shall be automatically postponed to the first business day immediately after such holiday, and the interests shall be calculated according to the actual days for use of loan proceeds lapsed.

 

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4.5 Party B shall pay the interests on each interest calculation date, and Party A may directly deduct the interests due from any account of Party B maintained with China Merchants Bank. If the last date of repayment of the loan principal is not an interest calculation date, then the last of repayment of the loan principal shall be deemed as the date of interest settlement, on which the Borrower shall pay off all interests due on the loan principal. In case of Party B’s failure to pay any interests timely, the compound interests shall be calculated on the interests due but unpaid (including default interests) at the interest rate of overdue loan as specified in this Clause 4.

 

5. Security

 

5.1 In respect of any debt owed by Party B to Party A hereunder, Party B or a third party acceptable to Party A shall provide mortgaged or pledged properties as security or joint and several guarantee, and Party B or the third party as the guarantor shall separately issue or execute security/guarantee documents as required by Party A.

 

5.2 Where the guarantor fails to execute guarantee documents and properly handle the procedures for guarantee pursuant to the provisions of this Clause 5 (including the circumstance where the debtor of receivables raises any objection to the receivables prior to pledge of the receivables), Party A may refuse to grant the credit facility to Party B.

 

5.3 Where any mortgagor provides secured real estate as collateral for any debts owed by Party B to Party A hereunder, if Party B becomes aware of that the collateral has been or may be subject to demolition and relocation or expropriation plan of the government, it shall immediately notify Party A thereof and urge and cause the mortgagor to, pursuant to the provisions in the mortgage contract, provide the properties reimbursed by the party in charge of demolition as security for Party B’s debts and timely handle the procedures for security, or, upon Party A’s demand, provide other security measures acceptable to Party A.

 

If new security needs to be created or other security measures need to be taken because the collateral is subject to the circumstances as described above, all relevant expenses incurred thereby shall be borne by the mortgagor and Party B shall be jointly and severally liable for discharge of such expenses. Party A shall have the right to directly deduct and collect such expenses from Party B’s accounts.

 

6. Rights and Obligations of Party B

 

6.1 Party B shall be entitled to the following rights:

 

6.1.1 Party B may require Party A to extend any loan or other credit facilities within the credit line pursuant to the conditions contained herein;

 

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6.1.2 Party B may use the credit line pursuant to the provisions contained herein;

 

6.1.3 Party B may require Party A to keep confidential the information on its production, operation, properties and accounts among other things as provided by it to Party A, except as otherwise specified in this Agreement; and

 

6.1.4 Party B may assign its debts to a third party upon the written consent of Party A.

 

6.2 Party B shall bear the following obligations:

 

6.2.1 Party B shall truthfully provide Party A with the documents and materials required by Party A (including but not limited to its true financial books/statements and annual financial reports to be provided by it regularly as requested by Party A, and its major decisions and changes in its production, operation and management, materials of drawing/using the loan proceeds, and the materials concerning collaterals), and the information on all of its deposit banks, accounts and deposit/loan balance, and shall assist Party A for any investigation, review and inspection by Party A;

 

6.2.2 Party B shall be subject to Party A’s supervision on its use of the credit funds and its relevant production, operation and financial activities;

 

6.2.3 Party B shall use any loan and/or other credit facilities pursuant to the provisions in this Agreement and each specific business document and/or for the committed purpose;

 

6.2.4 Party B shall timely and fully repay the principal of any loan, advance and other debts under the credit facility and pay the relevant interests, fees and expenses pursuant to the provisions in this Agreement and each specific business document;

 

6.2.5 Party B must obtain written consent from Party A if it intends to assign its debts hereunder in whole or in part to any third party;

 

6.2.6 Party B shall promptly notify Party A and actively assist Party A to take the security measures for properly discharge of all principal of and interests on any loan, advance and other debts under the credit facility and all relevant fees and expenses, in case of its occurrence of any of the following events:

 

6.2.6.1 It suffers major financial loss, loss of assets or other financial crisis;

 

6.2.6.2 It provides any loan or guarantee or mortgages (pledges) its own properties (rights) in favor of any third party or in order to hold any third party harmless;

 

6.2.6.3 It ceases its business operation, or its business license is suspended or cancelled, or petition for bankruptcy or dissolution is brought by or against it, or its major corporate information is changed, such as corporate name, registered domicile, business place or its beneficiary;

 

6.2.6.4 Its controlling shareholder or other affiliated companies or actual controllers suffer major operating or financial crisis, so as to affect its regular operation, or its legal representative/principal responsible person, directors or major senior management officers are changed, or are punished or their personal freedom is restricted by the competent authorities due to violation of laws or disciplines, or have been missing for more than 7 days, so that its regular operation might be affected;

 

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6.2.6.5 It has any affiliated transaction with its controlling shareholder or other affiliated companies or actual controllers, involving the amount of not less than 10% of its net assets (the notice given by it to Party A shall at least include the affiliated relationship between the parties to the transaction, the project and nature of the transaction, the transaction amount or relevant ratio, pricing policy (including the transactions in zero or nominal amount), among other things);

  

6.2.6.6 There are any lawsuits, arbitrations or criminal or administrative penalties that would have material adverse effect upon its operation or financial standing;

 

6.2.6.7 It or its actual controllers conducts any acts involving huge-amount private usurious loans, or have bad records in other financial institutions such as borrowing a new loan to repay old one, overdue loan or overdue interests; or its affiliated enterprises have internal capital chain rupture and are subject to debt crisis; or the construction of its project is stopped or delayed or it makes incorrect decision on major investment; or

 

6.2.6.8 Any other major events occur that would affect its ability of repayment.

 

6.2.7 Party B shall not be indolent in managing and recovering its claims due, nor dispose of its existing major properties free of charge or in other improper ways.

 

6.2.8 Prior to any consolidation (merger), division, reorganization, joint venture (cooperation), transfer of title (equity), share system reform, external investment, increase in debt financing, among other major matters, Party B must obtain the written consent of Party A.

 

6.2.9 In case of pledge of receivables, it is guaranteed by Party B that the balance of the credit line at any time during the credit period shall be lower than 80% of the balance of pledged receivables, otherwise it must provide additional receivable as pledge acceptable to Party A or pay a guarantee money (the guarantee money account shall be that automatically generated or recorded by Party A’s system at the time of payment thereof, the same as below), until the balance of pledged receivables × 80% + valid guarantee money﹥balance of the credit line.

 

6.2.10 Where Party B provides any guarantee money as pledge, if the balance of the guarantee money account becomes lower than 95% of the amount under any specific business due to fluctuation of exchange rate, Party B shall have the obligation to provide additional guarantee money or other securities upon Party A’s demand.

 

6.2.11 It is warranted by Party B that payment for goods sale under import shall be collected through the account designated by Party A; under export negotiation, the bills and/or documents under L/C shall be transferred to Party A.

 

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6.2.12 It is warranted by Party B, its activities of receipt and expenditure such as settlement and payment shall be conducted through its bank settlement account maintained with Party A, and during the credit period, the proportion of settlement transactions in its designated account shall not be lower than the ratio that its financing obtained from Party A bears to its financing obtained from all banks.

 

7. Rights and Obligations of Party A

  

7.1 Party A shall be entitled to the following rights:

 

7.1.1 Party A may require Party B to timely and fully repay the principal of any loan, advance and other debts under the credit facility and pay the interests thereon and relevant fees and expenses under this Agreement and each specific contract;

 

7.1.2 Party A may require Party B to provide any materials relating to Party B’s use of the credit line;

 

7.1.3 Party A shall have the right to be informed of Party B’s activities of production, operation and finance;

 

7.1.4 Party A may supervise Party B’s use of any loan and/or other credit facilities pursuant to the provisions in this Agreement and each specific business document; as required by its business, Party A may at its sole discretion directly suspend or restrict corporate online banking/corporate APP/other online functions of Party B’s account (including but not limited to closing corporate online banking/corporate APP/other online functions, and presetting the list of payees/limit of single payment/limit of payment during any period, among other restrictive measures) and other electronic payment channel, restrict sale of settlement vouchers, or restrict over-the-counter payment and transfer of Party B’s account and the function of payment and universal withdrawal of telephone banking and mobile banking, among other non-OTC channels.

 

7.1.5 Party A may, as required by its internal process, after opening a L/C upon Party B’s application, entrusts other branches of China Merchants Bank of the place where the beneficiary is situated to open a back-to-back L/C to the beneficiary;

 

7.1.6 Party A may deduct relevant amounts from any account of Party B opened with any branch of China Merchants Bank, for the purpose of repayment of any debts owed by Party B under this Agreement and any specific business document (in case any debt under credit facility is denominated in any currency other than RMB, Party A may directly purchase foreign currency from Party B’s RMB account at the exchange rate issued by it, for the purpose of repayment of the principal of credit facility and payment of the interests thereon and relevant fees and expenses);

 

7.1.7 Party A may assign its creditor’s rights against Party B, and notify Party B of such assignment in a way as deemed appropriate by it, including but not limited to fax, mail, personal delivery or announcement over public media, and may collect the debts owed by Party B;

 

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7.1.8 Party A may supervise, or entrust other branches of China Merchants Bank to supervise, the accounts of Party B, and control the payment of loan proceeds for the purpose of loan and to the extent of payment as agreed by both Parties;

 

7.1.9 In case it is found by Party A, Party B has any circumstances as described in Sub-Clause 6.2.6 hereof, Party A may require Party B to properly take the security measures for ensuring discharge of the principal of credit facility, interests thereon and all relevant fees and expenses under this Agreement, or directly take one or more measures for remedies as agreed in the provisions hereof under the heading “Events of Default and Relevant Measures”; and

 

7.1.10 Party A may further exercise other rights agreed by this Agreement.

 

7.2 Party A shall bear the following obligations:

 

7.2.1 Party A shall extend loans or provide other credit facilities to Party B within the credit line pursuant to the provisions in this Agreement and each specific contract; and

 

7.2.2 Party A shall keep confidential any information on Party B’s assets, finance, production and operation, except it is otherwise stipulated by laws and regulations or required by the regulatory authorities, or except such information is disclosed to its parent or subsidiary company or professionals such as external auditors, accountants or attorneys subject to equivalent obligation of confidentiality.

 

8. Matters Specially Warranted by Party B.

 

8.1 It is an entity duly incorporated and validly existing and having legal personality in accordance with the law of China, has true, lawful and valid procedures for registration and annual report, and has full capacity of civil acts to execute and perform this Agreement;

 

8.2 Its execution and performance of this Agreement have been duly authorized by its board of directors or other equivalent authorities;

 

8.3 All documents, materials and certificates provided by it relating to it, the guarantors, mortgagers (pledgers), or mortgaged (pledged) properties are true, accurate, complete and valid, and contain no major error in non-compliance with the facts or omission in any material aspect;

 

8.4 It shall strictly abide by the provisions in each specific business document and various letters and relevant documents issued to Party A;

 

8.5 There are no lawsuits, arbitrations or criminal or administrative penalties pending at the time of execution of this Agreement that would have material adverse effect upon it or its major properties, and there will be no such lawsuits, arbitrations or criminal or administrative penalties occurring during the period of performance of this Agreement. In case of occurrence of the same, Party B shall immediately notify Party A thereof;

 

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8.6 It shall strictly abide by various laws and regulations of the State in its operating activities, carry on its all business strictly within the business scope specified in its business license or approved according to law, and timely handle such procedures as corporate registration, annual report and extension/renewal of operating term;

 

8.7 It shall keep or improve its current level of operation and management, and maintain and increase the value of its existing assets, and shall not waive any claims due, nor dispose of existing major properties free of charge or in other improper ways;

  

8.8 Without consent of Party A, Party B shall not discharge its other long-term debts in advance;

 

8.9 Its loan project under credit facility shall comply with the requirements of laws and regulations, and it shall not use any loan for the purpose of investment in fixed assets or equity or speculation in purchase/sale of negotiable securities, futures and real estates in violation of regulations or lending in order to gain illegal incomes, or for any field or industry in which the production and operation is banned by the State, or for other purposes not specified in this Agreement and each specific business document;

 

If the loan proceeds will be utilized by means of payment by the borrower itself to a third party, Party B shall regularly (at least on a monthly basis) report to Party A the payment of loan proceeds, and Party A may verify the payment of loan proceeds in compliance with the agreed purpose by means of account analysis, voucher check and onsite investigation, among other things.

 

8.10 When executing and performing this Agreement, it has no other major events that would affect the performance of its obligations hereunder.

 

9. Special Provisions on Loan as Working Capital

 

9.1 Drawing and Utilization

 

The loan as working capital hereunder may be utilized by Party B by means of payment by the borrower or payment by the lender as entrusted by it.

 

9.1.1 Payment by the borrower

 

“Payment by the borrower” shall mean, after the loan proceeds are extended by Party A to Party B’s account according to Party B’s application for drawing, Party B will by itself pay such loan proceeds to its transaction counterparty in compliance with the purpose agreed herein.

 

9.1.2 Payment by the lender as entrusted by the borrower

 

“Payment by the lender as entrusted by the borrower” shall mean, Party A will, according to Party B’s application for drawing and payment entrustment, pay the loan proceeds through Party B’s account to transaction counterparty of Party B in compliance with the purpose agreed herein. If any loan proceeds are utilized by means of payment by the lender as entrusted by the borrower, Party B shall authorize Party A to pay such loan proceeds through its account to its transaction counterparty on the date when the loan proceeds are extended (or on the next business date thereafter).

 

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9.1.3 Party B must unconditionally utilize the whole loan proceeds by means of payment by the lender as entrusted by the borrower, if under any of the following circumstances:

 

9.1.3.1 The amount of a single drawing by Party B is not less than RMB Ten Million (or equivalent foreign currency);

  

9.1.3.2 Party B is required by Party A to utilize the loan proceeds by means of payment by the lender as entrusted by the borrower, according to regulatory requirements or risk control requirements.

 

9.1.4 If the method of payment by the lender as entrusted by the borrower is adopted, external payment after the loan is extended shall be subject to examination and approval by Party A, and Party B shall not evade supervision of Party A by such means as online banking, inverse check or breaking the whole loan into parts.

 

9.2 To draw any loan, Party B shall, according to Party A’s requirements, submit the application for drawing (affixed with its official seal or its specimen seal impression provided by it to Party A in advance), promissory note and other materials which Party A requires Party B to submit according to the different requirements for the methods of payment by the borrower or payment by the lender as entrusted by the borrower. If Party B fails to do so, Party A may reject Party B’s application for drawing. In case of delay in or failure of payment due to any inaccurate or incomplete information provided by Party B, so that Party B has breach towards its transaction counterparty or incurs other losses, Party A shall not be held liable therefor.

 

9.3 Extension of loan

 

If Party B needs to extend any loan due to its inability to repay such loan as scheduled hereunder, it shall submit a written application for extension to Party A one month prior to maturity of such loan; if Party A approves such application for extension upon review, both Parties will separately execute an extension agreement. If Party A disapproves the said application for extension, the loan already utilized by Party B and the interests due thereon shall still be repaid according to this Agreement and relevant promissory note or the provisions recorded in Party A’s system.

 

10. Events of Default and Relevant Measures

 

10.1 Event of default shall be deemed to have occurred, if Party B is under any of the following circumstances:

 

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10.1.1 Party B fails to perform or breaches any obligations herein;

 

10.1.2 Any matters specially warranted by Party B hereunder are untrue or incomplete, or Party B breaches any specially warranted matters and fails to rectify it upon Party A’s demand;

 

10.1.3 Party B fails to draw and utilize loan as agreed herein, or fails to timely and fully repay any loan principal or pay any interests thereon or relevant fees and expenses pursuant to the provisions contained herein, or fails to use funds collection account for receipt of funds as required by Party A, or refuses to accept Party A’s supervision, and fails to immediately rectify it upon Party A’s demand;

 

10.1.4 Party B has any major breach under any lawful and valid contract executed by it with other creditors, and fails to properly settle it within 3 months after the date of occurrence of such breach.

  

The aforesaid “major breach” shall mean the circumstances that other creditors may claim against Party B the amounts not less than RMB One Million due to Party B’s breach.

 

10.1.5 Where Party B is an enterprise listed on National Equities Exchange and Quotations (“NEEQ”) or intends to apply for listing on NEEQ, its listing on NEEQ suffers any materials obstacle or it suspends its application for listing thereon, or the NEEQ market issues warning letter to it, orders it to make rectification or restricts the transaction in its securities account, among other self-disciplined regulatory measures, three times or above in total, or it is subject to disciplinary actions or it is delisted;

 

10.1.6 Where Party B serves as a supplier of governmental procurement department, there is the risk information that is detrimental to repayment of credit facility granted by Party A, for example the governmental procurement department delays in payment continuously or accumulatively three times, or Party B is disqualified as supplier (included in the blacklist of governmental procurement), fails to timely supply goods, has unreliable quality of products, or suffers difficulty in business operation, or its financial standing obviously deteriorates (insolvent) or the construction of its project is suspended;

 

10.1.7 Party B’s financial indexes fail to, on ongoing basis, meet the requirements in this Agreement/specific business document, or any prerequisite (if) for credit facility/financing provided by Party A to Party B agreed in this Agreement/specific business document is not satisfied on ongoing basis;

 

10.1.8 Party B utilizes the loan by means of “breaking the whole loan into parts”, so as to evade the requirement in this Agreement for payment of loan proceeds to a third party by Party A as entrusted by Party B;

 

10.1.9 Party B’s activities of operation may cause risks of anti-money laundering or sanction compliance to Party A; or

 

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10.1.10 Party B has any events that would damage the legitimate rights and interests of Party A in the opinions of Party A.

 

10.2 If any guarantor is under any of the following circumstances that would affect the guarantor’s ability of guarantee in the opinions of Party A, Party A requires the guarantor to eliminate the adverse effect caused thereby, or requires Party B to increase or replace the securities, but the guarantor or Party B fails to do so, it shall be deemed as an event of default:

 

10.2.1 The guarantor has any circumstances similar with those described in Sub-Clause 6.2.6 hereof, or has the circumstances described in Sub-Clause 6.2.8 hereof without consent of Party A;

 

10.2.2 When issuing the irrevocable guarantee, the guarantor conceals its actual ability to bear the guarantee liability, or fails to obtain the authorization granted by the competent authorities;

  

10.2.3 The guarantor fails to timely handle such procedures as corporate registration, annual report and/or extension/renewal of operating term; or

 

10.2.4 The guarantor is indolent in managing and recovering its claims due, or disposes of its existing major properties free of charge or in other improper ways.

 

10.3 If any mortgager (or pledger) is under any of the following circumstances that would cause the mortgage (or the pledge) to be null and void, or the mortgaged (or pledged) properties to be devalued in the opinions of Party A, and the mortgager (or pledger) and Party B fail to eliminate the adverse effect caused thereby, or increase or replace the securities as required by Party A, it shall be deemed as an event of default:

 

10.3.1 The mortgager (or pledger) has no ownership of or the right to dispose of the mortgaged (or pledged) properties, or the ownership thereof is under dispute;

 

10.3.2 The procedures for mortgage/pledge of the mortgaged (or pledged) properties have not been properly handled, or such properties are leased, seized, retained, kept under custody, or subject to co-ownership or prior statutory preference (including but not limited to the preference of payment for construction projects), inter alia, and/or such circumstances are concealed;

 

10.3.3 Without written consent of Party A, the mortgager assigns, transfers, leases, re-mortgages the mortgaged properties or otherwise disposes of them in any improper way, or, although disposal of the mortgaged properties is approved by Party A in writing, it fails to apply the proceeds obtained from such disposal to discharge the debts owed by Party B to Party A, as required by Party A;

 

10.3.4 The mortgager fails to properly keep, maintain and repair the mortgaged properties, so that the mortgaged properties are obviously devalued; or any acts of the mortgager directly endanger the mortgaged properties so that the value of the mortgaged properties is decreased; or the mortgager fails to effect/renew insurance for the mortgaged properties within the mortgage period, as required by Party A;

 

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10.3.5 Where the mortgaged properties have been or may be subject to demolition and relocation or expropriation plan of the government, the mortgagor fails to immediately notify Party A thereof and perform relevant obligations pursuant to the provisions of mortgage contract;

 

10.3.6 Where the mortgagor uses the residual value of its house mortgaged to China Merchants Bank as the mortgage for the business hereunder, it settles its individual mortgage loan in advance without Party A’s consent, before Party B has repaid the credit facility hereunder;

 

10.3.7 Where the pledger uses wealth-management product as pledge, the funds of subscription for wealth-management product has unlawful/irregular sources; or

  

10.3.8 The mortgaged (pledged) properties are or may be subject to any other matters that would after their value or Party A’s mortgage (pledge) right.

 

10.4 Where the securities hereunder include any pledged receivables, if the business operation of the debtor of such receivables obviously deteriorates, or such debtor transfers/withdraws its funds for the purpose of evasion of debts, or changes the route of payment collection in collusion with the pledger, so that the payment of receivables is not made into the special account for payment collection, or such debtor loses its goodwill, loses or may lose its ability of performance, or has other matters that would affect its ability of repayment, then, Party A may require Party B to provide relevant securities or provide additional valid receivables as pledge; if Party B fails to do so, it shall be deemed to constitute event of default.

 

10.5 In case of occurrence of any event of default as described above, Party A may separately or concurrently take any of the following measures:

 

10.5.1 It may reduce the credit line hereunder, or cease the use of any remaining amount of the credit line;

 

10.5.2 It may recover in advance the principal of any loan extended within the credit line and the interests thereon and relevant fees and expenses;

 

10.5.3 In respect of any draft accepted by Party A, or any L/C (including back-to-back L/C opened by other branches entrusted by it), letter of guarantee or bank guarantee for delivery opened by it during the credit period, whether Party A has advanced the relevant amount or not, it may require Party B to provide additional sum of guarantee money, or transfer any deposit of Party B in other accounts of Party B opened with Party A into the guarantee money account of Party B serving as the guarantee money for discharging any advances by Party A hereunder, or escrow the relevant amounts to a third party serving as the guarantee money for discharging any advances by Party A for Party B;

 

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10.5.4 In respect of the claim of receivables outstanding assigned from Party B to Party A under the factoring business, Party A may require Party B to immediately perform the obligation of repurchase and take other measures for recovery pursuant to relevant specific business documents; in respect of the claim of receivables assigned to Party A against Party B under the factoring business, Party A may immediately recover the same against Party B.

 

10.5.5 Party A may, as the case may be, directly require Party B to provide additional properties as securities acceptable to Party A, and if Party B fails to do so, it shall pay the liquidated damages equal to 30% of the amount of credit line granted hereunder.

 

10.5.6 Party A may directly freeze/deduct any deposit in any settlement account and/or other accounts of Party B opened with China Merchants Bank, and suspend opening of new settlement accounts for Party B and issuing of new credit card to legal representative of Party B;

 

10.5.7 Party A may report the information on Party B’s default and bad faith to credit information institution and banking association, and in appropriate way, share such information among the financial institutions in the banking industry and even make such information available to the public;

 

10.5.8 Party A may dispose of the mortgaged/pledged properties and/or claim against the guarantor pursuant to the provisions of the security document;

 

10.5.9 In respect of any loan as working capital under the credit facility, Party A may change the conditions for payment of loan proceeds by the lender as entrusted by the borrower, and cancel Party B’s right to utilize the loan proceeds by the method of “payment by the borrower itself”; or

 

10.5.10 Party A may exercise its recourse pursuant to the provisions contained herein.

 

10.6 Any amounts recovered by Party A will be applied for repayment of various credit facilities hereunder in the sequence of their actual maturity dates (in the sequence from later to earlier maturity date). In respect of a specific credit facility, it shall be repaid in the sequence of fees and expenses, liquidated damages, compound interests, default interests, interest, and lastly the principal of such credit facility, until full discharge of all principals, interests and all relevant fees and expenses.

 

Party A may at its sole discretion adjust the said sequence of repayment, except as otherwise required by laws and regulations.

 

11. Change in and Supplement to this Agreement

 

This Agreement may be changed if a written agreement is reached by both Parties through consultation. Before such written agreement is reached, this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Neither party may unilaterally change or modify this Agreement.

 

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Any written supplementary agreement, reached by both Parties through consultation, upon any matter not covered by this Agreement or change in this Agreement, and each specific business document hereunder, shall constitute the integral part of this Agreement.

 

12. Miscellaneous

 

12.1 Within the valid term of this Agreement, no tolerance or grace by Party A of any breach or delay of Party B, or delay by Party A to exercise its rights or interests hereunder, may prejudice, affect or limit any rights and interests available to Party A as the creditor according to law or pursuant to this Agreement, nor shall be deemed as Party A’s permission or recognition of any breach hereof, or wavier of any existing or future breaches.

 

12.2 Even if this Agreement becomes legally invalid in whole or in part for whatsoever reasons, Party B shall still be liable for discharging all debts due by it to Party A hereunder. In case of the said invalidity, Party A may terminate this Agreement, and immediately recover all debts payable and due by Party B to it hereunder.

  

If Party A incurs any additional costs in performance of its obligations hereunder due to any change in applicable laws or policies, Party B shall reimburse Party A such additional costs upon Party A’s demand.

 

12.3 Any notices, demands or other documents in connection with this Agreement between Party A and Party B shall be given in writing (including but not limited to letter, fax, e-mail, electronic platform such as enterprise online banking/enterprise APP, SMS or Wechat).

 

12.3.1 If any notice is given by personal delivery (including but not limited to service by attorney/notary or by courier), it shall be deemed to have been duly given when it is signed for acknowledgement by the recipient (if it is rejected by the intended recipient, it shall be deemed to have been duly given at the date of rejection/return or 7 days after mailing (whichever is earlier); if by mail, it shall be deemed to have been duly given 7 days after posting; if by fax, e-mail, notice on Party A’s electronic platform, SMS or Wechat, among other electronic means, it shall be deemed to have been duly given on the date of successful transmission as shown on the sender’s relevant system.

 

Where Party A notifies Party B of assignment of its creditor’s rights or of debt collection by issuing announcement over public media, such notice shall be deemed to have been served upon Party B on the date when such announcement is issued.

 

In case of change in the communication address, e-mail, fax No., mobile number or Wechat ID of either party, it shall notify the other party thereof within 5 business days after such change; otherwise, the other party may give notice according to the original address or information of such party. In case of failure to give notice due to change in communication address or information, the notice shall be deemed to have been duly given at the date of return or 7 days after mailing of such notice, whichever is earlier. In such case, the party changing its information shall solely bear any losses caused thereby, without prejudice to the lawful validity of the service.

 

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12.3.2 The communication address, e-mail, fax No., mobile number and Wechat ID of each party as specified herein shall be the address for service of respective notarized documents and judicial documents (including but not limited to complaint/arbitration application, evidences, summons, notice of responding to action, notice of producing evidences, notice of appearance, notice of hearing, judgment/adjudication, ruling, mediation statement, notice of performance within specified time limit during the proceedings of trial and enforcement), and any document sent by the competent court or notary office in written way agreed herein to such address shall be deemed to have been duly served (by reference to the provision in the preceding Sub-Clause).

  

12.4 It is agreed by both Parties, each application for business under the trade financing may become effective so far as it is affixed by Party B with its specimen seal impression provided by it to Party A in advance, and both Parties shall recognize the validity of such seal.

 

12.5 It is agreed and acknowledged by both Parties, where Party B may submits any application for credit business or business vouchers through Party A’s electronic platform (including but not limited to enterprise online banking/enterprise APP), its electronic signature generated by means of digital certificate shall be deemed as its valid signature/seal and represent its true declaration of will; Party A may, based on the application information sent online, fill in and prepare relevant business vouchers, and Party B shall recognize the truthfulness, accuracy and lawfulness of the same and shall be bound by the same.

 

12.6 In order to facilitate the business, in respect of Party A’s various operations relating to transaction (including but not limited to acceptance of application, review of materials, extension of loan, confirmation of transaction, deduction, enquiry, printing of receipt, debt collection, deduction and collection of amounts and various notices), any branches under Party A’s jurisdiction may handle, generate, sign or issue relevant letters, and the business operation and letters of such branches shall be deemed as the acts of Party A and be binding upon Party B.

 

12.7 The schedules attached hereto shall constitute integral part of this Agreement, and shall be automatically applicable to the relevant specific businesses occurring between both Parties.

 

12.8 If any notarization (other than notarization for enforcement) or other services to be provided by any entrusted third parties are required for this Agreement, the relevant expenses shall be solely borne by the entrusting party. If both Parties jointly act as the entrusting parties, each party shall bear 50% of such expenses.

 

In case Party B fails to timely repay any debts owed by it to Party A hereunder, all costs and expenses incurred by Party A for realization of its creditor’s rights, such as attorney fees, the lawsuit fees, and the expenses for traveling, public announcement and service, shall be borne by Party B, and Party B hereby authorizes Party A to directly deduct the same from its bank accounts opened with Party A. In case of any deficiency, Party B undertakes to fully pay such deficiency upon its receipt of relevant notice sent by Party A, without any evidence provided by Party A.

 

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12.9 As required by Party A, Party B shall (check applicable ¨):

 

¨effect insurance for its core assets, with Party A named as the first beneficiary;

 

¨ not sell or mortgage the / assets designated by Party A before its debts under credit facility have been fully settled;

 

¨ restrict the distributions of profits to its shareholders as below, before its debts under credit facility have been fully settled:

 

  /  

 

12.10 Party B shall procure that its various financial indexes during the credit period are not lower than the following requirements:

 

  /  

 

12.11 Party B additionally recognizes all provisions in the Cooperation Agreement upon Group’s General Credit Business No.  /   (as changed and supplemented by the parties thereto) executed by China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd.   /   and Party B’s parent company/head office/controlling company   /  (fill in the name of company) and agrees to be bound by such agreement, and, in the capacity of an entity subordinate to the group under such agreement, agrees to bear various obligations imposed on those entities subordinate to the group in such agreement. In case of Party B’s breach of such obligations, it shall be deemed to constitute event of default, and in such case, Party A may take the measures for remedies in case of occurrence of default as agreed in this Agreement.

 

þ 12.12 Provisions on Group (if applicable, please check ¨).

 

12.12.1 Party B shall not, by taking advantage of such creditor’s rights as bills or receivable accounts, with its affiliates, being false or without actual underlying trade, handle with Party A such businesses as bill discounting, factoring, pledge, L/C or forfaiting. Where Party B damages or evades the claims of Party A or other branches of China Merchants Bank by taking advantage of affiliated transactions, it shall be deemed to constitute default hereunder, and in such case, Party A may take the measures for remedies in case of occurrence of default as agreed in this Agreement.

 

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12.12.2 If any affiliate of Party B has breach towards China Merchants Bank, it shall be deemed as event of default under the group’s credit facilities, and in such case, Party A may, according to the extent of such event’s effect, decide whether or not to take the measures in case of occurrence of default event as agreed in this Agreement, notwithstanding non-occurrence of default event on part of Party B hereunder.

 

12.12.3 “Affiliated transaction” shall mean any matter of transferring resources or obligations between the affiliates, whether or not any price is charged. If one person has the power to, directly or indirectly, control another person solely or jointly or impose significant influence upon another person in enterprise finance and operating decision, they shall constitute affiliates; if two or more persons are under the common control, they shall also constitute affiliates. It is agreed by both Parties, the specific definition of affiliates shall be determined by Party A.

