UNITED STATES |
FORM 8-K |
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 28, 2022
IGNYTE ACQUISITION CORP. |
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter) |
Delaware | 001-39951 | 85-2448157 | ||
(State or Other Jurisdiction of | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||
Incorporation) |
640 Fifth Avenue, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10019
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(212) 409-2000
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☒ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e 4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
Business Combination Agreement
On April 28, 2022, Ignyte Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (Ignyte), Ignyte Korea Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of Korea (Korean Sub), and Peak Bio Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of Korea (the Target), entered into a Business Combination Agreement (the Business Combination Agreement), pursuant to which the (i) stockholders of the Target will transfer their respective shares of common stock of Target, par value KRW 500 per share (the Target Common Stock), to Korean Sub in exchange for shares of common stock of Ignyte (the Ignyte Common Stock) held by Korean Sub, and (ii) in the course of such share swap, Korean Sub will distribute the shares of Target Common Stock to Ignyte in consideration of Ignyte Common Stock (which will in-turn be delivered to the stockholders of the Target as described in (i) above ((i) and (ii), collectively, the Share Swap, together with the other transactions related thereto, the Proposed Transactions). Upon consummation of the Share Swap, the Target will become a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Ignyte.
At the Effective Time (as defined the Business Combination Agreement), by virtue of the Share Swap and without any action on the part of Ignyte, Korean Sub, the Company or the holders of any of the following securities or rights:
(i) the right to each share of Target Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (including shares issued upon the exercise or conversion of any options held by stockholders of the Target, the Target Options) held by the stockholders of the Target immediately prior to the closing of the Proposed Transactions (the Closing) shall be automatically cancelled and converted into the right to receive a number of shares of Ignyte Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement);
(ii) any fractional share of Ignyte Common Stock that would otherwise be issuable to such person following such conversion shall be rounded up to a whole share of Ignyte Common Stock; and
(iii) each Target Option that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, whether vested or unvested, shall, automatically and without any required action on the part of the holder thereof, in cancellation and settlement thereof, cease to represent an option to purchase Target Common Stock and shall be converted into an option to purchase a number of shares of Ignyte Common Stock (such option, an Exchanged Target Option) equal to the product (rounded down to the nearest whole number) of (i) the number of shares of Target Common Stock subject to such Target Option immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) the Exchange Ratio (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), at an exercise price per share (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) equal to (A) the exercise price per share of Target Common Stock of such Target Option immediately prior to the Effective Time divided by (B) the Exchange Ratio; provided, however, that the exercise price and the number of shares of Ignyte Common Stock purchasable pursuant to the Exchanged Target Options shall be determined in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as amended, the Code); provided, further, that in the case of any Exchanged Target Option to which Section 422 of the Code applies, the exercise price and the number of shares of Ignyte Common Stock purchasable pursuant to such option shall be determined in accordance with the foregoing, subject to such adjustments as are necessary in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 424(a) of the Code. Except as specifically provided above, following the Effective Time, each Exchanged Target Option shall continue to be governed by the same terms and conditions (including vesting and exercisability terms) as were applicable to the corresponding former Target Option immediately prior to the Effective Time.
Proxy
As promptly as practicable after the date of the Business Combination Agreement, Ignyte will prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) a proxy statement (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the Proxy) to be sent to the stockholders of Ignyte (the Ignyte Stockholders) relating to the special meeting of the Ignyte Stockholders (the Ignyte Stockholders Meeting) to be held to consider (i) approval and adoption of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, including the Business Combination, (ii) (a) approval of the second amended and restated certificate of incorporation of Ignyte and (b) approval of the amended and restated Ignyte bylaws, (iii) approval of the issuance of Ignyte Common Stock as contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and the Subscription Agreements (as defined below), (iv) approval of the adoption of a new long term incentive plan in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Ignyte and the Target, (v) approval of the nomination of seven (7) directors to the board of directors of Ignyte (the Ignyte Board) and (vi) adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary.
Stock Exchange Listing
Ignyte will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the shares of Ignyte Common Stock to be issued in connection with the Proposed Transactions to be approved for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market at the Closing. Until the Closing, Ignyte shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Ignyte Common Stock listed for trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
Registration Rights Agreement
In connection with the Closing, Ignyte, Ignyte Sponsor LLC (the Sponsor) and certain stockholders of Target (collectively, with each other person who has executed and delivered a joinder thereto, the RRA Parties), will enter into a Registration Rights Agreement (the Registration Rights Agreement), pursuant to which, among other things, the Sponsor and the stockholders of the Target will be granted certain customary registration rights, demand rights and piggyback rights with respect to their respective shares of the Ignyte Common Stock. The Registration Rights Agreement will require Ignyte to, among other things, file a resale registration statement on behalf of the RRA Parties as soon as practicable but no later than 45 days after the Closing. The Registration Rights Agreement will also provide certain demand rights and piggyback rights to the RRA Parties, in each case subject to certain offering thresholds, applicable lock-up restrictions, issuer suspension periods and certain other conditions. The Registration Rights Agreement includes customary indemnification provisions. The Target will agree to pay certain fees and expenses relating to registrations under the Registration Rights Agreement.
The foregoing description of the Registration Rights Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of which is included as Exhibit A to the Business Combination Agreement, filed as Exhibit 2.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.
Lock-Up Agreement
In connection with the Closing, Ignyte and certain stockholders of Target will enter into a lock-up agreement (the Lock-Up Agreement) providing for certain restrictions on transfer applicable to Ignyte Common Stock (the Lock-Up Shares). Generally, the Lock-Up Agreement prohibits stockholders from (i) selling, offering to sell, contracting or agreeing to sell, hypothecating, pledging, granting any option to purchase or otherwise disposing of or agreeing to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishing or increasing a put equivalent position or liquidating or decreasing a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder with respect to the Lock-Up Shares, (ii) entering into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any of the Lock-Up Shares, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of Lock-Up Shares or other securities, in cash or otherwise, or (iii) publicly announcing any intention to effect any transaction specified in the immediately preceding subsections (i) or (ii), subject to certain limited exceptions set forth in the Lock-Up Agreement. The lock-up period under Lock-Up Agreement lasts until the date that is 180 days from the Closing Date (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement).
In connection with the Closing, Ignyte and Hoyoung Huh (the Key Company Stockholder) will enter into a separate Lock-Up Agreement (the Key Company Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement) on substantially the same terms as the Lock-Up Agreement with certain exceptions for the transactions contemplated by the Key Company Stockholder Forward Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
The foregoing descriptions of the Lock-Up Agreement and the Key Company Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the forms of Lock-Up Agreement and the Key Company Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement, copies of which are included as Exhibits B and H to the Business Combination Agreement, respectively, filed as Exhibit 2.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.
PIPE Subscription Agreements
Concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Business Combination Agreement, certain existing accredited investors and institutional accredited investors (the PIPE Investors) and Ignyte entered into separate subscription agreements (the PIPE Subscription Agreements) pursuant to which the PIPE Investors have committed to subscribe for and purchase up to 2,550,000 shares (inclusive of the shares to be issued pursuant to the Key Company Stockholder Forward Purchase Agreement as described below) of Ignyte Common Stock (the PIPE Shares) at a purchase price per share of $10.00. The purchase of the PIPE Shares will be consummated concurrently with the Closing.
The PIPE Subscription Agreements contain customary representations and warranties of Ignyte, on the one hand, and each PIPE Investor, on the other hand, and customary conditions to closing, including the consummation of the Proposed Transactions. The purpose of the PIPE is to raise additional capital for use by Ignyte following the Closing.
Pursuant to the PIPE Subscription Agreements, Ignyte agreed that, within 30 calendar days after the Closing, Ignyte will file with the SEC a registration statement registering the resale of the PIPE Shares. Ignyte will also use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof but no later than the earlier of (i) the 90th calendar day following the filing date thereof if the SEC notifies Ignyte that it will review the Registration Statement and (ii) the 10th business day after the date Ignyte is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the SEC that the registration statement will not be reviewed or will not be subject to further review.
The foregoing description of the PIPE Subscription Agreements is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of PIPE Subscription Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibits 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
Key Company Stockholder Forward Purchase Agreement
Concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Business Combination Agreement, Ignyte and the Key Company Stockholder entered into a forward purchase agreement substantially (the Key Company Stockholder Forward Purchase Agreement), pursuant to which the Key Company Stockholder will, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Key Company Stockholder Forward Purchase Agreement, including, but not limited to the receipt of margin financing within 180 days following Closing, purchase shares of Ignyte Common Stock at a purchase price of $10.00 per share in a private placement for up to an aggregate amount of $10,000,000, subject to the conditions set forth in the Key Company Stockholder Forward Purchase Agreement.
The foregoing description of the Key Company Stockholder Forward Purchase Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Key Company Stockholder Forward Purchase Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
Sponsor Support Agreement
Concurrently with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, the Sponsor entered into a Sponsor Support Agreement with Ignyte and the Company (the Sponsor Support Agreement), pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to vote its shares of Ignyte Common Stock in favor of the approval and adoption of the Proposed Transactions. Additionally, the Sponsor has agreed, among other things, not to enter into any agreement that is inconsistent with the Sponsor Support Agreement.
The foregoing description of the Sponsor Support Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Sponsor Support Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
Closing
The Closing will occur as promptly as practicable, but in no event later than two business days following the satisfaction or waiver of all of the Closing conditions set forth in Article VII of the Business Combination Agreement.
Exclusivity
From the date of the Business Combination Agreement and ending on the earlier of (a) the Closing and/or (b) the termination of the Business Combination Agreement, Ignyte shall not take, nor shall it permit any of its affiliates or Representatives (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) to take, whether directly or indirectly, any action to solicit, initiate, continue or engage in discussions or negotiations with, or enter into any agreement with, or encourage, respond, provide information to or commence due diligence with respect to, any person (other than the Target, its stockholders and/or any of their affiliates or Representatives), concerning, relating to or which is intended or is reasonably likely to give rise to or result in, any offer, inquiry, proposal or indication of interest, written or oral relating to any business combination transaction (a “Business Combination Proposal”) other than with the Target, its stockholders and their respective affiliates and Representatives. Ignyte shall, and shall cause its affiliates and Representatives to, immediately cease any and all existing discussions or negotiations with any person (other than with the Target, its stockholders and their respective affiliates and Representatives) conducted prior to the date hereof with respect to, or which is reasonably likely to give rise to or result in, a Business Combination Proposal.
Representations, Warranties and Covenants
The Business Combination Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants of (a) the Target and (b) Ignyte and Korean Sub relating to, among other things, their ability to enter into the Business Combination Agreement and their outstanding capitalization.
Conditions to Closing
Mutual
The obligations of the Target, Ignyte and Korean Sub to consummate the Proposed Transactions, including the Business Combination, are subject to the satisfaction or waiver (where permissible) at or prior to the Closing of the following conditions:
(a) |
The approval of the requisite stockholders of Ignyte in favor of the adoption of the Business Combination Agreement and the Business Combination and all other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement; |
(b) |
The Proposals (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) have been approved and adopted by the requisite affirmative vote of the stockholders of Ignyte; |
(c) |
No governmental authority has enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any law, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, executive order, or award which is then in effect and has the effect of making the Proposed Transactions, including the Business Combination, illegal or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the Proposed Transactions, including the Business Combination; |
(d) |
All required filings under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”) shall have been completed and any applicable waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the consummation of the Transactions under the HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated, and any pre-Closing approvals or clearances reasonably required thereunder shall have been obtained; |
(e) |
The shares of Ignyte Common Stock shall be listed on Nasdaq as of the Closing Date (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement); and |
(f) |
Immediately prior to the Closing, and after giving effect to the Redemption Rights (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), Ignyte shall have cash and cash equivalents on hand of at least $7,500,000 |
Ignyte
The obligations of Ignyte and Korean Sub to consummate the Proposed Transactions are subject to the satisfaction or waiver (where permissible) at or prior to the Closing of the following additional conditions:
(a) |
Certain of the representations and warranties of the Target contained in the sections titled (a) “Organization, Qualification, Subsidiaries,” (b) “Capitalization” (c) “Authority Relative to the Business Combination Agreement” and (d) “Brokers” in the Business Combination Agreement are true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) as though made on the Closing Date (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Target Material Adverse Effect” (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) or any similar limitation set forth therein), except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date. All other representations and warranties of the Target contained in the Business Combination Agreement shall be true and correct (without giving any effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Target Material Adverse Effect” or any similar limitation set forth therein) in all respects as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date, except (i) to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date and (ii) where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct (whether as of the Closing Date or such earlier date), taken as a whole, does not result in a Target Material Adverse Effect. |
(b) |
The Target has performed or complied in all material respects with all covenants required by the Business Combination Agreement to be performed or complied with by it as of or prior to the Effective Time (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement); |
(c) |
The Target has delivered to Ignyte a customary officer’s certificate, dated the date of the Closing, certifying as to the satisfaction of certain conditions; |
(d) |
No Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred between the date of the Business Combination Agreement and the Closing Date (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement); |
(e) |
The Target has delivered to Ignyte executed counterparts to all of the ancillary agreements to which the Target, or any stockholder of the Target, is party; |
(f) |
Other than those persons identified as continuing directors in the Business Combination Agreement, all members of the Target’s board of directors and boards of directors of the Target Subsidiaries shall have executed written resignations effective as of the Effective Time (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement); |
(g) |
The Key Company Stockholder Forward Purchase Agreement shall be in full force and effect. |
(h) |
All parties to the Registration Rights Agreement (other than Ignyte) shall have delivered, or cause to be delivered, to Ignyte copies of the Registration Rights Agreement duly executed by all such parties; |
(i) |
The Target has delivered, or has caused to be delivered, to Ignyte the Lock-Up Agreement duly executed by holders representing all of the Target Common Stock outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement); provided, however, in the event all such holders of the Company Common Stock outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time do not execute the Lock-Up Agreement delivered to Ignyte, this condition shall be deemed to be satisfied if (i) such non-executing stockholders’ securities are not included for registration in the Registration Rights Agreement, (ii) none of such non-executing stockholders hold Company Common Stock in excess of 1% of the Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective time, and (iii) the aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock held by all non-executing stockholders is less than 10% of the outstanding Company Common Stock immediately prior to the Effective time. |
(j) |
The Target has delivered, or cause to be delivered, to Ignyte the Key Company Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement duly executed by the Key Company Stockholder. |
(k) |
The Target has delivered, or cause to be delivered to Ignyte the Share Swap Agreement duly executed by the Target. |
(l) |
On or prior to the Closing, the Target shall deliver to Ignyte a properly executed certification that shares of Target Common Stock are not “U.S. real property interests” in accordance with the Treasury Regulations under Sections 897 and 1445 of the Code, together with a notice to the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) (which shall be filed by Ignyte with the IRS following the Closing) in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.897-2(h)(2) of the Treasury Regulations. |
(m) |
The Target shall have delivered to Ignyte the PCAOB Financial Statements (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement). |
The Target
The obligations of the Target to consummate the Proposed Transactions are subject to the satisfaction or waiver (where permissible) at or prior to Closing of the following additional conditions:
(a) |
Certain of the representations and warranties of Ignyte and Korean Sub contained in the sections titled (a) “Corporate Organization,” (b) “Capitalization” (c) “Authority Relative to the Business Combination Agreement”; and (d) “Brokers” in the Business Combination Agreement shall each be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) as though made on the Closing Date (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Ignyte Material Adverse Effect” or any similar limitation set forth therein), except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date. All other representations and warranties of Ignyte and Korean Sub contained in the Business Combination Agreement shall be true and correct (without giving any effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Ignyte Material Adverse Effect” (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) or any similar limitation set forth therein) in all respects as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date, except (i) to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date and (ii) where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct (whether as of the Closing Date or such earlier date), taken as a whole, does not result in a Ignyte Material Adverse Effect; |
(b) |
Ignyte and Korean Sub have each performed or complied in all material respects with all covenants required by the Business Combination Agreement to be performed or complied with by it as of or prior to the Closing; |
(c) |
Ignyte has delivered to the Target a customary officer’s certificate, dated the date of the Closing, certifying as to the satisfaction of certain conditions; |
(d) |
A supplemental listing shall have been filed with Nasdaq as of the Closing Date (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) to list the shares constituting the Aggregate Closing Consideration (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement); |
(e) |
Ignyte shall have delivered a copy of the Registration Rights Agreement duly executed by Ignyte and the Sponsor; |
(f) |
Ignyte has delivered, or cause to be delivered to the Target the Share Swap Agreement (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) duly executed by Korean Sub; |
(g) |
The members of the board of directors and the officers of Ignyte identified in the disclosure schedules to the Business Combination Agreement have been removed from their respective positions or tendered their irrevocable resignations, in each case effective as of the Effective Time (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement); and |
(h) |
The (i) amount of cash and cash equivalents available in the Trust Account (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) immediately prior to the Closing, plus (ii) all other cash and cash equivalents of Ignyte, plus (iii) the aggregate amount of cash proceeds received from the PIPE Investment (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement)prior to or substantially concurrently with the Closing (without, for the avoidance of doubt, taking into consideration any transaction fees, costs and expenses paid or required to be paid by Ignyte prior to the Closing), shall be equal to or greater than $20,000,000. |
Termination
The Business Combination Agreement may be terminated and the Proposed Transactions may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time, notwithstanding any requisite approval and adoption of the Business Combination Agreement and the Proposed Transactions by the stockholders of the Target or Ignyte, as follows:
(a) |
By mutual written consent of Ignyte and the Target; or |
(b) |
by either Ignyte or the Target if the Effective Time (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) shall not have occurred prior to October 28, 2022 (the “Outside Date”); provided, however, that the Business Combination Agreement may not be terminated under Section 8.01(b) therein by or on behalf of any party that either directly or indirectly through its affiliates is in breach or violation of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation contained herein and such breach or violation is the principal cause of the failure of a condition set forth in Article VII of the Business Combination Agreement on or prior to the Outside Date; or |
(c) |
by either Ignyte or the Target if any Governmental Authority (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) in the United States or the Republic of Korea shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced, or entered any injunction, order, decree or ruling (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) which has become final and nonappealable and has the effect of making consummation of the Proposed Transactions, including the Business Combination, illegal or otherwise preventing or prohibiting consummation of the Transactions or the Business Combination; or |
(d) |
by either Ignyte or the Target if any of the Ignyte Proposals (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) shall fail to receive the requisite vote for approval at the Ignyte Stockholders’ Meeting (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement); or |
(e) |
by Ignyte upon a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of the Target set forth in the Business Combination Agreement, or if any representation or warranty of the Target shall have become untrue, in either case such that the conditions set forth in Sections 7.02(a) and 7.02(b) would not be satisfied (“Terminating Target Breach”); provided that Ignyte has not waived such Terminating Target Breach and Ignyte and Korean Sub are not then in material breach of their representations, warranties, covenants or agreements in the Business Combination Agreement; provided further that, if such Terminating Target Breach is curable by the Target, Ignyte may not terminate the Business Combination Agreement under Section 8.01(e) for so long as the Target continues to exercise its reasonable efforts to cure such breach, unless such breach is not cured within thirty (30) days after notice of such breach is provided by Ignyte to the Target; or |
(f) |
by the Target upon a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of Ignyte or Korean Sub set forth in the Business Combination Agreement, or if any representation or warranty of Ignyte or Korean Sub shall have become untrue, in either case such that the conditions set forth in Sections 7.03(a) and 7.03(b) would not be satisfied (“Terminating Ignyte Breach”); provided that the Target has not waived such Terminating Ignyte Breach and the Target is not then in material breach of their representations, warranties, covenants or agreements in the Business Combination Agreement; provided, however, that, if such Terminating Ignyte Breach is curable by Ignyte and Korean Sub, the Target may not terminate the Business Combination Agreement under Section 8.01(f) for so long as Ignyte and Korean Sub continue to exercise their reasonable efforts to cure such breach unless such breach is not cured within thirty (30) days after notice of such breach is provided by the Target to Ignyte; or |
(g) |
by Ignyte if the PCAOB Financial Statements (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) shall not have been delivered to Ignyte by the Target not later than 30 days from the date of the Business Combination Agreement. |
Effect of Termination
If the Business Combination Agreement is terminated, the Business Combination Agreement will forthwith become void, and there will be no liability under the Business Combination Agreement on the part of any party thereto, except as set forth in the Business Combination Agreement or in the case of termination subsequent to a willful material breach of the Business Combination Agreement by a party thereto.
Except as set forth in the Business Combination Agreement, all expenses incurred in connection with the Business Combination Agreement and the Proposed Transactions shall be paid by the party incurring such expenses, whether or not the Proposed Transactions are consummated. except that Ignyte and the Target will each pay one half of all expenses relating to all SEC and other regulatory filing fees incurred in connection with the Proxy Statement.
A copy of the Business Combination Agreement is filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 2.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Business Combination Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Business Combination Agreement filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K. The Business Combination Agreement is included to provide security holders with information regarding its terms. It is not intended to provide any other factual information about Ignyte, the Target or the other parties thereto. In particular, the assertions embodied in representations and warranties by Ignyte, the Target and Korean Sub contained in the Business Combination Agreement are qualified by information in the disclosure schedules provided by the parties in connection with the signing of the Business Combination Agreement. These disclosure schedules contain information that modifies, qualifies and creates exceptions to the representations and warranties set forth in the Business Combination Agreement. Moreover, certain representations and warranties in the Business Combination Agreement were used for the purpose of allocating risk between the parties, rather than establishing matters as facts. Accordingly, security holders should not rely on the representations and warranties in the Business Combination Agreement as characterizations of the actual state of facts about Ignyte, the Target or Korean Sub.
Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.
The disclosure set forth above in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference herein. The securities of Ignyte that may be issued in connection with the Business Combination (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) and the Subscription Agreements will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or Regulation D promulgated thereunder.
Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.
On April 28, 2022, Ignyte and the Target issued a joint press release announcing the execution of the Business Combination Agreement and announcing that Ignyte and the Target will hold a conference call on April 29, 2022, at 10:00 am Eastern Time (the “Conference Call”). A copy of the press release, which includes information regarding participation in the Conference Call, is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference. The script that Ignyte and the Target intend to use for the Conference Call is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and incorporated herein by reference. Such exhibits and the information set forth therein shall not be deemed to be filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise be subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
Attached as Exhibit 99.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference is an investor presentation relating to the Proposed Transactions. Such exhibit and the information set forth therein shall not be deemed to be filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise be subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
Important Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the Proposed Transactions, Ignyte intends to file the Proxy with the SEC, which will be distributed to holders of Ignyte’s common stock in connection with Ignyte’s solicitation of proxies for the vote by the Ignyte Stockholders with respect to the Proposed Transactions and other matters as described in the Proxy. After the preliminary Proxy has been filed and cleared by the SEC, Ignyte will mail a definitive Proxy to its stockholders. Ignyte Stockholders and other interested parties are urged to read the Proxy, any amendments thereto and any other documents filed with the SEC carefully and in their entirety when they become available because they will contain important information about Ignyte, the Target and the Proposed Transactions. Ignyte Stockholders and other interested parties may obtain free copies of the preliminary Proxy and definitive Proxy (when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by Ignyte through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov or by directing a request to: Ignyte Acquisition Corp., 640 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10019 or (212) 409-2000.
Participants in the Solicitation
Ignyte and its directors and executive officers may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies with respect to the Proposed Transactions. Information about the directors and executive officers of Ignyte is set forth in the most recently filed annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2022. Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be included in the Proxy and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC regarding the Proposed Transactions when they become available. Stockholders of Ignyte and other interested persons should read the Proxy carefully when it becomes available before making any voting decisions. When available, these documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Current Report on Form 8-K includes certain statements that are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding estimates and forecasts of revenue and other financial and performance metrics and projections of market opportunity and expectations, Ignyte’s ability to enter into definitive agreements or consummate a transaction with the Target; Ignyte’s ability to obtain the financing necessary consummate the Proposed Transactions; and the expected timing of completion of the Proposed Transactions. These statements are based on various assumptions and on the current expectations of Ignyte’s and the Target’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Ignyte and the Target. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including general economic, financial, legal, political and business conditions and changes in domestic and foreign markets; the inability of the parties to enter into definitive agreements or successfully or timely consummate the Proposed Transactions or to satisfy the other conditions to the closing of the Proposed Transactions, including the risk that any required regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined company; the risk that the approval of the Ignyte Stockholders for the Proposed Transactions is not obtained; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Proposed Transactions, including as a result of a delay in consummating the Proposed Transaction or difficulty in, or costs associated with, integrating the businesses of Ignyte and the Target; the amount of redemption requests made by the Ignyte Stockholders; the occurrence of events that may give rise to a right of one or both of Ignyte and the Target to terminate the Business Combination Agreement; risks related to the Target’s business and the timing of expected business milestones; and those factors discussed in Ignyte’s final prospectus filed on January 28, 2021, under the heading “Risk Factors,” and other documents of Ignyte filed, or to be filed, with the SEC. If the risks materialize or assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that neither Ignyte nor the Target presently know or that Ignyte and the Target currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Ignyte’s and the Target’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K. Ignyte and the Target anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause their assessments to change. However, while Ignyte and the Target may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Ignyte and the Target specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Ignyte’s or the Target’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
99.1 | Press Release, dated April 28, 2022. | |
99.2 | Conference Call Script. | |
99.3 | Investor Presentation. | |
* | Certain exhibits and schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule and/or exhibit will be furnished to the SEC upon request. | |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: April 29, 2022
IGNYTE ACQUISITION CORP. | ||
By: | /s/ David Rosenberg | |
Name: | David Rosenberg | |
Title: | Co-Chief Executive Officer | |
Exhibit 2.1
BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT
by and among
IGNYTE ACQUISITION CORP.,
IGNYTE KOREA CO., LTD.
and
PEAK BIO CO., LTD
Dated as of April 28, 2022
Table of Contents
Page | |
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS | 2 |
SECTION 1.01 Certain Definitions | 2 |
SECTION 1.02 Construction. | 13 |
ARTICLE II. THE BUSINESS COMBINATION; CLOSING | 13 |
SECTION 2.01 Equity Exchange | 13 |
SECTION 2.02 Conversion of Company Common Stock | 14 |
SECTION 2.03 Delivery of Shares | 14 |
SECTION 2.04 Stock Transfer Books | 15 |
SECTION 2.05 Treatment of Company Options. | 15 |
SECTION 2.06 Withholding | 16 |
SECTION 2.07 Closing | 16 |
SECTION 2.08 Closing Deliverables | 16 |
SECTION 2.09 Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws. | 17 |
SECTION 2.10 Directors and Officers. | 17 |
ARTICLE III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY | 18 |
SECTION 3.01 Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries | 18 |
SECTION 3.02 Articles of Incorporation | 19 |
SECTION 3.03 Capitalization. | 19 |
SECTION 3.04 Authority Relative to this Agreement | 20 |
SECTION 3.05 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents | 20 |
SECTION 3.06 Permits; Compliance | 21 |
SECTION 3.07 Financial Statements. | 21 |
SECTION 3.08 Absence of Certain Changes or Events | 22 |
SECTION 3.09 Absence of Litigation | 22 |
SECTION 3.10 Employee Benefit Plans. | 23 |
SECTION 3.11 Labor and Employment Matters | 24 |
SECTION 3.12 Real Property; Title to Assets | 26 |
SECTION 3.13 Intellectual Property. | 26 |
SECTION 3.14 Customers and Suppliers. | 32 |
SECTION 3.15 Taxes. | 32 |
SECTION 3.16 Possession of Licenses and Permits | 35 |
SECTION 3.17 Regulatory Matters | 35 |
SECTION 3.18 Healthcare Laws | 35 |
SECTION 3.19 Environmental Matters | 36 |
SECTION 3.20 Material Contracts. | 36 |
SECTION 3.21 International Trade Laws | 38 |
SECTION 3.22 Insurance. | 39 |
SECTION 3.23 Board and Stockholder Approval | 39 |
i |
Table of Contents
(continued)
Page | |
SECTION 3.24 Anti-Corruption Laws | 40 |
SECTION 3.25 Interested Party Transactions | 40 |
SECTION 3.26 Exchange Act | 41 |
SECTION 3.27 Brokers | 41 |
SECTION 3.28 Exclusivity of Representations and Warranties | 41 |
ARTICLE IV. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF IGNYTE AND KOREAN SUB | 41 |
SECTION 4.01 Corporate Organization. | 41 |
SECTION 4.02 Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws | 42 |
SECTION 4.03 Capitalization. | 42 |
SECTION 4.04 Authority Relative to This Agreement | 43 |
SECTION 4.05 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents | 43 |
SECTION 4.06 Compliance | 43 |
SECTION 4.07 SEC Filings; Financial Statements; Sarbanes-Oxley | 43 |
SECTION 4.08 Absence of Certain Changes or Events | 45 |
SECTION 4.09 Absence of Litigation | 45 |
SECTION 4.10 Board Approval; Vote Required | 45 |
SECTION 4.11 No Prior Operations of Korean Sub | 46 |
SECTION 4.12 Brokers | 46 |
SECTION 4.13 Ignyte Trust Fund | 46 |
SECTION 4.14 Employees | 47 |
SECTION 4.15 Taxes. | 47 |
SECTION 4.16 Listing | 48 |
SECTION 4.17 Ignyte’s and Korean Sub’s Investigation and Reliance | 48 |
ARTICLE V. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE BUSINESS COMBINATION | 49 |
SECTION 5.01 Conduct of Business by the Company Pending the Business Combination | 49 |
SECTION 5.02 Conduct of Business by Ignyte and Korean Sub Pending the Business Combination | 51 |
SECTION 5.03 Claims Against Trust Account | 52 |
ARTICLE VI. ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS | 52 |
SECTION 6.01 Proxy Statement. | 52 |
SECTION 6.02 Ignyte Stockholders’ Meetings; and Korean Sub Stockholder’s Approval. | 54 |
SECTION 6.03 [Reserved] | 54 |
SECTION 6.04 Access to Information; Confidentiality. | 54 |
SECTION 6.05 Exclusivity | 55 |
SECTION 6.06 Employee Benefits Matters. | 55 |
SECTION 6.07 Notification of Certain Matters | 56 |
SECTION 6.08 Further Action; Reasonable Best Efforts | 56 |
SECTION 6.09 Public Announcements | 56 |
SECTION 6.10 Tax Matters | 57 |
ii |
Table of Contents
(continued)
Page | |
SECTION 6.11 Stock Exchange Listing | 57 |
SECTION 6.12 Antitrust. | 57 |
SECTION 6.13 PCAOB Financial Statements | 58 |
SECTION 6.14 Trust Account | 58 |
SECTION 6.15 Section 16 Matters | 58 |
ARTICLE VII. CONDITIONS TO THE BUSINESS COMBINATION | 58 |
SECTION 7.01 Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party | 58 |
SECTION 7.02 Conditions to the Obligations of Ignyte and Korean Sub | 59 |
SECTION 7.03 Conditions to the Obligations of the Company | 60 |
ARTICLE VIII. TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER | 61 |
SECTION 8.01 Termination | 61 |
SECTION 8.02 Effect of Termination | 62 |
SECTION 8.03 Expenses | 62 |
SECTION 8.04 Amendment | 62 |
SECTION 8.05 Waiver | 62 |
ARTICLE IX. GENERAL PROVISIONS | 62 |
SECTION 9.01 Notices | 62 |
SECTION 9.02 Non-survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants | 63 |
SECTION 9.03 Severability | 63 |
SECTION 9.04 Entire Agreement; Assignment | 64 |
SECTION 9.05 Parties in Interest | 64 |
SECTION 9.06 Governing Law | 64 |
SECTION 9.07 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL | 64 |
SECTION 9.08 Headings | 64 |
SECTION 9.09 Counterparts | 64 |
SECTION 9.10 Specific Performance | 65 |
EXHIBIT A | Form of Registration Rights Agreement |
EXHIBIT B | Form of Lock-Up Agreement |
EXHIBIT C | Form of Ignyte Acquisition Corp. Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation |
EXHIBIT D | Form of Ignyte Acquisition Corp. Amended and Restated Bylaws |
EXHIBIT E | Form of Sponsor Support Agreement |
EXHIBIT F | Form of PIPE Subscription Agreement |
EXHIBIT G | Form of Key Company Stockholder Forward Purchase Agreement |
EXHIBIT H | Form of Key Company Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement |
SCHEDULE 1 | Company Knowledge Parties |
SCHEDULE 2 | Key Company Stockholder |
SCHEDULE 3 | Non-Target Assets |
SCHEDULE 4.12 | Brokers |
SCHEDULE 5.01 | Post-Signing Matters |
iii |
BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT, dated as of April 28, 2022 (this “Agreement”), by and among Ignyte Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Ignyte”), Ignyte Korea Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of Korea (“Korean Sub”), and Peak Bio Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of Korea (the “Company”).
WHEREAS, Ignyte is a Delaware blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more target businesses;
WHEREAS, Korean Sub is a newly formed, wholly-owned direct subsidiary of Ignyte, and was formed for the sole purpose of the Business Combination (as defined below);
WHEREAS, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Parties desire to enter into a business combination transaction (the “Business Combination”) structured as a comprehensive share swap whereby (i) the stockholders of the Company will transfer their respective shares of Company Common Stock (as defined herein) to Korean Sub in exchange for shares of Ignyte Common Stock (as defined herein) held by Korean Sub, and (ii) in the course of such share swap, Korean Sub will distribute the shares of Company Common Stock to Ignyte in consideration of Ignyte Common Stock (which will in-turn be delivered to the stockholders of the Company as described in (i) above);
WHEREAS, in order to consummate the Transactions (as defined herein), the Company (i) will retain the assets of PHP-303 and the ADC Platform described below as the Target Assets, and (ii) has spun-off other assets of the Company (other than the Target Assets) described below as the Non-Target Assets to a separate company (“SpinCo”) prior to the Closing (the “Spin-Off”);
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Company Board”) has unanimously (a) determined that the Business Combination is fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and its stockholders and has approved the terms of the Business Combination and declared their advisability and approved the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination, and (b) the stockholders of the Company have given the Requisite Approval (as defined herein) of the Business Combination and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination and have authorized and directed the representative director of the Company to enter into all agreements he deems necessary to effectuate the Business Combination and to take such actions he deems necessary, appropriate or advisable to consummate the Business Combination;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Ignyte (the “Ignyte Board”) has (a) approved and adopted this Agreement and declared its advisability and approved the payment of the Per Share Consideration to stockholders of the Company pursuant to this Agreement and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (b) recommended the approval and adoption of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by the stockholders of Ignyte;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Korean Sub (the “Korean Sub Board”) has (a) determined that the Business Combination is fair to, and in the best interests of, Korean Sub and its sole stockholder and has approved and adopted this Agreement and declared its advisability and approved the Business Combination and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (b) recommended the approval and adoption of this Agreement and the Business Combination by the sole stockholder of Korean Sub;
WHEREAS, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, Ignyte Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”) and Ignyte shall enter into a Sponsor Support Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E (the “Sponsor Support Agreement”), providing that, among other things, the Sponsor will vote its shares of Ignyte Common Stock in favor of this Agreement, the Business Combination and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
1
WHEREAS, in connection with the Closing, Ignyte, the Sponsor and certain stockholders of the Company shall enter into a Registration Rights Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Registration Rights Agreement”);
WHEREAS, in connection with the Closing, Ignyte and each stockholder of the Company shall enter into a Lock-Up Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Lock-Up Agreement”);
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Ignyte has entered into subscription agreements with certain investors, and the parties hereto anticipate that certain other investors and Ignyte may become parties to additional subscription agreements prior to the Closing substantially in the forms attached hereto as Exhibit F (all such subscription agreements, collectively the “PIPE Subscription Agreements”), pursuant to which all such investors, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the PIPE Subscription Agreements, shall purchase shares of Ignyte Common Stock at a purchase price of $10.00 per share in a private placement or placements (the “PIPE Investment”) to be consummated immediately prior to the consummation of the Business Combination and the other transactions contemplated hereby;
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Ignyte and the Key Company Stockholder will enter into a forward purchase agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G (the “Key Company Stockholder Forward Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the Key Company Stockholder will, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Key Company Stockholder Forward Purchase Agreement, including, but not limited to the receipt of margin financing within 180 days following Closing, purchase shares of Ignyte Common Stock at a purchase price of $10.00 per share in a private placement for up to an aggregate amount of $10,000,000, subject to the conditions set forth in the Key Company Stockholder Forward Purchase Agreement; and
WHEREAS, in connection with the Closing, Ignyte and the Key Company Stockholder will enter into a separate Lock-Up agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit H (the “Key Company Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement”).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01 Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
“2021 Carve-Out Balance Sheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.07(b).
“Action” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.09.
“affiliate” of a specified person means a person who, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified person.
“Aggregate Closing Consideration” means a number of shares of Ignyte Common Stock equal to the quotient of (a) the Aggregate Closing Consideration Value divided by (b) $10.00.
“Aggregate Closing Consideration Value” means (a) $180,000,000, plus (b) the Post-Signing Investment Amount, plus (c) the Aggregate Exercise Price.
“Aggregate Exercise Price” means the sum of the exercise prices of all Company Options outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time determined in U.S. dollars at the Foreign Exchange Rate.
“Alternative Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.05(a).
2
“Ancillary Agreements” means the Stockholder Support Agreement, the Sponsor Support Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Lock-Up Agreement, the PIPE Subscription Agreements, and all other agreements, certificates and instruments executed and delivered by Ignyte, Korean Sub or the Company in connection with the Transactions and specifically contemplated by this Agreement.
“Anti-Corruption Laws” means the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, the U.K. Bribery Act of 2010, and any other applicable anti-corruption/anti-bribery laws and regulations.
“Antitrust Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.12(a).
“Blue Sky Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.05(b).
“Business Combination” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Business Combination Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.05(b).
“Business Data” means all business information and data, including Personal Information (whether of employees, contractors, consultants, customers, consumers, or other persons and whether in electronic or any other form or medium) that is accessed, collected, used, processed, stored, shared, distributed, transferred, disclosed, destroyed, or disposed of by any of the Business Systems or otherwise in the course of the conduct of the business of the Company Business.
“Business Day” means any day on which the principal offices of the SEC in Washington, D.C. are open to accept filings, or, in the case of determining a date when any payment is due, any day on which banks are not required or authorized to close in New York, NY.
“Business Systems” means all Software, computer hardware (whether general or special purpose), electronic data processing, information, record keeping, communications, telecommunications, networks, interfaces, platforms, servers, peripherals, and computer systems, including any outsourced systems and processes, that are owned or used or held for use in the conduct of the Company Business.
“Certificates” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(b).
“Claims” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03.
“Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.07.
“Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.07.
“Company Board” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Company Business” means the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as currently conducted and currently proposed to be conducted as of the date hereof, excluding, however, the business of the Company related to the Non-Target Assets.
“Company Common Stock” means the Company’s common stock, with a par value of KRW 500 per share.
“Company Directors” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(c).
“Company Disclosure Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Article III.
“Company Fully Diluted Capital Stock” means, without duplication, the sum of (a) the aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock that are issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (including shares issued upon the exercise or settlement of Company Options prior to the Effective Time), and (b) the aggregate number of Option Shares.
3
“Company IP” means, collectively, all Company-Owned IP and Company-Licensed IP.
“Company-Licensed IP” means all Intellectual Property rights owned or purported to be owned by a third party and licensed to the Company or to any Company Subsidiary in connection with the Company Business currently or at any time during the past five (5) years, whether exclusively, non-exclusively, through a license, through a covenant, or on any other basis.
“Company Material Adverse Effect” means any event, circumstance, change, development, effect or occurrence (collectively “Effect”) that, individually or in the aggregate with all other Effects, (a) is or would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the business, condition (financial or otherwise), assets, liabilities or operations of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (b) prevents, materially delays or materially impedes the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement or the consummation of the Business Combination or any of the other Transactions; provided, however, that none of the following shall be deemed to constitute, alone or in combination, or be taken into account in the determination of whether, there has been or will be a Company Material Adverse Effect: (i) any change or proposed change in or change in the interpretation of any Law (including any COVID-19 Measures) or GAAP after the date of this Agreement; (ii) events or conditions generally affecting the industries or geographic areas in which the Company and the Company Subsidiaries operate; (iii) any downturn in general economic conditions, including changes in the credit, debt, securities, financial or capital markets (including changes in interest or exchange rates, prices of any security or market index or commodity or any disruption of such markets); (iv) acts of war, sabotage, civil unrest, terrorism, epidemics, pandemics or disease outbreaks (including COVID-19), or any escalation or worsening of any such acts of war, sabotage, civil unrest, terrorism, epidemics, pandemics or disease outbreaks, or changes in global, national, regional, state or local political or social conditions; (v) any hurricane, tornado, flood, earthquake, natural disaster, or other acts of God, (vi) any actions taken or not taken by the Company or the Company Subsidiaries as required by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, (vii) any Effect attributable to the announcement or execution, pendency, negotiation or consummation of the Business Combination or any of the other Transactions (including the impact thereof on relationships with customers, suppliers, employees or Governmental Authorities), (viii) any failure to meet any projections, forecasts, guidance, estimates, milestones, budgets or financial or operating predictions of revenue, earnings, cash flow or cash position, provided that this clause (viii) shall not prevent a determination that any change, event, or occurrence underlying such failure has resulted in a Company Material Adverse Effect, (ix) any actions taken, or failures to take action, or such other changes or events, in each case, which Ignyte has requested or to which it has consented or which actions are contemplated by this Agreement or (x) any statements or items set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedule, except in the cases of clauses (i) through (iii), to the extent that the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are materially and disproportionately affected thereby as compared with other participants in the industries in which the Company and the Company Subsidiaries operate.
“Company Option Agreements” means the stock option agreements identified in Schedule 3.03(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.
“Company Options” means all options to purchase outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, including options granted under the Company Option Agreements.
“Company-Owned IP” means all Intellectual Property rights that are currently, or that were at any time during the past five (5) years owned or purported to be owned by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries excluding any Intellectual Property included in the Non-Target Assets that are not used in connection with the Company Business.
“Company Permits” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06.
4
“Company Products” means any and all products in respect of the Company Business that were at any time during the past five (5) years, or that are currently manufactured, distributed, sold, licensed, or otherwise offered or commercialized, or under development in any material respect by the Company or any Company Subsidiary.
“Company Securities” means the Company Common Stock and the Company Options.
“Company Securityholder” means the holder, as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, of any Company Securities.
“Company Services” means all services in respect of the Company Business that were at any time during the past five (5) years, or that are currently delivered, provided, offered or commercialized, or under development in any material respect by the Company or any Company Subsidiary.
“Company Software” means Software that was at any time during the past five (5) years, or that is currently owned or purported to be owned by or developed by or for the Company or any Company Subsidiary.
“Company Stockholder Approval” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.23.
“Company Subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(a).
“Confidentiality Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.04(a).
“Confidential Information” means all information constituting or relating to Intellectual Property, technology, product development, price, customer and supplier lists, pricing and marketing plans, policies and strategies, details of client and consultant contracts, operations methods, product development techniques, business acquisition plans or new personnel acquisition plans and all other confidential or proprietary information with respect to a party and its customers and vendors. Confidential Information includes any information, knowledge or data concerning the businesses and affairs of the Company, the Company Subsidiaries, or any Suppliers or customers of the Company or any Company Subsidiaries or Ignyte or its subsidiaries (as applicable) that is not already generally available to the public. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Confidential Information” shall not include (a) issued Patents and published Patent applications or (b) information that is or becomes generally available to the public or general industry knowledge through no action or inaction by the Company.
“Contingent Worker” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.11(h).
“Contribution” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.13(e).
“Contributor” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.13(e).
“control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, or as trustee or executor, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, as trustee or executor, by contract or otherwise.
“Copyleft License” means any license that requires, as a condition of use, modification or distribution of Software or other technology subject to such license, that such Software or other technology subject to such license, or other Software or other technology incorporated into, derived from, used or distributed with such Software or other technology subject to such license (a) in the case of Software, be made available or distributed in a form other than binary (e.g., source code form), (b) be licensed for the purpose of preparing derivative works, (c) be licensed under terms that allow the Company Products, other products or Software, or portions thereof or interfaces therefor to be reverse engineered, reverse assembled or disassembled (other than by operation of Law) or (d) be redistributable at no license fee.
5
“COVID-19” shall mean SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19, and any evolutions or mutations thereof or related or associated epidemics, pandemic or disease outbreaks.
“COVID-19 Measures” means any quarantine, “shelter in place,” “stay at home,” workforce reduction, social distancing, shut down, closure, sequester, workplace safety or similar Law promulgated by any Governmental Authority, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, in each case, in connection with or in response to COVID-19, including the CARES Act and Families First Act.
“Data Security Requirements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.13(i).
“DGCL” shall mean the Delaware General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
“Disabling Devices” means Software viruses, time bombs, logic bombs, trojan horses, trap doors, back doors, or other computer instructions, intentional devices or techniques that are designed to threaten, infect, assault, vandalize, defraud, disrupt, damage, disable, maliciously encumber, hack into, incapacitate, infiltrate or slow or shut down a computer system or any component of such computer system, including any such device affecting system security or compromising or disclosing user data in an unauthorized manner.
“Domain Names” means any and all Internet domain names and numerical addresses.
“Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.07.
“Environmental Laws” means any United States federal, state or local or non-United States laws relating to: (a) releases or threatened releases of Hazardous Substances or materials containing Hazardous Substances; (b) the manufacture, handling, transport, use, treatment, storage, exposure to or disposal of Hazardous Substances or materials containing Hazardous Substances; or (c) pollution or protection of human health, safety, or the environment or natural resources.
“Environmental Permit” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.19.
“Equity Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.06(a).
“ERISA” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(a).
“ERISA Affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(c).
“Exchange Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.27.
“Exchanged Company Option” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a).
“Exchange Fund” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(a).
“Exchange Ratio” means the quotient of (a) the Aggregate Closing Consideration divided by (b) the Company Fully Diluted Capital Stock.
“Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.07(b).
“Foreign Exchange Rate” means the exchange rate between Korean Won to U.S. Dollars determined on the date of the Effective Time as published in the exchange rate section of the Wall Street Journal, or, if not published in the Wall Street Journal, then the average of the opening bid and ask rates on such date at which such currency may be exchanged for U.S. Dollar as quoted by JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA (or any successor thereto or any other major money center commercial bank agreed to by the Parties).
“GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles.
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“Governmental Authority” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.05(b).
“Governmental Licenses” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.16.
“Hazardous Substance(s)” means: (a) those substances defined in or regulated under the following United States federal statutes and their state counterparts, as each may be amended from time to time, and all regulations thereunder: the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Atomic Energy Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and the Clean Air Act; (b) petroleum and petroleum products, including crude oil and any fractions thereof; (c) natural gas, synthetic gas, and any mixtures thereof; (d) polychlorinated biphenyls, asbestos, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and radon; and (e) any substance, material or waste regulated by any Governmental Authority pursuant to any Environmental Law.
“Health Care Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.18.
“Health Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(k).
“HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.
“Ignyte Board” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Ignyte Certificate of Incorporation” means the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Ignyte filed with the Secretary of the State of the State of Delaware on January 26, 2021, as such may have been amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.
“Ignyte Common Stock” means Ignyte’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
“Ignyte Directors” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(b).
“Ignyte Material Adverse Effect” means any Effect that, individually or in the aggregate with all other Effects, (a) is or would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the business, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of Ignyte; or (b) would prevent, materially delay or materially impede the performance by Ignyte or Korean Sub of their respective obligations under this Agreement or the consummation of the Business Combination or any of the other Transactions; provided, however, that none of the following shall be deemed to constitute, alone or in combination, or be taken into account in the determination of whether, there has been or will be a Ignyte Material Adverse Effect: (i) any change or proposed change in or change in the interpretation of any Law (including any COVID-19 Measures) or GAAP after the date of this Agreement; (ii) events or conditions generally affecting the industries or geographic areas in which Ignyte operates; (iii) any downturn in general economic conditions, including changes in the credit, debt, securities, financial or capital markets (including changes in interest or exchange rates, prices of any security or market index or commodity or any disruption of such markets); (iv) acts of war, sabotage, civil unrest, terrorism, epidemics, pandemics or disease outbreaks (including COVID-19) or any escalation or worsening of any such acts of war, sabotage, civil unrest, terrorism, epidemics, pandemics or disease outbreaks, or changes in global, national, regional, state or local political or social conditions; (v) any hurricane, tornado, flood, earthquake, natural disaster, or other acts of God; (vi) any actions taken or not taken by Ignyte as required by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; (vii) any Effect attributable to the announcement or execution, pendency, negotiation or consummation of the Business Combination or any of the other Transaction; or (viii) any actions taken, or failures to take action, or such other changes or events; in each case, which the Company has requested or to which it has consented or which actions are contemplated by this Agreement, except in the cases of clauses (i) through (iii), to the extent that Ignyte is materially and disproportionately affected thereby as compared with other participants in the industry in which Ignyte operates.
“Ignyte Organizational Documents” means the Ignyte Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, and the Trust Agreement, in each case as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
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“Ignyte Preferred Stock” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.03(a).
“Ignyte Proposals” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(a).
“Ignyte SEC Reports” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.07(a).
“Ignyte Stockholders’ Meeting” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(a).
“Ignyte Units” means one share of Ignyte Common Stock and one half of a Ignyte Warrant.
“Ignyte Warrants” means warrants to purchase shares of Ignyte Common Stock, with each warrant exercisable for one share of Ignyte Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50.
“Inbound Licenses” means all Contracts pursuant to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary has received a license or sublicense, or has otherwise been granted rights in, to, or under any Intellectual Property from any Person, or otherwise received from any Person any immunity, authorization, release, covenant not to sue or other right with respect to any Intellectual Property.
“Institutions” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.13(p).
“Intellectual Property” means: all intellectual property rights, anywhere in the world, whether statutory, common law or otherwise, including (a) Patents, (b) copyrights and all other rights with respect to works of authorship, (c) all other rights with respect to Software, including registrations thereof and applications therefor, (d) registered and unregistered design rights and registrations thereof and applications therefor, (e) rights with respect to Trademarks, and all registrations thereof and applications therefor, (f) rights with respect to Domain Names, including registrations thereof and applications therefor, (g) rights with respect to trade secrets or Confidential Information, including rights to limit the use or disclosure thereof by any Person, (h) rights with respect to databases, including registrations thereof and applications therefor, (i) publicity and privacy rights, including all rights with respect to use of a Person’s name, signature, likeness, image, photograph, voice, identity, personality, and biographical and personal information and materials, and (j) rights in Software and (k) any rights equivalent or similar to any of the foregoing. Without limiting the foregoing, “Intellectual Property” includes rights to derivatives, improvements, modifications, enhancements, revisions, and releases to any of the foregoing, claims and causes of action arising out of or related to infringement, misappropriation or violation of any of the foregoing and other proprietary or intellectual property rights now known or hereafter recognized in any jurisdiction.
