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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 23, 2021

Registration No. 333-                

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

TuSimple Holdings Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware
  7373
  86-2341575
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
  (Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

TuSimple Holdings Inc.

9191 Towne Centre Drive

Suite 600

San Diego, CA 92122

(619) 916-3144

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Cheng Lu

President and Chief Executive Officer

TuSimple Holdings Inc.

9191 Towne Centre Drive

Suite 600

San Diego, CA 92122

(619) 916-3144

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:

 

Jeffrey R. Vetter, Esq.

Zhen Liu, Esq.
Richard J. Chang, Esq.

Colin G. Conklin, Esq.

Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve
Franklin & Hachigian, LLP

550 Allerton St.

Redwood City, CA 94063

(650) 321-2400

 

Richard Truesdell, Esq.

Roshni Banker Cariello, Esq.
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

450 Lexington Ave

New York, NY, 10017

(212) 450-4000

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.  ☐

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer   ☒      Smaller reporting company  
    

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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered  

Proposed

Maximum
Aggregate

Offering Price(1)(2)

 

Amount of

Registration

Fee

Class A Common Stock, $0.0001 par value

  $100,000,000   $10,910

 

 

(1)

Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(2)

Includes the aggregate offering price of additional shares that the underwriters have the option to purchase.

 

 

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to such Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 


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The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and neither we nor the selling stockholder are soliciting offers to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

PROSPECTUS

Subject to Completion, dated March 23, 2021

                Shares

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CLASS A COMMON STOCK

 

 

TuSimple Holdings Inc. is offering                 shares of Class A common stock and the selling stockholder identified in this prospectus is offering                  shares of Class A common stock. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling stockholder. This is our initial public offering, and no public market currently exists for our shares. We anticipate that the initial public offering price of our Class A common stock will be between $                and $                per share.

 

 

Following the completion of this offering, we will have two classes of common stock, Class A common stock and Class B common stock. The rights of the holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock are identical, except with respect to voting, transfer, and conversion rights. Each share of Class A common stock is entitled to one vote. Each share of Class B common stock is entitled to ten votes and is convertible at any time into one share of Class A common stock. In addition, all shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock in certain circumstances, including after the date on which the number of outstanding shares of Class B common stock held by the Founders (as defined below) represents less than 50.0% of the total number of shares of Class B common stock held by them immediately prior to the completion of this offering. See the section titled “Description of Capital Stock” herein for additional information on our capital stock. The holders of our outstanding shares of Class B common stock will hold approximately     % of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock immediately following this offering, of which Mo Chen, our co-founder and Executive Chairman, will hold, or have the ability to control, approximately     % of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock immediately following this offering; and Xiaodi Hou, our co-founder and Chief Technology Officer and a member of our board of directors, will hold, or have the ability to control, approximately     % of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock immediately following this offering. As a result, individually or together, Mo Chen and Xiaodi Hou, collectively referred to herein as our “Founders,” will be able to significantly influence any action requiring the approval of the stockholders, including the election of our board of directors, the adoption of amendments to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and the approval of any merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of our assets or other major corporate transaction.

We have applied to list our Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “TSP.”

We are an “emerging growth company” under applicable federal securities laws and will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus and future filings.

 

 

Investing in our Class A common stock involves risks. Please see “Risk Factors” beginning on page 35.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

PRICE $                PER SHARE

 

 

 

     Price to
Public
     Underwriting
Discounts and
Commissions(1)
     Proceeds,
Before
Expenses,
to Us
     Proceeds,
Before
Expenses, to
Selling
Stockholder
 

Per Share

    $                         $                         $                         $                    

Total

    $         $         $         $    

 

  (1) 

See “Underwriting” for additional disclosure regarding underwriting discounts, commissions, and expenses.

The selling stockholder identified in this prospectus has granted the underwriters the right for a period of 30 days to purchase up to an additional                  shares of Class A common stock at the initial public offering price less the underwriting discount to cover over-allotments.

The underwriters expect to deliver the Class A common stock to purchasers on                , 2021.

 

 

 

MORGAN STANLEY   CITIGROUP   J.P. MORGAN

                , 2021


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tu simple A BETTER PATH FORWARD


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The Global Leader in Autonomous Trucking 240+ 2.8MM+ 2 OEMs Core Technology Road Tested Partnerships with Patents Miles and 5,700+ 800+ 70 Purpose-Built Fully Employees Across AV Trucks Globally Autonomous Trucks 3 Continents Reserved in First 4 Months


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Through TuSimples groundbreaking Autonomous Freight Network, we are addressing the truck freight industrys most pressing challenges by enabling reliable, low-cost freight capacity as a service while setting a new standard for safety and fuel efficiency. CO 2 $ $ Lower Enhanced Increased Reduced Cost Safety Efficiency Emissions


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Massive Opportunity for Disruption Global truck freight market: $4tn Global e-commerce: $3.5tn Global automotive: $2.8tn $800bn U.S. truck freight market Third highest contributor to U.S. GDP growth in 2017 15% Trade, transport & warehousing 2.3 MILLION semi-trucks 470 BILLION MILES driven annually


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Our Solution Addresses the Growing Freight Capacity Supply and Demand Imbalance Increased demand from e-commerce trends faced with a growing shortage of drivers & safety issues Rising e-commerce Trends such as same penetration into retail or next-day shipping Increasing Demand Diminishing Supply $ Driver turnover Insurance premiums exceeding 100%+(1) are rising at a 5% CAGR(3) Driver shortage 40% increase in fatalities expected to worsen involving semi-trucks 2.6 times by 2028(2) from 2009-2019(4) Source: 1. ATRI: In strong economic periods. 2. ATA. 3. ATRI: From 2012-2018. 4. NHTSA: Passenger vehicle occupants killed in semi-truck collisions.


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LOGO

TuSimple Has the Winning Combination to Lead the Industry PROPRIETARY ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE SOFTWARE Our proprietary autonomous software is specifically designed to allow trucks to operate on highways and surface streets, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. PROPRIETARY ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE SOFTWARE Our proprietary autonomous software is specifically designed to allow trucks to operate on highways and surface streets, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. SCALABLE GO-TO-MARKET STRATEGY TuSimples Autonomous Freight Network (AFN) is a scalable go to market strategy enabling the rapid adoption of TuSimples autonomous technology.


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     Page  

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

     1  

THE OFFERING

     29  

SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

     33  

RISK FACTORS

     35  

INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     69  

MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA

     71  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     72  

DIVIDEND POLICY

     73  

CAPITALIZATION

     74  

DILUTION

     76  

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     79  

BUSINESS

     97  

MANAGEMENT

     128  

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     141  

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

     146  

PRINCIPAL AND SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

     150  

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     152  

SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

     159  

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES FOR NON-U.S. HOLDERS OF OUR CLASS A COMMON STOCK

     163  

UNDERWRITING

     167  

LEGAL MATTERS

     177  

EXPERTS

     178  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

     179  

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     F-1  

 

 

Through and including                , 2021 (25 days after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that effect transactions in our Class A common stock, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealer’s obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to unsold allotments or subscriptions.

None of us, the selling stockholder, or the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectuses we have prepared. We, the selling stockholder, and the underwriters take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the shares offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its date.

None of us, the selling stockholder, or the underwriters have done anything that would permit this offering, or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the Class A common stock and the distribution of this prospectus outside of the United States.

 

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights selected information that is presented in greater detail elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information you should consider before investing in our Class A common stock. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, including the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, before making an investment decision. Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “TuSimple,” “the company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” in this prospectus refer to TuSimple Holdings Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

Overview of Our Company

We are an autonomous technology company that is revolutionizing the estimated $4 trillion global truck freight market.1 We have developed industry-leading autonomous technology specifically designed for semi-trucks, which has enabled us to build the world’s first Autonomous Freight Network (“AFN”) in partnership with world-class shippers, carriers, railroads, freight brokers, fleet asset owners, and truck hardware partners. We believe that our technology and our AFN will make long haul trucking significantly safer as well as more reliable, efficient and environmentally friendly, creating significant benefits for all who rely on the freight ecosystem to deliver essential goods.

Since our founding in 2015, we have developed a fully integrated software and hardware solution enabling what we believe is the world’s most advanced Level 4 (“L4”)2 driver-out autonomous semi-truck technology.3 Hallmarks of our proprietary semi-truck specific technology include our 1,000 meter perception range, 35 second planning horizon, high definition (“HD”) maps with accuracy within five centimeters, and an integrated L4 autonomous semi-truck design comprising of a fully redundant sensor suite and components. Long-range perception, advanced planning and decision-making, and highly accurate mapping are critical capabilities for the autonomous operation of semi-trucks, which are heavy, articulated vehicles that need to be able to operate at highway speeds. We believe that we are the first and only company to demonstrate these capabilities and achieve L4 autonomous semi-trucks driving on both highways and surface streets as well as the first company to autonomously haul a paid freight load. We further believe that our technological differentiation and unique go-to-market strategy is a key driver of the over 5,700 reservations which we received in four months of availability for our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks. For further discussion regarding our reservations, please see the section titled “Prospectus Summary—Our Solution—Our Products—Purpose-Built L4 Autonomous Semi-Trucks—Partnership with Navistar.”

We are focused specifically on the truck freight market, which is a large and essential industry that moves approximately 80% of the freight in the United States by revenue.4 E-commerce trends such as same day shipping are expected to further accelerate demand for truck freight and strain traditional freight providers’ ability to supply sufficient capacity dynamically and cost effectively.5 Currently, trucking is facing substantial challenges in several areas including safety, efficiency, and carbon footprint, which we believe cannot be fully addressed without significant technological innovation. Specific industry challenges include:

 

   

Trucking accidents. From 2009 to 2019, the number of persons injured in crashes involving large trucks more than doubled from 74,000 to 159,000.6

 

1 

Armstrong & Associates, Inc., 2019 Global Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Market Analysis.

2 

Based on the “Levels of Driving Automation” published by the Society of Automotive Engineers (“SAE”).

3 

L4 autonomous solution expected to be capable of driver-out operations on AFN mapped routes.

4 

American Trucking Associations, U.S. Freight Transportation Forecast 2019 to 2030.

5 

American Transportation Research Institute (“ATRI”), E-Commence Impacts on the Trucking Industry, February 2019.

6 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, People Killed and Injured in Crashes Involving Large Trucks, by Person Type and Crash Type, 2009-2019.



 

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Driver shortages. Driver shortages and high driver turnover continue to lead to increasing labor costs for the freight industry, placing upward pressure on the cost and availability of reliable truck freight capacity. In 2018, labor costs represented over 40% of total per mile operating costs which is an increase from approximately 33% in 2012.7

 

   

Underinvestment in technological advancements. The truck freight industry today is highly fragmented and is characterized by low profit margins—generally in the single digits—which we believe makes it difficult for existing stakeholders to invest in technological advancement.

 

   

High levels of greenhouse gas emissions. Rising freight volumes are driving significant levels of commercial truck greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) reported in 2018 that medium and heavy duty trucks contribute 23% of annual U.S. transportation greenhouse gas emissions.

We believe that our Autonomous Freight Network will address the trucking industry’s most pressing challenges and will revolutionize the way freight moves. Our AFN is designed to provide a comprehensive, turnkey, autonomous freight solution that supplies users with access to purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks operating on HD digital mapped routes connecting a nationwide network of terminals. Key advantages of our AFN solution design include:

 

   

Safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 94% of all serious accidents are due to human error. We believe that by developing an autonomous solution for long haul trucking, we can significantly improve safety in the trucking industry.

 

   

Reliable freight capacity. Our AFN provides users with reliable autonomous freight capacity as a service which is unencumbered by prevailing truck driver shortages.

 

   

Efficiency. Direct labor costs represent over 40% of the per mile truck freight cost structure. We believe that our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck solution will reduce freight operating costs by up to 50% per mile and will allow our users to allocate scarce driver resources to customer facing first and last mile routes.

 

   

Environmental impact. Based on a study conducted with the University of California San Diego and empirical data from our users, we expect our solution to deliver over 10% better fuel efficiency than traditional trucking through optimized truck control and driving operations which can deliver a measurable reduction in carbon emissions.

 

7 

ATRI, An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2019 Update, November 2019.



 

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Transformative Benefits for Industry Stakeholders. Our AFN leverages our proprietary L4 autonomous semi-trucks, HD digital route mapping capabilities, and TuSimple Connect cloud-based autonomous operations oversight system to provide substantial benefits to the key truck freight industry stakeholders. The “plug and play” nature of our solution will allow any truck freight market participant to access and benefit from our autonomous freight capacity. Shippers, carriers, and railroads gain access to reliable and safe freight capacity at a substantially lower annual total cost of ownership when direct labor is removed from the per mile cost structure. Removing the driver from long haul operations allows shippers, carriers, and railroads to reallocate scarce driver resources to customer facing first and last mile routes. Freight brokers benefit from the reliability of autonomy, which allows them to more efficiently match demand with the lowest cost long haul freight capacity. We believe that the wide ranging benefits of our solution to industry participants will accelerate the adoption of our network.



 

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AFN Accommodates Multiple Service Models. Our AFN provides autonomous freight capacity as a service through multiple service models based on users’ needs. We believe that allowing our users the flexibility to select different service models is critical to our superior customer experience and will help drive rapid adoption of our network.

 

   

Carrier-Owned Capacity. Shippers, carriers, and railroads that prefer to own their fleet will be able to purchase our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck from a semi-truck original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) partner and subscribe to TuSimple Path—a comprehensive turnkey product to enable autonomous operations across our network. TuSimple Path includes features such as our on-board autonomous driving software, TuSimple Connect cloud-based autonomous operations oversight system, HD digital route mapping support, and emergency roadside assistance. Users will pay TuSimple a per mile, usage-based fee for access to TuSimple Path and benefit from lower overall freight costs with an expected payback period of less than one year on their upfront incremental capital investment to purchase our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks.

 

   

TuSimple Capacity. Our fleet of purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks, financed through third party fleet asset owners, will serve users that desire access to safe, reliable, low cost, and more environmentally friendly freight transportation without owning semi-truck assets. Users of TuSimple Capacity can range from relatively smaller users of freight logistics to large shippers, carriers, and railroads seeking to supplement their own captive fleet for incremental freight capacity. We will charge users of TuSimple Capacity a per mile rate to ship freight, which we expect will be at a meaningful discount to prevailing market freight rates. We believe that our competitive advantage in terms of pricing will be enabled by our anticipated cost structure, which is expected to be significantly lower



 

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than that of human-operated semi-trucks. Users will benefit directly from lower shipping costs compared to conventional truck freight.

LOGO

 

1.

Based on preliminary conversations with AFN users. Pricing listed for Carrier-Owned Capacity is illustrative and will be eventually determined based on market dynamics.

2.

Based on a 10–15% discount to prevailing freight rates. Pricing listed for TuSimple Capacity is illustrative and will be eventually determined based on market dynamics.

Leading Autonomous Technology Specifically Designed for Trucking. We are developing a Level 4 autonomous technology solution specifically designed for the unique demands of semi-trucks. L4 autonomy is characterized by the ability of the vehicle to perform all driving functions under a given set of pre-specified conditions. We believe that our L4 autonomous capabilities are well suited for “middle mile” truck freight—in which fixed, predictable, and primarily highway routes make up the majority of total miles driven on a shipping route—and focusing on this opportunity will optimize our path to commercialization. Autonomous trucking also presents unique challenges, primarily due to the size of long haul semi-trucks and the speed at which these semi-trucks typically operate. We believe that being the first company to focus exclusively on semi-truck autonomy positions us to lead the development of the solutions to these challenges and capitalize on the autonomous truck freight opportunity. Our leading autonomous technology enables semi-trucks to drive day or night on both the highway and surface streets in rain and in other poor weather conditions. Semi-trucks with our leading autonomous technology can travel at speeds of up to 75 miles per hour.

Ecosystem Approach with Unmatched Partnerships to Scale. We have created a world class ecosystem of partners consisting of shippers, carriers, railroads, freight brokers, fleet asset owners, OEMs, Tier 1 components suppliers, and third party service providers that we believe will de-risk commercialization of the AFN, enable rapid adoption of our autonomous freight solution, and allow us to build an attractive, network based business model.

We are working in partnership with leading semi-truck OEMs Navistar and TRATON as well as components partners to build the world’s first purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck to be operated exclusively on our network. We believe that this collaborative approach to create semi-trucks designed and built with integrated auto-grade components and sensors will increase our AFN’s reliability at scale. Vertically



 

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integrating through partnerships with OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers allows us to maintain strong supply chain and hardware design control while remaining capital light and primarily focusing on developing proprietary autonomous technology.

In parallel, we have developed a robust ecosystem of shippers, carriers, railroads, freight brokers, fleet asset owners, and third party service providers, including UPS, McLane, U.S. Xpress, Werner, Schneider, and CN, that provide critical validation and enhance the network effect benefits of our approach. We believe that our unmatched partnership network creates a significant and sustainable competitive advantage, especially as we work with shippers, carriers, and railroads to strategically locate our AFN terminals near their distribution centers. The continued growth of our AFN infrastructure and partnerships will continue to improve our user experience and drive more users to our platform which will allow us to further densify our strategic terminal network and reinforce rapid network growth.

The Traditional Truck Freight Industry

Overview of the Freight Market. The global truck freight market is estimated to generate approximately $4 trillion8 in annual revenue. Truck freight comprises approximately 80% of the $1 trillion total U.S. freight market.9 The U.S. truck freight market has been characterized by strong economic cycle resiliency with consistent long term increases in miles driven per year evidenced by approximately 3% compound annual growth rates (“CAGR”) from 1990-2018,10 and we believe that it has growth tailwinds from recent industry trends, including increased penetration of e-commerce.

Truck freight volumes in the U.S. are concentrated along a small number of corridors. Nearly 80% of truck freight goods hauled in the U.S. are moved via 10% of the nation’s trade corridors, with the most valuable corridors connecting the 100 largest metropolitan areas. This concentration of corridors means that our AFN is able to address a significant portion of the truck freight market by focusing on select routes.

 

8 

Armstrong & Associates, Inc., 2019 Global Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Market Analysis.

9 

American Trucking Associations, U.S. Freight Transportation Forecast 2019 to 2030.

10 

Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Table 1-35: U.S. Vehicle-Miles, September 2020.



 

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LOGO

 

Sources: U.S. Department of Transportation (“DoT”), Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Freight Analysis Framework. Freight Analysis Framework integrates data from various sources and is produced through a partnership between the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and the Federal Highway Administration.

Trucking’s Role in the Freight Market. Trucking represents approximately 80% of the U.S. freight market primarily due to its distinct blend of flexibility, cost, and speed relative to alternative transportation modes. Rail (9% of the U.S. freight market) is generally lower cost than truck freight on a per mile basis, but lacks the operational speed and flexibility to reach the breadth of delivery locations that semi-trucks are able to serve, adding time to the overall delivery process. This dynamic makes rail generally less suitable for same and next day shipping and renders it incapable of first and last mile delivery. Air freight (3% of the U.S. freight market) is attractive for specific use cases such as same and next day shipping due to its superior speed, but its significantly higher cost and larger carbon footprint makes it unattractive in many circumstances. We believe that the steady growth of the market and tailwinds from industry trends such as same and next day shipping will drive a further shift in demand for truck freight over rail and air.

Truck Freight Industry Characteristics. While trucking is the most frequently utilized mode of freight transportation, the industry is currently characterized by low levels of technological differentiation between carriers, minimal barriers to entry, and high levels of price competition. As a result, the market is highly fragmented, and operating margins for incumbent carriers are typically below 10%. Key truck freight industry participants include asset-based carriers, freight brokers, shippers with captive fleets, and semi-truck OEMs.



 

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“Middle Mile” and “First and Last Mile” Truck Freight. The $800 billion U.S. truck freight market is comprised of “middle mile” (long haul) and “last mile” (short haul) freight with an estimated 2.3 million Class 8 semi-trucks in operation accounting for 470 billion total miles driven annually, assuming an illustrative $1.70 per mile prevailing traditional freight rate.11 Long haul trucking generally occurs over long stretches of interstate highways. These routes tend to be relatively concentrated along a handful of well-defined commercial corridors which span the United States with just 10% of the nation’s trade corridors accounting for nearly 80% of all transported goods.12 Last mile represents the short journey of goods from distribution hubs to their final destination which is completed via surface streets.

Labor is the Largest Per Mile Cost. The cost of labor, has rapidly increased as a percentage of the per mile truck freight cost structure. Labor costs now represent 43% of total per mile semi-truck operating costs, a ten percentage point increase since 2012. Labor costs are the largest component of the per mile cost structure and are 79% greater than fuel costs, which represent the second largest per mile cost. These labor costs are not inclusive of costly driver training and retention expenses, which only further increase truck freight costs.

Semi-truck Driver Shortages. The truck freight industry is currently experiencing severe driver shortages. The latest analysis from the American Trucking Associations (“ATA”) found that the Class 8 semi-truck driver shortage more than tripled from 2005 to 2018, to approximately 60,000 drivers, representing an approximate 9% CAGR. The driver pool is also aging, with 54% of commercial truckers being 45 years or older, relative to just 44% of the overall U.S. working population.13 The ATA anticipates the driver shortage will expand a further 2.6 times by 2028, representing an approximate 10% CAGR, as demand growth continues and the aging trucker workforce retires. We believe that the aging driver population, coupled with the continued driving hours per day regulatory restrictions will continue to put downward pressure on the supply of driver hours and therefore truck freight capacity. From 2012 to 2018, labor costs per mile increased 46% and now represent the largest per mile cost component at 43% of total semi-truck operating costs. The American Transportation Research Institute notes that the workforce turnover percentage for almost all carriers is in the high double digits with levels exceeding 100% in strong economic periods. Additionally, heightened levels of workforce turnover drive additional financial cost as carriers have had to pay increasingly large sign-on bonuses or other financial incentives to compete for qualified drivers in recent years.

Trucking Safety Issues. The truck freight industry is also experiencing an increasing number of issues related to safety and cost of insurance. The significant weight of fully loaded trailers means that commercial semi-trucks require approximately twice as much braking distance as passenger vehicles.14 From 2009 to 2019 the number of passenger vehicle occupants killed in semi-truck collisions climbed approximately 40%.15 The resulting compensation for victims of semi-truck accidents has increased more significantly, and as a result, semi-trucking insurance premiums per mile have increased 33% from 2012 to 2018, representing an approximate 5% CAGR.16

The Development of Autonomous Trucking

Vehicle Automation. We believe that the past decade has brought significant progress to vehicle automation technology and that these achievements are guiding us toward proliferation of higher levels of vehicle automation including L4 autonomous driving. From 2004 to 2007, The Defense Advanced Research Projects

 

11 

ACT Research Co., LLC, North America Commercial Vehicle Outlook, January 11, 2021.

12 

A. Tomer and J. Kane, Mapping Freight: The Highly Concentrated Nature of Goods Trade in the United States, Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings, November 2014.

13 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey, 18b. Employed Persons by Detailed Industry and Age, January 22, 2020.

14 

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (“IIHS”), Fatal Facts 2018 – Large Trucks, December 2019.

15 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, People Killed and Injured in Crashes Involving Large Trucks, by Person Type and Crash Type, 2009-2019.

16 

ATRI, An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2019 Update, November 2019.



 

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Agency (“DARPA”) sponsored several challenges intended to advance development of autonomous driving technology by the private sector. While the most successful entrant in the initial 2004 competition traveled just seven miles over the Mojave Desert, by 2007 the contestant vehicles were capable of avoiding obstacles and obeying traffic laws in a simulated urban environment. The vast economic and safety potential of autonomous vehicles has continued to drive substantial investment, further accelerating the pace of technological development. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, primarily constituting Level 1 (“L1”) and Level 2 (“L2”) automation as defined by SAE, continue to become more sophisticated and prevalent. Because 94% of serious crashes are caused by human error, we believe that the safety benefits of vehicle automation are driving a cohesive effort between the private sector and regulators toward developing progressively higher levels of automation such as full driver-out L4 autonomous operation. Studies have shown, however, that lower automation levels still requiring a human driver can have negative impacts on driver attention and fatigue due to lower constant dedication to the driving task. We believe, for this reason, that full driver-out L4 autonomy provides a safer solution.

 

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Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Autonomous Trucking Compared to Autonomous Passenger Vehicles. Solving the safety and cost issues facing the truck freight industry with autonomous technology presents unique opportunities and challenges relative to passenger vehicles. The autonomous design differences stem from the configuration of commercial semi-trucks, their size and weight, the speeds at which they operate, and the way passenger vehicle drivers behave around them. A standard Class 8 semi-truck with a fully loaded trailer has limited rear visibility and can weigh up to 80,000 pounds which is significantly heavier than the average passenger vehicle. Semi-trucks’ weight, coupled with typical highway driving speeds exceeding 60 miles per hour, require a longer planning horizon and therefore an integrated autonomous software and hardware solution with more comprehensive camera vision, better predictive artificial intelligence capabilities and the ability to account for other unique conditions such as the impact of high wind speeds on trailers and on-ramp merging are critical.



 

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Despite these technical challenges we believe that the better defined long haul operating environment and ability to map established truck freight corridors significantly limit the number of potential “edge cases,” which are uncommon road situations that the autonomous software must be trained to navigate safely. Limiting the number of edge cases is a critical development item towards driver-out operations. Furthermore, even in the rare circumstance that an L4 autonomous semi-truck encounters a previously unsolved edge case, the use case of transporting goods allows for a viable and safe minimal risk condition state of pulling over to the side of the road to allow for safe resolution of the unsolved edge case. In comparison, the occupants in an autonomous passenger vehicle may not accept a comparable emergency maneuver which involves sitting idle or having to find alternative transportation on short notice.

 

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Regulatory Environment for Autonomous Trucking. National- and state-level regulatory authorities share the goal of carriers and shippers to improve the safety of the trucking industry. The U.S. Department of Transportation has stated that “the United States Government is committed to fostering surface transportation innovations to ensure the United States leads the world in automated vehicle (AV) technology development and integration while prioritizing safety, security and privacy and safeguarding the freedoms enjoyed by Americans.” Today, 43 states allow L4 autonomous semi-truck testing, of which 24 states allow L4 autonomous semi-truck commercial deployment. We believe that the current regulatory environment exhibits a clear path for L4 autonomous semi-trucks to deploy nationwide and that working collaboratively with regulators and ecosystem partners will create a safer freight industry.



 

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LOGO

 

Source: U.S. DoT, Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Autonomous Trucking Safety. We believe that the adoption of autonomous technology in trucking will significantly reduce the number of accidents caused by distracted or impaired driving, regimenting safer driving practices and operating more predictably. We believe that the middle mile truck freight routes, which we define as long haul freight routes between terminals, are ideally suited for L4 autonomy. Truck freight operations along specific routes, particularly in the middle mile, allows L4 autonomy to reliably fulfill the requirements of the industry while substantially reducing the number of edge cases that must be solved by the autonomous software. We also believe it is critical for L4 autonomous semi-trucks to travel on surface streets as well as highways to carry freight from terminal to terminal to minimize drayage costs and operational inefficiency. As a result, we also focus our autonomous capabilities on navigating surface streets in order to provide terminal to terminal transportation rather than requiring a highway “off-ramp” location farther from our users.

Autonomous Trucking Efficiency. We believe that autonomy addresses the fundamental supply and demand imbalance facing the truck freight industry today. We believe that removing the driver from middle mile truck freight will provide shippers, carriers, and railroads with significant cost savings and allow them to reallocate scarce driver resources to first and last mile routes.



 

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LOGO

 

Sources: ATRI, DAT Solutions, LLC (“DAT”)

Notes:

  1.

2018 average operating cost per ATRI.

  2.

Other costs include insurance, permits, licenses, tires, and tolls.

  3.

2018 average dry van contracted rate per mile per DAT.

  4.

Dollar figures rounded to nearest $0.01.

Rapidly growing freight volumes driven by e-commerce and other trends not only increases the number of miles driven, but more importantly the speed at which deliveries must be made. Trucking’s current solution to same and next day shipping challenges is typically to employ “sleeper teams” of two drivers that alternate driving shifts as semi-truck drivers are legally limited to 11 hour shifts. The demand for dynamic freight delivery is exacerbated by the chronic and worsening driver supply shortage. We expect L4 autonomous semi-trucks to be able to operate in excess of 22 hours per day as they are not subject to the same maximum daily operating hours restrictions as a human driver, enhancing asset utilization and availability of freight capacity. In addition, autonomous technology can reduce fuel consumption and maintenance expenses, and we expect it to reduce insurance costs over time once it develops a track record of safety.



 

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LOGO

Our Solution

Our Autonomous Freight Network is an innovative freight ecosystem that will provide our users with access to safer, lower cost, and reliable freight capacity on demand. To enable our AFN, we are developing highly capable and reliable L4 autonomous semi-trucks that incorporate our core technologies including our proprietary autonomous software platform and world-class sensor system. We believe that our AFN is the most comprehensive solution to address the freight industry’s long term challenges including safety, efficiency, the environment, and supply and demand imbalances. Set forth below are the key elements of our solution enabling us to provide users with autonomous freight capacity as a service, which we believe will revolutionize the freight industry.



 

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A Comprehensive Autonomous Freight Capacity as a Service Solution. The combination of our leading core technology, product and service offerings is designed to enable our comprehensive autonomous freight capacity as a service solution. Our core technology offerings, comprised of our proprietary autonomous software platform and world-class sensor system, form the bedrock of our AFN. These core technologies are the building blocks for our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks and TuSimple Path which are our primary user products. Our strategic terminal network is the third pillar of our product suite that provides a highly valuable and accessible infrastructure for our users. The combination of our core technologies and products enable our Carrier-Owned Capacity and TuSimple Capacity offerings which are the two service models through which users can access freight capacity on our AFN. The flexibility of our multiple service models to access the AFN underpins our autonomous freight capacity as a service solution. Each layer of our business model including core technologies, products and services combines to create an unparalleled user experience which we believe will transform the truck freight industry:

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Our Services

The Autonomous Freight Network is an expanding nationwide network of HD digital mapped routes and terminals coupled with an operational oversight system operated by TuSimple. It is the infrastructure to enable safe and efficient autonomous freight capacity as a service. Our HD digital mapped routes currently span over 3,000 miles across the U.S., and we expect to map the entire 46,000 mile U.S. Interstate System by 2024. We are scaling our AFN through an ecosystem approach by partnering with world class shippers, carriers, railroads, and service providers to de-risk and accelerate the pace of expansion. We believe that our AFN will offer users a comprehensive network to access autonomous long haul freight capacity.



 

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To provide the most flexible solution for our users, we offer two methods to access autonomous freight capacity on our AFN:

 

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Carrier-Owned Capacity. Many of our users own all or a substantial portion of their semi-truck fleet. Large scale shippers such as McLane, for instance, often prefer the oversight and logistical control that comes with owning and operating their semi-truck fleet rather than utilizing third party carriers and freight brokers. Since the third quarter of 2020, users who prefer to own their semi-trucks have been able to reserve over 5,700 of our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks built in partnership with Navistar, as described in more detail below under the heading “Purpose-Built L4 Autonomous Semi-Truck”. By subscribing to TuSimple Path, Carrier-Owned Capacity users will be able to seamlessly integrate autonomous freight operations into their existing supply chain. Users will pay TuSimple a per mile subscription fee to operate the purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck and receive the full benefit of our AFN, including autonomy-enabled routes mapped directly to users’ existing facilities and TuSimple Connect platform. By purchasing our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks and subscribing to TuSimple Path, we expect to drastically decrease our users’ annual total cost of ownership which will yield a payback period of less than one year on the incremental cost of hardware. Assuming an illustrative $0.35 per mile technology subscription fee, we estimate this will save shippers $0.40–0.50 per mile relative to prevailing driver labor costs,17 representing approximately $95 thousand annual savings per truck.

TuSimple Capacity. Access to our full service autonomous freight capacity as a service is available to our users through our TuSimple Capacity. We utilize a capital light business model, financing our L4 autonomous semi-trucks through third party fleet asset owners and financing sources. This model provides us with control of operational logistics and user experience as we offer a seamless terminal to terminal freight service to our users. Our users pay for access to our L4 autonomous semi-trucks operating across our AFN on a per mile basis which we anticipate will be at a 10–15% discount to the per mile rate charged by traditional truck freight carriers. Assuming an illustrative $1.70 per mile prevailing traditional freight rate, a 15% lower rate of $1.45 would lead to approximately $25,000 in savings per 100 thousand truckload miles.

Our Products

Purpose-Built L4 Autonomous Semi-truck. We are developing, with Navistar and TRATON, the first vertically integrated L4 purpose-built autonomous semi-truck that we expect will be manufactured at scale to be deployed on our AFN. We believe that this vertical integration, coupling proprietary software with hardware

 

17 

ATRI; assumes approximately 210,000 truckload miles.



 

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manufactured by world class OEMs and components partners as well as roadside assistance and maintenance partnerships, will deliver the most reliable and first-to-market purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks at scale.

 

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Our hardware partnerships allow us to primarily focus our development on our proprietary, core autonomous software while gaining the benefits of a capital light business model. We believe that leveraging these partnerships significantly de-risks and accelerates our pace to commercializing our AFN at the requisite scale to adequately serve the freight industry. We also believe that leading industry participants’ decisions to partner with us further validate our solution.

 

   

Partnership with Navistar. In July 2020, we announced our formal partnership with Navistar, one of the world’s largest commercial truck OEMs. Navistar manufactures its trucks under the International and IC brands. Through our partnership, we intend to produce a line of purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks for the North American market at scale by 2024 in Navistar’s manufacturing facilities. This milestone builds upon our two year relationship with Navistar, and we believe that it is a critical step to building our AFN to scale with highly reliable, integrated hardware solutions. Through our first four months of accepting reservations for our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck, we have accepted over 5,700 reservations from approximately ten customers, each of whom has significant freight operations. Approximately 75% of our reservations were made by customers who operate commercial truck fleets and who are also equity investors in our company. Reservation opportunities were made available to a limited selection of potential customers. We work with our reservation holders to integrate our HD mapped routes, TuSimple Connect oversight system, and other critical elements of our AFN into their freight operations in advance of delivery of our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks. Our current semi-truck reservations typically contemplate delivery over multiple years beginning in 2024 based on our customers’ specifications. We expect to have capacity to fulfill all current reservations according to each customer’s delivery schedule. We enter into reservation agreements and manage the deposits collection process directly with our customers. These reservations allow our customers to secure a priority position to order and purchase one of our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks. Typically, each reservation requires a $500 per truck deposit, however, the deposit requirement has been waived for our equity investors that currently hold reservations. We are currently in the process of collecting these deposits to hold in an escrow account, which can be delivered to us within a 12 month period after entering into a reservation agreement. Until the customer enters into a purchase agreement for our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck, which is within the discretion of the customer, the reservation can be canceled and the customer is entitled to a full refund of its deposit. Any cancellations and refunds will be satisfied out of the deposits held in the escrow account.



 

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Partnership with TRATON. In September 2020, we announced a global partnership with TRATON to develop purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks. TRATON, a publicly listed subsidiary of Volkswagen, is one of the world’s largest commercial truck OEMs. Scania, MAN Truck & Bus, and Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus are the truck brands of the TRATON GROUP. We have already begun developing the first L4 autonomous hub-to-hub truck freight route between Södertälje and Jönköping in Sweden using TRATON’s Scania trucks. We believe that, as one of the world’s largest commercial vehicle OEMs, TRATON significantly increases our ability to scale globally and bring our transformative autonomous trucking solution to freight users around the world.

 

   

Tier 1 Ecosystem. Our vertical hardware integration extends beyond OEMs and into Tier 1 supplier partnerships. Tier 1 suppliers manufacture critical components that improve the performance of our system and provide high quality component redundancy. As the architect of the autonomous system, we have important input into which suppliers’ parts best meet our design specifications.

TuSimple Path. Our L4 autonomous semi-trucks are powered by our on-board autonomous driving software, our TuSimple Connect cloud-based autonomous operations oversight system, autonomous HD route mapping support, and emergency roadside assistance to provide safe and seamless end-to-end autonomous freight capacity as a service.

 

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Note:

 

1.

Except weather conditions that significantly impede traction or visibility.

 



 

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AFN Terminals. We believe that to achieve a meaningful share of the truck freight market, the scale of our network solution is critical. While removing the driver from the semi-truck is highly attractive on a unit economics basis, the solution is not viable for major shippers, carriers, and railroads without a scalable and highly reliable network of terminals connected by HD digital mapped routes. Our terminal network is comprised of both users’ existing terminals as well as TuSimple operated terminals which we lease. We are actively working with our ecosystem of users to expand our footprint of terminals that we operate and which are strategically located to maximize proximity to our users’ facilities. Our AFN connects both our users’ existing terminals and our own operated terminals to facilitate freight movement. We intend to continue to finance the terminals that we operate under a facility lease or other similar financing arrangement. We believe that our growing terminal network is highly complementary with our L4 autonomous semi-trucks’ capability to operate from terminal to terminal, minimizing drayage and operational inefficiency.

Our Core Technology

Highly Efficient and Reliable Autonomous Trucking Technology. We believe that to deliver an exceptional user experience, our autonomous freight solution must be reliable and must easily integrate into our users’ existing supply chains. Our reliability starts with our L4 autonomous semi-trucks powered by our proprietary autonomous software, durable auto-grade hardware, trustworthy maintenance, and on-demand roadside services. We do not believe that an aftermarket or retrofitted autonomous solution can provide long term reliability for scaled commercial development. Furthermore, our advanced, proprietary software and hardware technologies have allowed us to be the first to demonstrate a true terminal to terminal solution, rather than a highway-only ramp to ramp solution. Our L4 autonomous semi-trucks’ ability to navigate beyond highways onto surface streets allows our terminals to be strategically located on-site or near our users’ distribution centers. We believe that a ramp to ramp highway-only L4 autonomous semi-truck would be insufficient for our users because the semi-trucks would still require human operators to drive the semi-trucks to and from on- and off-ramps, decreasing scalability, increasing the chances of accidents, and incurring significant drayage and incremental real estate costs. We believe that our terminal to terminal ability provides a far superior solution because it ensures seamless integration into our users’ existing supply chain—a key minimum hurdle for widespread autonomy adoption.



 

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Full Stack of Proprietary Software Functions. The five core components of our proprietary software stack powering our autonomous system include Perception, Motion Planning, Control, Machine Learning Infrastructure, and Mapping. Each proprietary component is critical and interconnected to meet the unique challenges of operating an autonomous Class 8 semi-truck. Our software and on-board hardware including sensors, steering, braking, and electronic compute unit systems are seamlessly integrated to enable technological breakthroughs such as our camera-centric long range perception system. We believe that our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck will be significantly safer than a human driver, alleviating a primary pain point for the current freight industry. Safely removing the human driver from long haul trucking will not only reduce labor costs as the largest operating expense but can also reduce accidents, increasing safety for work force, reducing operational lost time, and bringing down insurance costs over time. Including additional savings from increased fuel efficiency and reduced wear on the vehicle, we believe that our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck solution will reduce freight operating costs by up to 50% per mile.



 

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Technology Specifically Designed for Semi-Trucks. L4 autonomous semi-trucks present distinct challenges. The combination of a semi-truck’s weight and typical highway speeds requires approximately 2x longer stopping distances than passenger vehicles. Due to their length, semi-trucks can take up to 16 seconds to make a left hand turn which requires a significantly longer planning horizon than passenger vehicles. Our proprietary sensor platform and predictive AI allow our trucks to safely navigate these unique challenges.



 

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LOGO

 

Sources: Schneider, California Department of Motor Vehicles.

World-Class Sensor System. Our proprietary sensor system is critical to our L4 autonomous semi-trucks’ perception range and accuracy. We designed a proprietary camera module coupled with our proprietary software that enables the semi-truck’s 1,000 meter perception range, even in low light conditions. This range across lighting environments is designed to provide our semi-trucks with sufficient reaction time to safely operate at highway speeds, ultimately allowing for a planning horizon up to 35 seconds. Our camera-centric system is powered by both primary and backup cameras, providing a fully redundant camera system for increased safety. Augmenting the camera perception is an array of LiDAR, radar systems, GPS, and ultrasonic sensors. Our combined use of cameras and sensors provides our semi-trucks with superior perception range, while also being highly accurate in different road scenarios. With the exception of our specially designed long range high definition camera, we have sourced the balance of our sensor suite from existing third party products in order to reduce the cost of the overall system.



 

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Proprietary HD Mapping Capability. Our in-house mapping technology can quickly map new routes and provide users with more location options for shipping on our AFN. Our proprietary mapping technology and process is accurate to within five centimeters. Precise localization accuracy is crucial to safely operate semi-trucks autonomously given the 8.5 foot average tractor width, particularly when travelling on local streets which average just 10 feet wide. We are able to map new routes at a rate of over 250 miles per week which translates into our ability to map a typical “middle mile” route for a user in approximately four weeks on average. This nimble, flexible approach allows us to quickly meet our users’ evolving freight demands while efficiently expanding our network.

Cloud-Based Operational and Monitoring System. Our seamless user experience is enhanced by our proprietary TuSimple Connect system. This cloud-based autonomous operations oversight system is designed to ensure safe operations, reliability, and efficient capacity for our users. The system directly connects to our users’ Transportation Management Systems, integrating TuSimple Connect into their supply chain and creating a close user relationship. Our users can book and track their freight seamlessly with real-time two way communication that allows our AFN to dynamically match freight supply with demand.

Network-Based Approach

Network-Based Approach Encourages Faster Adoption. We believe that our AFN will provide a superior user experience by solving truck freight supply and demand pain points while significantly improving safety and lowering emissions. We expect our superior user experience and attractive per mile economics to drive rapid adoption of our solution and increase our AFN network’s density. As demand increases, we expect utilization rates of semi-trucks already on our AFN to grow, which will make adding additional semi-trucks, terminals, and routes increasingly attractive. More L4 autonomous semi-trucks, terminals, and routes increase available capacity on our AFN which increases network density and further enables the on-demand nature of our solution. Our capital light business model significantly reduces friction to scale and allows capacity to be added quickly by leveraging third parties to finance additional L4 autonomous semi-trucks and strategic terminal locations. As



 

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more semi-trucks, terminals, and routes are added, freight capacity and on-demand availability on the AFN increase as well, leading to a self-perpetuating system and further accelerating network growth.

 

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Our Competitive Strengths

We believe that the following strengths position us well to lead the transition to autonomous trucking and build an attractive, network based business model:

We are the Leader in Autonomous Trucking. We have accomplished many first of their kind milestones for an L4 autonomous semi-truck technology company. We believe that we are further in the development of our autonomous technology and closest to commercialization than any L4 autonomous semi-truck technology company.

 

   

First to announce partnerships with OEMs via our Navistar and TRATON partnerships

 

   

First to announce an investment from a major carrier when UPS invested in our company in 2019

 

   

First to establish a near highway terminal for autonomous commercial freight operations

 

   

First and only to demonstrate L4 autonomous semi-truck driving on both surface streets and highways

 

   

First L4 autonomous semi-truck to haul a paid freight load

We Are Solely Focused on the Truck Freight Market. Autonomous trucking has specific technical and operational challenges. L4 autonomous semi-truck driving operations are materially different than passenger cars, principally as a result of a semi-truck’s weight, size, and configuration. Furthermore, a semi-truck engaged in hauling freight is a significantly different use case than a personal vehicle or rideshare vehicle principally engaged in passenger transportation in urban environments. We believe that our focus on the particular challenges of the truck freight market provides a significant competitive advantage relative to companies which have historically focused on autonomous passenger vehicle development.

Autonomous Technology Leadership. Our intellectual property portfolio includes over 240 patents worldwide. Some of the key elements of our technology include our 1,000 meter perception system, multi-sensor fusion, prediction model, and planning capabilities. We believe that our technology is highly differentiated and is a key enabler of bringing our solution to commercialization.



 

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Validation of our Technology and Approach. Our partnerships with, and in some cases investments from, sophisticated companies from the freight and technology industries, such as NVIDIA, UPS, Navistar, TRATON, U.S. Xpress, Werner, Schneider, and CN, validate the strength of our technology and our business model. We believe that we have the most significant and most numerous points of external validation of our technology and approach among autonomous trucking technology companies.

Proprietary Relationships with World Class Hardware Partners. Our partnerships with semi-truck OEMs such as Navistar and TRATON as well as other hardware partners such as NVIDIA help us develop a reliable, scalable production semi-truck. The partnerships allow us to primarily focus our technology development on our proprietary core L4 autonomous semi-truck software while gaining the benefits of capital light vertical integration.

Our AFN has an Unmatched Group of Global Leaders in Freight. We have developed an ecosystem of users and commercial partners including UPS, McLane, JB Hunt, U.S. Xpress, Werner, Schneider, and CN, who are some of the largest and most sophisticated participants in the freight ecosystem. Our partners are critical in helping us test and develop our autonomous trucking solution and accelerate adoption of our AFN.

Environmental Sustainability Benefits. We have demonstrated a 10% improvement in fuel efficiency compared to traditional truck freight through our technology. This was conducted through a study with University of California San Diego and using empirical data with our users. We believe that fuel efficiency is important to large shippers and fleets, both in terms of cost savings and for reducing carbon footprint.

World Class Management Team with Multi-Disciplinary Experience. Our organization is led by a world class team with a diversity of expertise and experience. The team is balanced across entrepreneurial, finance, trucking technology, and logistics expertise with experience at some of the world’s foremost organizations in those areas. We believe that this team is critical to our success given the scale and complexity of the market which we are transforming. By drawing from experiences ranging across technology, logistics, investing, and other relevant areas, we believe that our team is a core competitive strength as we build out our AFN.

Industry Leading Technology Team. Members of our technical team have made significant contributions to the advancement of artificial intelligence and machine vision technologies. For example, members of our team invented Spectral Saliency Theory, which is one of the most influential theories of the past decade relating to machine vision, which is a key enabler for safe and reliable L4 autonomous truck operations.

Our Strategy

We continue to build on our position as a global leader in autonomous trucking technology, building safer, more reliable, efficient and lower carbon footprint freight transportation. Key elements of our strategy include:

Build Upon Our Track Record of Autonomous Trucking Achievements. Since our founding in 2015, we have pushed the boundaries of autonomous vehicle software and hardware and have raised over $800 million in funding to support our growth. Our centralized data processing and storage system is designed to maximize the value of our 2.8 million road miles and 150+ million simulation miles, allowing us to become a leader in solving complex autonomous trucking edge cases.



 

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LOGO

Expand our Autonomous Freight Network Across the U.S. We intend to build out our network of freight terminals, AFN partners, and HD digital mapped routes, expanding from our existing footprint in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas to nationwide coverage across major interstate highways by 2024. We are currently mapping roadways at a pace of over 250 miles per week. Our goal is to achieve route map coverage of the entire continental U.S. by 2024. We intend to have revenue sharing agreements with our ecosystem partners, which we believe will incentivize them to help expand and enhance our AFN. In addition, carriers, shippers, and railroads will have the opportunity to significantly improve their operating margins by participating in our AFN as users and commercial partners, creating a powerful network effect.

Demonstrate Driver-Out Testing. In 2021, we expect to demonstrate our semi-truck operating on public roads without a safety driver or passenger on-board. This demonstration is designed to prove out the advanced progress of our technology and will serve as one of the key upcoming milestones toward full autonomous freight operations.

Begin Production of Our Purpose-Built L4 Autonomous Semi-Truck. In partnership with Navistar, we have commenced co-development of a purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck for commercial production by 2024 for the U.S. market. In the third quarter of 2020, we, along with Navistar, started taking reservations for the semi-truck, which we expect to be an important indicator of user demand for our offering. We intend to begin filling reservations over a multi-year period commencing in 2024, with actual date of delivery based on our customers’ specifications.

Offer Multiple Ways to Serve Our Users. We will offer several ways for users to access our AFN, both for those that prefer an asset light model and those that prefer to own their fleet. A summary of our different user offerings is set forth in the business section under “Our Solution.”

Continued Focus on Achievement of Key Technology and Business Milestones. We intend to continue to build on our existing technological and business milestones to advance towards full commercialization. We will continue to enhance our L4 autonomous semi-truck technology and establish additional commercial partnerships in key areas, such as hardware, financing, insurance, and freight brokerage.



 

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Global Expansion. In addition to building our U.S. based AFN, we intend to expand commercialization internationally. We plan to build a purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck specifically for the Europe and China market with our OEM partner TRATON. Our expansion in both regions will augment and complement our AFN commercialization in the United States. We believe that China and Europe represent significant opportunities given China and Greater Asia represent an approximately $1.7 trillion total addressable market (“TAM”) with 7.6 million heavy duty trucks and Europe represents an estimated $400 billion TAM with 2.3 million heavy duty trucks.18

Risk Factors Summary

Our business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties including those highlighted in the section titled “Risk Factors” immediately following this prospectus summary. These risks include, among others, the following:

 

   

Autonomous driving is an emerging technology and involves significant risks and uncertainties.

 

   

Our business model has yet to be tested, and any failure to commercialize our strategic plans would have an adverse effect on our operating results and business, and harm our reputation and could result in substantial liabilities that exceed our resources.

 

   

We are subject to substantial regulations, including regulations governing autonomous vehicles, and unfavorable changes to, or failure by us to comply with, these regulations could substantially harm our business and operating results.

 

   

We are an early stage company with a history of losses, and expect to incur significant expenses and continuing losses for the foreseeable future.

 

   

We expect to need to raise additional funds, and these funds may not be available to us on attractive terms when we need them, or at all.

 

   

We depend on the experience and expertise of our senior management team, technical engineers, and certain key employees, and losing one or more of such individuals could harm our business, operating results, and financial condition.

 

   

We rely on third-party suppliers, and because some of the raw materials and key components in our products come from limited or sole sources of supply, we are susceptible to supply shortages, long lead times for components, and supply changes.

 

   

We may be subject to product liability or warranty claims that could result in significant direct or indirect costs, including reputational harm, increased insurance premiums, or the need to self-insure, which could adversely affect our business and operating results.

 

   

If our L4 autonomous semi-trucks fail to perform as expected, our ability to develop our AFN and market, sell, or lease our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks could be harmed. Future product recalls involving our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks or hardware deployed on our L4 autonomous semi-trucks could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, operating results, and financial condition.

 

   

Unauthorized control or manipulation of systems in autonomous semi-trucks may cause them to operate improperly or not at all, or compromise their safety and data security, which could result in loss of confidence in us and our products, cancellation of contracts with certain of our OEM or Tier 1 partners, and harm our business.

 

   

We may become subject to litigation brought by third parties claiming infringement, misappropriation, or other violation by us of their intellectual property rights.

 

18 

TAM figures per Armstrong & Associates; China truck count per National Bureau of Statistics; Europe truck count per Eurostat.



 

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Our business may be adversely affected if we are unable to adequately establish, maintain, protect, and enforce our intellectual property and proprietary rights or prevent third parties from making unauthorized use of our technology and other intellectual property rights.

 

   

We face risks associated with our international operations, including unfavorable regulatory, political, tax, and labor conditions, which could harm our business.

 

   

Changes to trade policy, tariffs, and import/export regulations may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

   

Anti-takeover provisions in our charter documents may discourage our acquisition by a third party, which could limit our stockholders’ opportunity to sell their shares at a premium.

 

   

The COVID-19 pandemic may adversely affect our business and operating results, along with those of our suppliers and users.

If we are unable to adequately address these and other risks we face, our business, financial condition, operating results, and prospects may be adversely affected.

Corporate Information

Our principal executive offices are located at 9191 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 600, San Diego, CA 92122, and our telephone number is (619) 916-3144. Our website address is www.tusimple.com. The information on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus. We have included our website address as an inactive textual reference only. Except as otherwise indicated herein or as the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to “TuSimple,” “the company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to TuSimple Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole.

We began developing our autonomous truck solutions in the United States and China in 2015 through certain predecessor entities, including TuSimple LLC in the United States. In 2016, Tusimple (Cayman) Limited was incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands to serve as the holding company for TuSimple, Inc., a California corporation that is the successor of TuSimple LLC and the entity through which we currently carry out substantially all of our operations, and our other international subsidiaries, and all of the assets and operations related to our autonomous truck solutions business were assigned to us. On February 23, 2021, we changed our jurisdiction of incorporation from the Cayman Islands to the State of Delaware. Tusimple (Cayman) Limited deregistered as a Cayman Islands exempted company and continued and domesticated as a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. This transaction is referred to as the “Domestication.” In connection with the Domestication, Tusimple (Cayman) Limited changed its name to TuSimple Holdings Inc. Our business, assets, and liabilities and those of our subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, as well as our principal locations and fiscal year, were the same immediately after the Domestication as they were immediately prior to the Domestication. In addition, our directors and executive officers immediately after the Domestication were the same individuals who were directors and executive officers, respectively, immediately prior to the Domestication.

Trademarks

The TuSimple logo, “TuSimple,” and our other registered and common law trade names, trademarks, and service marks are the property of TuSimple Holdings Inc. or our subsidiaries. This prospectus contains additional trade names, trademarks, and service marks of other companies that are the property of their respective owners. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names, trademarks, or service marks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, these other companies.



 

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Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company

We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, as amended (the “JOBS Act”), and therefore we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various public company reporting requirements, including not being required to have our internal control over financial reporting audited by our independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We may take advantage of these exemptions for up to five years or until we no longer qualify as an “emerging growth company,” whichever is earlier. In addition, the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until those standards apply to private companies. We have elected to use this extended transition period under the JOBS Act. As a result, our consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to the financial statements of issuers who are required to comply with the effective dates for new or revised accounting standards that are applicable to public companies.



 

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THE OFFERING

 

Class A Common stock offered by us

                 shares
 

 

Class A common stock offered by the selling stockholder

                 shares

 

Class A Common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering

                 shares (             shares if the underwriters exercise their right to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock in full)

 

Underwriters’ right to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock from the selling stockholder

The selling stockholder has granted the underwriters the right for a period of 30 days from the date of this prospectus to purchase up to             additional shares of Class A common stock from the selling stockholder to cover over-allotments, if any.

 

Class B Common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering

24,000,000 shares

 

Total Class A and Class B common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering

            shares

 

Use of proceeds

We estimate that the net proceeds to us from this offering will be approximately $             million, based upon an assumed initial public offering price of $             per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by us.

 

  The principal purposes of this offering are to increase our financial flexibility, increase our visibility in the marketplace, and create a public market for our Class A common stock. We expect to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including funding our operating needs. However, we do not currently have specific planned uses for the proceeds. We may also use a portion of our net proceeds to acquire or invest in complementary products, technologies, or businesses. However, we currently have no agreements or commitments to complete any such transactions. See “Use of Proceeds.” We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of Class A common stock by the selling stockholder. The selling stockholder is not a member of the executive management team.


 

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Directed share program

 At our request,              and             and their respective affiliates (the “DSP Underwriters”) have reserved up to             shares of Class A common stock, or     % of the shares offered by this prospectus, for sale through a directed share program at the initial public offering price to individuals, including certain of our senior management and employees, as well as friends and family members of our executive officers, founders and certain members of senior management, and persons with whom we have a business relationship, including certain partners. The reserved shares will not be subject to a lock-up, except if purchased by our directors, officers or employees. The number of shares of Class A common stock available for sale to the general public will be reduced by the number of reserved shares sold to these individuals. Any reserved shares of our Class A common stock that are not so purchased will be offered by the DSP Underwriters to the general public on the same terms as the other shares of our Class A common stock offered by this prospectus. We have agreed to indemnify the DSP Underwriters against certain liabilities and expenses, including liabilities under the Securities Act, in connection with sales of the reserved shares.

 

Voting rights

Each share of our Class A common stock entitles its holder to one vote on all matters to be voted on by stockholders generally. Each share of our Class B common stock entitles its holder to ten votes on all matters to be voted on by stockholders generally.

 

  Holders of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock will generally vote together as a single class, unless otherwise required by law or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

 

  Holders of our outstanding Class B common stock will hold approximately     % of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock following this offering and will have the ability to control the outcome of matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, including the election of our directors, amendments of our organizational documents and the approval of any change in control transaction. For additional information, see the sections titled “Principal and Selling Stockholders” and “Description of Capital Stock.”

 

 

All shares of our Class B common stock will automatically convert, on a one-for-one basis, into shares of Class A common stock on the earliest of (i) the date specified by a vote of the holders of Class B common stock representing 75.0% of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock, (ii) the date that is between 90 days and 270 days, as determined by the board of directors, after the death or incapacitation of the last Founder to die or become incapacitated or (iii) the date that is between 61 and 180 days, as determined by the board of directors, after the date on which the number of outstanding shares of Class B common stock held by the Founders represents less than 50.0% of the total number of shares of Class B common stock



 

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held collectively by the Founders at 11:59 pm Pacific Time on the date that we file our amended and restated certificate of incorporation immediately prior to the completion of this offering.

 

Concentration of ownership

Following this offering, the holders of our outstanding Class B common stock will beneficially own approximately     % of our outstanding shares and will hold approximately     % of the voting power of our outstanding shares and our directors, executive officers, greater than 5% stockholders and their respective affiliates will hold in the aggregate approximately     % of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock following this offering, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of our Class A common stock.

 

Risk factors

See “Risk Factors” and the other information included in this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should consider carefully before deciding to invest in our Class A common stock.

 

Proposed Nasdaq Global Select Market trading symbol

“TSP”

The number of shares of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock that will be outstanding after this offering is based on 160,290,356 shares of our Class A common stock outstanding and 24,000,000 shares of our Class B common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2020, and reflects:

 

   

120,534,419 shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock that will automatically convert into an equal number of shares of Class A common stock immediately prior to the completion of this offering (the “Preferred Stock Conversion”), including (i) 102,074,703 shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock outstanding as of December 31, 2020, (ii) 4,650,999 shares of Series E redeemable convertible preferred stock issued after December 31, 2020 (excluding the shares issuable upon the exercise of the warrant referenced in (iv) below), (iii) 4,331,644 shares of Series E-2 redeemable convertible preferred stock issued upon the exercise of a warrant in February 2021, and (iv) 9,477,073 shares of Series E redeemable convertible preferred stock issued upon the exercise of a warrant in March 2021;

 

   

24,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock held by Mo Chen and Xiaodi Hou, our Founders, that will be exchanged for an equal number of shares of our Class B common stock immediately prior the completion of this offering (the “Class B Exchange”);

 

   

the issuance of 3,212,600 shares of our Class A common stock subject to restricted stock units and share value awards, for which the time-based vesting condition was satisfied as of December 31, 2020, and for which the performance-based vesting condition will be satisfied upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part (the “RSU and SVA Settlement”).

The shares of our Class A common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2020 exclude the following:

 

   

625,000 shares of Class A common stock subject to restricted stock units outstanding, but for which the time-based vesting condition was not satisfied as of December 31, 2020;

 

   

915,546 shares of Class A common stock subject to share value awards outstanding, but for which the time-based vesting condition was not satisfied as of December 31, 2020;

 

   

13,295,497 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2020, with a weighted-average exercise price of $1.29 per share;



 

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60,360 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of restricted stock units awarded after December 31, 2020;

 

   

2,665,968 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options granted after December 31, 2020;

 

   

46,928 shares of Class A common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2017 Share Plan, which shares will cease to be available for issuance at the time our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan becomes effective;

 

   

20,134,146 shares of Class A common stock reserved for issuance under our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, which will become effective in connection with the completion of this offering. Our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan also provide for automatic annual increases in the number of shares reserved under these plans, as more fully described in “Management—Equity Plans;” and

 

   

2,013,414 shares of Class A common stock reserved for issuance under our 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which we expect to become effective as of the effective date of the registration statement. Our 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan also provides for automatic annual increases in the number of shares reserved under these plans, as more fully described in “Management—Equity Plans;” and

 

   

the completion of the Domestication, pursuant to which our name was changed from Tusimple (Cayman) Limited to TuSimple Holdings Inc., each ordinary share became one share of Class A common stock, and all preferred shares became redeemable convertible preferred stock.

Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus assumes:

 

   

the Preferred Stock Conversion;

 

   

the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which will occur immediately prior to the completion of this offering and will effect the reclassification of common stock into Class A common stock;

 

   

the Class B Exchange which will occur immediately prior to the completion of this offering;

 

   

the cash exercise of a warrant to purchase 9,477,073 shares of Series E redeemable convertible preferred stock at a price of $14.1401 per share in March 2021, which will result in the issuance of 9,477,073 shares of Class A common stock as a result of the conversion of the Series E redeemable convertible preferred stock upon the completion of this offering;

 

   

the cash exercise of a warrant to purchase 4,331,644 shares of Series E-2 redeemable convertible preferred stock at a price of $11.31208 per share in February 2021, which will result in the issuance of 4,331,644 shares of Class A common stock as a result of the conversion of the Series E-2 redeemable convertible preferred stock upon the completion of this offering, and the expiration of the unexercised balance of such warrant upon the completion of this offering (together with the exercise of the warrant described immediately above, the “Warrant Exercises”)

 

   

no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock from the selling stockholder;

 

   

no exercise or cancellation of outstanding options or warrants (except as noted above) and no settlement of outstanding share value awards and restricted stock units subsequent to December 31, 2020; and

 

   

assumes no purchase of our Class A common stock by executive officers, directors and existing stockholders through the directed share program.



 

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SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

The following tables set forth a summary of our historical consolidated financial data. The summary consolidated statements of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019, and 2020 and the summary consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2020 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). You should read this data together with our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus and the information in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of our future results.

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2018     2019     2020  
     (in thousands, except share and per share data)  

Summary Consolidated Statements of Operations Data

      

Revenue

   $ 9     $ 710     $ 1,843  

Costs and expenses:

      

Cost of revenue

     —         1,595       5,293  

Research and development

     32,278       63,619       132,001  

Sales and marketing

     1,085       814       1,313  

General and administrative

     12,175       21,962       37,300  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total costs and expenses

     45,538       87,990       175,907  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (45,529     (87,280     (174,064

Change in fair value of related party convertible loan

     —         —         (5,556

Change in fair value of warrants liability

     —         —         1,816  

Other income (expense), net

     495       2,397       (66
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss before provision for income taxes

     (45,034     (84,883     (177,870

Provision for income taxes

     —         —         —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

     (45,034     (84,883     (177,870

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

     16       43       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to TuSimple Holdings Inc.

   $ (45,018   $ (84,840   $ (177,870

Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock

     —         (201     (20,959

Deemed dividend on exchange of Series A-2 redeemable convertible preferred stock for Class A common stock

     —         (60,000     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

   $ (45,018   $ (145,041   $ (198,829
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted

   $ (0.70   $ (2.47   $ (3.37
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted

     64,734,628       58,700,441       58,929,271  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 


 

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The following table presents our summary consolidated balance sheets data as of the dates indicated.

 

     As of December 31, 2020  
     Actual     Pro Forma (1)     Pro Forma
As Adjusted (2) (3)
 
     (in thousands)  

Summary Consolidated Balance Sheet Data

  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 310,815     $ 550,768     $    

Working capital

     238,385       520,790    

Total assets

     346,585       586,538    

Warrants liability

     42,452          

Total liabilities

     87,267       44,815    

Redeemable convertible preferred stock

     664,791          

Accumulated deficit

     (405,178     (419,229  

Total stockholders’ (deficit) equity

     (405,473     541,723    

 

(1)

The pro forma consolidated balance sheet data reflects (i) the issuance of 4,650,999 shares of Series E redeemable convertible preferred stock issued after December 31, 2020, (ii) the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which will effect the reclassification of our common stock into Class A common stock, (iii) the conversion of redeemable convertible preferred stock into shares of Class A common stock, (iv) the exchange of 24,000,000 shares of Class A common stock for an equal number of shares of Class B common stock by our Founders, Mo Chen and Xiaodi Hou, immediately prior to the completion of this offering, (v) the Warrant Exercises and the related reclassification of the warrants liability to Class A common stock and additional paid-in capital and the related gain from the expiration of the unexercised portion of one warrant, reflected as a decrease in accumulated deficit, (vi) stock-based compensation of $12.0 million associated with the RSU and SVA Settlement, reflected as an increase in additional paid-in capital and an increase in accumulated deficit, (vii) stock-based compensation of $5.0 million associated with options for which the service-based vesting condition was satisfied as of December 31, 2020 and for which the performance-based vesting condition will be satisfied upon completion of this offering, reflected as an increase in additional paid-in capital and increase in accumulated deficit, and (viii) compensation expense of $4.7 million associated with amounts payable under separation agreements upon the completion of this offering, reflected as a decrease in cash and cash equivalents and an increase in accumulated deficit, in each case as if such event had occurred on December 31, 2020.

(2)

The pro forma as adjusted consolidated balance sheet data reflects (i) the pro forma adjustments described in footnote (1) above; and (ii) the sale by us of                 shares of Class A common stock in this offering at the assumed initial public offering price of $                per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting assumed underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

(3)

Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $                per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) each of pro forma as adjusted cash and cash equivalents, working capital, total assets, and total stockholders’ equity by approximately $                million, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, after deducting assumed underwriting discounts and commissions. We may also increase (decrease) the number of shares we are offering. Each increase (decrease) of 1.0 million shares offered by us would increase (decrease) each of pro forma as adjusted cash and cash equivalents, working capital, total assets, and total stockholders’ equity by approximately $                million, assuming the assumed initial public offering price per share remains the same, after deducting assumed underwriting discounts and commissions. The pro forma as adjusted information is illustrative only, and we will adjust this information based on the actual initial public offering price, number of shares offered, and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.



 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risks. Before you make a decision to purchase our securities, in addition to the risks and uncertainties discussed above under “Forward-Looking Statements,” you should carefully consider the specific risks set forth herein. If any of these risks actually occur, it may materially harm our business, financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations. As a result, the market price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. Additionally, the risks and uncertainties described in this prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” are not the only risks and uncertainties that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may become material and adversely affect our business.

Risks Related to Our Technology, Business Model, and Industry

Autonomous driving is an emerging technology and involves significant risks and uncertainties.

Our autonomous driving technology is highly dependent on internally-developed software, as well as on partnerships with third parties such as semi-truck original equipment manufacturers (“OEM”) and other Tier 1 suppliers. We develop and integrate our autonomous driving technology and work with OEMs and other suppliers to develop autonomous driving technology hardware.

We currently operate on our Autonomous Freight Network (“AFN”) L4 autonomous semi-trucks equipped with our autonomous driving technology. We also partner with OEMs, such as Navistar and TRATON, that are seeking to manufacture purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks capable of incorporating our autonomous driving technology, and may in the future partner with other OEMs. In addition to OEMs, we depend on other third parties, such as ZF, Knorr-Bremse, and Nvidia, to produce components for our L4 autonomous semi-trucks. The timely development and performance of our autonomous driving programs is dependent on the materials, cooperation, and quality delivered by our partners. Further, we do not control technology for serial production, such as brakes, gear shifting, and steering. There can be no assurance that those applications can be developed and validated at the high reliability standard required for Level 4 autonomous driving in a cost-effective and timely manner. Our dependence on these relationships exposes us to the risk that components manufactured by OEMs or other suppliers could contain defects that would cause our autonomous driving technology to not operate as intended.

Although we believe that our algorithms, data analysis and processing, and artificial intelligence technology are promising, we cannot assure you that our technology will achieve the necessary reliability for Level 4 autonomy at commercial scale. For example, we are still improving our technology in terms of handling non-compliant driving behavior by other cars on the road and low reflectivity objects and performing in extreme weather conditions, such as snow or heavy fog. There can be no assurance that our data analytics and artificial intelligence could predict every single potential issue that may arise during the operation of our L4 autonomous semi-trucks.

We have a limited operating history in a new market and face significant challenges as our industry is rapidly evolving.

We commenced operations in 2015 and recently launched in July 2020 our AFN, an ecosystem consisting of L4 autonomous semi-trucks, high definition digital mapped routes, strategically placed terminals, and TuSimple Connect, a proprietary cloud-based autonomous operations oversight system. We expect to derive substantially all of our revenue from our AFN, which is still in the early stages of development and commercialization.

You should consider our business and prospects in light of the risks and challenges we face as a new entrant into a novel industry, including, among other things, with respect to our ability to:

 

   

navigate an evolving and complex regulatory environment;

 

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design, outfit, and produce safe, reliable, and quality L4 autonomous semi-trucks with our partners on an ongoing basis;

 

   

successfully produce with OEM partners a line of purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks on the timeline we estimate;

 

   

improve and enhance our software and autonomous technology;

 

   

establish and expand our user base;

 

   

successfully market our AFN and our other products and services;

 

   

properly price our products and services;

 

   

improve and maintain our operational efficiency;

 

   

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

 

   

attract, retain, and motivate talented employees;

 

   

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

 

   

build a well-recognized and respected brand.

If we fail to address any or all of these risks and challenges, our business may be materially and adversely affected. There are also a number of additional challenges to Level 4 autonomous driving, many of which are not within our control, including market acceptance of autonomous driving, governmental licensing requirements, concerns regarding data security and privacy, actual and threatened litigation (whether or not a judgment is rendered against us), and the general perception that an autonomous vehicle is not safe because there is no human driver. There can be no assurance that the market will accept our technology, in which case our future business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.

The autonomous trucking and freight transport industry is in its early stages and is rapidly evolving. Our autonomous driving technology has not yet commercialized at scale. We cannot assure you that we will be able to adjust to changing market or regulatory conditions quickly or cost-effectively. If we fail to do so, our business, results of operations and financial condition will be adversely affected.

Our business model has yet to be tested and any failure to commercialize our strategic plans would have an adverse effect on our operating results and business, harm our reputation and could result in substantial liabilities that exceed our resources.

You should be aware of the difficulties normally encountered by a relatively new enterprise that is beginning to scale its business, many of which are beyond our control, including unknown future challenges and opportunities, substantial risks and expenses in the course of entering new markets and undertaking marketing activities. The likelihood of our success must be considered in light of these risks, expenses, complications, delays, and the competitive environment in which we operate. There is, therefore, substantial uncertainty that our business plan will prove successful, and we may not be able to generate significant revenue, raise additional capital, or operate profitably. We will continue to encounter risks and difficulties frequently experienced by early commercial stage companies, including scaling up our infrastructure and headcount, and may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, or delays in connection with our growth. In addition, as a result of the capital-intensive nature of our business, we can be expected to continue to sustain substantial operating expenses without generating sufficient revenue to cover expenditures. Any investment in our company is therefore highly speculative and could result in the loss of your entire investment.

Our future business depends in large part on our ability to continue to develop and successfully commercialize our Level 4 autonomous driving technology, our AFN, and other freight capacity services we plan to offer. Our ability to develop, deliver, and commercialize at scale our autonomous driving software and systems to support or perform autonomous operation of large semi-trucks is still unproven.

 

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Our continued enhancement of our autonomous driving technology is and will be subject to risks, including with respect to:

 

   

our ability to continue to enhance our data analytics and software technology;

 

   

designing, developing, and securing necessary components on acceptable terms and in a timely manner;

 

   

our ability to attract, recruit, hire, and train skilled employees; and

 

   

our ability to enter into strategic relationships with key members in the trucking and freight transport industries, as well as component suppliers.

We have limited experience to date in applying our autonomous driving technology at scale. While we currently operate autonomous semi-trucks equipped with our autonomous driving technology, we have not yet produced and sold to third parties our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks at scale. Even if we are successful in developing and commercializing our technology, we could face unexpected difficulties, delays, and cost overruns, including as a result of factors beyond our control such as unforeseen issues with our technology, problems with suppliers, and adverse regulatory developments. Any failure to develop our technology within our projected costs and timelines could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, operating results, and financial condition.

Since the market for autonomous solutions is relatively new and disruptive, if our Level 4 autonomous driving technology fails to gain acceptance from users and other stakeholders in the freight transportation industry, our business, prospects, operating results, and financial condition could be materially harmed.

Demand for autonomous driving technology depends to a large extent on general, economic, political, and social conditions in a given market. The market opportunities we are pursuing are at an early stage of development, and it is difficult to predict user demand or adoption rates for our solutions, including the AFN, or the future growth of the markets in which we operate. Despite the fact that the automotive industry has engaged in considerable effort to research and test Level 2 and Level 3 autonomous cars, our technology targeting Level 4 autonomous semi-trucks requires significant investment and may never be commercially successful on a large scale, or at all.

Further, even if we succeed in operating at commercial scale, because of the disruptive nature of our business to the freight transportation industry, key industry participants may not accept our AFN, may develop competing services or may otherwise seek to subvert our efforts. For example, autonomous semi-trucks might displace individual semi-truck drivers and small fleet owners. Labor unions may also raise concerns about autonomous semi-trucks displacing drivers or otherwise negatively affecting employment opportunities for their members, as has been the case in other industries that have been subject to automation. This has in the past resulted, and could in the future result, in negative publicity, lobbying efforts to U.S. local, state, and federal, lawmaking authorities, or equivalent authorities in the foreign jurisdictions in which we seek to do business, to implement legislation or regulations that make it more difficult to operate our business or boycotts of us or our users. Any such occurrences could materially harm our future business.

Additionally, regulatory, safety, and reliability issues, or the perception thereof, many of which are outside of our control, could also cause the public or our potential partners and users to lose confidence in autonomous solutions in general. The safety of such technology depends in part on user interaction and users, as well as other drivers, pedestrians, other obstacles on the roadways or other unforeseen events. For example, there have been several crashes involving automobiles of other manufacturers resulting in death or personal injury where autopilot features are engaged. Even though these incidents were unrelated to our AFN and our technology, such cases resulted in significant negative publicity and, in the future, could result in suspension or prohibition of self-driving vehicles. If safety and reliability issues for autonomous driving technology cannot be addressed properly, our business, prospects, operating results, and financial condition could be materially harmed.

 

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Our autonomous driving technology and related hardware and software could have undetected defects, errors or bugs in hardware or software which could create safety issues, reduce market adoption, damage our reputation with current or prospective users or expose us to product liability and other claims that could materially and adversely affect our business.

Our autonomous driving technology is highly technical and very complex, and has in the past and may in the future experience defects, errors or bugs at various stages of development. We may be unable to timely correct problems to our partners’ and users’ satisfaction. Additionally, there may be undetected errors or defects especially as we introduce new systems or as new versions are released. These risks are particularly prevalent in the highly competitive freight transport market, as any such errors or defects could delay or prevent the adoption of autonomous driving technology in trucks. Errors or defects in our products may only be discovered after they have been tested, commercialized, and deployed. If that is the case, we may incur significant additional development costs and product recall, repair or replacement costs, or more importantly, liability for personal injury or property damage caused by such errors or defects, as these problems would also likely result in claims against us. Our reputation or brand may be damaged as a result of these problems and users may be reluctant to use our services, which could adversely affect our ability to retain existing users and attract new users, and could materially and adversely affect our financial results.

In addition, we could face material legal claims for breach of contract, product liability, tort or breach of warranty as a result of these problems. Any such lawsuit may cause irreparable damage to our brand and reputation. In addition, defending a lawsuit, regardless of its merit, could be costly and may divert management’s attention and adversely affect the market’s perception of us and our services. In addition, our business liability insurance coverage could prove inadequate with respect to a claim and future coverage may be unavailable on acceptable terms or at all. These product-related issues could result in claims against us and our business could be materially and adversely affected.

The operation of our L4 autonomous semi-trucks is different from non-autonomous semi-trucks and may be unfamiliar to our users and other road users.

We have specifically engineered our L4 autonomous semi-trucks with our technology to provide a superior ability to sense, predict, and react to real-world driving situations. Our proprietary artificial intelligence (“AI”) and machine vision capabilities are specifically engineered to meet the demands of commercial trucks. In certain instances, these protections may cause the vehicle to behave in ways that are unfamiliar to drivers of non-autonomous driving trucks. For example, our L4 autonomous semi-trucks adhere strictly to safety rules, including stopping for three seconds at a stop sign. These safety rules may not be strictly adhered to by human drivers, and thus may be unfamiliar or come as a surprise to other drivers on the road.

Furthermore, there can be no assurance that our users will be able to properly adapt to the different operation processes for our L4 autonomous semi-trucks. For example, they may not be able to adapt their business processes to address activities such as the dispatching of trucks, pre-trip inspections, remote monitoring, and rescuing of trucks. Any accidents resulting from such failure to operate our L4 autonomous semi-trucks properly could harm our brand and reputation, result in adverse publicity, and product liability claims, and have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results.

Reservations for our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks are cancellable.

Through our first four months of accepting reservations for our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck, we have accepted over 5,700 reservations from approximately ten customers, each of whom has significant freight operations. Approximately 75% of our reservations were made by customers who operate commercial truck fleets and who are also equity investors in our company. Typically, each reservation requires a $500 per truck deposit, however, the deposit requirement has been waived for our equity investors that currently hold reservations. We are currently in the process of collecting these deposits to hold in an escrow account, which can be delivered to us within a 12 month period after entering into a reservation agreement. Until the customer enters into a purchase agreement for our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck, which is within the discretion of the customer, the reservation can be canceled and the customer is entitled to a full refund of its deposit. Any cancellations and refunds will be satisfied out of the deposits held in the escrow account. We have not entered into purchase agreements with any of our customers that have reserved our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks.

 

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Because all of our reservations are cancellable, it is possible that a significant number of customers who submitted reservations for our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks may cancel those reservations. Given the anticipated lead times between customer reservation and delivery of our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks, there is a heightened risk that customers that have made reservations may not ultimately take delivery of vehicles due to potential changes in customer preferences, competitive developments, and other factors. As a result, no assurance can be made that reservations will not be canceled, or that reservations will ultimately result in the purchase of a purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck. Any cancellations could harm our financial condition, business, prospects, and operating results.

We operate in a highly competitive market and some market participants have substantially greater resources than we do. We compete against a large number of both established competitors and new market entrants.

The market for autonomous trucking and freight transport solutions is highly competitive. Many companies are seeking to develop autonomous trucking and delivery solutions. Competition in these markets is based primarily on technology, innovation, quality, safety, reputation, and price. Our future success will depend on our ability to further develop and protect our technology in a timely manner and to stay ahead of existing and new competitors. Our competitors in this market are working towards commercializing autonomous driving technology and may have substantial financial, marketing, research and development, and other resources. Some examples of our competitors include Waymo, Aurora, Embark, and Kodiak.

In addition, we also face competition from traditional freight transport companies, such as non-autonomous trucking companies, railroads, and air carriers. Traditional shipping fleets and other carriers operating with human drivers are still the predominant operators in the market. Because of the long history of such traditional freight transport companies serving the freight market, there may be many constituencies in the market that would resist a shift towards autonomous freight transport, which could include lobbying and marketing campaigns, particularly because our technology will displace semi-truck drivers. In addition, the market leaders in the automotive industry may start, or have already started, pursuing large scale deployment of autonomous vehicle technology on their own. These companies may have more operational and financial resources than us. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to effectively compete with them. We may also face competition from Tier 1 suppliers and other technology and automotive supply companies if they decide to expand vertically and develop their own autonomous semi-trucks, some of whom have significantly greater resources than we do. We do not know how close these competitors are to commercializing autonomous driving systems.

Furthermore, although we believe that we have the first-mover advantage in the competitive autonomous freight segment, many established and new market participants have entered or have announced plans to enter the autonomous vehicle market. Most of these participants have significantly greater financial, manufacturing, marketing, and other resources than we do and may be able to devote greater resources to the design, development, manufacturing, distribution, promotion, sale, and support of their products. If existing competitors or new entrants are able to commercialize earlier than expected, our competitive advantage could be adversely affected.

Risks Related to Our Dependence on Third Parties

We rely on our business partners and other industry participants for our AFN. Business collaboration with partners is subject to risks, and these relationships may not lead to significant revenue. Any adverse change in our cooperation with them could harm our business.

Strategic business relationships are and will continue to be an important factor in the growth and success of our business. We have alliances and partnerships with other companies in the trucking and automotive industry to help us in our efforts to continue to enhance our technology, commercialize our solutions, and drive market acceptance. We have established partnerships with leading semi-truck manufacturers, such as Navistar and TRATON, to co-develop and validate critical components required for Level 4 autonomous semi-trucks and to develop a hub-to-hub pilot program using our autonomous technology. Upon the successful completion of the

 

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development activities under our partnership agreements with Navistar and TRATON, in order to continue our relationship with these parties, we will enter into good faith negotiations to establish a production license agreement and a long-term cooperation agreement with Navistar and TRATON, respectively. We may not be able to successfully negotiate a definitive agreement with either Navistar or TRATON or such agreements may be on terms that are disadvantageous to us. We will also need to identify and negotiate additional relationships with other third parties, such as those who can provide service centers, maintenance, refueling, roadside service, towing, sensor support, and financing services. We may not be able to successfully identify and negotiate definitive agreements with these third parties to provide the services we would require on terms that are attractive or at all, which would cause us to incur increased costs to develop and provide these capabilities.

Collaboration with these third parties is subject to risks, some of which are outside our control. For example, certain of our agreements with our partners grant our partner or us the right to terminate such agreements for cause or without cause, including in some cases by paying a termination for convenience fee. If any of our partnerships with semi-truck manufacturers, such as our agreement with Navistar, are terminated, it may delay or prevent our efforts to produce purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks at scale. In addition, such agreements have in the past and may in the future contain certain exclusivity provisions which, if triggered, could preclude us from working with other businesses with superior technology or with whom we may prefer to partner with for other reasons. We could experience delays to the extent our partners do not meet agreed upon timelines or experience capacity constraints. We could also experience disagreement in budget or funding for the joint development project. There is also a risk of other potential disputes with partners in the future, including with respect to intellectual property rights. Our ability to successfully commercialize could also be adversely affected by perceptions about the quality of our or our partners’ trucks.

If our existing partner agreements were to be terminated, we may be unable to enter into new agreements on terms and conditions acceptable to us. The expense and time required to complete any transition, and to assure that vehicles manufactured at facilities of new third-party partners comply with our quality standards and regulatory requirements, may be greater than anticipated. Any of the foregoing could adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

We rely on third-party suppliers and because some of the raw materials and key components in our products come from limited or sole sources of supply, we are susceptible to supply shortages, long lead times for components, and supply changes, any of which could disrupt our supply chain and could delay deliveries of our products to users.

All of the components that are used to outfit semi-trucks with our autonomous technology and that will be used to manufacture our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks are sourced from third-party suppliers. To date, the semi-trucks we have used have had our autonomous technology added to an existing semi-truck design and we are working to have fully-integrated trucks available for users by 2024. We intend to begin filling reservations over a multi-year period commencing in 2024, with actual date of delivery based on our customers’ specifications. We do not have any experience in managing a large supply chain to manufacture and deliver products at scale. In addition, some of the key components used to manufacture our L4 autonomous semi-trucks come from limited or sole sources of supply. For example, we depend on actuation suppliers to develop and design redundant actuation for steering, braking, and engine transmission. We are also dependent on our suppliers’ production timeline for supplying automotive-grade LiDAR at scale. We are therefore subject to the risk of shortages and long lead times in the supply of these components and the risk that our suppliers discontinue or modify components used in our products. In addition, our agreements with our third party suppliers are non-exclusive. Our suppliers may dedicate more resources to other companies, including our competitors. We may in the future experience component shortages and price fluctuations of certain key components and materials, and the predictability of the availability and pricing of these components may be limited. Component shortages or pricing fluctuations could be material in the future. In the event of a component shortage, supply interruption or material pricing change from suppliers of these components, we may not be able to develop alternate sources in a timely manner or at all in the case of sole or limited sources. Developing

 

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alternate sources of supply for these components may be time-consuming, difficult, and costly and we may not be able to source these components on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all, which may undermine our ability to meet our requirements or to fill user orders in a timely manner. Any interruption or delay in the supply of any of these parts or components, or the inability to obtain these parts or components from alternate sources at acceptable prices and within a reasonable amount of time, would adversely affect our ability to meet scheduled product deliveries to users. This could adversely affect our relationships with our users and could cause delays in our ability to expand our operations, including with our partners manufacturing purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks. Even where we are able to pass increased component costs along to our users, there may be a lapse of time before we are able to do so such that we must absorb the increased cost initially. If we are unable to buy these components in quantities sufficient to meet our requirements on a timely basis, we will not be able to have sufficient ability to meet user demand, which may result in users using competitive services instead of ours.

Risks Related to Our Financial Position and Need for Additional Capital

We are an early stage company with a history of losses, and expect to incur significant expenses and continuing losses for the foreseeable future.

We incurred net losses of $84.9 million and $177.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively. We have not recognized a material amount of revenue to date and we had accumulated deficit of $405.2 million as of December 31, 2020. We have developed and launched our AFN but there can be no assurance that it will be commercially successful at scale. Our potential profitability is dependent upon a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control.

We expect the rate at which we will incur losses to be significantly higher in future periods as we:

 

   

design, develop, and manufacture purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks with our OEM partners;

 

   

seek to achieve and commercialize full Level 4 autonomy for our L4 autonomous semi-trucks;

 

   

seek to expand our AFN, on a nationwide basis in the United States and internationally;

 

   

expand our design, development, maintenance, and repair capabilities;

 

   

respond to competition in the autonomous driving market and from traditional freight transportation providers;

 

   

respond to evolving regulatory developments in the nascent autonomous vehicle market;

 

   

increase our sales and marketing activities; and

 

   

increase our general and administrative functions to support our growing operations and for being a public reporting company.

Because we will incur the costs and expenses from these efforts before we receive any incremental revenue, our losses in future periods will be significant. In addition, we may find that these efforts are more expensive than we currently anticipate or that these efforts may not result in revenue, which would further increase our losses. In particular, we expect to incur substantial and potentially increasing research and development (“R&D”) costs. Our R&D costs were $63.6 million and $132.0 million during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively, and are likely to grow in the future. Because we account for R&D as an operating expense, these expenditures will adversely affect our results to operations in the future. Further, our R&D program may not produce successful results, and our new products may not achieve market acceptance, create additional revenue, or become profitable.

We expect to need to raise additional funds and these funds may not be available to us on attractive terms when we need them, or at all. If we cannot raise additional funds on attractive terms when we need them, our operations and prospects could be negatively affected.

The commercialization of L4 autonomous semi-trucks outfitted with our technology, purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks manufactured by our OEM partners and our AFN and related technology is capital-intensive. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through the issuance of equity securities in private

 

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placements and the issuance of convertible debt securities. We will need to raise additional capital to continue to fund our research and development and commercialization activities and to improve our liquidity position. Our ability to obtain the necessary financing to carry out our business plan is subject to a number of factors, including general market volatility, investor acceptance of our business plan, regulatory requirements, including foreign investment reviews, and the successful development of our autonomous technology. These factors may make the timing, amount, terms, and conditions of such financing unattractive or unavailable to us.

We may raise these additional funds through the issuance of equity, equity related, or debt securities. To the extent that we raise additional financing by issuing equity securities or convertible debt securities, our stockholders may experience substantial dilution, and to the extent we engage in debt financing, we may become subject to restrictive covenants that could limit our flexibility in conducting future business activities. Financial institutions may request credit enhancement such as third-party guarantee and pledge of equity interest in order to extend loans to us. We cannot be certain that additional funds will be available to us on attractive terms when required, or at all. If we cannot raise additional funds when we need them, our financial condition, results of operations, business, and prospects could be materially adversely affected.

We may be subject to risks associated with potential future acquisitions.

Although we have no current acquisition plans, if appropriate opportunities arise, we may acquire additional assets, products, technology or businesses that are complementary to our existing business. Any future acquisitions and the subsequent integration of new assets and businesses would require significant attention from our management and could result in a diversion of resources from our existing business, which in turn could have an adverse effect on our operations, and consequently our results of operations and financial condition. Acquired assets or businesses may not generate the financial results we expect. Acquisitions could result in the use of substantial amounts of cash, potentially dilutive issuances of equity securities, significant goodwill impairment charges, amortization expenses for other intangible assets and exposure to potential unknown liabilities of the acquired business. Moreover, the costs of identifying and consummating acquisitions may be significant.

Risks Related to Our Business Operations

We depend on the experience and expertise of our senior management team, technical engineers, and certain key employees, and the loss of any executive officer or key employee, or the inability to identify and recruit executive officers, technical engineers, and key employees in a timely manner, could harm our business, operating results, and financial condition.

Our success depends largely upon the continued services of our key executive officers and certain key employees. We rely on our executive officers and key employees in the areas of business strategy, research and development, marketing, sales, services, and general and administrative functions. From time to time, there may be changes in our executive management team or key employees resulting from the hiring or departure of executives or key employees, which could disrupt our business. We do not maintain key-man insurance for any member of our senior management team or any other employee. We do not have employment agreements with our executive officers or other key personnel that require them to continue to work for us for any specified period and, therefore, they could terminate their employment with us at any time. The loss of one or more of our executive officers or key employees could have a serious adverse effect on our business.

To execute our growth plan, we must attract and retain highly qualified personnel. Competition for these personnel is intense in the technology industry, especially for engineers with high levels of experience in artificial intelligence and designing and developing autonomous driving related algorithms. Furthermore, it can be difficult to recruit personnel from other geographies to relocate to our Southern California location. We may also need to recruit highly qualified technical engineers internationally and therefore subject us to the compliance of relevant immigration laws and regulations. We have, from time to time, experienced, and we expect to continue to experience, difficulty in hiring and retaining employees with appropriate qualifications. Many of the companies with which we compete for experienced personnel have greater resources than we have and can offer

 

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more attractive compensation packages for new employees. If we hire employees from competitors or other companies, their former employers may attempt to assert that these employees or our company have breached their legal obligations, resulting in a diversion of our time and resources and potentially in litigation. In addition, job candidates and existing employees often consider the value of the share incentive awards they receive in connection with their employment. If the perceived value of our share awards declines, it may adversely affect our ability to recruit and retain highly skilled employees. If we fail to attract new personnel on a timely basis or fail to retain and motivate our current personnel, we may not be able to commercialize and then expand our AFN in a timely manner and our business and future growth prospects could be adversely affected.

We have experienced rapid growth in recent periods and expect to continue to invest in our growth for the foreseeable future. If we fail to manage our growth effectively, we may be unable to execute our business plan, maintain high levels of service, or adequately address competitive challenges.

We have recently experienced a period of rapid growth in our headcount and operations. Our number of full-time employees has increased significantly over the last few years, from 131 employees as of January 1, 2018 to 839 employees as of December 31, 2020. The recent rapid growth in our business has placed, and is expected to continue to place, a significant strain on our managerial, administrative, operational, and financial resources, as well as our infrastructure. We plan to continue to expand our operations in the future. Our success will depend in part on our ability to manage this growth effectively and execute our business plan. To manage the expected growth of our operations and personnel, we will need to continue to improve our operational, financial, and management controls and our reporting systems and procedures.

We rely heavily on information technology (“IT”) systems to manage critical business functions. To manage our growth effectively, we must continue to improve and expand our infrastructure, including our IT, financial, and administrative systems and controls. In particular, we may need to significantly expand our IT infrastructure as the amount of data we store and transmit increases over time, which will require that we both utilize existing IT products and adopt new technology. If we are not able to scale our IT infrastructure in a cost-effective and secure manner, our ability to offer competitive solutions will be harmed and our business, financial condition, and operating results may suffer.

We must also continue to manage our employees, operations, finances, research and development, and capital investments efficiently. Our productivity and the quality of our solutions may be adversely affected if we do not integrate and train our new employees quickly and effectively or if we fail to appropriately coordinate across our executive, research and development, technology, service development, analytics, finance, human resources, marketing, sales, operations, and customer support teams. As we continue to grow, we will incur additional expenses, and our growth may continue to place a strain on our resources, infrastructure, and ability to maintain the quality of our solutions. If we do not adapt to meet these evolving challenges, or if the current and future members of our management team do not effectively manage our growth, the quality of our solutions may suffer and our corporate culture may be harmed. Failure to manage our future growth effectively could cause our business to suffer, which, in turn, could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and operating results.

Our management team has limited experience managing a public company.

Most of the members of our management team have limited, if any, experience managing a publicly-traded company, interacting with public company investors, and complying with the increasingly complex laws pertaining to public companies. Our management team may not successfully or efficiently manage our transition to being a public company subject to significant regulatory oversight and reporting obligations under the federal securities laws and the continuous scrutiny of securities analysts and investors. These new obligations and constituents will require significant attention from our senior management and could divert their attention away from the day-to-day management of our business, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and operating results.

 

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We may be subject to product liability or warranty claims that could result in significant direct or indirect costs, including reputational harm, increased insurance premiums or the need to self-insure, which could adversely affect our business and operating results.

Our technology is used for autonomous driving, which presents the risk of significant injury, including fatalities. We may be subject to claims if one of our or a user’s semi-truck is involved in an accident and persons are injured or purport to be injured or if property is damaged. Any insurance that we carry may not be sufficient or it may not apply to all situations. The risk of serious injury, death, and substantial damage to property is much higher with a substantially heavier fast-moving autonomous semi-truck, as compared to a collision with a slower moving autonomous passenger car in an urban environment. In accidents involving semi-trucks, most of the resulting fatalities are victims outside of the semi-truck. If we experience such an event or multiple events, our insurance premiums could increase significantly or insurance may not be available to us at all. Further, if insurance is not available on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, we might need to self-insure. In addition, lawmakers or governmental agencies could pass laws or adopt regulations that limit the use of autonomous trucking technology or increase liability associated with its use. Any of these events could adversely affect our brand, relationships with users, operating results, or financial condition.

Our L4 autonomous semi-trucks are expensive and, as a result, we, along with our users, may need to obtain financing to purchase or lease semi-trucks.

Because acquiring semi-trucks and then outfitting them with our autonomous technology is expensive, we will need to obtain committed financing capacity for our self-operated fleet to support our growth, and we may in the future be required to find financing solutions to help our users or us purchase or finance our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks manufactured in partnership with OEMs. Our ability to attract financing depends on many factors that are outside of our control, including our or our users’ perceived creditworthiness and the condition of credit markets generally. If we are unable to procure financing partners willing to finance such deployments, our ability to grow our business may be harmed.

We will be required to make significant capital expenditures to maintain our fleet of L4 autonomous semi-trucks.

We expect our capital expenditure requirements will primarily relate to maintaining and upgrading our fleet of L4 autonomous semi-trucks to serve our users and remain competitive. The aging of our fleet will require us to make regular capital expenditures to maintain our level of service. In addition, changing competitive conditions or the emergence of any significant advances in autonomous driving technology could require us to invest significant capital in additional equipment or capacity in order to remain competitive. If we are unable to fund any such investment or otherwise fail to invest in new vehicles, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

We and our manufacturing partners may experience significant delays in the manufacture, launch, and financing of our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks, which could harm our business and prospects.

Any delay in the manufacture, launch, and financing of our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks could materially damage our brand, business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results. Vehicle manufacturers often experience delays in the manufacture and commercial release of new products. To the extent we delay the launch of our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks, our growth prospects could be adversely affected. Furthermore, we rely on third party suppliers for the provision and development of many of the key components and materials that will be used in our existing L4 autonomous semi-trucks and those that will be purpose-built. To the extent our suppliers experience any delays in providing us with or developing necessary components, we could experience delays in delivering on our timelines.

 

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If our L4 autonomous semi-trucks fail to perform as expected, our ability to develop our AFN and market, sell or lease our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks could be harmed. Future product recalls involving our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks or hardware deployed on our L4 autonomous semi-trucks could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, operating results, and financial condition.

Our L4 autonomous semi-trucks and, once production begins, our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks may contain defects in design and manufacture that may cause them not to perform as expected or may require repair. For example, our L4 autonomous semi-trucks currently use, and our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks are expected to use, a substantial amount of software to operate which will require modification and updates over the life of the vehicle. Software products are inherently complex and often contain defects and errors when first introduced. There can be no assurance that we will be able to detect and fix any defects in the semi-trucks’ hardware or software prior to commencing user sales or during the life of the trucks. Our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks may not perform consistent with users’ expectations or consistent with other trucks that may become available. Any product defects or any other failure of our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks to perform as expected could harm our reputation, ability to develop our AFN and result in adverse publicity, lost revenue, delivery delays, product recalls, product liability claims, and significant warranty and other expenses, and could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, operating results, and prospects.

Once production begins, we may experience recalls involving our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks, which could adversely affect our brand in our target markets and could adversely affect our business, prospects, and results of operations. Any product recall in the future may result in adverse publicity, damage our brand, and materially adversely affect our business, prospects, operating results, and financial condition. In the future, we may voluntarily or involuntarily, initiate a recall if any of our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck components (including LiDAR sensors, cameras, and other components) prove to be defective or noncompliant with applicable motor vehicle safety standards. Such recalls typically involve significant expense and diversion of management attention and other resources, which could adversely affect our brand image, as well as our business, prospects, financial condition, and results of operations.

If we are unable to establish and maintain confidence in our long-term business prospects among users, securities and industry analysts, and within our industries, or are subject to negative publicity, then our financial condition, operating results, business prospects, and access to capital may suffer materially.

Users may be less likely to purchase or use our L4 autonomous semi-trucks if they are not convinced that our business will succeed or that our service and support and other operations will continue in the long term. Similarly, suppliers and other third parties will be less likely to invest time and resources in developing business relationships with us if they are not convinced that our business will succeed. Accordingly, in order to build and maintain our business, we must maintain confidence among users, suppliers, securities and industry analysts, and other parties in our long-term financial viability and business prospects. Maintaining such confidence may be particularly complicated by certain factors including those that are largely outside of our control, such as our limited operating history at scale, user unfamiliarity with our solutions, any delays in scaling manufacturing, delivery, and service operations to meet demand, competition and uncertainty regarding the future of autonomous vehicles, and our performance compared with market expectations.

We identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019, and 2020, and we may identify additional material weaknesses in the future that may cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations or result in material misstatements of our financial statements. If we fail to remediate any material weaknesses or if we otherwise fail to establish and maintain effective control over financial reporting, our ability to accurately and timely report our financial results could be adversely affected.

In connection with the contemporaneous audits of our financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019, and 2020, we identified control deficiencies in the design and implementation of our

 

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internal control over financial reporting that constituted a material weakness. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

The material weakness identified in our internal control over financial reporting related to a lack of appropriately designed and implemented controls over the review and approval of manual journal entries (including consolidation entries) and the related supporting journal entry calculations. We have taken and plan to take the following actions: (i) hiring of additional finance and accounting personnel over time to augment our accounting staff and to provide more resources for complex accounting matters and financial reporting; and (ii) further developing and implementing formal policies, processes, and documentation procedures relating to our financial reporting. To date, we have hired additional financial and accounting personnel with technical accounting experience and implemented new technology solutions to assist with our financial reporting process. We are still implementing formal policies, processes, and documentation procedures related to the review and approval of manual journal entries. We will not be able to fully remediate this material weakness until these steps have been completed and have been operating effectively for a sufficient period of time. We currently expect that the material weakness will be remediated by December 31, 2021, and costs associated with the remediation plan are not expected to be material. However, we cannot assure you that these measures will be sufficient to remediate the material weakness that has been identified or prevent future material weaknesses or significant deficiencies from occurring.

Neither we nor our independent registered public accounting firm has performed an evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting during any period in accordance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”). In light of the control deficiencies and the resulting material weakness that were previously identified as a result of the limited procedures performed, we believe that it is possible that, had we and our independent registered public accounting firm performed an evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, additional material weaknesses and significant control deficiencies may have been identified.

We may identify future material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting or fail to meet the demands that will be placed upon us as a public company, including the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and we may be unable to accurately report our financial results, or report them within the timeframes required by law or stock exchange regulations. Under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we will be required to evaluate and determine the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting and, beginning with our second annual report following this offering, provide a management report on internal control over financial reporting. Failure to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act could also potentially subject us to sanctions or investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities. We cannot assure that our existing material weakness will be remediated or that additional material weaknesses will not exist or otherwise be discovered, any of which could adversely affect our reputation, financial condition, and results of operations.

Pandemics and epidemics, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, terrorist activities, political unrest, and other outbreaks could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or liquidity, and the extent to which we will be impacted will depend on future developments, which cannot be predicted.

During the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, the capital markets are experiencing pronounced volatility, which may adversely affect investor’s confidence and, in turn may affect, our initial public offering.

In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused us to modify our business practices (such as employee travel plan and cancellation of physical participation in meetings, events, and conference), and we may take further actions as required by governmental authorities or that we determine are in the best interests of our employees, users, and business partners. In addition, the business and operations of our manufacturers, suppliers,

 

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and other business partners have also been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and may be further adversely impacted in the future, which could result in delays in our ability to commercialize our autonomous trucking solutions.

As a result of social distancing, travel bans, and quarantine measures, access to our facilities, users, management, support staff, and professional advisors has been limited, which in turn has impacted, and will continue to impact, our operations, and financial condition.

The extent to which COVID-19 impacts our, and those of our partners and potential users, business, results of operations, and financial condition will depend on future developments, which are uncertain and cannot be predicted, including, but not limited to, the occurrence of a “second wave,” duration and spread of the outbreak, its severity, the actions to contain the virus or treat its impact, and how quickly and to what extent normal economic and operating conditions can resume. Even if the COVID-19 outbreak subsides, we may continue to experience materially adverse impacts to our business as a result of its global economic impact, including any recession that has occurred or may occur in the future.

We are also vulnerable to natural disasters and other calamities. Although we have servers that are hosted in an offsite location, our backup system does not capture data on a real-time basis and we may be unable to recover certain data in the event of a server failure. We cannot assure you that any backup systems will be adequate to protect us from the effects of fire, floods, typhoons, earthquakes, power loss, telecommunications failures, break-ins, war, riots, terrorist attacks or similar events. Any of the foregoing events may give rise to interruptions, breakdowns, system failures, technology platform failures or internet failures, which could cause the loss or corruption of data or malfunctions of software or hardware as well as adversely affect our ability to provide services.

Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property, Information Technology and Data Privacy

We may become subject to litigation brought by third parties claiming infringement, misappropriation or other violation by us of their intellectual property rights.

The industry in which our business operates is characterized by a large number of patents, some of which may be of questionable scope, validity or enforceability, and some of which may appear to overlap with other issued patents. As a result, there is a significant amount of uncertainty in the industry regarding patent protection and infringement. In recent years, there has been significant litigation globally involving patents and other intellectual property rights. Third parties have asserted, and may in the future assert, that we have infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated their intellectual property rights. We have received letters from third parties that identify patents owned by third parties and invite us to obtain licenses to such patents. We work with patent counsel to evaluate the merits of their claims and sometimes we may decide to engage in licensing discussions. We may not be able to obtain a commercially reasonable license or a license that we obtain (if any) may not entirely resolve the potential risks of intellectual property infringement. As we face increasing competition and as a public company, the possibility of intellectual property rights claims against us grows. Such claims and litigation may involve one or more of our competitors focused on using their patents and other intellectual property to obtain competitive advantage, or patent holding companies or other adverse intellectual property rights holders who have no relevant product revenue, and therefore our own pending patents and other intellectual property rights may provide little or no deterrence to these rights holders in bringing intellectual property rights claims against us. There may be intellectual property rights held by others, including issued or pending patents and trademarks, that cover significant aspects of our technologies or business methods, and we cannot assure that we are not infringing or violating, and have not infringed or violated, any third-party intellectual property rights or that we will not be held to have done so or be accused of doing so in the future. In addition, because patent applications can take many years until the patents issue, there may be applications now pending of which we are unaware, which may later result in issued patents that our products may infringe. We expect that in the future we may receive notices that claim we or our collaborators have misappropriated or misused other parties’ intellectual property rights, particularly as the number of competitors in our market grows.

 

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To defend ourselves against any intellectual property claims brought by third parties, whether with or without merits, can be time-consuming and could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our resources. These claims and any resulting lawsuits, if resolved adversely to us, could subject us to significant liability for damages, impose temporary or permanent injunctions against our products, technologies or business operations, or invalidate or render unenforceable our intellectual property.

If our technology is determined to infringe a valid and enforceable patent, or if we wish to avoid potential intellectual property litigation on any alleged infringement, misappropriation or other violation of third party intellectual property rights, we may be required to do one or more of the following: (i) cease development, sales, or use of our products that incorporate or use the asserted intellectual property right; (ii) obtain a license from the owner of the asserted intellectual property right, which may be unavailable on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, or which may be non-exclusive, thereby giving our competitors and other third parties access to the same technologies licensed to us; (iii) pay substantial royalties or other damages; or (iv) redesign our technology or one or more aspects or systems of our L4 autonomous semi-trucks to avoid any infringement or allegations thereof. The aforementioned options sometimes may not be commercially feasible. Additionally, in our ordinary course of business, we agree to indemnify our users, partners, and other commercial counterparties for any infringement arising out of their use of our intellectual property, along with providing standard indemnification provisions, so we may face liability to our users, business partners or third parties for indemnification or other remedies in the event that they are sued for infringement.

We may also in the future license third party technology or other intellectual property, and we may face claims that our use of such in-licensed technology or other intellectual property infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates the intellectual property rights of others. In such cases, we will seek indemnification from our licensors. However, our rights to indemnification may be unavailable or insufficient to cover our costs and losses.

We also may not be successful in any attempt to redesign our technology to avoid any alleged infringement. A successful claim of infringement against us, or our failure or inability to develop and implement non-infringing technology, or license the infringed technology on acceptable terms and on a timely basis, could materially adversely affect our business and results of operations. Furthermore, such lawsuits, regardless of their success, would likely be time-consuming and expensive to resolve and would divert management’s time and attention from our business, which could seriously harm our business. Also, such lawsuits, regardless of their success, could seriously harm our reputation with users and in the industry at large.

Our business may be adversely affected if we are unable to adequately establish, maintain, protect, and enforce our intellectual property and proprietary rights or prevent third parties from making unauthorized use of our technology and other intellectual property rights.

Our intellectual property is an essential asset of our business. Failure to adequately protect our intellectual property rights could result in our competitors offering similar products, potentially resulting in the loss of our competitive advantage, and a decrease in our revenue which would adversely affect our business prospects, financial condition, and operating results. Our success depends, at least in part, on our ability to protect our core technology and intellectual property. We rely on a combination of intellectual property rights, such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets (including know-how), in addition to employee and third-party nondisclosure agreements, intellectual property licenses, and other contractual rights, to establish, maintain, protect, and enforce our rights in our technology, proprietary information, and processes. Intellectual property laws and our procedures and restrictions provide only limited protection and any of our intellectual property rights may be challenged, invalidated, circumvented, infringed or misappropriated. If we fail to protect our intellectual property rights adequately, we may lose an important advantage in the markets in which we compete. While we take measures to protect our intellectual property, such efforts may be insufficient or ineffective, and any of our intellectual property rights may be challenged, which could result in them being narrowed in scope or declared invalid or unenforceable. Other parties may also independently develop technologies that are

 

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substantially similar or superior to ours. We also may be forced to bring claims against third parties, or defend claims that they may bring against us, to determine the ownership of what we regard as our intellectual property. However, the measures we take to protect our intellectual property from unauthorized use by others may not be effective and there can be no assurance that our intellectual property rights will be sufficient to protect against others offering products, services, or technologies that are substantially similar or superior to ours and that compete with our business.

Litigation may be necessary in the future to enforce our intellectual property rights and to protect our trade secrets. Our efforts to enforce our intellectual property rights may be met with defenses, counterclaims, and countersuits attacking the validity and enforceability of our intellectual property. Any litigation initiated by us concerning the violation by third parties of our intellectual property rights is likely to be expensive and time-consuming and could lead to the invalidation of, or render unenforceable, our intellectual property, or could otherwise have negative consequences for us. Furthermore, it could result in a court or governmental agency invalidating or rendering unenforceable our patents or other intellectual property rights upon which the suit is based. We will not be able to protect our intellectual property if we are unable to enforce our rights or if we do not detect unauthorized use of our intellectual property. Our inability to protect our proprietary technology against unauthorized copying or use, as well as any costly litigation or diversion of our management’s attention and resources, could delay the introduction and implementation of new technologies, result in our substituting inferior or more costly technologies into our products or injure our reputation. Moreover, policing unauthorized use of our technologies, trade secrets, and intellectual property may be difficult, expensive, and time-consuming, particularly in foreign countries where the laws may not be as protective of intellectual property rights as those in the United States and where mechanisms for enforcement of intellectual property rights may be weak. If we fail to meaningfully establish, maintain, protect, and enforce our intellectual property and proprietary rights, our business, operating results, and financial condition could be adversely affected.

Changes in U.S. patent law could diminish the value of patents in general, thereby impairing our ability to protect our products.

There are a number of recent changes to the patent laws that may have a significant impact on our ability to protect our technology and enforce our intellectual property rights. For example, the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (the “AIA”) enacted in September 2011, resulted in significant changes in patent legislation. An important change introduced by the AIA is that, as of March 16, 2013, the United States transitioned from a “first-to-invent” to a “first-to-file” system for deciding which party should be granted a patent when two or more patent applications are filed by different parties claiming the same invention. Under a “first-to-file” system, assuming the other requirements for patentability are met, the first inventor to file a patent application generally will be entitled to a patent on the invention regardless of whether another inventor had made the invention earlier. A third party that files a patent application in the USPTO after that date but before us could therefore be awarded a patent covering an invention of ours even if we made the invention before it was made by the third party. Circumstances could prevent us from promptly filing patent applications on our inventions.

The AIA also includes a number of significant changes that affect the way patent applications will be prosecuted and also may affect patent litigation. These include allowing third party submission of prior art to the USPTO during patent prosecution and additional procedures to attack the validity of a patent by USPTO administered post-grant proceedings, including post-grant review, inter partes review, and derivation proceedings. Because of a lower evidentiary standard in USPTO proceedings compared to the evidentiary standard in United States federal courts necessary to invalidate a patent claim, a third party could potentially provide evidence in a USPTO proceeding sufficient for the USPTO to hold a claim invalid even though the same evidence would be insufficient to invalidate the claim if first presented in a district court action. Accordingly, a third party may attempt to use the USPTO procedures to invalidate our patent claims that would not have been invalidated if first challenged by the third party as a defendant in a district court action. The AIA and its implementation could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our issued patents, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.

 

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Further, the standards applied by the USPTO and foreign patent offices in granting patents are not always applied uniformly or predictably. For example, there is no uniform worldwide policy regarding patentable subject matter or the scope of claims allowable for business methods. As such, we do not know the degree of future protection that we will have on our technologies, products, and services. While we will endeavor to try to protect our technologies, products, and services with intellectual property rights such as patents, as appropriate, the process of obtaining patents is time-consuming, expensive, and sometimes unpredictable.

Additionally, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on several patent cases in recent years, such as Impression Products, Inc. v. Lexmark International, Inc., Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, Inc., Mayo Collaborative Services v. Prometheus Laboratories, Inc. and Alice Corporation Pty. Ltd. v. CLS Bank International, either narrowing the scope of patent protection available in certain circumstances or weakening the rights of patent owners in certain situations. In addition to increasing uncertainty with regard to our ability to obtain patents in the future, this combination of events has created uncertainty with respect to the value of patents, once obtained. Depending on decisions by the U.S. Congress, the federal courts, and the USPTO, the laws and regulations governing patents could change in unpredictable ways that could weaken our ability to obtain new patents or to enforce our existing patents and patents that we might obtain in the future.

Our patent applications may not issue as patents, which may have a material adverse effect on our ability to prevent others from commercially exploiting products similar to ours.

We cannot be certain that we are the first inventor of the subject matter to which we have filed a particular patent application, or if we are the first party to file such a patent application. If another party has filed a patent application to the same subject matter as we have, we may not be entitled to the protection sought by the patent application. Further, the scope of protection of issued patent claims is often difficult to determine. As a result, we cannot be certain that the patent applications that we file will issue, or that our issued patents will be broad enough to protect our proprietary rights or otherwise afford protection against competitors with similar technology. In addition, the issuance of a patent is not conclusive as to its inventorship, scope, validity or enforceability. Our competitors may challenge or seek to invalidate our issued patents, or design around our issued patents, which may adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition or operating results. Also, the costs associated with enforcing patents, confidentiality and invention agreements, or other intellectual property rights may make aggressive enforcement impracticable.

We may not be able to protect our intellectual property rights throughout the world.

Filing, prosecuting, maintaining, defending, and enforcing patents and other intellectual property rights on our product candidates in all countries throughout the world would be prohibitively expensive, and our intellectual property rights in some countries outside the United States can be less extensive than those in the United States. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as federal and state laws in the United States. Consequently, we may not be able to prevent third parties from practicing our inventions in all countries outside the United States, or from selling or importing products made using our inventions in and into the United States or other jurisdictions. Competitors may use our technologies in jurisdictions where we have not obtained patent protection or other intellectual property rights to develop their own products and may export otherwise infringing, misappropriating, or violating products to territories where we have patent or other intellectual property protection, but enforcement rights are not as strong as those in the United States. These products may compete with our product candidates, and our patents or other intellectual property rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent them from competing.

Many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in foreign jurisdictions. The legal systems of some countries do not favor the enforcement of patents and other intellectual property rights, which could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement, misappropriation, or other violation of our intellectual property rights generally. Proceedings to enforce our intellectual property rights in foreign jurisdictions could result in substantial costs and divert our efforts and attention from other

 

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aspects of our business, could put our patents at risk of being invalidated or interpreted narrowly and our patent applications at risk of not issuing, and could provoke third parties to assert claims against us. We may not prevail in any lawsuits that we initiate, and the damages or other remedies awarded, if any, may not be commercially meaningful. For example, due to the evolving nature of the legal landscape for intellectual property in China, the level of protection available differs in many respects from that of certain other common law jurisdictions (such as the U.S.) and may be insufficient under certain circumstances due to local judicial protectionism, challenges in obtaining evidence and comparatively small damage awards. As a civil law country, China does not have a robust case law system like that in the U.S., and statutory laws and regulations are subject to judicial interpretation, which may not be applied consistently due to inconsistent application of judicial precedents and lack of clear guidance on statutory interpretation. Protection of intellectual property and enforcement against intellectual property infringement in China can be difficult and time-consuming, as we may be unable to promptly detect or become aware of and police any unauthorized use of our intellectual property in China. If the measures we take to protect our intellectual property under Chinese law are inadequate or ineffective, we may incur losses arising from infringement of our intellectual property, and our efforts to enforce or protect our intellectual property could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management time, each of which could substantially harm our operating results.

Many countries, including European Union countries, India, Japan, and China, have compulsory licensing laws under which a patent owner may be compelled under specified circumstances to grant licenses to third parties. In addition, many countries limit the enforceability of patents against government agencies or government contractors. In those countries, we may have limited remedies if patents are infringed or if we are compelled to grant a license to a third party, which could materially diminish the value of those patents. This could limit our potential revenue opportunities. Accordingly, our efforts to enforce our intellectual property rights around the world may be inadequate to obtain a significant commercial advantage from the intellectual property that we develop or license, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.

In addition to patented technology, we rely on our unpatented proprietary technology, trade secrets, processes, and know-how.

We rely on proprietary information (such as trade secrets, know-how, and confidential information) to protect intellectual property that may not be patentable, or that we believe is best protected by means that do not require public disclosure. We generally seek to protect this proprietary information by entering into confidentiality agreements, or consulting, services, or employment agreements that contain non-disclosure and non-use provisions with our employees, consultants, contractors, scientific advisors, and third parties. However, we cannot guarantee that we have entered into such agreements with each party that has or may have had access to our trade secrets or proprietary information and, even if entered into, these agreements may be breached or may otherwise fail to prevent disclosure, third-party infringement or misappropriation of our proprietary information, may be limited as to their term and may not provide an adequate remedy in the event of unauthorized disclosure or use of proprietary information. We have limited control over the protection of trade secrets used by our third-party manufacturers and suppliers and could lose future trade secret protection if any unauthorized disclosure of such information occurs. In addition, our proprietary information may otherwise become known or be independently developed by our competitors or other third parties. To the extent that our employees, consultants, contractors, and other third parties use intellectual property owned by others in their work for us, disputes may arise as to the rights in related or resulting know-how and inventions. Costly and time-consuming litigation could be necessary to enforce and determine the scope of our proprietary rights, and failure to obtain or maintain protection for our proprietary information could adversely affect our competitive business position. Furthermore, laws regarding trade secret rights in certain markets where we operate may afford little or no protection to our trade secrets. If any of our trade secrets were to be lawfully obtained or independently developed by a competitor or other third party, we would have no right to prevent them from using that trade secret to compete with us. If any of our trade secrets were to be disclosed (whether lawfully or otherwise) to or

 

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independently developed by a competitor or other third party, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition.

We also rely on physical and electronic security measures to protect our proprietary information, but we cannot guarantee that these security measures provide adequate protection for such proprietary information or will never be breached. There is a risk that third parties may obtain unauthorized access to and improperly utilize or disclose our proprietary information, which would harm our competitive advantages. We may not be able to detect or prevent the unauthorized access to or use of our information by third parties, and we may not be able to take appropriate and timely steps to mitigate the damages (or the damages may not be capable of being mitigated or remedied).

We utilize open source software, which may pose particular risks to our proprietary software, technologies, products, and services in a manner that could harm our business.

We use open source software in our products and services and anticipate using open source software in the future. Some open source software licenses require those who distribute open source software as part of their own software products to publicly disclose all or part of the source code to such software product or to make available any modifications or derivative works of the open source code on unfavorable terms or at no cost. This could result in our proprietary software being made available in the source code form and/or licensed to others under open source licenses, which could allow our competitors or other third parties to use our proprietary software freely without spending the development effort, and which could lead to a loss of the competitive advantage of our proprietary technologies and, as a result, sales of our products and services. The terms of many open source licenses to which we are subject have not been interpreted by U.S. or foreign courts, and there is a risk that open source software licenses could be construed in a manner that imposes unanticipated conditions or restrictions on our ability to provide or distribute our products or services or retain our ownership of our proprietary intellectual property. Additionally, we could face claims from third parties claiming ownership of, or demanding release of, the open source software or derivative works that we developed using such software, which could include our proprietary source code, or otherwise seeking to enforce the terms of, or alleging breach of, the applicable open source license. These claims could result in litigation and could require us to make our proprietary software source code freely available, purchase a costly license, or cease offering the implicated products or services unless and until we can re-engineer them to avoid breach of the applicable open source software licenses or potential infringement. This re-engineering process could require us to expend significant additional research and development resources, and we cannot guarantee that we will be successful.

Additionally, the use of certain open source software can lead to greater risks than use of third-party commercial software, as open source licensors generally do not provide warranties or controls on the origin of software. There is typically no support available for open source software, and we cannot ensure that the authors of such open source software will implement or push updates to address security risks or will not abandon further development and maintenance. Many of the risks associated with the use of open source software, such as the lack of warranties or assurances of title, non-infringement, or performance, cannot be eliminated, and could, if not properly addressed, negatively affect our business. We have processes to help alleviate these risks, including a review process for screening requests from our developers for the use of open source software, but we cannot be sure that all open source software is identified or submitted for approval prior to use in our products and services. Any of these risks could be difficult to eliminate or manage, and, if not addressed, could adversely affect our ownership of proprietary intellectual property, the security of our vehicles, or our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

If our software contains serious errors or defects, we may lose revenue and market acceptance and may incur costs to defend or settle claims with our licensees, franchisees or other parties.

Software inevitably contains errors, defects, security vulnerabilities or software bugs, some of which are difficult to detect and correct, particularly when first introduced or when new versions or enhancements are

 

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released. Despite internal testing, our software may contain serious errors or defects, security vulnerabilities or software bugs that we may be unable to successfully detect or correct in a timely manner or at all, which could result in security incidents, data breaches, vehicle safety issues, product liability claims, lost revenue, significant expenditures of capital, a delay or loss in market acceptance, and damage to our reputation and brand, any of which could adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

We are exposed to, and may be adversely affected by, interruptions to our information technology systems and networks and sophisticated cyber-attacks.

We collect and maintain information in digital form that is necessary to conduct our business, and we rely on information technology systems and networks (“IT systems”) in connection with many of our business activities. Some of these networks and systems are managed by third-party service providers and are not under our direct control, and as a result, a number of third-party service providers may or could have access to our confidential information. Our operations routinely involve receiving, storing, processing, and transmitting confidential or sensitive information pertaining to our business, users, dealers, suppliers, employees, and other sensitive matters, including intellectual property, proprietary business information, and personal information. It is critical that we do so in a secure manner to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of such confidential or sensitive information. We have established physical, electronic, and organizational measures designed to safeguard and secure our systems to prevent a data compromise, and rely on commercially available systems, software, tools, and monitoring to provide security for our IT systems and the processing, transmission, and storage of digital information. Despite the implementation of preventative and detective security controls, such IT systems are vulnerable to damage or interruption from a variety of sources, including telecommunications or network failures or interruptions, system malfunction, natural disasters, malicious human acts, terrorism, and war. Such IT systems, including our servers, are additionally vulnerable to physical or electronic break-ins, security breaches from inadvertent or intentional actions by our employees, third-party service providers, contractors, consultants, business partners, and/or other third parties, or from cyber-attacks by malicious third parties (including the deployment of harmful malware, ransomware, denial-of-service attacks, social engineering, and other means to affect service reliability and threaten the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information).

We have experienced data breaches, cyber-attacks, attempts to breach our systems, and other similar incidents, none of which have been material. Any future cyber incidents could, however, materially disrupt operational systems, result in the loss of trade secrets or other proprietary or competitively sensitive information, compromise personally identifiable information regarding users or employees and jeopardize the security of our facilities. The risk of a security breach or disruption, particularly through cyber-attacks or cyber intrusion, including by computer hackers, foreign governments, and cyber terrorists, has generally increased as the number, intensity, and sophistication of attempted attacks and intrusions from around the world have increased. We can provide no assurance that our current IT Systems, or those of the third parties upon which we rely, are fully protected against cybersecurity threats. It is possible that we or our third-party service providers may experience cybersecurity and other breach incidents that remain undetected for an extended period. Even when a security breach is detected, the full extent of the breach may not be determined immediately. Because techniques used to obtain unauthorized access or to sabotage systems change frequently and generally are not recognized until they are launched against a target, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques or to implement adequate preventative measures. Information technology security threats, including security breaches, computer malware, and other cyber-attacks are increasing in both frequency and sophistication and could cause us to incur financial liability, subject us to legal or regulatory sanctions or damage our reputation with users, dealers, suppliers, and other stakeholders. We continuously seek to maintain information security and controls, however our efforts to mitigate and address network security problems, bugs, viruses, worms, malicious software programs, and security vulnerabilities may not be successful and the impact of a material cybersecurity event could have a material adverse effect on our competitive position, reputation, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.

 

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Unauthorized control or manipulation of systems in autonomous semi-trucks may cause them to operate improperly or not at all, or compromise their safety and data security, which could result in loss of confidence in us and our products, cancellation of contracts with certain of our OEM or Tier 1 partners and harm our business.

There have been reports of vehicles of certain OEMs being “hacked” to grant access to and operation of the vehicles to unauthorized persons. Our L4 autonomous semi-trucks contain complex IT systems and are designed with built-in data connectivity. We have designed, implemented, and tested security measures intended to prevent unauthorized access to our information technology networks and systems installed in our L4 autonomous semi-trucks. However, hackers may attempt to gain unauthorized access to modify, alter, and use such networks and systems to gain control of, or to change, our semi-trucks’ functionality, user interface and performance characteristics, or to gain access to data stored in or generated by our products. As techniques used to obtain unauthorized access to or sabotage systems change frequently and may not be known until launched against us or our third-party service providers, there can be no assurance that we will be able to anticipate, or implement adequate measures to protect against, these attacks. Any such security incidents could result in unexpected control of or changes to the vehicles’ functionality and safe operation and could result in legal claims or proceedings and negative publicity, which would negatively affect our brand and harm our business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results.

We collect, process, transmit, and store personal information in connection with the operation of our business and are subject to various data privacy and consumer protection laws. The costs to comply with, or our actual or perceived failure to comply with, changing U.S. and foreign laws related to data privacy, security, and protection, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act and the E.U. General Data Protection Regulation, or contractual obligations related to data privacy, security, and protection, could adversely affect our financial condition, operating results, and our reputation.

In operating our business and providing services and solutions to clients, we collect, use, store, transmit, and otherwise process employee, partner, and client data, including personal data, in and across multiple jurisdictions. We use the electronic systems of our L4 autonomous semi-trucks to log information about each semi-truck’s use in order to aid us in vehicle diagnostics, repair, and maintenance, as well as to help us collect data regarding drivers’ use patterns and preference in order to help us customize and optimize the driving and riding experiences. Our L4 autonomous semi-trucks also collect personal information of drivers and passengers, such as a voice command of a person, in order to aid the manual operation of our semi-trucks. When our L4 autonomous semi-trucks are in operation, the camera, LiDAR, and other sensing components of our semi-trucks will collect street view, mapping data, landscape images, and other LiDAR information, which may include personal information such as license plate numbers of other vehicles, facial features of pedestrians, appearance of individuals, GPS data, geolocation data, in order train the data analytics and artificial intelligence technology equipped in our semi-trucks for the purpose of identifying different objects, and predicting potential issues that may arise during the operation of our semi-trucks.

We leverage systems and applications that are spread over the United States, China, and Sweden, requiring us to regularly move data across national borders. As a result, we are subject to a variety of laws and regulations in the United States, China, the European Union, and other foreign jurisdictions as well as contractual obligations, regarding data privacy, protection, and security. Some of these laws and regulations require obtaining data subjects’ consent to the collection and use of their data, honoring data subjects’ request to delete their data or limit the processing of their data, providing notifications in the event of a data breach, and setting up the proper legal mechanisms for cross-border data transfers. Some users may refuse to provide consent to our collection and use of their personal information, or may restrict our use of such personal information, and in some cases it is not feasible to obtain consent from data subjects in the general public whose personal information may be captured by our L4 autonomous semi-trucks, all of which may hinder our ability to train our data analytics and artificial intelligence technology, and may harm the competitiveness of our technology. In many cases, these laws and regulations apply not only to the collection and processing of personal information

 

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from third parties with whom we do not have any contractual relationship, but also to the sharing or transfer of information between or among us, our subsidiaries and other third parties with which we have commercial relationships, such as our service providers, partners, and clients. The regulatory framework for data privacy, protection, and security worldwide is continuously evolving and developing and, as a result, interpretation and implementation standards and enforcement practices are likely to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future. In particular, some of these laws and regulations may require us to store certain categories of data collected from individuals residing in a jurisdiction only on servers physically located in such jurisdiction, and may further require us to conduct security assessments and/or adopt other cross-border data transfer mechanisms in order to transfer such data outside of such jurisdiction. With the continuously evolving and rapidly changing privacy regulatory regime, our ability to freely transfer data among our affiliates and with our partners in different jurisdictions may be impeded, or we may need to incur significant costs in order to comply with such requirements. In addition, the number of high-profile data breaches at major companies continues to accelerate, which will likely lead to even greater regulatory scrutiny.

The scope and interpretation of the laws and regulations that are or may be applicable to us are often uncertain and may be conflicting, particularly with respect to foreign laws. For example, the E.U. General Data Protection Regulation (the “GDPR”), which became effective in May 2018, greatly increased the European Commission’s jurisdictional reach of its laws and added a broad array of requirements for handling personal data with respect to EU data subjects. EU member states are tasked under the GDPR to enact, and have enacted, certain implementing legislation that adds to and/or further interprets the GDPR requirements and potentially extends our obligations and potential liability for failing to meet such obligations. The GDPR, together with national legislation, regulations and guidelines of the EU member states and the United Kingdom governing the processing of personal data, impose strict obligations and restrictions on the ability to collect, use, retain, protect, disclose, transfer, and otherwise process personal data with respect to EU and UK data subjects. In particular, the GDPR includes obligations and restrictions concerning the consent and rights of individuals to whom the personal data relates, the transfer of personal data out of the EEA or the United Kingdom, security breach notifications and the security and confidentiality of personal data. Among other stringent requirements, the GDPR restricts transfers of data outside of the EU to third countries deemed to lack adequate privacy protections (such as the U.S.), unless an appropriate safeguard specified by the GDPR is implemented. A July 16, 2020 decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union invalidated a key mechanism for lawful data transfer to the U.S. and called into question the viability of its primary alternative. As such, the ability of companies to lawfully transfer personal data from the EU to the U.S. is presently uncertain. Other countries have enacted or are considering enacting similar cross-border data transfer rules or data localization requirements. These developments could limit our ability to launch our products in the EU and other foreign markets. The GDPR authorizes fines for certain violations of up to 4% of global annual revenue or €20 million, whichever is greater. Such fines are in addition to any civil litigation claims by data subjects. Much remains unknown with respect to how to interpret and implement the GDPR and guidance on implementation and compliance practices is often updated or otherwise revised. Given the breadth and depth of changes in data protection obligations, including classification of data and our commitment to a range of administrative, technical and physical controls to protect data and enable data transfers outside of the EU and the United Kingdom, our compliance with the GDPR’s requirements will continue to require time, resources and review of the technology and systems we use to satisfy the GDPR’s requirements, including as EU member states enact their legislation. Further, while the United Kingdom enacted the Data Protection Act 2018 in May 2018 that supplements the GDPR, and has publicly announced that it will continue to regulate the protection of personal data in the same way post-Brexit, Brexit has created uncertainty with regard to the future of regulation of data protection in the United Kingdom.

The implementation of the GDPR has led other jurisdictions to amend, or propose legislation to amend, their existing data protection laws to align with the requirements of the GDPR, with the aim of obtaining an adequate level of data protection to facilitate the transfer of personal data to most jurisdictions from the EU. Accordingly, the challenges we face in the EU will likely also apply to other jurisdictions outside the EU that adopt laws similar in construction to the GDPR or regulatory frameworks of equivalent complexity. For example, the U.S.,

 

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Brazil, the Cayman Islands, China, India, and Japan have also proposed or adopted sweeping new data protection laws, in some cases including data localization laws that will require that personal data stay within their borders.

The U.S. federal government and various states and governmental agencies also have adopted or are considering adopting various laws, regulations, and standards regarding the collection, use, retention, security, disclosure, transfer, and other processing of sensitive and personal information. In addition, many states in which we operate have laws that protect the privacy and security of sensitive and personal information. Certain state laws may be more stringent or broader in scope, or offer greater individual rights, with respect to sensitive and personal information than federal, international, or other state laws, and such laws may differ from each other, which may complicate compliance efforts. For example, California enacted the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (the “CCPA”) on June 28, 2018, which came into effect on January 1, 2020. The CCPA creates individual privacy rights for California residents and increases the privacy and security obligations of entities handling personal data of California consumers and meeting certain thresholds. Failure to comply with the CCPA may result in attorney general enforcement action and damage to our reputation. The CCPA provides for civil penalties for violations, as well as a private right of action for data breaches that result in the loss of certain types of personal information. This private right of action may increase the likelihood of, and risks associated with, class action data breach litigation. In addition, the CCPA’s restrictions on “sales” of personal information may restrict our use of cookies and similar tracking technologies for advertising purposes. To the extent the CCPA applies to us, it will increase our compliance costs and potential liability. In addition, many similar laws have been proposed at the federal level and in other states. For instance, the state of Nevada recently enacted a law that went into force on October 1, 2019 and requires companies to honor consumers’ requests to no longer sell their data. Violators may be subject to injunctions and civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation. New legislation proposed or enacted in Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Washington, and other states, and a proposed right to privacy amendment to the Vermont Constitution, imposes, or has the potential to impose, additional obligations on companies that collect, store, use, retain, disclose, transfer, and otherwise process confidential, sensitive, and personal information, and will continue to shape the data privacy environment throughout the United States. State laws are changing rapidly and there is discussion in Congress of a new federal data protection and privacy law to which we would become subject if it is enacted. All of these evolving compliance and operational requirements impose significant costs that are likely to increase over time, may require us to modify our data processing practices and policies, and may divert resources from other initiatives and projects. Furthermore, non-compliance with data privacy laws and regulations, or a major breach of our network security and systems, could have serious negative consequences for our businesses and future prospects, including possible fines, penalties, and damages, reduced customer demand for our L4 autonomous semi-trucks, and harm to our reputation and brand, all of which may have a material and adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and operating results.

We outsource important aspects of the storage, processing, and transmission of personal information, and thus rely on third parties to manage functions that have material cybersecurity risks. In an attempt to address these risks, we may require third-party service providers who handle personal information to sign confidentiality agreements or data processing agreements (if required by applicable data privacy laws), which would contractually require them to safeguard personal information to the same extent that applies to us, and in some cases we require such service providers to complete information security questionnaires, quality verification questionnaires, or undergo third-party security examinations or provide data security certifications or security audit results. In addition, we periodically hire third-party security experts to assess and test our security posture. However, we cannot assure that these contractual measures and other safeguards will adequately protect us from the risks associated with the storage and transmission of the personal information of our users, employees, drivers, and passengers.

Many statutory requirements include obligations for companies to notify individuals of security breaches involving certain personal information, which could result from breaches experienced by us or our third-party service providers. For example, laws in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia require businesses to provide notice to consumers whose personal information has been disclosed as a result of a data breach. These

 

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laws are not consistent, and compliance in the event of a widespread data breach is difficult and may be costly. Moreover, states have been frequently amending existing laws, requiring attention to changing regulatory requirements. We also may be contractually required to notify users or other counterparties of a security breach. Although we may have contractual protections with our third-party service providers, contractors, and consultants, any actual or perceived security breach could harm our reputation and brand, expose us to potential liability or require us to expend significant resources on data security and in responding to any such actual or perceived breach. Any contractual protections we may have from our third-party service providers, contractors or consultants may not be sufficient to adequately protect us from any such liabilities and losses, and we may be unable to enforce any such contractual protections.

In China, the PRC Cyber Security Law became effective on June 1, 2017. The Cyber Security Law reaffirms the basic principles and requirements specified in other existing laws and regulations on personal information protection, such as the requirements on the collection, use, processing, storage, and disclosure of personal information. Specifically, it requires that network operators take technical measures and other necessary measures in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and the compulsory requirements of the national and industrial standards to safeguard the safe and stable operation of its networks, maintain the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of network data, take technical and other necessary measures to ensure the security of the personal information they have collected against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or loss, and formulate contingency plans for network security incidents and remediation measures. It also requires a subset of network operators that meet certain thresholds to be critical information infrastructure operators (“CIIO”) to store personal information and important data collected and generated during its operation within the territory of China locally on servers in China. The interpretation of what network operators are qualified as CIIOs is unclear. If we are deemed to be a CIIO, we would become subject to additional requirements applicable to CIIOs. Any violation of the Cyber Security Law may subject a network operator to warnings, fines, confiscation of illegal gains, revocation of licenses, cancellation of filings, shutdown of websites, or criminal liabilities.

In addition to government regulation, privacy advocates and industry groups have and may in the future propose self-regulatory standards from time to time. These and other industry standards may legally or contractually apply to us, or we may elect to comply with such standards. We expect that there will continue to be new proposed laws and regulations concerning data privacy and security, and we cannot yet determine the impact such future laws, regulations, and standards may have on our business. New laws, amendments to or re-interpretations of existing laws, regulations, standards, and other obligations may require us to incur additional costs and restrict our business operations. Because the interpretation and application of laws, regulations, standards, and other obligations relating to data privacy and security are still uncertain, it is possible that these laws, regulations, standards, and other obligations may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent with our data processing practices and policies or the features of our products and services. If so, in addition to the possibility of fines, lawsuits, regulatory investigations, public censure, other claims and penalties and significant costs for remediation and damage to our reputation, we could be required to fundamentally change our business activities and practices, which could adversely affect our business. We may be unable to make such changes and modifications in a commercially reasonable manner, or at all. Any inability to adequately address data privacy or security-related concerns, even if unfounded, or to comply with applicable laws, regulations, standards, and other obligations relating to data privacy and security, could result in additional cost and liability to us, harm our reputation and brand, damage our relationship with important clients, and affect our financial condition, operating results, and our reputation.

We make public statements about our use and disclosure of personal information through our privacy policy, information provided on our website and press statements. Also, we enter into contracts with third parties (such as our partners and clients) that contain provisions regarding the collection, sharing, and processing of personal information. Although we endeavor to comply with our public statements and documentation as well as our contractual and other privacy-related obligations, we may at times fail to do so or be alleged to have failed to do so. The publication of our privacy policy and other statements that provide promises and assurances about data privacy and security can subject us to potential government or legal action if they are found to be deceptive,

 

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unfair or misrepresentative of our actual practices. In addition, from time to time, concerns may be expressed about whether our products and services compromise the privacy of clients and others. Any concerns about our data privacy and security practices (even if unfounded), or any failure, real or perceived, by us to comply with our posted privacy policies, contractual obligations, or any legal or regulatory requirements, standards, certifications, or orders, or other privacy or consumer protection-related laws and regulations applicable to us, could cause our clients to reduce their use of our L4 autonomous semi-trucks and could affect our financial condition, operating results, and our reputation, and may result in governmental or regulatory investigations, enforcement actions, regulatory fines, criminal compliance orders, litigations, breach of contract claims, or public statements against us by government regulatory authorities, our partners and/or clients, data subjects, consumer advocacy groups, or others, all of which could be costly and have an adverse effect on our business.

Furthermore, enforcement actions and investigations by regulatory authorities related to data security incidents and privacy violations continue to increase. Non-compliance could result in proceedings against us by data protection authorities, governmental entities or others, including class action privacy litigation in certain jurisdictions, which would subject us to significant fines, penalties, judgments, and negative publicity, and may otherwise affect our financial condition, operating results, and our reputation. Given the complexity of operationalizing the GDPR and other data privacy and security laws and regulations to which we are subject, the maturity level of proposed compliance frameworks and the relative lack of guidance in the interpretation of the numerous requirements of the GDPR and other data privacy and security laws and regulations to which we are subject, we may not be able to respond quickly or effectively to regulatory, legislative, and other developments, and these changes may in turn impair our ability to offer our existing or planned products and services and/or increase our cost of doing business. In addition, if our practices are not consistent or viewed as not consistent with legal and regulatory requirements, including changes in laws, regulations, and standards or new interpretations or applications of existing laws, regulations and standards, we may become subject to audits, inquiries, whistleblower complaints, adverse media coverage, investigations, loss of export privileges, or severe criminal or civil sanctions, all of which may affect our financial condition, operating results, and our reputation. Unauthorized access or disclosure of personal or other sensitive or confidential data of Company (including data about third parties which the Company possesses), whether through systems failure, employee negligence, fraud, or misappropriation, by the Company, our service providers or other parties with whom we do business (if they fail to meet the standards we impose, or if their systems on which our data is stored experience any data breaches or security incidents) could also subject us to significant litigation, monetary damages, regulatory enforcement actions, fines, and criminal prosecution in one or more jurisdictions.

Risks Related to Regulations

Our business may be adversely affected by changes in automotive safety regulations or concerns that drive further regulation of the automobile safety market.

Government vehicle safety regulations have a substantial impact on our business, prospects, and our future plans. Government safety regulations are subject to change based on a number of factors that are not within our control, including new scientific or technological data, adverse publicity regarding industry recalls and safety risks associated with autonomous driving technology, accidents involving autonomous vehicles, domestic and foreign political developments or considerations, and litigation relating to autonomous vehicles. Changes in government regulations, especially in autonomous driving and the freight industry could adversely affect our business. If government priorities shift and we are unable to adapt to changing regulations, our business may be materially and adversely affected.

The costs of complying with safety regulations could increase as regulators impose more stringent compliance and reporting requirements in response to product recalls and safety issues in the automotive industry. As the semi-trucks that carry our systems go into production, we would be subject to existing stringent requirements under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 (the “Vehicle Safety Act”), including a duty to report, subject to strict timing requirements, safety defects. The Vehicle Safety Act imposes

 

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potentially significant civil penalties for violations including the failure to comply with such reporting actions. We are also subject to the existing U.S. Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation Act (the “TREAD Act”), which requires motor vehicle equipment manufacturers, such as us, to comply with “Early Warning” requirements by reporting certain information to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (the “NHTSA”) such as information related to defects or reports of injury. The TREAD Act imposes criminal liability for violating such requirements if a defect subsequently causes death or bodily injury. In addition, the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act authorizes NHTSA to require a manufacturer to recall and repair vehicles that contain safety defects or fail to comply with U.S. federal motor vehicle safety standards. Sales into foreign countries may be subject to similar regulations. If we cannot rapidly address any safety concerns or defects with our products, our business, results of operations, and financial condition will be adversely affected.

The U.S. Department of Transportation issued regulations in 2016 that require manufacturers of certain autonomous vehicles to provide documentation covering specific topics to regulators, such as how automated systems detect objects on the road, how information is displayed to drivers, what cybersecurity measures are in place and the methods used to test the design and validation of autonomous driving systems. If the obligations associated with complying with safety regulations increase it may require increased resources, divert management’s attention, and adversely affect our business.

We are subject to substantial regulations, including regulations governing autonomous vehicles, and unfavorable changes to, or failure by us to comply with, these regulations could substantially harm our business and operating results.

Our L4 autonomous semi-trucks are subject to substantial regulation under international, federal, state, and local laws. Regulations designed to govern autonomous vehicle operation, testing and/or manufacture are still developing and may change significantly. These regulations could include requirements that significantly delay or narrowly limit the commercialization of autonomous vehicles, limit the number of autonomous vehicles that we can manufacture or use on our platform, impose restrictions on the number of vehicles in operation and the locations where they may be operated or impose significant liabilities on manufacturers or operators of autonomous vehicles or developers of autonomous vehicle technology. If regulations of this nature are implemented, we may not be able to commercialize our autonomous vehicle technology in the manner we expect, or at all. In addition, the costs of complying with such regulations could be prohibitive and prevent us from operating our business in the manner we intend.

Further, we are subject to international, federal, state, and local laws and regulations, governing pollution, protection of the environment, and occupational health, and safety, including those related to the use, generation, storage, management, discharge, transportation, disposal, and release of, and human exposure to, hazardous and toxic materials. Such laws and regulations have tended to become more stringent over time.

Fines, penalties, costs or liabilities associated with such existing or new regulations or laws, including as a result of our failure to comply, could be substantial and in certain cases joint and several, and could adversely impact our business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results.

Risks Related to Our International Operations

We face risks associated with our international operations, including unfavorable regulatory, political, tax, and labor conditions, which could harm our business.

While we currently have much of our operations in the United States, we still face risks associated with our current and future international operations. We have international operations in China and subsidiaries in China, Hong Kong, and Japan that are subject to the legal, political, regulatory, and social requirements, and economic conditions in these jurisdictions. Additionally, as part of our long-term growth strategy, we intend to expand our

 

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services into other international locations. We are and will be subject to a number of risks associated with international business activities that may increase our costs, impact our ability to expand on a global basis, and require significant management attention. These risks include:

 

   

conforming the semi-trucks equipped with our autonomous technology to various international regulatory requirements as applicable,

 

   

difficulty in staffing and managing foreign operations;

 

   

difficulties attracting users in new jurisdictions;

 

   

differing driving and traffic behavior and road designs and infrastructure in a range of countries, which could delay our ability to enter and expand in different markets;

 

   

foreign government taxes, regulations, and permit requirements;

 

   

fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates;

 

   

United States and foreign government trade restrictions, tariffs, and price or exchange controls;

 

   

compliance by us and our business partners with anti-corruption laws, import and export control laws, tariffs, trade barriers, economic sanctions, and other regulatory limitations on our ability to provide our services and products in certain international markets;

 

   

attract, recruit, and retain talents internationally;

 

   

foreign labor laws, regulations, and restrictions;

 

   

changes in diplomatic and trade relationships;

 

   

political instability, natural disasters, war or events of terrorism; and

 

   

the strength of international economies.

If we fail to successfully address these risks, our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition could be materially harmed.

Changes to trade policy, tariffs, and import/export regulations may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Changes in global political, regulatory and economic conditions, or in laws and policies governing foreign trade, manufacturing, development, and investment in the territories or countries where we currently purchase components, seek to offer our services, or conduct our business, could adversely affect our business. The United States has recently instituted or proposed changes in trade policies that include the negotiation or termination of trade agreements, the imposition of higher tariffs on imports into the United States, economic sanctions on individuals, corporations or countries, and other government regulations affecting trade between the United States and other countries. A number of other nations have proposed or instituted similar measures directed at trade with the United States in response. As a result of these developments, there may be greater restrictions and economic disincentives on international trade that could adversely affect our business. For example, such changes could adversely affect the automotive market, our ability to access key components. It may be time-consuming and expensive for us to alter our business operations to adapt to or comply with any such changes, and any failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.

As we expand our operations to international markets, we may become subject to various restrictions under U.S. export control laws and regulations, including the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Export Administration Regulations (EAR). The U.S. export control laws include restrictions or prohibitions on the sale or supply of certain products and services to U.S. embargoed or sanctioned countries, governments, persons, and entities, and

 

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also require authorization for the export of certain products using encryption technology. In addition, various countries regulate the import of certain artificial intelligence technology, including through import permitting and licensing requirements and have enacted or could enact laws that could limit our ability to distribute our services in those countries. Changes in our offerings, technologies, or semi-trucks, or changes in export and import laws, may delay the introduction and growth of our business in international markets, prevent our users with international operations from using our services or, in some cases, prevent the access or use of our services to and from certain countries, governments, persons, or entities altogether. Further, any change in export or import regulations or related laws, shift in the enforcement or scope of existing regulations, or change in the countries, governments, persons, or technology targeted by such regulations could result in decreased use of our services or in our decreased ability to export or sell our services to existing or potential users with international operations. Any decreased use of our services or products or limitation on our ability to export or sell our services or products would likely harm our business.

Among the future potential changes to the U.S. export control laws and regulations that could limit our ability to export or sell our services or products is the ongoing review being conducted pursuant by an interagency committee chaired by the U.S. Department of Commerce (the Commerce Department) pursuant to the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA) to identify so-called “emerging and foundational technologies” that might warrant additional export controls under section 1758 of the ECRA. On November 19, 2018, the Commerce Department published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking public comment on the definition of, and criteria for, identifying “emerging technologies” that might warrant such additional export control. Among the “representative general categories of technology” for which Commerce sought comment were “[a]rtificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technology,” “AI cloud technologies,” and “Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) technology.” The process of considering potential “emerging and foundational technologies” controls continues.

Should any of our services or products become controlled as “emerging and foundational technologies,” one impact is that future foreign investment in our shares could be subject to mandatory review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS” or the “Committee”). CFIUS is a committee comprised of multiple U.S. government agencies, led by the Department of the Treasury, authorized to review and investigate certain transactions in which a foreign person acquires an interest in a U.S. business (including certain minority investments) in order to determine the effect of such transactions on the national security of the United States. CFIUS reviews and investigations are confidential, civil regulatory processes. With respect to any transaction within its jurisdiction, CFIUS may negotiate, enter into or impose, and enforce any agreement or condition with any party to the transaction in order to mitigate any risk to the national security of the United States that arises as a result of the transaction. Such conditions could include, for example, restrictions on the foreign investor’s access to sensitive information in the possession of the U.S. business, ongoing reporting requirements to the U.S. government, a requirement to retain a third-party auditor to monitor compliance with security control measures, or other conditions. If a transaction presents national security concerns that CFIUS determines are not capable of mitigation, CFIUS can recommend to the President that the investment transaction be prohibited, or, if already consummated, that the foreign investor be required to divest its interest.

On March 1, 2021, the CFIUS Staff Chairperson, acting at the direction of the Committee, requested that we file a written notice regarding the 2017 purchase of shares of our Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock by Sun Dream Inc. (“Investor”), an affiliate of Sina Corporation (the “Investment”). Following the acceptance of the filing of our joint notice, CFIUS will have 45 days to conduct a review of the Investment, after which CFIUS could (i) conclude that the Investment is not a covered transaction subject to CFIUS jurisdiction, (ii) clear the Investment by concluding that the Investment presents no unresolved national security concerns, or (iii) initiate a 45-day investigation of the Investment. At the conclusion of the investigation period, CFIUS may clear the Investment or, as a condition to clearing the Investment, require the parties to enter into an agreement to mitigate any unresolved national security concerns. Such a mitigation agreement could, among other things, restrict Investor’s governance rights. In addition, if the President concludes that the Investment threatens to impair the national security of the United States, the President may order that Investor divest its interest in our shares. Any restrictions implemented by CFIUS, or the threat of any such action, may adversely impact the market for our Class A common stock. We can provide no assurance regarding the resolution of the CFIUS process.

 

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Risks Related to Our Class A Common Stock and This Offering

The dual class structure of our common stock has the effect of concentrating voting control with certain stockholders, in particular, our Founders, which will limit your ability to influence the outcome of important transactions, including a change in control.

Our Class B common stock has 10 votes per share, and our Class A common stock, which is the stock we are offering in our initial public offering, has one vote per share. Our Founders, Mo Chen and Xiaodi Hou, are the only holders of shares of Class B common stock and will together hold approximately         % of the voting power of our outstanding common stock following this offering (without giving effect to any purchases that certain of these holders may make through our directed share program or the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option). Although our Founders will hold in excess of 50% of the voting power in the aggregate, neither Mr. Chen nor Mr. Hou will individually control more than 50% of the total voting power of our outstanding voting stock. Accordingly, we do not believe we will be a “controlled company” under the rules of the Nasdaq Global Select Market immediately following the offering. Because of the 10-to-one voting ratio between our Class B and Class A common stock, our Founders will continue to control a majority of the combined voting power of our common stock and therefore be able to control all matters submitted to our stockholders for approval so long as the shares of Class B common stock represent at least 50% of all outstanding voting power of our Class A and Class B common stock. This concentrated control will limit or preclude your ability to influence corporate matters for the foreseeable future.

Future transfers of Class B common stock by our Founders will generally result in those shares converting to Class A common stock, subject to limited exceptions, including the ability of each of our Founders to grant their voting proxy with respect to their Class B common stock to the other Founder. In addition, each share of our Class B common stock will automatically convert, on a one-for-one basis, into shares of Class A common stock on the earliest of (i) the date specified by a vote of the holders of Class B common stock representing 75.0% of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock, (ii) the date that is between 90 days and 270 days, as determined by the board of directors, after the death or incapacitation of the last Founder to die or become incapacitated or (iii) the date that is between 61 and 180 days, as determined by the board of directors, after the date on which the number of outstanding shares of Class B common stock held by the Founders represents less than 50.0% of the total number of shares of Class B common stock held collectively by the Founders at 11:59 pm Pacific Time on the date that we file our amended and restated certificate of incorporation immediately prior to the completion of this offering. For a description of the dual class structure, see the section titled “Description of Capital Stock—Anti-Takeover Provisions.”

We cannot predict the impact our dual class structure may have on the market price of our Class A common stock.

We cannot predict whether our dual class structure, combined with the concentrated control of our Founders, directors, officers and employees and their affiliates, will result in a lower or more volatile market price of our Class A common stock or in adverse publicity or other adverse consequences. For example, certain index providers have announced restrictions on including companies with multiple class share structures in certain of their indexes. In July 2017, FTSE Russell and Standard & Poor’s announced that they would cease to allow most newly public companies utilizing dual or multi-class capital structures to be included in their indices. Under the announced policies, our dual class capital structure would make us ineligible for inclusion in any of these indices. Given the sustained flow of investment funds into passive strategies that seek to track certain indexes, exclusion from stock indexes would likely preclude investment by many of these funds and could make our Class A common stock less attractive to other investors. As a result, the market price of our Class A common stock could be adversely affected.

An active trading market for our Class A common stock may not develop and the trading price for our Class A common stock may fluctuate significantly.

Prior to the completion of this offering, there has been no public market for our Class A common stock, and we cannot assure you that a liquid public market for our Class A common stock will develop. If an active public market for our Class A common stock does not develop following the completion of this offering, the market price and liquidity of our Class A common stock may be materially and adversely affected. The initial public

 

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offering price for our Class A common stock will be determined by negotiation between us and the underwriters based upon several factors, and the trading price of our Class A common stock after this offering could decline below the initial public offering price. If you purchase Class A common stock in our initial public offering, you may not be able to resell those shares at or above the initial public offering price. An active or liquid market in our Class A common stock may not develop upon closing of our initial public offering or, if it does develop, it may not be sustainable. The lack of an active market may adversely affect your ability to sell your Class A common stock at the time you wish to sell them or at a price that you consider reasonable. The market price of our Class A common stock may fluctuate significantly in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, including:

 

   

overall performance of the equity markets;

 

   

our operating performance and the performance of other similar companies;

 

   

changes in the estimates of our operating results that we provide to the public, our failure to meet these projections, or changes in recommendations by securities analysts that elect to follow our Class A common stock;

 

   

announcements of technological innovations, new products, acquisitions, strategic alliances, or significant agreements by us or by our competitors;

 

   

announcements of user additions and user cancellations or delays;

 

   

rumors and market speculation involving us or other companies in our industry.

 

   

detrimental adverse publicity about us, our services, or our industry;

 

   

recruitment or departure of key personnel;

 

   

the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic;

 

   

litigation involving us, our industry, or both, or investigations by regulators into our operations or those of our competitors;

 

   

new laws or regulations or new interpretations of existing laws or regulations applicable to our business;

 

   

the economy as a whole, market conditions in our industry, and the industries of our users;

 

   

trading activity by a limited number of stockholders who together beneficially own a majority of our outstanding Class A common stock;

 

   

the expiration of market standoff or contractual lock-up agreements; and

 

   

any other factors discussed in this prospectus.

As the public offering price is substantially higher than our net tangible book value per share of Class A common stock, you will incur immediate and substantial dilution.

If you purchase Class A common stock in this offering, you will experience substantial and immediate dilution in the pro forma net tangible book value per share of $            as of December 31, 2020, based on the initial public offering price of $             per share of Class A common stock, because the price that you pay will be substantially greater than the pro forma net tangible book value per share of Class A common stock that you acquire. This dilution is due in large part to the fact that our earlier investors paid substantially less than the initial public offering price when they purchased their shares. You will experience additional dilution upon exercise of options to purchase Class A common stock or the settlement of share value awards under our equity incentive plans, upon vesting of options to purchase Class A common stock under our equity incentive plans, if we issue restricted shares to our employees under our equity incentive plans or if we otherwise issue additional Class A common stock.

Because we do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future after this offering, investors must rely on price appreciation of our Class A common stock for return on the investment.

We currently intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings after this offering to fund the growth of our business. As a result, we do not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Therefore, you should not rely on an investment in our Class A common stock as a source for any future dividend income.

 

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Our board of directors has complete discretion as to whether to distribute dividends. Even if our board of directors decides to declare and pay dividends, the timing, amount, and form of future dividends, if any, will depend on, among other things, our future results of operations and cash flow, our capital requirements and surplus, our financial condition, contractual restrictions, and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. Accordingly, the return on your investment in our Class A common stock will likely depend entirely upon any future price appreciation of our Class A common stock. There is no guarantee that our Class A common stock will appreciate in value after this offering or even maintain the price at which you purchased the Class A common stock. You may not realize a return on your investment in our Class A common stock and you may even lose your entire investment in our Class A common stock.

We have not determined a specific use for a portion of the net proceeds from this offering, and we may use these proceeds in ways with which you may not agree.

We have not determined a specific use for a portion of the net proceeds of this offering, and our management will have considerable discretion in deciding how to apply these proceeds. You will not have the opportunity to assess whether the proceeds are being used appropriately before you make your investment decision. You must rely on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the net proceeds of this offering. We cannot assure you that the net proceeds will be used in a manner that will improve our results of operations or increase our Class A common stock price, nor that these net proceeds will be placed only in investments that generate income or appreciate in value.

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business or if they issue an adverse or misleading opinion regarding our Class A common stock, our share price and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for our Class A common stock will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us or our business. We do not currently have and may never obtain research coverage by securities and industry analysts. If no or few securities or industry analysts commence coverage of us, the trading price for our Class A common stock would be negatively impacted. In the event we obtain securities or industry analyst coverage, if any of the analysts who cover us issue an adverse or misleading opinion regarding us, our business model, our financial statement, our intellectual property or our share performance, our share price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of us or fail to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our share price or trading volume to decline.

Sales of a substantial number of our Class A common stock in the public market could cause our share price to fall.

Sales of substantial amounts of our Class A common stock in the public market after the completion of this offering, or the perception that these sales could occur, could adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock and could materially impair our ability to raise capital through equity offerings in the future. In connection with this offering, we, our officers, directors, and substantially all of existing stockholders have agreed not to sell any of our shares of Class A common stock or are otherwise subject to similar lockup restrictions for 121 days after the date of this prospectus (assuming that as of such date we have publicly released our earnings for the second quarter following the most recent period for which financial statements are included in this prospectus) without the prior written consent of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC on behalf of the underwriters, subject to certain exceptions. However, the underwriters may release these securities from these restrictions at any time, subject to applicable regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. We cannot predict what effect, if any, market sales of securities held by our significant stockholders or any other stockholder or the availability of these securities for future sale will have on the market price of our Class A common stock. See “Underwriting” and “Shares Eligible for Future Sale” for a more detailed description of the restrictions on selling our securities after this offering.

 

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We are an “emerging growth company,” and the reduced disclosures applicable to emerging growth companies may make our Class A common stock less attractive to investors.

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and for as long as we are an emerging growth company, we may choose to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies,” including, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

The JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company does not need to comply with any new or revised financial accounting standards until such date that a private company is otherwise required to comply with such new or revised accounting standards. We cannot predict if investors will find our Class A common stock less attractive if we choose to rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our Class A common stock less attractive as a result of any choices to reduce future disclosure, there may be a less active trading market for our Class A common stock, and our share price may be more volatile.

We will incur costs and demands upon management as a result of complying with the laws and regulations affecting public companies in the United States, which may harm our business

Upon completion of this offering, we will become a public company and expect to incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. In addition, changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure, including regulations implemented by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the SEC, and the Nasdaq Global Select Market, may increase legal and financial compliance costs and make some activities more time consuming. These laws, regulations, and standards are subject to varying interpretations, and as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. We intend to invest resources to comply with evolving laws, regulations, and standards, and this investment may result in increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management’s time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities. If, notwithstanding our efforts, we fail to comply with new laws, regulations, and standards, regulatory authorities may initiate legal proceedings against us and our business may be harmed.

Failure to comply with these rules might also make it more difficult for us to obtain certain types of insurance, including director and officer liability insurance, and we might be forced to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. The impact of these events could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our board of directors, on committees of our board of directors or as members of senior management.

The requirements of being a public company may strain our resources, divert management’s attention, and affect our ability to attract and retain qualified board members.

As a public company listed in the United States, we will incur significant additional legal, accounting, and other expenses. In addition, changing laws, regulations, and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure, including regulations implemented by the SEC and the Nasdaq Global Select Market, may increase legal and financial compliance costs and make some activities more time consuming. These laws, regulations, and standards are subject to varying interpretations, and as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. We intend to invest resources to comply with evolving laws, regulations, and standards, and this investment may result in increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management’s time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities. If, notwithstanding our efforts, we fail to comply with new laws, regulations, and standards, regulatory authorities may initiate legal proceedings against us and our business may be adversely affected.

 

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Failure to comply with these rules might also make it more difficult for us to obtain certain types of insurance, including director and officer liability insurance, and we might be forced to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. The impact of these events would also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our board of directors, on committees of our board of directors or as members of senior management.

In addition, as a result of our disclosure obligations as a public company, we will have reduced strategic flexibility and will be under pressure to focus on short-term results, which may adversely affect our ability to achieve long-term profitability.

Our failure to timely and effectively implement controls and procedures required by Section 404(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act could have a material adverse effect on our business.

As a public company, we will be required to provide management’s assessment regarding internal control over financial reporting in our second Annual Report on Form 10-K. The standards required for a public company under Section 404(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act are significantly more stringent than those required of TuSimple as a private company. Management may not be able to effectively and timely implement controls and procedures that adequately respond to the increased regulatory compliance and reporting requirements that became applicable after the completion of this offering. If we are not able to implement the additional requirements of Section 404(a) in a timely manner or with adequate compliance, we may not be able to assess whether our internal controls over financial reporting are effective, which may subject us to adverse regulatory consequences and could harm investor confidence and the market price of our securities.

We may be subject to securities litigation, which is expensive and could divert our management’s attention.

In the past, companies that have experienced volatility in the market price of their securities have been subject to securities class action litigation. We may be the target of this type of litigation in the future. Regardless of the merits or the ultimate results of such litigation, securities litigation brought against us could result in substantial costs and divert our management’s attention from other business concerns.

Certain data and information in this prospectus were obtained from third-party sources and were not independently verified by us. Certain estimates of market opportunity and forecasts of market growth included in this prospectus may prove to be inaccurate.

This prospectus includes third party data as well as our estimates relating to the addressable market for our autonomous driving technology. Market opportunity estimates and growth forecasts are subject to significant uncertainty and are based on assumptions and estimates that may prove to be inaccurate. This risk is particularly heightened due to the uncertain and rapidly changing projections of the severity, magnitude, and duration of the current COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of COVID-19, including changes in consumer and business behavior, pandemic fears, and market downturns, and restrictions on business and individual activities, has created significant volatility in the global economy and led to reduced economic activity. The estimates and forecasts in this prospectus relating to the size and expected growth of our target market, market demand and adoption, capacity to address this demand, and pricing may also prove to be inaccurate. In particular, our estimates regarding our current and projected market opportunity are difficult to predict. The estimated addressable market may not materialize for many years, if ever, and even if the markets in which we compete meet the size estimates and growth forecasted in this prospectus, our business could fail to grow at similar rates, if at all.

Although we believe that these sources are reliable, we have not independently verified the data and information contained in the third-party publications and reports. Certain data included in such third-party publications and reports also includes projections based on a number of assumptions. The autonomous trucking and freight transport industry may not grow at the rate projected by market data, or at all. Any failure of the autonomous trucking and freight transport industry to grow at the projected rate may have a material adverse effect on our business and the market price

 

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of our Class A common stock. Furthermore, if any one or more of the assumptions underlying the market data is later found to be incorrect, actual results may differ from the projections based on these assumptions.

Anti-takeover provisions in our charter documents may discourage our acquisition by a third party, which could limit our stockholders’ opportunity to sell their shares, at a premium.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering include provisions that could limit the ability of others to acquire control of our company, could modify our structure or could cause us to engage in change-of-control transactions. These provisions could have the effect of depriving our stockholders of an opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain control in a tender offer or similar transaction. Among other things, the charter documents will provide:

 

   

for a dual class common stock structure, which provides our Founders with the ability to control the outcome of matters requiring stockholders approval;

 

   

until the first date on which the outstanding shares of Class B common stock represent less than 40% of the total voting power of our common stock, we shall not consummate any transaction that would result in a change in control of us without first obtaining the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the then-outstanding shares of Class B common stock voting as a separate class;

 

   

certain amendments to our restated certificate of incorporation or bylaws will require the approval of two-thirds of the combined vote of our then-outstanding shares of Class A and Class B common stock;

 

   

at any time after our 2022 annual meeting of stockholders when the outstanding shares of our Class B common stock represent less than 40% of the total voting power of our common stock (the “Voting Threshold Date”), directors will be able to be removed only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the voting power of our common stock;

 

   

at any time after the Voting Threshold Date, our board of directors will be classified into three classes of directors with staggered three-year terms;

 

   

at any time after the Voting Threshold Date, subject to the rights of any series of preferred stock then outstanding, stockholders will no longer be able to act by written consent in lieu of a meeting; and

 

   

our board of directors has the authority, without further action by our stockholders, to issue preferred stock in one or more series and to fix their designations, powers, preferences, privileges, and relative participating, optional, or special rights, and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, and liquidation preferences, any or all of which may be greater than the rights associated with our Class A common stock.

Our proposed amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be in effect after this offering designates the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and federal court within the State of Delaware as the exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that our stockholders may initiate, which could limit a stockholder’s ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be in effect after this offering provides that, subject to limited exceptions, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and federal court within the State of Delaware will be exclusive forums for any:

 

   

derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf;

 

   

action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or our stockholders;

 

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action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or bylaws; or

 

   

other action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine.

This choice of forum provision does not apply to actions brought to enforce a duty or liability created under the Exchange Act. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation also provides that the federal district courts of the United States are the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. We intend for this provision to apply to any complaints asserting a cause of action under the Securities Act despite the fact that Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for the federal and state courts over all actions brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. There is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such a provision with respect to claims under the Securities Act, and our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation described above.

These choice of forum provisions may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers, or other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and employees. Alternatively, if a court were to find these provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect our business and financial condition.

Future sales and issuances of our share capital or rights to purchase share capital could result in additional dilution of the percentage ownership of our stockholders and could cause our share price to decline.

We may issue additional securities following the completion of this offering. Future sales and issuances of our share capital or rights to purchase our share capital could result in substantial dilution to our existing stockholders. We may sell Class A common stock, convertible securities, and other equity securities in one or more transactions at prices and in a manner as we may determine from time to time. If we sell any such securities in subsequent transactions, investors may be materially diluted. New investors in such subsequent transactions could gain rights, preferences, and privileges senior to those of holders of our Class A common stock.

 

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INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus includes forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this prospectus are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “design,” “intend,” “expect,” “could,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “seek,” “should,” “would,” or the negative version of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, strategy, short- and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs. The forward-looking statements are contained principally in “Prospectus Summary,” “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Result of Operations,” and “Business.” Forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus include, but are not limited to, statements about:

 

   

our future performance, including our revenue, cost of revenue, and operating expenses;

 

   

the sufficiency of our cash and cash equivalents to meet our operating requirements;

 

   

our ability to scale our Autonomous Freight Network, which we refer to as our AFN;

 

   

our ability to attract new users to services provided on our AFN;

 

   

our ability to effectively manage our growth and future expenses;

 

   

the estimated timing for when additional routes will be available;

 

   

our ability to compete in a market that is rapidly evolving and subject to technological developments;

 

   

our estimated total addressable market, the market for autonomous truck and freight transport solutions, and our market position;

 

   

our ability to successfully collaborate with business partners;

 

   

our ability to obtain, maintain, protect, and enforce our intellectual property;

 

   

our ability to comply with modified or new laws and regulations applicable to our business or industry;

 

   

our ability to attract and retain employees with the technical skills we require and other key personnel;

 

   

our anticipated investments in research and development and sales and marketing, and the effect of these investments on our results of operations;

 

   

the increased expenses associated with being a public company;

 

   

our use of the net proceeds from this offering; and

 

   

the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our, and our partners’, business and results of operations, and on the global economy generally.

We caution you that the foregoing list may not contain all of the forward-looking statements made in this prospectus.

These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including those described in “Risk Factors.” Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this prospectus may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements.

 

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You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance, or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. Moreover, except as required by applicable law, neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made in this prospectus relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this prospectus to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by applicable law. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures, or investments we may make.

In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this prospectus, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.

You should read this prospectus and the documents that we reference in this prospectus and have filed with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part with the understanding that our actual future results, levels of activity, performance, and events and circumstances may be materially different from what we expect.

 

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MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA

We obtained the market and industry data used throughout this prospectus from industry and general publications, and research, surveys, and studies conducted by third parties, including Armstrong & Associates, Inc., the American Transportation Research Institute, American Trucking Associations, DAT Solutions, LLC, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other sources identified in footnotes throughout this prospectus. In addition, while we believe that the industry, market, and competitive position data included in this prospectus is based on reasonable assumptions, such data involves risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed in “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Class A Common Stock and This Offering—Certain data and information in this prospectus were obtained from third-party sources and were not independently verified by us. Certain estimates of market opportunity and forecasts of market growth included in this prospectus may prove to be inaccurate.” These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the estimates made by the independent parties and by us.

Information based on estimates, forecasts, projections, market research, or similar methodologies is inherently subject to uncertainties, and actual events or circumstances may differ materially from events and circumstances that are assumed in this information. In some cases, we do not expressly refer to the sources from which data is derived.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that the net proceeds to us from this offering will be approximately $             million based upon an assumed initial public offering price of $            per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by us. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of our Class A common stock by the selling stockholder.

Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $            per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) net proceeds to us by $             million, assuming that the number of shares offered by us as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus remains the same, and after deducting assumed underwriting discounts and commissions. Each increase (decrease) of 1.0 million shares offered by us would increase (decrease) net proceeds to us by approximately $            million, assuming an initial public offering price of $            per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting assumed underwriting discounts and commissions.

The principal purposes of this offering are to increase our financial flexibility, increase our visibility in the marketplace, and create a public market for our Class A common stock. We expect to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including funding our operating needs. However, we do not currently have specific planned uses for the proceeds.

We may also use a portion of our net proceeds to acquire or invest in complementary products, technologies, or businesses. However, we currently have no agreements or commitments to complete any such transactions.

Since we expect to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes, our management will have broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from this offering. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Class A Common Stock and This Offering—We have not determined a specific use for a portion of the net proceeds from this offering, and we may use these proceeds in ways with which you may not agree.” As of the date of this prospectus, we intend to invest the net proceeds in short-term, interest-bearing, investment-grade securities, certificates of deposit, or government securities.

 

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DIVIDEND POLICY

We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our Class A common stock or redeemable convertible preferred stock, and we do not currently intend to pay any cash dividends on our Class A common stock in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to support operations and to finance the growth and development of our business. Any future determination to pay dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors, subject to applicable laws, and will depend upon, among other factors, our results of operations, financial condition, contractual restrictions, and capital requirements. From time to time, we may also enter into other loan or credit agreements or similar borrowing arrangements that may further restrict our ability to declare or pay dividends on our Class A common stock. Our board of directors will have sole discretion in making any future determination to pay dividends, subject to applicable laws, taking into account, among other factors, our results of operations, financial condition, contractual restrictions, and capital requirements.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of December 31, 2020:

 

   

on an actual basis;

 

   

on a pro forma basis to reflect: (i) the issuance of 4,650,999 shares of Series E redeemable convertible preferred stock issued after December 31, 2020, (ii) the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which will effect the reclassification of our common stock into Class A common stock, (iii) the conversion of redeemable convertible preferred stock into shares of Class A common stock, (iv) the exchange of 24,000,000 shares of Class A common stock for an equal number of shares of Class B common stock by our Founders, Mo Chen and Xiaodi Hou, immediately prior the completion of this offering, (v) the Warrant Exercises and the related reclassification of the warrants liability to Class A common stock and additional paid-in capital and the related gain from the expiration of the unexercised portion of one warrant, reflected as a decrease in accumulated deficit, (vi) stock-based compensation of $12.0 million associated with the RSU and SVA Settlement, reflected as an increase in additional paid-in capital and an increase in accumulated deficit, (vii) stock-based compensation expense of $5.0 million associated with options for which the service-based vesting condition was satisfied as of December 31, 2020 and for which the performance-based vesting condition will be satisfied upon completion of this offering, reflected as an increase in additional paid-in capital and in increase in accumulated deficit, and (viii) compensation expense of $4.7 million associated with amounts payable under separation agreements upon the completion of this offering, reflected as a decrease in cash and cash equivalents and an increase in accumulated deficit, in each case as if such event had occurred on December 31, 2020;

 

   

on a pro forma as adjusted basis to give effect to (i) the pro forma adjustments described above and (ii) the sale by us of            shares of Class A common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $            per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by us.

You should read this information together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus and the information set forth in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

     As of December 31, 2020  
     Actual      Pro Forma      Pro Forma As
Adjusted(1)
 
     (in thousands, except share and
per share data)
 

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 310,815      $ 550,768      $                
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Restricted Cash

   $ 1,536      $ 1,536      $    

Warrants liability

     42,452        —       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Redeemable convertible preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share; 138,102,770 shares authorized, 102,074,703 shares issued and outstanding, actual; no shares authorized, issued or outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted

   $ 664,791      $ —        $    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Stockholders’ (deficit) equity:

        

Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share; no shares authorized, issued and outstanding, actual; 100,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted

     —          —       

Common stock, $0.0001 par value per share; 361,897,230 shares authorized, 60,543,337 shares issued and outstanding, actual; no shares authorized, issued and outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted.

     6        —       

Class A Common stock, $0.0001 par value per share; no shares authorized, issued and outstanding, actual; 4,876,000,000 shares authorized, 160,290,356 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma; 4,876,000,000 shares authorized,                      shares issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted

     —          16     

 

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     As of December 31, 2020  
     Actual     Pro Forma     Pro Forma As
Adjusted(1)
 
     (in thousands, except share and
per share data)
 

Class B Common stock, $0.0001 par value per share; no shares authorized, issued and outstanding, actual; 24,000,000 shares authorized, 24,000,000 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted

     —         2    

Additional paid-in capital

     —         961,235    

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (301     (301  

Accumulated deficit

     (405,178     (419,229  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ (deficit) equity

     (405,473     541,723     $    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total capitalization

   $ 301,770     $ 541,723     $    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $            per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) each of cash and cash equivalents, additional paid-in capital, total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization by approximately $            , assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting assumed underwriting discounts and commissions. We may also increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. Each increase (decrease) of 1.0 million shares offered by us would increase (decrease) each of cash and cash equivalents, additional paid-in capital, total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization by approximately $            , assuming that the assumed initial public offering price to the public remains the same, and after deducting assumed underwriting discounts and commissions. The pro forma as adjusted information discussed above is illustrative only and will adjust based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.

The number of shares of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock that will be outstanding after this offering is based on 160,290,356 shares of our Class A common stock outstanding and 24,000,000 shares of our Class B common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2020, and reflects the Warrant Exercises, Preferred Stock Conversion, the Class B Exchange, and the RSU and SVA Settlement and excludes:

 

   

625,000 shares of Class A common stock subject to restricted stock units outstanding, but for which the time-based vesting condition was not satisfied as of December 31, 2020;

 

   

915,546 shares of Class A common stock subject to share value awards outstanding, but for which the time-based vesting condition was not satisfied as of December 31, 2020;

 

   

13,295,497 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2020, with a weighted-average exercise price of $1.29 per share;

 

   

60,360 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of restricted stock units awarded after December 31, 2020;

 

   

2,665,968 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options granted after December 31, 2020;

 

   

46,928 shares of Class A common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2017 Share Plan, which shares will cease to be available for issuance at the time our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan becomes effective;

 

   

20,134,146 shares of Class A common stock reserved for issuance under our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, which will become effective in connection with the completion of this offering. Our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan also provides for automatic annual increases in the number of shares reserved under these plans, as more fully described in “Management—Equity Plans;” and

 

   

2,013,414 shares of Class A common stock reserved for issuance under our 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which we expect to become effective as of the effective date of the registration statement. Our 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan also provides for automatic annual increases in the number of shares reserved under these plans, as more fully described in “Management—Equity Plans.”

 

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DILUTION

If you invest in our Class A common stock in this offering, your ownership interest will be immediately diluted to the extent of the difference between the assumed initial public offering price per share and the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share of Class A and Class B common stock after this offering. Dilution in pro forma net tangible book value per share to new investors represents the difference between the amount per share paid by purchasers of Class A common stock in this offering and the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share of Class A common stock immediately after completion of this offering.

Our pro forma net tangible book value as of December 31, 2020, was $541.7 million or $2.94 per share, after giving effect to (i) the issuance of 4,650,999 shares of Series E redeemable convertible preferred stock issued after December 31, 2020, (ii) the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which will effect the reclassification of our common stock into Class A common stock, (iii) the conversion of redeemable convertible preferred stock into shares of Class A common stock, (iv) the exchange of 24,000,000 shares of Class A common stock for an equal number of shares of Class B common stock by our Founders, Mo Chen and Xiaodi Hou, immediately prior the completion of this offering, (v) the Warrant Exercises and the related reclassification of the warrants liability to Class A common stock and additional paid-in capital and the related gain from the expiration of the unexercised portion of one warrant, reflected as a decrease in accumulated deficit, (vi) stock-based compensation of $12.0 million associated with the RSU and SVA Settlement, reflected as an increase in additional paid-in capital and an increase in accumulated deficit, (vii) stock-based compensation expense of $5.0 million associated with options for which the service-based vesting condition was satisfied as of December 31, 2020 and for which the performance-based vesting condition will be satisfied upon completion of this offering, reflected as an increase in additional paid-in capital and in increase in accumulated deficit, and (viii) compensation expense of $4.7 million associated with amounts payable under separation agreements upon the completion of this offering, reflected as a decrease in cash and cash equivalents and an increase in accumulated deficit, in each case as if such event had occurred on December 31, 2020.

After giving further effect to (i) the pro forma adjustments described above and (ii) the receipt of the net proceeds of our sale of                 shares of Class A common stock at an assumed initial public offering price of $         per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and after deducting assumed underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of December 31, 2020, would have been $         million, or $         per share. This represents an immediate increase in pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value of $         per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $         per share to investors purchasing Class A common stock in this offering.

The following table illustrates this dilution to new investors on a per share basis:

 

Assumed initial public offering price per share

      $            

Pro forma net tangible book value (deficit) per share as of December 31, 2020

   $ 2.94     

Increase in pro forma net tangible book value (deficit) per share attributable to the adjustments described above

     
  

 

 

    

Increase in pro forma net tangible book value (deficit) per share attributable to new investors in this offering

     
  

 

 

    

Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share immediately after this offering

     
     

 

 

 

Dilution in pro forma net tangible book value per share to new investors in this offering

      $    
     

 

 

 

Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $        per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value, by $        per share and the dilution per share to new investors by $        per share, assuming the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, after deducting assumed underwriting discounts and commissions.

 

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We may also increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. Each increase (decrease) of 1.0 million shares offered by us would increase (decrease) our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value by approximately $        million, or $        per share, and the pro forma dilution per share to investors in this offering by $        per share, assuming that the assumed initial public offering price remains the same, and after deducting assumed underwriting discounts and commissions. The pro forma information discussed above is illustrative only and will change based on the actual initial public offering price, number of shares and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.

The table below summarizes, as of December 31, 2020, on the pro forma basis described above, the number of our shares of Class A common stock, the total consideration, and the average price per share (i) paid to us by our existing stockholders and (ii) to be paid by new investors participating in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $        per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, before deducting assumed underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

     Shares Purchased     Total Consideration     Average
Price Per
Share
 
   Number      Percent     Amount      Percent  
     (in thousands, except shares, per share amounts and percentages)  

Existing stockholders(1)

               $                         $            

New investors

                    —      

Total

        100.0   $                  100.0  
     

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

(1)

Does not give effect to the sale of Class A common stock sold by the selling stockholder in this offering.

In addition, if the underwriters’ right to purchase additional shares is exercised in full, the number of shares held by existing stockholders will be reduced to    % of the total number of shares of Class A common stock to be outstanding upon completion of this offering, and the number of shares of Class A common stock held by new investors participating in this offering will be further increased to    % of the total number of shares of Class A common stock to be outstanding upon completion of the offering.

Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $        per share would increase (decrease) total consideration paid by new investors by $        and increase (decrease) the percent of total consideration paid by new investors by    %, assuming the number of shares we are offering, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, after deducting assumed underwriting discounts and commissions. We may also increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. Each increase (decrease) of 1.0 million shares offered by us would increase (decrease) total consideration paid by new investors by $        , assuming that the assumed initial public offering price remains the same, and after deducting assumed underwriting discounts and commissions.

To the extent that any outstanding options are exercised or any outstanding share value awards are settled, or we issue other securities or convertible debt in the future, new investors will experience further dilution.

The number of shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock that will be outstanding after this offering is based on 160,290,356 shares of Class A common stock (including redeemable convertible preferred stock on an as-converted basis and reclassified as shares of Class A common stock) and 24,000,000 shares of Class B common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2020, and reflects the Warrant Exercises, Preferred Stock Conversion, the Class B Exchange, and the RSU and SVA Settlement and excludes:

 

   

625,000 shares of Class A common stock subject to restricted stock units outstanding, but for which the time-based vesting condition was not satisfied as of December 31, 2020;

 

   

915,546 shares of Class A common stock subject to share value awards outstanding, but for which the time-based vesting condition was not satisfied as of December 31, 2020;

 

   

13,295,497 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2020, with a weighted-average exercise price of $1.29 per share;

 

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60,360 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of restricted stock units awarded after December 31, 2020;

 

   

2,665,968 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options granted after December 31, 2020;

 

   

46,928 shares of Class A common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2017 Share Plan, which shares will cease to be available for issuance at the time our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan becomes effective; and

 

   

20,134,146 shares of Class A common stock reserved for issuance under our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, which will become effective in connection with the completion of this offering. Our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan also provides for automatic annual increases in the number of shares reserved under these plans, as more fully described in “Management—Equity Plans.”

 

   

2,013,414 shares of Class A common stock reserved for issuance under our 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which we expect to become effective as of the effective date of the registration statement. Our 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan also provides for automatic annual increases in the number of shares reserved under these plans, as more fully described in “Management—Equity Plans.”

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed below. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those identified below and those discussed in “Risk Factors” and “Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our fiscal year ends on December 31.

Overview

We are an autonomous technology company that is revolutionizing the estimated $4 trillion global truck freight market. We have developed industry-leading autonomous technology specifically designed for semi-trucks, which has enabled us to build the world’s first Autonomous Freight Network (“AFN”) in partnership with world-class shippers, carriers, railroads, freight brokers, fleet asset owners, and truck hardware partners. We believe that our technology and our AFN will make long haul trucking significantly safer as well as more reliable, efficient, and environmentally friendly, creating significant benefits for all who rely on the freight ecosystem to deliver essential goods.

Since our founding in 2015, we have developed a fully integrated software and hardware solution enabling what we believe is the world’s most advanced Level 4 (“L4”)19 driver-out autonomous semi-truck technology.20 Hallmarks of our proprietary semi-truck specific technology include our 1,000 meter perception range, 35 second planning horizon, high definition (“HD”) maps with accuracy within five centimeters, and an integrated L4 autonomous semi-truck design comprising of a fully redundant sensor suite and components. Long-range perception, advanced planning and decision-making, and highly accurate mapping are critical capabilities for the autonomous operation of semi-trucks, which are heavy, articulated vehicles that need to be able to operate at highway speeds. We believe that we are the first and only company to demonstrate these capabilities and achieve L4 autonomous semi-trucks driving on both highways and surface streets as well as the first company to autonomously haul a paid freight load. We further believe that our technological differentiation and unique go-to-market strategy is a key driver of the over 5,700 reservations that we received for our purpose built L4 autonomous semi-trucks from approximately ten customers with significant freight operations in a period of four months of limited availability. Approximately 75% of our reservations were made by customers who operate commercial truck fleets and who are also equity investors in our company. For further discussion regarding our reservations, please see the section titled “Business—Our Solution—Our Products—Purpose-Built L4 Autonomous Semi-Trucks—Partnership with Navistar.”

We are focused specifically on the truck freight market, which is a large and essential industry that moves approximately 80% of the freight in the United States by revenue. E-commerce trends such as same day shipping are expected to further accelerate demand for truck freight and strain traditional freight providers’ ability to supply sufficient capacity dynamically and cost effectively. Currently, trucking is facing substantial challenges in several areas including safety, efficiency, and carbon footprint, which we believe cannot be fully addressed without significant technological innovation.

We believe that our AFN will solve the trucking industry’s most pressing challenges and will revolutionize the way freight moves. Our AFN is designed to provide a comprehensive, turnkey, autonomous freight solution that supplies users with access to purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks operating on HD digital mapped routes connecting a nationwide network of terminals.

 

19 

Based on the “Levels of Driving Automation” published by the Society of Automotive Engineers (“SAE”).

20 

L4 autonomous solution expected to be capable of driver-out operations on AFN mapped routes.

 

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Our AFN provides autonomous freight capacity as a service through multiple service models based on users’ needs. We believe that allowing our users the flexibility to select different service models is critical to our superior customer experience and will help drive rapid adoption of our network.

 

   

Carrier-Owned Capacity. Shippers, carriers, and railroads that prefer to own their fleet will be able to purchase our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck from a semi-truck original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) partner and subscribe to TuSimple Path—a comprehensive turnkey product to enable autonomous operations across our network. TuSimple Path includes features such as our on-board autonomous driving software, TuSimple Connect cloud-based autonomous operations oversight system, HD digital route mapping support, and emergency roadside assistance. Users will pay TuSimple a per mile, usage-based fee for access to TuSimple Path and benefit from lower overall freight costs with an expected payback period of less than one year on their upfront incremental capital investment to purchase our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks.

 

   

TuSimple Capacity. Our fleet of purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks, financed through third party fleet asset owners, will serve users that desire access to safe, reliable, low cost, and more environmentally friendly freight transportation without owning semi-truck assets. Users of TuSimple Capacity can range from relatively smaller users of freight logistics to large shippers, carriers, and railroads seeking to supplement their own captive fleet for incremental freight capacity. We will charge users of TuSimple Capacity a per mile rate to ship freight, which we expect will be at a meaningful discount to prevailing market freight rates. We believe that our competitive advantage in terms of pricing will be enabled by our anticipated cost structure, which is expected to be significantly lower than that of human-operated semi-trucks. Users will benefit directly from lower shipping costs compared to conventional truck freight.

We are also working in partnership with leading semi-truck OEMs Navistar and TRATON as well as components partners to build the world’s first purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck to be operated exclusively on our network. We believe that this collaborative approach to create semi-trucks designed and built with integrated auto-grade components and sensors will increase our AFN’s reliability at scale. Vertically integrating through partnerships with OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers allows us to maintain strong supply chain and hardware design control while remaining capital light and primarily focusing on developing proprietary autonomous technology.

We have developed a robust ecosystem of shippers, carriers, railroads, freight brokers, fleet asset owners, and third party service providers, including UPS, McLane, U.S. Xpress, Werner, Schneider, and CN, that provide critical validation and enhance the network effect benefits of our approach. We believe that our unmatched partnership network creates a significant and sustainable competitive advantage, especially as we work with shippers, carriers, and railroads to strategically locate our AFN terminals near their distribution centers. The continued growth of our AFN infrastructure and partnerships will continue to improve our user experience and drive more users to our platform which will allow us to further densify our strategic terminal network and reinforce rapid network growth.

Key Factors Affecting Our Performance

We believe that our performance and future success depend on several factors that present significant opportunities for us but also pose risks and challenges, including those set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus.

Full Commercialization of our AFN at Scale

To date, we have only recorded limited revenue from the freight capacity services we provide on our AFN. Prior to full commercialization of our AFN at scale, we must increase the number of users, grow our network of terminals, expand our high definition digital mapped routes, increase the number of purpose-built L4 autonomous

 

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semi-trucks and achieve several research and development milestones. While not yet commercially available, we have received significant interest from potential users, with over 5,700 reservations of our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks. Going forward, we expect the size of our committed orders to be an important indicator of our future performance. Due to the fixed costs associated with operating our AFN, including labor for operating terminals, autonomous operations oversight systems, and maintaining our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks, we expect our margins to improve as more users are added to our AFN. Until we can generate sufficient additional revenue from our AFN, we expect to finance our operations through equity and/or debt financings. The amount and timing of our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including the pace and results of our development efforts.

Continued Investment in R&D and Innovation

We believe that we are the industry-leading autonomous truck company with the most efficient and reliable autonomous trucking technologies and an unmatched product and service offering. Our financial performance will be significantly dependent on our ability to maintain this leading position. We expect to incur substantial and potentially increasing research and development expenses. We develop most of our key technologies in-house to achieve a rapid pace of innovation. Accordingly, we dedicate significant resources towards research and development and invest heavily in recruiting talent, especially for engineers with high levels of experience in artificial intelligence and designing and developing autonomous driving related algorithms. Our research and development staff accounted for approximately 80% of our total employees as of December 31, 2020. We will continue to recruit and retain talented software developers and engineers to grow our strength in the key technologies. We expect our strategic focus on innovations will further solidify our leadership position.

Improvement of Operating Efficiency

We aim to improve operating efficiency in every aspect of our business, such as research and development, supply chain, collaboration with business partners, and sales and marketing, as well as service offerings. As we continue to scale our AFN, we expect utilization rates across our network, including terminals, routes, and semi-trucks, to increase, leading to improved operating efficiency.

Investment in Sales and Marketing

As our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks reach commercialization and as our AFN continues to grow, we will need to devote significant resources to our sales and marketing activities and towards building brand awareness but in a cost-effective manner.

Components of Results of Operations

Revenue

To date, all of our revenue recognized has been from freight capacity services provided through the TuSimple Capacity service model on our AFN. Revenue is recognized over time as the goods are transported from one location to another based on the number of miles traveled. Shipments are completed within a short period of time, typically spanning one to two days. As we continue to grow and improve our technology, we expect a new revenue stream through our Carrier-Owned Capacity service model. We expect to derive revenue from per-mile fees charged to users of Carrier-Owned Capacity on our AFN. Recognition of this future revenue will be subject to the terms of any arrangements with our partners or users, which have not yet been negotiated. To date, we have not recorded any revenue under the Carrier-Owned Capacity service model.

Cost of Revenue

Our cost of revenue consists primarily of fuel costs, depreciation of property and equipment (including semi-trucks acquired under capital leases), labor costs, and other costs directly attributable to the provision of

 

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freight capacity services. Currently, we operate our semi-trucks with two occupants, a safety engineer and a safety driver. We expect to gradually lower the average number of occupants in our semi-trucks as we continue to improve our autonomous technology and ultimately remove all occupants upon achievement of full driver-out, L4 autonomous operations. This achievement is expected to significantly decrease the cost per mile to operate our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks.

Research and Development

Research and development costs consist primarily of personnel-related expenses associated with engineering personnel and consultants responsible for the design, development, and testing of our autonomous truck driving solutions, depreciation of equipment used in research and development, and allocated overhead costs. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. We expect our research and development expenses to increase in absolute dollars as we increase our investment in scaling our AFN through our proprietary technologies.

Sales and Marketing

Sales and marketing costs consist primarily of personnel-related expenses associated with our sales and marketing activities, advertising expenses, sponsorship, public relations, and other related marketing activities. Although we incurred limited sales and marketing expenses in 2018, 2019, and 2020, we expect that our sales and marketing expenses will increase in absolute dollars from period to period as we further scale our AFN, educate market participants on the benefits of autonomous trucking and our autonomous trucking solutions, hire additional sales and marketing personnel, increase our marketing activities, grow our domestic and international operations, and build brand awareness.

General and Administrative

General and administrative costs consist primarily of personnel-related expenses associated with our management and administration activities, professional service fees and other general corporate expenses.

Following the completion of this offering, we expect to incur additional general and administrative expenses as a result of operating as a public company, including expenses related to compliance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and stock exchange listing standards, additional insurance expenses, investor relations activities, and other administrative and professional services. We also expect to increase the size of our general and administrative function to support the growth of our business. As a result, we expect that our general and administrative expenses will increase in absolute dollars.

Change in Fair Value of Warrants Liability

The change in the fair value of warrants liability consists of the net changes in the fair value of our outstanding warrants to purchase redeemable convertible preferred stock that are remeasured at the end of each reporting period. The warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2020, were exercised prior to the consummation of this offering and we will record one final remeasurement at fair value as of the exercise date.

Change in Fair Value of Related Party Convertible Loan

The change in the fair value of related party convertible loan consists of the net changes in the fair value of our related party convertible loan that was remeasured at the end of each reporting period. The related party convertible loan was converted into Series E-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock during December 2020 and a final remeasurement was recorded as of the conversion date.

 

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Other Income (Expense), Net

Other income (expense), net consists primarily of interest income earned on our cash and cash equivalents, interest expense on our related party borrowings, income from government grants, and foreign currency exchange gains (losses), net of remeasurement of transactions and monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency at the end of the period.

Provision for Income Taxes

Provision for income taxes consists primarily of U.S. federal and state income taxes and income taxes in certain foreign jurisdictions in which we conduct business. Since inception, we have incurred operating losses and, accordingly, have not recorded a provision for income taxes for any of the periods presented.

We have a full valuation allowance for net deferred tax assets, including federal and state net operating loss carryforwards and research and development credit carryforwards. We expect to maintain this valuation allowance until it becomes more likely than not that the benefit of our federal and state deferred tax assets will be realized by way of expected future taxable income.

Results of Operations

The results of operations presented below should be reviewed in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. The following table sets forth our consolidated results of operations data for the periods presented (in thousands):

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2018     2019     2020  

Revenue

   $ 9     $ 710     $ 1,843  

Costs and expenses:

      

Cost of revenue

     —         1,595       5,293  

Research and development (1)

     32,278       63,619       132,001  

Sales and marketing (1)

     1,085       814       1,313  

General and administrative (1)

     12,175       21,962       37,300  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total costs and expenses

     45,538       87,990       175,907  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (45,529     (87,280     (174,064

Change in fair value of related party convertible loan

     —         —         (5,556

Change in fair value of warrants liability

     —         —         1,816  

Other income (expense), net

     495       2,397       (66
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss before provision for income taxes

     (45,034     (84,883     (177,870

Provision for income taxes

     —         —         —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (45,034   $ (84,883   $ (177,870

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

     16       43       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to Tusimple (Cayman) Limited

   $ (45,018   $ (84,840   $ (177,870

Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock

     —         (201     (20,959

Deemed dividend on exchange of Series A-2 redeemable convertible preferred stock for common stock

     —         (60,000     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

   $ (45,018   $ (145,041   $ (198,829
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

Includes stock-based compensation expense as follows (in thousands)

 

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     Years Ended December 31,  
     2018      2019      2020  

Research and development

   $ —        $ —        $ 917  

Sales and marketing

     —          —          2  

General and administrative

     —          —          11,844  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total stock-based compensation expense

   $ —        $ —        $ 12,763  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2019, and 2020

Revenue

 

     Years Ended December 31,      2018 to 2019
% Change
     2019 to 2020
% Change
 
     2018      2019      2020  
     (in thousands)                

Revenue

   $ 9      $ 710      $ 1,843        *        157.1

 

*

Percentage not meaningful

2019 compared to 2020. Revenue increased by $1.1 million, or 157.1%, from $0.7 million in 2019 to $1.8 million in 2020. The increase in revenue was driven by the expansion of our AFN, including the growth of our L4 autonomous semi-truck fleet, AFN terminals, and HD digital mapped routes.

2018 compared to 2019. Revenue increased by $0.7 million from $9 thousand in 2018 to $0.7 million in 2019. The increase in revenue was related to an increase in freight capacity services provided to our users.

Cost of Revenue

 

     Years Ended December 31,      2018 to 2019
% Change
     2019 to 2020
% Change
 
     2018      2019      2020  
     (in thousands)                

Cost of Revenue

   $ —        $ 1,595      $ 5,293        *        231.3

 

*

Percentage not meaningful

2019 compared to 2020. Cost of revenue increased by $3.7 million, or 231.3%, from $1.6 million in 2019 to $5.3 million in 2020 due to increased operating costs associated with the expansion of our AFN.

2018 compared to 2019. Cost of revenue increased by $1.6 million from nil in 2018 to $1.6 million in 2019 due to costs associated with the increase in related revenue.

Research and Development

 

     Years Ended December 31,      2018 to 2019
% Change
    2019 to 2020
% Change
 
     2018      2019      2020  
     (in thousands)               

Research and Development

   $ 32,278      $ 63,619      $ 132,001        96.9     107.5

2019 compared to 2020. Research and development expenses increased by $68.4 million, or 107.5%, from $63.6 million in 2019 to $132.0 million in 2020. The increase was primarily attributable to a one-time, non-cash charge of $32.3 million related to the excess fair value of redeemable convertible preferred stock warrants issued over the cash proceeds received in conjunction with the issuance of shares of Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock and redeemable convertible preferred stock warrants to Traton SE, an increase of $23.8 million in personnel-related costs, mainly driven by an increase in employee headcount, an increase of $6.5 million in

 

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depreciation and allocated facility costs, driven by an increase in headcount and expansion of our facilities, an increase of $2.5 million in vehicle and equipment-related costs, mainly driven by an increase in the number of semi-trucks in our fleet, an increase of $2.0 million in joint development cost, mainly driven by our Joint Development Agreement (“JDA”) with Navistar, and an increase of $0.9 million in stock-based compensation expense, mainly driven by additional stock-based awards with service-based vesting conditions granted during the period.

2018 compared to 2019. Research and development expenses increased by $31.3 million, or 96.9%, from $32.3 million in 2018 to $63.6 million in 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase of $17.2 million in personnel-related costs, mainly driven by an increase in employee headcount, an increase of $10.0 million in vehicle-related costs, mainly driven by an increase in the number of semi-trucks in our fleet and an increase of $3.9 million in depreciation and allocated facility costs, driven by an increase in headcount and expansion of our facilities.

Sales and Marketing

 

     Years Ended December 31,      2018 to 2019
% Change
    2019 to 2020
% Change
 
     2018      2019      2020  
     (in thousands)               

Sales and Marketing

   $ 1,085      $ 814      $ 1,313        (27.3 )%      62.5

2019 compared to 2020. Sales and marketing expenses increased by $0.5 million, or 62.5%, from $0.8 million in 2019 to $1.3 million in 2020. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase of $0.7 million in production costs related to demonstration videos produced during 2020, partially offset by a $0.2 million decrease in costs incurred to attend conferences and trade shows.

2018 compared to 2019. Sales and marketing expenses decreased by $0.3 million, or 27.3%, from $1.1 million in 2018 to $0.8 million in 2019. The decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease of $0.3 million in contributions to universities that were made to promote our company on-campus and attract talent and a decrease of $0.2 million in production costs related to demonstration videos produced during 2018, partially offset by a $0.2 million increase in costs incurred to attend conferences and trade shows.

General and Administrative

 

     Years Ended December 31,      2018 to 2019
% Change
    2019 to 2020
% Change
 
     2018      2019      2020  
     (in thousands)               

General and Administrative

   $ 12,175      $ 21,962      $ 37,300        80.3     69.5

2019 compared to 2020. General and administrative expenses increased by $15.3 million, or 69.5%, from $22.0 million in 2019 to $37.3 million in 2020. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase of $11.8 million in stock-based compensation expense, mainly driven by additional stock-based awards with service-based vesting conditions granted during the period, an increase of $4.9 million in personnel-related costs, mainly driven by an increase in employee headcount, an increase of $1.3 million in legal, accounting and other professional services, driven mainly by additional rounds of financing and this offering, and an increase of $0.6 million in depreciation and allocated facility costs, driven by an increase in assets purchased and facilities occupied during 2020, partially offset by a decrease of $1.7 million in office and facility-related costs, driven primarily by the transition to a remote working situation and a decrease of $1.6 million in travel costs, driven mainly by reduced traveling due to COVID-19 restrictions.

2018 compared to 2019. General and administrative expenses increased by $9.8 million, or 80.3%, from $12.2 million in 2018 to $22.0 million in 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase of $4.9 million in personnel-related costs, mainly driven by an increase in employee headcount, an increase of

 

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$2.5 million in office and facility-related costs, mainly driven by an increase in headcount and expanding our office space, an increase of $2.1 million in legal, accounting and other professional services, driven mainly by additional rounds of financing, and an increase of $0.5 million in recruiting and travel costs, driven mainly by increased recruiting activities and conferences.

Change in Fair Value of Warrants Liability

 

     Years Ended December 31,      2018 to 2019
% Change
     2019 to 2020
% Change
 
     2018      2019      2020  
     (in thousands)                

Change in Fair Value of Warrants Liability

   $ —        $ —        $ 1,816        *        *  

 

*

Percentage not meaningful

2019 compared to 2020. Gain from the change in fair value of warrants liability of $1.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2020, was driven by the remeasurement of redeemable convertible preferred stock warrants at fair value each period. There were no such warrants outstanding in the years ended December 31, 2018 or 2019.

Change in Fair Value of Related Party Convertible Loan

 

     Years Ended December 31,     2018 to 2019
% Change
     2019 to 2020
% Change
 
     2018      2019      2020  
    

(in thousands)

              

Change in Fair Value of Related Party Convertible Loan

   $ —        $ —        $ (5,556     *        *  

* Percentage not meaningful

2019 compared to 2020. Loss from the change in fair value of related party convertible loan of $5.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2020, was driven by the remeasurement of the related party convertible loan at fair value each period until its conversion into Series E-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock during December 2020. There were no such outstanding convertible loans in the years ended December 31, 2018 or 2019.

Other Income (Expense), Net

 

     Years Ended December 31,     2018 to 2019
% Change
    2019 to 2020
% Change
 
     2018      2019      2020  
     (in thousands)              

Other Income (Expense), Net

   $ 495      $ 2,397      $ (66     380.0     (104.2 )% 

2019 compared to 2020. Other income (expense), net decreased by $2.5 million, or 104.2%, from $2.4 million in 2019 to $(0.1) million in 2020. The decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in income from government grants of $1.3 million, a decrease of $0.9 million in interest income earned on cash and cash equivalents, an increase of $0.4 million in foreign exchange loss due to fluctuations in exchange rates, and an increase in interest expense of $0.2 million relating to leased vehicles.

2018 compared to 2019. Other income (expense), net increased by $1.9 million, or 380.0%, from $0.5 million in 2018 to $2.4 million in 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in interest income of $0.8 million due to an increase in the balances of our cash and cash equivalents related to our financing activities, an increase of $1.3 million in non-recurring government grants for the development of autonomous trucking technology, and a decrease of $0.2 million in foreign exchange loss due to fluctuations in exchange rates. The increase was partially offset by increases in interest expenses of $0.4 million due to related party loans that were entered into in October 2018 and were outstanding for the entirety of 2019.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have financed our operations primarily through the sale of redeemable convertible preferred stock and loans from stockholders, which have historically been sufficient to meet our working capital and capital expenditure requirements. As of December 31, 2020, our principal sources of liquidity were $310.8 million of cash and cash equivalents, exclusive of restricted cash of $1.5 million. Cash and cash equivalents consist primarily of cash on deposit with banks as well as certificates of deposit. In July and September 2020, we sold 621,447 and 1,232,730 shares of Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock at $8.11 per share for proceeds of approximately $5.0 million and $10.0 million, respectively. In December 2020 and January 2021, we sold 21,044,019 and 4,650,999 shares of Series E redeemable convertible preferred stock at $14.14 per share for proceeds of approximately $288.5 million and $61.6 million, net of issuance costs of $9.0 million and $4.1 million. Additionally, in July 2020, we raised $50.0 million through the issuance of a convertible loan from one of our preferred stockholders, which was converted into 3,928,937 Series E-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock at a conversion price of $12.72609 per share in December 2020. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.” In February 2021, a holder of a warrant exercised its right to purchase 4,331,644 shares of Series E-2 redeemable convertible preferred stock at $11.3121 per share for gross proceeds of approximately $49.0 million. In March 2021, a holder of a warrant exercised its right to purchase 9,477,073 shares of Series E redeemable convertible preferred stock at $14.1401 per share for gross proceeds of approximately $134.0 million. We are currently in the process of collecting deposits to hold in escrow for reservations for our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck. Typically, each reservation requires a $500 per truck deposit; however, the deposit requirement has been waived for our equity investors that currently hold reservations (which account for approximately 75% of all reservations). Any cancellations and refunds will be satisfied out of the deposits held in an escrow account and therefore should not affect our liquidity position.

Based on our current operating plan, we believe that the net proceeds from this offering, together with our existing cash and cash equivalents and anticipated cash generated from sales of our services, will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs for at least the next 12 months following the date of this prospectus.

Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to, the rate of our growth, our ability to attract and retain users and their willingness to pay for our services, and the timing and extent of spending to support our efforts to develop our L4 autonomous semi-trucks and AFN. Further, we may enter into future arrangements to acquire or invest in businesses, products, services, strategic partnerships, and technologies. As such, we may be required to seek additional equity and/or debt financing. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interest of our stockholders will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of common stockholders. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased fixed obligations and could result in operating covenants that would restrict our operations. If we are unable to maintain sufficient financial resources, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

Cash Flows

The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods presented (in thousands):

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2018     2019     2020  

Net cash (used in) provided by:

      

Operating activities

   $ (42,847   $ (76,333   $ (103,848

Investing activities

     41,922       (10,435     (4,412

Financing activities

     91,662       51,830       356,495  

 

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Operating Activities

Net cash used in operating activities of $42.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 was primarily due to net loss of $45.0 million, partially offset by non-cash charges for depreciation and amortization expense of $2.5 million. Changes in operating assets and liabilities were unfavorable to cash flows from operations by $0.3 million primarily due to an increase in other assets of $2.0 million and an increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets of $0.9 million, partially offset by an increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities of $1.7 million, an increase in other liabilities of $0.7 million, an increase in accounts payable of $0.1 million and an increase in amounts due to related parties of $0.1 million.

Net cash used in operating activities of $76.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 was primarily due to net loss of $84.9 million, partially offset by non-cash charges for depreciation and amortization expense of $5.6 million and loss on disposal of property and equipment of $0.9 million. Changes in operating assets and liabilities were favorable to cash flows from operations by $2.1 million primarily due to an increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities of $5.0 million, driven primarily by increased payroll-related accruals due to our increased headcount, an increase in accounts payable of $0.1 million, and an increase in amounts due to related parties of $0.1 million, partially offset by an increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets of $1.5 million, driven by an increase in amounts due to vendors in relation to the expansion of our AFN and semi-truck fleet, an increase in other assets of $0.9 million, a decrease in other liabilities of $0.6 million, and an increase in accounts receivable of $0.1 million.

Net cash used in operating activities of $103.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 was primarily due to net loss of $177.9 million and non-cash gain from change in fair value of warrants liability of $1.8 million, offset by a one-time, non-cash charge of $32.3 million related to the excess fair value of redeemable convertible preferred stock warrants issued over proceeds received in conjunction with the issuance of Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock and redeemable convertible preferred stock warrants to Traton SE, non-cash charges for share-based compensation of $12.8 million, depreciation and amortization expense of $7.7 million, and non-cash loss from change in fair value of related party convertible loan of $5.6 million. Changes in operating assets and liabilities were favorable to cash flows from operations by $17.3 million primarily due to an increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities of $13.1 million, driven primarily by increased payroll-related accruals due to the growth in our headcount and accrued professional fees related to our Series E financing, an increase in accounts payable of $4.2 million, driven primarily by increased vendor activity related to the expansion of our AFN, an increase in amounts due to related parties of $1.1 million, driven primarily by amounts due to Navistar under our JDA, a decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets of $0.3 million, and an increase in other liabilities of $0.3 million, partially offset by an increase in accounts receivable of $1.0 million and an increase in other assets of $0.7 million.

Investing Activities

Net cash provided by investing activities of $41.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 was related to proceeds from the maturity of time deposits of $51.8 million and proceeds from the maturity of short-term investments of $0.8 million, partially offset by capital expenditures of $10.0 million related to maintaining and upgrading our fleet of L4 autonomous semi-trucks and purchases of short-term investments of $0.7 million.

Net cash used in investing activities of $10.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 was related to capital expenditures of $10.3 million and purchases of patents of $0.2 million, partially offset by proceeds from disposal of property and equipment of $0.1 million.

Net cash used in investing activities of $4.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 was related to capital expenditures of $4.3 million and purchases of patents of $0.3 million, partially offset by proceeds from disposal of property and equipment of $0.2 million.

 

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Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities of $91.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 was related to proceeds from the issuance of redeemable convertible preferred stock of $95.0 million and proceeds from related party loan of $2.9 million, partially offset by payments for guarantee deposit on related party loan of $3.7 million and principal payments on related party loan of $2.5 million.

Net cash provided by financing activities of $51.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 was related to proceeds from the issuance of redeemable convertible preferred stock of $52.3 million, partially offset by principal payments on capital lease obligations of $0.3 million and principal payments on related party loans of $0.2 million.

Net cash provided by financing activities of $356.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 was related to proceeds from the issuance of redeemable convertible preferred stock of $291.7 million, proceeds from issuance of related party convertible loan of $50.0 million, proceeds from issuance of redeemable convertible preferred stock warrants of $11.9 million, proceeds from related party loans of $5.0 million, proceeds from the Small-Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans of $4.1 million, and proceeds of $2.5 million from the exercise of warrants for Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock. These were partially offset by principal payments on related party loans of $7.9 million, principal payments on capital lease obligations of $0.7 million and principal payments on loans of $0.1 million.

Commitments and Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes our non-cancellable contractual obligations as of December 31, 2020 (in thousands):

 

     Payment Due by Period  
     Less than
1 year
     1-3 Years      3-5 Years      More than
5 Years
     Total  

Operating leases

   $ 5,187      $ 10,598      $ 6,744      $ 19,793      $ 42,322  

Capital leases

     1,386        2,273        2,801        —          6,460  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 6,573      $ 12,871      $ 9,545      $ 19,793      $ 48,782  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The contractual commitment obligations in the table above are associated with agreements that are enforceable and legally binding.

For additional discussion on our operating and capital leases, see Note 8. Commitments and Contingencies in our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

Joint Development Agreement

We have entered into a Joint Development Agreement (“JDA”) with Navistar, Inc., under which we will work collaboratively to develop a purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck. Pursuant to the JDA we agree to reimburse Navistar up to $10.0 million for research and development expenses incurred. See Note 8. Commitments and Contingencies in our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for further information.

Separation Agreements

We have entered into separation agreements with former employees under which we are required to pay additional compensation in the amount of $4.7 million upon the the completion of this offering.

 

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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We did not have, during the periods presented, any off-balance sheet financing arrangements or any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, including entities sometimes referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, that were established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The preparation of these consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We base our estimates on historical experience and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. Our actual results could differ significantly from these estimates under different assumptions and conditions. We believe that the accounting policies discussed below are critical to understanding our historical and future performance as these policies involve a greater degree of judgment and complexity.

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue primarily from providing freight capacity services. Revenue is recognized when the customer obtains control of promised services in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for those services.

Satisfaction of Performance Obligation

A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer and is the basis of revenue recognition in accordance with GAAP. To determine the proper revenue recognition method for contracts, we evaluate whether two or more contracts should be combined and accounted for as one single contract and whether the combined or single contract should be accounted for as more than one performance. For most of our contracts, the customer contracts with us to provide distinct services within a single contract, such as freight capacity services. The majority of our contracts with customers for freight capacity services include only one performance obligation, the freight capacity services. However, if a contract is separated into more than one performance obligation, we allocate the total transaction price to each performance obligation in an amount based on the estimated relative standalone selling prices of the promised goods or services underlying each performance obligation. We frequently sell standard freight capacity services with observable standalone sales prices. In these instances, the observable standalone sales are used to determine the standalone selling price.

For freight capacity services, revenue is recognized over time as we perform the services in the contract because of the continuous transfer of control to the customer. Our customers receive the benefit of our services as the goods are transported from one location to another. If we were unable to complete delivery to the final location, another entity would not need to reperform the transportation service already performed. As control transfers over time, revenue is recognized based on the extent of progress towards completion of the performance obligation. The selection of the method to measure progress towards completion requires judgment and is based on the nature of the products or services to be provided. As control transfers over time, revenue is recognized based on the extent of progress towards completion of the performance obligation. Management estimates the progress based on mileage completed to total mileage to be transported. Revenues are recorded net of value-added taxes and surcharges.

 

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Contract Modification

Contracts may be modified to account for changes in the rates we charge our customers or to add additional distinct services. We consider contract modifications to exist when the modification either creates new enforceable rights and obligations or alters the existing arrangement. Contract modifications that add distinct goods or services are treated as separate performance obligations. Contract modifications that do not add distinct goods or services typically change the price of existing services. These contract modifications are accounted for prospectively as the remaining performance obligations are executed.

Contract Assets and Liabilities

Contract assets include billed and unbilled amounts resulting from in-transit packages, as we have an unconditional right to payment only once all performance obligations have been completed (e.g., packages have been delivered). Contract assets are generally classified as current and the full balance is converted each quarter based on the short-term nature of the transactions. Our contract liabilities consist of advance payments and billings in excess of revenue. The full balance of contract liabilities is converted each quarter based on the short-term nature of the transactions.

Payment Terms

Under the typical payment terms of our customer contracts, the customer pays at periodic intervals (i.e. every 14 days, 30 days etc.) for shipments included on invoices received. It is not customary business practice to extend payment terms past 90 days, and as such, we do not have a practice of including a significant financing component within its contracts with customers.

Stock-Based Compensation

We account for stock-based compensation expense in accordance with the fair value recognition and measurement provisions of GAAP, which requires compensation cost for the grant-date fair value of stock-based awards to be recognized over the requisite service period. We determine the fair value of stock-based awards granted or modified on the grant date (or modification date, if applicable) at fair value, using appropriate valuation techniques.

Time-Based Service Awards

For stock-based awards with time-based vesting conditions only, generally being stock options, the fair value of each stock option granted is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Black-Scholes option-pricing model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the fair value of the underlying common stock, the expected share price volatility over the term of the award, actual and projected employee stock option exercise behaviors, the risk-free interest rate for the expected term of the award and expected dividends. Stock-based compensation is recognized straight-line over the requisite service period, which is generally four years. We account for forfeitures as they occur instead of estimating the number of awards expected to be forfeited.

Performance-Based Awards

We grant awards consisting of restricted stock units (“RSUs”), share value awards (“SVAs”), and stock options that vest only upon the satisfaction of both time-based service and performance-based conditions. The time-based service condition for these awards generally is satisfied over three years. The performance-based condition is satisfied upon the occurrence of a qualifying event, defined as the earlier of (i) the closing of certain specific liquidation or change in control transactions, or (ii) an IPO. We record stock-based compensation expense for these awards on an accelerated attribution method over the requisite service period, which is generally three years, and only if performance-based condition is considered probable to be satisfied.

 

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Because no qualifying events have occurred, we have not recognized stock-based compensation expense for awards with performance-based conditions. In the period in which the qualifying event is probable, we will record a cumulative one-time stock-based compensation expense determined using the grant-date fair values. Stock-based compensation related to remaining time-based service after the qualifying event will be recorded over the remaining requisite service period.

For performance-based RSUs and SVAs, we determine the grant-date fair value as the fair value of our common stock on the grant date.

For performance-based stock options, we determine the grant-date fair value utilizing the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.

Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Warrants Liability

Warrants to purchase shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock are freestanding financial instruments classified as warrants liability in our consolidated balance sheets as the underlying shares of preferred stock are considered redeemable or contingently redeemable upon the occurrence of events that are outside of our control. The preferred stock warrants are recorded at their respective fair values upon issuance and are subject to remeasurement at the end of each reporting period. Changes in the fair value of the preferred share warrants are recognized as change in fair value of warrants liability in the consolidated statements of operations. We continue to remeasure the warrants until the earlier of their expiration or exercise.

The fair value of the warrants liability was estimated at issuance using a Monte Carlo simulation model as the series of redeemable convertible preferred stock issued upon exercise is contingent upon the outcome of multiple discrete scenarios. The warrants were exercisable into shares of Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock if exercised prior to a subsequent equity financing, or shares of a series of redeemable convertible preferred stock issued in our next equity financing. The fair value of the underlying shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock used within the Monte Carlo simulation model was estimated using a hybrid between a probability-weighted expected return method (“PWERM”) and option pricing model (“OPM”), estimating the probability-weighted value across multiple scenarios, while using an OPM to estimate the allocation of value within one or more of these scenarios. Discrete future outcomes considered under the PWERM include an IPO of the Company’s common stock, as well as continued operation as a private company. The significant unobservable inputs into the valuation model include the timing and probability of occurrence of these discrete future outcomes and a discount for the lack of marketability of the redeemable convertible preferred stock.

As of December 31, 2020, the fair value of the warrants is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model as the variability surrounding which series of redeemable convertible preferred stock the warrants are exercisable into has been resolved due to the consummation of our Series E redeemable convertible preferred stock financing. The fair value of the underlying shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock used within the Black-Scholes option-pricing model was estimated using a hybrid between a PWERM and OPM, estimating the probability-weighted value across multiple scenarios, while using an OPM to estimate the allocation of value within one or more of these scenarios. Discrete future outcomes considered under the PWERM include an IPO of the Company’s ordinary shares, as well as continued operation as a private company. The significant unobservable inputs into the valuation model include the timing and probability of occurrence of these discrete future outcomes and a discount for the lack of marketability of the redeemable convertible preferred stock.

Related Party Convertible Loan

As permitted under ASC 825, Financial Instruments (“ASC 825”), we have elected the fair value option to account for our related party convertible loan. In accordance with ASC 825, we record the related party convertible loan at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in the consolidated statements of operations in

 

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change in fair value of related party convertible loan, with the exception of changes in fair value due to instrument-specific credit risk which are required to be recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss. There were no changes in the fair value due to instrument-specific credit risk recorded due to the short-term nature of the loan.

The fair value of the related party convertible loan is calculated as the sum of the value of the straight-debt cash flows and the value of the embedded conversion features. A Discounted Cash Flow model was used to estimate the value of the straight-debt cash flows, and a Monte-Carlo model was used to estimate the value of the embedded conversion features. The significant unobservable inputs into the valuation model include the timing and probability of certain discrete future outcomes which dictate the series of redeemable convertible preferred shares issued upon exercise.

Capital Leases

We categorize leases at their inception as either operating or capital leases. As the lessee, a lease is a capital lease if any of the following conditions exists: (i) ownership is transferred to the lessee by the end of the lease term, (ii) there is a bargain purchase option, (iii) the lease term is at least 75% of the property’s estimated remaining economic life, or (iv) the present value of the minimum lease payments at the beginning of the lease term is 90% or more of the fair value of the leased property to the lessor at the inception date. A capital lease is accounted for as if there was an acquisition of an asset and an incurrence of an obligation at the inception of the lease. As of December 31, 2019 and 2020, assets under capital leases represent semi-trucks used for research and development and providing transportation services.

Common Stock Valuations

The fair value of our common stock and underlying stock options has historically been determined by our Board of Directors, with assistance from management and contemporaneous third-party valuations. Given the absence of a public trading market for our common stock and in accordance with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Practice Aid, Valuation of Privately Held Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation, our board of directors has exercised reasonable judgment and considered numerous objective and subjective factors to determine the best estimate of the fair value of our common stock at each grant date. These factors include:

 

   

independent third-party valuations of our common stock;

 

   

the prices at which we or other holders sold our common and redeemable convertible preferred stock to outside investors in arms-length transactions;

 

   

the rights, preferences and privileges of our redeemable convertible preferred stock relative to those of our common stock;

 

   

our financial condition, results of operations and capital resources;

 

   

the industry outlook;

 

   

the valuation of comparable companies;

 

   

the lack of marketability of our common stock;

 

   

the fact that our equity awards have involved rights in illiquid securities in a private company;

 

   

the likelihood of achieving a liquidity event, such as an initial public offering or a sale of our company given prevailing market conditions;

 

   

the history and nature of our business, industry trends and competitive environment; and

 

   

general economic outlook including economic growth, inflation and unemployment, interest rate environment and global economic trends.

 

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In determining the fair values of our common stock, the third-party valuation estimates the enterprise value of our business using the market approach precedent transaction method. The market approach precedent transaction method estimates value by considering the sale price of stock in a recent financing and “back-solving” to determine the equity value by using an option pricing model that gives consideration to our capitalization structure and rights of preferred and common stockholders.

The resulting equity value is then allocated to each class of stock using combination of the Option Pricing Method (“OPM”) and the Probability-Weighted Expected Return Method (“PWERM”). Under the OPM, the value of an equity interest is modeled as a call option with a distinct claim on the enterprise value of the Company. The call right is valued using a Black-Scholes option pricing model. The PWERM employs additional information not used in the OPM, including various market approach enterprise value calculations depending upon the likelihood of various discrete future liquidity scenarios, such as an IPO, as well as the probability of remaining a private company. The PWERM involves the estimation of future potential outcomes for an entity, as well as values and probabilities associated with each respective potential outcome. The common stock per share value determined using this approach is ultimately based upon probability-weighted per share values resulting from various future scenarios. The expected scenarios include an IPO or continued operation as a private company.

After the allocation to the various classes of stock, a discount for lack of marketability (“DLOM”) was applied to arrive at the fair value of common stock on a non-marketable basis. A DLOM is applied based on the theory that as an owner of private company stock, the stockholder has limited information and opportunities to sell this stock. A market participant that would purchase this stock would recognize this risk and thereby require a higher rate of return, which would reduce the overall fair market value.

Our assessments of the fair value of common stock for grant dates were based in part on the current available financial and operational information and the common stock per share value provided in the most recent valuation as compared to the timing of each grant. For financial reporting purposes, we considered the amount of time between the valuation date and the grant date to determine whether to use the latest common stock valuation or a straight-line interpolation between the two valuation dates. This determination included an evaluation of whether the subsequent valuation indicated that any significant change in valuation had occurred between the previous valuation date and the grant date.

After the closing of this offering, our board of directors will determine the fair value of each share of underlying common stock based on the closing price of our common stock as reported on the date of the grant.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

We are exposed to market risks in the ordinary course of our business, which primarily relate to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

The functional currency of our foreign subsidiaries is the local currency or U.S. dollar depending on the nature of the subsidiaries’ activities. Foreign currency transactions recognized in the consolidated statements of operations are converted to the functional currency by applying the exchange rate prevailing on the date of the transaction. Our results of operations and cash flows are subject to fluctuations due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. To date, foreign currency transaction gains and losses have not been material to our consolidated financial statements, and we have not engaged in any foreign currency hedging strategies. As our international operations grow, we will continue to reassess our approach to manage our risk relating to fluctuations in currency rates.

 

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Risk Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The extensive impact of the pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) has resulted and will likely continue to result in significant disruption to the global economy, as well as businesses and capital markets around the world. In an effort to halt the outbreak of COVID-19, a number of countries, states, counties and other jurisdictions have imposed, and may impose in the future, various measures, including but not limited to, voluntary and mandatory quarantines, stay-at-home orders, travel restrictions, limitations on gatherings of people, reduced operations and extended closures of businesses.

The impact of COVID-19 and measures to prevent its spread have had the following impact:

 

   

Our Workforce. Employee health and safety is our priority. In response to COVID-19, we established new protocols to help protect the health and safety of our workforce. We continue to stay up-to-date and follow county and CDC guidelines regarding requirements for a healthy work environment. Although the majority of our workforce now works remotely, there has been minimal disruption to our ability to continue to build our AFN.

 

   

Operations and Supply Chain. As a result of COVID-19, we have experienced some delays in our supply chains which temporarily limited our ability to outfit semi-trucks with key components during the second quarter of 2020. We have not noticed a decrease in our shipping activity or in our ability to continue mapping activity or engage in further software development.

 

   

Liquidity and Working Capital. We have not experienced any significant change in our liquidity or working capital, and from July 2020 through January 2021, we raised additional funds through the issuance of Series D-1 and E redeemable convertible preferred stock.

While the broader and long-term implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on our workforce, operations and supply chain, user demand, results of operations, and overall financial performance remain uncertain, we currently do not expect significant disruptions to our business due to the COVID-19 pandemic going forward

See “Risk Factors” for further discussion of the possible impact of COVID-19 on our business.

JOBS Act Accounting Election

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). As such, we are eligible for exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including, but not limited to, presenting only two years of audited financial statements in addition to any required unaudited interim financial statements with correspondingly reduced “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” disclosure in this prospectus, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation, and an exemption from the requirements to obtain a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation or golden parachute arrangements. We have elected to take advantage of certain of the reduced disclosure obligations in this prospectus and may elect to take advantage of other reduced reporting requirements in our future filings with the SEC. As a result, the information that we provide to our stockholders may be different than you might receive from other public reporting companies in which you hold equity interests.

In addition, an emerging growth company can take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This provision allows an emerging growth company to delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected to avail ourselves of this provision of the JOBS Act. As a result, we will not be subject to new or revised accounting standards at the same time as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. Therefore, our consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to those of companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.

 

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We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of: (i) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the consummation of this offering; (ii) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion; (iii) the last day of the fiscal year in which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeded $700.0 million as of the last business day of the second fiscal quarter of such year; or (iv) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period.

Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Prior to this offering, we have been a private company with limited accounting personnel and other resources with which to address our internal control and procedures over financial reporting. In the course of auditing our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus, we and our independent registered public accounting firm identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting related to our financial statement closing process, primarily related to a lack of appropriately designed and implemented controls over the review and approval of manual journal entries (including consolidation entries) and the related supporting journal entry calculations. As defined in the standards established by the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, a “material weakness” is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our company’s annual or interim consolidated financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

We are working to remediate the material weakness and are taking steps to strengthen our internal control over financial reporting. In order to do so, we have taken and plan to take the following actions: (i) the hiring of additional finance and accounting personnel over time to augment our accounting staff and to provide more resources for complex accounting matters and financial reporting; (ii) further developing and implementing formal policies, processes and documentation procedures relating to our financial reporting; and (iii) the adoption of new technological solutions. The actions that we are taking are subject to ongoing executive management review and will also be subject to audit committee oversight. To date, we have hired additional financial and accounting personnel with technical accounting experience and implemented new technology solutions to assist with our financial reporting process. We are still implementing formal policies, processes, and documentation procedures related to the review and approval of manual journal entries. We will not be able to fully remediate this material weakness until these steps have been completed and have been operating effectively for a sufficient period of time. We currently expect that the material weakness will be remediated by December 31, 2021, and costs associated with the remediation plan are not expected to be material. If we are unable to successfully remediate the material weakness, or if in the future, we identify further material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, we may not detect errors on a timely basis and our consolidated financial statements may be materially misstated.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

For information on recently issued accounting pronouncements, refer to Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

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BUSINESS

Overview of Our Company

We are an autonomous technology company that is revolutionizing the estimated $4 trillion global truck freight market.21 We have developed industry-leading autonomous technology specifically designed for semi-trucks, which has enabled us to build the world’s first Autonomous Freight Network (“AFN”) in partnership with world-class shippers, carriers, railroads, freight brokers, fleet asset owners, and truck hardware partners. We believe that our technology and our AFN will make long haul trucking significantly safer as well as more reliable, efficient and environmentally friendly, creating significant benefits for all who rely on the freight ecosystem to deliver essential goods.

Since our founding in 2015, we have developed a fully integrated software and hardware solution enabling what we believe is the world’s most advanced Level 4 (“L4”) driver-out autonomous semi-truck technology.22 Hallmarks of our proprietary semi-truck specific technology include our 1,000 meter perception range, 35 second planning horizon, high definition (“HD”) maps with accuracy within five centimeters, and an integrated L4 autonomous semi-truck design comprising of a fully redundant sensor suite and components. Long-range perception, advanced planning and decision-making, and highly accurate mapping are critical capabilities for the autonomous operation of semi-trucks, which are heavy, articulated vehicles that need to be able to operate at highway speeds. We believe that we are the first and only company to demonstrate these capabilities and achieve L4 autonomous semi-trucks driving on both highways and surface streets as well as the first company to autonomously haul a paid freight load. We further believe that our technological differentiation and unique go-to-market strategy is a key driver of the over 5,700 reservations which we received in four months of availability for our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks. For further discussion regarding our reservations, please see the section titled “Business—Our Solution—Our Products—Purpose-Built L4 Autonomous Semi-Trucks—Partnership with Navistar.”

We are focused specifically on the truck freight market, which is a large and essential industry that moves approximately 80% of the freight in the United States by revenue.23 E-commerce trends such as same day shipping are expected to further accelerate demand for truck freight and strain traditional freight providers’ ability to supply sufficient capacity dynamically and cost effectively.24 Currently, trucking is facing substantial challenges in several areas including safety, efficiency, and carbon footprint, which we believe cannot be fully addressed without significant technological innovation. Specific industry challenges include:

 

   

Trucking accidents. From 2009 to 2019, the number of persons injured in crashes involving large trucks more than doubled from 74,000 to 159,000.25

 

   

Driver shortages. Driver shortages and high driver turnover continue to lead to increasing labor costs for the freight industry, placing upward pressure on the cost and availability of reliable truck freight capacity. In 2018, labor costs represented over 40% of total per mile operating costs which is an increase from approximately 33% in 2012.26

 

   

Underinvestment in technological advancements. The truck freight industry today is highly fragmented and is characterized by low profit margins—generally in the single digits—which we believe makes it difficult for existing stakeholders to invest in technological advancement.

 

   

High levels of greenhouse gas emissions. Rising freight volumes are driving significant levels of commercial truck greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) reported in 2018 that medium and heavy duty trucks contribute 23% of annual U.S. transportation greenhouse gas emissions.

 

21 

Armstrong & Associates, Inc., 2019 Global Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Market Analysis.

22 

L4 autonomous solution expected to be capable of driver-out operations on AFN mapped routes.

23 

American Trucking Associations, U.S. Freight Transportation Forecast 2019 to 2030.

24 

American Transportation Research Institute (“ATRI”), E-Commence Impacts on the Trucking Industry, February 2019.

25 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, People Killed and Injured in Crashes Involving Large Trucks, by Person Type and Crash Type, 2009-2019.

26 

ATRI, An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2019 Update, November 2019.

 

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We believe that our Autonomous Freight Network will address the trucking industry’s most pressing challenges and will revolutionize the way freight moves. Our AFN is designed to provide a comprehensive, turnkey, autonomous freight solution that supplies users with access to purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks operating on HD digital mapped routes connecting a nationwide network of terminals. Key advantages of our AFN solution design include:

 

   

Safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 94% of all serious accidents are due to human error. We believe that by developing an autonomous solution for long haul trucking, we can significantly improve safety in the trucking industry.

 

   

Reliable freight capacity. Our AFN provides users with reliable autonomous freight capacity as a service which is unencumbered by prevailing truck driver shortages.

 

   

Efficiency. Direct labor costs represent over 40% of the per mile truck freight cost structure. We believe that our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck solution will reduce freight operating costs by up to 50% per mile and will allow our users to allocate scarce driver resources to customer facing first and last mile routes.

 

   

Environmental impact. Based on a study conducted with the University of California San Diego and empirical data from our users, we expect our solution to deliver over 10% better fuel efficiency than traditional trucking through optimized truck control and driving operations which can deliver a measurable reduction in carbon emissions.

 

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Transformative Benefits for Industry Stakeholders. Our AFN leverages our proprietary L4 autonomous semi-trucks, HD digital route mapping capabilities, and TuSimple Connect cloud-based autonomous operations oversight system to provide substantial benefits to the key truck freight industry stakeholders. The “plug and play” nature of our solution will allow any truck freight market participant to access and benefit from our autonomous freight capacity. Shippers, carriers, and railroads gain access to reliable and safe freight capacity at a substantially lower annual total cost of ownership when direct labor is removed from the per mile cost structure. Removing the driver from long haul operations allows shippers, carriers, and railroads to reallocate scarce driver

 

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resources to customer facing first and last mile routes. Freight brokers benefit from the reliability of autonomy, which allows them to more efficiently match demand with the lowest cost long haul freight capacity. We believe that the wide ranging benefits of our solution to industry participants will accelerate the adoption of our network.

 

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AFN Accommodates Multiple Service Models. Our AFN provides autonomous freight capacity as a service through multiple service models based on users’ needs. We believe that allowing our users the flexibility to select different service models is critical to our superior customer experience and will help drive rapid adoption of our network.

 

   

Carrier-Owned Capacity. Shippers, carriers, and railroads that prefer to own their fleet will be able to purchase our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck from a semi-truck original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) partner and subscribe to TuSimple Path—a comprehensive turnkey product to enable autonomous operations across our network. TuSimple Path includes features such as our on-board autonomous driving software, TuSimple Connect cloud-based autonomous operations oversight system, HD digital route mapping support, and emergency roadside assistance. Users will pay TuSimple a per mile, usage-based fee for access to TuSimple Path and benefit from lower overall freight costs with an expected payback period of less than one year on their upfront incremental capital investment to purchase our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks.

 

   

TuSimple Capacity. Our fleet of purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks, financed through third party fleet asset owners, will serve users that desire access to safe, reliable, low cost, and more environmentally friendly freight transportation without owning semi-truck assets. Users of TuSimple Capacity can range from relatively smaller users of freight logistics to large shippers, carriers, and railroads seeking to supplement their own captive fleet for incremental freight capacity. We will charge users of TuSimple Capacity a per mile rate to ship freight, which we expect will be at a meaningful discount to prevailing market freight rates. We believe that our competitive advantage in terms of

 

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pricing will be enabled by our anticipated cost structure, which is expected to be significantly lower than that of human-operated semi-trucks. Users will benefit directly from lower shipping costs compared to conventional truck freight.

 

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1.

Based on preliminary conversations with AFN users. Pricing listed for Carrier-Owned Capacity is illustrative and will be eventually determined based on market dynamics.