 

12.12.4 “Group” shall mean a group of corporate bodies having the relationship of directly or indirectly holding majority shares (controlling) or majority shares being held (being controlled), or a group of corporate bodies having the affiliation of substantial major risk (for example, under common control by a third party, existence of other affiliated relationship, or potential transfer of assets and profits not on an arm’s length basis. “Control” shall mean Party B has the actual power to direct the decision-making on business operation, application of funds and appointment of senior management officers of another entity or may impose significant influence upon the same. It is agreed by both Parties, whether or not an entity constitutes a group’s member shall be determined by Party A.

  

12.13 It is agreed by Party B, Party A may provide the information relating to Party B’s credit facility to Financial Credit Information Database of Credit Reference Center of the Peoples’ Bank of China or other credit information institution established according to law.

 

12.14 Party A may at its sole discretion reduce the credit line agreed in Clause 1 hereof, to which Party B shall have no objection. If Party B has breach in respect of any debt owed by it to Party A, it shall be deemed to constitute default hereunder, whether or not there is any default as described in the aforesaid provisions hereof in respect of the businesses hereunder, and in such case, Party A may take the measures for remedies in case of occurrence of default as agreed in this Agreement.

 

12.15 It is undertaken by Party B (check applicable ¨):

 

¨ It shall be deemed to constitute default, in case   / fails to strictly perform the provisions in   / and   / issued to Party A;

 

¨ /

 

Party B shall be deemed to constitute default in case of its breach of any of the above-mentioned undertakings, and in such case, Party A may take the measures for remedies in case of occurrence of default as agreed in this Agreement.

 

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12.16 Other agreed matters:   / 

  

13. Particulars of Accounts

 

¨ 13.1 Special account for loan (if applicable, please check ¨).

 

Any loan proceeds hereunder must be extended and paid through the following account:

 

Account name:   / 

 

Account No.:   / 

 

Bank: China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd.

 

13.2 Funds collection account

 

13.2.1 Both Parties agree to designate the following account as Party B’s funds collection account:

 

Account name: Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd.

 

Account No.: _______________

 

Bank:______________________

  

13.2.2 Such account shall be subject to the following monitoring requirements:   /  

 

Party A may recover the loan early according to Party B’s funds collection, that is, when such account has funds collected, the loan in the amount equal to the amount of such funds collected shall be deemed to have been accelerated and in such case, Party A may directly deduct relevant amounts from such account for the purpose of repayment of such loan.

 

13.3 Party B shall, on a quarterly basis, provide the details of receipt and expenditure of funds in such account, and assist Party A for monitoring the account and funds collected.

 

14. Applicable Law and Dispute Resolution

 

14.1 The formation, interpretation and dispute resolution of this Agreement shall be governed by the law of the People’s Republic of China (excluding the laws of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), and the rights and interest of both Parties shall be protected by the law of the People’s Republic of China.

 

14.2 Any dispute between both Parties arising out of performance of this Agreement shall be resolved by both Parties firstly through consultation. If such dispute cannot be resolved through negotiation, either party may (check one of the following three options ¨):

 

þ 14.2.1 file a lawsuit in the competent people’s court of the place where Party A is situated;

 

¨ 14.2.2 file a lawsuit in the competent people’s court of the place where this Agreement is executed (the place of execution shall be   / ); or

 

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¨ 14.2.3 apply for arbitration to / (fill in the name of arbitration organ) at the arbitration place   / .

 

14.3 After this Agreement and each specific business document are notarized by both Parties with the validity of enforcement, Party A may directly apply to the competent people’s court for enforcement in order to recover any debts owed by Party B under this Agreement and such specific business document.

 

15. Effectiveness

 

This Agreement shall become effective when it is signed by the legal representatives/principal responsible persons or authorized agents of both Parties or affixed with their personal seals and affixed with the official seals/the special seals for contractual purpose of both Parties, and shall become null and void on the expiration date of the credit period or on the date when all debts and other relevant fees and expenses owed by Party B to Party A hereunder are fully discharged, whichever is later.

 

16. Supplementary Provisions

 

This Agreement shall be executed in triplicate, of which Party A keeps two and Party B,   / and   / keeps one respectively, being equally authentic.

 

Schedules: 1. Special Provisions on Cross-Border Trade Financing Business

 

2. Special Provisions on Buyer/Import Factoring Business

 

3. Special Provisions on Purchase Order Loan Business

 

4. Special Provisions on the Business Concerning Committed Discounting of Commercial Acceptance Draft

 

5 Special Provisions on Derivative Transaction Business

 

6 Special Provisions on Gold Lease Business

 

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Schedule 1

 

Special Provisions on Cross-Border Trade Financing Business

 

[***]

 

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Schedule 2

  

Special Provisions on Buyer/Import Factoring Business

 

[***]

 

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Schedule 3

  

Special Provisions on Purchase Order Loan Business

 

[***]

 

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Schedule 4

  

Special Provisions on the Business Concerning Committed Discounting of Commercial Acceptance Draft

 

[***]

 

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Schedule 5

  

Special Provisions on Derivative Transaction Business

 

[***]

 

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Schedule 6

  

Special Provisions on Gold Lease Business

 

[***]

 

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(This page is only for execution of Credit Facility Agreement No.: 127XY2020018819)

  

Party A: China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., Wuhan Branch (seal of the bank)

 

/s/ China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., Wuhan Branch

 

Principal responsible person or authorized agent (signature or personal seal):

 

/s/ Authorized Signatory

 

Communication address: China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., Wuhan Branch, No. 518 Jianshe Avenue, Jianghan District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province

 

E-mail of the bank:   / 

 

Fax No. of the bank:   / 

 

Mobile number of contact person:   /  

 

Wechat ID of the bank:   / 

 

Party B: Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd. (official seal)

 

/s/ Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd.

 

Legal representative/principal responsible person or authorized agent (signature or personal seal):

 

/s/ Shen Ziyu

 

Communication address: C101, Chuanggu Startup Area, Taizihu Cultural Digital Creative Industrial Park, No. 18 Shenlong Avenue, Economic and Technical Development Zone, Wuhan City, Hubei Province

 

E-mail of the company:   / 

 

Fax No. of the company:   / 

 

Mobile number of contact person:   / 

 

Wechat ID of the company:   / 

 

Date of execution: [handwritten:] July 7, 2020

 

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Exhibit 10.15

 

THE SYMBOL “[***]” DENOTES PLACES WHERE CERTAIN IDENTIFIED INFORMATION HAS BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THE EXHIBIT BECAUSE IT IS (1) NOT MATERIAL AND (2) THE TYPE THAT THE REGISTRANT TREATS AS PRIVATE OR CONFIDENTIAL.

 

Important notes:

 

In order to protect your rights and interests, you are kindly requested to carefully read all provisions of this Agreement in its entirety prior to execution of this Agreement, especially those provisions in black and in bold. For any questions, please timely require us to make clarification. If you have any further question or ambiguity, please consult with your attorney and relevant professionals.

 

Credit Facility Agreement

 

(applicable to loan as working capital without requiring a loan contract to be separately executed)

 

No.: 127XY2021004205

 

The Credit Grantor: China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., Wuhan Branch (hereinafter referred to as “Party A”)

 

The Credit Applicant: Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Party B”)

 

Upon Party B’s application, Party A agrees to grant to Party B a credit line for Party B’s use. Now therefore, both Parties hereby, in accordance with the relevant laws and through full consultation, enter into this Agreement subject to the following terms and conditions.

 

1. Credit Line

 

1.1 Party A hereby grants to Party B the credit line of RMB Four Hundred Million Only (or the equivalent amount in other currencies converted at the exchange rate issued by Party A when each specific business actually occurs, the same as below) (inclusive of revolving credit line and/or one-time credit line).

 

Any balance outstanding (if any) in a specific business accepted and handled under the original Credit Facility Agreement No. / (fill in the name of the agreement here) executed between Party A (or its subsidiary) and Party B, shall be automatically incorporated into this Agreement and directly use and accordingly reduce the credit line under this Agreement.

 

1.2 The credit period shall be 12 months, i.e., from February 1, 2021 to January 31, 2022. If Party B needs to utilize the credit line to handle any specific credit business, it shall submit its application for use of the credit line to Party A within the said credit period, and Party A will reject any application for use of the credit line as submitted by Party B after the expiration of such credit period, except as otherwise specified in this Agreement.

 

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1.3 The types of credit businesses under the credit line shall include but not limited to one or more of the following: loan/purchase order loan, trade financing, bill discounting, acceptance of commercial drafts, confirming/committed discounting of commercial acceptance draft, international and domestic letter of guarantee, guarantee for payment of customs duties, overdraft in corporate account, derivative transactions and gold lease, among other things.

 

“Trade financing” shall include but not limited to international/domestic L/C, inward documentary bill, delivery against bank guarantee, inward documentary bill for collection, packing credit, outward documentary bill, export negotiation, outward documentary bill for collection, import and export remittance financing, credit insurance financing, factoring and certified bill, among other things.

 

1.4 Revolving credit line shall mean the maximum limit of total principal balance under one or more of the aforesaid credit businesses, which is granted by Party A to Party B during the credit period and may be used in continuous and revolving way.

 

One-time credit line shall mean the amount of one-time credit line approved by Party A, which shall not be exceeded by the accumulative amounts under various aforesaid credit business provided by Party A to Party B during the credit period. Party B shall not use the one-time credit line in a revolving way, and the corresponding amount under the several businesses as applied for by Party B will use and accordingly reduce the one-time credit line, until the full one-time credit line is accumulatively used up.

 

2. Arrangement for Using and Accordingly Reducing the Credit Line

 

2.1 Any specific credit business as applied for by Party B and examined and approved by Party A during the credit period shall be automatically incorporated into this Agreement and use and accordingly reduce the credit line under this Agreement.

 

2.2 Where Party A handles any factoring business under which Party B is the payer (the debtor of receivables), then the claim of receivables assigned from a third party to Party A against Party B in such business will use and accordingly reduce the above-mentioned credit line. Where Party B applies to Party A for handling any factoring business under which Party B is the payee (the creditor of receivables), then the amount of acquisition (amount of purchase) under such business for the purpose of purchase of the claim of receivables held by Party B, as paid to Party B by Party A out of its own funds or other funds from lawful source, will use and accordingly reduce the above-mentioned credit line.

 

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2.3 Where Party A, after opening a L/C, entrusts other branches of China Merchants Bank to open a back-to-back letter of credit to beneficiary in accordance with its internal process, such opening of L/C as well as documentary bill and delivery against bank guarantee thereunder will use and accordingly reduce the above-mentioned line of credit.

 

Where the business of opening import L/C is handled, if subsequently, the business of inward documentary bill actually occurs under the same L/C, then opening import L/C and inward documentary bill will use the same amount of credit line based on different stage, that is, when the business of inward documentary bill occurs, the amount of credit line resumed after external payment of L/C may be used again to handle the business of inward documentary bill, which shall be deemed to use the same amount of credit line originally used by opening import L/C.

 

3. Examination, Approval and Use of the Credit Line

 

3.1 The type of credit line hereunder (revolving or one-time credit line) and applicable type of credit businesses, the amount of credit line corresponding to each specific type of credit business, whether or not such amount may be adjusted among different types of credit businesses, and the specific conditions for such adjustment, among other things, shall be subject to examination and approval by Party A. In case of any change by Party A in its original opinions on examination and approval upon Party B’s application during the credit period, the opinions on examination and approval subsequently issued by Party A shall constitute supplement to and change in the original opinions, by analogy.

 

3.2 To use the line of credit, Party B must apply to Party A one by one and provide the materials as required by Party A, and such application shall be examined and approved by Party A one by one before the relevant business is accepted and handled. Party A shall have the right to decide whether or not to approve any application in light of the requirement for its internal management and Party B’s operating status, and may at its sole discretion reject Party B’s application for use of credit line without incurring any legal liability in any way towards Party B. In case of any discrepancy between the provisions of this Sub-Clause 3.2 and other clauses herein, this Sub-Clause shall prevail.

 

3.3 Where Party A agrees to accept and handle any specific credit business upon its examination and approval, the documents in connection with such specific business as executed by Party A and Party B (including but not limited to individual agreement/application, framework agreement or specific business contract) shall constitute an integral part of this Agreement. The specific amount, interest rate, term, purpose and fees of each loan or other credit facilities, among other business elements shall be determined in specific business documents, business vouchers (including but not limited to application for drawing, promissory note, if any) as confirmed by Party A and business records in Party A’s system.

 

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Where Party B applies for any loan as working capital to the extent of the credit line, no Loan Contract is required to be executed one by one by Party A and Party B. To apply for loan, Party B shall submit the application for drawing one by one, and Party A will examine and approve such application one by one.

 

3.4 Party A may, according to change in the State’s relevant policies, the international and domestic market situation or its own credit policy, regularly or irregularly change the base rate of loan/other credit facilities or pricing method of interest hereunder. Such change shall become effective upon notification by Party A to Party B (Party A may notify Party B by issuing public announcement at its business premises or on the official website of China Merchants Bank, or give a notice according to any communication address/method provided by Party B herein); if Party B refuses to accept such change, it may prepay any loan hereunder; otherwise, it shall be deemed to accept the notice of such change.

 

In case of any discrepancy between the provisions of this Sub-Clause 3.4 and other clauses herein, this Sub-Clause shall prevail.

 

3.5 The specific use term of each loan or other credit facilities within the line of credit shall be determined according to Party B’s demands for its business operation and Party A’s provisions on business management, and the expiration date of each specific business may be later than the expiration date of the credit period (except as otherwise required by Party A).

 

3.6 Party A may, within the credit period, regularly review and appraise Party B’s business operation and financial standing on an annual basis, and may adjust the credit line available to Party B based on the results of appraisal.

 

4. Interest Rate of Loan as Working Capital

 

4.1 The interest rate of any loan hereunder shall be specified in the relevant application for drawing submitted by Party B and be subject to examination and approval by Party A; in case of any discrepancy between the application for drawing and the promissory note of such loan (if any) or the records in Party A’s records, the promissory note (if any) or the records in Party A’s promissory note shall prevail.

 

4.2 If Party B fails to use any loan as agreed herein, the default interests shall be charged on the part of the loan not used for the agreed purpose, at the original rate plus 100% thereof, accrued from the date when the agreed purpose of loan is changed. The original rate shall mean the interest rate applicable prior to change in the agreed purpose of the loan.

 

If Party B fails to repay any loan timely, the overdue interests (default interests) shall be charged on the part of the loan outstanding, at the original rate plus 50% thereof (the interest rate of overdue loan), accrued from the overdue date of loan. The original rate shall mean the interest rate applicable prior to the maturity date of the loan (inclusive of accelerated maturity of the loan), or, in case of floating rate, the interest rate applicable to the last floating period prior to the maturity date of the loan (inclusive of accelerated maturity of the loan).

 

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If a single loan becomes overdue and concurrently has not been used for the agreed purpose, the higher of the said default rates shall apply.

 

4.3 In case of any adjustment in the loan rate by the People’s Bank of China during the loan term, the relevant provisions of the People’s Bank of China shall apply.

 

4.4 Where the maturity date of a loan is a holiday, it shall be automatically postponed to the first business day immediately after such holiday, and the interests shall be calculated according to the actual days for use of loan proceeds lapsed.

 

4.5 Party B shall pay the interests on each interest calculation date, and Party A may directly deduct the interests due from any account of Party B maintained with China Merchants Bank. If the last date of repayment of the loan principal is not an interest calculation date, then the last of repayment of the loan principal shall be deemed as the date of interest settlement, on which the Borrower shall pay off all interests due on the loan principal. In case of Party B’s failure to pay any interests timely, the compound interests shall be calculated on the interests due but unpaid (including default interests) at the interest rate of overdue loan as specified in this Clause 4.

 

5. Security

 

5.1 In respect of any debt owed by Party B to Party A hereunder, Party B or a third party acceptable to Party A shall provide mortgaged or pledged properties as security or joint and several guarantee, and Party B or the third party as the guarantor shall separately issue or execute security/guarantee documents as required by Party A.

 

5.2 Where the guarantor fails to execute guarantee documents and properly handle the procedures for guarantee pursuant to the provisions of this Clause 5 (including the circumstance where the debtor of receivables raises any objection to the receivables prior to pledge of the receivables), Party A may refuse to grant the credit facility to Party B.

 

5.3 Where any mortgagor provides secured real estate as collateral for any debts owed by Party B to Party A hereunder, if Party B becomes aware of that the collateral has been or may be subject to demolition and relocation or expropriation plan of the government, it shall immediately notify Party A thereof and urge and cause the mortgagor to, pursuant to the provisions in the mortgage contract, provide the properties reimbursed by the party in charge of demolition as security for Party B’s debts and timely handle the procedures for security, or, upon Party A’s demand, provide other security measures acceptable to Party A.

 

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6. Rights and Obligations of Party B

 

6.1 Party B shall be entitled to the following rights:

 

6.1.1 Party B may require Party A to extend any loan or other credit facilities within the credit line pursuant to the conditions contained herein;

 

6.1.2 Party B may use the credit line pursuant to the provisions contained herein;

 

6.1.3 Party B may require Party A to keep confidential the information on its production, operation, properties and accounts among other things as provided by it to Party A, except as otherwise specified in this Agreement; and

 

6.1.4 Party B may assign its debts to a third party upon the written consent of Party A.

 

6.2 Party B shall bear the following obligations:

 

6.2.1 Party B shall truthfully provide Party A with the documents and materials required by Party A (including but not limited to its true financial books/statements and annual financial reports to be provided by it regularly as requested by Party A, and its major decisions and changes in its production, operation and management, materials of drawing/using the loan proceeds, and the materials concerning collaterals), and the information on all of its deposit banks, accounts and deposit/loan balance, and shall assist Party A for any investigation, review and inspection by Party A;

 

6.2.2 Party B shall be subject to Party A’s supervision on its use of the credit funds and its relevant production, operation and financial activities;

 

6.2.3 Party B shall use any loan and/or other credit facilities pursuant to the provisions in this Agreement and each specific business document and/or for the committed purpose;

 

6.2.4 Party B shall timely and fully repay the principal of any loan, advance and other debts under the credit facility and pay the relevant interests, fees and expenses pursuant to the provisions in this Agreement and each specific business document;

 

6.2.5 Party B must obtain written consent from Party A if it intends to assign its debts hereunder in whole or in part to any third party;

 

6.2.6 Party B shall promptly notify Party A and actively assist Party A to take the security measures for properly discharge of all principal of and interests on any loan, advance and other debts under the credit facility and all relevant fees and expenses, in case of its occurrence of any of the following events:

 

6.2.6.1 It suffers major financial loss, loss of assets or other financial crisis;

 

6.2.6.2 It provides any loan or guarantee or mortgages (pledges) its own properties (rights) in favor of any third party or in order to hold any third party harmless;

 

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6.2.6.3 It ceases its business operation, or its business license is suspended or cancelled, or petition for bankruptcy or dissolution is brought by or against it, or its major corporate information is changed, such as corporate name, registered domicile, business place or its beneficiary; or there are changes in the Borrower's controlling shareholders/actual controllers;

 

6.2.6.4 Its controlling shareholder or other affiliated companies or actual controllers suffer major operating or financial crisis, so as to affect its regular operation, or its legal representative/principal responsible person, directors or major senior management officers are changed, or are punished or their personal freedom is restricted by the competent authorities due to violation of laws or disciplines, or have been missing for more than 7 days, so that its regular operation might be affected;

 

6.2.6.5 It has any affiliated transaction with its controlling shareholder or other affiliated companies or actual controllers, involving the amount of not less than 10% of its net assets (the notice given by it to Party A shall at least include the affiliated relationship between the parties to the transaction, the project and nature of the transaction, the transaction amount or relevant ratio, pricing policy (including the transactions in zero or nominal amount), among other things);

 

6.2.6.6 There are any lawsuits, arbitrations or criminal or administrative penalties that would have material adverse effect upon its operation or financial standing;

 

6.2.6.7 It or its actual controllers conducts any acts involving huge-amount private usurious loans, or have bad records in other financial institutions such as borrowing a new loan to repay old one, overdue loan or overdue interests; or its affiliated enterprises have internal capital chain rupture and are subject to debt crisis; or the construction of its project is stopped or delayed or it makes incorrect decision on major investment; or

 

6.2.6.8 Any other major events occur that would affect the ability of repayment of Party B and/or its controlling shareholders/actual controllers.

 

6.2.7 Party B shall not be indolent in managing and recovering its claims due, nor dispose of its existing major properties free of charge or in other improper ways.

 

6.2.8 Prior to any consolidation (merger), division, reorganization, joint venture (cooperation), transfer of title (equity), share system reform, external investment, increase in debt financing, among other major matters, Party B must obtain the written consent of Party A.

 

6.2.9 In case of pledge of receivables, it is guaranteed by Party B that the balance of the credit line at any time during the credit period shall be lower than 80% of the balance of pledged receivables, otherwise it must provide additional receivable as pledge acceptable to Party A or pay a guarantee money (the guarantee money account shall be that automatically generated or recorded by Party A’s system at the time of payment thereof, the same as below), until the balance of pledged receivables × 80% + valid guarantee moneybalance of the credit line.

 

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6.2.10 Where Party B provides any guarantee money as pledge, if the balance of the guarantee money account becomes lower than 95% of the amount under any specific business due to fluctuation of exchange rate, Party B shall have the obligation to provide additional guarantee money or other securities upon Party A’s demand.

 

6.2.11 It is warranted by Party B that payment for goods sale under import shall be collected through the account designated by Party A; under export negotiation, the bills and/or documents under L/C shall be transferred to Party A.

 

6.2.12 It is warranted by Party B, its activities of receipt and expenditure such as settlement and payment shall be conducted through its bank settlement account maintained with Party A, and during the credit period, the proportion of settlement transactions in its designated account shall not be lower than the ratio that its financing obtained from Party A bears to its financing obtained from all banks.

 

7. Rights and Obligations of Party A

 

7.1 Party A shall be entitled to the following rights:

 

7.1.1 Party A may require Party B to timely and fully repay the principal of any loan, advance and other debts under the credit facility and pay the interests thereon and relevant fees and expenses under this Agreement and each specific contract;

 

7.1.2 Party A may require Party B to provide any materials relating to Party B’s use of the credit line;

 

7.1.3 Party A shall have the right to be informed of Party B’s activities of production, operation and finance;

 

7.1.4 Party A may supervise Party B’s use of any loan and/or other credit facilities pursuant to the provisions in this Agreement and each specific business document; as required by its business, Party A may at its sole discretion directly suspend or restrict corporate online banking/corporate APP/other online functions of Party B’s account (including but not limited to closing corporate online banking/corporate APP/other online functions, and presetting the list of payees/limit of single payment/limit of payment during any period, among other restrictive measures) and other electronic payment channel, restrict sale of settlement vouchers, or restrict over-the-counter payment and transfer of Party B’s account and the function of payment and universal withdrawal of telephone banking and mobile banking, among other non-OTC channels.

 

7.1.5 Party A may, as required by its internal process, after opening a L/C upon Party B’s application, entrusts other branches of China Merchants Bank of the place where the beneficiary is situated to open a back-to-back L/C to the beneficiary;

 

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7.1.6 Party A may deduct relevant amounts from any account of Party B opened with any branch of China Merchants Bank, for the purpose of repayment of any debts owed by Party B under this Agreement and any specific business document (in case any debt under credit facility is denominated in any currency other than RMB, Party A may directly purchase foreign currency from Party B’s RMB account at the exchange rate issued by it, for the purpose of repayment of the principal of credit facility and payment of the interests thereon and relevant fees and expenses);

 

7.1.7 Party A may assign its creditor’s rights against Party B, and notify Party B of such assignment in a way as deemed appropriate by it, including but not limited to fax, mail, personal delivery or announcement over public media, and may collect the debts owed by Party B;

 

7.1.8 Party A may supervise, or entrust other branches of China Merchants Bank to supervise, the accounts of Party B, and control the payment of loan proceeds for the purpose of loan and to the extent of payment as agreed by both Parties;

 

7.1.9 In case it is found by Party A, Party B has any circumstances as described in Sub-Clause 6.2.6 hereof, Party A may require Party B to properly take the security measures for ensuring discharge of the principal of credit facility, interests thereon and all relevant fees and expenses under this Agreement, or directly take one or more measures for remedies as agreed in the provisions hereof under the heading “Events of Default and Relevant Measures”; and

 

7.1.10 Party A may further exercise other rights agreed by this Agreement.

 

7.2 Party A shall bear the following obligations:

 

7.2.1 Party A shall extend loans or provide other credit facilities to Party B within the credit line pursuant to the provisions in this Agreement and each specific contract; and

 

7.2.2 Party A shall keep confidential any information on Party B’s assets, finance, production and operation, except it is otherwise stipulated by laws and regulations or required by the regulatory authorities, or except such information is disclosed to its parent or subsidiary company or professionals such as external auditors, accountants or attorneys subject to equivalent obligation of confidentiality.

 

8. Matters Specially Warranted by Party B.

 

8.1 It is an entity duly incorporated and validly existing and having legal personality in accordance with the law of China, has true, lawful and valid procedures for registration and annual report, and has full capacity of civil acts to execute and perform this Agreement;

 

8.2 Its execution and performance of this Agreement have been duly authorized by its board of directors or other equivalent authorities;

 

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8.3 All documents, materials and certificates provided by it relating to it, the guarantors, mortgagers (pledgers), or mortgaged (pledged) properties are true, accurate, complete and valid, and contain no major error in non-compliance with the facts or omission in any material aspect;

 

8.4 It shall strictly abide by the provisions in each specific business document and various letters and relevant documents issued to Party A;

 

8.5 There are no lawsuits, arbitrations or criminal or administrative penalties pending at the time of execution of this Agreement that would have material adverse effect upon it or its major properties, and there will be no such lawsuits, arbitrations or criminal or administrative penalties occurring during the period of performance of this Agreement. In case of occurrence of the same, Party B shall immediately notify Party A thereof;

 

8.6 It shall strictly abide by various laws and regulations of the State in its operating activities, carry on its all business strictly within the business scope specified in its business license or approved according to law, and timely handle such procedures as corporate registration, annual report and extension/renewal of operating term;

 

8.7 It shall keep or improve its current level of operation and management, and maintain and increase the value of its existing assets, and shall not waive any claims due, nor dispose of existing major properties free of charge or in other improper ways;

 

8.8 Without consent of Party A, Party B shall not discharge its other long-term debts in advance;

 

8.9 Its loan project under credit facility shall comply with the requirements of laws and regulations, and it shall not use any loan for the purpose of investment in fixed assets or equity or speculation in purchase/sale of negotiable securities, futures and real estates in violation of regulations or lending in order to gain illegal incomes, or for any field or industry in which the production and operation is banned by the State, or for other purposes not specified in this Agreement and each specific business document;

 

If the loan proceeds will be utilized by means of payment by the borrower itself to a third party, Party B shall regularly (at least on a monthly basis) report to Party A the payment of loan proceeds, and Party A may verify the payment of loan proceeds in compliance with the agreed purpose by means of account analysis, voucher check and onsite investigation, among other things.

 

8.10 When executing and performing this Agreement, it has no other major events that would affect the performance of its obligations hereunder.

 

9. Special Provisions on Loan as Working Capital

 

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9.1 Drawing and Utilization

 

The loan as working capital hereunder may be utilized by Party B by means of payment by the borrower or payment by the lender as entrusted by it.

 

9.1.1 Payment by the borrower

 

“Payment by the borrower” shall mean, after the loan proceeds are extended by Party A to Party B’s account according to Party B’s application for drawing, Party B will by itself pay such loan proceeds to its transaction counterparty in compliance with the purpose agreed herein.

 

9.1.2 Payment by the lender as entrusted by the borrower

 

“Payment by the lender as entrusted by the borrower” shall mean, Party A will, according to Party B’s application for drawing and payment entrustment, pay the loan proceeds through Party B’s account to transaction counterparty of Party B in compliance with the purpose agreed herein. If any loan proceeds are utilized by means of payment by the lender as entrusted by the borrower, Party B shall authorize Party A to pay such loan proceeds through its account to its transaction counterparty on the date when the loan proceeds are extended (or on the next business date thereafter).

 

9.1.3 Party B must unconditionally utilize the whole loan proceeds by means of payment by the lender as entrusted by the borrower, if under any of the following circumstances:

 

9.1.3.1 The amount of a single drawing by Party B is not less than RMB Ten Million (or equivalent foreign currency);

 

9.1.3.2 Party B is required by Party A to utilize the loan proceeds by means of payment by the lender as entrusted by the borrower, according to regulatory requirements or risk control requirements.

 

9.1.4 If the method of payment by the lender as entrusted by the borrower is adopted, external payment after the loan is extended shall be subject to examination and approval by Party A, and Party B shall not evade supervision of Party A by such means as online banking, inverse check or breaking the whole loan into parts.

 

9.2 To draw any loan, Party B shall, according to Party A’s requirements, submit the application for drawing (affixed with its official seal or its specimen seal impression provided by it to Party A in advance, if submitted offline; or executed by using digital certificate or by other means acceptable to Party A, if submitted online), promissory note (if required) and other materials which Party A requires Party B to submit according to the different requirements for the methods of payment by the borrower or payment by the lender as entrusted by the borrower. If Party B fails to do so, Party A may reject Party B’s application for drawing. In case of delay in or failure of payment due to any inaccurate or incomplete information provided by Party B, so that Party B has breach towards its transaction counterparty or incurs other losses, Party A shall not be held liable therefor.

 

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9.3 Extension of loan

 

If Party B needs to extend any loan due to its inability to repay such loan as scheduled hereunder, it shall submit a written application for extension to Party A one month prior to maturity of such loan; if Party A approves such application for extension upon review, both Parties will separately execute an extension agreement. If Party A disapproves the said application for extension, the loan already utilized by Party B and the interests due thereon shall still be repaid according to this Agreement and relevant promissory note or the provisions recorded in Party A’s system.

 

10. Events of Default and Relevant Measures

 

10.1 Event of default shall be deemed to have occurred, if Party B is under any of the following circumstances:

 

10.1.1 Party B fails to perform or breaches any obligations herein;

 

10.1.2 Any matters specially warranted by Party B hereunder are untrue or incomplete, or Party B breaches any specially warranted matters and fails to rectify it upon Party A’s demand;

 

10.1.3 Party B fails to draw and utilize loan as agreed herein, or fails to timely and fully repay any loan principal or pay any interests thereon or relevant fees and expenses pursuant to the provisions contained herein, or fails to use funds collection account for receipt of funds as required by Party A, or refuses to accept Party A’s supervision, and fails to immediately rectify it upon Party A’s demand;

 

10.1.4 Party B has any major breach under any lawful and valid contract executed by it with other creditors, and fails to properly settle it within 3 months after the date of occurrence of such breach.

 

The aforesaid “major breach” shall mean the circumstances that other creditors may claim against Party B the amounts not less than RMB One Million due to Party B’s breach.

 

10.1.5 Where Party B is an enterprise listed on National Equities Exchange and Quotations (“NEEQ”) or intends to apply for listing on NEEQ, its listing on NEEQ suffers any materials obstacle or it suspends its application for listing thereon, or the NEEQ market issues warning letter to it, orders it to make rectification or restricts the transaction in its securities account, among other self-disciplined regulatory measures, three times or above in total, or it is subject to disciplinary actions or it is delisted;

 

10.1.6 Where Party B serves as a supplier of governmental procurement department, there is the risk information that is detrimental to repayment of credit facility granted by Party A, for example the governmental procurement department delays in payment continuously or accumulatively three times, or Party B is disqualified as supplier (included in the blacklist of governmental procurement), fails to timely supply goods, has unreliable quality of products, or suffers difficulty in business operation, or its financial standing obviously deteriorates (insolvent) or the construction of its project is suspended;

 

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10.1.7 Party B’s financial indexes fail to, on ongoing basis, meet the requirements in this Agreement/specific business document, or any prerequisite (if any) for credit facility/financing provided by Party A to Party B agreed in this Agreement/specific business document is not satisfied on ongoing basis;

 

10.1.8 Party B utilizes the loan by means of “breaking the whole loan into parts”, so as to evade the requirement in this Agreement for payment of loan proceeds to a third party by Party A as entrusted by Party B;

 

10.1.9 Party B’s activities of operation may cause risks of anti-money laundering or sanction compliance to Party A; or

 

10.1.10 Party B has any events that would damage the legitimate rights and interests of Party A in the opinions of Party A.