“International Trade Laws” means (i) all U.S. import and export Laws (including those Laws administered by the U.S. Departments of Commerce (Bureau of Industry and Security) codified at 15 C.F.R., Parts 700-774; Homeland Security (Customs and Border Protection) codified at 19 C.F.R., Parts 1-192; State (Directorate of Defense Trade Controls) codified at 22 C.F.R., Parts 103, 120-130; and the Treasury (Office of Foreign Assets Control) codified at 31 C.F.R., Parts 500-598) and (ii) all comparable applicable Laws outside the United States.
“Initial Post-Closing Ignyte Directors” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(d).
“Key Company Stockholder” means the person listed on Schedule 2.
“Key Company Stockholder Forward Purchase Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“knowledge” or “to the knowledge” of a person shall mean in the case of the Company, the actual knowledge of the persons listed on Schedule 1 after reasonable inquiry, and in the case of Ignyte, the actual knowledge of David Rosenberg, David Strupp, Michael Friedman and Steven Kaplan after reasonable inquiry.
“Korea IFRS” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(a).
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“Law” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.05(a).
“Lease” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.12(b).
“Lease Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.12(b).
“Leased Real Property” means the real property leased by the Company or Company Subsidiaries as tenant, together with, to the extent leased by the Company or Company Subsidiaries, all buildings and other structures, facilities or improvements located thereon and all easements, licenses, rights and appurtenances of the Company or Company Subsidiaries relating to the foregoing.
“Letter of Transmittal” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(b).
“Lien” means any lien, security interest, mortgage, pledge, adverse claim or other encumbrance of any kind that secures the payment or performance of an obligation (other than those created under applicable securities laws).
“Material Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(a).
“Korean Sub Board” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Korean Sub Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.03(b).
“Korean Sub Organizational Documents” means the artciles of incorporation of Korean Sub, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
“Mutually Nominated Directors” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(d).
“Non-Target Assets” means those certain assets set forth on Schedule 3 that were transferred from the Company as part of the Spin-Off, including the PH-2 (Spliceostatin) toxin licensed from a third-party, the PH-3 (Callyspongiolide) toxin licensed from a third party, PH-4 (PBD Hybrid), and PHP-201 (Sovesudil).
“OFAC” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.21(b)(ii).
“Off-the-Shelf Software” means Software, software-as-a-service, or other technology that is licensed on a non-exclusive basis under a “shrink-wrap” or “click-through” Contract or other Contract containing standard terms and Software, software-as-a-service, or other technology that is generally available through commercial distributors, in consumer retail stores or through online distribution sources on standard terms.
“Open Source License” means any license meeting the Open Source Definition (as promulgated by the Open Source Initiative), the Free Software Definition (as promulgated by the Free Software Foundation), any Creative Commons License, or any substantially similar license, including any license approved by the Open Source Initiative. For the avoidance of doubt, Open Source Licenses include Copyleft Licenses.
“Open Source Materials” means any Software or other Intellectual Property subject to an Open Source License.
“Option Shares” means the maximum number of shares of Company Common Stock issuable upon full exercise, exchange or conversion of all Company Options outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time.
“Outbound Licenses” means Contracts pursuant to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary has licensed or sublicensed or otherwise granted rights in, to, or under any Company-Owned IP to any Person, or granted to any Person any immunity, authorization, release, covenant not to sue or other right with respect to any Company-Owned IP.
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“Outside Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01(b).
“Owned Real Property” means the land owned by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Land”), together with all buildings and other structures, facilities, and other improvements located thereon (collectively, the “Improvements”); all right, title and interest of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, as applicable, if any, in and to any and all appurtenances, strips or gores, roads, easements, streets, alleys, drainage facilities and rights-of-way bounding any of the Land; all utility capacity, utilities, water rights, licenses, permits, entitlements, and bonds, if any, and all other rights and benefits attributable to the Land; and all rights of ingress and egress thereto; all transferable consents, authorizations, variances or waivers, licenses, permits and approvals from any Governmental Authority in connection with the Land or the Improvements held by or granted to the Company or any Company Subsidiary, as applicable, any of their respective predecessors in title, and/or the agents thereof with respect to the Land or the Improvements; all right, title and interest of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, as applicable, in and to all site plans, surveys, soil and substratus studies, and engineering and architectural drawings, plans and specifications, in the possession or control of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, as applicable, relating to the Land or Improvements; all equipment and other personal property owned by the Company or any Company Subsidiary, as applicable, located on and/or exclusively used in connection with the operation of the Land or Improvements; and all written service and maintenance contracts and other written contracts, if any, relating to the Land or Improvements.
“Patents” means any domestic or foreign patents, utility models and applications, drafts and disclosures relating thereto (and any patents or utility models that issue as a result of such applications, drafts and disclosures) and any reissues, divisions, divisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, provisionals, renewals, extensions, substitutions, reexaminations or invention registrations related to such patents, utility models and applications.
“PCAOB” means the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and any division or subdivision thereof.
“PCAOB Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.13.
“Permitted Liens” means: (a) such imperfections of title, easements, encumbrances, Liens or restrictions that do not materially impair the current use of the Company’s or any Company Subsidiary’s assets that are subject thereto; (b) materialmen’s, mechanics’, carriers’, workmen’s, warehousemen’s, repairmen’s, landlord’s and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business, or deposits to obtain the release of such Liens; (c) Liens for Taxes not yet due and payable, or being contested in good faith through appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP; (d) zoning, entitlement, conservation restriction and other land use and environmental regulations promulgated by Governmental Authorities; (e) non-exclusive licenses, sublicenses or other rights to Intellectual Property owned by or licensed to the Company or the Company Subsidiaries granted to any licensee in the ordinary course of business; (f) non-monetary Liens, encumbrances and restrictions on real property (including easements, covenants, rights of way and similar restrictions of record) that do not materially interfere with the present uses of such real property; (g) Liens identified in the Financial Statements; and (h) Liens on leases, subleases, easements, licenses, rights of use, rights to access and rights of way arising from the provisions of such agreements or benefiting or created by any superior estate, right or interest.
“Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, syndicate, person (including, without limitation, a “person” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), trust, association or entity or government, political subdivision, agency or instrumentality of a government.
“Personal Information” means (a) information related to an identified or identifiable individual (e.g., name, address telephone number, email address, financial account number, health information, government-issued identifier); (b) any other data used or intended to be used or which allows one to identify, contact, or precisely locate an individual, device or household, including any internet protocol address or other persistent identifier; and (c) any other, similar information or data regulated by Privacy/Data Security Laws.
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“Per Share Consideration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a)(i).
“PIPE Investment” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“PIPE Subscription Agreements” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Plans” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(a).
“Post-Signing Investment Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01(b)(ii).
“PPACA” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(k).
“Prior Carve-Out Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.07(a).
“Privacy/Data Security Laws” means all Laws, self-regulatory standards, third party system and platform requirements, and industry regulations governing (a) the receipt, collection, use, storage, processing, sharing, security, disclosure, transfer, sale, unauthorized access or modification, theft, loss, inaccessibility, breach, or transfer of Personal Information, Confidential Information, the Company’s Business Systems or Business Data and (b) unfair and deceptive practices, accessibility, advertising, communications (e.g., text messages, emails, calls), PCI-DSS, location tracking and marketing.
“Proceeding” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.18
“Products” mean any products or services, developed, manufactured, performed, out-licensed, sold, distributed other otherwise made available by or on behalf of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, from which the Company or any Company Subsidiary has derived previously, is currently deriving or is scheduled to derive, revenue from the sale or provision thereof.
“Program Requirements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.13(i).
“Proxy Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(a).
“Redemption Rights” means the redemption rights provided for in Article Sixth of the Ignyte Certificate of Incorporation.
“Registered Company IP” means all of the registrations for Company-Owned IP with any Governmental Authority or Domain Name.
“Registration Rights Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Regulatory Authorizations” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.18
“Remedies Exceptions” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.04.
“Release” means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, disposing, or migrating through, in, on, under, or into the indoor or ambient environment.
“Reports” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.18.
“Representatives” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.04(a).
“Requisite Approval” means the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the holders of outstanding shares of the Company Common Stock Stock present at a meeting of the Company’s stockholders, where such affirmative votes constitutes at least one-third of all issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock Stock.
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“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.07(a).
“Share Swap” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(a).
“Share Swap Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.08(b)(i).
“Software” means (a) computer programs, firmware, software (whether in source code, object code or other form), models, algorithms, methodologies and implementations thereof; (b) development tools, descriptions and flow charts; (c) data, metadata, databases and compilations of data, whether machine readable or otherwise; and (d) programmers’ annotations, notes, documentation, product user manuals, training materials and other work product used to design, plan, organize, maintain, support or develop any of the foregoing, irrespective of the media on which it is recorded.
“Sponsor” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Sponsor Support Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Standards Organizations” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.13(u).
“subsidiary” or “subsidiaries” of the Company or Ignyte or any other person means an affiliate controlled by such person, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries.
“Supplier” means any person that supplies inventory or other materials or personal property, components, or other goods or services that are utilized in or comprise the Products of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries.
“Target Assets” means the assets being retained by the Company following the Spin-Off, including the PH-1 (Thailanstatin) toxin platform and all ADCs derived from it, the PH-5 (undisclosed) discovery-stage toxin and all ADCs derived from it, the PH-6 (undisclosed) discovery-stage toxin and all ADCs derived from it, the Pre proof-of-concept early discovery on bispecific antibodies, and the Pre proof-of-concept early discovery on Antibody-PROTACs.
“Tax” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(q).
“Tax Returns” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(q).
“Terminating Company Breach” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01(f).
“Terminating Ignyte Breach” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01(g).
“Top Customers” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.14.
“Top Suppliers” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.14.
“Trademarks” means unregistered and registered trademarks and service marks, trademark and service mark applications, common law trademarks and service marks, trade dress and logos, trade names, business names, corporate names, product names and other source or business identifiers and the goodwill associated with any of the foregoing and any renewals and extensions of any of the foregoing.
“Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, including all Schedules and Exhibits hereto, the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Ancillary Agreements, the Share Swap Agreement, and all other agreements, certificates and instruments executed and delivered by Ignyte, Korean Sub or the Company in connection with the Transactions and specifically contemplated by this Agreement.
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“Transactions” means the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Transaction Documents.
“Transfer Agent Cancellation” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(b).
“Treasury Regulations” means the United States Treasury regulations issued pursuant to the Code.
“Trust Account” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.13.
“Trust Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.13.
“Trustee” “Trust Fund” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.13.
“Trust Fund” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.13.
“WARN Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.11(c).
“Written Consent” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.03.
SECTION 1.02 Construction.
(a) Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, (i) words of any gender include each other gender, (ii) words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively, (iii) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereto” and derivative or similar words refer to this entire Agreement, (iv) the terms “Article,” “Section,” “Schedule” and “Exhibit” refer to the specified Article, Section, Schedule or Exhibit of or to this Agreement, (v) the word “including” means “including without limitation,” (vi) the word “or” shall be disjunctive but not exclusive, (vii) references to agreements and other documents shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments and other modifications thereto, and (viii) references to statutes shall include all regulations promulgated thereunder and references to statutes or regulations shall be construed as including all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending or replacing the statute or regulation.
(b) The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party.
(c) Whenever this Agreement refers to a number of days, such number shall refer to calendar days unless Business Days are specified. If any action is to be taken or given on or by a particular calendar day, and such calendar day is not a Business Day, then such action may be deferred until the next Business Day.
(d) All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined herein shall have the meanings given to them under GAAP.
ARTICLE II.
THE BUSINESS COMBINATION; CLOSING
SECTION 2.01 Equity Exchange.
(a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing (as defined below), (i) the stockholders of the Company, being the holders of all of the issued and outstanding Company Common Stock, shall sell, transfer, convey, assign and deliver all of the shares of Company Common Stock to Korean Sub; (ii) Korean Sub shall distribute all of the Company Common Stock received by the stockholders of the Company in exchange for the Aggregate Closing Consideration; and further, (iii) Korean Sub shall hold the Aggregate Closing Consideration in trust in the name of the stockholders of the Company in pro rata amounts equal to the Exchange Ratio for distribution upon completion of the required clearance filings under the Foreign Exchange Transaction Act of Korea by the stockholders (and together with clauses (i) and (ii), collectively, the “Share Swap”).
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(b) Upon consummation of the Share Swap, the Company will become a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Ignyte.
SECTION 2.02 Conversion of Company Common Stock.
(a) At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Share Swap and without any action on the part of Ignyte, Korean Sub, the Company or the holders of any of the following securities or rights:
(i) The right to each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (including shares issued upon the exercise or conversion of Company Options) held by the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to the Closing shall be automatically cancelled and converted into the right to receive a number of shares of Ignyte Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio (the “Per Share Consideration”);
(ii) Any fractional share of Ignyte Common Stock that would otherwise be issuable to such person following such conversion shall be rounded up to a whole share of Ignyte Common Stock.
SECTION 2.03 Delivery of Shares.
(a) On the Closing Date, Ignyte shall deposit, or shall cause to be deposited, with Korean Sub, for the benefit of the stockholders of the Company, for exchange in accordance with this Article II, the number of shares of Ignyte Common Stock sufficient to deliver the aggregate Per Share Consideration payable pursuant to this Agreement (such shares of Ignyte Common Stock and any dividends or distributions with respect thereto, being hereinafter referred to as the “Exchange Fund”). Ignyte shall cause Korean Sub pursuant to irrevocable instructions, to pay the Per Share Consideration out of the Exchange Fund in accordance with this Agreement. Except as contemplated by Section 2.03(c), the Exchange Fund shall not be used for any other purpose.
(b) At the Effective Time, the representative director of the Company shall effect the transfer and conveyance of all of the shares of Company Common Stock to Korean Sub, in each case, free and clear of any claims or interest of any person previously entitled thereto, with such transfer and conveyance and such exchange evidenced by the Share Swap Agreement and the general shareholder meeting minutes evidencing the Requisite Approval of the Company with respect to the Share Swap. Subject to the effect of escheat, tax or other applicable Laws, following Effective Time, Ignyte shall pay or cause to be paid to the holder of the certificates representing shares of Ignyte Common Stock issued in exchange therefore, without interest, (i) promptly, but in any event within five (5) Business Days of such surrender, the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time and theretofore paid with respect to such shares of Ignyte Common Stock, and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the amount of dividends or other distributions, with a record date after the Effective Time but prior to surrender and a payment date occurring after surrender, payable with respect to such shares of Ignyte Common Stock.
(c) The Per Share Consideration payable upon conveyance of the Company Common Stock in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been paid and issued in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such Company Common Stock.
(d) The Per Share Consideration shall be adjusted to reflect appropriately the effect of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or other like change with respect to Ignyte Common Stock occurring on or after the date hereof and prior to the Effective Time.
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(e) Any portion of the Exchange Fund that remains undistributed to the stockholders of the Company for one year after the Effective Time shall be delivered to Ignyte, upon demand, and any stockholders of the Company who have not theretofore complied with this Section 2.03 shall thereafter look only to Ignyte for the Per Share Consideration. Any portion of the Exchange Fund remaining unclaimed by the applicable stockholders of the Company as of a date which is immediately prior to such time as such amounts would otherwise escheat to or become property of any government entity shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, become the property of Ignyte free and clear of any claims or interest of any person previously entitled thereto.
(f) None of the Korean Sub or Ignyte shall be liable to any stockholders of the Company Securityholder for any such Company Common Stock (or dividends or distributions with respect thereto) or cash delivered to a public official pursuant to any abandoned property, escheat or similar Law in accordance with Section 2.03.
(g) If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed, the Korean Sub will issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate, the Per Share Consideration that such holder is otherwise entitled to receive pursuant to, and in accordance with, the provisions of Section 2.02(a)(i).
SECTION 2.04 Stock Transfer Books. At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed and there shall be no further registration of transfers of Company Common Stock thereafter on the records of the Company. From and after the Effective Time, the holders of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to such Company Common Stock, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or by Law.
SECTION 2.05 Treatment of Company Options.
(a) At the Effective Time, each Company Option that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, whether vested or unvested, shall, automatically and without any required action on the part of the holder thereof, in cancellation and settlement thereof, cease to represent an option to purchase Company Common Stock under the Company Option Agreements or otherwise and shall be converted into an option to purchase a number of shares of Ignyte Common Stock (such option, an “Exchanged Company Option”) equal to the product (rounded down to the nearest whole number) of (i) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) the Exchange Ratio, at an exercise price per share (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) equal to (A) the exercise price per share of Company Common Stock of such Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time divided by (B) the Exchange Ratio; provided, however, that the exercise price and the number of shares of Ignyte Common Stock purchasable pursuant to the Exchanged Company Options shall be determined in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code; provided, further, that in the case of any Exchanged Company Option to which Section 422 of the Code applies, the exercise price and the number of shares of Ignyte Common Stock purchasable pursuant to such option shall be determined in accordance with the foregoing, subject to such adjustments as are necessary in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 424(a) of the Code. Except as specifically provided above, following the Effective Time, each Exchanged Company Option shall continue to be governed by the same terms and conditions (including vesting and exercisability terms) as were applicable to the corresponding former Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time.
(b) Ignyte shall take all actions that are necessary for the assumption and conversion of the Company Options pursuant to this Section 2.05 including the reservation, issuance and listing of shares of Ignyte Common Stock as necessary to effect the transactions contemplated by this Section 2.05. If registration of the Exchanged Company Options or shares of Ignyte Common Stock is required under the Securities Act, Ignyte shall file with the SEC, as promptly as practicable after the date that is 60 days after the Form 8-K announcing the Closing is filed (or any such earlier date permitted by applicable Law), a registration statement on Form S-8 with respect to such Exchanged Company Options or shares of Ignyte Common Stock, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement for so long as the applicable Exchanged Company Options remain outstanding and such registration of the shares of Ignyte Common Stock issuable thereunder continues to be required.
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SECTION 2.06 Withholding. Each of Ignyte, Korean Sub and the Company, and their respective affiliates and agents shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any amounts otherwise deliverable or payable under this Agreement such amounts that any such Persons are required to deduct and withhold with respect to any of the deliveries and payments contemplated by this Agreement under the Code or any other applicable Law (as defined herein). To the extent that Ignyte, Korean Sub, or the Company, or their respective Affiliates withholds or deducts such amounts with respect to any Person and properly remits such withheld or deducted amounts to the applicable Governmental Authority (as defined herein), such withheld or deducted amounts shall be treated as having been paid to or on behalf of such Person in respect of which such withholding or deduction was made for all purposes. In the case of any such payment payable to employees of the Company or its affiliates in connection with the Business Combination treated as compensation, the parties shall cooperate to pay such amounts through the Company’s or an affiliate’s payroll to facilitate applicable withholding.
SECTION 2.07 Closing. In accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the consummation of the PIPE Investment and the closing of the Share Swap (the “Closing”) shall take place by electronic delivery of documents (by PDF (portable document format) and/or electronic mail), all of which will be deemed to be originals, at a time to be agreed by the Parties on the date which is two (2) Business Days after the first date on which all conditions set forth in Article VII shall have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver thereof) or such other time and place as the Parties may mutually agree in writing. The date on which the Closing actually occurs is referred to in this Agreement as the “Closing Date” and the time on which the Closing actually occurs is referred to in this Agreement as the “Effective Time.”
SECTION 2.08 Closing Deliverables. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement:
(a) At the Closing, Ignyte will deliver or cause to be delivered:
(i) to Korean Sub, all of the Aggregate Closing Consideration;
(ii) to the Company, a certificate duly signed by an authorized officer of Ignyte, dated the Closing Date, certifying that, to the knowledge and belief of such officer, the conditions specified in Section 7.03(a), Section 7.03(b) and Section 7.03(d) have been fulfilled;
(iii) to the Company, the Sponsor Support Agreement, duly executed by Ignyte and the Sponsor;
(iv) to the Company, the Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by duly authorized representatives of Ignyte, the Sponsor and the other parties thereto (other than the Company and its stockholders);
(v) to the Company, the written resignations of all of the directors and officers of Ignyte (other than those Persons identified as the initial directors and officers, respectively, of Ignyte, after the Closing, in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.08), effective as of, and subject to, the Closing;
(vi) to the Company, copies of the Ignyte Amended and Restated Organizational Documents in the forms attached hereto as Exhibit C and Exhibit D (with such changes as may be mutually agreed in writing between Ignyte and the Company);
(vii) to the Company, Lock-Up Agreements duly executed by Ignyte and the directors and officers set forth in Section 2.08; and
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(viii) all other documents, instruments or certificates as shall reasonably be required by the Company and its counsel in order to consummate the Transactions, including, without limitation, such of the foregoing required for purposes of the Korea Foreign Exchange Transaction Act.
(b) At the Closing, the Company will deliver or cause to be delivered:
(i) to Korean Sub, all of the issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, evidenced by a duly executed comprehensive share swap agreement (the “Share Swap Agreement”);
(ii) to Ignyte, a certificate duly signed by an authorized officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date, certifying that, to the knowledge and belief of such officer, the conditions specified in Section 7.02(a), Section 7.02(b) and Section 7.02(d) have been fulfilled;
(iii) the Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by certain stockholders of the Company;
(iv) to Ignyte, the Lock-Up Agreements duly executed by the stockholders of the Company parties thereto;
(v) to Ignyte, the Key Company Stockholder Forward Purchase Agreement duly executed by the Key Company Stockholder; and
(vi) all other documents, instruments or certificates as shall reasonably be required by Ignyte and its counsel in order to consummate the Transactions.
(c) On the Closing date, concurrently with the Share Swap, Ignyte shall make, or cause to be made, any payments to the stockholders of Ignyte required to be made in connection with the Redemption Rights.
SECTION 2.09 Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws.
(a) At the Closing, Ignyte shall amend and restate, effective as of the Effective Time, the Ignyte Certificate of Incorporation to be as set forth on Exhibit C and the Ignyte Bylaws to be as set forth on Exhibit D, which, shall among other things, result in Ignyte being renamed as Peak Bio, Inc. and shall trade publicly on the NASDAQ under a new ticker symbol mutually agreed upon by Ignyte and the Company.
SECTION 2.10 Directors and Officers.
(a) Each of the parties hereto shall take all such action within its power as may be necessary or appropriate such that, effective as of the Closing, (i) the Ignyte Board shall consist of seven (7) directors; (ii) the initial members of the Ignyte Board are the individuals determined in accordance with Section 2.10(b) and Section 2.10(c), as applicable; (iii) the initial members of the compensation committee, audit committee and nominating and nominating and corporate governance committee of the Ignyte Board are the individuals determined in accordance with Section 2.10(d); and (iv) the officers of Ignyte and the Company are the individuals determined in accordance with Section 2.10(e).
(b) Within 60 days of the date of this Agreement, Ignyte shall provide to the Company a list of two (2) individuals who shall serve as Class III Directors(as such term is defined in the Ignyte Organizational Documents following the Effective Time), respectively, on the Ignyte Board effective as of the Closing (the “Ignyte Directors”). Ignyte may, with the prior written consent of the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), replace any such individual with any other individual prior to the filing of the Proxy Statement with the SEC by amending such list to include such replacement individual.
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(c) Within 60 days of the date of this Agreement, the Company shall provide to Ignyte a list of five (5) individuals, two (2) of whom shall serve as Class I Directors, and three (3) of whom shall serve as Class II Directors (as each such term is defined in the Ignyte Organizational Documents following the Effective Time), respectively, on the Ignyte Board effective as of the Closing (the “Company Directors”). The Company may, with the prior written consent of Ignyte (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), replace any such individual with any other individual prior to the filing of the Proxy Statement with the SEC by amending such list to include such replacement individual. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at least four (4) of the individuals designated to the Ignyte Board pursuant to this Section 2.10(c) must be “independent directors” under The Nasdaq Capital Market Listing Rules and regulations applicable to service on committees of the Ignyte Board, and if the requirement set forth in this sentence is not met, Ignyte shall omit from its proxy materials any such nominee, and any such nomination shall be disregarded and no vote on any such nominee will occur, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by Ignyte. The Ignyte Directors and the Company Directors are referred to collectively herein as the “Initial Post-Closing Ignyte Directors.”
(d) Ignyte and the Company shall mutually agree (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed by either the Sponsor or the Company) on the directors to be appointed to serve on the compensation committee, audit committee and nominating and corporate governance committee of the Ignyte Board effective as of the Closing prior to the filing of the Proxy Statement with the SEC, which, in the case of each committee, shall include at least one Ignyte Director.
(e) Ignyte and the Company shall mutually agree (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed by either Ignyte or the Company) on the officers of Ignyte and the Company effective immediately after the Closing, with each such individual holding the title set forth opposite his or her name. Ignyte and the Company may mutually agree (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed by either the Company or Ignyte) to replace any such individual with any other individual prior to the filing of the Proxy Statement with the SEC by amending such Schedule to include such replacement individual.
ARTICLE III.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Except as set forth in the Company’s disclosure schedule delivered by the Company in connection with this Agreement (the “Company Disclosure Schedule”), the Company hereby represents and warrants to Ignyte and Korean Sub as follows:
SECTION 3.01 Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries.
(a) The Company and each subsidiary of the Company (each a “Company Subsidiary”), is a corporation or other organization duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and has the requisite corporate or other organizational power and authority and all necessary governmental approvals to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. The Company and each Company Subsidiary is duly qualified or licensed as a foreign corporation or other organization to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except for such failures to be so qualified or licensed and in good standing that do not constitute a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(b) A true and complete list of all the Company Subsidiaries, together with the jurisdiction of incorporation of each Company Subsidiary and the percentage of the outstanding capital stock of each Company Subsidiary owned by the Company and each other Company Subsidiary, is set forth in Schedule 3.01(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.
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SECTION 3.02 Articles of Incorporation. The Company has prior to the date of this Agreement made available a complete and correct copy of the articles of incorporation or equivalent organizational documents, each as amended to date, of the Company and each Company Subsidiary. Such articles of incorporation or equivalent organizational documents are in full force and effect. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is in violation of any of the provisions of its articles of incorporation or equivalent organizational documents.
SECTION 3.03 Capitalization.
(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 300,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock. As of the date hereof, (i) 8,283,613 shares of Company Common Stock are issued and outstanding, and (ii) 856,800 shares of Company Common Stock are reserved for future issuance pursuant to outstanding Company Options and other purchase rights granted pursuant to the Company Option Agreements.
(b) Other than the Company Options, there are no options, restricted shares, restricted share units, phantom equity awards, warrants, preemptive rights, calls, convertible securities, conversion rights or other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments of any character relating to the issued or unissued capital stock of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or obligating the Company or any Company Subsidiary to issue or sell any shares of capital stock of, or other equity interests in, the Company or any Company Subsidiary. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is a party to, or otherwise bound by, and neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has granted, any equity appreciation rights, participations, phantom equity or similar rights. There are no voting trusts, voting agreements, proxies, shareholder agreements or other agreements with respect to the voting or transfer of the Company Common Stock, Company Preferred Stock or any of the equity interests or other securities of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.03(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company does not directly or indirectly own any equity or similar interests in, or any interest convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any equity or similar interest in, any Person, other than the Company Subsidiaries.
(c) Schedule 3.03(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement, the following information with respect to each Company Option outstanding: (i) the Company Option Agreement and the name of the Company Option recipient; (ii) the number of shares of the Company subject to such Company Option; (iii) the exercise or purchase price of such Company Option; (iv) the date on which such Company Option was granted; (v) the vesting schedule of such Company Option (if any); and (vi) the date on which such Company Option expires. The Company has made available to Ignyte an accurate and complete copy of the Company Option Agreements pursuant to which Company has granted the Company Options that are currently outstanding and the form of all award agreements evidencing such Company Options. No Company Option was granted with an exercise price per share less than the fair market value of the underlying Company Options as of the date such Company Option was granted. All shares of the Company subject to issuance as aforesaid, upon issuance on the terms and conditions specified in the instruments pursuant to which they are issuable, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. No shares of Company Common Stock are subject to vesting as of the date hereof. The Company has no outstanding commitments to grant additional Company Options.
(d) There are no outstanding contractual obligations of the Company or any Company Subsidiary to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of the Company or any capital stock of any Company Subsidiary or to provide funds to or make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in any person other than a Company Subsidiary.
(e) (i) There are no commitments or agreements of any character to which the Company is bound obligating the Company to accelerate the vesting of any Company Option as a result of the proposed transactions herein, and (ii) all outstanding shares of the Company, all outstanding Company Options, and all outstanding shares of capital stock of each Company Subsidiary have been issued and granted in compliance with (A) all applicable securities laws and other applicable laws and (B) all pre-emptive rights and other requirements set forth in applicable contracts to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party.
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(f) Each outstanding share of capital stock of each Company Subsidiary is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and each such share is owned by the Company or another Company Subsidiary free and clear of all Liens, options, rights of first refusal and limitations on the Company’s or any Company Subsidiary’s voting rights, other than transfer restrictions under applicable securities laws and their respective organizational documents.
(g) The stockholders of the Company collectively own directly and beneficially and of record, all of the equity of the Company (which are represented by the issued and outstanding shares of the Company). Except for the shares of the Company held by the stockholders of the Company, no shares or other equity or voting interest of the Company, or options, warrants or other rights to acquire any such shares or other equity or voting interest, of the Company is authorized or issued and outstanding.
(h) All outstanding shares of Company Common Stock and all outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity securities (as applicable) of each Company Subsidiary have been issued and granted in compliance with (A) applicable securities laws and other applicable laws and (B) any pre-emptive rights and other similar requirements set forth in applicable contracts to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party.
SECTION 3.04 Authority Relative to this Agreement. The Company has all necessary power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and, subject to receiving the Company Stockholder Approval (as defined herein), to consummate the Transactions. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the Transactions have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the Transactions. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by Ignyte and Korean Sub, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, by general equitable principles (the “Remedies Exceptions”). The Company Board has approved this Agreement and the Transactions, and such approvals are sufficient so that the restrictions on business combinations set forth in Section 203 of the DGCL shall not apply to the Business Combination, this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or any of the other Transactions. To the knowledge of the Company, no other state takeover statute is applicable to the Business Combination or the other Transactions.
SECTION 3.05 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.
(a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company does not, and subject to receipt of the consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, filings and notifications contemplated by Schedule 3.05(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the performance of this Agreement by the Company will not (i) conflict with or violate the certificate of incorporation or bylaws or any equivalent organizational documents of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, (ii) conflict with or violate any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, executive order, injunction, judgment, decree or other order, in each case, of any Governmental Authority (“Law”) applicable to the Company or any Company Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Company Subsidiary is bound or affected, or (iii) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under, or give to others any right of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a Lien (other than any Permitted Lien) on any material property or asset of the Company or any Company Subsidiary pursuant to, any Material Contract, except, with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii), for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults or other occurrences which do not constitute a Company Material Adverse Effect.
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(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company does not, and the performance of this Agreement by the Company will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to, any United States federal, state, county or local or non-United States government, governmental or quasi-governmental, regulatory or administrative authority or office, any political or other subdivision thereof, agency, instrumentality, bureau, authority, body or commission or any court, tribunal, or judicial or arbitral body (a “Governmental Authority”), except where the failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications, does not constitute a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.06 Permits; Compliance. Each of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries is in possession of all material franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, variances, exceptions, consents, certificates, approvals and orders of any Governmental Authority necessary for each of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries to own, lease and operate its properties or to carry on its business as it is now being conducted (the “Company Permits”), except where the failure to have such Company Permits would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. No suspension or cancellation of any of the Company Permits is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is in conflict with, or in default, breach or violation of, (a) any Law applicable to the Company or any Company Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Company Subsidiary is bound or affected, or (b) any Material Contract or Company Permit, except, in each case, for any such conflicts, defaults, breaches or violations that do not constitute a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.07 Financial Statements.
(a) The Company has made available to Ignyte true and complete copies of the unaudited carve-out consolidated balance sheets and the related unaudited consolidated statements of operations and cash flows of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries in respect of the Company Business for the years ended December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2020 (collectively, the “Carve-Out Prior Financial Statements”), which are attached as Schedule 3.07(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule. Each of the Carve-Out Prior Financial Statements (including the notes thereto) (i) was prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods indicated (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and (ii) fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries in respect of the Company Business as at the date thereof and for the period indicated therein, except as otherwise noted therein and subject to the absence of notes.
(b) Except as and to the extent set forth on the Carve-Out Financial Statements, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has any liability or obligation of a nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) required to be reflected on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for: (i) liabilities that were incurred in the ordinary course of business since the date of the consolidated balance sheet for the year ended December 2021 set forth above (the “2021 Carve-Out Balance Sheet”, (ii) obligations for future performance under any contract to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party, or (iii) liabilities and obligations which are not, individually or in the aggregate, expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Since January 1, 2021, (i) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, employee, auditor, accountant or Representative of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, has received or otherwise had or obtained knowledge of any complaint, allegation, assertion or claim, whether written or, to the knowledge of the Company, oral, regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies or methods of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or their respective internal accounting controls, including any such complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that the Company or any Company Subsidiary has engaged in questionable accounting or auditing practices and (ii) there have been no internal investigations regarding accounting or revenue recognition discussed with, reviewed by or initiated at the direction of the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, general counsel, the Company Board or any committee thereof.
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(d) To the knowledge of the Company, no employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary has provided or is providing information to any law enforcement agency regarding the commission or possible commission of any crime or the violation or possible violation of any applicable Law. None of the Company, any Company Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company any officer, employee, contractor, subcontractor or agent of the Company or any such Company Subsidiary has discharged, demoted, suspended, threatened, harassed or in any other manner discriminated against an employee of the Company or any Company Subsidiary in the terms and conditions of employment because of any act of such employee described in 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1514A(a).
(e) All accounts receivable of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries reflected on the Financial Statements or arising after the date of the 2021 Carve-Out Balance Sheet have arisen from bona fide transactions in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices and in accordance with GAAP and are collectible, subject to bad debts reserved in the Financial Statements. To the knowledge of the Company, such accounts receivable are not subject to valid defenses, setoffs or counterclaims, other than routine credits granted for errors in ordering, shipping, pricing, discounts, rebates, returns in the ordinary course of business and other similar matters. The Company’s reserve for contractual allowances and doubtful accounts is adequate in all material respects and has been calculated in a manner consistent with past practices. Since December 31, 2021, neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has modified or changed in any material respect its sales practices or methods including, without limitation, such practices or methods in accordance with which the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries record revenue.
(f) All accounts payable of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries reflected on the Financial Statements or arising after the date of the 2021 Carve-Out Balance Sheet are the result of bona fide transactions in the ordinary course of business and have been paid or are not yet due or payable. Since December 31, 2021, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have not altered in any material respects their practices for the payment of such accounts payable, including the timing of such payment.
SECTION 3.08 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Since December 31, 2021, and prior to the date of this Agreement, except as otherwise reflected in the Financial Statements, or as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, (a) the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses in all material respects in the ordinary course and in a manner consistent with past practice, (b) the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have not sold, assigned or otherwise transferred any right, title, or interest in or to any of their material assets (including Intellectual Property and Business Systems) other than non-exclusive licenses or assignments or transfers in the ordinary course of business, (c) there has not been any Company Material Adverse Effect, and (d) none of the Company or any Company Subsidiary has taken any action that, if taken after the date of this Agreement, would constitute a material breach of any of the covenants set forth in Section 5.01.
SECTION 3.09 Absence of Litigation. There is no material litigation, suit, claim, action, proceeding, audit or investigation by or before any Governmental Authority (an “Action”) pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any Company Subsidiary, or any directors, officers or employees thereof, or any property or asset of the Company or any Company Subsidiary before any Governmental Authority. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary nor any material property or asset of the Company or any Company Subsidiary is, subject to any continuing order of, consent decree, settlement agreement or other similar written agreement with, or, to the knowledge of the Company, continuing investigation by, any Governmental Authority, or any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award of any Governmental Authority.
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SECTION 3.10 Employee Benefit Plans.
(a) All employment and consulting contracts or agreements to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party, and with respect to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary has any obligation have been made available to Ignyte. Schedule 3.10(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists, as of the date of this Agreement, all employee benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) or similar Laws applicable to the Company) and all bonus, commission, stock option, stock purchase, restricted stock, incentive, deferred compensation, retiree medical or life insurance, supplemental retirement, severance, change in control, employment, fringe benefit, sick pay and vacation or paid time off plans or arrangements or other compensation and employee benefit plans, programs or arrangements, in each case which are maintained, contributed to or sponsored by the Company or any Company Subsidiary for the benefit of any current or former employee, officer, director and/or consultant, or under which the Company or any Company Subsidiary has or could incur any liability (contingent or otherwise) (collectively, the “Plans”).
(b) With respect to each Plan, the Company has made available to Ignyte, if applicable (i) a true and complete copy of the current plan document (or written summaries of any unwritten Plans) and all amendments thereto and each trust or other funding arrangement, (ii) copies of the most recent summary plan description and any summaries of material modifications thereto, and (iii) any material non-routine correspondence from any Governmental Authority with respect to any Plan within the past three (3) years. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has any express commitment to modify, change or terminate any Plan, other than with respect to a modification, change or termination required by ERISA or the Code, or other applicable Law.
(c) None of the Plans is or was within the past six (6) years, nor does the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate have or reasonably expect to have any liability or obligation under (i) a multiemployer plan (within the meaning of Section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA), (ii) a single employer pension plan (within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA) subject to Section 412 of the Code and/or Title IV of ERISA, and (iii) a multiple employer plan subject to Section 413(c) of the Code. The Company does not have or reasonably expect to have any liability under a multiple employer welfare arrangement under ERISA. None of the Plans that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has ever held employer securities or employer real property as a plan asset. For purposes of this Agreement, “ERISA Affiliate” shall mean any entity that together with another person would be deemed a “single employer” with such person for purposes of Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA and/or Sections 414(b), (c) and/or (m) of the Code.
(d) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is nor will be obligated, whether under any Plan or otherwise, to pay separation, severance, termination or similar benefits to any person directly as a result of any Transaction contemplated by this Agreement (or any related event, such as termination of employment, preceding or following this Agreement), nor will any such Transaction accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or increase the amount, of any benefit or other compensation due to any individual (or any related event, such as termination of employment, preceding or following this Agreement).
(e) None of the Plans provides, nor does the Company nor any Company Subsidiary have or reasonably expect to have any obligation to provide retiree medical, life, disability or other health benefits to any current or former employee, officer, director or consultant of the Company or any Company Subsidiary after termination of employment or service except as may be required under Section 4980B of the Code and Parts 6 and 7 of Title I of ERISA and the regulations thereunder or any similar State coverage continuation Law.
(f) Each Plan is and has been within the past six (6) years administered in compliance with its terms and, in all respects, in compliance with the requirements of all applicable Laws including, without limitation, ERISA and the Code. The Company and its ERISA Affiliates have performed, in all respects, all obligations required to be performed by them under, are not in any respect in default under or in violation of, and have no knowledge of any default or violation in any respect by any party to, any Plan that has resulted or is reasonably likely to result in liability to the Company or any Company Subsidiary. No Action is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened with respect to any Plan (other than claims for benefits in the ordinary course) and, to the knowledge of the Company, no fact or event exists that would reasonably be expected to give rise to any such Action.
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(g) No Plan is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code or Section 401(k) of the Code.
(h) There has not been any non-exempt prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) nor any reportable events (within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA) with respect to any Plan. There have been no acts or omissions by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate that have given or could reasonably be expected to give rise to any material fines, penalties, taxes or related charges under Sections 502 or 4071 of ERISA or Section 511 or Chapter 43 of the Code for which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate may be liable.
(i) All contributions, premiums or payments required to be made with respect to any Plan have been timely made to the extent due or properly accrued on the consolidated financial statements of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary maintains, administers or has any liability (contingent or otherwise) with respect to a defined benefit plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA or other applicable Law. Each Plan required to be funded by applicable Law or the terms of such Plan has been, is and will be materially funded as of the Closing, subject to and to the extent required by applicable Law or the relevant Plan.
(j) Each of the Company Subsidiaries subject to U.S. Law and each of the Company’s ERISA Affiliates has complied in all material respects with the applicable notice and continuation coverage requirements, and all other requirements, of Section 4980B of the Code and Parts 6 and 7 of Title I of ERISA, and the regulations thereunder, with respect to each Plan that is, or was during any taxable year for which the statute of limitations on the assessment of federal income taxes remains open, by consent or otherwise, a group health plan within the meaning of Section 5000(b)(1) of the Code.
(k) Each Plan that is a “group health plan” as defined in Section 733(a)(1) of ERISA (each, a “Health Plan”) is and has been in compliance, with the applicable provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, as amended (“PPACA”), and no event has occurred, and no condition or circumstance exists, that would reasonably be expected to subject the Company, any ERISA Affiliate or any Health Plan to any liability for penalties or excise taxes under Code Section 4980D or 4980H or any other provision of the PPACA.
(l) Each Plan that constitutes a nonqualified deferred compensation plan subject to Section 409A of the Code has been documented, administered and operated in compliance with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, and no additional Tax under Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code has been or would reasonably be expected to be incurred by a participant in any such Plan.
(m) The Company does not have any agreements nor has it made any promises to “gross up” any Person for any taxes, including any taxes pursuant to Section 409A or Section 4999 of the Code.
SECTION 3.11 Labor and Employment Matters.
(a) Schedule 3.11(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, correct and complete list of all employees of the Company and any Company Subsidiary as of the date hereof, including any employee who is on a leave of absence of any nature, authorized or unauthorized, and sets forth for each such individual the following: (i) title or position (including whether full or part time); and (ii) location and employing entity. All employees of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries are employed at will. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, as of the date hereof, all compensation, including wages, commissions and bonuses and any termination indemnities, due and payable to all current and former employees of the Company and any Company Subsidiary for services performed on or prior to the date hereof have been paid in full (or accrued in full in the Company’s financial statements).
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(b) (i) There are no Actions pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any Company Subsidiary by any of their respective current or former employees or other service providers, which Actions would be material to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (ii) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is, nor have been for the past five (5) years, a party to, bound by, or negotiating any collective bargaining agreement or other contract with a union, works council or labor organization applicable to persons employed by the Company or any Company Subsidiary, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, are there any activities or proceedings of any labor union to organize any such employees; (iii) there are no unfair labor practice complaints threatened or pending against the Company or any Company Subsidiary before the National Labor Relations Board or similar state or foreign labor relations agency; and (iv) there has never been, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, has there ever been any threat of any strike, slowdown, work stoppage, lockout, concerted refusal to work overtime or other similar labor disruption or dispute with respect to the Company or any Company Subsidiary.
(c) The Company and the Company Subsidiaries are and have been in compliance in all respects with all applicable Laws and contracts relating to the employment, employment practices, employment discrimination, harassment and retaliation, terms and conditions of employment, termination and discharge, mass layoffs and plant closings (including the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, as amended, and any similar state, local or foreign Law (collectively, the “WARN Act”), or any similar state or local Laws), reasonable accommodation, disability rights or benefits, immigration, hiring, meal and rest breaks, overtime, payroll documents and wage statements, pay equity, affirmative action obligations, workers’ compensation, family and medical leave, sick leave, occupational safety and health requirements (including any federal, state or local Laws and orders by Governmental Entities related to COVID-19), and all Laws related to wages, hours, collective bargaining and the payment and withholding of taxes and other sums and social contributions as required by the appropriate Governmental Authority and are not liable for any arrears of wages, taxes, social contributions, penalties or other sums for failure to comply with any of the foregoing. The Company and each of its Company Subsidiaries are in compliance with the requirements of the Immigration Reform Control Act of 1986. All current and former employees of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, as applicable, have at all times been properly classified as exempt or non-exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and applicable state wage and hour Laws. All current and former independent contractors and temporary workers of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries, as applicable, have been properly classified. There have been no misclassification claims filed or threatened against the Company or any Company Subsidiary by any current or former employees, independent contractors or temporary workers or by any Governmental Authority.
(d) (i) The Company and each Company Subsidiary have complied and are in compliance in all material respects with, have not materially violated, and are not in material violation of, and have not received any notices of material non-compliance or violation or alleged material non-compliance or violation with respect to, any Law relating or pertaining to COVID-19; and (ii) the Company and each Company Subsidiary have taken reasonable steps to minimize potential workplace exposure in light of COVID-19, and the Company has delivered to Ignyte accurate and complete copies of all (1) workplace communications from the Company and any Company Subsidiary to employees regarding actions or changes in workplace schedules, employee travel, remote work practices, onsite meetings, or other changes that have been implemented in response to COVID-19; (2) contingency plans for workplace cessation in light of COVID-19; and (3) policies implemented in relation to COVID-19.
(e) There has been and will be no layoff, plant closing, termination, redundancy or any other forms of employment losses in the six-month period prior to the Closing that would trigger the obligations of the Company or any Company Subsidiary under the WARN Act.
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(f) In the past five (5) years, there have been no allegations of sexual harassment or misconduct involving any current or former director, officer, employee or independent contractor of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, and neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has entered into any settlement agreements related to allegations of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct by any current or former director, officer, employee or independent contractor of the Company or any Company Subsidiary.
(g) Section 3.11(h) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth, as of the date hereof, a true, correct and complete list of all of the independent contractors, consultants, temporary employees, and leased employees employed or used by the Company or any Company Subsidiary and classified by the Company or any Company Subsidiary as other than employees, or compensated other than through wages paid by the Company or any subsidiary through such entity’s payroll department (each, a “Contingent Worker”) of the Company and each Company Subsidiary.
SECTION 3.12 Real Property; Title to Assets.
(a) There is no Owned Real Property.
(b) Schedule 3.12(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists the street address of each parcel of Leased Real Property, and sets forth a list of each lease, sublease, and license pursuant to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary leases, subleases or licenses any real property (each, a “Lease”), with the name of the lessor and the date of the Lease in connection therewith and each material amendment to any of the foregoing (collectively, the “Lease Documents”). True, correct, and complete copies of all Lease Documents have been made available to Ignyte. Except as otherwise set forth in Schedule 3.12(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (i) there are no leases, subleases, concessions, or other contracts granting to, and neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is a party to any lease, sublease, concession or other contract granting to the Company or Company Subsidiaries, the right to use or occupy any real property, and (ii) all such Leases are in full force and effect, are valid and enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, subject to the Remedies Exceptions, and there is not, under any of such Leases, any existing default or event of default (or event which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) by the Company or any Company Subsidiary or, to the Company’s knowledge, by the other party(ies) to such Leases, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, allow the landlord under such Lease to terminate such Lease or otherwise be material to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary, has leased, subleased, sublicensed or otherwise granted to any person any right to use, occupy or possess any portion of the Leased Real Property.
(c) There are no contractual or legal restrictions that preclude or restrict the ability of the Company or Company Subsidiary to use any Leased Real Property by such party for the purposes for which it is currently being used. There are no latent defects or adverse physical conditions affecting the Leased Real Property, and improvements thereon, other than those that would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Each of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries has legal and valid title to, or, in the case of Leased Real Property and assets, valid leasehold or subleasehold interests in, all of its properties and assets, including the Target Assets, tangible and intangible, real, personal and mixed, used or held for use in its business, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be material to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
SECTION 3.13 Intellectual Property.
(a) Schedule 3.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule contains a true, correct and complete list of all of the following: (i) Registered Company IP (showing in each, as applicable, the filing date, date of issuance and registration or application number); (ii) other Company-Owned IP material to the Company Business, including material unregistered trademarks and copyrights, (iii) all Patents licensed to the Company on an exclusive basis, including the identity of the licensor and of the owner thereof (if different), (iv) all Company Software, (v) all Company Products, (vi) all Company Services, (vii) all Business Systems owned or purported to be owned by the Company or any Company Subsidiary that would have a replacement cost of more than $50,000; and (viii) all other Company-Licensed IP that is material to the Company Business. The Intellectual Property specified on Schedule 3.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule constitutes all material Intellectual Property rights used or held for use in the operation of the Company Business and is sufficient for the conduct of the Company Business.
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(b) The Company or one of the Company Subsidiaries solely and exclusively owns and possesses, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), all right, title and interest in and to the Company-Owned IP, all Company Products, and all Company Services. The consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not result in (a) any loss or impairment of the Company’s or any Company Subsidiary’s right to own or use any Company IP, including any loss of exclusivity or decrease in license scope, (b) any increase in royalty or other payment obligations of the Company or of any Company Subsidiary, (c) the grant of any new license, or an increase in the scope of any license granted by the Company or any Company Subsidiary, or (d) any other change in the terms or conditions applicable to the Company IP immediately prior to the Closing. All Company-Owned IP is subsisting and, excluding any Registered Company IP that consists solely of an application for registration, and to the Company’s knowledge, is valid and enforceable. No Governmental Authority has issued any judgement, decree, executive order, or award materially adversely affecting the validity or enforceability of the Company’s or the Company Subsidiaries’ ownership or us of, or rights in or to, any Registered Company IP. All Registered Company IP is currently in compliance with all applicable legal requirements. There is no loss or expiration of any of the Company-Owned IP or Company-Licensed IP pending, and to the Company’s knowledge, no such loss or expiration is threatened.
(c) The Company and each of its applicable Company Subsidiaries have taken reasonable actions to maintain, protect and enforce Intellectual Property rights in and to all Company-Owned IP, all Patents licensed to the Company on an exclusive basis for the Company Business all Company Products, and all Company Services, including the secrecy, confidentiality and value of its trade secrets, Personal Information and other Confidential Information. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiaries have disclosed any trade secrets, Personal Information or other Confidential Information that is material to the business of the Company and/or any applicable Company Subsidiaries to any other person other than pursuant to a written confidentiality agreement under which such other person agrees to maintain the confidentiality and protect such trade secrets, Personal Information and Confidential Information.