2.

Based on a 10–15% discount to prevailing freight rates. Pricing listed for TuSimple Capacity is illustrative and will be eventually determined based on market dynamics.

Leading Autonomous Technology Specifically Designed for Trucking. We are developing a Level 4 autonomous technology solution specifically designed for the unique demands of semi-trucks. L4 autonomy is characterized by the ability of the vehicle to perform all driving functions under a given set of pre-specified conditions. We believe that our L4 autonomous capabilities are well suited for “middle mile” truck freight—in which fixed, predictable, and primarily highway routes make up the majority of total miles driven on a shipping route—and focusing on this opportunity will optimize our path to commercialization. Autonomous trucking also presents unique challenges, primarily due to the size of long haul semi-trucks and the speed at which these semi-trucks typically operate. We believe that being the first company to focus exclusively on semi-truck autonomy positions us to lead the development of the solutions to these challenges and capitalize on the autonomous truck freight opportunity. Our leading autonomous technology enables semi-trucks to drive day or night on both the highway and surface streets in rain and in other poor weather conditions. Semi-trucks with our leading autonomous technology can travel at speeds of up to 75 miles per hour.

Ecosystem Approach with Unmatched Partnerships to Scale. We have created a world class ecosystem of partners consisting of shippers, carriers, railroads, freight brokers, fleet asset owners, OEMs, Tier 1 components suppliers, and third party service providers that we believe will de-risk commercialization of the AFN, enable rapid adoption of our autonomous freight solution, and allow us to build an attractive, network based business model.

We are working in partnership with leading semi-truck OEMs Navistar and TRATON as well as components partners to build the world’s first purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck to be operated exclusively on our network. We believe that this collaborative approach to create semi-trucks designed and built

 

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with integrated auto-grade components and sensors will increase our AFN’s reliability at scale. Vertically integrating through partnerships with OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers allows us to maintain strong supply chain and hardware design control while remaining capital light and primarily focusing on developing proprietary autonomous technology.

In parallel, we have developed a robust ecosystem of shippers, carriers, railroads, freight brokers, fleet asset owners, and third party service providers, including UPS, McLane, U.S. Xpress, Werner, Schneider, and CN, that provide critical validation and enhance the network effect benefits of our approach. We believe that our unmatched partnership network creates a significant and sustainable competitive advantage, especially as we work with shippers, carriers, and railroads to strategically locate our AFN terminals near their distribution centers. The continued growth of our AFN infrastructure and partnerships will continue to improve our user experience and drive more users to our platform which will allow us to further densify our strategic terminal network and reinforce rapid network growth.

The Traditional Truck Freight Industry

Overview of the Freight Market. The global truck freight market is estimated to generate approximately $4 trillion27 in annual revenue. Truck freight comprises approximately 80% of the $1 trillion total U.S. freight market.28 The U.S. truck freight market was the third highest contributor to U.S. GDP growth in 2017.29 The U.S. truck freight market has been characterized by strong economic cycle resiliency with consistent long term increases in miles driven per year evidenced by approximately 3% compound annual growth rates (“CAGR”) from 1990-2018,30 and we believe that it has growth tailwinds from recent industry trends, including increased penetration of e-commerce.

Truck freight volumes in the U.S. are concentrated along a small number of corridors. Nearly 80% of truck freight goods hauled in the U.S. are moved via 10% of the nation’s trade corridors, with the most valuable corridors connecting the 100 largest metropolitan areas. This concentration of corridors means that our AFN is able to address a significant portion of the truck freight market by focusing on select routes.

 

27 

Armstrong & Associates, Inc., 2019 Global Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Market Analysis.

28 

American Trucking Associations, U.S. Freight Transportation Forecast 2019 to 2030.

29 

Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA); Haver Analytics LP.

30 

Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Table 1-35: U.S. Vehicle-Miles, September 2020.

 

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Sources: U.S. Department of Transportation (“DoT”), Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Freight Analysis Framework. Freight Analysis Framework integrates data from various sources and is produced through a partnership between the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and the Federal Highway Administration.

Trucking’s Role in the Freight Market. Trucking represents approximately 80% of the U.S. freight market primarily due to its distinct blend of flexibility, cost, and speed relative to alternative transportation modes. Rail (9% of the U.S. freight market) is generally lower cost than truck freight on a per mile basis, but lacks the operational speed and flexibility to reach the breadth of delivery locations that semi-trucks are able to serve, adding time to the overall delivery process. This dynamic makes rail generally less suitable for same and next day shipping and renders it incapable of first and last mile delivery. Air freight (3% of the U.S. freight market) is attractive for specific use cases such as same and next day shipping due to its superior speed, but its significantly higher cost and larger carbon footprint makes it unattractive in many circumstances. We believe that the steady growth of the market and tailwinds from industry trends such as same and next day shipping will drive a further shift in demand for truck freight over rail and air.

Truck Freight Industry Characteristics. While trucking is the most frequently utilized mode of freight transportation, the industry is currently characterized by low levels of technological differentiation between carriers, minimal barriers to entry, and high levels of price competition. As a result, the market is highly fragmented, and operating margins for incumbent carriers are typically below 10%. Key truck freight industry participants include asset-based carriers, freight brokers, shippers with captive fleets, and semi-truck OEMs.

“Middle Mile” and “First and Last Mile” Truck Freight. The $800 billion U.S. truck freight market is comprised of “middle mile” (long haul) and “last mile” (short haul) freight with an estimated 2.3 million Class 8 semi-trucks in operation accounting for 470 billion total miles driven annually, assuming an illustrative $1.70 per

 

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mile prevailing traditional freight rate.31 Long haul trucking generally occurs over long stretches of interstate highways. These routes tend to be relatively concentrated along a handful of well-defined commercial corridors which span the United States with just 10% of the nation’s trade corridors accounting for nearly 80% of all transported goods.32 Last mile represents the short journey of goods from distribution hubs to their final destination which is completed via surface streets.

Semi-trucks Overview. A Class 8 commercial truck or “semi-truck” is comprised of a tractor unit towing one or more trailers. Standard 53 foot trailers lack a power mechanism and must be attached to a tractor unit in order to be moved. The EPA classifies Heavy Duty Class 8 trucks as semi-trucks weighing in excess of 33,000 pounds. The maximum allowable road weight for fully loaded semi-trucks is 80,000 pounds in the United States. The total cost of a semi-truck typically ranges from $100,000 to $160,000. Trailers are produced in various types and sizes, serving different purposes. The most common trailer in the U.S. is the 53 foot dry van trailer, with other varieties including intermodal and refrigerated or “reefer” trailers. Tractor units are available with “day” cabs or “sleeper” cabs. Sleeper cabs contain additional space for a sleeping area which allows semi-truck drivers to complete overnight hauls or operate in “sleeper teams” of two drivers alternating shifts in order to minimize downtime and move freight faster.

Truckload and Less Than Truckload (“LTL”) Freight. Full truckload freight represents trailers that are transported while fully stocked with cargo. Truckload freight is contracted exclusively by one shipper and the trailer is completely filled by the goods of that shipper alone. By contrast, LTL shipping is characterized by the aggregation of two or more shippers’ goods within a single trailer for transportation. The total size of an LTL shipment may fill a trailer entirely, but by being comprised of multiple shippers’ goods, it will still be categorized as LTL. The truckload and LTL distinctions apply to for-hire carriers which represent approximately 55% of the truck freight market based on dollar value transported.33 Truckload shipments are much more common, representing over 85% of for-hire carrier volumes. Captive fleets own and operate their fleets and comprise the remaining approximately 45% of the market.34 Captive fleet owners tend to be large companies with significant freight shipping needs, including retailers, manufacturers, and distributors.

Truck Freight Carrier Fragmentation. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that over 500,000 for-hire trucking carriers operate more than 3.6 million Class 8 semi-trucks in the United States. The vast majority of these are small carriers with 95% operating fewer than 20 semi-trucks and over 84% operating six or fewer semi-trucks.35 The top 10 for-hire truck carriers represent less than 10% of total U.S. truck freight revenue. By comparison, the seven “Class I” U.S. railroads account for over 90% of total rail freight revenue. The market fragmentation in commercial truck freight is driven in large part by relatively low barriers to entry to becoming a semi-truck freight carrier or owner-operator. Capital barriers are largely alleviated by semi-truck leasing companies. As a result, owner-operators only face the time requirements to obtain a commercial driver’s license and operating authority from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The services of digital freight brokers have served to further decrease the logistical barriers to entry for small operators in recent years. This fragmentation results in a highly competitive truck freight market. This intense price competition drives even the largest carriers’ operating margins below 10% on average with labor costs representing over 40% of the per mile truck freight cost structure.36

Labor is the Largest Per Mile Cost. The cost of labor, has rapidly increased as a percentage of the per mile truck freight cost structure. Labor costs now represent 43% of total per mile semi-truck operating costs, a ten

 

31 

For the estimated number of Class 8 semi-trucks in operation, see ACT Research Co., LLC, North America Commercial Vehicle Outlook, January 11, 2021. For the size of the U.S. freight market, see American Trucking Associations, U.S. Freight Transportation Forecast 2019 to 2030. The 470 billion total miles driven is an estimate based on the size of the U.S. truck freight market and an estimated $1.70 per mile prevailing traditional freight rate.

32 

A. Tomer and J. Kane, Mapping Freight: The Highly Concentrated Nature of Goods Trade in the United States, Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings, November 2014.

33 

American Trucking Associations, U.S. Freight Transportation Forecast 2019 to 2030.

34 

American Trucking Associations, U.S. Freight Transportation Forecast 2019 to 2030.

35 

Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, Industry/Owner-Operator Facts.

36 

ATRI, An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2019 Update, November 2019.

 

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percentage point increase since 2012. Labor costs are the largest component of the per mile cost structure and are 79% greater than fuel costs, which represent the second largest per mile cost. These labor costs are not inclusive of costly driver training and retention expenses, which only further increase truck freight costs.

Semi-truck Driver Shortages. The truck freight industry is currently experiencing severe driver shortages. The latest analysis from the American Trucking Associations (“ATA”) found that the Class 8 semi-truck driver shortage more than tripled from 2005 to 2018, to approximately 60,000 drivers, representing an approximate 9% CAGR. The driver pool is also aging, with 54% of commercial truckers being 45 years or older, relative to just 44% of the overall U.S. working population.37 The ATA anticipates the driver shortage will expand a further 2.6 times by 2028, representing an approximate 10% CAGR, as demand growth continues and the aging trucker workforce retires. We believe that the aging driver population, coupled with the continued driving hours per day regulatory restrictions will continue to put downward pressure on the supply of driver hours and therefore truck freight capacity. From 2012 to 2018, labor costs per mile increased 46% and now represent the largest per mile cost component at 43% of total semi-truck operating costs. The American Transportation Research Institute notes that the workforce turnover percentage for almost all carriers is in the high double digits with levels exceeding 100% in strong economic periods. Additionally, heightened levels of workforce turnover drive additional financial cost as carriers have had to pay increasingly large sign-on bonuses or other financial incentives to compete for qualified drivers in recent years.

Trucking Safety Issues. The truck freight industry is also experiencing an increasing number of issues related to safety and cost of insurance. The significant weight of fully loaded trailers means that commercial semi-trucks require approximately twice as much braking distance as passenger vehicles.38 From 2009 to 2019 the number of passenger vehicle occupants killed in semi-truck collisions climbed approximately 40%.39 The resulting compensation for victims of semi-truck accidents has increased more significantly, and as a result, semi-trucking insurance premiums per mile have increased 33% from 2012 to 2018, representing an approximate 5% CAGR.40

The Development of Autonomous Trucking

Vehicle Automation. We believe that the past decade has brought significant progress to vehicle automation technology and that these achievements are guiding us toward proliferation of higher levels of vehicle automation including L4 autonomous driving. From 2004 to 2007, The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (“DARPA”) sponsored several challenges intended to advance development of autonomous driving technology by the private sector. While the most successful entrant in the initial 2004 competition traveled just seven miles over the Mojave Desert, by 2007 the contestant vehicles were capable of avoiding obstacles and obeying traffic laws in a simulated urban environment. The vast economic and safety potential of autonomous vehicles has continued to drive substantial investment, further accelerating the pace of technological development. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, primarily constituting Level 1 (“L1”) and Level 2 (“L2”) automation as defined by SAE, continue to become more sophisticated and prevalent. Because 94% of serious crashes are caused by human error, we believe that the safety benefits of vehicle automation are driving a cohesive effort between the private sector and regulators toward developing progressively higher levels of automation such as full driver-out L4 autonomous operation. Studies have shown, however, that lower automation levels still requiring a human driver can have negative impacts on driver attention and fatigue due to lower constant dedication to the driving task. We believe, for this reason, that full driver-out L4 autonomy provides a safer solution.

 

37 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey, 18b. Employed Persons by Detailed Industry and Age, January 22, 2020.

38 

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (“IIHS”), Fatal Facts 2018 – Large Trucks, December 2019.

39 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, People Killed and Injured in Crashes Involving Large Trucks, by Person Type and Crash Type, 2009-2019.

40 

ATRI, An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2019 Update, November 2019.

 

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Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Autonomous Trucking Compared to Autonomous Passenger Vehicles. Solving the safety and cost issues facing the truck freight industry with autonomous technology presents unique opportunities and challenges relative to passenger vehicles. The autonomous design differences stem from the configuration of commercial semi-trucks, their size and weight, the speeds at which they operate, and the way passenger vehicle drivers behave around them. A standard Class 8 semi-truck with a fully loaded trailer has limited rear visibility and can weigh up to 80,000 pounds which is significantly heavier than the average passenger vehicle. Semi-trucks’ weight, coupled with typical highway driving speeds exceeding 60 miles per hour, require a longer planning horizon and therefore an integrated autonomous software and hardware solution with more comprehensive camera vision, better predictive artificial intelligence capabilities and the ability to account for other unique conditions such as the impact of high wind speeds on trailers and on-ramp merging are critical.

Despite these technical challenges we believe that the better defined long haul operating environment and ability to map established truck freight corridors significantly limit the number of potential “edge cases,” which are uncommon road situations that the autonomous software must be trained to navigate safely. Limiting the number of edge cases is a critical development item towards driver-out operations. Furthermore, even in the rare circumstance that an L4 autonomous semi-truck encounters a previously unsolved edge case, the use case of transporting goods allows for a viable and safe minimal risk condition state of pulling over to the side of the road to allow for safe resolution of the unsolved edge case. In comparison, the occupants in an autonomous passenger vehicle may not accept a comparable emergency maneuver which involves sitting idle or having to find alternative transportation on short notice.

 

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Regulatory Environment for Autonomous Trucking. National- and state-level regulatory authorities share the goal of carriers and shippers to improve the safety of the trucking industry. The U.S. Department of Transportation has stated that “the United States Government is committed to fostering surface transportation innovations to ensure the United States leads the world in automated vehicle (AV) technology development and integration while prioritizing safety, security and privacy and safeguarding the freedoms enjoyed by Americans.” Today, 43 states allow L4 autonomous semi-truck testing, of which 24 states allow L4 autonomous semi-truck commercial deployment. We believe that the current regulatory environment exhibits a clear path for L4 autonomous semi-trucks to deploy nationwide and that working collaboratively with regulators and ecosystem partners will create a safer freight industry.

 

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Source: U.S. DoT, Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Autonomous Trucking Safety. We believe that the adoption of autonomous technology in trucking will significantly reduce the number of accidents caused by distracted or impaired driving, regimenting safer driving practices and operating more predictably. We believe that the middle mile truck freight routes, which we define as long haul freight routes between terminals, are ideally suited for L4 autonomy. Truck freight operations along specific routes, particularly in the middle mile, allows L4 autonomy to reliably fulfill the requirements of the industry while substantially reducing the number of edge cases that must be solved by the autonomous software. We also believe it is critical for L4 autonomous semi-trucks to travel on surface streets as well as highways to carry freight from terminal to terminal to minimize drayage costs and operational inefficiency. As a result, we also focus our autonomous capabilities on navigating surface streets in order to provide terminal to terminal transportation rather than requiring a highway “off-ramp” location farther from our users.

Autonomous Trucking Efficiency. We believe that autonomy addresses the fundamental supply and demand imbalance facing the truck freight industry today. We believe that removing the driver from middle mile truck freight will provide shippers, carriers, and railroads with significant cost savings and allow them to reallocate scarce driver resources to first and last mile routes.

 

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Sources: ATRI, DAT Solutions, LLC (“DAT”)

Notes:

 

1.

2018 average operating cost per ATRI.

2.

Other costs include insurance, permits, licenses, tires, and tolls.

3.

2018 average dry van contracted rate per mile per DAT.

4.

Dollar figures rounded to nearest $0.01.

Rapidly growing freight volumes driven by e-commerce and other trends not only increases the number of miles driven, but more importantly the speed at which deliveries must be made. Trucking’s current solution to same and next day shipping challenges is typically to employ “sleeper teams” of two drivers that alternate driving shifts as semi-truck drivers are legally limited to 11 hour shifts. The demand for dynamic freight delivery is exacerbated by the chronic and worsening driver supply shortage. We expect L4 autonomous semi-trucks to be able to operate in excess of 22 hours per day as they are not subject to the same maximum daily operating hours restrictions as a human driver, enhancing asset utilization and availability of freight capacity. In addition, autonomous technology can reduce fuel consumption and maintenance expenses, and we expect it to reduce insurance costs over time once it develops a track record of safety.

 

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Autonomous Trucking Benefits a Wide Array of Industry Stakeholders. We believe that the benefits to stakeholders across the truck freight industry will accelerate the adoption of autonomous trucking. Shippers’, carriers’, and railroads’ needs continue to become increasingly complex as shipping timeline expectations shorten and onerous seasonal shipping requirements further burden the truck freight demand and supply balance. We believe that the shortage of semi-truck drivers is one of the most significant industry challenges and that autonomy provides the most viable solution.

Shippers, which include retailers, manufacturers, and distributors, must constantly manage their captive fleets and additional capacity from carriers to match their freight capacity with current demand. This logistical challenge is exacerbated during peak season which generally occurs in the U.S. leading up to the holiday season from mid-August through October. We believe that a reliable autonomous solution at scale will help shippers guarantee freight capacity, including during peak season. This will also allow shippers to allocate their increasingly scarce driver supply to customer facing first and last mile operations.

 

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Carriers and parcel service providers, which provide full service freight to shippers, face evolving logistical challenges from continually increasing truck freight volumes amid the driver shortage and expanding same and next day shipping requirements. Autonomy alleviates a key logistical issue presented by physical and regulatory daily driving hour restrictions. This barrier significantly impedes the viability of traditional trucking in same and next day long haul shipping as carriers and parcel service providers must frequently utilize expensive teams of two drivers to meet the delivery timeline. Autonomy eliminates this constraint by allowing the long haul semi-trucks to operate 24/7 while allowing for more efficient allocation of driver resources to customer facing first and last mile deliveries. This autonomous middle mile solution also enables an “Intermodal 2.0” freight framework, expanding the reach of truck transportation as an alternative to rail intermodal.

Freight brokers, which match supply and demand between shippers, carriers, and railroads, benefit from autonomy as an additional transportation tool for truck freight. We believe that the reduced expense and increased reliability of autonomous trucking can aid brokers in matching demand with the lowest cost long haul solution, improving customer service and broadening business opportunities.

OEMs, which manufacture Class 8 semi-trucks, stand to benefit from strong demand for new purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks. We believe that the numerous benefits to shippers, carriers, railroads, parcel service providers and brokers will drive strong demand for autonomous truck freight volumes. We further believe that purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks will help meet this autonomous freight capacity demand in a more reliable and efficient manner. We expect that OEMs will be able to command a higher price point per L4 autonomous semi-truck because of operational efficiency and also benefit from increased purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck production volumes from the secular shift to autonomous trucking.

Our Solution

Our Autonomous Freight Network is an innovative freight ecosystem that will provide our users with access to safer, lower cost, and reliable freight capacity on demand. To enable our AFN, we are developing highly capable and reliable L4 driver-out autonomous semi-trucks that incorporate our core technologies including our proprietary autonomous software platform and world-class sensor system. We believe that our AFN is the most comprehensive solution to address the freight industry’s long term challenges including safety, efficiency, the environment, and supply and demand imbalances. Set forth below are the key elements of our solution enabling us to provide users with autonomous freight capacity as a service, which we believe will revolutionize the freight industry.

A Comprehensive Autonomous Freight Capacity as a Service Solution. The combination of our leading core technology, product and service offerings is designed to enable our comprehensive autonomous freight capacity as a service solution. Our core technology offerings, comprised of our proprietary autonomous software platform and world-class sensor system, form the bedrock of our AFN. These core technologies are the building blocks for our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks and TuSimple Path which are our primary user products. Our strategic terminal network is the third pillar of our product suite that provides a highly valuable and accessible infrastructure for our users. The combination of our core technologies and products enable our TuSimple Capacity and Carrier-Owned Capacity offerings which are the two service models through which users can access freight capacity on our AFN. The flexibility of our multiple service models to access the AFN underpins our autonomous freight capacity as a service solution. Each layer of our business model including core

 

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technologies, products and services combines to create an unparalleled user experience which we believe will transform the truck freight industry:

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Our Services

The Autonomous Freight Network is an expanding nationwide network of HD digital mapped routes and terminals coupled with an operational oversight system operated by TuSimple. It is the infrastructure to enable safe and efficient autonomous freight capacity as a service. Our HD digital mapped routes currently span over 3,000 miles across the U.S., and we expect to map the entire 46,000 mile U.S. Interstate System by 2024. We are scaling our AFN through an ecosystem approach by partnering with world class shippers, carriers, railroads, and service providers to de-risk and accelerate the pace of expansion. We believe that our AFN will offer users a comprehensive network to access autonomous long haul freight capacity.

 

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To provide the most flexible solution for our users, we offer two methods to access autonomous freight capacity on our AFN:

 

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Carrier-Owned Capacity. Many of our users own all or a substantial portion of their semi-truck fleet. Large scale shippers such as McLane, for instance, often prefer the oversight and logistical control that comes with owning and operating their semi-truck fleet rather than utilizing third party carriers and freight brokers. Since the third quarter of 2020, users who prefer to own their semi-trucks have been able to reserve over 5,700 of our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks built in partnership with Navistar. By subscribing to TuSimple Path, Carrier-Owned Capacity users will be able to seamlessly integrate autonomous freight operations into their existing supply chain. Users will pay TuSimple a per mile subscription fee to operate the purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck and receive the full benefit of our AFN, including autonomy-enabled routes mapped directly to users’ existing facilities and TuSimple Connect platform. By purchasing our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks and subscribing to TuSimple Path, we expect to drastically decrease our users’ annual total cost of ownership which will yield a payback period of less than one year on the incremental cost of hardware. Assuming an illustrative $0.35 per mile technology subscription fee, we estimate this will save shippers $0.40–0.50 per mile relative to prevailing driver labor costs41, representing approximately $95 thousand annual savings per truck.

TuSimple Capacity. Access to our full service autonomous freight capacity as a service is available to our users through our TuSimple Capacity. We utilize a capital light business model, financing our L4 autonomous semi-trucks through third party fleet asset owners and financing sources. This model provides us with control of operational logistics and user experience as we offer a seamless terminal to terminal freight service to our users. Our users pay for access to our L4 autonomous semi-trucks operating across our AFN on a per mile basis which we anticipate will be at a 10–15% discount to the per mile rate charged by traditional truck freight carriers. Assuming an illustrative $1.70 per mile prevailing traditional freight rate, a 15% lower rate of $1.45 would lead to approximately $25,000 in savings per 100 thousand truckload miles.

Our Products

Purpose-Built L4 Autonomous Semi-truck. We are developing, with Navistar and TRATON, the first vertically integrated L4 purpose-built autonomous semi-truck that we expect will be manufactured at scale to be

 

41 

ATRI; assumes approximately 210,000 truckload miles.

 

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deployed on our AFN. We believe that this vertical integration, coupling proprietary software with hardware manufactured by world class OEMs and components partners as well as roadside assistance and maintenance partnerships, will deliver the most reliable and first-to-market purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks at scale.

 

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Our hardware partnerships allow us to primarily focus our development on our proprietary, core autonomous software while gaining the benefits of a capital light business model. We believe that leveraging these partnerships significantly de-risks and accelerates our pace to commercializing our AFN at the requisite scale to adequately serve the freight industry. We also believe that leading industry participants’ decisions to partner with us further validate our solution.

 

   

Partnership with Navistar. In July 2020, we announced our formal partnership with Navistar, one of the world’s largest commercial truck OEMs. Navistar manufactures its trucks under the International and IC brands. Through our partnership, we intend to produce a line of purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks for the North American market at scale by 2024 in Navistar’s manufacturing facilities. This milestone builds upon our two year relationship with Navistar, and we believe that it is a critical step to building our AFN to scale with highly reliable, integrated hardware solutions. Through our first four months of accepting reservations for our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck, we have accepted over 5,700 reservations from approximately ten customers, each of whom has significant freight operations. Approximately 75% of our reservations were made by customers who operate commercial truck fleets and who are also equity investors in our company. Reservation opportunities were made available to a limited selection of potential customers. We work with our reservation holders to integrate our HD mapped routes, TuSimple Connect oversight system, and other critical elements of our AFN into their freight operations in advance of delivery of our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks. Our current semi-truck reservations typically contemplate delivery over multiple years beginning in 2024 based on our customers’ specifications. We expect to have capacity to fulfill all current reservations according to each customer’s delivery schedule. We enter into reservation agreements with our customers that allow them to secure a priority position to order and purchase one of our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks. Typically, each reservation requires a $500 per truck deposit, however, the deposit requirement has been waived for our equity investors that currently hold reservations. We are currently in the process of collecting these deposits to hold in an escrow account, which can be delivered to us within a 12 month period after entering into a reservation agreement. Until the customer enters into a purchase agreement for our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck, which is within the discretion of the customer, the reservation can be canceled and the

 

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customer is entitled to a full refund of its deposit. Any cancellations and refunds will be satisfied out of the deposits held in the escrow account.

 

   

Partnership with TRATON. In September 2020, we announced a global partnership with TRATON to develop purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks. TRATON, a publicly listed subsidiary of Volkswagen, is one of the world’s largest commercial truck OEMs. Scania, MAN Truck & Bus, and Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus are the truck brands of the TRATON GROUP. We have already begun developing the first L4 autonomous hub-to-hub truck freight route between Södertälje and Jönköping in Sweden using TRATON’s Scania trucks. We believe that, as one of the world’s largest commercial vehicle OEMs, TRATON significantly increases our ability to scale globally and bring our transformative autonomous trucking solution to freight users around the world.

 

   

Tier 1 Ecosystem. Our vertical hardware integration extends beyond OEMs and into Tier 1 supplier partnerships. Tier 1 suppliers manufacture critical components that improve the performance of our system and provide high quality component redundancy. As the architect of the autonomous system, we have important input into which suppliers’ parts best meet our design specifications.

Years of testing and design improvement over the course of our six Series A—F autonomous semi-truck models underpins our confidence in our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck. While our Series A semi-truck illustrated proof of concept in 2017, we have innovated rapidly as we develop an increasingly more reliable and safer autonomous semi-truck. Our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck, developed in partnership with Navistar, represents the next major advance in autonomous semi-truck technology which we believe will be the first autonomous semi-truck produced at scale.

 

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TuSimple Path. Our L4 autonomous semi-trucks are powered by our on-board autonomous driving software, our TuSimple Connect cloud-based autonomous operations oversight system, autonomous HD route mapping support, and emergency roadside assistance to provide safe and seamless end-to-end autonomous freight capacity as a service.

 

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Note:

 

1.

Except weather conditions that significantly impede traction or visibility.

AFN Terminals. We believe that to achieve a meaningful share of the truck freight market, the scale of our network solution is critical. While removing the driver from the semi-truck is highly attractive on a unit economics basis, the solution is not viable for major shippers, carriers, and railroads without a scalable and highly reliable network of terminals connected by HD digital mapped routes. Our terminal network is comprised of both users’ existing terminals as well as TuSimple operated terminals which we lease. We are actively working with our ecosystem of users to expand our footprint of terminals that we operate and which are strategically located to maximize proximity to our users’ facilities. Our AFN connects both our users’ existing terminals and our own operated terminals to facilitate freight movement. We intend to continue to finance the terminals that we operate under a facility lease or other similar financing arrangement. We believe that our growing terminal network is highly complementary with our L4 autonomous semi-trucks’ capability to operate from terminal to terminal, minimizing drayage and operational inefficiency.

 

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Our Core Technology

Highly Efficient and Reliable Autonomous Trucking Technology. We believe that to deliver an exceptional user experience, our autonomous freight solution must be reliable and must easily integrate into our users’ existing supply chains. Our reliability starts with our L4 autonomous semi-trucks powered by our proprietary autonomous software, durable auto-grade hardware, trustworthy maintenance, and on-demand roadside services. We do not believe that an aftermarket or retrofitted autonomous solution can provide long term reliability for scaled commercial development. Furthermore, our advanced, proprietary software and hardware technologies have allowed us to be the first to demonstrate a true terminal to terminal solution, rather than a highway-only ramp to ramp solution. Our L4 autonomous semi-trucks’ ability to navigate beyond highways onto surface streets allows our terminals to be strategically located on-site or near our users’ distribution centers. We believe that a ramp to ramp highway-only L4 autonomous semi-truck would be insufficient for our users because the semi-trucks would still require human operators to drive the semi-trucks to and from on- and off-ramps, decreasing scalability, increasing the chances of accidents, and incurring significant drayage and incremental real estate costs. We believe that our terminal to terminal ability provides a far superior solution because it ensures seamless integration into our users’ existing supply chain—a key minimum hurdle for widespread autonomy adoption.

 

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Full Stack of Proprietary Software Functions. The five core components of our proprietary software stack powering our autonomous system include Perception, Motion Planning, Control, Machine Learning Infrastructure, and Mapping. Each proprietary component is critical and interconnected to meet the unique

 

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challenges of operating an autonomous Class 8 semi-truck. Our software and on-board hardware including sensors, steering, braking, and electronic compute unit systems are seamlessly integrated to enable technological breakthroughs such as our camera-centric long range perception system. We believe that our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck will be significantly safer than a human driver, alleviating a primary pain point for the current freight industry. Safely removing the human driver from long haul trucking will not only reduce labor costs as the largest operating expense but can also reduce accidents, increasing safety for work force, reducing operational lost time, and bringing down insurance costs over time. Including additional savings from increased fuel efficiency and reduced wear on the vehicle, we believe that our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck solution will reduce freight operating costs by up to 50% per mile.

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Perception. The significantly larger mass of a commercial semi-truck coupled with highway driving speeds requires longer braking distances and thus a long planning horizon—significantly longer than that of passenger vehicles. Long range perception is key to our ability to enable this long planning horizon. Our system has a forward perception range of up to 1,000 meters and is capable of detecting, tracking and analyzing the movement patterns of vehicles, including relative speed and distance. Performing 600 trillion operations per second, our on-board software fuses multiple sensors including cameras, light detection and ranging (“LiDAR”) and radar to reconstruct a visual representation of the semi-truck’s surroundings. Our cutting edge perception system is powered by our leading computer vision and artificial intelligence technology.

Motion Planning. Our innovative motion planning software complements our perception system by predicting the future paths of surrounding vehicles. Due to our long range perception technology that allows us to accurately capture the road environment up to 1,000 meters ahead, we have over 35 seconds of planning horizon. By utilizing prediction models which assess vehicle speeds and driver intent, we are able to plan better and safer driving trajectories for our semi-trucks. Central to our prediction engine’s design is the ability to account for interaction with non-compliant drivers which are encountered frequently. Our systems have found that drivers are increasingly non-compliant when in the vicinity of large semi-trucks which increases the importance of our ability to model erratic behaviors of surrounding drivers. We believe that our systems’ ability to accurately forecast the behavior of compliant and non-compliant drivers is highly differentiated and will significantly increase the safety of our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks relative to human drivers.

 

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Control. Our control algorithms receive input from the motion planning module to put into action a safe and efficient driving trajectory. These algorithms must be designed specifically for the semi-truck use case, as semi-trucks are significantly less nimble than passenger cars, with characteristics including longer gear shift timeframes and the need for higher actuation accuracy. Our control system is designed to dynamically adapt to varying truck trailer cargo weights as well as crosswind speeds which can both drastically alter the movement of and create unique challenges for semi-trucks. We believe that combining long range perception, longer planning horizons, and highly accurate control algorithms makes the driving performance of our on-board software significantly smoother and more fuel efficient than that of a human driver.

Technology Specifically Designed for Semi-Trucks. L4 autonomous semi-trucks present distinct challenges. The combination of a semi-truck’s weight and typical highway speeds requires approximately 2x longer stopping distances than passenger vehicles. Due to their length, semi-trucks can take up to 16 seconds to make a left hand turn which requires a significantly longer planning horizon than passenger vehicles. Our proprietary sensor platform and predictive AI allow our trucks to safely navigate these unique challenges.

 

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Sources: Schneider, California Department of Motor Vehicles.

Machine Learning Infrastructure. The accuracy of our perception and motion planning capabilities is augmented by our proprietary machine learning algorithms. Over the course of 2.8 million road miles and 150+ million simulation miles, we have accumulated a vast set of semi-truck specific driving data with which to train our perception and motion planning capabilities. We focus our data collection and storage efforts on both quality and quantity. This enables our database to be informative and relatively easily analyzed by our machine learning software which currently has the capacity to process 100 thousand instances per day. This data analysis trains our software to more accurately predict how the surrounding environment of a semi-truck will change in real time.

HD Mapping. We believe that integrated mapping software is crucial for the operation of an L4 autonomous semi-truck. Our AFN is comprised of HD digital maps of the major freight corridors over which our semi-trucks

 

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operate. By developing our own proprietary nationwide freight route maps, we can have control over and visibility of the routes within our AFN, facilitating greater precision, accuracy and reliability of our system. Data collected by the semi-trucks in transit allows us to continually improve map accuracy and affirm semi-truck position. Our proprietary maps are developed by driving camera, LiDAR and GPS equipped commercial vehicles along the target freight route several times. This data collection is followed by fully automated processing which fine tunes and generates full 3D high definition maps at an accuracy of five centimeters or less.

Our Semi-trucks Today. We currently operate 70 L4 autonomous semi-trucks with 50 on our AFN in the U.S. and 20 in China. Our L4 autonomous semi-trucks currently operate with a safety driver and safety engineer in the cabin to ensure adequate oversight as we continue to improve our technology. Our Class 8 semi-trucks are outfitted with autonomous hardware including, what we believe is, the world’s most advanced L4 autonomous semi-truck sensor system. Our hardware and software systems are fully redundant for safety. Our L4 autonomous semi-trucks are completing revenue generating routes for our shipper and carrier users via our AFN. By partnering with OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers to vertically integrate the production process, we believe that we can significantly reduce production costs of our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck.

World-Class Sensor System. Our proprietary sensor system is critical to our L4 autonomous semi-trucks’ perception range and accuracy. We designed a proprietary camera module coupled with our proprietary software that enables the semi-truck’s 1,000 meter perception range, even in low light conditions. This range across lighting environments is designed to provide our semi-trucks with sufficient reaction time to safely operate at highway speeds, ultimately allowing for a planning horizon up to 35 seconds. Our camera-centric system is powered by both primary and backup cameras, providing a fully redundant camera system for increased safety. Augmenting the camera perception is an array of LiDAR, radar systems, GPS, and ultrasonic sensors. Our combined use of cameras and sensors provides our semi-trucks with superior perception range, while also being highly accurate in different road scenarios. With the exception of our specially designed long range high definition camera, we have sourced the balance of our sensor suite from existing third party products in order to reduce the cost of the overall system.

 

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Proprietary HD Mapping Capability. Our in-house mapping technology can quickly map new routes and provide users with more location options for shipping on our AFN. Our proprietary mapping technology and process is accurate to within five centimeters. Precise localization accuracy is crucial to safely operate semi-trucks autonomously given the 8.5 foot average tractor width, particularly when travelling on local streets which average just 10 feet wide. We are able to map new routes at a rate of over 250 miles per week which translates into our ability to map a typical “middle mile” route for a user in approximately four weeks on average. This nimble, flexible approach allows us to quickly meet our users’ evolving freight demands while efficiently expanding our network.

Cloud-Based Operational and Monitoring System. Our seamless user experience is enhanced by our proprietary TuSimple Connect system. This cloud-based autonomous operations oversight system is designed to ensure safe operations, reliability, and efficient capacity for our users. The system directly connects to our users’ Transportation Management Systems, integrating TuSimple Connect into their supply chain and creating a close user relationship. Our users can book and track their freight seamlessly with real-time two way communication that allows our AFN to dynamically match freight supply with demand.

Network-Based Approach

Network-Based Approach Encourages Faster Adoption. We believe that our AFN will provide a superior user experience by solving truck freight supply and demand pain points while significantly improving safety and lowering emissions. We expect our superior user experience and attractive per mile economics to drive rapid adoption of our solution and increase our AFN network’s density. As demand increases, we expect utilization rates of semi-trucks already on our AFN to grow, which will make adding additional semi-trucks, terminals, and routes increasingly attractive. More L4 autonomous semi-trucks, terminals, and routes increase available capacity on our AFN which increases network density and further enables the on-demand nature of our solution. Our capital light business model significantly reduces friction to scale and allows capacity to be added quickly by leveraging third parties to finance additional L4 autonomous semi-trucks and strategic terminal locations. As more semi-trucks, terminals, and routes are added, freight capacity and on-demand availability on the AFN increase as well, leading to a self-perpetuating system and further accelerating network growth.

 

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Our Competitive Strengths

We believe that the following strengths position us well to lead the transition to autonomous trucking and build an attractive, network based business model:

We are the Leader in Autonomous Trucking. We have accomplished many first of their kind milestones for an L4 autonomous semi-truck technology company. We believe that we are further in the development of our autonomous technology and closest to commercialization of any L4 autonomous semi-truck technology company.

 

   

First to announce partnerships with OEMs via our Navistar and TRATON partnerships

 

   

First to announce an investment from a major carrier when UPS invested in our company in 2019

 

   

First to establish a near highway terminal for autonomous commercial freight operations

 

   

First and only to demonstrate L4 autonomous semi-truck driving on both surface streets and highways

 

   

First L4 autonomous semi-truck to haul a paid freight load

We Are Solely Focused on the Truck Freight Market. Autonomous trucking has specific technical and operational challenges. L4 autonomous semi-truck driving operations are materially different than passenger cars, principally as a result of a semi-truck’s weight, size, and configuration. Furthermore, a semi-truck engaged in hauling freight is a significantly different use case than a personal vehicle or rideshare vehicle principally engaged in passenger transportation in urban environments. We believe that our focus on the particular challenges of the truck freight market provides a significant competitive advantage relative to companies which have historically focused on autonomous passenger vehicle development.

Autonomous Technology Leadership. Our intellectual property portfolio includes over 240 patents worldwide. Some of the key elements of our technology include our 1,000 meter perception system, multi-sensor fusion, prediction model, and planning capabilities. We believe that our technology is highly differentiated and is a key enabler of bringing our solution to commercialization.

Validation of our Technology and Approach. Our partnerships with, and in some cases investments from, sophisticated companies from the freight and technology industries, such as NVIDIA, UPS, Navistar, TRATON, U.S. Xpress, Werner, Schneider, and CN, validate the strength of our technology and our business model. We believe that we have the most significant and most numerous points of external validation of our technology and approach among autonomous trucking technology companies.

Proprietary Relationships with World Class Hardware Partners. Our partnerships with semi-truck OEMs such as Navistar and TRATON as well as other hardware partners such as NVIDIA help us develop a reliable, scalable production semi-truck. The partnerships allow us to primarily focus our technology development on our proprietary core L4 autonomous semi-truck software while gaining the benefits of capital light vertical integration.

Our AFN has an Unmatched Group of Global Leaders in Freight. We have developed an ecosystem of users and commercial partners including UPS, McLane, JB Hunt, U.S. Xpress, Werner, Schneider, and CN, who are some of the largest and most sophisticated participants in the freight ecosystem. Our partners are critical in helping us test and develop our autonomous trucking solution and accelerate adoption of our AFN.

Environmental Sustainability Benefits. We have demonstrated a 10% improvement in fuel efficiency compared to traditional truck freight through our technology. This was conducted through a study with University of California San Diego and using empirical data with our users. We believe that fuel efficiency is important to large shippers and fleets, both in terms of cost savings and for reducing carbon footprint.

 

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World Class Management Team with Multi-Disciplinary Experience. Our organization is led by a world class team with a diversity of expertise and experience. The team is balanced across entrepreneurial, finance, trucking technology, and logistics expertise with experience at some of the world’s foremost organizations in those areas. We believe that this team is critical to our success given the scale and complexity of the market which we are transforming. By drawing from experiences ranging across technology, logistics, investing and other relevant areas, we believe that our team is a core competitive strength as we build out our AFN.

Industry Leading Technology Team. Members of our technical team have made significant contributions to the advancement of artificial intelligence and machine vision technologies. For example, members of our team invented Spectral Saliency Theory, which is one of the most influential theories of the past decade relating to machine vision, which is a key enabler for safe and reliable L4 autonomous truck operations.

Our Strategy

We continue to build on our position as a global leader in autonomous trucking technology, building safer, more reliable, efficient and lower carbon footprint freight transportation. Key elements of our strategy include:

Build Upon Our Track Record of Autonomous Trucking Achievements. Since our founding in 2015, we have pushed the boundaries of autonomous vehicle software and hardware. Our centralized data processing and storage system is designed to maximize the value of our 2.8 million road miles and 150+ million simulation miles, allowing us to become a leader in solving complex autonomous trucking edge cases.

 

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Expand our Autonomous Freight Network Across the U.S. We intend to build out our network of freight terminals, AFN partners, and HD digital mapped routes, expanding from our existing footprint in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas to nationwide coverage across major interstate highways by 2024. We are currently mapping roadways at a pace of over 250 miles per week. Our goal is to achieve route map coverage of the entire continental U.S. by 2024. We intend to have revenue sharing agreements with our ecosystem partners, which we believe will incentivize them to help expand and enhance our AFN. In addition, carriers, shippers, and railroads

 

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will have the opportunity to significantly improve their operating margins by participating in our AFN as users and commercial partners, creating a powerful network effect.

Demonstrate Driver-Out Testing. In 2021, we expect to demonstrate our semi-truck operating on public roads without a safety driver or passenger on-board. This demonstration is designed to prove out the advanced progress of our technology and will serve as one of the key upcoming milestones toward full autonomous freight operations.

Begin Production of Our Purpose-Built L4 Autonomous Semi-Truck. In partnership with Navistar, we have commenced co-development of a purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck for commercial production by 2024 for the U.S. market. In the third quarter of 2020, we, along with Navistar, started taking reservations for the semi-truck, which we expect to be an important indicator of user demand for our offering. We intend to begin filling reservations over a multi-year period commencing in 2024, with actual date of delivery based on our customers’ specifications.

Offer Multiple Ways to Serve Our Users. We will offer several ways for users to access our AFN, both for those that prefer an asset light model and those that prefer to own their fleet. A summary of our different user offerings is set forth in the business section under “Our Solution.”

Continued Focus on Achievement of Key Technology and Business Milestones. We intend to continue to build on our existing technological and business milestones to advance towards full commercialization. We will continue to enhance our L4 autonomous semi-truck technology and establish additional commercial partnerships in key areas, such as hardware, financing, insurance and freight brokerage.

Global Expansion. In addition to building our U.S. based AFN, we intend to expand commercialization internationally. We plan to build a purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck specifically for the Europe and China market with our OEM partner TRATON. Our expansion in both regions will augment and complement our AFN commercialization in the United States. We believe that China and Europe represent significant opportunities given China and Greater Asia represent an approximately $1.7 trillion TAM with 7.6 million heavy duty trucks and Europe represents an estimated $400 billion TAM with 2.3 million heavy duty trucks.42

 

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TAM figures per Armstrong & Associates; China truck count per National Bureau of Statistics; Europe truck count per Eurostat.

 

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Competition

We view ourselves as a partner to the key stakeholders in the traditional truck freight industry rather than a competitor. We believe that our AFN solution will address the key supply and demand pain points faced by the industry today and that our technology will make truck freight shipper and carrier operations significantly safer and more efficient. We believe that our partnerships with well-established industry participants validates this collaborative approach.

Despite our partnership approach, we face significant competition from traditional freight carriers and shippers. The truck freight industry is fragmented and highly competitive, historically leading to pricing pressure and low operating margins. We will compete with traditional carriers on reliability, price, and safety. We believe that our technology provides us with a significant advantage across each of these key competitive areas.

While we face technological competition from other autonomous vehicle companies, we believe that our exclusive focus on the semi-truck use case differentiates us from other autonomous vehicle companies. L4 autonomous semi-trucks present distinct challenges relative to autonomous passenger vehicles, and we believe that overlap in technological capabilities is limited. We also believe that our lead in solved semi-truck autonomy edge cases, extensive patent portfolio, and well-established industry partnerships further strengthen our leadership position.

Government Regulation

We believe that the current regulatory environment exhibits a clear path for L4 autonomous semi-trucks to deploy nationwide and that working collaboratively with regulators and ecosystem partners will create a safer freight industry. The U.S. Department of Transportation has stated that “the United States Government is committed to fostering surface transportation innovations to ensure the United States leads the world in automated vehicle (AV) technology development and integration while prioritizing safety, security and privacy and safeguarding the freedoms enjoyed by Americans.” Today, 43 states allow autonomous semi-truck testing, of which 24 states allow autonomous semi-truck commercial deployment. We believe that the current regulatory environment exhibits a clear path toward autonomous trucking solutions nationwide and that regulators will be our partners in creating a new, drastically safer freight industry.

At the federal level in the United States, the safety of commercial motor vehicles is regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation through two federal Agencies – the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (the “NHTSA”) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (the “FMCSA”). NHTSA establishes the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (the “FMVSS”) for motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment and oversees the actions that manufacturers of motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment are required to take regarding the reporting of information related to defects or injuries related to their products and the recall and repair of vehicles and equipment that contain safety defects or fail to comply with the FMVSS. FMCSA regulates the safety of commercial motor carriers operating in interstate commerce, the qualifications and safety of commercial motor vehicle drivers, and the safe operation of commercial trucks.

While there are currently no federal U.S. regulations expressly pertaining to the safety of autonomous driving systems for trucks, the U.S. Department of Transportation has established recommended voluntary guidelines, and NHTSA and FMCSA have authority to take enforcement action should an automated driving system pose an unreasonable risk to safety or inhibit the safe operation of a commercial motor vehicle. Certain U.S. states have legal restrictions on autonomous driving vehicles, and many other states are considering them. This patchwork increases the legal complexity for our purpose-built autonomous trucks. In Europe, certain vehicle safety regulations apply to self-driving braking and steering systems, and certain treaties also restrict the legality of certain higher levels of autonomous driving vehicles. Autonomous driving laws and regulations are expected to continue to evolve in numerous jurisdictions in the U.S. and foreign countries and may create restrictions on autonomous driving features that we develop.

 

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As the trucks that carry our technology go into production, we are subject to existing stringent requirements overseen by NHTSA under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 (the “Vehicle Safety Act”), including a duty to report, subject to strict timing requirements, safety defects with our products. The Vehicle Safety Act imposes potentially significant civil penalties for violations including the failure to comply with such reporting actions. We are also subject to the existing U.S. Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation Act (the “TREAD Act”), which requires motor vehicle equipment manufacturers, such as us, to comply with “Early Warning” requirements by reporting certain information to NHTSA, such as information related to defects or reports of injury related to our products. The TREAD Act imposes criminal liability for violating such requirements if a defect subsequently causes death or bodily injury.

In addition, the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act authorizes NHTSA to require a manufacturer to recall and repair vehicles that contain safety defects or fail to comply with U.S. federal motor vehicle safety standards. Sales into foreign countries may be subject to similar regulations. As the development of federal and state regulation of autonomous machines and vehicles continues to evolve, we may be subject to additional regulatory schemes.

In addition, our operations are subject to various international, federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing pollution and protection of the environment, the use, generation, storage, management, discharge, transportation, disposal, and release of, and human exposure to, hazardous and toxic materials, and the occupational health and safety of our employees. Our truck drivers and trucking operations are subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (the “FMCSRs”) established by FMCSA, and we are subject to the requirements of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, as amended (“OSHA”), and comparable international, state, and local laws that protect and regulate employee health and safety.

In order for us to operate in international markets outside the U.S., we must comply with relevant legal regulations regarding autonomous vehicles as well as technology export control, data security, cybersecurity and other related regulations that apply to global technology companies. We have developed robust compliance processes and procedures related to these regulatory requirements and believe that we are in compliance with such requirements. We do not believe there are any regulatory restrictions that would materially restrict our ability to operate in our key markets of the U.S., China or Europe. We are in regular dialogue with the relevant regulatory policy bodies globally and will continue to comply with these regulations or any updates thereof.

On March 1, 2021, the CFIUS Staff Chairperson, acting at the direction of the Committee, requested that we file a written notice regarding the 2017 purchase of shares of our Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock by Sun Dream, Inc. (“Investor”), an affiliate of Sina Corporation (the “Investment”). Investor currently holds shares of our redeemable convertible preferred stock, which will be converted into Class A common stock upon the completion of this offering. After the completion of this offering, Investor will hold approximately         % of the outstanding shares of our capital stock, but will only hold approximately         % of our outstanding voting power. We intend to file the requested notice jointly with Investor. Once this joint notice is accepted, CFIUS will have 45 days to conduct a review of the Investment, after which CFIUS could (i) conclude that the Investment is not a covered transaction subject to CFIUS jurisdiction, (ii) clear the Investment by concluding that the Investment presents no unresolved national security concerns, or (iii) initiate a 45-day investigation of the Investment. At the conclusion of the investigation period, CFIUS may clear the Investment or, as a condition to clearing the Investment, require the parties to enter into an agreement to mitigate any unresolved national security concerns. Such a mitigation agreement could, among other things, restrict Investor’s access to certain information in our possession (which could impose additional costs on us) or revise Investor’s governance rights. In addition, if the President concludes that the Investment threatens to impair the national security of the United States, the President may order that Investor divest its interest in our shares. We can provide no assurance regarding the resolution of the CFIUS process. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our International Operations—Changes to trade policy, tariffs, and import/export regulations may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.”

 

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Strategic Collaboration with Navistar

In July 2020, we formalized a partnership with Navistar to jointly and collaboratively develop a Level 4 autonomous solution for Class 8 tractors, with the goal of having factory produced purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks available at scale in 2024. As part of this partnership, we have also negotiated with Navistar terms for a production license agreement to commercially market and provide services for autonomous trucks thereafter.

The product development process will follow a stage gate development model for the production of purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks. We are providing the software, system design, and requirements for the autonomous truck while Navistar serves as the system integrator for the truck hardware and is responsible for validation and testing. Navistar and we have also established a reservation program in the third quarter of 2020 for both of our strategic customers to pre-order Level 4 autonomous Class 8 tractors. We received over 5,700 reservations within the first four months of availability from approximately ten customers, each of whom has significant freight operations. Approximately 75% of our reservations were made by customers who operate commercial truck fleets and who are also equity investors in our company. Reservation opportunities were made available to a limited selection of potential customers. We work with our reservation holders to integrate our HD mapped routes, TuSimple Connect oversight system, and other critical elements of our AFN into their freight operations in advance of delivery of our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks. Our current semi-truck reservations typically contemplate delivery over multiple years beginning in 2024 based on our customers’ specifications. We expect to have capacity to fulfill all current reservations according to each customer’s delivery schedule. We enter into reservation agreements with our customers that allow them to secure a priority position to order and purchase one of our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-trucks. Typically, each reservation requires a $500 per truck deposit, however, the deposit requirement has been waived for our equity investors that currently hold reservations. We are currently in the process of collecting these deposits to hold in an escrow account, which can be delivered to us within a 12 month period after entering into a reservation agreement. Until the customer enters into a purchase agreement for our purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck, which is within the discretion of the customer, the reservation can be canceled and the customer is entitled to a full refund of its deposit. Any cancellations and refunds will be satisfied out of the deposits held in the escrow account.

Research and Development

We have invested a significant amount of time and effort into research and development of proprietary artificial intelligence, algorithms, and software to solidify our technology leadership in the market. Our ability to maintain this leadership position depends in part on our ongoing research and development activities. Our research and development team is responsible for the design, development, and testing of our technology.

Our research and development is largely conducted at our headquarters in San Diego, California. As of December 31, 2020, we had 673 full time employees engaged in our research and development activities.

Intellectual Property

Our ability to be at the forefront of innovation in the autonomous trucking and freight transport market largely depends on our ability to obtain, maintain, and protect our intellectual property and other proprietary rights relating to our key technology, and our ability to successfully enforce these rights against third parties. To accomplish this, we rely on a combination of intellectual property rights, such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets (including know-how), in addition to employee and third-party nondisclosure agreements, intellectual property licenses, and other contractual rights. Our success also depends in part on our ability to operate without infringing, misappropriating, or otherwise violating the intellectual property and proprietary rights of others, and in part, on our ability to prevent others from infringing, misappropriating, or otherwise violating our intellectual property and proprietary rights. A comprehensive discussion on risks relating to intellectual property is provided under the section titled “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property, Information Technology, and Data Privacy.”

 

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As of December 31, 2020, we had approximately 247 issued patents and 571 pending patent applications globally, including 77 issued patents in the United States and various counterpart patents in China. Our patents in the United States expire between February 2035 and September 2039, and our patents in China expire between November 2026 and February 2039. Our issued patents and patent applications cover a broad range of system level and component level aspects of autonomous technology, and we intend to continue to file additional patent applications with respect to our technology.

Legal Proceedings

We are currently not a party to any material legal or administrative proceedings. We are from time to time involved in actions, claims, suits, and other proceedings in the ordinary course of our business. In addition, from time to time, third parties may in the future assert intellectual property infringement claims against us in the form of letters and other forms of communication. Litigation or any other legal or administrative proceeding, regardless of the outcome, can result in substantial cost and diversion of our resources, including our management’s time and attention.

Our People and Culture

We pride ourselves on the talent, passion, and dedication of our employees, who are united in our goal to revolutionize the global freight market. As of December 31, 2020, we had 839 full-time employees. The majority of our employees are based in San Diego, California, with others located in Arizona and Beijing, China.

We have built a values-based culture that emphasizes values such as striving for excellence, transparency, and support for each other. Our employees have access to development stipends, a wide range of training, different career paths, and, most importantly, challenging and purposeful work. Our culture is also built on diversity, inclusion, camaraderie, and celebration. We organize regular cultural events, teambuilding activities and public recognition forums to celebrate our diversity and invest in strong relationships.

Apart from culture and career development, we offer a robust benefits package. This package includes vacation days, paid parental leave, 401(k), performance bonuses, and a premier health plan for employees and their dependents. We also regularly survey and host roundtables with our employees to better understand their needs and perspectives, and, as a result of these discussions, we have added benefits including conference funds, fitness stipends, teambuilding budgets, and pet insurance.

Facilities

Our corporate headquarters is located in San Diego, California, consisting of approximately 21,000 square feet of office space, primarily for corporate administration as well as research and development. In addition to our headquarters, we have also leased a number of our facilities in Arizona. We believe that our office space is adequate for our current needs, and we believe that we will be able to obtain additional space on commercially reasonable terms if needed.

 

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MANAGEMENT

Executive Officers and Directors

The following table sets forth information regarding our executive officers and directors, as of the date of this prospectus:

 

Name

   Age     

Position

Executive Officers

     

Mo Chen

     36      Director, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman

Xiaodi Hou

     36      Director, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer

Cheng Lu

     38      Director, President and Chief Executive Officer

Patrick Dillon

     38      Chief Financial Officer

James Mullen

     51      Chief Administrative and Legal Officer

Non-Employee Directors

     

Brad Buss

     57      Director

Charles Chao

     55      Director

Karen Francis

     58      Director

Bonnie Yi Zhang

     47      Director

Other Key Management

     

Charles Price

     63      Chief Product Officer

Executive Officers

Mo Chen is our co-founder and has served as our executive chairman since September 2020 and as a member of our Board of Directors since our inception in 2015. Mr. Chen served as our chief executive officer from our inception in 2015 to September 2020. Prior to founding our company, Mr. Chen served as founder and chief executive officer at Deep Blue Brothers, an online gaming platform. Prior to that, he served as founder of startups in the fields of traditional and online advertising and used car online marketplace. He has more than 12 years of entrepreneurship and management experience. We believe that Mr. Chen should serve as a member of our Board of Directors because he is experienced in founding, leading and managing technology companies.

Xiaodi Hou is our co-founder and has served as our chief technology officer and a member of our Board of Directors since our inception in 2015. Mr. Hou has more than ten years of research and development experience in computer vision and machine learning and is responsible for our new technology and advanced product development. Mr. Hou currently holds 13 patents in the field of autonomous vehicles. In the field of computer vision, Mr. Hou has developed leading theories in computational models for visual saliency. Prior to founding our company, Mr. Hou served as co-founder and chief technology officer at Cogtu, an image recognition technology company. Mr. Hou also serves as the reviewer of more than ten major computer vision journals and conferences. He holds a Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology and a B.Eng in computer science from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. We believe that Mr. Hou should serve as a member of our Board of Directors because of his expertise in, and contributions to, our technologies.

Cheng Lu has served as our president since January 2019, as our chief executive officer since September 2020 and as a member of our Board of Directors since June 2020. Mr. Lu also served as our chief financial officer from January 2019 to December 2020. Mr. Lu has more than 13 years of experience in strategy and corporate finance. Prior to joining us, from 2016 to 2019, Mr. Lu served as co-founder and chief operating officer of KCA Capital Partners, a Pan-Asian growth equity investment fund. Previously, from 2014 to 2016, Mr. Lu served as principal at HOPU Investments, from 2011 to 2014, as principal at CITIC Capital, from 2006 to 2008, as associate at Cerberus Capital, and from 2005 to 2006, as investment banking analyst with Citigroup in New York. Mr. Lu holds a B.S. in computer science and economics from the University of Virginia, and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. We believe that Mr. Lu should serve as a member of our Board of Directors because of his leadership experience with our company and his background in corporate finance and strategy.

 

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Patrick Dillon has served as our chief financial officer since December 2020. Mr. Dillon has more than thirteen years of experience working in finance, investment banking and public accounting. Prior to joining us, from August 2011 to December 2020, Mr. Dillon was a member of the investment banking division of Morgan Stanley, co-leading its coverage of vehicle technology companies. During his tenure at Morgan Stanley working in both the New York and Chicago offices, Mr. Dillon advised clients on capital raising, mergers and acquisitions and other strategic transactions. Prior to his work at Morgan Stanley, Mr. Dillon was a member of Deloitte’s tax consulting practice in Chicago from 2005 to 2009. Mr. Dillon holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and M.S. in accountancy from the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

James Mullen has served as our chief administrative and legal officer since September 2020. Mr. Mullen has more than 15 years of executive leadership experience in the trucking industry. Mr. Mullen is also a member of the Board of Directors for the American Trucking Associations, the largest and most comprehensive national trade association for the trucking industry. Prior to joining us, from October 2019 to September 2020, Mr. Mullen was the acting administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”) where he was responsible for regulating over 500,000 motor carriers and over 3.5 million commercial drivers and was responsible for the agency’s $700 million budget and 53 field offices. From June 2018 to October 2019, Mr. Mullen was the chief counsel of the FMCSA rendering legal services and policy direction for the FMCSA. From December 2016 to June 2018, Mr. Mullen was a professional consultant providing services and advice to large motor carriers and trade associations. From June 2006 to December 2016, Mr. Mullen was an executive at Werner Enterprises, Inc., a publicly-traded transportation and logistics company, serving as executive vice president and general counsel from May 2010 to December 2016 and as vice president and general counsel of litigation from June 2006 to May 2010. From 1993 to 2006, Mr. Mullen was in the private practice of law. Mr. Mullen holds a J.D. from the University of Nebraska College of Law and a B.A. in economics from the University of Nebraska.

Non-Employee Directors

Brad Buss has been a member of our Board of Directors since January 31, 2021. From August 2014 until his retirement in February 2016, Mr. Buss served as the Chief Financial Officer of SolarCity. Prior to joining SolarCity, from August 2005 to June 2014, Mr. Buss was the Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, a semiconductor design and manufacturing company. From 2009 to 2019, Mr. Buss served as a director of Tesla. Mr. Buss also serves as a director and chair of the Audit Committee of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and as the chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee and a member of the Audit Committee of Marvell Technology Group Ltd. Additionally, Mr. Buss serves as the chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Compensation Committee at QuantumScape and the chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and a member of the Compensation and Organization Committee at AECOM. Mr. Buss served as a director, chair of the Audit Committee, and member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of CafePress Inc. from October 2007 to July 2016 and as a director and member of the Audit and Compensation Committees of Cavium, Inc. from July 2016 until its acquisition by Marvell in July 2018. Mr. Buss holds a B.A. in economics from McMaster University and an honors business administration degree, majoring in finance and accounting, from the University of Windsor. We believe that Mr. Buss possesses specific attributes that qualify him to serve as a member of the Board, including his executive experience and his financial and accounting expertise with both public and private companies in diverse industries.

Charles Chao has been a member of the Board since April 22, 2019. Mr. Chao currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Directors and as Chief Executive Officer of Sina Corporation. In his time at Sina Corporation, Mr. Chao also served as President from 2005 to 2013, Chief Financial Officer from 2001 to 2006, Co-Chief Operating Officer from 2004 to 2005, Executive Vice President from 2002 to 2003, and Vice President of Finance from 1999 to 2001. Prior to joining Sina Corporation, Mr. Chao served as an audit manager at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, LLP, an accounting firm. Prior to that, Mr. Chao was a news correspondent at

 

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Shanghai Media Group. Mr Chao is currently the Chairman of the board of Sina Corporation’s subsidiary, Weibo Corporation, a leading social media company, a director of NetDragon Websoft Inc., a company providing technology for online gaming, and a director of Leju, an online-to-offline (O2O) real estate services provider in China. Mr. Chao holds a B.A. in Journalism from Fudan University in Shanghai and an M.A. in Journalism from University of Oklahoma. He earned his Master of Professional Accounting degree from University of Texas at Austin. We believe Mr. Chao’s executive and accounting experience are an excellent asset to the Board of Directors.

Karen C. Francis has been a member of the Board since February 1, 2021. Since September 2020, Ms. Francis has served as the chair of the board, chair of the Compensation & Management Development Committee and a member of the Audit Committee at Vontier Corporation, a public company focused on mobility and transportation businesses. In addition, Ms. Francis serves as Senior Advisor to TPG Capital. Previously, Ms. Francis served on the Board of Directors of Telenav, Inc. from December 2016 to November 2019. Ms. Francis served as lead independent director, chair of the Compensation Committee and a member of the Nominating and Governance Committee of Telenav, Inc. Prior to that, she served as a director of The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. from May 2014 to May 2017 and AutoNation, Inc. from February 2016 to April 2018. Ms. Francis served as Chief Executive Officer of AcademixDirect, Inc., a technology innovator in education, and as its Executive Chairman from 2009 to 2017. From 2004 to 2007, Ms. Francis was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Publicis & Hal Riney. From 2001 to 2002, she served as Vice President of Ford Motor Company. From 1996 to 2000, Ms. Francis held several positions with General Motors, including serving as General Manager of the Oldsmobile Division. Ms. Francis holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.A. in economics from Dartmouth College. Ms. Francis brings to our Board of Directors her experience as a Chief Executive Officer, director, strategic advisor and investor with a deep knowledge of corporate governance and a strong track record of successfully building companies and businesses across multiple industries and sizes.

Bonnie Yi Zhang has been a member of our Board of Directors since September 30, 2020. Ms. Zhang currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors and as Chief Financial Officer of Sina Corporation. Prior to joining Sina Corporation, Ms. Zhang served as Chief Financial Officer of Weibo Corporation, a subsidiary of Sina Corporation from 2014 to 2015. Before working at Weibo Corporation, Ms. Zhang was the Chief Financial Officer of AdChina Ltd., a company operating an integrated internet advertising platform in China, from 2011 to 2014. From 2007 to 2011, Ms. Zhang was an audit partner of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu based in Shanghai, with a focus on serving Chinese companies listed in the United States and Chinese companies making initial public offerings in the United States. From 2005 to 2007, she served as a senior manager in the National Office SEC Services group of Deloitte & Touche, LLP. While she was with that group, Ms. Zhang was primarily responsible for pre-issuance reviews of securities offering documents and periodic reports to be filed with the SEC and was primarily focused on foreign private issuers. Ms. Zhang graduated summa cum laude in 1997 with a B.A. in Business Administration from McDaniel College in Maryland. She is a certified public accountant in the State of Maryland and is a member of the American Institution of Certified Public Accountants. Ms. Zhang brings to our Board of Directors extensive experience in financial accounting and reporting as well as significant executive experience.

Other Key Management

Charles Price has served as our chief product officer since September 2017. Mr. Price has more than 25 years of experience in research and development, and holds 10 patents, six of which are in the connected and automated vehicles field. Prior to joining us, from 2014 to 2017, Mr. Price served as vice president of Peloton Technology, from 2009 to 2014, as co-founder and CTO of Classic Law in Beijing, China, from 2007 to 2009, as a vice president of Oracle Corporation, from 2005 to 2007, as vice president of Active Reasoning, and from 2001 to 2003, as senior vice president of Hotjobs.com (acquired by Yahoo, Inc.). Mr. Price was the co-founder of Lumenare Networks (acquired by Dell), chief engineer of Broadvision, Inc., served four years at Sun Microsystems and 10 years at Digital Equipment Corporation. Mr. Price was a member of the U.S. Air Force, attending the U.S. Air Force Academy four years and studying in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department.

 

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Board Composition

Our board of directors currently consists of seven members, who were elected pursuant to the amended and restated shareholders’ agreement that we entered into with certain holders of our Class A common stock and certain holders of our redeemable convertible preferred stock and the related provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

The relevant provisions of this shareholders’ agreement will terminate upon the completion of this offering, after which there will be no further contractual obligations regarding the election of our directors. Our directors hold office until their successors have been elected and qualified or appointed, or the earlier of their death, resignation, or removal.

Prior to the Voting Threshold Date, we will not have a classified board of directors, and all directors will be elected for annual terms.

At any time after the Voting Threshold Date, we will have a classified board of directors consisting of three classes of approximately equal size, each serving staggered three-year terms. Our directors will be assigned by the then-current board of directors to a class.

Upon expiration of the term of a class of directors, directors for that class will be elected for three-year terms at the annual meeting of stockholders in the year in which that term expires. As a result, only one class of directors will be elected at each annual meeting of our stockholders, with the other classes continuing for the remainder of their respective three-year terms. Each director’s term continues until the election and qualification of his or her successor, or his or her earlier death, resignation, or removal.

So long as our board of directors is classified, only our board of directors may fill vacancies on our board. Any additional directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors will be distributed among the three classes so that, as nearly as possible, each class will consist of one-third of the total number of directors.

The classification of our board of directors may have the effect of delaying or preventing changes in our control or management. See the section titled “Description of Capital Stock—Anti-Takeover Provisions—Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaw Provisions.”

Director Independence

We have applied to have our Class A common stock listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. Our board of directors has undertaken a review of the independence of each director. Based on information provided by each director concerning his or her background, employment, and affiliations, our board of directors has determined that all members of the board of directors, except Messrs. Chen, Hou, and Lu, are independent, as determined in accordance with the rules of the Nasdaq Global Select Market. In making such independence determination, our board of directors considered the relationships that each such non-employee director has with us and all other facts and circumstances that the board of directors deemed relevant in determining their independence, including the beneficial ownership of our share capital by each non-employee director. In considering the independence of the directors listed above, our board of directors considered the association of our directors with the holders of more than 5% of our share capital. Upon the closing of this offering, we expect that the composition and functioning of our board of directors and each of our committees will comply with all applicable requirements of and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.

Board Oversight of Risk

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executive officers are responsible for the day-to-day management of the material risks we face. Our board of directors administers its oversight function directly as a whole and after this offering through various standing committees of our board of directors that address risks inherent in their respective areas of oversight. For example, our audit committee is responsible for overseeing the management of risks associated with our financial reporting, accounting, and auditing matters; our compensation committee oversees the management of risks associated with our compensation policies and programs; and our nominating and corporate governance committee oversees the management of risks associated with director independence, conflicts of interest, composition and organization of our board of directors, and director succession planning.

Board Committees

Upon the completion of this offering, our board of directors will have established an audit committee, a compensation committee, and a nominating and corporate governance committee. Our board of directors may establish other committees to facilitate the management of our business. Our board of directors and its committees set schedules for meeting throughout the year and can also hold special meetings and act by written consent from time to time, as appropriate. Our board of directors has delegated various responsibilities and authority to its committees as generally described below. The committees will regularly report on their activities and actions to the full board of directors. Each member of each committee of our board of directors qualifies as an independent director in accordance with the listing standards of the Nasdaq Global Select Market. Each committee of our board of directors has a written charter approved by our board of directors. Upon the completion of this offering, copies of each charter will be posted on our website at www.tusimple.com under the Investor Relations section. The inclusion of our website address in this prospectus does not include or incorporate by reference the information on our website into this prospectus. Members serve on these committees until their resignation or until otherwise determined by our board of directors.

Audit Committee

The members of our audit committee are Mr. Buss and Mses. Francis and Zhang, each of whom can read and understand fundamental financial statements. Each of Mr. Buss and Ms. Francis, is independent under the rules and regulations of the SEC and the listing standards of the Nasdaq Global Select Market applicable to audit committee members. Ms. Zhang is not independent under the rules and regulations of the SEC and the listing standards of the Nasdaq Global Select Market applicable to audit committee members. As a result, we intend to avail ourselves of the phase-in provisions under these rules. The phase-in rules allow a newly public company to have a fully independent audit committee within one year of the effective date of the registration statement filed in connection with its initial public offering. Mr. Buss is the chair of the audit committee. Our board of directors has determined that each of Mr. Buss and Ms. Zhang qualify as an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of SEC regulations and meet the financial sophistication requirements of the Nasdaq Global Select Market.

Our audit committee assists our board of directors with its oversight of the following: the integrity of our financial statements; our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; the qualifications, independence, and performance of the independent registered public accounting firm; the design and implementation of our internal audit function and risk assessment and risk management. Among other things, our audit committee is responsible for reviewing and discussing with our management the adequacy and effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures. The audit committee also discusses with our management and independent registered public accounting firm the annual audit plan and scope of audit activities, scope and timing of the annual audit of our financial statements, and the results of the audit, quarterly reviews of our financial statements and, as appropriate, initiates inquiries into certain aspects of our financial affairs. Our audit committee is responsible for establishing and overseeing procedures for the receipt, retention, and treatment of any complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, as well as for the confidential and anonymous submissions by our employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. In addition, our audit committee has direct responsibility for the appointment, compensation, retention, and oversight of the work of our independent registered public accounting firm. Our audit committee has sole authority to approve the

 

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hiring and discharging of our independent registered public accounting firm, all audit engagement terms and fees, and all permissible non-audit engagements with the independent auditor. Our audit committee will review and oversee all related person transactions in accordance with our policies and procedures.

Compensation Committee

The members of our compensation committee are Mses. Francis and Zhang. Ms. Francis is the chair of the compensation committee. Each member of our compensation committee is independent under the rules and regulations of the SEC and the listing standards of the Nasdaq Global Select Market applicable to compensation committee members. Our compensation committee assists our board of directors in discharging certain of our responsibilities with respect to compensating our executive officers, and the administration and review of our incentive plans for employees and other service providers, including our equity incentive plans, and certain other matters related to our compensation programs.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The members of our nominating and corporate governance committee are Messrs. Chao and Buss. Mr. Chao is the chair of the nominating and corporate governance committee. Our nominating and corporate governance committee assists our board of directors with its oversight of and identification of individuals qualified to become members of our board of directors, consistent with criteria approved by our board of directors, and selects, or recommends that our board of directors selects, director nominees, develops and recommends to our board of directors a set of corporate governance guidelines, and oversees the evaluation of our board of directors.

Code of Conduct

Our board of directors has adopted a Code of Conduct (the “Code”). The Code applies to all of our employees, officers, and directors, as well as all of our contractors, consultants, suppliers, and agents in connection with their work for us. Upon the completion of this offering, the full text of our code of conduct will be posted on our website at www.tusimple.com under the Investor Relations section. We intend to disclose future amendments to, or waivers of, our Code, as and to the extent required by SEC regulations, at the same location on our website identified above or in public filings. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and you should not consider information contained on our website to be part of this prospectus or in deciding whether to purchase our Class A common stock.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of our executive officers serves, or served in prior years, as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any other entity that has or has had one or more executive officers serving as a member of our board of directors or our compensation committee.

Non-Employee Director Compensation

Prior to this offering, we have generally not provided any cash compensation to our non-employee directors for their service on our board. We have a policy of reimbursing all of our non-employee directors for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with attending board of directors meetings. From time to time we have granted stock options to certain of our non-employee directors, typically in connection with a non-employee director’s initial appointment to our board.

We intend to approve a non-employee director compensation program to become effective following our initial public offering. Pursuant to this program, our non-employee directors will receive both cash and equity compensation for their service as directors.

 

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Equity Plans

2021 Equity Incentive Plan

General. Our board of directors adopted our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”) prior to the offering, and the 2021 Plan was submitted to our stockholders for approval. Our 2021 Plan became effective immediately on adoption although no awards will be made under it until the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Our 2021 Plan replaces our 2017 Share Plan (the “2017 Plan”). However, awards outstanding under our 2017 Plan will continue to be governed by their existing terms. Our 2021 Plan has the features described below.

Share Reserve. The number of shares of our Class A common stock available for issuance under our 2021 Plan is 20,134,146 plus up to 20,180,166 shares of Class A common stock subject to awards granted under the 2017 Plan that are outstanding on the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and that are subsequently forfeited, expire or lapse unexercised or unsettled. In the event that the aggregate number of common stock outstanding for issuance under our 2021 Plan as of the last day of a fiscal year is less than 5% of our fully-diluted capitalization at such time, then for the duration of our 2021 Plan, on the first day of each fiscal year thereafter, the aggregate number of shares reserved for issuance under our 2021 Plan will be automatically increased by:

 

   

the number of shares of common stock equal to 2.5% of our fully-diluted capitalization on the last day of the preceding fiscal year; or

 

   

the number of shares determined by our board of directors.

In general, to the extent that any awards under our 2021 Plan are forfeited, terminate, expire, or lapse without the issuance of shares, or if we repurchase the shares subject to awards granted under our 2021 Plan, those shares will again become available for issuance under our 2021 Plan, as will shares applied to pay the exercise or purchase price of an award or to satisfy tax withholding obligations related to any award.

Administration. The compensation committee of our board of directors will administer our 2021 Plan. The compensation committee will have complete discretion to make all decisions relating to our 2021 Plan and outstanding awards, including repricing outstanding options and modifying outstanding awards in other ways.

Eligibility. Employees, non-employee directors, consultants, and advisors are eligible to participate in our 2021 Plan.

Under our 2021 Plan, the aggregate grant date fair value of awards granted to our non-employee directors may not exceed $1,000,000 in any one fiscal year, except that the grant date fair value of awards granted to newly appointed non-employee directors may not exceed $2,000,000 in the fiscal year in which such non-employee director is initially appointed to our board of directors.

Types of Awards. Our 2021 Plan provides for the following types of awards:

 

   

incentive and nonstatutory stock options;

 

   

stock appreciation rights;

 

   

restricted stock; and

 

   

restricted stock units.

Options and Stock Appreciation Rights. The exercise price for options granted under our 2021 Plan may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of Class A our common stock on the grant date. Optionees will be permitted to pay the exercise price in cash or, as permitted in the award agreement:

 

   

with Class A common stock that the optionee already owns;

 

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by an immediate sale of shares through a broker approved by us;

 

   

by instructing us to withhold a number of shares having an aggregate fair market value that does not exceed the exercise price; or

 

   

by other methods permitted by applicable law.

A participant who exercises a stock appreciation right receives the increase in value of our Class A common stock over the base price. The base price for stock appreciation rights may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of our Class A common stock on the grant date. The settlement value of a stock appreciation right may be paid in cash, Class A common stock or a combination thereof as specified in the award agreement.

Options and stock appreciation rights vest as determined by the compensation committee. In general, they will vest over a four-year period following the date of grant or, in the case of grants made to new hires, over the four-year period following their first day of employment. Options and stock appreciation rights expire at the time determined by the compensation committee but in no event more than ten years after they are granted. These awards generally expire earlier if the participant’s service terminates earlier, although the vesting of an outstanding award may be accelerated or continued by the compensation committee in connection with the participant’s termination of service.

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. Restricted stock and stock units may be awarded under our 2021 Plan, and participants who receive restricted stock or restricted stock units generally are not required to pay cash for their awards. In general, these awards will be subject to vesting. Vesting may be based on length of service or upon satisfaction of other conditions determined by the compensation committee. The vesting of an outstanding award may be accelerated or continued by the compensation committee in connection with the participant’s termination of service.

Settlement of vested restricted stock units may be made in the form of cash, Class A common stock or a combination thereof as specified in the award agreement.

Corporate Transactions. In the event we are a party to a merger, consolidation, or certain change in control transactions, outstanding awards granted under our 2021 Plan, and all shares acquired under our 2021 Plan, will be subject to the terms of the definitive transaction agreement (or, if there is no such agreement, as determined by our compensation committee). Unless an award agreement provides otherwise, such treatment may include any of the following with respect to each outstanding award:

 

   

the continuation, assumption, or substitution of an award by a surviving entity or its parent;

 

   

the cancellation of an option or stock appreciation right without payment of any consideration, provided the participant has been given an opportunity to exercise the vested portion of the award;

 

   

the cancellation of the vested portion of an award (and any portion that becomes vested as of the effective time of the transaction) in exchange for a payment equal to the excess, if any, of the value that the holder of each share of Class A common stock receives in the transaction over (if applicable) the exercise price otherwise payable in connection with the award; or

 

   

the assignment of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by us in respect of an award of restricted stock to the surviving entity or its parent (with proportionate adjustments made to the price per share to be paid upon exercise of such rights).

Each award held by a participant who remains a service provider with us as of the effective time of a merger or change in control will become fully vested and, if applicable, exercisable immediately prior to the effective time of the transaction, unless the applicable award agreement provides otherwise or the award is continued, assumed, or substituted (as provided above). The compensation committee is not required to treat all awards, or portions thereof, in the same manner.

 

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The vesting of an outstanding award may be accelerated by the compensation committee upon the occurrence of a change in control, whether or not the award is to be assumed or replaced in the transaction, or in connection with a termination of service following a change in control transaction.

A change in control includes:

 

   

certain acquisitions of beneficial ownership of more than 50% of our total voting power;

 

   

certain sales or other dispositions of all or substantially all of our assets;

 

   

certain mergers or consolidations after which our voting securities represent 50% or less of the total voting power of the surviving or acquiring entity; or

 

   

the members of our board cease to constitute a majority of the members of our board over a period of 12 months, excluding any new members appointed or elected by the then incumbent board.

Changes in Capitalization. In the event of certain changes in our capital structure without our receipt of consideration, such as a stock split, reverse stock split, stock consolidation, any increase or decrease in shares of Class A common stock effected without receipt of consideration by the company, or a dividend paid in Class A common stock, proportionate adjustments will automatically be made to:

 

   

the maximum number and kind of shares available for issuance under our 2021 Plan, including the maximum number and kind of shares that may be issued upon the exercise of incentive stock options;

 

   

the maximum number and kind of shares covered by, and exercise price, base price, or purchase price, if any, applicable to each outstanding share award; and

 

   

the maximum number and kind of shares by which the share reserve may increase automatically each year.

In the event that there is a declaration of an extraordinary dividend payable in a form other than our Class A common stock in an amount that has a material effect on the price of our Class A common stock, a recapitalization, a spin-off, or a similar occurrence, the compensation committee may make such adjustments to any of the foregoing as it deems appropriate, in its sole discretion.

Amendments or Termination. Our board of directors may amend or terminate our 2021 Plan at any time. If our board of directors amends our 2021 Plan, it does not need stockholder approval of the amendment unless required by applicable law, regulations or rules. Our 2021 Plan will terminate automatically 10 years after the later of the date when our board of directors adopts our 2021 Plan or it approves a share increase that is also approved by our stockholders.

2017 Share Plan

General. Our board of directors adopted our 2017 Plan in June 2017, and it was approved by our stockholders in June 2017. The 2017 Plan was amended in November 2019. No further awards will be made under our 2017 Plan after this offering; however, awards outstanding under our 2017 Plan will continue to be governed by their existing terms.

Share Reserve. As of March 22, 2021, we have reserved 24,267,964 shares of Class A common stock for issuance under our 2017 Plan for issuance in the form of stock options, restricted stock units or share value awards. As of March 22, 2021, there were outstanding options to purchase 15,372,336 shares of Class A common stock, at exercise prices ranging from $0.0001 to $14.1401 per share, or a weighted-average exercise price of $3.18 per share were outstanding under our 2017 Plan. Additionally, as of March 22, 2021, there were 1,160,360 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of restricted stock units, 3,600,542 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of share value awards, and 46,928 shares of Class A common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2017 Plan. Unissued shares subject to awards that expire or are canceled,

 

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shares reacquired by us, and shares withheld in payment of the purchase price or exercise price of an award or in satisfaction of withholding taxes will again become available for issuance under our 2017 Plan or, following consummation of this offering, under our 2021 Plan.

Administration. The board of directors administers our 2017 Plan.

Eligibility. Employees, non-employee directors and consultants are eligible to participate in our 2017 Plan.

Types of Awards. Our 2017 Plan provides for the following types of awards:

 

   

incentive and nonstatutory stock options;

 

   

restricted stock units; and

 

   

share value awards.

Options. The exercise price for options granted under our 2017 Plan may not be less than the par value per Share, provided that if the option is intended to qualify as an incentive stock option, the exercise price may not be less than 100% of the fair market value per Share at the time of grant. Optionees will be permitted to pay the exercise price in cash or, as permitted in the award agreement:

 

   

with Class A common stock that the optionee already owns;

 

   

by services rendered to the Company or its subsidiaries;

 

   

by an immediate sale of shares through a broker approved by us;

 

   

by promissory notes;

 

   

by other methods permitted by applicable law.

Options vest as determined by the board. In general, they will vest annually over a three-year period following the date of grant or, in the case of grants made to new hires, annually over the three-year period following their first day of employment, with 30% of the options vesting on each of the first and second anniversaries of the vesting start date and the remaining 40% of the options vesting on the third anniversary of the vesting start date, in all cases subject to the participant’s continuous service. Options expire at the time determined by the board of directors but in no event more than ten years after they are granted. These awards generally expire earlier if the participant’s service terminates earlier.

Share Value Awards. Share value awards may be awarded under our 2017 Plan, and participants who receive share value awards generally are not required to pay cash for their awards. In general, these awards will be subject to vesting. Vesting may be based on length of service or upon satisfaction of other conditions determined by the board of directors.

Settlement of share value awards may be made in the form of cash, Class A common stock or a combination thereof as specified in the award agreement.

Restricted Stock Units. Restricted stock units may be awarded under our 2017 Plan, and participants who receive restricted stock units generally are not required to pay cash for their awards. In general, these awards will be subject to vesting. Vesting may be based on length of service or upon satisfaction of other conditions determined by the board of directors.

Settlement of restricted stock units may be made in the form of cash, Class A common stock or a combination thereof as specified in the award agreement.

Corporate Transactions. In the event we are a party to a merger, consolidation, or in the event of a sale or exchange of all or substantially all of the Company’s shares or assets, outstanding awards granted under our 2017

 

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Plan, and all shares acquired under our 2017 Plan, will be subject to the terms of the definitive transaction agreement (or, if there is no such agreement, as determined by our board of directors). Unless an award agreement provides otherwise, such treatment may include any of the following with respect to each outstanding award:

 

   

the continuation, assumption, or substitution of an award by a surviving entity or its parent;

 

   

the cancellation of an option without payment of any consideration, provided the participant has been given an opportunity to exercise the vested portion of the option;

 

   

the cancellation of the vested portion of an award (and any portion that becomes vested as of the effective time of the transaction) in exchange for a payment equal to the excess, if any, of the value that the holder of each share of Class A common stock receives in the transaction over (if applicable) the exercise price otherwise payable in connection with the award;

 

   

the suspension of the exercise of the options before the closing of the transaction; or

 

   

the termination of early exercise right.

The vesting of an outstanding award may be accelerated by the board of directors upon the occurrence of a corporate transaction.

Changes in Capitalization. In the event of certain changes in our capital structure without our receipt of consideration, such as a stock split, reverse stock split, stock consolidation, any increase or decrease in Class A common stock effected without receipt of consideration by the company, or a dividend paid in Class A common stock, proportionate adjustments will automatically be made to:

 

   

the maximum number and kind of shares available for issuance under our 2017 Plan, including the maximum number and kind of shares that may be issued upon the exercise of incentive stock options; and

 

   

the maximum number and kind of shares covered by, and exercise price, base price, or repurchase price, if any, applicable to each outstanding share award.

In the event that there is a declaration of an extraordinary dividend payable in a form other than our Class A common stock in an amount that has a material effect on the price of our Class A common stock, a recapitalization, a spin-off, or a similar occurrence, the board of directors may make such adjustments to any of the foregoing as it deems appropriate, in its sole discretion.

Amendments or Termination. Our board of directors may amend or terminate our 2017 Plan at any time. If our board of directors amends our 2017 Plan, it does not need stockholder approval of the amendment unless required by applicable law, regulations or rules or the amendment (i) increases the number of share of Class A common stock available for issuance under our 2017 Plan, or (ii) materially changes the class of persons who are eligible for the grant of incentive stock options. Our 2017 Plan will terminate automatically 10 years after the later of the date when our board of directors adopts our 2017 Plan or it approves a share increase that is also approved by our stockholders, or may terminate earlier at the discretion of the board of directors.

2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

General

Our board of directors intends to adopt our 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2021 ESPP”) prior to the offering. If adopted, our 2021 ESPP will be subsequently approved by our stockholders. We expect that our 2021 ESPP will become effective as of the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Our 2021 ESPP is intended to qualify under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code. Although not yet adopted, we expect that our 2021 ESPP will have the features described below.

 

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Share Reserve

Our board of directors intends to reserve 2,013,414 shares of Class A common stock for issuance under our 2021 ESPP. Our board of directors shall have the authority to increase the number of shares of Class A common stock reserved for issuance under our 2021 ESPP, with any increase taking effect at the start of the fiscal year immediately following the fiscal year in which the increase is approved. The aggregate number of shares of our common stock that may be approved for issuance under our 2021 ESPP in any given fiscal year may not exceed 1% of the total number of shares of common stock actually issued and outstanding on the last business day of the prior fiscal year (excluding any rights to purchase common stock that may be outstanding, such as options or warrants).

The number of shares reserved under our 2021 ESPP will automatically be adjusted in the event of a share split, reverse share split, share dividend, or a similar change in our corporate structure effected without payment to us (including an adjustment to the per-purchase period share limit).

Administration

The compensation committee of our board of directors will administer our 2021 ESPP.

Eligibility

Employees will be eligible to participate if they satisfy any criteria established by our board prior to the start of an offering period, in accordance with the terms of the 2021 ESPP and applicable law. Eligible employees may begin participating in our 2021 ESPP at the start of any offering period.

Offering Periods

Each offering period will last a number of months determined by the compensation committee, not to exceed 27 months. A new offering period will begin periodically, as determined by the compensation committee. Offering periods may overlap or may be consecutive. Unless otherwise determined by the compensation committee, each offering period shall be six months in duration, consisting of one 6-month purchase period, and upon its conclusion, a new offering period shall commence.

Amount of Contributions

Our 2021 ESPP will permit each eligible employee to purchase Class A common stock through payroll deductions. Each employee’s payroll deductions may not exceed 15% of the employee’s cash compensation. Each participant may purchase up to the number of shares determined by our board of directors on any purchase date, not to exceed                 shares. The value of the shares purchased in any calendar year may not exceed $25,000. Participants may withdraw their contributions at any time before shares are purchased.

Purchase Price

The price of each share of Class A common stock purchased under our 2021 ESPP will not be less than 85% of the lower of the fair market value per share of Class A common stock on the first trading day of the applicable offering period (or, in the case of the first offering period, the price at which one share of Class A common stock is offered to the public in this offering) or the fair market value per share of Class A common stock on the purchase date.

Other Provisions

Employees may end their participation in our 2021 ESPP at any time. Participation ends automatically upon termination of employment with us. If we experience a change in control, our 2021 ESPP will end and shares will be purchased with the payroll deductions accumulated to date by participating employees. Our board of directors or our compensation committee may amend or terminate our 2021 ESPP at any time.

 

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Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Upon the completion of this offering, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will contain provisions that limit the liability of our current and former executive officers and directors for monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law provides that directors of a corporation will not be personally liable for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duties as directors, except liability:

 

   

for any breach of a director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders;

 

   

for any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

   

under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (unlawful payment of dividends or redemption of shares); or

 

   

for any transaction from which the director derives an improper personal benefit.

Such limitation of liability does not apply to liabilities arising under federal securities laws and does not affect the availability of equitable remedies, such as injunctive relief or rescission.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our bylaws will provide that we are required to indemnify our executive officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Our bylaws will also provide that, upon satisfaction of certain conditions, we shall advance expenses incurred by an executive officer and director in advance of the final disposition of any action or proceeding, and permit us to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director, employee, or other agent for any liability arising out of his or her actions in that capacity regardless of whether we would otherwise be permitted to indemnify him or her under the provisions of Delaware law. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws will also provide our board of directors with discretion to indemnify our other officers, employees, and other agents when determined appropriate by the board. We have entered and expect to continue to enter into agreements to indemnify our directors and executive officers. With certain exceptions, these agreements provide for indemnification for related expenses, including, among other things, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, and settlement amounts incurred by any of these individuals in any action or proceeding. We believe that these bylaw provisions and indemnification agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers. We also maintain customary directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and other stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent that we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers as required by these indemnification provisions. At present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors, officers, or employees for which indemnification is sought, and we are not aware of any threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification.

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

2020 Summary Compensation Table

The following table shows information regarding the compensation of our named executive officers for services performed during the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

Name and
Principal Position

  Year     Salary ($)     Bonus ($)     Stock
Awards
($)(1)
    Option
Awards
($)(1)
    Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
($)(2)
    All Other
Compensation ($)
    Total ($)  

Mo Chen(3)

    2020       87,000 (4)      —         —         —         —         115,932 (5)      202,932  

Executive Chairman and Former Chief Executive Officer

               

Xiaodi Hou

    2020       280,000       620 (6)      —         —         45,000       73,968 (7)      399,588  

Chief Technology Officer

               

Cheng Lu(8)

    2020       387,500       —         8,241,413       7,785,783 (9)      60,000       1,076,259 (10)      17,550,955  

President and Chief Executive Officer

               

Patrick Dillon

    2020       9,423 (11)      50,000 (12)      494,485       1,528,703       —         —         2,082,611  

Chief Financial Officer

               

James Mullen

    2020       75,000 (13)      35,000 (14)      329,657       1,020,045       20,000         1,479,702  

Chief Legal and Risk Officer

               

 

(1)

Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of equity compensation awards granted to the named executive officer, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. See Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for a discussion of the assumptions made by us in determining the grant date fair value of our equity awards.

(2)

Represents cash amounts earned under our annual bonus plans with respect to 2020 performance. Amounts reflected were paid in February 2021.

(3)

Mr. Chen served as our Chief Executive Officer until September 2020.

(4)

Mr. Chen received no base salary through October 2020. Commencing in November 2020, he began receiving an annual base salary of $522,000.

(5)

Represents (i) $3,798 of life insurance premiums paid by us on behalf of Mr. Chen and (ii) $112,134 paid by us on behalf of Mr. Chen for outside legal and tax advisory services.

(6)

Amount reflects a patent bonus paid to Mr. Hou.

(7)

Represents: (1) $36,606 paid by us on behalf of Mr. Hou for outside legal advisory services; (2) $11,010 paid by us on behalf of Mr. Hou for certain estate planning services; (3) $8,500 paid by us on behalf of Mr. Hou for outside tax planning-related services; and (4) $17,852 for life insurance premiums paid by us on behalf of Mr. Hou.

(8)

Mr. Lu became our President in January 2019 and Chief Executive Officer in September 2020.

(9)

The amount reflected in this column comprises $6,718,182 for the fair value of the grant of options to purchase 2,125,000 shares of Class A common stock with an exercise price of $0.46 per share to Mr. Lu on March 4, 2020 and $1,067,681 as incremental additional value resulting from modification of this option when the Company forgave the principal amount and accrued interest on a partial-recourse promissory note Mr. Lu issued to the Company in connection with exercising the options. The loan forgiveness was effective in December 2020.

 

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(10)

Represents (1) $15,312 for life insurance premiums paid by us on behalf of Mr. Lu, (2) $988,947 of income related to Company’s forgiveness in December 2020 of principal and accrued interest with respect to a partial-recourse promissory note issued by Mr. Lu to the Company in connection with his exercise of an option to purchase 2,125,000 shares of Class A common stock in March 2020, and (3) $72,000 of travel and relocation benefits.

(11)

Mr. Dillon’s employment with us commenced in December 2020. His employment agreement entitles him to an annual base salary of $350,000.

(12)

Represents a one-time sign-on bonus paid to Mr. Dillon at the time of his hire.

(13)

Mr. Mullen’s employment with us commenced in September 2020. His employment agreement entitles him to an annual base salary of $325,000.

(14)

Represents a one-time sign-on bonus paid to Mr. Mullen at the time of his hire.

Narrative Explanation of Compensation Arrangements with Our Named Executive Officers

We have entered into confirmatory employment agreements with each of Messrs. Chen, Hou, Lu, Dillon, and Mullen, which in the case of Messrs. Hou, Lu, Dillon, and Mullen supersedes their initial offer letters. Our employment agreements set forth each such named executive officer’s annual base salary and, where applicable, target bonus opportunity. In the case of Mr. Dillon, the employment agreement provides for payment of a cash bonus upon our initial public offering. We have also granted equity awards to our named executive officers in connection with their employment arrangements, as well as the terms of the executive’s equity awards (see also below under “—Outstanding Equity Awards at 2020 Year-End”).

The annual base salary of each named executive officer, and such officer’s incentive bonus opportunity, are expected to be reviewed from time to time and adjusted when our board of directors or compensation committee determines an adjustment is appropriate. During the year ended December 31, 2020, Mr. Chen received no base salary through October 2020, at which point he began receiving an annual base salary of $522,000; the annual base salary for Mr. Lu was set at $450,000 effective June 2020; the annual base salary for Mr. Dillon was $350,000; and the annual base salary for Mr. Mullen was $325,000; and the annual base salary for Mr. Hou was $280,000. For our 2020 fiscal year, the target bonus opportunity for each of our named executive officers other than Mr. Mullen was 15% of their respective base salaries. For 2020, Mr. Mullen was eligible for a bonus of up to 50% of his base salary. The incentive bonus for our 2020 fiscal year was earned based on achievement of our 2020 strategic goals. In addition, Mr. Dillon is eligible to receive a one-time cash bonus in the amount of $150,000 in the event that we complete an initial public offering in calendar year 2021.

In March 2020, Mr. Lu issued a promissory note in the principal amount of $977,500 in connection with his exercise of an option to purchase 2,125,000 shares of Class A common stock having an exercise price of $0.46 per share. This promissory note was 51% recourse and the remainder was non-recourse, with shares being pledged in connection with the note. In December 2020, the Company forgave principal and accrued interest under the promissory note and all vesting conditions related to the shares were waived.

Severance and Change in Control Benefits

Pursuant to Change in Control and Severance Agreements with each of our named executive officers, if an officer is subject to a termination without cause or resigns for certain good reasons (an involuntary termination), such individual will be eligible to receive, for the 12-month period following such involuntary termination (except as noted below) continued payment of base salary, continued payment of the employer’s portion of insurance premiums under COBRA, and vesting acceleration of all outstanding equity awards (unless our board of directors provides otherwise at the time an award is granted) as if the individual had provided continuous service for a period of six months following termination (and the opportunity to vest into certain performance awards during the specified period following such involuntary termination).

Such 12-month period is extended to 18 months if an involuntary termination occurs during the period beginning three months prior to, and ending on the date that is 12 months after, our change in control. Each of our named executive officers is also entitled to a prorated bonus (at 100% of target) if the involuntary termination occurs during this period. Further, in the event of an involuntary termination that occurs three months prior to or

 

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within 12 months after our change in control, all of the executive’s then-unvested time-based equity awards shall become vested (unless our board of directors provides otherwise at the time an award is granted).

All such payments and benefits are contingent on the officer’s execution and non-revocation of a general release of claims against us and satisfaction of other typical conditions.

Employee Benefits and Perquisites

Our named executive officers are eligible to participate in our health and welfare plans to the same extent as are other full-time employees generally. We also pay life insurance premiums on behalf of our named executive officers. We have also reimbursed named executive officers for certain legal, tax, and estate planning advisory services related their ownership of company securities and also reimbursed certain travel and relocation expenses. Other than these items, we generally do not provide our named executive officers with perquisites or other personal benefits. However, we do reimburse our named executive officers for their necessary and reasonable business and travel expenses incurred in connection with their services to us.

Our named executive officers are also eligible to participant in the 401(k) plan we maintain for our employees generally. The 401(k) plan is intended to qualify under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Service Code, so that contributions to the 401(k) plan, and the investment earnings thereon, are not taxable to the employees until withdrawn. Employees may elect to reduce their current compensation by up to the statutorily prescribed annual limits and to have the amount of such reduction contributed to their 401(k) plans. We did not make during 2020 any matching contributions or other company contributions to or on behalf of any employee, including our named executive officers.

Pension Benefits and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

Our named executive officers did not participate in, or otherwise receive any benefits under, any pension or retirement plan or non-qualified deferred compensation plan sponsored by us during the year ended December 31, 2020.

Equity Compensation

We offer equity and equity-based awards to our named executive officers as the long-term incentive component of our compensation program. We typically grant equity-based awards to new hires upon their commencing employment with us. Stock options allow employees to purchase shares of our Class A common stock at a price per share at least equal to the fair market value of our Class A common stock on the date of grant and may or may not be intended to qualify as “incentive stock options” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Restricted stock units allow employees to receive shares of our Class A common stock upon satisfaction of specified vesting criteria. Generally, our equity-based awards vest over four years, subject to the employee’s continued employment with us on each vesting date; however, we may grant, and have granted, awards with different vesting schedules from time to time, including awards that vest upon achievement of performance-based milestones.

As described above under “Severance and Change in Control Benefits, equity awards granted to our named executive officers are subject to accelerated vesting under certain circumstances.

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2020 Year-End

The following table provides information regarding outstanding equity awards held by our named executive officers as of December 31, 2020.

Except as otherwise noted below, options to purchase shares of our Class A common stock are exercisable at any time, with unvested shares acquired subject to repurchase by us at the lower of the then-fair market value or the exercise price per share, in each case following termination of the individual’s continuous service with us.

 

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The vesting schedule applicable to each outstanding award is described in the footnotes to the table below.

As described above under “Severance and Change in Control Benefits,” equity awards granted to our named executive officers are subject to accelerated vesting under certain circumstances.

 

          Option Awards     Stock Awards  

Name

  Vesting
Commencement
Date
    Securities
Underlying
Unearned,
Unexercised
Options
(#)
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Vested
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unvested
    Option
Exercise
Price
($)
    Option
Expiration
Date
    Number
of Shares
or Units of
Stock
That Have
Not Vested
(#)
    Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested(1)($)
 

Mo Chen

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Xiaodi Hou

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Cheng Lu

    1/1/2019       —         —         —         —         —         —         —    
    6/30/2019       —         —         —         —         —         525,000 (2)      4,504,500  
    12/31/2020       500,000 (3)      —         500,000       4.20       12/24/2030       —         —    
    12/31/2020       100,000 (3)      —         100,00       8.11       12/24/2030       —         —    
    12/31/2020       100,000 (3)      —         100,00       14.00       12/24/2030       —         —    

Patrick Dillon

    12/15/2020       —         —         —         —         —         60,000 (4)      514,800  
    12/15/2020       250,000 (5)      —         250,000       4.20       12/24/2030       —         —    
    12/15/2020       50,000 (5)      —         50,000       8.11       12/24/2030       —         —    
    12/15/2020       50,000 (5)      —         50,000       14.00       12/24/2030       —         —    

James Mullen

    9/29/2020       —         —         —         —         —         40,000 (6)      343,200  
    9/29/2020       150,000 (7)      —         150,000       4.20       12/24/2030       —         —    
    9/29/2020       50,000 (7)      —         50,000       8.11       12/24/2030       —         —    
    9/29/2020       50,000 (7)      —         50,000       14.00       12/24/2030       —         —    

 

(1)

Market value is based on the fair market value of our Class A common stock on December 31, 2020. As there was no public market for our Class A common stock on December 31, 2020, we have used $8.58 per share, which was the fair market value determined by an independent valuation firm.

(2)

Represents an award of restricted stock units granted to Mr. Lu, which is subject to both a time-based and a liquidity-event vesting requirement, whereby the time-based vesting requirement shall be satisfied in connection with Mr. Lu’s continuous service over three years, with 30% of the time-based vesting requirement becoming satisfied upon completion of one-year of service and 8.75% of the time-based vesting requirement becoming satisfied upon the completion of each quarter of service thereafter. The liquidity-event vesting requirement will be satisfied upon our completion of this offering.

(3)

Stock option vests over three years, provided Mr. Lu remains in continuous service following the vesting commencement date set forth above, with 30% vesting upon completion of one year of service and 8.75% vesting every quarter thereafter.

(4)

Represents an award of restricted stock units granted to Mr. Dillon, which is subject to both a time-based and a liquidity-event vesting requirement, whereby the time-based vesting requirement shall be satisfied in connection with Mr. Dillon’s continuous service over four years, with 25% of the time-based vesting requirement becoming satisfied upon completion of one-year of service and 6.25% of the time-based vesting requirement becoming satisfied upon the completion of each quarter of service thereafter. The liquidity-event vesting requirement will be satisfied upon our completion of this offering.

(5)

Stock option vests over four years, provided Mr. Dillon remains in continuous service following the vesting commencement date set forth above, with 25% vesting upon completion of one year of service and 6.25% vesting every quarter thereafter.

(6)

Represents an award of restricted stock units granted to Mr. Mullen, which is subject to both a time-based and a liquidity-event vesting requirement, whereby the time-based vesting requirement shall be satisfied in connection with Mr. Mullen’s continuous service over four years, with 25% of the time-based vesting requirement becoming satisfied upon completion of one-year of service and 6.25% of the time-based vesting

 

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  requirement becoming satisfied upon the completion of each quarter of service thereafter. The liquidity-event vesting requirement will be satisfied upon our completion of this offering.
(7)

Stock option vests over four years, provided Mr. Mullen remains in continuous service following the vesting commencement date set forth above, with 25% vesting upon completion of one year of service and 6.25% vesting every quarter thereafter.

Director Compensation

With respect to the year ended December 31, 2020, our non-employee directors did not receive cash, equity, or other compensation for their service on our board of directors, and we did not have a formal non-employee director compensation program in 2020. Messrs. Chen, Hou and Lu, our executive officers during fiscal year 2020, did not and do not receive any additional compensation for their service as a member of our board of directors.

Our board of directors approved the following non-employee director compensation program that will become effective upon the completion of this offering.

Each non-employee director is eligible to receive annual cash retainers for their service on our board of directors and committees. Each non-employee director will earn $50,000 per year for general service on the Board as well as the following additional annual cash retainers for their board committee service:.

 

     Chair      Member  

Audit Committee

   $ 25,000      $ 15,000  

Compensation Committee

   $ 20,000      $ 10,000  

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

   $ 10,000      $ 5,000  

The Compensation Committee will grant to each non-employee director on or after the completion of this offering an annual award of restricted stock units valued at $250,000 (the “Equity Award”). The Equity Award will be granted on or as soon as reasonably practicable after the date of the non-employee director’s appointment or election, and thereafter on or as soon as reasonably practicable after the date of each of our annual stockholder meetings provided that such director continues to serve on our Board after such meeting. Subject to the non-employee director’s continuous service, the Equity Award will vest in full over a one-year period, with an Equity Award granted between annual stockholder meetings to a newly-appointed director pro-rated to reflect the portion of the year that the director will serve on the Board. The Equity Award will vest in full if we are subject to a change in control prior to the termination of the non-employee directors’ continuous service.

We reimburse reasonable expenses incurred by our non-employee directors in connection with attendance at board or committee meetings.

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

In addition to the compensation arrangements, including employment, termination of employment, and change in control arrangements and indemnification arrangements, discussed, when required, in the sections titled “Management” and the registration rights described in the section titled “Description of Share Capital—Registration Rights,” the following is a description of each transaction since January 1, 2018 and each currently proposed transaction in which:

 

   

we have been or are to be a participant;

 

   

the amount involved exceeded or exceeds $120,000; and

 

   

any of our directors, executive officers or holders of more than 5% of our share capital, or any immediate family member of, or person sharing the household with, any of these individuals, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

Equity Financings

Sale of Series D-1 Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock

During December 2018 to November 2020, we sold an aggregate of 20,345,131 Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock at a purchase price of $8.1120737 per share to accredited investors for an aggregate purchase price of $165.04 million. Each share of Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock will convert automatically into one share of Class A common stock immediately prior to the completion of this offering.

The following table summarizes purchases of our Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock by our directors and holders of more than 5% of our share capital.

 

     Series D-1 Redeemable
Convertible Preferred Stock
 

Purchaser

   Number of
Shares
     Aggregate
Gross
Consideration
($)
 

Sun Dream Inc (1)

     11,094,574      $ 90,000,000  

CT Optimus Limited(2)

     616,365      $ 5,000,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     11,710,939      $ 95,000,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

Sun Dream Inc holds more than 5% of our share capital.

(2)

Composite Capital Master Fund LP and CT Optimus Limited are affiliates. Composite Capital Master Fund LP holds more than 5% of our share capital.

Sale of Series E Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock

In December 2020 and January 2021, we sold an aggregate of 25,695,018 shares of Series E redeemable convertible preferred stock at a purchase price of $14.1401 per share to accredited investors for an aggregate purchase price of $363.3 million. Each share of Series E redeemable convertible preferred stock will convert automatically into one share of Class A common stock immediately prior to the completion of this offering.

 

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The following table summarizes purchases of our Series E redeemable convertible preferred stock by our directors and holders of more than 5% of our share capital.

 

     Series E Redeemable
Convertible Preferred Shares
 

Purchaser

   Number
of Shares
     Aggregate
Gross
Consideration
($)
 

Trust affiliated with Brad Buss (1)

     282,883      $ 4,000,000  

Trust affiliated with Karen C. Francis (2)

     40,000      $ 565,604  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     322,883      $ 4,565,604  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

A trust affiliated with Brad Buss, our director, purchased shares of our Series E redeemable convertible preferred stock.

(2)

Trusts affiliated with Karen C. Francis, our director, purchased shares of our Series E redeemable convertible preferred stock.

Convertible Loan Arrangements with Sun Dream Inc

On June 8, 2020, we entered into a convertible loan agreement with Sun Dream Inc, pursuant to which Sun Dream Inc agreed to provide us one or more 1-year convertible loans with an aggregate principal of up to $100.0 million although only $50.0 million was funded. On December 4, 2020, the convertible loan of $50.0 million was converted into 3,928,937 Series E-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock at a conversion price of $12.72609, and the convertible loan agreement and the rights and obligations thereunder were terminated and canceled.

Notes

In March 2020, Cheng Lu, our chief executive officer and president, issued to us a partial-recourse promissory note of an aggregate principal amount of $977,500, for purposes of financing the purchase of Class A common stock by Mr. Lu upon exercise of an option under our 2017 Plan. Interest accrued on amounts due under the promissory note at a rate of 1.53% per annum. The term of note was nine years. We forgave the entire outstanding amount due under the promissory note, including principal and interest, in December 2020.

Loans with Stockholder’s Affiliate

In April 2017, our subsidiary Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd. (“Beijing Tusen”) entered into a loan agreement with Jinzhuo Hengbang Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Jinzhuo Hengbang”), an entity under common control with our 5% stockholder Sun Dream Inc, pursuant to which Jinzhuo Hengbang provided an interest-free loan of $1.4 million to Beijing Tusen.

In June 2017, Beijing Tusen assumed the obligations under a loan from Jinzhuo Hengbang to Beijing Tusen Hulian Technology Co., Ltd. in the principal amount of $2.3 million, plus accrued interest thereunder. The loan was revised to be interest free.

In October 2018, one of our subsidiaries entered into a loan agreement with Jinzhuo Hengbang pursuant to which Jinzhuo Hengbang provided to our subsidiary a loan in the principal amount of $2.9 million that accrues interest at a rate of 10% per annum.

As of December 31, 2020, the aggregate amount of outstanding principal and accrued interest under the foregoing loans is $3.7 million. During the year ended December 31, 2020, we paid to Jinzhuo Hengbang $3.1 million in principal due under these loans and $0.5 million in accrued interest. For additional information, see Note. 13 (Related Party Transactions) to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

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In February 2018, we entered into a security agreement with Jinzhuo Hengbang to provide a guarantee deposit of $3,714,682 to secure Beijing Tusen’s obligations under its outstanding loans to Jinzhuo Hengbang.

Loan from Executive Officer and Director

In February 2017, our former chief executive officer and current executive chairman made certain short-term, unsecured, interest free loans to us. These loans are repayable on demand. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, we made repayments on these loans in the amount of $2.5 million and $0.1 million, respectively. We made no repayments on these loans during the year ended December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2020, the aggregate amount outstanding on these loans was $0.6 million.

Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement

We have entered into a stockholders agreement with our stockholders, including entities with which certain of our directors are affiliated. These stockholders are entitled to rights with respect to the registration of their shares following this offering under the Securities Act. For a description of these registration rights, see “Description of Share Capital—Registration Rights.”

Indemnification Agreements

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which will be effective upon the completion of this offering, will contain provisions limiting the liability of directors, and provide that we will indemnify each of our directors to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will also provide our board of directors with discretion to indemnify our officers and employees when determined appropriate by our board of directors.

We intend to enter into new indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers and certain other key employees. The indemnification agreements will provide that we will indemnify each of our directors, executive officers, and such other key employees against any and all expenses incurred by that director, executive officer, or other key employee because of his or her status as one of our directors, executive officers, or other key employees, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. In addition, the indemnification agreements will provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, we will advance all expenses incurred by our directors, executive officers, and other key employees in connection with a legal proceeding involving his or her status as a director, executive officer, or key employee.

Other Transactions

To facilitate the Class B Exchange, we will enter into exchange agreements with our Co-Founders, effective as of immediately prior to effectiveness of the filing of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, pursuant to which 24,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock held by our Co-Founders will automatically be exchanged for an equivalent number of shares of Class B common stock immediately prior to the completion of this offering.

At our request, DSP Underwriters have reserved up to                shares of Class A common stock, or         % of the shares offered by this prospectus, for sale at the initial public offering price, to our senior management and employees, as well as friends and family members of our executive officers, founders and certain members of senior management, and persons with whom we have a business relationship, including certain partners.

Policies and Procedures for Related Party Transactions

We intend to adopt a written related party transaction policy to be effective upon the completion of this offering. The policy will provide that our executive officers, directors, holders of more than 5% of any class of

 

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our voting securities and any member of the immediate family of and any entity affiliated with any of the foregoing persons, will not be permitted to enter into a related-party transaction with us without the prior consent of our audit committee, or other independent members of our board of directors in the event it is inappropriate for our audit committee to review such transaction due to a conflict of interest. Any request for us to enter into a transaction with an executive officer, director, principal stockholder, or any of their immediate family members or affiliates, in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000, must first be presented to our audit committee for review, consideration and approval. In approving or rejecting the proposed transactions, our audit committee will take into account all of the relevant facts and circumstances available.

All of the transactions described in this section were entered into prior to the adoption of this policy. Although we have not had a written policy for the review and approval of transactions with related persons, our board of directors has historically reviewed and approved any transaction where a director or officer had a financial interest, including the transactions described above. Prior to approving such a transaction, the material facts as to a director’s or officer’s relationship or interest in the agreement or transaction were disclosed to our board of directors. Our board of directors took this information into account when evaluating the transaction and in determining whether such transaction was fair to us and in the best interest of all our stockholders.

 

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PRINCIPAL AND SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our Class A common stock as of the date of this prospectus, and as adjusted to reflect the sale of Class A common stock offered by us and the selling stockholder in this offering, for:

 

   

each of our named executive officers;

 

   

each of our directors;

 

   

all of our executive officers and directors as a group; 

 

   

each stockholder known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding Class A common stock or Class B common stock; and

 

   

the selling stockholder

We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. Except as indicated in the footnotes below, we believe, based on the information furnished to us, that the persons and entities named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all Class A common stock or Class B common stock that they beneficially own, subject to applicable community property laws.

Applicable percentage ownership is based on 157,138,372 shares of Class A common stock and 24,000,000 shares of Class B common stock outstanding as of March 15, 2021, after giving effect to the Class B Exchange and the conversion of all outstanding redeemable convertible preferred stock as of that date into an aggregate of 120,534,419 shares of Class A common stock. For purposes of computing percentage ownership after this offering, we have assumed that                shares of Class A common stock will be issued by us in this offering. In computing the number of shares of Class A common stock beneficially owned by a person or entity and the percentage ownership of that person or entity, we deemed to be outstanding all shares of Class A common stock subject to options and share value awards held by that person or entity that are currently exercisable, or exercisable or would vest based on the satisfaction of the service-based vesting conditions within 60 days, assuming that the liquidity-based vesting conditions had been satisfied as of such date. We did not deem these shares outstanding, however, for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person or entity.

The following table does not reflect any shares of Class A common stock that may be purchased pursuant to our directed share program described under “Underwriting—Directed share program.” If any shares are purchased by our existing principal stockholders, directors, officers or their affiliated entities, the number and percentage of shares of our Class A common stock beneficially owned by them after this offering will differ from those set forth in the following table.

 

    Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to This
Offering
    % of Total
Voting Power
Before Our
Initial Public
Offering
    Number of
Shares
being Sold
    Shares Beneficially Owned After
This Offering
    % of Total Voting
Power After This
Offering
 
Name of Beneficial Owner   Class A     Class B    

 

   

 

    Class A     Class B    

 

 
    Shares     %     Shares     %                 Shares     %     Shares     %        

Directors and Named Executive Officers:*

                     

Mo Chen(1)

    14,367,314       9.14     12,000,000       50     33.83       14,367,314         12,000,000       50  

Xiaodi Hou(2)

    13,367,314       8.51       12,000,000       50       33.59         13,367,314         12,000,000       50    

Cheng Lu(3)

    2,745,000       1.74       —         —         *       2,745,000         —         —      

Patrick Dillon(4)

    —         —         —         —         —           —           —         —      

James Mullen(5)

    —         —         —         —         —           —           —         —      

Brad Buss(6)

    347,303       *     —         —         *       347,303         —         —      

Charles Chao(7)

    31,433,464       20.00     —         —         7.91       31,433,464         —         —      

Karen Francis(8)

    104,420       *     —         —         *       104,420         —         —      

Bonnie Yi Zhang(9)

    —         —         —         —         —           —           —         —      

All Executive Officers and Directors as a Group (9 persons)

    62,364,815       39.51     24,000,000       100           62,364,815         24,000,000       100    

 

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    Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to
This Offering
    % of Total
Voting Power
Before Our
Initial Public
Offering
    Number of
Shares
being Sold
    Shares Beneficially Owned
After This Offering
    % of Total Voting
Power After This
Offering
 
Name of Beneficial Owner   Class A     Class B    

 

   

 

    Class A     Class B    

 

 
    Shares     %     Shares     %                 Shares     %     Shares     %        

Principal Stockholders:

                     

Sun Dream Inc(10)

    31,433,464       20.00     —         —         7.91       31,433,464         —         —      

Composite Capital Master Fund LP(11)

    11,444,365       7.28       —         —         2.88         11,444,365         —         —      

Navistar, Inc.(12)

    10,217,846       6.50       —         —         2.57         10,217,846         —         —      

Selling Stockholder:

                     

 

*

The business address for our directors and officers is 9191 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 600, San Diego, CA 92122.

**

Represents beneficial ownership or voting power of less than one percent (1%).

(1)

Represents 8,000,000 shares of Class A common stock and 12,000,000 shares of Class B common stock held by Gray Jade Holding Limited, a company incorporated in British Virgin Islands and beneficially owned by The Chen Family Trust, 75,000 shares of Class A common stock held by THC International Limited, a company incorporated in British Virgin Islands and beneficially owned by Mr. Mo Chen, and 6,292,314 shares of Class A common stock held by Brown Jade Holding Limited, a company incorporated in British Virgin Islands and beneficially owned by Mr. Chen. The registered address of Gray Jade Holdings Limited is Sertus Chambers, P.O. Box 905, Quastisky Building, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. The registered address of THC International Limited is Craigmuir Chambers, Road Town, Tortola, VG 1110, British Virgin Islands. The registered address of Brown Jade Holding Limited is Craigmuir Chambers, Road Town, Tortola, VG 1110, British Virgin Islands. The Class A common stock beneficially owned prior to the offering does not include the shares issuable upon conversion of the Class B common stock.

(2)

Represents 13,367,314 shares of Class A common stock and 12,000,000 shares of Class B common stock held by White Marble International Limited, a company incorporated in Samoa and beneficially owned by Mr. Xiaodi Hou. The registered address of White Marble International Limited is Sertus Chambers, P.O. Box 603, Apia, Samoa. The Class A common stock beneficially owned prior to the offering does not include the shares issuable upon conversion of the Class B common stock.

(3)

Represents 57,500 shares of Class A common stock underlying a stock option grant exercisable within 60 days, 562,500 shares of Class A common stock underlying a restricted stock unit grant exercisable within 60 days, and 1,225,000 shares of Class A common stock held by Mr. Lu, and 900,000 shares of Class A common stock held by Hickory Wood Grove LLC, a limited liability company incorporated in Delaware and beneficially owned by the Lu Family Descendants Trust. The registered address of Hickory Wood Grove LLC is 20 Montchanin Road, Greenville, DE 19807.

(4)

Mr. Patrick Dillon does not beneficially own any shares of Class A common stock or Class B common stock.

(5)

Mr. James Mullen does not beneficially own any shares of Class A common stock or Class B common stock.

(6)

Represents 60,000 shares underlying a stock option grant exercisable within 60 days, 4,420 shares of Class A common stock underlying a restricted stock unit grant exercisable within 60 days, and 282,883 shares of Series E redeemable convertible preferred stock of Class A common stock held by 2011 Buss Family Trust. The registered address of the 2011 Buss Family Trust is c/o Brad Buss, 9191 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 600, San Diego, CA 92122.

(7)

Represents 31,433,464 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the conversion of 3,295,726 Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock, 1,146,117 Series A-2 redeemable convertible preferred stock, 5,080,000 Series B-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock, 3,000,000 Series B-2 redeemable convertible preferred stock, 3,888,110 Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock, 11,094,574 Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock and 3,928,937 Series E-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock held by Sun Dream Inc. Sun Dream Inc is ultimately controlled by Mr. Charles Chao. Upon the completion of this offering, these shares will be in the form of Class A common stock.

(8)

Represents 4,420 shares of Class Common stock underlying a restricted stock unit grant exercisable within 60 days, 60,000 shares of Class A Common Stock held by Karen Francis, 20,000 shares of Series E redeemable convertible preferred stock held by the Karen C. Francis Second Restated Revocable Trust dated 1.30.2012, and 20,000 shares of Series E redeemable convertible preferred stock held by the Richard C. DeGolia Trust dated 8.27.2004. The registered address of the Karen C. Francis Second Restated Revocable Trust dated 1.30.2012 is c/o Karen Francis, 9191 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 600, San Diego, CA 92122. The registered address of the Richard C. DeGolia Trust dated 8.27.2004 is c/o Karen Francis, 9191 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 600, San Diego, CA 92122.

(9)

Ms. Bonnie Yi Zhang does not beneficially own any shares of Class A common stock or Class B common stock.

(10)

Represents 31,433,464 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the conversion of 3,295,726 Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock, 1,146,117 Series A-2 redeemable convertible preferred stock, 5,080,000 Series B-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock, 3,000,000 Series B-2 redeemable convertible preferred stock, 3,888,110 Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock, 11,094,574 Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock and 3,928,937 Series E-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock held by Sun Dream Inc. Sun Dream Inc is ultimately controlled by Mr. Charles Chao. The registered address of Sun Dream Inc is P. O. Box 31119 Grand Pavilion, Hibiscus Way, 802 West Bay Road, Grand Cayman, KY1—1205 Cayman Islands. Upon the completion of this offering, these shares will be in the form of Class A common stock.

(11)

Represents 11,444,365 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the conversion of 10,828,000 Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock and 616,365 Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock held by Composite Capital Master Fund LP (“Master Fund”). Composite Capital Management (HK) Limited (“Investment Advisor”) acts as the Investment Advisor of the Master Fund. Mr. David Ma serves as the Chief Investment Officer of the Investment Advisor. Each of the foregoing persons expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities. The registered address of the Master Fund is c/o Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands. Upon the completion of this offering, these shares will be in the form of Class A common stock.

(12)

Represents 10,217,846 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the conversion of 621,447 shares of Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock, 119,326 shares of Series E redeemable convertible preferred stock, held by Navistar, Inc. and 9,477,073 shares of Series E redeemable convertible preferred stock held by International Truck and Engine Corporation Cayman Islands Holding Company, a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands and a subsidiary of Navistar, Inc. The registered address of Navistar, Inc. is 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, DE 19808. The registered address of International Truck and Engine Corporation Cayman Islands Holding Company is c/o Maples and Calder, PO Box 309 Ugland House, South Church Street, George Town Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

A description of our capital stock and the material terms and provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws that will be in effect upon the completion of this offering and affecting the rights of holders of our capital stock is set forth below. The forms of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws to be adopted in connection with this offering are filed as exhibits to the registration statement relating to this prospectus.

Upon the completion of this offering, our authorized capital stock will consist of 5,000,000,000 shares, all with a par value of $0.0001 per share, of which:

 

   

4,876,000,000 shares are designated Class A common stock;

 

   

24,000,000 shares are designated Class B common stock; and

 

   

100,000,000 shares are designated preferred stock.

As of December 31, 2020, and after giving effect to (i) the Preferred Stock Conversion, (ii) the RSU and SVA Settlement, and (iii) the Class B Exchange immediately prior to the completion of this offering, assuming an initial public offering price of $            per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, there were outstanding:

 

   

160,290,356 shares of our Class A common stock held of record by approximately 55 stockholders;

 

   

24,000,000 shares of our Class B common stock held of record by the Founders;

 

   

13,295,497 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options;

 

   

1,100,000 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of restricted stock units; and

 

   

3,653,146 shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of share value awards.

Common Stock

We have two classes of authorized common stock: Class A common stock and Class B common stock. The rights of the holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock are identical, except with respect to voting, conversion and transfer rights.

Dividend Rights

Subject to preferences that may apply to shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, the holders of outstanding shares of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of funds legally available if our board of directors, in its discretion, determines to issue dividends and only then at the times and in the amounts that our board of directors may determine. See “Dividend Policy” for more information.

Voting Rights

The holders of our Class A common stock are entitled to one vote per share and the holders of our Class B common stock are entitled to 10 votes per share. Stockholders do not have the ability to cumulate votes for the election of directors. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws that will be in effect upon the completion of this offering will provide for, immediately following the Voting Threshold Date, a classified board of directors consisting of three classes of approximately equal size, each serving staggered three-year terms. The board of directors is authorized to assign members of the board of the directors already in office immediately prior to the Voting Threshold Date. Only one class of directors will be

 

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elected at each annual meeting of our stockholders, with the other classes continuing for the remainder of their respective three-year terms. The holders of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock vote together as a single class, unless otherwise required by law or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide as long as any shares of Class B common stock remain outstanding, we shall not, without the prior affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock, voting as a separate class, in addition to any other vote required by applicable law or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:

 

   

amend, alter, or repeal any provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws that modifies the voting, conversion or other powers, preferences, or other special rights or privileges, or restrictions of our Class B common stock; or

 

   

reclassify any of our outstanding shares of Class A common stock into shares having rights as to dividends or liquidation that are senior to our Class B common stock or the right to more than one (1) vote for each share thereof.

Delaware law or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation could require either holders of our Class A common stock or our Class B common stock to vote separately as a single class in the following circumstances:

 

   

if we were to seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to increase the authorized number of shares of a class of stock, or to increase or decrease the par value of a class of stock, then that class would be required to vote separately to approve the proposed amendment;

 

   

if we were to seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation in a manner that alters or changes the powers, preferences or special rights of a class of stock in a manner that affected its holders adversely, then that class would be required to vote separately to approve the proposed amendment; and

 

   

so long as our outstanding shares of Class B common stock represent 40% or more of the total voting power of the company, any transaction that would result in a change in control of our company will require the approval of a majority of our outstanding Class B common stock voting as a separate class.

The holders of common stock will not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. Accordingly, holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors may elect all of the directors standing for election. Except for the election of directors, if a quorum is present, an action on a matter is approved if it receives the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of capital stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter, unless otherwise required by applicable law, the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws. The election of directors will be determined by a plurality of the votes cast in respect of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote, meaning that the nominees with the greatest number of votes cast, even if less than a majority, will be elected. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of common stock are subject to, and may be impacted by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future.

No Preemptive or Similar Rights

Except the conversion provisions with respect to our Class B common stock described below, holders of our common stock have no preemptive rights and are not subject to conversion, redemption, or sinking fund provisions.

 

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Right to Receive Liquidation Distributions

Upon our dissolution, liquidation, or winding-up, the assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders are distributable ratably among the holders of our common stock, subject to prior satisfaction of all outstanding debt and liabilities and the preferential rights and payment of liquidation preferences, if any, on any outstanding shares of preferred stock.

Conversion of our Class B Common Stock

Each share of our Class B common stock is convertible at any time at the option of the holder into one share of our Class A common stock.

Each share of our Class B common stock will automatically convert, on a one-for-one basis, into shares of our Class A common stock on the earliest of (i) the date specified by a vote of the holders of Class B common stock representing 75.0% of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock, (ii) the date that is between 90 days and 270 days, as determined by the board of directors, after the death or incapacitation of the last Founder to die or become incapacitated or (iii) the date that is between 61 and 180 days, as determined by the board of directors, after the date on which the number of outstanding shares of Class B common stock held by the Founders represents less than 50.0% of the total number of shares of Class B common stock held collectively by the Founders at 11:59 pm Pacific Time on the date that we file our amended and restated certificate of incorporation immediately prior to the completion of this offering.

Additionally, each share of our Class B common stock will convert automatically into one share of our Class A common stock upon any transfer, sale, assignment, conveyance, hypothecation or other transfer or disposition of such share, whether or not for value and whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law, except certain permitted transfers described in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, including, but not limited to:

 

   

any transfer of Class B common stock by a holder that is a record holder of such Class B common stock prior to the date that our amended and restated certificate of incorporation is accepted for filing by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to (i) one or more family members or such record holder, (ii) any general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation or other entity owned exclusively by such record holder or (iii) a Founder; and

 

   

any grant of a voting proxy with respect to Class B common stock by either Founder to the other Founder.

Once transferred and converted into Class A common stock, the Class B common stock will not be reissued.

Preferred Stock

Upon the completion of this offering, no shares of preferred stock will be outstanding, but we will be authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by Delaware law, to issue preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series and to fix the designation, powers, preferences, and rights of the shares of each series and any associated qualifications, limitations or restrictions. Our board of directors also can increase or decrease the number of shares of any series, but not below the number of shares of that series then outstanding, without any further vote or action by our stockholders. Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of the Class A common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company and may adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock and the voting and other rights of the holders of Class A common stock. We have no current plan to issue any shares of preferred stock.

 

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Registration Rights

Upon the completion of this offering, the holders of our registrable shares, as described in the amended and restated stockholders’ agreement, including shares issuable upon the conversion of redeemable convertible preferred stock or their permitted transferees, are entitled to rights with respect to the registration of these shares under the Securities Act. These rights are provided under the terms of the amended and restated stockholders’ agreement, and include demand registration rights, short-form registration rights and piggyback registration rights. All fees, costs and expenses of underwritten registrations will be borne by us and all selling expenses, including underwriting discounts and selling commissions, will be borne by the holders of the shares being registered.

Demand Registration Rights

At any time following the effectiveness of this offering, the holders of 10% or more of the registrable securities then outstanding, may make a written request that we register all or a portion of such registrable securities, subject to certain specified conditions and exceptions. Such request for registration must cover at least 10% of the registrable securities then outstanding. We are not obligated to effect more than three of these registrations.

Piggyback Registration Rights

If we propose to register any of our securities under the Securities Act either for our own account or for the account of other stockholders, the holders of shares having registration rights will, subject to certain exceptions, be entitled to include their shares in our registration statement. These registration rights are subject to specified conditions and limitations, including, but not limited to, the right of the underwriters to limit the number of shares included in any such offering under certain circumstances, but not below 25% of the total amount of securities included in such offering.

Form S-3 Registration Rights

At any time after we are qualified to file a registration statement on Form S-3, and subject to limitations and conditions specified in the amended and restated stockholders agreement, the holders of a majority of the registrable securities then outstanding may make a written request that we that we prepare and file a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act covering their shares, so long as the aggregate price to the public is at least $500,000. We are not obligated to effect more than one of these Form S-3 registrations in any 12-month period.

Indemnification

Our stockholders agreement contains customary cross-indemnification provisions, under which we are obligated to indemnify holders of registrable securities in the event of material misstatements or omissions in the registration statement attributable to us, and they are obligated to indemnify us for material misstatements or omissions attributable to them.

Expiration of Registration Rights

The registration rights granted under the amended and restated stockholders agreement will terminate on the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering.

Anti-Takeover Provisions

Delaware Law

Upon the completion of this offering, we will be governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law regulating corporate takeovers. This section prevents some Delaware corporations

 

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from engaging, under some circumstances, in a business combination, which includes a merger or sale of at least 10% of the corporation’s assets with any interested stockholder, meaning a stockholder who, together with affiliates and associates, owns or, within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, did own 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock, unless:

 

   

the transaction is approved by the board of directors prior to the time that the interested stockholder became an interested stockholder;

 

   

upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction began, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned (i) by persons who are directors and also officers and (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

 

   

at or subsequent to such time that the stockholder became an interested stockholder the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.

A Delaware corporation may “opt out” of these provisions with an express provision in its original certificate of incorporation or an express provision in its certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws resulting from a stockholders’ amendment approved by at least a majority of the outstanding voting shares. We have not opted out of these provisions. As a result, mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts of us may be discouraged or prevented.

Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws Provisions

Upon the completion of this offering, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws will include a number of provisions that may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying or preventing changes in control of our management team, including the following:

 

   

Dual Class Stock. As described above in “—Common Stock—Voting Rights,” our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide for a dual class common stock structure pursuant to which our Founders holding Class B common stock will have the ability to control the outcome of matters requiring stockholder approval, even if they own significantly less than a majority of the shares of our outstanding Class A and Class B common stock, including the election of directors and significant corporate transactions, such as a merger or other sale of our company or its assets. Current investors, executives, and employees will have the ability to exercise significant influence over those matters.

 

   

Separate Class B Vote for Certain Transactions. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that so long as our outstanding shares of Class B common stock represent 40% or more of the total voting power of the company, any transaction that would result in a change in control of our company will require the approval of a majority of our outstanding Class B common stock voting as a separate class. This provision could delay or prevent the approval of a change in control that might otherwise be approved by a majority of outstanding shares of our Class A and Class B common stock voting together on a combined basis.

 

   

Supermajority Approvals. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will provide that certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws by stockholders will require the approval of two-thirds of the combined vote of our then-outstanding shares of Class A and Class B common stock. This will have the effect of making it more difficult to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws to remove or modify certain provisions.

 

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Board of Directors Vacancies. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will authorize our board of directors to fill vacant directorships, including newly-created seats. In addition, the number of directors constituting our board of directors will be set only by resolution adopted by a majority vote of our entire board of directors. These provisions will prevent a stockholder from increasing the size of our board of directors and gaining control of our board of directors by filling the resulting vacancies with its own nominees.

 

   

Classified Board. Our board of directors will not initially be classified. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will provide that, immediately after the Voting Threshold Date, our board of directors will be classified into three classes of directors, each of which will hold office for a three-year term. In addition, after the Voting Threshold Date, directors may only be removed from the board of directors for cause and only by the approval of two-thirds of the combined vote of our then outstanding shares of Class A and Class B common stock. A third party may be discouraged from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us as it is more difficult and time consuming for stockholders to replace a majority of the directors on a classified board of directors.

 

   

Stockholder Action; Special Meeting of Stockholders. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that after the Voting Threshold Date, stockholders will not be able to take action by written consent, and will only be able to take action at annual or special meetings of our stockholders. Stockholders will not be permitted to cumulate their votes for the election of directors. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will further provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by a majority vote of our entire board of directors, the chairman of our board of directors, the executive chairman or our chief executive officer.

 

   

Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations. Our amended and restated bylaws will provide advance notice procedures for stockholders seeking to bring business before our annual meeting of stockholders, or to nominate candidates for election as directors at any meeting of stockholders. Our amended and restated bylaws will also specify certain requirements regarding the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. These provisions may preclude our stockholders from bringing matters before our annual meeting of stockholders or from making nominations for directors at our meetings of stockholders.

 

   

Issuance of Undesignated Preferred Stock. Our board of directors will have the authority, without further action by the holders of Class A common stock, to issue up to 100,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock with rights and preferences, including voting rights, designated from time to time by the board of directors. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock will enable our board of directors to render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest, or otherwise.

Choice of Forum

Upon the completion of this offering, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forum for any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; any action asserting a breach of fiduciary duty; any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws or any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. This choice of forum provision does not apply to actions brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Furthermore, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. We intend for this provision to apply to any complaints asserting a cause of action under the Securities Act despite the fact that Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for the federal and state courts over all actions brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the

 

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Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that a court could find these types of provisions in our certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Upon the completion of this offering, the transfer agent and registrar for our Class A common stock will be American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, LLC. The transfer agent’s address is 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11219, and its telephone number is +1-(800) 937-5449 or +1-(718) 921-8124.

Listing

We have applied to list our Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “TSP.”

 

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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

Prior to the completion of this offering, there has been no public market for our Class A common stock. Future sales of our Class A common stock in the public market following this offering or the perception that these sales may occur, could adversely affect the prevailing market price for our Class A common stock at such time and our ability to raise equity capital in the future.

Following the completion of this offering, based on the number of our share capital outstanding as of December 31, 2020, a total of                shares, will be outstanding. This includes                 shares of Class A common stock that we are selling in this offering, which shares may be resold in the public market immediately unless purchased by our affiliates, and assumes no additional exercise of outstanding options other than as described elsewhere in this prospectus and 24,000,000 shares of our Class B common stock. Of these outstanding shares, all of the                  shares of Class A common stock sold in this offering will be freely tradable, except that any shares purchased in this offering by our affiliates, as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, can only be sold in compliance with Rule 144. Shares of our Class B common stock are convertible into an equivalent number of shares of our Class A common stock and generally convert into shares of our Class A common stock upon transfer.

The remaining                shares of Class A of common stock that are not sold in this offering will be deemed “restricted securities,” as that term is defined in Rule 144 or Rule 701 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). These restricted securities are eligible for public sale only if they are registered under the Securities Act or if they qualify for an exemption from registration under Rule 144 or Rule 701 under the Securities Act, which are summarized below.

In addition, all of our executive officers and directors, and substantially all of our security holders have entered into lock-up agreements with the underwriters under which they have agreed, subject to specific exceptions, not to sell any of our share capital, as described below. As a result of these agreements and the provisions of our stockholders’ agreement described above under the section titled “Description of Share Capital—Registration Rights,” subject to the provisions of Rule 144 or Rule 701, based on an assumed offering date of                , 2020,                shares will be available for sale in the public market as follows:

 

Earliest Date Available for Sale in the Public Market    Shares Eligible to be Released from Lock-Up Restriction
The first trading day on which our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (the “first release window”).    Shares of Class A common stock issued or issuable upon the exercise, settlement or exchange of vested restricted stock units, share value awards or stock options held by Employee Stockholders (as defined below) in order to satisfy applicable income tax withholding and remittance obligations, or in the case of vested stock options, applicable income tax withholding or to pay the aggregate exercise price. Excludes securities held by certain employees restricted from trading during the first release window and by “affiliates” for the purposes of Rule 144, as described below under “—Rule 144.”
The second trading day immediately following our public release of earnings for the first quarter following the most recent period for which financial statements are included in this prospectus (the “second release window”) provided that the closing price of our Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market is at least 33% greater than the initial public offering price per share set forth on the cover page of this prospectus for the periods described in the section titled “Underwriting.”    Up to         % of shares of Class A common stock issued or issuable upon the exercise, settlement or exchange of vested restricted stock units, share value awards or stock options held by Employee Stockholders not previously sold during the first release window.

 

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Earliest Date Available for Sale in the Public Market    Shares Eligible to be Released from Lock-Up Restriction
The second trading day immediately following the later of (i) the opening of trading on the second trading day immediately following our public release of earnings for the second quarter following the most recent period for which financial statements are included in this prospectus and (ii) the 121st day after the date of this prospectus (assuming that as of such date we have publicly released our earnings for the second quarter following the most recent period for which financial statements are included in this prospectus).    All remaining shares held by our stockholders not previously eligible for sale, subject to volume limitations applicable to “affiliates” under Rule 144 as described below.

Based on an assumed tax withholding rate of 41%, approximately              million shares of our Class A common stock will be available for sale in the first lock-up release period and an additional              million shares of our Class A common stock will be available for sale in the second lock-up release period.

Rule 144

In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, a person who has beneficially owned our restricted shares of Class A common stock for at least six months would be entitled to sell their securities provided that such person is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the 90 days preceding, a sale, and we are subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act for at least 90 days before the sale. In addition, under Rule 144, any person who is not an affiliate of ours and has held their shares for at least one year, including the holding period of any prior owner other than one of our affiliates, would be entitled to sell an unlimited number of shares immediately upon the completion of this offering without regard to whether current public information about us is available. Persons who have beneficially owned our restricted Class A common stock for at least six months but who are our affiliates at the time of, or any time during the 90 days preceding, a sale, would be subject to additional restrictions, by which such person would be entitled to sell within any three-month period only a number of securities that does not exceed the greater of either of the following:

 

   

1% of the number of our Class A common stock then outstanding, which will equal approximately                shares immediately after the completion of this offering assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ right to purchase additional shares, based on the number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding as of                ; or

 

   

the average weekly trading volume of our Class A common stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale;

 

   

provided, in each case, that we have been subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least 90 days before the sale. Such sales both by affiliates and by non-affiliates must also comply with the manner of sale, current public information and notice provisions of Rule 144.

Rule 701

Any of our service providers who purchased shares under a written compensatory plan or contract prior to this offering may be entitled to rely on the resale provisions of Rule 701. Rule 701, as currently in effect, permits resales of shares, including by affiliates, in reliance upon Rule 144 but without compliance with certain restrictions, including the holding period requirement, of Rule 144. Rule 701 further provides that non-affiliates may sell such shares in reliance on Rule 144 without having to comply with the public information, volume limitation, or notice provisions of Rule 144. All holders of Rule 701 shares are required to wait until 90 days after the date of this prospectus before selling such shares if such resale is pursuant to Rule 701. All Rule 701 shares are, however, subject to lock-up agreements and will only become eligible for sale upon the expiration of these lock-up agreements.

 

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Lock-Up Agreements

We and all of our directors, officers, and the holders of substantially all of our outstanding shares and equity awards are subject to lock-up agreements with the underwriters agreeing that, without the prior written consent of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC on behalf of the underwriters, we and they will not, in accordance with the terms of such agreements, during the period ending on the later of (i) the opening of trading on the second trading day immediately following our public release of earnings for the second quarter following the most recent period for which financial statements are included in this prospectus and (ii) the 121st day after the date of this prospectus (assuming that as of such date we have publicly released our earnings for the second quarter following the most recent period for which financial statements are included in this prospectus) (such period, the “restricted period”):

 

  (1)

offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right, or warrant to purchase, lend, make any short sale, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of our Class A common stock and securities directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for our Class A common stock;

 

  (2)

enter into any swap, hedging transaction, or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of our Class A common stock, whether any such transaction described above is to be settled by delivery of our Class A common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise; or

 

  (3)

publicly disclose the intention to take any of the actions restricted by clause (1) or (2) above.

Notwithstanding the foregoing,

 

  (A)

current and former employees, consultants, and contractors (but excluding current directors and executive officers) (the “Employee Stockholders”) may, during a 7-trading day period beginning at the commencement of trading on the first trading day on which our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, sell shares of our outstanding Class A common stock and securities directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for our Class A common stock necessary to (x) in the case of vested restricted stock units or share value awards, satisfy the applicable income tax withholding and remittance obligations in connection with the vesting and settlement of restricted stock units or share value awards, and (y) in the case of vested stock options, satisfy applicable income tax withholding and remittance obligations in connection with the exercise of such vested stock options and to permit the Employee Stockholder to pay the aggregate exercise price of such vested stock options; and

 

  (B)

Employee Stockholders may sell up to     % of shares of our outstanding Class A common stock and securities directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for our Class A common stock held by Employee Stockholders not previously sold pursuant to clause (A) above beginning at the opening of trading on the second trading day immediately following our public release of earnings for the first quarter following the most recent period for which financial statements are included in this prospectus (such release, our “first post-public earnings release”), provided that the last reported closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market is at least 33% greater than the initial public offering price per share set forth on the cover page of this prospectus:

 

   

for any 10 trading days out of the 15-consecutive full trading day period ending on the closing of the first full trading day immediately following our first post-public offering earnings release; and

 

   

at the closing of the first full trading day immediately following our first post-public offering earnings release;

further provided, that no sales pursuant to this clause (B) will be permitted until at least 60 days after the date of this prospectus. We refer to the period during which sales may occur pursuant to this clause (B) as the “second release window.”

 

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The lock-up agreements described above are subject to a number of exceptions. See the section titled “Underwriting” for information about these exceptions and a further description of these agreements. Upon the expiration of the restricted period, substantially all of the securities subject to such transfer restrictions will become eligible for sale, subject to the limitations discussed above.

Certain of our employees, including our executive officers, and directors may enter into written trading plans that are intended to comply with Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act. Sales under these trading plans would not be permitted until the expiration of the lock-up agreements relating to our initial public offering described above.

Registration Rights

Upon completion of this offering, the holders of                shares of Class A common stock will be entitled to rights with respect to the registration of the sale of Class A common stock under the Securities Act. See “Description of Capital Stock—Registration Rights.” All such shares are covered by lock-up agreements. Following the expiration of the lock-up period, registration of these shares under the Securities Act would result in the shares becoming freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act immediately upon the effectiveness of the registration.

Registration Statement on Form S-8

We intend to file a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act covering all of the Class A common stock subject to options and certain share value awards and restricted share units outstanding or reserved for issuance under our equity plans. We expect to file this registration statement as soon as practicable after the completion of this offering. This registration statement will become effective immediately upon filing, and shares covered by this registration statement will thereupon be eligible for sale in the public markets, subject to vesting restrictions, the lock-up agreements described above and Rule 144 limitations applicable to affiliates. For a more complete discussion of our share plans, see “Management—Equity Plans.”

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

FOR NON-U.S. HOLDERS OF OUR CLASS A COMMON STOCK

The following is a general discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to non-U.S. holders (as defined below) with respect to their ownership and disposition of shares of our Class A common stock issued pursuant to this offering. For purposes of this discussion, a non-U.S. holder means a beneficial owner of our Class A common stock (other than an entity or arrangement that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is not, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, any of the following:

 

   

an individual citizen or resident of the United States;

 

   

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

 

   

an estate, the income of which is includable in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or

 

   

a trust if (i) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more “U.S. persons,” as defined under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) such trust has made a valid election to be treated as a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

This discussion is based on current provisions of the Code, existing, temporary and proposed Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial opinions, published positions of the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), and other applicable authorities, all of which are subject to change or to differing interpretation, possibly with retroactive effect. This discussion assumes that a non-U.S. holder holds shares of our Class A common stock as a capital asset (generally, property held for investment) for U.S. federal income tax purposes. This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be important to a particular non-U.S. holder in light of that non-U.S. holder’s individual circumstances, nor does it address any aspects of the unearned income Medicare contribution tax pursuant to the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, any U.S. gift taxes, any U.S. alternative minimum taxes or any state, local or non-U.S. taxes. This discussion may not apply, in whole or in part, to particular non-U.S. holders in light of their individual circumstances or to holders subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws (such as insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, financial institutions, brokers or dealers in securities, “controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies,” non-U.S. holders that hold our Class A common stock as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion transaction or other integrated investment and certain U.S. expatriates). If a partnership (or other entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds our Class A common stock, the tax treatment of a partner therein will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partners of a partnership holding our Class A common stock should consult their tax advisor as to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to them.

INVESTORS CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF OUR CLASS A COMMON STOCK SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME AND ESTATE TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF NON-U.S., STATE, OR LOCAL LAWS AND TAX TREATIES.

Dividends

We do not expect to declare or make any distributions on our Class A common stock in the foreseeable future. If we do pay dividends on shares of our Class A common stock, however, such distributions will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated

 

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earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a return of capital that is applied against and reduces, but not below zero, a non-U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in shares of our Class A common stock. Any excess will be treated as capital gain and will be subject to the treatment described below under “—Gain on Sale or Other Disposition of Class A Common Stock.” Any distributions will also be subject to the discussion below under “—Backup Withholding and Information Reporting” and “—Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.”

Any dividend paid to a non-U.S. holder on our Class A common stock that is not effectively connected with a non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States will generally be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a 30% rate. The withholding tax might apply at a reduced rate, however, under the terms of an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and the non-U.S. holder’s country of residence. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under a relevant income tax treaty. Generally, in order for us or our paying agent to withhold tax at a lower treaty rate, a non-U.S. holder must certify its entitlement to treaty benefits. A non-U.S. holder generally can meet this certification requirement by providing an IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or other appropriate form (or any successor or substitute form thereof) to us or our paying agent. If the non-U.S. holder holds the stock through a financial institution or other agent acting on the holder’s behalf, the holder will be required to provide appropriate documentation to the holder’s agent. The holder’s agent will then be required to provide certification to us or our paying agent, either directly or through other intermediaries. If a non-U.S. holder is eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. federal withholding tax under an income tax treaty, such person may obtain a refund or credit of any excess amounts withheld by filing an appropriate claim for a refund with the IRS in a timely manner.

Dividends received by a non-U.S. holder that are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by the non-U.S. holder, and if required by an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and the non-U.S. holder’s country of residence, are attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the non-U.S. holder in the United States, are not subject to U.S. withholding tax. To obtain this exemption, a non-U.S. holder must provide us or our paying agent with an IRS Form W-8ECI properly certifying such exemption. Such effectively connected dividends, although not subject to withholding tax, are taxed at the same graduated rates applicable to U.S. persons, net of certain deductions and credits. In addition to being taxed at graduated tax rates, dividends received by a corporate non-U.S. holder that are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the corporate non-U.S. holder may also be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable tax treaty.

Gain on Sale or Other Disposition of Class A Common Stock

Subject to the discussion below under “—Backup Withholding and Information Reporting” and “—Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act,” non-U.S. holders will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gains realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our Class A common stock unless:

 

   

the gain (i) is effectively connected with the conduct by the non-U.S. holder of a U.S. trade or business and (ii) if required by an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and the non-U.S. holder’s country of residence, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the non-U.S. holder in the United States (in which case the special rules described below apply);

 

   

the non-U.S. holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the sale, exchange or other disposition of our Class A common stock, and certain other requirements are met (in which case the gain would be subject to a flat 30% tax, or such reduced rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty, which may be offset by U.S. source capital losses, even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States); or

 

   

the rules of the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (“FIRPTA”), treat the gain as effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business.

The FIRPTA rules may apply to a sale, exchange or other disposition of our Class A common stock if we are, or were within the shorter of the five-year period preceding the disposition and the non-U.S. holder’s holding

 

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period, a “U.S. real property holding corporation” (“USRPHC”). In general, we would be a USRPHC if interests in U.S. real estate comprised at least half of the value of our business assets. We do not believe that we are a USRPHC and we do not anticipate becoming one in the future. Even if we are or were to become a USRPHC, gain arising from the sale or other taxable disposition by a non-U.S. holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax if our Class A common stock is “regularly traded,” as defined by applicable Treasury Regulations, on an established securities market , and such non-U.S. holder owned, actually and constructively, 5% or less of our Class A common stock throughout the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or other taxable disposition or the non-U.S. holder’s holding period.

If any gain from the sale, exchange or other disposition of our Class A common stock, (i) is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by a non-U.S. holder and (ii) if required by an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and the non-U.S. holder’s country of residence, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by such non-U.S. holder in the United States, then the gain generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the same graduated rates applicable to U.S. persons, net of certain deductions and credits. If the non-U.S. holder is a corporation, under certain circumstances, that portion of its earnings and profits that is effectively connected with its U.S. trade or business, subject to certain adjustments, generally would be subject also to a “branch profits tax” at a rate of 30% or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

We must report annually to the IRS and to each non-U.S. holder the amount of dividends paid to, and the tax withheld with respect to, each non-U.S. holder. These reporting requirements apply regardless of whether withholding was reduced or eliminated by an applicable tax treaty. Copies of this information reporting may also be made available under the provisions of a specific tax treaty or agreement with the tax authorities in the country in which the non-U.S. holder resides or is established.

A non-U.S. holder will generally be subject to backup withholding for dividends on our Class A common stock paid to such holder unless such holder certifies under penalties of perjury that, among other things, it is a non-U.S. holder (and the payer does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such holder is a U.S. person) or otherwise establishes an exemption.

Information reporting and backup withholding generally are not required with respect to the amount of any proceeds from the sale or other disposition of our Class A common stock by a non-U.S. holder outside the United States through a foreign office of a foreign broker that does not have certain specified connections to the United States. However, if a non-U.S. holder sells or otherwise disposes of its shares of Class A common stock through a U.S. broker or the U.S. offices of a foreign broker, the broker will generally be required to report the amount of proceeds paid to the non-U.S. holder to the IRS and impose backup withholding on that amount unless such non-U.S. holder provides appropriate certification to the broker of its status as a non-U.S. holder (and the payer does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such holder is a U.S. person) or otherwise establishes an exemption.

Backup withholding is not an additional income tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a non-U.S. holder generally can be credited against the non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, or refunded, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS in a timely manner. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the information reporting and backup withholding rules to them.

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act

Under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA, withholding tax of 30% applies to certain payments to foreign financial institutions, investment funds and certain other non-U.S. persons that fail to comply with certain information reporting and certification requirements pertaining to their direct and indirect

 

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U.S. securityholders and/or U.S. accountholders and do not otherwise qualify for an exemption. Under applicable Treasury Regulations and IRS guidance, this withholding currently applies to payments of dividends, if any, on, and, subject to the proposed Treasury Regulations discussed below, gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, our Class A common stock. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and a foreign country may modify the requirements described in this paragraph.

While, beginning on January 1, 2019, withholding under FATCA would have applied also to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of our Class A common stock, proposed Treasury Regulations eliminate FATCA withholding on payments of gross proceeds. Taxpayers generally may rely on these proposed Treasury Regulations until final Treasury Regulations are issued.

Prospective investors are encouraged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the possible implications of FATCA on their investment in our Class A common stock.

Federal Estate Tax

Class A Common stock we have issued that is owned (or treated as owned) by an individual who is not a citizen or a resident of the United States (as defined for U.S. federal estate tax purposes) at the time of death will be included in the individual’s gross estate for U.S. federal estate tax purposes unless an applicable estate or other tax treaty provides otherwise, and therefore may be subject to U.S. federal estate tax.

PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. WITHHOLDING RULES (INCLUDING UNDER FATCA) AND OTHER U.S. TAX RULES TO THEIR INVESTMENT IN OUR CLASS A COMMON STOCK. THE PRECEDING DISCUSSION OF U.S. FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. IT IS NOT TAX ADVICE. EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR SHOULD CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE PARTICULAR U.S. FEDERAL, GIFT, ESTATE, STATE, LOCAL, AND NON-U.S. TAX CONSEQUENCES OF PURCHASING, HOLDING, AND DISPOSING OF OUR CLASS A COMMON STOCK, INCLUDING THE CONSEQUENCES OF ANY PROPOSED CHANGE IN APPLICABLE LAWS.

 

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UNDERWRITING

Under the terms and subject to the conditions in an underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus, the underwriters named below, for whom Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC are acting as representatives, have severally agreed to purchase, and we and the selling stockholder have agreed to sell to them, severally, the number of shares indicated below:

 

Name

   Number of Shares  

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

  

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

                       

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

  
  

 

 

 

Total:

                       
  

 

 

 

The underwriters and the representatives are collectively referred to as the “underwriters” and the “representatives,” respectively. The underwriters are offering the Class A common stock subject to their acceptance of the Class A common stock from us and the selling stockholder and subject to prior sale. The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the several underwriters to pay for and accept delivery of the Class A common stock offered by this prospectus are subject to the approval of certain legal matters by their counsel and to certain other conditions. The underwriters are obligated to take and pay for all of the Class A common stock offered by this prospectus if any such shares are taken. However, the underwriters are not required to take or pay for the shares covered by the underwriters’ over-allotment option described below.

The underwriters initially propose to offer part of the Class A common stock directly to the public at the offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus and part to certain dealers. After the initial offering of the Class A common stock, the offering price and other selling terms may from time to time be varied by the representatives.

The selling stockholder has granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable for 30 days from the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to                 additional Class A common stock at the public offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The underwriters may exercise this option solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, if any, made in connection with the offering of the Class A common stock offered by this prospectus. To the extent the option is exercised, each underwriter will become obligated, subject to certain conditions, to purchase about the same percentage of the additional Class A common stock as the number listed next to the underwriter’s name in the preceding table bears to the total number of Class A common stock listed next to the names of all underwriters in the preceding table.

The following table shows the per share and total public offering price, underwriting discounts and commissions, and proceeds before expenses to us and the selling stockholder. These amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase up to an additional                  Class A common stock.

 

            Total  
     Per
Share
     No Exercise      Full Exercise  

Public offering price

   $                    $                    $                

Underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid by:

   $        $        $    

Us

   $        $        $    

The selling stockholder

   $        $        $    

Proceeds, before expenses, to us

   $        $        $    

Proceeds, before expenses, to the selling stockholder

   $        $        $    

 

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The estimated offering expenses payable by us, exclusive of the underwriting discounts and commissions, are approximately $      million. We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for expenses relating to clearance of this offering with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority up to $                .

We have applied to list our Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the trading symbol “TSP.”

The underwriters have informed us that they do not intend sales to discretionary accounts to exceed 5% of the total number of Class A common stock offered by them.

We have also agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain legal fees incurred by them in connection with the directed share program.

We and our directors and officers and the holders of substantially all of our outstanding shares and share options have agreed that, without the prior written consent of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC on behalf of the underwriters, we and they will not, and will not publicly disclose an intention to, during the period ending on the later of (i) the opening of trading on the second trading day immediately following our public release of earnings for the second quarter following the most recent period for which financial statements are included in this prospectus and (ii) the 121st day after the date of this prospectus (assuming that as of such date we have publicly released our earnings for the second quarter following the most recent period for which financial statements are included in this prospectus) (such period, the “restricted period”):

 

   

offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Class A common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A common stock;

 

   

file any registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the offering of any Class A common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A common stock; or

 

   

enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Class A common stock.

whether any such transaction described above is to be settled by delivery of Class A common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. In addition, we and each such person agrees that, without the prior written consent of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC on behalf of the underwriters, we or such other person will not, during the restricted period, make any demand for, or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any Class A common stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A common stock.

Notwithstanding the foregoing,

 

  (A)

current and former employees, consultants, and contractors (but excluding current directors and executive officers) (the “Employee Stockholders”) may, during a 7-trading day period beginning at the commencement of trading on the first trading day on which our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, sell shares of our outstanding Class A common stock and securities directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for our Class A common stock necessary to (x) in the case of vested restricted stock units or share value awards, satisfy the applicable income tax withholding and remittance obligations in connection with the vesting and settlement of restricted stock units or share value awards, and (y) in the case of vested stock options, satisfy applicable income tax withholding and remittance obligations in connection with the exercise of such vested stock options and to permit the Employee Stockholder to pay the aggregate exercise price of such vested stock options; and

 

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  (B)

Employee Stockholders may sell up to     % of shares of our outstanding Class A common stock and securities directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for our Class A common stock held by Employee Stockholders not previously sold pursuant to clause (A) above beginning at the opening of trading on the second trading day immediately following our public release of earnings for the first quarter following the most recent period for which financial statements are included in this prospectus (such release, our “first post-public earnings release”), provided that the last reported closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market is at least 33% greater than the initial public offering price per share set forth on the cover page of this prospectus:

 

   

for any 10 trading days out of the 15-consecutive full trading day period ending on the closing of the first full trading day immediately following our first post-public offering earnings release; and

 

   

at the closing of the first full trading day immediately following our first post-public offering earnings release;

further provided, that no sales pursuant to this clause (B) will be permitted until at least 60 days after the date of this prospectus.

The restrictions described in the immediately preceding paragraphs do not apply to our directors, officers and other securityholders with respect to:

 

  (1)

transactions relating to Class A common stock or other securities acquired in open market transactions after the completion of the offering of the shares, provided that no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act is required or voluntarily made in connection with subsequent sales of the Class A common stock or other securities acquired in such open market transactions during the restricted period;

 

  (2)

the sale of Class A common stock pursuant to the underwriting agreement;

 

  (3)

transfers of Class A common stock or any security convertible into Class A common stock (i) as a bona fide gift, (ii) to an immediate family member or to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the lock-up party or an immediate family member of the lock-up party, (iii) to any entity controlled or managed, or under common control or management by, the lock-up party or (iv) for bona fide estate planning purposes; provided, such transfer does not involve a disposition for value;

 

  (4)

the transfer of Class A common stock or any security convertible into Class A common stock that occurs by operation of law pursuant to a qualified domestic order or in connection with a divorce settlement or other court order;

 

  (5)

(i) the issuance of Class A common stock by us to the lock-up party upon the vesting, exercise or settlement of options, restricted share units, share value awards or other equity awards granted under a share incentive plan or other equity award plan, which plan is described herein, or the exercise of warrants outstanding and which are described herein (ii) the transfer or other disposition of Class A common stock or any securities convertible into Class A common stock to us upon a vesting or settlement event of our securities or upon the “net” or “cashless” exercise of options, restricted share units, share value awards, warrants or other equity awards to the extent permitted by the instruments representing such securities (including any transfer to us necessary to generate such amount of cash needed for the payment of taxes, including estimated taxes, due as a result of such vesting or exercise whether by means of a “net settlement” or otherwise), so long as such “cashless” or “net” exercise is effected solely by the surrender of outstanding options, restricted share units, share value awards, warrants or other equity awards (or underlying Class A common stock) to us, and our cancellation of all or a portion thereof to pay the exercise price and/or withholding tax obligations;

 

  (6)

the reclassification and conversion of shares of our outstanding redeemable convertible preferred stock into Class A common stock prior to or in connection with the consummation of this offering, provided

 

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  that, in each case, such shares remain subject to the terms of the lock-up agreement; provided that (i) such conversion or reclassification is disclosed herein and (ii) any such Class A common stock received upon such conversion or reclassification shall be subject to the terms of the lock-up agreement

 

  (7)

if the lock-up party is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity, any transfer or distribution of Class A common stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A common stock to limited partners, members, managers, stockholders or holders of similar equity interests in the lock-up party or to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity that is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 as promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of the lock-up party or to any investment fund or other entity controlled or managed by the lock-up party or affiliates of the lock-up party;

 

  (8)

transfers of Class A common stock pursuant to a bona fide third-party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction after the completion of this offering that is approved by our board of directors and made to all holders of our share capital involving a change of control; provided that such plan does not provide for the transfer of Class A common stock during the restricted period;

 

  (9)

facilitating the establishment of a trading plan on behalf of a stockholder, officer or director of the Company pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of Class A common stock; provided that such plan does not provide for the transfer of Class A common stock during the restricted period;

 

  (10)

a sale of Class A common stock underlying restricted share units, share value awards or similar equity awards that settle in Class A common stock held by the lock-up party that have vested or vest prior to or during the restricted period and settle during the restricted period, but solely to the extent necessary to satisfy income tax withholding and remittance obligations in connection with the vesting or settlement of such restricted share units, share value awards or other similar equity awards that are outstanding as described herein; or

 

  (11)

the sale of Class A common stock by the selling stockholder in this offering.

provided that:

 

   

in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clauses (3), (4), (5)(i) and (7) above, each donee, distributee or transferee shall sign and deliver a lock-up agreement,

 

   

in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clauses (3) and (7) above, no filing under the Exchange Act reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of Class A common stock would be required or be voluntarily made, and

 

   

in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clauses (4), (6) and (8) through (10) above, any filing required by the Exchange Act shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto that the such transfer or distribution is being made pursuant to the circumstances described in the applicable clause.

In our case, such restrictions shall not apply to:

 

   

the sale of shares to the underwriters;

 

   

the issuance by the Company of Class A common stock upon the exercise of an option or a warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date of this prospectus of which the underwriters have been advised in writing; or

 

   

facilitating the establishment of a trading plan on behalf of a stockholder, officer or director of the Company pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of Class A common stock, provided that (i) such plan does not provide for the transfer of Class A common stock during the restricted period and (ii) to the extent a public announcement or filing under the Exchange Act, if any,

 

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is required of or voluntarily made by or on behalf of the Company regarding the establishment of such plan, such announcement or filing shall include a statement to the effect that no transfer of Class A common stock may be made under such plan during the restricted period.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, in their sole discretion, may release the Class A common stock and other securities subject to the lock-up agreements described above in whole or in part at any time.

In order to facilitate the offering of the Class A common stock, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the Class A common stock. Specifically, the underwriters may sell more shares than they are obligated to purchase under the underwriting agreement, creating a short position. A short sale is covered if the short position is no greater than the number of shares available for purchase by the underwriters under the over-allotment option. The underwriters can close out a covered short sale by exercising the over-allotment option or purchasing shares in the open market. In determining the source of shares to close out a covered short sale, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the open market price of shares compared to the price available under the over-allotment option. The underwriters may also sell shares in excess of the over-allotment option, creating a naked short position. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the Class A common stock in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering. As an additional means of facilitating this offering, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, Class A common stock in the open market to stabilize the price of the Class A common stock. These activities may raise or maintain the market price of the Class A common stock above independent market levels or prevent or retard a decline in the market price of the Class A common stock. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time.

We, the selling stockholder, and the underwriters have agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on websites maintained by one or more underwriters participating in this offering. The representatives may agree to allocate a number of Class A common stock to underwriters for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the representatives to underwriters that may make Internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations.

Other Relationships

We have granted Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) a right of first refusal, subject to certain limitations, to provide services if we decide to pursue certain transactions, including a sale of greater than 50% of our shares, on or prior to May 14, 2021. The terms of any such engagement of the representative will be determined by separate agreement. In accordance with applicable rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), Morgan Stanley does not have more than one opportunity to waive or terminate the right of participation in consideration of any payment or fee.

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various financial advisory and investment banking services for us, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.

In addition, in the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related

 

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derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers and may at any time hold long and short positions in such securities and instruments. Such investment and securities activities may involve our securities and instruments. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also make investment recommendations or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long or short positions in such securities and instruments.

Pricing of the Offering

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our Class A common stock. The initial public offering price was determined by negotiations between us and the representatives. Among the factors considered in determining the initial public offering price were our future prospects and those of our industry in general, our sales, earnings and certain other financial and operating information in recent periods, and the price-earnings ratios, price-sales ratios, market prices of securities, and certain financial and operating information of companies engaged in activities similar to ours.

Directed Share Program

At our request, the DSP Underwriters have reserved up to                  shares of common stock, or         % of the shares offered by this prospectus, for sale through a directed share program at the initial public offering price to individuals, including certain of our senior management and employees, as well as friends and family members of our executive officers, founders and certain members of senior management, and persons with whom we have a business relationship, including certain customers and partners. If purchased by persons who are not directors, officers, existing equityholders or employees, the shares will not be subject to a lock-up restriction. If purchased by any directors, officers, employee or existing equityholder, the shares will be subject to a 180-day lock-up restriction. The number of shares of common stock available for sale to the general public will be reduced by the number of reserved shares sold to these individuals. Any reserved shares of our common stock that are not so purchased will be offered by the DSP Underwriters to the general public on the same terms as the other shares of our Class A common stock offered by this prospectus. We have agreed to indemnify the DSP Underwriters against certain liabilities and expenses, including liabilities under the Securities Act, in connection with sales of the reserved shares.

Selling Restrictions

European Economic Area

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area, or each, a Relevant State, no securities have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the offering to the public in that Relevant State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation, except that offers of securities may be made to the public in that Relevant State at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Regulation:

 

  (a)

to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under the Prospectus Regulation;

 

  (b)

to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under the Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives; or

 

  (c)

in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation,

provided that no such offer of shares shall require us or any of our representatives to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation.

 

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For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any shares in any Relevant State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase any shares, and the expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended).

United Kingdom

In relation to the United Kingdom, no shares have been offered or will be offered pursuant to this offering to the public in the United Kingdom prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the shares that either (i) has been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority, or (ii) is to be treated as if it had been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority in accordance with the transitional provision in Regulation 74 of the Prospectus (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, except that offers of shares may be made to the public in the United Kingdom at any time under the following exemptions under the UK Prospectus Regulation:

 

  (a)

to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation;

 

  (b)

to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of representatives for any such offer; or

 

  (c)

in any other circumstances falling within Section 86 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”),

provided that no such offer of the shares shall require the Issuer or any representative to publish a prospectus pursuant to Section 85 of the FSMA or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the UK Prospectus Regulation.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to the shares in the United Kingdom means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any shares and the expression “UK Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.

In addition, this prospectus is only being distributed to, and is only directed at, and any investment or investment activity to which this prospectus relates is available only to, and will be engaged in only with, persons who are outside the United Kingdom or persons in the United Kingdom (i) having professional experience in matters relating to investments who fall within the definition of “investment professionals” in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”); or (ii) who are high net worth entities falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). Persons who are not relevant persons should not take any action on the basis of this prospectus and should not act or rely on it.

Switzerland

This prospectus is not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the Class A common stock. The Class A common stock may not be publicly offered, directly or indirectly, in Switzerland within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”), and no application has or will be made to admit the Class A common stock to trading on any trading venue (exchange or multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland. Neither this prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the Class A common stock constitutes a prospectus pursuant to the FinSA, and neither this prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the Class A common stock may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

 

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Canada

The Class A common stock may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the Class A common stock must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Pursuant to section 3A.3 (or, in the case of securities issued or guaranteed by the government of a non-Canadian jurisdiction, section 3A.4) of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

Cayman Islands

This prospectus does not constitute a public offer of the Class A common stock, whether by way of sale or subscription, in the Cayman Islands.

Hong Kong

Our Class A common stock may not be offered or sold by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), (ii) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to our Class A common stock may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to our Class A common stock which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.

Singapore

This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of our Class A common stock may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the our Class A common stock be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (SFA) (ii) to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

 

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Where our Class A common stock are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 by a relevant person which is: (i) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or (ii) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary is an accredited investor, shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest in that trust shall not be transferable for six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired our Class A common stock under Section 275 except: (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA; (ii) where no consideration is given for the transfer; (iii) where the transfer is by operation of law; (iv) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or (v) as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore.

Solely for the purposes of its obligations pursuant to Section 309B of the SFA, we have determined, and hereby notify all relevant persons (as defined in the CMP Regulations 2018), that the Class A common stock are “prescribed capital markets products” (as defined in the CMP Regulations 2018) and Excluded Investment Products (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).

Dubai International Financial Centre

This prospectus relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Offered Securities Rules of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (the DFSA). This prospectus is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Offered Securities Rules of the DFSA. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The DFSA has not approved this prospectus nor taken steps to verify the information set forth herein and has no responsibility for the prospectus. The Class A common stock to which this prospectus relates may be illiquid or subject to restrictions on its resale. Prospective purchasers of the Class A common stock offered should conduct their own due diligence on the Class A common stock. If you do not understand the contents of this prospectus you should consult an authorized financial advisor.

Japan

No registration pursuant to Article 4, paragraph 1 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948, as amended) (the “FIEL”) has been made or will be made with respect to the solicitation of the application for the acquisition of the Class A common stock.

Accordingly, the Class A common stock have not been, directly or indirectly, offered or sold and will not be, directly or indirectly, offered or sold in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan) or to others for re-offering or re-sale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements, and otherwise in compliance with, the FIEL and the other applicable laws and regulations of Japan.

For Qualified Institutional Investors (“QII”)

Please note that the solicitation for newly-issued or secondary securities (each as described in Paragraph 2, Article 4 of the FIEL) in relation to the Class A common stock constitutes either a “QII only private placement” or a “QII only secondary distribution” (each as described in Paragraph 1, Article 23-13 of the FIEL). Disclosure regarding any such solicitation, as is otherwise prescribed in Paragraph 1, Article 4 of the FIEL, has not been made in relation to the Class A common stock. The Class A common stock may only be transferred to QIIs.

 

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For Non-QII Investors

Please note that the solicitation for newly-issued or secondary securities (each as described in Paragraph 2, Article 4 of the FIEL) in relation to the Class A common stock constitutes either a “small number private placement” or a “small number private secondary distribution” (each as is described in Paragraph 4, Article 23-13 of the FIEL). Disclosure regarding any such solicitation, as is otherwise prescribed in Paragraph 1, Article 4 of the FIEL, has not been made in relation to the Class A common stock. The Class A common stock may only be transferred en bloc without subdivision to a single investor.

Australia

No placement document, prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document has been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”), in relation to the offering. This prospectus does not constitute a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act 2001 (the “Corporations Act”), and does not purport to include the information required for a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act.

Any offer in Australia of the Class A common stock may only be made to persons (the “Exempt Investors”) who are “sophisticated investors” (within the meaning of section 708(8) of the Corporations Act), “professional investors” (within the meaning of section 708(11) of the Corporations Act) or otherwise pursuant to one or more exemptions contained in section 708 of the Corporations Act so that it is lawful to offer the Class A common stock without disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act.

The Class A common stock applied for by Exempt Investors in Australia must not be offered for sale in Australia in the period of 12 months after the date of allotment under the offering, except in circumstances where disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act would not be required pursuant to an exemption under section 708 of the Corporations Act or otherwise or where the offer is pursuant to a disclosure document which complies with Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act. Any person acquiring Class A common stock must observe such Australian on-sale restrictions.

This prospectus contains general information only and does not take account of the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person. It does not contain any securities recommendations or financial product advice. Before making an investment decision, investors need to consider whether the information in this prospectus is appropriate to their needs, objectives and circumstances, and, if necessary, seek expert advice on those matters.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

We are being represented by Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP with respect to certain legal matters as to United States federal securities and New York State law. The underwriters are being represented by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP with respect to certain legal matters as to United States federal securities and New York State law.

 

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EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Tusimple (Cayman) Limited as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, have been included herein in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, appearing elsewhere herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the shares of Class A common stock offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement, some of which is contained in exhibits and schedules to the registration statement, as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information with respect to us and our shares of Class A common stock, we refer you to the registration statement, including the exhibits filed as a part of the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus regarding the contents of any contract or other document are only summaries and are not necessarily complete. With respect to any contract or document that is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, you should refer to the exhibit for a copy of the contract or document, and each statement in this prospectus regarding that contract or document is qualified in all respects by reference to the exhibit. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, like us, that file documents electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is www.sec.gov. The information on the SEC’s web site is not part of this prospectus, and any references to this web site or any other web site are inactive textual references only.

Upon completion of this offering, we will become subject to the information and reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance with this law, will file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These periodic reports, proxy statements, and other information will be available at the website of the SEC referred to above. We also maintain a website at www.tusimple.com, at which you may access these materials free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of this prospectus. Investors should not rely on any such information in deciding whether to purchase our shares of Class A common stock. We have included our website address in this prospectus solely as an inactive textual reference.

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited:

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Tusimple (Cayman) Limited and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, redeemable convertible preferred shares and shareholders’ deficit, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ KPMG LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2020.

San Diego, California

March 5, 2021

 

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TUSIMPLE (CAYMAN) LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share data)

 

     December 31,  
     2019     2020  

ASSETS

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 63,610     $ 310,815  

Restricted cash

     500       1,536  

Accounts receivable, net

     127       1,144  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     2,514       2,280  

Amounts due from related parties

     3,723       3,708  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     70,474       319,483  

Property and equipment, net

     22,283       22,116  

Other assets

     3,787       4,986  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 96,544     $ 346,585  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SHARES AND SHAREHOLDER’S DEFICIT     

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 247     $ 4,542  

Amounts due to related parties

     7,148       5,715  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     9,194       22,961  

Short-term debt

     —         4,623  

Warrants liability

     —         42,452  

Capital lease liabilities, current

     706       805  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     17,295       81,098  

Capital lease liabilities, noncurrent

     4,579       3,767  

Other liabilities

     348       2,402  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     22,222       87,267  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)

    

Redeemable convertible preferred shares, $0.0001 par value; 82,952,136 and 138,102,770 shares authorized as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively; 74,939,388 and 102,074,703 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively; aggregate liquidation preference of $233,736 and $598,842 as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively

     293,736       664,791  

Shareholders’ deficit:

    

Ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value, 417,047,864 and 361,897,230 shares authorized as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively; 56,516,425 and 60,543,337 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively

     6       6  

Additional paid-in capital

     —         —    

Accumulated deficit

     (218,718     (405,178

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     (658     (301
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total TuSimple shareholders’ deficit

     (219,370     (405,473

Noncontrolling interests

     (44     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ deficit

     (219,414     (405,473
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred shares and shareholders’ deficit

   $ 96,544     $ 346,585  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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TUSIMPLE (CAYMAN) LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2018     2019     2020  

Revenue

   $ 9     $ 710     $ 1,843  

Costs and expenses:

      

Cost of revenue

     —         1,595       5,293  

Research and development

     32,278       63,619       132,001  

Sales and marketing

     1,085       814       1,313  

General and administrative

     12,175       21,962       37,300  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total costs and expenses

     45,538       87,990       175,907  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (45,529     (87,280     (174,064

Change in fair value of related party convertible loan

     —         —         (5,556

Change in fair value of warrants liability

     —         —         1,816  

Other income (expense), net

     495       2,397       (66
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss before provision for income taxes

     (45,034     (84,883     (177,870

Provision for income taxes

     —         —         —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

     (45,034     (84,883     (177,870

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

     16       43       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to TuSimple

   $ (45,018   $ (84,840   $ (177,870

Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred shares

     —         (201     (20,959

Deemed dividend on exchange of Series A-2 redeemable convertible preferred shares for ordinary shares

     —         (60,000     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders

   $ (45,018   $ (145,041   $ (198,829
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders, basic and diluted

   $ (0.70   $ (2.47   $ (3.37
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders, basic and diluted

     64,734,628       58,700,441       58,929,271  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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TUSIMPLE (CAYMAN) LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(in thousands)

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2018     2019     2020  

Net loss

   $ (45,034   $ (84,883   $ (177,870

Other comprehensive loss:

      

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     41       (208     401  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

     (44,993     (85,091     (177,469
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (16     (33     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss attributable to TuSimple

   $ (44,977   $ (85,058   $ (177,469
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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TUSIMPLE (CAYMAN) LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SHARES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

(in thousands, except share data)

 

    Redeemable Convertible
Preferred Shares
    Ordinary Shares                                      
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
    Accumulated
Deficit
    Total Tusimple
(Cayman) Limited
Shareholders’
Deficit
    Noncontrolling
Interests
    Total
Shareholders’
Deficit
 

Balance as of December 31, 2017

    48,538,413     $ 86,236       64,734,628     $ 6     $ —       $ (481   $ (28,659   $ (29,134   $ 5     $ (29,129

Issuance of Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred shares

    11,710,939       95,000       —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Foreign currency translation adjustment

    —         —         —         —         —         41       —         41       —         41  

Net loss

    —         —         —         —         —         —         (45,018     (45,018     (16     (45,034
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31, 2018

    60,249,352     $ 181,236       64,734,628     $ 6     $ —       $ (440   $ (73,677   $ (74,111   $ (11   $ (74,122

Exchange of Series A-2 redeemable convertible preferred shares for ordinary shares

    8,218,203       60,000       (8,218,203     —         —         —         (60,000     (60,000     —         (60,000

Issuance of Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred shares, net of issuance costs

    6,471,833       52,299       —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Accretion of Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred shares to redemption value

    —         201       —         —         —         —         (201     (201     —         (201

Foreign currency translation adjustment

    —         —         —         —         —         (218     —         (218     10       (208

Net loss

    —         —         —         —         —         —         (84,840     (84,840     (43     (84,883
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31, 2019

    74,939,388     $ 293,736       56,516,425     $ 6     $ —       $ (658   $ (218,718   $ (219,370   $ (44   $ (219,414
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Issuance of Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred shares, net of issuance costs

    1,854,177       3,098       —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Reclassification of Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred share warrants from equity to liabilities

    —         —         —         —         (394     —         —         (394     —         (394

Issuance of Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred shares from the exercise of warrants

    308,182       2,894       —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Issuance of Series E redeemable convertible preferred shares, net of issuance costs

    21,044,019       288,548       —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Conversion of related party convertible loan to Series E-1 redeemable convertible preferred shares

    3,928,937       55,556       —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Issuance of ordinary shares from exercise of options

    —         —         2,127,232       —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Issuance of restricted ordinary shares

    —         —         1,899,680       —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred shares to redemption value

    —         20,959       —         —         (12,369     —         (8,590     (20,959     —         (20,959

Share-based compensation

    —         —         —         —         12,763       —         —         12,763       —         12,763  

Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in subsidiary

    —         —         —         —         —         (44     —         (44     44       —    

Foreign currency translation adjustment

    —         —         —         —         —         401       —         401       —         401  

Net loss

    —         —         —         —         —         —         (177,870     (177,870     —         (177,870
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31, 2020

    102,074,703     $ 664,791       60,543,337     $ 6     $ —       $ (301   $ (405,178   $ (405,473   $ —       $ (405,473
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

 

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TUSIMPLE (CAYMAN) LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

 

    Years Ended December 31,  
            2018                     2019                     2020          

Cash flows from operating activities:

     

Net loss

  $ (45,034   $ (84,883   $ (177,870

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities

     

Share-based compensation

    —         —         12,763  

Accretion of asset retirement obligations

    14       19       35  

Depreciation and amortization

    2,525       5,565       7,683  

Loss on disposal of property and equipment

    24       873       134  

Non-cash research and development expense

    —         —         32,325  

Change in fair value of related party convertible loan

    —         —         5,556  

Change in fair value of warrants liability

    —         —         (1,816

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

     

Accounts receivable

    —         (116     (1,004

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    (886     (1,539     274  

Other assets

    (2,023     (941     (682

Accounts payable

    108       139       4,196  

Amounts due to related parties

    61       143       1,150  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    1,691       5,012       13,112  

Other liabilities

    673       (605     296  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

    (42,847     (76,333     (103,848
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

     

Proceeds from maturity of time deposits

    51,800       —         —    

Purchases of short-term investments

    (699     —         —    

Proceeds from maturity of short-term investments

    821       —         —    

Advances to related parties

    —         (8     —    

Repayments from advances to related parties

    —         —         8  

Purchases of property and equipment

    (10,009     (10,328     (4,303

Purchases of intangible assets

    —         (161     (306

Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment

    9       62       189  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

    41,922       (10,435     (4,412
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

     

Proceeds from issuance of redeemable convertible preferred shares

    95,000       52,299       291,646  

Proceeds from exercise of warrants for redeemable convertible preferred shares

    —         —         2,500  

Proceeds from issuance of related party convertible loan

    —         —         50,000  

Proceeds from issuance of warrants

    —         —         11,943  

Proceeds from related party loan

    2,877       —         5,000  

Proceeds from short-term debt

    —         —         4,134  

Payments for guarantee deposit on related party loan

    (3,715     —         —    

Principal payments on related party loan

    (2,500     (146     (7,900

Principal payments on capital lease obligations

    —         (323     (713

Principal payments on loans

    —         —         (115
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

    91,662       51,830       356,495  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

    598       234       6  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

    91,335       (34,704     248,241  

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

    7,479       98,814       64,110  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

  $ 98,814     $ 64,110     $ 312,351  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

     

Cash paid for interest

  $ —       $ 496     $ 1,177  

Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:

     

Acquisitions of property and equipment included in liabilities

  $ 111     $ 266     $ 2,765  

Purchase of property and equipment under capital lease

  $ —       $ 5,608     $ —    

Exchange of Series A-2 redeemable convertible preferred shares for ordinary shares

  $ —       $ 60,000     $ —    

Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred shares

  $ —       $ 201     $ 20,959  

Reclassification of Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred share warrants to liabilities

  $ —       $ —       $ 394  

Cashless exercise of share options for ordinary shares

  $ —       $ —       $ 975  

Conversion of related party convertible loan into Series E-1 redeemable convertible preferred shares

  $ —       $ —       $ 55,556  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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TUSIMPLE (CAYMAN) LIMITED

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1. Description of Business

Description of Business

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited (the “Company” or “TuSimple”) is a limited liability company, which was incorporated in the Cayman Islands on October 25, 2016. The Company is principally engaged in the operation and development of autonomous trucks and an autonomous freight network. The Company is headquartered in San Diego, California.

In February 2021, the Company changed its jurisdiction of incorporation from the Cayman Islands to the State of Delaware and changed its name to TuSimple Holdings Inc. Refer to Note 15. Subsequent Events for further information.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company has incurred losses from operations since inception. The Company incurred net losses of $45.0 million, $84.8 million and $177.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively. Accumulated deficit amounts to $218.7 million and $405.2 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively. Net cash used in operating activities was $42.8 million, $76.3 million, and $103.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively.

The Company’s liquidity is based on its ability to enhance its operating cash flow position, obtain capital financing from equity interest investors and borrow funds to fund its general operations, research and development activities and capital expenditures. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on management’s ability to successfully execute its business plan, which includes increasing revenue while controlling operating costs and expenses to generate positive operating cash flows and obtaining funds from outside sources of financing to generate positive financing cash flows. As of December 31, 2020, the Company’s balance of cash and cash equivalents was $310.8 million.

Based on cash flow projections from operating and financing activities and existing balance of cash and cash equivalents, management is of the opinion that the Company has sufficient funds for sustainable operations and it will be able to meet its payment obligations from operations and debt related commitments for at least one year from the issuance date of its December 31, 2020 consolidated financial statements. Based on the above considerations, the Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities during the normal course of operations.

Note 2. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and reflect the accounts and operations of the Company and its subsidiaries. As of September 2020, all of the Company’s subsidiaries are consolidated under the voting interest model. Prior to September 2020, the Company consolidated certain subsidiaries that were considered variable interest entities (“VIEs”) for which the Company was the primary beneficiary.

A subsidiary is an entity in which (i) the Company directly or indirectly controls more than 50% of the voting power; or (ii) the Company has the power to appoint or remove the majority of the board of directors or to cast a majority of votes at the meeting of the board of directors or to govern the financial and operating policies of the investee pursuant to a statute or under an agreement among the shareholders or equity holders. A VIE is required to be consolidated if the Company has the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impacts the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could

 

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potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE (refer to Note 13. Variable Interest Entities for further information). The Company evaluates its relationships with all VIEs on an ongoing basis to ensure that it continues to be the primary beneficiary. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include, but are not limited to, the useful lives of long-lived assets, the value of ordinary shares and other assumptions used to measure share-based compensation, the fair value of preferred share warrants and related party convertible loans, the measurement of deferred tax assets, the recoverability of long-lived assets, and the fair value of equipment under capital leases. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates these estimates and assumptions; however, actual results could materially differ from these estimates.

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash in banks and highly liquid investments, primarily certificates of deposit, purchased with an original maturity of three months or less.

Restricted cash is pledged as security for letters of credit or other collateral amounts established by the Company for certain lease obligations, corporate credit cards, and other contractual arrangements. Restricted cash is classified as current assets based on the term of the remaining restriction.

A reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash to the consolidated statements of cash flows is as follows (in thousands):

 

     As of December 31,  
     2018      2019      2020  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 98,814      $ 63,610      $ 310,815  

Restricted cash

     —          500        1,536  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

   $ 98,814      $ 64,110      $ 312,351  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Company measures financial assets and liabilities at fair value at each reporting period using a fair value hierarchy which requires the Company to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. A financial instrument’s classification within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The levels of inputs used to measure fair value are:

 

   

Level 1 — Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

   

Level 2 — Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices in markets that are not active or inputs other than the quoted prices that are observable either directly or indirectly for the full term of the assets or liabilities.

 

   

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

 

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The Company’s primary financial instruments include cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, amounts due to and from related parties, accrued expenses, short-term debt, the related party convertible loan and the warrants liability. The estimated fair value of cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, short-term debt, and accrued expenses approximates their carrying value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. Amounts due from related parties is comprised of a guarantee deposit paid in cash, which approximates fair value. Amounts due to related parties approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The warrants liability and related party convertible loan are stated at fair value on a recurring basis. Refer to Note 4. Fair Value Measurements and Note 7. Debt for further information.

Accounts Receivable, Net

Accounts receivable are recorded at invoiced amounts, net of allowance for doubtful accounts, and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on the Company’s assessment of the collectability of accounts. The Company regularly reviews the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts based on a combination of factors. In establishing any required allowance, the Company considers historical losses adjusted to take into account current market conditions and customers’ financial condition, the amount of any receivables in dispute, the current receivables aging, and the current payment terms. Accounts receivable deemed uncollectable are charged against the allowance for doubtful accounts when identified. The Company did not record an allowance for doubtful accounts as of December 31, 2019 and 2020.

Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment, net, are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation or amortization and any recorded impairment. Property and equipment under capital leases are initially recorded at the present value of minimum lease payments. Depreciation and amortization is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, as follows:

 

Property and Equipment

  

Estimated Useful Life

Electronic equipment    1-4 years
Validation vehicles    3-6 years
Office and other equipment    4-6 years
Leasehold improvements    Shorter of lease term or estimated useful life of the asset

When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost, accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in the consolidated statements of operations in the period realized. Maintenance and repairs that do not enhance or extend the asset’s useful life are charged to operating expense as incurred.

Assets acquired under a capital lease are amortized in a manner consistent with the Company’s depreciation policy for owned assets if the lease transfers ownership to the Company by the end of the lease term or contains a bargain purchase option. Otherwise, assets acquired under a capital lease are amortized over the lease term.

Intangible Assets, Net

Intangible assets represent patents, which are carried at cost and amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives of 20 years and presented within other assets in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. The Company reviews intangible assets for impairment under the long-lived asset model described in the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets section. There have been no impairment charges recorded in any of the periods presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. As of December 31, 2019 and 2020, intangible assets are immaterial.

 

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Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company evaluates long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets held and used is measured by comparison of the carrying amount of an asset or asset group to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or asset group. If the carrying amount of an asset or asset group exceeds estimated undiscounted future cash flows, then an impairment charge is recognized based on the excess of the carrying amount of the asset or asset group over its fair value. There were no impairment charges recognized related to long-lived assets during the periods presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares

The Company records redeemable convertible preferred shares at their respective fair values on the dates of issuance, net of issuance costs and proceeds allocated at fair value to other freestanding instruments issued in conjunction with the redeemable convertible preferred shares. The Company has applied the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 480-10-S99-3A, SEC Staff Announcement: Classification and Measurement of Redeemable Securities and has therefore classified all of its outstanding redeemable convertible preferred shares as mezzanine equity as the shares will become redeemable at the option of the holder after a defined period of time and in the event of certain deemed liquidation events considered not solely within the Company’s control. The Company has elected to adjust the carrying values of the redeemable convertible preferred shares to the redemption value of such shares immediately upon issuance.

Redeemable Convertible Preferred Share Warrants

Warrants to purchase redeemable convertible preferred shares (collectively, the “preferred share warrants”) are freestanding financial instruments classified as warrants liability on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as the underlying preferred shares are considered redeemable or contingently redeemable upon the occurrence of events which are outside of the Company’s control. The preferred share warrants are recorded at their respective fair values upon issuance and are subject to remeasurement at the end of each reporting period. Any change in the fair value of the preferred share warrants is recognized as a component of other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company adjusts the liability for changes in the fair value of the preferred share warrants until the earlier of the expiration or exercise of the warrants. Refer to Note 9. Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares and Preferred Share Warrants, and Shareholders’ Deficit for further information.

Leases

The Company categorizes leases at their inception as either operating or capital leases. As the lessee, a lease is a capital lease if any of the following conditions exists: a) ownership is transferred to the lessee by the end of the lease term, b) there is a bargain purchase option, c) the lease term is at least 75% of the property’s estimated remaining economic life, or d) the present value of the minimum lease payments at the beginning of the lease term is 90% or more of the fair value of the leased property to the lessor at the inception date. A capital lease is accounted for as if there was an acquisition of an asset and an incurrence of an obligation at the inception of the lease. As of December 31, 2019 and 2020, assets under capital leases represent semi-trucks used for research and development and providing freight capacity services. Refer to Note 8. Commitments and Contingencies for further information.

All other leases are accounted for as operating leases wherein lease costs are recognized on a straight-line basis once control of the space is obtained, without regard to deferred payment terms such as rent holidays that defer the commencement date of required payments or escalating rents. Additionally, incentives received are treated as a reduction of costs over the term of the agreement.

 

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Asset Retirement Obligations

The Company’s asset retirement obligations relate primarily to its office buildings, of which the majority are leased under long-term arrangements, and, in certain cases, are required to be returned to the landlords in their original condition.

A liability for an asset retirement obligation is recorded in the period in which it is incurred. When an asset retirement obligation liability is initially recorded, the Company capitalizes the cost by increasing the carrying amount of the related leasehold improvement. For each subsequent period, the liability is increased for accretion expense and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the shorter of the useful life of the leasehold improvement or the remaining lease term.

Asset retirement obligations are recorded as long-term liabilities as their expected settlement is beyond twelve months. The following table summarizes the activity of the asset retirement obligations (in thousands):

 

     Asset Retirement
Obligations
 

Balance as of December 31, 2018

   $ 184  

Additions

     77  

Accretion expense

     19  
  

 

 

 

Asset retirement obligations as of December 31, 2019

     280  

Additions

     —    

Accretion expense

     35  
  

 

 

 

Asset retirement obligations as of December 31, 2020

   $ 315  
  

 

 

 

Value Added Tax

The Company’s subsidiaries in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) are subject to value added tax (“VAT”). Entities that are VAT general taxpayers are permitted to offset qualified input VAT paid to suppliers against their output VAT upon receipt of appropriate supplier VAT invoices on an entity-by-entity basis. When the output VAT exceeds the input VAT, the difference is remitted to tax authorities, usually on a monthly basis; whereas when the input VAT exceeds the output VAT, the difference is treated as VAT recoverable which can be carried forward indefinitely to offset future net VAT payables. VAT related to purchases and sales which have not been settled at the balance sheet date is disclosed separately as an asset and liability, respectively, in the consolidated balance sheets.

Revenue Recognition

On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“Topic 606”) as discussed further in Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements below. Topic 606 establishes a principle for recognizing revenue upon the transfer of promised goods or services to customers, in an amount that reflects the expected consideration received in exchange for those goods or services. Topic 606 also includes Subtopic 340-40, Other Assets and Deferred Costs—Contracts with Customers, which requires the deferral of incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer. The impact of adopting Topic 606 on the Company’s revenue is not material to any of the periods presented.

The Company recognizes revenue primarily from providing freight capacity services. Revenue is recognized when the customer obtains control of promised services in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for those services. To date, the Company has not generated revenue from carrier-owned services.

Satisfaction of Performance Obligation

A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer and is the basis of revenue recognition in accordance with GAAP. To determine the proper revenue recognition method for

 

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contracts, the Company evaluates whether two or more contracts should be combined and accounted for as one single contract and whether the combined or single contract should be accounted for as more than one performance. For most of the Company’s contracts, the customer contracts with the Company to provide distinct services within a single contract, such as freight capacity services. The majority of the Company’s contracts with customers for freight capacity services include only one performance obligation, the freight capacity services. However, if a contract is separated into more than one performance obligation, the Company allocates the total transaction price to each performance obligation in an amount based on the estimated relative standalone selling prices of the promised goods or services underlying each performance obligation. The Company frequently sells standard freight capacity services with observable standalone sales prices. In these instances, the observable standalone sales are used to determine the standalone selling price.

For freight capacity services, revenue is recognized over time as the Company performs the services in the contract because of the continuous transfer of control to the customer. The Company’s customers receive the benefit of the Company’s services as the goods are transported from one location to another. If the Company were unable to complete delivery to the final location, another entity would not need to re-perform the freight capacity service already performed. As control transfers over time, revenue is recognized based on the extent of progress towards completion of the performance obligation. The selection of the method to measure progress towards completion requires judgment and is based on the nature of the products or services to be provided. Management estimates the progress based on mileage completed to total mileage to be transported. Revenues are recorded net of value-added taxes and surcharges.

Contract Modification

Contracts may be modified to account for changes in the rates the Company charges its customers or to add additional distinct services. The Company considers contract modifications to exist when the modification either creates new enforceable rights and obligations or alters the existing arrangement. Contract modifications that add distinct goods or services are treated as separate performance obligations. Contract modifications that do not add distinct goods or services typically change the price of existing services. These contract modifications are accounted for prospectively as the remaining performance obligations are executed.

Contract Assets and Liabilities

Contract assets include billed and unbilled amounts resulting from in-transit packages, as the Company has an unconditional right to payment only once all performance obligations have been completed (e.g., packages have been delivered). Contract assets are generally classified as current and the full balance is converted each quarter based on the short-term nature of the transactions. The Company’s contract liabilities consist of advance payments and billings in excess of revenue. The full balance of contract liabilities is converted each quarter based on the short-term nature of the transactions.

The Company did not have any contract assets or contract liabilities as of December 31, 2019 or 2020, respectively.

Payment Terms

Under the typical payment terms of the Company’s customer contracts, the customer pays at periodic intervals (i.e. every 14 days, 30 days etc.) for shipments included on invoices received. It is not customary business practice to extend payment terms past 90 days, and as such, the Company does not have a practice of including a significant financing component within its contracts with customers.

Contract Costs

Incremental costs of obtaining contracts are expensed as incurred if the amortization period of the assets is one year or less. These costs are included within cost of revenue in the consolidated statements of operations.

 

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Disaggregation of Revenue and Remaining Performance Obligations

The Company earns all of its revenue within the U.S. and there is no revenue related to any other geographies. Additionally, due to the short-term nature of the Company’s contracts, there are no remaining unsatisfied performance obligations as of December 31, 2020.

Cost of Revenue

Cost of revenue consists primarily of fuel costs, insurance costs, depreciation of property and equipment, labor costs and other costs directly attributable to providing freight capacity services.

Software Development Costs

The Company evaluates capitalization of certain software development costs subsequent to the establishment of technological feasibility. Based on the Company’s product development process and substantial development risks, technological feasibility is established for the Company’s autonomous trucks when they have achieved full level four autonomy, as defined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Accordingly, the Company has charged all such costs to research and development expense in the period incurred.

Research and Development

Research and development costs consist primarily of personnel-related expenses associated with engineering personnel and consultants responsible for the design, development and testing of the Company’s autonomous truck driving solutions, depreciation of equipment used in research and development and allocated overhead costs. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.

Sales and Marketing

Sales and marketing costs consist primarily of personnel-related expenses associated with Company’s sales and marketing activities, advertising expenses, sponsorship, public relationship, and other related marketing activities. Sales and marketing costs are expensed as incurred.

General and Administrative

General and administrative costs consist primarily of personnel-related expenses associated with the Company’s management and administration activities, professional service fees and other general corporate expenses.

Government Grants

Government grants are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations when the grant has been received and all conditions attached to the grant are fulfilled, in-line with ASC 450.

Share-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for share-based compensation expense in accordance with the fair value recognition and measurement provisions of GAAP, which requires compensation cost for the grant-date fair value of share-based awards to be recognized over the requisite service period. The Company determines the fair value of share-based awards granted or modified on the grant date (or modification date, if applicable) at fair value, using appropriate valuation techniques.

 

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Time-Based Service Awards

For share-based awards with time-based vesting conditions only, generally being share options, the fair value of each share award granted is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Black-Scholes option-pricing model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the fair value of the underlying ordinary shares, the expected share price volatility over the term of the award, actual and projected employee share option exercise behaviors, the risk-free interest rate for the expected term of the award and expected dividends. Share-based compensation is recognized straight-line over the requisite service period, which is generally four years. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur instead of estimating the number of awards expected to be forfeited.

Performance-Based Awards

The Company has granted RSUs, share value awards (“SVAs”), and share options that vest only upon the satisfaction of both time-based service and performance-based conditions. The time-based service condition for these awards generally is satisfied over three years. The performance-based conditions are satisfied upon the occurrence of a qualifying event, defined as the earlier of (i) the closing of certain specific liquidation or change in control transactions, or (ii) an IPO. The Company records share-based compensation expense for performance-based equity awards such as RSUs, SVAs, and share options on an accelerated attribution method over the requisite service period, which is generally three years, and only if performance-based conditions are considered probable to be satisfied. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had not recognized share-based compensation expense for awards with performance-based conditions which include a qualifying event because the qualifying event described above had not occurred and, therefore, cannot be considered probable. In the period in which the Company’s qualifying event is probable, the Company will record a cumulative one-time share-based compensation expense determined using the grant-date fair values. Share-based compensation related to remaining time-based service after the qualifying event will be recorded over the remaining requisite service period.

For performance-based RSUs and SVAs, the Company determines the grant-date fair value as the fair value of the Company’s ordinary shares on the grant date.

For performance-based share options, the Company determines the grant-date fair value utilizing the valuation model as described above for time-based awards.

Employee Benefits

Full time employees of the Company in the PRC participate in a government mandated defined contribution plan, pursuant to which certain pension benefits, medical care, employee housing funds and other welfare benefits are provided to the employees. Chinese labor regulations require that the PRC subsidiaries and VIEs of the Company make contributions to the government for these benefits based on certain percentages of the employees’ salaries, up to a maximum amount specified by the local government. The Company has no legal obligation for the benefits beyond the contributions made. Contributions are expensed in the consolidated statements of operations when the related services are provided. Employee social benefits included as expenses in the consolidated statements of operations were $2.0 million, $2.7 million, and $1.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively.

Related Party Convertible Loan

As permitted under ASC 825, Financial Instruments (“ASC 825”), the Company has elected the fair value option to account for its related party convertible loan that was issued in June 2020. In accordance with ASC 825, the Company records the related party convertible loan at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in the consolidated statements of operations in other income (expense), net, with the exception of changes in fair value

 

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due to instrument-specific credit risk which are required to be recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss, a component of shareholders’ deficit. There were no changes in the fair value due to instrument-specific credit risk recorded due to the short-term nature of the loan. As a result of applying the fair value option, direct costs and fees related to the related party convertible loan were recognized in other income (expense), net as incurred and were not deferred. Refer to Note 7. Debt for further information.

Income Taxes

Current income taxes are provided for in accordance with the relevant statutory tax laws and regulations.

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method of accounting. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial reporting and the tax bases assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will not be fully realized. Due to our lack of earnings history, the net deferred tax assets have been fully offset by a valuation allowance.

The Company records liabilities related to uncertain tax positions when, despite the Company’s belief that the Company’s tax return positions are supportable, the Company believes that it is more likely than not that those positions may not be fully sustained upon review by tax authorities. Accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are classified as income tax expense. The Company did not recognize a liability for uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2019 and 2020 due to the availability of net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards.

Foreign Currency

The functional currency of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries is the local currency or U.S. dollar depending on the nature of the subsidiaries’ activities. Foreign currency transactions recognized in the consolidated statements of operations are converted to the functional currency by applying the exchange rate prevailing on the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are remeasured monthly using the month-end exchange rate. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions and the effects of remeasuring monetary assets and liabilities are recorded in other income in the consolidated statements of operations. Subsidiary assets and liabilities with non-U.S. dollar functional currencies are translated at the month-end rate, retained earnings and other equity items are translated at historical rates, and revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates during the year. Cumulative translation adjustments are recorded within accumulated other comprehensive loss, a separate component of shareholders’ deficit.

Comprehensive Loss

Comprehensive loss consists of two components: net loss and other comprehensive loss. Other comprehensive loss refers to losses that are recorded as an element of shareholders’ deficit and are excluded from net loss. The Company’s other comprehensive loss is composed of foreign currency translation adjustments.

Net Loss Per Share Attributable to Ordinary Shareholders

The Company computes loss per share using the two-class method required for participating securities. The two-class method requires income available to ordinary shareholders for the period to be allocated between ordinary shares and participating securities based upon their respective rights to receive dividends as if all income for the period had been distributed.

The Company’s redeemable convertible preferred shares are participating securities. The holders of the redeemable convertible preferred shares would be entitled to dividends in preference to common shareholders, at

 

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a rate no less than the rate at which dividends are paid to common shareholders, prior to any payment of dividends to common shareholders. These participating securities do not contractually require the holders of such shares to participate in the Company’s losses. As such, net losses for the periods presented were not allocated to the redeemable convertible preferred shares.

The Company’s basic net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders is calculated by dividing net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted-average number of ordinary shares outstanding for the period, without consideration of potentially dilutive securities. The diluted net loss per share is calculated by giving effect to all potentially dilutive securities outstanding for the period using the treasury stock method or the if-converted method based on the nature of such securities. Diluted net loss per share is the same as basic net loss per share in periods when the effects of potentially dilutive ordinary shares are anti-dilutive.

Segment Information

The Company operates in one operating segment. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), which is the management committee of the board of directors, in deciding how to allocate resources and assessing performance. The CODM allocates resources and assess performance based upon consolidated financial information.

Commitments and Contingencies

In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to loss contingencies, such as legal proceedings arising out of its business, that cover a wide range of matters. An accrual for a loss contingency is recognized when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. If a potential material loss contingency is not probable but is reasonably possible, or is probable but cannot be estimated, then the nature of the contingent liability, together with an estimate of the range of possible loss if determinable and material, is disclosed.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, which modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement., by removing, modifying, or adding certain disclosures. The standard eliminates such disclosures as the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy and valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements. The standard adds new disclosure requirements for Level 3 measurements. The Company adopted the guidance as of January 1, 2020. The adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on the disclosures within the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

As an emerging growth company (“EGC”), the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (“JOBS Act”) allows the Company to delay adoption of new or revised accounting pronouncements applicable to public companies until such pronouncements are applicable to private companies. The Company has elected to use this extended transition period under the JOBS Act until such time the Company is no longer considered to be an EGC. The adoption dates discussed below reflect this election.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which supersedes the guidance in ASC Topic 840, Leases, and makes other conforming amendments to GAAP. ASU 2016-02 requires, among other changes to the lease accounting guidance, lessees to recognize most leases on-balance sheet via a right-of-use asset and lease liability, and additional qualitative and quantitative disclosures. In July 2018, ASU

 

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No. 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases, was issued to provide more detailed guidance and additional clarification for implementing ASU No. 2016-02. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements, which provides an optional transition method in addition to the existing modified retrospective transition method by allowing a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. Furthermore, in June 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-05, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and Leases (Topic 842): Effective Dates for Certain Entities, which defers the effective date of ASU No. 2016-02 for certain entities. For the Company, the new standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2021 and for interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2022. Early adoption is permitted. Upon adoption of this standard, the Company expects to recognize, on a discounted basis, its minimum commitments under non-cancelable operating leases on the consolidated balance sheets resulting in the recording of right-of-use assets and lease obligations. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which requires an entity to utilize a new impairment model known as the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model to estimate its lifetime “expected credit loss” and record an allowance that, when deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial asset, presents the net amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. The CECL model is expected to result in more timely recognition of credit losses. This guidance also requires new disclosures for financial assets measured at amortized cost, loans and available-for-sale debt securities. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-10, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842): Effective Dates, which defers the effective date of ASU No. 2016-13 for certain entities. For the Company, the new standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted. Entities will apply the standard’s provisions as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is adopted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that Is a Service Contract, which aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). For the Company, the new standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020 and for interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021. Early adoption is permitted. Adoption of the standard is applied either retrospectively or prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, as part of its initiative to reduce complexity in accounting standards. For the Company, the standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2021 and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2022. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt – Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging Contracts – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity, which amends the guidance on convertible instruments and the derivatives scope exception for contracts in an entity’s own equity, and also improves and amends the related EPS guidance for both Subtopics. The amendments in the new standard are to address issues identified as a result of the complexity associated with applying GAAP for certain

 

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financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity. For the Company, the new standard will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In October 2020, the FASB issue ASU No. 2020-10, Codification Improvements, which updates various codification topics by clarifying or improving disclosure requirements to align with the SEC’s regulations. For the Company, the new standard will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2021 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022.

Note 3. Concentrations and Risks

Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents may consist of deposits held with banks, money market funds, certificates of deposit, or other highly liquid investments that may at times exceed federally insured limits. Cash equivalents are financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of risk, to the extent of amounts recorded in the balance sheets. The Company performs evaluations of its cash and cash equivalents and the relative credit standing of these financial institutions and limits the amount of credit exposure with any one institution. Management believes that the Company is not exposed to significant credit risk due to the financial position of the depository institutions in which those deposits are held. The Company has not experienced any losses to date related to these concentrations.

Currency Convertibility Risk

The revenues and expenses of the Company’s subsidiaries in the PRC are generally denominated in Renminbi (“RMB”) and their assets and liabilities are primarily denominated in RMB, which is not freely convertible into foreign currencies. The Company’s cash denominated in RMB that is subject to such government controls amounted to RMB17.2 million (equivalent to $2.5 million) and RMB 28.2 million (equivalent to $4.2 million) as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively. The value of the RMB is subject to changes in the central government policies and international economic and political developments affecting the supply and demand of RMB in the PRC foreign exchange trading system market. In the PRC, certain foreign exchange transactions are required by law to be transacted only by authorized financial institutions at exchange rates set by the People’s Bank of China (the ‘‘PBOC’’). Remittances from China in currencies other than RMB by the Company must be processed through the PBOC or other China foreign exchange regulatory bodies which require certain supporting documentation in order to process the remittance.

Note 4. Fair Value Measurements

The following table presents the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation (in thousands):

 

     As of December 31, 2019  
     Total      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3  

Assets:

           

Cash equivalents:

           

Certificates of deposit

   $ 57,416      $ 57,416      $ —        $ —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 57,416      $ 57,416      $ —        $ —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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     As of December 31, 2020  
     Total      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3  

Assets:

           

Cash equivalents:

           

Certificates of deposit

   $ 279,279      $ 279,279      $ —        $ —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 279,279      $ 279,279      $ —        $ —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

           

Warrants liability

   $ 42,452      $ —        $ —        $ 42,452  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 42,452      $ —        $ —        $ 42,452  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Warrants Liability

The fair value of the warrants liability was estimated at issuance using a Monte Carlo simulation model as the series of redeemable convertible preferred shares issued upon exercise is contingent upon the outcome of multiple discrete scenarios. The warrants were exercisable into shares of Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred shares if exercised prior to a subsequent equity financing, or shares of a series of redeemable convertible preferred stock issued in our next equity financing. The fair value of the underlying redeemable convertible preferred shares used within the Monte Carlo simulation model was estimated using a hybrid between a probability-weighted expected return method (“PWERM”) and option pricing model (“OPM”), estimating the probability-weighted value across multiple scenarios, while using an OPM to estimate the allocation of value within one or more of these scenarios. Discrete future outcomes considered under the PWERM include an IPO of the Company’s ordinary shares, as well as continued operation as a private company. The significant unobservable inputs into the valuation model include the timing and probability of occurrence of these discrete future outcomes and a discount for the lack of marketability of the redeemable convertible preferred shares.

The Company used the following assumptions in the model:

 

     Years Ended December 31,
         2019          2020

Discount for lack of marketability

     —        12.00% - 30.00%

Fair value of underlying securities

     —        $8.18 - $14.42

Expected volatility

     —        67.20% - 73.30%

Dividend rate

     —        —  

Expected term (in years)

     —        1.48 - 2.00

Risk-free interest rate

     —        0.11%  - 0.15%

As of December 31, 2020, the fair value of the warrants liability is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model as the variability surrounding which series of redeemable convertible preferred shares the warrants are exercisable into has been resolved due to the consummation of the Company’s Series E redeemable convertible preferred share financing. The fair value of the underlying redeemable convertible preferred shares used within the Black-Scholes option-pricing model was estimated using a hybrid between a PWERM and OPM, estimating the probability-weighted value across multiple scenarios, while using an OPM to estimate the allocation of value within one or more of these scenarios. Discrete future outcomes considered under the PWERM include an IPO of the Company’s ordinary shares, as well as continued operation as a private company. The significant unobservable inputs into the valuation model include the timing and probability of occurrence of these discrete future outcomes and a discount for the lack of marketability of the redeemable convertible preferred shares.

 

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The Company used the following assumptions in the model:

 

     Years Ended December 31,
         2019          2020

Discount for lack of marketability

     —        9.00% - 30.00%

Fair value of underlying securities

     —        $14.14

Expected volatility

     —        53.90% - 76.90%

Dividend rate

     —        —  

Expected term (in years)

     —        0.33 - 1.91

Risk-free interest rate

     —        0.10% - 0.13%

The following table sets forth a summary of the changes in the estimated fair value of the Company’s warrants liability (in thousands):

 

Balance as of December 31, 2019

   $ —    

Issuance of warrants

     44,268  

Reclassification of warrants from equity to liability

     394  

Exercises during the period

     (394

Change in fair value of warrants

     (1,816
  

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31, 2020

   $ 42,452  
  

 

 

 

Related Party Convertible Loan

The fair value of the related party convertible loan is calculated as the sum of the value of the straight-debt cash flows and the value of the embedded conversion features. A Discounted Cash Flow model was used to estimate the value of the straight-debt cash flows, and a Monte-Carlo model was used to estimate the value of the embedded conversion features. The significant unobservable inputs into the valuation model include the timing and probability of certain discrete future outcomes which dictate the series of redeemable convertible preferred shares issued upon exercise.

The Company used the following assumptions in the valuation model:

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2019      2020  

Probability of occurrence of IPO

     —          15.00

Expected volatility

     —          85.60

Risk-free interest rate

     —          0.11

Expected term (in years)

     —          0.69  

Fair value of underlying securities

     —        $ 14.14  

The following table sets forth a summary of the changes in the estimated fair value of the Company’s related party convertible loan (in thousands):

 

Balance as of December 31, 2019

   $ —    

Issuance of convertible loan

     50,000  

Change in fair value of related party convertible loan

     5,556  

Conversion to Series E-1 redeemable convertible preferred shares

     (55,556
  

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31, 2020

   $ —    
  

 

 

 

 

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Note 5. Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment as of December 31, 2019 and 2020 were as follows (in thousands):

 

     As of December 31,  
     2019      2020  

Electronic equipment

   $ 8,579      $ 11,429  

Office and other equipment

     2,515        6,152  

Validation vehicles

     12,088        12,775  

Leasehold improvements

     6,760        7,565  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Property and equipment, gross

     29,942        37,921  

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (7,659      (15,805
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

   $ 22,283      $ 22,116  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expense was $2.5 million, $5.6 million, and $7.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively.

As of December 31, 2019 and 2020, property and equipment financed under capital leases was $5.5 million and $4.5 million, net of accumulated amortization of $0.5 million and $1.5 million, respectively.

Note 6. Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities as of December 31, 2019 and 2020 were as follows (in thousands):

 

     As of December 31,  
     2019      2020  

Accrued payroll

   $ 5,322      $ 11,941  

Accrued professional fees

     531        7,865  

Accrued rental expenses

     1,022        721  

Other

     2,319        2,434  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

   $ 9,194      $ 22,961  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Note 7. Debt

Scania Loan

In April 2020, in connection with the Development Agreement entered into with Scania CV AB (“Scania”), an affiliate of Traton SE, the Company received a $5.0 million loan from Scania to cover the Company’s costs related to the program. The loan does not accrue interest and is repayable upon the acquisition by Scania or a Scania Affiliate of shares or other financial instruments in the Company. In September 2020, Traton SE acquired 1,232,370 of the Company’s Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred shares and the loan was repaid in full in October 2020. Refer to Note 8 Commitments and Contingencies for further detail over the Development Agreement.

Payroll Protection Program (“PPP”) Loan

In April 2020, the Company received loan proceeds in the amount of $4.1 million under the Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program established under Section 1102 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. The loan accrues interest at a rate of 1.0% per annum and originally matured in 24 months.

 

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Under the requirements of the CARES Act, as amended by the PPP Flexibility Act, proceeds may only be used for the Company’s eligible payroll costs, rent, mortgage interest, and utilities, in each case paid during the 24-week period following disbursement. The loan may be fully forgiven if (i) proceeds are used to pay eligible payroll costs, rent, mortgage interest, and utilities, and (ii) full-time employee headcount and salaries are either maintained during the 24-week period following disbursement or restored by December 31, 2020. If not so maintained or restored, any forgiveness of the loan would be reduced in accordance with the regulations that were issued by the SBA. All of the proceeds of the PPP Loan were used by the Company to pay eligible payroll costs and the Company maintained its headcount and otherwise complied with the terms of the PPP Loan.

In October 2020, the Company applied for forgiveness of the PPP Loan. The forgiveness application is subject to approval by the SBA and no assurance can be given that any portion of the PPP Loan will be forgiven. Based on communications from the SBA, if the Company is determined to be ineligible for forgiveness, the PPP Loan must be repaid immediately.

Related Party Convertible Loan

In June 2020, the Company entered into a convertible loan agreement with SUN Dream, Inc., a preferred shareholder in the Company, to issue convertible debt in the amount of $50.0 million (“Convertible Loan”). The Convertible Loan accrues interest at a rate of 10.0% per annum and matures in June 2021. On or before the maturity date, the Convertible Loan, at the option of SUN Dream, Inc., may be converted in whole or in part into the Company’s shares issued in the next round of financing (“Next Financing”) equal to the quotient of the outstanding principal amount of the Convertible Loan divided by a price per share equal to 90% of the applicable purchase price in such financing (“Discounted Conversion Price”); provided that the New Financing shall be consummated within six months following the issuance of the Convertible Loan and the Discounted Conversion Price is not lower than the original issue price of Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred shares, which was $8.11 as of the date of these consolidated financial statements.

In December 2020, in connection with the Company’s Series E financing, the Convertible Loan converted into 3,928,937 Series E-1 redeemable convertible preferred shares at a conversion price of $12.73.

Note 8. Commitments and Contingencies

Lease Commitments

The Company has entered into various noncancelable operating leases for its facilities with various expiry dates through 2033.

Future minimum lease payments for non-cancelable operating and capital leases as of December 31, 2020 are as follows (in thousands):

 

Year Ending December 31,    Capital Leases      Operating Leases  

2021

   $ 1,386      $ 5,187  

2022

     1,274        5,233  

2023

     999        5,365  

2024

     984        4,049  

2025

     1,817        2,695  

Thereafter

     —          19,793  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total minimum lease payments

   $ 6,460      $ 42,322  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Amount representing interest

     (1,888   
  

 

 

    

Present value of minimum lease payments

   $ 4,572     
  

 

 

    

 

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Rental expenses amounted to $2.3 million, $4.4 million, and $4.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively.

Joint Development Agreements

In April 2020, the Company entered into a Development Agreement with Scania, an affiliate of Traton SE, relating to a hub-to-hub pilot program using Scania vehicles and the Company’s autonomous technology. Under the Development Agreement, each party will fund its own costs related to the program. There are no reimbursements paid between the parties and there are no spending floors included within the Development Agreement. Upon successful completion of the development activities, the parties intend to set up a long-term cooperation agreement covering development, maintenance, operation and sales of self-driving systems on a global scale. The terms and conditions of such arrangement will be negotiated by the parties and included in a separate Partnership Agreement.

In July 2020, the Company entered into a Joint Development Agreement (“JDA”) with Navistar, Inc., under which the parties will work collaboratively to develop a purpose-built L4 autonomous semi-truck. Under the JDA, the parties grant each other rights to their background intellectual property to permit them to conduct research and development activities. Pursuant to the JDA, the Company agrees to reimburse Navistar up to $10.0 million for research and development expenses incurred. Payment of reimbursements is deferred to align with the achievement of certain milestones and reimbursements due are recorded within accrued expenses in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. All reimbursements are expected to be paid within 12 months of the Company incurring the obligation. Upon successful completion of the development activities under the JDA, the parties will enter into good faith negotiations for a production license agreement. Products developed will be jointly commercialized by the parties.

As of December 31, 2020, expenses incurred by Navistar for reimbursement under the JDA are immaterial.

Separation Agreements

The Company has entered into separation agreements with former employees under which the Company is required to pay additional compensation upon the occurrence of an IPO or Sale Event. No amounts have been recorded under such agreements as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively, as occurrence of the contingent events was not considered probable. The estimated amounts payable upon occurrence of the contingent events were $2.9 million and $4.7 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively.

Litigation and Legal Proceedings

The Company is not currently a party to any pending material litigation or other legal proceeding or claims.

Note 9. Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares and Preferred Share Warrants, and Shareholders’ Deficit

Series D-1 Financing

In December 2018, the Company sold 11,710,939 Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred shares at a purchase price of $8.11 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of $95.0 million. Issuance costs incurred were not material.

During 2019, the Company sold 6,471,833 Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred shares at a purchase price of $8.11 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of $52.5 million in cash. The Company incurred issuance costs of $0.2 million, which were recorded as a reduction in the carrying value of the Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred shares. The Company elected to accrete the shares to redemption value immediately and $0.2 million of accretion was recorded within accumulated deficit within the consolidated statements of redeemable convertible preferred shares and shareholders’ deficit. In connection with these financings, the

 

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Company issued warrants to purchase $2.5 million of Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred shares at their original issue price, the fair value of which was not material. These warrants were equity-classified upon issuance as exercise was conditional upon future events that were solely within the Company’s control. In November 2020, the contingent conditions were met and the warrants were reclassified as liabilities at their fair value of $0.4 million since exercise was no longer solely within the Company’s control. The warrants were subsequently exercised and the Company issued 308,182 Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred shares at $8.11 per share for aggregate proceeds of $2.5 million.

In July 2020, the Company entered into a Sale and Purchase Agreement (“July 2020 SPA”) with Navistar, Inc., under which the Company issued 621,447 Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred shares at $8.11 per share and a warrant to purchase shares issued in the Company’s next equity financing or, if exercised prior to the Company’s next equity financing, Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred shares, for aggregate proceeds of $5.0 million. The purchase price of the shares under the warrant shall be the issuance price of shares issued in the Company’s next equity financing or $8.11 if exercised prior to the Company’s next equity financing. In December 2020, the Company consummated its Series E redeemable convertible preferred share financing and the warrant became exercisable for Series E redeemable convertible preferred shares at an exercise price equal to the Series E redeemable convertible preferred shares original issue price, which is $14.14. The number of shares available for purchase is equal to the product of 5.0% and the aggregate number of all issued and outstanding ordinary shares of the Company on a fully diluted and as converted basis at the time of exercise. The warrant expires upon the earlier of (i) December 31, 2021, (ii) the consummation of a firm-commitment underwritten public offering, or (iii) the consummation of a Liquidation Event. The warrant was recorded at fair value, which equaled $2.0 million, and was treated as a reduction of the proceeds allocated to the Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred shares. The Company elected to accrete the shares to redemption value immediately and $2.0 million of accretion was recorded within additional paid-in capital within the consolidated statements of redeemable convertible preferred shares and shareholders’ deficit. As of December 31, 2020, the outstanding warrant was exercisable into 9,386,938 Series E redeemable convertible preferred shares and the fair value of the underlying shares was $14.14.

In August 2020, the Company entered into a Sale and Purchase Agreement (“August 2020 SPA”) with Traton SE, under which the Company agreed to issue 1,232,730 Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred shares at $8.11 per share and a warrant to purchase shares issued in the Company’s next equity financing or, if exercised prior to the Company’s next equity financing, Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred shares for aggregate proceeds of $10.0 million. The transaction closed in September 2020. The purchase price of the shares under the warrant shall be 80% of the issuance price of shares issued in the Company’s next equity financing or $8.11 if exercised prior to the Company’s next equity financing. In December 2020, the Company consummated its Series E redeemable convertible preferred share financing and the warrant became exercisable for Series E-2 redeemable convertible preferred shares at an exercise price of $11.31, which is equal to 80.0% of the Series E redeemable convertible preferred shares original issue price. The number of shares available for purchase is 7,072,086, which is equal to $80.0 million divided by the exercise price. The warrant expires upon the earlier of (i) the second anniversary of the Series E redeemable convertible preferred shares financing, (ii) the first public filing of the registration statement in connection with a firm-commitment underwritten public offering, or (iii) the consummation of a Liquidation Event. The warrant was recorded at fair value, which equaled $42.3 million, and was treated as a reduction of the proceeds allocated to the Series E redeemable convertible preferred shares. The excess of $32.3 million in fair value allocated to the warrants over the cash proceeds received upon issuance was considered compensation paid to Traton SE and recorded as research and development expense within the consolidated statements of operations. As of December 31, 2020, the fair value of the shares underlying the warrant was $11.31.

Series A-2 Issuance

In April 2019, the Company exchanged 8,218,203 Series A-2 redeemable convertible preferred shares for 8,218,203 ordinary shares beneficially owned by Ren Zhenguo, a non-employee silent investor and one of the Company’s co-founders. The newly issued Series A-2 redeemable convertible preferred shares were then sold for

 

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$60.0 million to an institutional investor. The Company did not receive any proceeds from this transaction. The ordinary shares exchanged in the transaction were retired. The transaction was accounted for as an exchange and the Series A-2 redeemable convertible preferred shares were recorded at a carrying value of $60.0 million. Issuance costs incurred were not material.

Series E Financing

In November 2020, the Company entered into a Sale and Purchase Agreement (“November 2020 SPA”) with new and existing investors to issue Series E redeemable convertible preferred shares at $14.14 per share. As of December 31, 2020, the Company has issued 21,044,019 Series E redeemable convertible preferred shares for aggregate proceeds of $297.6 million. The Company incurred issuance costs of $9.0 million, which were recorded as a reduction in the carrying value of the Series E redeemable convertible preferred shares. The Company elected to accrete the shares to redemption value immediately and $9.0 million of accretion was recorded within accumulated deficit within the consolidated statements of redeemable convertible preferred shares and shareholders’ deficit. The investment round remained open as of December 31, 2020. Refer to Note 15. Subsequent Events for further information.

Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares

The company has authorized 138,102,770 redeemable convertible preferred shares, designated in series, with the rights and preferences of each designated series to be determined by the Board of Directors.

The following table is a summary of redeemable convertible preferred shares as of December 31, 2019 (in thousands, except share amounts and per share amounts):

 

Series

  Shares
Authorized
    Shares Issued
and
Outstanding
    Per Share
Liquidation
Preference
    Aggregate
Liquidation
Preference
     Per Share
Initial
Conversion
Price
     Net
Carrying
Value
 
A     20,000,000       20,000,000     $ 0.3925     $ 7,850      $ 0.3925      $ 7,850  
A-2     8,218,203       8,218,203       —         —          7.3009        60,000  
B-1     7,080,000       7,080,000       2.5000       17,700        2.5000        17,700  
B-2     3,000,000       3,000,000       0.7667       2,300        0.7667        2,300  
B-3     3,465,372       3,465,372       0.8657       3,000        0.8657        3,000  
C     14,993,041       14,993,041       3.6941       55,386        3.6941        55,386  
D-1     26,195,520       18,182,772       8.1121       147,500        8.1121        147,500  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

       

 

 

 
    82,952,136       74,939,388       $ 233,736         $ 293,736  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

       

 

 

 

The following table is a summary of redeemable convertible preferred shares as of December 31, 2020 (in thousands, except share amounts and per share amounts):

 

Series

  Shares
Authorized
    Shares Issued
and
Outstanding
    Per Share
Liquidation
Preference
    Aggregate
Liquidation
Preference
     Per Share
Initial
Conversion
Price
     Net
Carrying
Value
 
A     20,000,000       20,000,000     $ 0.3925     $ 7,850      $ 0.3925      $ 7,850  
A-2     8,218,203       8,218,203       —         —          7.3009        60,000  
B-1     7,080,000       7,080,000       2.5000       17,700        2.5000        17,700  
B-2     3,000,000       3,000,000       0.7667       2,300        0.7667        2,300  
B-3     3,465,372       3,465,372       0.8657       3,000        0.8657        3,000  
C     14,993,041       14,993,041       3.6941       55,386        3.6941        55,386  
D-1     20,345,131       20,345,131       8.1121       165,042        8.1121        165,435  
E     50,000,000       21,044,019       14.1401       297,564        14.1401        297,564  
E-1     3,928,937       3,928,937       12.7261       50,000        12.7261        55,556  
E-2     7,072,086       —         11.3121       —          11.3121        —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

       

 

 

 
    138,102,770       102,074,703       $ 598,842         $ 664,791  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

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The rights, preferences and privileges of the redeemable convertible preferred shares are as follows:

Voting

Each holder of redeemable convertible preferred shares is entitled to the number of votes equal to the number of ordinary shares into which the shares held by such holder are convertible. The holders of redeemable convertible preferred shares are entitled to appoint a total of 4 out of 7 directors.

Dividends

The holders of redeemable convertible preferred shares, prior and in preference of the holders of ordinary shares, are entitled to receive dividends when and if declared by the Company’s board of directors. Series E, E-1, and E-2 redeemable convertible preferred shares have preference over all other series of redeemable convertible preferred shares, followed by Series D-1, Series C, Series B-1, B-2 and B-3 (in-line with one another), and Series A-2 and A (in-line with one another). To date, no dividends have been declared.

Conversion

Each redeemable convertible preferred share is convertible, at the option of the holder, into the number of ordinary shares, which results from dividing the applicable original issue price per share for each series by the applicable conversion price per share for such series. The initial conversion price per share of all series of convertible preferred shares is equal to the original issue price of each series, and therefore, the conversion ratio is 1:1. Refer to Note 7. Debt for further information over the conversion price of Series E-1 redeemable convertible preferred shares.

Each redeemable convertible preferred share shall be automatically converted into ordinary shares at the then-applicable conversion price in the event of a firm commitment underwritten public offering and listing by the Company of its ordinary shares with aggregate proceeds of no less than $200.0 million (prior to deduction of underwriting discounts and registration expenses) with a public offering price per share not less than $16.97.

Redemption

Each redeemable convertible preferred share is redeemable at its original issue price, plus any accrued but unpaid dividends, at the option of the holder at any time (i) after December 4, 2025, (ii) upon any material breach or violation of, or inaccuracy or misrepresentation in, any representation or warranty contained within the transaction documents, or (iii) upon the written request of any holder of any other series of redeemable convertible preferred shares.

If the Company does not have sufficient funds legally available to redeem all shares to be redeemed at the redemption date, the maximum possible number of shares is redeemed ratably among the holders of such shares based upon their holdings of redeemable convertible preferred shares, and the remaining shares will be redeemed as soon as sufficient funds are legally available. Preference on redemption follows the same preferential order as preference on dividends.

These redemption features cause the redeemable convertible preferred shares to be classified as mezzanine equity rather than as a component of shareholders’ deficit.

Liquidation

In the event of any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, either voluntary or involuntary, including a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets where the shareholders of the Company immediately before such transaction own less than 50% of the voting power of the surviving entity, the holders of Series E, E-1, and E-2 (in-line with one another), Series D-1, Series C, Series B-1, B-2 and B-3 (in-line with one another), and

 

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Series A redeemable convertible preferred shares, listed in order of priority, will receive, prior and in preference to the holders of Series A-2 preferred shares and ordinary shares, an amount per share equal to the liquidation preference, plus any accrued but unpaid dividends. After payment of the liquidation preference to the preferred shareholders as stated above, the remaining assets of the Company are available for distribution to the holders of redeemable convertible preferred shares and ordinary shares ratably on an as-if-converted fully-diluted basis.

Ordinary Shares

As of December 31, 2020, the Company is authorized to issue 361,897,230 ordinary shares with a par value of $0.0001 per share, among which 60,543,337 were issued and outstanding.

Holders of ordinary shares are entitled to dividends when and if declared by the board of directors, subject to the rights of the holders of the Company’s redeemable convertible preferred shares having priority rights to dividends. As of December 31, 2020, no dividends have been declared.

Note 10. Share-Based Compensation

Equity Incentive Plan

In April 2017, the Company adopted the 2017 Share Plan (the “2017 Plan”) under which employees, directors, and consultants may be granted various forms of equity incentive compensation at the discretion of the board of directors, including share options, restricted shares, RSUs, and SVAs.

Share options granted under the 2017 Plan have a contractual term of ten years and have varying vesting terms, but generally vest over a requisite service period of four years. The exercise price of the share options granted may not be less than the par value of the shares. Certain share options contain a performance condition and are only exercisable subject to the grantee’s continuous service and the completion of an IPO. Options which contain a performance condition and for which the service condition has been satisfied are forfeited should employment terminate before the Company’s IPO.

As of December 31, 2019 and 2020, the Company’s board of directors had authorized 10,000,000 and 21,967,964 ordinary shares to be reserved for grants of awards under the 2017 Plan.

Share Options

A summary of the share option activities is as follows (in thousands, except share amounts, per share amounts, and years):

 

     Options
Outstanding
    Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
     Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Life
(Years)
     Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
 

Outstanding at January 1, 2018

     7,550,000     $ 0.0001        9.49      $ 2,144  

Granted

     618,441       0.0001        

Forfeited

     (470,000     0.0001        
  

 

 

         

Outstanding at December 31, 2018

     7,698,441     $ 0.0001        8.60      $ 2,998  

Forfeited

     (127,410     0.0001        
  

 

 

         

Outstanding at December 31, 2019

     7,571,031     $ 0.0001        7.60      $ 3,747  
  

 

 

         

Granted

     8,051,972       2.26        

Exercised

     (2,127,232     0.46        

Forfeited

     (200,274     0.63        
  

 

 

         

Outstanding at December 31, 2020

     13,295,497     $ 1.29        7.99      $ 97,986  
  

 

 

         

Expected to vest at December 31, 2020

     13,295,497     $ 1.29        7.99      $ 97,986  
  

 

 

         

Vested and exercisable at December 31, 2020

     325,353     $ 2.34        9.57      $ 2,030  
  

 

 

         

 

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The weighted-average grant-date fair value of share options granted during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2020 was $0.37 and $3.61 per share, respectively. There were no share options granted during the year ended December 31, 2019. The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2020 was $3.7 million. There were no options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2018 or 2019, respectively.

As of December 31, 2020, there was $14.0 million of unrecognized share-based compensation expense related to unvested share options with time-based vesting conditions only, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average service period of 2.95 years.

As of December 31, 2020, no share-based compensation expense has been recognized for share options with a performance condition based on the occurrence of an IPO, as such event was not probable. The total unrecognized share-based compensation expense relating to these awards as of December 31, 2020 was $11.7 million. Of this amount, $5.0 million relates to awards for which the time-based vesting condition has been satisfied or partially satisfied on that date, calculated using the accelerated attribution method and the grant date fair value of the awards.

