0001843762 false --12-31 EQRX, INC. 0001843762 2021-12-17 2021-12-17 0001843762 CMLTW:CommonStockParValue0.0001Member 2021-12-17 2021-12-17 0001843762 CMLTW:WarrantsToPurchaseOneShareOfCommonStockAtExercisePriceOf11.50Member 2021-12-17 2021-12-17 iso4217:USD xbrli:shares iso4217:USD xbrli:shares

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549  

 

 

 

FORM 8-K 

 

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 17, 2021  

 

 

 

EQRX, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-40312   86-1691173
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)  
  (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

50 Hampshire Street Cambridge, MA   02139
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 617-315-2255

 

CM LIFE SCIENCES III INC.

c/o Corvex Management LP

667 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10065

(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

Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share

  EQRX   The Nasdaq Global Market
Warrants to purchase one share of common stock at an exercise price of $11.50   EQRXW   The Nasdaq Global Market

 

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.

 

 

 

 

Introductory Note

 

On December 17, 2021 (the “Closing Date”), CM Life Sciences III Inc., a Delaware corporation (“CMLS III”) consummated the previously announced business combination (the “Business Combination”) pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 5, 2021, as amended September 21, 2021 and October 28, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among CMLS III, Clover III Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Clover Merger Sub”) and EQRx, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Old EQRx”).

 

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, on the Closing Date, Clover Merger Sub merged with and into Old EQRx (the “Merger”) with Old EQRx (now known as EQRX International, Inc.) surviving the Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of CMLS III, and CMLS III changed its name to “EQRx, Inc.” (the former name of Old EQRX).

 

In accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), each share of Old EQRx stock, other than Excluded Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement) and Dissenting Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement), issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time was cancelled and automatically converted into the right to receive: (a) a number of shares of Class A common stock of CMLS III (the “CMLS III Class A Common Stock”) equal to the quotient of: (i) the product of (x) such stockholder’s total shares of Old EQRx stock (with the Old EQRx common stock and preferred stock (determined on an as-converted basis) included as a single class) multiplied by (y) the per share amount calculated in accordance with the Merger Agreement, divided by (ii) $10.00; and (b) such stockholder’s Earn-out Pro Rata Share (as defined in the Merger Agreement) of any Earn-Out Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement) to which such stockholder is entitled pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement.

 

In addition, at the Effective Time, each outstanding option to purchase Old EQRx common stock was assumed by CMLS III and converted into an option to purchase shares of CMLS III Class A Common Stock upon substantially the same terms and conditions as were in effect with respect to such Old EQRx option immediately prior to the Effective Time after giving effect to the exchange ratio in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, and each outstanding Old EQRx restricted stock award was cancelled and converted into restricted stock awards of CMLS III Class A Common Stock calculated in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.

 

As additional consideration for the Merger and the other transactions, if during the Earn-Out Period (as defined in the Merger Agreement), a Triggering Event (as defined in the Merger Agreement) occurs, then CMLS III will deliver or cause to be delivered to each applicable Old EQRx stockholder (other than holders of Dissenting Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement)) in accordance with such stockholder’s respective Earn-Out Pro Rata Share (as defined in the Merger Agreement), and each Earn-Out Service Provider (in accordance with its respective Earn-Out Pro Rata Share and the terms of the applicable earn-out award agreement), the applicable Earn-Out Shares. Such issuance shall be upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement and the other transaction agreements and, in the case of the Earn-Out Service Providers, subject to the additional requirements set forth in the Merger Agreement and the applicable earn-out award agreement.

 

Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, CMLS III entered into subscription agreements (the “Subscription Agreements”) with certain investors (the “PIPE Investors”), pursuant to which, at the Closing (as defined below), the PIPE Investors subscribed for and purchased an aggregate of 120,000,000 shares of CMLS III Class A Common Stock at a price of $10.00 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,200,000,000 (the “PIPE Financing”).

 

Following the Closing of the Merger, all shares of CMLS III Class A Common Stock were redesignated as common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of New EQRx (“Common Stock”).

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, “we,” “us,” “our,” and the “Company” refer to EQRx, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries. All references herein to the “Board” refer to the board of directors of EQRx, Inc. All references herein to the “Closing” refer to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (the “Transactions” or the “Business Combination”), including the Merger and the PIPE Financing.

