UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 16, 2020

 

 

NORTHERN STAR ACQUISITION CORP.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-39691   83-4109918

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

c/o Graubard Miller

The Chrysler Building

405 Lexington Avenue, 11th Floor

New York, NY 10174

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(212) 818-8800

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e 4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading
Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange on
which registered

Units, each consisting of one share of Class A common stock and one-third of one redeemable warrant   STIC.U   New York Stock Exchange
Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share   STIC   New York Stock Exchange
Redeemable warrants, exercisable for shares of Class A common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share   STIC WS   New York Stock Exchange

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☒

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

 

 


Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Merger Agreement

On December 16, 2020, Northern Star Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Northern Star”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (“Merger Agreement”) by and among Northern Star, NSAC Merger Sub Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Northern Star (“Merger Sub”), and Barkbox, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“BarkBox”).

BarkBox is an omni-channel brand for dogs serving over 1 million dogs monthly through BarkBox and Super Chewer subscriptions and broad retail distribution of its comprehensive suite of best-in-class, proprietary products.

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into BarkBox, with BarkBox surviving the merger (the “Merger”). As a result of the Merger, BarkBox will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Northern Star, with the stockholders of BarkBox becoming securityholders of Northern Star.

Under the Merger Agreement, the stockholders and other equity derivative holders of BarkBox will receive an aggregate of 150,000,000 shares of Northern Star Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Northern Star Common Stock”), subject to adjustment as set forth in the Merger Agreement. Prior to the closing of the Merger (the “Closing”), certain of the BarkBox stockholders, representing approximately 80% of the BarkBox stockholders, and Northern Star will enter into lock-up agreements (“Lock-Up Agreements”) which provide that shares of Northern Star Common Stock to be issued to such BarkBox stockholders in the Merger will be subject to a 12-month lockup period, which period may be terminated earlier if the reported closing sale price of the Northern Star Common Stock equals or exceeds $15.00 per share (subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations or other similar transactions) for a period of twenty (20) trading days during a thirty (30)-trading day period, subject to certain exceptions. Northern Star agreed to cause its initial stockholders to amend existing lockup agreements with respect to the Northern Star Common Stock, Class B common stock of Northern Star, and warrants of Northern Star held by them, and enter into the Lock-Up Agreement, so that the lockup with respect to such initial stockholders’ securities will be identical to the lockup of the BarkBox stockholders.

The Merger is expected to be consummated early in the second quarter of 2021, after the required approval by the stockholders of Northern Star and the Company and the fulfillment of certain other conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement.

The following summaries of the Merger Agreement and the other agreements to be entered into by the parties in connection therewith are qualified in their entirety by reference to the text of the Merger Agreement and such other agreements. The Merger Agreement is attached as Exhibit 2.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

Representations and Warranties

The Merger Agreement contains representations and warranties of BarkBox relating, among other things, to proper organization and qualification; subsidiaries; capitalization; the authorization, performance and enforceability against BarkBox of the Merger Agreement; absence of conflicts; compliance with laws; financial statements; absence of undisclosed liabilities; absence of certain changes or events; litigation; benefit plans; labor matters; restrictions on business activities; assets and real property; tax matters; environmental matters; brokers’ fees and third party expenses; intellectual property matters; BarkBox’s material contracts; insurance; governmental actions and filings; transactions with affiliates; board and stockholder approval of the Merger; customers and suppliers; and statements provided by BarkBox for inclusion in the proxy/ prospectus to be distributed in connection with the Merger.

The Merger Agreement contains representations and warranties of each of Northern Star and Merger Sub relating, among other things, to proper organization and qualification; subsidiaries; capitalization; the authorization, performance and enforceability against Northern Star and Merger Sub of the Merger Agreement; absence of conflicts; compliance with laws; reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), financial statements, and compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; absence of undisclosed liabilities; absence of certain


changes or events; litigation; benefit plans; labor matters; restrictions on business activities; assets and real property; intellectual property matters; tax matters; environmental matters; brokers’ fees; Northern Star’s material contracts; insurance; transactions with affiliates; NYSE listing; board approval of the Merger; Northern Star’s trust account; and the PIPE (defined below).

Covenants

The Merger Agreement includes customary covenants of the parties with respect to business operations prior to consummation of the Merger and efforts to satisfy conditions to the consummation of the Merger.

The Merger Agreement also contains additional covenants of the parties, including, among others, covenants providing for Northern Star and BarkBox to cooperate in the preparation of the Registration Statement on Form S-4 required to be prepared in connection with the Merger (the “Registration Statement”).

Conditions to Closing

General Conditions

Consummation of the Merger is conditioned on approval by Northern Star’s stockholders. In addition, the consummation of the Merger contemplated by the Merger Agreement is conditioned upon, among other things:

 

   

Northern Star having at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets remaining immediately prior to or upon consummation of the Merger after taking into account the holders of Northern Star’s public shares that properly demanded that Northern Star redeem their public shares for their pro rata share of the trust account;

 

   

all specified waiting periods under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended shall have expired and no governmental entity shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced, or entered any statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree injunction, or other order which has the effect of making the Merger illegal or otherwise prohibiting the consummation thereof;

 

   

the Registration Statement shall have become effective in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), no stop order shall have been issued by the SEC which remains in effect with respect to the Registration Statement, and no proceeding seeking such a stop order shall have been threatened or initiated by the SEC which remains pending;

 

   

approval of the Merger by BarkBox’s stockholders;

 

   

the Northern Star Common Stock to be issued to the BarkBox stockholders in the Merger shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice thereof and public holder requirements; and

 

   

completion of the PIPE (defined below).

BarkBox’s Conditions to Closing

The obligations of BarkBox to consummate the Merger are also conditioned upon, among other things:

 

   

the accuracy of the representations and warranties of Northern Star and Merger Sub (subject to certain bring-down standards);

 

   

performance of the covenants of Northern Star and Merger Sub required by the Merger Agreement to be performed on or prior to the closing;

 

   

no action, suit, or proceeding shall be pending or threatened by any governmental entity which is reasonably likely to prevent consummation of the Merger, cause any of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement to be rescinded following consummation, or materially and adversely affect or encumber the title of the Northern Star Common Stock to be issued by Northern Star to the BarkBox stockholders in the Merger;

 

   

no material adverse effect with respect to Northern Star shall have occurred between the date of the Merger Agreement and the closing of the Merger;


   

Northern Star executing the Registration Rights Agreement (defined below);

 

   

Northern Star filing its amended and restated certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and adopting its amended bylaws;

 

   

certain officers and directors of Northern Star having resigned as of the closing date;

 

   

Northern Star terminating its existing registration rights agreement; and

 

   

Northern Star’s initial stockholders executing the Lock-Up Agreement.

Northern Star’s and Merger Sub’s Conditions to Closing

The obligations of Northern Star and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger are also conditioned upon, among other things:

 

   

the accuracy of the representations and warranties of BarkBox (subject to certain bring-down standards);

 

   

performance of the covenants of BarkBox required by the Merger Agreement to be performed on or prior to the closing;

 

   

no action, suit, or proceeding shall be pending or threatened by any governmental entity which is reasonably likely to prevent consummation of the Merger, cause any of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement to be rescinded following consummation, or materially and adversely affect the right of BarkBox to own, operate, or control any of its assets and operations following the Merger;

 

   

no material adverse effect with respect to BarkBox shall have occurred between the date of the Merger Agreement and the closing of the Merger;

 

   

BarkBox having delivered certain financial statements to Northern Star;

 

   

certain BarkBox stockholders having executed the Lock-Up Agreement;

 

   

BarkBox terminating certain of its existing stockholder agreements; and

 

   

BarkBox having delivered a certificate that shares of BarkBox are not “U.S. real property interests”.

Waivers

Either Northern Star or BarkBox may waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties made to such party contained in the Merger Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant to the Merger Agreement and waive compliance with any agreements or conditions for the benefit of itself or such party contained in the Merger Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant to the Merger Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, pursuant to Northern Star’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, Northern Star cannot consummate the proposed business combination if it has less than $5,000,001 of net tangible assets remaining either immediately prior to or upon consummation of the Merger after taking into account the holders of public shares that properly demanded that Northern Star redeem their public shares for their pro rata share of the trust account.

Termination

The Merger Agreement may be terminated:

 

   

by mutual written consent of Northern Star and BarkBox;

 

   

by either Northern Star or BarkBox if the Merger is not consummated on or before June 30, 2021 (“Outside Date”), provided that the right to terminate the Merger Agreement will not be available to any party whose action or failure to act has been a principal cause of or primarily resulted in the failure of the Merger to occur on or before such date and such action or failure to act constitutes a breach of the Merger Agreement;

 

   

by either Northern Star or BarkBox if a governmental entity shall have issued an order, decree or ruling or taken any other action, in any case having the effect of permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Merger, which order, decree, judgment, ruling or other action is final and non-appealable;


   

by either Northern Star or BarkBox if the other party has breached any of its covenants or representations and warranties in any material respect and has not cured by the Outside Date, provided that the terminating party is itself not in material breach;

 

   

by Northern Star if BarkBox shall have failed to deliver the Support Agreements (defined below) within five (5) business days following the execution of the Merger Agreement;

 

   

by either Northern Star or BarkBox if, at the Northern Star stockholder meeting called to approve the Merger, the Merger shall fail to be approved by the required vote (subject to any adjournment or recess of the meeting);

 

   

By Northern Star if BarkBox fails to obtain approval of the Merger from BarkBox’s stockholders; or

 

   

by either Northern Star or BarkBox if, immediately prior to or upon consummation of the Merger, Northern Star will have less than $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following the exercise by the holders of Northern Star’s Common Stock issued in Northern Star’s initial public offering of their redemption rights;

Registration Rights Agreement

The former holders of common stock of BarkBox and certain of Northern Star’s stockholders will enter into an agreement (“Registration Rights Agreement”) pursuant to which they will be granted certain rights to have registered, in certain circumstances, the resale under the Securities Act of the Northern Star Common Stock held by them, subject to certain conditions set forth therein. Northern Star will use reasonable best efforts to terminate its existing registration rights agreement and shall offer to the Northern Star stockholders who are parties to the existing registration rights agreement the opportunity to enter into the Registration Rights Agreement.

BarkBox Support Agreements

In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, stockholders of BarkBox who hold sufficient outstanding shares of preferred and common stock of BarkBox will enter into agreements (the “Stockholder Support Agreements”) pursuant to which they will agree to vote in favor of the Merger at a meeting called to approve the Merger by the BarkBox stockholders (or to act by written consent approving the Merger).

In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, Northern Star Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”) and each officer and director of Northern Star have entered into support agreements with BarkBox (the “Sponsor Support Agreement”), pursuant to which Sponsor and such other parties have agree to, among other things, (i) vote to adopt and approve the Merger and the other documents contemplated hereby and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and (ii) waive any antidilution rights to the Class B common stock of Northern Star.

The form of Stockholder Support Agreement and Sponsor Support Agreement are attached as Exhibit 10.2 and Exhibit 10.3 hereto, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

Incentive Equity Plan and ESPP

Prior to the consummation of the Merger, Northern Star will adopt an incentive equity plan and employee stock purchase plan, the form and terms of which shall be prepared by BarkBox and be reasonably acceptable to Northern Star.

Subscription Agreements

On December 8, 2020, Northern Star engaged Citigroup Global Capital Markets Inc. (“Citi”) as placement agent of a private placement of Northern Star’s securities.


Effective as of December 16, 2020, Northern Star entered into subscription agreements (“Subscription Agreements”) with institutional accredited investors (“Investors”), pursuant to which Northern Star will, immediately following the consummation of the Merger, issue an aggregate of 20,000,000 shares of Northern Star Common Stock to the Investors at a price of $10.00 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds to Northern Star of $200,000,000 (the “PIPE”). The closing of the Subscription Agreements is conditioned upon, among other things, (i) Northern Star consummating the Merger and (ii) the accuracy of all representations and warranties of Northern Star (subject to certain bring-down standards).

Northern Star has agreed that, as soon as reasonably practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days following the closing of the Merger, it shall file a registration statement with the SEC covering the resale by the Investors of the shares of Northern Star Common Stock issued to them in the PIPE and use its best efforts to have such registration statement declared effective as promptly as practicable thereafter.

The shares of Northern Star Common Stock were offered and sold to the Investors in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, based on the fact that the sale will have been made without any general solicitation or advertising and based on representations from each Investor that (a) it was an accredited investor (to the extent applicable), (b) it was purchasing the shares for its own account investment, and not with a view to distribution, (c) it had been given access to full and complete access to information regarding Northern Star, BarkBox, and the Merger, (d) it understood that the offer and sale of the shares was not registered and the shares may not be publicly sold or otherwise disposed of without registration under the Securities Act or an applicable exemption therefrom, and (e) it understood that Northern Star is required under the rules and regulations of NYSE to seek shareholder approval of the issuance of the shares.

The foregoing description of the Subscription Agreements is qualified in their entirety by reference to the text of the Subscription Agreements. The form of Subscription Agreement is attached as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

The information set forth in Item 1.01 relating to the Subscription Agreements is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

The information set forth below under this Item 7.01, including the exhibits attached hereto, is intended to be furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Press Release

Attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K is the press release issued by the parties related to the proposed Merger.

Investor Meetings

Attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K is the form of investor presentation to be used by Northern Star in presentations to certain of its stockholders and other persons interested in purchasing Northern Star Common Stock in connection with the transactions described herein.

Unit Separation

Northern Star also announced that holders of its units issued in its initial public offering will be able to separate such units into their component pieces commencing on our about December 18, 2020. Once separated, the Class A common stock and warrants included therein will trade under the symbols “STIC” and “STIC WS,” respectively.

Additional Information

COMMENCING SHORTLY AFTER THE FILING OF THIS CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K, NORTHERN STAR INTENDS TO HOLD PRESENTATIONS FOR CERTAIN OF ITS STOCKHOLDERS, AS WELL AS OTHER PERSONS WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING NORTHERN STAR’S SECURITIES, IN


CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS WITH BARKBOX, AS DESCRIBED IN THIS CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K. THIS CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K, INCLUDING SOME OR ALL OF THE EXHIBITS HERETO, MAY BE DISTRIBUTED TO PARTICIPANTS AT SUCH PRESENTATIONS.

NORTHERN STAR AND BARKBOX AND THEIR RESPECTIVE DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, UNDER SEC RULES, MAY BE DEEMED TO BE PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES OF NORTHERN STAR’S STOCKHOLDERS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS MAY OBTAIN MORE DETAILED INFORMATION REGARDING THE NAMES AND INTERESTS IN THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS OF NORTHERN STAR’S DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS IN NORTHERN STAR’S FILINGS WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING ITS FINAL PROSPECTUS DATED NOVEMBER 10, 2020, FILED WITH THE SEC ON NOVEMBER 12, 2020. INFORMATION REGARDING THE PERSONS WHO MAY, UNDER SEC RULES, BE DEEMED PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES TO NORTHERN STAR’S STOCKHOLDERS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS WILL BE SET FORTH IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS THAT NORTHERN STAR INTENDS TO FILE WITH THE SEC, WHICH WILL INCLUDE A PROXY STATEMENT AND PROSPECTUS FOR THE TRANSACTIONS. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE INTERESTS OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT.

INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF NORTHERN STAR AND BARKBOX ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS WILL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN FREE COPIES OF THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS CONTAINING IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT NORTHERN STAR AND BARKBOX ONCE SUCH DOCUMENTS ARE FILED WITH THE SEC, THROUGH THE WEBSITE MAINTAINED BY THE SEC AT WWW.SEC.GOV. COPIES OF THE DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC BY NORTHERN STAR WHEN AND IF AVAILABLE, CAN BE OBTAINED FREE OF CHARGE ON NORTHERN STAR’S WEBSITE AT WWW.NORTHERNSTARIC.COM OR BY DIRECTING A WRITTEN REQUEST TO NORTHERN STAR ACQUISITION CORP., C/O GRAUBARD MILLER, 405 LEXINGTON AVENUE, 11TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10174.

SOME OF BARKBOX’S FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND DATA CONTAINED HEREIN AND IN THE EXHIBITS HERETO DOES NOT CONFORM TO SEC REGULATION S-X IN THAT IT INCLUDES CERTAIN FINANCIAL INFORMATION NOT DERIVED IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNITED STATES GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES (“GAAP”). IN ADDITION, THE BARKBOX INFORMATION HAS NOT YET BEEN AUDITED. ACCORDINGLY, SUCH INFORMATION AND DATA WILL BE ADJUSTED AND PRESENTED DIFFERENTLY IN NORTHERN STAR’S FILINGS WITH THE SEC. NORTHERN STAR AND BARKBOX BELIEVE THAT THE PRESENTATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES PROVIDES INFORMATION THAT IS USEFUL TO INVESTORS AS IT INDICATES MORE CLEARLY THE ABILITY OF BARKBOX TO MEET CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND WORKING CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND OTHERWISE MEET ITS OBLIGATIONS AS THEY BECOME DUE.

THE FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS INCLUDED IN THIS CURRENT REPORT AND THE EXHIBITS HERETO ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT ARE BASED ON ASSUMPTIONS THAT ARE INHERENTLY SUBJECT TO SIGNIFICANT UNCERTAINTIES AND CONTINGENCIES, MANY OF WHICH ARE BEYOND NORTHERN STAR’S AND BARKBOX’S CONTROL. WHILE ALL PROJECTIONS ARE NECESSARILY SPECULATIVE, NORTHERN STAR AND BARKBOX BELIEVE THAT THE PROSPECTIVE FINANCIAL INFORMATION COVERING PERIODS BEYOND TWELVE MONTHS FROM ITS DATE OF PREPARATION CARRIES INCREASINGLY HIGHER LEVELS OF UNCERTAINTY AND SHOULD BE READ IN THAT CONTEXT. THERE WILL BE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ACTUAL AND PROJECTED RESULTS, AND ACTUAL RESULTS MAY BE MATERIALLY GREATER OR MATERIALLY LESS THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THE PROJECTIONS. THE INCLUSION OF PROJECTIONS IN THIS REPORT AND THE EXHIBITS HERETO SHOULD NOT BE REGARDED AS AN INDICATION THAT NORTHERN STAR AND BARKBOX, OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES, CONSIDERED OR CONSIDER THE PROJECTIONS TO BE A RELIABLE PREDICTION OF FUTURE EVENTS.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

THIS CURRENT REPORT AND THE EXHIBITS HERETO ARE NOT A PROXY STATEMENT OR SOLICITATION OF A PROXY, CONSENT OR AUTHORIZATION WITH RESPECT TO ANY SECURITIES OR IN RESPECT OF THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS AND SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY THE SECURITIES OF NORTHERN STAR OR BARKBOX, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF ANY SUCH SECURITIES IN ANY STATE OR JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION, OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF SUCH STATE OR JURISDICTION.

THIS CURRENT REPORT AND THE EXHIBITS HERETO INCLUDE “FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS”. ACTUAL RESULTS MAY DIFFER FROM EXPECTATIONS, ESTIMATES AND PROJECTIONS AND, CONSEQUENTLY, YOU SHOULD NOT RELY ON THESE FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS AS PREDICTIONS OF FUTURE EVENTS. WORDS SUCH AS “EXPECT,” “ESTIMATE,” “PROJECT,” “BUDGET,” “FORECAST,” “ANTICIPATE,” “INTEND,” “PLAN,” “MAY,” “WILL,” “COULD,” “SHOULD,” “BELIEVES,” “PREDICTS,” “POTENTIAL,” “CONTINUE,” AND SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS ARE INTENDED TO IDENTIFY SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.

NEITHER NORTHERN STAR NOR BARKBOX UNDERTAKE ANY OBLIGATION TO UPDATE OR REVISE ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, WHETHER AS A RESULT OF NEW INFORMATION, FUTURE EVENTS OR OTHERWISE, EXCEPT AS REQUIRED BY LAW. IMPORTANT FACTORS, AMONG OTHERS, THAT MAY AFFECT ACTUAL RESULTS INCLUDE BARKBOX’S ABILITY TO EXECUTE ON ITS BUSINESS PLANS AND BARKBOX’S ESTIMATES OF EXPENSES AND FUTURE REVENUES AND PROFITABILITY. OTHER FACTORS INCLUDE THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS DO NOT CLOSE, INCLUDING DUE TO THE FAILURE TO RECEIVE REQUIRED SECURITY HOLDER APPROVALS, OR THE FAILURE OF OTHER CLOSING CONDITIONS.

THIS CURRENT REPORT AND THE EXHIBITS HERETO ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE ALL-INCLUSIVE OR TO CONTAIN ALL THE INFORMATION THAT A PERSON MAY DESIRE IN CONSIDERING AN INVESTMENT IN NORTHERN STAR AND IS NOT INTENDED TO FORM THE BASIS OF ANY INVESTMENT DECISION IN NORTHERN STAR.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THESE AND OTHER RISK FACTORS WILL BE CONTAINED IN NORTHERN STAR’S FILINGS WITH THE SEC. ALL SUBSEQUENT WRITTEN AND ORAL FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS CONCERNING NORTHERN STAR AND BARKBOX, THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS OR OTHER MATTERS AND ATTRIBUTABLE TO NORTHERN STAR AND BARKBOX OR ANY PERSON ACTING ON THEIR BEHALF ARE EXPRESSLY QUALIFIED IN THEIR ENTIRETY BY THE CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS ABOVE. READERS ARE CAUTIONED NOT TO PLACE UNDUE RELIANCE UPON ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, WHICH SPEAK ONLY AS OF THE DATE MADE. NEITHER NORTHERN STAR NOR BARKBOX UNDERTAKE OR ACCEPT ANY OBLIGATION OR UNDERTAKING TO RELEASE PUBLICLY ANY UPDATES OR REVISIONS TO ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT TO REFLECT ANY CHANGE IN THEIR EXPECTATIONS OR ANY CHANGE IN EVENTS, CONDITIONS OR CIRCUMSTANCES ON WHICH ANY SUCH STATEMENT IS BASED, EXCEPT AS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits:

 

Exhibit

  

Description

 2.1*    Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated as of December 16, 2020, by and among Northern Star Acquisition Corp., NSAC Merger Sub Corp., and Barkbox, Inc.
10.1    Form of Subscription Agreement.


10.2    Form of Stockholder Support Agreement
10.3    Form of Sponsor Support Agreement
99.1    Press release dated December 17, 2020
99.2    Investor Presentation

 

*

Certain exhibits and schedules to this Exhibit have been omitted in accordance with Regulation S-K Item 601(b)(2). Northern Star agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of all omitted exhibits and schedules to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request.


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated: December 17, 2020       NORTHERN STAR ACQUISITION CORP.
    By:   /s/ Joanna Coles
      Joanna Coles
      Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 2.1

EXECUTION VERSION

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION

BY AND AMONG

NORTHERN STAR ACQUISITION CORP.,

NSAC MERGER SUB CORP.

and

BARKBOX, INC.

DATED AS OF DECEMBER 16, 2020


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

          Page  

ARTICLE I THE MERGER

     1  

1.1

   The Merger      1  

1.2

   Effective Time; Closing      1  

1.3

   Effect of the Merger      2  

1.4

   Governing Documents      2  

1.5

   Effect on Securities      2  

1.6

   Merger Consideration Exchange Procedures      3  

1.7

   Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates      4  

1.8

   Tax Consequences      4  

1.9

   Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action      4  

1.10

   Outstanding Company Derivative Securities      4  

1.11

   Payment of Expenses      5  

1.12

   Support Agreements      6  

1.13

   Private Financing      6  

1.14

   Appraisal Rights      6  

ARTICLE II REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING THE COMPANY

     7  

2.1

   Organization and Qualification      7  

2.2

   Subsidiaries      7  

2.3

   Capitalization      8  

2.4

   Authority Relative to this Agreement      9  

2.5

   No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents      9  

2.6

   Compliance      10  

2.7

   Financial Statements      10  

2.8

   No Undisclosed Liabilities      10  

2.9

   Absence of Certain Changes or Events      11  

2.10

   Litigation      11  

2.11

   Employee Benefit Plans      11  

2.12

   Labor Matters      13  

2.13

   Restrictions on Business Activities      14  

2.14

   Title to Property      14  

2.15

   Taxes      14  

2.16

   Environmental Matters      15  

2.17

   Brokers; Third Party Expenses      15  

2.18

   Intellectual Property      16  

2.19

   Agreements, Contracts and Commitments      18  

2.20

   Insurance      19  

2.21

   Governmental Actions/Filings      19  

2.22

   Interested Party Transactions      20  

2.23

   Board Approval      20  

2.24

   Company Stockholder Approval      20  

2.25

   Customers and Suppliers      20  

2.26

   Proxy Statement      20  

2.27

   No Additional Representations and Warranties      21  

2.28

   Independent Investigation; No Reliance      21  

 

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ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB

     21  

3.1

   Organization and Qualification      21  

3.2

   Subsidiaries      22  

3.3

   Capitalization      22  

3.4

   Authority Relative to this Agreement      23  

3.5

   No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents      23  

3.6

   Compliance      24  

3.7

   Parent SEC Reports and Financial Statements      24  

3.8

   No Undisclosed Liabilities      25  

3.9

   Absence of Certain Changes or Events      25  

3.10

   Litigation      25  

3.11

   Employee Benefit Plans      25  

3.12

   Labor Matters      26  

3.13

   Business Activities      26  

3.14

   Title to Property      26  

3.15

   Intellectual Property      26  

3.16

   Taxes      26  

3.17

   Environmental Matters      27  

3.18

   Brokers      27  

3.19

   Agreements, Contracts and Commitments      27  

3.20

   Insurance      28  

3.21

   Interested Party Transactions      28  

3.22

   Parent Listing      28  

3.23

   Board Approval      28  

3.24

   Trust Fund      28  

3.25

   PIPE Documents      29  

3.26

   No Additional Representations and Warranties; Independent Investigation      29  

3.27

   Independent Investigation; No Reliance      29  

ARTICLE IV CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME

     29  

4.1

   Conduct of Business by the Company, Parent and Merger Sub      29  

4.2

   Confidentiality; Access to Information      32  

4.3

   No Solicitation      33  

4.4

   Certain Financial Information      34  

4.5

   Access to Financial Information      34  

4.6

   Commercially Reasonable Efforts      34  

ARTICLE V ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

     35  

5.1

   Proxy Statement; Special Meeting      35  

5.2

   Directors and Officers of Parent and the Company After Merger      37  

5.3

   HSR Act      37  

5.4

   Public Announcements      37  

5.5

   Required Information      38  

 

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5.6

   No Securities Transactions      39  

5.7

   No Claim Against Trust Fund      39  

5.8

   Disclosure of Certain Matters      39  

5.9

   Securities Listing      39  

5.10

   Charter Protections; Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance      39  

5.11

   Insider Loans      39  

5.12

   Parent Borrowings      40  

5.13

   Trust Fund Disbursement      40  

5.14

   Board of Directors      40  

5.15

   Lock-Up Agreement      40  

5.16

   Registration Rights Agreement      40  

5.17

   Intended Tax Treatment      40  

5.18

   Incentive Equity Plan / Cash Retention Pool      40  

5.19

   PIPE Investment      41  

5.20

   Company Stockholder Approval      41  

5.21

   2020 Audited Financials      42  

ARTICLE VI CONDITIONS TO THE TRANSACTION

     42  

6.1

   Conditions to Obligations of Each Party to Effect the Merger      42  

6.2

   Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Company      42  

6.3

   Additional Conditions to the Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub      43  

ARTICLE VII TERMINATION

     44  

7.1

   Termination      44  

7.2

   Notice of Termination; Effect of Termination      45  

7.3

   Fees and Expenses      45  

ARTICLE VIII GENERAL PROVISIONS

     46  

8.1

   Notices      46  

8.2

   Interpretation      47  

8.3

   Counterparts; Electronic Delivery      51  

8.4

   Entire Agreement; Third Party Beneficiaries      51  

8.5

   Severability      51  

8.6

   Other Remedies; Specific Performance      51  

8.7

   Governing Law      52  

8.8

   Consent to Jurisdiction; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY      52  

8.9

   Rules of Construction      52  

8.10

   Assignment      52  

8.11

   Amendment      52  

8.12

   Extension; Waiver      52  

8.13

   Currency      52  

8.14

   Schedules      53  

8.15

   Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants      53  

8.16

   Non-Recourse      53  

 

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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION

THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION is made and entered into as of December 16, 2020 (the “Agreement Date”), by and among Northern Star Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), NSAC Merger Sub Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), and Barkbox, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Company”). The term “Agreement” as used herein refers to this Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, as the same may be amended from time to time, and all schedules hereto (including the Company Schedule and the Parent Schedule, as defined in the preambles to Articles II and III hereof, respectively). Each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company shall be referred to herein, individually, as a “Party” and, collectively, as the “Parties”. Except as otherwise indicated, capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in Section 8.2.

RECITALS

A. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement and in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), the Parties intend to enter into a business combination transaction by which Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (with the Company being the surviving entity of the Merger (“Surviving Corporation”)) in exchange for the Company’s stockholders receiving shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Parent (“Parent Common Stock”) as provided by this Agreement (the “Merger”).

B. The boards of directors of each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company have determined that the Merger is fair to, and in the best interests of, their respective companies and their respective stockholders.

C. The parties intend that the Merger will qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and this Agreement is hereby adopted as a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants, promises and representations set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

THE MERGER

1.1 The Merger. At the Effective Time and subject to and upon the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the applicable provisions of the DGCL, Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the Company, the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall cease and the Company shall continue as the Surviving Corporation after the Merger and as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent.

1.2 Effective Time; Closing. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, as soon as practicable on or after the Closing Date (defined below), the parties hereto shall cause the Merger to be consummated by filing a Certificate of Merger (the “Certificate of Merger”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL (the time of such filing, or such later time as may be agreed in writing by Company and Parent and specified in the Certificate of Merger, being the “Effective Time”). Unless this Agreement shall have been terminated pursuant to Section 7.1, the consummation of the Merger (the “Closing”), other than the filing of the Certificate of Merger, shall take place at the offices of Graubard Miller, counsel to Parent, The Chrysler Building, 405 Lexington Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, New York 10174-1901 at a time and date to be specified by the parties, which shall be no later than the third (3rd) Business Day after the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VI (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction thereof at the Closing), or at such other time, date and location as the parties hereto agree in writing (the “Closing Date”). Closing signatures may be transmitted by facsimile or by email pdf files.

 

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1.3 Effect of the Merger. At the Effective Time, the effect of the Merger shall be as provided in this Agreement and the DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time all the property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of each of the Company and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities and duties of each of the Company and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation.

1.4 Governing Documents. At the Effective Time,

(a) the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation shall be amended and restated to be identical to the Certificate of Incorporation of Merger Sub except that the name of the Surviving Corporation shall be that of the Company; and

(b) the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation shall be amended and restated to be identical to the Bylaws of Merger Sub except that the name of the Surviving Corporation shall be that of the Company.

1.5 Effect on Securities.

(a) [Reserved].

(b) Conversion of Securities. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and this Agreement and without any further action on the part of Parent, Merger Sub or the Company or the holders of any of the following securities:

(i) other than shares cancelled pursuant to Section 1.5(e) and Dissenting Shares, each share of Company Common Stock and Company Preferred Stock (collectively, “Company Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any conversion or exchange of Company Convertible Notes pursuant to Section 1.10(c)) will be automatically converted into the right to receive that number of shares of Parent Common Stock (“Merger Shares”) equal to the Exchange Ratio (the “Per Share Merger Consideration”) consistent with Schedule 1.5(b) hereto, which sets forth a calculation of the Exchange Ratio as of the Agreement Date, together with the assumptions related to such calculation; and

(ii) each share of Merger Sub’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and exchanged for one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Surviving Corporation.

(c) Adjustments to Merger Consideration. The Per Share Merger Consideration issuable pursuant to this Section 1.5 shall be equitably adjusted to reflect appropriately the effect of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend (including any dividend or distribution of securities convertible into shares of Parent Common Stock), extraordinary cash dividends, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or other like change with respect to shares of Parent Common Stock occurring on or after the Agreement Date but at or prior to the Effective Time.

(d) Fractional Shares. No fraction of a share of Parent Common Stock will be issued by virtue of the Merger, and each holder of shares of Company Common Stock who would otherwise be entitled to a fraction of a share of Parent Common Stock any time shares of Parent Common Stock are distributed to any such Person pursuant to this Agreement (after aggregating all fractional shares of Parent Common Stock that otherwise would be received by such holder in connection with such distribution) shall, upon compliance with Section 1.6, receive from Parent, in lieu of such fractional share, one (1) share of Parent Common Stock.

(e) Cancellation of Treasury and Parent-Owned Stock. Each share of Company Stock held by the Company or Parent or any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be canceled and extinguished without any conversion or payment in respect thereof.

 

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1.6 Merger Consideration Exchange Procedures.

(a) Exchange Procedures. At the Closing, the holders of Company Stock (the “Company Stockholders”) shall deliver the certificates or notes evidencing their right to shares of Company Stock (including Company Convertible Notes that have been converted into Company Common Stock pursuant to Section 1.10(c)) (the “Company Certificates”) to Parent for cancellation, or in the case of a lost, stolen or destroyed Company Certificate, will deliver to Parent an affidavit (and indemnity if required) in the manner provided in Section 1.7 below), together with a letter of transmittal and instructions (which shall specify that the delivery shall be effected, and the risk of loss and title shall pass, only upon proper transfer of each share to an exchange agent, who shall be mutually determined by the Company and Parent (and who may be either the Company or Parent), and which letter of transmittal will be in customary form) (“Letter of Transmittal”), and receive in exchange therefor the Per Share Merger Consideration in book-entry form (unless certificates representing Merger Shares are otherwise requested by Company Stockholders) and the certificates representing the Company Stock shall forthwith be cancelled. Until so surrendered, outstanding Company Certificates will be deemed, from and after the Effective Time, to evidence only the right to receive the Per Share Merger Consideration as prescribed by this Agreement.

(b) Distributions With Respect to Unexchanged Shares. No dividends or other distributions declared or made after the Agreement Date with respect to Parent Common Stock with a record date after the Effective Time will be paid to the holders of any unsurrendered Company Certificates with respect to the Per Share Merger Consideration to be issued upon surrender thereof until the holders of record of such Company Certificates shall surrender such certificates. Subject to applicable law, following surrender of any such Company Certificates, Parent shall promptly deliver to the record holders thereof, without interest, the Per Share Merger Consideration issued in exchange therefor in book-entry form and the amount of any such dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time theretofore paid with respect to such Merger Shares.

(c) Transfers of Ownership. If Merger Shares are to be issued in book-entry form in a name other than that in which the Company Certificates surrendered in exchange therefor are registered, it will be a condition of the issuance thereof that the Company Certificates so surrendered will be properly endorsed and otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the persons requesting such exchange will have paid to Parent or any agent designated by it any transfer or other taxes required by reason of the issuance of Merger Shares representing the Per Share Merger Consideration in any name other than that of the registered holder of the Company Certificates surrendered, or established to the satisfaction of Parent or any agent designated by it that such tax has been paid or is not payable.

(d) Required Withholding. Parent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold (or cause to be deducted and withheld) from any consideration payable or otherwise deliverable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as are required to be deducted or withheld therefrom under the Code or under any provision of state, local or foreign tax law. Parent shall provide notice of any withholding that it intends to make (or cause to be made) in connection with consideration payable or otherwise deliverable pursuant to this Agreement (other than any withholding required in connection with amounts properly treated as compensation for applicable Tax purposes) at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date of the relevant payment, and the Parties shall (and shall cause their Affiliates to) cooperate to minimize or eliminate any potential withholding. To the extent such amounts are so deducted or withheld consistent with the terms of this Section 1.6(d), such amounts shall be treated for all purposes under this Agreement as having been paid to the person to whom such amounts would otherwise have been paid.

(e) No Further Ownership Rights in Company Stock. All shares of Parent Common Stock issued in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been issued in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the Company Stock and there shall be no further registration of transfers on the records of the Surviving Corporation of the shares of Company Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time, Company Certificates are presented to the Surviving Corporation for any reason, they shall be canceled and exchanged as provided in this Article I.

 

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1.7 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. In the event that any Company Certificates shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, Parent shall issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Company Certificates, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the holder thereof, the aggregate Per Share Merger Consideration into which the shares of Company Stock formerly represented by such Company Certificates was converted into and any dividends or distributions payable pursuant to Section 1.6(b); provided, however, that, as a condition precedent to the delivery of such Per Share Merger Consideration, the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed Company Certificates shall indemnify Parent against any claim that may be made against Parent or Surviving Corporation with respect to the Company Certificates alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed and deliver any Letter of Transmittal reasonably required by Parent.

1.8 Tax Consequences. It is intended by the parties hereto that the Merger shall constitute a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. The parties hereto adopt this Agreement as a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a).

1.9 Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action. If, at any time after the Effective Time, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement and to vest Surviving Corporation with full right, title and possession to all assets, property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company and Merger Sub, the officers and directors of the Company and Merger Sub will use their reasonable best efforts to take all such lawful and necessary action.

1.10 Outstanding Company Derivative Securities.

(a) Company Options. At the Effective Time, each outstanding option to purchase shares of Company Common Stock, whether or not exercisable and whether or not vested, immediately prior to the Effective Time (a “Company Option”) shall be assumed by Parent and converted into an option to purchase a number of shares of Parent Common Stock (such option, an “Exchanged Option”) equal to the product (rounded down to the nearest whole number) of (x) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time and (y) the Exchange Ratio, at an exercise price per share (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) equal to (A) the exercise price per share of such Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time divided by (B) the Exchange Ratio; provided, however, that the exercise price and the number of shares of Parent Common Stock purchasable pursuant to the Exchanged Options shall be determined in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code; provided, further, that in the case of any Exchanged Option to which Section 422 of the Code applies, the exercise price and the number of shares of Parent Common Stock purchasable pursuant to such option shall be determined in accordance with the foregoing, subject to such adjustments as are necessary in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 424(a) of the Code and the U.S. Department of Treasury regulations thereunder, as applicable. Except as specifically provided above, following the Effective Time, each Exchanged Option shall continue to be governed by the same terms and conditions (including vesting and exercisability terms) as were applicable to the corresponding former Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time, subject to the adjustments required by this Section 1.10(a) after giving effect to the Merger. At the Effective Time, each Company restricted stock award (a “Company Restricted Stock Award”), whether vested or unvested, shall be assumed by Parent and shall be converted into a restricted stock award with respect to a number of shares of Parent Common Stock (such restricted stock award, an “Exchanged RSA”) equal to the product (rounded down to the nearest whole number) of (x) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Restricted Stock Award immediately prior to the Effective Time and (y) the Exchange Ratio, with the same terms and conditions as were applicable under such Company Restricted Stock Award immediately prior to the Effective Time. Parent shall assume the Company Stock Plan (the “Assumed Plan”) such that the Exchanged Options and Exchanged RSAs will be issued under the Assumed Plan, and stock options and other equity-based awards may be issued with respect to the shares available for grant thereunder as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (subject to appropriate adjustment pursuant to the Company Stock Plan and all equity-based awards granted thereunder) in respect of Parent Common Stock under such Company Stock Plan, and Parent shall take all corporate action necessary to reserve for issuance a sufficient number of shares of Parent Common Stock for delivery upon exercise of Company Options and the issuance of stock options and other equity-based awards from the shares available for grant as of immediately prior to the Effective Time under the Company Stock Plan assumed in accordance with this Section 1.10(a). At or prior to the Effective Time, the Parties and their boards, as applicable, shall adopt any resolutions and take any actions that are necessary to effectuate the assumption of the Company Stock Plan and the treatment of the Company Options and Company Restricted Stock Awards pursuant to this

 

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subsection, and to cause any disposition or acquisition of equity securities of Parent pursuant to this Section 1.10(a) by each individual who is a director or officer of Parent or who will become a director or officer of Parent at the Effective Time to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Parent shall file an appropriate registration statement or registration statements with respect to the shares of Parent Common Stock subject to such Exchanged Options (other than any Exchanged Options held by any former employee, director or consultant of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time) as soon as permitted by Legal Requirements following the Effective Time and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement or registration statements (and maintain the current status of the prospectus or prospectuses contained therein) for so long as such awards remain outstanding.