The estimated grant-date fair value of the Company’s share-based option awards was calculated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, based on the following assumptions:

 

     Years Ended December 31,
     2018     2019     

2020

Risk-free interest rate

     3.19          0.14% - 0.44%

Expected dividend yield

               

Expected volatility

     33.00          51.00% – 60.00%

Expected term (in years)

     10.0            2.21 – 6.06

Fair value of ordinary shares

   $ 0.37            $1.52 – $8.24

These assumptions and estimates were determined as follows:

Fair Value of Ordinary Shares – The fair value of the ordinary shares underlying the options has historically been determined by the Company’s board of directors given the absence of a public trading market, with input from management and valuation reports prepared by third-party valuation specialists. Share-based compensation for financial reporting purposes is measured based on updated estimates of fair value when appropriate, such as when additional relevant information related to the estimate becomes available in a valuation report issued as of a subsequent date.

Risk-Free Interest Rate – The risk-free interest rate for the expected term of the options was based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant.

Expected Term – The expected term of options represents the period of time that options are expected to be outstanding. The Company’s historical share option exercise experience does not provide a reasonable basis upon which to estimate an expected term due to a lack of sufficient data. For options granted to-date, the expected term is estimated using the simplified method. The simplified method calculates the expected term as the average of the time-to-vesting and the contractual life of the options.

Expected Volatility – As the Company does not have a trading history for its ordinary shares, the expected volatility was estimated by taking the average historic price volatility for industry peers, consisting of several public companies in the Company’s industry that are either similar in size, stage of life cycle, or financial leverage, over a period equivalent to the expected term of the awards.

Expected Dividend Yield – The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends and does not presently plan to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. As a result, an expected dividend yield of zero percent was used.

 

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Table of Contents

Share-based Compensation Expense

Total share-based compensation expense was as follows (in thousands):

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2018      2019      2020  

Sales and marketing

   $      $      $ 2  

Research and development

                   917  

General and administrative

                   11,844  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total share-based compensation expense

   $      $      $ 12,763  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Share Option Modification

In March 2020, 2,125,000 share options granted to the CEO were early-exercised through the issuance of a partial-recourse promissory note in the amount of $1.0 million from the CEO to the Company. The transaction was accounted for as a substantive grant of options with share-based compensation expense recognized over the requisite service period of the awards. In December 2020, the Company forgave the partial-recourse promissory note, which was accounted for as a modification of the underlying options. The incremental fair value of the options was determined at the date of the modification and $1.1 million was immediately recognized as general and administrative expense within the consolidated statements of operations.

RSUs

The following table summarizes the activity related to RSUs for the year ended December 31, 2020. There was no activity related to RSUs in the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively:

 

     RSUs
Outstanding
    Weighted-
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
per Share
 

Unvested and Outstanding at December 31, 2019

         $  
  

 

 

   

Granted

     1,111,704       8.18  

Forfeited

     (11,704     2.41  
  

 

 

   

Unvested and outstanding at December 31, 2020

     1,100,000     $ 8.24  
  

 

 

   

SVAs

The following table summarizes the activity related to SVAs for the year ended December 31, 2020. There was no activity related to SVAs in the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively:

 

     SVAs
Outstanding
    Weighted-
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
per Share
 

Unvested and Outstanding at December 31, 2019

         $  
  

 

 

   

Granted

     3,793,345       3.20  

Forfeited

     (140,199     2.97  
  

 

 

   

Unvested and outstanding at December 31, 2020

     3,653,146     $ 3.20  
  

 

 

   

 

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As of December 31, 2020, no share-based compensation expense has been recognized for RSUs and SVAs with a performance condition based on the occurrence of a qualifying event, as such qualifying event was not probable. The total unrecognized share-based compensation expense relating to these awards as of December 31, 2020 was $20.8 million. Of this amount, $12.0 million relates to awards for which the time-based vesting condition has been satisfied or partially satisfied on that date, calculated using the accelerated attribution method and the grant date fair value of the awards.

Restricted Share Awards

In August 2020, the Company issued 1,899,680 ordinary shares to two employees under a restricted share agreement at a grant date fair value of $3.62 per share, totaling $6.9 million. Compensation expense related to these awards was recorded as general and administrative expense within the consolidated statements of operations. All of the shares were vested as of December 31, 2020.

Note 11. Income Taxes

Loss before provision for income taxes consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2018      2019      2020  

Cayman Islands

   $ (306    $ (1,144    $ (50,358

Foreign

     (44,728      (83,739      (127,512
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Loss before provision for income taxes

   $ (45,034    $ (84,883    $ (177,870
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Provision for income taxes consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2018      2019      2020  

Current:

        

Cayman Islands

   $      $      $  

Foreign

                    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current provision

                    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred:

        

Cayman Islands

                    

Foreign

                    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total deferred provision

                    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total provision for income taxes

   $      $      $  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company is incorporated in the Cayman Islands and therefore is not subject to tax in that jurisdiction. In addition, the Company generated losses in other jurisdictions including the U.S. and the PRC, for which no tax benefits are recognized due to the Company’s valuation allowance position.

 

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The provision for income taxes differs from the amount computed by applying the Cayman Islands statutory tax rate as follows (in thousands):

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2018      2019      2020  

Tax at Cayman Islands statutory rate

   $      $      $  

Valuation allowances

     13,791        26,011        38,984  

Foreign tax rate differential

     (12,070      (20,883      (30,633

Research and development tax credits

     (3,926      (5,841      (8,510

Uncertain tax position reserves

     2,090        724         

Stock-based compensation

                   (354

Other

     115        (11      513  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $      $      $  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The effective tax rate for 2018, 2019, and 2020 was 0% for all years and is primarily due to the valuation allowances recorded on US and other local jurisdiction activities that the Company concluded do not meet the more likely than not criteria for realization.

The Company recognizes the benefit of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in its tax returns in the consolidated financial statements when it is more likely than not the position will be sustained upon examination by authorities. Recognized tax positions are measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance to total unrecognized tax position is as follows (in thousands):

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2018      2019      2020  

Unrecognized tax benefit, beginning of year

   $      $ 2,850      $ 4,029  

Increases related to prior year tax positions

     597                

Increases related to current year tax positions

     2,253        1,179        737  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Unrecognized tax benefit, end of year

   $ 2,850      $ 4,029      $ 4,766  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company classifies interest expense and penalties related to the underpayment of income taxes in the consolidated financial statements as income tax expense. As of December 31, 2018, 2019, and 2020 the Company recorded no accrued interest or penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits.

The Company is subject to tax examination in U.S. federal and state and other local country jurisdictions for tax years 2016 to the present.

 

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Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2018     2019     2020  

Deferred tax assets:

      

Net operating loss carryforwards

   $ 16,799     $ 39,489     $ 74,417  

Tax credit carryforwards

     1,901       4,879       9,833  

Lease liability

           1,320       1,116  

Other

     167       225       631  

Stock-based compensation

                 264  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross deferred tax assets

     18,867       45,913       86,261  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Valuation allowance

     (18,162     (43,985     (84,852
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net deferred tax assets

     705       1,928       1,409  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

      

Property, plant and equipment

     675       438       352  

Intangible assets

     30       10        

Capital lease assets

           1,480       1,057  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net deferred tax liabilities

     705       1,928       1,409  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net deferred tax asset/(liability)

   $     $     $  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2020, the Company had net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards of $457.5 million, resulting in an NOL deferred tax asset of $74.4 million. Of these NOL carryforwards, $282.9 million expire at various times between 2022 and 2040 and $174.6 million does not expire. Additionally, as of December 31, 2020, $40.3 million of California state net operating losses are not more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination of the relevant taxing authority.

As of December 31, 2020, the Company had a U.S. federal and state research and development tax credit carryforward resulting in a deferred tax asset of $11.8 million, of which $7.4 million will expire between 2035 and 2040 and $4.4 million does not expire.

The Company’s ability to utilize the net operating losses and tax credit carryforwards is subject to limitations in the event of an ownership change as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) of 1986, as amended, and similar state law. In general, an ownership change occurs if the aggregate share ownership of certain shareholders increases by more than 50 percentage points over such shareholders’ lowest percentage ownership during the testing period. As of December 31, 2020, the Company has not completed an IRC Section 382/383 analysis to determine whether it has had an ownership change. In the event that the Company has had a change in ownership, utilization of the net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards could be limited. Due to the existence of the valuation allowance, limitations created by future ownership changes, if any, related to the Company’s operations in the United States will not impact the Company’s effective tax rate.

The Company recorded a valuation allowance to reflect the estimated amount of certain U.S. federal and state and other local jurisdictions deferred tax assets that, more likely than not, will not be realized. In making such a determination, the Company evaluates a variety of factors including the Company’s operating history, accumulated deficit, and the existence of taxable or deductible temporary differences and reversal periods. The net change in total valuation allowance for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019, and 2020 was an increase of $14.1 million, an increase of $25.8 million, and an increase of $40.9 million, respectively. The valuation

 

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allowance increases were driven primarily by U.S. federal and state and other local jurisdictions NOL carryforwards that are not expected on a more likely than not basis to be realized. The net increases were credited to tax expense and other comprehensive income.

Under the current tax laws of the Cayman Islands, the Company is not subject to tax on income, corporation or capital gain, and no withholding tax is imposed upon the payment of dividends to shareholders. Accordingly, all income tax expense is for jurisdictions other than the Cayman Islands.

Under the Corporate Income Tax Law (“CIT Law”) in the PRC, Foreign Investment Enterprises and domestic companies are subject to corporate income tax at a uniform rate of 25%. The Company also has subsidiaries that qualify for the High and New-Technology Enterprise program, which has a preferential CIT rate of 15%.

On March 27, 2020, the CARES Act was signed into law. The CARES Act, among other things, includes certain income tax provisions for individuals and corporations; however, these benefits do not impact the Company’s current tax provision.

Note 12. Net Loss Per Share Attributable to Ordinary Shareholders

Basic net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders is computed by dividing the net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted-average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period. Diluted loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders is the same as basic loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders for all years presented because the effects of potentially dilutive items were antidilutive given the Company’s net loss in each period presented.

The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders (in thousands, except share and per share amounts):

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2018     2019     2020  

Numerator:

      

Net loss

   $ (45,018   $ (84,840   $ (177,870

Less: Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred shares

     —         (201     (20,959

Less: Deemed dividend on exchange of Series A-2 redeemable convertible preferred shares for ordinary shares

     —         (60,000     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders, basic and diluted

   $ (45,018   $ (145,041   $ (198,829
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Denominator:

      

Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted

     64,734,628       58,700,441       58,929,271  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share:

      

Net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders, basic and diluted

   $ (0.70   $ (2.47   $ (3.37
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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The following outstanding potentially dilutive ordinary share equivalents have been excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders for the periods presented due to their antidilutive effect:

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2018      2019      2020  

Redeemable convertible preferred shares

     60,249,352        74,939,388        102,074,703  

Options issued and outstanding

     7,698,441        7,571,031        13,295,497  

RSUs outstanding

                   1,100,000  

SVAs outstanding

                   3,653,146  

Redeemable convertible preferred share warrants

                   16,459,024  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     67,947,793        82,510,419        136,582,370  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Note 13. Variable Interest Entities

Prior to September 2020, the Company operated a portion of its business in the PRC through its VIEs. Operations at the VIEs included, but were not limited to, purchasing trucks, arranging for licenses and permits with local authorities, and maintaining cash balances that were subject to capital controls under the laws of the PRC. Considering the PRC’s laws and regulations may prohibit or restrict foreign ownership of operation of the autonomous truck driving business in the future, a series of contractual agreements, including powers of attorney, exclusive call option agreements, exclusive service agreements, share pledge agreements and spousal consent letters (collectively, the “VIE Agreements”), were entered into among Beijing Tusen Zhitu Technology Co., Ltd. (“Tusen Zhitu” or “WFOE”)), a PRC-registered entity wholly owned by the Company, VIEs and their PRC equity holders. The equity interests of these PRC domestic companies were held by PRC citizens or by PRC entities owned and/or controlled by PRC citizens. Specifically, these PRC domestic companies that were significant to the Company’s business are Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology, Co., Ltd. (“Beijing Tusen Weilai) and Shanghai Tusen Weilai AI Technology Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai Tusen Weilai”).

In September 2020, the Company obtained 100% of the equity ownership in Beijing Tusen Weilai and Shanghai Tusen Weilai for no consideration. As a result, the VIE structure surrounding these entities has been dissolved and they have been consolidated under the voting interest model.

Contractual Arrangements with Beijing Tusen Weilai

Beijing Tusen Weilai was established on December 8, 2016. In March 2017, Tusen Zhitu, Beijing Tusen Weilai, and its shareholders entered into the VIE Agreements. These agreements provided the Company, as the only shareholder of Tusen Zhitu, with effective control over Beijing Tusen Weilai to direct the activities that most significantly impacted Beijing Tusen Weilai’s economic performance and enabled the Company to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits arising from Beijing Tusen Weilai. Management concluded that Beijing Tusen Weilai was a variable interest entity and the Company was the ultimate primary beneficiary of Beijing Tusen Weilai. The Company consolidated the financial results of Beijing Tusen Weilai during the time it was considered a VIE.

 

   

Powers of Attorney. Pursuant to the power of attorney, each shareholder of Beijing Tusen Weilai irrevocably authorized Tusen Zhitu to exercise the following rights relating to all equity interests held by such shareholders in Beijing Tusen Weilai during the term of the power of attorney; to act on behalf of such shareholder as its exclusive agent and attorney with respect to all matters concerning its shareholding in Beijing Tusen Weilai according to Beijing Tusen Weilai’s articles of association, including without limitation to: (i) attending shareholders meetings, (ii) exercising voting rights and other shareholder’s rights, and (iii) appointing legal representative, directors, a general manager and other senior management of Beijing Tusen Weilai.

 

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Exclusive Call Option Agreements. Pursuant to the exclusive call option agreement, Beijing Tusen Weilai and each of its shareholders irrevocably granted Tusen Zhitu an exclusive option to purchase, or designate one or more entities or persons to purchase, at its discretion, to the extent permitted under PRC law, all or part of the shareholders’ equity interests in Beijing Tusen Weilai. The purchase price of the equity interests was equal the lowest price permitted by the applicable PRC law. The shareholders of Beijing Tusen Weilai agreed, without the prior written consent of Tusen Zhitu, not to transfer, pledge or create any encumbrance on any assets, equity interests or other beneficiary interest in the business or revenues of Beijing Tusen Weilai. The agreement remained in full force and effect indefinitely from the date of the agreement.

 

   

Exclusive Service Agreement. Tusen Zhitu had in place an exclusive technology consulting and service, staff training, business consulting services and information service framework agreement with Tusen Weilai. Under the exclusive service agreement, Beijing Tusen Weilai appointed Tusen Zhitu as its exclusive services provider to provide Beijing Tusen Weilai with technology consulting and services during the term of the exclusive service agreement. In consideration of the services provided by Tusen Zhitu, Beijing Tusen Weilai paid Tusen Zhitu fees based on Beijing Tusen Weilai’s profit after necessary cost, operating expenditure and relative tax, which was adjusted at Tusen Zhitu’s discretion to the extent permitted by PRC law. Unless terminated in accordance with the provisions of the exclusive service agreement or terminated in writing by Tusen Zhitu, the exclusive service agreement remained effective for 10 years from the date of the agreement with automatic extensions unless Tusen Zhitu provided prior notice before expiry. Beijing Tusen Weilai had no right to terminate the agreement.

 

   

Equity Interest Pledge Agreements. Pursuant to the equity interest pledge agreements, each shareholder of Beijing Tusen Weilai pledged all of such shareholder’s equity interests in Beijing Tusen Weilai as a security interest, as applicable, to respectively guarantee Tusen Weilai and its shareholders’ performance of their obligations under the relevant contractual arrangements, which included the exclusive call option agreement, exclusive service agreement and power of attorney. If Beijing Tusen Weilai or any of its shareholders breached their contractual obligations under these agreements, Tusen Zhitu, as pledgee, was entitled to dispose of the pledged shares in accordance with PRC laws. Each of the shareholders of Beijing Tusen Weilai agreed that, during the term of the equity interest pledge agreements, such shareholder would not dispose of the pledged equity interest, place or permit any encumbrance on the pledged equity interest, and agreed to take all necessary measures to prevent Tusen Zhitu’s rights relating to the pledged equity interest from being prejudiced by the legal actions of the shareholders of Beijing Tusen Weilai. Tusen Zhitu had the right to receive all of the dividends and profits distributed on the pledged equity interests and remained effective until all obligations under the relevant contractual agreements had been fully performed.

 

   

Spousal Consent Letters. Pursuant to the spousal consent letters, the spouses of each nominee equity holder in Beijing Tusen Weilai consented that the equity interests in Beijing Tusen Weilai held by and registered in the name of the respective nominee equity holders would be disposed of pursuant to the VIE Agreements. The spouses agreed not to assert any rights over the equity interests in Beijing Tusen Weilai held by their spouses, the nominee equity holders. In the event that the spouses obtained any equity interest in Beijing Tusen Weilai held by the nominee equity holders for any reason, they agreed to be bound by the VIE Agreements.

Contractual Agreements with Shanghai Tusen Weilai

In April 2019, Tusen Zhitu, Shanghai Tusen Weilai, and its shareholders entered into a series of VIE agreements. The terms of the VIE agreements were identical with those entered into by and among Tusen Zhitu, Beijing Tusen Weilai, and the shareholders of Beijing Tusen Weilai in March 2017 (see above). These agreements provided the Company, as the only shareholder of Tusen Zhitu, with effective control over Shanghai Tusen Weilai to direct the activities that most significantly impacted Shanghai Tusen Weilai’s economic performance and enabled

 

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the Company to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits arising from Shanghai Tusen Weilai. Management concluded that Shanghai Tusen Weilai was a variable interest entity and the Company was the ultimate primary beneficiary of Shanghai Tusen Weilai. The Company consolidated the financial results of Shanghai Tusen Weilai during the time it was considered a VIE.

The following financial information of the VIEs in the PRC was recorded in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2019 and in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively (in thousands):

 

Current assets:

  

Cash

   $ 988  

Accounts receivable, net

      

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     435  

Amounts due from inter-company entities*

     9  
  

 

 

 

Total current assets

     1,432  

Property and equipment, net

     2,955  

Other non-current assets

     1,267  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 5,654  
  

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

  

Accounts payable

     9  

Amounts due to inter-company entities*

     512  

Amounts due to related parties

     7,148  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     971  
  

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     8,640  

Amounts due to inter-company entities, noncurrent*

     3,143  

Other liabilities

     68  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $ 11,851  
  

 

 

 

 

*

All inter-company balances have been eliminated upon consolidation.

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
             2018                     2019          

Net revenues**

   $ 2,993     $ 1,450  

Net income/(loss)

     335       (3,965

Net cash provided by operating activities

     484       335  

Net cash used in investing activities

     (1,459     (1,386

Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities

     2,877       (146

 

**

Net revenue of $1,450 is service fees from Tusen Zhitu and has been eliminated upon consolidation.

Under the contractual arrangements with the VIEs, the Company has the power to direct activities of the VIEs and can have assets transferred out of the VIEs under its control. Therefore, the Company considers that there is no asset in any of the VIEs that can be used only to settle obligations of the VIEs. None of the assets of the VIEs have been pledged or collateralized. The creditors of the VIEs do not have recourse to the general credit of the Company for any liabilities of the VIEs.

Note 14. Related Party Transactions

The Company has short-term, unsecured, interest free loans outstanding due to its executive chairman and one of its directors, which are repayable on demand. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, the Company made repayments on these loans in the amount of $2.5 million and $0.1 million, respectively. The Company made no

 

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repayments on these loans during the year ended December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2019 and 2020, amounts outstanding on these loans were $0.6 million and $0.6 million, respectively.

The Company has various loans outstanding with Jinzhuo Hengbang Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Jinzhuo Hengbang”), an affiliated company of Sina Corporation, the ultimate parent company of one of the Company’s preferred shareholders, with annual interest rates ranging from 0% to 10%. During the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019, and 2020, interest expense was $0.1 million, $0.3 million, and $0.3 million, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company made repayments on these loans in the amount of $3.1 million As of December 31, 2019 and 2020, amounts outstanding on these loans were $6.6 million and $3.7 million, respectively.

In February 2018, the Company paid a guarantee deposit of $3.7 million to Sina Corporation in connection with the loans borrowed by the Company form Jinzhuo Hengbang, which remains outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2020.

In March 2020, the CEO of the Company issued a partial-recourse promissory note to the Company in exchange for the cashless early-exercise of share options. Refer to Note 10. Share-Based Compensation for further information.

In April 2020, the Company received a $5.0 million loan in connection with the Development Agreement with Scania, an affiliate of Traton SE, a preferred shareholder in the Company. The loan does not accrue interest and was repaid in October 2020. Refer to Note 7. Debt for further information.

In June 2020, the Company entered into a convertible loan agreement with SUN Dream, Inc., a preferred shareholder in the Company. Refer to Note 7. Debt for further information.

In July 2020, the Company entered into a Joint Development Agreement (“JDA”) with Navistar, Inc., a preferred shareholder in the Company, under which the parties will work collaboratively to develop a level four autonomous truck. Refer to Note 8. Commitments and Contingencies for further information.

Note 15. Subsequent Events

Subsequent events have been evaluated through March 5, 2021, which is the date that these consolidated financial statements were available to be issued.

Series E Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares Issuance

In January 2021, in connection with November 2020 SPA, the Company issued 4,650,999 Series E redeemable convertible preferred shares at $14.14 per share for aggregate proceeds of $61.6 million, net of issuance costs of $4.1 million.

Series E-2 Warrants Exercise

In February 2021, Traton SE exercised warrants to purchase 4,331,644 Series E-2 redeemable convertible preferred shares at an exercise price of $11.3121, resulting in proceeds of $49.0 million. The remaining warrants to purchase 2,740,442 Series E-2 redeemable convertible preferred shares expired as of the exercise date.

Domestication

In February 2021, the Company changed its jurisdiction of incorporation from the Cayman Islands to the State of Delaware. Tusimple (Cayman) Limited deregistered as a Cayman Islands exempted company and continued and domesticated as a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. This transaction is referred to as the “Domestication”. In connection with the Domestication, Tusimple (Cayman)

 

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Limited changed its name to TuSimple Holdings Inc. The business, assets and liabilities of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, as well as its principal locations and fiscal year, were the same immediately after the Domestication as they were immediately prior to the Domestication. In addition, the directors and executive officers of the Company immediately after the Domestication were the same individuals who were directors and executive officers, respectively, of the Company immediately prior to the Domestication.

Note 16. Subsequent Events (unaudited)

Series E Warrants Exercise

In March 2021, Navistar, Inc. exercised warrants to purchase 9,477,073 Series E redeemable convertible preferred shares at an exercise price of $14.1401, resulting in proceeds of $134.0 million.

CEO Performance Awards

In March 2021, the Company granted 1,150,000 share option awards to the CEO with an exercise price of $14.1401 per share and quarterly vesting over a term of five years. Additionally, the Company granted 1,150,000 share option awards to the CEO with an exercise price of $14.1401 per share that vest upon the attainment of both operational milestones (performance conditions) and market conditions, assuming continued employment as the CEO through the vesting date. The options will vest upon certification by the Board of Directors that all the following milestones have been attained: (i) the average market capitalization of the Company during any consecutive 180-day period is no less than $25.0 billion, (ii) the average number of L4 autonomous semi-trucks operating on the Company’s Autonomous Freight Network on behalf of the Company’s customers in any 90-day period is no less than 1,500, and (iii) the Company’s revenues from its Autonomous Freight Network for any 12-month period exceed $200.0 million.

 

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tu simple A BETTER PATH FORWARD


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Table of Contents

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 13.

Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the various expenses expected to be incurred and payable by us in connection with the sale and distribution of our ordinary shares, other than underwriting discounts and commissions. All amounts are estimates except for the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) registration fee, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) filing fee and the Nasdaq Global Select Market listing fee.

 

    
Payable
by us

 

SEC registration fee

   $ 10,910  

FINRA filing fee

     15,500  

Nasdaq Global Select Market listing fee

     *  

Blue sky fees and expenses

     *  

Accounting fees and expenses

     *  

Legal fees and expenses

     *  

Printing and engraving expenses

     *  

Registrar and transfer agent fees and expenses

     *  

Miscellaneous fees and expenses

     *  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ *  
  

 

 

 

 

 

*

To be filed by amendment

 

Item 14.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law authorizes a court to award, or a corporation’s board of directors to grant, indemnity to directors and officers under certain circumstances and subject to certain limitations. The terms of Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law are sufficiently broad to permit indemnification under certain circumstances for liabilities, including reimbursement of expenses incurred, arising under the Securities Act.

As permitted by Section 102 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws contain provisions relating to the limitation of liability and indemnification of directors and officers. The amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our directors will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability:

 

   

for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;

 

   

for any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

   

under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful redemption of shares); or

 

   

for any transaction from which the director derives any improper personal benefit.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation also provides that if Delaware law is amended after the approval by our stockholders of the certificate of incorporation to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of our directors will be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.

Our amended and restated bylaws provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, as it now exists or may in the future be amended, against all expenses and

 

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liabilities reasonably incurred in connection with their service for or on our behalf. Our amended and restated bylaws provide that we shall advance the expenses incurred by a director or officer in advance of the final disposition of an action or proceeding, and permit us to secure insurance on behalf of any director, officer, employee, or other enterprise agent for any liability arising out of his or her action in that capacity, whether or not Delaware law would otherwise permit indemnification.

Under the form of indemnification agreement filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this registration statement, we will agree to indemnify our directors and executive officers against certain liabilities and expenses incurred by such persons in connection with claims made by reason of their being such a director or executive officer.

The form of underwriting agreement filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this registration statement will also provide for indemnification of us and our officers and directors for certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act, but only to the extent that such liabilities are caused by information relating to the underwriters furnished to us in writing expressly for use in the registration statement and certain other disclosure documents.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us under the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

Item 15.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

The following sets forth information regarding all unregistered securities sold from December 23, 2017 to March 22, 2021:

 

   

We have granted options to purchase 11,336,381 ordinary shares to directors, officers, employees, and consultants under our 2017 Share Plan, with per share exercise prices ranging from $0.0001 to $14.1401. Since December 23, 2017, 2,187,848 ordinary shares have been issued upon the exercise of stock options pursuant to the 2017 Plan.

 

   

We have awarded 3,793,345 share value awards to directors, officers, employees, and consultants under our 2017 Share Plan.

 

   

We have awarded 1,172,064 restricted share units to directors, officers, employees, and consultants under our 2017 Share Plan.

 

   

During December 2018 to November 2020, we sold an aggregate of 20,036,949 Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock at a purchase price of $8.1120737 per share to accredited investors for an aggregate purchase price of $162.5 million.

 

   

In March 2020, we issued 2,125,000 ordinary shares to an employee upon option exercise for an aggregate consideration of $1.0 million.

 

   

On June 8, 2020, we entered into a convertible loan agreement with Sun Dream Inc, pursuant to which Sun Dream Inc provided us one 1-year convertible loan with an aggregate principal of $50 million. In December 2020, the convertible loan was converted into 3,928,937 Series E-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock at a conversion price of $12.72609 per share and the convertible loan agreement was terminated upon the conversion.

 

   

In July 2020, we issued a warrant to Navistar, Inc., pursuant to which Navistar, Inc. has the right to purchase redeemable convertible preferred stock convertible into 5% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares on a fully-diluted and as-converted basis at the time of exercise upon the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent as set forth in the warrant. In March 2021, Navistar, Inc. exercised its right to purchase 9,477,073 shares of Series E redeemable convertible preferred stock.

 

   

In August 2020, we issued 1,899,680 restricted shares to certain employees under our 2017 Share Plan.

 

   

In September 2020, we issued a warrant to Traton International S.A., pursuant to which Traton International S.A. has the right to purchase up to $80.0 million of our equity securities upon the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent as set forth in the warrant. In February 2021, Traton International S.A. exercised its right to purchase 4,331,644 shares of Series E-2 redeemable convertible preferred stock.

 

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In November 2020, we sold 308,182 Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock at a purchase price of $8.1120737 per share to an accredited investor that exercised a warrant to purchase such shares for an aggregate purchase price of $2.5 million.

 

   

In December 2020 and January 2021, we sold an aggregate of 25,695,018 Series E redeemable convertible preferred stock at a purchase price of $14.1401 per share to accredited investors for an aggregate purchase price of $363.3 million.

None of the foregoing transactions involved any underwriters, underwriting discounts or commissions, or any public offering. We believe that the offers, sales, and issuances of the above securities were exempt from registration under the Securities Act by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or Regulation D promulgated thereunder as transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering, or in reliance on Rule 701 promulgated under Section 3(b) of the Securities Act because the transactions were pursuant to compensatory benefit plans or contracts relating to compensation as provided under Rule 701. The recipients of the securities in each of these transactions represented their intentions to acquire the securities for investment only and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof, and appropriate legends were placed upon the share certificates issued in these transactions. We believe that all recipients had adequate information about us or had adequate access, through their relationships with us, to information about us.

 

Item 16.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

 

   

Exhibits. We have filed the exhibits listed on the accompanying Exhibit Index, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

   

Financial Statement Schedules. All financial statement schedules have been omitted because the information required to be presented in them is not applicable or is shown in the financial statements or related notes, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 17.

Undertakings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreements certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit, or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer, or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b) (1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

1.1*    Form of Underwriting Agreement.
3.1    Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant, as amended and currently in effect.
3.2    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant, to be effective upon completion of this offering.
3.3    Bylaws of the Registrant, as amended and currently in effect.
3.4    Amended and Restated Bylaws, to be effective upon completion of this offering.
4.1    Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement, dated December 4, 2020, by and among the Registrant and the parties thereto.
5.1*    Opinion of Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP.
10.1    Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Registrant and each of its directors and executive officers.
10.2    English translation of loan agreement between Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd. and Jinzhuo Hengbang Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. dated April 7, 2017.
10.3    English translation of loan transfer tripartite agreement by and among Beijing Tusen Hulian Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd. and Jinzhuo Hengbang Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. dated June 19, 2017.
10.4    English translation of security deposit contract by and among the Registrant, Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd. and Jinzhuo Hengbang Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. dated December 22, 2017.
10.5    Form of Series D-1 Preferred Share Purchase Agreement by and among the Registrant and other parties thereto.
10.6    Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the Registrant, Navistar, Inc. and other parties thereto dated July 10, 2020.
10.7    Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the Registrant, Traton SE and other parties thereto dated August 6, 2020.
10.8    Series E Preferred Share Purchase Agreement by and among the Registrant and other parties thereto dated November 27, 2020.
10.9    Ordinary Share Purchase Agreement by and between the Registrant and Classic Elite Limited dated January 8, 2021.
10.10    Ordinary Share Purchase Agreement by and between the Registrant and Perry Creek Capital Partners LP dated January 22, 2021.
10.11    Ordinary Share Purchase Agreement by and between the Registrant and Perry Creek Capital Fund II LP dated January 22, 2021.
10.12    Series E-2 Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement by and among the Registrant, TRATON International S.A. and other parties thereto dated February 26, 2021.
10.13    2017 Share Plan and forms of agreements thereunder.
10.14    2021 Equity Incentive Plan and forms of agreements thereunder.
10.15    2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, to be in effect upon completion of this offering.

 

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Exhibit
No.

  

Description

10.16    Lease between LJ GATEWAY OFFICE LLC and the Registrant dated December 16, 2016, as amended.
10.17    Employment Agreement, dated as of March 22, 2021, by and between Mo Chen and the Registrant.
10.18    Employment Agreement, dated as of March 22, 2021, by and between Xiaodi Hou and the Registrant
10.19    Employment Agreement, dated as of March 22, 2021, by and between Cheng Lu and the Registrant.
10.20    Employment Agreement, dated as of March 22, 2021, by and between Patrick Dillon and the Registrant.
10.21    Employment Agreement, dated as of March 22, 2021, by and between James Mullen and the Registrant.
10.22    Severance and Change in Control Agreement, dated as of March 22, 2021, by and between Mo Chen and the Registrant.
10.23    Severance and Change in Control Agreement, dated as of March 22, 2021, by and between Xiaodi Hou and the Registrant
10.24    Severance and Change in Control Agreement, dated as of March 21, 2021, by and between Cheng Lu and the Registrant.
10.25    Severance and Change in Control Agreement, dated as of March 22, 2021, by and between Patrick Dillon and the Registrant.
10.26    Severance and Change in Control Agreement, dated as of March 21, 2021, by and between James Mullen and the Registrant.
10.27    Director Offer Letter, dated January 19, 2021, by and between Karen C. Francis and the Registrant.
10.28    Director Offer Letter, dated January 19, 2021, by and between Brad Buss and the Registrant.
21.1    List of Subsidiaries of Registrant.
23.1    Consent of KPMG LLP.
23.2*    Consent of Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1    Power of Attorney (contained in the signature page to this registration statement).

 

 

*

To be filed by amendment.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement on Form S-1 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of San Diego, State of California, on the 23rd day of March, 2021.

 

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.
By:   /s/ Cheng Lu
  Name: Cheng Lu
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

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POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Mo Chen and Cheng Lu and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this registration statement, and any registration statement relating to the offering covered by this registration statement and filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents or their substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Mo Chen

Mo Chen

 

   Director, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman   March 23, 2021

/s/ Xiaodi Hou

Xiaodi Hou

 

   Director, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer   March 23, 2021

/s/ Cheng Lu

Cheng Lu

 

   Director, President and Chief Executive Officer   March 23, 2021

/s/ Patrick Dillon

Patrick Dillon

 

   Chief Financial Officer   March 23, 2021

/s/ Brad Buss

Brad Buss

 

   Director   March 23, 2021

/s/ Charles Chao

Charles Chao

 

   Director   March 23, 2021

/s/ Karen C. Francis

Karen C. Francis

 

   Director   March 23, 2021

/s/ Bonnie Yi Zhang

Bonnie Yi Zhang

   Director   March 23, 2021

 

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Exhibit 3.1

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

ARTICLE I

The name of this corporation is TuSimple Holdings Inc.

ARTICLE II

The address of the corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19808. The name of the corporation’s registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.

ARTICLE III

The name and mailing address of the incorporator of the corporation is:

James Mullen

TuSimple Holdings Inc.

9191 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 600

San Diego, California 92122

ARTICLE IV

The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “General Corporation Law”).

ARTICLE V

A. Authorization of Stock. This corporation is authorized to issue two classes of stock to be designated, respectively, common stock and preferred stock. The total number of shares that this corporation is authorized to issue is 500,000,000. The total number of shares of common stock authorized to be issued is 361,897,230, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”). The total number of shares of preferred stock authorized to be issued is 138,102,770, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), of which 20,000,000 shares are designated as “Series A Preferred Stock”, 8,218,203 shares are designated as “Series A-2 Preferred Stock”, 7,080,000 shares are designated as “Series B-1 Preferred Stock”, 3,000,000 shares are designated as “Series B-2 Preferred Stock”, 3,465,372 shares are designated as “Series B-3 Preferred Stock” (together with the Series B-1 Preferred Stock and the Series B-2 Preferred Stock, the “Series B Preferred Stock”), 14,993,041 shares are designated as “Series C Preferred Stock”, 20,345,131 shares are designated as “Series D-1 Preferred Stock”, 50,000,000 shares are designated as “Series E Preferred Stock”, 3,928,937 shares are designated as “Series E-1 Preferred Stock”, and 7,072,086 shares are designated as “Series E-2 Preferred Stock”.


B. Rights, Preferences and Restrictions of Preferred Stock. The rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted to and imposed on the Preferred Stock are as set forth below in this Article V(B).

1. Dividend Provisions.

(a) Subject to the General Corporation Law and the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation, this corporation’s board of directors (the “Board of Directors”) may (i) from time to time declare dividends (including interim dividends) and distributions on shares of the Company outstanding and authorize payment of the same out of the funds of the Company lawfully available therefor, provided that, no dividend or distribution shall be payable except out of the profits of this corporation, realized or unrealized, or out of the share premium account or as otherwise permitted by the General Corporation Law, and (ii) before declaring any dividends or distributions, set aside such sums as they think proper as a reserve or reserves which shall at the discretion of the Board of Directors, be applicable for any purpose of this corporation and pending such application may, at the like discretion, be employed in the business of this corporation.

(b) Subject to the rights of persons, if any, with shares with special rights as to dividends or distributions, if dividends or distributions are to be declared on a class of shares they shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid or credited as paid on the shares of such class outstanding on the record date for such dividend or distribution as determined in accordance with these Articles but no amount paid or credited as paid on a share in advance of calls shall be treated for the purpose of this Article V as paid on the share.

(c) Subject to this Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may declare that any dividend or distribution be paid wholly or partly by the distribution of specific assets and in particular of paid up shares or debentures of any other company or in any one or more of such ways and where any difficulty arises in regard to such distribution, the Board of Directors may settle the same as they think expedient and in particular may issue fractional certificates and fix the value for distribution of such specific assets or any part thereof and may determine that cash payments shall be made to any members upon the footing of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of all members and may vest any such specific assets in trustees as may seem expedient to the Board of Directors.

(d) Any dividend, distribution, interest or other monies payable in cash in respect of shares may be paid by check or warrant sent through the post directed to the registered address of the holder or, in the case of joint holders, to the holder who is first named on the books and records of this corporation or to such person and to such address as such holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Every such check or warrant shall be made payable to the order of the person to whom it is sent. Any one of two or more joint holders may give effectual receipts for any dividends, bonuses, or other monies payable in respect of the share held by them as joint holders.

 

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(e) Each holder of shares of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, on an annual basis, preferential, cumulative dividends at a rate no less than the rate at which dividends are paid on any shares of Common Stock (as adjusted) for each share of Preferred Stock held by such holder (on an as-if-converted fully-diluted basis), payable in cash when and as such cash becomes legally available therefor in accordance with the priority provided in this Section 1, prior and in preference to any declaration or payment of any dividend on the Common Stock; provided that such dividends shall be payable only when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors.

(f) Subject to the General Corporation Law and the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation, (i) no dividends shall be declared or paid on Common Stock, the Series A Preferred Stock, the Series A-2 Preferred Stock, the Series B Preferred Stock, the Series C Preferred Stock, the Series D-1 Preferred Stock or any future series of Preferred Stock, unless and until a dividend in like amount is declared and paid on each outstanding share of Series E Preferred Stock, each outstanding share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock and each outstanding share of Series E-2 Preferred Stock (on an as-if-converted fully-diluted basis) pursuant to this Section 1; (ii) after the dividends are fully paid on each outstanding share of Series E Preferred Stock, each outstanding share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock and each outstanding share of Series E-2 Preferred Stock, no dividends shall be declared or paid on the Common Stock, the Series A Preferred Stock, the Series A-2 Preferred Stock, the Series B Preferred Stock, the Series C Preferred Stock, or any future series of Preferred Stock, unless and until a dividend in like amount is declared and paid on each outstanding share of Series D-1 Preferred Stock (on an as-if-converted fully-diluted basis) pursuant to this Section 1; (iii) after the dividends are fully paid on each outstanding share of Series E Preferred Stock, each outstanding share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock, each outstanding share of Series E-2 Preferred Stock and each outstanding share of Series D-1 Preferred Stock, no dividends shall be declared or paid on the Common Stock, the Series A Preferred Stock, the Series A-2 Preferred Stock, the Series B Preferred Stock or any future series of Preferred Stock, unless and until a dividend in like amount is declared and paid on each outstanding share of Series C Preferred Stock (on an as-if-converted fully-diluted basis) pursuant to this Section 1; (iv) after the dividends are fully paid on each outstanding share of Series E Preferred Stock, each outstanding share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock, each outstanding share of Series E-2 Preferred Stock, each outstanding share of Series D-1 Preferred Stock and each outstanding share of Series C Preferred Stock, no dividends shall be declared or paid on the Common Stock, the Series A Preferred Stock, the Series A-2 Preferred Stock or any future series of preference shares, unless and until a dividend in like amount is declared and paid on each outstanding Series B Preferred Stock (on an as-if-converted fully-diluted basis) pursuant to this Section 1; and (v) after the dividends are fully paid on each outstanding share of Series E Preferred Stock, each outstanding share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock, each outstanding share of Series E-2 Preferred Stock, each outstanding share of Series D-1 Preferred Stock, each outstanding share of Series C Preferred Stock and each outstanding share of Series B Preferred Stock, no dividends shall be declared or paid on the Common Stock or any future series of Preferred Stock, unless and until a dividend in like amount is declared and paid on each outstanding share of Series A Preferred Stock and each outstanding share of Series A-2 Preferred Stock (on an as-if-converted fully-diluted basis) pursuant to this Section 1.

(g) All accrued but unpaid dividends shall be paid in cash when and as such cash becomes legally available to the holders of Preferred Stock immediately prior to the closing of a firm-commitment underwritten public offering and listing by the corporation of its Common Stock in the United States or in any other jurisdiction (on any combination of such exchanges and jurisdictions) acceptable to the holders of no less than 51% of all outstanding

 

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shares of Preferred Stock (on an as-if-converted basis), with aggregate offering proceeds (before deduction of underwriting discounts and registration expenses) to the corporation of not less than $200,000,000 (or any cash proceeds of other currency of equivalent value) and a public offering price per share of not less than 120% of the Original Series E Issue Price (as defined below) (as proportionally adjusted for any stock split, combination, division, dividend and like events) (a “Qualified Public Offering”).

2. Liquidation Preference.

(a) For purposes of this Certificate of Incorporation, “Original Issue Price” shall mean $0.3925 per share for each share of the Series A Preferred Stock (the “Original Series A Issue Price”), $7.3009 per share for each share of the Series A-2 Preferred Stock (the “Original Series A-2 Issue Price”), $2.5000 per share for each share of Series B-1 Preferred Stock (the “Original Series B-1 Issue Price”), $0.7667 per share for each share of Series B-2 Preferred Stock (the “Original Series B-2 Issue Price”), $0.86571 per share for each share of Series B-3 Preferred Stock (the “Original Series B-3 Issue Price”, together with the Original Series B-1 Issue Price and the Original Series B-2 Issue Price, the “Original Series B Issue Price”), $3.6941 per share for each share of Series C Preferred Stock (the “Original Series C Issue Price”), $8.1120737 per share for each share of Series D-1 Preferred Stock (the “Original Series D-1 Issue Price”), $14.1401 per share for each share of Series E Preferred Stock (the “Original Series E Issue Price”), $12.72609 per share for each share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock (the “Original Series E-1 Issue Price”), and $11.31208 per share for each share of Series E-2 Preferred Stock (the “Original Series E-2 Issue Price”) (each as adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, subdivisions, recapitalizations or the like with respect to such series of Preferred Stock).

(i) Upon any Liquidation Event (as defined below), either voluntary or involuntary, before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of any Series D-1 Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, Series A-2 Preferred Stock, Series A Preferred Stock and Common Stock, each holder of Series E Preferred Stock, Series E-1 Preferred Stock or Series E-2 Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Original Series E Issue Price, the Original Series E-1 Issue Price or the Original Series E-2 Issue Price, as applicable (adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions), plus all dividends accrued but unpaid with respect thereto (as adjusted) per share of Series E Preferred Stock, Series E-1 Preferred Stock or Series E-2 Preferred Stock then held by such holder. If upon any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, the assets of the corporation available for distribution to its stockholders shall be insufficient to pay the holders of Series E Preferred Stock, Series E-1 Preferred Stock and Series E-2 Preferred Stock the full amount to which they shall be entitled under this Section 2(a)(i), the holders of Series E Preferred Stock, Series E-1 Preferred Stock and Series E-2 Preferred Stock shall share ratably in any distribution of the assets available for distribution in proportion to the respective amounts which would otherwise be payable in respect of the shares held by them upon such distribution if all amounts payable on or with respect to such shares were paid in full. The aggregate amount which a holder of Series E Preferred Stock is entitled to receive on a per share basis under this Section 2(a)(i) is hereinafter referred to as the “Series E Liquidation Amount.” The aggregate amount which a holder of Series E-1 Preferred Stock is entitled to receive on a per share basis under this Section 2(a)(i) is hereinafter referred to as the “Series E-1 Liquidation Amount.” The aggregate amount which a holder of Series E-2 Preferred Stock is entitled to receive on a per share basis under this Section 2(a)(i) is hereinafter referred to as the “Series E-2 Liquidation Amount.

 

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(ii) Upon any Liquidation Event, either voluntary or involuntary, after distribution or payment in full of the amount distributable or payable on the Series E Preferred Stock, the Series E-1 Preferred Stock and the Series E-2 Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 2(a)(i) and before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of any Series C Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, Series A-2 Preferred Stock, Series A Preferred Stock and Common Stock, each holder of Series D-1 Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the applicable Original Series D-1 Issue Price (adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions), plus all dividends accrued but unpaid with respect thereto (as adjusted) per share of Series D-1 Preferred Stock then held by such holder. If upon any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, after distribution or payment in full of the amount distributable or payable on the Series E Preferred Stock, the Series E-1 Preferred Stock and the Series E-2 Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 2(a)(i), the assets of the corporation available for distribution to its stockholders shall be insufficient to pay the holders of Series D-1 Preferred Stock the full amount to which they shall be entitled under this Section 2(a)(ii), the holders of Series D-1 Preferred Stock shall share ratably in any distribution of the assets available for distribution in proportion to the respective amounts which would otherwise be payable in respect of the shares held by them upon such distribution if all amounts payable on or with respect to such shares were paid in full. The aggregate amount which a holder of Series D-1 Preferred Stock is entitled to receive on a per share basis under this Section 2(a)(ii) is hereinafter referred to as the “Series D-1 Liquidation Amount.”

(iii) Upon any Liquidation Event, either voluntary or involuntary, after distribution or payment in full of the amount distributable or payable on the Series E Preferred Stock, the Series E-1 Preferred Stock, the Series E-2 Preferred Stock and the Series D-1 Preferred Stock pursuant to Sections 2(a)(i) and Section 2(a)(ii) and before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of any Series B Preferred Stock, Series A-2 Preferred Stock, Series A Preferred Stock and Common Stock, each holder of Series C Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the applicable Original Series C Issue Price (adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions), plus all dividends accrued but unpaid with respect thereto (as adjusted) per share of Series C Preferred Stock then held by such holder. If upon any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, after distribution or payment in full of the amount distributable or payable on the Series E Preferred Stock, Series E-1 Preferred Stock, Series E-2 Preferred Stock and Series D-1 Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 2(a)(i) and Section 2(a)(ii), the assets of the corporation available for distribution to its stockholders shall be insufficient to pay the holders of Series C Preferred Stock the full amount to which they shall be entitled under this Section 2(a)(iii), the holders of Series C Preferred Stock shall share ratably in any distribution of the assets available for distribution in proportion to the respective amounts which would otherwise be payable in respect of the shares held by them upon such distribution if all amounts payable on or with respect to such shares were paid in full. The aggregate amount which a holder of Series C Preferred Stock is entitled to receive on a per share basis under this Section 2(a)(iii) is hereinafter referred to as the “Series C Liquidation Amount.”

 

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(iv) Upon any Liquidation Event, either voluntary or involuntary, after distribution or payment in full of the amount distributable or payable on the Series E Preferred Stock, the Series E-1 Preferred Stock, the Series E-2 Preferred Stock, the Series D-1 Preferred Stock and the Series C Preferred Stock pursuant to Sections 2(a)(i), 2(a)(ii) and 2(a)(iii) and before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of any Series A-2 Preferred Stock, Series A Preferred Stock and Common Stock, each holder of Series B Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the applicable Original Series B Issue Price (adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions), plus all dividends accrued but unpaid with respect thereto (as adjusted) per share of Series B Preferred Stock then held by such holder. If upon any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, after distribution or payment in full of the amount distributable or payable on the Series E Preferred Stock, the Series E-1 Preferred Stock, the Series E-2 Preferred Stock, the Series D-1 Preferred Stock and the Series C Preferred Stock pursuant to Sections 2(a)(i), 2(a)(ii) and 2(a)(iii), the assets of the corporation available for distribution to its stockholders shall be insufficient to pay the holders of Series B Preferred Stock the full amount to which they shall be entitled under this Section 2(a)(iv), the holders of Series B Preferred Stock shall share ratably in any distribution of the assets available for distribution in proportion to the respective amounts which would otherwise be payable in respect of the shares held by them upon such distribution if all amounts payable on or with respect to such shares were paid in full. The aggregate amount which a holder of Series B Preferred Stock is entitled to receive on a per share basis under this Section 2(a)(iv) is hereinafter referred to as the “Series B Liquidation Amount.”

(v) Upon any Liquidation Event, either voluntary or involuntary, after distribution or payment in full of the amount distributable or payable on the Series E Preferred Stock, the Series E-1 Preferred Stock, the Series E-2 Preferred Stock, the Series D-1 Preferred Stock, the Series C Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock pursuant to Sections 2(a)(i), 2(a)(ii), 2(a)(iii) and 2(a)(iv) and before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of any Common Stock, each holder of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the applicable Original Series A Issue Price (adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions) respectively, plus all dividends accrued but unpaid with respect thereto (as adjusted) per share of Series A Preferred Stock then held by such holder. If upon any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, after distribution or payment in full of the amount distributable or payable on the Series E Preferred Stock, the Series E-1 Preferred Stock, the Series E-2 Preferred Stock, the Series D-1 Preferred Stock, the Series C Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock pursuant to Sections 2(a)(i), 2(a)(ii), 2(a)(iii) and 2(a)(iv), the assets of the corporation available for distribution to its stockholders shall be insufficient to pay the holders of Series A Preferred Stock the full amount to which they shall be entitled under this Section 2(a)(v), the holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall share ratably in any distribution of the assets available for distribution in proportion to the respective amounts which would otherwise be payable in respect of the shares held by them upon such distribution if all amounts payable on or with respect to such shares were paid in full. The aggregate amount which a holder of Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to receive on a per share basis under this Section 2(a)(v) is hereinafter referred to as the “Series A Liquidation Amount.”

 

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(vi) Upon completion of the distributions required by Sections 2(a)(i)-(v) of this Section 2, the remaining assets of this corporation available for distribution to stockholders shall be distributed among the holders of Common Stock and the holders of Preferred Stock pro rata based on the number of shares of Common Stock held by each on an as-if-converted fully-diluted basis.

(b) (i) For purposes of this Certificate of Incorporation a “Liquidation Event” shall mean (A) the closing of the sale, lease, transfer, exclusive license or other disposition, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, by this corporation or any Group Company (as defined below) of all or substantially all of the assets and/or intellectual property of this corporation (or of all of the Group Companies taken as a whole), (B) the consummation of the merger, reorganization, amalgamation or consolidation of any Group Company with or into another entity (except (1) a merger or consolidation in which the holders of capital stock of this corporation immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continue to hold at least fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the capital stock of this corporation or the surviving or acquiring entity immediately following such merger or consolidation in substantially the same proportions, and with substantially the same terms, as held immediately prior to such merger or consolidation and (2) an internal reorganization of any Group Company approved by the holders of at least fifty one percent (51%) of the then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock), (C) the closing of the transfer (whether by merger, consolidation, stock purchase, exchange, tender offer or otherwise), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, to a person or group of affiliated persons (other than an underwriter of this corporation’s securities), of this corporation’s securities if, after such closing, such person or group of affiliated persons would hold fifty percent (50%) or more of the then outstanding voting stock of this corporation (or the surviving or acquiring entity) or (D) a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of this corporation; provided, however, that a transaction shall not constitute a Liquidation Event if its sole purpose is to change the jurisdiction of this corporation’s incorporation or to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held this corporation’s securities immediately prior to such transaction. Notwithstanding the prior sentence, the sale by this corporation of its equity securities in a bona fide financing transaction conducted in accordance with Section 6 of this Article V(B) shall not be deemed a “Liquidation Event.” The treatment of any particular transaction or series of related transactions as a Liquidation Event may be waived by the vote or written consent of the holders of at least ninety percent (90%) of the then outstanding Preferred Stock (voting together as a single class and not as separate series, and on an as-converted basis). For purposes of this Certificate of Incorporation, “Group Companies” means this corporation, Tusimple (Hong Kong) Limited, a limited liability company incorporated and existing under the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, TuSimple, Inc., a California corporation, Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing Tusen Zhitu Technology Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign-owned enterprise established and existing under the laws of the People’s Republic of China, Tusimple (Hong Kong) Auto Tech Limited, a limited liability company incorporated and existing under the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and any other direct or indirect subsidiary of the foregoing collectively (the each Group Company, a “Group Company”).

 

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(ii) In any Liquidation Event, if the consideration received by this corporation or its stockholders is other than cash, its value will be deemed its fair market value. Any securities shall be valued as follows:

(A) Securities not subject to investment letter or other similar restrictions on free marketability covered by (B) below:

(1) If traded on a securities exchange, the value shall be deemed to be the average of the closing prices of the securities on such exchange over the thirty (30) trading-day period ending one (1) trading day prior to the distribution;

(2) If actively traded over-the-counter, the value shall be deemed to be the average of the closing bid or sale prices (whichever is applicable) over the thirty (30) trading-day period ending three (3) trading days prior to the distribution; and

(3) If there is no active public market, the value shall be the fair market value thereof, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, and the holders of any of the majority of the then outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock, Series A-2 Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series D-1 Preferred Stock, Series E Preferred Stock, Series E-1 Preferred Stock or Series E-1 Preferred Stock shall have the right to challenge any determination of the Board of Directors of the fair market value pursuant to this Section B(2)(c)(ii), in which case the determination of fair market value shall be made by an independent appraiser selected jointly by the Board of Directors and the challenging parties, the cost of such appraisal to be borne equally by the Company and the challenging parties.

(B) The method of valuation of securities subject to investment letter or other restrictions on free marketability (other than restrictions arising solely by virtue of a stockholder’s status as an affiliate or former affiliate) shall be to make an appropriate discount from the market value determined as above in (A) (1), (2) or (3) to reflect the approximate fair market value thereof, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or by a liquidator if one is appointed.

(c) Allocation of Escrow or Contingent Consideration. In the event of a Liquidation Event pursuant to subsection 2(a), if any portion of the consideration payable to the stockholders of the corporation is payable only upon satisfaction of contingencies or placed into escrow or retained as holdback to be available for satisfaction of indemnification or similar obligations in connection with such Liquidation Event (the “Additional Consideration”), the relevant acquisition agreement shall provide that (i) the portion of such consideration that is not Additional Consideration (the “Initial Consideration”) shall be allocated among the holders of shares of the corporation in accordance with subsection 2(a) as if the Initial Consideration were the only consideration payable in connection with such Liquidation Event; and (ii) any Additional Consideration which becomes payable upon satisfaction of such contingencies shall be allocated among the holders of shares of the corporation in accordance with subsection 2(a) after taking into account the previous payment of the Initial Consideration as part of the same transaction.

 

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3. Redemption.

(a) Optional Redemption. At any time (i) after December 4, 2025, (ii) upon any material breach or violation of, or inaccuracy or misrepresentation in, any representation or warranty contained in the Transaction Documents or (iii) upon the written request of any other holder of any series of Preferred Stock for redemption pursuant to this Section 3 (the “Redemption Events”), at the written request to the corporation made by any holder of Preferred Stock (each an “Initiating Holder” and collectively, the “Initiating Holders”), such holder may require that the corporation redeem any or all of the then outstanding Preferred Stock held by such holder, in accordance with the following terms. Following receipt of the request for redemption from the Initiating Holders, the corporation shall within fifteen (15) business days give written notice (the “Redemption Notice”) to each non-Initiating Holder, at the address last shown on the records of the corporation for such holder. Such notice shall specify the redemption date and the Redemption Price (as defined below), and such non-Initiating Holder may require the corporation to, and the corporation shall, redeem all or any of the outstanding Preferred Stock held by such holder at the Redemption Closing (as defined below) at the applicable Redemption Price. “Transaction Documents” means the Series A and Series B Share Purchase Agreement, the Series B-3 Share Purchase Agreement, the Series C Share Purchase Agreement, the Series D-1 Share Purchase Agreements, the Secondary Share Purchase Agreement, the Series E Share Purchase Agreement, the Shareholders’ Agreement, this Certificate of Incorporation and the other agreements in relation to the above agreements.

(b) Redemption Price. The redemption price for each share of Series E Preferred Stock redeemed pursuant to this Section 3 of Article V(B) shall be equal to a price per share of Series E Preferred Stock which is one hundred (100%) of the applicable Original Series E Issue Price, plus all declared or accrued but unpaid dividends, as adjusted (the “Series E Redemption Price”). The redemption price for each share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock redeemed pursuant to this Section 3 of Article V(B) shall be equal to a price per share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock which is one hundred (100%) of the applicable Original Series E-1 Issue Price, plus all declared or accrued but unpaid dividends, as adjusted (the “Series E-1 Redemption Price”). The redemption price for each share of Series E-2 Preferred Stock redeemed pursuant to this Section 3 of Article V(B) shall be equal to a price per share of Series E-2 Preferred Stock which is one hundred (100%) of the applicable Original Series E-2 Issue Price, plus all declared or accrued but unpaid dividends, as adjusted (the “Series E-2 Redemption Price”). The redemption price for each share of Series D-1 Preferred Stock redeemed pursuant to this Section 3 of Article V(B) shall be equal to a price per share of Series D-1 Preferred Stock which is one hundred (100%) of the applicable Original Series D-1 Issue Price, plus all declared or accrued but unpaid dividends, as adjusted (the “Series D-1 Redemption Price”). The redemption price for each share of Series C Preferred Stock redeemed pursuant to this Section 3 of Article V(B) shall be equal to a price per share of Series C Preferred Stock which is one hundred (100%) of the applicable Original Series C Issue Price, plus all declared or accrued but unpaid dividends, as adjusted (the “Series C Redemption Price”). The redemption price for each share of Series B-3 Preferred Stock redeemed pursuant to this Section 3 of Article V(B) shall be equal to a price per share of Series B-3 Preferred Stock which is one hundred (100%) of the applicable Original Series B-3 Issue Price, plus all declared or accrued but unpaid dividends, as adjusted (the “Series B-3 Redemption Price”). The redemption price for each share of Series B-2 Preferred Stock redeemed pursuant to this Section 3 of Article V(B) shall be equal to a price per share of Series

 

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B-2 Preferred Stock which is one hundred (100%) of the applicable Original Series B-2 Issue Price, plus all declared or accrued but unpaid dividends, as adjusted (the “Series B-2 Redemption Price”). The redemption price for each share of Series B-1 Preferred Stock redeemed pursuant to this Section 3 of Article V(B) shall be equal to a price per share of Series B-1 Preferred Stock which is one hundred (100%) of the applicable Original Series B-1 Issue Price, plus all declared or accrued but unpaid dividends, as adjusted (the “Series B-1 Redemption Price”), together with the Series B-2 Redemption Price and Series B-3 Redemption Price, the “Series B Redemption Price”). The redemption price for each share of Series A-2 Preferred Stock redeemed pursuant to this Section 3 of Article V(B) shall be equal to a price per share of Series A-2 Preferred Stock which is one hundred percent (100%) of the applicable Original Series A-2 Issue Price, plus all declared or accrued but unpaid dividends, as adjusted (the “Series A-2 Redemption Price”).The redemption price for each share of Series A Preferred Stock redeemed pursuant to this Section 3 of Article V(B) shall be equal to a price per share of Series A Preferred Stock which is one hundred percent (100%) of the applicable Original Series A Issue Price, plus all declared or accrued but unpaid dividends, as adjusted (the “Series A Redemption Price”), together with the Series E Redemption Price, the Series E-1 Redemption Price, the Series E-2 Redemption Price, the Series D-1 Redemption Price, the Series C Redemption Price, the Series B Redemption Price and the Series A-2 Redemption Price, the “Redemption Price”).

(c) Procedure. The closing (the “Redemption Closing”) of the redemption of any Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 3 will take place within one hundred and twenty (120) days of the date of the Redemption Notice, or such earlier date or other place as the holders of a majority of the Preferred Stock that are being redeemed and the corporation may mutually agree in writing. At the Redemption Closing, subject to applicable law, the corporation will, from any source of assets or funds legally available therefor, redeem each share of Preferred Stock subject to redemption by paying in cash therefor the Redemption Price against surrender by such holder of the certificate representing such share. From and after the Redemption Closing, subject to the holder of a Preferred Stock having received the Redemption Price from the corporation, all rights of the holder of such Preferred Stock will cease with respect to such shares, and such shares will be cancelled and will not thereafter be transferred on the books of the corporation or be deemed outstanding for any purpose whatsoever.

(d) Insufficient Funds. If the corporation’s assets or funds which are legally available on the date that any redemption payment under this Section 3 is due are insufficient to pay in full all redemption payments to be paid at the Redemption Closing, or if the corporation is otherwise prohibited by applicable law from making such redemption, those assets or funds which are legally available shall be used to the extent permitted by applicable laws to first pay to redeem all of the Series E Preferred Stock, the Series E-1 Preferred Stock and the Series E-2 Preferred Stock requested to be redeemed on a pari passu basis with each other proportionally, and any remaining amount after payment of applicable Series E Redemption Price, applicable Series E-1 Redemption Price and applicable Series E-2 Redemption Price in full shall then be used to redeem all of the Series D-1 Preferred Stock requested to be redeemed on a pari passu basis with each other proportionally, and any remaining amount after payment of applicable Series E Redemption Price, applicable Series E-1 Redemption Price, applicable Series E-2 Redemption Price and applicable Series D-1 Redemption Price in full shall then be used to redeem the Series C Preferred Stock requested to be redeemed on a pari passu basis with each other proportionally, and any remaining amount after payment of applicable Series E

 

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Redemption Price, applicable Series E-1 Redemption Price, applicable Series E-2 Redemption Price, applicable Series D-1 Redemption Price and applicable Series C Redemption Price in full shall be used to redeem the Series B Preferred Stock requested to be redeemed on a pari passu basis with each other proportionally, and any remaining amount after payment of applicable Series E Redemption Price, applicable Series E-1 Redemption Price, applicable Series E-2 Redemption Price, applicable Series D-1 Redemption Price, applicable Series C Redemption Price and applicable Series B Redemption Price in full shall be used to redeem the Series A-2 Preferred Stock and Series A Preferred Stock requested to be redeemed on a pari passu basis with each other proportionally. Without limiting any rights of the Preferred Stock which are set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation, or are otherwise available under applicable laws, the balance of any Series A Preferred Stock, Series A-2 Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series D-1 Preferred Stock, Series E Preferred Stock, Series E-1 Preferred Stock or Series E-2 Preferred Stock subject to redemption hereunder with respect to which the corporation has become obligated to pay the Series A Redemption Price, Series A-2 Redemption Price, Series B Redemption Price, Series C Redemption Price, Series D-1 Redemption Price, Series E Redemption Price, Series E-1 Redemption Price and/or Series E-2 Redemption Price but which it has not paid in full shall continue to have all the powers, designations, preferences and relative participating, optional, and other special rights (including, without limitation, the rights to preferential dividends) which such Series A Preferred Stock, Series A-2 Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series D-1 Preferred Stock, Series E Preferred Stock, Series E-1 Preferred Stock and/or Series E-2 Preferred Stock had prior to such date, until the Series A Redemption Price, Series A-2 Redemption Price, Series B Redemption Price, Series C Redemption Price, Series D-1 Redemption Price, Series E Redemption Price, Series E-1 Redemption Price and/or Series E-2 Redemption Price have been paid in full with respect to such Series A Preferred Stock, Series A-2 Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Stock D-1 Preferred Stock, Series E Preferred Stock, Series E-1 Preferred Stock and/or Series E-2 Preferred Stock.

(e) No Impairment. Once the corporation has received a Redemption Notice, it shall not take any action which could have the effect of delaying, undermining or restricting the redemption, and the corporation shall in good faith use all reasonable efforts as expeditiously as possible to increase the amount of legally available redemption funds including without limitation, causing any other subsidiary to distribute any and all available funds to the corporation for purposes of paying the Redemption Price for all redeeming Preferred Stock on the Redemption Closing, and until the date on which each redeeming Preferred Stock is redeemed, the corporation shall not declare or pay any dividend nor otherwise make any distribution of or otherwise decrease its profits available for distribution.

(f) Waivers. The corporation may, with the written consent of the holders of at least 90% of all of the outstanding Preferred Stock, and without the need to amend the Certificate of Incorporation, modify, waive, or deviate from any of the requirements of, or procedures set forth in, this Section 3, provided that if any such modification, waiver, or deviation has any adverse impact on any redeeming Preferred Stock as compared on a relative basis (based on the amount it is entitled to receive on redemption, the priority of receipt of its Redemption Price or otherwise) to any other redeeming Preferred Stock, the consent of such redeeming Preferred Stock whose interests are being adversely affected shall be required.

 

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4. Conversion Rights. The holders of the Preferred Stock shall have the following rights described below with respect to the conversion of the Preferred Stock. Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b), the number of shares of Common Stock to which a holder shall be entitled upon conversion of any share of Preferred Stock shall be the quotient of the applicable Original Issue Price divided by the then-effective applicable Conversion Price. The “Conversion Price” shall initially equal the applicable Original Issue Price, and shall be adjusted from time to time as provided below. For the avoidance of doubt, the per share conversion ratio for Preferred Stock to Common Stock as of the date of this Certificate of Incorporation is 1:1.

(a) Optional Conversion.

(i) Subject to and in compliance with the provisions of this Section 4(a), each share of Preferred Stock may, at the option of the holder thereof, be converted at any time after the date of issuance of such share, into fully-paid and non-assessable Common Stock based on the then-effective applicable Conversion Price.

(ii) The holder of any Preferred Stock who desires to convert such shares into Common Stock shall surrender the certificate or certificates therefor, duly endorsed and shall give written notice to the corporation that such holder has elected to convert such shares. Such notice shall state the number of Preferred Stock being converted. Thereupon, the corporation shall promptly issue and deliver to such holder at such office a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the holder is entitled. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, and the number of shares of Common Stock to be so issued to a holder of Preferred Stock upon the conversion of such Preferred Stock (after aggregating all fractional Common Stock that would be issued to such holder) shall be rounded to the nearest whole share (with one-half being rounded upward). Such conversion shall be deemed to have been made at the close of business on the date of the surrender of the certificates representing the Preferred Stock to be converted, and the person entitled to receive the Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder of such Common Stock on such date.

(b) Automatic Conversion.

(i) Without any action being required by the holder of such share and whether or not the certificates representing such share are surrendered to the corporation or its transfer agent, each share of Preferred Stock shall automatically be converted into Common Stock upon the closing of a Qualified Public Offering.

(ii) The corporation shall not be obligated to issue certificates for any Common Stock issuable upon the automatic conversion of any Preferred Stock unless the certificate or certificates evidencing such Preferred Stock is either delivered as provided below to the corporation or any transfer agent for the Preferred Stock, or the holder notifies the corporation or its transfer agent that such certificate has been lost, stolen or destroyed and executes an agreement satisfactory to the corporation to indemnify the corporation from any loss incurred by it in connection with such certificate. The corporation shall, as soon as practicable after receipt of certificates for Preferred Stock or satisfactory agreement for indemnification in the case of a lost certificate, promptly issue and deliver to the holder thereof a certificate or

 

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certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the holder is entitled and shall, upon the occurrence of an automatic conversion event under Section 4(b)(i). No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, and the number of shares of Common Stock to be so issued to a holder of converting Preferred Stock (after aggregating all fractional shares of Common Stock that would be issued to such holder) shall be rounded to the nearest whole share (with one-half being rounded upward). Any person or entity entitled to receive Common Stock issuable upon the automatic conversion of the Preferred Stock shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder of such Common Stock on the date of such conversion.

(c) Mechanics of Conversion.

Before any holder of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to voluntarily convert the same into shares of Common Stock, if such holder’s shares are certificated, such holder shall surrender the certificate or certificates therefor, duly endorsed, at the office of this corporation or of any transfer agent for the Preferred Stock, and shall give written notice to this corporation at its principal corporate office, of the election to convert the same and shall state therein the name or names in which the shares of Common Stock are to be issued. This corporation shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, issue and deliver at such office to such holder of Preferred Stock, or to the nominee or nominees of such holder, a certificate, certificates or a notice of issuance of uncertificated shares for the number of shares of Common Stock to which such holder shall be entitled as aforesaid. Such conversion shall be deemed to have been made immediately prior to the close of business on the date set forth for conversion in the written notice of the election to convert irrespective of the surrender of the shares of Preferred Stock to be converted, and the person or persons entitled to receive the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares of Common Stock as of such date. If the conversion is in connection with an underwritten offering of securities registered pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the conversion may, at the option of any holder tendering Preferred Stock for conversion, be conditioned upon the closing with the underwriters of the sale of securities pursuant to such offering, in which event the persons entitled to receive the Common Stock upon conversion of the Preferred Stock shall not be deemed to have converted such Preferred Stock until immediately prior to the closing of such sale of securities. If the conversion is in connection with Automatic Conversion provisions of subsection 4(b)(ii) above, such conversion shall be deemed to have been made on the conversion date described in the stockholder consent approving such conversion, and the persons entitled to receive shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holders of such shares of Common Stock as of such date.

(d) Adjustments to Conversion Price.

(i) Adjustment for Stock Splits and Combinations. If the corporation shall at any time, or from time to time, effect a subdivision of the outstanding Common Stock, the applicable Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such subdivision shall be proportionately decreased. Conversely, if the corporation shall at any time, or from time to time, combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the applicable Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to the combination shall be proportionately increased. Any adjustment under this paragraph shall become effective at the close of business on the date the subdivision or combination becomes effective.

 

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(ii) Adjustment for Common Stock Dividends and Distributions. If the corporation makes (or fixes a record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive) a dividend or other distribution to the holders of Common Stock payable in Additional Equity Securities, the applicable Conversion Price then in effect shall be decreased as of the time of such issuance (or in the event such record date is fixed, as of the close of business on such record date) by multiplying such Conversion Price then in effect by a fraction (i) the numerator of which is the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the time of such issuance or the close of business on such record date, and (ii) the denominator of which is the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the time of such issuance or the close of business on such record date plus the number of shares of Common Stock issuable in payment of such dividend or distribution.

(A) “Additional Equity Securities” means all Equity Securities issued by the corporation after the filing of this Certificate of Incorporation; provided that the term “Additional Equity Securities” does not include (i) up to 21,967,964 shares of Common Stock issued or issuable to key employees, research and technical employees, officers, directors or consultants of the corporation either in connection with the provision of services to the corporation or on exercise of any options to purchase Common Stock granted under the equity compensation plan; (ii) Common Stock issued or issuable in connection with any stock split, stock dividend, combination, recapitalization or other similar transaction of the corporation; (iii) Common Stock issued or issuable upon conversion or exercise of the Preferred Stock; (iv) Common Stock issued in connection with a bona fide business acquisition by the corporation of another business, whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets, sale or exchange of stock or otherwise approved by the Board of Directors (including the affirmative votes or consents of the at least three (3) Preferred Directors); (v) Equity Securities issued or issuable to persons or entities with which the corporation has strategic business relationships that are or are reasonably expected to be material to the business of the corporation or any of its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (as approved by the Board of Directors, including the affirmative votes or consents of at least three (3) Preferred Directors, one of whom must include the Series E Director); (vi) Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to equipment lease financings or bank credit arrangements approved by the Board of Directors (as approved by the majority of the Board of Directors, including the affirmative votes or consents of at least three (3) Preferred Directors); (vii) any rights, options, or warrants to purchase or exercisable for Common Stock, or securities of any type whatsoever that are, or may become, convertible into, exchangeable for or exercisable for Common Stock or Preferred Stock granted or issued by the corporation on or prior to the date of this Certificate of Incorporation, and (viii) duly authorized Series E Preferred Stock and/or Series E-1 Preferred Stock and Common Stock issued or issuable upon conversion thereof.

(B) “Equity Securities” means Common Stock or rights, options, or warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock (or exercisable for shares of Common Stock), or securities of any type whatsoever that are, or may become, convertible into, exchangeable for or exercisable for shares of Common Stock, including without limitation the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock (“Common Stock Equivalents”).

 

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(iii) Adjustments for Other Dividends. If the corporation at any time, or from time to time, makes (or fixes a record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive) a dividend or other distribution payable in securities of the corporation other than Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents, then, and in each such event, provision shall be made so that, upon conversion of any Preferred Stock, thereafter, the holder thereof shall receive, in addition to the number of shares of Common Stock issuable thereon, the amount of securities of the corporation which the holder of such share would have received had the Preferred Stock, been converted into Common Stock immediately prior to such event, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.

(iv) Reorganizations, Mergers, Consolidations, Reclassifi-cations, Exchanges, Substitutions. If at any time, or from time to time, any capital reorganization or reclassification of the Common Stock (other than as a result of a share dividend, subdivision, split or combination otherwise treated above) occurs or the corporation is consolidated, merged or amalgamated with or into another individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, firm, joint venture, estate, trust, unincorporated organization, association, corporation, institution, public benefit corporation, entity or governmental or regulatory authority or other entity of any kind or nature. (other than a consolidation, merger or amalgamation treated as a Liquidation Event), then in any such event, provision shall be made so that, upon conversion of any Preferred Stock, thereafter, the holder thereof shall receive the kind and amount of shares and other securities and property which the holder of such share would have received had the Preferred Stock, been converted into the Common Stock on the date of such event, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein, or with respect to such other securities or property, in accordance with any terms applicable thereto.

(v) Sale of Stock below the Conversion Price.

(A) In the event the corporation shall at any time after the date of this Certificate of Incorporation issue Additional Equity Securities, without consideration or for a consideration per share less than the applicable Original Issue Price in effect immediately prior to such issue (the “Future Issue Price”), then the applicable Conversion Price shall forthwith (except as otherwise provided in this clause (A) be adjusted to a price (calculated to the nearest one-thousandth of a cent) determined in accordance with the following formula:

 

                       

Common Stock

Outstanding

  +    (New Money / OP)
  AP    =    OP    *   

 

              Common Stock   +   

Additional Equity

              Outstanding     

Securities

 

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WHERE:

     
  OP    =    Old conversion price (before the price-based adjustment).
  AP    =    Adjusted conversion price (after the price-based adjustment).
  Common Stock Outstanding    =    The number of shares of Common Stock Outstanding immediately before the issue of the dilutive securities.
  New Money    =    The amount raised in the dilutive financing. See Section 4(d)(v)(B)(1) and (2), which cover how to value the consideration received for the dilutive securities.
  Additional Equity Securities    =    The number of shares issued in the dilutive financing.

For purposes of this Section 4(d)(v)(A), the term “Common Stock Outstanding” shall mean and include the following: (1) outstanding Common Stock, (2) Common Stock issuable upon conversion of outstanding Preferred Stock, (3) Common Stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options and (4) Common Stock issuable upon exercise (and, in the case of warrants to purchase preferred stock, conversion) of outstanding warrants. Capital stock described in (1) through (4) above shall be included whether vested or unvested, whether contingent or non-contingent and whether exercisable or not yet exercisable.

(B) Determination of Consideration.

For the purpose of making any adjustment to the applicable Conversion Price or the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, as provided above:

(1) To the extent it consists of cash, the consideration received by the corporation for any issue or sale of securities shall be computed at the net amount of cash received by the corporation after deduction of any underwriting or similar commissions, compensations, discounts or concessions paid or allowed by the corporation in connection with such issue or sale;

 

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(2) To the extent it consists of property other than cash, consideration other than cash received by the corporation for any issue or sale of securities shall be computed at the fair market value thereof (as determined in good faith by a majority of the Board of Directors, including the affirmative vote or consent of at least three (3) Preferred Directors), as of the date of the adoption of the resolution specifically authorizing such issue or sale, irrespective of any accounting treatment of such property; and

(3) If Additional Equity Securities or Common Stock Equivalents exercisable, convertible or exchangeable for Additional Equity Securities are issued or sold together with other stock or securities or other assets of the corporation for consideration which covers both, the consideration received for the Additional Equity Securities or such Common Stock Equivalents shall be computed as that portion of the consideration received (as determined in good faith by a majority of the Board of Directors, including the affirmative vote or consent of at least three (3) Preferred Directors) to be allocable to such Additional Equity Securities or Common Stock Equivalents.

(C) No Exercise.

If all of the rights to exercise, convert or exchange any Common Stock Equivalents shall expire without any of such rights having been exercised, the applicable Conversion Price as adjusted upon the issuance of such Common Stock Equivalents shall be readjusted to the applicable Conversion Price, which would have been in effect had such adjustment not been made.

(vi) Other Dilutive Events. In case any event shall occur as to which the other provisions of this Section 4 are not strictly applicable, but the failure to make any adjustment to the applicable Conversion Price would not fairly protect the conversion rights of the applicable series of Preferred Stock in accordance with the essential intent and principles hereof, then, in each such case, the corporation, in good faith, shall determine the appropriate adjustment to be made, on a basis consistent with the essential intent and principles established in this Section 4 necessary to preserve, without dilution, the conversion rights of such series of Preferred Stock.

(vii) Certificate of Adjustment. In the case of any adjustment or readjustment of the applicable Conversion Price, the corporation, at its sole expense, shall compute such adjustment or readjustment in accordance with the provisions hereof and prepare a certificate showing such adjustment or readjustment, and shall mail such certificate, by first class mail, postage prepaid, to each registered holder of Preferred Stock at such holder’s address as shown in the corporation’s books. The certificate shall set forth such adjustment or readjustment, showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment or readjustment is based, including a statement of (A) the consideration received or deemed to be received by the corporation for any Additional Equity Securities issued or sold or deemed to have been issued or sold, (B) the number of Additional Equity Securities issued or sold or deemed to be issued or sold, the applicable Conversion Price in effect before and after such adjustment or readjustment, and (C) the number of shares of Common Stock and the type and amount, if any, of other property which would be received upon conversion of such series of Preferred Stock after such adjustment or readjustment. No adjustment shall be made to the applicable Conversion Price if the effect would be that the adjusted applicable Conversion Price is higher than the applicable Conversion Price before the adjustment.

 

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(viii) Notice of Record Date. In the event the corporation shall propose to take any action of the type or types requiring an adjustment to the applicable Conversion Price or the number or character of the Preferred Stock as set forth herein, the corporation shall give notice to the holders of such Preferred Stock, which notice shall specify the record date, if any, with respect to any such action and the date on which such action is to take place. Such notice shall also set forth such facts with respect thereto as shall be reasonably necessary to indicate the effect of such action (to the extent such effect may be known at the date of such notice) on the applicable Conversion Price and the number, kind or class of shares or other securities or property which shall be deliverable upon the occurrence of such action or deliverable upon the conversion of Preferred Stock. In the case of any action which would require the fixing of a record date, such notice shall be given at least twenty (20) days prior to the date so fixed, and in the case of all other actions, such notice shall be given at least thirty (30) days prior to the taking of such proposed action.

(ix) Reservation of Stock Issuable Upon Conversion. The corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the Preferred Stock, such number of shares of its Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding Preferred Stock. If at any time the number of authorized but unissued Common Stock shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion of all then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, the corporation will take such corporate action as may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purpose.

(x) Notices. Any notice required or permitted pursuant to this Section 4 shall be given in writing and shall be given either personally or by sending it by next-day or second-day courier service, fax, electronic mail or similar means to each holder of record at the address of such holder appearing on the books of the corporation. Where a notice is sent by next-day or second-day courier service, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, pre-paying and sending by next-day or second-day service through an internationally-recognized courier a letter containing the notice, with a confirmation of delivery, and to have been effected at the expiration of two (2) days after the letter containing the same is sent as aforesaid. Where a notice is sent by fax or electronic mail, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, and sending such notice through a transmitting organization, with a written confirmation of delivery, and to have been effected on the day the same is sent as aforesaid.

(xi) Payment of Taxes. The corporation will pay all taxes (other than taxes based upon income) and other governmental charges that may be imposed with respect to the issue or delivery of the Common Stock upon conversion of Preferred Stock, excluding any tax or other charge imposed in connection with any transfer involved in the issue and delivery of the Common Stock in a name other than that in which the Preferred Stock so converted were registered.

 

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5. Voting Rights.

(a) General Voting Rights. The holder of each share of Preferred Stock shall have the right to one vote for each share of Common Stock into which such share of Preferred Stock could then be converted, and with respect to such vote, such holder shall have full voting rights and powers equal to the voting rights and powers of the holders of Common Stock, and shall be entitled, notwithstanding any provision hereof, to notice of any stockholders’ meeting in accordance with the Bylaws of this corporation, and except as provided by law or as otherwise provided in this Certificate of Incorporation, shall be entitled to vote, together with holders of Common Stock, with respect to any question upon which holders of Common Stock have the right to vote. Fractional votes shall not, however, be permitted and any fractional voting rights available on an as-converted basis (after aggregating all shares into which shares of Preferred Stock held by each holder could be converted) shall be rounded to the nearest whole number (with one-half (1/2) being rounded upward).

(b) Voting for the Election of Directors. The holders of Preferred Stock and Common Stock (voting together as a single class and not as separate series, and on an as-converted basis) shall be entitled to elect the directors of this corporation.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 223(a)(1) and 223(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law, any vacancy, including newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or amendment of this Certificate of Incorporation, and vacancies created by removal or resignation of a director, may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and the directors so chosen shall hold office until the next annual election and until their successors are duly elected and shall qualify, unless sooner displaced; provided, however, that where such vacancy occurs among the directors elected by the holders of a class or series of stock, the holders of shares of such class or series may override the Board’s action to fill such vacancy by (i) voting for their own designee to fill such vacancy at a meeting of this corporation’s stockholders or (ii) written consent, if the consenting stockholders hold a sufficient number of shares to elect their designee at a meeting of the stockholders. Any director may be removed during his or her term of office, either with or without cause, by, and only by, the affirmative vote of the holders of the shares of the class or series of stock entitled to elect such director or directors, given either at a special meeting of such stockholders duly called for that purpose or pursuant to a written consent of stockholders, and any vacancy thereby created may be filled by the holders of that class or series of stock represented at the meeting or pursuant to written consent.

6. Preferred Director Consent. So long as there is any Preferred Stock outstanding, in addition to any other vote required by this Certificate of Incorporation or the General Corporation Law, this corporation and/or any Group Company shall not, without the approval of the majority of the members of the Board of Directors then in office, including the affirmative votes or consents of the at least three (3) Preferred Directors:

(a) cease to conduct or carry on the business substantially as now conducted or change any part of its business activities;

(b) sell or dispose of the whole or a substantial part of its undertaking goodwill or its assets;

 

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(c) make any distribution of profits amongst the stockholders by way of dividend, (interim and final) capitalization of reserves or otherwise;

(d) appoint or settle the terms of appointment of any managing director, general manager, chairman, financial controller or other key manager(s), including any chief officers and vice presidents, or their functional equivalents;

(e) settle or alter the terms of any bonus or profit sharing scheme or the equity compensation plan or adopt any new share option or share participation scheme;

(f) amend the accounting policies previously adopted or change the financial year;

(g) appoint or change the auditors;

(h) acquire any investment or incur any commitment or any expense or capital expenditure that is not included in the budgets appropriately determined by the Board of Directors in excess of $500,000 at any time in respect of any one transaction or in excess of $2,000,000 at any time in related transactions in any financial year;

(i) borrow any money or obtain any financial facilities except pursuant to trade facilities obtained from banks or other financial institutions in the ordinary course of business;

(j) create, allow to arise or issue any debenture constituting a pledge, lien or charge (whether by way of fixed or floating change, mortgage encumbrance or other security) on all or any of the undertaking, assets or rights except for the purpose of securing borrowings from banks or other financial institutions in the ordinary course of business not exceeding $200,000 in respect of any one transaction or in excess of $1,000,000 at any time in related transactions in any financial year;

(k) sell, transfer, license, charge, encumber or otherwise dispose of any material trademarks, patents or other intellectual property owned by this corporation;

(l) approve or make adjustments or modifications to terms of transactions involving the interest of any director or stockholder, including but not limited to the making of any loans or advances, whether directly or indirectly, or the provision of any guarantee, indemnity or security for or in connection with any indebtedness of liabilities of any director or stockholder;

(m) acquire any share capital or other securities of any body corporate or the establishment of any branch;

(n) dispose or dilute the corporation’s interest, directly or indirectly, in any of its subsidiaries;

(o) approve any transfer of shares in the corporation;

 

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(p) conduct any transaction between the corporation and any of its subsidiaries and any of its stockholders, directors, officers, employees or other insiders and any of their family members or any of their affiliates or associates;

(q) approve any execution of the equity compensation plan, including without limitation the determination about the eligible persons from the corporation’s employees, directors or consultants to receive the option as the beneficiary of the equity compensation plan;

(r) establish any committee of the Board of Directors or delegate any powers of the Board of Directors to any committee; and

(s) authorize, agree or undertake to do any of the foregoing.

7. Protective Provisions. So long as any shares of Preferred Stock are remain outstanding, this corporation and/or any Group Company shall not (by amendment, merger, consolidation or otherwise) without (in addition to any other vote required by the General Corporation Law or the Certificate of Incorporation) first obtaining the approval by vote or written consent, as provided by law, of the holders of at least fifty one percent (51%) of the then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock (voting together as a single class and not as separate series, and on an as-converted basis):

(a) increase, reduce or cancel the authorized share capital or increase issued share capital of the corporation and/or any of its subsidiaries or issue, allot, purchase or redeem any shares or securities convertible into or carrying a right of subscription in respect of shares or any share warrants or grant or issue any options rights or warrants or which may require the issue of shares in the future or do any act which has the effect of diluting or reducing the effective shareholding of the holders of Preferred Stock in this corporation and/or any of its subsidiaries;

(b) conduct any action that authorizes, creates or issues shares of any class of stock having rights, preferences or privileges superior to or on parity with any Preferred Stock;

(c) pay any dividends or make any distributions on any capital stock;

(d) reduce the number of authorized shares in the capital of the corporation (including without limitation, repurchase of any Preferred Stock or Common Stock), except pursuant to a redemption of Preferred Stock or the exercise of the repurchase option on the termination of employment of a participant of the equity compensation plan;

(e) other than the grant of stock options under the equity compensation plan, create or issue any debenture or any obligation convertible into, any securities convertible into, any option to purchase or subscribe for, or warrants exercisable for, shares of this corporation;

(f) effect any merger, spin-off, consolidation, scheme of arrangement, reorganization or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of this corporation and/or any of its subsidiaries;

 

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(g) cause any adverse change to the rights, preferences and privileges of any Preferred Stock;

(h) change the authorized size of the Board of Directors of this corporation and/or any of its subsidiaries, or alter the manner in which the directors are appointed;

(i) amend or waive any provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation or the charter documents of any subsidiary;

(j) appoint a receiver, administrator or other form of external manager for the liquidation or dissolution or winding of this corporation or the passing of any resolution of the directors or the stockholders in respect thereof;

(k) change the corporation’s principal business ;

(l) adopt, terminate or make material amendments to the equity compensation plan, or equivalent for the benefit of employees, directors and consultants and the amendment to any terms and conditions thereof, including but not limited to any change of the aggregate number of stock issued or issuable under such equity compensation plan; and

(m) authorize, agree or undertake to do any of the foregoing.

8. Series D-1 Protective Provisions. So long as any shares of Series D-1 Preferred Stock remain outstanding (as adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, subdivisions, recapitalizations or the like), this corporation and or any Group Company shall not (by amendment, merger, consolidation or otherwise) without (in addition to any other vote required by the General Corporation Law or this Certificate of Incorporation) first obtaining the approval by vote or written consent, as provided by law, of the holders of at least 70% of the then outstanding shares of Series D-1 Preferred Stock:

(a) issue any stock or security convertible at a consideration equivalent to a price per share that is less than the then effective Conversion Price of Series D-1 Preferred Stock other than any capital stock or securities issued under the equity compensation plan or any Common Stock issued in connection with any share split, share dividend, combination, recapitalization or other similar transactions of the corporation or upon conversion of Preferred Stock (for the avoidance of doubt, in the event any investor in new equity financing would purchase both secondary shares and primary shares, the consideration per share shall be the blended price);

(b) consummate any new equity financing through spin-off or consolidation, pursuant to which, the combined valuation reflects a price per share lower than the then effective Conversion Price of Series D-1 Preferred Stock;

(c) increase the aggregate number of capital stock issued or issuable under the equity compensation plan, or conduct similar dilutive events as a result of which the implied investment cost of holders of Series D-1 Preferred Stock with respect to the Series D-1 Preferred Stock held by it would be higher than that as of the closing of Series D-1 Original Issue Price;

 

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(d) conduct any Liquidation Event where the valuation of the corporation is less than $2,500,000,000;

(e) consummate a firm commitment underwritten public offering implying a total post-money valuation of less than $2,500,000,000; or

(f) alter or change the rights, preferences or privileges of the Series D-1 Preferred Stock in a manner that adversely affects the Series D-1 Preferred Stock (it being understood that the authorization or creation or issuance of any other class or series of shares having powers, preferences or special rights senior to, on parity with or junior to the Series D-1 Preferred Stock shall not constitute an alteration or change that would adversely affect the Series D-1 Preferred Stock).

9. Series E Protective Provisions. So long as any shares of Series E Preferred Stock, Series E-1 Preferred Stock or Series E-2 Preferred Stock remain outstanding (as adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, subdivisions, recapitalizations or the like), this corporation and/or any Group Company shall not (by amendment, merger, consolidation or otherwise) without (in addition to any other vote required by the General Corporation Law or this Certificate of Incorporation) first obtaining the approval by vote or written consent, as provided by law, of the holders of two thirds of the then outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock, Series E-1 Preferred Stock and Series E-2 Preferred Stock (voting together as a single class on an as-if-converted basis):

(a) issue any stock or security convertible at a consideration equivalent to a price per share that is less than the then effective Conversion Price of Series E Preferred Stock other than any capital stock or securities issued under the equity compensation plan or any Common Stock issued in connection with any share split, share dividend, combination, recapitalization or other similar transactions of the corporation or upon conversion of Preferred Stock (for the avoidance of doubt, in the event any investor in new equity financing would purchase both secondary shares and primary shares, the consideration per share shall be the blended price);

(b) consummate any new equity financing through spin-off or consolidation, pursuant to which, the combined valuation reflects a price per share lower than the then effective Conversion Price of Series E Preferred Stock;

(c) increase the aggregate number of capital stock issued or issuable under the equity compensation plan, or conduct similar dilutive events as a result of which the implied investment cost of holders of Series E Preferred Stock with respect to the Series E Preferred Stock held by it would be higher than that as of the closing of Series E Original Issue Price;

(d) conduct any Liquidation Event where the per share price is less than 120% of the Original Series E Issue Price;

 

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(e) consummate a public offering that is not a Qualified Public Offering; or

(f) cause any adverse change to the rights attached to the Series E Preferred Stock, Series E-1 Preferred Stock or Series E-2 Preferred Stock (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include the mere creation or issuance of a series of preferred stock having rights, preferences or privileges superior to the Series E Preferred Stock, Series E-1 Preferred Stock or Series E-2 Preferred Stock).

10. Status of Redeemed or Converted Stock. In the event any shares of Preferred Stock shall be redeemed or converted pursuant to Section 3 or Section 4 hereof, the shares so redeemed or converted shall be cancelled and shall not be issuable by this corporation. The Certificate of Incorporation of this corporation shall be appropriately amended to effect the corresponding reduction in this corporation’s authorized capital stock.

11. Notices. Any notice required by the provisions of this Article V(B) to be given to the holders of shares of Preferred Stock shall be deemed given (a) five (5) days following its deposit in the United States mail, postage prepaid, and addressed to each holder of record at his, her or its address appearing on the books of this corporation, (b) upon such notice being provided by electronic transmission in a manner permitted by the General Corporation Law or (c) five (5) days following such notice being provided in another manner then permitted by the General Corporation Law.

C. Common Stock. The rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted to and imposed on the Common Stock are as set forth below in this Article V(C).

1. Dividend Rights. Subject to the prior rights of holders of all classes of stock at the time outstanding having prior rights as to dividends, the holders of the Common Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, out of any assets of this corporation legally available therefor, any dividends as may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors.

2. Liquidation Rights. Upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of this corporation, the assets of this corporation shall be distributed as provided in Section 2 of Article V(B) hereof.

3. Redemption. The Common Stock is not redeemable at the option of the holder.

4. Voting Rights. The holder of each share of Common Stock shall have the right to one vote for each such share, and shall be entitled to notice of any stockholders’ meeting in accordance with the Bylaws of this corporation, and shall be entitled to vote upon such matters and in such manner as may be provided by law ; provided, however, that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation or pursuant to the General Corporation Law. The number of

 

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authorized shares of Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of this corporation entitled to vote, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the General Corporation Law.

ARTICLE VI

Except as otherwise provided in this Certificate of Incorporation, in furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, repeal, alter, amend and rescind any or all of the Bylaws of this corporation.

ARTICLE VII

Subject to the requirements of Section 6 of Article V(B) hereof, the number of directors of this corporation shall be determined in the manner set forth in the Bylaws of this corporation. Unless otherwise provided herein, each director shall be entitled to one vote on each matter presented to the Board of Directors; provided that to the extent the approval of any particular director or directors is required by any agreement for specified actions, receipt of such approval shall be necessary for the board to authorize such actions.

ARTICLE VIII

Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws of this corporation shall so provide.

ARTICLE IX

Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as the Bylaws of this corporation may provide. The books of this corporation may be kept (subject to any provision contained in the statutes) outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or in the Bylaws of this corporation.

ARTICLE X

To the fullest extent permitted by law, a director of this corporation shall not be personally liable to this corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. If the General Corporation Law is amended after approval by the stockholders of this Article X to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of this corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law as so amended.

Any amendment, repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article X by the stockholders of this corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of this corporation existing at the time of, or increase the liability of any director of this corporation with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to, such amendment, repeal or modification.

 

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ARTICLE XI

This corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and, subject to the requirements of Section 6 of Article V(B) hereof, all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.

ARTICLE XII

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this corporation is authorized to provide indemnification of (and advancement of expenses to) directors, officers, employees and agents of this corporation (and any other persons to which General Corporation Law permits this corporation to provide indemnification) through Bylaw provisions, agreements with such persons, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, in excess of the indemnification and advancement otherwise permitted by Section 145 of the General Corporation Law.

Any amendment, repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article XII shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director, officer, employee, agent or other person existing at the time of, or increase the liability of any such person with respect to any acts or omissions of such person occurring prior to, such amendment, repeal or modification.

ARTICLE XIII

In connection with repurchases by this corporation of its Common Stock (i) from employees, officers, directors, advisors, consultants or other persons performing services for this corporation or any subsidiary pursuant to agreements under which this corporation has the option to repurchase such shares at cost upon the occurrence of certain events, such as the termination of employment, (ii) issued to or held by employees, officers, directors or consultants of the Corporation or its subsidiaries pursuant to rights of first refusal contained in agreements providing for such right or (iii) which are approved the holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, Section 500 of the California Corporations Code shall not apply in all or in part with respect to such repurchases. In the case of any such repurchases, distributions by the corporation may be made without regard to the “preferential dividends arrears amount” or any “preferential rights amount,” as such terms are defined in Section 500(b) of the California Corporations Code.

ARTICLE XIV

A. Forum Selection. Unless this corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of this corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of this corporation to this corporation or this corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action arising pursuant to any provision of the General Corporation Law or this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time), or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the

 

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internal affairs doctrine, except for, as to each of (i) through (iv) above, any claim as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten (10) days following such determination), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of this corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article XIV.

B. Personal Jurisdiction. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Article XIV(A) is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce Article XIV(A) (an “FSC Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.

C. Savings. If any provision or provisions of this Article XIV shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article XIV (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article XIV containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

*    *    *

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Incorporation has been executed by an incorporator of this corporation on this 23rd day of February, 2021.

 

Name:

 

/s/ James Mullen

Title:

 

Incorporator

SIGNATURE PAGE TO CERTIFICATE OF

INCORPORATION FOR TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC

Exhibit 3.2

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

TuSimple Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation, hereby certifies as follows:

1. The name of this corporation is TuSimple Holdings Inc. The date of the filing of its original Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State was February 23, 2021.

2. The Restated Certificate of Incorporation of this corporation is attached hereto as Exhibit A, which is incorporated herein by this reference, and which restates, integrates and further amends the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of this corporation, as previously amended and/or restated. The Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly adopted by this corporation’s Board of Directors and by the stockholders in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, with the approval of this corporation’s stockholders having been given by written consent without a meeting in accordance with Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this corporation has caused this Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by its duly authorized officer and the foregoing facts stated herein are true and correct.

Dated:             , 2021

 

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

By:  

 

Name:   Cheng Lu
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer


EXHIBIT A

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

ARTICLE I:

NAME

The name of this corporation is TuSimple Holdings Inc. (the “Corporation”).

ARTICLE II:

AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS

The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, New Castle County, DE 19808, and the name of the registered agent of the Corporation in the State of Delaware at such address is Corporation Service Company.

ARTICLE III:

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (the “General Corporation Law”),.

ARTICLE IV:

AUTHORIZED STOCK

1. Total Authorized.

1.1 The total number of shares of all classes of stock that the Corporation has authority to issue is 5,000,000,000 shares, consisting of three classes: 4,876,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Class A Common Stock”), 24,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Class B Common Stock” and together with the Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”), and 100,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Preferred Stock”).

Immediately upon the effectiveness of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation for filing by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Effective Time”), each share of the Corporation’s Common Stock issued and outstanding or held as treasury stock immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall, automatically and without further action by any stockholder, be reclassified as, and shall become, one share of Class A Common Stock. Any stock certificate that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented shares of the Corporation’s Common Stock shall from and after the Effective Time be deemed to represent shares of Class A Common Stock, without the need for surrender or exchange thereof.

 

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1.2 The number of authorized shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote (or written consent if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under this Restated Certificate of Incorporation) of the holders of capital stock representing a majority of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the General Corporation Law, and no vote of the holders of the Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor.

2. Preferred Stock.

2.1 The Corporation’s Board of Directors (“Board of Directors”) is authorized, subject to any limitations prescribed by the law of the State of Delaware, by resolution or resolutions adopted from time to time, to provide for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, and, by filing a certificate of designation pursuant to the applicable law of the State of Delaware (“Certificate of Designation”), to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, to fix the designation, powers (including voting powers), preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights (and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof) of the shares of each such series and, except where otherwise provided in the applicable Certificate of Designation, to increase (but not above the total number of authorized shares of the Preferred Stock) or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any such series. The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote (or written consent if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under this Restated Certificate of Incorporation) of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, without a separate vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the General Corporation Law, unless a separate vote of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock is required pursuant to the terms of any Certificate of Designation.

2.2 Except as otherwise expressly provided in any Certificate of Designation designating any series of Preferred Stock pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Article IV, (i) any new series of Preferred Stock may be designated, fixed and determined as provided herein by the Board of Directors without approval of the holders of Common Stock or the holders of Preferred Stock, or any series thereof, and (ii) any such new series may have powers, preferences and rights, including, without limitation, voting powers, dividend rights, liquidation rights, redemption rights and conversion rights, senior to, junior to or pari passu with the rights of the Common Stock, any series of the Preferred Stock, or any future class or series of capital stock of the Corporation.

3. Rights of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock.

3.1 Equal Status. Except as otherwise provided in this Restated Certificate of Incorporation or required by applicable law, shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall have the same rights and powers, rank equally (including as to dividends

 

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and distributions, and upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation), share ratably and be identical in all respects and as to all matters.

3.2 Voting Rights. Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Restated Certificate of Incorporation or as provided by applicable law, the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall (a) at all times vote together as a single class on all matters (including the election of directors) submitted to a vote or for the consent (if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under this Restated Certificate of Incorporation) of the stockholders of the Corporation, (b) be entitled to notice of any stockholders’ meeting in accordance with the Bylaws of the Corporation (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Bylaws”) and (c) be entitled to vote upon such matters and in such manner as may be provided by applicable law; provided, however, that, except as otherwise required by applicable law, holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together as a class with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock). Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or required by applicable law, each holder of Class A Common Stock shall have the right to one (1) vote per share of Class A Common Stock held of record by such holder and each holder of Class B Common Stock shall have the right to ten (10) votes per share of Class B Common Stock held of record by such holder.

3.3 Dividends and Distribution Rights. Shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall be treated equally, identically and ratably, on a per share basis, with respect to any dividends or distributions as may be declared and paid from time to time by the Board of Directors out of any assets of the Corporation legally available therefor; provided, however, that in the event a dividend is paid in the form of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock (or rights to acquire such shares), then holders of Class A Common Stock shall receive shares of Class A Common Stock (or rights to acquire such shares, as the case may be) and holders of Class B Common Stock shall receive shares of Class B Common Stock (or rights to acquire such shares, as the case may be), with holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock receiving, on a per share basis, an identical number of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors may pay or make a disparate dividend or distribution per share of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock (whether in the amount of such dividend or distribution payable per share, the form in which such dividend or distribution is payable, the timing of the payment, or otherwise) if such disparate dividend or distribution is approved in advance by the affirmative vote (or written consent if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under this Restated Certificate of Incorporation) of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, each voting separately as a class.

3.4 Subdivisions, Combinations or Reclassifications. Shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock may not be subdivided, combined or reclassified

 

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unless the shares of the other class are concurrently therewith proportionately subdivided, combined or reclassified in a manner that maintains the same proportionate equity ownership between the holders of the outstanding Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock on the record date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification; provided, however, that shares of one such class may be subdivided, combined or reclassified in a different or disproportionate manner if such subdivision, combination or reclassification is approved in advance by the affirmative vote (or written consent if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under this Restated Certificate of Incorporation) of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, each voting separately as a class.

3.5 Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Subject to the preferential or other rights of any holders of Preferred Stock then outstanding, upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock will be entitled to receive ratably all assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders unless disparate or different treatment of the shares of each such class with respect to distributions upon any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up is approved in advance by the affirmative vote (or written consent if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under this Restated Certificate of Incorporation) of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, each voting separately as a class.

3.6 Merger or Consolidation. In the case of any distribution or payment in respect of the shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock upon the merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into any other entity, or in the case of any other transaction having an effect on stockholders substantially similar to that resulting from a merger or consolidation, such distribution or payment shall be made ratably on a per share basis among the holders of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock as a single class; provided, however, that shares of one such class may receive different or disproportionate distributions or payments in connection with such merger, consolidation or other transaction if (i) the only difference in the per share distribution to the holders of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock is that any securities distributed to the holder of a share Class B Common Stock have ten times the voting power of any securities distributed to the holder of a share of Class A Common Stock, or (ii) such merger, consolidation or other transaction is approved by the affirmative vote (or written consent if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under this Restated Certificate of Incorporation) of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, each voting separately as a class.

3.7 Change in Control Class B Vote. Until the first date on which the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock represent less than forty percent (40%) of the total voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, the Corporation shall not consummate a Change in Control Transaction (as defined in Section 5 of Article V) without first obtaining the affirmative vote (or written consent if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under this Restated Certificate of Incorporation) of the holders of a majority of the then

 

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outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, voting as a separate class, in addition to any other vote required by applicable law, this Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws.

3.8 So long as any shares of Class B Common Stock remain outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the approval by vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the Class B Common Stock then outstanding, voting together as a single class, directly or indirectly, or whether by amendment, or through merger, recapitalization, consolidation or otherwise:

(i) amend, alter, or repeal any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws that modifies the voting, conversion or other powers, preferences, or other special rights or privileges, or restrictions of the Class B Common Stock; or

(ii) reclassify any outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock of the Corporation into shares having rights as to dividends or liquidation that are senior to the Class B Common Stock or the right to more than one (1) vote for each share thereof.

ARTICLE V:

CLASS B COMMON STOCK CONVERSION

1. Optional Conversion. Each share of Class B Common Stock shall be convertible into one (1) fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock at the option of the holder thereof at any time upon written notice to the Corporation. Before any holder of Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to convert any of such holder’s shares of such Class B Common Stock into shares of Class A Common Stock, such holder shall deliver an instruction, duly signed and authenticated in accordance with any procedures set forth in the Bylaws or any policies of the Corporation then in effect, at the principal corporate office of the Corporation or of any transfer agent for the Class B Common Stock, and shall give written notice to the Corporation at its principal corporate office of such holder’s election to convert the same and shall state therein the name or names in which the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable on conversion thereof are to be registered on the books of the Corporation. The Corporation shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, register on the Corporation’s books ownership of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to which such record holder of Class B Common Stock, or to which the nominee or nominees of such record holder, shall be entitled as aforesaid. Such conversion shall be deemed to have occurred immediately prior to the close of business on the date such notice of the election to convert is received by the Corporation, and the person or persons entitled to receive the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares of Class A Common Stock as of such date.

2. Automatic Conversion of all Outstanding Class B Common Stock. Each share of Class B Common Stock shall automatically, without further action by the Corporation or the holder thereof, be converted into one (1) fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock immediately prior to the close of business on the earliest to occur of (i) the date specified by the affirmative vote (or written consent if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under this Restated Certificate of Incorporation) of the holders of Class B Common Stock representing seventy-five percent (75%) of the outstanding

 

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shares of Class B Common Stock, voting as a separate class, (ii) the date that is (A) ninety (90) days after the date of the death or Incapacity of the last Founder to die or become Incapacitated or (B) such later date, not to exceed a total period of two hundred and seventy (270) days after the date of the death or Incapacity of the last Founder to die or become Incapacitated, as may be approved prior to the date that is ninety (90) days after the date of death or Incapacity of the last Founder to die or become Incapacitated by a majority of the Independent Directors then in office, with such later date, if any, maintained by the secretary of the Corporation in writing as part of the books and records of the Corporation, a copy of which shall be furnished, without cost, to any stockholder who makes a request therefor or (iii) the date fixed by the Board of Directors that is no less than sixty one (61) days and no more than one hundred eighty (180) days following the date that the total number of outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock held by the Founders and their Permitted Entities and Permitted Transferees collectively represents less than fifty percent (50%) of the total number of shares of Class B Common Stock held collectively by the Founders and their Permitted Entities and Permitted Transferees as of 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on the Effective Date (each event referred to in (i), (ii) and (iii) is referred to herein as a “Final Automatic Conversion”). The Corporation shall provide notice of the Final Automatic Conversion of shares of Class B Common Stock pursuant to this Section 2 of Article V to record holders of such shares of Class B Common Stock as soon as practicable following the Final Automatic Conversion. Such notice shall be provided by any means then permitted by the General Corporation Law; provided, however, that no failure to give such notice nor any defect therein shall affect the validity of the Final Automatic Conversion. Upon and after the Final Automatic Conversion, the person registered on the Corporation’s books as the record holder of the shares of Class B Common Stock so converted immediately prior to the Final Automatic Conversion shall be registered on the Corporation’s books as the record holder of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon the Final Automatic Conversion of such shares of Class B Common Stock, without further action on the part of the record holder thereof. Immediately upon the effectiveness of the Final Automatic Conversion, the rights of the holders of shares of Class B Common Stock as such shall cease, and the holders shall be treated for all purposes as having become the record holder or holders of such shares of Class A Common Stock into which such shares of Class B Common Stock were converted.

3. Conversion on Transfer. Each share of Class B Common Stock shall automatically, without further action by the Corporation or the holder thereof, be converted into one (1) fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock, upon the occurrence of a Transfer (as defined below), other than a Permitted Transfer (as defined below), of such share of Class B Common Stock.

4. Policies and Procedures. The Corporation may, from time to time, as it may deem necessary or advisable, establish such policies and procedures, not in violation of applicable law or this Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, relating to the conversion of shares of the Class B Common Stock into shares of Class A Common Stock. If the Corporation has reason to believe that a Transfer that is not a Permitted Transfer has occurred, the Corporation may request that the purported transferor furnish affidavits or other evidence to the Corporation as it reasonably deems necessary to determine whether a Transfer that is not a Permitted Transfer has occurred, and if such transferor does not within ten (10) days after the date of such request furnish sufficient evidence to the Corporation (in the manner provided in the request) to enable the Corporation to determine that no such Transfer has

 

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occurred, any such shares of Class B Common Stock, to the extent not previously converted, shall be automatically converted into shares of Class A Common Stock at the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following such request, and such conversion shall thereupon be registered on the books and records of the Corporation. In connection with any action of stockholders taken at a meeting or by written consent (if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under this Restated Certificate of Incorporation), the stock ledger of the Corporation shall be presumptive evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders or in connection with any such written consent and the classes of shares held by each such stockholder and the number of shares of each class held by such stockholder.

5. Definitions.

(a) “Change in Control Transaction” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events:

(i) the sale, lease, exchange, encumbrance or other disposition (other than licenses that do not constitute an effective disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, and the grant of security interests in the ordinary course of business) by the Corporation of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets; or

(ii) the merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation that would result in the Class B Common Stock of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior thereto representing (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its sole parent entity) more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Corporation or such surviving entity or its sole parent entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation.

(b) “Convertible Security” shall mean any evidences of indebtedness or other securities (other than shares of Class B Common Stock) convertible into or exchangeable for Class B Common Stock, either directly or indirectly.

(c) “Effective Date” means the date that this Restated Certificate of Incorporation is accepted for filing by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

(d) “Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(e) “Family Member” shall mean with respect to any natural person who is a Qualified Stockholder, the spouse, domestic partner, parents, grandparents, children and grandchildren of such Qualified Stockholder. Children and grandchildren shall include adopted persons, but only so long as they are adopted while a minor.

(f) “Founder” shall mean either Mo Chen or Xiaodi Hou, an individual.

(g) “Incapacity” (or “Incapacitated”) shall mean, with respect to an individual, that such individual is incapable of managing his or her financial affairs under the

 

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criteria set forth in the applicable probate code, that can be expected to result in death, or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months as determined by a licensed medical practitioner. In the event of a dispute regarding whether an individual has suffered an Incapacity, no Incapacity of such individual will be deemed to have occurred unless and until an affirmative ruling regarding such Incapacity has been made by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(h) “Independent Directors” shall mean members of the Board of Directors that are not officers or otherwise employees of the Corporation or its subsidiaries; provided that a director shall not be considered an officer or employee of the Corporation solely due to such director’s position as a member of the Board of Directors or the board of directors or similar governing body of one or more subsidiaries of the Corporation or such director’s service as a non-executive chairman, lead independent director or in any similar capacity.

(i) “Initial Public Offering Closing” shall mean the closing of the Corporation’s initial public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the offer and sale of Class A Common Stock to the public.

(j) “Option” shall mean rights, options, restricted stock units, share value awards or warrants to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire Class B Common Stock or Convertible Securities (as defined above).

(k) “Parent” of an entity shall mean any entity that directly or indirectly owns or controls a majority of the voting power of the voting securities of such entity.

(l) “Permitted Entity” shall mean with respect to a Qualified Stockholder: (a) a Permitted Trust solely for the benefit of such Qualified Stockholder or such Qualified Stockholder’s Family Member, for bona fide estate planning purposes; or (b) any general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation or other entity exclusively owned by such Qualified Stockholder or any other Permitted Entity of such Qualified Stockholder.

(m) “Permitted Transfer” shall mean, and be restricted to, any Transfer of a share of Class B Common Stock:

(i) by a Qualified Stockholder to (A) a Founder’s estate or a Founder’s heirs, effective either (1) upon the death of such Founder or (2) during or following any Incapacity of such Founder, (B) any Permitted Entity of such Qualified Stockholder, (C) to such Qualified Stockholder’s revocable living trust, which revocable living trust is itself both a Permitted Trust and a Qualified Stockholder or (D) a Founder; or

(ii) by a Permitted Entity of a Qualified Stockholder to (A) such Qualified Stockholder, (B) any other Permitted Entity of such Qualified Stockholder or (C) a Founder.

(n) “Permitted Transferee” shall mean a transferee of shares of Class B Common Stock received in a Permitted Transfer.

 

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(o) “Permitted Trust” shall mean a bona fide trust where each trustee is (i) a Qualified Stockholder, (ii) a Family Member, or (iii) a professional in the business of providing trustee services, including private professional fiduciaries, trust companies and bank trust departments.

(p) “Person” shall mean a natural person, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated association or other legal entity.

(q) “Qualified Stockholder” shall mean: (a) the record holder of a share of Class B Common Stock as of 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on the Effective Date; (b) each natural person who Transferred shares of Class B Common Stock (including any Option exercisable or Convertible Security exchangeable for or convertible into shares of Class B Common Stock) to a Permitted Entity that is or becomes a Qualified Stockholder; (c) a Permitted Transferee and (d) a Founder.

(r) “Transfer” of a share of Class B Common Stock shall mean any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, hypothecation or other transfer or disposition of such share or any legal or beneficial interest in such share, whether or not for value and whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law, including, without limitation, a transfer of a share of Class B Common Stock to a broker or other nominee (regardless of whether there is a corresponding change in beneficial ownership), or the transfer of, or entering into a binding agreement with respect to, Voting Control over such share by proxy or otherwise; provided, however, that the following shall not be considered a “Transfer” within the meaning of this Section 5 of Article V:

(i) the granting of a revocable proxy to officers or directors of the Corporation at the request of the Board of Directors in connection with actions to be taken at an annual or special meeting of stockholders or in connection with any action by written consent of the stockholders solicited by the Board of Directors (if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under this Restated Certificate of Incorporation);

(ii) entering into a voting trust, agreement or arrangement (with or without granting a proxy) solely with stockholders who are holders of Class B Common Stock that (A) is disclosed either in a Schedule 13D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, (B) either has a term not exceeding one (1) year or is terminable by the holder of the shares subject thereto at any time and (C) does not involve any payment of cash, securities, property or other consideration to the holder of the shares subject thereto other than the mutual promise to vote shares in a designated manner;

(iii) entering into a voting trust, agreement or arrangement (with or without granting a proxy) pursuant to a written agreement to which the Corporation is a party;

(iv) the pledge of shares of Class B Common Stock by a stockholder that creates a mere security interest in such shares pursuant to a bona fide loan or indebtedness transaction for so long as such stockholder continues to exercise Voting Control over such pledged shares; provided, however, that a foreclosure on such shares or other similar action by the pledgee shall constitute a Transfer unless such foreclosure or similar action qualifies as a Permitted Transfer;

 

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(v) the fact that, as of the Effective Date or at any time after the Effective Date, the spouse of any holder of Class B Common Stock possesses or obtains an interest in such holder’s shares of Class B Common Stock arising solely by reason of the application of the community property laws of any jurisdiction, so long as no other event or circumstance shall exist or have occurred that constitutes a Transfer of such shares of Class B Common Stock; provided that any transfer of shares by any holder of shares of Class B Common Stock to such holder’s spouse, including a transfer in connection with a divorce proceeding, domestic relations order or similar legal requirement, shall constitute a “Transfer” of such shares of Class B Common Stock unless otherwise exempt from the definition of Transfer;

(vi) entering into a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), with a broker or other nominee; provided, however, that a sale of such shares of Class B Common Stock pursuant to such plan shall constitute a “Transfer” at the time of such sale;

(vii) in connection with a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into any other entity, or in the case of any other transaction having an effect on stockholders substantially similar to that resulting from a merger or consolidation, that has been approved by the Board of Directors, the entering into a support, voting, tender or similar agreement or arrangement (in each case, with or without the grant of a proxy) that has also been approved by the Board of Directors;

(viii) granting a proxy by a Founder or such Founder’s Permitted Transferees to a Person designated by such Founder and approved, in advance, by a majority of the Independent Directors then in office to exercise dispositive power and/or Voting Control of shares of Class B Common Stock owned directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record, by such Founder, such Founder’s Permitted Transferees, such Founder’s estate or such Founder’s heirs, effective either (A) upon the death of such Founder or (B) during or following any Incapacity of such Founder, including the exercise of such proxy by such Person; or

(ix) granting a proxy by a Founder or such Founder’s Permitted Transferees to the other Founder to exercise dispositive power and/or Voting Control of shares of Class B Common Stock owned directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record, by such Founder, such Founder’s Permitted Transferees, such Founder’s estate or such Founder’s heirs, effective either (A) upon the death of such Founder or (B) during or following any Incapacity of such Founder, including the exercise of such proxy by the other Founder.

A Transfer shall also be deemed to have occurred with respect to a share of Class B Common Stock beneficially held by (i) an entity that is a Permitted Entity, if there occurs any act or circumstance that causes such entity to no longer be a Permitted Entity or (ii) an entity that is a Qualified Stockholder, if, in either case, there occurs a Transfer on a cumulative basis, from and after the Effective Date, of a majority of the voting power of the voting securities of such entity or any direct or indirect Parent of such entity, other than a Transfer to parties that are, as of the Effective Date, holders of voting securities of any such entity or Parent of such entity.

 

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(s) “Voting Control” shall mean, with respect to a share of Class B Common Stock, the power (whether exclusive or shared) to vote or direct the voting of such share by proxy, voting agreement or otherwise.

(t) “Voting Threshold Date” shall mean 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on the first day following the Corporation’s 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders falling on or after the date on which the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock represent less than forty percent (40%) of the total voting power of the then-outstanding shares of the Corporation then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

6. Immediate Effect and Status of Converted Stock. In the event of a conversion of shares of Class B Common Stock into shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to Section 3 of this Article V, or upon the date of the Final Automatic Conversion, such conversion(s) shall be deemed to have been made at the time that the Transfer of shares occurred or immediately at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on the date of the Final Automatic Conversion, as applicable. In the event any shares of Class B Common Stock are converted into shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to this Article V, the shares of Class B Common Stock so converted shall be retired and shall not be reissued by the Corporation.

7. Effect of Conversion on Payment of Dividends. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections 1, 2 or 3 of this Article V, if the date on which any share of Class B Common Stock is converted into Class A Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of Sections 1, 2 or 3 of this Article V occurs after the record date for the determination of the holders of Class B Common Stock entitled to receive any dividend or distribution to be paid on the shares of Class B Common Stock, the holder of such shares of Class B Common Stock as of such record date will be entitled to receive such dividend or distribution on such payment date; provided, that, notwithstanding any other provision of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, to the extent that any such dividend or distribution is payable in shares of Class B Common Stock, such dividend or distribution shall be deemed to have been declared, and shall be payable in, shares of Class A Common Stock and no shares of Class B Common Stock shall be issued in payment thereof.

8. Reservation. The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available, out of its authorized and unissued shares of Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting conversions of shares of Class B Common Stock into Class A Common Stock, such number of duly authorized shares of Class A Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all then-outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock. If at any time the number of authorized and unissued shares of Class A Common Stock shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion of all then-outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, the Corporation shall promptly take such corporate action as may be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purpose, including, without limitation, obtaining the requisite stockholder approval of any necessary amendment to this Restated Certificate of Incorporation. All shares of Class A Common Stock which are so issuable shall, when issued, be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares. The Corporation shall take all such action as may be necessary to ensure that all such shares of Class A Common Stock may be so issued without violation of any applicable law or regulation.

 

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9. No Further Issuances. Except for the issuance of Class B Common Stock issuable upon exercise of Rights outstanding at the Effective Time or a dividend payable in accordance with Article IV, Section 3.3, the Corporation shall not at any time after the Effective Time issue any additional shares of Class B Common Stock, unless such issuance is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock. After the date of the Final Automatic Conversion, the Corporation shall not issue any additional shares of Class B Common Stock.

ARTICLE VI:

AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

The Board of Directors shall have the power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws. Any adoption, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws by the Board of Directors shall require the approval of a majority of the Whole Board. For purposes of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the term “Whole Board” shall mean the total number of authorized directors whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships. The stockholders shall also have power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any other provision of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law that might otherwise permit a lesser or no vote, but in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by applicable law or by this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote (or written consent if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under this Restated Certificate of Incorporation) of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders to adopt, amend or repeal any provision of the Bylaws; provided, further, however, that, in the case of any proposed adoption, amendment or repeal of any provisions of the Bylaws that is approved by the Board of Directors and submitted to the stockholders for adoption thereby, if directors representing two-thirds (2/3) of the Whole Board have approved such adoption, amendment or repeal of any provisions of the Bylaws, then, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by applicable law or by this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, only the affirmative vote (or written consent if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under this Restated Certificate of Incorporation) of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to adopt, amend or repeal such provision of the Bylaws.

ARTICLE VII:

MATTERS RELATING TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

1. Director Powers. Except as otherwise provided by the General Corporation Law or this Certificate of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

2. Number of Directors. Subject to the special rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the total

 

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number of directors constituting the Whole Board shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board.

3. Classified Board. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, immediately following the Voting Threshold Date, the directors shall be divided, with respect to the time for which they severally hold office, into three classes designated as Class I, Class II and Class III, respectively (the “Classified Board”). The Board of Directors is authorized to assign members of the Board of Directors already in office immediately prior to the Voting Threshold Date to such classes of the Classified Board. The number of directors in each class shall be divided as nearly equal as is practicable. The initial term of office of the Class I directors shall expire at the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders following the Voting Threshold Date, the initial term of office of the Class II directors shall expire at the Corporation’s second annual meeting of stockholders following the Voting Threshold Date, and the initial term of office of the Class III directors shall expire at the Corporation’s third annual meeting of stockholders following the Voting Threshold Date. At each annual meeting of stockholders following the Voting Threshold Date, directors elected to succeed those directors of the class whose terms then expire shall be elected for a term of office expiring at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election.

4. Term and Removal. Each director shall hold office until the annual meeting at which such director’s term expires and until such director’s successor is duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. Any director may resign at any time upon notice to the Corporation given in writing or by any electronic transmission. Prior to the Voting Threshold Date, subject to the special rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, directors may be removed with or without cause by the affirmative vote (or written consent if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under this Restated Certificate of Incorporation) of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. From and after the Voting Threshold Date, subject to the special rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, no director may be removed from the Board of Directors except for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class. Subject to the special rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, in the event of any increase or decrease in the authorized number of directors occurring after the Voting Threshold Date, (a) each director then serving as such shall nevertheless continue as a director of the class of which he or she is a member and (b) the newly created or eliminated directorships resulting from such increase or decrease shall be apportioned by the Board of Directors among the classes of directors so as to make all classes as nearly equal in number as is practicable. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

5. Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships. Subject to the special rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors for any cause, and any newly created directorship resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors, shall be filled only by the affirmative vote of a

 

13


majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by the stockholders. Any director elected in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders at which the term of office of the class, if any, to which the director has been assigned expires and until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal.

6. Additional Directors Elected by the Preferred Stock. During any period when the holders of any series of Preferred Stock have the right to elect additional directors as provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article IV hereof (including any Certificate of Designation) (any such director, a “Preferred Stock Director”), and upon commencement and for the duration of the period during which such right continues: (i) the then otherwise total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be increased by such number of Preferred Stock Directors that the holders of any series of Preferred Stock have a right to elect, and the holders of such Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect the additional Preferred Stock Directors so provided for or fixed pursuant to said provisions; and (ii) each such Preferred Stock Director shall serve until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until his or her right to hold such office terminates pursuant to said provisions, whichever occurs earlier, subject to his or her earlier death, disqualification, resignation or removal. In case any vacancy shall occur among the Preferred Stock Directors, a successor Preferred Stock Director may be elected by the holders of Preferred Stock pursuant to said provisions. Except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article IV hereof (including any Preferred Stock Designation), whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock having such right to elect an additional Preferred Stock Director are divested of such right pursuant to said provisions, the terms of office of such Preferred Stock Director elected by the holders of such Preferred Stock, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of such additional Preferred Stock Director, shall forthwith terminate (in which case such person shall cease to be qualified as a director and shall cease to be a director) and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall be automatically reduced accordingly.

7. Vote by Ballot. Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws shall so provide.

8. No Cumulative Voting. No stockholder will be permitted to cumulate votes at any election of directors.

ARTICLE VIII:

DIRECTOR LIABILITY

1. Limitation of Liability. To the fullest extent permitted by law, no director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. Without limiting the effect of the preceding sentence, if the General Corporation Law is hereafter amended to authorize the further elimination or limitation of the liability of a director, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law, as so amended.

 

14


2. Change in Rights. Neither any amendment nor repeal of this Article VIII, nor the adoption of any provision of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this Article VIII, shall eliminate, reduce or otherwise adversely affect any limitation on the personal liability of a director of the Corporation or any rights or protections of any officer or director of the Corporation under this Article VIII with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to the time of such amendment, repeal or adoption of such an inconsistent provision.

ARTICLE IX:

MATTERS RELATING TO STOCKHOLDERS

1. No Action by Written Consent of Stockholders. Subject to the rights of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, from and after the Voting Threshold Date, (i) no action shall be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation except at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and (ii) no action shall be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation by written consent in lieu of a meeting.

2. Special Meeting of Stockholders. Special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Chairperson of the Board, the Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer (as defined in the Bylaws) or the Board of Directors acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board, and may not be called by the stockholders or any other person or persons.

3. Advance Notice of Stockholder Nominations and Business Transacted at Special Meetings. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors of the Corporation and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws. Business transacted at special meetings of stockholders shall be limited to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting.

ARTICLE X:

SEVERABILITY

If any provision of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, then such provision shall nonetheless be enforced to the maximum extent possible consistent with such holding and the remaining provisions of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including without limitation, all portions of any section of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, which is not invalid, illegal, or unenforceable) shall remain in full force and effect.

ARTICLE XI:

AMENDMENT OF RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

1. General. The Corporation reserves the right to amend or repeal any provision contained in this Restated Certificate of Incorporation in the manner prescribed by the laws of the State of Delaware and all rights conferred upon stockholders are granted subject to this reservation; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any provision of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation) or any provision of law

 

15


that might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote (other than Sections 1.2 and 2.1 of Article IV hereof), but in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of the stock of the Corporation required by applicable law or by this Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation), and subject to Sections 1.2 and 2.1 of Article IV, the affirmative vote (or written consent if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under this Restated Certificate of Incorporation) of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend or repeal, or adopt any provision inconsistent with, this Section 1 of this Article XI, Sections 1.2 and 2 of Article IV, or Article V, Article VI, Article VII, Article VIII, Article IX, Article X or Article XII (the “Specified Provisions”); provided, further, that if directors representing two-thirds (2/3) of the Whole Board have approved such amendment or repeal of, or any provision inconsistent with, the Specified Provisions, then only the affirmative vote (or written consent if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under this Restated Certificate of Incorporation) of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class (in addition to any other vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by applicable law or by this Certificate of Incorporation), shall be required to approve such amendment or repeal of, or the adoption of such provision inconsistent with, the Specified Provisions.

2. Changes to or Inconsistent with Section 3 of Article IV. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation) or any provision of law that might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of the stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation), the affirmative vote (or written consent if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under this Restated Certificate of Incorporation) of the holders of Class A Common Stock representing at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, voting separately as a single class, and the affirmative vote (or written consent if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under this Restated Certificate of Incorporation) of the holders of Class B Common Stock representing at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, each voting separately as single classes, shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, Section 3 of Article IV or this Section 2 of this Article XI.

ARTICLE XII:

CHOICE OF FORUM

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for: (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation; (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, stockholder, employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders; (c) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation

 

16


arising pursuant to any provision of the General Corporation Law, this Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws or as to which the General Corporation Law confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware; (d) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws; or (e) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine. This Article XII shall not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act.

Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article XII.

ARTICLE XIII

CERTAIN STOCK REPURCHASES

In connection with repurchases by the Corporation of shares of Common Stock from employees, officers, directors, advisors, consultants or other persons performing services for this corporation or any subsidiary pursuant to agreements under which the Corporation has the option to repurchase such shares at cost upon the occurrence of certain events, such as the termination of employment, Section 500 of the California Corporations Code shall not apply in all or in part with respect to such repurchases. In the case of any such repurchases, distributions by the Corporation may be made without regard to the “preferential dividends arrears amount” or any “preferential rights amount,” as such terms are defined in Section 500(b) of the California Corporations Code.

 

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Exhibit 3.3

BYLAWS OF

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

(A DELAWARE CORPORATION)

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
ARTICLE I OFFICES      1  

1.1

 

Registered Office

     1  

1.2

 

Offices

     1  
ARTICLE II MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS      1  

2.1

 

Location

     1  

2.2

 

Timing

     1  

2.3

 

Notice of Meeting

     1  

2.4

 

Stockholders’ Records

     1  

2.5

 

Special Meetings

     2  

2.6

 

Notice of Meeting

     2  

2.7

 

Business Transacted at Special Meeting

     2  

2.8

 

Quorum; Meeting Adjournment; Presence by Remote Means

     2  

2.9

 

Voting Thresholds

     3  

2.10

 

Number of Votes Per Share

     3  

2.11

 

Action by Written Consent of Stockholders; Electronic Consent; Notice of Action

     3  
ARTICLE III DIRECTORS      4  

3.1

 

Authorized Directors

     4  

3.2

 

Vacancies

     4  

3.3

 

Board Authority

     5  

3.4

 

Location of Meetings

     5  

3.5

 

First Meeting

     5  

3.6

 

Regular Meetings

     5  

3.7

 

Special Meetings

     5  

3.8

 

Quorum

     6  

3.9

 

Action Without a Meeting

     6  

3.10

 

Telephonic Meetings

     6  

3.11

 

Committees

     6  

3.12

 

Minutes of Meetings

     7  

3.13

 

Compensation of Directors

     7  

3.14

 

Removal of Directors

     7  
ARTICLE IV NOTICES      7  

4.1

 

Notice

     7  

4.2

 

Waiver of Notice

     7  

4.3

 

Electronic Notice

     8  
ARTICLE V OFFICERS      8  

5.1

 

Required and Permitted Officers

     8  

5.2

 

Appointment of Required Officers

     8  

5.3

 

Appointment of Permitted Officers

     9  

 

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5.4

 

Officer Compensation

     9  

5.5

 

Term of Office; Vacancies

     9  

5.6

 

Chairman Presides

     9  

5.7

 

Absence of Chairman

     9  

5.8

 

Powers of Chief Executive Officer

     9  

5.9

 

Chief Executive Officer’s Signature Authority

     9  

5.10

 

Absence of Chief Executive Officer

     10  

5.11

 

Powers of President

     10  

5.12

 

Absence of President

     10  

5.13

 

Duties of Secretary

     10  

5.14

 

Duties of Assistant Secretary

     10  

5.15

 

Duties of Treasurer

     10  

5.16

 

Disbursements and Financial Reports

     11  

5.17

 

Treasurer’s Bond

     11  

5.18

 

Duties of Assistant Treasurer

     11  
ARTICLE VI CERTIFICATE OF STOCK      11  

6.1

 

Stock Certificates

     11  

6.2

 

Facsimile Signatures

     12  

6.3

 

Lost Certificates

     12  

6.4

 

Transfer of Stock

     12  

6.5

 

Fixing a Record Date

     12  

6.6

 

Registered Stockholders

     12  
ARTICLE VII GENERAL PROVISIONS      13  

7.1

 

Dividends

     13  

7.2

 

Reserve for Dividends

     13  

7.3

 

Checks

     13  

7.4

 

Fiscal Year

     13  

7.5

 

Corporate Seal

     13  

7.6

 

Indemnification

     13  

7.7

 

Conflicts with Certificate of Incorporation

     14  

ARTICLE VIII AMENDMENTS

     15  

ARTICLE IX LOANS TO OFFICERS

     15  

ARTICLE X RECORDS AND REPORTS

     15  

ARTICLE XI STOCK TRANSFERS

     15  

 

 

ii


BYLAWS

OF

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

1.1 Registered Office. The registered office shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware.

1.2 Offices. The corporation may also have offices at such other places both within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the corporation may require.

ARTICLE II

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

2.1 Location. All meetings of the stockholders for the election of directors shall be held in the City of San Diego, State of California, at such place as may be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors, or at such other place either within or without the State of Delaware as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by Section 211 of the Delaware General Corporations Law (“DGCL”). Meetings of stockholders for any other purpose may be held at such time and place, if any, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice.

2.2 Timing. Annual meetings of stockholders, commencing with the year 2022, shall be held at such date and time as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting, at which they shall elect by a plurality vote a Board of Directors, and transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.

2.3 Notice of Meeting. Written notice of any stockholder meeting stating the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting not fewer than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting.

2.4 Stockholders Records. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address (but not the electronic address or other electronic contact information) of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each


stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the corporation. In the event that the corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.

2.5 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the certificate of incorporation, may be called by the Executive Chairman or Chief Executive Officer and shall be called by the Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer or secretary at the request in writing of a majority of the Board of Directors, or at the request in writing of stockholders owning at least ten percent (10%) in amount of the entire capital stock of the corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote. Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting.

2.6 Notice of Meeting. Written notice of a special meeting stating the place, date and hour of the meeting and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given not fewer than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. The means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting shall also be provided in the notice.

2.7 Business Transacted at Special Meeting. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.

2.8 Quorum; Meeting Adjournment; Presence by Remote Means.

(a) Quorum; Meeting Adjournment. The holders of greater than 51% of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, including the holders of greater than 51% of all outstanding Preferred Stock, on an as-if-converted basis, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by statute or by the certificate of incorporation. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned

 

2


meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.

(b) Presence by Remote Means. If authorized by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board of Directors may adopt, stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication:

(i) participate in a meeting of stockholders; and

(ii) be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication, provided that (i) the corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxyholder, (ii) the corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings, and (iii) if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the corporation.

2.9 Voting Thresholds. When a quorum is present at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the stock having voting power present in person or represented by proxy shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which by express provision of the statutes or of the certificate of incorporation, a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question.

2.10 Number of Votes Per Share. Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, each stockholder shall at every meeting of the stockholders be entitled to one vote by such stockholder or by proxy for each share of the capital stock having voting power held by such stockholder, but no proxy shall be voted on after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period.

2.11 Action by Written Consent of Stockholders; Electronic Consent; Notice of Action.

(a) Action by Written Consent of Stockholders. Unless otherwise provided by the certificate of incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing setting forth the action so taken, is signed in a manner permitted by law by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. Written stockholder consents shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent in the manner permitted by law and shall be delivered to the corporation as provided in subsection (b) below. No written consent shall be

 

3


effective to take the action set forth therein unless, within sixty (60) days of the earliest dated consent delivered to the corporation in the manner provided above, written consents signed by a sufficient number of stockholders to take the action set forth therein are delivered to the corporation in the manner provided above.

(b) Electronic Consent. A telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission consenting to an action to be taken and transmitted by a stockholder or proxyholder, or a person or persons authorized to act for a stockholder or proxyholder, shall be deemed to be written, signed and dated for the purposes of this section, provided that any such telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission sets forth or is delivered with information from which the corporation can determine (1) that the telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission was transmitted by the stockholder or proxyholder or by a person or persons authorized to act for the stockholder or proxyholder and (2) the date on which such stockholder or proxyholder or authorized person or persons transmitted such telegram, cablegram or electronic transmission. The date on which such telegram, cablegram or electronic transmission is transmitted shall be deemed to be the date on which such consent was signed. No consent given by telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission shall be deemed to have been delivered until such consent is reproduced in paper form and until such paper form is delivered to the corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to a corporation’s registered office shall be made by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Notwithstanding the foregoing limitations on delivery, consents given by telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission may be otherwise delivered to the principal place of business of the corporation or to an officer or agent of the corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded if, to the extent and in the manner provided by resolution of the Board of Directors of the corporation.

(c) Notice of Action. Prompt notice of any action taken pursuant to this Section 2.11 shall be provided to the stockholders in accordance with Section 228(e) of the DGCL.

ARTICLE III

DIRECTORS

3.1 Authorized Directors. The number of directors that shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors or by the stockholders at the annual meeting of the stockholders, except as provided in Section 3.2 of this Article, and each director elected shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified. Directors need not be stockholders.

3.2 Vacancies. Unless otherwise provided in the corporation’s certificate of incorporation, as it may be amended, vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and the directors so chosen shall hold office until the next annual election and until their successors are duly elected and shall qualify, unless sooner displaced. If there are no directors in office, then an election of

 

4


directors may be held in the manner provided by statute. If, at the time of filling any vacancy or any newly created directorship, the directors then in office shall constitute less than a majority of the whole Board of Directors (as constituted immediately prior to any such increase), the Court of Chancery may, upon application of any stockholder or stockholders holding at least ten percent (10%) of the total number of the shares at the time outstanding having the right to vote for such directors, summarily order an election to be held to fill any such vacancies or newly created directorships, or to replace the directors chosen by the directors then in office.

3.3 Board Authority. The business of the corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of its Board of Directors, which may exercise all such powers of the corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the certificate of incorporation or by these bylaws directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

3.4 Location of Meetings. The Board of Directors of the corporation may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware.

3.5 First Meeting. The first meeting of each newly elected Board of Directors shall be held at such time and place as shall be fixed by the vote of the stockholders at the annual meeting and no notice of such meeting shall be necessary to the newly elected directors in order to legally constitute the meeting, provided a quorum shall be present. In the event of the failure of the stockholders to fix the time or place of such first meeting of the newly elected Board of Directors, or in the event such meeting is not held at the time and place so fixed by the stockholders, the meeting may be held at such time and place as shall be specified in a notice given as hereinafter provided for special meetings of the Board of Directors, or as shall be specified in a written waiver signed by all of the directors.

3.6 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors.

3.7 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Executive Chairman or Chief Executive Officer upon notice to each director; special meetings shall be called by the Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer or secretary in like manner and on like notice on the written request of one (1) director. Notice of any special meeting shall be given to each director at his or her business or residence in writing, or by telegram, facsimile transmission, telephone communication or electronic transmission (provided, with respect to electronic transmission, that the director has consented to receive the form of transmission at the address to which it is directed). If mailed, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered when deposited in the United States mails so addressed, with postage thereon prepaid, at least five (5) days before such meeting. If by telegram, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered when the telegram is delivered to the telegraph company at least twenty-four (24) hours before such meeting. If by facsimile transmission or other electronic transmission, such notice shall be transmitted at least twenty-four (24) hours before such meeting. If by telephone, the notice shall be given at least twelve (12) hours prior to the time set for the meeting. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice of such meeting, except

 

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for amendments to these Bylaws as provided under Section 8.1 of Article VIII hereof. A meeting may be held at any time without notice if all the directors are present (except as otherwise provided by law) or if those not present waive notice of the meeting in writing, either before or after such meeting.

3.8 Quorum. At all meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the directors at any time in office, which majority must include one Sina Director and the Composite Director (provided that such director has been nominated and elected) shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and any act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be an act of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute, by the certificate of incorporation or the following sentence. If any Sina Director and/or Composite Director fails to attend two consecutive meetings of the Board of Directors after receiving proper notice thereof and a quorum cannot be obtained at such meetings, a majority of the directors then in office shall constitute a quorum notwithstanding the foregoing sentence. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. For purposes of these bylaws, “Sina Directors” (any one of the Sina Directors, a “Sina Director”) means the two directors elected by SUN Dream Inc and its respective successors and assignees pursuant to contractual rights entitling SUN Dream Inc and its respective successors and assignees to elect such directors. The “Composite Director” means the director elected by Composite Capital Master Fund LP and its respective successors and assignees pursuant to contractual rights entitling Composite Capital Master Fund LP and its respective successors and assignees to elect such director

3.9 Action Without a Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing, writings, electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee.

3.10 Telephonic Meetings. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, members of the Board of Directors or any committee designated by the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee, by means of conference telephone or other means of communication by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

3.11 Committees. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee.

In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or

 

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she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.

Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation, and may authorize the seal of the corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it, but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (i) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval or (ii) adopting, amending or repealing any provision of these bylaws.

3.12 Minutes of Meetings. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors when required.

3.13 Compensation of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors. The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or a stated salary as director. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for attending committee meetings.

3.14 Removal of Directors. Unless otherwise provided by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of shares entitled to vote at an election of directors.

ARTICLE IV

NOTICES

4.1 Notice. Unless otherwise provided in these bylaws, whenever, under the provisions of the statutes or of the certificate of incorporation or of these bylaws, notice is required to be given to any director or stockholder, it shall not be construed to mean personal notice, but such notice may be given in writing, by mail, addressed to such director or stockholder, at his or her address as it appears on the records of the corporation, with postage thereon prepaid, and such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be deposited in the United States mail. Notice to directors may also be given by telegram.

4.2 Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of the statutes or of the certificate of incorporation or of these bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto.

 

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4.3 Electronic Notice.

(a) Electronic Transmission. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders and directors, any notice to stockholders or directors given by the corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder or director to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder or director by written notice to the corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if (1) the corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the corporation in accordance with such consent and (2) such inability becomes known to the secretary or an assistant secretary of the corporation or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.

(b) Effective Date of Notice. Notice given pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be deemed given: (1) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder or director has consented to receive notice; (2) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder or director has consented to receive notice; (3) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder or director of such specific posting, upon the later of (i) such posting and (ii) the giving of such separate notice; and (4) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder or director. An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the corporation that the notice has been given by a form of electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

(c) Form of Electronic Transmission. For purposes of these bylaws, “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved, and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

5.1 Required and Permitted Officers. The officers of the corporation shall be chosen by the Board of Directors and shall be a Chief Executive Officer and/or a president, a treasurer and a secretary. The Board of Directors may elect from among its members a Chairman of the Board (or Executive Chairman, if such office is designated and filled) and a Vice-Chairman of the Board. The Board of Directors may also choose one or more vice-presidents, assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, unless the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws otherwise provide.

5.2 Appointment of Required Officers. The Board of Directors at its first meeting after each annual meeting of stockholders shall choose an Executive Chairman and/or a

 

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Chief Executive Officer and/or a president, a treasurer, and a secretary and may choose vice-presidents.

5.3 Appointment of Permitted Officers. The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers and agents as it shall deem necessary who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.

5.4 Officer Compensation. The salaries of all officers and agents of the corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.

5.5 Term of Office; Vacancies. The officers of the corporation shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualify. Any officer elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the corporation shall be filled by the Board of Directors.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

5.6 Chairman Presides. If such an office is designated and filled, the Executive Chairman of the corporation shall be the Chairman of the Board, so long as the Executive Chairman is a director of the corporation. In the absence of an Executive Chairman, unless the Board of Directors appoints a Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall be the Chairman of the Board, so long as the Chief Executive Officer is a director of the corporation. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders at which he or she shall be present. The Chairman of the Board (or the Executive Chairman, if the Board of Directors designates and fills such office) shall have and may exercise such powers as are, from time to time, assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors and as may be provided by law.

5.7 Absence of Chairman. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, the Vice-Chairman of the Board, if any, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders at which he or she shall be present. He or she shall have and may exercise such powers as are, from time to time, assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors and as may be provided by law.

THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

5.8 Powers of Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general and active management of the business of the corporation and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect.

5.9 Chief Executive Officers Signature Authority. The Chief Executive Officer shall execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of the corporation. The Chief Executive Officer may sign certificates for shares of stock of the corporation.

 

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5.10 Absence of Chief Executive Officer. In the absence of the Chief Executive Officer or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act, the president shall perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Chief Executive Officer.

THE PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENTS

5.11 Powers of President. Unless the Board of Directors appoints a president of the corporation, the Chief Executive Officer shall be the president of the corporation. The president of the corporation shall have such powers as required by law and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

5.12 Absence of President. In the absence of the president or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act, the vice-president, if any, (or in the event there be more than one vice-president, the vice-presidents in the order designated by the directors, or in the absence of any designation, then in the order of their election) shall perform the duties of the president, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the president. The vice-presidents shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

THE SECRETARY AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY

5.13 Duties of Secretary. The secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings of the meetings of the corporation and of the Board of Directors in a book to be kept for that purpose and shall perform like duties for the standing committees when required. He or she shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors, the Executive Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer, under whose supervision he or she shall be. He or she shall have custody of the corporate seal of the corporation and he or she, or an assistant secretary, shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by his or her signature or by the signature of such assistant secretary. The Board of Directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the corporation and to attest the affixing by his or her signature.

5.14 Duties of Assistant Secretary. The assistant secretary, or if there be more than one, the assistant secretaries in the order determined by the Board of Directors (or if there be no such determination, then in the order of their election) shall, in the absence of the secretary or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

THE TREASURER AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS

5.15 Duties of Treasurer. The treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other

 

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valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors.

5.16 Disbursements and Financial Reports. He or she shall disburse the funds of the corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors, at its regular meetings or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of all his or her transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the corporation.

5.17 Treasurers Bond. If required by the Board of Directors, the treasurer shall give the corporation a bond (which shall be renewed every six years) in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of his or her office and for the restoration to the corporation, in case of his or her death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in his or her possession or under his or her control belonging to the corporation.

5.18 Duties of Assistant Treasurer. The assistant treasurer, or if there shall be more than one, the assistant treasurers in the order determined by the Board of Directors (or if there be no such determination, then in the order of their election) shall, in the absence of the treasurer or in the event of the treasurer’s inability or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the treasurer and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

ARTICLE VI

CERTIFICATE OF STOCK

6.1 Stock Certificates. Every holder of stock in the corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate, signed by or in the name of the corporation by any two authorized officers of the corporation, certifying the number of shares owned by him or her in the corporation.

Certificates may be issued for partly paid shares and in such case upon the face or back of the certificates issued to represent any such partly paid shares, the total amount of the consideration to be paid therefor, and the amount paid thereon shall be specified.

If the corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, the powers, designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualification, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of the certificate which the corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, provided that, except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the DGCL, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of the certificate which the corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, a statement that the corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights of each class

 

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of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.

6.2 Facsimile Signatures. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be facsimile. In the event that any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, the certificate may be issued by the corporation with the same effect as if such officer, transfer agent or registrar were still acting as such at the date of issue.

6.3 Lost Certificates. The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issuance of a new certificate or certificates, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his or her legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as it shall require and/or to give the corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

6.4 Transfer of Stock. Upon surrender to the corporation or the transfer agent of the corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignation or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books.

6.5 Fixing a Record Date. In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date which shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

6.6 Registered Stockholders. The corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, to vote as such owner, to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of shares and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware.

 

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ARTICLE VII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

7.1 Dividends. Dividends upon the capital stock of the corporation, if any, subject to the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting, pursuant to law. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of the capital stock, subject to the provisions of the certificate of incorporation.

7.2 Reserve for Dividends. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the directors from time to time, in their sole discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the corporation, or for such other purposes as the directors think conducive to the interests of the corporation, and the directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.

7.3 Checks. All checks or demands for money and notes of the corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

7.4 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

7.5 Corporate Seal. The Board of Directors may adopt a corporate seal having inscribed thereon the name of the corporation, the year of its organization and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware.” The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or otherwise reproduced.

7.6 Indemnification. The corporation shall, to the fullest extent authorized under the laws of the State of Delaware, as those laws may be amended and supplemented from time to time, indemnify any director made, or threatened to be made, a party to an action or proceeding, whether criminal, civil, administrative or investigative, by reason of being a director of the corporation or a predecessor corporation or a director or officer of another corporation, if such person served in such position at the request of the corporation; provided, however, that the corporation shall indemnify any such director or officer in connection with a proceeding initiated by such director or officer only if such proceeding was authorized by the Board of Directors of the corporation. The indemnification provided for in this Section 7.6 shall: (i) not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under these bylaws, agreement or vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in their official capacities and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, (ii) continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, and (iii) inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of a person who has ceased to be a director. The corporation’s obligation to provide indemnification under this Section 7.6 shall be offset to the extent of any other source of indemnification or any otherwise applicable insurance coverage under a policy maintained by the corporation or any other person.

 

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Expenses incurred by a director of the corporation in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director of the corporation (or was serving at the corporation’s request as a director or officer of another corporation) shall be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized by relevant sections of the DGCL. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the corporation shall not be required to advance such expenses to an agent who is a party to an action, suit or proceeding brought by the corporation and approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the corporation that alleges willful misappropriation of corporate assets by such agent, disclosure of confidential information in violation of such agent’s fiduciary or contractual obligations to the corporation or any other willful and deliberate breach in bad faith of such agent’s duty to the corporation or its stockholders.

The foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6 shall be deemed to be a contract between the corporation and each director who serves in such capacity at any time while this bylaw is in effect, and any repeal or modification thereof shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing with respect to any state of facts then or theretofore existing or any action, suit or proceeding theretofore or thereafter brought based in whole or in part upon any such state of facts.

The Board of Directors in its sole discretion shall have power on behalf of the corporation to indemnify any person, other than a director, made a party to any action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she, his or her testator or intestate, is or was an officer or employee of the corporation.

To assure indemnification under this Section 7.6 of all directors, officers and employees who are determined by the corporation or otherwise to be or to have been “fiduciaries” of any employee benefit plan of the corporation that may exist from time to time, Section 145 of the DGCL shall, for the purposes of this Section 7.6, be interpreted as follows: an “other enterprise” shall be deemed to include such an employee benefit plan, including without limitation, any plan of the corporation that is governed by the Act of Congress entitled “Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,” as amended from time to time; the corporation shall be deemed to have requested a person to serve the corporation for purposes of Section 145 of the DGCL, as administrator of an employee benefit plan where the performance by such person of his or her duties to the corporation also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, such person to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to such Act of Congress shall be deemed “fines.”

7.7 Conflicts with Certificate of Incorporation. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of the corporation’s certificate of incorporation and these bylaws, the provisions of the certificate of incorporation shall govern.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS

8.1 These bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, or new bylaws may be adopted by the stockholders or by the Board of Directors, when such power is conferred upon the Board of Directors by the certificate of incorporation at any regular meeting of the stockholders or of the Board of Directors or at any special meeting of the stockholders or of the Board of Directors if notice of such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption of new bylaws be contained in the notice of such special meeting. If the power to adopt, amend or repeal bylaws is conferred upon the Board of Directors by the certificate of incorporation, it shall not divest or limit the power of the stockholders to adopt, amend or repeal bylaws.

ARTICLE IX

LOANS TO OFFICERS

9.1 The corporation may lend money to, or guarantee any obligation of or otherwise assist any officer or other employee of the corporation or of its subsidiaries, including any officer or employee who is a director of the corporation or its subsidiaries, whenever, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, such loan, guarantee or assistance may reasonably be expected to benefit the corporation. The loan, guarantee or other assistance may be with or without interest and may be unsecured or secured in such manner as the Board of Directors shall approve, including, without limitation, a pledge of shares of stock of the corporation. Nothing in these bylaws shall be deemed to deny, limit or restrict the powers of guaranty or warranty of the corporation at common law or under any statute.

ARTICLE X

RECORDS AND REPORTS

10.1 The application and requirements of Section 1501 of the California General Corporation Law are hereby expressly waived to the fullest extent permitted thereunder.

ARTICLE XI

STOCK TRANSFERS

11.1 Stock Transfer Agreements. The corporation shall have the power to enter into and perform any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes of stock of the corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the corporation of any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited by DGCL.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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CERTIFICATE OF SECRETARY OF

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

The undersigned, James Mullen, hereby certifies that he or she is the duly elected and acting Secretary of TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), and that the Bylaws attached hereto constitute the Bylaws of said Corporation as duly adopted by Action by Unanimous Written Consent by the Board of Directors on March 4, 2021.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto subscribed his or her name this 4th day of March, 2021.

 

/s/ James Mullen

James Mullen, Secretary

Exhibit 3.4

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

(a Delaware corporation)

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

As Adopted March 4, 2021 and

As Effective                , 2021


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I STOCKHOLDERS

     1  

Section 1.1

  Annual Meetings      1  

Section 1.2

  Special Meetings      1  

Section 1.3

  Notice of Meetings      1  

Section 1.4

  Adjournments      1  

Section 1.5

  Quorum      2  

Section 1.6

  Organization      2  

Section 1.7

  Voting; Proxies      3  

Section 1.8

  Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record      3  

Section 1.9

  List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote      4  

Section 1.10

  Inspectors of Elections      5  

Section 1.11

  Conduct of Meetings      6  

Section 1.12

  Notice of Stockholder Business; Nominations      6  

Section 1.13

  Action by Written Consent of Stockholders      14  

Section 1.14

  Delivery to the Corporation      15  

ARTICLE II BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     15  

Section 2.1

  Number; Qualifications      15  

Section 2.2

  Election; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies      15  

Section 2.3

  Regular Meetings      16  

Section 2.4

  Special Meetings      16  

Section 2.5

  Remote Meetings Permitted      16  

Section 2.6

  Quorum; Vote Required for Action      16  

Section 2.7

  Organization      16  

Section 2.8

  Unanimous Action by Directors in Lieu of a Meeting      17  

Section 2.9

  Powers      17  

Section 2.10

  Compensation of Directors      17  

Section 2.11

  Confidentiality      17  

ARTICLE III COMMITTEES

     17  

Section 3.1

  Committees      17  

Section 3.2

  Committee Rules      18  

ARTICLE IV OFFICERS; CHAIRPERSON; LEAD INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR

     18  

Section 4.1

  Generally      18  

Section 4.2

  Chief Executive Officer      18  

Section 4.3

  Chairperson of the Board      19  

Section 4.4

  Lead Independent Director      19  

Section 4.5

  President      19  

Section 4.6

  Chief Financial Officer      20  

Section 4.7

  Treasurer      20  

Section 4.8

  Vice President      20  

Section 4.9

  Secretary      20  

Section 4.10

  Delegation of Authority      20  


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

Section 4.11

  Removal      20  

Section 4.12

  Voting Shares in Other Business Entities      20  

Section 4.13

  Execution of Corporate Contracts and Instruments      21  

ARTICLE V STOCK

     21  

Section 5.1

  Certificates; Uncertificated Shares      21  

Section 5.2

  Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates or Uncertificated Shares      21  

Section 5.3

  Other Regulations      21  

ARTICLE VI INDEMNIFICATION

     22  

Section 6.1

  Indemnification of Officers and Directors      22  

Section 6.2

  Advance of Expenses      22  

Section 6.3

  Non-Exclusivity of Rights      22  

Section 6.4

  Indemnification Contracts      23  

Section 6.5

  Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit      23  

Section 6.6

  Nature of Rights      23  

Section 6.7

  Insurance      24  

ARTICLE VII NOTICES

     24  

Section 7.1

  Notice      24  

Section 7.2

  Waiver of Notice      25  

ARTICLE VIII INTERESTED DIRECTORS

     25  

Section 8.1

  Interested Directors      25  

Section 8.2

  Quorum      26  

ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS

     26  

Section 9.1

  Fiscal Year      26  

Section 9.2

  Seal      26  

Section 9.3

  Form of Records      26  

Section 9.4

  Reliance Upon Books and Records      26  

Section 9.5

  Certificate of Incorporation Governs      27  

Section 9.6

  Severability      27  

Section 9.7

  Time Periods      27  

ARTICLE X AMENDMENT

     27  

 


TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

(a Delaware corporation)

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

As Adopted March 4, 2021 and

As Effective                , 2021

ARTICLE I

STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1.1 Annual Meetings. If required by applicable law, an annual meeting of stockholders shall be held for the election of directors at such date and time as the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of TuSimple Holdings Inc. (the “Corporation”) shall each year fix. The meeting may be held either at a place, within or without the State of Delaware as permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), or by means of remote communication as the Board in its sole discretion may determine. Any other proper business may be transacted at the annual meeting. The Corporation may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board.

Section 1.2 Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders for any purpose or purposes shall be called in the manner set forth in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”). The special meeting may be held either at a place, within or without the State of Delaware, or by means of remote communication as the Board in its sole discretion may determine. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of the meeting. The Corporation may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board.

Section 1.3 Notice of Meetings. Notice of all meetings of stockholders shall be given in writing or by electronic transmission in the manner provided by applicable law (including, without limitation, as set forth in Section 7.1.1 of these Bylaws) stating the date, time and place, if any, of the meeting, the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting). In the case of a special meeting, such notice shall also set forth the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise required by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be given not less than ten (10), nor more than sixty (60), days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting.

Section 1.4 Adjournments. Notwithstanding Section 1.5 of these Bylaws, the chairperson of the meeting shall have the power to recess or adjourn any meeting of

 


stockholders, annual or special, to another time, date and place (if any) regardless of whether a quorum is present, at any time and for any reason. Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time, date and place (if any) thereof and the means of remote communication (if any) by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if (x) the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting or (y) after the adjournment, a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board shall fix as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting. If a quorum is present at the original meeting, it shall also be deemed present at the adjourned meeting. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel at any time and for any reason any previously scheduled special or annual meeting of stockholders before it is to be held, regardless of whether any notice or public disclosure with respect to any such meeting has been sent or made pursuant to Section 1.3 hereof or otherwise, in which case notice shall be provided to the stockholders of the new date, time and place, if any, of the meeting as provided in Section 1.3 above.

Section 1.5 Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, at each meeting of stockholders the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; provided, however, that where a separate vote by a class or classes or series of stock is required by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of such class or classes or series of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote on such matter, present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to the vote on such matter. If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the chairperson of the meeting or, if directed to be voted on by the chairperson of the meeting, the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote who are present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting may adjourn the meeting. Shares of the Corporation’s stock belonging to the Corporation (or to another corporation, if a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation are held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation), shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation or any other corporation to vote any shares of the Corporation’s stock held by it in a fiduciary capacity and to count such shares for purposes of determining a quorum. A quorum, once established at a meeting, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum.

Section 1.6 Organization. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by (a) such person as the Board may designate, or (b) in the absence of such a person, the Chairperson of the Board, or (c) in the absence of such person, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, or

 

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(d) in the absence of such person, the President of the Corporation, or (e) in the absence of such person, by a Vice President. The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in such person’s absence the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

Section 1.7 Voting; Proxies. Each stockholder of record entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders, or to take corporate action by written consent without a meeting, may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. Such a proxy may be prepared, transmitted and delivered in any manner permitted by applicable law. Except as may be required in the Certificate of Incorporation, at all meetings of stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. At all meetings of stockholders at which a quorum is present, unless a different or minimum vote is required by applicable law, rule or regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, in which case such different or minimum vote shall be the applicable vote on the matter, every matter other than the election of directors shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of stock entitled to vote on such matter that are present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and are voted for or against the matter (or if there are two or more classes or series of stock entitled to vote as separate classes, then in the case of each class or series, the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of stock of that class or series present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting voting for or against such matter).

Section 1.8 Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.

1.8.1 Meetings. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the adjourned meeting.

 

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1.8.2 Stockholder Action by Written Consent. If stockholders are permitted to act by written consent pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, in order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board. If no record date has been fixed by the Board pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 1.8.2, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting (if stockholders are permitted to act by written consent pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation), when no prior action by the Board is required by applicable law, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in Delaware, its principal place of business, or to any officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. If no record date has been fixed by the Board pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 1.8.2, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting if prior action by the Board is required by applicable law shall be at the close of business on the date on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

1.8.3 Meetings. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board and which shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no such record date is fixed by the Board, then the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

Section 1.9 List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The Corporation shall prepare, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth (10th) day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network as permitted by applicable law (provided that the information required to gain access to the list is provided with the notice of the meeting), or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. If the meeting is held at a location where stockholders may attend in person, a list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present at the meeting. If the meeting is held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access the list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Except as otherwise provided by law, the stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of

 

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stockholders required by this Section 1.9 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

Section 1.10 Inspectors of Elections.

1.10.1 Applicability. Unless otherwise required by the Certificate of Incorporation or by applicable law, the following provisions of this Section 1.10 shall apply only if and when the Corporation has a class of voting stock that is: (a) listed on a national securities exchange; (b) authorized for quotation on an interdealer quotation system of a registered national securities association; or (c) held of record by more than two thousand (2,000) stockholders. In all other cases, observance of the provisions of this Section 1.10 shall be optional, and at the discretion of the Board.

1.10.2 Appointment. The Corporation shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting.

1.10.3 Inspector’s Oath. Each inspector of election, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability.

1.10.4 Duties of Inspectors. At a meeting of stockholders, the inspectors of election shall (a) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each share, (b) determine the shares represented at a meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (c) count all votes and ballots, (d) determine and retain for a reasonable period of time a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors, and (e) certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting, and their count of all votes and ballots. The inspectors may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist the inspectors in the performance of the duties of the inspectors.

1.10.5 Opening and Closing of Polls. The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced by the chairperson of the meeting at the meeting. No ballot, proxies or votes, nor any revocations thereof or changes thereto, shall be accepted by the inspectors after the closing of the polls unless the Court of Chancery upon application by a stockholder shall determine otherwise.

1.10.6 Determinations. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots, the inspectors shall be limited to an examination of the proxies, any envelopes submitted with those proxies, any information provided in connection with proxies pursuant to Section 211(a)(2)b.(i) of the DGCL, or in accordance with Sections 211(e) or 212(c)(2) of the DGCL, ballots and the regular books and records of the Corporation, except that the inspectors may consider other reliable information for the limited purpose of reconciling proxies and ballots submitted by or on behalf of banks, brokers, their nominees or similar persons which represent more votes than the holder of a proxy is authorized by the record owner to cast or more votes

 

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than the stockholder holds of record. If the inspectors consider other reliable information for the limited purpose permitted herein, the inspectors at the time they make their certification of their determinations pursuant to this Section 1.10 shall specify the precise information considered by them, including the person or persons from whom they obtained the information, when the information was obtained, the means by which the information was obtained and the basis for the inspectors’ belief that such information is accurate and reliable.

Section 1.11 Conduct of Meetings. The Board may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the person presiding over any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such presiding person, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the presiding person of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the presiding person of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants; (vi) restricting the use of audio/video recording devices and cell phones; and (vii) complying with any state and local laws and regulations concerning safety and security. The presiding person at any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such presiding person should so determine, such presiding person shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the person presiding over the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

Section 1.12 Notice of Stockholder Business; Nominations.

1.12.1 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

(a) Nominations of persons for election to the Board and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only: (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of such meeting (or any supplement thereto), (ii) by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof or (iii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of the notice provided for in this Section 1.12 (the “Record Stockholder”), who is entitled to vote at such meeting and who complies with the notice and other procedures set forth in this Section 1.12 in all applicable respects. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing clause (iii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or propose business (other than business included in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (such act, and the rules and regulations promulgated

 

6


thereunder, the “Exchange Act”)), at an annual meeting of stockholders, and such stockholder must fully comply with the notice and other procedures set forth in this Section 1.12 to make such nominations or propose business before an annual meeting.

(b) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a Record Stockholder pursuant to Section 1.12.1(a) of these Bylaws:

(i) the Record Stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 1.12;

(ii) such other business (other than the nomination of persons for election to the Board) must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action;

(iii) if the Proposing Person (as defined below) has provided the Corporation with a Solicitation Notice (as defined below), such Proposing Person must, in the case of a proposal other than the nomination of persons for election to the Board, have delivered a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law to carry any such proposal, or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, have delivered a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of a percentage of the Corporation’s voting shares reasonably believed by such Proposing Person to be sufficient to elect the nominee or nominees proposed to be nominated by such Record Stockholder, and must, in either case, have included in such materials the Solicitation Notice; and

(iv) if no Solicitation Notice relating thereto has been timely provided pursuant to this Section 1.12, the Proposing Person proposing such business or nomination must not have solicited a number of proxies sufficient to have required the delivery of such a Solicitation Notice under this Section 1.12. To be timely, a Record Stockholder’s notice must be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (which date shall, for purposes of the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders after its shares of Common Stock (as defined in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation) are first publicly traded, be deemed to have occurred on             , 2021); provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than seventy (70) days after such anniversary date, notice by the Record Stockholder to be timely must be so delivered (A) no earlier than 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and (B) no later than 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which Public Announcement (as defined below) of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for providing the Record Stockholder’s notice.

 

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(c) As to each person whom the Record Stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, in addition to the matters set forth in paragraph (e) below, such Record Stockholder’s notice shall set forth:

(i) the name, age, business address and residence address of such person;

(ii) the principal occupation or employment of such nominee;

(iii) the class, series and number of any shares of stock of the Corporation that are beneficially owned or owned of record by such person or any Associated Person (as defined in Section 1.12.4(c));

(iv) the date or dates such shares were acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition;

(v) all other information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would be otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder;

(vi) such person’s written consent to being named in the Corporation’s proxy statement as a nominee, to the public disclosure of information regarding or related to such person provided to the Corporation by such person or otherwise pursuant to this Section 1.12 and to serving as a director if elected;

(vii) whether such person meets the independence requirements of the stock exchange upon which the Corporation’s Class A Common Stock (or Common Stock) is primarily traded;

(viii) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three (3) years, and any other material relationships, between or among such Proposing Person or any of its respective affiliates and associates, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, and his or her respective affiliates and associates, on the other hand, including all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the Proposing Person or any of its respective affiliates and associates were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant; and

(ix) a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 1.12.2 of these Bylaws.

(d) As to any business other than the nomination of a director or directors that the Record Stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, in addition to the matters set forth in paragraph (e) below, such Record Stockholder’s notice shall set forth:

 

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(i) brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Bylaws, the text of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such Proposing Person, including any anticipated benefit to any Proposing Person therefrom; and

(ii) description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between or among any such Proposing Person and any of its respective affiliates or associates, on the one hand, and any other person or persons, on the other hand, (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such Proposing Person;

(e) As to each Proposing Person giving the notice, such Record Stockholder’s notice shall set forth:

(i) the current name and address of such Proposing Person, including, if applicable, their name and address as they appear on the Corporation’s stock ledger, if different;

(ii) the class or series and number of shares of stock of the Corporation that are directly or indirectly owned of record or beneficially owned by such Proposing Person, including any shares of any class or series of the Corporation as to which such Proposing Person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future;

(iii) whether and the extent to which any derivative interest in the Corporation’s equity securities (including without limitation any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of shares of the Corporation or otherwise, and any cash-settled equity swap, total return swap, synthetic equity position or similar derivative arrangement (any of the foregoing, a “Derivative Instrument”), as well as any rights to dividends on the shares of any class or series of shares of the Corporation that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation) or any short interest in any security of the Corporation (for purposes of this Bylaw a person shall be deemed to have a short interest in a security if such person directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of the subject security, including through performance-related fees) is held directly or indirectly by or for the benefit of such Proposing Person, including without limitation whether and the extent to which any ongoing hedging or other transaction or series of transactions has been entered into by or on behalf of, or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including without limitation any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares) has been made, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to or manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or to increase or decrease the voting power of, such Proposing Person with respect to any share of stock of the Corporation (any of the foregoing, a “Short Interest”);

 

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(iv) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such Proposing Person or any of its respective affiliates or associates is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner of such general or limited partnership;

(v) any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement with the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation or any Competitor (as defined below) (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement);

(vi) any significant equity interests or any Derivative Instruments or Short Interests in any Competitor held by such Proposing Person and/or any of its respective affiliates or associates;

(vii) any other material relationship between such Proposing Person, on the one hand, and the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation or any Competitor, on the other hand;

(viii) all information that would be required to be set forth in a Schedule 13D filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(a) or an amendment pursuant to Rule 13d-2(a) if such a statement were required to be filed under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by such Proposing Person and/or any of its respective affiliates or associates;

(ix) any other information relating to such Proposing Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies or consents by such Proposing Person in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder;

(x) such Proposing Person’s written consent to the public disclosure of information provided to the Corporation pursuant to this Section 1.12;

(xi) a complete written description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether oral or in writing) (including any knowledge that another person or entity is Acting in Concert (as defined in Section 1.12.4(c)) with such Proposing Person) between or among such Proposing Person, any of its respective affiliates or associates and any other person Acting in Concert with any of the foregoing persons;

(xii) a representation that the Record Stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination;

(xiii) a representation whether such Proposing Person intends (or is part of a group that intends) to deliver a proxy statement or form of proxy to holders of, in the case of a proposal, at least the percentage of the Corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law to carry the proposal or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, a sufficient

 

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number of holders of the Corporation’s voting shares to elect such nominee or nominees (an affirmative statement of such intent being a “Solicitation Notice”); and

(xiv) any proxy, contract, arrangement, or relationship pursuant to which the Proposing Person has a right to vote, directly or indirectly, any shares of any security of the Corporation.

The disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (ii), (iii), (iv) and (vi) shall not include any information with respect to the ordinary course business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these Bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner.

(f) A stockholder providing written notice required by this Section 1.12 shall update such notice in writing, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice is true and correct in all material respects as of (i) the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting and (ii) 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on the tenth (10th) business day prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. In the case of an update pursuant to clause (i) of the foregoing sentence, such update shall be received by the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, and in the case of an update and supplement pursuant to clause (ii) of the foregoing sentence, such update and supplement shall be received by the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting, and, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed). For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update as set forth in this paragraph shall not limit the Corporation’s rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder to amend or update any proposal or nomination or to submit any new proposal, including by changing or adding nominees, matters, business and/or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of the stockholders.

(g) Notwithstanding anything in Section 1.12 or any other provision of the Bylaws to the contrary, any person who has been determined by a majority of the Whole Board to have violated Section 2.11 of these Bylaws or a Board Confidentiality Policy (as defined below) while serving as a director of the Corporation in the preceding five (5) years shall be ineligible to be nominated or be qualified to serve as a member of the Board, absent a prior waiver for such nomination or qualification approved by two-thirds of the Whole Board.

1.12.2 Submission of Questionnaire, Representation and Agreement. To be eligible to be a nominee of any stockholder for election or reelection as a director of the Corporation, the person proposed to be nominated must deliver (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under Section 1.12 of these Bylaws) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation a completed and signed questionnaire in the form required by the Corporation (which form the stockholder shall request in writing from the

 

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Secretary of the Corporation and which the Secretary shall provide to such stockholder within ten days of receiving such request) with respect to the background and qualification of such person to serve as a director of the Corporation and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf, directly or indirectly, the nomination is being made and a signed representation and agreement (in the form available from the Secretary upon written request) that such person: (a) is not and will not become a party to (i) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (ii) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (b) is not and will not become a party to any Compensation Arrangement (as defined below) that has not been disclosed therein, (c) if elected as a director of the Corporation, will comply with all informational and similar requirements of applicable insurance policies and laws and regulations in connection with service or action as a director of the Corporation, (d) if elected as a director of the Corporation, will comply with all corporate governance, conflict of interest, stock ownership requirements, confidentiality and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation publicly disclosed from time to time, (e) if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act in the best interests of the Corporation and its stockholders and not in the interests of individual constituencies, (f) consents to being named as a nominee in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-4(d) under the Exchange Act and any associated proxy card of the Corporation and agrees to serve if elected as a director and (g) intends to serve as a director for the full term for which such individual is to stand for election.

1.12.3 Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of such meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of such meeting (a) by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof or (b) provided that the Board has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice of the special meeting, who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice and other procedures set forth in this Section 1.12 in all applicable respects. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board, any such stockholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be), for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by Section 1.12.1(b) of these Bylaws shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (i) no earlier than the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and (ii) no later than 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which Public Announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for providing such notice.

 

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1.12.4 General.

(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided in any applicable rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act, only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.12 shall be eligible to be elected at a meeting of stockholders and serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.12. Except as otherwise provided by law or these Bylaws, the chairperson of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.12 and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance herewith, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.12, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a Qualified Representative of the stockholder (as defined below)) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or proposed business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.12, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth herein. Nothing in this Section 1.12 shall be deemed to affect any rights of (a) stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (b) the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.

1.12.5 For purposes of these Bylaws the following definitions shall apply:

(A) a person shall be deemed to be “Acting in Concert” with another person if such person knowingly acts (whether or not pursuant to an express agreement, arrangement or understanding) in concert with, or toward a common goal relating to the management, governance or control of the Corporation in substantial parallel with, such other person where (1) each person is conscious of the other person’s conduct or intent and this awareness is an element in their decision-making processes and (2) at least one additional factor suggests that such persons intend to act in concert or in substantial parallel, which such additional factors may include, without limitation, exchanging information (whether publicly or privately), attending meetings, conducting discussions or making or soliciting invitations to act in concert or in substantial parallel; provided that a person shall not be deemed to be Acting in Concert with any other person solely as a result of the solicitation or receipt of revocable proxies or consents from such other person in response to a solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 14(a) (or any successor provision) of the Exchange Act by way of a proxy or consent solicitation statement filed on Schedule 14A. A person Acting in Concert with another person shall be deemed to be Acting in Concert with any third party who is also Acting in Concert with such other person;

(B) “affiliate” and “associate” shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); provided, however, that the term

 

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“partner” as used in the definition of “associate” shall not include any limited partner that is not involved in the management of the relevant partnership;

(C) “Associated Person” shall mean with respect to any subject stockholder or other person (including any proposed nominee) (1) any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such stockholder or other person, (2) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder or other person, (3) any associate of such stockholder or other person, and (4) any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control or Acting in Concert with any such Associated Person;

(D) “Compensation Arrangement” shall mean any direct or indirect compensatory payment or other financial agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation, including any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with candidacy, nomination, service or action as a nominee or as a director of the Corporation;

(E) “Competitor” shall mean any entity that provides products or services that compete with or are alternatives to the principal products produced or services provided by the Corporation or its affiliates;

(F) “Proposing Person” shall mean (1) the Record Stockholder providing the notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting or nomination of persons for election to the Board at a stockholder meeting, (2) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of business proposed to be brought before the annual meeting or nomination of persons for election to the Board at a stockholder meeting is made, and (3) any Associated Person on whose behalf the notice of business proposed to be brought before the annual meeting or nomination of persons for election to the Board at a stockholder meeting is made;

(G) “Public Announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; and

(H) to be considered a “Qualified Representative” of a stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager, trustee or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as a proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction thereof, at the meeting. The Secretary of the Corporation, or any other person who shall be appointed to serve as secretary of the meeting, may require, on behalf of the Corporation, reasonable and appropriate documentation to verify the status of a person purporting to be a “Qualified Representative” for purposes hereof.

Section 1.13 Action by Written Consent of Stockholders. Until the Voting Threshold Date (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) and subject to any other restrictions in the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special

 

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meeting of the stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents setting forth the action so taken shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which minutes of proceedings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall, to the extent required by law, be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for notice of such meeting had been the date that written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take the action were delivered to the Corporation.

Section 1.14 Delivery to the Corporation. Whenever this Article I requires one or more persons (including a record or beneficial owner of stock) to deliver a document or information to the Corporation or any officer, employee or agent thereof (including any notice, request, questionnaire, revocation, representation or other document or agreement), unless the Corporation elects otherwise, such document or information shall be in writing exclusively (and not in an electronic transmission) and shall be delivered exclusively by hand (including, without limitation, overnight courier service) or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, and the Corporation shall not be required to accept delivery of any document not in such written form or so delivered.

ARTICLE II

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 2.1 Number; Qualifications. The total number of directors constituting the Whole Board shall be fixed from time to time in the manner set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation and the term “Whole Board” shall have the meaning specified in the Certificate of Incorporation. No decrease in the authorized number of directors constituting the Whole Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. Directors need not be stockholders of the Corporation.

Section 2.2 Election; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies. Election of directors need not be by written ballot. Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation and subject to the special rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, immediately following the Voting Threshold Date (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation), the Board shall be divided into three classes, designated as Class I, Class II and Class III. The number of directors in each class shall be divided as nearly equal as is practicable. Each director shall hold office until the annual meeting at which such director’s term expires and until such director’s successor is elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. Any director may resign by delivering a resignation in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation at its principal office or to the Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon delivery unless it is specified to be effective at a later time or upon the

 

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happening of an event. Subject to the special rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, directors may be removed only as provided by the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law. All vacancies occurring in the Board and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors shall be filled in the manner set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.

Section 2.3 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board may be held at such places, within or without the State of Delaware, and at such times as the Board may from time to time determine. Notice of regular meetings need not be given if the date, times and places thereof are fixed by resolution of the Board.

Section 2.4 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or a majority of the members of the Board then in office and may be held at any time, date or place, within or without the State of Delaware, as the person or persons calling the meeting shall fix. Notice of the time, date and place of such meeting shall be given, orally, in writing or by electronic transmission (including electronic mail), by the person or persons calling the meeting to all directors at least four (4) days before the meeting if the notice is mailed, or at least twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting if such notice is given by telephone, hand delivery, telegram, telex, mailgram, facsimile, electronic mail or other means of electronic transmission; provided, however, that if, under the circumstances, the Chairperson of the Board, the or the Chief Executive Officer calling a special meeting deems that more immediate action is necessary or appropriate, notice may be delivered on the day of such special meeting. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.

Section 2.5 Remote Meetings Permitted. Members of the Board, or any committee of the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board or such committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to conference telephone or other communications equipment shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Section 2.6 Quorum; Vote Required for Action. At all meetings of the Board, directors representing a majority of the Whole Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting to another place, date or time. Except as otherwise provided herein or in the Certificate of Incorporation, or required by law, the vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board.

Section 2.7 Organization. Meetings of the Board shall be presided over by (a) the Chairperson of the Board, or (b) in the absence of such person, the Chief Executive Officer, or (c) such person’s absence, by a chairperson chosen by the Board at the meeting. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in such person’s absence the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

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Section 2.8 Unanimous Action by Directors in Lieu of a Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and any consent may be documented, signed and delivered in any manner permitted by Section 116 of the DGCL. After an action is taken, the consent or consents relating thereto shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee, as applicable. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

Section 2.9 Powers. Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or the DGCL, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board.

Section 2.10 Compensation of Directors. Members of the Board, as such, may receive, pursuant to a resolution of the Board, fees and other compensation for their services as directors, including without limitation their services as members of committees of the Board.

Section 2.11 Confidentiality. Each director shall maintain the confidentiality of, and shall not share with any third party person or entity (including third parties that originally sponsored, nominated or designated such director (the “Sponsoring Party”)), any non-public information learned in their capacities as directors, including communications among Board members in their capacities as directors. The Board may adopt a board confidentiality policy further implementing and interpreting this bylaw (a “Board Confidentiality Policy”). All directors are required to comply with this bylaw and any such Board Confidentiality Policy unless such director or the Sponsoring Party for such director has entered into a specific written agreement with the Corporation, in either case as approved by the Board, providing otherwise with respect to such confidential information.

ARTICLE III

COMMITTEES

Section 3.1 Committees. The Board may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation, provided that none of the Independent Directors shall serve as members of more than two committees or as the chairperson of more than one committee. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of the committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting of such committee who are not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in a resolution of the Board, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (a) approving, adopting, or recommending to the stockholders any action or matter (other than the election or removal of members of the Board) expressly required

 

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by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval or (b) adopting, amending or repealing any bylaw of the Corporation.

Section 3.2 Committee Rules. Each committee shall keep records of its proceedings and make such reports as the Board may from time to time request. Unless the Board otherwise provides, each committee designated by the Board may make, alter and repeal rules for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules, each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board conducts its business pursuant to Article II of these Bylaws. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or the resolution of the Board designating the committee, any committee may create one or more subcommittees, each subcommittee to consist of one or more members of the committee, and may delegate to any such subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee.

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS; CHAIRPERSON; LEAD INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR

Section 4.1 Generally. The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer (who may be the Chairperson of the Board or the President), a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer and may consist of such other officers, including, without limitation, an Executive Chairperson, a Chief Financial Officer, and one or more Vice Presidents, as may from time to time be appointed by the Board. All officers shall be elected by the Board; provided, however, that the Board may empower the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation to appoint any officer other than the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer. Except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, each officer shall hold office until such officer’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until such officer’s earlier resignation, death, disqualification or removal. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. Any officer may resign by delivering a resignation in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation at its principal office or to the Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon delivery unless it is specified to be effective at some later time or upon the happening of some later event. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation by death, resignation, removal or otherwise may be filled by the Board and the Board may, in its discretion, leave unfilled, for such period as it may determine, any offices. Each such successor shall hold office for the unexpired term of such officer’s predecessor and until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until such officer’s earlier resignation, death, disqualification or removal.

Section 4.2 Chief Executive Officer. Subject to the control of the Board and such supervisory powers, if any, as may be given by the Board, the powers and duties of the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation are:

(a) to act as the general manager and, subject to the control of the Board and the powers and duties granted by the Board to an Executive Chairman (if any), to have general supervision, direction and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation;

(b) subject to Section 1.6 of these Bylaws, to preside at all meetings of the stockholders;

 

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(c) subject to Section 1.2 of these Bylaws, to call special meetings of the stockholders to be held at such times and, subject to the limitations prescribed by law or by these Bylaws, at such places as he or she shall deem proper; and

(d) to affix the signature of the Corporation to all deeds, conveyances, mortgages, guarantees, leases, obligations, bonds, certificates and other papers and instruments in writing which have been authorized by the Board or which, in the judgment of the Chief Executive Officer, should be executed on behalf of the Corporation; to sign certificates for shares of stock of the Corporation (if any); and, subject to the direction of the Board, to have general charge of the property of the Corporation and to supervise and control all officers, agents and employees of the Corporation.

The person holding the office of President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation unless the Board shall designate another officer to be the Chief Executive Officer.

Section 4.3 Chairperson of the Board. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.7 of these Bylaws, the Chairperson of the Board shall have the power to preside at all meetings of the Board and shall have such other powers and duties as provided in these Bylaws and as the Board may from time to time prescribe. The Chairperson of the Board may or may not be an officer of the Corporation. If the Chairperson of the Board is an officer of the Corporation, he or she may be designated by the Board the Executive Chairperson, Executive Chairman or Executive Chairwoman, as applicable, and any references herein to Chairperson of the Board shall be understood to mean the Executive Chairperson, Executive Chairman or Executive Chairwoman, as applicable. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Executive Chairman shall have responsibility, working with the Board and the President and Chief Executive Officer, for the overall leadership and strategic direction of the Corporation, providing guidance and support to senior management of the Corporation and the coordination of the activities of the Board.

Section 4.4 Lead Independent Director. The Board may, in its discretion, elect a lead independent director from among its members that are Independent Directors (as defined below) (such director, the “Lead Independent Director”). The Lead Independent Director shall preside at all meetings at which the Chairperson of the Board is not present and shall exercise such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Board or as prescribed by these Bylaws. For purposes of these Bylaws, “Independent Director” has the meaning ascribed to such term under the rules of the exchange upon which the Corporation’s Class A Common Stock is primarily traded.

Section 4.5 President. The person holding the office of Chief Executive Officer shall be the President of the Corporation unless the Board shall have designated one individual as the President and a different individual as the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. Subject to the provisions of these Bylaws and to the direction of the Board, and subject to the supervisory powers of the Chief Executive Officer (if the Chief Executive Officer is an officer other than the President), and subject to such supervisory powers and authority as may be given by the Board to the Chairperson of the Board, and/or to any other officer, the President shall have the responsibility for the general management and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation and the general supervision and direction of all of the officers, employees and agents of the Corporation (other than the Chairperson of the Board, if an officer, and the Chief

 

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Executive Officer, if the Chief Executive Officer is an officer other than the President) and shall perform all duties and have all powers that are commonly incident to the office of President or that are delegated to the President by the Board.

Section 4.6 Chief Financial Officer. The person holding the office of Chief Financial Officer shall be the Treasurer of the Corporation unless the Board shall have designated another officer as the Treasurer of the Corporation. Subject to the direction of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer shall perform all duties and have all powers that are commonly incident to the office of Chief Financial Officer, or as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time prescribe.

Section 4.7 Treasurer. The person holding the office of Treasurer shall have custody of all monies and securities of the Corporation. The Treasurer shall make such disbursements of the funds of the Corporation as are authorized and shall render from time to time an account of all such transactions. The Treasurer shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as are commonly incident to the office of Treasurer, or as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time prescribe.

Section 4.8 Vice President. Each Vice President shall have all such powers and duties as are commonly incident to the office of Vice President or that are delegated to him or her by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer. A Vice President may be designated by the Board to perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chief Executive Officer or President in the event of the Chief Executive Officer’s or President’s absence or disability.

Section 4.9 Secretary. The Secretary shall issue or cause to be issued all authorized notices for, and shall keep, or cause to be kept, minutes of all meetings of the stockholders and the Board. The Secretary shall have charge of the corporate minute books and similar records and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as are commonly incident to the office of Secretary, or as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time prescribe.

Section 4.10 Delegation of Authority. The Board may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer of the Corporation to any other officers or agents of the Corporation, notwithstanding any provision hereof.

Section 4.11 Removal. Any officer of the Corporation shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board; provided that if the Board has empowered the Chief Executive Officer to appoint any officer of the Corporation, then such officer may also be removed by the Chief Executive Officer. Such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights of such officer, if any, with the Corporation.

Section 4.12 Voting Shares in Other Business Entities. The Chairperson, the CEO, the President, if any is appointed, any vice president, the CFO, the Secretary or assistant secretary of the Corporation, or any other person authorized by the Board of Directors may vote, and otherwise exercise on behalf of the Corporation any and all rights and powers incident to the ownership of, any and all shares of stock or other equity interest held by the Corporation in any other corporation or other business entity. The authority granted herein may be exercised either

 

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by such person directly or by any other person authorized to do so by proxy or power of attorney duly executed by the person having such authority.

Section 4.13 Execution of Corporate Contracts and Instruments. The Board of Directors, except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, shall designate the officers, employees and agents of the Corporation who shall have power to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation. Such delegation may be by resolution or otherwise and the authority granted shall be general or confined to specific matters, all as the Board of Directors or any such committee may determine. In the absence of such designation referred to in the first sentence of this Section 4.13, the officers of the Corporation shall have such power so referred to, to the extent incident to the normal performance of their duties.

ARTICLE V

STOCK

Section 5.1 Certificates; Uncertificated Shares. The shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be uncertificated shares; provided, however, that the resolution of the Board that the shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be uncertificated shares shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation (or the transfer agent or registrar, as the case may be). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be certificated shares. Every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation, by any two authorized officers of the Corporation (it being understood that each of the Chairperson of the Board, the Vice-Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary, and any Assistant Secretary shall be an authorized officer for such purpose), representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were an officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

Section 5.2 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates or Uncertificated Shares. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in the place of any certificate previously issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to agree to indemnify the Corporation and/or to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it, against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.

Section 5.3 Other Regulations. Subject to applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws, the issue, transfer, conversion and registration of shares

 

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represented by certificates and of uncertificated shares shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board may establish.

ARTICLE VI

INDEMNIFICATION

Section 6.1 Indemnification of Officers and Directors. Each person who was or is made a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, or is involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, legislative or any other type whatsoever (a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that such person (or a person of whom such person is the legal representative), is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while serving as a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee of another corporation, or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans (for purposes of this Article VI, an “Indemnitee”), shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expenses, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Indemnitee in connection therewith, provided such Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner that the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful. Such indemnification shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of such Indemnitees’ heirs, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to Section 6.5 of these Bylaws, the Corporation shall indemnify any such Indemnitee seeking indemnity in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Indemnitee only if such Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board or such indemnification is authorized by an agreement approved by the Board.

Section 6.2 Advance of Expenses. The Corporation shall pay all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an Indemnitee in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that if the DGCL then so requires, the advancement of such expenses shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such Indemnitee, to repay such amounts if it shall ultimately be determined that such Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VI or otherwise.

Section 6.3 Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights conferred on any person in this Article VI shall not be exclusive of any other right that such person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, agreement, vote or consent of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. Additionally, nothing in this Article VI shall limit the ability of the Corporation, in its discretion, to indemnify or advance expenses to persons whom the Corporation is not obligated to indemnify or advance expenses pursuant to this Article VI.

 

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Section 6.4 Indemnification Contracts. The Board is authorized to cause the Corporation to enter into indemnification contracts with any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or any person serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including employee benefit plans, providing indemnification or advancement rights to such person. Such rights may be greater than those provided in this Article VI.

Section 6.5 Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit. The following shall apply to the extent not in conflict with any indemnification contract provided for in Section 6.4 of these Bylaws.

6.5.1 Right to Bring Suit. If a claim under Section 6.1 or 6.2 of these Bylaws is not paid in full by the Corporation within sixty (60) days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be twenty (20) days, the Indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that the Indemnitee has not met any applicable standard of conduct which makes it permissible under the DGCL (or other applicable law) for the Corporation to indemnify the Indemnitee for the amount claimed.

6.5.2 Effect of Determination. The absence of a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in applicable law shall not create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the Indemnitee, be a defense to such suit.

6.5.3 Burden of Proof. In any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article VI, or otherwise, shall be on the Corporation.

Section 6.6 Nature of Rights. The rights conferred upon Indemnitees in this Article VI shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer or trustee and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. Any amendment, repeal or modification of any provision of this Article VI that adversely affects any right of an Indemnitee or an Indemnitee’s successors shall be prospective only, and shall not adversely affect any right or protection conferred on a person pursuant to this Article VI with respect to any Proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment, repeal or modification. Any reference to an officer of the Corporation in this Article VI shall be deemed

 

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to refer exclusively to the Chief Executive Officer, President, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer, and Secretary of the Corporation appointed pursuant to Article IV of these Bylaws, and to any Vice President, Assistant Secretary, Assistant Treasurer or other officer of the Corporation appointed by the Board of Directors or by the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Article IV of these Bylaws, and any reference to an officer of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be deemed to refer exclusively to an officer appointed by the board of directors or equivalent governing body of such other entity pursuant to the certificate of incorporation and bylaws or equivalent organizational documents of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise. The fact that any person who is or was an employee of the Corporation or an employee of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, but not an officer thereof as described in the preceding sentence, has been given or has used the title of “Vice President” or any other title that could be construed to suggest or imply that such person is or may be such an officer of the Corporation or of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall not result in such person being constituted as, or being deemed to be, such an officer of the Corporation or of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise for purposes of this Article VI.

Section 6.7 Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

ARTICLE VII

NOTICES

Section 7.1 Notice.

7.1.1 Form and Delivery. Except as otherwise specifically required in these Bylaws (including, without limitation, Section 7.1.2 of these Bylaws) or by applicable law, all notices required to be given pursuant to these Bylaws may (a) in every instance in connection with any delivery to a member of the Board, be effectively given by hand delivery (including use of a delivery service), by depositing such notice in the mail, postage prepaid, or by sending such notice by overnight express courier, facsimile, electronic mail or other form of electronic transmission and (b) be effectively delivered to a stockholder when given by hand delivery, by depositing such notice in the mail, postage prepaid, or by courier service or electronic mail in the manner provided in Section 232 of the DGCL or, if specifically consented to by the stockholder as described in Section 7.1.2 of these Bylaws, by sending such notice by a form of electronic transmission other than electronic mail in the manner prescribed by Section 232 of the DGCL. Any such notice shall be addressed to the person to whom notice is to be given at such person’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. The notice shall be deemed given (a) in the case of hand delivery, when received by the person to whom notice is to be given or by any person accepting such notice on behalf of such person, (b) in the case of delivery by mail, upon deposit in the mail, (c) in (i) the case of delivery by overnight express courier to a director, when dispatched or (ii) the case of delivery by courier service to a stockholder, the earlier of when the

 

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notice is received or left at such stockholder’s address, and (d) in (i) the case of delivery by electronic mail, when directed to the director’s or stockholder’s electronic mail address unless, in the case of a stockholder, the stockholder has notified the corporation in writing or by electronic transmission of an objection to receiving notice by electronic mail or such notice is prohibited by the last sentence of Section 7.1.2 of these Bylaws or (ii) the case of delivery via facsimile or other form of electronic transmission (other than electronic mail) at the time provided in Section 7.1.2 of these Bylaws.

7.1.2 Electronic Transmission. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission (other than electronic mail) consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given in accordance with Section 232 of the DGCL. Notice given pursuant to this Section 7.1.2 shall be deemed given: (i) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (ii) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of such posting and the giving of such separate notice; and (iii) if by any other form of electronic transmission (other than electronic mail), when directed to the stockholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a notice may not be given to stockholders by an electronic transmission from and after the time that (a) the Corporation is unable to deliver by such electronic transmission two (2) consecutive notices given by the Corporation, (b) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, the inadvertent failure to discover such inability shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.

7.1.3 Affidavit of Giving Notice. An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given in writing or by a form of electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

Section 7.2 Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a written waiver of notice, signed by the person entitled to notice, or waiver by electronic transmission by such person, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders, directors or members of a committee of directors need be specified in any waiver of notice.

ARTICLE VIII

INTERESTED DIRECTORS

Section 8.1 Interested Directors. No contract or transaction between the Corporation and one or more of its members of the Board or officers, or between the Corporation and any

 

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other corporation, partnership, association or other organization in which one or more of its directors or officers are members of the board of directors or officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the Board or committee thereof that authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because his, her or their votes are counted for such purpose, if: (a) the material facts as to his, her or their relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board or the committee, and the Board or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; (b) the material facts as to his, her or their relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or (c) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified by the Board, a committee thereof, or the stockholders.

Section 8.2 Quorum. Interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.

ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 9.1 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by resolution of the Board.

Section 9.2 Seal. The Board may provide for a corporate seal, which may have the name of the Corporation inscribed thereon and shall otherwise be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board.

Section 9.3 Form of Records. Any records administered by or on behalf of the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account and minute books, may be kept on or by means of, or be in the form of any other information storage device, method or one or more electronic networks or databases (including one or more distributed electronic networks or databases), electronic or otherwise, provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time and otherwise comply with the DGCL. The Corporation shall so convert any records so kept upon the request of any person entitled to inspect such records pursuant to any provision of the DGCL.

Section 9.4 Reliance Upon Books and Records. A member of the Board, or a member of any committee designated by the Board shall, in the performance of such person’s duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books and records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation’s officers or employees, or committees of the Board, or by any other person as to matters the member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

 

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Section 9.5 Certificate of Incorporation Governs. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation shall govern.

Section 9.6 Severability. If any provision of these Bylaws shall be held to be invalid, illegal, unenforceable or in conflict with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, then such provision shall nonetheless be enforced to the maximum extent possible consistent with such holding and the remaining provisions of these Bylaws (including without limitation, all portions of any section of these Bylaws containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal, unenforceable or in conflict with the Certificate of Incorporation, that are not themselves invalid, illegal, unenforceable or in conflict with the Certificate of Incorporation) shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 9.7 Time Periods. In applying any provision of these Bylaws which requires that an act be done or not be done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.

ARTICLE X

AMENDMENT

Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws, any alteration, amendment or repeal of these Bylaws, and any adoption of new Bylaws, shall require the approval of the Board or the stockholders of the Corporation as expressly provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

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CERTIFICATION OF AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

OF

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

(a Delaware corporation)

I, James Mullen, certify that I am Secretary of TuSimple Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), that I am duly authorized to make and deliver this certification, that the attached Bylaws are a true and complete copy of the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation in effect as of the date of this certificate.

Dated:                , 2021

 

 

James Mullen

Secretary

Exhibit 4.1

TUSIMPLE (CAYMAN) LIMITED

SEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT

This SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made on December 4, 2020, by and among:

1) Tusimple (Cayman) Limited (the “Company”), an exempted limited liability company incorporated and existing under the Laws of the Cayman Islands;

2) the Persons listed on Schedule 1-A attached to this Agreement (each a “Investor” and collectively as updated from time to time pursuant to Section 8.17, the “Investors”);

3) the Persons listed on Schedule 1-B attached to this Agreement (each an “Other Ordinary Shareholder” and collectively, the “Other Ordinary Shareholders”);

4) the Persons listed on Schedule 2-A attached to this Agreement (each a “Founder” and collectively, the “Founders”);

5) the Persons listed on Schedule 2-B attached to this Agreement (each a “Founder Holdco” and collectively, the “Founder Holdcos”);

6) Tusimple (Hong Kong) Limited (the “HK Co”), a limited liability company incorporated and existing under the Laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“Hong Kong”) of the PRC;

7) Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd.(the “DomCo”), a limited liability company incorporated and existing under the Laws of the PRC;

8) Beijing Tusen Zhitu Technology Co., Ltd. (the “WFOE”), a wholly foreign-owned enterprise incorporated and existing under the Laws of the PRC;

9) TuSimple, Inc. (the “US Co”), a California corporation; and

10) Tusimple (Hong Kong) Auto Tech Limited (“HK Auto Tech”), a limited liability company incorporated in Hong Kong.

Each of the Company, the Investors, the Founders, the Founder Holdcos, the HK Co, the US Co, HK Auto Tech, the DomCo and the WFOE shall be referred to individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”. Each Investor shall become a Party to this Agreement by executing and delivering a counterpart signature page hereto. For the avoidance of doubt, no Investor shall be entitled to any right contemplated hereunder as a shareholder of the Company with respect to the relevant Shares of the Company to be subscribed for by it pursuant to the applicable share purchase agreement by and among such Investor, the Company and certain other parties thereto (the “Applicable SPA” with respect to such Investor) unless and until it has subscribed for and been issued such relevant Shares of the Company pursuant to the Applicable SPA.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Parties hereby agree that this Agreement shall govern certain shareholder rights and other matters as set forth in this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Company, the HK Co, the US Co, the WFOE, the DomCo, the Founders, the Founder Holdcos, the Investors and other parties named therein entered into a Sixth Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement dated March 11, 2020 (the “Prior Shareholders Agreement”), and the Parties hereto desire to enter into this Agreement to amend and restate the Prior Shareholders Agreement in its entirety.

 

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NOW, THEREFORE, THE PARTIES HEREBY AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

 

1.

DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Agreement, capitalized terms shall have the meanings set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto.

 

2.

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

The registrations rights of the Holders with respect to the Company and the rights and obligations of the parties with respect to registration of the Registrable Securities are set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto.

The rights set forth in Exhibit B, with respect to the following Holders, shall be transferrable and terminate upon:

(i) all Holders, the earliest of the date that is:

(A) five (5) years following the consummation of a Qualified IPO of the Company;

(B) eight (8) years following the initial Closing;

(C) the closing of a Liquidation Event; and

(ii) a particular Holder, the time as such Holder is able to dispose all of the then outstanding Registrable Securities held by such Holder in a three-month period pursuant to Rule 144.

 

3.

INFORMATION AND INSPECTION

 

3.1

Delivery of Financial Statements

The Company shall deliver to each Investor:

(a) as soon as practicable, but in any event within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the end of each financial year of the Company, (i) an audited consolidated balance sheet as of the last day of such year; (ii) an audited consolidated income statement for such year; (iii) an audited consolidated statement of cash flows for such year; such year-end financial statements to be in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with IFRS, US GAAP or other international accounting standards, consistently applied with prior practice for earlier periods, in each case setting forth in comparative form figures for the previous year, audited and certified by a “Big 4” or other independent public accountants selected by the Company with the approval of the Board of Directors (including the affirmative consent and vote of the Majority Preferred Directors), and accompanied by a report and opinion thereon by such independent public accountants; and (iv) a management report prepared by the management team of the Company for such year;

(b) as soon as practicable, but in any event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each quarter of each financial year of the Company, (i) an unaudited consolidated balance sheet as of the last day of such quarter; (ii) an unaudited consolidated income statement for such quarter; (iii) an unaudited consolidated statement of cash flows for such quarter; and (iv) a management report prepared by the management team of the Company for such quarter;

 

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(c) as soon as practicable, but in any event within thirty (30) days after the end of each month, (i) an unaudited consolidated balance sheet as of the last day of such month; (ii) an unaudited consolidated income statement for such month; (iii) an unaudited consolidated statement of cash flows for such month; and (iv) a management report prepared by the management team of the Company for such month;

(d) as soon as practicable, but in any event within thirty (30) days prior to the end of each financial year, a proposed capital expenditures and operating budget and business plan for the next financial year (the “Budget”). The Budgets shall have been approved by the Board of Directors, including the affirmative consent and vote of the Majority Preferred Directors, and be prepared on a monthly basis including revenues, expenses, cash position, balance sheets and sources and applications of funds statements (including any anticipated or planned capital expenditure or borrowings) for such month and, as soon as prepared, any other budgets or revised budgets prepared by the Company;

(e) with respect to the financial statements called for in (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 3.1, an instrument executed by the chief financial officer of the Company and certifying that such financial statements were prepared in accordance with IFRS or US GAAP, consistently applied with prior practice for earlier periods (with the exception that, for un-audited statements, such statements may be subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and exclude all footnotes required by applicable accounting standard); with respect to the management reports called for in (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 3.1, such reports shall provide analysis of results, highlighting notable events and a thorough explanation of any material differences between actual figures on the one hand and figures for the prior year and figures presented in the Budgets on the other hand;

(f) such other information relating to the financial condition, business, prospects or corporate affairs of any Group Company as an Investor or any assignee of such Investor may from time to time reasonably request, provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated under this Section 3.1(f) or any of the above paragraphs to provide information which the Company reasonably deems in good faith (i) to be a trade secret or similar confidential information (unless such Investor is bound by an appropriate and reasonable confidentiality obligation) or (ii) would adversely affect the attorney-client privilege between the Company and its counsel;

(g) if for any period the Company shall have any Subsidiary whose accounts are consolidated with those of the Company, then in respect of such period the financial statements delivered pursuant to the foregoing sections shall be the consolidated financial statements of the Company and all such consolidated Subsidiaries;

(h) copies of all documents or other written information sent to any shareholder of the Company or any other Group Company; and

(i) and any and all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents filed by the Company with any relevant securities exchange, regulatory authority or government agency. Without limitation to the foregoing general request, for a period of one (1) year following the Company becoming subject to the filing requirements of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or rules and regulations promulgated by any other securities exchange, the Company shall deliver to each Investor copies of (i) any quarterly, annual, extraordinary or other reports filed by the Company with the SEC or any other relevant securities exchange, regulatory authority or government agency; and (ii) any annual report or other materials delivered to any other shareholder of the Company or any other Group Company, insofar as such Investor holds any Preferred Share or any Conversion Share at any time during such one (1) year period.

 

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3.2

Inspection

The Company and each other Group Company shall permit each Investor, at its expense, upon notice three (3) days prior to its visit, to visit and inspect the Company or any other Group Company’s properties, to examine its books of account and records and to discuss the Company or any other Group Company’s affairs, finances and accounts with its officers, all at such reasonable times as may be reasonably requested by the Investor; provided, however, that the Company and any other Group Company shall not be obligated pursuant to this Section 3.2 to provide access to any information which it reasonably considers to be a trade secret or similar confidential information (unless such Investor is bound by an appropriate and reasonable confidentiality obligation), or would adversely affect the attorney-client privilege between the Company or any other Group Company and its counsel:

 

3.3

U.S. Tax Matters

(a) The Company shall (i) determine, with respect to such taxable year whether the Company (or any of its Affiliates) is a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) as described in Section 1297 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) (including whether any exception to PFIC status may apply or is or may be classified as a partnership or branch for U.S. federal income tax purposes), (ii) report such status to the Investors on or prior to February 15 of each calendar year, and (iii) provide such information reasonably available to the Company to permit U.S. Investor or such U.S. Investor’s Partners to have sufficient information to make a “Qualified Electing Fund” election (a “QEF Election”) or file a “Protective Statement” pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.1295-3, as amended (or any successor thereto). The Company shall provide annual financial information to the Investors in the form provided in the attached PFIC Exhibit in Exhibit D (or in such other form as may be required to reflect changes in applicable law) as soon as reasonably practicable following the end of each taxable year of the Company (but in no event later than forty-five (45) days following the end of each such taxable year). The Company shall also obtain and provide any and all other information reasonably deemed necessary by the U.S. Investors to comply with the provisions of this Section 3.3(a). The Company shall, upon the written request of any U.S. Investor, appoint an internationally reputable accounting firm acceptable to the Investor to prepare and submit the Company’s U.S. tax filings.

(b) If a determination is made by the Company that the Company is a PFIC for a particular taxable year, then (i) for such year and for each year thereafter, the Company shall also provide each known U.S. Investor within sixty (60) days upon the request of such U.S. Investor with a completed “PFIC Annual Information Statement” as required by Treasury Regulation Section 1.1295-1(g) and any other information reasonably required by a U.S. Investor to comply with any reporting or other requirements in connection with the QEF Election; and (ii) to the extent permitted by Law, the Company agrees to make a dividend distribution to each U.S. Investor (no later than forty-five (45) days following the end of the Company’s taxable year or, if later, forty-five (45) days after the Company is informed by the Investor that such Investor’s Partner has been required to recognize such an income inclusion) in an amount equal to 50% of the amount that would be included by such U.S. Investor if the Investor were a “United States Person” as such term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code and had the Investor made a valid and timely QEF Election which was applicable to such taxable year.

(c) In the event that the Company is determined by counsel or accountants for an Investor to be a controlled foreign corporation as described in Section 957 of the Code (a “CFC”) with respect to the shares held by the Investor, the Company agrees (i) to use commercially reasonable efforts to avoid generating Subpart F Income (as defined in Section 952 of the Code) (“Subpart F Income”); and (ii) to the extent permitted by Law, to annually make dividend distributions to each U.S. Investor in an amount equal to 50% of any income that would have been deemed distributed to such U.S. Investor pursuant to Section 951(a) of the Code had the Investor been a “United States shareholder” with respect to the Company as such term is defined in Section 951(b) of the Code (or such lesser amount determined by the Investor in its sole discretion). No later than forty-five (45) days following the end of each Company taxable year, the Company shall provide the following information to each U.S. Investor: (i) the

 

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Company’s capitalization table as of the end of the last day of such taxable year and (ii) a report regarding the Company’s status as a CFC. In addition, the Company shall provide each U.S. Investor with access to such other Company information as may be reasonably required by the Investor to determine the Company’s status as a CFC and to determine whether the Investor or any of the Investor’s Partners is required to report its pro rata portion of the Company’s Subpart F Income on its United States federal income tax return, or to allow the Investor or such Investor’s Partners to otherwise comply with applicable United States federal income tax laws. For purposes of this Section 3.3, (i) the term “Investor’s Partners” shall mean each of the Investor’s shareholders, partners, members or other equity holders and any direct or indirect equity owners of such entities and (ii) the “Company” shall mean the Company and any of its subsidiaries.

(d) The Company, will comply and will cause its Subsidiaries to comply with all record-keeping, reporting, and other requests reasonably necessary for the Company and its Subsidiaries to allow any U.S. Investor (and any equity-holder of a U.S. Investor) to comply with any applicable U.S. federal income tax Law (including maintaining any tax election made by such U.S. Investor or equity holder thereof). The Company, will also provide any known U.S. Investor with any information reasonably requested to allow such U.S. Investor (and any equity-holder of a U.S. Investor) to comply with any applicable U.S. federal income tax Law (including maintaining any tax election made by such U.S. Investor or equity holder thereof, and including but not limited to information relating to the transfer of any equity interests of the Company (or any Subsidiary) and the issuance or redemption by the Company (or any Subsidiary) of any equity interests).

(e) The Company shall take such actions, including making an election to be treated as a corporation or refraining from making an election to be treated as a partnership, as may be required to ensure that at all times the Company is treated as corporation for United States federal income tax purposes.

(f) The Company shall, and shall cause each Group Company to, timely and accurately file tax returns in each jurisdiction in which such returns are required to be filed.

(g) All out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Company or any Subsidiary, resulting from the affirmative requests of a U.S. Investor pursuant to Sections 3.3(a) - (f) above shall be borne by the Company.

 

3.4

Termination of Information

The covenants set forth in Section 3.1 and Section 3.2 shall terminate and be of no further force or effect as to the Investors immediately prior to the consummation of an IPO. The covenants set forth in Section 3.3 shall terminate and be of no further force or effect, with respect to the Company’s obligation to any U.S. Investor, at such time as such U.S. Investor no longer holds any Preferred Shares, Conversion Shares or Ordinary Shares (on an as-if-converted basis) in the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall continue to provide such information to any U.S. Investor with respect to all taxable years for which investor holds any such shares and otherwise to the extent reasonably requested to permit such U.S. Investor to comply with U.S. federal income tax laws or to respond to any inquiries (either formal or informal) by tax authority.

 

3.5

Confidentiality

(a) Each Investor agrees that it will keep confidential and will not disclose, divulge or use for any purpose, other than to monitor its investment in the Company, any confidential information obtained from the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, unless such confidential information (i) is known or becomes known to the public in general (other than as a result of a breach of this Section 3.5(a) by such Investor), (ii) is or has been independently developed or conceived by such Investor without use of the Company’s confidential information or (iii) is or has been made known or

 

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disclosed to such Investor by a third party without a breach of any obligation of confidentiality such third party may have to the Company; provided, however, that an Investor may disclose confidential information (A) to its legal advisers, accountants, consultants, and other professionals to the extent necessary to obtain their services in connection with monitoring its investment in the Company, (B) to any prospective investor of any Registrable Securities from such Investor as long as such prospective investor agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section 3.5(a), (C) to any Affiliate, partner, member, shareholder or wholly owned Subsidiary of such Investor in the ordinary course of business, or (D) as may otherwise be required by Law or any competent Governmental Authority, provided that such Investor takes reasonable steps to minimize the extent of any such required disclosure, and provided that such Investor ensures that all such persons named above to whom such Investor discloses confidential information (except for any competent Governmental Authority) are bound by substantially the same provisions of this Section 3.5(a). The Company acknowledges that the Investors are in the business of private equity investing and therefore review the business plans and related proprietary information of many enterprises, including enterprises which may have products or services which compete directly or indirectly with those of the Company. Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude or in any way restrict an Investor from investing or participating in any particular enterprise whether or not such enterprise has products or services which compete with those of the Company.

(b) Each Group Company agrees that it will keep confidential and will not disclose, divulge or use for any purpose, other than for the discharge of its obligations under this Agreement, any confidential information obtained from an Investor pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, unless such confidential information (i) is known or becomes known to the public in general (other than as a result of a breach of this Section 3.5(b) by any Group Company), (ii) is or has been independently developed or conceived by any Group Company without use of any of such Investor’s confidential information or (iii) is or has been made known or disclosed to any Group Company by a third party without a breach of any obligation of confidentiality such third party may have to such Investor; provided, however, that a Group Company may disclose confidential information (A) to its legal advisers, accountants, consultants, and other professionals to the extent necessary for the discharge of its obligations under this Agreement, (B) to any Affiliate, partner, member, shareholder or wholly-owned Subsidiary of such Group Company in the ordinary course of business, or (C) as may otherwise be required by Law or any competent Governmental Authority, provided that such Group Company takes reasonable steps to minimize the extent of any such required disclosure and provided that such Group Company ensures that all such persons named above to whom such Group Company discloses confidential information (except for any competent Governmental Authority) are bound by substantially the same provisions of this Section 3.5(b).

 

4.

RIGHT OF FIRST OFFER

 

4.1

Right of First Offer

Subject to the terms and conditions specified in this Section 4.1, and applicable securities Laws, in the event the Company proposes to offer or sell any Additional Equity Securities, each holder of any Preferred Shares (each an “Offeree”) shall be entitled to purchase its Pro Rata Share (as defined below) of the Additional Equity Securities in accordance with the following provisions of this Section 4.1. Any Offeree shall be entitled to apportion the right of first offer hereby granted to it among itself and its partners, members and Affiliates in such proportions as it deems appropriate; provided that such partners, members and Affiliates do not have any interest in any business, company or asset which competes with the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Each Offeree’s “Pro Rata Share” for purposes of this Section 4.1 (except for Section 4.1(e)) is the ratio of (x) the number of Ordinary Shares (calculated on an as-if-converted fully-diluted basis) held by such Offeree on the date of the Offer Notice (as defined below), to (y) the total number of Ordinary Shares (calculated on an as-if-converted fully-diluted basis) then outstanding on the date of the Offer Notice.

 

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(a) The Company shall deliver a notice, in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.4 hereof (the “Offer Notice”), to each Offeree stating (i) its bona fide intention to offer such Additional Equity Securities, (ii) the number of such Additional Equity Securities to be offered, and (iii) the price and terms, if any, upon which it proposes to offer such Additional Equity Securities.

(b) Within twenty (20) calendar days after receipt of the Offer Notice, each Offeree shall have an option to elect to purchase its respective Pro Rata Share of the Additional Equity Securities at the same price and subject to the same terms as specified in the Offer Notice.

(c) Each Offeree may exercise such purchase option and thereby, purchase all or any portion of its Pro Rata Share (with the re-allotments as provided below) of the Additional Equity Securities, by notifying the Company in writing, before the expiration of the twenty (20) calendar days period as to the number of such Additional Equity Securities which it wishes to purchase (including the re-allotments).

(d) Should any Offeree fails to exercise the right to purchase its full Pro Rata Share of the Additional Equity Securities, the Company shall give each Offeree which fully exercises its right of first offer under Section 4.1(c) above (an “Exercising Holder”) a written notice (“Additional Offer Notice”) which shall include all the information required in the Offer Notice and shall additionally identify the portion of the Additional Equity Securities not purchased by the Offerees (the “Remaining Securities”).

(e) Each Exercising Holder shall have an additional re-allotment right to purchase its Pro Rata Share of the Remaining Securities (if any) for a period of ten (10) calendar days commencing immediately after receipt of the Additional Offer Notice. Each Exercising Holder may exercise such re-allotment right to purchase all or a portion of its respective Pro Rata Share of the Remaining Securities by notifying the Company in writing, before the expiration of the ten (10) calendar days period as to the number of such Remaining Securities which it wishes to purchase. Each Exercising Holder’s “Pro Rata Share” for purposes of this Section 4.1(e) is the ratio of (x) the number of Ordinary Shares (calculated on an as-if-converted fully-diluted basis) held by such Exercising Holder on the date of the Offer Notice, to (y) the total number of Ordinary Shares (calculated on an as-if-converted fully-diluted basis) held by all of the Exercising Holders on the date of the Offer Notice.

(f) If any Offeree elects to purchase any Additional Equity Securities, such Offeree shall within the SPA Execution Period (defined as below) execute relevant share purchase agreement with the Company with respect to the purchase of such Additional Equity Securities at the price and on the terms and conditions specified in relevant Offer Notice (the “New SPA”). Any failure of the such Offeree to execute such New SPA within the SPA Execution Period pursuant to this Section shall be deemed as a waiver of such Offeree’s right to purchase, and the Company shall be entitled to proceed with the issuance of Additional Equity Securities at a price not less than, and upon terms no more favorable to the offeree than, those specified in the Offer Notice. For the purpose of this Section, the “SPA Execution Period” shall expire upon thirty (30) days after the date of such Offeree’s written notice to the Company of its desire to purchase certain number of Additional Equity Securities pursuant to Section 4.1(b) and Section 4.1(e), as applicable.

(g) The right of first offer set forth in this Section 4.1 may not be assigned or transferred except that such right is assignable by an Offeree to any Affiliate of such Offeree.

4.2 To the extent that the Offerees have not exercised their rights to purchase all the Additional Equity Securities within the time periods specified in Section 4.1, the Company may, for a period of ninety (90) calendar days following the expiration of such rights, have a right to offer such Additional Equity Securities not purchased by the Offerees to third-party offerees upon terms and conditions (including the purchase price) no more favorable than those specified in the Offer Notice. In the event that (i) the Company fails to enter into an agreement for the sale of the Additional Equity Securities not purchased by the Offerees to the prospective offerees within the foregoing ninety (90) day period; or (ii)

 

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the Company fails to consummate the sale of Additional Equity Securities to third-party offerees within thirty (30) days of the execution of the agreement, the Offerees’ rights of first offer as set forth in Section 4.1 shall again become effective and the Company shall not offer or sale any Additional Equity Securities without again going through the procedures provided in Section 4.1.

 

4.3

Termination

The provisions of this Section 4 shall terminate upon the earlier of: (a) immediately prior to the consummation of a Qualified IPO; and (b) a Liquidation Event in which the Investors will receive cash or publicly traded securities or a combination of the foregoing.

 

5.

BOARD COMPOSITION AND VOTING MATTERS

 

5.1

Board Composition

Each Shareholder agrees to vote all of his, her or its Shares in the Company (whether now owned or hereafter acquired or which the Shareholder may be empowered to vote), from time to time and at all times, in whatever manner shall be necessary to ensure that at each annual or special meeting of Shareholders at which an election of directors is held or pursuant to any written consent of the Shareholders, the following persons shall be elected to the Board:

(a) The Founders shall be entitled to elect three (3) directors of the Board.

(b) Sina shall be entitled to elect two (2) directors of the Board (the “Sina Directors”, and each, a “Sina Director”).

(c) Composite shall be entitled to elect one (1) director of the Board (the “Composite Director”).

(d) the Series E Lead Investor Consortium shall be entitled to elect one (1) director of the Board (the “Series E Director”).

Each Director shall have one (1) vote.

In addition to its right to elect the Composite Director, Composite shall be entitled, but not be obligated, to appoint one (1) person as a non-voting observer to the Board. Each of CDH, Traton and Jeneration shall be entitled, but not be obligated, to appoint one (1) person as a non-voting observer to the Board.

 

5.2

Size of the Board; Subsidiaries

Each Shareholder agrees to vote all of his, her or its Shares from time to time and at all times, in whatever manner shall be necessary to ensure that the size of the Board shall be set at seven (7) Directors. It is further agreed that the Board shall discuss and determine (with the approval of a majority of directors of the Board) the board composition for each of the US Co, the WFOE, the DomCo at the first board meeting held after the Closing. The Parties further agree that the composition of the board of the US Co, the WFOE, the DomCo shall, to the extent legally permissible, consist of the same persons as the directors as those then on the Board, unless the majority of the directors of the Board decide otherwise or any Shareholder who has right to elect director(s) of the Board refuses to appoint such director(s) to the board of such Subsidiary.

 

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5.3

Removal of Board Members

Each Shareholder also agrees to vote all of his, her or its Shares from time to time and at all times in whatever manner as shall be necessary to ensure that (i) no director elected pursuant to Section 5.1 of this Agreement may be removed from office unless (A) such removal is directed or approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of the shares entitled under Section 5.1 to designate that director; or (B) the person(s) or entity(ies) originally entitled to designate or approve such director or occupy such Board seat pursuant to Section 5.1 is no longer so entitled to designate or approve such director or occupy such Board seat; and (ii) any vacancies created by the resignation, removal or death of a director elected pursuant to Section 5.1 shall be filled pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.1. All Shareholders agree to execute any written consents required to effectuate the obligations of this Agreement, and the Company agrees at the request of any Shareholder entitled to designate directors to call a special meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing directors.

 

5.4

Drag-Along Right

(a) In the event that, (x) the majority of the members of the Board then in office, and (y) the Preferred Majority, approve either: (A) a transaction or series of related transactions in which a Person, or a group of related Persons, acquires from shareholders of any Group Company shares representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding voting power of such Group Company; or (B) a transaction that qualifies as a Liquidation Event with respect to any Group Company (each such event described in the foregoing (A) and (B) is referred to in this Agreement as a “Sale of the Company”), then each of the Shareholders hereby agrees with respect to all Shares that he, she or it holds and any other Group Company securities over which he, she or it otherwise exercises dispositive power:

(i) in the event such transaction requires the approval of Shareholders, (x) if the matter is to be brought to a vote at a Shareholder meeting, after receiving proper notice of any meeting of Shareholders of the Company, to vote on the approval of such Sale of the Company, to be present, in person or by proxy, as a holder of Shares, at all such meetings and be counted for the purposes of determining the presence of a quorum at such meetings; and (y) to vote (in person, by proxy, by action or by written consent, as applicable) all Shares in favor of such Sale of the Company and in opposition of any and all other proposals that could reasonably be expected to delay or impair the ability of the Company to consummate such Sale of the Company;

(ii) in the event that the Sale of the Company is to be effected by the sale of Shares held by another Shareholder (the “Selling Shareholder”) without the need for Shareholders’ approval, to sell all shares of the Company beneficially held by such Shareholder (or in the event that the Selling Shareholder is selling fewer than all of its shares held in the Company, shares in the same proportion as the Selling Shareholder is selling) to the person to whom the Selling Shareholder proposes to sell its shares, except that the Shareholders will not be required to sell their shares unless any representations and warranties to be made by the Shareholders in connection with the Sale of the Company are limited to representations and warranties relating to authority, ownership and the ability to convey title to the shares then held by the Shareholders, and the liability for indemnification, if any, of the Shareholders in such Sale of the Company is several, not joint, and is pro rata in accordance with the Shareholders’ respective equity ownership of the Company (on an as-if-converted fully-diluted basis), and will not exceed the consideration payable to the Shareholders, if any, in such transaction (except in the case of potential liability for fraud or willful misconduct committed by the Shareholders);

(iii) to refrain from exercising any dissenters’ rights or rights of appraisal under applicable Law at any time with respect to such Sale of the Company;

(iv) to execute and deliver all related documentation and take such other action in support of the Sale of the Company as shall reasonably be requested by the Company; and

(v) not to deposit, and to cause their Affiliates not to deposit, except as provided in this Agreement, any voting securities owned by such Shareholder or their respective Affiliate in a voting trust or subject any such voting securities to any arrangement or agreement with respect to the voting of such securities, unless specifically requested to do so by the acquiror in connection with a Sale of the Company.

 

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(b) In the event that any Shareholder (the “Defaulting Holder”) fails for any reason to take any of the foregoing actions, each holder of Preferred Shares who has approved the Sale of the Company shall have the right to sell to the Defaulting Holder the type and number of shares equal to the number of shares such holder of Preferred Shares would have transferred in the Sale of the Company. The price per share at which the shares are to be sold to the Defaulting Holder shall be equal to the price per share that would have been received by such holder of Preferred Shares in the Sale of the Company.

(c) Upon the consummation of the Sale of the Company, (i) each holder of the Preferred Shares and each holder of the Ordinary Shares shall receive the same form of consideration for their Preferred Shares or Ordinary Shares, as applicable, (ii) each holder of a series of Preferred Shares shall receive the same amount of consideration per such series of Preferred Share, (iii) each holder of Ordinary Shares shall receive the same amount of consideration per Ordinary Share and (iv) the aggregate consideration receivable by all holders of the Preferred Shares and Ordinary Shares shall be allocated among the holders of the Preferred Shares and Ordinary Shares on the basis of the relative liquidation preferences to which the holders of the Preferred Shares and the holders of the Ordinary Shares are entitled in a Liquidation Event in accordance with the Articles in effect immediately prior to the Sale of the Company, unless otherwise waived.

 

5.5

Increase in Authorized Share Capital

Each Shareholder agrees to vote all of its Shares from time to time and at all times, in whatever manner shall be necessary to authorize an increase in the authorized share capital of the Company and the Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares such number of its Ordinary Shares so that there will be sufficient Ordinary Shares available for conversion of all of the then-outstanding Preferred Shares at any time that an adjustment to the relevant conversion price with respect to the Preferred Shares is made under the Articles.

 

5.6

Specific Enforcement

Each Party hereto acknowledges and agrees that any breach of this Agreement would result in substantial harm to the other Parties hereto for which monetary damages alone could not adequately compensate. Therefore, the Parties hereto unconditionally and irrevocably agree that any non-breaching Party hereto shall be entitled to seek protective orders, injunctive relief and other remedies available at law or in equity (including, without limitation, seeking specific performance or the rescission of purchases, sales and other transfers of Shares not made in strict compliance with this Agreement).

 

5.7

Term

The provisions of this Section 5 shall be effective as of the date hereof and shall continue in effect until and shall terminate upon the earlier to occur of (a) immediately prior to the consummation of an IPO; and (b) a Liquidation Event in which the Investors will receive cash or publicly traded securities or a combination of the foregoing; provided, however, that the provisions of Section 5.5 shall survive until the holders of Preferred Shares have converted all of their Preferred Shares into Ordinary Shares.

 

6.

RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL, CO-SALE AND RESTRICTIONS ON SALE

 

6.1

Restrictions on Transfer

(a) Transfer of Shares

Subject to Section 6.6, any proposed assignment, sale, offer to sell, pledge, mortgage, hypothecation, encumbrance, disposition of or any other like transfer or encumbering, through one or a series of transactions, of any interest in any Shares now or hereafter owned or held by a Shareholder, either directly or indirectly (in each case, a “Transfer”) shall be made in compliance with the terms of

 

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this Section 6. For the avoidance of doubt, any change in the equity interest of any Founder Holdco (or any entity that directly or indirectly holds any equity interest in any Founder Holdco), including without limitation as a result of (i) the issuance or redemption by such Founder Holdco (or any entity that directly or indirectly holds any equity interest in any Founder Holdco) of any portion of its outstanding shares or equity; or (ii) a Transfer of any equity interest of any Founder Holdco (any entity that directly or indirectly holds any equity interest in any Founder Holdco) by its equity holder, shall constitute a “Transfer” for purposes of this Agreement.

(b) Prohibition on Transfer of Ordinary Shares held by the Founder Holdcos

In addition to the restrictions set forth in Sections 6.2 and 6.3, prior to the consummation of a Qualified IPO or a Liquidation Event in which the Investors will receive cash or publicly traded securities or a combination of the foregoing, each Founder Holdco (each a “Restricted Shareholder”) shall not effectuate a Transfer, nor shall any Founder effectuate a Proposed Transfer (as defined below) of it/his/her shares in any Founder Holdco, unless otherwise approved in writing by a majority of members of the Board, including all of the Preferred Directors.

Notwithstanding the foregoing and anything to the contrary herein, none of the Founder or Founder Holdco shall effectuate a Transfer, directly or indirectly, of the Company’s shares it/he/she holds to any Sina Competitor, unless and until Sina has provided its written consent.

(c) Prohibition on Issuance of Shares or Similar Rights by the Founder Holdcos

Each Founder Holdco shall not, and each Founder shall procure such Founder Holdco not to, prior to the consummation of a Qualified IPO or a Liquidation Event in which the Investors will receive cash or publicly traded securities or a combination of the foregoing, issue the Founder Holdco’s shares, any debenture or obligation in whatsoever nature that is convertible into or exercisable for the Founder Holdco’s shares, any other right that may grant the recipient rights and privileges similar to that of a shareholder of the Founder Holdco, or in any other manner that may have similar effect to any of the above, unless otherwise approved in writing by a majority of members of the Board, including all of the Preferred Directors.

 

6.2

Right of First Refusal

(a) Proposed Transfer Notice

Each Restricted Shareholder (including its successors and permitted assignees) (a “Transferor”) proposing to make a Transfer (a “Proposed Transfer”) must deliver a notice (the “Proposed Transfer Notice”) to each holder of any Preferred Shares (each an “Eligible Holder”, collectively the “Eligible Holders”) no later than forty-five (45) calendar days prior to the consummation of such Proposed Transfer. Such Proposed Transfer Notice shall contain the material terms and conditions of the Proposed Transfer, including without limitation a description of the Shares (the “Transfer Shares”) that such Transferor proposes to transfer, the transfer price for the Transfer Shares and the identity of the Prospective Transferee. In the event of a conflict between this Agreement and any other agreement that may have been entered into by a Transferor with an Eligible Holder that provides a preexisting right of first refusal, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail and the preexisting right of first refusal shall be deemed satisfied by compliance with this Section 6.2.

(b) Grant of Right of First Refusal to Eligible Holders. Each Transferor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably grants to each Eligible Holder (including its successors and permitted assignees) a right of first refusal (the “Right of First Refusal”) to purchase all or any portion of its Pro-Rata ROFR Share (as defined below) of any Transfer Shares. To exercise its Right of First Refusal, an Eligible Holder must deliver an exercise notice to the Transferor and the Company indicating the number of Transfer Shares such Eligible Holder wishes to purchase within thirty (30) calendar days after delivery of the Proposed Transfer Notice (the “ROFR Exercise Period”).

 

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An Eligible Holder’s “Pro-Rata ROFR Share” shall mean that number equals to the number of Transfer Shares, multiplied by (i) the number of Ordinary Shares then held by such Eligible Holder (on an as-if-converted fully-diluted basis and including Ordinary Shares issued upon conversion thereof), divided by (ii) the total number of Ordinary Shares (on an as-if-converted fully-diluted basis and including Ordinary Shares issued upon conversion thereof) then held by all Eligible Holders.

(c) Re-allotment Notice of Transfer Shares. Should any Eligible Holder fails to purchase its full Pro-Rata ROFR Shares within the ROFR Exercise Period, then, within five (5) calendar days after the expiration thereof, the Transferor shall send a written notice (the “Re-allotment Notice”) to each Eligible Holder who has fully exercised its Right of First Refusal in accordance with Section 6.2(b) above (each an “Exercising Eligible Holder”). Such Re-allotment Notice shall include all the information required in the Proposed Transfer Notice and shall additionally identify the portion of the Transfer Shares which are not purchased by the Eligible Holders (the “Remaining Transfer Shares”).

(d) Re-allotment of Transfer Shares. Each Exercising Eligible Holder shall have a re-allotment right to purchase all or any portion of its pro rata share of the Remaining Transfer Shares on the terms and conditions set forth in the Proposed Transfer Notice. To exercise such re-allotment right with respect to the Remaining Transfer Shares, an Exercising Eligible Holder must deliver to the Transferor and the Company an exercise notice indicating the additional number of Transfer Shares that it wishes to purchase within ten (10) calendar days after its receipt of the Re-allotment Notice (the “Re-allotment Exercise Period”). Within five (5) calendar days after the expiration of the Re-allotment Exercise Period, the Transferor shall give written notice to the Company and each Eligible Holder confirming and specifying the number of Transfer Shares that such Eligible Holder has elected to purchase (including any re-allotments) by exercising its Right of First Refusal pursuant to this Section 6.2 (the “Confirmation Notice”).

For the purpose of this Section 6.2(d), an Exercising Eligible Holder’s pro rata share of the Remaining Transfer Shares shall be equal to the number of the Remaining Transfer Shares, multiplied by (i) the number of Transfer Shares to be purchased by such Exercising Eligible Holder pursuant to Section 6.2(b) above, divided by (ii) the total number of Transfer Shares to be purchased by all the Exercising Eligible Holders pursuant to Section 6.2(b) above.

(e) Consideration; Closing. Should the purchase price of the Transfer Shares specified in the Proposed Transfer Notice be payable in property, services or other non-cash consideration, each Eligible Holder shall have the right to pay the purchase price in the form of cash equal in amount to the value of such non-cash consideration. If the Transferor and the Eligible Holder fail to agree on such cash value within ten (10) days after the date on which the Eligible Holder exercises its Right of First Refusal pursuant to Section 6.2(b) above, the valuation shall be determined by the Board (including the affirmative consents of the Majority Preferred Directors) in good faith. The closing of the purchase of the Transfer Shares by the Eligible Holders shall take place, and the consideration payable by such Eligible Holders for the Transfer Shares shall have been delivered to the Transferor, by the later of (i) the intended closing date specified in the Proposed Transfer Notice; and (ii) ten (10) calendar days after delivery of the Confirmation Notice.

 

6.3

Right of Co-Sale

(a) If any Transfer Shares subject to a Proposed Transfer are not purchased pursuant to Section 6.2 above and thereafter are to be sold to a Prospective Transferee (such Transfer Shares, the “Co-Sale Eligible Shares”), each Eligible Holder that has not exercised its rights under Section 6.2(b) (each a “Co-Sale Eligible Holder”) may elect to exercise its right (a “Right of Co-Sale”) and participate on a pro-rata basis in the Proposed Transfer on the same terms and conditions specified in the Proposed Transfer Notice. To exercise its Right of Co-Sale, the Co-Sale Eligible Holder must give the Transferor written notice to that effect within fifteen (15) calendar days (the “Co-Sale Period”) after receipt of the Confirmation Notice as provided in Section 6.2(d), and upon giving such notice the Co-Sale Eligible Holder shall be deemed to have effectively exercised the Right of Co-Sale.

 

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(b) Each Co-Sale Eligible Holder, by timely exercising its Right of Co-Sale by delivering the written notice provided for above in Section 6.3(a) may include in the Proposed Transfer all or any part of its Shares equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the aggregate number of Co-Sale Eligible Shares by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Shares (calculated on an as-if-converted fully-diluted basis) owned by such Co-Sale Eligible Holder on the date of the Confirmation Notice and the denominator of which is the total number of Shares owned, in the aggregate, by all Co-Sale Eligible Holders, plus the number of Shares held by the Transferor, each on the date of the Confirmation Notice and each calculated on an as-if-converted fully-diluted basis. To the extent that one or more of the Co-Sale Eligible Holders exercise such Right of Co-Sale in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein, the number of Co-Sale Eligible Shares that the Transferor may sell in the Proposed Transfer shall be correspondingly reduced.