(d) (i) There have been no claims filed and served, or threatened in writing (including email), against the Company or any Company Subsidiary in any forum, by any person during the past three (3) years (A) contesting the validity, use, ownership, enforceability, patentability or registrability of any of the Company IP or Patents licensed to the Company on an exclusive basis for the Company Business, or (B) alleging any infringement, violation or misappropriation of, or other conflict with, any Intellectual Property rights of other persons (including any demands or unsolicited offers to license any Intellectual Property rights from any other person); (ii), the operation of the Company Business (including the use, development, manufacture, marketing, license, sale, distribution or furnishing of any Company Software, Company Products, and/or Company Services) has not and does not infringe, misappropriate or violate, any Intellectual Property rights of other persons or constitute, unfair competition or trade practices under the Laws of any applicable jurisdiction; (iii) to the knowledge of the Company, no person, including any employee or former employee of Company or any Company Subsidiary, has infringed, misappropriated or violated any of the Company-Owned IP or any Patents licensed to the Company on an exclusive basis for the Company Business; (iv) none of the Company-Owned IP, and/or Patents licensed to the Company on an exclusive basis for the Company Business, Company Products, and/or Company Services are subject to any proceeding, or outstanding order, agreement, settlement or stipulation restricting in any manner the use, enforcement, development, manufacture, marketing, licensing, sale, distribution, furnishing or disposition by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries of any Company-Owned IP, and/or Patents licensed to the Company on an exclusive basis for the Company Business, Company Products, and/or Company Services; and (v) neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has received any formal written opinions of counsel regarding any of the foregoing.
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(e) All persons who have contributed, developed or conceived (each, a “Contributor”) any Intellectual Property (i) for or on behalf of Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries, or (ii) in the course of and related to his, her, or its relationship with the Company or the applicable Company Subsidiary (in each case a “Contribution”) have executed valid, written agreements with the Company or one of the Company Subsidiaries, substantially in the form made available to Korean Sub or Ignyte, and pursuant to which such persons have irrevocably assigned to the Company or the applicable Company Subsidiary all of their entire right, title, and interest in and to any Contribution and, to the extent applicable, waived moral rights without further future consideration or any restrictions or obligations whatsoever, including on the use or other disposition or ownership of such Intellectual Property. All such assignments are enforceable and fully effective to vest sole and exclusive ownership of any and all Contributions in the Company or the applicable Company Subsidiary and were made in compliance with all requirements of applicable Law, including if required, a timely agreement formalizing such transfer, payment of remuneration, and registration with the applicable Governmental Authority. No current or former officer, employee, or Contingent Worker of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries: (A) is, nor has been, in violation of any term or covenant of any agreement (including, without limitation, any employment or settlement agreement or stipulation) with any other person, or any order or judgment of any court, arbitrator or other Governmental Authority, by virtue of such employee or Contingent Worker being employed by, performing services for, or developing Intellectual Property used by, the Company or any Company Subsidiary, or is, nor has been while such employee or Contingent Worker has been employed by, performed services for, or developed Intellectual Property used by, the Company or any Company Subsidiary, using trade secrets or proprietary information of others without permission; (B) has any right, license, claim or interest whatsoever in or with respect to any Company IP; or (C) has developed any Intellectual Property for the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries that is subject to any agreement under which such employee or Contingent Worker has assigned or otherwise granted to any third party any rights in or to such Intellectual Property.
(f) Neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries or, to the Company’s knowledge, any other person is in material breach or in material default of any agreement required to be disclosed in Schedules 3.13(e) or 3.13(k) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.
(g) The Company does not own or rely on any proprietary Software and the only Software used in the Company Business is Off-the-Shelf Software.
(h) Open Source.
(i) All use, licensing, providing, delivery and distribution of Company Software, Company Products, Company Services and Open Source Materials by or through the Company and each of the Company Subsidiaries is in full compliance with all Open Source Licenses applicable thereto, including all copyright notice and attribution requirements.
(ii) Schedule 3.13(h)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, correct and complete list of all Open Source Materials incorporated or embedded into, or combined or linked with, any Company Software, Company Products and/or Company Services, or otherwise used by the Company, including in development or testing of any Company Software, Company Products and/or Company Services, and (A) identifies the Open Source License applicable thereto, and (B) describes the manner in which such Open Source Materials were or are used by the Company and/or distributed or made available by the Company to any other person.
(iii) The Company has not incorporated, embedded, bundled, used, distributed, linked, or otherwise provided any Open Source Materials into, with, or in connection with any Company Software, Company Products and/or Company Services in a manner that requires any Company Software, Company Products and/or Company Services, any products or Software of any other person (including Company’s customers, licensees, or vendors), or any portion thereof, or any other Intellectual Property, to be subject to Copyleft Licenses, or requires the Company, any Company Subsidiary, Ignyte, any of Ignyte’s affiliates, or any other person (including any of Company’s customers, licensees, or vendors) to grant any Patent license or other Patent rights.
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(i) The Company and/or one of the Company Subsidiaries owns, leases, licenses, or otherwise has the legal right to use all Business Systems, and such Business Systems are sufficient for the immediate and anticipated future needs of the Company Business. There has never been any material failure with respect to any of the Business Systems that has not been remedied. The Company and each of the Company Subsidiaries maintain business continuity and disaster recovery plans consistent with industry standards for companies with similar resources in the same sector. The Company and each of the Company Subsidiaries have purchased a sufficient number of seat licenses for their Business Systems.
(j) The Company and each of the Company Subsidiaries currently and previously have complied with (i) all applicable Privacy/Data Security Laws, (ii) any applicable privacy, data protection, security and other policies and procedures of the Company and/or the Company Subsidiary, respectively, concerning the processing, collection, disclosure, dissemination, storage, security, sale or use of Personal Information, Confidential Information or other Business Data, (iii) industry standards to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is bound, and (iv) all Program Requirements (as defined below) and contractual commitments that the Company or any Company Subsidiary has entered into or is otherwise bound with respect to privacy, data protection, transfer and/or security (collectively, the “Data Security Requirements”). At all times, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have each implemented and maintained, and have required third parties that process Personal Information or Confidential Information for or on behalf of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries to implement and maintain, a written information security program and reasonable and industry standard physical, technical and administrative security safeguards to protect the security and integrity of its Business Systems, Personal Information, Confidential Information and any Business Data, including conducting regular vulnerability scans, risk assessments and remediation activities and implementing industry standard procedures preventing unauthorized access, modification, disclosure, misuse, loss, or unavailability of the foregoing and/or the introduction of Disabling Devices (“Program Requirements”). Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiaries has inserted, and no other person has inserted or alleged to have inserted any Disabling Device in any of the Business Systems, Company Software, Company Product and/or Company Service. Neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has (x) experienced any data or security breaches or unauthorized access, modification, disclosure, misuse, loss, or unavailability of Personal Information, Business Data, Business Systems, Company Software, Company Product and/or Company Service including those that were required to be reported under applicable Data Security Requirements; or (y) been subject to or received written notice of any audits, proceedings or investigations by any Governmental Authority or any person, or received any material claims or complaints regarding the processing, collection, disclosure, dissemination, storage, security, sale, or use of Personal Information or Confidential Information, or the violation of any applicable Data Security Requirements, and, to the Company’s knowledge, there is no reasonable basis for the same. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has engaged in the sale of Personal information. The Company and the Company Subsidiaries have valid and legal rights to process all Personal Information and Confidential Information that is processed by or on behalf of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, and the execution, delivery, or performance of this Agreement will not affect these rights or violate any applicable Data Security Requirements.
(k) The Company and/or one of the Company Subsidiaries (i) exclusively owns and possesses all right, title and interest in and to the Business Data free and clear of any restrictions of any nature or (ii) has all rights to use, exploit, publish, reproduce, process, distribute, license, sell, and create derivative works of the Business Data, in whole or in part, in the manner in which the Company and the Company Subsidiaries receive and use such Business Data prior to the Closing Date. The Company and the Company Subsidiaries are not subject to any Data Security Requirements or other legal obligations, including based on the Transactions contemplated hereunder, that would prohibit Korean Sub or Ignyte from receiving or using Personal Information or other Business Data, in the manner in which the Company and the Company Subsidiaries receive and use such Personal Information and other Business Data prior to the Closing Date or result in liabilities in connection with Data Security Requirements. No employee, officer, director, or agent of Korean Sub or Ignyte has been debarred or otherwise forbidden by any applicable Law or any Governmental Authority (including judicial or agency order) from involvement in the operations of a business such as that of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries.
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(l) All current officers, management employees, technical and professional employees, and Contingent Workers of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries are under obligation to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries to maintain in confidence all confidential or proprietary information acquired by them in the course of their employment and to assign to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries all Intellectual Property made by them within the scope of their employment during such employment. To the Company’s knowledge, no past or current officers, management employees, technical or professional employees, and Contingent Workers of the Company or any Company Subsidiaries are in breach of any such obligations to the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries.
(m) No person other than the Company or the Company Subsidiaries has any ownership interest in or exclusive rights to any Intellectual Property incorporated in the Company Software, Company Products or the Company Services, any Company-Owned IP, or any improvements made by or for the Company or the Company Subsidiaries to any Company Software, Company Products or Company Services.
(n) During the past five (5) years, neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has (i) transferred ownership of, or granted any exclusive license or exclusive right under or with respect to, or authorized the retention of any exclusive right with respect to or joint ownership of, any Intellectual Property or technology that is or was at any time owned or purported to be owned by the Company or any Company Subsidiary to any other person; (ii) abandoned, sold, transferred, assigned, exclusively licensed, or otherwise disposed of any Company-Owned IP, Patents licensed to the Company on an exclusive basis, Company Software, Company Products, and/or Company Services, or any other Intellectual Property developed or otherwise acquired by the Company or by any Company Subsidiary; or (iii) granted to any person any right to bring any claim or cause of action arising out of or related to infringement, misappropriation or violation of any Company-Owned IP or any Patent licensed to the Company on an exclusive basis.
(o) Neither this Agreement nor any transactions contemplated by this Agreement will result in any of the following under or pursuant to any Contracts to which the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries is a party, or by which any assets or properties of the Company or of any of the Company Subsidiaries are bound: (i) any person being granted rights or access to, or the placement in or release from escrow of, any Software source code or other technology, (ii) Ignyte or any of its affiliates granting to any person any ownership interest in, or any license, covenant not to sue or right under or with respect to, any Intellectual Property or technology, or (iii) Ignyte or any of its affiliates or any of their Intellectual Property being bound by, or subject to, any non-compete or other restriction on the operation or scope of their respective businesses, or any obligation to make any payment to any other person in connection with Intellectual Property or commercial Contracts.
(p) Schedule 3.13(p) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, correct and complete list of all Contracts pursuant to which any person (i) has been provided any Company Software in source code format, or any formula, bill of materials or other information enabling such person to produce or reproduce any Company Product or Company Service, or any other material, product, substance or process developed or otherwise commercialized by the Company or by any Company Subsidiary, or (ii) has obtained or may obtain rights to receive any Company Software in source code form, or any formula, bill of materials or other information enabling such person to produce or reproduce any Company Product or Company Service, or any other material, product, substance or process developed or otherwise commercialized by the Company or by any Company Subsidiary, through or from the Company or any Company Subsidiary, any escrow agent or any other person. The Company has not disclosed or delivered to any escrow agent or any other person any source code for any Company Software or any formula, bill of materials or other information enabling such person to produce or reproduce any Company Product or Company Service, or any other material, product, substance or process developed or otherwise commercialized by the Company or by any Company Subsidiary, and no person has any right, contingent or otherwise, to obtain access to or use any such source code.
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(q) No Governmental Authority, and no other national, multi-national, bi-national or international governmental organization, governmental research center, university, college, other educational institution, foundation, research center or non-profit institution (collectively, “Institutions”) provided or provides funding, facilities, personnel, Intellectual Property, technology, research, equipment, or other resources for the invention, creation, development or registration of any Company-Owned IP, Patents licensed to the Company on an exclusive basis, Company Software, Company Products, and/or Company Services, or has any rights to any of the foregoing.
(r) To the knowledge of the Company, no person has infringed, misappropriated, misused or violated, or is infringing, misappropriating, misusing or violating, any Company-Owned IP, Patents licensed to the Company on an exclusive basis, Company Software, Company Products, and/or Company Services. The Company has not made any claim against any person alleging any infringement, misappropriation, misuse or violation of any Company-Owned IP, Patents licensed to the Company on an exclusive basis, Company Software, Company Products, and/or Company Services.
(s) Schedule 3.13(r) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, correct and complete list of all Outbound IP Licenses. None of the Outbound IP Licenses will, after the Closing, apply to Ignyte or Ignyte’s affiliates other than the Company.
(t) Schedule 3.13(s) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, correct and complete list of all Inbound IP Licenses, excluding Contracts for Off-the-Shelf Software or licenses for Open Source Materials.
(u) The Company has paid, in full, all mandatory compensation the Company is required to pay to employees, contractors and consultants of the Company in relation to all Company-Owned IP, and neither this Agreement nor any transactions contemplated by this Agreement will result in any further amounts being payable to any current or former employees, contractors or consultants of the Company in relation to any Company-Owned IP.
(v) The Company has not made, directly or indirectly, any commitments, promises, submissions, suggestions, statements or declarations to any standards-setting bodies, industry groups or other similar organizations (“Standards Organizations”) (including any commitments, promises, submissions, suggestions, statements or declarations that would obligate the Company or any Company Subsidiary to grant licenses to any person or otherwise impair or limit the Company’s or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries’ control of any Company-Owned IP.
(w) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has received any notice or request to indemnify, defend or hold harmless any Person with respect to any claim of infringement, misappropriation, misuse or violation of any Intellectual Property during the past five (5) years.
(x) Each Company Product and Company Service conforms in all material respects to the specifications and documentation therefor, all applicable contractual commitments and express and implied warranties therefor, and all applicable Laws. Other than individual warranty or other claims in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, neither the Company, nor any Company Subsidiary has received notice of any actual or threatened action, claim or legal proceeding, or indicating an intention on the part of any person to bring any action, claim or legal proceeding, and no action, claim or legal proceeding has been filed by any person or is otherwise pending before any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Company Product, Company Software or Company Service, or the breach of any Contract with respect to any Company Product, Company Software and Company Service (including, without limitation, breach of any epidemic failure provision).
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SECTION 3.14 Customers and Suppliers.
(a) Schedule 3.14(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list of (i) those customers of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries with purchases from the Company and/or the Company Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis that have exceeded $100,000 during either of the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (collectively, the “Top Customers”) and (ii) those suppliers of or vendors to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries with sales to the Company and/or the Company Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis that have exceeded $100,000 during either of the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (collectively, the “Top Suppliers”).
(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.14(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule:
(A) | Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has any outstanding disputes with any Top Customer. No Top Customer has terminated, cancelled, or modified, or has, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened to terminate, cancel or modify or expressed any material dissatisfaction with, its business relationship with the Company or any Company Subsidiary. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has received any notice that any Top Customer intends to cease or substantially reduce its business with the Company or any Company Subsidiary after the announcement of this Agreement and/or the Closing. | |
(B) | Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has any outstanding disputes concerning products and/or services provided to the Company or to any Company Subsidiary by any Top Supplier, and there is no material dissatisfaction on the part of the Company or any Company Subsidiary with respect to any Top Supplier. No Top Supplier has terminated, cancelled or modified, or, to knowledge of the Company, threatened to terminate, cancel or modify or expressed any material dissatisfaction with, its business relationship with the Company or with any Company Subsidiary. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has received any notice that any Top Supplier intends to cease or substantially reduce its business with the Company or with any Company Subsidiary after the announcement of this Agreement and/or the Closing. The Company and each Company Subsidiary has access, on commercially reasonable terms, to all products and services reasonably necessary to carry on the Business as presently conducted and, no Top Supplier has notified the Company or any Company Subsidiary of any circumstance in existence that would cause the Company or any Company Subsidiary to not have such access on commercially reasonable terms following Closing as reasonably necessary to carry on the Business as presently conducted by the Company or any Company Subsidiary. |
SECTION 3.15 Taxes.
(a) The Company and each of its Company Subsidiaries: (i) have duly and timely filed (taking into account any extension of time within which to file) all income and other material Tax Returns required by Law to be filed by any of them and all such filed Tax Returns are complete and accurate in all material respects; (ii) have timely paid all Taxes required by Law to be paid (whether or not shown on any Tax Return), except with respect to Taxes that are being contested in good faith through appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with Korea IFRS and that are disclosed in Schedule 3.15(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, and no material penalties or charges are due with respect to the late filing of any Tax Return required to be filed by or with respect to any of them on or before the Effective Time; (iii) with respect to all income and other material Tax Returns filed by or with respect to any of them, have not waived any statute of limitations with respect to Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency; (iv) do not have any deficiency, assessment, claim, audit, examination, investigation, litigation or other proceeding, in each case, in respect of Taxes or Tax matters pending, asserted or proposed or threatened in writing by a Governmental Authority, for a Tax period which the statute of limitations for assessments remains open; and (v) have provided adequate reserves in accordance with Korea IFRS in the most recent consolidated financial statements of the Company, for any material Taxes of the Company that have not been paid, whether or not shown as being due on any Tax Return.
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(b) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is a party to, is bound by or has an obligation under any Tax sharing agreement, Tax indemnification agreement, Tax allocation agreement or similar contract or arrangement (including any agreement, contract or arrangement providing for the sharing or ceding of credits or losses) or has a potential liability or obligation to any person as a result of or pursuant to any such agreement, contract, arrangement or commitment other than an agreement, contract, arrangement or commitment entered into in the ordinary course of business the primary purpose of which does not relate to Taxes.
(c) None of the Company and its Company Subsidiaries will be required to include any material item of income in, or exclude any material item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of any: (i) change in method of accounting for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date under Section 481(c) of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign income Tax law); (ii) “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign income Tax law) executed on or prior to the Closing Date; (iii) installment sale or open transaction disposition made on or prior to the Closing Date; (iv) intercompany transaction or any excess loss account described in Treasury Regulations under Section 1502 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign income Tax Law) entered into or created on or prior to the Closing Date; or (v) prepaid amount received on or prior to the Closing Date outside the ordinary course of business.
(d) Each of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries has withheld and paid to the appropriate Tax authority all material Taxes required by Law to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts, or benefits under any Plan, paid or owing to any current or former employee, Contingent Worker, creditor, shareholder or other third party and has complied in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules and regulations relating to the payment and withholding of Taxes.
(e) No person holds shares of Company Common Stock that are non-transferable and subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture within the meaning of Section 83 of the Code with respect to which a valid election under Section 83(b) of the Code has not been timely made.
(f) Schedule 3.15(f) of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists all service providers of the Company and any Company Subsidiary who are reasonably believed by the Company to be “disqualified individuals” (within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code). None of the Company, any Company Subsidiary or any affiliate of the Company has made any payments, or is obligated to make any payments or is a party to any Plan or Contract or other benefit that would reasonably be expected to obligate it to make any payments that would not be deductible under Section 280G of the Code or result in the payment of an excise tax by any person under Section 4999 of the Code.
(g) Neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated, combined or unitary U.S. federal, state, local or foreign income Tax Return (other than a group of which the Company was the common parent).
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(h) Neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has any liability for the Taxes of any person (other than the Company and the Company Subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law), as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise.
(i) Neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries (i) has any request for a ruling in respect of Taxes pending between the Company or any Company Subsidiary and any Tax authority; or (ii) has entered into any closing agreement, private letter ruling technical advice memoranda or similar agreements with any Tax authority.
(j) The Company has made available to Ignyte true, correct and complete copies of the Tax Returns filed by the Company and its Company Subsidiaries for tax years 2019, 2020, and 2021.
(k) With the exception of the Spin-Off, neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has in any year for which the applicable statute of limitations remains open distributed stock of another person, or has had its stock distributed by another person, in a transaction that was purported or intended to be governed in whole or in part by Section 355 or Section 361 of the Code.
(l) Neither the Company nor any of its Company Subsidiaries has engaged in or entered into a “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(2).
(m) Neither the IRS nor any other United States or non-United States taxing authorities or agencies has asserted in writing or, to the knowledge of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries, has threatened to assert against the Company or any Company Subsidiary any deficiency or claim for any Taxes or interest thereon or penalties in connection therewith.
(n) There are no Tax liens upon any assets of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries except for Permitted Liens.
(o) None of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries has been a United States real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code. None of the Company and its Company Subsidiaries: (A) is a “controlled foreign corporation” as defined in Section 957 of the Code, (B) is a “passive foreign investment company” within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code, or (C) has received written notice from the Republic of Korea or other taxing authority that it has a permanent establishment (within the meaning of an applicable Tax treaty) or otherwise has an office or fixed place of business in a country other than the country in which it is organized.
(p) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has received written notice of any claim for a Tax authority in a jurisdiction in which the Company or such Company Subsidiary does not file Tax Returns stating that the Company or such Company Subsidiary is or may be subject to Tax in such jurisdiction, which claim currently remains unresolved.
(q) As used in this Agreement, (i) the term “Tax” (including, with correlative meaning, the term “Taxes,”) includes all federal, state, local and foreign income, profits, franchise, gross receipts, environmental, capital stock, severances, stamp, payroll, sales, employment, unemployment, disability, use, property, withholding, excise, production, value added, social insurance, customs, duties, tariffs, occupancy and other fees, assessments or governmental charges in the nature of a tax, together with all interest, penalties and additions imposed with respect to such amounts and any interest in respect of such penalties and additions, and (ii) the term “Tax Return” includes all returns and reports (including customs entries and summaries, elections, declarations, disclosures, schedules, estimates and information returns, as well as attachments thereto and amendments thereof), in each case, supplied or required to be supplied to a Tax authority relating to Taxes.
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SECTION 3.16 Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Company and the Company Subsidiaries possess such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them; and, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, all such Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect; and neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries have received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses.
SECTION 3.17 Regulatory Matters. There is no legal or governmental proceeding to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party or of which any property or assets of the Company or any subsidiary is the subject, including any proceeding before any Governmental Authorities which singularly or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company or any Company Subsidiary, could reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; and to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by Governmental Authorities or threatened by others. The Company and each Company Subsidiary are in compliance with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, regulations, orders and decrees governing its business, or any other federal, state or foreign agencies or bodies engaged in the regulation of biopharmaceuticals, except where noncompliance would not, singularly or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect. All preclinical studies and clinical trials, conducted by or on behalf of the Company and any Company Subsidiary are being and have been conducted by the Company or any Company Subsidiary, or to the Company’s knowledge, by third parties, in compliance with all applicable protocols, standard medical and scientific research procedures, and federal, state or foreign laws, rules, orders and regulations, except for such failure or failures to be in compliance as could not reasonably be expected to have, singularly or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. Each description of the results of studies is accurate and complete in all material respects and fairly presents the data derived from such studies or trials. The Company is not aware of any other preclinical studies or clinical trials, the results of which reasonably call into question the results; and the Company has not received any notices or correspondence from any Governmental Authority requiring the termination, suspension, material modification or clinical hold of any preclinical studies or clinical trials conducted by or on behalf of the Company. Neither the Company nor its subsidiaries, nor any of its or their respective officers, employees or directors, nor any of its or their respective agents or clinical investigators, has been excluded, suspended, disqualified or debarred from participation, for example, in any U.S. federal health care program or human clinical research or is subject to a governmental inquiry, investigation, proceeding, or other similar action that would reasonably be expected to result in debarment, disqualification, suspension, or exclusion, or convicted of any crime or engaged in any conduct that would reasonably be expected to result in debarment under 21 U.S.C. § 335a or comparable foreign law. The Company and the Company Subsidiaries have made all filings and obtained all approvals, including approvals to conduct preclinical studies and clinical trials, as may be required any Government Authorities to conduct such studies or trials; and the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have not received any notice of, or correspondence from, any Governmental Authorities requiring the termination, suspension or modification of any of its preclinical studies or clinical trials.
SECTION 3.18 Healthcare Laws. To the Company’s knowledge, the Company: (i) has operated and currently operates its business in compliance with applicable provisions of the health care laws, including all federal, state and local laws and regulations of any Governmental Authority applicable to the ownership, testing, development, manufacture, packaging, processing, use, distribution, storage, import, export or disposal of any of the Company's or the Company Subsidiaries’ product candidates, (collectively the “Health Care Laws”) except as would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Company Material Adverse Effect; (ii) has not received any written notice of adverse finding, warning letter, untitled letter or other correspondence or notice from any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority alleging or asserting non-compliance with (A) any Health Care Laws or (B) or any licenses, approvals, clearances, exemptions, permits, registrations, authorizations, and supplements or amendments thereto required by any such Health Care Laws (“Regulatory Authorizations”); (iii) possesses all material Regulatory Authorizations required to conduct the business as currently conducted and such Regulatory Authorizations are valid and in full force and effect and the Company is not in violation in any material respect of any term of any such Regulatory Authorizations; (iv) has not received notice of any claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration or other action (“Proceeding”) from any Governmental Authority including any regulatory agency or any other third party alleging a material violation of any Health Care Laws or Regulatory Authorizations or limiting, suspending, modifying, or revoking any material Regulatory Authorizations, and has no knowledge that any Governmental Authority including any regulatory agencies or any other third party is considering any Proceeding; (v) has filed, obtained, maintained or submitted all material reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments as required by any Health Care Laws or Regulatory Authorizations (“Reports”) and that all such Reports were materially complete and correct on the date filed (or were materially corrected or supplemented by a subsequent submission); and (vii) is not a party to or has no ongoing reporting obligations pursuant to any corporate integrity agreements, deferred prosecution agreements, monitoring agreements, consent decrees, settlement orders, plans of correction or similar agreements with or imposed by any Governmental Authority including any regulatory agencies.
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SECTION 3.19 Environmental Matters. (a) None of the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has materially violated since January 1, 2019 or is in material violation of any Environmental Law or any permit, license or other authorization required of each of the Company and each Company Subsidiary under applicable Environmental Law (“Environmental Permit”) and all past non-compliance has been resolved without ongoing obligations or costs; (b) there has been no Release of Hazardous Substances at any of the properties or facilities currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by the Company or any Company Subsidiary or at any location or facility where wastes from the business or assets of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries are disposed of or recycled; (c) none of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries is, in any material respect, actually, potentially or allegedly liable pursuant to applicable Environmental Laws for any off-site contamination by Hazardous Substances; (d) each of the Company and each Company Subsidiary has timely obtained and maintained all Environmental Permits; (e) all Environmental Permits are in full force and effect and there are no facts or circumstances that would be reasonably expected to result in the revocation or modification of any Environmental Permit; (f) none of the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries is the subject of any claims, actions or suits relating to Hazardous Substances or arising under Environmental Laws, and there are no facts or circumstances that would be reasonably expected to result in any future claims, liabilities or actions; (g) none of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries is subject to any material outstanding order, writ, judgment, injunction, temporary restraining order, stipulation, determination, decree or award of any Governmental Authority under Environmental Laws and all other orders, writs, judgments, injunctions, temporary restraining orders, stipulations, determinations, decrees or awards of any Governmental Authority under Environmental Laws have been resolved without material ongoing obligations or costs; (h) no consent, approval or authorization of or registration or filing with any Governmental Authority is required by Environmental Laws or Environmental Permits in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (i) none of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries has assumed, undertaken, or provided an unexpired indemnity with respect to any material liability, in each case relating to Hazardous Substances or relating to Environmental Law; and (j) the Company has made available to Ignyte correct and complete copies of all environmental reports, environmental health and safety audits or inspections, and material documents related to any Proceeding or unresolved material liability arising under Environmental Laws relating to the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries or their current or former properties, facilities or operations.
SECTION 3.20 Material Contracts.
(a) Schedule 3.20(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists, as of the date of this Agreement, the following types of contracts and agreements to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party (such contracts and agreements as are required to be set forth Schedule 3.20(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule along with any Plan listed on Schedule 3.10(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule being the “Material Contracts”):
(i) each Contract with consideration paid or payable to the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries of more than $100,000, in the aggregate, over the past 12 months;
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(ii) each Contract involving expenditures paid or payable by the Company or any Company Subsidiary of more than $100,000, in the aggregate, over the past 12 months;
(iii) all broker, distributor, dealer, manufacturer’s representative, franchise, agency, sales promotion, market research, marketing consulting and advertising contracts and agreements to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party that are material to the business of the Company;
(iv) all management and employment contracts (excluding at-will contracts for employment or at-will offer letters that do not contain any severance or change of control provisions) and all contracts with Contingent Workers, including any contracts involving the payment of royalties or other amounts calculated based upon the revenues or income of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or income or revenues related to any Product of the Company or any Company Subsidiary to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party;
(v) all collective bargaining agreements or other contracts with any labor union; (vi) all contracts and agreements evidencing indebtedness for borrowed money in an amount greater than $100,000, and any pledge agreements, security agreements or other collateral agreements in which the Company or any Company Subsidiary granted to any person a security interest in or lien on any of the property or assets of the Company or any Company Subsidiary;
(vii) all partnership agreements or other joint venture agreements, or any Contract involving a distributor, reseller, sales representative, marketing, or advertising arrangement;
(viii) all contracts relating to the settlement of any material internal complaint, grievance, claim, investigation, or other dispute with the Company or any of its Company Subsidiaries;
(ix) all contracts and agreements with any Governmental Authority to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party, other than any Company Permits;
(x) all contracts and agreements that limit, or purport to limit, the ability of the Company or any Company Subsidiary to compete in any line of business or with any person or entity or in any geographic area or during any period of time, excluding customary confidentiality agreements and agreements that contain customary confidentiality clauses;
(xi) all contracts or arrangements that result in any person or entity holding a power of attorney from the Company or any Company Subsidiary that relates to the Company, any Company Subsidiary or their respective businesses;
(xii) all leases or master leases of personal property reasonably likely to result in annual payments of $100,000 or more in a 12-month period;
(xiii) each Contract that includes any grant by the Company or any Company Subsidiary to any person of any express license, right or covenant not to sue with respect to any Patents, other than a nonexclusive license granted incidental to a sale of Company Products, license of Company Software, or provision of Company Services.
(xiv) any Contract that grants any (A) exclusive license, supply, distribution or other rights, (B) “most favored nation” rights, (C) rights of first refusal, rights of first negotiation or similar rights or (D) exclusive rights to purchase, license or receive any Company Product, Company Software and/or Company Service;
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(xv) any Contract providing for any minimum or guaranteed payments by the Company to any Person;
(xvi) any Contract that contains indemnification obligations of the Company in excess of $1,000,000 or pursuant to which the Company may reasonably incur liability in excess of $1,000,000 (including any Contract with an uncapped liability obligation for the Company or for any Company Subsidiary);
(xvii) any Contract that requires a consent (including any assignment consent) to or otherwise contains a provision relating to a “change of control” required to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or that would prohibit or delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and
(xviii) all agreements or instruments guarantying the debts or other obligations of any person.
(b) (i) Each Material Contract is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, the other parties thereto, and neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is in material breach or violation of, or material default under, any Material Contract nor has any Material Contract been canceled by the other party; (ii) to the Company’s knowledge, no other party is in material breach or violation of, or material default under, any Material Contract; and (iii) the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have not received any written, or to the knowledge of the Company, oral claim of default under any such Material Contract. The Company has furnished or made available to Ignyte true and complete copies of all Material Contracts, including amendments thereto that are material in nature.
SECTION 3.21 International Trade Laws.
(a) The Company and the Company Subsidiaries are, and have been for the past five years, in compliance in all material respects with all International Trade Laws applicable to them. Without limiting the foregoing: (i) the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have obtained all export and import licenses and other approvals required for their respective imports and exports of products, software and technologies required by any International Trade Law, and all such approvals and licenses are in full force and effect; (ii) the Company and the Company Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such applicable export and import licenses or other approvals; (iii) there are no claims pending or threatened in writing against any Company or Company Subsidiaries with respect to such export and import licenses or other approvals; and (iv) the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have processes in place to ensure that any imported merchandise into the United States is properly declared, marked and labeled in accordance with all U.S. Laws at the time of importation.
(b) The Company and the Company Subsidiaries have not, to its knowledge,
(i) re-exported, transferred, or brokered the sale of any goods, services, technology, or technical data to any destination to which, or individual for whom, a license or other authorization is required under the International Trade Laws;
(ii) exported, re-exported, or transferred any goods, services, technology, or technical data to, on behalf of, or for the benefit of any person or entity identified on, any restricted party lists maintained by the U.S. Government, including the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, and Foreign Sanctions Evaders List, maintained by Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Denied Persons List, Entity List, Military End User List, or Unverified List, maintained by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security;
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(iii) exported, re-exported, or transferred any goods, services, technology, or technical data that have been or will be (A) used for any purposes associated with nuclear activities, missiles, chemical or biological weapons, or terrorist activities, or (B) used, transshipped, or diverted contrary to applicable International Trade Laws;
(iv) exported, re-exported, transferred, or imported any goods, services, technology, or technical data to or from Burma/Myanmar, Cuba, Crimea, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria or Venezuela during a time at which such country or region and/or its government was subject to U.S. comprehensive trade embargoes under OFAC regulations, the Export Administration Regulations, or any other applicable statute or executive order;
(v) manufactured any defense article as defined in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, including within the United States and without regard to whether such defense article was subsequently exported, without being registered and in good standing with the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, U.S. Department of State; or
(vi) received from any governmental authority or any other person any notice, inquiry, or internal or external allegation, or made any voluntary or involuntary disclosure to a governmental authority concerning any actual or potential violation or wrongdoing related to International Trade Laws.
(c) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary nor any director of or officer of any of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or, to the Company’s knowledge (as defined in the relevant International Trade Laws), any other representative or agent acting on behalf of the Company or any Company Subsidiary is currently identified on the Specially Designated Nationals List or otherwise currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC. The Company and the Company Subsidiaries have not, directly or indirectly in the last five years, used any funds, or loaned, contributed or otherwise made available such funds to any Company Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person, in connection with any transactions, sales or operations in violation of U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC or for the purpose of unlawfully financing the activities of any person currently subject to, or otherwise in violation of, any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.
SECTION 3.22 Insurance.
(a) Schedule 3.22(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth, with respect to each insurance policy under which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is an insured, a named insured or otherwise the principal beneficiary of coverage as of the date of this Agreement the names of the insurer, the principal insured and each named insured that is the Company or any Company Subsidiary.
(b) With respect to each such insurance policy: (i) the policy is legal, valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms (subject to the Remedies Exceptions) and, except for policies that have expired under their terms in the ordinary course, is in full force and effect; (ii) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is in material breach or default (including any such breach or default with respect to the payment of premiums or the giving of notice), and no event has occurred which, with notice or the lapse of time, would constitute such a breach or default, or permit termination or modification, under the policy; (iii) to the knowledge of the Company, no insurer on the policy has been declared insolvent or placed in receivership, conservatorship or liquidation; and (iv) no insurer has indicated in writing or, to the knowledge of the Company otherwise, that it will be cancelling or reducing coverage.
SECTION 3.23 Board and Stockholder Approval. The Company Board, by resolutions duly adopted by unanimous vote of those voting at a meeting duly called and held and not subsequently rescinded or modified in any way, or by unanimous written consent, has duly (a) reviewed relevant materials in regard to the Business Combination, (b) approved the Business Combination and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination and declared its advisability, and (c) the stockholders of the Company have given the Requisite Approval of the Business Combination and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination and have authorized and directed the representative director of the Company to enter into all agreements he deems necessary to effectuate the Business Combination and to take such actions he deems necessary, appropriate or advisable to consummate the Business Combination. No further vote or authorization is required of the Company’s Board of Directors or Stockholders to adopt this Agreement and approve the Transactions.
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SECTION 3.24 Anti-Corruption Laws.
(a) The Company and its Subsidiaries are, and for the last six years have been, in compliance with all applicable Anti-Corruption Laws.
(b) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiaries, nor any shareholders, officers, directors, executives, employees, agents, or representatives of the Company or any Company Subsidiaries, has used, offered, authorized, promised, provided, paid, or received, whether directly or indirectly through a third party, on behalf of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or in connection with the Company’s or any Company Subsidiary’s business, any bribes, kickbacks, or anything else of value, regardless of form or amount, to any entity or person for any improper purpose, including for obtaining or retaining business or securing an improper business advantage.
(c) The Company and all Company Subsidiaries have adopted and maintained adequate policies, procedures, and controls to ensure that the Company and all Company Subsidiaries have complied and are in compliance with all Anti-Corruption Laws.
(d) The Company and all Company Subsidiaries have at all times maintained accounting and financial controls adequate to ensure that: (i) all payments and activities have been accurately recorded in the books, records and accounts of the Company and all Company Subsidiaries; (ii) there have been no false, inaccurate, misleading, or incomplete entries made in the Company's books, records, and accounts; and (iii) the Company and all Company Subsidiaries have not established or maintained any secret or unrecorded funds or accounts. The books, records, and accounts of the Company and all Company Subsidiaries accurately reflect in reasonable detail the character and amount of all transactions, and the Company and all Company Subsidiaries have not had or maintained any bank or other financial account that is not or was not accurately disclosed in their books, records, and accounts.
(e) Neither the U.S. government nor any other Governmental Authority has notified the Company or any Company Subsidiary of any actual or alleged violation or breach of Anti-Corruption Laws. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has undergone and is not undergoing any review, investigation, inspection, or examination of records relating to the Company’s or any Company Subsidiary’s compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has been and is now under any administrative, civil, or criminal investigation, prosecution, or indictment, and are not party to any actions involving alleged false statements, false claims or other improprieties relating to the Company’s or any Company Subsidiary’s compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws.
SECTION 3.25 Interested Party Transactions. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.25 of the Company Disclosure Schedule and for employment relationships and the payment of compensation, benefits and expense reimbursements and advances in the ordinary course of business, no director, officer or other affiliate of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, to the Company’s knowledge, has or has had, directly or indirectly: (a) an economic interest in any person that has furnished or sold, or furnishes or sells, services or Products that the Company or any Company Subsidiary furnishes or sells, or proposes to furnish or sell; (b) an economic interest in any person that purchases from or sells or furnishes to, the Company or any Company Subsidiary, any goods or services; (c) a beneficial interest in any contract or agreement disclosed in Schedule 3.20(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule; or (d) any contractual or other arrangement with the Company or any Company Subsidiary, other than customary indemnity arrangements; provided, however, that ownership of no more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding voting stock of a publicly traded corporation shall not be deemed an “economic interest in any person” for purposes of this Section 3.25. The Company and the Company Subsidiaries have not, since January 1, 2019, (i) extended or maintained credit, arranged for the extension of credit or renewed an extension of credit in the form of a personal loan to or for any director or executive officer (or equivalent thereof) of the Company, or (ii) materially modified any term of any such extension or maintenance of credit.
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SECTION 3.26 Exchange Act. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is currently (or has previously been) subject to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
SECTION 3.27 Brokers. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.27 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company or any Company Subsidiary.
SECTION 3.28 Exclusivity of Representations and Warranties. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Article III (as modified by the Company Disclosure Schedule), the Company hereby expressly disclaims and negates, any other express or implied representation or warranty whatsoever (whether at Law or in equity) with respect to the Company, its affiliates, and any matter relating to any of them, including their affairs, the condition, value or quality of the assets, liabilities, financial condition or results of operations, or with respect to the accuracy or completeness of any other information made available to Ignyte, its affiliates or any of their respective Representatives by, or on behalf of, Company, and any such representations or warranties are expressly disclaimed. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, neither Company nor any other person on behalf of Company has made or makes, any representation or warranty, whether express or implied, with respect to any projections, forecasts, estimates or budgets made available to Ignyte, its affiliates or any of their respective Representatives of future revenues, future results of operations (or any component thereof), future cash flows or future financial condition (or any component thereof) of the Company (including the reasonableness of the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing), whether or not included in any management presentation or in any other information made available to Ignyte, its affiliates or any of their respective Representatives or any other person, and that any such representations or warranties are expressly disclaimed.
ARTICLE IV.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF IGNYTE AND KOREAN SUB
Except as set forth in the Ignyte SEC Reports (to the extent the qualifying nature of such disclosure is readily apparent from the content of such Ignyte SEC Reports, but excluding disclosures referred to in “Forward-Looking Statements”, “Risk Factors”, and any other disclosures therein to the extent they are of a predictive or cautionary nature or related to forward-looking statements) (it being acknowledged that nothing disclosed in such a SEC Report will be deemed to modify or qualify the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.01 (Corporate Organization), Section 4.03 (Capitalization), and Section 4.04 (Authority Relative to This Agreement)), Ignyte hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:
SECTION 4.01 Corporate Organization.
(a) Each of Ignyte and Korean Sub is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has the requisite corporate power and authority and all necessary governmental approvals to own, lease, and operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, except where the failure to have such power, authority and governmental approvals would not be a Ignyte Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Korean Sub is the only subsidiary of Ignyte. Except for Korean Sub, Ignyte does not directly or indirectly own any equity or similar interest in, or any interest convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any equity or similar interest in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture or business association or other person.
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SECTION 4.02 Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. Each of Ignyte and Korean Sub has heretofore furnished to the Company complete and correct copies of the Ignyte Organizational Documents and the Korean Sub Organizational Documents. The Ignyte Organizational Documents and the Korean Sub Organizational Documents are in full force and effect. Neither Ignyte nor Korean Sub is in violation of any of the provisions of the Ignyte Organizational Documents and the Korean Sub Organizational Documents, respectively.
SECTION 4.03 Capitalization.
(a) The authorized capital stock of Ignyte consists of (i) 51,000,000 shares of Ignyte Common Stock, and (ii) 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Ignyte Preferred Stock”). As of the date of this Agreement (i) 7,287,500 shares of Ignyte Common Stock are issued and outstanding (which includes 5,750,000 shares subject to Redemption Rights), all of which are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to any preemptive rights, (ii) no shares of Ignyte Common Stock are held in the treasury of Ignyte, (iii) 5,375,000 Ignyte Warrants are issued and outstanding, and (iv) 5,375,000 shares of Ignyte Common Stock are reserved for future issuance pursuant to the Ignyte Warrants. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no shares of Ignyte Preferred Stock issued and outstanding. Each Ignyte Warrant is exercisable for one share of Ignyte Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50.
(b) As of the date of this Agreement, the authorized capital stock of Korean Sub consists of 1,000,000 shares of common stock, par value KRW 5,000 per share (the “Korean Sub Common Stock”). As of the date hereof, 100 shares of Korean Sub Common Stock are issued and outstanding. All outstanding shares of Korean Sub Common Stock have been duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and are non-assessable and are not subject to preemptive rights and are held by Ignyte free and clear of all Liens, other than transfer restrictions under applicable securities laws and the Korean Sub Organizational Documents.
(c) All outstanding Ignyte Units, shares of Ignyte Common Stock and Ignyte Warrants have been issued and granted in compliance with all applicable securities laws and other applicable Laws and were issued free and clear of all Liens other than transfer restrictions under applicable securities laws and the Ignyte Organizational Documents.
(d) The Aggregate Closing Consideration being delivered by Ignyte hereunder shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and each such share or other security shall be issued free and clear of preemptive rights and all Liens, other than transfer restrictions under applicable securities laws and the Ignyte Organizational Documents. The Aggregate Closing Consideration will be issued in compliance with all applicable securities Laws and other applicable Laws and without contravention of any other person’s rights therein or with respect thereto.
(e) Except for securities issued pursuant to the PIPE Subscription Agreements, securities issued by Ignyte as permitted by this Agreement and the Ignyte Warrants, Ignyte has not issued any options, warrants, preemptive rights, calls, convertible securities or other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments of any character relating to the issued or unissued capital stock of Ignyte or obligating Ignyte to issue or sell any shares of capital stock of, or other equity interests in, Ignyte. All shares of Ignyte Common Stock subject to issuance as aforesaid, upon issuance on the terms and conditions specified in the instruments pursuant to which they are issuable, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. Neither Ignyte nor any subsidiary of Ignyte is a party to, or otherwise bound by, and neither Ignyte nor any subsidiary of Ignyte has granted, any equity appreciation rights, participations, phantom equity or similar rights. Ignyte is not a party to any voting trusts, voting agreements, proxies, shareholder agreements or other agreements with respect to the voting or transfer of Ignyte Common Stock or any of the equity interests or other securities of Ignyte or any of its subsidiaries. There are no outstanding contractual obligations of Ignyte to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of Ignyte Common Stock. There are no outstanding contractual obligations of Ignyte to make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in, any person.
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SECTION 4.04 Authority Relative to This Agreement. Each of Ignyte and Korean Sub have all necessary power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the Transactions. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of Ignyte and Korean Sub and the consummation by each of Ignyte and Korean Sub of the Transactions, have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Ignyte or Korean Sub are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the Transactions (other than (a) with respect to the Business Combination, the approval and adoption of this Agreement by the holders of a majority of the then-outstanding shares of Ignyte Common Stock and by Ignyte as the stole stockholder of Korean Sub, and (b) with respect to the issuance of Ignyte Common Stock and the amendment and restatement of the Ignyte Certificate of Incorporation pursuant to this Agreement, the approval of a majority of the then-outstanding shares of Ignyte Common Stock). This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Ignyte and Korean Sub and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Company, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Ignyte and Korean Sub, enforceable against Ignyte and Korean Sub in accordance with its terms subject to the Remedies Exceptions.
SECTION 4.05 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.
(a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of Ignyte and Korean Sub do not, and the performance of this Agreement by each of Ignyte and Korean Sub will not, (i) conflict with or violate the Ignyte Organizational Documents or the Korean Sub Organizational Documents, (ii) assuming that all consents, approvals, authorizations and other actions described in Section 4.05(b) have been obtained and all filings and obligations described in Section 4.05(b) have been made, conflict with or violate any Law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to each of Ignyte or Korean Sub or by which any of their property or assets is bound or affected, or (iii) result in any breach of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a Lien on any property or asset of each of Ignyte or Korean Sub pursuant to, any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other instrument or obligation to which each of Ignyte or Korean Sub is a party or by which each of Ignyte or Korean Sub or any of their property or assets is bound or affected, except, with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii), for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults or other occurrences which would not have or reasonably be expected to have a Ignyte Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of Ignyte and Korean Sub do not, and the performance of this Agreement by each of Ignyte and Korean Sub will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to, any Governmental Authority, except (i) for applicable requirements, if any, of the Exchange Act, Blue Sky Laws and state takeover laws, and filing and recordation of appropriate documents as required by the DGCL and (ii) where the failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications, would not, individually or in the aggregate, prevent or materially delay consummation of any of the Transactions or otherwise prevent Ignyte or Korean Sub from performing its material obligations under this Agreement.
SECTION 4.06 Compliance. Neither Ignyte nor Korean Sub is or has been in conflict with, or in default, breach or violation of, (a) any Law applicable to Ignyte or Korean Sub or by which any property or asset of Ignyte or Korean Sub is bound or affected, or (b) any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other instrument or obligation to which Ignyte or Korean Sub is a party or by which Ignyte or Korean Sub or any property or asset of Ignyte or Korean Sub is bound, except, in each case, for any such conflicts, defaults, breaches or violations that would not have or reasonably be expected to have a Ignyte Material Adverse Effect. Each of Ignyte and Korean Sub is in possession of all material franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, variances, exceptions, consents, certificates, approvals, and orders of any Governmental Authority necessary for Ignyte or Korean Sub to own, lease and operate its properties or to carry on its business as it is now being conducted.
SECTION 4.07 SEC Filings; Financial Statements; Sarbanes-Oxley.
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(a) Ignyte has filed all forms, reports, schedules, statements and other documents, including any exhibits thereto, required to be filed by it with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) since January 28, 2021, together with any amendments, restatements or supplements thereto (collectively, the “Ignyte SEC Reports”). Ignyte has heretofore furnished to the Company true and correct copies of all amendments and modifications that have not been filed by Ignyte with the SEC to all agreements, documents and other instruments that previously had been filed by Ignyte with the SEC and are currently in effect. As of their respective dates, the Ignyte SEC Reports (i) complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the Exchange Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and (ii) did not, at the time they were filed, or, if amended, as of the date of such amendment, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Each director and executive officer of Ignyte has filed with the SEC on a timely basis all documents required with respect to Ignyte by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(b) Each of the financial statements (including, in each case, any notes thereto) contained in the Ignyte SEC Reports was prepared in accordance with GAAP (applied on a consistent basis) and Regulation S-X and Regulation S-K, as applicable, throughout the periods indicated (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto or, in the case of unaudited financial statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC) and each fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial position, results of operations, changes in stockholders equity and cash flows of Ignyte as at the respective dates thereof and for the respective periods indicated therein, (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal and recurring year-end adjustments which have not had, and would not reasonably be expected to individually or in the aggregate be material). Ignyte has no off-balance sheet arrangements that are not disclosed in the Ignyte SEC Reports. No financial statements other than those of Ignyte are required by GAAP to be included in the consolidated financial statements of Ignyte.
(c) Except as and to the extent set forth in the Ignyte SEC Reports, neither Ignyte nor Korean Sub has any liability or obligation of a nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) required to be reflected on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for liabilities and obligations arising in the ordinary course of Ignyte ‘sand Korean Sub’s business.
(d) Ignyte is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable listing and corporate governance rules and regulations of Nasdaq.
(e) Ignyte has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act). Such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to Ignyte and other material information required to be disclosed by Ignyte in the reports and other documents that it files or furnishes under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and that all such material information is accumulated and communicated to Ignyte’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to make the certifications required pursuant to Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting Ignyte principal executive officer and principal financial officer to material information required to be included in Ignyte’s periodic reports required under the Exchange Act.
(f) Ignyte maintains systems of internal control over financial reporting that are sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, including policies and procedures sufficient to provide reasonable assurance: (i) that Ignyte maintains records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect, in all material respects, its transactions and dispositions of assets; (ii) that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP; (iii) that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and its board of directors; and (iv) regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of its assets that could have a material effect on its financial statements. Ignyte has delivered to the Company a true and complete copy of any disclosure (or, if unwritten, a summary thereof) by any representative of Ignyte to Ignyte’s independent auditors relating to any material weaknesses in internal controls and any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls that would adversely affect the ability of Ignyte to record, process, summarize and report financial data. Ignyte has no knowledge of any fraud or whistle-blower allegations, whether material, that involve management or other employees or consultants who have or had a significant role in the internal control over financial reporting of Ignyte. Since January 28, 2021, there have been no material changes in Ignyte internal control over financial reporting.
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(g) There are no outstanding loans or other extensions of credit made by Ignyte to any executive officer (as defined in Rule 3b-7 under the Exchange Act) or director of Ignyte. Ignyte has not taken any action prohibited by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
(h) Neither Ignyte (including any employee thereof) nor Ignyte’s independent auditors has identified or been made aware of (i) any significant deficiency or material weakness in the system of internal accounting controls utilized by Ignyte, (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves Ignyte’s management or other employees who have a role in the preparation of financial statements or the internal accounting controls utilized by Ignyte, or (iii) any claim or allegation regarding any of the foregoing.