 

10.2 If any guarantor is under any of the following circumstances that would affect the guarantor’s ability of guarantee in the opinions of Party A, Party A requires the guarantor to eliminate the adverse effect caused thereby, or requires Party B to increase or replace the securities, but the guarantor or Party B fails to do so, it shall be deemed as an event of default:

 

10.2.1 The guarantor has any circumstances similar with those described in Sub-Clause 6.2.6 hereof, or has the circumstances described in Sub-Clause 6.2.8 hereof without consent of Party A;

 

10.2.2 When issuing the irrevocable guarantee, the guarantor conceals its actual ability to bear the guarantee liability, or fails to obtain the authorization granted by the competent authorities;

 

10.2.3 The guarantor fails to timely handle such procedures as corporate registration, annual report and/or extension/renewal of operating term;

 

10.2.4 The guarantor is indolent in managing and recovering its claims due, or disposes of its existing major properties free of charge or in other improper ways; or

 

10.2.5 The guarantor breaches its any obligations, undertakings or representations in the irrevocable guarantee executed by it.

 

10.3 If any mortgager (or pledger) is under any of the following circumstances that would cause the mortgage (or the pledge) to be null and void, or the mortgaged (or pledged) properties to be devalued in the opinions of Party A, and the mortgager (or pledger) and Party B fail to eliminate the adverse effect caused thereby, or increase or replace the securities as required by Party A, it shall be deemed as an event of default:

 

10.3.1 The mortgager (or pledger) has no ownership of or the right to dispose of the mortgaged (or pledged) properties, or the ownership thereof is under dispute;

 

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10.3.2 The procedures for mortgage/pledge of the mortgaged (or pledged) properties have not been properly handled, or such properties are leased, subject to right of habitation, seized, retained, kept under custody, or subject to co-ownership or prior statutory preference (including but not limited to the preference of payment for construction projects, mortgage preference of movables’ payment), the preference of seller’s title retention or preference of leaser’s financing lease, inter alia, and/or such circumstances are concealed;

 

10.3.3 Without written consent of Party A, the mortgager assigns, transfers, leases, creates right of habitation over, re-mortgages the mortgaged properties or otherwise disposes of them in any improper way or create any encumbrance over them, or, although disposal of the mortgaged properties is approved by Party A in writing, it fails to apply the proceeds obtained from such disposal to discharge the debts owed by Party B to Party A, as required by Party A;

 

10.3.4 The mortgager fails to properly keep, maintain and repair the mortgaged properties, so that the mortgaged properties are obviously devalued; or any acts of the mortgager directly endanger the mortgaged properties so that the value of the mortgaged properties is decreased; or the mortgager fails to effect/renew insurance for the mortgaged properties within the mortgage period, as required by Party A;

 

10.3.5 Where the mortgaged properties have been or may be subject to demolition and relocation or expropriation plan of the government, the mortgagor fails to immediately notify Party A thereof and perform relevant obligations pursuant to the provisions of mortgage contract;

 

10.3.6 Where the mortgagor uses the residual value of its house mortgaged to China Merchants Bank as the mortgage for the business hereunder, it settles its individual mortgage loan in advance without Party A’s consent, before Party B has repaid the credit facility hereunder;

 

10.3.7 Where the pledger uses wealth-management product as pledge, the funds of subscription for wealth-management product has unlawful/irregular sources;

 

10.3.8 The mortgaged (pledged) properties are or may be subject to any other matters that would after their value or Party A’s mortgage (pledge) right; or

 

10.3.9 The mortgagor (or pledger) breaches any obligations, undertakings or representations in the mortgage contract/pledge contract executed by it.

 

10.4 Where the securities hereunder include any pledged receivables, if the business operation of the debtor of such receivables obviously deteriorates, or such debtor transfers/withdraws its funds for the purpose of evasion of debts, or changes the route of payment collection in collusion with the pledger, so that the payment of receivables is not made into the special account for payment collection, or such debtor loses its goodwill, loses or may lose its ability of performance, or has other matters that would affect its ability of repayment, then, Party A may require Party B to provide relevant securities or provide additional valid receivables as pledge; if Party B fails to do so, it shall be deemed to constitute event of default.

 

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10.5 In case of occurrence of any event of default as described above, Party A may separately or concurrently take any of the following measures:

 

10.5.1 It may reduce the credit line hereunder, or cease the use of any remaining amount of the credit line;

 

10.5.2 It may recover in advance the principal of any loan extended within the credit line and the interests thereon and relevant fees and expenses;

  

10.5.3 In respect of any draft accepted by Party A, or any L/C (including back-to-back L/C opened by other branches entrusted by it), letter of guarantee or bank guarantee for delivery opened by it during the credit period, whether Party A has advanced the relevant amount or not, it may require Party B to provide additional sum of guarantee money, or transfer any deposit of Party B in other accounts of Party B opened with Party A into the guarantee money account of Party B serving as the guarantee money for discharging any advances by Party A hereunder, or escrow the relevant amounts to a third party serving as the guarantee money for discharging any advances by Party A for Party B;

 

10.5.4 In respect of the claim of receivables outstanding assigned from Party B to Party A under the factoring business, Party A may require Party B to immediately perform the obligation of repurchase and take other measures for recovery pursuant to relevant specific business documents; in respect of the claim of receivables assigned to Party A against Party B under the factoring business, Party A may immediately recover the same against Party B.

 

10.5.5 Party A may, as the case may be, directly require Party B to provide additional properties as securities acceptable to Party A, and if Party B fails to do so, it shall pay the liquidated damages equal to 30% of the amount of credit line granted hereunder.

 

10.5.6 Party A may directly freeze/deduct any deposit in any settlement account and/or other accounts of Party B opened with China Merchants Bank, and suspend opening of new settlement accounts for Party B and issuing of new credit card to legal representative of Party B;

 

10.5.7 Party A may report the information on Party B’s default and bad faith to credit information institution and banking association, and in appropriate way, share such information among the financial institutions in the banking industry and even make such information available to the public;

 

10.5.8 Party A may dispose of the mortgaged/pledged properties and/or claim against the guarantor pursuant to the provisions of the security document;

 

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10.5.9 In respect of any loan as working capital under the credit facility, Party A may change the conditions for payment of loan proceeds by the lender as entrusted by the borrower, and cancel Party B’s right to utilize the loan proceeds by the method of “payment by the borrower itself”; or

 

10.5.10 Party A may exercise its recourse pursuant to the provisions contained herein.

 

10.6 Any amounts recovered by Party A will be applied for repayment of various credit facilities hereunder in the sequence of their actual maturity dates (in the sequence from later to earlier maturity date). In respect of a specific credit facility, it shall be repaid in the sequence of fees and expenses, liquidated damages, compound interests, default interests, interest, and lastly the principal of such credit facility, until full discharge of all principals, interests and all relevant fees and expenses.

 

Party A may at its sole discretion adjust the said sequence of repayment, except as otherwise required by laws and regulations.

 

11. Change in and Supplement to this Agreement

 

This Agreement may be changed if a written agreement is reached by both Parties through consultation. Before such written agreement is reached, this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Neither party may unilaterally change or modify this Agreement.

 

Any written supplementary agreement, reached by both Parties through consultation, upon any matter not covered by this Agreement or change in this Agreement, and each specific business document hereunder, shall constitute the integral part of this Agreement.

 

12. Miscellaneous

 

12.1 Within the valid term of this Agreement, no tolerance or grace by Party A of any breach or delay of Party B, or delay by Party A to exercise its rights or interests hereunder, may prejudice, affect or limit any rights and interests available to Party A as the creditor according to law or pursuant to this Agreement, nor shall be deemed as Party A’s permission or recognition of any breach hereof, or wavier of any existing or future breaches.

 

12.2 Even if this Agreement becomes legally invalid in whole or in part for whatsoever reasons, Party B shall still be liable for discharging all debts due by it to Party A hereunder. In case of the said invalidity, Party A may terminate this Agreement, and immediately recover all debts payable and due by Party B to it hereunder.

 

If Party A incurs any additional costs in performance of its obligations hereunder due to any change in applicable laws or policies, Party B shall reimburse Party A such additional costs upon Party A’s demand.

 

Page 16 of 30

 

 

12.3 Any notices, demands or other documents in connection with this Agreement between Party A and Party B shall be given in writing (including but not limited to letter, fax, e-mail, electronic platform such as enterprise online banking/enterprise APP of China Merchants Bank, SMS or Wechat). Party B confirms the address for service of documents and service method as below:

 

12.3.1 It is acknowledged and agreed by Party B, its enterprise online banking/enterprise APP of China Merchants Bank and its communication address, e-mail, fax No., mobile number or Wechat ID specified in this agreement shall be the address for service of various commercial documents and legal documents.

 

“Commercial documents” as referred to in this Clause shall mean any business notices, confirmations, notice of default, notice of acceleration, letter of collection of overdue debts, among other things; “legal documents” as referred to in this Clause shall mean notarized documents and judicial documents (including but not limited to complaint/arbitration application, petition for appeal, answer to complaint, evidences, summons, notice of responding to action, notice of producing evidences, notice of appearance, notice of hearing, judgment/adjudication, ruling, mediation statement, notice of performance within specified time limit during the proceedings of trial and enforcement).

 

Any document sent by Party A, the competent court or notary office in the way as agreed herein to the address specified in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed to have been duly served.

 

12.3.2 It is acknowledged and agreed by Party B: If any notice is given by personal delivery (including but not limited to service by attorney/notary or by courier), it shall be deemed to have been duly given when it is signed for acknowledgement by the recipient (if it is rejected by the intended recipient, it shall be deemed to have been duly given at the date of rejection/return or 7 days after mailing (whichever is earlier); if by mail, it shall be deemed to have been duly given 7 days after posting; if by fax, e-mail, enterprise online banking/enterprise APP of China Merchants Bank (i.e., service through enterprise online banking/enterprise APP of China Merchants Bank to Party B’s enterprise online banking/enterprise APP of China Merchants Bank), SMS or Wechat, among other electronic means, it shall be deemed to have been duly given on the date of successful transmission as shown on the sender’s relevant system/electronic device. Where Party A notifies Party B of assignment of its creditor’s rights or of debt collection by issuing announcement over public media, such notice shall be deemed to have been served upon Party B on the date when such announcement is issued.

 

12.3.3 In case of change in the communication address, e-mail, fax No., mobile number or Wechat ID of Party B, it shall notify Party A thereof within 5 business days after such change; otherwise, Party A may give notice according to the original address or information of Party B. In case of failure to give notice due to change in communication address or information of Party B, the notice shall be deemed to have been duly given at the date of return or 7 days after mailing of such notice, whichever is earlier. In such case, Party B shall solely bear any losses caused thereby, without prejudice to the lawful validity of the service.

 

Page 17 of 30

 

 

12.3.4 It is further agreed by Party B, the courts may serve judicial documents to Party B through China Judicial Process Information Online or General Service Platform of All Chinese Courts, among other electronic methods; if the courts electronically serve judicial documents pursuant to the aforesaid provisions, the date of successful transmission as shown on China Judicial Process Information Online or General Service Platform of All Chinese Courts shall be the date of service; if the courts complete the service of judicial documents by electronic methods, it is not required to further serve the judicial documents in paper form to Party B’s communication address.

 

1.2.3.5 The address for service and service methods as agreed in this Clause shall be applicable to the period of contract’s performance, the resolution of dispute pending, arbitration and court’s trial (first instance, second instance and retrial) and enforcement, inter alia.

 

12.4 It is agreed by both Parties, each application for business under the trade financing may become effective so far as it is affixed by Party B with its specimen seal impression provided by it to Party A in advance, and both Parties shall recognize the validity of such seal.

 

12.5 It is agreed and acknowledged by both Parties, where Party B may submits any application for credit business or business vouchers through Party A’s electronic platform (including but not limited to enterprise online banking/enterprise APP), its electronic signature generated by means of digital certificate shall be deemed as its valid signature/seal and represent its true declaration of will; Party A may, based on the application information sent online, fill in and prepare relevant business vouchers, and Party B shall recognize the truthfulness, accuracy and lawfulness of the same and shall be bound by the same.

 

12.6 In order to facilitate the business, in respect of Party A’s various operations relating to transaction (including but not limited to acceptance of application, review of materials, extension of loan, confirmation of transaction, deduction, enquiry, printing of receipt, debt collection, deduction and collection of amounts and various notices), any branches under Party A’s jurisdiction may handle, generate, sign or issue relevant letters, and the business operation and letters of such branches shall be deemed as the acts of Party A and be binding upon Party B.

 

Page 18 of 30

 

 

12.7 The schedules attached hereto shall constitute integral part of this Agreement, and shall be automatically applicable to the relevant specific businesses occurring between both Parties.

 

12.8 Fees and Expenses

 

¨ 12.8.1 If this Agreement involves any accident insurance effected by Party B and naming Party A as the first beneficiary, the relevant insurance premium shall be borne as below (check the applicable¨).

 

Please check applicable¨:

 

¨ Party A shall bear the premium.

 

¨ Party A and Party B shall jointly bear the premium at the following ratio: Party A / %, Party B / %.

 

¨ 12.8.2 If this Agreement involves the fees of notarization for enforcement (other than the fees of application for issuing enforcement certificate), the fees shall be borne as below (check the applicable¨).

 

Please check applicable¨:

 

¨ Party A shall bear the premium.

 

¨ Party A and Party B shall jointly bear the premium at the following ratio: Party A / %, Party B / %.

 

12.8.3 In respect of other matters for which any third party is entrusted to provide services, the relevant fees and expenses shall be solely borne by the entrusting party. If both Parties jointly act as the entrusting parties, each party shall bear 50% of such fees and expenses.

 

12.8.4 In case Party B fails to timely repay any debts owed by it to Party A hereunder, all costs and expenses incurred by Party A for realization of its creditor’s rights, such as attorney fees, the lawsuit fees, and the expenses for traveling, public announcement and service, shall be borne by Party B, and Party B hereby authorizes Party A to directly deduct the same from its bank accounts opened with Party A. In case of any deficiency, Party B undertakes to fully pay such deficiency upon its receipt of relevant notice sent by Party A, without any evidence provided by Party A.

 

12.9 As required by Party A, Party B shall (check applicable¨):

 

¨ effect insurance for its core assets, with Party A named as the first beneficiary;

 

¨ not sell or mortgage the assets   /   designated by Party A before its debts under credit facility have been fully settled;

 

¨ restrict the distributions of profits to its shareholders as below, before its debts under credit facility have been fully settled:

 

Page 19 of 30

 

 

   /   

 

12.10 Party B shall procure that its various financial indexes during the credit period are not lower than the following requirements:

 

   /   

 

12.11 Party B additionally recognizes all provisions in the Cooperation Agreement upon Group’s General Credit Business No.   /    (as changed and supplemented by the parties thereto) executed by China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd.    /    and Party B’s parent company/head office/controlling company    /    (fill in the name of company) and agrees to be bound by such agreement, and, in the capacity of an entity subordinate to the group under such agreement, agrees to bear various obligations imposed on those entities subordinate to the group in such agreement. In case of breach of such obligations, it shall be deemed to constitute Party B’s event of default, and in such case, Party A may take the measures for remedies in case of occurrence of default as agreed in this Agreement.

 

12.12 Provisions on Group.

 

12.12.1 Party B shall not, by taking advantage of such creditor’s rights as bills or receivable accounts, with its affiliates, being false or without actual underlying trade, handle with Party A such businesses as bill discounting, factoring, pledge, L/C or forfaiting. Where Party B damages or evades the claims of Party A or other branches of China Merchants Bank by taking advantage of affiliated transactions, it shall be deemed to constitute default hereunder, and in such case, Party A may take the measures for remedies in case of occurrence of default as agreed in this Agreement.

 

12.12.2 If any affiliate of Party B has breach towards China Merchants Bank, it shall be deemed as event of default under the group’s credit facilities, and in such case, Party A may, according to the extent of such event’s effect, decide whether or not to take the measures in case of occurrence of default event as agreed in this Agreement, notwithstanding non-occurrence of default event on part of Party B hereunder.

 

12.12.3 “Affiliated transaction” shall mean any matter of transferring resources or obligations between the affiliates, whether or not any price is charged. If one person has the power to, directly or indirectly, control another person solely or jointly or impose significant influence upon another person in enterprise finance and operating decision, they shall constitute affiliates; if two or more persons are under the common control, they shall also constitute affiliates. It is agreed by both Parties, the specific definition of affiliates shall be determined by Party A.

 

12.12.4 “Group” shall mean a group of corporate bodies having the relationship of directly or indirectly holding majority shares (controlling) or majority shares being held (being controlled), or a group of corporate bodies having the affiliation of substantial major risk (for example, under common control by a third party, existence of other affiliated relationship, or potential transfer of assets and profits not on an arm’s length basis). “Control” shall mean Party B has the actual power to direct the decision-making on business operation, application of funds and appointment of senior management officers of another entity or may impose significant influence upon the same. It is agreed by both Parties, whether or not an entity constitutes a group’s member shall be determined by Party A.

 

Page 20 of 30

 

 

12.12.5 Party B shall constitute default and Party A may at its sole discretion decide to suspend the credit line not used by Party B, recover in advance the loan principal and interests in whole or in part, or directly take one or more measures for remedies specified in the provisions under the heading “Event of Default and Relevant Measures” in this Agreement, if Party B is under any of the following circumstances:

 

12.12.5.1 It provides false materials or conceals major operating or financial matters;

 

12.12.5.2 Without consent of Party A, it changes the originally agreed purpose of the credit facility, misappropriates the credit facility or engages in illegal or irregular transactions by using the bank’s credit facility;

 

12.12.5.3 By taking advantage of false contracts with its affiliates, it discounts or pledges receivable bills or receivable accounts (among other creditor’s rights) without actual underlying trade with the bank, so as to illegally obtains funds or credit facility from the bank;

 

12.12.5.4 It refuses to be subject to Party A’s supervision over its use of the credit proceeds and its relevant operating and financial activities;

 

12.12.5.5 It has major merger, acquisition, reorganization or change in the group’s control in the borrower as the group’s member, so that the credit facility may be endangered in the opinions of Party A;

 

12.12.5.6 It intentionally avoids the bank’s claims through affiliated transactions; or

 

12.12.5.7 It has other major defaults as determined by Party A.

 

12.13 Party A may at its sole discretion reduce the credit line agreed in Clause 1 hereof, to which Party B shall have no objection. If Party B has breach in respect of any debt owed by it to Party A, it shall be deemed to constitute default hereunder, whether or not there is any default as described in the aforesaid provisions hereof in respect of the businesses hereunder, and in such case, Party A may take the measures for remedies in case of occurrence of default as agreed in this Agreement.

 

12.14 It is undertaken by Party B (check applicable¨):

 

¨ It shall be deemed to constitute default, in case    /    fails to strictly perform the provisions in    /   and    /    issued to Party A;

 

Page 21 of 30

 

 

¨     /   

 

Party B shall be deemed to constitute default in case of its breach of any of the above-mentioned undertakings, and in such case, Party A may take the measures for remedies in case of occurrence of default as agreed in this Agreement.

 

13. Particulars of Accounts

 

¨ 13.1 Special account for loan (if applicable, please check¨).

 

Any loan proceeds hereunder must be extended and paid through the following account:

 

Account name:   /   

 

Account No.:   /   

 

Bank: China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd.   /   /

 

13.2 Funds collection account

 

13.2.1 Both Parties agree to designate the following account as Party B’s funds collection account:

 

Account name: Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd.

 

Account No.: [***]

 

Bank: China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., Wuhan Economic and Technical Development Zone Branch

 

13.2.2 Such account shall be subject to the following monitoring requirements:   /   

 

Party A may recover the loan early according to Party B’s funds collection, that is, when such account has funds collected, the loan in the amount equal to the amount of such funds collected shall be deemed to have been accelerated, and in such case, Party A may directly deduct relevant amounts from such account for the purpose of repayment of such loan.

 

13.3 Party B shall, on a quarterly basis, provide the details of receipt and expenditure of funds in such account, and assist Party A for monitoring the account and funds collected.

 

14. Applicable Law and Dispute Resolution

 

14.1 The formation, interpretation and dispute resolution of this Agreement shall be governed by the law of the People’s Republic of China (excluding the laws of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), and the rights and interest of both Parties shall be protected by the law of the People’s Republic of China.

 

14.2 Any dispute between both Parties arising out of performance of this Agreement shall be resolved by both Parties firstly through consultation. If such dispute cannot be resolved through negotiation, either party may (check one of the following three options¨):

 

Page 22 of 30

 

 

x 14.2.1 file a lawsuit in the competent people’s court of the place where Party A is situated;

 

¨ 14.2.2 file a lawsuit in the competent people’s court of the place where this Agreement is executed (the place of execution shall be   /   ); or

 

¨ 14.2.3 apply for arbitration to / (fill in the name of arbitration organ) at the arbitration place    /    .

 

14.3 After this Agreement and each specific business document are notarized by both Parties with the validity of enforcement, Party A may directly apply to the competent people’s court for enforcement in order to recover any debts owed by Party B under this Agreement and such specific business document.

 

15. Effectiveness

 

This Agreement shall become effective when it is signed by the legal representatives/principal responsible persons or authorized agents of both Parties or affixed with their personal seals and affixed with the official seals/the special seals for contractual purpose of both Parties, and shall become null and void on the expiration date of the credit period or on the date when all debts and other relevant fees and expenses owed by Party B to Party A hereunder are fully discharged, whichever is later.

 

16. Supplementary Provisions

 

This Agreement shall be executed in triplicate, of which Party A keeps two and Party B,   /   and    /    keeps one respectively, being equally authentic.

 

Schedules: 1. Special Provisions on Cross-Border Trade Financing Business

 

2. Special Provisions on Buyer/Import Factoring Business

 

3. Special Provisions on Purchase Order Loan Business

 

4. Special Provisions on the Business Concerning Committed Discounting of Commercial Acceptance Draft

 

5 Special Provisions on Derivative Transaction Business

 

6 Special Provisions on Gold Lease Business

 

Page 23 of 30

 

 

Schedule 1

 

Special Provisions on Cross-Border Trade Financing Business

 

[***]

 

Page 24 of 30

 

 

Schedule 2

 

Special Provisions on Buyer/Import Factoring Business

 

[***]

 

Page 25 of 30

 

 

Schedule 3

 

Special Provisions on Purchase Order Loan Business

 

[***]

 

Page 26 of 30

 

 

Schedule 4

 

Special Provisions on the Business Concerning Committed

 

Discounting of Commercial Acceptance Draft

 

[***]

 

Page 27 of 30

 

 

Schedule 5

 

Special Provisions on Derivative Transaction Business

 

[***]


Page 28 of 30

 

 

Schedule 6

 

Special Provisions on Gold Lease Business

 

[***]

 

Page 29 of 30

 

 

(This page is only for execution of Credit Facility Agreement No.: 127XY2021004205)

 

 

Party A: China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., Wuhan Branch (seal of the bank)

 

/s/ China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., Wuhan Branch

 

/s/ Authorized Signatory

 

Principal responsible person or authorized agent (signature or personal seal):

 

Communication address: China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., Wuhan Branch, No. 118 Yunxia Road, Jianghan District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province

 

E-mail of the bank:   /  

 

Fax No. of the bank:   /  

 

Mobile number of contact person:   /  

 

Wechat ID of the bank:    /   

 

Party B: Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd. (official seal)

 

/s/ Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd.

 

/s/ Shen Ziyu

 

Legal representative/principal responsible person or authorized agent (signature or personal seal):

 

Communication address: Building 7B (QDXX-F7B), Tusincere Park, Innovation Valley, Nantaizi Lake, Economic and Technical Development Zone, Wuhan City, Hubei Province

 

E-mail of the company:    /  

 

Fax No. of the company:    /   

 

Mobile number of contact person: [***]

 

Wechat ID of the company:    /  

 

Date of execution: February 1, 2021

 

Page 30 of 30

 

 

Exhibit 10.16

 

Termination Agreement of Current Control Documents

 

This Termination Agreement of Current Control Documents (this “Agreement”) was made and entered into on April 8, 2022 by and among:

 

Party A: ECARX (Wuhan) Technology Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign-owned enterprise duly formed and validly existing under the PRC laws, with its registered address at No. 03-09, 2nd Floor, IT Service Center, No. 1, Guanshan 1st Road, Wuhan East Lake High-tech Development Zone (China (Hubei) Pilot Free Trade Zone Wuhan Area) (one address for multiple business licenses);

 

Party B: ECARX (Hubei) Technology Co., Ltd., a limited liability company duly formed and validly existing under the PRC laws, with its registered address at Building B, Building No. 7, Tusincere Park, South Taizihu, Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone (QDXX-F7B);

 

And

 

Party C: (1) Li Shufu, a Chinese citizen, ID card No.       ; and
    
  (2) Shen Ziyu, a Chinese citizen, ID card No.       ;

 

In this Agreement, Party A, Party B, and Party C are collectively referred to as the “Parties,” and individually as “a Party” or “the Party.”

 

WHEREAS:

 

(1) The Parties have previously jointly or separately signed the documents listed in Exhibit 1 (collectively referred to as the “Current Control Documents”, including any amendments or supplements thereto); and

 

(2) The Parties agree to terminate all of the Current Control Documents pursuant to the terms herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows through negotiations:

 

Article 1 Termination of Current Control Documents

 

1.1Each of Party A, Party B and Party C hereby agrees and acknowledges that all of the Current Control Documents shall terminate and cease to have any effect as of the date hereof (except for those provisions, such as confidentiality provisions, that are expressly provided in the Current Control Documents to continue in effect after termination).

 

1.2As of the date hereof, the Parties shall have no right under the Current Control Documents, and not be required to fulfill any obligation thereunder, provided, however, that any rights exercised and obligations fulfilled by the Parties on reliance of the Current Control Documents, if any, shall remain valid and no Party is required to return any payment, income or interest of any kind received by it or in its actual possession on reliance of the Current Control Documents, if any. The Parties further acknowledge that, as of the effective date of this Agreement, no Party shall be required to pay any additional fees or compensation to the other Parties based on the Current Control Documents or to pay any compensation to the other Parties for the termination of the Current Control Documents; each Party shall be relieved of any liability for breach or other misconduct (including acts and omissions, if any) occurring prior to the effective date; no Party shall recover from the other Parties any third party claim to which it is subject in connection with the Current Control Documents, regardless of whether the other Parties are liable.

 

1

 

 

1.3The Parties acknowledge that from the date of the Current Control Documents to the date of this Agreement, they have not performed their rights and obligations under the Exclusive Option Agreement listed in Exhibit 1.

 

1.4Each Party hereby acknowledges that it has no dispute, controversy, claim, assertion of breach, or demand for compensation against any other signatories to the Current Control Documents. Each Party hereby waives and releases the other signatories thereto (including their affiliates, heirs, successors, directors, officers, legal and financial advisors and agents) from any past, present or future claims, assertion of rights, assertion of breach, demand for compensation, or other causes of action it may have against the other signatories relating to or arising from the Current Control Documents (whether or not such claim, assertion, or demand has been filed) and from any breach of contract by the other signatories thereto, if any.

 

1.5Party C shall return to Party B the capital contribution certificate it received from Party B, and Party B shall amend the capital contribution certificate and may issue an updated capital contribution certificate to Party C to indicate the latest paid capital contribution of Party C and the fact that the equity of Party C is no longer pledged to Party A; Party B has the right to modify the register of shareholders to reflect that Party C’s equity is no longer pledged to Party A.

 

1.6The Parties acknowledge that no dispute has arisen since the execution of the Current Control Documents and that the Current Control Documents shall cease to have any legal effect from the date hereof.

 

Article 2 Covenants

 

In order to duly terminate the rights and obligations under the Current Control Documents, each Party shall execute all documents and take all actions that are necessary, and provide active support for the other Parties in obtaining relevant government approvals and/or registration documents (if applicable), acquiring authorization from Party A, Party B and their affiliates, and effecting relevant termination procedures.

 

Article 3 Termination

 

Except for the circumstances expressly provided herein, the Parties agree to terminate this Agreement:

 

(1)by all of the Parties through negotiation, and all expenses and losses incurred therefrom shall be borne respectively by the Parties; or

 

(2)by the non-defaulting Party if the intent of this Agreement cannot be fulfilled due to a Party’s breach of its obligations hereunder.

 

2

 

 

Article 4 Confidentiality

 

The Parties acknowledge and confirm that any oral or written information regarding this Agreement, its contents, and the exchange of information among the Parties in the process of preparing or performing this Agreement shall be considered confidential information. The Parties shall be obliged to keep such information confidential, and may not disclose any such information to any third party without the prior written consent of the other Party, except for: (a) any information known or to be known to the public (except for information disclosed to the public by the Party receiving the confidential information without authorization); (b) any information required to be disclosed pursuant to applicable laws and regulations, stock exchange rules, or orders of governmental authorities or courts; or (c) information required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal or financial advisers in connection with the transactions described herein, and such shareholders, directors, employees, legal or financial advisers shall also be subject to confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Article. A breach of confidentiality by any Party’s shareholders, directors, employees, or institutions it hired shall be deemed to be a breach of confidentiality by that Party, and that Party shall be held liable for the breach pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Article 5 Law Application and Dispute Settlement

 

5.1The formation of this Agreement and its validity, interpretation, performance, modification, termination and settlement of dispute shall be governed by the laws of the PRC.

 

5.2Any dispute arising from the interpretation and performance of this Agreement shall be resolved by the Parties through negotiations in good faith. If no settlement can be reached through negotiation, any Party may submit any dispute to China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) for arbitration in accordance with its arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be held in Shanghai. The arbitral award shall be final and binding upon all Parties.

 

Article 6 Supplementary Provisions

 

5.1This Agreement shall become effective upon signature of all of the Parties.

 

5.2 Notices and communications from one Party to the other Parties in connection with this Agreement shall be governed by the provisions of the Notice Clause under the Current Control Documents, and the addresses of the Parties for correspondence shall be as set forth under the Current Control Documents.

 

5.3 The Parties may amend or modify this Agreement through negotiations. Any such amendment, modification or supplement shall be made in writing and become effective upon signature of all of the Parties.

 

5.4 If any one or more provisions hereof are held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any law or regulation, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. The Parties shall negotiate in good faith in order to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions to the maximum extent permitted by law and expected by the Parties, and the economic impact of such valid provisions shall be as similar as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

 

5.5This Agreement is made in four (4) originals with one thereof for each Party, and each of the originals shall be equally binding.

 

3

 

 

(The remainder is intentionally left blank. Signature page to follow)

 

4

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Party has executed or caused this Termination Agreement of Current Control Documents to be executed by its authorized representative on its behalf as of the date first written above with immediate effect.