(c) The sale of the remaining Co-Sale Eligible Shares and the Shares to be transferred by the Co-Sale Eligible Holders shall occur simultaneously within ninety (90) calendar days from the expiration of the Co-Sale Period (the “Co-sale Closing”). For the avoidance of doubt, the Right of Co-Sale shall not apply with respect to Transfer Shares sold or to be sold to the Eligible Holders under the Right of First Refusal in Section 6.2.

(d) A Co-Sale Eligible Holder shall effect its participation in the Proposed Transfer by delivering to the Transferor, prior to the Co-Sale Closing, a signed instrument of transfer and one or more share certificates, properly endorsed for transfer to the Prospective Transferee, representing:

(i) the number of Ordinary Shares that such Eligible Holder elects to include in the Proposed Transfer; or

(ii) the number of Preferred Shares that are at such time convertible into the number of Ordinary Shares that such Eligible Holder elects to include in the Proposed Transfer; provided, however, that if the Prospective Transferee objects to the delivery of convertible Preferred Shares in lieu of the Ordinary Shares, such Eligible Holder shall first convert the Preferred Shares into Ordinary Shares and deliver such Ordinary Shares as provided above. The Company agrees to make any such conversion concurrent with and contingent upon the actual transfer of such shares to the Prospective Transferee.

(e) The terms and conditions of any sale pursuant to this Section 6.3 will be contained in, and governed by, a written purchase and sale agreement with customary terms and provisions for such a transaction.

(f) The register of members of the Company will be updated in consummation of the sale of the Transfer Shares pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in the Proposed Transfer Notice and the purchase and sale agreement, and the Transferor shall concurrently therewith remit to each Co-Sale Eligible Holder the portion of the sale proceeds to which such Co-Sale Eligible Holder is entitled by reason of its participation in such sale. If any Prospective Transferee refuses to purchase securities subject to the Right of Co-Sale from any Co-Sale Eligible Holder exercising its Right of Co-Sale hereunder, no Transferor may sell any Transfer Shares to such Prospective Transferee unless and until, simultaneously with such sale, such Transferor purchases all securities subject to the Right of Co-Sale from such Co-Sale Eligible Holder.

 

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6.4

Severability

The exercise or election not to exercise any right by any Eligible Holder hereunder shall not adversely affect its right to participate in any other sales of Transfer Shares subject to this Section 6.

 

6.5

Effect of Failure to Comply

(a) Any Proposed Transfer not made in compliance with the requirements of this Agreement (including without limitation this Section 6) shall be null and void ab initio, shall not be recorded on the books or register of the Company or its transfer agent and shall not be recognized by the Company.

(b) If the Transferor purports to sell any Shares in contravention of the Right of Co-Sale (a “Prohibited Transfer”), each Eligible Holder, in addition to such remedies as may be available by Law, in equity or hereunder, is entitled to require such Transferor to purchase Shares from the Eligible Holder, as provided below, and such Transferor will be bound by the terms of such option. If a Transferor makes a Prohibited Transfer, each Eligible Holder upon timely exercise of its Right of Co-Sale under Section 6.3 may require such Transferor to purchase from such Eligible Holder the type and number of Shares that such Eligible Holder would have been entitled to sell to the Prospective Transferee under Section 6.3 had the Prohibited Transfer been effected pursuant to and in compliance with the terms of Section 6.3. The sale will be made on the same terms and subject to the same conditions as would have applied had the Transferor not made the Prohibited Transfer, except that the sale (including, without limitation, the delivery of the purchase price) must be made within ninety (90) days after the Eligible Holder learns of the Prohibited Transfer, as opposed to the timeframe prescribed in Section 6.3. Such Transferor shall also reimburse such Eligible Holder for any and all fees and expenses, including legal fees and expenses, incurred pursuant to the exercise or the attempted exercise of such Eligible Holder’s rights under Section 6.3.

 

6.6

Exempt Transfers

Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, the provisions of Section 6.1(b), Section 6.1(c), Section 6.2 and Section 6.3 shall not apply to: (i) any redemption of Shares pursuant to the Articles; (ii) a Transfer of any equity securities of the Company now or hereafter held by a Founder or a Founder Holdco to such Founder’s parents, children, spouse, or to a trustee, executor, or other fiduciary for the benefit of such Founder or such Founder’s parents, children, spouse for bona fide estate planning purposes and/or the wholly-owned subsidiaries of such Founder Holdco; or (iii) the sale of any Shares to the public in an IPO.

The Parties agree that Transfer of any Shares held by the Investors shall not be subject to any right of first refusal or tag along right or other similar rights of any other shareholders.

 

6.7

Term

The provisions of this Section 6 shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) immediately prior to a Qualified IPO; and (ii) a Liquidation Event in which the Investors will receive cash or publicly traded securities or a combination of the foregoing.

 

7.

ADDITIONAL COVENANTS

 

7.1

Share Incentive Plan

The Company shall maintain the 2017 Share Plan, as amended from time to time (the “Share Plan”) under which the Company may reserve not more than 21,967,694 Ordinary Shares for issuance to officers, directors, employees and consultants of the Company. Unless approved by the unanimous consent of the Board of Directors, all Key Employees, research and technical employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company who shall purchase, or receive options or restricted share units to purchase, shares of the Company under the Share Plan shall be required to execute share

 

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purchase or option or restricted share unit agreements providing for (i) vesting of shares over not less than a four-year period with the first twenty five percent (25%) of such shares vesting following twelve (12) months of continued employment or services, and the remaining shares vesting annually in equal installments over the following three (3) years; and (ii) a one-hundred eighty (180) day lockup period in connection with the Company’s IPO. The Company shall retain a “right of first refusal” on employee transfers until the Company’s IPO and the right to repurchase unvested shares at cost. The vesting restrictions set out in the preceding sentence shall apply to both the Share Plan and any other new share option or share participation scheme of the Company.

 

7.2

Protective Provisions

(a) Matters Requiring the Approval of the Preferred Majority. So long as there are any Preferred Shares outstanding, in addition to any other vote or consent required elsewhere in this Agreement, the Articles or by any applicable statute, each of the Company and the other Group Companies hereby covenants and agrees with the Investors that it shall not, and the Founders and the Founder Holdcos shall procure that each Group Company will not directly or indirectly, without the approval of the affirmative vote of the Preferred Majority (regardless if such matter would have to be approved by the Board, shareholders, or any other corporate body or organ) (for these purposes, references in this Section 7.2(a) shall mean the Company and/or any Group Company); provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, where any act listed in this Section 7.2(a) requires a special resolution of the shareholders in accordance with the Company Law, and if the Shareholders vote in favour of such act but the approval of the Preferred Majority has not yet been obtained, the holders of the Preferred Shares who vote against such act at a meeting of the Shareholders shall in the aggregate have ten (10) times the number of votes of the Shareholders who vote in favour of such act in the aggregate:

(i) Increase, reduce or cancel the authorized share capital or increase issued share capital of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries or issue, allot, purchase or redeem any shares or securities convertible into or carrying a right of subscription in respect of shares or any share warrants or grant or issue any options rights or warrants or which may require the issue of shares in the future or do any act which has the effect of diluting or reducing the effective shareholding of the Investors in the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries;

(ii) Conduct any action that authorizes, creates or issues shares of any class of stock having rights, preferences or privileges superior to or on parity with any Preferred Shares;

(iii) Pay any dividends or make any distributions on any Shares;

(iv) Reduce the number of authorized shares in the capital of the Company (including without limitation, repurchase of any Preferred Shares or Ordinary Shares), except pursuant to a redemption of Preferred Shares or the exercise of the repurchase option on the termination of employment of a participant of the Share Plan;

(v) Other than the grant of stock options under the Share Plan, create or issue any debenture or any obligation convertible into, any securities convertible into, any option to purchase or subscribe for, or warrants exercisable for, shares of the Company;

(vi) Effect any merger, spin-off, consolidation, scheme of arrangement, reorganization or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries;

(vii) Cause any adverse change to the rights, preferences and privileges of any Preferred Shares;

(viii) Change the authorized size of the Board or the board of directors of any Group Company, or alter the manner in which the directors of any Group Company are appointed;

 

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(ix) Amend or waive any provisions of the Articles or the charter documents of any Subsidiary of the Company;

(x) Appoint a receiver, administrator or other form of external manager for the liquidation or dissolution or winding of the Company or the passing of any resolution of the directors or the shareholders in respect thereof;

(xi) Change the principal business of the Group Companies;

(xii) Adopt, terminate or make material amendments to the Share Plan, or equivalent for the benefit of the Company’s employees, directors and consultants and the amendment to any terms and conditions thereof, including but not limited to any increase of the aggregate number of Shares issued or issuable under such Share Plan; and

(xiii) Authorize, agree or undertake to do any of the foregoing.

(b) Matters Requiring the Approval of the Majority Series D-1 Holders. So long as there are any Series D-1 Preferred Shares outstanding, in addition to any other vote or consent required elsewhere in this Agreement, the Articles or by any applicable statute, each of the Company and the other Group Companies hereby covenants and agrees with the Investors that it shall not, and the Founders and the Founder Holdcos shall procure that each Group Company will not directly or indirectly, without the approval of the affirmative vote of the Majority Series D-1 Holders (regardless if such matter would have to be approved by the Board, shareholders, or any other corporate body or organ) (for these purposes, references in this Section 7.2(b) shall mean the Company and/or any Group Company); provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, where any act listed in this Section 7.2(b) requires a special resolution of the shareholders in accordance with the Company Law, and if the Shareholders vote in favour of such act but the approval of the Majority Series D-1 Holders has not yet been obtained, the holders of the Series D-1 Preferred Shares who vote against such act at a meeting of the Shareholders shall in the aggregate have ten (10) times the number of votes of the Shareholders who vote in favour of such act in the aggregate:

(i) Issue any Share or security convertible into Share at consideration per Share / security less than the then effective Conversion Price of Series D-1 Preferred Shares by the Company other than any Share or security issued under the Share Plan, or any Ordinary Shares issued in connection with any share split, share dividend, combination, recapitalization or other similar transactions of the Company or upon conversion of Preferred Shares (for the avoidance of doubt, in the event any investor in new equity financing would purchase both secondary shares and primary shares, the consideration per share shall be the blended price);

(ii) Consummate any new equity financing of the Company through spin-off or consolidation, pursuant to which, the combined valuation of the relevant Group Companies reflects a price per share lower than the then effective Conversion Price of Series D-1 Preferred Shares;

(iii) Increase the aggregate number of Shares issued or issuable under the Share Plan, or conduct similar dilutive events as a result of which the implied investment cost of a holders of Series D-1 Preferred Shares with respect to the Series D-1 Preferred Shares held by it would be higher than that as of the closing of the series D-1 financing;

(iv) Conduct any Sale of the Company where the valuation of the Company is less than US$2.5 billion;

(v) Consummate a public offering of the Company implying a total post-money valuation of the Company of less than US$2.5 billion; or

 

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(vi) Cause any adverse change to the rights attached to the Series D-1 Preferred Shares (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include the mere creation or issuance of a series of preferred shares having rights, preferences or privileges superior to the Series D-1 Preferred Shares).

(c) Matters Requiring the Approval of the Majority Series E Preferred Class Holders. So long as there are any Series E Preferred Class outstanding, in addition to any other vote or consent required elsewhere in this Agreement, the Articles or by any applicable statute, each of the Company and the other Group Companies hereby covenants and agrees with the Investors that it shall not, and the Founders and the Founder Holdcos shall procure that each Group Company will not directly or indirectly, without the approval of the affirmative vote of the Majority Series E Preferred Class Holders (regardless if such matter would have to be approved by the Board, shareholders, or any other corporate body or organ) (for these purposes, references in this Section 7.2(c) shall mean the Company and/or any Group Company); provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, where any act listed in this Section 7.2(c) requires a special resolution of the shareholders in accordance with the Company Law, and if the Shareholders vote in favour of such act but the approval of the Majority Series E Preferred Class Holders has not yet been obtained, the holders of the Series E Preferred Class who vote against such act at a meeting of the Shareholders shall in the aggregate have ten (10) times the number of votes of the Shareholders who vote in favour of such act in the aggregate:

(i) Issue any Share or security convertible into Share at consideration per Share / security less than the then effective Conversion Price of Series E Preferred Shares by the Company other than any Share or security issued under the Share Plan, or any Ordinary Shares issued in connection with any share split, share dividend, combination, recapitalization or other similar transactions of the Company or upon conversion of Preferred Shares (for the avoidance of doubt, in the event any investor in new equity financing would purchase both secondary shares and primary shares, the consideration per share shall be the blended price);

(ii) Consummate any new equity financing of the Company through spin-off or consolidation, pursuant to which, the combined valuation of the relevant Group Companies reflects a price per share lower than the then effective Conversion Price of Series E Preferred Shares;

(iii) Increase the aggregate number of Shares issued or issuable under the Share Plan, or conduct similar dilutive events as a result of which the implied investment cost of a holders of Series E Preferred Shares with respect to the Series E Preferred Shares held by it would be higher than that as of the Closing;

(iv) Conduct any Sale of the Company where the valuation of the Company reflects a per share price less than 120% of the Original Series E Issue Price;

(v) Consummate a public offering of the Company that is not a Qualified IPO; or

(vi) Cause any adverse change to the rights attached to the Series E Preferred Class (which, for the avoidance of doubt, (x) shall not include the mere creation or issuance of a series of preferred shares having rights, preferences or privileges superior to the Series E Preferred Class, and (y) shall include any amendment to this Agreement that would adversely affect any holder of Series E Preferred Class).

(d) Matters Requiring the Approval of the Majority Preferred Directors. So long as there are any Preferred Shares outstanding, in addition to any other vote or consent required elsewhere in this Agreement, the Articles or by any applicable statute, each of the Company and the other Group Companies hereby covenants and agrees with the Investors that it shall not, and the Founders and the Founder Holdcos shall procure that each Group Company will not directly or indirectly, without the approval of the majority of the members of the Board of Directors then in office, including the affirmative votes or consent of the Majority Preferred Directors (for these purposes, references in this Section 7.2(b) shall mean the Company and/or any Group Company):

 

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(i) Cease to conduct or carry on the business of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries substantially as now conducted or change any part of its business activities;

(ii) Sell or dispose of the whole or a substantial part of the undertaking goodwill or the assets of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries;

(iii) Make any distribution of profits amongst the shareholders by way of dividend, (interim and final) capitalization of reserves or otherwise;

(iv) Appoint or settle the terms of appointment of any managing director, general manager, chairman, financial controller or other key manager(s), including any chief officers and VPs, or their functional equivalents, of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries;

(v) Settle or alter the terms of any bonus or profit sharing scheme or the Share Plan or adopt any new share option or share participation scheme;

(vi) Amend the accounting policies previously adopted or change the financial year of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries;

(vii) Appoint or change the auditors of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries;

(viii) Acquire any investment or incur any commitment or any expense or capital expenditure of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries that is not included in the budgets appropriately determined by the board of directors in excess of US$ 500,000 at any time in respect of any one transaction or in excess of US$ 2,000,000 at any time in related transactions in any financial year of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries;

(ix) Borrow any money or obtain any financial facilities except pursuant to trade facilities obtained from banks or other financial institutions in the ordinary course of business;

(x) Create, allow to arise or issue any debenture constituting a pledge, lien or charge (whether by way of fixed or floating change, mortgage encumbrance or other security) on all or any of the undertaking, assets or rights of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries except for the purpose of securing borrowings from banks or other financial institutions in the ordinary course of business not exceeding USD 200,000 in respect of any one transaction or in excess of USD 1,000,000 at any time in related transactions in any financial year;

(xi) Sell, transfer, license, charge, encumber or otherwise dispose of any material trademarks, patents or other intellectual property owned by the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries;

(xii) Approve or make adjustments or modifications to terms of transactions involving the interest of any director or shareholder of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries, including but not limited to the making of any loans or advances, whether directly or indirectly, or the provision of any guarantee, indemnity or security for or in connection with any indebtedness of liabilities of any director or shareholder of the Company/and/or any of its Subsidiaries;

(xiii) Acquire any share capital or other securities of any body corporate or the establishment of any branches;

(xiv) Dispose or dilute the Company’s interest, directly or indirectly, in any of its Subsidiaries;

 

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(xv) Approve any transfer of shares in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(xvi) Conduct any transaction between any Group Company and any of its shareholders, directors, officers, employees or other insiders and any of their family members or any of their Affiliates or associates;

(xvii) Approve any execution of the Share Plan, including without limitation the determination about the eligible persons from the Company’s employees, directors or consultants to receive the option as the beneficiary of the Share Plan;

(xviii) Establish any committee of the Board or delegate any powers of the Board to any committee; and

(xix) Authorize, agree or undertake to do any of the foregoing.

 

7.3

Meetings of the Board

Unless otherwise determined by the vote of a majority of the Directors then in office, the Board shall meet at least quarterly in accordance with an agreed upon schedule.

 

7.4

Successor Indemnification

In the event that the Company or any of its successors or assignees (i) consolidates with or merges into any other entity and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any person or entity, then, and in each such case, to the extent necessary, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assignees of the Company assume the obligations of the Company with respect to indemnification of members of the Board as in effect immediately prior to such transaction, whether in the Company’s Articles or elsewhere, as the case may be.

 

7.5

Business Principles

Each Group Company agrees and undertakes to the Investors that the business of the Group Companies will be designed and carried on in accordance with the following business principles (the “Business Principles”), namely, in a way that:

(a) provides safe and healthy working conditions for its employees and contractors in accordance with the applicable Law(s);

(b) encourages the efficient use of natural resources and promotes the protection of the environment;

(c) treats all employees fairly in terms of recruitment, progression, remuneration and conditions of work, irrespective of gender, race, color, language, disability, political opinion, age, religion, or national/social origin;

(d) allows consultative work-place structures and associations that provide employees with an opportunity to present their views to management;

(e) takes account of the impact of its operations on the local community and seeks to ensure that potentially harmful occupational health and safety, environmental and social effects are properly assessed, addressed and monitored;

 

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(f) upholds high standards of business integrity and honesty, and operates in accordance with local Laws and international good practice (including those intended to fight extortion, bribery and financial crime);

(g) implements a social and environmental management system that enables effective identification, management and monitoring of any risks and provides a framework for action; and

(h) provides for the reporting of the Group Companies’ compliance with the Business Principles in an annual report by the Company to the Board in a manner that allows a reader to make an informed assessment of the business of the Group Companies as against the requirements of the Business Principles.

 

7.6

Employee Agreements

The Company shall cause (i) all the Key Employees employed by it or any other Group Company (or engaged by the Company or any other Group Company as a consultant/independent contractor) with access to confidential information and/or trade secrets to enter into a non-disclosure and proprietary rights assignment agreement in a form satisfactory to each Investor; and (ii) each Key Employee to enter into a non-competition and non-solicitation agreement in a form satisfactory to each Investor.

 

7.7

Other Agreement

Without prejudice to the Investors’ rights under Section 7.2, each of the Founders, the Founder Holdcos and the Group Companies undertakes to the Investors that save as disclosed to the Investors, he, she or it will not enter into any agreement with any Investor amending or varying the rights or obligations of the Company and such Investor from those set out in this Agreement or the Articles.

 

7.8

Anti-Bribery

Each of the Founders, the Founder Holdcos and the Group Companies shall ensure that each Group Company and its directors, officers, employees, representatives and agents shall not violate any applicable anti-corruption Laws, and none of the Group Companies and their respective directors, officers, employees, representatives and agents will offer, pay, promise to pay, or authorize the payment of any money, or offer, give, promise to give, or authorize the giving of anything of value, to any government official or to any Person under circumstances where the Group Companies or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, representatives and agents (as applicable) know or ought reasonably to have known (after due and proper enquiry) that all or a portion of such money or thing of value would be offered, given or promised, directly or indirectly, to a Person: (a) for the purpose of: (i) influencing any act or decision of a government official in their official capacity; (ii) inducing a government official to do or omit to do any act in violation of their lawful duties; (iii) securing any improper advantage; (iv) inducing a government official to influence or affect any act or decision of any Governmental Authority; or (v) assisting any Group Company in obtaining or retaining business for or with, or directing business to, any Group Company; and (b) in a manner which would constitute or have the purpose or effect of public or commercial bribery, acceptance of or acquiescence in extortion, kickbacks or other unlawful or improper means of obtaining business or any improper advantage.

 

7.9

Termination of Covenants

The covenants set forth in this Section 7 shall terminate and be of no further force or effect upon (a) immediately prior to the consummation of an IPO; or (b) a Liquidation Event in which the Investors will receive cash or publicly traded securities or a combination of the foregoing, whichever event shall first occur.

 

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8.

MISCELLANEOUS

 

8.1

Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Hong Kong.

 

8.2

Counterparts

This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement may also be executed and delivered by facsimile or other electronic signature and in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

8.3

Headings and Subheadings

The headings and subheadings used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.

 

8.4

Notices

All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (a) upon personal delivery to the Party to be notified, (b) when sent by confirmed electronic mail or facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and if not so confirmed, then on the next Business Day, (c) five (5) days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (d) one (1) day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent to the respective Parties at their address, or to such email address, facsimile number or address as set forth on Schedule 3 hereto or as subsequently modified by written notice given in accordance with this Section 8.4.

 

8.5

Costs of Enforcement

If any Party to this Agreement seeks to enforce its rights under this Agreement by legal proceedings, the non-prevailing Party shall pay all costs and expenses incurred by the prevailing Party, including, without limitation, all reasonable legal adviser’s fees.

 

8.6

Amendments and Waivers

Any term of this Agreement (other than Schedule 1-A and Schedule 3, which may be updated when an additional Investor is added to this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.17) may be amended and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of (i) the Company, (ii) the Founders, and (iii) the Preferred Majority; provided, that, any amendment that would adversely affect any particular Investor disproportionately in comparison to other Investor holding the same series of Shares shall additionally require the prior written consent of such Investor. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this paragraph shall be binding upon each holder of any Registrable Securities then Outstanding, each future holder of all such Registrable Securities, and the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the observance of any term hereunder may not be waived with respect to any Investor without the written consent of such Investor. The Company shall give prompt written notice of any amendment or termination hereof or waiver hereunder to any party hereto that did not consent in writing to such amendment, termination or waiver. Any amendment, termination or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 8.6 shall be binding on all Parties hereto, even if they do not execute such consent. No waivers of or exceptions to any term, condition or provision of this Agreement, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be, or construed as, a further or continuing waiver of any such term, condition or provision.

 

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8.7

Severability

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision.

 

8.8

Aggregation of Shares

All shares of Registrable Securities held or acquired by Affiliates shall be aggregated together for the purpose of determining the availability of any rights under this Agreement.

 

8.9

Entire Agreement

This Agreement (including the Exhibits hereto, if any) constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and any other written or oral agreement relating to the subject matter hereof existing between the Parties are expressly canceled.

 

8.10

Transfers, Successors and Assignees

(a) This Agreement, and the rights and obligations hereunder, shall not be assigned without the mutual written consents of each of the Investors and the Company; provided that each Investor may assign its rights and obligations to an Affiliate of it or a third party without consent of the other Parties under this Agreement; provided, further, that the assignee shall execute and deliver such documents and take such other actions as may be necessary for such assignee to join in and be bound by the terms of this Agreement (if not already a Party hereto) upon and after such assignment. The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall insure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective successors and assignees of the Parties.

(b) Each transferee or assignee of the Shares subject to this Agreement shall continue to be subject to the terms hereof, and, as a condition to the Company’s recognizing such transfer, each transferee or assignee shall agree in writing to be subject to each of the terms of this Agreement by executing and delivering an Assumption Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C. Upon the execution and delivery of an Assumption Agreement by any transferee, such transferee shall be deemed to be a Party hereto as if such transferee’s signature appeared on the signature pages of this Agreement. By execution of this Agreement or of any Assumption Agreement, each of the Parties appoints the Company as its attorney in fact for the purpose of executing any Assumption Agreement that may be required to be delivered under the terms of this Agreement. The Company shall not permit the transfer of the Shares subject to this Agreement on its books or issue a new certificate representing any such Shares unless and until such transferee shall have complied with the terms of this Section 8.10. Each certificate representing the Shares subject to this Agreement if issued on or after the date of this Agreement shall be endorsed by the Company with the legend set forth in Section 8.11.

(c) Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the Parties or their respective executors, administrators, heirs, successors and assignees any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.

 

8.11

Legend

(a) Each certificate representing Shares of the Founder Holdcos issued by the Company shall be endorsed with the following legend:

 

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THE SALE, PLEDGE, HYPOTHECATION OR TRANSFER OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBJECT TO, AND IN CERTAIN CASES PROHIBITED BY, THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF A CERTAIN SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG THE SHAREHOLDER, THE COMPANY AND CERTAIN OTHER HOLDERS OF SHARES OF THE COMPANY. COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY.

(b) The Founders and the Founder Holdcos agree that the Company may instruct its transfer agent to impose transfer restrictions on the shares represented by certificates bearing the legend referred to in Section 8.13(a) above to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, and the Company agrees to promptly do so. The legend shall be removed upon termination of this Agreement at the request of the Holder.

 

8.12

Dispute Resolution

(a) Any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, including any question regarding its existence, validity or termination, shall be referred to representatives of the Investors and the Company for settlement through friendly consultations. In case no agreement can be reached through consultation within sixty (60) days from either Party’s written notice to the other for commencement of such consultations, either Party may submit the dispute to arbitration for settlement. Any and all such disputes shall be finally resolved by arbitration and the arbitration shall be conducted in Hong Kong under the auspices of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (the “HKIAC”) in accordance with the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre Administered Arbitration Rules (the “HKIAC Rules). There shall be three (3) arbitrators. The complainant and the respondent to such dispute shall each select one (1) arbitrator within thirty (30) days after giving or receiving the demand for arbitration. Such arbitrators shall be freely selected, and the Parties shall not be limited in their selection to any prescribed list. The Chairman of the HKIAC shall select the third arbitrator, who shall be qualified to practice Law in Hong Kong. If either party to the arbitration does not appoint an arbitrator who has consented to participate within thirty (30) days after selection of the first arbitrator, the relevant appointment shall be made by the Chairman of the HKIAC. The arbitration shall be conducted in English.

(b) To the extent that the HKIAC Rules are in conflict with the provisions of this Section 8.12 (a) , including concerning the appointment of the arbitrators, the provisions of this Section 8.12 (a) shall prevail. The decision of the arbitration tribunal shall be final, conclusive and binding on the parties to the arbitration. Judgment may be entered on the arbitration tribunal’s decision in any court having jurisdiction. The parties to the arbitration shall each pay an equal share of the costs and expenses of such arbitration, and each party shall separately pay for its respective counsel fees and expenses; provided, however, that the prevailing party in any such arbitration shall be entitled to recover from the non-prevailing party its reasonable costs and attorney fees. The Parties acknowledge and agree that, in addition to contract damages, the arbitrators may award provisional and final equitable relief, including injunctions, specific performance, and lost profits.

 

8.13

Delays or Omissions

No delay or omission to exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to any Party under this Agreement, upon any breach or default of any other Party under this Agreement, shall impair any such right, power or remedy of such non-breaching or non-defaulting Party nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach or default, or an acquiescence therein, or of or in any similar breach or default thereafter occurring; nor shall any waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default theretofore or thereafter occurring. Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on the part of any Party of any breach or default under this Agreement, or any waiver on the part of any Party of any provisions or conditions of this Agreement, must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing. All remedies, either under this Agreement or by law or otherwise afforded to any Party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

 

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8.14

Conflict with Articles of Association

In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of the Company’s Articles or other constitutional documents, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail as among the Shareholders of the Company only. The Investors, the Founders and the Founder Holdcos shall, notwithstanding the conflict or inconsistency, act so as to effect the intent of this Agreement to the greatest extent possible under the circumstances and shall promptly amend the conflicting constitutional documents to conform to this Agreement to the greatest extent possible.

 

8.15

Holding Companies

The Founders shall procure the Founder Holdcos controlled by him/her to fully comply with and perform all of the obligations, covenants, undertakings and commitments of such Founder Holdcos under this Agreement.

 

8.16

Termination of Prior Shareholders Agreement

This Agreement supersedes and terminates, in its entirety, the Prior Shareholders Agreement, which shall be null and void and have no further force or effect as of the date hereof.

 

8.17

Additional Investors

Upon the sale and issuance of additional Series E Preferred Shares and/or Series E-1 Preferred Shares to any additional Purchaser (as defined the Purchase Agreement) in accordance with the Purchase Agreement, the Company, without prior action on the part of such Purchaser, shall require such Purchaser to execute and deliver this Agreement. Each such Purchaser, upon delivery of an executed and dated signature page to this Agreement, shall be deemed an Investor hereunder.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement    24


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

COMPANY:                         For and on behalf of
      Tusimple (Cayman) Limited
     

/s/ Mo Chen

      Name: Mo Chen
      Title: Director
HK CO:       For and on behalf of
      Tusimple (Hong Kong) Limited
     

/s/ Mo Chen

      Name: Mo Chen
      Title: Director
HK AUTO TECH:       For and on behalf of
      Tusimple (Hong Kong) Auto Tech Limited
     

/s/ Naiyan Wang

      Name: Naiyan Wang
      Title: Director

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

WFOE:                         For and on behalf of
      Beijing Tusen Zhitu Technology Co., Ltd.
     

/s/ Minhua Guo

      Name: Minhua Guo
      Title: Legal Representative
     

Affix Seal: [Beijing Tusen Zhitu Technology Co., Ltd.

         company seal is affixed]

DOMCO :       For and on behalf of
      Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd.
     

/s/ Minhua Guo

      Name: Minhua Guo
      Title: Legal Representative
     

Affix Seal: [Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd.

         company seal is affixed]

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

US CO:                         TuSimple, Inc.
     

/s/ Xiaodi Hou

      Name: Xiaodi Hou
      Title: Director

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

FOUNDERS:                         Mo Chen
     

/s/ Mo Chen

      Xiaodi Hou
     

/s/ Xiaodi Hou

      Zhenguo Ren
     

/s/ Zhenguo Ren

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Schedule 1-A


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

FOUNDER HOLDCOS:                         Gray Jade Holding Limited
     

/s/ Mo Chen

      Name: Mo Chen
      Title: Director
      White Marble International Limited
     

/s/ Xiaodi Hou

      Name: Xiaodi Hou
      Title: Director
      Ancient Jade International Limited
     

/s/ Zhenguo Ren

      Name: Zhenguo Ren
      Title: Director

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         SUN Dream Inc
     

/s/ Charles Chao

      Name: Charles Chao
      Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         Trinity Investment Holdings Ltd
     

/s/ CHEUNG WING KA CYNTHIA

      Name: CHEUNG WING KA CYNTHIA
      Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         VC WORLDWIDE LTD.
     

/s/ Jeff Herbst

      Name: Jeff Herbst
      Title: Vice President

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         Composite Capital Master Fund LP
     

/s/ David Ma

      Name: David Ma
      Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         United Parcel Service General Services Co.
     

/s/ Brian Dykes

      Name: Brian Dykes
      Title: Senior VP, Capital Markets

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         Mando Corporation
     

/s/ Yoon Ki Kim

      Name: Yoon Ki Kim
      Title: Director, Head of Investment Team

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         LHCP Project Auto Limited
     

/s/ Xiaoyin Zhang

      Name: Xiaoyin Zhang
      Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         Taurus Sunway, L.P.
     

/s/ William Hsu

      Name: William Hsu
      Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

OTHER ORDINARY SHAREHOLDER:                         CircleWood Technology Limited
     

/s/ Cheng Lu

      Name: Cheng Lu
      Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         NAVISTAR, INC.
     

/s/ Scott F. Renier

      Name: Scott F. Renier
      Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

OTHER ORDINARY SHAREHOLDER:                         Little Lake Creak Holding Limited
     

/s/ Mo Chen

      Name: Mo Chen
      Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

OTHER ORDINARY SHAREHOLDER:                         Charles A Price
     

/s/ Mo Chen

      Name: Mo Chen
      Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

OTHER ORDINARY SHAREHOLDER:                         Chasen Geary Sherman
     

/s/ Mo Chen

      Name: Mo Chen
      Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         Hel Ved Turbo Investment IV Inc
     

/s/ Ting Ngai Annie Lai

      Name: Ting Ngai Annie Lai
      Title: Director

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         LHCP Project Auto 2020 Limited
     

/s/ Su Shan

      Name: Su Shan
      Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         Aspex Master Fund
     

/s/ LI Ho Kei

      Name: LI Ho Kei
      Title: Director

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         VectoIQ - TuSimple SPV LLC
      By: VectoIQ – TuSimple MM LLC, its managing member
      By: VectoIQ LLC, VectoIQ – TuSimple MM LLC’s manager
     

/s/ Stephen Girsky

      Name: Stephen Girsky
      Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         Fourth Avenue FF Opportunities LP – Series M
      By its general partner, Fourth Avenue Capital Partners GP
     

/s/ Tracy Fu

      Name: Tracy Fu
      Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         Canadian National Railway Company
     

/s/ Ghislain Houle

      Name: Ghislain Houle
      Title: Executive Vice-President & Chief Financial Officer

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         Union Pacific Corporation
     

/s/ Gary W. Grosz

      Name: Gary W. Grosz
      Title: Vice President and Treasurer

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         Xpress Holdings, Inc.
     

/s/ Mindy Walser

      Name: Mindy Walser
      Title: President

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         Wanxiang International Investment, LLC
     

/s/ Pin Ni

      Name: Pin Ni
      Title: Manager

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
     

/s/ Christopher P. Helsel

      Name: Christopher P. Helsel
      Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         Frees Properties Limited
     

/s/ CHENG CHI MAN

      Name: CHENG CHI MAN
      Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         Sunrise Drive Group Limited
     

/s/ Thomas Chu

      Name: Thomas Chu
      Title: Director

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         Sun Hung Kai Strategic Capital Limited
     

/s/ Robert Quinlivan

      Name: Robert Quinlivan
      Title: Authorized Signatory
     

/s/ Elsy Li

      Name: Elsy Li
      Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         JenCap Route Partners L.P.
      By: JenCap Route GP, its general partner
     

/s/ Tan Hainan

      Name: Tan Hainan
      Title: Director

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         Data0.2, LLC
     

/s/ Jason Larian

      Name: Jason Larian
      Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         SKY9 CAPITAL MVP FUND, L.P.
      By: Sky9 Capital MVP GP Ltd,
      its general partner
     

/s/ Ronald Cao

      Name: Ronald Cao
      Title: Director

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         2011 Buss Family Trust
     

/s/ Brad Buss

      Name: Brad Buss
      Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                        

Karen C. Francis Second Restated Revocable Trust

dated 1.30.2012

     

/s/ Karen C. Francis

      Name: Karen C. Francis
      Title: Trustee

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         Richard C. DeGolia Trust dated 8.27.2004
     

/s/ Richard DeGolia

      Name: Richard DeGolia
      Title: Trustee

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         Classic Elite Limited
     

/s/ Peter A. Allen

      Name: Peter A. Allen
      Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         Wong Ka Kit
     

/s/ Wong Ka Kit

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         Werner Enterprises, Inc.
     

/s/ Nathan Meisgeier

      Name: Nathan Meisgeier
      Title: Exec. Vice President & Chief Legal Officer

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         Packerland Tech Ventures LLC
     

/s/ Thomas Jackson

      Name: Thomas Jackson
      Title: Vice President & Secretary

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         Socius Capital Limited
     

/s/ Howe Leng

      Name: Howe Leng
      Title: Director
     

/s/ Yu Liu

      Name: Yu Liu
      Title: Director

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         Perry Creek Capital Partners LP
     

/s/ Brian Zingale

      Name: Brian Zingale
      Title: Partner

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         Perry Creek Capital Fund II LP
     

/s/ Brian Zingale

      Name: Brian Zingale
      Title: Partner

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

INVESTOR:                         TuSimple.AI SPV, LLC
     

/s/ Cheng Lu

      Name: Cheng Lu
      Title: Partner

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


SCHEDULE 1-A

LIST OF INVESTORS

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Schedule 1-A


SCHEDULE 1-B

LIST OF OTHER ORDINARY SHAREHOLDERS

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement


SCHEDULE 2-A

LIST OF FOUNDERS

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Schedule 2-A


SCHEDULE 2-B

LIST OF FOUNDER HOLDCOS

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Schedule 3


SCHEDULE 3

NOTICES

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Schedule 2-A


SCHEDULE 4

LIST OF SINA COMPETITORS

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Schedule 4


EXHIBIT A

DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Agreement, capitalized terms shall have the meanings set forth in this Exhibit A.

 

1.

The term “Additional Equity Securities” has the meaning set forth in the Articles.

 

2.

The term “Additional Offer Notice” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.1(d).

 

3.

The term “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any Person which, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person, including, without limitation any general partner, limited partner, officer or director of such Person and any venture capital or other fund now or hereafter existing which is controlled by or under common control with one or more general partners or shares the same management company with such Person.

 

4.

The term “Agreement” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

5.

The term “Applicable SPA” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

6.

The term “Articles” means the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as amended from time to time.

 

7.

The term “Assumption Agreement” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble to Exhibit C.

 

8.

The term “average fair market value” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section (3) of Exhibit D.

 

9.

The term “CDH” means Taurus Sunway, L.P. and its successors and assignees.

 

10.

The term “Conversion Price” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4 of Schedule A of the Articles of the Company.

 

11.

The term “Board” or “Board of Directors” means the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

12.

The term “Budget” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.1(d).

 

13.

The term “Business Day” means any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which the commercial banks in Beijing, Hong Kong or New York are authorized or required to be closed for the conduct of regular banking business.

 

14.

The term “Business Principles” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.5.

 

15.

The term “CFC” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.3(c).

 

16.

The term “Closing” means the closing of the sale and purchase of the Series E Preferred Shares and/or the Series E-1 Preferred Shares in accordance with the Purchase Agreement.

 

17.

The term “Code” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.3(a).

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Exhibit A


18.

The term “Company” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

19.

The term “Company Law” means the Companies Law (as amended) of the Cayman Islands.

 

20.

The term “Composite” means Composite Capital Master Fund LP and its successors and assignees.

 

21.

The term “Composite Director” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 5.1(c).

 

22.

The term “Confirmation Notice” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.2(d).

 

23.

The term “control” means, when used with respect to any Person, the power or authority, whether exercised or not, to direct the business, management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, through any contractual relationship (including, without limitation, pursuant to a management or advisory agreement) or otherwise, which power or authority shall conclusively be presumed to exist upon possession of beneficial ownership or power to direct the vote of more than fifty percent (50%) of the votes entitled to be cast at a meeting of the members or shareholders of such Person or power to control the composition of a majority of the board of directors of such Person; the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

24.

The term “Conversion Shares means Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon conversion of any Preferred Shares.

 

25.

The term “Co-Sale Closing” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.3(c).

 

26.

The term “Co-Sale Eligible Holder” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.3(a).

 

27.

The term “Co-Sale Eligible Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.3(a).

 

28.

The term “Co-Sale Period” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.3(a).

 

29.

The term “Defaulting Holder” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 5.4(f).

 

30.

The term “Directors” means the members of the Board of Directors.

 

31.

The term “DomCo” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

32.

The term “Eligible Holder” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.2(a).

 

33.

The term “Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any comparable law of any other jurisdiction in which the Company’s Shares are subject to regulation.

 

34.

The term “Exercising Eligible Holder” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.2(c).

 

35.

The term “Exercising Holder” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.1(d).

 

36.

The term “Form S-3” means such form under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof (including Form S-3) or any registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the SEC which permits inclusion or incorporation of substantial information by reference to other documents filed by the Company with the SEC.

 

37.

The term “Founder” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Exhibit A


38.

The term “Founder Holdco” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

39.

The term “Governmental Authority” means the government of any nation, province, state, city, locality or other political subdivision of any thereof, any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, regulation or compliance, and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled, through share or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing.

 

40.

The term “Group Companies” means the Company, the HK Co, the US Co, the DomCo, the WFOE, HK Auto Tech and any other direct or indirect Subsidiary of a Group Company collectively, and the Group Company means any one of them.

 

41.

The term “HK Auto Tech” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

42.

The term “HK Co” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

43.

The term “HKIAC” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.12(b).

 

44.

The term “HKIAC Rules” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.12(b).

 

45.

The term “Holder” means, for purposes of Exhibit B, any person owning or having the rights to acquire Registrable Securities or any permitted assignee of record of such Registrable Securities to whom rights under Exhibit B have been duly assigned in accordance with this Agreement.

 

46.

The term “Hong Kong” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

47.

The term “IFRS” mean International Financial Reporting Standards.

 

48.

The term “Immediate Family Member” means a child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, step-parent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, of a person referred to herein.

 

49.

The term “Initiating Holders” means, collectively, any Holders who properly initiate a registration request under this Agreement.

 

50.

The term “Investor(s)” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

51.

The term “Investors Partners” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.3(c).

 

52.

The term “IPO” means the Company’s first underwritten public offering of its Ordinary Shares and listing on an internationally-recognized securities exchange.

 

53.

The term “Jeneration” means JenCap Route Partners L.P.

 

54.

The term “Key Employee” has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

 

55.

The term “Liquidation Event” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2 of Schedule A of the Articles of the Company.

 

56.

The term “Law” means any constitutional provision, statute or other law, rule, regulation, official policy or interpretation of any Governmental Authority and any injunction, judgment, order, ruling, assessment or writ issued by any Governmental Authority.

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Exhibit A


57.

The term “Majority Preferred Directors” means at least three (3) Preferred Directors.

 

58.

The term “Majority Series D-1 Holders” means the holders of at least 70% of the outstanding Series D-1 Preferred Shares.

 

59.

The term “Majority Series E Preferred Class Holders” means the holders of at least two thirds (2/3) of the outstanding Series E Preferred Shares, Series E-1 Preferred Shares and Series E-2 Preferred Shares, voting together as a single class on an as-if-converted basis.

 

60.

The term Navistar Warrant” means the warrant issued to Navistar, Inc. on July 30, 2020 pursuant to certain Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the Company, Navistar, Inc. and certain other parties thereon on July 10, 2020.

 

61.

The term New SPA” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.1(f).

 

62.

The term “Offer Notice” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.1(a).

 

63.

The term “Offeree” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.1.

 

64.

The term “on an as-if-converted basis” means assuming the conversion of all Preferred Shares into Ordinary Shares.

 

65.

The term “on an as-if-converted fully-diluted basis” means assuming the conversion, exercise and exchange of all outstanding securities, directly or indirectly, convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into or for Ordinary Shares, including without limitation the Preferred Shares but excluding the exercise of Warrants.

 

66.

The term “Ordinary Shares” means ordinary shares of the Company, par value of US$0.0001 per share.

 

67.

The term “Original Series E Issue Price” means US$14.1401 per share, as adjusted for any share splits, share dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions.

 

68.

The term “Parties” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble of this Agreement.

 

69.

The term “passive assets” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section (3) of Exhibit D.

 

70.

The term “Person” means any natural person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, trust, public body or government.

 

71.

The term “PFIC” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.3(a).

 

72.

The term “PFIC Annual Information Statement” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.3(b).

 

73.

The term “PRC” means the People’s Republic of China, which for purposes of this Agreement excludes Hong Kong, the Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan.

 

74.

The term “Preferred Directors” means the Sina Directors, the Composite Director and the Series E Director.

 

75.

The term “Preferred Majority” means the holders of no less than 51% of all outstanding Preferred Shares, on an as-if converted basis.

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Exhibit A


76.

The term “Preferred Shares” mean the Series A Preferred Shares and/or the Series A-2 Preferred Shares and/or the Series B-1 Preferred Shares and/or the Series B-2 Preferred Shares and/or the Series B-3 Preferred Shares and/or the Series C Preferred Shares and/or the Series D-1 Preferred Shares and/or the Series E Preferred Shares and/or the Series E-1 Preferred Shares and/or the Series E-2 Preferred Shares.

 

77.

The term “Prior Shareholders Agreement” has the meaning ascribed to it in Recitals.

 

78.

The term “Prohibited Transfer” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.5(b).

 

79.

The term “Proposed Transfer” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.2(a).

 

80.

The term “Proposed Transfer Notice” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.2(a).

 

81.

The term “Prospective Transferee” means any person to whom any Founder Holdco proposes to make a Proposed Transfer.

 

82.

The term “Pro Rata Share” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.1.

 

83.

The term “Pro-Rata ROFR Share” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.2(b).

 

84.

The term “Protective Statement” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.3(a).

 

85.

The term “Purchase Agreement” means the Series E Preferred Share Purchase Agreement, dated November 27, 2020, by and among the Company, certain Investors and certain other parties thereto.

 

86.

The term “QEF Election” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.3(a).

 

87.

The term “Qualified Electing Fund” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.3(a).

 

88.

The term “Qualified IPO means a firm-commitment underwritten public offering and listing by the Company of its Ordinary Shares in the United States or in any other jurisdiction (on any combination of such exchanges and jurisdictions) acceptable to the Preferred Majority, with aggregate offering proceeds (before deduction of underwriting discounts and registration expenses) to the Company of not less than US$200 million (or any cash proceeds of other currency of equivalent value) with a public offering price per share of not less than 120% of the Original Series E Issue Price (as proportionally adjusted for share split, share combination, share division, share dividend and like events).

 

89.

The term “Re-allotment Exercise Period” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.2(d).

 

90.

The term “Re-allotment Notice” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.2(c).

 

91.

The term “register,” “registered,” and “registration” refers to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement which is in a form which complies with, and is declared effective by the SEC in accordance with, the Securities Act.

 

92.

The term “Registrable Securities” means: (1) any Ordinary Shares of the Company issued or issuable pursuant to conversion of any Preferred Shares, (2) any Ordinary Shares of the Company issued (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant, right or other security which is issued) as a dividend or other distribution with respect to, or in exchange for or in replacement of, any Preferred Shares, and (3) any other Ordinary Shares owned or hereafter acquired by an Investor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Registrable Securities” shall exclude any Registrable Securities sold by a person in a transaction in which rights under

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Exhibit A


  Exhibit B are not assigned in accordance with this Agreement and any Registrable Securities which are sold in a registered public offering under the Securities Act or analogous statute of another jurisdiction, or sold pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act or analogous rule of another jurisdiction.

 

93.

The term “Registrable Securities then Outstanding” means the number of Ordinary Shares of the Company that are Registrable Securities and are then issued and outstanding, issuable upon conversion of Preferred Shares then issued and outstanding or issuable upon conversion or exercise of any warrant, right or other security then outstanding.

 

94.

The term “Registration Expenses” means all expenses incurred by the Company in complying with Sections 2, 3 and 4 of Exhibit B, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, printing expenses, fees, and disbursements of counsel for the Company, reasonable fees and disbursements of one (1) counsel for the Holders, “blue sky” fees and expenses and the expense of any special audits incident to or required by any such registration (but excluding the compensation of regular employees of the Company which shall be paid in any event by the Company).

 

95.

The term “Remaining Securities” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.1(d).

 

96.

The term “Remaining Transfer Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.2(c).

 

97.

The term “Request Notice” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.1 of Exhibit B.

 

98.

The term “Restricted Shareholder” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.1(b).

 

99.

The term “Right of Co-Sale” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.3(a).

 

100.

The term “Right of First Refusal” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.2(b).

 

101.

The term “Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act (or comparable law in a jurisdiction other than the United States).

 

102.

The term “ROFR Exercise Period” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.2(b).

 

103.

The term “Sale of the Company” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 5.4.

 

104.

The term “SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or comparable regulatory authority in any other jurisdiction having oversight over the trading of the Company’s Shares.

 

105.

The term “Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (or comparable law in a jurisdiction other than the United States).

 

106.

The term “Selling Expenses” means all underwriting discounts and selling commissions applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to Sections 2, 3 and 4 of Exhibit B.

 

107.

The term “Selling Shareholder” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 5.4(b).

 

108.

The term “Series A Preferred Shares” means Series A preferred shares of the Company, par value US$0.0001 per share.

 

109.

The term “Series A-2 Preferred Shares” means Series A-2 preferred shares of the Company, par value US$0.0001 per share.

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Exhibit A


110.

The term “Series B-1 Preferred Shares” means Series B-1 preferred shares of the Company, par value US$0.0001 per share.

 

111.

The term “Series B-2 Preferred Shares” means Series B-2 preferred shares of the Company, par value US$0.0001 per share.

 

112.

The term “Series B-3 Preferred Shares” means Series B-3 preferred shares of the Company, par value US$0.0001 per share.

 

113.

The term “Series C Preferred Shares” means Series C preferred shares of the Company, par value US$0.0001 per share.

 

114.

The term “Series D-1 Preferred Shares” means Series D-1 preferred shares of the Company, par value US$0.0001 per share.

 

115.

The term “Series E Director” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 5.1(d).

 

116.

The term “Series E Lead Investor Consortium” VectoIQ - TuSimple SPV LLC, Hel Ved Turbo Investment IV Inc, LHCP Project Auto 2020 Limited and Aspex Master Fund, acting collectively, and “Series E Lead Investor Consortium Member” means any of them.

 

117.

The term “Series E Preferred Class” means the Series E Preferred Shares, the Series E-1 Preferred Shares and/or the Series E-2 Preferred Shares.

 

118.

The term “Series E Preferred Shares” means Series E preferred shares of the Company, par value US$0.0001 per share.

 

119.

The term “Series E-1 Preferred Shares” means Series E-1 preferred shares of the Company, par value US$0.0001 per share.

 

120.

The term “Series E-2 Preferred Shares” means Series E-2 preferred shares of the Company, par value US$0.0001 per share.

 

121.

The term “Share Plan” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.1.

 

122.

The term “Shareholder” means each of the holders of Ordinary Shares or Preferred Shares.

 

123.

The term “Shares” means (i) Ordinary Shares (whether now outstanding or hereafter issued in any context) or Preferred Shares, (ii) Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Shares and (iii) Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon exercise or conversion, as applicable, of share options, warrants or other convertible securities of the Company, in each case now owned or subsequently acquired by any Party herein or its successors or permitted transferees or assignees.

 

124.

The term SPA Execution Period” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.1(f).

 

125.

The term “Sina” means SUN Dream Inc and its successors and assignees.

 

126.

The term “Sina Competitor” means any Person listed on Schedule 4 attached to this Agreement.

 

127.

The term “Sina Directors” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 5.1(b).

 

128.

The term “Subpart F Income” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.3(c).

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Exhibit A


129.

The term “Subsidiary” or “subsidiary” means, as of the relevant date of determination, with respect to any Person (the “subject entity”), (i) any Person: (1) more than 50% of whose shares or other interests entitled to vote in the election of directors or (2) more than a fifty percent (50%) interest in the profits or capital of such Person are owned or controlled directly or indirectly by the subject entity or through one (1) or more Subsidiaries of the subject entity, (ii) any Person whose assets, or portions thereof, are consolidated with the net earnings of the subject entity and are recorded on the books of the subject entity for financial reporting purposes in accordance with IFRS or US GAAP, or (iii) any Person with respect to which the subject entity has the power to otherwise direct the business and policies of that entity directly or indirectly through another subsidiary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Subsidiaries of the Company shall include the Group Companies (other than the Company).

 

130.

The term “Transfer” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.1(a).

 

131.

The term “Transfer Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.2(a).

 

132.

The term “Transferor” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.2(a).

 

133.

The term “Traton” means TRATON International S.A..

 

134.

The term “Traton Warrant” means the warrant issuable to Traton pursuant to certain Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the Company, Traton and certain other parties thereto on August 6, 2020.

 

135.

The term “United States Person” means any person described in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

136.

The term “US Co” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

137.

The term “US$” means the United States dollar, the lawful currency of the United States of America.

 

138.

The term “US GAAP” means the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States.

 

139.

The term “U.S. Investor” means (A) any investor that is a United States Person; and (B) any investor, one or more of the owners of which are, or controlled by, United States persons.

 

140.

The term “Violation” means losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (joint or several) to which a party hereto may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other applicable laws of the United States or other relevant jurisdictions, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any of the following statements, omissions or violations: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement, including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any amendments or supplements thereto, (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by any other party hereto, of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities law or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities law, or other applicable laws of the United States or other relevant jurisdictions.

 

141.

The term “Warrants” means the Traton Warrant and Navistar Warrant.

 

142.

The term “WFOE” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Exhibit A


EXHIBIT B

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

 

1.

APPLICABILITY OF RIGHTS; NON-U.S. REGISTRATIONS

1.1 The Holders shall be entitled to the following rights with respect to any potential public offering of the Company’s Ordinary Shares in the United States and shall be entitled to reasonably analogous or equivalent rights with respect to any other offering of Company securities in any other jurisdiction pursuant to which the Company undertakes to publicly offer or list such securities for trading on a recognized securities exchange.

1.2 For purposes of this Agreement and Exhibit B, reference to registration of securities under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall be deemed to mean the equivalent registration in a jurisdiction other than the United States as designated by such Holders, it being understood and agreed that in each such case all references in this Agreement to the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and rules, forms of registration statements and registration of securities thereunder, U.S. law and the SEC, shall be deemed to refer, to the equivalent statutes, rules, forms of registration statements, registration of securities and laws of and equivalent government authority in the applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction.

 

2.

DEMAND REGISTRATION

 

2.1

Request by Holders

If the Company shall, at any time after the earlier of (i) forty eight (48) months after the Closing or (ii) six (6) months following the taking effect of a registration statement for a Qualified IPO, receive a written request from the Holders of at least ten percent (10%) of the Registrable Securities then Outstanding that the Company file a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the registration of at least ten percent (10%) of the Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 2, then the Company shall, within ten (10) Business Days of the receipt of such written request, give written notice of such request (the “Request Notice”) to all Holders, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect, as soon as practicable, the registration under the Securities Act of all Registrable Securities that the Holders request to be registered and included in such registration by written notice given by such Holders to the Company within twenty (20) days after receipt of the Request Notice, subject only to the limitations of this Section 2; provided that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such registration if the Company has, within the six (6) month period preceding the date of such request, already effected a registration under the Securities Act pursuant to this Section 2 or Section 4 or in which the Holders had an opportunity to participate pursuant to the provisions of Section 3, other than a registration from which the Registrable Securities of the Holders have been excluded (with respect to all or any portion of the Registrable Securities the Holders requested be included in such registration) pursuant to the provisions of Sections 2.2(b) or 3.2(b).

 

2.2

Underwriting

(a) If the Holders initiating the registration request under this Section 2 (the “Initiating Holders”) intend to distribute the Registrable Securities covered by their request by means of an underwriting, then they shall so advise the Company as a part of their request made pursuant to this Section 2 and the Company shall include such information in the Request Notice. In such event, the right of any Holder to include its Registrable Securities in such registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting (unless otherwise mutually agreed by a majority in interest of the Initiating Holders and such Holder) to the extent provided herein. All Holders proposing to distribute their securities through such underwriting shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the managing underwriter or underwriters selected for such underwriting by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being registered and reasonably acceptable to the Company.

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Exhibit B


(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2, if the underwriter(s) advise(s) the Company in writing that marketing factors require a limitation of the number of securities to be underwritten then the Company shall so advise all Holders of Registrable Securities which would otherwise be registered and underwritten pursuant hereto, and the number of Registrable Securities that may be included in the underwriting shall be reduced as required by the underwriter(s) and allocated (i) first, to the Investors on a pro rata basis according to the number of Registrable Securities then outstanding held by each Investor requesting registration and (ii) then, to the other Holders of Registrable Securities on a pro rata basis according to the number of Registrable Securities then Outstanding held by each such Holder requesting registration; provided, however, that the number of shares of Registrable Securities to be included in such underwriting and registration shall not be reduced unless all other securities are first entirely excluded from the underwriting and registration including, without limitation, all shares that are not Registrable Securities and are held by any other person, including, without limitation, any person who is an employee, officer or director of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company; provided further, that at least twenty-five percent (25%) of shares of Registrable Securities requested by the Holders to be included in such underwriting and registration shall be so included. If any Holder disapproves of the terms of any such underwriting, such Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company and the underwriter(s), delivered at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the effective date of the registration statement. Any Registrable Securities excluded or withdrawn from such underwriting shall be excluded and withdrawn from the registration.

 

2.3

Maximum Number of Demand Registrations

The Company shall not be obligated to effect more than three (3) such registrations pursuant to this Section 2.

 

2.4

Deferral

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company shall furnish to Holders requesting registration pursuant to this Section 2, a certificate signed by the president or chief executive officer of the Company stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board, it would be materially detrimental to the Company and its shareholders for such registration statement to be filed at such time, then the Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a period of not more than ninety (90) days after receipt of the request of the Initiating Holders; provided, however, that the Company may not utilize this right more than once in any twelve (12) month period; provided further, that the Company shall not register any other of its shares during such twelve (12) month period. A demand right shall not be deemed to have been exercised until such deferred registration shall have been effected.

 

3.

PIGGYBACK REGISTRATIONS

3.1 The Company shall notify all Holders of Registrable Securities in writing at least thirty (30) days prior to filing any registration statement under the Securities Act for purposes of effecting a public offering of securities of the Company (including, but not limited to, registration statements relating to secondary offerings of securities of the Company, but excluding registration statements relating to any registration under Section 2 or Section 3 of this Agreement or to any employee benefit plan or a corporate reorganization) and shall afford each such Holder an opportunity to include in such registration statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities then held by such Holder. Each Holder desiring to include in any such registration statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities held by it shall within twenty (20) days after receipt of the above-described notice from the Company, so notify the Company in writing, and in such notice shall inform the Company of the number of Registrable Securities such Holder wishes to include in such registration statement. If a Holder decides

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Exhibit B


not to include all of its Registrable Securities in any registration statement thereafter filed by the Company, such Holder shall nevertheless continue to have the right to include any Registrable Securities in any subsequent registration statement or registration statements as may be filed by the Company with respect to offerings of its securities, all upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

3.2

Underwriting

(a) If a registration statement under which the Company gives notice under this Section 3 is for an underwritten offering, then the Company shall so advise the Holders of Registrable Securities. In such event, the right of any such Holder’s Registrable Securities to be included in a registration pursuant to this Section 3 shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through such underwriting shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the managing underwriter or underwriters selected for such underwriting.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if the managing underwriter(s) determine(s) in good faith that marketing factors require a limitation of the number of shares to be underwritten, then the managing underwriter(s) may exclude shares from the registration and the underwriting, and the number of shares that may be included in the registration and the underwriting shall be allocated, first, to the Company, second, to each of the Investors requesting inclusion of their Registrable Securities in such registration statement on a pro rata basis based on the total number of shares of Registrable Securities then held by each such Investor, third, to the other Holders requesting inclusion of their Registrable Securities in such registration statement on a pro rata basis based on the total number of shares of Registrable Securities then held by each such Holder and fourth, to holders of other securities of the Company; provided, however, that the right of the underwriter(s) to exclude shares (including Registrable Securities) from the registration and underwriting as described above shall be restricted so that (i) the number of Registrable Securities included in any such registration is not reduced below twenty-five percent (25%) of the aggregate number of shares of Registrable Securities for which inclusion has been requested; and (ii) all shares that are not Registrable Securities and are held by any other person, including, without limitation, any person who is an employee, officer or director of the Company (or any subsidiary of the Company) shall first be excluded from such registration and underwriting before any Registrable Securities are so excluded, unless otherwise approved by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities. If any Holder disapproves of the terms of any such underwriting, such Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company and the underwriter(s), delivered at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the effective date of the registration statement. Any Registrable Securities excluded or withdrawn from such underwriting shall be excluded and withdrawn from the registration.

 

3.3

Not Demand Registration

Registration pursuant to this Section 3 shall not be deemed to be a demand registration as described in Section 2 above. There shall be no limit on the number of times the Holders may request registration of Registrable Securities under this Section 3.

 

4.

FORM S-3 REGISTRATION

In case the Company shall receive from any Holder or Holders of a majority of all Registrable Securities then Outstanding a written request or requests that the Company effect a registration on Form S-3 (or an equivalent registration in a jurisdiction outside of the United States) and any related qualification or compliance with respect to all or a part of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder or Holders, then the Company will act upon the requirements set forth in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4 accordingly.

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Exhibit B


4.1

Notice

Promptly give written notice of the proposed registration and the Holder’s or Holders’ request therefor, and any related qualification or compliance, to all other Holders of Registrable Securities.

 

4.2

Registration

As soon as practicable, effect such registration and all such qualifications and compliances as may be so requested and as would permit or facilitate the sale and distribution of all or such portion of such Holders or Holders’ Registrable Securities as are specified in such request, together with all or such portion of the Registrable Securities of any other Holder or Holders joining in such request as are specified in a written request given within twenty (20) days after the Company provides the notice contemplated by Section 4.1; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such registration, qualification or compliance pursuant to this Section 4:

(a) if Form S-3 is not available for such offering by the Holders;

(b) if the Holders, together with the holders of any other securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such registration, propose to sell Registrable Securities and such other securities (if any) at an aggregate price to the public of less than US$ 500,000;

(c) if the Company shall furnish to the Holders a certificate signed by the president or chief executive officer of the Company stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors, it would be materially detrimental to the Company and its shareholders for such FormS-3 Registration to be effected at such time, in which event the Company shall have the right to defer the filing of the Form S-3 registration statement no more than once during any twelve (12) month period for a period of not more than sixty (60) days after receipt of the request of the Holder or Holders under this Section 4; provided that the Company shall not register any of its other shares during such sixty (60) day period.

(d) if the Company has, within the six (6) month period preceding the date of such request, already effected a registration under the Securities Act other than a registration from which the Registrable Securities of Holders have been excluded (with respect to all or any portion of the Registrable Securities the Holders requested be included in such registration) pursuant to the provisions of Sections 2.2 and 3.2; or

(e) in any particular jurisdiction in which the Company would be required to qualify to do business or to execute a general consent to service of process in effecting such registration, qualification or compliance.

 

4.3

Not a Demand Registration

Form S-3 registrations shall not be deemed to be demand registrations as described in Section 2 above. Except as otherwise provided herein, there shall be no limit on the number of times the Holders may request registration of Registrable Securities under this Section 4.

 

4.4

Underwriting

If the Holders of Registrable Securities requesting registration under this Section 4 intend to distribute the Registrable Securities covered by their request by means of an underwriting, the provisions of Section 2.2 shall apply to such registration.

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Exhibit B


5.

EXPENSES

All Registration Expenses incurred in connection with any registration pursuant to Sections 2, 3 or 4 (but excluding Selling Expenses) shall be borne by the Company. Each Holder participating in a registration pursuant to Sections 2, 3 or 4 shall bear such Holder’s proportionate share (based on the total number of shares sold in such registration other than for the account of the Company) of all Selling Expenses or other amounts payable to underwriter(s) or brokers, in connection with such offering by the Holders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to pay for any expenses of any registration proceeding begun pursuant to Section 2 if the registration request is subsequently withdrawn at the request of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be registered, unless the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities then Outstanding agree that such registration constitutes the use by the Holders of one (1) demand registration pursuant to Section 2 (in which case such registration shall also constitute the use by all Holders of Registrable Securities of one (1) such demand registration); provided further, however, that if at the time of such withdrawal, the Holders have learned of a material adverse change in the condition, business, or prospects of the Company not known to the Holders at the time of their request for such registration and have withdrawn their request for registration with reasonable promptness after learning of such material adverse change, then the Holders shall not be required to pay any of such expenses and such registration shall not constitute the use of a demand registration pursuant to Section 2.

 

6.

OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY

Whenever required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under this Agreement the Company shall, as expeditiously as reasonably possible, act upon the requirements set forth in Sections 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6 and 6.7 accordingly.

 

6.1

Registration Statement

Prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective, and, upon the request of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities registered thereunder, keep such registration statement effective for a period of up to ninety (90) days or, in the case of Registrable Securities registered under Form S-3 in accordance with Rule 415 under the Securities Act or a successor rule, until the distribution contemplated in the registration statement has been completed; provided, however, that (i) such ninety (90) day period shall be extended for a period of time equal to the period any Holder refrains from selling any securities included in such registration at the request of the underwriter(s), and (ii) in the case of any registration of Registrable Securities on Form S-3 which are intended to be offered on a continuous or delayed basis, such ninety (90) day period shall be extended, if necessary, to keep the registration statement effective until all such Registrable Securities are sold.

 

6.2

Amendments and Supplements

Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection with such registration statement as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement.

 

6.3

Prospectuses

Furnish to the Holders such number of copies of a prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as they may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by them that are included in such registration.

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Exhibit B


6.4

Blue Sky

Use its best efforts to register and qualify the securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders, provided that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to qualify to do business or to file a general consent to service of process in any such states or jurisdictions unless the Company is already subject to service in such jurisdiction and except as may be required by the Securities Act.

 

6.5

Underwriting

In the event of any underwritten public offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement in usual and customary form, with the managing underwriter(s) of such offering.

 

6.6

Notification

Notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act of (i) the issuance of any stop order by the SEC in respect of such registration statement, or (ii) the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing.

 

6.7

Opinion and Comfort Letter

Furnish, at the request of any Holder requesting registration of Registrable Securities, on the date that such Registrable Securities are delivered to the underwriter(s) for sale, if such securities are being sold through underwriters, or, if such securities are not being sold through underwriters, on the date that the registration statement with respect to such securities becomes effective, (i) an opinion, dated as of such date, of the counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such registration, in form and substance as is customarily given to underwriters in an underwritten public offering and reasonably satisfactory to a majority in interest of the Holders requesting registration, addressed to the underwriters, if any, and (ii) letters dated as of (1) the effective date of the registration statement covering such Registrable Securities and (2) the closing date of the offering from the independent certified public accountants of the Company, in form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering and reasonably satisfactory to a majority in interest of the Holders requesting registration, addressed to the underwriters, if any, and to the Holders requesting registration of Registrable Securities.

 

7.

FURNISH INFORMATION

It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to Sections 2, 3 or 4 that the selling Holders shall furnish to the Company such information regarding themselves, the Registrable Securities held by them and the intended method of disposition of such securities as shall be required to timely effect the Registration of their Registrable Securities.

 

8.

INDEMNIFICATION

In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a registration statement under Sections 2, 3 or 4, the Company shall act upon the requirements set forth in Sections 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4 and 8.5 accordingly.

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Exhibit B


8.1

By the Company

To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its partners, officers, directors, legal counsel, any underwriter (as defined in the Securities Act) for such Holder and each person, if any, who controls such Holder or underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (joint or several) to which they may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other United States federal or state law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any of the following statements, omissions or violations (collectively a “Violation”):

(a) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in such registration statement, including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any amendments or supplements thereto;

(b) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or

(c) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any United States federal or state securities law or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any United States federal or state securities law in connection with the offering covered by such registration statement;

and the Company will reimburse each such Holder, its partner, officer, director, legal counsel, underwriter or controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them, as incurred, in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 8.1 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), nor shall the Company be liable in any such case for any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action to the extent that it arises out of or is based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished expressly for use in connection with such registration by such Holder or any partner, officer, director, counsel, underwriter or controlling person of such Holder.

 

8.2

By Selling Holders

To the extent permitted by law, each selling Holder will, if Registrable Securities held by Holder are included in the securities as to which such registration qualifications or compliance is being effected, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who has signed the registration statement, each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, any underwriter and any other Holder selling securities under such registration statement or any of such other Holder’s partners, directors, officers, legal counsel or any person who controls such Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (joint or several) to which the Company or any such director, officer, legal counsel, controlling person, underwriter or other such Holder, partner or director, officer or controlling person of such other Holder may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other United States federal or state law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereto) arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in each case to the extent (and only to the extent) that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by such Holder expressly for use in connection with such registration; and each such Holder will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such director, officer, controlling person, underwriter or other Holder, partner, officer, director or controlling person of such other Holder in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 8.2 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Holder, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; and provided further, that in no event shall any indemnity under this Section 8.2 exceed the net proceeds received by such Holder in the registered offering out of which the applicable Violation arises.

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Exhibit B


8.3

Notice

Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any governmental action), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnified party under this Section 8, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the parties; provided, however, that an indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, with the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained by the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential conflict of interests between such indemnified party and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall relieve such indemnifying party of liability to the indemnified party under this Section 8 to the extent the indemnifying party is prejudiced as a result thereof, but the omission to so deliver written notice to the indemnifying party will not relieve it of any liability that it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 8.

 

8.4

Contribution

In order to provide for just and equitable contribution to joint liability under the Securities Act in any case in which either (i) any indemnified party makes a claim for indemnification pursuant to this Section 8 but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that this Section 8 provides for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the Securities Act may be required on the part of any indemnified party in circumstances for which indemnification is provided under this Section 8; then, and in each such case, the indemnified party and the indemnifying party will contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which they may be subject (after contribution from others) in such proportion so that a Holder (together with its related persons) is responsible for the portion represented by the percentage that the public offering price of its Registrable Securities offered by and sold under the registration statement bears to the public offering price of all securities offered by and sold under such registration statement, and the Company and other selling Holders are responsible for the remaining portion. The relative fault of the indemnifying Party and of the indemnified Party shall be determined by a court of law by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying Party or by the indemnified Party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission; provided, however, that, in any such case: (A) no Holder will be required to contribute any amount in excess of the net proceeds to such Holder from the sale of all such Registrable Securities offered and sold by such Holder pursuant to such registration statement; and (B) no person or entity guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any person or entity who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

8.5

Survival

The obligations of the Company and Holders under this Section 8 shall survive the completion of any offering of Registrable Securities in a registration statement, regardless of the expiration of any statutes of limitation or extensions of such statutes. No indemnifying party, in the defense of any such claim or litigation, shall, except with the consent of each indemnified party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Exhibit B


9.

NO REGISTRATION RIGHTS TO THIRD PARTIES

Without the prior written consent of the Holders of a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities then Outstanding, the Company covenants and agrees that it shall not grant, or cause or permit to be created, for the benefit of any person or entity any registration rights of any kind (whether similar to the demand, “piggyback” or Form S-3 registration rights described in this Exhibit B, or otherwise) relating to any securities of the Company which are senior to, or on a parity with, those granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities.

 

10.

RULE 144 REPORTING

With a view to making available the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the SEC which may at any time permit the sale of the Registrable Securities to the public without registration or pursuant to a registration on Form S-3, after such time as a public market exists for the Ordinary Shares, the Company agrees to:

(a) Make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, at all times after the effective date of the first registration under the Securities Act filed by the Company for an offering of its securities to the general public;

(b) File with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements); and

(c) So long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, to furnish to such Holder forthwith upon request (i) a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 (at any time after ninety (90) days after the effective date of the Company’s initial public offering), the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements), or its qualification as a registrant whose securities may be resold pursuant to Form S-3 (at any time after it so qualifies), (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and (iii) such other reports and documents of the Company as a Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the SEC that permits the selling of any such securities without registration or pursuant to Form S-3.

 

11.

MARKET STAND-OFF

Each Shareholder agrees that, so long as it holds any voting securities of the Company, upon request by the Company or the underwriters managing the initial public offering of the Company’s securities, it will not sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of any securities of the Company (other than those permitted to be included in the registration and other transfers to Affiliates permitted by law) without the prior written consent of the Company or such underwriters, as the case may be, for a period of time specified by the representative of the underwriters not to exceed one hundred and eighty (180) days from the effective date of the registration statement covering such initial public offering or the pricing date of such offering as may be requested by the underwriters. The foregoing provision of this Section 11 shall not apply to the sale of any securities of the Company to an underwriter pursuant to any underwriting agreement. The Company shall require all future acquirers of the Company’s securities to execute prior to an IPO a market stand-off agreement containing substantially similar provisions as those contained in this Section 11.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Exhibit B


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT

This ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT is made on [*], 202[*], by and between Tusimple (Cayman) Limited (the “Company”); and [*] (the [New Investor][New Founder]).

The Company and the New Investor shall be referred to collectively as the Parties.

WHEREAS

(A) As of December 4, 2020, the Company, certain existing shareholders of the Company and certain other parties entered into a Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement (the “Shareholders Agreement”), attached hereto as Exhibit A.

(B) The [New Investor][New Founder] wishes to acquire an aggregate of [*] [Ordinary Shares] [Preferred Shares] (as defined in the Shareholders’ Agreement) in the capital of the Company and in accordance with the Shareholders’ Agreement has agreed to enter into this Assumption Agreement (the “Assumption Agreement”).

(C) The Company is entering into this Assumption Agreement on behalf of itself and as agent for all the existing Shareholders of the Company.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.

INTERPRETATION

In this Assumption Agreement, except as the context may otherwise require, all words and expressions defined in the Shareholders’ Agreement shall have the same meanings when used herein.

 

2.

COVENANT

The [New Investor][New Founder] hereby covenants to the Company as trustee for all other persons who are at present or who may hereafter become bound by the Shareholders’ Agreement, and to the Company itself, to adhere to and be bound by all the duties, burdens and obligations of an party holding [Ordinary Shares][Preferred Shares] imposed pursuant to the provisions of the Shareholders’ Agreement and all documents expressed in writing to be supplemental or ancillary thereto as if the [New Investor][New Founder] had been an original party to the Shareholders’ Agreement as a [New Investor][New Founder] since the date thereof.

 

3.

ENFORCEABILITY

Each existing Investor, Founder and the Company shall be entitled to enforce the Shareholders’ Agreement against the [New Investor][New Founder], and the [New Investor][New Founder] shall be entitled to all rights and benefits of a [Investor][ Founder] under the Shareholders’ Agreement in each case as if such [New Investor][New Founder] had been an original party to the Shareholders’ Agreement since the date hereof.

 

4.

GOVERNING LAW

This Assumption Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the Laws of Hong Kong, without regard to principles of conflicts of law thereunder.

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Exhibit C


5.

COUNTERPARTS

This Assumption Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts which together shall form one and the same agreement.

 

6.

FURTHER ASSURANCE

Each party agrees to take all such further action as may be reasonably necessary to give full effect to this Assumption Agreement on its terms and conditions.

 

7.

HEADINGS

The headings used in this Assumption Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Exhibit C


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Assumption Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

COMPANY:     For and on behalf of
    Tusimple (Cayman) Limited
   

         

    Name: Mo Chen
    Title: Director
    Address:
    Fax:
    E-mail:
[NEW INVESTOR:]     [            ]

 

[NEW FOUNDER:]

   
    By:  

        

    Name:  

 

    Title:  
    Address:  
    Fax:  
    E-mail:  

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT]

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Exhibit C


EXHIBIT D

ANNUAL INFORMATION STATEMENT

 

(1)

         This questionnaire applies to the taxable year of Tusimple (Cayman) Limited (the “Company”) beginning on [*], 20[*], and ending on [*], 20[*].

 

(2)

         PLEASE CHECK HERE IF 75% OR MORE OF THE COMPANYS GROSS INCOME CONSTITUTES PASSIVE INCOME.

Passive income: For purposes of this test, passive income includes:

 

   

Dividends, interests, royalties, rents and annuities, excluding, however, rents and royalties which are received from an unrelated party in connection with the active conduct of a trade or business.

 

   

Net gains from the sale or exchange of property—

which gives rise to dividends, interest, rents or annuities (excluding, however, property used in the conduct of a banking, finance or similar business, or in the conduct of an insurance business);

which is an interest in a trust, partnership, or REMIC; or

which does not give rise to income.

 

   

Net gains from transactions in commodities.

 

   

Net foreign currency gains.

 

   

Any income equivalent to interest.

Look-through rule: if the Company owns, directly or indirectly, 25% of the stock by value of another corporation, the Company must take into account its proportionate share of the income received by such other corporation.

 

(3)

         PLEASE CHECK HERE IF THE AVERAGE FAIR MARKET VALUE DURING THE TAXABLE YEAR OF PASSIVE ASSETS HELD BY THE COMPANY EQUALS 50% OR MORE OF THE AVERAGE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF ALL OF THE COMPANYS ASSETS.

Note: This test is applied on a gross basis; no liabilities are taken into account.

Passive Assets: For purposes of this test, “passive assets” are those assets which generate (or are reasonably expected to generate) passive income (as defined above). Assets which generate partly passive and partly non-passive income are considered passive assets to the extent of the relative proportion of passive income (compared to non-passive income) generated in a particular taxable year by such assets. Please note the following:

 

   

A trade or service receivable is non-passive if it results from sales or services provided in the ordinary course of business.

 

   

Intangible assets that produce identifiable items of income, such as patents or licenses, are characterized in terms of the type of income produced.

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Exhibit D


   

Goodwill and going concern value must be identified to a specific income producing activity and are characterized in accordance with the nature of that activity.

 

   

Cash and other assets easily convertible into cash are passive assets, even when used as working capital.

 

   

Stock and securities (including tax-exempt securities) are passive assets, unless held by a dealer as inventory.

Average value: For purposes of this test, “average fair market value” equals the average quarterly fair market value of the assets for the relevant taxable year.

Look-through rule: if the Company owns, directly or indirectly, 25% of the stock by value of another corporation, the Company must take into account its proportionate share of the passive assets of such other corporation.

 

(4)

         PLEASE CHECK HERE IF (A) MORE THAN 50% OF THE COMPANYS STOCK (BY VOTING POWER OR BY VALUE) IS OWNED BY FIVE OR FEWER U.S. PERSONS OR ENTITIES AND (BTHE AVERAGE AGGREGATE ADJUSTED TAX BASES (AS DETERMINED UNDER U.S. TAX PRINCIPLES) DURING THE TAXABLE YEAR OF THE PASSIVE ASSETS HELD BY THE COMPANY EQUALS 50% OR MORE OF THE AVERAGE AGGREGATE ADJUSTED TAX BASES OF ALL OF THE COMPANYS ASSETS.

Average value: For purposes of this test, “average aggregate adjusted tax bases” equals the average quarterly aggregate adjusted tax bases of the assets for the relevant taxable year.

Look-through rule: if the Company owns, directly or indirectly, 25% of the stock by value of another corporation, the Company must take into account its proportionate share of the passive assets of such other corporation.

 

(5)

[INVESTOR] HAS THE FOLLOWING PRO-RATA SHARE OF THE ORDINARY EARNINGS AND NET CAPITAL GAIN OF THE COMPANY AS DETERMINED UNDER U.S. INCOME TAX PRINCIPLES FOR THE TAXABLE YEAR OF THE COMPANY:

Ordinary Earnings:                              (as determined under U.S. income tax principles)

Net Capital Gain:                                  (as determined under U.S. income tax principles)

Pro Rata Share: For purposes of the foregoing, the shareholder’s pro rata share equals the amount that would have been distributed with respect to the shareholder’s stock if, on each day during the taxable year of the Company, the Company had distributed to each shareholder its pro rata share of that day’s ratable share (determined by allocating to each day of the year, an equal amount of the Company’s aggregate ordinary earnings and aggregate net capital gain for such year) of the Company’s ordinary earnings and net capital gain for such year. Determination of a shareholder’s pro rata share will require reference to the Company’s charter, certificate of incorporation, articles of association or other comparable governing document.

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Exhibit D


(6)

The amount of cash and fair market value of other property distributed or deemed distributed by Company to [INVESTOR] during the taxable year specified in paragraph 1. is as follows:

Cash:                         

Fair Market Value of Property:                                 

 

(7)

Company will permit [INVESTOR] to inspect and copy Company’s permanent books of account, records, and such other documents as may be maintained by Company that are necessary to establish that PFIC ordinary earnings and net capital gain, as provided in Section 1293(e) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor provision thereto), are computed in accordance with U.S. income tax principles.

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Exhibit D


The foregoing representations are true and accurate as of the date hereof. If in any respect such representations shall cease to be true and accurate, the undersigned shall give immediate notice of such fact to [INVESTOR].

 

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited

By:  

        

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

Date:  

 

 

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited – Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement – Exhibit D

Exhibit 10.1

Indemnification Agreement

This Indemnification Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of                      , 2021 by and between TuSimple Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and                          (“Indemnitee”). This Agreement supersedes and replaces any and all previous Agreements between the Company and Indemnitee covering the subject matter of this Agreement.

Recitals

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) believes that highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors or officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors, officers, and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself. The Bylaws, as amended, of the Company (the “Bylaws”) and the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of the Company (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). The Bylaws, Certificate of Incorporation and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the board of directors, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification;

WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification may increase the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;


WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;

WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Bylaws, Certificate of Incorporation and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and

WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Bylaws, Certificate of Incorporation and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve or continue to serve as an officer or director without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that Indemnitee be so indemnified.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

Section 1.    Services to the Company. Indemnitee agrees to serve, as applicable, as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or, at the request of the Company, as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Company shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), if any, is at will, and the Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Company, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Company’s Bylaws, and the DGCL. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve, as applicable, as an officer, director, agent or employee of the Company or, at the request of the Company, as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, as provided in Section 16 hereof.

Section 2.    Definitions. As used in this Agreement:

(a)    References to “agent” shall mean any person who is or was a director, officer, or employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or other person authorized by the Company to act for the Company, to include such person serving in such capacity as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or other official of another corporation, partnership, limited liability


company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent the interests of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.

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

i.    Acquisition of Stock by Third Party. Any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities unless the change in relative Beneficial Ownership of the Company’s securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not include any Person having such status prior to the consummation of the initial public offering of the Company’s securities unless after the initial public offering such Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of additional securities of the Company representing in the aggregate an additional five percent (5%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities;

ii.    Change in Board of Directors. During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 2(b)(i), 2(b)(iii) or 2(b)(iv)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;

iii.    Corporate Transactions. The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 51% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such surviving entity;

iv.    Liquidation. The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; and

v.    Other Events. There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.


For purposes of this Section 2(b), the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(A)    “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

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

(C)    “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner shall exclude any Person otherwise becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity.

(c)    “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership or joint venture, trust or other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

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

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

(f)    “Expenses” shall include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts and other professionals, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding. Expenses also shall include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, and (ii) for purposes of Section 14(d) only, Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, by litigation or otherwise. The parties agree that for the purposes of any


advancement of Expenses for which Indemnitee has made written demand to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, all Expenses included in such demand that are certified by affidavit of Indemnitee’s counsel as being reasonable in the good faith judgment of such counsel shall be presumed conclusively to be reasonable. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

(g)    “Independent Counsel” shall mean a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

(h)    The term “Proceeding” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim, counterclaim, cross claim, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including any appeal therefrom, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness or otherwise by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken by Indemnitee (or a failure to take action by Indemnitee) or of any action (or failure to act) on Indemnitee’s part while acting pursuant to Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement. If the Indemnitee believes in good faith that a given situation may lead to or culminate in the institution of a Proceeding, this shall be considered a Proceeding under this paragraph.

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


Section 3.    Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful. The parties hereto intend that this Agreement shall provide to the fullest extent permitted by law for indemnification in excess of that expressly permitted by statute, including, without limitation, any indemnification provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, vote of its stockholders or disinterested directors or applicable law.

Section 4.    Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. No indemnification for Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court (as hereinafter defined) or any court in which the Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

Section 5.    Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with or related to each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter to the fullest extent permitted by law. For purposes of this Section 5 and without limitation, Indemnitee will be deemed to have been “successful on the merits” in circumstances including but


not limited to the termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by the winning of a dismissal (with or without prejudice), motion for summary judgment, settlement (with or without court approval), or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent.

Section 6.    Indemnification For Expenses of a Witness. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a witness or otherwise asked to participate in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.

Section 7.    Partial Indemnification. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of Expenses, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.

Section 8.    Additional Indemnification.

(a)    Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status.

(b)    For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase “to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law” shall include, but not be limited to:

i.    to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the DGCL that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL, and

ii.    to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers and directors.

Section 9.    Exclusions. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnification payment in connection with any claim involving Indemnitee:

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


(b)    for (i) an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (as defined in Section 2(b) hereof) or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law, (ii) any reimbursement of the Company by the Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act) or (iii) any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any compensation pursuant to any compensation recoupment or clawback policy adopted by the Board or the compensation committee of the Board, including but not limited to any such policy adopted to comply with stock exchange listing requirements implementing Section 10D of the Exchange Act; or

(c)    except as provided in Section 14(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law; or

(d)    For which payment is prohibited by law, as determined in a final adjudication by a court of competent jurisdiction not subject to further appeal.

Section 10.    Advances of Expenses. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary (other than Section 14(d)), the Company shall advance, the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding or the preparation of any Proceeding) not initiated by Indemnitee or any Proceeding initiated by Indemnitee with the prior approval of the Board as provided in Section 9(c), and such advancement shall be made within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement, and Indemnitee’s right to such advancement is not subject to the satisfaction of any standard of conduct. In accordance with Section 14(d), advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. The right to advances under this section shall in all events continue until final disposition of any Proceeding, including any appeal therein. The Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking providing that the Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced (without interest) to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. No other form of undertaking shall be required other than the execution of this Agreement. Without


limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, within thirty days after any request by Indemnitee, the Company shall, in accordance with such request (but without duplication), (a) pay such Expenses on behalf of Indemnitee, (b) advance to Indemnitee funds in an amount sufficient to pay such Expenses, or (c) reimburse Indemnitee for such Expenses. This Section 10 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 9.

Section 11.    Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim.

(a)    Indemnitee shall notify the Company in writing of any matter with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof. To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding. The omission by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

(b)    The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.

Section 12.    Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification.

(a)    Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a), a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case: (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any costs or Expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making


such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom. The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied.

(b)    In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 12(b). If a Change in Control shall not have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising Indemnitee of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. If a Change in Control shall have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or the Delaware Court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within twenty (20) days after the later of submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof and the final disposition of the Proceeding, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by such court or by such other person as such court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 12(a) hereof. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

Section 13.    Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.

(a)    In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent allowed by law, presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption, by clear and convincing evidence, in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption. Neither the failure of the Company (including by


its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

(b)    Subject to Section 14(e), if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 12 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final adjudication not subject to further appeal; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 13(b) shall not apply (i) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement and if (A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the request for such determination the Board has resolved to submit such determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within seventy-five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement.

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

(d)    For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors or officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser, financial advisor or other expert


selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Enterprise. The provisions of this Section 13(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

(e)    The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

Section 14.    Remedies of Indemnitee.

(a)    Subject to Section 14(e), in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ninety (90) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5, 6 or 7 or the second to last sentence of Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3, 4 or 8 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) in the event that the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or Proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 14(a). The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

(b)    In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.

(c)    If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14,


absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

(d)    The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. It is the intent of the Company that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Indemnitee hereunder. The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company if, in the case of indemnification, Indemnitee is wholly successful on the underlying claims; if Indemnitee is not wholly successful on the underlying claims, then such indemnification shall be only to the extent Indemnitee is successful on such underlying claims or otherwise as permitted by law, whichever is greater.

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

Section 15.    Non-exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.

(a)    The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Bylaws, Certificate of Incorporation and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.


(b)    To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents of the Enterprise, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or policies. If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such claim or of the commencement of a Proceeding, as the case may be, to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies. If requested by Indemnitee, within two business days of such request the Company will instruct the insurance carriers and the Company’s insurance broker that they may communicate directly with Indemnitee regarding such claim. In the event of a Change in Control, or the Company becoming insolvent (including being placed into receivership or entering the federal bankruptcy process and the like), the Company shall maintain in force any and all insurance policies then maintained by the Company in respect of Indemnitee (including directors’ and officers’ liability, fiduciary, employment practices or otherwise), for a period of six years thereafter (“Tail Policy”). The Tail Policy shall be placed by the broker of the Company’s choice with incumbent insurance carriers using the policies that were in place at the time of the Change in Control (unless the incumbent carriers do not offer such policies, in which case the Tail Policy shall be substantially comparable in scope and amount as the expiring policies, and the insurance carriers for the Tail Policy shall have an AM Best rating that is the same or better than the AM Best ratings of the expiring policies).

(c)    In the event of any payment made by the Company under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

(d)    The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable (or for which advancement is provided hereunder) hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise; provided, however, that payment made to Indemnitee pursuant to an insurance policy purchased and maintained by Indemnitee at his or her own expense of any amounts otherwise indemnifiable or obligated to be made pursuant to this Agreement shall not reduce the Company’s obligations to Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement.

(e)    The Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement of


Expenses from such other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.

Section 16.    Duration of Agreement; Successors.

(a)    This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the later of: (i) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or, at the request of the Company, as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or (ii) one (1) year after the final termination of any Proceeding then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement relating thereto. For the avoidance of doubt, this Agreement shall provide for rights of indemnification and advancement of Expenses as set forth herein for any event or occurrence related to Indemnitee’s service for the Company, regardless of whether such events or occurrences occurred before or after the date of this Agreement.

(b)    The indemnification and advancement of expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives. The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company, by written agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Section 17.    Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

Section 18.    Enforcement.


(a)    The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director or officer of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving or continuing to serve as a director or officer of the Company.

(b)    This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

Section 19.    Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

Section 20.    Notice by Indemnitee and Company. Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder. The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise. If the Indemnitee is the subject of, or is, to the knowledge of the Company, implicated in any way during an investigation, whether formal or informal, that is related to Indemnitee’s Corporate Status and that reasonably could lead to a Proceeding for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement, the Company shall notify the Indemnitee of such investigation and shall share with Indemnitee any information it has provided to any third parties concerning the investigation (“Shared Information”). By executing this Agreement, Indemnitee agrees that such Shared Information is material non-public information that Indemnitee is obligated to hold in confidence and may not disclose publicly; provided, however, that Indemnitee may use the Shared Information and disclose such Shared Information to Indemnitee’s legal counsel and third parties, in each case solely in connection with defending Indemnitee from legal liability

Section 21.    Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, (b) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, (c) mailed by reputable overnight courier and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed or (d) sent by facsimile transmission, with receipt of oral confirmation that such transmission has been received:

(a)    If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.


(b)    If to the Company to:

TuSimple Holdings Inc.

9191 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 600

San Diego, California 92122

Attention: Chief Legal Officer

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company, with a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to:

Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP

550 Allerton Street

Redwood City, California, 94063

Attention:

Zhen Liu, Esq.

Jeffrey R. Vetter, Esq.

Section 22.    Contribution. To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).

Section 23.    Monetary Damages Insufficient/Specific Performance. The Company and Indemnitee agree that a monetary remedy for breach of this Agreement may be inadequate, impracticable and difficult of proof, and further agree that such breach may cause Indemnitee irreparable harm. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that Indemnitee may enforce this Agreement by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance hereof, without any necessity of showing actual damage or irreparable harm (having agreed that actual and irreparable harm will result in not forcing the Company to specifically perform its obligations pursuant to this Agreement) and that by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance, Indemnitee shall not be precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which he may be entitled. The Company and Indemnitee further agree that Indemnitee shall be entitled to such specific performance and injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions, without the necessity of posting bonds or other undertaking in connection therewith. The Company acknowledges that in the absence of a waiver, a bond or undertaking may be required of Indemnitee by the Court, and the Company hereby waives any such requirement of a bond or undertaking. If Indemnitee seeks mandatory injunctive relief, it shall not be a defense to enforcement of the Company’s obligations set forth in this Agreement that Indemnitee has an adequate remedy at law for damages.


Section 24.    Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”), and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) appoint, to the extent such party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, Delaware 19808, as its agent in the State of Delaware as such party’s agent for acceptance of legal process in connection with any such action or proceeding against such party with the same legal force and validity as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware, (iv) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (v) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

Section 25.    Identical Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

Section 26.    Miscellaneous. Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate. The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

 

INDEMNITEE     TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.
By:  

                                      

    By:  

                                      

Name:                                                         Name:  
Address:  

                                      

    Office:  

                                      

     

Exhibit 10.2

Loan Agreement

This Loan Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between the Parties below as of April 7, 2017, in Beijing, China:

Party A (“Lender”): Jinzhuo Hengbang Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.

Party B (“Borrower”): Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd.

For the purposes of the Agreement, Party A and Party B shall be hereinafter referred to as the “Parties” collectively, and as a “Party” respectively.

WHEREAS:

 

  (1)

Party B is entrusted by Party A to seek potential investment projects and enter into letters of intent, and for the purpose of paying the investment advance payment, Party B needs to borrow RMB Ten Million (¥10,000,000.00) from Party A;

 

  (2)

Party A agrees to provide the aforesaid loan to the Borrower in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Agreement.

On the basis of equality and mutual benefit and through friendly consultation, the Parties agree as follows:

Article 1 Amount of Loan

Party A agrees to lend RMB Ten Million (¥10,000,000.00) to Party B (hereinafter referred to as the “Loan” or the “Loan Principal”) within five (5) days from the date of the Agreement.

Article 2 Interest

The Loan under this Agreement is without interest.

Article 3 Purpose of the Loan

Party B undertakes that the Loan hereunder shall and shall only be used for the investment advance payment for the projects designated by Party A.


Article 4 Term of the Loan

 

  1.

The term of the Loan shall be 12 months from the date of the Agreement.

 

  2.

Party A shall have the right to shorten or extend the term of the Loan by giving a prior written notice to Party B, and such shortening or extension shall take effect immediately from the effective date set forth in the written notice served by Party A to Party B.

Article 5 Time and Method of Repayment

Unless otherwise agreed herein, Party B shall repay the full amount of the Loan to Party A on time in any of the following ways:

 

  1.

Party B shall repay the full amount of principal and interest (if any) by a lump-sum payment on the maturity date of the loan set forth in Article 4 hereof, and the repayment currency shall be the same as the borrowing currency; or

 

  2.

Party A shall have the right to request the Borrower to repay the debts owed by the Borrower to Party A hereunder by transfer of equity interest to offset the debts or by other means designated by Party A.

Article 6 Party A’s Covenants

 

  1.

Party A shall the Loan to Party B under the Agreement in full and on time;

 

  2.

Party A shall keep Party B’s debts, financial and operational information confidential.

Article 7 Party B’s Covenants

 

  1.

Party B shall use the Loan for the purpose set forth herein and use the total amount of the Loan only for the purpose set forth in Article 3 hereof;

 

  2.

Party B shall not use the Loan to engage in illegal activities;

 

  3.

Party B shall repay the full amount of the Loan Principal on time.

Article 8 Liability for Default

 

  1.

Any Party that directly or indirectly violates any provision of the Agreement or does not assume or fails to timely and fully assume its obligations under the Agreement constitutes a breach of contract, the non-breaching Party shall have the right by written notice to require the breaching Party to cure its breach and take adequate, effective and prompt measures to eliminate the consequences of default and to compensate the non-breaching Party for the losses incurred by the breaching Party as a result of the breach.


  2.

If, after the occurrence of default, the non-breaching Party reasonably and objectively determines that such breach has rendered the performance of the non-breaching Party’s corresponding obligations under the Agreement impossible or unfair, the non-breaching Party shall be entitled to notify the breaching Party in writing that the non-breaching Party will temporarily suspend the performance of its corresponding obligations under the Agreement until the breaching Party ceases its breach, takes adequate, effective and prompt measures to eliminate the consequences of default and compensates the non-breaching Party for the losses incurred by the breaching Party as a result of the breach.

 

  3.

The breaching Party shall indemnify the non-breaching Party for its losses including direct economic losses, any foreseeable indirect losses and additional costs incurred by the breaching Party as a result of the default, including but not limited to attorney’s fees, litigation and arbitration costs, financial costs and travel expenses.

Article 9 Governing Law

The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, enforcement and dispute resolution of the Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the People’s Republic of China.

Article 10 Dispute Resolution

The Parties shall first endeavor to resolve any dispute arising out of or in connection with the Agreement through amicable negotiation. If the dispute fails to be resolved within thirty (30) days after the commencement of amicable negotiations or such longer period as the Parties may then agree, either Party may apply to the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) for arbitration to resolve the dispute in accordance with the CIETAC Arbitration Rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in Beijing. The arbitral award shall be final and binding on the Parties, and the Parties agree to be bound by and to enforce the arbitral award accordingly.

Article 11 Miscellaneous

 

  1.

The failure of any Party to the Agreement to exercise its rights hereunder in a timely manner shall not be deemed as a waiver of such rights, nor shall it affect the exercise of such rights by such Party in the future.

 

  2.

In the event that any provision contained in the Agreement (or portion thereof) is held to be invalid or unenforceable in any aspect, the remaining provisions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

  3.

The Agreement shall be executed in two counterparts, and each Party holds one copy with equal legal validity.

 

  4.

Matters not covered in the Agreement shall be settled by both Parties through separate negotiation.


(Remainder of page intentionally left blank, and signature page follows.)


(This page is the signature page of the Loan Agreement with no text)

Party A: Jinzhuo Hengbang Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.

[Jinzhuo Hengbang Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. company seal is affixed]

Party B: Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd.

[Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd. company seal is affixed]

Date: April 7, 2017

Exhibit 10.3

Loan Transfer Tripartite Agreement

This Loan Transfer Tripartite Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into on June 19, 2017 in Haidian District, Beijing, the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) by and among:

Party A (Transferor): Beijing Tusen Hulian Technology Co., Ltd.

Address: Room E429, 4th Floor, Building 3, 29 DongBeiWangNan Road, Haidian District, Beijing

Unified Social Credit Code: 91110108355223385M

Party B (Transferee): Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd.

Address: No. 1 Linkong Second Road, Shunyi Park, Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park, Shunyi District, Beijing

Unified Social Credit Code: 91110113MA00ACF77P

Party C (Creditor): Jinzhuo Hengbang Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.

Address: Room 522, 5th Floor, Scientific Research Building, Sina Headquarters, N-1, N-2 of Phase II Zhongguancun Software Park (West Expansion), DongBeiWangXi Road, Haidian District, Beijing

Unified Social Credit Code: 911101087587274578

Hereinafter individually referred to as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”.

Whereas:

 

1.

Both Party A and Party B are limited liability companies incorporated in Beijing under the laws of the PRC and the actual controller of both Party A and Party B is an individual, CHEN Mo (ID Number: [***]). The Parties are affiliates under the same actual controller.

 

2.

Party A and Party C have entered into a Loan Agreement on August 16, 2016


(“The Loan Agreement”), where Party A is the borrower and Party C is the lender. Pursuant to the Loan Agreement, Party A shall borrow from Party B Fifteen Million Yuan (RMB 15,000,000.00) for a term of 12 months from the date on which the loan is remitted to the account designated by Party A at the annual interest rate of 8%, and Party A shall repay the principal and the interest accrued thereon on a lump-sum basis when due (the above loan and interest are collectively referred to as “Party A’s Debts”).

 

3.

All Parties agree that the creditor’s rights and debts between Party A and Party C are true and valid. Party B is willing to assume Party A’s Debts, and Party C agrees to the assumption of such debts.

Accordingly, based on the principle of equality and mutual benefit, and in accordance with the Contract Law of the People’s Republic of China and other relevant laws and regulations, the Parties have friendly negotiated with regard to Party B’s voluntary assumption of Party A’s debts to Party C, and entered into this agreement.

 

1

Debts

 

  1.1

The Parties unanimously agree that Party B shall assume the following debts:

 

  1)

A total of Fifteen Million Yuan (RMB 15,000,000.00) of the loan principle, and the maturity date is August 16, 2017;

 

  2)

the interest of the above principal shall be calculated at an annual interest rate of 8%, and shall be calculated from August 17, 2016 to the actual repayment date by Party B.

 

  3)

other outstanding debts which Party A has not repaid to Party C (if any).

 

  1.2

The Parties unanimously agree that Party B shall repay the debts set out in Article 1.1 of this Agreement as follows:

 

  1.2.1

First repayment: Party B undertakes to make the first repayment to Party C on August 16, 2017. The repayment amount shall be equal to all the interest on the principal set out in Clause 1.1 of this Agreement at an annual interest rate of 8% calculated from August 17, 2016 to August 16, 2017, the total amount of which shall be One Million Two Hundred Thousand Yuan (RMB 1,200,000.00);


  1.2.2

Second Repayment: Party B undertakes to make the second repayment to Party C on December 31, 2017. The repayment amount shall be equal to the principal of the loan set out in Clause 1.1 of this Agreement and all the interest accrued thereon at an annual interest rate of 8% from August 17, 2017 to December 31, 2017, the total amount of which shall be Fifteen Million Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Four Hundred and Ten Yuan, and Ninety-Six Cents (RMB 15,450,410.96);

 

  1.2.3

If there is any outstanding loan principal or interest after December 31, 2017, Party B shall pay Party C an additional default penalty equal to 0.03% of the outstanding amount each day until all the payments are fully repaid.

 

2

Covenants of Party A

 

  2.1

Party A is a legal organization or a natural person with full civil capacity and has the ability to sign this Agreement and perform its obligations thereunder.

 

  2.2

The terms and conditions of this Agreement are the true intentions of Party A and shall be legally binding upon it.

 

  2.3

In connection with the signing of this Agreement and performance of its obligations thereunder, Party A has obtained all necessary company authorizations and obtained the approval of the company’s shareholders meeting or the board of directors, and does not violate any applicable laws or regulations. The authorized representative signatory of the Agreement has been legally and effectively authorized.

 

  2.4

Party A undertakes to other Parties that if Party B fails to perform or fails to fully perform the repayment obligations under this Agreement for any reason by then, Party A will be responsible for the failed or incomplete repayment obligations.


  2.5

Party A warrants to all other Parties that Party A will abide by and perform all warranties, commitments, agreements and representations. In the event that Party A does not perform or does not fully perform its warranties, commitments, agreements and representations, Party A shall indemnify the other parties for all losses incurred thereby.

 

3

Covenants of Party B

 

  3.1

Party B is a legal organization or a natural person with full civil capacity and has the ability to sign this Agreement and perform its obligations thereunder.

 

  3.2

The terms and conditions of this Agreement are the true intentions of Party B and shall be legally binding upon it.

 

  3.3

In connection with the signing of this Agreement and performance of its obligations thereunder, Party B has obtained all necessary company authorizations and obtained the approval of the company’s shareholders meeting or the board of directors, and does not violate any applicable laws or regulations. The authorized representative signatory of this Agreement has been legally and effectively authorized.

 

  3.4

Party B, by reviewing the relevant documents concerning the occurrence of the creditor’s claims and debts of Party A and Party C, has verified the truth of the debt owed by Party A to Party C, and voluntarily assumes the debt mentioned in Clause 1.1 of this Agreement, and succeeds Party A as the debtor of Party C.

 

  3.5

Any other agreement or claims and debts between Party B and Party A or any third party is unrelated to this Agreement. After the entry into force of this Agreement, Party B shall not repudiate the Agreement on the ground of invalidity, cancellation or discharge of any other agreement or any debt obligations between Party A and any third party;

 

  3.6

Party B shall not refuse to perform its obligations under this Agreement on the grounds of any fault of Party A.


4

Covenants of Party C

 

  4.1

After this Agreement comes into force, unless Party B explicitly refuses to perform or there is evidence that it is impossible to perform the repayment obligations under the Agreement, Party C shall not advocate the performance of Party A of the debts already assumed by Party B in the Agreement.

 

5

Service Charge and Other Fees

 

  5.1

All expenses required to realize the rights under the Agreement, including but not limited to registration fees, evaluation fees, auction fees, intermediary fees, attorney fees, notarization fees, etc., shall be borne by Party A and Party B.

 

6

Force Majeure

 

  6.1

“Force Majeure Event” refers to any event beyond the reasonable control of one Party and still unavoidable under the reasonable care of the Affected Party, including but not limited to government actions, natural forces, fires, explosions, storms, floods, earthquakes, tides, lightning or war. However, insufficient credit, funds or financing shall not be regarded as matters beyond the reasonable control of one Party. The liability of the Party affected by the Force Majeure Event (hereinafter referred to as the “Affected Party”) shall be exempted in whole or in part based on the Force Majeure Event’s impact on the Agreement. The Affected Party seeking to be exempted from the liability of the performance under this Agreement due to the Force Majeure Event shall notice the other Party of the Force Majeure Event no later than ten (10) days from the occurrence of the Force Majeure Event, and the Parties to the Agreement shall negotiate to modify this Agreement based on the impact of the Force Majeure Event, and the Affected Party shall be fully or partially exempted from the obligations under this Agreement.

 

  6.2

The Affected Party shall take appropriate measures to mitigate or avoid the impact of such Force Majeure Events, and shall strive to resume the performance of obligations that have been delayed or hindered due to such Force Majeure Events. Once the Force Majeure Event ends, the Parties to the Agreement agree to do their utmost to resume the exercise of the rights and performance of the obligations under this Agreement.


7

Application of Law and Dispute Resolution

 

  7.1

This agreement is governed by the laws of the PRC and construed in accordance with the laws of the PRC.

 

  7.2

In the event of disputes between the Parties to the Agreement concerning the interpretation and performance of the provisions hereunder, the Parties shall resolve such disputes through negotiation in good faith. If negotiation fails, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration in accordance with its effective arbitration rules in force at that time. The arbitration shall take place in Beijing and the language of arbitration shall be Chinese. The arbitral award shall be final and binding on all Parties to the Agreement. The provisions of this section shall survive the termination or discharge of this Agreement.

 

  7.3

The Parties to this Agreement shall continue to perform their respective obligations in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement in good faith, except for matters in dispute between the Parties.

 

8

Notice

 

  8.1

Notices issued by each Party for the fulfillment of its rights and obligations under this Agreement shall be in writing, and sent by hand delivery, registered mail, postage prepaid mail, approved courier service, or fax to the address listed below of the Party or Parties concerned.

Party A: Beijing Tusen Hulian Technology Co., Ltd.

Contact: CHEN Mo

Email: [***]

Address: [***]

Postal Code: [***]


Party B: Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd.

Contact: CHEN Mo

Email: [***]

Address: [***]

Postal code: [***]

Party C: Jinzhuo Hengbang Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.

Contact: Zhang Lijing

Email: [***]

Address: [***]

Postal Code: [***]

 

9

Waiver

 

  9.1

Party A’s failure to exercise or delay in the exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege under this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of such right, remedy, power, or privilege. Any exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege by Party A alone or in part shall not preclude the exercise of any other rights, remedies, powers or privileges. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges stipulated in this Agreement are cumulative and do not exclude the application of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by any law.

 

10

Miscellaneous

 

  10.1

The Agreement shall become effective upon signing by the Parties on the date as stipulated in the first page of this document. Any amendments, supplements and changes to the Agreement shall be in writing and shall become effective upon the signature and seal of the Parties hereto.

 

  10.2

The Parties to this Agreement hereby confirm that the Agreement constitutes a fair and reasonable agreement between the Parties on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. If any provision of the Agreement is invalid or unenforceable due to inconsistency with any relevant law, such provision shall be invalid or unenforceable only within the jurisdiction of the relevant law, and the validity of other provisions hereof shall not be affected.


  10.3

The Agreement shall be written in the Chinese language in three (3) originals with each Party holding one (1) counterpart.

(Remainder of page intentionally left blank)


(This page shall be the signature page of the Loan Transfer Tripartite Agreement without text)

Party A: Beijing Tusen Hulian Technology Co., Ltd. (seal)

[Beijing Tusen Hulian Technology Co., Ltd. company seal is affixed]

Party B: Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd. (seal)

[Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd. company seal is affixed]

Party C: Jinzhuo Hengbang Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (seal)

[Jinzhuo Hengbang Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. company seal is affixed]

Exhibit 10.4

Security Deposit Contract

This Security Deposit Contract (hereinafter referred to as the “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and among the parties below as of December 22, 2017, in Haidian District, Beijing:

Party A: Jinzhuo Hengbang Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.

Address: Room 522, 5th Floor, Scientific Research Building, Sina Headquarters, N-1, N-2 of Phase II Zhongguancun Software Park (West Expansion), DongBeiWangXi Road, Haidian District, Beijing

Unified Social Credit Code: 911101087587274578

Party B: Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd.

Address: No. 1 Linkong Second Road, Shunyi Park, Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park, Shunyi District, Beijing

Unified Social Credit Code: 91110113MA00ACF77P

Party C: Tusimple (Cayman) Limited

Address: Sertus Chamers, P.O.Box 2547, Cassia Court, Camana Bay, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.

Registration Number: 316451

Party D: SINA Corporation

Address: C/O Maples and Calder, P.O. Box 309, Ugland House, South Church Street, George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Registration Number: CR-74902

The above are referred to respectively as a “Party” and collectively as “Parties”.


WHEREAS:

 

  (1)

Party A and Party B entered into the Loan Agreement on April 7, 2017, pursuant to which Party A provided to Party B an interest-free loan of RMB Ten Million (¥10,000,000.00); Party B and Party A entered into the Loan Transfer Tripartite Agreement on June 19, 2017, pursuant to which Party B voluntarily assumed the debts (the sum of the principal amount of RMB Fifteen Million (¥15,000,000.00) and the interest calculated at an annual interest rate of 8% as of the date of repayment by Party B) owed to Party A by its related party, Beijing Tusen Hulian Technology Co., Ltd.;

 

  (2)

On September 26, 2017, Party B repaid to Party A by telegraphic transfer the interest in the amount of RMB One Million Two Hundred Thousand (¥1,200,000.00), and on December 22, 2017, Party B repaid to Party A by telegraphic transfer RMB One Million (¥1,000,000.00), of which the interest in the amount of RMB Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Four Hundred and Eleven (¥450, 411.00) and the principal in the amount of RMB Five Hundred Forty-Nine Thousand Five Hundred and Eighty-Nine (¥549,589.00). As of December 22, 2017, the total amount of debts owned by Party B to Party A is RMB Twenty-Four million Four Hundred Fifty Thousand Four Hundred and Eleven (¥24,450,411.00) (the “Debts”).

 

  (3)

In order to guarantee the timely and full repayment of Party B to Party A, Party C agrees to provide a security deposit in the amount of US$ Three Million Seven Hundred Fourteen Thousand Six Hundred and Eighty-Two (US$3,714,682) (hereinafter referred to as the “Security Deposit”). Party A authorizes Party D to collect and manage the Security Deposit on its behalf.

For the purpose of clarifying the rights and obligations of the Parties, the Parties hereby agree on the following terms through mutual negotiation:

Article 1 Security Deposit

In order to guarantee the effective performance of Party B’s repayment obligations, Party C is willing to provide Party A with a Security Deposit amounting to US dollars three million seven hundred fourteen thousand six hundred and eighty-two (US$3,714,682) as agreed herein. Party A authorizes Party D to collect and manage the Security Deposit on its behalf.

Article 2 Scope of Guarantee

The scope of guarantee includes direct economic losses, any foreseeable indirect losses and additional costs incurred by the failure of Party B to perform the repayment obligations as agreed including but not limited to the failure of Party B to repay the loan as agreed and the default by Party B. Such direct economic losses, any foreseeable indirect losses and additional costs include but not limited to attorney’s fees, litigation and arbitration costs, financial costs and travel expenses.


Article 3 Payment Terms

Party C shall pay the Security Deposit to Party D within 30 days after the Agreement comes into effect.

Article 4 Method of Guarantee

Party C shall provide Party A with an unconditional and irrevocable unlimited joint and several guarantee.

Article 5 Exercise of the Pledge

5.1 Party A may exercise its right of disposition of the Security Deposit at any time if Party B fails to repay the loan as agreed within 20 business days upon receipt of the written notice from Party A. Party A and Party D may agree on the disposition of the Security Deposit at their own discretion.

5.2 The Parties shall not prevent Party A from disposing of the Security Deposit in accordance with the Agreement.

Article 6 Guarantee Period

If Party B repays the loan as agreed, Party A shall authorize Party D to return the Security Deposit (interest-free) paid by Party C within 10 business days upon receipt of such payment.

Article 7 Confidentiality

7.1 The Agreement itself, any terms and conditions set out herein are confidential information and must be kept strictly confidential by the Parties. None of the Parties shall disclose any of the contents of the Agreement to any other third party without the prior written consent of other Parties.

7.2 Either Party shall keep confidential the undisclosed information obtained by the other Party hereunder (hereinafter referred to as “Confidential Information”) and shall not disclose, use, give or transfer such Confidential Information to any other third party without the written consent of the other Party.

7.3 Either Party shall, if requested by the other Party, return, destroy or otherwise dispose of any documents, information or software containing the Confidential Information of the other Party and shall not continue to use such Confidential Information.


7.4 The confidentiality obligations of each Party shall survive the termination of the Agreement and each Party shall continue to be bound by such confidentiality obligations until the other Parties agrees that it is released from such obligations or that no damage in any form will in fact result to the other Party as a result of breach of confidentiality obligations.

Article 8 Liability for Default

8.1 Any Party that directly or indirectly violates any provision of the Agreement or does not assume or fails to timely and fully assume its obligations under the Agreement constitutes a breach of contract, the non-breaching party (hereinafter referred to as the “Non-breaching Party”) shall have the right by written notice to require the breaching party (hereinafter referred to as the “Breaching Party”) to cure its breach and take adequate, effective and prompt measures to eliminate the consequences of default and to compensate the Non-breaching Party for the losses incurred by the Breaching Party as a result of the breach.

8.2 If, after the occurrence of default, the Non-breaching Party reasonably and objectively determines that such breach has rendered the performance of the Non-breaching Party’s corresponding obligations under the Agreement impossible or unfair, the Non-breaching Party shall be entitled to notify the Breaching Party in writing that the Non-breaching Party will temporarily suspend the performance of its corresponding obligations under the Agreement until the Breaching Party ceases its breach, takes adequate, effective and prompt measures to eliminate the consequences of default and compensates the Non-breaching Party for the losses incurred by the Breaching Party as a result of the breach.

8.3 The Breaching Party shall indemnify the Non-breaching Party for its losses including direct economic losses, any foreseeable indirect losses and additional costs incurred by the Breaching Party as a result of the default, including but not limited to attorney’s fees, litigation and arbitration costs, financial costs and travel expenses. If the amount of liquidated damages is otherwise expressly provided in any provision of the Agreement, such provision shall prevail.

Article 9 Effectiveness, Modification and Termination

9.1 The Agreement shall become effective upon the date of signature by the Parties and shall expire upon the date of full performance by the Parties of their respective obligations under the Agreement.

9.2 The Agreement may be amended or supplemented through written agreement by and among the Parties. Such written amendment agreement and supplementary agreement executed by and among the Parties are an integral part of the Agreement and shall have the same legal validity as the Agreement.


Article 10 Dispute Resolution

10.1 In case of any dispute among the Parties on the construction and performance of the terms under the Agreement, the Parties shall resolve it through negotiation in good faith.

10.2 If the dispute fails to be resolved through negotiations, the Parties shall submit the relevant dispute to the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) for arbitration in accordance with its then effective arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in Beijing, and the language used in arbitration shall be Chinese. The arbitral award shall be final and binding on all Parties.

10.3 The execution, effectiveness, enforcement and construction of the Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the People’s Republic of China.

Article 11 Miscellaneous

11.1 The Agreement shall be executed in four (4) counterparts, and each Party holds one copy with same legal validity.

11.2 If any provision of the Agreement is invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part due to violation of laws or governmental regulations or for any other reason, the affected part of such provision shall be deemed to be deleted. The deletion of the affected part of the clause shall not affect the legal effect of other parts of the clause and other provisions of the Agreement. The Parties shall negotiate new clauses to replace such invalid or unenforceable clauses.

11.3 Unless otherwise provided, the failure of either Party to exercise or delay in exercising any of its rights, powers or privileges hereunder shall not be deemed a waiver of the exercise of such rights, powers or privileges. Nor shall the exercise of any right, power or privilege, either alone or in part, preclude the exercise of any other rights, powers or privileges.

11.4 The Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the Parties with respect to the subject matter of the cooperation project and supersedes any prior or contemporaneous oral or written agreements, understandings and communications among the Parties with respect to the subject matter of the cooperation project. Except as expressly provided in the Agreement, there are no other obligations or undertakings, express or implied, among the Parties.

11.5 The Agreement shall be binding on the parties and their respective successors and qualified assignees.

11.6 Any matters not covered by the Agreement shall be determined through separate negotiation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed the Agreement as of the date first above written.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]


[This page is the signature page of the Security Deposit Contract]

 

Party A: Jinzhuo Hengbang Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.    Party B: Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd.
[Jinzhuo Hengbang Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. company seal is affixed]    [Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd. company seal is affixed]
Party C: Tusimple (Cayman) Limited    Party D: SINA Corporation
Authorized signatory: /s/ Mo Chen    [SINA Corporation company seal is affixed]

 

Exhibit 10.5

TUSIMPLE (CAYMAN) LIMITED

SERIES D-1 PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This SERIES D-1 PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made on [date] by and among:

1) Tusimple (Cayman) Limited (the “Company”), an exempted limited liability company incorporated in the Cayman Islands;

2) Tusimple (Hong Kong) Limited (the “HK Co”), a limited liability company incorporated in Hong Kong;

3) Beijing Tusen Zhitu Technology Co., Ltd. ( LOGO ) (the “WFOE”), a wholly foreign-owned enterprise incorporated in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”);

4) Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd. ( LOGO ) (the “DomCo I”), a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC;

5) Tangshan Tusen Weilai Logistics Co., Ltd. ( LOGO ) (“Weilai Logistics”), a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC;

6) TuSimple, Inc. (the “US Co”), a California corporation;

7) Kabushiki Kaisha TuSimple JAPAN ( LOGO TuSimple JAPAN) (the “Japan Co”), a company incorporated and existing under the Laws of Japan;

8) Tusimple (Hong Kong) Auto Tech Limited (“HK Auto Tech”), a limited liability company incorporated in Hong Kong;

9) Beijing Weilai Chengyun Auto Tech Co., Ltd. ( LOGO ) (“Weilai Chengyun”), a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC;

10) Shanghai Tushen Zhineng Technology Co., Ltd. ( LOGO ) (“Tushen Zhineng”), a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC;

11) Shanghai Tusen Weilai AI Technology Co., Ltd. ( LOGO ) (“DomCo II”, together with the DomCo I, the “DomCos”), a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC;

12) Shanghai Kuangtu Logistics Co., Ltd. ( LOGO ) (“Kuangtu”), a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC;

13) Tusen Zhiyun (Shenzhen) Auto Tech Co., Ltd. ( LOGO ) (“Tusen Zhiyun”, together with Weilai Logistics, Weilai Chengyun, Tushen Zhineng and Kuangtu the “PRC Subsidiaries”), a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC;

14) the Persons listed in Schedule 1 (the “Purchasers” and each, a “Purchaser”);

15) the Persons listed in Schedule 2-A (the “Founders” and each, a “Founder”); and

16) the Persons listed in Schedule 2-B (the “Founder Holdcos” and each, a “Founder Holdco”).

Each of the Company, the HK Co, the WFOE, the US Co, the DomCos, the PRC Subsidiaries,

 

1


the Japan Co, HK Auto Tech, the Founders, the Founder Holdcos and the Purchasers shall be referred to individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”. Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meaning set forth in Schedule 3 attached hereto.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, immediately prior to the Closing (as defined herein), (i) each Founder own beneficially and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of its respective Founder Holdco; (ii) the Founder Holdcos collectively own beneficially and of record forty-one point eight seven percent (41.87%) of the equity interest of the Company; (iii) the Founders own beneficially and of record seventy percent (70%) equity interest of the DomCo I; (iv) the Founders own beneficially and of record ninety percent (90%) equity interest of the DomCo II; (v) the Company owns beneficially and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the HK Co; (vi) the HK Co owns beneficially and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the WFOE; (vii) the Company owns beneficially and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the US Co; (viii) the Company owns beneficial and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of HK Auto Tech; (ix) the HK Co owns beneficially and of record ninety percent (90%) equity interest of the Japan Co; (x) the DomCo I owns beneficially and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of each of Weilai Logistics, Weilai Chengyun and Tushen Zhineng ; (xi) the DomCo II owns beneficially and of record on hundred percent (100%) equity interest of Kuangtu; and (xii) the WFOE and each of the DomCos has entered into a set of Control Documents listed on Exhibit F of this Agreement.

WHEREAS, the Company is an exempted limited liability company and immediately prior to the Closing shall have an authorized share capital consisting of (i) 417,972,411 ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each an “Ordinary Share”), of which 56,516,425 Ordinary Shares are issued and fully paid-up; (ii) 20,000,000 Series A preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series A Preferred Share”), all of which have been issued; (iii) 8,218,203 Series A-2 preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series A-2 Preferred Share”), all of which have been issued; (iv) 7,080,000 Series B-1 preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series B-1 Preferred Share”), all of which have been issued, (v) 3,000,000 Series B-2 preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series B-2 Preferred Share”), all of which have been issued, (vi) 3,465,372 Series B-3 preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series B-3 Preferred Share”), all of which have been issued, (vii) 14,993,041 Series C preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series C Preferred Share”), all of which have been issued, and (viii) 25,270,973 Series D-1 preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series D-1 Preferred Share”, and together with the Series A Preferred Share, the Series A-2 Preferred Share, the Series B-1 Preferred Share, the Series B-2 Preferred Share, the Series B-3 Preferred Shares and the Series C Preferred Shares, the “Preferred Shares”), 11,710,939 of which have been issued, in each case as set forth in the capitalization table attached as Schedule 8 hereto.

WHEREAS, the Purchasers wish to purchase from the Company the Series D-1 Preferred Shares to be issued by the Company pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement.

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, THE PARTIES HEREBY AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

 

1.

PURCHASE AND SALE OF SHARES

 

1.1

Sale and Issuance of Series D-1 Preferred Shares

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Purchaser agrees to purchase at the Closing (as defined below) and the Company agrees to sell and issue to each Purchaser at the Closing that number of Series D-1 Preferred Shares set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name on Schedule 1 (with respect to each Purchaser, its “Purchased Shares”) for the consideration set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name on Schedule 1 (with respect to each Purchaser, its “Purchase Price”).

 

2


1.2

Closing; Delivery

(a) The purchase and sale of the Purchased Shares, with respect to each Purchaser, shall take place remotely via the exchange of documents and signatures, on a date specified by the Parties, or at such other time and place as the Company and such Purchaser may mutually agree upon, which date shall be no later than ten (10) Business Days after the satisfaction or waiver of each condition to the Closing set forth in Section 2 and Section 3 (other than conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions at the Closing) or July 31, 2019 (provided that each condition to the Closing set forth in Section 2 and Section 3 has been satisfied or waived by relevant parties), whichever is later. The completion of the purchase and sale of the Purchased Shares shall be referred to as the “Closing”.

(b) At the Closing, the Company shall cause its register of members to be updated to reflect the Purchased Shares purchased by such Purchaser, and shall deliver a copy of such updated register of members to such Purchaser, certified as a true and correct copy by the Company’s registered agent.

(c) At the Closing, the Company shall cause its register of directors to be updated to reflect the appointment of directors pursuant to Section 2.14 hereof, and shall deliver a copy of such updated register of director to such Purchaser, certified as a true and correct copy by the Company’s registered agent.

(d) At the Closing, the Company shall deliver copies of the share certificates representing the Purchased Shares being purchased by such Purchaser at the Closing as set forth on Schedule 1 (the originals of which shall be delivered to such Purchaser within five (5) Business Days after the Closing).

(e) At the Closing, each relevant Purchaser shall deposit its respective portion of the Purchase Price as indicated opposite such Purchaser’s name on Schedule 1 by wire transfer of immediately available US$ funds into the Closing Account (as defined below).

 

1.3

Closing Account

Payment of the Purchase Price by each Purchaser to the Company shall be made by remittance of immediately available US$ funds to a bank account designated by the Company in writing at least three (3) Business Days before the Closing (the “Closing Account”). All bank charges and related expenses for remittance and receipt of any Purchase Price shall be for the account of the Company.

 

2.

CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE PURCHASERS AT THE CLOSING

The obligations of each Purchaser, severally but not jointly, to purchase its Purchased Shares at the Closing are subject to the fulfillment, on or before the Closing, of each of the following conditions, unless otherwise waived in writing by such Purchaser:

 

2.1

Completion of Due Diligence

Such relevant Purchaser shall have satisfactorily completed its business, legal and financial due diligence review on the Group Companies.

 

2.2

Material Adverse Effect

Since the Statement Date, no event, circumstance or change shall have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate with one or more other events, circumstances or changes, have had or reasonably could be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or any other Group Company.

 

3


2.3

Proceedings and Documents

All corporate and other proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated at the Closing and all documents incidental thereto shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to such Purchaser, and such Purchaser (or its legal counsel) shall have received all such counterpart originals and certified or other copies of such documents as reasonably requested. Each of the Warrantors shall have (i) performed and complied with all covenants, agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by such Warrantors; and (ii) to the extent applicable, approved the aforesaid performance and compliance by its respective directors and shareholders’ resolutions, on or before the Closing.

 

2.4

Authorizations

The Warrantors shall have obtained all authorizations, approvals, waivers or permits of any Person or any Governmental Authority necessary for the consummation of all of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and other Transaction Documents, including without limitation any authorizations, approvals, waivers or permits that are required in connection with the lawful issuance of the Purchased Shares to such Purchaser and the transactions contemplated by the Control Documents, and all such authorizations, approvals, waivers and permits shall be effective as of the Closing. The Company shall have obtained enforceable waivers in respect of any preemptive or similar rights directly or indirectly affecting the consummation of all of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as applicable.

 

2.5

Representations and Warranties

The representations and warranties of the Warrantors contained in Schedule 5 shall be true, complete and correct in all material respects as of the Execution Date and the Closing, except for those representations and warranties (i) that already contain any materiality qualification, which representations and warranties, to the extent already so qualified, shall instead be true, complete and correct in all respects as so qualified as of such respective dates and (ii) that address matters only as of a particular date, which representations shall have been true, complete and correct in all material respects (subject to Section 2.5(i)) as of such particular date.

 

2.6

Restated Articles

The fifth amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company shall have been amended as set forth substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Restated Articles”). Such Restated Articles shall have been duly adopted by all necessary actions of the Board of Directors and the shareholders of the Company.

 

2.7

Transaction Documents

The Company, the HK Co, the US Co, the WFOE, the DomCos, the Japan Co, HK Auto Tech, the PRC Subsidiaries, the Founders and the Founder Holdcos shall have executed and delivered the Shareholders’ Agreement, substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit B. The Company shall have executed and delivered the Management Rights Letter, substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit C. The Company, the Founders, the Founder Holdcos and other related parties (other than such Purchaser) shall have executed and delivered the Share Restriction Letter, substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit D.

 

4


2.8

Compliance Certificates

Such Purchaser shall have received a certificate executed and delivered by the Warrantors, substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit E.

 

2.9

Investment Committee Approval

The investment committee of such Purchaser shall have approved the execution of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

2.10

Control Documents

The Control Documents shall remain in full force and effect and an executed copy of the Control Documents shall be provided to such Purchaser.

 

2.11

Good Standing Certificate

A certificate of good standing issued by the applicable authority in the Cayman Islands in customary form and substance satisfactory to such Purchaser, dated no earlier than ten (10) days prior to the Closing Date, shall have been delivered to such Purchaser.

 

2.12

Performance of Obligations

Each Warrantor shall have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required or contemplated to be performed or complied with by it on or before the Closing.

 

2.13

Closing Deliveries

The Warrantors shall have tendered delivery of all of the various items they are required to deliver to such Purchaser at the Closing under Section 1.2(a)Section 1.2(d).

 

2.14

Board of Directors

As of the Closing, the authorized size of the Board of Directors of the Company shall be eight (8) and the Board of Directors shall be comprised of the following members: CHEN Mo ( LOGO ), HOU Xiaodi ( LOGO ), Hao Jianan ( LOGO ), LENG HOWE SZUAN, LIU Yunli ( LOGO ), CHARLES GUOWEI CHAO, LU Cheng ( LOGO ) and YING Wei( LOGO ).

 

2.15

Director Indemnification Agreement

The Company shall have executed and delivered the Director Indemnification Agreement with respect to the director designated by CDH, substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit G.

 

2.16

Legal Opinions

The Company shall have delivered to the Purchasers legal opinions dated the date of the Closing and addressed to the Purchasers issued by the legal counsel of the Cayman Islands, customary to the transactions of this kind, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchasers.

 

5


3.

CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY AT CLOSING

The obligations of the Company to sell the Purchased Shares to each Purchaser at the Closing are subject to the fulfillment of each of the following conditions by such Purchaser, on or before the Closing, unless otherwise waived in writing by the Company:

 

3.1

Representations and Warranties

The representations and warranties of such Purchaser contained in Schedule 7 shall be true, complete and correct in all material respects as of the Execution Date and the Closing.

 

3.2

Performance

Such Purchaser shall have performed and complied with all covenants, agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by it on or before the Closing.

 

3.3

Execution of Transaction Documents.

Such Purchaser shall have executed and delivered to the Company the Transaction Documents to which it is a party.

 

4.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE WARRANTORS

The Warrantors, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to such Purchaser that the statements contained in Schedule 5 attached hereto are true, correct and complete (i) on and as of the Execution Date, and (ii) on and as of the date of the Closing (with the same effect as if made on and as of the date of the Closing), except to the extent fairly and specifically disclosed in the disclosure schedule attached hereto as Schedule 6 (the “Disclosure Schedule”), which disclosures shall be deemed to be part of the representations and warranties as if made hereunder.

 

5.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASERS

Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to the Company that the statements contained in Schedule 7 attached hereto are true, correct and complete with respect to such Purchaser as of the Closing.

 

6.

UNDERTAKINGS

The Warrantors hereby jointly and severally covenant to the Purchasers as follows:

 

6.1

Ordinary Course of Business

From the Execution Date until the earlier of the Termination Date or the Closing, each Group Company shall, and the Founders and the Founder Holdcos shall cause each of the Group Companies to, conduct its business in the ordinary course and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the present character and quality of the business, including without limitation, its present operations, physical facilities, working conditions, goodwill and relationships with lessors, licensors, suppliers, customers, employees and independent contractors. Commencing with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the Termination Date or the Closing, no Group Company may, and the Founders and the Founder Holdcos shall cause each of the Group Companies not to, take any of the actions specified in Section 7.2(a) and Section 7.2(b) of the Shareholders’ Agreement without written consent of the Purchasers subscribing for at least a majority of the total Purchased Shares.

 

6


6.2

Use of Proceeds

In accordance with the directions of the Company’s Board of Directors (including the affirmative vote of one director designated by Sina), as it shall be constituted in accordance with the Shareholders’ Agreement, the Company will use the proceeds from the sale of all the Purchased Shares for (i) general working capital; and (ii) other general corporate purposes for the Group Companies.

 

6.3

Notice of Certain Events

If at any time before the Closing, any Warrantor comes to know of any material fact or event which: (i) is in any way inconsistent with any of the representations and warranties in this Agreement; (ii) suggests that any fact warranted hereunder may not be as warranted or may be misleading; or (iii) might affect the willingness of a prudent investor to purchase the Purchased Shares on the terms contained in the Transaction Documents or the amount of the consideration a prudent investor would be prepared to pay for the Purchased Shares, then the Warrantors shall immediately notify each of the Purchasers in writing, describing the fact or event in reasonable detail.

 

6.4

Compliance

The Group Companies shall and the Founders and the Founder Holdcos shall cause the Group Companies to at all times comply with all applicable Laws, including without limitation, compliance with all contributions required to be made under the PRC social insurance and housing fund schemes, and, obtain such permits and licenses necessary or desirable for the Group Companies’ business(es).

 

6.5

Filing of Restated Articles

Within ten (10) days following the Closing, the Company shall, and the Founders and Founder Holdcos shall procure the Company to, duly file the Restated Articles with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands.

 

6.6

WFOE’s Registered Capital

Within sixty (60) days following the Closing, substantially all of the Purchase Price (except for reasonable operation costs occurred in the United States and Japan) shall have been injected into the WFOE as the registered capital of or shareholder loans to the WFOE with copies of documents evidencing the same provided to the Purchasers.

 

6.7

Board Composition

The Board shall discuss and determine (with the approval of a majority of directors of the Board) the board composition for each of the US Co, the WFOE, the DomCos at the first board meeting held after the Closing. The Parties further agree that the composition of the board of the US Co, the WFOE, the DomCos shall, to the extent legally permissible, consist of the same persons as the directors as those then on the Board, unless the majority of the directors of the Board decide otherwise or any Shareholder who has right to elect director(s) of the Board refuses to appoint such director(s) to the board of such Subsidiary.

 

6.8

Conduct of Due Diligence

The Group Companies shall assist, and shall procure their advisors to assist, the Purchasers in conducting due diligence for evaluating the investment contemplated under this Agreement and shall fully disclose and not withhold information which is necessary, in the reasonable opinion of the Purchasers, for the due diligence process.

 

7


6.9

Tax filing assistance

In case any Purchaser intends to change or dispose its investment in the Company which will trigger any tax related obligations of such Purchaser under applicable laws, the Group Companies shall, and the Founders shall cause the Group Companies to, at the request of the Purchaser, promptly deliver to it all necessary information and documents and provide all necessary assistance required for purpose of fulfilling its tax related obligations.

 

6.10

Registration of equity pledge

The pledge of 100% equity interest of DomCo II as contemplated by the Control Documents shall be registered with competent PRC authority within 30 days after the Closing.

 

7.

CURE OF BREACHES; INDEMNITY

7.1 In the event of: (a) any breach or violation of, or inaccuracy or misrepresentation in, any representation or warranty made by the Warrantors contained herein or any of the other Transaction Documents; or (b) any breach or violation of any covenant or agreement contained herein or any of the other Transaction Documents (each of (a) or (b), a “Breach”), the Group Companies shall, jointly and severally, cure such Breach (to the extent that such Breach is curable) to the satisfaction of each Purchaser (it being understood that any cure shall be without recourse to cash or assets of any of the Group Companies). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Group Companies shall also, jointly and severally, indemnify each Purchaser and its Affiliates, limited partners, members, stockholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives and assigns (each, an “Indemnitee”) for any and all losses, liabilities, damages, liens, claims, obligations, penalties, settlements, deficiencies, costs and expenses, including without limitation reasonable advisor’s fees and other reasonable expenses of investigation, defense and resolution of any Breach paid, suffered, sustained or incurred by the Indemnitees (each, an “Indemnifiable Loss”), resulting from, or arising out of, or due to, directly or indirectly, any Breach.

7.2 Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Group Companies shall, jointly and severally, indemnify and keep indemnified the Indemnitees at all times and hold them harmless against any and all Indemnifiable Losses resulting from, or arising out of, or due to, directly or indirectly, any claim for (i) any material liability caused by the infringement or violation of any intellectual property rights of any third party by any Group Company, (ii) tax (including interest, penalty, surcharge or fine in connection therewith) which has been made or may hereafter be made against any DomCo or any other Group Company wholly or partly in respect of or in consequence of any event occurring or any income, profits or gains earned, accrued or received by any DomCo or any Group Company on or before the Closing and any reasonable costs, fees or expenses incurred and other liabilities which any DomCo or any other Group Company may properly incur in connection with the investigation, assessment or the contesting of any claim, the settlement of any claim for tax (including interest, penalty, surcharge or fine in connection therewith), any legal proceedings in which any DomCo or any other Group Company claims in respect of the claim for tax (including interest, penalty, surcharge or fine in connection therewith) and in which an arbitration award or judgment is given for any DomCo or Group Company and the enforcement of any such arbitration award or judgment whether or not such tax (including interest, penalty, surcharge or fine in connection therewith) is chargeable against or attributable to any other person, provided, however, that the Group Companies shall be under no liability in respect of taxation:

(a) that is promptly cured without recourse to cash or other assets of any Group Company;

(b) to the extent that provision, reserve or allowance has been made for such tax in the audited consolidated financial statement of the Company;

(c) if the liability has arisen in, and relates to, the ordinary course of business of any DomCo since the Statement Date;

 

8


(d) to the extent that the liability arises as a result only of a provision or reserve in respect of the liability made in the Financial Statements being insufficient by reason of any increase in rates of tax announced after the Closing with retrospective effect; and

(e) to the extent that the liability arises as a result of legislation which comes into force after the Closing and which is retrospective in effect.

The survival period for any indemnity obligation relating to claims for tax matters arising under this Section 7.2 shall be the applicable statute of limitations for tax claims.

7.3 In the event that an Indemnitee suffers an Indemnifiable Loss as provided in Section 7.1 or 7.2 and the Group Companies fail to fulfill their obligations under Section 7.1 or 7.2 to indemnify the Indemnitee for the full amount of such Indemnifiable Loss within sixty (60) days upon receipt of written notice thereof from the relevant Purchaser, then the Founders and Founder Holdcos shall jointly and severally indemnify the Indemnitee such that the Indemnitee shall receive the full amount of such Indemnifiable Loss. Any indemnification provided by the Warrantors other than the Founders and the Founder Holdcos pursuant to this Section 7.3 shall not prejudice or otherwise affect the right of the Indemnitee to seek indemnification from the Group Companies in Section 7.1 or 7.2; provided, however, that to the extent the Indemnitee is able to recover any Indemnifiable Loss from the Group Companies, the Warrantors other than the Group Companies shall not be obligated to indemnify the Indemnitee with respect to such amount.

7.4 If a Purchaser or other Indemnitee believes that it has a claim that may give rise to an obligation of any Warrantor pursuant to this Section 7, it shall give prompt notice thereof to the Company stating specifically the basis on which such claim is being made, the material facts related thereto, and the amount of the claim (or a reasonably estimate thereof) asserted. In the event of a third party claim against an Indemnitee for which such Indemnitee seeks indemnification from any Warrantor pursuant to this Section 7, no settlement shall be deemed conclusive with respect to whether there was an Indemnifiable Loss or the amount of such Indemnifiable Loss unless such settlement is consented to by the Founders or their Founder Holdcos. Any dispute related to this Section 7 shall be resolved pursuant to Section 8.15.

7.5 Notwithstanding any other provisions contained herein, the Purchasers acknowledge that the indemnities under Section 7 shall be subject to the following provisions:

(a) the aggregate indemnification amount claimed by a Purchaser or its Indemnitees against all the Warrantors arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall not exceed the amount equal to the Purchase Price paid by such Purchaser under this Agreement, absent fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence; and

(b) the Warrantors shall not be required to indemnify any Indemnitee for (i) any claim unless the Indemnifiable Losses in connection with any claim or claims suffered by all the Indemnitees are US$100,000 or more, on a cumulative basis, in which case the Warrantors shall be liable for the Indemnifiable Losses in respect to the claim from the first US Dollar, or (ii) any claim arising out of any breach of any representation or warranty made by the Warrantors contained herein or any of the other Transaction Documents to the extent that the relevant matters have been fairly and specifically disclosed in the Disclosure Schedule (but except for the matters as set forth in Section 7.2).

 

8.

MISCELLANEOUS

 

8.1

Survival of Warranties

The representations and warranties of the Warrantors contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Closing. Any fact or matter which is fairly and specifically disclosed in the Disclosure Schedule shall constitute notice to the Purchasers of the fact or matter so disclosed or actually known, as applicable, and the Purchasers shall be deemed to have waived any claim against the Warrantors on account of any inconsistency between such fact or matter and any of the representations and warranties of the Warrantors in this Agreement (except (a) where any of such fact or matter in the Disclosure Schedule is untrue, incorrect or incomplete and (b) for the matters as set forth in Section 7.2).

 

9


8.2

Confidentiality

(a) Disclosure of Terms. The terms and conditions of this Agreement, any term sheet or memorandum of understanding entered into pursuant to the transactions contemplated hereby, all exhibits and schedules attached hereto and thereto, and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (collectively, the “Transaction Terms”), including their existence, shall be considered confidential information and shall not be disclosed by any Party hereto to any third party except as permitted in accordance with the provisions set forth below.

(b) Permitted Disclosures. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may disclose (i) the existence of the investment to its bona fide prospective Purchasers, employees, bankers, lenders, accountants, legal counsels and business partners, or to any person or entity to which disclosure is approved in writing by each Purchaser, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld; and (ii) the Transaction Terms to its current shareholders, employees, bankers, lenders, accountants and legal counsels, in each case only where such persons or entities are under appropriate nondisclosure obligations substantially similar to those set forth in this Section 8.2, or to any person or entity to which disclosure is approved in writing by each Purchaser, which such approval is not to be unreasonably withheld. Each Purchaser may disclose (x) the existence of the investment and the Transaction Terms to any Affiliate, partner, limited partner, former partner, potential partner or potential limited partner of the Purchaser or other third parties and (y) the fact of its own investment to the public, in each case as it deems appropriate at its sole discretion. Any Party hereto may also provide disclosure in order to comply with applicable Laws, as set forth in Section 8.2(c) below.

(c) Legally Compelled Disclosure. In the event that any Party is requested or becomes legally compelled (including without limitation, pursuant to any applicable tax, securities, or other Laws and regulations of any jurisdiction) to disclose the existence of this Agreement or content of any of the Transaction Terms, such Party (the “Disclosing Party”) shall provide the other Parties with prompt written notice of that fact and shall consult with the other Parties regarding such disclosure. At the request of another Party, the Disclosing Party shall, to the extent reasonably possible and with the cooperation and reasonable efforts of the other Parties, seek a protective order, confidential treatment or other appropriate remedy. In any event, the Disclosing Party shall furnish only that portion of the information that is legally required and shall exercise reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded to such information.

(d) Other Exceptions. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 8.2, the confidentiality obligations of the Parties shall not apply to: (i) information which a restricted Party learns from a third party having the right to make the disclosure, provided the restricted Party complies with any restrictions imposed by the third party; (ii) information which is rightfully in the restricted Party’s possession prior to the time of disclosure by the protected Party and not acquired by the restricted Party under a confidentiality obligation; or (iii) information which enters the public domain without breach of confidentiality by the restricted Party.

(e) Press Releases, Etc. No announcements regarding the Purchasers’ investment in the Company may be made by any Party hereto in any press conference, professional or trade publication, marketing materials or otherwise to the public without the prior written consent of each Purchaser and the Company, provided, that any such announcement made by any partner, limited partner, bona fide potential partner or bona fide potential limited partner of any Purchaser shall not be subject to the consent of the Company but is still subject to consents of other Purchaser.

 

10


(f) Other Information. The provisions of this Section 8.2 shall terminate and supersede the provisions of any separate nondisclosure agreement executed by any of the Parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

8.3

Transfer; Successors and Assigns

The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective successors and assigns of the Parties. Save as expressly provided in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the Parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement. No Warrantor may assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Agreement without the written consent of the Purchaser subscribing for at least a majority of the total Purchased Shares.

 

8.4

Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of Hong Kong as to matters within the scope thereof, without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws.

 

8.5

Counterparts; Facsimile and Emails

This Agreement may be executed and delivered by facsimile, email or other electronic signature and in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

8.6

Titles and Subtitles

The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.

 

8.7

Notices

All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (a) upon personal delivery to the Party to be notified; (b) when sent by confirmed electronic mail or facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and if not so confirmed, then on the next Business Day; (c) five (5) days after having been delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; or (d) one (1) day after delivery by an internationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent to the respective Parties at their address as set forth on Schedule 9, or to such e-mail address, facsimile number or address as subsequently modified by written notice given in accordance with this Section 8.7.

 

8.8

No Finders Fees

Each Party represents that it neither is nor will be obligated for any finder’s fee or commission in connection with this transaction. Each Purchaser agrees to indemnify and to hold harmless the Company from any liability for any commission or compensation in the nature of a finder’s or broker’s fee arising out of this transaction (and the costs and expenses of defending against such liability or asserted liability) for which each Purchaser or any of its officers, employees, or representatives is responsible. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Purchaser from any liability for any commission or compensation in the nature of a finder’s or broker’s fee arising out of this transaction (and the costs and expenses of defending against such liability or asserted liability) for which the Company or any of its officers, employees or representatives is responsible.

 

11


8.9

Fees and Expenses

The Company shall pay all of its own costs and expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Upon the Closing, the Company shall also bear all legal fees, due diligence expenses and out-of-pocket costs and expenses of CDH in connection with the transaction; provided that the aggregate amount of the fees and expenses of CDH to be borne by the Company shall not exceed US$100,000.

 

8.10

Attorneys Fees

If any action at law or in equity (including arbitration) is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of any of the Transaction Documents, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees, costs and necessary disbursements in addition to any other relief to which such Party may be entitled.

 

8.11

Amendments and Waivers

Any term of this Agreement may be amended, terminated or waived only with the written consent of the Company, the Founders and the Purchasers subscribing for at least a majority of the total Purchased Shares. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 8.11 shall be binding upon the Group Companies, the Founders, the Founder Holdcos, the Purchasers, and each transferee of the Purchased Shares or the Conversion Shares and each future holder of all such securities.

 

8.12

Severability

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision.

 

8.13

Delays or Omissions

No delay or omission to exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to any Party under this Agreement, upon any breach or default of any other Party under this Agreement, shall impair any such right, power or remedy of such non-breaching or non-defaulting Party nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach or default, or an acquiescence therein, or of or in any similar breach or default thereafter occurring; nor shall any waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default theretofore or thereafter occurring. Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on the part of any Party of any breach or default under this Agreement, or any waiver on the part of any Party of any provisions or conditions of this Agreement, must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing. All remedies, either under this Agreement or by law or otherwise afforded to any Party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

 

8.14

Entire Agreement

This Agreement (including the Schedules and Exhibits hereto), the Restated Articles and the other Transaction Documents constitute the full and entire understanding and agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and any other written or oral agreement relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof existing between the Parties are expressly canceled.

 

8.15

Dispute Resolution

(a) Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the interpretation, breach, termination or validity hereof, shall first be subject to resolution through consultation of the Parties to such dispute, controversy or claim. Such consultation shall begin within seven (7) days after one Party hereto has delivered to the other Parties involved a written request for such consultation. If within thirty (30) days following the commencement of such consultation the dispute cannot be resolved, the dispute shall be submitted to arbitration upon the request of any Party involved with notice to the other Parties involved.

 

12


(b) The arbitration shall be conducted in Hong Kong under the auspices of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (the “HKIAC”). There shall be three (3) arbitrators. The claimant and the respondent to such dispute shall each select one (1) arbitrator within thirty (30) days after giving or receiving the demand for arbitration. Such arbitrators shall be freely selected, and the Parties shall not be limited in their selection to any prescribed list. The Chairman of the HKIAC shall select the third arbitrator, who shall be qualified to practice Law in Hong Kong. If either party to the arbitration does not appoint an arbitrator who has consented to participate within thirty (30) days after selection of the first arbitrator, the relevant appointment shall be made by the Chairman of the HKIAC.

(c) The arbitration proceedings shall be conducted in English. The arbitration tribunal shall apply the Arbitration Rules of the HKIAC in effect at the time of the arbitration. However, if such rules are in conflict with the provisions of this Section 8.15, including the provisions concerning the appointment of arbitrators, the provisions of this Section 8.15 shall prevail.

(d) The arbitrators shall decide any dispute submitted by the parties to the arbitration strictly in accordance with the substantive Laws of Hong Kong and shall not apply any other substantive law.

(e) Each Party hereto shall cooperate with any party to the dispute in making full disclosure of and providing complete access to all information and documents requested by such party in connection with such arbitration proceedings, subject only to any confidentiality obligations binding on the Party receiving the request.

(f) The award of the arbitration tribunal shall be final and binding upon the disputing parties, and any party to the dispute may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of such award.

(g) Any party to the dispute shall be entitled to seek preliminary injunctive relief, if possible, from any court of competent jurisdiction pending the constitution of the arbitral tribunal.

 

8.16

No Commitment for Additional Financing

The Warrantors acknowledge and agree that no Purchaser has made any representation, undertaking, commitment or agreement to provide or assist the Company in obtaining any financing, investment or other assistance, other than the purchase of the Purchased Shares as set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein. In addition, the Warrantors acknowledge and agree that (i) no oral statements made by any Purchaser or its representatives on or after the date of this Agreement shall create an obligation, commitment or agreement to provide or assist the Company in obtaining any financing or investment, (ii) no Warrantor shall rely on any such statement by any Purchaser or its representatives and (iii) an obligation, commitment or agreement to provide or assist the Company in obtaining any financing or investment may only be created by a written agreement, signed by such Purchaser and the Company, setting forth the terms and conditions of such financing or investment and stating that the parties intend for such writing to be a binding obligation or agreement. Each Purchaser shall have the right, at its sole and absolute discretion, to refuse or decline to participate in any other financing of or investment in the Company, and shall have no obligation to assist or cooperate with the Company in obtaining any financing, investment or other assistance.

 

13


8.17

Rights Cumulative

Each and all of the various rights, powers and remedies of a Party will be considered to be cumulative with and in addition to any other rights, powers and remedies which such Party may have at law or in equity in the event of the breach of any of the terms of this Agreement. The exercise or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy will neither constitute the exclusive election thereof nor the waiver of any other right, power or remedy available to such Party.

 

8.18

No Waiver

Failure to insist upon strict compliance with any of the terms, covenants, or conditions hereof will not be deemed a waiver of such term, covenant, or condition, nor will any waiver or relinquishment of, or failure to insist upon strict compliance with, any right, power or remedy power hereunder at any one or more times be deemed a waiver or relinquishment of such right, power or remedy at any other time or times.

 

8.19

Third Party Beneficiaries

Each of the Indemnitees shall be a third party beneficiary of this Agreement with the full ability to enforce Section 7 of this Agreement as if it were a Party hereto. Subject to the preceding sentence, a person who is not a party to this Agreement shall not have any rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Ordinance (Cap. 623 of the Laws of Hong Kong) to enforce any terms of this Agreement. The rights of the Parties to terminate, rescind or agree any variation, waiver or settlement under this Agreement are not subject to the consent of any other person, including an Indemnitee.

 

8.20

Termination of Agreement

 

  (a)

This Agreement may be terminated with respect to a Purchaser before the Closing as follows:

(1) at the election of such Purchaser on or after September 30, 2019, if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before such date unless such date is extended by the mutual written consent of the Company and such Purchaser; provided that: (i) the Purchaser is not in material default of any of its obligations hereunder, and (ii) the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.20(a) shall not be available to such Purchaser if its breach of any provision of this Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted, directly or indirectly in, the failure of the Closing to be consummated by September 30, 2019.

(2) at the election of the Company on or after September 30, 2019, if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before such date unless such date is extended by the mutual written consent of the Company and such Purchaser; provided that: (i) the Warrantors are not in material default of any of their obligations hereunder, and (ii) the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.20(a) shall not be available to the Company if a Warrantor’s breach of any provision of this Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted, directly or indirectly in, the failure of the Closing to be consummated by September 30, 2019;

(3) by mutual written consent of the Company and such Purchaser as evidenced in writing signed by the Company and such Purchaser;

(4) by such Purchaser in the event of any breach or violation of any representation or warranty, covenant or agreement contained herein or in any of the other Transaction Documents by any Warrantor that is not curable or that is curable but is not cured within thirty (30) Business Days of written notice; or

(5) by such Purchaser if any event, circumstance or change shall have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate with one or more other events, circumstances or changes, have had or reasonably could be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or any other Group Company.

 

14


(b) Effect of Termination. The date of termination of this Agreement with respect to a Purchaser pursuant to Section 8.20(a) hereof shall be referred to as “Termination Date” with respect to such Purchaser. In the event of termination by the Company and/or any Purchaser pursuant to Section 8.20(a) hereof, written notice thereof shall forthwith be given to the other Parties and this Agreement shall terminate with respect to such Purchaser, and (i) in case this Agreement is terminated pursuant to (1) or (2) under Section 8.20(a), the Parties shall negotiate in good faith and agree on the effects of the termination otherwise or (ii) in case this Agreement is terminated pursuant to (3), (4) or (5) of Section 8.20(a), the purchase of the Purchased Shares by such Purchaser hereunder shall be abandoned and rescinded, without further action by the Parties hereto. Each of the Company and such Purchaser shall be relieved of their duties and obligations arising under this Agreement after the date of such termination and such termination shall be without liability to the Company or such Purchaser; provided that no such termination shall relieve the Company or such Purchaser from liability for any breach of this Agreement incurred before the termination. The provisions of this Section 8.20, Section 7, Section 8.1, Section 8.2, Section 8.4, Section 8.7, Section 8.9, and Section 8.15, hereof shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

15


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

COMPANY:

   

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited

   

By:

 

         

   

Name: CHEN Mo ( LOGO )

   

Title: Director

HK CO:

   

Tusimple (Hong Kong) Limited

   

By:

 

         

   

Name: CHEN Mo ( LOGO )

   

Title: Director

HK AUTO TECH:

   

Tusimple (Hong Kong) Auto Tech Limited

   

By:

 

         

   

Name:

   

Title:

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES D-1 PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

WFOE:

   

Beijing Tusen Zhitu Technology Co., Ltd.

   

( LOGO )

   

By:                                                                                            

   

Name: LOGO

   

Title: Legal Representative

   

Affix Seal:

DOMCO I:

   

Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd.

   

( LOGO )

   

By:                                                                                            

   

Name: LOGO

   

Title: Legal Representative

   

Affix Seal:

WEILAI LOGISTICS:

   

Tangshan Tusen Weilai Logistics Co., Ltd.

   

( LOGO )

   

By:                                                                                            

   

Name: LOGO

   

Title: Legal Representative

   

Affix Seal:

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES D-1 PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

US CO:

   

TuSimple, Inc.

   

By:

 

         

   

Name: HOU Xiaodi ( LOGO )

   

Title: Director

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES D-1 PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

JAPAN CO:

   

Kabushiki Kaisha TuSimple JAPAN

   

( LOGO TuSimple JAPAN)

   

By:

 

         

   

Name:

   

Title:

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES D-1 PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

WEILAI CHENGYUN:

   

Beijing Weilai Chengyun Auto Tech Co., Ltd.

   

( LOGO )

   

By:                                                                                            

   

Name:

   

Title: Legal Representative

   

Affix Seal:

TUSHEN ZHINENG:

   

Shanghai Tushen Zhineng Technology Co., Ltd.

   

( LOGO )

   

By:                                                                                            

   

Name:

   

Title: Legal Representative

   

Affix Seal:

DOMCO II:

   

Shanghai Tusen Weilai AI Technology Co., Ltd.

   

( LOGO )

   

By:                                                                                            

   

Name:

   

Title: Legal Representative

   

Affix Seal:

KUANGTU:

   

Shanghai Kuangtu Logistics Co., Ltd.

   

( LOGO )

   

By:                                                                                            

   

Name:

   

Title: Legal Representative

   

Affix Seal:

TUSEN ZHIYUN:

   

Tusen Zhiyun (Shenzhen) Auto Tech Co., Ltd.

   

( LOGO )

   

By:                                                                                            

   

Name:

   

Title: Legal Representative

   

Affix Seal:

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES D-1 PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

FOUNDERS:

   

CHEN Mo ( LOGO )

   

By:

 

         

   

HOU Xiaodi ( LOGO )

   

By:

 

         

   

REN Zhenguo ( LOGO )

   

By:

 

         

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES D-1 PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

FOUNDER HOLDCOS:

   

Gray Jade Holding Limited

   

         

   

Name: CHEN Mo ( LOGO )

Title: Director

   

White Marble International Limited

   

         

   

Name: HOU Xiaodi ( LOGO )

Title: Director

   

Ancient Jade International Limited

   

         

   

Name: REN Zhenguo ( LOGO )

Title: Director

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES D-1 PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:

   

[investor name]

   

By:

 

         

   

Name:             

Title:             

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES D-1 PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:

   

[investor name]

   

By:

 

         

   

Name:

Title:

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES D-1 PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS

Schedules

 

Schedule 1    Schedule of Purchasers
Schedule 2-A    Schedule of Founders
Schedule 2-B    Schedule of Founder Holdcos
Schedule 3    Definitions
Schedule 4    Schedule of Key Employees
Schedule 5    Representations and Warranties of the Warrantors
Schedule 6    Disclosure Schedule
Schedule 7    Representations and Warranties of the Purchasers
Schedule 8    Capitalization Table
Schedule 9    Notices

SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS


Exhibits

 

Exhibit A    Form of Restated Articles
Exhibit B    Shareholders’ Agreement
Exhibit C    Form of Management Rights Letter
Exhibit D    Form of Share Restriction Agreement
Exhibit E    Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit F    Control Documents
Exhibit G    Director Indemnification Agreement

SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS


SCHEDULE 1

SCHEDULE OF PURCHASERS

SCHEDULE 1


SCHEDULE 2-A

SCHEDULE OF FOUNDER

SCHEDULE 2-A


SCHEDULE 2-B

SCHEDULE OF FOUNDER HOLDCO

SCHEDULE 2-B


SCHEDULE 3

DEFINITIONS

 

1.

Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person who or which, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such specified Person, including, without limitation, any general partner, limited partner, officer, director, member or employee of such Person and any venture capital or other fund now or hereafter existing that is controlled by or under common control with one or more general partners or managing members of, or shares the same management company with, such Person. With respect to a natural person, his or her Affiliates also include his or her children, stepchildren, grandchildren, parents, step-parents, grandparents, spouse and siblings.

 

2.

Agreement” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

3.

Board of Directors” or “Board” means the Company’s board of Directors.

 

4.

Breach” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.

 

5.

Business Day” means any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which the commercial banks in Hong Kong, Beijing or New York are authorized or required to be closed for the conduct of regular banking business.

 

6.

Business Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 30 of Schedule 5.

 

7.

CDH” means Taurus Sunway, L.P. and its successors and assignees.

 

8.

Circular 37” means the Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Relevant Issues concerning Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Residents to Engage in Overseas Investment or Financing and in Return Investment via Special Purpose Vehicles promulgated by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the PRC on July 4, 2014.

 

9.

Closing” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.2(a).

 

10.

Closing Account” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.3.

 

11.

Company” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

12.

Company Law” means the Companies Law (as amended) of the Cayman Islands.

 

13.

Confidential Information Agreements” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 21 of Schedule 5.

 

14.

Contract” means a legally binding contract, agreement, understanding, indenture, note, bond, loan, instrument, lease, mortgage, franchise or license.

 

15.

Control” or “control” of a given Person means the power or authority, whether exercised or not, to direct the business, management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, through any contractual relationship (including, without limitation, pursuant to a management or advisory agreement) or otherwise, which power or authority shall conclusively be presumed to exist upon possession of beneficial ownership or power to direct the vote of more than fifty percent (50%) of the votes entitled to be cast at a meeting of the members or shareholders of such Person or power to control the composition of a majority of the board of directors of such Person; the terms “Controlling” and “Controlled” (and their lower-case counterparts) have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

SCHEDULE 3


16.

Control Documents” means the following set of contracts in a form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit F, including without limitation, Share Pledge Agreement, Exclusive Option Agreement, Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement and Power of Attorney.

 

17.

Conversion Shares” means Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of any Preferred Shares.

 

18.

Convertible Securities” means, with respect to any specified Person, securities convertible or exchangeable into any shares of any class of such specified Person, however described and whether voting or non-voting.

 

19.

Directors” means the members of the Board of Directors.

 

20.

Disclosing Party” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.2(c).

 

21.

Disclosure Schedule” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.

 

22.

DomCo I” has the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.

 

23.

DomCo II” has the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.

 

24.

Employee Benefit Plans” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 16.7 of Schedule 5.

 

25.

Establishment Documents” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 22.2 of Schedule 5.

 

26.

Execution Date” means the date of this Agreement.

 

27.

Financial Statements” means the consolidated balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows, prepared in accordance with IFRS / US GAAP and applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods indicated.

 

28.

Founder(s)” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

29.

Founder Holdcos” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

30.

Governmental Authority” means the government of any nation, province, state, city, locality or other political subdivision of any thereof, any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, regulation or compliance, and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled, through share or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing.

 

31.

Group Companies” means the Company, the HK Co, the WFOE, the US Co, the DomCos, the PRC Subsidiaries, the Japan Co, HK Auto Tech, and any other direct or indirect Subsidiary of any Group Company collectively, and “Group Company” means any one of them.

 

32.

GC Product or Service” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.7 of Schedule 5.

 

33.

Hong Kong” means the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC.

 

34.

HK Auto Tech” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

35.

HK Co” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

2

SCHEDULE 3


36.

HKIAC” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.15(b).

 

37.

IFRS” mean International Financial Reporting Standards.

 

38.

Indemnifiable Loss” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.

 

39.

Indemnitee” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.

 

40.

Intellectual Property” means all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, processes, compositions of matter, formulas, designs, inventions, proprietary rights, know-how and any other confidential or proprietary information owned or otherwise used by any Group Company.

 

41.

Japan Co” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

42.

Key Employee” means each of the Persons listed in Schedule 4.

 

43.

Knowledge” including the phrase “to the Warrantors knowledge” means the actual knowledge after reasonable investigation of the Key Employees and the Founders.

 

44.

Kuangtu” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

45.

Law” means any constitutional provision, statute or other law, rule, regulation, official policy or interpretation of any Governmental Authority and any injunction, judgment, order, ruling, assessment or writ issued by any Governmental Authority.

 

46.

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, claim, security interest, encumbrance, title defect, lien, charge or other restriction or limitation.

 

47.

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on the business, assets (including intangible assets), liabilities, financial condition, property, prospects or results of operations of the Group Companies, either individually or taken as a whole.

 

48.

Material Agreements” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 10.1 of Schedule 5.

 

49.

OFAC” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 18.2(a) of Schedule 5.

 

50.

OFAC Sanctioned Person” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 18.2(b) of Schedule 5.

 

51.

OFAC Sanctions” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 18.2(a) of Schedule 5.

 

52.

Order” or “order” means any order, injunction, judgment, decree, ruling, writ, assessment or arbitration award of a Governmental Authority.

 

53.

Ordinary Share” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement, being an ordinary share of par value US$0.0001 in the capital of the Company.

 

54.

Party” and “Parties” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

55.

Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, proprietorship, association, limited liability company, firm, trust, estate or other enterprise or entity.

 

3

SCHEDULE 3


56.

PRC” means the Peoples’ Republic of China, excluding Hong Kong, the Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan for the purpose of this Agreement.

 

57.

PRC Subsidiaries” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

58.

Projections” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 29 of Schedule 5.

 

59.

Preferred Share” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

60.

Public Official” or “public official” means an employee of a Governmental Authority, a member of a political party, a political candidate, an officer of a public international organization, or an officer or employee of a state-owned enterprise, including a PRC state-owned enterprise.

 

61.

Public Software” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.7 of Schedule 5.

 

62.

Purchase Price” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.

 

63.

Purchaser” or “Purchasers” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

64.

Related Party” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 11.4 of Schedule 5.

 

65.

Reserve” or “reservation” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4 of Schedule 5.

 

66.

Restated Articles” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.6.

 

67.

Restricted securities” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 5 of Schedule 7.

 

68.

SDN List” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 18.2(b) of Schedule 5.

 

69.

Secretary” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 18.2(a) of Schedule 5.

 

70.

Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (or comparable Laws in jurisdictions other than the United States).

 

71.

Series A Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

72.

Series B-1 Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

73.

Series B-2 Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

74.

Series B-3 Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

75.

Series C Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

76.

Series D-1 Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

4

SCHEDULE 3


77.

Shareholders’ Agreement” means the agreement proposed to be entered into among the Group Companies, the Founders, the Purchasers and certain other parties thereto, substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit B.

 

78.

Share Plan” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.3 of Schedule 5.

 

79.

Sina” means SUN Dream Inc and its successors and assignees.

 

80.

Statement Date” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 14 of Schedule 5.

 

81.

Subsidiary” or “subsidiary” means, as of the relevant date of determination, with respect to any Person (the “subject entity”), (i) any Person (x) more than 50% of whose shares or other interests entitled to vote in the election of directors or (y) more than a 50% interest in the profits or capital of such Person are owned or controlled directly or indirectly by the subject entity or through one (1) or more Subsidiaries of the subject entity; (ii) any Person whose assets, or portions thereof, are consolidated with the net earnings of the subject entity and are recorded on the books of the subject entity for financial reporting purposes in accordance with IFRS or US GAAP; or (iii) any Person with respect to which the subject entity has the power to otherwise direct the business and policies of that entity directly or indirectly through another subsidiary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Subsidiaries of the Company shall include the Group Companies (other than the Company).

 

82.

Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Shareholders’ Agreement, the Management Rights Letter, the Share Restriction Agreement, the Control Documents and any other agreements, instruments or documents entered into in connection with this Agreement.

 

83.

Termination Date” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.22(b).

 

84.

Transaction Terms” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.2(a).

 

85.

Tusen Zhiyun” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

86.

Tushen Zhineng” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

87.

United States Person” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 18.2(c) of Schedule 5.

 

88.

US Co” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

89.

US GAAP” means the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States.

 

90.

US$” means the United States Dollar, the lawful currency of the United States of America.

 

91.

Warrantors” means the Group Companies, the Founder Holdcos and the Founders, and “Warrantor” means any one of them.

 

92.

Weilai Chengyun” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

93.

Weilai Logistics” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

94.

WFOE” has the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.

 

5

SCHEDULE 3


SCHEDULE 4

SCHEDULE OF KEY EMPLOYEES

 

SCHEDULE 4


SCHEDULE 5

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE WARRANTORS

1. ORGANIZATION, GOOD STANDING, CORPORATE POWER AND QUALIFICATION

Each Warrantor (except for the Founders) is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its business as presently conducted and as proposed to be conducted. Each Warrantor (except for the Founders) is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Warrantor has full power, authority and capacity to enter into and perform each of the Transaction Documents to which such Warrantor is a party.

 

2.

CAPITALIZATION

2.1 The authorized capital of the Company consists, immediately prior to the Closing, of: (a) 417,972,411 Ordinary Shares, of which 56,516,425 shares are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing. All of the outstanding Ordinary Shares have been duly authorized, are fully paid and nonassessable and were issued in compliance with all applicable securities laws. The Company holds no treasury shares; and (b) 20,000,000 Series A Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 8,218,203 Series A-2 Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 7,080,000 Series B-1 Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 3,000,000 Series B-2 Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 3,465,372 Series B-3 Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 14,993,041 Series C Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; and 25,270,973 Series D-1 Preferred Shares, 11,710,939 of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing. The rights, privileges and preferences of the Series A Preferred Shares, the Series A-2 Preferred Shares, the Series B-1 Preferred Shares, the Series B-2 Preferred Shares, the Series B-3 Preferred Shares, the Series C Preferred Shares and the Series D-1 Preferred Shares are as stated in the Restated Articles and as provided by the Company Law.

2.2 The Company has reserved 10,000,000 Ordinary Shares for issuance to Key Employees, research and technical employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company pursuant to the 2017 Share Plan of the Company (the “Share Plan”). Of such reserved Ordinary Shares, 311,969 Ordinary Shares remain available for issuance to Key Employees, research and technical employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company. The Company has furnished to each Purchaser complete and accurate copies of the Share Plan and forms of agreements used thereunder.

2.3 Schedule 8 sets forth the capitalization of the Company immediately before and following the Closing including the number of shares of the following: (i) issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares, including, with respect to restricted Ordinary Shares, vesting schedule and repurchase price; (ii) issued and granted stock options; (iii) stock options not yet issued but reserved for issuance, including vesting schedule and exercise price; (iv) each series of Preferred Shares; and (v) warrants or stock purchase rights, if any. Except for (A) the conversion privileges of the Purchased Shares to be issued under this Agreement and other Transaction Documents, (B) the rights provided in the Shareholders’ Agreement, and (C) the securities and rights described in Section 2.3 of this Schedule 5, there are no outstanding options, warrants, rights (including conversion or preemptive rights and rights of first refusal or similar rights) or agreements, orally or in writing, to purchase or acquire from the Company any Ordinary Share or Preferred Share, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for Ordinary Share or Preferred Share. .

 

SCHEDULE 5


2.4 The Founders are the legal and beneficial owners of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of their respective Founder Holdcos. The Founder Holdcos are the legal and beneficial owners of 56,516,425 Ordinary Shares of the Company. The Company is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the US Co. The Company is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the HK Co, which in turn is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the WFOE. The Company is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of HK Auto Tech. The HK Co is the legal and beneficial owner of ninety percent (90%) equity interest of the Japan Co. The DomCo I is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of each of Weilai Logistics, Weilai Chengyun and Tushen Zhineng. The DomCo II is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of Kuangtu.

2.5 Section 2.5 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth the capitalization and equity holders of the DomCos, including all issued and outstanding equity capital of the DomCos. Unless otherwise provided in the Control Documents, there are no outstanding options, warrants, rights (including conversion or, preemptive rights and rights of first refusal or similar rights) or agreements, orally or in writing, to purchase or acquire any equity interest or share capital, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for an equity interest or share capital, of any Group Company (other than the Company).

2.6 WFOE Controls one hundred percent (100%) equity interest in each of the DomeCos through the Control Documents. Each Control Document is duly executed by related parties and constitutes the legal and binding obligations of the relevant parties except as limited by laws of general application relating to or affecting the enforcement of contractual arrangements materially similar to the Control Documents.

3. SUBSIDIARIES

Other than the HK Co, the US Co, the Japan Co, the HK Auto Tech, the WFOE and the PRC Subsidiaries, the Company and each other Group Company do not currently own or control, directly or indirectly, any interest in any other company, corporation, partnership, trust, joint venture, association, or other business entity. Neither the Company nor any other Group Company is a participant in any joint venture, partnership or similar arrangement.

 

4.

AUTHORIZATION

With respect to each Warrantor (except for the Founders), all corporate action required to be taken by such Warrantor’s board of directors and shareholders in order to authorize each respective Warrantor to enter into the Transaction Documents to which each such Warrantor is a party, and (only with respect to the Company) to issue the Purchased Shares at the Closing and the Conversion Shares, has been taken or will be taken prior to the Closing. With respect to each Warrantor (except for the Founders), all action on the part of the officers of each Warrantor necessary for the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents, the performance of all obligations of such Warrantor under the Transaction Documents to be performed as of the Closing, and (only with respect to the Company) the issuance and delivery of the Purchased Shares has been taken or will be taken prior to the Closing. The Transaction Documents, when executed and delivered by each Warrantor, shall constitute valid and legally binding obligations of each Warrantor, enforceable against each Warrantor in accordance with their respective terms except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, or other laws of general application relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies, or (iii) to the extent the indemnification provisions contained in the Shareholders’ Agreement may be limited by applicable securities laws. The issuance of any Preferred Shares or Conversion Shares is not subject to any preemptive rights or rights of first refusal, or if any such preemptive rights or rights of first refusal exist, waiver of such rights has been obtained from the holders thereof. For the purpose only of this Agreement, “reserve,”

 

SCHEDULE 5


reservation” or similar words with respect to a specified number of Ordinary Shares or Preferred Shares of the Company shall mean that the Company shall, and the Board of Directors of the Company shall procure that the Company shall, refrain from issuing such number of shares so that such number of shares will remain in the authorized but unissued share capital of the Company until the conversion rights of the holders of any Convertible Securities exercisable for such shares are exercised in accordance with the Restated Articles or otherwise.

 

5.

VALID ISSUANCE OF SHARES

5.1 The Purchased Shares, when issued, sold and delivered in accordance with the terms and for the consideration set forth in this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of Liens and other restrictions on transfer other than restrictions on transfer under this Agreement, the Shareholders’ Agreement, applicable securities laws and liens or encumbrances created by or imposed by the relevant Purchaser. Subject in part to the accuracy of the representations of the Purchaser in Schedule 7 of this Agreement, the Purchased Shares will be issued in compliance with all applicable securities laws. The Conversion Shares have been duly reserved for issuance, and upon issuance in accordance with the terms of the Restated Articles, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of Liens and other restrictions on transfer other than restrictions on transfer under the Transaction Documents, applicable securities laws and liens or encumbrances created by or imposed by the relevant Purchaser. The Conversion Shares will be issued in compliance with all applicable securities laws.

5.2 All presently outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company were duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and are free and clear of any Liens and free of restrictions on transfer (except for any restrictions on transfer under Transaction Documents or applicable securities laws) and have been issued in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all applicable securities laws and regulations, including, to the extent applicable, the Securities Act.

 

6.

GOVERNMENTAL CONSENTS AND FILINGS

No consent, approval, order or authorization of or registration, qualification, designation, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Authority is required on the part of any Warrantor is required in connection with the valid execution, delivery and consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Shareholders’ Agreement or the offer, sale, issuance or reservation for issuance of the Purchased Shares and the Conversion Shares.

 

7.

LITIGATION

There is no claim, action, suit, proceeding, arbitration, complaint, charge or investigation pending or to the Warrantors’ knowledge, currently threatened (i) against any Warrantor or any officer, director or Key Employee of any Group Company that would either individually or in aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (ii) to the Warrantors’ knowledge, that questions the validity of the Transaction Documents or the right of any Warrantor to enter into them, or to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. None of the Warrantors and, to the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of the officers, directors and Key Employees of any Group Company, is a party or is named as subject to the provisions of any order, writ, injunction, judgment or decree of any court or government agency or instrumentality which would either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no action, suit, proceeding or investigation by any Group Company pending or which any Group Company intends to initiate. The foregoing includes, without limitation, actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending or threatened in writing (or any basis therefor known to the Warrantors) involving the prior employment of any of the Group Company’s employees, their services provided in connection with Group Company’s business, or any information or techniques allegedly proprietary to any of their former employers, or their obligations under any agreements with prior employers.

 

SCHEDULE 5


8.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

8.1 Each Group Company owns or possesses sufficient legal rights to (i) all trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, licenses, information and proprietary rights and processes and (ii) to the Warrantors’ knowledge, all patents and patent rights, as are necessary to the conduct of such Group Company’s business as now conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted, without any known conflict with, or infringement of, the rights of others. Section 8.1 of the Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and accurate list of all Intellectual Property owned, licensed to or used by each Group Company, whether registered or not, and a complete and accurate list of all licenses granted by such Group Company to any third party with respect to any Intellectual Property. No product or service marketed or sold (or proposed to be marketed or sold) by any Group Company violates or will violate any license or infringe any intellectual property rights of any other party.

8.2 No Group Company has received any communications alleging that any Group Company has violated or, by conducting its business, would violate any of the patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets or other proprietary rights or processes of any other person or entity. Each Group Company has obtained and possesses valid licenses to use all of the software programs present on the computers and other software-enabled electronic devices that it owns or leases or that it has otherwise provided to its employees for their use in connection with such Group Company’s business. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, it will not be necessary to use any inventions of any of its employees (or persons it currently intends to hire) made prior to their employment by a Group Company. Each Key Employee has assigned to the Group Companies all intellectual property rights he or she owns that are related to the Group Companies’ business as now conducted. Section 8.2 of the Disclosure Schedule lists all patents, patent applications, registered trademarks, trademark applications, registered service marks, service mark applications, registered copyrights and domain names of each Group Company.

8.3 Other than with respect to commercially available software products under standard end-user object code license agreements, there are no outstanding options, licenses, agreements, claims, encumbrances or shared ownership interests of any kind relating to the foregoing, nor is any Group Company bound by or a party to any options, licenses or agreements of any kind with respect to the patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, licenses, information, proprietary rights and processes of any other person or entity.

8.4 No proceedings or claims in which any Group Company alleges that any person is infringing upon, or otherwise violating, its Intellectual Property rights are pending, and none has been served, instituted or asserted by any Group Company.

8.5 None of the employees of any Group Company or the Founders are obligated under any Contract (including a Contract of employment), or subject to any judgment, decree or order of any court or administrative agency, that would interfere with the use of his or her best efforts to promote the interests of the Group Companies, or that would conflict with the business of any Group Company as presently conducted. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, it will not be necessary to utilize in the course of any Group Company’s business operations any inventions of any of the employees of any Group Company made prior to their employment by the such Group Company, except for inventions that have been validly and properly assigned or licensed to such Group Company as of the date hereof.

8.6 Each Group Company has taken all security measures that in the judgment of such Person are commercially prudent in order to protect the secrecy, confidentiality, and value of its material Intellectual Property.

8.7 No Public Software (as defined below) forms part of any product or service provided by any Group Company (“GC Product or Service”), and no Public Software was or is used in connection with the development of any GC Product or Service or is incorporated into, in whole or in part, or has been distributed with, in whole or in part, any GC Product or Service. As used in this Section 8.7,Public

 

SCHEDULE 5


Software” means any software that contains, or is derived in any manner (in whole or in part) from, any software that is distributed as free software (as defined by the Free Software Foundation), open source software (e.g., Linux or software distributed under any license approved by the Open Source Initiative as set forth www.opensource.org) or similar licensing or distribution models which require the distribution or making available of source code as well as object code of the software to licensees without charge (except for the cost of the medium) and the right of the licensee to modify the software and redistribute both the modified and unmodified versions of the software, including software licensed or distributed under any of the following licenses: (i) GNU’s General Public License (GPL) or Lesser/Library GPL (LGPL); (ii) the Artistic License (e.g., PERL); (iii) the Mozilla Public License; (iv) the Netscape Public License; (v) the BSD License; or (vi) the Apache License.

 

9.

COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER INSTRUMENTS

9.1 None of the Group Companies, the Founders and the Founder Holdcos is in violation or default (i) of any provisions of its memorandum of association (if any), articles of association or any other applicable constitutional document, (ii) of any instrument, judgment, order, writ or decree, (iii) under any note, indenture or mortgage, or (iv) under any lease, agreement, contract or purchase order to which it is a party or by which it is bound that is required to be listed on the Section 10.1 of Disclosure Schedule, or (v) of any provision of statute, rule or regulation applicable to such Warrantor, the violation of which would either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents will not result in any such violation or be in conflict with or constitute, with or without the passage of time and giving of notice, either (i) a default under any such provision, instrument, judgment, order, writ, decree, contract or agreement or (ii) an event which results in the creation of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any equity interest or assets of any Group Company or the suspension, revocation, forfeiture, or nonrenewal of any material permit or license applicable to any Group Company, which would either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

9.2

PENALTIES AND FINES

There are no penalties or fines of whatsoever nature that have ever been imposed on any Group Company.

 

10.

AGREEMENTS; ACTIONS

10.1 Save for the agreements set out in Section 10.1 of the Disclosure Schedule (the “Material Agreements”) and the Transaction Documents, there are no other agreements, understandings, instruments, contracts or proposed transactions to which any Group Company is a party or by which it is bound that involve (i) obligations (contingent or otherwise) of, or payments to, any Group Company in excess of US$100,000 per annum or in excess of US$500,000 in the aggregate, (ii) the transfer or license of any patent, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary right to or from any Group Company, other than from or to another Group Company or from a Founder to a Group Company, (iii) the grant of rights to manufacture, produce, assemble, license, market, or sell its products to any other person or affect any Group Company’s exclusive right to develop, manufacture, assemble, distribute, market or sell its products, (iv) indemnification by any Group Company with respect to infringements of proprietary rights, and there are no agreements, understandings, instruments, contracts or proposed transactions between any Warrantor and any holder of Preferred Shares amending or varying the rights or obligations of the Company and such holder of Preferred Shares from those set out in the Transaction Documents. All the Material Agreements are valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the parties thereto and the terms thereof have been complied with by the relevant Group Company, and to the Warrantors’ knowledge, by all the other parties thereto. There are to the Warrantors’ knowledge, no circumstances likely to give rise to any material breach of such terms, no grounds for rescission, avoidance or repudiation of any of the Material Agreements which would have a Material Adverse Effect and no notice of termination or of intention to terminate has been received in respect of any Material Agreement.

 

SCHEDULE 5


10.2 The Company has not declared or paid any dividends, or authorized or made any distribution upon or with respect to any class of its share capital, and no Group Company has (i) incurred any indebtedness for money borrowed or incurred any other liabilities individually in excess of US$10,000 or in excess of US$25,000 in the aggregate, (ii) made any loans or advances to any person, other than ordinary advances for travel expenses and trade receivables in the ordinary course of business, or (iii) sold, exchanged or otherwise disposed of any of its assets or rights, other than the sale of its inventory in the ordinary course of business or otherwise envisaged in this Agreement. For the purposes of Sections 10.1 and 10.2 of this Schedule 5 all indebtedness, liabilities, agreements, understandings, instruments, contracts and proposed transactions involving the same person or entity shall be aggregated for the purpose of meeting the individual minimum dollar amounts of such subsection.

10.3 No Group Company is a guarantor or indemnitor of any indebtedness of any other person, firm or corporation that is not a Group Company.

10.4 Save as set out in Section 10.4 of the Disclosure Schedule or in connection with this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, no Group Company has engaged in the past three (3) months in any discussion with any representative of any corporation, partnership, trust, joint venture, limited liability company, association or other entity, or any individual, regarding (i) a sale of all or substantially all of such Group Company’s assets, or (ii) any merger, consolidation or other business combination transaction of such Group Company with or into another corporation, entity or person.

 

11.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

11.1 Other than (i) standard employee benefits generally made available to all employees, (ii) standard director and officer indemnification agreements approved by the Board of Directors, and (iii) the purchase of the Company’s share capital in accordance with applicable law, and the issuance of options to purchase the Company’s Ordinary Shares, in each instance, disclosed in Section 11.1 of the Disclosure Schedule, there are no agreements, understandings or proposed transactions between any Group Company and any of its officers, directors, consultants or Key Employees, or any Affiliate thereof, respectively.

11.2 No Group Company is indebted, directly or indirectly, to any of its directors, officers or employees or to their respective spouses or children or to any Affiliate of any of the foregoing, other than in connection with expenses or advances of expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business or employee relocation expenses. None of the Group Companies’ directors, officers or employees, or any members of their immediate families, or any Affiliate of the foregoing (i) are, directly or indirectly, indebted to any Group Company or, (ii) to the Warrantors’ knowledge, have any direct or indirect ownership interest in any firm or corporation with which the Company is affiliated or with which any Group Company has a business relationship, or any firm or corporation which competes with any Group Company except that directors, officers or employees or shareholders of the Company may own shares in (but not exceeding one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of) publicly traded companies that may compete with any Group Company. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of the Group Companies’ employees, officers or directors or any members of their immediate families or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing are, directly or indirectly, interested in any contract with any Group Company. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of the Group Companies’ directors, officers or employees, or any members of their immediate families, or any Affiliate of the foregoing has any material commercial, industrial, banking, consulting, legal, accounting, charitable or familial relationship with any of the Group Companies’ five (5) largest business relationship partners, service providers, joint venture partners, licensees and competitors.

 

SCHEDULE 5


11.3 Other than the Group Companies, there are no corporations, partnerships, trusts, joint ventures, limited liability companies or other business entities in which any Founder owns or controls, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the outstanding voting interests.

11.4 To the Warrantors’ knowledge, no employee, officer, or director of any Group Company (“Related Party”) or any members of such Related Party’s immediate families, or any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity in which such Related Party is an officer, director or partner, has significant ownership interests or otherwise controls, loans, or extend or guarantee credit to any of the Group Companies. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of foregoing persons has any direct or indirect ownership interest in any firm or corporation with which any Group Company is affiliated or with which any Group Company has a business relationship, or any firm or corporation that competes with any Group Company, except that employees, officers, or directors of the Company and members of such Related Party’s immediate families may own stock in (but not exceeding one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of) publicly traded companies that may compete with any Group Company. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, no Related Party or member of their immediate family is directly or indirectly interested in any material contract with any Group Company.

 

12.

RIGHTS OF REGISTRATION AND VOTING RIGHTS

Except as provided in the Shareholders’ Agreement, no Group Company is under any obligation to register under the Securities Act or any other applicable securities laws, any of its currently outstanding securities or any securities issuable upon exercise or conversion of its currently outstanding securities. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, except as contemplated in the Shareholders’ Agreement, no shareholder of any Group Company has entered into any agreements with respect to the voting of shares in the capital of the Company. Except as contemplated by or disclosed in the Transaction Documents, no Founder is a party to or has any Knowledge of any agreements, written or oral, relating to the acquisition, disposition, registration under the Securities Act, or voting of the shares or securities of any Group Company.

 

13.

ABSENCE OF LIENS

Each Group Company has good and valid title to all of its respective assets, whether tangible or intangible (including those reflected in the Financial Statements, together with all assets acquired thereby since the Statement Date (as defined below), but excluding those that have been disposed of since the Statement Date). The property and assets owned by the Group Companies are free and clear of all mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, loans and encumbrances, except for statutory liens for the payment of current taxes that are not yet delinquent and encumbrances and liens that arise in the ordinary course of business and do not materially impair the Group Companies’ ownership or use of such property or assets. With respect to the property and assets it leases, each Group Company is in compliance with such leases and, to the Warrantors’ knowledge, holds a valid leasehold interest free of any liens, claims or encumbrances other than those of the lessors of such property or assets. The assets owned or leased by the Group Companies constitute all of the assets used in connection with the businesses of the Group Companies and are adequate for Group Companies to conduct such businesses in substantially the same manner as currently conducted.

 

14.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Company has delivered to each Purchaser its unaudited consolidated Financial Statements as of March 31, 2019 (the “Statement Date”). The unaudited consolidated Financial Statements may not contain all footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles. Such unaudited consolidated Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition and operating results of the Group Companies as of the dates, and for the periods, indicated therein, subject in the case of the unaudited consolidated Financial Statements to normal year-end audit adjustments. Except as set forth in such unaudited consolidated Financial Statements, each Group Company has no material liabilities or obligations, contingent or otherwise, as of the Statement Date, other than (i) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business subsequent to the Statement Date, (ii) obligations under contracts and commitments incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iii) liabilities and obligations of a type or nature not required under IFRS / US GAAP to be reflected in such unaudited consolidated Financial Statements.

 

SCHEDULE 5


The DomCo I has delivered to each Purchaser its unaudited Financial Statements as of the Statement Date. The unaudited Financial Statements may not contain all footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles. The Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition and operating results of the DomCo I as of the dates, and for the periods, indicated therein, subject in the case of the unaudited Financial Statements to normal year-end audit adjustments. Except as set forth in the Financial Statements, the DomCo I has no material liabilities or obligations, contingent or otherwise, as of the Statement Date, other than (i) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business subsequent to the Statement Date, (ii) obligations under contracts and commitments incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iii) liabilities and obligations of a type or nature not required under IFRS / US GAAP to be reflected in the Financial Statements. Each of the Group Companies has maintained a standard system of accounting established and administered in accordance with IFRS / US GAAP or other applicable accounting standards.

 

15.

CHANGES

Since the Statement Date, except as set forth in Section 15 of the Disclosure Schedule or as contemplated by this Agreement or the Transaction Documents, there has not been:

(a) any change in the assets, liabilities, financial condition or operating results of any Group Company from that reflected in the Financial Statements, except changes in the ordinary course of business;

(b) any damage, destruction or loss, whether or not covered by insurance, that would have a Material Adverse Effect on a Group Company;

(c) any waiver or compromise by any Group Company of a valuable right or of a material debt owed to it;

(d) any satisfaction or discharge of any lien, claim, or encumbrance or payment of any obligation by any Group Company, except in the ordinary course of business;

(e) any material change to a material contract or agreement by which any Group Company or any of its assets is bound or subject;

(f) any material change in any compensation arrangement or agreement with any employee, officer, director or shareholder;

(g) any resignation or termination of employment or change of terms of employment of any officer or Key Employee of any Group Company;

(h) any mortgage, pledge, transfer of a security interest in, or lien, created by any Group Company, with respect to any of its material properties or assets, except liens for taxes not yet due or payable and liens that arise in the ordinary course of business and do not materially impair such Company’s ownership or use of such property or assets;

(i) any dividend, loans or guarantees made by any Group Company to or for the benefit of its employees, officers or directors, or any members of their immediate families, other than travel advances and other advances made in the ordinary course of its business;

 

SCHEDULE 5


(j) any declaration, setting aside or payment or other distribution in respect of any Group Company’s share capital, or any direct or indirect redemption, purchase, or other acquisition of any of such shares by any Group Company;

(k) any sale, assignment or transfer of any material assets or Intellectual Property of any Group Company;

(l) receipt of notice that there has been a loss of, or material order cancellation by, any major customer of any Group Company;

(m) any debt, obligation, or liability incurred, assumed or guaranteed by the Group Company in excess of US$1,000,000 per annum or in excess of US$1,000,000 in the aggregate other than in the ordinary course of business;

(n) to the Warrantors’ knowledge, any other event or condition of any character, other than events affecting the economy or the Company’s industry generally, that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or

(o) any arrangement, agreement or commitment by the Company to do any of the things described in this Section 15.

 

16.

EMPLOYEE MATTERS

16.1 Section 16.1 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a detailed description of all deferred compensation paid or payable for each officer, employee, consultant and independent contractor of any Group Company. The compensation of Key Employees and other employees with the highest amount of compensation have been disclosed to the Purchasers.

16.2 No employee of any Group Company is obligated under any contract (including licenses, covenants or commitments of any nature) or other agreement, or subject to any judgment, decree or order of any court or administrative agency, that would materially interfere with such employee’s ability to promote the interest of the Group Companies or that would conflict with the Group Companies’ business. Neither the execution or delivery of the Transaction Documents, nor the carrying on of the Company’s business by the employees of the Group Companies, nor the conduct of the business as now conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted, will conflict with or result in a breach of the terms, conditions, or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any contract, covenant or instrument under which any such employee is now obligated.

16.3 No Group Company is delinquent in payments to any of its employees, consultants, or independent contractors for any wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, or other direct compensation for any service performed for it to the date hereof or amounts required to be reimbursed to such employees, consultants, or independent contractors. Each Group Company has complied in all respects with all applicable Laws related to employment, including those related to wages, hours, worker classification, and collective bargaining, and the payment and withholding of taxes and other sums as required by Law except where noncompliance with any applicable Law would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. Each Group Company has withheld and paid to the appropriate governmental entity or is holding for payment not yet due to such governmental entity all amounts required to be withheld from employees of such Group Company and is not liable for any arrears of wages, taxes, penalties, or other sums for failure to comply with any of the foregoing.

16.4 No Key Employee intends to terminate employment with any Group Company or is otherwise likely to become unavailable to continue as a Key Employee, nor does any Group Company have a present intention to terminate the employment of any of the foregoing. All employees of the Group Companies have entered into an employment agreement and a confidentiality, non-competition and intellectual property rights agreement. Except as required by law, upon termination of the employment of any employee of the Group Companies, no severance or other payments will become due. The Company has no policy, practice, plan, or program of paying severance pay or any form of severance compensation in connection with the termination of employment services.

 

SCHEDULE 5


16.5 The Company has not made any representations regarding equity incentives to any officer, employees, director or consultant that are inconsistent with the share amounts and terms set forth in the Company’s board minutes.

16.6 Each former Key Employee whose employment was terminated by the Company has entered into an agreement with the Company providing for the full release of any claims against the Company or any related party arising out of such employment.

16.7 Section 16.7 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth each and every employee benefit plan maintained, established or sponsored by any Group Company, or in which any Group Company participates in or contributes to in any jurisdiction, including without limitation, the PRC (the “Employee Benefit Plans”). Save as set out in Section 16.7 of the Disclosure Schedule, there is no other pension, retirement, social insurance, medical insurance, profit-sharing, deferred compensation, bonus, incentive or other employee benefit program, arrangement, agreement or understanding to which any Group Company contributes, is bound, or under which any employees or former employees (or their beneficiaries) are eligible to participate or derive a benefit. Each Group Company has made all required contributions under all the Employee Benefit Plans including without limitation all contributions required to be made under the PRC social insurance and housing fund schemes, and has complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws of any jurisdiction, in relation to the Employee Benefit Plans.

16.8 No Group Company is bound by or subject to (and none of its assets or properties is bound by or subject to) any written or oral, express or implied, contract, commitment or arrangement with any labor union, and no labor union has requested or, to the Warrantors’ knowledge, has sought to represent any of the employees, representatives or agents of any Group Company. There is no strike or other labor dispute involving any Group Company pending, or to the Warrantors’ knowledge, threatened, which could have a Material Adverse Effect, nor is the Company aware of any labor organization activity involving its employees.

16.9 To the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of the Founders and other Key Employees or directors of any Group Company during the previous four (4) years, has been (a) subject to voluntary or involuntary petition under any applicable bankruptcy laws or any state insolvency laws or the appointment of manager, a receiver or similar officer by a court for his/her business or property; (b) convicted in a criminal proceeding or named as a subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses); (c) subject to any order, judgment, or decree (not subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated) of any court of competent jurisdiction permanently or temporarily enjoining him from engaging, or otherwise imposing limits or conditions on his engagement in any securities, investment advisory, banking, insurance, or other type of business or acting as an officer or director of a public company; or (d) found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by any relevant regulatory organization to have violated any applicable securities, commodities, or unfair trade practices law, which such judgment or finding has not been subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated.

 

17.

TAX MATTERS

17.1 The provisions for taxes as shown on the balance sheet included in the Financial Statements are sufficient in all material respects for the payment of all accrued and unpaid applicable taxes of the Group Companies as of the date of each such balance sheet, whether or not assessed or disputed as of the date of each such balance sheet. There have been no examinations or audits of any taxes or tax returns or reports of any Group Company by any applicable Governmental Authority other than routine requests for information.

 

SCHEDULE 5


To the Warrantors’ knowledge, there are no deficiencies or claims for any taxes assessed, proposed or asserted against any Group Company by any Governmental Authority that have not been fully paid and satisfied. Each Group Company has filed or caused to be filed on a timely basis all tax returns that are or were required to be filed (to the extent applicable), all such returns are correct and complete, and each Group Company has paid all taxes that have become due, or have reflected such taxes in accordance with IFRS (or any internationally recognized accounting standards acceptable to each Purchaser) as a reserve for taxes on the Financial Statements. There are in effect no waivers of applicable statutes of limitations with respect to taxes for any year. No Group Company has entered into any transaction a purpose of which is the avoidance of taxes in violation of applicable Laws.

17.2 Immediately after the Closing, the Company will not be a controlled foreign corporation as defined in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor thereto) with respect to the stock held by the Purchasers.

17.3 No member of the Group Company is, nor expects to become, a passive foreign investment company as described in Section 1297 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

17.4 No shareholder of any member of a Group Company, solely by virtue of its status as shareholder of such Group Company, has personal liability under local law for the debts and claims of such Group Company. There has been no communication from any tax authority relating to or affecting the tax classification of any member of the Group Companies.

 

18.

OFAC COMPLIANCE

18.1 None of the Warrantors or, to the Warrantors’ knowledge, any directors, administrators, officers, board of directors (supervisory and management) members or employees of the Company or any other Group Company is an OFAC Sanctioned Person (as defined below). The Warrantors and, to the Warrantors’ knowledge, their directors, administrators, officers, administrators, board of directors (supervisory and management) members or employees are in compliance with, and have not previously violated, the USA Patriot Act of 2001, and all other applicable United States and PRC anti-money laundering laws and regulations. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of (i) the purchase and sale of the Purchased Shares, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or any of the documents in Exhibits attached hereto, or (iii) the consummation of any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby, or the fulfillment of the terms hereof or thereof, will result in a violation by any Warrantor or any Key Employee, of any of the OFAC Sanctions or of any anti-money laundering laws of the United States, the PRC or any other jurisdiction.

 

18.2

For the purposes of Section 18.1:

(a) “OFAC Sanctions” means any sanctions program administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”) under authority delegated to the Secretary of the Treasury (the “Secretary”) by the President of the United States or provided to the Secretary by statute, and any order or license issued by, or under authority delegated by, the President or provided to the Secretary by statute in connection with a sanctions program thus administered by OFAC. For ease of reference, and not by way of limitation, OFAC Sanctions programs are described on OFAC’s website at www.treas.gov/ofac.

(b) “OFAC Sanctioned Person” means any government, country, corporation or other entity, group or individual with whom or which the OFAC Sanctions prohibit a United States Person from engaging in transactions, and includes without limitation any individual or corporation or other entity that appears on the current OFAC list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (the “SDN List”). For ease of reference, and not by way of limitation, OFAC Sanctioned Persons other than government and countries can be found on the SDN List on OFAC’s website at ww.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/sdn.

 

SCHEDULE 5


(c) “United States Person” means any United States citizen, permanent resident alien, entity organized under the laws of the United States (including foreign branches), or any person (individual or entity) in the United States, and, with respect to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, also includes any corporation or other entity that is owned or controlled by one of the foregoing, without regard to where it is organized or doing business.

 

19.

FOREIGN CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT

None of the Warrantors or, to the Warrantors’ knowledge, any of their directors, administrators, officers, board of directors (supervisory and management) members or employees have made, directly or indirectly, any payment or promise to pay, or gift or promise to give or authorized such a promise or gift, of any money or anything of value, directly or indirectly, to (a) any foreign official (as such term is defined in the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977) for the purpose of influencing any official act or decision of such official or inducing him or her to use his or her influence to affect any act or decision of a governmental authority, or (b) any foreign political party or official thereof or candidate for foreign political office for the purpose of influencing any official act or decision of such party, official or candidate or inducing such party, official or candidate to use his, her or its influence to affect any act or decision of a foreign governmental authority, in the case of both (a) and (b) above in order to assist any Warrantor to obtain or retain business for, or direct business to any Warrantor, as applicable, subject to applicable exceptions and affirmative defenses. None of Warrantors and their respective directors, administrators, officers, board of directors (supervisory and management) members or employees has made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment of funds or received or retained any funds in violation of any law, rule or regulation subject to applicable exceptions and affirmative defenses.

 

20.

INSURANCE

Section 20 of the Disclosure Schedule provides a complete list of each Group Company’s insurance policies currently in effect. No Group Company has done or omitted to do or suffered anything to be done or not to be done other than any acts in the ordinary course of business which has or would render any policies of insurance taken out by it or by any other person in relation to any such Group Company’s assets void or voidable or which would result in an increase in the rate of premiums on the said policies and there are no claims outstanding and no circumstances which would give rise to any claim under any such policies of insurance.

 

21.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND INVENTION ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENTS

Each current and former employee, consultant and officer of any Group Company has executed an agreement with such Group Company regarding confidentiality and proprietary information substantially in the form or forms delivered to the counsel for each Purchaser (the “Confidential Information Agreements”). No current or former Key Employee has excluded works or inventions from his or her assignment of inventions pursuant to such Key Employee’s Confidential Information Agreement. No Group Company is aware that any of the Key Employees is in violation thereof.

 

22.

GOVERNMENTAL AND OTHER PERMITS

22.1 Each Group Company has all franchises, governmental permits, licenses and any similar authority necessary for the conduct of its business. No Group Company is in default in any material respect under any of such franchises, governmental permits, licenses or other similar authority.

22.2 Each of the DomCos, the WFOE and the PRC Subsidiaries has applied and obtained all requisite licenses, clearance and permits required under PRC Laws as necessary for the conduct of its businesses, and each of the DomCos, the WFOE and the PRC Subsidiaries has complied in all material respects with all PRC Laws in connection with foreign exchange, including without limitation, carrying out all relevant filings, registrations and applications for relevant permits with the PRC State Administration of Foreign Exchange and any other relevant authorities, and all such permits are validly subsisting. The Founders and other PRC shareholders of the Company (as applicable) have complied with all reporting and/or registration requirements (including filings of amendments to existing registrations) under the SAFE Rules and Regulations, including without limitation, Circular 37.

 

SCHEDULE 5


22.3 The registered capital of each of the DomCos, the WFOE and the PRC Subsidiaries has been fully paid up in accordance with the schedule of payment stipulated in its articles of association and in compliance with PRC Laws, and there is no outstanding capital contribution commitment.

22.4 The respective articles of association, approval document, certificate of approval and legal person business license of each of the DomCos, the WFOE and the PRC Subsidiaries (hereinafter referred to as the “Establishment Documents”) have been duly approved and filed in accordance with the Laws of the PRC and are valid and enforceable.

22.5 The business scope specified in the Establishment Documents of each of the DomCos, the WFOE and the PRC Subsidiaries complies with the requirements of all relevant PRC Laws. The operation and conduct of the business by and the term of operation of each of the DomCos, the WFOE and the PRC Subsidiaries in accordance with the Establishment Documents is in compliance with the Laws of the PRC.

22.6 Section 22.6 of the Disclosure Schedule sets out full and accurate details of all loan agreements entered into by any Group Company regarding any inter-company loan, shareholders loan, foreign exchange loan or any other kind of loan obtained by it. Such loan agreements have been duly registered in accordance with the Laws of the PRC (where necessary) and all such registrations are validly subsisting under the Laws of the PRC. All proceeds from such loan agreements in an amount equal to the principal amount borrowed under such loan agreements was received by the applicable Group Companies used for such Group Companies’ operations and for working capital purposes.

 

23.

CORPORATE DOCUMENTS

The memorandum and articles of association, and all other constitutional documents (or analogous constitutional documents) of each Group Company are in the form provided to each Purchaser. The copy of the minute books of the Company provided to each Purchaser contains minutes of all meetings of directors and shareholders and all actions by written consent without a meeting by the directors and shareholders since the date of incorporation and accurately reflects in all material respects all actions by the directors (and any committee of directors) and shareholders with respect to all transactions referred to in such minutes.

 

24.

LIABILITIES

No Group Company has any liabilities of any nature, whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise, and whether due or to become due, except for (i) liabilities set forth in the Financial Statements of the Company, (ii) trade or business liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) other liabilities that do not exceed US$20,000 in the aggregate.

 

25.

COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS

25.1 Each Group Company is in material compliance with all applicable Laws applicable to it or to the conduct or operation of its business or the ownership or use of any of its assets or properties.

25.2 No event has occurred and no circumstance exists that to the Warrantors’ knowledge (i) may constitute or result in a violation by any Group Company, or a failure on the part of any Group Company to comply with any Law, or (ii) may give rise to any obligation on the part of any Group Company to undertake, or to bear all or any portion of the cost of, any remedial action of any nature, except for such violations or failures by a Group Company that, individually or in the aggregate, would not result in any Material Adverse Effect.

 

SCHEDULE 5


25.3 No Group Company has received any written notice from any Governmental Authority regarding (i) any actual, alleged or likely material violation of, or material failure to comply with, any Law, or (ii) any actual, alleged or likely material obligation on the part of any Group Company to undertake, or to bear all or any portion of the cost of, any remedial action of any nature.

25.4 No Group Company, nor any director, agent, employee or any other person acting for or on behalf of any Group Company, has directly or indirectly (i) made any contribution, gift, bribe, payoff, influence payment, kickback, or any other fraudulent payment in any form, whether in money, property, or services to any public official or otherwise (A) to obtain favorable treatment in securing business for a Group Company, (B) to pay for favorable treatment for business secured, or (C) to obtain special concessions or for special concessions already obtained, for or in respect of any Group Company, in each case which would have been in violation of any applicable Law or (ii) established or maintained any fund or assets in which any Group Company shall have proprietary rights that have not been recorded in the books and records of a Group Company.

25.5 During the previous five (5) years, no Founder has been (i) subject to voluntary or involuntary petition under any applicable bankruptcy laws or any applicable insolvency law or the appointment of a manager, receiver, or similar officer by a court for his business or property; (ii) convicted in a criminal proceeding or named as a subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offences); (iii) subject to any order, judgment, or decree (not subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated) of any court of competent jurisdiction permanently or temporarily enjoining him from engaging, or otherwise imposing limits or conditions on his engagement in any securities, investment advisory, banking, insurance, or other type of business or acting as an officer or director of a public company; or (iv) found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by any regulatory organization to have violated any applicable securities, commodities or unfair trade practices law whatsoever, which such judgment or finding has not been subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated.

 

26.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY LAWS

To the Warrantors’ knowledge, no Group Company is in violation of any applicable statute, law, or regulation relating to the environment or occupational health and safety, except where such failure would not have a Material Adverse Effect on such Group Company’s business or properties, and no material expenditures are or will be required in order to comply with any such existing statute, law or regulation.

 

27.

MINUTES BOOK

The minutes books of each Group Company, which have been made available to the Purchasers, contain a complete summary of all meetings and actions taken by directors and shareholders or owners of such Group Company since its time of formation, and reflect all transactions referred to in such minutes accurately in all material respects.

 

28.

MANUFACTURE, MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS

No Group Company has granted rights to manufacture, produce, assemble, license, market, or sell its respective products or services to any other person and is not bound by any agreement that affects any Group Company’s exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, assemble, distribute, market or sell its respective products or services.

 

SCHEDULE 5


29.

DISCLOSURE; PROJECTIONS

The Warrantors have made available to each Purchasers all the information reasonably available to the Warrantors that such Purchaser has requested for deciding whether to acquire the Purchased Shares, including certain of financial projections with respect to the Company (the “Projections”), each of which were prepared in good faith. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, no representation or warranty of any Warrantor contained in this Agreement, as qualified by the Disclosure Schedule (only to the extent fairly and specifically disclosed therein), no information or document provided or disclosed by the Warrantors to such Purchaser or its counsel in connection with the negotiation or execution of the Transaction Documents and no certificate furnished or to be furnished to such Purchaser at the Closing contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made.

 

30.

BUSINESS PLAN AND BUDGET

The Company has delivered to each Purchaser on or before the Closing a business plan and budget for the twelve (12) months following the Closing (the “Business Plan”). Such Business Plan was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions and projections which the Founders believe are reasonable and not materially misleading.

 

31.

ENTIRE BUSINESS

There are no material facilities, services, assets or properties shared with any entity other than the Group Company which are used in connection with the business of each Group Company.

 

32.

ASSETS TRANSFER

All the employees, material assets and intellectual property rights of Beijing Tusen Hulian Technology Co., Ltd. ( LOGO LOGO ) have been duly transferred to the DomCo I or the WFOE, as applicable, free and clear of all Liens, without any outstanding payment obligations owed by the Warrantors.

 

SCHEDULE 5


SCHEDULE 6

DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE

 

SCHEDULE 6


SCHEDULE 7

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASERS

 

1.

AUTHORIZATION

Such Purchaser has full power, authority and legal capacity to enter into, deliver and perform the Transaction Documents. The Transaction Documents to which the Purchaser is a party, when executed and delivered by such Purchaser, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, and any other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and as limited by laws relating to the availability of a specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies, or (ii) to the extent the indemnification provisions contained in the Shareholders’ Agreement may be limited by applicable securities laws.

 

2.

DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

Such Purchaser has had an opportunity to discuss the Group Companies’ business, management, financial affairs and the terms and conditions of the offering of the Purchased Shares with the Group Companies’ management and has had an opportunity to review the Group Companies’ facilities. The foregoing, however, does not limit or modify the representations and warranties of the Warrantors in Section 5 of this Agreement, or the right of such Purchaser to rely thereon save as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule.

 

3.

PURCHASE ENTIRELY FOR OWN ACCOUNT

This Agreement is made with the Purchaser in reliance upon the Purchaser’s representation to the Company, which by the Purchaser’s execution of this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby confirms, that the Purchased Shares to be acquired by the Purchaser will be acquired for investment for the Purchaser’s own account, not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to the resale or distribution of any part thereof, and that the Purchaser has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same. By executing this Agreement, the Purchaser further represents that the Purchaser does not presently have any contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any Person to sell, transfer or grant participations to such Person or to any third Person, with respect to any of the Purchased Shares.

 

4.

RESTRICTED SECURITIES

The Purchaser understands that the Purchased Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act, by reason of a specific exemption from the registration provisions of the Securities Act which depends upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of the investment intent and the accuracy of the Purchaser’s representations as expressed herein. The Purchaser understands that the Purchased Shares are “restricted securities” under applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws and that, pursuant to these laws, the Purchaser must hold the Purchased Shares indefinitely unless they are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and qualified by state authorities, or an exemption from such registration and qualification requirements is available. The Purchaser acknowledges that the Company has no obligation to register or qualify the Purchased Shares or the Conversion Shares for resale except as set forth in the Shareholders Agreement. The Purchaser further acknowledges that if an exemption from registration or qualification is available, it may be conditioned on various requirements including, but not limited to, the time and manner of sale, the holding period for the Purchased Shares, and on requirements relating to the Company which are outside of the Purchaser’s control, and which the Company is under no obligation and may not be able to satisfy. The Purchaser understands that Company’s offering of Series D-1 Preferred Shares under this Agreement is not intended to be part of the public offering, and that the Purchaser will not be able to rely on the protection of Section 11 of the Securities Act.

 

SCHEDULE 7


5.

NO PUBLIC MARKET

The Purchaser understands that no public market now exists for the Purchased Shares, and that the Company has made no assurances that a public market will ever exist for the Purchased Shares.

 

6.

LEGENDS

6.1 The Purchaser understands that the Purchased Shares and any securities issued in respect of or exchange for the Purchased Shares, may bear one or all of the following legends:

“THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AND HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THE SALE OR DISTRIBUTION THEREOF. NO SUCH TRANSFER MAY BE EFFECTED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATED THERETO OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IN A FORM SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.”

6.2 Any legend set forth in, or required by, the other Transaction Documents.

6.3 Any legend required by the securities laws of any state to the extent such laws are applicable to the Purchased Shares represented by the certificate so legended.

 

SCHEDULE 7


SCHEDULE 8

CAPITALIZATION

TABLE

 

SCHEDULE 8


SCHEDULE 9

NOTICES

 

SCHEDULE 9


EXHIBIT A

RESTATED ARTICLES

 

EXHIBIT A


EXHIBIT B

SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT

 

EXHIBIT B


EXHIBIT C

MANAGEMENT RIGHTS LETTER

 

EXHIBIT C


EXHIBIT D

SHARE RESTRICTION AGREEMENT

 

EXHIBIT D


EXHIBIT E

COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

EXHIBIT E


EXHIBIT F

CONTROL DOCUMENTS

 

EXHIBIT F


EXHIBIT G

DIRECTOR INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

EXHIBIT G

Exhibit 10.6

TUSIMPLE (CAYMAN) LIMITED

SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made on July 10, 2020, by and among:

1) Tusimple (Cayman) Limited (the “Company”), an exempted limited liability company incorporated in the Cayman Islands;

2) Tusimple (Hong Kong) Limited (the “HK Co”), a limited liability company incorporated in Hong Kong;

3) Beijing Tusen Zhitu Technology Co., Ltd. ( LOGO ) (the “WFOE”), a wholly foreign-owned enterprise incorporated in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”);

4) Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd. ( LOGO ) (the “DomCo I”), a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC;

5) Tangshan Tusen Weilai Logistics Co., Ltd. ( LOGO ) (“Weilai Logistics”), a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC;

6) TuSimple, Inc. (the “US Co”), a California corporation;

7) Kabushiki Kaisha TuSimple JAPAN ( LOGO TuSimple JAPAN) (the “Japan Co”), a company incorporated and existing under the Laws of Japan;

8) Tusimple (Hong Kong) Auto Tech Limited (“HK Auto Tech”), a limited liability company incorporated in Hong Kong;

9) Beijing Weilai Chengyun Auto Tech Co., Ltd. ( LOGO ) (“Weilai Chengyun”), a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC;

10) Shanghai Tushen Zhineng Technology Co., Ltd. ( LOGO ) (“Tushen Zhineng”), a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC;

11) Shanghai Tusen Weilai AI Technology Co., Ltd. ( LOGO ) (“DomCo II”, together with the DomCo I, the “DomCos”), a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC;

12) Shanghai Kuangtu Logistics Co., Ltd. ( LOGO ) (“Kuangtu”), a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC;

13) Tusen Zhiyun (Shenzhen) Auto Tech Co., Ltd. ( LOGO ) (“Tusen Zhiyun”, together with Weilai Logistics, Weilai Chengyun, Tushen Zhineng and Kuangtu the “PRC Subsidiaries”), a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC;

14) the Person listed in Schedule 1 (the “Purchaser”);

15) the Persons listed in Schedule 2-A (the “Founders” and each, a “Founder”); and

16) the Persons listed in Schedule 2-B (the “Founder Holdcos” and each, a “Founder Holdco”).

Each of the Company, the HK Co, the WFOE, the US Co, the DomCos, the PRC Subsidiaries, the Japan Co, HK Auto Tech, the Founders, the Founder Holdcos and the Purchaser shall be referred to individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”. Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meaning set forth in Schedule 3 attached hereto.

 

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RECITALS

WHEREAS, immediately prior to the Closing (as defined herein), (i) each Founder own beneficially and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of its respective Founder Holdco; (ii) the Founder Holdcos collectively own beneficially and of record thirty-seven point nine six percent (37.96%) of the equity interest of the Company; (iii) the Founders own beneficially and of record seventy percent (70%) equity interest of the DomCo I; (iv) the Founders own beneficially and of record ninety percent (90%) equity interest of the DomCo II; (v) the Company owns beneficially and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the HK Co; (vi) the HK Co owns beneficially and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the WFOE; (vii) the Company owns beneficially and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the US Co; (viii) the Company owns beneficial and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of HK Auto Tech; (ix) the HK Co owns beneficially and of record ninety percent (90%) equity interest of the Japan Co; (x) the DomCo I owns beneficially and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of each of Weilai Logistics, Weilai Chengyun and Tushen Zhineng ; (xi) the DomCo II owns beneficially and of record on hundred percent (100%) equity interest of Kuangtu and Tusen Zhiyun; and (xii) the WFOE and each of the DomCos has entered into a set of Control Documents listed on Exhibit E of this Agreement.

WHEREAS, the US Co and/or the other member(s) of the Group Companies and the Purchaser and/or its Affiliates have entered into a Joint Development Agreement (the “Joint Development Agreement”) on the date of this Agreement, pursuant to which the parties thereof will implement a joint development project to develop Level 4 autonomous commercial vehicle solution.

WHEREAS, the Company is an exempted limited liability company and immediately prior to the Closing shall have an authorized share capital consisting of (i) 424,444,247 ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each an “Ordinary Share”), of which 58,641,425 Ordinary Shares are issued and fully paid-up; (ii) 20,000,000 Series A preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series A Preferred Share”), all of which have been issued; (iii) 8,218,203 Series A-2 preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series A-2 Preferred Share”), all of which have been issued; (iv) 7,080,000 Series B-1 preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series B-1 Preferred Share”), all of which have been issued, (v) 3,000,000 Series B-2 preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series B-2 Preferred Share”), all of which have been issued, (vi) 3,465,372 Series B-3 preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series B-3 Preferred Share”), all of which have been issued, (vii) 14,993,041 Series C preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series C Preferred Share”), all of which have been issued, and (viii) 18,799,137 Series D-1 preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series D-1 Preferred Share”, and together with the Series A Preferred Share, the Series A-2 Preferred Share, the Series B-1 Preferred Share, the Series B-2 Preferred Share, the Series B-3 Preferred Shares and the Series C Preferred Shares, the “Preferred Shares”), 18,182,772 of which have been issued, in each case as set forth in the capitalization table attached as Schedule 8 hereto.

WHEREAS, the Purchaser wishes to purchase from the Company the Series D-1 Preferred Shares to be issued by the Company pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement.

WHEREAS, the Company wishes to issue, and the Purchaser and/or its Affiliates wishes to subscribe for certain warrant (the “Warrant”) based upon and subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Warrant to Purchase (the agreed form of which is set forth in the Exhibit F hereto) (the “Warrant Instrument”).

 

2


AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, THE PARTIES HEREBY AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

1. PURCHASE AND SALE OF SECURITIES

1.1 Sale and Issuance of Purchased Securities

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Purchaser agrees to purchase at the Closing (as defined below) and the Company agrees to sell and issue to the Purchaser at the Closing (A) the Warrant (the “Purchased Warrant”), and (B) that number of Series D-1 Preferred Shares set forth opposite the Purchaser’s name on Schedule 1 (the “Purchased Shares,” together with the Purchased Warrant, the “Purchased Securities”) for the consideration set forth opposite the Purchaser’s name on Schedule 1 (the “Purchase Price”).

1.2 Closing; Delivery

(a) The purchase and sale of the Purchased Securities shall take place remotely via the exchange of documents and signatures, on a date specified by the Parties, or at such other time and place as the Company and the Purchaser may mutually agree upon, which shall be no later than five (5) Business Days after the satisfaction or waiver of each condition to the Closing set forth in Section 2 and Section 3 (other than conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions at the Closing). The completion of the purchase and sale of the Purchased Securities shall be referred to as the “Closing”.

(b) At the Closing, the Company shall cause its register of members to be updated to reflect the Purchased Shares purchased by the Purchaser, and shall deliver a copy of such updated register of members to the Purchaser, certified as a true and correct copy by the Company’s registered agent.

(c) At the Closing, the Company shall deliver copies of the share certificates representing the Purchased Shares being purchased by the Purchaser at the Closing as set forth on Schedule 1 (the originals of which shall be delivered to the Purchaser within five (5) Business Days after the Closing).

(d) At the Closing, the Company shall deliver a duly executed Warrant Instrument representing the Purchased Warrant being issued to the Purchaser at the Closing (the originals of which shall be delivered to the Purchaser within five (5) Business Days after the Closing).

(e) At the Closing, the Purchaser shall deposit the Purchase Price as indicated opposite the Purchaser’s name on Schedule 1 by wire transfer of immediately available US$ funds into the Closing Account (as defined below).

1.3 Closing Account

Payment of the Purchase Price by the Purchaser to the Company shall be made by remittance of immediately available US$ funds to a bank account designated by the Company in writing at least three (3) Business Days before the Closing (the “Closing Account”). All bank charges and related expenses for remittance and receipt of any Purchase Price shall be for the account of the Company.

2. CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE PURCHASER AT THE CLOSING

The obligations of the Purchaser to purchase its Purchased Securities at the Closing are subject to the fulfillment, on or before the Closing, of each of the following conditions, unless otherwise waived in writing by the Purchaser:

 

3


2.1 Completion of Due Diligence

The Purchaser shall have been satisfied with its business, legal and financial due diligence review on the Group Companies.

2.2 Material Adverse Effect

Since the Statement Date, no event, circumstance or change shall have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate with one or more other events, circumstances or changes, have had or reasonably could be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or any other Group Company.

2.3 Proceedings and Documents

All corporate and other proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated at the Closing and all documents incidental thereto shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser (or its legal counsel) shall have received all such counterpart originals and certified or other copies of such documents as reasonably requested. Each of the Warrantors shall have (i) performed and complied with all covenants, agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by such Warrantors; and (ii) to the extent applicable, approved the aforesaid performance and compliance by its respective directors and shareholders’ resolutions, on or before the Closing.

2.4 Authorizations

The Warrantors shall have obtained all authorizations, approvals, waivers or permits of any Person or any Governmental Authority necessary for the consummation of all of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and other Transaction Documents, including without limitation any authorizations, approvals, waivers or permits that are required in connection with the lawful issuance of the Purchased Securities to the Purchaser and the transactions contemplated by the Control Documents, and all such authorizations, approvals, waivers and permits shall be effective as of the Closing. The Company shall have obtained enforceable waivers in respect of any preemptive or similar rights directly or indirectly affecting the consummation of all of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as applicable.

2.5 Representations and Warranties

The representations and warranties of the Warrantors contained in Schedule 5 shall be true, complete and correct in all material respects as of the Execution Date and the Closing, except for those representations and warranties (i) that already contain any materiality qualification, which representations and warranties, to the extent already so qualified, shall instead be true, complete and correct in all respects as so qualified as of such respective dates and (ii) that address matters only as of a particular date, which representations shall have been true, complete and correct in all respects (subject to Section 2.5(i)) as of such particular date.

2.6 Amendment to Articles

The seventh amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company shall have been amended by special resolutions as set forth substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Special Resolutions”, and the memorandum and articles of association amended by the Special Resolutions, the “Restated Articles”), which shall have been duly adopted by all necessary actions of the Board of Directors and the shareholders of the Company.

2.7 Transaction Documents

The Company, the HK Co, the US Co, the WFOE, the DomCos, the Japan Co, HK Auto Tech, the PRC Subsidiaries, the Founders and the Founder Holdcos shall have executed and delivered the

 

4


Shareholders’ Agreement, substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit B. The Company, the Founders (other than REN Zhenguo ( LOGO )), the Founder Holdcos (other than Ancient Jade International Limited) and other related parties (other than the Purchaser) shall have executed and delivered the Share Restriction Agreements, substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit C. The Company shall have executed and tendered delivery of the Warrant Instrument, substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit F. The US Co and/or the other member(s) of the Group Companies shall have executed and delivered the Joint Development Agreement in form to the satisfaction of the Purchaser.

2.8 Compliance Certificates

The Purchaser shall have received a certificate executed and delivered by the Warrantors, substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit D.

2.9 Investment Committee Approval

The internal authority of the Purchaser shall have approved the execution of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

2.10 Control Documents

The Control Documents shall remain in full force and effect and an executed copy of the Control Documents shall be provided to the Purchaser.

2.11 Performance of Obligations

Each Warrantor shall have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required or contemplated to be performed or complied with by it on or before the Closing.

2.12 Closing Deliveries

The Warrantors shall have tendered delivery of all of the various items they are required to deliver to the Purchaser at the Closing under Section 1.2(a)Section 1.2(d).

3. CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY AT CLOSING

The obligations of the Company to sell the Purchased Securities to the Purchaser at the Closing are subject to the fulfillment of each of the following conditions by the Purchaser, on or before the Closing, unless otherwise waived in writing by the Company:

3.1 Representations and Warranties

The representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in Schedule 7 shall be true, complete and correct in all material respects as of the Execution Date and the Closing.

3.2 Performance

The Purchaser shall have performed and complied with all covenants, agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by it on or before the Closing.

 

5


3.3 Execution of Transaction Documents.

The Purchaser shall have executed and delivered to the Company the Transaction Documents to which it is a party. The Purchaser shall have executed and delivered the Warrant Instrument, substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit F. The Purchaser shall have executed and delivered the Joint Development Agreement in form to the satisfaction of the applicable Group Company.

4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE WARRANTORS

The Warrantors, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to the Purchaser that the statements contained in Schedule 5 attached hereto are true, correct and complete (i) on and as of the Execution Date, and (ii) on and as of the date of the Closing (with the same effect as if made on and as of the date of the Closing), except to the extent fairly and specifically disclosed in the disclosure schedule attached hereto as Schedule 6 (the “Disclosure Schedule”), which disclosures shall be deemed to be part of the representations and warranties as if made hereunder.

5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER

The Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company that the statements contained in Schedule 7 attached hereto are true, correct and complete with respect to the Purchaser as of the Closing.

6. UNDERTAKINGS

The Warrantors hereby jointly and severally covenant to the Purchaser as follows:

6.1 Ordinary Course of Business

From the Execution Date until the earlier of the Termination Date or the Closing, each Group Company shall, and the Founders and the Founder Holdcos shall cause each of the Group Companies to, conduct its business in the ordinary course and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the present character and quality of the business, including without limitation, its present operations, physical facilities, working conditions, goodwill and relationships with lessors, licensors, suppliers, customers, employees and independent contractors. Commencing with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the Termination Date or the Closing, no Group Company may, and the Founders and the Founder Holdcos shall cause each of the Group Companies not to, take any of the actions specified in Section 7.2(a) and Section 7.2(b) of the Shareholders’ Agreement without prior written consent of the Purchaser.

6.2 Use of Proceeds

In accordance with the directions of the Company’s Board of Directors (including the affirmative vote of one director designated by Sina), as it shall be constituted in accordance with the Shareholders’ Agreement, the Company will use the proceeds from the sale of all the Purchased Securities for (i) general working capital; and (ii) other general corporate purposes for the Group Companies.

6.3 Notice of Certain Events

If at any time before the Closing, any Warrantor comes to know of any material fact or event which: (i) is in any way inconsistent with any of the representations and warranties in this Agreement; (ii) suggests that any fact warranted hereunder may not be as warranted or may be misleading; or (iii) might affect the willingness of a prudent investor to purchase the Purchased Securities on the terms contained in the Transaction Documents or the amount of the consideration a prudent investor would be prepared to pay for the Purchased Securities, then the Warrantors shall immediately notify the

 

6


Purchaser in writing, describing the fact or event in reasonable detail. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to, with assistance from outside specialist counsel, promptly and accurately classify under the U.S. Export Administration Regulations and any other applicable U.S. export control regime each product or technology that it produces, designs, tests, manufactures, fabricates or develops, and shall maintain a matrix of export control classification numbers (and any other applicable classifications under U.S. export control laws and regulations) applicable to all such products. The Company shall consult with outside specialist counsel after such classification is made to evaluate whether the Company has become a TID U.S. business, and shall promptly notify the Purchaser in writing if the Company becomes a TID U.S. business.

6.4 Compliance

The Group Companies shall and the Founders and the Founder Holdcos shall cause the Group Companies to at all times comply with all applicable Laws, including without limitation, compliance with all contributions required to be made under the PRC social insurance and housing fund schemes, and, obtain such permits and licenses necessary or desirable for the Group Companies’ business(es).

6.5 Filing of Restated Articles

Within ten (10) days following the Closing, the Company shall, and the Founders and Founder Holdcos shall procure the Company to, duly file the notice of Special Resolutions with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands.

6.6 WFOE’s Registered Capital

Within sixty (60) days following the Closing, substantially all of the Purchase Price (except for reasonable operation costs occurred in the United States and Japan) shall have been injected into the WFOE as the registered capital of or shareholder loans to the WFOE with copies of documents evidencing the same provided to the Purchaser.

7. CURE OF BREACHES; INDEMNITY

7.1 In the event of: (a) any breach or violation of, or inaccuracy or misrepresentation in, any representation or warranty made by the Warrantors contained herein or any of the other Transaction Documents; or (b) any breach or violation of any covenant or agreement contained herein or any of the other Transaction Documents (each of (a) or (b), a “Breach”), the Group Companies shall, jointly and severally, cure such Breach (to the extent that such Breach is curable) to the satisfaction of the Purchaser (it being understood that any cure shall be without recourse to cash or assets of any of the Group Companies). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Group Companies shall also, jointly and severally, indemnify the Purchaser and its Affiliates, limited partners, members, stockholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives and assigns (each, an “Indemnitee”) for any and all losses, liabilities, damages, liens, claims, obligations, penalties, settlements, deficiencies, costs and expenses, including without limitation reasonable advisor’s fees and other reasonable expenses of investigation, defense and resolution of any Breach paid, suffered, sustained or incurred by the Indemnitees (each, an “Indemnifiable Loss”), resulting from, or arising out of, or due to, directly or indirectly, any Breach.

7.2 Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Group Companies shall, jointly and severally, indemnify and keep indemnified the Indemnitees at all times and hold them harmless against any and all Indemnifiable Losses resulting from, or arising out of, or due to, directly or indirectly, any claim for (i) any material liability caused by the infringement or violation of any intellectual property rights of any third party by any Group Company, (ii) tax (including interest, penalty, surcharge or fine in connection therewith) which has been made or may hereafter be made against any DomCo or any other Group Company wholly or partly in respect of or in consequence of any event occurring or any income, profits or gains earned, accrued or received by any DomCo or any Group Company on or before the Closing and any reasonable costs, fees or expenses incurred and other liabilities which any DomCo or any other

 

7


Group Company may properly incur in connection with the investigation, assessment or the contesting of any claim, the settlement of any claim for tax (including interest, penalty, surcharge or fine in connection therewith), any legal proceedings in which any DomCo or any other Group Company claims in respect of the claim for tax (including interest, penalty, surcharge or fine in connection therewith) and in which an arbitration award or judgment is given for any DomCo or Group Company and the enforcement of any such arbitration award or judgment whether or not such tax (including interest, penalty, surcharge or fine in connection therewith) is chargeable against or attributable to any other person, provided, however, that the Group Companies shall be under no liability in respect of taxation:

(a) that is promptly cured without recourse to cash or other assets of any Group Company;

(b) to the extent that provision, reserve or allowance has been made for such tax in the audited consolidated financial statement of the Company;

(c) if the liability has arisen in, and relates to, the ordinary course of business of any DomCo since the Statement Date;

(d) to the extent that the liability arises as a result only of a provision or reserve in respect of the liability made in the Financial Statements being insufficient by reason of any increase in rates of tax announced after the Closing with retrospective effect; and

(e) to the extent that the liability arises as a result of legislation which comes into force after the Closing and which is retrospective in effect.

The survival period for any indemnity obligation relating to claims for tax matters arising under this Section 7.2 shall be the applicable statute of limitations for tax claims.

7.3 In the event that an Indemnitee suffers an Indemnifiable Loss as provided in Section 7.1 or 7.2 and the Group Companies fail to fulfill their obligations under Section 7.1 or 7.2 to indemnify the Indemnitee for the full amount of such Indemnifiable Loss within sixty (60) days upon receipt of written notice thereof from the Purchaser, then the Founders and Founder Holdcos shall jointly and severally indemnify the Indemnitee such that the Indemnitee shall receive the full amount of such Indemnifiable Loss. Any indemnification provided by the Warrantors other than the Founders and the Founder Holdcos pursuant to this Section 7.3 shall not prejudice or otherwise affect the right of the Indemnitee to seek indemnification from the Group Companies in Section 7.1 or 7.2; provided, however, that to the extent the Indemnitee is able to recover any Indemnifiable Loss from the Group Companies, the Warrantors other than the Group Companies shall not be obligated to indemnify the Indemnitee with respect to such amount.

7.4 If the Purchaser or other Indemnitee believes that it has a claim that may give rise to an obligation of any Warrantor pursuant to this Section 7, it shall give prompt notice thereof to the Company stating specifically the basis on which such claim is being made, the material facts related thereto, and the amount of the claim (or a reasonably estimate thereof) asserted. In the event of a third party claim against an Indemnitee for which such Indemnitee seeks indemnification from any Warrantor pursuant to this Section 7, no settlement shall be deemed conclusive with respect to whether there was an Indemnifiable Loss or the amount of such Indemnifiable Loss unless such settlement is consented to by the Founders or their Founder Holdcos. Any dispute related to this Section 7 shall be resolved pursuant to Section 8.15.

7.5 Notwithstanding any other provisions contained herein, the Purchaser acknowledges that the indemnities under Section 7 shall be subject to the following provisions:

(a) the aggregate indemnification amount claimed by the Purchaser or its Indemnitees against all the Warrantors arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall not exceed the amount equal to the Purchase Price paid by the Purchaser under this Agreement, absent fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence; and

 

8


(b) the Warrantors shall not be required to indemnify any Indemnitee for (i) any claim unless the Indemnifiable Losses in connection with any claim or claims suffered by all the Indemnitees are US$100,000 or more, on a cumulative basis, in which case the Warrantors shall be liable for the Indemnifiable Losses in respect to the claim from the first US Dollar, or (ii) any claim arising out of any breach of any representation or warranty made by the Warrantors contained herein or any of the other Transaction Documents to the extent that the relevant matters have been fairly and specifically disclosed in the Disclosure Schedule (but except for the matters as set forth in Section 7.2).

8. MISCELLANEOUS

8.1 Survival of Warranties and Undertakings

The representations, warranties and undertakings of the Warrantors contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Closing. Any fact or matter which is fairly and specifically disclosed in the Disclosure Schedule shall constitute notice to the Purchaser of the fact or matter so disclosed or actually known, as applicable, and the Purchaser shall be deemed to have waived any claim against the Warrantors on account of any inconsistency between such fact or matter and any of the representations, warranties and undertakings of the Warrantors in this Agreement (except (a) where any of such fact or matter in the Disclosure Schedule is untrue, incorrect or incomplete and (b) for the matters as set forth in Section 7.2).

8.2 Confidentiality

(a) Disclosure of Terms. The terms and conditions of this Agreement, any term sheet or memorandum of understanding entered into pursuant to the transactions contemplated hereby, all exhibits and schedules attached hereto and thereto, and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (collectively, the “Transaction Terms”), including their existence, shall be considered confidential information and shall not be disclosed by any Party hereto to any third party except as permitted in accordance with the provisions set forth below.

(b) Permitted Disclosures. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may disclose (i) the existence of the investment to its bona fide prospective purchasers, employees, bankers, lenders, accountants, legal counsels and business partners, or to any person or entity to which disclosure is approved in writing by the Purchaser, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld; and (ii) the Transaction Terms to its current shareholders, employees, bankers, lenders, accountants and legal counsels, in each case only where such persons or entities are under appropriate nondisclosure obligations substantially similar to those set forth in this Section 8.2, or to any person or entity to which disclosure is approved in writing by the Purchaser, which such approval is not to be unreasonably withheld. The Purchaser may disclose (x) the existence of the investment and the Transaction Terms to any Affiliate, partner, limited partner, former partner, potential partner or potential limited partner of the Purchaser or other third parties and (y) the fact of its own investment to the public, in each case as it deems appropriate at its sole discretion. Any Party hereto may also provide disclosure in order to comply with applicable Laws, as set forth in Section 8.2(c) below.

(c) Legally Compelled Disclosure. In the event that any Party is requested or becomes legally compelled (including without limitation, pursuant to any applicable tax, securities, or other Laws and regulations of any jurisdiction) to disclose the existence of this Agreement or content of any of the Transaction Terms, such Party (the “Disclosing Party”) shall provide the other Parties with prompt written notice of that fact and shall consult with the other Parties regarding such disclosure. At the request of another Party, the Disclosing Party shall, to the extent reasonably possible and with the cooperation and reasonable efforts of the other Parties, seek a protective order, confidential treatment or

 

9


other appropriate remedy. In any event, the Disclosing Party shall furnish only that portion of the information that is legally required and shall exercise reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded to such information.