(i) As of the date hereof, there are no outstanding SEC comments from the SEC with respect to the Ignyte SEC Reports. To the knowledge of Ignyte, none of the Ignyte SEC Reports filed on or prior to the date hereof is subject to ongoing SEC review or investigation as of the date hereof.
SECTION 4.08 Absence of Certain Changes or Events; Transactions with Affiliates. Since January 28, 2021, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, (a) Ignyte has conducted its business in the ordinary course and in a manner consistent with past practice, and (b) there has not been any Ignyte Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the Ignyte SEC Reports, there are no agreements between Ignyte or Korean Sub, on the one hand, and any officer, director, employee, partner, member, manager, direct or indirect equityholder or affiliate of Ignyte, on the other hand.
SECTION 4.09 Absence of Litigation. There is no Action pending or, to the knowledge of Ignyte, threatened against Ignyte, or any property or asset of Ignyte before any Governmental Authority. Neither Ignyte nor any material property or asset of Ignyte is subject to any continuing order of, consent decree, settlement agreement or other similar written agreement with, or, to the knowledge of Ignyte, continuing investigation by, any Governmental Authority.
SECTION 4.10 Board Approval; Vote Required.
(a) The Ignyte Board, by resolutions duly adopted by majority vote of those voting at a meeting duly called and held and not subsequently rescinded or modified in any way, has duly (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are fair to and in the best interests of Ignyte and its stockholders, (ii) approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and declared their advisability, and (iii) recommended that the stockholders of Ignyte approve and adopt this Agreement and the Business Combination, and directed that this Agreement and the Business Combination, be submitted for consideration by the stockholders of Ignyte at the Ignyte Stockholders’ Meeting.
(b) The only vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of Ignyte necessary to approve the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Ignyte Common Stock.
(c) The Korean Sub Board, by resolutions duly adopted by written consent and not subsequently rescinded or modified in any way, has duly (i) determined that this Agreement and the Business Combination are fair to and in the best interests of Korean Sub and its sole stockholder, (ii) approved this Agreement and the Business Combination and declared their advisability, and (iii) recommended that the sole stockholder of Korean Sub approve and adopt this Agreement and approve the Business Combination and directed that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby be submitted for consideration by the sole stockholder of Korean Sub.
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(d) The only vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of Korean Sub is necessary to approve this Agreement, the Business Combination and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement is the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the shares present at the relevant shareholders meeting, representing at least one-third of the outstanding shares of Korean Sub Common Stock.
SECTION 4.11 No Prior Operations of Korean Sub. Korean Sub was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and has not engaged in any business activities or conducted any operations or incurred any obligation or liability, other than as contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 4.12 Brokers. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.12, no broker, finder, or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Ignyte or Korean Sub.
SECTION 4.13 Ignyte Trust Fund. As of the date of this Agreement, Ignyte has no less than $57,500,000 in the trust fund established by Ignyte for the benefit of its public stockholders (the “Trust Fund”) maintained in a trust account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the “Trust Account”). The monies of such Trust Account are invested in United States Government securities or money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and held in trust by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”) pursuant to the Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of January 27, 2021, between Ignyte and the Trustee (the “Trust Agreement”). The Trust Agreement has not been amended or modified and is valid and in full force and effect and is enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to the Remedies Exceptions. Ignyte has complied in all material respects with the terms of the Trust Agreement and is not in breach thereof or default thereunder and there does not exist under the Trust Agreement any event which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, would constitute such a breach or default by Ignyte or the Trustee. There are no separate contracts, agreements, side letters or other understandings (whether written or unwritten, express or implied): (i) between Ignyte and the Trustee that would cause the description of the Trust Agreement in the Ignyte SEC Reports to be inaccurate in any material respect; or (ii) to the knowledge of Ignyte, that would entitle any person (other than stockholders of Ignyte who shall have elected to redeem their shares of Ignyte Common Stock pursuant to the Ignyte Organizational Documents) to any portion of the proceeds in the Trust Account. Prior to the Closing, none of the funds held in the Trust Account may be released except: (A) to pay income and franchise taxes from any interest income earned in the Trust Account; and (B) upon the exercise of Redemption Rights in accordance with the provisions of the Ignyte Organizational Documents. As of the date hereof, there are no Actions pending or, to the knowledge of Ignyte, threatened in writing with respect to the Trust Account. Upon consummation of the Business Combination and notice thereof to the Trustee pursuant to the Trust Agreement, Ignyte shall cause the Trustee to, and the Trustee shall thereupon be obligated to, release to Ignyte as promptly as practicable, the Trust Funds in accordance with the Trust Agreement at which point the Trust Account shall terminate; provided, however that the liabilities and obligations of Ignyte due and owing or incurred at or prior to the Effective Time shall be paid as and when due, including all amounts payable (a) to stockholders of Ignyte who shall have exercised their Redemption Rights; (b) with respect to filings, applications and/or other actions taken pursuant to this Agreement required under Law; (c) to the Trustee for fees and costs incurred in accordance with the Trust Agreement; and (d) to third parties (e.g., professionals, printers, etc.) who have rendered services to Ignyte in connection with its efforts to effect the Business Combination (including deferred fees owed by Ignyte to EarlyBirdCapital, Inc., pursuant to that certain Underwriting Agreement, dated January 27, 2021, among EarlyBirdCapital, Inc., as representative of the several underwriters thereto and Ignyte). As of the date hereof, assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein and the compliance by the Company with its respective obligations hereunder, Ignyte has no reason to believe that any of the conditions to the use of funds in the Trust Account will not be satisfied or funds available in the Trust Account will not be available to Ignyte at the Effective Time.
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SECTION 4.14 Employees. Other than any officers as described in the Ignyte SEC Reports, Ignyte and Korean Sub have never employed any employees or retained any contractors or consultants. Other than reimbursement of any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Ignyte’s officers and directors in connection with activities on Ignyte’s behalf in an aggregate amount not in excess of the amount of cash held by Ignyte outside of the Trust Account, Ignyte and Korean Sub have no unsatisfied material liability with respect to any employee, officer, or director. Ignyte and Korean Sub have never and do not currently maintain, sponsor, contribute to or have any liability, actual or contingent, including through association with an ERISA Affiliate, under any employment agreement, or any employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA), nonqualified deferred compensation plan subject to Section 409A of the Code, bonus, stock option, stock purchase, restricted stock, incentive, deferred compensation, retiree medical or life insurance, supplemental retirement, change in control, fringe benefit, sick pay, and vacation plans or arrangements or other employee benefit plans, programs or arrangements. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Ignyte nor the consummation of the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement (either alone or in combination with another event) will (i) result in the payment of severance or any other amount to any employee, director, officer or independent contractor of Ignyte or Korean Sub, (ii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or increase the amount, of any benefit or other compensation due to any individual by Ignyte or Korean Sub, (iii) result in an “excess parachute payment” as defined in Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code, or (iv) require a “gross-up,” indemnification for, or payment to any employee, director, officer or independent contractor of Ignyte or Korean Sub for any Taxes imposed under Section 409A or Section 4999 of the Code or otherwise.
SECTION 4.15 Taxes.
(a) Ignyte and Korean Sub (i) have duly and timely filed (taking into account any extension of time within which to file) all material Tax Returns required by Law to be filed by any of them as of the date hereof and all such filed Tax Returns are complete and accurate in all material respects; (ii) have timely paid all Taxes required by Law to be paid that are shown as due on such filed Tax Returns and any other material Taxes that Ignyte or Korean Sub are otherwise required by Law to pay, except with respect to current Taxes not yet due and payable or otherwise being contested in good faith or that are described in clause (a)(v) below; (iii) with respect to all material Tax Returns filed by or with respect to any of them, have not waived any statute of limitations with respect to Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency, which waiver or extension remains outstanding; (iv) do not have any deficiency, assessment, claim, audit, examination, investigation, litigation or other proceeding, in each case, in respect of a material amount of Taxes or material Tax matters pending or threatened in writing by a Governmental Authority, for a Tax period which the statute of limitations for assessments remains open; and (v) have provided adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP in the most recent consolidated financial statements of Ignyte, for any material Taxes of Ignyte that have not been paid, whether or not shown as being due on any Tax Return.
(b) Neither Ignyte nor Korean Sub is a party to, is bound by or has an obligation under any Tax sharing agreement, Tax indemnification agreement, Tax allocation agreement or similar contract or arrangement (including any agreement, contract or arrangement providing for the sharing or ceding of credits or losses) or has a potential liability or obligation to any person as a result of or pursuant to any such agreement, contract, arrangement or commitment other than an agreement, contract, arrangement, or commitment entered into in the ordinary course of business and the primary purpose of which does not relate to Taxes.
(c) None of Ignyte or Korean Sub will be required by Law to include any material item of income in, or exclude any material item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of any: (i) change in method of accounting made on or prior to the Closing Date under Section 481(c) of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign income Tax law); (ii) “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign income Tax law) executed on or prior to the Closing Date; (iii) installment sale or open transaction made on or prior to the Closing Date; (iv) intercompany transaction or any excess loss account described in Treasury Regulations under Code Section 1502 (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign income Tax law) entered into or created on or prior to the Closing Date; or (v) prepaid amount received on or prior to the Closing Date outside the ordinary course of business.
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(d) Neither Ignyte nor Korean Sub has been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated, combined, or unitary U.S. federal, state, local or foreign income Tax Return.
(e) Neither Ignyte nor Korean Sub has any liability for the Taxes of any person under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law), as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise.
(f) Neither Ignyte nor Korean Sub (i) has any request for a ruling in respect of Taxes pending between Ignyte and/or Korean Sub, on the one hand, and any Tax authority, on the other hand, or (ii) has entered into any closing agreement, private letter ruling technical advice memoranda or similar agreements with any Tax authority.
(g) Neither Ignyte nor Korean Sub has in any year for which the applicable statute of limitations remains open distributed stock of another person, or has had its stock distributed by another person, in a transaction that was purported or intended to be governed in whole or in part by Section 355 or Section 361 of the Code.
(h) Neither Ignyte nor Korean Sub has engaged in or entered into a “listed transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(2).
SECTION 4.16 Listing. The issued and outstanding Ignyte Units are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on Nasdaq under the symbol “IGNYU”. The issued and outstanding shares of Ignyte Common Stock are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on Nasdaq under the symbol “IGNY”. The issued and outstanding Ignyte Warrants are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on Nasdaq under the symbol “IGNYW”. As of the date of this Agreement, there is no Action pending or, to the knowledge of Ignyte, threatened in writing against Ignyte by Nasdaq or the SEC with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister the Ignyte Units, the shares of Ignyte Common Stock or Ignyte Warrants or terminate the listing of Ignyte on Nasdaq. None of Ignyte or any of its affiliates has taken any action in an attempt to terminate the registration of the Ignyte Units, the shares of Ignyte Common Stock or the Ignyte Warrants under the Exchange Act.
SECTION 4.17 Ignyte’s and Korean Sub’s Investigation and Reliance. Each of Ignyte and Korean Sub is a sophisticated purchaser and has made its own independent investigation, review and analysis regarding the Company and any Company Subsidiary and the Transactions, which investigation, review and analysis were conducted by Ignyte and Korean Sub together with expert advisors, including legal counsel, that they have engaged for such purpose. Ignyte, Korean Sub and their Representatives have been provided with full and complete access to the Representatives, properties, offices, plants and other facilities, books and records of the Company and any Company Subsidiary and other information that they have requested in connection with their investigation of the Company and Company Subsidiary and the Transactions. Neither Ignyte nor Korean Sub is relying on any statement, representation, or warranty, oral or written, express or implied, made by the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any of their respective Representatives, except as expressly set forth in Article III (as modified by the Company Disclosure Schedule). Neither the Company nor any of its respective stockholders, affiliates or Representatives shall have any liability to Ignyte, Korean Sub or any of their respective stockholders, affiliates or Representatives resulting from the use of any information, documents or materials made available to Ignyte or Korean Sub or any of their Representatives, whether orally or in writing, in any confidential information memoranda, “data rooms,” management presentations, due diligence discussions or in any other form in expectation of the Transactions. Neither the Company nor any of its stockholders, affiliates or Representatives is making, directly or indirectly, any representation or warranty with respect to any estimates, projections or forecasts involving the Company and/or any Company Subsidiary.
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ARTICLE V.
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE BUSINESS COMBINATION
SECTION 5.01 Conduct of Business by the Company Pending the Business Combination.
(a) The Company agrees that, between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time or the earlier termination of this Agreement, except as (1) expressly contemplated by any other provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, (2) necessary to consummate the Spin-Off including contracting for consulting services on reasonable terms, (3) set forth on Schedule 5.01, or (4) required by applicable Law (including COVID-19 Measures as may be requested or compelled by any Governmental Authority), unless Ignyte shall otherwise consent in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed):
(i) the Company shall, and shall cause the Company Subsidiaries to, conduct their business in the ordinary course of business and in a manner consistent with past practice; and
(ii) the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to preserve substantially intact the business organization of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, to keep available the services of the current officers, key employees and Contingent Workers of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries and to preserve the current relationships of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries with customers, suppliers and other persons with which the Company or any Company Subsidiary has significant business relations.
(b) By way of amplification and not limitation, except as (1) expressly contemplated by any other provision of this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement, (2) as set forth in Schedule 5.01 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, and (3) as required by applicable Law (including COVID-19 Measures as may be requested or compelled by any Governmental Authority), the Company shall not, and shall cause each Company Subsidiary not to, between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time or the earlier termination of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, do any of the following without the prior written consent of Ignyte (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed):
(i) amend or otherwise change its articles of incorporation or equivalent organizational documents;
(ii) issue, sell, pledge, dispose of, grant or encumber, or authorize the issuance, sale, pledge, disposition, grant or encumbrance of, (A) any shares of any class of capital stock of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, or any options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights of any kind to acquire any shares of such capital stock, or any other ownership interest (including, without limitation, any phantom interest), of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, other than the sale by the Company of shares of Common Stock for not more than $5,000,000 in the aggregate (the amount of such proceeds received by the Company, if any, the “Post-Signing Investment Amount”), provided that the exercise or settlement of any Company Options or grants of Company Options in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; or (B) any material assets of the Company or any Company Subsidiary except in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;
(iii) declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or other distribution, payable in cash, stock, property or otherwise, with respect to any of its capital stock;
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(iv) reclassify, combine, split, subdivide or redeem, or purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any of its capital stock, other than redemptions of equity securities from former employees upon the terms set forth in the underlying agreements governing such equity securities;
(v) (A) acquire (including, without limitation, by merger, consolidation, or acquisition of stock or assets or any other business combination) any corporation, partnership, other business organization or any division thereof in an amount in excess of $100,000; or (B) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money in excess of $100,000 or issue any debt securities or assume, guarantee or endorse, or otherwise become responsible for, the obligations of any person, or make any loans or advances, or intentionally grant any security interest in any of its assets, in each case, except in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;
(vi) (A) grant any increase in the compensation, incentives or benefits payable or to become payable to any current or former director, officer, employee or Contingent Worker of the Company as of the date of this Agreement, other than increases in base compensation of employees in the ordinary course of business that do not exceed 20% of base compensation, individually or in the aggregate, and increases required by the terms of a Plan or applicable Law, (B) enter into any new, or amend any existing employment or severance or termination agreement with any current or former director, officer, employee or Contingent Worker, (C) accelerate or commit to accelerate the funding, payment, or vesting of any compensation or benefits to any current or former director, officer, employee or Contingent Worker, or (D) terminate or hire, or otherwise enter into any employment or consulting agreement or arrangement with, any person whose compensation would exceed, on an annualized basis, $100,000;
(vii) other than as required by Law or pursuant to the terms of an agreement entered into prior to the date of this Agreement and reflected on Schedule 3.10(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule or that the Company is not prohibited from entering into after the date hereof, grant any severance or termination pay to, any director or officer of the Company or of any Company Subsidiary, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(viii) adopt, amend, and/or terminate any Plan except as may be required by applicable Law, is necessary in order to consummate the Transactions, or health and welfare plan renewals in the ordinary course of business;
(ix) materially amend other than reasonable and usual amendments in the ordinary course of business, with respect to accounting policies or procedures, other than as required by GAAP;
(x) make, change or revoke any material Tax election, amend a material Tax Return or settle or compromise any material United States federal, state, local or non-United States income Tax liability;
(xi) materially amend, or modify or consent to the termination (excluding any expiration in accordance with its terms) of any Material Contract or amend, waive, modify or consent to the termination (excluding any expiration in accordance with its terms) of the Company’s or any Company Subsidiary’s material rights thereunder, in each case in a manner that is adverse to the Company or any Company Subsidiary, taken as a whole, except in the ordinary course of business;
(xii) make any alterations or improvements to the Owned Real Property or the Leased Real Property, or amend any written or oral agreements affecting the Owned Real Property or the Leased Real Property;
(xiii) intentionally permit any material item of Company IP to lapse or to be abandoned, invalidated, dedicated to the public, or disclaimed, or otherwise become unenforceable or fail to perform or make any applicable filings, recordings or other similar actions or filings, or fail to pay all required fees and taxes required or advisable to maintain and protect its interest in each and every material item of Company IP; or
(xiv) enter into any formal or informal agreement or otherwise make a binding commitment to do any of the foregoing.
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SECTION 5.02 Conduct of Business by Ignyte and Korean Sub Pending the Business Combination. Except as expressly contemplated by any other provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (including entering into the PIPE Subscription Agreements and consummating the PIPE Investment, and as required by applicable Law (including any COVID-19 Measures or as may be requested or compelled by any Governmental Authority), Ignyte agrees that from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement and the Effective Time, unless the Company shall otherwise consent in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), the businesses of Ignyte and Korean Sub shall be conducted in the ordinary course of business and in a manner consistent with past practice. By way of amplification and not limitation, except as expressly contemplated by any other provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (including entering into the PIPE Subscription Agreements and consummating the PIPE Investment), or in connection with the terms and conditions of, the PIPE Subscription Agreements, or as required by applicable Law (including any COVID-19 Measures as may be requested or compelled by any Governmental Authority), neither Ignyte nor Korean Sub shall, between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time or the earlier termination of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, do any of the following without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned:
(a) amend or otherwise change the Ignyte Organizational Documents or the Korean Sub Organizational Documents or form any subsidiary of Ignyte other than Korean Sub;
(b) declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or other distribution, payable in cash, stock, property or otherwise, with respect to any of its capital stock, other than redemptions from the Trust Fund that are required pursuant to the Ignyte Organizational Documents;
(c) reclassify, combine, split, subdivide or redeem, or purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any of the Ignyte Common Stock or Ignyte Warrants except for redemptions from the Trust Fund that are required pursuant to the Ignyte Organizational Documents;
(d) other than pursuant to the PIPE Subscription Agreements and the Sponsor Support Agreement, issue, sell, pledge, dispose of, grant or encumber, or authorize the issuance, sale, pledge, disposition, grant or encumbrance of, any shares of any class of capital stock or other securities of Ignyte or Korean Sub, or any options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights of any kind to acquire any shares of such capital stock, or any other ownership interest (including, without limitation, any phantom interest), of Ignyte or Korean Sub;
(e) acquire (including, without limitation, by merger, consolidation, or acquisition of stock or assets or any other business combination) any corporation, partnership, other business organization or enter into any strategic joint ventures, partnerships or alliances with any other person;
(f) engage in any conduct in a new line of business or engage in any commercial activities (other than to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement);
(g) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any such indebtedness of another person or persons, issue or sell any debt securities or options, warrants, calls or other rights to acquire any debt securities of Ignyte, as applicable, enter into any “keep well” or other agreement to maintain any financial statement condition or enter into any arrangement having the economic effect of any of the foregoing, in each case, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
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(h) make any change in any method of financial accounting or financial accounting principles, policies, procedures or practices, except as required by a concurrent amendment in GAAP or applicable Law made subsequent to the date hereof, as agreed to by its independent accountants;
(i) make any material Tax election or settle or compromise any material United States federal, state, local or non-United States income Tax liability, except in the ordinary course consistent with past practice;
(j) liquidate, dissolve, reorganize or otherwise wind up the business and operations of Ignyte or Korean Sub;
(k) amend the Trust Agreement or any other agreement related to the Trust Account;
(l) (i) hire, or otherwise enter into any employment or consulting agreement or arrangement with, any person, (ii) grant any material increase in the compensation of any current or former officer or director, (iii) adopt any benefit plan for the benefit of any current or former officer or director, or (iv) materially amend any existing agreement with any current or former officer or director; or
(m) enter into any formal or informal agreement or otherwise make a binding commitment to do any of the foregoing.
SECTION 5.03 Claims Against Trust Account. The Company agrees that, notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Agreement, the Company does not now have, and shall not at any time prior to the Effective Time have, any claim to, or make any claim against, the Trust Fund, regardless of whether such claim arises as a result of, in connection with or relating in any way to, the business relationship between the Company on the one hand, and Ignyte on the other hand, this Agreement, or any other agreement or any other matter, and regardless of whether such claim arises based on contract, tort, equity or any other theory of legal liability (any and all such claims are collectively referred to in this Section 5.03 as the “Claims”). Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Agreement, the Company hereby irrevocably waives any Claim they may have, now or in the future and will not seek recourse against the Trust Fund for any reason whatsoever in respect thereof; provided, however, that the foregoing waiver will not limit or prohibit the Company from pursuing a claim against Ignyte, Korean Sub or any other person (a) for legal relief against monies or other assets of Ignyte or Korean Sub held outside of the Trust Account or for specific performance or other equitable relief in connection with the Transactions or (b) for damages for breach of this Agreement against Ignyte (or any successor entity) or Korean Sub in the event this Agreement is terminated for any reason and Ignyte consummates a business combination transaction with another party. In the event that the Company commences any action or proceeding against or involving the Trust Fund in violation of the foregoing, Ignyte shall be entitled to recover from the Company the associated reasonable legal fees and costs in connection with any such action, in the event Ignyte prevails in such action or proceeding.
ARTICLE VI.
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
SECTION 6.01 Proxy Statement.
(a) As promptly as practicable after the execution of this Agreement and receipt of the PCAOB Financial Statements, Ignyte (with the assistance and cooperation of the Company as reasonably requested by Ignyte) shall prepare and file with the SEC a joint information statement/proxy statement (as amended or supplemented, the “Proxy Statement”) to be sent to the stockholders of Ignyte and to the stockholders of the Company as an information statement relating to (A) with respect to the Company’s stockholders, for informational purposes and (B) with respect to Ignyte’s stockholders, the meeting of Ignyte’s stockholders (the “Ignyte Stockholders’ Meeting”) to be held to consider approval and adoption of (1) this Agreement and the Business Combination, (2) the issuance of Ignyte Common Stock as contemplated by this Agreement, including the consummation of the PIPE Investment pursuant to the PIPE Subscription Agreements, (3) the second amended and restated Ignyte Certificate of Incorporation as set forth on Exhibit C, (4) the Equity Plan, (6) the classes of the members of the Ignyte Board as of immediately following the Effective Time, (7) the election of the Initial Post-Closing Ignyte Directors to serve as the members of the Ignyte Board as of immediately following the Effective Time and until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified, and (8) any other proposals the parties deem necessary to effectuate the Business Combination (collectively, the “Ignyte Proposals”). The Company shall furnish all information concerning the Company as Ignyte may reasonably request in connection with such actions and the preparation of the Proxy Statement. Ignyte and the Company each shall use their reasonable best efforts to (i) cause the Proxy Statement when filed with the SEC to comply in all material respects with all legal requirements applicable thereto, (ii) respond as promptly as reasonably practicable to and resolve all comments received from the SEC concerning the Proxy Statement, (iii) to keep the Proxy Statement current as long as is necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Prior to the effective date of the Proxy Statement, Ignyte shall take all or any action required under any applicable federal or state securities laws in connection with the issuance of shares of Ignyte Common Stock, in each case to be issued or issuable to the stockholders of the Company pursuant to this Agreement. As promptly as practicable after the Proxy Statement has been resolved of all comments from the SEC, each of the Company and Ignyte shall mail the Proxy Statement to their respective stockholders. Each of Ignyte and the Company shall furnish all information concerning it as may reasonably be requested by the other party in connection with such actions and the preparation of the Proxy Statement.
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(b) No filing of, or amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement, will be made by Ignyte or the Company without the approval of the other party (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed). Ignyte and the Company each will advise the other, promptly after they receive notice thereof, of the time when the Proxy Statement has been resolved of all SEC comments or any supplement or amendment has been filed, of the issuance of any stop order, of the suspension of the qualification of the Ignyte Common Stock to be issued or issuable to the stockholders of the Company in connection with this Agreement for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of any request by the SEC for amendment of the Proxy Statement or comments thereon and responses thereto or requests by the SEC for additional information. Each of Ignyte and the Company shall cooperate and mutually agree upon (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), any response to comments of the SEC or its staff with respect to the Proxy Statement and any amendments or supplements filed in response thereto.
(c) Ignyte represents that the information supplied by Ignyte for inclusion in the Proxy Statement shall not, at (i) the time the Proxy Statement (or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto) is first mailed to the stockholders of Ignyte, (ii) the time of the Ignyte Stockholders’ Meeting, and (iii) the Effective Time, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or fail to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If, at any time prior to the Effective Time, any event or circumstance relating to Ignyte or Korean Sub, or their respective officers or directors, should be discovered by Ignyte which should be set forth in an amendment or a supplement to the Proxy Statement, Ignyte shall promptly inform the Company. All documents that Ignyte is responsible for filing with the SEC in connection with the Business Combination or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement will comply as to form and substance in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(d) The Company represents that the information supplied by the Company for inclusion in the Proxy Statement shall not, at (i) the time the Proxy Statement (or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto) is first mailed to the stockholders of Ignyte, (ii) the time of the Ignyte Stockholders’ Meeting, and (iii) the Effective Time, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or fail to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If, at any time prior to the Effective Time, any event or circumstance relating to the Company or any Company Subsidiary, or their respective officers or directors, should be discovered by the Company which should be set forth in an amendment or a supplement to the Proxy Statement, the Company shall promptly inform Ignyte. All documents that the Company is responsible for filing with the SEC in connection with the Business Combination or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement will comply as to form and substance in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
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SECTION 6.02 Ignyte Stockholders’ Meetings; and Korean Sub Stockholder’s Approval.
(a) Ignyte shall call and hold the Ignyte Stockholders’ Meeting as promptly as practicable after the date on which the Proxy Statement becomes effective for the purpose of voting solely upon the Ignyte Proposals, and Ignyte shall use its reasonable best efforts to hold the Ignyte Stockholders’ Meeting as soon as practicable after the date on which the Proxy Statement has been resolved of all comments from the SEC (but in any event no later than 30 days after the date on which the Proxy Statement is mailed to stockholders of Ignyte). Ignyte shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the approval of the Ignyte Proposals at the Ignyte Stockholders’ Meeting, including by soliciting from its stockholders’ proxies as promptly as possible in favor of the Ignyte Proposals, and shall take all other action necessary or advisable to secure the required vote or consent of its stockholders. The Ignyte Board shall recommend to its stockholders that they approve the Ignyte Proposals and shall include such recommendation in the Proxy Statement.
(b) Promptly following the execution of this Agreement, Ignyte shall approve and adopt this Agreement and approve the Business Combination and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as the sole stockholder of Korean Sub.
SECTION 6.03 [Reserved]
SECTION 6.04 Access to Information; Confidentiality.
(a) From the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time, the Company and Ignyte shall (and shall cause their respective subsidiaries to): (i) provide to the other party (and the other party’s officers, directors, employees, accountants, consultants, legal counsel, agents and other representatives, collectively, “Representatives”) reasonable access at reasonable times upon prior notice to the officers, agents, properties, offices and other facilities of such party and its subsidiaries and to the books and records thereof; and (ii) furnish promptly to the other party such information concerning the business, properties, contracts, assets, liabilities, personnel and other aspects of such party and its subsidiaries as the other party or its Representatives may reasonably request. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Company nor Ignyte shall be required to provide access to or disclose information where the access or disclosure would (i) jeopardize the protection of attorney-client privilege or contravene applicable Law including COVID-19 Measures or (ii) require providing access that such party reasonably determines, in light of COVID-19 or COVID-19 Measures, would jeopardize the health and safety of any employee of such party (it being agreed that the parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause such information to be provided in a manner that would not result in such jeopardy or contravention).
(b) All information obtained by the parties pursuant to this Section 6.04 shall be kept confidential in accordance with the confidentiality agreement, dated February 26, 2021 (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), between Ignyte and the Company.
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SECTION 6.05 Exclusivity.
(a) From the date of this Agreement and ending on the earlier of (i) the Closing and/or (ii) the termination of this Agreement, the Company shall not, and shall cause its Representatives not to, directly or indirectly, (A) enter into, solicit, initiate or continue any discussions or negotiations with, or encourage or respond to any inquiries or proposals by, or participate in any negotiations with, or provide any information to, or otherwise cooperate in any way with, any person or other entity or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, concerning (1) any sale of assets of the Company equal to 5% or more of the Company’s assets or to which 5% or more of the Company’s revenues or earnings are attributable, (2) the issuance or acquisition of 5% or more of the outstanding capital stock (on an as converted to Company Common Stock basis) or other voting securities representing 5% or more of the combined voting power of the Company, or (3) any conversion, consolidation, merger, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction which, if consummated, would result in any person or other entity or group beneficially owning 5% or more of the combined voting power of the Company, other than with Ignyte and its Representatives (an “Alternative Transaction”), (B) enter into any agreement regarding, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions regarding, or furnish to any person any information with respect to, or cooperate in any way that would otherwise reasonably be expected to lead to, any Alternative Transaction, or (C) commence, continue or renew any due diligence investigation regarding any Alternative Transaction; provided, that the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall not be deemed a violation of this Section 6.05(a). The Company shall, and shall cause its affiliates and Representatives to, immediately cease any and all existing discussions or negotiations with any person conducted heretofore with respect to any Alternative Transaction. The Company also agrees that it will promptly request each person (other than the parties hereto and their respective Representatives) that has prior to the date hereof executed a confidentiality agreement in connection with its, his or her consideration of acquiring the Company to return or destroy all Confidential Information furnished to such person by or on behalf of it, him, or her prior to the date hereof. If the Company or any of its Representatives receives any inquiry or proposal with respect to an Alternative Transaction at any time prior to the Closing, then the Company shall promptly (and in no event later than twenty-four (24) hours after the Company become aware of such inquiry or proposal) notify such person in writing that the Company is subject to an exclusivity agreement with respect to the sale of the Company that prohibits it from considering such inquiry or proposal, and will provide Ignyte with a copy of any such written inquiry or proposal or a detailed summary of any such verbal inquiry or proposal, including in each case the identity of the person making such inquiry or proposal. Without limiting the foregoing, the parties agree that any violation of the restrictions set forth in this Section 6.05(a) by the Company or its affiliates or Representatives shall be deemed to be a breach of this Section 6.05(a) by the Company.
(b) From and after the date hereof until the Effective Time or, if earlier, the termination of this Agreement, Ignyte shall not take, nor shall it permit any of its affiliates or Representatives to take, whether directly or indirectly, any action to solicit, initiate, continue or engage in discussions or negotiations with, or enter into any agreement with, or encourage, respond, provide information to or commence due diligence with respect to, any person (other than the Company, its stockholders and/or any of their affiliates or Representatives), concerning, relating to or which is intended or is reasonably likely to give rise to or result in, any offer, inquiry, proposal or indication of interest, written or oral relating to any business combination transaction (a “Business Combination Proposal”) other than with the Company, its stockholders and their respective affiliates and Representatives. Ignyte shall, and shall cause its affiliates and Representatives to, immediately cease any and all existing discussions or negotiations with any person (other than with the Company, its stockholders and their respective affiliates and Representatives) conducted prior to the date hereof with respect to, or which is reasonably likely to give rise to or result in, a Business Combination Proposal.
SECTION 6.06 Employee Benefits Matters.
(a) The parties shall cooperate to establish an equity incentive award plan, wherein Ignyte, upon consummation of the Business Combination, may grant cash and equity incentive awards and compensation to management and eligible service providers, with an initial award pool of Ignyte Common Stock equal to ten percent of the shares of Ignyte Common Stock outstanding as of immediately after the Effective Time (rounded up to the nearest whole share), plus the aggregate number of shares of Ignyte Common Stock underlying the Exchanged Options, which plan shall include an “evergreen” provision pursuant to which such award pool will automatically increase on each January 1st that occurs within the ten year period following shareholder approval of such plan by an amount equal to five percent of the shares of Ignyte Common Stock outstanding as of 12:01 a.m. (Eastern Time) on such date, and which plan shall be effective at and after the Closing (the “Equity Plan”).
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(b) The provisions of this Section 6.06 are solely for the benefit of the parties to the Agreement, and nothing contained in this Agreement, express or implied, shall confer upon any employees or legal representative or beneficiary or dependent thereof, or any other person, any rights or remedies of any nature or kind whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement, whether as a third-party beneficiary or otherwise, including, without limitation, any right to employment or continued employment for any specified period, or level of compensation or benefits. Nothing contained in this Agreement, express or implied, shall constitute an amendment or modification of any employee benefit plan of the Company or shall require the Company or Ignyte, and each of its subsidiaries to continue any Plan or other employee benefit arrangements, or prevent their amendment, modification, or termination.
SECTION 6.07 Notification of Certain Matters. The Company shall give prompt notice to Ignyte, and Ignyte shall give prompt notice to the Company, of any event which a party becomes aware of between the date of this Agreement and the Closing (or the earlier termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article VIII), the occurrence, or non-occurrence of which causes or would reasonably be expected to cause any of the conditions set forth in Article VII to fail to be satisfied at the Closing.
SECTION 6.08 Further Action; Reasonable Best Efforts
(a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, each of the parties hereto shall use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, appropriate action, and to do, or cause to be done, such things as are necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws or otherwise to consummate and make effective the Transactions, including, without limitation, using its reasonable best efforts to obtain all permits, consents, approvals, authorizations, qualifications and orders of Governmental Authorities and parties to contracts with the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as set forth in Section 3.05 necessary for the consummation of the Transactions and to fulfill the conditions to the Business Combination. In case, at any time after the Effective Time, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, the proper officers and directors of each party shall use their reasonable best efforts to take all such action.
(b) Each of the parties shall keep each other apprised of the status of matters relating to the Transactions, including promptly notifying the other parties of any communication it or any of its affiliates receives from any Governmental Authority relating to the matters that are the subject of this Agreement and permitting the other parties to review in advance, and to the extent practicable consult about, any proposed communication by such party to any Governmental Authority in connection with the Transactions. No party to this Agreement shall agree to participate in any meeting with any Governmental Authority in respect of any filings, investigation, or other inquiry unless it consults with the other parties in advance and, to the extent permitted by such Governmental Authority, gives the other parties the opportunity to attend and participate at such meeting. Subject to the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, the parties will coordinate and cooperate fully with each other in exchanging such information and providing such assistance as the other parties may reasonably request in connection with the foregoing. Subject to the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, the parties will provide each other with copies of all material correspondence, filings, or communications, including any documents, information and data contained therewith, between them or any of their Representatives, on the one hand, and any Governmental Authority or members of its staff, on the other hand, with respect to this Agreement and the Transactions contemplated hereby. No party shall take or cause to be taken any action before any Governmental Authority that is inconsistent with or intended to delay its action on requests for a consent or the consummation of the Transactions.
SECTION 6.09 Public Announcements. The initial press release relating to this Agreement shall be a joint press release the text of which has been agreed to by each of Ignyte and the Company. Thereafter, between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date (or the earlier termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article VIII) unless otherwise prohibited by applicable Law or the requirements of Nasdaq, each of Ignyte and the Company shall each use its reasonable best efforts to consult with each other before issuing any press release or otherwise making any public statements with respect to this Agreement, the Business Combination or any of the other Transactions, and shall not issue any such press release or make any such public statement without the prior written consent of the other party. Furthermore, nothing contained in this Section 6.09 shall prevent Ignyte or the Company and/or its respective affiliates from furnishing customary or other reasonable information concerning the Transactions to their investors and prospective investors.
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SECTION 6.10 Tax Matters. To the extent that the SEC or any other Governmental Authority may require that an opinion be provided at or prior to the Closing in respect of the disclosure of the Tax consequences of the Transactions, each of Ignyte and the Company will use its reasonable best efforts and reasonably cooperate with one another and their respective counsel in connection with the issuance to Ignyte or the Company of such opinion, as applicable, described above, including using reasonable best efforts to deliver to the relevant counsel certificates (dated as of the necessary date and signed by an officer of Ignyte or the Company, or their respective affiliates, as applicable) containing customary representations reasonably necessary or appropriate for such counsel to render such opinion. To the extent such opinion relates to Ignyte or any owners thereof, Tax advisors for Ignyte will provide any such opinion, and to the extent such opinion relates to the Company or any owners thereof, Tax advisors for the Company will provide any such opinion, in each case, to the extent reasonably possible subject to customary assumptions and limitations and consistent with such Tax advisor’s internal policies.
SECTION 6.11 Stock Exchange Listing. Ignyte will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Aggregate Closing Consideration issued in connection with the Transactions to be approved for listing on Nasdaq at Closing. During the period from the date hereof until the Closing, Ignyte shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Ignyte Units, Ignyte Common Stock, and Ignyte Warrants listed for trading on Nasdaq.
SECTION 6.12 Antitrust.
(a) To the extent required under any Laws that are designed to prohibit, restrict, or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint of trade, including the HSR Act (“Antitrust Laws”), each party hereto agrees to promptly make any required filing or application under Antitrust Laws, as applicable. The parties hereto agree to supply as promptly as reasonably practicable any additional information and documentary material that may be requested pursuant to Antitrust Laws and to use commercially reasonable efforts to take any other actions necessary, proper or advisable to cause the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting periods or obtain required approvals, as applicable under Antitrust Laws as soon as reasonably practicable, including by requesting early termination of the waiting period provided for under the HSR Act.
(b) Each party shall, in connection with its efforts to obtain all requisite approvals and authorizations for the Transactions under any Antitrust Law, use its commercially reasonable efforts to: (i) cooperate in all respects with each other party or its affiliates in connection with any filing or submission and in connection with any investigation or other inquiry, including any proceeding initiated by a private person; (ii) keep the other parties reasonably informed of any communication received by such party or its Representatives from, or given by such party or its Representatives to, any Governmental Authority and of any communication received or given in connection with any proceeding by a private person, in each case regarding any of the Transactions; (iii) permit a Representative of the other parties and their respective outside counsel to review any communication given by it to, and consult with each other in advance of any meeting or conference with, any Governmental Authority or, in connection with any proceeding by a private person, with any other person, and to the extent permitted by such Governmental Authority or other person, give a Representative or Representatives of the other parties the opportunity to attend and participate in such meetings and conferences; (iv) in the event a party’s Representative is prohibited from participating in or attending any meetings or conferences, the other parties shall keep such party promptly and reasonably apprised with respect thereto; and (v) use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate in the filing of any memoranda, white papers, filings, correspondence or other written communications explaining or defending the Transactions, articulating any regulatory or competitive argument, and/or responding to requests or objections made by any Governmental Authority.
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(c) No party hereto shall take any action that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect or materially delay the approval of any Governmental Authority of any required filings or applications under Antitrust Laws.
SECTION 6.13 PCAOB Financial Statements. The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to deliver true and complete copies of (i) the audited carve-out consolidated financial statements of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries in respect of the Company Business for the twelve (12) month periods ended December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2020 not later than 30 days from the date hereof and (ii) internally prepared financial statements of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries for the three (3) month period ended March 31, 2022 not later than June 30, 2022, each audited or internally prepared, as applicable, by a U.S. accounting firm registered with the PCAOB (collectively, the “PCAOB Financial Statements”).
SECTION 6.14 Trust Account. As of the Effective Time, the obligations of Ignyte to dissolve or liquidate within a specified time period as contained in Ignyte’s Certificate of Incorporation will be terminated and Ignyte shall have no obligation whatsoever to dissolve and liquidate the assets of Ignyte by reason of the consummation of the Business Combination or otherwise, and no stockholder of Ignyte shall be entitled to receive any amount from the Trust Account. At least 48 hours prior to the Effective Time, Ignyte shall provide notice to the Trustee in accordance with the Trust Agreement and shall deliver any other documents, opinions or notices required to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to the Trust Agreement and cause the Trustee prior to the Effective Time to, and the Trustee shall thereupon be obligated to, transfer all funds held in the Trust Account to Ignyte (to be held as available cash on the balance sheet of Ignyte, and to be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes of the business following the Closing) and thereafter shall cause the Trust Account and the Trust Agreement to terminate.
SECTION 6.15 Section 16 Matters. Prior to the Closing, Ignyte shall take all such steps as may be required (to the extent permitted under applicable Law and no-action letters issued by the SEC) to cause any acquisition of Ignyte Common Stock by each individual who is or will be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to the post-closing company, to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. Ignyte shall provide such individuals with copies of any resolutions proposed to be adopted by the Ignyte Board in connection with the foregoing prior to such adoption.
ARTICLE VII.
CONDITIONS TO THE BUSINESS COMBINATION
SECTION 7.01 Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party. The obligations of the Company, Ignyte and Korean Sub to consummate the Transactions, including the Business Combination, are subject to the satisfaction or waiver (where permissible) at or prior to the Closing of the following conditions:
(a) Ignyte Stockholders’ Approval. The Ignyte Proposals shall have been approved and adopted by the requisite affirmative vote of the stockholders of Ignyte in accordance with the Proxy Statement, the DGCL, the Ignyte Organizational Documents and the rules and regulations of Nasdaq.
(b) No Order. No Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Law, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, executive order, or award which is then in effect and has the effect of making the Transactions, including the Business Combination, illegal or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the Transactions, including the Business Combination.
(c) Antitrust Approvals and Waiting Periods. All required filings under the HSR Act shall have been completed and any applicable waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the consummation of the Transactions under the HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated, and any pre-Closing approvals or clearances reasonably required thereunder shall have been obtained.
(d) Consents. All consents, approvals and authorizations set forth on Schedule 3.05(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule shall have been obtained from and made with all Governmental Authorities.
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(e) Stock Exchange Listing. The shares of Ignyte Common Stock shall be listed on Nasdaq as of the Closing Date.
(f) Immediately prior to the Closing, and after giving effect to the Redemption Rights, Ignyte shall have cash and cash equivalents on hand of at least $7,500,000.
SECTION 7.02 Conditions to the Obligations of Ignyte and Korean Sub. The obligations of Ignyte and Korean Sub to consummate the Transactions, including the Business Combination, are subject to the satisfaction or waiver (where permissible) at or prior to the Closing of the following additional conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 3.01 (Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries), Section 3.03 (Capitalization), Section 3.04 (Authority Relative to this Agreement) and Section 3.27 (Brokers) shall each be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date as though made on the Closing Date (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Company Material Adverse Effect” or any similar limitation set forth therein), except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date. All other representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct (without giving any effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Company Material Adverse Effect” or any similar limitation set forth therein) in all respects as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date, except (i) to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date and (ii) where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct (whether as of the Closing Date or such earlier date), taken as a whole, does not result in a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Agreements and Covenants. The Company shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all agreements and covenants required by this Agreement to be performed, or complied with by it on or prior to the Effective Time.
(c) Officer Certificate. The Company shall have delivered to Ignyte a certificate, dated the date of the Closing, signed by an officer of the Company, certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in Section 7.02(a), Section 7.02(b), and Section 7.02(d).
(d) Material Adverse Effect. No Company Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date.
(e) Resignation. Other than those persons identified as continuing directors as per Section 2.05 hereof, all members of the Company Board and the Board of Directors of the Company Subsidiaries shall have executed written resignations effective as of the Effective Time.
(f) Key Company Stockholder Forward Purchase Agreement. The Key Company Stockholder Forward Purchase Agreement shall be in full force and effect.
(g) Registration Rights Agreement. All parties to the Registration Rights Agreement (other than Ignyte) shall have delivered, or cause to be delivered, to Ignyte copies of the Registration Rights Agreement duly executed by all such parties.
(h) Lock-Up Agreement. The Company has delivered, or has caused to be delivered, to Ignyte the Lock-Up Agreement duly executed by holders representing all of the Company Common Stock outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time; provided, however, in the event all such holders of the Company Common Stock outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time do not execute the Lock-Up Agreement delivered to Ignyte, this condition shall be deemed to be satisfied if (i) such non-executing stockholders’ securities are not included for registration in the Registration Rights Agreement, (ii) none of such non-executing stockholders hold Company Common Stock in excess of 1% of the Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective time, and (iii) the aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock held by all non-executing stockholders is less than 10% of the outstanding Company Common Stock immediately prior to the Effective time.
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(i) Key Company Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement. The Company has delivered, or caused to be delivered, to Ignyte the Key Company Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement duly executed by the Key Company Stockholder.
(j) Share Swap Agreement. The Company has delivered, or cause to be delivered, to Ignyte the Share Swap Agreement duly executed by the Company.
(k) FIRPTA Tax Certificates. On or prior to the Closing, the Company shall deliver to Ignyte a properly executed certification that shares of Company Common Stock are not “U.S. real property interests” in accordance with the Treasury Regulations under Sections 897 and 1445 of the Code, together with a notice to the IRS (which shall be filed by Ignyte with the IRS following the Closing) in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.897-2(h)(2) of the Treasury Regulations.
(l) PCAOB Financial Statements. The Company shall have delivered to Ignyte the PCAOB Financial Statements.
SECTION 7.03 Conditions to the Obligations of the Company. The obligations of the Company to consummate the Transactions, including the Business Combination, are subject to the satisfaction or waiver (where permissible) at or prior to the Closing of the following additional conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of Ignyte and Korean Sub contained in Section 4.01 (Corporation Organization), Section 4.03 (Capitalization), Section 4.04 (Authority Relative to this Agreement), and Section 4.12 (Brokers) shall each be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date as though made on the Closing Date (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Ignyte Material Adverse Effect” or any similar limitation set forth therein), except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date. All other representations and warranties of Ignyte and Korean Sub contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct (without giving any effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Ignyte Material Adverse Effect” or any similar limitation set forth therein) in all respects as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date, except (i) to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date and (ii) where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct (whether as of the Closing Date or such earlier date), taken as a whole, does not result in a Ignyte Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Agreements and Covenants. Ignyte and Korean Sub shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all agreements and covenants required by this Agreement to be performed, or complied with, by it on or prior to the Effective Time.
(c) Officer Certificate. Ignyte shall have delivered to the Company a certificate, dated the date of the Closing, signed by an officer of Ignyte, certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in Section 7.03(a), Section 7.03(b), and Section 7.03(d).
(d) Material Adverse Effect. No Ignyte Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date.
(e) Stock Exchange Listing. A supplemental listing shall have been filed with Nasdaq as of the Closing Date to list the shares constituting the Aggregate Closing Consideration.
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(f) Registration Rights Agreement. Ignyte shall have delivered a copy of the Registration Rights Agreement duly executed by Ignyte and the Sponsor.
(g) Lock-Up Agreement. Ignyte shall have delivered a copy of the Lock-Up Agreement duly executed by Ignyte.
(h) Share Swap Agreement. Ignyte has delivered, or cause to be delivered to the Company the Share Swap Agreement duly executed by Korean Sub.
(i) Committed Capital. The (i) amount of cash and cash equivalents available in the Trust Account immediately prior to the Closing, plus (ii) all other cash and cash equivalents of Ignyte, plus (iii) the aggregate amount of cash proceeds received from the PIPE Investment prior to or substantially concurrently with the Closing (without, for the avoidance of doubt, taking into consideration any transaction fees, costs and expenses paid or required to be paid by Ignyte prior to the Closing), shall be equal to or greater than $20,000,000.
ARTICLE VIII.
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
SECTION 8.01 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated, and the Business Combination and the other Transactions may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time, notwithstanding any requisite approval and adoption of this Agreement and the Transactions by the stockholders of the Company or Ignyte, as follows:
(a) by mutual written consent of Ignyte and the Company; or
(b) by either Ignyte or the Company if the Effective Time shall not have occurred prior to October 28, 2022 (the “Outside Date”); provided, however, that this Agreement may not be terminated under this Section 8.01(b) by or on behalf of any party that either directly or indirectly through its affiliates is in breach or violation of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation contained herein and such breach or violation is the principal cause of the failure of a condition set forth in Article VII on or prior to the Outside Date; or
(c) by either Ignyte or the Company if any Governmental Authority in the United States or the Republic of Korea shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced, or entered any injunction, order, decree or ruling (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) which has become final and nonappealable and has the effect of making consummation of the Transactions, including the Business Combination, illegal or otherwise preventing or prohibiting consummation of the Transactions or the Business Combination; or
(d) by either Ignyte or the Company if any of the Ignyte Proposals shall fail to receive the requisite vote for approval at the Ignyte Stockholders’ Meeting; or
(e) by Ignyte upon a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of the Company set forth in this Agreement, or if any representation or warranty of the Company shall have become untrue, in either case such that the conditions set forth in Sections 7.02(a) and 7.02(b) would not be satisfied (“Terminating Company Breach”); provided that Ignyte has not waived such Terminating Company Breach and Ignyte and Korean Sub are not then in material breach of their representations, warranties, covenants or agreements in this Agreement; provided further that, if such Terminating Company Breach is curable by the Company, Ignyte may not terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.01(e) for so long as the Company continues to exercise its reasonable efforts to cure such breach, unless such breach is not cured within thirty (30) days after notice of such breach is provided by Ignyte to the Company; or
(f) by the Company upon a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of Ignyte or Korean Sub set forth in this Agreement, or if any representation or warranty of Ignyte or Korean Sub shall have become untrue, in either case such that the conditions set forth in Sections 7.03(a) and 7.03(b) would not be satisfied (“Terminating Ignyte Breach”); provided that the Company has not waived such Terminating Ignyte Breach and the Company is not then in material breach of their representations, warranties, covenants or agreements in this Agreement; provided, however, that, if such Terminating Ignyte Breach is curable by Ignyte and Korean Sub, the Company may not terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.01(f) for so long as Ignyte and Korean Sub continue to exercise their reasonable efforts to cure such breach, unless such breach is not cured within thirty (30) days after notice of such breach is provided by the Company to Ignyte; or
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(g) by Ignyte if the PCAOB Financial Statements shall not have been delivered to Ignyte by the Company not later than 30 days from the date hereof.
SECTION 8.02 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01, this Agreement shall forthwith become void, and there shall be no liability under this Agreement on the part of any party hereto, except as set forth in this Section 8.02, Article VIII, and any corresponding definitions set forth in Article I, or in the case of termination subsequent to a willful material breach of this Agreement by a party hereto.