 

1

 

 

A description of the Merger and the terms of the Merger Agreement are included in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus dated December 1, 2021 (the “Proxy Statement/Prospectus”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to Rule 424(b) on December 1, 2021 in the section titled “Proposal No.1—The Business Combination Proposal.”

 

The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement is intended as a summary, does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of Merger Agreement, which is filed hereto as Exhibit 2.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement

 

On the Closing Date, New EQRx, CMLS Holdings III LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), and certain persons and entities holding securities of New EQRx (the foregoing persons and entities, together with other persons or entities who become party to the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (as defined below), collectively, the “Holders”) entered into an Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (the “Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement”), which amended and restated in its entirety the existing registration rights agreement, dated April 6, 2021, by and between CMLS III and the other parties thereto. Pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, New EQRx has agreed to prepare and file with the SEC, no later than 30 days after the Closing Date, a shelf registration statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis from time to time with respect to the resale of the registrable shares under the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement. New EQRx has further agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such shelf registration statement to be declared effective as soon as possible after filing, but in no event later than the earlier of 60 days following the filing date thereof and five business days after the SEC notifies New EQRx that it will not review such registration statement, subject to extension in the event that the registration is subject to comments from the SEC.

 

In addition, pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, and subject to certain requirements and customary conditions, including with regard to the number of demand rights that may be exercised, the Holders may demand at any time or from time to time, that New EQRx file a registration statement on Form S-1 or Form S-3 to register certain shares of Common Stock held by the Holders. The Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement will also provide the Holders with “piggy-back” registration rights, subject to certain requirements and customary conditions. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statement.

 

The foregoing description of the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of which is filed hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Lock-Up Agreements

 

In connection with the Merger, the Company entered into lock-up agreements with certain stockholders of the Company (the “Lockup Holders”). The terms of the lock-up agreements provide for the Common Stock held by the Lockup Holders as of immediately prior to the Effective Time to be subject to transfer restrictions for a period of 180 days following the Closing Date, subject to certain exceptions.

  

The foregoing description of the lock-up agreements does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the form of lock-up agreement, which is filed hereto as Exhibit 10.2 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

2

 

 

Indemnification Agreements

 

In connection with the Merger, on December 17, 2021, New EQRx entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers. Each indemnification agreement provides for indemnification and advancement by New EQRX of certain expenses and costs relating to claims, suits or proceedings arising from such individual’s service to New EQRX as an officer or director, as applicable, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

 

The foregoing description of the indemnification agreements is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the forms of indemnification agreement, which are filed hereto as Exhibits 10.4 and 10.5 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 2.01. Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

 

The disclosure set forth in the “Introductory Note” above is incorporated herein by reference into this Item 2.01.

 

On December 16, 2021, CMLS III held a special meeting of its stockholders (the “Special Meeting”) at which the CMLS III stockholders considered and adopted, among other matters, the Merger Agreement. On December 17, 2021, the parties to the Merger Agreement consummated the Transactions.

 

Prior to the Special Meeting, holders of 39,587,066 shares of CMLS III’s common stock exercised their right to redeem such shares for cash at a price of approximately $10.00 per share for aggregate payments of approximately $395.9 million. At the Closing, (i) an aggregate of 343,060,309 shares of CMLS III Class A Common Stock were issued in exchange for the shares of Old EQRx outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) an aggregate of 120,000,000 shares of CMLS III Class A Common Stock were issued to the PIPE Investors in the PIPE Financing. Moreover, at the Closing, each equity award of Old EQRx outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time was assumed by CMLS III and converted into an option to purchase shares of CMLS III Class A Common Stock on substantially the same terms and conditions as were in effect with respect to such Old EQRx option immediately prior to the Effective Time after giving effect to the exchange ratio in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement. Immediately after giving effect to the Transactions, there were 487,632,615 shares of Common Stock outstanding, 19,733,333 warrants to acquire shares of Common Stock outstanding, and 21,937,942 shares of Common Stock subject to options outstanding under the Old EQRx 2019 Plan (as defined below) that were assumed in the Merger. At the Effective Time, the CMLS III units automatically separated into the component securities and, as a result, no longer trade as a separate security. On December 20, 2021, the Common Stock and warrants began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbols “EQRX” and “EQRXW”, respectively. The CUSIP number for the Common Stock is 26886C 107 and 26886C 115 for the warrants.