(d) Other Exceptions. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 8.2, the confidentiality obligations of the Parties shall not apply to: (i) information which a restricted Party learns from a third party having the right to make the disclosure, provided the restricted Party complies with any restrictions imposed by the third party; (ii) information which is rightfully in the restricted Party’s possession prior to the time of disclosure by the protected Party and not acquired by the restricted Party under a confidentiality obligation; or (iii) information which enters the public domain without breach of confidentiality by the restricted Party.

(e) Press Releases, Etc. No announcements regarding the Purchaser’s investment in the Company may be made by any Party hereto in any press conference, professional or trade publication, marketing materials or otherwise to the public without the prior written consent of the Purchaser and the Company, provided, that any such announcement made by any partner, limited partner, bona fide potential partner or bona fide potential limited partner of the Purchaser shall not be subject to the consent of the Company.

(f) Other Information. The provisions of this Section 8.2 shall terminate and supersede the provisions of any separate nondisclosure agreement executed by any of the Parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby.

8.3 Transfer; Successors and Assigns

(a) The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective successors and assigns of the Parties. Save as expressly provided in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the Parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement. No Warrantor may assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Agreement without the written consent of the Purchaser.

(b) The Purchaser shall be entitled to assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement or any other Transaction Documents without the consent of the other Parties to a Subsidiary of Navistar International Corporation (an “NAV Subsidiary”). If the Purchaser should at any time wish to transfer all or a portion of its interest in the Company to an NAV Subsidiary, the Company hereby irrevocably agrees that (i) it will consent to such transfer, to the issuance of any new security to be issued to such NAV Subsidiary upon such transfer and to the transfer of any of the Purchaser’s rights provided for in the Transaction Documents, (ii) any restriction on transfer provided in any Transaction Document shall be inapplicable to any transfer to an NAV Subsidiary and (iii) the Company shall waive any requirement for a legal opinion in connection with such transfer, provided that such transfer is exempt from registration under applicable securities laws and the transferee agrees in writing to be subject to the terms of the applicable Transaction Documents.

8.4 Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of Hong Kong as to matters within the scope thereof, without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws.

8.5 Counterparts; Facsimile and Emails

This Agreement may be executed and delivered by facsimile, email or other electronic signature and in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

10


8.6 Titles and Subtitles

The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.

8.7 Notices

All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (a) upon personal delivery to the Party to be notified; (b) when sent by confirmed electronic mail or facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and if not so confirmed, then on the next Business Day; (c) five (5) days after having been delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; or (d) one (1) day after delivery by an internationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent to the respective Parties at their address as set forth on Schedule 9, or to such e-mail address, facsimile number or address as subsequently modified by written notice given in accordance with this Section 8.7.

8.8 No Finders Fees

Each Party represents that it neither is nor will be obligated for any finder’s fee or commission in connection with this transaction. The Purchaser agrees to indemnify and to hold harmless the Company from any liability for any commission or compensation in the nature of a finder’s or broker’s fee arising out of this transaction (and the costs and expenses of defending against such liability or asserted liability) for which the Purchaser or any of its officers, employees, or representatives is responsible. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser from any liability for any commission or compensation in the nature of a finder’s or broker’s fee arising out of this transaction (and the costs and expenses of defending against such liability or asserted liability) for which the Company or any of its officers, employees or representatives is responsible.

8.9 Fees and Expenses

Each Party hereto shall pay all of its own costs and expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

8.10 Attorneys Fees

If any action at law or in equity (including arbitration) is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of any of the Transaction Documents, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees, costs and necessary disbursements in addition to any other relief to which such Party may be entitled.

8.11 Amendments and Waivers

Any term of this Agreement may be amended, terminated or waived only with the written consent of the Company, the Founders and the Purchaser. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 8.11 shall be binding upon the Group Companies, the Founders, the Founder Holdcos, the Purchaser, and each transferee of the Purchased Securities or the Conversion Shares and each future holder of all such securities.

8.12 Severability

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision.

 

11


8.13 Delays or Omissions

No delay or omission to exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to any Party under this Agreement, upon any breach or default of any other Party under this Agreement, shall impair any such right, power or remedy of such non-breaching or non-defaulting Party nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach or default, or an acquiescence therein, or of or in any similar breach or default thereafter occurring; nor shall any waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default theretofore or thereafter occurring. Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on the part of any Party of any breach or default under this Agreement, or any waiver on the part of any Party of any provisions or conditions of this Agreement, must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing. All remedies, either under this Agreement or by law or otherwise afforded to any Party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

8.14 Entire Agreement

This Agreement (including the Schedules and Exhibits hereto), the Restated Articles and the other Transaction Documents constitute the full and entire understanding and agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and any other written or oral agreement relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof existing between the Parties are expressly canceled.

8.15 Dispute Resolution

(a) Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the interpretation, breach, termination or validity hereof, shall first be subject to resolution through consultation of the Parties to such dispute, controversy or claim. Such consultation shall begin within seven (7) days after one Party hereto has delivered to the other Parties involved a written request for such consultation. If within thirty (30) days following the commencement of such consultation the dispute cannot be resolved, the dispute shall be submitted to arbitration upon the request of any Party involved with notice to the other Parties involved.

(b) The arbitration shall be conducted in Hong Kong under the auspices of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (the “HKIAC”). There shall be three (3) arbitrators. The claimant and the respondent to such dispute shall each select one (1) arbitrator within thirty (30) days after giving or receiving the demand for arbitration. Such arbitrators shall be freely selected, and the Parties shall not be limited in their selection to any prescribed list. The Chairman of the HKIAC shall select the third arbitrator, who shall be qualified to practice Law in Hong Kong. If either party to the arbitration does not appoint an arbitrator who has consented to participate within thirty (30) days after selection of the first arbitrator, the relevant appointment shall be made by the Chairman of the HKIAC.

(c) The arbitration proceedings shall be conducted in English. The arbitration tribunal shall apply the Arbitration Rules of the HKIAC in effect at the time of the arbitration. However, if such rules are in conflict with the provisions of this Section 8.15, including the provisions concerning the appointment of arbitrators, the provisions of this Section 8.15 shall prevail.

(d) The arbitrators shall decide any dispute submitted by the parties to the arbitration strictly in accordance with the substantive Laws of Hong Kong and shall not apply any other substantive law.

(e) Each Party hereto shall cooperate with any party to the dispute in making full disclosure of and providing complete access to all information and documents requested by such party in connection with such arbitration proceedings, subject only to any confidentiality obligations binding on the Party receiving the request.

 

12


(f) The award of the arbitration tribunal shall be final and binding upon the disputing parties, and any party to the dispute may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of such award.

(g) Any party to the dispute shall be entitled to seek preliminary injunctive relief, if possible, from any court of competent jurisdiction pending the constitution of the arbitral tribunal.

8.16 No Commitment for Additional Financing

The Warrantors acknowledge and agree that the Purchaser has not made any representation, undertaking, commitment or agreement to provide or assist the Company in obtaining any financing, investment or other assistance, other than the purchase of the Purchased Securities as set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein. In addition, the Warrantors acknowledge and agree that (i) no oral statements made by the Purchaser or its representatives on or after the date of this Agreement shall create an obligation, commitment or agreement to provide or assist the Company in obtaining any financing or investment, (ii) no Warrantor shall rely on any such statement by the Purchaser or its representatives and (iii) an obligation, commitment or agreement to provide or assist the Company in obtaining any financing or investment may only be created by a written agreement, signed by the Purchaser and the Company, setting forth the terms and conditions of such financing or investment and stating that the parties intend for such writing to be a binding obligation or agreement. The Purchaser shall have the right, at its sole and absolute discretion, to refuse or decline to participate in any other financing of or investment in the Company, and shall have no obligation to assist or cooperate with the Company in obtaining any financing, investment or other assistance.

8.17 Rights Cumulative

Each and all of the various rights, powers and remedies of a Party will be considered to be cumulative with and in addition to any other rights, powers and remedies which such Party may have at law or in equity in the event of the breach of any of the terms of this Agreement. The exercise or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy will neither constitute the exclusive election thereof nor the waiver of any other right, power or remedy available to such Party.

8.18 No Waiver

Failure to insist upon strict compliance with any of the terms, covenants, or conditions hereof will not be deemed a waiver of such term, covenant, or condition, nor will any waiver or relinquishment of, or failure to insist upon strict compliance with, any right, power or remedy power hereunder at any one or more times be deemed a waiver or relinquishment of such right, power or remedy at any other time or times.

8.19 Third Party Beneficiaries

Each of the Indemnitees shall be a third party beneficiary of this Agreement with the full ability to enforce Section 7 of this Agreement as if it were a Party hereto. Subject to the preceding sentence, a person who is not a party to this Agreement shall not have any rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Ordinance (Cap. 623 of the Laws of Hong Kong) to enforce any terms of this Agreement. The rights of the Parties to terminate, rescind or agree any variation, waiver or settlement under this Agreement are not subject to the consent of any other person, including an Indemnitee.

8.20 Termination of Agreement

(a) Rights of Termination.

This Agreement may be terminated with respect to the Purchaser before the Closing as follows:

 

13


(1) at the election of the Purchaser on or after July 31, 2020, if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before such date unless such date is extended by the mutual written consent of the Company and the Purchaser; provided that: (i) the Purchaser is not in material default of any of its obligations hereunder, and (ii) the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.20(a) shall not be available to the Purchaser if its breach of any provision of this Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted, directly or indirectly in, the failure of the Closing to be consummated by July 31, 2020.

(2) at the election of the Company on or after July 31, 2020, if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before such date unless such date is extended by the mutual written consent of the Company and the Purchaser; provided that: (i) the Warrantors are not in material default of any of their obligations hereunder, and (ii) the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.20(a) shall not be available to the Company if a Warrantor’s breach of any provision of this Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted, directly or indirectly in, the failure of the Closing to be consummated by July 31, 2020;

(3) by mutual written consent of the Company and the Purchaser as evidenced in writing signed by the Company and the Purchaser;

(4) by the Purchaser in the event of any breach or violation of any representation or warranty, covenant or agreement contained herein or in any of the other Transaction Documents by any Warrantor that is not curable or that is curable but is not cured within thirty (30) Business Days of written notice; or

(5) by the Purchaser if any event, circumstance or change shall have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate with one or more other events, circumstances or changes, have had or reasonably could be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or any other Group Company; or

(6) by the Purchaser or the Company, if (i) the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”) requests or recommends that the Parties submit a joint voluntary notice (“JVN”) regarding the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and/or the Joint Development Agreement and the Parties do not reach an agreement to submit a JVN within 5 Business Days of such request or recommendation after good faith discussions, (ii) if the Parties, after discussion and upon mutual agreement, submit a JVN regarding the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and/or the Joint Development Agreement to CFIUS in accordance with Section 2.7(b) of the Joint Development Agreement and (1) CFIUS advises the parties that it will recommend to the President of the United States (the “President”) that the President prohibit and/or unwind the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (2) CFIUS Approval is conditioned on the acceptance of one or more assurances or measures required, requested or imposed by CFIUS, including, without limitation, entering into a mitigation agreement, letter of assurance, national security agreement, or other similar arrangement or agreement, that the Purchaser or the Company, as applicable, reasonably expects would, individually or in the aggregate, result in a material and adverse impact on the benefits of the Joint Development Agreement to such Party (the actions described in clauses (ii)(1) and (2), individually or collectively, a “CFIUS Turndown”), or (iii) the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) or any other U.S. governmental authority advises the Company or the Purchaser that its goods or technology will be subject to any U.S. export license requirements that would restrict its participation in the transactions contemplated by the Joint Development Agreement in a manner that the Purchaser or the Company, as applicable, expects would result in a material and adverse impact on the economic benefits of the Joint Development Agreement to such Party (an “Export Controls Turndown”), provided that, in the case of clauses (i), (ii) or (iii), the Joint Development Agreement should have been terminated.

 

14


(b) Effect of Termination.

(1) The date of termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.20(a) hereof shall be referred to as “Termination Date”.

(2) In the event of termination by the Company and/or the Purchaser pursuant to Section 8.20(a) hereof, written notice thereof shall forthwith be given to the other Parties and this Agreement shall terminate with respect to the Purchaser, and (i) in case this Agreement is terminated pursuant to (1) or (2) under Section 8.20(a), the Parties shall negotiate in good faith and agree on the effects of the termination otherwise or (ii) in case this Agreement is terminated pursuant to (3), (4), (5) or (6) of Section 8.20(a), the purchase of the Purchased Securities by the Purchaser hereunder shall be abandoned and rescinded, without further action by the Parties hereto. Each of the Company and the Purchaser shall be relieved of their duties and obligations arising under this Agreement after the date of such termination and such termination shall be without liability to the Company or the Purchaser; provided that no such termination shall relieve the Company or the Purchaser from liability for any breach of this Agreement incurred before the termination.

(c) Termination after Closing.

(1) Notwithstanding consummation of the Closing, this Agreement and the Warrant may be terminated by the Purchaser or the Company after the Closing (i) after receipt of a request or recommendation by CFIUS that the Parties file a JVN regarding the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and/or the Joint Development Agreement and the Parties do not reach an agreement to submit a JVN after good faith discussions, or (ii) if any CFIUS Turndown or Export Controls Turndown has occurred, provided that, in the case of clauses (i) or (ii), the Joint Development Agreement shall have been terminated.

(2) In the event of termination by the Purchaser or the Company pursuant to Section 8.20(a)(6) or Section 8.20(c)(1) hereof, without prejudice to such Party’s other rights or remedies under the Transaction Documents, the Purchaser or the Company, as the case may be, may, without the need to demonstrate the sufficiency of any monetary damages or the availability of any other remedy at law or in equity, terminate, rescind and/or unwind the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereunder by delivering a written notice to the other Party. Within ten (10) Business Days after receipt of such notice, (i) the Purchaser shall (x) transfer to the Company the Purchased Shares and the Warrant Shares (as applicable) for an aggregate consideration equal to the sum of the Purchase Price and the Warrant Purchase Amount (as applicable), (y) return to the Company the items that have been delivered by the Company to the Purchaser pursuant to Section 1.2(b), Section 1.2(c) and Section 1.2(d) of this Agreement and Section 19.3 of the Warrant, and (z) transfer to the US Co the amount of funds received by the Purchaser pursuant to Section 3.2 of the JDA, and (ii) the Company shall (A) repurchase from the Purchaser, or cause to be transferred to a third party nominated by the Company, the Purchased Shares and the Warrant Shares (as applicable) at an aggregate repurchase price equal to the sum of the Purchase Price and the Warrant Purchase Amount (as applicable), and (B) cancel the Purchased Shares and Warrant Shares (as applicable) that the Purchaser purchased pursuant to the Transaction Documents. All of the filing fees imposed by the CFIUS in connection with the filing of a JVN, if any, incurred by the Purchaser or the Company in connection with the exercise of its rights under this Section 8.20(c) shall be borne equally by the Company and the Purchaser, and each of the Parties shall bear its own attorney fees in connection with the exercise of its rights under this Section 8.20(c). Each of the Parties hereunder shall be relieved of their duties and obligations arising under this Agreement after the payment of the Purchase Price and the Warrant Purchase Amount (collectively, the “Payments”) in full to the Purchaser, and such termination shall be without liability to the Company or the Purchaser; provided that no such termination shall relieve the Parties from liability for any breach of this Agreement incurred before the termination.

 

15


(d) Surviving Provisions.

(1) The provisions of this Section 8.20, Section 7, Section 8.1, Section 8.2, Section 8.4, Section 8.7, Section 8.9, and Section 8.15, hereof shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

16


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

COMPANY:

   

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited

   

By:

 

 /s/  CHEN Mo

   

Name: CHEN Mo ( LOGO )

   

Title: Director

HK CO:

   

Tusimple (Hong Kong) Limited

   

By:

 

 /s/  CHEN Mo

   

Name: CHEN Mo ( LOGO )

   

Title: Director

HK AUTO TECH:

   

Tusimple (Hong Kong) Auto Tech Limited

   

By:

 

 /s/  Wang Naiyan

   

Name: Wang Naiyan ( LOGO )

   

Title: Director

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

WFOE:

   

Beijing Tusen Zhitu Technology Co., Ltd.

   

( LOGO )

   

By:

 

 /s/  Guo Minhua

   

Name: LOGO

   

Title: Legal Representative

   

Affix Seal:  [Beijing Tusen Zhitu Technology Co., Ltd.

        company seal is affixed]

DOMCO I:

   

Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd.

   

( LOGO )

   

By:

 

 /s/  Guo Minhua

   

Name: LOGO

   

Title: Legal Representative

   

Affix Seal:  [Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd.

        company seal is affixed]

WEILAI LOGISTICS:

   

Tangshan Tusen Weilai Logistics Co., Ltd.

   

( LOGO )

   

By:

 

 /s/  HAO Jianan

   

Name: LOGO

   

Title: Legal Representative

   

Affix Seal:  [Tangshan Tusen Weilai Logistics Co., Ltd.

        company seal is affixed]

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

US CO:

   

TuSimple, Inc.

   

By:

 

 /s/  HOU Xiaodi

   

Name: HOU Xiaodi ( LOGO )

   

Title: Director

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

JAPAN CO:

   

Kabushiki Kaisha TuSimple JAPAN

   

( LOGO TuSimple JAPAN)

   

By:

 

 /s/  WU Nan

   

Name: WU Nan ( LOGO )

   

Title: Director

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

WEILAI CHENGYUN:

   

Beijing Weilai Chengyun Auto Tech Co., Ltd.

   

( LOGO )

   

By:

 

 /s/  HAO Jianan

   

Name: HAO Jianan ( LOGO )

   

Title: Legal Representative

   

Affix Seal:  [Beijing Weilai Chengyun Auto Tech Co., Ltd.

        company seal is affixed]

TUSHEN ZHINENG:

   

Shanghai Tushen Zhineng Technology Co., Ltd.

   

( LOGO )

   

By:

 

 /s/  WANG Naiyan

   

Name: WANG Naiyan ( LOGO )

   

Title: Legal Representative

   

Affix Seal:  [Shanghai Tushen Zhineng Technology Co., Ltd.

        company seal is affixed]

DOMCO II:

   

Shanghai Tusen Weilai AI Technology Co., Ltd.

   

( LOGO )

   

By:

 

 /s/  LIU Huiwen

   

Name: LIU Huiwen ( LOGO )

   

Title: Legal Representative

   

Affix Seal:  [Shanghai Tusen Weilai AI Technology Co., Ltd.

        company seal is affixed]

KUANGTU:

   

Shanghai Kuangtu Logistics Co., Ltd.

   

( LOGO )

   

By:

 

 /s/  HAO Jianan

   

Name: HAO Jianan ( LOGO )

   

Title: Legal Representative

   

Affix Seal:  [Shanghai Kuangtu Logistics Co., Ltd.

        company seal is affixed]

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

TUSEN ZHIYUN:

   

Tusen Zhiyun (Shenzhen) Auto Tech Co., Ltd.

   

( LOGO )

   

By:

 

 /s/  HAO Jianan

   

Name: HAO Jianan ( LOGO )

   

Title: Legal Representative

    Affix Seal: [Tusen Zhiyun (Shenzhen) Auto Tech Co.,
                    Ltd. company seal is affixed]

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

FOUNDERS:

   

CHEN Mo ( LOGO )

   

By:

 

 /s/  CHEN Mo

   

HOU Xiaodi ( LOGO )

   

By:

 

 /s/  HOU Xiaodi

   

REN Zhenguo ( LOGO )

   

By:

 

 /s/  REN Zhenguo

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

FOUNDER HOLDCOS:       Gray Jade Holding Limited
     

 /s/  CHEN Mo

     

Name: CHEN Mo ( LOGO )

     

Title: Director

      White Marble International Limited
     

 /s/  HOU Xiaodi

     

Name: HOU Xiaodi ( LOGO )

     

Title: Director

      Ancient Jade International Limited
     

 /s/  REN Zhenguo

     

Name: REN Zhenguo ( LOGO )

     

Title: Director

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:

   

Navistar, Inc.

   

By:

 

 /s/  Persio Lisboa

   

Name: Persio Lisboa

   

Title: CEO

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT


SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS

Schedules

 

Schedule 1

  

Schedule of Purchasers

Schedule 2-A

  

Schedule of Founders

Schedule 2-B

  

Schedule of Founder Holdcos

Schedule 3

  

Definitions

Schedule 4

  

Schedule of Key Employees

Schedule 5

  

Representations and Warranties of the Warrantors

Schedule 6

  

Disclosure Schedule

Schedule 7

  

Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser

Schedule 8

  

Capitalization Table

Schedule 9

  

Notices

 

SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS


Exhibits

 

Exhibit A

  

Special Resolutions and Restated Articles

Exhibit B

  

Shareholders’ Agreement

Exhibit C

  

Form of Share Restriction Agreements

Exhibit D

  

Form of Compliance Certificate

Exhibit E

  

Control Documents

 

SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS


SCHEDULE 1

SCHEDULE OF PURCHASER

 

Purchaser

   Class of Preferred
Shares
     Number of
Preferred Shares
     Consideration  

Navistar, Inc.

     Series D-1 Preferred Shares        616,365      US$ 5,000,000  

Total

     /        616,365      US$ 5,000,000  

 

SCHEDULE 1


SCHEDULE 2-A

SCHEDULE OF FOUNDER

 

SCHEDULE 2-A


SCHEDULE 2-B

SCHEDULE OF FOUNDER HOLDCO

 

SCHEDULE 2-B


SCHEDULE 3

DEFINITIONS

 

1.

Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person who or which, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such specified Person, including, without limitation, any general partner, limited partner, officer, director, member or employee of such Person and any venture capital or other fund now or hereafter existing that is controlled by or under common control with one or more general partners or managing members of, or shares the same management company with, such Person. With respect to a natural person, his or her Affiliates also include his or her children, stepchildren, grandchildren, parents, step-parents, grandparents, spouse and siblings.

 

2.

Agreement” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

3.

Anti-Corruption Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 19 of Schedule 5.

 

4.

Anti-Money Laundering Laws” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 25.4 of Schedule 5.

 

5.

Board of Directors” or “Board” means the Company’s board of Directors.

 

6.

Breach” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.

 

7.

Business Day” means any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which the commercial banks in Hong Kong, Beijing or New York are authorized or required to be closed for the conduct of regular banking business.

 

8.

Business Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 30 of Schedule 5.

 

9.

CFIUS” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.20(a)(6).

 

10.

Circular 37” means the Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Relevant Issues concerning Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Residents to Engage in Overseas Investment or Financing and in Return Investment via Special Purpose Vehicles promulgated by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the PRC on July 4, 2014.

 

11.

Closing” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.2(a).

 

12.

Closing Account” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.3.

 

13.

Company” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

14.

Company Law” means the Companies Law (as amended) of the Cayman Islands.

 

15.

Confidential Information Agreements” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 21 of Schedule 5.

 

16.

Contract” means a legally binding contract, agreement, understanding, indenture, note, bond, loan, instrument, lease, mortgage, franchise or license.

 

17.

Control” or “control” of a given Person means the power or authority, whether exercised or not, to direct the business, management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, through any contractual relationship (including, without limitation, pursuant to a management or advisory agreement) or otherwise,


 

which power or authority shall conclusively be presumed to exist upon possession of beneficial ownership or power to direct the vote of more than fifty percent (50%) of the votes entitled to be cast at a meeting of the members or shareholders of such Person or power to control the composition of a majority of the board of directors of such Person; the terms “Controlling” and “Controlled” (and their lower-case counterparts) have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

18.

Control Documents” means the following set of contracts in a form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit E, including without limitation, Share Pledge Agreement, Exclusive Option Agreement, Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement and Power of Attorney.

 

19.

Conversion Shares” means Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of any Preferred Shares.

 

20.

Convertible Securities” means, with respect to any specified Person, securities convertible or exchangeable into any shares of any class of such specified Person, however described and whether voting or non-voting.

 

21.

Directors” means the members of the Board of Directors.

 

22.

Disclosing Party” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.2(c).

 

23.

Disclosure Schedule” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.

 

24.

DomCo I” has the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.

 

25.

DomCo II” has the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.

 

26.

Employee Benefit Plans” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 16.7 of Schedule 5.

 

27.

Establishment Documents” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 22.2 of Schedule 5.

 

28.

Execution Date” means the date of this Agreement.

 

29.

Financial Statements” means the consolidated balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows, prepared in accordance with IFRS / US GAAP and applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods indicated.

 

30.

Founder(s)” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

31.

Founder Holdcos” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

32.

Governmental Authority” means the government of any nation, province, state, city, locality or other political subdivision of any thereof, any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, regulation or compliance, and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled, through share or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing.

 

33.

Group Companies” means the Company, the HK Co, the WFOE, the US Co, the DomCos, the PRC Subsidiaries, the Japan Co, HK Auto Tech, and any other direct or indirect Subsidiary of any Group Company collectively, and “Group Company” means any one of them.

 

34.

GC Product or Service” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.7 of Schedule 5.

 

35.

Hong Kong” means the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC.

 

2

SCHEDULE 3


36.

HK Auto Tech” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

37.

HK Co” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

38.

HKIAC” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.15(b).

 

39.

IFRS” mean International Financial Reporting Standards.

 

40.

Indemnifiable Loss” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.

 

41.

Indemnitee” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.

 

42.

Intellectual Property” means all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, processes, compositions of matter, formulas, designs, inventions, proprietary rights, know-how and any other confidential or proprietary information owned or otherwise used by any Group Company.

 

43.

Japan Co” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

44.

Joint Development Agreement” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals.

 

45.

Key Employee” means each of the Persons listed in Schedule 4.

 

46.

Knowledge” including the phrase “to the Warrantors knowledge” means the actual knowledge after reasonable investigation of the Key Employees and the Founders.

 

47.

Kuangtu” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

48.

Law” means any constitutional provision, statute or other law, rule, regulation, official policy or interpretation of any Governmental Authority and any injunction, judgment, order, ruling, assessment or writ issued by any Governmental Authority.

 

49.

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, claim, security interest, encumbrance, title defect, lien, charge or other restriction or limitation.

 

50.

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on the business, assets (including intangible assets), liabilities, financial condition, property, prospects or results of operations of the Group Companies, either individually or taken as a whole.

 

51.

Material Agreements” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 10.1 of Schedule 5.

 

52.

NAV Subsidiary” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.3.

 

53.

OFAC” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 18.2(a) of Schedule 5.

 

54.

OFAC Sanctioned Person” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 18.2(b) of Schedule 5.

 

55.

OFAC Sanctions” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 18.2(a) of Schedule 5.

 

56.

Order” or “order” means any order, injunction, judgment, decree, ruling, writ, assessment or arbitration award of a Governmental Authority.

 

57.

Ordinary Share” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement, being an ordinary share of par value US$0.0001 in the capital of the Company.

 

3

SCHEDULE 3


58.

Party” and “Parties” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

59.

Payments” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.20(c).

 

60.

Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, proprietorship, association, limited liability company, firm, trust, estate or other enterprise or entity.

 

61.

PRC” means the Peoples’ Republic of China, excluding Hong Kong, the Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan for the purpose of this Agreement.

 

62.

PRC Subsidiaries” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

63.

Projections” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 29 of Schedule 5.

 

64.

Preferred Share” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

65.

public official” means an employee of a Governmental Authority, a member of a political party, a political candidate, an officer of a public international organization, or an officer or employee of a state-owned enterprise, including a PRC state-owned enterprise.

 

66.

Public Software” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.7 of Schedule 5.

 

67.

Purchased Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.

 

68.

Purchased Securities” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.

 

69.

Purchase Price” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.

 

70.

Purchased Warrant” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.

 

71.

Purchaser” or “Purchasers” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

72.

Related Party” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 11.4 of Schedule 5.

 

73.

Reserve” or “reservation” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4 of Schedule 5.

 

74.

Restated Articles” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.6.

 

75.

Restricted securities” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 5 of Schedule 7.

 

76.

SDN List” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 18.2(b) of Schedule 5.

 

77.

Secretary” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 18.2(a) of Schedule 5.

 

78.

Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (or comparable Laws in jurisdictions other than the United States).

 

79.

Series A Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

80.

Series B-1 Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

4

SCHEDULE 3


81.

Series B-2 Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

82.

Series B-3 Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

83.

Series C Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

84.

Series D-1 Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

85.

Shareholders’ Agreement” means the Sixth Amended and Restated Shareholders’ agreement of Tusimple (Cayman) Limited, dated March 11, 2020, by and among the Group Companies, the Founders, the Purchaser and certain other parties thereto, substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit B and amended and restated from time to time (for the avoidance of doubt, the entry by the Purchaser thereof shall be through the execution and delivery of a Joinder to the Shareholders’ Agreement in form to the satisfaction of the Purchaser).

 

86.

Share Plan” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.3 of Schedule 5.

 

87.

Share Restriction Agreements” means the Second Amended and Restated Share Restriction Agreements, dated August 13, 2019, by and among the Company, Mr. Chen Mo, Mr. Hou Xiaodi and certain other parties thereto, substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit C and amended and restated from time to time (for the avoidance of doubt, the entry by the Purchaser thereof shall be through the execution and delivery of a Joinder to the applicable Share Restriction Agreement in form to the satisfaction of the Purchaser).

 

88.

Sina” means SUN Dream Inc and its successors and assignees.

 

89.

Special Resolutions” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.6.

 

90.

Statement Date” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 14 of Schedule 5.

 

91.

Subsidiary” or “subsidiary” means, as of the relevant date of determination, with respect to any Person (the “subject entity”), (i) any Person (x) more than 50% of whose shares or other interests entitled to vote in the election of directors or (y) more than a 50% interest in the profits or capital of such Person are owned or controlled directly or indirectly by the subject entity or through one (1) or more Subsidiaries of the subject entity; (ii) any Person whose assets, or portions thereof, are consolidated with the net earnings of the subject entity and are recorded on the books of the subject entity for financial reporting purposes in accordance with IFRS or US GAAP; or (iii) any Person with respect to which the subject entity has the power to otherwise direct the business and policies of that entity directly or indirectly through another subsidiary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Subsidiaries of the Company shall include the Group Companies (other than the Company) and/or any other company Controlled by the Company, directly or indirectly, through contractual arrangement (including via the variable interest entities arrangement).

 

92.

Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Shareholders’ Agreement (as amended and restated from time to time), the Restated Articles (as amended and restated from time to time), the Share Restriction Agreements, the Control Documents, the Joint Development Agreement, the Warrant Instrument and any other agreements, instruments or documents entered into in connection with this Agreement.

 

93.

Termination Date” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.22(b).

 

5

SCHEDULE 3


94.

TID U.S. business” has the meaning ascribed to it in 31 CFR § 800.248, as may be amended from time to time

 

95.

Transaction Terms” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.2(a).

 

96.

Tusen Zhiyun” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

97.

Tushen Zhineng” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

98.

United States Person” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 18.2(c) of Schedule 5.

 

99.

US Co” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

100.

US GAAP” means the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States.

 

101.

US$” means the United States Dollar, the lawful currency of the United States of America.

 

102.

Warrant” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals.

 

103.

Warrant Instrument” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals.

 

104.

Warrant Shares” means the Series D-1 Preferred Shares of the Company or shares of any other class and series of convertible preferred shares or other senior convertible equity security sold or issued by the Company pursuant to the Warrant Instrument.

 

105.

Warrant Purchase Amount” has the meaning ascribed to “Purchase Amount” in the Warrant.

 

106.

Exercise Price” has the meaning as ascribed to it in the Warrant Instrument.

 

107.

Warrantors” means the Group Companies, the Founder Holdcos and the Founders, and “Warrantor” means any one of them.

 

108.

Weilai Chengyun” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

109.

Weilai Logistics” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

110.

WFOE” has the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.

 

6

SCHEDULE 3


SCHEDULE 4

SCHEDULE OF KEY EMPLOYEES

 

SCHEDULE 4


SCHEDULE 5

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE WARRANTORS

1. ORGANIZATION, GOOD STANDING, CORPORATE POWER AND QUALIFICATION

Each Warrantor (except for the Founders) is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its business as presently conducted and as proposed to be conducted. Each Warrantor (except for the Founders) is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Warrantor has full power, authority and capacity to enter into and perform each of the Transaction Documents to which such Warrantor is a party.

2. CAPITALIZATION

2.1 The authorized capital of the Company consists, immediately prior to the Closing, of: (a) 424,444,247 Ordinary Shares, of which 58,641,425 shares are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing. All of the outstanding Ordinary Shares have been duly authorized, are fully paid and nonassessable and were issued in compliance with all applicable securities laws. The Company holds no treasury shares; and (b) 20,000,000 Series A Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 8,218,203 Series A-2 Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 7,080,000 Series B-1 Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 3,000,000 Series B-2 Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 3,465,372 Series B-3 Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 14,993,041 Series C Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; and 18,799,137 Series D-1 Preferred Shares, 18,182,772 of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing. The rights, privileges and preferences of the Series A Preferred Shares, the Series A-2 Preferred Shares, the Series B-1 Preferred Shares, the Series B-2 Preferred Shares, the Series B-3 Preferred Shares, the Series C Preferred Shares and the Series D-1 Preferred Shares are as stated in the Restated Articles and as provided by the Company Law.

2.2 The Company has reserved 17,445,043 Ordinary Shares for issuance to Key Employees, research and technical employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company pursuant to the 2017 Share Plan of the Company, as amended from time to time (the “Share Plan”), and 2,125,000 of which are issued and outstanding. Of such reserved Ordinary Shares, 3,069,879 Ordinary Shares remain available for issuance to Key Employees, research and technical employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company. The Company has furnished to the Purchaser complete and accurate copies of the Share Plan and forms of agreements used thereunder.

2.3 Schedule 8 sets forth the capitalization of the Company immediately before and following the Closing including the number of shares of the following: (i) issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares, including, with respect to restricted Ordinary Shares, vesting schedule and repurchase price; (ii) issued and granted stock options; (iii) stock options not yet issued but reserved for issuance, including vesting schedule and exercise price; (iv) each series of Preferred Shares; and (v) warrants or stock purchase rights, if any. Except for (A) the conversion privileges of the Purchased Securities to be issued under this Agreement and other Transaction Documents, (B) the rights provided in the Shareholders’ Agreement, and (C) the securities and rights described in Section 2.3 of this Schedule 5, there are no outstanding options, warrants, rights (including conversion or preemptive rights and rights of first refusal or similar rights) or agreements, orally or in writing, to purchase or acquire from the Company any Ordinary Share or Preferred Share, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for Ordinary Share or Preferred Share. .

 

 

SCHEDULE 5


2.4 The Founders are the legal and beneficial owners of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of their respective Founder Holdcos. The Founder Holdcos are the legal and beneficial owners of 56,516,425 Ordinary Shares of the Company. The Company is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the US Co. The Company is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the HK Co, which in turn is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the WFOE. The Company is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of HK Auto Tech. The HK Co is the legal and beneficial owner of ninety percent (90%) equity interest of the Japan Co. The DomCo I is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of each of Weilai Logistics, Weilai Chengyun and Tushen Zhineng. The DomCo II is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of Kuangtu and Tusen Zhiyun.

2.5 Section 2.5 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth the capitalization and equity holders of the DomCos, including all issued and outstanding equity capital of the DomCos. Unless otherwise provided in the Control Documents, there are no outstanding options, warrants, rights (including conversion or, preemptive rights and rights of first refusal or similar rights) or agreements, orally or in writing, to purchase or acquire any equity interest or share capital, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for an equity interest or share capital, of any Group Company (other than the Company).

2.6 WFOE Controls one hundred percent (100%) equity interest in each of the DomCos through the Control Documents. Each Control Document is duly executed by related parties and constitutes the legal and binding obligations of the relevant parties except as limited by laws of general application relating to or affecting the enforcement of contractual arrangements materially similar to the Control Documents.

3. SUBSIDIARIES

Other than the HK Co, the US Co, the Japan Co, the HK Auto Tech, the WFOE and the PRC Subsidiaries, the Company and each other Group Company do not currently own or control, directly or indirectly, any interest in any other company, corporation, partnership, trust, joint venture, association, or other business entity. Neither the Company nor any other Group Company is a participant in any joint venture, partnership or similar arrangement.

4. AUTHORIZATION

With respect to each Warrantor (except for the Founders), all corporate action required to be taken by such Warrantor’s board of directors and shareholders in order to authorize each respective Warrantor to enter into the Transaction Documents to which each such Warrantor is a party, and (only with respect to the Company) to issue the Purchased Securities at the Closing and the Conversion Shares, has been taken or will be taken prior to the Closing. With respect to each Warrantor (except for the Founders), all action on the part of the officers of each Warrantor necessary for the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents, the performance of all obligations of such Warrantor under the Transaction Documents to be performed as of the Closing, and (only with respect to the Company) the issuance and delivery of the Purchased Securities has been taken or will be taken prior to the Closing. The Transaction Documents, when executed and delivered by each Warrantor, shall constitute valid and legally binding obligations of each Warrantor, enforceable against each Warrantor in accordance with their respective terms except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, or other laws of general application relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies, or (iii) to the extent the indemnification provisions contained in the Shareholders’ Agreement may be limited by applicable securities laws. The issuance of any Preferred Shares or Conversion Shares is not subject to any preemptive rights or rights of first refusal, or if any such preemptive rights or rights of first refusal exist, waiver of such rights has been obtained from the holders thereof. For the purpose only of this Agreement, “reserve,”

 

SCHEDULE 5


reservation” or similar words with respect to a specified number of Ordinary Shares or Preferred Shares of the Company shall mean that the Company shall, and the Board of Directors of the Company shall procure that the Company shall, refrain from issuing such number of shares so that such number of shares will remain in the authorized but unissued share capital of the Company until the conversion rights of the holders of any Convertible Securities exercisable for such shares are exercised in accordance with the Restated Articles or otherwise.

5. VALID ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES

5.1 The Purchased Shares, when issued, sold and delivered in accordance with the terms and for the consideration set forth in this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of Liens and other restrictions on transfer other than restrictions on transfer under this Agreement, the Shareholders’ Agreement, applicable securities laws and liens or encumbrances created by or imposed by the relevant Purchaser. Subject in part to the accuracy of the representations of the Purchaser in Schedule 7 of this Agreement, the Purchased Securities will be issued in compliance with all applicable securities laws. The Conversion Shares have been duly reserved for issuance, and upon issuance in accordance with the terms of the Restated Articles, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of Liens and other restrictions on transfer other than restrictions on transfer under the Transaction Documents, applicable securities laws and liens or encumbrances created by or imposed by the relevant Purchaser. The Conversion Shares will be issued in compliance with all applicable securities laws.

5.2 All presently outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company were duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and are free and clear of any Liens and free of restrictions on transfer (except for any restrictions on transfer under Transaction Documents or applicable securities laws) and have been issued in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all applicable securities laws and regulations, including, to the extent applicable, the Securities Act.

6. GOVERNMENTAL CONSENTS AND FILINGS

No consent, approval, order or authorization of or registration, qualification, designation, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Authority is required on the part of any Warrantor is required in connection with the valid execution, delivery and consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Shareholders’ Agreement or the offer, sale, issuance or reservation for issuance of the Purchased Securities and the Conversion Shares.

7. LITIGATION

There is no claim, action, suit, proceeding, arbitration, complaint, charge or investigation pending or to the Warrantors’ knowledge, currently threatened (i) against any Warrantor or any officer, director or Key Employee of any Group Company that would either individually or in aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (ii) to the Warrantors’ knowledge, that questions the validity of the Transaction Documents or the right of any Warrantor to enter into them, or to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. None of the Warrantors and, to the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of the officers, directors and Key Employees of any Group Company, is a party or is named as subject to the provisions of any order, writ, injunction, judgment or decree of any court or government agency or instrumentality which would either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no action, suit, proceeding or investigation by any Group Company pending or which any Group Company intends to initiate. The foregoing includes, without limitation, actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending or threatened in writing (or any basis therefor known to the Warrantors) involving the prior employment of any of the Group Company’s employees, their services provided in connection with Group Company’s business, or any information or techniques allegedly proprietary to any of their former employers, or their obligations under any agreements with prior employers.

 

SCHEDULE 5


8. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

8.1 Each Group Company owns or possesses sufficient legal rights to (i) all trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, licenses, information and proprietary rights and processes and (ii) to the Warrantors’ knowledge, all patents and patent rights, as are necessary to the conduct of such Group Company’s business as now conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted, without any known conflict with, or infringement of, the rights of others. Section 8.1 of the Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and accurate list of all Intellectual Property owned, licensed to or used by each Group Company, whether registered or not, and a complete and accurate list of all licenses granted by such Group Company to any third party with respect to any Intellectual Property. No product or service marketed or sold (or proposed to be marketed or sold) by any Group Company violates or will violate any license or infringe any intellectual property rights of any other party.

8.2 No Group Company has received any communications alleging that any Group Company has violated or, by conducting its business, would violate any of the patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets or other proprietary rights or processes of any other person or entity. Each Group Company has obtained and possesses valid licenses to use all of the software programs present on the computers and other software-enabled electronic devices that it owns or leases or that it has otherwise provided to its employees for their use in connection with such Group Company’s business. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, it will not be necessary to use any inventions of any of its employees (or persons it currently intends to hire) made prior to their employment by a Group Company. Each Key Employee has assigned to the Group Companies all intellectual property rights he or she owns that are related to the Group Companies’ business as now conducted. Section 8.2 of the Disclosure Schedule lists all patents, patent applications, registered trademarks, trademark applications, registered service marks, service mark applications, registered copyrights and domain names of each Group Company.

8.3 Other than with respect to commercially available software products under standard end-user object code license agreements, there are no outstanding options, licenses, agreements, claims, encumbrances or shared ownership interests of any kind relating to the foregoing, nor is any Group Company bound by or a party to any options, licenses or agreements of any kind with respect to the patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, licenses, information, proprietary rights and processes of any other person or entity.

8.4 No proceedings or claims in which any Group Company alleges that any person is infringing upon, or otherwise violating, its Intellectual Property rights are pending, and none has been served, instituted or asserted by any Group Company.

8.5 None of the employees of any Group Company or the Founders are obligated under any Contract (including a Contract of employment), or subject to any judgment, decree or order of any court or administrative agency, that would interfere with the use of his or her best efforts to promote the interests of the Group Companies, or that would conflict with the business of any Group Company as presently conducted. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, it will not be necessary to utilize in the course of any Group Company’s business operations any inventions of any of the employees of any Group Company made prior to their employment by the such Group Company, except for inventions that have been validly and properly assigned or licensed to such Group Company as of the date hereof.

8.6 Each Group Company has taken all security measures that in the judgment of such Person are commercially prudent in order to protect the secrecy, confidentiality, and value of its material Intellectual Property.

8.7 No Public Software (as defined below) forms part of any product or service provided by any Group Company (“GC Product or Service”), and no Public Software was or is used in connection with the development of any GC Product or Service or is incorporated into, in whole or in part, or has been distributed with, in whole or in part, any GC Product or Service. As used in this Section 8.7,Public

 

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Software” means any software that contains, or is derived in any manner (in whole or in part) from, any software that is distributed as free software (as defined by the Free Software Foundation), open source software (e.g., Linux or software distributed under any license approved by the Open Source Initiative as set forth www.opensource.org) or similar licensing or distribution models which require the distribution or making available of source code as well as object code of the software to licensees without charge (except for the cost of the medium) and the right of the licensee to modify the software and redistribute both the modified and unmodified versions of the software, including software licensed or distributed under any of the following licenses: (i) GNU’s General Public License (GPL) or Lesser/Library GPL (LGPL); (ii) the Artistic License (e.g., PERL); (iii) the Mozilla Public License; (iv) the Netscape Public License; (v) the BSD License; or (vi) the Apache License.

9. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER INSTRUMENTS

9.1 None of the Group Companies, the Founders and the Founder Holdcos is in violation or default (i) of any provisions of its memorandum of association (if any), articles of association or any other applicable constitutional document, (ii) of any instrument, judgment, order, writ or decree, (iii) under any note, indenture or mortgage, or (iv) under any lease, agreement, contract or purchase order to which it is a party or by which it is bound that is required to be listed on the Section 10.1 of Disclosure Schedule, or (v) of any provision of statute, rule or regulation applicable to such Warrantor, the violation of which would either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents will not result in any such violation or be in conflict with or constitute, with or without the passage of time and giving of notice, either (i) a default under any such provision, instrument, judgment, order, writ, decree, contract or agreement or (ii) an event which results in the creation of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any equity interest or assets of any Group Company or the suspension, revocation, forfeiture, or nonrenewal of any material permit or license applicable to any Group Company, which would either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

9.2 PENALTIES AND FINES

There are no penalties or fines of whatsoever nature that have ever been imposed on any Group Company.

10. AGREEMENTS; ACTIONS

10.1 Save for the agreements set out in Section 10.1 of the Disclosure Schedule (the “Material Agreements”) and the Transaction Documents, there are no other agreements, understandings, instruments, contracts or proposed transactions to which any Group Company is a party or by which it is bound that involve (i) obligations (contingent or otherwise) of, or payments to, any Group Company in excess of US$100,000 per annum or in excess of US$500,000 in the aggregate, (ii) the transfer or license of any patent, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary right to or from any Group Company, other than from or to another Group Company or from a Founder to a Group Company, (iii) the grant of rights to manufacture, produce, assemble, license, market, or sell its products to any other person or affect any Group Company’s exclusive right to develop, manufacture, assemble, distribute, market or sell its products, (iv) indemnification by any Group Company with respect to infringements of proprietary rights, and there are no agreements, understandings, instruments, contracts or proposed transactions between any Warrantor and any holder of Preferred Shares amending or varying the rights or obligations of the Company and such holder of Preferred Shares from those set out in the Transaction Documents. All the Material Agreements are valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the parties thereto and the terms thereof have been complied with by the relevant Group Company, and to the Warrantors’ knowledge, by all the other parties thereto. There are to the Warrantors’ knowledge, no circumstances likely to give rise to any material breach of such terms, no grounds for rescission, avoidance or repudiation of any of the Material Agreements which would have a Material Adverse Effect and no notice of termination or of intention to terminate has been received in respect of any Material Agreement.

 

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10.2 The Company has not declared or paid any dividends, or authorized or made any distribution upon or with respect to any class of its share capital, and no Group Company has (i) incurred any indebtedness for money borrowed or incurred any other liabilities individually in excess of US$10,000 or in excess of US$25,000 in the aggregate, (ii) made any loans or advances to any person, other than ordinary advances for travel expenses and trade receivables in the ordinary course of business, or (iii) sold, exchanged or otherwise disposed of any of its assets or rights, other than the sale of its inventory in the ordinary course of business or otherwise envisaged in this Agreement. For the purposes of Sections 10.1 and 10.2 of this Schedule 5 all indebtedness, liabilities, agreements, understandings, instruments, contracts and proposed transactions involving the same person or entity shall be aggregated for the purpose of meeting the individual minimum dollar amounts of such subsection.

10.3 No Group Company is a guarantor or indemnitor of any indebtedness of any other person, firm or corporation that is not a Group Company.

10.4 Save as set out in Section 10.4 of the Disclosure Schedule or in connection with this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, no Group Company has engaged in the past three (3) months in any discussion with any representative of any corporation, partnership, trust, joint venture, limited liability company, association or other entity, or any individual, regarding (i) a sale of all or substantially all of such Group Company’s assets, or (ii) any merger, consolidation or other business combination transaction of such Group Company with or into another corporation, entity or person.

11. CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

11.1 Other than (i) standard employee benefits generally made available to all employees, (ii) standard director and officer indemnification agreements approved by the Board of Directors, and (iii) the purchase of the Company’s share capital in accordance with applicable law, and the issuance of options to purchase the Company’s Ordinary Shares, in each instance, disclosed in Section 11.1 of the Disclosure Schedule, there are no agreements, understandings or proposed transactions between any Group Company and any of its officers, directors, consultants or Key Employees, or any Affiliate thereof, respectively.

11.2 No Group Company is indebted, directly or indirectly, to any of its directors, officers or employees or to their respective spouses or children or to any Affiliate of any of the foregoing, other than in connection with expenses or advances of expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business or employee relocation expenses. None of the Group Companies’ directors, officers or employees, or any members of their immediate families, or any Affiliate of the foregoing (i) are, directly or indirectly, indebted to any Group Company or, (ii) to the Warrantors’ knowledge, have any direct or indirect ownership interest in any firm or corporation with which the Company is affiliated or with which any Group Company has a business relationship, or any firm or corporation which competes with any Group Company except that directors, officers or employees or shareholders of the Company may own shares in (but not exceeding one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of) publicly traded companies that may compete with any Group Company. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of the Group Companies’ employees, officers or directors or any members of their immediate families or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing are, directly or indirectly, interested in any contract with any Group Company. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of the Group Companies’ directors, officers or employees, or any members of their immediate families, or any Affiliate of the foregoing has any material commercial, industrial, banking, consulting, legal, accounting, charitable or familial relationship with any of the Group Companies’ five (5) largest business relationship partners, service providers, joint venture partners, licensees and competitors.

 

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11.3 Other than the Group Companies, there are no corporations, partnerships, trusts, joint ventures, limited liability companies or other business entities in which any Founder owns or controls, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the outstanding voting interests.

11.4 To the Warrantors’ knowledge, no employee, officer, or director of any Group Company (“Related Party”) or any members of such Related Party’s immediate families, or any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity in which such Related Party is an officer, director or partner, has significant ownership interests or otherwise controls, loans, or extend or guarantee credit to any of the Group Companies. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of foregoing persons has any direct or indirect ownership interest in any firm or corporation with which any Group Company is affiliated or with which any Group Company has a business relationship, or any firm or corporation that competes with any Group Company, except that employees, officers, or directors of the Company and members of such Related Party’s immediate families may own stock in (but not exceeding one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of) publicly traded companies that may compete with any Group Company. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, no Related Party or member of their immediate family is directly or indirectly interested in any material contract with any Group Company.

12. RIGHTS OF REGISTRATION AND VOTING RIGHTS

Except as provided in the Shareholders’ Agreement, no Group Company is under any obligation to register under the Securities Act or any other applicable securities laws, any of its currently outstanding securities or any securities issuable upon exercise or conversion of its currently outstanding securities. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, except as contemplated in the Shareholders’ Agreement, no shareholder of any Group Company has entered into any agreements with respect to the voting of shares in the capital of the Company. Except as contemplated by or disclosed in the Transaction Documents, no Founder is a party to or has any Knowledge of any agreements, written or oral, relating to the acquisition, disposition, registration under the Securities Act, or voting of the shares or securities of any Group Company.

13. ABSENCE OF LIENS

Each Group Company has good and valid title to all of its respective assets, whether tangible or intangible (including those reflected in the Financial Statements, together with all assets acquired thereby since the Statement Date (as defined below), but excluding those that have been disposed of since the Statement Date). The property and assets owned by the Group Companies are free and clear of all mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, loans and encumbrances, except for statutory liens for the payment of current taxes that are not yet delinquent and encumbrances and liens that arise in the ordinary course of business and do not materially impair the Group Companies’ ownership or use of such property or assets. With respect to the property and assets it leases, each Group Company is in compliance with such leases and, to the Warrantors’ knowledge, holds a valid leasehold interest free of any liens, claims or encumbrances other than those of the lessors of such property or assets. The assets owned or leased by the Group Companies constitute all of the assets used in connection with the businesses of the Group Companies and are adequate for Group Companies to conduct such businesses in substantially the same manner as currently conducted.

14. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Company has delivered to the Purchaser its unaudited consolidated Financial Statements as of March 31, 2020 (the “Statement Date”). The unaudited consolidated Financial Statements may not contain all footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles. Such unaudited consolidated Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition and operating results of the Group Companies as of the dates, and for the periods, indicated therein, subject in the case of the unaudited consolidated Financial Statements to normal year-end audit adjustments. Except as set forth in such unaudited consolidated Financial Statements, each Group Company has no material liabilities or obligations, contingent or otherwise, as of the Statement Date, other than (i) liabilities incurred in the

 

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ordinary course of business subsequent to the Statement Date, (ii) obligations under contracts and commitments incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iii) liabilities and obligations of a type or nature not required under IFRS / US GAAP to be reflected in such unaudited consolidated Financial Statements.

The DomCo I has delivered to the Purchaser its unaudited Financial Statements as of the Statement Date. The unaudited Financial Statements may not contain all footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles. The Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition and operating results of the DomCo I as of the dates, and for the periods, indicated therein, subject in the case of the unaudited Financial Statements to normal year-end audit adjustments. Except as set forth in the Financial Statements, the DomCo I has no material liabilities or obligations, contingent or otherwise, as of the Statement Date, other than (i) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business subsequent to the Statement Date, (ii) obligations under contracts and commitments incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iii) liabilities and obligations of a type or nature not required under IFRS / US GAAP to be reflected in the Financial Statements. Each of the Group Companies has maintained a standard system of accounting established and administered in accordance with IFRS / US GAAP or other applicable accounting standards.

15. CHANGES

Since the Statement Date, except as set forth in Section 15 of the Disclosure Schedule or as contemplated by this Agreement or the Transaction Documents, there has not been:

(a) any change in the assets, liabilities, financial condition or operating results of any Group Company from that reflected in the Financial Statements, except changes in the ordinary course of business;

(b) any damage, destruction or loss, whether or not covered by insurance, that would have a Material Adverse Effect on a Group Company;

(c) any waiver or compromise by any Group Company of a valuable right or of a material debt owed to it;

(d) any satisfaction or discharge of any lien, claim, or encumbrance or payment of any obligation by any Group Company, except in the ordinary course of business;

(e) any material change to a material contract or agreement by which any Group Company or any of its assets is bound or subject;

(f) any material change in any compensation arrangement or agreement with any employee, officer, director or shareholder;

(g) any resignation or termination of employment or change of terms of employment of any officer or Key Employee of any Group Company;

(h) any mortgage, pledge, transfer of a security interest in, or lien, created by any Group Company, with respect to any of its material properties or assets, except liens for taxes not yet due or payable and liens that arise in the ordinary course of business and do not materially impair such Company’s ownership or use of such property or assets;

(i) any dividend, loans or guarantees made by any Group Company to or for the benefit of its employees, officers or directors, or any members of their immediate families, other than travel advances and other advances made in the ordinary course of its business;

 

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(j) any declaration, setting aside or payment or other distribution in respect of any Group Company’s share capital, or any direct or indirect redemption, purchase, or other acquisition of any of such shares by any Group Company;

(k) any sale, assignment or transfer of any material assets or Intellectual Property of any Group Company;

(l) receipt of notice that there has been a loss of, or material order cancellation by, any major customer of any Group Company;

(m) any debt, obligation, or liability incurred, assumed or guaranteed by the Group Company in excess of US$1,000,000 per annum or in excess of US$1,000,000 in the aggregate other than in the ordinary course of business;

(n) to the Warrantors’ knowledge, any other event or condition of any character, other than events affecting the economy or the Company’s industry generally, that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or

(o) any arrangement, agreement or commitment by the Company to do any of the things described in this Section 15.

16. EMPLOYEE MATTERS

16.1 Section 16.1 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a detailed description of all deferred compensation paid or payable for each officer, employee, consultant and independent contractor of any Group Company. The compensation of Key Employees and other employees with the highest amount of compensation have been disclosed to the Purchaser.

16.2 No employee of any Group Company is obligated under any contract (including licenses, covenants or commitments of any nature) or other agreement, or subject to any judgment, decree or order of any court or administrative agency, that would materially interfere with such employee’s ability to promote the interest of the Group Companies or that would conflict with the Group Companies’ business. Neither the execution or delivery of the Transaction Documents, nor the carrying on of the Company’s business by the employees of the Group Companies, nor the conduct of the business as now conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted, will conflict with or result in a breach of the terms, conditions, or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any contract, covenant or instrument under which any such employee is now obligated.

16.3 No Group Company is delinquent in payments to any of its employees, consultants, or independent contractors for any wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, or other direct compensation for any service performed for it to the date hereof or amounts required to be reimbursed to such employees, consultants, or independent contractors. Each Group Company has complied in all respects with all applicable Laws related to employment, including those related to wages, hours, worker classification, and collective bargaining, and the payment and withholding of taxes and other sums as required by Law except where noncompliance with any applicable Law would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. Each Group Company has withheld and paid to the appropriate governmental entity or is holding for payment not yet due to such governmental entity all amounts required to be withheld from employees of such Group Company and is not liable for any arrears of wages, taxes, penalties, or other sums for failure to comply with any of the foregoing.

16.4 No Key Employee intends to terminate employment with any Group Company or is otherwise likely to become unavailable to continue as a Key Employee, nor does any Group Company have a present intention to terminate the employment of any of the foregoing. All employees of the Group Companies have entered into an employment agreement and a confidentiality, non-competition and intellectual property rights agreement. Except as required by law, upon termination of the employment

 

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of any employee of the Group Companies, no severance or other payments will become due. The Company has no policy, practice, plan, or program of paying severance pay or any form of severance compensation in connection with the termination of employment services.

16.5 The Company has not made any representations regarding equity incentives to any officer, employees, director or consultant that are inconsistent with the share amounts and terms set forth in the Company’s board minutes.

16.6 Each former Key Employee whose employment was terminated by the Company has entered into an agreement with the Company providing for the full release of any claims against the Company or any related party arising out of such employment.

16.7 Section 16.7 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth each and every employee benefit plan maintained, established or sponsored by any Group Company, or in which any Group Company participates in or contributes to in any jurisdiction, including without limitation, the PRC (the “Employee Benefit Plans”). Save as set out in Section 16.7 of the Disclosure Schedule, there is no other pension, retirement, social insurance, medical insurance, profit-sharing, deferred compensation, bonus, incentive or other employee benefit program, arrangement, agreement or understanding to which any Group Company contributes, is bound, or under which any employees or former employees (or their beneficiaries) are eligible to participate or derive a benefit. Each Group Company has made all required contributions under all the Employee Benefit Plans including without limitation all contributions required to be made under the PRC social insurance and housing fund schemes, and has complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws of any jurisdiction, in relation to the Employee Benefit Plans.

16.8 No Group Company is bound by or subject to (and none of its assets or properties is bound by or subject to) any written or oral, express or implied, contract, commitment or arrangement with any labor union, and no labor union has requested or, to the Warrantors’ knowledge, has sought to represent any of the employees, representatives or agents of any Group Company. There is no strike or other labor dispute involving any Group Company pending, or to the Warrantors’ knowledge, threatened, which could have a Material Adverse Effect, nor is the Company aware of any labor organization activity involving its employees.

16.9 To the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of the Founders and other Key Employees or directors of any Group Company during the previous four (4) years, has been (a) subject to voluntary or involuntary petition under any applicable bankruptcy laws or any state insolvency laws or the appointment of manager, a receiver or similar officer by a court for his/her business or property; (b) convicted in a criminal proceeding or named as a subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses); (c) subject to any order, judgment, or decree (not subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated) of any court of competent jurisdiction permanently or temporarily enjoining him from engaging, or otherwise imposing limits or conditions on his engagement in any securities, investment advisory, banking, insurance, or other type of business or acting as an officer or director of a public company; or (d) found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by any relevant regulatory organization to have violated any applicable securities, commodities, or unfair trade practices law, which such judgment or finding has not been subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated.

17. TAX MATTERS

17.1 The provisions for taxes as shown on the balance sheet included in the Financial Statements are sufficient in all material respects for the payment of all accrued and unpaid applicable taxes of the Group Companies as of the date of each such balance sheet, whether or not assessed or disputed as of the date of each such balance sheet. There have been no examinations or audits of any taxes or tax returns or reports of any Group Company by any applicable Governmental Authority other than routine requests for information. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, there are no deficiencies or claims for any

 

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taxes assessed, proposed or asserted against any Group Company by any Governmental Authority that have not been fully paid and satisfied. Each Group Company has filed or caused to be filed on a timely basis all tax returns that are or were required to be filed (to the extent applicable), all such returns are correct and complete, and each Group Company has paid all taxes that have become due, or have reflected such taxes in accordance with IFRS (or any internationally recognized accounting standards acceptable to the Purchaser) as a reserve for taxes on the Financial Statements. There are in effect no waivers of applicable statutes of limitations with respect to taxes for any year. No Group Company has entered into any transaction a purpose of which is the avoidance of taxes in violation of applicable Laws.

17.2 Immediately after the Closing, the Company will not be a controlled foreign corporation as defined in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor thereto) with respect to the stock held by the Purchasers.

17.3 No member of the Group Company is, nor expects to become, a passive foreign investment company as described in Section 1297 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

17.4 No shareholder of any member of a Group Company, solely by virtue of its status as shareholder of such Group Company, has personal liability under local law for the debts and claims of such Group Company. There has been no communication from any tax authority relating to or affecting the tax classification of any member of the Group Companies.

18. OFAC COMPLIANCE

18.1 None of the Warrantors, any of their Subsidiaries, or to the Warrantor’s knowledge after due inquiry, any directors, administrators, officers, board of directors (supervisory and management) members or employees of the Company or any other Group Company is an OFAC Sanctioned Person (as defined below). The Warrantors and, to the Warrantors’ knowledge, their directors, administrators, officers, administrators, board of directors (supervisory and management) members or employees are in compliance with, and have not previously violated, the USA Patriot Act of 2001, and all other applicable Anti-Money Laundering Laws. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of (i) the purchase and sale of the Purchased Shares, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or any of the documents in Exhibits attached hereto, or (iii) the consummation of any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby, or the fulfillment of the terms hereof or thereof, will result in a violation by any Warrantor or any Key Employee, of any of the OFAC Sanctions or of any Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

18.2 For the purposes of Section 18.1:

(a) “OFAC Sanctions” means any sanctions program administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”) under authority delegated to the Secretary of the Treasury (the “Secretary”) by the President or provided to the Secretary by statute, and any order or license issued by, or under authority delegated by, the President or provided to the Secretary by statute in connection with a sanctions program thus administered by OFAC. For ease of reference, and not by way of limitation, OFAC Sanctions programs are described on OFAC’s website at www.treas.gov/ofac.

(b) “OFAC Sanctioned Person” means any government, country, corporation or other entity, group or individual with whom or which the OFAC Sanctions prohibit a United States Person from engaging in transactions, and includes without limitation any individual or corporation or other entity that appears on the current OFAC list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (the “SDN List”). For ease of reference, and not by way of limitation, OFAC Sanctioned Persons other than government and countries can be found on the SDN List on OFAC’s website at ww.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/sdn.

 

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(c) “United States Person” means any United States citizen, permanent resident alien, entity organized under the laws of the United States (including foreign branches), or any person (individual or entity) in the United States, and, with respect to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, also includes any corporation or other entity that is owned or controlled by one of the foregoing, without regard to where it is organized or doing business.

19. ANTI-CORRUPTION LAWS

None of the Warrantors, their respective Subsidiaries, or to the Warrantor’s knowledge after due inquiry, any of their directors, administrators, officers, board of directors (supervisory and management) members or employees have, directly or indirectly, (A) made any payment or promise to pay, or gift or promise to give or authorized such a promise or gift, of any money or anything of value, directly or indirectly, to (a) any foreign official (as such term is defined in the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977) or domestic governmental officials for the purpose of influencing any official act or decision of such official or inducing him or her to use his or her influence to affect any act or decision of a governmental authority, or (b) any foreign or domestic political party or official thereof or candidate for foreign or domestic political office for the purpose of influencing any official act or decision of such party, official or candidate or inducing such party, official or candidate to use his, her or its influence to affect any act or decision of a foreign governmental authority, in the case of both (a) and (b) above in order to assist any Warrantor to obtain or retain business for, or direct business to any Warrantor, as applicable, subject to applicable exceptions and affirmative defenses; (B) used any funds or will use any proceeds from the sale of the Purchased Securities for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to foreign or domestic political activity; or (C) violated any provision of the PRC Anti-Unfair Competition Law, the PRC Criminal Law or the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder which was or is applicable to any member of the Group Companies or its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Anti-Corruption Laws”), and no action, suit, proceeding, investigation or inquiry by or before any Governmental Authority involving any member of the Group Companies with respect to the Anti-Corruption Laws is pending or, to the best of the Warrantor’s knowledge, threatened. None of Warrantors and their respective directors, administrators, officers, board of directors (supervisory and management) members or employees has made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment of funds or received or retained any funds in violation of any law, rule or regulation subject to applicable exceptions and affirmative defenses.

20. INSURANCE

Section 20 of the Disclosure Schedule provides a complete list of each Group Company’s insurance policies currently in effect. No Group Company has done or omitted to do or suffered anything to be done or not to be done other than any acts in the ordinary course of business which has or would render any policies of insurance taken out by it or by any other person in relation to any such Group Company’s assets void or voidable or which would result in an increase in the rate of premiums on the said policies and there are no claims outstanding and no circumstances which would give rise to any claim under any such policies of insurance.

21. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND INVENTION ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENTS

Each current and former employee, consultant and officer of any Group Company has executed an agreement with such Group Company regarding confidentiality and proprietary information substantially in the form or forms delivered to the counsel for the Purchaser (the “Confidential Information Agreements”). No current or former Key Employee has excluded works or inventions from his or her assignment of inventions pursuant to such Key Employee’s Confidential Information Agreement. No Group Company is aware that any of the Key Employees is in violation thereof.

 

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22. GOVERNMENTAL AND OTHER PERMITS

22.1 Each Group Company has all franchises, governmental permits, licenses and any similar authority necessary for the conduct of its business. No Group Company is in default in any material respect under any of such franchises, governmental permits, licenses or other similar authority.

22.2 Each of the DomCos, the WFOE and the PRC Subsidiaries has applied and obtained all requisite licenses, clearance and permits required under PRC Laws as necessary for the conduct of its businesses, and each of the DomCos, the WFOE and the PRC Subsidiaries has complied in all material respects with all PRC Laws in connection with foreign exchange, including without limitation, carrying out all relevant filings, registrations and applications for relevant permits with the PRC State Administration of Foreign Exchange and any other relevant authorities, and all such permits are validly subsisting. The Founders and other PRC shareholders of the Company (as applicable) have complied with all reporting and/or registration requirements (including filings of amendments to existing registrations) under the SAFE Rules and Regulations, including without limitation, Circular 37.

22.3 The registered capital of each of the DomCos, the WFOE and the PRC Subsidiaries has been fully paid up in accordance with the schedule of payment stipulated in its articles of association and in compliance with PRC Laws, and there is no outstanding capital contribution commitment.

22.4 The respective articles of association, approval document, certificate of approval and legal person business license of each of the DomCos, the WFOE and the PRC Subsidiaries (hereinafter referred to as the “Establishment Documents”) have been duly approved and filed in accordance with the Laws of the PRC and are valid and enforceable.

22.5 The business scope specified in the Establishment Documents of each of the DomCos, the WFOE and the PRC Subsidiaries complies with the requirements of all relevant PRC Laws. The operation and conduct of the business by and the term of operation of each of the DomCos, the WFOE and the PRC Subsidiaries in accordance with the Establishment Documents is in compliance with the Laws of the PRC.

22.6 Section 22.6 of the Disclosure Schedule sets out full and accurate details of all loan agreements entered into by any Group Company regarding any inter-company loan, shareholders loan, foreign exchange loan or any other kind of loan obtained by it. Such loan agreements have been duly registered in accordance with the Laws of the PRC (where necessary) and all such registrations are validly subsisting under the Laws of the PRC. All proceeds from such loan agreements in an amount equal to the principal amount borrowed under such loan agreements was received by the applicable Group Companies used for such Group Companies’ operations and for working capital purposes.

23. CORPORATE DOCUMENTS

The memorandum and articles of association, and all other constitutional documents (or analogous constitutional documents) of each Group Company are in the form provided to the Purchaser. The copy of the minute books of the Company provided to the Purchaser contains minutes of all meetings of directors and shareholders and all actions by written consent without a meeting by the directors and shareholders since the date of incorporation and accurately reflects in all material respects all actions by the directors (and any committee of directors) and shareholders with respect to all transactions referred to in such minutes.

24. LIABILITIES

No Group Company has any liabilities of any nature, whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise, and whether due or to become due, except for (i) liabilities set forth in the Financial Statements of the Company, (ii) trade or business liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) other liabilities that do not exceed US$20,000 in the aggregate.

 

SCHEDULE 5


25. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS

25.1 Each Group Company is in material compliance with all applicable Laws applicable to it or to the conduct or operation of its business or the ownership or use of any of its assets or properties.

25.2 No event has occurred and no circumstance exists that to the Warrantors’ knowledge (i) may constitute or result in a violation by any Group Company, or a failure on the part of any Group Company to comply with any Law, or (ii) may give rise to any obligation on the part of any Group Company to undertake, or to bear all or any portion of the cost of, any remedial action of any nature, except for such violations or failures by a Group Company that, individually or in the aggregate, would not result in any Material Adverse Effect.

25.3 No Group Company has received any written notice from any Governmental Authority regarding (i) any actual, alleged or likely material violation of, or material failure to comply with, any Law, or (ii) any actual, alleged or likely material obligation on the part of any Group Company to undertake, or to bear all or any portion of the cost of, any remedial action of any nature.

25.4 No Group Company, nor any director, agent, employee or any other person acting for or on behalf of any Group Company, has directly or indirectly (i) made any contribution, gift, bribe, payoff, influence payment, kickback, or any other fraudulent payment in any form, whether in money, property, or services to any public official or otherwise (A) to obtain favorable treatment in securing business for a Group Company, (B) to pay for favorable treatment for business secured, or (C) to obtain special concessions or for special concessions already obtained, for or in respect of any Group Company, in each case which would have been in violation of any applicable Law or (ii) established or maintained any fund or assets in which any Group Company shall have proprietary rights that have not been recorded in the books and records of a Group Company. To the Warrantor’s knowledge after due inquiry, the operations of each member of the Group Companies are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting and other requirements of the anti-money laundering Laws of all relevant jurisdictions where the Group Companies have business activities (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit, proceeding, investigation or inquiry by or before any Governmental Authority involving any member of the Group Companies with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or threatened.

25.5 During the previous five (5) years, no Founder has been (i) subject to voluntary or involuntary petition under any applicable bankruptcy laws or any applicable insolvency law or the appointment of a manager, receiver, or similar officer by a court for his business or property; (ii) convicted in a criminal proceeding or named as a subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offences); (iii) subject to any order, judgment, or decree (not subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated) of any court of competent jurisdiction permanently or temporarily enjoining him from engaging, or otherwise imposing limits or conditions on his engagement in any securities, investment advisory, banking, insurance, or other type of business or acting as an officer or director of a public company; or (iv) found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by any regulatory organization to have violated any applicable securities, commodities or unfair trade practices law whatsoever, which such judgment or finding has not been subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated.

26. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY LAWS

To the Warrantors’ knowledge, no Group Company is in violation of any applicable statute, law, or regulation relating to the environment or occupational health and safety, except where such failure would not have a Material Adverse Effect on such Group Company’s business or properties, and no material expenditures are or will be required in order to comply with any such existing statute, law or regulation.

 

SCHEDULE 5


27. MINUTES BOOK

The minutes books of each Group Company, which have been made available to the Purchaser, contain a complete summary of all meetings and actions taken by directors and shareholders or owners of such Group Company since its time of formation, and reflect all transactions referred to in such minutes accurately in all material respects.

28. MANUFACTURE, MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS

No Group Company has granted rights to manufacture, produce, assemble, license, market, or sell its respective products or services to any other person and is not bound by any agreement that affects any Group Company’s exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, assemble, distribute, market or sell its respective products or services.

29. DISCLOSURE; PROJECTIONS

The Warrantors have made available to the Purchaser all the information reasonably available to the Warrantors that the Purchaser has requested for deciding whether to acquire the Purchased Shares, including certain of financial projections with respect to the Company (the “Projections”), each of which were prepared in good faith. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, no representation or warranty of any Warrantor contained in this Agreement, as qualified by the Disclosure Schedule (only to the extent fairly and specifically disclosed therein), no information or document provided or disclosed by the Warrantors to the Purchaser or its counsel in connection with the negotiation or execution of the Transaction Documents and certificate furnished or to be furnished to the Purchaser at the Closing contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made.

30. BUSINESS PLAN AND BUDGET

The Company has delivered to the Purchaser on or before the Closing a business plan and budget for the twelve (12) months following the Closing (the “Business Plan”). Such Business Plan was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions and projections which the Founders believe are reasonable and not materially misleading.

31. ENTIRE BUSINESS

There are no material facilities, services, assets or properties shared with any entity other than the Group Company which are used in connection with the business of each Group Company.

32. ASSETS TRANSFER

All the employees, material assets and intellectual property rights of Beijing Tusen Hulian Technology Co., Ltd. ( LOGO LOGO ) have been duly transferred to the DomCo I or the WFOE, as applicable, free and clear of all Liens, without any outstanding payment obligations owed by the Warrantors.

 

SCHEDULE 5


SCHEDULE 6

DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE

 

SCHEDULE 6


SCHEDULE 7

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER

1. AUTHORIZATION

The Purchaser has full power, authority and legal capacity to enter into, deliver and perform the Transaction Documents. The Transaction Documents to which the Purchaser is a party, when executed and delivered by the Purchaser, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, and any other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and as limited by laws relating to the availability of a specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies, or (ii) to the extent the indemnification provisions contained in the Shareholders’ Agreement may be limited by applicable securities laws.

2. DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

The Purchaser has had an opportunity to discuss the Group Companies’ business, management, financial affairs and the terms and conditions of the offering of the Purchased Shares with the Group Companies’ management and has had an opportunity to review the Group Companies’ facilities. The foregoing, however, does not limit or modify the representations and warranties of the Warrantors in Section 5 of this Agreement, or the right of the Purchaser to rely thereon save as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule.

3. PURCHASE ENTIRELY FOR OWN ACCOUNT

This Agreement is made with the Purchaser in reliance upon the Purchaser’s representation to the Company, which by the Purchaser’s execution of this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby confirms, that the Purchased Shares to be acquired by the Purchaser will be acquired for investment for the Purchaser’s own account, not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to the resale or distribution of any part thereof, and that the Purchaser has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same. By executing this Agreement, the Purchaser further represents that the Purchaser does not presently have any contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any Person to sell, transfer or grant participations to such Person or to any third Person, with respect to any of the Purchased Shares.

4. RESTRICTED SECURITIES

The Purchaser understands that the Purchased Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act, by reason of a specific exemption from the registration provisions of the Securities Act which depends upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of the investment intent and the accuracy of the Purchaser’s representations as expressed herein. The Purchaser understands that the Purchased Shares are “restricted securities” under applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws and that, pursuant to these laws, the Purchaser must hold the Purchased Shares indefinitely unless they are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and qualified by state authorities, or an exemption from such registration and qualification requirements is available. The Purchaser acknowledges that the Company has no obligation to register or qualify the Purchased Shares or the Conversion Shares for resale except as set forth in the Shareholders Agreement. The Purchaser further acknowledges that if an exemption from registration or qualification is available, it may be conditioned on various requirements including, but not limited to, the time and manner of sale, the holding period for the Purchased Shares, and on requirements relating to the Company which are outside of the Purchaser’s control, and which the Company is under no obligation and may not be able to satisfy. The Purchaser understands that Company’s offering of Series D-1 Preferred Shares under this Agreement is not intended to be part of the public offering, and that the Purchaser will not be able to rely on the protection of Section 11 of the Securities Act.

 

SCHEDULE 7


5. NO PUBLIC MARKET

The Purchaser understands that no public market now exists for the Purchased Shares, and that the Company has made no assurances that a public market will ever exist for the Purchased Shares.

6. LEGENDS

6.1 The Purchaser understands that the Purchased Shares and any securities issued in respect of or exchange for the Purchased Shares, may bear one or all of the following legends:

“THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AND HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THE SALE OR DISTRIBUTION THEREOF. NO SUCH TRANSFER MAY BE EFFECTED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATED THERETO OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IN A FORM SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.”

6.2 Any legend set forth in, or required by, the other Transaction Documents.

6.3 Any legend required by the securities laws of any state to the extent such laws are applicable to the Purchased Shares represented by the certificate so legended.

 

SCHEDULE 7


SCHEDULE 8

CAPITALIZATION TABLE

 

SCHEDULE 8


SCHEDULE 9

NOTICES

 

SCHEDULE 9


EXHIBIT A

SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS AND RESTATED ARTICLES

 

EXHIBIT A


EXHIBIT B

SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT

 

EXHIBIT B


EXHIBIT C

SHARE RESTRICTION AGREEMENT

 

EXHIBIT C


EXHIBIT D

COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

EXHIBIT D


EXHIBIT E

CONTROL DOCUMENTS

 

EXHIBIT E


EXHIBIT F

WARRANT INSTRUMENT

 

EXHIBIT F

Exhibit 10.7

TUSIMPLE (CAYMAN) LIMITED

SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made on August 6, 2020, by and among:

1) Tusimple (Cayman) Limited (the “Company”), an exempted limited liability company incorporated in the Cayman Islands;

2) Tusimple (Hong Kong) Limited (the “HK Co”), a limited liability company incorporated in Hong Kong;

3) Beijing Tusen Zhitu Technology Co., Ltd. ( LOGO ) (the “WFOE”), a wholly foreign-owned enterprise incorporated in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”);

4) Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd. ( LOGO ) (the “DomCo I”), a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC;

5) Tangshan Tusen Weilai Logistics Co., Ltd. ( LOGO ) (“Weilai Logistics”), a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC;

6) TuSimple, Inc. (the “US Co”), a California corporation;

7) Kabushiki Kaisha TuSimple JAPAN ( LOGO TuSimple JAPAN) (the “Japan Co”), a company incorporated and existing under the Laws of Japan;

8) Tusimple (Hong Kong) Auto Tech Limited (“HK Auto Tech”), a limited liability company incorporated in Hong Kong;

9) Beijing Weilai Chengyun Auto Tech Co., Ltd. ( LOGO ) (“Weilai Chengyun”), a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC;

10) Shanghai Tushen Zhineng Technology Co., Ltd. ( LOGO ) (“Tushen Zhineng”), a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC;

11) Shanghai Tusen Weilai AI Technology Co., Ltd. ( LOGO ) (“DomCo II”, together with the DomCo I, the “DomCos”), a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC;

12) Shanghai Kuangtu Logistics Co., Ltd. ( LOGO ) (“Kuangtu”), a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC;

13) Tusen Zhiyun (Shenzhen) Auto Tech Co., Ltd. ( LOGO ) (“Tusen Zhiyun”, together with Weilai Logistics, Weilai Chengyun, Tushen Zhineng and Kuangtu the “PRC Subsidiaries”), a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC;

14) the Person listed in Schedule 1 (the “Purchaser”);

15) the Persons listed in Schedule 2-A (the “Founders” and each, a “Founder”); and

16) the Persons listed in Schedule 2-B (the “Founder Holdcos” and each, a “Founder Holdco”).

Each of the Company, the HK Co, the WFOE, the US Co, the DomCos, the PRC Subsidiaries, the Japan Co, HK Auto Tech, the Founders, the Founder Holdcos and the Purchaser shall be referred to individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”. Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meaning set forth in Schedule 3 attached hereto.

 

1


RECITALS

WHEREAS, as of the Execution Date, (i) each Founder own beneficially and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of its respective Founder Holdco; (ii) the Founder Holdcos collectively own beneficially and of record thirty-seven point eight zero percent (37.80%) of the equity interest of the Company; (iii) the Founders own beneficially and of record seventy percent (70%) equity interest of the DomCo I; (iv) the Founders own beneficially and of record ninety percent (90%) equity interest of the DomCo II; (v) the Company owns beneficially and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the HK Co; (vi) the HK Co owns beneficially and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the WFOE; (vii) the Company owns beneficially and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the US Co; (viii) the Company owns beneficial and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of HK Auto Tech; (ix) the HK Co owns beneficially and of record ninety percent (90%) equity interest of the Japan Co; (x) the DomCo I owns beneficially and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of each of Weilai Logistics, Weilai Chengyun and Tushen Zhineng and (xi) the DomCo II owns beneficially and of record on hundred percent (100%) equity interest of Kuangtu and Tusen Zhiyun; and (xii) the WFOE and each of the DomCos has entered into a set of Control Documents listed on Exhibit E of this Agreement.

WHEREAS, the Company is an exempted limited liability company and immediately prior to the Closing shall have an authorized share capital consisting of (i) 423,211,517 ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each an “Ordinary Share”), of which 58,641,425 Ordinary Shares are issued and fully paid-up; (ii) 20,000,000 Series A preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series A Preferred Share”), all of which have been issued; (iii) 8,218,203 Series A-2 preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series A-2 Preferred Share”), all of which have been issued; (iv) 7,080,000 Series B-1 preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series B-1 Preferred Share”), all of which have been issued, (v) 3,000,000 Series B-2 preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series B-2 Preferred Share”), all of which have been issued, (vi) 3,465,372 Series B-3 preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series B-3 Preferred Share”), all of which have been issued, (vii) 14,993,041 Series C preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series C Preferred Share”), all of which have been issued, and (viii) 20,031,867 Series D-1 preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series D-1 Preferred Share”, and together with the Series A Preferred Share, the Series A-2 Preferred Share, the Series B-1 Preferred Share, the Series B-2 Preferred Share, the Series B-3 Preferred Shares and the Series C Preferred Shares, the “Preferred Shares”), 18,799,137 of which have been issued, in each case as set forth in the capitalization table attached as Schedule 8 hereto.

WHEREAS, the Purchaser wishes to purchase from the Company the Series D-1 Preferred Shares to be issued by the Company pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement.

WHEREAS, the Company wishes to issue, and the Purchaser and/or its Affiliates wishes to subscribe for certain warrant (the “Warrant”) based upon and subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Warrant to Purchase (the agreed form of which is set forth in the Exhibit F hereto) (the “Warrant Instrument”).

 

2


AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, THE PARTIES HEREBY AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

 

1.

PURCHASE AND SALE OF SECURITIES

 

1.1

Sale and Issuance of Purchased Securities

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Purchaser agrees to purchase at the Closing (as defined below) and the Company agrees to sell and issue to the Purchaser at the Closing (A) the Warrant (the “Purchased Warrant”), and (B) that number of Series D-1 Preferred Shares set forth opposite the Purchaser’s name on Schedule 1 (the “Purchased Shares,” together with the Purchased Warrant, the “Purchased Securities”) for the consideration set forth opposite the Purchaser’s name on Schedule 1 (the “Purchase Price”).

 

1.2

Closing; Delivery

(a) The purchase and sale of the Purchased Securities shall take place remotely via the exchange of documents and signatures, on a date specified by the Parties, or at such other time and place as the Company and the Purchaser may mutually agree upon, which shall be no later than five (5) Business Days after the satisfaction or waiver of each condition to the Closing set forth in Section 2 and Section 3 (other than conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions at the Closing). Each of the Purchaser and the Company agrees and undertakes to use commercially reasonable efforts to complete the Closing on or before September 30, 2020. The completion of the purchase and sale of the Purchased Securities shall be referred to as the “Closing”.

(b) At the Closing, the Company shall cause its register of members to be updated to reflect the Purchased Shares purchased by the Purchaser, and shall deliver a copy of such updated register of members to the Purchaser, certified as a true and correct copy by the Company’s registered agent.

(c) At the Closing, the Company shall deliver copies of the share certificates representing the Purchased Shares being purchased by the Purchaser at the Closing as set forth on Schedule 1 (the originals of which shall be delivered to the Purchaser within five (5) Business Days after the Closing).

(d) In the event that the Purchaser has not exercised its right to purchase Qualified Financing Shares or otherwise exercised its rights to acquire an additional equity interest in the Company as set forth in Section 6.7 or Section 6.8 hereof prior to the Closing, at the Closing, the Company shall deliver a duly executed Warrant Instrument representing the Purchased Warrant being issued to the Purchaser at the Closing (the originals of which shall be delivered to the Purchaser within five (5) Business Days after the Closing).

(e) At the Closing, the Purchaser shall deposit the Purchase Price as indicated opposite the Purchaser’s name on Schedule 1 by wire transfer of immediately available US$ funds into the Closing Account (as defined below).

 

1.3

Closing Account

Payment of the Purchase Price by the Purchaser to the Company shall be made by remittance of immediately available US$ funds to a bank account designated by the Company in writing at least three (3) Business Days before the Closing (the “Closing Account”). All bank charges and related expenses for remittance and receipt of any Purchase Price shall be for the account of the Company.

 

3


2.

CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE PURCHASER AT THE CLOSING

The obligations of the Purchaser to purchase its Purchased Securities at the Closing are subject to the fulfillment, on or before the Closing, of each of the following conditions, unless otherwise waived in writing by the Purchaser:

 

2.1

Completion of Due Diligence

The Purchaser shall have been satisfied with its business, legal and financial due diligence review on the Group Companies.

 

2.2

Material Adverse Effect

Since the Statement Date, no event, circumstance or change shall have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate with one or more other events, circumstances or changes, have had or reasonably could be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or any other Group Company.

 

2.3

Proceedings and Documents

All corporate and other proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated at the Closing and all documents incidental thereto shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser (or its legal counsel) shall have received all such counterpart originals and certified or other copies of such documents as reasonably requested. Each of the Warrantors shall have (i) performed and complied with all covenants, agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by such Warrantors; and (ii) to the extent applicable, approved the aforesaid performance and compliance by its respective directors and shareholders’ resolutions, on or before the Closing.

 

2.4

Authorizations

The Warrantors shall have obtained, and provided copies to the Purchaser of, all authorizations, approvals, waivers or permits of any Person or any Governmental Authority necessary for the consummation of all of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and other Transaction Documents, including without limitation any authorizations, approvals, waivers or permits that are required in connection with the lawful issuance of the Purchased Securities to the Purchaser, and all such authorizations, approvals, waivers and permits shall be effective as of the Closing. The Company shall have obtained, and provided copies to the Purchaser of, enforceable waivers in respect of any preemptive, anti-dilution or similar rights applicable to the issuance of the Purchased Securities.

 

2.5

Representations and Warranties

The representations and warranties of the Warrantors contained in Schedule 5 shall be true, complete and correct in all material respects as of the Execution Date and the Closing, except for those representations and warranties (i) that already contain any materiality qualification, which representations and warranties, to the extent already so qualified, shall instead be true, complete and correct in all respects as so qualified as of such respective dates and (ii) that address matters only as of a particular date, which representations shall have been true, complete and correct in all respects (subject to Section 2.5(i)) as of such particular date.

 

2.6

Amendment to Articles

The seventh amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company (as amended) shall have been amended by special resolutions as set forth substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Special Resolutions”, and the memorandum and articles of association amended by the Special Resolutions, the “Restated Articles”), which shall have been duly adopted by all necessary actions of the shareholders of the Company.

 

4


2.7

Transaction Documents

The Company, the HK Co, the US Co, the WFOE, the DomCos, the Japan Co, HK Auto Tech, the PRC Subsidiaries, the Founders and the Founder Holdcos shall have executed and delivered the Shareholders’ Agreement, substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit B, and the requisite parties to the Shareholders’ Agreement shall have approved the joinder of the Purchaser to the Shareholders’ Agreement as an “Investor” thereunder through the execution and delivery of a Joinder to the Shareholders’ Agreement in form to the reasonable satisfaction of the Purchaser. The Company, the Founders (other than REN Zhenguo), the Founder Holdcos (other than Ancient Jade International Limited) and other related parties (other than the Purchaser) shall have executed and delivered the Share Restriction Agreements, substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit C, and the requisite parties to the Share Restriction Agreements shall have approved the joinder of the Purchaser to the Share Restriction Agreements through the execution and delivery of a Joinder to the applicable Share Restriction Agreement in form to the reasonable satisfaction of the Purchaser. The Company shall have executed and tendered delivery of the Warrant Instrument, substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit F.

 

2.8

Compliance Certificates

The Purchaser shall have received a certificate executed and delivered by the Warrantors, substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit D.

 

2.9

Purchaser Approvals

All authorizations and approvals, if any, of any Person that are required to be obtained by the Purchaser in connection with the purchase of the Purchased Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be obtained and effective as of the Closing.

 

2.10

Performance of Obligations

Each Warrantor shall have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required or contemplated to be performed or complied with by it on or before the Closing.

 

3.

CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY AT CLOSING

The obligations of the Company to sell the Purchased Securities to the Purchaser at the Closing are subject to the fulfillment of each of the following conditions by the Purchaser, on or before the Closing, unless otherwise waived in writing by the Company:

 

3.1

Representations and Warranties

The representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in Schedule 7 shall be true, complete and correct in all material respects as of the Execution Date and the Closing.

 

3.2

Performance

The Purchaser shall have performed and complied with all covenants, agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by it on or before the Closing.

 

5


3.3

Execution of Transaction Documents

The Purchaser shall have executed and delivered to the Company the Transaction Documents to which it is a party (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be accomplished through Joinders in form to the satisfaction of the Purchaser for the Shareholders’ Agreement and the Share Restriction Agreements). The Purchaser shall have executed and delivered the Warrant Instrument, substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit F.

 

3.4

Purchaser Approvals

All authorizations and approvals, if any, of any Person that are required to be obtained by the Purchaser in connection with the purchase of the Purchased Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be obtained and effective as of the Closing.

 

4.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE WARRANTORS

The Warrantors, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to the Purchaser that the statements contained in Schedule 5 attached hereto are true, correct and complete (i) on and as of the Execution Date, and (ii) on and as of the date of the Closing (with the same effect as if made on and as of the date of the Closing), except to the extent fairly and specifically disclosed in the disclosure schedule attached hereto as Schedule 6 (the “Disclosure Schedule”), which disclosures shall be deemed to be part of the representations and warranties as if made hereunder.

 

5.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER

The Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company that the statements contained in Schedule 7 attached hereto are true, correct and complete with respect to the Purchaser as of the Closing.

 

6.

UNDERTAKINGS

The Warrantors hereby jointly and severally covenant to the Purchaser as follows:

 

6.1

Ordinary Course of Business

From the Execution Date until the earlier of the Termination Date or the Closing, each Group Company shall, and the Founders and the Founder Holdcos shall cause each of the Group Companies to, conduct its business in the ordinary course and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the present character and quality of the business, including without limitation, its present operations, physical facilities, working conditions, goodwill and relationships with lessors, licensors, suppliers, customers, employees and independent contractors. Commencing with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the Termination Date or the Closing, no Group Company may, and the Founders and the Founder Holdcos shall cause each of the Group Companies not to, take any of the actions specified in Section 7.2(a) and Section 7.2(b) of the Shareholders’ Agreement without prior written consent of the Purchaser.

Without limitation of the foregoing, from the Execution Date until the earlier of the Termination Date or the Closing, no Group Company organized in the United States shall take any action that would cause such Group Company to (i) become a TID U.S. business (as defined at 31 C.F.R. § 800.248 as of the Execution Date) that produces, designs, tests, manufactures, fabricates or develops one or more critical technologies (as defined in 31 C.F.R. § 800.215 as of the Execution Date) or (ii) produce, design, test, manufacture, fabricate or develop one or more critical technologies (as defined in 31 C.F.R. § 800.215 as of the Execution Date) (x) utilized in connection with its activity in any of the industries identified in Appendix B to 31 C.F.R. Part 800 as of the Execution Date, or (y) designed by such Group Company specifically for use in any such industry identified in Appendix B to 31 C.F.R. Part 800 as of the Execution Date.

 

6


6.2

Use of Proceeds

In accordance with the directions of the Company’s Board of Directors (including the affirmative vote of one director designated by Sina), as it shall be constituted in accordance with the Shareholders’ Agreement, the Company will use the proceeds from the sale of all the Purchased Securities for (i) general working capital; and (ii) other general corporate purposes for the Group Companies.

 

6.3

Notice of Certain Events

If at any time before the Closing, any Warrantor comes to know of any material fact or event which: (i) is in any way inconsistent with any of the representations and warranties in this Agreement; (ii) suggests that any fact warranted hereunder may not be as warranted or may be misleading; or (iii) might affect the willingness of a prudent investor to purchase the Purchased Securities on the terms contained in the Transaction Documents or the amount of the consideration a prudent investor would be prepared to pay for the Purchased Securities, then the Warrantors shall immediately notify the Purchaser in writing, describing the fact or event in reasonable detail.

 

6.4

Compliance

The Group Companies shall and the Founders and the Founder Holdcos shall cause the Group Companies to at all times comply with all applicable Laws in all material respects, including without limitation, compliance with all contributions required to be made under the PRC social insurance and housing fund schemes, and, obtain such permits and licenses necessary or desirable for the Group Companies’ business(es).

 

6.5

Filing of Special Resolutions

Within ten (10) days following the Closing, the Company shall, and the Founders and Founder Holdcos shall procure the Company to, duly file the notice of Special Resolutions with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands.

 

6.6

WFOE’s Registered Capital

Within sixty (60) days following the Closing, substantially all of the Purchase Price (except for reasonable operation costs occurred in the United States and Japan) shall have been injected into the WFOE as the registered capital of or shareholder loans to the WFOE with copies of documents evidencing the same provided to the Purchaser.

 

6.7

Rights in the Qualified Financing

(a) If at any time after the Execution Date and prior to the Closing, the Company consummates a Qualified Financing, the Purchaser shall have the right to purchase from the Company Qualified Financing Shares subject to the terms of this Section 6.7.

(b) No later than twenty (20) days prior to the consummation of the Qualified Financing, the Company shall give notice (the “Financing Notice”) to the Purchaser stating its bona fide intention to consummate such Qualified Financing, and the material terms of such Qualified Financing (including the price at which Qualified Financing Shares are intended to be sold).

 

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(c) By notification to the Company at any time following delivery of the Financing Notice and prior to the earlier of (i) the second (2nd) anniversary of the consummation of the first sale of shares in such Qualified Financing, (ii) a Liquidation Event, (iii) the first public filing of the registration statement (the “First Public Filing”) in connection with a firm-commitment underwritten initial public offering and listing by the Company of its Ordinary Shares or other securities in the United States or in any other duly approved jurisdiction (an “IPO”), or (iv) the issuance of the Purchased Warrant, the Purchaser may elect to purchase up to that number of Qualified Financing Shares equal to (i) US$80,000,000 divided by (ii) the Discount Price, rounded down to the nearest whole integer, with the price per Qualified Financing Share being the Discount Price, having the same rights, preferences and privileges attached to other Qualified Financing Shares. In the event of any anticipated First Public Filing or Liquidation Event, at least 30 days’ prior written notice of such event shall be provided to the Purchaser (each, a “Transaction Notice”). In the event the IPO is conducted in a jurisdiction other than the United States, the Company and the Purchaser agree to discuss the appropriate form of advance notice (a “Non-US IPO Notice”) and provision shall be made so that the Purchaser may elect for a period of at least 30 days to exercise the right under this Section 6.7.

(d) In connection with any such purchase of Qualified Financing Shares, the Purchaser will enter into the purchase agreement and other transaction documents related to the Qualified Financing substantially in the same form to be executed by the other investors in such Qualified Financing on the same terms and conditions as such investors (with appropriate variations to reflect co-investor status, the date of the Purchaser’s purchase of Qualified Financing Shares, and a purchase price for the Purchaser equal to the Discount Price); provided, that the representations and warranties contained in any such purchase agreement shall be given as of the date of the most recent closing of such Qualified Financing and the survival period for such representations and warranties shall expire upon expiration of the survival period applicable to the other investors in such Qualified Financing. The Purchaser acknowledges that to the extent applicable, the purchase of the Qualified Financing Shares will require the Purchaser’s execution of counterpart signature pages to the Shareholders’ Agreement relating to such Qualified Financing Shares, and the Holder agrees to execute and deliver to the Company all of such counterpart signature pages to the Shareholders’ Agreement in connection with the issuance of such Qualified Financing Shares (subject to, and without limiting, any applicable rights of the Purchaser under the Shareholders’ Agreement or any other instrument or agreement between the Purchaser and the Company).

 

6.8

Rights in an IPO or Liquidation Event

(a) If at any time after the Execution Date and prior to the Closing, the Company is required to deliver a Transaction Notice to the Purchaser before any Qualified Financing occurs, the Purchaser shall have the right to purchase from the Company Series D-1 Preferred Shares subject to the terms of this Section 6.8.

(b) By notification to the Company at any time following delivery of a Transaction Notice and prior to the earlier of (i) the consummation of the Liquidation Event that is the subject of such Transaction Notice, (ii) the First Public Filing that is the subject of such Transaction Notice, or (iii) the issuance of the Purchased Warrant, the Purchaser may elect to purchase up to that number of Series D-1 Preferred Shares equal to (x) US$80,000,000 divided by (y) US$8.1120737, rounded down to the nearest whole integer, with the price per Series D-1 Preferred Share being US$8.1120737, having the same rights, preferences and privileges attached to other Series D-1 Preferred Shares.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the IPO is conducted in a jurisdiction other than the United States, the Company and the Purchaser agree to discuss Non-US IPO Notice and provision shall be made so that the Purchaser may elect for a period of at least 30 days to purchase Series D-1 Preferred Shares on the terms set forth in Section 6.8(b).

 

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6.9

Board Observer Rights

Following the Closing, as long as the Purchaser continues to hold Preferred Shares but is not represented on the Board (except as provided in this Section 6.9), the Company shall invite a representative of the Purchaser to attend all meetings of the Board in a nonvoting observer capacity and, in this respect, shall give such representative copies of all notices, minutes, consents, and other materials that it provides to its Directors at the same time and in the same manner as provided to such Directors; provided, however, that such representative shall agree to hold in confidence and trust and to act in a fiduciary manner with respect to all information so provided; and provided further, that the Company reserves the right to withhold any information and to exclude such representative from any meeting or portion thereof if access to such information or attendance at such meeting could adversely affect the attorney-client privilege between the Company and its counsel.

 

6.10

Right of First Refusal Regarding Certain Equity Issuances

Without limiting the rights set forth in Section 6.7 and Section 6.8, prior to the consummation of an IPO, the Company shall not sell or otherwise issue any shares of its authorized capital to any Purchaser Competitor unless the Company first provides the Purchaser (i) notice no later than twenty (20) days prior to such sale or issuance, which notice (a “Competitor Sale Notice”) shall state the material terms on which the proposed sale or issuance shall take place including the price per share, and (ii) the option to purchase all of such shares on the same terms and conditions as those being offered to such Purchaser Competitor. The Purchaser shall exercise the option set forth in clause (ii) of the preceding sentence by providing written notice to the Company of its intention to do so within twenty (20) days after receipt of the applicable Competitor Sale Notice. The closing of any sale of shares pursuant to this Section 6.10 shall occur within ninety (90) days of the date that the Competitor Sale Notice is delivered to the Purchaser. If the Purchaser has not exercised its rights to purchase all shares referred to in the Competitor Sale Notice as provided in this Section 6.10, the Company may, during the ninety (90) day period following the date that is twenty (20) days after delivery of the Competitor Sale Notice, offer and sell such shares to such Purchaser Competitor specified in the Competitor Sale Notice at a price not less than, and upon terms no more favorable to the Purchaser Competitor than, those specified in the Competitor Sale Notice. If (1) the Company does not enter into an agreement for the sale of such shares within such period, (2) if such agreement is not consummated within the later of (x) such ninety (90) day period, or (y) thirty (30) days after the date of such agreement, or (3) the terms of any proposed sale to a Purchaser Competitor as specified in a Competitor Sale Notice materially change in a way more favorable to such Purchaser Competitor, the right provided hereunder shall be deemed to be revived and such shares shall not be offered unless first reoffered to the Purchaser in accordance with this Section 6.10.

 

7.

CURE OF BREACHES; INDEMNITY

7.1 In the event of: (a) any breach or violation of, or inaccuracy or misrepresentation in, any representation or warranty made by the Warrantors contained herein or any of the other Transaction Documents; or (b) any breach or violation of any covenant or agreement contained herein or any of the other Transaction Documents (each of (a) or (b), a “Breach”), the Group Companies shall, jointly and severally, cure such Breach (to the extent that such Breach is curable) to the satisfaction of the Purchaser (it being understood that any cure shall be without recourse to cash or assets of any of the Group Companies); provided, that such obligation to cure shall not apply to any Breach of the representations and warranties made in Section 6.2 (Governmental Consents and Filings) of Schedule 5, or to any Breach of the covenants contained in the second paragraph of Section 6.1 (Ordinary Course of Business) (such sections, collectively, the “Specified CFIUS Provisions”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Group Companies shall also, jointly and severally, indemnify the Purchaser and its Affiliates, limited partners, members, stockholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives and assigns (each, an “Indemnitee”) for any and all losses, liabilities, damages, liens, claims, obligations, penalties, settlements, deficiencies, costs and expenses, including without limitation reasonable advisor’s fees and other reasonable expenses of investigation, defense and resolution of any Breach paid, suffered, sustained or incurred by the Indemnitees (each, an “Indemnifiable Loss”), resulting from, or arising out of, or due to, directly or indirectly, any Breach.

 

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7.2 Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Group Companies shall, jointly and severally, indemnify and keep indemnified the Indemnitees at all times and hold them harmless against any and all Indemnifiable Losses resulting from, or arising out of, or due to, directly or indirectly, any claim for (i) any material liability caused by the infringement or violation of any intellectual property rights of any third party by any Group Company, (ii) tax (including interest, penalty, surcharge or fine in connection therewith) which has been made or may hereafter be made against any DomCo or any other Group Company wholly or partly in respect of or in consequence of any event occurring or any income, profits or gains earned, accrued or received by any DomCo or any Group Company on or before the Closing and any reasonable costs, fees or expenses incurred and other liabilities which any DomCo or any other Group Company may properly incur in connection with the investigation, assessment or the contesting of any claim, the settlement of any claim for tax (including interest, penalty, surcharge or fine in connection therewith), any legal proceedings in which any DomCo or any other Group Company claims in respect of the claim for tax (including interest, penalty, surcharge or fine in connection therewith) and in which an arbitration award or judgment is given for any DomCo or Group Company and the enforcement of any such arbitration award or judgment whether or not such tax (including interest, penalty, surcharge or fine in connection therewith) is chargeable against or attributable to any other person, provided, however, that the Group Companies shall be under no liability in respect of taxation:

(a) that is promptly cured without recourse to cash or other assets of any Group Company;

(b) to the extent that provision, reserve or allowance has been made for such tax in the audited consolidated financial statement of the Company;

(c) if the liability has arisen in, and relates to, the ordinary course of business of any DomCo since the Statement Date;

(d) to the extent that the liability arises as a result only of a provision or reserve in respect of the liability made in the Financial Statements being insufficient by reason of any increase in rates of tax announced after the Closing with retrospective effect; and

(e) to the extent that the liability arises as a result of legislation which comes into force after the Closing and which is retrospective in effect.

The survival period for any indemnity obligation relating to claims for tax matters arising under this Section 7.2 shall be the applicable statute of limitations for tax claims.

7.3 In the event that an Indemnitee suffers an Indemnifiable Loss as provided in Section 7.1 or 7.2 and the Group Companies fail to fulfill their obligations under Section 7.1 or 7.2 to indemnify the Indemnitee for the full amount of such Indemnifiable Loss within sixty (60) days upon receipt of written notice thereof from the Purchaser, then the Founders and Founder Holdcos shall jointly and severally indemnify the Indemnitee such that the Indemnitee shall receive the full amount of such Indemnifiable Loss. Any indemnification provided by the Warrantors other than the Founders and the Founder Holdcos pursuant to this Section 7.3 shall not prejudice or otherwise affect the right of the Indemnitee to seek indemnification from the Group Companies in Section 7.1 or 7.2; provided, however, that to the extent the Indemnitee is able to recover any Indemnifiable Loss from the Group Companies, the Warrantors other than the Group Companies shall not be obligated to indemnify the Indemnitee with respect to such amount.

7.4 If the Purchaser or other Indemnitee believes that it has a claim that may give rise to an obligation of any Warrantor pursuant to this Section 7, it shall give prompt notice thereof to the Company stating specifically the basis on which such claim is being made, the material facts related thereto, and the amount of the claim (or a reasonably estimate thereof) asserted. In the event of a third party claim against an Indemnitee for which such Indemnitee seeks indemnification from any Warrantor pursuant to this Section 7, no settlement shall be deemed conclusive with respect to whether there was an Indemnifiable Loss or the amount of such Indemnifiable Loss unless such settlement is consented to by the Founders or their Founder Holdcos. Any dispute related to this Section 7 shall be resolved pursuant to Section 8.15.

 

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7.5 Notwithstanding any other provisions contained herein, the Purchaser acknowledges that the indemnities under Section 7 shall be subject to the following provisions:

(a) the aggregate indemnification amount claimed by the Purchaser or its Indemnitees against all the Warrantors arising under or in connection with this Agreement (i) with respect to the Specified CFIUS Provisions, shall not exceed One Million US Dollars (US$1,000,000), of which the portion of such Indemnifiable Losses comprising attorneys’ fees shall not exceed Three Hundred Thousand US Dollars (US$300,000), and (ii) shall not exceed in the aggregate the amount equal to the Purchase Price paid by the Purchaser under this Agreement, in either case absent fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence; and

(b) the Warrantors shall not be required to indemnify any Indemnitee for (i) any claim unless the Indemnifiable Losses in connection with any claim or claims suffered by all the Indemnitees are US$100,000 or more, on a cumulative basis, in which case the Warrantors shall be liable for the Indemnifiable Losses in respect to the claim from the first US$, or (ii) any claim arising out of any breach of any representation or warranty made by the Warrantors contained herein or any of the other Transaction Documents to the extent that the relevant matters have been fairly and specifically disclosed in the Disclosure Schedule (but except for the matters as set forth in Section 7.2).

 

8.

MISCELLANEOUS

 

8.1

Survival of Warranties and Undertakings

The representations, warranties and undertakings of the Warrantors contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Closing for a period of two (2) years. Any fact or matter which is fairly and specifically disclosed in the Disclosure Schedule shall constitute notice to the Purchaser of the fact or matter so disclosed or actually known, as applicable, and the Purchaser shall be deemed to have waived any claim against the Warrantors on account of any inconsistency between such fact or matter and any of the representations, warranties and undertakings of the Warrantors in this Agreement (except (a) where any of such fact or matter in the Disclosure Schedule is untrue, incorrect or incomplete and (b) for the matters as set forth in Section 7.2).

 

8.2

Confidentiality

(a) Disclosure of Terms. The terms and conditions of this Agreement, any term sheet or memorandum of understanding entered into pursuant to the transactions contemplated hereby, all exhibits and schedules attached hereto and thereto, and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (collectively, the “Transaction Terms”), including their existence, shall be considered confidential information and shall not be disclosed by any Party hereto to any third party except as permitted in accordance with the provisions set forth below.

(b) Permitted Disclosures. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may disclose (i) the existence of the investment to its bona fide prospective purchasers, employees, bankers, lenders, accountants, legal counsels and business partners, or to any person or entity to which disclosure is approved in writing by the Purchaser, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld; and (ii) the Transaction Terms to its current shareholders, employees, bankers, lenders, accountants and legal counsels, in each case only where such persons or entities are under appropriate nondisclosure obligations substantially similar to those set forth in this Section 8.2, or to any person or entity to which disclosure is approved in writing by the Purchaser, which such approval is not to be unreasonably withheld. The Purchaser may disclose (x) the existence of the investment and the Transaction Terms to any Affiliate, partner, limited partner, former partner, potential partner or potential limited partner of the Purchaser or other third parties and (y) the fact of its own investment to the public, in each case as it deems appropriate at its sole discretion. Any Party hereto may also provide disclosure in order to comply with applicable Laws, as set forth in Section 8.2(c) below.

 

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(c) Legally Compelled Disclosure. In the event that any Party is requested or becomes legally compelled (including without limitation, pursuant to any applicable tax, securities, or other Laws and regulations of any jurisdiction) to disclose the existence of this Agreement or content of any of the Transaction Terms, such Party (the “Disclosing Party”) shall provide the other Parties with prompt written notice of that fact and shall consult with the other Parties regarding such disclosure. At the request of another Party, the Disclosing Party shall, to the extent reasonably possible and with the cooperation and reasonable efforts of the other Parties, seek a protective order, confidential treatment or other appropriate remedy. In any event, the Disclosing Party shall furnish only that portion of the information that is legally required and shall exercise reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded to such information.

(d) Other Exceptions. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 8.2, the confidentiality obligations of the Parties shall not apply to: (i) information which a restricted Party learns from a third party having the right to make the disclosure, provided the restricted Party complies with any restrictions imposed by the third party; (ii) information which is rightfully in the restricted Party’s possession prior to the time of disclosure by the protected Party and not acquired by the restricted Party under a confidentiality obligation; or (iii) information which enters the public domain without breach of confidentiality by the restricted Party.

(e) Press Releases, Etc. No announcements regarding the Purchaser’s investment in the Company may be made by any Party hereto in any press conference, professional or trade publication, marketing materials or otherwise to the public without the prior written consent of the Purchaser and the Company, provided that such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(f) Other Information. The provisions of this Section 8.2 shall terminate and supersede the provisions of any separate nondisclosure agreement executed by any of the Parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

8.3

Transfer; Successors and Assigns

The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective successors and assigns of the Parties. Save as expressly provided in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the Parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement. No Warrantor may assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Agreement without the written consent of the Purchaser. The Purchaser may, by delivering a prior written notice to the Company, assign its rights and delegate its obligations under this Agreement to any wholly-owned subsidiary of the Traton SE without the written consent of the other Parties.

 

8.4

Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of Hong Kong as to matters within the scope thereof, without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws.

 

8.5

Counterparts; Facsimile and Emails

This Agreement may be executed and delivered by facsimile, email or other electronic signature and in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

8.6

Titles and Subtitles

The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.

 

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8.7

Notices

All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (a) upon personal delivery to the Party to be notified; (b) when sent by confirmed electronic mail or facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and if not so confirmed, then on the next Business Day; (c) five (5) days after having been delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; or (d) one (1) day after delivery by an internationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent to the respective Parties at their address as set forth on Schedule 9, or to such e-mail address, facsimile number or address as subsequently modified by written notice given in accordance with this Section 8.7.

 

8.8

No Finder’s Fees

Each Party represents that it neither is nor will be obligated for any finder’s fee or commission in connection with this transaction. The Purchaser agrees to indemnify and to hold harmless the Company from any liability for any commission or compensation in the nature of a finder’s or broker’s fee arising out of this transaction (and the costs and expenses of defending against such liability or asserted liability) for which the Purchaser or any of its officers, employees, or representatives is responsible. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser from any liability for any commission or compensation in the nature of a finder’s or broker’s fee arising out of this transaction (and the costs and expenses of defending against such liability or asserted liability) for which the Company or any of its officers, employees or representatives is responsible.

 

8.9

Fees and Expenses

Each Party hereto shall pay all of its own costs and expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

8.10

Attorney’s Fees

If any action at law or in equity (including arbitration) is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of any of the Transaction Documents, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees, costs and necessary disbursements in addition to any other relief to which such Party may be entitled.

 

8.11

Amendments and Waivers

Any term of this Agreement may be amended, terminated or waived only with the written consent of the Company, the Founders and the Purchaser. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 8.11 shall be binding upon the Group Companies, the Founders, the Founder Holdcos, the Purchaser, and each transferee of the Purchased Securities or the Conversion Shares and each future holder of all such securities.

 

8.12

Severability

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision.

 

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8.13

Delays or Omissions

No delay or omission to exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to any Party under this Agreement, upon any breach or default of any other Party under this Agreement, shall impair any such right, power or remedy of such non-breaching or non-defaulting Party nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach or default, or an acquiescence therein, or of or in any similar breach or default thereafter occurring; nor shall any waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default theretofore or thereafter occurring. Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on the part of any Party of any breach or default under this Agreement, or any waiver on the part of any Party of any provisions or conditions of this Agreement, must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing. All remedies, either under this Agreement or by law or otherwise afforded to any Party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

 

8.14

Entire Agreement

This Agreement (including the Schedules and Exhibits hereto) and the other Transaction Documents constitute the full and entire understanding and agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and any other written or oral agreement relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof existing between the Parties are expressly canceled.

 

8.15

Dispute Resolution

(a) Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the interpretation, breach, termination or validity hereof, shall first be subject to resolution through consultation of the Parties to such dispute, controversy or claim. Such consultation shall begin within seven (7) days after one Party hereto has delivered to the other Parties involved a written request for such consultation. If within thirty (30) days following the commencement of such consultation the dispute cannot be resolved, the dispute shall be submitted to arbitration upon the request of any Party involved with notice to the other Parties involved.

(b) The arbitration shall be conducted in Hong Kong under the auspices of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (the “HKIAC”). There shall be three (3) arbitrators. The claimant and the respondent to such dispute shall each select one (1) arbitrator within thirty (30) days after giving or receiving the demand for arbitration. Such arbitrators shall be freely selected, and the Parties shall not be limited in their selection to any prescribed list. The Chairman of the HKIAC shall select the third arbitrator, who shall be qualified to practice Law in Hong Kong. If either party to the arbitration does not appoint an arbitrator who has consented to participate within thirty (30) days after selection of the first arbitrator, the relevant appointment shall be made by the Chairman of the HKIAC.

(c) The arbitration proceedings shall be conducted in English. The arbitration tribunal shall apply the Arbitration Rules of the HKIAC in effect at the time of the arbitration. However, if such rules are in conflict with the provisions of this Section 8.15, including the provisions concerning the appointment of arbitrators, the provisions of this Section 8.15 shall prevail.

(d) The arbitrators shall decide any dispute submitted by the parties to the arbitration strictly in accordance with the substantive Laws of Hong Kong and shall not apply any other substantive law.

(e) Each Party hereto shall cooperate with any party to the dispute in making full disclosure of and providing complete access to all information and documents requested by such party in connection with such arbitration proceedings, subject only to any confidentiality obligations binding on the Party receiving the request.

 

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(f) The award of the arbitration tribunal shall be final and binding upon the disputing parties, and any party to the dispute may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of such award.

(g) Any party to the dispute shall be entitled to seek preliminary injunctive relief, if possible, from any court of competent jurisdiction pending the constitution of the arbitral tribunal.

 

8.16

No Commitment for Additional Financing

The Warrantors acknowledge and agree that the Purchaser has not made any representation, undertaking, commitment or agreement to provide or assist the Company in obtaining any financing, investment or other assistance, other than the purchase of the Purchased Securities as set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein. In addition, the Warrantors acknowledge and agree that (i) no oral statements made by the Purchaser or its representatives on or after the date of this Agreement shall create an obligation, commitment or agreement to provide or assist the Company in obtaining any financing or investment, (ii) no Warrantor shall rely on any such statement by the Purchaser or its representatives and (iii) an obligation, commitment or agreement to provide or assist the Company in obtaining any financing or investment may only be created by a written agreement, signed by the Purchaser and the Company, setting forth the terms and conditions of such financing or investment and stating that the parties intend for such writing to be a binding obligation or agreement. The Purchaser shall have the right, at its sole and absolute discretion, to refuse or decline to participate in any other financing of or investment in the Company, and shall have no obligation to assist or cooperate with the Company in obtaining any financing, investment or other assistance.

 

8.17

Rights Cumulative

Each and all of the various rights, powers and remedies of a Party will be considered to be cumulative with and in addition to any other rights, powers and remedies which such Party may have at law or in equity in the event of the breach of any of the terms of this Agreement. The exercise or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy will neither constitute the exclusive election thereof nor the waiver of any other right, power or remedy available to such Party.

 

8.18

No Waiver

Failure to insist upon strict compliance with any of the terms, covenants, or conditions hereof will not be deemed a waiver of such term, covenant, or condition, nor will any waiver or relinquishment of, or failure to insist upon strict compliance with, any right, power or remedy power hereunder at any one or more times be deemed a waiver or relinquishment of such right, power or remedy at any other time or times.

 

8.19

Third Party Beneficiaries

Each of the Indemnitees shall be a third party beneficiary of this Agreement with the full ability to enforce Section 7 of this Agreement as if it were a Party hereto. Subject to the preceding sentence, a person who is not a party to this Agreement shall not have any rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Ordinance (Cap. 623 of the Laws of Hong Kong) to enforce any terms of this Agreement. The rights of the Parties to terminate, rescind or agree any variation, waiver or settlement under this Agreement are not subject to the consent of any other person, including an Indemnitee.

 

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8.20

Termination of Agreement

 

  (a)

Rights of Termination.

This Agreement may be terminated with respect to the Purchaser before the Closing as follows:

(1) at the election of the Purchaser on or after October 31, 2020, if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before such date unless such date is extended by the mutual written consent of the Company and the Purchaser; provided that: (i) the Purchaser is not in material default of any of its obligations hereunder, and (ii) the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.20(a) shall not be available to the Purchaser if its breach of any provision of this Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted, directly or indirectly in, the failure of the Closing to be consummated by October 31, 2020.

(2) at the election of the Company on or after October 31, 2020, if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before such date unless such date is extended by the mutual written consent of the Company and the Purchaser; provided that: (i) the Warrantors are not in material default of any of their obligations hereunder, and (ii) the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.20(a) shall not be available to the Company if a Warrantor’s breach of any provision of this Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted, directly or indirectly in, the failure of the Closing to be consummated by October 31, 2020;

(3) by mutual written consent of the Company and the Purchaser as evidenced in writing signed by the Company and the Purchaser;

(4) by the Purchaser in the event of any breach or violation of any representation or warranty, covenant or agreement contained herein or in any of the other Transaction Documents by any Warrantor that is not curable or that is curable but is not cured within thirty (30) Business Days of written notice; or

(5) by the Purchaser if any event, circumstance or change shall have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate with one or more other events, circumstances or changes, have had or reasonably could be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or any other Group Company.

(b) Effect of Termination.

(1) The date of termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.20(a) hereof shall be referred to as “Termination Date”.

(2) In the event of termination by the Company and/or the Purchaser pursuant to Section 8.20(a) hereof, written notice thereof shall forthwith be given to the other Parties and this Agreement shall terminate with respect to the Purchaser, and (i) in case this Agreement is terminated pursuant to (1) or (2) under Section 8.20(a), the Parties shall negotiate in good faith and agree on the effects of the termination otherwise or (ii) in case this Agreement is terminated pursuant to (3), (4) or (5) of Section 8.20(a), the purchase of the Purchased Securities by the Purchaser hereunder shall be abandoned and rescinded, without further action by the Parties hereto. Each of the Company and the Purchaser shall be relieved of their duties and obligations arising under this Agreement after the date of such termination and such termination shall be without liability to the Company or the Purchaser; provided that no such termination shall relieve the Company or the Purchaser from liability for any breach of this Agreement incurred before the termination.

(c) Surviving Provisions.

(1) The provisions of this Section 8.20, Section 7, Section 8.1, Section 8.2, Section 8.4, Section 8.7, Section 8.9, and Section 8.15, hereof shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

16


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

COMPANY:

   

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited

   

By:

 

 /s/  CHEN Mo

   

Name: CHEN Mo

   

Title: Director

 

HK CO:

   

Tusimple (Hong Kong) Limited

   

By:

 

 /s/  CHEN Mo

   

Name: CHEN Mo

Title: Director

 

HK AUTO TECH:

   

Tusimple (Hong Kong) Auto Tech Limited

   

By:

 

 /s/  Wang Naiyan

   

Name: Wang Naiyan

Title: Director

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

WFOE:

   

Beijing Tusen Zhitu Technology Co., Ltd.

( LOGO )

   

By:

 

 /s/  Guo Minhua

   

Name: Guo Minhua

Title: Legal Representative

 

Affix Seal: [Beijing Tusen Zhitu Technology Co., Ltd.
                    company seal is affixed]

 

DOMCO I:

   

Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd.

( LOGO )

   

By:

 

 /s/  Guo Minhua

   

Name: Guo Minhua

Title: Legal Representative

 

Affix Seal: [Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd.
                    company seal is affixed]

 

WEILAI LOGISTICS:

   

Tangshan Tusen Weilai Logistics Co., Ltd.

( LOGO )

   

By:

 

 /s/  HAO Jianan

   

Name: HAO Jianan

Title: Legal Representative

 

Affix Seal: [Tangshan Tusen Weilai Logistics Co., Ltd.
                    company seal is affixed]

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

US CO:

   

TuSimple, Inc.

   

By:

 

 /s/  HOU Xiaodi

   

Name: HOU Xiaodi

Title: Director

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

JAPAN CO:

   

Kabushiki Kaisha TuSimple JAPAN

( LOGO TuSimple JAPAN)

   

By:

 

 /s/  WU Nan

   

Name: WU Nan

Title: Director

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

WEILAI CHENGYUN:

   

Beijing Weilai Chengyun Auto Tech Co., Ltd.

( LOGO )

   

By:

 

 /s/  HAO Jianan

   

Name: HAO Jianan

Title: Legal Representative

 

Affix Seal: [Beijing Weilai Chengyun Auto Tech Co., Ltd.

                    company seal is affixed]

 

TUSHEN ZHINENG:

   

Shanghai Tushen Zhineng Technology Co., Ltd.

( LOGO )

   

By:

 

 /s/  WANG Naiyan

   

Name: WANG Naiyan

Title: Legal Representative

 

Affix Seal: [Shanghai Tushen Zhineng Technology Co., Ltd.

                    company seal is affixed]

 

DOMCO II:

   

Shanghai Tusen Weilai AI Technology Co., Ltd.

( LOGO )

   

By:

 

 /s/  LIU Huiwen

   

Name: LIU Huiwen

Title: Legal Representative

 

Affix Seal: [Shanghai Tusen Weilai AI Technology Co., Ltd.
                    company seal is affixed]

 

KUANGTU:

   

Shanghai Kuangtu Logistics Co., Ltd.

( LOGO )

   

By:

 

 /s/  HAO Jianan

   

Name: HAO Jianan

Title: Legal Representative

 

Affix Seal: [Shanghai Kuangtu Logistics Co., Ltd.
                    company seal is affixed]

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

TUSEN ZHIYUN:

   

Tusen Zhiyun (Shenzhen) Auto Tech Co., Ltd.

( LOGO )

   

By:

 

 /s/  HAO Jianan

   

Name: HAO Jianan

Title: Legal Representative

Affix Seal: [Tusen Zhiyun (Shenzhen) Auto Tech Co., Ltd.

                    company seal is affixed]

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

FOUNDERS:

   

CHEN Mo

   

By:

 

 /s/  CHEN Mo

   

HOU Xiaodi

   

By:

 

 /s/  HOU Xiaodi

   

REN Zhenguo

   

By:

 

 /s/  REN Zhenguo

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

FOUNDER HOLDCOS:     Gray Jade Holding Limited
   

 /s/  CHEN Mo

   

Name: CHEN Mo

   

Title: Director

    White Marble International Limited
   

 /s/  HOU Xiaodi

   

Name: HOU Xiaodi

   

Title: Director

    Ancient Jade International Limited
   

 /s/  REN Zhenguo

   

Name: REN Zhenguo

   

Title: Director

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:     TRATON SE
   

By:

 

 /s/  Christian Levin

   

Name: Christian Levin

   

Title: Chief Operating Officer

   

By:

 

 /s/  Christian Schulz

   

Name: Christian Schulz

   

Title: Chief Financial Officer

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT


SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS

Schedules

 

Schedule 1

  

Schedule of Purchasers

Schedule 2-A

  

Schedule of Founders

Schedule 2-B

  

Schedule of Founder Holdcos

Schedule 3

  

Definitions

Schedule 4

  

Schedule of Key Employees

Schedule 5

  

Representations and Warranties of the Warrantors

Schedule 6

  

Disclosure Schedule

Schedule 7

  

Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser

Schedule 8

  

Capitalization Table

Schedule 9

  

Notices

 

 

SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS


Exhibits

 

Exhibit A

  

Special Resolutions

Exhibit B

  

Shareholders’ Agreement

Exhibit C

  

Form of Share Restriction Agreements

Exhibit D

  

Form of Compliance Certificate

Exhibit E

  

Control Documents

Exhibit F

  

Warrant Instrument

Exhibit G

  

List of Purchaser Competitors

 

 

SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS


SCHEDULE 1

SCHEDULE OF PURCHASER

 

SCHEDULE 1


SCHEDULE 2-A

SCHEDULE OF FOUNDER

 

SCHEDULE 2-A


SCHEDULE 2-B

SCHEDULE OF FOUNDER HOLDCO

 

SCHEDULE 2-B


SCHEDULE 3

DEFINITIONS

 

1.

Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person who or which, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such specified Person, including, without limitation, any general partner, limited partner, officer, director, member or employee of such Person and any venture capital or other fund now or hereafter existing that is controlled by or under common control with one or more general partners or managing members of, or shares the same management company with, such Person. With respect to a natural person, his or her Affiliates also include his or her children, stepchildren, grandchildren, parents, step-parents, grandparents, spouse and siblings.

 

2.

Agreement” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

3.

Anti-Corruption Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 19 of Schedule 5.

 

4.

Anti-Money Laundering Laws” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 25.4 of Schedule 5.

 

5.

Board of Directors” or “Board” means the Company’s board of Directors.

 

6.

Breach” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.

 

7.

Business Day” means any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which the commercial banks in Hong Kong, Beijing, Munich or New York are authorized or required to be closed for the conduct of regular banking business.

 

8.

Business Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 30 of Schedule 5.

 

9.

Circular 37” means the Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Relevant Issues concerning Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Residents to Engage in Overseas Investment or Financing and in Return Investment via Special Purpose Vehicles promulgated by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the PRC on July 4, 2014.

 

10.

Closing” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.2(a).

 

11.

Closing Account” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.3.

 

12.

Company” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

13.

Company Law” means the Companies Law (as amended) of the Cayman Islands.

 

14.

Company Law” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.10.

 

15.

Confidential Information Agreements” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 21 of Schedule 5.

 

16.

Contract” means a legally binding contract, agreement, understanding, indenture, note, bond, loan, instrument, lease, mortgage, franchise or license.

 

17.

Control” or “control” of a given Person means the power or authority, whether exercised or not, to direct the business, management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, through any contractual relationship (including, without limitation, pursuant to a management or advisory agreement) or otherwise, which power or authority shall conclusively be presumed to exist upon possession of beneficial ownership or power to direct the vote of more than fifty percent (50%) of the votes entitled to be cast at a meeting of the members or shareholders of such Person or power to control the composition of a majority of the board of directors of such Person; the terms “Controlling” and “Controlled” (and their lower-case counterparts) have meanings correlative to the foregoing.


18.

Control Documents” means the following set of contracts in a form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit E, including without limitation, Share Pledge Agreement, Exclusive Option Agreement, Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement and Power of Attorney.

 

19.

Conversion Shares” means Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of any Preferred Shares.

 

20.

Convertible Securities” means, with respect to any specified Person, securities convertible or exchangeable into any shares of any class of such specified Person, however described and whether voting or non-voting.

 

21.

Directors” means the members of the Board of Directors.

 

22.

Disclosing Party” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.2(c).

 

23.

Disclosure Schedule” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.

 

24.

Discount Price” means a price equal to 80% of the price per share at which Qualified Financing Shares are sold in the Qualified Financing (other than Qualified Financing Shares sold at a discount).

 

25.

DomCo I” has the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.

 

26.

DomCo II” has the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.

 

27.

Employee Benefit Plans” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 16.7 of Schedule 5.

 

28.

Establishment Documents” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 22.2 of Schedule 5.

 

29.

Execution Date” means the date of this Agreement.

 

30.

Financial Statements” means the consolidated balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows, prepared in accordance with IFRS / US GAAP and applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods indicated.

 

31.

Financing Notice” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.7(b).

 

32.

First Public Filing” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.7(c).

 

33.

Founder(s)” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

34.

Founder Holdcos” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

35.

Governmental Authority” means the government of any nation, province, state, city, locality or other political subdivision of any thereof, any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, regulation or compliance, and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled, through share or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing.

 

2

SCHEDULE 3


36.

Group Companies” means the Company, the HK Co, the WFOE, the US Co, the DomCos, the PRC Subsidiaries, the Japan Co, HK Auto Tech, and any other direct or indirect Subsidiary of any Group Company collectively, and “Group Company” means any one of them.

 

37.

GC Product or Service” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.7 of Schedule 5.

 

38.

Hong Kong” means the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC.

 

39.

HK Auto Tech” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

40.

HK Co” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

41.

HKIAC” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.15(b).

 

42.

IFRS” mean International Financial Reporting Standards.

 

43.

Indemnifiable Loss” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.

 

44.

Indemnitee” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.

 

45.

Intellectual Property” means all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, processes, compositions of matter, formulas, designs, inventions, proprietary rights, know-how and any other confidential or proprietary information owned or otherwise used by any Group Company.

 

46.

IPO” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.7(c).

 

47.

Japan Co” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

48.

Key Employee” means each of the Persons listed in Schedule 4.

 

49.

Knowledge” including the phrase “to the Warrantors’ knowledge” means the actual knowledge after reasonable investigation of the Key Employees and the Founders.

 

50.

Kuangtu” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

51.

Law” means any constitutional provision, statute or other law, rule, regulation, official policy or interpretation of any Governmental Authority and any injunction, judgment, order, ruling, assessment or writ issued by any Governmental Authority.

 

52.

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, claim, security interest, encumbrance, title defect, lien, charge or other restriction or limitation.

 

53.

Liquidation Event” has the meaning set forth in the seventh amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company (as amended).

 

54.

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on the business, assets (including intangible assets), liabilities, financial condition, property, prospects or results of operations of the Group Companies, either individually or taken as a whole.

 

55.

Material Agreements” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 10.1 of Schedule 5.

 

56.

Non-U.S. IPO Notice” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.7(c).

 

57.

OFAC” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 18.2(a) of Schedule 5.

 

3

SCHEDULE 3


58.

OFAC Sanctioned Person” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 18.2(b) of Schedule 5.

 

59.

OFAC Sanctions” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 18.2(a) of Schedule 5.

 

60.

Order” or “order” means any order, injunction, judgment, decree, ruling, writ, assessment or arbitration award of a Governmental Authority.

 

61.

Ordinary Share” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement, being an ordinary share of par value US$0.0001 in the capital of the Company.

 

62.

Party” and “Parties” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

63.

Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, proprietorship, association, limited liability company, firm, trust, estate or other enterprise or entity.

 

64.

PRC” means the Peoples’ Republic of China, excluding Hong Kong, the Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan for the purpose of this Agreement.

 

65.

PRC Subsidiaries” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

66.

Projections” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 29 of Schedule 5.

 

67.

Preferred Share” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

68.

public official” means an employee of a Governmental Authority, a member of a political party, a political candidate, an officer of a public international organization, or an officer or employee of a state-owned enterprise, including a PRC state-owned enterprise.

 

69.

Public Software” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.7 of Schedule 5.

 

70.

Purchaser Competitor” means any Person set forth in the list attached hereto as Exhibit G.

 

71.

Purchased Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.

 

72.

Purchased Securities” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.

 

73.

Purchase Price” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.

 

74.

Purchased Warrant” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.

 

75.

Purchaser” or “Purchasers” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

76.

Qualified Financing” means the first bona fide equity financing of the Company after the Execution Date, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, in which the Company issues and sells preferred shares of a class or series more senior than that of Series D-1 Preferred Shares and that results in proceeds to the Company of at least US$80,000,000, or a concurrent private placement in connection with a merger or business combination transaction or other similar transaction of the Company with a publicly traded special purpose acquisition corporation listed in the United States.

 

77.

Qualified Financing Shares” means the class and series of preferred shares or other equity securities sold in a Qualified Financing.

 

4

SCHEDULE 3


78.

Related Party” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 11.4 of Schedule 5.

 

79.

Reserve” or “reservation” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4 of Schedule 5.

 

80.

Restated Articles” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.6.

 

81.

Restricted securities” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 5 of Schedule 7.

 

82.

SDN List” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 18.2(b) of Schedule 5.

 

83.

Secretary” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 18.2(a) of Schedule 5.

 

84.

Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (or comparable Laws in jurisdictions other than the United States).

 

85.

Series A Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

86.

Series B-1 Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

87.

Series B-2 Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

88.

Series B-3 Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

89.

Series C Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

90.

Series D-1 Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

91.

Shareholders’ Agreement” means the Sixth Amended and Restated Shareholders’ agreement of Tusimple (Cayman) Limited, dated March 11, 2020, by and among the Group Companies, the Founders, the Purchaser and certain other parties thereto, substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit B and amended and restated from time to time (for the avoidance of doubt, the entry by the Purchaser thereof shall be through the execution and delivery of a Joinder to the Shareholders’ Agreement in form to the satisfaction of the Purchaser).

 

92.

Share Plan” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.3 of Schedule 5.

 

93.

Share Restriction Agreements” means the Second Amended and Restated Share Restriction Agreements, dated August 13, 2019, by and among the Company, Mr. Chen Mo, Mr. Hou Xiaodi and certain other parties thereto, substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit C and amended and restated from time to time (for the avoidance of doubt, the entry by the Purchaser thereof shall be through the execution and delivery of a Joinder to the applicable Share Restriction Agreement in form to the satisfaction of the Purchaser).

 

94.

Sina” means SUN Dream Inc and its successors and assignees.

 

95.

Special Resolutions” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.6.

 

96.

Statement Date” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 14 of Schedule 5.

 

5

SCHEDULE 3


97.

Subsidiary” or “subsidiary” means, as of the relevant date of determination, with respect to any Person (the “subject entity”), (i) any Person (x) more than 50% of whose shares or other interests entitled to vote in the election of directors or (y) more than a 50% interest in the profits or capital of such Person are owned or controlled directly or indirectly by the subject entity or through one (1) or more Subsidiaries of the subject entity; (ii) any Person whose assets, or portions thereof, are consolidated with the net earnings of the subject entity and are recorded on the books of the subject entity for financial reporting purposes in accordance with IFRS or US GAAP; or (iii) any Person with respect to which the subject entity has the power to otherwise direct the business and policies of that entity directly or indirectly through another subsidiary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Subsidiaries of the Company shall include the Group Companies (other than the Company) and/or any other company Controlled by the Company, directly or indirectly, through contractual arrangement (including via the variable interest entities arrangement).

 

98.

Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Shareholders’ Agreement (as amended and restated from time to time), the Restated Articles (as amended and restated from time to time), the Share Restriction Agreements, the Warrant Instrument and any other agreements, instruments or documents entered into in connection with this Agreement.

 

99.

Termination Date” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.22(b).

 

100.

Transaction Notice” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 6.7(c).

 

101.

Transaction Terms” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.2(a).

 

102.

Tusen Zhiyun” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

103.

Tushen Zhineng” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

104.

United States Person” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 18.2(c) of Schedule 5.

 

105.

US Co” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

106.

US GAAP” means the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States.

 

107.

US$” means the United States Dollar, the lawful currency of the United States of America.

 

108.

Warrant” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals.

 

109.

Warrant Instrument” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals.

 

110.

Warrant Shares” means the shares of any class and series of convertible preferred shares or other senior convertible equity security sold or issued by the Company pursuant to the Warrant Instrument.

 

111.

Warrant Purchase Amount” has the meaning ascribed to “Purchase Amount” in the Warrant.

 

112.

Warrantors” means the Group Companies, the Founder Holdcos and the Founders, and “Warrantor” means any one of them.

 

113.

Weilai Chengyun” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

6

SCHEDULE 3


114.

Weilai Logistics” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

115.

WFOE” has the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.

 

7

SCHEDULE 3


SCHEDULE 4

SCHEDULE OF KEY EMPLOYEES

 

SCHEDULE 4


SCHEDULE 5

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE WARRANTORS

 

1.

ORGANIZATION, GOOD STANDING, CORPORATE POWER AND QUALIFICATION

Each Warrantor (except for the Founders) is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its business as presently conducted and as proposed to be conducted. Each Warrantor (except for the Founders) is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Warrantor has full power, authority and capacity to enter into and perform each of the Transaction Documents to which such Warrantor is a party.

 

2.

CAPITALIZATION

2.1 The authorized capital of the Company consists, immediately prior to the Closing, of: (a) 423,211,517 Ordinary Shares, of which 58,641,425 shares are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing. All of the outstanding Ordinary Shares have been duly authorized, are fully paid and nonassessable and were issued in compliance with all applicable securities laws. The Company holds no treasury shares; and (b) 20,000,000 Series A Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 8,218,203 Series A-2 Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 7,080,000 Series B-1 Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 3,000,000 Series B-2 Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 3,465,372 Series B-3 Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 14,993,041 Series C Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; and 20,031,867 Series D-1 Preferred Shares, 18,799,137 of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing. The rights, privileges and preferences of the Series A Preferred Shares, the Series A-2 Preferred Shares, the Series B-1 Preferred Shares, the Series B-2 Preferred Shares, the Series B-3 Preferred Shares, the Series C Preferred Shares and the Series D-1 Preferred Shares are as stated in the Restated Articles and as provided by the Company Law.

2.2 The Company has reserved 17,445,043 Ordinary Shares for issuance to Key Employees, research and technical employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company pursuant to the 2017 Share Plan of the Company, as amended from time to time (the “Share Plan”), and 2,125,000 of which are issued and outstanding. Of such reserved Ordinary Shares, 3,069,879 Ordinary Shares remain available for issuance to Key Employees, research and technical employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company. The Company has furnished to the Purchaser complete and accurate copies of the Share Plan and forms of agreements used thereunder.

2.3 Schedule 8 sets forth the capitalization of the Company immediately before and following the Closing including the number of shares of the following: (i) issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares, including, with respect to restricted Ordinary Shares, vesting schedule and repurchase price; (ii) issued and granted stock options; (iii) stock options not yet issued but reserved for issuance, including vesting schedule and exercise price; (iv) each series of Preferred Shares; and (v) warrants or stock purchase rights, if any. Except for (A) the conversion privileges of the Purchased Securities to be issued under this Agreement and other Transaction Documents, (B) the rights provided in the Shareholders’ Agreement, and (C) the securities and rights described in Section 2.3 of this Schedule 5, there are no outstanding options, warrants, rights (including conversion or preemptive rights and rights of first refusal or similar rights) or agreements, orally or in writing, to purchase or acquire from the Company any Ordinary Share or Preferred Share, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for Ordinary Share or Preferred Share. .

 

SCHEDULE 5


2.4 The Founders are the legal and beneficial owners of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of their respective Founder Holdcos. The Founder Holdcos are the legal and beneficial owners of 56,516,425 Ordinary Shares of the Company. The Company is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the US Co. The Company is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the HK Co, which in turn is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the WFOE. The Company is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of HK Auto Tech. As of the Execution Date, the HK Co is the legal and beneficial owner of ninety percent (90%) equity interest of the Japan Co. The DomCo I is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of each of Weilai Logistics, Weilai Chengyun and Tushen Zhineng. The DomCo II is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of Kuangtu and Tusen Zhiyun.

2.5 Section 2.5 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth the capitalization and equity holders of the DomCos as of the Execution Date, including all issued and outstanding equity capital of the DomCos. Unless otherwise provided in the Control Documents, there are no outstanding options, warrants, rights (including conversion or, preemptive rights and rights of first refusal or similar rights) or agreements, orally or in writing, to purchase or acquire any equity interest or share capital, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for an equity interest or share capital, of any Group Company (other than the Company).

2.6 As of the Execution Date, WFOE Controls one hundred percent (100%) equity interest in each of the DomCos through the Control Documents. As of the Execution Date, each Control Document is duly executed by related parties and constitutes the legal and binding obligations of the relevant parties except as limited by laws of general application relating to or affecting the enforcement of contractual arrangements materially similar to the Control Documents.

 

3.

SUBSIDIARIES

Other than the HK Co, the US Co, the Japan Co, the HK Auto Tech, the WFOE and the PRC Subsidiaries, the Company and each other Group Company do not currently own or control, directly or indirectly, any interest in any other company, corporation, partnership, trust, joint venture, association, or other business entity. Neither the Company nor any other Group Company is a participant in any joint venture, partnership or similar arrangement.

 

4.

AUTHORIZATION

With respect to each Warrantor (except for the Founders), all corporate action required to be taken by such Warrantor’s board of directors and shareholders in order to authorize each respective Warrantor to enter into the Transaction Documents to which each such Warrantor is a party, and (only with respect to the Company) to issue the Purchased Securities at the Closing and the Conversion Shares, has been taken or will be taken prior to the Closing. With respect to each Warrantor (except for the Founders), all action on the part of the officers of each Warrantor necessary for the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents, the performance of all obligations of such Warrantor under the Transaction Documents to be performed as of the Closing, and (only with respect to the Company) the issuance and delivery of the Purchased Securities has been taken or will be taken prior to the Closing. The Transaction Documents, when executed and delivered by each Warrantor, shall constitute valid and legally binding obligations of each Warrantor, enforceable against each Warrantor in accordance with their respective terms except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, or other laws of general application relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies, or (iii) to the extent the indemnification provisions contained in the Shareholders’ Agreement may be limited by applicable securities laws.

 

SCHEDULE 5


The issuance of any Preferred Shares or Conversion Shares is not subject to any preemptive rights or rights of first refusal, or if any such preemptive rights or rights of first refusal exist as of the Closing, waiver of such rights has been obtained from the holders thereof. For the purpose only of this Agreement, “reserve,” “reservation” or similar words with respect to a specified number of Ordinary Shares or Preferred Shares of the Company shall mean that the Company shall, and the Board of Directors of the Company shall procure that the Company shall, refrain from issuing such number of shares so that such number of shares will remain in the authorized but unissued share capital of the Company until the conversion rights of the holders of any Convertible Securities exercisable for such shares are exercised in accordance with the Restated Articles or otherwise.

 

5.

VALID ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES

5.1 The Purchased Shares, when issued, sold and delivered in accordance with the terms and for the consideration set forth in this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of Liens and other restrictions on transfer other than restrictions on transfer under this Agreement, the Shareholders’ Agreement, applicable securities laws and liens or encumbrances created by or imposed by the relevant Purchaser. Subject in part to the accuracy of the representations of the Purchaser in Schedule 7 of this Agreement, the Purchased Securities will be issued in compliance with all applicable securities laws. The Conversion Shares have been duly reserved for issuance, and upon issuance in accordance with the terms of the Restated Articles, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of Liens and other restrictions on transfer other than restrictions on transfer under the Transaction Documents, applicable securities laws and liens or encumbrances created by or imposed by the relevant Purchaser. The Conversion Shares will be issued in compliance with all applicable securities laws.

5.2 All presently outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company were duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and are free and clear of any Liens and free of restrictions on transfer (except for any restrictions on transfer under Transaction Documents or applicable securities laws) and have been issued in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all applicable securities laws and regulations, including, to the extent applicable, the Securities Act.

 

6.

GOVERNMENTAL CONSENTS AND FILINGS

6.1 No consent, approval, order or authorization of or registration, qualification, designation, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Authority is required on the part of any Warrantor is required in connection with the valid execution, delivery and consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Shareholders’ Agreement or the offer, sale, issuance or reservation for issuance of the Purchased Securities and the Conversion Shares.

6.2 As of the Execution Date, (i) no Group Company is a TID U.S. business (as defined at 31 C.F.R. § 800.248 as of the Execution Date) that produces, designs, tests, manufactures, fabricates or develops one or more critical technologies (as defined in 31 C.F.R. § 800.215 as of the Execution Date), and (ii) no Group Company organized in the United States produces, designs, tests, manufactures, fabricates or develops one or more critical technologies (as defined in 31 C.F.R. § 800.215 as of the Execution Date) (x) utilized in connection with its activity in any of the industries identified in Appendix B to 31 C.F.R. Part 800 as of the Execution Date, or (y) designed by such Group Company specifically for use in any such industry identified in Appendix B to 31 C.F.R. Part 800 as of the Execution Date.

 

7.

LITIGATION

There is no claim, action, suit, proceeding, arbitration, complaint, charge or investigation pending or to the Warrantors’ knowledge, currently threatened (i) against any Warrantor or any officer, director or Key Employee of any Group Company that would either individually or in aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (ii) to the Warrantors’ knowledge, that questions the validity of the Transaction Documents or the right of any Warrantor to enter into them, or to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

 

SCHEDULE 5


None of the Warrantors and, to the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of the officers, directors and Key Employees of any Group Company, is a party or is named as subject to the provisions of any order, writ, injunction, judgment or decree of any court or government agency or instrumentality which would either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no action, suit, proceeding or investigation by any Group Company pending or which any Group Company intends to initiate. The foregoing includes, without limitation, actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending or threatened in writing (or any basis therefor known to the Warrantors) involving the prior employment of any of the Group Company’s employees, their services provided in connection with Group Company’s business, or any information or techniques allegedly proprietary to any of their former employers, or their obligations under any agreements with prior employers.

 

8.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY    

8.1 Each Group Company owns or possesses sufficient legal rights to (i) all trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, licenses, information and proprietary rights and processes and (ii) to the Warrantors’ knowledge, all patents and patent rights, as are necessary to the conduct of such Group Company’s business as now conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted, without any known conflict with, or infringement of, the rights of others. Section 8.1 of the Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and accurate list of all Intellectual Property owned, licensed to or used by each Group Company, whether registered or not, and a complete and accurate list of all licenses granted by such Group Company to any third party with respect to any Intellectual Property. No product or service marketed or sold (or proposed to be marketed or sold) by any Group Company violates or will violate any license or infringe any intellectual property rights of any other party.

8.2 No Group Company has received any communications alleging that any Group Company has violated or, by conducting its business, would violate any of the patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets or other proprietary rights or processes of any other person or entity. Each Group Company has obtained and possesses valid licenses to use all of the software programs present on the computers and other software-enabled electronic devices that it owns or leases or that it has otherwise provided to its employees for their use in connection with such Group Company’s business. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, it will not be necessary to use any inventions of any of its employees (or persons it currently intends to hire) made prior to their employment by a Group Company. Each Key Employee has assigned to the Group Companies all intellectual property rights he or she owns that are related to the Group Companies’ business as now conducted. Section 8.2 of the Disclosure Schedule lists all patents, patent applications, registered trademarks, trademark applications, registered service marks, service mark applications, registered copyrights and domain names of each Group Company.

8.3 Other than with respect to commercially available software products under standard end-user object code license agreements, there are no outstanding options, licenses, agreements, claims, encumbrances or shared ownership interests of any kind relating to the foregoing, nor is any Group Company bound by or a party to any options, licenses or agreements of any kind with respect to the patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, licenses, information, proprietary rights and processes of any other person or entity.

8.4 No proceedings or claims in which any Group Company alleges that any person is infringing upon, or otherwise violating, its Intellectual Property rights are pending, and none has been served, instituted or asserted by any Group Company.

8.5 None of the employees of any Group Company or the Founders are obligated under any Contract (including a Contract of employment), or subject to any judgment, decree or order of any court or administrative agency, that would interfere with the use of his or her best efforts to promote the interests of the Group Companies, or that would conflict with the business of any Group Company as presently conducted. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, it will not be necessary to utilize in the course of any Group Company’s business operations any inventions of any of the employees of any Group Company made prior to their employment by the such Group Company, except for inventions that have been validly and properly assigned or licensed to such Group Company as of the date hereof.

 

SCHEDULE 5


8.6 Each Group Company has taken all security measures that in the judgment of such Person are commercially prudent in order to protect the secrecy, confidentiality, and value of its material Intellectual Property.

8.7 No Public Software (as defined below) forms part of any product or service provided by any Group Company (“GC Product or Service”), and no Public Software was or is used in connection with the development of any GC Product or Service or is incorporated into, in whole or in part, or has been distributed with, in whole or in part, any GC Product or Service. As used in this Section 8.7,Public Software” means any software that contains, or is derived in any manner (in whole or in part) from, any software that is distributed as free software (as defined by the Free Software Foundation), open source software (e.g., Linux or software distributed under any license approved by the Open Source Initiative as set forth www.opensource.org) or similar licensing or distribution models which require the distribution or making available of source code as well as object code of the software to licensees without charge (except for the cost of the medium) and the right of the licensee to modify the software and redistribute both the modified and unmodified versions of the software, including software licensed or distributed under any of the following licenses: (i) GNU’s General Public License (GPL) or Lesser/Library GPL (LGPL); (ii) the Artistic License (e.g., PERL); (iii) the Mozilla Public License; (iv) the Netscape Public License; (v) the BSD License; or (vi) the Apache License.

 

9.

COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER INSTRUMENTS

9.1 None of the Group Companies, the Founders and the Founder Holdcos is in violation or default (i) of any provisions of its memorandum of association (if any), articles of association or any other applicable constitutional document, (ii) of any instrument, judgment, order, writ or decree, (iii) under any note, indenture or mortgage, or (iv) under any lease, agreement, contract or purchase order to which it is a party or by which it is bound that is required to be listed on the Section 10.1 of Disclosure Schedule, or (v) of any provision of statute, rule or regulation applicable to such Warrantor, the violation of which would either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents will not result in any such violation or be in conflict with or constitute, with or without the passage of time and giving of notice, either (i) a default under any such provision, instrument, judgment, order, writ, decree, contract or agreement or (ii) an event which results in the creation of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any equity interest or assets of any Group Company or the suspension, revocation, forfeiture, or nonrenewal of any material permit or license applicable to any Group Company, which would either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

9.2

PENALTIES AND FINES

There are no penalties or fines of whatsoever nature that have ever been imposed on any Group Company.

 

10.

AGREEMENTS; ACTIONS

10.1 Save for the agreements set out in Section 10.1 of the Disclosure Schedule (the “Material Agreements”) and the Transaction Documents, there are no other agreements, understandings, instruments, contracts or proposed transactions to which any Group Company is a party or by which it is bound that involve (i) obligations (contingent or otherwise) of, or payments to, any Group Company in excess of US$100,000 per annum or in excess of US$500,000 in the aggregate, (ii) the transfer or license of any patent, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary right to or from any Group Company, other than from or to another Group Company or from a Founder to a Group Company, (iii) the grant of rights to manufacture, produce, assemble, license, market, or sell its products to any other person or affect any Group Company’s exclusive right to develop, manufacture, assemble, distribute, market or sell its products, (iv) indemnification by any Group Company with respect to infringements of proprietary rights, and there are no agreements, understandings, instruments, contracts or proposed transactions between any Warrantor and any holder of Preferred Shares amending or varying the rights or obligations of the Company and such holder of Preferred Shares from those set out in the Transaction Documents.

 

SCHEDULE 5


All the Material Agreements are valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the parties thereto and the terms thereof have been complied with by the relevant Group Company, and to the Warrantors’ knowledge, by all the other parties thereto. There are to the Warrantors’ knowledge, no circumstances likely to give rise to any material breach of such terms, no grounds for rescission, avoidance or repudiation of any of the Material Agreements which would have a Material Adverse Effect and no notice of termination or of intention to terminate has been received in respect of any Material Agreement.

10.2 The Company has not declared or paid any dividends, or authorized or made any distribution upon or with respect to any class of its share capital, and no Group Company has (i) incurred any indebtedness for money borrowed or incurred any other liabilities individually in excess of US$10,000 or in excess of US$25,000 in the aggregate, (ii) made any loans or advances to any person, other than ordinary advances for travel expenses and trade receivables in the ordinary course of business, or (iii) sold, exchanged or otherwise disposed of any of its assets or rights, other than the sale of its inventory in the ordinary course of business or otherwise envisaged in this Agreement. For the purposes of Sections 10.1 and 10.2 of this Schedule 5 all indebtedness, liabilities, agreements, understandings, instruments, contracts and proposed transactions involving the same person or entity shall be aggregated for the purpose of meeting the individual minimum dollar amounts of such subsection.

10.3 No Group Company is a guarantor or indemnitor of any indebtedness of any other person, firm or corporation that is not a Group Company.

10.4 Save as set out in Section 10.4 of the Disclosure Schedule or in connection with this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, no Group Company has engaged in the past three (3) months in any discussion with any representative of any corporation, partnership, trust, joint venture, limited liability company, association or other entity, or any individual, regarding (i) a sale of all or substantially all of such Group Company’s assets, or (ii) any merger, consolidation or other business combination transaction of such Group Company with or into another corporation, entity or person.

 

11.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

11.1 Other than (i) standard employee benefits generally made available to all employees, (ii) standard director and officer indemnification agreements approved by the Board of Directors, and (iii) the purchase of the Company’s share capital in accordance with applicable law, and the issuance of options to purchase the Company’s Ordinary Shares, in each instance, disclosed in Section 11.1 of the Disclosure Schedule, there are no agreements, understandings or proposed transactions between any Group Company and any of its officers, directors, consultants or Key Employees, or any Affiliate thereof, respectively.

11.2 No Group Company is indebted, directly or indirectly, to any of its directors, officers or employees or to their respective spouses or children or to any Affiliate of any of the foregoing, other than in connection with expenses or advances of expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business or employee relocation expenses. None of the Group Companies’ directors, officers or employees, or any members of their immediate families, or any Affiliate of the foregoing (i) are, directly or indirectly, indebted to any Group Company or, (ii) to the Warrantors’ knowledge, have any direct or indirect ownership interest in any firm or corporation with which the Company is affiliated or with which any Group Company has a business relationship, or any firm or corporation which competes with any Group Company except that directors, officers or employees or shareholders of the Company may own shares in (but not exceeding one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of) publicly traded companies that may compete with any Group Company.

 

SCHEDULE 5


To the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of the Group Companies’ employees, officers or directors or any members of their immediate families or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing are, directly or indirectly, interested in any contract with any Group Company. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of the Group Companies’ directors, officers or employees, or any members of their immediate families, or any Affiliate of the foregoing has any material commercial, industrial, banking, consulting, legal, accounting, charitable or familial relationship with any of the Group Companies’ five (5) largest business relationship partners, service providers, joint venture partners, licensees and competitors.

11.3 Other than the Group Companies, there are no corporations, partnerships, trusts, joint ventures, limited liability companies or other business entities in which any Founder owns or controls, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the outstanding voting interests.

11.4 To the Warrantors’ knowledge, no employee, officer, or director of any Group Company (“Related Party”) or any members of such Related Party’s immediate families, or any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity in which such Related Party is an officer, director or partner, has significant ownership interests or otherwise controls, loans, or extend or guarantee credit to any of the Group Companies. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of foregoing persons has any direct or indirect ownership interest in any firm or corporation with which any Group Company is affiliated or with which any Group Company has a business relationship, or any firm or corporation that competes with any Group Company, except that employees, officers, or directors of the Company and members of such Related Party’s immediate families may own stock in (but not exceeding one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of) publicly traded companies that may compete with any Group Company. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, no Related Party or member of their immediate family is directly or indirectly interested in any material contract with any Group Company.

 

12.

RIGHTS OF REGISTRATION AND VOTING RIGHTS

Except as provided in the Shareholders’ Agreement, no Group Company is under any obligation to register under the Securities Act or any other applicable securities laws, any of its currently outstanding securities or any securities issuable upon exercise or conversion of its currently outstanding securities. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, except as contemplated in the Shareholders’ Agreement, no shareholder of any Group Company has entered into any agreements with respect to the voting of shares in the capital of the Company. Except as contemplated by or disclosed in the Transaction Documents, no Founder is a party to or has any Knowledge of any agreements, written or oral, relating to the acquisition, disposition, registration under the Securities Act, or voting of the shares or securities of any Group Company.

 

13.

ABSENCE OF LIENS

Each Group Company has good and valid title to all of its respective assets, whether tangible or intangible (including those reflected in the Financial Statements, together with all assets acquired thereby since the Statement Date (as defined below), but excluding those that have been disposed of since the Statement Date). The property and assets owned by the Group Companies are free and clear of all mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, loans and encumbrances, except for statutory liens for the payment of current taxes that are not yet delinquent and encumbrances and liens that arise in the ordinary course of business and do not materially impair the Group Companies’ ownership or use of such property or assets. With respect to the property and assets it leases, each Group Company is in compliance with such leases and, to the Warrantors’ knowledge, holds a valid leasehold interest free of any liens, claims or encumbrances other than those of the lessors of such property or assets. The assets owned or leased by the Group Companies constitute all of the assets used in connection with the businesses of the Group Companies and are adequate for Group Companies to conduct such businesses in substantially the same manner as currently conducted.

 

SCHEDULE 5


14.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Company has delivered to the Purchaser its unaudited consolidated Financial Statements as of June 30, 2020 (the “Statement Date”). The unaudited consolidated Financial Statements may not contain all footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles. Such unaudited consolidated Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition and operating results of the Group Companies as of the dates, and for the periods, indicated therein, subject in the case of the unaudited consolidated Financial Statements to normal year-end audit adjustments. Except as set forth in such unaudited consolidated Financial Statements, each Group Company has no material liabilities or obligations, contingent or otherwise, as of the Statement Date, other than (i) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business subsequent to the Statement Date, (ii) obligations under contracts and commitments incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iii) liabilities and obligations of a type or nature not required under IFRS / US GAAP to be reflected in such unaudited consolidated Financial Statements.

The DomCo I has delivered to the Purchaser its unaudited Financial Statements as of the Statement Date. The unaudited Financial Statements may not contain all footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles. The Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition and operating results of the DomCo I as of the dates, and for the periods, indicated therein, subject in the case of the unaudited Financial Statements to normal year-end audit adjustments. Except as set forth in the Financial Statements, the DomCo I has no material liabilities or obligations, contingent or otherwise, as of the Statement Date, other than (i) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business subsequent to the Statement Date, (ii) obligations under contracts and commitments incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iii) liabilities and obligations of a type or nature not required under IFRS / US GAAP to be reflected in the Financial Statements. Each of the Group Companies has maintained a standard system of accounting established and administered in accordance with IFRS / US GAAP or other applicable accounting standards.

 

15.

CHANGES

Since the Statement Date, except as set forth in Section 15 of the Disclosure Schedule or as contemplated by this Agreement or the Transaction Documents, there has not been:

(a) any change in the assets, liabilities, financial condition or operating results of any Group Company from that reflected in the Financial Statements, except changes in the ordinary course of business;

(b) any damage, destruction or loss, whether or not covered by insurance, that would have a Material Adverse Effect on a Group Company;

(c) any waiver or compromise by any Group Company of a valuable right or of a material debt owed to it;

(d) any satisfaction or discharge of any lien, claim, or encumbrance or payment of any obligation by any Group Company, except in the ordinary course of business;

(e) any material change to a material contract or agreement by which any Group Company or any of its assets is bound or subject;

(f) any material change in any compensation arrangement or agreement with any employee, officer, director or shareholder;

(g) any resignation or termination of employment or change of terms of employment of any officer or Key Employee of any Group Company;

(h) any mortgage, pledge, transfer of a security interest in, or lien, created by any Group Company, with respect to any of its material properties or assets, except liens for taxes not yet due or payable and liens that arise in the ordinary course of business and do not materially impair such Company’s ownership or use of such property or assets;

 

SCHEDULE 5


(i) any dividend, loans or guarantees made by any Group Company to or for the benefit of its employees, officers or directors, or any members of their immediate families, other than travel advances and other advances made in the ordinary course of its business;

(j) any declaration, setting aside or payment or other distribution in respect of any Group Company’s share capital, or any direct or indirect redemption, purchase, or other acquisition of any of such shares by any Group Company;

(k) any sale, assignment or transfer of any material assets or Intellectual Property of any Group Company;

(l) receipt of notice that there has been a loss of, or material order cancellation by, any major customer of any Group Company;

(m) any debt, obligation, or liability incurred, assumed or guaranteed by the Group Company in excess of US$1,000,000 per annum or in excess of US$1,000,000 in the aggregate other than in the ordinary course of business;

(n) to the Warrantors’ knowledge, any other event or condition of any character, other than events affecting the economy or the Company’s industry generally, that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or

(o) any arrangement, agreement or commitment by the Company to do any of the things described in this Section 15.

 

16.

EMPLOYEE MATTERS

16.1 Section 16.1 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a detailed description of all deferred compensation paid or payable for each officer, employee, consultant and independent contractor of any Group Company. The compensation of Key Employees and other employees with the highest amount of compensation have been disclosed to the Purchaser.

16.2 No employee of any Group Company is obligated under any contract (including licenses, covenants or commitments of any nature) or other agreement, or subject to any judgment, decree or order of any court or administrative agency, that would materially interfere with such employee’s ability to promote the interest of the Group Companies or that would conflict with the Group Companies’ business. Neither the execution or delivery of the Transaction Documents, nor the carrying on of the Company’s business by the employees of the Group Companies, nor the conduct of the business as now conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted, will conflict with or result in a breach of the terms, conditions, or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any contract, covenant or instrument under which any such employee is now obligated.

16.3 No Group Company is delinquent in payments to any of its employees, consultants, or independent contractors for any wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, or other direct compensation for any service performed for it to the date hereof or amounts required to be reimbursed to such employees, consultants, or independent contractors. Each Group Company has complied in all respects with all applicable Laws related to employment, including those related to wages, hours, worker classification, and collective bargaining, and the payment and withholding of taxes and other sums as required by Law except where noncompliance with any applicable Law would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. Each Group Company has withheld and paid to the appropriate governmental entity or is holding for payment not yet due to such governmental entity all amounts required to be withheld from employees of such Group Company and is not liable for any arrears of wages, taxes, penalties, or other sums for failure to comply with any of the foregoing.

 

SCHEDULE 5


16.4 No Key Employee intends to terminate employment with any Group Company or is otherwise likely to become unavailable to continue as a Key Employee, nor does any Group Company have a present intention to terminate the employment of any of the foregoing. All employees of the Group Companies have entered into an employment agreement and a confidentiality, non-competition and intellectual property rights agreement. Except as required by law, upon termination of the employment of any employee of the Group Companies, no severance or other payments will become due. The Company has no policy, practice, plan, or program of paying severance pay or any form of severance compensation in connection with the termination of employment services.

16.5 The Company has not made any representations regarding equity incentives to any officer, employees, director or consultant that are inconsistent with the share amounts and terms set forth in the Company’s board minutes.

16.6 Each former Key Employee whose employment was terminated by the Company has entered into an agreement with the Company providing for the full release of any claims against the Company or any related party arising out of such employment.

16.7 Section 16.7 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth each and every employee benefit plan maintained, established or sponsored by any Group Company, or in which any Group Company participates in or contributes to in any jurisdiction, including without limitation, the PRC (the “Employee Benefit Plans”). Save as set out in Section 16.7 of the Disclosure Schedule, there is no other pension, retirement, social insurance, medical insurance, profit-sharing, deferred compensation, bonus, incentive or other employee benefit program, arrangement, agreement or understanding to which any Group Company contributes, is bound, or under which any employees or former employees (or their beneficiaries) are eligible to participate or derive a benefit. Each Group Company has made all required contributions under all the Employee Benefit Plans including without limitation all contributions required to be made under the PRC social insurance and housing fund schemes, and has complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws of any jurisdiction, in relation to the Employee Benefit Plans.

16.8 No Group Company is bound by or subject to (and none of its assets or properties is bound by or subject to) any written or oral, express or implied, contract, commitment or arrangement with any labor union, and no labor union has requested or, to the Warrantors’ knowledge, has sought to represent any of the employees, representatives or agents of any Group Company. There is no strike or other labor dispute involving any Group Company pending, or to the Warrantors’ knowledge, threatened, which could have a Material Adverse Effect, nor is the Company aware of any labor organization activity involving its employees.

16.9 To the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of the Founders and other Key Employees or directors of any Group Company during the previous four (4) years, has been (a) subject to voluntary or involuntary petition under any applicable bankruptcy laws or any state insolvency laws or the appointment of manager, a receiver or similar officer by a court for his/her business or property; (b) convicted in a criminal proceeding or named as a subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses); (c) subject to any order, judgment, or decree (not subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated) of any court of competent jurisdiction permanently or temporarily enjoining him from engaging, or otherwise imposing limits or conditions on his engagement in any securities, investment advisory, banking, insurance, or other type of business or acting as an officer or director of a public company; or (d) found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by any relevant regulatory organization to have violated any applicable securities, commodities, or unfair trade practices law, which such judgment or finding has not been subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated.

 

SCHEDULE 5


17.

TAX MATTERS

17.1 The provisions for taxes as shown on the balance sheet included in the Financial Statements are sufficient in all material respects for the payment of all accrued and unpaid applicable taxes of the Group Companies as of the date of each such balance sheet, whether or not assessed or disputed as of the date of each such balance sheet. There have been no examinations or audits of any taxes or tax returns or reports of any Group Company by any applicable Governmental Authority other than routine requests for information. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, there are no deficiencies or claims for any taxes assessed, proposed or asserted against any Group Company by any Governmental Authority that have not been fully paid and satisfied. Each Group Company has filed or caused to be filed on a timely basis all tax returns that are or were required to be filed (to the extent applicable), all such returns are correct and complete, and each Group Company has paid all taxes that have become due, or have reflected such taxes in accordance with IFRS (or any internationally recognized accounting standards acceptable to the Purchaser) as a reserve for taxes on the Financial Statements. There are in effect no waivers of applicable statutes of limitations with respect to taxes for any year. No Group Company has entered into any transaction a purpose of which is the avoidance of taxes in violation of applicable Laws.

17.2 Immediately after the Closing, the Company will not be a controlled foreign corporation as defined in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor thereto) with respect to the stock held by the Purchasers.

17.3 No member of the Group Company is, nor expects to become, a passive foreign investment company as described in Section 1297 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

17.4 No shareholder of any member of a Group Company, solely by virtue of its status as shareholder of such Group Company, has personal liability under local law for the debts and claims of such Group Company. There has been no communication from any tax authority relating to or affecting the tax classification of any member of the Group Companies.

 

18.

OFAC COMPLIANCE

18.1 None of the Warrantors, any of their Subsidiaries, or to the Warrantor’s knowledge after due inquiry, any directors, administrators, officers, board of directors (supervisory and management) members or employees of the Company or any other Group Company is an OFAC Sanctioned Person (as defined below). The Warrantors and, to the Warrantors’ knowledge, their directors, administrators, officers, administrators, board of directors (supervisory and management) members or employees are in compliance with, and have not previously violated, the USA Patriot Act of 2001, and all other applicable Anti-Money Laundering Laws. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of (i) the purchase and sale of the Purchased Shares, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or any of the documents in Exhibits attached hereto, or (iii) the consummation of any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby, or the fulfillment of the terms hereof or thereof, will result in a violation by any Warrantor or any Key Employee, of any of the OFAC Sanctions or of any Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

 

18.2

For the purposes of Section 18.1:

(a) “OFAC Sanctions” means any sanctions program administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”) under authority delegated to the Secretary of the Treasury (the “Secretary”) by the President or provided to the Secretary by statute, and any order or license issued by, or under authority delegated by, the President or provided to the Secretary by statute in connection with a sanctions program thus administered by OFAC. For ease of reference, and not by way of limitation, OFAC Sanctions programs are described on OFAC’s website at www.treas.gov/ofac.

 

SCHEDULE 5


(b) “OFAC Sanctioned Person” means any government, country, corporation or other entity, group or individual with whom or which the OFAC Sanctions prohibit a United States Person from engaging in transactions, and includes without limitation any individual or corporation or other entity that appears on the current OFAC list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (the “SDN List”). For ease of reference, and not by way of limitation, OFAC Sanctioned Persons other than government and countries can be found on the SDN List on OFAC’s website at ww.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/sdn.

(c) “United States Person” means any United States citizen, permanent resident alien, entity organized under the laws of the United States (including foreign branches), or any person (individual or entity) in the United States, and, with respect to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, also includes any corporation or other entity that is owned or controlled by one of the foregoing, without regard to where it is organized or doing business.

 

19.

ANTI-CORRUPTION LAWS

None of the Warrantors, their respective Subsidiaries, or to the Warrantor’s knowledge after due inquiry, any of their directors, administrators, officers, board of directors (supervisory and management) members or employees have, directly or indirectly, (A) made any payment or promise to pay, or gift or promise to give or authorized such a promise or gift, of any money or anything of value, directly or indirectly, to (a) any foreign official (as such term is defined in the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977) or domestic governmental officials for the purpose of influencing any official act or decision of such official or inducing him or her to use his or her influence to affect any act or decision of a governmental authority, or (b) any foreign or domestic political party or official thereof or candidate for foreign or domestic political office for the purpose of influencing any official act or decision of such party, official or candidate or inducing such party, official or candidate to use his, her or its influence to affect any act or decision of a foreign governmental authority, in the case of both (a) and (b) above in order to assist any Warrantor to obtain or retain business for, or direct business to any Warrantor, as applicable, subject to applicable exceptions and affirmative defenses; (B) used any funds or will use any proceeds from the sale of the Purchased Securities for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to foreign or domestic political activity; or (C) violated any provision of the PRC Anti-Unfair Competition Law, the PRC Criminal Law or the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder which was or is applicable to any member of the Group Companies or its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Anti-Corruption Laws”), and no action, suit, proceeding, investigation or inquiry by or before any Governmental Authority involving any member of the Group Companies with respect to the Anti-Corruption Laws is pending or, to the best of the Warrantor’s knowledge, threatened. None of Warrantors and their respective directors, administrators, officers, board of directors (supervisory and management) members or employees has made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment of funds or received or retained any funds in violation of any law, rule or regulation subject to applicable exceptions and affirmative defenses.

 

20.

INSURANCE

Section 20 of the Disclosure Schedule provides a complete list of each Group Company’s insurance policies currently in effect. No Group Company has done or omitted to do or suffered anything to be done or not to be done other than any acts in the ordinary course of business which has or would render any policies of insurance taken out by it or by any other person in relation to any such Group Company’s assets void or voidable or which would result in an increase in the rate of premiums on the said policies and there are no claims outstanding and no circumstances which would give rise to any claim under any such policies of insurance.

 

SCHEDULE 5


21.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND INVENTION ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENTS

Each current and former employee, consultant and officer of any Group Company has executed an agreement with such Group Company regarding confidentiality and proprietary information substantially in the form or forms delivered to the counsel for the Purchaser (the “Confidential Information Agreements”). No current or former Key Employee has excluded works or inventions from his or her assignment of inventions pursuant to such Key Employee’s Confidential Information Agreement. No Group Company is aware that any of the Key Employees is in violation thereof.

 

22.

GOVERNMENTAL AND OTHER PERMITS

22.1 Each Group Company has all franchises, governmental permits, licenses and any similar authority necessary for the conduct of its business. No Group Company is in default in any material respect under any of such franchises, governmental permits, licenses or other similar authority.

22.2 Each of the DomCos, the WFOE and the PRC Subsidiaries has applied and obtained all requisite licenses, clearance and permits required under PRC Laws as necessary for the conduct of its businesses, and each of the DomCos, the WFOE and the PRC Subsidiaries has complied in all material respects with all PRC Laws in connection with foreign exchange, including without limitation, carrying out all relevant filings, registrations and applications for relevant permits with the PRC State Administration of Foreign Exchange and any other relevant authorities, and all such permits are validly subsisting. The Founders and other PRC shareholders of the Company (as applicable) have complied with all reporting and/or registration requirements (including filings of amendments to existing registrations) under the SAFE Rules and Regulations, including without limitation, Circular 37.

22.3 The registered capital of each of the DomCos, the WFOE and the PRC Subsidiaries has been fully paid up in accordance with the schedule of payment stipulated in its articles of association and in compliance with PRC Laws, and there is no outstanding capital contribution commitment.

22.4 The respective articles of association, approval document, certificate of approval and legal person business license of each of the DomCos, the WFOE and the PRC Subsidiaries (hereinafter referred to as the “Establishment Documents”) have been duly approved and filed in accordance with the Laws of the PRC and are valid and enforceable.

22.5 The business scope specified in the Establishment Documents of each of the DomCos, the WFOE and the PRC Subsidiaries complies with the requirements of all relevant PRC Laws. The operation and conduct of the business by and the term of operation of each of the DomCos, the WFOE and the PRC Subsidiaries in accordance with the Establishment Documents is in compliance with the Laws of the PRC.

22.6 Section 22.6 of the Disclosure Schedule sets out full and accurate details of all loan agreements entered into by any Group Company regarding any inter-company loan, shareholders loan, foreign exchange loan or any other kind of loan obtained by it. Such loan agreements have been duly registered in accordance with the Laws of the PRC (where necessary) and all such registrations are validly subsisting under the Laws of the PRC. All proceeds from such loan agreements in an amount equal to the principal amount borrowed under such loan agreements was received by the applicable Group Companies used for such Group Companies’ operations and for working capital purposes.

 

23.

CORPORATE DOCUMENTS

The memorandum and articles of association, and all other constitutional documents (or analogous constitutional documents) of each Group Company are in the form provided to the Purchaser. The copy of the minute books of the Company provided to the Purchaser contains minutes of all meetings of directors and shareholders and all actions by written consent without a meeting by the directors and shareholders since the date of incorporation and accurately reflects in all material respects all actions by the directors (and any committee of directors) and shareholders with respect to all transactions referred to in such minutes.

 

SCHEDULE 5


24.

LIABILITIES

No Group Company has any liabilities of any nature, whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise, and whether due or to become due, except for (i) liabilities set forth in the Financial Statements of the Company, (ii) trade or business liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) other liabilities that do not exceed US$20,000 in the aggregate.

 

25.

COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS

25.1 Each Group Company is in material compliance with all applicable Laws applicable to it or to the conduct or operation of its business or the ownership or use of any of its assets or properties.

25.2 No event has occurred and no circumstance exists that to the Warrantors’ knowledge (i) may constitute or result in a violation by any Group Company, or a failure on the part of any Group Company to comply with any Law, or (ii) may give rise to any obligation on the part of any Group Company to undertake, or to bear all or any portion of the cost of, any remedial action of any nature, except for such violations or failures by a Group Company that, individually or in the aggregate, would not result in any Material Adverse Effect.

25.3 No Group Company has received any written notice from any Governmental Authority regarding (i) any actual, alleged or likely material violation of, or material failure to comply with, any Law, or (ii) any actual, alleged or likely material obligation on the part of any Group Company to undertake, or to bear all or any portion of the cost of, any remedial action of any nature.

25.4 No Group Company, nor any director, agent, employee or any other person acting for or on behalf of any Group Company, has directly or indirectly (i) made any contribution, gift, bribe, payoff, influence payment, kickback, or any other fraudulent payment in any form, whether in money, property, or services to any public official or otherwise (A) to obtain favorable treatment in securing business for a Group Company, (B) to pay for favorable treatment for business secured, or (C) to obtain special concessions or for special concessions already obtained, for or in respect of any Group Company, in each case which would have been in violation of any applicable Law or (ii) established or maintained any fund or assets in which any Group Company shall have proprietary rights that have not been recorded in the books and records of a Group Company. To the Warrantor’s knowledge after due inquiry, the operations of each member of the Group Companies are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting and other requirements of the anti-money laundering Laws of all relevant jurisdictions where the Group Companies have business activities (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit, proceeding, investigation or inquiry by or before any Governmental Authority involving any member of the Group Companies with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or threatened.

25.5 During the previous five (5) years, no Founder has been (i) subject to voluntary or involuntary petition under any applicable bankruptcy laws or any applicable insolvency law or the appointment of a manager, receiver, or similar officer by a court for his business or property; (ii) convicted in a criminal proceeding or named as a subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offences); (iii) subject to any order, judgment, or decree (not subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated) of any court of competent jurisdiction permanently or temporarily enjoining him from engaging, or otherwise imposing limits or conditions on his engagement in any securities, investment advisory, banking, insurance, or other type of business or acting as an officer or director of a public company; or (iv) found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by any regulatory organization to have violated any applicable securities, commodities or unfair trade practices law whatsoever, which such judgment or finding has not been subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated.

 

SCHEDULE 5


26.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY LAWS

To the Warrantors’ knowledge, no Group Company is in violation of any applicable statute, law, or regulation relating to the environment or occupational health and safety, except where such failure would not have a Material Adverse Effect on such Group Company’s business or properties, and no material expenditures are or will be required in order to comply with any such existing statute, law or regulation.

 

27.

MINUTES BOOK

The minutes books of each Group Company, which have been made available to the Purchaser, contain a complete summary of all meetings and actions taken by directors and shareholders or owners of such Group Company since its time of formation, and reflect all transactions referred to in such minutes accurately in all material respects.

 

28.

MANUFACTURE, MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS

No Group Company has granted rights to manufacture, produce, assemble, license, market, or sell its respective products or services to any other person and is not bound by any agreement that affects any Group Company’s exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, assemble, distribute, market or sell its respective products or services.

 

29.

DISCLOSURE; PROJECTIONS

The Warrantors have made available to the Purchaser all the information reasonably available to the Warrantors that the Purchaser has requested for deciding whether to acquire the Purchased Shares, including certain of financial projections with respect to the Company (the “Projections”), each of which were prepared in good faith. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, no representation or warranty of any Warrantor contained in this Agreement, as qualified by the Disclosure Schedule (only to the extent fairly and specifically disclosed therein), no information or document provided or disclosed by the Warrantors to the Purchaser or its counsel in connection with the negotiation or execution of the Transaction Documents and certificate furnished or to be furnished to the Purchaser at the Closing contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made.

 

30.

BUSINESS PLAN AND BUDGET

The Company has delivered to the Purchaser on or before the Closing a business plan and budget for the twelve (12) months following the Closing (the “Business Plan”). Such Business Plan was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions and projections which the Founders believe are reasonable and not materially misleading.

 

31.

ENTIRE BUSINESS

There are no material facilities, services, assets or properties shared with any entity other than the Group Company which are used in connection with the business of each Group Company.

 

32.

ASSETS TRANSFER

All the employees, material assets and intellectual property rights of Beijing Tusen Hulian Technology Co., Ltd.(北京图森互联科技有限公司)have been duly transferred to the DomCo I or the WFOE, as applicable, free and clear of all Liens, without any outstanding payment obligations owed by the Warrantors.

 

SCHEDULE 5


SCHEDULE 6

DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE

 

SCHEDULE 6


SCHEDULE 7

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER

 

1.

AUTHORIZATION

The Purchaser has full power, authority and legal capacity to enter into, deliver and perform the Transaction Documents. The Transaction Documents to which the Purchaser is a party, when executed and delivered by the Purchaser, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, and any other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and as limited by laws relating to the availability of a specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies, or (ii) to the extent the indemnification provisions contained in the Shareholders’ Agreement may be limited by applicable securities laws.

 

2.

DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

The Purchaser has had an opportunity to discuss the Group Companies’ business, management, financial affairs and the terms and conditions of the offering of the Purchased Shares with the Group Companies’ management and has had an opportunity to review the Group Companies’ facilities. The foregoing, however, does not limit or modify the representations and warranties of the Warrantors in Section 5 of this Agreement, or the right of the Purchaser to rely thereon save as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule.

 

3.

PURCHASE ENTIRELY FOR OWN ACCOUNT

This Agreement is made with the Purchaser in reliance upon the Purchaser’s representation to the Company, which by the Purchaser’s execution of this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby confirms, that the Purchased Shares to be acquired by the Purchaser will be acquired for investment for the Purchaser’s own account, not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to the resale or distribution of any part thereof, and that the Purchaser has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same. By executing this Agreement, the Purchaser further represents that the Purchaser does not presently have any contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any Person to sell, transfer or grant participations to such Person or to any third Person, with respect to any of the Purchased Shares.

 

4.

RESTRICTED SECURITIES

The Purchaser understands that the Purchased Shares, the Purchased Warrant and the Warrant Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act, by reason of a specific exemption from the registration provisions of the Securities Act which depends upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of the investment intent and the accuracy of the Purchaser’s representations as expressed herein. The Purchaser understands that the Purchased Shares, the Purchased Warrant and the Warrant Shares are “restricted securities” under applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws and that, pursuant to these laws, the Purchaser must hold the Purchased Shares, the Purchased Warrant and the Warrant Shares indefinitely unless they are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and qualified by state authorities, or an exemption from such registration and qualification requirements is available. The Purchaser acknowledges that the Company has no obligation to register or qualify the Purchased Shares, the Conversion Shares, the Purchased Warrant or the Warrant Shares for resale except as set forth in the Shareholders’ Agreement. The Purchaser further acknowledges that if an exemption from registration or qualification is available, it may be conditioned on various requirements including, but not limited to, the time and manner of sale, the holding period for the Purchased Shares, the Purchased Warrant or the Warrant Shares, and on requirements relating to the Company which are outside of the Purchaser’s control, and which the Company is under no obligation and may not be able to satisfy. The Purchaser understands that Company’s offering of Series D-1 Preferred Shares under this Agreement is not intended to be part of the public offering, and that the Purchaser will not be able to rely on the protection of Section 11 of the Securities Act.

 

SCHEDULE 7


5.

NO PUBLIC MARKET

The Purchaser understands that no public market now exists for the Purchased Shares, and that the Company has made no assurances that a public market will ever exist for the Purchased Shares.

 

6.

LEGENDS

6.1 The Purchaser understands that the Purchased Shares, the Purchased Warrant and the Warrant Shares and any securities issued in respect of or exchange for the Purchased Shares, the Purchased Warrant or the Warrant Shares, may bear one or all of the following legends:

“THE SHARES/SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AND HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THE SALE OR DISTRIBUTION THEREOF. NO SUCH TRANSFER MAY BE EFFECTED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATED THERETO OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IN A FORM SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.”

6.2 Any legend set forth in, or required by, the other Transaction Documents.

6.3 Any legend required by the securities laws of any state to the extent such laws are applicable to the Purchased Shares represented by the certificate so legended.

 

SCHEDULE 7


SCHEDULE 8

CAPITALIZATION TABLE

 

SCHEDULE 8


SCHEDULE 9

NOTICES

 

SCHEDULE 9


EXHIBIT A

SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS

 

EXHIBIT A


EXHIBIT B

SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT

 

EXHIBIT B


EXHIBIT C

SHARE RESTRICTION AGREEMENT

 

EXHIBIT C


EXHIBIT D

COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

EXHIBIT D


EXHIBIT E

CONTROL DOCUMENTS

 

EXHIBIT E


EXHIBIT F

WARRANT INSTRUMENT

 

EXHIBIT F


EXHIBIT G

LIST OF PURCHASER COMPETITORS

 

EXHIBIT G

Exhibit 10.8

TUSIMPLE (CAYMAN) LIMITED

SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made on November 27, 2020, by and among:

 

1)

Tusimple (Cayman) Limited (the “Company”), an exempted limited liability company incorporated in the Cayman Islands;

 

2)

Tusimple (Hong Kong) Limited (the “HK Co”), a limited liability company incorporated in Hong Kong;

 

3)

Beijing Tusen Zhitu Technology Co., Ltd. (the “WFOE”), a wholly foreign-owned enterprise incorporated in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”);

 

4)

Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd. (the “DomCo”), a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC;

 

5)

TuSimple, Inc. (the “US Co”), a California corporation;

 

6)

Tusimple (Hong Kong) Auto Tech Limited (“HK Auto Tech”), a limited liability company incorporated in Hong Kong;

 

7)

each Person listed in Schedule 1 (each, a “Purchaser” and collectively as updated from time to time pursuant to the paragraph below, the “Purchasers”);

 

8)

the Persons listed in Schedule 2-A (the “Founders” and each, a “Founder”); and

 

9)

the Persons listed in Schedule 2-B (the “Founder Holdcos” and each, a “Founder Holdco”).

Each of the Company, the HK Co, the WFOE, the US Co, the DomCo, HK Auto Tech, the Founders, the Founder Holdcos and the Purchasers shall be referred to individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”. Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meaning set forth in Schedule 3 attached hereto. For the avoidance of doubt, one or more Purchasers (solely with respect to the purchase and subscription of Series E Preferred Shares) may be added as a “Party” and each be bound by the rights and obligations of a “Purchaser” set forth hereunder (the “Additional Purchaser(s)”) on or after the date hereof but prior to January 31, 2021 by delivering an executed and dated signature page to this Agreement, and, Schedule 1 shall be updated to reflect the same.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, as of the Execution Date, (i) each Founder owns beneficially and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of its respective Founder Holdco; (ii) the Founder Holdcos collectively own beneficially and of record thirty-six point three two four percent (36.324%) of the equity interest of the Company; (iii) the Company owns beneficially and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the HK Co; (iv) the HK Co owns beneficially and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the WFOE; (v) the WFOE owns beneficially and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the DomCo; (vi) the Company owns beneficially and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the US Co; and (vii) the Company owns beneficial and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of HK Auto Tech.

WHEREAS, the Company is an exempted limited liability company and immediately prior to the Closing shall have an authorized share capital consisting of (i) 361,897,230 ordinary shares, par


value US$0.0001 per share (each an “Ordinary Share”), of which 60,542,105 Ordinary Shares are issued and fully paid-up; (ii) 20,000,000 Series A preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series A Preferred Share”), all of which have been issued; (iii) 8,218,203 Series A-2 preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series A-2 Preferred Share”), all of which have been issued; (iv) 7,080,000 Series B-1 preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series B-1 Preferred Share”), all of which have been issued, (v) 3,000,000 Series B-2 preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series B-2 Preferred Share”), all of which have been issued, (vi) 3,465,372 Series B-3 preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series B-3 Preferred Share”), all of which have been issued, (vii) 14,993,041 Series C preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series C Preferred Share”), all of which have been issued, and (viii) 20,345,131 Series D-1 preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (each a “Series D-1 Preferred Share”), all of which have been issued, (ix) 50,000,000 Series E preferred shares, par value US$$0.0001 per share (each a “Series E Preferred Share”), (x) 3,928,937 Series E-1 preferred shares, par value US$$0.0001 per share (each a “Series E-1 Preferred Share”), and (xi) 7,072,086 Series E-2 preferred shares, par value US$$0.0001 per share (each a “Series E-2 Preferred Share”, and together with the Series A Preferred Share, the Series A-2 Preferred Share, the Series B-1 Preferred Share, the Series B-2 Preferred Share, the Series B-3 Preferred Share, the Series C Preferred Share, Series D-1 Preferred Share, Series E Preferred Shares, Series E-1 Preferred Shares and Series E-2 Preferred Shares, the “Preferred Shares”), none of which have been issued, in each case as set forth in the capitalization table attached as Schedule 8 hereto.

WHEREAS, the Purchasers wish to purchase from the Company the Series E Preferred Shares or the Series E-1 Preferred Shares, as applicable, to be issued by the Company pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement.

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, THE PARTIES HEREBY AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

 

1.

PURCHASE AND SALE OF SECURITIES

 

1.1

Sale and Issuance of Series E Preferred Shares or Series E-1 Preferred Shares

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Purchaser agrees to, severally and not jointly, purchase at the Closing (as defined below) with respect to such Purchaser, and the Company agrees to sell and issue to such Purchaser at the Closing with respect to such Purchaser, that number of Series E Preferred Shares or Series E-1 Preferred Shares, as applicable, set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name on Schedule 1, as may be amended from time to time on or prior to the Closing (the “Purchased Shares” with respect to such Purchaser) for the total consideration set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name on Schedule 1, as may be amended from time to time on or prior to the Closing (the “Purchase Price” with respect to each Purchaser). For the avoidance of doubt, the Purchase Price of the Series E Preferred Shares subscribed pursuant to this Agreement shall be at a per share purchase price no less than US$14.1401.

 

1.2

Closing; Delivery

(a) The purchase and sale of the Purchased Shares with respect to each Purchaser shall take place remotely via the exchange of documents and signatures at such time and place as the Company and such Purchaser may mutually agree upon, which shall, unless the Company and such Purchaser agree otherwise, be no later than five (5) Business Days after the satisfaction or waiver of each condition to the Closing set forth in Section 2 and Section 3 (other than conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions at the Closing with respect to such Purchaser). The completion of the purchase and sale of the Purchased Shares with respect to a Purchaser shall be referred to as the “Closing” with respect to such Purchaser.

 

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(b) At the Closing with respect to each Purchaser, (i) the Company shall (x) cause its register of members to be updated to reflect such Purchaser’s ownership of the Purchased Shares with respect to such Purchaser, (y) deliver a copy of the updated register of members of the Company to such Purchaser, certified as a true and correct copy by the Company’s registered agent, and (z) deliver to such Purchaser copies of the share certificates representing the Purchased Shares with respect such Purchaser (the originals of which shall be delivered to such Purchaser (or its designated custodian) within ten (10) Business Days after the Closing with respect to such Purchaser); and (ii) such Purchaser (other than Sina) shall pay or cause to be paid the Purchase Price with respect to such Purchaser in accordance with Section 1.3.

(c) Each of the Company and Sina hereby agrees that the outstanding principal (the “Convertible Loan”) under the Convertible Loan Agreement dated June 8, 2020 by and between the Company and Sina (the “Convertible Loan Agreement”) shall convert at the Closing into that number of Purchased Shares as indicated opposite Sina’s name on Schedule 1 (the “Conversion”). Sina is purchasing such Purchased Shares by converting the amount of outstanding principal which is owed to it under the Convertible Loan Agreement. Sina acknowledges and agrees: (i) that the Purchased Shares issued to it pursuant to this Agreement upon conversion of the Convertible Loan fully satisfy the Company’s obligation under the Convertible Loan Agreement; (ii) that all outstanding principal under the Convertible Loan Agreement shall be automatically converted into Purchased Shares as set forth on Schedule 1 without further action on the part of the Company or Sina and the Convertible Loan Agreement shall be automatically satisfied, extinguished and cancelled in its entirety and thereafter represents only the right of Sina to receive the Purchased Shares issuable upon such conversion as set forth on Schedule 1; (iii) that any and all accrued interest under the Convertible Loan Agreement is waived and not payable, (iv) to waive and hereby does waive Sina’s right to any notice with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Conversion and this Agreement required in connection with the Convertible Loan Agreement or otherwise; (v) that notwithstanding anything to the contrary with respect to Sina’s Convertible Loan, Sina shall be entitled solely to the rights set forth in the Transaction Documents with respect to the ownership of the Purchased Shares and shall have no further rights with respect to the Convertible Loan Agreement; and (vi) upon satisfaction and cancellation of Sina’s Convertible Loan pursuant to this Agreement, the Company will be forever released from all of its obligations and liabilities with respect to the Convertible Loan and the Convertible Loan Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary contained herein, the cancellation, release and extinguishment of the Convertible Loan Agreement is effective upon the Closing, whether or not the Convertible Loan Agreement are delivered to or marked canceled by the Company.

 

1.3

Closing Account

Payment of the Purchase Price by a Purchaser to the Company shall be made by remittance of immediately available US$ funds to a bank account of the Company designated by the Company in writing at least three (3) Business Days before the Closing with respect to such Purchaser. All bank charges and related expenses for remittance and receipt of any Purchase Price shall be for the account of the Company.

 

2.

CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE PURCHASERS AT THE CLOSING

The obligations of each Purchaser, severally but not jointly, to purchase its Purchased Shares at the Closing are subject to the fulfillment, on or before the Closing with respect to such Purchaser, of each of the following conditions, unless otherwise waived in writing by such Purchaser:

 

2.1

Completion of Due Diligence

With respect to any Lead Investor Consortium Member, the Lead Investor Consortium shall have been satisfied with its business, legal and financial due diligence review on the Group Companies.

 

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2.2

Material Adverse Effect

Since the Statement Date, no event, circumstance or change shall have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate with one or more other events, circumstances or changes, have had or reasonably could be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or any other Group Company.

 

2.3

Proceedings and Documents

All corporate and other proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated at the Closing and all documents incidental thereto shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to such Purchaser, and such Purchaser (or its legal counsel) shall have received all such counterpart originals and certified or other copies of such documents as reasonably requested. Each of the Warrantors shall have (i) performed and complied with all covenants, agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by such Warrantors; and (ii) to the extent applicable, approved the aforesaid performance and compliance by its respective directors and shareholders’ resolutions, on or before the Closing.

 

2.4

Authorizations

The Warrantors shall have obtained all authorizations, approvals, waivers or permits of any Person or any Governmental Authority necessary for the consummation of all of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and other Transaction Documents, including without limitation any authorizations, approvals, waivers or permits that are required in connection with the lawful issuance of the Purchased Shares to such Purchaser, and all such authorizations, approvals, waivers and permits shall be effective as of the Closing. The Company shall have obtained enforceable waivers in respect of any preemptive, anti-dilution or similar rights applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and other Transaction Documents, and true copies of such waivers shall have been delivered to the Purchasers.

 

2.5

Representations and Warranties

The Fundamental Warranties shall be true, complete and correct as of the Execution date and the Closing. The representations and warranties of the Warrantors contained in Schedule 5 (other than the Fundamental Warranties) shall be true, complete and correct in all material respects as of the Execution Date and the Closing, except for those representations and warranties (i) that already contain any materiality qualification, which representations and warranties, to the extent already so qualified, shall instead be true, complete and correct in all respects as so qualified as of such respective dates and (ii) that address matters only as of a particular date, which representations shall have been true, complete and correct in all respects (subject to Section 2.5(i)) as of such particular date.

 

2.6

Restated Articles

The seventh amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company shall have been amended as set forth substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Restated Articles”), which shall have been duly adopted by all necessary actions of the shareholders of the Company.

 

2.7

Transaction Documents

The Company, the HK Co, the US Co, the WFOE, the DomCo, HK Auto Tech, the Founders, the Founder Holdcos and certain other parties shall have executed and delivered the Shareholders’ Agreement.

 

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2.8

Compliance Certificates

Such Purchaser shall have received a certificate executed and delivered by the Warrantors, substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit C.

 

2.9

Investment Committee Approval

The internal authority of such Purchaser shall have approved the execution and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

2.10

Management Rights Letter

If so requested by such Purchaser prior to Closing, the Company shall have delivered to such Purchaser a management rights letter, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D, addressed to such Purchaser and duly executed by the Company.

 

2.11

Legal Opinions

The Company shall have delivered to such Purchaser legal opinions dated the date of the Closing and addressed to such Purchaser issued by the legal counsel of the Cayman Islands, customary to the transactions of this kind, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Purchaser.

 

2.12

Financial Statements

The Company shall have delivered to such Purchaser unaudited consolidated Financial Statements for the nine (9) months ending on September 30, 2020 (the “Third-Quarter Financial Statements”).

 

3.

CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY AT CLOSING

The obligations of the Company to sell the Purchased Shares to each Purchaser at the Closing are subject to the fulfillment of each of the following conditions by such Purchaser, on or before the Closing with respect to such Purchaser, unless otherwise waived in writing by the Company:

 

3.1

Representations and Warranties

The representations and warranties of such Purchaser contained in Schedule 7 shall be true, complete and correct in all material respects as of the Execution Date and the Closing.

 

3.2

Performance

Such Purchaser shall have performed and complied with all covenants, agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by it on or before the Closing.

 

3.3

Execution of Shareholders Agreement

Such Purchaser shall have executed and delivered to the Company the Shareholders’ Agreement.

 

4.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE WARRANTORS

The Warrantors, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to each Purchaser that the statements contained in Schedule 5 attached hereto are true, correct and complete (i) on and as of the Execution Date, and (ii) on and as of the date of the Closing with respect to such Purchaser (with the

 

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same effect as if made on and as of such date), except to the extent fairly and specifically disclosed in the disclosure schedule attached hereto as Schedule 6 (the “Disclosure Schedule”), which disclosures shall be deemed to be part of the representations and warranties as if made hereunder.

 

5.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASERS

Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to the Company that the statements contained in Schedule 7 attached hereto are true, correct and complete with respect to such Purchaser as of the Closing with respect to such Purchaser.

 

6.

UNDERTAKINGS

The Warrantors hereby jointly and severally covenant to each Purchaser as follows:

 

6.1

Ordinary Course of Business

From the Execution Date until the earlier of the Termination Date with respect to such Purchaser or the Closing with respect to such Purchaser, each Group Company shall, and the Founders and the Founder Holdcos shall cause each of the Group Companies to, conduct its business in the ordinary course and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the present character and quality of the business, including without limitation, its present operations, physical facilities, working conditions, goodwill and relationships with lessors, licensors, suppliers, customers, employees and independent contractors.

 

6.2

Use of Proceeds

In accordance with the directions of the Company’s Board of Directors, as it shall be constituted in accordance with the Shareholders’ Agreement, the Company will use the proceeds from the sale of all the Purchased Shares for (i) general working capital; and (ii) other general corporate purposes for the Group Companies.

 

6.3

Notice of Certain Events

If at any time before the Closing, any Warrantor comes to know of any material fact or event which: (i) is in any way inconsistent with any of the representations and warranties in this Agreement; (ii) suggests that any fact warranted hereunder may not be as warranted or may be misleading; or (iii) might affect the willingness of a prudent investor to purchase the Purchased Shares on the terms contained in the Transaction Documents or the amount of the consideration a prudent investor would be prepared to pay for the Purchased Shares, then the Warrantors shall immediately notify each of the Purchasers in writing, describing the fact or event in reasonable detail.

 

6.4

Compliance

The Group Companies shall, and the Founders and the Founder Holdcos shall cause the Group Companies to, at all times comply with all applicable Laws in all material respects.

 

6.5

Filing of Restated Articles

Within ten (10) days following the Closing, the Company shall, and the Founders and Founder Holdcos shall procure the Company to, duly file the Restated Articles with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands.

 

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6.6

No More Favorable Rights

Without the prior written consent of the Lead Investor Consortium, none of the Warrantors or their respective Affiliates shall grant or make available to any holders of, or any persons who have agreed to subscribe for, Series E Preferred Shares, Series E-1 Preferred Shares or Series E-2 Preferred Shares, any rights, privileges, protections, waivers, exemptions, terms or conditions that are more favorable than those granted or made available to the Lead Investor Consortium Members under the Transaction Documents in any respect; provided, however, that the Lead Investor Consortium shall not unreasonably withhold or delay its consent with respect to reasonable rights and conditions granted to persons that can bring strategic value to the Company that is, or is reasonably expected to be, material to the business of the Group Companies taken as a whole. Without prejudice to the foregoing, if any of the Warrantors or its Affiliates grants or makes available to, whether prior to, on or after the date hereof, (i) any other holders of, or any other persons who have agreed to subscribed for, Series E Preferred Shares, Series E-1 Preferred Shares or Series E-2 Preferred Shares, any rights, privileges, protections, waivers, exemptions, consents, terms or conditions more favorable than those granted or made available to the Lead Investor Consortium Members under the Transaction Documents (except for board seats, observer seats, or those granted pursuant to instruments signed prior to the date hereof and fully disclosed to the Purchasers), then each Purchaser of Series E Preferred Shares shall be automatically entitled to such more favorable rights, privileges, protections, waivers, exemptions, consents, terms or conditions, as applicable, and shall have the right to require the Warrantors to amend and restate the applicable Transaction Documents to reflect such more favorable rights, privileges, protections, waivers, exemptions, consents, terms or conditions, as applicable, such that the undertakings set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph will remain (or become, as applicable) true and correct.

 

7.

CURE OF BREACHES; INDEMNITY

7.1 In the event of: (a) any breach or violation of, or inaccuracy or misrepresentation in, any representation or warranty made by the Warrantors contained herein or any of the other Transaction Documents; or (b) any breach or violation of any covenant or agreement contained herein or any of the other Transaction Documents (each of (a) or (b), a “Breach”), the Group Companies shall, jointly and severally, cure such Breach (to the extent that such Breach is curable) to the satisfaction of a Purchaser (it being understood that any cure shall be without resorting to cash or assets of any of the Group Companies). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Group Companies shall also, jointly and severally, indemnify such Purchaser and its Affiliates, limited partners, members, stockholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives and assigns (each, an “Indemnitee”) for any and all losses, liabilities, damages, diminution in value, liens, claims, obligations, penalties, settlements, deficiencies, costs and expenses, including without limitation reasonable advisor’s fees and other reasonable expenses of investigation, defense and resolution of any Breach paid, suffered, sustained or incurred by the Indemnitees (each, an “Indemnifiable Loss”), resulting from, or arising out of, or due to, directly or indirectly, any Breach; provided, however, that “diminution in value” as used in the preceding sentence shall not include any diminution in value not directly or indirectly caused by one or more Breaches.

7.2 Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Group Companies shall, jointly and severally, indemnify and keep indemnified the Indemnitees at all times and hold them harmless against any and all Indemnifiable Losses resulting from, or arising out of, or due to, directly or indirectly, any claim for (i) any material liability caused by the infringement or violation of any intellectual property rights of any third party by any Group Company, (ii) any breach or non-performance of any of the Specified Investment Agreements, or (iii) tax which has been assessed or may hereafter be assessed against any Group Company wholly or partly in respect of or in consequence of any event occurring or any income, profits or gains earned, accrued or received by any Group Company on or before the Closing and any costs, fees, penalty, surcharge, fine, expenses or other liabilities incurred in connection with the investigation, assessment or the contesting of any claim, the settlement of any claim for tax, any legal proceedings in relation to any such tax, and the enforcement of any arbitration award or judgment in relation to such tax (whether or not such tax is chargeable against or attributable to any other person), provided, however, that the Group Companies shall be under no liability in respect of taxation:

(a) that is promptly cured without resorting to cash or other assets of any Group Company;

 

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(b) to the extent that provision, reserve or allowance has been made for such tax in the audited consolidated financial statement of the Company;

(c) if the liability has arisen in, and relates to, the ordinary course of business of the Group Companies since the Statement Date;

(d) to the extent that the liability arises as a result only of a provision or reserve in respect of the liability made in the Delivered Financial Statements being insufficient by reason of any increase in rates of tax announced after the Closing with retrospective effect; and

(e) to the extent that the liability arises as a result of legislation which comes into force after the Closing and which is retrospective in effect.

The survival period for any indemnity obligation relating to (x) claims for tax matters arising under this Section 7.2 shall be the applicable statute of limitations for tax claims and (y) claims pursuant to Section 7.2(ii) shall be five years after the Closing.

7.3 In the event that an Indemnitee suffers an Indemnifiable Loss as provided in Section 7.1 or 7.2 and the Group Companies fail to fulfill their obligations under Section 7.1 or 7.2 to indemnify the Indemnitee for the full amount of such Indemnifiable Loss within sixty (60) days upon receipt of written notice thereof from such Indemnitee, then the Founders and Founder Holdcos shall jointly and severally indemnify the Indemnitee any shortfall of such indemnification, provided, however, that absent fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence conducted by the Founders, none of the Founders’ or Founder Holdcos’ assets, other than the Ordinary Shares of the Company held by the Founders and/or Founder Holdcos, shall in any respect be used to satisfy any of the Founders and/or Founder Holdcos’ indemnity obligations pursuant to this Agreement (and the Indemnitee shall have no right to claim against any of the Founders’ assets but for the Ordinary Shares of the Company held by the Founders and/or Founder Holdcos). Any indemnification provided by the Warrantors other than the Founders and the Founder Holdcos pursuant to this Section 7.3 shall not prejudice or otherwise affect the right of the Indemnitee to seek indemnification from the Group Companies pursuant to Section 7.1 or 7.2; provided, however, that to the extent an Indemnitee is able to recover any Indemnifiable Loss from the Group Companies, the Warrantors other than the Group Companies shall not be obligated to indemnify such Indemnitee of such recovered amount.

7.4 If a Purchaser or other Indemnitee believes that it has a claim that may give rise to an obligation of any Warrantor pursuant to this Section 7, it shall give prompt notice thereof to the Company stating specifically the basis on which such claim is being made, the material facts related thereto, and the amount of the claim (or a reasonably estimate thereof) asserted. In the event of a third party claim against an Indemnitee for which such Indemnitee seeks indemnification from any Warrantor pursuant to this Section 7, no settlement shall be deemed conclusive with respect to whether there was an Indemnifiable Loss or the amount of such Indemnifiable Loss unless such settlement is consented to by the Founders or their Founder Holdcos. Any dispute related to this Section 7 shall be resolved pursuant to Section 8.15.

7.5 Notwithstanding any other provisions contained herein, the Purchasers acknowledge that the indemnities under this Section 7 shall, absent fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence by the Warrantors, be subject to the following provisions:

(a) the aggregate indemnification amount claimed by a Purchaser or its Indemnitees against all the Warrantors arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall not exceed in the aggregate the amount equal to the Purchase Price paid by such Purchaser under this Agreement;

(b) the aggregate indemnification amount claimed against all the Warrantors arising under or in connection with Section 7.2(ii) shall not exceed US$10,000,000; and

 

8


(c) the Warrantors shall not be required to indemnify any Indemnitee for (i) any claim unless the Indemnifiable Losses in connection with any claim or claims suffered by all the Indemnitees are US$100,000 or more, on a cumulative basis, in which case the Warrantors shall be liable for the Indemnifiable Losses in respect to the claim from the first US$, or (ii) any claim arising out of any breach of any representation or warranty made by the Warrantors contained herein or any of the other Transaction Documents to the extent that the relevant matters have been fairly and specifically disclosed in the Disclosure Schedule (without prejudice to the indemnification obligations arising from Section 7.2).

 

8.

MISCELLANEOUS

 

8.1

Survival of Warranties

The Fundamental Warranties shall survive the Closing until the latest date permitted by Law or indefinitely if such date is not provided. The representations and warranties of the Warrantors contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement (other than the Fundamental Warranties) shall survive the Closing for a period until two (2) years after the Closing. Any fact or matter which is fairly and specifically disclosed in the Disclosure Schedule shall constitute notice to the Purchasers of the fact or matter so disclosed or actually known, as applicable, and the Purchasers shall be deemed to have waived any claim against the Warrantors on account of any inconsistency between such fact or matter and any of the representations and warranties of the Warrantors in this Agreement (except where any of such fact or matter in the Disclosure Schedule is untrue, incorrect or incomplete).

 

8.2

Confidentiality

(a) Disclosure of Terms. The terms and conditions of this Agreement, any term sheet or memorandum of understanding entered into pursuant to the transactions contemplated hereby, all exhibits and schedules attached hereto and thereto, and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (collectively, the “Transaction Terms”), including their existence, shall be considered confidential information and shall not be disclosed by any Party hereto to any third party except as permitted in accordance with the provisions set forth below.

(b) Permitted Disclosures. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may disclose (i) the existence of the investment to its bona fide prospective purchasers, employees, bankers, lenders, accountants, legal counsels and business partners, or to any person or entity to which disclosure is approved in writing by each Purchaser, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld; and (ii) the Transaction Terms to its current shareholders, employees, bankers, lenders, accountants and legal counsels, in each case only where such persons or entities are under appropriate nondisclosure obligations substantially similar to those set forth in this Section 8.2, or to any person or entity to which disclosure is approved in writing by each Purchaser, which such approval is not to be unreasonably withheld. Each Purchaser may disclose (x) the existence of the investment and the Transaction Terms to any Affiliate, legal counsels, advisors, partner, limited partner, former partner, potential partner or potential limited partner of such Purchaser and its Affiliates and (y) the fact of its own investment to the public, in each case as it deems appropriate at its sole discretion. Any Party hereto may also provide disclosure in order to comply with applicable Laws, as set forth in Section 8.2(c) below.

(c) Legally Compelled Disclosure. In the event that any Party is requested or becomes legally compelled (including without limitation, pursuant to any applicable tax, securities, or other Laws and regulations of any jurisdiction) to disclose the existence of this Agreement or content of any of the Transaction Terms, such Party (the “Disclosing Party”) shall provide the other Parties with prompt written notice of that fact and shall consult with the other Parties regarding such disclosure. At the request of another Party, the Disclosing Party shall, to the extent reasonably possible and with the cooperation and reasonable efforts of the other Parties, seek a protective order, confidential treatment or other appropriate remedy. In any event, the Disclosing Party shall furnish only that portion of the

 

9


information that is legally required and shall exercise reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded to such information.

(d) Other Exceptions. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 8.2, the confidentiality obligations of the Parties shall not apply to: (i) information which a restricted Party learns from a third party having the right to make the disclosure, provided the restricted Party complies with any restrictions imposed by the third party; (ii) information which is rightfully in the restricted Party’s possession prior to the time of disclosure by the protected Party and not acquired by the restricted Party under a confidentiality obligation; or (iii) information which enters the public domain without breach of confidentiality by the restricted Party.

(e) Press Releases, Etc. No announcements regarding a Purchaser’s investment in the Company may be made by any Party hereto in any press conference, professional or trade publication, marketing materials or otherwise to the public without the prior written consent of such Purchaser and the Company, provided that such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(f) Other Information. The provisions of this Section 8.2 shall terminate and supersede the provisions of any separate nondisclosure agreement executed by any of the Parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

8.3

Transfer; Successors and Assigns

The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective successors and assigns of the Parties. Save as expressly provided in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the Parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement. No Warrantor may assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Agreement without the written consent of the Purchaser subscribing for at least a majority of the total Purchased Shares. A Purchaser may assign any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any of its Affiliates. Any attempted assignment in violation of this Section 8.3 shall be void.

 

8.4

Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of Hong Kong as to matters within the scope thereof, without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws.

 

8.5

Counterparts; Facsimile and Emails

This Agreement may be executed and delivered by facsimile, email or other electronic signature and in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

8.6

Titles and Subtitles

The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.

 

8.7

Notices

All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (a) upon personal delivery to the Party to be notified; (b) when sent by facsimile, upon receipt of confirmation of error-free transmission (or, if such confirmation is received outside normal business hour, on the next Business Day), (c) when sent by electronic mail, upon such mail being sent unless the sending Party subsequently learns that such electronic mail was not successfully delivered; (d) five (5) days after having been delivered by registered or certified mail,

 

10


return receipt requested, postage prepaid; or (e) one (1) day after delivery by an internationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent to the respective Parties at their address, e-mail address, or facsimile number as set forth on Schedule 9, or as subsequently modified by written notice given in accordance with this Section 8.7.

 

8.8

No Finders Fees

Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule, each Party represents that it neither is nor will be obligated for any finder’s fee or commission in connection with this transaction. Each Purchaser agrees to indemnify and to hold harmless the Company from any liability for any commission or compensation in the nature of a finder’s or broker’s fee arising out of this transaction (and the costs and expenses of defending against such liability or asserted liability) for which such Purchaser or any of its officers, employees, or representatives is responsible. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Purchaser from any liability for any commission or compensation in the nature of a finder’s or broker’s fee arising out of this transaction (and the costs and expenses of defending against such liability or asserted liability) for which any Warrantor or any of its officers, employees or representatives is responsible.

 

8.9

Fees and Expenses

Each Party hereto shall pay all of its own costs and expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby; provided, however, that the Company shall, upon the first Closing, reimburse the Lead Investor Consortium of legal fees and third party consulting or advisory expenses incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents of up to US$130,000 (to be allocated among the Lead Investor Consortium Members as agreed between them).

 

8.10

Attorneys Fees

If any action at law or in equity (including arbitration) is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of any of the Transaction Documents, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees, costs and necessary disbursements in addition to any other relief to which such Party may be entitled.

 

8.11

Amendments and Waivers

Any term of this Agreement (other than (i) Schedule 1, which may be amended from time to time on or prior to the Closing or when an Additional Purchaser is added to this Agreement, and (ii) Schedule 9, which may be updated when an Additional Purchaser is added to this Agreement) may be amended or waived only with the written consent of the Company, the Founders and each Lead Investor Consortium Member; provided that any amendment adversely affecting any Purchaser not in proportion to any other Purchaser, or any waiver of any provision providing benefit to each individual Purchaser, shall additionally require the written consent of each affected Purchaser. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 8.11 shall be binding upon the Group Companies, the Founders, the Founder Holdcos, the Purchasers, and each transferee of the Purchased Shares or the Conversion Shares and each future holder of all such securities.

 

8.12

Severability

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision.

 

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8.13

Delays or Omissions

No delay or omission to exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to any Party under this Agreement, upon any breach or default of any other Party under this Agreement, shall impair any such right, power or remedy of such non-breaching or non-defaulting Party nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach or default, or an acquiescence therein, or of or in any similar breach or default thereafter occurring; nor shall any waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default theretofore or thereafter occurring. Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on the part of any Party of any breach or default under this Agreement, or any waiver on the part of any Party of any provisions or conditions of this Agreement, must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing. All remedies, either under this Agreement or by law or otherwise afforded to any Party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

 

8.14

Entire Agreement

This Agreement (including the Schedules and Exhibits hereto) and the other Transaction Documents constitute the full and entire understanding and agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and any other written or oral agreement relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof existing between the Parties are expressly canceled.

 

8.15

Dispute Resolution

Any dispute, controversy, difference or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including the existence, validity, interpretation, performance, breach or termination thereof or any dispute regarding non-contractual obligations arising out of or relating to it shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration administered by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) under the HKIAC Administered Arbitration Rules in force when the Notice of Arbitration is submitted. The seat of arbitration shall be Hong Kong. The number of arbitrators shall be three (3). The arbitration proceedings shall be conducted in English.

 

8.16

No Commitment for Additional Financing

The Warrantors acknowledge and agree that no Purchaser has made any representation, undertaking, commitment or agreement to provide or assist the Company in obtaining any financing, investment or other assistance, other than the purchase of the Purchased Shares as set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein. In addition, the Warrantors acknowledge and agree that (i) no oral statements made by any Purchaser or its representatives on or after the date of this Agreement shall create an obligation, commitment or agreement to provide or assist the Company in obtaining any financing or investment, (ii) no Warrantor shall rely on any such statement by any Purchaser or its representatives and (iii) an obligation, commitment or agreement to provide or assist the Company in obtaining any financing or investment may only be created by a written agreement, signed by such Purchaser and the Company, setting forth the terms and conditions of such financing or investment and stating that the parties intend for such writing to be a binding obligation or agreement. Each Purchaser shall have the right, at its sole and absolute discretion, to refuse or decline to participate in any other financing of or investment in the Company, and shall have no obligation to assist or cooperate with the Company in obtaining any financing, investment or other assistance.

 

8.17

Rights Cumulative; Not Joint Liabilities

Each and all of the various rights, powers and remedies of a Party will be considered to be cumulative with and in addition to any other rights, powers and remedies which such Party may have at law or in equity in the event of the breach of any of the terms of this Agreement. The exercise or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy will neither constitute the exclusive election thereof nor the waiver of any other right, power or remedy available to such Party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the obligation and liabilities of the Purchasers hereunder and under the other Transaction Documents shall be several and not joint.

 

12


8.18

No Waiver

Failure to insist upon strict compliance with any of the terms, covenants, or conditions hereof will not be deemed a waiver of such term, covenant, or condition, nor will any waiver or relinquishment of, or failure to insist upon strict compliance with, any right, power or remedy power hereunder at any one or more times be deemed a waiver or relinquishment of such right, power or remedy at any other time or times.

 

8.19

Third Party Beneficiaries

Each of the Indemnitees shall be a third party beneficiary of this Agreement with the full ability to enforce Section 7 of this Agreement as if it were a Party hereto. Subject to the preceding sentence, a person who is not a party to this Agreement shall not have any rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Ordinance (Cap. 623 of the Laws of Hong Kong) to enforce any terms of this Agreement. The rights of the Parties to terminate, rescind or agree any variation, waiver or settlement under this Agreement are not subject to the consent of any other person, including an Indemnitee.

 

8.20

Specific Performance

The Parties acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof, and each Party shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof. It is accordingly agreed that, each Party shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent such breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically (without proof of actual damages or harm, and not subject to any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection therewith) such terms and provisions of this Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which each Party is entitled at law or in equity.

 

8.21

Termination of Agreement

 

  (a)

Rights of Termination.

This Agreement may be terminated with respect to a Purchaser before the Closing as follows:

(1) at the election of such Purchaser on or after January 31, 2021, if the Closing with respect to such Purchaser shall not have occurred on or before such date unless such date is extended by the mutual written consent of the Company and such Purchaser; provided that: (i) such Purchaser is not in material default of any of its obligations hereunder, and (ii) the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.21(a)(1) shall not be available to such Purchaser if its breach of any provision of this Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the Closing to be consummated by January 31, 2021.

(2) at the election of the Company on or after January 31, 2021, if the Closing with respect to such Purchaser shall not have occurred on or before such date unless such date is extended by the mutual written consent of the Company and such Purchaser; provided that: (i) the Warrantors are not in material default of any of their obligations hereunder, and (ii) the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.21(a)(2) shall not be available to the Company if a Warrantor’s breach of any provision of this Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the Closing to be consummated by January 31, 2021;

(3) by mutual written consent of the Company and such Purchaser as evidenced in writing signed by the Company and such Purchaser;

 

13


(4) by such Purchaser in the event of any breach or violation of any representation or warranty, covenant or agreement contained herein or in any of the other Transaction Documents by any Warrantor that is not curable or that is curable but is not cured within thirty (30) Business Days of written notice; or

(5) by such Purchaser if any event, circumstance or change shall have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate with one or more other events, circumstances or changes, have had or reasonably could be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or any other Group Company.

 

  (b)

Effect of Termination.

(1) The date of termination of this Agreement with respect to a Purchaser pursuant to Section 8.21(a) hereof shall be referred to as “Termination Date” with respect to such Purchaser.

(2) In the event of termination by the Company and/or such Purchaser pursuant to Section 8.21(a) hereof, written notice thereof shall forthwith be given to the other Parties and this Agreement shall terminate with respect to such Purchaser, and each of the Company and such Purchaser shall be relieved of the duties and obligations among them arising under this Agreement after the date of such termination and such termination shall be without liability to the Company or such Purchaser; provided that (i) no such termination shall relieve the Company or such Purchaser from liability for any breach of this Agreement incurred before the termination; and (ii) such termination shall not affect the rights, duties and obligations existing between the Warrantors and any other Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement.

(c) Surviving Provisions.

(1) The provisions of this Section 8.21, Section 7, Section 8.1, Section 8.2, Section 8.4, Section 8.7, Section 8.9, Section 8.10, Section 8.11, Section 8.12, Section 8.13, Section 8.15, Section 8.17, Section 8.18, Section 8.19, and Section 8.20, hereof shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

14


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

COMPANY:     Tusimple (Cayman) Limited
   

By:

 

 /s/  Mo Chen

   

Name: Mo Chen

   

Title: Director

HK CO:     Tusimple (Hong Kong) Limited
   

By:

 

 /s/  Mo Chen

   

Name: Mo Chen

   

Title: Director

HK AUTO TECH:     Tusimple (Hong Kong) Auto Tech Limited
   

By:

 

 /s/  Naiyan Wang

   

Name: Naiyan Wang

   

Title: Director

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

WFOE:     Beijing Tusen Zhitu Technology Co., Ltd.
   

By:

 

 /s/  Minhua Guo

   

Name: Minhua Guo

   

Title: Legal Representative

    Affix Seal: [Beijing Tusen Zhitu Technology Co., Ltd.
                    company seal is affixed]
DOMCO:     Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd.
   

By:

 

 /s/  Minhua Guo

   

Name: Minhua Guo

   

Title: Legal Representative

    Affix Seal: [Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd.
                    company seal is affixed]

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

US CO:     TuSimple, Inc.
   

By:

 

 /s/  Xiaodi Hou

   

Name: Xiaodi Hou

   

Title: Director

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

FOUNDERS:     Mo Chen
   

By:

 

 /s/  Mo Chen

    Xiaodi Hou
   

By:

 

 /s/  Xiaodi Hou

    Zhenguo Ren
   

By:

 

 /s/  Zhenguo Ren

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

FOUNDER HOLDCOS:    Gray Jade Holding Limited
  

 /s/  Mo Chen

  

Name: Mo Chen

  

Title: Director

   White Marble International Limited
  

 /s/  Xiaodi Hou

  

Name: Xiaodi Hou

  

Title: Director

   Ancient Jade International Limited
  

 /s/  Zhenguo Ren

  

Name: Zhenguo Ren

  

Title: Director

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:     Hel Ved Turbo Investment IV Inc
   

By:

 

 /s/  Annie Lai

   

Name: Annie Lai

   

Title: Director

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:     LHCP Project Auto 2020 Limited
   

By:

 

 /s/  Su Shan

   

Name: Su Shan

   

Title: Authorized Signatory

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:     Aspex Master Fund
   

By:

 

 /s/  LI Ho Kei

   

Name: LI Ho Kei

   

Title: Director

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:     VectoIQ - TuSimple SPV LLC
   

By: VectoIQ – TuSimple MM LLC, its managing member

   

By: VectoIQ LLC, VectoIQ – TuSimple MM LLC’s manager

   

By:

 

 /s/  Stephen Girsky

   

Name: Stephen Girsky

   

Title: Managing Member

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:     Fourth Avenue FF Opportunities LP – Series M
   

By its general partner, Fourth Avenue Capital

Partners GP LLC

   

By:

 

 /s/  Tracy Fu

   

Name: Tracy Fu

   

Title: Managing Member

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:     Canadian National Railway Company
   

By:

 

 /s/  Ghislain Houle

   

Name: Ghislain Houle

   

Title: Executive Vice-President & Chief Financial Officer

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:     Union Pacific Corporation
   

By:

 

 /s/  Gary W. Grosz

   

Name: Gary W. Grosz

   

Title: Vice President and Treasurer

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:     Xpress Holdings, Inc.
   

By:

 

 /s/  Mindy Walser

   

Name: Mindy Walser

   

Title: President

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:     Wanxiang International Investment, LLC
   

By:

 

 /s/  Pin Ni

   

Name: Pin Ni

   

Title: Manager

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:     The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
   

By:

 

 /s/  Christopher P. Helsel

   

Name: Christopher P. Helsel

   

Title: Sr. VP & Chief Technology Officer

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:     Frees Properties Limited
   

By:

 

 /s/  CHENG CHI MAN

   

Name: CHENG CHI MAN

   

Title: Director

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:     Sunrise Drive Group Limited
   

By:

 

 /s/  Thomas Chu

   

Name: Thomas Chu

   

Title: Director

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:     Sun Hung Kai Strategic Capital Limited
   

By:

 

 /s/  Robert Quinlivan

   

Name: Robert Quinlivan

   

Title: Authorised signatory

   

By:

 

 /s/  Elsy Li

   

Name: Elsy Li

   

Title: Authorised Signatory

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:     Data0.2, LLC
   

By:

 

 /s/  Jason Larian

   

Name: Jason Larian

   

Title: Manager

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:     JenCap Route Partners L.P.
    By:   JenCap Route GP, its general partner
   

By:

 

 /s/  Tan Hainan

   

Name: Tan Hainan

   

Title: Director

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:     SUN Dream Inc
   

By:

 

 /s/  Charles Chao

   

Name: Charles Chao

   

Title: Director

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:     Navistar, Inc.
   

By:

 

 /s/  Scott F. Renier

   

Name: Scott F. Renier

   

Title: VP, Corp Development/M&A

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:

   

SKY9 CAPITAL MVP FUND, L.P.

   

By: Sky9 Capital MVP GP Ltd,

   

its general partner

   

By:

 

 /s/  Ronald Cao

   

Name: Ronald Cao

   

Title: Director

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:

   

2011 Buss Family Trust

   

By:

 

 /s/  Brad Buss

   

Name: Brad Buss

   

Title: Manager

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:     Classic Elite Limited
   

By:

 

 /s/  Peter A. Allen

   

Name: Peter A. Allen

   

Title: Director

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:

   

Wong Ka Kit

   

 /s/  Wong Ka Kit

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:

   

Karen C. Francis Second Restated Revocable Trust dated

1.30.2012

   

By:

 

 /s/  Karen C. Francis

   

Name: Karen C. Francis

   

Title: Trustee

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:

    Richard C. DeGolia Trust dated 8.27.2004
    By:  

 /s/  Richard C. DeGolia

    Name: Richard C. DeGolia
    Title: Trustee

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:

   

Werner Enterprises, Inc.

   

By:

 

 /s/  Nathan Meisgeier

   

Name: Nathan Meisgeier

   

Title: Exec. Vice President & Chief Legal Officer

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:

   

Packerland Tech Ventures LLC

   

By:

 

 /s/  Thomas Jackson

   

Name: Thomas Jackson

   

Title: Vice President & Secretary

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:

   

Socius Capital Limited

   

By:

 

 /s/  Howe Leng

   

Name: Howe Leng

   

Title: Director

   

By:

 

 /s/  Yu Liu

   

Name: Yu Liu

   

Title: Director

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:

   

Perry Creek Capital Partners LP

   

By:

 

 /s/  Brian Zingale

   

Name: Brian Zingale

   

Title: Partner

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:     Perry Creek Capital Fund II LP
   

By:

 

 /s/  Brian Zingale

   

Name: Brian Zingale

   

Title: Partner

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:     TuSimple.AI SPV, LLC
   

By:

 

 /s/  Cheng Lu

   

Name: Cheng Lu

   

Title: Partner

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS

Schedules

 

Schedule 1

  

Schedule of Purchasers

Schedule 2-A

  

Schedule of Founders

Schedule 2-B

  

Schedule of Founder Holdcos

Schedule 3

  

Definitions

Schedule 4

  

Schedule of Key Employees

Schedule 5

  

Representations and Warranties of the Warrantors

Schedule 6

  

Disclosure Schedule

Schedule 7

  

Representations and Warranties of the Purchasers

Schedule 8

  

Capitalization Table

Schedule 9

  

Notices

SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS


Exhibits

Exhibit A        Restated Articles

Exhibit B        Shareholders’ Agreement

Exhibit C        Form of Compliance Certificate

SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS


SCHEDULE 1

SCHEDULE OF PURCHASER

 

SCHEDULE 1


SCHEDULE 2-A

SCHEDULE OF FOUNDER

 

SCHEDULE 2-A


SCHEDULE 2-B

SCHEDULE OF FOUNDER HOLDCO

 

SCHEDULE 2-B


SCHEDULE 3

DEFINITIONS

 

1.

Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person who or which, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such specified Person, including, without limitation, any general partner, limited partner, officer, director, member or employee of such Person and any venture capital or other fund now or hereafter existing that is controlled by or under common control with one or more general partners or managing members of, or shares the same management company with, such Person. With respect to a natural person, his or her Affiliates also include his or her children, stepchildren, grandchildren, parents, step-parents, grandparents, spouse and siblings.

 

2.

Agreement” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

3.

Anti-Corruption Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 19 of Schedule 5.

 

4.

Anti-Money Laundering Laws” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 25.4 of Schedule 5.

 

5.

Board of Directors” or “Board” means the Company’s board of Directors.

 

6.

Breach” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.1.

 

7.

Business Day” means any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which the commercial banks in Hong Kong, Beijing, or New York are authorized or required to be closed for the conduct of regular banking business.

 

8.

Business Plan” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 30 of Schedule 5.

 

9.

Circular 37” means the Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Relevant Issues concerning Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Residents to Engage in Overseas Investment or Financing and in Return Investment via Special Purpose Vehicles promulgated by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the PRC on July 4, 2014.

 

10.

Closing” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.2(a).

 

11.

Company” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

12.

Company Law” means the Companies Law (as amended) of the Cayman Islands.

 

13.

Confidential Information Agreements” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 21 of Schedule 5.

 

14.

Contract” means a legally binding contract, agreement, understanding, indenture, note, bond, loan, instrument, lease, mortgage, franchise or license.

 

15.

Control” or “control” of a given Person means the power or authority, whether exercised or not, to direct the business, management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, through any contractual relationship (including, without limitation, pursuant to a management or advisory agreement) or otherwise, which power or authority shall conclusively be presumed to exist upon possession of beneficial ownership or power to direct the vote of more than fifty percent (50%) of the votes entitled to be cast at a meeting of the members or shareholders of such Person or power to control the


 

composition of a majority of the board of directors of such Person; the terms “Controlling” and “Controlled” (and their lower-case counterparts) have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

16.

Control Documents” means the Exclusive Business Cooperation and Service Agreement, Share Pledge Agreement, Exclusive Option Agreement, and Power of Attorney in form and substance attached to any Series D-1 share purchase agreement.

 

17.

Conversion Shares” means Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of any Preferred Shares.

 

18.

Convertible Securities” means, with respect to any specified Person, securities convertible or exchangeable into any shares of any class of such specified Person, however described and whether voting or non-voting.

 

19.

Delivered Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 14 of Schedule 5.

 

20.

Directors” means the members of the Board of Directors.

 

21.

Disclosing Party” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.2(c).

 

22.

Disclosure Schedule” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.

 

23.

DomCo” has the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.

 

24.

Employee Benefit Plans” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 16.7 of Schedule 5.

 

25.

Equity Transfers” means (1) Hou Xiaodi ( LOGO ), Hao Jianan ( LOGO ), Guo Minhua ( LOGO ) and Ren Zhenguo ( LOGO )’s transfers of all the equity interests they held in Shanghai Tusen Weilai Artificial Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd. ( LOGO ) to the WFOE at nil consideration; and (2) Hou Xiaodi ( LOGO ), Hao Jianan ( LOGO ), Guo Minhua ( LOGO ), Ren Zhenguo ( LOGO ), and Jin Zhuo Heng Bang Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. ( LOGO )’s transfers of all the equity interests they held in the DomCo to the WFOE at nil consideration.

 

26.

Establishment Documents” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 22.4 of Schedule 5.

 

27.

Execution Date” means the date of this Agreement.

 

28.

Financial Statements” means the consolidated balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows, prepared in accordance with IFRS / US GAAP and applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods indicated.

 

29.

Founder(s)” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

30.

Founder Holdcos” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

31.

Fundamental Warranties” means the representations and warranties by the Warrantors set forth in Section 1, Section 2, Section 3, Section 4, Section 5, Section 6 and Section 9 of Schedule 5.

 

32.

Governmental Authority” means the government of any nation, province, state, city, locality or other political subdivision of any thereof, any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, regulation or compliance, and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled, through share or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing.


33.

Group Companies” means the Company, the HK Co, the WFOE, the US Co, the DomCo, HK Auto Tech, and any other direct or indirect Subsidiary of any Group Company collectively, and “Group Company” means any one of them.

 

34.

GC Product or Service” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.7 of Schedule 5.

 

35.

Half-Year Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 14 of Schedule 5.

 

36.

Hong Kong” means the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC.

 

37.

HK Auto Tech” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

38.

HK Co” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

39.

IFRS” mean International Financial Reporting Standards.

 

40.

Indemnifiable Loss” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.

 

41.

Indemnitee” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.

 

42.

Intellectual Property” means all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, processes, compositions of matter, formulas, designs, inventions, proprietary rights, know-how and any other confidential or proprietary information owned or otherwise used by any Group Company.

 

43.

Key Employee” means each of the Persons listed in Schedule 4.

 

44.

Knowledge” including the phrase “to the Warrantors knowledge” means the actual knowledge after reasonable investigation of the Key Employees and the Founders.

 

45.

Law” means any constitutional provision, statute or other law, rule, regulation, official policy or interpretation of any Governmental Authority and any injunction, judgment, order, ruling, assessment or writ issued by any Governmental Authority.

 

46.

Lead Investor Consortium” means VectoIQ—TuSimple SPV LLC, Hel Ved Turbo Investment IV Inc, LHCP Project Auto 2020 Limited and Aspex Master Fund, acting collectively, and “Lead Investor Consortium Member” means any of them.

 

47.

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, claim, security interest, encumbrance, title defect, lien, charge or other restriction or limitation.

 

48.

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on the business, assets (including intangible assets), liabilities, financial condition, property, prospects or results of operations of the Group Companies, either individually or taken as a whole.

 

49.

Material Agreements” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 10.1 of Schedule 5.

 

50.

OFAC” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 18.2(a) of Schedule 5.

 

51.

OFAC Sanctioned Person” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 18.2(b) of Schedule 5.


52.

OFAC Sanctions” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 18.2(a) of Schedule 5.

 

53.

Order” or “order” means any order, injunction, judgment, decree, ruling, writ, assessment or arbitration award of a Governmental Authority.

 

54.

Ordinary Share” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement, being an ordinary share of par value US$0.0001 in the capital of the Company.

 

55.

Party” and “Parties” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

56.

Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, proprietorship, association, limited liability company, firm, trust, estate or other enterprise or entity.

 

57.

PRC” means the Peoples’ Republic of China, excluding Hong Kong, the Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan for the purpose of this Agreement.

 

58.

Projections” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 29 of Schedule 5.

 

59.

Preferred Share” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

60.

public official” means an employee of a Governmental Authority, a member of a political party, a political candidate, an officer of a public international organization, or an officer or employee of a state-owned enterprise, including a PRC state-owned enterprise.

 

61.

Public Software” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.7 of Schedule 5.