 

Party A: ECARX (Wuhan) Technology Co., Ltd. (seal)

 

Signature:

/s/ Shen Ziyu

 
  /s/ ECARX (Wuhan) Technology Co.,Ltd.; 42011910021971  
Name: Shen Ziyu  
Title: Legal Representative  

 

Party B: ECARX (Hubei) Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal)

 

Signature:

/s/ Shen Ziyu

 
 

/s/ ECARX (Hubei) Technology Co., Ltd.

 
Name: Shen Ziyu  
Title: Legal Representative  

 

Li Shufu

 

Signature:

/s/ Li Shufu

 

 

Shen Ziyu

 

Signature:

/s/ Shen Ziyu

 

 

Signature Page of Termination Agreement of Current Control Documents

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 1 List of Current Control Documents

 

[***]

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.17

 

Restructuring Framework Agreement

 

This Restructuring Framework Agreement (the "Agreement") is signed by and between the following parties in Wuhan City, People's Republic of China (the "PRC") on the date of 8 April 2022.

 

Party A: ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co., Ltd. (亿咖通(湖北)技术有限公司)

 

Address:No. B1336, Chuanggu Startup Zone, Taizi Lake Cultural Digital Industrial Park, No. 18 Shenlong Road, Wuhan Economic and Technological Development District, Hubei, PRC.

 

Party B: Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd. (湖北亿咖通科技有限公司) (“Hubei ECARX(湖北亿咖通)”)

 

Address:Part B, Building 7, Qidixiexin High-tech Park, Innovation Valley, Southern Taizi Lake, Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone

 

Party A and Party B are hereinafter individually referred to as a/one “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”.

 

WHEREAS:

 

(A)ECARX Holdings Inc. (a company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, "ECARX Cayman") previously actually controlled Hubei ECARX through a series of contractual arrangements ("VIE Control Agreements"), and transferred all economic interests in Hubei ECARX to the group companies (as defined below), which allows Hubei ECARX's financial results to be consolidated in the consolidated financial statements of the group companies.

 

(B)For the purpose of terminating the above contractual arrangements, on 8 April 2022 ( the "VIE Termination Date"), ECARX Cayman adopted a board resolution ("Board Resolution on Restructuring") as shown in Annex I to approve the termination of the VIE Control Agreements, and further approved a series of restructuring arrangements related to the business, qualifications, assets, contracts, intellectual property rights, employees and equity investment with the group companies and Hubei ECARX upon the termination of the VIE Control Agreement ("VIE Restructuring"); On 8 April 2022, ECARX (Wuhan) Technology Co., Ltd. (亿咖通(武汉)科技有限公司), Hubei ECARX (湖北亿咖通), Shen Ziyu and Li Shu Fu signed a Termination Agreement on Existing Control Documents, terminating the VIE Control Agreements.

 

(C)The Parties intend to further clarify (i) the specific matters of VIE Restructuring; and (ii) the arrangements involved in the matters related to VIE restructuring during the period from the VIE Termination Date to the actual completion date of VIE Restructuring under the Board Resolutions on Restructuring (the "Restructuring Completion Date") (the "Transition Period"), as well as the transfer and attribution of relevant economic interests.

 

THEREFORE, the Parties hereby reach an agreement as follows through mutual consultation. Unless otherwise stated in this Agreement, terms used herein shall have the same meanings as those defined in the Board Resolutions on Restructuring.

 

 

 

 

Definitions:

 

In this Agreement, unless otherwise stated, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

"The group companies" means ECARX Cayman and its beneficially owned subsidiaries and branches in the PRC and oversea. For the purpose of this Agreement, the group companies exclude Hubei ECARX and its subsidiaries and branches.

 

"Qualification" includes intangible assets and tangible assets, in which intangible assets include, but not limited to, trade secrets attached to any assets.

 

"Intellectual property" includes patents, patent application, inventions and creations, utility model, appearance design, registered trademarks, trademark application, unregistered logo, service tags, registered design, unregistered design rights, copyright, technical drawings, business name, database rights, Internet domain name, brand name, computer software programs and systems, know-how, goodwill, trade secrets (trade secrets include, but not limited to, manufacturing and production techniques and know-how, R&D information, technology, drawings, designs, schemes, technical data, financial, marketing and business data, pricing and cost information, business and marketing plans, customer and supplier directories and information, and other confidential or proprietary information), confidential information and other industrial or commercial intellectual property (whether registered or not), and all application documents for registration or protection of the above applications.

 

"China" means the People's Republic of China, which, for the purpose of this Agreement only, does not include Hong Kong, Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan.

 

1Transfer of Business and Assets

 

1.1The Parties acknowledge that, for the purpose of VIE Restructuring, Hubei ECARX only retains the following businesses, qualifications, assets, contracts, intellectual property rights, employees and/or investment: (i) map surveying and mapping qualification (referring to Grade A Surveying and Mapping Qualification of Navigation Electronic Map and Grade B Surveying and Mapping Qualification of Internet Map Service of Hubei ECARX), (ii) mapping activities (including relevant assets, contracts, intellectual property rights and employees), (iii) retained investment (referring to Hubei ECARX's shares or equity investment in Anhui Xinzhi Technology Co., Ltd. (安徽芯智科技有限公司), Suzhou Tongjie Automotive Electronic Co., Ltd. (苏州桐劼汽车电子有限公司)), (iv) ICP license, (v) Daimler contract (referring to the contract on AI voice products signed by Hubei ECARX and Daimler Company (as a customer) on 5 March 2020, and (vi) the working capital of Hubei ECARX of approximately RMB20.00 million (collectively referred to as "retained business and assets").

 

1.2The Parties acknowledge that, except for the above-mentioned retained business and assets, all the businesses of Hubei ECARX and the qualifications, assets, contracts, intellectual property rights, employees and foreign investment related to these businesses (collectively referred to as "transferred business and assets") shall be transferred to Party A (or other group companies designated by Party A).

 

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2Transfer Arrangement

 

2.1The Parties hereby agree and acknowledge that Hubei ECARX shall transfer all its transferred business and assets to Party A (or other group companies designated by Party A) or turn over to Party A (or other group companies designated by Party A) for effective control pursuant to the Board Resolutions on Restructuring. Please refer to the transfer business and asset transfer arrangement shown in Annex II to this Agreement for specific transfer methods and time schedules.

 

2.2This Agreement and all its annexes represent the framework agreements of the transfer matters agreed by each party under this Agreement, and the Parties may sign written arrangements separately for the specific transfer matters of transferred business and assets as they deem necessary (for example, sign transfer documents separately with the other party for any contract under the transferred business and assets). Notwithstanding the foregoing agreement, the Parties confirm and agree that they shall complete the transfer of all transferred businesses and assets in accordance with the principles and methods agreed in this Agreement, whether or not other written documents related to the specific transferred business and assets are executed separately.

 

2.3The Parties can take appropriate transfer methods based on the attribute of each specific transferred business and asset, as the case may be, and Hubei ECARX shall cooperate fully and unconditionally. Specially:

 

(1)As for intangible assets (including but not limited to trade secrets attached to any assets) and other matters that are difficult to be specialized and exhaustively listed out, the Parties hereby confirm that such intangible assets have been fully transferred to Party A or are under the effective control of Party A as at the VIE Termination Date, and such transfer is unconditional and irrevocable, unless there are transfer procedures/announcement requirements stipulated by the relevant laws and regulations of China that must be fulfilled to confirm the transfer of ownership, or where the transfer of ownership needs to be confirmed by the transfer of tangible assets attached to such intangible assets;

 

(2)In respect of the transferred business and assets other than those listed in item (1) above, without prejudice to the final transfer to Party A (or other group companies designated by Party A), the Parties may adjust the methods of transfer as shown in Annex II to this Agreement based on the actual situation.

 

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3Arrangements of the Transition Period

 

3.1The Parties understand and acknowledge that as at the VIE Termination Date, the transfer of part of the transferred business and assets is still in progress and is subject to the internal signing process of other relevant parties involved in the transfer, the progress of governmental approval, filing and registration matters by the competent governmental authorities (including but not limited to the relevant market supervision and administration authorities and the state intellectual property authorities), as well as changes in the lock-down policy of the COVID-19 pandemic, etc. The transfer such part of the transferred business and assets will continue during the Transition Period and the full transfer of ownership of the transferred business and assets will eventually be achieved in accordance with the requirements of the Board Resolutions on Restructuring.

 

3.2In order not to affect the continued and normal operation and use of the transferred business and assets during the Transition Period, the Parties agree to the following arrangements for the specific performance of the transferred business and assets that have not been effectively completed during the Transition Period (the "business and assets to be transferred") and all economic interests arising therefrom:

 

(1)Entrusted performance: During the Transition Period, before the actual transfer of any business and assets to be transferred is completed, Party A hereby entrusts Party B to exercise all rights and perform all obligations related to the business and assets to be transferred. During this period, if any costs, expenses, income and revenue incurred from the business and assets to be transferred, the Parties hereby confirm that such costs, expenses, income and revenue shall actually be attributed to Party A and shall be actually borne by Party A. Party B shall not charge any fee for the performance of its services on behalf of Party B under this Agreement.

 

(2)Authorized use: During the Transitional Period, if Party A or other group companies actually need to use the business and assets to be transferred in the course of their business operations before the actual transfer of any of the business and assets to be transferred is completed, Party B hereby unconditionally authorizes Party A and other group companies to use the business and assets to be transferred (including but not limited to any intellectual property rights that have been filed for transfer but the approval for the transfer (“IP in Transfer") is still pending by the competent state intellectual property authorities) without compensation. During the Transition Period, Party B agrees to grant Party A and other group companies an exclusive license to implement the IP in Transfer worldwide, including but not limited to manufacturing, or manufacturing, using and selling through third parties, or offering for sale, thus carrying out the development, marketing, sale and other commercial activities of the relevant products (including sub-licensing). Any costs, expenses, income and revenue incurred by Party A and/or other group companies as a result of the use of the business and assets to be transferred shall be effectively attributed to Party A and/or the relevant group companies and shall be effectively borne by Party A and/or the relevant group companies.

 

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3.3Except with prior written consent of Party A, during the term of this Agreement, as for the entrusted performance, authorized use or other matters agreed herein, Party B shall not establish any identical or similar relationship with any third party in relation to the matters described herein, nor shall it sub-delegate any of its obligations under this Agreement to any third party.

 

4Payment Arrangement

 

4.1Consideration related to the transfer of specific transferred business and assets shall be settled or paid at the time of the actual transfer of such transferred business and assets by way of exemption and set-off against the amount under the exempted inter-company loan in accordance with Article 4.4.

 

4.2The costs, expenses, income and gains related to entrusted performance during the transition period under Article 3.2(1) shall be settled when the corresponding transfer business and asset are actually transferred. Party B shall transfer the relevant income and gains to Party A, and Party A shall compensate Party B for the related costs and expenses.

 

4.3Both parties confirm and agree that any and all services and authorizations provided by Party B in accordance with Article 3.2 are free and unconditional, and Party A is not required to pay any consideration in this regard.

 

4.4Both parties further confirm and agree that both parties (and Party A on behalf of the group companies) will exempt each other from all rights related to any amount under any inter-company loan between the group companies and Hubei ECARX on restructuring completion date or other time confirmed by both parties through further negotiation; And both parties (and Party A on behalf of the group companies) shall exempt, offset or settle any debts related to the disposal, transfer, undertaking, acquisition or sale of any business, assets or liabilities involved in VIE Restructuring.

 

4.5Upon completion of the VIE Restructuring, both parties shall sign a VIE Restructuring and Waiver Confirmation in respect of the VIE Restructuring and the Waiver under Article 4.4, which shall set out the restructuring completion date, the amount of the loans and debts waived by each party, and confirm that the VIE Restructuring has been completed and the amount of the above loans and debts have been waived by both parties. For the avoidance of doubt, when settling, paying and waiving the fees and debts between Party A and Party B in accordance with this Article, Party A shall not waive the liabilities corresponding to the retained business and assets of Party B in the VIE Restructuring, that is RMB 252,287,123.00.

 

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5Confidentiality Clause

 

5.1Both parties acknowledge and confirm that any oral or written information relating to this Agreement, the content of this Agreement and any information exchanged in connection with the preparation or performance of this Agreement shall be treated as confidential information. All such confidential information shall be kept confidential and shall not be disclosed to any third party without the written consent of the other party, except: (a) any information known or to be known to the public (but not disclosed to the public by the party receiving the confidential information without authorization); (b) any information required to be disclosed in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, stock trading rules, or orders of government departments or courts; or (c) information to be disclosed by either party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal or financial advisers in respect of the transactions described in this Agreement, and such shareholders, directors, employees, legal or financial advisers are subject to confidentiality obligations similar to those herein. Any disclosure by any shareholder, director, employee or engagement of either party shall be deemed as disclosure by that party and shall be liable for breach of contract in accordance with this Agreement.

 

6Representations and Warranties

 

6.1Party A's representations, warranties and undertakings are as follows:

 

(1)Party A is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise legally established and validly subsisting under the laws of China.

 

(2)Party A has taken necessary corporate actions, obtained necessary authorization, and obtained the consent and approval (if necessary) from third parties and government departments to sign, deliver and perform the Agreement; Party A's signing, delivery and performance of this Agreement shall not violate the explicit provisions of laws and regulations.

 

(3)This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of of the party, enforceable in accordance with its terms.

 

6.2Party B's representations, warranties and undertakings are as follows:

 

(1)Party B is a limited liability company legally established and validly subsisting under the laws of China.

 

(2)Party B has taken necessary corporate actions, obtained necessary authorization, and obtained consent and approval (if necessary) from third parties and government departments to sign, deliver and perform the Agreement; Party B's signing, delivery and performance of this Agreement shall not violate the explicit provisions of laws and regulations.

 

(3)This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of of the party, enforceable in accordance with its terms.

 

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(4)Upon completion of the VIE Restructuring, Hubei ECARX and its subsidiaries should not be engaged, directly or indirectly, in any business which has a competitive relationship with Party A and the group companies (other than those related to the retained business and assets as stipulated in Article 1.1 above).

 

7Agreement Term

 

7.1The Agreement shall come into force on the VIE termination date after being formally signed by both parties. Unless earlier terminated in accordance with this Agreement or in accordance with other agreements signed between the parties, this Agreement shall terminate until the Restructuring completion date.

 

7.2Upon termination of the Agreement, the rights and obligations of both parties under Articles 5, 7 and 8 shall remain in force.

 

8Applicable Laws and Dispute Resolution

 

8.1The conclusion, validity, interpretation, performance, modification and termination of this Agreement and the dispute resolution shall be governed by the laws of China.

 

8.2Any dispute arising from the interpretation and performance of this Agreement shall first be resolved through friendly negotiation between the two parties. If the dispute cannot be resolved through negotiation, either party may submit the dispute to the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration in accordance with its then effective arbitration rules. The venue of the arbitration shall be Shanghai. The arbitration award is final and binding on both parties.

 

8.3In the event of any dispute arising from the interpretation and performance of this Agreement or any dispute being arbitrated, the Parties shall continue to exercise their respective other rights and perform their respective other obligations under this Agreement, save for the matters in dispute.

 

9Liabilities and Compensation for Default

 

9.1In the event that Party B is in breach of any of the stipulations under this Agreement, or fails to perform, fully performs or delays in performing any obligation under this Agreement, it shall constitute a breach of this Agreement by Party B. Party A shall have the right to request Party B to rectify or take remedial actions. If Party B fails to rectify or take remedial actions within ten (10) days after Party A sends a written notice to Party B and puts forward the correction request (or such other reasonable period as shall be required by Party A), Party A shall have the right to (1) terminate this Agreement at its own discretion and require Party B to pay all damages; or (2) require compulsory performance of Party B's obligations under this Agreement and require Party B to pay all damages. This Article does not prejudice any other rights of Party A under this Agreement.

 

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9.2Unless otherwise provided by law, Party B shall not unilaterally terminate or unwind this Agreement under any circumstances.

 

10Force Majeure

 

10.1In the event of earthquakes, typhoons, floods, fires, epidemics, forced isolation, regional blockades, wars, riots, strikes and any other force majeure events that are unforeseeable and cannot be prevented or avoided by the affected party ("Force Majeure"), if either party fails to perform, fully performs or delays the performance of this Agreement, the party affected by the above force majeure shall not be liable for it. Provided that the affected party shall promptly and without delay give written notice to the other party and shall, within fifteen (15) days after such written notice, provide the other party with details of the force majeure event and the relevant supporting documents explaining the reasons for such inability to perform, fully perform or need to delay performance.

 

10.2If the party advocating a force majeure fails to inform the other party in accordance with the above requirements and provide appropriate evidence, it shall not be exempted from its liability for failure, inability to fully perform or delay in performing its obligations under this Agreement. The Party affected by force majeure shall make reasonable efforts to mitigate the consequences of such force majeure and resume performance of all relevant obligations as soon as possible after the termination of such force majeure. If the party affected by force majeure fails to resume the performance of relevant obligations after the reasons for temporary exemption from performance due to force majeure disappear, the party shall assume the obligation to the other party in this regard.

 

10.3In the event of force majeure, both parties shall negotiate with each other immediately in order to reach a fair solution and make all reasonable efforts to minimize the consequences of such force majeure.

 

11Notice

 

11.1All notices and other communications required under or in connection with this Agreement shall be delivered by hand, registered mail, prepaid postage, fax, commercial express service or e-mail to the address or mailbox designated by the party. The date on which such notices are deemed to be effectively served shall be determined as follows:

 

(1)If the notice is delivered by hand, the effective service date shall be the date on which it is received or retained at the designated address;

 

(2)If the notice is delivered by express service, registered mail or prepaid postage, the effective delivery date shall be the date when it is received, rejected or returned for any reason at the designated address;

 

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(3)If the notice is delivered by fax, the effective delivery date shall be the date of successful transmission to the designated fax number (evidenced by an automatically generated transmission confirmation message). If the notice is delivered by e-mail, the effective delivery date shall be the date of successful delivery of the e-mail if the sender receives the system information indicating that the delivery was successful or does not receive the system information indicating that the e-mail was not delivered or returned within 24 hours.

 

11.2Either party may at any time designate or change the address at which it receives notice by giving notice to the other party in the manner provided for in this article.

 

12Assignment of the Agreement

 

12.1Party B shall not assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a third party unless Party A's prior written consent has been obtained.

 

12.2Party B hereby agrees that, unless otherwise expressly provided by applicable laws, Party A may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a third party, and that Party A shall only be required to give written notice to Party B when such assignment occurs and shall not be required to obtain further consent from Party B for such assignment.

 

13Severability of the Agreement

 

13.1If any one or more provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any law or regulation, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or impaired in any respect thereby. The Parties shall negotiate in good faith for the replacement of those provisions that are invalid, illegal or unenforceable with provisions that are valid to the extent permitted by law and to the maximum extent desired by the Parties, and such valid provisions shall produce economic effects as similar as possible to those produced by those provisions that are invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

 

14Modifications and supplements to the Agreement

 

14.1Any amendments, modifications and supplements to this Agreement must be made in written form by the Parties. The modification agreement and supplemental agreement signed by both Parties to this Agreement are part of this Agreement and have the same legal effect as this Agreement.

 

14.2The Parties hereby understand and agree that: (a) this Agreement is supplemental to the execution and operation arrangement of the matters agreed in the Board Resolutions on Restructuring during the Transition Period, and shall not affect the validity of the Board Resolutions on Restructuring. This Agreement shall be interpreted and applied jointly with the Board Resolutions on Restructuring; (b) they are familiar with the purpose and relevant provisions of this Agreement and agree to the voluntary disposal arrangement of their rights or obligations under this Agreement; and (c) the matters not agreed in this Agreement shall be subject to the agreement of the Board Resolutions on Restructuring.

 

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15Successors

 

15.1Subject to Article 12, the terms of this Agreement shall be binding upon and effective for the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

16Copies

 

16.1The Parties agree to complete the formal signing of this Agreement by exchanging electronic scanned copies of the signature page. This Agreement is in two (2) copies, and each of the Parties shall hold one (1) copy with equal legal effect.

 

(No text below this page; signature page to follow)

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Restructuring Framework Agreement to be executed by their authorized representatives on the date set forth at the beginning hereof and to become effective immediately.

 

Party A: ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co., Ltd.

 

Signature:/s/ Shen Ziyu  

Name:Shen Ziyu
Position:legal representative

 

Party B:Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd.  
    
Signature:/s/ Shen Ziyu  

Name:Shen Ziyu
Position:legal representative

 

Signature page

 

 

 

 

Annex I

 

Board Resolution on Restructuring

  

 

 

 

Annex II

 

Transfer of Business and Asset Transfer Arrangements

 

[***]

 

 

 

 

Annex III

 

Details of Retained-Assets and Liabilities

 

[***] 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.18

 

Supplementary Agreement of the

Restructuring Framework Agreement

 

The Supplementary Agreement (the “Supplementary Agreement”) of the Restructuring Framework Agreement is signed by the following parties on May 13, 2022, in Wuhan, the People's Republic of China (the “PRC”).

 

PARTY A: ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co., Ltd. (亿咖通(湖北)技术有限公司)

 

Address:No. B1336, Chuanggu Startup Zone, Taizi Lake Cultural Digital Industrial Park, No. 18 Shenlong Road, Wuhan Economic and Technological Development District, Hubei, PRC.

 

PARTY B: Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd. (湖北亿咖通科技有限公司) (“Hubei ECARX (湖北亿咖通)”)

 

Address:Part B, Building 7, Qidixiexin High-tech Park, Innovation Valley, Southern Taizi Lake, Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone

 

Party A and Party B are hereinafter individually referred to as a/one “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”.

 

WHEREAS:

 

(A)ECARX Holdings Inc. (a company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, “ECARX Cayman”) previously actually controlled Hubei ECARX through a series of contractual arrangements (the “VIE Control Agreements”) and transferred the entire economic interests of Hubei ECARX to the group Company (as defined below), thereby enabling the financial results of Hubei ECARX to be consolidated into the consolidated financial statements of the group companies.

 

(B)In order to terminate the above contractual arrangements, ECARX Cayman made a Board of Directors’ resolution (the “0408 Board Resolution”) on April 8, 2022 (the “VIE Termination Date”), approving the termination of the VIE Control Agreements, and further approving a series of restructuring arrangements (the “VIE Restructuring”) with the group companies and Hubei ECARX in terms of business, qualifications, assets, contracts, intellectual property rights, employees, and equity investment after the termination of the VIE Control Agreement; ECARX (Wuhan) Technology Co., Ltd. (亿咖通(武汉)科技有限公司), Hubei ECARX(湖北亿咖通), Shen Ziyu, and Li Shufu jointly signed a “Termination Agreement on Existing Control Documents” on April 8, 2022, terminating the VIE Control Agreement.

 

(C)The two parties signed the “Restructuring Framework Agreement” (the “Restructuring Framework Agreement”) on April 8, 2022. This agreement is to further clarify (i) the specific matters of the VIE Restructuring; and (ii) the arrangements involved in the matters related to VIE restructuring during the period from the VIE Termination Date to the actual completion date of VIE Restructuring under the Board Resolutions on Restructuring, as well as the transfer and attribution of relevant economic interests.

 

 

 

 

(D)On May 13, 2022, ECARX Cayman made a Board of Directors’ resolution (the “0513 Board Resolution”) as shown in Annex I, supplementing and amending the 0408 Board Resolution. Under the 0513 Board Resolution, such supplements and amendments shall be approved, confirmed, adopted and made part of the previous 0408 Board Resolution.

 

In view of this, the two parties hereby reach the following agreement through negotiation. Terms used in this Supplemental Agreement have the same meanings as those defined in the Restructuring Framework Agreement, unless otherwise stated in this Supplementary Agreement.

 

1AMENDMENT

 

1.1Both parties agree and confirm to supplement and revise the “Retained Investment” in Article 1.1 of the previous Restructuring Framework Agreement: “retained investment” refers to Hubei ECARX's equity or equity investment in Anhui Xinzhi Technology Co., Ltd. (安徽芯智科技有限公司), Suzhou Tongjie Automotive Electronic Co., Ltd. (苏州桐劼汽车电子有限公司), Suzhou Chenling Investment LLP (苏州晨岭投资合伙企业(有限合伙)). Supplementary and revised Article 1.1 of the Restructuring Framework Agreement (the “AMENDMENT ARTICLE”):

 

“1.1 The Parties acknowledge that, for the purpose of VIE Restructuring, Hubei ECARX only retains the following businesses, qualifications, assets, contracts, intellectual property rights, employees and/or equity investment: (i) map surveying and mapping qualification (referring to Grade A Surveying and Mapping Qualification of Navigation Electronic Map and Grade B Surveying and Mapping Qualification of Internet Map Service of Hubei ECARX), (ii) mapping activities (including relevant assets, contracts, intellectual property rights and employees), (iii) retained investment (referring to Hubei ECARX's shares or equity investment in Anhui Xinzhi Technology Co., Ltd. (安徽芯智科技有限公司), Suzhou Tongjie Automotive Electronic Co., Ltd. (苏州桐劼汽车电子有限公司) and Suzhou Chenling Investment LLP (苏州晨岭投资合伙企业(有限合伙)), (iv) ICP license, (v) Daimler contract (referring to the contract on AI voice products signed by Hubei ECARX and Daimler Company (as a customer) on 5 March 2020, and (vi) the working capital of Hubei ECARX of approximately RMB20.00 million (collectively referred to as "retained business and assets").

 

1.2Pursuant to the above amendment to the definition of Retained Investment, the Item 6 of “Transfer Methods” in Annex II of the Restructuring Framework Agreement shall delete “Suzhou Chenling Investment LLP (苏州晨岭投资合伙企业(有限合伙))”. The Item 6 of “Transfer Methods” in the revised Annex II is as follows (the “AMENDMENT SCHEDULE”):

 

“Hubei ECARX will temporarily transfer all the equity interests it holds in JICA Intelligent Robot Co., Ltd. (吉咖智能机器人有限公司), Hubei Dongjun Automotive Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. (湖北东峻汽车电子科技有限公司), and Suzhou Photon-Matrix Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd. (苏州光之矩光电科技有限公司) to non-related third parties, and then such third parties shall transfer them to Party A (or other group companies designated by Party A) as soon as possible.”

 

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2OTHER ARTICLES

 

2.1Article 5 (Confidentiality Clause) and Article 8 (Applicable Laws and Dispute Resolution) of the Restructuring Framework Agreement shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to this Supplementary Agreement as if they were outlined in their entirety in this Supplementary Agreement.

 

2.2The parties hereby understand and agree that: (a) this Supplementary Agreement constitutes a supplement and amendment to the Restructuring Framework Agreement but does not affect the validity of the Restructuring Framework Agreement and shall be construed and applied together with the Restructuring Framework Agreement; (b) After being signed, the AMENDMENT ARTICLE in this Supplementary Agreement shall completely replace the original Article 1.1 of the Restructuring Framework Agreement, and the AMENDMENT SCHEDULE stated in this Supplementary Agreement shall completely replace the content of “Transfer Methods” in Annex II, Item 6 of the Restructuring Framework Agreement, as an integrated part of the Restructuring Framework Agreement and is deemed effective from the date on which the Restructuring Framework Agreement takes effect.

 

3COPY

 

3.1Both parties agree to complete the formal signing of this Supplementary Agreement by exchanging electronic scanned copies of the signature page. This Supplementary Agreement is duplicated into TWO copies; each party holds ONE copy with the same legal effect.

 

(No text below; Signature page follows)

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have signed the Supplementary Agreement of the Restructuring Framework Agreement by their authorized representatives on the date mentioned at the beginning hereof and to take effect immediately.

 

Party A: ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co., Ltd.

 

Signature:/s/ Shen Ziyu  

Name:Shen Ziyu
Position:Legal representative

 

Party B:Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd.  

 

Signature:/s/ Shen Ziyu  

Name:Shen Ziyu
Position:Legal representative

 

Signature page

 

 

 

 

Annex I

 

0513 Board Resolution

 

Annex

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.19

 

MASTER COMMERCIALIZATION AGREEMENT

 

This Master Commercialization Agreement is between ECARX (Hubei) Technology Co., Ltd., Registry. No. 91420100MA4KRD7T7G, a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of China (“Purchaser”), and Volvo Car Services 10 AB, reg. no. 559307-9485, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Sweden (“Supplier”).

 

BACKGROUND

 

A.Supplier is a company established and controlled by Volvo Car Corporation for the purpose of developing a common operating system for infotainment, linked to the Android open-source platform. This Agreement provides a contractual framework under which Purchaser may purchase software licenses and thereto related services from Supplier.

 

1.DEFINITIONS

 

The following words and phrases will have the meanings set forth below where used in this Agreement with initial capital letters and any other agreements attached and incorporated by reference. All capitalized terms in singular in the list of definitions shall have the same meaning in plural and vice versa.

 

Front page definitions. The terms Purchaser and Supplier shall have the meaning as set out on the first page of this Agreement.

 

Agreement means this agreement including all Appendixes.

 

Affiliate means (i) in relation to Purchaser, ECARX Holdings Inc. and any corporation, partnership, joint venture or other entity which ECARX Holdings Inc. controls, and (ii) in relation to Supplier, Supplier and any corporation, partnership, joint venture or other entity which Supplier controls; and control means the possession, directly or indirectly, of more than fifty (50) per cent of the voting rights or other equity interests of any other person; or the power to appoint or remove a majority of the members of the board of directors or other governing body of any other person, or the power to cause the direction of management of any other person; or otherwise the actual control of any other person through the ownership, by contract, trustee or otherwise.

 

Background IP means any IP Rights of either Party relating to the inventions, trade secrets, copyrights, know-how, designs, information, data, processes, methods, techniques, drawings, component board models, layouts, schematics, diagrams, functional blocks, cells, design rules, simulation models, software, test protocols, methods and patterns and other technology either existing prior to the Effective Date or developed outside of this Agreement.

 

Common OS means the common operating system for commercial infotainment solutions, linked to the Android open-source platform.

 

Common OS Feature Toggle means to toggle off a complete Common OS component, which is replaced by a corresponding OEM component and used with the Software.

 

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Confidential Information means any non-public information of a disclosing party including, but not limited to, the existence, content and subject matter of this Agreement, products, components, Source Code provided by or on behalf of Supplier, technical data, specifications, designs, drawings, algorithms, formulas, methodologies, rules and procedures, know-how, suppliers, financial information, contracts, product plans, business plans, business methods, business data, customers, market information, and marketing or competitive analysis.

 

Copyleft License means the Mozilla Public License v2.0, GNU General Public License v2.0 or v3.0, or any license that requires, as a condition of use, modification, and/or distribution of materials licensed under such a license to be: (a) licensed under its original license; (b) disclosed or distributed in Source Code form; or (c) distributed at no charge.

 

Core Code means any Source Code or object code or other code comparable therewith of the Common OS that the Supplier, in its sole discretion, has defined and classified as components of the Common OS.

 

Customer means an OEM manufacturer of automotive road vehicle to which Purchaser resells licenses to the Software.

 

Customizations means any modifications made to or in relation to the Software, Common OS or Core Code by or on behalf of the Purchaser, with or without using a software development kit provided by Supplier, in order to be able to meet specific requirements of a Customer, Vehicle, or for any other reason.

 

Documentation means all of Supplier’s user, technical, support and system administrator documentation, marketing materials, and installation, training, upgrade and service manuals related to the Software.

 

Effective Date means the date on which this Agreement is signed by the last Party to sign it (as indicated by the date associated with that Party’s signature).

 

Force Majeure Event shall have the meaning set forth in section 16.1.

 

Included Third-Party Software shall have the meaning set forth in section 13.1.