 

The material terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement are described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Proposal No.1 – The Business Combination Proposal,” which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

Certain statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K and the information incorporated herein by reference may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including with respect to the effects of the Business Combination. We have based these forward-looking statements contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K on the current expectations and beliefs of our management, and we are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements about our future financial and operating results; benefits of the Business Combination; statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of our management for future operations; statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; and other statements regarding the Business Combination. Forward-looking statements may contain words such as “will be,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “continue,” “project,” “believe,” “plan,” “could,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “pursue,” “should,” “target” or similar expressions, and include the assumptions that underlie such statements. These statements include, but are not limited to the following:

 

the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, the costs of the Business Combination, competition and our ability to grow and manage growth profitably and retain our key employees;

 

3

 

 

the success, cost and timing of our product development activities;
our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval for our products, and any related restrictions and limitations of any approved product;
our ability to maintain our existing license agreements and manufacturing arrangements;
our ability to compete with other companies currently marketing or engaged in the development of innovative drug candidates, many of which have greater financial and marketing resources than us;

  our ability to develop and maintain our global buyer’s club;
  our ability to locate and acquire complementary products or product candidates and integrate those into our business;

the size and growth potential of the markets for our products, and our ability to serve those markets, either alone or in partnership with others;
changes in applicable laws or regulations;
our ability to raise financing in the future;
our estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing;

  our financial performance;
  our ability to compete effectively in a competitive industry;
  our ability to protect and enhance our corporate reputation and brand;
  expectations concerning our relationships and actions with third parties;
  potential liquidity and trading of our securities;
  the attraction and retention of qualified directors, officers, employees and key personnel;
  our ability to compete effectively in a competitive industry; and

the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements include the risks associated with pharmaceutical developing, development and implementation of a new and untested business model, and the risks associated with operating as a newly public company, along with those factors set forth in the section titled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 53 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus. Any forward-looking statements made in this Current Report on Form 8-K are qualified in their entirety by the forward-looking statements contained or referred to in this section, and there is no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by us will be realized. Except to the extent required by applicable law, we are under no obligation (and expressly disclaim any such obligation) to update or revise our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

 

Business

 

We are a new type of pharmaceutical company committed to developing and delivering innovative medicines to patients at radically lower prices. Our mission is to improve health for all with great, innovative, affordable medicines so that people with life-changing or chronic conditions can gain access to the medicines they need, physicians can treat patients without barriers to prescribing, and health systems can afford to make those medicines available, without restrictions, to the populations they serve in a financially sustainable manner. Launched in January 2020, our “New Pharma” solution starts with assembling a catalog of medicines at significant scale, targeting some of the most innovative clinical opportunities and highest drug cost categories of today and tomorrow, with an initial focus on oncology and immune-inflammatory diseases. We are focused on developing programs that are innovative, branded, and patent-protected that, if approved, have potential to be equivalent or superior to other therapies in their class. However, there is no guarantee our product candidates will be equivalent or superior to such other therapies. We do not have any products approved for commercial sale and have not generated any revenue to date, and so may never become profitable. In addition, our business and pricing model is untested and may never be successful or generate sufficient revenue to lead to profitability.

 

Our business is further described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “EQRx’s Business” beginning on page 254 and that information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

4

 

 

Risk Factors

 

The risk factors related to our business and operations and the Transactions are set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 53 and that information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Financial Information

  

Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements

 

Reference is made to the unaudited condensed financial statements as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 of Old EQRx have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and pursuant to the regulations of the SEC and are included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus beginning on page F-43, which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

These unaudited condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the historical audited financial statements of Old EQRx as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020 and from inception to December 31, 2019 and the related notes included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus beginning on page F-64, which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information and Comparative Share Information

 

Reference is made to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information of CMLS III and Old EQRx as of September 30, 2021 and for the year ended December 31, 2020 and the nine months ended September 30, 2021 is set forth in Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Reference is further made to the disclosure contained in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Comparative Share Information” beginning on page 154, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Reference is made to the disclosure contained in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the sections titled “EQRx’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” beginning on page 321 and “CMLS III’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” beginning on page 249, which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

Reference is made to the disclosure contained in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the sections titled “EQRx’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations— Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures About Market Risk” beginning on page 335, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Properties

 

Our offices are located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and consist of approximately 33,529 square feet of leased office space. The lease is set to expire on December 31, 2023.