(b) Company Warrants. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger, each warrant, issued by the Company and outstanding, to purchase shares of Company Stock (a “Company Warrant”) shall be automatically assumed by Parent and shall become a warrant to acquire, on the same terms and conditions as were applicable under each such Company Warrant, a number of shares of Parent Common Stock (such warrant, an “Assumed Warrant”) equal to the product (rounded down to the nearest whole number) of (x) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Warrant immediately prior to the Effective Time (or, with respect to any Company Warrant to purchase shares of Company Preferred Stock, the number of shares of Company Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the shares of Company Preferred Stock subject to such Company Warrant) as adjusted pursuant to the terms of such Company Warrant and (y) the Exchange Ratio, at an exercise price (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) equal to (A) the exercise price of such Company Warrant immediately prior to the Effective Time as adjusted pursuant to the terms of such Company Warrant divided by (B) the Exchange Ratio (it being understood that the foregoing calculations shall not apply to the extent expressly provided for by the adjustment terms of such Company Warrant). The Company shall, prior to the Effective Time, take all actions necessary or desirable in connection with the treatment of Company Warrants contemplated by this Section 1.10(b). Parent shall take all corporate actions necessary to reserve for issuance shares of Parent Common Stock that will be subject to issuance upon exercise of the Company Warrants, as adjusted in accordance with their terms.

(c) Company Convertible Notes. Immediately prior to the Effective Time, the outstanding principal and unpaid accrued interest due on each convertible promissory note issued by the Company and outstanding (a “Company Convertible Note” and, collectively with each Company Option and Company Warrant, the “Company Derivative Securities”) shall be treated as set forth on Schedule 1.10(c), which shall include an illustrative example of the conversion of the Company Convertible Notes as of the Agreement Date and based upon and subject to the assumptions set forth therein. The Company shall, prior to the Effective Time, take all actions necessary or desirable in connection with the treatment of Company Convertible Notes contemplated by this Section 1.10(c).

1.11 Payment of Expenses.

(a) At least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall provide to Parent a written report setting forth a list of all third party fees and expenses incurred by the Company or the Stockholders up to such date in connection with or in relation to the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (together with written invoices and wire transfer instructions for the payment thereof), solely to the extent such fees and expenses will be unpaid as of the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Closing Date, including, but not limited to, the: (i) fees and disbursements of outside counsel to the Company and Company management incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) fees and expenses of any other agents, advisors, consultants, experts, financial advisors, brokers, finders or investment bankers employed by the Company in connection with the with the transactions contemplated hereby (collectively, the “Outstanding Company Expenses”). On the Closing Date following the Closing, Parent shall pay or cause the Surviving Corporation to pay by wire transfer of immediately available funds the Outstanding Company Expenses.

(b) At least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, Parent shall provide to the Company a written report setting forth a list of all third party fees and expenses incurred by Parent and Merger Sub up to such date in connection with or in relation to the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (together with written invoices and wire transfer instructions for the payment thereof), solely to the extent such fees and expenses will be unpaid as of the close of

 

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business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Closing Date, including, but not limited to, the: (i) fees and disbursements of outside counsel to Parent and Merger Sub incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) fees and expenses of Parent and Merger Sub for any other agents, advisors, consultants, experts, financial advisors, brokers, finders or investment bankers employed in connection with the with the transactions contemplated hereby, including any financing related to the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) the aggregate amount of Parent Borrowings, if any, and (iv) without duplication, any other amounts described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of Section 5.13 (all of the foregoing, collectively, the “Outstanding Parent Expenses”). On the Closing Date, Parent shall pay or cause to be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds the Outstanding Parent Expenses.

1.12 Support Agreements. The Company Stockholders identified on Schedule 1.12 attached hereto (the “Supporting Stockholders”) have agreed to enter into support agreements with Parent (the “Stockholder Support Agreements”), pursuant to which each of the Supporting Stockholders agrees to, among other things, vote all of the shares of Company Stock beneficially owned by such Supporting Stockholder in favor of the Merger (which vote may be done by executing a written consent as provided for in Section 5.20 hereof). Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, Northern Star Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”) and each officer and director of Parent has entered into support agreements with the Company (the “Sponsor Support Agreement”), pursuant to which the Sponsor and such other parties agree to, among other things, vote to adopt and approve this Agreement and the other documents contemplated hereby and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

1.13 Private Financing. On or prior to the Agreement Date, Parent has delivered to the Company true, complete and correct copies of executed subscription agreements or securities purchase agreements from the investors party thereto, together with all exhibits (including documents attached as exhibits), schedules, annexes and other attachments thereto, and any related agreements (collectively, the “PIPE Documents”) pursuant to which such investors have committed to purchase securities of Parent for an aggregate purchase price of at least $125,000,000 in a private placement or other financing to be consummated simultaneously with the Closing at a price per share of Parent Common Stock of $10.00 (the “PIPE Investment”).

1.14 Appraisal Rights.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary and to the extent available under the DGCL, shares of Company Common Stock that are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and that are held by stockholders of the Company who shall have neither voted in favor of the Merger nor consented thereto in writing and who shall have demanded properly in writing appraisal for such Company Common Stock in accordance with Section 262 of the DGCL and otherwise complied with all of the provisions of the DGCL relevant to the exercise and perfection of dissenters’ rights (such shares, “Dissenting Shares”) shall not be converted into, and such stockholders shall have no right to receive, the Per Share Merger Consideration unless and until such stockholder fails to perfect or withdraws or otherwise loses his, her or its right to appraisal and payment under the DGCL. Any stockholder of the Company who fails to perfect or who effectively withdraws or otherwise loses his, her or its rights to appraisal of such Dissenting Shares under Section 262 of the DGCL shall thereupon be deemed to have been converted into, and to have become exchangeable for, as of the Effective Time, the right to receive the Per Share Merger Consideration, without any interest thereon, upon surrender, if applicable, in the manner provided in Section 1.6, of the Company Certificate or Company Certificates that formerly evidenced such Dissenting Shares.

(b) Prior to the Closing, the Company shall give Parent (i) prompt notice of any demands for appraisal received by the Company and any withdrawals of such demands, and (ii) the opportunity to participate in all negotiations and proceedings with respect to demands for appraisal under the DGCL. The Company shall not, except with the prior written consent of Parent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), make any payment with respect to any demands for appraisal or offer to settle or settle any such demands.

 

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ARTICLE II

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING THE COMPANY

Subject to the exceptions set forth in Schedule 2 delivered by the Company to Parent and Merger Sub in connection with this Agreement (the “Company Schedule”), the Company hereby represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub as follows:

2.1 Organization and Qualification.

(a) The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its assets and properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. The Company is in possession of all franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, consents, certificates, approvals and orders of or from any federal, state, municipal, foreign or other governmental, administrative or judicial body, agency or authority (“Approvals”) necessary to own, lease and operate the properties it purports to own, operate or lease and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, except where the absence of such Approvals would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. Complete and correct copies of the certificate of incorporation and by-laws (or other comparable governing instruments with different names) (collectively referred to herein as “Charter Documents”) of the Company, as amended (if applicable) and currently in effect, have been heretofore made available to Parent or Parent’s counsel.

(b) The Company is duly qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of its activities makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except for such failures to be so duly qualified or licensed and in good standing that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. As of the Agreement Date, each jurisdiction in which the Company is so qualified or licensed is listed in Schedule 2.1(b).

2.2 Subsidiaries.

(a) As of the Agreement Date, the Company has no direct or indirect subsidiaries other than those listed in Schedule 2.2 (the “Subsidiaries”) and the Company owns all of the outstanding equity securities of the Subsidiaries, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens, either directly or indirectly through one or more other Subsidiaries. Except with respect to the Subsidiaries, the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any equity or voting interest in any Person or has any agreement or commitment to purchase any such interest, and has not agreed and is not obligated to make nor is bound by any written or oral agreement, contract, subcontract, lease, binding understanding, instrument, note, option, warranty, purchase order, license, sublicense, insurance policy, benefit plan, commitment or undertaking of any nature, as of the Agreement Date or as may hereafter be in effect, under which it may become obligated to make any future investment in or capital contribution to any other entity.

(b) Each Subsidiary is a limited liability company duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing (or the equivalent thereof) under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization or formation (as listed in Schedule 2.2) and has the requisite limited liability company power and authority to own, lease and operate its assets and properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. Each Subsidiary is in possession of all Approvals necessary to own, lease and operate the properties it purports to own, operate or lease and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, except where the absence of such Approvals would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. Complete and correct copies of the Charter Documents of each Subsidiary, as amended and currently in effect, have been heretofore delivered to Parent or Parent’s counsel.

(c) Each Subsidiary is duly qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign limited liability company and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of its activities makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except for such failures to be so duly qualified or licensed and in good standing that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

 

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2.3 Capitalization.

(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 18,600,000 shares of Company Common Stock and 8,010,560 shares of the Company’s preferred stock (the “Company Preferred Stock”), 2,057,188 of which have been designated Series Seed Preferred Stock, 2,110,400 of which have been designated Series A Preferred Stock, 990,068 of which have been designated Series B Preferred Stock, 2,142,188 of which have been designated Series C Preferred Stock, and 710,716 of which have been designated Series C-1 Preferred Stock. As of the Agreement Date, (1) 5,299,569 shares of Company Common Stock are issued and outstanding, including 215,682 shares of Company Common Stock subject to Company Restricted Stock Awards, and (2) 7,752,515 shares of Company Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding, of which 2,057,188 shares are Series Seed Preferred Stock, of which 2,110,400 shares are Series A Preferred Stock, of which 990,068 shares are Series B Preferred Stock, of which 2,142,188 shares are Series C Preferred Stock, and of which 452,671 shares are Series C-1 Preferred Stock. Other than Company Stock, the Company has no class or series of securities authorized by its Charter Documents. Schedule 2.3(a) hereto contains a list of all of the stockholders of the Company and the number of shares of Company Stock owned by each stockholder, as of the Agreement Date.

(b) As of the Agreement Date, 4,788,370 shares of Company Common Stock are reserved for issuance under the Company Equity Plan, of which (i) 3,198,360 shares are issuable upon the exercise of outstanding, unexercised Company Options and (ii) 530,073 shares remain available for future grant under the Company Equity Plan. Except as set forth in Schedule 2.3(b) hereto, as of the Agreement Date, no shares of Company Stock are reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding convertible notes, warrants or other rights to purchase Company Stock. Schedule 2.3(b) hereto sets forth, as of the Agreement Date, the number of shares of Company Common Stock that are issuable upon the exercise of Company Warrants exercisable into Company Common Stock and the number of shares of Company Preferred Stock that are issuable upon the exercise of Company Warrants exercisable into Company Preferred Stock.

(c) Except as set forth in Section 2.3(a), Section 2.3(b), Schedule 2.3(a), Schedule 2.3(b), and Schedule 2.3(c), as of the Agreement Date, there are no subscriptions, options, warrants, equity securities, partnership interests or similar ownership interests, calls, rights (including preemptive rights), commitments or agreements of any character to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound obligating the Company to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or cause the repurchase, redemption or acquisition of, any shares of capital stock, partnership interests or similar ownership interests of the Company or obligating the Company to grant, accelerate the vesting of or enter into any such subscription, option, warrant, equity security, call, right, commitment or agreement.

(d) Except as set forth in Schedule 2.3(d) or as contemplated by this Agreement, there are no registration rights, and there is no voting trust, proxy, rights plan, anti-takeover plan or other agreements or understandings, to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound with respect to any equity security of the Company.

(e) Except as provided for in this Agreement or as set forth in Schedule 2.3(e), as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, no shares of capital stock, warrants, options or other securities of the Company are issuable and no rights in connection with any shares, warrants, options or other securities of the Company (including anti-dilution rights) accelerate or otherwise become triggered (whether as to vesting, exercisability, convertibility or otherwise). Except as set forth in Schedule 2.3(e), none of the Company Derivative Securities contain any anti-dilution rights, other than adjustments for stock splits, reverse stock splits, stock combinations, stock dividends and similar transactions affecting the stockholders as whole.

(f) All outstanding shares of Company Stock have been issued and granted in compliance with (x) all applicable securities laws and (in all material respects) other applicable laws and regulations, and (y) all requirements set forth in any applicable Charter Documents. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness obligations the holders of which have the right to vote (or which are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for securities having the right to vote) with the stockholders of the Company on any matter.

 

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(g) As of the Agreement Date, no outstanding shares of Company Stock are unvested or subjected to a repurchase option, risk of forfeiture or other condition under any applicable agreement with the Company.

2.4 Authority Relative to this Agreement. The Company has all necessary corporate power and authority to: (i) execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement that the Company has executed or delivered or is to execute or deliver pursuant to this Agreement, and (ii) carry out the Company’s obligations hereunder and thereunder and, subject to the Company Stockholder Approval, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the Merger). The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company has been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company (including the approval by its board of directors and its stockholders as required by the Charter Documents of the Company). The consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby (including the Merger) has been, or will be, duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company (including the approval by its board of directors and, prior to the Closing, its stockholders as required by the DGCL). No other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which it is a party has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the other parties hereto or thereto, constitutes the legal and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.

2.5 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents. Except as set forth in Schedule 2.5 hereto:

(a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement by the Company do not, and the performance of this Agreement by the Company shall not, (i) conflict with or violate the Charter Documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) conflict with or violate any Legal Requirements, (iii) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or materially impair the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ rights or alter the rights or obligations of any third party under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a lien or encumbrance on any of the properties or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than Permitted Liens) pursuant to, any Material Company Contracts or (iv) result in the triggering, acceleration or increase of any payment to any Person pursuant to any Company Contract, including any “change in control” or similar provision of any Company Contract, except, with respect to clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv), for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults, impairments, alterations, triggerings, accelerations, increases or other occurrences that would not, individually and in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 2.5(a), the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company does not, and the performance of its obligations hereunder will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to, any Governmental Entity or other third party (including, without limitation, lenders and lessors), except (i) for applicable requirements, if any, of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), the Exchange Act or state securities laws, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and appropriate documents received from or filed with the relevant authorities of other jurisdictions in which the Company is licensed or qualified to do business, (ii) for the filing of any notifications required under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”), and the expiration of the required waiting period thereunder, (iii) for the consents, approvals, authorizations and permits described in Schedule 2.5(b) and the Company Stockholder Approval, (iv) for the filing of the Certificate of Merger, and (v) where the failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to (x) have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or, after the Closing, Parent, or (y) prevent the consummation of the Merger or otherwise prevent the Company from performing its material obligations under this Agreement on a timely basis.

 

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2.6 Compliance. During the period beginning two (2) years prior to the Agreement Date and ending on the Agreement Date (the “Lookback Period”), the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has complied with in all material respects all, and is not in violation in any material respect of any, Legal Requirements with respect to the conduct of its business, or the ownership or operation of its business. During the Lookback Period, the businesses and activities of the Company and of each of its Subsidiaries have not been and are not being conducted in violation in any material respect of any Legal Requirements. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default or violation in any material respect of any term, condition or provision of any applicable Charter Documents. Except as set forth in Schedule 2.6, during the Lookback Period, no written notice of non-compliance with any Legal Requirements has been received by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (and the Company has no knowledge of any such notice delivered to any other Person).

2.7 Financial Statements.

(a) The Company has made available to Parent true and complete copies of the audited consolidated financial statements (including any related notes thereto) of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 (the “Audited Financial Statements”) and the unaudited consolidated financial statements (including any related notes thereto) of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the six-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 (the “Unaudited Financial Statements,” and together with the Audited Financial Statements, the “Financial Statements”).

(b) The Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis in accordance with past practice throughout the periods involved (except as may be indicated therein or in the notes thereto), and fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries at the respective dates thereof and the results of their operations and cash flows for the respective periods indicated, except, in the case of the Unaudited Financial Statements, subject to normal audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

(c) The Company has established and maintained a system of internal accounting controls. To the Company’s knowledge, such internal controls are sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the Company’s financial reporting and the preparation of the Company’s financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

(d) There are no outstanding loans or other extensions of credit made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any executive officer (as defined in Rule 3b-7 under the Exchange Act) or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action prohibited by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

(e) Except as otherwise noted in the Financial Statements, the accounts and notes receivable of the Company reflected in the Financial Statements: (i) arose from bona fide sales transactions in the ordinary course of business and are payable on ordinary trade terms, (ii) to the Company’s knowledge, are legal, valid and binding obligations of the respective debtors enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as such may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and by general equitable principles, (iii) to the Company’s knowledge, are not subject to any valid set-off or counterclaim to which the Company has been notified in writing as of the Agreement Date except to the extent set forth in such balance sheet contained therein, and (iv) are not the subject of any actions or proceedings brought by or on behalf of the Company as of the Agreement Date.

2.8 No Undisclosed Liabilities. The Company (including its Subsidiaries) has no liabilities (absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) of a nature required under U.S. GAAP, applied on a consistent basis in accordance with past practice, to be disclosed on a consolidated balance sheet or in the related notes to the Financial Statements that are, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business, results of operations or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except: (i) liabilities provided for in or otherwise disclosed in the balance sheet included in the most recent Financial Statements or in the notes to the most recent Financial Statements, (ii) such liabilities arising in the ordinary course of the Company’s business since the date of the most recent Financial Statement, (iii) liabilities disclosed in Schedule 2.8 and (iv) liabilities which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company.

 

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2.9 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as contemplated by this Agreement, since September 30, 2020 until the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there has not been: (i) any Material Adverse Effect on the Company, (ii) any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend on, or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property) in respect of, any of the Company’s capital stock, or any purchase, redemption or other acquisition by the Company of any of the Company’s capital stock or any other securities of the Company or any options, warrants, calls or rights to acquire any such shares or other securities (other than repurchases of the Company’s capital stock from terminated service providers as provided in the Company Equity Plan), (iii) any split, combination or reclassification of any of the Company’s capital stock, (iv) any granting by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any increase in compensation or fringe benefits, except for normal increases of cash compensation in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or pursuant to any Plan, or any payment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any bonus, except for bonuses made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or pursuant to any Plan, or any granting by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any increase in severance or termination pay or any entry by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries into any currently effective employment, severance, termination or indemnification agreement or any agreement the benefits of which are contingent or the terms of which are materially altered upon the occurrence of a transaction involving the Company of the nature contemplated hereby, (v) entry by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries into any licensing or other agreement or amendment to an agreement with regard to the acquisition or disposition of any material Intellectual Property other than licenses and services agreements in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (vi) any material change by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in its accounting methods, principles or practices, except as required by concurrent changes in U.S. GAAP, (vii) any change in the auditors of the Company, or (viii) any material revaluation by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any of its material assets, including, without limitation, writing down the value of capitalized inventory or writing off notes or accounts receivable or any sale of assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than in the ordinary course of business.

2.10 Litigation. Except as disclosed in Schedule 2.10 hereto, during the Lookback Period there have not been, any claims, suits, actions or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries before any court, governmental department, commission, agency, instrumentality or authority, or any arbitrator that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

2.11 Employee Benefit Plans.

(a) Schedule 2.11(a) lists all material Plans as of the Agreement Date. “Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended and any other material employee compensation, incentive, fringe or employee benefit plan, program, policy or other arrangement (whether or not set forth in a written document) covering any active or former employee, director or consultant of the Company or its Subsidiaries, in each case, with respect to which the Company or its Subsidiaries has liability, other than (i) standard employment agreements that can be terminated at any time without severance or termination pay and upon notice of not more than 60 days or such longer period as may be required by Legal Requirements, (ii) any plan, program, policy or other arrangement that is sponsored or maintained by a Governmental Entity or (iii) any plan, program, policy or other arrangement that covers only former directors, officers, employees, independent contractors and service providers and with respect to which the Company and its Subsidiaries have no remaining liabilities. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, all Plans have been maintained and administered in all material respects in compliance with their respective terms and with the Legal Requirements which are applicable to such Plans, and all contributions required to be made with respect to the Plans as of the Agreement Date have been made or, if not yet due, are reflected in the financial statements and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries to the extent required by U.S. GAAP. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (i) no suit, action or other litigation (excluding claims for benefits incurred in the ordinary course of Plan activities) has been brought, or, to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened, against or with respect to any Plan and (ii) there are no audits, inquiries or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by any governmental agency with respect to any Plan. Except as disclosed in Schedule 2.11(a), each Plan can be amended, terminated or otherwise discontinued after the Closing in accordance with its terms, without material liability to Parent or the Surviving Corporation (other than ordinary administration expenses, ordinary investment fund liquidation charges, early withdrawal penalties and amounts payable for benefits accrued but not yet paid).

 

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(b) Except as disclosed in Schedule 2.11(b) hereto, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will (i) result in any payment (including severance, bonus or otherwise) becoming due to any shareholder, director, officer or employee of the Company or its Subsidiaries under any Plan or otherwise, (ii) materially increase any benefits otherwise payable under any Plan, (iii) result in the acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such benefits or (iv) result in any amount paid or payable being classified as an “excess parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code.

(c) With respect to each Plan, the Company has made available to Parent, where applicable, (i) a true and complete copy of the current Plan documents and all amendments thereto and each trust or other funding arrangement, (ii) copies of the most recent summary plan description and any summaries of material modifications, (iii) a copy of the 2019 filed Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form 5500 annual report and accompanying schedules, (iv) copies of the most recently received IRS determination, opinion or advisory letter for each such Plan, and (v) any material nonroutine correspondence from any Governmental Authority with respect to any Plan within the past three (3) years. The Company has no express commitment to modify, change or terminate any Plan, other than with respect to a modification, change or termination required by ERISA or the Code, or other applicable Law.

(d) None of the Plans is or was within the past six (6) years, nor does the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate have or reasonably expect to have any liability or obligation under (i) a multiemployer plan (within the meaning of Section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA), (ii) a single employer pension plan (within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA) subject to Section 412 of the Code and/or Title IV of ERISA, (iii) a multiple employer plan subject to Section 413(c) of the Code, or (iv) a multiple employer welfare arrangement under Section 3(40) of ERISA. “ERISA Affiliate” means any entity that together with the Company would be deemed a “single employer” for purposes of Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA and/or Sections 414(b), (c) and/or (m) of the Code.

(e) None of the Plans provides, nor does the Company have or reasonably expect to have any obligation to provide retiree medical to any current or former employee, officer, director or consultant of the Company after termination of employment or service except as may be required under Section 4980B of the Code and Parts 6 and 7 of Title I of ERISA and the regulations thereunder (or similar state law).

(f) Each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) or Section 401(k) of the Code has (i) timely received a favorable determination letter from the IRS covering all of the provisions applicable to the Plan for which determination letters are currently available that the Plan is so qualified and each trust established in connection with such Plan is exempt from federal income Taxation under Section 501(a) of the Code or (ii) is entitled to rely on a favorable opinion letter from the IRS, and no fact or event has occurred since the date of such determination or opinion letter or letters from the IRS that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualified status of any such Plan or the exempt status of any such trust.

(g) There has not been any non-exempt prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) nor any reportable events (within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA) with respect to any Plan that could reasonably be expected to result in material liability to the Company. There have been no acts or omissions by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate that have given or could reasonably be expected to give rise to any material fines, penalties, Taxes or related charges under Sections 502 or 4071 of ERISA or Chapter 43 of the Code for which the Company may be liable.

(h) The Company and each ERISA Affiliate have each complied in all material respects with the notice and continuation coverage requirements, and all other requirements, of Section 4980B of the Code and Parts 6 and 7 of Title I of ERISA, and the regulations thereunder, with respect to each Plan that is, or was during any Tax year for which the statute of limitations on the assessment of federal income Taxes remains open, by consent or otherwise, a group health plan within the meaning of Section 5000(b)(1) of the Code.

 

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(i) The Company and each Plan that is a “group health plan” as defined in Section 733(a)(1) of ERISA (each, a “Health Plan”) is and has been in compliance, in all material respects, with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (“PPACA”), and no event has occurred, and no condition or circumstance exists, that could reasonably be expected to subject the Company to any material liability for penalties or excise Taxes under Code Section 4980D or 4980H or any other provision of the PPACA.

(j) Each Plan that constitutes a nonqualified deferred compensation plan subject to Section 409A of the Code has been administered and operated, in all material respects, in compliance with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, and no additional Tax under Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code has been or could reasonably be expected to be incurred by a participant in any such Plan. Each Company Option was granted at a price no less than fair market value on the date of grant.

2.12 Labor Matters.

(a) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or other labor union contract applicable to persons employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries nor does the Company have knowledge of any activities or proceedings of any labor union to organize any such employees. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (i) there are no pending grievance or similar proceedings involving the Company or its Subsidiaries and any of its employees subject to a collective bargaining agreement or other labor union contract and (ii) there are no continuing obligations of the Company or its Subsidiaries pursuant to the resolution of any such proceeding that is no longer pending.

(b) To the knowledge of the Company, as of the Agreement Date, none of the officers of the Company or its Subsidiaries has indicated an intent to terminate his or her employment with the Company. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects and, to the Company’s knowledge, each of its employees and consultants is in compliance in all material respects, with the terms of the respective employment and consulting agreements between the Company (or one of its Subsidiaries) and such individuals.

(c) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (i) the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all Legal Requirements applicable to its employees, respecting employment, employment practices, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours and is not liable for any arrears of wages or penalties with respect thereto, (ii) all amounts that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is legally or contractually required either (x) to deduct from its employees’ salaries or to transfer to such employees’ pension or provident, life insurance, incapacity insurance, continuing education fund or other similar funds or (y) to withhold from its employees’ salaries and benefits and to pay to any Governmental Entity as required by applicable Legal Requirements have, in each case, been duly deducted, transferred, withheld and paid, and the Company and its Subsidiaries do not have any outstanding obligation to make any such deduction, transfer, withholding or payment, and (iii) there are no pending, or to the Company’s knowledge, threatened or reasonably anticipated claims or actions against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by any employee in connection with such employee’s employment or termination of employment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(d) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, no employee or former employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is owed any wages, benefits or other compensation for past services that has not yet been paid or reimbursed (other than wages, benefits and compensation accrued in the ordinary course of business during the current pay period and any accrued benefits for services, which by their terms or under applicable law, are payable in the future, such as accrued vacation, recreation leave and severance pay).

(e) To the Company’s knowledge, prior to the Agreement Date, the Company has not experienced any material employment-related liability with respect to or arising out of COVID-19 or any Legal Requirement, directive, guidelines or recommendations by any Governmental Entity in connection with or in response to COVID-19. Prior to the Agreement Date there have been no furloughs, layoffs, or salary reductions affecting any employee of the Company or any Subsidiary as a result of or in response to COVID-19.

 

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2.13 Restrictions on Business Activities. There is no agreement, commitment, judgment, injunction, order or decree binding upon the Company or its Subsidiaries or their respective assets or to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party which has had or would reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting or materially impairing any business practice of the Company or its Subsidiaries, any acquisition of property by the Company or its Subsidiaries or the conduct of business by the Company or its Subsidiaries as currently conducted other than such effects, individually or in the aggregate, which have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

2.14 Title to Property.

(a) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary owns any real property. As of the Agreement Date there are no options or other contracts under which the Company or any Subsidiary has a right or obligation to acquire any material interest in real property.

(b) All leases of material real property held by the Company and its Subsidiaries, and all material personal property and other material property and assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries owned, used or held for use in connection with the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries (the “Personal Property”), are shown or reflected on the balance sheet included in the most recent Financial Statements, to the extent required by U.S. GAAP applied on a consistent basis in accordance with past practice, other than those entered into or acquired on or after the date of the most recent Financial Statements in the ordinary course of business. Schedule 2.14(b) hereto contains a list, as of the Agreement Date, of all leases of material real property and Personal Property held by the Company or its Subsidiaries. The Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to the Personal Property owned by them, and all such Personal Property is in each case held free and clear of all Liens, except for Permitted Liens or Liens disclosed in the Audited Financial Statements or in Schedule 2.14(b) hereto, none of which Liens would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on such property or on the present use of such property in the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

(c) All material leases pursuant to which the Company and/or one of its Subsidiaries leases from others material real property or Personal Property are valid and effective in accordance with their respective terms, subject to proper authorization and execution of such lease by the other party thereto and subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar Legal Requirements of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general principles of equity and there is not, under any of such leases, any existing material default or event of default of the Company or its Subsidiaries or, to the Company’s knowledge, any other party (or any event which with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a material default), except where the lack of such validity and effectiveness or the existence of such default or event of default would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

2.15 Taxes.

(a) Tax Returns and Audits. Except as set forth in Schedule 2.15 hereto:

(i) The Company and its Subsidiaries have timely filed all federal, state, local and foreign returns, estimates, information statements and reports relating to Taxes (“Returns”) required to be filed by them with any Tax authority prior to the Agreement Date, except such Returns that are not material to the Company and its Subsidiaries. All such Returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects. The Company and its Subsidiaries have paid all material Taxes shown to be due and payable on such Returns.

(ii) All material Taxes that the Company and its Subsidiaries are required by law to withhold or collect have been duly withheld or collected, and have been timely paid over to the proper Governmental Entity to the extent due and payable.

(iii) The Company and its Subsidiaries have not been delinquent in the payment of any material Tax nor is there any material Tax deficiency outstanding, proposed or assessed against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, nor has the Company or any of its Subsidiaries executed any unexpired waiver of any statute of limitations on or extending the period for the assessment or collection of any Tax. The Company and its Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects with all Legal Requirements with

 

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respect to payments made to third parties and the withholding of any payment of withheld Taxes and has timely withheld from employee wages and other payments and timely paid over in full to the proper taxing authorities all material amounts required to be so withheld and paid over for all periods.

(iv) No audit or other examination of any Return of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by any Tax authority is presently in progress, nor has the Company or any of its Subsidiaries been notified in writing of any request for such an audit or other examination.

(v) No material adjustment relating to any Returns filed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been proposed in writing, formally or informally, by any Tax authority to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any representative thereof.

(vi) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any material liability for any unpaid Taxes which have not been accrued for or reserved on the Company’s balance sheets included in the Audited Financial Statements or the Unaudited Financial Statements, whether asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise, other than any liability for unpaid Taxes that may have accrued since the end of the most recent fiscal year in connection with the operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or any liability for unpaid Taxes incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(vii) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken, intends to take, or has agreed to take any action or is aware of any fact or circumstance that would prevent or impede, or would reasonably be expected to prevent or impede, the Merger from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

2.16 Environmental Matters.

(a) Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a material liability of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole: (i) the Company and its Subsidiaries are and at all times during the Lookback Period have been in compliance in all material respects with applicable Environmental Laws (as defined below); (ii) none of the Company or its Subsidiaries or, the knowledge of the Company, any third party has caused any properties currently leased or operated by the Company or its Subsidiaries to be contaminated with any Hazardous Substances (as defined below) in violation of applicable Environmental Law; (iii) to the Company’s knowledge the properties formerly leased or operated by the Company or its Subsidiaries were not contaminated with Hazardous Substances during the period of ownership, leasing or operation by the Company or its Subsidiaries; (iv) as of the Agreement Date, none of the Company or its Subsidiaries has received written notice that it is potentially liable for any Hazardous Substance disposal or contamination on any third party or public property (whether above, on or below ground or in the atmosphere or water); (v) as of the Agreement Date, none of the Company or its Subsidiaries has received any written notice, demand, letter, claim or request for information alleging that the Company or any Subsidiary may be in material violation of or have material liability under any Environmental Law; and (vi) as of the Agreement Date, none of the Company or its Subsidiaries is subject to any orders, decrees, injunctions or other arrangements with any Governmental Entity or subject to any contractual indemnity or other agreement with any third party relating to a material liability under any Environmental Law, including in relation to Hazardous Substances.

(b) Schedule 2.16(b) sets forth all “Phase I” or “Phase II” environmental site assessment (or equivalent) reports with respect to properties owned, leased or operated by the Company and/or its Subsidiaries as of the Agreement Date that are known to, and in the possession or reasonable control of, the Company. All such written reports have been made available to Parent.

2.17 Brokers; Third Party Expenses. Except as set forth in Schedule 2.17 hereto, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred, nor will it incur, directly or indirectly, any liability for brokerage, finders’ fees, agent’s commissions or any similar charges in connection with this Agreement or any transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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2.18 Intellectual Property.

(a) Schedule 2.18(i) hereto contains a true, correct and complete list of all Company Registered Intellectual Property that are owned or purported to be owned by the Company, as of the Agreement Date (showing in each, as applicable, the filing date, date of issuance, and registration or application number, and registrar). Schedule 2.18(ii) sets forth all contracts or agreements to use any material Company Licensed Intellectual Property, including for Software or Business Systems of any other person (other than (1) licenses to standard, commercially available, “off-the-shelf” Software (including open source licenses), (2) standard employee agreements and standard consulting agreements containing background licenses; and (3) non-exclusive licenses granted to the Company in the ordinary course (each of the agreements in clauses (1)-(3), the “Standard Inbound IP Agreements”)). To the knowledge of the Company, the Company Intellectual Property together with the Company Licensed Intellectual Property constitutes all of the material Intellectual Property rights used in, or necessary for, the operation of the business of the Company and is sufficient for the conduct of such business as currently conducted as of the date hereof.

(b) To the knowledge of the Company, the Company owns or has rights to use all Intellectual Property required for the conduct of its business as presently conducted. Except as disclosed in Schedule 2.18 hereto, no Company Intellectual Property or Company Product is subject to any material proceeding or outstanding decree, order, judgment or stipulation restricting in any manner the use, transfer or licensing thereof by the Company, or which would reasonably be expected to negatively affect the validity or enforceability of such Company Intellectual Property, which in any such case would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

(c) Except as disclosed in Schedule 2.18 hereto, the Company owns and has good and exclusive title to each material item of Company Intellectual Property free and clear of any Liens (excluding non-exclusive licenses and related restrictions granted by it in the ordinary course of business), except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(d) To the knowledge of the Company, (i) within the past three (3) years, the operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as such business currently is conducted, including the Company’s use of any product, device or process, has not and does not infringe or misappropriate the Intellectual Property of any third party or constitute unfair competition or trade practices under the laws of any jurisdiction, (ii) the Company Intellectual Property has not within the past (3) years and does not infringe or misappropriate the Intellectual Property of any third party, (iii) the Company has not within the past three (3) years received any claims or threats in writing from third parties alleging any such infringement, misappropriation or unfair competition or trade practices and (iv) no third party has within the past three (3) years materially infringed or misappropriated any Company Intellectual Property. The Company has taken commercially reasonable actions to ensure that the Company Intellectual Property and the operation of the business of the Company do not infringe or misappropriate the Intellectual Property of any third party or constitute unfair competition or trade practices under the laws of any applicable jurisdiction where the Company has operations.

(e) The Company has taken and takes reasonable actions to maintain, protect and enforce its material Intellectual Property rights, including the secrecy, confidentiality and value of its trade secrets and other confidential information. The Company has not disclosed any trade secrets or other material confidential information that relates to the Company Products or is otherwise material to the business of the Company to any other person other than pursuant to a written confidentiality agreement under which such other person agrees to maintain the confidentiality and protect such confidential information.

(f) All persons who have contributed, developed or conceived any material Company Intellectual Property have executed valid and enforceable written agreements with the Company, substantially in the form made available to Parent, and pursuant to which such persons assigned to the Company all of their entire right, title, and interest in and to any Intellectual Property created, conceived or otherwise developed by such person in the course of and related to his, her or its relationship with the Company, without further consideration or any restrictions or obligations whatsoever, including on the use or other disposition or ownership of such Intellectual Property.

 

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(g) Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any other person is in material breach or in material default of any agreement specified in Schedule 2.18.

(h) To the knowledge of the Company, there are no current unresolved material defects, technical concerns or problems in any of the Company Products which are not of the type that are capable of being remediated in the ordinary course of business.

(i) With respect to Business Systems which do not constitute Company Products (the “IT Systems”), the Company owns, leases, licenses, or otherwise has the legal right to use all such IT Systems, and such IT Systems are sufficient for the current needs of the business of the Company. The Company maintains commercially reasonable disaster recovery, business continuity and risk assessment plans, procedures and facilities. To the knowledge of the Company, during the past three (3) years and as of the Agreement Date, there has not been any material failure with respect to any of the Business Systems that has not been remedied or replaced in all material respects.

(j) The Company is currently, and at all times during the Lookback Period was, in compliance in all material respects with (i) all applicable Privacy/Data Security Laws, (ii) any applicable public facing privacy policies of the Company concerning the collection, dissemination, storage or use of Personal Information or other Business Data, (iii) industry standards to which the Company purports to adhere, and (iv) all contractual commitments that the Company has entered into with respect to privacy and/or data security (collectively, the “Data Security Requirements”). The Company has implemented commercially reasonable data security safeguards designed to protect the security and integrity of the Business Systems and Business Data. The Company’s employees and contractors with access to or control over Personal Information or Business Data receive reasonable training on information security issues. During the past three (3) years and as of the Agreement Date, the Company has not (x) to the knowledge of the Company, experienced any data security breaches, unauthorized access or use of any of the Business Systems, or unauthorized acquisition, destruction, damage, disclosure, loss, corruption, alteration, or use of any Business Data which would require notification to a Governmental Authority or any customer or other individual; or (y) been subject to or received written notice of any audits, proceedings or investigations by any Governmental Authority or any customer, or received any material claims or complaints regarding the collection, dissemination, storage or use of Personal Information, or the violation of any applicable Data Security Requirements, and, to the knowledge of the Company, there is no reasonable basis for the same.

(k) The Company (i) exclusively owns and possesses all right, title and interest in and to the Business Data constituting Company Intellectual Property, free and clear of any restrictions other than those imposed by applicable Privacy/Data Security Laws or (ii) has the right to use, exploit, publish, reproduce, distribute, license, sell, and create derivative works of the Business Data, in whole or in part, in the manner in which the Company receives and uses such Business Data prior to the Closing Date. The Company is not subject to any contractual requirements, privacy policies, or other legal obligations, including based on the transactions contemplated hereunder, that would prohibit Merger Sub or Parent from receiving or using Personal Information or other Business Data after the Closing Date, in the manner in which the Company receives and uses such Personal Information and other Business Data prior to the Closing Date or result in liabilities in connection with Data Security Requirements.

(l) All past and current employees and independent contractors of the Company who have contributed to material Company Intellectual Property have entered into employee invention assignment and confidentiality agreements with the Company on the Company’s standard forms of such agreement made available to Parent, except as set forth on Schedule 2.18(l).

(m) The Company is not, nor has it ever been, a member or promoter of, or a contributor to, any industry standards body or similar standard setting organization that could require or obligate the Company to grant or offer to any other person any license or right to any Company Intellectual Property.