 

62.

Purchased Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.

 

63.

Purchase Price” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.

 

64.

Purchaser” or “Purchasers” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

65.

Related Party” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 11.4 of Schedule 5.

 

66.

Reserve” or “reservation” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4 of Schedule 5.

 

67.

Restated Articles” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.6.

 

68.

SDN List” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 18.2(b) of Schedule 5.

 

69.

Secretary” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 18.2(a) of Schedule 5.

 

70.

Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (or comparable Laws in jurisdictions other than the United States).

 

71.

Series A Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

72.

Series A-2 Preferred Share” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

73.

Series B-1 Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.


74.

Series B-2 Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

75.

Series B-3 Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

76.

Series C Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

77.

Series D-1 Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

78.

Series E Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

79.

Series E-1 Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

80.

Series E-2 Preferred Shares” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

81.

Seventh M&A” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 9 of Schedule 5.

 

82.

Shareholders’ Agreement” means the Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ agreement of Tusimple (Cayman) Limited, to be entered into by and among the Group Companies, the Founders, the Purchasers and certain other parties thereto, substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit B and as may be amended and restated from time to time.

 

83.

Sina” means SUN Dream Inc and its successors and assignees.

 

84.

Specified Investment Agreements” means collectively, the Construction of Autonomous Truck Research, Development and Test Center of Beijing Tusen ( LOGO ) and the Supplemental Agreement with respect to the Construction of Autonomous Truck Research, Development and Test Center of Beijing Tusen ( LOGO LOGO ), in each case by and between the DomCo and Sino-Japan Tangshan Caofeidian Eco-Industrial Area Administration Committee ( LOGO ).

 

85.

Statement Date” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 14 of Schedule 5.

 

86.

Subsidiary” or “subsidiary” means, as of the relevant date of determination, with respect to any Person (the “subject entity”), (i) any Person (x) more than 50% of whose shares or other interests entitled to vote in the election of directors or (y) more than a 50% interest in the profits or capital of such Person are owned or controlled directly or indirectly by the subject entity or through one (1) or more Subsidiaries of the subject entity; (ii) any Person whose assets, or portions thereof, are consolidated with the net earnings of the subject entity and are recorded on the books of the subject entity for financial reporting purposes in accordance with IFRS or US GAAP; or (iii) any Person with respect to which the subject entity has the power to otherwise direct the business and policies of that entity directly or indirectly through another subsidiary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Subsidiaries of the Company shall include the Group Companies (other than the Company) and/or any other company Controlled by the Company, directly or indirectly, through contractual arrangement (including via the variable interest entities arrangement).


87.

Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Shareholders’ Agreement (as amended and restated from time to time), the Restated Articles (as amended and restated from time to time) and any other agreements, instruments or documents entered into in connection with this Agreement.

 

88.

Termination Date” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.21(b)(1).

 

89.

Third-Quarter Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.12.

 

90.

Transaction Terms” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.2(a).

 

91.

United States Person” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 18.2(c) of Schedule 5.

 

92.

US Co” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

93.

US GAAP” means the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States.

 

94.

US$” means the United States Dollar, the lawful currency of the United States of America.

 

95.

Warrantors” means the Group Companies, the Founder Holdcos and the Founders, and “Warrantor” means any one of them.

 

96.

WFOE” has the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.


SCHEDULE 4

SCHEDULE OF KEY EMPLOYEES

 

SCHEDULE 4


SCHEDULE 5

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE WARRANTORS

 

1.

ORGANIZATION, GOOD STANDING, CORPORATE POWER AND QUALIFICATION

Each Warrantor (except for the Founders) is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its business as presently conducted and as proposed to be conducted. Each Warrantor (except for the Founders) is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Warrantor has full power, authority and capacity to enter into and perform each of the Transaction Documents to which such Warrantor is a party.

 

2.

CAPITALIZATION

2.1 The authorized capital of the Company consists, immediately prior to the Closing, of: (a) 361,897,230 Ordinary Shares, of which 60,542,105 shares are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing. All of the outstanding Ordinary Shares have been duly authorized, are fully paid and nonassessable and were issued in compliance with all applicable securities laws. The Company holds no treasury shares; and (b) 20,000,000 Series A Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 8,218,203 Series A-2 Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 7,080,000 Series B-1 Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 3,000,000 Series B-2 Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 3,465,372 Series B-3 Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 14,993,041 Series C Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 20,345,131 Series D-1 Preferred Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing, 50,000,000 Series E Preferred Shares, none of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing, 3,928,937 Series E-1 Preferred Shares, none of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing, and 7,072,086 Series E-2 Preferred Shares, none of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing. The rights, privileges and preferences of the Series A Preferred Shares, the Series A-2 Preferred Shares, the Series B-1 Preferred Shares, the Series B-2 Preferred Shares, the Series B-3 Preferred Shares, the Series C Preferred Shares, the Series D-1 Preferred Shares, the Series E Preferred Shares, the Series E-1 Preferred Shares and the Series E-2 Preferred Shares are as stated in the Restated Articles and as provided by the Company Law.

2.2 The Company has reserved 21,967,694 Ordinary Shares for issuance to Key Employees, research and technical employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company pursuant to the 2017 Share Plan of the Company, as amended from time to time, and 4,025,680 of which are issued and outstanding. Of such reserved Ordinary Shares, 1,000,000 Ordinary Shares remain available for issuance to Key Employees, research and technical employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company.

2.3 Schedule 8 sets forth the capitalization of the Company immediately before and following the Closing including the number of shares of the following: (i) issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares, (ii) each series of Preferred Shares; and (iii) warrants or stock purchase rights, if any. Except for (A) the conversion privileges of the Preferred Shares, (B) the right to purchase the Purchased Shares under this Agreement, (C) the rights provided in the Shareholders’ Agreement, and (D) the warrants and stock purchase rights described in Section 2.3 of the Disclosure Schedule, there are no outstanding options, warrants, rights (including conversion or preemptive rights and rights of first refusal or similar rights) or agreements, orally or in writing, to purchase or acquire from the Company any Ordinary Share or Preferred Share, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for Ordinary Share or Preferred Share. The warrants and stock purchase rights described in Section 2.3 of the Disclosure Schedule have

 

SCHEDULE 5


been duly authorized by all necessary corporate actions of the Company and have been validly issued, without any violation of, or with duly obtained waiver of, any person’s preemptive rights, right of first refusal or other similar rights.

2.4 The Founders are the legal and beneficial owners of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of their respective Founder Holdcos. The Founder Holdcos are the legal and beneficial owners of 56,516,425 Ordinary Shares of the Company. The Company is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the US Co. The Company is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the HK Co, which in turn is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the WFOE. The WFOE is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the DomCo. The Company is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of HK Auto Tech.

2.5 Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule, there are no outstanding options, warrants, rights (including conversion or, preemptive rights and rights of first refusal or similar rights) or agreements, orally or in writing, to purchase or acquire any equity interest or share capital, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for an equity interest or share capital, of any Group Company (other than the Company).

 

3.

SUBSIDIARIES

Section 2.4 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete structure chart of the Group Companies, listing the full name, jurisdiction of incorporation, and shareholders (with shareholding percentage) of each Group Company (other than the Company). Other than expressly set forth in Section 2.4 of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company and each other Group Company do not currently own or control, directly or indirectly, any interest in any other company, corporation, partnership, trust, joint venture, association, or other business entity. Neither the Company nor any other Group Company is a participant in any joint venture, partnership or similar arrangement.

 

4.

AUTHORIZATION

With respect to each Warrantor (except for the Founders), all corporate action required to be taken by such Warrantor’s board of directors and shareholders in order to authorize each respective Warrantor to enter into the Transaction Documents to which each such Warrantor is a party, and (only with respect to the Company) to issue the Purchased Shares at the Closing and the Conversion Shares, has been taken or will be taken prior to the Closing. With respect to each Warrantor (except for the Founders), all action on the part of the officers of each Warrantor necessary for the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents, the performance of all obligations of such Warrantor under the Transaction Documents to be performed as of the Closing, and (only with respect to the Company) the issuance and delivery of the Purchased Shares has been taken or will be taken prior to the Closing. The Transaction Documents, when executed and delivered by each Warrantor, shall constitute valid and legally binding obligations of each Warrantor, enforceable against each Warrantor in accordance with their respective terms except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, or other laws of general application relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies, or (iii) to the extent the indemnification provisions contained in the Shareholders’ Agreement may be limited by applicable securities laws. The issuance of any Preferred Shares or Conversion Shares is not subject to any preemptive rights or rights of first refusal, or if any such preemptive rights or rights of first refusal exist, waiver of such rights will be obtained from the holders thereof as of the Closing. For the purpose only of this Agreement, “reserve,” “reservation” or similar words with respect to a specified number of Ordinary Shares or Preferred Shares of the Company shall mean that the Company shall, and the Board of Directors of the Company shall procure that the Company shall, refrain from issuing such number of shares so that such number of shares will remain in the authorized but unissued share capital of the Company until the conversion rights of the holders of any Convertible Securities exercisable for such shares are exercised in accordance with the Restated Articles or otherwise.

 

SCHEDULE 5


5.

VALID ISSUANCE OF SHARES

5.1 The Purchased Shares, when issued, sold and delivered in accordance with the terms and for the consideration set forth in this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of Liens and other restrictions on transfer other than restrictions on transfer under this Agreement, the Shareholders’ Agreement, applicable securities laws and liens or encumbrances created by or imposed by the relevant Purchaser. Subject in part to the accuracy of the representations of the Purchaser in Schedule 7 of this Agreement, the Purchased Shares will be issued in compliance with all applicable securities laws. As of the Closing, the Conversion Shares will have been duly reserved for issuance, and upon issuance in accordance with the terms of the Restated Articles, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of Liens and other restrictions on transfer other than restrictions on transfer under the Transaction Documents, applicable securities laws and liens or encumbrances created by or imposed by the relevant Purchaser. The Conversion Shares will be issued in compliance with all applicable securities laws.

5.2 All presently outstanding Ordinary Shares and Preferred Shares of the Company were duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and are free and clear of any Liens and free of restrictions on transfer (except for any restrictions on transfer under Transaction Documents or applicable securities laws) and have been issued in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all applicable securities laws and regulations, including, to the extent applicable, the Securities Act.

 

6.

GOVERNMENTAL CONSENTS AND FILINGS

6.1 No consent, approval, order or authorization of or registration, qualification, designation, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Authority on the part of any Warrantor is required in connection with the valid execution, delivery and consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Shareholders’ Agreement or the offer, sale, issuance or reservation for issuance of the Purchased Shares and the Conversion Shares.

6.2 All products or technologies produced, designed, tested, manufactured, fabricated, or developed by Group Companies organized in the United States are classified as EAR99 for export control purposes.

 

7.

LITIGATION

There is no claim, action, suit, proceeding, arbitration, complaint, charge or investigation pending or to the Warrantors’ knowledge, currently threatened (i) against any Warrantor or any officer, director or Key Employee of any Group Company that would either individually or in aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (ii) to the Warrantors’ knowledge, that questions the validity of the Transaction Documents or the right of any Warrantor to enter into them, or to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. None of the Warrantors and, to the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of the officers, directors and Key Employees of any Group Company, is a party or is named as subject to the provisions of any order, writ, injunction, judgment or decree of any court or government agency or instrumentality which would either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no action, suit, proceeding or investigation by any Group Company pending or which any Group Company intends to initiate. The foregoing includes, without limitation, actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending or threatened in writing (or any basis therefor known to the Warrantors) involving the prior employment of any of the Group Company’s employees, their services provided in connection with Group Company’s business, or any information or techniques allegedly proprietary to any of their former employers, or their obligations under any agreements with prior employers.

 

SCHEDULE 5


8.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

8.1 Each Group Company owns or possesses sufficient legal rights to (i) all trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, licenses, information and proprietary rights and processes and (ii) to the Warrantors’ knowledge, all patents and patent rights, in each case of (i) and (ii), as are necessary to the conduct of such Group Company’s business as now conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted, without any known conflict with, or infringement of, the rights of others. Section 8.1 of the Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and accurate list of all Intellectual Property owned, licensed to or used by each Group Company, whether registered or not, and a complete and accurate list of all licenses granted by such Group Company to any third party with respect to any Intellectual Property. No product or service marketed or sold (or proposed to be marketed or sold) by any Group Company violates or will violate any license or infringe any intellectual property rights of any other party.

8.2 Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule, no Group Company has received any communications alleging that any Group Company has violated or, by conducting its business, would violate any of the patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets or other proprietary rights or processes of any other person or entity. Each Group Company has obtained and possesses valid licenses to use all of the software programs present on the computers and other software-enabled electronic devices that it owns or leases or that it has otherwise provided to its employees for their use in connection with such Group Company’s business. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, it will not be necessary to use any inventions of any of its employees (or persons it currently intends to hire) made prior to their employment by a Group Company. Each Key Employee has assigned to the Group Companies all intellectual property rights he or she owns that are related to the Group Companies’ business as now conducted. Section 8.2 of the Disclosure Schedule lists all patents, patent applications, registered trademarks, trademark applications, registered service marks, service mark applications, registered copyrights and domain names of each Group Company.

8.3 Other than with respect to commercially available software products under standard end-user object code license agreements, there are no outstanding options, licenses, agreements, claims, encumbrances or shared ownership interests of any kind relating to the foregoing, nor is any Group Company bound by or a party to any options, licenses or agreements of any kind with respect to the patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, licenses, information, proprietary rights and processes of any other person or entity.

8.4 No proceedings or claims in which any Group Company alleges that any person is infringing upon, or otherwise violating, its Intellectual Property rights are pending, and none has been served, instituted or asserted by any Group Company.

8.5 None of the employees of any Group Company or the Founders are obligated under any Contract (including a Contract of employment), or subject to any judgment, decree or order of any court or administrative agency, that would interfere with the use of his or her best efforts to promote the interests of the Group Companies, or that would conflict with the business of any Group Company as presently conducted. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, it will not be necessary to utilize in the course of any Group Company’s business operations any inventions of any of the employees of any Group Company made prior to their employment by the such Group Company, except for inventions that have been validly and properly assigned or licensed to such Group Company as of the date hereof.

8.6 Each Group Company has taken all security measures that in the judgment of such Person are commercially prudent in order to protect the secrecy, confidentiality, and value of its material Intellectual Property.

 

SCHEDULE 5


8.7 No Public Software (as defined below) forms part of any product or service provided by any Group Company (“GC Product or Service”), and no Public Software was or is used in connection with the development of any GC Product or Service or is incorporated into, in whole or in part, or has been distributed with, in whole or in part, any GC Product or Service. As used in this Section 8.7, “Public Software” means any software that contains, or is derived in any manner (in whole or in part) from, any software that is distributed as free software (as defined by the Free Software Foundation), open source software (e.g., Linux or software distributed under any license approved by the Open Source Initiative as set forth www.opensource.org) or similar licensing or distribution models which require the distribution or making available of source code as well as object code of the software to licensees without charge (except for the cost of the medium) and the right of the licensee to modify the software and redistribute both the modified and unmodified versions of the software, including software licensed or distributed under any of the following licenses: (i) GNU’s General Public License (GPL) or Lesser/Library GPL (LGPL); (ii) the Artistic License (e.g., PERL); (iii) the Mozilla Public License; (iv) the Netscape Public License; (v) the BSD License; or (vi) the Apache License.

 

9.

COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER INSTRUMENTS

9.1 None of the Group Companies, the Founders and the Founder Holdcos is in violation or default (i) of any provisions of its memorandum of association (if any), articles of association or any other applicable constitutional document, (ii) of any instrument, judgment, order, writ or decree, (iii) under any note, indenture or mortgage, (iv) under any lease, agreement, Contract or purchase order to which it is a party or by which it is bound that is required to be listed on the Section 10.1 of Disclosure Schedule, or (v) of any provision of statute, rule or regulation applicable to such Warrantor or any transaction documents in connection with the Company’s equity and/or debt financings prior to the Execution Date, in the case of the foregoing (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v), the violation of which would either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no material breach or violation of, or inaccuracy or misrepresentation in, any representation or warranty contained in the Seventh Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company (“Seventh M&A”) or in the Transaction Documents (as defined in the Seventh M&A). The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents will not result in any such violation or be in conflict with or constitute, with or without the passage of time and giving of notice, either (i) a default under any such provision, instrument, judgment, order, writ, decree, Contract or agreement or (ii) an event which results in the creation of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any equity interest or assets of any Group Company or the suspension, revocation, forfeiture, or nonrenewal of any material permit or license applicable to any Group Company, which would either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

9.2 PENALTIES AND FINES

There are no penalties or fines of whatsoever nature that have ever been imposed on any Group Company.

 

10.

AGREEMENTS; ACTIONS

10.1 Save for the agreements set out in Section 10.1 of the Disclosure Schedule (the “Material Agreements”) and the Transaction Documents, there are no other agreements, understandings, instruments, Contracts or proposed transactions to which any Group Company is a party or by which it is bound that involve (i) obligations (contingent or otherwise) of, or payments to, any Group Company in excess of US$200,000 per annum or in excess of US$1,000,000 in the aggregate, (ii) the transfer or license of any patent, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary right to or from any Group Company, other than from or to another Group Company or from a Founder to a Group Company, (iii) the grant of rights to manufacture, produce, assemble, license, market, or sell its products to any other person or affect any Group Company’s exclusive right to develop, manufacture, assemble, distribute, market or sell its products, (iv) indemnification by any Group Company with respect to infringements of proprietary rights, or (v) business cooperation, joint development, or similar arrangements involving any Group Company, and there are no agreements, understandings, instruments, Contracts or proposed

 

SCHEDULE 5


transactions between any Warrantor and any holder of Preferred Shares amending or varying the rights or obligations of the Company and such holder of Preferred Shares from those set out in the Transaction Documents. All the Material Agreements are valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the parties thereto and the terms thereof have been complied with by the relevant Group Company, and to the Warrantors’ knowledge, by all the other parties thereto. There are to the Warrantors’ knowledge, no circumstances likely to give rise to any material breach of such terms, no grounds for rescission, avoidance or repudiation of any of the Material Agreements which would have a Material Adverse Effect and no notice of termination or of intention to terminate has been received in respect of any Material Agreement.

10.2 The Company has not declared or paid any dividends, or authorized or made any distribution upon or with respect to any class of its share capital, and no Group Company has (i) incurred any indebtedness for money borrowed or incurred any other liabilities individually in excess of US$100,000 or in excess of US$250,000 in the aggregate, except those in the ordinary course of business, (ii) made any loans or advances to any person, other than ordinary advances for travel expenses and trade receivables in the ordinary course of business, or (iii) sold, exchanged or otherwise disposed of any of its assets or rights, other than the sale of its inventory in the ordinary course of business or otherwise envisaged in this Agreement. For the purposes of Sections 10.1 and 10.2 of this Schedule 5 all indebtedness, liabilities, agreements, understandings, instruments, Contracts and proposed transactions involving the same person or entity shall be aggregated for the purpose of meeting the individual minimum dollar amounts of such subsection.

10.3 No Group Company is a guarantor or indemnitor of any indebtedness of any other person, firm or corporation that is not a Group Company.

10.4 Save as set out in Section 10.4 of the Disclosure Schedule or in connection with this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, no Group Company has engaged in the past three (3) months in any discussion with any representative of any corporation, partnership, trust, joint venture, limited liability company, association or other entity, or any individual, regarding (i) a sale of all or substantially all of such Group Company’s assets, or (ii) any merger, consolidation or other business combination transaction of such Group Company with or into another corporation, entity or person.

 

11.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

11.1 Other than (i) standard employee benefits generally made available to all employees, (ii) standard director and officer indemnification agreements approved by the Board of Directors, and (iii) the purchase of the Company’s share capital in accordance with applicable law, and the issuance of options to purchase the Company’s Ordinary Shares, in each instance, disclosed in Section 11.1 of the Disclosure Schedule, there are no agreements, understandings or proposed transactions between any Group Company and any of its officers, directors, consultants or Key Employees, or any Affiliate thereof, respectively.

11.2 No Group Company is indebted, directly or indirectly, to any of its directors, officers or employees or to their respective spouses or children or to any Affiliate of any of the foregoing, other than in connection with expenses or advances of expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business or employee relocation expenses. None of the Group Companies’ directors, officers or employees, or any members of their immediate families, or any Affiliate of the foregoing (i) are, directly or indirectly, indebted to any Group Company or, (ii) to the Warrantors’ knowledge, have any direct or indirect ownership interest in any firm or corporation with which the Company is affiliated or with which any Group Company has a business relationship, or any firm or corporation which competes with any Group Company except that directors, officers or employees or shareholders of the Company may own shares in (but not exceeding one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of) publicly traded companies that may compete with any Group Company. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of the Group Companies’ employees, officers or directors or any members of their immediate families or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing are, directly or indirectly, interested in any Contract with any Group Company. To the

 

SCHEDULE 5


Warrantors’ knowledge, none of the Group Companies’ directors, officers or employees, or any members of their immediate families, or any Affiliate of the foregoing has any material commercial, industrial, banking, consulting, legal, accounting, charitable or familial relationship with any of the Group Companies’ five (5) largest business relationship partners, clients, service providers, joint venture partners, licensees or competitors.

11.3 Other than the Group Companies, there are no corporations, partnerships, trusts, joint ventures, limited liability companies or other business entities in which any Founder owns or controls, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the outstanding voting interests.

11.4 To the Warrantors’ knowledge, no employee, officer, or director of any Group Company (“Related Party”) or any members of such Related Party’s immediate families, or any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity in which such Related Party is an officer, director or partner, has significant ownership interests or otherwise controls, loans, or extend or guarantee credit to any of the Group Companies. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of foregoing persons has any direct or indirect ownership interest in any firm or corporation with which any Group Company is affiliated or with which any Group Company has a business relationship, or any firm or corporation that competes with any Group Company, except that employees, officers, or directors of the Company and members of such Related Party’s immediate families may own stock in (but not exceeding one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of) publicly traded companies that may compete with any Group Company. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, no Related Party or member of their immediate family is directly or indirectly interested in any material Contract with any Group Company.

 

12.

RIGHTS OF REGISTRATION AND VOTING RIGHTS

Except as provided in the Shareholders’ Agreement, no Group Company is under any obligation to register under the Securities Act or any other applicable securities laws, any of its currently outstanding securities or any securities issuable upon exercise or conversion of its currently outstanding securities. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, except as contemplated in the Shareholders’ Agreement, no shareholder of any Group Company has entered into any agreements with respect to the voting of shares in the capital of the Company. Except as contemplated by or disclosed in the Transaction Documents, no Founder is a party to or has any Knowledge of any agreements, written or oral, relating to the acquisition, disposition, registration under the Securities Act, or voting of the shares or securities of any Group Company.

 

13.

ABSENCE OF LIENS

Each Group Company has good and valid title to all of its respective assets, whether tangible or intangible (including those reflected in the Delivered Financial Statements, together with all assets acquired thereby since the Statement Date (as defined below), but excluding those that have been disposed of since the Statement Date). The property and assets owned by the Group Companies are free and clear of all mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, loans and encumbrances, except for statutory liens for the payment of current taxes that are not yet delinquent and encumbrances and liens that arise in the ordinary course of business and do not materially impair the Group Companies’ ownership or use of such property or assets. With respect to the property and assets it leases, each Group Company is in compliance with such leases and, to the Warrantors’ knowledge, holds a valid leasehold interest free of any liens, claims or encumbrances other than those of the lessors of such property or assets. The assets owned or leased by the Group Companies constitute all of the assets used in connection with the businesses of the Group Companies and are adequate for Group Companies to conduct such businesses in substantially the same manner as currently conducted.

 

14.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Company has delivered to the Purchaser its unaudited consolidated Financial Statements for the six months ending on June 30, 2020 (the “Statement Date”) (the “Half-Year Financial

 

SCHEDULE 5


Statements”), and will deliver to the Purchaser the Third Quarter Financial Statements prior to Closing (together with the Half-Year Financial Statements, the “Delivered Financial Statements”). The Delivered Financial Statements may not contain all footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles. Such Delivered Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition and operating results of the Group Companies as of the dates, and for the periods, indicated therein, subject in the case of the unaudited consolidated Financial Statements to normal year-end audit adjustments. Except as set forth in such Delivered Financial Statements, each Group Company has no material liabilities or obligations, contingent or otherwise, as of the Statement Date and as of September 30, 2020, other than (i) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business subsequent to September 30, 2020, (ii) obligations under Contracts and commitments incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iii) liabilities and obligations of a type or nature not required under IFRS / US GAAP to be reflected in such unaudited consolidated Financial Statements.

 

15.

CHANGES

Since the Statement Date, except as set forth in Section 15 of the Disclosure Schedule or as contemplated by this Agreement or the Transaction Documents, there has not been:

(a) any change in the assets, liabilities, financial condition or operating results of any Group Company from that reflected in the Half-Year Financial Statements, except changes in the ordinary course of business;

(b) any damage, destruction or loss, whether or not covered by insurance, that would have a Material Adverse Effect on a Group Company;

(c) any waiver or compromise by any Group Company of a valuable right or of a material debt owed to it;

(d) any satisfaction or discharge of any lien, claim, or encumbrance or payment of any obligation by any Group Company, except in the ordinary course of business;

(e) any material change to a material Contract or agreement by which any Group Company or any of its assets is bound or subject;

(f) any material change in any compensation arrangement or agreement with any employee, officer, director or shareholder;

(g) any resignation or termination of employment or change of terms of employment of any officer or Key Employee of any Group Company;

(h) any mortgage, pledge, transfer of a security interest in, or lien, created by any Group Company, with respect to any of its material properties or assets, except liens for taxes not yet due or payable and liens that arise in the ordinary course of business and do not materially impair such Company’s ownership or use of such property or assets;

(i) any dividend, loans or guarantees made by any Group Company to or for the benefit of its employees, officers or directors, or any members of their immediate families, other than travel advances and other advances made in the ordinary course of its business;

(j) any default under, acceleration of or otherwise failure to pay, any loans, notes or other indebtedness as they become due;

(k) any declaration, setting aside or payment or other distribution in respect of any Group Company’s share capital, or any direct or indirect redemption, purchase, or other acquisition of any of such shares by any Group Company;

 

SCHEDULE 5


(l) any sale, assignment or transfer of any material assets or Intellectual Property of any Group Company;

(m) receipt of notice that there has been a loss of, or material order cancellation by, any major customer of any Group Company;

(n) to the Warrantors’ knowledge, any other event or condition of any character, other than events affecting the economy or the Company’s industry generally, that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or

(o) any arrangement, agreement or commitment by the Company to do any of the things described in this Section 15.

 

16.

EMPLOYEE MATTERS

16.1 Section 16.1 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a detailed description of all deferred compensation paid or payable for each officer, employee, consultant and independent contractor of any Group Company. The compensation of Key Employees and other employees with the highest amount of compensation have been disclosed to the Purchasers.

16.2 No employee of any Group Company is obligated under any Contract (including licenses, covenants or commitments of any nature) or other agreement, or subject to any judgment, decree or order of any court or administrative agency, that would materially interfere with such employee’s ability to promote the interest of the Group Companies or that would conflict with the Group Companies’ business. Neither the execution or delivery of the Transaction Documents, nor the carrying on of the Company’s business by the employees of the Group Companies, nor the conduct of the business as now conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted, will conflict with or result in a breach of the terms, conditions, or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any Contract, covenant or instrument under which any such employee is now obligated.

16.3 No Group Company is delinquent in payments to any of its employees, consultants, or independent contractors for any wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, or other direct compensation for any service performed for it to the date hereof or amounts required to be reimbursed to such employees, consultants, or independent contractors. Each Group Company has complied in all respects with all applicable Laws related to employment, including those related to wages, hours, worker classification, and collective bargaining, and the payment and withholding of taxes and other sums as required by Law except where noncompliance with any applicable Law would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. Each Group Company has withheld and paid to the appropriate governmental entity or is holding for payment not yet due to such governmental entity all amounts required to be withheld from employees of such Group Company and is not liable for any arrears of wages, taxes, penalties, or other sums for failure to comply with any of the foregoing.

16.4 No Key Employee intends to terminate employment with any Group Company or is otherwise likely to become unavailable to continue as a Key Employee, nor does any Group Company have a present intention to terminate the employment of any of the foregoing. All employees of the Group Companies have entered into an employment agreement and a confidentiality, non-competition and intellectual property rights agreement. Except as required by law, upon termination of the employment of any employee of the Group Companies, no severance or other payments will become due. The Company has no policy, practice, plan, or program of paying severance pay or any form of severance compensation in connection with the termination of employment services.

 

SCHEDULE 5


16.5 The Company has not made any representations regarding equity incentives to any officer, employees, director or consultant that are inconsistent with the share amounts and terms set forth in the Company’s Board minutes.

16.6 Each former Key Employee whose employment was terminated by the Company has entered into an agreement with the Company providing for the full release of any claims against the Company or any related party arising out of such employment.

16.7 Section 16.7 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth each and every employee benefit plan maintained, established or sponsored by any Group Company, or in which any Group Company participates in or contributes to in any jurisdiction, including without limitation, the PRC (the “Employee Benefit Plans”). Save as set out in Section 16.7 of the Disclosure Schedule, there is no other pension, retirement, social insurance, medical insurance, profit-sharing, deferred compensation, bonus, incentive or other employee benefit program, arrangement, agreement or understanding to which any Group Company contributes, is bound, or under which any employees or former employees (or their beneficiaries) are eligible to participate or derive a benefit. Each Group Company has made all required contributions under all the Employee Benefit Plans including without limitation all contributions required to be made under the PRC social insurance and housing fund schemes, and has complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws of any jurisdiction, in relation to the Employee Benefit Plans.

16.8 No Group Company is bound by or subject to (and none of its assets or properties is bound by or subject to) any written or oral, express or implied, Contract, commitment or arrangement with any labor union, and no labor union has requested or, to the Warrantors’ knowledge, has sought to represent any of the employees, representatives or agents of any Group Company. There is no strike or other labor dispute involving any Group Company pending, or to the Warrantors’ knowledge, threatened, which could have a Material Adverse Effect, nor is the Company aware of any labor organization activity involving its employees.

16.9 To the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of the Founders and other Key Employees or directors of any Group Company during the previous four (4) years, has been (a) subject to voluntary or involuntary petition under any applicable bankruptcy laws or any state insolvency laws or the appointment of manager, a receiver or similar officer by a court for his/her business or property; (b) convicted in a criminal proceeding or named as a subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses); (c) subject to any order, judgment, or decree (not subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated) of any court of competent jurisdiction permanently or temporarily enjoining him from engaging, or otherwise imposing limits or conditions on his engagement in any securities, investment advisory, banking, insurance, or other type of business or acting as an officer or director of a public company; or (d) found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by any relevant regulatory organization to have violated any applicable securities, commodities, or unfair trade practices law, which such judgment or finding has not been subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated.

 

17.

TAX MATTERS

17.1 The provisions for taxes as shown on the balance sheet included in the Delivered Financial Statements are sufficient in all material respects for the payment of all accrued and unpaid applicable taxes of the Group Companies as of the date of each such balance sheet, whether or not assessed or disputed as of the date of each such balance sheet. There have been no examinations or audits of any taxes or tax returns or reports of any Group Company by any applicable Governmental Authority other than routine requests for information. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, there are no deficiencies or claims for any taxes assessed, proposed or asserted in writing against any Group Company by any Governmental Authority that have not been fully paid and satisfied. Each Group Company has filed or caused to be filed on a timely basis (taking into account all applicable extensions) all tax returns that are or were required to be filed (to the extent applicable), all such returns are correct and complete, and each

 

SCHEDULE 5


Group Company has paid all taxes that have become due, or have reflected such taxes in accordance with IFRS (or any internationally recognized accounting standards acceptable to each Purchaser) as a reserve for taxes on the Delivered Financial Statements. There are in effect no waivers of applicable statutes of limitations with respect to taxes for any year. No Group Company has entered into any transaction a purpose of which is the avoidance of taxes in violation of applicable Laws.

17.2 Immediately after the Closing, the Company will not be a “controlled foreign corporation” as defined in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor thereto) (the “Code”) with respect to the stock held by the Purchasers.

17.3 No member of the Group Company is, nor expects to become, a “passive foreign investment company” as described in Section 1297 of the Code, as amended.

17.4 No shareholder of any member of a Group Company, solely by virtue of its status as shareholder of such Group Company, has personal liability under local law for the debts and claims of such Group Company. There has been no communication from any tax authority relating to or affecting the tax classification of any member of the Group Companies.

 

18.

OFAC COMPLIANCE

18.1 None of the Warrantors, any of their Subsidiaries, or to the Warrantor’s knowledge after due inquiry, any directors, administrators, officers, board of directors (supervisory and management) members or employees of the Company or any other Group Company is an OFAC Sanctioned Person (as defined below). The Warrantors and, to the Warrantors’ knowledge, their directors, administrators, officers, administrators, board of directors (supervisory and management) members or employees are in compliance with, and have not previously violated, the USA Patriot Act of 2001, and all other applicable Anti-Money Laundering Laws. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of (i) the purchase and sale of the Purchased Shares, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or any of the documents in Exhibits attached hereto, or (iii) the consummation of any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby, or the fulfillment of the terms hereof or thereof, will result in a violation by any Warrantor or any Key Employee, of any of the OFAC Sanctions or of any Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

18.2 For the purposes of Section 18.1:

(a) “OFAC Sanctions” means any sanctions program administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”) under authority delegated to the Secretary of the Treasury (the “Secretary”) by the President or provided to the Secretary by statute, and any order or license issued by, or under authority delegated by, the President or provided to the Secretary by statute in connection with a sanctions program thus administered by OFAC. For ease of reference, and not by way of limitation, OFAC Sanctions programs are described on OFAC’s website at www.treas.gov/ofac.

(b) “OFAC Sanctioned Person” means any government, country, corporation or other entity, group or individual with whom or which the OFAC Sanctions prohibit a United States Person from engaging in transactions, and includes without limitation any individual or corporation or other entity that appears on the current OFAC list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (the “SDN List”). For ease of reference, and not by way of limitation, OFAC Sanctioned Persons other than government and countries can be found on the SDN List on OFAC’s website at https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/specially-designated-nationals-and-blocked-persons-list-sdn-human-readable-lists.

 

SCHEDULE 5


(c) “United States Person” means any United States citizen, permanent resident alien, entity organized under the laws of the United States (including foreign branches), or any person (individual or entity) in the United States, and, with respect to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, also includes any corporation or other entity that is owned or controlled by one of the foregoing, without regard to where it is organized or doing business.

 

19.

ANTI-CORRUPTION LAWS

None of the Warrantors, their respective Subsidiaries, or to the Warrantor’s knowledge after due inquiry, any of their directors, administrators, officers, board of directors (supervisory and management) members or employees have, directly or indirectly, (A) made any payment or promise to pay, or gift or promise to give or authorized such a promise or gift, of any money or anything of value, directly or indirectly, to (a) any foreign official (as such term is defined in the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977) or domestic governmental officials for the purpose of influencing any official act or decision of such official or inducing him or her to use his or her influence to affect any act or decision of a governmental authority, or (b) any foreign or domestic political party or official thereof or candidate for foreign or domestic political office for the purpose of influencing any official act or decision of such party, official or candidate or inducing such party, official or candidate to use his, her or its influence to affect any act or decision of a foreign governmental authority, in the case of both (a) and (b) above in order to assist any Warrantor to obtain or retain business for, or direct business to any Warrantor, as applicable, subject to applicable exceptions and affirmative defenses; (B) used any funds or will use any proceeds from the sale of the Purchased Shares for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to foreign or domestic political activity; or (C) violated any provision of the PRC Anti-Unfair Competition Law, the PRC Criminal Law or the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder which was or is applicable to any member of the Group Companies or its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Anti-Corruption Laws”), and no action, suit, proceeding, investigation or inquiry by or before any Governmental Authority involving any member of the Group Companies with respect to the Anti-Corruption Laws is pending or, to the best of the Warrantor’s knowledge, threatened. None of Warrantors and their respective directors, administrators, officers, board of directors (supervisory and management) members or employees has made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment of funds or received or retained any funds in violation of any law, rule or regulation subject to applicable exceptions and affirmative defenses.

 

20.

INSURANCE

Section 20 of the Disclosure Schedule provides a complete list of each Group Company’s insurance policies currently in effect. No Group Company has done or omitted to do or suffered anything to be done or not to be done other than any acts in the ordinary course of business which has or would render any policies of insurance taken out by it or by any other person in relation to any such Group Company’s assets void or voidable or which would result in an increase in the rate of premiums on the said policies and there are no claims outstanding and no circumstances which would give rise to any claim under any such policies of insurance.

 

21.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND INVENTION ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENTS

Each current and former employee, consultant and officer of any Group Company has executed an agreement with such Group Company regarding confidentiality and proprietary information substantially in the form or forms delivered to the counsel for each Purchaser (the “Confidential Information Agreements”). No current or former Key Employee has excluded works or inventions from his or her assignment of inventions pursuant to such Key Employee’s Confidential Information Agreement. No Group Company is aware that any of the Key Employees is in violation thereof.

 

SCHEDULE 5


22.

GOVERNMENTAL AND OTHER PERMITS

22.1 Each Group Company has all franchises, governmental permits, licenses and any similar authority necessary for the conduct of its business. No Group Company is in default in any material respect under any of such franchises, governmental permits, licenses or other similar authority.

22.2 Each of the DomCo and the WFOE has applied and obtained all requisite licenses, clearance and permits required under PRC Laws as necessary for the conduct of its businesses, and each of the DomCo and the WFOE has complied in all material respects with all PRC Laws in connection with foreign exchange, including without limitation, carrying out all relevant filings, registrations and applications for relevant permits with the PRC State Administration of Foreign Exchange and any other relevant authorities, and all such permits are validly subsisting. The Founders and other PRC shareholders of the Company (as applicable) have complied with all reporting and/or registration requirements (including filings of amendments to existing registrations) under the SAFE Rules and Regulations, including without limitation, Circular 37.

22.3 The registered capital of each of the DomCo and the WFOE has been fully paid up in accordance with the schedule of payment stipulated in its articles of association and in compliance with PRC Laws, and there is no outstanding capital contribution commitment.

22.4 The respective articles of association, approval document, certificate of approval and legal person business license of each of the DomCo and the WFOE (hereinafter referred to as the “Establishment Documents”) have been duly approved and filed in accordance with the Laws of the PRC and are valid and enforceable.

22.5 The business scope specified in the Establishment Documents of each of the DomCo and the WFOE complies with the requirements of all relevant PRC Laws. The operation and conduct of the business by and the term of operation of each of the DomCo and the WFOE in accordance with the Establishment Documents is in compliance with the Laws of the PRC.

22.6 Section 22.6 of the Disclosure Schedule sets out full and accurate details of all loan agreements entered into by any Group Company regarding any inter-company loan, shareholders loan, foreign exchange loan or any other kind of loan obtained by it. Such loan agreements have been duly registered in accordance with the Laws of the PRC (where necessary) and all such registrations are validly subsisting under the Laws of the PRC. All proceeds from such loan agreements in an amount equal to the principal amount borrowed under such loan agreements was received by the applicable Group Companies used for such Group Companies’ operations and for working capital purposes.

 

23.

CORPORATE DOCUMENTS

The memorandum and articles of association, and all other constitutional documents (or analogous constitutional documents) of each Group Company are in the form provided to each Purchaser. The copy of the minute books of the Company provided to each Purchaser contains minutes of all meetings of directors and shareholders and all actions by written consent without a meeting by the directors and shareholders since the date of incorporation and accurately reflects in all material respects all actions by the directors (and any committee of directors) and shareholders with respect to all transactions referred to in such minutes.

 

24.

LIABILITIES

No Group Company has any liabilities of any nature, whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise, and whether due or to become due, except for (i) liabilities set forth in the Delivered Financial Statements of the Company, (ii) trade or business liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) other liabilities that do not exceed US$100,000 in the aggregate.

 

SCHEDULE 5


25.

COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS

25.1 Each Group Company is in material compliance with all applicable Laws applicable to it or to the conduct or operation of its business or the ownership or use of any of its assets or properties.

25.2 No event has occurred and no circumstance exists that to the Warrantors’ knowledge (i) may constitute or result in a violation by any Group Company, or a failure on the part of any Group Company to comply with any Law, or (ii) may give rise to any obligation on the part of any Group Company to undertake, or to bear all or any portion of the cost of, any remedial action of any nature, except for such violations or failures by a Group Company that, individually or in the aggregate, would not result in any Material Adverse Effect.

25.3 No Group Company has received any written notice from any Governmental Authority regarding (i) any actual, alleged or likely material violation of, or material failure to comply with, any Law, or (ii) any actual, alleged or likely material obligation on the part of any Group Company to undertake, or to bear all or any portion of the cost of, any remedial action of any nature.

25.4 No Group Company, nor any director, agent, employee or any other person acting for or on behalf of any Group Company, has directly or indirectly (i) made any contribution, gift, bribe, payoff, influence payment, kickback, or any other fraudulent payment in any form, whether in money, property, or services to any public official or otherwise (A) to obtain favorable treatment in securing business for a Group Company, (B) to pay for favorable treatment for business secured, or (C) to obtain special concessions or for special concessions already obtained, for or in respect of any Group Company, in each case which would have been in violation of any applicable Law or (ii) established or maintained any fund or assets in which any Group Company shall have proprietary rights that have not been recorded in the books and records of a Group Company. To the Warrantor’s knowledge after due inquiry, the operations of each member of the Group Companies are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting and other requirements of the anti-money laundering Laws of all relevant jurisdictions where the Group Companies have business activities (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit, proceeding, investigation or inquiry by or before any Governmental Authority involving any member of the Group Companies with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or threatened.

25.5 The restructuring transactions in connection with the termination of the previous “VIE” structure of the Group Companies and the Control Documents, including without limitation any Equity Transfers, are in compliance with all applicable PRC Laws, including without limitation Rules on Acquisition of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors (Circular of MOFCOM [2009] No. 6) ( LOGO ).

 

26.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY LAWS

To the Warrantors’ knowledge, no Group Company is in violation of any applicable statute, law, or regulation relating to the environment or occupational health and safety, except where such failure would not have a Material Adverse Effect on such Group Company’s business or properties, and no material expenditures are or will be required in order to comply with any such existing statute, law or regulation.

 

27.

MINUTES BOOK

The minutes books of each Group Company, which have been made available to the Purchasers, contain a complete summary of all meetings and actions taken by directors and shareholders or owners of such Group Company since its time of formation, and reflect all transactions referred to in such minutes accurately in all material respects.

 

SCHEDULE 5


28.

MANUFACTURE, MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS

Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Schedule, no Group Company has granted rights to manufacture, produce, assemble, license, market, or sell its respective products or services to any other person and is not bound by any agreement that affects any Group Company’s exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, assemble, distribute, market or sell its respective products or services.

 

29.

DISCLOSURE; PROJECTIONS

The Warrantors have made available to each Purchaser all the information reasonably available to the Warrantors that such Purchaser has requested for deciding whether to acquire the Purchased Shares, including certain of financial projections with respect to the Company (the “Projections”), each of which were prepared in good faith. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, no representation or warranty of any Warrantor contained in this Agreement, as qualified by the Disclosure Schedule (only to the extent fairly and specifically disclosed therein), no information or document provided or disclosed by the Warrantors to such Purchaser or its counsel in connection with the negotiation or execution of the Transaction Documents and certificate furnished or to be furnished to such Purchaser at the Closing contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made.

 

30.

BUSINESS PLAN AND BUDGET

The Company has delivered to each Purchaser on or before the Closing a business plan and budget for the twelve (12) months following the Closing (the “Business Plan”). Such Business Plan was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions and projections which the Founders believe are reasonable and not materially misleading.

 

31.

ENTIRE BUSINESS

There are no material facilities, services, assets or properties shared with any entity other than the Group Company which are used in connection with the business of each Group Company.

 

32.

NO LIQUIDATION OR REDEMPTION EVENT

There have not been any facts, events or circumstance that, individually or in the aggregate, will, or are reasonably expected to, (i) constitute a Liquidation Event (as defined in the current or past memorandum and articles of association of the Company), liquidation or similar event, or (ii) entitle any holder of Shares to require the Company to redeem any Shares, in each case pursuant to the current or past memorandum and articles of association of the Company.

 

SCHEDULE 5


SCHEDULE 6

DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE

 

SCHEDULE 6


SCHEDULE 7

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASERS

 

1.

AUTHORIZATION

Such Purchaser has full power, authority and legal capacity to enter into, deliver and perform the Transaction Documents. The Transaction Documents to which such Purchaser is a party, when executed and delivered by such Purchaser, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of such Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, and any other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and as limited by laws relating to the availability of a specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies, or (ii) to the extent the indemnification provisions contained in the Shareholders’ Agreement may be limited by applicable securities laws.

 

2.

DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

Such Purchaser has had an opportunity to discuss the Group Companies’ business, management, financial affairs and the terms and conditions of the offering of the Purchased Shares with the Group Companies’ management and has had an opportunity to review the Group Companies’ facilities. The foregoing, however, does not limit or modify the representations and warranties of the Warrantors in Section 5 of this Agreement, or the right of such Purchaser to rely thereon save as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule.

 

3.

PURCHASE ENTIRELY FOR OWN ACCOUNT

This Agreement is made with such Purchaser in reliance upon such Purchaser’s representation to the Company, which by such Purchaser’s execution of this Agreement, such Purchaser hereby confirms, that the Purchased Shares to be acquired by such Purchaser will be acquired for investment for such Purchaser’s own account, not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to the resale or distribution of any part thereof, and that such Purchaser has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same. By executing this Agreement, such Purchaser further represents that such Purchaser does not presently have any contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any Person to sell, transfer or grant participations to such Person or to any third Person, with respect to any of the Purchased Shares.

 

4.

RESTRICTED SECURITIES

Such Purchaser understands that the Purchased Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act, by reason of a specific exemption from the registration provisions of the Securities Act which depends upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of the investment intent and the accuracy of such Purchaser’s representations as expressed herein. Such Purchaser understands that the Purchased Shares are “restricted securities” under applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws and that, pursuant to these laws, such Purchaser must hold the Purchased Shares indefinitely unless they are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and qualified by state authorities, or an exemption from such registration and qualification requirements is available. Such Purchaser acknowledges that the Company has no obligation to register or qualify the Purchased Shares, the Conversion Shares for resale except as set forth in the Shareholders’ Agreement. Such Purchaser further acknowledges that if an exemption from registration or qualification is available, it may be conditioned on various requirements including, but not limited to, the time and manner of sale, the holding period for the Purchased Shares and on requirements relating to the Company which are outside of such Purchaser’s control, and which the Company is under no obligation and may not be able to satisfy. Such Purchaser understands that Company’s offering of Series E Preferred Shares and Series E-1 Preferred Shares under this Agreement is not intended to be part of the public offering, and that such Purchaser will not be able to rely on the protection of Section 11 of the Securities Act.

 

SCHEDULE 7


  5.

NO PUBLIC MARKET

Such Purchaser understands that no public market now exists for the Purchased Shares, and that the Company has made no assurances that a public market will ever exist for the Purchased Shares.

 

  6.

LEGENDS

6.1 Such Purchaser understands that the Purchased Shares and any securities issued in respect of or exchange for the Purchased Shares, may bear one or all of the following legends:

“THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AND HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THE SALE OR DISTRIBUTION THEREOF. NO SUCH TRANSFER MAY BE EFFECTED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATED THERETO OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IN A FORM SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY OR OTHER DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED BY THE COMPANY TO EVIDENCE THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.”

6.2 Any legend set forth in, or required by, the other Transaction Documents.

6.3 Any legend required by the securities laws of any state to the extent such laws are applicable to the Purchased Shares represented by the certificate so legended.

 

SCHEDULE 7


SCHEDULE 8

CAPITALIZATION TABLE

 

SCHEDULE 8


SCHEDULE 9

NOTICES

 

SCHEDULE 9


EXHIBIT A

RESTATED ARTICLES

 

EXHIBIT A


EXHIBIT B

SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT

 

EXHIBIT B


EXHIBIT C

COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

EXHIBIT C


EXHIBIT D

FORM OF MANAGEMENT RIGHTS LETTER

 

EXHIBIT D

Exhibit 10.9

ORDINARY SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This Ordinary Share Purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of January 8, 2021 by and among Tusimple (Cayman) Limited, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”); and Classic Elite Limited, an exempted company duly formed and validly existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Purchaser”).

RECITALS

A. The Company and each Purchaser is executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Rule 506 of Regulation D (“Regulation D”) as promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act.

B. Each Purchaser wishes to purchase, and the Company wishes to sell, upon the terms and conditions stated in this Agreement, such number of shares of the ordinary shares (the “Ordinary Shares”) of the Company as specified herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each Purchaser hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

1.1 Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated in this Section 1.1:

Affiliateshall have the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 of the regulations promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Agreement” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble.

Allocated Shares” means with respect to such number of whole shares of Ordinary Shares equal to the quotient resulting from dividing (i) the Subscription Amount by (ii) the Purchase Price, rounded down to the nearest share.

Closing” means the closing of the purchase by the Purchaser and sale by the Company of the Allocated Shares to the Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement on the Closing Date as provided in Section 2 hereof, which shall be contingent on and concurrent with the closing of the sale and issuance of shares of Ordinary Shares by the Company pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.

Closing Date” shall be the First Time of Delivery (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement). 

 

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Company Counsel” means Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP.

Company Deliverables” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

Company’s Knowledge” means the actual knowledge of the executive officers (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of the Company, after due inquiry.

IPO” means the proposed underwritten initial public offering of shares of the Company’s Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement, with aggregate gross proceeds (prior to any underwriting discounts and commissions) to the Company of not less than US$600 million.

Lien” means any lien, charge, claim, encumbrance, security interest, right of first refusal, preemptive right or other restrictions of any kind.

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the results of operations, assets, liabilities, business, or financial condition of the Company, taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement, except that any of the following, either alone or in combination, shall not be deemed a Material Adverse Effect: (i) effects caused by changes or circumstances affecting general market conditions in the U.S. economy or which are generally applicable to the industry in which the Company operates, (ii) effects resulting from or relating to the announcement or disclosure of the sale of the Shares or other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (iii) effects caused by any event, occurrence or condition resulting from or relating to the taking of any action in accordance with this Agreement.

Material Contract” means any contract of the Company that has been filed or was required to have been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement pursuant to Item 601(b)(4) or Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K.

Ordinary Shares” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals, and also includes any securities into which the Ordinary Shares may hereafter be reclassified or changed.

Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, business trust, association, joint stock company, joint venture, sole proprietorship, unincorporated organization, governmental authority or any other form of entity not specifically listed herein.

Purchase Price” means the per share initial public offering price in the IPO (prior to any underwriting discounts and commissions).

Purchaser Deliverables” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b).

Registration Statement” means the registration statement on Form S-1 initially submitted confidentially to the Commission on December 23, 2020, as amended from time to time, including a prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act and any free writing prospectuses, relating to the underwritten public offering of shares of the Company’s Ordinary Shares.

 

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Rights Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement, dated December 4, 2020, by and among the Company and the investors named therein.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Shares” means the total number of Allocated Shares purchased by the Purchasers under this Agreement.

Subscription Amount” means US$25,000,000.00.

Underwriting Agreement” means that certain Underwriting Agreement expected to be entered into by and among the Company and the several underwriters of the Company’s Ordinary Shares in connection with the IPO (together, the “Underwriters”), relating to the underwritten public offering of shares of the Company’s Ordinary Shares as described in the Registration Statement.

Voting Securities” shall mean at any time shares of any class of capital stock of the Company which are then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

ARTICLE 2

PURCHASE AND SALE

2.1 Closing.

(a) Amount. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing, the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchaser the Allocated Shares, and the Purchaser shall purchase the Allocated Shares from the Company.

(b) Closing. The Closing of the purchase and sale of the Allocated Shares to the Purchaser shall be contingent on and shall take place concurrently with the closing of the IPO at the offices of Company Counsel, 550 Allerton Street, Redwood City, California 94063 on the Closing Date or at such other locations or remotely by facsimile transmission or other electronic means as the parties may mutually agree.

(c) Form of Payment. On the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall wire the Subscription Amount, in United States dollars and in immediately available funds, by wire transfer to the Company’s account, as set forth in instructions previously provided to the Purchaser.

2.2 Closing Deliveries.

(a) On the Closing, the Company shall issue the Allocated Shares registered in the name of the Purchaser (the “Company Deliverables”), which Allocated Shares shall be uncertificated shares held in electronic book entry at the Company’s transfer agent.

(b) On or prior to the Closing, the Purchaser shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company the Subscription Amount, in United States dollars and in immediately available funds, by wire transfer to the Company’s account as previously provided to the Purchaser (the “Purchaser Deliverables”).

 

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ARTICLE 3

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

3.1 Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents and warrants as of the date hereof and the Closing Date (except for the representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be made as of such date), to the Purchaser that, except as set forth in the schedules delivered herewith or disclosed in the Registration Statement:

(a) Organization and Qualification. The Company is an entity duly incorporated or otherwise organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its respective incorporation, with the requisite corporate power and authority to own or lease and use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted. The Company is not in violation of any of the provisions of its Memorandum and Articles of Association. The Company is duly qualified to conduct business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other entity in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Authorization; Enforcement; Validity. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, and no further corporate action is required by the Company, its Board of Directors or its shareholders in connection therewith. This Agreement has been duly executed by the Company and when delivered in accordance with the terms hereof will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors’ rights and remedies or by other equitable principles of general application. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, there are no shareholder agreements, voting agreements, or other similar arrangements with respect to the Company’s capital stock to which the Company is a party or, to the Company’s Knowledge, between or among any of the Company’s shareholders.

(c) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (i) conflict with or violate any provisions of the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association or otherwise result in a violation of the organizational documents of the Company, (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any Material Contract, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction of any court or governmental authority to which the Company is subject, or by which any property or asset of the Company is bound or affected, except in the case of clause (iii) such as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(d) Issuance of the Securities. The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free and clear of all Liens, other than restrictions imposed by any lock-up or market stand-off agreements to which the Purchaser is party or applicable securities laws, and shall not be subject to preemptive or similar rights. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Purchaser in this Agreement, the Shares will be issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws.

(e) Private Placement. Assuming the accuracy of the Purchaser’s representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2 of this Agreement, no registration under the Securities Act is required for the offer and sale of the Allocated Shares by the Company to the Purchaser under this Agreement.

(f) Brokers and Finders. No Person will have, as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any valid right, interest or claim against or upon the Company or the Purchaser for any commission, fee or other compensation pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into by or on behalf of the Company.

3.2 Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser. The Purchaser hereby represents and warrants as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date to the Company as follows:

(a) Organization; Authority. The Purchaser is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization with the requisite corporate or partnership power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder. The execution, delivery and performance by the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or, if the Purchaser is not a corporation, such partnership, limited liability company or other applicable like action, on the part of the Purchaser. This Agreement has been duly executed by the Purchaser and when delivered by the Purchaser in accordance with the terms hereof will constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors’ rights and remedies or by other equitable principles of general application.

(b) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Purchaser of this Agreement and the consummation by the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (i) result in a violation of the organizational documents of the Purchaser, (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Purchaser is a party, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws) applicable to the Purchaser, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for such conflicts, defaults, rights or violations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Purchaser to perform its obligations hereunder.

 

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(c) Restricted Securities. The Purchaser understands that the Allocated Shares are being issued in a transaction that was not, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act by reason of a specific exemption from the registration provisions of the Securities Act which depends upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of the investment intent and the accuracy of the Purchaser’s representations as expressed herein. The Purchaser understands that the Allocated Shares are “restricted securities” under applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws and that, pursuant to these laws, the Purchaser must hold the Allocated Shares indefinitely unless they are registered with the Commission and qualified by state authorities, or an exemption from such registration and qualification requirements is available. The Purchaser acknowledges that the Company has no obligation to register or qualify the Allocated Shares for resale. The Purchaser further acknowledges that if an exemption from registration or qualification is available, it may be conditioned on various requirements including, but not limited to, the time and manner of sale, the holding period for the Allocated Shares, and on requirements relating to the Company which are outside of the Purchaser’s control, and which the Company is under no obligation and may not be able to satisfy.

(d) Accredited Investor. The Purchaser is an accredited investor as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act. The Purchaser’s principal executive offices are in the jurisdiction set forth immediately below the Purchaser’s name on the applicable signature page attached hereto.

(e) Experience of the Purchaser. The Purchaser, either alone or together with its representatives, has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in business and financial matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment in the Allocated Shares, and has so evaluated the merits and risks of such investment. The Purchaser is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Allocated Shares and is able to afford a complete loss of such investment.

(f) Access to Information. The Purchaser acknowledges that it has received all the information it considers necessary or appropriate for deciding whether to purchase the Allocated Shares and has been afforded (i) the opportunity to ask such questions as it has deemed necessary of, and to receive answers from, representatives of the Company concerning the terms and conditions of the offering of the Allocated Shares and the merits and risks of investing in the Allocated Shares; (ii) access to information about the Company and its respective financial condition, results of operations, business, properties, management and prospects sufficient to enable it to evaluate its investment; and (iii) the opportunity to obtain such additional information that the Company possesses or can acquire without unreasonable effort or expense that is necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to the investment. Neither such inquiries nor any other investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Purchaser or its representatives or counsel shall modify, amend or affect the Purchaser’s right to rely on the truth, accuracy and completeness of the Company’s representations and warranties contained in this Agreement.

 

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(g) Brokers and Finders. No Person will have, as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any valid right, interest or claim against or upon the Company or the Purchaser for any commission, fee or other compensation pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into by or on behalf of the Purchaser.

(h) Reliance on Exemptions. The Purchaser understands that the Allocated Shares being offered and sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying in part upon the truth and accuracy of, and the Purchaser’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgements and understandings of the Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Purchaser to acquire the Allocated Shares.

(i) Market Stand-Off. The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that it is bound by the market stand-off agreement set forth in Section 11 of Exhibit B to the Rights Agreement, and such agreement is in full force and effect, and following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, including with respect to the Allocated Shares, and agrees to be bound thereby with respect to the Allocated Shares.

(j) Legends. The Purchaser understands that the Allocated Shares may bear one or all of the following legends:

(i) “THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION THAT WAS NOT REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AND HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THE SALE OR DISTRIBUTION THEREOF. NO SUCH SALE OR DISTRIBUTION MAY BE EFFECTED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATED THERETO OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IN A FORM REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.”

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A LOCK-UP PERIOD AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE ISSUER’S REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED UNDER THE ACT, AS AMENDED, AS SET FORTH IN AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE ORIGINAL HOLDER OF THESE SECURITIES, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE ISSUER’S PRINCIPAL OFFICE. SUCH LOCK-UP PERIOD IS BINDING ON TRANSFEREES OF THESE SHARES.”

(ii) Any legend required by the Blue Sky laws of any state to the extent such laws are applicable to the Allocated Shares represented by the certificate so legended.

 

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ARTICLE 4

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CLOSING

4.1 Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of the Purchaser to Purchase Shares at the Closing. The obligation of the Purchaser to acquire the Allocated Shares at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to the Purchaser’s satisfaction, on or prior to the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, any of which may be waived by the Purchaser:

(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct in all material respects (except for those representations and warranties which are qualified as to materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date, except for such representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date.

(b) IPO Shares. The Underwriters shall have purchased, concurrent with the purchase of the Allocated Shares by the Purchaser hereunder, the Firm Shares (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) at the same purchase price (less any underwriting discounts or commissions) per share payable by the Purchaser hereunder.

(c) No Injunction. No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(d) Company Deliverables. The Company shall have delivered the Company Deliverables in accordance with Section 2.2(a).

4.2 Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of the Company to sell Shares at the Closing. The Company’s obligation to sell and issue to the Purchaser the Allocated Shares at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to the satisfaction of the Company on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions, any of which may be waived by the Company:

(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained herein shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement, and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date, except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date.

(b) IPO Shares. The Underwriters shall have purchased, concurrent with the purchase of the Allocated Shares by the Purchaser hereunder, the Firm Shares (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) at the same purchase price (less any underwriting discounts or commissions) per share payable by the Purchaser hereunder.

(c) No Injunction. No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

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(d) Purchaser Deliverables. The Purchaser shall have delivered the Purchaser Deliverables in accordance with Section 2.2(b), as well as any information required by the Company’s transfer agent in order to establish an electronic book entry for the Purchaser.

(e) Lock-Up Agreement. The Purchaser shall have executed and delivered to the Underwriters a lock-up agreement in substantially the form delivered to the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, and such Lock-Up Agreement shall be in full force and effect.

ARTICLE 5

MISCELLANEOUS

5.1 Termination. This Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the earliest to occur of (i) a written notice from the Company to the Purchaser, provided that such notice shall be delivered prior to the public filing of the Registration Statement, (ii) the withdrawal by the Company of the Registration Statement, or (iii) following the execution of the Underwriting Agreement, the termination of such Underwriting Agreement in accordance with its terms.

5.2 Fees and Expenses. Each party shall pay its own fees and expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.

5.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with any exhibits and schedules hereto, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements, understandings, discussions and representations, oral or written, with respect to such matters, which the parties acknowledge have been merged into such documents, exhibits and schedules. At or after the Closing, and without further consideration, the Company and the Purchaser will execute and deliver to the other such further documents as may be reasonably requested in order to give practical effect to the intention of the parties under this Agreement.

5.4 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. The address for such notices and communications shall be as follows:

 

If to the Company:    Tusimple (Cayman) Limited
   9191 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 600
   San Diego, California 92122
   Attention: Cheng Lu, President and CEO
With a copy to:   

Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin

& Hachigian, LLP

   550 Allerton Street
   Redwood City, California 94063
   Attention: Zhen Liu and Jeff Vetter
If to the Purchaser:    Class Elite Limited c/o 38th Floor, Champion
   Tower, 3 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong
   Attention: Daniel Wong/ Derek Fong

 

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or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same manner, by such Person.

5.5 Amendments; Waivers; No Additional Consideration. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

5.6 Construction. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

5.7 Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and their successors (including without limitation any continued entity by way of reorganization, redomestication or continuation) and permitted assigns. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person.

5.8 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.

5.9 Survival. The representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the Closing and the delivery of the Shares for a period of one (1) year from the Closing Date. The agreements and covenants contained herein shall survive for the applicable statute of limitations.

5.10 Execution. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart.

5.11 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, the validity and enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and the parties will attempt to agree upon a valid and enforceable provision that is a reasonable substitute therefor, and upon so agreeing, shall incorporate such substitute provision in this Agreement.

5.12 Remedies. In addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or granted by law, including recovery of damages, each Purchaser and the Company will be entitled to specific performance under this Agreement. The parties agree that monetary damages may not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of any breach of obligations described in the foregoing sentence and hereby agree to waive in any action for specific performance of any such obligation (other than in connection with any action for a temporary restraining order) the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Ordinary Share Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.

 

COMPANY:

TUSIMPLE (CAYMAN) LIMITED

By:  

/s/ Cheng Lu

Name:   Cheng Lu
Title:   President


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Ordinary Share Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.

 

PURCHASER:

CLASSIC ELITE LIMITED

By:  

/s/ Peter A. Allen

Name:   Peter A. Allen
Title:   Director

Exhibit 10.10

ORDINARY SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This Ordinary Share Purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of January 22, 2021 by and among Tusimple (Cayman) Limited, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”); and Perry Creek Capital Partners LP, an exempted company duly formed and validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Purchaser”).

RECITALS

A. The Company and the Purchaser is executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Rule 506 of Regulation D (“Regulation D”) as promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act.

B. Contemporaneously with the execution hereof, the Purchaser is entering into, and becoming an “Additional Purchaser” under, the Series E Preferred Share Purchase Agreement dated as of November 27, 2020 (the “Series E Purchase Agreement”) by and among the Company, certain affiliates thereof, certain purchasers of the Company’s Series E preferred shares (“Series E Shares”) and certain other parties thereto.

C. The Purchaser wishes to purchase, and the Company wishes to sell, upon the terms and conditions stated in this Agreement, such number of shares of the Ordinary Shares (as defined below) of the Company as specified herein.

D. The purchase by Purchaser of Ordinary Shares hereunder is expected to occur concurrently with the closing of the IPO (as defined below).

E. In addition to the purchase by Purchaser of Ordinary Shares hereunder, the Company may sell Ordinary Shares to certain third parties in private placements contingent on and concurrently with the closing of the IPO.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

1.1 Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated in this Section 1.1:

Affiliateshall have the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 of the regulations promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

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Agreement” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble.

Allocated Shares” means with respect to such number of whole shares of Ordinary Shares equal to the quotient resulting from dividing (i) the Subscription Amount by (ii) the Purchase Price, rounded down to the nearest share.

Closing” means the closing of the purchase by the Purchaser and sale by the Company of the Allocated Shares to the Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement on the Closing Date as provided in Section 2 hereof, which shall be contingent on and concurrent with the closing of the IPO.

Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b). 

Company Counsel” means Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP.

Company Deliverables” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

Company’s Knowledge” means the actual knowledge of the executive officers (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of the Company, after due inquiry.

IPO” means the proposed underwritten initial public offering of the Company’s Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement, immediately following which the Ordinary Shares will be traded on a United States national stock exchange.

Lien” means any lien, charge, claim, encumbrance, security interest, right of first refusal, preemptive right or other restrictions of any kind.

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the results of operations, assets, liabilities, business, or financial condition of the Company, taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement, except that any of the following, either alone or in combination, shall not be deemed a Material Adverse Effect: (i) effects caused by changes or circumstances affecting general market conditions in the U.S. economy or which are generally applicable to the industry in which the Company operates, (ii) effects resulting from or relating to the announcement or disclosure of the sale of the Shares or other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (iii) effects caused by any event, occurrence or condition resulting from or relating to the taking of any action in accordance with this Agreement.

Material Contract” means any contract of the Company that has been filed or was required to have been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement pursuant to Item 601(b)(4) or Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K.

Ordinary Shares” means the ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share, of the Company, and also includes any securities into which the Ordinary Shares may hereafter be reclassified or changed.

 

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Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, business trust, association, joint stock company, joint venture, sole proprietorship, unincorporated organization, governmental authority or any other form of entity not specifically listed herein.

Purchase Price” means the per share initial public offering price in the IPO (prior to any underwriting discounts and commissions).

Purchaser Deliverables” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b).

Registration Statement” means the registration statement on Form S-1 initially submitted confidentially to the Commission on December 23, 2020, as amended from time to time, including a prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act and any free writing prospectuses, relating to the underwritten public offering of the Company’s Ordinary Shares.

Rights Agreement” means that certain Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement, dated December 4, 2020, by and among the Company, certain Affiliates thereof, the investors named therein and certain other parties thereto.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Shares” means the total number of Allocated Shares purchased by the Purchasers under this Agreement.

Subscription Amount” means US$3,394,353.00.

Underwriting Agreement” means that certain Underwriting Agreement expected to be entered into by and among the Company and the several underwriters of the Company’s Ordinary Shares in connection with the IPO (together, the “Underwriters”), relating to the underwritten public offering of shares of the Company’s Ordinary Shares as described in the Registration Statement.

Voting Securities” shall mean, at any time, shares of any class of capital stock of the Company which are then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

ARTICLE 2

PURCHASE AND SALE

2.1 Closing.

(a) Amount. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing, the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchaser the Allocated Shares, and the Purchaser shall purchase the Allocated Shares from the Company.

(b) Closing. The Closing of the purchase and sale of the Allocated Shares to the Purchaser shall, subject to Section 4.1 and Section 4.2, be contingent on and shall take place concurrently with the closing of the IPO (the date of such closing, the “Closing Date”) at the offices of Company Counsel, 550 Allerton Street, Redwood City, California 94063 or at such other locations or remotely by facsimile transmission or other electronic means as the parties may mutually agree.

 

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(c) Form of Payment. On the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall wire the Subscription Amount, in United States dollars and in immediately available funds, by wire transfer to the Company’s account, as set forth in instructions previously provided to the Purchaser.

2.2 Closing Deliveries.

(a) On the Closing, the Company shall issue the Allocated Shares registered in the name of the Purchaser (the “Company Deliverables”), which Allocated Shares shall be uncertificated shares held in electronic book entry at the Company’s transfer agent.

(b) On or prior to the Closing, the Purchaser shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company the Subscription Amount, in United States dollars and in immediately available funds, by wire transfer to the Company’s account as previously provided to the Purchaser (the “Purchaser Deliverables”).

ARTICLE 3

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

3.1 Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents and warrants as of the date hereof and the Closing Date (except for the representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be made as of such date), to the Purchaser that, except as set forth in the schedules delivered herewith:

(a) Organization and Qualification. The Company is an entity duly incorporated or otherwise organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its respective incorporation, with the requisite corporate power and authority to own or lease and use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted. The Company is not in violation of any of the provisions of its Memorandum and Articles of Association. The Company is duly qualified to conduct business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other entity in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Authorization; Enforcement; Validity. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, and no further corporate action is required by the Company, its Board of Directors or its shareholders in connection therewith. This Agreement has been duly executed by the Company and when delivered in accordance with the terms hereof will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors’ rights and remedies or by other equitable principles of general application. Except as disclosed in the

 

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Registration Statement, there are no share purchase agreements, shareholder agreements, voting agreements, or other similar arrangements with respect to the Company’s capital stock to which the Company is a party or, to the Company’s Knowledge, between or among any of the Company’s shareholders.

(c) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (i) conflict with or violate any provisions of the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association or otherwise result in a violation of the organizational documents of the Company, (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any Material Contract, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction of any court or governmental authority to which the Company is subject, or by which any property or asset of the Company is bound or affected, except in the case of clause (iii) such as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Issuance of the Securities. The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free and clear of all Liens, other than restrictions imposed by any lock-up or market stand-off agreements to which the Purchaser is party (subject to any modifications or limitations to such agreements provided for herein) or applicable securities laws, and shall not be subject to preemptive or similar rights. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Purchaser in this Agreement, the Shares will be issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws.

(e) Private Placement. Assuming the accuracy of the Purchaser’s representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2 of this Agreement, no registration under the Securities Act is required for the offer and sale of the Allocated Shares by the Company to the Purchaser under this Agreement.

(f) Brokers and Finders. No Person will have, as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any valid right, interest or claim against or upon the Company or the Purchaser for any commission, fee or other compensation pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Affiliates.

(g) Representations and Warranties in Series E Purchase Agreement. The representations and warranties made by the Warrantors (as defined in the Series E Purchase Agreement) in the Series E Purchase Agreement pursuant to Section 4 and Schedule 5 thereof are true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof.

 

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3.2 Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser. The Purchaser hereby represents and warrants as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date to the Company as follows:

(a) Organization; Authority. The Purchaser is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization with the requisite corporate or partnership power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder. The execution, delivery and performance by the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or, if the Purchaser is not a corporation, such partnership, limited liability company or other applicable like action, on the part of the Purchaser. This Agreement has been duly executed by the Purchaser and when delivered by the Purchaser in accordance with the terms hereof will constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors’ rights and remedies or by other equitable principles of general application.

(b) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Purchaser of this Agreement and the consummation by the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (i) result in a violation of the organizational documents of the Purchaser, (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Purchaser is a party, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws) applicable to the Purchaser, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for such conflicts, defaults, rights or violations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Purchaser to perform its obligations hereunder.

(c) Restricted Securities. The Purchaser understands that the Allocated Shares are being issued in a transaction that was not, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act by reason of a specific exemption from the registration provisions of the Securities Act which depends upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of the investment intent and the accuracy of the Purchaser’s representations as expressed herein. The Purchaser understands that the Allocated Shares are “restricted securities” under applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws and that, pursuant to these laws, the Purchaser must hold the Allocated Shares indefinitely until such Shares are registered with the Commission and qualified by state authorities, or an exemption from such registration and qualification requirements is available. The Purchaser acknowledges that the Company has no obligation to register or qualify the Allocated Shares for resale other than as set forth in the Rights Agreement. The Purchaser further acknowledges that if an exemption from registration or qualification is available, it may be conditioned on various requirements including, but not limited to, the time and manner of sale, the holding period for the Allocated Shares, and on requirements relating to the Company which are outside of the Purchaser’s control, and which the Company is under no obligation and may not be able to satisfy.

(d) Accredited Investor. The Purchaser is an accredited investor as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act. The Purchaser’s principal executive offices are in the jurisdiction set forth immediately below the Purchaser’s name on the applicable signature page attached hereto.

 

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(e) Experience of the Purchaser. The Purchaser, either alone or together with its representatives, has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in business and financial matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment in the Allocated Shares, and has so evaluated the merits and risks of such investment. The Purchaser is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Allocated Shares and is able to afford a complete loss of such investment.

(f) Access to Information. The Purchaser acknowledges that it has received all the information it considers necessary or appropriate for deciding whether to purchase the Allocated Shares and has been afforded (i) the opportunity to ask such questions as it has deemed necessary of, and to receive answers from, representatives of the Company concerning the terms and conditions of the offering of the Allocated Shares and the merits and risks of investing in the Allocated Shares; (ii) access to information about the Company and its respective financial condition, results of operations, business, properties, management and prospects sufficient to enable it to evaluate its investment; and (iii) the opportunity to obtain such additional information that the Company possesses or can acquire without unreasonable effort or expense that is necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to the investment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither such inquiries nor any other investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Purchaser or its representatives or counsel shall modify, amend or affect the Purchaser’s right to rely on the truth, accuracy and completeness of the Company’s representations and warranties contained in this Agreement.

(g) Brokers and Finders. No Person will have, as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any valid right, interest or claim against or upon the Company or the Purchaser for any commission, fee or other compensation pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into by or on behalf of the Purchaser.

(h) Reliance on Exemptions. The Purchaser understands that the Allocated Shares being offered and sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying in part upon the truth and accuracy of, and the Purchaser’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgements and understandings of the Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Purchaser to acquire the Allocated Shares.

(i) Market Stand-Off. The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that, it is bound by the market stand-off agreement set forth in Section 11 of Exhibit B to the Rights Agreement (the “Market Stand-Off”), and such agreement is in full force and effect, and following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, including with respect to the Allocated Shares, and agrees, to be bound thereby with respect to the Allocated Shares.

 

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(j) Legends. The Purchaser understands that the Allocated Shares may bear one or all of the following legends:

(i) “THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION THAT WAS NOT REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AND HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THE SALE OR DISTRIBUTION THEREOF. NO SUCH SALE OR DISTRIBUTION MAY BE EFFECTED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATED THERETO OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IN A FORM REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.”

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A LOCK-UP PERIOD AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE ISSUER’S REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED UNDER THE ACT, AS AMENDED, AS SET FORTH IN AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE ORIGINAL HOLDER OF THESE SECURITIES, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE ISSUER’S PRINCIPAL OFFICE. SUCH LOCK-UP PERIOD IS BINDING ON TRANSFEREES OF THESE SHARES.”

(ii) Any legend required by the Blue Sky laws of any state to the extent such laws are applicable to the Allocated Shares represented by the certificate so legended.

ARTICLE 4

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CLOSING

4.1 Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of the Purchaser to Purchase Shares at the Closing. The obligation of the Purchaser to acquire the Allocated Shares at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to the Purchaser’s satisfaction, on or prior to the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, any of which may be waived by the Purchaser:

(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date, except for such representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date.

(b) IPO. On or prior to July 15, 2021, (i) the Underwriters shall have purchased, concurrent with the purchase of the Allocated Shares by the Purchaser hereunder, the Firm Shares (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) at the same purchase price (less any underwriting discounts or commissions) per share payable by the Purchaser hereunder and (ii) the Company shall have received net proceeds equal to at least $500,000,000 from the IPO.

(c) No Injunction. No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(d) Company Deliverables. The Company shall have delivered the Company Deliverables in accordance with Section 2.2(a).

 

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(e) No Other Financing. Other than the sales and issuances of Series E Shares pursuant to the Series E Purchase Agreement, there has been no other capital raise (including any issuance of any security, note or other instrument convertible or exchangeable into equity securities of the Company) effected or agreed to by the Company since the date of this Agreement.

(f) No Material Adverse Effect. Since this date of this Agreement, no event, circumstance or change shall have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate with one or more other events, circumstances or changes, have had or reasonably could be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

4.2 Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of the Company to sell Shares at the Closing. The Company’s obligation to sell and issue to the Purchaser the Allocated Shares at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to the satisfaction of the Company on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions, any of which may be waived by the Company:

(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained herein shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement, and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date, except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date.

(b) IPO Shares. The Underwriters shall have purchased, concurrent with the purchase of the Allocated Shares by the Purchaser hereunder, the Firm Shares (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) at the same purchase price (less any underwriting discounts or commissions) per share payable by the Purchaser hereunder.

(c) No Injunction. No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(d) Purchaser Deliverables. The Purchaser shall have delivered the Purchaser Deliverables in accordance with Section 2.2(b), as well as any information required by the Company’s transfer agent in order to establish an electronic book entry for the Purchaser.

(e) Lock-Up Agreement. The Purchaser shall have executed and delivered to the Underwriters a lock-up agreement in substantially the form previously provided to the Purchaser (the “Lock-Up Agreement”), and such Lock-Up Agreement shall be in full force and effect.

ARTICLE 5

CERTAIN RIGHTS OF THE PURCHASER

5.1 Registrable Securities. The Company acknowledges that all of the Allocated Shares purchased by the Purchaser hereunder shall be deemed “Registrable Securities” for purposes of the Rights Agreement.

 

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5.2 Most Favored Nation. The Company hereby represents and warrants that it has provided to the Purchaser an accurate written summary in reasonable detail of each agreement or understanding between the Company (or any Affiliate) and any other investor in connection with a capital raise through the issuance and sale of Ordinary Shares (any such investor, an “Other Ordinary Share Investor”) as of the date of this Agreement that provides such Other Ordinary Share Investor with any right, benefit, term or condition that is different from the rights, benefits, terms and conditions established in favor of the Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement (including, without limitation, as regards the applicability of any lock-up period or other restriction on selling Ordinary Shares, whether under the Lock-Up Agreement, the Market Stand-Off or otherwise) (such different rights, benefits, terms or conditions collectively, the “Other Terms”; any such agreement or understanding providing for Other Terms, an “Other Ordinary Share Investor Agreement”), if any. The Company further agrees that if any Other Ordinary Share Investor is granted any Other Terms prior to the Closing (including, without limitation, pursuant to an Other Ordinary Investor Agreement in place as of the date hereof), the Company shall notify the Purchaser promptly (and in any event within five business days) of such Other Terms being granted, including a summary in reasonable detail thereof and of the applicable Other Ordinary Share Investor Agreement, and shall offer such Other Terms to the Purchaser. If the Purchaser elects to accept any Other Terms, such Other Terms shall apply retroactively as of the date of this Agreement (or, if earlier, as of the date such Other Terms were granted to the Other Ordinary Share Investor).

5.3 Use of Name. Except as required under applicable laws and regulations, the Company shall not (and shall cause its Affiliates, employees, service providers and agents not to), without the prior written consent of the Purchaser, (a) use, whether orally or in writing, in advertising, publicity or otherwise, the name, address or other identifying information of the Purchaser, any Affiliate of the Purchaser or any derivative thereof, or any director, officer or employee of the Purchaser or its Affiliates, (b) represent, directly or indirectly, that any product or any service provided by the Company or any of its Affiliates has been approved or endorsed by the Purchaser or any of its Affiliates or (c) disclose, whether orally or in writing, any relationship with the Purchaser using the Purchaser’s or any Affiliate’s name, for any reason.

5.4 Indemnity. The Company will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Purchaser and its Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents and representatives against: all losses, damages, costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) arising out of any breach by the Company of this Agreement, including any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other obligation of the Company hereunder, except, in each case, for obligations, demands, claims, liabilities and losses caused by the Purchaser’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

5.5 Further Assurance. From the date of this Agreement until the Closing Date, the Company shall, from time to time upon request by Purchaser, use their reasonable best efforts, execute and deliver such additional documents and take such further actions, in each case, to fulfill or obtain the fulfillment of the conditions precedent to the consummation of, and generally to effectuate, the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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ARTICLE 6

MISCELLANEOUS

6.1 Termination. This Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the earliest to occur of (i) a written notice from the Company to the Purchaser, provided that such notice shall be delivered prior to the public filing of the Registration Statement, subject to the consent of the Purchaser to such termination, provided further that such consent shall not be required in the event such termination is required under applicable laws and regulations, (ii) the withdrawal by the Company of the Registration Statement, or (iii) following the execution of the Underwriting Agreement, the termination of such Underwriting Agreement in accordance with its terms.

6.2 Fees and Expenses. Each party shall pay its own fees and expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.

6.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with any exhibits and schedules hereto, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements, understandings, discussions and representations, oral or written, with respect to such matters, which the parties acknowledge have been merged into such documents, exhibits and schedules. At or after the Closing, and without further consideration, the Company and the Purchaser will execute and deliver to the other such further documents as may be reasonably requested in order to give practical effect to the intention of the parties under this Agreement.

6.4 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. The address for such notices and communications shall be as follows:

 

If to the Company:    Tusimple (Cayman) Limited
   9191 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 600
   San Diego, California 92122
   Attention: Cheng Lu, President and CEO
With a copy to:   

Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin

& Hachigian, LLP

   550 Allerton Street
   Redwood City, California 94063
   Attention: Zhen Liu and Jeff Vetter
If to the Purchaser:   

c/o Perry Creek Capital LP

150 E. 58th Street, 17th Floor

New York, New York 10155

With a copy to:    Purrington Moody Weil LLP
   414 W. 14th Street, 4th Floor
  

New York, NY 10014

Attention: David K. Moody

 

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or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same manner, by such Person.

6.5 Amendments; Waivers; No Additional Consideration. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

6.6 Construction. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

6.7 Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and their successors (including without limitation any continued entity by way of reorganization, redomestication or continuation) and permitted assigns. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person.

6.8 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.

6.9 Survival. The representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3.1(a), (b), (c) and (d) shall survive the Closing and the delivery of the Shares until the latest date permitted by laws or indefinitely if such date is not provided. The representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3.1(e) and (f) shall survive the Closing and the delivery of the Shares for a period until two (2) years after the Closing. The representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.1(g) shall survive the Closing and the delivery of the Shares for the applicable period with respect to such representations and warranties set forth in the Series E Purchase Agreement. The agreements and covenants contained herein shall survive for the applicable statute of limitations; provided that (i) the Company’s covenants contained in Section 5.3 hereof, and Sections 6.4, 6.5, 6.8 and 6.12 and this Section 6.9, shall survive indefinitely and (ii) the Company’s indemnification obligations provided in Section 5.4 shall survive, with respect to each of the Company’s representations, warranties, covenants and agreements hereunder, for so long as such representation, warranty, covenant or agreement (as applicable) survives pursuant to this Section 6.9.

6.10 Execution. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart.

6.11 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, the validity and enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and the parties will attempt to agree upon a valid and enforceable provision that is a reasonable substitute therefor, and upon so agreeing, shall incorporate such substitute provision in this Agreement.

 

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6.12 Remedies. In addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or granted by law, including recovery of damages, the Purchaser and the Company will be entitled to specific performance under this Agreement. The parties agree that monetary damages may not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of any breach of obligations described in the foregoing sentence and hereby agree to waive in any action for specific performance of any such obligation (other than in connection with any action for a temporary restraining order) the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Ordinary Share Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.

 

COMPANY:
TUSIMPLE (CAYMAN) LIMITED
By:  

/s/ Cheng Lu

Name:   Cheng Lu
Title:   President


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Ordinary Share Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.

 

PURCHASER:

Perry Creek Capital Partners LP

By: Perry Creek Capital Partners GP LLC, its general partner

By:  

/s/ Brian Zingale

Name:   Brian Zingale
Title:   Parnter

Exhibit 10.11

ORDINARY SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This Ordinary Share Purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of January 22, 2021 by and among Tusimple (Cayman) Limited, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”); and Perry Creek Capital Fund II LP, an exempted company duly formed and validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Purchaser”).

RECITALS

A. The Company and the Purchaser is executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Rule 506 of Regulation D (“Regulation D”) as promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act.

B. Contemporaneously with the execution hereof, the Purchaser is entering into, and becoming an “Additional Purchaser” under, the Series E Preferred Share Purchase Agreement dated as of November 27, 2020 (the “Series E Purchase Agreement”) by and among the Company, certain affiliates thereof, certain purchasers of the Company’s Series E preferred shares (“Series E Shares”) and certain other parties thereto.

C. The Purchaser wishes to purchase, and the Company wishes to sell, upon the terms and conditions stated in this Agreement, such number of shares of the Ordinary Shares (as defined below) of the Company as specified herein.

D. The purchase by Purchaser of Ordinary Shares hereunder is expected to occur concurrently with the closing of the IPO (as defined below).

E. In addition to the purchase by Purchaser of Ordinary Shares hereunder, the Company may sell Ordinary Shares to certain third parties in private placements contingent on and concurrently with the closing of the IPO.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

1.1 Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated in this Section 1.1:

Affiliateshall have the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 of the regulations promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

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Agreement” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble.

Allocated Shares” means with respect to such number of whole shares of Ordinary Shares equal to the quotient resulting from dividing (i) the Subscription Amount by (ii) the Purchase Price, rounded down to the nearest share.

Closing” means the closing of the purchase by the Purchaser and sale by the Company of the Allocated Shares to the Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement on the Closing Date as provided in Section 2 hereof, which shall be contingent on and concurrent with the closing of the IPO.

Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b). 

Company Counsel” means Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP.

Company Deliverables” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

Company’s Knowledge” means the actual knowledge of the executive officers (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of the Company, after due inquiry.

IPO” means the proposed underwritten initial public offering of the Company’s Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement, immediately following which the Ordinary Shares will be traded on a United States national stock exchange.

Lien” means any lien, charge, claim, encumbrance, security interest, right of first refusal, preemptive right or other restrictions of any kind.

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the results of operations, assets, liabilities, business, or financial condition of the Company, taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement, except that any of the following, either alone or in combination, shall not be deemed a Material Adverse Effect: (i) effects caused by changes or circumstances affecting general market conditions in the U.S. economy or which are generally applicable to the industry in which the Company operates, (ii) effects resulting from or relating to the announcement or disclosure of the sale of the Shares or other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (iii) effects caused by any event, occurrence or condition resulting from or relating to the taking of any action in accordance with this Agreement.

Material Contract” means any contract of the Company that has been filed or was required to have been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement pursuant to Item 601(b)(4) or Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K.

Ordinary Shares” means the ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share, of the Company, and also includes any securities into which the Ordinary Shares may hereafter be reclassified or changed.

 

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Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, business trust, association, joint stock company, joint venture, sole proprietorship, unincorporated organization, governmental authority or any other form of entity not specifically listed herein.

Purchase Price” means the per share initial public offering price in the IPO (prior to any underwriting discounts and commissions).

Purchaser Deliverables” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b).

Registration Statement” means the registration statement on Form S-1 initially submitted confidentially to the Commission on December 23, 2020, as amended from time to time, including a prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act and any free writing prospectuses, relating to the underwritten public offering of the Company’s Ordinary Shares.

Rights Agreement” means that certain Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement, dated December 4, 2020, by and among the Company, certain Affiliates thereof, the investors named therein and certain other parties thereto.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Shares” means the total number of Allocated Shares purchased by the Purchasers under this Agreement.

Subscription Amount” means US$6,605,647.00.

Underwriting Agreement” means that certain Underwriting Agreement expected to be entered into by and among the Company and the several underwriters of the Company’s Ordinary Shares in connection with the IPO (together, the “Underwriters”), relating to the underwritten public offering of shares of the Company’s Ordinary Shares as described in the Registration Statement.

Voting Securities” shall mean, at any time, shares of any class of capital stock of the Company which are then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

ARTICLE 2

PURCHASE AND SALE

2.1 Closing.

(a) Amount. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing, the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchaser the Allocated Shares, and the Purchaser shall purchase the Allocated Shares from the Company.

(b) Closing. The Closing of the purchase and sale of the Allocated Shares to the Purchaser shall, subject to Section 4.1 and Section 4.2, be contingent on and shall take place concurrently with the closing of the IPO (the date of such closing, the “Closing Date”) at the offices of Company Counsel, 550 Allerton Street, Redwood City, California 94063 or at such other locations or remotely by facsimile transmission or other electronic means as the parties may mutually agree.

 

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(c) Form of Payment. On the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall wire the Subscription Amount, in United States dollars and in immediately available funds, by wire transfer to the Company’s account, as set forth in instructions previously provided to the Purchaser.

2.2 Closing Deliveries.

(a) On the Closing, the Company shall issue the Allocated Shares registered in the name of the Purchaser (the “Company Deliverables”), which Allocated Shares shall be uncertificated shares held in electronic book entry at the Company’s transfer agent.

(b) On or prior to the Closing, the Purchaser shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company the Subscription Amount, in United States dollars and in immediately available funds, by wire transfer to the Company’s account as previously provided to the Purchaser (the “Purchaser Deliverables”).

ARTICLE 3

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

3.1 Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents and warrants as of the date hereof and the Closing Date (except for the representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be made as of such date), to the Purchaser that, except as set forth in the schedules delivered herewith:

(a) Organization and Qualification. The Company is an entity duly incorporated or otherwise organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its respective incorporation, with the requisite corporate power and authority to own or lease and use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted. The Company is not in violation of any of the provisions of its Memorandum and Articles of Association. The Company is duly qualified to conduct business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other entity in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Authorization; Enforcement; Validity. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, and no further corporate action is required by the Company, its Board of Directors or its shareholders in connection therewith. This Agreement has been duly executed by the Company and when delivered in accordance with the terms hereof will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors’ rights and remedies or by other equitable principles of general application. Except as disclosed in the

 

4


Registration Statement, there are no share purchase agreements, shareholder agreements, voting agreements, or other similar arrangements with respect to the Company’s capital stock to which the Company is a party or, to the Company’s Knowledge, between or among any of the Company’s shareholders.

(c) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (i) conflict with or violate any provisions of the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association or otherwise result in a violation of the organizational documents of the Company, (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any Material Contract, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction of any court or governmental authority to which the Company is subject, or by which any property or asset of the Company is bound or affected, except in the case of clause (iii) such as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Issuance of the Securities. The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free and clear of all Liens, other than restrictions imposed by any lock-up or market stand-off agreements to which the Purchaser is party (subject to any modifications or limitations to such agreements provided for herein) or applicable securities laws, and shall not be subject to preemptive or similar rights. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Purchaser in this Agreement, the Shares will be issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws.

(e) Private Placement. Assuming the accuracy of the Purchaser’s representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2 of this Agreement, no registration under the Securities Act is required for the offer and sale of the Allocated Shares by the Company to the Purchaser under this Agreement.

(f) Brokers and Finders. No Person will have, as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any valid right, interest or claim against or upon the Company or the Purchaser for any commission, fee or other compensation pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Affiliates.

(g) Representations and Warranties in Series E Purchase Agreement. The representations and warranties made by the Warrantors (as defined in the Series E Purchase Agreement) in the Series E Purchase Agreement pursuant to Section 4 and Schedule 5 thereof are true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof.

 

5


3.2 Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser. The Purchaser hereby represents and warrants as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date to the Company as follows:

(a) Organization; Authority. The Purchaser is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization with the requisite corporate or partnership power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder. The execution, delivery and performance by the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or, if the Purchaser is not a corporation, such partnership, limited liability company or other applicable like action, on the part of the Purchaser. This Agreement has been duly executed by the Purchaser and when delivered by the Purchaser in accordance with the terms hereof will constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors’ rights and remedies or by other equitable principles of general application.

(b) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Purchaser of this Agreement and the consummation by the Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (i) result in a violation of the organizational documents of the Purchaser, (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Purchaser is a party, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws) applicable to the Purchaser, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for such conflicts, defaults, rights or violations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Purchaser to perform its obligations hereunder.

(c) Restricted Securities. The Purchaser understands that the Allocated Shares are being issued in a transaction that was not, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act by reason of a specific exemption from the registration provisions of the Securities Act which depends upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of the investment intent and the accuracy of the Purchaser’s representations as expressed herein. The Purchaser understands that the Allocated Shares are “restricted securities” under applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws and that, pursuant to these laws, the Purchaser must hold the Allocated Shares indefinitely until such Shares are registered with the Commission and qualified by state authorities, or an exemption from such registration and qualification requirements is available. The Purchaser acknowledges that the Company has no obligation to register or qualify the Allocated Shares for resale other than as set forth in the Rights Agreement. The Purchaser further acknowledges that if an exemption from registration or qualification is available, it may be conditioned on various requirements including, but not limited to, the time and manner of sale, the holding period for the Allocated Shares, and on requirements relating to the Company which are outside of the Purchaser’s control, and which the Company is under no obligation and may not be able to satisfy.

(d) Accredited Investor. The Purchaser is an accredited investor as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act. The Purchaser’s principal executive offices are in the jurisdiction set forth immediately below the Purchaser’s name on the applicable signature page attached hereto.

 

6


(e) Experience of the Purchaser. The Purchaser, either alone or together with its representatives, has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in business and financial matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment in the Allocated Shares, and has so evaluated the merits and risks of such investment. The Purchaser is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Allocated Shares and is able to afford a complete loss of such investment.

(f) Access to Information. The Purchaser acknowledges that it has received all the information it considers necessary or appropriate for deciding whether to purchase the Allocated Shares and has been afforded (i) the opportunity to ask such questions as it has deemed necessary of, and to receive answers from, representatives of the Company concerning the terms and conditions of the offering of the Allocated Shares and the merits and risks of investing in the Allocated Shares; (ii) access to information about the Company and its respective financial condition, results of operations, business, properties, management and prospects sufficient to enable it to evaluate its investment; and (iii) the opportunity to obtain such additional information that the Company possesses or can acquire without unreasonable effort or expense that is necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to the investment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither such inquiries nor any other investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Purchaser or its representatives or counsel shall modify, amend or affect the Purchaser’s right to rely on the truth, accuracy and completeness of the Company’s representations and warranties contained in this Agreement.

(g) Brokers and Finders. No Person will have, as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any valid right, interest or claim against or upon the Company or the Purchaser for any commission, fee or other compensation pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into by or on behalf of the Purchaser.

(h) Reliance on Exemptions. The Purchaser understands that the Allocated Shares being offered and sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying in part upon the truth and accuracy of, and the Purchaser’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgements and understandings of the Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Purchaser to acquire the Allocated Shares.

(i) Market Stand-Off. The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that, it is bound by the market stand-off agreement set forth in Section 11 of Exhibit B to the Rights Agreement (the “Market Stand-Off”), and such agreement is in full force and effect, and following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, including with respect to the Allocated Shares, and agrees, to be bound thereby with respect to the Allocated Shares.

 

7


(j) Legends. The Purchaser understands that the Allocated Shares may bear one or all of the following legends:

(i) “THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION THAT WAS NOT REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AND HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THE SALE OR DISTRIBUTION THEREOF. NO SUCH SALE OR DISTRIBUTION MAY BE EFFECTED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATED THERETO OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IN A FORM REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.”

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A LOCK-UP PERIOD AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE ISSUER’S REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED UNDER THE ACT, AS AMENDED, AS SET FORTH IN AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE ORIGINAL HOLDER OF THESE SECURITIES, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE ISSUER’S PRINCIPAL OFFICE. SUCH LOCK-UP PERIOD IS BINDING ON TRANSFEREES OF THESE SHARES.”

(ii) Any legend required by the Blue Sky laws of any state to the extent such laws are applicable to the Allocated Shares represented by the certificate so legended.

ARTICLE 4

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CLOSING

4.1 Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of the Purchaser to Purchase Shares at the Closing. The obligation of the Purchaser to acquire the Allocated Shares at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to the Purchaser’s satisfaction, on or prior to the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, any of which may be waived by the Purchaser:

(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date, except for such representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date.

(b) IPO. On or prior to July 15, 2021, (i) the Underwriters shall have purchased, concurrent with the purchase of the Allocated Shares by the Purchaser hereunder, the Firm Shares (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) at the same purchase price (less any underwriting discounts or commissions) per share payable by the Purchaser hereunder and (ii) the Company shall have received net proceeds equal to at least $500,000,000 from the IPO.

(c) No Injunction. No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(d) Company Deliverables. The Company shall have delivered the Company Deliverables in accordance with Section 2.2(a).

 

8


(e) No Other Financing. Other than the sales and issuances of Series E Shares pursuant to the Series E Purchase Agreement, there has been no other capital raise (including any issuance of any security, note or other instrument convertible or exchangeable into equity securities of the Company) effected or agreed to by the Company since the date of this Agreement.

(f) No Material Adverse Effect. Since this date of this Agreement, no event, circumstance or change shall have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate with one or more other events, circumstances or changes, have had or reasonably could be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

4.2 Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of the Company to sell Shares at the Closing. The Company’s obligation to sell and issue to the Purchaser the Allocated Shares at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to the satisfaction of the Company on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions, any of which may be waived by the Company:

(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained herein shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement, and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date, except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date.

(b) IPO Shares. The Underwriters shall have purchased, concurrent with the purchase of the Allocated Shares by the Purchaser hereunder, the Firm Shares (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) at the same purchase price (less any underwriting discounts or commissions) per share payable by the Purchaser hereunder.

(c) No Injunction. No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(d) Purchaser Deliverables. The Purchaser shall have delivered the Purchaser Deliverables in accordance with Section 2.2(b), as well as any information required by the Company’s transfer agent in order to establish an electronic book entry for the Purchaser.

(e) Lock-Up Agreement. The Purchaser shall have executed and delivered to the Underwriters a lock-up agreement in substantially the form previously provided to the Purchaser (the “Lock-Up Agreement”), and such Lock-Up Agreement shall be in full force and effect.

ARTICLE 5

CERTAIN RIGHTS OF THE PURCHASER

5.1 Registrable Securities. The Company acknowledges that all of the Allocated Shares purchased by the Purchaser hereunder shall be deemed “Registrable Securities” for purposes of the Rights Agreement.

 

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5.2 Most Favored Nation. The Company hereby represents and warrants that it has provided to the Purchaser an accurate written summary in reasonable detail of each agreement or understanding between the Company (or any Affiliate) and any other investor in connection with a capital raise through the issuance and sale of Ordinary Shares (any such investor, an “Other Ordinary Share Investor”) as of the date of this Agreement that provides such Other Ordinary Share Investor with any right, benefit, term or condition that is different from the rights, benefits, terms and conditions established in favor of the Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement (including, without limitation, as regards the applicability of any lock-up period or other restriction on selling Ordinary Shares, whether under the Lock-Up Agreement, the Market Stand-Off or otherwise) (such different rights, benefits, terms or conditions collectively, the “Other Terms”; any such agreement or understanding providing for Other Terms, an “Other Ordinary Share Investor Agreement”), if any. The Company further agrees that if any Other Ordinary Share Investor is granted any Other Terms prior to the Closing (including, without limitation, pursuant to an Other Ordinary Investor Agreement in place as of the date hereof), the Company shall notify the Purchaser promptly (and in any event within five business days) of such Other Terms being granted, including a summary in reasonable detail thereof and of the applicable Other Ordinary Share Investor Agreement, and shall offer such Other Terms to the Purchaser. If the Purchaser elects to accept any Other Terms, such Other Terms shall apply retroactively as of the date of this Agreement (or, if earlier, as of the date such Other Terms were granted to the Other Ordinary Share Investor).

5.3 Use of Name. Except as required under applicable laws and regulations, the Company shall not (and shall cause its Affiliates, employees, service providers and agents not to), without the prior written consent of the Purchaser, (a) use, whether orally or in writing, in advertising, publicity or otherwise, the name, address or other identifying information of the Purchaser, any Affiliate of the Purchaser or any derivative thereof, or any director, officer or employee of the Purchaser or its Affiliates, (b) represent, directly or indirectly, that any product or any service provided by the Company or any of its Affiliates has been approved or endorsed by the Purchaser or any of its Affiliates or (c) disclose, whether orally or in writing, any relationship with the Purchaser using the Purchaser’s or any Affiliate’s name, for any reason.

5.4 Indemnity. The Company will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Purchaser and its Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents and representatives against: all losses, damages, costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) arising out of any breach by the Company of this Agreement, including any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other obligation of the Company hereunder, except, in each case, for obligations, demands, claims, liabilities and losses caused by the Purchaser’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

5.5 Further Assurance. From the date of this Agreement until the Closing Date, the Company shall, from time to time upon request by Purchaser, use their reasonable best efforts, execute and deliver such additional documents and take such further actions, in each case, to fulfill or obtain the fulfillment of the conditions precedent to the consummation of, and generally to effectuate, the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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ARTICLE 6

MISCELLANEOUS

6.1 Termination. This Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the earliest to occur of (i) a written notice from the Company to the Purchaser, provided that such notice shall be delivered prior to the public filing of the Registration Statement, subject to the consent of the Purchaser to such termination, provided further that such consent shall not be required in the event such termination is required under applicable laws and regulations, (ii) the withdrawal by the Company of the Registration Statement, or (iii) following the execution of the Underwriting Agreement, the termination of such Underwriting Agreement in accordance with its terms.

6.2 Fees and Expenses. Each party shall pay its own fees and expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.

6.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with any exhibits and schedules hereto, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements, understandings, discussions and representations, oral or written, with respect to such matters, which the parties acknowledge have been merged into such documents, exhibits and schedules. At or after the Closing, and without further consideration, the Company and the Purchaser will execute and deliver to the other such further documents as may be reasonably requested in order to give practical effect to the intention of the parties under this Agreement.

6.4 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. The address for such notices and communications shall be as follows:

 

If to the Company:    Tusimple (Cayman) Limited
   9191 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 600
   San Diego, California 92122
   Attention: Cheng Lu, President and CEO
With a copy to:   

Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin

& Hachigian, LLP

   550 Allerton Street
   Redwood City, California 94063
   Attention: Zhen Liu and Jeff Vetter
If to the Purchaser:   

c/o Perry Creek Capital LP

150 E. 58th Street, 17th Floor

New York, New York 10155

With a copy to:    Purrington Moody Weil LLP
   414 W. 14th Street, 4th Floor
  

New York, NY 10014

Attention: David K. Moody

 

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or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same manner, by such Person.

6.5 Amendments; Waivers; No Additional Consideration. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

6.6 Construction. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

6.7 Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and their successors (including without limitation any continued entity by way of reorganization, redomestication or continuation) and permitted assigns. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person.

6.8 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.

6.9 Survival. The representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3.1(a), (b), (c) and (d) shall survive the Closing and the delivery of the Shares until the latest date permitted by laws or indefinitely if such date is not provided. The representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3.1(e) and (f) shall survive the Closing and the delivery of the Shares for a period until two (2) years after the Closing. The representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.1(g) shall survive the Closing and the delivery of the Shares for the applicable period with respect to such representations and warranties set forth in the Series E Purchase Agreement. The agreements and covenants contained herein shall survive for the applicable statute of limitations; provided that (i) the Company’s covenants contained in Section 5.3 hereof, and Sections 6.4, 6.5, 6.8 and 6.12 and this Section 6.9, shall survive indefinitely and (ii) the Company’s indemnification obligations provided in Section 5.4 shall survive, with respect to each of the Company’s representations, warranties, covenants and agreements hereunder, for so long as such representation, warranty, covenant or agreement (as applicable) survives pursuant to this Section 6.9.

6.10 Execution. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart.

6.11 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, the validity and enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and the parties will attempt to agree upon a valid and enforceable provision that is a reasonable substitute therefor, and upon so agreeing, shall incorporate such substitute provision in this Agreement.

 

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6.12 Remedies. In addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or granted by law, including recovery of damages, the Purchaser and the Company will be entitled to specific performance under this Agreement. The parties agree that monetary damages may not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of any breach of obligations described in the foregoing sentence and hereby agree to waive in any action for specific performance of any such obligation (other than in connection with any action for a temporary restraining order) the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Ordinary Share Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.

 

COMPANY:
TUSIMPLE (CAYMAN) LIMITED
By:  

/s/ Cheng Lu

Name:   Cheng Lu
Title:   President


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Ordinary Share Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.

 

PURCHASER:

PERRY CREEK CAPITAL FUND II LP

By: Perry Creek Capital GP II LLC, its general partner

By:  

/s/ Brian Zingale

Name:   Brian Zingale
Title:   Partner

Exhibit 10.12

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

SERIES E-2 PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This SERIES E-2 PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made on February 26, 2021, by and among:

 

1)

TuSimple Holdings Inc. (the “Company”), a Delaware corporate;

 

2)

Tusimple (Hong Kong) Limited (the “HK Co”), a limited liability company incorporated in Hong Kong;

 

3)

Beijing Tusen Zhitu Technology Co., Ltd. (the “WFOE”), a wholly foreign-owned enterprise incorporated in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”);

 

4)

Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd. (the “DomCo”), a limited liability company incorporated in the PRC;

 

5)

TuSimple, Inc. (the “US Co”), a California corporation;

 

6)

Tusimple (Hong Kong) Auto Tech Limited (“HK Auto Tech”), a limited liability company incorporated in Hong Kong;

 

7)

The Person listed in Schedule 1 (the “Purchaser”);

 

8)

the Persons listed in Schedule 2-A (the “Founders” and each, a “Founder”); and

 

9)

the Persons listed in Schedule 2-B (the “Founder Holdcos” and each, a “Founder Holdco”).

Each of the Company, the HK Co, the WFOE, the US Co, the DomCo, HK Auto Tech, the Founders, the Founder Holdcos and the Purchaser shall be referred to individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”. Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meaning set forth in Schedule 3 attached hereto.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, as of the Execution Date, (i) each Founder owns beneficially and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of its respective Founder Holdco; (ii) the Founder Holdcos collectively own beneficially and of record thirty point five one five percent (30.515%) of the equity interest of the Company; (iii) the Company owns beneficially and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the HK Co; (iv) the HK Co owns beneficially and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the WFOE; (v) the WFOE owns beneficially and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the DomCo; (vi) the Company owns beneficially and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the US Co; and (vii) the Company owns beneficial and of record one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of HK Auto Tech.

WHEREAS, the Company is an exempted limited liability company and immediately prior to the Closing shall have an authorized share capital consisting of (i) 361,897,230 shares of common stock, par value US$0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of which 60,603,953 shares of Common Stock are issued and fully paid-up; (ii) 20,000,000 shares of Series A preferred stock, par value US$0.0001 per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), all of which have been issued; (iii) 8,218,203 shares of Series A-2 preferred stock, par value US$0.0001 per share (the “Series A-2 Preferred Stock”), all of which have been issued; (iv) 7,080,000 shares of Series B-1 preferred stock, par value US$0.0001 per share (the “Series B-1 Preferred Stock”), all of which have been issued; (v) 3,000,000 shares of Series B-2 preferred stock, par value US$0.0001 per share (the “Series B-2 Preferred Stock”), all of which


have been issued; (vi) 3,465,372 shares of Series B-3 preferred stock, par value US$0.0001 per share (the “Series B-3 Preferred Stock”), all of which have been issued; (vii) 14,993,041 shares of Series C preferred stock, par value US$0.0001 per share (the “Series C Preferred Stock”), all of which have been issued; (viii) 20,345,131 shares of Series D-1 preferred stock, par value US$0.0001 per share (the “Series D-1 Preferred Stock”), all of which have been issued; (ix) 50,000,000 shares of Series E preferred stock, par value US$$0.0001 per share (the “Series E Preferred Stock”), 25,695,018 of which have been issued; (x) 3,928,937 shares of Series E-1 preferred stock, par value US$$0.0001 per share (the “Series E-1 Preferred Stock”), all of which have been issued; and (xi) 7,072,086 shares of Series E-2 preferred stock, par value US$$0.0001 per share (the “Series E-2 Preferred Stock”, and together with the Series A Preferred Stock, the Series A-2 Preferred Stock, the Series B-1 Preferred Stock, the Series B-2 Preferred Stock, the Series B-3 Preferred Stock, the Series C Preferred Stock, Series D-1 Preferred Stock, Series E Preferred Stock, Series E-1 Preferred Stock and Series E-2 Preferred Stock, the “Preferred Stock”), none of which have been issued, in each case as set forth in the capitalization table attached as Schedule 8 hereto.

WHEREAS, the Purchaser wishes to purchase from the Company the Series E-2 Preferred Stock, to be issued by the Company pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement.

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, THE PARTIES HEREBY AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

 

1.

PURCHASE AND SALE OF SECURITIES

 

1.1

Sale and Issuance of Series E-2 Preferred Stock

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Purchaser agrees to purchase at the Closing (as defined below), and the Company agrees to sell and issue to the Purchaser at the Closing, that number of shares of Series E-2 Preferred Stock, set forth opposite the Purchaser’s name on Schedule 1 (the “Purchased Stock”) for the total consideration set forth opposite the Purchaser’s name on Schedule 1 (the “Purchase Price”).

 

1.2

Closing; Delivery

(a)    The purchase and sale of the Purchased Stock shall take place remotely via the exchange of documents and signatures on the date hereof unless the Company and the Purchaser agree otherwise, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of each condition to the Closing set forth in Section 2 and Section 3 (other than conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions at the Closing). The completion of the purchase and sale of the Purchased Stock shall be referred to as the “Closing”.

(b)    At the Closing, (i) the Company shall deliver to the Purchaser a copy of the share certificate representing the Purchased Stock (the originals of which shall be delivered to the Purchaser (or its designated custodian, which may be the Company) within ten (10) Business Days after the Closing); and (ii) the Purchaser shall pay or cause to be paid the Purchase Price in accordance with Section 1.3.

 

1.3

Closing Account

Payment of the Purchase Price by the Purchaser to the Company shall be made by remittance of immediately available US$ funds to a bank account of the Company designated by the Company in writing at least three (3) Business Days before the Closing. All bank charges and related expenses for remittance and receipt of any Purchase Price shall be for the account of the Company.

 

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2.

CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE PURCHASER AT THE CLOSING

The obligations of the Purchaser to purchase its Purchased Stock at the Closing are subject to the fulfillment, on or before the Closing, of each of the following conditions, unless otherwise waived in writing by the Purchaser:

 

2.1

Material Adverse Effect

Since the Statement Date, no event, circumstance or change shall have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate with one or more other events, circumstances or changes, have had or reasonably could be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or any other Group Company.

 

2.2

Proceedings and Documents

All corporate and other proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated at the Closing and all documents incidental thereto shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser (or its legal counsel) shall have received all such counterpart originals and certified or other copies of such documents as reasonably requested. Each of the Warrantors shall have (i) performed and complied with all covenants, agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by such Warrantors; and (ii) to the extent applicable, approved the aforesaid performance and compliance by its respective directors and stockholders’ resolutions, on or before the Closing.

 

2.3

Authorizations

The Warrantors shall have obtained all authorizations, approvals, waivers or permits of any Person or any Governmental Authority necessary for the consummation of all of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and other Transaction Documents, including without limitation any authorizations, approvals, waivers or permits that are required in connection with the lawful issuance of the Purchased Stock to the Purchaser, and all such authorizations, approvals, waivers and permits shall be effective as of the Closing. The Company shall have obtained enforceable waivers in respect of any preemptive, anti-dilution or similar rights applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and other Transaction Documents, and true copies of such waivers shall have been delivered to the Purchaser.

 

2.4

Representations and Warranties

The Fundamental Warranties shall be true, complete and correct as of January 25, 2021, except for those Fundamental Warranties that address matters only as of a particular date, which Fundamental Warranties shall have been true, complete and correct in all respects as of such particular date. The representations and warranties of the Warrantors contained in Schedule 5 (other than the Fundamental Warranties) shall be true, complete and correct in all material respects as of January 25, 2021, except for those representations and warranties (i) that already contain any materiality qualification, which representations and warranties, to the extent already so qualified, shall instead be true, complete and correct in all respects as so qualified as of such respective dates and (ii) that address matters only as of a particular date, which representations shall have been true, complete and correct in all respects (subject to Section 2.4(i)) as of such particular date.

 

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2.5

Certificate of Incorporation

The certificate of incorporation of the Company in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) shall have been duly adopted by all necessary actions of the stockholders of the Company.

 

2.6

Compliance Certificates

The Purchaser shall have received a certificate executed and delivered by the Warrantors, substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit C.

 

2.7

Investment Committee Approval

The internal authority of the Purchaser shall have approved the execution and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

2.8

Legal Opinions

The Company shall have delivered to the Purchaser legal opinions dated the date of the Closing and addressed to the Purchaser issued by the Company’s legal counsel, customary to the transactions of this kind, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser.

 

3.

CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY AT CLOSING

The obligations of the Company to sell the Purchased Stock to the Purchaser at the Closing are subject to the fulfillment of each of the following conditions by the Purchaser, on or before the Closing, unless otherwise waived in writing by the Company:

 

3.1

Representations and Warranties

The representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in Schedule 7 shall be true, complete and correct in all material respects as of the Execution Date and the Closing.

 

3.2

Performance

The Purchaser shall have performed and complied with all covenants, agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by it on or before the Closing.

 

3.3

Execution of Shareholders Agreement

The Purchaser shall have executed and delivered to the Company a joinder to the Shareholders’ Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Purchaser.

 

4.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE WARRANTORS

The Warrantors, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to the Purchaser that the statements contained in Schedule 5 attached hereto are true, correct and complete as of January 25, 2021, except to the extent fairly and specifically disclosed in the disclosure schedule attached hereto as Schedule 6 (the “Disclosure Schedule”), which disclosures shall be deemed to be part of the representations and warranties as if made hereunder.

 

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5.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER

The Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company that the statements contained in Schedule 7 attached hereto are true, correct and complete as of the Closing.

 

6.

UNDERTAKINGS

The Warrantors hereby jointly and severally covenant to the Purchaser as follows:

 

6.1

Ordinary Course of Business

From the Execution Date until the earlier of the Termination Date or the Closing, each Group Company shall, and the Founders and the Founder Holdcos shall cause each of the Group Companies to, conduct its business in the ordinary course and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the present character and quality of the business, including without limitation, its present operations, physical facilities, working conditions, goodwill and relationships with lessors, licensors, suppliers, customers, employees and independent contractors.

 

6.2

Use of Proceeds

In accordance with the directions of the Company’s Board of Directors, as it shall be constituted in accordance with the Shareholders’ Agreement, the Company will use the proceeds from the sale of all the Purchased Stock for (i) general working capital; and (ii) other general corporate purposes for the Group Companies.

 

6.3

Notice of Certain Events

If at any time before the Closing, any Warrantor comes to know of any material fact or event which: (i) is in any way inconsistent with any of the representations and warranties in this Agreement; (ii) suggests that any fact warranted hereunder may not be as warranted or may be misleading; or (iii) might affect the willingness of a prudent investor to purchase the Purchased Stock on the terms contained in the Transaction Documents or the amount of the consideration a prudent investor would be prepared to pay for the Purchased Stock, then the Warrantors shall immediately notify the Purchaser in writing, describing the fact or event in reasonable detail.

 

6.4

Compliance

The Group Companies shall, and the Founders and the Founder Holdcos shall cause the Group Companies to, at all times comply with all applicable Laws in all material respects.

 

7.

CURE OF BREACHES; INDEMNITY

7.1    In the event of: (a) any breach or violation of, or inaccuracy or misrepresentation in, any representation or warranty made by the Warrantors contained herein or any of the other Transaction Documents; or (b) any breach or violation of any covenant or agreement contained herein or any of the other Transaction Documents (each of (a) or (b), a “Breach”), the Group Companies shall, jointly and severally, cure such Breach (to the extent that such Breach is curable) to the satisfaction of the Purchaser (it being understood that any cure shall be without resorting to cash or assets of any of the Group Companies). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Group Companies shall also, jointly and severally, indemnify the Purchaser and its Affiliates, limited partners, members, stockholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives and assigns (each, an “Indemnitee”) for any and all losses, liabilities, damages, diminution in value, liens, claims, obligations, penalties, settlements, deficiencies, costs and expenses, including without limitation reasonable advisor’s fees and other reasonable expenses of investigation, defense and resolution of any Breach paid, suffered, sustained or incurred by

 

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the Indemnitees (each, an “Indemnifiable Loss”), resulting from, or arising out of, or due to, directly or indirectly, any Breach; provided, however, that “diminution in value” as used in the preceding sentence shall not include any diminution in value not directly or indirectly caused by one or more Breaches.

7.2    Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Group Companies shall, jointly and severally, indemnify and keep indemnified the Indemnitees at all times and hold them harmless against any and all Indemnifiable Losses resulting from, or arising out of, or due to, directly or indirectly, any claim for (i) any material liability caused by the infringement or violation of any intellectual property rights of any third party by any Group Company, (ii) any breach or non-performance of any of the Specified Investment Agreements, or (iii) tax which has been assessed or may hereafter be assessed against any Group Company wholly or partly in respect of or in consequence of any event occurring or any income, profits or gains earned, accrued or received by any Group Company on or before the Closing and any costs, fees, penalty, surcharge, fine, expenses or other liabilities incurred in connection with the investigation, assessment or the contesting of any claim, the settlement of any claim for tax, any legal proceedings in relation to any such tax, and the enforcement of any arbitration award or judgment in relation to such tax (whether or not such tax is chargeable against or attributable to any other person), provided, however, that the Group Companies shall be under no liability in respect of taxation:

(a)    that is promptly cured without resorting to cash or other assets of any Group Company;

(b)    to the extent that provision, reserve or allowance has been made for such tax in the audited consolidated financial statement of the Company;

(c)    if the liability has arisen in, and relates to, the ordinary course of business of the Group Companies since the Statement Date;

(d)    to the extent that the liability arises as a result only of a provision or reserve in respect of the liability made in the Delivered Financial Statements being insufficient by reason of any increase in rates of tax announced after the Closing with retrospective effect; and

(e)    to the extent that the liability arises as a result of legislation which comes into force after the Closing and which is retrospective in effect.

The survival period for any indemnity obligation relating to (x) claims for tax matters arising under this Section 7.2 shall be the applicable statute of limitations for tax claims and (y) claims pursuant to Section 7.2(ii) shall be five years after the Closing.

7.3    In the event that an Indemnitee suffers an Indemnifiable Loss as provided in Section 7.1 or 7.2 and the Group Companies fail to fulfill their obligations under Section 7.1 or 7.2 to indemnify the Indemnitee for the full amount of such Indemnifiable Loss within sixty (60) days upon receipt of written notice thereof from such Indemnitee, then the Founders and Founder Holdcos shall jointly and severally indemnify the Indemnitee any shortfall of such indemnification, provided, however, that absent fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence conducted by the Founders, none of the Founders’ or Founder Holdcos’ assets, other than the Common Stock of the Company held by the Founders and/or Founder Holdcos, shall in any respect be used to satisfy any of the Founders and/or Founder Holdcos’ indemnity obligations pursuant to this Agreement (and the Indemnitee shall have no right to claim against any of the Founders’ assets but for the Common Stock of the Company held by the Founders and/or Founder Holdcos). Any indemnification provided by the Warrantors other than the Founders and the Founder Holdcos pursuant to this Section 7.3 shall not prejudice or otherwise affect the right of the Indemnitee to seek indemnification from the Group Companies pursuant to Section 7.1 or 7.2; provided, however, that to the extent an Indemnitee is able to recover any Indemnifiable Loss from the Group Companies, the Warrantors other than the Group Companies shall not be obligated to indemnify such Indemnitee of such recovered amount.

 

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7.4    If the Purchaser or other Indemnitee believes that it has a claim that may give rise to an obligation of any Warrantor pursuant to this Section 7, it shall give prompt notice thereof to the Company stating specifically the basis on which such claim is being made, the material facts related thereto, and the amount of the claim (or a reasonably estimate thereof) asserted. In the event of a third party claim against an Indemnitee for which such Indemnitee seeks indemnification from any Warrantor pursuant to this Section 7, no settlement shall be deemed conclusive with respect to whether there was an Indemnifiable Loss or the amount of such Indemnifiable Loss unless such settlement is consented to by the Founders or their Founder Holdcos. Any dispute related to this Section 7 shall be resolved pursuant to Section 8.15.

7.5    Notwithstanding any other provisions contained herein, the Purchaser acknowledges that the indemnities under this Section 7 shall, absent fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence by the Warrantors, be subject to the following provisions:

(a)    the aggregate indemnification amount claimed by the Purchaser or its Indemnitees against all the Warrantors arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall not exceed in the aggregate the amount equal to the Purchase Price paid by the Purchaser under this Agreement;

(b)    the aggregate indemnification amount claimed against all the Warrantors arising under or in connection with Section 7.2(ii) shall not exceed US$10,000,000; and

(c)    the Warrantors shall not be required to indemnify any Indemnitee for (i) any claim unless the Indemnifiable Losses in connection with any claim or claims suffered by all the Indemnitees are US$100,000 or more, on a cumulative basis, in which case the Warrantors shall be liable for the Indemnifiable Losses in respect to the claim from the first US$, or (ii) any claim arising out of any breach of any representation or warranty made by the Warrantors contained herein or any of the other Transaction Documents to the extent that the relevant matters have been fairly and specifically disclosed in the Disclosure Schedule (without prejudice to the indemnification obligations arising from Section 7.2).

 

8.

MISCELLANEOUS

 

8.1

Survival of Warranties

The Fundamental Warranties shall survive the Closing until the latest date permitted by Law or indefinitely if such date is not provided. The representations and warranties of the Warrantors contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement (other than the Fundamental Warranties) shall survive the Closing for a period until two (2) years after January 25, 2021. Any fact or matter which is fairly and specifically disclosed in the Disclosure Schedule shall constitute notice to the Purchaser of the fact or matter so disclosed or actually known, as applicable, and the Purchaser shall be deemed to have waived any claim against the Warrantors on account of any inconsistency between such fact or matter and any of the representations and warranties of the Warrantors in this Agreement (except where any of such fact or matter in the Disclosure Schedule is untrue, incorrect or incomplete).

 

8.2

Confidentiality

(a)    Disclosure of Terms. The terms and conditions of this Agreement, any term sheet or memorandum of understanding entered into pursuant to the transactions contemplated hereby, all exhibits and schedules attached hereto and thereto, and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (collectively, the “Transaction Terms”), including their existence, shall be considered confidential information and shall not be disclosed by any Party hereto to any third party except as permitted in accordance with the provisions set forth below.

(b)    Permitted Disclosures. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may disclose (i) the existence of the investment to its bona fide prospective purchasers, employees, bankers, lenders,

 

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accountants, legal counsels and business partners, or to any person or entity to which disclosure is approved in writing by the Purchaser, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld; and (ii) the Transaction Terms to its current stockholders, employees, bankers, lenders, accountants and legal counsels, in each case only where such persons or entities are under appropriate nondisclosure obligations substantially similar to those set forth in this Section 8.2, or to any person or entity to which disclosure is approved in writing by the Purchaser, which such approval is not to be unreasonably withheld. The Purchaser may disclose (x) the existence of the investment and the Transaction Terms to any Affiliate, legal counsels, advisors, partner, limited partner, former partner, potential partner or potential limited partner of the Purchaser and its Affiliates and (y) the fact of its own investment to the public, in each case as it deems appropriate at its sole discretion. Any Party hereto may also provide disclosure in order to comply with applicable Laws, as set forth in Section 8.2(c) below.

(c)    Legally Compelled Disclosure. In the event that any Party is requested or becomes legally compelled (including without limitation, pursuant to any applicable tax, securities, or other Laws and regulations of any jurisdiction) to disclose the existence of this Agreement or content of any of the Transaction Terms, such Party (the “Disclosing Party”) shall provide the other Parties with prompt written notice of that fact and shall consult with the other Parties regarding such disclosure. At the request of another Party, the Disclosing Party shall, to the extent reasonably possible and with the cooperation and reasonable efforts of the other Parties, seek a protective order, confidential treatment or other appropriate remedy. In any event, the Disclosing Party shall furnish only that portion of the information that is legally required and shall exercise reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded to such information.

(d)    Other Exceptions. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 8.2, the confidentiality obligations of the Parties shall not apply to: (i) information which a restricted Party learns from a third party having the right to make the disclosure, provided the restricted Party complies with any restrictions imposed by the third party; (ii) information which is rightfully in the restricted Party’s possession prior to the time of disclosure by the protected Party and not acquired by the restricted Party under a confidentiality obligation; or (iii) information which enters the public domain without breach of confidentiality by the restricted Party.

(e)    Press Releases, Etc. No announcements regarding the Purchaser’s investment in the Company may be made by any Party hereto in any press conference, professional or trade publication, marketing materials or otherwise to the public without the prior written consent of the Purchaser and the Company, provided that such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(f)    Other Information. The provisions of this Section 8.2 shall terminate and supersede the provisions of any separate nondisclosure agreement executed by any of the Parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

8.3

Transfer; Successors and Assigns

The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective successors and assigns of the Parties. Save as expressly provided in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the Parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement. No Warrantor may assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Agreement without the written consent of the Purchaser subscribing for at least a majority of the total Purchased Stock. The Purchaser may assign any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any of its Affiliates. Any attempted assignment in violation of this Section 8.3 shall be void.

 

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8.4

Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of Hong Kong as to matters within the scope thereof, without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws.

 

8.5

Counterparts; Facsimile and Emails

This Agreement may be executed and delivered by facsimile, email or other electronic signature and in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

8.6

Titles and Subtitles

The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.

 

8.7

Notices

All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (a) upon personal delivery to the Party to be notified; (b) when sent by facsimile, upon receipt of confirmation of error-free transmission (or, if such confirmation is received outside normal business hour, on the next Business Day), (c) when sent by electronic mail, upon such mail being sent unless the sending Party subsequently learns that such electronic mail was not successfully delivered; (d) five (5) days after having been delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; or (e) one (1) day after delivery by an internationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent to the respective Parties at their address, e-mail address, or facsimile number as set forth on Schedule 9, or as subsequently modified by written notice given in accordance with this Section 8.7.

 

8.8

No Finders Fees

Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule, each Party represents that it neither is nor will be obligated for any finder’s fee or commission in connection with this transaction. The Purchaser agrees to indemnify and to hold harmless the Company from any liability for any commission or compensation in the nature of a finder’s or broker’s fee arising out of this transaction (and the costs and expenses of defending against such liability or asserted liability) for which the Purchaser or any of its officers, employees, or representatives is responsible. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser from any liability for any commission or compensation in the nature of a finder’s or broker’s fee arising out of this transaction (and the costs and expenses of defending against such liability or asserted liability) for which any Warrantor or any of its officers, employees or representatives is responsible.

 

8.9

Fees and Expenses

Each Party hereto shall pay all of its own costs and expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

8.10

Attorneys Fees

If any action at law or in equity (including arbitration) is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of any of the Transaction Documents, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees, costs and necessary disbursements in addition to any other relief to which such Party may be entitled.

 

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8.11

Amendments and Waivers

Any term of this Agreement may be amended or waived only with the written consent of the Company, the Founders and the Purchaser. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 8.11 shall be binding upon the Group Companies, the Founders, the Founder Holdcos, the Purchaser, and each transferee of the Purchased Stock or the Conversion Stock and each future holder of all such securities.

 

8.12

Severability

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision.

 

8.13

Delays or Omissions

No delay or omission to exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to any Party under this Agreement, upon any breach or default of any other Party under this Agreement, shall impair any such right, power or remedy of such non-breaching or non-defaulting Party nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach or default, or an acquiescence therein, or of or in any similar breach or default thereafter occurring; nor shall any waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default theretofore or thereafter occurring. Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on the part of any Party of any breach or default under this Agreement, or any waiver on the part of any Party of any provisions or conditions of this Agreement, must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing. All remedies, either under this Agreement or by law or otherwise afforded to any Party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

 

8.14

Entire Agreement

This Agreement (including the Schedules and Exhibits hereto) and the other Transaction Documents constitute the full and entire understanding and agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and any other written or oral agreement relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof existing between the Parties are expressly canceled.

 

8.15

Dispute Resolution

Any dispute, controversy, difference or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including the existence, validity, interpretation, performance, breach or termination thereof or any dispute regarding non-contractual obligations arising out of or relating to it shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration administered by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) under the HKIAC Administered Arbitration Rules in force when the Notice of Arbitration is submitted. The seat of arbitration shall be Hong Kong. The number of arbitrators shall be three (3). The arbitration proceedings shall be conducted in English.

 

8.16

No Commitment for Additional Financing

The Warrantors acknowledge and agree that no Purchaser has made any representation, undertaking, commitment or agreement to provide or assist the Company in obtaining any financing, investment or other assistance, other than the purchase of the Purchased Stock as set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein. In addition, the Warrantors acknowledge and agree that (i) no oral statements made by any Purchaser or its representatives on or after the date of this Agreement shall create an obligation, commitment or agreement to provide or assist the Company in obtaining any financing or investment, (ii) no Warrantor shall rely on any such statement by any Purchaser or its representatives and (iii) an obligation, commitment or agreement to provide or assist the Company in obtaining any financing or investment may only be created by a written agreement, signed by the

 

10


Purchaser and the Company, setting forth the terms and conditions of such financing or investment and stating that the parties intend for such writing to be a binding obligation or agreement. The Purchaser shall have the right, at its sole and absolute discretion, to refuse or decline to participate in any other financing of or investment in the Company, and shall have no obligation to assist or cooperate with the Company in obtaining any financing, investment or other assistance.

 

8.17

Rights Cumulative

Each and all of the various rights, powers and remedies of a Party will be considered to be cumulative with and in addition to any other rights, powers and remedies which such Party may have at law or in equity in the event of the breach of any of the terms of this Agreement. The exercise or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy will neither constitute the exclusive election thereof nor the waiver of any other right, power or remedy available to such Party.

 

8.18

No Waiver

Failure to insist upon strict compliance with any of the terms, covenants, or conditions hereof will not be deemed a waiver of such term, covenant, or condition, nor will any waiver or relinquishment of, or failure to insist upon strict compliance with, any right, power or remedy power hereunder at any one or more times be deemed a waiver or relinquishment of such right, power or remedy at any other time or times.

 

8.19

Third Party Beneficiaries

Each of the Indemnitees shall be a third party beneficiary of this Agreement with the full ability to enforce Section 7 of this Agreement as if it were a Party hereto. Subject to the preceding sentence, a person who is not a party to this Agreement shall not have any rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Ordinance (Cap. 623 of the Laws of Hong Kong) to enforce any terms of this Agreement. The rights of the Parties to terminate, rescind or agree any variation, waiver or settlement under this Agreement are not subject to the consent of any other person, including an Indemnitee.

 

8.20

Specific Performance

The Parties acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof, and each Party shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof. It is accordingly agreed that, each Party shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent such breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically (without proof of actual damages or harm, and not subject to any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection therewith) such terms and provisions of this Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which each Party is entitled at law or in equity.

 

8.21

Termination of Agreement

 

  (a)

Rights of Termination.

This Agreement may be terminated before the Closing as follows:

(1)    by mutual written consent of the Company and the Purchaser as evidenced in writing signed by the Company and the Purchaser;

(2)    by the Purchaser in the event of any breach or violation of any representation or warranty, covenant or agreement contained herein or in any of the other Transaction Documents by any Warrantor that is not curable or that is curable but is not cured within thirty (30) Business Days of written notice; or

 

11


(3)    by the Purchaser if any event, circumstance or change shall have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate with one or more other events, circumstances or changes, have had or reasonably could be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or any other Group Company.

(b)    Effect of Termination.

(1)    The date of termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.21(a) hereof shall be referred to as “Termination Date”.

(2)    In the event of termination by the Company and/or the Purchaser pursuant to Section 8.21(a) hereof, written notice thereof shall forthwith be given to the other Parties and this Agreement shall terminate, and each of the Company and the Purchaser shall be relieved of the duties and obligations among them arising under this Agreement after the date of such termination and such termination shall be without liability to the Company or the Purchaser; provided that (i) no such termination shall relieve the Company or the Purchaser from liability for any breach of this Agreement incurred before the termination; and (ii) such termination shall not affect the rights, duties and obligations existing between the Warrantors and any other Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement.

(c)    Surviving Provisions.

(1)    The provisions of this Section 8.21, Section 7, Section 8.1, Section 8.2, Section 8.4, Section 8.7, Section 8.9, Section 8.10, Section 8.11, Section 8.12, Section 8.13, Section 8.15, Section 8.17, Section 8.18, Section 8.19, and Section 8.20, hereof shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

12


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

COMPANY:      TuSimple Holdings Inc.
     By:  

/s/ Cheng Lu                                        

     Name:   Cheng Lu
     Title:   Director
HK CO:      Tusimple (Hong Kong) Limited
     By:  

/s/ Mo Chen

     Name:   Mo Chen
     Title:   Director
HK AUTO TECH:      Tusimple (Hong Kong) Auto Tech Limited
     By:  

/s/ Naiyan Wang

     Name:   Naiyan Wang
     Title:   Director

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E-2 PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

WFOE:      Beijing Tusen Zhitu Technology Co., Ltd.
     By:  

/s/ Mo Chen                                        

     Name:   Mo Chen
     Title:   Legal Representative
     Affix Seal: [Beijing Tusen Zhitu Technology Co., Ltd. company seal is affixed]
DOMCO:      Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd.
     By:  

/s/ Mo Chen

     Name:   Mo Chen
     Title:   Legal Representative
     Affix Seal: [Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd. company seal is affixed]

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E-2 PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

US CO:      TuSimple, Inc.
     By:  

/s/ Xiaodi Hou                                        

     Name:   Xiaodi Hou
     Title:   Director

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E-2 PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

FOUNDERS:      Mo Chen
     By:  

/s/ Mo Chen                                        

     Xiaodi Hou
     By:  

/s/ Xiaodi Hou                                        

     Zhenguo Ren
     By:  

/s/ Zhenguo Ren                                        

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E-2 PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

FOUNDER HOLDCOS:      Gray Jade Holding Limited
     By:  

/s/ Mo Chen                                        

     Name:   Mo Chen
     Title:   Director
     White Marble International Limited
     By:  

/s/ Xiaodi Hou                                        

     Name:   Xiaodi Hou
     Title:   Director
     Ancient Jade International Limited
     By:  

/s/ Zhenguo Ren                                        

     Name:   Zhenguo Ren
     Title:   Director

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E-2 PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

PURCHASER:      TRATON International S.A.
     By:  

/s/ Frank Mitschke                                        

     Name:   Frank Mitschke
     Title:   Managing Director
     By:  

/s/ Ismaël Aït Hassou

     Name:   Ismaël Aït Hassou
     Title:   Daily Business Manager

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SERIES E-2 PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT


SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS

 

Schedules   

Schedule 1

   Schedule of Purchaser

Schedule 2-A

   Schedule of Founders

Schedule 2-B

   Schedule of Founder Holdcos

Schedule 3

   Definitions

Schedule 4

   Schedule of Key Employees

Schedule 5

   Representations and Warranties of the Warrantors

Schedule 6

   Disclosure Schedule

Schedule 7

   Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser

Schedule 8

   Capitalization Table

Schedule 9

   Notices

 

SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS


Exhibits   

Exhibit A

   Certificate of Incorporation

Exhibit B

   Shareholders’ Agreement

Exhibit C

   Form of Compliance Certificate

 

SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS


SCHEDULE 1

SCHEDULE OF PURCHASER

 

Purchaser

   Class of Preferred
Stock
   Number of Preferred
Stock
     Consideration  

TRATON International S.A.

   Series E-2 Preferred
Stock
     4,331,644      US$ 48,999,990.10  

 

SCHEDULE 1


SCHEDULE 2-A

SCHEDULE OF FOUNDER

 

SCHEDULE 2-A


SCHEDULE 2-B

SCHEDULE OF FOUNDER HOLDCO

 

SCHEDULE 2-B


SCHEDULE 3

DEFINITIONS

 

1.

Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person who or which, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such specified Person, including, without limitation, any general partner, limited partner, officer, director, member or employee of such Person and any venture capital or other fund now or hereafter existing that is controlled by or under common control with one or more general partners or managing members of, or shares the same management company with, such Person. With respect to a natural person, his or her Affiliates also include his or her children, stepchildren, grandchildren, parents, step-parents, grandparents, spouse and siblings.

 

2.

Agreement” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

3.

Anti-Corruption Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 19 of Schedule 5.

 

4.

Anti-Money Laundering Laws” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 25.4 of Schedule 5.

 

5.

Board of Directors” or “Board” means the Company’s board of Directors.

 

6.

Breach” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7.1.

 

7.

Business Day” means any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which the commercial banks in Hong Kong, Beijing, or New York are authorized or required to be closed for the conduct of regular banking business.

 

8.

Business Plan” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 30 of Schedule 5.

 

9.

Certificate of Incorporation” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.5.

 

10.

Circular 37” means the Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Relevant Issues concerning Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Residents to Engage in Overseas Investment or Financing and in Return Investment via Special Purpose Vehicles promulgated by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the PRC on July 4, 2014.

 

11.

Closing” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.2(a).

 

12.

Common Stock” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement, being common stock of the Company, par value US$0.0001 per share.

 

13.

Company” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

14.

Confidential Information Agreements” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 21 of Schedule 5.

 

15.

Contract” means a legally binding contract, agreement, understanding, indenture, note, bond, loan, instrument, lease, mortgage, franchise or license.

 

16.

Control” or “control” of a given Person means the power or authority, whether exercised or not, to direct the business, management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, through any contractual relationship (including, without limitation, pursuant to a management or advisory agreement) or otherwise,

 

SCHEDULE 3


  which power or authority shall conclusively be presumed to exist upon possession of beneficial ownership or power to direct the vote of more than fifty percent (50%) of the votes entitled to be cast at a meeting of the members or stockholders of such Person or power to control the composition of a majority of the board of directors of such Person; the terms “Controlling” and “Controlled” (and their lower-case counterparts) have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

17.

Control Documents” means the Exclusive Business Cooperation and Service Agreement, Share Pledge Agreement, Exclusive Option Agreement, and Power of Attorney in form and substance attached to any Series D-1 share purchase agreement.

 

18.

Conversion Stock” means Common Stock issuable upon conversion of any Preferred Stock.

 

19.

Convertible Securities” means, with respect to any specified Person, securities convertible or exchangeable into any stock of any class of such specified Person, however described and whether voting or non-voting.

 

20.

Delivered Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 14 of Schedule 5.

 

21.

Directors” means the members of the Board of Directors.

 

22.

Disclosing Party” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.2(c).

 

23.

Disclosure Schedule” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4.

 

24.

DomCo” has the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.

 

25.

Employee Benefit Plans” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 16.7 of Schedule 5.

 

26.

Equity Transfers” means (1) Hou Xiaodi (侯晓迪), Hao Jianan (郝佳男), Guo Minhua (郭敏华) and Ren Zhenguo (任振国)’s transfers of all the equity interests they held in Shanghai Tusen Weilai Artificial Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd. (上海图森未来人工智能科技有限公司) to the WFOE at nil consideration; and (2) Hou Xiaodi (侯晓迪), Hao Jianan (郝佳男), Guo Minhua (郭敏华), Ren Zhenguo (任振国), and Jin Zhuo Heng Bang Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (金卓恒邦科技(北京)有限公司)’s transfers of all the equity interests they held in the DomCo to the WFOE at nil consideration.

 

27.

Establishment Documents” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 22.4 of Schedule 5.

 

28.

Execution Date” means the date of this Agreement.

 

29.

Financial Statements” means the consolidated balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows, prepared in accordance with IFRS / US GAAP and applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods indicated.

 

30.

Founder(s)” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

31.

Founder Holdcos” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

32.

Fundamental Warranties” means the representations and warranties by the Warrantors set forth in Section 1, Section 2, Section 3, Section 4, Section 5, Section 6 and Section 9 of Schedule 5.

 

33.

General Corporation Law” means the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

SCHEDULE 3


34.

Governmental Authority” means the government of any nation, province, state, city, locality or other political subdivision of any thereof, any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, regulation or compliance, and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled, through stock or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing.

 

35.

Group Companies” means the Company, the HK Co, the WFOE, the US Co, the DomCo, HK Auto Tech, and any other direct or indirect Subsidiary of any Group Company collectively, and “Group Company” means any one of them.

 

36.

GC Product or Service” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.7 of Schedule 5.

 

37.

Half-Year Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 14 of Schedule 5.

 

38.

Hong Kong” means the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC.

 

39.

HK Auto Tech” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

40.

HK Co” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

41.

IFRS” mean International Financial Reporting Standards.

 

42.

Indemnifiable Loss” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.

 

43.

Indemnitee” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.

 

44.

Intellectual Property” means all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, processes, compositions of matter, formulas, designs, inventions, proprietary rights, know-how and any other confidential or proprietary information owned or otherwise used by any Group Company.

 

45.

Key Employee” means each of the Persons listed in Schedule 4.

 

46.

Knowledge” including the phrase “to the Warrantors knowledge” means the actual knowledge after reasonable investigation of the Key Employees and the Founders.

 

47.

Law” means any constitutional provision, statute or other law, rule, regulation, official policy or interpretation of any Governmental Authority and any injunction, judgment, order, ruling, assessment or writ issued by any Governmental Authority.

 

48.

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, claim, security interest, encumbrance, title defect, lien, charge or other restriction or limitation.

 

49.

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on the business, assets (including intangible assets), liabilities, financial condition, property, prospects or results of operations of the Group Companies, either individually or taken as a whole.

 

50.

Material Agreements” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 10.1 of Schedule 5.

 

51.

OFAC” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 18.2(a) of Schedule 5.

 

52.

OFAC Sanctioned Person” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 18.2(b) of Schedule 5.

 

SCHEDULE 3


53.

OFAC Sanctions” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 18.2(a) of Schedule 5.

 

54.

Order” or “order” means any order, injunction, judgment, decree, ruling, writ, assessment or arbitration award of a Governmental Authority.

 

55.

Party” and “Parties” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble to this Agreement.

 

56.

Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, proprietorship, association, limited liability company, firm, trust, estate or other enterprise or entity.

 

57.

PRC” means the Peoples’ Republic of China, excluding Hong Kong, the Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan for the purpose of this Agreement.

 

58.

Projections” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 29 of Schedule 5.

 

59.

Preferred Stock” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

60.

public official” means an employee of a Governmental Authority, a member of a political party, a political candidate, an officer of a public international organization, or an officer or employee of a state-owned enterprise, including a PRC state-owned enterprise.

 

61.

Public Software” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.7 of Schedule 5.

 

62.

Purchased Stock” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.

 

63.

Purchase Price” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1.

 

64.

Purchaser” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

65.

Related Party” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 11.4 of Schedule 5.

 

66.

Reserve” or “reservation” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 4 of Schedule 5.

 

67.

SDN List” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 18.2(b) of Schedule 5.

 

68.

Secretary” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 18.2(a) of Schedule 5.

 

69.

Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (or comparable Laws in jurisdictions other than the United States).

 

70.

Series A Preferred Stock” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

71.

Series A-2 Preferred Stock” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

72.

Series B-1 Preferred Stock” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

73.

Series B-2 Preferred Stock” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

74.

Series B-3 Preferred Stock” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

75.

Series C Preferred Stock” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

SCHEDULE 3


76.

Series D-1 Preferred Stock” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

77.

Series E Preferred Stock” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

78.

Series E-1 Preferred Stock” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

79.

Series E-2 Preferred Stock” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

80.

Shareholders’ Agreement” means the Seventh Amended and Restated Shareholders’ agreement of the Company dated December 4, 2020, entered into by and among the Group Companies, the Founders, the Purchaser and certain other parties thereto, substantially in the form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit B and as may be amended and restated from time to time.

 

81.

Specified Investment Agreements” means collectively, the Construction of Autonomous Truck Research, Development and Test Center of Beijing Tusen (关于建设北京图森自动驾驶卡车研发试验基地项目投资协议书 ) and the Supplemental Agreement with respect to the Construction of Autonomous Truck Research, Development and Test Center of Beijing Tusen (关于建设北京图森自动驾驶卡车研发试验基地项目的补充协议 ), in each case by and between the DomCo and Sino-Japan Tangshan Caofeidian Eco-Industrial Area Administration Committee (中日唐山曹妃甸生态工业园管理委员会).

 

82.

Statement Date” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 14 of Schedule 5.

 

83.

Subsidiary” or “subsidiary” means, as of the relevant date of determination, with respect to any Person (the “subject entity”), (i) any Person (x) more than 50% of whose stock or other interests entitled to vote in the election of directors or (y) more than a 50% interest in the profits or capital of such Person are owned or controlled directly or indirectly by the subject entity or through one (1) or more Subsidiaries of the subject entity; (ii) any Person whose assets, or portions thereof, are consolidated with the net earnings of the subject entity and are recorded on the books of the subject entity for financial reporting purposes in accordance with IFRS or US GAAP; or (iii) any Person with respect to which the subject entity has the power to otherwise direct the business and policies of that entity directly or indirectly through another subsidiary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Subsidiaries of the Company shall include the Group Companies (other than the Company) and/or any other company Controlled by the Company, directly or indirectly, through contractual arrangement (including via the variable interest entities arrangement).

 

84.

Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Shareholders’ Agreement (as amended and restated from time to time), the Certificate of Incorporation (as amended and restated from time to time) and any other agreements, instruments or documents entered into in connection with this Agreement.

 

85.

Termination Date” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.21(b)(1).

 

86.

Transaction Terms” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 8.2(a).

 

87.

United States Person” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 18.2(c) of Schedule 5.

 

88.

US Co” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Preamble.

 

89.

US GAAP” means the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States.

 

SCHEDULE 3


90.

US$” means the United States Dollar, the lawful currency of the United States of America.

 

91.

Warrantors” means the Group Companies, the Founder Holdcos and the Founders, and “Warrantor” means any one of them.

 

92.

WFOE” has the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.

 

SCHEDULE 3


SCHEDULE 4

SCHEDULE OF KEY EMPLOYEES

 

SCHEDULE 4


SCHEDULE 5

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE WARRANTORS

 

1.

ORGANIZATION, GOOD STANDING, CORPORATE POWER AND QUALIFICATION

Each Warrantor (except for the Founders) is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its business as presently conducted and as proposed to be conducted. Each Warrantor (except for the Founders) is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Warrantor has full power, authority and capacity to enter into and perform each of the Transaction Documents to which such Warrantor is a party.

 

2.

CAPITALIZATION

2.1    The authorized capital of the Company consists, immediately prior to the Closing, of: (a) 361,897,230 shares of Common Stock, of which 60,603,953 shares are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing. All of the outstanding Common Stock have been duly authorized, are fully paid and nonassessable and were issued in compliance with all applicable securities laws. The Company holds no treasury shares; and (b) 20,000,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 8,218,203 shares of Series A-2 Preferred Stock, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 7,080,000 shares of Series B-1 Preferred Stock, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 3,000,000 shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 3,465,372 shares of Series B-3 Preferred Stock, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 14,993,041 shares of Series C Preferred Stock, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing; 20,345,131 shares of Series D-1 Preferred Stock, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing, 50,000,000 shares of Series E Preferred Stock, 25,695,018 of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing, 3,928,937 shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock, all of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing, and 7,072,086 shares of Series E-2 Preferred Stock, none of which are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing. The rights, privileges and preferences of the Series A Preferred Stock, the Series A-2 Preferred Stock, the Series B-1 Preferred Stock, the Series B-2 Preferred Stock, the Series B-3 Preferred Stock, the Series C Preferred Stock, the Series D-1 Preferred Stock, the Series E Preferred Stock, the Series E-1 Preferred Stock and the Series E-2 Preferred Stock are as stated in the Certificate of Incorporation and as provided by the General Corporation Law.

2.2    The Company has reserved 21,967,694 shares of Common Stock for issuance to Key Employees, research and technical employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company pursuant to the 2017 Share Plan of the Company, as amended from time to time, and 4,087,528 of which are issued and outstanding. Of such reserved Common Stock, 61,928 shares of Common Stock remain available for issuance to Key Employees, research and technical employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company.

2.3    Schedule 8 sets forth the capitalization of the Company immediately before and following the Closing including the number of shares of the following: (i) issued and outstanding Common Stock, (ii) each series of Preferred Stock; and (iii) warrants or stock purchase rights, if any. Except for (A) the conversion privileges of the Preferred Stock, (B) the right to purchase the Purchased Stock under this Agreement, (C) the rights provided in the Shareholders’ Agreement, and (D) the warrants and stock purchase rights described in Section 2.3 of the Disclosure Schedule, there are no outstanding options, warrants, rights (including conversion or preemptive rights and rights of first refusal or similar rights) or agreements, orally or in writing, to purchase or acquire from the Company any Common Stock or Preferred Stock, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock or Preferred

 

SCHEDULE 5


Stock. The warrants and stock purchase rights described in Section 2.3 of the Disclosure Schedule have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate actions of the Company and have been validly issued, without any violation of, or with duly obtained waiver of, any person’s preemptive rights, right of first refusal or other similar rights.

2.4    The Founders are the legal and beneficial owners of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of their respective Founder Holdcos. The Founder Holdcos are the legal and beneficial owners of 56,516,425 shares of Common Stock of the Company. The Company is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the US Co. The Company is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the HK Co, which in turn is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the WFOE. The WFOE is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of the DomCo. The Company is the sole legal and beneficial owner of one hundred percent (100%) equity interest of HK Auto Tech.

2.5    Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule, there are no outstanding options, warrants, rights (including conversion or, preemptive rights and rights of first refusal or similar rights) or agreements, orally or in writing, to purchase or acquire any equity interest or share capital, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for an equity interest or share capital, of any Group Company (other than the Company).

 

3.

SUBSIDIARIES

Section 2.4 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete structure chart of the Group Companies, listing the full name, jurisdiction of incorporation, and stockholders (with shareholding percentage) of each Group Company (other than the Company). Other than expressly set forth in Section 2.4 of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company and each other Group Company do not currently own or control, directly or indirectly, any interest in any other company, corporation, partnership, trust, joint venture, association, or other business entity. Neither the Company nor any other Group Company is a participant in any joint venture, partnership or similar arrangement.

 

4.

AUTHORIZATION

With respect to each Warrantor (except for the Founders), all corporate action required to be taken by such Warrantor’s board of directors and stockholders in order to authorize each respective Warrantor to enter into the Transaction Documents to which each such Warrantor is a party, and (only with respect to the Company) to issue the Purchased Stock at the Closing and the Conversion Stock, has been taken or will be taken prior to the Closing. With respect to each Warrantor (except for the Founders), all action on the part of the officers of each Warrantor necessary for the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents, the performance of all obligations of such Warrantor under the Transaction Documents to be performed as of the Closing, and (only with respect to the Company) the issuance and delivery of the Purchased Stock has been taken or will be taken prior to the Closing. The Transaction Documents, when executed and delivered by each Warrantor, shall constitute valid and legally binding obligations of each Warrantor, enforceable against each Warrantor in accordance with their respective terms except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, or other laws of general application relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies, or (iii) to the extent the indemnification provisions contained in the Shareholders’ Agreement may be limited by applicable securities laws. The issuance of any Purchased Stock or Conversion Stock is not subject to any preemptive rights or rights of first refusal, or if any such preemptive rights or rights of first refusal exist, waiver of such rights will be obtained from the holders thereof as of the Closing. For the purpose only of this Agreement, “reserve,” “reservation” or similar words with respect to a specified number of Common Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company shall mean that the Company shall, and the Board of Directors of the Company shall procure that the Company shall, refrain from issuing such number of shares so that such number of

 

SCHEDULE 5


shares will remain in the authorized but unissued share capital of the Company until the conversion rights of the holders of any Convertible Securities exercisable for such shares are exercised in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation or otherwise.

 

5.

VALID ISSUANCE OF STOCK

5.1    As of the Closing, the Purchased Stock, when issued, sold and delivered in accordance with the terms and for the consideration set forth in this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of Liens and other restrictions on transfer other than restrictions on transfer under this Agreement, the Shareholders’ Agreement, applicable securities laws and liens or encumbrances created by or imposed by the relevant Purchaser. Subject in part to the accuracy of the representations of the Purchaser in Schedule 7 of this Agreement, the Purchased Stock will be issued in compliance with all applicable securities laws. As of the Closing, the Conversion Stock will have been duly reserved for issuance, and upon issuance in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of Liens and other restrictions on transfer other than restrictions on transfer under the Transaction Documents, applicable securities laws and liens or encumbrances created by or imposed by the relevant Purchaser. The Conversion Stock will be issued in compliance with all applicable securities laws.

5.2    As of the Closing, all presently outstanding Common Stock and Preferred Stock of the Company were duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and are free and clear of any Liens and free of restrictions on transfer (except for any restrictions on transfer under Transaction Documents or applicable securities laws) and have been issued in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all applicable securities laws and regulations, including, to the extent applicable, the Securities Act.

 

6.

GOVERNMENTAL CONSENTS AND FILINGS

6.1    No consent, approval, order or authorization of or registration, qualification, designation, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Authority on the part of any Warrantor is required in connection with the valid execution, delivery and consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Shareholders’ Agreement or the offer, sale, issuance or reservation for issuance of the Purchased Stock and the Conversion Stock.

6.2    All products or technologies produced, designed, tested, manufactured, fabricated, or developed by Group Companies organized in the United States are classified as EAR99 for export control purposes.

 

7.

LITIGATION

There is no claim, action, suit, proceeding, arbitration, complaint, charge or investigation pending or to the Warrantors’ knowledge, currently threatened (i) against any Warrantor or any officer, director or Key Employee of any Group Company that would either individually or in aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (ii) to the Warrantors’ knowledge, that questions the validity of the Transaction Documents or the right of any Warrantor to enter into them, or to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. None of the Warrantors and, to the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of the officers, directors and Key Employees of any Group Company, is a party or is named as subject to the provisions of any order, writ, injunction, judgment or decree of any court or government agency or instrumentality which would either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no action, suit, proceeding or investigation by any Group Company pending or which any Group Company intends to initiate. The foregoing includes, without limitation, actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending or threatened in writing (or any basis therefor known to the Warrantors) involving the prior employment of any of the Group Company’s employees, their services provided in connection with

 

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Group Company’s business, or any information or techniques allegedly proprietary to any of their former employers, or their obligations under any agreements with prior employers.

 

8.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

8.1    Each Group Company owns or possesses sufficient legal rights to (i) all trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, licenses, information and proprietary rights and processes and (ii) to the Warrantors’ knowledge, all patents and patent rights, in each case of (i) and (ii), as are necessary to the conduct of such Group Company’s business as now conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted, without any known conflict with, or infringement of, the rights of others. Section 8.1 of the Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and accurate list of all Intellectual Property owned, licensed to or used by each Group Company, whether registered or not, and a complete and accurate list of all licenses granted by such Group Company to any third party with respect to any Intellectual Property. No product or service marketed or sold (or proposed to be marketed or sold) by any Group Company violates or will violate any license or infringe any intellectual property rights of any other party.

8.2    Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule, no Group Company has received any communications alleging that any Group Company has violated or, by conducting its business, would violate any of the patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets or other proprietary rights or processes of any other person or entity. Each Group Company has obtained and possesses valid licenses to use all of the software programs present on the computers and other software-enabled electronic devices that it owns or leases or that it has otherwise provided to its employees for their use in connection with such Group Company’s business. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, it will not be necessary to use any inventions of any of its employees (or persons it currently intends to hire) made prior to their employment by a Group Company. Each Key Employee has assigned to the Group Companies all intellectual property rights he or she owns that are related to the Group Companies’ business as now conducted. Section 8.2 of the Disclosure Schedule lists all patents, patent applications, registered trademarks, trademark applications, registered service marks, service mark applications, registered copyrights and domain names of each Group Company.

8.3    Other than with respect to commercially available software products under standard end-user object code license agreements, there are no outstanding options, licenses, agreements, claims, encumbrances or shared ownership interests of any kind relating to the foregoing, nor is any Group Company bound by or a party to any options, licenses or agreements of any kind with respect to the patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, licenses, information, proprietary rights and processes of any other person or entity.

8.4    No proceedings or claims in which any Group Company alleges that any person is infringing upon, or otherwise violating, its Intellectual Property rights are pending, and none has been served, instituted or asserted by any Group Company.

8.5    None of the employees of any Group Company or the Founders are obligated under any Contract (including a Contract of employment), or subject to any judgment, decree or order of any court or administrative agency, that would interfere with the use of his or her best efforts to promote the interests of the Group Companies, or that would conflict with the business of any Group Company as presently conducted. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, it will not be necessary to utilize in the course of any Group Company’s business operations any inventions of any of the employees of any Group Company made prior to their employment by the such Group Company, except for inventions that have been validly and properly assigned or licensed to such Group Company as of the date hereof.

8.6    Each Group Company has taken all security measures that in the judgment of such Person are commercially prudent in order to protect the secrecy, confidentiality, and value of its material Intellectual Property.

 

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8.7    No Public Software (as defined below) forms part of any product or service provided by any Group Company (“GC Product or Service”), and no Public Software was or is used in connection with the development of any GC Product or Service or is incorporated into, in whole or in part, or has been distributed with, in whole or in part, any GC Product or Service. As used in this Section 8.7, “Public Software” means any software that contains, or is derived in any manner (in whole or in part) from, any software that is distributed as free software (as defined by the Free Software Foundation), open source software (e.g., Linux or software distributed under any license approved by the Open Source Initiative as set forth www.opensource.org) or similar licensing or distribution models which require the distribution or making available of source code as well as object code of the software to licensees without charge (except for the cost of the medium) and the right of the licensee to modify the software and redistribute both the modified and unmodified versions of the software, including software licensed or distributed under any of the following licenses: (i) GNU’s General Public License (GPL) or Lesser/Library GPL (LGPL); (ii) the Artistic License (e.g., PERL); (iii) the Mozilla Public License; (iv) the Netscape Public License; (v) the BSD License; or (vi) the Apache License.

 

9.

COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER INSTRUMENTS

9.1    None of the Group Companies, the Founders and the Founder Holdcos is in violation or default (i) of any provisions of its memorandum of association (if any), certificate of incorporation or any other applicable constitutional document, (ii) of any instrument, judgment, order, writ or decree, (iii) under any note, indenture or mortgage, (iv) under any lease, agreement, Contract or purchase order to which it is a party or by which it is bound that is required to be listed on the Section 10.1 of Disclosure Schedule, or (v) of any provision of statute, rule or regulation applicable to such Warrantor or any transaction documents in connection with the Company’s equity and/or debt financings prior to the Execution Date, in the case of the foregoing (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v), the violation of which would either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no material breach or violation of, or inaccuracy or misrepresentation in, any representation or warranty contained in the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company or in the Transaction Documents. The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents will not result in any such violation or be in conflict with or constitute, with or without the passage of time and giving of notice, either (i) a default under any such provision, instrument, judgment, order, writ, decree, Contract or agreement or (ii) an event which results in the creation of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any equity interest or assets of any Group Company or the suspension, revocation, forfeiture, or nonrenewal of any material permit or license applicable to any Group Company, which would either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

9.2

PENALTIES AND FINES

There are no penalties or fines of whatsoever nature that have ever been imposed on any Group Company.

 

10.

AGREEMENTS; ACTIONS

10.1    Save for the agreements set out in Section 10.1 of the Disclosure Schedule (the “Material Agreements”) and the Transaction Documents, there are no other agreements, understandings, instruments, Contracts or proposed transactions to which any Group Company is a party or by which it is bound that involve (i) obligations (contingent or otherwise) of, or payments to, any Group Company in excess of US$200,000 per annum or in excess of US$1,000,000 in the aggregate, (ii) the transfer or license of any patent, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary right to or from any Group Company, other than from or to another Group Company or from a Founder to a Group Company, (iii) the grant of rights to manufacture, produce, assemble, license, market, or sell its products to any other person or affect any Group Company’s exclusive right to develop, manufacture, assemble, distribute, market or sell its products, (iv) indemnification by any Group Company with respect to infringements of proprietary rights, or (v) business cooperation, joint development, or similar arrangements involving

 

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any Group Company, and there are no agreements, understandings, instruments, Contracts or proposed transactions between any Warrantor and any holder of Preferred Stock amending or varying the rights or obligations of the Company and such holder of Preferred Stock from those set out in the Transaction Documents. All the Material Agreements are valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the parties thereto and the terms thereof have been complied with by the relevant Group Company, and to the Warrantors’ knowledge, by all the other parties thereto. There are to the Warrantors’ knowledge, no circumstances likely to give rise to any material breach of such terms, no grounds for rescission, avoidance or repudiation of any of the Material Agreements which would have a Material Adverse Effect and no notice of termination or of intention to terminate has been received in respect of any Material Agreement.

10.2    The Company has not declared or paid any dividends, or authorized or made any distribution upon or with respect to any class of its share capital, and no Group Company has (i) incurred any indebtedness for money borrowed or incurred any other liabilities individually in excess of US$100,000 or in excess of US$250,000 in the aggregate, except those in the ordinary course of business, (ii) made any loans or advances to any person, other than ordinary advances for travel expenses and trade receivables in the ordinary course of business, or (iii) sold, exchanged or otherwise disposed of any of its assets or rights, other than the sale of its inventory in the ordinary course of business or otherwise envisaged in this Agreement. For the purposes of Sections 10.1 and 10.2 of this Schedule 5 all indebtedness, liabilities, agreements, understandings, instruments, Contracts and proposed transactions involving the same person or entity shall be aggregated for the purpose of meeting the individual minimum dollar amounts of such subsection.

10.3    No Group Company is a guarantor or indemnitor of any indebtedness of any other person, firm or corporation that is not a Group Company.

10.4    Save as set out in Section 10.4 of the Disclosure Schedule or in connection with this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, no Group Company has engaged in the past three (3) months in any discussion with any representative of any corporation, partnership, trust, joint venture, limited liability company, association or other entity, or any individual, regarding (i) a sale of all or substantially all of such Group Company’s assets, or (ii) any merger, consolidation or other business combination transaction of such Group Company with or into another corporation, entity or person.

 

11.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

11.1    Other than (i) standard employee benefits generally made available to all employees, (ii) standard director and officer indemnification agreements approved by the Board of Directors, and (iii) the purchase of the Company’s share capital in accordance with applicable law, and the issuance of options to purchase the Company’s Common Stock, in each instance, disclosed in Section 11.1 of the Disclosure Schedule, there are no agreements, understandings or proposed transactions between any Group Company and any of its officers, directors, consultants or Key Employees, or any Affiliate thereof, respectively.

11.2    No Group Company is indebted, directly or indirectly, to any of its directors, officers or employees or to their respective spouses or children or to any Affiliate of any of the foregoing, other than in connection with expenses or advances of expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business or employee relocation expenses. None of the Group Companies’ directors, officers or employees, or any members of their immediate families, or any Affiliate of the foregoing (i) are, directly or indirectly, indebted to any Group Company or, (ii) to the Warrantors’ knowledge, have any direct or indirect ownership interest in any firm or corporation with which the Company is affiliated or with which any Group Company has a business relationship, or any firm or corporation which competes with any Group Company except that directors, officers or employees or stockholders of the Company may own shares in (but not exceeding one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of) publicly traded companies that may compete with any Group Company. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of the Group Companies’ employees, officers or directors or any members of their immediate families or any Affiliate of any of

 

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the foregoing are, directly or indirectly, interested in any Contract with any Group Company. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of the Group Companies’ directors, officers or employees, or any members of their immediate families, or any Affiliate of the foregoing has any material commercial, industrial, banking, consulting, legal, accounting, charitable or familial relationship with any of the Group Companies’ five (5) largest business relationship partners, clients, service providers, joint venture partners, licensees or competitors.

11.3    Other than the Group Companies, there are no corporations, partnerships, trusts, joint ventures, limited liability companies or other business entities in which any Founder owns or controls, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the outstanding voting interests.

11.4    To the Warrantors’ knowledge, no employee, officer, or director of any Group Company (“Related Party”) or any members of such Related Party’s immediate families, or any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity in which such Related Party is an officer, director or partner, has significant ownership interests or otherwise controls, loans, or extend or guarantee credit to any of the Group Companies. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of foregoing persons has any direct or indirect ownership interest in any firm or corporation with which any Group Company is affiliated or with which any Group Company has a business relationship, or any firm or corporation that competes with any Group Company, except that employees, officers, or directors of the Company and members of such Related Party’s immediate families may own stock in (but not exceeding one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of) publicly traded companies that may compete with any Group Company. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, no Related Party or member of their immediate family is directly or indirectly interested in any material Contract with any Group Company.

 

12.

RIGHTS OF REGISTRATION AND VOTING RIGHTS

Except as provided in the Shareholders’ Agreement, no Group Company is under any obligation to register under the Securities Act or any other applicable securities laws, any of its currently outstanding securities or any securities issuable upon exercise or conversion of its currently outstanding securities. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, except as contemplated in the Shareholders’ Agreement, no stockholder of any Group Company has entered into any agreements with respect to the voting of shares in the capital of the Company. Except as contemplated by or disclosed in the Transaction Documents, no Founder is a party to or has any Knowledge of any agreements, written or oral, relating to the acquisition, disposition, registration under the Securities Act, or voting of the shares or securities of any Group Company.

13.    ABSENCE OF LIENS

Each Group Company has good and valid title to all of its respective assets, whether tangible or intangible (including those reflected in the Delivered Financial Statements, together with all assets acquired thereby since the Statement Date (as defined below), but excluding those that have been disposed of since the Statement Date). The property and assets owned by the Group Companies are free and clear of all mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, loans and encumbrances, except for statutory liens for the payment of current taxes that are not yet delinquent and encumbrances and liens that arise in the ordinary course of business and do not materially impair the Group Companies’ ownership or use of such property or assets. With respect to the property and assets it leases, each Group Company is in compliance with such leases and, to the Warrantors’ knowledge, holds a valid leasehold interest free of any liens, claims or encumbrances other than those of the lessors of such property or assets. The assets owned or leased by the Group Companies constitute all of the assets used in connection with the businesses of the Group Companies and are adequate for Group Companies to conduct such businesses in substantially the same manner as currently conducted.

14.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

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The Company has delivered to the Purchaser its unaudited consolidated Financial Statements for the six months ending on June 30, 2020 (the “Statement Date”) and for the nine months ending September 30, 2020 (collectively, the “Delivered Financial Statements”). The Delivered Financial Statements may not contain all footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles. Such Delivered Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition and operating results of the Group Companies as of the dates, and for the periods, indicated therein, subject in the case of the unaudited consolidated Financial Statements to normal year-end audit adjustments. Except as set forth in such Delivered Financial Statements, each Group Company has no material liabilities or obligations, contingent or otherwise, as of the Statement Date and as of September 30, 2020, other than (i) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business subsequent to September 30, 2020, (ii) obligations under Contracts and commitments incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iii) liabilities and obligations of a type or nature not required under IFRS / US GAAP to be reflected in such unaudited consolidated Financial Statements.

 

15.

CHANGES

Since the Statement Date, except as set forth in Section 15 of the Disclosure Schedule or as contemplated by this Agreement or the Transaction Documents, there has not been:

(a)    any change in the assets, liabilities, financial condition or operating results of any Group Company from that reflected in the Half-Year Financial Statements, except changes in the ordinary course of business;

(b)    any damage, destruction or loss, whether or not covered by insurance, that would have a Material Adverse Effect on a Group Company;

(c)    any waiver or compromise by any Group Company of a valuable right or of a material debt owed to it;

(d)    any satisfaction or discharge of any lien, claim, or encumbrance or payment of any obligation by any Group Company, except in the ordinary course of business;

(e)    any material change to a material Contract or agreement by which any Group Company or any of its assets is bound or subject;

(f)    any material change in any compensation arrangement or agreement with any employee, officer, director or stockholder;

(g)    any resignation or termination of employment or change of terms of employment of any officer or Key Employee of any Group Company;

(h)    any mortgage, pledge, transfer of a security interest in, or lien, created by any Group Company, with respect to any of its material properties or assets, except liens for taxes not yet due or payable and liens that arise in the ordinary course of business and do not materially impair such Company’s ownership or use of such property or assets;

(i)    any dividend, loans or guarantees made by any Group Company to or for the benefit of its employees, officers or directors, or any members of their immediate families, other than travel advances and other advances made in the ordinary course of its business;

(j)    any default under, acceleration of or otherwise failure to pay, any loans, notes or other indebtedness as they become due;

 

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(k)    any declaration, setting aside or payment or other distribution in respect of any Group Company’s share capital, or any direct or indirect redemption, purchase, or other acquisition of any of such shares by any Group Company;

(l)    any sale, assignment or transfer of any material assets or Intellectual Property of any Group Company;

(m)    receipt of notice that there has been a loss of, or material order cancellation by, any major customer of any Group Company;

(n)    to the Warrantors’ knowledge, any other event or condition of any character, other than events affecting the economy or the Company’s industry generally, that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or

(o)    any arrangement, agreement or commitment by the Company to do any of the things described in this Section 15.

 

16.

EMPLOYEE MATTERS

16.1    Section 16.1 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a detailed description of all deferred compensation paid or payable for each officer, employee, consultant and independent contractor of any Group Company. The compensation of Key Employees and other employees with the highest amount of compensation have been disclosed to the Purchaser.

16.2    No employee of any Group Company is obligated under any Contract (including licenses, covenants or commitments of any nature) or other agreement, or subject to any judgment, decree or order of any court or administrative agency, that would materially interfere with such employee’s ability to promote the interest of the Group Companies or that would conflict with the Group Companies’ business. Neither the execution or delivery of the Transaction Documents, nor the carrying on of the Company’s business by the employees of the Group Companies, nor the conduct of the business as now conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted, will conflict with or result in a breach of the terms, conditions, or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any Contract, covenant or instrument under which any such employee is now obligated.

16.3    No Group Company is delinquent in payments to any of its employees, consultants, or independent contractors for any wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, or other direct compensation for any service performed for it to the date hereof or amounts required to be reimbursed to such employees, consultants, or independent contractors. Each Group Company has complied in all respects with all applicable Laws related to employment, including those related to wages, hours, worker classification, and collective bargaining, and the payment and withholding of taxes and other sums as required by Law except where noncompliance with any applicable Law would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. Each Group Company has withheld and paid to the appropriate governmental entity or is holding for payment not yet due to such governmental entity all amounts required to be withheld from employees of such Group Company and is not liable for any arrears of wages, taxes, penalties, or other sums for failure to comply with any of the foregoing.

16.4    No Key Employee intends to terminate employment with any Group Company or is otherwise likely to become unavailable to continue as a Key Employee, nor does any Group Company have a present intention to terminate the employment of any of the foregoing. All employees of the Group Companies have entered into an employment agreement and a confidentiality, non-competition and intellectual property rights agreement. Except as required by law, upon termination of the employment of any employee of the Group Companies, no severance or other payments will become due. The Company has no policy, practice, plan, or program of paying severance pay or any form of severance compensation in connection with the termination of employment services.

 

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16.5    The Company has not made any representations regarding equity incentives to any officer, employees, director or consultant that are inconsistent with the share amounts and terms set forth in the Company’s Board minutes.

16.6    Each former Key Employee whose employment was terminated by the Company has entered into an agreement with the Company providing for the full release of any claims against the Company or any related party arising out of such employment.

16.7    Section 16.7 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth each and every employee benefit plan maintained, established or sponsored by any Group Company, or in which any Group Company participates in or contributes to in any jurisdiction, including without limitation, the PRC (the “Employee Benefit Plans”). Save as set out in Section 16.7 of the Disclosure Schedule, there is no other pension, retirement, social insurance, medical insurance, profit-sharing, deferred compensation, bonus, incentive or other employee benefit program, arrangement, agreement or understanding to which any Group Company contributes, is bound, or under which any employees or former employees (or their beneficiaries) are eligible to participate or derive a benefit. Each Group Company has made all required contributions under all the Employee Benefit Plans including without limitation all contributions required to be made under the PRC social insurance and housing fund schemes, and has complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws of any jurisdiction, in relation to the Employee Benefit Plans.

16.8    No Group Company is bound by or subject to (and none of its assets or properties is bound by or subject to) any written or oral, express or implied, Contract, commitment or arrangement with any labor union, and no labor union has requested or, to the Warrantors’ knowledge, has sought to represent any of the employees, representatives or agents of any Group Company. There is no strike or other labor dispute involving any Group Company pending, or to the Warrantors’ knowledge, threatened, which could have a Material Adverse Effect, nor is the Company aware of any labor organization activity involving its employees.

16.9    To the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of the Founders and other Key Employees or directors of any Group Company during the previous four (4) years, has been (a) subject to voluntary or involuntary petition under any applicable bankruptcy laws or any state insolvency laws or the appointment of manager, a receiver or similar officer by a court for his/her business or property; (b) convicted in a criminal proceeding or named as a subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses); (c) subject to any order, judgment, or decree (not subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated) of any court of competent jurisdiction permanently or temporarily enjoining him from engaging, or otherwise imposing limits or conditions on his engagement in any securities, investment advisory, banking, insurance, or other type of business or acting as an officer or director of a public company; or (d) found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by any relevant regulatory organization to have violated any applicable securities, commodities, or unfair trade practices law, which such judgment or finding has not been subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated.

 

17.

TAX MATTERS

17.1    The provisions for taxes as shown on the balance sheet included in the Delivered Financial Statements are sufficient in all material respects for the payment of all accrued and unpaid applicable taxes of the Group Companies as of the date of each such balance sheet, whether or not assessed or disputed as of the date of each such balance sheet. There have been no examinations or audits of any taxes or tax returns or reports of any Group Company by any applicable Governmental Authority other than routine requests for information. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, there are no deficiencies or claims for any taxes assessed, proposed or asserted in writing against any Group Company by any Governmental Authority that have not been fully paid and satisfied. Each Group Company has filed or caused to be filed on a timely basis (taking into account all applicable extensions) all tax returns that are

 

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or were required to be filed (to the extent applicable), all such returns are correct and complete, and each Group Company has paid all taxes that have become due, or have reflected such taxes in accordance with IFRS (or any internationally recognized accounting standards acceptable to the Purchaser) as a reserve for taxes on the Delivered Financial Statements. There are in effect no waivers of applicable statutes of limitations with respect to taxes for any year. No Group Company has entered into any transaction a purpose of which is the avoidance of taxes in violation of applicable Laws.

17.2    Immediately after the Closing, the Company will not be a “controlled foreign corporation” as defined in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor thereto) (the “Code”) with respect to the stock held by the Purchaser.

17.3    No member of the Group Company is, nor expects to become, a “passive foreign investment company” as described in Section 1297 of the Code, as amended.

17.4    No stockholder of any member of a Group Company, solely by virtue of its status as stockholder of such Group Company, has personal liability under local law for the debts and claims of such Group Company. There has been no communication from any tax authority relating to or affecting the tax classification of any member of the Group Companies.

 

18.

OFAC COMPLIANCE

18.1    None of the Warrantors, any of their Subsidiaries, or to the Warrantor’s knowledge after due inquiry, any directors, administrators, officers, board of directors (supervisory and management) members or employees of the Company or any other Group Company is an OFAC Sanctioned Person (as defined below). The Warrantors and, to the Warrantors’ knowledge, their directors, administrators, officers, administrators, board of directors (supervisory and management) members or employees are in compliance with, and have not previously violated, the USA Patriot Act of 2001, and all other applicable Anti-Money Laundering Laws. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, none of (i) the purchase and sale of the Purchased Stock, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or any of the documents in Exhibits attached hereto, or (iii) the consummation of any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby, or the fulfillment of the terms hereof or thereof, will result in a violation by any Warrantor or any Key Employee, of any of the OFAC Sanctions or of any Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

18.2    For the purposes of Section 18.1:

(a)    “OFAC Sanctions” means any sanctions program administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”) under authority delegated to the Secretary of the Treasury (the “Secretary”) by the President or provided to the Secretary by statute, and any order or license issued by, or under authority delegated by, the President or provided to the Secretary by statute in connection with a sanctions program thus administered by OFAC. For ease of reference, and not by way of limitation, OFAC Sanctions programs are described on OFAC’s website at www.treas.gov/ofac.

(b)    “OFAC Sanctioned Person” means any government, country, corporation or other entity, group or individual with whom or which the OFAC Sanctions prohibit a United States Person from engaging in transactions, and includes without limitation any individual or corporation or other entity that appears on the current OFAC list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (the “SDN List”). For ease of reference, and not by way of limitation, OFAC Sanctioned Persons other than government and countries can be found on the SDN List on OFAC’s website at https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/specially-designated-nationals-and-blocked-persons-list-sdn-human-readable-lists.

 

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(c)    “United States Person” means any United States citizen, permanent resident alien, entity organized under the laws of the United States (including foreign branches), or any person (individual or entity) in the United States, and, with respect to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, also includes any corporation or other entity that is owned or controlled by one of the foregoing, without regard to where it is organized or doing business.

 

19.

ANTI-CORRUPTION LAWS

None of the Warrantors, their respective Subsidiaries, or to the Warrantor’s knowledge after due inquiry, any of their directors, administrators, officers, board of directors (supervisory and management) members or employees have, directly or indirectly, (A) made any payment or promise to pay, or gift or promise to give or authorized such a promise or gift, of any money or anything of value, directly or indirectly, to (a) any foreign official (as such term is defined in the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977) or domestic governmental officials for the purpose of influencing any official act or decision of such official or inducing him or her to use his or her influence to affect any act or decision of a governmental authority, or (b) any foreign or domestic political party or official thereof or candidate for foreign or domestic political office for the purpose of influencing any official act or decision of such party, official or candidate or inducing such party, official or candidate to use his, her or its influence to affect any act or decision of a foreign governmental authority, in the case of both (a) and (b) above in order to assist any Warrantor to obtain or retain business for, or direct business to any Warrantor, as applicable, subject to applicable exceptions and affirmative defenses; (B) used any funds or will use any proceeds from the sale of the Purchased Stock for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to foreign or domestic political activity; or (C) violated any provision of the PRC Anti-Unfair Competition Law, the PRC Criminal Law or the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder which was or is applicable to any member of the Group Companies or its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Anti-Corruption Laws”), and no action, suit, proceeding, investigation or inquiry by or before any Governmental Authority involving any member of the Group Companies with respect to the Anti-Corruption Laws is pending or, to the best of the Warrantor’s knowledge, threatened. None of Warrantors and their respective directors, administrators, officers, board of directors (supervisory and management) members or employees has made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment of funds or received or retained any funds in violation of any law, rule or regulation subject to applicable exceptions and affirmative defenses.

 

20.

INSURANCE

Section 20 of the Disclosure Schedule provides a complete list of each Group Company’s insurance policies currently in effect. No Group Company has done or omitted to do or suffered anything to be done or not to be done other than any acts in the ordinary course of business which has or would render any policies of insurance taken out by it or by any other person in relation to any such Group Company’s assets void or voidable or which would result in an increase in the rate of premiums on the said policies and there are no claims outstanding and no circumstances which would give rise to any claim under any such policies of insurance.

 

21.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND INVENTION ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENTS

Each current and former employee, consultant and officer of any Group Company has executed an agreement with such Group Company regarding confidentiality and proprietary information substantially in the form or forms delivered to the counsel for the Purchaser (the “Confidential Information Agreements”). No current or former Key Employee has excluded works or inventions from his or her assignment of inventions pursuant to such Key Employee’s Confidential Information Agreement. No Group Company is aware that any of the Key Employees is in violation thereof.

 

22.

GOVERNMENTAL AND OTHER PERMITS

 

SCHEDULE 5


22.1    Each Group Company has all franchises, governmental permits, licenses and any similar authority necessary for the conduct of its business. No Group Company is in default in any material respect under any of such franchises, governmental permits, licenses or other similar authority.

22.2    Each of the DomCo and the WFOE has applied and obtained all requisite licenses, clearance and permits required under PRC Laws as necessary for the conduct of its businesses, and each of the DomCo and the WFOE has complied in all material respects with all PRC Laws in connection with foreign exchange, including without limitation, carrying out all relevant filings, registrations and applications for relevant permits with the PRC State Administration of Foreign Exchange and any other relevant authorities, and all such permits are validly subsisting. The Founders and other PRC stockholders of the Company (as applicable) have complied with all reporting and/or registration requirements (including filings of amendments to existing registrations) under the SAFE Rules and Regulations, including without limitation, Circular 37.

22.3    The registered capital of each of the DomCo and the WFOE has been fully paid up in accordance with the schedule of payment stipulated in its articles of association and in compliance with PRC Laws, and there is no outstanding capital contribution commitment.

22.4    The respective articles of association, approval document, certificate of approval and legal person business license of each of the DomCo and the WFOE (hereinafter referred to as the “Establishment Documents”) have been duly approved and filed in accordance with the Laws of the PRC and are valid and enforceable.

22.5    The business scope specified in the Establishment Documents of each of the DomCo and the WFOE complies with the requirements of all relevant PRC Laws. The operation and conduct of the business by and the term of operation of each of the DomCo and the WFOE in accordance with the Establishment Documents is in compliance with the Laws of the PRC.

22.6    Section 22.6 of the Disclosure Schedule sets out full and accurate details of all loan agreements entered into by any Group Company regarding any inter-company loan, stockholders loan, foreign exchange loan or any other kind of loan obtained by it. Such loan agreements have been duly registered in accordance with the Laws of the PRC (where necessary) and all such registrations are validly subsisting under the Laws of the PRC. All proceeds from such loan agreements in an amount equal to the principal amount borrowed under such loan agreements was received by the applicable Group Companies used for such Group Companies’ operations and for working capital purposes.

 

23.

CORPORATE DOCUMENTS

The certificate of incorporation, and all other constitutional documents (or analogous constitutional documents) of each Group Company are in the form provided to the Purchaser. The copy of the minute books of the Company provided to the Purchaser contains minutes of all meetings of directors and stockholders and all actions by written consent without a meeting by the directors and stockholders since the date of incorporation and accurately reflects in all material respects all actions by the directors (and any committee of directors) and stockholders with respect to all transactions referred to in such minutes.

 

24.

LIABILITIES

No Group Company has any liabilities of any nature, whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise, and whether due or to become due, except for (i) liabilities set forth in the Delivered Financial Statements of the Company, (ii) trade or business liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) other liabilities that do not exceed US$100,000 in the aggregate.

 

SCHEDULE 5


25.

COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS

25.1    Each Group Company is in material compliance with all applicable Laws applicable to it or to the conduct or operation of its business or the ownership or use of any of its assets or properties.

25.2    No event has occurred and no circumstance exists that to the Warrantors’ knowledge (i) may constitute or result in a violation by any Group Company, or a failure on the part of any Group Company to comply with any Law, or (ii) may give rise to any obligation on the part of any Group Company to undertake, or to bear all or any portion of the cost of, any remedial action of any nature, except for such violations or failures by a Group Company that, individually or in the aggregate, would not result in any Material Adverse Effect.

25.3    No Group Company has received any written notice from any Governmental Authority regarding (i) any actual, alleged or likely material violation of, or material failure to comply with, any Law, or (ii) any actual, alleged or likely material obligation on the part of any Group Company to undertake, or to bear all or any portion of the cost of, any remedial action of any nature.

25.4    No Group Company, nor any director, agent, employee or any other person acting for or on behalf of any Group Company, has directly or indirectly (i) made any contribution, gift, bribe, payoff, influence payment, kickback, or any other fraudulent payment in any form, whether in money, property, or services to any public official or otherwise (A) to obtain favorable treatment in securing business for a Group Company, (B) to pay for favorable treatment for business secured, or (C) to obtain special concessions or for special concessions already obtained, for or in respect of any Group Company, in each case which would have been in violation of any applicable Law or (ii) established or maintained any fund or assets in which any Group Company shall have proprietary rights that have not been recorded in the books and records of a Group Company. To the Warrantor’s knowledge after due inquiry, the operations of each member of the Group Companies are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting and other requirements of the anti-money laundering Laws of all relevant jurisdictions where the Group Companies have business activities (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit, proceeding, investigation or inquiry by or before any Governmental Authority involving any member of the Group Companies with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or threatened.

25.5    The restructuring transactions in connection with the termination of the previous “VIE” structure of the Group Companies and the Control Documents, including without limitation any Equity Transfers, are in compliance with all applicable PRC Laws, including without limitation Rules on Acquisition of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors (Circular of MOFCOM [2009] No. 6) (《关于外国投资者并购境内企业的规定》).

 

26.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY LAWS

To the Warrantors’ knowledge, no Group Company is in violation of any applicable statute, law, or regulation relating to the environment or occupational health and safety, except where such failure would not have a Material Adverse Effect on such Group Company’s business or properties, and no material expenditures are or will be required in order to comply with any such existing statute, law or regulation.

 

27.

MINUTES BOOK

The minutes books of each Group Company, which have been made available to the Purchaser, contain a complete summary of all meetings and actions taken by directors and stockholders or owners of such Group Company since its time of formation, and reflect all transactions referred to in such minutes accurately in all material respects.

 

SCHEDULE 5


28.

MANUFACTURE, MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS

Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Schedule, no Group Company has granted rights to manufacture, produce, assemble, license, market, or sell its respective products or services to any other person and is not bound by any agreement that affects any Group Company’s exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, assemble, distribute, market or sell its respective products or services.

 

29.

DISCLOSURE; PROJECTIONS

The Warrantors have made available to the Purchaser all the information reasonably available to the Warrantors that the Purchaser has requested for deciding whether to acquire the Purchased Stock, including certain of financial projections with respect to the Company (the “Projections”), each of which were prepared in good faith. To the Warrantors’ knowledge, no representation or warranty of any Warrantor contained in this Agreement, as qualified by the Disclosure Schedule (only to the extent fairly and specifically disclosed therein), no information or document provided or disclosed by the Warrantors to the Purchaser or its counsel in connection with the negotiation or execution of the Transaction Documents and certificate furnished or to be furnished to the Purchaser at the Closing contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made.

 

30.

BUSINESS PLAN AND BUDGET

The Company has delivered to the Purchaser on or before the Closing a business plan and budget for the twelve (12) months following the Closing (the “Business Plan”). Such Business Plan was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions and projections which the Founders believe are reasonable and not materially misleading.

 

31.

ENTIRE BUSINESS

There are no material facilities, services, assets or properties shared with any entity other than the Group Company which are used in connection with the business of each Group Company.

 

32.

NO LIQUIDATION OR REDEMPTION EVENT

There have not been any facts, events or circumstance that, individually or in the aggregate, will, or are reasonably expected to, (i) constitute a Liquidation Event (as defined in the current or past certificate of incorporation or equivalent governing document of the Company), liquidation or similar event, or (ii) entitle any holder of Stock to require the Company to redeem any stock, in each case pursuant to the current or past certificate of incorporation or equivalent governing document of the Company.

 

SCHEDULE 5


SCHEDULE 6

DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE

 

SCHEDULE 6


SCHEDULE 7

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER

 

1.

AUTHORIZATION

The Purchaser has full power, authority and legal capacity to enter into, deliver and perform the Transaction Documents. The Transaction Documents to which the Purchaser is a party, when executed and delivered by the Purchaser, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, and any other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and as limited by laws relating to the availability of a specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies, or (ii) to the extent the indemnification provisions contained in the Shareholders’ Agreement may be limited by applicable securities laws.

 

2.

DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

The Purchaser has had an opportunity to discuss the Group Companies’ business, management, financial affairs and the terms and conditions of the offering of the Purchased Stock with the Group Companies’ management and has had an opportunity to review the Group Companies’ facilities. The foregoing, however, does not limit or modify the representations and warranties of the Warrantors in Section 5 of this Agreement, or the right of the Purchaser to rely thereon save as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule.

 

3.

PURCHASE ENTIRELY FOR OWN ACCOUNT

This Agreement is made with the Purchaser in reliance upon the Purchaser’s representation to the Company, which by the Purchaser’s execution of this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby confirms, that the Purchased Stock to be acquired by the Purchaser will be acquired for investment for the Purchaser’s own account, not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to the resale or distribution of any part thereof, and that the Purchaser has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same. By executing this Agreement, the Purchaser further represents that the Purchaser does not presently have any contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any Person to sell, transfer or grant participations to such Person or to any third Person, with respect to any of the Purchased Stock.

 

4.

RESTRICTED SECURITIES

The Purchaser understands that the Purchased Stock have not been registered under the Securities Act, by reason of a specific exemption from the registration provisions of the Securities Act which depends upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of the investment intent and the accuracy of the Purchaser’s representations as expressed herein. The Purchaser understands that the Purchased Stock are “restricted securities” under applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws and that, pursuant to these laws, the Purchaser must hold the Purchased Stock indefinitely unless they are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and qualified by state authorities, or an exemption from such registration and qualification requirements is available. The Purchaser acknowledges that the Company has no obligation to register or qualify the Purchased Stock, the Conversion Stock for resale except as set forth in the Shareholders’ Agreement. The Purchaser further acknowledges that if an exemption from registration or qualification is available, it may be conditioned on various requirements including, but not limited to, the time and manner of sale, the holding period for the Purchased Stock and on requirements relating to the Company which are outside of the Purchaser’s control, and which the Company is under no obligation and may not be able to satisfy. The Purchaser understands that Company’s offering of Series E-2 Preferred Stock under this Agreement is not intended to be part of the public offering, and that the Purchaser will not be able to rely on the protection of Section 11 of the Securities Act.

 

SCHEDULE 7


  5.

NO PUBLIC MARKET

The Purchaser understands that no public market now exists for the Purchased Stock, and that the Company has made no assurances that a public market will ever exist for the Purchased Stock.

 

  6.

LEGENDS

6.1    The Purchaser understands that the Purchased Stock and any securities issued in respect of or exchange for the Purchased Stock, may bear one or all of the following legends:

“THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AND HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THE SALE OR DISTRIBUTION THEREOF. NO SUCH TRANSFER MAY BE EFFECTED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATED THERETO OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IN A FORM SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY OR OTHER DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED BY THE COMPANY TO EVIDENCE THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.”

6.2    Any legend set forth in, or required by, the other Transaction Documents.

6.3    Any legend required by the securities laws of any state to the extent such laws are applicable to the Purchased Stock represented by the certificate so legended.

 

SCHEDULE 7


SCHEDULE 8

CAPITALIZATION TABLE

 

SCHEDULE 8


SCHEDULE 9

NOTICES

 

SCHEDULE 9


EXHIBIT A

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

EXHIBIT A


EXHIBIT B

SHAREHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT

 

EXHIBIT B


EXHIBIT C

COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

EXHIBIT C

Exhibit 10.13

TUSIMPLE (CAYMAN) LIMITED

2017 SHARE PLAN

(as amended on November 20, 2019)


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

        Page  

SECTION 1.

 

    ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE

    1

SECTION 2.

 

    ADMINISTRATION

    1

(a)

 

Administrator

    1

(b)

 

Authority of the Board of Directors

    1

SECTION 3.

 

    ELIGIBILITY

    1

SECTION 4.

 

    SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN

    1

(a)

 

Basic Limitation

    1

(b)

 

Additional Shares

    2

SECTION 5.

 

    TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF AWARDS OR SALES

    2

(a)

 

Grant or Purchase Agreement

    2

(b)

 

Duration of Offers and Nontransferability of Rights

    2

(c)

 

Purchase Price

    2

(d)

 

Withholding Taxes

    2

(e)

 

Restrictions on Transfer of Shares

    3

SECTION 6.

 

    TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS

    3

(a)

 

Share Option Agreement

    3

(b)

 

Number of Shares

    3

(c)

 

Exercise Price

    3

(d)

 

Exercisability

    3

(e)

 

Term

    4

(f)

 

Restrictions on Transfer of Shares

    4

(g)

 

Termination of Service (Except by Death)

    4

(h)

 

Leaves of Absence

    5

(i)

 

Death of Optionee

    5

(j)

 

Transferability of Options

    5

(k)

 

Withholding Taxes

    6

(l) 

 

No Rights as a Shareholder

    6

(m)

 

Modification, Extension and Assumption of Options

    6

SECTION 7.

 

    PAYMENT FOR SHARES

    6

(a)

 

General Rule

    6

(b)

 

Services Rendered

    6

(c)

 

Promissory Note

    7

(d)

 

Surrender of Shares

    7

(e)

 

Exercise/Sale

    7

(f)

 

Other Forms of Payment

    7

SECTION 8.

 

    TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS

    7

(a)

 

Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement

    7

(b)

 

Number of Shares

    7

(c)

 

Vesting Conditions

    7

(d)

 

Voting Rights

    8

 

-i-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

        Page  

(e)

 

Settlement of Restricted Share Unit Awards

    8

(f)

 

Modification or Assumption of Restricted Share Units

    8

SECTION 9.

 

    TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OTHER AWARDS

    8

(a)

 

Terms of Other Awards

    8

(b)

 

Other Award Agreement

    8

(c)

 

Modification or Assumption of Other Awards

    9

SECTION 10.

 

    ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES

    9

(a)

 

General

    9

(b)

 

Corporate Transactions

    9

(c)

 

Reservation of Rights

    11

SECTION 11.

 

    PRE-EXERCISE INFORMATION REQUIREMENT

    11

(a)

 

Application of Requirement

    11

(b)

 

Scope of Requirement

    11

SECTION 12.

 

    SECURITIES LAW REQUIREMENTS AND CHOICE OF LAW

    11

SECTION 13.

 

    NO RETENTION RIGHTS

    12

SECTION 14.

 

    TAX MATTERS

    12

SECTION 15.

 

    DURATION AND AMENDMENTS; OTHER AGREEMENTS

    12

(a)

 

Term of the Plan

    12

(b)

 

Right to Amend or Terminate the Plan

    13

(c)

 

Effect of Amendment or Termination

    13

(d)

 

Other Agreements

    13

SECTION 16.

 

    SPECIAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO U.S. TAX RESIDENTS

    13

(a)

 

General

    13

(b)

 

Eligibility

    13

(c)

 

Exercise Price

    13

(d)

 

Ten-Percent Shareholders

    14

(e)

 

Notice Concerning ISO Treatment

    14

(f)

 

$100,000 Limitation

    14

(g)

 

Promissory Note; Interest Rate

    14

(h)

 

Transferability

    14

(i)

 

Section 409A

    14

SECTION 17.

 

    DEFINITIONS

    15

(a)

 

“Articles”

    15

(b)

 

“Award”

    15

(c)

 

“Award Agreement”

    15

(d)

 

“Board of Directors”

    15

(e)

 

“Code”

    15

(f)

 

“Committee”

    15

 

-ii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

        Page  

(g)

 

“Company”

    15

(h)

 

“Consultant”

    15

(i)

 

“Employee”

    15

(j)

 

“Exchange Act”

    15

(k)

 

“Exercise Price”

    15

(l)

 

“Fair Market Value”

    16

(m)

 

“Family Member”

    16

(n)

 

“IPO”

    16

(o)

 

“ISO”

    16

(p)

 

“Listed”

    16

(q)

 

“Nonstatutory Option”

    16

(r)

 

“Option”

    16

(s)

 

“Optionee”

    16

(t)

 

“Other Award”

    16

(u)

 

“Other Award Agreement”

    16

(v)

 

“Outside Director”

    16

(w)

 

“Parent”

    16

(x)

 

“Participant”

    17

(y)

 

“Plan”

    17

(z)

 

“PRC Holder”

    17

(aa)

 

“Purchase Price”

    17

(bb)

 

“Restricted Share Unit”

    17

(cc)

 

“Restricted Share Unit Award”

    17

(dd)

 

“Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement”

    17

(ee)

 

“Service”

    17

(ff)

 

“Share”

    17

(gg)

 

“Share Grant Agreement”

    17

(hh)

 

“Share Option Agreement”

    17

(ii)

 

“Share Purchase Agreement”

    17

(jj)

 

“Securities Act”

    17  

(kk)

 

“Subsidiary”

    18  

 

-iii-


Tusimple (Cayman) Limited

2017 SHARE PLAN

(as amended on November 20, 2019)

 

SECTION 1.

ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE.

The purpose of the Plan is to offer selected persons an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the success of the Company, or to increase such interest, by purchasing or otherwise acquiring the Company’s Shares. The Plan provides for the direct award or sale of Shares, the grant of Options to purchase Shares, the grant of Restricted Share Units over Shares, and the grant of Other Awards. Although the Plan is intended to be a written compensatory benefit plan within the meaning of Rule 701 under the Securities Act, grants may be made pursuant to this Plan that do not qualify for exemption under Rule 701 of the Securities Act. Capitalized terms are defined in Section 17.

 

SECTION 2.

ADMINISTRATION.

(a)    Administrator. The Plan may be administered by one or more Committees, or if no Committee has been appointed, the entire Board of Directors shall administer the Plan (such Committee(s) or the entire Board of Directors, as the case may be, the “Administrator”). Each Committee shall consist of one or more members of the Board of Directors who have been appointed by the Board of Directors. Each Committee shall have such authority and be responsible for such functions as the Board of Directors has assigned to it. Any reference to the Board of Directors in the Plan shall be construed as a reference to the Committee (if any) to whom the Board of Directors has assigned a particular function.

 

(b)    Authority

of the Board of Directors. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and the Articles, the Board of Directors shall have full authority and discretion to take any actions it deems necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, with respect to the terms and conditions of awards granted to Participants outside the United States, the Board of Directors may vary from the provisions of the Plan to the extent it determines it necessary and appropriate to do so; provided that it may not vary from those Plan terms requiring shareholder approval pursuant to Section 15 below. All decisions, interpretations and other actions of the Board of Directors shall be final and binding on all Participants and all persons deriving their rights from a Participant.

 

SECTION 3.

ELIGIBILITY.

Only Employees, Outside Directors and Consultants shall be eligible for the grant of Options, Restricted Share Units, Other Awards or the direct award or sale of Shares.

 

SECTION 4.

SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN.

(a)    Basic Limitation. Subject to Subsection (b) below and Section 10, the maximum number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan is 10,000,000 as of the date of its adoption by the Board of Directors. All of these Shares may be issued upon the exercise of

 

1.


ISOs. The number of Shares that are subject to Awards at any time under the Plan shall not exceed the number of Shares that then remain available for issuance under the Plan. The Company, during the term of the Plan, shall at all times reserve and keep available sufficient authorized but unissued Shares to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

(b)    Additional Shares. In the event that Shares previously issued under the Plan are reacquired by the Company, an equivalent number of Shares shall be added to the number of Shares then available for issuance under the Plan. In the event that an outstanding Award for any reason expires or is forfeited, repurchased, canceled or settled in cash, the Shares allocable to the unexercised, forfeited, repurchased, cancelled or cash-settled portion of such Award shall be added to the number of Shares then available for issuance under the Plan. Any Shares reacquired by the Company in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations on an Award or as consideration for the Exercise Price or Purchase Price of an Award will again become available for issuance under the Plan.

 

SECTION 5.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF AWARDS OR SALES.

(a)    Grant or Purchase Agreement. Each award of Shares under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Share Grant Agreement between the Participant and the Company. Each sale of Shares under the Plan (other than upon exercise of an Option) shall be evidenced by a Share Purchase Agreement between the Participant and the Company. No Shares may be issued unless the Participant has delivered an executed copy of the Share Grant Agreement or Share Purchase Agreement to the Company or otherwise agrees to be bound by the terms of the Share Grant Agreement or Share Purchase Agreement. Such award or sale shall be subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms and conditions which are not inconsistent with the Plan and which the Board of Directors deems appropriate for inclusion in a Share Grant Agreement or Share Purchase Agreement. The provisions of the various Share Grant Agreements and Share Purchase Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.

(b)    Duration of Offers and Nontransferability of Rights. Any right to acquire Shares under the Plan pursuant to this Section 5 shall automatically expire if not exercised by the Participant within 30 days after the grant of such right was communicated to the Participant by the Company. Such right shall not be transferable and shall be exercisable only by the Participant to whom such right was granted.

(c)    Purchase Price. The Purchase Price of Shares to be offered under the Plan, if newly issued, shall not be less than the par value of such Shares. Subject to the preceding sentence, the Board of Directors shall determine the Purchase Price at its sole discretion. The Purchase Price shall be payable in a form described in Section 7.

(d)    Withholding Taxes. As a condition to the award or purchase of Shares, the Participant shall make such arrangements as the Board of Directors may require for the satisfaction of any federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with such purchase.

 

2.


(e)    Restrictions on Transfer of Shares. Any Shares awarded or sold under the Plan shall be subject to such special forfeiture conditions, rights of repurchase, rights of first refusal and other transfer restrictions as the Board of Directors may determine. Such restrictions shall be set forth in the applicable Share Award Agreement or Share Purchase Agreement and shall apply in addition to any restrictions that may apply to holders of Shares generally. A Share Award Agreement or Share Purchase Agreement may provide that Shares are transferable to an individual or an entity, upon consent of the Administrator. Following any such transfer, the Shares shall remain subject to the same restrictions applicable to the Shares prior to such transfer. A Share Award Agreement or a Share Purchase Agreement may provide for accelerated vesting in the event of the Participant’s death, disability or retirement or other events.

 

SECTION 6.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.

(a)    Share Option Agreement. Each grant of an Option under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Share Option Agreement between the Optionee and the Company. Such Option shall be subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms and conditions which are not inconsistent with the Plan and which the Board of Directors deems appropriate for inclusion in a Share Option Agreement. The provisions of the various Share Option Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.

(b)    Number of Shares. Each Share Option Agreement shall specify the number of Shares that are subject to the Option and shall provide for the adjustment of such number in accordance with Section 10.

(c)    Exercise Price. Each Share Option Agreement shall specify the Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of an Option shall not be less than the par value per Share. Subject to any requirement of applicable laws, the Exercise Price shall be determined by the Board of Directors at its sole discretion. The Exercise Price shall be payable in a form described in Section 7.

(d)    Exercisability.

(i)    General. Each Share Option Agreement shall specify the date when all or any installment of the Option is to become exercisable. No Option shall be exercisable unless the Optionee (i) has delivered an executed copy of the Share Option Agreement to the Company or otherwise agrees to be bound by the terms of the Share Option Agreement, and (ii) has executed all instruments and documents requested by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall determine the exercisability provisions of any Share Option Agreement at its sole discretion.

(ii)    Exercise Restriction for Non-Exempt Employees. If Optionee is an Employee eligible for overtime compensation under the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended (that is, a “Non-Exempt Employee”), and except as otherwise provided in the Plan, Optionee may not exercise the Option until Optionee has completed at least six months of Service measured from the date of grant of the Option, even if Optionee has already been an Employee for more than six months. Consistent with the provisions of the U.S. Worker Economic Opportunity Act, Optionee may exercise the

 

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Option as to any vested portion prior to such six month anniversary in the case of (i) Optionee’s death or disability, (ii) a corporate transaction set forth in Section 10(b) below in which the Option is not assumed, continued or substituted, or (iii) Optionee’s termination of Service on Optionee’s “retirement” (as defined in the applicable benefit plans of the Company or the applicable Parent or Subsidiary thereof).

(e)    Term. The Share Option Agreement shall specify the term of the Option. The term shall not exceed 10 years from the date of grant. Subject to the preceding sentence, the Board of Directors at its sole discretion shall determine when an Option is to expire. A Share Option Agreement may provide for expiration prior to the end of its term in the event of the termination of the Optionee’s Service or death or in the event of a corporate transaction as set forth in Section 10(b) below.

(f)    Restrictions on Transfer of Shares. Any Shares issued upon exercise of an Option shall be subject to such special forfeiture conditions, rights of repurchase, rights of first refusal and other transfer restrictions as the Board of Directors may determine. Such restrictions shall be set forth in the applicable Share Option Agreement and shall apply in addition to any restrictions that may apply to holders of Shares generally. A Share Option Agreement may provide that Shares issued upon exercise of an Option are transferable to an individual or an entity, upon consent of the Administrator. Following any such transfer, the Shares issued upon exercise of an Option shall remain subject to the same restrictions applicable to the Shares prior to such transfer.

(g)    Termination of Service (Except by Death). Except as otherwise provided in a Share Option Agreement, if an Optionee’s Service terminates for any reason other than the Optionee’s death, then the Optionee’s Options shall expire on the earliest of the following dates:

(i)    The expiration date determined pursuant to Subsection (e) above; provided, however, that if (i) Optionee is a Non-Exempt Employee, (ii) Optionee’s Service terminates within six months after the date of grant of the Option, and (iii) Optionee has vested in a portion of the Option at the time of Optionee’s termination of Service, the Option will not expire until the earlier of (x) the later of (A) the date that is seven months after the date of grant of the Option, and (B) the date that is three months after the termination of Optionee’s Service, and (y) the expiration date determined pursuant to Subsection (e) above;

(ii)    The date three months after the termination of the Optionee’s Service for any reason other than Disability, or such earlier or later date as the Board of Directors may determine (but in no event earlier than 30 days after the termination of the Optionee’s Service); or

(iii)    The date six months after the termination of the Optionee’s Service by reason of Disability, or such later date as the Board of Directors may determine.

The Optionee may exercise all or part of the Optionee’s Options at any time before the expiration of such Options under the preceding sentence, but only to the extent that such Options had

 

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become exercisable before the Optionee’s Service terminated (or became exercisable as a result of the termination) and the underlying Shares had vested before the Optionee’s Service terminated (or vested as a result of the termination). The balance of such Options shall lapse when the Optionee’s Service terminates. In the event that the Optionee dies after the termination of the Optionee’s Service but before the expiration of the Optionee’s Options, all or part of such Options may be exercised (prior to expiration) by the executors or administrators of the Optionee’s estate or by any person who has acquired such Options directly from the Optionee by beneficiary designation, bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent that such Options had become exercisable before the Optionee’s Service terminated (or became exercisable as a result of the termination) and the underlying Shares had vested before the Optionee’s Service terminated (or vested as a result of the termination).

(h)    Leaves of Absence. For purposes of Subsection (g) above, Service shall be deemed to continue while the Optionee is on a bona fide leave of absence, if such leave was approved by the Company in writing and if continued crediting of Service for this purpose is expressly required by the terms of such leave or by applicable law (as determined by the Company).

(i)    Death of Optionee. Except as otherwise provided in a Share Option Agreement, if an Optionee dies while the Optionee is in Service, then the Optionee’s Options shall expire on the earlier of the following dates:

(i)    The expiration date determined pursuant to Subsection (e) above; or

(ii)    The date 12 months after the Optionee’s death, or such earlier or later date as the Board of Directors may determine (but in no event earlier than six months after the Optionee’s death).

All or part of the Optionee’s Options may be exercised at any time before the expiration of such Options under the preceding sentence by the executors or administrators of the Optionee’s estate or by any person who has acquired such Options directly from the Optionee by beneficiary designation, bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent that such Options had become exercisable before the Optionee’s death (or became exercisable as a result of the death) and the underlying Shares had vested before the Optionee’s death (or vested as a result of the Optionee’s death). The balance of such Options shall lapse when the Optionee dies.

(j)    Transferability of Options. An Option shall be transferable by the Optionee only by (i) a beneficiary designation, (ii) a will or (iii) the laws of descent and distribution, except as provided in the next sentence. If the applicable Share Option Agreement so provides, an Option may be transferable by gift or domestic relations order to a Family Member of the Optionee. A Share Option Agreement may also provide that an Option is transferable to an individual or an entity, upon consent of the Administrator. Following any such transfer, the Option shall remain subject to the same restrictions applicable to the Option prior to such transfer. In addition, an Option shall comply with all conditions of Rule 12h- 1 (f)(1) under the Exchange Act until the Company becomes subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Such conditions include, without limitation, the transferability

 

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restrictions set forth in Rule 12h 1(f)(1)(iv) and (v) under the Exchange Act, which shall apply to an Option and, prior to exercise, to the Shares to be issued upon exercise of such Option during the period commencing on the date of grant and ending on the earlier of (i) the date when the Company becomes subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or (ii) the date when the Company makes a determination that it will cease to rely on the exemption afforded by Rule 12h 1(f)(1) under the Exchange Act. During such period, an Option and, prior to exercise, the Shares to be issued upon exercise of such Option shall be restricted as to any pledge, hypothecation or other transfer by the Optionee, including any short position, any “put equivalent position” (as defined in Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act) or any “call equivalent position” (as defined in Rule 16a-1(b) under the Exchange Act).

(k)    Withholding Taxes. As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Optionee shall make such arrangements as the Board of Directors may require for the satisfaction of any federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with such exercise. The Optionee shall also make such arrangements as the Board of Directors may require for the satisfaction of any federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with the vesting of the Option and/or the disposition of Shares acquired by exercising an Option.

(l)    No Rights as a Shareholder. An Optionee, or a transferee of an Optionee, shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to any Shares covered by the Optionee’s Option until such person becomes entitled to receive such Shares by filing a notice of exercise, paying the Exercise Price pursuant to the terms of such Option, and certain contingencies are satisfied.

(m)    Modification, Extension and Assumption of Options. Within the limitations of the Plan, the Board of Directors may modify, extend or assume outstanding Options or may accept the cancellation of outstanding Options (whether granted by the Company or another issuer) in return for the grant of new Options for the same or a different number of Shares and at the same or a different Exercise Price. The foregoing notwithstanding, no modification of an Option shall, without the consent of the Optionee, impair the Optionee’s rights or increase the Optionee’s obligations under such Option. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, Options granted to PRC Holders may, in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors and without the consent of any such PRC Holder, be merged into and/or assumed under, as applicable, any successor equity plan of the Company approved by the Board of Directors, subject to requisite approval of the Company’s shareholders.

 

SECTION 7.

PAYMENT FOR SHARES.

(a)    General Rule. The entire Purchase Price or Exercise Price of Shares issued under the Plan shall be payable in cash or cash equivalents from any lawful source of currency at the time when such Shares are purchased, except as otherwise provided in this Section 7.

(b)    Services Rendered. At the discretion of the Board of Directors, Shares may be awarded under the Plan in consideration of services rendered to the Company, a Parent

 

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or a Subsidiary prior to the award provided that no Share is issued for less than its par value paid in cash to the Company.

(c)    Promissory Note. At the discretion of the Board of Directors, all or a portion of the Purchase Price or Exercise Price (as the case may be) of Shares issued under the Plan may be paid with a full-recourse promissory note. The Shares shall be pledged as security for payment of the principal amount of the promissory note and interest thereon. Subject to the foregoing, the Board of Directors (at its sole discretion) shall specify the term, interest rate, amortization requirements (if any) and other provisions of such note.

(d)    Surrender of Shares. At the discretion of the Board of Directors, all or any part of the Exercise Price may be paid by surrendering, or attesting to the ownership of, Shares that are already owned by the Optionee in a manner determined by the Board of Directors to be consistent with applicable laws. Such Shares shall be surrendered to the Company in good form for transfer and shall be valued at their Fair Market Value as of the date when the Option is exercised.

(e)    Exercise/Sale. To the extent that a Share Option Agreement so provides, and if Shares are publicly traded, all or part of the Exercise Price and any withholding taxes may be paid by the delivery (on a form prescribed by the Company) of an irrevocable direction to a securities broker approved by the Company to sell Shares and to deliver all or part of the sales proceeds to the Company.

(f)    Other Forms of Payment. To the extent that a Share Purchase Agreement or Share Option Agreement so provides, the Purchase Price or Exercise Price of Shares issued under the Plan may be paid in any other form permitted by applicable laws.

 

SECTION 8.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS.

(a)    Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement. Each Restricted Share Unit Award under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement between the Participant and the Company. The Restricted Share Unit Award shall be subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms and conditions that are not inconsistent with the Plan and that the Board of Directors deems appropriate for inclusion in a Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement. The provisions of the various Restricted Share Unit Award Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.

(b)    Number of Shares. Each Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement shall specify the number of Shares that are subject to the Restricted Share Unit Award and shall provide for the adjustment of such number in accordance with Section 10.

(c)    Vesting Conditions. Each Restricted Share Unit Award may or may not be subject to vesting, as determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion. Vesting shall occur, in full or in installments, upon satisfaction of the conditions specified in the Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement. A Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement may provide for accelerated vesting upon certain specified events.

 

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(d)    Voting Rights. The holders of Restricted Share Unit Awards shall have no voting rights.

(e)    Settlement of Restricted Share Unit Awards. Settlement of any vested Restricted Share Unit Award may be made in the form of (a) Shares, (b) cash or (c) any combination of both, as determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion. The actual number of Restricted Share Units eligible for settlement may be larger or smaller than the number included in the original Restricted Share Unit Award, based on predetermined performance factors. Methods of converting Restricted Share Units into cash may include (without limitation) a method based on the average Fair Market Value of a Share over a series of trading days. Vested Restricted Share Units shall be settled in such manner and at such time(s) as specified in the Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement. Until a Restricted Share Unit Award is settled, the number of such Restricted Share Units shall be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 10.

(f)    Modification or Assumption of Restricted Share Units. Within the limitations of the Plan, the Board of Directors may modify or assume outstanding Restricted Share Units or may accept the cancellation of outstanding Restricted Share Units (whether granted by the Company or by another issuer) in return for the grant of new Restricted Share Units for the same or a different number of Shares or in return for the grant of a different type of Award. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, Restricted Share Units granted to PRC Holders may, in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors and without the consent of any such PRC Holder, be merged into and/or assumed under, as applicable, any successor equity plan of the Company approved by the Board of Directors, subject to requisite approval of the Company’s shareholders.

 

SECTION 9.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OTHER AWARDS.

(a)    Terms of Other Awards. Other Awards may be granted either alone or in addition to awards of Shares, Options and/or Restricted Share Units. Other Awards may be valued in whole or in part by reference to, or may otherwise be based on, Shares, including the value thereof as of a given date of determination and/or any appreciation in value thereof. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board of Directors will have sole and complete authority to determine the type of Other Award (which may include, without limitation, share value awards), the persons to whom and the time or times at which such Other Awards will be granted, the number of Shares (or the cash equivalent thereof) to be granted pursuant to such Other Awards, the vesting conditions (if any) applicable to such Other Awards, the voting rights (if any) applicable to such Other Awards and all other terms and conditions of such Other Awards.

(b)    Other Award Agreement. Each Other Award under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Other Award Agreement between the Participant and the Company. The applicable Other Award shall be subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms and conditions that are not inconsistent with the Plan and that the Board of Directors deems appropriate for inclusion in an Other Award Agreement. The provisions of the various Other Award Agreements, whether relating to the same type of Other Award or otherwise, entered into under the Plan need not be identical.

 

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(c)    Modification or Assumption of Other Awards. Within the limitations of the Plan, the Board of Directors may modify or assume outstanding Other Awards or may accept the cancellation of outstanding Other Awards (whether granted by the Company or by another issuer) in return for the grant of new Other Awards of the same or different type of Other Award and for the same or a different number of Shares (or cash equivalent thereof) or other applicable terms and conditions, as the case may be, or in return for the grant of a different type of Award. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, Other Awards granted to PRC Holders may, in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors and without the consent of any such PRC Holder, be merged into and/or assumed under, as applicable, any successor equity lan of the Company approved by the Board of Directors, subject to requisite approval of the Company’s shareholders.

 

SECTION 10.

ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES.

(a)    General. In the event of a subdivision of the outstanding Shares, a declaration of a dividend payable in Shares, a combination or consolidation of the outstanding Shares into a lesser number of Shares, a reclassification, or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, proportionate adjustments shall automatically be made in each of (i) the number of Shares available for future grants under Section 4 (including the maximum number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of ISOs), (ii) the number and kind of Shares covered by each outstanding Option; (iii) the Exercise Price under each outstanding Option and the repurchase price (if any) applicable to any Shares; (iv) the number and kind of Shares covered by each outstanding award or sale of Shares, Restricted Share Unit and Other Award; and (v) any repurchase price that applies to Shares granted under the Plan pursuant to the terms of a Company repurchase right under the applicable Award Agreement. In the event of a declaration of an extraordinary dividend payable in a form other than Shares in an amount that has a material effect on the Fair Market Value of the Share, a recapitalization, a spin-off, or a similar occurrence, the Board of Directors at its sole discretion may make appropriate adjustments in one or more of (i) the number of Shares available for future grants under Section 4 (including the maximum number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of ISOs), (ii) the number of Shares covered by each outstanding award or sale of Shares, Option, Restricted Share Unit or Other Award, and (iii) the Exercise Price under each outstanding Option and the repurchase price (if any) applicable to any Shares.

(b)    Corporate Transactions. In the event that the Company is a party to a merger or consolidation, or in the event of a sale or exchange of all or substantially all of the Company’s shares or assets, all Shares acquired under the Plan and all Options and other Awards outstanding on the effective date of the transaction shall be treated in the manner described in the definitive transaction agreement (or, in the event the transaction does not entail a definitive agreement to which the Company is party, in the manner determined by the Administrator, with such determination having final and binding effect on all parties), which agreement or determination need not treat all Options and other Awards (or all portions of an Option or other Award) in an identical manner. The treatment specified in the transaction agreement (or, in the event the transaction does not entail a definitive agreement to which the Company is party, in the manner determined by the Administrator) may include (without limitation) one or more of the following with respect to each outstanding Option or other Award:

 

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(i)    Continuation of the Option or other Award by the Company (if the Company is the surviving company).

(ii)    Assumption of the Option or other Award by the surviving company or its parent in a manner that complies with applicable legal, foreign exchange and tax requirements.

(iii)    Substitution by the surviving company or its parent of a new option or other award for the Option or other Award in a manner that complies with applicable legal, foreign exchange and tax requirements.

(iv)    Cancellation of the Option or other Award and a payment to the Participant with respect to each Share subject to the portion of the Option or other Award that is vested as of the transaction date equal to (I) in the case of an Option (which shall include, for this purpose, any Other Award that provides for an exercise price or base price), the excess of (A) the value, as determined by the Board of Directors in its absolute discretion, of the property (including cash) received by the holder of a Share as a result of the transaction (such amount in this clause (A), the “Shareholder Consideration”), over (B) the per-Share Exercise Price of the Option (or the per share exercise price or base price of such Other Award, if applicable), or (II) in the case of any other Award, the Shareholder Consideration (such amount in the foregoing clause (I) or (II), as applicable, the “Spread”). Such payment shall be made in the form of cash, cash equivalents, or securities of the surviving company or its parent having a value equal to the Spread. In addition, any escrow, holdback, earn-out or similar provisions in the transaction agreement may apply to such payment to the same extent and in the same manner as such provisions apply to the holders of Shares. If the Spread is zero or a negative number, then the Option or other Award may be cancelled without making a payment to the Participant.

(v)    Cancellation of the Option or other Award (other than issued and outstanding Shares) without the payment of any consideration; provided that an Optionee shall be notified of such treatment and given an opportunity to exercise the Option (to the extent the Option is vested or becomes vested as of the effective date of the transaction) during a period of not less than five (5) business days preceding the effective date of the transaction, unless (A) a shorter period is required to permit a timely closing of the transaction and (B) such shorter period still offers the Optionee a reasonable opportunity to exercise the Option. Any exercise of the Option during such period may be contingent upon the closing of the transaction.

(vi)    Suspension of the Optionee’s right to exercise the Option during a limited period of time preceding the closing of the transaction if such suspension is administratively necessary to permit the closing of the transaction.

(vii)    Termination of any right the Optionee has to exercise the Option prior to vesting in the Shares subject to the Option (i.e., “early exercise”), such that following the closing of the transaction the Option may only be exercised to the extent it is vested.

 

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For the avoidance of doubt, the Board of Directors has discretion to accelerate, in whole or part, the vesting and, if applicable, exercisability of an Option or other Award, including the vesting and settlement of a Restricted Share Unit Award or Other Award in connection with a corporate transaction covered by this Section 10(b).

(c)    Reservation of Rights. Except as provided in this Section 10, a Participant shall have no rights by reason of (i) any subdivision or consolidation of shares of any class, (ii) the payment of any dividend or (iii) any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of any class. Except as provided in this Section 10, any issuance by the Company of shares of any class, or securities convertible into shares of any class, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or Exercise Price of Shares subject to an Option. The grant of an Option pursuant to the Plan shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital or business structure, to merge or consolidate or to dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

 

SECTION 11.

PRE-EXERCISE INFORMATION REQUIREMENT

(a)    Application of Requirement. This Section 11 shall apply only during a period that (i) commences when the Company begins to rely on the exemption described in Rule 12h-1(f)(1) under the Exchange Act, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, and (ii) ends on the earlier of (A) the date when the Company ceases to rely on such exemption, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, or (B) the date when the Company becomes subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. In addition, this Section 11 shall in no event apply to an Optionee after he or she has fully exercised all of his or her Options or any other Participant after such Participant’s Award has been exercised or settled in full.

(b)    Scope of Requirement. If required by Rule 701, the Company shall provide to each Participant the information described in Rule 701(e)(3), (4) and (5) under the Securities Act in accordance with the provisions of Rule 701.

 

SECTION 12.

SECURITIES LAW REQUIREMENTS AND CHOICE OF LAW.

An Award shall not be effective, and Shares shall not be issued under the Plan, unless the grant of such Award or the issuance and delivery of such Shares, as applicable, comply with (or are exempt from) all applicable requirements of law, including (without limitation) the Securities Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, any other federal, state, foreign and local securities laws, rules and regulations, or any other applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations and the rules and regulations of any stock exchange or other securities market on which the Company’s securities may then be traded.

Any other provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement notwithstanding, the Company shall have the right at any time, in its sole and absolute discretion, to cancel an Award that was granted or issued in violation of the Securities Act or any other applicable foreign, federal, state and local securities law, rule or regulation, or to take any other action in respect of such Award as it deems appropriate, in its sole and absolute discretion, in connection with such violation. In

 

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the event the Company chooses to cancel an Award in connection with such violation, prior to such cancellation, the Company shall give the Participant not less than 30 days’ notice in writing and shall deliver to the Participant consideration with an aggregate fair market value for such Award as determined by an independent valuation firm (including, if applicable, an independent accounting firm) appointed by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion for purposes of such determination. The consideration may be delivered in the form of cash or cash equivalents, in the form of Shares, or a combination of both. If the consideration would be a negative amount, such Award may be cancelled without the delivery of any consideration.

The Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the Cayman Islands, as such laws are applied to contracts entered into and performed in such jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 13.

NO RETENTION RIGHTS.

Subject to the requirements of applicable laws and the applicable employment documentation (if any), nothing in the Plan or in any right or Award granted under the Plan shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue in Service for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining the Participant) or of the Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate his or her Service at any time and for any reason, with or without cause, provided, however, that this provision will not apply to the extent applicable employment documentation or provisions of applicable laws require otherwise.

 

SECTION 14.

TAX MATTERS

(a)    As a condition to the award, grant, issuance, vesting, purchase, exercise or transfer of any Award, or Shares issued pursuant to any Award, granted under this Plan, the Participant shall make such arrangements as the Board of Directors may require or permit for the satisfaction of any federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with such event.

(b)    Neither the Company nor any member of the Board of Directors shall have any liability to a Participant in the event an Award held by the Participant fails to achieve its intended characterization under applicable tax law, or any payment cannot be made or is otherwise delayed due to applicable foreign exchange restrictions.

 

SECTION 15.

DURATION AND AMENDMENTS; OTHER AGREEMENTS.

(a)    Term of the Plan. The Plan, as set forth herein, shall become effective on the date of its adoption by the Board of Directors, subject to the approval of the Company’s shareholders as required by applicable laws or the Articles. If the shareholders fail to approve the Plan within 12 months after its adoption by the Board of Directors, then any grants, exercises or sales that have already occurred under the Plan shall be rescinded and no additional grants, exercises or sales shall thereafter be made under the Plan. The Plan shall terminate automatically 10 years after the later of (i) the date when the Board of Directors adopted the Plan or (ii) the date when the Board of Directors approved the most recent increase in the number of Shares reserved under Section 4 that is also approved by the Company’s shareholders. The Plan may be terminated on any earlier date pursuant to Subsection (b) below.

 

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(b)    Right to Amend or Terminate the Plan. The Board of Directors may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time and for any reason; provided, however, that any amendment of the Plan shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s shareholders if it (i) increases the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan (except as provided in Section 10) or (ii) materially changes the class of persons who are eligible for the grant of ISOs or is required by applicable laws or the Articles. Shareholder approval shall not be required for any other amendment of the Plan. If the shareholders fail to approve an increase in the number of Shares reserved under Section 4 within 12 months after its adoption by the Board of Directors, then any grants, exercises or sales that have already occurred in reliance on such increase shall be rescinded and no additional grants, exercises or sales shall thereafter be made in reliance on such increase.

(c)    Effect of Amendment or Termination. No Shares shall be issued or sold and no Award shall be granted under the Plan after the termination thereof, except upon exercise or settlement, as applicable, of an Award granted prior to such termination. The termination of the Plan, or any amendment thereof, shall not affect any Share or Award previously granted under the Plan.

(d)    Other Agreements. As a condition precedent to the grant of any Award under the Plan, the exercise or settlement pursuant to such an Award, or to the delivery of certificates for shares issued pursuant to any Award, the administrator of the Plan may require the Participant or the Participant’s successor or permitted transferee, as the case may be, to become a party to a share restriction agreement, shareholders’ agreement, voting trust agreement, voting agreement, right of first refusal agreement, co-sale agreement, lock-up agreement, or other agreements regarding the Shares in such form(s) as the administrator of the Plan may determine from time to time in its sole discretion.

 

SECTION 16.

SPECIAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO U.S. TAX RESIDENTS

(a)    General. Options granted under the Plan may include Nonstatutory Options as well as ISOs intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Code. Unless specifically designated as ISOs in its Share Option Agreement, all Options are Nonstatutory Options. Only to the extent that any Option is designated as ISO in its Share Option Agreement, the terms of this Section 16 will apply to such Option, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein.

(b)    Eligibility. Only common law employees of (i) the Company, (ii) any “parent corporation” of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(e) of the Code, and (iii) any “subsidiary corporation” of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code shall be eligible for the grant of ISOs.

(c)    Exercise Price. Notwithstanding Section 6(c), the Exercise Price of an Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant, and in the case of an ISO a higher percentage may be required by Section 16(d). This Section 16(c) shall not apply to an Option granted pursuant to an assumption of, or substitution for, another option in a manner that complies with Section 424(a) of the Code (whether or not the Option is an ISO).

 

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(d)    Ten-Percent Shareholders. A person who owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of outstanding shares of the Company, its Parent or any of its Subsidiaries shall not be eligible for the grant of an ISO unless (i) the Exercise Price is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant and (ii) notwithstanding Section 6(e), such ISO by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date of grant. For purposes of this Subsection (d), in determining share ownership, the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall be applied.

(e)    Notice Concerning ISO Treatment. Even if an option is designated as an ISO in the Notice of Share Option Grant, it ceases to qualify for favorable tax treatment as an ISO to the extent that it is exercised:

(i)    More than three months after the date when the Optionee ceases to be an Employee for any reason other than death or permanent and total disability (as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code);

(ii)    More than 12 months after the date when the Optionee ceases to be an Employee by reason of permanent and total disability (as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code); or

(iii)    More than three months after the date when the Optionee has been on a leave of absence for 90 days, unless the Optionee’s reemployment rights following such leave were guaranteed by statute or by contract.

(f)    $100,000 Limitation. Even if an Option is designated as an ISO in the Notice of Share Option Grant, it shall be deemed to be a Nonstatutory Option to the extent (and only to the extent) required by the $100,000 annual limitation under Section 422(d) of the Code.

(g)    Promissory Note; Interest Rate. The interest rate payable under the terms of the promissory note governed by Section 7(c) shall not be less than the minimum rate (if any) required to avoid the imputation of additional interest income under the Code.

(h)    Transferability. Notwithstanding Section 6(j), an ISO may not be transferrable and may be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee or by the Optionee’s guardian or legal representative.

(i)    Section 409A. Unless otherwise expressly set forth in an Award Agreement, it is intended that Awards granted under the Plan shall be exempt from Code Section 409A, and any ambiguity in the terms of an Award Agreement and the Plan shall be interpreted consistently with this intent. To the extent an Award is not exempt from Code Section 409A (any such Award, a “409A Award”), any ambiguity in the terms of such Award and the Plan shall be interpreted in a manner that to the maximum extent permissible supports the Award’s compliance with the requirements of that statute. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary permitted under the Plan, in no event shall a modification of an Award not already subject to Code Section 409A be given effect if such modification would cause the Award to become subject to Code Section 409A unless the parties explicitly acknowledge and consent to the modification as one having that effect. A 409A Award shall be subject to such additional rules and requirements as specified by the Board of Directors from time to time in order for it to

 

14.


comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A. In this regard, if any amount under a 409A Award is payable upon a “separation from service” to an individual who is considered a “specified employee” (as each term is defined under Code Section 409A), then no such payment shall be made prior to the date that is the earlier of (i) six months and one day after the Participant’s separation from service or (ii) the Participant’s death, but only to the extent such delay is necessary to prevent such payment from being subject to Section 409A(a)(1). In addition, if a transaction subject to Section 10(b) constitutes a payment event with respect to any 409A Award, then the transaction with respect to such Award must also constitute a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) to the extent required by Code Section 409A.

 

SECTION 17.

DEFINITIONS

(a)    “Articles” shall mean the Articles and Memorandum of Association of the Company, as in effect and as amended from time to time.

(b)    “Award” shall mean individually or collectively, the award or sale of Shares made under Section 5 of the Plan or a grant of Options, Restricted Share Units or Other Awards made under Section 6, Section 8 or Section 9 the Plan, respectively.

(c)    “Award Agreement” shall mean a Share Grant Agreement, Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement, Share Option Agreement, Share Purchase Agreement or Other Award Agreement.

(d)    “Board of Directors” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted from time to time.

(e)    “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(f)    “Committee” shall mean a committee of the Board of Directors, as described in Section 2(a).

(g)    “Company” shall mean Tusimple (Cayman) Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted limited company.

(h)    “Consultant” shall mean a person who performs bona fide services for the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary as a consultant or advisor, excluding Employees and Outside Directors.

(i)    “Employee” shall mean any individual who is an employee of the Company or its Subsidiaries.

(j)    “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

(k)    “Exercise Price” shall mean the amount for which one Share may be purchased upon exercise of an Option, as specified by the Board of Directors in the applicable Share Option Agreement.

 

15.


(l)    “Fair Market Value” shall mean the fair market value of a Share, as determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with applicable laws. Such determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

(m)    “Family Member” shall mean (i) any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, (ii) any person sharing the Optionee’s household (other than a tenant or employee), (iii) a trust in which persons described in Clause (i) or (ii) have more than 50% of the beneficial interest, (iv) a foundation in which persons described in Clause (i) or (ii) or the Optionee control the management of assets and (v) any other entity in which persons described in Clause (i) or (ii) or the Optionee own more than 50% of the voting interests.

(n)    “IPO” shall mean the first firm commitment underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement on an established national or foreign securities exchange covering the offer and sale by the Company of its equity securities, as a result of or following which the Shares shall be publicly held, and “IPO Date” shall mean the date on which the IPO occurs.

(o)    “ISO” shall mean an employee incentive share option described in Section 422(b) of the Code.

(p)    “Listed” shall mean that the Share is listed for trading on an established securities market that is officially recognized, sanctioned, or supervised by a governmental body, including without limitation the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Global Select Market.

(q)    “Nonstatutory Option” shall mean a share option not described in Sections 422(b) or 423(b) of the Code.

(r)    “Option” shall mean an option (either ISO or Nonstatutory Option) granted under the Plan and entitling the holder to purchase Shares.

(s)    “Optionee” shall mean a person who holds an Option.

(t)    “Other Award” shall mean an award granted under Section 9 of the Plan.

(u)    “Other Award Agreement” shall mean the agreement between the Company and a Participant that contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to the Participant’s Other Award.

(v)    “Outside Director” shall mean a member of the Board of Directors who is not an Employee.

(w)    “Parent” shall mean any company (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of companies ending with the Company, if each of the companies other than the Company owns shares possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares in one of the other companies in such chain. A company that attains the status of a

 

16.


Parent on a date after the adoption of the Plan shall be considered a Parent commencing as of such date.

(x)    “Participant” shall mean a person who receives an Award under the Plan.

(y)    “Plan” shall mean this Tusimple (Cayman) Limited 2017 Share Plan.

(z)    “PRC Holder” shall mean a resident in the PRC or a PRC National who is a Participant.