 

IP Rights means any patent, patented articles, patent applications, designs, industrial designs, copyrights, software, source code, algorithms, database rights, moral rights, inventions whether or not capable of protection by patent or registration, techniques, technical data, trade secrets, know-how, and any other proprietary right, whether registered or unregistered, including applications and registrations thereof, all related and continuing rights, and all similar or equivalent forms of protection anywhere in the world.

 

License Fee means the fees payable for the Software ordered under this Agreement, which will be based on the standard pricelist determined by the Supplier updated on an annual basis to be in compliance with applicable tax legislation, including but not limited to the principle of “arm’s length distance”.

 

Linked Third-Party Software shall have the meaning set forth in section 13.2.

 

Order means a purchase order, statement of work, order form or other document (whether electronic or printed) for the delivery of Software and/or Services issued by Purchaser and accepted by Supplier that sets forth the agreed details and specifications for the delivery of the ordered Software and/or Services. Such Order shall be deemed executed under this Agreement, irrespective of whether or not the Order includes a reference to this Agreement.

 

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Parties means Purchaser and Supplier and Party means either Purchaser or Supplier.

 

Purchase Targets means the Purchaser’s purchase targets set out in Appendix B.

 

Reserved Customers means customers designing, producing, or manufacturing Volvo Cars or Polestar branded vehicles, or other vehicles developed by or for Volvo Cars.

 

Software means the Common OS with adaptations made for a specific automotive road vehicle platform (including any Upgrades thereof) that: i) has been approved for commercialization by duly authorised persons/functions within Supplier and, thereafter; ii) has been ordered by Purchaser under an Order.

 

Services means the services to be provided by Supplier under this Agreement.

 

SHA means the shareholders agreement between Volvo Car Corporation and ECARX Technology Limited regarding the Supplier, entered into on or around the same date as the Effective Date.

 

Source Code means the human readable software code and related technology, including, without limitation, any related materials (such as programmer’s notes).

 

Support and Maintenance Services means the services and Upgrades listed in Appendix A and any other additional Upgrades or services that Supplier may decide to provide from time to time. When deciding what additional Upgrades and services will be provided as part of the Support and Maintenance Services, Supplier will consider input received from Purchaser and Supplier’s other customers and will strive to include requests if Supplier deems it beneficial for the complete business.

 

Upgrades means any updates, upgrades, fixes, patches, revisions, functional additions, modifications, enhancements, new versions and releases of the Software.

 

Vehicle means a finished automotive road vehicle produced by or on behalf of a Customer.

 

2.Contractual documents

 

2.1This Agreement consists of the following documents:

 

(a)This Master Commercialization Agreement signed by the Parties;

 

(b)Specification for Support and Maintenance Services; Appendix A;

 

(c)Purchase Targets; Appendix B; and

 

(d)Orders executed by the Parties.

 

2.2In the event of any inconsistencies between the terms of the documents listed above, the documents shall take precedence in the order set forth above.

 

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3.SOFTWARE ORDERS

 

3.1This Agreement does not in itself constitute a binding undertaking from Purchaser to purchase any Software or Supplier to sell any Software. Software is purchased through Order(s) issued by Purchaser and accepted by Supplier. Thus, in order to initiate the development or purchase an existing version of the Common OS for a specific automotive road vehicle platform an Order needs to be executed by the Parties.

 

3.2In addition to the agreed details and specifications for the delivery of the ordered Software and/or Services, a Software Order must contain the following:

 

(a)A compensation mechanism for unique development costs (see Section 9.3.1);

 

(b)A list of Linked Third-Party Software and Included Third-Party Software, if any (see Section 13.1 and 13.2); and

 

(c)A list of functionality in relation to which certification support shall be provided (see last bullet point in Appendix A)

 

4.Grant of licenses

 

4.1Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement in combination with a duly signed Order, Supplier hereby grants to Purchaser, during the term of this Agreement, a worldwide, non-exclusive, non-transferable, irrevocable (except as expressly provided herein), royalty-bearing right and license under all Supplier IP Rights applicable to the Software owned or licensable by Supplier:

 

(a)To promote, distribute, offer to license, import, market, combine with or into the Vehicles and distribute licenses to the Software, either standalone or as bundled in an infotainment solution, and to sub-licence the Software for the use of the Customer;

 

(b)To create Customizations using the software development kit portion of the Software, and any Source Code made available to Purchaser by Supplier in its sole discretion.

 

(c)To use the Software free of charge in order to: (i) internally test, evaluate and perform validation and verification; (ii) perform integration and development efforts; (iii) provide demonstrations to prospective Customers; (iv) train Purchaser personnel and authorized representatives on the use of Software; and (v) provide support to Customers;

 

(d)To make copies of, and derivative works from (including rebranding), all Documentation for the sole purpose of marketing to, and the training of, Customers; and

 

(e)To sublicense the rights set forth in this Section to Purchaser Affiliates.

 

5.CUSTOMIZATIONS AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

 

5.1Any Customizations made by or on behalf of Purchaser, must follow all rules and directions set by Supplier. In the event Purchaser can demonstrate that any rules and directions set by Supplier are objectively unreasonable, the Parties undertake to conduct good faith discussions to aim to resolve the issue.

 

5.2Ownership rights to Customizations will be offered by Purchaser to Supplier, without unreasonable delay after creation, for Supplier to acquire ownership rights (including IP Rights) and thereby will form part of the Core Code, thereto on commercial terms that are in compliance with applicable tax legislation, including but not limited to the principle of “arm’s length distance”. If Supplier accepts to acquire such ownership rights (including IP Rights), Purchaser will, subject to due commercial payment by Supplier, perform all acts that Supplier may reasonably request to assist Supplier in obtaining the full rights and title to said ownership rights (including IP Rights).

 

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5.3Any Customizations classified by Supplier as Core Code, cannot be used in commercial deliveries or otherwise commercialized unless included in official releases approved by Supplier in writing.

 

5.4Customizations that do not form part of Core Code or Common OS will be owned by the relevant developing Party. If the Parties jointly created such non-Core Code or non-Common OS Customizations, then the Parties will jointly own equal shares in such jointly developed Customizations. The Supplier will not have any liability towards the Purchaser or any third parties, including any Customers, for any Customizations that do not form part of Core Code and Common OS.

 

5.5Notwithstanding Section 4, Purchaser shall not cause any component of the Software or Supplier IP Rights to be subject to the terms or conditions of a Copyleft License.

 

5.6Title to all Background IP and Confidential Information provided from one Party to the other hereunder, and all associated IP Rights thereto, is retained by the owner and its applicable licensors (if any).

 

5.7No rights or licenses are granted or implied to any Party by this Agreement under any IP Rights other than as expressly set forth herein. No provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted to limit or otherwise restrict a Party’s right to use its own Background IP.

 

6.PERFORMANCE OF Services

 

6.1Services shall be performed in a professional and workmanlike manner and in compliance with any other requirements set forth in this Agreement. Supplier’s way of working with its customers (including agile methodology) will be discussed and consulted with Purchaser, provided that if Purchaser objects to such way of working in a timely manner, Supplier’s board of directors will ultimately decide which way of working shall be applied..

 

6.2The Parties shall set up an appropriate discussion forum to facilitate the co-operation relating to the Services and Software, where requests for changes and other strategic, tactical and operational issues can be discussed and evaluated.

 

6.3Support and Maintenance Services are included in the License Fees for each Software until the end of serial production of all Vehicles in which the relevant Software is installed plus two years thereafter or until two major official Android version updates (i.e. an update from e.g. version 1 to 2 or version P to Q) have been provided by Supplier, whichever comes first. After this period of time, Purchaser may request to continue to purchase Support and Maintenance Services for the relevant Software through an Order (such Order subject to acceptance by Supplier). The applicable fees for such extended Support and Maintenance Services will be based on the standard pricelist set by Supplier. A prerequisite for receiving Support and Maintenance Services, is that the Purchaser secures sufficient rights and licenses from Linked Third-Party Software suppliers in accordance with Section 13.2 (this can e.g. include relevant SOC (system on chip) suppliers).

 

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6.4Support and Maintenance Services are only provided by Supplier in relation to Purchaser itself and not to any of Purchaser’s customers. Support and Maintenance Services are not provided in relation to Customizations that do not form part of the Core Code or Common OS (including Common OS Feature Toggles), Purchaser is solely liable for such Customizations and to, inter alia, ensure that they are compatible with the Software.

 

6.5In order to receive Support and Maintenance Services from Supplier, Purchaser must ensure that Upgrades provided by Supplier are either installed in or made available for download in all Vehicles/hardware in which the Software is installed. Purchaser acknowledges that Upgrades provided by Supplier may lead to increased hardware performance requirements for the Software; the fulfillment of all such hardware performance requirements being the responsibility of Purchaser. Upon Purchaser’s request, Supplier will provide a recommendation on hardware performance (e.g. GPU, CPU and memory requirements).

 

7.Delays

 

7.1The Parties agree that all deliveries hereunder will be performed in accordance with any agreed time schedule as set forth in the relevant Order, or as otherwise agreed by the Parties in writing. If Supplier becomes aware of any delays or risk of any delays in its deliveries hereunder, Supplier must notify Purchaser thereof immediately in writing and also indicate the reasons and anticipated duration for such actual or risked delay. Furthermore, Supplier shall create and maintain a recovery plan.

 

7.2A delay occurs when the Software is completed later, or a delivery occurs later than the date, on which it should have been completed according to the agreed time schedule as set forth in the relevant Order or as otherwise agreed upon by the Parties in writing, provided that and to the extent such delay is not caused by Purchaser or any other party for which Purchaser is responsible.

 

7.3Subject to Section 11 below, Supplier shall be liable for all losses or damages incurred by Purchaser and its Affiliates resulting from Supplier’s delay.

 

8.reseller rights

 

8.1Appointment. Supplier hereby appoints Purchaser as a global reseller of licenses to the Software, either standalone or as bundled in an infotainment solution, and grants Purchaser the right to, in turn, appoint any of its Affiliates as resellers to market and sell licenses to the Software, as described above, to Customers. Any such Affiliates granted the right to resell the Software shall enter into a written agreement with Purchaser that is at least as protective of Supplier’s rights as this Agreement. Purchaser will be responsible for all acts and omissions by the resellers it appoints as if they were the acts or omissions of the Purchaser.

 

8.2Exclusive Reseller. The appointment of Purchaser as global reseller of licenses to the Software pursuant to Section 8.1 above shall be on an exclusive basis during the period of (i) five (5) years from the date of this Agreement, or (ii) until any one of the conditions set out in Section 8.6 no longer is fulfilled (whichever period is shorter) (the “Exclusivity Period”). Supplier agrees during the Exclusivity Period not to appoint other resellers for the Software. However, Supplier reserves the right to directly sell Software to Reserved Customers.

 

8.3Reserved Customers. During the Exclusivity Period, Purchaser will not make active sales of the Software to Reserved Customers unless expressly agreed otherwise by Supplier.

 

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8.4Exclusive Purchase. During the Exclusivity Period, Purchaser will purchase Software, or any products which compete with the Software, only from Supplier, and will not resell or produce or promote any products which compete with the Software. This undertaking shall become effective when the Software has been fully commercialized and ready for delivery, provided also that Purchaser may need to honour certain purchasing commitments entered into prior thereto, if any, but will use its commercial best efforts to re-direct such purchasing requirements to Supplier without undue delay.

 

8.5Purchase Targets. Purchaser will use its commercial best efforts to meet the Purchase Targets for the Software. Failure to meet the Purchase Targets will not constitute a material breach of this Agreement, provided that Purchaser has made good faith commercial best efforts to meet the Purchase Targets.

 

8.6Conditions for Exclusivity. Supplier may, at its sole discretion, re-appoint Purchaser as a non-exclusive reseller of licenses to the Software (and thus remove the exclusive reseller right provided under Section 8.2) prior to the expiration of the Exclusivity Period, if:

 

(a)Purchaser does not perform in accordance with any of the Purchase Targets (insofar such non-performance is not a result of Supplier’s refusal to accept Orders placed in accordance with this Agreement);

 

(b)the SHA is terminated; or

 

(c)Purchaser breaches Section 8.3 or Section 8.4.

 

9.FEES AND PAYMENT

 

9.1General

 

9.1.1The License Fees and other fees to be paid under this Agreement are exclusive of Taxes (as defined below). With the exception of any net income taxes on Supplier, Purchaser shall be responsible, and pay for any taxes, charges, levies, duties, or other fees, including value added taxes, withholding taxes and other similar taxes and charges (collectively, "Taxes"), if any, which may be asserted against Supplier or Purchaser by any governmental entity with respect to or arising out of the Services and Software provided to Purchaser or Purchaser’s use thereof. If any Taxes are so asserted, Purchaser agrees to pay Supplier that amount (the “Compensatory Amount”), if any, which ensures that Supplier receives the same amount, as if none of the abovementioned Taxes had been deducted, withheld or paid for. The Compensatory Amount will be added to the agreed fees and invoiced together therewith.

 

9.1.2Correctly addressed invoices shall be paid within 45 days from receipt thereof. Payment made later than the due date will automatically be subject to interest for late payments for each day it is not paid and the interest shall be based on the one month applicable STIBOR rate, with an addition of two per cent (2.0%) per annum.

 

9.2Invoicing procedure for Service fees

 

9.2.1Unless otherwise agreed in writing, Services performed on a time and material basis shall be invoiced monthly in arrears and fixed-fee Services shall be invoiced upon completion/delivery of the Services. Each invoice shall include information specifying the Services provided and the relevant purchase order number (if applicable).

 

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9.3Invoicing procedure for License Fees

 

9.3.1In consideration for the provision of the Software and the licenses and rights granted to Purchaser under this Agreement, Purchaser will pay the License Fees to Supplier. The License Fees will become payable upon completion of the production of each Vehicle in which the Software is installed or, if the Software is installed in hardware sold by Purchaser, upon the sale of each such hardware in which the Software is installed. Unless otherwise agreed in an Order, Supplier is not entitled to any payment for the development or provision of the Software other than the License Fee. However, if the License Fees and other agreed potential compensation paid by Purchaser does not cover the unique development costs for adaptations of the Commons OS made for the relevant automotive road vehicle platform, Supplier shall be entitled to be compensated for such unique development costs. The details for such compensation will be decided in conjunction with each Order. The License Fees are non-refundable and irrevocable.

 

9.3.2Within thirty (30) days after the end of each calendar month following the start of production of the Vehicles in which the Software will be installed, Purchaser shall electronically submit a written report to Supplier, which report shall be e-mailed to such e-mail address as specified by Supplier to Purchaser in writing. Each report shall specify the number of finished Vehicles and/or sold hardware (as applicable) in which the Software has been installed, in a manner appropriate for the price model agreed under this Agreement, during the relevant calendar month and contain a resulting calculation of License Fees payable to Supplier. Said report shall be submitted by Purchaser to Supplier even if License Fees payable are zero.

 

9.3.3Supplier shall after receipt of Purchaser's report (each report respectively) issue an invoice for the License Fees due based on said report. Supplier shall electronically submit such invoice to Purchaser by e-mail to such e-mail address as specified by Purchaser to Supplier in writing.

 

9.3.4Purchaser and its Affiliates (where relevant) shall keep, in all material aspects, true, complete, accurate and consistent records containing regular entries relating to the production of each Vehicle and/or sale of hardware (as applicable) in which the Software is installed and for which License Fees are reportable and payable hereunder and other information necessary for Supplier to validate that License Fees haven been reported accurately.

 

9.3.5The records referred to in Section 9.3.4 shall, for a period of seven (7) years following the year, to which they pertain, be ready for inspection and examination during normal business hours, at least once annually, to duly authorized accountants appointed by Supplier. Any such accountants shall, subject to entering into a confidentiality undertaking acceptable to both Parties, be entitled to make copies and extracts of such records. Fees and expenses incurred in connection with inspections shall be borne by Supplier. If an inspection, however, discloses that License Fees reportable and payable exceed License Fees actually paid by three per cent (3 %) or more for any three-month reporting period, then, in addition to paying the difference, Purchaser shall reimburse the reasonable direct costs incurred by Supplier in connection with such inspection.

 

10.Term and termination

 

10.1This Agreement shall become effective on the Effective Date and remain in force unless terminated in accordance with this Section 10.

 

10.2If either Party is in material breach of this Agreement, then the other Party may, by giving written notice to the other Party, terminate this Agreement for cause, as of the date specified in the notice of termination, provided that the breaching party has failed to cure the breach, if curable, within 30 days after written notice thereof. If the breach is not curable, the other Party may terminate this Agreement without the grace period.

 

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10.3If a Party should be or become bankrupt or insolvent, the other Party shall have the right to, by giving written notice, terminate this Agreement with immediate effect.

 

10.4If a Party is prevented from performing its obligations due to a Force Majeure Event for more than six months, the other Party shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement with immediate effect. Neither Party shall have any liability to the other in respect of the termination of this Agreement as a result of a Force Majeure Event.

 

10.5If the SHA is no longer in force between Volvo Car Corporation and ECARX Technology Limited, either Party shall have the right (but not the obligation) to terminate this Agreement at any time by providing the other Party at least six months prior written notice thereof.

 

10.6Upon termination of this Agreement, Purchaser, its Affiliates and their respective licensees may, provided all (i) applicable License Fees are duly paid, and (ii) Committed Capital Injections, up to Purchaser’s Maximum Committed Financing Amount, subject to Committed Capital Call Notices (such terms as defined in the SHA) have been duly paid, continue to exercise the rights granted under this Agreement in relation to Vehicles in production or manufactured before the termination to the extent necessary to (i) install and sell the Software in such Vehicles, and (ii) service and repair Software installed in such Vehicles. Other than the aforementioned continued rights, all rights granted under this Agreement should be automatically revoked upon termination of this Agreement.

 

11.LIMITATION OF Liability

 

11.1Save as set forth in this Section 11, neither Party shall be liable for any indirect loss or damage. If either Party breaches its obligations under this Agreement, the other Party shall be entitled to claim damages for breach of contract subject to the limitation of liabilities set forth in this Section 11.

 

11.2The maximum aggregate liability of a Party under this Agreement shall be limited to the highest of (i) the aggregate amount of fees paid or payable under this Agreement during the 12 months prior to the event which is the cause of the first claim hereunder; or (ii) one million Euro.

 

11.3No limitation of liability to types of damages nor the maximum liability cap in this Section 11 shall apply with respect to: (i) claims arising under the provisions in Section 12 (Confidentiality and Source Code Protection); (ii) Purchaser´s breach of Section 4 (Grant of Licenses), Section 5 (Customizations and Intellectual Property) and Section 13 (Third Party Software); (iii) claims related to death or bodily injury; and (iv) any losses or damages caused by gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

 

11.4The Software is provided “as is” and Supplier makes no warranties or representations, express or implied, in fact or in law, concerning the Software, including, without limitation, any warranties of title, non-infringement, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, and including, without limitation, any warranties arising by statute or otherwise at law or from a course of dealing, usage or trade.

 

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12.Confidentiality and source code protection

 

12.1The Parties shall use all reasonable means to preserve the secrecy of Confidential Information and only use it for the purpose of performing its obligations or exercising its rights under this Agreement. Without the other Party’s prior written consent, neither Party shall disclose Confidential Information to a third party, except to the extent necessary for the purpose of performing its obligations or exercising its rights under this Agreement and provided that (i) the third party is bound by confidentiality obligations not less protective than those set out in this Agreement, and (ii) the Party disclosing the Confidential Information to a third party remain fully and completely liable to the other Party for any breach of the confidentiality obligations by such third parties. Notwithstanding the aforementioned, Purchaser may never disclose or provide access to Source Code of the Software to a third party (other than its Affiliates and in such case in compliance with this Section 12) unless Supplier has given its prior written consent thereto.

 

12.2Confidential Information shall not include information which (i) is or becomes public through no fault of the receiving Party; (ii) is lawfully obtained from someone other than the disclosing Party that is not under an obligation to the disclosing Party to keep that information confidential; (iii) was already in the possession of the receiving Party prior to the date of disclosure; or (iv) the receiving Party develops independently without use of the Confidential Information.

 

12.3The receiving Party may disclose the Confidential Information to comply with any applicable laws, rules or regulations if it notifies the disclosing Party (if so permitted) and takes reasonable and lawful actions to limit the extent of the disclosure.

 

12.4On the expiration or termination of this Agreement and if requested by the disclosing Party, the receiving Party shall either return or destroy all materials containing Confidential Information.

 

12.5Neither Party may make any public statement regarding this Agreement without the other Party’s written approval.

 

12.6This Section 12 and the confidentiality undertakings by the Parties shall remain in force during the term of this Agreement and for five years thereafter. This Agreement does not limit the duration of an obligation under applicable law to protect a trade secret.

 

13.THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE

 

13.1The Software may contain copyrighted software belonging to third parties (“Included Third-Party Software”). All third-party licensors and suppliers retain all right, title and interest in and to such Included Third-Party Software and all copies thereof, including all copyright and other IP Rights. Purchaser’s use of any Included Third-Party Software shall be subject to, and Purchaser shall comply with, the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and the applicable restrictions and other terms and conditions set forth in any Included Third-Party Software documentation or printed materials, including without limitation an end user license agreement. In the event of incompatible terms between an Included Third-Party Software license and this Agreement as it applies to the Included Third-Party Software, the Included Third-Party Software license will control. A list of Included Third-Party Software shall be provided by the Supplier prior to the delivery of such Included Third-Party Software (e.g. in the relevant Order).

 

13.2Furthermore, on the request of the Purchaser and in agreement with the Supplier, the Software may be integrated with certain copyrighted software belonging to third parties that is to be licensed and paid for directly by Purchaser (“Linked Third-Party Software”). Linked Third-Party Software does not constitute part of the Software and the Supplier shall not have any liability towards the Purchaser in relation to Linked Third-Party Software. Any agreed Linked Third-Party Software shall be listed in the Order. Purchaser is responsible for and must secure that Supplier has sufficient rights and appropriate licenses in relation to Linked Third-Party Software in order to make the required integration between the Software and the Linked Third-Party Software as well as to perform any agreed Services in relation thereto.

 

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14.Volume Forecasts

 

14.1The Parties further agree that any estimated or forecasted quantity, volume or value of purchases, whether contained in this Agreement or in any communication between the Parties, shall – unless otherwise explicitly stated in this Agreement – be deemed to be only an estimate or forecast devised for the convenience of the Parties and not a binding volume commitment.

 

15.Trademarks

 

15.1A Party may not use the other Party’s trademarks or logotypes (whether for advertisement, exhibitions or any other purpose) without the prior written consent of such Party and, if consent is given, strictly in accordance with the explicit instructions and requirements of such Party.

 

16.Force majeure

 

16.1Except for monetary obligations hereunder, each Party shall be relieved from liability for a failure to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement during such period and to the extent that the due performance is prevented by reason of circumstances beyond the control of such Party, including but not limited to natural disasters, war, government restrictions and embargoes, provided the non-performing Party is without fault and the default or delay could not have been prevented or avoided by reasonable precautions (“Force Majeure Event”).

 

16.2A Party wishing to invoke a Force Majeure Event shall give immediate notice to the other Party of the commencement and the cessation of such event. If such Party fails to give notice, the Party shall not be relieved from its obligations to perform due to such Force Majeure Event. Both Parties shall use reasonable endeavours to prevent and reduce the effect of any non-performance of this Agreement caused by a Force Majeure Event.

 

17.Environmental matters

 

17.1Purchaser strives to strategically implement a “circular economy”, which is why Supplier shall adopt a holistic view of the environmental impact that the Services and Software may have, taking into account the waste hierarchy and the complete life cycle of the Services and Software. Supplier shall take all reasonable steps to protect the environment in compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations and Purchaser’s reasonable instructions.

 

17.2Upon Purchaser’s request, Supplier shall provide Purchaser with a complete sustainability assessment note in substance and form reasonably acceptable to Purchaser.

 

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18.Data privacy

 

18.1The assumption is that neither the Supplier nor Purchaser will be acting as a processor of personal data (as defined in applicable laws and regulations) under this Agreement. However, should Supplier or Purchaser undertake duties where it becomes a processor, the Parties shall prior to that any such duties are performed enter into a data processing agreement in accordance with Volvo Car Corporation’s standard templates for data processing agreements that are in compliance with applicable laws or as otherwise agreed by the Parties.

 

19.[Intentionally left blank]

 

20.COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS, CODE OF CONDUCT

 

20.1Both Parties shall comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations when performing its obligations or exercising its rights under this Agreement, including procuring and maintaining any relevant licenses, permits and authorisations required to perform the obligations or exercising its rights under this Agreement. Furthermore, Purchaser shall comply with Volvo Cars’ Code of Conduct for Business Partners, available at https://group.volvocars.com/sustainability, or similar principles. Failure by Purchaser to comply with this Section 20.1 shall be deemed a material breach of this Agreement.

 

21.GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

21.1Notices. All notices and other communications under this Agreement will be in writing and in English and must be delivered by personal delivery, email transmission or prepaid overnight courier using an internationally recognized courier service at the following addresses (or at such other address as any Party may provide by notice in accordance with this Section 21.1):

 

If to Purchaser:

ECARX (Hubei) Technology Co., Ltd

Attention:

Email:

 

If to Supplier:

Volvo Car Services 10 AB

Assar Gabrielssons väg, 418 78, Göteborg

Sweden

 

All notices and shall be effective upon receipt, which shall be deemed to have occurred:

 

(a)at the time and on the date of personal delivery;

 

(b)if sent by e-mail, at the time and on the date indicated on a confirmation of receipt relating to such e-mail;

 

(c)at the time and on the date of delivery if delivered by courier as confirmed in the records of such courier service; or

 

(d)at such time and date as delivery by personal delivery or courier is refused by the addressee upon presentation,

  

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in each case provided that such receipt occurred on a business day at the location of receipt. A written notice sent by e-mail will be deemed to have been duly given, only if the recipient has confirmed receipt of such e-mail within three business days calculated from the time of sending such e-mail. An automatic e-mail reply shall not be construed as a confirmation hereunder.

 

21.2ISO. Supplier shall use reasonable efforts to obtain and retain a third party certification according to ISO 9001/2 and ISO 14001 standards within a reasonable period of time from the Effective Date.

 

21.3Subcontractors. Supplier may use subcontractors for performing its obligations under this Agreement. Supplier is always liable for the acts and/or omissions of its subcontractors and their compliance with Supplier’s obligations under this Agreement.

 

21.4Survival. The terms of this Agreement that expressly are to, or by implication ought to, survive, will survive this Agreement.

 

21.5No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement does not confer any benefits on any third party.

 

21.6No License. Except those licenses expressly granted under this Agreement, all information shall remain the property of its owner and all rights in such information are expressly reserved.

 

21.7Announcements. Neither Party may make any public statement regarding this Agreement without the other Party’s written approval.

 

21.8Entire agreement. This Agreement states all terms agreed between the Parties and supersedes all other agreements between the Parties relating to its subject matter.

 

21.9Amendment and Waiver. No amendment of this Agreement will be effective unless it is in writing and signed by both Parties. A waiver of any default is not a waiver of any later default and will not affect the validity of this Agreement.

 

21.10Relationship. The Parties are independent contractors. This Agreement does not create any agency, partnership or joint venture between the Parties.

 

21.11Assignment. Neither Party may assign any rights or delegate any obligations under these terms without the other Party’s written consent.

 

21.12Severability. Unenforceable terms of this Agreement will be modified to reflect the Parties' intention and only to the extent necessary to make them enforceable. The other terms will remain in effect without change.

 

21.13Counterparts. The parties may execute this Agreement in counterparts, including electronic copies, which taken together will constitute one instrument. This Agreement may be executed and delivered by email and upon such delivery the portable document format signature will be deemed to have the same effect as if the original signature had been delivered to the other Party.

 

13

 

 

22.GOVERNING LAW AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

  

22.1Swedish law, without regard to the conflict of law principles, governs all matters arising out of this Agreement.

 

22.2Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, or the breach, termination or invalidity thereof, shall be finally settled by arbitration administered by the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (the “SCC”). The Rules for Expedited Arbitrations shall apply, unless the SCC in its discretion determines, taking into account the complexity of the case, the amount in dispute and other circumstances, that the Arbitration Rules shall apply. In the latter case, the SCC shall also decide whether the Arbitral Tribunal shall be composed of one or three arbitrators. The seat of arbitration shall be Gothenburg, Sweden and the language to be used shall be English.

 

22.3All information disclosed, and all documents submitted or issued by or on behalf of any of the Parties or the arbitrators in any arbitral proceedings, as well as all decisions and awards made or declared in the course of any such proceedings, shall be kept strictly confidential and may not be used for any purpose other than these proceedings or the enforcement of any such decision or award nor be disclosed to any third party without the prior written consent of the Party to which the information relates.

 

 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

14

 

 

PLACE: Gothenburg, Sweden   PLACE: Gothenburg, Sweden
DATE: 14 September 2021   DATE: 14 September 2021
     
ECARX (Hubei) Technology Co., Ltd   Volvo Car Services 10 AB
     
/s/ Shen Ziyu   /s/ Henrik Green
Name: Shen Ziyu   Name: Henrik Green
Title: Legal Representative   Title: Board member
     
    /s/ Sanela Ibrovic
    Name: Sanela Ibrovic
    Title: Board member

 

[Signature page ECARX Master Commercialization Agreement]

 

15

 

 

Appendix A - Specification for Support and Maintenance Services

 

[***]

 

16

 

 

Appendix B – Purchase Targets

 

[***]

 

17

 

 

Exhibit 10.20

 

Transfer Agreement of Rights and Obligations

 

Transfer Agreement of Rights and Obligations

 

Agreement No. : [ ECARX-ZC108-20220613-001         ]

 

This Agreement is signed by the following three parties in Binjiang District, Hangzhou, China (the "Place of Signing") on March 1, 2022 (the "Effective Date") :

 

Party AEcarxHubeiTechnology Co.,Ltd

 

Registered address: Part B, Building 7, Qidixiexin High-tech Park, Innovation Valley, Southern Taizi Lake, Wuhan economic and technological development zone

 

Party B: HaleyTek AB

 

Registered address: THERES SVENSSONS GATA 7, 417 55 Gothenburg

 

Party C: ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co.,Ltd.

 

Registered address: No. B1336, Chuanggu Startup Area, Taizi Lake Cultural Digital Industrial Park, No. 18 Shenglong Road, Wuhan economic and technological development zone, Hubei ,PRC.

 

Party A, Party B and Party C hereinafter individually referred to as "Party" and collectively as "Three Parties" or "Parties".

 

Whereas, Party A and Party B have entered into the Agreements set forth in the Appendix (hereinafter referred to as "Original Agreements"). The rights and obligations of Party A within the term of the Original Agreements are generally transferred to Party C through friendly negotiation among the Parties. In order to facilitate the transfer of rights and obligations under the Agreement, the Parties reach the following agreement through friendly negotiation and hereby abide by it.

 

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Transfer Agreement of Rights and Obligations

 

1. As of the Effective Date, Party A’s rights and obligations agreed in the Original Agreements shall be generally transferred to Party C, and Party C agrees the transfer. Party A shall withdraw from the agreements with Party B and cease to be the subject of rights and obligations under the Original Agreements. After the transfer, party B and Party C, as the subjects of the Original Agreements, shall continue to perform the Original Agreements.

 

2.The transactions already occurred under the Original Agreements before the Effective Date shall still be settled by Party A and Party B.

 

3. This Agreement is supplementary to the Original Agreements. In case of any inconsistency with the Original Agreements, this Agreement shall prevail.