SECTION 8.03 Expenses. Except as set expressly set forth in this Agreement, all expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions shall be paid by the party incurring such expenses, whether or not the Business Combination or any other Transaction is consummated except that Ignyte and the Company shall each pay one half of all expenses relating to all SEC and other regulatory filing fees incurred in connection with the Proxy Statement.
SECTION 8.04 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended in writing by the parties hereto at any time prior to the Effective Time. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed by each of the parties hereto.
SECTION 8.05 Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, (a) Ignyte may (i) extend the time for the performance of any obligation or other act of the Company, (ii) waive any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein or in any document delivered by the Company pursuant hereto, and (iii) waive compliance with any agreement of the Company or any condition to its own obligations contained herein and (b) the Company may (i) extend the time for the performance of any obligation or other act of Ignyte or Korean Sub, (ii) waive any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of Ignyte or Korean Sub contained herein or in any document delivered by Ignyte and/or Korean Sub pursuant hereto, and (iii) waive compliance with any agreement of Ignyte or Korean Sub or any condition to its own obligations contained herein. Any such extension or waiver shall be valid if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the party or parties to be bound thereby.
ARTICLE IX.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 9.01 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by email or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 9.01):
if to Ignyte or Korean Sub:
Ignyte Acquisition Corp.
640 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY
Attention: David Rosenberg, Co-Chief Executive Officer
David J. Strupp, Jr., Co-Chief Executive Officer
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Email: | drosenberg@ignytespac.com |
dstrupp@ignytespac.com | |
with a copy to: | |
DLA Piper LLP (US) | |
51 John F. Kenney Parkway | |
Suite 120 | |
Short Hills, NJ 07078 | |
Attention: Andrew P. Gilbert; Scott A. Cowan | |
Email: andrew.gilbert@us.dlapiper.com; scott.cowan@us.dlapiper.com | |
if to the Company: | |
Peak Bio Co. Ltd. | |
Building B #804, | |
670 Daewangpangyo-ro (Sampyeong-dong, U Space 2), | |
Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyenggi-do | |
Attention: Hoyoung Huh, MD, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer | |
Email: hoyoung.huh@ph-pharma.com | |
with a copy to: | |
Bae, Kim & Lee LLC | |
13F, Tower B, Centropolis, | |
26 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03161 | |
Attention: Jung Min Jo | |
Email: jungmin.jo@bkl.co.kr | |
and | |
BC Burr McCabe Law | |
584 Castro Street #882 | |
San Francisco, CA 94114 | |
Attention: Peter McCabe | |
Email: pmccabe@bcbmlaw.com |
SECTION 9.02 Non-survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants. None of the representations, warranties, covenants, obligations or other agreements in this Agreement or in any certificate, statement or instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement, including any rights arising out of any breach of such representations, warranties, covenants, obligations, agreements and other provisions, shall survive the Closing and all such representations, warranties, covenants, obligations or other agreements shall terminate and expire upon the occurrence of the Closing (and there shall be no liability after the Closing in respect thereof), except for (a) those covenants and agreements contained herein that by their terms expressly apply in whole or in part after the Closing and then only with respect to any breaches occurring after the Closing and (b) this Article IX and any corresponding definitions set forth in Article I.
SECTION 9.03 Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the Transactions is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the Transactions be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
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SECTION 9.04 Entire Agreement; Assignment. This Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede, except as set forth in Section 6.04(b), all prior agreements, and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof, except for the Confidentiality Agreement. This Agreement shall not be assigned (whether pursuant to a merger, by operation of law or otherwise) by any party without the prior express written consent of the other parties hereto.
SECTION 9.05 Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other person any right, benefit, or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement, other than Section 6.07 (which is intended to be for the benefit of the persons covered thereby and may be enforced by such persons).
SECTION 9.06 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to any conflict of law rule or principle that would result in the application of any laws other than the laws of the State of Delaware. All Actions arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined exclusively in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such court declines to exercise jurisdiction or if subject matter jurisdiction over the matter that is the subject of any such legal action or proceeding is vested exclusively in the U.S. federal courts, the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. The parties hereto hereby (a) irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts for themselves and with respect to their respective properties for the purpose of any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought by any party hereto, and (b) agree not to commence any Action relating thereto except in the courts described above in Delaware, other than Actions in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce any judgment, decree or award rendered by any such court in Delaware as described herein. Each of the parties further agrees that notice as provided herein shall constitute sufficient service of process and the parties further waive any argument that such service is insufficient. Each of the parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion or as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, (a) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the courts in Delaware as described herein for any reason, (b) that it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise), and (c) that (i) the Action in any such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (ii) the venue of such Action is improper or (iii) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.
SECTION 9.07 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THAT FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 9.07.
SECTION 9.08 Headings. The descriptive headings contained in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
SECTION 9.09 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or portable document format (pdf) transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
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SECTION 9.10 Specific Performance. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof, and, accordingly, that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement or to enforce specifically the performance of the terms and provisions hereof (including the parties’ obligation to consummate the Business Combination) in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.06 without proof of actual damages or otherwise, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity as expressly permitted in this Agreement. Each of the parties hereby further waives (a) any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate and (b) any requirement under any Law to post security or a bond as a prerequisite to obtaining equitable relief.
[Signature Page Follows.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Ignyte, Korean Sub, and the Company have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.
IGNYTE ACQUISITION CORP. | |
By /s/ David Strupp | |
Name: David Strupp | |
Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer | |
IGNYTE KOREA CO., LTD. | |
By /s/ Steven Kaplan | |
Name: Steven Kaplan | |
Title: Director | |
PEAK BIO CO., LTD. | |
By /s/ Hoyoung Huh | |
Name: Hoyoung Huh | |
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
[Signature Page to Business Combination Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
Form of Registration Rights Agreement
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of [___], 2022, by and among Peak Bio, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) (f/k/a Ignyte Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Ignyte”)), Ignyte Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), and each of the undersigned stockholders listed under “Holder” on the signature page hereto, including the Key Company Stockholder (each such party, a “Holder” and collectively the “Holders”). Any capitalized term used but not defined herein will have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Business Combination Agreement (as defined below).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, on April 28, 2022, Ignyte, Peak Bio Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of Korea, Ignyte Korea Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of Korea and a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of Ignyte, entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”), pursuant to which the parties thereto agreed to, among other things, effect the Share Swap, and as a result, the Company will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company;
WHEREAS, the Sponsor holds (i) shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”) and (ii) Private Placement Warrants (as defined below) to purchase Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, the Company will issue shares of the Company’s Common Stock to the Holders, on or about the date hereof;
WHEREAS, the Company desires to set forth certain matters regarding the ownership of the Registrable Securities (as defined below) by the Sponsor and the Holders.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms and variations thereof have the meanings set forth below:
“Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Adverse Disclosure” means any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company, after consultation with outside counsel to the Company, (i) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (ii) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, and (iii) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.
“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Business Combination Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
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“Business Day” means a day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in the State of New York are generally are open for use by customers on such day.
“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other federal agency then administering the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
“Common Stock” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.
“Company” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Demand Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.1.
“Demanding Holder” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.1.
“Demand Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.1.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.
“Form S-1 Shelf” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.1.
“Form S-3 Shelf” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.1.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time
“Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Maximum Number of Securities” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.4.
“Minimum Takedown Threshold” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.3.1.
“Misstatement” means an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading.
“Notices” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization or any other entity, including a governmental authority.
“Piggyback Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.1.
“Private Placement Warrants” means the warrants issued in a private placement to the Sponsor in connection with the consummation of Ignyte’s initial public offering.
“Prospectus” means the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.
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“Registrable Securities” means (i) any equity securities (including the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise or conversion of any such equity security) of the Company held by a Holder immediately following consummation of the Business Combination; (ii) the Private Placement Warrants; (iii) all shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of any Private Placement Warrants; and (iv) any shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company issued as a dividend or other distribution with respect to or in exchange for or in replacement of any of the securities described in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv). As to any particular Registrable Security, such security shall cease to be a Registrable Security when: (a) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such security shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such security shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (b) such security shall have been otherwise transferred, a new certificate for such security not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of such security shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (c) such security shall have ceased to be outstanding; or (d) such security has been sold pursuant to Rule 144.
“Registration” means a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.
“Registration Expenses” means the out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:
(A) all registration and filing fees (including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and any securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed);
(B) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);
(C) printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;
(D) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;
(E) reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration; and
(F) reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel selected by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration to be registered for offer and sale in the applicable Registration.
“Registration Statement” means a registration statement filed by the Company with the Commission in compliance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder for a public offering and sale of securities (other than a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8, or their successors, or any registration statement covering only securities proposed to be issued in exchange for securities or assets of another entity).
“Requesting Holder” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.1.
“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Rule 415” has the meaning set forth is Section 2.3.1.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.
“Shelf” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.1.
“Shelf Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.1.
“Shelf Underwriting Request” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.1.
“Transfer” means to, directly or indirectly, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, hypothecate or similarly dispose of, either voluntarily or involuntarily, or to enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or similar disposition of, any interest owned by a person or any interest (including a beneficial interest) in, or the ownership, control or possession of, any interest owned by a person.
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“Underwriter” means a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an underwritten offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.
“Underwritten Registration” or “Underwritten Offering” means a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.
ARTICLE II
REGISTRATION
Section 2.1 Demand Registration
2.1.1 Request for Registration. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.1.4, Section 2.3 and Section 2.4 hereof, at any time and from time to time on or after the Closing Date, the Holders holding at least a majority in interest of the then-outstanding number of Registrable Securities held by all the Holders (such Holders, the “Demanding Holders”), may make a written demand for Registration under the Securities Act of all or part of their Registrable Securities, which written demand shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such Registration and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof (such written demand a “Demand Registration”). The Company shall, within ten (10) days of the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, notify, in writing, all other Holders of Registrable Securities of such demand, and each Holder of Registrable Securities who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in the Demand Registration (each such Holder that includes all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Registration, a “Requesting Holder”) shall so notify the Company, in writing, within five (5) days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company. Upon receipt by the Company of any such written notification from a Requesting Holder(s) to the Company, such Requesting Holder(s) shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration and the Company shall effect, as soon thereafter as practicable, but not more than forty five (45) days immediately after the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, the Registration of all Registrable Securities requested by the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders pursuant to such Demand Registration. Under no circumstances shall the Company be obligated to effect more than an aggregate of three (3) Registrations pursuant to a Demand Registration under this Section 2.1.1 initiated by Holders; provided, however, that an Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Demand Registration shall not be counted for such purposes unless a Registration Statement that may be available at such time has become effective and all of the Registrable Securities requested by the Demanding Holders to be registered on behalf of the Demanding Holders in such Registration Statement have been sold, in accordance with Section 3.1 of this Agreement.
2.1.2 Effective Registration. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.1.1 above or any other part of this Agreement, a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration shall not count as a Registration unless and until (i) the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Demand Registration has been declared effective by the Commission and (ii) the Company has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto; provided, that if, after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Demand Registration is interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission or any other governmental agency or court, the Registration Statement with respect to such Demand Registration will be deemed not to have been declared effective, unless and until, (i) such stop order or injunction is removed, rescinded or otherwise terminated, and (ii) a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating such Demand Registration thereafter affirmatively elect to continue with such Registration and accordingly notify the Company in writing of such election, which notice shall be received by the Company not later than five (5) days after the removal of any such stop order or injunction; provided, further, that the Company shall not be obligated to file a second Registration Statement until a Registration Statement that has been previously filed pursuant to a Demand Registration becomes effective or is terminated.
2.1.3 Underwritten Offering. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.1.4 and Section 2.4 hereof, if a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders so advise the Company as part of their Demand Registration that the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant thereto shall be in the form of an Underwritten Offering, then the right of such Demanding Holder or Requesting Holder (if any) to include its Registrable Securities in such Registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such Underwritten Offering and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering to the extent provided herein. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this Section 2.1.3 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating the Demand Registration.
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2.1.4 Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If the managing Underwriter(s) for a Demand Registration that is to be an Underwritten Offering, in good faith, advises the Company, the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities which the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other shares of Common Stock or other equity securities which the Company desires to sell and the shares of Common Stock, if any, as to which a Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggyback registration rights held by other stockholders of the Company who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities that can be sold in the Underwritten Offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such Underwritten Offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Securities”), then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering, as follows: (i) first, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder and Requesting Holder (if any) has requested be included in such Underwritten Registration and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders have requested be included in such Underwritten Registration (such proportion is referred to herein as “Pro Rata”)) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Registrable Securities of Holders (Pro Rata, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has so requested exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.2.1 hereof), that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (iv) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the Common Stock or other equity securities of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register in a Registration pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.
2.1.5 Demand Registration Withdrawal. A majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration pursuant to a Registration under Section 2.1.1 shall have the right to withdraw from a Registration pursuant to such Demand Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter(s) (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to the Registration of their Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if with respect to a Demand Registration, a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration so withdraw from a Registration pursuant to such Demand Registration, such Registration shall not count as a Demand Registration provided for in Section 2.1.1 and the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration prior to its withdrawal under this Section 2.1.5.
Section 2.2 Piggyback Registration.
2.2.1 Piggyback Rights. If, at any time on or after the Closing Date, the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, equity securities, for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company (or by the Company and by stockholders of the Company including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.1), other than a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing stockholders, (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company, (iv) filed pursuant to Section 2.3 or (v) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then the Company shall (x) give written notice of such proposed filing to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but in no event less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date, which notice shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, of the offering, and (y) offer to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities in such notice the opportunity to register the sale of such number of shares of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within five (5) days following receipt of such notice (a “Piggyback Registration”). The Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Registration and shall use its best efforts to cause the managing Underwriter(s) of a proposed Underwritten Offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All holders of Registrable Securities proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through a Piggyback Registration that involves an Underwriter(s) shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Piggyback Registration.
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2.2.2 Reduction of Piggyback Registration. If the managing Underwriter(s) for a Piggyback Registration that is to be an Underwritten Offering, in good faith, advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that the dollar amount or number of securities which the Company desires to sell, taken together with (i) the Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, (ii) the Registrable Securities as to which Registration has been requested under this Section 2.2, and (iii) the Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggyback registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:
(i) If the Registration is undertaken for the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Registration (A) first, the Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggyback registration rights of other stockholders of the Company that pre-dates this Agreement, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.2.1 hereof, Pro Rata, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggyback registration rights of other stockholders of the Company not otherwise covered above, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and
(ii) If the Registration is pursuant to a request by persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall include in any such Registration (A) first, the Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, of such requesting persons or entities, other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.2.1, Pro Rata based on the number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Registration and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Holders have requested to be included in such Underwritten Registration, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the Common Stock or other equity securities for the account of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons or entities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.
2.2.3 Piggyback Registration Withdrawal. Any Holder of Registrable Securities shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter(s) of his, her or its intention to withdraw from such Piggyback Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Piggyback Registration. The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by persons pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this Section 2.2.3.
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2.2.4 Unlimited Piggyback Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, any Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof shall not be counted as a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration effected under Section 2.1 hereof or an Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Shelf Underwriting Request effected under Section 2.3.
Section 2.3 Shelf Registration.
2.3.1 Initial Registration. The Company shall file a shelf registration statement under Rule 415 of the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission) (“Rule 415”) on Form S-1 (the “Form S-1 Shelf”) within forty five (45) days of the Closing Date covering the resale of all Registrable Securities on a delayed or continuous basis (a “Shelf Registration”), and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective as soon as practicable thereafter and no later than the earlier of (x) the 90th calendar day (or 135th calendar day if the Commission notifies the Company that it will “review” the Registration Statement) following the filing date and (y) the tenth (10th) Business Day after the date the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that the Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review. If, at any time the Company shall have qualified for the use of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Form S-3 Shelf” and, together with the Form S-1 Shelf, each a “Shelf”) or any other form which permits incorporation of substantial information by reference to other documents filed by the Company with the Commission and at such time the Company has an outstanding Form S-l Shelf, then the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to, as soon as reasonably practical, convert such outstanding Form S-l Shelf into a Form S-3 Shelf. Such Shelf shall provide for the resale of the Registrable Securities included therein pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder named therein. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the Shelf in accordance with the terms hereof, and shall prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements as may be necessary to keep a Shelf continuously effective and available for use to permit all Holders named therein to sell their Registrable Securities included therein and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities, subject in each case to the provisions of this Agreement that permit the Company to suspend the use of the Registration Statement in the circumstances, and subject to the terms and conditions, set forth in those provisions. No filing of a Form S-1 Shelf or a Form S-3 Shelf, as applicable, pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall be counted as a Demand Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.1. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, to the extent there is an effective Shelf under this Section 2.3, covering a Holder’s or Holders’ Registrable Securities, such Holder or Holders shall not have rights to make a Demand Registration with respect to Section 2.1. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, to the extent there is an effective Shelf under this Section 2.3, covering a Holder’s or Holders’ Registrable Securities, and such Holder or Holders qualify for and wish to request an Underwritten Offering from such Shelf (a “Shelf Underwriting Request”), such Underwritten Offering shall follow the procedures and limitations of Section 2.1 (including Section 2.1.3 and Section 2.1.4) but such Underwritten Offering shall be made from the Shelf and shall count against the number of Demand Registrations that may be made by the applicable Holder(s) pursuant to Section 2.1.1; provided that, in the event that the Underwritten Offering is being made from a Form S-3 Shelf, (i) the period of time for the Company to notify all other Holders of Registrable Securities of the Company’s receipt of the applicable Demand Registration shall be reduced from ten (10) days (as set forth in Section 2.1.1) to two (2) Business Days and (ii) the period of time that the Holders have to respond to such notice shall be reduced from five (5) days (as set forth in Section 2.1.1) to three (3) Business Days. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 2.1.1 or this Section 2.3.1, the Company shall only be obligated to effect an Underwritten Offering pursuant to such Shelf Underwriting Request if such Underwritten Offering shall include Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by the Demanding Holder, either individually or together with other Demanding Holders, (x) with a total offering price reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, $5,000,000 or (y) that constitute all of the remaining Registrable Securities held by the Demanding Holder ((x) or (y), as applicable, the “Minimum Takedown Threshold”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company may effect any Underwritten Offering pursuant to any then effective Registration Statement, including a Form S-3, that is then available for such offering.
2.3.2 Removal of Holders. The Company shall have the right to remove any persons no longer holding Registrable Securities from the Shelf or any other shelf registration statement by means of a post-effective amendment.
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2.3.3 Right to Register Additional Common Stock. The Company shall have the right to register any other Common Stock or securities of the Company on any Registration Statement, including the Shelf.
Section 2.4 Restrictions on Registration Rights. If (A) during the period starting with the date sixty (60) days prior to the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of the filing of, and ending on a date one hundred and twenty (120) days after the effective date of, a Company initiated Registration and provided that the Company has delivered written notice to the Holders prior to receipt of a Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1.1 and it continues to actively employ, in good faith, all reasonable efforts to cause the applicable Registration Statement to become effective; (B) the Holders have requested an Underwritten Registration and the Company and the Holders are unable to obtain the commitment of underwriters to firmly underwrite the offer; or (C) in the good faith judgment of the Board such Registration would be seriously detrimental to the Company and the Board concludes as a result that it is essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement at such time, then in each case the Company shall furnish to such Holders a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board it would be seriously detrimental to the Company for such Registration Statement to be filed in the near future and that it is therefore essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement. In such event, the Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a period of not more than sixty (60) days; provided, that the Company may not defer its obligation in this manner more than once in any 12-month period.
ARTICLE III
REGISTRATION
PROCEDURES
Section 3.1 General Procedures. If at any time on or after the Closing Date the Company is required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2, the Company shall use its best efforts to effect the Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall, as expeditiously as practicable and in connection with any such request:
3.1.1 prepare and file with the Commission as soon as practicable a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold;
3.1.2 prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as may be reasonably requested by the Holders or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;
3.1.3 prior to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriters, if any, and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration, and such Holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus), and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or the legal counsel for any such Holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders;
3.1.4 prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject;
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3.1.5 cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;
3.1.6 provide a transfer agent or warrant agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;
3.1.7 advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;
3.1.8 advise each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, promptly after the Company receives notice thereof, of the time when such registration statement has been declared effective or a supplement to any Prospectus forming a part of such registration statement has been filed;
3.1.9 at least five (5) days prior to the filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document that is to be incorporated by reference into such Registration Statement or Prospectus, furnish a copy thereof to each seller of such Registrable Securities or its counsel, including, without limitation, providing copies promptly upon receipt of any comment letters received with respect to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus;
3.1.10 notify the Holders at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.4 hereof;
3.1.11 permit a representative of the Holders (such representative to be selected by a majority of the participating Holders), the Underwriters, if any, and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders or Underwriter to participate, at each such person’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided, that such representatives or Underwriters enter into a confidentiality agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information;
3.1.12 obtain a “comfort” letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Registration, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “comfort” letters as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request, and may be found reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders;
3.1.13 on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, obtain an opinion and negative assurance letter, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the Holders, the placement agent or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the Holders, placement agent, sales agent, or Underwriter may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters, and may be found reasonably satisfactory to a majority in interest of the participating Holders;
3.1.14 in the event of any Underwritten Offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriters of such offering;
3.1.15 make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission);
3.1.16 if the Registration involves the Registration of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of $25,000,000, use its reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in any Underwritten Offering; and
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3.1.17 otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the Holders, in connection with such Registration.
Section 3.2 Registration Expenses. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Registration Expenses of all Registrations shall be borne by the Company. It is acknowledged by the Holders that the Holders shall bear all incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, such as Underwriters’ commissions and discounts, brokerage fees, Underwriter marketing costs and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,” all reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders.
Section 3.3 Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings. No person or entity may participate in any Underwritten Offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such person or entity (i) agrees to sell such person’s or entity’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Company and (ii) completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
Section 3.4 Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure.
3.4.1 The Company shall be entitled to postpone and suspend the effectiveness or use of the Registration Statement for a reasonable period of time, not to exceed 90 calendar days in any 360-day period (i) during any customary blackout or similar period or as permitted hereunder and (ii) as may be necessary in connection with the preparation and filing of a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement following the filing of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its first completed fiscal year.
3.4.2 Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement, each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until such Holder has received copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement (it being understood that the Company hereby covenants to prepare and file such supplemented or amended Prospectus as soon as practicable after the time of such notice), or until he, she or it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed. If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of any Registration at any time would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure or would require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Company’s control, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement for the shortest period of time, but in no event more than forty-five (45) days, determined in good faith by the Company to be necessary for such purpose. In the event the Company exercises its rights under the preceding sentence, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders of the expiration of any period during which it exercised its rights under this Section 3.4, and upon the expiration of such period the Holders shall be entitled to resume the use of any such Prospectus in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities, and upon the expiration of such period the Holders shall be entitled to resume the use of any such Prospectus in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities
Section 3.5 Reporting Obligations. As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be reporting under the Exchange Act, covenants to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and to promptly furnish the Holders with true and complete copies of all such filings. The Company further covenants that it shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Registrable Securities held by such Holder without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), including providing any legal opinions. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
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ARTICLE IV
INDEMNIFICATION
AND CONTRIBUTION
Section 4.1 Indemnification by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, and hold harmless each Holder of Registrable Securities, its officers and directors and each person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) from and against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement to any of them, or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as the same is contained in any information furnished in writing to the Company by the Holder expressly for use therein. The Company also shall indemnify any Underwriter of the Registrable Securities, their officers and directors and each person who controls such Underwriter (within the meaning of the Securities Act) on substantially the same basis as that of the indemnification of the Holder provided in this Section 4.1.
Section 4.2 Indemnification by Holders of Registrable Securities. In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its directors and officers and agents and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue statement of material fact contained in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use therein; provided, that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders of Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Holder of Registrable Securities shall be in proportion to and limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. Each Holder shall indemnify any Underwriter of Registrable Securities sold by such Holder, their officers, directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company.
Section 4.3 Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Any person entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.
Section 4.4 Survival. The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities. The Company and each Holder of Registrable Securities participating in an offering also agrees to make such provisions as are reasonably requested by any indemnified party for contribution to such party in the event the Company’s or such Holder’s indemnification is unavailable for any reason.
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Section 4.5 Contribution. If the indemnification provided under Section 4.1 hereof from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, that the liability of any Holder under this Section 4.5 shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 above, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4.5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 4.5. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this Section 4.5 from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
ARTICLE V
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 5.1 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including Schedule A hereto) constitutes the entire understanding and agreement between the parties as to the matters covered herein and supersedes and replaces any prior understanding, agreement or statement of intent, in each case, written or oral, of any and every nature with respect thereto.
Section 5.2 No Registration Rights to Third Parties. Without the prior written consent of the Holders of at least sixty percent (60%) of the number of 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 any registration rights of any kind (whether similar to the Demand Registration, Piggyback Registration or Shelf Registration rights described in this Agreement, or otherwise) relating to any securities of the Company which are senior to those granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities. In any event, if the Company grants to any holder of the Company’s security any registration right of any nature that are superior to the Holders, as determined in good faith by the Board, the Company shall grant such superior registration right to the Holders as well.
Section 5.3 Notices. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be delivered to any party under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed properly delivered, given and received (a) upon receipt when delivered by hand, (b) upon transmission, if sent by facsimile or electronic transmission (in each case with receipt verified by electronic confirmation), or (c) one (1) Business Day after being sent by courier or express delivery service, specifying next day delivery, with proof of receipt. The addresses, email addresses and facsimile numbers for such notices and communications are those set forth on the signature pages hereof, or such other address, email address or facsimile numbers as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same manner, by any such person.
Section 5.4 Assignment; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part. This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Holders hereunder may be freely assigned or delegated by such Holder in conjunction with and to the extent of any transfer of Common Stock by any such Holder. This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and the permitted assigns of the applicable Holder or of any assignee of the applicable Holder. This Agreement is not intended to confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not party hereto other than as expressly set forth in Article 4 and this Section 5.4. No assignment by any party hereto of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until the Company shall have received (i) written notice of such assignment and (ii) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement).
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Section 5.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart and such counterparts may be delivered by the parties hereto via facsimile or electronic transmission.
Section 5.6 Amendment; Waiver. This Agreement may be amended or modified, and any provision hereof may be waived, in whole or in part, at any time pursuant to an agreement in writing executed by the Company and Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities at such time; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects one Holder, solely in his, her or its capacity as a holder of the shares of capital stock of the Company, in a manner that is materially different from the other Holders (in such capacity) shall require the consent of the Holder so affected. Any failure by any party at any time to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be construed a waiver of such provision or any other provisions hereof.
Section 5.7 Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement will continue in full force and effect and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances will be interpreted so as reasonably to effect the intent of the parties hereto.
Section 5.8 Governing Law; Venue. This Agreement shall be governed by, interpreted under, and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and to be performed within the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice-of-law provisions thereof that would compel the application of the substantive laws of any other jurisdiction.
Section 5.9 Specific Performance. Each party acknowledges and agrees that the other parties hereto would be irreparably harmed and would not have any adequate remedy at law in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed by such first party in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached by such first party. Accordingly, each party agrees that the other parties hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such parties are entitled at law or in equity.
[Signature Page Follows.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
COMPANY: | |
PEAK BIO, INC. | |
By: | |
Name: | |
Title: | |
Address for Notice: |
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
IGNYTE SPONSOR LLC | |||
By: | |||
Name: | |||
Title: | |||
Address for Notice: 640 Fifth Avenue New York, NY Attention: David Rosenberg, Co-Chief Executive Officer; David J. Strupp, Jr., Co- Chief Executive Officer | |||
Email: | drosenberg@ignytespac.com dstrupp@ignytespac.com |
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
HOLDER: | ||||
[NAME] | ||||
By: |
||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
Address for Notice: | ||||
Telephone No.: | ||||
Facsimile No.: | ||||
Email Address: |
EXHIBIT B
Form of Lock-Up Agreement
LOCK-UP
AGREEMENT
by and among
IGNYTE ACQUISITION CORP.,
PEAK BIO CO., LTD.,
and certain
STOCKHOLDERS OF PEAK BIO CO., LTD.
Dated as of [___], 2022
This Lock-Up Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of [___], 2022, by and among Ignyte Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Ignyte”), Peak Bio Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of Korea (the “Company”), the executive officers and members of the board of directors of Peak Bio, Inc. (formerly known as, prior to the Closing, Ignyte), and those stockholders of the Company listed on the signature pages hereto (each, a “Lock-Up Party” and, collectively, the “Lock-Up Parties”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Business Combination Agreement (as defined below).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, on April 28, 2022, Ignyte, the Company, Ignyte Korea Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of Korea and a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of Ignyte, entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”), pursuant to which the parties agreed to, among other things, effect the Share Swap, and as a result, the Company will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ignyte;
WHEREAS, the Lock-Up Parties are receiving the Lock-Up Securities (as defined below) on or about the Effective Date, pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement;
WHEREAS, each Lock-Up Party agrees to enter into this Agreement with respect to all Lock-Up Securities that such Lock-Up Party now or hereafter Beneficially Owns (as defined below) or owns of record;
WHEREAS, each of Ignyte, the Company and each Lock-Up Party has determined that it is in their best interests to enter into this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, each Lock-Up Party understands and acknowledges that Ignyte and the Company are entering into the Business Combination Agreement in reliance upon such Lock-Up Party’s execution and delivery of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth below and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions. When used in this Agreement, the following terms in all of their tenses, cases and correlative forms shall have the meanings assigned to them in this Section 1 or elsewhere in this Agreement.
“Affiliate” of a specified person means a Person who, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person (provided that if a Lock-Up Party is a venture capital, private equity or angel fund, no portfolio company of such Lock-Up Party will be deemed an Affiliate of such Lock-Up Party).
“Beneficially Own” means, with regard to any securities, having “beneficial ownership” of such securities for purposes of Rule 13d-3 or 13d-5 under the Exchange Act. Similar terms such as “Beneficial Ownership” and “Beneficial Owner” have the corresponding meanings.
“Expiration Time” shall mean the earliest to occur of (a) the Closing Date, (b) such date as the Business Combination Agreement shall be validly terminated in accordance with Article IX thereof, and (c) the effective date of a written agreement of the parties hereto terminating this Agreement.
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“Family Member” means with respect to any individual, a spouse, lineal descendant (whether natural or adopted) or spouse of a lineal descendant of such individual or any trust created for the benefit of such individual or of which any of the foregoing is a beneficiary.
“Governmental Authority” means any United States federal, state, county, municipal or other local or non-United States government, governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, agency, instrumentality or commission or any court, tribunal, or judicial or arbitral body.
“Law” means any applicable federal, national, state, county, municipal, provincial, local, foreign or multinational statute, constitution, common law, ordinance, code, decree, order, judgment, rule, binding regulation, ruling or requirement issued, enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority.
“Lock-Up Securities” means any Ignyte Securities Beneficially Owned by a Lock-Up Party as of immediately following the Closing Date, other than (i) any security received pursuant to an incentive plan adopted by Ignyte on or after the Closing Date, or (ii) any Ignyte Securities acquired in open market transactions.
“Ignyte Common Stock” means Ignyte’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
“Ignyte Preferred Stock” means Ignyte’s preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
“Ignyte Securities” means (a) any shares of Ignyte Preferred Stock, (b) any shares of Ignyte Common Stock, (c) any shares of Ignyte Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any warrant or other right to acquire shares of such Ignyte Common Stock and (d) any equity securities of Ignyte that may be issued or distributed or be issuable with respect to the securities referred to in clauses (b) or (c) by way of conversion, dividend, stock split or other distribution, merger, consolidation, exchange, recapitalization or reclassification or similar transaction.
“Permitted Transferee” means with respect to any Person, (a) in the case of an individual: (i) any Family Member of such Person, (ii) by bona fide gift, (iii) any Affiliate of any Family Member of such Person or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a Family Member or an Affiliate of such Person, or to a charitable organization, (iv) a Person by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death of such Person, (v) a Person pursuant to an operation of law or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, divorce decree or separation agreement, and (b) in the case of an entity, (i) any Affiliate of such Person or to any investment fund or other entity controlled or managed by such Person, (ii) if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, its stockholders, partners, members or other equityholders, and (c) the Company or Ignyte in connection with the repurchase of shares of Ignyte Common Stock issued pursuant to equity awards granted under a stock incentive plan or other equity award plan.
“Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, syndicate, person (including a “person” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), trust, association or entity or government, political subdivision, agency or instrumentality of a government.
“Transfer” means, excluding entry into this Agreement and the Business Combination Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, any (a) sale of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to, any security, (b) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (c) the public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (a) or (b).
2. Lock-Up.
2.1 Lock-Up. Each Lock-Up Party severally, and not jointly, agrees with Ignyte not to effect any Transfer, or make a public announcement of any intention to effect such Transfer, of any Lock-Up Securities Beneficially Owned or otherwise held by such Lock-Up Party during the Lock-Up Period (as defined below); provided, that such prohibition shall not apply to Transfers permitted pursuant to Section 2.2. The “Lock-Up Period” shall be the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the date that is the earlier to occur of (a) one hundred eighty (180) days following the Closing Date; and (b) subsequent to the Closing, the date on which Ignyte completes a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of Ignyte’s stockholders having the right to exchange their Ignyte Securities for cash, securities or other property. For the avoidance of any doubt, (i) each Lock-Up Party shall retain all of his, her or its rights as a stockholder of Ignyte during the Lock-Up Period, including the right to vote, and to receive any dividends and distributions in respect of, any Lock-Up Securities, and (ii) the restrictions contained in this Section 2.1 shall not apply to (A) any Ignyte Securities acquired in open market transactions, (B) any Ignyte Common Stock issued in connection with the PIPE Investment and (C) any other Ignyte Securities acquired by any Lock-Up Party in any public or private capital raising transactions of Ignyte or otherwise with respect to any Ignyte Common Stock (or other securities of Ignyte) other than the Lock-Up Securities.
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2.2 Permitted Transfers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, during the Lock-Up Period, each Lock-Up Party may Transfer, without the consent of Ignyte, any of such Lock-Up Party’s Lock-Up Securities (a) to any of such Lock-Up Party’s Permitted Transferees, upon written notice to Ignyte or (b) pursuant to any liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of Ignyte’s stockholders having the right to exchange their Ignyte Securities for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the Business Combination; provided, that in connection with any Transfer of such Lock-Up Securities, the restrictions and obligations contained in Section 2.1 and this Section 2.2 will continue to apply to such Lock-Up Securities after any Transfer of such Lock-Up Securities and such transferee shall execute a lock-up agreement substantially in the form of this Agreement for the balance of the Lock-Up Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.2, a Lock-Up Party may (i) not make a Transfer to a Permitted Transferee if such Transfer has as a purpose the avoidance of or is otherwise undertaken in contemplation of avoiding the restrictions on Transfers in this Agreement (it being understood that the purpose of this provision includes prohibiting the Transfer to a Permitted Transferee (A) that has been formed to facilitate a material change with respect to who or which entities Beneficially Own the Lock-Up Securities, or (B) followed by a change in the relationship between the Lock-Up Party and the Permitted Transferee (or a change of control of such Lock-Up Party or Permitted Transferee) after the Transfer with the result and effect that the Lock-Up Party has indirectly made a Transfer of Lock-Up Securities by using a Permitted Transferee, which Transfer would not have been directly permitted under this Section 2 had such change in such relationship occurred prior to such Transfer), or (ii) enter into a written plan meeting the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act after the date of this Agreement relating to the sale of the undersigned’s Lock-Up Securities, provided that (A) the securities subject to such plan may not be sold until after the expiration of the Lock-Up Period and (B) the Company shall not be required to effect, and the undersigned shall not effect or cause to be effected, any public filing, report or other public announcement regarding the establishment of the trading plan.
3. Confidentiality. Until the Expiration Time, each Lock-Up Party will and will direct his, her or its Affiliates to keep confidential and not disclose any non-public information relating to Ignyte or the Company and their respective subsidiaries, including the existence or terms of, or transactions contemplated by, this Agreement, the Business Combination Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, except to the extent that such information (i) was, is or becomes generally available to the public after the date hereof other than as a result of a disclosure by such Lock-Up Party in breach of this Section 3, (ii) is, was or becomes available to such Lock-Up Party on a non-confidential basis from a source other than Ignyte or the Company or (iii) is or was independently developed by such Lock-Up Party after the date hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such information may be disclosed to the extent required to be disclosed in a judicial or administrative proceeding, or otherwise required to be disclosed by applicable Law (including complying with any oral or written questions, interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar process to which such disclosing party is subject), provided that such Lock-Up Party gives Ignyte or the Company, as applicable, prompt notice of such request(s) or requirement(s), to the extent practicable (and not prohibited by Law), so that Ignyte or the Company may seek, at its expense, an appropriate protective order or similar relief (and such Lock-Up Party shall reasonably cooperate with such efforts it being understood that such obligation to reasonably cooperate does not require a Lock-Up Party to himself, herself or itself commence litigation regarding such protective order or similar relief).
4. Representations and Warranties of the Lock-Up Parties. Each Lock-Up Party hereby represents and warrants, severally and not jointly, to the Company and Ignyte as follows:
4.1 Due Authority. Such Lock-Up Party has the full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and perform his, her or its obligations hereunder. If such Lock-Up Party is an individual, the signature to this agreement is genuine and such Lock-Up Party has legal competence and capacity to execute the same. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by such Lock-Up Party and, assuming due execution and delivery by the other parties hereto, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Lock-Up Party, enforceable against such Lock-Up Party in accordance with its terms, except as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and by general equitable principles.
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4.2 No Conflict; Consents.
(a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Lock-Up Party does not, and the performance by such Lock-Up Party of the obligations under this Agreement and the compliance by such Lock-Up Party with any provisions hereof do not and will not: (i) conflict with or violate any Law applicable to such Lock-Up Party, (ii) if such Lock-Up Party is an entity, conflict with or violate the certificate of incorporation or bylaws or any equivalent Organizational Documents of such Lock-Up Party, or (iii) result in any breach of, or constitute a default (or an event, which with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a lien on any of the securities of the Company owned by such Lock-Up Party pursuant to any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other instrument or obligation to which such Lock-Up Party is a party or by which such Lock-Up Party is otherwise bound, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii), as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to materially impair the ability of such Lock-Up Party to perform his, her or its obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Lock-Up Party does not, and the performance of this Agreement by such Lock-Up Party will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing or notification to, or expiration of any waiting period by any Governmental Authority, other than those set forth as conditions to closing in the Business Combination Agreement.
4.3 Absence of Litigation. As of the date hereof, there is no litigation, suit, claim, charge, grievance, action, proceeding, audit or investigation by or before any Governmental Authority (an “Action”) pending against, or, to the knowledge of such Lock-Up Party, threatened against such Lock-Up Party that would reasonably be expected to materially impair the ability of such Lock-Up Party to perform his, her or its obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
4.4 Absence of Conflicting Agreements. Such Lock-Up Party has not entered into any agreement, arrangement or understanding that is otherwise materially inconsistent with, or would materially interfere with, or prohibit or prevent him, her or it from satisfying, his, her or its obligations pursuant to this Agreement.
5. Fiduciary Duties. The covenants and agreements set forth herein shall not prevent any designee of any Lock-Up Party from serving on the Board of Directors or as an officer of the Company or from taking any action, subject to the provisions of the Business Combination Agreement, while acting in such designee’s capacity as a director or officer of the Company. Each Lock-Up Party is entering into this Agreement solely in his, her or its capacity as the anticipated owner of Ignyte Securities following the consummation of the Business Combination.
6. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of: (i) termination of the Business Combination Agreement in accordance with its terms; or (ii) completion of the Lock-Up Period as specified in Section 2.1 of this Agreement. Upon termination of this Agreement, none of the parties hereto shall have any further obligations or liabilities under this Agreement; provided, that nothing in this Section 6 shall relieve any party hereto of liability for any willful material breach of this Agreement prior to its termination.
7. Miscellaneous.
7.1 Severability. In the event that any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement, or the application thereof, is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under any present or future Law: (a) such provision will be fully severable; (b) this Agreement will be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part hereof; (c) the remaining provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect and will not be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision or by its severance herefrom; and (d) in lieu of such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision, there will be added automatically as a part of this Agreement a legal, valid and enforceable provision as similar in terms of such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible.
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7.2 Non-survival of Representations and Warranties. None of the representations or warranties in this Agreement or in any schedule, instrument or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Expiration Time.
7.3 Assignment. Neither party hereto may assign, directly or indirectly, including, through any merger, acquisition, sale of all or substantially all shares/assets or by operation of Law, either this Agreement or any of his, her or its rights, interests or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the other parties hereto, except with respect to a Transfer completed in accordance with Section 2.2. Subject to the first sentence of this Section 7.3, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Any assignment in violation of this Section 7.3 shall be void ab initio.
7.4 Amendments and Modifications. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto at any time by execution of an instrument in writing signed by (a) Ignyte, (b) the Company and (c) (i) by Lock-Up Parties holding at least 75% of the Lock-Up Securities (assuming the hypothetical exercise of all then-outstanding warrants and options that are Lock-Up Securities) that are then subject to this Agreement, and any such amendment shall be binding on all the Lock-Up Parties; provided, however, that in no event shall the obligation of any Lock-Up Party hereunder be materially increased without the prior written consent of such Lock-Up Party, unless such amendment applies to all Lock-Up Parties in the same fashion; provided, further, however, that (A) if this Agreement, or any other Lock-Up agreement signed by a stockholder of the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or under the Business Combination Agreement, is amended, modified or waived in a manner favorable to any Lock-Up Party or such shareholder, and such amendment, modification or waiver would be favorable to any other Lock-Up Party, this Agreement shall be automatically amended in the same manner with respect to such other Lock-Up Party (and Ignyte shall provide prompt notice thereof to all Lock-Up Parties), and (B) if any Lock-Up Party or such shareholder is released from any or all of the lock-up restrictions under this Lock-Up Agreement or such other lock-up agreement, each other Lock-Up Party shall automatically be contemporaneously and proportionately released from the lock-up restrictions hereunder (which, for the avoidance of doubt, will include a release of the same percentage of such Lock-Up Party’s Lock-Up Securities) and Ignyte shall provide prompt notice thereof to each Lock-Up Party.
7.5 Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial; Specific Performance.
(a) This Agreement and all Actions based upon, arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Delaware.
(b) All legal actions and proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined exclusively in any Delaware Chancery Court; provided, that if jurisdiction is not then available in the Delaware Chancery Court, then any such legal Action may be brought in any federal court located in the State of Delaware or any other Delaware state court. The parties hereto hereby (x) irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts for themselves and with respect to their respective properties for the purpose of any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought by any party hereto, and (y) agree not to commence any Action relating thereto except in the courts described above in Delaware, other than with respect to any appellate court thereof and other than Actions in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce any judgment, decree or award rendered by any such court in Delaware as described herein. Each of the parties further agrees that notice as provided herein shall constitute sufficient service of process and the parties further waive any argument that such service is insufficient. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by Law. Each of the parties irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion or as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, (i) any claim that he, she or it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the courts in Delaware as described herein for any reason, (ii) that he, she or it or his, her or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise) and (iii) that (A) the Action in any such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (B) the venue of such Action is improper or (C) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.
(c) Each of the parties hereby waives to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law any right he, she or it may have to a trial by jury with respect to any litigation directly or indirectly arising out of, under or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Each of the parties (i) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of any other party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other party would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce that foregoing waiver and (ii) acknowledges that he, she, it and the others hereto have been induced to enter into this Agreement by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in this Section 7.5(c).
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(d) The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof, and, accordingly, that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement or to enforce specifically the performance of the terms and provisions hereof in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, County of Newcastle, or, if that court does not have jurisdiction, any court of the United States located in the State of Delaware without proof of actual damages or otherwise, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at Law or in equity as expressly permitted in this Agreement. Each of the parties hereby further waives (i) any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at Law would be adequate and (ii) any requirement under any Law to post security or a bond as a prerequisite to obtaining equitable relief.
7.6 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by email or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 7.6:
(i) if to Ignyte prior to the Effective Time, to:
Ignyte Acquisition Corp.
640 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY
Attention: David Rosenberg, Co-Chief Executive Officer
David J. Strupp, Jr., Co-Chief Executive Officer
Email: drosenberg@ignytespac.com
dstrupp@ignytespac.com
with a copy to:
DLA Piper LLP (US)
51 John F. Kenney Parkway
Suite 120
Short Hills, NJ 07078
Attention: Andrew P. Gilbert; Scott A. Cowan
Email: andrew.gilbert@us.dlapiper.com; scott.cowan@us.dlapiper.com
(ii) if to the Company prior to the Effective Time, to:
Peak Bio Co. Ltd.
Building B #1009,
670 Daewangpangyo-ro (Sampyeong-dong, U Space 2),
Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyenggi-do
Attention: Hoyoung Huh, MD, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer
Email: hoyoung.huh@ph-pharma.com
with a copy to:
Bae, Kim & Lee LLC
13F, Tower B, Centropolis,
26 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03161
Attention: Jung Min Jo
Email: jungmin.jo@bkl.co.kr
and
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BC Burr McCabe Law
584 Castro Street #882
San Francisco, CA 94114
Attention: Peter McCabe
Email: pmccabe@bcbmlaw.com
(iii) if to Ignyte or the Company following the Effective Time, to:
Peak Bio, Inc.
[●]
[●]
Attention: | [●] |
Email: | [●] |
with a copy to:
DLA Piper LLP (US)
51 John F. Kenney Parkway
Suite 120
Short Hills, NJ 07078
Attention: Andrew P. Gilbert; Scott A. Cowan
Email: andrew.gilbert@us.dlapiper.com; scott.cowan@us.dlapiper.com
(iv) if to a Lock-Up Party, to the address for notice set forth on such Lock-Up Party’s signature page to this Agreement.
7.7 Entire Agreement; Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement, together with the Business Combination Agreement and Transaction Documents, constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof. This right Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other person any benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
7.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or portable document format (pdf) transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
7.9 Effect of Headings. The descriptive headings contained in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
7.10 Legal Representation. Each of the parties hereto agrees that he, she or it has been represented by independent counsel of his, her or its choice during the negotiation and execution of this Agreement and each party hereto and his, her or its counsel cooperated in the drafting and preparation of this Agreement and the documents referred to herein and, therefore, waive the application of any Law, regulation, holding or rule of construction providing that ambiguities in an agreement or other document will be construed against the party hereto drafting such agreement or document. Each Lock-Up Party acknowledges that DLA Piper LLP (US) is acting as counsel to Ignyte and BC Burr McCabe Law is acting as counsel to the Company in connection with the Business Combination Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, and that neither of such firms is acting as counsel to any Lock-Up Party.
7.11 Expenses. All expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such expenses, whether or not the Business Combination is consummated.
7.12 Further Assurances. At the request of Ignyte or the Company, in the case of any Lock-Up Party, or at the request of the Lock-Up Parties, in the case of Ignyte, and without further consideration, each party shall execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered such additional documents and instruments and take such further action as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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7.13 Waiver. No failure or delay on the part of any party to exercise any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of such power, right, privilege or remedy; and no single or partial exercise of any such power, right, privilege or remedy shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or of any other power, right, privilege or remedy. No party shall be deemed to have waived any claim available to such party arising out of this Agreement, or any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, unless the waiver of such claim, power, right, privilege or remedy is expressly set forth in a written instrument duly executed and delivered on behalf of such waiving party; and any such waiver shall not be applicable or have any effect except in the specific instance in which it is given.
7.14 Several Liability. The liability of the Lock-Up Parties hereunder is several (and not joint). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in no event will any Lock-Up Party be liable for any other Lock-Up Party’s breach of such other Lock-Up Party’s representations, warranties, covenants, or agreements contained in this Agreement.
7.15 No Recourse. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or otherwise, but without limiting any provision in the Business Combination Agreement, this Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claims or causes of action that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, may only be made against the entities and Persons that are expressly identified as parties to this Agreement in their capacities as such and no former, current or future stockholders, equity holders, controlling persons, directors, officers, employees, general or limited partners, members, managers, agents or affiliates of any party hereto, or any former, current or future direct or indirect stockholder, equity holder, controlling person, director, officer, employee, general or limited partner, member, manager, agent or affiliate of any of the foregoing (each, a “Non-Recourse Party”) shall have any liability for any obligations or liabilities of the parties to this Agreement or for any claim (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) based on, in respect of, or by reason of, the transactions contemplated hereby or in respect of any oral representations made or alleged to be made in connection herewith. Without limiting the rights of any party against the other parties hereto, in no event shall any party or any of his, her or its affiliates seek to enforce this Agreement against, make any claims for breach of this Agreement against, or seek to recover monetary damages from, any Non-Recourse Party.
[Signature pages follow.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
IGNYTE ACQUISITION CORP., a Delaware corporation | |
By: | |
Name: | |
Title: |
Signature Page to Lock-Up Agreement
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
PEAK BIO CO, LTD., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of Korea | |
By: | |
Name: | |
Title: |
Signature Page to Lock-Up Agreement
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
LOCK-UP PARTIES: | |
By: | |
Name: | |
Title: | |
Address for Notice: |
EXHIBIT H
Form of Key Company Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement
LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
by and among
IGNYTE ACQUISITION CORP.,
PEAK
BIO CO., LTD.,
and HOYOUNG HUH
Dated as of [___], 2022
This Lock-Up Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of [___], 2022, by and among Ignyte Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Ignyte”), Peak Bio Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of Korea (the “Company”), and Hoyoung Huh (the “Lock-Up Party” and, collectively with the other parties entering into Lock-Up Agreements in connection the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (as defined below), the “Lock-Up Parties”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Business Combination Agreement (as defined below).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, on April 28, 2022, Ignyte, the Company, Ignyte Korea Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of Korea and a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of Ignyte, entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”), pursuant to which the parties agreed to, among other things, effect the Share Swap, and as a result, the Company will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ignyte;
WHEREAS, the Lock-Up Party is receiving the Lock-Up Securities (as defined below) on or about the Effective Date, pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Lock-Up Party agrees to enter into this Agreement with respect to all Lock-Up Securities that the Lock-Up Party now or hereafter Beneficially Owns (as defined below) or owns of record;
WHEREAS, each of Ignyte, the Company and the Lock-Up Party has determined that it is in their best interests to enter into this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Lock-Up Party understands and acknowledges that Ignyte and the Company are entering into the Business Combination Agreement in reliance upon the Lock-Up Party’s execution and delivery of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth below and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions. When used in this Agreement, the following terms in all of their tenses, cases and correlative forms shall have the meanings assigned to them in this Section 1 or elsewhere in this Agreement.