(aa)    “Purchase Price” shall mean the consideration for which one Share may be acquired under the Plan (other than upon exercise of an Option), as specified by the Board of Directors.

(bb)     “Restricted Share Unit” shall mean a bookkeeping entry representing the equivalent of one Share, granted pursuant to Section 8.

(cc)    “Restricted Share Unit Award” shall mean an award of Restricted Share Units.

(dd)    “Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement” shall mean the agreement between the Company and a Participant that contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to the Participant’s Restricted Share Unit Award.

(ee)    “Service” shall mean actual ongoing service to the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary as an Employee, Consultant or Outside Director and specifically excludes periods of notice of termination of employment under applicable laws or employment contracts whereby actual service is no longer provided, for example, when an Employee is paid in lieu of his/her notice period or when an Employee is asked to cease service immediately pursuant to a “garden leave” or a similar concept.

(ff)    “Share” shall mean the ordinary shares of the Company, as adjusted in accordance with Section 10 (if applicable).

(gg)    “Share Grant Agreement” shall mean the agreement between the Company and a Participant who is awarded Shares under the Plan that contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to the award of such Shares.

(hh)    “Share Option Agreement” shall mean the agreement between the Company and an Optionee that contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to the Optionee’s Option.

(ii)    “Share Purchase Agreement” shall mean the agreement between the Company and a Participant who acquires Shares under the Plan that contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to the acquisition of such Shares.

(jj)    “Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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(kk)    “Subsidiary” shall mean (i) any company (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of companies beginning with the Company, if each of the companies other than the last company in the unbroken chain owns shares possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares in one of the other companies in such chain, or (ii) any company whose assets, or portions thereof, are consolidated with the net earnings of the subject entity and are recorded on the books of the subject entity for financial reporting purposes in accordance with IFRS and/or PRC GAAP or any internationally recognized accounting standard; or (iii) any company with respect to which the subject entity has the power to otherwise direct the business and policies of that entity directly or indirectly through another subsidiary. A company that attains the status of a Subsidiary on a date after the adoption of the Plan shall be considered a Subsidiary commencing as of such date.

 

18.


TUSIMPLE (CAYMAN) LIMITED 2017 SHARE PLAN

NOTICE OF SHARE OPTION GRANT

The Optionee has been granted the following option (this “Option”) to purchase ordinary shares of Tusimple (Cayman) Limited (the “Company”):

 

  Name of Optionee:                                                                                                                                      
  Total Number of Shares:                                                                                                                                      
  Exercise Price per Share:                                                                                                                                      
  Date of Grant:                                                                                                                                      
  Vesting Commencement Date:                                                                                                                                      
  Vesting:   In order for this Option (or any portion thereof) to vest, the Time-Based Requirement must be satisfied on or before the Expiration Date.
  Time-Based Requirement:   The Time-Based Requirement will be satisfied in installments as to [            % of the Shares subject to this Option when the Optionee completes              months of continuous Service, as to             % of the Shares subject to this Option when the Participant completes              months of continuous Service, and as to             % of the Shares subject to this Option when the Participant completes              months of continuous Service, measured from the Vesting Commencement Date set forth above,] subject to Section 2 of the Share Option Agreement.
  Expiration Date:   The tenth (10th) anniversary of the Date of Grant specified above. This Option expires earlier if the Optionee’s Service terminates earlier, as provided in Section 6 of the Share Option Agreement, or if the Company engages in certain corporate transactions, as provided in Section 10(b) of the Plan.

By signing below, the Optionee and the Company agree that this Option is granted under, and governed by the terms and conditions of, the 2017 Share Plan and the Share Option Agreement. Both of the 2017 Share Plan and the Share Option Agreement have been provided to the Optionee for review and are made a part of, this Notice of Share Option Grant. Section 13 of the Share Option Agreement includes important acknowledgements of the Optionee.

 

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  OPTIONEE:   Tusimple (Cayman) Limited
                                              Signed by:                                         
    Title:                                                  

 

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THE OPTION GRANTED PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE SHARES ISSUABLE UPON THE EXERCISE THEREOF HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION THEREOF UNDER SUCH ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY AND ITS COUNSEL, THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

TUSIMPLE (CAYMAN) LIMITED

2017 SHARE PLAN: SHARE OPTION AGREEMENT

SECTION 1. GRANT OF OPTION.

(a)    Option. On the terms and conditions set forth in the Notice of Share Option Grant and this Agreement, the Company grants to the Optionee on the Date of Grant the option to purchase at the Exercise Price the number of Shares set forth in the Notice of Share Option Grant.

(b)    Share Plan and Defined Terms. This Option is granted pursuant to the Plan, a copy of which the Optionee acknowledges having received. The provisions of the Plan are incorporated into this Agreement by this reference. Except as otherwise defined in this Agreement (including without limitation Section 15 hereof), capitalized terms shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the Plan.

SECTION 2. RIGHT TO EXERCISE.

(a)    Exercisability. Subject to Subsection (b) and (c) below and the other conditions set forth in this Agreement, all or part of this Option may be exercised prior to its expiration at the time or times set forth in the Notice of Share Option Grant. The Optionee should note, however, that this Option generally may not be exercised until the conditions described in Subsection 2(d) and Section 8 below have been satisfied. The conditions described in Subsection 2(d) generally cannot be satisfied until after the Company has listed the Shares for trading on a Securities Market, which the Company is under no obligation to do. To the extent these conditions are not satisfied prior to expiration of the Option (see Section 6 below), the Optionee will not be able to exercise the Option.

(b)    Shareholder Approval. Any other provision of this Agreement notwithstanding, no portion of this Option shall be exercisable at any time prior to the approval of the Plan by the Company’s shareholders.

(c)    Violation of Non-Compete Obligations. Any other provision of this Agreement notwithstanding, no portion of this Option may be exercisable by the Optionee and the entire Option (including the portion that has been exercised) will terminate in its entirety, if the Administrator (in its sole discretion) determines that such Optionee has violated the Non-Compete Obligations described in this Section 2(c). Each Optionee who is also an Employee hereby irrevocably represents and undertakes that for two (2) years after the effective date of the Optionee’s Service termination date, the Optionee shall not:

 

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(i)    work for any entity or engage in any kind of business which is of an identical nature to that of the Employer and/or the Company or in competition with the Employer and/or the Company, directly or indirectly, regardless of the position held by the Employee and whether he/she works on a full or part-time basis;

(ii)    engage in any business activity that competes, either directly or indirectly, with that of the Employer and/or the Company, whether acting in his/her own name or in another party’s name;

(iii)    engage jointly with any third party in any business activity that competes, either directly or indirectly, with that of the Employer and/or the Company; or

(iv)    in any name or in any manner, directly or indirectly hold shares in any entity which is engaged in any kind of business in competition, either directly or indirectly, with the Employer and/or the Company.

(d)    Exercise in Violation of Applicable Law. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or the Plan, and regardless of whether the Shares subject to this Option have vested and become exercisable pursuant to the schedule set forth on the Notice of Share Option Grant, this Option may not be exercised, on a particular date or ever, if the Administrator determines, in its sole discretion, that an exercise at such time would violate any applicable law or regulation, including any applicable securities law or the requirements of a Securities Market. To assure compliance with certain foreign exchange regulations in the People’s Republic of China, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, (i) limit the method of option exercise to a cashless method (including one not described in Section 4 or 5 below), (ii) prohibit exercise of the option until after the Company (or one of its Affiliates) has obtained approval from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”) with respect to the Plan, (iii) require the exchange of proceeds from the sale of option Shares into Renminbi, and/or (iv) deduct amounts from sale proceeds to cover expenses the Company incurs in connection with effecting such exercise, exchange or similar transaction. If SAFE approval is obtained, the Company may establish additional rules and restrictions on the exercisability of this Option including shortening post-termination exercise periods (to the extent required or permitted by SAFE) and requiring the Optionee to open a U.S. dollar bank account, and the Optionee understands that there may be delays in receiving proceeds from the exercise and sale of Shares due to SAFE requirements.

SECTION 3. NO TRANSFER OR ASSIGNMENT OF OPTION.

Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, this Option and the rights and privileges conferred hereby shall not be sold, pledged or otherwise transferred (whether by operation of law or otherwise) and shall not be subject to sale under execution, attachment, levy or similar process.

SECTION 4. EXERCISE PROCEDURES.

(a)    Notice of Exercise. The Optionee or the Optionee’s representative may exercise this Option by giving written notice to the Company pursuant to Section 12(c). The notice shall specify the election to exercise this Option, the number of Shares for which it is being exercised and the form of payment. The person exercising this Option shall sign the notice. In the event that this Option is being exercised by the representative

 

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of the Optionee, the notice shall be accompanied by proof (satisfactory to the Company) of the representative’s right to exercise this Option. The Optionee or the Optionee’s representative shall deliver to the Company, at the time of giving the notice, (i) payment in a form permissible under Section 5 for the full amount of the Purchase Price, and (ii) unless the Administrator at its sole discretion determines otherwise, a duly signed proxy in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. No Shares shall be issued or payment made pursuant to the term of this Agreement unless such issuance or payment complies with applicable law, including applicable foreign exchange laws. For administrative purposes, the Company in its sole discretion may elect to defer the date of issuance of Shares or payment in cash in order to comply with applicable law. The Company shall have no liability to issue Shares or make any payments in respect of the Option unless it is able to do so in compliance with applicable law.

(b)    Issuance of Shares. Subject to Section 2(d) and 4(c), after receiving a proper notice of exercise, the Company shall cause such Shares to be registered in the name of the person exercising this Option in the Company’s register of members. The Company shall then issue one or more certificates evidencing the Shares for which this Option has been exercised. The Company shall cause such certificates to be delivered to or upon the order of the person exercising this Option.

(c)    Withholding Taxes. In the event that the Company or the entity that employs the Optionee determines that it is required to withhold any tax in connection with this Option, including (without limitation) as a result of the grant, exercise, vesting or disposition of this Option or the Shares subject to this Option, the Optionee agrees that the Optionee shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Company or the entity that employs the Optionee to enable the Company or such entity to satisfy all applicable withholding requirements, including (without limitation) both the employer and employee portion of any and all income tax, social contribution or social security taxes or other payroll taxes or deductions. These arrangements may include (without limitation) the withholding of any applicable taxes from any amounts of compensation that the Optionee has earned by virtue of his/her employment or service as a consultant, including (without limitation) salary, remuneration, bonuses, expenses and commissions. Where such compensation is insufficient to cover the payment of the taxes arising in connection with this Option, the Optionee hereby confirms that the balance of such taxes will be paid in cash by the Optionee. The Optionee cannot exercise this Option or dispose of this Option or any Shares subject to this Option without satisfying any and all applicable tax liability (for both employer and employee) to the satisfaction of the Company or the entity that employs the Optionee. The Optionee also hereby agrees to indemnify the Company and the entity that employs the Optionee with respect to any tax liability that arises in connection with this Option, including (without limitation) as a result of the grant, exercise, vesting or disposition of this Option or the Shares subject to this Option.

(d)    Optionee acknowledges and agrees that it is the Optionee’s sole responsibility to investigate and comply with any applicable exchange control laws in connection with the issuance and delivery of the shares pursuant to the exercise of the Option and that the Optionee shall be responsible for any reporting of inbound and/or outbound international fund transfers required under Applicable Law, including without limitation SAFE 37 and SAFE 7 (if applicable). The Optionee is advised to seek appropriate professional advice as to how the exchange control regulations apply to the Participant’s specific situation.

 

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SECTION 5. PAYMENT FOR SHARES.

(a)    Cash. All or part of the Purchase Price may be paid in cash or cash equivalents from any lawful source of U.S. currency.

(b)    Surrender of Shares. At the discretion of the Administrator, all or any part of the Purchase Price may be paid by surrendering, or attesting to the ownership of, Shares that are already owned by the Optionee. Such Shares shall be surrendered to the Company in good form for transfer and shall be valued at their Fair Market Value as of the date when this Option is exercised. Any such surrender shall be effected in a manner which the Administrator determines to comply with Cayman Islands law and all other applicable laws.

(c)    Exercise/Sale. All or part of the Purchase Price and any withholding taxes may be paid by the delivery (on a form prescribed by the Company) of an irrevocable direction to a securities broker approved by the Company to sell Shares and to deliver all or part of the sales proceeds to the Company. However, payment pursuant to this Subsection (c) shall be permitted only if (i) the Shares are then publicly traded and (ii) such payment does not violate applicable law.

SECTION 6. TERM AND EXPIRATION.

(a)    Basic Term. This Option shall in any event expire on the expiration date set forth in the Notice of Share Option Grant.

(b)    Termination of Service (Except by Death). If the Optionee’s Service terminates for any reason other than death, then this Option shall expire on the earliest of the following occasions:

(i)    The expiration date determined pursuant to Subsection (a) above;

(ii)    The date three months after the termination of the Optionee’s Service for any reason other than Disability; or

(iii)    The date six months after the termination of the Optionee’s Service by reason of Disability.

The Optionee may exercise all or part of this Option at any time before its expiration under the preceding sentence, but only to the extent that this Option had become exercisable before the Optionee’s Service terminated. When the Optionee’s Service terminates, this Option shall expire immediately with respect to the number of Shares for which this Option is not yet exercisable. For the avoidance of doubt, this Option will not become exercisable for any additional Shares following the date on which the Optionee ceases to provide Service. In the event that the Optionee dies after termination of Service but before the expiration of this Option, all or part of this Option may be exercised (prior to expiration) by the executors or administrators of the Optionee’s estate or by any person who has acquired this Option directly from the Optionee by beneficiary designation, bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent that this Option had become exercisable before the Optionee’s Service terminated.

(c)    Death of the Optionee. If the Optionee dies while in Service, then this Option shall expire on the earlier of the following dates:

 

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(i)    The expiration date determined pursuant to Subsection (a) above;

(ii)    The date 12 months after the Optionee’s death.

All or part of this Option may be exercised at any time before its expiration under the preceding sentence by the executors or administrators of the Optionee’s estate or by any person who has acquired this Option directly from the Optionee by beneficiary designation, bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent that this Option had become exercisable before the Optionee ’s death. When the Optionee dies, this Option shall expire immediately with respect to the number of Shares for which this Option is not yet exercisable.

(d)    Part-Time Employment and Leaves of Absence. If the Optionee commences working on a part-time basis, then the Company may adjust the vesting schedule set forth in the Notice of Share Option Grant in accordance with the Company’s part-time work policy or the terms of an agreement between the Optionee and the Company pertaining to his or her part-time schedule. If the Optionee goes on a leave of absence, then the Company may adjust the vesting schedule set forth in the Notice of Share Option Grant in accordance with the Company’s leave of absence policy or the terms of such leave. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, Service shall be deemed to continue for any purpose under this Agreement while the Optionee is on a bona fide leave of absence, if (i) such leave was approved by the Company in writing and (ii) continued crediting of Service for such purpose is expressly required by the terms of such leave or by applicable law (as determined by the Company). Service shall be deemed to terminate when such leave ends, unless the Optionee immediately returns to active work.

SECTION 7. RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.

(a)    Right of First Refusal. In the event that the Optionee proposes to sell, pledge or otherwise transfer to a third party any Shares acquired under this Agreement, or any interest in such Shares, the Company shall have the Right of First Refusal with respect to all (and not less than all) of such Shares. If the Optionee desires to transfer Shares acquired under this Agreement, the Optionee shall give a written Transfer Notice to the Company describing fully the proposed transfer, including the number of Shares proposed to be transferred, the proposed transfer price, the name and address of the proposed Transferee and proof satisfactory to the Company that the proposed sale or transfer will not violate any applicable federal, state or foreign securities or other applicable laws. The Transfer Notice shall be signed both by the Optionee and by the proposed Transferee and must constitute a binding commitment of both parties to the transfer of the Shares. The Company shall have the right to purchase all, and not less than all, of the Shares on the terms of the proposal described in the Transfer Notice (subject, however, to any change in such terms permitted under Subsection (b) below) by delivery of a notice of exercise of the Right of First Refusal within 30 days after the date when the Transfer Notice was received by the Company.

(b)    Transfer of Shares. If the Company fails to exercise its Right of First Refusal within 30 days after the date when it received the Transfer Notice, the Optionee may, not later than 90 days following receipt of the Transfer Notice by the Company, conclude a transfer of the Shares subject to the Transfer Notice on the terms and conditions described in the Transfer Notice, provided that any such sale is made in compliance with applicable federal, state and foreign securities or other applicable laws and not in violation of any other contractual restrictions to which the Optionee is bound. Any proposed transfer

 

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on terms and conditions different from those described in the Transfer Notice, as well as any subsequent proposed transfer by the Optionee, shall again be subject to the Right of First Refusal and shall require compliance with the procedure described in Subsection (a) above. If the Company exercises its Right of First Refusal, the parties shall consummate the sale of the Shares on the terms set forth in the Transfer Notice within 60 days after the date when the Company received the Transfer Notice (or within such longer period as may have been specified in the Transfer Notice); provided, however, that in the event the Transfer Notice provided that payment for the Shares was to be made in a form other than cash or cash equivalents paid at the time of transfer, the Company shall have the option of paying for the Shares with cash or cash equivalents equal to the present value of the consideration described in the Transfer Notice in a manner which the Administrator determines to comply with Cayman Islands law and all other applicable laws.

(c)    Additional or Exchanged Securities and Property. In the event of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity, any other corporate reorganization, a share split, the declaration of a share dividend, the declaration of an extraordinary dividend payable in a form other than share, a spin-off, an adjustment in conversion ratio, a recapitalization or a similar transaction affecting the Company’s outstanding securities, any securities or other property (including cash or cash equivalents) that are by reason of such transaction exchanged for, or distributed with respect to, any Shares subject to this Section 7 shall immediately be subject to the Right of First Refusal. Appropriate adjustments to reflect the exchange or distribution of such securities or property shall be made to the number and/or class of the Shares subject to this Section 7.

(d)    Termination of Right of First Refusal. Any other provision of this Section 7 notwithstanding, in the event that the Shares are readily tradable on an established securities market when the Optionee desires to transfer Shares, the Company shall have no Right of First Refusal, and the Optionee shall have no obligation to comply with the procedures prescribed by Subsections (a) and (b) above.

(e)    Permitted Transfers. This Section 7 shall not apply to (i) a transfer by beneficiary designation, will or intestate succession or (ii) a transfer to one or more members of the Optionee’s Immediate Family or to a trust established by the Optionee for the benefit of the Optionee and/or one or more members of the Optionee’s Immediate Family, provided in either case that the Transferee agrees in writing on a form prescribed by the Company to be bound by all provisions of this Agreement. If the Optionee transfers any Shares acquired under this Agreement, either under this Subsection (e) or after the Company has failed to exercise the Right of First Refusal, then this Agreement shall apply to the Transferee to the same extent as to the Optionee and as a condition of such transfer, the Transferee must execute a share transfer agreement in the form prescribed by the Company.

(f)    Termination of Rights as Shareholder. If the Company makes available, at the time and place and in the amount and form provided in this Agreement, the consideration for the Shares to be purchased in accordance with this Section 7, then after such time the person from whom such Shares are to be purchased shall no longer have any rights as a holder of such Shares (other than the right to receive payment of such consideration in accordance with this Agreement). Such Shares shall be deemed to have been purchased in accordance with the applicable provisions hereof, whether or not the certificate(s) therefor have been delivered as required by this Agreement and the Company shall have the right to amend its register of members accordingly.

 

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(g)    Assignment of Right of First Refusal. The Administrator may freely assign the Company’s Right of First Refusal, in whole or in part. Any person who accepts an assignment of the Right of First Refusal from the Company shall assume all of the Company’s rights and obligations under this Section 7.

SECTION 8. LEGALITY OF INITIAL ISSUANCE.

No Shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Option unless and until the Company has determined that:

(a)    It and the Optionee have taken any actions required to register the Shares under the Securities Act or to perfect an exemption from the registration requirements thereof;

(b)    Any applicable listing requirement of any stock exchange or other securities market on which the Shares are listed has been satisfied; and

(c)    Any other applicable provision of federal, state or foreign law has been satisfied.

SECTION 9. NO REGISTRATION RIGHTS.

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, register or qualify the sale of Shares under the Securities Act or any other applicable law. The Company shall not be obligated to take any affirmative action in order to cause the sale of Shares under this Agreement to comply with any law.

SECTION 10. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF SHARES.

(a)    Securities Law Restrictions. Regardless of whether the offering and sale of Shares under the Plan have been registered under the Securities Act or have been registered or qualified under the securities laws of any state or foreign country, the Company at its discretion may impose restrictions upon the sale, pledge or other transfer of such Shares (including the placement of appropriate legends on share certificates or the imposition of stop-transfer instructions) if, in the judgment of the Company, such restrictions are necessary or desirable in order to achieve compliance with the Securities Act, the securities laws of any state or foreign country or any other applicable law.

(b)    Market Stand-Off. In connection with any underwritten public offering by the Company of its equity securities pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, including the Company’s initial public offering, the Optionee or a Transferee shall not directly or indirectly sell, make any short sale of, loan, hypothecate, pledge, offer, grant or sell any option or other contract for the purchase of, purchase any option or other contract for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of or transfer, or agree to engage in any of the foregoing transactions with respect to, any Shares acquired under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Company or its managing underwriter. Such restriction (the “Market Stand-Off”) shall be in effect for such period of time following the date of the final prospectus for the offering as may be requested by the Company or such underwriter. In no event, however, shall such period exceed 180 days plus such additional period as may reasonably be requested by the Company or such underwriter to accommodate regulatory restrictions on (i) the publication or other distribution of

 

9


research reports or (ii) analyst recommendations and opinions, including (without limitation) the restrictions set forth in Rule 2711(f)(4) of the National Association of Securities Dealers and Rule 472(f)(4) of the New York Stock Exchange, as amended, or any similar successor rules. The Market Stand-Off shall in any event terminate two years after the date of the Company’s initial public offering. In the event of the declaration of a share dividend, a spin-off, a share split, an adjustment in conversion ratio, a recapitalization or a similar transaction affecting the Company’s outstanding securities without receipt of consideration, any new, substituted or additional securities which are by reason of such transaction distributed with respect to any Shares subject to the Market Stand-Off, or into which such Shares thereby become convertible, shall immediately be subject to the Market Stand-Off. In order to enforce the Market Stand-Off, the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the Shares acquired under this Agreement until the end of the applicable stand-off period. The Company’s underwriters shall be beneficiaries of the agreement set forth in this Subsection (b). This Subsection (b) shall not apply to Shares registered in the public offering under the Securities Act.

(c)    Investment Intent at Grant. The Optionee represents and agrees that the Shares to be acquired upon exercising this Option will be acquired for investment, and not with a view to the sale or distribution thereof.

(d)    Investment Intent at Exercise. In the event that the sale of Shares under the Plan is not registered under the Securities Act but an exemption is available that requires an investment representation or other representation, the Optionee shall represent and agree at the time of exercise that the Shares being acquired upon exercising this Option are being acquired for investment, and not with a view to the sale or distribution thereof, and shall make such other representations as are deemed necessary or appropriate by the Company and its counsel.

(e)    Legends. All certificates evidencing Shares purchased under this Agreement shall bear the following legend:

“THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY NOT BE SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, ENCUMBERED OR IN ANY MANNER DISPOSED OF, EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF A WRITTEN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THE SHARES (OR THE PREDECESSOR IN INTEREST TO THE SHARES). SUCH AGREEMENT GRANTS TO THE COMPANY CERTAIN RIGHTS OF FIRST REFUSAL UPON AN ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THE SHARES. IN ADDITION, THE SHARES ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER FOR A LIMITED PERIOD FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE UNDERWRITTEN PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE COMPANY’S SECURITIES AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF BY THE HOLDER WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE COMPANY OR THE MANAGING UNDERWRITER. THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY WILL UPON WRITTEN REQUEST FURNISH A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT TO THE HOLDER HEREOF WITHOUT CHARGE.”

All certificates evidencing Shares purchased under this Agreement in an unregistered transaction shall bear the following legend (and such other restrictive legends as are required or deemed advisable under the provisions of any applicable law):

 

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“THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION THEREOF UNDER SUCH ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY AND ITS COUNSEL, THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED. IN THE ABSENCE OF REGISTRATION OR THE AVAILABILITY (CONFIRMED BY OPINION OF COUNSEL) OF AN ALTERNATIVE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE ACT), THESE SHARES MAY NOT BE SOLD, REOFFERED, PLEDGED, ASSIGNED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED OR DISPOSED OF. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THESE SHARES MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ACT.”

(f)    Removal of Legends. If, in the opinion of the Company and its counsel, any legend placed on a share certificate representing Shares sold under this Agreement is no longer required, the holder of such certificate shall be entitled to exchange such certificate for a certificate representing the same number of Shares but without such legend.

(g)    Administration. Any determination by the Company and its counsel in connection with any of the matters set forth in this Section 10 shall be conclusive and binding on the Optionee and all other persons.

SECTION 11. ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES.

In the event of any transaction described in Section 10(a) of the Plan, the terms of this Option (including, without limitation, the number and kind of Shares subject to this Option and the Exercise Price) shall be adjusted as set forth in Section 10(a) of the Plan. In the event that the Company is a party to a merger or consolidation or in the event of a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s shares or assets, this Option shall be subject to the treatment provided by the Administrator in its sole discretion, as provided in Section 10(b) of the Plan.

SECTION 12. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

(a)    Rights as a Shareholder. Neither the Optionee nor the Optionee’s representative shall have any rights as a shareholder with respect to any Shares subject to this Option until the Optionee or the Optionee’s representative becomes entitled to receive such Shares by filing a notice of exercise and paying the Purchase Price pursuant to Sections 4 and 5 and such person is registered in the register of members of the Company.

(b)    No Retention Rights. Subject to the requirements of applicable law and the applicable employment documentation (if any), nothing in this Option or in the Plan shall confer upon the Optionee any right to continue in Service for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining the Optionee) or of the Optionee, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate his or her Service at any time and for any reason, with or without cause, provided, however, that this provision will not apply if applicable employment documentation or provisions of applicable law require otherwise.

 

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(c)    Notice. Any notice required by the terms of this Agreement shall be given in writing. It shall be deemed effective upon (i) personal delivery, (ii) deposit with the United States Postal Service or a comparable postal service in a country other than the United States, by registered or certified mail, with postage and fees prepaid or (iii) deposit with Federal Express Corporation, with shipping charges prepaid. Notice shall be addressed to the Company at its principal executive office and to the Optionee at the address that he or she most recently provided to the Company in accordance with this Subsection (c).

(d)    Entire Agreement. The Notice of Share Option Grant, this Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire contract between the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof. They supersede any other agreements, representations or understandings (whether oral or written and whether express or implied) that relate to the subject matter hereof.

(e)    Plan and Option Discretionary. The Optionee understands and acknowledges that (i) the Plan and Option are entirely discretionary, (ii) the Company and the Optionee’s employer have reserved the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time, (iii) the grant of an option does not in any way create any contractual or other right to receive additional grants of options (or benefits in lieu of options) at any time or in any amount and (iv) all determinations with respect to any additional grants, including (without limitation) the times when options will be granted, the number of Shares offered, the Exercise Price and the vesting schedule, will be at the sole discretion of the Company.

(f)    Extraordinary Compensation. The value of this Option shall be an extraordinary item of compensation outside the scope of the Optionee’s employment contract, if any, and shall not be considered a part of the Optionee’s wages, base or normal or expected compensation for any purpose, including (without limitation) the purpose of calculating any benefits, including (without limitation) severance, resignation, redundancy or end-of-service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement benefits or similar payments. The vesting in and exercisability of this Option shall also not be considered a part of the Optionee’s wages, base or normal or expected compensation for any purpose, including (without limitation) the purpose of calculating any benefits, including (without limitation) severance, resignation, redundancy or end-of-service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement benefits or similar payments.

(g)    Termination of Service. The Optionee understands and acknowledges that participation in the Plan ceases upon termination of his or her Service for any reason, except as may explicitly be provided otherwise in the Plan or this Agreement. The Optionee understands and agrees that this Option and the Shares subject to this Option will only become vested and exercisable in accordance with the “Date Exercisable” schedule in the attached Notice of Share Option Grant, while the Optionee is actually providing Service. Employees and Consultants by accepting this Option acknowledge and agree that they have no rights to continue rendering Service to the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary, and that the rights to provide Service are separate and distinct from rights to remain employed and/or rights to receive notice of termination of employment or payment in lieu of notice thereof. The Optionee shall not become vested and exercisable in this Option and the Shares subject to this Option when the Optionee is not providing Service, including (without limitation) when the Optionee is on a leave of absence or during a notice period, unless otherwise determined by the Company, in its sole discretion.

 

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(h)    Authorization to Disclose. The Optionee hereby authorizes and directs the Optionee’s employer to disclose to the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary or other entity any information regarding the Optionee’s employment, the nature and amount of the Optionee’s compensation and the fact and conditions of the Optionee’s participation in the Plan, as the Optionee’s employer deems necessary or appropriate to facilitate the administration of the Plan.

(i)    Personal Data Authorization. The Optionee consents to the collection, use and transfer of personal data as described in this Subsection (i). The Optionee understands and acknowledges that the Company, a Parent or Subsidiary, the Optionee’s employer and the Company’s other Subsidiaries and entities hold certain personal information regarding the Optionee for the purpose of managing and administering the Plan, including (without limitation) the Optionee’s name, home address, telephone number, date of birth, national insurance number, salary, nationality, job title, any Shares or directorships held in the Company and details of all options or any other entitlements to Shares awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding in the Optionee’s favor (the “Data”). The Optionee further understands and acknowledges that the Company, any Parent or Subsidiary and other entities will transfer Data among themselves as necessary for the purpose of implementation, administration and management of the Optionee’s participation in the Plan and that the Company and/or any Parent or Subsidiary and other entities may each further transfer Data to any third party assisting the Company in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan. The Optionee understands and acknowledges that the recipients of Data may be located in the United States or elsewhere. The Optionee authorizes such recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer Data, in electronic or other form, for the purpose of administering the Optionee’s participation in the Plan, including a transfer to any broker or other third party with whom the Optionee elects to deposit Shares acquired under the Plan of such Data as may be required for the administration of the Plan and/or the subsequent holding of Shares on the Optionee’s behalf. The Optionee may, at any time, view the Data, require any necessary modifications of Data or withdraw the consents set forth in this Subsection (i) by contacting the Human Resources Department of the Company in writing.

(j)    Independent Tax Advice. The Optionee should obtain advice from an appropriate independent professional adviser with respect to the tax implications of the grant, exercise, assignment, release, cancellation, termination or any other disposition of this Option or the Shares subject to this Option pursuant to the terms of the Plan. Optionee understands and agrees that the Company has no obligation to provide any tax advice.

(k)    Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the Cayman Islands, as such laws are applied to contracts entered into and performed in such jurisdiction.

(l)    Arbitration. Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or in connection with or relating to this Agreement, or the interpretation, breach, termination or validity hereof, shall be resolved through arbitration. The arbitration shall be conducted in Hong Kong under the auspices of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (the “Centre”). The award of the arbitration tribunal shall be final and binding upon the parties, and the prevailing party may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of such award.

SECTION 13. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF THE OPTIONEE.

 

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(a)    Tax Consequences. The Optionee agrees that the Company does not have a duty to design or administer the Plan or its other compensation programs in a manner that minimizes the Optionee’s tax liabilities. The Optionee shall not make any claim against the Company or its Board of Directors, officers or employees related to tax liabilities arising from this Option or the Optionee’s other compensation. Additional terms set forth on the appendix “Special Provisions Applicable to U.S. Tax Residents” shall apply to any Participant who is a resident of the United States for purposes of U.S. taxation.

(b)    Electronic Delivery of Documents. The Optionee agrees that the Company may deliver by email all documents relating to the Plan or this Option (including, without limitation, a copy of the Plan) and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to its security holders (including, without limitation, disclosures that may be required by the Securities and Exchange Commission). The Optionee also agrees that the Company may deliver these documents by posting them on a website maintained by the Company or by a third party under contract with the Company. If the Company posts these documents on a website, it shall notify the Optionee by email to the extent practicable.

(c)    Exercise May Be Prohibited. The Optionee agrees and acknowledges that in the event the Company determines that exercise of this Option by the Optionee (i) may be prohibited or subject to approval and/or registration requirements under applicable laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China or (ii) could subject the Company and/or its Subsidiaries in China to regulatory restrictions under applicable laws and regulations of China, the Optionee shall have no right to exercise this Option without the prior written consent of the Administrator. The Optionee further acknowledges and agrees that this Option could expire before exercise is permitted.

(d)    Waiver of Statutory Information Rights. The Optionee acknowledges and agrees that, upon exercise of this Option and until the first sale of the Company’s Share to the general public pursuant to a registration statement filed under the Securities Act, he or she will be deemed to have waived any rights the Optionee might otherwise have had under Cayman Islands law (or under similar rights under other applicable law) to inspect for any proper purpose and to make copies and extracts from the Company’s register of members, a list of its shareholders and its other books and records or the books and records of any subsidiary. This waiver applies only in the Optionee’s capacity as a shareholder and does not affect any other inspection rights the Optionee may have under other law or pursuant to a written agreement with the Company.

SECTION 14. LOCAL LAW; FOREIGN EXCHANGE AND TAX COMPLIANCE.

Notwithstanding anything else contained herein to the contrary, due to certain foreign exchange regulations in the People’s Republic of China, the Administrator may, at its discretion, limit the method of option exercise to a cashless method for Optionees resident in the PRC not having permanent residence in a country other than the People’s Republic of China (“PRC Participants”). Such discretion includes and is not limited to the required exchange of proceeds by the Administrator into Renminbi for transmittal to PRC Participants, deductions for fees associated with the exchange, and deductions for PRC taxes, as may be necessary to comply with applicable PRC foreign exchange and tax regulations.

SECTION 15. DEFINITIONS.

 

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(a)     “Administrator” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted from time to time or, if a Committee has been appointed, such Committee, all as described in Section 2 of the Plan.

(b)     “Agreement” shall mean this Share Option Agreement.

(c)     “Company” shall mean Tusimple (Cayman) Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted limited company.

(d)     “Consultant” shall mean a person who performs bona fide services for the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary as a consultant or advisor, excluding Employees and Outside Directors.

(e)     “Date of Grant” shall mean the date of grant specified in the Notice of Share Option Grant, which date shall be the later of (i) the date on which the Administrator resolved to grant this Option or (ii) the first day of the Optionee’s Service.

(f)     “Disability” shall mean that the Optionee is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment.

(g)     “Employee” shall mean any individual who is an employee of the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary.

(h)     “Employer” shall mean any of the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary, who is an employer of an Employee.

(i)     “Exercise Price” shall mean the amount for which one Share may be purchased upon exercise of this Option, as specified in the Notice of Share Option Grant.

(j)     “Fair Market Value” shall mean the fair market value of a Share, as determined by the Administrator in good faith. Such determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

(k)     “Immediate Family” shall mean any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law and shall include adoptive relationships.

(l)     “Notice of Share Option Grant” shall mean the document so entitled to which this Agreement is attached.

(m)     “Optionee” shall mean the person named in the Notice of Share Option Grant.

(n)     “Outside Director” shall mean a member of the Board of Directors who is not an Employee.

(o)     “Parent” shall mean any company (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of companies ending with the Company, if each of the companies other than the Company owns share possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of share in one of the other companies in such chain.

 

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(p)     “Plan” shall mean the Tusimple (Cayman) Limited 2017 Share Plan, as in effect on the Date of Grant.

(q)     “Purchase Price” shall mean the Exercise Price multiplied by the number of Shares with respect to which this Option is being exercised.

(r)     “Right of First Refusal” shall mean the Company’s right of first refusal described in Section 7.

(s)     “SAFE 7” shall mean the Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Issues concerning the Administration of Foreign Exchange Used for Domestic Individuals’ Participation in Equity Incentive Plans of Companies Listed Overseas promulgated by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the People’s Republic of China and effective as of February 15, 2012.

(t)     “SAFE 37” shall mean the Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Residents to Engage in Overseas Financing and Round Trip Investment via Special Purpose Companies issued by SAFE on July 4, 2014.

(u)     “Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(v)     “Service” shall mean actual ongoing service to the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary as an Employee, Consultant or Outside Director and specifically excludes periods of notice of termination of employment under applicable law or employment contracts whereby actual service is no longer provided, for example, when an Employee is paid in lieu of his/her notice period or when an Employee is asked to cease service immediately pursuant to a “garden leave” or a similar concept.

(w)     “Share” shall mean the ordinary shares of the Company, as adjusted in accordance with Section 10 of the Plan (if applicable).

(x)     “Subsidiary” shall mean any company (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of companies beginning with the Company, if each of the companies other than the last company in the unbroken chain owns share possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of share in one of the other companies in such chain.

(y)     “Transferee” shall mean any person to whom the Optionee has directly or indirectly transferred any Share acquired under this Agreement.

(z)     “Transfer Notice” shall mean the notice of a proposed transfer of Shares described in Section 7.

 

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APPENDIX

SPECIAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO U.S. TAX RESIDENTS

Any Optionee subject to U.S. taxation acknowledges that this Option is exempt from Section 409A of the Code only if the Exercise Price is at least equal to the Fair Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant. Since Shares are not traded on an established securities market, the determination of their Fair Market Value is made by the Administrator or by an independent valuation firm retained by the Company. The Optionee acknowledges that there is no guarantee in either case that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service will agree with the valuation, and the Optionee shall not make any claim against the Company or its Board of Directors, officers or employees in the event that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service asserts that the valuation was too low.

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

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TUSIMPLE (CAYMAN) LIMITED

2017 SHARE PLAN

NOTICE OF RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AWARD

You (“Participant”) have been granted Restricted Share Units (“RSUs”) representing shares of ordinary share of Tusimple (Cayman) Limited (the “Company”) on the following terms:

 

  Name:                                                                                                                                      
  Total Number of RSUs Granted:                                                                                                                                      
  Date of Grant:                                                                                                                                      
  Expiration Date:   the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Date of Grant specified above
  Vesting Commencement Date:                                                                                                                                      
  Vesting:   Participant will receive a benefit with respect to a RSU only if it vests. In order for an RSU to vest, two vesting requirements must be both satisfied on or before the Expiration Date specified above: (i) the Time-Based Requirement and (ii) the Liquidity Event Requirement. If both the Time-Based Requirement and the Liquidity Event Requirement are satisfied on or before the Expiration Date, the vesting date (“Vesting Date”) of an RSU will be the first date upon which both of those requirements are satisfied with respect to that particular RSU.
  Time-Based Requirement:   The Time-Based Requirement will be satisfied in installments as to [            % of the RSUs subject to this award when the Participant completes              months of continuous Service, as to             % of the RSUs subject to this award when the Participant completes              months of continuous Service, and as to             % of the RSUs subject to this award when the Participant completes              months of continuous Service, measured from the Vesting Commencement Date set forth


    above,] subject to Section 2 of the Restricted Share Unit Agreement. In the event of termination of continuous Service for any reason, all further vesting related to the Time-Based Requirement shall immediately cease and any unvested RSUs that have not met the Time-Based Requirement will be terminated pursuant to Section 2 of the Restricted Share Unit Agreement.
  Liquidity Event Requirement:   The Liquidity Event Requirement will be satisfied (as to any then-outstanding RSUs that have not theretofore been terminated pursuant to Section 2 of the Restricted Share Unit Agreement) upon the earlier to occur of (i) an IPO or (ii) a Sale Event (each, a “Liquidity Event”).
  Settlement:   Settlement of RSUs refers to the issuance of Shares (or, if applicable, cash) once the award is vested. If a RSU vests as a result of satisfaction of both applicable vesting requirements as described above, the Company will deliver one Share for that RSU at the time of settlement, unless at the time of settlement the Administrator, in its sole discretion, determines that settlement shall, in whole or in part, be in the form of cash, based on the then Fair Market Value of a Share. Settlement shall occur on or following the Vesting Date, but not later than two and one-half (212) months following the end of the year in which the Vesting Date applicable to a RSU occurs (the last day of such two and one-half month period is referred to as the “Short Term Deferral End Date”). Notwithstanding the above, settlement of RSUs that become vested RSUs upon (i) a Sale Event will be made in Shares, unless otherwise specified in the definitive agreement for such Sale Event, or (ii) an IPO shall occur on the earlier of (a) the 185th day following the IPO Date or (b) the Short Term Deferral End Date.

By signing below, the Participant and the Company agree that the RSUs are granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Company’s 2017 Share Plan (the “Plan”) and the


Restricted Share Unit Agreement, both of which have been provided to the Participant for review and are made a part of this document. This Notice of Share Unit Award together with the Restricted Share Unit Agreement constitute the Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement referred to in the Plan. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan. Participant hereby acknowledges that the vesting of the RSUs pursuant to this Notice of Restricted Share Unit Award is conditioned on the satisfaction of the Time-Based Requirement and the Liquidity Event Requirement on or before the Expiration Date. Participant shall have no right with respect to the RSUs to the extent a Liquidity Event does not occur on or before the Expiration Date (regardless of the extent to which the Time-Based Requirement is satisfied).

Participant further agrees to accept by email all documents relating to the Company, the Plan or these RSUs and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to its security holders (including, without limitation, disclosures that may be required by the Securities and Exchange Commission). Participant also agrees that the Company may deliver these documents by posting them on a website maintained by the Company or by a third party under contract with the Company. If the Company posts these documents on a website, it will notify Participant by email. Participant acknowledges that he or she may incur costs in connection with electronic delivery, including the cost of accessing the internet and printing fees, and that an interruption of internet access may interfere with Participant’s ability to access the documents.

 

PARTICIPANT:     TUSIMPLE (CAYMAN) LIMITED
                                                                                       By:                                              
Address for Mailing Share Certificate:     Title:                                          
                                                                                              
                                                                                              


TUSIMPLE (CAYMAN) LIMITED

2017 SHARE PLAN

RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AGREEMENT

 

SECTION 1.

GRANT OF RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS.

(a)    Grant. On the terms and conditions set forth in the Notice of Restricted Share Unit Award and this Agreement, the Company grants to Participant on the Date of Grant the number of RSUs set forth in the Notice of Restricted Share Unit Award. Each RSU represents the right to receive one share of the Company’s ordinary share on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

(b)    Consideration. No payment is required for the RSUs that have been granted to Participant.

(c)    Nature of RSUs; No Rights As a Shareholder. The RSUs are mere bookkeeping entries and represent only the Company’s unfunded and unsecured promise to issue Shares on a future date under specified conditions. As a holder of RSUs, Participant has no rights other than the rights of a general creditor of the Company. The RSUs carry neither voting rights nor rights to cash dividends. Participant has no rights as a Shareholder of the Company unless and until the RSUs vest and are settled pursuant to Section 4.

(d)    Share Plan and Defined Terms. The RSUs are granted pursuant to the Plan, a copy of which Participant acknowledges having reviewed. The provisions of the Plan are incorporated into this Agreement by this reference. Capitalized terms are defined in Section 10 of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 2.

VESTING.

(a)    Generally. The RSUs vest in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in the Notice of Restricted Share Unit Award. Participant will receive a benefit with respect to an RSU only if both the Time-Based Requirement and the Liquidity Event Requirement are satisfied on or before the Expiration Date. The RSUs will not vest (in whole or in part) if only one (or if neither) of such requirements is satisfied on or before the Expiration Date.

(b)    Termination of Service. If Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, all RSUs as to which the Time-Based Requirement has not been satisfied as of Participant’s termination date shall automatically terminate and be cancelled. Participant will not satisfy the Time-Based Requirement for any additional RSUs after Participant’s Service has terminated, regardless of the reason for such termination. Upon such termination of Service, any RSUs as to which the Time-Based Requirement has been satisfied will (if the Liquidity Event


Requirement has not yet been satisfied) remain outstanding. Such RSUs will vest only if the Liquidity Event Requirement is satisfied prior to the Expiration Date. In case of any dispute as to whether Participant’s Service has terminated, the Administrator shall have sole discretion to determine whether such termination has occurred and the effective date of such termination.

(c)    Expiration of RSUs. If the Liquidity Event Requirement is not satisfied on or before the Expiration Date, all RSUs (regardless of whether or not, or to the extent which, the Time-Based Requirement had been satisfied as to such RSUs) shall automatically terminate upon such date. Upon a termination of one or more RSUs pursuant to this Section 2, Participant will have no further right with respect to such RSUs or the Shares previously allocated thereto.

(d)    Part-Time Employment and Leaves of Absence. If Participant commences working on a part-time basis, then the Company may adjust the Time-Based Requirement set forth in the Notice of Restricted Share Unit Award. If Participant goes on a leave of absence, then the Company may adjust the Time-Based Requirement set forth in the Notice of Restricted Share Unit Award in accordance with the Company’s leave of absence policy or the terms of such leave. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, Service shall be deemed to continue for any purpose under this Agreement while Participant is on a bona fide leave of absence, if (i) such leave was approved by the Company in writing and (ii) continued crediting of Service for such purpose is expressly required by the terms of such leave or by applicable law (as determined by the Company). Service shall be deemed to terminate when such leave ends, unless Participant immediately returns to active work.

 

SECTION 3.

RESTRICTIONS APPLICABLE TO RSUS.

(a)    Restrictions on Transfer. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the RSUs and the rights and privileges conferred hereby shall not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, or otherwise disposed of by Participant prior to the settlement of the RSUs. However, Participant may designate a third party who, in the event of Participant’s death, shall thereafter be entitled to receive any distribution of Shares to which Participant was entitled at the time of Participant’s death pursuant to this Agreement by delivering a written beneficiary designation to the Company’s headquarters on the prescribed form. If Participant delivers no such beneficiary designation or if Participant’s designated beneficiaries do not survive Participant, Participant’s estate will receive payments in respect of any vested RSUs.

(b)    Forfeiture of RSUs. In connection with the RSUs, the Company may be required to provide Participant with certain highly confidential information about the Company, including information regarding its financial condition and business prospects. Unauthorized disclosure of such information is prohibited under Participant’s existing Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement with the Company and under Company policy, and Participant may be required to sign an additional nondisclosure agreement prior to receiving this type of information. In addition, unauthorized disclosure of the Company’s confidential information could result in the immediate forfeiture of the RSUs, including vested RSUs as well as termination of Participant’s Service with the Company.

 

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SECTION 4.

SETTLEMENT OF RSUS.

(a)    Settlement Date. Upon a Vesting Date with respect to a particular RSU, the Company will deliver one Share for that RSU, unless at the time of settlement the Administrator, in its sole discretion, determines that settlement shall, in whole or in part, be in the form of cash, based on the then-Fair Market Value of a Share. Settlement shall occur on or following the Vesting Date, but not later than Short-Term Deferral End Date (as defined in the Notice of Restricted Share Unit Grant). Notwithstanding the above, for RSUs that become vested upon a Sale Event, settlement will be made in Shares, unless otherwise specified in the definitive agreement for such Sale Event, and for RSUs that become vested upon an IPO, settlement shall occur on the earlier of (i) the 185th day following the IPO Date or (ii) the Short-Term Deferral End Date. In the event that settlement is made in Shares, the Participant shall deliver to the Company, on the date of settlement, the executed proxy as set forth in Exhibit A.

(b)    Form of Delivery. The form of any delivery of Shares (e.g., a Share certificate or electronic entry evidencing such shares) shall be determined by the Company.

(c)    Legality of Issuance.

(1)    No Shares shall be issued to Participant upon settlement of the RSUs unless and until the Company has determined that (i) Participant and the Company have taken any actions required to register the Shares under the Securities Act or to perfect an exemption from the registration requirements thereof; (ii) any applicable listing requirement of any stock exchange or other securities market on which Share is listed has been satisfied; and (iii) any other applicable provision of federal, State or foreign law has been satisfied, including the foreign exchange laws and regulations in People’s Republic of China (if applicable). The Company shall have no liability to issue Shares in respect of the RSUs unless it is able to do so in compliance with applicable law.

(2)    To assure compliance with certain foreign exchange regulations in the People’s Republic of China, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, (i) prohibit the issuance of Shares in respect of the RSUs until after the Company (or one of its affiliates) has obtained approval from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”) with respect to the Plan, (ii) require the exchange of proceeds from the sale of Shares into Renminbi, and/or (iii) deduct amounts from sale proceeds to cover expenses the Company incurs in connection with effecting such settlement, exchange or similar transaction. If SAFE approval is obtained, the Company may establish additional rules and restrictions on the settlement of the RSUs including shortening the post-termination settlement periods (to the extent required or permitted by SAFE) and requiring the Participant to open a U.S. dollar bank account, and the Participant understands that there may be delays in receiving proceeds from the settlement and sale of Shares due to SAFE requirements.

(3)    Participant acknowledges and agrees that it is the Participant’s sole responsibility to investigate and comply with any applicable exchange control laws in connection with the issuance and delivery of the shares of stock pursuant to the settlement of the RSUs and that the Participant shall be responsible for any reporting of inbound and/or outbound

 

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international fund transfers required under applicable law, including without limitation SAFE 37 and SAFE 7 (if applicable). The Participant is advised to seek appropriate professional advice as to how the exchange control regulations apply to the Participant’s specific situation.

 

SECTION 5.

TAXES.

(a)    Withholding Taxes. Upon the Vesting Date and/or settlement date for the RSUs, the Fair Market Value of the Shares is treated as income subject to withholding by the Company and/or the Parent or Subsidiary employing Participant (Participant’s “Employer”) for the payment of all applicable federal, State, local and foreign income and employment withholding taxes which arise in connection with the vesting or settlement of the RSUs (the “Withholding Taxes”). No consideration will be paid to Participant in respect of this award unless Participant has made arrangements satisfactory to Participant’s Employer to satisfy the Withholding Taxes. To the extent that Participant fails to make such arrangements with respect to certain RSUs, then Participant will permanently forfeit such RSUs. At the discretion of the Company, these arrangements may include (i) withholding from other compensation or amounts that are owed to Participant by Participant’s Employer, (ii) payment in cash, (iii) if the Share is publicly traded, payment from the proceeds of the sale of shares through a Company-approved broker, (iv) withholding a number of Shares that otherwise would be issued to Participant when the RSUs are settled with a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum statutory amount required to be withheld, or (v) any other method permitted by the Company. However, if Participant is a Company officer subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, then the Withholding Taxes will be satisfied pursuant to clause (iv) of the preceding sentence, unless otherwise determined in advance by the Administrator. If the Withholding Taxes are satisfied pursuant to clause (iv), Participant will be deemed to have been issued the full number of Shares subject to the RSUs and the Fair Market Value of the withheld Shares, determined as of the date when taxes otherwise would have been withheld in cash, will be applied to the Withholding Taxes and such amount will be remitted to appropriate tax authorities by the Company or Participant’s Employer. The Company will not withhold fractional shares pursuant to clause (iv), so if the Withholding Taxes are satisfied pursuant to clause (iv), Participant hereby authorizes the Company or Participant’s Employer to withhold the amount of any remaining Withholding Taxes from Participant’s wages or other cash compensation.

(b)    U.S. Tax Residents. Additional terms set forth on the appendix “Special Provisions Applicable to U.S. Tax Residents” shall apply to any Participant who is a resident of the United States for purposes of U.S. taxation.

(c)    Acknowledgements. Participant acknowledges that there will be tax consequences upon vesting and/or settlement of the RSUs and/or disposition of the Shares, if any, received hereunder, and Participant should consult a tax advisor regarding Participant’s tax obligations prior to such event. Participant acknowledges that the Company is not providing any tax, legal, or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding Participant’s participation in the Plan or acquisition or sale of Shares subject to this award. Participant is hereby advised to consult with Participant’s own personal tax, legal, and financial advisors regarding Participant’s participation in the Plan. Participant further acknowledges that the Company (i) makes no representations or undertakings regarding the tax treatment of the

 

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award of RSUs, including, but not limited to the grant, vesting, or settlement of the RSUs, the subsequent sale of Shares acquired pursuant to such RSUs, and the receipt of any dividends; and (ii) does not commit to and is under no obligation to structure the terms of the grant of the RSUs to reduce or eliminate Participant’s tax liability or achieve any particular tax result. Participant agrees that the Company does not have a duty to design or administer the RSUs, the Plan or its other compensation programs in a manner that minimizes Participant’s tax liability. Participant shall not make any claim against the Company or its Board of Directors, officers, or employees related to tax matters arising from this award or Participant’s other compensation.

 

SECTION 6.

RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.

(a)    Right of First Refusal. In the event that Participant proposes to sell, pledge or otherwise transfer to a third party any Shares acquired under this Agreement, or any interest in such Shares, the Company shall have the Right of First Refusal with respect to all (and not less than all) of such Shares. If Participant desires to transfer Shares acquired under this Agreement, Participant must give a written Transfer Notice to the Company describing fully the proposed transfer, including the number of Shares proposed to be transferred, the proposed transfer price, the name and address of the proposed Transferee and proof satisfactory to the Company that the proposed sale or transfer will not violate any applicable federal, state or foreign securities laws. The Transfer Notice shall be signed both by Participant and by the proposed Transferee and must constitute a binding commitment of both parties to the transfer of the Shares. The Company shall have the right to purchase all, and not less than all, of the Shares on the terms of the proposal described in the Transfer Notice (subject, however, to any change in such terms permitted under Section 6(b) below) by delivery of a notice of exercise of the Right of First Refusal within 30 days after the date when the Transfer Notice was received by the Company.

(b)    Transfer of Shares. If the Company fails to exercise its Right of First Refusal within 30 days after the date when it received the Transfer Notice, Participant may, not later than 90 days following receipt of the Transfer Notice by the Company, conclude a transfer of the Shares subject to the Transfer Notice on the terms and conditions described in the Transfer Notice, provided that any such sale is made in compliance with applicable federal, State and foreign securities laws and not in violation of any other contractual restrictions to which Participant is bound. Any proposed transfer on terms and conditions different from those described in the Transfer Notice, as well as any subsequent proposed transfer by Participant, shall again be subject to the Right of First Refusal and shall require compliance with the procedure described in Section 6(a) above. If the Company exercises its Right of First Refusal, the parties shall consummate the sale of the Shares on the terms set forth in the Transfer Notice within 60 days after the date when the Company received the Transfer Notice (or within such longer period as may have been specified in the Transfer Notice); provided, however, that in the event the Transfer Notice provided that payment for the Shares was to be made in a form other than cash or cash equivalents paid at the time of transfer, the Company shall have the option of paying for the Shares with cash or cash equivalents equal to the present value of the consideration described in the Transfer Notice.

 

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(c)    Additional or Exchanged Securities and Property. In the event of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity, any other corporate reorganization, a share split, the declaration of a share dividend, the declaration of an extraordinary dividend payable in a form other than share, a spin-off, an adjustment in conversion ratio, a recapitalization or a similar transaction affecting the Company’s outstanding securities, any securities or other property (including cash or cash equivalents) that are by reason of such transaction exchanged for, or distributed with respect to, any Shares subject to this Section 6 shall immediately be subject to the Right of First Refusal. Appropriate adjustments to reflect the exchange or distribution of such securities or property shall be made to the number and/or class of the Shares subject to this Section 6.

(d)    Termination of Right of First Refusal. Any other provision of this Section 6 notwithstanding, in the event that the Share is readily tradable on an established securities market when Participant desires to transfer Shares, the Company shall have no Right of First Refusal, and Participant shall have no obligation to comply with the procedures prescribed by Sections 6(a) and 6(b) above.

(e)    Permitted Transfers. This Section 6 shall not apply to (i) a transfer by beneficiary designation, will or intestate succession or (ii) a transfer to one or more members of the Participant’s Immediate Family or to a trust established by Participant for the benefit of Participant and/or one or more members of Participant’s Immediate Family, provided in either case that the Transferee agrees in writing on a form prescribed by the Company to be bound by all provisions of this Agreement. If Participant transfers any Shares acquired under this Agreement, either under this Section 6(e) or after the Company has failed to exercise the Right of First Refusal, then this Agreement shall apply to the Transferee to the same extent as to Participant.

(f)    Termination of Rights as Shareholder. If the Company makes available, at the time and place and in the amount and form provided in this Agreement, the consideration for the Shares to be purchased in accordance with this Section 6, then after such time the person from whom such Shares are to be purchased shall no longer have any rights as a holder of such Shares (other than the right to receive payment of such consideration in accordance with this Agreement). Such Shares shall be deemed to have been purchased in accordance with the applicable provisions hereof, whether or not the certificate(s) therefor have been delivered as required by this Agreement.

(g)    Assignment of Right of First Refusal. The Administrator may freely assign the Company’s Right of First Refusal, in whole or in part. Any person who accepts an assignment of the Right of First Refusal from the Company shall assume all of the Company’s rights and obligations under this Section 6.

 

SECTION 7.

RESTRICTIONS APPLICABLE TO SHARES.

(a)    Securities Law Restrictions. Regardless of whether the offering and sale of Shares under the Plan have been registered under the Securities Act or have been registered or qualified under the securities laws of any State, the Company, at its discretion, may impose

 

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restrictions upon the sale, pledge or other transfer of the Shares (including the placement of appropriate legends on share certificates or the imposition of stop-transfer instructions) if, in the judgment of the Company, such restrictions are necessary or desirable in order to achieve compliance with the Securities Act, the securities laws of any State or any other law. Participant (or the beneficiary or Participant’s personal representative in the event of Participant’s death or incapacity, as the case may be) shall deliver to the Company any representations or other documents or assurances as the Company may deem necessary or reasonably desirable to ensure compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

(b)    Market Stand-Off. In connection with any underwritten public offering by the Company of its equity securities pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, including the Company’s initial public offering, Participant or a Transferee shall not directly or indirectly sell, make any short sale of, loan, hypothecate, pledge, offer, grant or sell any option or other contract for the purchase of, purchase any option or other contract for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of or transfer, or agree to engage in any of the foregoing transactions with respect to, any Shares acquired under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Company or its managing underwriter. Such restriction (the “Market Stand-Off”) shall be in effect for such period of time following the date of the final prospectus for the offering as may be requested by the Company or such underwriter. In no event, however, shall such period exceed 180 days plus such additional period as may reasonably be requested by the Company or such underwriter to accommodate regulatory restrictions on (i) the publication or other distribution of research reports or (ii) analyst recommendations and opinions, including (without limitation) the restrictions set forth in Rule 2711(f)(4) of the National Association of Securities Dealers and Rule 472(f)(4) of the New York Stock Exchange, as amended, or any similar successor rules. The Market Stand-Off shall in any event terminate two years after the date of the Company’s initial public offering. In the event of the declaration of a share dividend, a spin-off, a share split, an adjustment in conversion ratio, a recapitalization or a similar transaction affecting the Company’s outstanding securities without receipt of consideration, any new, substituted or additional securities which are by reason of such transaction distributed with respect to any Shares subject to the Market Stand-Off, or into which such Shares thereby become convertible, shall immediately be subject to the Market Stand-Off. In order to enforce the Market Stand-Off, the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the Shares acquired under this Agreement until the end of the applicable stand-off period. The Company’s underwriters shall be beneficiaries of the agreement set forth in this Section 7(b). This Section 7(b) shall not apply to Shares registered in the public offering under the Securities Act.

(c)    Investment Intent at Grant. Participant represents and agrees that the Shares to be acquired upon settlement of the RSUs will be acquired for investment, and not with a view to the sale or distribution thereof.

(d)    Investment Intent at Settlement. In the event that the sale of Shares under the Plan is not registered under the Securities Act but an exemption is available that requires an investment representation or other representation, Participant shall represent and agree at the time of issuance that the Shares being acquired upon settlement of the RSUs are being acquired for investment, and not with a view to the sale or distribution thereof, and shall

 

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make such other representations as are deemed necessary or appropriate by the Company and its counsel.

(e)    Rights of the Company. The Company shall not be required to (i) transfer on its books any Shares that have been sold or transferred in contravention of this Agreement or (ii) treat as the owner of Shares, or otherwise to accord voting, dividend or liquidation rights to, any Transferee to whom the Shares have been transferred in contravention of this Agreement.

(f)    Legends. All certificates evidencing the Shares issued under this Agreement shall bear the following legend:

“THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY NOT BE SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, ENCUMBERED OR IN ANY MANNER DISPOSED OF, EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF A WRITTEN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THE SHARES (OR THE PREDECESSOR IN INTEREST TO THE SHARES). SUCH AGREEMENT GRANTS TO THE COMPANY CERTAIN RIGHTS OF FIRST REFUSAL UPON AN ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THE SHARES. THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY WILL UPON WRITTEN REQUEST FURNISH A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT TO THE HOLDER HEREOF WITHOUT CHARGE.”

All certificates evidencing Shares issued under this Agreement in an unregistered transaction shall bear the following legend (and such other restrictive legends as are required or deemed advisable under the provisions of any applicable law):

“THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION THEREOF UNDER SUCH ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY AND ITS COUNSEL, THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.”

If required by the authorities of any State in connection with the issuance of the Shares, the legend or legends required by such State authorities shall also be endorsed on all such certificates.

(g)    Removal of Legends. If, in the opinion of the Company and its counsel, any legend placed on a share certificate representing Shares issued under this Agreement is no longer required, the holder of such certificate shall be entitled to exchange such certificate for a certificate representing the same number of Shares but without such legend.

(h)    Administration. Any determination by the Company and its counsel in connection with any of the matters set forth in this Section 7 shall be conclusive and binding on Participant and all other persons.

 

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SECTION 8.

ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES.

In the event of any transaction described in Section 9(a) of the Plan, the terms of the RSUs (including, without limitation, the number and kind of shares subject to these RSUs) shall be subject to Section 9(a) of the Plan. In the event that the Company is party to certain corporate transactions, the RSUs shall be subject to Section 9(b) of the Plan. Any additional RSUs and any new, substituted or additional shares, cash or other property that become subject to this award as a result of any such transaction shall be subject to the same conditions and restrictions as applicable to the RSUs to which they relate.

 

SECTION 9.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

(a)    Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided to the contrary, the provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the Company and its successors and assigns and be binding upon Participant and Participant’s legal representatives, heirs, legatees, distributees, assigns and transferees by operation of law, whether or not any such person has become a party to this Agreement or has agreed in writing to join herein and to be bound by the terms, conditions and restrictions hereof.

(b)    No Retention Rights. Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon Participant the right to remain in Service in any capacity or for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining Participant) or Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate Participant’s Service at any time and for any reason, with or without cause.

(c)    Notice. Any notice required by the terms of this Agreement shall be given in writing. It shall be deemed effective upon (i) personal delivery, (ii) deposit with the United States Postal Service, by registered or certified mail, with postage and fees prepaid or (iii) deposit with a reputable overnight courier, with shipping charges prepaid. Notice shall be addressed to the Company at its principal executive office and to Participant at the address that Participant most recently provided to the Company in accordance with this Section 9(c).

(d)    Effect on Other Employee Benefit Plans. The value of the RSUs and the Shares issuable thereunder shall not be included as compensation, earnings, salaries, or other similar terms used when calculating benefits under any employee benefit plan (other than the Plan) sponsored by the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary, except as such plans otherwise expressly provide.

(e)    Entire Agreement. The Notice of Restricted Share Unit Award, this Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire understanding between Participant and the Company regarding the subject matter hereof. They supersede any other agreements, representations or understandings (whether oral or written and whether express or implied) that relate to the subject matter hereof.

 

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(f)    Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of Cayman Islands, as such laws are applied to contracts entered into and performed in such jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 10.

DEFINITIONS.

(a)    “Administrator” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted from time to time or, if a Committee has been appointed, such Committee, all as described in Section 2 of the Plan.

(b)    “Agreement” shall mean this Restricted Share Unit Agreement.

(c)    “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(d)    “Committee” shall mean a committee of the Board of Directors,

(e)    “Company” shall mean Tusimple (Cayman) Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of Cayman Islands.

(f)    “Consultant” shall mean a person who performs bona fide services for the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary as a consultant or advisor, excluding Employees and Outside Directors.

(g)    “Date of Grant” shall mean the date specified in the Notice of Restricted Share Unit Award.

(h)    “Employee” shall mean any individual who is an employee of the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary.

(i)    “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(j)    “Expiration Date” shall mean the expiration date of the RSUs as set forth in the Notice of Restricted Share Unit Award.

(k)    “Fair Market Value” shall mean the fair market value of a Share, as determined by the Administrator in accordance with applicable laws. Such determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

(l)    “Immediate Family” shall mean any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law and shall include adoptive relationships.

(m)    “IPO” shall mean the consummation of an initial public offering in which Shares are offered and sold in an underwritten public offering and subsequently listed and traded on a major stock exchange or securities market (such as The Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange).

 

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(n)    “Outside Director” shall mean a member of the Board of Directors who is not an Employee.

(o)    “Parent” shall mean any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company, if each of the corporations other than the Company owns share possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of share in one of the other corporations in such chain. A corporation that attains the status of a Parent on a date after the adoption of the Plan shall be considered a Parent commencing as of such date.

(p)    “Plan” shall mean the Tusimple (Cayman) Limited 2017 Share Plan, as amended from time to time.

(q)    “Right of First Refusal” shall mean the Company’s right of first refusal described in Section 6.

(r)    “RSUs” shall mean the Restricted Share Units granted to Participant by the Company as set forth in the Notice of Restricted Share Unit Award.

(s)    “SAFE 7” shall mean the Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Issues concerning the Administration of Foreign Exchange Used for Domestic Individuals’ Participation in Equity Incentive Plans of Companies Listed Overseas promulgated by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the People’s Republic of China and effective as of February 15, 2012.

(t)    “SAFE 37” shall mean the Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Residents to Engage in Overseas Financing and Round Trip Investment via Special Purpose Companies issued by SAFE on July 4, 2014.

(u)    “Sale Event” means the consummation of the following transactions in which holders of Shares receive cash or marketable securities tradable on an established national or foreign securities exchange: (i) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company determined on a consolidated basis to an unrelated person or entity; (ii) a merger, reorganization, or consolidation involving the Company in which the voting shares of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such transaction represent or are converted into or exchanged for securities of the surviving or resulting entity immediately upon completion of such transaction which represent less than 50% of the outstanding voting power of such surviving or resulting entity; or (iii) the acquisition of all or a majority of the outstanding voting share of the Company in a single transaction or series of related transactions by a person or group of persons. For the avoidance of doubt, an initial public offering, any subsequent public offering, another capital raising event, and a merger effected solely to change the Company’s domicile shall not constitute a “Sale Event.” In addition, a transaction shall not constitute a Sale Event unless such transaction also qualifies as an event under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(v) (change in the ownership of a corporation), Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(vi)

 

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(change in the effective control of a corporation), or Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(vii) (change in the ownership of a substantial portion of a corporation’s assets).

(v)    “Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(w)    “Service” shall mean service as an Employee, Consultant or Outside Director, as described more fully in the Plan. Continuous Service means that the Participant’s service with the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary, whether as an Employee, Consultant or Outside Director, is not interrupted or terminated. A change in the capacity in which the Participant renders service to the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary as an Employee, Consultant or Outside Director or a change in the entity for which the Participant renders such service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s service with the Company, Parent or Subsidiary, will not terminate a Participant’s continuous Service; provided, however, that if the entity for which a Participant is rendering services ceases to qualify as a Parent or Subsidiary, as determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, such Participant’s continuous Service will be considered to have terminated on the date such entity ceases to qualify as a Parent or Subsidiary.

(x)    “Share” shall mean one ordinary share of the Company, as adjusted in accordance with Section 9 of the Plan (if applicable).

(y)    “Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation entity (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain or corporations beginning with the Company, if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns share possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of share in one of the other corporations in such chain. A corporation that attains the status of a Subsidiary on a date after the adoption of the Plan shall be considered a Subsidiary commencing as of such date.

(z)    “Time-Based Requirement” shall mean the requirement to provide Service over the period of time set forth in the Notice of Restricted Share Unit Award.

(aa)    “Transferee” shall mean any person to whom Participant has directly or indirectly transferred any Shares acquired under this Agreement.

(bb)    “Transfer Notice” shall mean the notice of a proposed transfer of Shares described in Section 6.

(cc)    “Vesting Date” shall mean the first date on or before the Expiration Date upon which both the Time-Based Requirement and the Liquidity Event Requirement are satisfied.

 

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APPENDIX

SPECIAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO U.S. TAX RESIDENTS

1.    The settlement of the RSUs is intended to be exempt from the application of Code Section 409A pursuant to the “short-term deferral exemption” in Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(b)(4) and shall be administered and interpreted in a manner that complies with such exemption.    To the extent that any provision of this Agreement is ambiguous as to its exemption from Code Section 409A, the provision shall be read in such a manner so that all payments hereunder are exempt from Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if this award of RSUs is interpreted as not being exempt from Code Section 409A, it shall be interpreted to comply with the requirement of Code Section 409A so that this award is not subject to additional tax or interest under Code Section 409A. In this regard, if this award is payable upon Participant’s “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) (a “Separation”) and Participant is a “specified employee” of the Company or any affiliate thereof within the meaning of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) on the day of Participant’s Separation, then no such payment shall be made prior to the date that is the earlier of (i) six months and one day after Participant’s Separation, or (ii) Participant’s death, but only to the extent such delay is necessary so that this award is not subject to additional tax or interest under Code Section 409A.

2.    In the event that the Company is party to certain corporate transactions, the RSUs shall be subject to Section 9(b) of the Plan, provided that any action taken must either preserve the exemption of the RSUs from Code Section 409A or comply with Code Section 409A.


EXHIBIT A


TUSIMPLE (CAYMAN) LIMITED

2017 SHARE PLAN

NOTICE OF SHARE VALUE AWARD

You (“Participant”) have been granted Other Awards in the form of Share Value Awards (“SVAs”) of Tusimple (Cayman) Limited (the “Company”) on the following terms. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Company’s 2017 Share Plan, as amended (the “Plan”) or the Share Value Award Agreement attached hereto.

 

Name:   

 

Total Number of SVAs Granted:   

 

Date of Grant:   

 

Expiration Date:    the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Date of Grant specified above
Vesting Commencement Date:   

 

Vesting:    Participant will receive a benefit with respect to an SVA only if it vests. In order for an SVA to vest, two vesting requirements must be both satisfied before the Expiration Date specified above (or earlier termination of the SVAs pursuant to the Share Value Award Agreement or the Plan): (i) the Time-Based Requirement and (ii) the Liquidity Event Requirement. If both the Time-Based Requirement and the Liquidity Event Requirement are satisfied before the Expiration Date, the Initial Vesting Date of an SVA will be the first date upon which both of those requirements are satisfied with respect to that particular SVA.
Time-Based Requirement:    The Time-Based Requirement will be satisfied in installments as to [(i)                     % of the Total Number of SVAs Granted when the Participant completes                     months of continuous Service from the Vesting Commencement Date, (ii) an additional                     % of the Total Number of SVAs Granted when the Participant completes                      months of continuous


   Service from the Vesting Commencement Date, and (iii) an additional                     % of the Total Number of SVAs Granted when the Participant completes                     months of continuous Service from the Vesting Commencement Date], subject to Section 2 of the Share Value Award Agreement. In the event of termination of continuous Service for any reason, all further vesting related to the Time-Based Requirement shall immediately cease and any unvested SVAs that have not met the Time-Based Requirement will be terminated pursuant to Section 2 of the Share Value Award Agreement. In addition, in the event of termination of Participant’s continuous Service for Cause prior to the satisfaction of the Liquidity Event Requirement, all SVAs, regardless of whether or not they have met the Time-Based Requirement, will automatically terminate and be cancelled without consideration effective upon such termination of Service pursuant to Section 2 of the Share Value Award Agreement.
Liquidity Event Requirement:    The Liquidity Event Requirement will be satisfied (as to any then-outstanding SVAs that have not theretofore been terminated pursuant to Section 2 of the Share Value Award Agreement) upon the earlier to occur of (i) an IPO or (ii) a Sale Event (each, a “Liquidity Event”).
Settlement:    Settlement of SVAs refers to the issuance or payment, as applicable, of the Settlement Consideration after the award is vested. Settlement shall occur on or following the Vesting Date, but not later than two and one-half (212) months following the end of the year in which the Vesting Date applicable to an SVA occurs (the last day of such two and one-half month period is referred to as the “Short Term Deferral End Date”). Notwithstanding the above, settlement of SVAs that become vested SVAs upon an IPO shall occur on the earlier of (a) the 185th day following the IPO Date or (b) the Short Term Deferral End Date.

 

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By Participant’s acceptance hereof (whether written, electronic or otherwise), the Participant and the Company agree that the SVAs are granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan and the Share Value Award Agreement, both of which have been provided to the Participant for review and are made a part of this document. The SVAs constitute an Other Award pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan and this Notice of Share Value Award, together with the Share Value Award Agreement, constitute an Other Award Agreement as defined in the Plan. Participant hereby acknowledges that the vesting of the SVAs pursuant to this Notice of Share Value Award is conditioned on the satisfaction of the Time-Based Requirement and the Liquidity Event Requirement before the Expiration Date (or earlier termination of the SVAs pursuant to the Share Value Award Agreement or the Plan). Participant shall have no right with respect to (i) the SVAs to the extent a Liquidity Event does not occur before the Expiration Date (regardless of the extent to which the Time-Based Requirement is satisfied) or (ii) any and all SVAs, regardless of whether or not they have met the Time-Based Requirement, in the event of termination of Participant’s continuous Service for Cause prior to satisfaction of the Liquidity Event Requirement.

Participant acknowledges that there may be adverse tax consequences as a result of the SVAs (including upon grant, vesting and/or settlement of the SVAs or, if applicable, disposition of the Shares) and that Participant should consult a tax adviser about the taxation of the SVAs. Participant agrees and acknowledges that the Time-Based Requirement may change prospectively in the event that Participant’s Service status changes between full- and part-time status or Participant goes on a leave of absence in accordance with Section 2(d) of the Share Value Award Agreement.

Participant further agrees to accept by email or other electronic method all documents relating to the Company, the Plan or these SVAs and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to its security holders (including, without limitation, disclosures that may be required by the Securities and Exchange Commission). Participant also agrees that the Company may deliver these documents by posting them on a website maintained by the Company or by a third party under contract with the Company. If the Company posts these documents on a website, it will notify Participant by email. Participant acknowledges that he or she may incur costs in connection with electronic delivery, including the cost of accessing the internet and printing fees, and that an interruption of internet access may interfere with Participant’s ability to access the documents.

PARTICIPANT AGREES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE SVAS ARE GRANTED IN FULL SATISFACTION OF ANY AND ALL OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY TO GRANT TO PARTICIPANT ANY EQUITY AWARD THAT MAY HAVE BEEN SET FORTH IN ANY EMPLOYMENT OFFER LETTER OR OTHER AGREEMENT, WHETHER WRITTEN OR ORAL, BETWEEN THE PARTIES PRECEDING THE DATE OF GRANT SET FORTH ABOVE, [OTHER THAN THAT CERTAIN [OPTION] GRANTED TO PARTICIPANT UNDER THE PLAN ON [DATE] (THE “PRIOR GRANT”)], AND THAT NEITHER THE COMPANY NOR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, PARENTS, DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, AFFILIATES OR SHAREHOLDERS HAS ANY OBLIGATION TO GRANT OR

 

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OTHERWISE ISSUE ANY SHARES, OPTIONS, RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS, SHARE VALUE AWARDS, OTHER AWARDS OR ANY OTHER EQUITY INTEREST (OR SECURITIES CONVERTIBLE INTO OR EXERCISABLE OR SETTLEABLE FOR ANY EQUITY INTEREST) OF THE COMPANY OR ANY OTHER RIGHTS TO PURCHASE OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY EQUITY INTEREST OF THE COMPANY TO PARTICIPANT OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH IN THE SHARE VALUE AWARD AGREEMENT TO WHICH THIS NOTICE OF SHARE VALUE AWARD AGREEMENT RELATES[ AND OTHER THAN AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN ANY AWARD AGREEMENT BETWEEN PARTICIPANT AND THE COMPANY (OR A PARENT OR SUBSIDIARY OF THE COMPANY, IF APPLICABLE) GOVERNING THE PRIOR GRANT].

 

PARTICIPANT:      TUSIMPLE (CAYMAN) LIMITED  

 

     By:  

 

 
Address for Mailing Share Certificate, if applicable:      Title:  

                                                             

 

 

        

 

        

 

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TUSIMPLE (CAYMAN) LIMITED

2017 SHARE PLAN

SHARE VALUE AWARD AGREEMENT

 

SECTION 1.

GRANT OF SHARE VALUE AWARDS.

(a)    Grant. On the terms and conditions set forth in the Notice of Share Value Award and this Agreement, the Company grants to Participant on the Date of Grant the number of SVAs set forth in the Notice of Share Value Award. Each SVA represents the right to receive the Settlement Consideration on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

(b)    Consideration. No payment is required for the SVAs that have been granted to Participant.

(c)    Nature of SVAs; No Rights As a Shareholder. The SVAs are mere bookkeeping entries and represent only the Company’s unfunded and unsecured promise to issue or pay, as applicable, the Settlement Consideration on a future date under specified conditions. As a holder of SVAs, Participant has no rights other than the rights of a general creditor of the Company. The SVAs carry neither voting rights nor rights to dividends or dividend equivalents. Participant has no rights as a shareholder of the Company unless and until the SVAs vest and are settled for Shares pursuant to Section 4.

(d)    Share Plan and Defined Terms. The SVAs are granted pursuant to the Plan, a copy of which Participant acknowledges having reviewed. The provisions of the Plan are incorporated into this Agreement by this reference. Capitalized terms are defined in Section 10 of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 2.

VESTING.

(a)    Generally. The SVAs vest in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in the Notice of Share Value Award. Participant will receive a benefit with respect to an SVA only if both the Time-Based Requirement and the Liquidity Event Requirement are satisfied before the Expiration Date (or earlier termination of the SVAs pursuant to this Agreement or the Plan). The SVAs will not vest (in whole or in part) if only one (or if neither) of such requirements is satisfied before the Expiration Date (or earlier termination of the SVAs pursuant to this Agreement or the Plan). The SVAs will not vest (in whole or in part) if the Participant’s continuous Service is terminated for Cause prior to satisfaction of the Liquidity Event Requirement.

(b)    Termination of Service.

 

  (i)

Termination of Service.


  If Participant’s continuous Service terminates for any reason, whether prior to, on or following satisfaction of the Liquidity Event Requirement, all SVAs as to which the Time-Based Requirement has not been satisfied as of Participant’s termination date shall automatically terminate and be cancelled without consideration and all of Participant’s rights with respect to such SVAs, including any Settlement Consideration in respect thereof, shall immediately terminate. Participant will not satisfy the Time-Based Requirement for any additional SVAs after Participant’s continuous Service has terminated, regardless of the reason for such termination. In the event of a termination of Service prior to satisfaction of the Liquidity Event Requirement for any reason other than for Cause, any SVAs that have satisfied the Time-Based Requirement as of the effective date of such termination shall remain outstanding until the day immediately prior to the Expiration Date (or earlier termination of the SVAs pursuant to this Agreement or the Plan) or, if earlier, settlement of all such SVAs that have satisfied the Time-Based Requirement upon satisfaction of the Liquidity Event Requirement, and such SVAs will vest only if the Liquidity Event Requirement is satisfied prior to the Expiration Date (or earlier termination of the SVAs pursuant to this Agreement or the Plan).

In addition, if Participant’s continuous Service terminates for Cause prior to satisfaction of the Liquidity Event Requirement, all SVAs subject to this award shall automatically terminate and be cancelled without consideration and all of Participant’s rights with respect to such SVAs, including any Settlement Consideration in respect thereof, shall immediately terminate effective upon such termination for Cause. Participant shall have no opportunity to vest with respect to any of the SVAs subject to this award in the event of Participant’s termination of continuous Service for Cause.

 

  (ii)

Disputes. In case of any dispute as to whether Participant’s continuous Service has terminated, the Administrator shall have sole discretion to determine whether such termination has occurred, whether the termination is for Cause or other than for Cause and the effective date of such termination.

(c)    Expiration of SVAs. If the Liquidity Event Requirement is not satisfied before the Expiration Date, all SVAs that have not already terminated by their terms (regardless of whether or not, or to the extent which, the Time-Based Requirement had been satisfied as to

 

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such SVAs) shall automatically terminate upon such date. Upon a termination of one or more SVAs pursuant to this Section 2, Participant will have no further right with respect to such SVAs, including any Settlement Consideration in respect thereof.

(d)    Part-Time Employment and Leaves of Absence. If Participant commences working on a part-time basis, then the Company may adjust the Time-Based Requirement set forth in the Notice of Share Value Award. If Participant goes on a leave of absence, then the Company may adjust the Time-Based Requirement set forth in the Notice of Share Value Award in accordance with the Company’s leave of absence policy or the terms of such leave. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, Service shall be deemed to continue for any purpose under this Agreement while Participant is on a bona fide leave of absence, if (i) such leave was approved by the Company in writing and (ii) continued crediting of Service for such purpose is expressly required by the terms of such leave or by applicable law (as determined by the Company). Continuous Service shall be deemed to terminate when such leave ends, unless Participant immediately returns to active Service.

 

SECTION 3.

RESTRICTIONS APPLICABLE TO SVAS.

(a)    Restrictions on Transfer. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the SVAs and the rights and privileges conferred hereby shall not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, or otherwise disposed of by Participant prior to the settlement of the SVAs. However, Participant may designate a third party who, in the event of Participant’s death, shall thereafter be entitled to receive any distribution of Settlement Consideration to which Participant was entitled at the time of Participant’s death pursuant to this Agreement by delivering a written beneficiary designation to the Company’s headquarters on the prescribed form. If Participant delivers no such beneficiary designation or if Participant’s designated beneficiaries do not survive Participant, Participant’s estate will receive payments in respect of any vested SVAs.

(b)    Forfeiture of SVAs. In connection with the SVAs, the Company may be required to provide Participant with certain highly confidential information about the Company, including information regarding its financial condition and business prospects. Unauthorized disclosure of such information is prohibited under Participant’s existing Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement with the Company and under Company policy, and Participant may be required to sign an additional nondisclosure agreement prior to receiving this type of information. In addition, unauthorized disclosure of the Company’s confidential information could result in the immediate forfeiture of the SVAs, including vested SVAs as well as termination of Participant’s continuous Service with the Company.

 

SECTION 4.

SETTLEMENT OF SVAS.

(a)    Settlement Date. The Company will deliver the Settlement Consideration for a given SVA on or following the Vesting Date, but not later than the Short-Term Deferral End Date (as defined in the Notice of Share Value Award Grant). Notwithstanding the above, for SVAs that become vested upon an IPO, settlement shall occur on the earlier of (i) the 185th day following the IPO Date or (ii) the Short-Term Deferral End Date. In the event that settlement

 

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is made in Shares, the Participant shall deliver to the Company, on the date of settlement, the executed proxy as set forth in Exhibit A.

(b)    Form of Delivery. The form of Settlement Consideration shall be determined by the Administrator in its sole and absolute discretion. If the Settlement Consideration is in Shares, the Shares shall be evidenced in a manner determined by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion (e.g., a Share certificate or electronic entry evidencing such shares).

(c)    Legality of Issuance.

(1)    To the extent the Settlement Consideration will be issued in Shares, no Shares shall be issued to Participant upon settlement of the SVAs unless and until the Company has determined that (i) Participant and the Company have taken any actions required to register the Shares under the Securities Act or to perfect an exemption from the registration requirements thereof; (ii) any applicable listing requirement of any stock exchange or other securities market on which Share is listed has been satisfied; and (iii) any other applicable provision of federal, state or foreign law has been satisfied, including the foreign exchange laws and regulations in the People’s Republic of China (if applicable). The Company shall have no liability to issue Shares in respect of the SVAs unless it is able to do so in compliance with applicable law.

(2)    To assure compliance with certain foreign exchange regulations in the People’s Republic of China, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, (i) prohibit the issuance of Shares in respect of the SVAs to PRC residents or nationals until after the Company (or one of its affiliates) has obtained approval from or completed filing or registration with the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”) with respect to the Plan (such approval, filing or registration, the “SAFE Approval”), (ii) require the exchange of proceeds from the sale of Shares into Renminbi at an exchange rate chosen by the Company, and/or (iii) deduct amounts from sale proceeds to cover expenses the Company incurs in connection with effecting such settlement, exchange or similar transaction. If SAFE Approval is obtained, the Company may establish additional rules and restrictions on the settlement of the SVAs including shortening the post-termination settlement periods (to the extent required or permitted by SAFE) and requiring the Participant to open a U.S. dollar bank account, and the Participant understands that there may be delays in receiving proceeds from the settlement and, if applicable, the sale of Shares due to SAFE requirements and due to fluctuations in the share price and/or applicable exchange rates the amount of proceeds ultimately distributed to a Participant may be more or less than the Fair Market Value of the shares on the date of settlement or the date the shares are issued. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY, IF THE ISSUANCE OF A SHARE UPON SETTLEMENT OF A GIVEN SVA IS, IN THE COMPANY’S SOLE DETERMINATION, PROHIBITED UNDER THE TERMS OF SAFE, THE COMPANY SHALL, IN ITS SOLE AND ABSOLUTE DISCRETION, DETERMINE WHETHER TO ISSUE THE SETTLEMENT CONSIDERATION IN CASH OR DECLINE TO SETTLE SUCH SVA AT ALL. TO THE EXTENT THE COMPANY DECLINES TO SETTLE SUCH SVA, SUCH SVA SHALL BE AUTOMATICALLY CANCELLED AND TERMINATED WITHOUT CONSIDERATION AND ALL OF PARTICIPANT’S

 

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RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO SUCH SVA, INCLUDING ANY SETTLEMENT CONSIDERATION IN RESPECT THEREOF, SHALL IMMEDIATELY TERMINATE EFFECTIVE UPON SUCH COMPANY DETERMINATION.

(3)    The inability of the Company to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by the Company to be necessary to the lawful issuance or payment of the Settlement Consideration hereunder will relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or pay the Settlement Consideration as to which such requisite authority will not have been obtained. As a condition to issuance or payment of any Settlement Consideration, the Company may require Participant to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Company.

(4)    Participant acknowledges and agrees that it is the Participant’s sole responsibility to investigate and comply with any applicable exchange control laws in connection with the issuance and delivery of the Shares, if any, pursuant to the settlement of the SVAs and that the Participant shall be responsible for any reporting of inbound and/or outbound international fund transfers required under applicable law, including without limitation SAFE 37 and SAFE 7 (if applicable). The Participant is advised to seek appropriate professional advice as to how the exchange control regulations apply to the Participant’s specific situation.

 

SECTION 5.

TAXES.

(a)    Withholding Taxes. Upon the Vesting Date and/or settlement date for the SVAs, as applicable, or any other taxable event in respect of the SVAs, the Settlement Consideration is treated as income subject to withholding by the Company and/or the Parent or Subsidiary employing Participant (Participant’s “Employer”) for the payment of all applicable federal, state, local and foreign income, social insurance, fringe benefit and employment withholding taxes which arise in connection with the vesting or settlement of the SVAs (the “Withholding Taxes”). No consideration will be paid to Participant in respect of this award unless Participant has made arrangements satisfactory to the Company and Participant’s Employer to satisfy the Withholding Taxes. To the extent that Participant fails to make such arrangements with respect to certain SVAs, then Participant will permanently forfeit such SVAs. At the discretion of the Company, these arrangements may include (i) withholding from compensation or amounts that are owed to Participant by the Company or Participant’s Employer (including but not limited to Settlement Consideration paid in cash or any other compensation or amounts that are owed to Participant by the Company or Participant’s Employer), (ii) payment in cash, including by check or wire, (iii) if Shares are publicly traded, payment from the proceeds of the sale of Shares through a Company-approved broker, (iv) withholding a number of Shares that otherwise would be issued to Participant when the SVAs are settled with a Fair Market Value up to the maximum statutory amount required to be withheld, or (v) any other method permitted by the Company; all under such rules as may be established by the Administrator and in compliance with the Company’s Insider Trading Policy and 10b5-1 Trading Plan Policy or similar policy or policies, if applicable. However, if Participant is a Company officer subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, then the Withholding Taxes will be satisfied pursuant to clause (ii) of the preceding

 

5


sentence if settlement is in cash or pursuant to clause (iv) of the preceding sentence if settlement is in Shares, unless otherwise determined in advance by the Administrator. If the Withholding Taxes are satisfied pursuant to clause (ii) or clause (iv), Participant will be deemed to have been issued the full amount of the cash Settlement Consideration or the full number of Shares subject to the Settlement Consideration, as applicable, and the withheld cash or the Fair Market Value of the withheld Shares determined as of the date when taxes otherwise would have been withheld in cash, as applicable, will be applied to the Withholding Taxes and such amount will be remitted to appropriate tax authorities by the Company or Participant’s Employer. The Company and Participant’s Employer will not withhold fractional shares pursuant to clause (iv), so if the Withholding Taxes are satisfied pursuant to clause (iv), Participant hereby authorizes the Company or Participant’s Employer to withhold the amount of any remaining Withholding Taxes from Participant’s wages or other cash compensation.

(b)    U.S. Tax Residents. Additional terms set forth on the appendix “Special Provisions Applicable to U.S. Tax Residents” shall apply to any Participant who is a resident of the United States for purposes of U.S. taxation.

(c)    Acknowledgements. Participant acknowledges that there will be tax consequences upon vesting and/or settlement of the SVAs and/or disposition of the Shares, if any, received hereunder, and Participant should consult a tax advisor regarding Participant’s tax obligations prior to such event. Regardless of any action the Company or Participant’s Employer takes with respect to any and all Withholding Taxes, Participant acknowledges that the ultimate liability for all Withholding Taxes and any and all other tax-related items legally due from Participant is and remains Participant’s responsibility. Participant acknowledges that Participant’s liability for Withholding Taxes may exceed any amounts actually withheld by the Company or Participant’s Employer. Participant acknowledges that the Company is not providing any tax, legal, or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding Participant’s participation in the Plan or acquisition or sale of Shares, if any, subject to this award. Participant is hereby advised to consult with Participant’s own personal tax, legal, and financial advisors regarding Participant’s participation in the Plan. Participant further acknowledges that the Company (i) makes no representations or undertakings regarding the tax treatment of the award of SVAs, including, but not limited to the grant, vesting, or settlement of the SVAs, the subsequent sale of Shares, if any, acquired pursuant to such SVAs, and the receipt of any dividends; and (ii) does not commit to and is under no obligation to structure the terms of the grant of the SVAs to reduce or eliminate Participant’s tax liability or achieve any particular tax result. Participant agrees that the Company does not have a duty to design or administer the SVAs, the Plan or its other compensation programs in a manner that minimizes Participant’s tax liability. Participant shall not make any claim against the Company or its Board of Directors, officers, or employees related to tax matters arising from this award or Participant’s other compensation.

 

SECTION 6.

RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.

(a)    Right of First Refusal. In the event that Participant proposes to sell, pledge or otherwise transfer to a third party any Shares acquired under this Agreement, or any interest in such Shares, the Company shall have the Right of First Refusal with respect to all (and

 

6


not less than all) of such Shares. If Participant desires to transfer Shares acquired under this Agreement, Participant must give a written Transfer Notice to the Company describing fully the proposed transfer, including the number of Shares proposed to be transferred, the proposed transfer price, the name and address of the proposed Transferee and proof satisfactory to the Company that the proposed sale or transfer will not violate any applicable federal, state or foreign securities laws. The Transfer Notice shall be signed both by Participant and by the proposed Transferee and must constitute a binding commitment of both parties to the transfer of the Shares. The Company shall have the right to purchase all, and not less than all, of the Shares on the terms of the proposal described in the Transfer Notice (subject, however, to any change in such terms permitted under Section 6(b) below) by delivery of a notice of exercise of the Right of First Refusal within 30 days after the date when the Transfer Notice was received by the Company.

(b)    Transfer of Shares. If the Company fails to exercise its Right of First Refusal within 30 days after the date when it received the Transfer Notice, Participant may, not later than 90 days following receipt of the Transfer Notice by the Company, conclude a transfer of the Shares subject to the Transfer Notice on the terms and conditions described in the Transfer Notice, provided that any such sale is made in compliance with applicable federal, state and foreign securities laws and not in violation of any other contractual restrictions to which Participant is bound. Any proposed transfer on terms and conditions different from those described in the Transfer Notice, as well as any subsequent proposed transfer by Participant, shall again be subject to the Right of First Refusal and shall require compliance with the procedure described in Section 6(a) above. If the Company exercises its Right of First Refusal, the parties shall consummate the sale of the Shares on the terms set forth in the Transfer Notice within 60 days after the date when the Company received the Transfer Notice (or within such longer period as may have been specified in the Transfer Notice); provided, however, that in the event the Transfer Notice provided that payment for the Shares was to be made in a form other than cash or cash equivalents paid at the time of transfer, the Company shall have the option of paying for the Shares with cash or cash equivalents equal to the present value of the consideration described in the Transfer Notice.

(c)    Additional or Exchanged Securities and Property. In the event of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity, any other corporate reorganization, a share split, the declaration of a share dividend, the declaration of an extraordinary dividend payable in a form other than shares, a spin-off, an adjustment in conversion ratio, a recapitalization or a similar transaction affecting the Company’s outstanding securities, any securities or other property (including cash or cash equivalents) that are by reason of such transaction exchanged for, or distributed with respect to, any Shares subject to this Section 6 shall immediately be subject to the Right of First Refusal. Appropriate adjustments to reflect the exchange or distribution of such securities or property shall be made to the number and/or class of the Shares subject to this Section 6.

(d)    Termination of Right of First Refusal. Any other provision of this Section 6 notwithstanding, in the event that the Shares are readily tradable on an established securities market when Participant desires to transfer Shares, the Company shall have no Right

 

7


of First Refusal, and Participant shall have no obligation to comply with the procedures prescribed by Sections 6(a) and 6(b) above.

(e)    Permitted Transfers. This Section 6 shall not apply to (i) a transfer by beneficiary designation, will or intestate succession or (ii) a transfer to one or more members of the Participant’s Immediate Family or to a trust established by Participant for the benefit of Participant and/or one or more members of Participant’s Immediate Family, provided in either case that the Transferee agrees in writing on a form prescribed by the Company to be bound by all provisions of this Agreement. If Participant transfers any Shares acquired under this Agreement, either under this Section 6(e) or after the Company has failed to exercise the Right of First Refusal, then this Agreement shall apply to the Transferee to the same extent as to Participant.

(f)    Termination of Rights as Shareholder. If the Company makes available, at the time and place and in the amount and form provided in this Agreement, the consideration for the Shares to be purchased in accordance with this Section 6, then after such time the person from whom such Shares are to be purchased shall no longer have any rights as a holder of such Shares (other than the right to receive payment of such consideration in accordance with this Agreement). Such Shares shall be deemed to have been purchased in accordance with the applicable provisions hereof, whether or not the certificate(s) therefor have been delivered as required by this Agreement.

(g)    Assignment of Right of First Refusal. The Administrator may freely assign the Company’s Right of First Refusal, in whole or in part. Any person who accepts an assignment of the Right of First Refusal from the Company shall assume all of the Company’s rights and obligations under this Section 6.

 

SECTION 7.

RESTRICTIONS APPLICABLE TO SHARES.

(a)    Securities Law Restrictions; Articles. Regardless of whether the offering and sale of Shares under the Plan have been registered under the Securities Act or have been registered or qualified under the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction, the Company, at its discretion, may impose restrictions upon the sale, pledge or other transfer of the Shares (including the placement of appropriate legends on share certificates or the imposition of stop-transfer instructions) if, in the judgment of the Company, such restrictions are necessary or desirable in order to achieve compliance with the Securities Act, the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction or any other law. Participant (or the beneficiary or Participant’s personal representative in the event of Participant’s death or incapacity, as the case may be) shall deliver to the Company any representations or other documents or assurances as the Company may deem necessary or reasonably desirable to ensure compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Any Shares acquired under this Agreement shall be subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Articles.

(b)    Market Stand-Off. In connection with any underwritten public offering by the Company of its equity securities pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, including the IPO, Participant or a Transferee shall not directly or indirectly

 

8


sell, make any short sale of, loan, hypothecate, pledge, offer, grant or sell any option or other contract for the purchase of, purchase any option or other contract for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of or transfer, or agree to engage in any of the foregoing transactions with respect to, any Shares acquired under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Company or its managing underwriter. Such restriction (the “Market Stand-Off”) shall be in effect for such period of time following the date of the final prospectus for the offering as may be requested by the Company or such underwriter. In no event, however, shall such period exceed 180 days plus such additional period as may reasonably be requested by the Company or such underwriter to accommodate regulatory restrictions on (i) the publication or other distribution of research reports or (ii) analyst recommendations and opinions, including (without limitation) the restrictions set forth in FINRA Rule 2241, or any similar successor rules. The Market Stand-Off shall in any event terminate two years after the date of the Company’s initial public offering. In the event of the declaration of a share dividend, a spin-off, a share split, an adjustment in conversion ratio, a recapitalization or a similar transaction affecting the Company’s outstanding securities without receipt of consideration, any new, substituted or additional securities which are by reason of such transaction distributed with respect to any Shares subject to the Market Stand-Off, or into which such Shares thereby become convertible, shall immediately be subject to the Market Stand-Off. In order to enforce the Market Stand-Off, the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the Shares acquired under this Agreement until the end of the applicable stand-off period. The Company’s underwriters shall be beneficiaries of the agreement set forth in this Section 7(b).

(c)    Investment Intent at Grant. Participant represents and agrees that Shares acquired upon settlement of the SVAs, if any, will be acquired for investment, and not with a view to the sale or distribution thereof.

(d)    Investment Intent at Settlement. In the event that any sale of Shares under the Plan is not registered under the Securities Act but an exemption is available that requires an investment representation or other representation, Participant shall represent and agree at the time of issuance that the Shares being acquired upon settlement of the SVAs, if any, are being acquired for investment, and not with a view to the sale or distribution thereof, and shall make such other representations as are deemed necessary or appropriate by the Company and its counsel.

(e)    Rights of the Company. The Company shall not be required to (i) transfer on its books any Shares that have been sold or transferred in contravention of this Agreement or (ii) treat as the owner of Shares, or otherwise to accord voting, dividend or liquidation rights to, any Transferee to whom the Shares have been transferred in contravention of this Agreement.

(f)    Legends.

(i)    General. All certificates evidencing the Shares issued under this Agreement, if any, shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Administrator may deem advisable under the Plan, this Agreement, the Articles, or the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange

 

9


Commission, any stock exchange upon which such shares of the Shares are listed, and any applicable federal, foreign or state laws, and the Administrator may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. The certificates representing the Shares issued hereunder, if any, shall bear the following legends, in addition to any other legends deemed advisable by the Administrator:

“THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY NOT BE SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, ENCUMBERED OR IN ANY MANNER DISPOSED OF, EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF A WRITTEN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THE SHARES (OR THE PREDECESSOR IN INTEREST TO THE SHARES). SUCH AGREEMENT GRANTS TO THE COMPANY CERTAIN RIGHTS OF FIRST REFUSAL UPON AN ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THE SHARES. THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY WILL UPON WRITTEN REQUEST FURNISH A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT TO THE HOLDER HEREOF WITHOUT CHARGE.”

“THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO A MARKET STAND-OFF RESTRICTION AS SET FORTH IN A WRITTEN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THE SHARES (OR THE PREDECESSOR IN INTEREST TO THE SHARES). AS A RESULT OF SUCH AGREEMENT, THESE SHARES MAY NOT BE TRADED PRIOR TO 180 DAYS (AND POSSIBLY LONGER) AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF CERTAIN PUBLIC OFFERINGS OF THE SHARES OF THE ISSUER HEREOF. SUCH RESTRICTION IS BINDING ON TRANSFEREES OF THESE SHARES. THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY WILL UPON WRITTEN REQUEST FURNISH A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT TO THE HOLDER HEREOF WITHOUT CHARGE.”

“THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER REQUIRING APPROVAL OF THE COMPANY PURSUANT TO AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMPANY’S ARTICLES AND MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION (THE “ARTICLES”). THE COMPANY SHALL NOT REGISTER OR OTHERWISE RECOGNIZE OR GIVE EFFECT TO ANY PURPORTED TRANSFER OF SHARES THAT DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE COMPANY’S ARTICLES. THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY WILL UPON WRITTEN REQUEST FURNISH A COPY OF THE ARTICLES TO THE HOLDER HEREOF WITHOUT CHARGE.”

(ii)    Unregistered Transaction. All certificates evidencing Shares issued under this Agreement in an unregistered transaction shall bear the following legend (and such other restrictive legends as are required or deemed advisable under the provisions of any applicable law):

 

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“THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND THE COMPANY DOES NOT INTEND TO REGISTER THEM. SUCH SHARES MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION THEREOF UNDER SUCH ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY AND ITS COUNSEL, THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.”

(iii)    Non-U.S. Participants; Regulation S. Participant understands and agrees that, if Participant’s country of residence is other than the United States, all certificates evidencing the Shares issued under this Agreement, if any, may bear the following legends:

“THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (“ THE ACT”) WITH THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND THE COMPANY DOES NOT INTEND TO REGISTER THEM.”

“PRIOR TO A DATE THAT IS ONE YEAR STARTING FROM THE DATE OF SALE OF THE SHARES, THE SHARES MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD (INCLUDING OPENING A SHORT POSITION IN SUCH SECURITIES) IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS AS DEFINED BY RULE 902(K) ADOPTED UNDER THE ACT, OTHER THAN TO DISTRIBUTORS, UNLESS THE SHARES ARE REGISTERED UNDER THE ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE ACT IS AVAILABLE. HOLDERS OF SHARES PRIOR TO ONE YEAR STARTING FROM THE DATE OF SALE OF THE SHARES MAY RESELL SUCH SHARES ONLY PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT OR OTHERWISE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF REGULATION S OF THE ACT, OR IN TRANSACTIONS EFFECTED OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES, PROVIDED THEY DO NOT SOLICIT (AND NO ONE ACTING ON THEIR BEHALF SOLICITS) PARTICIPANTS IN THE UNITED STATES OR OTHERWISE ENGAGE(S) IN SELLING EFFORTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND PROVIDED THAT HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THESE SHARES MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ACT.”

“A HOLDER OF THE SHARES WHO IS A DISTRIBUTOR, DEALER, SUB-UNDERWRITER OR OTHER SECURITIES PROFESSIONAL, IN ADDITION, CANNOT, PRIOR TO ONE YEAR STARTING FROM THE DATE OF SALE OF THE SHARES, RESELL THE SHARES TO A U.S. PERSON AS DEFINED BY RULE 902(K) OF REGULATION S UNLESS THE SHARES ARE REGISTERED UNDER THE ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT IS AVAILABLE.”

 

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(g)    Stop-Transfer Instructions. Participant agrees that, to ensure compliance with the restrictions imposed by this Agreement, the Company may issue appropriate “stop-transfer” instructions to its transfer agent, if any, and if the Company transfers its own securities, it may make appropriate notations to the same effect in its own records.

(h)    Refusal to Transfer. The Company will not be required (i) to transfer on its books any Shares that have been sold or otherwise transferred in violation of any of the provisions of this Agreement or in violation of the Articles or applicable law or (ii) to treat as owner of such Shares, or to accord the right to vote or pay dividends to any purchaser or other transferee to whom such Shares have been so transferred.

(i)    Removal of Legends. If, in the opinion of the Company and its counsel, any legend placed on a share certificate representing Shares issued under this Agreement is no longer required, the holder of such certificate shall be entitled to exchange such certificate for a certificate representing the same number of Shares but without such legend.

(j)    Administration. Any determination by the Company and its counsel in connection with any of the matters set forth in this Section 7 shall be conclusive and binding on Participant and all other persons.

 

SECTION 8.

ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES.

In the event of any transaction described in Section 10(a) of the Plan, the terms of the SVAs (including, without limitation, the number and kind of shares on which these SVAs are based) shall be subject to Section 10(a) of the Plan. In the event that the Company is party to certain corporate transactions, the SVAs shall be subject to Section 10(b) of the Plan. Any additional SVAs and any new, substituted or additional securities, cash or other property that become subject to this award as a result of any such transaction shall be subject to the same conditions and restrictions as applicable to the SVAs to which they relate.

 

SECTION 9.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

(a)    Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided to the contrary, the provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the Company and its successors and assigns and be binding upon Participant and Participant’s legal representatives, heirs, legatees, distributees, assigns and transferees by operation of law, whether or not any such person has become a party to this Agreement or has agreed in writing to join herein and to be bound by the terms, conditions and restrictions hereof.

(b)    No Retention Rights. Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon Participant the right to remain in Service in any capacity or for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining Participant) or Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate Participant’s Service at any time and for any reason, with or without Cause.

 

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(c)    Award Subject to Clawback or Recoupment. The SVAs shall be subject to clawback or recoupment pursuant to any compensation clawback or recoupment policy adopted by the Administrator or required by law during the term of Participant’s employment or other Service that is applicable to executive officers, employees, directors or other service providers of the Company, which, in addition to any other remedies available under such policy and applicable law, may require the cancellation of Participant’s SVAs (whether vested or unvested) and the recoupment of any gains realized with respect to Participant’s SVAs.

(d)    IPO on Non-U.S. Stock Exchange. If the IPO is undertaken in a jurisdiction other than the United States, then, for purposes of the Notice of Share Value Award, this Agreement and the Plan, any reference to the “Securities and Exchange Commission” shall include the relevant regulatory authority in such jurisdiction. “Securities Act”, “Exchange Act” and “Code” shall include applicable securities law, regulations and codes of practice in such jurisdiction and all references to United States statutes, laws, regulations, codes of practice, directives, policies or requirements shall, where appropriate, refer to the statutes, laws, regulations, codes of practice, directives, policies and requirements of such jurisdiction.

(e)    Translations. Participant acknowledges that he or she is sufficiently proficient in English to understand the terms and conditions of the Notice of Share Value Award, this Agreement and the Plan. If Participant has received the same or any other document related thereto translated into a language other than English and if the meaning of the translated version is different to the English version, the English version will control.

(f)    Insider Trading Restrictions/Market Abuse Laws. Participant acknowledges that, if and when the Shares are publicly listed on any stock exchange, depending on Participant’s country, Participant may be subject to insider trading restrictions and/or market abuse laws in applicable jurisdictions, which may affect Participant’s ability to directly or indirectly, accept, acquire, sell or attempt to sell or otherwise dispose of Shares or rights to the Shares, or rights linked to the value of Shares during such times as Participant is considered to have “inside information” regarding the Company (as defined by the laws and/or regulations in applicable jurisdictions or Participant’s country). Local insider trading laws and regulations may prohibit the cancellation or amendment of orders placed by Participant before possessing the inside information. Furthermore, Participant may be prohibited from (i) disclosing inside information to any third party, including fellow employees or other service providers (other than on a “need to know” basis) and (ii) “tipping” third parties or causing them to otherwise buy or sell securities. Any restrictions under these laws or regulations are separate from and in addition to any restrictions that may be imposed under any applicable Company insider trading policy. Participant acknowledges that it is Participant’s responsibility to comply with any applicable restrictions, and Participant is advised to speak to Participant’s personal advisor on this matter.

(g)    Foreign Asset/Account Reporting Requirements. Participant acknowledges that there may be certain foreign asset and/or account reporting requirements which may affect Participant’s ability to acquire or hold Shares acquired under the Plan, if any, or cash received from participating in the Plan in a brokerage account outside Participant’s country. Participant may also be required to repatriate sale proceeds or other funds received as a result of participating in the Plan to Participant’s country through a designated bank or broker

 

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within a certain time after receipt. It is Participant’s responsibility to be compliant with such regulations and Participant should speak with Participant’s personal advisor on this matter.

(h)    Notice. Any notice required by the terms of this Agreement shall be given in writing. It shall be deemed effective upon (i) personal delivery, (ii) at the time an electronic confirmation of receipt is received, if delivery is by email, (iii) for deliveries within the United States, deposit with the United States Postal Service, by registered or certified mail, with postage and fees prepaid, (iv) for deliveries outside the United States, deposit with the applicable jurisdiction’s official mail service, with postage and fees prepaid, or (v) deposit with a reputable overnight courier, with shipping charges prepaid. Notice shall be addressed to the Company at its principal executive office and to Participant at the address that Participant most recently provided to the Company in accordance with this Section 9(h).

(i)    Effect on Other Employee Benefit Plans. The value of the SVAs and the Settlement Consideration issuable in respect thereof, if any, shall not be included as compensation, earnings, salaries, or other similar terms used when calculating benefits under any employee benefit plan (other than the Plan) sponsored by the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary, except as such plans otherwise expressly provide.

(j)    Entire Agreement. The Notice of Share Value Award, this Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire understanding between Participant and the Company regarding the subject matter hereof. They supersede any other agreements, representations or understandings (whether oral or written and whether express or implied) that relate to the subject matter hereof.

(k)    Waiver. Participant acknowledges that a waiver by the Company of breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement, or of any subsequent breach by Participant or any other participant.

(l)    Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of Cayman Islands, as such laws are applied to contracts entered into and performed in such jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 10.

DEFINITIONS.

(a)    “Administrator” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted from time to time or, if a Committee has been appointed, such Committee, all as described in Section 2 of the Plan.

(b)    “Agreement” shall mean this Share Value Award Agreement, including any applicable terms in its appendices and exhibits.

(c)    “Articles” shall mean the Articles and Memorandum of Association of the Company, as in effect and as amended from time to time

 

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(d)    “Cause” means the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) conviction of a felony (or non-U.S. equivalent) or any crime involving moral turpitude by the Participant; (ii) the Participant’s participation in any fraud or act of dishonesty against the Company; (iii) the Participant’s persistent neglect of his or her job duties; (iv) the Participant’s material breach of any agreement entered into between the Participant and the Company (including but not limited to the Participant’s Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement or similar agreement with the Company); or (v) the Participant’s violation of the Company’s code of conduct or other written policy that causes harm to the Company; provided that, in the case of sections (iii) and (iv) in this definition, such conduct remains uncured after thirty (30) days’ written notice from the Company (which the Company only must provide if it deems such conduct curable in its sole and exclusive judgement and discretion). The determination whether a termination is for Cause shall be made by the Administrator in its sole and exclusive judgment and discretion. The term “Company” for purposes of this definition will be interpreted to include any Parent or Subsidiary (as defined in the Plan), as appropriate.

(e)    “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(f)    “Committee” shall mean a committee of the Board of Directors,

(g)    “Company” shall mean Tusimple (Cayman) Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of Cayman Islands.

(h)    “Consultant” shall mean a person who performs bona fide services for the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary as a consultant or advisor, excluding Employees and Outside Directors.

(i)    “Date of Grant” shall mean the date specified in the Notice of Share Value Award.

(j)    “Employee” shall mean any individual who is an employee of the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary.

(k)    “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(l)    “Expiration Date” shall mean the expiration date of the SVAs as set forth in the Notice of Share Value Award.

(m)    “Fair Market Value” shall mean the fair market value of a Share, as determined by the Administrator in accordance with applicable laws. Such determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

(n)    “Immediate Family” shall mean any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law and shall include adoptive relationships.

 

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(o)    “Initial Vesting Date” shall mean the first date before the Expiration Date upon which both the Time-Based Requirement and the Liquidity Event Requirement are satisfied.

(p)    “IPO” shall mean the first firm commitment underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement on an established national or foreign securities exchange covering the offer and sale by the Company of its equity securities, as a result of or following which the Shares shall be publicly held, and “IPO Date” shall mean the date on which the IPO occurs.

(q)    “Outside Director” shall mean a member of the Board of Directors who is not an Employee.

(r)    “Parent” shall mean any company (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of companies ending with the Company, if each of the companies other than the Company owns shares possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares in one of the other companies in such chain. A company that attains the status of a Parent on a date after the adoption of the Plan shall be considered a Parent commencing as of such date.

(s)    “Plan” shall mean the Tusimple (Cayman) Limited 2017 Share Plan, as amended from time to time.

(t)    “Right of First Refusal” shall mean the Company’s right of first refusal described in Section 6.

(u)    “SVAs” shall mean the Share Value Awards granted to Participant by the Company as set forth in the Notice of Share Value Award.

(v)    “SAFE 7” shall mean the Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Issues concerning the Administration of Foreign Exchange Used for Domestic Individuals’ Participation in Equity Incentive Plans of Companies Listed Overseas promulgated by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the People’s Republic of China and effective as of February 15, 2012.

(w)    “SAFE 37” shall mean the Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Residents to Engage in Overseas Financing and Round Trip Investment via Special Purpose Companies issued by SAFE on July 4, 2014.

(x)    “Sale Event” means the consummation of the following transactions in which holders of Shares receive cash or marketable securities tradable on an established national or foreign securities exchange: (i) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company determined on a consolidated basis to an unrelated person or entity; (ii) a merger, reorganization, or consolidation involving the Company in which the voting shares of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such transaction represent or are converted into or exchanged for securities of the surviving or resulting entity immediately upon completion of such transaction which

 

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represent less than 50% of the outstanding voting power of such surviving or resulting entity; or (iii) the acquisition of all or a majority of the outstanding voting shares of the Company in a single transaction or series of related transactions by a person or group of persons. For the avoidance of doubt, an initial public offering, any subsequent public offering, another capital raising event, and a merger effected solely to change the Company’s domicile shall not constitute a “Sale Event.” In addition, a transaction shall not constitute a Sale Event unless such transaction also qualifies as an event under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(v) (change in the ownership of a corporation), Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(vi) (change in the effective control of a corporation), or Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(vii) (change in the ownership of a substantial portion of a corporation’s assets).

(y)    “Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(z)    “Service” shall mean service as an Employee, Consultant or Outside Director, as described more fully in the Plan. Continuous Service means that the Participant’s service with the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary, whether as an Employee, Consultant or Outside Director, is not interrupted or terminated. A change in the capacity in which the Participant renders service to the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary as an Employee, Consultant or Outside Director or a change in the entity for which the Participant renders such service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s service with the Company, Parent or Subsidiary, will not terminate a Participant’s continuous Service; provided, however, that if the entity for which a Participant is rendering services ceases to qualify as a Parent or Subsidiary, as determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, such Participant’s continuous Service will be considered to have terminated on the date such entity ceases to qualify as a Parent or Subsidiary.

(aa)    “Settlement Consideration” shall mean:

 

  (i)

at the Initial Vesting Date, and subject to any Withholding Taxes, if Participant’s continuous Service terminated for any reason other than for Cause prior to the Initial Vesting Date and Participant has satisfied the Time-Based Requirement with respect to all or a portion of this award of SVAs: (a) a cash payment equal to the lesser of (I) the product of (x) the Fair Market Value of one Share as of the effective date of Participant’s termination of continuous Service times (y) the number of Shares subject to this award of SVAs that satisfy the Time-Based Requirement on the Initial Vesting Date, rounded down to the nearest cent, or (II) the product of (x) the Fair Market Value of one Share as of the Initial Vesting Date times (y) the number of Shares subject to this award of SVAs that satisfy the Time-Based Requirement on the Initial Vesting Date, rounded down to the nearest cent, or (b) delivery of a number of whole Shares equal to the lesser of (I) the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the product of (x) the Fair Market Value of one Share as of the effective date of Participant’s termination of

 

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  continuous Service times (y) the number of Shares subject to this award of SVAs that satisfy the Time-Based Requirement on the Initial Vesting Date by (2) the Fair Market Value of one Share as of the Initial Vesting Date, rounded down to the nearest whole Share, or (II) the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the product of (x) the Fair Market Value of one Share as of the Initial Vesting Date times (y) the number of Shares subject to this award of SVAs that satisfy the Time-Based Requirement on the Initial Vesting Date by (2) the Fair Market Value of one Share as of the Initial Vesting Date, rounded down to the nearest whole Share;

 

  (ii)

at the Initial Vesting Date, and subject to any Withholding Taxes, if Participant is in continuous Service as of the Initial Vesting Date and Participant has satisfied the Time-Based Requirement with respect to all or a portion of this award of SVAs: (a) a cash payment equal to (I) the Fair Market Value of one Share as of the Initial Vesting Date times (II) the number of Shares subject to this award of SVAs that satisfy the Time-Based Requirement on the Initial Vesting Date, rounded down to the nearest cent, or (b) delivery of one Share for each Share subject to this award of SVAs that satisfies the Time-Based Requirement on the Initial Vesting Date; and

 

  (iii)

at each Subsequent Vesting Date, and subject to any Withholding Taxes: (a) a cash payment equal to (I) the Fair Market Value of one Share as of the applicable Subsequent Vesting Date times (II) the number of Shares subject to this award of SVAs that satisfy the Time-Based Requirement on the applicable Subsequent Vesting Date, rounded down to the nearest cent, or (b) delivery of one Share for each Share subject to this award of SVAs that satisfies the Time-Based Requirement on the applicable Subsequent Vesting Date, in each case subject to, for the avoidance of doubt, Participant’s continuous Service through the applicable Subsequent Vesting Date. Such incremental entitlement to Settlement Consideration on each applicable Subsequent Vesting Date shall be in addition to (and without duplication of) any and all Settlement Consideration payable in respect of the Initial Vesting Date and all Subsequent Vesting Dates occurring prior to the applicable Subsequent Vesting Date (if any).

For purposes of this definition of “Settlement Consideration”, Fair Market Value that is determined as of the effective date of Participant’s termination of continuous Service shall be subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 10 of the Plan. The aggregate number of Shares issuable upon settlement of the SVA, if any, shall in no event exceed the Shares underlying the Total Number of SVAs Granted on the Notice of Share Value Award, as

 

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may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 10 of the Plan. The form of Settlement Consideration shall be determined by the Administrator in is sole and absolute discretion. The form of Settlement Consideration determined by the Administrator with respect to Participant need not be the same on any given Vesting Date and the Administrator need not provide for the same Settlement Consideration as among Participant and any other participants under the Plan.

(bb)    “Share” shall mean one ordinary share of the Company, as adjusted in accordance with Section 10 of the Plan (if applicable).

(cc)    “Subsequent Vesting Date” shall mean, with respect to a Participant who is in continuous Service as of the Initial Vesting Date, each vesting date that occurs pursuant to the Time-Based Requirement following the Initial Vesting Date.

(dd)    “Subsidiary” shall mean (i) any company (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of companies beginning with the Company, if each of the companies other than the last company in the unbroken chain owns shares possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares in one of the other companies in such chain, or (ii) any company whose assets, or portions thereof, are consolidated with the net earnings of the subject entity and are recorded on the books of the subject entity for financial reporting purposes in accordance with IFRS and/or PRC GAAP or any internationally recognized accounting standard; or (iii) any company with respect to which the subject entity has the power to otherwise direct the business and policies of that entity directly or indirectly through another subsidiary. A company that attains the status of a Subsidiary on a date after the adoption of the Plan shall be considered a Subsidiary commencing as of such date.

(ee)    “Time-Based Requirement” shall mean the requirement to provide continuous Service over the period of time set forth in the Notice of Share Value Award.

(ff)    “Transferee” shall mean any person to whom Participant has directly or indirectly transferred any Shares acquired under this Agreement.

(gg)    “Transfer Notice” shall mean the notice of a proposed transfer of Shares described in Section 6.

(hh)    “Vesting Date” shall mean, as applicable, (i) the Initial Vesting Date or (ii) any applicable Subsequent Vesting Date.

 

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APPENDIX

SPECIAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO U.S. TAX RESIDENTS

The settlement of the SVAs is intended to be exempt from the application of Code Section 409A pursuant to the “short-term deferral exemption” in Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(b)(4) and shall be administered and interpreted in a manner that complies with such exemption. To the extent that any provision of this Agreement is ambiguous as to its exemption from Code Section 409A, the provision shall be read in such a manner so that all payments hereunder are exempt from Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if this award of SVAs is interpreted as not being exempt from Code Section 409A, it shall be interpreted to comply with the requirement of Code Section 409A so that this award is not subject to additional tax or interest under Code Section 409A. In this regard, if this award is payable upon Participant’s “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) (a “Separation”) and Participant is a “specified employee” of the Company or any affiliate thereof within the meaning of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) on the day of Participant’s Separation, then no such payment shall be made prior to the date that is the earlier of (i) six months and one day after Participant’s Separation, or (ii) Participant’s death, but only to the extent such delay is necessary so that this award is not subject to additional tax or interest under Code Section 409A.


EXHIBIT A

Exhibit 10.14

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

2021 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

(AS ADOPTED ON MARCH 4, 2021)

 


TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

2021 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

ARTICLE 1. INTRODUCTION.

The Board adopted the Plan to become effective immediately, although no Awards may be granted prior to the IPO Date. The purpose of the Plan is to promote the long-term success of the Company and the creation of stockholder value by (a) encouraging Service Providers to focus on critical long-range corporate objectives, (b) encouraging the attraction and retention of Service Providers with exceptional qualifications and (c) linking Service Providers directly to stockholder interests through increased stock ownership. The Plan seeks to achieve this purpose by providing for Awards in the form of Options (which may be ISOs or NSOs), SARs, Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units, any of which may be structured as performance-based awards. Capitalized terms used in this Plan are defined in Article 14.

ARTICLE 2. ADMINISTRATION.

2.1 General. The Plan may be administered by the Board or one or more Committees to which the Board (or an authorized Board committee) has delegated authority. If administration is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall have the powers theretofore possessed by the Board, including, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the power to delegate to a subcommittee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to either the Board or the Administrator shall hereafter also encompass the Committee or subcommittee, as applicable). The Board may abolish the Committee’s delegation at any time and the Board shall at all times also retain the authority it has delegated to the Committee. The Administrator shall comply with rules and regulations applicable to it, including under the rules of any exchange on which the Common Shares are traded, and shall have the authority and be responsible for such functions as have been assigned to it.

2.2 Section 16. To the extent desirable to qualify transactions hereunder as exempt under Exchange Act Rule 16b-3, the transactions contemplated hereunder will be approved by the entire Board or a Committee of two or more “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Exchange Act Rule 16b-3.

2.3 Powers of Administrator. Subject to the terms of the Plan, and in the case of a Committee, subject to the specific duties delegated to the Committee, the Administrator shall have the authority to (a) select the Service Providers who are to receive Awards under the Plan, (b) determine the type, number, vesting requirements and other features and conditions of such Awards, (c) interpret the Plan and Awards granted under the Plan, (d) make, amend and rescind rules relating to the Plan and Awards granted under the Plan, including rules relating to sub-plans established for the purposes of satisfying applicable foreign laws or for qualifying for favorable tax treatment under applicable foreign laws, (e) impose such restrictions, conditions or limitations as it determines appropriate as to the timing and manner of any resales by a Participant of any Common Shares issued pursuant to an Award, including restrictions under an insider trading policy and restrictions as to the use of a specified brokerage firm for such resales, and (f) make all other decisions relating to the operation of the Plan and Awards granted under

 


the Plan. In addition, with regard to the terms and conditions of Awards granted to Service Providers outside of the United States or not subject to taxation under the laws of the United States, the Administrator may vary from the provisions of the Plan to the extent it determines it necessary and appropriate to do so, including, where applicable, varying from the requirements set forth in Articles 5.3 and 6.3.

2.4 Effect of Administrator’s Decisions. The Administrator’s decisions, determinations and interpretations shall be final and binding on all interested parties.

2.5 Governing Law. The Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware (except its choice-of-law provisions).

ARTICLE 3. SHARES AVAILABLE FOR GRANTS.

3.1 Basic Limitation. Common Shares issued pursuant to the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares. The aggregate number of Common Shares issued under the Plan shall not exceed the sum of (a) 20,134,146 Common Shares, plus (b) up to 20,180,166 Common Shares subject to awards granted under the Predecessor Plan that are outstanding on the IPO Date and that subsequently are forfeited, expire or lapse unexercised or unsettled and Common Shares issued pursuant to awards granted under the Predecessor Plan that are outstanding on the IPO Date and that are subsequently forfeited to or reacquired by the Company, and (c) the additional Common Shares described in Articles 3.2 and 3.3. The number of Common Shares that are subject to Awards outstanding at any time under the Plan may not exceed the number of Common Shares that then remain available for issuance under the Plan. The numerical limitations in this Article 3.1 shall be subject to adjustment pursuant to Article 9.

3.2 Annual Increase in Shares. In the event that the aggregate number of Common Shares that are available for issuance under the Plan as of the last day of a fiscal year is less than 5% of the Company Capitalization, then for the duration of the Plan (ending on and including January 1, 2031), on the first day of each fiscal year of the Company thereafter, the aggregate number of Common Shares that may be issued under the Plan shall automatically increase by a number of Common Shares equal to 2.5% of the Company Capitalization on the last day of the preceding fiscal year, or such other number of Common Shares as may be determined by the Board prior to the date of the automatic increase. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board retains the right in its sole discretion to forego an increase for any fiscal year following an annual review by the Board of the share reserve of the Plan.

3.3 Shares Returned to Reserve. To the extent that Options, SARs, Restricted Stock Units or other Awards are forfeited, cancelled or expire for any reason before being exercised or settled in full, the Common Shares subject to such Awards shall again become available for issuance under the Plan. If SARs are exercised or Restricted Stock Units are settled, then only the number of Common Shares (if any) actually issued to the Participant upon exercise of such SARs or settlement of such Restricted Stock Units, as applicable, shall reduce the number of Common Shares available under Article 3.1 and the balance shall again become available for issuance under the Plan. If Restricted Shares or Common Shares issued upon the exercise of Options are reacquired by the Company pursuant to a forfeiture provision, repurchase right or for any other reason, then such Common Shares shall again become available for issuance under the Plan. Common Shares applied to pay the Exercise Price of Options or to satisfy tax withholding obligations related to any Award shall again become available for

 

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issuance under the Plan (but such shares shall not again become available for issuance as ISOs). To the extent that an Award is settled in cash rather than Common Shares, the cash settlement shall not reduce the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan.

3.4 Awards Not Reducing Share Reserve. To the extent permitted under applicable exchange listing standards, any dividend equivalents paid or credited under the Plan with respect to Restricted Stock Units shall not be applied against the number of Common Shares that may be issued under the Plan, whether or not such dividend equivalents are converted into Restricted Stock Units. In addition, Common Shares subject to Substitute Awards granted by the Company shall not reduce the number of Common Shares that may be issued under Article 3.1, nor shall shares subject to Substitute Awards again be available for Awards under the Plan in the event of any forfeiture, expiration or cash settlement of such Substitute Awards.

3.5 Code Section 422 and Other Limits. Subject to adjustment in accordance with Article 9:

(a) The grant date fair value of Awards granted to an Outside Director during any one fiscal year of the Company may not exceed $1,000,000 (on a per-Director basis); provided however that the limitation that will apply in the fiscal year in which the Outside Director is initially appointed or elected to the Board shall instead be $2,000,000. For purposes of this limitation, grant date fair value of an Award shall be determined in accordance with the assumptions that the Company uses to estimate the value of share-based payments for financial reporting purposes. For the sake of clarity, neither (i) Awards granted to an individual while they were an Employee or Consultant, but not an Outside Director, nor (ii) Awards granted pursuant to an Outside Director’s election to receive Awards in lieu of cash retainers or other fees shall count towards this limitation.

(b) No more than 20,000,000 Common Shares (subject to adjustment pursuant to Article 9) may be issued under the Plan upon the exercise of ISOs.

ARTICLE 4. ELIGIBILITY.

4.1 Incentive Stock Options. Only Employees who are common-law employees of the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary shall be eligible for the grant of ISOs. In addition, an Employee who owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of outstanding stock of the Company or any of its Parents or Subsidiaries shall not be eligible for the grant of an ISO unless the additional requirements set forth in Code Section 422(c)(5) are satisfied.

4.2 Other Awards. Awards other than ISOs may be granted to both Employees and other Service Providers.

ARTICLE 5. OPTIONS.

5.1 Stock Option Agreement. Each grant of an Option under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Stock Option Agreement between the Optionee and the Company. Such Option shall be subject to all applicable terms of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms that are not inconsistent with the Plan. The Stock Option Agreement shall specify whether the Option is

 

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intended to be an ISO or an NSO. The provisions of the various Stock Option Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.

5.2 Number of Shares. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the number of Common Shares subject to the Option, which number shall adjust in accordance with Article 9.

5.3 Exercise Price. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the Exercise Price, which shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Common Share on the date of grant. The preceding sentence shall not apply to an Option that is a Substitute Award granted in a manner that would satisfy the requirements of Code Section 409A and, if applicable, Code Section 424(a).

5.4 Exercisability and Term. Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the date or event when all or any installment of the Option is to become vested and/or exercisable. The vesting and exercisability conditions applicable to the Option may include service-based conditions, performance-based conditions, such other conditions as the Administrator may determine, or any combination of such conditions. The Stock Option Agreement shall also specify the term of the Option; provided that, except to the extent necessary to comply with applicable foreign law, the term of an Option shall in no event exceed 10 years from the date of grant. A Stock Option Agreement may provide for accelerated vesting and/or exercisability upon certain specified events and may provide for expiration prior to the end of its term in the event of the termination of the Optionee’s service.

5.5 Death of Optionee. After an Optionee’s death, any vested and exercisable Options held by such Optionee may be exercised by his or her beneficiary or beneficiaries. Each Optionee may designate one or more beneficiaries for this purpose by filing the prescribed form with the Company. A beneficiary designation may be changed by filing the prescribed form with the Company at any time before the Optionee’s death. If no beneficiary was designated or if no designated beneficiary survives the Optionee, then any vested and exercisable Options held by the Optionee may be exercised by his or her estate.

5.6 Modification or Assumption of Options. Within the limitations of the Plan, the Administrator may modify, reprice, extend or assume outstanding options or may accept the cancellation of outstanding options (whether granted by the Company or by another issuer) in return for the grant of new Options for the same or a different number of shares and at the same or a different exercise price or in return for the grant of a different type of Award. The foregoing notwithstanding, no modification of an Option shall, without the consent of the Optionee, materially impair his or her rights or obligations under such Option.

5.7 Buyout Provisions. The Administrator may at any time (a) offer to buy out for a payment in cash or cash equivalents an Option previously granted or (b) authorize an Optionee to elect to cash out an Option previously granted, in either case at such time and based upon such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall establish.

5.8 Payment for Option Shares. The entire Exercise Price of Common Shares issued upon exercise of Options shall be payable in cash or cash equivalents at the time when such Common Shares are purchased. In addition, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion and to the extent permitted by applicable law, accept payment of all or a portion of the Exercise Price through any one or a combination of the following forms or methods:

 

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(a) Subject to any conditions or limitations established by the Administrator, by surrendering, or attesting to the ownership of, Common Shares that are already owned by the Optionee with a value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Common Shares as to which such Option will be exercised;

(b) By delivering (on a form prescribed by the Company) an irrevocable direction to a securities broker approved by the Company to sell all or part of the Common Shares being purchased under the Plan and to deliver all or part of the sales proceeds to the Company;

(c) Subject to such conditions and requirements as the Administrator may impose from time to time, through a net exercise procedure; or

(d) Through any other form or method consistent with applicable laws, regulations and rules.

ARTICLE 6. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

6.1 SAR Agreement. Each grant of a SAR under the Plan shall be evidenced by a SAR Agreement between the Optionee and the Company. Such SAR shall be subject to all applicable terms of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms that are not inconsistent with the Plan. The provisions of the various SAR Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.

6.2 Number of Shares. Each SAR Agreement shall specify the number of Common Shares to which the SAR pertains, which number shall adjust in accordance with Article 9.

6.3 Exercise Price. Each SAR Agreement shall specify the Exercise Price, which shall in no event be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Common Share on the date of grant. The preceding sentence shall not apply to a SAR that is a Substitute Award granted in a manner that would satisfy the requirements of Code Section 409A.

6.4 Exercisability and Term. Each SAR Agreement shall specify the date when all or any installment of the SAR is to become vested and exercisable. The vesting and exercisability conditions applicable to the SAR may include service-based conditions, performance-based conditions, such other conditions as the Administrator may determine, or any combination thereof. The SAR Agreement shall also specify the term of the SAR; provided that except to the extent necessary to comply with applicable foreign law, the term of a SAR shall not exceed 10 years from the date of grant. A SAR Agreement may provide for accelerated vesting and exercisability upon certain specified events and may provide for expiration prior to the end of its term in the event of the termination of the Optionee’s service.

6.5 Exercise of SARs. Upon exercise of a SAR, the Optionee (or any person having the right to exercise the SAR after his or her death) shall receive from the Company (a) Common Shares, (b) cash or (c) a combination of Common Shares and cash, as the Administrator shall determine. The amount of cash and/or the Fair Market Value of Common Shares received upon exercise of SARs shall, in the aggregate, not exceed the amount by which the Fair Market Value (on the date of surrender) of the Common Shares subject to the SARs exceeds the Exercise Price. If, on the date when a SAR expires, the Exercise Price is less than the Fair Market Value on such

 

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date but any portion of such SAR has not been exercised or surrendered, then such SAR shall automatically be deemed to be exercised as of such date with respect to such portion. A SAR Agreement may also provide for an automatic exercise of the SAR on an earlier date.

6.6 Death of Optionee. After an Optionee’s death, any vested and exercisable SARs held by such Optionee may be exercised by his or her beneficiary or beneficiaries. Each Optionee may designate one or more beneficiaries for this purpose by filing the prescribed form with the Company. A beneficiary designation may be changed by filing the prescribed form with the Company at any time before the Optionee’s death. If no beneficiary was designated or if no designated beneficiary survives the Optionee, then any vested and exercisable SARs held by the Optionee at the time of his or her death may be exercised by his or her estate.

6.7 Modification or Assumption of SARs. Within the limitations of the Plan, the Administrator may modify, reprice, extend or assume outstanding stock appreciation rights or may accept the cancellation of outstanding stock appreciation rights (whether granted by the Company or by another issuer) in return for the grant of new SARs for the same or a different number of shares and at the same or a different exercise price or in return for the grant of a different type of Award. The foregoing notwithstanding, no modification of a SAR shall, without the consent of the Optionee, materially impair his or her rights or obligations under such SAR.

ARTICLE 7. RESTRICTED SHARES.

7.1 Restricted Stock Agreement. Each grant of Restricted Shares under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Agreement between the recipient and the Company. Such Restricted Shares shall be subject to all applicable terms of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms that are not inconsistent with the Plan. The provisions of the various Restricted Stock Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.

7.2 Payment for Awards. Restricted Shares may be sold or awarded under the Plan for such consideration as the Administrator may determine, including (without limitation) cash, cash equivalents, property, cancellation of other equity awards, promissory notes, past services and future services, and such other methods of payment as are permitted by applicable law.

7.3 Vesting Conditions. Each Award of Restricted Shares may or may not be subject to vesting and/or other conditions as the Administrator may determine. Vesting shall occur, in full or in installments, upon satisfaction of the conditions specified in the Restricted Stock Agreement. Vesting conditions may include service-based conditions, performance-based conditions, such other conditions as the Administrator may determine, or any combination thereof. A Restricted Stock Agreement may provide for accelerated vesting upon certain specified events.

7.4 Voting and Dividend Rights. The holders of Restricted Shares awarded under the Plan shall have the same voting, dividend and other rights as the Company’s other stockholders, unless the Administrator otherwise provides. A Restricted Stock Agreement, however, may require that any cash dividends paid on Restricted Shares (a) be accumulated and paid when such Restricted Shares vest, or (b) be invested in additional Restricted Shares. Such additional Restricted Shares shall be subject to the same conditions and restrictions as the shares subject to the Award with respect to which the dividends were paid. In addition, unless the

 

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Administrator provides otherwise, if any dividends or other distributions are paid in Common Shares, such Common Shares shall be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Restricted Shares with respect to which they were paid.

7.5 Modification or Assumption of Restricted Shares. Within the limitations of the Plan, the Administrator may modify or assume outstanding Restricted Shares or may accept the cancellation of outstanding restricted shares (whether granted by the Company or by another issuer) in return for the grant of new Restricted Shares for the same or a different number of shares or in return for the grant of a different type of Award. The foregoing notwithstanding, no modification of Restricted Shares shall, without the consent of the Participant, materially impair his or her rights or obligations under such Restricted Shares.

ARTICLE 8. RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS.

8.1 Restricted Stock Unit Agreement. Each grant of Restricted Stock Units under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Unit Agreement between the recipient and the Company. Such Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to all applicable terms of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms that are not inconsistent with the Plan. The provisions of the various Restricted Stock Unit Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.

8.2 Payment for Awards. To the extent that an Award is granted in the form of Restricted Stock Units, no cash consideration shall be required of the Award recipients.

8.3 Vesting Conditions. Each Award of Restricted Stock Units may or may not be subject to vesting, as determined by the Administrator. Vesting shall occur, in full or in installments, upon satisfaction of the conditions specified in the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement. Vesting conditions may include service-based conditions, performance-based conditions, such other conditions as the Administrator may determine, or any combination thereof. A Restricted Stock Unit Agreement may provide for accelerated vesting upon certain specified events.

8.4 Voting and Dividend Rights. The holders of Restricted Stock Units shall have no voting rights. Prior to settlement or forfeiture, Restricted Stock Units awarded under the Plan may, at the Administrator’s discretion, provide for a right to dividend equivalents. Such right entitles the holder to be credited with an amount equal to all cash dividends paid on one Common Share while the Restricted Stock Unit is outstanding. Dividend equivalents may be converted into additional Restricted Stock Units. Settlement of dividend equivalents may be made in the form of cash, in the form of Common Shares, or in a combination of both. Prior to distribution, any dividend equivalents shall be subject to the same conditions and restrictions as the Restricted Stock Units to which they attach.

8.5 Form and Time of Settlement of Restricted Stock Units. Settlement of vested Restricted Stock Units may be made in the form of (a) cash, (b) Common Shares or (c) any combination of both, as determined by the Administrator. The actual number of Restricted Stock Units eligible for settlement may be larger or smaller than the number included in the original Award, based on predetermined performance factors. Methods of converting Restricted Stock Units into cash may include (without limitation) a method based on the average value of Common Shares over a series of trading days. Vested Restricted Stock Units shall be settled in such manner and at such time(s) as specified in the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement. Until an

 

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Award of Restricted Stock Units is settled, the number of such Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to adjustment pursuant to Article 9.

8.6 Death of Recipient. Any Restricted Stock Units that become payable after the recipient’s death shall be distributed to the recipient’s beneficiary or beneficiaries. Each recipient of Restricted Stock Units under the Plan may designate one or more beneficiaries for this purpose by filing the prescribed form with the Company. A beneficiary designation may be changed by filing the prescribed form with the Company at any time before the Award recipient’s death. If no beneficiary was designated or if no designated beneficiary survives the Award recipient, then any Restricted Stock Units that become payable after the recipient’s death shall be distributed to the recipient’s estate.

8.7 Modification or Assumption of Restricted Stock Units. Within the limitations of the Plan, the Administrator may modify or assume outstanding restricted stock units or may accept the cancellation of outstanding restricted stock units (whether granted by the Company or by another issuer) in return for the grant of new Restricted Stock Units for the same or a different number of shares or in return for the grant of a different type of Award. The foregoing notwithstanding, no modification of a Restricted Stock Unit shall, without the consent of the Participant, materially impair his or her rights or obligations under such Restricted Stock Unit.

8.8 Creditors Rights. A holder of Restricted Stock Units shall have no rights other than those of a general creditor of the Company. Restricted Stock Units represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Restricted Stock Unit Agreement.

ARTICLE 9. ADJUSTMENTS; DISSOLUTIONS AND LIQUIDATIONS; CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS.

9.1 Adjustments. In the event of a subdivision of the outstanding Common Shares, a declaration of a dividend payable in Common Shares, a combination or consolidation of the outstanding Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise) into a lesser number of Common Shares or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued Common Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, proportionate adjustments shall be made to the following:

(a) The number and kind of shares available for issuance under Article 3, including the numerical share limits in Articles 3.1, 3.2 and 3.5;

(b) The number and kind of shares covered by each outstanding Option, SAR and Restricted Stock Unit; and/or

(c) The Exercise Price applicable to each outstanding Option and SAR, and the repurchase price, if any, applicable to Restricted Shares.

In the event of a declaration of an extraordinary dividend payable in a form other than Common Shares in an amount that has a material effect on the price of Common Shares, a recapitalization, a spin-off or a similar occurrence, the Administrator may make such adjustments as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate to the foregoing. Any adjustment in the number of shares subject to an Award under this Article 9.1 shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share, although

 

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the Administrator in its sole discretion may make a cash payment in lieu of a fractional share. Except as provided in this Article 9, a Participant shall have no rights by reason of any issuance by the Company of stock of any class or securities convertible into stock of any class, any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class, the payment of any stock dividend or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class. For the sake of clarity, a stock split, if any, conducted in connection with an initial public offering of the Company’s common stock shall trigger an adjustment under this paragraph.

9.2 Dissolution or Liquidation. To the extent not previously exercised or settled, Options, SARs and Restricted Stock Units shall terminate immediately prior to the dissolution or liquidation of the Company.

9.3 Corporate Transactions. In the event that the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, or a Change in Control (other than one described in Article 14.6(d)), all Common Shares acquired under the Plan and all Awards outstanding on the effective date of the transaction shall be treated in the manner described in the definitive transaction agreement (or, in the event the transaction does not entail a definitive agreement to which the Company is party, in the manner determined by the Administrator, with such determination having final and binding effect on all parties), which agreement or determination need not treat all Awards (or portions thereof) in an identical manner. Unless an Award Agreement provides otherwise, the treatment specified in the transaction agreement or by the Administrator may include (without limitation) one or more of the following with respect to each outstanding Award:

(a) The continuation of such outstanding Award by the Company (if the Company is the surviving entity);

(b) The assumption of such outstanding Award by the surviving entity or its parent, provided that the assumption of an Option or a SAR shall comply with applicable tax requirements;

(c) The substitution by the surviving entity or its parent of an equivalent award for such outstanding Award (including, but not limited to, an award to acquire the same consideration paid to the holders of Common Shares in the transaction), provided that the substitution of an Option or a SAR shall comply with applicable tax requirements;

(d) In the case of an Option or SAR, the cancellation of such Award without payment of any consideration. An Optionee shall be able to exercise his or her outstanding Option or SAR, to the extent such Option or SAR is then vested or becomes vested as of the effective time of the transaction, during a period of not less than five full business days preceding the closing date of the transaction, unless (i) a shorter period is required to permit a timely closing of the transaction and (ii) such shorter period still offers the Optionee a reasonable opportunity to exercise such Option or SAR. Any exercise of such Option or SAR during such period may be contingent on the closing of the transaction;

(e) The cancellation of such Award and a payment to the Participant with respect to each share subject to the portion of the Award that is vested or becomes vested as of the effective time of the transaction equal to the excess of

 

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(A) the value, as determined by the Administrator in its absolute discretion, of the property (including cash) received by the holder of a Common Share as a result of the transaction, over (if applicable) (B) the per-share Exercise Price of such Award (such excess, if any, the “Spread”). Such payment shall be made in the form of cash, cash equivalents, or securities of the surviving entity or its parent having a value equal to the Spread. In addition, any escrow, holdback, earn-out or similar provisions in the transaction agreement may apply to such payment to the same extent and in the same manner as such provisions apply to the holders of Common Shares. If the Spread applicable to an Award (whether or not vested) is zero or a negative number, then the Award may be cancelled without making a payment to the Participant. In the event that an Award is subject to Code Section 409A, the payment described in this clause (e) shall be made on the settlement date specified in the applicable Award Agreement, provided that settlement may be accelerated in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(j)(4); or

(f) The assignment of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company in respect of an Award of Restricted Shares to the surviving entity or its parent, with corresponding proportionate adjustments made to the price per share to be paid upon exercise of any such reacquisition or repurchase rights.

Unless an Award Agreement provides otherwise, each outstanding Award held by a Participant who remains a Service Provider as of the effective time of a merger, consolidation or Change in Control (other than one described in Article 14.6(d)) (a “Current Participant”) shall become fully vested and, if applicable, exercisable immediately prior to the effective time of the transaction and, in the case of an Award subject to performance-based vesting conditions, such performance-based vesting conditions shall be deemed achieved at 100% of target levels. However the prior sentence shall not apply, and an outstanding Award shall not become vested and, if applicable, exercisable, if and to the extent the Award is continued, assumed or substituted as provided for in clauses (a), (b) or (c) above. In addition, the prior two sentences shall not apply to an Award held by a Participant who is not a Current Participant, unless an Award Agreement provides otherwise or unless the Company and the acquirer agree otherwise.

For avoidance of doubt, the Administrator shall have the discretion, exercisable either at the time a Award is granted or at any time while the Award remains outstanding, to provide for the acceleration of vesting upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, whether or not the Award is to be assumed or replaced in the transaction, or in connection with a termination of the Participant’s service following a transaction.

Any action taken under this Article 9.3 shall either preserve an Award’s status as exempt from Code Section 409A or comply with Code Section 409A.

ARTICLE 10. OTHER AWARDS.

Subject in all events to the limitations under Article 3 above as to the number of Common Shares available for issuance under this Plan, the Company may grant other forms of Awards not specifically described herein and may grant awards under other plans or programs, where such awards are settled in the form of Common Shares issued under this Plan. Such Common Shares shall be treated for all purposes under the Plan like Common Shares issued in settlement of

 

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Restricted Stock Units and shall, when issued, reduce the number of Common Shares available under Article 3.

ARTICLE 11. LIMITATION ON RIGHTS.

11.1 Retention Rights. Neither the Plan nor any Award granted under the Plan shall be deemed to give any individual a right to remain a Service Provider. The Company and its Parents, Subsidiaries and Affiliates reserve the right to terminate the service of any Service Provider at any time, with or without cause, subject to applicable laws, the Company’s certificate of incorporation and by-laws and a written employment agreement (if any).

11.2 Stockholders Rights. Except as set forth in Article 7.4 or 8.4 above, a Participant shall have no dividend rights, voting rights or other rights as a stockholder with respect to any Common Shares covered by his or her Award prior to the time when a stock certificate for such Common Shares is issued or, if applicable, the time when he or she becomes entitled to receive such Common Shares by filing any required notice of exercise and paying any required Exercise Price. No adjustment shall be made for cash dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to such time, except as expressly provided in the Plan.

11.3 Regulatory Requirements. Any other provision of the Plan notwithstanding, the obligation of the Company to issue Common Shares under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations and such approval by any regulatory body as may be required. The Company reserves the right to restrict, in whole or in part, the delivery of Common Shares pursuant to any Award prior to the satisfaction of all legal requirements relating to the issuance of such Common Shares, to their registration, qualification or listing or to an exemption from registration, qualification or listing. The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed necessary by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Common Shares hereunder, will relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Common Shares as to which such requisite authority will not have been obtained.

11.4 Transferability of Awards. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, permit transfer of an Award in a manner consistent with applicable law (including, other than an ISO, to a “family member” as such term is defined in the General Instructions to Form S-8 (whether by gift or a domestic relations order)). Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, Awards shall be transferable by a Participant only by (a) beneficiary designation, (b) a will or (c) the laws of descent and distribution; provided that, in any event, an ISO may only be transferred by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and may be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee or by the Optionee’s guardian or legal representative. Any transferee shall be bound by and subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and the Award Agreement relating to the transferred Award and shall execute an agreement satisfactory to the Company evidencing such obligations.

11.5 Recoupment Policy. All Awards granted under the Plan, all amounts paid under the Plan and all Common Shares issued under the Plan shall be subject to recoupment, clawback or recovery by the Company in accordance with applicable law and with Company policy (whenever adopted) regarding same, whether or not such policy is intended to satisfy the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or other applicable law, as well as any implementing regulations and/or

 

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listing standards thereunder.

11.6 Other Conditions and Restrictions on Common Shares. Any Common Shares issued under the Plan shall be subject to such forfeiture conditions, rights of repurchase, rights of first refusal, other transfer restrictions and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator may determine. Such conditions and restrictions shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement and shall apply in addition to any restrictions that may apply to holders of Common Shares generally. In addition, Common Shares issued under the Plan shall be subject to such conditions and restrictions imposed either by applicable law or by Company policy, as adopted from time to time, designed to ensure compliance with applicable law or laws with which the Company determines in its sole discretion to comply including in order to maintain any statutory, regulatory or tax advantage.

ARTICLE 12. TAXES.

12.1 General. It is a condition to each Award under the Plan that a Participant or his or her successor shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the satisfaction of any federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations that arise in connection with any Award granted under the Plan. The Company shall not be required to issue any Common Shares or make any cash payment under the Plan unless such obligations are satisfied.

12.2 Share Withholding. To the extent that applicable law subjects a Participant to tax withholding obligations, the Administrator may permit such Participant to satisfy all or part of such obligations by having the Company withhold all or a portion of any Common Shares that otherwise would be issued to him or her or by surrendering all or a portion of any Common Shares that he or she previously acquired. Such Common Shares shall be valued on the date when they are withheld or surrendered. Any payment of taxes by assigning Common Shares to the Company may be subject to restrictions including any restrictions required by the SEC, accounting or other rules.

12.3 Section 409A Matters. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in an Award Agreement, it is intended that Awards granted under the Plan either be exempt from, or comply with, the requirements of Code Section 409A. To the extent an Award is subject to Code Section 409A (a “409A Award”), the terms of the Plan, the Award and any written agreement governing the Award shall be interpreted to comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A so that the Award is not subject to additional tax or interest under Code Section 409A, unless the Administrator expressly provides otherwise. A 409A Award shall be subject to such additional rules and requirements as specified by the Administrator from time to time in order for it to comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A. In this regard, if any amount under a 409A Award is payable upon a “separation from service” to an individual who is considered a “specified employee” (as each term is defined under Code Section 409A), then no such payment shall be made prior to the date that is the earlier of (i) six months and one day after the Participant’s separation from service or (ii) the Participant’s death, but only to the extent such delay is necessary for such payment to comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A(a)(1).

12.4 Limitation on Liability. Neither the Company nor any person serving as Administrator shall have any liability to a Participant in the event an Award held by the Participant fails to achieve its intended characterization under applicable tax law.

 

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ARTICLE 13. FUTURE OF THE PLAN.

13.1 Term of the Plan. The Plan, as set forth herein, shall become effective on the date of its adoption by the Board, subject to approval of the Company’s stockholders under Article 13.3 below. The Plan shall terminate automatically 10 years after the date when the Board adopted the Plan.

13.2 Amendment or Termination. The Board may, at any time and for any reason, amend or terminate the Plan. No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the termination thereof. The termination of the Plan, or any amendment thereof, shall not affect any Award previously granted under the Plan.

13.3 Stockholder Approval. To the extent required by applicable law, the Plan will be subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders within 12 months of its adoption date. An amendment of the Plan shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders only to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations or rules.

ARTICLE 14. DEFINITIONS.

14.1 “Administrator” means the Board or any Committee administering the Plan in accordance with Article 2.

14.2 “Affiliate” means any entity other than a Subsidiary, if the Company and/or one or more Subsidiaries own not less than 50% of such entity.

14.3 “Award” means any award granted under the Plan, including as an Option, a SAR, a Restricted Share award, a Restricted Stock Unit award or another form of equity-based compensation award.

14.4 “Award Agreement” means a Stock Option Agreement, a SAR Agreement, a Restricted Stock Agreement, a Restricted Stock Unit Agreement or such other agreement evidencing an Award granted under the Plan.

14.5 “Board” means the Company’s Board of Directors, as constituted from time to time and, where the context so requires, reference to the “Board” may refer to a Committee to whom the Board has delegated authority to administer any aspect of this Plan.

14.6 “Change in Control” means:

(a) Any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then-outstanding voting securities;

(b) The consummation of the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets;

(c) The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting

 

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securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its parent) more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity or its parent outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; or

(d) Individuals who are members of the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board over a period of 12 months; provided, however, that if the appointment or election (or nomination for election) of any new Board member was approved or recommended by a majority vote of the members of the Incumbent Board then still in office, such new member shall, for purposes of this Plan, be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board.

A transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control if its sole purpose is to change the state of the Company’s incorporation or to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction. In addition, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any Award which provides for a deferral of compensation and is subject to Code Section 409A, then notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or applicable Award Agreement the transaction with respect to such Award must also constitute a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) to the extent required by Code Section 409A.

14.7 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

14.8 “Committee” means a committee of one or more members of the Board, or of other individuals satisfying applicable laws, appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.

14.9 “Common Share” means one share of the Company’s Class A Common Stock.

14.10 “Company” means TuSimple Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation.

14.11 “Company Capitalization” means all shares of the Company’s outstanding capital stock on a fully diluted, as converted basis, including any treasury shares, shares underlying unexercised options, restricted stock units, warrants and other equity awards and convertible securities, or any shares reserved under any equity incentive or similar plans of the Company.

14.12 “Consultant” means a consultant or adviser who provides bona fide services to the Company, a Parent, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate as an independent contractor and who qualifies as a consultant or advisor under Instruction A.1.(a)(1) of Form S-8 under the Securities Act.

14.13 “Employee” means a common-law employee of the Company, a Parent, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate.

14.14 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

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14.15 “Exercise Price,” in the case of an Option, means the amount for which one Common Share may be purchased upon exercise of such Option, as specified in the applicable Stock Option Agreement. “Exercise Price,” in the case of a SAR, means an amount, as specified in the applicable SAR Agreement, which is subtracted from the Fair Market Value of one Common Share in determining the amount payable upon exercise of such SAR.

14.16 “Fair Market Value” means the closing price of a Common Share on any established stock exchange or a national market system on the applicable date or, if the applicable date is not a trading day, on the last trading day prior to the applicable date, as reported in a source that the Administrator deems reliable. If Common Shares are not traded on an established stock exchange or a national market system, the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Administrator in good faith on such basis as it deems appropriate. The Administrator’s determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the determination of Fair Market Value in all cases shall be in accordance with the requirements set forth under Section 409A of the Code to the extent necessary for an Award to comply with, or be exempt from, Section 409A of the Code.

14.17 “IPO Date” means the effective date of the registration statement filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission for its initial offering of the Common Shares to the public.

14.18 “ISO” means an incentive stock option described in Code Section 422(b).

14.19 “NSO” means a stock option not described in Code Sections 422 or 423.

14.20 “Option” means an ISO or NSO granted under the Plan and entitling the holder to purchase Common Shares.

14.21 “Optionee” means an individual or estate holding an Option or SAR.

14.22 “Outside Director” means a member of the Board who is not an Employee.

14.23 “Parent” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company, if each of the corporations other than the Company owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain. A corporation that attains the status of a Parent on a date after the adoption of the Plan shall be considered a Parent commencing as of such date.

14.24 “Participant” means an individual or estate holding an Award.

14.25 “Plan” means this TuSimple Holdings Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

14.26 “Predecessor Plan” means the Company’s 2017 Share Plan, as amended.

14.27 “Restricted Share” means a Common Share awarded under the Plan.

 

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14.28 “Restricted Stock Agreement” means the agreement consistent with the terms of the Plan between the Company and the recipient of a Restricted Share that contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to such Restricted Share.

14.29 “Restricted Stock Unit” means a bookkeeping entry representing the equivalent of one Common Share, as awarded under the Plan.

14.30 “Restricted Stock Unit Agreement” means the agreement consistent with the terms of the Plan between the Company and the recipient of a Restricted Stock Unit that contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to such Restricted Stock Unit.

14.31 “SAR” means a stock appreciation right granted under the Plan.

14.32 “SAR Agreement” means the agreement consistent with the terms of the Plan between the Company and an Optionee that contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to his or her SAR.

14.33 “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

14.34 “Service Provider” means any individual who is an Employee, Outside Director or Consultant, including any prospective Employee, Outside Director or Consultant who has accepted an offer of employment or service and will be an Employee, Outside Director or Consultant after the commencement of their service.

14.35 “Stock Option Agreement” means the agreement consistent with the terms of the Plan between the Company and an Optionee that contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to his or her Option.

14.36 “Subsidiary” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company, if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain. A corporation that attains the status of a Subsidiary on a date after the adoption of the Plan shall be considered a Subsidiary commencing as of such date

14.37 “Substitute Awards” means Awards or Common Shares issued by the Company in assumption of, or substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future awards, in each case by a corporation acquired by the Company or any Affiliate or with which the Company or any Affiliate combines to the extent permitted by the applicable exchange listing requirements.

 

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TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

2021 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION GRANT

You have been granted the following option to purchase shares of the common stock of TuSimple Holdings Inc. (the “Company”):

 

Name of Optionee:    «Name»
Total Number of Shares:    «TotalShares»
Type of Option:    «ISO» Incentive Stock Option (ISO)
   «NSO» Nonstatutory Stock Option (NSO)
Exercise Price per Share:    «PricePerShare»
Date of Grant:    «DateGrant»
Vesting Commencement Date:    «VestDay»
Vesting Schedule:    This option vests and becomes exercisable with respect to ________ of the shares subject to this option when you complete [*] months of continuous service as an Employee or Consultant (“Service”) after the Vesting Commencement Date and ________ of the shares subject to this option when you complete each ________ of Service after the Vesting Commencement Date. [In addition, this option may become vested and exercisable on an accelerated basis, as provided in the Stock Option Agreement.]
Expiration Date:    «ExpDate». This option expires earlier if your Service terminates earlier, as described in the Stock Option Agreement, and may terminate earlier in connection with certain corporate transactions as described in Article 9 of the Plan.

You and the Company agree that this option is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Company’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and the Stock Option Agreement (the “Agreement”), both of which are attached to, and made a part of, this document. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Plan and the Agreement.

The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to options awarded under the Plan, future options that may be awarded under the Plan and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to security holders (including annual reports and proxy statements) by email or other electronic means (including by posting them on a website maintained by the Company or a third party under contract with the Company). You hereby consent to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agree to participate in the Plan through any on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or a third party designated by the Company.

In addition, by indicating acceptance of this award through the Company’s online acceptance procedure, you acknowledge that: (a) you have received, and understand and agree to the terms of, this Notice of Stock Option Grant (this “Grant Notice”), the Agreement, and the Plan; (b) you accept this award on the terms and conditions set forth in this Grant Notice, the Agreement and the Plan; and (c) this Grant Notice, the Agreement and the Plan set forth the entire understanding between you and the Company regarding


the rights to acquire the shares subject to this award and supersede all prior oral and written agreements with respect thereto.

 

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TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

2021 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

 

Grant of Option   

Subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth in the Notice of Stock Option Grant (the “Grant Notice”), this Stock Option Agreement (this “Agreement”) and the Plan, the Company has granted you an option to purchase up to the total number of shares specified in the Grant Notice at the exercise price indicated in the Grant Notice.

 

All capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to them in this Agreement, the Grant Notice or the Plan.

Tax Treatment    This option is intended to be an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code or a nonstatutory stock option, as provided in the Grant Notice. However, even if this option is designated as an incentive stock option in the Grant Notice, it shall be deemed to be a nonstatutory stock option to the extent it does not qualify as an incentive stock option under U.S. federal tax law, including under the $100,000 annual limitation under Section 422(d) of the Code.
Vesting   

This option vests and becomes exercisable in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice. [In addition, this option shall vest and become exercisable in full if the Company is subject to certain corporate transactions before your Service terminates and this option is not continued, assumed or substituted with a new award as set forth in Article 9.3 of the Plan.]

 

[Notwithstanding the foregoing, if you are, or become, eligible for more favorable vesting acceleration provisions pursuant to a written agreement with the Company (an “Outside Agreement”), the more favorable terms in such Outside Agreement shall apply instead of the acceleration terms in this Agreement.]

 

No additional shares will vest or become exercisable after your Service has terminated for any reason[, except as set forth in this Agreement or such Outside Agreement, to the extent you are eligible for benefits thereunder].

Term of Option    This option expires in any event at the close of business at Company headquarters on the day before the 10th anniversary of the Date of Grant, as shown in the Grant Notice. (This option will expire earlier if your Service terminates earlier, as described below, and this option may be terminated earlier as provided in Article 9 of the Plan.)
Termination of    If your Service terminates for any reason, this option will expire to the extent it is unvested as of your termination date and does not vest as a


Service   

result of your termination of Service. The Company determines when your Service terminates for all purposes of this option.

 

If your Service terminates for any reason, except due to your death or Disability, then this option, to the extent vested as of your termination date, will expire at the close of business at Company headquarters on the date three months after your termination date.

 

For purposes of this option, your Service will be considered terminated as of the date you are no longer providing active services to the Company, its Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates (regardless of the reason for such termination and whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws and will not be extended by any notice period. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or determined by the Company, (a) your right to vest in this option, if any, will terminate as of such date, and (b) the period (if any) during which you may exercise this option after your Service terminates will commence on such date. The Administrator shall have exclusive discretion to determine when your Service terminates for purposes of this option (including when you are no longer considered to be providing Service while on leave of absence).

Death    If your Service terminates because of your death, then this option, to the extent vested as of your termination date, will expire at the close of business at Company headquarters on the date twelve months after the date of your death.
Disability   

If your Service terminates because of your Disability, then this option, to the extent vested as of your termination date, will expire at the close of business at Company headquarters on the date 6 months after your termination date.

 

For all purposes under this Agreement, “Disability” means that you are unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted, or can be expected to last, for a continuous period of not less than one year.

Leaves of Absence and Part-Time Work   

For purposes of this option, your Service does not terminate when you go on a military leave, a sick leave or another bona fide leave of absence, if the leave was approved by the Company, its Parent or one of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates in writing or as long as your right to re-employment is guaranteed by contract or applicable law (“Approved Leave”). However, your Service terminates when the Approved Leave ends, unless you immediately return to active work.

 

If you go on an unpaid leave of absence [that lasts more than 30 days], then, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the vesting schedule specified in the Grant Notice will be suspended on the [thirty-first] day of such unpaid leave, and this option will not vest or become exercisable


  

with respect to any additional shares during the remainder of such leave. Vesting will resume when you return to active Service. If you go on a paid leave of absence, the vesting schedule specified in the Grant Notice may be adjusted and/or suspended by the Company, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

 

If you commence working on a part-time basis, the Company may adjust the vesting schedule so that the rate of vesting is commensurate with your reduced work schedule, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

Restrictions on Exercise / Compliance with Law    Notwithstanding any other provision in the Plan or this Agreement, unless there is an available exemption from registration, qualification or other legal requirement applicable to the Company’s shares, the Company shall not be required to permit the exercise of this option and/or delivery of Company shares prior to the completion of any registration or qualification of the shares under any local, state or federal securities law or under rulings or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or of any other governmental body, or prior to obtaining any approval or other clearance from any local, state or federal governmental agency, which registration, qualification or approval the Company shall, in its absolute discretion, deem necessary or advisable. You understand that the Company is under no obligation to register or qualify the Company’s shares with the SEC or any state securities commission or to seek approval or clearance from any governmental authority for the issuance or sale of the shares. Further, you agree that the Company shall have unilateral authority to amend this Agreement without your consent to the extent necessary to comply with securities or other laws applicable to the issuance of shares.
Notice of Exercise   

When you wish to exercise this option, you must notify the Company by filing the proper “Notice of Exercise” form at the address given on the form or, if the Company has designated a third party to administer the Plan, you must notify such third party in the manner such third party requires. Your notice must specify how many shares you wish to purchase. The notice will be effective when the Company receives it.

 

However, if you wish to exercise this option by executing a same-day sale (as described below), you must follow the instructions of the Company and the broker who will execute the sale.

 

If someone else wants to exercise this option after your death, that person must prove to the Company’s satisfaction that he or she is entitled to do so.

 

You may only exercise your option for whole shares.

Form of Payment    When you submit your Notice of Exercise, you must make arrangements for the payment of the option exercise price for the shares that you are


  

purchasing. To the extent permitted by applicable law, payment may be made in one (or a combination of two or more) of the following forms:

 

•  By delivering to the Company a personal check, a cashier’s check or a money order, or arranging for a wire transfer.

 

•  By giving to a securities broker approved by the Company irrevocable directions to sell all or part of your option shares and to deliver to the Company, from the sale proceeds, an amount sufficient to pay the option exercise price and any withholding obligations for Tax-Related Items (as defined below). (The balance of the sale proceeds, if any, will be delivered to you.) The directions must be given in accordance with the instructions of the Company and the broker. This exercise method is sometimes called a “same-day sale.”

Responsibility for Taxes   

Regardless of any action the Company (or, if applicable, the Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate employing or retaining you (the “Employer”)) takes with respect to any or all income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, fringe benefit tax, payment on account or other tax-related items related to the participation in the Plan and legally applicable to you (“Tax-Related Items”), you acknowledge that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items is and remains your responsibility and may exceed the amount, if any, actually withheld by the Company and/or the Employer. You further acknowledge that neither the Company nor the Employer (a) make any representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of this option, including, but not limited to, the grant, vesting or exercise of this option, the issuance of shares upon exercise of this option, the subsequent sale of shares acquired pursuant to such exercise and the receipt of any dividends; nor (b) commit to and are under no obligation to structure the terms of this option or any aspect of this option to reduce or eliminate your liability for Tax-Related Items or achieve any particular tax result.

 

Prior to any relevant taxable or tax withholding event, as applicable, you agree to make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy all Tax-Related Items. In this regard, you authorize the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy any withholding obligations with regard to Tax-Related Items by one or a combination of the following: (a) withholding shares of Company common stock that otherwise would be issued to you when you exercise this option; (b) surrendering shares that you previously acquired; (c) withholding from proceeds of the sale of shares acquired upon the exercise of this option either through a voluntary sale or through a mandatory sale arranged by the Company (on your behalf pursuant to this authorization without further consent); (d) withholding from your wages or other compensation payable to you by the Company and/or the Employer; or (e) any other method determined by the Company to be in compliance with applicable laws.

 

The Company may withhold or account for Tax-Related Items by


  

considering the statutory withholding amount or other withholding rates, in which case you may receive a refund of any over-withheld amount in cash and will have no entitlement to the equivalent in shares.

 

If the obligation of Tax-Related Items is satisfied by withholding in shares, for tax purposes, you will be deemed to have been issued the full number of shares subject to the exercised portion of this option, notwithstanding that a number of shares are held back solely for the purpose of paying the Tax-Related Items.

 

Finally, you agree to pay to the Company or the Employer any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company or the Employer may be required to withhold or account for as a result of your participation in the Plan that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described. The Company may refuse to permit your exercise of this option or to issue and deliver the shares or proceeds from the sale of shares of Company stock, if you fail to comply with your obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items.

Restrictions on Resale    You agree not to sell any option shares at a time when applicable laws or Company policies prohibit a sale. This restriction will apply as long as your Service continues and for such period of time after the termination of your Service as the Company may specify. You further agree to comply with the Company’s Insider Trading Policy when selling shares of the Company’s common stock.
Transfer of Option   

Prior to your death, only you may exercise this option. You cannot transfer or assign this option. For instance, you may not sell this option or use it as security for a loan. If you attempt to do any of these things, this option will immediately become invalid. You may, however, dispose of this option in your will or by means of a written beneficiary designation (if authorized by the Company and to the extent such designation is valid under applicable laws), which must be filed with the Company on the proper form; provided, however, that your beneficiary or a representative of your estate acknowledges and agrees in writing in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company, to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement and the Plan as if such beneficiary or representative of the estate were you.

 

Regardless of any marital property settlement agreement, the Company is not obligated to honor a Notice of Exercise from your former spouse, nor is the Company obligated to recognize your former spouse’s interest in your option in any other way.

Nature of Grant    In accepting this option, you acknowledge, understand and agree that: (a) the Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature and the Company may amend, modify, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time, to the extent permitted by the Plan; (b) the grant of this option is exceptional, voluntary and occasional and does not create any


   contractual or other right to receive future grants of options, or benefits in lieu of options, even if options have been granted in the past; (c) all decisions with respect to future option or other grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company; (d) neither this option nor this Agreement alters the at-will nature of your Service relationship; (e) neither this option nor this Agreement gives you the right to remain retained by the Company, its Parent, or any Subsidiary or Affiliate in any capacity; (f) if you are not providing services to the Company, this option grant does not establish an employment or other service relationship with the Company; (g) you are voluntarily participating in the Plan; (h) this option and the shares of Company common stock subject to this option, and the income from and value of same, are not intended to replace any pension rights or compensation; (i) this option and the shares of Company common stock subject to this option, and the income from and value of same, are not part of normal or expected compensation for purposes of, without limitation, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, dismissal, end-of-service payments, holiday pay, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar mandatory payments; (j) the future value of the shares of Company common stock subject to this option is unknown, indeterminable, and cannot be predicted with certainty; (k) if the shares of Company common stock subject to this option do not increase in value, this option will have no value; (l) if you exercise this option and acquire shares of Company common stock, the value of such shares may increase or decrease in value, even below the exercise price; (m) no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from forfeiture of this option resulting from the termination of your Service (for any reason whatsoever, whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment or other applicable laws); (n) unless otherwise agreed with the Company, this option and any shares of Company common stock acquired upon exercise of this option, and the income from and value of same, are not granted as consideration for, or in connection with, any service you may provide as a director of any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate; and (o) unless otherwise provided in the Plan or by the Company in its discretion, this option and the benefits evidenced by this Agreement do not create any entitlement to have this option transferred to, or assumed by, another company nor to be exchanged, cashed out or substituted for, in connection with any corporate transaction affecting the shares of Company common stock.
Stockholder Rights    You, or your estate or heirs, have no rights as a stockholder of the Company until you have exercised this option by giving the required notice to the Company, paying the exercise price, and satisfying any applicable withholding obligations for Tax-Related Items. No adjustments are made for dividends or other rights if the applicable record date occurs before you exercise this option, except as described in the Plan.
Recoupment Policy    This option, and the shares acquired upon exercise of this option, shall be subject to any Company recoupment or clawback policy in effect from


   time to time.
Adjustments    In the event of a stock split, a stock dividend or a similar change in Company common stock, the number of shares covered by this option and the exercise price per share will be adjusted pursuant to the Plan.
Effect of Significant Corporate Transactions    If the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, or certain change in control transactions, then this option will be subject to the applicable provisions of Article 9.3 of the Plan; provided that no modification or substitution of this option shall, without your consent, impair your rights or increase your obligations under such option.
No Advice Regarding Grant    The Company is not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding your participation in the Plan, or the acquisition or sale of shares of Company common stock. You should consult with your own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding your participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.
Insider Trading/Market Abuse Laws    You understand that you may be subject to applicable insider trading restrictions and/or market abuse laws which may affect your ability, directly or indirectly, to purchase or sell, or attempt to sell or otherwise dispose of shares, rights to shares (options), or rights linked to the value of shares during such times as you are considered to have “inside information” regarding the Company (as defined by applicable law). Insider trading laws and regulations prohibit the cancellation or amendment of orders you placed before possessing the inside information. Furthermore, you understand that you may be prohibited from (a) disclosing the inside information to any third party, including fellow employees (other than on a “need to know” basis) and (b) “tipping” third parties by sharing with them Company inside information, or otherwise causing third parties to buy or sell Company securities. Any restrictions under these laws or regulations are separate from and in addition to restrictions that may apply to you under the Company’s Insider Trading Policy. It is your responsibility to comply with the Company’s Insider Trading Policy and any applicable legal or regulatory trading restrictions. You should consult with your personal legal advisor on this matter.
Imposition of Other Requirements    The Company reserves the right to impose other requirements on your participation in the Plan and on any shares of Company common stock acquired under the Plan, if the Company determines it is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons, and to require you to sign any additional agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.
Governing Law; Venue    This Agreement will be interpreted and enforced under the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to its choice-of-law provisions). For purposes of any action, lawsuit or other proceedings brought to enforce


   this Agreement, relating to it, or arising from it, the parties hereby submit to and consent to the sole and exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of San Diego County, California, or the federal courts for the Southern District of California, and no other courts, where this grant is made and/or to be performed.
Severability    The provisions of this Agreement are severable and if any one or more of the provisions are determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions will nevertheless be binding and enforceable.
Waiver    You acknowledge that a waiver by the Company of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement, or of any subsequent breach by your or any other Optionee.
The Plan and Other Agreements   

The text of the Plan is incorporated in this Agreement by reference.

 

The Plan, this Agreement[, any Outside Agreement] and the Grant Notice constitute the entire understanding between you and the Company regarding this option. Any prior agreements, commitments or negotiations concerning this option are superseded.

BY ACCEPTING THIS OPTION GRANT, YOU AGREE TO ALL OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN THIS AGREEMENT AND IN THE PLAN.


TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

2021 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

NOTICE OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD

You have been granted Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”), each representing the right to receive one share of common stock of TuSimple Holdings Inc. (the “Company”) on the following terms:

 

Name of Recipient:

   «Name»

Total Number of RSUs Granted:

   «TotalRSUs»

Date of Grant:

   «DateGrant»

Vesting Commencement Date:

   «Vesting Commencement Date»

Vesting Schedule:

   The first «CliffPercent»% of the RSUs subject to this award will vest on «InitialVestDate», an additional «IncrementPercent»% of the RSUs subject to this award will vest on «SecondVestDate», and an additional «IncrementPercent»% of the RSUs subject to this award will vest on the final day of each «IncrementPeriod»-month period thereafter, provided that you remain in continuous service as an [Employee or Consultant][Outside Director] (“Service”) through each such date. [In addition, the RSUs may become vested on an accelerated basis, as provided in the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement.]

You and the Company agree that the RSUs are granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Company’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (the “Agreement”), both of which are attached to, and made a part of, this document. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Plan or the Agreement.

The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to RSUs awarded under the Plan, future RSUs that may be awarded under the Plan and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to security holders (including annual reports and proxy statements) by email or other electronic means (including posting them on a website maintained by the Company or a third party under contract with the Company). You hereby consent to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agree to participate in the Plan through any on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or a third party designated by the Company.

In addition, by indicating acceptance of this award through the Company’s online acceptance procedure, you acknowledge that: (a) you have received, and understand and agree to the terms of, this Notice of Restricted Stock Unit Award (this “Grant Notice”), the Agreement, and the Plan; (b) you accept this award on the terms and conditions set forth in this Grant Notice, the Agreement and the Plan; and (c) this Grant Notice, the Agreement and the Plan set forth the entire understanding between you and the Company regarding the rights to acquire the shares subject to this award and supersede all prior oral and written agreements with respect thereto.

 


TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

2021 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT

 

Grant of RSUs   

Subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth in the Notice of Restricted Stock Unit Award (the “Grant Notice”), this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (this “Agreement”) and the Plan, the Company has granted to you the number of RSUs set forth in the Grant Notice.

 

All capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to them in this Agreement, the Grant Notice or the Plan.

Nature of RSUs    The RSUs are bookkeeping entries. They represent only the Company’s unfunded and unsecured promise to issue shares of common stock on a future date. As a holder of RSUs, you have no rights other than the rights of a general creditor of the Company.
Payment for RSUs    No payment is required for the RSUs that you are receiving.
Vesting   

The RSUs vest in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice.

 

[Notwithstanding the foregoing, if you are, or become, eligible for more favorable vesting acceleration provisions pursuant to a written agreement with the Company (an “Outside Agreement”), the more favorable terms in such Outside Agreement shall apply instead of the acceleration terms in this Agreement.]

 

No additional RSUs will vest after your Service has terminated for any reason[, except as set forth in this Agreement or an Outside Agreement, to the extent you are eligible for benefits thereunder].

Forfeiture   

If your Service terminates for any reason, then the RSUs will be forfeited to the extent that they have not vested before the termination date and do not vest as a result of the termination of your Service. This means that any RSUs that have not vested under this Agreement will be cancelled immediately. You receive no payment for RSUs that are forfeited. The Company determines when your Service terminates for all purposes of the RSUs.

 

For purposes of the RSUs, your Service will be considered terminated as of the date you are no longer providing active services to the Company, its Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates (regardless of the reason for such termination and whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws) and will not be extended by any notice period. The Administrator shall have exclusive discretion to determine when your Service terminates for purposes of this award (including when you are no longer considered to be providing Service while on a leave of absence).

 

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Leaves of Absence and Part-Time Work   

Service shall be deemed to continue for any purpose under this Agreement while you are on a bona fide leave of absence, if (a) such leave was approved by the Company in writing and (b) continued crediting of Service for such purpose is expressly required by the terms of such leave or by applicable law or policy (as determined by the Company). Subject to applicable law or policy (as determined by the Company), service may be deemed to terminate when such leave ends, unless you immediately return to active work.

 

If you commence working on a part-time basis, the Company may adjust the vesting schedule so that the rate of vesting is commensurate with your reduced work schedule, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

Settlement of RSUs   

Each RSU will be settled on or after it vests (unless you and the Company have agreed in writing to a later settlement date pursuant to procedures the Company may prescribe at its discretion); provided that settlement shall in all events occur within the “short term deferral period” as defined under Section 409A of the Code.

 

At the time of settlement, you will receive one share of the Company’s common stock for each vested RSU.

 

No fractional shares will be issued upon settlement.

Section 409A   

Unless you and the Company have agreed to a deferred settlement date (pursuant to procedures that the Company may prescribe at its discretion), settlement of these restricted stock units is intended to be exempt from the application of Code Section 409A pursuant to Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(b)(4) and shall be administered and interpreted in a manner that complies with such exception.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if it is determined that settlement of the RSUs is not exempt from Code Section 409A and the Company determines that you are a “specified employee,” as defined in the regulations under Code Section 409A at the time of your “separation from service,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h), then this paragraph will apply. If this paragraph applies, and the event triggering settlement is your “separation from service,” then any RSUs that otherwise would have been settled during the first six months following your “separation from service” will instead be settled on the first business day following the earlier of (a) the six-month anniversary of your separation from service or (b) your death.

 

Each installment of RSUs that vests is hereby designated as a separate payment for purposes of Code Section 409A.

No Voting Rights or Dividends    The RSUs carry neither voting rights nor rights to cash dividends. You have no rights as a stockholder of the Company unless and until the RSUs are settled by issuing shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

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RSUs Nontransferable    You may not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or otherwise dispose of any RSUs. For instance, you may not use the RSUs as security for a loan. In addition, regardless of any marital property settlement agreement, the Company is not obligated to recognize your former spouse’s interest in the RSUs in any way.
Beneficiary Designation    You may dispose of the RSUs in a written beneficiary designation, if authorized by the Company and to the extent such designation is valid under applicable laws. Any beneficiary designation must be filed with the Company on the proper form. It will be recognized only if it has been received at the Company’s headquarters before your death. If you file no beneficiary designation, if the beneficiary designation is not valid or if none of your designated beneficiaries survives you, then your estate will receive any vested RSUs that you hold at the time of your death.
Responsibility for Taxes   

Regardless of any action the Company (or, if applicable, the Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate employing or retaining you (the “Employer”)) takes with respect to any or all income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, fringe benefits tax, payment on account or other tax-related items related to the participation in the Plan and legally applicable to you (“Tax-Related Items”), you acknowledge that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items is and remains your responsibility and may exceed the amount, if any, actually withheld by the Company and/or the Employer. You further acknowledge that neither the Company nor the Employer: (a) make any representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the RSUs, including, but not limited to, the grant or vesting of the RSUs, the issuance of shares upon vesting of the RSUs, the subsequent sale of shares acquired pursuant to such vesting or the receipt of any dividends; nor (b) commit to or are under any obligation to structure the terms of the RSUs or any aspect of the RSUs to reduce or eliminate your liability for Tax-Related Items or achieve any particular tax result.

 

Prior to any relevant taxable or tax withholding event, as applicable, you agree to make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy all Tax-Related Items. In this regard, you authorize the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy any withholding obligations with regard to Tax-Related Items by one or a combination of the following: (a) withholding shares of Company common stock otherwise issuable in connection with the vesting of the RSUs; (b) withholding from proceeds of the sale of shares acquired upon vesting either through a voluntary sale or through a mandatory sale arranged by the Company (on your behalf pursuant to this authorization without further consent); (c) withholding from your wages or other compensation payable to you by the Company and/or the Employer; or (d) any other method determined by the Administrator to be in compliance with applicable laws; provided, however, that if you are a Company officer subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, then the Tax-Related Items will be satisfied by withholding in shares of Company common stock,

 

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unless otherwise determined in advance by the Board.

 

The Company may withhold or account for Tax-Related Items by considering the statutory withholding amount or other withholding rates, in which case you may receive a refund of any over-withheld amount in cash and will have no entitlement to the equivalent in shares.

 

If the withholding obligation for Tax-Related Items is satisfied by withholding in shares of Company common stock, for tax purposes, you will be deemed to have been issued the full number of shares subject to the RSUs, notwithstanding that a number of shares are held back solely for the purpose of paying the Tax-Related Items.

 

Finally, you agree to pay to the Company or the Employer any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company or the Employer may be required to withhold or account for as a result of your participation in the Plan that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described. The Company may refuse to issue and/or deliver the shares of Company common stock or proceeds from the sale of shares of Company common stock, if you fail to comply with your obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items.

Restrictions on Issuance / Compliance with Law    Notwithstanding any other provision in the Plan or this Agreement, unless there is an available exemption from registration, qualification or other legal requirement applicable to the shares of Company common stock, the Company shall not be required to issue any shares to you prior to the completion of any registration or qualification of the shares under any local, state or federal securities law or under rulings or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or of any other governmental body, or prior to obtaining any approval or other clearance from any local, state or federal governmental agency, which registration, qualification or approval the Company shall, in its absolute discretion, deem necessary or advisable. You understand that the Company is under no obligation to register or qualify the Company’s shares with the SEC or any state securities commission or to seek approval or clearance from any governmental authority for the issuance or sale of the shares. Further, you agree that the Company shall have unilateral authority to amend this Agreement with your consent to the extent necessary to comply with securities or other laws applicable to the issuance of shares.
Restrictions on Resale    You agree not to sell any shares at a time when applicable laws or Company policies prohibit a sale. This restriction will apply as long as your Service continues and for such period of time after the termination of your Service as the Company may specify. You further agree to comply with the Company’s Insider Trading Policy when selling shares of the Company’s common stock.
Nature of Grant    In accepting the RSUs, you acknowledge, understand and agree that: (a) the Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature, and the Company may amend, modify, suspend or terminate the

 

5


   Plan at any time, to the extent permitted by the Plan; (b) the grant of the RSUs is exceptional, voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of RSUs or benefits in lieu of RSUs, even if RSUs have been granted in the past; (c) all decisions with respect to future RSUs or other grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company; (d) neither your award nor this Agreement alters the at-will nature of your Service relationship; (e) neither the RSUs nor this Agreement gives you the right to remain retained by the Company, its Parent or any Subsidiary or Affiliate in any capacity; (f) if you are not providing services to the Company, the RSU grant does not establish an employment or other service relationship with the Company; (g) you are voluntarily participating in the Plan; (h) the RSUs and the shares of Company common stock subject to the RSUs, and the income from and value of same, are not intended to replace any pension rights or compensation; (i) the RSUs and the shares of Company common stock subject to the RSUs, and the income from and value of same, are not part of normal or expected compensation for purposes of, without limitation, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, dismissal, end-of-service payments, holiday pay, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar mandatory payments; (j) the future value of the shares of Company common stock subject to the RSUs is unknown, indeterminable, and cannot be predicted with certainty; (k) no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from the forfeiture of the RSUs resulting from the termination of your Service (for any reason whatsoever, whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment or other applicable laws); (l) unless otherwise agreed with the Company, the RSUs and the shares of Company common stock acquired under the Plan, and the income from and value of same, are not granted as consideration for, or in connection with, any service you may provide as a director of any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate; and (m) unless otherwise provided in the Plan or by the Company in its discretion, the RSUs and the benefits evidenced by this Agreement do not create any entitlement to have the RSUs transferred to, or assumed by, another company nor to be exchanged, cashed out or substituted for, in connection with any corporate transaction affecting the shares of Company common stock.
Adjustments    In the event of a stock split, a stock dividend or a similar change in Company stock, the number of the RSUs will be adjusted pursuant to the Plan.
No Advice Regarding Grant   

The Company is not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding your participation in the Plan, or the acquisition or sale of shares of Company common stock. You should consult with your own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding your participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.

 

Insider    You understand that you may be subject to applicable insider trading

 

6


Trading/Market Abuse Laws    restrictions and/or market abuse laws, which may affect your ability, directly or indirectly, to purchase or sell, or attempt to sell or otherwise dispose of shares, rights to shares (RSUs), or rights linked to the value of shares during such times as you are considered to have “inside information” regarding the Company (as defined by applicable law). Insider trading laws and regulations prohibit the cancellation or amendment of orders you placed before possessing the inside information. Furthermore, you understand that you may be prohibited from (a) disclosing the inside information to any third party, including fellow employees (other than on a “need to know” basis) and (b) “tipping” third parties by sharing with them Company inside information, or otherwise causing third parties to buy or sell Company securities. Any restrictions under these laws or regulations are separate from and in addition to restrictions that may apply to you under the Company’s Insider Trading Policy. It is your responsibility to comply with the Company’s Insider Trading Policy and any applicable legal or regulatory trading restrictions. You should consult with your personal legal advisor on this matter.
Effect of Significant Corporate Transactions    If the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, or certain change in control transactions, then the RSUs will be subject to the applicable provisions of Article 9.3 of the Plan, provided that any action taken must either (a) preserve the exemption of the RSUs from Code Section 409A or (b) comply with Code Section 409A.
Recoupment Policy    This award, and the shares acquired upon settlement of this award, shall be subject to any Company recoupment or clawback policy in effect from time to time.
Imposition of Other Requirements    The Company reserves the right to impose other requirements on your participation in the Plan and on any shares of Company common stock acquired under the Plan, if the Company determines it is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons, and to require you to sign any additional agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.
Governing Law; Venue    This Agreement will be interpreted and enforced under the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to its choice-of-law provisions). For purposes of any action, lawsuit or other proceedings brought to enforce this Agreement, relating to it, or arising from it, the parties hereby submit to and consent to the sole and exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of San Diego County, California, or the federal courts the Southern District of California, and no other courts, where this grant is made and/or to be performed.
Severability    The provisions of this Agreement are severable and if any one or more of the provisions are determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions will nevertheless be binding and enforceable.

 

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Waiver    You acknowledge that a waiver by the Company of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement, or of any subsequent breach by your or any other Participant.
The Plan and Other Agreements   

The text of the Plan is incorporated in this Agreement by reference.

 

The Plan, this Agreement[, any Outside Agreement] and the Grant Notice constitute the entire understanding between you and the Company regarding this award. Any prior agreements, commitments or negotiations concerning this award are superseded.

BY ACCEPTING THIS RSU AWARD, YOU AGREE TO ALL OF THE

TERMS AND CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN THIS AGREEMENT

AND IN THE PLAN.

 

8

Exhibit 10.15

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

2021 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

(AS ADOPTED EFFECTIVE AS OF THE IPO DATE)


TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

2021 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

SECTION 1. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN.

The Board adopted the Plan to become effective as of the IPO Date. The purpose of the Plan is to provide Eligible Employees with an opportunity to increase their proprietary interest in the success of the Company by purchasing Stock from the Company on favorable terms and to pay for such purchases through payroll deductions or other approved contributions.

SECTION 2. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.

(a) General. The Plan may be administered by the Board or one or more Committees. Each Committee shall comply with rules and regulations applicable to it, including under the rules of any exchange on which the Stock is traded, and shall have the authority and be responsible for such functions as have been assigned to it.

(b) Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the terms of the Plan, and in the case of a Committee, subject to the specific duties delegated to the Committee, the Administrator shall interpret the Plan and make all other policy decisions relating to the operation of the Plan. The Administrator may adopt such rules, guidelines and forms as it deems appropriate to implement the Plan.

(c) Effects of Administrator’s Decisions. The Administrator’s decisions, determinations and interpretations shall be final and binding on all interested parties.

(d) Governing Law. The Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware (except its choice of law provisions).

SECTION 3. STOCK OFFERED UNDER THE PLAN.

(a) Authorized Shares. The number of shares of Stock available for purchase under the Plan shall be 2,013,414 shares of the Company’s Stock (subject to adjustment pursuant to Subsection (c) below), plus the additional shares described in Subsection (b) below. Shares of Stock issued pursuant to the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares.

(b) Annual Increase in Shares. The Board shall have the authority, in its sole and absolute discretion, to increase the number of shares of the Company’s Stock that may be issued under the Plan, with any increase taking effect at the start of the fiscal year immediately following the fiscal year in which the increase is approved. The aggregate number of shares of the Company’s Stock that may be approved for issuance under the Plan in any given fiscal year may not exceed 1% of the total number of shares of Stock actually issued and outstanding on the last business day of the prior fiscal year (excluding any rights to purchase shares of Stock that may be outstanding, such as options or warrants).

 


(c) Anti-Dilution Adjustments. In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, stock or other securities or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, reclassification, repurchase, or exchange of Stock or other securities of the Company, or other similar change in the corporate structure of the Company affecting the Stock and effected without receipt or payment of consideration by the Company occurs, then in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, there will be a proportionate adjustment of the number and class of Stock that may be delivered under the Plan, the Purchase Price per share and the number and class of Stock covered by each option under the Plan which has not yet been exercised, and the numerical limits of Sections 3(a), 3(b)(ii) and 9(c). For the sake of clarity, a stock split, if any, conducted in connection with the Company’s IPO shall trigger an adjustment under this paragraph.

(d) Reorganizations. In the event of a Corporate Reorganization, the outstanding rights to purchase Stock under any Offering Period then in progress may be continued, assumed or substituted by the surviving entity or its parent. If such acquirer refuses to continue, assume or substitute for any such rights, then a new Purchase Date for such Offering Period(s) will be set prior to the effective time of the Corporate Reorganization, the Participants’ accumulated contributions will be applied to purchase Stock on such date, and any such Offering Periods shall terminate immediately after such purchase. In the event a new Purchase Date is set under this Section 3(d), Participants will be given notice of the new Purchase Date. The Plan shall in no event be construed to restrict in any way the Company’s right to undertake a dissolution, liquidation, merger, consolidation or other reorganization.

SECTION 4. ENROLLMENT AND PARTICIPATION.

 

  (a)

Offering Periods and Purchase Periods.

 

  (i)

Base Offering Periods. The Committee may establish Offering Periods of such frequency and duration as it may deem appropriate (the “Base Offering Periods”); provided that a Base Offering Period shall in no event be longer than 27 months (or such other period as may be imposed under applicable tax law). The Base Offering Periods are intended to qualify under Code Section 423. Unless changed by the Administrator, each Base Offering Period shall be six months in duration, consisting of one 6-month Purchase Period, and upon its conclusion, a new Base Offering Period shall commence.

 

  (ii)

Additional Offering Periods. At the discretion of the Administrator, additional Offering Periods (the “Additional Offering Periods”) may be conducted under the Plan including, if necessary or advisable in the sole discretion of the Administrator, under a separate sub-plan or sub-plans, permitting grants to Eligible Employees of certain Participating Companies (each, a “Sub-Plan”). Such Additional Offering Periods may be designed to achieve desired tax objectives in particular locations outside the United States or to comply with local laws applicable to offerings in such foreign jurisdictions and will not

 

2


  be intended to qualify under Code Section 423. The Administrator shall determine the commencement and duration of each Additional Offering Period, which may be consecutive or overlapping. The other terms and conditions of each Additional Offering Period shall be those set forth in this Plan document or in terms and conditions approved by the Administrator with respect to such Additional Offering Period (whether or not set forth in a written Sub-Plan), with such changes or additional features as the Administrator determines necessary to comply with local law or otherwise. Each Additional Offering Period (whether or not set forth in a written Sub-Plan) shall be considered a separate plan from the Plan (the “Statutory Plan”). The total number of shares authorized to be issued under the Plan as provided in Section 3 above applies in the aggregate to the Statutory Plan and any Additional Offering Period. Unless otherwise superseded by the terms and conditions approved by the Administrator with respect to an Additional Offering Period, the provisions of this Plan document shall govern the operation of any offering conducted hereunder.

 

  (iii)

Separate Offerings. Each Base Offering Period and each Additional Offering Period conducted under the Plan is intended to constitute a separate “offering” for purposes of Code Section 423.

 

  (iv)

Equal Rights and Privileges. To the extent an Offering Period is intended to qualify under Code Section 423, all participants in such Offering Period shall have the same rights and privileges with respect to their participation in such Offering Period in accordance with Code Section 423 and the regulations thereunder except for differences that may be mandated by local law and are consistent with the requirements of Code Section 423(b)(5).

(b) Enrollment. In the case of any individual who qualifies as an Eligible Employee on the first day of any Offering Period, he or she may elect to become a Participant on such day by filing the prescribed enrollment form with the Company. The enrollment form shall be filed in the prescribed manner during the applicable Enrollment Period for such Offering Period. The Committee may establish other procedures for enrollment by Eligible Employees.

(c) Duration of Participation. Once enrolled in the Plan, a Participant shall continue to participate in the Plan until he or she:

 

  (i)

Reaches the end of the Offering Period or Purchase Period, as applicable, in which his or her employee contributions were discontinued under Section 5(c) or 9(b);

 

  (ii)

Is deemed to withdraw from the Plan under Subsection (b) above;

 

  (iii)

Withdraws from the Plan under Section 6(a); or

 

  (iv)

Ceases to be an Eligible Employee.

 

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A Participant whose employee contributions were discontinued automatically under Section 9(b) shall automatically resume participation as described therein. In all other cases, a former Participant may again become a Participant, if he or she then is an Eligible Employee, by following the procedure described in Subsection (b) above.

(d) Applicable Offering Period. For purposes of calculating the Purchase Price under Section 8(b), the applicable Offering Period shall be determined as follows:

 

  (i)

Once a Participant is enrolled in the Plan for an Offering Period, such Offering Period shall continue to apply to him or her until the earliest of (A) the end of such Offering Period, (B) the end of his or her participation under Subsection (d) above, or (C) re-enrollment for a subsequent Offering Period under Paragraph (ii) below.

 

  (ii)

Any other provision of the Plan notwithstanding, the Administrator (at its sole discretion) may determine prior to the commencement of any new Offering Period that all Participants shall be re-enrolled for such new Offering Period. In addition, the Administrator may structure an Offering Period that in the event that the Fair Market Value of a Share on the first day of the Offering Period for which the Participant is enrolled is higher than on the first day of any subsequent Offering Period, the Participant shall automatically be re-enrolled for such subsequent Offering Period.

 

  (iii)

When a Participant reaches the end of an Offering Period but his or her participation is to continue, then such Participant shall automatically be re-enrolled for the Offering Period that commences immediately after the end of the prior Offering Period.

SECTION 5. EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS.

(a) Commencement of Payroll Deductions. A Participant may purchase shares of Stock under the Plan by means of payroll deductions or (if so approved by the Administrator with respect to all Participants in a Base Offering Period) other approved contributions in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrator. Payroll deductions or other approved contributions shall commence as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company has received the prescribed enrollment form by the end of the applicable Enrollment Period. In jurisdictions where payroll deductions are not permitted under local law, Participants may purchase shares of Stock by making contributions in the form that is acceptable and approved by the Administrator.

(b) Amount of Payroll Deductions. An Eligible Employee shall designate on the prescribed enrollment form the portion of his or her Compensation that he or she elects to have withheld for the purchase of Stock. Such portion shall be a whole percentage of the Eligible Employee’s Compensation, established by the Administrator for an Offering Period but not more than 15%.

 

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(c) Reducing Withholding Rate or Discontinuing Payroll Deductions. If a Participant wishes to reduce his or her rate of payroll withholding, such Participant may do so by filing a new enrollment form with the Company in the manner prescribed by the Administrator. The new withholding rate shall be effective as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company has received such form. The new withholding rate may be 0% or any whole percentage of the Participant’s Compensation, but not more than his or her old withholding rate. The Administrator may limit the number of times a Participant may elect to reduce his or her rate of withholding during any Offering Period and/or Purchase Period. Unless a different rule is established for an Offering Period, no Participant shall make more than one election under this Subsection (c) during any Purchase Period. (In addition, employee contributions may be discontinued automatically pursuant to Section 9(b).)

(d) Increasing Withholding Rate. Unless the Administrator establishes a different rule for an Offering Period, a Participant may not increase his or her rate of payroll withholding during a Purchase Period. If a Participant wishes to increase his or her rate of payroll withholding, such Participant may do so by filing a new enrollment form with the Company at least fifteen (15) calendar days prior to commencement of a Purchase Period (or such other period as is specified by the Administrator). The new withholding rate shall be effective on the first day of the next-upcoming Purchase Period in which the Participant participates. The new withholding rate may be any whole percentage of the Participant’s Compensation, but not less than 1% nor more than the maximum amount established for the Offering Period.

SECTION 6. WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PLAN.

(a) Withdrawal. A Participant may elect to withdraw from the Plan (and the Offering Period in which he or she is participating) by filing the prescribed form with the Company in the prescribed manner at least fifteen (15) calendar days prior to a Purchase Date (or such other period as is specified by the Administrator). As soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, payroll deductions or other approved contributions shall cease and the entire amount credited to the Participant’s Plan Account with respect to such Offering Period shall be refunded to him or her in cash, without interest (except as otherwise required by the laws of the local jurisdiction). No partial withdrawals from an Offering Period shall be permitted.

(b) Re-Enrollment After Withdrawal. A former Participant who has withdrawn from the Plan shall not be a Participant until he or she re-enrolls in the Plan under Section 4(c) during an Enrollment Period. Re-enrollment may be effective only at the commencement of an Offering Period.

SECTION 7. CHANGE IN EMPLOYMENT STATUS.

(a) Termination of Employment. Termination of employment as an Eligible Employee for any reason, including death, shall be treated as an automatic withdrawal from the Plan under Section 6(a).

 

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(b) Transfers of Employment. If a Participant transfers employment from a Participating Company that is participating in a Base Offering Period to a Participating Company that is participating in an Additional Offering Period, he or she will immediately cease to participate in the Base Offering Period, as applicable; however, such Participant’s Plan Account will be transferred to the Additional Offering Period, and such Participant will immediately join such Additional Offering Period on the terms and conditions applicable to such Additional Offering Period, except for any modifications required by applicable law. If a Participant transfers employment from a Participating Company that is participating in an Additional Offering Period to a Participating Company that is participating in a Base Offering Period, he or she will continue to participate in the Additional Offering Period until the earlier of (i) the end of such Additional Offering Period, or (ii) the commencement of the first Base Offering Period in which he or she is eligible. If a Participant transfers employment from a Participating Company to a Related Corporation that is not a Participating Company, he or she shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Plan pursuant to Section 6(a).

(c) Leave of Absence. For purposes of the Plan, employment shall not be deemed to terminate when the Participant goes on a military leave, a sick leave or another bona fide leave of absence, if the leave was approved by the Company in writing. Employment, however, shall be deemed to terminate on the first day following three months after the Participant goes on a leave, unless a contract or statute guarantees his or her right to return to work. Employment shall be deemed to terminate in any event when the approved leave ends, unless the Participant immediately returns to work.

(d) Death. In the event of the Participant’s death, the amount credited to his or her Plan Account shall be paid in cash, without interest (unless otherwise required by the laws of the local jurisdiction), to a beneficiary designated by him or her for this purpose on the prescribed form or, if none, to the Participant’s estate. Such form shall be valid only if it was filed with the Company in the prescribed manner before the Participant’s death.

SECTION 8. PLAN ACCOUNTS AND PURCHASE OF SHARES.

(a) Plan Accounts. The Company shall maintain a Plan Account on its books in the name of each Participant. Whenever an amount is deducted from the Participant’s Compensation under the Plan, such amount shall be credited to the Participant’s Plan Account. Unless otherwise required by the laws of the local jurisdiction, (i) amounts credited to Plan Accounts shall not be trust funds and may be commingled with the Company’s general assets and applied to general corporate purposes, and (ii) no interest shall be credited to Plan Accounts.

(b) Purchase Price. The Administrator shall establish the Purchase Price for each Offering Period; provided, however, that the Purchase Price for each share of Stock purchased on a Purchase Date shall not be less than the lower of:

 

  (i)

85% of the Fair Market Value of such share on the first trading day of such Offering Period; or

 

  (ii)

85% of the Fair Market Value of such share on the Purchase Date.

 

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(c) Number of Shares Purchased. On each Purchase Date, each Participant shall be deemed to have elected to purchase the number of shares of Stock calculated in accordance with this Subsection (c), unless the Participant has previously elected to withdraw from the Offering Period in accordance with Section 6(a). The amount then in the Participant’s Plan Account shall be divided by the Purchase Price, and the number of shares that results shall be purchased from the Company with the funds in the Participant’s Plan Account. The foregoing number of shares of Stock that may be purchased by a Participant are subject to the limitations set forth in Subsection (d) below and in Section 9. The Administrator may determine with respect to all Participants that any fractional share, as calculated under this Subsection (c), shall be (i) rounded down to the next lower whole share or (ii) credited as a fractional share.

(d) Available Shares Insufficient. In the event that the aggregate number of shares that all Participants elect to purchase with respect to a particular Purchase Period exceeds (i) the number of shares of Stock that were available under Section 3 above for sale under the Plan on the first day of the applicable Offering Period, or (ii) the number of shares that were available under Section 3 above for sale under the Plan on the applicable Purchase Date, then the number of shares to which each Participant is entitled shall be determined by multiplying the number of shares available for issuance by a fraction. The numerator of such fraction is the number of shares that such Participant has elected to purchase, and the denominator of such fraction is the number of shares that all Participants have elected to purchase. The Company may make a pro rata allocation of the shares available on the first day of an applicable Offering Period pursuant to the preceding sentence, notwithstanding any authorization of additional shares for issuance under the Plan by the Company’s stockholders subsequent to such date. In the event of a pro-rata allocation under this Section (d), the Administrator may determine in its discretion to continue all Offering Periods then in effect or terminate all Offering Periods then in effect pursuant to Section 14.

(e) Issuance of Stock. The shares of Stock purchased by a Participant under the Plan will be registered in the name of such Participant. The Company may permit or require that shares be deposited directly with a broker designated by the Company or to a designated agent of the Company, and the Company may utilize electronic or automated methods of share transfer. The Company may require that shares be retained with such broker or agent for a designated period of time and/or may establish other procedures to permit tracking of disqualifying dispositions of such shares. (The two preceding sentences shall apply whether or not the Participant is required to pay income tax in the United States.)

(f) Tax Withholding. To the extent required by applicable U.S. federal, state, local or foreign law, a Participant shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the satisfaction of any withholding tax obligations that arise in connection with the Plan. The Company shall not be required to issue any shares of Stock under the Plan until such obligations, if any, are satisfied.

(g) Unused Cash Balances. Subject to the final sentence of Section 8(c), an amount remaining in the Participant’s Plan Account that represents the Purchase Price for any fractional share shall be carried over in the Participant’s Plan Account to the next Offering Period or Purchase Period, as applicable. Any amount remaining in the Participant’s Plan Account that represents the Purchase Price for whole shares that could not be purchased by reason of Subsections (c) or (d) above or Section 9(b) shall be refunded to the Participant in cash, without interest (except as otherwise required by the laws of the local jurisdiction).

 

7


(h) Stockholder Approval. Any other provision of the Plan notwithstanding, no shares of Stock shall be purchased under the Plan unless and until the Company’s stockholders have approved the adoption of the Plan.

SECTION 9. PLAN LIMITATIONS.

(a) Five Percent Limit. Any other provision of the Plan notwithstanding, no Participant shall be granted a right to purchase Stock under the Plan if, immediately after such right is granted, such Participant would own stock possessing 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or any Related Corporation, applying the stock attribution rules of Code Section 424(d), and including any stock in which the Participant may purchase under outstanding options as stock owned by such Participant.

(b) Dollar Limit. As specified by Code Section 423(b)(8), no Participant shall be entitled to accrue rights to purchase Stock pursuant to any such rights outstanding under the Plan if and to the extent such accrual, when aggregated with (i) rights to purchase Stock accrued under any other right to purchase Stock under the Plan, and (ii) similar rights accrued under other employee stock purchase plans (within the meaning of Code Section 423) of the Company or any Related Corporation, would otherwise permit such Participant to purchase more than the amount worth of Stock of the Company or any Related Corporation (determined on the basis of the Fair Market Value per share on the date such rights are granted, and which, with respect to the Plan, will be determined as of the beginning of the respective Offering Period) for each calendar year such rights are at any time outstanding, as determined by the Administrator from time to time and which amount shall not exceed $25,000.

If a Participant is precluded by this Subsection (b) from purchasing additional Stock under the Plan, then his or her employee contributions shall automatically be discontinued and shall automatically resume at the beginning of the next Purchase Period with a scheduled Purchase Date in the next calendar year, provided that he or she is an Eligible Employee at the beginning of such Purchase Period.

(c) Purchase Period Share Purchase Limit. The Administrator may establish one or more limits on the number of shares of Stock that may be purchased during any Purchase Period, including individual limits and/or aggregate limits. Unless the Administrator provides otherwise with respect to an Offering Period, any other provision of the Plan notwithstanding, no Participant shall purchase more than 1,500 shares of Stock (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 3(c)) with respect to any Purchase Period.

SECTION 10. RIGHTS NOT TRANSFERABLE.

The rights of any Participant under the Plan, or any Participant’s interest in any Stock or moneys to which he or she may be entitled under the Plan, shall not be transferable by voluntary or involuntary assignment or by operation of law, or in any other manner other than by beneficiary designation or the laws of descent and distribution. If a Participant in any manner attempts to transfer, assign or otherwise encumber his or her rights or interest under the Plan, other than by beneficiary designation or the laws of descent and distribution, then such act shall be treated as an election by the Participant to withdraw from the Plan under Section 6(a).

 

8


SECTION 11. NO RIGHTS AS AN EMPLOYEE.

Nothing in the Plan or in any right granted under the Plan shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue in the employ of a Participating Company for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Participating Companies or of the Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate his or her employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause.

SECTION 12. NO RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER.

A Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Stock that he or she may have a right to purchase under the Plan until such shares have been purchased on the applicable Purchase Date.

SECTION 13. SECURITIES LAW REQUIREMENTS.

Shares of Stock shall not be issued, and the Company shall have no liability for failure to issue shares of Stock, under the Plan unless the issuance and delivery of such shares comply with (or are exempt from) all applicable requirements of law, including (without limitation) the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, state securities laws and regulations, and the regulations of any stock exchange or other securities market on which the Company’s securities may then be traded.

SECTION 14. AMENDMENT OR DISCONTINUANCE.

(a) General Rule. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may amend, suspend, or terminate the Plan, or any part thereof, at any time and for any reason. If the Plan is terminated, the Administrator, in its discretion, may elect to terminate all outstanding Offering Periods either immediately or upon completion of the purchase of shares of Stock on the next Purchase Date, or may elect to permit Offering Periods to expire in accordance with their terms (and subject to any adjustment pursuant to Section 3(c) or (d)). If the Offering Periods are terminated prior to expiration, all amounts then credited to Participants’ accounts which have not been used to purchase shares of Stock will be returned to the Participants (without interest thereon, except as otherwise required by the laws of the local jurisdiction) as soon as administratively practicable.

(b) Administrator’s Discretion. Without stockholder consent and without limiting Subsection (a) above, the Administrator will be entitled to change the Offering Periods, limit the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld during an Offering Period, establish the exchange ratio applicable to amounts withheld in a currency other than U.S. dollars, permit payroll withholding in excess of the amount designated by a Participant in order to adjust for delays or mistakes in the Company’s processing of properly completed withholding elections (after consideration of accounting treatment of such excess withholding), establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or accounting and crediting procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of Stock for each Participant properly correspond with amounts withheld from the Participant’s Compensation, amend any outstanding purchase rights or clarify any ambiguities regarding the terms of any Offering Period to enable the purchase

 

9


rights to qualify under and/or comply with Section 423 of the Code, and establish such other limitations or procedures as it determines in its sole discretion advisable which are consistent with the Plan. The actions of the Administrator pursuant to this paragraph will not be considered to alter or impair the purchase rights granted under an Offering Period as they are to be deemed part of the initial terms of such Offering Period and purchase rights.

(c) Accounting Considerations. In the event the Administrator determines that the ongoing operation of the Plan may result in unfavorable financial accounting consequences, the Administrator may, in its discretion and, to the extent necessary or desirable, modify, amend or terminate the Plan to reduce or eliminate such accounting consequence including, but not limited to:

 

  (i)

Amending the Plan to conform with the safe harbor definition under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (or successor provision), including with respect to an Offering Period underway at the time;

 

  (ii)

Reducing the Purchase Price for any Offering Period including an Offering Period underway at the time of the change in Purchase Price;

 

  (iii)

Shortening any Offering Period (and any Purchase Periods encompassed by such Offering Period) by setting a new Purchase Date, including with respect to an Offering Period underway at the time of the Administrator’s action;

 

  (iv)

Reducing the maximum percentage of Compensation a Participant may elect to set aside as payroll deductions; and

 

  (v)

Reducing the maximum number of shares of Stock a Participant may purchase during any Purchase Period.

Such modifications or amendments will not require stockholder approval or the consent of any Plan Participants. The actions of the Administrator pursuant to this paragraph will not be considered to alter or impair the purchase rights granted under an Offering Period as they are to be deemed part of the initial terms of such Offering Period and purchase rights.

(d) Stockholder Approval. Except as provided in Section 3, any increase in the aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders. In addition, any other amendment of the Plan shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders to the extent required under Section 14(e) or by any applicable law or regulation.

(e) Plan Termination. The Plan shall terminate automatically 20 years after its adoption by the Board, unless (i) the Plan is extended by the Board and (ii) the extension is approved within 12 months by a vote of the stockholders of the Company.

 

10


SECTION 15. DEFINITIONS.

(a) “Administrator” means the Board or any Committee administering the Plan in accordance with Section 2.

(b) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted from time to time.

(c) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(d) “Committee” means a committee of one or more members of the Board, or of other individuals satisfying applicable laws, appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.

(e) “Company” means TuSimple Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation.

(f) “Compensation” means, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator with respect to an Offering Period, those components of an Eligible Employee’s cash compensation (prior to reductions pursuant to Code Sections 125, 132(f) or 401(k)) that are regular and recurring, including cash base salary or base hourly pay but excluding any overtime pay or shift differentials, commissions, annual cash incentive compensation, and annual cash bonuses, and further excluding extraordinary cash items (such as one-time bonuses), as well as all non-cash items, moving or relocation allowances, cost-of-living or tax equalization payments, car allowances, tuition reimbursements, imputed income attributable to cars or life insurance, severance pay, fringe benefits, contributions or benefits received under employee benefit plans, payments for or related to equity compensation, and any similar items. The Administrator shall determine whether a particular item is included in Compensation.

(g) “Corporate Reorganization” means:

 

  (i)

The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity or any other corporate reorganization; or

 

  (ii)

The sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or the complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

(h) “Eligible Employee” means a common law employee of a Participating Company, provided, however, that the Administrator may exclude one or more of the following categories of employees (where exclusion of such employees is permitted by applicable law) from any Offering Period: (i) employees who have been employed less than two years (or any shorter period of time established for an Offering Period), (ii) employees who are customarily employed twenty (20) or less hours per week (or any lesser number of hours per week established for an Offering Period), (iii) employees who are customarily employed for five (5) months or less in a calendar year (or any lesser number of months in a calendar year established for an Offering Period), (iv) “highly compensated employees” (within the meaning of Code Section 414(q)) or (v) “highly compensated employees” (within the meaning of Code Section 414(q)) with compensation above a certain level and/or who are subject to the disclosure requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act. In addition, an individual shall not be

 

11


considered an Eligible Employee if his or her participation in the Plan is prohibited by the law of any country that has jurisdiction over him or her or if complying with the laws of the applicable foreign jurisdiction would cause the Plan or an Offering Period to violate the requirements of Code Section 423. With respect to a Base Offering Period, any criteria used to determine Eligible Employees shall be determined in a manner consistent with Code Section 423. In the case of an Offering Period that is not intended to qualify under Code Section 423, the Administrator may exclude any individual(s) from participation if the Administrator determines the participation of such individual(s) is not advisable or practicable.

(i) “Enrollment Period” means a period prior to the start of an Offering Period during which Eligible Employees must submit the required enrollment forms to participate in such Offering Period, which period shall end at least 10 business days (or such other date as may be specified in advance by the Administrator) prior to the start of the Offering Period.

(j) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(k) “Fair Market Value” means the price at which Stock was last sold in the principal U.S. market for the Stock on the applicable date or, if the applicable date was not a trading day, on the last trading day prior to the applicable date. If Stock is no longer traded on a public U.S. securities market, the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Administrator in good faith on such basis as it deems appropriate. The Administrator’s determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons. For purposes of determining Fair Market Value as of a Purchase Date, and unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, the applicable date will be the last trading day immediately preceding the Purchase Date.

(l) “IPO” means the Company’s initial offering of Stock to the public.

(m) “IPO Date” means the effective date of the registration statement filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission for its initial offering of Stock to the public.

(n) “Offering Period” means any period, including as the context requires any Base Offering Periods and Additional Offering Periods, with respect to which the right to purchase Stock may be granted under the Plan, as determined pursuant to Section 4(a).

(o) “Participant” means an Eligible Employee who participates in the Plan or any Sub-Plan, as provided in Section 4.

(p) “Participating Company” means (i) the Company and (ii) each present or future Subsidiary designated by the Administrator as a Participating Company.

(q) “Plan” means this TuSimple Holdings, Inc 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.

(r) “Plan Account” means the account established for each Participant pursuant to Section 8(a).

(s) “Purchase Date” means the last trading day of a Purchase Period.

 

12


(t) “Purchase Period” means a period within an Offering Period (which for an Offering Period with only a single Purchase Period would be coterminous with the Offering Period) during which contributions may be made toward the purchase of Stock under the Plan, as determined pursuant to Section 4(a).

(u) “Purchase Price” means the price at which Participants may purchase Stock under the Plan, as determined pursuant to Section 8(b).

(v) “Related Corporation” means any “parent corporation” of the Company as defined in Code Section 424(e) or any Subsidiary.

(w) “Stock” means the common stock of the Company.

(x) “Subsidiary” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company, if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

 

13

Exhibit 10.16

LEASE

BETWEEN

LJ GATEWAY OFFICE LLC

AND

TUSIMPLE LLC

 


LEASE

(Short Form)

THIS LEASE is made as of December 16, 2016, by and between LJ GATEWAY OFFICE LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, hereafter called “Landlord,” and TUSIMPLE LLC, a California limited liability company, hereafter called “Tenant.”

ARTICLE 1. BASIC LEASE PROVISIONS

Each reference in this Lease to the “Basic Lease Provisions” shall mean and refer to the following collective terms, the application of which shall be governed by the provisions in the remaining Articles of this Lease.

 

1.

Tenants Trade Name: N/A

 

2.

Premises:                    Suite No. 600

Address of Building: 9191 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, CA 92122

Project Description:  La Jolla Gateway

(The Premises are more particularly described in Section 2.1).

 

3.

Use of Premises: General office and for no other use.

 

4.

Estimated Commencement Date: March 1,2017

 

5.

Lease Term: 24 months, plus such additional days as may be required to cause this Lease to expire on the final day of the calendar month.

 

6.

Basic Rent:

 

Months of Term

or Period

   Monthly Rate Per Rentable
Square Foot
     Monthly Basic Rent (rounded to
the nearest dollar)
 

1 to 12

   $ 3.10      $ 34,636.00  

13 to 24

   $ 3.24      $ 36,201.00  

Notwithstanding the above schedule of Basic Rent to the contrary, as long as Tenant is not in Default (as defined in Section 14.1) under this Lease, Tenant shall be entitled to an abatement of $22,569.00 of Basic Rent (the “Abated Basic Rent”) towards the first full calendar month of the Term (the “Abatement Period”). In the event Tenant Defaults at any time during the Term, all Abated Basic Rent shall immediately become due and payable. The payment by Tenant of the Abated Basic Rent in the event of a Default shall not limit or affect any of Landlord’s other rights, pursuant to this Lease or at law or in equity. Only Basic Rent shall be abated during the Abatement Period and all other additional rent and other costs and charges specified in this Lease shall remain as due and payable pursuant to the provisions of this Lease.

 

7.

Property Tax Base: The Property Taxes per rentable square foot incurred by Landlord and attributable to the twelve month period ending June 30, 2017 (the “Base Year”).

Project Cost Base: The Project Costs per rentable square foot incurred by Landlord and attributable to the Base Year.

Expense Recovery Period: Every twelve month period during the Term (or portion thereof during the first and last Lease years) ending June 30.

 

8.

Floor Area of Premises: approximately 11,173 rentable square feet (Landlord and Tenant stipulate and agree that the Floor Area of Premises is correct).

Floor Area of Building: approximately 181,317 rentable square feet

 

9.

Security Deposit: $74,457.00, as further described in Section 4.3

Guarantor: Xiaodi Hou, an individual. Concurrent with Tenant’s execution and delivery of this Lease, Tenant shall cause the Guarantor to execute and deliver a guarantee in favor of Landlord on a form provided by Landlord.

 

10.

Broker(s): Irvine Realty Company (“Landlord’s Broker”) is the agent of Landlord exclusively and The Irving Group (“Tenant’s Broker”) is the agent of Tenant exclusively.

 

11.

Parking: 39 parking passes in accordance with the provisions set forth in Exhibit F to this Lease.

 

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12.

Address for Payments and Notices:

 

LANDLORD    TENANT
Payment Address:   

TUSIMPLE LLC

9191 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 600

LJ GATEWAY OFFICE LLC    San Diego, CA 92122

PO Box #846785

Los Angeles, CA 90084-6785

   Attn: Xiaodi Hou

Notice Address:

LJ GATEWAY OFFICE LLC

9191 Towne Center Drive, Suite 125

San Diego, CA, 92122

Attn: Building Manager

with a copy of notices to:

THE IRVINE COMPANY LLC

550 Newport Center Drive

Newport Beach, CA 92660

Attn: Senior Vice President, Property Operations

         Irvine Office Properties

 

13.

List of Lease Exhibits (all exhibits, riders and addenda attached to this Lease are hereby incorporated into and made a part of this Lease):

 

Exhibit A    Description of Premises
Exhibit B    Operating Expenses
Exhibit C    Utilities and Services
Exhibit D    Tenant’s Insurance
Exhibit E    Rules and Regulations
Exhibit F    Parking
Exhibit G    Additional Provisions
Exhibit X    Work Letter

 

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ARTICLE 2. PREMISES

2.1. LEASED PREMISES. Landlord leases to Tenant and Tenant leases from Landlord the Premises shown in Exhibit A (the “Premises”), containing approximately the floor area set forth in Item 8 of the Basic Lease Provisions (the “Floor Area”). The Premises are located in the building identified in Item 2 of the Basic Lease Provisions (the “Building”), which is a portion of the project described in Item 2 (the “Project”).

2.2. ACCEPTANCE OF PREMISES. Tenant acknowledges that neither Landlord nor any representative of Landlord has made any representation or warranty with respect to the Premises, the Building or the Project or the suitability or fitness of either for any purpose, except as set forth in this Lease. The taking of possession or use of the Premises by Tenant for any purpose other than construction shall conclusively establish that the Premises and the Building were in satisfactory condition and in conformity with the provisions of this Lease in all respects. Nothing contained in this Section 2.2 shall affect the commencement of the Term or the obligation of Tenant to pay rent.

ARTICLE 3. TERM

3.1. GENERAL. The term of this Lease (“Term”) shall be for the period shown in Item 5 of the Basic Lease Provisions. The Term shall commence (“Commencement Date”) on the earlier of (a) the date the Premises are deemed “ready for occupancy” (as hereinafter defined) and possession thereof is delivered to Tenant, or (b) the date Tenant commences its regular business activities within the Premises. Promptly following request by Landlord, the parties shall memorialize on a form provided by Landlord (the “Commencement Memorandum”) the actual Commencement Date and the expiration date (“Expiration Date”) of this Lease; should Tenant fail to execute and return the Commencement Memorandum to Landlord within 5 business days (or provide specific written objections thereto within that period), then Landlord’s determination of the Commencement and Expiration Dates as set forth in the Commencement Memorandum shall be conclusive. The Premises shall be deemed “ready for occupancy” when Landlord, to the extent applicable, has substantially completed all the work required to be completed by Landlord pursuant to the Work Letter attached to this Lease but for minor punch list matters, and has obtained the requisite governmental approvals for Tenant’s occupancy in connection with such work.

3.2. DELAY IN POSSESSION. If Landlord, for any reason whatsoever, cannot deliver possession of the Premises to Tenant on or before the Estimated Commencement Date set forth in Item 4 of the Basic Lease Provisions, this Lease shall not be void or voidable nor shall Landlord be liable to Tenant for any resulting loss or damage. However, Tenant shall not be liable for any rent until the Commencement Date occurs as provided in Section 3.1 above, except that if Landlord’s failure to substantially complete all work required of Landlord pursuant to Section 3.1 above is attributable to any action or inaction by Tenant (including without limitation any Tenant Delay described in the Work Letter attached to this Lease), then the Premises shall be deemed ready for occupancy, and Landlord shall be entitled to full performance by Tenant (including the payment of rent), as of the date Landlord would have been able to substantially complete such work and deliver the Premises to Tenant but for Tenant’s delay(s).

ARTICLE 4. RENT AND OPERATING EXPENSES

4.1. BASIC RENT. From and after the Commencement Date, Tenant shall pay to Landlord without deduction or offset a Basic Rent for the Premises in the total amount shown (including subsequent adjustments, if any) in Item 6 of the Basic Lease Provisions (the “Basic Rent”). If the Commencement Date is other than the first day of a calendar month, any rental adjustment shown in Item 6 shall be deemed to occur on the first day of the next calendar month following the specified monthly anniversary of the Commencement Date. The Basic Rent shall be due and payable in advance commencing on the Commencement Date and continuing thereafter on the first day of each successive calendar month of the Term, as prorated for any partial month. No demand, notice or invoice shall be required. An installment in the amount of 1 full month’s Basic Rent at the initial rate specified in Item 6 of the Basic Lease Provisions shall be delivered to Landlord concurrently with Tenant’s execution of this Lease.

4.2. OPERATING EXPENSES. Tenant shall pay Tenant’s Share of Operating Expenses in accordance with Exhibit B of this Lease.

4.3. SECURITY DEPOSIT. Concurrently with Tenant’s delivery of this Lease, Tenant shall deposit with Landlord the sum, if any, stated in Item 9 of the Basic Lease Provisions (the “Security Deposit”), to be held by Landlord as security for the full and faithful performance of Tenant’s obligations under this Lease, to pay any rental sums, including without limitation such additional rent as may be owing under any provision hereof, and to maintain the Premises as required by this Lease. Upon any breach of the foregoing obligations by Tenant, Landlord may apply all or part of the Security Deposit as full or partial compensation. If any portion of the Security Deposit is so applied, Tenant shall within 5 days after written demand by Landlord deposit cash with Landlord in an amount sufficient to restore the Security Deposit to its original amount. Landlord shall not be required to keep this Security Deposit separate from its general funds, and Tenant shall not be entitled to interest on the Security Deposit. In no event may Tenant utilize all or any portion of the Security Deposit as a payment toward any rental sum due under this Lease. Any unapplied balance of the Security Deposit shall be returned to Tenant or, at Landlord’s option, to the last assignee of Tenant’s interest in this Lease within 30 days following the termination of this Lease and Tenant’s vacation of the Premises. Tenant hereby waives the provisions of Section 1950.7 of the California Civil Code, or any similar or successor laws now or hereafter in effect.

ARTICLE 5. USES

5.1. USE. Tenant shall use the Premises only for the purposes stated in Item 3 of the Basic Lease Provisions and for no other use whatsoever. Tenant shall not do or permit anything to be done in or about the Premises which will in any way interfere with the rights or quiet enjoyment of other occupants of the Building or the Project, or use or allow the Premises to be used for any unlawful purpose, nor shall Tenant permit any nuisance in the Premises or the Project. Tenant shall comply at its expense with all present and future laws, ordinances and requirements of all governmental authorities that pertain to Tenant or its use of the Premises, and with all energy usage reporting requirements of Landlord. As of the date of this Lease, there has been no inspection of the Building and Project by a Certified Access Specialist as referenced in Section 1938 of the California Civil Code.

 

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5.2. SIGNS. Landlord shall affix and maintain a sign (restricted solely to Tenant’s name as set forth herein or such other name as Landlord may consent to in writing) adjacent to the entry door of the Premises, together with a directory strip listing Tenant’s name as set forth herein in the lobby directory of the Building. Tenant shall not place or allow to be placed any other sign, decoration or advertising matter of any kind that is visible from the exterior of the Premises.

5.3 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. Tenant shall not generate, handle, store or dispose of hazardous or toxic materials (as such materials may be identified in any federal, state or local law or regulation) in the Premises or Project without the prior written consent of Landlord. Tenant acknowledges that it has read, understands and, if applicable, shall comply with the provisions of Exhibit H to this Lease, if that Exhibit is attached.

ARTICLE 6. LANDLORD SERVICES

6.1. UTILITIES AND SERVICES. Landlord and Tenant shall be responsible to furnish those utilities and services to the Premises to the extent provided in Exhibit C, subject to the conditions and payment obligations and standards set forth in this Lease. Landlord’s failure to furnish, or any interruption, diminishment or termination of, services due to the application of laws, the failure of any equipment, the performance of repairs, improvements or alterations, utility interruptions or the occurrence of an event of force majeure (defined in Section 20.8) shall not render Landlord liable to Tenant, constitute a constructive eviction of Tenant, give rise to an abatement of Rent, nor relieve Tenant from the obligation to fulfill any covenant or agreement.

6.2. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF COMMON AREAS. During the Term, Landlord shall operate all Common Areas within the Building and the Project. The term “Common Areas” shall mean all areas within the Building, Project and other buildings in the Project which are not held for exclusive use by persons entitled to occupy space.

6.3. USE OF COMMON AREAS. The occupancy by Tenant of the Premises shall include the use of the Common Areas in common with Landlord and with all others for whose convenience and use the Common Areas may be provided by Landlord, subject, however, to compliance with Rules and Regulations described in Article 17 below. Landlord shall at all times during the Term have exclusive control of the Common Areas, and may restrain or permit any use or occupancy. Landlord may temporarily close any portion of the Common Areas for repairs, remodeling and/or alterations, to prevent a public dedication or the accrual of prescriptive rights, or for any other reasonable purpose.

ARTICLE 7. REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE

7.1. TENANT’S MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR. Subject to Articles 11 and 12, Tenant at its sole expense shall make all repairs necessary to keep the Premises and all improvements and fixtures therein in good condition and repair, excepting ordinary wear and tear. Tenant’s maintenance obligation shall include without limitation all appliances, interior glass, doors, door closures, hardware, fixtures, electrical, plumbing, fire extinguisher equipment and other equipment installed in the Premises, together with any supplemental HVAC equipment servicing only the Premises. Should Landlord or its management agent agree to make a repair on behalf of Tenant and at Tenant’s request, Tenant shall promptly reimburse Landlord as additional rent for all reasonable costs incurred (including the standard supervision fee) upon submission of an invoice.

7.2. LANDLORD’S MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR. Subject to Articles 11 and 12, Landlord shall provide service, maintenance and repair with respect to the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (“HVAC”) equipment of the Building (exclusive of any supplemental HVAC equipment servicing only the Premises) and shall maintain in good repair the Common Areas, roof, foundations, footings, the exterior surfaces of the exterior walls of the Building (including exterior glass), and the structural, electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems of the Building (including elevators, if any, serving the Building), except to the extent provided in Section 7.1 above. Notwithstanding any provision of the California Civil Code or any similar or successor laws to the contrary, Tenant understands that it shall not make repairs at Landlord’s expense or by rental offset. Except as provided in Section 11.1 and Article 12 below, there shall be no abatement of rent and no liability of Landlord by reason of any injury to or interference with Tenant’s business arising from the making of any repairs, alterations or improvements to any portion of the Building, including repairs to the Premises, nor shall any related activity by Landlord constitute an actual or constructive eviction. Tenant hereby waives any and all rights under and benefits of subsection 1 of Section 1932, and Sections 1941 and 1942 of the California Civil Code, or any similar or successor laws now or hereafter in effect.

7.3. ALTERATIONS. Tenant shall make no alterations, additions, decorations, or improvements (collectively referred to as “Alterations”) to the Premises without the prior written consent of Landlord. Landlord may impose, as a condition to its consent, any requirements that Landlord in its discretion may deem reasonable or desirable. Tenant shall use Landlord’s designated mechanical and electrical contractors, obtain all required permits for the Alterations and shall perform the work in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and ordinances with contractors reasonably acceptable to Landlord. Landlord shall be entitled to a supervision fee in the amount of 5% of the cost of the Alterations. Landlord may elect to cause its architect to review Tenant’s architectural plans, and the reasonable cost of that review shall be reimbursed by Tenant. Should the Alterations proposed by Tenant and consented to by Landlord change the floor plan of the Premises, then Tenant shall, at its expense, furnish Landlord with as-built drawings and CAD disks compatible with Landlord’s systems. Unless Landlord otherwise agrees in writing, all Alterations affixed to the Premises, including without limitation all Tenant Improvements constructed pursuant to the Work Letter (except as otherwise provided in the Work Letter), but excluding moveable trade fixtures and furniture, shall become the property of Landlord and shall be surrendered with the Premises at the end of the Term, except that Landlord may, by notice to Tenant given at least 30 days prior to the Expiration Date, require Tenant to remove by the Expiration Date, or sooner termination date of this Lease, all or any Alterations (including without limitation all telephone and data cabling) installed either by Tenant or by Landlord at Tenant’s request (collectively, the “Required Removables”). In connection with its removal of Required Removables, Tenant shall repair any damage to the Premises arising from that removal and shall restore the affected area to its pre-existing condition, reasonable wear and tear excepted.

7.4. MECHANIC’S LIENS. Tenant shall keep the Premises free from any liens arising out of any work performed, materials furnished, or obligations incurred by or for Tenant. In the event that Tenant shall not, within 15 days following the imposition of any lien, cause the lien to be released of record by payment or posting of a proper bond in accordance with California Civil Code Section 8424 or any successor statute, Landlord shall have, in addition to all other available

 

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remedies, the right to cause the lien to be released by any means it deems proper, including payment of or defense against the claim giving rise to the lien. All expenses so incurred by Landlord shall be reimbursed by Tenant promptly following Landlord’s demand. Tenant shall give Landlord no less than 20 days’ prior notice in writing before commencing construction of any kind on the Premises.

7.5. ENTRY AND INSPECTION. Landlord shall at all reasonable times and with reasonable prior verbal notice, except in emergencies or to provide Building services, have the right to enter the Premises to inspect them, to supply services in accordance with this Lease, to make repairs and renovations as reasonably deemed necessary by Landlord, and to submit the Premises to prospective or actual purchasers or encumbrance holders (or, during the final twelve months of the Term or when an uncured Default exists, to prospective tenants), all without being deemed to have caused an eviction of Tenant and without abatement of rent except as provided elsewhere in this Lease.

ARTICLE 8. SPACE PLANNING AND SUBSTITUTION

Landlord shall have the right, upon providing not less than 45 days written notice, to move Tenant to other space of comparable size in the Building or in the Project. The new space shall be provided with improvements of comparable quality to those within the Premises. Landlord shall pay the reasonable out-of-pocket costs to relocate and reconnect Tenant’s personal property and equipment within the new space. Landlord shall also reimburse Tenant for such other reasonable out-of-pocket costs that Tenant may incur in connection with the relocation. Within 10 days following request by Landlord, Tenant shall execute an amendment to this Lease prepared by Landlord to memorialize the relocation.