 

4. This Agreement is written in both Chinese language and English language. The English language and the Chinese language shall be of equal legal effect. In case there is any conflict between the Chinese language and the English language, the English language shall prevail. This Agreement has been entered into in six (3) original copies, of which each party shall receive two (1) original copies.

 

5. This Agreement shall come into force upon being sealed by the three Parties as of the effective date stated on the first page.

 

 2 / 4

 

 

Transfer Agreement of Rights and Obligations

 

Appendix: Original Agreements

No. Agreement No. Agreement Name
1   MASTER COMMERCIALLIZATION AGREEMENT
  ECARX-ZHHT-20211109-0038 Software order - GEEA2.0
     
     

 

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Transfer Agreement of Rights and Obligations

 

IN WITNESS THEREOF the Parties hereto have entered into this Agreement.

 

Party AEcarxHubeiTechnology Co.,Ltd

 

Signed by:/s/ EcarxHubeiTechnology Co., Ltd

 

Title:

 

Party B: HaleyTek AB

 

Signed by:/s/ Jan-Erik Larsson /s/ Tomas Brattberg

 

Title: CEO CFO

 

Party C: ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co., Ltd.

 

Signed by: /s/ ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co., Ltd.

 

Title:

 

 4 / 4

 

Exhibit 10.21

 

THE SYMBOL “[****]” DENOTES PLACES WHERE CERTAIN IDENTIFIED INFORMATION HAS BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THE EXHIBIT BECAUSE IT IS (1) NOT MATERIAL AND (2) THE TYPE THAT THE REGISTRANT TREATS AS PRIVATE OR CONFIDENTIAL.

 

Agreement No.: ECARX-TRZ-20220630-0134

 

Version in December 2021 

 

Working Capital Loan Contract

(Model Form)

 

No.: Xing Yin E Liu Dai Zi 2206 No. Z005

 

Lender: Wuhan Branch of Industrial Bank Co., Ltd.

Domicile: No. 108 Zhongbei Road, Shuiguohu Sub-district, Wuchang District, Wuhan City

Legal representative/Person in charge: Liu Bingwen

 

Borrower: ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co., Ltd.

Domicile: Bldg C4, Huazhong Zhongjiaocheng (China Communications City), No. 107 Taizihu North Road, Hanyang District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province

Legal representative/Person in charge: Shen Ziyu

 

The Contract is entered into in: Wuchang District/County, Wuhan City

 

Page 1 of 30 

 

 

Important Notes

 

In order to safeguard your interests, please carefully read, check and confirm the following matters before signing this Contract:

 

I.You and your company have the right to sign this Contract. If others’ approval is required according to laws, you and your company have obtained full authorization. If it involves the handling of others’ personal information, you and your company have obtained the others’ written approval on agreeing the Industrial Bank to handle their personal information;

 

II.You and your company have carefully read and fully understood the terms of the contract and paid special attention to the undertaking of relevant responsibilities, the waiver or relief of the responsibilities of the Industrial Bank, the handling of personal information and other contents with significant stakes in you and your company as well as the bold contents;

 

III.You and your company have fully understood the meanings of the terms of the contract and the corresponding legal consequences and are willing to accept the provisions of such terms;

 

IV.You and your company have paid special attention to the terms on the use of the credit funds for the uses provided in the contract and no misappropriation of the credit funds (including but not limited to the purchase or investment in real estate and other activities with the credit funds) by you and your company as well as the requirement on issuing the letter of undertaking on the use of the funds to the Industrial Bank. You and your company have fully acknowledged and understood the consequences that the Industrial Bank will recover the borrowing in advance, terminate the advancing of unissued borrowing/financing hereunder, terminate the payment of unpaid borrowing/financing hereunder, reduce or terminate credit granting and adopt other measures on the misappropriation of the credit funds and investigate the legal responsibilities of you and your company;

 

V.The signing of this Contract by you and relevant individuals means that you approve and authorize the Industrial Bank to handle your and relevant individuals’ personal information and safeguard them for the period prescribed by the Industrial Bank. You and relevant individuals have the right to know, decide, revoke the approval, restrict the handling of personal information or refuse the handling by third parties. The Industrial Bank has provided services on the knowledge and decision about the handling of personal information through diversified means (including but not limited to on-site notification). If you and relevant individuals propose to revoke, restrict or refuse the authorization on the Industrial Bank to handle personal information, it may be handled in accordance with the provisions herein or the management procedures of the Industrial Bank;

 

VI.The contract text provided by the Industrial Bank is only a sample text with blank lines after relevant terms of the contract. “Supplementary Clauses” are included in the end of the contract for modifications, additions or deletions of the contract by all parties; and

 

VII.If you and your company have other questions about this Contract or you and your company find any illegal or illicit charging items under the contract and businesses hereunder, please call the Industrial Bank or make complaints to or consult the business outlets of the Industrial Bank directly. Telephone: 95561             .

 

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Upon the application of the Borrower, the Lender agreed to grant a working capital loan to the Borrower after audit. In order to specify the rights and obligations of both parties and abide by credit, this Contract is entered into by both parties in accordance with relevant laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China after equal negotiations and shall be jointly abided by.

 

The Lender and the Borrower confirm that the borrowing hereunder falls into case (ii) as follows:

 

(i)This Contract is a sub-contract of the Contract on the Line of Credit of       /       entered into between the Lender and the Borrower on        /        (namely, the general contract) and the amount of the borrowing is included into the line of credit under the Contract on the Line of Credit. The amount of borrowings in foreign currencies is converted into RMB at the central parity published by the Lender on the execution date of this Contract and included into the line of credit.

 

(ii)This Contract is an independent legal text entered into between the Lender and the Borrower.

 

Clause I Definitions and Interpretations

 

Unless otherwise provided in written by both parties hereto, the following expressions in this Contract shall be defined and interpreted as follows:

 

I.“Working capital loan” refers to borrowing in domestic and foreign currencies applied by the Borrower to the Lender to be used in the routine production and operation turnover of the Borrower.

 

II.“Creditor’s right” or the principal creditor’s right refers to the creditor’s right arising from the financing provided to the Borrower in accordance with this Contract after the Borrower (the debtor) made an application to the Lender (the creditor) and the Lender approved after audit (including the principal, the interest, the penalty interest, the compound interest, liquidated damages, damage awards and fees on the realization of the creditor’s right by the creditor). The creditor’s right against the Borrower owned by the Lender hereunder shall be consistent with the debts of the Borrower to the Lender hereunder.

 

“Fees on the realization of the creditor’s right by the creditor” refer to the lawsuit (arbitration) fees, the lawyer’s fees, the travelling fees, the enforcement fees, the maintenance fees and other fees on the realization of the creditor’s right through lawsuit, arbitration, application for the issuance of the enforcement certificate by notary authorities and other means adopted by the Lender.

 

III.The terms used after Clause V hereof shall be defined and interpreted as follows:

 

“Fixed interest rate” refers to the interest rate remaining unchanged during the term of borrowing. For example, for borrowings advanced in installments, the interest rate shall remain unchanged from each actual advancing date of the borrowing to the maturity date of the borrowing under this Contract.

 

“Floating interest rate” refers to the interest rate floating based on the cycle and range as agreed by the Borrower and the Lender.

 

“Floating cycle” refers to the change frequency of the interest rate of the borrowing as agreed by the Borrower and the Lender. During a floating cycle, the interest rate of the borrowing shall be calculated and determined based on the pricing method as provided in the contract at the pricing benchmark interest rate and the interest rate of the borrowing shall remain unchanged during the floating cycle. Upon the expiry of a floating cycle and the beginning of the next floating cycle, the interest rate of the borrowing shall be calculated and determined based on the pricing method as provided in the contract at the pricing benchmark interest rate of the new floating cycle and the interest rate of the borrowing shall remain unchanged during the floating cycle.

 

“Pricing benchmark interest rate” refers to the standard interest rate used in determining the interest rate of the borrowing hereunder, including but not limited to the quoted interest rates published by China or relevant countries, regions and markets, such as LPR, SHIBOR, SOFR, term SOFR interest rate, €STR, SONIA, TSRR, TONA, SARON, HIBOR, SIBOR and the benchmark interest rate on RMB deposits announced by the central bank.

 

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“LPR” refers to the loan prime rate calculated and published by the National Interbank Funding Center upon the authorization of the People’s Bank of China. Based on the practice of the banking industry, both parties unanimously agreed that the pricing benchmark interest rate hereunder is determined as the LPR on Day T-1, among which, “T” means the corresponding day when the interest rate of the borrowing is determined and “T-1” means the working day before the corresponding day.

 

“SHIBOR” means the nk’’ | Shanghai nk’’ | the interbank lending nk’’ | the interest rate published by the National Interbank Funding Center and applicable on the corresponding day.

 

“SOFR” refers to the secured overnight financing rate for US dollars. Based on the practice of the banking industry, both parties unanimously agreed that the pricing benchmark interest rate hereunder is determined as the SOFR on Day T-5, among which, “T” means the corresponding day when the interest rate of the borrowing is determined and “T-5” means five working days before the corresponding day.

 

“Term SOFR interest rate” refers to the forward-looking secured financing interest rate for US dollars published by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Based on the practice of the banking industry, both parties unanimously agreed that the pricing benchmark interest rate hereunder is determined as the term SOFR interest rate on Day T-2, among which, “T” means the corresponding day when the interest rate of the borrowing is determined and “T-2” means two working days before the corresponding day.

 

“€STR” refers to the euro short-term rate for euros. Based on the practice of the banking industry, both parties unanimously agreed that the pricing benchmark interest rate hereunder is determined as the €STR on Day T-5, among which, “T” means the corresponding day when the interest rate of the borrowing is determined and “T-5” means five working days before the corresponding day.

 

“SONIA” refers to the Sterling Overnight Index Average for pounds. Based on the practice of the banking industry, both parties unanimously agreed that the pricing benchmark interest rate hereunder is determined as the SONIA on Day T-5, among which, “T” means the corresponding day when the interest rate of the borrowing is determined and “T-5” means five working days before the corresponding day.

 

“TSRR” refers to the term interest rate of the Sterling Overnight Index Average for pounds. Based on the practice of the banking industry, both parties unanimously agreed that the pricing benchmark interest rate hereunder is determined as the term TSRR interest rate on Day T-2, among which, “T” means the corresponding day when the interest rate of the borrowing is determined and “T-2” means two working days before the corresponding day.

 

“TONA” refers to the Tokyo Overnight Average Rate for Japanese yen. Based on the practice of the banking industry, both parties unanimously agreed that the pricing benchmark interest rate hereunder is determined as the TONA on Day T-5, among which, “T” means the corresponding day when the interest rate of the borrowing is determined and “T-5” means five working days before the corresponding day.

 

“SARON” refers to the Swiss Average Rate Overnight for Swiss franc. Based on the practice of the banking industry, both parties unanimously agreed that the pricing benchmark interest rate hereunder is determined as the SARON on Day T-5, among which, “T” means the corresponding day when the interest rate of the borrowing is determined and “T-5” means five working days before the corresponding day.

 

“HIBOR” refers to the Hong Kong Interbank Offered Rate for Hong Kong dollars. Based on the practice of the banking industry, both parties unanimously agreed that the pricing benchmark interest rate hereunder is determined as the HIBOR on Day T-2, among which, “T” means the corresponding day when the interest rate of the borrowing is determined and “T-2” means two working days before the corresponding day.

 

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“SIBOR” refers to the Singapore Interbank Offered Rate for Singapore dollars only. Based on the practice of the banking industry, both parties unanimously agreed that the pricing benchmark interest rate hereunder is determined as the SIBOR on Day T-2, among which, “T” means the corresponding day when the interest rate of the borrowing is determined and “T-2” means two working days before the corresponding day.

 

“Benchmark interest rate on RMB deposits announced by the central bank” refers to the applicable benchmark interest rate on RMB deposits announced by the People’s Bank of China on the corresponding day.

 

Among them, the currency and specific amount of the “LPR”, “SHIBOR”, “SOFR”, “term SOFR interest rate”, “€STR”, “SONIA”, “TSRR”, “TONA”, “SARON”, “HIBOR”, “SIBOR” and the “benchmark interest rate on RMB deposits announced by the central bank” determined based on the applicable pricing benchmark interest rate hereunder shall be subject to the inquiry results through the core system of the Industrial Bank. The date on which the interest rate of the borrowing is determined may be the date on which the loan is actually advanced, the contract is signed or the re-pricing date.

 

“Interest rate of the borrowing” refers to the enforcement interest rate hereunder based on the pricing benchmark interest rate determined on the date on which the interest rate of the borrowing is determined after adding or deducting floating points following the pricing formula for the interest rate of the borrowing hereunder through the negotiations between both parties.

 

IV.“Significant transactions” provided in Clause XIII hereof refers to (including but not limited to): any transactions certain or potentially to significantly affect the basic corporate structure, the changes of shareholders, contingent liabilities, cash flows, profitability, core business secrets, core competitiveness, significant assets, significant creditor’s right and debts, solvency and the capability to fulfill this Contract by the Borrower or other transactions deemed to constitute significant transactions by the Lender and/or the Borrower.

 

V.“Significant events” provided in Clause XIII hereof refers to (including but not limited to): any events certain or potentially to significantly affect the capability of the Borrower’s senior management to perform their duties, the employment and dismissal of core business staff, core business secrets, core competitiveness, the basic corporate structure, the changes of shareholders, contingent liabilities, the existence, the legality of businesses, the stability, development, profitability and solvency and the capability to fulfill this Contract by the Borrower and other events deemed to constitute significant events by the Lender and/or the Borrower.

 

VI.“Working day” herein refers to the working days except statutory holidays and weekends in China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan). “Business day” herein refers to the business day of the bank of the Lender. If a withdrawal or repayment day during the performance of the contract is not a business day, it shall be postponed to the next business day.

 

Clause II Amount of the Borrowing

 

The Lender agrees to lend a borrowing of (in words) RMB (currency) four hundred and eighty million only to the Borrower.

 

Clause III Use of the Borrowing

 

The borrowing hereunder shall be used in the routine production and operation turnover. The Borrower shall not misappropriate the borrowing for other uses without the written approval of the Lender.

 

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Clause IV Term of the Borrowing

 

I.The term of the borrowing shall be 12 months from June 29, 2022 to June 28, 2023.

 

II.In case of borrowings advanced in one slump, the advancing date shall be subject to the actual advancing date on the certificate or the receipt of the borrowing. If the actual advancing date is later than the advancing date of borrowing set out in the above sub-clause, the maturity date of the borrowing shall be postponed correspondingly.

 

III.The plans for the use of the borrowing in installments are as follows:

 

RMB       /       on       /      ; RMB       /       on       /      ;

 

RMB       /       on       /      ; RMB       /       on       /      ;

 

RMB       /       on       /      ; RMB       /       on       /      ;

 

RMB       /       on       /      ; RMB       /       on       /      ;

 

RMB       /       on       /      ; RMB       /       on       /      ;

 

The Borrower shall apply to the Lender to handle procedures for the withdrawal of the borrowing three working days before each withdrawal day or other time requested by the Lender in written.

 

If the Borrower fails to withdraw the borrowing based on the term and amount in installments as provided above, the Lender shall have the right to require the Borrowing to pay . % of amount of the borrowing to be withdrawn in the tranche as liquidated damages. If the Borrower is a micro and small enterprise under national systems and policies, such liquidated damages shall not be collected.

 

IV.The Lender shall advance the borrowing based on the provisions of Clause VII hereof when the conditions precedent for withdrawal as provided in Clause VI hereof are satisfied.

 

V.The Lender shall have the right to appropriately adjust the plan on the use of the borrowing in installments based on whether it has met the provisions of relevant laws, regulations and policies as well as the conditions precedent for withdrawal and the conditions for the payment of the borrowing as provided herein, the signing of the corresponding guarantee contract for this Contract, the time for handling guarantee procedures as well as other factors deemed necessary by the Lender.

 

VI.For the use of the borrowing in installments, each advancing date shall be subject to the actual advancing date set out in the certificate or the receipt of the borrowing. It adopts the same maturity date, namely that for the advancing of each installment of the borrowing, the maturity date determined in the certificate or the receipt of the first installment shall be the same maturity date.

 

VII.If the Lender recovers the borrowing in advance based on the circumstances as provided herein, it shall be deemed that the maturity date of the borrowing is ahead of schedule correspondingly.

 

Clause V Interest Rate of the Borrowing and Calculation and Collection of Interest

 

I.Interest rate of the borrowing (the annualized interest rate calculated under the simple interest method, similarly hereinafter)

 

(I)The pricing benchmark interest rate shall be subject to the provisions of item (i) as follows:

 

(i)one-year LPR.

(ii)      /       SHIBOR.

(iii)SOFR.

(iv)      /       term SOFR interest rate.

(v)€STR.

 

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(vi)SONIA.

(vii)      /       TSRR.

(viii)TONA.

(ix)SARON.

(x)      /       HIBOR.

(xi)      /       SIBOR.

(xii)      /       benchmark interest rate on RMB deposits announced by the central bank.

 

Among them, the RMB loans with fixed interest rate shall adopt the LPR as the pricing benchmark interest rate. The pricing benchmark interest rate shall be used within the range of currencies as restricted on the pricing benchmark interest rate in Clause I “Definitions and Interpretations”.

 

(II)The pricing formula of the interest rate of the borrowing: Interest rate of the borrowing = Pricing benchmark interest rate + 0.3% or - /%.

 

(III)The interest rate of the borrowing shall be subject to the provision of case (i) as follows:

 

(i)Fixed interest rate. The interest rate shall be determined in the manner set out in A as follows:

 

A.The interest rate of the borrowing is determined based on the pricing benchmark interest rate on the actual advancing date and the pricing formula. The interest rate shall remain unchanged from the actual advancing date of each installment to the maturity date of the borrowing hereunder.

 

B.The interest rate of the borrowing is fixed at an annualized interest rate of       /      % based on the pricing benchmark interest rate on the signing date of the contract and the pricing formula. In case of adjustments to the pricing benchmark interest rate on the actual advancing date, it shall correspondingly adjust the value to be added or deducted in the pricing formula. The abovementioned annualized interest rate as provided herein shall remain unchanged.

 

(ii)Floating interest rate. The interest rate of the borrowing is determined based on the pricing benchmark interest rate on the actual advancing date and the re-pricing date and the pricing formula and the interest shall be calculated in different stages. The re-pricing date shall be subject to the manner set out in       /       as follows:

 

A.The floating cycle is       /       (month / quarter / half year / year). The corresponding day upon the expiry of each cycle from the actual advancing date of the borrowing shall be the re-pricing date under the contract. If there is no corresponding day in the month, the last day of the month shall be the corresponding day.

 

B.For those with SOFR, €STR, SONIA, TONA and SARON as the pricing benchmark interest rate, each day for interest calculation within the interest period (namely each natural day during the term of the loan) shall be the re-pricing date under the contract.

 

(iii)Other manners for the calculation of the interest rate:       /      .

 

(IV)For the corresponding pricing benchmark interest rate of the borrowing under this Contract, the actual advancing date of each installment (or the re-pricing date, if any) shall be the date for determining the pricing benchmark interest rate. During the term of the borrowing and unless otherwise provided in the contract, the Borrower will not be notified of the adjustment to the interest rate of the borrowing in accordance with the provisions of the contract.

 

(V)For the borrowing advanced under this Contract and in case of the cancellation of the pricing benchmark interest rate hereunder in China or relevant countries/regions, or the market no longer publishes the pricing benchmark interest rate or upon the requirements of regulatory authorities, the Lender shall have the right to re-determine the interest rate of the borrowing and notify the Borrower in accordance with the interest rate policy of China or relevant countries/regions for the same period in the principle of fairness and honesty with reference to the practice of the industry, the interest rate and other factors. Where the Borrower has objections, it shall negotiate with the Lender. Where it fails to negotiate within five working days after the Lender issues the notice, the Lender shall have the right to recover the borrowing in advance and the Borrower shall immediately pay off the principal and interest of the remaining borrowing. Where the Lender requires or national and regulatory policies require the Borrower to enter into supplementary agreements on relevant maters, the Borrower shall cooperate.

 

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II.Repayment of the interest of the borrowing

 

(I)Calculation of the interest of the borrowing. The interest of the principal of borrowings in domestic and foreign currencies shall be calculated from the date on which they are transferred to account of the Borrower according to the provisions herein. Daily accrued interest of the borrowing = Balance of the borrowing of the day * Daily interest rate. The conversion of the daily interest rate and the annual interest rate shall be subject to the requirements of the People’s Bank of China and international practice.

 

(II)The repayment of the interest of the borrowing shall be subject to the provisions set out in item   (i)   as follows:

 

(i)It is agreed that the 21st day of the last month of each quarter (month / last month of each quarter / last month of each half year / last month of each year) shall be the interest payment day in this Contract. The Borrower shall pay the interest of the borrowing for the installment to the Lender on the interest payment day and pay off the principal and interest of the remaining borrowing when the borrowing becomes due.

 

(ii)The corresponding day upon the expiry of each       /       (month / quarter / half year / year) (if there is no corresponding day in the corresponding month, the last day of the month shall be the corresponding day) shall be the interest payment day of each installment. The Borrower shall pay the interest of the borrowing for the installment to the Lender on the interest payment day and pay off the principal and interest of the remaining borrowing when the borrowing becomes due.

 

(iii)The first interest payment day shall be       /       and the corresponding day upon the expiry of each       /       (month / quarter / half year / year) (if there is no corresponding day in the corresponding month, the last day of the month shall be the corresponding day) shall be the interest payment day of each installment. The Borrower shall pay the interest of the borrowing for the installment to the Lender on the interest payment day and pay off the principal and interest of the remaining borrowing when the borrowing becomes due.

 

(iv)Other repayment manners:       /      .

 

III.Penalty interest and compound interest

 

(I)If the Borrower fails to use the borrowing for the uses provided herein, the Lender shall have the right to calculate and collect penalty interest on the borrowing misappropriated and the rate of the penalty interest shall be the interest rate of the borrowing floating upwards by 100%. If the Borrower fails to make repayment as scheduled and fails to reach an agreement with the Lender on the renewal of the borrowing, the borrowing is overdue and the Lender shall have the right to calculate and collect penalty interest on overdue borrowings from the overdue date and the rate of the penalty interest shall be the interest rate of the borrowing floating upwards by 50%. For the interest not paid on time (including the interest before and after the borrowing becomes due, the penalty interest on misappropriation and the overdue penalty interest), the Lender shall have the right to calculate and collect the compound interest at the rate on overdue penalty interest as provided herein. Where one borrowing is overdue and was not used for the use as provided, the rate of the penalty interest shall be calculated at the higher rate.

 

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(II)Where the interest rate of the borrowing is fixed, the rate of the penalty interest shall also be fixed. Where the interest rate of the borrowing is floating, the rate of the penalty interest shall also be floating and the floating cycle shall be consistent with that of the interest rate of the borrowing.

 

(III)The calculation and collection of the penalty interest and the compound interest shall be subject to the repayment of the interest of the borrowing as provided herein.

 

Clause VI Conditions Precedent for Withdrawal

 

I.The Borrower may apply to the Lender for the advancing of the borrowing hereunder after meeting the following conditions precedent for withdrawal required by the Lender:

 

(I)The Borrower has delivered the following documents to the Lender and there are no changes in the circumstances set out in the documents and they are still effective or the Borrower has made interpretations and explanations to the satisfaction of the Lender on the changes:

 

1.The application for borrowing with its main contents including but not limited to: the name of the project with the borrowing, the amount, uses, the term, the repayment plan and the source of funds for repayment;

 

2.The legal and effective business license of the Borrower, the articles of association, the loan card and password/credit code, the list and signature sample of the legal representative and members of the board of directors and major persons in charge and the chief financial officer registered and filed with industrial and commercial administration authorities, the valid identification certificate of the legal representative or its authorized representative, the written document which the legal representative or its authorized representative and relevant natural persons approve the Lender to collect and handle their personal information and other corporate documents deemed necessary by the Lender;

 

3.Truthful, legal and effective resolutions of the board of directors or the general meeting convened in accordance with statutory procedures and approved through voting by the required number of directors or shareholders on approving the application to the Lender for the borrowing hereunder and accepting various conditions on the borrowing set out by the Lender or other documents deemed necessary by the Lender;

 

4.The annual reports for the recent three years (with the audit reports and notes) recognized by the Lender, the financial statements for the latest period and the same period of the previous year; and for borrowers established in recent three years, the statements since their establishment shall be submitted;

 

5.Information of affiliated enterprises;

 

6.Where it applies for temporary working capital loan, it shall provide the procurement contract, the order contract, the certificate of indebtedness and other relevant contracts, certificates or materials;

 

7.Where it proposes to adopt guarantees with mortgage/pledge, it shall provide the ownership certificate and the appraised value report of the collateral/pledge and has properly handled procedures on the registration of mortgage/pledge required to be handled in accordance with relevant laws and regulations and the original texts of relevant ownership certificates and registration certificate documents have been submitted to the Lender for safeguarding based on its requirements. Where it proposes to adopt guarantees from third parties, it shall provide relevant guarantee materials with reference to the requirements of items 2 to 4 and such guarantee contracts shall have come into effect. The above guarantees shall continue to be effective;

 

8.If the Lender requires to purchase insurance for the collateral/pledge, it shall have properly handled the insurance procedures with the Lender as the first beneficiary and the original text of the policy has been submitted to the Lender for safeguarding. The insurance shall continue to be effective. Where the Borrower provides mortgage/pledge, it shall transfer the claim right for the insurance benefit arising from the occurrence of insurance incidents to the Lender;

 

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9.Enterprises in special industries shall provide the license for production and operation in special industries or the corporate qualification grade certificate issued by competent authorities;

 

10.Where either party hereto requires handling notarization and other procedures, it shall have properly handled relevant notarization procedures;

 

11.The Borrower has opened an account with the Lender based on the requirements of the Lender and is willing to accept the monitoring on credit, payment and settlement by the Lender;

 

12.When the Borrower applies for loans for foreign exchange projects, it shall provide effective certificate on the use of foreign exchange loans and the approval of relevant authorities and it shall also meet relevant policies on foreign exchange administration;

 

13.The value-added tax, business tax and income tax returns to be provided as required by the Lender;

 

14.The Borrower has issued the letter of undertaking on the use of credit funds based on the requirements of the Lender;

 

15.The Borrower and relevant natural persons have issued the written documents approving the Lender to handle their personal information based on the requirements of the Lender; and

 

16.Other documents, statements, certificates and other materials to be provided as required by the Lender.

 

(II)The Borrower was established in accordance with laws. It conducts production and operation in accordance with laws and regulations with the operation capability on a going concern and legal source of funds for repayment;

 

(III)The uses of the borrowing are clear and in compliance with laws and regulations;

 

(IV)The statements and undertakings made by the Borrower in Clause XI hereof are continuously truthful and effective; and there are no default or potential default events on or before the date on which it applies for the advancing of the borrowing;

 

(V)The Borrower has properly filled in relevant receipt or certificate of the borrowing related to the advancing of the borrowing. The receipt or certificate of the borrowing shall be integral parts of this Contract and shall have equal legal effects with this Contract. In case of inconsistencies between the amount, term and interest rate of the borrowing hereunder and the records of the receipt or certificate of the borrowing, the latter shall prevail;

 

(VI)The Borrower shall have a good credit standing without significant adverse records. Where the Borrower is a newly-established corporation, its controlling shareholders shall have a good credit standing (the Borrower shall provide the written document which the natural person controlling shareholders approve the Lender to collect and handle their personal information) without significant adverse records; and

 

(VII)Other conditions precedent for withdrawal required by the Lender.

 

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II.The fulfilling of obligations hereunder by the Lender is conditional upon the conditions precedent for withdrawal as provided in this clause being satisfied. The Lender shall have the right to unilaterally decide to reduce or waive certain conditions precedent for withdrawal and the Borrower or the Guarantor shall not defend against the Lender for the reason of such conditions.

 

III.The Lender shall have the right to appropriately adjust the advancing of the borrowing based on whether the financing project meets the provisions of relevant laws, regulations and policies and the conditions precedent for withdrawal required by the Lender, the signing of the corresponding guarantee contract of this Contract, the time for handling guarantee procedures and other factors.

 

IV.The Borrower hereby agrees that: if any withdrawal by the Borrower fails to meet the conditions precedent for withdrawal or the conditions for the payment of the borrowing as provided herein after the signing of this Contract, the Lender shall have the right to terminate the advancing of the borrowing and the payment of the borrowing or rescind this Borrowing Contract and the responsibilities or losses arising therefrom shall be assumed by the Borrower on its own. The Lender shall notify the Borrower of the rescission of the contract and the period for the Borrower to raise objections is five working days from the date on which the notice of the rescission is delivered to the Borrower in the manner provided herein. If the Borrower raises no objections, this Contract shall be rescinded automatically upon the expiry of the period for raising objections. Where the Borrower raises objections but both parties fail to solve through negotiations within five working days after the expiry of the period for raising objections, the Lender shall have the right to recover the borrowing in advance based on the provisions of this Contract.

 

V.The Lender shall advance the borrowing based on the provisions of Clause VII hereof when the Borrower meets the conditions precedent for withdrawal as provided herein after the audit of the Lender.

 

Clause VII Account Monitoring and Payment of Borrowing

 

I.Account monitoring

 

According to relevant national laws and regulations and the requirements of regulatory systems, the Borrower undertakes that it has satisfied the conditions precedent for withdrawal provided herein before applying for the advancing of the borrowing and accepts the Lender’s monitoring on the use of the borrowing as provided. The Lender shall have the right to monitor the basic deposit account, the general deposit account and the special deposit account opened by the Borrower and conducts monitoring and control on the advancing, payment and repayment of the borrowing in the manner provided herein.

 

The Borrower designates the following account as the special account for the recovery of funds and provides flows of capitals in the account in a timely manner:

 

Account name: ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co., Ltd. Account No.: [****]

Opening bank: Wuhan Hanyang Sub-branch of Industrial Bank Co., Ltd.

 

The Lender may negotiate with the Borrower on entering into the account management agreement to explicitly specify the management on the flows of capitals recovered in the designated account based on the credit and financing conditions of the Borrower. The Lender shall have the right to recover the loan in advance based on the recovery of funds by the Borrower.

 

II.Payment of the borrowing

 

(I)The Lender shall have the right to adopt the entrusted payment by the Lender or the independent payment by the Borrower to conduct the management and control on the payment of the borrowing.

 

1.The “entrusted payment” by the Lender refers to that the Borrower authorizes the Lender to pay the borrowing to the counterparty of the Borrower meeting the uses as provided herein.

 

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Where it adopts the entrusted payment by the Lender, the Borrower shall provide relevant transaction materials meeting the uses as provided herein before the advancing of the borrowing and the borrowing shall be paid to the counterparty of the Borrower through the account of the Borrower in a timely manner after the audit and approval of the Lender.

 

Where it adopts the entrusted payment by the Lender and if the borrowing is returned as a result of the revoking, rescission or invalidity of basic transaction contracts or other reasons after the borrowing is paid to the counterparty of the Borrower, the Lender shall have the right to recover the loan in advance in accordance with the provisions of Clause XII hereof for such borrowing returned.

 

2.The “independent payment” by the Borrower refers to that the Borrower independently pays the borrowing to the counterparty of the Borrower meeting the uses as provided herein after the Lender advances the borrowing to the account of the Borrower.

 

Where it adopts the independent payment by the Borrower, the Borrower shall regularly report the payment of the borrowing to the Lender. The Lender shall have the right to check if the payment of the borrowing meets the uses provided through account analysis, the examination of certificates, on-site investigations and other manners.