“Affiliate” of a specified person means a Person who, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person (provided that if the Lock-Up Party is a venture capital, private equity or angel fund, no portfolio company of the Lock-Up Party will be deemed an Affiliate of the Lock-Up Party).
“Beneficially Own” means, with regard to any securities, having “beneficial ownership” of such securities for purposes of Rule 13d-3 or 13d-5 under the Exchange Act. Similar terms such as “Beneficial Ownership” and “Beneficial Owner” have the corresponding meanings.
“Expiration Time” shall mean the earliest to occur of (a) the Closing Date, (b) such date as the Business Combination Agreement shall be validly terminated in accordance with Article IX thereof, and (c) the effective date of a written agreement of the parties hereto terminating this Agreement.
“Family Member” means with respect to any individual, a spouse, lineal descendant (whether natural or adopted) or spouse of a lineal descendant of such individual or any trust created for the benefit of such individual or of which any of the foregoing is a beneficiary.
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“Governmental Authority” means any United States federal, state, county, municipal or other local or non-United States government, governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, agency, instrumentality or commission or any court, tribunal, or judicial or arbitral body.
“Law” means any applicable federal, national, state, county, municipal, provincial, local, foreign or multinational statute, constitution, common law, ordinance, code, decree, order, judgment, rule, binding regulation, ruling or requirement issued, enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority.
“Lock-Up Securities” means any Ignyte Securities Beneficially Owned by the Lock-Up Party as of immediately following the Closing Date, other than (i) any security received pursuant to an incentive plan adopted by Ignyte on or after the Closing Date, or (ii) any Ignyte Securities acquired in open market transactions.
“Ignyte Common Stock” means Ignyte’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
“Ignyte Preferred Stock” means Ignyte’s preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
“Ignyte Securities” means (a) any shares of Ignyte Preferred Stock, (b) any shares of Ignyte Common Stock, (c) any shares of Ignyte Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any warrant or other right to acquire shares of such Ignyte Common Stock and (d) any equity securities of Ignyte that may be issued or distributed or be issuable with respect to the securities referred to in clauses (b) or (c) by way of conversion, dividend, stock split or other distribution, merger, consolidation, exchange, recapitalization or reclassification or similar transaction.
“Permitted Transferee” means with respect to any Person, (a) in the case of an individual: (i) any Family Member of such Person, (ii) by bona fide gift, (iii) any Affiliate of any Family Member of such Person or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a Family Member or an Affiliate of such Person, or to a charitable organization, (iv) a Person by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death of such Person, (v) a Person pursuant to an operation of law or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, divorce decree or separation agreement, and (b) in the case of an entity, (i) any Affiliate of such Person or to any investment fund or other entity controlled or managed by such Person, (ii) if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, its stockholders, partners, members or other equityholders, and (c) the Company or Ignyte in connection with the repurchase of shares of Ignyte Common Stock issued pursuant to equity awards granted under a stock incentive plan or other equity award plan.
“Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, syndicate, person (including a “person” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), trust, association or entity or government, political subdivision, agency or instrumentality of a government.
“Transfer” means, excluding entry into this Agreement and the Business Combination Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, any (a) sale of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to, any security, (b) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (c) the public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (a) or (b).
2. Lock-Up.
2.1 Lock-Up. The Lock-Up Party severally, and not jointly, agrees with Ignyte not to effect any Transfer, or make a public announcement of any intention to effect such Transfer, of any Lock-Up Securities Beneficially Owned or otherwise held by such Lock-Up Party during the Lock-Up Period (as defined below); provided, that such prohibition shall not apply to Transfers permitted pursuant to Section 2.2. The “Lock-Up Period” shall be the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the date that is the earlier to occur of (a) one hundred eighty (180) days following the Closing Date; and (b) subsequent to the Closing, the date on which Ignyte completes a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of Ignyte’s stockholders having the right to exchange their Ignyte Securities for cash, securities or other property. For the avoidance of any doubt, (i) the Lock-Up Party shall retain all of his rights as a stockholder of Ignyte during the Lock-Up Period, including the right to vote, and to receive any dividends and distributions in respect of, any Lock-Up Securities, and (ii) the restrictions contained in this Section 2.1 shall not apply to (A) any Ignyte Securities acquired in open market transactions, (B) any Ignyte Common Stock issued in connection with the PIPE Investment and (C) any other Ignyte Securities acquired by the Lock-Up Party in any public or private capital raising transactions of Ignyte or otherwise with respect to any Ignyte Common Stock (or other securities of Ignyte) other than the Lock-Up Securities.
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2.2 Permitted Transfers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, during the Lock-Up Period, the Lock-Up Party may Transfer, without the consent of Ignyte, any of such Lock-Up Party’s Lock-Up Securities (a) to any of such Lock-Up Party’s Permitted Transferees, upon written notice to Ignyte, (b) pursuant to any liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of Ignyte’s stockholders having the right to exchange their Ignyte Securities for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the Business Combination, (c) to the lender of the Margin Loan (the “Lender”) as collateral for receipt of the margin financing obtained by the Lock-Up Party as described in the Key Company Stockholder Forward Purchase Agreement (the “Margin Loan”), (d) to the Lender upon a default of the Margin Loan by the Lock-Up Party; provided, that in connection with any Transfer of such Lock-Up Securities pursuant to Sections 2.2(a) or 2.2(b) above, the restrictions and obligations contained in Section 2.1 and this Section 2.2 will continue to apply, and such transferee shall execute a lock-up agreement substantially in the form of this Agreement for the balance of the Lock-Up Period; provided, further, that if the Lock-Up Party pays the outstanding indebtedness under the Margin Loan in full on the terms and conditions of the Margin Loan satisfactory to the Lender, the Lock-Up Securities that were pledged as collateral for the Margin Loan by the Lock-Up Party shall continue to be subject to the restrictions and obligations contained in Section 2.1 and this Section 2.2. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.2, the Lock-Up Party may (i) not make a Transfer to a Permitted Transferee if such Transfer has as a purpose the avoidance of or is otherwise undertaken in contemplation of avoiding the restrictions on Transfers in this Agreement (it being understood that the purpose of this provision includes prohibiting the Transfer to a Permitted Transferee (A) that has been formed to facilitate a material change with respect to who or which entities Beneficially Own the Lock-Up Securities, or (B) followed by a change in the relationship between the Lock-Up Party and the Permitted Transferee (or a change of control of the Lock-Up Party or Permitted Transferee) after the Transfer with the result and effect that the Lock-Up Party has indirectly made a Transfer of Lock-Up Securities by using a Permitted Transferee, which Transfer would not have been directly permitted under this Section 2 had such change in such relationship occurred prior to such Transfer), or (ii) enter into a written plan meeting the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act after the date of this Agreement relating to the sale of the undersigned’s Lock-Up Securities, provided that (A) the securities subject to such plan may not be sold until after the expiration of the Lock-Up Period and (B) the Company shall not be required to effect, and the undersigned shall not effect or cause to be effected, any public filing, report or other public announcement regarding the establishment of the trading plan.
3. Confidentiality. Until the Expiration Time, the Lock-Up Party will and will direct his, her or its Affiliates to keep confidential and not disclose any non-public information relating to Ignyte or the Company and their respective subsidiaries, including the existence or terms of, or transactions contemplated by, this Agreement, the Business Combination Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, except to the extent that such information (i) was, is or becomes generally available to the public after the date hereof other than as a result of a disclosure by the Lock-Up Party in breach of this Section 3, (ii) is, was or becomes available to the Lock-Up Party on a non-confidential basis from a source other than Ignyte or the Company or (iii) is or was independently developed by the Lock-Up Party after the date hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such information may be disclosed to the extent required to be disclosed in a judicial or administrative proceeding, or otherwise required to be disclosed by applicable Law (including complying with any oral or written questions, interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar process to which such disclosing party is subject), provided that the Lock-Up Party gives Ignyte or the Company, as applicable, prompt notice of such request(s) or requirement(s), to the extent practicable (and not prohibited by Law), so that Ignyte or the Company may seek, at its expense, an appropriate protective order or similar relief (and the Lock-Up Party shall reasonably cooperate with such efforts it being understood that such obligation to reasonably cooperate does not require the Lock-Up Party to himself, herself or itself commence litigation regarding such protective order or similar relief).
4. Representations and Warranties of the Lock-Up Party. The Lock-Up Party hereby represents and warrants, severally and not jointly, to the Company and Ignyte as follows:
4.1 Due Authority. The Lock-Up Party has the full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and perform his, her or its obligations hereunder. If the Lock-Up Party is an individual, the signature to this agreement is genuine and the Lock-Up Party has legal competence and capacity to execute the same. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Lock-Up Party and, assuming due execution and delivery by the other parties hereto, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Lock-Up Party, enforceable against the Lock-Up Party in accordance with its terms, except as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and by general equitable principles.
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4.2 No Conflict; Consents.
(a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Lock-Up Party does not, and the performance by the Lock-Up Party of the obligations under this Agreement and the compliance by the Lock-Up Party with any provisions hereof do not and will not: (i) conflict with or violate any Law applicable to the Lock-Up Party, (ii) if the Lock-Up Party is an entity, conflict with or violate the certificate of incorporation or bylaws or any equivalent Organizational Documents of the Lock-Up Party, or (iii) result in any breach of, or constitute a default (or an event, which with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a lien on any of the securities of the Company owned by the Lock-Up Party pursuant to any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other instrument or obligation to which the Lock-Up Party is a party or by which the Lock-Up Party is otherwise bound, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii), as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to materially impair the ability of the Lock-Up Party to perform his, her or its obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Lock-Up Party does not, and the performance of this Agreement by the Lock-Up Party will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing or notification to, or expiration of any waiting period by any Governmental Authority, other than those set forth as conditions to closing in the Business Combination Agreement.
4.3 Absence of Litigation. As of the date hereof, there is no litigation, suit, claim, charge, grievance, action, proceeding, audit or investigation by or before any Governmental Authority (an “Action”) pending against, or, to the knowledge of the Lock-Up Party, threatened against such Lock-Up Party that would reasonably be expected to materially impair the ability of the Lock-Up Party to perform his obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
4.4 Absence of Conflicting Agreements. The Lock-Up Party has not entered into any agreement, arrangement or understanding that is otherwise materially inconsistent with, or would materially interfere with, or prohibit or prevent him, her or it from satisfying, his, her or its obligations pursuant to this Agreement.
5. Fiduciary Duties. The covenants and agreements set forth herein shall not prevent any designee of the Lock-Up Party from serving on the Board of Directors or as an officer of the Company or from taking any action, subject to the provisions of the Business Combination Agreement, while acting in such designee’s capacity as a director or officer of the Company. The Lock-Up Party is entering into this Agreement solely in his capacity as the anticipated owner of Ignyte Securities following the consummation of the Business Combination.
6. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of: (i) termination of the Business Combination Agreement in accordance with its terms; or (ii) completion of the Lock-Up Period as specified in Section 2.1 of this Agreement. Upon termination of this Agreement, none of the parties hereto shall have any further obligations or liabilities under this Agreement; provided, that nothing in this Section 6 shall relieve any party hereto of liability for any willful material breach of this Agreement prior to its termination.
7. Miscellaneous.
7.1 Severability. In the event that any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement, or the application thereof, is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under any present or future Law: (a) such provision will be fully severable; (b) this Agreement will be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part hereof; (c) the remaining provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect and will not be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision or by its severance herefrom; and (d) in lieu of such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision, there will be added automatically as a part of this Agreement a legal, valid and enforceable provision as similar in terms of such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible.
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7.2 Non-survival of Representations and Warranties. None of the representations or warranties in this Agreement or in any schedule, instrument or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Expiration Time.
7.3 Assignment. Neither party hereto may assign, directly or indirectly, including, through any merger, acquisition, sale of all or substantially all shares/assets or by operation of Law, either this Agreement or any of his, her or its rights, interests or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the other parties hereto, except with respect to a Transfer completed in accordance with Section 2.2. Subject to the first sentence of this Section 7.3, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Any assignment in violation of this Section 7.3 shall be void ab initio.
7.4 Amendments and Modifications. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto at any time by execution of an instrument in writing signed by (a) Ignyte, (b) the Company and (c) (i) by Lock-Up Parties holding at least 75% of the Lock-Up Securities (assuming the hypothetical exercise of all then-outstanding warrants and options that are Lock-Up Securities) that are then subject to this Agreement, and any such amendment shall be binding on all the Lock-Up Parties; provided, however, that in no event shall the obligation of the Lock-Up Party hereunder be materially increased without the prior written consent of the Lock-Up Party, unless such amendment applies to all Lock-Up Parties in the same fashion; provided, further, however, that (A) if this Agreement, or any other Lock-Up agreement signed by a stockholder of the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or under the Business Combination Agreement, is amended, modified or waived in a manner favorable to any Lock-Up Party or such shareholder, and such amendment, modification or waiver would be favorable to any other Lock-Up Party, this Agreement shall be automatically amended in the same manner with respect to such other Lock-Up Party (and Ignyte shall provide prompt notice thereof to all Lock-Up Parties), and (B) if any Lock-Up Party or such shareholder is released from any or all of the lock-up restrictions under this Lock-Up Agreement or such other lock-up agreement, each other Lock-Up Party shall automatically be contemporaneously and proportionately released from the lock-up restrictions hereunder (which, for the avoidance of doubt, will include a release of the same percentage of such Lock-Up Party’s Lock-Up Securities) and Ignyte shall provide prompt notice thereof to each Lock-Up Party.
7.5 Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial; Specific Performance.
(a) This Agreement and all Actions based upon, arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Delaware.
(b) All legal actions and proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined exclusively in any Delaware Chancery Court; provided, that if jurisdiction is not then available in the Delaware Chancery Court, then any such legal Action may be brought in any federal court located in the State of Delaware or any other Delaware state court. The parties hereto hereby (x) irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts for themselves and with respect to their respective properties for the purpose of any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought by any party hereto, and (y) agree not to commence any Action relating thereto except in the courts described above in Delaware, other than with respect to any appellate court thereof and other than Actions in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce any judgment, decree or award rendered by any such court in Delaware as described herein. Each of the parties further agrees that notice as provided herein shall constitute sufficient service of process and the parties further waive any argument that such service is insufficient. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by Law. Each of the parties irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion or as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, (i) any claim that he, she or it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the courts in Delaware as described herein for any reason, (ii) that he, she or it or his, her or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise) and (iii) that (A) the Action in any such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (B) the venue of such Action is improper or (C) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.
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(c) Each of the parties hereby waives to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law any right he, she or it may have to a trial by jury with respect to any litigation directly or indirectly arising out of, under or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Each of the parties (i) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of any other party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other party would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce that foregoing waiver and (ii) acknowledges that he, she, it and the others hereto have been induced to enter into this Agreement by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in this Section 7.5(c).
(d) The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof, and, accordingly, that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement or to enforce specifically the performance of the terms and provisions hereof in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, County of Newcastle, or, if that court does not have jurisdiction, any court of the United States located in the State of Delaware without proof of actual damages or otherwise, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at Law or in equity as expressly permitted in this Agreement. Each of the parties hereby further waives (i) any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at Law would be adequate and (ii) any requirement under any Law to post security or a bond as a prerequisite to obtaining equitable relief.
7.6 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by email or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 7.6:
(i) if to Ignyte prior to the Effective Time, to:
Ignyte Acquisition Corp.
640 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY
Attention: David Rosenberg, Co-Chief Executive Officer
David J. Strupp, Jr., Co-Chief Executive Officer
Email: drosenberg@ignytespac.com
dstrupp@ignytespac.com
with a copy to:
DLA Piper LLP (US)
51 John F. Kenney Parkway
Suite 120
Short Hills, NJ 07078
Attention: Andrew P. Gilbert;
Scott A. Cowan
Email: andrew.gilbert@us.dlapiper.com; scott.cowan@us.dlapiper.com
(ii) if to the Company prior to the Effective Time, to:
Peak Bio Co. Ltd.
Building B #1009,
670 Daewangpangyo-ro (Sampyeong-dong, U Space 2),
Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si,
Gyenggi-do
Attention: Hoyoung Huh, MD, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer
Email: hoyoung.huh@ph-pharma.com
with a copy to:
Bae, Kim & Lee LLC
13F, Tower
B, Centropolis,
26 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03161
Attention: Jung Min Jo
Email: jungmin.jo@bkl.co.kr
and
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BC Burr McCabe Law
584 Castro Street #882
San Francisco, CA 94114
Attention: Peter McCabe
Email: pmccabe@bcbmlaw.com
(iii) if to Ignyte or the Company following the Effective Time, to:
[Peak Bio, Inc.]
[●]
[●]
Attention: | [●] |
Email: | [●] |
with a copy to:
DLA Piper LLP (US)
51 John F. Kenney Parkway
Suite 120
Short Hills, NJ 07078
Attention: Andrew P. Gilbert; Scott A. Cowan
Email: andrew.gilbert@us.dlapiper.com; scott.cowan@us.dlapiper.com
(iv) if to the Lock-Up Party, to the address for notice set forth on the Lock-Up Party’s signature page to this Agreement.
7.7 Entire Agreement; Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement, together with the Business Combination Agreement and Transaction Documents, constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof. This right Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other person any benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
7.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or portable document format (pdf) transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
7.9 Effect of Headings. The descriptive headings contained in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
7.10 Legal Representation. Each of the parties hereto agrees that he, she or it has been represented by independent counsel of his, her or its choice during the negotiation and execution of this Agreement and each party hereto and his, her or its counsel cooperated in the drafting and preparation of this Agreement and the documents referred to herein and, therefore, waive the application of any Law, regulation, holding or rule of construction providing that ambiguities in an agreement or other document will be construed against the party hereto drafting such agreement or document. The Lock-Up Party acknowledges that DLA Piper LLP (US) is acting as counsel to Ignyte and BC Burr McCabe Law is acting as counsel to the Company in connection with the Business Combination Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, and that neither of such firms is acting as counsel to any Lock-Up Party.
7.11 Expenses. All expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such expenses, whether or not the Business Combination is consummated.
7.12 Further Assurances. At the request of Ignyte or the Company, in the case of the Lock-Up Party, or at the request of the Lock-Up Party, in the case of Ignyte, and without further consideration, each party shall execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered such additional documents and instruments and take such further action as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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7.13 Waiver. No failure or delay on the part of any party to exercise any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of such power, right, privilege or remedy; and no single or partial exercise of any such power, right, privilege or remedy shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or of any other power, right, privilege or remedy. No party shall be deemed to have waived any claim available to such party arising out of this Agreement, or any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, unless the waiver of such claim, power, right, privilege or remedy is expressly set forth in a written instrument duly executed and delivered on behalf of such waiving party; and any such waiver shall not be applicable or have any effect except in the specific instance in which it is given.
7.14 Several Liability. The liability of the Lock-Up Parties hereunder is several (and not joint). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in no event will the Lock-Up Party be liable for any other Lock-Up Party’s breach of such other Lock-Up Party’s representations, warranties, covenants, or agreements contained in this Agreement.
7.15 No Recourse. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or otherwise, but without limiting any provision in the Business Combination Agreement, this Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claims or causes of action that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, may only be made against the entities and Persons that are expressly identified as parties to this Agreement in their capacities as such and no former, current or future stockholders, equity holders, controlling persons, directors, officers, employees, general or limited partners, members, managers, agents or affiliates of any party hereto, or any former, current or future direct or indirect stockholder, equity holder, controlling person, director, officer, employee, general or limited partner, member, manager, agent or affiliate of any of the foregoing (each, a “Non-Recourse Party”) shall have any liability for any obligations or liabilities of the parties to this Agreement or for any claim (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) based on, in respect of, or by reason of, the transactions contemplated hereby or in respect of any oral representations made or alleged to be made in connection herewith. Without limiting the rights of any party against the other parties hereto, in no event shall any party or any of his, her or its affiliates seek to enforce this Agreement against, make any claims for breach of this Agreement against, or seek to recover monetary damages from, any Non-Recourse Party.
[Signature pages follow.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
IGNYTE ACQUISITION CORP., a Delaware corporation | |
By: | |
Name: | |
Title: |
Signature Page to Lock-Up Agreement
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
PEAK BIO CO, LTD., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of Korea | |
By: | |
Name: | |
Title: |
Signature Page to Lock-Up Agreement
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
LOCK-UP PARTY: | |
By: | |
Name: Hoyoung Huh | |
Address for Notice: |
Signature Page to Lock-Up Agreement
Exhibit 10.1
SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT
This SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this “Subscription Agreement”) is entered into on April 28, 2022, by and between Ignyte Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Ignyte”), and the undersigned subscriber (the “Investor”).
WHEREAS, this Subscription Agreement is being entered into in connection with the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Transaction Agreement”), by and between Ignyte, Ignyte Korea Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of Korea (“Merger Sub”) and Peak Bio Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of Korea (the “Company,” and together with Ignyte and Merger Sub, the “Parties”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Parties desire to enter into a business combination transaction (such transaction, together with the other transactions contemplated by, and subject to the terms and conditions of, the Transaction Agreement, collectively, the “Transaction”) structured as a comprehensive share swap whereby (i) the stockholders of the Company will transfer their respective shares of common stock of the Company, par value KRW 500 per share (the “Company Common Stock”), to Merger Sub in exchange for shares of common stock of Ignyte, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Ignyte Common Stock”) held by Merger Sub, and (ii) in the course of such share swap, Merger Sub will contribute the shares of Company Common Stock to Ignyte in consideration of Ignyte Common Stock (which will in-turn be distributed to the stockholders of the Company as described in (i) above);
WHEREAS, in connection with the Transaction, Ignyte is seeking commitments from interested investors to purchase shares of Ignyte Common Stock (the “Shares”), in a private placement for a purchase price of $10.00 per share (the “Per Share Subscription Price”);
WHEREAS, the aggregate purchase price to be paid by the Investor for the subscribed Shares (as set forth on the signature page hereto) is referred to herein as the “Subscription Amount”; and
WHEREAS, substantially concurrently with the execution of this Subscription Agreement, Ignyte is entering into separate subscription and purchase agreements (collectively, the “Other Subscription Agreements”) with certain investors (the “Other Investors”) with an aggregate purchase price of $25,000,000 (inclusive of the Subscription Amount) (the “PIPE Investment”).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual representations, warranties and covenants, and subject to the conditions, set forth herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, each of the Investor and Ignyte acknowledges and agrees as follows:
1. Subscription. The Investor hereby irrevocably subscribes for and agrees to purchase from Ignyte, and Ignyte agrees to issue and sell to the Investor, the number of Shares set forth on the signature page of this Subscription Agreement on the terms and subject to the conditions provided for herein.
2. Closing. The closing of the sale of the Shares contemplated hereby (the “Closing”) shall occur on a closing date (the “Closing Date”) specified in the Closing Notice (as defined below), and the Closing shall be conditioned upon the prior or substantially concurrent consummation of the Transaction (the closing date of the Transaction, the “Transaction Closing Date”). Upon delivery of written notice from (or on behalf of) Ignyte to the Investor (the “Closing Notice”), that Ignyte reasonably expects all conditions to the closing of the Transaction to be satisfied or waived on an expected Transaction Closing Date that is not less than five (5) business days from the date on which the Closing Notice is delivered to the Investor, the Investor shall deliver the Subscription Amount three (3) business days prior to the expected Closing Date by wire transfer of United States dollars in immediately available funds to the account(s) specified by Ignyte in the Closing Notice. On the Closing Date, Ignyte shall issue the Shares to the Investor and subsequently cause the Shares to be registered in book entry form in the name of the Investor and will provide to the Investor, upon request by the Investor, evidence of such issuance from Ignyte’s transfer agent. For purposes of this Subscription Agreement, “business day” shall mean a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close. Prior to or at the Closing, the Investor shall deliver to Ignyte a duly completed and executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or appropriate Form W-8. In the event the Transaction Closing Date does not occur within two (2) business days after the Closing Date under this Subscription Agreement, Ignyte shall promptly (but not later than two (2) business days thereafter) return the Subscription Amount to the Investor by wire transfer of U.S. dollars in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Investor, and any book-entries for the Shares shall be deemed cancelled; provided that, unless this Subscription Agreement has been terminated pursuant to Section 9 hereof, such return of funds shall not terminate this Subscription Agreement or relieve the Investor of its obligation to purchase the Shares at the Closing in the event Ignyte delivers a subsequent Closing Notice in accordance with this Section 2.
3. Closing Conditions. The obligation of the parties hereto to consummate the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Subscription Agreement is subject to the following conditions: (a) there shall not be in force any injunction or order enjoining or prohibiting the issuance and sale of the Shares under this Subscription Agreement; (b) except to the extent consented to in writing by the Investor, no amendments of, or waivers under, the Transaction Agreement (as the same exists as of the date of this Subscription Agreement) (including the conditions thereto) shall have occurred that materially and adversely affect the economic benefits the Investor (in its capacity as such) would reasonably expect to receive under this Subscription Agreement; and (c)(i) solely with respect to the Investor’s obligation to close, the representations and warranties made by Ignyte, and (ii) solely with respect to the Ignyte’s obligation to close, the representations and warranties made by the Investor, in each case, in this Subscription Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date other than (x) those representations and warranties qualified by materiality, Material Adverse Effect (as defined below) or similar qualification, which shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date and (y) those representations and warranties expressly made as of an earlier date, which shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, if qualified by materiality, Material Adverse Effect or similar qualification, all respects) as of such date, in each case without giving effect to the consummation of the Transaction.
4. Further Assurances. At the Closing, the parties hereto shall execute and deliver such additional documents and take such additional actions as the parties reasonably may deem to be practical and necessary in order to consummate the subscription as contemplated by this Subscription Agreement.
5. Ignyte Representations and Warranties. Ignyte represents and warrants to the Investor that:
(a) Ignyte was duly incorporated and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. Ignyte has all power (corporate or otherwise) and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as presently conducted and to enter into, deliver and perform its obligations under this Subscription Agreement.
(b) As of the Closing Date, the Shares will be duly authorized and, when issued and delivered to the Investor against full payment therefor in accordance with the terms of this Subscription Agreement, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will not have been issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive or similar rights created under Ignyte’s organizational documents (as in effect at such time of issuance) or under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
(c) This Subscription Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Ignyte and, assuming that this Subscription Agreement constitutes the valid and binding agreement of the Investor, this Subscription Agreement is enforceable against Ignyte in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited or otherwise affected by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally, or (ii) principles of equity, whether considered at law or equity.
(d) The issuance and sale by Ignyte of the Shares pursuant to this Subscription Agreement will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of Ignyte or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which Ignyte or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which Ignyte or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of Ignyte is subject that would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations of Ignyte and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”), or materially and adversely affect the validity of the Shares or the legal authority of Ignyte to comply in all material respects with its obligations under this Subscription Agreement; (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the organizational documents of Ignyte; or (iii) result in any violation of any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over Ignyte or any of its properties that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or materially and adversely affect the validity of the Shares or the legal authority of Ignyte to comply in all material respects with its obligations under this Subscription Agreement.
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(e) As of their respective filing dates, or, if amended, as of the date of such amendment, which shall be deemed to supersede such original filing, all reports required to be filed by Ignyte with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) since January 28, 2021 (the “SEC Reports”) complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder. None of the SEC Reports filed under the Exchange Act included, when filed or, if amended, as of the date of such amendment with respect to those disclosures that are amended, any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, that Ignyte makes no such representation or warranty with respect to any registration statement or any proxy statement/prospectus to be filed by Ignyte with respect to the Transaction or any other information relating to the Company or any of its affiliates Ignyte included in any SEC Report or filed as an exhibit thereto. Ignyte has timely filed with the SEC each SEC Report that Ignyte was required to file with the SEC. As of the date hereof, there are no material outstanding or unresolved comments in comment letters received by Ignyte from the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the SEC with respect to any of the SEC Reports. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statement or information in the SEC Reports that relates to (i) the topics referenced in the SEC’s “Staff Statement on Accounting and Reporting Considerations for Warrants Issued by Special Purpose Acquisition Companies” on April 12, 2021 or any subsequent guidance, statements or interpretations issued by the SEC or the Staff (collectively, the “SEC Statement”) or (ii) the Company’s outstanding redeemable shares as temporary, as opposed to permanent, equity (“Redeemable Share Classification Changes”). Neither any correction, amendment or restatement of Ignyte’s financial statements due to the SEC Statement, Redeemable Share Classification Changes or to other accounting matters related to initial public offering securities or expenses, nor any changes in accounting or disclosure related thereto, shall be deemed to be a breach of any representation or warranty by Ignyte.
(f) Ignyte is not required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local or other governmental authority, self-regulatory organization or other person in connection with the issuance of the Shares pursuant to this Subscription Agreement, other than (i) filings with the SEC, (ii) in connection with or as a result of the SEC Statement or Redeemable Share Classification Changes, (iii) filings required by applicable state securities laws, (iv) the filings required in accordance with Section 13 of this Subscription Agreement; (v) those required by the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq, as applicable, including with respect to obtaining approval of Ignyte’s stockholders, (vi) the filing of a notification under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, if applicable, and (vii) the failure of which to obtain would not be reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
(g) As of the date hereof, Ignyte has not received any written communication from a governmental authority that alleges that Ignyte is not in compliance with or is in default or violation of any applicable law, except where such non-compliance, default or violation would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
(h) Assuming the accuracy of the Investor’s representations and warranties set forth in Section 6 of this Subscription Agreement, no registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), is required for the offer and sale of the Shares by Ignyte to the Investor.
(i) Neither Ignyte nor any person acting on its behalf has offered or sold the Shares by any form of general solicitation or general advertising in violation of the Securities Act.
(j) As of the date hereof, the issued and outstanding shares of Ignyte Common Stock are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on Nasdaq. There is no suit, action, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of Ignyte, threatened against Ignyte by Nasdaq or the SEC with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister the Shares or prohibit or terminate the listing of the Shares on Nasdaq, excluding, for the purposes of clarity, the customary ongoing review by Nasdaq in connection with the Transaction. Ignyte has taken no action that is designed to terminate the registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act prior to the Closing.
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(k) Ignyte is not under any obligation to pay any broker’s fee or commission in connection with the sale of the Shares.
(l) The Other Subscription Agreements reflect the same Per Share Subscription Price and other terms with respect to the purchase of the Shares that are not materially more favorable to such Other Investor thereunder than the terms of this Subscription Agreement, other than terms particular to the regulatory requirements of such Other Investor or its affiliates or related funds.
6. Investor Representations and Warranties. The Investor represents and warrants to Ignyte that:
(a) The Investor (i) is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) or an “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act), in each case, satisfying the applicable requirements set forth on Schedule A, (ii) is acquiring the Shares only for its own account and not for the account of others, or if the Investor is subscribing for the Shares as a fiduciary or agent for one or more investor accounts, each owner of such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) or an “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act) and the Investor has full investment discretion with respect to each such account, and the full power and authority to make the acknowledgements, representations and agreements herein on behalf of each owner of each such account, and (iii) is not acquiring the Shares with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act or the laws of any jurisdiction (and shall provide the requested information set forth on Schedule A). The Investor is not an entity formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the Shares and is an “institutional account” as defined by FINRA Rule 4512(c).
(b) The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Shares are being offered in a transaction not involving any public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act, that the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act and that Ignyte is not required to register the Shares except as set forth in Section 8 of this Subscription Agreement. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Shares may not be offered, resold, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of by the Investor absent an effective registration statement under the Securities Act except (i) to Ignyte or a subsidiary thereof, (ii) to non-U.S. persons pursuant to offers and sales that occur outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act or (iii) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or another applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and, in each case, in accordance with any applicable securities laws of the states of the United States and other applicable jurisdictions, and that any certificates or book entries representing the Shares shall contain a restrictive legend to such effect. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Shares will be subject to the foregoing transfer restrictions and, as a result of these transfer restrictions, the Investor may not be able to readily offer, resell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of the Shares and may be required to bear the financial risk of an investment in the Shares for an indefinite period of time. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Shares will not immediately be eligible for offer, resale, transfer, pledge or disposition pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, and that the provisions of Rule 144(i) will apply to the Shares. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that it has been advised to consult legal, tax and accounting advisors prior to making any offer, resale, transfer, pledge or disposition of any of the Shares.
(c) The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Investor is purchasing the Shares from Ignyte. The Investor further acknowledges that there have been no representations, warranties, covenants and agreements made to the Investor by or on behalf of Ignyte, the Company, any of their respective affiliates or any control persons, officers, directors, employees, agents or representatives of any of the foregoing or any other person or entity, expressly or by implication, other than those representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of Ignyte expressly set forth in Section 5 of this Subscription Agreement.
(d) The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Investor has received such information as the Investor deems necessary in order to make an investment decision with respect to the Shares, including, with respect to Ignyte, the Transaction and the business of the Company and its subsidiaries. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Investor acknowledges that it has reviewed Ignyte’s filings with the SEC. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Investor and the Investor’s professional advisor(s), if any, have had the full opportunity to ask such questions, receive such answers and obtain such information as the Investor and the Investor’s professional advisor(s), if any, have deemed necessary to make an investment decision with respect to the Shares.
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(e) The Investor became aware of this offering of the Shares solely by means of direct contact between the Investor and Ignyte, the Company or a representative of Ignyte or the Company, and the Shares were offered to the Investor solely by direct contact between the Investor and Ignyte, the Company or a representative of Ignyte or the Company. The Investor did not become aware of this offering of the Shares, nor were the Shares offered to the Investor, by any other means. The Investor acknowledges that the Shares (i) were not offered by any form of general solicitation or general advertising and (ii) are not being offered in a manner involving a public offering under, or in a distribution in violation of, the Securities Act, or any state securities laws. The Investor acknowledges that there have not been, and the Investor hereby agrees that it is not relying upon, and has not relied upon, any statement, covenant, agreement, representation or warranty made by any person, firm or corporation (including, without limitation, Ignyte, the Company, any of their respective affiliates or any control persons, officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, legal counsel, financial advisors or accountants of any of the foregoing), other than the representations and warranties of Ignyte contained in Section 5 of this Subscription Agreement, in making its investment or decision to invest in Ignyte.
(f) The Investor acknowledges that it is aware that there are substantial risks incident to the purchase and ownership of the Shares, including those set forth in Ignyte’s filings with the SEC. The Investor has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Shares, and the Investor has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as the Investor has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision. The Investor acknowledges that the Investor shall be responsible for any of the Investor’s tax liabilities that may arise as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement, and that neither Ignyte nor the Company has provided any tax advice or any other representation or guarantee regarding the tax consequences of the transactions contemplated by the Subscription Agreement.
(g) Alone, or together with any professional advisor(s), the Investor has adequately analyzed and fully considered the risks of an investment in the Shares and determined that the Shares are a suitable investment for the Investor and that the Investor is able at this time and in the foreseeable future to bear the economic risk of a total loss of the Investor’s investment in Ignyte. The Investor acknowledges specifically that a possibility of total loss exists.
(h) In making its decision to purchase the Shares, the Investor has relied solely upon independent investigation made by the Investor and the representations and warranties of Ignyte in Section 5.
(i) The Investor acknowledges and agrees that no federal or state agency has passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Shares or made any findings or determination as to the fairness of this investment.
(j) The Investor has been duly formed or incorporated and is validly existing and is in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation or incorporation, with power and authority to enter into, deliver and perform its obligations under this Subscription Agreement.
(k) The execution, delivery and performance by the Investor of this Subscription Agreement, the purchase of the Shares hereunder, the compliance by the Investor with all of the provisions of this Subscription Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein are within the powers of the Investor, have been duly authorized and will not constitute or result in a breach, violation or default, conflict with or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of the Investor pursuant to the terms of (a) any order, ruling or regulation of any court or other tribunal or of any governmental commission or agency, (b) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or undertaking, to which the Investor is a party, by which the Investor is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Investor is subject, and (c) if the Investor is not an individual, the Investor’s organizational documents, including, without limitation, its incorporation or formation papers, bylaws, indenture of trust or partnership or operating agreement, as may be applicable. The signature of the Investor on this Subscription Agreement is genuine, and the signatory has legal competence and capacity to execute the same or the signatory has been duly authorized to execute the same, and, assuming that this Subscription Agreement constitutes the valid and binding agreement of Ignyte, this Subscription Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Investor, enforceable against the Investor in accordance with its terms except as may be limited or otherwise affected by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally, and (ii) principles of equity, whether considered at law or equity.
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(l) Neither the Investor nor, if the Investor is not an individual, any of its officers, directors, managers, managing members, general partners or any other person acting in a similar capacity or carrying out a similar function, is (i) a person named on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, the Foreign Sanctions Evaders List, the Sectoral Sanctions Identification List, or any other similar list of sanctioned persons administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), or any similar list of sanctioned persons administered by the European Union or any individual European Union member state, including the United Kingdom (collectively, “Sanctions Lists”); (ii) directly or indirectly owned or controlled by, or acting on behalf of, one or more persons on a Sanctions List; (iii) organized, incorporated, established, located or resident, or a citizen, national, or the government, including any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, of, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, the Crimea region of Ukraine, or any other country or territory embargoed or subject to substantial trade restrictions by the United States, the European Union or any individual European Union member state, including the United Kingdom; (iv) a Designated National as defined in the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 515; or (v) a non-U.S. shell bank or providing banking services indirectly to a non-U.S. shell bank (collectively, a “Prohibited Investor”). The Investor represents that if it is a financial institution subject to the Bank Secrecy Act (31 U.S.C. Section 5311 et seq.) (the “BSA”), as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (the “PATRIOT Act”), and its implementing regulations (collectively, the “BSA/PATRIOT Act”), that the Investor maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to comply with applicable obligations under the BSA/PATRIOT Act. The Investor also represents that it maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with sanctions administered by the United States, the European Union, or any individual European Union member state, including the United Kingdom, to the extent applicable to it. The Investor further represents that the funds held by the Investor and used to purchase the Shares were legally derived and were not obtained, directly or indirectly, from a Prohibited Investor.
(m) If the Investor is or is acting on behalf of (i) an employee benefit plan that is subject to Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), (ii) a plan, an individual retirement account or other arrangement that is subject to Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), (iii) an entity whose underlying assets are considered to include “plan assets” of any such plan, account or arrangement described in clauses (i) and (ii) (each, an “ERISA Plan”), or (iv) an employee benefit plan that is a governmental plan (as defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA), a church plan (as defined in Section 3(33) of ERISA), a non-U.S. plan (as described in Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA) or other plan that is not subject to the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) but may be subject to provisions under any other federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other laws or regulations that are similar to such provisions of ERISA or the Code (collectively, “Similar Laws,” and together with ERISA Plans, “Plans”), the Investor represents and warrants that (A) neither Ignyte nor any of its affiliates has provided investment advice or has otherwise acted as the Plan’s fiduciary, with respect to its decision to acquire and hold the Shares, and none of the parties to the Transaction is or shall at any time be the Plan’s fiduciary with respect to any decision in connection with the Investor’s investment in the Shares; and (B) its purchase of the Shares will not result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, or any applicable Similar Law.
(n) The Investor is not a foreign person (as defined in 31 C.F.R. Part 800.224) in which the national or subnational governments of a single foreign state have a substantial interest (as defined in 31 C.F.R. Part 800.244).
(o) The Investor has or has commitments to have and, when required to deliver payment to Ignyte pursuant to Section 2 above, will have, sufficient funds to pay the Subscription Amount and consummate the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Subscription Agreement.
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(p) The Investor acknowledges that Ignyte continues to review the SEC Statement, Redeemable Share Classification Changes and their respective implications, including on the financial statements and other information included in its SEC Reports, and any restatement, revision or other modification of the SEC Reports relating to or arising from such review, any subsequent related agreements or any other guidance from the Staff of the SEC with respect to the SEC Statement or Redeemable Share Classification Changes shall be deemed not material for purposes of this Agreement.
(q) No broker or finder is entitled to any brokerage or finder’s fee or commission payable by the Investor solely in connection with the sale of the Shares to the Investor based on any arrangement entered into by or on behalf of the Investor.
7. No Hedging. The Investor hereby agrees that neither it, its controlled affiliates, nor any person or entity acting on its or its controlled affiliates’ behalf or pursuant to any understanding with it, shall execute any short sales (as such term is defined in Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act, 17 CFR 242.200) or engage in other hedging transactions of any kind with respect to the Shares during the period from the date of this Subscription Agreement through the Closing date (or such earlier termination of this Subscription Agreement). Nothing in this Section 7 shall prohibit (x) any other investment portfolios or departments or groups of Investor that have no knowledge of this Subscription Agreement or of the Investor’s participation in this transaction and have not been informed by the Investor of the Transaction (including Investor’s controlled affiliates and/or affiliates) from entering into any short sales or engaging in other hedging transactions or (y) any portfolio company or third-party investment manager engaged by Investor that may engage in any short sales or hedging transactions on Investor’s behalf, if such portfolio company or third-party investment manager has not been directed or instructed to engage in short sales or hedging transactions with respect to the Shares by the Investor or any of the persons that are subject to the foregoing.
8. Registration Rights.
(a) Ignyte agrees that, within thirty (30) calendar days following the Closing Date (such deadline, the “Filing Deadline”), Ignyte will submit to or file with the SEC a registration statement for a shelf registration on Form S-1 or Form S-3 (if Ignyte is then eligible to use a Form S-3 shelf registration) (the “Registration Statement”), in each case, covering the resale of the Shares acquired by the Investor pursuant to this Subscription Agreement which are eligible for registration (determined as of two (2) business days prior to such submission or filing) (the “Registrable Shares”) and Ignyte shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, but no later than the earlier of (i) the 90th calendar day following the filing date thereof if the SEC notifies Ignyte that it will “review” the Registration Statement and (ii) the 10th business day after the date Ignyte is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the SEC that the Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review (such earlier date, the “Effectiveness Deadline”); provided, however, that Ignyte’s obligations to include the Registrable Shares in the Registration Statement are contingent upon the Investor furnishing in writing to Ignyte such information regarding the Investor or its permitted assigns, the securities of Ignyte held by the Investor and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Shares (which shall be limited to non-underwritten public offerings) as shall be reasonably requested by Ignyte to effect the registration of the Registrable Shares, and the Investor shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as Ignyte may reasonably request that are customary of a selling stockholder in similar situations, including providing that Ignyte shall be entitled to postpone and suspend the effectiveness or use of the Registration Statement, if applicable, as permitted hereunder; provided that the Investor shall not in connection with the foregoing be required to execute any lock-up or similar agreement or otherwise be subject to any contractual restriction on the ability to transfer the Registrable Shares. For as long as the Investor holds Shares, Ignyte will use commercially reasonable efforts to file all reports for so long as the condition in Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) is required to be satisfied, and provide all customary and reasonable cooperation, necessary to enable the undersigned to resell the Shares pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (in each case, when Rule 144 under the Securities Act becomes available to the Investor). Any failure by Ignyte to file the Registration Statement by the Filing Deadline or to effect such Registration Statement by the Effectiveness Deadline shall not otherwise relieve Ignyte of its obligations to file or effect the Registration Statement as set forth above in this Section 8.
(b) At its expense Ignyte shall:
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(i) except for such times as Ignyte is permitted hereunder to suspend the use of the prospectus forming part of a Registration Statement, use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep such registration, and any qualification, exemption or compliance under state securities laws which Ignyte determines to obtain, continuously effective with respect to the Investor, and to keep the applicable Registration Statement or any subsequent shelf registration statement free of any material misstatements or omissions, until the earlier of the following: (A) the Investor ceases to hold any Registrable Shares, (B) the date all Registrable Shares held by the Investor may be sold without restriction under Rule 144, including without limitation, any volume and manner of sale restrictions which may be applicable to affiliates under Rule 144 under the Securities Act and without the requirement for Ignyte to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) under the Securities Act, and (C) two (2) years from the date of effectiveness of the Registration Statement. The period of time during which Ignyte is required hereunder to keep a Registration Statement effective is referred to herein as the “Registration Period”;
(ii) during the Registration Period, advise the Investor, as expeditiously as possible:
(1) when a Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has been filed with the SEC;
(2) after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for such purpose;
(3) of the receipt by Ignyte of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Shares included therein for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and
(4) subject to the provisions in this Subscription Agreement, of the occurrence of any event that requires the making of any changes in any Registration Statement or prospectus so that, as of such date, the statements therein are not misleading and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, Ignyte shall not, when so advising the Investor of such events, provide the Investor with any material, nonpublic information regarding Ignyte other than to the extent that providing notice to the Investor of the occurrence of the events listed in (1) through (4) above constitutes material, nonpublic information regarding Ignyte;
(iii) during the Registration Period, use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement as soon as reasonably practicable;
(iv) during the Registration Period, upon the occurrence of any event contemplated in Section 8(b)(ii)(4) above, except for such times as Ignyte is permitted hereunder to suspend, and has suspended, the use of a prospectus forming part of a Registration Statement, Ignyte shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to as soon as reasonably practicable prepare a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus, or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Registrable Shares included therein, such prospectus will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(v) during the Registration Period, use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Registrable Shares to be listed on each securities exchange or market, if any, on which the Shares have been listed;
(vi) during the Registration Period, use its commercially reasonable efforts to allow the Investor to review disclosure regarding the Investor in the Registration Statement; and
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(vii) during the Registration Period, otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the Investor, consistent with the terms of this Agreement, in connection with the registration of the Registrable Shares.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Subscription Agreement, Ignyte shall be entitled to delay the filing or effectiveness of, or suspend the use of, the Registration Statement if it determines (i) that in order for the Registration Statement not to contain a material misstatement or omission, (x) an amendment thereto would be needed to include information that would at that time not otherwise be required in a current, quarterly, or annual report under the Exchange Act or (y) the negotiation or consummation of a transaction by Ignyte or its subsidiaries is pending or an event has occurred, which negotiation, consummation or event Ignyte’s board of directors reasonably believes would require additional disclosure by Ignyte in the Registration Statement of material information that Ignyte has a bona fide business purpose for keeping confidential and the non-disclosure of which in the Registration Statement would be expected, in the reasonable determination of Ignyte’s board of directors to cause the Registration Statement to fail to comply with applicable disclosure requirements, or (ii) such delay or suspension arises out of, or is a result of, or is related to or is in connection with the SEC Statement, Redeemable Share Classification Changes or other accounting matters, or any related disclosure or other matters (each such circumstance, a “Suspension Event”); provided, however, that Ignyte may not delay or suspend the Registration Statement on more than three occasions or for more than ninety (90) consecutive calendar days, or more than one hundred and twenty (120) total calendar days in each case during any twelve-month period. Upon receipt of any written notice from Ignyte of the happening of any Suspension Event during the period that the Registration Statement is effective or if as a result of a Suspension Event the Registration Statement or related prospectus contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in light of the circumstances under which they were made, in the case of the prospectus) not misleading, the Investor agrees that (i) it will immediately discontinue offers and sales of the Registrable Shares under the Registration Statement (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, sales conducted pursuant to Rule 144) until the Investor receives copies of a supplemental or amended prospectus (which Ignyte agrees to promptly prepare) that corrects the misstatement(s) or omission(s) referred to above and receives notice that any post-effective amendment has become effective or unless otherwise notified by Ignyte that it may resume such offers and sales, and (ii) it will maintain the confidentiality of any information included in such written notice delivered by Ignyte unless otherwise required by law or subpoena. If so directed by Ignyte, the Investor will deliver to Ignyte or, in the Investor’s sole discretion destroy, all copies of the prospectus covering the Registrable Shares in the Investor’s possession; provided, however, that this obligation to deliver or destroy all copies of the prospectus covering the Registrable Shares shall not apply (A) to the extent Investor is required to retain a copy of such prospectus (1) in order to comply with applicable legal, regulatory, self-regulatory or professional requirements or (2) in accordance with a bona fide pre-existing document retention policy or (B) to copies stored electronically on archival servers as a result of automatic data back-up.
(d) Indemnification.
(i) Ignyte agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, the Investor (to the extent a seller under the Registration Statement), its directors, officers, partners, managers, members, stockholders, agents and each person who controls the Investor (within the meaning of the Securities Act), to the extent permitted by law, against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and reasonable and documented out of pocket expenses (including reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees of one law firm) caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any Registration Statement, prospectus included in any Registration Statement (“Prospectus”) or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing to Ignyte by or on behalf of the Investor expressly for use therein.
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(ii) In connection with any Registration Statement in which the Investor is participating, the Investor shall furnish (or cause to be furnished) to Ignyte in writing such information and affidavits as Ignyte reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify Ignyte, its directors and officers and each person or entity who controls Ignyte (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable outside attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained or incorporated by reference in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained (or not contained in, in the case of an omission) in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Investor expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the liability of the Investor shall be several and not joint with any other investor and shall be limited to the net proceeds received by the Investor from the sale of Registrable Shares giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
(iii) Any person or entity entitled to indemnification herein shall (A) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s or entity’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (B) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of legal counsel to any indemnified party a conflict of interest exists between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement includes a statement or admission of fault and culpability on the part of such indemnified party or which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.
(iv) The indemnification provided for under this Subscription Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling person or entity of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities.
(v) If the indemnification provided under this Section 8(d) from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided, however, that the liability of the Investor shall be limited to the net proceeds received by the Investor from the sale of Registrable Shares giving rise to such indemnification obligation. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by (or not made by, in the case of an omission), or relates to information supplied by (or not supplied by, in the case of an omission), such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 8(d)(i), (ii) and (iii) above, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d)(v) from any person or entity who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
(vi) If the Shares acquired hereunder are either eligible to be sold (i) pursuant to an effective Registration Statement or (ii) without restriction under, and without Ignyte being in compliance with the current public information requirements of, Rule 144 under the Securities Act, then at the Investor’s request, Ignyte will reasonably cooperate with Ignyte’s transfer agent, such that any remaining restrictive legend set forth on such Shares will be removed in connection with a sale of such shares.
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9. Termination. This Subscription Agreement shall terminate and be void and of no further force and effect, and all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall terminate without any further liability on the part of any party in respect thereof, upon the earliest to occur of (a) such date and time as the Transaction Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, (b) upon the mutual written agreement of each of the parties hereto to terminate this Subscription Agreement, (c) if the conditions to Closing set forth in Section 3 of this Subscription Agreement are not satisfied at, or are not capable of being satisfied on or prior to, the Closing and, as a result thereof, the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement will not be or are not consummated at the Closing and (d) the Outside Date (as defined in the Transaction Agreement) if the closing of the Transaction has not occurred on or before such date; provided that nothing herein will relieve any party from liability for any willful breach hereof prior to the time of termination, and each party will be entitled to any remedies at law or in equity to recover losses, liabilities or damages arising from any such willful breach. Ignyte shall notify the Investor of the termination of the Transaction Agreement promptly after the termination of such agreement. Upon the termination of this Subscription Agreement in accordance with this Section 9, any monies paid by the Investor to Ignyte in connection herewith shall be promptly (and in any event within two (2) business days after such termination) returned to the Investor.