 

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2.19 Agreements, Contracts and Commitments.

(a) Schedule 2.19 hereto sets forth a complete and accurate list of all Material Company Contracts (as hereinafter defined) in effect on the Agreement Date, specifying the parties thereto. For purposes of this Agreement, (i) the term “Company Contracts” shall mean all legally binding contracts, agreements, purchase orders, leases, mortgages, indentures, notes, and bonds, whether written or oral, to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may be bound (including without limitation notes for borrowed money payable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) and (ii) the term “Material Company Contracts” shall mean (x) each Company Contract (A) providing for expected payments (present or future) to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $5,000,000 annually in the aggregate or (B) under or in respect of which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries presently is expected to make an expenditure in excess of $5,000,000 annually (other than any Company Contract of employment), and (y) the limitations of subclause (x) notwithstanding, each of the following Company Contracts:

(i) any mortgage, indenture, note, installment obligation or other instrument or agreement for or relating to any borrowing of money or guarantee thereof by the Company or any Subsidiary to any Insider, other than in connection with the advancement of expenses to employees in the ordinary course of business;

(ii) any mortgage, indenture, note, installment obligation or other instrument or agreement for or relating to any borrowing of money or guarantee thereof from an Insider by the Company or any Subsidiary, other than in connection with the payment of Company expenses (subject to reimbursement) in the ordinary course of business;

(iii) any guaranty, direct or indirect, by the Company or a Subsidiary of any obligation of a third party (other than the Company or any Subsidiary) for borrowings, or otherwise, in excess of $1,000,000, excluding endorsements made for collection in the ordinary course of business;

(iv) any Company Contract of employment (excluding customary form offer letters entered into in the ordinary course of business) with an employee of the Company or its Subsidiaries that provides for annual base cash compensation in excess of $300,000;

(v) any Company Contract made other than in the ordinary course of business (x) providing for the grant of any preferential rights of first offer or first refusal to purchase or lease any material asset of the Company or any Subsidiary or (y) providing for any exclusive right to sell or distribute, or otherwise relating to the exclusive sale or distribution of, any product or service of the Company or any Subsidiary;

(vi) any obligation to register any shares of the capital stock or other securities of the Company with the SEC or any similar Governmental Entity;

(vii) any obligation to make payments, contingent or otherwise, arising out of the prior acquisition of the business, all or substantially all of the assets or stock of other Persons;

(viii) any collective bargaining agreement with any labor union;

(ix) any lease or similar arrangement for the use by the Company or any Subsidiary of real property or Personal Property where the annual lease payments are greater than $1,000,000 (other than any lease of vehicles, office equipment or operating equipment made in the ordinary course of business);

(x) any Company Contract not terminable in connection with the Closing to which any Insider, or any entity owned or controlled by an Insider, is a party (other than (A) Company Contracts with Affiliates of an Insider that are on arms’ length terms and (B) employment agreements with employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries);

(xi) any Company Contract relating to the purchase of engineering or design services that involve more than $500,000 in annual payments, other than those contracts and agreements that have been fully performed and under which no further services are due;

 

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(xii) any Company Contract involving use of any Company Licensed Intellectual Property required to be listed in Schedule 2.18(a)(ii);

(xiii) any Company Contract which involves the license or grant of rights to Company Intellectual Property by the Company (other than (A) non-exclusive licenses granted by the Company in the ordinary course and (B) non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements entered in the ordinary course);

(xiv) any Company Contract under which the Company has agreed to purchase goods or services from a vendor, supplier or other person on a preferred supplier or “most favored nation” basis or is otherwise subject to restrictions materially limiting the Company’s ability to conduct business anywhere in the world; and

(xv) any agreement for the development of material Company Intellectual Property for the benefit of the Company (other than employee invention assignment and confidentiality agreements entered into on the Company’s standard form of such agreement made available to Parent).

(b) Each Material Company Contract is in full force and effect and, to the Company’s knowledge, is valid and binding upon and enforceable against each of the parties thereto, except insofar as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by principles governing the availability of equitable remedies. To the Company’s knowledge, no other party to a Material Company Contract is the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding. True, correct and complete copies of all Material Company Contracts have been heretofore made available to Parent or Parent’s counsel.

(c) Except as set forth in Schedule 2.19, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary party thereto nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any other party thereto is in breach of or in default under, and, to the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a breach of or default under, any Material Company Contract, and no party to any Material Company Contract has given any written notice of any claim of any such breach, default or event, in each case, which breach, default or event, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

(d) As of the Agreement Date and to the Company’s knowledge, all Material Company Contracts are being performed without any party thereto relying on any force majeure provisions to excuse non-performance or performance delays arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2.20 Insurance. Schedule 2.20 sets forth, as of the Agreement Date, the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ material Insurance Policies. The coverages provided by the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ Insurance Policies are believed by the Company to be reasonably adequate in amount and scope for the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ business and operations, including any insurance required to be maintained by Material Company Contracts.

2.21 Governmental Actions/Filings.

(a) The Company and its Subsidiaries have been granted and hold, and have made, all Governmental Actions/Filings (including, without limitation, Governmental Actions/Filings required for emission or discharge of effluents and pollutants into the air and the water) necessary to the conduct by the Company and its Subsidiaries of their businesses (as presently conducted) or used or held for use by the Company and its Subsidiaries, except for any of the foregoing that if not granted, held or made would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in substantial compliance in all material respects with all of their obligations with respect to such Governmental Actions/Filings. To the knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred and is continuing which requires or permits, or after notice or lapse of time or both would require or permit, and consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any ancillary documents will not require or permit (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both), any modification or termination of any such Governmental Actions/Filings except such events which, either individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

 

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(b) To the knowledge of the Company, no Governmental Action/Filing is necessary to be obtained, secured or made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to enable any of them to continue to conduct its businesses and operations and use its properties after the Closing in a manner which is substantially consistent in all material respects with current practice.

2.22 Interested Party Transactions. Except as set forth in the Schedule 2.22 hereto, no Insider or a member of his or her immediate family is indebted to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, nor is the Company or any of its Subsidiaries indebted (or committed to make loans or extend or guarantee credit) to any of such Persons, other than (i) for payment of salary for services rendered, (ii) reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) for other employee benefits made generally available to all employees, and (iv) arms’ length relationships between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and an Affiliate of an Insider, on the other hand.

2.23 Board Approval. The board of directors of the Company (including any required committee or subgroup thereof) has, as of the date of this Agreement, duly approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby in accordance with the Charter Documents of the Company.

2.24 Company Stockholder Approval. The approval and adoption of this Agreement, the Merger, and the transactions contemplated hereby, by the holders of Company Stock requires the affirmative vote of (i) the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock and Company Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class on an as-converted basis, (ii) the holders of sixty-three percent (63%) of the outstanding shares of Company Preferred Stock, voting as a separate class, and (iii) the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Company Series C-1 Preferred Stock, voting as a separate class, in each case, given in writing or at a meeting in accordance with the Company’s Charter Documents. The Company Stockholder Approval is the only vote of holders of Company Stock necessary to approve this Agreement, the Merger, and the other transactions contemplated hereby. The affirmative vote of the Supporting Stockholders will be sufficient to obtain the Company Stockholder Approval.

2.25 Customers and Suppliers.

(a) A list of the top ten (10) customers (by revenue) of the Company, (i) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020 and (ii) as of September 30, 2020 (collectively, the “Material Customers”), and the aggregate amount of consideration paid to the Company by each Material Customer during each such period, has been provided to Parent. Except as set forth in Schedule 2.25(a), as of the Agreement Date, no such Material Customer has expressed to the Company in writing, and the Company has no knowledge of, any Material Customer’s intention to cancel or otherwise terminate, or materially reduce or adversely modify, its relationship with the Company or of a material breach of the terms of any contract with such Material Customer. As of the Agreement Date, no Material Customer has asserted or threatened to assert a force majeure event or anticipated inability to perform, in whole or in part, arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

(b) A list of the top ten (10) vendors to and/or suppliers of (by spend) of the Company (i) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020 and (ii) as of September 30, 2020 (collectively, the “Material Suppliers”), and the amount of consideration paid to each Material Supplier by the Company during each such period, has been provided to Parent. Except as set forth in Schedule 2.25(b), no Material Supplier is the sole source of the goods or services supplied by such Material Supplier.

2.26 Proxy Statement. None of the information relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries supplied by the Company, or by any other Person acting on behalf of the Company at its direction, in writing specifically for inclusion in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus will, as of the date the Proxy Statement/Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) is first mailed to the Parent Stockholders, at the time of the Special Meeting or at the Effective Time, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, provided that no warranty or representation is made by the Company with respect to (i) statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on information supplied by Parent or Merger Sub or their respective Affiliates for inclusion in such materials or (ii) any projections or forecasts included in such materials.

 

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2.27 No Additional Representations and Warranties. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Article II (as modified by the Company Schedules) and in any Ancillary Agreement, neither the Company, any Subsidiary, any of their respective Affiliates, nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees, stockholders, partners, members or representatives has made, or is making, any other express or implied representation or warranty whatsoever with respect to the Company, its Affiliates, and any matter relating to any of them, including their affairs, the condition, value or quality of their assets, liabilities, financial condition or results of operations, or with respect to the accuracy or completeness of any other information made available to Parent, its Affiliates or any of their respective representatives by, or on behalf of, Company, and any such representations or warranties are expressly disclaimed. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, neither the Company nor any other person on behalf of Company has made or makes, any representation or warranty, whether express or implied, with respect to any projections, forecasts or estimates or budgets made available to Parent, its Affiliates or any of their respective representatives of future revenues, future results of operations (or any component thereof), future cash flows or future financial condition (or any component thereof) of the Company (including the reasonableness of the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing), whether or not included in any management presentation or in any other information made available to Parent, its Affiliates or any of their respective representatives or any other person, and that any such representations or warranties are expressly disclaimed. The Company is not relying on any statement, representation or warranty, oral or written, express or implied, made by Parent or Merger Sub or any of their respective representatives, except as expressly set forth in Article III (as modified by the Parent Schedule), in any Ancillary Agreement, or in any Parent SEC Report.

2.28 Independent Investigation; No Reliance. The Company has conducted its own independent investigation, verification, review and analysis of the business, operations, assets, liabilities, results of operations, financial condition, technology and prospects of Parent and Merger Sub, which investigation, review and analysis was conducted by the Company and its Affiliates and, to the extent deemed appropriate by them, by representatives of the Company. In entering into this Agreement, the Company acknowledges that it has relied solely upon the aforementioned investigation, review and analysis and the representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub expressly set forth in Article III of this Agreement and Parent and Merger Sub expressly set forth in any Ancillary Agreement. The Company further acknowledges and agrees with the representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub set forth in Section 3.27.

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB

Subject to the exceptions set forth in Schedule 3 delivered by Parent and Merger Sub to the Company in connection with this Agreement (the “Parent Schedule”), each of Parent and Merger Sub represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

3.1 Organization and Qualification.

(a) Each of Parent and Merger Sub is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its assets and properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. Each of Parent and Merger Sub is in possession of all Approvals necessary to own, lease and operate the properties it purports to own, operate or lease and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, except where the absence of such Approvals would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent or Merger Sub. Complete and correct copies of the Charter Documents of each of Parent and Merger Sub, as amended and currently in effect, have been heretofore delivered to the Company.

(b) Each of Parent and Merger Sub is duly qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of its activities makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except for such failures to be so duly qualified or licensed and in good standing that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent or Merger Sub. As of the Agreement Date, each jurisdiction in which Parent or Merger Sub is so qualified or licensed is listed in Schedule 3.1(b).

 

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3.2 Subsidiaries. As of the Agreement Date, Parent has no, and has never had any, direct or indirect subsidiaries or participations in joint ventures or other entities other than Merger Sub, and Merger Sub has no, and has never had any, direct or indirect subsidiaries or participations in joint ventures or other entities. Parent owns all of the outstanding equity securities of Merger Sub, free and clear of all Liens. Except for Parent’s ownership of Merger Sub, neither Parent nor Merger Sub owns, directly or indirectly, any equity or voting interest in any Person or has any agreement or commitment to purchase any such interest, and has not agreed and is not obligated to make nor is bound by any written or oral agreement, contract, subcontract, lease, binding understanding, instrument, note, option, warranty, purchase order, license, sublicense, insurance policy, benefit plan, commitment or undertaking of any nature, as of the Agreement Date or as may hereafter be in effect under which it may become obligated to make, any future investment in or capital contribution to any other Person. Merger Sub does not have any assets or properties of any kind, does not now conduct and has never conducted any business, and has and will have at the Closing no obligations or liabilities of any nature whatsoever, except for such obligations as are imposed under this Agreement.

3.3 Capitalization.

(a) As of the Agreement Date, the authorized capital stock of Parent consists of 125,000,000 shares of Parent Common Stock, 25,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Founder Common Stock”), and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Parent Preferred Stock” and together with the Parent Common Stock and Founder Common Stock, the “Parent Stock”), of which 25,435,000 shares of Parent Common Stock, 6,358,750 shares of Founder Common Stock and no shares of Parent Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding, all of which are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Each share of Founder Common Stock will convert into one share of Parent Common Stock at the Closing.

(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.3(b), (i) no shares of Parent Stock are reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options to purchase Parent Stock granted to employees of Parent or other parties (“Parent Stock Options”) and there are no outstanding Parent Stock Options; (ii) no shares of Parent Stock are reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding warrants to purchase Parent Stock (“Parent Warrants”) and there are no outstanding Parent Warrants; and (iii) no shares of Parent Stock are reserved for issuance upon the conversion of the Parent Preferred Stock or any outstanding convertible notes, debentures or securities (“Parent Convertible Securities”) and there are no outstanding Parent Convertible Securities. All shares of Parent Stock subject to issuance as aforesaid, upon issuance on the terms and conditions specified in the instrument pursuant to which they are issuable, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. All outstanding shares of Parent Stock and all outstanding Parent Warrants have been issued and granted in compliance with (x) all applicable securities laws and (in all material respects) other applicable laws and regulations, and (y) all requirements set forth in any applicable Parent Contracts.

(c) Except as set forth in the PIPE Documents, Section 3.3(a), Section 3.3(b), Schedule 3.3(b), or Schedule 3.3(c) hereto, there are no subscriptions, options, warrants, equity securities, partnership interests or similar ownership interests, calls, rights (including preemptive rights), commitments or agreements of any character to which Parent or Merger Sub is a party or by which it is bound obligating Parent or Merger Sub to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or cause the repurchase, redemption or acquisition of, any shares of capital stock, partnership interests or similar ownership interests of Parent or Merger Sub or obligating Parent or Merger Sub to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of or enter into any such subscription, option, warrant, equity security, call, right, commitment or agreement. Neither Parent nor Merger Sub has any outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other obligations the holders of which have or upon the happening of certain events would have the right to vote (or which are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for securities having the right to vote) with the stockholders of Parent or Merger Sub on any matter.

(d) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.3(d) or as contemplated by this Agreement or the PIPE Documents, there are no registration rights, and there is no voting trust, proxy, rights plan, anti-takeover plan or other agreements or understandings to which Parent or Merger Sub is a party or by which Parent or Merger Sub is bound with respect to any equity security of any class of the Parent Stock or any equity securities of Merger Sub.

 

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(e) Except as provided for in this Agreement or the PIPE Documents or as set forth in Schedule 3.3(e), as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, no shares of capital stock, warrants, options or other securities of Parent or Merger Sub are issuable and no rights in connection with any shares, warrants, options or other securities of the Parent or Merger Sub accelerate or otherwise become triggered (whether as to vesting, exercisability, convertibility or otherwise).

(f) As of the Agreement Date, no outstanding shares of Parent Stock or equity securities of Merger Sub are unvested or subjected to a repurchase option, risk of forfeiture or other condition under any applicable agreement with Parent or Merger Sub.

(g) The shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued by Parent in connection with the Merger, upon issuance in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly authorized and validly issued and such shares of Parent Common Stock will be fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all Liens.

(h) The authorized and outstanding share capital of Merger Sub is 1,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share. Parent owns all of the outstanding equity securities of Merger Sub, free and clear of all Liens.

3.4 Authority Relative to this Agreement. Each of Parent and Merger Sub has all necessary corporate power and authority to: (i) execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, and each Ancillary Agreement that Parent and Merger Sub has executed or delivered or is to execute or deliver pursuant to this Agreement, and (ii) carry out Parent’s and Merger Sub’s obligations hereunder and thereunder and, subject to approval by its stockholders, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the Merger). The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is party by Parent and Merger Sub and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated hereby (including the Merger) have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Parent and Merger Sub (including the approval by their respective boards of directors and, prior to the Closing, its stockholders as required by the DGCL and any other Legal Requirement). No other corporate proceedings on the part of Parent or Merger Sub are necessary to authorize this Agreement or the applicable Ancillary Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, other than the approval of the Parent Stockholders. This Agreement and the applicable Ancillary Agreements has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Parent and Merger Sub and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the other parties hereto or thereto, constitutes the legal and binding obligation of Parent and Merger Sub, enforceable against Parent and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.

3.5 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.

(a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement by each of Parent and Merger Sub do not, and the performance of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub shall not: (i) conflict with or violate Parent’s or Merger Sub’s Charter Documents, (ii) conflict with or violate any Legal Requirements, (iii) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or materially impair Parent’s or Merger Sub’s rights or alter the rights or obligations of any third party under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a Lien on any of the properties or assets of Parent or Merger Sub (other than Permitted Liens) pursuant to, any Parent Contracts or (iv) result in the triggering, acceleration or increase of any payment to any Person pursuant to any Parent Contract, including any “change in control” or similar provision of any Parent Contracts, except, with respect to clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv), for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults, impairments, alterations, triggerings, accelerations, increases or other occurrences that would not, individually and in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent or Merger Sub.

 

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(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub do not, and the performance of their respective obligations hereunder will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to, any Governmental Entity, or other third party (including, without limitation, lenders and lessors), except (i) for applicable requirements, if any, of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, state securities laws, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and appropriate documents received from or filed with the relevant authorities of other jurisdictions in which Parent is qualified to do business, (ii) for the filing of any notifications required under the HSR Act and the expiration of the required waiting period thereunder, (iii) the qualification of Parent as a foreign corporation in those jurisdictions in which the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries makes such qualification necessary, (iv) for the approval of the Parent Stockholders in accordance with Section 5.1, (v) for the filing of the Certificate of Merger, and (vi) where the failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to (x) have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent or Merger Sub, or (y) prevent the consummation of the Merger or otherwise prevent Parent or Merger Sub from performing their material obligations under this Agreement on a timely basis.

3.6 Compliance. During the Lookback Period, each of Parent and Merger Sub has complied with all, and is not in violation of any, Legal Requirements with respect to the conduct of its business, or the ownership or operation of its business, except for failures to comply or violations which, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent or Merger Sub. During the Lookback Period, the businesses and activities of Parent and Merger Sub have not been and are not being conducted in violation of any Legal Requirements, except for violations which, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent or Merger Sub. Neither Parent nor Merger Sub is in default or violation in any material respect of any term, condition or provision of any applicable Charter Documents. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.6, during the Lookback Period, no written notice of non-compliance with any Legal Requirements has been received by Parent or Merger Sub (and Parent has no knowledge of any such notice delivered to any other Person).

3.7 Parent SEC Reports and Financial Statements.

(a) The Parent has timely filed all required registration statements, reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents filed by Parent with the SEC since its formation (collectively, as they have been amended since the time of their filing and including all exhibits thereto, the “Parent SEC Reports”). None of the Parent SEC Reports, as of their respective dates (or, if amended or superseded by a filing prior to the Agreement Date or the Closing Date, then on the date of such filing), contained 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. The audited financial statements of Parent (“Parent Audited Financial Statements”) and unaudited interim financial statements of Parent (“Parent Unaudited Financial Statements” and, together with the Parent Audited Financial Statements, the “Parent Financial Statements”) (including, in each case, the notes and schedules thereto) included in the Parent SEC Reports complied as to form in all material respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, were prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP applied on a consistent basis in accordance with past practice during the periods involved (except as may be indicated therein or in the notes thereto and except with respect to unaudited statements as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC) and fairly present (subject, in the case of the unaudited interim financial statements included therein, to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of complete footnotes) in all material respects the financial position of Parent and Merger Sub as of the respective dates thereof and the results of their operations and cash flows for the respective periods then ended. Parent has no off-balance sheet arrangements that are not disclosed in the Parent SEC Reports.

(b) Parent has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act). Such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to Parent is made known to Parent’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer, particularly during the periods in which the periodic reports required under the Exchange Act are being prepared. To Parent’s knowledge, such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting Parent’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer to material information required to be included in Parent’s periodic reports required under the Exchange Act.

 

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(c) Parent has established and maintained a system of internal controls. To Parent’s knowledge, such internal controls are effective and sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of Parent’s financial reporting and the preparation of the Parent’s financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

(d) There are no outstanding loans or other extensions of credit made by Parent to any executive officer (as defined in Rule 3b-7 under the Exchange Act) or director of Parent. Parent has not taken any action prohibited by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

(e) To the knowledge of Parent, as of the Agreement Date, there are no outstanding SEC comments from the SEC with respect to the Parent SEC Reports. To the knowledge of Parent, none of the Parent SEC Reports filed on or prior to the Agreement Date is subject to ongoing SEC review or investigation as of the Agreement Date.

(f) Except as otherwise noted in the Parent Financial Statements, the accounts and notes receivable of Parent and Merger Sub reflected in the Parent Financial Statements: (i) to Parent’s knowledge, are legal, valid and binding obligations of the respective debtors enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as such may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and by general equitable principles, (ii) to Parent’s knowledge, are not subject to any valid set-off or counterclaim to which Parent has been notified in writing as of the Agreement Date except to the extent set forth in such balance sheet contained therein, and (iii) are not the subject of any actions or proceedings brought by or on behalf of Parent or Merger Sub as of the Agreement Date.

3.8 No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.8 hereto, neither Parent nor Merger Sub has any liabilities (absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) of a nature required to be disclosed on a balance sheet or in the related notes to the Parent Financial Statements that are, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business, results of operations or financial condition of Parent or Merger Sub, except: (i) liabilities provided for in or otherwise disclosed in the balance sheet included in the most recent Parent Financial Statements or in the notes to the most recent Parent Financial Statements, and (ii) such liabilities arising in the ordinary course of Parent’s or Merger Sub’s business since the date of the most recent Parent Financial Statement, none of which, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to be material to Parent and Merger Sub, taken as a whole.

3.9 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as contemplated by this Agreement, since the date of the most recent Parent Financial Statement until the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there has not been: (i) any Material Adverse Effect on Parent or Merger Sub, (ii) any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend on, or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property) in respect of, any of Parent’s capital stock, or any purchase, redemption or other acquisition by Parent of any of Parent’s capital stock or any other securities of Parent or any options, warrants, calls or rights to acquire any such shares or other securities, (iii) any split, combination or reclassification of any of Parent’s capital stock, (iv) any granting by Parent of any increase in compensation or fringe benefits, or any payment by Parent of any bonus, or any granting by Parent of any increase in severance or termination pay or any entry by Parent into any currently effective employment, severance, termination or indemnification agreement or any agreement the benefits of which are contingent or the terms of which are materially altered upon the occurrence of a transaction involving Parent of the nature contemplated hereby, (v) entry by Parent into any licensing or other agreement with regard to the acquisition or disposition of any material Intellectual Property other than licenses and services agreements in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or any amendment or consent with respect to any licensing or services agreement, (vi) any material change by Parent or Merger Sub in its accounting methods, principles or practices, except as required by concurrent changes in U.S. GAAP, (vii) any change in the auditors of Parent, or (viii) any material revaluation by Parent or Merger Sub of any of its assets, including, without limitation, writing down the value of capitalized inventory or writing off notes or accounts receivable or any sale of assets of Parent or Merger Sub.

3.10 Litigation. There are no, and have never been any, claims, suits, actions or proceedings pending or to Parent’s knowledge, threatened in writing against either Parent or Merger Sub, before any court, governmental department, commission, agency, instrumentality or authority, or any arbitrator.

3.11 Employee Benefit Plans. Neither Parent nor Merger Sub maintains, and has no liability under, any Plan, and neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will (i) result in any payment (including severance, unemployment compensation, golden parachute, bonus, or otherwise) becoming due to any stockholder, director, or employee of Parent or Merger Sub, or (ii) result in the acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such benefits.

 

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3.12 Labor Matters. Neither Parent nor Merger Sub is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or other labor union contract applicable to persons employed by Parent or Merger Sub and neither Parent nor Merger Sub knows of any activities or proceedings of any labor union to organize any such employees.

3.13 Business Activities. Since its organization, neither Parent nor Merger Sub has conducted any business activities other than activities directed toward the accomplishment of a business combination. Merger Sub was created for the purpose of facilitating the Merger and has not conducted any prior business activities, other than any such activities incidental to consummating the Merger. Except as set forth in the Parent Charter Documents, there is no agreement, commitment, exclusive license, judgment, injunction, order, or decree binding upon Parent or Merger Sub or to which Parent or Merger Sub is a party which has or would reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting or materially impairing any business practice of Parent or Merger Sub, any acquisition of property by Parent or Merger Sub, or the conduct of business by Parent or Merger Sub.

3.14 Title to Property. Neither Parent nor Merger Sub owns or leases any real property or personal property. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.14, as of the Agreement Date there are no options or other contracts under which Parent or Merger Sub has a right or obligation to acquire or lease any interest in real property or personal property.

3.15 Intellectual Property. Neither Parent nor Merger Sub owns, licenses, or otherwise has any right, title or interest in any material Intellectual Property.

3.16 Taxes. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.16 hereto:

(a) Each of Parent and Merger Sub has timely filed all Returns required to be filed by Parent and Merger Sub with any Tax authority prior to the Agreement Date, except such Returns which are not material to Parent. All such Returns are true, correct, and complete in all material respects. Each of Parent and Merger Sub has paid all material Taxes shown to be due and payable on such Returns.

(b) All material Taxes that Parent and Merger Sub are required by law to withhold or collect have been duly withheld or collected, and have been timely paid over to the proper Governmental Entity to the extent due and payable.

(c) Neither Parent nor Merger Sub has been delinquent in the payment of any material Tax, nor is there any material Tax deficiency outstanding, proposed or assessed against Parent, nor has Parent or Merger Sub executed any unexpired waiver of any statute of limitations on or extending the period for the assessment or collection of any Tax. Parent and Merger Sub have complied in all material respects with all Legal Requirements with respect to payments made to third parties and the withholding of any payment of withheld Taxes and has timely withheld from employee wages and other payments and timely paid over in full to the proper taxing authorities all material amounts required to be so withheld and paid over for all periods.

(d) No audit or other examination of any Return of Parent or Merger Sub by any Tax authority is presently in progress, nor has Parent or Merger Sub been notified in writing of any request for such an audit or other examination.

(e) No material adjustment relating to any Returns filed by Parent or Merger Sub has been proposed in writing, formally or informally, by any Tax authority to Parent or Merger Sub or any representative thereof.

(f) Neither Parent nor Merger Sub has any material liability for any unpaid Taxes which have not been accrued for or reserved on Parent’s balance sheets included in the Parent Audited Financial Statements for the most recent fiscal year ended, whether asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise, other than any material liability for unpaid Taxes that may have accrued since the end of the most recent fiscal year in connection with the operation of the business of Parent in the ordinary course of business, none of which is material to the business, results of operations or financial condition of Parent.

 

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(g) Neither Parent nor Merger Sub has taken, intends to take, or has agreed to take any action or is aware of any fact or circumstance that would prevent or impede, or would reasonably be expected to prevent or impede, the Merger from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

3.17 Environmental Matters. Except for such matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a material liability of Parent and Merger Sub, taken as a whole: (i) Parent and Merger Sub have complied in all material respects with applicable Environmental Laws; (ii) none of Parent or Merger Sub or, the knowledge of Parent, any third party, has caused any properties currently owned, leased or operated by Parent and Merger Sub to be contaminated with any Hazardous Substances; (iii) the properties formerly owned, leased or operated by Parent and Merger Sub were not contaminated with Hazardous Substances during the period of ownership, leasing or operation by Parent or Merger Sub; (iv) as of the Agreement Date, neither Parent nor Merger Sub has received notice that it is potentially liable for any Hazardous Substance disposal or contamination on any third party or public property (whether above, on, or below ground or in the atmosphere or water); (v) as of the Agreement Date, neither Parent nor Merger Sub has received any written notice, demand, letter, claim, or request for information alleging that Parent or Merger Sub may be in material violation of or have material liability under any Environmental Law; and (vii) neither Parent nor Merger Sub is subject to any orders, decrees, injunctions, or other arrangements with any Governmental Entity or subject to any contractual indemnity or other agreement with any third party relating to a material liability under any Environmental Law, including in relation to Hazardous Substances.

3.18 Brokers. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.18, neither Parent nor Merger Sub has incurred, and neither will incur, and neither has entered into any contract, agreement, understanding, arrangement or commitment pursuant to which the Surviving Corporation or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries could incur, directly or indirectly, any liability for brokerage or finders’ fees or agent’s commissions or any similar charges in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby.

3.19 Agreements, Contracts and Commitments.

(a) Except as set forth in the Parent SEC Reports filed prior to the Agreement Date or as set forth on Schedule 3.19(a), other than confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements, there are no contracts, agreements, leases, mortgages, indentures, notes, bonds, Liens, license, permit, franchise, purchase orders, sales orders or other understandings, commitments or obligations (including without limitation outstanding offers or proposals) of any kind, whether written or oral, to which Parent or Merger Sub is a party or by or to which any of the properties or assets of Parent or Merger Sub may be bound, subject or affected, which may not be cancelled without penalty or liability by Parent or Merger Sub on less than 30 days’ or less prior notice (“Parent Contracts”). All Parent Contracts as of the Agreement Date are listed in Schedule 3.19 other than those that are exhibits to the Parent SEC Reports.

(b) Except as set forth in the Parent SEC Reports filed prior to the Agreement Date, each Parent Contract is in full force and effect, and, to the knowledge of Parent, is valid and binding upon and enforceable against each of the parties thereto, except insofar as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by principles governing the availability of equitable remedies. True, correct, and complete copies of all Parent Contracts (or written summaries in the case of oral Parent Contracts) have been heretofore made available to the Company or Company counsel.

(c) Neither Parent or Merger Sub nor, to the knowledge of Parent, any other party thereto is in breach of or in default under, and, to the knowledge of Parent, no event has occurred which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a breach of or default under, any Parent Contract, and no party to any Parent Contract has given any written notice of any claim of any such breach, default or event, which, individually or in the aggregate, are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent or Merger Sub. Each Parent Contract that has not expired by its terms is in full force and effect, except where such failure to be in full force and effect is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent or Merger Sub.

 

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3.20 Insurance. Except for directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, neither Parent nor Merger Sub maintains any Insurance Policy.

3.21 Interested Party Transactions. (a) No employee, officer, director, or stockholder of Parent or Merger Sub or a member of his or her immediate family is indebted to Parent or Merger Sub nor is Parent or Merger Sub indebted (or committed to make loans or extend or guarantee credit) to any of them, other than reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred on behalf of Parent or Merger Sub; and (b) to Parent’s knowledge, no employee, officer, director, or stockholder or any member of his or her immediate family is, directly or indirectly, interested in any material contract with Parent or Merger Sub (other than such contracts as relate to the acquisition of such stockholder’s ownership of capital stock or other securities of Parent).

3.22 Parent Listing. The Parent Common Stock and Parent Warrants are listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”). There is no, and there has never been any, action or proceeding pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against Parent by the NYSE or the SEC with respect to any intention by such entity to prohibit or terminate the listing of Parent Common Stock on the NYSE. Parent is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable listing and corporate governance rules and regulations of the NYSE.

3.23 Board Approval. The board of directors of each of Parent and Merger Sub has, as of the Agreement Date, unanimously (i) declared the advisability of the Merger and approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby in accordance with the Charter Documents of Parent and Merger Sub, (ii) determined that the Merger is in the best interests of the stockholders of Parent and Merger Sub, and (iii) determined that the fair market value of the Company is equal to at least 80% of the balance in the Trust Fund (net of amounts previously disbursed to management for tax obligations and excluding the amount of deferred underwriting discounts held in trust). The sole stockholder of the Merger Sub has approved and adopted this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.

3.24 Trust Fund. As of the Agreement Date and immediately prior to the Closing, Parent has and will have no less than $254,350,000 invested in United States Government securities or money market funds meeting the conditions under Rule 2a-7(d) promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, in a trust account administered by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“Continental”, and such trust account, the “Trust Fund”), less such amounts, if any, as (i) Parent is required to pay to Redeeming Stockholders and (ii) Parent has paid under Section 1.11(b) out of the Trust Fund). Prior to the Closing, none of the funds held in the Trust Fund may be released except in accordance with that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of November 10, 2020 (the “Trust Agreement”), by and between Parent and Continental, Parent’s Charter Documents and the Final Prospectus. Parent has performed all material obligations required to be performed by it to date under, and is not in material 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. There are no claims or proceedings pending with respect to the Trust Fund. Since November 10, 2020 through the Agreement Date, Parent has not released any money from the Trust Fund (other than interest income earned on the principal held in the Trust Fund as permitted by the Trust Agreement). The Trust Agreement is in full force and effect and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of Parent, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and other similar Laws affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally, general equitable principles and the discretion of courts in granting equitable remedies. As of the Effective Time, upon approval of the Stockholder Matters, the obligations of Parent to dissolve or liquidate pursuant to Parent’s Charter Documents shall terminate, and as of the Effective Time, Parent shall have no obligation whatsoever pursuant to Parent’s Charter Documents to dissolve and liquidate the assets of Parent by reason of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. Following the Effective Time, no Parent Stockholder shall be entitled to receive any amount from the Trust Fund except to the extent such Parent Stockholder is a Redeeming Stockholder. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein and the compliance by the Company with its obligations hereunder, neither Parent nor Merger Sub has any reason to believe that any of the conditions to the use of funds in the Trust Fund will not be satisfied or that funds available in the Trust Fund will not be available to Parent and Merger Sub on the Closing Date. Neither Parent nor Merger Sub has any legally binding agreement, arrangement or understanding to enter into or incur, any obligations with respect to or under any indebtedness other than Parent Borrowings in connection with the transactions contemplated herein.

 

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3.25 PIPE Documents. The PIPE Documents are legal, valid and binding obligations of Parent and, to the knowledge of Parent, each other party thereto, enforceable against Parent and, to the knowledge of Parent, each such other party in accordance with their respective terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought, and are in full force and effect. No event or circumstance has occurred which, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, could constitute a default on the part of Parent or, to the knowledge of Parent, any of the other parties thereto under any of the PIPE Documents, and Parent and Merger Sub have no reason to believe that Parent will be unable to satisfy on a timely basis any term or condition of closing to be satisfied by Parent contained in any of the PIPE Documents. None of the PIPE Documents have been withdrawn, rescinded or terminated, or otherwise amended or modified in any respect (and no such amendment or modification is contemplated), and Parent and Merger Sub have no reason to believe that any portion of the PIPE Investment contemplated by any of the PIPE Documents will not be available as of the Closing. There are no conditions precedent or other contingencies related to the funding of the full amounts of the PIPE Investment, other than as set forth in the PIPE Documents. There are no agreements, side letters, contracts or arrangements to which Parent or Merger Sub or any of their Affiliates is a party relating to the PIPE Documents or the PIPE Investment that have not been entirely superseded by the PIPE Documents. Parent has made available to the Company true, correct and complete copies of the executed PIPE Documents.

3.26 No Additional Representations and Warranties; Independent Investigation. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Article III (as modified by the Parent Schedule) and in any Ancillary Agreement, neither Parent, Merger Sub, any of their respective Affiliates, nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees, stockholders, partners, members or representatives has made, or is making, any other express or implied representation or warranty whatsoever with respect to Parent, Merger Sub, their respective Affiliates, and any matter relating to any of them, including their affairs, the condition, value or quality of their assets, liabilities, financial condition or results of operations, or with respect to the accuracy or completeness of any other information made available to the Company, its Affiliates or any of their respective representatives by, or on behalf of, Parent or Merger Sub, and any such representations or warranties are expressly disclaimed. Each of Parent and Merger Sub is a sophisticated purchaser and has made its own independent investigation, review and analysis regarding the Company and any Subsidiary and the transactions contemplated herein, which investigation, review and analysis were conducted by Parent and Merger Sub together with expert advisors, including legal counsel, that they have engaged for such purpose. Parent, Merger Sub and their representatives have been provided with full and complete access to the representatives, properties, offices, plants and other facilities, books and records of the Company and any Subsidiary and other information that they have requested in connection with their investigation of the Company and its Subsidiary and the transactions contemplated herein. Neither Parent nor Merger Sub is relying on any statement, representation or warranty, oral or written, express or implied, made by the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective representatives, except as expressly set forth in Article II (as modified by the Company Schedule) and in any Ancillary Agreement.

3.27 Independent Investigation; No Reliance. Parent and Merger Sub have conducted their own independent investigation, verification, review and analysis of the business, operations, assets, liabilities, results of operations, financial condition, technology and prospects of the Company, which investigation, review and analysis was conducted by Parent, Merger Sub and their respective Affiliates and, to the extent deemed appropriate by them, by representatives of Parent or Merger Sub. In entering into this Agreement, each of Parent and Merger Sub acknowledges that it has relied solely upon the aforementioned investigation, review and analysis and the representations and warranties of the Company expressly set forth in Article II of this Agreement and in any Ancillary Agreement. Parent and Merger Sub each further acknowledges and agrees with the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 2.26.