ARTICLE 9. ASSIGNMENT AND SUBLETTING

9.1. RIGHTS OF PARTIES. Tenant shall not, directly or indirectly, assign, sublease, transfer or encumber any interest in this Lease or allow any third party to use any portion of the Premises (collectively or individually, a “Transfer”) without the prior written consent of Landlord, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld if Landlord does not exercise its recapture rights. Tenant agrees that it is not unreasonable for Landlord to withhold consent to a Transfer to a proposed assignee or subtenant who is an existing tenant or occupant of the Building or Project or to a prospective tenant with whom Landlord or Landlord’s affiliate has been actively negotiating. Within 30 days after receipt of executed copies of the transfer documentation and such other information as Landlord may request, Landlord shall either: (a) consent to the Transfer by execution of a consent agreement in a form reasonably designated by Landlord; (b) refuse to consent to the Transfer; or (c) recapture the portion of the Premises that Tenant is proposing to Transfer. Tenant hereby waives the provisions of Section 1995.310 of the California Civil Code, or any similar or successor Laws, now or hereinafter in effect, and all other remedies, including, without limitation, any right at law or equity to terminate this Lease, on its own behalf and, to the extent permitted under all applicable laws, on behalf of the proposed transferee. In no event shall any Transfer release or relieve Tenant from any obligation under this Lease, as same may be amended. Tenant shall pay Landlord a review fee of $1,000.00 for Landlord’s review of any requested Transfer. Tenant shall pay Landlord, as additional Rent, 50% of all rent and other consideration which Tenant receives as a result of a Transfer that is in excess of the Rent payable to Landlord for the portion of the Premises and Term covered by the Transfer. If Tenant is in Default, Landlord may require that all sublease payments be made directly to Landlord, in which case Tenant shall receive a credit against Rent in the amount of Tenant’s share of payments received by Landlord.

9.2. PERMITTED TRANSFER. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Tenant may assign this Lease to a successor to Tenant by merger, consolidation or the purchase of substantially all of Tenant’s assets, or assign this Lease or sublet all or a portion of the Premises to an Affiliate (defined below), without the consent of Landlord, provided that all of the following conditions are satisfied (a “Permitted Transfer”): (i) Tenant is not then in Default hereunder; (ii) Tenant gives Landlord written notice prior to such Permitted Transfer; and (iii) the successor entity resulting from any merger or consolidation of Tenant or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Tenant, has a net worth at the time of the Permitted Transfer that is at least equal to the net worth of Tenant immediately before the Permitted Transfer. “Affiliate” shall mean an entity controlled by, controlling or under common control with Tenant.

ARTICLE 10. INSURANCE AND INDEMNITY

10.1. TENANT’S INSURANCE. Tenant, at its sole cost and expense, shall provide and maintain in effect the insurance described in Exhibit D. Evidence of that insurance must be delivered to Landlord prior to the Commencement Date.

10.2. TENANT’S INDEMNITY. To the fullest extent permitted by law, but subject to Section 10.4 below, Tenant shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Landlord and Landlord’s agents, employees, lenders, and affiliates, from and against any and all negligence, claims, liabilities, damages, costs or expenses arising either before or after the Commencement Date which arise from or are caused by Tenant’s use or occupancy of the Premises, the Building or the Common Areas of the Project, or from the conduct of Tenant’s business, or from any activity, work, or thing done, permitted or suffered by Tenant or Tenant’s agents, employees, subtenants, vendors, contractors, invitees or licensees in or about the Premises, the Building or the Common Areas of the Project, or from any Default in the performance of any obligation on Tenant’s part to be performed under this Lease, or from any act, omission or negligence on the part of Tenant or Tenant’s agents, employees, subtenants, vendors, contractors, invitees or licensees. Landlord may, at its option, require Tenant to assume Landlord’s defense in any action covered by this Section 10.2 through counsel reasonably satisfactory to Landlord. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Tenant shall not be obligated to indemnify Landlord against any liability or expense to the extent it is ultimately determined that the same was caused by the sole negligence or willful misconduct of Landlord, its agents, contractors or employees.

10.3. LANDLORD’S NONLIABILITY. Landlord shall not be liable to Tenant, its employees, agents and invitees, and Tenant hereby waives all claims against Landlord, its employees and agents for loss of or damage to any property, or any injury to any person, resulting from any condition including, but not limited to, acts or omissions (criminal or otherwise) of third parties and/or other tenants of the Project, or their agents, employees or invitees, fire, explosion, falling plaster, steam, gas, electricity, water or rain which may leak or flow from or into any part of the Premises or from the breakage, leakage, obstruction or other defects of the pipes, sprinklers, wires, appliances, plumbing, air conditioning, electrical works or other fixtures in the Building, whether the damage or injury results from conditions arising in the Premises or in other portions of the Building, regardless of the negligence of Landlord, its agents or any and all affiliates of Landlord in

 

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connection with the foregoing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Lease, in no event shall Landlord be liable for Tenant’s loss or interruption of business or income (including without limitation, Tenant’s consequential damages, lost profits or opportunity costs), or for interference with light or other similar intangible interests.

10.4. WAIVER OF SUBROGATION. Landlord and Tenant each hereby waives all rights of recovery against the other on account of loss and damage occasioned to the property of such waiving party to the extent that the waiving party is entitled to proceeds for such loss and damage under any property insurance policies carried or otherwise required to be carried by this Lease; provided however, that the foregoing waiver shall not apply to the extent of Tenant’s obligation to pay deductibles under any such policies and this Lease.

ARTICLE 11. DAMAGE OR DESTRUCTION

11.1. RESTORATION.

(a) If the Building of which the Premises are a part is damaged as the result of an event of casualty, then subject to the provisions below, Landlord shall repair that damage as soon as reasonably possible unless Landlord reasonably determines that: (i) the Premises have been materially damaged and there is less than 1 year of the Term remaining on the date of the casualty; (ii) any Mortgagee (defined in Section 13.1) requires that the insurance proceeds be applied to the payment of the mortgage debt; or (iii) proceeds necessary to pay the full cost of the repair are not available from Landlord’s insurance, including without limitation earthquake insurance. Should Landlord elect not to repair the damage for one of the preceding reasons, Landlord shall so notify Tenant in the “Casualty Notice” (as defined below), and this Lease shall terminate as of the date of delivery of that notice.

(b) As soon as reasonably practicable following the casualty event but not later than 60 days thereafter, Landlord shall notify Tenant in writing (“Casualty Notice”) of Landlord’s election, if applicable, to terminate this Lease. If this Lease is not so terminated, the Casualty Notice shall set forth the anticipated period for repairing the casualty damage. If the anticipated repair period exceeds 270 days and if the damage is so extensive as to reasonably prevent Tenant’s substantial use and enjoyment of the Premises, then either party may elect to terminate this Lease by written notice to the other within 10 days following delivery of the Casualty Notice.

(c) In the event that neither Landlord nor Tenant terminates this Lease pursuant to Section 11.1(b), Landlord shall repair all material damage to the Premises or the Building as soon as reasonably possible and this Lease shall continue in effect for the remainder of the Term. Upon notice from Landlord, Tenant shall assign or endorse over to Landlord (or to any party designated by Landlord) all property insurance proceeds payable to Tenant under Tenant’s insurance with respect to any Alterations. Within 15 days of demand, Tenant shall also pay Landlord for any additional excess costs that are determined during the performance of the repairs to such Alterations.

(d) From and after the casualty event, the rental to be paid under this Lease shall be abated in the same proportion that the Floor Area of the Premises that is rendered unusable by the damage from time to time bears to the total Floor Area of the Premises.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 11.1, but subject to Section 10.4, the cost of any repairs shall be borne by Tenant, and Tenant shall not be entitled to rental abatement or termination rights, if the damage is due to the fault or neglect of Tenant or its employees, subtenants, contractors, invitees or representatives.

11.2. LEASE GOVERNS. Tenant agrees that the provisions of this Lease, including without limitation Section 11.1, shall govern any damage or destruction and shall accordingly supersede any contrary statute or rule of law.

ARTICLE 12. EMINENT DOMAIN

Either party may terminate this Lease if any material part of the Premises is taken or condemned for any public or quasi-public use under Law, by eminent domain or private purchase in lieu thereof (a “Taking”). Landlord shall also have the right to terminate this Lease if there is a Taking of any portion of the Building or Project which would have a material adverse effect on Landlord’s ability to profitably operate the remainder of the Building. The termination shall be effective as of the effective date of any order granting possession to, or vesting legal title in, the condemning authority. All compensation awarded for a Taking shall be the property of Landlord. Tenant agrees that the provisions of this Lease shall govern any Taking and shall accordingly supersede any contrary statute or rule of law.

ARTICLE 13. SUBORDINATION; ESTOPPEL CERTIFICATE

13.1. SUBORDINATION. Tenant accepts this Lease subject and subordinate to any mortgage(s), deed(s) of trust, ground lease(s) or other lien(s) now or subsequently arising upon the Premises, the Building or the Project, and to renewals, modifications, refinancings and extensions thereof (collectively referred to as a “Mortgage”). The party having the benefit of a Mortgage shall be referred to as a “Mortgagee.” This clause shall be self-operative, but upon request from a Mortgagee, Tenant shall execute a commercially reasonable subordination and attornment agreement in favor of the Mortgagee, provided such agreement provides a non-disturbance covenant benefitting Tenant. Alternatively, a Mortgagee shall have the right at any time to subordinate its Mortgage to this Lease. Upon request, Tenant, without charge, shall attorn to any successor to Landlord’s interest in this Lease in the event of a foreclosure of any mortgage. Tenant agrees that any purchaser at a foreclosure sale or lender taking title under a deed in lieu of foreclosure shall not be responsible for any act or omission of a prior landlord, shall not be subject to any offsets or defenses Tenant may have against a prior landlord, and shall not be liable for the return of the Security Deposit not actually recovered by such purchaser nor bound by any rent paid in advance of the calendar month in which the transfer of title occurred; provided that the foregoing shall not release the applicable prior landlord from any liability for those obligations. Tenant acknowledges that Landlord’s Mortgagees and their successors-in-interest are intended third party beneficiaries of this Section 13.1.

 

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13.2. ESTOPPEL CERTIFICATE. Tenant shall, within 10 days after receipt of a written request from Landlord, execute and deliver a commercially reasonable estoppel certificate in favor of those parties as are reasonably requested by Landlord (including a Mortgagee or a prospective purchaser of the Building or the Project).

ARTICLE 14. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

14.1. TENANT’S DEFAULTS. In addition to any other event of default set forth in this Lease, the occurrence of any one or more of the following events shall constitute a “Default” by Tenant:

(a) The failure by Tenant to make any payment of Rent required to be made by Tenant, as and when due, where the failure continues for a period of 3 days after written notice from Landlord to Tenant. The term “Rent” as used in this Lease shall be deemed to mean the Basic Rent and all other sums required to be paid by Tenant to Landlord pursuant to the terms of this Lease.

(b) Except where a specific time period is otherwise set forth for Tenant’s performance in this Lease (in which event the failure to perform by Tenant within such time period shall be a Default), the failure or inability by Tenant to observe or perform any of the covenants or provisions of this Lease to be observed or performed by Tenant, other than as specified in any other subsection of this Section 14.1, where the failure continues for a period of 30 days after written notice from Landlord to Tenant.

The notice periods provided herein are in lieu of, and not in addition to, any notice periods provided by law, and Landlord shall not be required to give any additional notice under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1161, or any successor statute, in order to be entitled to commence an unlawful detainer proceeding.

14.2. LANDLORD’S REMEDIES.

(a) Upon the occurrence of any Default by Tenant, then in addition to any other remedies available to Landlord, Landlord may exercise the following remedies:

(i) Landlord may terminate Tenant’s right to possession of the Premises by any lawful means, in which case this Lease shall terminate and Tenant shall immediately surrender possession of the Premises to Landlord. Such termination shall not affect any accrued obligations of Tenant under this Lease. Upon termination, Landlord shall have the right to reenter the Premises and remove all persons and property. Landlord shall also be entitled to recover from Tenant:

(1) The worth at the time of award of the unpaid Rent which had been earned at the time of termination;

(2) The worth at the time of award of the amount by which the unpaid Rent which would have been earned after termination until the time of award exceeds the amount of such loss that Tenant proves could have been reasonably avoided;

(3) The worth at the time of award of the amount by which the unpaid Rent for the balance of the Term after the time of award exceeds the amount of such loss that Tenant proves could be reasonably avoided;

(4) Any other amount necessary to compensate Landlord for all the detriment proximately caused by Tenant’s failure to perform its obligations under this Lease or which in the ordinary course of things would be likely to result from Tenant’s default, including, but not limited to, the cost of recovering possession of the Premises, commissions and other expenses of reletting, including necessary repair, renovation, improvement and alteration of the Premises for a new tenant, reasonable attorneys’ fees, and any other reasonable costs; and

(5) At Landlord’s election, all other amounts in addition to or in lieu of the foregoing as may be permitted by law. Any sum, other than Basic Rent, shall be computed on the basis of the average monthly amount accruing during the 24 month period immediately prior to Default, except that if it becomes necessary to compute such rental before the 24 month period has occurred, then the computation shall be on the basis of the average monthly amount during the shorter period. As used in subparagraphs (1) and (2) above, the “worth at the time of award” shall be computed by allowing interest at the rate of 10% per annum. As used in subparagraph (3) above, the “worth at the time of award” shall be computed by discounting the amount at the discount rate of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco at the time of award plus 1 %.

(ii) Employ the remedy described in California Civil Code § 1951.4 (Landlord may continue this Lease in effect after Tenant’s breach and abandonment and recover Rent as it becomes due, if Tenant has the right to sublet or assign, subject only to reasonable limitations).

(b) The various rights and remedies reserved to Landlord in this Lease or otherwise shall be cumulative and, except as otherwise provided by California law, Landlord may pursue any or all of its rights and remedies at the same time. No delay or omission of Landlord to exercise any right or remedy shall be construed as a waiver of the right or remedy or of any breach or Default by Tenant. The acceptance by Landlord of rent shall not be a (i) waiver of any preceding breach or Default by Tenant of any provision of this Lease, other than the failure of Tenant to pay the particular rent accepted, regardless of Landlord’s knowledge of the preceding breach or Default at the time of acceptance of rent, or (ii) a waiver of Landlord’s right to exercise any remedy available to Landlord by virtue of the breach or Default. No payment by Tenant or receipt by Landlord of a lesser amount than the rent required by this Lease shall be deemed to be other than a partial payment on account of the earliest due stipulated rent, nor shall any endorsement or statement on any check or letter be deemed an accord and satisfaction and Landlord shall accept the check or payment without prejudice to Landlord’s right to recover the balance of the rent or pursue any other remedy available to it. Tenant hereby waives any right of redemption or relief from forfeiture under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1174 or 1179, or under any successor statute, in the event this Lease is terminated by reason of any Default by Tenant. No act or thing done by Landlord or Landlord’s agents during the Term shall be deemed an acceptance of a surrender of the Premises, and no agreement to accept a surrender shall be valid unless in writing and signed by Landlord.

 

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14.3. LATE PAYMENTS. Any Rent due under this Lease that is not paid to Landlord within 5 days of the date when due shall bear interest at the maximum rate permitted by law from the date due until fully paid and if any Rent due from Tenant shall not be received by Landlord or Landlord’s designee within 5 days after the date due, then Tenant shall pay to Landlord, in addition to the interest, a late charge for each delinquent payment equal to the greater of (i) 5% of that delinquent payment or (ii) $100.00.

14.4. DEFAULT BY LANDLORD. Landlord shall not be deemed to be in default in the performance of any obligation under this Lease unless and until it has failed to perform the obligation within 30 days after written notice by Tenant to Landlord specifying in reasonable detail the nature and extent of the failure; provided, however, that if the nature of Landlord’s obligation is such that more than 30 days are required for its performance, then Landlord shall not be deemed to be in default if it commences performance within the 30 day period and thereafter diligently pursues the cure to completion.

14.5. EXPENSES AND LEGAL FEES. Should either Landlord or Tenant bring any action in connection with this Lease, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover as a part of the action its reasonable attorneys’ fees, and all other reasonable costs. The prevailing party for the purpose of this paragraph shall be determined by the trier of the facts.

14.6. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL/JUDICIAL REFERENCE.

(a) LANDLORD AND TENANT EACH ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS AWARE OF AND HAS HAD THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL OF ITS CHOICE WITH RESPECT TO ITS RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY, AND EACH PARTY DOES HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND KNOWINGLY WAIVE AND RELEASE ALL SUCH RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM BROUGHT BY EITHER PARTY HERETO AGAINST THE OTHER (AND/OR AGAINST ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OR SUBSIDIARY OR AFFILIATED ENTITIES) ON ANY MATTERS WHATSOEVER ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THIS LEASE, TENANT’S USE OR OCCUPANCY OF THE PREMISES, AND/OR ANY CLAIM OF INJURY OR DAMAGE.

(b) In the event that the jury waiver provisions of Section 14.6 (a) are not enforceable under California law, then, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties, the provisions of this Section 14.6 (b) shall apply. Landlord and Tenant agree that any disputes arising in connection with this Lease (including but not limited to a determination of any and all of the issues in such dispute, whether of fact or of law) shall be resolved (and a decision shall be rendered) by way of a general reference as provided for in Part 2, Title 8, Chapter 6 (§§ 638 et. seq.) of the California Code of Civil Procedure, or any successor California statute governing resolution of disputes by a court appointed referee. Nothing within this Section 14.6 shall apply to an unlawful detainer action.

14.7. SATISFACTION OF JUDGMENT. The obligations of Landlord do not constitute the personal obligations of the individual partners, trustees, directors, officers, members or shareholders of Landlord or its constituent partners or members. Should Tenant recover a money judgment against Landlord, such judgment shall be satisfied only from the interest of Landlord in the Project and out of the rent or other income from such property receivable by Landlord, and no action for any deficiency may be sought or obtained by Tenant.

ARTICLE 15. END OF TERM

15.1. HOLDING OVER. If Tenant holds over for any period after the Expiration Date (or earlier termination of the Term), such tenancy shall constitute a tenancy at sufferance only and possession shall be subject to all of the terms of this Lease, except that the monthly rental shall be 200% of the total monthly rental for the month immediately preceding the date of termination. The acceptance by Landlord of monthly hold-over rental in a lesser amount shall not constitute a waiver of Landlord’s right to recover the full amount due unless otherwise agreed in writing by Landlord. If Tenant fails to surrender the Premises upon the expiration of this Lease despite demand to do so by Landlord, Tenant shall indemnify and hold Landlord harmless from all loss or liability, including without limitation, any claims made by any succeeding tenant relating to such failure to surrender. The foregoing provisions of this Section 15.1 are in addition to and do not affect Landlord’s right of re-entry or any other rights of Landlord under this Lease or at law.

15.2. SURRENDER OF PREMISES; REMOVAL OF PROPERTY. Upon the Expiration Date or upon any earlier termination of this Lease, Tenant shall quit and surrender possession of the Premises to Landlord in as good order, condition and repair as when received or as hereafter may be improved by Landlord or Tenant, reasonable wear and tear and repairs which are Landlord’s obligation excepted, and shall remove or fund to Landlord the cost of removing all wallpapering, voice and/or data transmission cabling installed by or for Tenant and Required Removables, together with all personal property and debris, and shall perform all work required under Section 7.3 of this Lease. If Tenant shall fail to comply with the provisions of this Section 15.2, Landlord may effect the removal and/or make any repairs, and the cost to Landlord shall be additional rent payable by Tenant upon demand.

ARTICLE 16. PAYMENTS AND NOTICES

All sums payable by Tenant to Landlord shall be paid, without deduction or offset, in lawful money of the United States to Landlord at its address set forth in Item 12 of the Basic Lease Provisions, or at any other place as Landlord may designate in writing. Unless this Lease expressly provides otherwise, all payments shall be due and payable within 5 days after demand. All payments requiring proration shall be prorated on the basis of the number of days in the pertinent calendar month or year, as applicable. Any notice, election, demand, consent or approval to be given or other document to be delivered by either party to the other may be delivered to the other party, at the address set forth in Item 12 of the Basic Lease Provisions, by personal service or by any courier or “overnight” express mailing service. Either party may, by written notice to the other, served in the manner provided in this Article, designate a different address. The refusal to accept delivery of a notice, or the inability to deliver the notice (whether due to a change of address for which notice was not duly given or other good reason), shall be deemed delivery and receipt of the notice as of the date of attempted delivery.

 

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ARTICLE 17. RULES AND REGULATIONS

Tenant agrees to comply with the Rules and Regulations attached as Exhibit E, and any reasonable and nondiscriminatory amendments, modifications and/or additions as may be adopted by Landlord from time to time.

ARTICLE 18. BROKER’S COMMISSION

The parties recognize as the broker(s) who negotiated this Lease the firm(s) whose name(s) is (are) stated in Item 10 of the Basic Lease Provisions, and agree that Landlord shall be responsible for the payment of brokerage commissions to those broker(s) unless otherwise provided in this Lease. Tenant agrees to indemnify and hold Landlord harmless from any cost, expense or liability (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) for any compensation, commissions or charges claimed by any other real estate broker or agent employed or claiming to represent or to have been employed by Tenant in connection with the negotiation of this Lease.

ARTICLE 19. TRANSFER OF LANDLORD’S INTEREST

Landlord shall have the right to transfer and assign, in whole or in part, all of its ownership interest, rights and obligations in the Building, Project or Lease, including the Security Deposit, and upon transfer Landlord shall be released from any further obligations hereunder, and Tenant agrees to look solely to the successor in interest of Landlord for the performance of such obligations and the return of any Security Deposit.

ARTICLE 20. INTERPRETATION

20.1. NUMBER. Whenever the context of this Lease requires, the words “Landlord” and “Tenant” shall include the plural as well as the singular.

20.2. JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY. If more than one person or entity is named as Tenant, the obligations imposed upon each shall be joint and several and the act of or notice from, or notice or refund to, or the signature of, any one or more of them shall be binding on all of them with respect to the tenancy of this Lease, including, but not limited to, any renewal, extension, termination or modification of this Lease.

20.3. SUCCESSORS. The expiration of the Term, whether by lapse of time, termination or otherwise, shall not relieve either party of any obligations which accrued prior to or which may continue to accrue after the expiration or termination of this Lease.

20.4. TIME OF ESSENCE. Time is of the essence with respect to the performance of every provision of this Lease in which time of performance is a factor.

20.5. CONTROLLING LAW/VENUE. This Lease shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of California.

20.6. SEVERABILITY. If any term or provision of this Lease, the deletion of which would not adversely affect the receipt of any material benefit by either party or the deletion of which is consented to by the party adversely affected, shall be held invalid or unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Lease shall not be affected and each term and provision of this Lease shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

20.7. WAIVER. One or more waivers by Landlord or Tenant of any breach of any term, covenant or condition contained in this Lease shall not be a waiver of any subsequent breach of the same or any other term, covenant or condition. Consent to any act by one of the parties shall not be deemed to render unnecessary the obtaining of that party’s consent to any subsequent act. No breach of this Lease shall be deemed to have been waived unless the waiver is in a writing signed by the waiving party.

20.8. INABILITY TO PERFORM. In the event that either party shall be delayed or hindered in or prevented from the performance of any work or in performing any act required under this Lease by reason of any cause beyond the reasonable control of that party, then the performance of the work or the doing of the act shall be excused for the period of the delay and the time for performance shall be extended for a period equivalent to the period of the delay. The provisions of this Section 20.8 shall not operate to excuse Tenant from the prompt payment of Rent.

20.9. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Lease constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings related to the Premises. This Lease may be modified only by a written agreement signed by Landlord and Tenant.

20.10. QUIET ENJOYMENT. Upon the observance and performance of all the covenants, terms and conditions on Tenant’s part to be observed and performed, and subject to the other provisions of this Lease, Tenant shall have the right of quiet enjoyment and use of the Premises for the Term without hindrance or interruption by Landlord or any other person claiming by or through Landlord.

20.11. SURVIVAL. All covenants of Landlord or Tenant which reasonably would be intended to survive the expiration or sooner termination of this Lease, including without limitation any warranty or indemnity hereunder, shall so survive and continue to be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the respective parties and their successors and assigns.

ARTICLE 21. EXECUTION

21.1. COUNTERPARTS; DIGITAL SIGNATURES. This Lease may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which shall be one and the same agreement. The parties agree to accept a digital image (including but not limited to an image in the form of a PDF, JPEG, GIF file, or other e-signature) of this Lease, if applicable, reflecting the execution of one or both of the parties, as a true and correct original.

 

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21.2. CORPORATE AND PARTNERSHIP AUTHORITY. Tenant represents and warrants to Landlord, and agrees, that each individual executing this Lease on behalf of Tenant is authorized to do so on behalf of Tenant.

21.3. EXECUTION OF LEASE; NO OPTION OR OFFER. The submission of this Lease to Tenant shall be for examination purposes only, and shall not constitute an offer to or option for Tenant to lease the Premises unless and until Landlord has executed and delivered this Lease to Tenant.

21.4. BROKER DISCLOSURE. By the execution of this Lease, each of Landlord and Tenant hereby acknowledge and confirm (a) receipt of a copy of a Disclosure Regarding Real Estate Agency Relationship conforming to the requirements of California Civil Code 2079.16, and (b) the agency relationships specified in Section 10 of the Basic Lease Provisions, which acknowledgement and confirmation is expressly made for the benefit of Tenant’s Broker identified in Section 10 of the Basic Lease Provisions. If there is no Tenant’s Broker so identified in Section 10 of the Basic Lease Provisions, then such acknowledgement and confirmation is expressly made for the benefit of Landlord’s Broker. By the execution of this Lease, Landlord and Tenant are executing the confirmation of the agency relationships set forth in Section 10 of the Basic Lease Provisions.

ARTICLE 22. MISCELLANEOUS

22.1. MORTGAGEE PROTECTION. No act or failure to act on the part of Landlord which would otherwise entitle Tenant to be relieved of its obligations hereunder or to terminate this Lease shall result in such a release or termination unless (a) Tenant has given notice by registered or certified mail to any Mortgagee of a Mortgage covering the Building whose address has been furnished to Tenant and (b) such Mortgagee is afforded a reasonable opportunity to cure the default by Landlord. Tenant shall comply with any written directions by any Mortgagee to pay Rent due hereunder directly to such Mortgagee without determining whether a default exists under such Mortgagee’s Mortgage.

22.2. SDN LIST. Tenant hereby represents and warrants that neither Tenant nor any officer, director, employee, partner, member or other principal of Tenant (collectively, “Tenant Parties”) is listed as a Specially Designated National and Blocked Person (“SDN”) on the list of such persons and entities issued by the U.S. Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). In the event Tenant or any Tenant Party is or becomes listed as an SDN, Tenant shall be deemed in breach of this Lease and Landlord shall have the right to terminate this Lease immediately upon written notice to Tenant.

 

LANDLORD:    TENANT:
LJ GATEWAY OFFICE LLC,    TUSIMPLE LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company    a California limited liability company
   By   

/s/ Xiaodi Hou

By   

/s/ Steven M. Case

   Printed Name Xiaodi Hou
  

Steven M. Case

Evp

Office Properties

   Title CTO
   By   

/s/ Chen Mo Terry

     

Printed Name Chen Mo Terry

Title CEO

By   

/s/ Pamela Van Nort

     
   Pamela Van Nort      
   Vice President, Operations Office Properties      

 

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EXHIBIT A

DESCRIPTION OF PREMISES

9191 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 600

 

LOGO

 

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EXHIBIT B

Operating Expenses and Taxes

(Base Year)

(a) Tenant shall pay Landlord, as additional rent, for Tenant’s Share of the amount, if any, by which “Project Costs” (defined below) for each Expense Recovery Period during the Term exceed Project Costs for the Project Cost Base and the amount, if any, by which “Property Taxes” (defined below) for each Expense Recovery Period during the Term exceed Property Taxes for the Property Tax Base. Property Taxes and Project Costs are mutually exclusive and may be billed separately or in combination as determined by Landlord. “Tenant’s Share” shall mean that portion of any Operating Expenses determined by multiplying the cost of such item by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Floor Area and the denominator of which is the total rentable square footage, as determined from time to time by Landlord, of (i) the Floor Area of the Building as defined in Item 8 of the Basic Lease Provisions, for expenses determined by Landlord to benefit or relate substantially to the Building rather than the entire Project, or (ii) all or some of the buildings in the Project, for expenses determined by Landlord to benefit or relate substantially to all or some of the buildings in the Project rather than any specific building. Tenant acknowledges Landlord’s rights to make changes or additions to the Building and/or Project from time to time, in which event the total rentable square footage within the Building and/or Project may be adjusted. For convenience of reference, Property Taxes and Project Costs may sometimes be collectively referred to as “Operating Expenses.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, Landlord hereby agrees that Tenant shall not be responsible for Tenant’s Share of Operating Expense excess accruing during the 12 month period commencing as of the Commencement Date.

(b) Commencing prior to the start of the first full “Expense Recovery Period” of the Lease (as defined in Item 7 of the Basic Lease Provisions) following the Base Year, and prior to the start of each full or partial Expense Recovery Period thereafter, Landlord shall give Tenant a written estimate of the amount of Tenant’s Share of Project Costs and Property Taxes for the Expense Recovery Period or portion thereof. Tenant shall pay the estimated amounts to Landlord in equal monthly installments, in advance, with Basic Rent. Landlord may from time to time change the Expense Recovery Period to reflect a calendar year or a new fiscal year of Landlord, as applicable, in which event Tenant’s share of Operating Expenses shall be equitably prorated for any partial year. From time to time during an Expense Recovery Period, Landlord may revise the estimate based on increases in any of the Operating Expenses.

(c) Within 180 days after the end of each Expense Recovery Period, Landlord shall furnish to Tenant a statement setting forth the actual or prorated Property Taxes and Project Costs attributable to that period, and the parties shall within 30 days thereafter make any payment or allowance necessary to adjust Tenant’s estimated payments, if any, to Tenant’s actual Tenant’s Share as shown by the annual statement. If actual Property Taxes or Project Costs allocable to Tenant during any Expense Recovery Period are less than the Property Tax Base or the Project Cost Base, respectively, Landlord shall not be required to pay that differential to Tenant, although Landlord shall refund any applicable estimated payments collected from Tenant. Should Tenant fail to object in writing to Landlord’s determination of actual Operating Expenses within 60 days following delivery of Landlord’s expense statement, Landlord’s determination of actual Operating Expenses for the applicable Expense Recovery Period shall be conclusive and binding on Tenant.

(d) Even though the Lease has terminated and the Tenant has vacated the Premises, when the final determination is made of Tenant’s share of Property Taxes and Project Costs for the Expense Recovery Period in which the Lease terminates, Tenant shall upon notice pay the entire increase due over the estimated expenses paid; conversely, any overpayment made in the event expenses decrease shall be rebated by Landlord to Tenant.

(e) The term “Project Costs” shall include all charges and expenses pertaining to the operation, management, maintenance and repair of the Building and the Project, together with all appurtenant Common Areas (as defined in Section 6.2), and shall include the following charges by way of illustration but not limitation: water and sewer charges; insurance premiums and deductibles and/or reasonable premium equivalents and deductible equivalents should Landlord elect to self-insure any risk that Landlord is authorized to insure hereunder; license, permit, and inspection fees; heat; light; power; janitorial services; the cost of equipping, staffing and operating an on-site and/or off-site management office for the Building and Project; all labor and labor-related costs for personnel applicable to the Building and Project, including both Landlord’s personnel and outside personnel; a commercially reasonable Landlord overhead/management fee; reasonable fees for consulting services; access control/security costs, inclusive of the reasonable cost of improvements made to enhance access control systems and procedures; repairs; air conditioning; supplies; materials; equipment; tools; tenant services; programs instituted to comply with transportation management requirements; any expense incurred pursuant to Sections 6.1, 6.2, 7.2, and Exhibits C and F below; costs incurred (capital or otherwise) on a regular recurring basis every 3 or more years for normal maintenance projects (e.g., parking lot slurry coat or replacement of lobby, corridor and elevator cab carpets and coverings); and the amortized cost of capital improvements (as distinguished from replacement parts or components installed in the ordinary course of business) which are intended to reduce other operating costs or increases thereof, or upgrade Building and/or Project security, or which are required to bring the Building and/or Project into compliance with applicable laws and building codes. Landlord shall amortize the cost of capital improvements on a straight-line basis over the lesser of the Payback Period (as defined below) or the useful life of the capital improvement as reasonably determined by Landlord. Any amortized Project Costs item may include, at Landlord’s option, an actual or imputed interest rate that Landlord would reasonably be required to pay to finance the cost of the item, applied on the unamortized balance. “Payback Period” shall mean the reasonably estimated period of time that it takes for the cost savings, if any, resulting from a capital improvement item to equal the total cost of the capital improvement. It is understood that Project Costs shall include competitive charges for direct services provided by any subsidiary or division of Landlord. If any Project Costs are applicable to one or more buildings or properties in addition to the Building, then that cost shall be equitably prorated and apportioned among the Building and such other buildings or properties. The term “Property Taxes” as used herein shall include the following: (i) all real estate taxes or personal property taxes, as such property taxes may be increased from time to time due to a reassessment or otherwise; and (ii) other taxes, charges and assessments which are levied with respect to this Lease or to the Building and/or the Project, and any improvements, fixtures and equipment and other property of Landlord located in the Building and/or the Project, except that general net income and franchise taxes imposed against Landlord shall be excluded; and (iii) any tax, surcharge or assessment which shall be levied in addition to or in lieu of real estate or personal property taxes; and (iv) costs and expenses incurred in contesting the amount or validity of any Property Tax by appropriate proceedings. A copy of Landlord’s unaudited statement of expenses shall be made available to Tenant upon request. The Project Costs,

 

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inclusive of those for the Base Year, shall be extrapolated by Landlord to reflect at least 95% occupancy of the rentable area of the Building.

 

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EXHIBIT C

UTILITIES AND SERVICES

The following standards for utilities and services shall be in effect at the Building. Landlord reserves the right to adopt nondiscriminatory modifications and additions to these standards. In the case of any conflict between these standards and the Lease, the Lease shall be controlling. Subject to all of the provisions of the Lease, the following shall apply:

1. Landlord shall make available to the Premises during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday and upon request, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday (“Building Hours”), generally recognized national holidays excepted, reasonable HVAC services. Subject to the provisions set forth below, Landlord shall also furnish the Building with elevator service (if applicable), reasonable amounts of electric current for normal lighting by Landlord’s standard overhead fluorescent and incandescent fixtures and for the operation of office equipment consistent in type and quantity with that utilized by typical office tenants of the Building and Project, and water for lavatory purposes. Tenant will not, without the prior written consent of Landlord, connect any apparatus, machine or device with water pipes or electric current (except through existing electrical outlets in the Premises) for the purpose of using electric current or water.

2. Upon written request from Tenant delivered to Landlord at least 24 hours prior to the period for which service is requested, but during normal business hours, Landlord will provide any of the foregoing building services to Tenant at such times when such services are not otherwise available. Tenant agrees to pay Landlord for those after-hour services at rates that Landlord may establish from time to time. If Tenant requires electric current in excess of that which Landlord is obligated to furnish under this Exhibit C, Tenant shall first obtain the consent of Landlord, and Landlord may cause an electric current meter to be installed in the Premises to measure the amount of electric current consumed. The cost of installation, maintenance and repair of the meter shall be paid for by Tenant, and Tenant shall reimburse Landlord promptly upon demand for all electric current consumed for any special power use as shown by the meter.

3. Landlord shall furnish water for drinking, personal hygiene and lavatory purposes only.

4. In the event that any utility service to the Premises is separately metered or billed to Tenant, Tenant shall pay all charges for that utility service to the Premises and the cost of furnishing the utility to tenant suites shall be excluded from the Operating Expenses as to which reimbursement from Tenant is required in the Lease.

5. Landlord shall provide janitorial services 5 days per week, equivalent to that furnished in comparable buildings, and window washing as reasonably required; provided, however, that Tenant shall pay for any additional or unusual janitorial services.

6. Tenant shall have access to the Building 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 52 weeks per year; provided that Landlord may install access control systems as it deems advisable for the Building. Landlord may impose a reasonable charge for access control cards and/or keys issued to Tenant.

7. The costs of operating, maintaining and repairing any supplemental air conditioning unit serving only the Premises shall be borne solely by Tenant. Such installation shall be subject to Landlord’s prior written approval, at Tenant’s sole expense and shall include installation of a separate meter for the operation of the unit. Landlord may require Tenant to remove at Lease expiration any such unit installed by or for Tenant and to repair any resulting damage to the Premises or Building.

 

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EXHIBIT D

TENANT’S INSURANCE

The following requirements for Tenant’s insurance shall be in effect during the Term, and Tenant shall also cause any subtenant to comply with the requirements. Landlord reserves the right to adopt reasonable nondiscriminatory modifications and additions to these requirements.

1. Tenant shall maintain, at its sole cost and expense, during the entire Term: (i) commercial general liability insurance with respect to the Premises and the operations of Tenant in, on or about the Premises, on a policy form that is at least as broad as Insurance Service Office (ISO) CGL 00 01 (if alcoholic beverages are sold on the Premises, liquor liability shall be explicitly covered), which policy(ies) shall be written on an “occurrence” basis and for not less than $2,000,000 combined single limit per occurrence for bodily injury, death, and property damage liability; (ii) workers’ compensation insurance coverage as required by law, together with employers’ liability insurance coverage of at least $1,000,000 each accident and each disease; (iii) with respect to Alterations constructed by Tenant under this Lease, builder’s risk insurance, in an amount equal to the replacement cost of the work; and (iv) insurance against fire, vandalism, malicious mischief and such other additional perils as may be included in a standard “special form” policy, insuring all Alterations, trade fixtures, furnishings, equipment and items of personal property in the Premises, in an amount equal to not less than 90% of their replacement cost (with replacement cost endorsement), which policy shall also include business interruption coverage in an amount sufficient to cover 1 year of loss. In no event shall the limits of any policy be considered as limiting the liability of Tenant under this Lease.

2. All policies of insurance required to be carried by Tenant pursuant to this Exhibit D shall be written by insurance companies authorized to do business in the State of California and with a general policyholder rating of not less than “A-” and financial rating of not less than “VIII” in the most current Best’s Insurance Report. The deductible or other retained limit under any policy carried by Tenant shall be commercially reasonable, and Tenant shall be responsible for payment of such deductible or retained limit with waiver of subrogation in favor of Landlord. Any insurance required of Tenant may be furnished by Tenant under any blanket policy carried by it or under a separate policy. A certificate of insurance, certifying that the policy has been issued, provides the coverage required by this Exhibit and contains the required provisions, together with endorsements acceptable to Landlord evidencing the waiver of subrogation and additional insured provisions required below, shall be delivered to Landlord prior to the date Tenant is given the right of possession of the Premises. Proper evidence of the renewal of any insurance coverage shall also be delivered to Landlord not less than thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the coverage. In the event of a loss covered by any policy under which Landlord is an additional insured, Landlord shall be entitled to review a copy of such policy.

3. Tenant’s commercial general liability insurance shall contain a provision that the policy shall be primary to and noncontributory with any policies carried by Landlord, together with a provision including Landlord and any other parties in interest designated by Landlord as additional insureds. Tenant’s policies described in Subsections 1 (ii), (iii) and (iv) above shall each contain a waiver by the insurer of any right to subrogation against Landlord, its agents, employees, contractors and representatives. Tenant also waives its right of recovery for any deductible or retained limit under same policies enumerated above. All of Tenant’s policies shall contain a provision that the insurer will not cancel or change the coverage provided by the policy without first giving Landlord 30 days prior written notice. Tenant shall also name Landlord as an additional insured on any excess or umbrella liability insurance policy carried by Tenant.

NOTICE TO TENANT: IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THIS LEASE, TENANT MUST PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF THE REQUIRED INSURANCE TO LANDLORD’S MANAGEMENT AGENT PRIOR TO BEING AFFORDED ACCESS TO THE PREMISES.

 

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EXHIBIT E

RULES AND REGULATIONS

The following Rules and Regulations shall be in effect at the Building. Landlord reserves the right to adopt reasonable nondiscriminatory modifications and additions at any time. In the case of any conflict between these regulations and the Lease, the Lease shall be controlling.

1. The sidewalks, halls, passages, elevators, stairways, and other common areas shall not be obstructed by Tenant or used by it for storage, for depositing items, or for any purpose other than for ingress to and egress from the Premises. Should Tenant have access to any balcony or patio area, Tenant shall not place any furniture other personal property in such area without the prior written approval of Landlord.

2. Neither Tenant nor any employee or contractor of Tenant shall go upon the roof of the Building without the prior written consent of Landlord.

3. Tenant shall, at its expense, be required to utilize the third party contractor designated by Landlord for the Building to provide any telephone wiring services from the minimum point of entry of the telephone cable in the Building to the Premises.

4. No antenna or satellite dish shall be installed by Tenant without the prior written agreement of Landlord.

5. The sashes, sash doors, windows, glass lights, solar film and/or screen, and any lights or skylights that reflect or admit light into the halls or other places of the Building shall not be covered or obstructed. If Landlord, by a notice in writing to Tenant, shall object to any curtain, blind, tinting, shade or screen attached to, or hung in, or used in connection with, any window or door of the Premises, the use of that curtain, blind, tinting, shade or screen shall be immediately discontinued and removed by Tenant. No awnings shall be permitted on any part of the Premises.

6. The installation and location of any unusually heavy equipment in the Premises, including without limitation file storage units, safes and electronic data processing equipment, shall require the prior written approval of Landlord. The moving of large or heavy objects shall occur only between those hours as may be designated by, and only upon previous notice to, Landlord. No freight, furniture or bulky matter of any description shall be received into or moved out of the lobby of the Building or carried in any elevator other than the freight elevator (if available) designated by Landlord unless approved in writing by Landlord.

7. Any pipes or tubing used by Tenant to transmit water to an appliance or device in the Premises must be made of copper or stainless steel, and in no event shall plastic tubing be used for that purpose.

8. Tenant shall not place any lock(s) on any door in the Premises or Building without Landlord’s prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Upon the termination of its tenancy, Tenant shall deliver to Landlord all the keys to offices, rooms and toilet rooms and all access cards which shall have been furnished to Tenant or which Tenant shall have had made.

9. Tenant shall not install equipment requiring electrical or air conditioning service in excess of that to be provided by Landlord under the Lease without prior written approval from Landlord.

10. Tenant shall not use space heaters within the Premises.

11. Tenant shall not do or permit anything to be done in the Premises, or bring or keep anything in the Premises, which shall in any way increase the insurance on the Building, or on the property kept in the Building, or interfere with the rights of other tenants, or conflict with any government rule or regulation.

12. Tenant shall not use or keep any foul or noxious gas or substance in the Premises.

13. Tenant shall not permit the Premises to be occupied or used in a manner offensive or objectionable to Landlord or other occupants of the Building by reason of noise, odors and/or vibrations, or interfere in any way with other tenants or those having business with other tenants.

14. Tenant shall not permit any pets or animals in or about the Building. Bona fide service animals are permitted provided such service animals are pre-approved by Landlord, remain under the direct control of the individual they serve at all times, and do not disturb or threaten others.

15. Neither Tenant nor its employees, agents, contractors, invitees or licensees shall bring any firearm, whether loaded or unloaded, into the Project at any time.

16. Smoking, including via personal vaporizers or other electronic cigarettes, anywhere within the Premises or Building is strictly prohibited, and Landlord may enforce such prohibition pursuant to Landlord’s leasehold remedies. Smoking is permitted outside the Building and within the project only in areas designated by Landlord.

17. Tenant shall not install an aquarium of any size in the Premises unless otherwise approved by Landlord.

18. Tenant shall not utilize any name selected by Landlord from time to time for the Building and/or the Project as any part of Tenant’s corporate or trade name. Landlord shall have the right to change the name, number or designation of the Building or Project without liability to Tenant. Tenant shall not use any picture of the Building in its advertising, stationery or in any other manner.

19. Tenant shall, upon request by Landlord, supply Landlord with the names and telephone numbers of personnel designated by Tenant to be contacted on an after-hours basis should circumstances warrant.

20. Landlord may from time to time grant tenants individual and temporary variances from these Rules, provided that any variance does not have a material adverse effect on the use and enjoyment of the Premises by Tenant.

21. Fitness Center Rules. Tenant shall cause its employees (whether members or prospective members of the Fitness Center) to comply with the following Fitness Center rules and regulations (subject to change from time to time as Landlord may solely determine):

(a) Membership in the Fitness Center is open to the tenants of Landlord or its affiliates only. No guests will be permitted to use the Fitness Center without the prior written approval of Landlord or Landlord’s representative.

 

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(b) Fitness Center users are not allowed to be in the Fitness Center other than the hours designated by Landlord from time to time. Landlord shall have the right to alter the hours of use of the Fitness Center, at Landlord’s sole discretion.

(c) All Fitness Center users must execute Landlord’s Waiver of Liability prior to use of the Fitness Center and agree to all terms and conditions outlined therein.

(d) Individual membership and guest keycards to the Fitness Center shall not be shared and shall only be used by the individual to whom such keycard was issued. Failure to abide by this rule may result in immediate termination of such Fitness Center user’s right to use the Fitness Center.

(e) All Fitness Center users and approved guests must have a pre-authorized keycard to enter the Fitness Center. A pre-authorized keycard shall not be issued to a prospective Fitness Center user until receipt by Landlord of Landlord’s initial fee, if any, for use of the Fitness Center by such Fitness Center user(s).

(f) Use of the Fitness Center is a privilege and not a right. Failure to follow gym rules or to act inappropriately while using the facilities shall result in termination of Tenant’s Fitness Center privileges.

 

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EXHIBIT F

PARKING

The following parking regulations shall be in effect at the Building In the case of any conflict between these regulations and the Lease, the Lease shall be controlling.

1. Landlord agrees to maintain, or cause to be maintained, an automobile parking area (“Parking Area”) in reasonable proximity to the Building for the benefit and use of the visitors and patrons and, except as otherwise provided, employees of Tenant, and other tenants and occupants of the Building. Landlord shall have the right to determine the nature and extent of the automobile Parking Area, and of making such changes to the Parking Area from time to time which in its opinion are desirable. Landlord shall not be liable for any damage to motor vehicles of visitors or employees, for any loss of property from within those motor vehicles, or for any injury to Tenant, its visitors or employees, unless ultimately determined to be caused by the sole active negligence or willful misconduct of Landlord. Landlord shall also have the right to establish, and from time to time amend, and to enforce against all users of the Parking Area all reasonable rules and regulations (including the designation of areas for employee parking) as Landlord may deem necessary and advisable for the proper and efficient operation and maintenance of the Parking Area.

2. Landlord may, if it deems advisable in its sole discretion, charge for parking and may establish for the Parking Area a system or systems of permit parking for Tenant, its employees and its visitors. In no event shall Tenant or its employees park in reserved stalls leased to other tenants or in stalls within designated visitor parking zones, nor shall Tenant or its employees utilize more than the number of Parking Passes (defined below) allotted in this Lease to Tenant. Tenant shall, upon request of Landlord from time to time, furnish Landlord with a list of its employees’ names and of Tenant’s and its employees’ vehicle license numbers. Parking access devices, if applicable, shall not be transferable. Landlord may impose a reasonable fee for access devices and a replacement charge for devices which are lost or stolen. Each access device shall be returned to Landlord promptly following the Expiration Date or sooner termination of this Lease.

3. Washing, waxing, cleaning or servicing of vehicles, or the parking of any vehicle on an overnight basis, in the Parking Area (other than emergency services) by any parker or his or her agents or employees is prohibited unless otherwise authorized by Landlord.

4. It is understood that the employees of Tenant and the other tenants of Landlord within the Building and Project shall not be permitted to park their automobiles in the portions of the Parking Area which may from time to time be designated for patrons of the Building and/or Project. Tenant shall be obligated to purchase from Landlord for the Term of this Lease, the total number of parking passes set forth in Item 11 of the Basic Lease Provisions (the “Parking Passes”) for unreserved parking, in monthly amounts as Landlord shall from time to time determine. Should any monthly parking charge not be paid within 5 days following the date due, then a late charge shall be payable by Tenant equal to the greater of (i) 5% of the delinquent installment or (ii) $100.00, which late charge shall be separate and in addition to any late charge that may be assessed pursuant to Section 14.3 of the Lease for other than delinquent monthly parking charges.

5. Landlord shall be entitled to pass on to Tenant its proportionate share of any charges or parking surcharge or transportation management costs levied by any governmental agency and Tenant shall cooperate in any voluntary or mandated transportation management programs.

6. Tenant shall not assign or sublet any of the Parking Passes, either voluntarily or by operation of law, without the prior written consent of Landlord, except in connection with an authorized assignment of this Lease or subletting of the Premises.

 

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EXHIBIT G

ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

1. RIGHT TO EXTEND. Provided that Tenant is not in Default under any provision of this Lease at the time of exercise of the extension right granted herein, and provided further that Tenant is occupying the entire Premises and has not assigned or sublet any of its interest in this Lease (except in connection with a Permitted Transfer of this Lease to an Affiliate as described in Section 9.2 hereof), Tenant may extend the Term of this Lease for one period of 60 months. Tenant shall exercise its right to extend the Term by and only by delivering to Landlord, not less than 9 months nor more than 12 months prior to the expiration date of the Term, Tenant’s written notice of its irrevocable commitment to extend (the “Commitment Notice”). Should Tenant fail timely to deliver the Commitment Notice, then this extension right shall thereupon lapse and be of no further force or effect.

The Basic Rent payable under the Lease during the extension of the Term shall be at the prevailing market rental rate (including periodic adjustments) for comparable and similarly improved Class A office space in the UTC submarket of San Diego as of the commencement of the extension period. In no event shall the monthly Basic Rent payable for the extension period be less than the Basic Rent payable during the month immediately preceding the commencement of such extension period.

Promptly following receipt of the Commitment Notice, Landlord shall prepare an appropriate amendment to the Lease memorializing the extension of the Term in accordance with the foregoing, and Tenant shall duly execute and return same to Landlord within 15 days. If Tenant fails timely to do so, then Landlord, at its sole discretion, may either enforce its rights under this Section or, upon written notice to Tenant, elect to cause Tenant’s right to extend to be extinguished, in which event this Lease shall terminate as of the originally scheduled date of expiration. Should Landlord elect the latter, then this Lease shall terminate upon the scheduled date of expiration and Tenant’s rights under this paragraph shall be of no further force or effect.

Any attempt to assign or transfer any right or interest created by this paragraph to other than an Affiliate shall be void from its inception. Tenant shall have no other right to extend the Term beyond the single 60 month extension created by this paragraph. Unless agreed to in a writing signed by Landlord and Tenant, any extension of the Term, whether created by an amendment to this Lease or by a holdover of the Premises by Tenant, or otherwise, shall be deemed a part of, and not in addition to, any duly exercised extension period permitted by this Section. Tenant’s Right to Extend is subject and subordinate to the expansion rights (whether such rights are designated as a right of first offer, right of first refusal, expansion option or otherwise) of any tenant of the Building existing on the date hereof. Time is specifically made of the essence of this Section.

2. FITNESS CENTER AND SHOWER FACILITY. Subject to the provisions of this Section 2, so long as Tenant is not in Default under this Lease, and provided Tenant’s employees execute Landlord’s standard waiver of liability form and pay the applicable one time or monthly fee, if any, then Tenant’s employees (the “Fitness Center Users”) shall be entitled to use the fitness center (the “Fitness Center”) and the shower facility (the “Shower Facility”) located at the Project. No separate charges shall be assessed to Fitness Center Users for the use of the Fitness Center (with the exception of towel/laundry fees, if any) during the initial Term of this Lease, provided, however, that the costs of operating, maintaining and repairing the Fitness Center shall be included as part of Operating Expenses. The use of the Fitness Center and Shower Facility shall be subject to the reasonable rules and regulations (including rules regarding hours of use) established from time to time by Landlord. Landlord and Tenant acknowledge that the use of the Fitness Center by the Fitness Center Users shall be at their own risk and that the terms and provisions of Section 10.2 of this Lease shall apply to Tenant and the Fitness Center User’s use of the Fitness Center. Tenant acknowledges that the provisions of this Section shall not be deemed to be a representation by Landlord that Landlord shall continuously maintain the Fitness Center (or any other fitness facility) and Shower Facility throughout the Term of this Lease, and Landlord shall have the right, at Landlord’s sole discretion, to expand, contract, eliminate or otherwise modify the Fitness Center. No expansion, contraction, elimination or modification of the Fitness Center, and no termination of Tenant’s or the Fitness Center Users’ rights to the Fitness Center shall entitle Tenant to an abatement or reduction in Basic Rent constitute a constructive eviction, or result in an event of default by Landlord under this Lease. Tenant hereby voluntarily releases, discharges, waives and relinquishes any and all actions or causes of action for personal injury or property damage occurring to Tenant or its employees or agents arising as a result of the use of the Fitness Center and Shower Facility, or any activities incidental thereto, wherever or however the same may occur, and further agrees that Tenant will not prosecute any claim for personal injury or property damage against Landlord or any of its officers, agents, servants or employees for any said causes of action. It is the intention of Tenant with respect to the Fitness Center and Shower Facility to exempt and relieve Landlord from liability for personal injury or property damage caused by negligence.

3. BALCONY. Tenant acknowledges and agrees that (i) Tenant has access to certain balconies located on the Premises; (ii) Tenant is responsible for supervising and controlling access to the balconies by Tenant’s employees, officers, directors, shareholders, agents, representatives, contractors and/or invitees; (iii) Landlord is not responsible for supervising and controlling access to the balconies, and (iv) Tenant assumes the risk for any loss, claim, damage or liability arising out of the use or misuse of the balconies by Tenant’s employees, officers, directors, shareholders, agents, representatives, contractors and/or invitees, and Tenant releases and discharges Landlord from and against any such loss, claim, damage or liability. Tenant further agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Landlord harmless from and against any and all losses and claims relating to or arising out of the use or misuse of the balconies by Tenant or Tenant’s employees, officers, shareholders, directors, agents, representatives, contractors and/or invitees. Tenant shall have not have the right to install and use outdoor furniture and planters on the balconies. Tenant furthermore agrees (a) not to store or place any personal property or other items upon said balconies without the prior consent of Landlord, which may be withheld in Landlord’s sole discretion, (b) to use and keep the appearance of the balconies in a manner consistent with a first-class office building, (c) not to use the balcony as an area for people to congregate or as a smoking area or for other similar purposes, and (d) not to keep the balcony door(s) ajar.

 

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EXHIBIT X

WORK LETTER

Landlord shall cause its contractor to make improvements to the Premises as may be specified by Tenant and approved by Landlord not later than March 1, 2017 (the “Tenant Improvements”); it being understood that the Tenant Improvements shall be substantially in conformity with Exhibit X-1 hereto. Landlord’s total contribution for the Tenant Improvements, inclusive of space planning costs and Landlord’s construction management fee, shall not exceed $100,557.00 (“Landlord Contribution”), and any additional cost shall be borne solely by Tenant and paid to Landlord prior to the commencement of construction. It is understood that Landlord shall be entitled to a supervision/administrative fee equal to 3% of the total construction cost, which fee shall be paid from the Landlord Contribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Tenant may utilize a portion of the Landlord Contribution not to exceed $33,519.00 toward the out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Tenant for relocating to the Premises, including furniture moving and data cabling costs. Tenant shall be reimbursed for such expenses by submitting copies of all supporting third-party invoices to Landlord by June 30, 2017. Landlord shall reimburse Tenant in one installment within 30 days following receipt of all such invoices. Tenant understands and agrees that should the cost of the completion of the Tenant Improvements be less than the maximum amount provided for the Landlord Contribution or remains after June 30, 2017, such savings shall inure to the benefit of Landlord and Tenant shall not be entitled to any credit or payment or to apply the savings toward additional work. Unless otherwise agreed in writing by Landlord, all materials and finishes utilized in constructing the Tenant Improvements shall be Landlord’s building standard. Should Landlord submit any additional plans, equipment specification sheets, or other matters to Tenant for approval or completion, Tenant shall respond in writing, as appropriate, within 3 business days unless a shorter period is provided herein. Tenant shall not unreasonably withhold its approval of any matter, and any disapproval shall be with reasons specified. Landlord may require that one or more designated subtrades be union contractors.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event Tenant provides a certified balance sheet evidencing at least $10,000,000.00 of funding on or prior to January 31, 2018, then Landlord shall provide an additional tenant improvement allowance equal to $33,519.00 (based upon $3.00 per rentable square foot of the Premises) (the “Additional Allowance”). Any Additional Allowance remaining 6 months after the date of Landlord’s funding shall inure to the benefit of Landlord and Tenant shall not be entitled to any credit or payment or to apply the savings toward additional work. Upon Landlord’s request, Tenant shall execute an amendment to the Lease or other document to memorialize the Additional Allowance.

In the event that Tenant requests any changes or additional work (“Changes”), then provided such Change is acceptable to Landlord, Landlord shall advise Tenant by written change order of any additional cost and/or Tenant Delay (as defined below) such change would cause. Tenant shall approve or disapprove such change order in writing within 2 business days following its receipt. Tenant’s approval of a change order shall not be effective unless accompanied by payment in full of the additional cost of the Tenant Improvement work resulting from the change order, regardless of any unutilized portion of the Landlord Contribution. It is understood that Landlord shall have no obligation to interrupt or modify the Tenant Improvement work pending Tenant’s approval of a change order.

Notwithstanding any provision in the Lease to the contrary, if Tenant fails to comply with any of the time periods specified in this Work Letter, requests any Changes to the work, fails to make timely payment of any sum due hereunder, furnishes inaccurate or erroneous specifications or other information, or otherwise delays in any manner the completion of the Tenant Improvements or the issuance of an occupancy certificate (any of the foregoing being referred to in this Lease as a “Tenant Delay”), then Tenant shall bear any resulting additional construction cost or other expenses and the Commencement Date shall be deemed to have occurred for all purposes, including Tenant’s obligation to pay Rent, as of the date Landlord reasonably determines that it would have been able to deliver the Premises to Tenant but for the collective Tenant Delays.

Landlord shall permit Tenant and its agents to enter the Premises up to 5 days prior to the Commencement Date of the Lease in order that Tenant may perform any work to be performed by Tenant hereunder through its own contractors, subject to Landlord’s prior written approval, and in a manner and upon terms and conditions and at times satisfactory to Landlord’s representative. The foregoing license to enter the Premises prior to the Commencement Date is, however, conditioned upon Tenant’s contractors and their subcontractors and employees working in harmony and not interfering with the work being performed by Landlord. If at any time that entry shall cause disharmony or interfere with the work being performed by Landlord, this license may be withdrawn by Landlord upon 24 hours written notice to Tenant. That license is further conditioned upon the compliance by Tenant’s contractors with all requirements imposed by Landlord on third party contractors, including without limitation the maintenance by Tenant and its contractors and subcontractors of workers’ compensation and public liability and property damage insurance in amounts and with companies and on forms satisfactory to Landlord, with certificates of such insurance being furnished to Landlord prior to proceeding with any such entry. The entry shall be deemed to be under all of the provisions of the Lease except as to the covenants to pay Rent unless Tenant commences business activities in the Premises. Landlord shall not be liable in any way for any injury, loss or damage which may occur to any such work being performed by Tenant, the same being solely at Tenant’s risk. In no event shall the failure of Tenant’s contractors to complete any work in the Premises extend the Commencement Date.

Tenant hereby designates Xiaodi Hou, Telephone No. (858) 230-1684, as its representative, agent and attorney-in-fact for the purpose of receiving notices, approving submittals and issuing requests for Changes, and Landlord shall be entitled to rely upon authorizations and directives of such person(s) as if given by Tenant. Tenant may amend the designation of its construction representative(s) at any time upon delivery of written notice to Landlord.

 

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EXHIBIT X-1

 

LOGO

 

 

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FIRST AMENDMENT

THIS FIRST AMENDMENT (the “Amendment”) is made and entered into as of January 22, 2019, by and between LJ GATEWAY OFFICE LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Landlord”) and TUSIMPLE, a California corporation (“Tenant”).

RECITALS

 

A.

Landlord and Tenant (as successor in interest to Tusimple LLC, a California limited liability company) are parties to that certain lease dated December 16, 2016 (the “Lease”). Pursuant to the Lease, Landlord has leased to Tenant space currently containing approximately 11,173 rentable square feet (the “Original Premises”) described as Suite No. 600 on the 6th floor of the building located at 9191 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, California (the “Building”).

 

B.

Tenant has requested that additional space containing approximately 3,643 rentable square feet described as Suite No. 550 on the 5th floor of the Building shown on Exhibit A hereto (the “Expansion Space”) be added to the Original Premises and that the Lease be appropriately amended and Landlord is willing to do the same on the following terms and conditions.

 

C.

The Lease by its terms shall expire on March 31, 2019 (“Prior Expiration Date”), and the parties desire to extend the Term of the Lease, all on the following terms and conditions.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above recitals which by this reference are incorporated herein, the mutual covenants and conditions contained herein and other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Landlord and Tenant agree as follows:

 

I.

Expansion and Effective Date.

 

  A.

The Term for the Expansion Space shall commence (“Expansion Effective Date”) on the earlier of (a) the date the Expansion Space is deemed ready for occupancy pursuant to Section I.B below, or (b) the date Tenant commences its business activities within the Expansion Space, and shall expire upon the Extended Expiration Date (hereinafter defined). The Expansion Effective Date is estimated to be February 1, 2019 (“Estimated Expansion Effective Date”). Promptly following request by Landlord, the parties shall memorialize on a form provided by Landlord (the “Expansion Effective Date Memorandum”) the actual Expansion Effective Date; should Tenant fail to execute and return the Expansion Effective Date Memorandum to Landlord within five (5) business days (or provide specific written objections thereto within that period), then Landlord’s determination of the Expansion Effective Date as set forth in the Expansion Effective Date Memorandum shall be conclusive. Effective as of the Expansion Effective Date, the Premises, as defined in the Lease, shall be increased from 11,173 rentable square feet to 14,816 rentable square feet by the addition of the Expansion Space.

 

  B.

Delay in Possession. If Landlord, for any reason whatsoever, cannot deliver possession of Expansion Space to Tenant on or before the Expansion Effective Date set forth in Section I.A above, this Amendment shall not be void or voidable nor shall Landlord be liable to Tenant for any resulting loss or damage. However, Tenant shall not be liable for any rent for the Expansion Space and the Expansion Effective Date shall not occur until Landlord delivers possession of the Expansion Space and the Expansion Space is in fact ready for occupancy as defined below, except that if Landlord’s failure to so deliver possession is attributable to any action or inaction by Tenant (including without limitation any Tenant Delay described in the Work Letter, if any, attached to this Amendment), then the Expansion Space shall be deemed ready for occupancy, and Landlord shall be entitled to full performance by Tenant (including the payment of rent), as of the date Landlord would have been able to deliver the Expansion Space to Tenant but for Tenant’s delay(s). Subject to the foregoing, the Expansion Space shall be deemed “ready for occupancy” when Landlord, to the extent applicable, has substantially completed all of the tenant improvements required to be completed by Landlord pursuant to Exhibit A-1 (Space Plan) attached to this Amendment but for minor punch list matters, and has obtained the requisite governmental approvals for Tenant’s occupancy in connection with such work.

 

II.

Extension. The Term of the Lease is hereby extended and shall expire on March 31, 2020 (“Extended Expiration Date”), unless sooner terminated in accordance with the terms of the Lease. That portion of the Term commencing the day immediately following the Prior Expiration Date (“Extension Date”) and ending on the Extended Expiration Date shall be referred to herein as the “Extended Term”.

 

III.

Basic Rent.

 

  A.

Original Premises From and After Extension Date. As of the Extension Date, the schedule of Basic Rent payable with respect to the Original Premises during the Extended Term is the following:

 

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Months of Term or

Period

   Monthly Rate Per
Square Foot
     Monthly Basic Rent  

4/1/19 to 3/31/20

   $ 3.15      $ 35,195.00  

All such Basic Rent shall be payable by Tenant in accordance with the terms of the Lease.

 

  B.

Expansion Space From Expansion Effective Date Through Extended Expiration Date. As of the Expansion Effective Date, the schedule of Basic Rent payable with respect to the Expansion Space for the balance of the original Term and the Extended Term is the following:

 

Months of Term or

Period

   Monthly Rate Per
Square Foot
     Monthly Basic Rent  

2/1/19 to 1/31/20

   $ 2.95      $ 10,747.00  

2/1/20 to 3/31/20

   $ 3.08      $ 11,220.00  

All such Basic Rent shall be payable by Tenant in accordance with the terms of the Lease.

 

IV.

Project Costs and Property Taxes.

 

  A.

Original Premises for the Extended Term. Effective as of the Extension Date, the following shall be added to Item 7 of Article 1 of the Lease with respect to the Original Premises:

“Property Tax Base: The Property Taxes per rentable square foot incurred by Landlord and attributable to the twelve month period ending June 30, 2020 (the “Base Year”).

Project Cost Base: The Project Costs per rentable square foot incurred by Landlord and attributable to the twelve month period ending June 30, 2020.

Expense Recovery Period: Every twelve (12) month period during the Term (or portion thereof during the first and last Lease years) ending June 30.”

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Landlord hereby agrees that Tenant shall not be responsible for Tenant’s Share of Operating Expense excess accruing in connection with the Original Premises during the 12 month period commencing as of the Extension Date.

 

  B.

Expansion Space From Expansion Effective Date Through Extended Expiration Date. Effective as of the Expansion Effective Date, the following shall be added to Item 7 of Article 1 of the Lease with respect to the Expansion Space:

“Property Tax Base: The Property Taxes per rentable square foot incurred by Landlord and attributable to the twelve month period ending June 30, 2019 (the “Base Year”).

Project Cost Base: The Project Costs per rentable square foot incurred by Landlord and attributable to the twelve month period ending June 30, 2019.

Expense Recovery Period: Every twelve (12) month period during the Term (or portion thereof during the first and last Lease years) ending June 30.”

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Landlord hereby agrees that Tenant shall not be responsible for Tenant’s Share of Operating Expense excess accruing in connection with the Expansion Space during the 12 month period commencing as of the Expansion Effective Date.

 

V.

Additional Security Deposit. Concurrently with Tenant’s delivery of this Amendment, Tenant shall deliver the sum of $12,342.00 to Landlord, which sum shall be added to the Security Deposit presently being held by Landlord in accordance with Section 4.3 of the Lease. Accordingly, the Security Deposit is increased from $74,457.00 to $86,799.00.

 

VI.

Improvements.

 

  A.

Condition of the Original Premises. Tenant acknowledges that it is currently occupying the Original Premises and that it is satisfied with the condition thereof. Tenant waives any right or claim against Landlord arising out of the condition of the Original Premises.

 

  B.

Condition of Expansion Space. Tenant has inspected the Expansion Space and agrees to accept the same “as is” without any agreements, representations, understandings or obligations on the part of Landlord to perform any alterations, repairs or improvements, except as may be expressly provided otherwise in this Amendment.

 

  C.

Alterations. Any construction, alterations or improvements to the Original Premises and/or the Expansion Space shall be performed by Tenant at its sole cost and expense using contractors selected by Tenant and approved by Landlord and shall be governed in all respects by the provisions of Section 7.3 of the Lease.

 

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VII.

Other Pertinent Provisions. Landlord and Tenant agree that, effective as of the date of this Amendment (unless different effective date(s) is/are specifically referenced in this Section), the Lease shall be amended in the following additional respects:

 

  A.

Parking. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in Exhibit F to the Lease, “Parking,” effective as of the Expansion Effective Date, Landlord shall lease to Tenant, and Tenant shall lease from Landlord, a total of 51 unreserved parking passes for the Original Premises and the Expansion Space at the rate of $60.00 per pass, per month through the Extended Expiration Date. Thereafter, the parking charge shall be at Landlord’s scheduled parking rates from time to time.

 

  B.

SDN List. Landlord and Tenant hereby represent and warrant that neither it nor any officer, director, employee, partner, member or other principal is listed as a Specially Designated National and Blocked Person (“SDN”) on the list of such persons and entities issued by the U.S. Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

 

  C.

Right to Extend. Section 1 (Right to Extend) of Exhibit G of the Lease shall remain in full force and effect during the Extended Term.

 

  D.

Early Entry. Following the full execution of this Amendment and payment of all deposits due hereunder, Tenant shall be permitted to enter the Expansion Space up to 14 days prior to the Expansion Effective Date in order that Tenant may install its telephones, furniture, equipment and computers. Tenant’s access to the Expansion Space prior to the Expansion Effective Date shall be subject to all of the terms and obligations in the Lease, including the indemnity provisions therein, except that Tenant shall not be required to pay Basic Rent for the Expansion Space during that period unless it commences its business activities in the Expansion Space.

 

  E.

Space Planning and Substitution. Provided Tenant leases and occupies the entire Original Premises, Landlord shall not have the right to relocate Tenant from the Original Premises during the Extended Term.

 

  F.

Guarantee of Lease. Provided Guarantor, Xiodi Hou, an individual, executes and delivers a new guarantee of lease concurrently with this Amendment, the Guarantee of Lease dated December 16, 2016 shall be of no further force or effect.

 

VIII.

GENERAL.

 

  A.

Effect of Amendments. The Lease shall remain in full force and effect except to the extent that it is modified by this Amendment.

 

  B.

Entire Agreement. This Amendment embodies the entire understanding between Landlord and Tenant and can be changed only by a writing signed by Landlord and Tenant. There have been no additional oral or written representations or agreements. Under no circumstances shall Tenant be entitled to any rent abatement, improvement allowance, leasehold improvements, or any similar economic incentives that may have been provided Tenant in connection with entering into the Lease, unless specifically set forth in this Amendment.

 

  C.

Counterparts; Digital Signatures. If this Amendment is executed in counterparts, each is hereby declared to be an original; all, however, shall constitute but one and the same amendment. In any action or proceeding, any photographic, photostatic, or other copy of this Amendment may be introduced into evidence without foundation. The parties agree to accept a digital image (including but not limited to an image in the form of a PDF, JPEG, GIF file, or other e-signature) of this Amendment, if applicable, reflecting the execution of one or both of the parties, as a true and correct original.

 

  D.

Defined Terms. All words commencing with initial capital letters in this Amendment and defined in the Lease shall have the same meaning in this Amendment as in the Lease, unless they are otherwise defined in this Amendment.

 

  E.

Authority. If Tenant is a corporation, limited liability company or partnership, or is comprised of any of them, each individual executing this Amendment for the corporation, limited liability company or partnership represents that he or she is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Amendment on behalf of such entity and that this Amendment is binding upon such entity in accordance with its terms.

 

  F.

California Certified Access Specialist Inspection. Pursuant to California Civil Code § 1938, Landlord hereby states that the Premises have not undergone inspection by a Certified Access Specialist (CASp) (defined in California Civil Code § 55.52(a)(3)). Pursuant to Section 1938 of the California Civil Code, Landlord hereby provides the following notification to Tenant: “A Certified Access Specialist (CASp) can inspect the subject premises and determine whether the subject premises comply with all of the applicable construction-related accessibility standards under state law. Although

 

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state law does not require a CASp inspection of the subject premises, the commercial property owner or lessor may not prohibit the lessee or tenant from obtaining a CASp inspection of the subject premises for the occupancy or potential occupancy of the lessee or tenant, if requested by the lessee or tenant. The parties shall mutually agree on the arrangements for the time and manner of the CASp inspection, the payment of the fee for the CASp inspection, and the cost of making any repairs necessary to correct violations of construction related accessibility standards within the premises.”

 

  G.

Attorneys’ Fees. The provisions of the Lease respecting payment of attorneys’ fees shall also apply to this Amendment.

 

  H.

Brokers. Article 18 of the Lease is amended to provide that the parties recognize the following parties as the brokers who negotiated this Amendment, and agree that Landlord shall be responsible for payment of brokerage commissions to such brokers pursuant to its separate agreements with such brokers: Irvine Management Company (“Landlord’s Broker”) is the agent of Landlord exclusively and Hughes Marino, Inc. (“Tenant’s Broker”) is the agent of Tenant exclusively. By the execution of this Amendment, each of Landlord and Tenant hereby acknowledge and confirm (a) receipt of a copy of a Disclosure Regarding Real Estate Agency Relationship conforming to the requirements of California Civil Code 2079.16, and (b) the agency relationships specified herein, which acknowledgement and confirmation is expressly made for the benefit of Tenant’s Broker. By the execution of this Amendment, Landlord and Tenant are executing the confirmation of the agency relationships set forth herein. The warranty and indemnity provisions of Article 18 of the Lease, as amended hereby, shall be binding and enforceable in connection with the negotiation of this Amendment.

 

  I.

Execution of Amendment. Submission of this Amendment by Landlord is not an offer to enter into this Amendment but rather is a solicitation for such an offer by Tenant. Landlord shall not be bound by this Amendment until Landlord has executed and delivered the same to Tenant.

 

  J.

Nondisclosure of Terms. Tenant agrees that neither Tenant nor its agents or any other parties acting on behalf of Tenant shall disclose any matters set forth in this Amendment or disseminate or distribute any information concerning the terms, details or conditions hereof to any person, firm or entity without obtaining the express written consent of Landlord.

 

  K.

Guarantee. At Landlord’s option, this Amendment shall be of no force and effect unless a new guarantee of lease is concurrently executed by Guarantor.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Landlord and Tenant have duly executed this Amendment as of the day and year first above written.

 

LANDLORD:     TENANT:
LJ GATEWAY OFFICE LLC     TUSIMPLE
a Delaware limited liability company     a California corporation
By  

/s/ Steven M. Case

    By   

/s/ Xiaodi Hou

  Steven M. Case     Printed Name Xiaodi Hou
  Executive Vice President Office Properties     Title:   President                         Jan. 21 2019
By  

/s/ Kristopher J. Kopensky

    By  
  Kristopher J. Kopensky     Printed Name
  Vice President, Operations Office Properties     Title  

 

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EXHIBIT A

OUTLINE AND LOCATION OF EXPANSION SPACE

9191 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 550

 

LOGO

 

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EXHIBIT A-1

SPACE PLAN

 

LOGO

 

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SECOND AMENDMENT

THIS SECOND AMENDMENT (the “Amendment”) is made and entered into as of March 27, 2019, by and between LJ GATEWAY OFFICE LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Landlord”) and TUSIMPLE, a California corporation (“Tenant”).

RECITALS

 

A.

Landlord and Tenant (as successor in interest to Tusimple LLC, a California limited liability company) are parties to that certain lease dated December 16, 2016, which lease is amended by that certain First Amendment dated January 22, 2019 (collectively, the “Lease”). Pursuant to the Lease, Landlord has leased to Tenant space currently containing approximately 14,816 rentable square feet (the “Original Premises”) described as Suite Nos.550 and 600 on the 5th and 6th floors of the building located at 9191 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, California (the “Building”).

 

B.

Tenant has requested that additional space containing approximately 12,492 rentable square feet described as Suite No. 401 (approximately 6,598 rentable square feet), Suite No. 408 (approximately 1,603 rentable square feet) and Suite No. 409 (approximately 4,291 rentable square feet) on the 4th floor of the Building shown on Exhibit A hereto (collectively, the “Fourth Floor Expansion Space”) be added to the Original Premises and that the Lease be appropriately amended and Landlord is willing to do the same on the following terms and conditions.

 

C.

The Lease by its terms shall expire on March 31, 2020 (“Second Prior Expiration Date”), and the parties desire to extend the Term of the Lease, all on the following terms and conditions.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above recitals which by this reference are incorporated herein, the mutual covenants and conditions contained herein and other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Landlord and Tenant agree as follows:

 

I.

Expansion and Effective Date.

 

  A.

The Term for the Fourth Floor Expansion Space shall commence (“Fourth Floor Expansion Effective Date”) on September 1, 2019 (“Estimated Fourth Floor Expansion Effective Date”) and end on the Second Extended Expiration Date (hereinafter defined). The Fourth Floor Expansion Space is subject to all the terms and conditions of the Lease except as expressly modified herein. Effective as of the Fourth Floor Expansion Effective Date, the Premises, as defined in the Lease, shall be increased from 14,816 rentable square feet to 27,308 rentable square feet by the addition of the Fourth Floor Expansion Space.

 

  B.

Delay in Possession. The Fourth Floor Expansion Effective Date shall be delayed to the extent that Landlord fails to deliver possession of the Fourth Floor Expansion Space for any reason, including but not limited to, holding over by prior occupants. Any such delay in the Fourth Floor Expansion Effective Date shall not subject Landlord to any liability for any loss or damage resulting therefrom.

 

II.

Extension. The Term of the Lease is hereby extended and shall expire on March 31, 2024 (“Second Extended Expiration Date”), unless sooner terminated in accordance with the terms of the Lease. That portion of the Term commencing the day immediately following the Second Prior Expiration Date (“Second Extension Date”) and ending on the Second Extended Expiration Date shall be referred to herein as the “Second Extended Term”.

 

III.

Basic Rent.

 

  A.

Original Premises From and After Second Extension Date. As of the Second Extension Date, the schedule of Basic Rent payable with respect to the Original Premises during the Second Extended Term is the following:

 

Months of Term or Period

   Monthly Rate Per
Square Foot
     Monthly Basic Rent  

4/1/20-3/31/21

   $ 3.27      $ 48,448.00  

4/1/21-3/31/22

   $ 3.42      $ 50,671.00  

4/1/22-3/31/23

   $ 3.57      $ 52,893.00  

4/1/23-3/31/24

   $ 3.73      $ 55,264.00  

All such Basic Rent shall be payable by Tenant in accordance with the terms of the Lease.

 

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  B.

Fourth Floor Expansion Space From Fourth Floor Expansion Effective Date Through Second Extended Expiration Date. As of the Fourth Floor Expansion Effective Date, the schedule of Basic Rent payable with respect to the Fourth Floor Expansion Space is the following:

 

Months of Term or Period

   Monthly Rate Per
Square Foot
     Monthly Basic Rent  

9/1/19 to 8/31/20

   $ 3.10      $ 38,725.00  

9/1/20 to 8/31/21

   $ 3.24      $ 40,474.00  

9/1/21 to 8/31/22

   $ 3.39      $ 42,348.00  

9/1/22 to 8/31/23

   $ 3.54      $ 44,222.00  

9/1/23 to 3/31/24

   $ 3.70      $ 46,220.00  

All such Basic Rent shall be payable by Tenant in accordance with the terms of the Lease.

 

IV.

Project Costs and Property Taxes.

 

  A.

Original Premises for the Second Extended Term. During the Second Extended Term, the following shall be added to Item 7 of Article 1 of the Lease with respect to the Original Premises:

“Property Tax Base: The Property Taxes per rentable square foot incurred by Landlord and attributable to the twelve month period ending June 30, 2020 (the “Base Year”).

Project Cost Base: The Project Costs per rentable square foot incurred by Landlord and attributable to the twelve month period ending June 30, 2020.

Expense Recovery Period: Every twelve (12) month period during the Term (or portion thereof during the first and last Lease years) ending June 30.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Tenant shall not be obligated to pay Tenant’s Share of Operating Expense increases with respect to the Original Premises during the 12 month period commencing on the Second Extension Date.”

 

  B.

Fourth Floor Expansion Space From Fourth Floor Expansion Effective Date Through Second Extended Expiration Date. Effective as of the Fourth Floor Expansion Effective Date, the following shall be added to Item 7 of Article 1 of the Lease with respect to the Fourth Floor Expansion Space:

“Property Tax Base: The Property Taxes per rentable square foot incurred by Landlord and attributable to the twelve month period ending June 30, 2020 (the “Base Year”).

Project Cost Base: The Project Costs per rentable square foot incurred by Landlord and attributable to the twelve month period ending June 30, 2020.

Expense Recovery Period: Every twelve (12) month period during the Term (or portion thereof during the first and last Lease years) ending June 30.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Tenant shall not be obligated to pay Tenant’s Share of Operating Expense increases with respect to the Fourth Floor Expansion Space during the 12 month period commencing on the Fourth Floor Expansion Effective Date.”

 

V.

Additional Security Deposit. Concurrently with Tenant’s delivery of this Amendment, Tenant shall deliver the sum of $24,833.00 to Landlord, which sum shall be added to the Security Deposit presently being held by Landlord in accordance with Section 4.3 of the Lease. Accordingly, the Security Deposit is increased from $86,799.00 to $111,632.00.

 

VI.

Letter of Credit. In addition to the cash Security Deposit, Tenant shall deliver to Landlord, concurrently with Tenant’s execution of this Amendment, a letter of credit in the amount of $250,000.00, which letter of credit shall be in form and with the substance of Exhibit B attached hereto. The letter of credit shall be issued by a financial institution acceptable to Landlord with a branch in San Diego County, California, at which draws on the letter of credit will be accepted. The letter of credit shall provide for automatic yearly renewals throughout the Term of this Lease and shall have an outside expiration date (if any) that is not earlier than 30 days after the expiration of the Lease Term. In the event the letter of credit is not continuously renewed through the period set forth above, or upon any breach under this Lease by Tenant, including specifically Tenant’s failure to pay Rent or to abide by its obligations under Sections 7.1 and 15.2 below and provided Landlord gives Tenant notice and 3 days to cure, Landlord shall be entitled to draw upon said letter of credit by the issuance of Landlord’s sole written demand to the issuing financial institution. Any such draw shall be without waiver of any rights Landlord may have under this Lease or at law or in equity as a result of any Default hereunder by Tenant. Landlord shall authorize a reduction to the Letter of Credit in the amount of $150,000.00 on September 1, 2021; provided that any such reduction shall be conditioned upon (i) Tenant not having been in default

 

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  under this Lease at any time and (ii) a written request for such reduction having been submitted to Landlord not earlier than 30 days prior to the applicable reduction date.

 

VII.

Improvements to Original Premises and Fourth Floor Expansion Space.

 

  A.

Condition of Original Premises and Fourth Floor Expansion Space. Tenant acknowledges that it is currently occupying the Original Premises and that it is satisfied with the condition thereof. Tenant waives any right or claim against Landlord arising out of the condition of the Original Premises. Tenant has inspected the Fourth Floor Expansion Space and agrees to accept the same “as is” without any agreements, representations, understandings or obligations on the part of Landlord to perform any alterations, repairs or improvements, except as may be expressly provided otherwise in this Amendment. Landlord warrants to Tenant that the fire sprinkler system, lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and electrical systems serving the Fourth Floor Expansion Space, shall be in good operating condition as of the day the Fourth Floor Expansion Space is delivered to Tenant.

 

  B.

Tenant Improvements. Tenant shall be permitted to construct the Tenant Improvements for the Original Premises and Fourth Floor Expansion Space in accordance with the provisions of Exhibit C, Work Letter, attached hereto.

 

VIII.

Other Pertinent Provisions. Landlord and Tenant agree that, effective as of the date of this Amendment (unless different effective date(s) is/are specifically referenced in this Section), the Lease shall be amended in the following additional respects:

 

  A.

Parking. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in Exhibit F to the Lease, “Parking,” (i) effective as of the Fourth Floor Expansion Effective Date, Landlord shall lease to Tenant, and Tenant shall lease from Landlord, additional parking spaces consisting of a minimum of 35, but no more than 54 unreserved parking passes for the Fourth Floor Expansion Space at the rate of $60.00 per pass, per month through the Second Extended Expiration Date and (ii) during the Second Extended Term, 51 unreserved parking passes for the Original Premises at the rate of $60.00 per pass, per month. Thereafter, the parking charge shall be at Landlord’s scheduled parking rates from time to time. In addition but subject to the month-to-month availability of such parking as determined by Landlord, Tenant shall have the right to purchase such additional parking passes for unreserved parking as Tenant shall request from Landlord (the “Additional Parking Passes”) by providing written notice of such election to Landlord at any time following the date of this. The parking charge for the Additional Parking Passes shall be at Landlord’s scheduled parking rates from time to time.

 

  B.

Eyebrow Signage. Provided Tenant is not in Default of the Lease, Tenant shall have the right to one slot on the non-exclusive exterior eyebrow sign at the Building (the “Eyebrow Signage”), which signage shall consist only of the name “TUSIMPLE.” The type and design of such signage shall be subject to the prior written approval of Landlord, Tenant and the City of San Diego, and shall be consistent with Landlord’s signage criteria for the Project. Fabrication, installation, insurance, and maintenance of such signage shall be at Tenant’s sole cost and expense. Tenant understands and agrees that it shall use one of Landlord’s approved contractors for installing the Eyebrow Signage. Should Tenant fail to have the Eyebrow Signage installed within 12 months of the Fourth Floor Expansion Effective Date, then Tenant’s right to install same thereafter shall be deemed null and void. Except for the foregoing and for the Monument Signage (defined in Section VIII.C. below), no sign, advertisement or notice visible from the exterior of the Premises shall be inscribed, painted or affixed by Tenant on any part of the Premises without the prior consent of Landlord. Tenant’s signage right shall belong solely to TuSimple, a California corporation and may not be transferred or assigned without Landlord’s prior written consent which may be withheld by Landlord in Landlord’s sole discretion. In the event Tenant, exclusive of any subtenant(s), fails to occupy at least 80% of the Floor Area of Premises, then Tenant shall, within 30 days following notice from Landlord, remove the Eyebrow Signage at Tenant’s expense. Tenant shall also remove such signage promptly following the expiration or earlier termination of the Lease. Any such removal shall be at Tenant’s sole expense, and Tenant shall bear the cost of any resulting repairs to the Building that are reasonably necessary due to the removal.

 

  C.

Monument Signage. Provided Tenant is not in Default of the Lease, Tenant shall have the right to install non-exclusive signage on one slot of the Building monument facing Towne Centre Drive), which signage shall consist only of the name “TUSIMPLE.” The type, location and design of such signage shall be subject to the prior written approval of Landlord, Tenant and the City of San Diego, and shall be consistent with Landlord’s signage criteria for the Project. Fabrication, installation, insurance, and maintenance of such signage shall be at Tenant’s sole cost and expense. Tenant understands and agrees that it shall use one of Landlord’s approved contractors for installing the monument signage. Should Tenant fail to have the monument signage installed within 8 months of the Fourth Floor Expansion Effective Date, then Tenant’s right to install same thereafter shall be deemed null and void. Except for the foregoing, no sign, advertisement or notice visible from the exterior of the Premises shall be inscribed,

 

IOPLEGAL -4-44    3    3/26/19 - Lease 245927, Amendment 253127 - 0.4


  painted or affixed by Tenant on any part of the Premises without prior consent of Landlord. Tenant’s signage right shall belong solely to TuSimple, a California corporation and may not be transferred or assigned without Landlord’s prior written consent, which may be withheld by Landlord in Landlord’s sole discretion. In the event Tenant, exclusive of any subtenant(s), fails to occupy at least 80% of the Floor Area of Premises, then Tenant shall, within 30 days following notice from Landlord, remove the monument signage at Tenant’s expense. Tenant shall also remove such signage promptly following the expiration or earlier termination of the Lease. Any such removal shall be at Tenant’s sole expense, and Tenant shall bear the cost of any resulting repairs to the monument that are reasonably necessary due to the removal.

 

  D.

SDN List. Tenant hereby represents and warrants that neither Tenant nor any officer, director, employee, partner, member or other principal of Tenant (collectively, “Tenant Parties”) is listed as a Specially Designated National and Blocked Person (“SDN”) on the list of such persons and entities issued by the U.S. Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

 

  E.

Right to Extend. Section 1 (Right to Extend) of Exhibit G of the Lease shall also apply to the Fourth Floor Expansion Space and shall remain in full force and effect during the Second Extended Term.

 

  F.

Guarantee of Lease. Effective upon Landlord’s receipt of the Letter of Credit required pursuant to Section VI of this Amendment (the “Effective Date”), the limited Guarantee of Lease dated January 22, 2019 wherein Xiaodi Hou, an individual (“Hou”) provided a limited guarantee of the full and complete performance of all terms, covenants and conditions of the Lease to Landlord shall be null and void and of no further force or effect; provided Hou shall remain liable for all of Hou’s obligations under the Lease up to and including the Effective Date, even though notification for any obligation for which Hou shall continue to be liable, including notices of default of Tenant, may occur subsequent to such Effective Date.

 

IX.

GENERAL.

 

  A.

Effect of Amendments. The Lease shall remain in full force and effect except to the extent that it is modified by this Amendment.

 

  B.

Entire Agreement. This Amendment embodies the entire understanding between Landlord and Tenant and can be changed only by a writing signed by Landlord and Tenant. There have been no additional oral or written representations or agreements. Under no circumstances shall Tenant be entitled to any rent abatement, improvement allowance, leasehold improvements, or any similar economic incentives that may have been provided Tenant in connection with entering into the Lease, unless specifically set forth in this Amendment.

 

  C.

Counterparts; Digital Signatures. If this Amendment is executed in counterparts, each is hereby declared to be an original; all, however, shall constitute but one and the same amendment. In any action or proceeding, any photographic, photostatic, or other copy of this Amendment may be introduced into evidence without foundation. The parties agree to accept a digital image (including but not limited to an image in the form of a PDF, JPEG, GIF file, or other e-signature) of this Amendment, if applicable, reflecting the execution of one or both of the parties, as a true and correct original.

 

  D.

Defined Terms. All words commencing with initial capital letters in this Amendment and defined in the Lease shall have the same meaning in this Amendment as in the Lease, unless they are otherwise defined in this Amendment.

 

  E.

Authority. If Tenant is a corporation, limited liability company or partnership, or is comprised of any of them, each individual executing this Amendment for the corporation, limited liability company or partnership represents that he or she is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Amendment on behalf of such entity and that this Amendment is binding upon such entity in accordance with its terms.

 

  F.

California Certified Access Specialist Inspection. Pursuant to California Civil Code § 1938, Landlord hereby states that the Premises have not undergone inspection by a Certified Access Specialist (CASp) (defined in California Civil Code § 55.52(a)(3)). Pursuant to Section 1938 of the California Civil Code, Landlord hereby provides the following notification to Tenant: “A Certified Access Specialist (CASp) can inspect the subject premises and determine whether the subject premises comply with all of the applicable construction-related accessibility standards under state law. Although state law does not require a CASp inspection of the subject premises, the commercial property owner or lessor may not prohibit the lessee or tenant from obtaining a CASp inspection of the subject premises for the occupancy or potential occupancy of the lessee or tenant, if requested by the lessee or tenant. The parties shall mutually agree on the arrangements for the time and manner of the CASp inspection, the payment of the fee for the CASp inspection, and the cost of making any repairs necessary to correct violations of construction related accessibility standards within the premises.” If Tenant requests to

 

IOPLEGAL-4-44    4    3/26/19 - Lease 245927, Amendment 253127 - 0.4


  perform a CASp inspection of the Premises, Tenant shall, at its cost, retain a CASp approved by Landlord (provided that Landlord may designate the CASp, at Landlord’s option) to perform the inspection of the Premises at a time agreed upon by the parties. Tenant shall provide Landlord with a copy of any report or certificate issued by the CASp (the “CASp Report”) and Tenant shall, at its cost, promptly complete any modifications necessary to correct violations of construction related accessibility standards identified in the CASp Report, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Lease. Tenant agrees to keep the information in the CASp Report confidential except as necessary for the Tenant to complete such modifications.

 

  G.

Attorneys’ Fees. The provisions of the Lease respecting payment of attorneys’ fees shall also apply to this Amendment.

 

  H.

Brokers. Article 18 of the Lease is amended to provide that the parties recognize the following parties as the brokers who negotiated this Amendment, and agree that Landlord shall be responsible for payment of brokerage commissions to such brokers pursuant to its separate agreements with such brokers: Irvine Management Company (“Landlord’s Broker”) is the agent of Landlord exclusively and Hughes Marino, Inc. (“Tenant’s Broker”) is the agent of Tenant exclusively. By the execution of this Amendment, each of Landlord and Tenant hereby acknowledge and confirm (a) receipt of a copy of a Disclosure Regarding Real Estate Agency Relationship conforming to the requirements of California Civil Code 2079.16, and (b) the agency relationships specified herein, which acknowledgement and confirmation is expressly made for the benefit of Tenant’s Broker. By the execution of this Amendment, Landlord and Tenant are executing the confirmation of the agency relationships set forth herein. The warranty and indemnity provisions of Article 18 of the Lease, as amended hereby, shall be binding and enforceable in connection with the negotiation of this Amendment.

 

  I.

Execution of Amendment. Submission of this Amendment by Landlord is not an offer to enter into this Amendment but rather is a solicitation for such an offer by Tenant. Landlord shall not be bound by this Amendment until Landlord has executed and delivered the same to Tenant.

 

  J.

Nondisclosure of Terms. Tenant agrees that neither Tenant nor its agents or any other parties acting on behalf of Tenant shall disclose any matters set forth in this Amendment or disseminate or distribute any information concerning the terms, details or conditions hereof to any person, firm or entity without obtaining the express written consent of Landlord.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Landlord and Tenant have duly executed this Amendment as of the day and year first above written.

 

LANDLORD:     TENANT:

LJ GATEWAY OFFICE LLC

a Delaware limited liability company

   

TUSIMPLE

a California corporation

By  

/s/ Steven M. Case

    By  

/s/ Xiaodi Hou

 

Steven M. Case

Executive Vice President Office Properties

   

Printed Name Xiaodi Hou

Title President, CTO

By  

/s/ Kristopher J. Kopensky

    By  
 

Kristopher J. Kopensky

Vice President, Operations Office Properties

   

Printed Name

Title

 

IOPLEGAL-4-44    5    3/26/19 - Lease 245927, Amendment 253127 - 0.4


EXHIBIT A

OUTLINE AND LOCATION OF FOURTH FLOOR EXPANSION SPACE

4225 Executive Square, Suites 401, 408 and 409

 

LOGO

 

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EXHIBIT B

FORM OF IRREVOCABLE STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT

 

  Number:  

                                                      

 
  Date:  

 

                                               
  Amount:  

 

 
  Expiration:  

 

 

 

BENEFICIARY    ACCOUNT PARTY   

LJ Gateway Office LLC

550 Newport Center Drive

  

 

                                            
Newport Beach, CA 92660   

 

  
Attn: Commercial Properties Controller,   

 

  
Vice President      

We hereby issue our Irrevocable Letter of Credit No.                  in favor of LJ Gateway Office LLC (“Beneficiary”), its successors and assigns, for the account of                  . We undertake to honor your sight draft, upon presentation at our office in                     , California, for any sum or sums not to exceed a total of                          ($             ) in favor of Beneficiary when accompanied by the original of this Letter of Credit.

Partial and multiple drawings are permitted under this Letter of Credit. In the event of a partial draw, the amount of the draft shall be endorsed on the reverse side hereof by the negotiating bank.

This Letter of Credit is transferable in its entire undrawn balance to a successor beneficiary upon presentation by Beneficiary of the original of this Letter of Credit, together with a written request for transfer executed by Beneficiary.

It is a condition of this Letter of Credit that it shall remain enforceable against us for a period of                      from this date and further, that it shall be deemed automatically extended for successive one-year periods without amendment thereafter unless thirty (30) days prior to the expiration date set forth above, or within thirty (30) days prior to the end of any yearly Anniversary Date thereafter, you shall receive our notice in writing by certified mail, return receipt requested, that we elect not to renew this Letter of Credit for any subsequent year.

The draft must be marked “Drawn under                          Letter of Credit                      No.                     dated                          .”

There are no other conditions of this letter of credit. Except so far as otherwise stated, this credit is subject to the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits (2007 Revision), International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 600, and is otherwise governed by the laws of the State of California.

 

 

 

By:  

 

By:  

 

 

IOPLEGAL-4-44    1    3/26/19 - Lease 245927, Amendment 253127 - 0.4


EXHIBIT C

WORK LETTER

[TENANT BUILD]

As used in this Work Letter, the “Premises” shall be deemed to mean the Original Premises and the Fourth Floor Expansion Space, as defined in the attached Amendment.

 

I.

TENANT IMPROVEMENTS

The tenant improvement work (“Tenant Improvements”) shall consist of any work required to complete the Premises pursuant to approved plans and specifications. Tenant shall employ its own architect and general contractor in constructing the Tenant Improvements. The general contractor shall be selected and engaged by Tenant on the basis of a competitive bid involving 2 general contractors designated by Landlord and 1 general contractor designated by Tenant and approved in writing by Landlord. The work shall be undertaken and prosecuted in accordance with the following requirements:

 

  A.

Concurrently with sign-off by Tenant, the space plans, construction drawings and specifications for all improvements and finishes, together with any changes thereto, shall be submitted to Landlord (with samples as required) for review and approval by Landlord and its architect for the Project. To the extent applicable, the build-out of the Tenant Improvements shall include Landlord’s building standard tenant improvements, materials and specifications for the Project. Should Landlord approve work that would necessitate any ancillary Building modification or other expenditure by Landlord, then except to the extent of any remaining balance of the “Landlord Contribution” as described below, Tenant shall, in addition to its other obligations herein, promptly fund the cost thereof to Landlord.

 

  B.

All construction drawings prepared by Tenant’s architect shall follow Landlord’s CAD standards, which standards shall be provided to Tenant or its architect upon request.

 

  C.

Landlord shall, subject to the foregoing, approve or disapprove any submittal of plans or specifications by Tenant within 5 business days following receipt thereof by Landlord.

 

  D.

Tenant shall use the electrical, mechanical, plumbing and fire/life safety engineers and subcontractors designated by Landlord, provided that Landlord shall provide 2 companies for each trade. All other subcontractors shall be subject to Landlord’s reasonable approval, and Landlord may require that one or more designated subtrades be union contractors.

 

  E.

Tenant shall deliver to Landlord a copy of the final application for permit and issued permit for the construction work.

 

  F.

Tenant’s general contractor and each of its subcontractors shall comply with Landlord’s requirements as generally imposed on third party contractors, including without limitation all insurance coverage requirements and the obligation to furnish appropriate certificates of insurance to Landlord prior to commencement of construction.

 

  G.

A construction schedule shall be provided to Landlord prior to commencement of the construction work, and weekly updates shall be supplied during the progress of the work.

 

  H.

Tenant shall give Landlord 10 days prior written notice of the commencement of construction so that Landlord may cause an appropriate notice of non-responsibility to be posted.

 

  I.

Tenant and its general contractor shall attend weekly job meetings with Landlord’s construction manager for the Project.

 

  J.

Upon completion of the work, Tenant shall cause to be provided to Landlord (i) as-built drawings of the Premises signed by Tenant’s architect, (ii) CAD files of the improved space compatible with Landlord’s CAD standards, (iii) a final punchlist signed by Tenant, (iv) final and unconditional lien waivers from all contractors and subcontractors, (v) a duly recorded Notice of Completion of the improvement work, and (vi) a certificate of occupancy for the Premises (collectively, the “Close-out Package”). Should Tenant fail to provide complete CAD files compatible with Landlord’s standards as required herein, Landlord may cause its architect to prepare same and the cost thereof shall be reimbursed to Landlord by Tenant within 10 days of invoice therefor.

 

  K.

The work shall be prosecuted at all times in accordance with all state, federal and local laws, regulations and ordinances, including without limitation all OSHA and other safety laws.

 

  L.

All of the provisions of the Lease shall apply to any activity of Tenant, its agents and contractors, in the Premises prior to the Fourth Floor Expansion Effective Date.

 

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  M.

Landlord shall not be liable in any way for any injury, loss or damage which may occur to any work performed by Tenant, nor shall Landlord be responsible for repairing any defective condition therein. In no event shall Tenant’s failure to complete the Tenant Improvements extend the Fourth Floor Expansion Effective Date.

 

II.

COST OF THE WORK

 

  A.

Landlord shall provide to Tenant a tenant improvement allowance in the amount of $522,920.00 (i.e., $374,760.00 for the Fourth Floor Expansion Space and $148,160.00 for the Original Premises) (the “Landlord Contribution”), with any excess cost to be borne solely by Tenant. The Landlord Contribution shall also be utilized to fund (i) space planning and other architectural costs (including the reasonable cost charged by Landlord’s architect to review Tenant’s drawings and CAD files), (ii) construction costs, (iii) plan check and permit fees and (iv) Tenant’s project manager and relocation coordinator (up to 3% of the Tenant Improvement Allowance). It is understood that Landlord shall be entitled to a supervision/administrative fee equal to 3% of such costs, which up to 2% of the fee shall be paid from the Landlord Contribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Tenant may utilize a portion of the Landlord Contribution not to exceed $62,460.00 toward the out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Tenant for relocating to the Premises, including furniture moving and data cabling costs (“Moving Allowance”). If the actual cost of completion of the Tenant Improvements is less than the maximum amount provided for the Landlord Contribution or remains after June 30, 2020, such savings shall inure to the benefit of Landlord and Tenant shall not be entitled to any credit or payment or to apply the savings toward additional work.

 

  B.

Landlord shall fund the Landlord Contribution (less deductions for the above-described supervision fee and charges of Landlord’s architect) in installments as and when costs are incurred and a payment request therefor is submitted by Tenant. Each payment request shall include a copy of all supporting invoices, conditional progress payment lien waivers (in the form prescribed by the California Civil Code) for labor and materials incorporated in such payment request, unconditional lien waivers (in the form prescribed by the California Civil Code) for labor and materials on the basis of which payment has previously been by Landlord, and pertinent back-up (including copies of Tenant’s payment checks to its contractors and suppliers). Landlord shall fund the payment request within 30 days following receipt of the application and supporting materials; provided that a 10% retention shall be held on payments to Tenant until Landlord receives the complete Close-out Package. The remaining balance of the Landlord Contribution shall be funded when Landlord receives the complete Close-out Package. Prior to any payment by Landlord hereunder, Tenant shall provide to Landlord in writing the address to which such payment is to be delivered, together with a complete copy of the construction contract(s) for the Tenant Improvements.

 

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THIRD AMENDMENT

THIS THIRD AMENDMENT (the “Amendment”) is made and entered into as of November 5, 2019, by and between LJ GATEWAY OFFICE LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, hereafter called “Landlord,” and TUSIMPLE, INC., a California corporation, hereafter called “Tenant.”

RECITALS

 

A.

Landlord and Tenant (formerly known as Tusimple, a California corporation) as successor in interest to Tusimple LLC, a California limited liability company) are parties to that certain lease dated December 16, 2016, which lease is amended by that certain First Amendment dated January 22, 2019 and Second Amendment dated March 27, 2019 (collectively, the “Lease”). Pursuant to the Lease, Landlord has leased to Tenant space currently containing approximately 27,308 rentable square feet (the “Original Premises”) described as Suite Nos. 401, 408, 409, 550 and 600 on the 4th, 5th and 6th floors of the building located at 9191 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, California (the “Building”).

 

B.

Tenant has requested that additional space containing approximately 9,225 rentable square feet (the “Suite 510 Expansion Space”) as shown on Exhibit A (attached hereto) be added to the Original Premises and that the Lease be appropriately amended and Landlord is willing to do the same on the following terms and conditions.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above recitals which by this reference are incorporated herein, the mutual covenants and conditions contained herein and other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Landlord and Tenant agree as follows:

 

I.

Expansion and Effective Date.

 

  A.

Effective as of August 1, 2020 (the “Suite 510 Expansion Effective Date”), the Premises, as defined in the Lease, is increased from 27,308 rentable square feet to 36,533 rentable square feet by the addition of the Suite 510 Expansion Space, and from and after the Suite 510 Expansion Effective Date, the Original Premises and the Suite 510 Expansion Space, collectively, shall be deemed the Premises, as defined in the Lease. The Term for the Suite 510 Expansion Space shall commence on the Suite 510 Expansion Effective Date and end on the Second Extended Expiration Date (i.e., March 31, 2024). The Suite 510 Expansion Space is subject to all the terms and conditions of the Lease except as expressly modified herein and except that Tenant shall not be entitled to receive any allowances, abatements or other financial concessions granted with respect to the Original Premises unless such concessions are expressly provided for herein with respect to the Suite 510 Expansion Space.

 

  B.

The Suite 510 Expansion Effective Date shall be delayed to the extent that Landlord fails to deliver possession of the Suite 510 Expansion Space for any reason, including but not limited to, holding over by prior occupants. Any such delay in the Suite 510 Expansion Effective Date shall not subject Landlord to any liability for any loss or damage resulting therefrom.

 

II.

Basic Rent. In addition to Tenant’s obligation to pay Basic Rent for the Original Premises, Tenant shall pay Landlord Basic Rent for the Suite 510 Expansion Space as follows:

 

Months of Term or Period

   Monthly Rate Per Square
Foot
     Monthly Basic Rent  

8/1/20 to 7/31/21

   $ 3.27      $ 30,165.75  

8/1/21 to 7/31/22

   $ 3.42      $ 31,549.50  

8/1/22 to 7/31/23

   $ 3.57      $ 32,933.25  

8/1/23 to 3/31/24

   $ 3.73      $ 34,409.25  

All such Basic Rent shall be payable by Tenant in accordance with the terms of the Lease.

 

III.

Project Costs and Property Taxes. Effective as of the Suite 510 Expansion Effective Date, Item 7 of Article 1 of the Lease shall be amended to add the following for the Suite 510 Expansion Space:

“7. Property Tax Base: The Property Taxes per rentable square foot incurred by Landlord and attributable to the twelve month period ending June 30, 2021 (the “Base Year”).

Project Cost Base: The Project Cost per rentable square foot incurred by Landlord and attributable to the twelve month period ending June 30, 2021.

 

   1    TUSIMPLE-9191 TCD-3A3


Expense Recovery Period: Every twelve month period during the Term (or portion thereof during the first and last Lease years) ending June 30.”

 

IV.

Additional Security Deposit. Concurrently with Tenant’s delivery of this Amendment, Tenant shall deliver the sum of $75,700.36 to Landlord, which sum shall be added to the Security Deposit presently being held by Landlord in accordance with Section 4.3 of the Lease. Accordingly, the Security Deposit is increased from $111,632.00 to $187,332.36. Notwithstanding the foregoing, provided Tenant has not been in Default, Landlord shall reduce the Security Deposit, and credit such reduction against the Basic Rent due hereunder, in the amount of $37,850.18 as of the first day of the 30th month following the Suite 510 Expansion Effective Date. If Tenant is entitled such reduction in the Security Deposit, Tenant shall provide Landlord with written notice requesting that the Security Deposit be reduced as provided above.

 

V.

Improvements.

 

  A.

Condition of Original Premises and Suite 510 Expansion Space. Tenant (i) acknowledges that it is currently occupying the Original Premises and that it is satisfied with the condition thereof and (ii) has inspected the Suite 510 Expansion Space and agrees to accept the same “as is” without any agreements, representations, understandings or obligations on the part of Landlord to perform any alterations, repairs or improvements, except as may be expressly provided otherwise in this Amendment.

 

  B.

Tenant Improvements. Tenant shall be permitted to construct the Tenant Improvements for the Suite 510 Expansion Space in accordance with the provisions of Exhibit B, Work Letter, attached hereto.

 

VI.

Parking. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in Exhibit F to the Lease, “Parking,” effective as of the Suite 510 Expansion Effective Date, Landlord shall lease to Tenant, and Tenant shall lease from Landlord, 36 additional unreserved parking passes for the Suite 510 Expansion Space at the rate of $60.00 per pass, per month through the Second Extended Expiration Date.

 

VII.

SDN List. Tenant hereby represents and warrants that neither Tenant nor any officer, director, employee, partner, member or other principal of Tenant (collectively, “Tenant Parties”) is listed as a Specially Designated National and Blocked Person (“SDN”) on the list of such persons and entities issued by the U.S. Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

 

VIII.

Balcony. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in Section 3 of Exhibit G to the Lease, “Balcony,” Tenant shall be permitted to install outdoor furniture (the “Outdoor Furniture”) on the private balcony or balconies located on the Premises. Tenant agrees that the size and color of such Outdoor Furniture shall be subject to the prior written approval of Landlord and shall be removed from the balcony or balconies upon the expiration or earlier termination of the Lease.

 

IX.

GENERAL.

 

  A.

Effect of Amendments. The Lease shall remain in full force and effect except to the extent that it is modified by this Amendment.

 

  B.

Entire Agreement. This Amendment embodies the entire understanding between Landlord and Tenant and can be changed only by a writing signed by Landlord and Tenant. There have been no additional oral or written representations or agreements. Under no circumstances shall Tenant be entitled to any rent abatement, improvement allowance, leasehold improvements, or any similar economic incentives that may have been provided Tenant in connection with entering into the Lease, unless specifically set forth in this Amendment.

 

  C.

Counterparts; Digital Signatures. If this Amendment is executed in counterparts, each is hereby declared to be an original; all, however, shall constitute but one and the same amendment. In any action or proceeding, any photographic, photostatic, or other copy of this Amendment may be introduced into evidence without foundation. The parties agree to accept a digital image (including but not limited to an image in the form of a PDF, JPEG, GIF file, or other e-signature) of this Amendment, if applicable, reflecting the execution of one or both of the parties, as a true and correct original.

 

  D.

Defined Terms. All words commencing with initial capital letters in this Amendment and defined in the Lease shall have the same meaning in this Amendment as in the Lease, unless they are otherwise defined in this Amendment.

 

  E.

Authority. If Tenant is a corporation, limited liability company or partnership, or is comprised of any of them, each individual executing this Amendment for the corporation, limited liability company or partnership represents that he or she is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Amendment on behalf of such entity and that this Amendment is binding upon such entity in accordance with its terms.

 

   2    TUSIMPLE-9191 TCD-3A3


  F.

California Certified Access Specialist Inspection. Pursuant to California Civil Code § 1938, Landlord hereby states that the Premises have not undergone inspection by a Certified Access Specialist (CASp) (defined in California Civil Code § 55.52(a)(3)). Pursuant to Section 1938 of the California Civil Code, Landlord hereby provides the following notification to Tenant: “A Certified Access Specialist (CASp) can inspect the subject premises and determine whether the subject premises comply with all of the applicable construction-related accessibility standards under state law. Although state law does not require a CASp inspection of the subject premises, the commercial property owner or lessor may not prohibit the lessee or tenant from obtaining a CASp inspection of the subject premises for the occupancy or potential occupancy of the lessee or tenant, if requested by the lessee or tenant. The parties shall mutually agree on the arrangements for the time and manner of the CASp inspection, the payment of the fee for the CASp inspection, and the cost of making any repairs necessary to correct violations of construction related accessibility standards within the premises.”

 

  G.

Attorneys’ Fees. The provisions of the Lease respecting payment of attorneys’ fees shall also apply to this Amendment.

 

  H.

Brokers. Article 18 of the Lease is amended to provide that the parties recognize the following parties as the brokers who negotiated this Amendment, and agree that Landlord shall be responsible for payment of brokerage commissions to such brokers pursuant to its separate agreements with such brokers: Irvine Management Company (“Landlord’s Broker”) is the agent of Landlord exclusively and Hughes Marino, Inc. (“Tenant’s Broker”) is the agent of Tenant exclusively. By the execution of this Amendment, each of Landlord and Tenant hereby acknowledge and confirm (a) receipt of a copy of a Disclosure Regarding Real Estate Agency Relationship conforming to the requirements of California Civil Code 2079.16, and (b) the agency relationships specified herein, which acknowledgement and confirmation is expressly made for the benefit of Tenant’s Broker. By the execution of this Amendment, Landlord and Tenant are executing the confirmation of the agency relationships set forth herein. The warranty and indemnity provisions of Article 18 of the Lease, as amended hereby, shall be binding and enforceable in connection with the negotiation of this Amendment.

 

  I.

Execution of Amendment. Submission of this Amendment by Landlord is not an offer to enter into this Amendment but rather is a solicitation for such an offer by Tenant. Landlord shall not be bound by this Amendment until Landlord has executed and delivered the same to Tenant.

 

  J.

Nondisclosure of Terms. Tenant agrees that neither Tenant nor its agents or any other parties acting on behalf of Tenant shall disclose any matters set forth in this Amendment or disseminate or distribute any information concerning the terms, details or conditions hereof to any person, firm or entity without obtaining the express written consent of Landlord.

[SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE]

 

   3    TUSIMPLE-9191 TCD-3A3


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Landlord and Tenant have duly executed this Amendment as of the day and year first above written.

 

LANDLORD:     TENANT:
LJ GATEWAY OFFICE LLC, a Delaware limited liability company    

TUSIMPLE, INC.

a California corporation

By:  

/s/ Steven M. Case

    By:  

/s/ Xiaodi Hou

         Steven M. Case     Printed Name: Xiaodi Hou
  Executive Vice President, Office Properties     Title:   President, Founder, and CTO
By:  

/s/ Kristopher J. Kopensky

    By:  

                             

         Kristopher J. Kopensky     Printed Name:                                                                          
         Vice President, Operations Office Properties     Title:  

                          

 

                4    TUSIMPLE-9191 TCD-3A3


EXHIBIT A

OUTLINE AND LOCATION OF SUITE 510 EXPANSION SPACE

9191 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 510

 

LOGO

 

            1    TUSIMPLE-9191 TCD-3A3


EXHIBIT B

WORK LETTER

As used in this Work Letter, the “Premises” shall be deemed to mean the Suite 510 Expansion Space, as defined in the attached Amendment.

 

I.

TENANT IMPROVEMENTS

The tenant improvement work (“Tenant Improvements”) shall consist of any work required to complete the Premises pursuant to approved plans and specifications. Tenant shall employ its own architect and general contractor in constructing the Tenant Improvements. The general contractor shall be selected and engaged by Tenant on the basis of a competitive bid involving 2 general contractors designated by Landlord and 1 general contractor designated by Tenant and approved in writing by Landlord. The work shall be undertaken and prosecuted in accordance with the following requirements:

 

  A.

Concurrently with sign-off by Tenant, the space plans, construction drawings and specifications for all improvements and finishes, together with any changes thereto, shall be submitted to Landlord (with samples as required) for review and approval by Landlord and its architect for the Project. To the extent applicable, the build-out of the Tenant Improvements shall include Landlord’s building standard tenant improvements, materials and specifications for the Project. Should Landlord approve work that would necessitate any ancillary Building modification or other expenditure by Landlord, then except to the extent of any remaining balance of the “Landlord Contribution” as described below, Tenant shall, in addition to its other obligations herein, promptly fund the cost thereof to Landlord.

 

  B.

All construction drawings prepared by Tenant’s architect shall follow Landlord’s CAD standards, which standards shall be provided to Tenant or its architect upon request.

 

  C.

Landlord shall, subject to the foregoing, approve or disapprove any submittal of plans or specifications by Tenant within 5 business days following receipt thereof by Landlord.

 

  D.

Tenant shall use the electrical, mechanical, plumbing and fire/life safety engineers and subcontractors designated by Landlord, provided that Landlord shall provide 2 companies for each trade. All other subcontractors shall be subject to Landlord’s reasonable approval, and Landlord may require that one or more designated subtrades be union contractors.

 

  E.

Tenant shall deliver to Landlord a copy of the final application for permit and issued permit for the construction work.

 

  F.

Tenant’s general contractor and each of its subcontractors shall comply with Landlord’s requirements as generally imposed on third party contractors, including without limitation all insurance coverage requirements and the obligation to furnish appropriate certificates of insurance to Landlord prior to commencement of construction.

 

  G.

A construction schedule shall be provided to Landlord prior to commencement of the construction work, and weekly updates shall be supplied during the progress of the work.

 

  H.

Tenant shall give Landlord 10 days prior written notice of the commencement of construction so that Landlord may cause an appropriate notice of non-responsibility to be posted.

 

  I.

Tenant and its general contractor shall attend weekly job meetings with Landlord’s construction manager for the Project.

 

  J.

Upon completion of the work, Tenant shall cause to be provided to Landlord (i) as-built drawings of the Premises signed by Tenant’s architect, (ii) CAD files of the improved space compatible with Landlord’s CAD standards, (iii) a final punchlist signed by Tenant, (iv) final and unconditional lien waivers from all contractors and subcontractors, (v) a duly recorded Notice of Completion of the improvement work, and (vi) a certificate of occupancy for the Premises (collectively, the “Close-out Package”). Should Tenant fail to provide complete CAD files compatible with Landlord’s standards as required herein, Landlord may cause its architect to prepare same and the cost thereof shall be reimbursed to Landlord by Tenant within 10 days of invoice therefor.

 

  K.

The work shall be prosecuted at all times in accordance with all state, federal and local laws, regulations and ordinances, including without limitation all OSHA and other safety laws.

 

            1    TUSIMPLE-9191 TCD-3A3


  L.

All of the provisions of the Lease shall apply to any activity of Tenant, its agents and contractors, in the Premises prior to the Suite 510 Expansion Effective Date.

 

  M.

Landlord shall not be liable in any way for any injury, loss or damage which may occur to any work performed by Tenant, nor shall Landlord be responsible for repairing any defective condition therein. In no event shall Tenant’s failure to complete the Tenant Improvements extend the Suite 510 Expansion Effective Date.

 

II.

COST OF THE WORK

 

  A.

Landlord shall provide to Tenant a tenant improvement allowance in the amount of $276,750.00 (the “Landlord Contribution”), with any excess cost to be borne solely by Tenant. The Landlord Contribution shall also be utilized to fund (i) space planning and other architectural costs (including the reasonable cost charged by Landlord’s architect to review Tenant’s drawings and CAD files), (ii) construction costs, (iii) plan check and permit fees and (iv) Tenant’s project manager and relocation coordinator (up to 3% of the Tenant Improvement Allowance). It is understood that Landlord shall be entitled to a supervision/administrative fee equal to 3% of such costs, which up to 2% of the fee shall be paid from the Landlord Contribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Tenant may utilize a portion of the Landlord Contribution not to exceed $46,125.00 toward the out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Tenant for relocating to the Premises, including furniture moving and data cabling costs (“Moving Allowance”). If the actual cost of completion of the Tenant Improvements is less than the maximum amount provided for the Landlord Contribution or remains after October 31, 2020, such savings shall inure to the benefit of Landlord and Tenant shall not be entitled to any credit or payment or to apply the savings toward additional work.

 

  B.

Landlord shall fund the Landlord Contribution (less deductions for the above-described supervision fee and charges of Landlord’s architect) in installments as and when costs are incurred and a payment request therefor is submitted by Tenant. Each payment request shall include a copy of all supporting invoices, conditional progress payment lien waivers (in the form prescribed by the California Civil Code) for labor and materials incorporated in such payment request, unconditional lien waivers (in the form prescribed by the California Civil Code) for labor and materials on the basis of which payment has previously been by Landlord, and pertinent back-up (including copies of Tenant’s payment checks to its contractors and suppliers). Landlord shall fund the payment request within 30 days following receipt of the application and supporting materials; provided that a 10% retention shall be held on payments to Tenant until Landlord receives the complete Close-out Package. The remaining balance of the Landlord Contribution shall be funded when Landlord receives the complete Close-out Package. Prior to any payment by Landlord hereunder, Tenant shall provide to Landlord in writing the address to which such payment is to be delivered, together with a complete copy of the construction contract(s) for the Tenant Improvements.

 

            2    TUSIMPLE-9191 TCD-3A3

Exhibit 10.17

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

March 22, 2021

Mr. Mo Chen

via email

Dear Mo:

This letter agreement (the “Agreement”) serves to confirm the terms and conditions of your continued employment with TuSimple Holdings Inc., formerly known as TuSimple (Cayman) Limited (hereinafter, “TuSimple”) or one of its subsidiaries (referred to collectively herein as the “TuSimple Group”). For purposes of this Agreement, the “Company” shall refer to the member of the TuSimple Group that actually employs you, which may change from time to time. This Agreement is effective as of the date of your signing.

1. Position. You will continue to serve as the Executive Chairman and you will continue to report to the Board of Directors of TuSimple. This is a full-time, exempt position. By signing this Agreement, you confirm to the TuSimple Group that you have no contractual commitments or other legal obligations that would prohibit you from performing your duties for the TuSimple Group. While you render services to the TuSimple Group, you will not engage in any other employment, consulting or other business activity (whether full-time or part-time) that would create a conflict of interest with the TuSimple Group.

2. Cash Compensation. You will continue to be paid a salary at the rate of $300,000 per year. Your salary will be payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll schedule and will be subject to adjustment pursuant to the Company’s employee compensation policies in effect from time to time. In addition, you will be eligible to receive an annual discretionary performance bonus in an amount equal to up to 50% of your base salary. Any bonus for a fiscal year will be paid within 212 months after the close of that fiscal year, but only if you are still employed by the Company on the last day of the fiscal year to which the bonus relates. The determinations of the Board of Directors of TuSimple (the “Board”) with respect to your bonus will be final and binding, and the Board retains the right to cancel your bonus for any given year in the event of your gross negligence or serious misconduct in the performance of your duties prior to the date on which the bonus is paid, or if you have tendered your resignation prior to the close of the fiscal year to which the bonus relates.

3. Equity Awards. If you were previously granted one or more equity-based awards under TuSimple’s stock plan (such awards, your “Equity Awards”), they will remain outstanding and will continue to be governed by the terms and conditions of the stock plan and award agreements applicable to them.


Mo Chen

Page 2

 

4. Employee Benefits and Perquisites. As a regular employee of the Company, you will be eligible to participate in a number of Company-sponsored benefits. In addition, you will be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the Company’s vacation policy, as in effect from time to time. In addition, unless and until the Board of Directors of Tusimple or its Compensation Committee determines otherwise, the Company will continue to provide you with additional perquisites with caps it deems are reasonable and appropriate from time to time, including, without limitation, reimbursements for certain life insurance premiums and legal and tax advisory services.

5. Severance Benefits. If you are entitled to the severance benefits in the event of certain qualifying terminations, such benefits will be described in a Severance and Change in Control Agreement by and between you and TuSimple.

6. Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement. You will continue to be bound by the Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement, dated March 21, 2021, between you and TuSimple or such other member of the TuSimple Group, attached as Exhibit A hereto.

7. Employment Relationship. Employment with the Company is for no specific period of time. Your employment with the Company will continue to be “at will,” meaning that either you or your employer may terminate your employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause. Any contrary representations that may have been made to you are superseded by this Agreement. This is the full and complete agreement between you and your employer on this term. Although your job duties, title, compensation and benefits, as well as the personnel policies and procedures of the TuSimple Group, including the member of the TuSimple Group actually employing you, may change from time to time, the “at will” nature of your employment may only be changed in an express written agreement signed by you and a duly authorized officer of the TuSimple Group (other than you).

8. Tax Matters.

(a) Withholding; Section 409A. All forms of compensation referred to in this Agreement are subject to reduction to reflect applicable withholding and payroll taxes and other deductions required by law. Except for such withholding, you will be responsible for your own tax liability imposed with respect to such compensation. It is intended that all payments and benefits under this Agreement, to the greatest extent possible, be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 409A”); to the extent not so exempt, this Agreement will be construed in a manner that complies with Section 409A.

(b) Tax Advice. You are encouraged to obtain your own tax advice regarding your compensation. You agree that the no member of the TuSimple Group has a duty to design its compensation policies in a manner that minimizes your tax liabilities, and you will not make any claim against any member of the TuSimple Group or the Board related to tax liabilities arising from your compensation.

9. Interpretation, Amendment and Enforcement. This Agreement supersedes and replaces any prior offer letters, agreements, representations or understandings (whether written, oral, implied or otherwise) between you and the TuSimple Group regarding the subject matter set forth herein and constitutes the complete agreement between you and the TuSimple Group regarding such subject matter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall supersede or replace any existing equity rights you may have, including any rights you have with respect to your Equity Awards. This Agreement may not be amended or modified, except by an express written agreement signed by both you and a duly authorized officer of the TuSimple Group (other than you).

* * * * *


Mo Chen

Page 3

 

You may indicate your agreement with these terms by signing and dating this Agreement and returning it to me.

 

Very truly yours,

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

By:

 

/s/ Cheng Lu

 

Cheng Lu, President & CEO

 

I have read and accept the terms of this Agreement:

/s/ Mo Chen

Signature of Mo Chen

 

Dated:  

March 22, 2021


Mo Chen

Page 4

 

EXHIBIT A

Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement

Exhibit 10.18

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

March 22, 2021

Mr. Xiaodi Hou

via email

Dear Xiaodi:

This letter agreement (the “Agreement”) serves to confirm the terms and conditions of your continued employment with TuSimple Holdings Inc., formerly known as TuSimple (Cayman) Limited (hereinafter, “TuSimple”) or one of its subsidiaries (referred to collectively herein as the “TuSimple Group”). For purposes of this Agreement, the “Company” shall refer to the member of the TuSimple Group that actually employs you, which may change from time to time. This Agreement is effective as of the date of your signing.

1. Position. You will continue to serve as the Chief Technology Officer and you will continue to report to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors of TuSimple. This is a full-time, exempt position. By signing this Agreement, you confirm to the TuSimple Group that you have no contractual commitments or other legal obligations that would prohibit you from performing your duties for the TuSimple Group. While you render services to the TuSimple Group, you will not engage in any other employment, consulting or other business activity (whether full-time or part-time) that would create a conflict of interest with the TuSimple Group.

2. Cash Compensation. You will continue to be paid a salary at the rate of $300,000 per year. Your salary will be payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll schedule and will be subject to adjustment pursuant to the Company’s employee compensation policies in effect from time to time. In addition, you will be eligible to receive an annual discretionary performance bonus in an amount equal to up to 50% of your base salary. Any bonus for a fiscal year will be paid within 212 months after the close of that fiscal year, but only if you are still employed by the Company on the last day of the fiscal year to which the bonus relates. The determinations of the Board of Directors of TuSimple (the “Board”) with respect to your bonus will be final and binding, and the Board retains the right to cancel your bonus for any given year in the event of your gross negligence or serious misconduct in the performance of your duties prior to the date on which the bonus is paid, or if you have tendered your resignation prior to the close of the fiscal year to which the bonus relates.

3. Equity Awards. If you were previously granted one or more equity-based awards under TuSimple’s stock plan (such awards, your “Equity Awards”), they will remain outstanding and will continue to be governed by the terms and conditions of the stock plan and award agreements applicable to them.


Mr. Xiaodi Hou

Page 2

 

4. Employee Benefits and Perquisites. As a regular employee of the Company, you will be eligible to participate in a number of Company-sponsored benefits. In addition, you will be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the Company’s vacation policy, as in effect from time to time. In addition, unless and until the Board of Directors of Tusimple or its Compensation Committee determines otherwise, the Company will continue to provide you with additional perquisites with caps it deems are reasonable and appropriate from time to time, including, without limitation, reimbursements for certain life insurance premiums and legal and tax advisory services.

5. Severance Benefits. If you are entitled to the severance benefits in the event of certain qualifying terminations, such benefits will be described in a Severance and Change in Control Agreement by and between you and TuSimple.

6. Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement. You will continue to be bound by the Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement, dated March 19, 2021, between you and TuSimple or such other member of the TuSimple Group, attached as Exhibit A hereto.

7. Employment Relationship. Employment with the Company is for no specific period of time. Your employment with the Company will continue to be “at will,” meaning that either you or your employer may terminate your employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause. Any contrary representations that may have been made to you are superseded by this Agreement. This is the full and complete agreement between you and your employer on this term. Although your job duties, title, compensation and benefits, as well as the personnel policies and procedures of the TuSimple Group, including the member of the TuSimple Group actually employing you, may change from time to time, the “at will” nature of your employment may only be changed in an express written agreement signed by you and a duly authorized officer of the TuSimple Group (other than you).

8. Tax Matters.

(a) Withholding; Section 409A. All forms of compensation referred to in this Agreement are subject to reduction to reflect applicable withholding and payroll taxes and other deductions required by law. Except for such withholding, you will be responsible for your own tax liability imposed with respect to such compensation. It is intended that all payments and benefits under this Agreement, to the greatest extent possible, be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 409A”); to the extent not so exempt, this Agreement will be construed in a manner that complies with Section 409A.

(b) Tax Advice. You are encouraged to obtain your own tax advice regarding your compensation. You agree that the no member of the TuSimple Group has a duty to design its compensation policies in a manner that minimizes your tax liabilities, and you will not make any claim against any member of the TuSimple Group or the Board related to tax liabilities arising from your compensation.

9. Interpretation, Amendment and Enforcement. This Agreement supersedes and replaces any prior offer letters, agreements, representations or understandings (whether written, oral, implied or otherwise) between you and the TuSimple Group regarding the subject matter set forth herein and constitutes the complete agreement between you and the TuSimple Group regarding such subject matter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall supersede or replace any existing equity rights you may have, including any rights you have with respect to your Equity Awards. This Agreement may not be amended or modified, except by an express written agreement signed by both you and a duly authorized officer of the TuSimple Group (other than you).

* * * * *


Mr. Xiaodi Hou

Page 3

 

You may indicate your agreement with these terms by signing and dating this Agreement and returning it to me.

 

Very truly yours,
TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.
By:  

/s/ Cheng Lu

 

Cheng Lu, President & CEO

 

I have read and accept the terms of this Agreement:

/s/ Xiaodi Hou

Signature of Xiaodi Hou
Dated:  

March 22, 2021


Mr. Xiaodi Hou

Page 4

 

EXHIBIT A

Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement

Exhibit 10.19

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

March 22, 2021

Mr. Cheng Lu

via email

Dear Cheng:

This letter agreement (the “Agreement”) serves to confirm the terms and conditions of your continued employment with TuSimple Holdings Inc., formerly known as TuSimple (Cayman) Limited (hereinafter, “TuSimple”) or one of its subsidiaries (referred to collectively herein as the “TuSimple Group”). For purposes of this Agreement, the “Company” shall refer to the member of the TuSimple Group that actually employs you, which may change from time to time. This Agreement is effective as of the date of your signing.

1. Position. You will continue to serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer and you will continue to report to the Board of Directors of TuSimple. This is a full-time, exempt position. By signing this Agreement, you confirm to the TuSimple Group that you have no contractual commitments or other legal obligations that would prohibit you from performing your duties for the TuSimple Group. While you render services to the TuSimple Group, you will not engage in any other employment, consulting or other business activity (whether full-time or part-time) that would create a conflict of interest with the TuSimple Group.

2. Cash Compensation. You will continue to be paid a salary at the rate of $450,000 per year Your salary will be payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll schedule and will be subject to adjustment pursuant to the Company’s employee compensation policies in effect from time to time. In addition, you will be eligible to receive an annual discretionary performance bonus in an amount equal to up to 50% of your base salary. Any bonus for a fiscal year will be paid within 212 months after the close of that fiscal year, but only if you are still employed by the Company on the last day of the fiscal year to which the bonus relates. The determinations of the Board of Directors of TuSimple (the “Board”) with respect to your bonus will be final and binding, and the Board retains the right to cancel your bonus for any given year in the event of your gross negligence or serious misconduct in the performance of your duties prior to the date on which the bonus is paid, or if you have tendered your resignation prior to the close of the fiscal year to which the bonus relates.

3. Equity Awards. If you were previously granted one or more equity-based awards under TuSimple’s stock plan (such awards, your “Equity Awards”), they will remain outstanding and will continue to be governed by the terms and conditions of the stock plan and award agreements applicable to them.

4. Employee Benefits. As a regular employee of the Company, you will be eligible to participate in a number of Company-sponsored benefits. In addition, you will be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the Company’s vacation policy, as in effect from time to time.


Cheng Lu

Page 2

 

5. Severance Benefits. If you are entitled to the severance benefits in the event of certain qualifying terminations, such benefits will be described in a Severance and Change in Control Agreement by and between you and TuSimple.

6. Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement. You will continue to be bound by the Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement, dated March 19, 2021, between you and TuSimple or such other member of the TuSimple Group, attached as Exhibit A hereto.

7. Employment Relationship. Employment with the Company is for no specific period of time. Your employment with the Company will continue to be “at will,” meaning that either you or your employer may terminate your employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause. Any contrary representations that may have been made to you are superseded by this Agreement. This is the full and complete agreement between you and your employer on this term. Although your job duties, title, compensation and benefits, as well as the personnel policies and procedures of the TuSimple Group, including the member of the TuSimple Group actually employing you, may change from time to time, the “at will” nature of your employment may only be changed in an express written agreement signed by you and a duly authorized officer of the TuSimple Group (other than you).

8. Tax Matters.

(a) Withholding; Section 409A. All forms of compensation referred to in this Agreement are subject to reduction to reflect applicable withholding and payroll taxes and other deductions required by law. Except for such withholding, you will be responsible for your own tax liability imposed with respect to such compensation. It is intended that all payments and benefits under this Agreement, to the greatest extent possible, be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 409A”); to the extent not so exempt, this Agreement will be construed in a manner that complies with Section 409A.

(b) Tax Advice. You are encouraged to obtain your own tax advice regarding your compensation. You agree that the no member of the TuSimple Group has a duty to design its compensation policies in a manner that minimizes your tax liabilities, and you will not make any claim against any member of the TuSimple Group or the Board related to tax liabilities arising from your compensation.

9. Interpretation, Amendment and Enforcement. This Agreement supersedes and replaces any prior offer letters, agreements, representations or understandings (whether written, oral, implied or otherwise) between you and the TuSimple Group regarding the subject matter set forth herein and constitutes the complete agreement between you and the TuSimple Group regarding such subject matter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall supersede or replace any existing equity rights you may have, including any rights you have with respect to your Equity Awards. This Agreement may not be amended or modified, except by an express written agreement signed by both you and a duly authorized officer of the TuSimple Group (other than you).

* * * * *


Cheng Lu

Page 3

 

You may indicate your agreement with these terms by signing and dating this Agreement and returning it to me.

 

Very truly yours,

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.
By:  

/s/ James Mullen

 

Name: James Mullen

 

Title: Chief Administrative & Legal Officer

 

I have read and accept the terms of this Agreement:

/s/ Cheng Lu

Signature of Cheng Lu
Dated:    3/21/2021


Cheng Lu

Page 4

 

EXHIBIT A

Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement

Exhibit 10.20

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

March 22, 2021

Mr. Patrick Dillon

via email

Dear Patrick:

This letter agreement (the “Agreement”) serves to confirm the terms and conditions of your continued employment with TuSimple Holdings Inc., formerly known as TuSimple (Cayman) Limited (hereinafter, “TuSimple”) or one of its subsidiaries (referred to collectively herein as the “TuSimple Group”). For purposes of this Agreement, the “Company” shall refer to the member of the TuSimple Group that actually employs you, which may change from time to time. This Agreement is effective as of the date of your signing.

1. Position. You will continue to serve as Chief Financial Officer and you will continue to report to the Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors of TuSimple. This is a full-time, exempt position. By signing this Agreement, you confirm to the TuSimple Group that you have no contractual commitments or other legal obligations that would prohibit you from performing your duties for the TuSimple Group. While you render services to the TuSimple Group, you will not engage in any other employment, consulting or other business activity (whether full-time or part-time) that would create a conflict of interest with the TuSimple Group.

2. Cash Compensation. You will continue to be paid a salary at the rate of $350,000 per year Your salary will be payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll schedule and will be subject to adjustment pursuant to the Company’s employee compensation policies in effect from time to time. In addition, you will be eligible to receive an annual discretionary performance bonus in an amount equal to up to 50% of your base salary. Any bonus for a fiscal year will be paid within 212 months after the close of that fiscal year, but only if you are still employed by the Company on the last day of the fiscal year to which the bonus relates. The determinations of the Board of Directors of TuSimple (the “Board”) with respect to your bonus will be final and binding, and the Board retains the right to cancel your bonus for any given year in the event of your gross negligence or serious misconduct in the performance of your duties prior to the date on which the bonus is paid, or if you have tendered your resignation prior to the close of the fiscal year to which the bonus relates.

3. Special Bonuses.

(a) Sign-on Bonus. In connection with the commencement of your employment, the Company paid you a cash bonus of $50,000 (the “Sign-On Bonus”). As provided in your original offer letter with the Company, dated November 22, 2020 (your “Original Offer Letter”), if you resign your employment prior to May 7, 2021 for any reason other than “Good Reason,” then you will be required to repay to the Company the entire amount of the Sign-On Bonus. For purposes of this repayment obligation, “Good Reason” shall have the meaning assigned to it in your Original Offer Letter.


Patrick Dillon

Page 2

 

(b) IPO Bonus. You will be eligible for a one-time cash bonus equal to $150,000 (the “IPO Bonus”), which will be payable to you if the Company successfully completes an initial public offering of the Company’s equity securities on or before the end of the 2021 calendar year (the date of such completion, the “IPO Date”) and you remain employed with the Company through the IPO Date. If the IPO Bonus becomes payable, such payment will occur within 60 days after the IPO Date.

4. Equity Awards. If you were previously granted one or more equity-based awards under TuSimple’s stock plan (such awards, your “Equity Awards”), they will remain outstanding and will continue to be governed by the terms and conditions of the stock plan and award agreements applicable to them.

5. Employee Benefits. As a regular employee of the Company, you will be eligible to participate in a number of Company-sponsored benefits. In addition, you will be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the Company’s vacation policy, as in effect from time to time.

6. Severance Benefits. If you are entitled to the severance benefits in the event of certain qualifying terminations, such benefits will be described in a Severance and Change in Control Agreement by and between you and TuSimple.

7. Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement. You will continue to be bound by the Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement, dated March 19, 2021, between you and TuSimple or such other member of the TuSimple Group, attached as Exhibit A hereto.

8. Employment Relationship. Employment with the Company is for no specific period of time. Your employment with the Company will continue to be “at will,” meaning that either you or your employer may terminate your employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause. Any contrary representations that may have been made to you are superseded by this Agreement. This is the full and complete agreement between you and your employer on this term. Although your job duties, title, compensation and benefits, as well as the personnel policies and procedures of the TuSimple Group, including the member of the TuSimple Group actually employing you, may change from time to time, the “at will” nature of your employment may only be changed in an express written agreement signed by you and a duly authorized officer of the TuSimple Group (other than you).

9. Tax Matters.

(a) Withholding; Section 409A. All forms of compensation referred to in this Agreement are subject to reduction to reflect applicable withholding and payroll taxes and other deductions required by law. Except for such withholding, you will be responsible for your own tax liability imposed with respect to such compensation. It is intended that all payments and benefits under this Agreement, to the greatest extent possible, be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 409A”); to the extent not so exempt, this Agreement will be construed in a manner that complies with Section 409A.

(b) Tax Advice. You are encouraged to obtain your own tax advice regarding your compensation. You agree that the no member of the TuSimple Group has a duty to design its compensation policies in a manner that minimizes your tax liabilities, and you will not make any claim against any member of the TuSimple Group or the Board related to tax liabilities arising from your compensation.


Patrick Dillon

Page 3

 

10. Interpretation, Amendment and Enforcement. This Agreement supersedes and replaces any prior offer letters, agreements, representations or understandings (whether written, oral, implied or otherwise) between you and the TuSimple Group regarding the subject matter set forth herein and constitutes the complete agreement between you and the TuSimple Group regarding such subject matter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall supersede or replace any existing equity rights you may have, including any rights you have with respect to your Equity Awards. This Agreement may not be amended or modified, except by an express written agreement signed by both you and a duly authorized officer of the TuSimple Group (other than you).

* * * * *


Patrick Dillon

Page 4

 

You may indicate your agreement with these terms by signing and dating this Agreement and returning it to me.

 

Very truly yours,
TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.
By:  

/s/ Cheng Lu

  Cheng Lu, President & CEO

I have read and accept the terms of this Agreement:

 

/s/ Patrick Dillon

Signature of Patrick Dillon

Dated:     22 March 2021


Patrick Dillon

Page 5

 

EXHIBIT A

Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement

Exhibit 10.21

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

March 22, 2021

Mr. James Mullen

via email

Dear James:

This letter agreement (the “Agreement”) serves to confirm the terms and conditions of your continued employment with TuSimple Holdings Inc., formerly known as TuSimple (Cayman) Limited (hereinafter, “TuSimple”) or one of its subsidiaries (referred to collectively herein as the “TuSimple Group”). For purposes of this Agreement, the “Company” shall refer to the member of the TuSimple Group that actually employs you, which may change from time to time. This Agreement is effective as of the date of your signing.

1. Position. You will continue to serve as the Chief Administrative and Legal Officer and you will continue to report to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors of TuSimple. This is a full-time, exempt position. By signing this Agreement, you confirm to the TuSimple Group that you have no contractual commitments or other legal obligations that would prohibit you from performing your duties for the TuSimple Group. While you render services to the TuSimple Group, you will not engage in any other employment, consulting or other business activity (whether full-time or part-time) that would create a conflict of interest with the TuSimple Group.

2. Cash Compensation. You will be paid a salary at the rate of $350,000 per year. Your salary will be payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll schedule and will be subject to adjustment pursuant to the Company’s employee compensation policies in effect from time to time. In addition, you will be eligible to receive an annual discretionary performance bonus in an amount equal to up to 50% of your base salary. Any bonus for a fiscal year will be paid within 212 months after the close of that fiscal year, but only if you are still employed by the Company on the last day of the fiscal year to which the bonus relates. The determinations of the Board of Directors of TuSimple (the “Board”) with respect to your bonus will be final and binding, and the Board retains the right to cancel your bonus for any given year in the event of your gross negligence or serious misconduct in the performance of your duties prior to the date on which the bonus is paid, or if you have tendered your resignation prior to the close of the fiscal year to which the bonus relates.

3. Equity Awards. If you were previously granted one or more equity-based awards under TuSimple’s stock plan (such awards, your “Equity Awards”), they will remain outstanding and will continue to be governed by the terms and conditions of the stock plan and award agreements applicable to them.


James Mullen

Page 2

 

4. Employee Benefits. As a regular employee of the Company, you will be eligible to participate in a number of Company-sponsored benefits. In addition, you will be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the Company’s vacation policy, as in effect from time to time.

5. Severance Benefits. If you are entitled to the severance benefits in the event of certain qualifying terminations, such benefits will be described in a Severance and Change in Control Agreement by and between you and TuSimple.

6. Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement. You will continue to be bound by the Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement, dated March 19, 2021, between you and TuSimple or such other member of the TuSimple Group, attached as Exhibit A hereto.

7. Employment Relationship. Employment with the Company is for no specific period of time. Your employment with the Company will continue to be “at will,” meaning that either you or your employer may terminate your employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause. Any contrary representations that may have been made to you are superseded by this Agreement. This is the full and complete agreement between you and your employer on this term. Although your job duties, title, compensation and benefits, as well as the personnel policies and procedures of the TuSimple Group, including the member of the TuSimple Group actually employing you, may change from time to time, the “at will” nature of your employment may only be changed in an express written agreement signed by you and a duly authorized officer of the TuSimple Group (other than you).

8. Tax Matters.

(a) Withholding; Section 409A. All forms of compensation referred to in this Agreement are subject to reduction to reflect applicable withholding and payroll taxes and other deductions required by law. Except for such withholding, you will be responsible for your own tax liability imposed with respect to such compensation. It is intended that all payments and benefits under this Agreement, to the greatest extent possible, be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 409A”); to the extent not so exempt, this Agreement will be construed in a manner that complies with Section 409A.

(b) Tax Advice. You are encouraged to obtain your own tax advice regarding your compensation. You agree that the no member of the TuSimple Group has a duty to design its compensation policies in a manner that minimizes your tax liabilities, and you will not make any claim against any member of the TuSimple Group or the Board related to tax liabilities arising from your compensation.

9. Interpretation, Amendment and Enforcement. This Agreement supersedes and replaces any prior offer letters, agreements, representations or understandings (whether written, oral, implied or otherwise) between you and the TuSimple Group regarding the subject matter set forth herein and constitutes the complete agreement between you and the TuSimple Group regarding such subject matter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall supersede or replace any existing equity rights you may have, including any rights you have with respect to your Equity Awards. This Agreement may not be amended or modified, except by an express written agreement signed by both you and a duly authorized officer of the TuSimple Group (other than you).

* * * * *


James Mullen

Page 3

 

You may indicate your agreement with these terms by signing and dating this Agreement and returning it to me.

 

Very truly yours,
TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.
By:  

/s/ Cheng Lu

  Cheng Lu, President & CEO

 

I have read and accept the terms of this Agreement:

/s/ James Mullen

Signature of James Mullen
Dated: 3/21/21                                                     


James Mullen

Page 4

 

EXHIBIT A

Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement

Exhibit 10.22

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

SEVERANCE AND CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT

This Severance and Change in Control Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between Mo Chen (“Executive”) and TuSimple Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “TuSimple”), effective as of the date specified in Section 1 below.

This Agreement provides severance and acceleration benefits in connection with certain qualifying terminations of Executive’s employment with TuSimple and its subsidiaries, as applicable (referred to collectively herein as the “TuSimple Group”).

Certain capitalized terms are defined in Section 8.

TuSimple and Executive agree as follows:

1. Term. This Agreement shall become effective on the date on which it is signed by Executive (the “Effective Date”).

2. Certain Involuntary Termination Benefits.

(a) Involuntary Termination Outside of a Change in Control Period. If Executive is subject to an Involuntary Termination that occurs outside of a Change in Control Period and Executive satisfies the conditions described in Section 2(c) below, then:

(i) TuSimple or another member of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, shall continue to pay such Executive’s Base Salary for a period of twelve (12) months following such Executive’s Separation, which will be paid in accordance with TuSimple’s or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group’s standard payroll procedures;

(ii) If Executive timely elects continued coverage under COBRA, TuSimple or another member of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, shall pay the same portion of the monthly premium under COBRA as it pays for active employees and their eligible dependents until the earliest of (a) the last day of the period ending on the date that is twelve (12) months following such Executive’s Separation, (b) the expiration of Executive’s continuation coverage under COBRA or (c) the date when Executive becomes eligible for substantially equivalent health insurance coverage in connection with new employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if TuSimple or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group, determines in its sole discretion that it cannot provide the foregoing subsidy of COBRA coverage without potentially violating or causing TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group to incur additional expense as a result of noncompliance with applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), TuSimple or another member of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, instead will pay Executive a taxable monthly payment in an amount equal to the monthly COBRA premium that Executive would be required to pay to


continue the group health coverage in effect on the date of Executive’s Separation for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents pursuant to the health insurance plans of the TuSimple Group in which Executive or Executive’s eligible dependents participated as of the day of Executive’s Separation (which amount shall be based on the premium for the first month of COBRA coverage), which payments shall be made regardless of whether Executive elects COBRA continuation coverage; and

(iii) The total number of vested shares subject to each of Executive’s then-outstanding equity awards subject to time-based vesting shall be determined by adding six (6) months to Executive’s actual period of employment as of the Separation Date. In the case of equity awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals and other vesting criteria will be deemed satisfied in accordance with the terms set forth in the award agreement evidencing the applicable equity award.

(b) Involuntary Termination Within a Change in Control Period. If Executive is subject to an Involuntary Termination that occurs within a Change in Control Period and Executive satisfies the conditions described in Section 2(c) below, then:

(i) TuSimple or another member of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, shall continue to pay such Executive’s Base Salary for a period of eighteen (18) months following such Executive’s Separation, which will be paid in accordance with TuSimple’s or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group’s standard payroll procedures;

(ii) TuSimple or another member of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, shall pay the Executive a lump-sum cash amount equal to Executive’s annual target bonus established by TuSimple for the fiscal year in which Executive’s Separation occurs, prorated based on the number of days that Executive was employed by the TuSimple Group during such fiscal year;

(iii) If Executive timely elects continued coverage under COBRA, TuSimple or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group shall pay the same portion of the monthly premium under COBRA as it pays for active employees and their eligible dependents until the earliest of (a) the last day of the period ending on the date that is eighteen (18) months following such Executive’s Separation, (b) the expiration of Executive’s continuation coverage under COBRA or (c) the date when Executive becomes eligible for substantially equivalent health insurance coverage in connection with new employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if TuSimple or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group’s determines in its sole discretion that it cannot provide the foregoing subsidy of COBRA coverage without potentially violating or causing TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group to incur additional expense as a result of noncompliance with applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), TuSimple or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group instead will pay Executive a taxable monthly payment in an amount equal to the monthly COBRA premium that Executive would be required to pay to continue the group health coverage in effect on the date of Executive’s Separation for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents pursuant to the health insurance plans of the TuSimple Group in which Executive or Executive’s eligible dependents participated as of the day of Executive’s Separation (which amount shall be based on the premium for the first month of COBRA coverage), which payments shall be made regardless of whether Executive elects COBRA continuation coverage;

 

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(iv) One hundred percent (100%) of the shares subject to each of Executive’s then-outstanding equity awards subject to time-based vesting shall become fully vested. In the case of equity awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals and other vesting criteria will be deemed satisfied in accordance with the terms set forth in the award agreement evidencing the applicable equity award. For the avoidance of doubt, if Executive’s Involuntary Termination occurs prior to a Change in Control, then any unvested portion of Executive’s then-outstanding equity awards will remain outstanding for 3 months or the occurrence of a Change in Control (whichever is earlier) so that any additional benefits due on an Involuntary Termination Within a Change in Control Period can be provided if a Change in Control occurs within 3 months following such Involuntary Termination (provided that in no event will Executive’s stock options or similar equity awards remain outstanding beyond the equity award’s maximum term to expiration). In such case, if no Change in Control occurs within 3 months following an Involuntary Termination, any unvested portion of Executive’s equity awards automatically will be forfeited permanently on the 3-month anniversary of the Involuntary Termination without having vested.

(c) Preconditions to Severance and Vesting Acceleration Benefits / Timing of Benefits. As a condition to Executive’s receipt of any benefits described in Section 2(a) or 2(b), Executive shall execute and allow to become effective a general release of claims in the form prescribed by TuSimple and, if requested by TuSimple’s Board of Directors, must immediately resign as a member of TuSimple’s Board of Directors and as a member of the board of directors of any subsidiaries of TuSimple. Executive must execute and return the release on or before the date specified by TuSimple in the release, which will in no event be later than 50 days after Executive’s employment terminates. If Executive fails to return the release by the deadline or if Executive revokes the release, then Executive will not be entitled to the benefits described in this Section 2. All such benefits will be provided, paid or commence within 60 days after Executive’s Involuntary Termination (and, where applicable, will include at such time any amounts accrued from the date of Executive’s Separation). If such 60-day period spans two calendar years, then such benefit will in any event be provided, paid or commence in the second calendar year.

3. Section 409A. TuSimple intends that all payments and benefits provided under this Agreement or otherwise are exempt from, or comply with, with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) so that none of the payments or benefits will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Code Section 409A, and any ambiguities herein will be interpreted in accordance with such intent. For purposes of Code Section 409A, each payment, installment or benefit payable under this Agreement is hereby designated as a separate payment. In addition, if TuSimple determines that Executive is a “specified employee” under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) at the time of Executive’s Separation, then (i) any severance payments or benefits, to the extent that they are subject to Code Section 409A, will not be paid or otherwise provided until the first business day following the earlier of (A) expiration of the six-month period measured from Executive’s Separation or (B) the date of Executive’s death and (ii) any installments that otherwise would have been paid or provided prior to such date will be paid or provided in a lump sum when the severance payments or benefits commence.

 

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4. Section 280G.

(a) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the payments and benefits provided pursuant to this Agreement, together with all other payments and benefits received or to be received by Executive (“Payments”), constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Code Section 280G, and, but for this Section 4, would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Code Section 4999 (the “Excise Tax”), then the Payments shall be made to Executive either (i) in full or (ii) as to such lesser amount as would result in no portion of the Payments being subject to the Excise Tax (a “Reduced Payment”), whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax, results in Executive’s receipt on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of benefits, notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payments may be subject to the Excise Tax. For the avoidance of doubt, the Payments shall include acceleration of vesting of equity awards granted by TuSimple that vest based on service to TuSimple and that accelerate in connection with a Change in Control of TuSimple, but only to the extent such acceleration of vesting is deemed a parachute payment with respect to a Change in Control of TuSimple.

(b) For purposes of determining whether to make a Reduced Payment, if applicable, TuSimple shall cause to be taken into account all federal, state and local income and employment taxes and excise taxes applicable to the Executive (including the Excise Tax). If a Reduced Payment is made, TuSimple shall reduce or eliminate the Payments in the following order, unless (to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code) Executive elects to have the reduction in payments applied in a different order: (1) cancellation of accelerated vesting of options with no intrinsic value, (2) reduction of cash payments, (3) cancellation of accelerated vesting of equity awards other than options, (4) cancellation of accelerated vesting of options with intrinsic value and (5) reduction of other benefits paid to the Executive. In the event that acceleration of vesting is reduced, such acceleration of vesting shall be cancelled in the reverse order of the date of grant of the Executive’s equity awards. In the event that cash payments or other benefits are reduced, such reduction shall occur in reverse order beginning with payments or benefits which are to be paid farthest in time from the date of the determination. For avoidance of doubt, an option will be considered to have no intrinsic value if the exercise price of the shares subject to the option exceeds the fair market value of such shares.

(c) All determinations required to be made under this Section 4 (including whether any of the Payments are parachute payments and whether to make a Reduced Payment) will be made by a nationally recognized independent accounting firm selected by TuSimple. For purposes of making the calculations required by this section, the accounting firm may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonably, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Code Sections 280G and 4999. TuSimple will bear the costs that the accounting firm may reasonably incur in connection with the calculations contemplated by this Section 4. The accounting firm’s determination will be binding on both Executive and TuSimple absent manifest error.

 

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(d) As a result of uncertainty in the application of Sections 4999 and 280G of the Code at the time of the initial determination by the accounting firm hereunder, it is possible that payments will have been made by TuSimple which should not have been made (an “Overpayment”) or that additional payments which will not have been made by TuSimple could have been made (an “Underpayment”), consistent in each case with the calculation of whether and to what extent a Reduced Payment shall be made hereunder. In either event, the accounting firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment or Overpayment that has occurred. In the event that the accounting firm determines that an Overpayment has occurred, the Executive shall promptly repay, or transfer, to TuSimple the amount of any such Overpayment; provided, however, that no amount shall be payable, or transferable, by the Executive to TuSimple if and to the extent that such payment or transfer would not reduce the amount that is subject to taxation under Section 4999 of the Code. In the event that the accounting firm determines that an Underpayment has occurred, such Underpayment shall promptly be paid or transferred by TuSimple to or for the benefit of the Executive, together with interest at the applicable federal rate provided in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Code.

(e) If this Section 4 is applicable with respect to an Executive’s receipt of a Reduced Payment, it shall supersede any contrary provision of any plan, arrangement or agreement governing the Executive’s rights to the Payments.

5. Company’s Successors. Any successor to TuSimple or to all or substantially all of TuSimple’s business and/or assets shall assume TuSimple’s obligations under this Agreement and agree expressly to perform TuSimple’s obligations under this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent as TuSimple would be required to perform such obligations in the absence of a succession.

6. Miscellaneous Provisions.

(a) Modification or Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by Executive and by an authorized officer of TuSimple (other than Executive). No waiver by either party of any breach of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement by the other party shall be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the same condition or provision at another time.

(b) Integration. This Agreement represents the entire agreement and understanding between the parties as to the subject matter herein and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements, whether written or oral, with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.

(c) Choice of Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal substantive laws, but not the conflicts of law rules, of the State of California.

 

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(d) Tax Withholding. Any payments provided for hereunder are subject to reduction to reflect applicable withholding and payroll taxes and other reductions required under federal, state or local law.

(e) Notices. Any notice required by the terms of this Agreement shall be given in writing. It shall be deemed effective upon (i) personal delivery, (ii) deposit with the United States Postal Service, by registered or certified mail, with postage and fees prepaid or (iii) deposit with nationally recognized overnight courier, with shipping charges prepaid. Notice shall be addressed to TuSimple at its principal executive office (attention: General Counsel) and to Executive at the address that he or she most recently provided to TuSimple in accordance with this Subsection (e).

(f) Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof, which shall remain in full force and effect.

(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

7. At-Will Employment. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall (a) confer upon Executive any right to continue in the employ of TuSimple, (b) constitute any contract or agreement of employment, or (c) interfere in any way with the at-will nature of Executive’s employment with TuSimple.

8. Definitions. The following terms referred to in this Agreement shall have the following meanings:

(a) “Base Salary” means Executive’s annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to an Involuntary Termination; provided, however, that in the event of a Resignation for Good Reason due to a material reduction in Executive’s base salary, “Base Salary” means Executive’s annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to such reduction.

(b) “Cause” means Executive’s (i) unauthorized use or disclosure of the confidential information or trade secrets of TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group, which use or disclosure causes material harm to TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group, (ii) material breach of any agreement with TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group, (iii) material failure to comply with the written policies or rules of TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group, (iv) conviction of, or plea of “guilty” or “no contest” to, a felony under the laws of the United States or any State, (v) gross negligence or willful misconduct, (vi) continuing failure to perform assigned duties after receiving written notification of the failure from TuSimple, its Board of Directors or any other member of the TuSimple Group or (vii) failure to cooperate in good faith with a governmental or internal investigation of TuSimple, any other member of the TuSimple Group, or any of its or their respective directors, officers or employees, if TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group has requested such cooperation.

 

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(c) “Change in Control” means (i) a sale, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets, property or business of TuSimple, except where such sale, conveyance or other disposition is to a wholly owned subsidiary of TuSimple, (ii) a merger or consolidation of TuSimple with or into another corporation, entity or person, other than any such transaction in which the holders of voting capital stock of TuSimple outstanding immediately prior to the transaction continue to hold a majority of the voting capital stock of TuSimple (or the surviving or acquiring entity) outstanding immediately after the transaction (taking into account only stock of TuSimple held by such stockholders immediately prior to the transaction and stock issued on account of such stock in the transaction), or (iii) the direct or indirect acquisition (including by way of a tender or exchange offer) by any person, or persons acting as a group, of beneficial ownership or a right to acquire beneficial ownership of shares representing a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of TuSimple; provided, however, that a Change in Control shall not include any transaction or series of related transactions (1) principally for bona fide equity financing purposes or (2) effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of TuSimple. A series of related transactions shall be deemed to constitute a single transaction for purposes of determining whether a Change in Control has occurred. In addition, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any amount that is subject to Code Section 409A, then the transaction must also constitute a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) to the extent required by Code Section 409A.

(d) “Change in Control Period” means the period commencing on the date that is three (3) months prior to the date on which the first Change in Control occurs after the Effective Date and ending on the date that is twelve (12) months after the date of such Change in Control.

(e) “COBRA” means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended.

(f) “Involuntary Termination” means either Executive’s (i) Termination Without Cause or (ii) Resignation for Good Reason.

(g) “Resignation for Good Reason” means a Separation as a result of Executive’s resignation from employment with TuSimple and all other members of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, within 12 months after one of the following conditions has come into existence without Executive’s consent: (i) a reduction in Executive’s annual Base Salary by more than 10%, other than a general reduction that is part of a cost-reduction program that affects all similarly situated employees in substantially the same proportions, (ii) a relocation of Executive’s principal workplace by more than 25 miles from its location prior to such Change in Control or (iii) a material reduction of responsibilities, authority or duties, provided that neither a mere change in title alone nor reassignment following a Change in Control to a position that is similar to the position held prior to the Change in Control shall constitute a material reduction in job responsibilities. A Resignation for Good Reason will not be deemed to have occurred unless the employee gives TuSimple written notice of the condition within 90 days after the condition comes into existence and TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group fails to remedy the condition within 30 days after receiving such written notice.

 

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(h) “Separation” means a “separation from service” as defined in the regulations under Code Section 409A.

(i) “Termination Without Cause” means a Separation as a result of the termination of Executive’s employment by TuSimple and all other members of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, without Cause, provided the individual is willing and able to continue performing services within the meaning of Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(n)(1).

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement, in the case of TuSimple by its duly authorized officer, as of the day and year indicated below.

 

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.
By:  

/s/ Cheng Lu

Name:  

Cheng Lu

Title:  

President & CEO

Date:  

21 March 2021

EXECUTIVE
By:  

/s/ Mo Chen

Name:  

Mo Chen

Date:  

22 March 2021

 

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Exhibit 10.23

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

SEVERANCE AND CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT

This Severance and Change in Control Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between Xiaodi Hou (“Executive”) and TuSimple Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “TuSimple”), effective as of the date specified in Section 1 below.

This Agreement provides severance and acceleration benefits in connection with certain qualifying terminations of Executive’s employment with TuSimple and its subsidiaries, as applicable (referred to collectively herein as the “TuSimple Group”).

Certain capitalized terms are defined in Section 8.

TuSimple and Executive agree as follows:

1. Term. This Agreement shall become effective on the date on which it is signed by Executive (the “Effective Date”).

2. Certain Involuntary Termination Benefits.

(a) Involuntary Termination Outside of a Change in Control Period. If Executive is subject to an Involuntary Termination that occurs outside of a Change in Control Period and Executive satisfies the conditions described in Section 2(c) below, then:

(i) TuSimple or another member of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, shall continue to pay such Executive’s Base Salary for a period of twelve (12) months following such Executive’s Separation, which will be paid in accordance with TuSimple’s or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group’s standard payroll procedures;

(ii) If Executive timely elects continued coverage under COBRA, TuSimple or another member of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, shall pay the same portion of the monthly premium under COBRA as it pays for active employees and their eligible dependents until the earliest of (a) the last day of the period ending on the date that is twelve (12) months following such Executive’s Separation, (b) the expiration of Executive’s continuation coverage under COBRA or (c) the date when Executive becomes eligible for substantially equivalent health insurance coverage in connection with new employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if TuSimple or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group, determines in its sole discretion that it cannot provide the foregoing subsidy of COBRA coverage without potentially violating or causing TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group to incur additional expense as a result of noncompliance with applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), TuSimple or another member of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, instead will pay Executive a taxable monthly payment in an amount equal to the monthly COBRA premium that Executive would be required to pay to


continue the group health coverage in effect on the date of Executive’s Separation for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents pursuant to the health insurance plans of the TuSimple Group in which Executive or Executive’s eligible dependents participated as of the day of Executive’s Separation (which amount shall be based on the premium for the first month of COBRA coverage), which payments shall be made regardless of whether Executive elects COBRA continuation coverage; and

(iii) The total number of vested shares subject to each of Executive’s then-outstanding equity awards subject to time-based vesting shall be determined by adding six (6) months to Executive’s actual period of employment as of the Separation Date. In the case of equity awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals and other vesting criteria will be deemed satisfied in accordance with the terms set forth in the award agreement evidencing the applicable equity award.

(b) Involuntary Termination Within a Change in Control Period. If Executive is subject to an Involuntary Termination that occurs within a Change in Control Period and Executive satisfies the conditions described in Section 2(c) below, then:

(i) TuSimple or another member of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, shall continue to pay such Executive’s Base Salary for a period of eighteen (18) months following such Executive’s Separation, which will be paid in accordance with TuSimple’s or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group’s standard payroll procedures;

(ii) TuSimple or another member of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, shall pay the Executive a lump-sum cash amount equal to Executive’s annual target bonus established by TuSimple for the fiscal year in which Executive’s Separation occurs, prorated based on the number of days that Executive was employed by the TuSimple Group during such fiscal year;

(iii) If Executive timely elects continued coverage under COBRA, TuSimple or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group shall pay the same portion of the monthly premium under COBRA as it pays for active employees and their eligible dependents until the earliest of (a) the last day of the period ending on the date that is eighteen (18) months following such Executive’s Separation, (b) the expiration of Executive’s continuation coverage under COBRA or (c) the date when Executive becomes eligible for substantially equivalent health insurance coverage in connection with new employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if TuSimple or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group’s determines in its sole discretion that it cannot provide the foregoing subsidy of COBRA coverage without potentially violating or causing TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group to incur additional expense as a result of noncompliance with applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), TuSimple or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group instead will pay Executive a taxable monthly payment in an amount equal to the monthly COBRA premium that Executive would be required to pay to continue the group health coverage in effect on the date of Executive’s Separation for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents pursuant to the health insurance plans of the TuSimple Group in which Executive or Executive’s eligible dependents participated as of the day of Executive’s Separation (which amount shall be based on the premium for the first month of COBRA coverage), which payments shall be made regardless of whether Executive elects COBRA continuation coverage;

 

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(iv) One hundred percent (100%) of the shares subject to each of Executive’s then-outstanding equity awards subject to time-based vesting shall become fully vested. In the case of equity awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals and other vesting criteria will be deemed satisfied in accordance with the terms set forth in the award agreement evidencing the applicable equity award. For the avoidance of doubt, if Executive’s Involuntary Termination occurs prior to a Change in Control, then any unvested portion of Executive’s then-outstanding equity awards will remain outstanding for 3 months or the occurrence of a Change in Control (whichever is earlier) so that any additional benefits due on an Involuntary Termination Within a Change in Control Period can be provided if a Change in Control occurs within 3 months following such Involuntary Termination (provided that in no event will Executive’s stock options or similar equity awards remain outstanding beyond the equity award’s maximum term to expiration). In such case, if no Change in Control occurs within 3 months following an Involuntary Termination, any unvested portion of Executive’s equity awards automatically will be forfeited permanently on the 3-month anniversary of the Involuntary Termination without having vested.

(c) Preconditions to Severance and Vesting Acceleration Benefits / Timing of Benefits. As a condition to Executive’s receipt of any benefits described in Section 2(a) or 2(b), Executive shall execute and allow to become effective a general release of claims in the form prescribed by TuSimple and, if requested by TuSimple’s Board of Directors, must immediately resign as a member of TuSimple’s Board of Directors and as a member of the board of directors of any subsidiaries of TuSimple. Executive must execute and return the release on or before the date specified by TuSimple in the release, which will in no event be later than 50 days after Executive’s employment terminates. If Executive fails to return the release by the deadline or if Executive revokes the release, then Executive will not be entitled to the benefits described in this Section 2. All such benefits will be provided, paid or commence within 60 days after Executive’s Involuntary Termination (and, where applicable, will include at such time any amounts accrued from the date of Executive’s Separation). If such 60-day period spans two calendar years, then such benefit will in any event be provided, paid or commence in the second calendar year.

3. Section 409A. TuSimple intends that all payments and benefits provided under this Agreement or otherwise are exempt from, or comply with, with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) so that none of the payments or benefits will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Code Section 409A, and any ambiguities herein will be interpreted in accordance with such intent. For purposes of Code Section 409A, each payment, installment or benefit payable under this Agreement is hereby designated as a separate payment. In addition, if TuSimple determines that Executive is a “specified employee” under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) at the time of Executive’s Separation, then (i) any severance payments or benefits, to the extent that they are subject to Code Section 409A, will not be paid or otherwise provided until the first business day following the earlier of (A) expiration of the six-month period measured from Executive’s Separation or (B) the date of Executive’s death and (ii) any installments that otherwise would have been paid or provided prior to such date will be paid or provided in a lump sum when the severance payments or benefits commence.

 

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4. Section 280G.

(a) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the payments and benefits provided pursuant to this Agreement, together with all other payments and benefits received or to be received by Executive (“Payments”), constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Code Section 280G, and, but for this Section 4, would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Code Section 4999 (the “Excise Tax”), then the Payments shall be made to Executive either (i) in full or (ii) as to such lesser amount as would result in no portion of the Payments being subject to the Excise Tax (a “Reduced Payment”), whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax, results in Executive’s receipt on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of benefits, notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payments may be subject to the Excise Tax. For the avoidance of doubt, the Payments shall include acceleration of vesting of equity awards granted by TuSimple that vest based on service to TuSimple and that accelerate in connection with a Change in Control of TuSimple, but only to the extent such acceleration of vesting is deemed a parachute payment with respect to a Change in Control of TuSimple.

(b) For purposes of determining whether to make a Reduced Payment, if applicable, TuSimple shall cause to be taken into account all federal, state and local income and employment taxes and excise taxes applicable to the Executive (including the Excise Tax). If a Reduced Payment is made, TuSimple shall reduce or eliminate the Payments in the following order, unless (to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code) Executive elects to have the reduction in payments applied in a different order: (1) cancellation of accelerated vesting of options with no intrinsic value, (2) reduction of cash payments, (3) cancellation of accelerated vesting of equity awards other than options, (4) cancellation of accelerated vesting of options with intrinsic value and (5) reduction of other benefits paid to the Executive. In the event that acceleration of vesting is reduced, such acceleration of vesting shall be cancelled in the reverse order of the date of grant of the Executive’s equity awards. In the event that cash payments or other benefits are reduced, such reduction shall occur in reverse order beginning with payments or benefits which are to be paid farthest in time from the date of the determination. For avoidance of doubt, an option will be considered to have no intrinsic value if the exercise price of the shares subject to the option exceeds the fair market value of such shares.

(c) All determinations required to be made under this Section 4 (including whether any of the Payments are parachute payments and whether to make a Reduced Payment) will be made by a nationally recognized independent accounting firm selected by TuSimple. For purposes of making the calculations required by this section, the accounting firm may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonably, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Code Sections 280G and 4999. TuSimple will bear the costs that the accounting firm may reasonably incur in connection with the calculations contemplated by this Section 4. The accounting firm’s determination will be binding on both Executive and TuSimple absent manifest error.

 

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(d) As a result of uncertainty in the application of Sections 4999 and 280G of the Code at the time of the initial determination by the accounting firm hereunder, it is possible that payments will have been made by TuSimple which should not have been made (an “Overpayment”) or that additional payments which will not have been made by TuSimple could have been made (an “Underpayment”), consistent in each case with the calculation of whether and to what extent a Reduced Payment shall be made hereunder. In either event, the accounting firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment or Overpayment that has occurred. In the event that the accounting firm determines that an Overpayment has occurred, the Executive shall promptly repay, or transfer, to TuSimple the amount of any such Overpayment; provided, however, that no amount shall be payable, or transferable, by the Executive to TuSimple if and to the extent that such payment or transfer would not reduce the amount that is subject to taxation under Section 4999 of the Code. In the event that the accounting firm determines that an Underpayment has occurred, such Underpayment shall promptly be paid or transferred by TuSimple to or for the benefit of the Executive, together with interest at the applicable federal rate provided in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Code.

(e) If this Section 4 is applicable with respect to an Executive’s receipt of a Reduced Payment, it shall supersede any contrary provision of any plan, arrangement or agreement governing the Executive’s rights to the Payments.

5. Company’s Successors. Any successor to TuSimple or to all or substantially all of TuSimple’s business and/or assets shall assume TuSimple’s obligations under this Agreement and agree expressly to perform TuSimple’s obligations under this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent as TuSimple would be required to perform such obligations in the absence of a succession.

6. Miscellaneous Provisions.

(a) Modification or Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by Executive and by an authorized officer of TuSimple (other than Executive). No waiver by either party of any breach of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement by the other party shall be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the same condition or provision at another time.

(b) Integration. This Agreement represents the entire agreement and understanding between the parties as to the subject matter herein and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements, whether written or oral, with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.

(c) Choice of Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal substantive laws, but not the conflicts of law rules, of the State of California.

 

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(d) Tax Withholding. Any payments provided for hereunder are subject to reduction to reflect applicable withholding and payroll taxes and other reductions required under federal, state or local law.

(e) Notices. Any notice required by the terms of this Agreement shall be given in writing. It shall be deemed effective upon (i) personal delivery, (ii) deposit with the United States Postal Service, by registered or certified mail, with postage and fees prepaid or (iii) deposit with nationally recognized overnight courier, with shipping charges prepaid. Notice shall be addressed to TuSimple at its principal executive office (attention: General Counsel) and to Executive at the address that he or she most recently provided to TuSimple in accordance with this Subsection (e).

(f) Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof, which shall remain in full force and effect.

(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

7. At-Will Employment. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall (a) confer upon Executive any right to continue in the employ of TuSimple, (b) constitute any contract or agreement of employment, or (c) interfere in any way with the at-will nature of Executive’s employment with TuSimple.

8. Definitions. The following terms referred to in this Agreement shall have the following meanings:

(a) “Base Salary” means Executive’s annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to an Involuntary Termination; provided, however, that in the event of a Resignation for Good Reason due to a material reduction in Executive’s base salary, “Base Salary” means Executive’s annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to such reduction.

(b) “Cause” means Executive’s (i) unauthorized use or disclosure of the confidential information or trade secrets of TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group, which use or disclosure causes material harm to TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group, (ii) material breach of any agreement with TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group, (iii) material failure to comply with the written policies or rules of TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group, (iv) conviction of, or plea of “guilty” or “no contest” to, a felony under the laws of the United States or any State, (v) gross negligence or willful misconduct, (vi) continuing failure to perform assigned duties after receiving written notification of the failure from TuSimple, its Board of Directors or any other member of the TuSimple Group or (vii) failure to cooperate in good faith with a governmental or internal investigation of TuSimple, any other member of the TuSimple Group, or any of its or their respective directors, officers or employees, if TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group has requested such cooperation.

 

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(c) “Change in Control” means (i) a sale, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets, property or business of TuSimple, except where such sale, conveyance or other disposition is to a wholly owned subsidiary of TuSimple, (ii) a merger or consolidation of TuSimple with or into another corporation, entity or person, other than any such transaction in which the holders of voting capital stock of TuSimple outstanding immediately prior to the transaction continue to hold a majority of the voting capital stock of TuSimple (or the surviving or acquiring entity) outstanding immediately after the transaction (taking into account only stock of TuSimple held by such stockholders immediately prior to the transaction and stock issued on account of such stock in the transaction), or (iii) the direct or indirect acquisition (including by way of a tender or exchange offer) by any person, or persons acting as a group, of beneficial ownership or a right to acquire beneficial ownership of shares representing a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of TuSimple; provided, however, that a Change in Control shall not include any transaction or series of related transactions (1) principally for bona fide equity financing purposes or (2) effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of TuSimple. A series of related transactions shall be deemed to constitute a single transaction for purposes of determining whether a Change in Control has occurred. In addition, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any amount that is subject to Code Section 409A, then the transaction must also constitute a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) to the extent required by Code Section 409A.

(d) “Change in Control Period” means the period commencing on the date that is three (3) months prior to the date on which the first Change in Control occurs after the Effective Date and ending on the date that is twelve (12) months after the date of such Change in Control.

(e) “COBRA” means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended.

(f) “Involuntary Termination” means either Executive’s (i) Termination Without Cause or (ii) Resignation for Good Reason.

(g) “Resignation for Good Reason” means a Separation as a result of Executive’s resignation from employment with TuSimple and all other members of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, within 12 months after one of the following conditions has come into existence without Executive’s consent: (i) a reduction in Executive’s annual Base Salary by more than 10%, other than a general reduction that is part of a cost-reduction program that affects all similarly situated employees in substantially the same proportions, (ii) a relocation of Executive’s principal workplace by more than 25 miles from its location prior to such Change in Control or (iii) a material reduction of responsibilities, authority or duties, provided that neither a mere change in title alone nor reassignment following a Change in Control to a position that is similar to the position held prior to the Change in Control shall constitute a material reduction in job responsibilities. A Resignation for Good Reason will not be deemed to have occurred unless the employee gives TuSimple written notice of the condition within 90 days after the condition comes into existence and TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group fails to remedy the condition within 30 days after receiving such written notice.

 

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(h) “Separation” means a “separation from service” as defined in the regulations under Code Section 409A.

(i) “Termination Without Cause” means a Separation as a result of the termination of Executive’s employment by TuSimple and all other members of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, without Cause, provided the individual is willing and able to continue performing services within the meaning of Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(n)(1).

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement, in the case of TuSimple by its duly authorized officer, as of the day and year indicated below.

 

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.
By:  

/s/ Cheng Lu

Name:  

Cheng Lu

Title:  

President & CEO

Date:  

21 March 2021

EXECUTIVE
By:  

/s/ Xiaodi Hou

Name:  

Xiaodi Hou

Date:  

22 Mar. 2021

 

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Exhibit 10.24

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

SEVERANCE AND CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT

This Severance and Change in Control Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between Cheng Lu (“Executive”) and TuSimple Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “TuSimple”), effective as of the date specified in Section 1 below.

This Agreement provides severance and acceleration benefits in connection with certain qualifying terminations of Executive’s employment with TuSimple and its subsidiaries, as applicable (referred to collectively herein as the “TuSimple Group”).

Certain capitalized terms are defined in Section 8.

TuSimple and Executive agree as follows:

1. Term. This Agreement shall become effective on the date on which it is signed by Executive (the “Effective Date”).

2. Certain Involuntary Termination Benefits.

(a) Involuntary Termination Outside of a Change in Control Period. If Executive is subject to an Involuntary Termination that occurs outside of a Change in Control Period and Executive satisfies the conditions described in Section 2(c) below, then:

(i) TuSimple or another member of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, shall continue to pay such Executive’s Base Salary for a period of twelve (12) months following such Executive’s Separation, which will be paid in accordance with TuSimple’s or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group’s standard payroll procedures;

(ii) If Executive timely elects continued coverage under COBRA, TuSimple or another member of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, shall pay the same portion of the monthly premium under COBRA as it pays for active employees and their eligible dependents until the earliest of (a) the last day of the period ending on the date that is twelve (12) months following such Executive’s Separation, (b) the expiration of Executive’s continuation coverage under COBRA or (c) the date when Executive becomes eligible for substantially equivalent health insurance coverage in connection with new employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if TuSimple or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group, determines in its sole discretion that it cannot provide the foregoing subsidy of COBRA coverage without potentially violating or causing TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group to incur additional expense as a result of noncompliance with applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), TuSimple or another member of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, instead will pay Executive a taxable monthly payment in an amount equal to the monthly COBRA premium that Executive would be required to pay to


continue the group health coverage in effect on the date of Executive’s Separation for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents pursuant to the health insurance plans of the TuSimple Group in which Executive or Executive’s eligible dependents participated as of the day of Executive’s Separation (which amount shall be based on the premium for the first month of COBRA coverage), which payments shall be made regardless of whether Executive elects COBRA continuation coverage; and

(iii) The total number of vested shares subject to each of Executive’s then-outstanding equity awards subject to time-based vesting shall be determined by adding six (6) months to Executive’s actual period of employment as of the Separation Date. In the case of equity awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals and other vesting criteria will be deemed satisfied in accordance with the terms set forth in the award agreement evidencing the applicable equity award.

(b) Involuntary Termination Within a Change in Control Period. If Executive is subject to an Involuntary Termination that occurs within a Change in Control Period and Executive satisfies the conditions described in Section 2(c) below, then:

(i) TuSimple or another member of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, shall continue to pay such Executive’s Base Salary for a period of eighteen (18) months following such Executive’s Separation, which will be paid in accordance with TuSimple’s or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group’s standard payroll procedures;

(ii) TuSimple or another member of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, shall pay the Executive a lump-sum cash amount equal to Executive’s annual target bonus established by TuSimple for the fiscal year in which Executive’s Separation occurs, prorated based on the number of days that Executive was employed by the TuSimple Group during such fiscal year;

(iii) If Executive timely elects continued coverage under COBRA, TuSimple or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group shall pay the same portion of the monthly premium under COBRA as it pays for active employees and their eligible dependents until the earliest of (a) the last day of the period ending on the date that is eighteen (18) months following such Executive’s Separation, (b) the expiration of Executive’s continuation coverage under COBRA or (c) the date when Executive becomes eligible for substantially equivalent health insurance coverage in connection with new employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if TuSimple or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group’s determines in its sole discretion that it cannot provide the foregoing subsidy of COBRA coverage without potentially violating or causing TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group to incur additional expense as a result of noncompliance with applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), TuSimple or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group instead will pay Executive a taxable monthly payment in an amount equal to the monthly COBRA premium that Executive would be required to pay to continue the group health coverage in effect on the date of Executive’s Separation for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents pursuant to the health insurance plans of the TuSimple Group in which Executive or Executive’s eligible dependents participated as of the day of Executive’s Separation (which amount shall be based on the premium for the first month of COBRA coverage), which payments shall be made regardless of whether Executive elects COBRA continuation coverage;

 

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(iv) One hundred percent (100%) of the shares subject to each of Executive’s then-outstanding equity awards subject to time-based vesting shall become fully vested. In the case of equity awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals and other vesting criteria will be deemed satisfied in accordance with the terms set forth in the award agreement evidencing the applicable equity award. For the avoidance of doubt, if Executive’s Involuntary Termination occurs prior to a Change in Control, then any unvested portion of Executive’s then-outstanding equity awards will remain outstanding for 3 months or the occurrence of a Change in Control (whichever is earlier) so that any additional benefits due on an Involuntary Termination Within a Change in Control Period can be provided if a Change in Control occurs within 3 months following such Involuntary Termination (provided that in no event will Executive’s stock options or similar equity awards remain outstanding beyond the equity award’s maximum term to expiration). In such case, if no Change in Control occurs within 3 months following an Involuntary Termination, any unvested portion of Executive’s equity awards automatically will be forfeited permanently on the 3-month anniversary of the Involuntary Termination without having vested.

(c) Preconditions to Severance and Vesting Acceleration Benefits / Timing of Benefits. As a condition to Executive’s receipt of any benefits described in Section 2(a) or 2(b), Executive shall execute and allow to become effective a general release of claims in the form prescribed by TuSimple and, if requested by TuSimple’s Board of Directors, must immediately resign as a member of TuSimple’s Board of Directors and as a member of the board of directors of any subsidiaries of TuSimple. Executive must execute and return the release on or before the date specified by TuSimple in the release, which will in no event be later than 50 days after Executive’s employment terminates. If Executive fails to return the release by the deadline or if Executive revokes the release, then Executive will not be entitled to the benefits described in this Section 2. All such benefits will be provided, paid or commence within 60 days after Executive’s Involuntary Termination (and, where applicable, will include at such time any amounts accrued from the date of Executive’s Separation). If such 60-day period spans two calendar years, then such benefit will in any event be provided, paid or commence in the second calendar year.

3. Section 409A. TuSimple intends that all payments and benefits provided under this Agreement or otherwise are exempt from, or comply with, with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) so that none of the payments or benefits will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Code Section 409A, and any ambiguities herein will be interpreted in accordance with such intent. For purposes of Code Section 409A, each payment, installment or benefit payable under this Agreement is hereby designated as a separate payment. In addition, if TuSimple determines that Executive is a “specified employee” under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) at the time of Executive’s Separation, then (i) any severance payments or benefits, to the extent that they are subject to Code Section 409A, will not be paid or otherwise provided until the first business day following the earlier of (A) expiration of the six-month period measured from Executive’s Separation or (B) the date of Executive’s death and (ii) any installments that otherwise would have been paid or provided prior to such date will be paid or provided in a lump sum when the severance payments or benefits commence.

 

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4. Section 280G.

(a) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the payments and benefits provided pursuant to this Agreement, together with all other payments and benefits received or to be received by Executive (“Payments”), constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Code Section 280G, and, but for this Section 4, would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Code Section 4999 (the “Excise Tax”), then the Payments shall be made to Executive either (i) in full or (ii) as to such lesser amount as would result in no portion of the Payments being subject to the Excise Tax (a “Reduced Payment”), whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax, results in Executive’s receipt on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of benefits, notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payments may be subject to the Excise Tax. For the avoidance of doubt, the Payments shall include acceleration of vesting of equity awards granted by TuSimple that vest based on service to TuSimple and that accelerate in connection with a Change in Control of TuSimple, but only to the extent such acceleration of vesting is deemed a parachute payment with respect to a Change in Control of TuSimple.

(b) For purposes of determining whether to make a Reduced Payment, if applicable, TuSimple shall cause to be taken into account all federal, state and local income and employment taxes and excise taxes applicable to the Executive (including the Excise Tax). If a Reduced Payment is made, TuSimple shall reduce or eliminate the Payments in the following order, unless (to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code) Executive elects to have the reduction in payments applied in a different order: (1) cancellation of accelerated vesting of options with no intrinsic value, (2) reduction of cash payments, (3) cancellation of accelerated vesting of equity awards other than options, (4) cancellation of accelerated vesting of options with intrinsic value and (5) reduction of other benefits paid to the Executive. In the event that acceleration of vesting is reduced, such acceleration of vesting shall be cancelled in the reverse order of the date of grant of the Executive’s equity awards. In the event that cash payments or other benefits are reduced, such reduction shall occur in reverse order beginning with payments or benefits which are to be paid farthest in time from the date of the determination. For avoidance of doubt, an option will be considered to have no intrinsic value if the exercise price of the shares subject to the option exceeds the fair market value of such shares.

(c) All determinations required to be made under this Section 4 (including whether any of the Payments are parachute payments and whether to make a Reduced Payment) will be made by a nationally recognized independent accounting firm selected by TuSimple. For purposes of making the calculations required by this section, the accounting firm may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonably, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Code Sections 280G and 4999. TuSimple will bear the costs that the accounting firm may reasonably incur in connection with the calculations contemplated by this Section 4. The accounting firm’s determination will be binding on both Executive and TuSimple absent manifest error.

 

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(d) As a result of uncertainty in the application of Sections 4999 and 280G of the Code at the time of the initial determination by the accounting firm hereunder, it is possible that payments will have been made by TuSimple which should not have been made (an “Overpayment”) or that additional payments which will not have been made by TuSimple could have been made (an “Underpayment”), consistent in each case with the calculation of whether and to what extent a Reduced Payment shall be made hereunder. In either event, the accounting firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment or Overpayment that has occurred. In the event that the accounting firm determines that an Overpayment has occurred, the Executive shall promptly repay, or transfer, to TuSimple the amount of any such Overpayment; provided, however, that no amount shall be payable, or transferable, by the Executive to TuSimple if and to the extent that such payment or transfer would not reduce the amount that is subject to taxation under Section 4999 of the Code. In the event that the accounting firm determines that an Underpayment has occurred, such Underpayment shall promptly be paid or transferred by TuSimple to or for the benefit of the Executive, together with interest at the applicable federal rate provided in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Code.

(e) If this Section 4 is applicable with respect to an Executive’s receipt of a Reduced Payment, it shall supersede any contrary provision of any plan, arrangement or agreement governing the Executive’s rights to the Payments.

5. Company’s Successors. Any successor to TuSimple or to all or substantially all of TuSimple’s business and/or assets shall assume TuSimple’s obligations under this Agreement and agree expressly to perform TuSimple’s obligations under this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent as TuSimple would be required to perform such obligations in the absence of a succession.

6. Miscellaneous Provisions.

(a) Modification or Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by Executive and by an authorized officer of TuSimple (other than Executive). No waiver by either party of any breach of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement by the other party shall be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the same condition or provision at another time.

(b) Integration. This Agreement represents the entire agreement and understanding between the parties as to the subject matter herein and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements, whether written or oral, with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.

(c) Choice of Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal substantive laws, but not the conflicts of law rules, of the State of California.

 

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(d) Tax Withholding. Any payments provided for hereunder are subject to reduction to reflect applicable withholding and payroll taxes and other reductions required under federal, state or local law.

(e) Notices. Any notice required by the terms of this Agreement shall be given in writing. It shall be deemed effective upon (i) personal delivery, (ii) deposit with the United States Postal Service, by registered or certified mail, with postage and fees prepaid or (iii) deposit with nationally recognized overnight courier, with shipping charges prepaid. Notice shall be addressed to TuSimple at its principal executive office (attention: General Counsel) and to Executive at the address that he or she most recently provided to TuSimple in accordance with this Subsection (e).

(f) Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof, which shall remain in full force and effect.

(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

7. At-Will Employment. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall (a) confer upon Executive any right to continue in the employ of TuSimple, (b) constitute any contract or agreement of employment, or (c) interfere in any way with the at-will nature of Executive’s employment with TuSimple.

8. Definitions. The following terms referred to in this Agreement shall have the following meanings:

(a) “Base Salary” means Executive’s annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to an Involuntary Termination; provided, however, that in the event of a Resignation for Good Reason due to a material reduction in Executive’s base salary, “Base Salary” means Executive’s annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to such reduction.

(b) “Cause” means Executive’s (i) unauthorized use or disclosure of the confidential information or trade secrets of TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group, which use or disclosure causes material harm to TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group, (ii) material breach of any agreement with TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group, (iii) material failure to comply with the written policies or rules of TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group, (iv) conviction of, or plea of “guilty” or “no contest” to, a felony under the laws of the United States or any State, (v) gross negligence or willful misconduct, (vi) continuing failure to perform assigned duties after receiving written notification of the failure from TuSimple, its Board of Directors or any other member of the TuSimple Group or (vii) failure to cooperate in good faith with a governmental or internal investigation of TuSimple, any other member of the TuSimple Group, or any of its or their respective directors, officers or employees, if TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group has requested such cooperation.

 

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(c) “Change in Control” means (i) a sale, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets, property or business of TuSimple, except where such sale, conveyance or other disposition is to a wholly owned subsidiary of TuSimple, (ii) a merger or consolidation of TuSimple with or into another corporation, entity or person, other than any such transaction in which the holders of voting capital stock of TuSimple outstanding immediately prior to the transaction continue to hold a majority of the voting capital stock of TuSimple (or the surviving or acquiring entity) outstanding immediately after the transaction (taking into account only stock of TuSimple held by such stockholders immediately prior to the transaction and stock issued on account of such stock in the transaction), or (iii) the direct or indirect acquisition (including by way of a tender or exchange offer) by any person, or persons acting as a group, of beneficial ownership or a right to acquire beneficial ownership of shares representing a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of TuSimple; provided, however, that a Change in Control shall not include any transaction or series of related transactions (1) principally for bona fide equity financing purposes or (2) effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of TuSimple. A series of related transactions shall be deemed to constitute a single transaction for purposes of determining whether a Change in Control has occurred. In addition, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any amount that is subject to Code Section 409A, then the transaction must also constitute a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) to the extent required by Code Section 409A.

(d) “Change in Control Period” means the period commencing on the date that is three (3) months prior to the date on which the first Change in Control occurs after the Effective Date and ending on the date that is twelve (12) months after the date of such Change in Control.

(e) “COBRA” means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended.

(f) “Involuntary Termination” means either Executive’s (i) Termination Without Cause or (ii) Resignation for Good Reason.

(g) “Resignation for Good Reason” means a Separation as a result of Executive’s resignation from employment with TuSimple and all other members of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, within 12 months after one of the following conditions has come into existence without Executive’s consent: (i) a reduction in Executive’s annual Base Salary by more than 10%, other than a general reduction that is part of a cost-reduction program that affects all similarly situated employees in substantially the same proportions, (ii) a relocation of Executive’s principal workplace by more than 25 miles from its location prior to such Change in Control or (iii) a material reduction of responsibilities, authority or duties, provided that neither a mere change in title alone nor reassignment following a Change in Control to a position that is similar to the position held prior to the Change in Control shall constitute a material reduction in job responsibilities. A Resignation for Good Reason will not be deemed to have occurred unless the employee gives TuSimple written notice of the condition within 90 days after the condition comes into existence and TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group fails to remedy the condition within 30 days after receiving such written notice.

 

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(h) “Separation” means a “separation from service” as defined in the regulations under Code Section 409A.

(i) “Termination Without Cause” means a Separation as a result of the termination of Executive’s employment by TuSimple and all other members of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, without Cause, provided the individual is willing and able to continue performing services within the meaning of Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(n)(1).

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement, in the case of TuSimple by its duly authorized officer, as of the day and year indicated below.

 

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.
By:  

/s/ James Mullen

Name:  

James Mullen

Title:  

Chief Administrative & Legal Officer

Date:  

21 March 2021

EXECUTIVE
By:  

/s/ Cheng Lu

Name:  

Cheng Lu

Date:  

3/21/2021

 

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Exhibit 10.25

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

SEVERANCE AND CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT

This Severance and Change in Control Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between Patrick Dillon (“Executive”) and TuSimple Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “TuSimple”), effective as of the date specified in Section 1 below.

This Agreement provides severance and acceleration benefits in connection with certain qualifying terminations of Executive’s employment with TuSimple and its subsidiaries, as applicable (referred to collectively herein as the “TuSimple Group”).

Certain capitalized terms are defined in Section 8.

TuSimple and Executive agree as follows:

1. Term. This Agreement shall become effective on the date on which it is signed by Executive (the “Effective Date”).

2. Certain Involuntary Termination Benefits.

(a) Involuntary Termination Outside of a Change in Control Period. If Executive is subject to an Involuntary Termination that occurs outside of a Change in Control Period and Executive satisfies the conditions described in Section 2(c) below, then:

(i) TuSimple or another member of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, shall continue to pay such Executive’s Base Salary for a period of twelve (12) months following such Executive’s Separation, which will be paid in accordance with TuSimple’s or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group’s standard payroll procedures;

(ii) If Executive timely elects continued coverage under COBRA, TuSimple or another member of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, shall pay the same portion of the monthly premium under COBRA as it pays for active employees and their eligible dependents until the earliest of (a) the last day of the period ending on the date that is twelve (12) months following such Executive’s Separation, (b) the expiration of Executive’s continuation coverage under COBRA or (c) the date when Executive becomes eligible for substantially equivalent health insurance coverage in connection with new employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if TuSimple or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group, determines in its sole discretion that it cannot provide the foregoing subsidy of COBRA coverage without potentially violating or causing TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group to incur additional expense as a result of noncompliance with applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), TuSimple or another member of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, instead will pay Executive a taxable monthly payment in an amount equal to the monthly COBRA premium that Executive would be required to pay to


continue the group health coverage in effect on the date of Executive’s Separation for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents pursuant to the health insurance plans of the TuSimple Group in which Executive or Executive’s eligible dependents participated as of the day of Executive’s Separation (which amount shall be based on the premium for the first month of COBRA coverage), which payments shall be made regardless of whether Executive elects COBRA continuation coverage; and

(iii) The total number of vested shares subject to each of Executive’s then-outstanding equity awards subject to time-based vesting shall be determined by adding six (6) months to Executive’s actual period of employment as of the Separation Date. In the case of equity awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals and other vesting criteria will be deemed satisfied in accordance with the terms set forth in the award agreement evidencing the applicable equity award.

(b) Involuntary Termination Within a Change in Control Period. If Executive is subject to an Involuntary Termination that occurs within a Change in Control Period and Executive satisfies the conditions described in Section 2(c) below, then:

(i) TuSimple or another member of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, shall continue to pay such Executive’s Base Salary for a period of eighteen (18) months following such Executive’s Separation, which will be paid in accordance with TuSimple’s or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group’s standard payroll procedures;

(ii) TuSimple or another member of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, shall pay the Executive a lump-sum cash amount equal to Executive’s annual target bonus established by TuSimple for the fiscal year in which Executive’s Separation occurs, prorated based on the number of days that Executive was employed by the TuSimple Group during such fiscal year; provided that if (1) Executive’s Involuntary Termination occurs prior to the earlier of (A) the first anniversary of Executive’s employment start date with the TuSimple Group, and (B) the date on which TuSimple consummates the first firm commitment underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering the offer and sale by TuSimple of its equity securities, and (2) the per share value of a share of Common Stock of TuSimple is less than $8 per share in the Change in Control, then the lump-sum cash amount described in this Section 2(b)(ii) shall be increased by $500,000;

(iii) If Executive timely elects continued coverage under COBRA, TuSimple or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group shall pay the same portion of the monthly premium under COBRA as it pays for active employees and their eligible dependents until the earliest of (a) the last day of the period ending on the date that is eighteen (18) months following such Executive’s Separation, (b) the expiration of Executive’s continuation coverage under COBRA or (c) the date when Executive becomes eligible for substantially equivalent health insurance coverage in connection with new employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if TuSimple or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group’s determines in its sole discretion that it cannot provide the foregoing subsidy of COBRA coverage without potentially violating or causing TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group to incur additional expense as a result of noncompliance with applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), TuSimple or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group instead will pay Executive a taxable monthly payment in an amount equal to the monthly COBRA premium that Executive would be required to pay to continue the group health coverage in effect on the date of Executive’s Separation for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents pursuant to the health insurance plans of the TuSimple Group in which Executive or Executive’s eligible dependents participated as of the day of Executive’s Separation (which amount shall be based on the premium for the first month of COBRA coverage), which payments shall be made regardless of whether Executive elects COBRA continuation coverage;

 

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(iv) One hundred percent (100%) of the shares subject to each of Executive’s then-outstanding equity awards subject to time-based vesting shall become fully vested. In the case of equity awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals and other vesting criteria will be deemed satisfied in accordance with the terms set forth in the award agreement evidencing the applicable equity award. For the avoidance of doubt, if Executive’s Involuntary Termination occurs prior to a Change in Control, then any unvested portion of Executive’s then-outstanding equity awards will remain outstanding for 3 months or the occurrence of a Change in Control (whichever is earlier) so that any additional benefits due on an Involuntary Termination Within a Change in Control Period can be provided if a Change in Control occurs within 3 months following such Involuntary Termination (provided that in no event will Executive’s stock options or similar equity awards remain outstanding beyond the equity award’s maximum term to expiration). In such case, if no Change in Control occurs within 3 months following an Involuntary Termination, any unvested portion of Executive’s equity awards automatically will be forfeited permanently on the 3-month anniversary of the Involuntary Termination without having vested.

(c) Preconditions to Severance and Vesting Acceleration Benefits / Timing of Benefits. As a condition to Executive’s receipt of any benefits described in Section 2(a) or 2(b), Executive shall execute and allow to become effective a general release of claims in the form prescribed by TuSimple and, if requested by TuSimple’s Board of Directors, must immediately resign as a member of TuSimple’s Board of Directors and as a member of the board of directors of any subsidiaries of TuSimple. Executive must execute and return the release on or before the date specified by TuSimple in the release, which will in no event be later than 50 days after Executive’s employment terminates. If Executive fails to return the release by the deadline or if Executive revokes the release, then Executive will not be entitled to the benefits described in this Section 2. All such benefits will be provided, paid or commence within 60 days after Executive’s Involuntary Termination (and, where applicable, will include at such time any amounts accrued from the date of Executive’s Separation). If such 60-day period spans two calendar years, then such benefit will in any event be provided, paid or commence in the second calendar year.

3. Section 409A. TuSimple intends that all payments and benefits provided under this Agreement or otherwise are exempt from, or comply with, with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) so that none of the payments or benefits will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Code Section 409A, and any ambiguities herein will be interpreted in accordance with such intent. For purposes of Code Section 409A, each payment, installment or benefit payable under this Agreement is hereby designated as a separate payment. In addition, if TuSimple determines that Executive is a “specified employee” under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) at the time of Executive’s Separation, then (i) any severance payments or benefits, to the extent that they are subject to Code Section 409A, will not be paid or otherwise provided until the first business day following the earlier of (A) expiration of the six-month period measured from Executive’s Separation or (B) the date of Executive’s death and (ii) any installments that otherwise would have been paid or provided prior to such date will be paid or provided in a lump sum when the severance payments or benefits commence.

 

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4. Section 280G.

(a) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the payments and benefits provided pursuant to this Agreement, together with all other payments and benefits received or to be received by Executive (“Payments”), constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Code Section 280G, and, but for this Section 4, would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Code Section 4999 (the “Excise Tax”), then the Payments shall be made to Executive either (i) in full or (ii) as to such lesser amount as would result in no portion of the Payments being subject to the Excise Tax (a “Reduced Payment”), whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax, results in Executive’s receipt on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of benefits, notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payments may be subject to the Excise Tax. For the avoidance of doubt, the Payments shall include acceleration of vesting of equity awards granted by TuSimple that vest based on service to TuSimple and that accelerate in connection with a Change in Control of TuSimple, but only to the extent such acceleration of vesting is deemed a parachute payment with respect to a Change in Control of TuSimple.

(b) For purposes of determining whether to make a Reduced Payment, if applicable, TuSimple shall cause to be taken into account all federal, state and local income and employment taxes and excise taxes applicable to the Executive (including the Excise Tax). If a Reduced Payment is made, TuSimple shall reduce or eliminate the Payments in the following order, unless (to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code) Executive elects to have the reduction in payments applied in a different order: (1) cancellation of accelerated vesting of options with no intrinsic value, (2) reduction of cash payments, (3) cancellation of accelerated vesting of equity awards other than options, (4) cancellation of accelerated vesting of options with intrinsic value and (5) reduction of other benefits paid to the Executive. In the event that acceleration of vesting is reduced, such acceleration of vesting shall be cancelled in the reverse order of the date of grant of the Executive’s equity awards. In the event that cash payments or other benefits are reduced, such reduction shall occur in reverse order beginning with payments or benefits which are to be paid farthest in time from the date of the determination. For avoidance of doubt, an option will be considered to have no intrinsic value if the exercise price of the shares subject to the option exceeds the fair market value of such shares.

(c) All determinations required to be made under this Section 4 (including whether any of the Payments are parachute payments and whether to make a Reduced Payment) will be made by a nationally recognized independent accounting firm selected by TuSimple. For purposes of making the calculations required by this section, the accounting firm may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonably, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Code Sections 280G and 4999. TuSimple will bear the costs that the accounting firm may reasonably incur in connection with the calculations contemplated by this Section 4. The accounting firm’s determination will be binding on both Executive and TuSimple absent manifest error.

 

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(d) As a result of uncertainty in the application of Sections 4999 and 280G of the Code at the time of the initial determination by the accounting firm hereunder, it is possible that payments will have been made by TuSimple which should not have been made (an “Overpayment”) or that additional payments which will not have been made by TuSimple could have been made (an “Underpayment”), consistent in each case with the calculation of whether and to what extent a Reduced Payment shall be made hereunder. In either event, the accounting firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment or Overpayment that has occurred. In the event that the accounting firm determines that an Overpayment has occurred, the Executive shall promptly repay, or transfer, to TuSimple the amount of any such Overpayment; provided, however, that no amount shall be payable, or transferable, by the Executive to TuSimple if and to the extent that such payment or transfer would not reduce the amount that is subject to taxation under Section 4999 of the Code. In the event that the accounting firm determines that an Underpayment has occurred, such Underpayment shall promptly be paid or transferred by TuSimple to or for the benefit of the Executive, together with interest at the applicable federal rate provided in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Code.

(e) If this Section 4 is applicable with respect to an Executive’s receipt of a Reduced Payment, it shall supersede any contrary provision of any plan, arrangement or agreement governing the Executive’s rights to the Payments.

5. Company’s Successors. Any successor to TuSimple or to all or substantially all of TuSimple’s business and/or assets shall assume TuSimple’s obligations under this Agreement and agree expressly to perform TuSimple’s obligations under this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent as TuSimple would be required to perform such obligations in the absence of a succession.

6. Miscellaneous Provisions.

(a) Modification or Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by Executive and by an authorized officer of TuSimple (other than Executive). No waiver by either party of any breach of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement by the other party shall be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the same condition or provision at another time.

(b) Integration. This Agreement represents the entire agreement and understanding between the parties as to the subject matter herein and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements, whether written or oral, with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.

(c) Choice of Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal substantive laws, but not the conflicts of law rules, of the State of California.

 

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(d) Tax Withholding. Any payments provided for hereunder are subject to reduction to reflect applicable withholding and payroll taxes and other reductions required under federal, state or local law.

(e) Notices. Any notice required by the terms of this Agreement shall be given in writing. It shall be deemed effective upon (i) personal delivery, (ii) deposit with the United States Postal Service, by registered or certified mail, with postage and fees prepaid or (iii) deposit with nationally recognized overnight courier, with shipping charges prepaid. Notice shall be addressed to TuSimple at its principal executive office (attention: General Counsel) and to Executive at the address that he or she most recently provided to TuSimple in accordance with this Subsection (e).

(f) Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof, which shall remain in full force and effect.

(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

7. At-Will Employment. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall (a) confer upon Executive any right to continue in the employ of TuSimple, (b) constitute any contract or agreement of employment, or (c) interfere in any way with the at-will nature of Executive’s employment with TuSimple.

8. Definitions. The following terms referred to in this Agreement shall have the following meanings:

(a) “Base Salary” means Executive’s annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to an Involuntary Termination; provided, however, that in the event of a Resignation for Good Reason due to a material reduction in Executive’s base salary, “Base Salary” means Executive’s annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to such reduction.

(b) “Cause” means Executive’s (i) unauthorized use or disclosure of the confidential information or trade secrets of TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group, which use or disclosure causes material harm to TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group, (ii) material breach of any agreement with TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group, (iii) material failure to comply with the written policies or rules of TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group, (iv) conviction of, or plea of “guilty” or “no contest” to, a felony under the laws of the United States or any State, (v) gross negligence or willful misconduct, (vi) continuing failure to perform assigned duties after receiving written notification of the failure from TuSimple, its Board of Directors or any other member of the TuSimple Group or (vii) failure to cooperate in good faith with a governmental or internal investigation of TuSimple, any other member of the TuSimple Group, or any of its or their respective directors, officers or employees, if TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group has requested such cooperation.

 

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(c) “Change in Control” means (i) a sale, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets, property or business of TuSimple, except where such sale, conveyance or other disposition is to a wholly owned subsidiary of TuSimple, (ii) a merger or consolidation of TuSimple with or into another corporation, entity or person, other than any such transaction in which the holders of voting capital stock of TuSimple outstanding immediately prior to the transaction continue to hold a majority of the voting capital stock of TuSimple (or the surviving or acquiring entity) outstanding immediately after the transaction (taking into account only stock of TuSimple held by such stockholders immediately prior to the transaction and stock issued on account of such stock in the transaction), or (iii) the direct or indirect acquisition (including by way of a tender or exchange offer) by any person, or persons acting as a group, of beneficial ownership or a right to acquire beneficial ownership of shares representing a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of TuSimple; provided, however, that a Change in Control shall not include any transaction or series of related transactions (1) principally for bona fide equity financing purposes or (2) effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of TuSimple. A series of related transactions shall be deemed to constitute a single transaction for purposes of determining whether a Change in Control has occurred. In addition, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any amount that is subject to Code Section 409A, then the transaction must also constitute a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) to the extent required by Code Section 409A.

(d) “Change in Control Period” means the period commencing on the date that is three (3) months prior to the date on which the first Change in Control occurs after the Effective Date and ending on the date that is twelve (12) months after the date of such Change in Control.

(e) “COBRA” means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended.

(f) “Involuntary Termination” means either Executive’s (i) Termination Without Cause or (ii) Resignation for Good Reason.

(g) “Resignation for Good Reason” means a Separation as a result of Executive’s resignation from employment with TuSimple and all other members of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, within 12 months after one of the following conditions has come into existence without Executive’s consent: (i) a reduction in Executive’s annual Base Salary by more than 10%, other than a general reduction that is part of a cost-reduction program that affects all similarly situated employees in substantially the same proportions, (ii) a relocation of Executive’s principal workplace by more than 25 miles from its location prior to such Change in Control or (iii) a material reduction of responsibilities, authority or duties, provided that neither a mere change in title alone nor reassignment following a Change in Control to a position that is similar to the position held prior to the Change in Control shall constitute a material reduction in job responsibilities. A Resignation for Good Reason will not be deemed to have occurred unless the employee gives TuSimple written notice of the condition within 90 days after the condition comes into existence and TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group fails to remedy the condition within 30 days after receiving such written notice.

 

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(h) “Separation” means a “separation from service” as defined in the regulations under Code Section 409A.

(i) “Termination Without Cause” means a Separation as a result of the termination of Executive’s employment by TuSimple and all other members of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, without Cause, provided the individual is willing and able to continue performing services within the meaning of Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(n)(1).

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement, in the case of TuSimple by its duly authorized officer, as of the day and year indicated below.

 

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.
By:  

/s/ Cheng Lu

Name:  

Cheng Lu

Title:  

CEO & President

Date:  

22 March 2021

EXECUTIVE
By:  

/s/ Patrick Dillon

Name:  

Patrick Dillon

Date:  

22 March 2021

 

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Exhibit 10.26

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

SEVERANCE AND CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT

This Severance and Change in Control Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between James Mullen (“Executive”) and TuSimple Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “TuSimple”), effective as of the date specified in Section 1 below.

This Agreement provides severance and acceleration benefits in connection with certain qualifying terminations of Executive’s employment with TuSimple and its subsidiaries, as applicable (referred to collectively herein as the “TuSimple Group”).

Certain capitalized terms are defined in Section 8.

TuSimple and Executive agree as follows:

1. Term. This Agreement shall become effective on the date on which it is signed by Executive (the “Effective Date”).

2. Certain Involuntary Termination Benefits.

(a) Involuntary Termination Outside of a Change in Control Period. If Executive is subject to an Involuntary Termination that occurs outside of a Change in Control Period and Executive satisfies the conditions described in Section 2(c) below, then:

(i) TuSimple or another member of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, shall continue to pay such Executive’s Base Salary for a period of twelve (12) months following such Executive’s Separation, which will be paid in accordance with TuSimple’s or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group’s standard payroll procedures;

(ii) If Executive timely elects continued coverage under COBRA, TuSimple or another member of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, shall pay the same portion of the monthly premium under COBRA as it pays for active employees and their eligible dependents until the earliest of (a) the last day of the period ending on the date that is twelve (12) months following such Executive’s Separation, (b) the expiration of Executive’s continuation coverage under COBRA or (c) the date when Executive becomes eligible for substantially equivalent health insurance coverage in connection with new employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if TuSimple or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group, determines in its sole discretion that it cannot provide the foregoing subsidy of COBRA coverage without potentially violating or causing TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group to incur additional expense as a result of noncompliance with applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), TuSimple or another member of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, instead will pay Executive a taxable monthly payment in an amount equal to the monthly COBRA premium that Executive would be required to pay to


continue the group health coverage in effect on the date of Executive’s Separation for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents pursuant to the health insurance plans of the TuSimple Group in which Executive or Executive’s eligible dependents participated as of the day of Executive’s Separation (which amount shall be based on the premium for the first month of COBRA coverage), which payments shall be made regardless of whether Executive elects COBRA continuation coverage; and

(iii) The total number of vested shares subject to each of Executive’s then-outstanding equity awards subject to time-based vesting shall be determined by adding six (6) months to Executive’s actual period of employment as of the Separation Date. In the case of equity awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals and other vesting criteria will be deemed satisfied in accordance with the terms set forth in the award agreement evidencing the applicable equity award.

(b) Involuntary Termination Within a Change in Control Period. If Executive is subject to an Involuntary Termination that occurs within a Change in Control Period and Executive satisfies the conditions described in Section 2(c) below, then:

(i) TuSimple or another member of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, shall continue to pay such Executive’s Base Salary for a period of eighteen (18) months following such Executive’s Separation, which will be paid in accordance with TuSimple’s or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group’s standard payroll procedures;

(ii) TuSimple or another member of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, shall pay the Executive a lump-sum cash amount equal to Executive’s annual target bonus established by TuSimple for the fiscal year in which Executive’s Separation occurs, prorated based on the number of days that Executive was employed by the TuSimple Group during such fiscal year;

(iii) If Executive timely elects continued coverage under COBRA, TuSimple or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group shall pay the same portion of the monthly premium under COBRA as it pays for active employees and their eligible dependents until the earliest of (a) the last day of the period ending on the date that is eighteen (18) months following such Executive’s Separation, (b) the expiration of Executive’s continuation coverage under COBRA or (c) the date when Executive becomes eligible for substantially equivalent health insurance coverage in connection with new employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if TuSimple or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group’s determines in its sole discretion that it cannot provide the foregoing subsidy of COBRA coverage without potentially violating or causing TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group to incur additional expense as a result of noncompliance with applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), TuSimple or, if applicable, such other member of the TuSimple Group instead will pay Executive a taxable monthly payment in an amount equal to the monthly COBRA premium that Executive would be required to pay to continue the group health coverage in effect on the date of Executive’s Separation for Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents pursuant to the health insurance plans of the TuSimple Group in which Executive or Executive’s eligible dependents participated as of the day of Executive’s Separation (which amount shall be based on the premium for the first month of COBRA coverage), which payments shall be made regardless of whether Executive elects COBRA continuation coverage;

 

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(iv) One hundred percent (100%) of the shares subject to each of Executive’s then-outstanding equity awards subject to time-based vesting shall become fully vested. In the case of equity awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals and other vesting criteria will be deemed satisfied in accordance with the terms set forth in the award agreement evidencing the applicable equity award. For the avoidance of doubt, if Executive’s Involuntary Termination occurs prior to a Change in Control, then any unvested portion of Executive’s then-outstanding equity awards will remain outstanding for 3 months or the occurrence of a Change in Control (whichever is earlier) so that any additional benefits due on an Involuntary Termination Within a Change in Control Period can be provided if a Change in Control occurs within 3 months following such Involuntary Termination (provided that in no event will Executive’s stock options or similar equity awards remain outstanding beyond the equity award’s maximum term to expiration). In such case, if no Change in Control occurs within 3 months following an Involuntary Termination, any unvested portion of Executive’s equity awards automatically will be forfeited permanently on the 3-month anniversary of the Involuntary Termination without having vested.

(c) Preconditions to Severance and Vesting Acceleration Benefits / Timing of Benefits. As a condition to Executive’s receipt of any benefits described in Section 2(a) or 2(b), Executive shall execute and allow to become effective a general release of claims in the form prescribed by TuSimple and, if requested by TuSimple’s Board of Directors, must immediately resign as a member of TuSimple’s Board of Directors and as a member of the board of directors of any subsidiaries of TuSimple. Executive must execute and return the release on or before the date specified by TuSimple in the release, which will in no event be later than 50 days after Executive’s employment terminates. If Executive fails to return the release by the deadline or if Executive revokes the release, then Executive will not be entitled to the benefits described in this Section 2. All such benefits will be provided, paid or commence within 60 days after Executive’s Involuntary Termination (and, where applicable, will include at such time any amounts accrued from the date of Executive’s Separation). If such 60-day period spans two calendar years, then such benefit will in any event be provided, paid or commence in the second calendar year.

3. Section 409A. TuSimple intends that all payments and benefits provided under this Agreement or otherwise are exempt from, or comply with, with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) so that none of the payments or benefits will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Code Section 409A, and any ambiguities herein will be interpreted in accordance with such intent. For purposes of Code Section 409A, each payment, installment or benefit payable under this Agreement is hereby designated as a separate payment. In addition, if TuSimple determines that Executive is a “specified employee” under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) at the time of Executive’s Separation, then (i) any severance payments or benefits, to the extent that they are subject to Code Section 409A, will not be paid or otherwise provided until the first business day following the earlier of (A) expiration of the six-month period measured from Executive’s Separation or (B) the date of Executive’s death and (ii) any installments that otherwise would have been paid or provided prior to such date will be paid or provided in a lump sum when the severance payments or benefits commence.

 

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4. Section 280G.

(a) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the payments and benefits provided pursuant to this Agreement, together with all other payments and benefits received or to be received by Executive (“Payments”), constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Code Section 280G, and, but for this Section 4, would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Code Section 4999 (the “Excise Tax”), then the Payments shall be made to Executive either (i) in full or (ii) as to such lesser amount as would result in no portion of the Payments being subject to the Excise Tax (a “Reduced Payment”), whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax, results in Executive’s receipt on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of benefits, notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payments may be subject to the Excise Tax. For the avoidance of doubt, the Payments shall include acceleration of vesting of equity awards granted by TuSimple that vest based on service to TuSimple and that accelerate in connection with a Change in Control of TuSimple, but only to the extent such acceleration of vesting is deemed a parachute payment with respect to a Change in Control of TuSimple.

(b) For purposes of determining whether to make a Reduced Payment, if applicable, TuSimple shall cause to be taken into account all federal, state and local income and employment taxes and excise taxes applicable to the Executive (including the Excise Tax). If a Reduced Payment is made, TuSimple shall reduce or eliminate the Payments in the following order, unless (to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code) Executive elects to have the reduction in payments applied in a different order: (1) cancellation of accelerated vesting of options with no intrinsic value, (2) reduction of cash payments, (3) cancellation of accelerated vesting of equity awards other than options, (4) cancellation of accelerated vesting of options with intrinsic value and (5) reduction of other benefits paid to the Executive. In the event that acceleration of vesting is reduced, such acceleration of vesting shall be cancelled in the reverse order of the date of grant of the Executive’s equity awards. In the event that cash payments or other benefits are reduced, such reduction shall occur in reverse order beginning with payments or benefits which are to be paid farthest in time from the date of the determination. For avoidance of doubt, an option will be considered to have no intrinsic value if the exercise price of the shares subject to the option exceeds the fair market value of such shares.

(c) All determinations required to be made under this Section 4 (including whether any of the Payments are parachute payments and whether to make a Reduced Payment) will be made by a nationally recognized independent accounting firm selected by TuSimple. For purposes of making the calculations required by this section, the accounting firm may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonably, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Code Sections 280G and 4999. TuSimple will bear the costs that the accounting firm may reasonably incur in connection with the calculations contemplated by this Section 4. The accounting firm’s determination will be binding on both Executive and TuSimple absent manifest error.

 

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(d) As a result of uncertainty in the application of Sections 4999 and 280G of the Code at the time of the initial determination by the accounting firm hereunder, it is possible that payments will have been made by TuSimple which should not have been made (an “Overpayment”) or that additional payments which will not have been made by TuSimple could have been made (an “Underpayment”), consistent in each case with the calculation of whether and to what extent a Reduced Payment shall be made hereunder. In either event, the accounting firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment or Overpayment that has occurred. In the event that the accounting firm determines that an Overpayment has occurred, the Executive shall promptly repay, or transfer, to TuSimple the amount of any such Overpayment; provided, however, that no amount shall be payable, or transferable, by the Executive to TuSimple if and to the extent that such payment or transfer would not reduce the amount that is subject to taxation under Section 4999 of the Code. In the event that the accounting firm determines that an Underpayment has occurred, such Underpayment shall promptly be paid or transferred by TuSimple to or for the benefit of the Executive, together with interest at the applicable federal rate provided in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Code.

(e) If this Section 4 is applicable with respect to an Executive’s receipt of a Reduced Payment, it shall supersede any contrary provision of any plan, arrangement or agreement governing the Executive’s rights to the Payments.

5. Company’s Successors. Any successor to TuSimple or to all or substantially all of TuSimple’s business and/or assets shall assume TuSimple’s obligations under this Agreement and agree expressly to perform TuSimple’s obligations under this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent as TuSimple would be required to perform such obligations in the absence of a succession.

6. Miscellaneous Provisions.

(a) Modification or Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by Executive and by an authorized officer of TuSimple (other than Executive). No waiver by either party of any breach of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement by the other party shall be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the same condition or provision at another time.

(b) Integration. This Agreement represents the entire agreement and understanding between the parties as to the subject matter herein and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements, whether written or oral, with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.

(c) Choice of Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal substantive laws, but not the conflicts of law rules, of the State of California.

 

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(d) Tax Withholding. Any payments provided for hereunder are subject to reduction to reflect applicable withholding and payroll taxes and other reductions required under federal, state or local law.

(e) Notices. Any notice required by the terms of this Agreement shall be given in writing. It shall be deemed effective upon (i) personal delivery, (ii) deposit with the United States Postal Service, by registered or certified mail, with postage and fees prepaid or (iii) deposit with nationally recognized overnight courier, with shipping charges prepaid. Notice shall be addressed to TuSimple at its principal executive office (attention: General Counsel) and to Executive at the address that he or she most recently provided to TuSimple in accordance with this Subsection (e).

(f) Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof, which shall remain in full force and effect.

(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

7. At-Will Employment. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall (a) confer upon Executive any right to continue in the employ of TuSimple, (b) constitute any contract or agreement of employment, or (c) interfere in any way with the at-will nature of Executive’s employment with TuSimple.

8. Definitions. The following terms referred to in this Agreement shall have the following meanings:

(a) “Base Salary” means Executive’s annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to an Involuntary Termination; provided, however, that in the event of a Resignation for Good Reason due to a material reduction in Executive’s base salary, “Base Salary” means Executive’s annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to such reduction.

(b) “Cause” means Executive’s (i) unauthorized use or disclosure of the confidential information or trade secrets of TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group, which use or disclosure causes material harm to TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group, (ii) material breach of any agreement with TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group, (iii) material failure to comply with the written policies or rules of TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group, (iv) conviction of, or plea of “guilty” or “no contest” to, a felony under the laws of the United States or any State, (v) gross negligence or willful misconduct, (vi) continuing failure to perform assigned duties after receiving written notification of the failure from TuSimple, its Board of Directors or any other member of the TuSimple Group or (vii) failure to cooperate in good faith with a governmental or internal investigation of TuSimple, any other member of the TuSimple Group, or any of its or their respective directors, officers or employees, if TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group has requested such cooperation.

 

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(c) “Change in Control” means (i) a sale, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets, property or business of TuSimple, except where such sale, conveyance or other disposition is to a wholly owned subsidiary of TuSimple, (ii) a merger or consolidation of TuSimple with or into another corporation, entity or person, other than any such transaction in which the holders of voting capital stock of TuSimple outstanding immediately prior to the transaction continue to hold a majority of the voting capital stock of TuSimple (or the surviving or acquiring entity) outstanding immediately after the transaction (taking into account only stock of TuSimple held by such stockholders immediately prior to the transaction and stock issued on account of such stock in the transaction), or (iii) the direct or indirect acquisition (including by way of a tender or exchange offer) by any person, or persons acting as a group, of beneficial ownership or a right to acquire beneficial ownership of shares representing a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of TuSimple; provided, however, that a Change in Control shall not include any transaction or series of related transactions (1) principally for bona fide equity financing purposes or (2) effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of TuSimple. A series of related transactions shall be deemed to constitute a single transaction for purposes of determining whether a Change in Control has occurred. In addition, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any amount that is subject to Code Section 409A, then the transaction must also constitute a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) to the extent required by Code Section 409A.

(d) “Change in Control Period” means the period commencing on the date that is three (3) months prior to the date on which the first Change in Control occurs after the Effective Date and ending on the date that is twelve (12) months after the date of such Change in Control.

(e) “COBRA” means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended.

(f) “Involuntary Termination” means either Executive’s (i) Termination Without Cause or (ii) Resignation for Good Reason.

(g) “Resignation for Good Reason” means a Separation as a result of Executive’s resignation from employment with TuSimple and all other members of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, within 12 months after one of the following conditions has come into existence without Executive’s consent: (i) a reduction in Executive’s annual Base Salary by more than 10%, other than a general reduction that is part of a cost-reduction program that affects all similarly situated employees in substantially the same proportions, (ii) a relocation of Executive’s principal workplace by more than 25 miles from its location prior to such Change in Control or (iii) a material reduction of responsibilities, authority or duties, provided that neither a mere change in title alone nor reassignment following a Change in Control to a position that is similar to the position held prior to the Change in Control shall constitute a material reduction in job responsibilities. A Resignation for Good Reason will not be deemed to have occurred unless the employee gives TuSimple written notice of the condition within 90 days after the condition comes into existence and TuSimple or any other member of the TuSimple Group fails to remedy the condition within 30 days after receiving such written notice.

 

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(h) “Separation” means a “separation from service” as defined in the regulations under Code Section 409A.

(i) “Termination Without Cause” means a Separation as a result of the termination of Executive’s employment by TuSimple and all other members of the TuSimple Group, as applicable, without Cause, provided the individual is willing and able to continue performing services within the meaning of Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(n)(1).

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement, in the case of TuSimple by its duly authorized officer, as of the day and year indicated below.

 

TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

By:  

/s/ Cheng Lu

Name:  

Cheng Lu

Title:  

President & CEO

Date:  

21 March 2021

EXECUTIVE
By:  

/s/ James Mullen

Name:  

James Mullen

Date:  

3/21/21

 

-9-

Exhibit 10.27

TUSIMPLE (CAYMAN) LIMITED

Karen Francis

January 19, 2021

Dear Karen:

As discussed, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Tusimple (Cayman) Limited (the “Company”) desires to elect you as a member of the Board. Subject to the necessary Board and shareholder approvals, we expect that your service as a member of the Board will be begin on or about January 31, 2021. We appreciate your willingness to accept this position, and we look forward to your valuable contributions.

As consideration for your service as a member of the Board, the Board will grant you an initial award and expects to grant you an annual award of restricted share units (the “RSUs”) valued at $250,000, with the number of RSUs based on the fair market value of the Company’s ordinary shares on the date of the award and subject to your continued service as a member of the Board and the vesting schedule described below. You will also receive $50,000 per year in cash compensation for your service as a Board member and an additional $10,000 per year in cash compensation for your service on each committee of the Board, in each case payable quarterly in arrears.

The RSUs will be subject to the applicable terms and conditions of the Company’s 2017 Share Plan or a successor thereto (the “Plan”) and a notice of restricted share unit award and restricted share unit agreement (collectively, the “RSU Award Agreement”). As will be more fully described in the RSU Award Agreement, the RSUs will be subject to vesting based on the satisfaction of two requirements: (i) a time-based service requirement, and (ii) a liquidity event requirement. In addition, both requirements must be satisfied prior to the seventh anniversary of the date of grant in order for the RSUs (or a portion thereof) to vest, meaning that all of the RSUs (or a portion thereof) shall automatically terminate if either one of the requirements is not satisfied prior to the seventh anniversary of the date of grant. The RSU Award Agreement will also provide that: (A) a quarterly time-based service requirement following the date of grant of the RSU, subject to your continuous service with the Company during such period; and (B) the liquidity event requirement will be satisfied upon either an initial public offering or a Sale Event (as will be defined in the RSU Award Agreement and which will cover certain sales of the Company in which holders of ordinary shares receive cash and/or marketable securities). In addition, if the Company is subject to a Change in Control (as will be defined in the RSU Agreement) before your service with the Company terminates, then you will be deemed to have satisfied 100% of the time-based requirement applicable to the RSUs upon such occurrence.

We will reimburse you for reasonable expenses that you incur in connection with attendance at meetings of the Board, or committees of the Board, in accordance with the Company’s generally applicable reimbursement policies. In addition, we maintain directors and officers liability insurance from financially sound and reputable insurers on terms and conditions satisfactory to the


Karen Francis

1/19/2021

Page 2

 

Board. We will review our compensation policy for Board members in the event of an initial public offering and the terms of any non-employee director compensation policy may supersede the terms above.

We plan to have at least one scheduled Board meeting each calendar quarter. As a Board member, you are responsible for attending these scheduled meetings in person or by telephone (if reasonable efforts to attend in person are unsuccessful).

In connection with your services to the Company, we expect that technical, business or financial information of the Company (“Confidential Information”) will be disclosed to you. To the extent that Confidential Information is not publicly known or not otherwise previously known by you without an obligation of confidentiality, you agree not to use (except in connection with your services to the Company) or disclose Confidential Information to any third party and to take reasonable steps to maintain the confidential nature of all Confidential Information.

As a precautionary matter and to avoid any conflicts of interest, we ask you to refrain, while you are a member of the Board, from providing advice or otherwise providing services to any competitor of the Company. In addition, we ask that you inform the Board of any potential or actual, direct or indirect, conflict of interest that you think exists or may arise because of your relationship with the Company, so that we may come to a quick and mutually agreeable resolution. By signing this letter agreement, you also represent and warrant that you have no contractual commitments or other legal obligations to a third party that would prohibit you from performing your duties for the Company.

As part of our overall responsibilities, the Company and the Company’s stockholders reserve the right to remove any individual from the Board at any time in accordance with the provisions of applicable law. You, of course, may also terminate your relationship with Company at any time. When you cease to be a member of the Board (whether at our request or your election), you must return all Confidential Information to the Company.

I am excited about your joining our Board and look forward to working with you to help make the Company truly great and prosperous. You may indicate your agreement with these terms and accept this offer by signing and dating the enclosed duplicate original of this letter agreement and returning it to me.


Karen Francis

1/19/2021

Page 3

 

 

Very truly yours,
TuSimple (Cayman) Limited
By:  

/s/ Cheng Lu

Name:   Cheng Lu
Title:   President & CEO

 

I have read and accept this offer:

/s/ Karen C. Francis

Signature
Dated:  

January 21, 2021

Exhibit 10.28

TUSIMPLE (CAYMAN) LIMITED

Brad Buss

January 19, 2021

Dear Brad:

As discussed, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Tusimple (Cayman) Limited (the “Company”) desires to elect you as a member of the Board. Subject to the necessary Board and shareholder approvals, we expect that your service as a member of the Board will be begin on or about January 31, 2021. We appreciate your willingness to accept this position, and we look forward to your valuable contributions.

As consideration for your service as a member of the Board, the Board will grant you an initial award and expects to grant you an annual award of restricted share units (the “RSUs”) valued at $250,000, with the number of RSUs based on the fair market value of the Company’s ordinary shares on the date of the award and subject to your continued service as a member of the Board and the vesting schedule described below. You will also receive $50,000 per year in cash compensation for your service as a Board member and an additional $10,000 per year in cash compensation for your service on each committee of the Board, in each case payable quarterly in arrears.

The RSUs will be subject to the applicable terms and conditions of the Company’s 2017 Share Plan or a successor thereto (the “Plan”) and a notice of restricted share unit award and restricted share unit agreement (collectively, the “RSU Award Agreement”). As will be more fully described in the RSU Award Agreement, the RSUs will be subject to vesting based on the satisfaction of two requirements: (i) a time-based service requirement, and (ii) a liquidity event requirement. In addition, both requirements must be satisfied prior to the seventh anniversary of the date of grant in order for the RSUs (or a portion thereof) to vest, meaning that all of the RSUs (or a portion thereof) shall automatically terminate if either one of the requirements is not satisfied prior to the seventh anniversary of the date of grant. The RSU Award Agreement will also provide that: (A) a quarterly time-based service requirement following the date of grant of the RSU, subject to your continuous service with the Company during such period; and (B) the liquidity event requirement will be satisfied upon either an initial public offering or a Sale Event (as will be defined in the RSU Award Agreement and which will cover certain sales of the Company in which holders of ordinary shares receive cash and/or marketable securities). In addition, if the Company is subject to a Change in Control (as will be defined in the RSU Agreement) before your service with the Company terminates, then you will be deemed to have satisfied 100% of the time-based requirement applicable to the RSUs upon such occurrence.

We will reimburse you for reasonable expenses that you incur in connection with attendance at meetings of the Board, or committees of the Board, in accordance with the Company’s generally applicable reimbursement policies. In addition, we maintain directors and officers liability insurance from financially sound and reputable insurers on terms and conditions satisfactory to the


Brad Buss

1/19/2021

Page 2

 

Board. We will review our compensation policy for Board members in the event of an initial public offering and the terms of any non-employee director compensation policy may supersede the terms above.

We plan to have at least one scheduled Board meeting each calendar quarter. As a Board member, you are responsible for attending these scheduled meetings in person or by telephone (if reasonable efforts to attend in person are unsuccessful).

In connection with your services to the Company, we expect that technical, business or financial information of the Company (“Confidential Information”) will be disclosed to you. To the extent that Confidential Information is not publicly known or not otherwise previously known by you without an obligation of confidentiality, you agree not to use (except in connection with your services to the Company) or disclose Confidential Information to any third party and to take reasonable steps to maintain the confidential nature of all Confidential Information.

As a precautionary matter and to avoid any conflicts of interest, we ask you to refrain, while you are a member of the Board, from providing advice or otherwise providing services to any competitor of the Company. In addition, we ask that you inform the Board of any potential or actual, direct or indirect, conflict of interest that you think exists or may arise because of your relationship with the Company, so that we may come to a quick and mutually agreeable resolution. By signing this letter agreement, you also represent and warrant that you have no contractual commitments or other legal obligations to a third party that would prohibit you from performing your duties for the Company.

As part of our overall responsibilities, the Company and the Company’s stockholders reserve the right to remove any individual from the Board at any time in accordance with the provisions of applicable law. You, of course, may also terminate your relationship with Company at any time. When you cease to be a member of the Board (whether at our request or your election), you must return all Confidential Information to the Company.

I am excited about your joining our Board and look forward to working with you to help make the Company truly great and prosperous. You may indicate your agreement with these terms and accept this offer by signing and dating the enclosed duplicate original of this letter agreement and returning it to me.


Brad Buss

1/19/2021

Page 3

 

Very truly yours,
TuSimple (Cayman) Limited
By:  

/s/ Cheng Lu

Name:   Cheng Lu
Title:   President & CEO

I have read and accept this offer:

 

/s/ Brad Buss

Signature
Dated:  

1/20/21

Exhibit 21.1

SUBSIDIARIES OF TUSIMPLE HOLDINGS INC.

 

Name of Subsidiary

 

Jurisdiction of Organization

TuSimple, Inc.   United States of America
TS Logistics, Inc.   United States of America
Tusimple (Hong Kong) Limited   Hong Kong
Tusimple (Hong Kong) Auto Tech Limited   Hong Kong
TuSimple Japan Co. Ltd   Japan
Beijing Tusen Zhitu Technology Co., Ltd.   China
Beijing Tusen Weilai Technology Co., Ltd.   China
Shanghai Tusen Weilai AI Technology Co., Ltd.   China
Tangshan Tusen Weilai Logistics Co., Ltd.   China
Beijing Weilai Chengyun Auto Tech Co., Ltd.   China
Shanghai Tushen Zhineng Technology Co., Ltd.   China
Shanghai Kuangtu Logistics Co., Ltd.   China
Tusen Zhiyun (Shenzhen) Auto Tech Co., Ltd.   China

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors

TuSimple Holdings Inc. (formerly known as Tusimple (Cayman) Limited):

We consent to the use of our report included herein and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the prospectus.

 

/s/ KPMG LLP

San Diego, California

March 23, 2021