10. Trust Account Waiver. The Investor acknowledges that Ignyte is a blank check company with the powers and privileges to effect a merger, asset acquisition, reorganization or similar business combination involving Ignyte and one or more businesses or assets. The Investor further acknowledges that, as described in Ignyte’s prospectus relating to its initial public offering dated January 27, 2021 (the “IPO Prospectus”) available at www.sec.gov, substantially all of Ignyte’s assets consist of the cash proceeds of Ignyte’s initial public offering and private placement of its securities, and substantially all of those proceeds have been deposited in a trust account (the “Trust Account”) for the benefit of Ignyte, its public stockholders and the underwriter of Ignyte’s initial public offering. Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account that may be released to Ignyte to pay its tax obligations, if any, the cash in the Trust Account may be disbursed only for the purposes set forth in the IPO Prospectus. For and in consideration of Ignyte entering into this Subscription Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Investor hereby irrevocably waives any and all right, title and interest, or any claim of any kind it has or may have in the future, in or to any monies held in the Trust Account, and agrees not to seek recourse against the Trust Account as a result of, or arising out of, this Subscription Agreement; provided, that nothing in this Section 10 shall be deemed to limit the Investor’s right, title, interest or claim to the Trust Account by virtue of the Investor’s record or beneficial ownership of Ignyte Common Stock acquired by any means other than pursuant to this Subscription Agreement.
11. Miscellaneous.
(a) Neither this Subscription Agreement nor any rights that may accrue to the Investor hereunder (other than the Shares acquired hereunder, if any) may be transferred or assigned, other than an assignment to any fund or account managed by the same investment manager as the Investor or an affiliate thereof, subject to, if such transfer or assignment is prior to the Closing, such transferee or assignee, as applicable, executing a joinder to this Subscription Agreement or a separate subscription agreement in substantially the same form as this Subscription Agreement, including with respect to the Subscription Amount and other terms and conditions, provided, that, in the case of any such transfer or assignment, the initial party to this Subscription Agreement shall remain bound by its obligations under this Subscription Agreement in the event that the transferee or assignee, as applicable, does not comply with its obligations to consummate the purchase of Shares contemplated hereby. Neither this Subscription Agreement nor any rights that may accrue to Ignyte hereunder or any of Ignyte’s obligations may be transferred or assigned other than pursuant to the Transaction.
(b) Ignyte may request from the Investor such additional information as Ignyte may deem necessary to evaluate the eligibility of the Investor to acquire the Shares and in connection with the inclusion of the Shares in the Registration Statement, and the Investor shall provide such information as may reasonably be requested, to the extent readily available and to the extent consistent with its internal policies and procedures. The Investor acknowledges that Ignyte may file a form of this Subscription Agreement with the SEC as an exhibit to a current or periodic report or a registration statement of Ignyte.
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(c) The Investor acknowledges that Ignyte will rely on the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties of the Investor contained in this Subscription Agreement. Prior to the Closing, the Investor agrees to promptly notify Ignyte if any of the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties of the Investor set forth herein are no longer accurate.
(d) Ignyte and the Investor are each entitled to rely upon this Subscription Agreement and each is irrevocably authorized to produce this Subscription Agreement or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.
(e) All of the representations and warranties contained in this Subscription Agreement shall survive the Closing. All of the covenants and agreements made by each party hereto in this Subscription Agreement shall survive the Closing until the applicable statute of limitations or in accordance with their respective terms, if a shorter period.
(f) This Subscription Agreement may not be modified, waived or terminated (other than pursuant to the terms of Section 9 above) except by an instrument in writing, signed by each of the parties hereto and, to the extent required by the Transaction Agreement, the Company. No failure or delay of either party in exercising any right or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such right or power, or any course of conduct, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the parties and third-party beneficiaries hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have hereunder.
(g) This Subscription Agreement (including the schedule hereto) constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all other prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties, both written and oral, among the parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof. Except as set forth in Section 8(d), Section 11(c) and Section 11(d) with respect to the persons referenced therein, this Subscription Agreement shall not confer any rights or remedies upon any person other than the parties hereto, and their respective successor and assigns.
(h) Except as otherwise provided herein, this Subscription Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives, and permitted assigns, and the agreements, representations, warranties, covenants and acknowledgments contained herein shall be deemed to be made by, and be binding upon, such heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.
(i) If any provision of this Subscription Agreement shall be adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Subscription Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall continue in full force and effect.
(j) Each party shall pay all of its own costs and expenses incurred in anticipation of, relating to and in connection with the negotiation and execution of this Subscription Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, whether or not such transactions are consummated.
(k) This Subscription Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts (including by electronic mail or in .pdf) and by different parties in separate counterparts, with the same effect as if all parties hereto had signed the same document. All counterparts so executed and delivered shall be construed together and shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(l) The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Subscription Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Subscription Agreement, without posting a bond or undertaking and without proof of damages, to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Subscription Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such party is entitled at law, in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise.
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(m) THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (OR, TO THE EXTENT SUCH COURT DOES NOT HAVE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE) SOLELY IN RESPECT OF THE INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT AND THE DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT AND IN RESPECT OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, AND HEREBY WAIVE, AND AGREE NOT TO ASSERT, AS A DEFENSE IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING FOR INTERPRETATION OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF OR ANY SUCH DOCUMENT THAT IS NOT SUBJECT THERETO OR THAT SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING MAY NOT BE BROUGHT OR IS NOT MAINTAINABLE IN SAID COURTS OR THAT VENUE THEREOF MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE OR THAT THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT OR ANY SUCH DOCUMENT MAY NOT BE ENFORCED IN OR BY SUCH COURTS, AND THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AGREE THAT ALL CLAIMS WITH RESPECT TO SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE HEARD AND DETERMINED BY SUCH A DELAWARE STATE OR FEDERAL COURT. THE PARTIES HEREBY CONSENT TO AND GRANT ANY SUCH COURT JURISDICTION OVER THE PERSON OF SUCH PARTIES AND OVER THE SUBJECT MATTER OF SUCH DISPUTE AND AGREE THAT MAILING OF PROCESS OR OTHER PAPERS IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING IN THE MANNER PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION 11(m) OF THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT OR IN SUCH OTHER MANNER AS MAY BE PERMITTED BY LAW SHALL BE VALID AND SUFFICIENT SERVICE THEREOF. THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANY OTHER STATE.
(n) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (II) SUCH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (III) SUCH PARTY MAKES THE FOREGOING WAIVER VOLUNTARILY; AND (IV) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVER AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 11(n).
12. Non-Reliance and Exculpation. The Investor acknowledges that it is not relying upon, and has not relied upon, any statement, representation or warranty made by any person, firm or corporation (including, without limitation, Ignyte and any of its affiliates, any control persons, officers, directors, employees, partners, agents, representatives, legal counsel, financial advisors or accountants), other than the statements, representations and warranties of Ignyte expressly contained in Section 5 of this Subscription Agreement, in making its investment or decision to invest in Ignyte. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that none of (i) the Other Investors pursuant to this Subscription Agreement or any Other Subscription Agreement related to the private placement of the Shares (including the Other Investors’ respective affiliates or any control persons, officers, directors, employees, partners, agents or representatives of any of the foregoing), (ii) any other party to the Transaction Agreement (other than Ignyte), or (iii) any affiliates, or any control persons, officers, directors, employees, partners, agents or representatives of any of Ignyte, the Company or any other party to the Transaction Agreement shall be liable to the Investor, or to any Other Investor, pursuant to this Subscription Agreement or any Other Subscription Agreement related to the private placement of the Shares, the negotiation hereof or thereof or the subject matter hereof or thereof, or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, for any action heretofore or hereafter taken or omitted to be taken by any of them in connection with the purchase of the Shares.
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13. Press Releases. Ignyte shall, by 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the first business day immediately following the date of this Subscription Agreement, issue one or more press releases or furnish or file with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K (collectively, the “Disclosure Document”) disclosing, to the extent not previously publicly disclosed, the PIPE Investment (as defined in the Transaction Agreement), all material terms of the Transaction and any other material, non-public information that Ignyte, or any of its officers, employees or agents on behalf of Ignyte, has provided to the Investor at any time prior to the filing of the Disclosure Document. From and after the disclosure of the Disclosure Document, the Investor shall no longer be subject to any confidentiality or similar obligations under any current agreement, whether written or oral, with Ignyte or any of its affiliates, and, to the knowledge of Ignyte, the Investor shall not be in possession of any material, non-public information received from Ignyte or any of its officers, directors, employees or agents. All press releases or other public communications relating to the transactions contemplated hereby between Ignyte and the Investor, and the method of the release for publication thereof, shall be subject to the prior approval of (i) Ignyte, and (ii) the Investor to the extent such press release or public communication references the Investor or its affiliates or investment advisers by name or any trademark owned by the Investor, its affiliates or its investment advisers. The restriction in this Section 13 shall not apply to the extent the public announcement is required by applicable securities law, any governmental authority or stock exchange rule; provided, that in such an event, the applicable party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to consult with the other party in advance as to its form, content and timing.
14. Notices. All notices and other communications among the parties shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when delivered in person, (ii) when delivered after posting in the United States mail having been sent registered or certified mail return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (iii) when delivered by FedEx or other nationally recognized overnight delivery service, or (iv) when delivered by email (in each case in this clause (iv), solely if receipt is confirmed, but excluding any automated reply, such as an out-of-office notification), addressed as follows:
If to the Investor, to the address provided on the Investor’s signature page hereto.
If to Ignyte, to:
Ignyte Acquisition Corp.
640 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10019
Attention: David Rosenberg, Co-Chief Executive
Officer
David J. Strupp, Jr., Co-Chief Executive Officer
Email: drosenberg@ignytespac.com
dstrupp@ignytespac.com
with copies to (which shall not constitute notice), to:
DLA Piper LLP’ (US)
51 John F. Kennedy Parkway
Suite 120
Short Hills, NJ 0708
Attention:
Andrew P. Gilbert
Scott A. Cowan
Email: andrew.gilbert@us.dlapiper.com
scott.cowan@us.dlapiper.com
If to Company, to:
Peak Bio
Co., Ltd.
Building B #1009
670 Daewangpangyo-ro
(Sampyeong-dong, U Space 2),
Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyenggi-do 13494
Attention: Hoyoung Huh, Chief Executive Officer
Email: hoyoung.huh@ph-pharma.com
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with copies to (which shall not constitute notice), to:
BC Burr
McCabe Law
584 Castro Street #882
San Francisco, CA 94114
Attention: Peter McCabe
Email: pmccabe@bcbmlaw.com
or to such other address or addresses as the parties may from time to time designate in writing. Copies delivered solely to outside counsel shall not constitute notice.
SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Investor has executed or caused this Subscription Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized representative as of the date first set forth above.
State/Country of Formation or Domicile: | |
Name of Investor: | |
By: | |
Name: | |
Title: | |
Name in which Shares are to be registered (if different): | |
Investor’s EIN: | |
Business Address-Street: | Mailing Address-Street (if different): |
City, State, Zip: | City, State, Zip: |
Attn: | Attn: |
Telephone No.: | Telephone No.: |
Facsimile No.: | Facsimile No.: |
Number of Shares subscribed for: | |
Aggregate Subscription Amount: $ | Price Per Share: $10.00 |
You must pay the Subscription Amount by wire transfer of United States dollars in immediately available funds to the account specified by Ignyte in the Closing Notice.
Signature Page to Subscription Agreement
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Ignyte has accepted this Subscription Agreement as of the date first set forth above.
IGNYTE ACQUISITION CORP. | |||
By | |||
NAME: | |||
TITLE: |
Signature Page to Subscription Agreement
Exhibit 10.2
KEY COMPANY STOCKHOLDER FORWARD PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This KEY COMPANY STOCKHOLDER FORWARD PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Purchase Agreement”) is entered into on April 28, 2022, by and between Ignyte Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Ignyte”), and the undersigned subscriber (the “Investor”).
WHEREAS, this Purchase Agreement is being entered into in connection with the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Transaction Agreement”), by and between Ignyte, Ignyte Korea Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of Korea (“Merger Sub”) and Peak Bio Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of Korea (the “Company,” and together with Ignyte and Merger Sub, the “Parties”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Parties desire to enter into a business combination transaction (such transaction, together with the other transactions contemplated by, and subject to the terms and conditions of, the Transaction Agreement, collectively, the “Transaction”) structured as a comprehensive share swap whereby (i) the stockholders of the Company will transfer their respective shares of common stock of the Company, par value KRW 500 per share (the “Company Common Stock”), to Merger Sub in exchange for shares of common stock of Ignyte, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Ignyte Common Stock”) held by Merger Sub, and (ii) in the course of such share swap, Merger Sub will contribute the shares of Company Common Stock to Ignyte in consideration of Ignyte Common Stock (which will in-turn be distributed to the stockholders of the Company as described in (i) above);
WHEREAS, in connection with the Transaction, Ignyte is seeking commitments from interested investors to purchase shares of Ignyte Common Stock (the “Shares”), in a private placement for a purchase price of $10.00 per share (the “Per Share Subscription Price”);
WHEREAS, substantially concurrently with the execution of this Purchase Agreement, Ignyte is entering into separate subscription agreements with certain investors, and subsequent to the date hereof but prior to the consummation of the Transaction, Ignyte may enter into additional subscription agreements with certain additional investors (collectively, the “Other Investors”); and
WHEREAS, in the event the aggregate purchase price of the Other Investors is less than $30,000,000 as of the date that is five (5) business days prior to the Transaction Closing Date (as defined below) (the “Other Investors’ Aggregate PIPE Investment Amount”) and subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions specified below, the Investor will purchase Shares with an aggregate purchase price equal to the lesser of (i) $10,000,000 and (ii) the amount by which the Other Investors’ Aggregate PIPE Investment Amount is less than $30,000,000 (the “Subscription Amount”).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual representations, warranties and covenants, and subject to the conditions, set forth herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, each of the Investor and Ignyte acknowledges and agrees as follows:
1. Subscription. Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions to Closing set forth in Section 3 below, in the event the Other Investors’ Aggregate PIPE Investment Amount is less than $30,000,000 as of the date that is five (5) business days prior to the Transaction Closing Date (as defined below) and subject to the satisfaction of the closing conditions specified below, including but not limited to securing the Margin Loan (as defined below), the Investor hereby irrevocably subscribes for and agrees to purchase from Ignyte, and Ignyte agrees to issue and sell to the Investor, the number of Shares determined by dividing the Investor Forward Subscription Amount by the Per Share Purchase Price, on the terms and subject to the conditions provided for herein.
2. Closing. The closing of the sale of the Shares contemplated hereby (the “Closing”) shall occur on a closing date (the “Closing Date”) specified in the Closing Notice (as defined below), and the Closing shall be conditioned upon the prior or substantially concurrent consummation of the Transaction and satisfaction of the conditions set forth above and below (the closing date of the Transaction, the “Transaction Closing Date”). Upon delivery of written notice from (or on behalf of) Ignyte to the Investor (the “Closing Notice”), that Ignyte reasonably expects all conditions to the closing of the Transaction to be satisfied or waived on an expected Transaction Closing Date that is not less than five (5) business days from the date on which the Closing Notice is delivered to the Investor, the Investor shall deliver the Subscription Amount three (3) business days prior to the expected Closing Date by wire transfer of United States dollars in immediately available funds to the account(s) specified by Ignyte in the Closing Notice. On the Closing Date, Ignyte shall issue the Shares to the Investor and subsequently cause the Shares to be registered in book entry form in the name of the Investor and will provide to the Investor, upon request by the Investor, evidence of such issuance from Ignyte’s transfer agent. For purposes of this Purchase Agreement, “business day” shall mean a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close. Prior to or at the Closing, the Investor shall deliver to Ignyte a duly completed and executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or appropriate Form W-8. In the event the Transaction Closing Date does not occur within two (2) business days after the Closing Date under this Purchase Agreement, Ignyte shall promptly (but not later than two (2) business days thereafter) return the Subscription Amount to the Investor by wire transfer of U.S. dollars in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Investor, and any book-entries for the Shares shall be deemed cancelled; provided that, unless this Purchase Agreement has been terminated pursuant to Section 9 hereof, such return of funds shall not terminate this Purchase Agreement or relieve the Investor of its obligation to purchase the Shares at the Closing in the event Ignyte delivers a subsequent Closing Notice in accordance with this Section 2.
3. Closing Conditions. The obligation of the parties hereto to consummate the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Purchase Agreement is subject to the following conditions: (a) there shall not be in force any injunction or order enjoining or prohibiting the issuance and sale of the Shares under this Purchase Agreement; (b) except to the extent consented to in writing by the Investor, no amendments of, or waivers under, the Transaction Agreement (as the same exists as of the date of this Purchase Agreement) (including the conditions thereto) shall have occurred that materially and adversely affect the economic benefits the Investor (in its capacity as such) would reasonably expect to receive under this Purchase Agreement; (c)(i) solely with respect to the Investor’s obligation to close, the representations and warranties made by Ignyte, and (ii) solely with respect to the Ignyte’s obligation to close, the representations and warranties made by the Investor, in each case, in this Purchase Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date other than (x) those representations and warranties qualified by materiality, Material Adverse Effect (as defined below) or similar qualification, which shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date and (y) those representations and warranties expressly made as of an earlier date, which shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, if qualified by materiality, Material Adverse Effect or similar qualification, all respects) as of such date, in each case without giving effect to the consummation of the Transaction; and (d) the Investor shall have received margin financing from a lender reasonably acceptable to Ignyte and Investor in the aggregate amount of the Subscription Amount (the “Margin Loan”) within 180 days of the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement (the “Margin Period”).
4. Further Assurances.
(a) At the Closing, the parties hereto shall execute and deliver such additional documents and take such additional actions as the parties reasonably may deem to be practical and necessary in order to consummate the subscription as contemplated by this Purchase Agreement.
(b) In order to satisfy the obligations under this Purchase Agreement, the Investor shall use reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all necessary and proper actions to ensure the receipt of the Margin Loan by the Investor within the Margin Period.
5. Ignyte Representations and Warranties. Ignyte represents and warrants to the Investor that:
(c) Ignyte was duly incorporated and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. Ignyte has all power (corporate or otherwise) and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as presently conducted and to enter into, deliver and perform its obligations under this Purchase Agreement.
(d) As of the Closing Date, the Shares will be duly authorized and, when issued and delivered to the Investor against full payment therefor in accordance with the terms of this Purchase Agreement, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will not have been issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive or similar rights created under Ignyte’s organizational documents (as in effect at such time of issuance) or under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
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(e) This Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Ignyte and, assuming that this Purchase Agreement constitutes the valid and binding agreement of the Investor, this Purchase Agreement is enforceable against Ignyte in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited or otherwise affected by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally, or (ii) principles of equity, whether considered at law or equity.
(f) The issuance and sale by Ignyte of the Shares pursuant to this Purchase Agreement will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of Ignyte or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which Ignyte or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which Ignyte or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of Ignyte is subject that would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations of Ignyte and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”), or materially and adversely affect the validity of the Shares or the legal authority of Ignyte to comply in all material respects with its obligations under this Purchase Agreement; (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the organizational documents of Ignyte; or (iii) result in any violation of any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over Ignyte or any of its properties that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or materially and adversely affect the validity of the Shares or the legal authority of Ignyte to comply in all material respects with its obligations under this Purchase Agreement.
(g) As of their respective filing dates, or, if amended, as of the date of such amendment, which shall be deemed to supersede such original filing, all reports required to be filed by Ignyte with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) since January 28, 2021 (the “SEC Reports”) complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder. None of the SEC Reports filed under the Exchange Act included, when filed or, if amended, as of the date of such amendment with respect to those disclosures that are amended, any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, that Ignyte makes no such representation or warranty with respect to any registration statement or any proxy statement/prospectus to be filed by Ignyte with respect to the Transaction or any other information relating to the Company or any of its affiliates Ignyte included in any SEC Report or filed as an exhibit thereto. Ignyte has timely filed with the SEC each SEC Report that Ignyte was required to file with the SEC. As of the date hereof, there are no material outstanding or unresolved comments in comment letters received by Ignyte from the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the SEC with respect to any of the SEC Reports. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statement or information in the SEC Reports that relates to (i) the topics referenced in the SEC’s “Staff Statement on Accounting and Reporting Considerations for Warrants Issued by Special Purpose Acquisition Companies” on April 12, 2021 or any subsequent guidance, statements or interpretations issued by the SEC or the Staff (collectively, the “SEC Statement”) or (ii) the Company’s outstanding redeemable shares as temporary, as opposed to permanent, equity (“Redeemable Share Classification Changes”). Neither any correction, amendment or restatement of Ignyte’s financial statements due to the SEC Statement, Redeemable Share Classification Changes or to other accounting matters related to initial public offering securities or expenses, nor any changes in accounting or disclosure related thereto, shall be deemed to be a breach of any representation or warranty by Ignyte.
(h) Ignyte is not required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local or other governmental authority, self-regulatory organization or other person in connection with the issuance of the Shares pursuant to this Purchase Agreement, other than (i) filings with the SEC, (ii) in connection with or as a result of the SEC Statement or Redeemable Share Classification Changes, (iii) filings required by applicable state securities laws, (iv) the filings required in accordance with Section 13 of this Purchase Agreement; (v) those required by the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq, as applicable, including with respect to obtaining approval of Ignyte’s stockholders, (vi) the filing of a notification under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, if applicable, and (vii) the failure of which to obtain would not be reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
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(i) As of the date hereof, Ignyte has not received any written communication from a governmental authority that alleges that Ignyte is not in compliance with or is in default or violation of any applicable law, except where such non-compliance, default or violation would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
(j) Assuming the accuracy of the Investor’s representations and warranties set forth in Section 6 of this Purchase Agreement, no registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), is required for the offer and sale of the Shares by Ignyte to the Investor.
(k) Neither Ignyte nor any person acting on its behalf has offered or sold the Shares by any form of general solicitation or general advertising in violation of the Securities Act.
(l) As of the date hereof, the issued and outstanding shares of Ignyte Common Stock are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on Nasdaq. There is no suit, action, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of Ignyte, threatened against Ignyte by Nasdaq or the SEC with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister the Shares or prohibit or terminate the listing of the Shares on Nasdaq, excluding, for the purposes of clarity, the customary ongoing review by Nasdaq in connection with the Transaction. Ignyte has taken no action that is designed to terminate the registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act prior to the Closing.
(m) Ignyte is not under any obligation to pay any broker’s fee or commission in connection with the sale of the Shares.
(n) The Other Subscription Agreements reflect the same Per Share Subscription Price and other terms with respect to the purchase of the Shares that are not materially more favorable to such Other Investor thereunder than the terms of this Purchase Agreement, other than terms particular to the regulatory requirements of such Other Investor or its affiliates or related funds.
6. Investor Representations and Warranties. The Investor represents and warrants to Ignyte that:
(a) The Investor (i) is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) or an “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act), in each case, satisfying the applicable requirements set forth on Schedule A, (ii) is acquiring the Shares only for its own account and not for the account of others, or if the Investor is subscribing for the Shares as a fiduciary or agent for one or more investor accounts, each owner of such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) or an “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act) and the Investor has full investment discretion with respect to each such account, and the full power and authority to make the acknowledgements, representations and agreements herein on behalf of each owner of each such account, and (iii) is not acquiring the Shares with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act or the laws of any jurisdiction (and shall provide the requested information set forth on Schedule A).
(b) The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Shares are being offered in a transaction not involving any public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act, that the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act and that Ignyte is not required to register the Shares except as set forth in Section 8 of this Purchase Agreement. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Shares may not be offered, resold, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of by the Investor absent an effective registration statement under the Securities Act except (i) to Ignyte or a subsidiary thereof, (ii) to non-U.S. persons pursuant to offers and sales that occur outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act or (iii) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or another applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and, in each case, in accordance with any applicable securities laws of the states of the United States and other applicable jurisdictions, and that any certificates or book entries representing the Shares shall contain a restrictive legend to such effect. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Shares will be subject to the foregoing transfer restrictions and, as a result of these transfer restrictions, the Investor may not be able to readily offer, resell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of the Shares and may be required to bear the financial risk of an investment in the Shares for an indefinite period of time. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Shares will not immediately be eligible for offer, resale, transfer, pledge or disposition pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, and that the provisions of Rule 144(i) will apply to the Shares. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that it has been advised to consult legal, tax and accounting advisors prior to making any offer, resale, transfer, pledge or disposition of any of the Shares.
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(c) The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Investor is purchasing the Shares from Ignyte. The Investor further acknowledges that there have been no representations, warranties, covenants and agreements made to the Investor by or on behalf of Ignyte, the Company, any of their respective affiliates or any control persons, officers, directors, employees, agents or representatives of any of the foregoing or any other person or entity, expressly or by implication, other than those representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of Ignyte expressly set forth in Section 5 of this Purchase Agreement.
(d) The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Investor has received such information as the Investor deems necessary in order to make an investment decision with respect to the Shares, including, with respect to Ignyte, the Transaction and the business of the Company and its subsidiaries. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Investor acknowledges that it has reviewed Ignyte’s filings with the SEC. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Investor and the Investor’s professional advisor(s), if any, have had the full opportunity to ask such questions, receive such answers and obtain such information as the Investor and the Investor’s professional advisor(s), if any, have deemed necessary to make an investment decision with respect to the Shares.
(e) The Investor became aware of this offering of the Shares solely by means of direct contact between the Investor and Ignyte, the Company or a representative of Ignyte or the Company, and the Shares were offered to the Investor solely by direct contact between the Investor and Ignyte, the Company or a representative of Ignyte or the Company. The Investor did not become aware of this offering of the Shares, nor were the Shares offered to the Investor, by any other means. The Investor acknowledges that the Shares (i) were not offered by any form of general solicitation or general advertising and (ii) are not being offered in a manner involving a public offering under, or in a distribution in violation of, the Securities Act, or any state securities laws. The Investor acknowledges that there have not been, and the Investor hereby agrees that it is not relying upon, and has not relied upon, any statement, covenant, agreement, representation or warranty made by any person, firm or corporation (including, without limitation, Ignyte, the Company, any of their respective affiliates or any control persons, officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, legal counsel, financial advisors or accountants of any of the foregoing), other than the representations and warranties of Ignyte contained in Section 5 of this Purchase Agreement, in making its investment or decision to invest in Ignyte.
(f) The Investor acknowledges that it is aware that there are substantial risks incident to the purchase and ownership of the Shares, including those set forth in Ignyte’s filings with the SEC. The Investor has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Shares, and the Investor has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as the Investor has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision. The Investor acknowledges that the Investor shall be responsible for any of the Investor’s tax liabilities that may arise as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Purchase Agreement, and that neither Ignyte nor the Company has provided any tax advice or any other representation or guarantee regarding the tax consequences of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement.
(g) Alone, or together with any professional advisor(s), the Investor has adequately analyzed and fully considered the risks of an investment in the Shares and determined that the Shares are a suitable investment for the Investor and that the Investor is able at this time and in the foreseeable future to bear the economic risk of a total loss of the Investor’s investment in Ignyte. The Investor acknowledges specifically that a possibility of total loss exists.
(h) In making its decision to purchase the Shares, the Investor has relied solely upon independent investigation made by the Investor and the representations and warranties of Ignyte in Section 5.
(i) The Investor acknowledges and agrees that no federal or state agency has passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Shares or made any findings or determination as to the fairness of this investment.
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(j) The Investor has been duly formed or incorporated and is validly existing and is in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation or incorporation, with power and authority to enter into, deliver and perform its obligations under this Purchase Agreement.
(k) The execution, delivery and performance by the Investor of this Purchase Agreement, the purchase of the Shares hereunder, the compliance by the Investor with all of the provisions of this Purchase Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein are within the powers of the Investor, have been duly authorized and will not constitute or result in a breach, violation or default, conflict with or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of the Investor pursuant to the terms of (a) any order, ruling or regulation of any court or other tribunal or of any governmental commission or agency, (b) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or undertaking, to which the Investor is a party, by which the Investor is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Investor is subject, and (c) if the Investor is not an individual, the Investor’s organizational documents, including, without limitation, its incorporation or formation papers, bylaws, indenture of trust or partnership or operating agreement, as may be applicable. The signature of the Investor on this Purchase Agreement is genuine, and the signatory has legal competence and capacity to execute the same or the signatory has been duly authorized to execute the same, and, assuming that this Purchase Agreement constitutes the valid and binding agreement of Ignyte, this Purchase Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Investor, enforceable against the Investor in accordance with its terms except as may be limited or otherwise affected by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally, and (ii) principles of equity, whether considered at law or equity.
(l) Neither the Investor nor, if the Investor is not an individual, any of its officers, directors, managers, managing members, general partners or any other person acting in a similar capacity or carrying out a similar function, is (i) a person named on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, the Foreign Sanctions Evaders List, the Sectoral Sanctions Identification List, or any other similar list of sanctioned persons administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), or any similar list of sanctioned persons administered by the European Union or any individual European Union member state, including the United Kingdom (collectively, “Sanctions Lists”); (ii) directly or indirectly owned or controlled by, or acting on behalf of, one or more persons on a Sanctions List; (iii) organized, incorporated, established, located or resident, or a citizen, national, or the government, including any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, of, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, the Crimea region of Ukraine, or any other country or territory embargoed or subject to substantial trade restrictions by the United States, the European Union or any individual European Union member state, including the United Kingdom; (iv) a Designated National as defined in the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 515; or (v) a non-U.S. shell bank or providing banking services indirectly to a non-U.S. shell bank (collectively, a “Prohibited Investor”). The Investor represents that if it is a financial institution subject to the Bank Secrecy Act (31 U.S.C. Section 5311 et seq.) (the “BSA”), as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (the “PATRIOT Act”), and its implementing regulations (collectively, the “BSA/PATRIOT Act”), that the Investor maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to comply with applicable obligations under the BSA/PATRIOT Act. The Investor also represents that it maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with sanctions administered by the United States, the European Union, or any individual European Union member state, including the United Kingdom, to the extent applicable to it. The Investor further represents that the funds held by the Investor and used to purchase the Shares were legally derived and were not obtained, directly or indirectly, from a Prohibited Investor.
(m) If the Investor is or is acting on behalf of (i) an employee benefit plan that is subject to Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), (ii) a plan, an individual retirement account or other arrangement that is subject to Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), (iii) an entity whose underlying assets are considered to include “plan assets” of any such plan, account or arrangement described in clauses (i) and (ii) (each, an “ERISA Plan”), or (iv) an employee benefit plan that is a governmental plan (as defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA), a church plan (as defined in Section 3(33) of ERISA), a non-U.S. plan (as described in Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA) or other plan that is not subject to the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) but may be subject to provisions under any other federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other laws or regulations that are similar to such provisions of ERISA or the Code (collectively, “Similar Laws,” and together with ERISA Plans, “Plans”), the Investor represents and warrants that (A) neither Ignyte nor any of its affiliates has provided investment advice or has otherwise acted as the Plan’s fiduciary, with respect to its decision to acquire and hold the Shares, and none of the parties to the Transaction is or shall at any time be the Plan’s fiduciary with respect to any decision in connection with the Investor’s investment in the Shares; and (B) its purchase of the Shares will not result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, or any applicable Similar Law.
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(n) The Investor is not a foreign person (as defined in 31 C.F.R. Part 800.224) in which the national or subnational governments of a single foreign state have a substantial interest (as defined in 31 C.F.R. Part 800.244).
(o) The Investor has or has commitments to have and, when required to deliver payment to Ignyte pursuant to Section 2 above, will have, sufficient funds to pay the Subscription Amount and consummate the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Purchase Agreement.
(p) The Investor acknowledges that Ignyte continues to review the SEC Statement, Redeemable Share Classification Changes and their respective implications, including on the financial statements and other information included in its SEC Reports, and any restatement, revision or other modification of the SEC Reports relating to or arising from such review, any subsequent related agreements or any other guidance from the Staff of the SEC with respect to the SEC Statement or Redeemable Share Classification Changes shall be deemed not material for purposes of this Agreement.
(q) No broker or finder is entitled to any brokerage or finder’s fee or commission payable by the Investor solely in connection with the sale of the Shares to the Investor based on any arrangement entered into by or on behalf of the Investor.
7. No Hedging. The Investor hereby agrees that neither it, its controlled affiliates, nor any person or entity acting on its or its controlled affiliates’ behalf or pursuant to any understanding with it, shall execute any short sales (as such term is defined in Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act, 17 CFR 242.200) or engage in other hedging transactions of any kind with respect to the Shares during the period from the date of this Purchase Agreement through the Closing date (or such earlier termination of this Purchase Agreement). Nothing in this Section 7 shall prohibit (x) any other investment portfolios or departments or groups of Investor that have no knowledge of this Purchase Agreement or of the Investor’s participation in this transaction and have not been informed by the Investor of the Transaction (including Investor’s controlled affiliates and/or affiliates) from entering into any short sales or engaging in other hedging transactions or (y) any portfolio company or third-party investment manager engaged by Investor that may engage in any short sales or hedging transactions on Investor’s behalf, if such portfolio company or third-party investment manager has not been directed or instructed to engage in short sales or hedging transactions with respect to the Shares by the Investor or any of the persons that are subject to the foregoing.
8. Registration Rights.
(a) Ignyte agrees that, within thirty (30) calendar days following the Closing Date (such deadline, the “Filing Deadline”), Ignyte will submit to or file with the SEC a registration statement for a shelf registration on Form S-1 or Form S-3 (if Ignyte is then eligible to use a Form S-3 shelf registration) (the “Registration Statement”), in each case, covering the resale of the Shares acquired by the Investor pursuant to this Purchase Agreement which are eligible for registration (determined as of two (2) business days prior to such submission or filing) (the “Registrable Shares”) and Ignyte shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, but no later than the earlier of (i) the 90th calendar day following the filing date thereof if the SEC notifies Ignyte that it will “review” the Registration Statement and (ii) the 10th business day after the date Ignyte is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the SEC that the Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review (such earlier date, the “Effectiveness Deadline”); provided, however, that Ignyte’s obligations to include the Registrable Shares in the Registration Statement are contingent upon the Investor furnishing in writing to Ignyte such information regarding the Investor or its permitted assigns, the securities of Ignyte held by the Investor and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Shares (which shall be limited to non-underwritten public offerings) as shall be reasonably requested by Ignyte to effect the registration of the Registrable Shares, and the Investor shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as Ignyte may reasonably request that are customary of a selling stockholder in similar situations, including providing that Ignyte shall be entitled to postpone and suspend the effectiveness or use of the Registration Statement, if applicable, as permitted hereunder; provided that the Investor shall not in connection with the foregoing be required to execute any lock-up or similar agreement or otherwise be subject to any contractual restriction on the ability to transfer the Registrable Shares. For as long as the Investor holds Shares, Ignyte will use commercially reasonable efforts to file all reports for so long as the condition in Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) is required to be satisfied, and provide all customary and reasonable cooperation, necessary to enable the undersigned to resell the Shares pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (in each case, when Rule 144 under the Securities Act becomes available to the Investor). Any failure by Ignyte to file the Registration Statement by the Filing Deadline or to effect such Registration Statement by the Effectiveness Deadline shall not otherwise relieve Ignyte of its obligations to file or effect the Registration Statement as set forth above in this Section 8.
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(b) At its expense Ignyte shall:
(i) except for such times as Ignyte is permitted hereunder to suspend the use of the prospectus forming part of a Registration Statement, use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep such registration, and any qualification, exemption or compliance under state securities laws which Ignyte determines to obtain, continuously effective with respect to the Investor, and to keep the applicable Registration Statement or any subsequent shelf registration statement free of any material misstatements or omissions, until the earlier of the following: (A) the Investor ceases to hold any Registrable Shares, (B) the date all Registrable Shares held by the Investor may be sold without restriction under Rule 144, including without limitation, any volume and manner of sale restrictions which may be applicable to affiliates under Rule 144 under the Securities Act and without the requirement for Ignyte to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) under the Securities Act, and (C) two (2) years from the date of effectiveness of the Registration Statement. The period of time during which Ignyte is required hereunder to keep a Registration Statement effective is referred to herein as the “Registration Period”;
(ii) during the Registration Period, advise the Investor, as expeditiously as possible:
(1) when a Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has been filed with the SEC;
(2) after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for such purpose;
(3) of the receipt by Ignyte of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Shares included therein for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and
(4) subject to the provisions in this Purchase Agreement, of the occurrence of any event that requires the making of any changes in any Registration Statement or prospectus so that, as of such date, the statements therein are not misleading and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, Ignyte shall not, when so advising the Investor of such events, provide the Investor with any material, nonpublic information regarding Ignyte other than to the extent that providing notice to the Investor of the occurrence of the events listed in (1) through (4) above constitutes material, nonpublic information regarding Ignyte;
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(iii) during the Registration Period, use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement as soon as reasonably practicable;
(iv) during the Registration Period, upon the occurrence of any event contemplated in Section 8(b)(ii)(4) above, except for such times as Ignyte is permitted hereunder to suspend, and has suspended, the use of a prospectus forming part of a Registration Statement, Ignyte shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to as soon as reasonably practicable prepare a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus, or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Registrable Shares included therein, such prospectus will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(v) during the Registration Period, use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Registrable Shares to be listed on each securities exchange or market, if any, on which the Shares have been listed;
(vi) during the Registration Period, use its commercially reasonable efforts to allow the Investor to review disclosure regarding the Investor in the Registration Statement; and
(vii) during the Registration Period, otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the Investor, consistent with the terms of this Agreement, in connection with the registration of the Registrable Shares.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Purchase Agreement, Ignyte shall be entitled to delay the filing or effectiveness of, or suspend the use of, the Registration Statement if it determines (i) that in order for the Registration Statement not to contain a material misstatement or omission, (x) an amendment thereto would be needed to include information that would at that time not otherwise be required in a current, quarterly, or annual report under the Exchange Act or (y) the negotiation or consummation of a transaction by Ignyte or its subsidiaries is pending or an event has occurred, which negotiation, consummation or event Ignyte’s board of directors reasonably believes would require additional disclosure by Ignyte in the Registration Statement of material information that Ignyte has a bona fide business purpose for keeping confidential and the non-disclosure of which in the Registration Statement would be expected, in the reasonable determination of Ignyte’s board of directors to cause the Registration Statement to fail to comply with applicable disclosure requirements, or (ii) such delay or suspension arises out of, or is a result of, or is related to or is in connection with the SEC Statement, Redeemable Share Classification Changes or other accounting matters, or any related disclosure or other matters (each such circumstance, a “Suspension Event”); provided, however, that Ignyte may not delay or suspend the Registration Statement on more than three occasions or for more than ninety (90) consecutive calendar days, or more than one hundred and twenty (120) total calendar days in each case during any twelve-month period. Upon receipt of any written notice from Ignyte of the happening of any Suspension Event during the period that the Registration Statement is effective or if as a result of a Suspension Event the Registration Statement or related prospectus contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in light of the circumstances under which they were made, in the case of the prospectus) not misleading, the Investor agrees that (i) it will immediately discontinue offers and sales of the Registrable Shares under the Registration Statement (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, sales conducted pursuant to Rule 144) until the Investor receives copies of a supplemental or amended prospectus (which Ignyte agrees to promptly prepare) that corrects the misstatement(s) or omission(s) referred to above and receives notice that any post-effective amendment has become effective or unless otherwise notified by Ignyte that it may resume such offers and sales, and (ii) it will maintain the confidentiality of any information included in such written notice delivered by Ignyte unless otherwise required by law or subpoena. If so directed by Ignyte, the Investor will deliver to Ignyte or, in the Investor’s sole discretion destroy, all copies of the prospectus covering the Registrable Shares in the Investor’s possession; provided, however, that this obligation to deliver or destroy all copies of the prospectus covering the Registrable Shares shall not apply (A) to the extent Investor is required to retain a copy of such prospectus (1) in order to comply with applicable legal, regulatory, self-regulatory or professional requirements or (2) in accordance with a bona fide pre-existing document retention policy or (B) to copies stored electronically on archival servers as a result of automatic data back-up.
(d) Indemnification.
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(i) Ignyte agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, the Investor (to the extent a seller under the Registration Statement), its directors, officers, partners, managers, members, stockholders, agents and each person who controls the Investor (within the meaning of the Securities Act), to the extent permitted by law, against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and reasonable and documented out of pocket expenses (including reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees of one law firm) caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any Registration Statement, prospectus included in any Registration Statement (“Prospectus”) or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing to Ignyte by or on behalf of the Investor expressly for use therein.
(ii) In connection with any Registration Statement in which the Investor is participating, the Investor shall furnish (or cause to be furnished) to Ignyte in writing such information and affidavits as Ignyte reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify Ignyte, its directors and officers and each person or entity who controls Ignyte (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable outside attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained or incorporated by reference in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained (or not contained in, in the case of an omission) in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Investor expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the liability of the Investor shall be several and not joint with any other investor and shall be limited to the net proceeds received by the Investor from the sale of Registrable Shares giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
(iii) Any person or entity entitled to indemnification herein shall (A) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s or entity’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (B) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of legal counsel to any indemnified party a conflict of interest exists between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement includes a statement or admission of fault and culpability on the part of such indemnified party or which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.
(iv) The indemnification provided for under this Purchase Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling person or entity of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities.
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(v) If the indemnification provided under this Section 8(d) from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided, however, that the liability of the Investor shall be limited to the net proceeds received by the Investor from the sale of Registrable Shares giving rise to such indemnification obligation. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by (or not made by, in the case of an omission), or relates to information supplied by (or not supplied by, in the case of an omission), such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 8(d)(i), (ii) and (iii) above, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d)(v) from any person or entity who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
(vi) If the Shares acquired hereunder are either eligible to be sold (i) pursuant to an effective Registration Statement or (ii) without restriction under, and without Ignyte being in compliance with the current public information requirements of, Rule 144 under the Securities Act, then at the Investor’s request, Ignyte will reasonably cooperate with Ignyte’s transfer agent, such that any remaining restrictive legend set forth on such Shares will be removed in connection with a sale of such shares.
9. Termination. This Purchase Agreement shall terminate and be void and of no further force and effect, and all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall terminate without any further liability on the part of any party in respect thereof, upon the earliest to occur of (a) such date and time as the Transaction Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, (b) upon the mutual written agreement of each of the parties hereto to terminate this Purchase Agreement, (c) if the conditions to Closing set forth in Section 3 of this Purchase Agreement are not satisfied at, or are not capable of being satisfied on or prior to, the Closing and, as a result thereof, the transactions contemplated by this Purchase Agreement will not be or are not consummated at the Closing and (d) the Outside Date (as defined in the Transaction Agreement) if the closing of the Transaction has not occurred on or before such date; provided that nothing herein will relieve any party from liability for any willful breach hereof prior to the time of termination, and each party will be entitled to any remedies at law or in equity to recover losses, liabilities or damages arising from any such willful breach. Ignyte shall notify the Investor of the termination of the Transaction Agreement promptly after the termination of such agreement. Upon the termination of this Purchase Agreement in accordance with this Section 9, any monies paid by the Investor to Ignyte in connection herewith shall be promptly (and in any event within two (2) business days after such termination) returned to the Investor.
10. Trust Account Waiver. The Investor acknowledges that Ignyte is a blank check company with the powers and privileges to effect a merger, asset acquisition, reorganization or similar business combination involving Ignyte and one or more businesses or assets. The Investor further acknowledges that, as described in Ignyte’s prospectus relating to its initial public offering dated January 27, 2021 (the “IPO Prospectus”) available at www.sec.gov, substantially all of Ignyte’s assets consist of the cash proceeds of Ignyte’s initial public offering and private placement of its securities, and substantially all of those proceeds have been deposited in a trust account (the “Trust Account”) for the benefit of Ignyte, its public stockholders and the underwriter of Ignyte’s initial public offering. Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account that may be released to Ignyte to pay its tax obligations, if any, the cash in the Trust Account may be disbursed only for the purposes set forth in the IPO Prospectus. For and in consideration of Ignyte entering into this Purchase Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Investor hereby irrevocably waives any and all right, title and interest, or any claim of any kind it has or may have in the future, in or to any monies held in the Trust Account, and agrees not to seek recourse against the Trust Account as a result of, or arising out of, this Purchase Agreement; provided, that nothing in this Section 10 shall be deemed to limit the Investor’s right, title, interest or claim to the Trust Account by virtue of the Investor’s record or beneficial ownership of Ignyte Common Stock acquired by any means other than pursuant to this Purchase Agreement.
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11. Miscellaneous.
(a) Purchase Neither this Purchase Agreement nor any rights that may accrue to the Investor hereunder (other than the Shares acquired hereunder, if any) may be transferred or assigned, other than an assignment to any fund or account managed by the same investment manager as the Investor or an affiliate thereof, subject to, if such transfer or assignment is prior to the Closing, such transferee or assignee, as applicable, executing a joinder to this Purchase Agreement or a separate subscription agreement in substantially the same form as this Purchase Agreement, including with respect to the Purchase Amount and other terms and conditions, provided, that, in the case of any such transfer or assignment, the initial party to this Purchase Agreement shall remain bound by its obligations under this Purchase Agreement in the event that the transferee or assignee, as applicable, does not comply with its obligations to consummate the purchase of Shares contemplated hereby. Neither this Purchase Agreement nor any rights that may accrue to Ignyte hereunder or any of Ignyte’s obligations may be transferred or assigned other than pursuant to the Transaction.
(b) Ignyte may request from the Investor such additional information as Ignyte may deem necessary to evaluate the eligibility of the Investor to acquire the Shares and in connection with the inclusion of the Shares in the Registration Statement, and the Investor shall provide such information as may reasonably be requested, to the extent readily available and to the extent consistent with its internal policies and procedures. The Investor acknowledges that Ignyte may file a form of this Purchase Agreement with the SEC as an exhibit to a current or periodic report or a registration statement of Ignyte.
(c) The Investor acknowledges that Ignyte will rely on the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties of the Investor contained in this Purchase Agreement. Prior to the Closing, the Investor agrees to promptly notify Ignyte if any of the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties of the Investor set forth herein are no longer accurate.
(d) Ignyte and the Investor are each entitled to rely upon this Purchase Agreement and each is irrevocably authorized to produce this Purchase Agreement or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.
(e) All of the representations and warranties contained in this Purchase Agreement shall survive the Closing. All of the covenants and agreements made by each party hereto in this Purchase Agreement shall survive the Closing until the applicable statute of limitations or in accordance with their respective terms, if a shorter period.
(f) This Purchase Agreement may not be modified, waived or terminated (other than pursuant to the terms of Section 9 above) except by an instrument in writing, signed by each of the parties hereto and, to the extent required by the Transaction Agreement, the Company. No failure or delay of either party in exercising any right or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such right or power, or any course of conduct, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the parties and third-party beneficiaries hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have hereunder.
(g) This Purchase Agreement (including the schedule hereto) constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all other prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties, both written and oral, among the parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof. Except as set forth in Section 8(d), Section 11(c) and Section 11(d) with respect to the persons referenced therein, this Purchase Agreement shall not confer any rights or remedies upon any person other than the parties hereto, and their respective successor and assigns.
(h) Except as otherwise provided herein, this Purchase Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives, and permitted assigns, and the agreements, representations, warranties, covenants and acknowledgments contained herein shall be deemed to be made by, and be binding upon, such heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.
(i) If any provision of this Purchase Agreement shall be adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Purchase Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall continue in full force and effect.
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(j) Each party shall pay all of its own costs and expenses incurred in anticipation of, relating to and in connection with the negotiation and execution of this Purchase Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, whether or not such transactions are consummated.
(k) This Purchase Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts (including by electronic mail or in .pdf) and by different parties in separate counterparts, with the same effect as if all parties hereto had signed the same document. All counterparts so executed and delivered shall be construed together and shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(l) The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Purchase Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Purchase Agreement, without posting a bond or undertaking and without proof of damages, to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Purchase Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such party is entitled at law, in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise.
(m) THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (OR, TO THE EXTENT SUCH COURT DOES NOT HAVE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE) SOLELY IN RESPECT OF THE INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS PURCHASE AGREEMENT AND THE DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THIS PURCHASE AGREEMENT AND IN RESPECT OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, AND HEREBY WAIVE, AND AGREE NOT TO ASSERT, AS A DEFENSE IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING FOR INTERPRETATION OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF OR ANY SUCH DOCUMENT THAT IS NOT SUBJECT THERETO OR THAT SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING MAY NOT BE BROUGHT OR IS NOT MAINTAINABLE IN SAID COURTS OR THAT VENUE THEREOF MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE OR THAT THIS PURCHASE AGREEMENT OR ANY SUCH DOCUMENT MAY NOT BE ENFORCED IN OR BY SUCH COURTS, AND THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AGREE THAT ALL CLAIMS WITH RESPECT TO SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE HEARD AND DETERMINED BY SUCH A DELAWARE STATE OR FEDERAL COURT. THE PARTIES HEREBY CONSENT TO AND GRANT ANY SUCH COURT JURISDICTION OVER THE PERSON OF SUCH PARTIES AND OVER THE SUBJECT MATTER OF SUCH DISPUTE AND AGREE THAT MAILING OF PROCESS OR OTHER PAPERS IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING IN THE MANNER PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION 11(m) OF THIS PURCHASE AGREEMENT OR IN SUCH OTHER MANNER AS MAY BE PERMITTED BY LAW SHALL BE VALID AND SUFFICIENT SERVICE THEREOF. THIS PURCHASE AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANY OTHER STATE.
(n) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS PURCHASE AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS PURCHASE AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS PURCHASE AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (II) SUCH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (III) SUCH PARTY MAKES THE FOREGOING WAIVER VOLUNTARILY; AND (IV) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS PURCHASE AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVER AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 11(n).