ARTICLE IV

CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME

4.1 Conduct of Business by the Company, Parent and Merger Sub. During the period from the Agreement Date and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to its terms and the Closing, each of the Company, the Company’s Subsidiaries, Parent and Merger Sub shall, except to the extent that Parent (in the case of a request by the Company) or the Company (in the case of a request by Parent or Merger Sub)

 

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shall otherwise consent in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) or as set forth in Schedule 4.1 of the Company Schedule or the Parent Schedule (“Schedule 4.1”) or as contemplated by this Agreement or the PIPE Documents or as required by applicable law (including as may be compelled by any Governmental Entity), use commercially reasonable efforts to carry on its business in the usual, regular and ordinary course consistent with past practices, in substantially the same manner as heretofore conducted and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations (except as expressly contemplated by Schedule 4.1) and use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with past practices and policies to (i) preserve substantially intact its present business organization, (ii) keep available the services of its present key officers and key employees and (iii) preserve its relationships with key customers, suppliers, distributors, licensors, licensees, and others with which it has significant business dealings. In addition, but subject to the foregoing exceptions, without the prior written consent of Parent (in the case of a request by the Company) or the Company (in the case of a request by Parent or Merger Sub) (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), during the period from the Agreement Date and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to its terms or the Closing, except as set forth in Schedule 4.1, each of the Company (on its behalf and on behalf of its Subsidiaries), Parent and Merger Sub shall not do any of the following:

(a) Waive any stock repurchase rights, accelerate, amend or change the period of exercisability of options or restricted stock, or reprice options granted under any employee, consultant, director or other stock plans or authorize cash payments in exchange for any options granted under any of such plans (other than repurchases of Company Common Stock from terminated service providers for cash in accordance with the Company Equity Plan as in effect on the Agreement Date);

(b) Grant any material severance or termination pay to (i) any officer or (ii) any employee, except pursuant to applicable law, written agreements outstanding, or Plans or policies existing, on the Agreement Date and as previously or concurrently disclosed or made available to the other Party, or in the case of the Company and its Subsidiaries except in connection with the promotion, hiring or firing of any employee in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

(c) Transfer or license to any person or otherwise extend, amend or modify any material rights to any Intellectual Property or enter into grants to transfer or license to any person future patent rights, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices;

(d) Declare, set aside or pay any dividends on or make any other distributions (whether in cash, stock, equity securities or property) in respect of any capital stock (other than any such dividend or distribution by a Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or another such Subsidiary), or split, combine or reclassify any capital stock or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for any capital stock;

(e) Purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock or other equity securities or ownership interests of the Company or Parent, except, in the case of the Company, pursuant to the terms of a Plan or any Company Derivative Securities outstanding on the Agreement Date in accordance with the applicable terms as of the Agreement Date;

(f) Issue, deliver, sell, authorize, pledge, amend, exchange, settle or otherwise encumber, or agree to any of the foregoing with respect to, any shares of capital stock or other equity securities or ownership interests or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or other equity securities or ownership interests, or subscriptions, rights, warrants or options to acquire any shares of capital stock or other equity securities or ownership interests or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or other equity securities or other ownership interests, or enter into other agreements or commitments of any character obligating it to issue any such shares, equity securities or other ownership interests or convertible or exchangeable securities; provided that the foregoing shall not restrict the exercise or settlement of any Company Options in effect on the Agreement Date or compensatory grants of Company Options or other comparable securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Company Common Stock in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice (including increases to the equity reserve pool of any Company Equity Plan to accommodate grants of Company Options or other comparable securities, provided any resulting Excess Shares would not exceed 10% of the total number of shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued and outstanding after the Closing) or the issuance of shares of Company Common Stock (or other class of equity security of the Company, as applicable) pursuant to the terms of the Company Preferred Stock, the Company Convertible Notes and the Company Warrants, in each case in accordance with the applicable terms as of the Agreement Date;

 

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(g) Amend its Charter Documents in any material respect or, in the case of Parent, amend any agreement or contract with the Sponsor;

(h) Acquire or agree to acquire by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing any equity interest in or a material portion of the assets of, or by any other manner, any business or any corporation, partnership, association or other business organization or division thereof, or otherwise acquire or agree to acquire outside the ordinary course of business any assets which are material, individually or in the aggregate, to the business of Parent or the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as applicable, or enter into any joint ventures, strategic partnerships or alliances or other arrangements that provide for exclusivity of territory or otherwise restrict such party’s ability to compete or to offer or sell any products or services to other Persons. For purposes of this paragraph, “material” includes the requirement that, as a result of such transaction, financial statements of the acquired, merged or consolidated entity be included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus;

(i) Sell, lease, license, encumber or otherwise dispose of any properties or assets, except (A) licenses or sales in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (B) the incurrence of Permitted Liens, (C) pursuant to existing Company Contracts delivered or made available to Parent and (D) the sale, lease or disposition of property or assets that are not material, individually or in the aggregate, to the business of such party (measured with all of its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole);

(j) Except incurrences of indebtedness under the Company’s existing credit facilities (and, in the case of the Company and its Subsidiaries, extensions of credit in the ordinary course with employees and among the Company and its Subsidiaries) or as set forth on Schedule 4.1(j), incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any such indebtedness of another Person or Persons (other than Affiliates), issue or sell any debt securities or options, warrants, calls or other rights to acquire any debt securities of Parent or the Company and its Subsidiaries, as applicable, enter into any “keep well” or other agreement to maintain any financial statement condition or enter into any arrangement having the economic effect of any of the foregoing;

(k) Except as otherwise required by applicable law or pursuant to an existing Plan, policy or Company Contract of the Company or its Subsidiaries, (i) adopt or materially amend any Plan (including any Plan that provides for severance), or enter into any employment contract or collective bargaining agreement, other than in each case in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (ii) pay any special bonus or special remuneration to any director or employee, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices, or (iii) materially increase the salaries or wage rates or fringe benefits (including rights to severance or indemnification) of its directors, officers, employees or consultants, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices;

(l) (i) Pay, discharge, settle or satisfy any material claims, liabilities or obligations (absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise), or litigation (whether or not commenced prior to the Agreement Date) other than the payment, discharge, settlement or satisfaction of any claims, liabilities or obligations in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices or in accordance with their terms, or recognized or disclosed in the Company Financial Statements or in the most recent Parent SEC Reports, as applicable, or incurred since the date of such financial statements, or (ii) waive the benefits of, agree to modify in any material manner, terminate, release any person from or knowingly fail to enforce any material confidentiality or similar agreement to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or of which the Company any of its Subsidiaries is a beneficiary (other than with customers and other counterparties in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices) or to which Parent is a party or of which Parent is a beneficiary, as applicable;

(m) Except in each case in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices, modify in a manner materially adverse to the Company, Parent or Merger Sub, as applicable, or terminate (other than in accordance with its terms) any Material Company Contract or Parent Contract, as applicable, or waive, delay the exercise of, release or assign any material rights or claims thereunder;

 

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(n) Except as required by law or U.S. GAAP, revalue any of its assets in any material manner or make any material change in accounting methods, principles or practices;

(o) Except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices, incur or enter into any agreement, contract or commitment requiring such party to pay in excess of $300,000 in any 12 month period;

(p) Settle any material litigation where the consideration given by the Party is other than monetary or to which an officer, director or employee of such Person is a party in his or her capacity as such;

(q) Make or rescind any Tax elections that, individually or in the aggregate, would be reasonably likely to adversely affect in any material respect the Tax liability or Tax attributes of such party, settle or compromise any material income tax liability outside the ordinary course of business or, except as required by applicable law, change any material method of accounting for Tax purposes or prepare or file any Return in a manner materially inconsistent with past practice;

(r) Form or establish any subsidiary except in the ordinary course of business consistent with prior practice or as contemplated by this Agreement;

(s) Permit, in the case of the Company, the Company, any Subsidiary of Company or the administrator of any Plan of the Company or its Subsidiaries or, in the case of Parent or Merger Sub, Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective Subsidiaries or the administrator of any Plan of Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective Subsidiaries, to exercise any of its discretionary rights under any Plan to provide for the automatic acceleration of any outstanding options, the termination of any outstanding repurchase rights or the termination of any cancellation rights issued pursuant to such Plan, except as contemplated by this Agreement;

(t) Enter into any material transaction with or distribute or advance any assets or property to any of its officers, directors, partners, stockholders, managers, members or other Affiliates other than (i) the payment of salary and benefits and the advancement of expenses in the ordinary course of business consistent with prior practice or (ii) such distributions or advancements by a Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or another such Subsidiary; or

(u) Agree in writing or otherwise agree or commit to take any of the actions described in Section 4.1(a) through (t) above;

provided that, during any period of full or partial suspension of operations related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Company and its Subsidiaries, may, in connection with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, take the actions described in clauses (i) and (m) of Section 4.1 solely to the extent the Company reasonably determines in good faith that such actions as are reasonably necessary (1) to protect the health and safety of their respective employees and other individuals with whom they have business dealings or (2) respond to third-party supply or service disruptions caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

4.2 Confidentiality; Access to Information.

(a) Confidentiality. The parties agree that they shall be bound by that certain Confidentiality Agreement, dated as of December 8, 2020 (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), by and between the Company and Parent, with respect to all nonpublic information exchanged in connection with this Agreement and the negotiations related thereto. The terms of the Confidentiality Agreement are hereby incorporated herein by reference and shall continue in full force and effect until the Closing, at which time the Confidentiality Agreement shall terminate. If this Agreement is, for any reason, terminated prior to the Closing, the Confidentiality Agreement shall continue in full force and effect, subject to Section 7.2(b) hereof.

 

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(b) Access to Information.

(i) Subject to confidentiality obligations that may be applicable to information furnished to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by third parties that may be in the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ possession from time to time, and except for any information which in the opinion of legal counsel of the Company would result in the loss of attorney-client privilege or other privilege from disclosure, the Company will afford Parent and its financial advisors, accountants, counsel and other representatives reasonable access during normal business hours, upon reasonable notice, in such manner as to not interfere with the normal operation of the Company and its Subsidiaries, to the properties, books, records and management personnel of the Company during the period prior to the Closing to obtain all information concerning the business, including the status of business development efforts, properties, results of operations and personnel of the Company, as Parent may reasonably request; provided, that such access shall not include any invasive or intrusive investigations or other testing, sampling or analysis of any properties, facilities or equipment of the Company or its Subsidiaries without the prior written consent of the Company; provided, further that any such access shall be subject to and limited to the extent the Company reasonably determines in good faith, in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic (taking into account any “shelter-in-place” or similar order issued by a Governmental Entity), that such access would jeopardize the health and safety of any employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The parties hereto shall use commercially reasonable efforts to make alternative arrangements for such disclosure where the restrictions in the preceding sentence apply. No information or knowledge obtained by Parent in any investigation pursuant to this Section 4.2(b)(i) will affect or be deemed to modify any representation or warranty contained herein or the conditions to the obligations of the parties to consummate the Merger.

(ii) Except for any information which in the opinion of legal counsel of the Company would result in the loss of attorney-client privilege or other privilege from disclosure, Parent will afford the Company and its financial advisors, underwriters, accountants, counsel and other representatives reasonable access during normal business hours, upon reasonable notice, in such manner as to not interfere with the normal operation of the Company and its Subsidiaries, to the properties, books, records and personnel of Parent and Merger Sub during the period prior to the Closing to obtain all information concerning the business, including properties, results of operations and personnel of Parent and Merger Sub, as the Company may reasonably request; provided, that any such access shall be subject to and limited to the extent that Parent reasonably determines in good faith, in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic (taking into account any “shelter-in-place” or similar order issued by a Governmental Entity), that such access would jeopardize the health and safety of any employee of Parent or Merger Sub. The parties hereto shall use commercially reasonable efforts to make alternative arrangements for such disclosure where the restrictions in the preceding sentence apply. No information or knowledge obtained by the Company in any investigation pursuant to this Section 4.2(b)(ii) will affect or be deemed to modify any representation or warranty contained herein or the conditions to the obligations of the parties to consummate the Merger.

4.3 No Solicitation. During the period from the Agreement Date and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to its terms or the Closing, other than as contemplated by this Agreement or the PIPE Investment or with the express written consent of the other party, (a) the Company will not, and will cause its controlled Affiliates, employees, agents, officers, directors and representatives not to, directly or indirectly, solicit or enter into discussions or transactions with, or encourage, or provide any information to, any corporation, partnership or other entity or group (other than Parent and its designees) concerning any merger, sale of ownership interests in the Company (other than any purchases of equity securities by the Company from employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries) and/or a material portion of the assets of the Company (other than immaterial assets, assets sold in the ordinary course of business or as set forth on Schedule 4.3 of the Parent Schedule), recapitalization, or similar transaction involving the Company (“Company Competing Transaction”), and (b) each of Parent and Merger Sub will not, and will cause its respective controlled Affiliates, employees, agents, officers, directors and representatives not to, directly or indirectly, solicit or enter into discussions or transactions with, or encourage, or provide any information to, any corporation, partnership or other entity or group (other than the Company and its designees) concerning any merger, purchase of ownership interests and/or assets, recapitalization or similar business combination transaction ( “Parent Competing Transaction”). In addition, (i) the Company will,

 

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and will cause its controlled Affiliates, employees, agents, officers, directors and representatives to, immediately cease any and all existing discussions or negotiations with any Person conducted heretofore with respect to any Company Competing Transaction and (ii) each of Parent and Merger Sub will, and will cause its respective controlled Affiliates, employees, agents, officers, directors and representatives to, immediately cease any and all existing discussions or negotiations with any Person conducted heretofore with respect to any Parent Competing Transaction. The Company will promptly (and in any event within two (2) Business Days of receipt) notify Parent if it receives, or if any of its or its controlled Affiliates, employees, agents, officers, directors or representatives receives, any proposal, offer or submission with respect to a Company Competing Transaction after the Agreement Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may respond to any such proposal, offer or submission by indicating only that the Company is subject to this Agreement and is unable to provide any information related to the Company and its Subsidiaries or entertain any proposals or offers or engage in any negotiations or discussions concerning a Company Competing Transaction for as long as this Agreement remains in effect. The parties agree that the rights and remedies for noncompliance with this Section 4.3 include specific performance, it being acknowledged and agreed that any breach or threatened breach will cause irreparable injury to the non-breaching party and that money damages would not provide an adequate remedy for such injury.

4.4 Certain Financial Information. The Company shall deliver to Parent as soon as reasonably practicable a true and complete copy of the unaudited consolidated financial statements (including any related notes thereto) of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the nine months ending December 31, 2020 and 2019, which shall be prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP applied on a consistent basis in accordance with past practice throughout the periods involved (except as may be indicated therein or in the notes thereto), and shall fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries at the respective dates thereof and the results of their operations and cash flows for the respective periods indicated (the “Updated Financial Statements”). In addition, within twenty-five (25) Business Days after the end of each month between the Agreement Date and the earlier of the Closing Date and the date on which this Agreement is terminated, the Company shall deliver to Parent unaudited consolidated financial statements for such month including a balance sheet, statement of operations, statement of cash flows, and statement of shareholders’ equity, that are certified as correct and complete by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP applied on a consistent basis to prior periods (except as may be indicated therein or in the notes thereto), and fairly presenting in all material respects the financial position of the Company as of the date thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the period indicated, except that such financial statements need not contain notes and may be subject to normal adjustments that are not expected to be material to the Company.

4.5 Access to Financial Information. During the period from the Agreement Date and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to its terms or the Closing, the Company will, and will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause its auditors (subject to any required access agreement or arrangement) to (a) continue to provide Parent and its advisors reasonable access to all of the financial information used in the preparation of Company Financial Statements and the financial information furnished pursuant to Section 4.4 hereof and (b) reasonably cooperate with any reviews performed by Parent or its advisors of any such Company Financial Statements or such information.

4.6 Commercially Reasonable Efforts. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, each of the Parties agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable but in any event prior to the Outside Date, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including using commercially reasonable efforts to accomplish the following: (i) the taking of such reasonable acts necessary to cause the conditions precedent set forth in Article VI to be satisfied, (ii) the obtaining of such reasonably necessary actions, waivers, consents, approvals, orders and authorizations from Governmental Entities and the making of such reasonably necessary registrations, declarations and filings (including registrations, declarations and filings with Governmental Entities, if any) and the taking of such reasonable steps as may be reasonably necessary to avoid any suit, claim, action, investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Entity in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (iii) the obtaining of such material consents, approvals or waivers from third parties required as a result of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, including, unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the consents referred to in Schedule 4.6, (iv) the defending of any

 

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suits, claims, actions, investigations or proceedings, whether judicial or administrative, challenging this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including seeking to have any stay or temporary restraining order entered by any court or other Governmental Entity vacated or reversed, (v) the obtaining of additional Lock-Up Agreements, or similar agreements, from holders of outstanding Company Stock, and (vi) the execution or delivery of any additional instruments reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by, and to fully carry out the purposes of, this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (1) nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to require Parent or the Company to agree to any divestiture by itself or any of its Affiliates of shares of capital stock or of any business, assets or property, or the imposition of any material limitation on the ability of any of them to conduct their business or to own or exercise control of such assets, properties and stock and (2) in no event shall Parent, Merger Sub, the Company or its Subsidiaries be obligated to bear any material expense or pay any material fee or grant any material concession in connection with obtaining any consents, authorizations or approvals pursuant to the terms of any contract to which the Company or its Subsidiaries is a party in connection with the consummation of the Merger.

ARTICLE V

ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

5.1 Proxy Statement; Special Meeting.

(a) Parent shall prepare and, as soon as is reasonably practicable after receipt by Parent from the Company of all financial and other information relating to the Company as is necessary for its preparation, file with the SEC under the Exchange Act, and with all other applicable regulatory bodies, the Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be used for the purpose of soliciting proxies from holders of Parent Common Stock (the “Parent Stockholders”) to vote in favor of (i) the adoption of this Agreement and the approval of the Merger (the “Merger Proposal”), (ii) the election to the board of directors of Parent of the individuals identified on Schedule 5.2 of the Parent Schedule for the class of director set forth opposite the name of such individual (the “Director Proposal”); (iii) the approval of certain changes to Parent’s Charter Documents, to be effective from and after the Closing, including the change of the name of Parent to “Barkbox Inc.”, an increase in the number of authorized shares of Parent Common Stock to 500,000,000 and other mutually agreed upon changes to Parent’s capitalization structure and amendments to Article Sixth so that the existence of Parent shall be perpetual and to remove all SPAC-related provisions that will no longer be applicable to Parent following the Closing and such other amendments proposed by the Company that are reasonably acceptable to Parent (the “Charter Amendments Proposals”) and related non-binding advisory proposals in accordance with the requirements of the SEC, (iv) approval of the issuance of more than 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Parent Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement and the PIPE Investment, pursuant to NYSE requirements (the “Stock Issuance Proposal”), (v) the adoption of the Parent Plan and an employee stock purchase plan under Section 423 of the Code (the “ESPP”) (the “Plan Proposals”), and (vi) approval of any other proposals reasonably agreed by Parent and the Company to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including an adjournment proposal (together with the Merger Proposal, Director Proposal, Charter Amendments Proposals, the Stock Issuance Proposal and Plan Proposals, the “Stockholder Matters”) at a meeting of Parent Stockholders to be called and held for such purpose (the “Special Meeting”). Without the prior written consent of the Company, the Stockholder Matters shall be the only matters (other than procedural matters) which Parent shall propose to be acted on by the Parent Stockholders at the Special Meeting. The Parent Plan shall provide that not less than 10% of the total number of shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued and outstanding after the Closing less the Excess Shares (or such other number of shares as Parent and the Company may otherwise agree following the Agreement Date) shall be reserved for issuance pursuant to the Parent Plan which shall include a customary evergreen provision. The ESPP shall provide that not less than 2% of the total number of shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued and outstanding after the Closing (or such other number of shares as Parent and the Company may otherwise agree following the date hereof) shall be reserved for issuance pursuant to the ESPP which shall include a customary evergreen provision. The Company shall furnish to Parent all information concerning the Company as is necessary in connection with the preparation of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and shall otherwise assist and cooperate with Parent as reasonably requested by Parent. The Company and its counsel shall be given a reasonable opportunity to review, comment on and approve in writing the preliminary Proxy Statement/Prospectus prior to its filing with the SEC and any other amendments or documents filed with the SEC and Parent shall not file any documents with the SEC without the prior written consent of the Company, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned

 

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or delayed. Parent shall also take all actions required to satisfy the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. Parent and the Company each shall use their reasonable best efforts to (w) cause the Registration Statement, when filed with the SEC, to comply in all material respects with all legal requirements applicable thereto, (x) respond as promptly as reasonably practicable to and resolve all comments received from the SEC concerning the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, (y) cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective as promptly as practicable and (z) keep the Registration Statement effective as long as is necessary to consummate the Merger.

(b) As soon as reasonably practicable following the approval of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the declaration of the effectiveness of the Form S-4 by the SEC (the “SEC Approval Date”) (and in any event, within seven (7) Business Days after the SEC Approval Date), Parent shall (i) no later than within three (3) Business Days following the date upon which the Form S-4 becomes effective, distribute the Proxy Statement/Prospectus to the Parent Stockholders, (ii) having, prior to the SEC Approval Date, established the record date therefor, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the Special Meeting in accordance with the DGCL and, subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, on a date no later than forty-five (45) days following the SEC Approval Date (subject to postponement or adjournment in accordance with this Section 5.1(b)), and (iii) subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, solicit proxies from such holders to vote in favor of the adoption of this Agreement and the approval of the Merger and the other matters presented to the Parent Stockholders for approval or adoption at the Special Meeting, including, without limitation, the Stockholder Matters. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.1(b), Parent shall, after consultation with the Company in good faith, be entitled to make one or more successive postponements or adjournments of the Special Meeting (i) to ensure that any supplement or amendment to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus that Parent has determined in good faith is required to satisfy the conditions of Section 5.1(c) below or any other applicable Legal Requirement or (ii) if on a date for which the Special Meeting is scheduled, Parent reasonably determines that the Merger cannot be consummated for any reason; provided, that Parent continues to satisfy its obligations under Section 5.1(d) below and Parent shall reconvene such Special Meeting as promptly as practicable following such time as the matters described in clauses (i) and (ii) have been resolved.

(c) Parent shall comply with all applicable provisions of and rules under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and all applicable provisions of the DGCL in the preparation, filing and distribution of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, the solicitation of proxies thereunder, and the calling and holding of the Special Meeting. Without limiting the foregoing, Parent represents and warrants that the Proxy Statement/Prospectus shall not, as of the date on which it is first distributed to Parent Stockholders, and as of the date of the Special Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (provided that Parent shall not be responsible for the accuracy or completeness of any information relating to the Company or any other information furnished by the Company in writing for inclusion in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus). The Company represents and warrants that all financial and other information relating to the Company provided in writing to Parent for inclusion in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus shall not, as of the date it is first distributed to Parent Stockholders, and as of the date of the Special Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (provided that the Company shall not be responsible for the accuracy or completeness of any information relating to Parent or any other information furnished by Parent in writing specifically for inclusion in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus). No filing of, or amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus will be made without the approval of Parent and the Company (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

(d) Parent, acting through its board of directors, shall include in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus the recommendation of its board of directors that the Parent Stockholders vote in favor of the adoption of this Agreement and the approval of the Merger and the other matters referred to in Section 5.1(a), and shall otherwise use reasonable best efforts to obtain approval of the matters referred to in Section 5.1(a). Neither Parent’s board of directors nor any committee or agent or representative thereof shall withdraw, proposed to withdraw, or modify in a manner adverse to the Company, the Parent board of director’s recommendation that the Parent Stockholders vote in favor of the adoption of any of the Stockholder Matters. No amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus will be made by Parent without the written approval of the Company, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed, and Parent shall promptly transmit any such amendment or supplement to the Parent Stockholders, if at any time prior to the Special Meeting there shall be discovered any information that should be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus.

 

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5.2 Directors and Officers of Parent and the Company After Merger. Except as otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and Parent prior to the Closing, the Parties shall take all necessary action so that (a) all of the members of the board of directors of Parent and all officers of Parent resign effective as of the Closing unless such member or officer is included on Schedule 5.2 of the Parent Schedule (“Schedule 5.2”), (b) the number of directors constituting the board of directors of Parent shall be such number as is specified on Schedule 5.2 and (c) the persons listed in Schedule 5.2 are elected to the positions of officers and directors of Parent and Surviving Corporation, as set forth therein, to serve in such positions effective immediately after the Closing. If any Person listed in Schedule 5.2 is unable to serve, the Party appointing such Person shall designate a successor; provided that, if such designation is to be made after the Closing, any successor to a Person designated by Parent shall be made by the Person serving in the capacity of Chairman of Parent immediately prior to the Closing.

5.3 HSR Act. If required pursuant to the HSR Act, as promptly as practicable but in no event later than fifteen (15) Business Days after the Agreement Date, Parent and the Company (i) shall each prepare and file the notification required of it thereunder in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) shall promptly and in good faith respond to all information requested of it by the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice in connection with such notification and otherwise cooperate in good faith with each other and such Governmental Entities and (iii) shall each request early termination of any waiting period under the HSR Act. Parent and the Company shall (a) promptly inform the other of any communication to or from the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice or any other Governmental Entity regarding the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and permit counsel to the other Party an opportunity to review in advance, and each Party shall consider in good faith the views of such counsel in connection with, any proposed written communications by such party to any Governmental Entity concerning the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (b) give the other prompt notice of the commencement of any action, suit, litigation, arbitration, proceeding or investigation by or before any Governmental Entity with respect to such transactions and (c) keep the other reasonably informed as to the status of any such action, suit, litigation, arbitration, proceeding or investigation. Each Party agrees to provide, to the extent permitted by the applicable Governmental Entity, the other Party and its counsel the opportunity, on reasonable advance notice, to participate in any substantive meetings or discussions, either in person or by telephone, between such Party and/or any of its Affiliates, agents or advisors, on the one hand, and any Governmental Entity, on the other hand, concerning or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, neither Party shall extend any waiting period or comparable period under the HSR Act or enter into any agreement with any Governmental Entity without the written consent of the other Party. The Company and Parent shall split the fees associated with the filings required under the HSR Act.

5.4 Public Announcements.

(a) As promptly as practicable after execution of this Agreement, Parent will prepare and file a Current Report on Form 8-K pursuant to the Exchange Act to report the execution of this Agreement (“Parent Signing Form 8-K”), the form and substance of which shall be approved in writing in advance by the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

(b) Promptly after the execution of this Agreement, Parent and the Company shall also issue a joint press release announcing the execution of this Agreement (the “Signing Press Release”). Thereafter, prior to the Closing (or the earlier termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article VII), Parent and the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to consult with each other before issuing any press release or other public statement (including through social media platforms) with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, and, except as required by any applicable Legal Requirement, shall not issue any such press release or other public statement without the prior written consent of the other Party (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) and otherwise complying with Section 5.5.

(c) At least five (5) days prior to Closing, Parent shall prepare a draft Current Report on Form 8-K announcing the Closing, together with, or incorporating by reference, the financial statements prepared by the Company and its accountant, and such other information that may be required to be disclosed with respect to the Merger in any report or form to be filed with the SEC (“Closing Form 8-K”), which shall be in a form reasonably

 

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acceptable to the Company. Prior to Closing, Parent and the Company shall prepare a press release announcing the consummation of the Merger hereunder (“Closing Press Release”), which shall be in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company. Concurrently with the Closing, Parent shall distribute the Closing Press Release. Concurrently with the Closing, or as soon as practicable thereafter (but in any event within four (4) Business Days thereafter), Parent shall file the Closing Form 8-K with the Commission.

5.5 Required Information.

(a) In connection with the preparation of the Parent Signing Form 8-K, the Signing Press Release, the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, the Closing Form 8-K, the Closing Press Release or any other statement, filing, notice, or application (other than pursuant to the HSR Act, for which Section 5.3 applies) made by or on behalf of Parent or the Company to any Governmental Entity or other third party in connection with Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby (each, a “Reviewable Document”), and for such other reasonable purposes, each of the Company and Parent shall, upon request by the other, use commercially reasonable efforts (subject to applicable law and contractual restrictions) to furnish the other with all information concerning themselves, their Subsidiaries, and each of their and their Subsidiaries’ respective directors, officers, and stockholders (including the directors of Parent and the Company to be elected effective as of the Closing pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof) and such other matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable in connection with the Reviewable Document. Each Party warrants and represents to the other Party that all such information supplied by it shall, as of the date of the filing of the Reviewable Document, be true and correct in all material respects and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(b) At a reasonable time prior to the filing, issuance, or other submission or public disclosure of a Reviewable Document by Parent or the Company, the other party shall each be given a reasonable opportunity to review and comment upon such Reviewable Document and give its consent to the form thereof, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, and each party shall accept and incorporate all reasonable comments from the other party to any such Reviewable Document prior to filing, issuance, submission or disclosure thereof. Furthermore, Parent and the Company shall cooperate and mutually agree upon (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) any response to any SEC comments on any Reviewable Document and shall otherwise use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be declared effective by the SEC, in each case, as promptly as practicable and keep the Form S-4 effective as long as is necessary to consummate the Transactions.

(c) Any language included in a Reviewable Document that reflects the comments of the reviewing party, as well as any text as to which the reviewing party has not commented upon after being given a reasonable opportunity to comment, shall be deemed to have been approved by the reviewing party and may henceforth be used by other party in other Reviewable Documents and in other documents distributed by the other party in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement without further review or consent of the reviewing party.

(d) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company and Parent shall notify each other as promptly as reasonably practicable (i) upon obtaining knowledge of any event or circumstance which should be described in an amendment of, or supplement to, a Reviewable Document that has been filed with or submitted to the Governmental Authority, and (ii) after the receipt by it of any written or oral comments of the Governmental Authority on, or of any written or oral request by the Governmental Authority for amendments or supplements to, any such Reviewable Document, and shall promptly supply the other with copies of all correspondence between it or any of its representatives and the Governmental Authority with respect to any of the foregoing filings or submissions. Parent and the Company shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts, after consultation with each other, to resolve all such requests or comments with respect to the any Reviewable Document as promptly as reasonably practicable after receipt of any comments of the Governmental Authority. All correspondence and communications to the Governmental Authority made by Parent or the Company with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any agreement ancillary hereto shall, to extent permitted by applicable law, be considered to be Reviewable Documents subject to the provisions of this Section 5.5.

 

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5.6 No Securities Transactions. Neither the Company nor any of its controlled Affiliates, directly or indirectly, shall engage in any purchases or sales of the securities of Parent prior to the Effective Time without the consent of Parent. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to require each of its Affiliates that it controls to comply with the foregoing requirement.

5.7 No Claim Against Trust Fund. Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement, the Company acknowledges that it has read Parent’s final prospectus dated November 10, 2020 (“Final Prospectus”) and understands that Parent has established the Trust Fund for the benefit of Parent’s public stockholders and that Parent may disburse monies from the Trust Fund only (a) to Parent’s public stockholders in the event they elect to convert their shares into cash in accordance with Parent’s Charter Documents and/or the liquidation of Parent or (b) to Parent after, or concurrently with, the consummation of a business combination. Accordingly, the Company, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates, hereby waives all rights, title, interest or claim of any kind against Parent to collect from the Trust Fund any monies that may be owed to them by Parent for any reason whatsoever, including but not limited to a breach of this Agreement by Parent or any negotiations, agreements or understandings with Parent (whether in the past, present or future), and will not seek recourse against the Trust Fund at any time for any reason whatsoever. This paragraph will survive the termination of this Agreement for any reason, but notwithstanding anything set forth herein will not limit the rights of the Company or its Stockholders at or following the Closing.

5.8 Disclosure of Certain Matters. Each of Parent and the Company will provide the others with prompt written notice of any event, development or condition of which it obtains knowledge that (a) gives such Party any reason to believe that any of the conditions to the obligations of the other Party set forth in Article VI will not be satisfied, or (b) would require any amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus.

5.9 Securities Listing. From the date hereof through the Effective Time, Parent shall use commercially reasonable effort to cause Parent to remain listed as a public company on the NYSE, and shall prepare and submit to NYSE a listing application, if required under NYSE rules, in connection with the Merger and covering the shares of Parent Common Stock issuable in the Merger, and shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain approval for the listing of such shares of Parent Common Stock on the NYSE, and the Company shall reasonably cooperate with Parent with respect to such listing.

5.10 Charter Protections; Directors and Officers Liability Insurance.

(a) All rights to indemnification for acts or omissions occurring through the Closing Date now existing in favor of the current directors and officers of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under applicable Law or as provided in the Charter Documents of the Company and its Subsidiaries or in any indemnification agreements shall survive the Merger and shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms.

(b) For a period of six (6) years after the Closing Date, each of Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall cause to be maintained in effect the current policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance maintained by Parent and the Company, respectively (or policies of at least the same coverage and amounts containing terms and conditions which are no less advantageous), with respect to claims arising from facts and events that occurred prior to the Closing Date. In the event that Parent does not then have in effect a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, upon the Closing, Parent shall obtain a “tail” insurance policy that provides coverage for at least a six-year period from the Closing Date, for the benefit of the current officers and directors of Parent with respect to claims arising from acts, events or omissions that occurred at or prior to the Closing, including with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “D&O Tail Insurance”), with coverage and amounts and containing terms and conditions that are customary and prudent under the circumstances. The premium for such D&O Tail Insurance shall be paid for by Parent. Parent shall cause such D&O Tail Insurance to be maintained in full force and effect, for its full term, and shall honor, and cause its Subsidiaries and Affiliates to honor, all obligations thereunder.

(c) If the Company or any of its successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving entity of such consolidation or merger, or (ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, in each such case, to the extent necessary, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of the Company assume the obligations set forth in this Section 5.10.

(d) The provisions of this Section 5.10 are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each Person who will have been a director or officer of the Company for all periods ending on or before the Closing Date and may not be changed without the consent of a majority of those Persons serving on Parent’s Board after the Closing Date who served on the Company’s Board immediately prior to the Closing Date.

5.11 Insider Loans. The Company shall cause each executive officer of the Company or its Subsidiaries to, at or prior to Closing (i) repay to the Company any loan by the Company to such Person and any other amount owed by such Person to the Company; and (ii) cause any guaranty or similar arrangement pursuant to which the Company has guaranteed the payment or performance of any obligations of such Person to a third party to be terminated.

 

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5.12 Parent Borrowings. Through the Closing, Parent shall, after consultation with the Company, be allowed to borrow funds from its directors, officers and/or stockholders to meet its reasonable capital requirements, with any such loans to be made only as reasonably required by the operation of Parent in due course on a non-interest bearing basis and repayable in cash at Closing (the “Parent Borrowings”), and at the option of the lender thereof, up to $1,500,000 of which Parent Borrowings still outstanding may be convertible at the Effective Time into Parent Warrants at a conversion price of $1.50 per warrant, with such Parent Warrants having the same terms as the Parent Warrants registered at the time of Parent’s initial public offering.

5.13 Trust Fund Disbursement. Parent shall cause the Trust Fund to be disbursed as contemplated by this Agreement and the Trust Agreement immediately upon the Closing. All liabilities and obligations of Parent due and owing or incurred at or prior to the Closing Date shall be paid as and when due, including all amounts payable (i) to stockholders who elect to have their shares of Parent Common Stock converted to cash in accordance with the provisions of Parent’s Charter Documents (such stockholders, “Redeeming Stockholders”), (ii) for income Tax or other Tax obligations of Parent prior to Closing, and (iii) (A) as repayment of Parent Borrowings, if any, (B) to the underwriters in Parent’s initial public offering for payment of deferred underwriting commissions and (C) to third parties (e.g., professionals, printers, etc.) who have rendered services to Parent in connection with its operations and efforts to effect the Merger.

5.14 Board of Directors. Prior to the Closing Date, Parent and the Company shall take all action necessary so that immediately after the Effective Time, the board of directors of Parent shall be comprised of the individuals identified on Schedule 5.2 of the Parent Schedule for the class of director set forth opposite the name of such individual.

5.15 Lock-Up Agreement. Prior to the Closing Date, each of (a) the Company Stockholders identified in Schedule 5.15(a) will agree not to transfer the shares of Parent Common Stock to be received hereunder as Per Share Merger Consideration and (b) Sponsor and the holders of Founder Common Stock identified in Schedule 5.15(b) (or any securities issued upon conversion thereof or exchanged therefor) will agree not to transfer the shares of Founder Common Stock and Parent Common Stock, in each case pursuant to the terms set forth in the lock-up agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Lock-Up Agreement”).

5.16 Registration Rights Agreement. Prior to the Closing Date, Parent shall enter into a registration rights agreement in in form and substance reasonable acceptable to Parent and the Company (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company Stockholders and certain other parties thereto will be granted certain registration rights relating to the aggregate Per Share Merger Consideration to be received by them herein. Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to terminate the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 10, 2020, by and among Parent and the Parent Stockholders party thereto (as amended, the “Parent Registration Rights Agreement”), prior to the Closing and shall offer the Parent Stockholders who are party to the Parent Registration Rights Agreement prior to the Closing the opportunity to enter into the Registration Rights Agreement in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

5.17 Intended Tax Treatment. On or after the Agreement Date, none of the Parties shall take (or cause their Affiliates or subsidiaries to take) any action, or fail (or cause their Affiliates or subsidiaries to fail) to take any action, which action or failure to act would reasonably be expected to prevent or impede the Merger from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. The Parties will report the Merger on all Returns in a manner consistent with such tax treatment, including attaching the statement described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.368-3(a) on or with its Return for the taxable year of the Merger, and no Party will take a position inconsistent with such treatment, unless required to do otherwise pursuant to a final determination as defined in Section 1313(a) of the Code (or pursuant to any similar provision of applicable state, local or foreign Law).

5.18 Incentive Equity Plan / Cash Retention Pool . Prior to the Closing Date, Parent shall cause to be adopted the Parent Plan and an ESPP, the proposed form and terms of which shall be prepared and delivered by the Company and which shall be reasonably acceptable to Parent. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall be permitted to establish a cash retention pool in an aggregate amount of no more than $11,000,000 that may be granted to certain of the Company’s employees on the terms and at the discretion of the Company’s board of directors.

 

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5.19 PIPE Investment. Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to arrange and obtain the PIPE Investment on the terms set forth in the PIPE Documents, including using Parent’s reasonable best efforts to (i) maintain in full force and effect the PIPE Documents in accordance with the terms thereof, (ii) satisfy on a timely basis all conditions to obtaining the PIPE Investment set forth in the PIPE Documents that are applicable to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries and within the control of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, and to consummate the PIPE Investment at or prior to the Closing, including using its reasonable best efforts to cause the investor parties thereto to fund the PIPE Investment at the Closing, (iii) comply on a timely basis with Parent’s obligations under the PIPE Documents and (iv) enforce its rights under the PIPE Documents, including (at the request of the Company and only if Parent and its Subsidiaries have sufficient funds) by filing one or more lawsuits against the investor parties thereto to fully enforce the investors’ obligations (and the rights of Parent) thereunder or assigning the rights of Parent to bring such lawsuits to the Company so as to enable the Company to file such lawsuits against the investors on behalf of Parent. Parent shall provide the Company with copies of all documents relating to the PIPE Investment and shall give the Company prompt written notice upon becoming aware of (A) any breach or default (or any event or circumstance which, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, could reasonably be expected to give rise to any breach or default) by any party to any of the PIPE Documents, (B) any actual or potential failure to carry out any of the terms of any of the PIPE Documents, (C) any actual or threatened termination or repudiation of any of the PIPE Documents by any party thereto, (D) any material dispute or disagreement between or among any of the parties to any of the PIPE Documents or (E) the occurrence of an event or development that Parent reasonably expects to have a material and adverse impact on the ability of Parent to obtain all or any portion of the PIPE Investment. Without the prior written consent of the Company, Parent shall not permit any amendment or modification to be made to, or any waiver of any provision or remedy under, any of the PIPE Documents (including, without limitation, any amendment, modification or waiver that (v) adversely affects the availability of all or any portion of the PIPE Investment, (w) adversely affects the termination provisions of, or would result in the termination of, any of the PIPE Documents, (x) reduces the aggregate amount of the PIPE Investment, (y) imposes additional conditions precedent to the availability of the PIPE Investment or amends or modifies any of the existing conditions to the funding of the PIPE Investment or (z) adversely impacts the ability of Parent to enforce its rights against the investors under any of the PIPE Documents), or release or consent to the termination of the obligations of the investors under any of the PIPE Documents.