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

 

The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of Common Stock as of the Closing Date immediately following consummation of the Transactions by:

 

  each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding Common Stock immediately following the consummation of the Transactions;

  each of our executive officers and directors; and

  all of our executive officers and directors as a group after the consummation of the Transactions.

 

5

 

 

Beneficial ownership is determined according to the rules of the SEC, which generally provide that a person has beneficial ownership of a security if he, she or it possesses sole or shared voting or investment power over that security. Under those rules, beneficial ownership includes securities that the individual or entity has the right to acquire, such as through the exercise of warrants or stock options or the vesting of restricted stock units, within 60 days of the Closing Date. Shares subject to warrants or options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of the Closing Date or subject to restricted stock units that vest within 60 days of the Closing Date are considered outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding such warrants, options or restricted stock units for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Except as noted by footnote, and subject to community property laws where applicable, based on the information provided to us, we believe that the persons and entities named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned by them. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of our directors and executive officers is 50 Hampshire Street, Cambridge, MA 02139. The percentage of beneficial ownership is calculated based on 487,632,615 shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately following the consummation of the Transactions.

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner     Number of
Shares
  %
Melanie Nallicheri(1)     9,817,766   2.0
Jami Rubin     2,194,500   *
Eric Hedrick(2)     658,350   *
Alexis Borisy(3)     19,038,592   3.9
Amy Abernethy     200,000   *
Paul Berns     627,000   *
Eli Casdin(4)(5)(6)    

56,297,042

  11.4
Jorge Conde      
Kathryn Giusti      
Sandra Horning(7)     568,218   *
Clive Meanwell(8)     97,968   *
Samuel Merksamer      
Krishna Yeshwant(9)      
All Directors and Executive Officers as a group (13 individuals)    

89,499,436

  18.0
Five Percent Holders:          
Entities affiliated with Casdin Partners(5)(6)     39,527,669   8.1
Entities affiliated with ARCH Venture Partners(10)     36,335,375   7.5
Entities affiliated with Softbank(11)     43,976,600   9.0
Entities affiliated with GV 2019, L.P.(12)     47,252,687   9.7
Entities affiliated with Andreessen Horowitz(13)     53,064,157   10.9

 

 
* Less than one percent.

(1) Includes 287,372 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of vested options of Old EQRx assumed in the Merger.

(2) Includes 31,350 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of vested options of Old EQRx assumed in the Merger.
(3) Includes 228,592 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of vested options of Old EQRx assumed in the Merger.
(4) CMLS Holdings III LLC is the record holder of 8,659,372 shares of Common Stock and 8,110,001 warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock reported herein. The Board of Managers of CMLS Holdings III LLC is comprised of Eli Casdin and Keith Meister who share voting and investment discretion with respect to the common stock held of record by CMLS Holdings III LLC. Each of Messrs. Casdin and Meister disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of his respective pecuniary interest therein. The address for CMLS Holdings III LLC is c/o Corvex Management LP, 667 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10065.
(5) Includes an aggregate 34,527,669 shares of Common Stock (i) 25,214,933 held of record by Casdin Partners Master Fund, L.P. (“CPMF”), (ii) 3,824,572 held of record by Casdin Venture Opportunities Fund, L.P. (“CVOF”) and (iii) 5,488,164 held of record by Casdin Private Growth Equity Fund GP, LLC. (“CPGEF” and together with CPMF and CVOF, the “Casdin Funds”). The shares held by the Casdin Funds may be deemed to be indirectly beneficially owned by (i) Casdin Capital, LLC, the investment adviser to the Casdin Funds, (ii) Casdin Partners GP, LLC, the general partner of the Casdin Funds and (iii) Eli Casdin, the managing member of Casdin Capital, LLC and Casdin Partners GP, LLC. The shares held by Casdin Partners GP, LLC may be deemed to be indirectly beneficially owned by (i) Eli Casdin, the managing member of Casdin Partners GP, LLC. The address for the Casdin entities noted herein is 1350 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 2600, New York, New York 10019.
(6) Includes 5,000,000 shares issued in the PIPE Investment to Casdin Partners Master Fund, L.P. The shares may be deemed to be indirectly beneficially owned by (i) Casdin Capital, LLC, the investment adviser to Casdin Partners Master Fund, L.P., (ii) Casdin Partners GP, LLC, the general partner of Casdin Partners Master Fund L.P., and (iii) Eli Casdin, the managing member of Casdin Capital, LLC and Casdin Partners GP, LLC.
(7) Includes 97,968 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of vested options of Old EQRx assumed in the Merger.
(8) Includes 97,968 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of vested options of Old EQRx assumed in the Merger.
(9) Dr. Yeshwant, a Director, is a managing partner of GV. Dr. Yeshwant does not have voting or dispositive power over any of the shares directly held by GV 2019, L.P. referenced in footnote (12) below.