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12. Non-Reliance and Exculpation. The Investor acknowledges that it is not relying upon, and has not relied upon, any statement, representation or warranty made by any person, firm or corporation (including, without limitation, Ignyte and any of its affiliates, any control persons, officers, directors, employees, partners, agents, representatives, legal counsel, financial advisors or accountants), other than the statements, representations and warranties of Ignyte expressly contained in Section 5 of this Purchase Agreement, in making its investment or decision to invest in Ignyte. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that none of (i) the Other Investors pursuant to this Purchase Agreement or any Other Subscription Agreement related to the private placement of the Shares (including the Other Investors’ respective affiliates or any control persons, officers, directors, employees, partners, agents or representatives of any of the foregoing), (ii) any other party to the Transaction Agreement (other than Ignyte), or (iii) any affiliates, or any control persons, officers, directors, employees, partners, agents or representatives of any of Ignyte, the Company or any other party to the Transaction Agreement shall be liable to the Investor, or to any Other Investor, pursuant to this Purchase Agreement or any Other Subscription Agreement related to the private placement of the Shares, the negotiation hereof or thereof or the subject matter hereof or thereof, or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, for any action heretofore or hereafter taken or omitted to be taken by any of them in connection with the purchase of the Shares.
13. Press Releases. Ignyte shall, by 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the first business day immediately following the date of this Purchase Agreement, issue one or more press releases or furnish or file with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K (collectively, the “Disclosure Document”) disclosing, to the extent not previously publicly disclosed, the PIPE investments related hereto, all material terms of the Transaction and any other material, non-public information that Ignyte, or any of its officers, employees or agents on behalf of Ignyte, has provided to the Investor at any time prior to the filing of the Disclosure Document. From and after the disclosure of the Disclosure Document, the Investor shall no longer be subject to any confidentiality or similar obligations under any current agreement, whether written or oral, with Ignyte or any of its affiliates, and, to the knowledge of Ignyte, the Investor shall not be in possession of any material, non-public information received from Ignyte or any of its officers, directors, employees or agents. All press releases or other public communications relating to the transactions contemplated hereby between Ignyte and the Investor, and the method of the release for publication thereof, shall be subject to the prior approval of (i) Ignyte, and (ii) the Investor to the extent such press release or public communication references the Investor or its affiliates or investment advisers by name or any trademark owned by the Investor, its affiliates or its investment advisers. The restriction in this Section 13 shall not apply to the extent the public announcement is required by applicable securities law, any governmental authority or stock exchange rule; provided, that in such an event, the applicable party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to consult with the other party in advance as to its form, content and timing.
14. Notices. All notices and other communications among the parties shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when delivered in person, (ii) when delivered after posting in the United States mail having been sent registered or certified mail return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (iii) when delivered by FedEx or other nationally recognized overnight delivery service, or (iv) when delivered by email (in each case in this clause (iv), solely if receipt is confirmed, but excluding any automated reply, such as an out-of-office notification), addressed as follows:
If to the Investor, to the address provided on the Investor’s signature page hereto.
If to Ignyte, to:
Ignyte Acquisition Corp. | |
640 Fifth Avenue | |
New York, New York 10019 | |
Attention: | David Rosenberg, Co-Chief Executive Officer |
David J. Strupp, Jr., Co-Chief Executive Officer | |
Email: | drosenberg@ignytespac.com |
dstrupp@ignytespac.com | |
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or to such other address or addresses as the parties may from time to time designate in writing. Copies delivered solely to outside counsel shall not constitute notice.
SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Investor has executed or caused this Purchase Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized representative as of the date first set forth above.
State/Country of Formation or Domicile: | |
Name of Investor: Hoyoung Huh | |
By: | |
Name: | |
Title: | |
Name in which Shares are to be registered (if different): | |
Investor’s EIN: | |
Business Address-Street: | Mailing Address-Street (if different): |
City, State, Zip: | City, State, Zip: |
Attn: | Attn: |
Telephone No.: | Telephone No.: |
Facsimile No.: | Facsimile No.: |
Number of Shares subscribed for: | |
Aggregate Subscription Amount: | Price Per Share: $10.00 |
You must pay the Subscription Amount by wire transfer of United States dollars in immediately available funds to the account specified by Ignyte in the Closing Notice.
Signature Page to Purchase Agreement
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Ignyte has accepted this Purchase Agreement as of the date first set forth above.
IGNYTE ACQUISITION CORP. | ||
By | ||
NAME: | ||
TITLE: |
Signature Page to Purchase Agreement
Exhibit 10.3
SPONSOR SUPPORT AGREEMENT
This SPONSOR SUPPORT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of April 28 2022, is entered into by and among Ignyte Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), Ignyte Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Ignyte”), and Peak Bio Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of Korea (the “Company”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the BCA (as defined below).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, concurrently herewith, Ignyte, the Company, and Ignyte Korea Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of Korea, are entering into a Business Combination Agreement (as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “BCA”), pursuant to which (and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein) the parties thereto are agreeing to, among other things, effect the Share Swap, and as a result, the Company will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ignyte;
WHEREAS, the Sponsor is currently the record owner of 1,437,500 shares of Ignyte Common Stock (the “Sponsor Shares”); and
WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to the willingness of Ignyte and the Company to enter into the BCA, Ignyte, the Company and the Sponsor are entering into this Agreement.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Sponsor, Ignyte and the Company hereby agree as follows:
1. Voting Agreement. The Sponsor agrees that, at the Ignyte Stockholders’ Meeting, at any other meeting of the stockholders of Ignyte (whether annual or special and whether or not an adjourned or postponed meeting, however called and including any adjournment or postponement thereof) and in connection with any written consent of the stockholders of Ignyte, the Sponsor shall:
a. when such meeting is held, appear at such meeting or otherwise cause the Sponsor Shares to be counted as present thereat for the purpose of establishing a quorum;
b. vote (or execute and return an action by written consent), or cause to be voted at such meeting (or validly execute and return and cause such consent to be granted with respect to), all of the Sponsor Shares in favor of (i) the approval and adoption of the BCA and approval of the Business Combination and all other transactions contemplated by the BCA and (ii) against any action, agreement or transaction or proposal that would result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement of Ignyte under the BCA or that would reasonably be expected to result in the failure of the Business Combination from being consummated and (iii) each of the proposals and any other matters necessary or reasonably requested by Ignyte for consummation of the Business Combination and the other transactions contemplated by the BCA; and
c. vote (or execute and return an action by written consent), or cause to be voted at such meeting (or validly execute and return and cause such consent to be granted with respect to), all of the Sponsor Shares against (i) any Business Combination Proposal other than with the Company and (ii) any other action that would reasonably be expected to (x) materially impede, interfere with, delay, postpone or adversely affect the Business Combination or any of the other transactions contemplated by the BCA, or (y) result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or other obligation or agreement of the Sponsor contained in this Agreement.
2. Transfer of Shares. Except as otherwise contemplated by the BCA or this Agreement, the Sponsor agrees that it shall not, directly or indirectly, (a) sell, assign, transfer (including by operation of law), create any lien or pledge, dispose of or otherwise encumber any of the Sponsor Shares or otherwise agree to do any of the foregoing, (b) deposit any Sponsor Shares into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement or arrangement or grant any proxy or power of attorney with respect thereto that is inconsistent with this Agreement or (c) enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or undertaking requiring the direct acquisition or sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition of any Sponsor Shares.
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3. No Solicitation of Transactions. The Sponsor agrees not to directly or indirectly, through any officer, director, representative, agent or otherwise, (a) solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage (including by furnishing information) the submission of, or participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, any transaction in violation of the BCA or (b) participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any person or other entity or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, any information with the intent to, or otherwise cooperate in any way with respect to, or knowingly assist, participate in, facilitate or encourage, any unsolicited proposal that constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, a Business Combination Proposal or other transaction in violation of the BCA. Sponsor shall, and shall cause its affiliates and Representatives to, immediately cease any and all existing discussions or negotiations with any person (other than with the Company, its stockholders and their respective affiliates and Representatives) conducted prior to the date hereof with respect to, or which is reasonably likely to give rise to or result in, a Business Combination Proposal. If the Sponsor receives any inquiry or proposal with respect to a Business Combination Proposal, then Sponsor shall promptly (and in no event later than twenty-four (24) hours after the Sponsor becomes aware of such inquiry or proposal) notify such person in writing that Ignyte is subject to an exclusivity agreement with respect to the Business Combination that prohibits Sponsor from considering such inquiry or proposal.
4. Representations and Warranties of the Sponsor. The Sponsor hereby represents and warrants to Ignyte and the Company as follows:
a. The Sponsor is the only record and a beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of, and has good, valid and marketable title to, the Sponsor Shares, free and clear of Liens other than as created by this Agreement or Sponsor’s organizational documents or the organizational documents of Ignyte (including, without limitation, for the purposes hereof, any agreement between or among stockholders of Ignyte).
b. The Sponsor (i) has full voting power, full power of disposition and full power to issue instructions with respect to the matters set forth herein, in each case, with respect to the Sponsor Shares, (ii) has not entered into any voting agreement or voting trust with respect to any of the Sponsor Shares that is inconsistent with the Sponsor’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement, (iii) has not granted a proxy or power of attorney with respect to any of the Sponsor Shares that is inconsistent with the Sponsor’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement and (iv) has not entered into any agreement or undertaking that is otherwise inconsistent with, or would interfere with, or prohibit or prevent it from satisfying, its obligations pursuant to this Agreement.
c. The Sponsor (i) is a legal entity duly organized, validly existing and, to the extent such concept is applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and (ii) has all requisite limited liability company or other power and authority and has taken all limited liability company or other action necessary in order to, execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Sponsor and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Sponsor enforceable against the Sponsor in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity.
d. Other than the filings, notices and reports pursuant to, in compliance with or required to be made under the Exchange Act, no filings, notices, reports, consents, registrations, approvals, permits, waivers, expirations of waiting periods or authorizations are required to be obtained by the Sponsor from, or to be given by the Sponsor to, or be made by the Sponsor with, any Governmental Authority in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Sponsor of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or the Business Combination and the other transactions contemplated by the BCA.
e. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Sponsor does not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or the Business Combination and the other transactions contemplated by the BCA will not, constitute or result in (i) a breach or violation of, or a default under, the limited liability company agreement or similar governing documents of the Sponsor, (ii) with or without notice, lapse of time or both, a breach or violation of, a termination (or right of termination) of or a default under, the loss of any benefit under, the creation, modification or acceleration of any obligations under or the creation of a Lien on any of the properties, rights or assets of the Sponsor pursuant to any contract binding upon the Sponsor or, assuming (solely with respect to performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby), compliance with the matters referred to in Section 1, under any applicable Law to which the Sponsor is subject or (iii) any change in the rights or obligations of any party under any contract legally binding upon the Sponsor, except, in the case of clause (ii) or (iii) directly above, for any such breach, violation, termination, default, creation, acceleration or change that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay or impair the Sponsor’s ability to perform its obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, the consummation of the Business Combination or the other transactions contemplated by the BCA.
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f. As of the date of this Agreement, there is no action, proceeding or investigation pending against the Sponsor or, to the knowledge of the Sponsor, threatened against the Sponsor that questions the beneficial or record ownership of the Sponsor Shares, the validity of this Agreement or the performance by the Sponsor of its obligations under this Agreement.
g. The Sponsor understands and acknowledges that each of Ignyte and the Company is entering into the BCA in reliance upon the Sponsor’s execution and delivery of this Agreement and the representations, warranties, covenants and other agreements of the Sponsor contained herein
5. Further Assurances. From time to time, at either Ignyte’s of the Company’s request and without further consideration, the Sponsor shall execute and deliver such additional documents and take all such further action as may be reasonably necessary or reasonably requested to effect the actions and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
6. Changes in Capital Stock. In the event of a stock split, stock dividend or distribution, or any change in Ignyte’s capital stock by reason of any stock split, reverse stock split, recapitalization, combination, reclassification, exchange of shares or the like, equitable adjustment shall be made to the provisions of this Agreement as may be required so that the intended rights, privileges, duties and obligations hereunder shall be given full effect.
7. Amendment and Modification. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented in any manner, whether by course of conduct or otherwise, except by an instrument in writing signed by the Sponsor, Ignyte and the Company.
8. Waiver. No failure or delay by any party hereto exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies of the parties hereto hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies which they would otherwise have hereunder. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a written instrument executed and delivered by such party.
9. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, by email (with confirmation of receipt) or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service to the parties hereto at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice made pursuant to this Section 9):
if to Ignyte, to: | |||
Ignyte Acquisition Corp. 640 Fifth Avenue New York, NY |
|||
Attention: | David Rosenberg,
Co-Chief Executive Officer David J. Strupp, Jr., Co-Chief Executive Officer |
||
Email: | drosenberg@Ignytespac.com dstrupp@Ignytespac.com |
||
with a copy to: DLA Piper LLP (US) |
Attention: | Andrew P. Gilbert; Scott A. Cowan | ||
Email: | andrew.gilbert@us.dlapiper.com; scott.cowan@us.dlapiper.com |
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if to the Sponsor, to: | |||
Ignyte Sponsor LLC 640 Fifth Avenue New York, NY |
|||
Attention: | David Rosenberg, Co-Chief Executive Officer David J. Strupp, Jr., Co-Chief Executive Officer |
||
Email: | drosenberg@Ignytespac.com dstrupp@Ignytespac.com |
||
if to the Company, to: | |||
Peak Bio Co. Ltd. Building B #1009, 670 Daewangpangyo-ro (Sampyeong-dong, U Space 2), Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyenggi-do Attention: Hoyoung Huh, MD, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer Email: hoyoung.huh@ph-pharma.com |
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with a copy to: | |||
Bae, Kim & Lee LLC 13F, Tower B, Centropolis, 26 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03161 Attention: Jung Min Jo Email: jungmin.jo@bkl.co.kr |
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and | |||
BC Burr McCabe Law 584 Castro Street #882 San Francisco, CA 94114 Attention: Peter McCabe Email: pmccabe@bcbmlaw.com |
10. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the BCA constitute the entire agreement and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
11. No Third-Party Beneficiaries. The Sponsor hereby agrees that its representations, warranties and covenants set forth herein are solely for the benefit of Ignyte and the Company in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement, and this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, confer upon any person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder, including, without limitation, the right to rely upon the representations and warranties set forth herein, and the parties hereto hereby further agree that this Agreement may only be enforced against, and any action that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement may only be made against, the persons expressly named as parties hereto.
12. Governing Law and Venue.
a. This Agreement shall be governed by, interpreted under, and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and to be performed within the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice-of-law provisions thereof that would compel the application of the substantive laws of any other jurisdiction.
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b. All legal actions and proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined exclusively in any Delaware Chancery Court; provided, that if jurisdiction is not then available in the Delaware Chancery Court, then any such legal Action may be brought in any federal court located in the State of Delaware or any other Delaware state court. The parties hereto hereby (x) irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts for themselves and with respect to their respective properties for the purpose of any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought by any party hereto, and (y) agree not to commence any Action relating thereto except in the courts described above in Delaware, other than with respect to any appellate court thereof and other than Actions in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce any judgment, decree or award rendered by any such court in Delaware as described herein. Each of the parties further agrees that notice as provided herein shall constitute sufficient service of process and the parties further waive any argument that such service is insufficient. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by Law. Each of the parties irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion or as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, (i) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the courts in Delaware as described herein for any reason, (ii) that it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise) and (iii) that (A) the Action in any such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (B) the venue of such Action is improper or (C) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.
c. Each of the parties hereby waives to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law any right it may have to a trial by jury with respect to any litigation directly or indirectly arising out of, under or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Each of the parties (i) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of any other party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other party would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce that foregoing waiver and (ii) acknowledges that it and the others hereto have been induced to enter into this Agreement by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in this Section 12(c).
13. Assignment; Successors. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties hereto in whole or in part (whether by operation of Law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other party, and any such assignment without such consent shall be null and void. This Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
14. Specific Performance. Each party acknowledges and agrees that the other parties hereto would be irreparably harmed and would not have any adequate remedy at law in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. Accordingly, each party agrees that the other parties hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such parties are entitled at law or in equity.
15. Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement will continue in full force and effect and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances will be interpreted so as reasonably to effect the intent of the parties hereto.
16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, it being understood that each party need not sign the same counterpart. This Agreement shall become effective when each party shall have received a counterpart hereof signed by all of the other parties. Signatures delivered electronically or by facsimile shall be deemed to be original signatures.
17. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earliest of (a) the Closing of the Business Combination, (b) the termination of the BCA in accordance with its terms, and (c) the time this Agreement is terminated upon the mutual written agreement of Ignyte, the Company and the Sponsor.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed (where applicable, by their respective officers or other authorized persons thereunto duly authorized) as of the date first written above.
IGNYTE: | |||
IGNYE ACQUISITION CORP. | |||
By: | /s/ David Strupp | ||
Name: David Strupp | |||
Tile: Co-Chief Executive Officer | |||
SPONSOR: | |||
IGNYTE SPONSOR LLC | |||
By: | /s/ David Strupp | ||
Name: David Strupp | |||
Tile: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
[Signature Page to Sponsor Support Agreement]
Exhibit 99.1
Peak Bio and Ignyte Acquisition Corp. Announce Business Combination Agreement to Create Publicly Listed Oncology and Inflammation Company
- Company to be led by Hoyoung Huh, M.D. Ph.D., serial entrepreneur / investor with notable public and private biotech board positions
- $25 million private investment in public equity (“PIPE”) with participation from leading healthcare institutional investor, Palo Alto Investors (PAI) with additional participation from Peak Bio’s CEO, Hoyoung Huh, MD, Ph.D.
- Differentiated pipeline includes next generation Neutrophil Elastase Inhibitor targeting AATD / ARDS and robust preclinical ADC oncology platform utilizing Antibody Drug Conjugates
- Anticipated cash at closing expected to fully fund the company through 2024 allowing for multiple milestones in ADC program and interim Phase II for AATD / ARDS
- Merger expected to be completed during 3Q 2022 with combined company expected to be listed on NASDAQ under the anticipated ticker symbol “PKBO”
- Joint investor conference call to discuss the proposed transaction on Friday, April 29, 2022, at 10:00AM E.T.
PALO ALTO, California and NEW YORK, New York, April 28, 2022 – Peak Bio Co., Ltd. (“Peak Bio”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing the next-generation of therapeutics to treat oncology and inflammatory diseases, and Ignyte Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: IGNY) (“Ignyte”), a special purpose acquisition company (“SPAC”), today announced they have entered into a definitive business combination agreement. Upon closing of the transaction, Ignyte will be renamed Peak Bio, Inc. (the “Combined Company”) and will be led by Hoyoung Huh, MD, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Peak Bio. The Combined Company expects to list its stock on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “PKBO”.
A group of healthcare investors including existing Peak Bio stockholders and Palo Alto Investors have committed to participate in the transaction through a $25 million common stock PIPE at a purchase price of $10.00 per share. Gross proceeds of the transaction available to the Combined Company at closing will approximate $82.5 million (assuming no redemptions from Ignyte’s trust account and before transaction expenses).
Dr. Huh stated that “We are excited about our differentiated inflammation and oncology pipeline and look forward to partnering with Ignyte and advancing our pipeline of potential blockbuster candidates. We believe we will have several near-term catalysts that can be achieved with our cash at closing. Much of our work is the culmination of our efforts at our Korean and US research sites which captured the best of pan pacific financing alternatives, diverse and highly talented scientific acumen, all the while creating a novel mechanism to bring valuable assets to bear into the U.S. NASDAQ market.”
David Rosenberg, Chairman and co-CEO of Ignyte Acquisition Corp., commented, “We are excited to partner with the Peak team in this first of its kind transaction, taking an exciting South Korean biotechnology company public on Nasdaq via a SPAC. Dr. Huh’s reputation as a serial founder and entrepreneur of multiple public and private biotech companies made Peak the perfect merger target for Ignyte. We look forward to helping Peak execute on its compelling therapeutic pipeline in both oncology and rare inflammatory disease in order to not only drive shareholder value, but to improve quality of life for those impacted by Peak Bio’s targeted diseases.”
Peak Bio Overview
Peak Bio’s pipeline is focused on developing drugs to treat oncology and inflammatory diseases. The company’s pipeline of inflammatory therapeutic candidates is led by PHP-303, which is currently Phase II ready in AATD and works by inhibiting a bioactive form of Neutrophil Elastase. The company’s pipeline also includes an antibody drug conjugate platform focused on developing therapies for oncology indications.
● | PHP-303 – 5th Generation Best-In-Class Neutrophil Elastase (NE) Inhibitor: PHP-303, is an oral QD, reversible and highly selective small molecule addressing toxicity and efficacy shortfalls from previous generation Neutrophil Elastase Inhibitors by inhibiting the bioactive form of enzyme. |
○ | PHP-303 was acquired from Bayer and improved to be an ideal solution for conditions involving NE imbalance with well-demonstrated tolerability and safety / PK data. | |
○ | PHP-303 is a best-in-class Phase II ready NE Inhibitor targeting AATD and ARDS diseases where chronic inflammatory imbalance and NE are important determinants in disease progression |
● | Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) Platform: Unlike competitors, Peak Bio’s approach to ADCs engages the immune system to enhance tumoricidal activity reducing the number of treatment cycles and improving toxicity with a proprietary approach towards the generation of novel toxins. |
○ | Peak Bio’s most advanced ADC candidate targeting Trop2 has shown superior linker stability and in vivo activity compared to an FDA-approved competitor with superior specificity to cancer cells and a unique ability to generate neoepitopes and synergize with I/O therapies. | |
○ | De-risking steps such as the manufacturability assessment have revealed no liability that may impede the manufacturing of the Peak Bio Trop2 antibody and safety studies have demonstrated that our ADC was safely tolerated in repeat-dose preclinical primate studies. | |
○ | We are working to validate other solid tumor targets to partner with our current toxin and other novel toxins to further solidify our oncology portfolio. |
Planned Milestones and Uses of Proceeds:
● | Proceeds from the PIPE and merger transaction are expected to provide Peak Bio with capital to further develop its clinical-stage programs and ADC platform technology, including: |
○ | Initiate and fund a Phase II AATD Adaptive Design study in 2022 with a data readout expected in the first half of 2024 | |
○ | Submission to DoD for Phase II grant of PHP-303 in ARDS and an IND submission in the first half of 2023 | |
○ | Fund ADC toxin studies in lead program targeting Trop2 leading toward an IND submission in the second half of 2023 and begin Phase Ia initiation in 2024 | |
○ | Conduct research and development to identify new ADC toxins |
Summary of Transaction
The transaction values the combined company at a pro forma equity value of $278 million, assuming a $10.00 per share price and no shareholder redemptions. As a result of the transaction, the combined company is expected to have more than $82.5 million in gross proceeds from a combination of approximately $57.5 million in cash held in Ignyte’s trust account (assuming no Ignyte stockholders exercise their redemption rights at closing) and more than $25 million, at $10.00 per share, from a fully committed PIPE.
The PIPE includes participation from leading healthcare institutional investor, Palo Alto Investors and insiders.
The transaction, which has been approved by each of Ignyte’s Board of Directors, Peak Bio’s Board of Directors and Peak Bio’s shareholders is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2022, subject to approval by Ignyte’s shareholders and satisfaction, or the waiver of, customary closing conditions identified in the business combination agreement.
Chardan and Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. are serving as the financial advisors to Ignyte and Peak Bio. DLA Piper LLP (US) is serving as legal advisor to Ignyte. Bae, Kim & Lee LLC and B C Burr McCabe Law are serving as legal advisors to Peak Bio.
Additional information about the transaction, including copies of certain documents related to the transaction, including the investor presentation, will be provided in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by Ignyte with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and available at www.sec.gov and on the Ignyte website at https://ignytespac.com/home/default.aspx. In addition, Ignyte intends to file a proxy statement with the SEC, which will include additional information regarding the transaction (the “Proxy Statement”), and will file other documents regarding the transaction with the SEC.
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About Peak Bio
Peak Bio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapeutics addressing significant unmet needs in the areas of oncology and inflammation. Peak Bio’s management team has a combined 50 years of industry experience in the areas of small molecules, antibodies, and antibody-drug-conjugates (ADC) forging successful companies that create best-in-class therapeutics.
Peak Bio’s lead product candidate, PHP-303 is a small molecule currently awaiting Phase II dose clinical study in the orphan disease Alpha1 anti-trypsin deficiency (AATD), with interim safety results expected by the end of 2023. The company has been successful at safely delivering a higher dose of PHP-303 in patients after single-ascending dose (SAD) and multiple-ascending dose (MAD) Phase I trials demonstrating dose-dependent pharmacokinetics and achieving preclinical recommended Phase II dose (RP2D).
About Ignyte Acquisition Corp.
Ignyte Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company, also commonly referred to as a special purpose acquisition company, or “SPAC,” formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. Ignyte is led by Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer, David Rosenberg, Co-Chief Executive Officer, David J. Strupp, Jr., and Chief Financial Officer, Steven Kaplan.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the transaction, Ignyte intends to file the Proxy Statement with the SEC, which will be distributed to its shareholders in connection with Ignyte’s solicitation of proxies for the vote by its shareholders with respect to the transaction and other matters as described in the Proxy Statement. After the Proxy Statement has been filed and cleared by the SEC, Ignyte will mail a definitive proxy statement, when available, to its shareholders. Investors and security holders and other interested parties are urged to read the proxy statement, any amendments thereto and any other documents filed with the SEC carefully and in their entirety when they become available because they will contain important information about Ignyte, Peak Bio and the transaction. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the preliminary proxy statement and definitive proxy statement (when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by Ignyte through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to: Ignyte Acquisition Corp., 640 Fifth Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10019.
Participants in Solicitation
Ignyte, Peak Bio and their respective directors and certain of their respective executive officers and other members of management and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies with respect to the transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of Ignyte is set forth in its final prospectus filed on January 28, 2021 (the “Ignyte Prospectus”). Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be included in the Proxy Statement and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC regarding the transaction when they become available. Stockholders, potential investors and other interested persons should read the Proxy Statement carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions. When available, these documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.
No Offer or Solicitation
This press release shall not constitute a solicitation of a proxy, an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.
Forward-Looking Statements
The information in this press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to the transaction. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target” or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding estimates and forecasts of financial and performance metrics, expectations of achieving and maintaining profitability, projections of total addressable markets, market opportunity and market share, net proceeds from the transaction, potential benefits of the transaction and the potential success of the Combined Company’s market and growth strategies, and expectations related to the terms and timing of the transaction. These statements are based on various assumptions and on the current expectations of Ignyte’s and Peak Bio’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Ignyte and Peak Bio. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including (i) the risk that the transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of Ignyte’s securities; (ii) the risk that the transaction may not be completed by Ignyte’s business combination deadline and the potential failure to obtain an extension of the business combination deadline if sought by Ignyte; (iii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the transaction, including the approval of the transaction by the shareholders of Ignyte, the satisfaction of the minimum gross proceeds amount following any redemptions by Ignyte ’s public stockholders and the receipt of certain governmental and regulatory approvals; (iv) the inability to complete the PIPE investment in connection with the transaction; (v) the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the transaction; (vi) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the transaction on Peak Bio’s business relationships, performance, and business generally; (vii) risks that the transaction disrupts current plans of Peak Bio; (viii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Ignyte or Peak Bio related to the business combination agreement or the transaction; (ix) the ability to maintain the listing of Ignyte’s securities on the Nasdaq Capital Market; (x) the ability to address the market opportunity for Peak Bio’s products and services; (xi) the risk that the transaction may not generate the expected net proceeds for the combined company; (xii) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations after the completion of the transaction, and identify and realize additional opportunities; (xiii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the business combination agreement; and those factors discussed in the Ignyte Prospectus under the heading “Risk Factors,” and other documents of Ignyte filed, or to be filed, with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or Ignyte’s or Peak Bio’s assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that neither Ignyte nor Peak Bio presently know or that Ignyte and Peak Bio currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Ignyte’s and Peak Bio’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. Ignyte and Peak Bio anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause Ignyte’s and Peak Bio’s assessments to change. However, while Ignyte and Peak Bio may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Ignyte and Peak Bio specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Ignyte’s and Peak Bio’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.
Exhibit 99.2
Slide 1: (Title) DAVID Starts (DR) Update intro for DR)
Welcome everybody to the announcement call for the business combingation of Ignyte Acquisition Corp. and Peak Bio. Thank you for taking the time to learn about this company and what we believe to be an exciting and unique transaction. We are excited to partner with the Peak team in bringing a new and differentiated biotech company into the public markets. I’m pleased to be joined by Dr. Huh, CEO of Peak, as well as the COO of Peak, Steve Lamond, who will both introduce themselves in a few minutes. Before I turn it over to Dr. Huh and his team, I’d like to spend a few minutes providing an overview of the transaction.
Slides 2, 3 (Disclaimers)
Slides 2 and 3 are our disclaimers that we present to the audience attending today. Please review at your convenience as this presentation will be made available after this call.
Slides 4, 5 (risk Factors)
Similarly slides 5 and 6 identify risk factors associated with transactions and opportunities like this. In the future, upon filing of our proxy we will have a comprehensive list of risk factors associated with this transaction and our programs.
Slide 6: Transaction Structure and Illustrative Pro Forma Ownership (DR)
We are excited to partner with the Peak team in bringing a new and differentiated biotech company into the public markets. Peak will be led by Dr. Ho Young Huh as CEO & Chairman. Dr. Huh’s reputation as a serial founder and entrepreneur of multiple public and private biotech companies made Peak the perfect merger target for Ignyte.
We look forward to helping Peak execute on its compelling therapeutic pipeline in both oncology and rare inflammatory disease in order to not only drive shareholder value, but to improve quality of life for those impacted by Peak’s targeted diseases. Ignyte will be consummating a business combination with Peak and it is anticipated that post-closing Peak will be listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol PKBO, and we expect this transaction to close late in the 3rd Quarter.
After evaluating over 300 private companies as part of our transaction process, we chose to partner with Peak given the unique attributes of both the team and their clinical and pre-clinical assets. Additionally, we believe this is a first of its kind transaction with a Korean Biotech company combining with a SPAC. Lastly, Dr. Huh’s longstanding and vast relationships in both the U.S. and Asia will enable future funding, partnerships and collaboration.
Slide 7: Transaction Overview (DR)
On slide 7, you will see that in addition to the $57.5 million of cash in trust from Ignyte, we also have secured additional financing of a $25 million concurrent PIPE which will birth an appropriately funded public company with sufficient cash through 2024. The PIPE financing is coming from both insiders and fundamental healthcare investors. With that I would like to turn the presentation over to Dr. Huh and Mr. Lamond.
Slide 8: Why We Are Excited About Ignyte/Peak Bio Merger (HH)
● | Peak Bio is bringing an experienced Management team to the table with over 50 plus years of drug development leadership and experience at the helm that have lead to value creation with many previous partnerships and exits under their wings. We couple this expertise with our ability for access to capital not only in the US but in Asia as well given our companies roots and team make-up. | |
● | We believe we have a compelling therapeutics Pipeline with a potentially, novel, exciting and differentiated Toxin/ADC Cancer platform that will possibly generate many future shots on goal | |
● | We Couple all that with near term science and business news flow and catalysts to support our programs. |
Slide 9: Led By Serial Entrenpreneur/Investor, Hoyoung Huh, MD, PhD (HH)
As I mentioned I am excited about taking on another unique and important leadership challenge with Peak Bio. I have felt similarly in my past about important advances in science and business approaches to tackle and support these advances. Peak Bio is no different. I personally bring to the table not only my conviction but money to the table for this effort.
On this slide you can see a small representation of many of the novel companies and approaches I have undertaken during my tenure. For example, Companies that I have been instrumental either in their founding of or been a leader of include Bridge Bio, (founder), CytomX, (Former Chairman), BiPar Sciences (CEO), Facet (former Board member).
I am a hematologist/Oncologist, MD, PhD by training from Cornell University Medical College and trained at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. I received my AB from Dartmouth College in Biochemistry.
Slide 10: Leadership Team High level (HH)
In addition to myself as the CEO we are excited about several individuals taking on important leadership roles in Peak Bio moving forward.
● | Stephen LaMond, PharmD. MBA (U of Michigan) has been a close colleague over the years and brings his scientific and business acumen to bear at Peak Bio. It has been my pleasure to have worked with Steve for over 16 years in various capacities including where we started working together at Nektar Therapeutics. Steve brings a unique experience base and leadership from biotech, drug delivery, Med Tech and Big Pharma from the likes of Pfizer, GE healthcare, Zoll Medical, Nektar and PH Pharma | |
● | Satyajit Mitra who currently heads up our Oncology programs comes with a wealth of scientific acumen from the likes of USC, Scripps, OncoMed, VasGene and PH Pharma. |
Slide 11: Investment Highlights (HH)
● | As previously mentioned, we have an experienced team and believe that this team coupled with our novel portfolio will be instrumental in our potential future success. | |
● | Clinically, we have a Best-in-Class NE Inhibitor that will potentially be an important therapeutic alternative to treat underserved patients in a rare disease. The small molecule has an extensive history and continues to have a favorable safety, PK and on target effects in this rare disease that we will discuss shortly | |
● | With multiple shots on goal, and near-term catalysts with both our clinical program and our toxin, ADC platform technologies we believe we are well positioned. |
Slide 12: Multiple Product Candidates and Milestones to Drive Future Value (HH)
● | PHP 303 is our lead clinical program and we anticipate starting our phase 2 program later this year or in Q1 2023 in AATD | |
● | Towards a potential second indication, we have also received a DoD grant to explore preclinically the important biochemical and potential therapeutic benefits in ARDS with an NEI. This funding is Non-Dilutive and is focused on preclinical efforts. If results turn out positive, we will submit additional requests for non-dilutive funding but in the clinical setting. What is interesting about this opportunity for ARDS and Covid-19 is that if positive in the preclinical setting we can advance this program into Phase 2 to establish our “second” important clinical program in rather short order. | |
● | Finally, I would like to highlight our Torpedo or Novel Toxin/ADC approaches with our first nominated program for IND targeting Trop2, an important target scientifically, clinically, and commercially as we have seen in the current marketplace. In addition, we are in process of nominating our second ADC program utilizing our Novel PH-1 (Thailanstatin) toxin. We will highlight these programs in detail in the upcoming slides. |
Slide 13: Intro slide (cover slide) PHP-303 Targeting AATD and Other Diseases (SL)
● | Now I would like to discuss our clinically relevant and important approach to the treatment of AATD and other interesting diseases potentially impacted by a Neutrophil Elastase imbalance. | |
Slide 14: Neutrophil Elastase Inhibitor Overview and Role of PHP-303 (SL)
Overview of NE
● | Neutrophil Elastase (NE) is a proteolytic enzyme that is expressed by neutrophils and macrophages in response to tissue injury and inflammation. | |
● | Major organs such as lungs and liver are often impacted. In the lungs, this leads to an increase in mucus secretion and an inflammatory cascade response to tissue injury and disease. | |
● | The key is how the body manages this inflammatory process in diseases where the acute phase or chronic phases are out of sync or lack the appropriate inhibition. We will describe aspects of how 303 may play an important role in managing diseases impacted by NE imbalances. |
Neutrophil Elastase Inhibitors (NEIs) such as PHP-303 (SL)
● | NEIs potentially reduce the inflammatory process associated with a NE imbalance in both in acute and chronic diseases where NE pathways are important | |
● | The reduction of NE by NEIs likely leads to reductions in tissue and eventually organ damage potentially reducing both the morbidity and mortality of NE related conditions for example in AATD there is either a reduction or lack there of Neutrophil Elastase Inhibition that leads to a chronic state of tissue inflammatory responses and damage. The lack of this enzyme in AATD creates a compelling story for PHP-303. A bit more on this later. |
History and challenges with previous classes/generations of NEIs
● | Previous generations have had limited success for many reasons including: |
○ | Augmentation therapies are replacement therapies involving plasma-based products. They require frequent infusions, import the risk of bloodborne pathogens, costly and overall they are very inconvenient due to the infusion and specialty pharmacy aspect of the treatments | ||
○ | Other NEI approaches have either had to be administered via IV, they have potency issues, their target engagement and overall results have been equivocal. |
● | Our 5th Generation NEI that we acquired from Bayer with an extensive data set including CMC, PK, safety etc. appears to be a very good approach to the treatment of AATD | |
Slide 15: PHP-303 5th Generation Best-in-class NE Inhibitor (SL)
● | As mentioned on the previous slide the first generations of NEIs have many issues with them. What we believe is our closest competitor is a molecule in Phase 2 from Mereo that is considered a 3rd Generation NEI. It too was acquired by Big Pharma (AZ) and in fact we looked at it as well. However, given our relationship with Bayer historically and our review of the science led us to PHP-303 a 5th generation NEI with the following important attributes vs. the Mereo Asset. |
○ | Most potent NEI, Structural confirmation that freezes the structure in an ideal bioactive confirmation. | ||
○ | PHP-303 (5th gen) is a highly selective, oral, once-daily molecule with greater than 90% Neutrophil Elastase inhibition (Potent, on-target effects) vs. 50% or less with the Mereo (AZ) molecule. | ||
○ | PHP-303 sustainably inhibits the bioactive form of the NE enzyme. Mereo doesn’t appear to impact the bioactive form of NE. | ||
○ | PHP-303 appears to be a much more potent and cleaner molecule from a scientific perspective and couple that with our Phase 1 SAD and MAD repeat studies at higher doses (5mg, 10mg, 15mg) that the original Bayer studies (.5 and 1mg). The PK and PD profile with the new SAD and MAD studies continues to demonstrate a well-behaved drug with regards to PK and PD. |
Slide 16: Let’s get into a bit about our first clinical disease target, Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD) (SL)
What is AATD?
● | A point mutation in the Alpha-1 Antitrypsin gene results in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency or AATD. The result is a chronic orphan disease impacting approximately 120,000 patients in the US/75,000 in the EU. It impacts individuals mostly of Scandinavian descent. | |
● | AAT is produced in the liver, lungs, and several other organs in the human body and serves to protect healthy tissue from being attacked by its own NE enzyme. | |
● | If AAT is trapped in the liver or lungs, as often happens in AATD, uninhibited NE starts to destroy normal tissue in the lungs, liver, and other organs. It is this imbalance of normal NE inhibition that leads to morbidity and eventual mortality in AATD. |
Treatment options are limited.
● | We previously mentioned augmentation therapies and their limitations and costs. | |
● | Other sub-optimal treatments include bronchial dilators and other Asthma, Emphysema related therapies for e.g., Inhalers, steroids, anti-inflammatories etc. | |
● | We are also very excited about the support from the Alpha-1 Project Advocacy group to support our AATD clinical plan. This collaboration with Alpha-1 advocacy group should give us better access to patients, data, and treatment/research centers. | |
● | Literature review suggests the undiagnosed population of AATD patients may be even higher. as it takes 5-8 years to get from other lung disease-related conditions (COPD, Emphysema) to get to a diagnosis of AATD. | |
● | Lung penetration, concentration, cost, and overall inconvenience of current therapies suggest that PHP-303 could be an important new therapeutic option in the treatment of AATD. | |
● | It is a growing market both due to existing therapies and up and coming treatment alternatives such as PHP-303. The market is projected to be approx. 2 Billion USD by 2025. |
Slide 17: PHP-303 Addresses the unmet medical need in AATD (SL)
● | I believe I have sufficiently described the importance and rationale of PHP-303 in the treatment of AATD however, to be clear: |
○ | The demonstrated safety and PK of both the historical efforts of Bayer and now Peak Bio suggest that an increase in dose will likely improve the potential benefit in NE related conditions and especially AATD. | ||
○ | We have demonstrated dose dependent NE inhibition in previous clinical studies and animal studies. | ||
○ | We inhibit the bioactive from of the enzyme (NE) | ||
○ | We demonstrate the PHP-303 is a highly selective, and potent molecule with favorable PK and PD that suggest we can advance this program into the clinic and have studied this molecule in 235 subjects in both single and multi dose studies. | ||
○ | We also have received CTA approvals in Ireland and the UK to initiate our studies which we plan on preparing for and moving forward with in the coming months. | ||
○ | Finally, but very importantly we have sufficient clinical trial supplies (API) to conduct the necessary upcoming trials. |
Slide 18: PHP-303 Readiness (SL)
● | I believe we have covered this aspect in the previous slide so we will move to slide 19 that describes the AATD P2a Protocol and Development Pathway for PHP-303 |
Slide 19: AATD P2a Protocol and Development Pathway for PHP-303 (SL)
● | 60 patients will be randomized into 3 cohorts of 20 each wherein each patient will receive a once daily dose of either a placebo, 10mg or 20mg capsule of PHP-303. | |
● | Primary, Secondary and exploratory endpoints are listed on the slide. The exploratory biomarker and functional endpoints will likely be captured as well. | |
● | We are also exploring the potential for an adaptive study design that could get us quicker into Phase 3. In general, orphan and rare disease trials tend to allow for ONE Single Pivotal trial vs. larger chronic disease trials requiring at minimum 2 phase 3 trials. We believe this is both a commercial and clinical benefit to Peak Bio and future patients with AATD. |
Slide 20: PHP-303 Comparison vs. Mereo (SL)
● | As I have described previously, we believe there are very important differentiating aspects to PHP-303 to not only the currently approved therapies but also with the Mereo compound that they acquired from AZ. | |
● | At a high-level I want to focus the audience on the table in slide 20 that highlights this comparison. |
○ | PHP-303 has a 150-fold more potent than the Mereo compound which we believe is very important to be able to inhibit NE even when get small concentrations of active drug in the affected areas of the lungs and other organs | ||
○ | PHP-303 inhibits the bioactive form of the enzyme. This is novel compared to existing and future competitors. | ||
○ | PHP-303 is highly selective and we believe this affords PHP-303 a better safety and on target impact. The goal of any drug therapy is to avoid any off-target effects and hence diminishing the potential clinical benefit of a drug candidate. |
Slide 21: PHP-303 Additional Targeted indications (SL)
For the sake of time, I will only briefly discuss additional indications and targets for PHP-303. It suffices to say, we are keen on new opportunities where we believe PHP-303 may have a place in the treatment of disease.
We will continue to drive our ARDS program using non-dilutive funding from the approx $4m USD DoD grant, and if we see positive preclinical results, we will likely pursue additional DoD or similar non-dilutive funding sources to expand into a clinical program in ARDS with some focus in Covid-19. The grant was applied for with Covid-19 ARDS in mind, but applicability is likely much more far reaching in lung impacted diseases.
● | If preclinical results continue to show promise, we will consider moving a Phase 2 clinical study pending future financing raises or additional funding. This will be a future business decision for Peak Bio but is not included in our current use of proceeds. |
Slide 22: Depicts the PHP-303 AATD and ARDS Development Pathway. (SL)
● | We will likely have several key milestones during the time horizon projected on the slide. | |
● | Critical to our success is initiating and completing our Phase 2a program in AATD during this timeframe. | |
● | The ARDS opportunity is conditional provided: |
○ | ARDS preclinical data justifies advancing the program to the clinic. With the potential to go directly into a Phase 2 program opportunity. | ||
○ | ARDS/Covid-19 Phase 2 study will likely require a non-dilutive grant to proceed into the clinic or future financing. |
Slide 23: ADC Torpedo Platform (SL)
We refer to our ADC platform as “Torpedo” as we combine potent warheads onto highly selective antibodies that home in on targets present on cancer cells.
Slide 24: Antibody Drug Conjugate Overview (SL)
● | I lead with this slide as an overview of ADCs however given our time limitations I only want to focus on the bottom portion of this slide. | |
● | ADCs have revolutionized the ability to target cancers using Antibody-directed chemotherapy thus reducing the off-target effects of chemotherapy. In practice however, though we have improved on traditional chemotherapy, many of the ADCs that are currently approved or in development still have toxicities that can be improved upon. | |
● | At this juncture with our preclinical Toxin/ADC programs potentially have greatly reduced or eliminated some of the most common toxicities such as Bone Marrow toxicity, Ocular, Peripheral Neuropathies all the while we are introducing a novel concept of increased Neoepitope formation allowing for a secondary mechanism to assist in cancer cell killing. |
Slide 25: Growing ADC Market > than 22 B USD by 2030 with Large Deal flow (SL)
● | The ADC market approximates about 15-20% of the Oncology market in dollar value | |
● | ADC scientific advances continue to be an important component of the Oncologists armamentarium. | |
● | The deal flow with ADCs is large and growing. Just recently Gilead purchased a Trop2 program and the company Immunomedics for $21 B USD in 2020. Since then other large deals have been made. | |
● | The Trop2 market alone is projected to be approx $4 B by 2026. This is not a bad place to be in from an ADC perspective. Additionally, we believe we may have a better mouse trap for the ADC field. |
Slide 26: What Makes Peak Bio’s Unique Approach to ADCs Better? (SL)
● | Traditional ADC payloads, currently in the clinic, have a single punch, targeting some aspect of cancer cell division. Our payloads have a 1-2 punch. The first punch targets cancer cell death by a mechanism different from clinically approved ADCs- by targeting RNA splicing, DNA mismatch repair or protein synthesis. The second punch involves some form of immune modulation. |
Slide 27: Peak Bio has three toxins currently in our platform with PH-1 a spliceosome (SL) Modulator as our lead toxin approach. (SL)
● | PH-5 and PH-6 are further back in research, and we will not be talking about those approaches today but want the audience to recognize we have a robust portfolio of Toxins available to us for future platform and portfolio additions. These toxins are owned in their entirety of Peak Bio so no stacked royalty or other BD considerations at this juncture | |
● | PH-1, Spliceosome modulator: (What it does) |
○ | By disrupting the proper splicing of introns, it deprives the cancer cell off hundreds of vital proteins resulting in cell death or cytotoxicity. | ||
○ | On the other hand, generation of mis-spliced proteins called neoepitopes serves as beacons for immune cells to target well after the initial “chemotherapy” is delivered | ||
○ | This in essence creates a one-two cancer cell killing approach. |
Slide 27: Our Approach: Generation of Novel Toxins (SL)
● | Given our time, I will not be covering this slide but as mentioned previously the deck will be made available after this call. It again highlights our toxin portfolio and how excited we are about our toxin platform, the future ADCs that can be generated off the platform and the many potential shots on goal less we forget the clinical benefits of those who suffer from cancer on daily basis. | |
Slide 28: PH1: Potentially Best in Class Payload for ADCs (SL)
Let’s now take our focus to the left side of this slide.
● | This slide summarizes two best-in-class features of PH1 payload in comparison with the microtubule inhibitor family. | |
● | Here in the dot plots on the left we compare PH1 with DM1, the payload present in the ADC Kadcyla. Let’s recall that Kadcyla from Genentech/Roche in 2021 had approx. 2.2 B USD in sales. | |
● | Each mark (dot) represents an alternatively spliced gene transcript | |
● | The 3-fold reduction in the number of blue dots represents effects on global splicing impacting vital functions such as cancer growth and survival. That is the first punch. | |
● | The 9-fold increase in numbers of red dots represents 9-fold increased number of mis-spliced RNAs potentially contributing to neoepitopes. |
On the right side of this slide, we are looking at the potential impact on resistance associated MDR
● | Other ADC payloads such as MMAE from Seattle Genetics can be ‘pumped out’ by MDR transporters. Cancer cells over expressing MDRs require 200X higher concentrations of payload in order to kill them. That is not good news, ideally, we don’t want resistance, and this may be the reason we see so many cancer reoccurring from resistance alone. | |
● | Since PH1 payload is not recognized by MDR pumps, increased expression of these pumps on cancer cells does not generate resistance. |
Slide 29: Combining Novel Toxins with Novel Targets Leads to Novel ADCs (SL)
● | On this slide and for the sake of time, I just want to highlight that Peak Bio has a robust process to identify and research our next generation ADCs based on our toxin portfolio and methods to identify well suited targets to eventually create next generation ADCs | |
Slide 30: Potentially Best in Class ADC Candidate Targeting Trop2 (SL)
● | This slide will give the audience a sense of the progress and importance of our work to date. We are excited about the data we are generating. | |
● | Starting on the right side of this slide and going counterclockwise we see the following results. | |
● | In gastric cancer, we see superior on-target cytotoxicity at lower DAR compared to first-in-class (FIC) ADC from Trodelvy-from Gilead/Immunomedics. | |
● | Just below the gastric cancer graph, we see comparable on-target cytotoxicities at lower DAR against pancreatic and bladder cancers. | |
● | In the far upper right corner, we show our ADC has no off-target cytotoxicity against normal human fibroblasts as observed in the FIC Trodelvy. We Attribute this to superior linker stability in our ADC. | |
● | Finally, in the backup slides we have also identified additional important tumor indications where we may be able to compete with existing and future competitors. |
In a Clinically Validated Target (Trop2-Trodelvy) we have now created our lead IND candidate with our PH1 payload which we believe potentially offers the following characteristics.
● | Superior linker stability compared to an FDA approved competitor | |
● | Superior specificity to cancer cells and unique ability to generate neoepitopes and synergizes with I/O therapies | |
● | Anti-tumor immune memory in pre-clinical experiments. | |
● | Wide safety margin in non-human primate tox study | |
● | IND-lead candidate chosen & 18-24 months to FIH |
Slide 31: ADC Torpedo Clinical Development Pathway (SL)
● | As mentioned on the previous slide we are moving quickly to IND over the next 18 to 24 months and believe that we will meet those deadlines | |
● | We have accomplished several de-risking strategies around the manufacturing side of antibodies, linkers and toxins. | |
● | Overall, we believe we will accomplish several milestones to create additional interest in Peak Bio in the coming years. | |
Slide 32: Corporate Overview (BACK TO HH)
Slide 33/34: Peak Bio Milestones and Value Driving Catalysts (HH)
● | These slides offer a glimpse of our high-level depiction of our milestones and catalysts that we believe will continue to drive value for Peak Bio and our Shareholders |
Slide 35: Intellectual Property (HH)
The only thing I want to mention on this slide is that it shows that we have a broad IP and patent protection strategy to support our PHP-303 program and our growing Toxin, ADC Platform.
Slide 36: Cash at Closing Expected to Provide Runway Through 2024 (HH)
PHP 303 funding required:
● | ~$13 million to initiate and fund a Phase II AATD Trial** |
ADC Program funding required:
● | ~$9 million to fund ADC toxin studies / work in lead program targeting Trop2 | |
● | ~$2-3 million to be used to conduct research and development of new ADC toxins | |
● | ~$1-2 million to fund additional research and development to identify new targets |
Other funding required:
● | ~$12-14 million for SG&A, Capital Expenditures and other funding*** |
Slide 37 Investment highlights (HH)
● | To summarize, we have an experienced leadership team with a proven track record | |
● | A potential best in class NE Inhibitor in the clinic | |
● | Multiple milestones and catalysts in the near-term | |
● | We potentially have a Novel and unique Oncology Toxin/ADC platform to generate many potential BIC and FIC opportunities | |
● | We have a differentiated approach and access to markets in Asia as well as the US | |
Exhibit 99.3