5.20 Company Stockholder Approval. The Company shall, as promptly as practicable after the SEC Approval Date, give notice in accordance with the DGCL and the Company’s Charter Documents to all of its stockholders calling for a special meeting of such stockholders to consider and vote upon this Agreement and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, and shall hold such meeting as promptly as practicable after such notice is given (“Company Stockholder Meeting”). The Company and its board of directors shall cause the Company Stockholder Meeting to take place in accordance with the foregoing and in compliance with the Securities Act, the DGCL and the Company’s Charter Documents and use commercially reasonable efforts to secure the Company Stockholder Approval at the Company Stockholder Meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at the election and option of the Company, the Company shall be permitted to obtain the Company Stockholder Approval, without a need for calling a Company Stockholder Meeting, by obtaining the written consent of holders of shares of Company Stock representing the Company Stockholder Approval that is executed and delivered by such holders after the SEC Approval Date; provided, that, in the event that the Company elects to obtain the Company Stockholder Approval pursuant to such written consent, consents with respect to this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby will be solicited from all holders of shares of Company Stock. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Company Stockholders to (i) to vote (in person, by proxy or by action by written consent, as applicable) all of their Company Stock in favor of, and adopt, the Merger and to vote in opposition to any and all other proposals that could reasonably be expected to delay or impair the ability of the Company to consummate the Merger and (ii) to execute and deliver all related documentation and take such other action in support of the Merger as shall reasonably be requested by the Company in connection with the Merger.

 

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5.21 2020 Audited Financials. As soon as reasonably practicable following the date hereof, but in any event no later than ten (10) Business Days after the Agreement Date, the Company shall deliver to Parent true and complete copies of the audited consolidated financial statements (including any related notes thereto) of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020, together with the auditor’s report thereon (the “2020 Financial Statements”); provided, that upon delivery of such 2020 Financial Statements, such financial statements shall be deemed “Audited Financial Statements” for the purposes of this Agreement and the representation and warranties set forth in Section 2.7 shall be deemed to apply to such Audited Financial Statements with the same force and effect as if made as of the Agreement Date.

ARTICLE VI

CONDITIONS TO THE TRANSACTION

6.1 Conditions to Obligations of Each Party to Effect the Merger. The respective obligations of each party to this Agreement to effect the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction as of the Closing Date of the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived (if legally permitted) in writing by all of such parties:

(a) Parent Stockholder Matters. The Stockholder Matters shall have been duly approved and adopted by the affirmative vote of the Parent Stockholders required under Parent’s Charter Documents and the DGCL.

(b) Parent Net Tangible Assets. Parent shall have, either immediately prior to or upon the Closing, at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Exchange Act) following the exercise by holders of shares of Parent Common Stock issued in Parent’s initial public offering of securities and outstanding immediately before the Closing of their right to convert their shares into a pro rata share of the Trust Fund in accordance with Parent’s Charter Documents.

(c) HSR Act; No Order. All specified waiting periods under the HSR Act shall have expired and no Governmental Entity shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, injunction or other order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) which is in effect and which has the effect of making the Merger illegal or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the Merger, substantially on the terms contemplated by this Agreement.

(d) Proxy Statement. The Proxy Statement/Prospectus (including the Form S-4) shall have become effective in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act, no stop order shall have been issued by the SEC which remains in effect with respect to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, and no proceeding seeking such a stop order shall have been threatened or initiated by the SEC which remains pending.

(e) Company Stockholder Approval. The Company Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained.

(f) Merger Shares. The Parent Common Stock comprising the aggregate Per Share Merger Consideration to be issued pursuant to this Agreement shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject only to official notice of issuance thereof and public holder requirements.

(g) PIPE Investment. The PIPE Investment shall have been, or concurrently with the Closing shall be, completed.

6.2 Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Company. The obligations of the Company to consummate and effect the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction as of the Closing Date of each of the following conditions, any of which may be waived, in writing, exclusively by the Company:

(a) Representations and Warranties. Each representation and warranty of Parent and Merger Sub (i) contained in Sections 3.3(a), 3.3(b), 3.3(c), 3.3(e), 3.3(g), 3.3(h) and 3.4 shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date as though then made (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, and in such case, shall be true and correct on and as of such earlier date), except

 

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where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to result in more than de minimis additional cost, expense or liability to the Company, Parent, Merger Sub or their Affiliates and (ii) contained in the other Sections of Article III shall be true and correct (without giving any effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” or any similar limitation set forth therein) as of the Closing Date as though then made (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, and in such case, shall be true and correct on and as of such earlier date), except, in either case, where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct, individually or in the aggregate, has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Parent. The Company shall have received a certificate with respect to the foregoing signed on behalf of Parent by an authorized officer of Parent (“Parent Closing Certificate”).

(b) Agreements and Covenants. Parent and Merger Sub shall have performed or complied with all agreements and covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by them on or prior to the Closing Date in all material respects, and the Parent Closing Certificate shall include a provision to such effect.

(c) No Litigation. No action, suit or proceeding shall be pending or threatened by any Governmental Entity which is reasonably likely to (i) prevent consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) cause any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be rescinded following consummation or (iii) affect materially and adversely or otherwise encumber the title of the shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued by Parent in connection with the Merger and no order, judgment, decree, stipulation or injunction to any such effect shall be in effect.

(d) Material Adverse Effect. No Material Adverse Effect with respect to Parent shall have occurred since the Agreement Date which is continuing, and the Parent Closing Certificate shall include a provision to such effect.

(e) Registration Rights Agreement. The Registration Rights Agreement shall have been executed and delivered and shall be in full force and effect.

(f) Governing Documents. The Certificate of Incorporation of Parent, in a form reasonably acceptable to Parent and the Company, shall have been filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and Parent shall have adopted the Bylaws, in a form reasonably acceptable to Parent and the Company.

(g) Resignations. Other than the persons listed in Schedule 6.2(g) of the Parent Schedule, all persons shall have resigned from all of their positions and offices with Parent and Merger Sub.

(h) Parent Registration Rights Agreement. The Parent Registration Rights Agreement shall have been terminated.

(i) Lock-Up Agreement. The Lock-Up Agreement shall have been executed and delivered by the Sponsor and holders of Founder Common Stock identified in Schedule 5.15(b) of the Company Schedule and shall be in full force and effect.

6.3 Additional Conditions to the Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub. The obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate and effect the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction as of the Closing Date of each of the following conditions, any of which may be waived, in writing, exclusively by Parent:

(a) Representations and Warranties. Each representation and warranty of the Company and the Stockholders (i) contained in Sections 2.3(a) (except the last sentence thereof), 2.3(b), 2.3(c), 2.3(e) and 2.4 shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date as though then made (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, and in such case, shall be true and correct on and as of such earlier date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to result in more than de minimis additional cost, expense or liability to the Company, Parent, Merger Sub or their Affiliates and (ii) contained in the other Sections of

 

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Article II shall be true and correct (without giving any effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” or any similar limitation set forth therein) as of the Closing Date as though then made (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, and in such case, shall be true and correct on and as of such earlier date), except, in either case, where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct, individually or in the aggregate, has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. Parent shall have received a certificate with respect to the foregoing signed on behalf of the Company by an authorized officer of the Company (“Company Closing Certificate”).

(b) Agreements and Covenants. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall have performed or complied with all agreements and covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by them at or prior to the Closing Date in all material respects, and the Company Closing Certificate shall include a provision to such effect.

(c) No Litigation. No action, suit or proceeding shall be pending or threatened by any Governmental Entity which is reasonably likely to (i) prevent consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) cause any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be rescinded following consummation or (iii) affect materially and adversely the right of the Surviving Corporation to own, operate or control any of the assets and operations of the Company following the Merger and no order, judgment, decree, stipulation or injunction to any such effect shall be in effect.

(d) Material Adverse Effect. No Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company shall have occurred since the Agreement Date which is continuing, and the Company Closing Certificate shall include a provision to such effect.

(e) Updated Financial Statements. The Updated Financial Statements shall have been delivered by the Company to Parent as and if required.

(f) Lock-Up Agreement. The Lock-Up Agreement shall have been executed and delivered by the Company Stockholders identified in Schedule 5.15(a) of the Company Schedule and shall be in full force and effect.

(g) Company Stockholders Agreements. Each of the agreements set forth on Schedule 6.3(g) of the Company Schedule shall be terminated or amended as provided on such Schedule 6.3(g).

(h) FIRPTA Tax Certificates. At Closing, the Company shall deliver to Parent a properly executed certification dated as of the Closing Date that meets the requirements of Treasury Regulations Section 1.1445-2(c)(3) and states that shares of the Company are not “U.S. real property interests” within the meaning of Section 897 of the Code, together with a written authorization for Parent to deliver such certification to the IRS on behalf of the Company after the Closing and a notice to the IRS in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.897-2(h)(2).

ARTICLE VII

TERMINATION

7.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:

(a) by mutual written agreement of Parent and the Company at any time;

(b) by either Parent or the Company if the Merger shall not have been consummated by June 30, 2021 (the “Outside Date”); provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 7.1(b) shall not be available to any Party whose action or failure to act has been a principal cause of or primarily resulted in the failure of the Merger to occur on or before such date and such action or failure to act constitutes a breach of this Agreement;

 

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(c) by either Parent or the Company if a Governmental Entity shall have issued an order, decree, judgment or ruling or taken any other action, in any case having the effect of permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Merger, which order, decree, ruling or other action is final and nonappealable;

(d) by the Company, upon a material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of Parent or Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement, or if any representation or warranty of Parent or Merger Sub shall have become untrue, in either case such that (i) the conditions set forth in Article VI would not be satisfied as of the time of such breach or as of the time such representation or warranty shall have become untrue and (ii) such breach by Parent or Merger Sub is incapable of being cured by the Outside Date or, if curable, is not cured by the Outside Date (it being understood that the Company may not terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(d) if it shall have materially breached this Agreement);

(e) by Parent, upon a material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of the Company or a Stockholder set forth in this Agreement, or if any representation or warranty of the Company or a Stockholder shall have become untrue, in either case such that (i) the conditions set forth in Article VI would not be satisfied as of the time of such breach or as of the time such representation or warranty shall have become untrue and (ii) such breach by the Company or a Stockholder is incapable of being cured by the Outside Date or, if curable, is not cured by the Outside Date (it being understood that Parent may not terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(e) if it shall have materially breached this Agreement);

(f) by Parent, if the Company shall have failed to deliver the Stockholder Support Agreements within five (5) Business Days) following the execution of this Agreement;

(g) by Parent, if the Company fails to obtain the Company Stockholder Approval by written consent within ten (10) Business Days following the SEC Approval Date;

(h) by either Parent or the Company, if, at the Special Meeting (including any adjournments thereof), the Stockholder Matters shall fail to be approved by the affirmative vote of the Parent Stockholders required under Parent’s Charter Documents and the DGCL; or

(i) by either Parent or the Company if, either immediately prior to or upon the Closing, following consummation of the Merger, Parent will have less than $5,000,001 of net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Exchange Act) following the exercise by the holders of shares of Parent Common Stock issued in Parent’s initial public offering of their rights to convert the shares of Parent Common Stock held by them into cash in accordance with Parent’s Charter Documents.

7.2 Notice of Termination; Effect of Termination.

(a) Any termination of this Agreement under Section 7.1 above will be effective immediately upon (or, if the termination is pursuant to Section 7.1(d) or Section 7.1(e), and the proviso therein is applicable, thirty (30) days after) the delivery of written notice of the terminating party to the other parties hereto.

(b) In the event of the termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 7.1, this Agreement shall be of no further force or effect and the Merger shall be abandoned, except for and subject to the following: (i) Sections 4.2(a), 5.7, 7.2 and 7.3 and Article VIII (General Provisions) shall survive the termination of this Agreement, and (ii) nothing herein shall relieve any party from liability for any intentional and willful breach of this Agreement by such party occurring prior to such termination.

7.3 Fees and Expenses. Except as otherwise set forth herein, all fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such expenses whether or not the Merger is consummated.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

8.1 Notices. All notices and other communications among the parties hereto shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when delivered in person, (ii) when delivered after posting in the United States mail having been sent registered or certified mail return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (iii) when delivered by FedEx or other nationally recognized overnight delivery service or (iv) when e-mailed during normal business hours (and otherwise as of the immediately following Business Day), addressed as follows:

if to Parent, to:

Northern Star Acquisition Corp.

c/o Graubard Miller

The Chrysler Building

405 Lexington Avenue, 11th Floor

New York, New York 10174

Attention: Joanna Coles and Jonathan J. Ledecky

E-mail: joanna@northernstaric.com / jledecky@hockeyny.com

with a copy to:

Graubard Miller

The Chrysler Building

405 Lexington Avenue, 11th Floor

New York, New York 10174

Attention: David Alan Miller / Jeffrey M. Gallant

E-mail: dmiller@graubard.com / jgallant@graubard.com

if to the Company to:

Barkbox, Inc.

221 Canal Street, Floor 6

New York, NY 10013

Attention: Matt Meeker / John Toth

Email: matt@barkbox.com / john@barkbox.com

with a copy to:

Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP

1250 Broadway, 23rd Floor

New York, NY 10001

Attention: Brooks Stough / Melissa B. Marks / John Olson

Email: bstough@gunder.com / mmarks@gunder.com / jolson@gunder.com

and

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

525 University Avenue

Palo Alto, California 94301

Attention: Michael J. Mies

Email: michael.mies@skadden.com

 

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8.2 Interpretation. The definitions of the terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context shall require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. When a reference is made in this Agreement to an Exhibit or Schedule, such reference shall be to an Exhibit or Schedule to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. When a reference is made in this Agreement to Sections or subsections, such reference shall be to a Section or subsection of this Agreement. Unless otherwise indicated the words “include,” “includes” and “including” when used herein shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Reference to the Subsidiaries of an entity shall be deemed to include all direct and indirect Subsidiaries of such entity. References to a document or item of information having been “made available” will be deemed to include the posting of such document or item of information in an electronic data room accessible by Parent or any of its representatives. For purposes of this Agreement:

(a) the term “Affiliate” shall mean, as applied to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;

(b) the term “Ancillary Agreements” means the Stockholder Support Agreements, the Sponsor Support Agreement, the PIPE Documents, the Registration Rights Agreement, Parent Registration Rights Agreement, the Lock-Up Agreement, and the other documents delivered pursuant to this Agreement.

(c) the term “Business Data” shall mean all business information and data, including Personal Information (whether of employees, contractors, consultants, customers, consumers, or other persons and whether in electronic or any other form or medium) that is accessed, collected, used, stored, shared, distributed, transferred, disclosed, destroyed, disposed of or otherwise processed by any of the Business Systems or otherwise in the course of the conduct of the business of the Company;

(d) the term “Business Day” shall mean a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close;

(e) the term “Business Systems” shall mean all Software (including Company Products), computer hardware (whether general or special purpose), electronic data processing, information, record keeping, communications, telecommunications, networks, interfaces, platforms, servers, peripherals, and computer systems, including any outsourced systems and processes, that are owned or used in the conduct of the business of the Company;

(f) the term “Company Equity Plan” shall mean the Barkbox, Inc. 2011 Stock Incentive Plan;

(g) the term “Company Intellectual Property” shall mean any Intellectual Property that is owned by the Company, including Software developed by the Company;

(h) the term “Company Licensed Intellectual Property” shall mean any Intellectual Property that is owned by a third party and licensed to the Company, including Software developed by the Company;

(i) the term “Company Products” shall mean all current versions of products or service offerings of the Company;

(j) the term “Company Registered Intellectual Property” shall mean all of the Registered Intellectual Property owned by the Company;

(k) the term “Company Stockholder Approval” shall mean the approval (including by written consent) of this Agreement and the Merger, by (i) holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Company Stock (voting as a single class on an as converted to Company Common Stock basis), (ii) the holders of at least 63% of the issued and outstanding shares of Company Preferred Stock (voting as a separate class on an as converted to Company Common Stock basis), and (iii) the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Company Series C-1 Preferred Stock, voting as a separate class;

 

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(l) the term “Copyrights” shall mean all copyrights, copyrights registrations and applications therefor, and all other rights corresponding thereto throughout the world;

(m) the term “Environmental Law” shall mean any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation, order, decree, permit, or authorization, relating to: (i) releases or threatened releases of Hazardous Substances or materials containing Hazardous Substances; (ii) the handling, use, transport, treatment, storage or disposal of any Hazardous Substance; or (iii) pollution or protection of the environment or natural resources;

(n) the term “Excess Shares” shall mean a number of shares of Parent Common Stock equal to (i) the number of shares by which the Company increases its equity reserve pool of any Company Equity Plan above the number of shares equal to 3% of the Company’s fully-diluted capitalization, calculated as of the Agreement Date, multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. For clarity, this amount may be zero;

(o) the term “Exchange Ratio” shall mean (i) 150,000,000 divided by (ii) the Fully Diluted Share Number;

(p) the term “Form S-4” shall mean the registration statement on Form S-4 of Parent with respect to registration of the Parent Common Stock to be issued in connection with the Merger;

(q) the term “Fully Diluted Share Number” shall mean, without duplication, the sum of (i) the number of issued and outstanding shares of Company Stock immediately prior to the Effective Time (including, for the avoidance of doubt, conversion of the Company Convertible Notes outstanding as of the Agreement Date pursuant to Section 1.10(c) and/or Schedule 1.10(c)) plus (ii) the number of shares of Company Common Stock issuable upon the exercise, conversion or other exchange of Company Derivative Securities which are not converted, exchanged or exercised for Company Common Stock or Company Preferred Stock, as applicable, prior to the Effective Time (including any shares to be treated as included in this clause (ii) pursuant to Schedule 1.10(c) in respect of Company Convertible Notes outstanding as of the Agreement Date) and are to remain outstanding as of and immediately following the Effective Time, provided that the number of shares issuable pursuant to this clause (ii) shall be calculated as if such Derivative Securities had been, or will be, exercised, as applicable, on a net exercise basis using a reference price of $10.00 multiplied by the Exchange Ratio;

(r) the term “Governmental Action/Filing” shall mean any franchise, license, certificate of compliance, authorization, consent, order, permit, approval, consent or other action of, or any filing, registration or qualification with, any federal, state, municipal, foreign or other governmental, administrative or judicial body, agency or authority;

(s) the term “Governmental Entity” shall mean any court, administrative agency, commission, governmental or regulatory authority or similar body, domestic or foreign;

(t) the term “Hazardous Substance” shall mean any substance that is: (i) listed, classified or regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law; (ii) any petroleum product or by-product, asbestos-containing material, polychlorinated biphenyls, radioactive materials or radon; or (iii) any other substance which is regulated by any Governmental Entity pursuant to any Environmental Law;

(u) the term “Insider” shall mean any individual who is an officer, director or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(v) the term “Insurance Policies” shall mean all material insurance policies and material fidelity and surety bonds covering the assets, business, equipment, properties, operations, employees, officers and directors;

 

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(w) the term “Intellectual Property” shall mean any or all of the following and all worldwide common law and statutory rights in, arising out of, or associated therewith: (i) Patents; (ii) inventions (whether patentable or not), invention disclosures, improvements, trade secrets, proprietary information, know how, technology, technical data and customer lists, and all documentation relating to any of the foregoing; (iii) Copyrights; (iv) Software; (v) domain names, uniform resource locators and other names and locators associated with the Internet (vi) industrial designs and any registrations and applications therefor; (vii) Trademarks; (viii) all databases and data collections and all rights therein; (ix) all moral and economic rights of authors and inventors, however denominated, and (x) any similar or equivalent rights to any of the foregoing (as applicable);

(x) the term “knowledge” shall mean actual knowledge or awareness as to a specified fact or event (i) in the case of the Company, of Matt Meeker, Manish Joneja, Henrik Werdelin, and John Toth, and (ii) in the case of Parent or Merger Sub, Joanna Coles, Jonathan Ledecky and James Brady;

(y) the term “Legal Requirements” shall mean any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or other law, statute, constitution, principle of common law, resolution, ordinance, code, edict, decree, rule, regulation, ruling or requirement issued, enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Entity;

(z) the term “Lien” shall mean any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien, restriction or charge of any kind (including, without limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof, any sale with recourse against the seller or any Affiliate of the seller, or any agreement to give any security interest);

(aa) the term “Material Adverse Effect” when used in connection with the Company or Parent, as the case may be, shall mean any change, event, occurrence or effect, individually or when aggregated with other changes, events, occurrences or effects, (A) that has a materially adverse effect on the business or overall financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as whole, or Parent and Merger Sub, taken together, as applicable or (B) would prevent, materially delay or materially impede the performance by the Company or Parent or Merger Sub of their respective obligations under this Agreement or the consummation of the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated herein, provided however that none of the following (or the effect of any of the following) alone or in combination shall be deemed, in and of itself, to constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been or will be, a Material Adverse Effect: any changes, events, occurrences or effects arising out of, resulting from or attributable to (i) acts of war, sabotage, civil or political unrest or terrorism, or any escalation or worsening of any such acts of war, sabotage, civil or political unrest or terrorism, (ii) earthquakes, hurricanes, wildfires, mudslides, tornados or other natural or man-made disasters, acts of God or other force majeure events, (iii) any pandemic (including COVID-19), epidemic, plague or other general outbreak of illness, including any actions taken by a Governmental Entity in response thereto, (iv) any proposal, enactment or change in interpretation of, or other change in, applicable Legal Requirements or U.S. GAAP (or equivalent accounting practice in any other jurisdiction), (v) general conditions in the industries in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries operate, (vi) the failure, in and of itself, of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to meet any internal or published projections, forecasts, estimates or predictions in respect of revenue, earnings or other financial or operating metrics before, on or after the Agreement Date, or changes in the credit rating of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (it being understood that the underlying facts giving rise or contributing to such failure or change may be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Material Adverse Effect if otherwise contemplated by this definition), (vii) changes attributable to the public announcement or pendency of the transactions contemplated hereby or the performance of this Agreement, including the impact thereof on relationships, contractual or otherwise, with customers, suppliers, licensors, distributors, partners, providers and employees, (viii) any change in interest rates or economic, political, business, financial, commodity, currency or market conditions generally or (ix) any actions taken, or failures to take action, or such other changes or events, in each case, by the Company or its Subsidiaries which Parent has requested or to which it has consented, in each case, expressly in writing or which actions are expressly contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however, in the case of the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) and (viii), in the event that the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are disproportionately affected by such change, event, occurrence or effect relative to other participants in the business and industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate (or, in the case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), as compared to other industry participants in the same impacted geographic areas in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate), the extent (and only the extent) of such adverse effect, relative to such other participants, on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(bb) “ordinary course of business,” “ordinary course,” “ordinary course of business consistent with past practice,” and similar phrases when referring to the Company means actions taken by the Company or any Subsidiary that are consistent with the past usual day-to-day customs and practices of the Company or such Subsidiary in the ordinary course of operations of the business, provided any workforce reduction, work from home, quarantine, social distancing, changes in shipping arrangements, or austerity measures in relation to COVID-19 shall be considered “ordinary course of business” for purposes of this Agreement;

(cc) the term “Parent Plan” shall mean a company equity incentive plan to be adopted by Parent in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby;

(dd) the term “Patents” shall mean all patents and applications therefor and all reissues, divisions, renewals, extensions, provisionals, continuations and continuations-in-part thereof;

(ee) the term “Permitted Liens” shall mean (i) statutory Liens for Taxes, assessments or other governmental charges, in each case, not yet delinquent or the amount or validity of which is being contested in good faith, (ii) mechanics’, carriers’, workers’, repairers’ and similar Liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business, (iii) zoning, entitlement and other land use and environmental regulations promulgated by any Governmental Entity, (iv) Liens of public record, (v) covenants, conditions, restrictions, easements, rights of way, encumbrances, defects, imperfections, irregularities of title or other Liens, if any, that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (vi) with respect to any leased real property, (a) the interests and rights of the respective lessors with respect thereto and (b) any Lien permitted under the applicable lease agreement and any ancillary documents thereto, (vii) Liens created by Parent or its successors and assigns, (viii) Liens disclosed in the Company Schedule or the Parent Schedule, including those listed in Schedule 8.2(dd), (ix) Liens (other than monetary liens) incurred in the ordinary course of business since the date of the most recent Financial Statement, (x) licenses to Intellectual Property granted in the ordinary course of business, (xi) Liens securing the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ existing credit facilities and (xii) statutory or contractual Liens of lessors or Liens on the lessor’s or prior lessor’s interest;

(ff) the term “Person” shall mean any individual, corporation (including any non-profit corporation), general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture, estate, trust, company (including any limited liability company or joint stock company), firm or other enterprise, association, organization, entity or Governmental Entity;

(gg) the term “Personal Information” shall mean (i) information related to an identified or identifiable individual (e.g., name, address telephone number, email address, financial account number, government-issued identifier), (ii) any other data used or intended to be used or which allows one to identify, contact, or precisely locate an individual, including any internet protocol address or other persistent identifier, and (iii) any other, similar information or data regulated by Privacy/Data Security Laws;

(hh) the term “Privacy/Data Security Laws” shall mean all Legal Requirements governing the receipt, collection, use, storage, processing, sharing, security, disclosure, or transfer of Personal Information or the security of Company’s Business Systems or Business Data;

(ii) the term “Proxy Statement/Prospectus” shall mean the proxy statement/prospectus included in the Form S-4, including the proxy statement filed by Parent on Schedule 14A with respect to the Special Meeting to approve the Stockholder Matters, relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement which shall constitute a proxy statement of Parent to be used for the Special Meeting to approve the Stockholder Matters (which shall also provide the Parent Stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Parent Stock in conjunction with a stockholder vote on the Merger Proposal) and a prospectus with respect to the Parent Common Stock to be offered and issued to the Company Stockholders in all cases in accordance with and as required by the Parent’s Charter Documents, applicable Law, and the rules and regulations of the NYSE;

 

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(jj) the term “Registered Intellectual Property” shall mean all Intellectual Property that is the subject of an application, certificate, filing, registration or other document issued, filed with, or recorded by any government or other legal authority;

(kk) the term “Software” shall mean all computer software (in object code or source code format), data and databases, and related documentation and materials;

(ll) the term “Tax” or “Taxes” refers to any and all federal, state, local and foreign taxes, including, without limitation, gross receipts, income, profits, sales, use, occupation, value added, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, withholding, payroll, recapture, employment, excise and property taxes, assessments, governmental charges and duties together with all interest, penalties and additions imposed with respect to any such amounts and including any liability of a predecessor entity for any such amounts;

(mm) the term “Trademarks” shall mean trade names, logos, common law trademarks and service marks, trademark and service mark registrations and applications therefor; and

(nn) all monetary amounts set forth herein are referenced in United States dollars, unless otherwise noted.

8.3 Counterparts; Electronic Delivery. This Agreement and each other document executed in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and the consummation thereof, may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same document and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other party, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart. Delivery by electronic transmission to counsel for the other party of a counterpart executed by a party shall be deemed to meet the requirements of the previous sentence.

8.4 Entire Agreement; Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements and the documents and instruments and other agreements among the Parties as contemplated by or referred to herein or therein, including the Exhibits and Schedules hereto or thereto, and the Confidentiality Agreement (which will terminate at the Closing) (a) constitute the entire agreement among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the Parties and any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) are not intended to confer upon any other person any rights or remedies hereunder (except as specifically provided in this Agreement, including Sections 5.10 and 8.16). No representations, warranties, covenants, understandings, agreements, oral or otherwise, relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement exist between the parties except as expressly set forth or referenced in this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements and the Confidentiality Agreement.

8.5 Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof, becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement will continue in full force and effect and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances will be interpreted so as reasonably to effect the intent of the parties hereto. The parties further agree to replace such void or unenforceable provision of this Agreement with a valid and enforceable provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such void or unenforceable provision.

8.6 Other Remedies; Specific Performance. Except as otherwise provided herein, any and all remedies herein expressly conferred upon a party will be deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby, or by law or equity upon such party, and the exercise by a party of any one remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy. 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 shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to

 

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prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of the United States or any state having jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. Each Party agrees that it will not oppose the granting of specific performance and other equitable relief on the basis that the other parties have an adequate remedy at law or that an award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or equity. The Parties acknowledge and agree that any Party seeking an injunction to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in accordance with this Section 8.6 shall not be required to provide any bond or other security in connection with any such injunction.

8.7 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal law of the State of Delaware regardless of the law that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of law thereof.

8.8 Consent to Jurisdiction; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably consents to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Delaware Chancery Court (or, if the Delaware Chancery Court shall be unavailable, any other court in the State of Delaware or, in the case of claims to which the federal courts have exclusive subject matter jurisdiction, any federal courts of the United States of America sitting in the State of Delaware) in connection with any matter based upon or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, agrees that process may be served upon them in any manner authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware for such persons and waives and covenants not to assert or plead any objection which they might otherwise have to such jurisdiction, venue and manner of service of process. Each party hereto hereby agrees not to commence any legal proceedings relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in any jurisdiction or courts other than as provided herein. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO 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.

8.9 Rules of Construction. The parties hereto agree that they have been represented by counsel during the negotiation and execution of this Agreement and, therefore, waive the application of any law, regulation, holding or rule of construction providing that ambiguities in an agreement or other document will be construed against the party drafting such agreement or document.

8.10 Assignment. No Party may assign either this Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the other parties; provided, however, that the Company and its Subsidiaries may collaterally assign any of its or their rights hereunder to any of its debt financing sources. Subject to the first sentence of this Section 8.10, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

8.11 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto at any time only by execution of an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties. The approval of this Agreement by the stockholders of any Party shall not restrict the ability of the board of directors of such Party to terminate this Agreement in accordance with Section 7.1 or to cause such Party to enter into an amendment to this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.11.

8.12 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Closing, any party hereto may, to the extent legally allowed, (i) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties hereto, (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties made to such party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (iii) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions for the benefit of such party contained herein. Any agreement on the part of a Party to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such Party. Delay in exercising any right under this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of such right.

8.13 Currency. All references to currency amounts in this Agreement shall mean United States dollars.

 

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8.14 Schedules. The information furnished in the Schedules is arranged in sections corresponding to the Sections of this Agreement, and the disclosures in any section of the Schedules shall qualify (a) the corresponding Section of this Agreement and (b) other Sections of this Agreement to the extent (notwithstanding the absence of a specific cross-reference), that it is reasonably apparent on its face that such disclosure is also applicable to such other Sections of this Agreement. The Schedules and the information and disclosures contained in such Schedules are intended only to qualify and limit the representations and warranties of the parties contained in this Agreement and shall not be deemed to expand in any way the scope of any such representation or warranty. The inclusion of any information in the Schedules shall not be deemed to be an admission or acknowledgment that such information is material or outside the ordinary course of business. The inclusion of any fact or information in a Schedule is not intended to be construed as an admission or concession as to the legal effect of any such fact or information in any proceeding between any party and any Person who is not a party.

8.15 Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants. None of the representations, warranties, covenants, obligations or other agreements in this Agreement (or in any Ancillary Agreement or in any certificate, statement or instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement or an Ancillary Agreement), including any rights arising out of any breach of such representations, warranties, covenants, obligations, agreements and other provisions, shall survive the Closing, and they shall terminate and expire upon the occurrence of the Effective Time (and there shall be no liability after the Closing in respect thereof), except for (a) those covenants and agreements contained herein (or in instruments executed pursuant to this Agreement) that by their terms expressly apply in whole or in part after the Closing and then only with respect to any breaches to the extent occurring after the Closing and (b) this Article VIII.

8.16 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 contemplated hereby may only be brought against, the Company, Parent and Merger Sub and then only with respect to the specific obligations set forth herein with respect to such Party. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner, stockholder, Affiliate, agent, attorney, advisor or representative of any Party hereto, any Affiliate of any Party hereto or any of the foregoing (any of the foregoing, a “Nonparty Affiliate”) 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, Parent or Merger Sub under this Agreement of or for any claim based on, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, except with respect to willful misconduct or common law fraud against the person who committed such willful misconduct or common law fraud.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.

 

NORTHERN STAR ACQUISITION CORP.
By:   /s/ Joanna Coles
Name:   Joanna Coles
Title:   Chief Executive Officer
NSAC MERGER SUB CORP.
By:   /s/ Joanna Coles
Name:   Joanna Coles
Title:   Chief Executive Officer
BARKBOX INC.
By:   /s/ Matt Meeker
Name:   Matt Meeker
Title:   Executive Chairman

Exhibit 10.1

Confidential

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

This SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this “Subscription Agreement”), dated December 16, 2020, is entered into by and between Northern Star Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the undersigned subscriber (the “Subscriber”).

WHEREAS, in connection with the proposed business combination (the “Transaction”) between the Company and Barkbox, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Barkbox”), pursuant to that certain Business Combination Agreement, dated as of December 16, 2020 (as amended, modified, supplemented or waived from time to time in accordance with its terms, the “Transaction Agreement”), the undersigned desires to subscribe for and purchase from the Company, and the Company desires to sell to the undersigned, that number of shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), set forth on the signature page hereof for a purchase price of $10.00 per share (the “Per Share Price,” and the aggregate of such Per Share Price for all shares subscribed for by the undersigned being referred to herein as the “Purchase Price”), on the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein; and

WHEREAS, in connection with the Transaction, certain other “qualified institutional buyers” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)) and certain other institutional “accredited investors” (as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act) (such other investors, the “Other Subscribers”) have entered into separate subscription agreements with the Company (the “Other Subscription Agreements”), pursuant to which such other investors have, together with the undersigned, pursuant to this Subscription Agreement and the Other Subscription Agreements, agreed to purchase an aggregate of [•] shares of Class A Common Stock at the Per Share Price.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual representations, warranties and covenants, and subject to the conditions, herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

1. Subscription. The undersigned hereby subscribes for and agrees to purchase from the Company, and the Company hereby agrees to issue and sell to the undersigned, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock set forth on the signature page of this Subscription Agreement (the “Shares”) on the terms and subject to the conditions provided for herein (the “Subscription”).

2. Closing. The closing of the Subscription contemplated hereby (the “Subscription Closing”) is contingent upon the substantially concurrent consummation of the Transaction (the “Transaction Closing”). The Subscription Closing shall occur on the date of the Transaction Closing (the “Transaction Closing Date”) and substantially concurrently with the consummation of the Transaction Closing. Not less than five business days prior to the scheduled Transaction Closing Date, the Company shall provide written notice to the undersigned (the “Closing Notice”) (i) of such scheduled Transaction Closing Date, (ii) that the Company reasonably expects all conditions to the closing of the Transaction to be satisfied or waived on or prior to such date and (iii) containing wire instructions for the payment of the Purchase Price. On the Transaction Closing Date specified in the Closing Notice, (1) Subscriber will deliver to the Company as soon as practicable against delivery to Subscriber of the Shares and evidence of the issuance to Subscriber of the Shares from the Company’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) on and as of the Transaction Closing Date, the Purchase Price by wire transfer of U.S. dollars in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Company in the Closing Notice (which account shall not be an escrow account) and (2) the Company shall confirm to the undersigned in writing (it being understood that an email confirmation is sufficient) that all conditions to the Transaction Closing have been satisfied or waived and deliver to Subscriber the Shares in book-entry form, free and clear of any liens or other restrictions whatsoever (other

 

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than those arising under state or federal securities law), in the name of the undersigned (or its nominee in accordance with its delivery instructions) or to a custodian designated by the undersigned, as applicable, and evidence of issuance of the Shares to Subscriber (or such nominee or custodian) on and as of the Transaction Closing Date from the Transfer Agent. For purposes of this Subscription Agreement, “business day” shall mean any day other than Saturday, Sunday or such other days on which banks located in New York, New York are required or authorized by applicable law to be closed for business.

If the Transaction Closing does not occur on the same day as the Subscription Closing, the Company shall promptly (but not later than one business days thereafter) return the Purchase Price (to the extent paid by the undersigned to the Company pursuant to this Section 2) to the undersigned by wire transfer of U.S. dollars in immediately available funds to the account specified by the undersigned without any deduction for or on account of any tax, withholding, charges, or set-off, and any book-entries (to the extent delivered by the Company to the undersigned pursuant to this Section 2) shall be deemed cancelled. Each book-entry for the Shares shall contain a notation, and each certificate (if any) evidencing the Shares shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend, in substantially the following form:

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM.

3. Closing Conditions.

a. The obligations of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated hereunder are subject to the satisfaction (or valid waiver by the Company in writing) of the condition that, at the Subscription Closing, all representations and warranties of the undersigned contained in this Subscription Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or Subscriber Material Adverse Effect (as defined herein), which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) at and as of the Subscription Closing, and consummation of the Subscription Closing shall constitute a reaffirmation by the undersigned of each of the representations, warranties and agreements of such party contained in this Subscription Agreement as of the Subscription Closing.

b. The obligations of the undersigned to consummate the transactions contemplated hereunder are subject to the satisfaction (or valid waiver by the undersigned in writing) of the conditions that, at the Subscription Closing:

 

  (i)

all representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Subscription Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect (as defined herein), which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) at and as of the Subscription Closing, and consummation of the Subscription Closing shall constitute a reaffirmation by the Company of each of the representations, warranties and agreements of such party contained in this Subscription Agreement as of the Subscription Closing;

 

  i

the Company shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Subscription Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with at or prior to the Subscription Closing;

 

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  ii

no suspension of the offering or sale of the Shares shall have been initiated or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened, in any jurisdiction, including by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), and the Shares shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance;

 

  iii

there shall have been no amendment, waiver or modification to the Other Subscription Agreements that materially economically benefits the Other Subscribers unless the Subscriber has been offered substantially the same benefits; and

 

  iv

the terms of the Transaction Agreement (as the same exists on the date hereof as provided to the Subscriber) shall not have been amended or modified in a manner that would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the economic benefits that Subscriber would reasonably expect to receive under this Subscription Agreement without the undersigned’s prior written consent.

c. The obligations of each of the Company and the undersigned to consummate the transactions contemplated hereunder are subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by the Company and the undersigned in writing) of the conditions that, at the Subscription Closing:

 

  i

no governmental authority of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any law, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, executive order or award after the date hereof (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) which is then in effect and has the effect of making the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby illegal or otherwise preventing or prohibiting consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and no governmental authority shall have instituted or threatened in writing a proceeding seeking to impose any such prevention or prohibition; and

 

  ii

all conditions precedent to the Transaction Closing shall have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that may only be satisfied at the Transaction Closing, which conditions shall be satisfied as of the Transaction Closing).

4. IRS Form W-9; Further Assurances. At or prior to the Subscription Closing, the undersigned shall provide the Company upon request with a properly completed and duly executed IRS Form W-9 or applicable IRS Form W-8, as appropriate. At or prior to the Subscription Closing, the parties hereto shall execute and deliver such additional documents and take such additional actions as the parties hereto mutually and reasonably may deem to be practical and necessary in order to consummate the Subscription as contemplated by this Subscription Agreement.

5. Company Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to the undersigned that:

a. The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing and is in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as presently conducted and to enter into, deliver and perform its obligations under this Subscription Agreement.