 

(II)Entrusted payment

 

Where the payment of the borrowing is involved in one of the following circumstances, it shall adopt the entrusted payment by the Lender:

 

1.The Borrower and the Lender newly established the credit business relationship and the grade of the Borrower in the internal grading of the Lender is below B3 (inclusive). The “newly-established credit business relationship” refers to the credit business relationship initially established between the Lender and the Borrower or no credit business relationship within 2 years;

 

2.The working capital loan for swap;

 

3.The payment target is clear or the amount of an individual payment is over RMB10 million (inclusive) (for borrowings in foreign currencies, they are converted at the central parity published by the Lender on the payment day); and

 

4.Others:       /      .

 

(III)If the Borrower is involved in the following circumstance during the advancing and payment of the borrowing, it shall supplement conditions for the advancing and payment of the borrowing based on the requirements of the Lender. The Lender shall have the right to adopt more stringent conditions for the advancing and payment of the borrowing and shall have the right to terminate the advancing and payment of the borrowing and adopt the corresponding measures according to the provisions of Sub-clause II in Clause XIV hereof:

 

1.Deterioration in credit conditions;

 

2.Weak profitability of principal businesses;

 

3.Abnormal conditions in the use of the borrowing; and

 

4.Other circumstances deemed by the Lender.

 

Clause VIII Repayment of Principal and Interest of the Borrowing

 

I.The principal of the borrowing hereunder shall be repaid in the manner set out in (ii)  as follows:

 

(i)The repayment of the principal of the borrowing in installments with the amount and date for the repayment of the principal as follows:

 

RMB       /       to be paid on       /      ; RMB       /       to be paid on       /      ;

 

RMB       /       to be paid on       /      ; RMB       /       to be paid on       /      ;

 

RMB       /       to be paid on       /      ; RMB       /       to be paid on       /      ;

 

RMB       /       to be paid on       /      ; RMB       /       to be paid on       /      ;

 

                           /                          .

 

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If the Lender adjusts the plan on the use of the borrowing in installments, the repayment date and amount of the borrowing in installments provided in this clause shall remain unchanged and the Borrower shall repay the principal of the borrowing as scheduled.

 

(ii)The principal of the borrowing shall be repaid in full in one slump on the maturity day of the borrowing.

 

(iii)Other manners for the repayment of the principal of the borrowing:       /      .

 

II.The Borrower shall repay the principal and interest of the borrowing hereunder as scheduled with sufficient amount to the Lender on the repayment day and the interest payment day as provided herein.

 

III.If the repayment day is a non-business day of the Lender, the repayment shall be postponed to the next business day of the Lender and the non-business day of the Lender shall be calculated into the number of days for the actual occupation of the borrowing. When the Borrower repays the last installment of the principal of the borrowing, it shall pay off the interest with the principal not subject to the interest payment day as provided in Clause V hereof.

 

IV.Where the Borrower fails to repay the borrowing under the Borrowing Contract as scheduled and requires the renewal of the repayment, it shall submit a written application for the renewal of the borrowing to the Lender 10 working days before the maturity day of the loan. Both parties shall enter into the Contract on the Renewal of the Borrowing as a supplementary contract to this Contract upon the review and approval of the Lender.

 

V.Repayment in advance

 

The Borrower shall repay the principal and interest of the borrowing as scheduled under this Contract.

 

Where the Borrower requires the repayment of part or all of the principal and interest of the borrowing in advance, it shall notify the Lender 10 working days in written and obtain the written approval of the Lender. The Borrower shall negotiate with the Lender on the number of installments, the time and amount of repayment after the repayment of part of the principal and interest of the borrowing in advance with the written approval of the Lender. It shall calculate interest on the principal of the borrowing repaid in advance based on the actual term and the interest rate of the borrowing provided herein. The Lender shall make no adjustment to the interest of the borrowing calculated and collected before the repayment in advance.

 

Where the Borrower requires repayment in advance, the Lender shall have the right to require the Borrower to pay liquidated damages equivalent to       /      % of the amount of the repayment in advance. If the Borrower is a micro and small enterprise under national systems and policies, such liquidated damages shall not be collected.

 

VI.If the Borrower fails to perform the obligations hereunder, it hereby irrecoverably authorizes the Lender to deduct the amount to be collected, including but not limited to the principal and interest of the borrowing (including the principal, the interest, the penalty interest and the compound interest), liquidated damages, damage awards and fees on the realization of the creditor’s right by the Lender, from any account of the Borrower opened with the Lender and all branches and subsidiaries of the Industrial Bank without going through juridical procedures. The Borrower agrees that the Lender shall have the right to determine the order of specific deductions. In case of inconsistencies between the currency of the amount in the account and the currency of the borrowing, the Lender shall have the right to deduct the amount converted at the central parity published by the Lender on the corresponding day. If wealth management products or structured deposit products are involved in any account under this clause, the Borrower hereby irrecoverably authorizes the Lender to directly initiate the application for the redemption of relevant products or adopt other necessary measures on its behalf to ensure that the Lender can successfully deduct the above amount. The Borrower shall provide all necessary assistance.

 

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Clause IX Guarantees

 

I.The guarantee contracts for this Contract shall include but not be limited to the following contracts:

 

(I)The Guarantee Contract with Maximum Amount (contract name) of Xing Yin E Bao Zheng Zi 2206 No. Z002 with the guarantee method of guarantee and Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd. as the Guarantor;

 

(II)The             /             (contract name) of             /             with the guarantee method of             /             and             /             as the Guarantor;

 

(III)The             /             (contract name) of             /             with the guarantee method of             /             and             /             as the Guarantor;

 

(IV)The             /             (contract name) of            /             with the guarantee method of             /             and             /             as the Guarantor;

 

(V)The             /             (contract name) of             /             with the guarantee method of             /             and             /             as the Guarantor;

 

(VI)The             /             (contract name) of             /             with the guarantee method of             /             and             /             as the Guarantor;

 

II.In addition to the abovementioned guarantee contracts signed and in case of fluctuations of the foreign exchange rate or any incidents which may affect the capability of the Borrower or the Guarantor to perform the contract as deemed by the Lender, the Lender shall have the right to require the Borrower to supplement security funds or provide new guarantees and sign relevant guarantee contracts. The Borrower shall cooperate based on the requirements of the Lender.

 

III.The Lender shall have the right not to perform all obligations hereunder, including the advancing of the borrowing, before the completion of the signing of the guarantee contract and the handling of guarantee procedures under this Contract.

 

Clause X Rights and Obligations of Both Parties

 

I.Rights and obligations of the Lender

 

(I)Rights of the Lender:

 

1.To require the Borrower to provide true information, including personal information, etc.;

 

2.To require the Borrower to repay the principal and interest of the borrowing as scheduled;

 

3.To require the Borrower to provide all materials related to the borrowing;

 

4.To understand the production, operation and financial conditions of the Borrower;

 

5.To supervise the use of the borrowing as provided herein by the Borrower;

 

6.To supervise the use of the borrowing and raise requirements;

 

7.Where the Borrower bears several debts of the same type to the Lender, and the payment made by the Borrower is insufficient or may be insufficient to pay off all debts, the Lender shall determine the specific order of repayment or deduction upon repayment;

 

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8.To deduct the amount to be collected, including but not limited to the principal and interest of the borrowing (including the principal, the interest, the penalty interest and the compound interest), liquidated damages, damage awards and fees on the realization of the creditor’s right by the Lender, from any account of the Borrower opened with the Lender and all branches and subsidiaries of the Industrial Bank without going through juridical procedures. The Borrower agrees that the Lender shall have the right to determine the order of specific deductions. In case of inconsistencies between the currency of the amount in the account and the currency of the borrowing, the Lender shall have the right to deduct the amount converted at the central parity published by the Lender on the corresponding day. If wealth management products or structured deposit products are involved in any account under this clause, the Borrower hereby irrecoverably authorizes the Lender to directly initiate the application for the redemption of relevant products or adopt other necessary measures on its behalf to ensure that the Lender can successfully deduct the above amount;

 

9.The Lender shall have the right to transfer all or part of the creditor’s right and security interests hereunder to a third party at any time without obtaining the approval of the Borrower. Where the Lender transfers the borrowing and security interests hereunder, the Borrower shall still undertake all obligations hereunder;

 

10.Where the Borrower fails to repay the principal and interest of the borrowing as provided herein, or fails to implement the repayment of the principal and interest, or violates any of the obligations provided hereunder, the Lender shall have the right to report and disclose the Borrower’s breaching of contract to the People’s Bank of China and the credit reporting institutions and systems established or approved by it, or to China Banking Association, banking supervision institutions or other administrative / judicial / supervisory authorities and the information management system established or approved by them or news media, and take legal measures such as settlement, litigation, arbitration or application to notary authorities for the issuance of an enforcement certificate. Meanwhile, the Lender may or jointly with other banking financial institutions to reduce or terminate credit granting, terminate the opening of new settlement accounts, terminate the granting of new credit cards to the Borrower’s legal representative/the Borrower, and other joint disciplinary measures on dishonesty for the protection of rights;

 

11.To unilaterally decide to recover the borrowing in advance based on the recovery of funds by the Borrower;

 

12.In case of exchange rate fluctuations or other circumstances where the creditor deems that they may affect the security of its creditor’s right, the debtor is obliged to supplement the pledge guarantee such as security deposit as required by the creditor, or implement other risk mitigation measures approved by the creditor; and

 

13.To enjoy other rights provided by laws, regulations and rules or as provided herein.

 

(II)Obligations of the Lender:

 

1.To advance and pay the borrowing as provided herein;

 

2.To keep the debts, financial, production and operation conditions of the Borrower confidential except under the following circumstances:

 

(1)It is provided by laws and regulations;

 

(2)It is required or requested by regulatory authorities; or

 

(3)Disclosure to the Lender’s partners and other circumstances.

 

II.Rights and obligations of the Borrower

 

(I)The Borrower shall enjoy the following rights:

 

1.To withdraw and use all the borrowing as provided herein;

 

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2.To require the Lender to keep the information provided confidential in accordance with this Contract.

 

(II)Obligations of the Borrower

 

1.To truthfully provide the documents and materials required by the Lender, including all opening banks, account numbers, balance of deposits and loans and relevant personal information, and cooperate with the Lender in its investigations, examinations and inspections;

 

2.To accept the supervision or inspection by the Lender on its use of credit funds and related production, operation and financial activities, and take reasonable measures in response to the Lender’s suggestions or requirements in a timely manner;

 

3.To use the borrowing as agreed herein without misappropriation and ensure that the borrowing shall not be used for investment in fixed assets; not to use the borrowing in equity investment; not to use in state-prohibited production/operation areas; not to use in speculation or investment in stocks, marketable securities, futures, wealth management products and other financial products; not to use for purchase of property or in real estate business/investment; not to use in borrowing and lending activities between enterprises or between enterprises and individuals; not to use in seeking illegal income; not to arbitrage credit funds through illegal means or squeeze or misappropriate the borrowing through other means; not engage in other illegal activities or other fields in violation of national laws and policies with the borrowing; and not to use the borrowing in areas where banking credit funds are banned by regulatory authorities.

 

4.To accept the Lender’s monitoring on the Borrower’s account and the payment management of the borrowing in accordance with Clause VII hereof;

 

5.To repay the principal and interest of the borrowing with sufficient amount in a timely manner as agreed herein;

 

6.Without the written consent of the Lender, the Borrower shall not transfer all or part of the obligations hereunder to any third party;

 

7.Not to reduce the registered capital through any means; and not to extend the term for the subscription of the registered capital without the written consent of the Lender;

 

8.Prior to any major events such as merger, division, equity transfer, external investment or substantial increase in debt financing, the Borrower shall notify the Lender in written 30 working days in advance at least and obtain the written consent of the Lender. It shall actively implement guarantee measures to safeguard the repayment of the principal and interest of the borrowing hereunder with sufficient amount in a timely manner as required by the Lender. The above major events shall include but not be limited to:

 

(1)Application for borrowings or liabilities from banks or other third parties, or providing loans to third parties, or providing guarantees to the debts of third parties, and other substantial increases in debts, which affects or may affect the repayment of the principal and interest of the borrowing;

 

(2)Major changes in property rights and adjustment of operation methods (including but not limited to signing joint venture and cooperation contracts with foreign investors or investors from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan; revoking, closure, suspension of production and change of production lines; separation, consolidation, merger or being merged; reorganization, establishment or restructuring into a joint-stock company; external investment; purchase of shares or investment in joint stock companies or investment companies with fixed assets such as houses, machinery and equipment or intangible assets such as trademarks, patents, proprietary technologies and land use rights; and conducting transactions of property rights and operation rights through leasing, contracting, joint venture and trusteeship);

 

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(3)The changes of equity reach 10% (including but not limited to equity transfer, trusteeship, escrow, pledge, etc.).

 

9.The Borrower shall notify the Lender in written within 7 working days after the occurrence or possible occurrence of the following circumstances, and shall actively implement guarantee measures to safeguard the repayment of the principal and interest of the borrowing hereunder with sufficient amount in a timely manner as required by the Lender:

 

(1)The occurrence of major financial losses, asset losses or other financial crises;

 

(2)The suspension of business, the revocation or cancellation of business license, application or being applied for bankruptcy, dissolution, etc.;

 

(3)Its controlling shareholders and other affiliated companies are involved in significant operation or financial crisis, which affects their normal operation;

 

(4)Changes of the legal representative, directors or senior management of the Borrower, which affects its normal operation;

 

(5)The changes of equity reach 10% (including but not limited to equity transfer, trusteeship, escrow, pledge, etc.);

 

(6)Significant related transactions between the Borrower and its controlling shareholders or other affiliated companies, which affects its normal operation;

 

(7)Any litigation, arbitration or criminal or administrative punishment with significant adverse consequences on its operation or property conditions; and

 

(8)The occurrence of other major events that may affect its solvency.

 

10.At the request of the Lender (which has been served to the Borrower in advance in a reasonable manner, unless advance notice is not required due to an event of default or potential event of default or due to specific circumstances), the representatives of the Lender are permitted to carry out the following activities during normal office hours:

 

(1)To visit the place where the Borrower conducts operating activities;

 

(2)To inspect the premises, facilities, plants and equipment of the Borrower;

 

(3)To inquire the book records and all other records of the Borrower; and

 

(4)To inquire employees, agents, contractors and subcontractors of the Borrower who have or may have knowledge of the relevant information required by the Lender.

 

11.The Borrower shall guarantee to maintain its financial conditions, such as current assets and net asset, asset-liability ratio and asset current ratio within the following range as required by the Lender during the term of the borrowing:       /       .

 

12.The Borrower shall sign for acceptance of collection letters or collection documents delivered by the Lender to the Borrower through mails or other means and send the return receipt to the Lender.

 

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Clause XI Statements and Undertakings of the Borrower

 

The Borrower voluntarily makes the following statements and undertakings and assumes legal responsibility for the truthfulness of their contents:

 

I.The Borrower is a legal entity established and validly existed in accordance with the laws of the People’s Republic of China and has full capacity for civil conduct. The Borrower guarantees to provide relevant certificates, permits and certificates as well as other documents required by the Lender.

 

II.The Borrower has sufficient capacity to perform all of its obligations and responsibilities hereunder and shall not be relieved or exempted from its settlement obligations due to any order, changes in financial conditions or any agreements entered into with any entities.

 

III.The Borrower has full authorization and legal right to sign this Contract. The Borrower has obtained and completed all internal approvals and authorizations or other relevant procedures required for the execution and performance of this Contract and all necessary approvals, registration, authorizations, consents, permits or other relevant procedures from any governmental departments or other competent authorities for the execution and performance of this Contract, and all approvals, registration, consents, permits, authorizations and other relevant procedures required for the execution of this Contract shall remain fully legal and valid.

 

IV.The execution of this Contract by the Borrower is in full compliance with the relevant articles of associations, internal decisions and resolutions of the general meeting and the board of directors of the Borrower. The Borrower undertakes that such internal decisions and resolutions of the general meeting and the board of directors are in full compliance with national laws and regulations and the articles of association of the Company, and there is no invalidity, exclusion or revocability. This Contract shall not conflict with or be inconsistent with any articles of associations, internal decisions and resolutions of the general meeting and the board of directors or policies of the Borrower.

 

V.The execution and performance of this Contract is based on the expression of true intention of the Borrower. The financing with the borrowing shall comply with the requirements of laws and regulations, and the execution and performance of this Contract shall not violate any provisions of laws, regulations and rules or contracts with binding effects on the Borrower. This Contract is legal, valid and enforceable. Where this Contract is invalid due to the defect of the Borrower’s rights in the execution and performance of this Contract, the Borrower will immediately and unconditionally compensate the Lender for all losses.

 

VI.All documents, financial statements and other materials provided by the Borrower to the Lender hereunder are truthful, complete, accurate and valid, and the Borrower shall continuously maintain all financial indicators required by the Lender.

 

VII.The Borrower agrees that the borrowing business hereunder is subject to the rules and practices of the Lender. The Lender has the right to recover the borrowing in advance based on the Borrower’s recovery of funds.

 

VIII.Where the Borrower bears several debts of the same type to the Lender, and the payment made by the Borrower is insufficient or may be insufficient to pay off all debts, the Lender shall determine the specific order of repayment or deduction.

 

IX.If the Borrower fails to perform the obligations hereunder, it hereby authorizes the Lender to deduct the amount to be collected, including but not limited to the principal and interest of the borrowing (including the principal, the interest, the penalty interest and the compound interest), liquidated damages, damage awards and fees on the realization of the creditor’s right by the Lender, from any account of the Borrower opened with the Lender and all branches and subsidiaries of the Industrial Bank without going through juridical procedures. The Borrower agrees that the Lender shall have the right to determine the order of specific deductions. In case of inconsistencies between the currency of the amount in the account and the currency of the borrowing, the Lender shall have the right to deduct the amount converted at the central parity published by the Lender on the corresponding day. If wealth management products or structured deposit products are involved in any account under this clause, the Borrower hereby irrecoverably authorizes the Lender to directly initiate the application for the redemption of relevant products or adopt other necessary measures on its behalf to ensure that the Lender can successfully deduct the above amount. The Borrower shall provide all necessary assistance.

 

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X.Where the Borrower submits any documents on specific transactions to the Lender for review before or after the execution of this Contract, it shall guarantee the truthfulness of all documents. The Lender will determine the apparent truthfulness of the transaction documents only. The Lender neither participates in nor has knowledge of, nor assumes any responsibilities for, the substance of specific transactions conducted by the Borrower.

 

XI.The Borrower confirms that, except those disclosed in written to the Lender, the Borrower has not concealed any of the following events occurred or about to occur which may prevent the Lender from agreeing to advance the borrowing hereunder:

 

(I)Debts and contingent liabilities assumed by the Borrower, including but not limited to any mortgages, pledges, liens and other liabilities established on the assets or earnings of the Borrower that have not been disclosed to the Lender;

 

(II)Major disciplinary violations, violations of laws or claims involving the Borrower or the principal management personnel of the Borrower;

 

(III)The Borrower breaches the contracts on creditor’s rights and debts between the Borrower and any other creditors;

 

(IV)No litigation, arbitration or administrative punishment against the Borrower or its property has occurred or is pending or may occur to the knowledge of the Borrower, and no liquidation or closure or other similar procedures against the Borrower have occurred, whether voluntarily or proposed by a third party; and

 

(V)Other circumstances that may affect the financial conditions and solvency of the Borrower.

 

XII.The Borrower undertakes to use the borrowing for the uses provided herein and not to use it for any other purpose or purpose contrary to the uses provided herein. It shall accept and cooperate with the Lender at any time in the payment management of the borrowing, post-loan management and relevant inspection; cooperate with the Lender in the supervision, inspection and inventory of the Borrower’s use of the borrowing and the Borrower’s production and operation, financial activities, material inventory, assets and liabilities, bank deposits, cash inventory, etc., or other requirements deemed necessary or appropriate by the Lender.

 

XIII.The Borrower shall provide sufficient, effective or other appropriate and acceptable guarantee deemed by the Lender. Where the guarantee hereunder involves real estate mortgage, the Borrower shall fulfill the obligation of notifying the Lender in a timely manner when it knows that the mortgaged real estate will be demolished. Where the mortgaged real estate is demolished, the Lender shall have the right to ask the Borrower to pay off the debt in advance, or to set up a new mortgage and sign a new mortgage agreement in case of compensation with the transfer of property ownership. After the loss of the original mortgaged real estate but before the registration of the new mortgage, the Guarantor with the guarantee conditions shall provide guarantees. For the demolished real estate compensated with indemnities, the Borrower shall be responsible for requiring the mortgagor to continuously provide guarantee for the main creditor’s right by opening a special account for security deposit or a certificate of deposit with the compensation on demolition .

 

XIV.The Borrower shall not reduce the registered capital through any means. It shall not transfer all or part of the obligations hereunder to any third party without the prior written approval of the Lender. Prior to the full repayment of the debts hereunder, it shall not pay off any debts between the Borrower and other creditors (other than other branches of Industrial Bank) in advance without the written approval of the Lender.

 

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XV.The Lender shall be notified in a timely manner of any material adverse events affecting the solvency of the Borrower. The written approval of the Lender shall be obtained before any major events such as merger, division, equity transfer, external investment or substantial increase in debt financing.

 

XVI.Where the Lender is forced to be involved in the disputes between the Borrower and any third party due to litigation or arbitration or other disputes with the Borrower or any third party related to the Borrower arising from the performance of its obligations hereunder, the Borrower shall bear the litigation or arbitration fees, the lawyers’ fees and other expenses paid by the Lender.

 

XVII.The settlement business hereunder shall be handled by the Borrower through the settlement account opened with the Lender.

 

XVIII.The Borrower undertakes that the information published in the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System is truthful, complete, legal and effective, and continuously approves the Lender to inquire about the information that the enterprise chooses to publicize or not to publicize in the system. Where the Lender requires capital verification, the Borrower agrees to conduct capital verification as required by the Lender and provide the capital verification report issued by the professional institution.

 

XIX.The Borrower hereby represents and authorizes that the Lender shall have the right to conduct necessary investigation on the credit status of the Borrower in accordance with national laws, regulations and relevant policies, including inquiring the credit information of the Borrower from the basic database of financial credit information established by the state, and submitting the relevant credit information to the national basic database of financial credit information based on the requirements of the People’s Bank of China on credit investigation of construction enterprises and individuals. In addition, the Borrower hereby allows the relevant information to be legally queried within the scope of authorization.

 

XX.The Borrower hereby represents and authorizes that the Lender shall have the right to submit the information related to this Contract and other relevant information to the above departments, institutions and the information management system established or recognized by them based on the requirements of the administrative/judicial/supervisory and other departments, banking regulatory authorities, banking associations on relevant information management. In addition, the Borrower hereby allows the relevant information to be legally queried.

 

XXI.In the event of default of the Borrower hereunder, or in case of circumstances where may jeopardize the realization of the creditor’s right by the Lender, the Lender shall have the right to require the shareholders of the Borrower to accelerate the maturity of their obligations on the subscription of contributions, and the Borrower undertakes that its shareholders shall subscribe capitals in a timely manner as required by the Lender. The Lender shall have the right to require the Borrower and its shareholders not to distribute dividends.

 

XXII.The Borrower undertakes that the transaction background of the borrowing business is truthful and legal, and it is not used for money laundering or other illegal purposes.

 

XXIII.The Borrower hereby irrevocably undertakes that in the event of the breaching of any of its obligations hereunder, the Lender may submit and disclose the Borrower’s information on breach of contract and dishonesty to the People’s Bank of China and credit reporting institutions and systems established or approved by it, or to the banking association, banking regulatory authorities or other administrative/judicial/supervisory departments and information management systems established or approved by them or news media.

 

Meanwhile, the Borrower irrevocably authorizes relevant banking associations to share the Borrower’s dishonesty information among banking financial institutions and even publicize it to the society in an appropriate manner.

 

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The Borrower understands that the Lender shall have the right to take measures in accordance with this Contract, and to jointly with other banking financial institutions to reduce or terminate credit granting, terminate the opening of new settlement accounts, terminate the granting of new credit cards to the Borrower’s legal representative/the Borrower, and other joint disciplinary measures on dishonesty for the protection of rights.

 

XXIV.Other matters stated and undertaken by the Borrower:       /                                        .

 

Clause XII Advance Recovery of the Borrowing

 

I.During the term of the borrowing, where the Borrower or the Guarantor (including but not limited to the Guarantor, the Mortgagor or the Pledgor, similarly hereinafter) is involved in any of the following circumstances, the Lender shall have the right to unilaterally terminate the payment of the Borrower’s unused borrowing and recover part or all of the principal and interest of the borrowing in advance. For the repayment of borrowings in installments and if the Lender recovers the borrowing in advance for an installment of the borrowings in accordance with the provisions hereof, other undue borrowings shall also be deemed as due in advance:

 

(I)Providing false materials or concealing important business and financial facts, any one of the certificates and documents submitted to the Lender and any of the statements and undertakings in Clause XI hereunder is proved to be untruthful, inaccurate, incomplete or intentionally misleading;

 

(II)Arbitrary changes of the original uses of the borrowing without the written approval of the Lender, misappropriation of the borrowing or engaging in illegal or illicit transactions with the borrowing;

 

(III)Arbitraging funds or credit from the Lender by taking advantage of the false contract with a related party to discount or pledge the creditor’s right such as notes receivable and accounts receivable without actual trade background to the Lender;

 

(IV)Refusing to accept the supervision and inspection by the Lender on the use of its credit funds and related business and financial activities;

 

(V)In case of major events such as merger, division, acquisition, reorganization, equity transfer, external investment or substantial increase in debt financing, which may affect the security of the borrowing as deemed by the Lender;

 

(VI)Intentionally evading or abolishing the creditor’s right of the Lender through related transactions;

 

(VII)Its credit standing has been deteriorated and its solvency (including contingent liabilities) has been weakened significantly;

 

(VIII)The Borrower or the Borrower’s affiliated enterprises and the Guarantor or the Guarantor’s affiliated enterprises are in involved in cross default as provided in Clause XV hereof;

 

(IX)The Borrower fails to repay the principal and interest of the borrowing hereunder as scheduled;

 

(X)The Borrower ceases to repay its debts, or is unable or indicates that it is unable to repay its due debts;

 

(XI)The Borrower is closed down, shut down, declared bankrupt, dissolved, revoked of its business license, canceled or with its financial conditions deteriorated;

 

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(XII)The Borrower fails to perform the obligations provided in Clause X and Clause XIII hereof and other obligations provided hereunder, or the Guarantor fails to fulfill obligations provided under the guarantee contract;

 

(XIII)The value of the collateral or pledge used for guarantee has been or may be significantly reduced, or the right pledged shall be redeemed before the borrowing becomes due;

 

(XIV)The legal representative, major individual investors, directors, supervisors and senior management of the Borrower or the Guarantor have changed abnormally, disappeared or been investigated or restricted by judicial authorities according to laws, which has affected or may affect the performance of obligations hereunder;

 

(XV)The Borrower/the Guarantor or the controlling shareholder, actual controller or related parties of the Borrower/the Guarantor are involved in major litigation, arbitration or other disputes, or their major assets are sealed up, frozen, deducted, enforced or under other measures with similar effect, which may endanger or damage the rights and interests of the Lender; and

 

(XVI)Events otherwise provided herein, or based on the recovery of funds by the Borrower, or other events that endanger, damage or may endanger or damage the rights and interests of the Lender.

 

II.In the event of the abovementioned advance recovery of the borrowing, the Lender shall unilaterally decide whether to grant the Borrower a certain grace period based on the production and operation, financial conditions and the recovery of funds by the Borrower. Where the Lender grants the Borrower a grace period and if the Borrower fails to take remedial measures within the grace period or the remedial measures adopted do not meet the requirements of the Lender, the Lender shall have the right to unilaterally decide to recover the borrowing in advance. The Lender may also decide to recover the borrowing in advance directly without giving the Borrower a grace period.

 

III.When the borrowing is recovered in advance, the Lender shall have the right to take corresponding measures in accordance with Sub-clause II of Clause XIV hereof.

 

Clause XIII Obligations of the Borrower to Disclose Major Transactions and Events to the Lender

 

I.The Borrower hall promptly report major transactions and events of the Borrower to the Lender in written.

 

II.Where the Borrower is a customer of the Group, the Borrower shall, in accordance with relevant regulations, report related transactions with more than 10% of the Borrower’s net assets to the Lender in a timely manner, including but not limited to:

 

(I)The relationship between the parties to the transactions;

(II)The items and nature of the transactions;

(III)The amount or corresponding proportion of the transactions; and

(IV)Pricing policy (including transactions with no amount or only nominal amount).

 

III.In the event of material changes in the underlying conditions of the contract which could not be forecasted upon the signing the contract and is not a business risk and a renegotiation is required, the Lender shall be promptly notified within three business days after such changes.

 

Clause XIV Liabilities for Breach of Contract

 

I.Both the Borrower and the Lender shall perform their obligations hereunder after this Contract comes into effect. Where either party fails to perform or fully perform the obligations hereunder, it shall be liable for breach of contract.

 

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II.Where the Borrower fails to use the borrowing as provided herein, fails to pay the borrowing in the agreed manner, fails to comply with the statements and undertakings, distorts the information in the borrowing application documents, exceeds the agreed financial indicators, is involved in major cross-defaulting events or fails to perform any of the provisions hereof, the Lender shall have the right to take one or more of the following measures:

 

(I)To require the rectification of the breach within a time limit;

 

(II)To terminate the advancing of the outstanding borrowing hereunder and stop the payment of the outstanding borrowing hereunder;

 

(III)To require the Borrower to supplement additional conditions for the advancing and payment of the borrowing that meet the requirements of the Lender or to cancel the Borrower’s use of the borrowing in the form of “independent payment”;

 

(IV)To unilaterally decide that all or part of the debts are due in advance;

 

(V)To unilaterally terminate or rescind this Contract, require the Borrower to pay off the principal and interest of the due or undue borrowing, and pay or compensate for the relevant losses;

 

(VI)To require the Borrower to pay overdue penalty interest if the borrowing is overdue; and to pay the penalty interest for misappropriation if the Borrower misappropriates the borrowing and require the Borrower to pay compound interest on the unpaid interest (including the interest before and after the maturity of the borrowing, the penalty interest on misappropriation and the overdue penalty interest);

 

(VII)To require the Borrower to add or replace the Guarantor, collateral, pledge/pledged right;

 

(VIII)To implement or realize the rights under any guarantee to the borrowing;

 

(IX)To directly deduct the amount to be collected, including but not limited to the principal and interest of the borrowing (including the principal, the interest, the penalty interest and the compound interest), liquidated damages, damage awards and fees on the realization of the creditor’s right by the Lender, from any account of the Borrower opened with the Lender and all branches and subsidiaries of the Industrial Bank without going through juridical procedures. The Borrower agrees that the Lender shall have the right to determine the order of specific deductions. In case of inconsistencies between the currency of the amount in the account and the currency of the borrowing, the Lender shall have the right to deduct the amount converted at the central parity published by the Lender on the corresponding day. If wealth management products or structured deposit products are involved in any account under this clause, the Borrower hereby irrecoverably authorizes the Lender to directly initiate the application for the redemption of relevant products or adopt other necessary measures on its behalf to ensure that the Lender can successfully deduct the above amount.