 

6

 

 

(10) Includes (i) 18,167,688 shares of Common Stock held of record by ARCH Venture Fund X, L.P. (“ARCH X”) and (ii) 18,167,687 shares of Common Stock held of record by ARCH Venture Fund X Overage, L.P. (“ARCH X Overage”). ARCH Venture Partners X, L.P. (“AVP X LP”) is the sole general partner of ARCH X. ARCH Venture Partners X Overage, L.P. (“AVP X Overage LP”) is the sole general partner of ARCH X Overage. ARCH Venture Partners X, LLC (“AVP X LLC”), is the sole general partner of each of AVP X LP and AVP X Overage LP. As members of the investment committee of AVP X LLC, each of Keith Crandell, Kristina Burow, Steven Gillis and Robert Nelsen (the “Committee Members”) may also be deemed to share the power to direct the disposition and vote of the ARCH X and ARCH X Overage shares. AVP X LP and AVP X Overage LP may be deemed to beneficially own the shares held by ARCH X and ARCH X Overage, respectively, AVP X LLC may be deemed to beneficially own the shares held by ARCH X and ARCH X Overage, and each of the Committee Members may be deemed to share the power to direct the disposition and vote of the shares held by ARCH X and ARCH X Overage. AVP X LP, AVP X Overage LP, AVP X LLC, and the Committee Members each disclaim beneficial ownership, except, in each case, to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein. The principal business address of ARCH X, ARCH X Overage, AVP X LP, AVP X Overage LP, AVP X LLC and the Committee Members is 8755 Higgins Road, Suite 1025, Chicago, IL 60631.
(11) Includes (i) 43,176,600 shares of Common Stock and (ii) 800,000 shares of Common Stock underlying warrants held by SB Northstar LP. SB Management Limited is the investment manager of SB Northstar LP and as such may be deemed to have voting and investment power over the securities held by SB Northstar LP.  SB Management Limited is owned by Softbank Group Corp.  The principal business address of SB Northstar LP is 190 Elgin Avenue, George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-9008, Cayman Islands.