 

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b. The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered to the undersigned against full payment therefor in accordance with the terms of this Subscription Agreement, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will not have been issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive or similar rights created under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws or under the laws of the State of Delaware.

c. This Subscription Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is the valid and legally binding obligation of and enforceable against the Company 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 execution, delivery and performance of this Subscription Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Shares and the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of this Subscription Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of (i) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject, which would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, financial condition, assets, liabilities stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or prevents, or materially impairs, materially delays or materially impedes the performance of the Company of its obligations to consummate the transactions contemplated herein or the validity of the Shares (a “Material Adverse Effect”); (ii) the provisions of the organizational documents of the Company; or (iii) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties that would have a Material Adverse Effect.

e. The Company is not required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local or other governmental authority or self-regulatory organization in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Subscription Agreement (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Shares), other than (i) filings with the Commission, (ii) filings required by applicable state securities laws, (iii) any filings required under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 or similar antitrust laws, (iv) filings required by NYSE, including with respect to obtaining Company stockholder approval, (v) consents, waivers, authorizations or filings that have been obtained or made on or prior to the Subscription Closing, (vi) filings with the Commission, filings or registrations required by applicable state securities laws or NYSE and any consents, authorizations or other filings, in each case, required or advisable to be filed in connection with the Transaction and (vii) where the failure of which to obtain such consents, waivers, authorizations or orders, give such notices, or to make such filings or registrations would not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

f. The Company is in compliance with all applicable laws, except where such non-compliance would not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

g. The issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and are listed for trading on NYSE under the symbol “NSAC” (it being understood that the trading symbol will be changed in connection with the Transaction Closing). There is no suit, action,

 

4


proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against the Company by NYSE or the Commission, respectively, to prohibit or terminate the listing of the Class A Common Stock on NYSE or to deregister the Class A Common Stock under the Exchange Act. The Company has taken no action that is designed to terminate the registration of the Class A Common Stock under the Exchange Act or the listing of such shares on the NYSE.

h. A copy of each form, report, statement, schedule, prospectus, proxy, registration statement and other document, if any, filed by the Company with the Commission since its initial registration of the Class A Common Stock under the Exchange Act (the “SEC Documents”) is available to the undersigned via the Commission’s EDGAR system. The SEC Documents were timely filed and, as of their respective filing dates, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act applicable to the SEC Documents. None of the SEC Documents contained, when filed or, if amended, 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 the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, that the Company makes no such representation or warranty with respect to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus filed in connection with the Transaction or any other information relating to Barkbox or any of its affiliates included in any SEC Document or filed as an exhibit thereto. The financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Documents comply in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing and fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company 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. There are no material outstanding or unresolved comments in comment letters from the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance (the “Staff”) of the Commission with respect to any of the SEC Documents.

i. The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of (i) 150,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), with (A) 125,000,000 shares being designated as Class A Common Stock and (B) 25,000,000 shares being designated as Class B Common Stock (“Class B Common Stock”), and (ii) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Preferred Stock”). As of the date of this Subscription Agreement, (i) 25,435,000 shares of Class A Common Stock and 6,358,750 shares of Class B Common Stock are issued and outstanding, all of which are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to any preemptive rights, (ii) no shares of the Company’s common stock are held in the treasury of the Company, (iii) 4,552,000 private placement warrants (the “Private Placement Warrants”) are issued and outstanding and 4,552,000 shares of Class A Common Stock are issuable in respect of such Private Placement Warrants, and (iv) 8,484,333 public warrants (the “Public Warrants”) are issued and outstanding and 8,484,333 shares of Class A Common Stock are issuable in respect of such Public Warrants. There are no shares of Preferred Stock issued and outstanding. Each Private Placement Warrant and Public Warrant is exercisable for one share of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50. The Company has no subsidiaries (other than its wholly owned subsidiary formed in connection with the Transaction) and does not own, directly or indirectly, interests or investments (whether equity or debt) in any person, whether incorporated or unincorporated. Except as set forth above and pursuant to the Other Subscription Agreements and the Transaction, there are no outstanding options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for, purchase or acquire from the Company any shares of Common Stock or other equity interests in the Company, or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such equity interests. There are no securities or instruments issued by or to which the Company is a party containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered by the issuance of (i) the Shares or (ii) the shares to be issued pursuant to any Other Subscription Agreement. There are no stockholder agreements, voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound relating to the voting of any securities of the Company, other than (A) as set forth in the SEC Documents and (B) as contemplated by the Transaction.

 

5


j. Except for such matters as have not had and would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, there is no action, lawsuit, claim or other proceeding, in each case by or before any governmental authority pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing against the Company. Except for such matters as have not had and would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect there is no unsatisfied judgment, consent decree, injunction, or continuing order of any governmental authority or arbitrator outstanding against the Company.

k. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Subscriber set forth in Section 6, in connection with the offer, sale and delivery of the Shares in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, it is not necessary to register the Shares under the Securities Act. The Shares (i) were not offered by any form of general solicitation or general advertising and (ii) are not being offered in a manner involving a public offering under, or in a distribution in violation of, the Securities Act, or any state securities laws.

l. As of the date hereof, the Company is not in default or violation (and no event has occurred which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a default or violation) of any term, condition or provision of (i) the organizational documents of the Company, (ii) any loan or credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or other agreement, permit, franchise or license to which the Company is now a party or by which the Company’s properties or assets are bound or (iii) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), for defaults or violations that have not had and would not be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

m. Since consummation of its initial public offering, neither the Company nor any person acting on its behalf has offered any securities of the Company for sale or solicited any offer to buy any securities of the Company nor has the Company entered into any subscription agreement, side letter or similar agreement with any investor in connection with such investor’s direct or indirect investment in the Company other than (i) the Transaction Agreement and (ii) the Other Subscription Agreements; provided, no Other Subscription Agreement includes terms and conditions that are materially more advantageous to any such Other Subscriber than Subscriber hereunder. The Other Subscription Agreements reflect the same Per Share Purchase Price and terms that are no more favorable to any such Other Subscriber thereunder than the terms of this Subscription Agreement.

n. The Company has not entered into any agreement or arrangement entitling any agent, broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other person to any broker’s or finder’s fee or any other commission or similar fee in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares for which the Subscriber could become liable. Other than the Placement Agent (as defined below), the Company is not aware of any person that has been or will be paid (directly or indirectly) remuneration for solicitation of purchasers in connection with the sale of any Shares.

o. There are no securities or instruments issued by or to which the Company is a party containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered by the issuance of (i) the Shares or (ii) the Shares to be issued pursuant to any Other Subscription Agreement, in each case, that have not been or will not be validly waived on or prior to the Transaction Closing Date.

 

6


p. The Company acknowledges and agrees that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Shares may be pledged by undersigned in connection with a bona fide margin agreement, provided such pledge shall be (i) pursuant to an available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act or (ii) pursuant to, and in accordance with, a registration statement that is effective under the Securities Act at the time of such pledge, and undersigned effecting a pledge of Shares shall not be required to provide the Company with any notice thereof; provided, however, that neither the Company or their counsel shall be required to take any action (or refrain from taking any action) in connection with any such pledge, other than providing any such lender of such margin agreement with an acknowledgment that the Shares are not subject to any contractual prohibition on pledging or lock up, the form of such acknowledgment to be subject to review and comment by the Company in all respects.

6. Subscriber Representations and Warranties. The undersigned represents and warrants to the Company, as of the date of this Subscription Agreement and as of the Subscription Closing, that:

a. The undersigned is (i) a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act), or an institutional “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act), in each case, satisfying the requirements set forth on Schedule A hereto, (ii) is acquiring the Shares only for its own account and not for the account of others or if the undersigned is subscribing for the Shares as a fiduciary or agent for one or more investor accounts, each owner of such account is an accredited investor and the undersigned has full investment discretion with respect to each such account, and the full power and authority to make the acknowledgements, representations, warranties and agreements herein on behalf of each owner of each such account, 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 (and shall provide the requested information on Schedule A hereto following the signature page hereto). The undersigned is not an entity formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the Shares.

b. The undersigned (i) is an institutional account as defined in FINRA Rule 4512(c) and (ii) is a sophisticated investor, experienced in investing in private equity transactions and capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to all transactions and investment strategies involving a security or securities including the undersigned’s participation in the Transaction.

c. Alone, or together with any professional advisor(s), the undersigned has adequately analyzed and fully considered the risks of an investment in the Shares and determined that the Shares are a suitable investment for the undersigned and that the undersigned is able at this time and in the foreseeable future to bear the economic risk of a total loss of the undersigned’s investment in the Company. The undersigned acknowledges specifically that a possibility of total loss exists.

d. The undersigned understands that the Shares 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. The undersigned understands that the Shares may not be resold, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of by the undersigned absent an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, except (i) to the Company or a subsidiary thereof, (ii) to non-U.S. persons pursuant to offers and sales that occur outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act or (iii) pursuant to another applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and, in each of cases (i) and (iii), in accordance with any applicable securities laws of the states and other jurisdictions of the United States, and that any certificates or book-entry positions representing the Shares shall contain a legend to such effect. The undersigned acknowledges that the Shares will not be eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act. The undersigned understands and

 

7


agrees that the Shares will be subject to the foregoing transfer restrictions and, as a result of these transfer restrictions, the undersigned may not be able to readily resell the Shares or pledge the Shares and may be required to bear the financial risk of an investment in the Shares for an indefinite period of time. The undersigned understands that it has been advised to consult legal counsel prior to making any offer, resale, pledge or transfer of any of the Shares.

e. The undersigned hereby acknowledges and agrees that (a) Citigroup Global Capital Markets Inc. (“Citi” in its capacity as placement agent with respect to the issuance and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Subscription Agreement and the Other Subscription Agreements, the “Placement Agent”) is acting solely as Placement Agent in connection with the Transaction and is not acting as an underwriter or in any other capacity and is not and shall not be construed as a fiduciary for the undersigned, the Company or any other person or entity in connection with the Transaction, (b) the Placement Agent has not made and will not make any representation or warranty, whether express or implied, of any kind or character and have not provided any advice or recommendation in connection with the Transaction, (c) the Placement Agent will have no responsibility with respect to (i) any representations, warranties or agreements made by any person or entity under or in connection with the Transaction or any of the documents furnished pursuant thereto or in connection therewith, or the execution, legality, validity or enforceability (with respect to any person) of any thereof, or (ii) the business, affairs, financial condition, operations, properties or prospects of, or any other matter concerning the Company or the Transaction, and (d) the Placement Agent shall have no liability or obligation (including without limitation, for or with respect to any losses, claims, damages, obligations, penalties, judgments, awards, liabilities, costs, expenses or disbursements incurred by the undersigned, the Company or any other person or entity), whether in contract, tort or otherwise, to the undersigned, or to any person claiming through the undersigned, in respect of the Transaction.

f. The undersigned understands and agrees that the undersigned is purchasing the Shares directly from the Company. The undersigned further acknowledges that there have been no representations, warranties, covenants and agreements made to the undersigned by the Company, its officers or directors, or any other party to the Transaction or person or entity, expressly or by implication, other than those representations, warranties, covenants and agreements included in this Subscription Agreement.

g. Either (i) the undersigned is not a Benefit Plan Investor as contemplated by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), or (ii) the undersigned’s acquisition and holding of the Shares will not constitute or result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any applicable similar law.

h. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the undersigned has received and has had an adequate opportunity to review, such financial and other information as the undersigned deems necessary in order to make an investment decision with respect to the Shares and made its own assessment and is satisfied concerning the relevant tax and other economic considerations relevant to the undersigned’s investment in the Shares. The undersigned represents and agrees that the undersigned and the undersigned’s professional advisor(s), if any, have had the full opportunity to ask such questions, receive such answers, and conducted and completed their own independent due diligence with respect to the Transaction and obtain such information as the undersigned and such undersigned’s professional advisor(s), if any, have deemed necessary to make an investment decision with respect to the Shares. Based on such information as the undersigned has deemed appropriate and without reliance upon the Placement Agent, the undersigned has independently made its own analysis and decision to enter into the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement. Except for the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company expressly

 

8


set forth in the Subscription Agreement, the undersigned is relying exclusively on their own sources of information, investment analysis and due diligence (including professional advice the undersigned deems appropriate) with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement, the Transaction, the Shares, and the business, condition (financial and otherwise), management, operations, properties and prospects of the Company, including but not limited to all business, legal, regulatory, accounting, credit and tax matters.

i. The undersigned became aware of this offering of the Shares solely by means of direct contact between the undersigned and the Company or a representative of the Company or the Placement Agent on behalf of the Company, and the Shares were offered to the undersigned solely by direct contact between the undersigned and the Company or a representative of the Company. The undersigned did not become aware of this offering of the Shares, nor were the Shares offered to the undersigned, by any other means. The undersigned acknowledges that the Company represents and warrants that the Shares (i) were not offered by any form of general solicitation or general advertising and (ii) are not being offered in a manner involving a public offering under, or in a distribution in violation of, the Securities Act, or any state securities laws.

j. The undersigned acknowledges that it is aware that there are substantial risks incident to the purchase and ownership of the Shares. The undersigned is able to fend for himself, herself or itself in the transactions completed herein, has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Shares and has the ability to bear the economic risks of such investment in the Shares and can afford a complete loss of such investment. The undersigned has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as the undersigned has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision. The undersigned understands and acknowledges that the purchase and sale of the Shares hereunder meets (i) the exemptions from filing under FINRA Rule 5123(b)(1)(A) and (ii) the institutional customer exemption under FINRA Rule 2111(b).

k. The undersigned understands 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.

l. The undersigned is validly existing in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, with power and authority to enter into, deliver and perform its obligations under this Subscription Agreement.

m. The execution, delivery and performance by the undersigned of this Subscription Agreement are within the powers of the undersigned and have been duly authorized and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of the undersigned pursuant to the terms of (i) any order, ruling or regulation of any court or other tribunal or of any governmental commission or agency or any agreement or other undertaking or pursuant to the terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which the undersigned is a party or by which the undersigned is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the undersigned is subject, which would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the legal authority of the undersigned to comply in all material respects with the terms of this Subscription Agreement (a “Subscriber Material Adverse Effect”); (ii) the provisions of the organizational documents of the undersigned; or (iii) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any governmental authority having jurisdiction over the undersigned or any of its properties that would have a Subscriber Material Adverse Effect. The undersigned’s signatory has legal competence and capacity to execute the same and has been duly

 

9


authorized by the undersigned to execute the same on behalf of the undersigned, and this Subscription Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the undersigned, enforceable against the undersigned 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.

n. The undersigned is not (i) a person or entity named on the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), the United Nations Security Council, or in any Executive Order issued by the President of the United States and administered by OFAC (“OFAC List”), or a person or entity prohibited by any OFAC sanctions program, (ii) a Designated National as defined in the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 515, or (iii) a non-U.S. shell bank or providing banking services indirectly to a non-U.S. shell bank (collectively, a “Prohibited Investor”). The undersigned agrees to provide law enforcement agencies, if requested thereby, such records as required by applicable law, provided that the undersigned is permitted to do so under applicable law. If the undersigned is a financial institution subject to the Bank Secrecy Act (31 U.S.C. Section 5311 et seq.) (the “BSA”), as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (the “PATRIOT Act”), and its implementing regulations (collectively, the “BSA/PATRIOT Act”), the undersigned maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to comply with applicable obligations under the BSA/PATRIOT Act. To the extent required, it maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed for the screening of its investors against the OFAC sanctions programs, including the OFAC List. To the extent required, it maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the funds held by the undersigned and used to purchase the Shares were legally derived.

o. No disclosure or offering document has been prepared by the Placement Agent or any of its affiliates in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares.

p. The undersigned has or has enforceable commitments to have, and on the Transaction Closing Date will have, sufficient funds to pay the Purchase Price as required pursuant Section 2.

7. Registration Rights.

a. The Company agrees that, within 15 business days after the Transaction Closing Date (the “Filing Deadline”), the Company will file with the Commission (at the Company’s sole cost and expense) a registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) registering under the Securities Act the resale of all the Shares, and the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, but no later than the earlier of (i) the 60th calendar day (or 90th calendar day if the Commission notifies the Company that it will “review” the Registration Statement) following the Subscription Closing and (ii) the 5th business day after the date the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that the Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review (such earlier date, the “Effectiveness Date”); provided, however, that the Company’s obligations to include the Shares in the Registration Statement are contingent upon the undersigned furnishing in writing to the Company such information regarding the undersigned, the securities of the Company held by the undersigned and the intended method of disposition of the Shares as shall be reasonably requested by the Company to effect the registration of the Shares, and shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may reasonably request that are customary of a selling stockholder in similar situations. In no event shall the undersigned be identified as a statutory underwriter in the

 

10


Registration Statement unless requested by the Commission; provided, that if the Commission requests that the undersigned be identified as a statutory underwriter in the Registration Statement, the undersigned will have an opportunity to withdraw from the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Commission prevents the Company 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 Shares which is equal to the maximum number of Shares as is permitted by the Commission. In such event, the number of shares to be registered for each selling shareholder named in the Registration Statement shall be reduced pro rata among all such selling shareholders. Until the earliest of (i) the date on which the Shares may be resold without volume or manner of sale limitations pursuant to Rule 144 and without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable), (ii) the date on which such Shares have actually been sold and (iii) the date which is three years after the Subscription Closing (such date, the “End Date”), the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the continuous effectiveness of the Registration Statement until the End Date. For purposes of clarification, any failure by the Company to file the Registration Statement by the Filing Deadline or to have such Registration Statement declared effective by the Effectiveness Date shall not otherwise relieve the Company of its obligations to file or effect the Registration Statement set forth in this Section 7. The Company will provide a draft of the Registration Statement to the undersigned for review at least two (2) business days in advance of filing the Registration Statement. For purposes of this Section 7, “Shares” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the Shares and any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to the Shares by way of share split, dividend, distribution, recapitalization, merger, exchange, replacement or similar event or otherwise.

b. The Company shall, at its expense:

(i) advise the undersigned within two business days: (A) when a Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has been filed with the Commission and when such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective; (B) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for such purpose; (C) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Shares included therein for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and (D) subject to the provisions in this Subscription Agreement, of the occurrence of any event that requires the making of any changes in any Registration Statement or prospectus so that, as of such date, the statements therein are not misleading and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Company shall not, when so advising the undersigned of such events, provide the undersigned with any material, nonpublic information regarding the Company other than to the extent that providing notice to the undersigned of the occurrence of the events listed in (A) through (D) above constitutes material, nonpublic information regarding the Company;

(ii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement as promptly as reasonably practicable;

 

11


(iii) upon the occurrence of any event contemplated in Section 7(c)(i), except for such times as the Company is permitted hereunder to suspend, and has suspended, the use of a prospectus forming part of a Registration Statement, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as reasonably practicable prepare a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus, or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Shares included therein, such prospectus will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(iv) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Shares to be listed on each securities exchange or market, if any, on which the shares of Class A Common Stock issued by the Company have been listed;

(v) use its commercially reasonable efforts to take all other steps necessary to effect the registration of the Shares contemplated hereby;

(vi) use its commercially reasonable efforts to file all reports and other materials required to be filed by the Exchange Act so long as the Company remains subject to such requirements and the filing of such reports and other documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144 to enable the undersigned to sell the Shares under Rule 144 for so long as the undersigned holds Shares; and

(vii) use its commercially reasonable efforts, if requested by Subscriber to (A) cause the removal of the restrictive legends from any Shares being sold under the Registration Statement or pursuant to Rule 144 at the time of sale of such Shares and (B) cause its legal counsel to deliver an opinion, if necessary, to the Transfer Agent in connection with the removal of such restrictive legends, in each case upon the receipt of customary representations and other documentation from the Subscriber that is necessary to establish that restrictive legends are no longer required as reasonably requested by the Company, its counsel or the Transfer Agent.

c. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Subscription Agreement, the Company shall be entitled to delay or postpone the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and from time to time to require the undersigned not to sell under the Registration Statement or to suspend the effectiveness thereof, if the negotiation or consummation of a transaction by the Company or its subsidiaries is pending or an event has occurred or will occur, which negotiation, consummation or event, the Company’s board of directors reasonably believes, upon the advice of legal counsel, would require additional disclosure by the Company in the Registration Statement of material information that the Company 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 Company’s board of directors, upon the advice of legal counsel, to cause the Registration Statement to fail to comply with applicable disclosure requirements (each such circumstance, a “Suspension Event”); provided, however, that the Company may not delay or suspend the effectiveness or use of the Registration Statement on more than two occasions or for more than an aggregate of 60 calendar days in any one instance, or more than 90 total calendar days, in each case in any 12-month period. Upon receipt of any written notice from the Company of the happening of any Suspension Event (which notice shall not contain material non-public information) during the period that the Registration Statement is effective or if as a result of a 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 undersigned 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 undersigned receives copies of a supplemental or amended prospectus (which the Company agrees to promptly prepare) that corrects the

 

12


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 Company that it may resume such offers and sales, and (ii) it will maintain the confidentiality of any information included in such written notice delivered by the Company unless otherwise required by law or subpoena. If so directed by the Company, the undersigned will deliver to the Company or, in the undersigned’s sole discretion destroy, all copies of the prospectus covering the Shares in the undersigned’s possession; provided, however, that this obligation to deliver or destroy all copies of the prospectus covering the Shares shall not apply (i) to the extent the undersigned is required to retain a copy of such prospectus (a) in order to comply with applicable legal, regulatory, self-regulatory or professional requirements or (b) in accordance with a bona fide pre-existing document retention policy or (ii) to copies stored electronically on archival servers as a result of automatic data back-up.

d. The Company shall, notwithstanding any termination of this Subscription Agreement, indemnify, defend and hold harmless the undersigned (to the extent a seller under the Registration Statement), the officers, directors, partners, members, managers, employees, advisers and agents of each of them, and each person who controls the undersigned (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all reasonable out-of-pocket losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) and expenses (collectively, “Losses”), based upon (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any prospectus included in the Registration Statement or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, or (ii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, Exchange Act or any state securities law or any rule or regulation thereunder, in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Section 7, except to the extent, that such untrue statements, alleged untrue statements, omissions or alleged omissions are based upon information regarding the undersigned furnished in writing to the Company by the undersigned expressly for use therein or the undersigned has omitted a material fact from such information; provided, however, that the indemnification contained in this Section 7(d) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Losses if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), nor shall the Company be liable for any Losses to the extent they arise out of or are based upon a violation which occurs (A) in connection with any failure of such person to deliver or cause to be delivered a prospectus made available by the Company in the time required under the Securities Act, (B) as a result of offers or sales effected by or on behalf of any person by means of a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that was not authorized in writing by the Company, or (C) in connection with any offers or sales effected by or on behalf of the undersigned in violation of Section 7(c) provided that the Company has provided written notice of such Suspension Event to Subscriber in accordance with Section 7(c). The Company shall notify the undersigned of the institution, threat or assertion of any proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Section 7 of which the Company is aware.

e. The undersigned shall, severally and not jointly with any Other Subscriber, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers, agents and employees, and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as incurred, arising out of or are based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any prospectus included in the Registration Statement, or any form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any

 

13


preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any prospectus, or any form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statements or omissions are based upon information regarding the undersigned furnished in writing to the Company by the undersigned expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the indemnification contained in this Section 7(e) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Losses if such settlement is effected without the consent of the undersigned (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in no event shall the liability of the undersigned be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by the undersigned upon the sale of the Shares giving rise to such indemnification obligation. The undersigned shall notify the Company promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Section 7 of which the undersigned is aware. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of an indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of the Shares by the undersigned.

f. If the indemnification provided under this Section 7 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. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be subject to the limitations set forth in this Section 7 and deemed to include 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 7(f) from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Each indemnifying party’s obligation to make a contribution pursuant to this Section 7(f) shall be individual, not joint and several, and in no event shall the liability of Subscriber hereunder exceed the net proceeds received by Subscriber upon the sale of the shares giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

8. Termination. Except for the provisions of Sections 8 through 10, which shall survive any termination hereunder, this Subscription 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) the date and time that the Transaction Agreement is validly terminated in accordance with its terms, (b) June 30, 2021, and (c) upon the mutual written agreement of each of the parties hereto to terminate this Subscription Agreement; provided that, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 9, nothing herein will relieve any party hereto from liability for any willful breach hereof prior to the time of termination, and each party hereto will be entitled to any remedies at law or in equity to recover out-of-pocket losses, liabilities or damages arising from such willful breach. The Company shall promptly notify the undersigned of the termination of the Transaction Agreement promptly after the termination of such Transaction Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, if any termination hereof occurs after the delivery by the undersigned of the Purchase Price for the Shares pursuant to Section 2, the Company shall promptly (but not later than three business days thereafter) return the Purchase Price to the undersigned without any deduction for or on account of any tax, withholding, charges, or set-off.

 

14


9. Trust Account Waiver. Reference is made to the final prospectus of the Company, dated as of November 10, 2020 and filed with the Commission (the “Prospectus”). The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that it has read the Prospectus and understands that the Company has established a trust account (the “Trust Account”) containing the proceeds of its initial public offering (the “IPO”) and the overallotment shares acquired by its underwriters and from certain private placements occurring simultaneously with the IPO (including interest accrued from time to time thereon) for the benefit of the Company’s public stockholders (including overallotment shares acquired by the Company’s underwriters the “Public Stockholders”), and that, except as otherwise described in the Prospectus, the Company may disburse monies from the Trust Account only: (a) to the Public Stockholders in the event they elect to redeem their Class A Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of their redemption rights (as described in the Prospectus) in connection with the consummation of the Company’s initial business combination (as such term is used in the Prospectus) (the “Business Combination”) or in connection with an extension of its deadline to consummate a Business Combination, (b) to the Public Stockholders if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within twenty-four (24) months after the closing of the IPO, (c) as necessary to fund regulatory compliance costs and pay any taxes, or (d) to the Company after or concurrently with the consummation of a Business Combination. For and in consideration of the Company entering into this Subscription Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby irrevocably waives any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account or distributions therefrom, or to make any claim against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) that arises out of or as a result of, or in connection with this Subscription Agreement (the “Released Claims”) that the undersigned may have now or in the future, and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) with respect to such Released Claims. The undersigned agrees and acknowledges that such irrevocable waiver is material to this Subscription Agreement and specifically relied upon by the Company and its affiliates to induce the Company to enter in this Subscription Agreement, and the undersigned further intends and understands such waiver to be valid, binding and enforceable against the undersigned under applicable law. To the extent the undersigned commences any action or proceeding based upon, in connection with, relating to or arising out of any matter relating to the Company or its representatives, which proceeding seeks, in whole or in part, monetary relief against the Company or its representatives, the undersigned hereby acknowledges and agrees that the undersigned sole remedy shall be against funds held outside of the Trust Account and that such claim shall not permit the undersigned (or any person claiming on any of their behalves or in lieu of any of them) to have any claim against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) or any amounts contained therein. Nothing in this Section 9 shall be deemed to limit undersigned’s right to distributions from the Trust Account in accordance with the Company’s certificate of incorporation in respect of any redemptions by undersigned in respect of Common Stock acquired by any means other than pursuant to this Subscription Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Subscription Agreement to the contrary, the provisions of this paragraph shall survive indefinitely with respect to the obligations set forth in this Subscription Agreement.

10. Miscellaneous.

a. The Company shall, no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the first business day immediately following the date of this Subscription Agreement, issue one or more press releases or file with the Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K (collectively, the “Disclosure Document”) disclosing all material terms of the transactions contemplated hereby, the Transaction and any other material, nonpublic information that the Company or its representatives has provided to the undersigned at any time prior to the filing of the Disclosure Document. From and after the issuance of the Disclosure Document, to the Company’s knowledge, Subscriber shall not be in possession of any material, nonpublic information received from the Company or any of

 

15


its officers, directors or employees, and undersigned shall no longer be subject to any confidentiality or similar obligations under any current agreement, whether written or oral with Company, the Placement Agents, the Company or any of their affiliates in connection with the Transactions. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not publicly disclose the name of Subscriber or any of its affiliates or investment advisers, or include the name of Subscriber or any of its affiliates or investment advisers in any press release or in any filing with the Commission or any regulatory agency or trading market, without the prior written consent of Subscriber, except (a) in the Registration Statement, Proxy Statement, any Form 8-K or related materials to be filed with the Commission by the Company with respect to this Subscription Agreement (including the filing of this Subscription Agreement or a form of this Subscription Agreement with the Commission) or the Transaction, in each case to the extend required or (b) as required by law or regulation or at the request of the Staff of the Commission or regulatory agency or under the regulations of NYSE, in which case the Company shall provide Subscriber with prior written notice of such disclosure permitted under this subclause (b).

b. Neither this Subscription Agreement nor any rights that may accrue to the undersigned hereunder (other than the Shares acquired hereunder, if any and Subscriber’s rights under Section 5 hereof) may be transferred or assigned, except that Subscriber may assign its rights and obligations under this Subscription Agreement to one or more of its affiliates (including other investment funds or accounts managed or advised by the investment manager who acts on behalf of Subscriber or an affiliate thereof); provided, that no such assignment shall relieve Subscriber of its obligations hereunder. Neither this Subscription Agreement nor any rights that may accrue to the Company hereunder may be transferred or assigned (provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Company may transfer the Subscription Agreement and its rights hereunder solely in connection with the consummation of the Transactions and exclusively to another entity under the control of, or under common control with, the Company).

c. The Company may request from the undersigned such additional information as the Company may reasonably deem necessary to evaluate the eligibility of the undersigned to acquire the Shares, and the undersigned shall promptly provide such information as may reasonably be requested, to the extent readily available and to the extent consistent with its internal policies and procedures; provided that the Company agrees to keep confidential any such information provided by the undersigned and identified as confidential, except as may be required under applicable law.

d. The undersigned acknowledges that the Company will rely on the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties contained in this Subscription Agreement. Each party agrees that each purchase by the undersigned of Shares from the Company will constitute a reaffirmation of its own acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties herein (as modified by any such notice) as of the Subscription Closing. The Company and the undersigned further acknowledge and agree that the Placement Agent is a third-party beneficiary of the representations and warranties of the Company and the undersigned contained in Section 5 and Section 6, respectively, of this Subscription Agreement.

e. The Company is entitled to rely upon this Subscription Agreement and is irrevocably authorized to produce this Subscription Agreement or a copy hereof when required by law, regulatory authority or NYSE to do so in any administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.

f. All the agreements, representations and warranties herein made by each party hereto shall survive the Subscription Closing.

 

16


g. This Subscription Agreement may not be amended, modified or waived except by an instrument in writing, signed by the party against whom enforcement of such amendment, modification or waiver is sought.

h. This Subscription Agreement constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all other prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties, both written and oral, among the parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in Section 7(d), Section 7(e), Section 7(f) and Section 10(d) hereof, this Subscription Agreement shall not confer any rights or remedies upon any person other than the parties hereto, and their respective successor and assigns.

i. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Subscription 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.

j. If any provision of this Subscription Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Subscription Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall continue in full force and effect.

k. This Subscription 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.

l. Each party shall pay all of its own expenses in connection with this Subscription Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein.

m. Any notice or communication required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and either delivered personally, emailed or telecopied, sent by overnight mail via a reputable overnight carrier, or sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, and shall be deemed to be given and received (a) when so delivered personally, (b) upon receipt of an appropriate electronic answerback or confirmation when so delivered by telecopy (to such number specified below or another number or numbers as such person may subsequently designate by notice given hereunder), (c) when sent, with no mail undeliverable or other rejection notice, if sent by email, or (d) two business days after the date of mailing to the address below or to such other address or addresses as such person may hereafter designate by notice given hereunder:

 

  i

if to the undersigned, to such address, facsimile number or email address set forth on the signature page hereto;

with a copy to:

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. 388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013 Attention: General Counsel Email: [•]

 

17


  ii

if to the Company (prior to the Transaction Closing), to:

Northern Star Acquisition Corp.

c/o Graubard Miller

The Chrysler Building

405 Lexington Avenue, 11th Floor

New York, New York 10174

Attention: Joanna Coles and Jonathan J. Ledecky

E-mail: joanna@northernstaric.com / jledecky@hockeyny.com

with a copy to:

Graubard Miller

The Chrysler Building

405 Lexington Avenue, 11th Floor

New York, New York 10174

Attention: David Alan Miller / Jeffrey M. Gallant

E-mail: dmiller@graubard.com / jgallant@graubard.com

 

  iii

if to the Company (following the Transaction Closing), to:

Barkbox, Inc.

221 Canal Street, Floor 6

New York, NY 10013

Attention: Matt Meeker / John Toth

Email: matt@barkbox.com / john@barkbox.com

with a copy to:

Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP

1250 Broadway, 23rd Floor

New York, NY 10001

Attention: Brooks Stough / Melissa B. Marks / John Olson

Email: bstough@gunder.com / mmarks@gunder.com /

jolson@gunder.com

and

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

525 University Avenue

Palo Alto, California 94301

Attention: Michael J. Mies

Email: michael.mies@skadden.com

n.    The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Subscription 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 Subscription Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Subscription 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.

 

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o.    THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANY OTHER STATE. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL IN CONNECTION WITH ANY LITIGATION PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed or caused this Subscription Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized representative as of the date set forth below.

 

Name of Subscriber:    State/Country of Formation or Domicile:

 

By:    
Name:  
Title:  

 

Name in which shares are to be
registered (if different):
   Date:                     , 2020
Subscriber’s EIN:   
Business Address-Street:   

Mailing Address-Street (if different):

City, State, Zip:    City, State, Zip:

Attn:                             

   Attn:                             

Telephone No.:

   Telephone No.:

Facsimile No.:

   Facsimile No.:

Email Address:

   Email Address:

Number of Shares subscribed for:

  

Purchase Price: $

   Price Per Share: $10.00

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Northern Star Acquisition Corp. has accepted this Subscription Agreement as of the date set forth below.

 

NORTHERN STAR ACQUISITION CORP.
By:    
Name:    
Title:    

Date:                    , 2020


SCHEDULE A

ELIGIBILITY REPRESENTATIONS OF THE SUBSCRIBER

 

A.

QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER STATUS

 

(Please check the applicable subparagraphs):

 

We are a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act).

 

B.

INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR STATUS

 

(Please check the applicable subparagraphs):

 

1.

☐ We are an “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act) or an entity in which all of the equity holders are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act, and have marked and initialed the appropriate box below indicating the provision under which we qualify as an “accredited investor.”

 

2.

☐ We are not a natural person.

Rule 501(a), in relevant part, states that an “accredited investor” shall mean any person who comes within any of the below listed categories, or who the issuer reasonably believes comes within any of the below listed categories, at the time of the sale of the securities to that person. The Subscriber has indicated, by marking and initialing the appropriate box below, the provision(s) below which apply to the Subscriber and under which the Subscriber accordingly qualifies as an “accredited investor.”

 

Any bank, registered broker or dealer, insurance company, registered investment company, business development company, or small business investment company;

 

Any plan established and maintained by a state, its political subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality of a state or its political subdivisions for the benefit of its employees, if such plan has total assets in excess of $5,000,000;

 

Any employee benefit plan, within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, if a bank, insurance company, or registered investment adviser makes the investment decisions, or if the plan has total assets in excess of $5,000,000;

 

Any organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, corporation, similar business trust, or partnership, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered, with total assets in excess of $5,000,000;

 

Any trust with assets in excess of $5,000,000, not formed to acquire the securities offered, whose purchase is directed by a sophisticated person; or

 

Any entity in which all of the equity owners are accredited investors meeting one or more of the above tests.

This page should be completed by the Subscriber and constitutes a part of the Subscription Agreement.

Exhibit 10.2

Execution Version

FORM OF SUPPORT AGREEMENT

This SUPPORT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of December [•], 2020, is entered into by and among Northern Star Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), Barkbox Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and each undersigned stockholder (any such stockholder, the “Stockholder” and, together with Parent, each a “Party” and collectively, the “Parties”) of the Company. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated as of December 16, 2020 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), by and Parent, NSAC Merger Sub Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”), and the Company.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, as of the date of this Agreement, the Stockholder is the record holder, beneficial (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, which meaning shall apply for all purposes of this Agreement whenever the term “beneficial” or “beneficially” is used) owner, and has full voting power over the number of shares of Company Stock (the “Shares”) set forth on the Stockholder’s signature page hereto;

WHEREAS, the Company, Parent and Merger Sub have entered into the Merger Agreement in the form attached hereto as Annex A, which provides for the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger, pursuant to the provisions of the DGCL;

WHEREAS, the Stockholder acknowledges that, as a condition and material inducement to Parent and Merger Sub’s willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement, Parent has required that concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement, certain Company Stockholders specified in the Merger Agreement enter into this Agreement, agreeing to, among other things, (1) vote all of the Stockholder’s Subject Shares (as defined below) in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement, and (2) vote all of the Stockholder’s Subject Shares in favor of the termination of the Second Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement, dated as of May 16, 2016, by and among the Company and the Investors listed on Schedule A thereto, as amended, the Second Amended and Restated Voting Agreement, dated as of May 16, 2016, by and among the Company, the Investors listed on Schedule A thereto and the Key Holders listed on Schedule B thereto, as amended, and Second Amended and Restated Right of First Refusal and Co-Sale Agreement, dated as of May 16, 2016, by and among the Company, the Investors listed on Schedule A thereto and the Key Holders listed on Schedule B thereto, as amended (collectively, the “Financing Documents”), and, in order to induce Parent and Merger Sub to enter into the Merger Agreement and consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the Stockholder is willing to enter into this Agreement;


WHEREAS, Parent desires that the Stockholder agree, and the Stockholder is willing to agree, subject to the limitations herein, (1) not to Transfer (as defined below) any of its Shares, (2) to execute and deliver written consents (to the extent requested by the Company) and otherwise vote its Subject Shares (or cause its Subject Shares to be voted) in a manner so as to facilitate consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and (3) to undertake certain additional obligations pursuant to this Agreement;

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Stockholder is executing and delivering the Lock-Up Agreement in the form attached hereto as Annex C; and

WHEREAS, Parent and the Stockholder desire to make certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with this Agreement;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement, the Parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

VOTING AND TRANSFER OF SHARES

Section 1.01 Voting.

(a)     The Stockholder irrevocably and unconditionally agrees, during the period beginning on the date of this Agreement and ending on the Expiration Date (the “Applicable Period”), at each meeting of the Company Stockholders (a “Meeting”) and at each adjournment or postponement thereof, and in connection with each action or approval by consent in writing of the Company Stockholders (a “Consent Solicitation”), which written consent shall be delivered promptly, and in any event within twenty four (24) hours, after the Company requests such delivery, to cause to be present in person or represented by proxy and to vote or cause to be voted (or express consent or dissent in writing, as applicable) that number of Shares set forth on the Stockholder’s signature page hereto and any additional Shares that are hereafter held of record or beneficially owned by the Stockholder (collectively, the “Subject Shares”) that are entitled to vote (or express consent or dissent in writing, as applicable), in each case as follows:

 

  (i)

in favor of any proposal for Company Stockholders to adopt the Merger Agreement (including by executing and delivering, and not revoking or attempting or purporting to revoke, any Written Consents) and approving any other matters necessary for consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger, and the termination of the Financing Documents and any other agreements listed on Schedule 6.3(g) of the Company Schedules to the Merger Agreement to which such Stockholder is a party;

 

  (ii)

in favor of any proposal to adjourn a Meeting at which there is a proposal for Company Stockholders to adopt the Merger Agreement to a later date if there are not sufficient votes to adopt the proposals described in clause (i) and (ii) above or if there are not sufficient Shares present in person or represented by proxy at such Meeting to constitute a quorum;

 

  (iii)

against any proposal, offer or submission with respect to a competing transaction described in Section 4.3 (No Solicitation) of the Merger Agreement (a “Competing Transaction”) or the adoption of any agreement to enter into a Competing Transaction;


  (iv)

against any proposal for any amendment or modification of the Company’s Charter Documents that would change the voting rights of any Shares or the number of votes required to approval any proposal, including the vote required to adopt the Merger Agreement; and

 

  (v)

against any action, transaction, agreement or proposal that would, or would reasonably be expected to (A) result in a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or any other obligation or agreement of the Company under the Merger Agreement or any agreement ancillary thereto or the Stockholder under this Agreement or any of the conditions to the consummation of the Merger under the Merger Agreement not being fulfilled on a timely basis, (B) prevent, delay or impair consummation of the Merger or dilute, in any material respect, the benefit of the Merger to Parent, or (C) facilitate any proposal, offer or submission with respect to a Competing Transaction or any agreement to enter into a Competing Transaction.