 

(X)To file a lawsuit, arbitration or apply to notary authorities for issuing an enforcement certificate, and require the Borrower to pay off the principal and interest of the borrowing and bear the fees on the realization of the creditor’s right by the creditor;

 

(XI)The Lender shall have the right to detain or retain any movable or immovable property, tangible or intangible property of the Borrower under the control and possession of the Lender or take other measures as the Lender deems appropriate;

 

(XII)The Lender shall have the right to report and disclose the Borrower’s breaching of contract to the People’s Bank of China and the credit reporting institutions and systems established or approved by it, or to China Banking Association, banking supervision institutions or other administrative / judicial / supervisory authorities and the information management system established or approved by them or news media. Meanwhile, the Lender may or jointly with other banking financial institutions to reduce or terminate credit granting, terminate the opening of new settlement accounts, terminate the granting of new credit cards to the Borrower’s legal representative/the Borrower, and other joint disciplinary measures on dishonesty for the protection of rights;

 

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(XIII)Other measures provided by laws and regulations or provided herein or deemed appropriate by the Lender.

 

III.Where the Lender fails to provide the borrowing based on the agreed date and amount and causes losses to the Borrower after meeting the conditions precedent for withdrawal and the conditions for payment of the borrowing hereunder, it shall compensate the Borrower for the direct economic losses caused thereby. However, the Lender shall not liable to the Borrower for any foreseeable or unforeseeable indirect losses arising therefrom.

 

IV.During the performance of this Contract, the Lender shall not assume any responsibilities for any error or delay in the payment entrusted by the Lender due to the untruthfulness, inaccuracy, incompleteness or other defects in the materials provided by the Borrower or for any other losses arising from the Borrower’s violation of this Contract in handling independent payment.

 

V.The Lender shall not assume any responsibilities for any disputes on the advancing and payment of the borrowing or other losses due to that the account for the advancing of the borrowing provided hereunder or the account of the payment target is frozen or for other reasons.

 

VI.Where the Guarantor (namely, the Guarantor, the Mortgagor and the Pledgor) under this Contract is involved in any of the following circumstances, the Lender shall have the right to take measures based on the provisions of Sub-clause II of this Clause:

 

(I)The Guarantor fails to perform the provisions of the guarantee contract, or the credit status deteriorates, or other events weaken the guarantee capability;

 

(II)The Mortgagor fails to perform the provisions of the mortgage contract, or intentionally damages the collateral, or the value of the collateral may decrease or has significantly decreased, or other events damage the Lender’s mortgage right;

 

(III)The Pledgor fails to perform the provisions of the pledge contract, or the value of the pledged property has been or may be significantly reduced, or the pledge rights must be realized before the repayment of the borrowing, or other events impair the Lender’s pledge right.

 

Clause XV Cross Default

 

Where the Borrower or the Borrower’s affiliated enterprises and the Guarantor or the Guarantor’s affiliated enterprises are involved in one of the following circumstances, it shall be deemed that the Borrower violates this Contract at the same time. The Lender shall have the right to recover the borrowing in accordance with Clause XII hereof and require the Borrower to assume responsibilities on the violation of the contract in accordance with Clause XIV hereof:

 

(I)Any borrowings, financing or debts are or may be involved in the violation of the contract or are declared to be due in advance;

 

(II)Any guarantee or similar obligations are not performed or there are possibilities on non-performance;

 

(III)Failure to perform or violating relevant guarantees on debts and other legal documents or contracts with similar obligations, or there are possibilities on non-performance or violation;

 

(IV)It is involved in or will be involved in inability to pay off due debts or due borrowing/financing;

 

(V)It is declared or will be declared bankruptcy through legal procedures;

 

(VI)It transfers its assets or properties to other creditors; or

 

(VII)Other circumstances endangering the safety of the principal and interest of the borrowing hereunder.

 

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Clause XVI Continuity of Obligations

 

All obligations of the Borrower hereunder shall be continuous and have complete and equal binding effects on its successors, agents, receivers, transferees and the entities after its merger, restructuring and change of name.

 

Clause XVII Clause on Accelerated Expiry of Principal and Interest

 

The Borrower agrees that if the Borrower fails to perform the statements and undertakings in Clause XI hereof or the Borrower fails to perform any one of the obligations hereunder, the Lender shall have the right to decide that any obligation of the Borrower towards the Lender, including the repayment obligation on all of the due and undue principal and interest (including penalty interest and compound interest) of the borrowing hereunder, shall be due immediately.

 

Clause XVIII Subrogation Right

 

The Borrower hereby states that no matter whether the creditor’s right of the Lender has expired, the limitation of action for the creditor’s right or the secondary right on such creditor’s right of the Borrower will expire soon or it fails to declare the creditor’s right upon bankruptcy in time or the Borrower breaches the contract or cannot repay the due advance of the Lender (including but not limited to the principal, the interest and fees) or it is involved in other circumstances affecting the realization of the creditor’s right of the Lender, the Lender shall have the right to exercise the subrogation right on any creditor’s right, account receivable and other interests in property and secondary rights related to the abovementioned rights of the Borrower against third parties, including but not limited to requesting the counterparty of the Borrower in subrogation to perform, report to the bankruptcy manager or conduct other necessary activities for the Borrower. The Borrower shall waive all defenses.

 

Clause XIX Applicable and Governing Laws and Settlement of Disputes

 

I.The conclusion, effectiveness, performance, rescission and interpretation of this Contract and the settlement of disputes shall apply to the laws of the People’s Republic of China (for the purpose of this Contract, excluding the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan).

 

II.For any disputes arising under this Contract, the Borrower and the Lender shall solve through friendly negotiations. Where negotiations fail, both parties agree to solve in the manner set out in (i) as follows:

 

(i)Filing a lawsuit to the people’s court of the place where the Lender is domiciled.

 

(ii)Applying for arbitration at the          /          Arbitration Commission and solving disputes by applying effective arbitration rules of the arbitration commission at the time of arbitration. As the arbitration rules permit, both parties unanimously agree to adopt simplified procedures in trial. Such arbitration award shall be final and shall have binding effects on both parties. The arbitral tribunal shall be held at          /            .

 

(iii)Other means:           /            .

 

III.During the period of disputes, clauses of this Contract not involved in disputes shall continue to be performed.

 

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Clause XX Documents, Correspondence and Notice

 

I.The Borrower agrees and confirms that the following address shall be the address for the delivery of notices hereunder and legal documents on lawsuits (arbitrations) and notarizations on disputes (including but not limited to various notices and documents of all parties to the contract; pleadings (or arbitration applications) and evidence, summons, notices of appearance, notices of proof, notices of trial, payment orders, judgments (awards), verdicts, mediations, notices of enforcement, notices of performance within a limited period and other legal documents on the trial of lawsuits or arbitrations, the realization of security interests and the enforcement stage; and various notices and legal documents delivered by notary authorities) and further agrees that the Lender, notary authorities, courts and other judiciary authorities and deliverers of other notices and legal documents have the right to select delivery in paper or electronic means. Among them, the delivery through electronic means shall include but not be limited to emails, China Judicial Process Information Online, National Unified Delivery Platform, local or special online service platforms of courts and the electronic online platform and electronic APP of deliverers;

 

(I)Address of the Borrower:

1.Name of the Borrower: ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co., Ltd.;

Address of the Borrower: Bldg C4, Huazhong Zhongjiaocheng (China Communications City), No. 107 Taizihu North Road, Hanyang District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province;

Postal code: 430000;                  Telephone: [****];

Contact: [****].

 

2.Name of designated agent recipient (if any):                /                                        ;

Address of agent recipient:              /                                                ;

Postal code:          /          ;                  Telephone:          /        .

 

(II)The Borrower agrees and confirms that either of the following electronic correspondence addresses shall be an effective delivery address:

1.Receiving through fax, No.:                /                                        ;

2.Email, address:                /                                                              ;

3.Text message, No. for receiving: [****]                       ;

4.WeChat, No.:                /                                                                ;

5.QQ, No.:                /                                                                         ;

6.Other electronic correspondence address:                /               .

 

II.The delivery address provided in sub-clause I hereof shall apply to all stages, including the non-prosecution stage and the arbitration of disputes, the first instance, the second instance, the retrial and the enforcement after the lawsuit procedures, the procedures for the realization of security interests, the urging procedures and the notarization of enforcement. If there are changes in the abovementioned delivery address, the Borrower shall notify the Lender in written in advance (it shall also notify the arbitral tribunal or the court in written during the lawsuit or arbitration and notify the original notary authorities in written if it has completed notarization on enforcement) to reconfirm the delivery address and obtain the return receipt. If it fails to notify in advance, it shall be deemed that there are no changes and the Borrower shall assume the corresponding legal consequences on its own. The delivery address provided in sub-clause I hereof shall still be deemed as the effective delivery address.

 

III.Any documents, correspondence, notices and legal documents shall be deemed as delivered on the following date (the delivery to the designated agent receipt shall be deemed as delivered to the receipt) if they are delivered to any address provided in sub-clause I hereof:

 

(I)For mails (including express mail service, regular mails and registered mails), the fifth working day after mailing shall be deemed as the delivery day;

 

(II)For fax, emails, text messages, WeChat, QQ or other electronic correspondence address, the date of sending shall be deemed as the delivery day; and

 

(III)For personal delivery, the date of signing for acceptance by the receipt shall be deemed as the delivery day. If the receipt refuses to accept, the deliverer may record the delivery process by taking photos or videos and leave the documents and it shall also be deemed as being delivered.

 

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IV.If it cannot be actually delivered due to the inaccurate or false delivery address provided or confirmed by the Borrower or its failure to notify the counterparty and arbitral authorities, the people’s court and notary authorities in time after changes in the delivery address, the Borrower shall assume the corresponding legal consequences on its own and it shall be deemed that they have been effectively delivered:

 

(I)For delivery through mails, the date on which the documents are returned shall be deemed as the delivery day;

 

(II)For personal delivery, the date on which the deliverer records relevant conditions on the delivery receipt shall be the delivery day; and

 

(III)For delivery through electronic means, the date of sending shall be the delivery day.

 

V.The Lender shall deem the domicile set out in the contract as the delivery address. Where the Lender send notices through publishing announcements on its website, online banking, telephone banking or at its business outlets, the date on which the announcements are published shall be deemed as the delivery day. The Lender shall not assume any responsibilities for any transmission failures, errors or postponements in mails, fax, telephone or any other correspondence systems under any circumstances.

 

VI.All parties agree that the official seal, office seal, special seal for finance, special seal for contract, receipt and dispatch seal of all parties and the special seal for credit business of the Lender shall be effective seals for notices or contact of all parties, the delivery of legal documents and letters among them. All employees of the Borrower shall be the authorized receipt of documents, correspondence and notices.

 

VII.The provisions of this clause shall survive other clauses in this Contract and shall not be affected by the effectiveness of this Contract and other clauses.

 

Clause XXI Effectiveness of the Contract and Other Matters

 

I.This Contract shall come into effect from the date on which both parties hereto signed or sealed or fingerprinted on it.

 

II.Any tolerance, grace or postponement in exercising the interests or rights under this Contract granted to the Borrower and the Guarantor by the Lender during the effective period of this Contract shall not damage, affect or restrict all interests and rights enjoyed by the Lender in accordance with relevant laws and this Contract. They shall not be deemed as the waiver of rights and interests hereunder by the Lender and shall not affect any obligations of the Borrower hereunder.

 

III.The Lender shall have the right to unilaterally terminate the contract and declare the maturity of all loans issued in advance as the Lender’s performance of the obligation on advancing the borrowing according to the provisions hereof does not meet laws, regulations or regulatory requirements due to changes in national laws and regulations or regulatory policies. The Borrower shall make repayment immediately based on the requirements of the Lender. The Lender shall not assume any legal responsibilities for failure to perform or failure to perform based on the provisions of the contract due to such reasons.

 

IV.Where the Lender fails to advance the borrowing or handle the payment due to force majeure, communication or network failure, failure in the Lender’s systems and other reasons, the Lender shall not assume any responsibilities but shall notify the Borrower in a timely manner.

 

V.The Lender shall have the right to authorize or entrust other branches of the Industrial Bank to perform the rights and obligations under this Contract (including but not limited to authorizing or entrusting other branches of the Industrial Bank to enter into relevant contracts) or transfer the loans hereunder to other branches of the Industrial Bank for management based on its operation and management demands. The Borrower shall recognize it. No approval from the Borrower is required for the abovementioned activities of the Lender.

 

 Page 27 of 30 

 

 

VI.The Borrower agrees that the Lender shall have the right to unilaterally reduce or cancel the unused amount of the borrowing hereunder based on the production and operation conditions, repayment conditions of the Borrower and the credit of other financial institutions. Where the Lender decides to reduce and cancel, it shall notify the Borrower five working days in advance, but no approval from the Borrower is required otherwise.

 

VII.If any terms of this Contract become illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any aspect at any time, the legality, validity or enforceability of other terms of this Contract shall be not affected or damaged.

 

VIII.The Lender has reminded the Borrower to pay special attention to the contents of “Important Notes”. The Borrower has carefully read and comprehensively, fully and accurately understood all terms on the rights and obligations of both parties hereto and the “Important Notes”. The Lender has made sufficient interpretations and explanations to relevant terms and the rules on the handling of personal information based on the request of the applicant. Both parties have consistent understanding on all terms hereof and have no objections to the contents hereof.

 

IX.The subheads herein are for convenience in reading only and shall not be used in the interpretation of this Contract or for any other purposes.

 

X.The attachments hereto shall be integral parts to this Contract and shall have equal legal effects with the text of this Contract.

 

XI.This Contract shall be in quadruplicate. The Lender shall hold three copies and the Borrower shall hold one copy.           /         shall hold           /         copy. Each copy shall have equal legal effects.

 

Clause XXII Notarization and Voluntary Acceptance of Enforcement

 

I.If either party hereto raises the requirements for notarization, the other party shall agree to conduct notarization at state-specified notary authorities based on the requirements of the counterparty.

 

II.The contract completing notarization on enforcement shall have the enforcement effectiveness. When the Borrower fails to perform or inappropriately performs the debts or is involved in circumstances where the Lender realizes the creditor’s right under laws and regulations and this Contract, the Borrower agrees that the Lender may apply to the notary authorities to issue the enforcement certificate with the enforcement effectiveness. The Borrower is voluntarily to accept the enforcement measures directly applied by the Lender with the enforcement certificate to the competent people’s court and knows the corresponding legal consequences. The Borrower shall undertake that it will raise no objections or defenses.

 

III.All parties agree that: prior to the issuance of the enforcement certificate, the notary authorities shall have the right to verify the failure to perform or inappropriate performance of debts and other facts in the violation of the contract by the Borrower through any one or more manners, such as mails, telephone, fax, emails, text messages, WeChat, QQ, personal delivery and interview, based on the clause of “Documents, Correspondence and Notice” provided in this Contract. For verifications through telephone or interview, it shall be deemed as delivered after the end of the interview or the telephone call. For verifications through mails, fax, emails, text messages, WeChat, QQ and personal delivery, the delivery date shall be subject to the clause of “Documents, Correspondence and Notice” in this Contract.

 

 Page 28 of 30 

 

 

IV.If the Borrower has objections to the facts in the violation of the contract verified in the above item, it shall provide written proof to the notary authorities and offer sufficient evidence within five working days from the delivery date. If it fails to provide proof as scheduled or the notary authorities believe that the evidence is insufficient to support its claims, it shall be deemed that the Borrower confirms the failure to perform or inappropriate performance of debts and other facts in the violation of the contract and agrees that the notary authorities issue the enforcement certificate based on the application of the Lender. Where the notary authorities have other provisions on the manner of verification and the period for providing proof, the provisions of the notary authorities shall prevail.

 

Clause XXIII Supplementary Clauses

 

/ 
 / 
 / 

 

 Page 29 of 30 

 

 

Lender (seal):Person in charge or authorized person (signatory):

 

Lender (seal):

/s/ Wuhan Branch of Industrial Bank Co., Ltd.

 

 

Person in charge or authorized person (signatory):

/s/ Liu Bingwen

 

 

June 28, 2022

 

Borrower (official seal):

/s/ ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co., Ltd.

 

 

Person in charge or authorized person (signatory/fingerprint):

/s/ Shen Ziyu

 

 

June 28, 2022

 

 

 Page 30 of 30 

 

 

Agreement No.: ECARX-TRZ-20220630-0134

 

Supplementary Agreement to the Loan Contract

 

No.: Xing Yin E Liu Dai Zi 2206 No. Z005-Supplementary No. 001

 

Lender: Wuhan Branch of Industrial Bank Co., Ltd.

Domicile: Industrial Bank Building, No. 108 Zhongbei Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan City

Legal representative/Person in charge: Liu Bingwen

Contact: [****]                  Position: Customer Manager

Postal address: Industrial Bank Building, No. 108 Zhongbei Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan City

Postal code: 430000            Telex: /

Telephone: [****]      Fax: /

 

Borrower: ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co., Ltd.

Domicile: Bldg C4, Huazhong Zhongjiaocheng (China Communications City), No. 107 Taizihu North Road, Hanyang District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province

Legal representative/Person in charge: Shen Ziyu

Contact: [****]            Position: Head of Investment and Financing Department

Postal address: Bldg C4, Huazhong Zhongjiaocheng (China Communications City), No. 107 Taizihu North Road, Hanyang District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province

Postal code: 430000            Telex: /

Telephone: [****]      Fax: /

 

Guarantor: ECARX (Hubei) Technology Co., Ltd.

Domicile: Block B, Building 7, Qidixiexin High-tech Park, Innovation Valley, Southern Taizi Lake, Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone

Legal representative/Person in charge: Shen Ziyu

Contact: [****]            Position: Head of Investment and Financing Department

Postal address: Block B, Building 7, Qidixiexin High-tech Park, Innovation Valley, Southern Taizi Lake, Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone

Postal code: 430000            Telex: /

Telephone: [****]      Fax: /

 

  

 

 

Whereas,

 

On June 29, 2022, Wuhan Branch of Industrial Bank Co., Ltd., the Lender, and ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co., Ltd., the Borrower, entered into the Working Capital Loan Contract of Xing Yin E Liu Dai Zi 2206 No. Z005 (hereinafter referred to as the Loan Contract) with the borrowing amounting to RMB four hundred and eighty million only and a period from [June 29, 2022] to [June 28, 2023]:

 

Through the friendly negotiations between the Lender and the Borrower, they made amendments to certain terms of the Loan Contract and entered into the Supplementary Agreement to Loan Contract of Xing Yin E Liu Dai Zi 2206 No. Z005-Supplementary No. 001 to jointly abide by it:

 

Clause I Revision to the interest rate of the borrowing:

1.1 Provisions on the interest rate of the borrowing in the original Loan Contract:

“(II) The pricing formula of the interest rate of the borrowing: Interest rate of the borrowing = Pricing benchmark interest rate + 0.3% or - /%.”

 

1.2 Through the negotiations between the Lender and the Borrower, the above provisions on the interest rate of the borrowing are modified as follows:

“(II) The pricing formula of the interest rate of the borrowing: Interest rate of the borrowing = Pricing benchmark interest rate + 0.68% or - /%.”

 

Clause II Additional provisions on the effectiveness of the Supplementary Agreement are as follows:

The interest rate of the borrowing shall be subject to the provisions of Clause I herein from [June 29, 2022] (inclusive).

 

Clause III Other terms of the original Working Capital Loan Contract shall remain unchanged except the abovementioned amendments to the provisions of Clauses I and II herein.

 

Clause IV The Guarantor agrees with the abovementioned changes and agrees to continue to provide joint and several liability guarantees to the debts of the Borrower under the Loan Contract.

 

Clause V This Agreement shall be in [quadruplicate]. The Lender shall hold [three] copies and the Borrower shall hold [one] copy. Each copy shall have equal legal effects.

 

Clause VI This Agreement shall come into effect after being signed by the legal representatives or the authorized agents of the Lender and the Borrower and being sealed the official seal or the special seal for contract. For matters not provided in this Supplementary Agreement, the original Working Capital Loan Contract shall prevail and matters not covered shall be solved by the Lender and the Borrower through negotiations. This Supplementary Agreement shall be a supplementary agreement to the original Loan Contract. In case of inconsistencies in relevant contents with the abovementioned agreement, this Supplementary Agreement shall prevail. Unless otherwise provided, all terms and abbreviations in this Supplementary Agreement shall have the same meaning as used in the original Working Capital Loan Contract.

 

  

 

 

Lender

 

 

Seal: Wuhan Branch of Industrial Bank Co., Ltd.

/s/ Wuhan Branch of Industrial Bank Co., Ltd.

 

 

 

Person in charge or authorized person (signatory):

/s/ Liu Bingwen

 

 

 

Borrower

 

 

Official seal:

/s/ ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co., Ltd.

 

 

 

Person in charge or authorized person (signatory):

/s/ Shen Ziyu

 

 

 

June 29, 2022

 

Guarantor

 

 

Official seal:

/s/ Hubei ECARX Technology Co., Ltd.

 

 

 

Person in charge or authorized person (signatory):

/s/ Shen Ziyu

 

 

 

June 29, 2022

 

 

  

 

Exhibit 21.1

 

Subsidiaries of ECARX Holdings Inc.

 

Subsidiaries Jurisdiction of Incorporation
ECARX Group Limited British Virgin Islands
Future Magic Capital Limited British Virgin Islands
ECarx Temp Limited Cayman Islands
ECarx & Co. Limited Cayman Islands
Mobile & Magic Limited Hong Kong
ECARX Technology Limited Hong Kong
ECARX Limited United Kingdom
ECARX Europe AB Sweden
ECARX (Wuhan) Technology Co., Ltd. PRC
ECARX (Hubei) Tech Co., Ltd. PRC
ECARX (Shanghai) Technology Co., Ltd. PRC
ECARX (Shanghai) Tech Co., Ltd. PRC
ECARX (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. PRC
ECARX (Shanghai) Smart Tech Co., Ltd. PRC

 

1

 

 

Exhibit 23.1

 

 

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We hereby consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form F-4 of our report dated March 24, 2022, relating to the balance sheets of COVA Acquisition Corp. as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the related statements of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity (deficit) and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2021 and the period from December 11, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, appearing in the proxy statement/prospectus, which is a part of this Registration Statement, and to the reference to our Firm under the caption “Experts” in the proxy statement/prospectus.

 

/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC  
   
October 11, 2022  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.2

 

 

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

We consent to the use of our report dated June 23, 2022, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of ECARX Holdings Inc., included herein and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus.

 

/s/ KPMG Huazhen LLP

 

Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

 

October 11, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.5

 

 

October 11, 2022

 

To:

ECARX Holdings Inc. (the “Company”)
16/F, Tower 2, China Eastern Airline Binjiang Center

277 Longlan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200041

People’s Republic of China

 

Dear Sirs/Madams,

 

We have acted as PRC legal counsel as to the laws of the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”, for purpose of this letter only, excluding the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan) to the Company in connection with the Company’s registration statement on Form F-4, including all amendments and supplements thereto (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) in relation to the proposed Business Combination (as defined in the Registration Statement) of the Company with COVA Acquisition Corp.

 

We hereby consent to the reference of our name in the Registration Statement and the filing of this consent letter with the SEC as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

 

In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, in each case, as amended, or the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

/s/ Han Kun Law Offices  
   
Han Kun Law Offices    

  

 

 

Exhibit 23.6

 

 

Date: May 19, 2022

 

ECARX Holdings Inc.

16/F, Tower 2, China Eastern Airlines Binjiang Center

227 Longlan Road, Xuhui District

Shanghai

 

Re: ECARX Holdings Inc.

 

Re: Consent of Frost & Sullivan

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

We, Frost & Sullivan (Beijing) Inc., Shanghai Branch Co., understand that ECARX Holdings Inc., an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (“Company”) plans to file a registration statement on Form F-4 (the “Registration Statement”) with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in connection with the proposed business combination between the Company and COVA Acquisition Corp. (“COVA”), an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Proposed Business Combination”).

 

We hereby consent to the use of and references to our name and the inclusion of information, data and statements from our research reports and amendments thereto (collectively, the “Reports”), and any subsequent amendments to the Reports, as well as the citation of our research reports and amendments thereto, (i) in the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto, (ii) in any written correspondence with the SEC, (iii) in any other filings with the SEC by the Company or COVA, including, without limitation, filings on Form 20-F, Form 6-K and other SEC filings (collectively, the “SEC Filings”), (iv) in institutional and retail roadshows and other activities in connection with the Proposed Business Combination, (v) on the websites of Company and COVA and their respective subsidiaries and affiliates, and (vi) in other publicity materials in connection with the Proposed Business Combination.

 

We further hereby consent to the filing of this consent letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto and as an exhibit to any other SEC Filings.

 

 

 

 

 

Yours faithfully,
For and on behalf of
 
Frost & Sullivan (Beijing) Inc., Shanghai Branch Co.  
   
/s/ Charles Lau  
Name: Charles Lau  
Title: Consulting Director  

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

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Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date Signature (Joint Owners) Date TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. D92006-TBD 3. The Adjournment Proposal — to consider and vote upon, as an ordinary resolution, a proposal to adjourn the extraordinary general meeting to a later date or dates to be determined by the chairman of the extraordinary general meeting, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies if, based upon the tabulated vote at the time of the extraordinary general meeting, there are not sufficient votes to approve one or more proposals presented to shareholders for a vote. 1. The Business Combination Proposal — to consider and vote upon, as an ordinary resolution, a proposal to approve and authorize the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 26, 2022 by and among COVA Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company ("COVA"), ECARX Holdings Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company” or “ECARX”), Ecarx Temp Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX (“Merger Sub 1”), and Ecarx&Co Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX ( “Merger Sub 2”), a copy of which is attached to the proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A, and the transactions contemplated therein, including the business combination whereby Merger Sub 1 will merge with and into COVA (the “First Merger”), with COVA surviving the First Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of ECARX (such company, as the surviving entity of the First Merger, “Surviving Entity 1”), and immediately following the First Merger and as part of the same overall transaction as the First Merger, Surviving Entity 1 will merge with and into Merger Sub 2 (the “Second Merger”), with Merger Sub 2 surviving the Second Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX; 2. The Merger Proposal — to consider and vote upon, as a special resolution, a proposal to approve and authorize the First Merger and the First Plan of Merger, substantially in the form attached to the proxy statement/prospectus as Annex C; and For Against Abstain ! ! ! ! ! ! COVA ACQUISITION CORP. The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following proposals: Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized officer. COVA ACQUISITION CORP. 1700 MONTGOMERY STREET, SUITE 240 SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111 ! ! ! VOTE BY INTERNET Before The Meeting - Go to www.proxyvote.com or scan the QR Barcode above Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form. During The Meeting - Go to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/[TBD] You may attend the meeting via the Internet and vote during the meeting. Have the information that is printed in the box marked by the arrow available and follow the instructions. VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. VOTE BY MAIL Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. SCAN TO VIEW MATERIALS & VOTE w

GRAPHIC

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Extraordinary General Meeting: The Notice and Proxy Statement is available at www.proxyvote.com. D92007-TBD COVA ACQUISITION CORP. Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders [TBD], 2022 [TBD] AM EST This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors The shareholder(s) hereby appoint(s) [TBD] and [TBD], or either of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint (his/her) substitute, and hereby authorize(s) them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side of this ballot, all of the ordinary shares of COVA ACQUISITION CORP. that the shareholder(s) is/are entitled to vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders to be held virtually at [TBD] AM EST on [TBD], 2022, at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/[TBD], and any adjournment or postponement thereof. This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein. If no such direction is made, this proxy will be voted in accordance with the Board of Directors' recommendations. Continued and to be signed on reverse side

  

Exhibit 99.2

 

Consent to be Named as a Director

 

In connection with the filing by ECARX Holdings Inc. of the Registration Statement on Form F-4 with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), I hereby consent, pursuant to Rule 438 under the Securities Act, to being named in the Registration Statement and any and all amendments and supplements thereto as a member of the board of directors of ECARX Holdings Inc. following the consummation of the business combination described in the Registration Statement. I also consent to the filing of this consent as an exhibit to such Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.

 

Dated: October 7, 2022

 

/s/ Jun Hong Heng

By: Jun Hong Heng

 

 

 

Exhibit 107

 

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

 

Form F-4 

(Form Type)

 

ECARX Holdings Inc. 

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities

 

   Security Type  Security Class Title  Fee Calculation
Rule
   Amount
Registered (1)(2) 
   Proposed
Maximum Offering
Price Per Unit
   Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price
   Fee Rate   Amount of
Registration Fee(3)
 

Fees to Be Paid

  Equity  Ordinary Shares(4)  457(c)   37,500,000   $9.95(5)  $373,125,000    0.0001102   $41,119 
   Equity
  Warrants(6)  457(g)   24,872,000    -(7)   -    -    - 
   Equity  Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of Warrants(8)
  457(f)(1)   24,872,000   $11.53(7)  $286,774,160    0.0001102   $31,603 
      Total Offering Amounts   $659,899,160        $72,722 
      Total Fees Previously Paid              - 
      Net Fee Due             $72,722 

 

(1)All securities being registered will be issued by ECARX Holdings Inc. (“ECARX”), a Cayman Islands exempted company, in connection with the Agreement and Plan of Merger described in this registration statement and the proxy statement/prospectus included herein, which provides for, among other things, the merger of Ecarx Temp Limited (“Merger Sub 1”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX, with and into COVA Acquisition Corp. (“COVA”), a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “First Merger”), with COVA surviving the First Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX (such company, as the surviving entity of the First Merger, “Surviving Entity 1”). Immediately following the First Merger and as part of the same overall transaction as the First Merger, Surviving Entity 1 will merge with and into Ecarx&Co Limited (“Merger Sub 2”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX (the “Second Merger,” and together with the First Merger, the “Mergers”), with Merger Sub 2 surviving the Second Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECARX (collectively, the “Business Combination”). As a result of the Business Combination, (i) each issued and outstanding Class B ordinary share of COVA, par value $0.0001 per share will be converted into one Class A ordinary share of COVA, par value $0.0001 per share (“COVA Public Shares”), (ii) each issued and outstanding COVA Public Share (excluding COVA Public Shares that are held by COVA shareholders that validly exercise their redemption rights, Dissenting COVA Shares (as defined in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus) and COVA treasury shares) will be cancelled and converted into the right of the holder thereof to receive one newly issued ECARX Class A ordinary share, par value $0.000005 per share (“ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares”), and (iii) each outstanding whole warrant of COVA (“COVA Warrant”) will be converted into a warrant (“ECARX Warrant”) to purchase one ECARX Class A Ordinary Share.

 

(2)Pursuant to Rule 416(a), there are also being registered an indeterminable number of additional securities as may be issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

 

(3)Determined in accordance with Section 6(b) of the Securities Act at a rate equal to $110.20 per $1,000,000 of the proposed maximum aggregate offering price.

 

(4)Represents ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares issuable in exchange for outstanding COVA Public Shares pursuant to the First Merger.

 

(5)Based on the average of the high ($9.949) and low ($9.94) prices of COVA Public Shares on the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) on October 3, 2022.

 

(6)Represents ECARX Warrants, each whole warrant entitling the holder to purchase one ECARX Class A Ordinary Share, to be issued in exchange for COVA Warrants.

 

(7)Based on the sum of (i) the average of the high ($0.03) and low ($0.025) prices for COVA Warrant on Nasdaq on October 3, 2022, and (ii) the exercise price of COVA Warrant ($11.50). Consistent with the response to Question 240.06 of the Securities Act Rules Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations, the entire registration fee with respect to COVA Warrants has been allocated to the ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares underlying COVA Warrants and no separate fee is recorded for COVA Warrants.

 

(8)Represents ECARX Class A Ordinary Shares underlying ECARX Warrants.