(b)     Any vote required to be cast or consent or dissent in writing required to be expressed pursuant to this Section 1.01 shall be cast or expressed in accordance with the applicable procedures relating thereto so as to ensure that it is duly counted for purposes of determining that a quorum is present (if applicable) and for purposes of recording the results of that vote or Consent Solicitation. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing contained herein requires the Stockholder (or entitles any proxy of the Stockholder) to convert, exercise or exchange any options, warrants or convertible securities in order to obtain any underlying Shares.

(c)     The Stockholder agrees not to enter into any commitment, agreement, understanding or similar arrangement with any Person to vote or give voting instructions or express consent or dissent in writing in any manner inconsistent with the terms of this Section 1.01.

Section 1.02 No Transfers. During the Applicable Period, the Stockholder agrees not to, directly or indirectly, in one or more transactions, whether by merger, consolidation, division, operation of law, or otherwise (including by succession or otherwise by operation of applicable Legal Requirements): (a) sell, convey, assign, transfer, exchange, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise encumber or dispose of any Subject Shares (or any right, title or interest therein) or any rights to acquire any securities or equity interests of the Company; (b) deposit any Subject Shares or any rights to acquire any securities or equity interests of the Company into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement or any other arrangement with respect to any Subject Shares or any rights to acquire any securities or equity interests of the Company or grant or purport to grant any proxy or power of attorney with respect thereto that is inconsistent with this Support Agreement; (c) enter into any contract, option, call or other arrangement or undertaking, whether or not in writing, with respect to the direct or indirect sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, exchange, pledge, hypothecation or other encumbrance or disposition, or limitation on the voting rights, of any Subject Shares (or any right, title or interest therein) or any rights to acquire any securities or equity interests of the Company; (d) otherwise grant, permit or suffer the creation of any Encumbrances on any Subject Shares, other than Permitted Encumbrances; or (e) approve or commit or agree to take any of the foregoing actions (any action described in the immediately preceding sentence, a “Transfer”); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit Transfers (i) between the Stockholder and any Affiliate of the Stockholder, (ii) if the Stockholder is an individual, to a trust for the benefit of the Stockholder or to any member of a Stockholder’s immediate family or a trust for the benefit of such immediate family member or (iii) if the


Stockholder is an individual, by will, other testamentary document or under the laws of intestacy upon the death of Stockholder, in each case, so long as, prior to and as a condition to the effectiveness of any such Transfer, such Affiliate or transferee executes and delivers to Parent a joinder to this Agreement in the form attached hereto as Annex B. Any Transfer or action in violation of this Section 1.02 shall be void ab initio. If any involuntary Transfer of any of Subject Shares occurs, the transferee (and all transferees and subsequent transferees of such transferee) shall take and hold such Subject Shares subject to all of the restrictions, liabilities and rights under this Agreement, which shall continue in full force and effect during the Applicable Period.

Section 1.03 Stop Transfer. The Stockholder shall not request that the Company register any transfer of any certificate or book-entry Share or other uncertificated interest representing any Subject Shares made in violation of the restrictions set forth in Section 1.02 during the Applicable Period and hereby authorizes and instructs the Company to instruct its transfer agent to enter a stop transfer order with respect to all of the Subject Shares, subject to the provisions hereof; provided, that any such stop transfer order will immediately be withdrawn and terminated by the Company following the termination of this Agreement.

Section 1.04 Waiver of Appraisal Rights. The Stockholder hereby agrees not to assert, exercise or perfect, directly or indirectly, and irrevocably and unconditionally waives, any appraisal rights (including under Section 262 of the DGCL) with respect to the Merger and any rights to dissent with respect to the Merger (collectively, “Appraisal Rights”).

Section 1.05 Public Announcements; Filings; Disclosures.

(a) The Stockholder (and the Stockholder’s controlled Affiliates) shall not issue any press release or make any other public announcement or public statement (a “Public Communication”) with respect to this Agreement, the Merger Agreement, or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, without the prior written consent of Parent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), except as required by applicable Legal Requirements, in which case the Stockholder shall use its reasonable best efforts to provide Parent and Parent’s legal counsel with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such Public Communication in advance of its issuance and shall give reasonable and good faith consideration to any such comments.

(b) The Stockholder hereby consents to and authorizes the Company and Parent to publish and disclose in any Public Communication or in any disclosure required by the SEC and in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus prepared by Parent and filed with the SEC relating to the Special Meeting the Stockholder’s identity and ownership of Subject Shares and the Stockholder’s obligations under this Agreement (the “Stockholder Information”), consents to the filing of this Agreement to the extent required by applicable Legal Requirements to be filed with the SEC or any regulatory authority relating to the Merger, and agrees to cooperate with Parent in connection with such filings, including providing Stockholder Information reasonably requested by Parent.

Section 1.06 Non-Solicitation. The Stockholder acknowledges that the Stockholder has read Section 4.3 of the Merger Agreement. In addition, the Stockholder agrees that the restrictions imposed on the Company pursuant to Section 4.3 of the Merger Agreement shall be binding upon the Stockholder mutatis mutandis and further agrees not to take (and agrees to cause its Affiliates and its and their Representatives not to take), directly or indirectly, any action that would violate Section 4.3 of the Merger Agreement if such action were taken by the Company.


Section 1.07 No Agreement as Director or Officer. The Stockholder is entering into this Agreement solely in the Stockholder’s capacity as record or beneficial owner of Subject Shares and nothing herein is intended to or shall limit or affect any actions taken by the Stockholder or any employee, officer, director (or person performing similar functions), partner or other Affiliate (including, for this purpose, any appointee or representative of the Stockholder to the board of directors of the Company) of the Stockholder, solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Company (or a Subsidiary of the Company) or other fiduciary capacity for the Company Stockholders.

Section 1.08 Acquisition of Additional Shares. In the event that, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending at the Expiration Date, (a) any Subject Shares are issued to Stockholder after the date of this Agreement pursuant to any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, reclassification, combination or exchange of Subject Shares or otherwise, (b) Stockholder purchases or otherwise acquires beneficial ownership of any Subject Shares or (c) Stockholder acquires the right to vote or share in the voting of any Subject Shares (collectively the “New Securities”), then such New Securities acquired or purchased by such Company Stockholder shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement to the same extent as if they constituted the Subject Shares owned by Stockholder as of the date hereof.

Section 1.09 No Litigation. The Stockholder hereby agrees not to commence, maintain or participate in, or facilitate, assist or encourage, and agrees to take all actions necessary to opt out of any class in any class action with respect to, any claim, derivative or otherwise, suit, proceeding or cause of action, in law or in equity, in any court or before any Governmental Entity (a) challenging the validity of, or seeking to enjoin or delay the operation of, any provision of this Agreement or the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including any claim seeking to enjoin or delay the consummation of the Merger), (b) alleging a breach of any fiduciary duty of any Person or alleging that any Person aided or abetted any breach of any fiduciary duty of any Person in connection with this Agreement or the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby or thereby, (c) seeking Appraisal Rights in connection with the Merger or (d) otherwise relating to the Merger Agreement, this Agreement or the Merger or other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit the Stockholder from enforcing the Stockholder’s rights under this Agreement or the Stockholder’s right to receive the Per Share Merger Consideration.

Section 1.10 Further Assurances. The Stockholder shall execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such further certificates, instruments and other documents and to take such further actions as Parent may reasonably request for the purpose of effectively carrying out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Merger Agreement.


ARTICLE 2

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE STOCKHOLDER

The Stockholder hereby represents and warrants to Parent and the Company as follows:

Section 2.01 Organization; Authorization. In the event the Stockholder is an individual, the Stockholder has full power, right and legal capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement, and to perform his or her obligations hereunder. In the event the Stockholder is a legal entity, (a) the Stockholder is a legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the applicable Legal Requirements of the Stockholder’s jurisdiction of its organization, (b) the Stockholder has all requisite corporate or similar power and authority and has taken all corporate or similar action necessary in order to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform the Stockholder’s obligations under this Agreement and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (c) no approval by any holder of the Stockholder’s equity interests is necessary to approve this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Stockholder and, in the event the Stockholder is an individual and is married and any of the Stockholder’s Subject Shares constitute community property or spousal approval is otherwise required in order for this Agreement to be a valid and binding obligation of the Stockholder, this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Stockholder’s spouse, and this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Stockholder enforceable against the Stockholder in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.

Section 2.02 Governmental Filings; No Violations; Certain Contracts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Stockholder of this Agreement and the consummation by the Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (i) conflict with or violate any United States or non-United States statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, executive order, injunction, judgment, decree or other order applicable to the Stockholder, (ii) require any consent, approval or authorization of, declaration, filing or registration with, or notice to, any person or entity, (iii) result in the creation of any encumbrance on any Shares (other than under this Agreement) or (iv) conflict with or result in a breach of or constitute a default under any provision of the Stockholder’s governing documents or any agreement (including any voting agreement) to which the Stockholder is a party.

Section 2.03 Litigation. As of the date of this Agreement, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to prevent, delay or impair the ability of the Stockholder perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (a) there is no action, suit, demand, complaint, litigation, review, audit, hearing, arbitration, proceeding, investigation or similar dispute by or before any Governmental Entity or otherwise pending or, to the knowledge of the Stockholder, threatened against the Stockholder or any of its Affiliates and (b) neither the Stockholder nor any of its Affiliates is a party to or subject to the provisions of any judgment, order, writ, injunction, decree or award of any Governmental Entity.


Section 2.04 Ownership of Company Stock; Voting Power. The Stockholder’s signature page hereto correctly sets forth the number of the Stockholder’s Subject Shares as of the date of this Agreement and, other than such Subject Shares, as of the date of this Agreement, there are no Company securities (or any securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for, or rights to purchase or acquire, any Company securities) held of record or beneficially owned by the Stockholder or in respect of which the Stockholder has full voting power. The Stockholder has not made any Transfer of Subject Shares and the Stockholder is the record holder and beneficial owner of all of its Subject Shares and has, and shall have throughout the Applicable Period, good and valid title to the Subject Shares, full voting power and power of disposition with respect to all such Subject Shares free and clear of any liens, security interests, claims, pledges, proxies, options, right of first refusals, voting restrictions, limitations on dispositions, voting trusts or agreements, options or any other encumbrances or restrictions on title, transfer or exercise of any rights of a stockholder in respect of such Subject Shares (collectively, “Encumbrances”), except for any such Encumbrance that (a) may be imposed pursuant to (i) this Agreement, the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (ii) any applicable restrictions on transfer under U.S. state or federal securities or “blue sky” applicable Legal Requirements or (iii) the Company’s Charter Documents or the terms of any customary custody or similar agreement applicable to Subject Shares held in brokerage accounts or (b) would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to prevent, delay or impair the ability of the Stockholder perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (“Permitted Encumbrances”). No Person has any contractual or other right or obligation to purchase or otherwise acquire any of the Stockholder’s Subject Shares other than pursuant to the Merger Agreement or as set forth in the Company’s Charter Documents.

Section 2.05 Reliance. The Stockholder understands and acknowledges that Parent and Merger Sub are relying upon the Stockholder’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and upon the representations and warranties and covenants of the Stockholder contained in this Agreement.

Section 2.06 Finder’s Fees. No agent, broker, investment banker, finder or other intermediary is or shall be entitled to any fee or commission or reimbursement of expenses from Parent, Merger Sub or the Company or any of their respective Affiliates in respect of this Agreement based upon any arrangement or agreement made by or on behalf of the Stockholder.

Section 2.07 Proxy Statement. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by the Stockholder for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto will, at the date of mailing to the Parent Stockholders and at the time of the Special 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.

Section 2.08 Other Agreements. The Stockholder has not taken or permitted any action that would or would reasonably be expected to (a) constitute or result in a breach hereof, (b) make any representation or warranty of the Stockholder set forth herein untrue or inaccurate or (c) otherwise restrict, limit or interfere with the performance of this Agreement, the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Merger Agreement.


Section 2.09 Stockholder Has Adequate Information. The Stockholder acknowledges that the Stockholder is a sophisticated investor with respect to the Stockholder’s Subject Shares and has adequate information concerning the business and financial condition of the Company and Parent to make an informed decision regarding the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and has, independently and without reliance upon Parent, the Company or any Affiliate of Parent and the Company, and based on such information as the Stockholder has deemed appropriate, made the Stockholder’s own analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. The Stockholder acknowledges that the Stockholder has received and reviewed this Agreement and the Merger Agreement and has had the opportunity to seek independent legal advice prior to executing this Agreement.

Section 2.10 No Other Representations or Warranties. Except for the representations and warranties made by the Stockholder in this Article 2, neither the Stockholder nor any other Person makes any express or implied representation or warranty to Parent in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and the Stockholder expressly disclaims any such other representations or warranties.

ARTICLE 3

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT

Each of Parent and the Company represent and warrant to the Stockholder as follows:

Section 3.01 Organization. Such Party is a legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

Section 3.02 Corporate Authority. Such Party has all requisite corporate power and authority and has taken all corporate or similar action necessary in order to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Party and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of such Party enforceable against such Party in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.

Section 3.03 No Other Representations or Warranties. Except for the representations and warranties made by such Party in this Article 3, neither such Party nor any other Person makes any express or implied representation or warranty to the Stockholder in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and the Stockholder expressly disclaims reliance upon, and the Stockholder acknowledges and agrees that such Party expressly disclaims, any such other representations or warranties.

ARTICLE 4

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 4.01 Termination. This Agreement, including the voting agreements contemplated by this Agreement, shall automatically be terminated at the earliest to occur of: (a) the Effective Time; (b) the termination of the Merger Agreement pursuant to Article VII thereof; or (c) the effective date of a written agreement duly executed and delivered by Parent, the Company and the Stockholder terminating this Agreement (the date and time at which the earlier of clause (a), (b), and (c) occurs being, the “Expiration Date”); provided, however, that in the case of any


termination pursuant to clause (a), Section 1.04 (Waiver of Appraisal Rights), Section 1.05 (Public Announcements; Filings; Disclosure), Section 1.09 (No Litigation) and Section 1.10 (Further Assurances) and this Article 4 shall survive such termination. Nothing set forth in this Section 4.01 or elsewhere in this Agreement shall relieve any Party of any liability or damages to any other Party for any breach of this Agreement by such Party prior to such termination or fraud in connection with, arising out of or otherwise related to the representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement or any instrument or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement.

Section 4.02 Notices. All notices and other communications between the Parties shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when delivered in person, (ii) when delivered after posting in the United States mail having been sent registered or certified mail return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (iii) when delivered by FedEx or other nationally recognized overnight delivery service or (iv) when e-mailed during normal business hours (and otherwise as of the immediately following Business Day), addressed as follows:

If to Parent:

Northern Star Acquisition Corp.

c/o Graubard Miller

The Chrysler Building

405 Lexington Avenue, 11th Floor

New York, New York 10174

Attention: Jonathan J. Ledecky

E-mail: jledecky@hockeyny.com

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

Graubard Miller

The Chrysler Building

405 Lexington Avenue, 11th Floor

New York, New York 10174

Attention: David Alan Miller / Jeffrey M. Gallant

E-mail: dmiller@graubard.com / jgallant@graubard.com

and:

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

525 University Avenue, Suite 1400

Palo Alto, California 94301

Attention: Michael Mies

E-mail: michael.mies@skadden.com

and:

Gunderson Dettmer

1250 Broadway, 23rd Floor

New York, New York 10001

Attention: Brooks Stough / Melissa B. Marks / John Olson

E-mail: bstough@gunder.com / mmarks@gunder.com / jolson@gunder.com

If to the Stockholder, to the Stockholder’s address set forth on a signature page hereto.


Section 4.03 Expenses. Except as otherwise provided herein or in the Merger Agreement, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the Party incurring such costs and expenses, whether or not the Merger is consummated.

Section 4.04 Counterparts; Electronic Delivery. This Agreement and each other document executed in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and the consummation thereof, may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same document and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Party, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart. Delivery by electronic transmission to counsel for the other Party of a counterpart executed by a Party shall be deemed to meet the requirements of the previous sentence.

Section 4.05 Entire Agreement; Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement and the documents and instruments and other agreements between the Parties as contemplated by or referred to herein, including the annexes hereto (a) constitute the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the Parties and any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) are not intended to confer upon any other person any rights or remedies hereunder (except as specifically provided in this Agreement. No representations, warranties, covenants, understandings, agreements, oral or otherwise, relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement exist between the parties except as expressly set forth or referenced in this Agreement and the Merger Agreement.

Section 4.06 Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof, becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement will continue in full force and effect and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances will be interpreted so as reasonably to effect the intent of the parties hereto. The Parties further agree to modify this Agreement to replace such void or unenforceable provision of this Agreement with a valid and enforceable provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such void or unenforceable provision.

Section 4.07 Other Remedies; Specific Performance. Except as otherwise provided herein, any and all remedies herein expressly conferred upon a Party will be deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby, or by law or equity upon such Party, and the exercise by a Party of any one remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy. 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 shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of the United States or any state having jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. Each Party agrees that it will not


oppose the granting of specific performance and other equitable relief on the basis that the other Party has an adequate remedy at law or that an award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or equity. The Parties acknowledge and agree that any Party seeking an injunction to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in accordance with this Section shall not be required to provide any bond or other security in connection with any such injunction.

Section 4.08 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal law of the State of Delaware regardless of the law that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of law thereof.

Section 4.09 Consent to Jurisdiction; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY. Each of the Parties hereto irrevocably consents to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Delaware Chancery Court (or, if the Delaware Chancery Court shall be unavailable, any other court in the State of Delaware or, in the case of claims to which the federal courts have exclusive subject matter jurisdiction, any federal courts of the United States of America sitting in the State of Delaware) in connection with any matter based upon or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, agrees that process may be served upon them in any manner authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware for such persons and waives and covenants not to assert or plead any objection which they might otherwise have to such jurisdiction, venue and manner of service of process. Each Party hereto hereby agrees not to commence any legal proceedings relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in any jurisdiction or courts other than as provided herein. Each of the Parties hereto (i) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of any other Party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other Party would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce that foregoing waiver and (ii) acknowledges that it and the other Party hereto have been induced to enter into this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, as applicable, by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in this Section. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO 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.

Section 4.10 Assignment. No Party may assign either this Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the other Party. Subject to the first sentence of this Section, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

Section 4.11 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto at any time only by execution of an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the Parties.

[Signature Page Follows]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

NORTHERN STAR ACQUISITION CORP.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

BARKBOX INC.

By:

   
 

Name:

 

Title:

[Signature Page to Support Agreement]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

STOCKHOLDER

If individual:

 

       
Signature of Stockholder      
       
Printed Name of Stockholder      
       

 

Signature of Stockholder’s Spouse (if applicable)       Printed Name of Stockholder’s Spouse (if applicable)

If entity:

 

   
Printed Name of Entity  

By: _______________________________________________

Name: _____________________________________________

Title: ______________________________________________

Address of Stockholder: _______________________________________________________________________

 

Series

  

Shares Owned

Beneficially

  

Shares Held of

Record

  

Shares Over Which the
Stockholder has

Full Voting Power

Common         
Series Seed         
Series A         
Series B         
Series C         
Series C-1         

Note: Please indicate class, series and subseries of Shares, as applicable.

[Signature Page to Support Agreement]


ANNEX A

MERGER AGREEMENT

[attached]

 

A-1


ANNEX B

FORM OF JOINDER

This Joinder Agreement (this “Joinder Agreement”) is made as of the date written below by the undersigned (the “Joining Party”) in accordance with the Support Agreement dated as of December [•], 2020 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Support Agreement”) by and between Parent and the Company Stockholder that is party thereto. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Support Agreement.

The Joining Party hereby acknowledges, agrees and confirms that, by its execution of this Joinder Agreement, the Joining Party shall be deemed to be a party to, and a “Stockholder” under, the Support Agreement as of the date hereof and shall have all of the rights and obligations of a Stockholder as if it had executed the Support Agreement. The Joining Party hereby ratifies, as of the date hereof, and agrees to be bound by, all of the terms, provisions and conditions contained in the Support Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed this Joinder Agreement as of the date written below.

 

Date: [•][•], 20[•]    
    By:    
      Name:
      Title:
    Address for Notices:
    With copies to:

 

B-1


ANNEX C

FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

[attached]

 

C-1

Exhibit 10.3

Execution Version

FORM OF SPONSOR SUPPORT AGREEMENT

This SPONSOR SUPPORT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of December [•], 2020, is entered into by and among Northern Star Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor Holdco”), the Persons set forth on Annex A hereto (together with the Sponsor Holdco, each a “Sponsor” and together, the “Sponsors”), Northern Star Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”) and Barkbox Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). Each of Sponsor, Parent and the Company are individually referred to herein as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated as of December [•], 2020 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), by and Parent, NSAC Merger Sub Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”), and the Company.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, as of the date of this Agreement, the Sponsors are the record holder, beneficial (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, which meaning shall apply for all purposes of this Agreement whenever the term “beneficial” or “beneficially” is used) owner, and has full voting power over 6,358,750 shares of Founder Common Stock, zero shares of Parent Common Stock (together with the Founder Common Stock, the “Subject Shares”) and 4,558,000 Parent Warrants in the aggregate as set forth on Annex A attached hereto;

WHEREAS, the Company, Parent and Merger Sub have entered into the Merger Agreement in the form attached hereto as Annex B, which provides for the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger, pursuant to the provisions of the DGCL;

WHEREAS, as an inducement to the Company and Parent to enter into the Merger Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated therein, the parties hereto desire to agree to certain matters as set forth herein;

WHEREAS, Parent and each of the Sponsors desire to make certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with this Agreement;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement, the Parties agree as follows:


ARTICLE 1

VOTING AND TRANSFER OF SHARES

Section 1.01 Voting.

(a) At any meeting of the shareholders of Parent, however called, or at any adjournment thereof, or in any other circumstance in which the vote, consent or other approval of the stockholders of Parent is sought, each Sponsor shall (i) appear at each such meeting or otherwise cause all of its Subject Shares to be counted as present thereat for purposes of calculating a quorum and (ii) vote (or cause to be voted), or execute and deliver a written consent (or cause a written consent to be executed and delivered) covering, all of its Subject Shares:

 

  (i)

in favor of all Stockholder Matters, including any proposal for Parent Stockholders to adopt the Merger Agreement and approving any other matters necessary for consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger;

 

  (ii)

in favor of any proposal to adjourn a Special Meeting at which there is a proposal for Parent Stockholders to adopt the Merger Agreement to a later date if there are not sufficient votes to adopt the Merger Agreement or if there are not sufficient shares of Parent common stock present in person or represented by proxy at such Special Meeting to constitute a quorum;

 

  (iii)

against any proposal, offer or submission with respect to a competing transaction described in Section 4.3 (No Solicitation) of the Merger Agreement (a “Competing Transaction”) or the adoption of any agreement to enter into a Competing Transaction;

 

  (iv)

against any proposal for any amendment or modification of Parent’s Charter Documents that would change the voting rights of any Subject Shares or the number of votes required to approval any proposal, including the vote required to adopt the Merger Agreement;

 

  (v)

against any change in the business, management or Board of Directors of Parent (other than in connection with the Stockholder Matters); and

 

  (vi)

against any action, transaction, agreement or proposal that would, or would reasonably be expected to (A) result in a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or any other obligation or agreement of Parent or Merger Sub under the Merger Agreement or any agreement ancillary thereto or Parent or the Sponsors under this Agreement or any of the conditions to the consummation of the Merger under the Merger Agreement not being fulfilled on a timely basis, (B) prevent, delay or impair consummation of the Merger or dilute, in any material respect, the benefit of the Merger to the Company and its stockholders, or (C) facilitate any proposal, offer or submission with respect to a Competing Transaction or any agreement to enter into a Competing Transaction.

(b) Each Sponsor hereby agrees that it shall not commit or agree to take any action inconsistent with the foregoing. Each Sponsor shall comply with, and fully perform all of its obligations, covenants and agreements set forth in, that certain Letter Agreement, dated as of November 13, 2020, by and among the Sponsors and Parent (the “Voting Letter Agreement”).


(c) Any vote required to be cast or consent or dissent in writing required to be expressed pursuant to this Section 1.01 shall be cast or expressed in accordance with the applicable procedures relating thereto so as to ensure that it is duly counted for purposes of determining that a quorum is present (if applicable) and for purposes of recording the results of that vote. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing contained herein requires any Sponsor (or entitles any proxy of any Sponsor) to convert, exercise or exchange any options, warrants or convertible securities in order to obtain any underlying shares of Parent Common Stock.

(d) Each Sponsor agrees not to enter into any commitment, agreement, understanding or similar arrangement with any Person to vote or give voting instructions or express consent or dissent in writing in any manner inconsistent with the terms of this Section 1.01.

Section 1.02 No Transfers. During the period beginning on the date of this Agreement and ending on the Expiration Date (the “Applicable Period”), each Sponsor agrees not to, directly or indirectly, in one or more transactions, whether by merger, consolidation, division, operation of law, or otherwise (including by succession or otherwise by operation of applicable Legal Requirements): (a) sell, convey, assign, transfer, exchange, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise encumber or dispose of any Subject Shares (or any right, title or interest therein) or any rights to acquire any securities or equity interests of the Company; (b) deposit any Subject Shares or any rights to acquire any securities or equity interests of the Company into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement or any other arrangement with respect to any Subject Shares or any rights to acquire any securities or equity interests of the Company or grant or purport to grant any proxy or power of attorney with respect thereto that is inconsistent with this Support Agreement; (c) enter into any contract, option, call or other arrangement or undertaking, whether or not in writing, with respect to the direct or indirect sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, exchange, pledge, hypothecation or other encumbrance or disposition, or limitation on the voting rights, of any Subject Shares (or any right, title or interest therein) or any rights to acquire any securities or equity interests of the Company; (d) otherwise grant, permit or suffer the creation of any Encumbrances on any Subject Shares, other than Permitted Encumbrances; or (e) approve or commit or agree to take any of the foregoing actions (any action described in the immediately preceding sentence, a “Transfer”); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit Transfers (i) between the Sponsor and any Affiliate of the Sponsor, (ii) if the Sponsor is an individual, to a trust for the benefit of the Sponsor or to any member of a Sponsor’s immediate family or a trust for the benefit of such immediate family member or (iii) if the Sponsor is an individual, by will, other testamentary document or under the laws of intestacy upon the death of Sponsor, in each case, so long as, prior to and as a condition to the effectiveness of any such Transfer, such Affiliate or transferee executes and delivers to the Company a joinder to this Agreement in the form attached hereto as Annex C. Any Transfer or action in violation of this Section 1.02 shall be void ab initio. If any involuntary Transfer of any of Subject Shares occurs, the transferee (and all transferees and subsequent transferees of such transferee) shall take and hold such Subject Shares subject to all of the restrictions, liabilities and rights under this Agreement, which shall continue in full force and effect during the Applicable Period.

Section 1.03 Stop Transfer. Each Sponsor agrees that such Sponsor shall not request that Parent register any transfer of any certificate or book-entry share or other uncertificated interest representing any Subject Shares made in violation of the restrictions set forth in Section 1.02 during the Applicable Period and hereby authorizes and instructs the Parent to instruct its transfer agent to enter a stop transfer order with respect to all of the Subject Shares, subject to the provisions hereof; provided, that any such stop transfer order will immediately be withdrawn and terminated by the Parent following the termination of this Agreement.


Section 1.04 No Redemption. Each Sponsor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that, during the Applicable Period, such Sponsor shall not elect to redeem any Subject Shares beneficially owned or owned of record by such Sponsor, or submit any of its Subject Shares for redemption, in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or otherwise.

Section 1.05 Waiver of Anti-dilution Protection. Each Sponsor hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the ability to adjust the Initial Conversion Ratio (as defined in the certificate of incorporation of the Parent) pursuant to Article FOURTH, Section (B)(2)(ii) of the certificate of incorporation of the Parent in connection with the issuance of additional Parent Class A Common Stock in the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. This waiver shall be applicable only in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and this Support Agreement (and any Parent Class A Common Stock issued in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement) and shall be void and of no force and effect if this Agreement is terminated other than pursuant to Section 4.01(a) hereto.

Section 1.06 Public Announcements; Filings; Disclosures.

(a) Each Sponsor (and each such Sponsor’s controlled Affiliates, other than Parent) agrees that it shall not issue any press release or make any other public announcement or public statement (a “Public Communication”) with respect to this Agreement, the Merger Agreement, or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, without the prior written consent of the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), except as required by applicable Legal Requirements, in which case such Sponsor shall use its reasonable best efforts to provide the Company and the Company’s legal counsel with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such Public Communication in advance of its issuance and shall give reasonable and good faith consideration to any such comments.

(b) Each Sponsor hereby consents to and authorizes the Company and Parent to publish and disclose in any Public Communication or in any disclosure required by the SEC and in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus prepared by Parent and filed with the SEC relating to the Special Meeting such Sponsor’s identity and ownership of Subject Shares and each such Sponsor’s obligations under this Agreement (the “Sponsor Information”), consents to the filing of this Agreement to the extent required by applicable Legal Requirements to be filed with the SEC or any regulatory authority relating to the Merger, and agrees to cooperate with Parent in connection with such filings, including providing Sponsor Information reasonably requested by Parent.

Section 1.06 Non-Solicitation. Each Sponsor acknowledges that such Sponsor has read Section 4.3 of the Merger Agreement. In addition, each Sponsor agrees that the restrictions imposed on Parent pursuant to Section 4.3 of the Merger Agreement shall be binding upon the Sponsor mutatis mutandis and further agrees not to take (and agrees to cause its Affiliates and its and their Representatives not to take), directly or indirectly, any action that would violate Section 4.3 of the Merger Agreement if such action were taken by Parent.


Section 1.07 No Agreement as Director or Officer. Each Sponsor is entering into this Agreement solely in such Sponsor’s capacity as record or beneficial owner of Subject Shares and nothing herein is intended to or shall limit or affect any actions taken by such Sponsor or any employee, officer, director (or person performing similar functions), partner or other Affiliate (including, for this purpose, any appointee or representative of the Sponsor to the board of directors of the Parent) of the Sponsor, solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Parent (or a Subsidiary of the Parent) or other fiduciary capacity for the Parent Stockholders.

Section 1.08 Acquisition of Additional Shares. In the event that, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending at the Expiration Date, (a) any Subject Shares are issued to Sponsor after the date of this Agreement pursuant to any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, reclassification, combination or exchange of Subject Shares or otherwise, (b) Sponsor purchases or otherwise acquires beneficial ownership of any Subject Shares or (c) Sponsor acquires the right to vote or share in the voting of any Subject Shares (collectively the “New Securities”), then such New Securities acquired or purchased by such Sponsor shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement to the same extent as if they constituted the Subject Shares owned by such Sponsor as of the date hereof.

Section 1.09 No Litigation. Each Sponsor hereby agrees not to commence, maintain or participate in, or facilitate, assist or encourage, and agrees to take all actions necessary to opt out of any class in any class action with respect to, any claim, derivative or otherwise, suit, proceeding or cause of action, in law or in equity, in any court or before any Governmental Entity (a) challenging the validity of, or seeking to enjoin or delay the operation of, any provision of this Agreement or the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including any claim seeking to enjoin or delay the consummation of the Merger), (b) alleging a breach of any fiduciary duty of any Person or alleging that any Person aided or abetted any breach of any fiduciary duty of any Person in connection with this Agreement or the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby or thereby, or (c) otherwise relating to the Merger Agreement, this Agreement or the Merger or other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

Section 1.10 Further Assurances. Each Sponsor shall execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such further certificates, instruments and other documents and to take such further actions as the Company may reasonably request for the purpose of effectively carrying out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Merger Agreement.

ARTICLE 2

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SPONSORS

Each Sponsor hereby severally and not jointly represents and warrants to Parent and the Company as follows:

Section 2.01 Organization; Authorization. In the event the Sponsor is an individual, the Sponsor has full power, right and legal capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement, and to perform his or her obligations hereunder. In the event the Sponsor is a legal entity, (a) the Sponsor is a legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the applicable Legal Requirements of the Sponsor’s jurisdiction of its organization, (b) the Sponsor has all requisite corporate or similar power and authority and has taken all corporate or similar action necessary in order to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform the Sponsor’s obligations under this Agreement and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (c) no


approval by any holder of the Sponsor’s equity interests is necessary to approve this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Sponsor and, in the event the Sponsor is an individual and is married and any of the Sponsor’s Subject Shares constitute community property or spousal approval is otherwise required in order for this Agreement to be a valid and binding obligation of the Sponsor, this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Sponsor’s spouse, and this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Sponsor enforceable against the Sponsor in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.

Section 2.02 Governmental Filings; No Violations; Certain Contracts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Sponsor of this Agreement and the consummation by the Sponsor of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (i) conflict with or violate any United States or non-United States statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, executive order, injunction, judgment, decree or other order applicable to the Sponsor, (ii) require any consent, approval or authorization of, declaration, filing or registration with, or notice to, any person or entity, (iii) result in the creation of any encumbrance on any Shares (other than under this Agreement) or (iv) conflict with or result in a breach of or constitute a default under any provision of the Sponsor’s governing documents or any agreement (including any voting agreement) to which the Sponsor is a party.

Section 2.03 Litigation. As of the date of this Agreement, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to prevent, delay or impair the ability of the Sponsor perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (a) there is no action, suit, demand, complaint, litigation, review, audit, hearing, arbitration, proceeding, investigation or similar dispute by or before any Governmental Entity or otherwise pending or, to the knowledge of the Sponsor, threatened against the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates and (b) neither the Sponsor nor any of its Affiliates is a party to or subject to the provisions of any judgment, order, writ, injunction, decree or award of any Governmental Entity.

Section 2.04 Ownership of Parent Stock; Voting Power. The Sponsor’s signature page hereto correctly sets forth the number of the Sponsor’s Subject Shares as of the date of this Agreement and, other than such Subject Shares, as of the date of this Agreement, there are no Parent securities (or any securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for, or rights to purchase or acquire, any Parent securities) held of record or beneficially owned by the Sponsor or in respect of which the Sponsor has full voting power. The Sponsor has not made any Transfer of Subject Shares and the Sponsor is the record holder and beneficial owner of all of its Subject Shares and has, and shall have throughout the Applicable Period, good and valid title to the Subject Shares, full voting power and power of disposition with respect to all such Subject Shares free and clear of any liens, security interests, claims, pledges, proxies, options, right of first refusals, voting restrictions, limitations on dispositions, voting trusts or agreements, options or any other encumbrances or restrictions on title, transfer or exercise of any rights of a stockholder in respect of such Subject Shares (collectively, “Encumbrances”), except for any such Encumbrance that (a) may be imposed pursuant to (i) this Agreement, the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (ii) any applicable restrictions on transfer under U.S. state or federal securities or “blue sky” applicable Legal Requirements or (iii) the Parent’s Charter


Documents or the terms of any customary custody or similar agreement applicable to Subject Shares held in brokerage accounts or (b) would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to prevent, delay or impair the ability of the Sponsor perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No Person has any contractual or other right or obligation to purchase or otherwise acquire any of the Sponsor’s Subject Shares other than pursuant to the Merger Agreement or as set forth in the Parent’s Charter Documents.

Section 2.05 Reliance. Each Sponsor understands and acknowledges that the Company is relying upon the Sponsor’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and upon the representations and warranties and covenants of the Sponsors contained in this Agreement.

Section 2.06 Finder’s Fees. No agent, broker, investment banker, finder or other intermediary is or shall be entitled to any fee or commission or reimbursement of expenses from Parent, Merger Sub or the Company or any of their respective Affiliates in respect of this Agreement based upon any arrangement or agreement made by or on behalf of the Sponsor.

Section 2.07 Proxy Statement. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by the Sponsor for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto will, at the date of mailing to the Parent Stockholders and at the time of the Special 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.

Section 2.08 Other Agreements. The Sponsor has not taken or permitted any action that would or would reasonably be expected to (a) constitute or result in a breach hereof, (b) make any representation or warranty of the Sponsor set forth herein untrue or inaccurate or (c) otherwise restrict, limit or interfere with the performance of this Agreement, the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Merger Agreement.

Section 2.09 Sponsor Has Adequate Information. The Sponsor acknowledges that the Sponsor is a sophisticated investor with respect to the Sponsor’s Subject Shares and has adequate information concerning the business and financial condition of the Company and Parent to make an informed decision regarding the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and has, independently and without reliance upon Parent, the Company or any Affiliate of Parent and the Company, and based on such information as the Sponsor has deemed appropriate, made the Sponsor’s own analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. The Sponsor acknowledges that the Sponsor has received and reviewed this Agreement and the Merger Agreement and has had the opportunity to seek independent legal advice prior to executing this Agreement.

Section 2.10 No Other Representations or Warranties. Except for the representations and warranties made by the Sponsor in this Article 2, neither the Sponsor nor any other Person makes any express or implied representation or warranty to the Company or Parent in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and the Sponsor expressly disclaims any such other representations or warranties.


ARTICLE 3

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT

Each of Parent and the Company represent and warrant to the Sponsors as follows:

Section 3.01 Organization. Such Party is a legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

Section 3.02 Corporate Authority. Such Party has all requisite corporate power and authority and has taken all corporate or similar action necessary in order to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Party and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of such Party enforceable against such Party in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.

Section 3.03 No Other Representations or Warranties. Except for the representations and warranties made by Parent in this Article 3, neither such Party nor any other Person makes any express or implied representation or warranty to the Sponsor in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and the Sponsor expressly disclaims reliance upon, and the Sponsor acknowledges and agrees that such Party expressly disclaims, any such other representations or warranties.

ARTICLE 4

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 4.01 Termination. This Agreement, including the voting agreements contemplated by this Agreement and any proxy granted hereunder if such proxy becomes effective, shall automatically be terminated at the earliest to occur of: (a) the Effective Time; (b) the termination of the Merger Agreement pursuant to Article VII thereof; or (c) the effective date of a written agreement duly executed and delivered by Parent, the Company and each of the Sponsors terminating this Agreement (the date and time at which the earlier of clause (a), (b), and (c) occurs being, the “Expiration Date”); provided, however, that in the case of any termination pursuant to clause (a), Section 1.05 (Waiver of Anti-dilution Protection), Section 1.06 (Public Announcements; Filings; Disclosure), Section 1.09 (No Litigation) and Section 1.10 (Further Assurances) and this Article 4 shall survive such termination. Nothing set forth in this Section 4.01 or elsewhere in this Agreement shall relieve any Party of any liability or damages to any other Party for any intentional and willful breach of this Agreement by such Party prior to such termination or fraud in connection with, arising out of or otherwise related to the representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement or any instrument or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement.

Section 4.02 Notices. All notices and other communications between the Parties shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when delivered in person, (ii) when delivered after posting in the United States mail having been sent registered or certified mail return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (iii) when delivered by FedEx or other nationally


recognized overnight delivery service or (iv) when e-mailed during normal business hours (and otherwise as of the immediately following Business Day), addressed as follows:

If to Parent or any Sponsor:

Northern Star Acquisition Corp.

c/o Graubard Miller

The Chrysler Building

405 Lexington Avenue, 11th Floor

New York, New York 10174

Attention: Jonathan J. Ledecky

E-mail: jledecky@hockeyny.com

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

Graubard Miller

The Chrysler Building

405 Lexington Avenue, 11th Floor

New York, New York 10174

Attention: David Alan Miller / Jeffrey M. Gallant

E-mail: dmiller@graubard.com / jgallant@graubard.com

If to the Company:

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

525 University Avenue, Suite 1400

Palo Alto, California 94301

Attention: Michael Mies

E-mail: michael.mies@skadden.com

and:

Gunderson Dettmer

1250 Broadway, 23rd Floor

New York, New York 10001

Attention: Brooks Stough / Melissa B. Marks / John Olson

E-mail: bstough@gunder.com / mmarks@gunder.com / jolson@gunder.com

Section 4.03 Expenses. Except as otherwise provided herein or in the Merger Agreement, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the Party incurring such costs and expenses, whether or not the Merger is consummated.

Section 4.04 Counterparts; Electronic Delivery. This Agreement and each other document executed in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and the consummation thereof, may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same document and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Party, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart. Delivery by electronic transmission to counsel for the other Party of a counterpart executed by a Party shall be deemed to meet the requirements of the previous sentence.


Section 4.05 Entire Agreement; Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement and the Voting Letter Agreement (except as superseded hereby) and the documents and instruments and other agreements between the Parties as contemplated by or referred to herein, including the annexes hereto (a) constitute the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the Parties and any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) are not intended to confer upon any other person any rights or remedies hereunder (except as specifically provided in this Agreement). No representations, warranties, covenants, understandings, agreements, oral or otherwise, relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement exist between the parties except as expressly set forth or referenced in this Agreement and the Merger Agreement.

Section 4.06 Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof, becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement will continue in full force and effect and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances will be interpreted so as reasonably to effect the intent of the parties hereto. The Parties further agree to modify this Agreement to replace such void or unenforceable provision of this Agreement with a valid and enforceable provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such void or unenforceable provision.

Section 4.07 Other Remedies; Specific Performance. Except as otherwise provided herein, any and all remedies herein expressly conferred upon a Party will be deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby, or by law or equity upon such Party, and the exercise by a Party of any one remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy. 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 shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of the United States or any state having jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. Each Party agrees that it will not oppose the granting of specific performance and other equitable relief on the basis that the other Party has an adequate remedy at law or that an award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or equity. The Parties acknowledge and agree that any Party seeking an injunction to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in accordance with this Section shall not be required to provide any bond or other security in connection with any such injunction.

Section 4.08 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal law of the State of Delaware regardless of the law that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of law thereof.


Section 4.09 Consent to Jurisdiction; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY. Each of the Parties hereto irrevocably consents to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Delaware Chancery Court (or, if the Delaware Chancery Court shall be unavailable, any other court in the State of Delaware or, in the case of claims to which the federal courts have exclusive subject matter jurisdiction, any federal courts of the United States of America sitting in the State of Delaware) in connection with any matter based upon or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, agrees that process may be served upon them in any manner authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware for such persons and waives and covenants not to assert or plead any objection which they might otherwise have to such jurisdiction, venue and manner of service of process. Each Party hereto hereby agrees not to commence any legal proceedings relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in any jurisdiction or courts other than as provided herein. Each of the Parties hereto (i) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of any other Party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other Party would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce that foregoing waiver and (ii) acknowledges that it and the other Party hereto have been induced to enter into this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, as applicable, by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in this Section. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO 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.

Section 4.10 Assignment. No Party may assign either this Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the other Party. Subject to the first sentence of this Section, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

Section 4.11 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto at any time only by execution of an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the Parties.

[Signature Page Follows]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

BARKBOX INC.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
NORTHERN STAR ACQUISITION CORP.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

[Signature Page to Sponsor Support Agreement]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

SPONSORS:

 

NORTHERN STAR SPONSOR LLC
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

 

 

Jonathan J. Ledecky
 

 

Joanna Coles

 

 

Jim Brady

 

 

Deb Spar

 

 

Justine Cheng

 

 

John Mildenhall

[Signature Page to Sponsor Support Agreement]


ANNEX A

Sponsor Parent Common Shares and Parent Warrants

 

Name

 

Founder Common Stock

 

Parent Warrants

Northern Star Sponsor LLC

 

6,108,750

 

4,558,000

Jim Brady

 

100,000

 

Deb Spar

 

50,000

 

Justine Cheng

 

50,000

 

John Mildenhall

 

50,000

 


ANNEX B

MERGER AGREEMENT

[attached]


ANNEX C

FORM OF JOINDER

This Joinder Agreement (this “Joinder Agreement”) is made as of the date written below by the undersigned (the “Joining Party”) in accordance with the Sponsor Support Agreement dated as of December [•], 2020 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Support Agreement”) by and between Company, Parent and the Sponsors that is party thereto. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Support Agreement.

The Joining Party hereby acknowledges, agrees and confirms that, by its execution of this Joinder Agreement, the Joining Party shall be deemed to be a party to, and a “Sponsor” under, the Sponsor Support Agreement as of the date hereof and shall have all of the rights and obligations of a Sponsor as if it had executed the Sponsor Support Agreement. The Joining Party hereby ratifies, as of the date hereof, and agrees to be bound by, all of the terms, provisions and conditions contained in the Sponsor Support Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed this Joinder Agreement as of the date written below.

 

Date: [•][•], 20[•]    
    By:    
      Name:
      Title:
    Address for Notices:
    With copies to:

Exhibit 99.1

BARK, A Leading Brand for Dogs, to List on NYSE Through Merger with Northern Star Acquisition Corp.

 

   

BARK serves over 1 million dogs monthly through BarkBox and Super Chewer subscriptions and broad retail distribution of its comprehensive suite of best-in-class, proprietary products

 

   

Digitally-led organization leverages vast customer data to develop and distribute curated assortments of dog products ranging from toys to food

 

   

Well positioned to be category leader across the four primary channels for dogs: Fun, Food, Home and Health

 

   

Industry leading momentum: projected revenues of approximately $365 million and gross margins of approximately 60% for fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, 179% YoY increase in revenue from new product lines in first half of FY2021, and net revenue CAGR FY2020-FY2023 of over 40%

 

   

Transaction values BARK at an enterprise value of approximately $1.6 billion and is expected to provide up to $454 million of gross cash proceeds to invest in the acceleration of new and existing product lines as well as international expansion

 

   

Top-tier institutional investors, including Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, Senator Investment Group, the Federated Hermes Kaufmann Funds, and affiliates of the Santo Domingo Group, among others, are supporting the transaction with an upsized $200 million fully-committed PIPE

 

   

Existing BARK shareholders and management will retain 100% of their equity in the combined company

 

   

Northern Stars units will be able to be separated voluntarily by holders commencing on or about December 18, 2020

NEW YORK – December 17, 2020 – Barkbox, Inc. (“BARK” or the “Company”), a leading global omni-channel brand for dogs, and Northern Star Acquisition Corp. (“Northern Star”) (NYSE: STIC.U), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, today announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement. As a result of the transaction, which values the Company at an enterprise value of approximately $1.6 billion, BARK will become a publicly listed company on the New York Stock Exchange under the new ticker symbol, “BARK”.

Founded in 2012 by Matt Meeker, Henrik Werdelin and Carly Strife, BARK is the world’s most dog-centric company devoted to making dogs and their owners happy with the best products, services and content. The Company’s current offerings, available through www.barkbox.com, include BarkBox, its renowned, customized, internally designed and sourced, and cleverly themed monthly box of toys and treats, Super Chewer (highly durable rubber toys), BARK Home (everyday products), BARK Bright (dental, health and wellness), and BARK Eats (personalized food blend service).

BARK’s innovative, high-quality products are distributed directly to consumers via its BarkBox, Super Chewer and BARK Bright Dental subscriptions and are available through Amazon.com as well as 23,000 retail locations including Target, Petco, PetSmart and Costco, among many others. The Company’s omni-channel sales approach, data-driven platform and consistent customer engagement through direct contact and social media enable it to reach over 1 million active subscribers every month.

Pet industry sales reached $96 billion in 2019 and are expected to grow significantly over the coming years. BARK is well positioned to capitalize on these strong industry trends through growth in new subscribers, development of new proprietary products and expansion of distribution channels.


Management and Governance

Following the close of the transaction, Mr. Meeker will continue to serve as Executive Chairman, Mr. Werdelin will continue to lead design, content and product development, and Ms. Strife will continue to lead strategic BARK initiatives, such as BARK Eats. BARK Chief Executive Officer Manish Joneja, a former senior leader at Amazon and eBay with two decades of experience scaling businesses through consumer-centric product and technology innovation, omnichannel commerce, global expansion and operational transformation, will serve as CEO of the combined company. Northern Star Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer Joanna Coles, a creative media and technology executive, and President and Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Ledecky, a seasoned executive with over 35 years of investment and operational experience, will join the combined company’s Board of Directors.

Mr. Meeker said, “We are thrilled to partner with Northern Star as we enter our next phase of growth. We started BARK because we are obsessed with making dogs and the people who love them happy. As a result of this merger, we will accelerate our ability to scale the BARK platform worldwide, add joy to the millions of dogs and families who love our products through our monthly subscription service and grow our omni-channel distribution. We are energized by the numerous growth opportunities ahead, which include expanding our product offerings and experiences, enhancing our robust customer engagement platform though the use of artificial intelligence and creating lasting memories for dog lovers.”

Mr. Werdelin added, “BARK is well positioned to be a category leader across the four primary channels for dogs: Fun, Food, Home and Health. We provide our loyal customers with a range of high-quality, tailored offerings, from toys, treats and personalized food blends to beds, collars and dental solutions, and are excited to launch new verticals and experiences that will continue to delight our dogs and their families. Additionally, partnering with legendary media and technology executive Joanna Coles will be invaluable as we continue our journey.”

Mr. Joneja said, “We believe that this transaction with Northern Star will provide BARK with a stronger platform to advance our mission, innovate, and find new and creative ways to connect with the growing BARK community. Upon closing of the merger, BARK will be a public company with a strong balance sheet and leading market position in a fast-growing, recession resistant market supported by comprehensive research and data, highly personalized products, and experiences designed to satisfy each distinct dog’s personality and preferences. More than one million dogs eagerly jump at the front door awaiting our products monthly and we will strive to make our public shareholders as happy as we make our dogs and their families.”

Ms. Coles said, “BARK is a market-leading, consumer-focused, digital-first business that we believe is poised for long-term success. The Company’s loyal customer base, strong brand resonance and passionate social following create exciting opportunities to further solidify BARK as a leading global brand for dogs. I have spent my career building brands and getting audiences to take notice, care, engage and share, and I have never encountered a company with such tremendous reach and relationships with its customers. I believe BARK is a true disruptor in the space, with hard-to-replicate brand loyalty, proprietary products, robust economics and an attractive subscription and e-commerce business model that positions the Company to continue to thrive in the years to come.”

Transaction Overview

The transaction values BARK at an enterprise value of approximately $1.6 billion. For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, the Company projects revenue of approximately $365 million and gross profit of approximately $221 million.


The combined company expects to receive up to $454 million of gross cash proceeds at closing, assuming no redemptions of Northern Star’s existing public stockholders, including an upsized fully-committed $200 million private placement of common stock (the “PIPE Offering”) at $10.00 per share led by Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, Senator Investment Group, the Federated Hermes Kaufmann Funds, and affiliates of the Santo Domingo Group (advised by Quadrant Capital Advisors, Inc.), among other top-tier institutional investors. All BARK shareholders and management are retaining 100% of their equity in the combined company. The proceeds are expected to be used to accelerate the growth of existing and new product lines, invest in staffing, marketing and engineering personnel and capabilities, and partially reduce debt obligations.

Northern Star’s units will be able to be separated voluntarily by holders commencing on or about December 18, 2020.

The Northern Star and BARK Boards of Directors have unanimously approved the proposed merger and the related transactions, which are expected to be completed early in the second quarter of 2021, subject to, among other things, the approval by Northern Star’s and BARK’s stockholders of the proposed merger and satisfaction or waiver of other customary closing conditions.

Additional information about the proposed business combination, including a copy of the merger agreement and investor presentation, will be provided in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by Northern Star today with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov. The investor presentation can also be found on BARK’s investor website at investors.bark.co.

Investor Conference Call Information

BARK and Northern Star will host a joint investor conference call to discuss the proposed transaction today, Thursday, December 17, 2020, at 7:30 am ET.

To listen to the prepared remarks via telephone dial 877-407-0789 (U.S.) or 201-689-8562 (International) and an operator will assist you. A telephone replay will be available at 844-512-2921 (U.S.) or 412-317-6671 (International), passcode 13714365. The telephone replay will be available through Wednesday, March 17, 2021, at 11:59 pm ET.

Advisors

Citigroup is acting as sole financial and capital markets advisor to Northern Star. Citigroup acted as sole placement agent to Northern Star in connection with the PIPE Offering.

Canaccord Genuity is acting as financial advisor to BARK.

Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP are acting as legal counsel to BARK. Graubard Miller is acting as legal counsel to Northern Star.

About BARK

BARK is the world’s most dog-centric company, devoted to making dogs happy with the best products, services and content. BARK’s dog-obsessed team applies its unique, data-driven understanding of what makes each dog special to design playstyle-specific toys, wildly satisfying treats and wellness supplements, and dog-first experiences that foster the health and happiness of dogs everywhere. Founded in 2012, BARK loyally serves dogs nationwide with monthly subscription services, BarkBox and Super Chewer; a curated e-commerce experience on BarkShop.com; custom collections via its retail partner


network, including Target and Amazon; wellness products that meet your dogs’ needs with BARK Bright; and a personalized meal delivery service for dogs BARK Eats. At BARK, we want to be the people our dogs think we are and promise to be their voice until every dog reaches its full tail-wagging potential. Sniff around at bark.co for more information.

About Northern Star Acquisition Corp.

Northern Star Acquisition Corp. is a special purpose acquisition company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities in the beauty, wellness, self-care, fashion, e-commerce, subscription and digital-media sectors. The management team and Board of Directors are composed of veteran consumer, media, technology, retail and finance industry executives and founders, including Joanna Coles, Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer, and Jonathan Ledecky, President and Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Coles is a creative media and technology executive who in her previous roles as editor of two leading magazines and Chief Content Officer of Hearst Magazines developed an extensive network of relationships at the intersection of technology, fashion and beauty. Ms. Coles currently serves as a special advisor to Cornell Capital, a $3.5 billion private investment firm, and is on the board at Snap Inc., Sonos, Density Software, and Women Entrepreneurs of New York City. Mr. Ledecky is a seasoned businessman with over 35 years of investment and operational experience. He has executed hundreds of acquisitions across multiple industries and raised over $20 billion in debt and equity. He is also co-owner of the National Hockey League’s New York Islanders franchise since 2014 and a prior owner of the Washington Wizards and the Washington Capitals. For additional information, please visit https://northernstaric.com.

Important Information and Where to Find It

This communication is being made in respect of the proposed merger transaction involving Northern Star and BARK. Northern Star intends to file a registration statement on Form S-4 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which will include a proxy statement/prospectus of Northern Star, and certain related documents, to be used at the meeting of shareholders to approve the proposed business combination and related matters. Investors and security holders of Northern Star are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus, and any amendments thereto and other relevant documents that will be filed with the SEC, carefully and in their entirety when they become available because they will contain important information about BARK, Northern Star and the business combination. The definitive proxy statement will be mailed to shareholders of Northern Star as of a record date to be established for voting on the proposed business combination. Investors and security holders will also be able to obtain copies of the registration statement and other documents containing important information about each of the companies once such documents are filed with the SEC, without charge, at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov.

The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the websites referenced in this press release is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this press release.

Participants in the Solicitation

Northern Star, BARK and certain of their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Northern Star in favor of the approval of the business combination and related matters. Shareholders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of certain of Northern Star’s executive officers and directors in the solicitation by reading Northern Star’s Final Prospectus dated November 10, 2020, filed with the SEC on November 12, 2020, and the proxy statement and other relevant materials filed with the SEC in connection


with the business combination when they become available. Information concerning the interests of Northern Star’s participants in the solicitation, which may, in some cases, be different than those of their stockholders generally, will be set forth in the proxy statement relating to the business combination when it becomes available.

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such other jurisdiction.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this press release are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding estimates and forecasts of other financial and performance metrics and projections of market opportunity.

These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of BARK’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of BARK. Some important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statements could include changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties; the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the merger, including the risk that any required regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the merger is not obtained; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the merger; risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to the BARK; the risk that spending on pets may not increase at projected rates; that BARK subscriptions may not increase their spending with BARK; BARK’s ability to continue to convert social media followers and contacts into customers; BARK’s ability to successfully expand its product lines and channel distribution; competition; the uncertain effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; and those factors discussed in documents of Northern Star filed, or to be filed, with SEC. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that neither Northern Star nor BARK presently know or that Northern Star and BARK currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.

In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Northern Star’s and BARK’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. Northern Star and BARK anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause Northern Star’s and BARK’s assessments to change. However, while Northern Star and BARK may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some


point in the future, Northern Star and BARK specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Northern Star’s and BARK’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.

Any financial projections in this communication are forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond Northern Star’s and BARK’s control. While all projections are necessarily speculative, Northern Star and BARK believe that the preparation of prospective financial information involves increasingly higher levels of uncertainty the further out the projection extends from the date of preparation. The assumptions and estimates underlying the projected results 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. The inclusion of projections in this communication should not be regarded as an indication that Northern Star and BARK, or their respective representatives and advisors, considered or consider the projections to be a reliable prediction of future events.

This communication is not intended to be all-inclusive or to contain all the information that a person may desire in considering in an investment in Northern Star and is not intended to form the basis of an investment decision in Northern Star. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning Northern Star and BARK, the proposed transactions or other matters and attributable to Northern Star and BARK or any person acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above.

Contacts

For BARK

Investors:

ICR, Inc.

Jean Fontana

Jean.Fontana@icrinc.com

Media:

Garland Harwood

press@barkbox.com

For Northern Star Acquisition Corp.

Jonathan Gasthalter/Nathaniel Garnick/Sam Fisher

Gasthalter & Co.

(212) 257-4170

northernstar@gasthalter.com

SLIDE 1

Management Presentation December 2020 Exhibit 99.2


SLIDE 2

Disclaimer (1/2) 183 183 183 173 214 225 25517164 84 149 61 185 227 162 212 82 36 This presentation (this “Presentation”) is provided for informational purposes only and has been prepared to assist interested parties in making their own evaluation with respect to a potential business combination between Barkbox Inc. (“Barkbox”) and Northern Star Acquisition Corp. (“Northern Star”) and related transactions (the “Potential Business Combination”) and for no other purpose. By reviewing or reading this Presentation, you will be deemed to have agreed to the obligations and restrictions set out below. Without the express prior written consent of Northern Star and Barkbox, this Presentation and any information contained within it may not be (i) reproduced (in whole or in part), (ii) copied at any time, (iii) used for any purpose other than your evaluation of Barkbox or (iv) provided to any other person, except your employees and advisors with a need to know who are advised of the confidentiality of the information. This Presentation supersedes and replaces all previous oral or written communications between the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof. This Presentation and any oral statements made in connection with this Presentation do not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation to purchase, any securities in any jurisdiction, or the solicitation of any vote, consent or approval in any jurisdiction in connection with the Potential Business Combination or any related transactions, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of any securities in any jurisdiction where, or to any person to whom, such offer, solicitation or sale may be unlawful under the laws of such jurisdiction. This Presentation does not constitute either advice or a recommendation regarding any securities. Any offer to sell securities will be made only pursuant to a definitive Subscription Agreement and will be made in reliance on an exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for offers and sales of securities that do not involve a public offering. Northern Star and the Barkbox reserve the right to withdraw or amend for any reason any offering and to reject any Subscription Agreement for any reason. The communication of this Presentation is restricted by law; it is not intended for distribution to, or use by any person in, any jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation. No representations or warranties, express or implied are given in, or in respect of, this Presentation. Industry and market data used in this Presentation have been obtained from third-party industry publications and sources as well as from research reports prepared for other purposes. Neither Northern Star nor Barkbox has independently verified the data obtained from these sources and cannot assure you of the data’s accuracy or completeness. This data is subject to change. Recipients of this Presentation are not to construe its contents, or any prior or subsequent communications from or with Northern Star, Barkbox or their respective representatives as investment, legal or tax advice. In addition, this Presentation does not purport to be all-inclusive or to contain all of the information that may be required to make a full analysis of Barkbox or the Potential Business Combination. Recipients of this Presentation should each make their own evaluation of Barkbox and of the relevance and adequacy of the information and should make such other investigations as they deem necessary. Forward Looking Statements Certain statements included in this Presentation are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding estimates and forecasts of other financial and performance metrics and projections of market opportunity. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this Presentation, and on the current expectations of Barkbox’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Barkbox. Some important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statements could include changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties; the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the Potential Business Combination, including the risk that any required regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the Potential Business Combination is not obtained; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Potential Business Combination; risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to the Barkbox; the risk that spending on pets may not increase at projected rates; that Barkbox subscriptions may not increase their spending with Barkbox; Barkbox’s ability to continue to convert social media followers and contacts into customers; Barkbox’s ability to successfully expand its product lines and channel distribution; competition; the uncertain effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; and those factors discussed in documents of Northern Star filed, or to be filed, with SEC. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that neither Northern Star nor Barkbox presently know or that Northern Star and Barkbox currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Northern Star’s and Barkbox’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this Presentation. Northern Star and Barkbox anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause Northern Star’s and Barkbox’s assessments to change. However, while Northern Star and Barkbox may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Northern Star and Barkbox specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Northern Star’s and Barkbox’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this Presentation. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. Use of Data The data contained herein is derived from various internal and external sources. No representation is made as to the reasonableness of the assumptions made within or the accuracy or completeness of any projections or modeling or any other information contained herein. Any data on past performance or modeling contained herein is not an indication as to future performance. Northern Star and Barkbox assume no obligation to update the information in this presentation. Further, the financials contained herein were prepared by Barkbox in accordance with private company AICPA standards. Barkbox is currently in the process of uplifting its financials to comply with public company and SEC requirements.


SLIDE 3

Disclaimer (2/2) 183 183 183 173 214 225 25517164 84 149 61 185 227 162 212 82 36 Trademarks Northern Star and Barkbox own or have rights to various trademarks, service marks and trade names that they use in connection with the operation of their respective businesses. This presentation may also contain trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights of third parties, which are the property of their respective owners. The use or display of third parties’ trademarks, service marks, trade names or products in this presentation is not intended to, and does not imply, a relationship with Northern Star or Barkbox, or an endorsement or sponsorship by or of Northern Star or Barkbox. Solely for convenience, the trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights referred to in this presentation may appear without the TM, SM, ® or © symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that Northern Star or Barkbox will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, their rights or the right of the applicable licensor to these trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights. Use of Projections The projections, estimates and targets in this Presentation are forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond Northern Star’s and Barkbox’s control. While all projections, estimates and targets are necessarily speculative, Northern Star and Barkbox believe that the preparation of prospective financial information involves increasingly higher levels of uncertainty the further out the projection, estimate or target extends from the date of preparation. The assumptions and estimates underlying the projected, expected or target results are inherently uncertain and are subject to a wide variety of significant business, economic, regulatory and competitive risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in such projections, estimates and targets. The inclusion of projections, estimates and targets in this presentation should not be regarded as an indication that Northern Star and Barkbox, or their representatives, considered or consider the financial projections, estimates and targets to be a reliable prediction of future events. Financial Information; Non-GAAP Financial Measures The financial information and data for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018 and 2019 are audited. The financial information and data for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020 are actual unaudited and do not conform to Regulation S-X. Accordingly, such information and data may not be included in, may be adjusted in or may be presented differently in, any proxy statement or registration statement to be filed by Northern Star or Barkbox with the SEC. Some of the financial information and data contained in this Presentation, such as Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin and Core Adjusted EBITDA and Core Adjusted EBITDA margin has not been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). These non-GAAP measures, and other measures that are calculated using such non-GAAP measures, are an addition, and not a substitute for or superior to measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to operating income, net income or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of the projected Non-GAAP financial measures has not been provided because certain items excluded from these Non-GAAP financial measures such as charges related to stock-based compensation expenses and related tax effects, including non-recurring income tax adjustments, cannot be reasonably calculated or predicted at this time. Northern Star and Barkbox believe these non-GAAP measures of financial results including on a forward-looking basis provide useful information to management and investors regarding certain financial and business trends relating to Barkbox’s financial condition and results of operations. Barkbox’s management uses these non-GAAP measures for trend analyses, for purposes of determining management incentive compensation, and for budgeting and planning purposes. Northern Star and Barkbox believe that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures provides an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating projected operating results and trends in and in comparing Barkbox’s financial measures with other similar companies, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors. Management of Northern Star does not consider these non-GAAP measures in isolation or as an alternative to financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. However, there are a number of limitations related to the use of these non-GAAP measures and their nearest GAAP equivalents. For example other companies may calculate non-GAAP measures differently, or may use other measures to calculate their financial performance, and therefore Barkbox’s non-GAAP measures may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. See the footnotes on the slides where these measures are discussed and the Appendix for definitions of these non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. Important Information for Investors and Stockholders Northern Star and Barkbox and their respective directors and executive officers, under SEC rules, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of Northern Star’s shareholders in connection with the Potential Business Combination. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names and interests in the Potential Business Combination of Northern Star’s directors and officers in Northern Star’s filings with the SEC, including Northern Star’s registration statement on Form S-1, which was originally filed with the SEC on September 29, 2020. To the extent that holdings of Northern Star’s securities have changed from the amounts reported in Northern Star’s registration statement on Form S-1, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies to Northern Star’s shareholders in connection with the Potential Business Combination is set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus on Form S-4 for the Potential Business Combination, which is expected to be filed by Northern Star with the SEC. This Presentation is not a substitute for the registration statement or for any other document that Northern Star may file with the SEC in connection with the Potential Business Combination. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of other documents filed with the SEC by Northern Star through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. INVESTMENT IN ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SEC OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY NOR HAS ANY AUTHORITY PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THE OFFERING OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE


SLIDE 4

Transaction Overview 1.


SLIDE 5

Transaction summary Transaction Highlights Transaction Parties Barkbox Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or “BARK”) Northern Star Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“NSAC”) Northern Star Sponsor LLC (“Sponsor”, and, together with the Company and NSAC, the “Parties”) Transaction Summary NSAC is a publicly listed special purpose acquisition company with $254.4M in cash to be deployed PIPE size of $200M Listing / Ticker Pro forma Company expected to trade on NYSE as "BARK" Valuation Pro forma enterprise value of $1.6B Attractive valuation when compared to publicly-traded peers Ownership  74.3% existing shareholder rollover; 9.9% PIPE investors; 15.8% SPAC and founder shares Excludes possible future dilutive impact of convertible debt, option pool and public warrants, assumes no redemptions 183 183 183 173 214 225 25517164 84 149 61 185 227 162 212 82 36


SLIDE 6

Pro Forma Fully Diluted Ownership BARK Equity 150.0 74.3% PIPE Investors 20.0 9.9% SPAC Public Shares 25.4 12.6% SPAC Founder Shares 6.4 3.2% Total Fully Diluted Shares Outstanding 201.8 100.0% Pro Forma Valuation ($M)   Pro Forma Shares Outstanding (M) 202 Price / Share ($) $10.00 Equity Value $2,018 Cash on Balance Sheet (490) Debt 115 Enterprise Value $1,642 Sources ($M)   Uses ($M)   SPAC Cash in Trust $254.4 BARK Rollover Equity $1,500.0 PIPE Capital 200.0 Cash To Balance Sheet 419.4 BARK Rollover Equity 1,500.0 Transaction Fees & Expenses 35.0 Total Sources $1,954.4 Total Uses $1,954.4 Sources, uses and ownership 183 183 183 173 214 225 255 171 64 84 149 61 185 227 162 212 82 36 Source: Northern Star Acquisition Corp. Prospectus, Filed November 10, 2020 1) Analysis does not include impact of $11M retention pool 2) Excludes impact of option pool up to 10% 3) Assumes no warrant exercises 4) Assumes no public trust fund redemptions 5) Excludes possible future dilutive impact of up to $100M of convertible debt 3.2%


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Henrik Werdelin Co-Founder Introduction to BARK and Northern Star 183 183 183 173 214 225 25517164 84 149 61 185 227 162 212 82 36 Matt Meeker Executive Chairman & Co-Founder John Toth CFO Manish Joneja CEO Jon Ledecky President & COO, Northern Star Joanna Coles CEO & Chairwoman, Northern Star


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Who We Are and Who We Serve 2.


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At BARK, we want to make dogs as happy as they make us. Because dogs and humans are better together. That's why we're committed to creating the world's best products and experiences to satisfy each individual dog's distinct personality and preferences. We are here to make all dogs happy.


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Big, relatable and growing pet category Digitally-led DTC brand Personalized, data driven subscription experience with strong retention Clear levers for accelerating growth – new products, cross sales, more channels Strong incremental margins, powerful operating leverage Visionary and passionate team to scale the business BARK’s investment highlights


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Currently serving over 1M happy dog subscribers every month


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60% Gross Margins $369M Net revenue in FY2021E 65% Net Revenue Growth FY21E/20 Outstanding financial performance


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BARK 2018 Dogs are a huge, growing and global market Huge Our industry & total addressable market are huge. Growing The market is growing rapidly, with a variety of thematic tailwinds. Resilient The industry is economically resilient through the cycle. Wide Open There is not a clear and dominant leader in the space.


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BARK is in the leading position to be The Global Brand for Dogs 1.1M Active Subscriptions 6.5M BARK Customers 11M Total Contacts 8.5M Social Media Followers BARK Active Subscriptions (000s)1 1The number of Active Subscriptions is the total number of BarkBox and Super Chewer subscriptions shipped in the final month of the indicated period. “FY21E Active Subscriptions” represents forecasted BarkBox and Super Chewer subscriptions shipped in the month of December 2020.


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Description Launched Core Personalized monthly themed plush toys and treats 2012 Personalized monthly themed super durable toys 2017 New All essentials (beds, leashes/collars, etc.) 2019 Innovative, proprietary dog dental solution Future health and wellness platform 2020 Personalized healthy food blends and service 2020 BARK’s products Subscription: we love the subscription model and use it across most of our product lines. BARK Made: 100% of what we sell is designed and made exclusively for us Personalization at scale: every dog is unique, and we tailor many of our products to their unique needs


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Data centric model fueling product innovation 1.05M Active monthly subscriptions Leading to 150K monthly customized assortments Allows for 250K monthly customer contacts Proprietary attributes collected: Breed Size Age Location Activities Super Chewer, Medium, No Rope, Bulldog BarkBox, Large, No allergy, Golden Retriever BarkBox, Small, Chicken allergy, Shih Tzu BarkBox, Large, No allergy Leading to Leading to Allows for


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BARK 2018 Source: Google Analytics, internal Company sources 1Includes 7,500 Dunkin Donuts stores in FQ2’21 related to BARK/Dunkin toy promotion Strong brand resonance enables effective and efficient cross-sell Potential TAM per customer increasing ~4x 70+ NPS 8.5M enthusiastic social followers ~170M unique BarkPost visitors 23,000 retail outlets carrying BARK products1


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We are great at cross-promoting new products to active subscriptions through Add-to-Box Growth lever High margin Driven by machine learning Fueled by innovative product offerings Add-to-Box revenue ($ in ‘000s) In becoming THE Dog Brand, ATB is an important initiative to get every BARK customer to buy our full suite of products Note: Add–to-Box revenue includes all purchases of Toys, Treats, Bright, and Essentials made through the BarkBox and Super Chewer ATB landing page, including (a) one-time purchases added to BarkBox and Super Chewer orders, and (b) auto-renewing shipments bundled with BarkBox and Super Chewer subscriptions. E


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Our Growth Opportunities 3.


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Expanding TAM via product & channel expansion BARK has the opportunity to accelerate growth, rapidly expand TAM through new product lines, and do so in proven and fiscally responsible ways Grow initial toys & treats subscription business Expansion of new product categories with ability to cross-sell Accelerate growth in Amazon distribution through proprietary formula Expand retail distribution channel and leverage for new products


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The dog food market is expanding as the modern dog parent seeks more from their food U.S. Dog Food Market Size 5.0% CAGR $19.4B $20.2B 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Source: EuroMonitor BARK Eats drives future growth Market overview BARK Eats mixes what’s best for dogs’ health with high service and a fun experience HEALTHY HAPPY High quality kibble mix Personalized by nutritionist Portion controlled Flavor optimized the dog’s taste Meals come with toys and fun features (cheat day) The beloved BARK service layer makes feeding your dog a no-hassle fun experience Opportunity $24.7B $22.3B $23.6B $21.1B


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BARK Eats delivers innovation where the most dollars are spent and innovation is lagging Premium Human Grade Mass Premium Ultra Premium Basic Modern Premium Scientific 74% of dog parents give dry food to their pets, and 57% of dog parents use some type of specialty formulated dog food to address specific needs (age, coat, weight)1 Majority $ Spend BARK’s Target Categories 1 APPA, 2020.


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BARK’s distribution channels provide leverage to seamlessly introduce new products BARK’s digitally native brand Deeply aligned with values that consumers care about. Wealth of customer data allows for large-scale personalization. Holistic omni-channel presence creates additional tailwinds Platform to drive brand awareness and product discovery. Focused on strong retail channels and partnerships through highly curated products. Collaboration with retail partners creates new opportunities 2012 2017 2018 2019 2020 & Beyond Subscription service founded Self-curated eCommerce store launched Urban Outfitters partnership Target retail BARK Park shared experience Amazon Barketplace Q, Subaru, Meijer partnerships Bluestone Lane & Glossier partnerships Dunkin’ Donuts partnership PetSmart, CVS, Petco, Costco & other partnerships


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Sales on Amazon are up as we fine tune the “boost formula” 1 Company estimate of the retail value of listed dog products for sale on Amazon marketplace Proven Formula Demonstrated Success with Initial Product Launches 2.5X BARK Amazon Sales Growth YoY $4.3B Estimated Amazon Marketplace Spend on Dogs1


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Financial Highlights 4.


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DRAFT Industry-leading momentum ~2x new subscription growth YoY in FY21 to date Record high 94.4% monthly product retention1 in the most recent period Strong gross margin in first half of FY21 of 61.2% Positive Adjusted EBITDA fiscal year to date +179% YoY increase in revenue from new product lines in first half of FY2021 ~3.5x increase in consumer cross-selling YoY in first half of FY2021 John: reviewing metrics 1We calculate retention as the (i) number of BarkBox and Super Chewer boxes shipped in the current month to subscriptions of the prior month, divided by (ii) BarkBox and Super Chewer boxes shipped to those same subscriptions that existed in the prior month. Indicated statistic is the average monthly retention of the three months for fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2020.


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BarkBox and Super Chewer are attracting high quality subscriptions... Gross Profit per Subscription Through 8 Months Customer Acquisition Costs Through 8 Months Note: Values are for the periods from April to November of each year.


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Long term financial drivers 183 183 183 173 214 225 25517164 84 149 61 185 227 162 212 82 36 Metrics Drivers Revenue Growth New subscriptions and customers New products Omnichannel expansion Gross Margin Mix of revenues Revenue per subscription and average order value Cost efficiency from scale Core Adjusted EBITDA Sales & marketing efficiencies Leverage in warehouse & fulfillment Stable G&A


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Accelerating growth and operating leverage ($USD in Millions) Net revenue ‘18A – ’20A CAGR: 23% ‘20A – ’23E CAGR: 47% Gross Profit Core2 Adjusted EBITDA1 Adjusted EBITDA1 Solid growth driven by strong brand, expansion of new products lines, efficient cross-selling and distribution channels Note: Time periods shown are as of the fiscal year ended in March. 1See Non-GAAP reconciliation included in the Appendix 2Represents BarkBox and SuperChewer (11.6)% (13.5)% (7.9)% (2.3)% (5.9)% (2.3)% (12.1)% (9.5)% (2.0)% Adj. EBITDA Margin 2.8% 1.9% 4.7% Adj. EBITDA Margin


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Summary P&L 183 183 183 173 214 225 255 171 64 84 149 61 185 227 162 212 82 36


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CY2020E – CY2022E Revenue CAGR Pet benchmarking Source: FactSet, Company Filings, and Management Forecasts. Market data as of December 15, 2020 41.2% 22.5% 26.8% 24.5% FV / CY2021E Revenue FV / CY2022E Revenue FV / CY2021E Gross Profit FV / CY2022E Gross Profit Mean: 10.0x Mean: 34.4x Mean: 27.3x Mean: 8.0x


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Big, relatable and growing pet category Digitally-led DTC brand Personalized, data driven subscription experience with strong retention Clear levers for accelerating growth – new products, cross sales, more channels Strong incremental margins, powerful operating leverage Visionary and passionate team to scale the business BARK’s investment highlights


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Appendix 5.


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Betsy McLaughlin Independent Board Member Manish Joneja CEO Jon Ledecky President & COO, Northern Star Our management team and board Henrik Werdelin Co-Founder Founding partner of Prehype Previous involvement in many startups and corporate incubations Previously an Entrepreneur in Residence at Index Ventures and ran product development for MTV International Featured on Fast Company’s “Most Creative People” list and Business Insider’s “Silicon Valley 100” list Carly Strife Co-Founder Previously an early employee of Uber where she helped launch the company’s East Coast operations Started career at Deloitte in financial advisory of real estate and property assets Featured on the “30 Under 30” lists of both Forbes and Inc. magazines Former investment banker (Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan) with deep knowledge of equity capital markets and M&A. Experience as CFO of both public and high-growth private companies. Industry experience includes consumer products, technology, and business services. Profiled in CFO Magazine May 2014 Case Study: “blueprint for a Turnaround" Peter Kamali CTO Co-founder & CTO of Meetup 25 years of software engineering and product development for consumer-oriented applications from early-stage companies to large corporations Broad experience building teams, advising startups, architecting software, designing user experiences, and developing brands BA Mathematics and MS Computer Science from Columbia Mike Novotny COO Currently an advisor to multiple early stage companies Previously GM at JackThreads and advisor to Lerer Hippeau Ventures Began career on Wall Street at Lehman Brothers, Thomas Weisel Partners and as an investment analyst at SAC Capital Suzanne McDonnell Chief Commercial Officer Senior & C-level positions at Leo Burnett / Publicis, WPP, Viacom & Discovery Networks Led digital ad sales, key account strategy, partnerships, and marketing for Viacom & Discovery On the board of the IAB Co-founded Meetup in 2002 Currently a Venture Partner at Resolute VC Board member or advisor to multiple early stage companies Previously an Entrepreneur in Residence at DogPatch Labs Over 18 years of leadership experience in enabling enterprises to unlock growth via omni-channel commerce, global expansion and product innovation Most recently a Director of Amazon Global Previously General Manager of Global expansion for eBay John Toth CFO Matt Meeker Executive Chairman & Co-Founder Manish Joneja CEO Expected Board of Directors Matt Meeker Executive Chairman & Co-Founder Henrik Werdelin Co-Founder, Barkbox Joanna Coles CEO & Chairwoman, Northern Star


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Reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures 183 183 183 173 214 225 255 171 64 84 149 61 185 227 162 212 82 36