(12) Reflects shares of Common Stock held of record by GV 2019, L.P. GV 2019 GP, L.P. (the general partner of GV 2019, L.P.), GV 2019 GP, L.L.C. (the general partner of GV 2019 GP, L.P.), Alphabet Holdings LLC (the managing member of GV 2019 GP, L.L.C.), XXVI Holdings Inc. (the managing member of Alphabet Holdings LLC) and Alphabet Inc. (the controlling stockholder of XXVI Holdings Inc.) may each be deemed to have sole power to vote or dispose of the shares held directly by GV 2019, L.P. The principal business address of GV 2019, L.P., GV 2019 GP, L.P., GV 2019 GP, L.L.C., Alphabet Holdings LLC, XXVI Holdings Inc. and Alphabet Inc. is 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043.
(13) Includes (i) 17,438,465 shares of Common Stock held of record by AH Bio Fund II, L.P., for itself and as nominee for AH Bio Fund II-B, L.P. (collectively, the “AH Bio Fund II Entities”), (ii) 19,192,015 shares of Common Stock held of record by AH Bio Fund III, L.P., for itself and as nominee for AH Bio Fund III-B, L.P. and AH Bio Fund III-Q, L.P. (collectively, the “AH Bio Fund III Entities”), (iii) 11,433,677 shares of Common Stock held of record by Andreessen Horowitz LSV Fund I, L.P., for itself and as nominee for Andreessen Horowitz LSV Fund I-B, L.P. and Andreessen Horowitz LSV Fund I-Q, L.P. (collectively, the “AH LSV Fund I Entities”), and (iv) 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock issued in the PIPE Investment and held by the Andreessen Horowitz LSV Fund II, L.P., for itself and as nominee for Andreessen Horowitz LSV Fund II-B, L.P. and Andreessen Horowitz LSV Fund II-Q, L.P. (collectively, the “AH LSV II Fund Entities). AH Equity Partners Bio II, L.L.C. (“AH EP Bio II”), the general partner of the AH Bio Fund II Entities may be deemed to have sole voting and dispositive power over the shares held by the AH Bio Fund II Entities. AH Equity Partners Bio III, L.L.C. (“AH EP Bio III”), the general partner of the AH Bio Fund III Entities may be deemed to have sole voting and dispositive power over the shares held by the AH Bio Fund III Entities. AH Equity Partners LSV I, L.L.C. (“AH EP LSV I”), the general partner of the AH LSV Fund I Entities may be deemed to have sole voting and dispositive power over the shares held by the AH LSV Fund I Entities. AH Equity Partners LSV II, L.L.C. (“AH EP LSV II”), the general partner of the AH LSV Fund II Entities may be deemed to have sole voting and dispositive power over the shares held by the AH LSV Fund II Entities. The managing members of each of AH EP Bio II, AH EP Bio III, AH EP LSV I and AH EP LSV II are Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, and each of them may be deemed to hold shared voting and dispositive power over the shares held by the AH Bio Fund II Entities, the AH Bio Fund III Entities, the AH LSV Fund I Entities and the AH LSV II Fund Entities. Shares held by each of these entities include shares that may be subsequently sold by each of Marc Andreessen, Ben Horowitz and Jorge Conde, a Director, following in-kind distributions of shares by these entities. The address for the persons and entities set forth herein is 2865 Sand Hill Road, Suite 101, Menlo Park, CA 94025.

 

7

 

 

Directors and Executive Officers

 

New EQRx’s directors and executive officers after the consummation of the Transactions are described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Management After the Business Combination” beginning on page 348 and that information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Independence of our Board of Directors

 

Information with respect to the independence of New EQRx’s directors is set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Management After the Business Combination—Director Independence” beginning on page 355 and that information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Committees of the Board of Directors

 

Information with respect to the composition of the committees of our Board immediately after the Closing is set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Management After the Business Combination—Board Committees” beginning on page 356 and that information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Executive Compensation

 

A description of the compensation of the named executive officers of Old EQRx and the compensation of the executive officers of CMLS III before the consummation of the Transactions is set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the sections titled “Executive and Director Compensation of EQRx” beginning on page 337 and “Information About CMLS III—Executive Compensation” beginning on page 246, respectively, and that information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

At the Special Meeting, the CMLS III stockholders approved the 2021 Plan and the ESPP (as defined below). The summary of the 2021 Plan is set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Proposal No.3 – The Incentive Plan Proposal” beginning on page 220 and the summary of the ESPP is set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Proposal No.4 – The ESPP Proposal” beginning on page 226 and are each incorporated herein by reference. In addition, the unallocated share reserve remaining under the 2019 Plan (as defined below) as of the Closing Date (including any shares subsequently returned to such share reserve as a result of the termination of awards issued under the Old EQRx’s applicable stock plan) was included in the share reserve under the 2021 Plan, in accordance with the terms thereof, and no new old EQRx options will be granted under the 2019 Plan following the Closing. The summary of the terms of the 2019 Plan and the treatment of equity awards is set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Executive and Director Compensation of EQRx – Equity Plans” beginning on page 344 and “Proposal No.1 – The Business Combination Proposal” beginning on page 167, respectively.

 

8

 

 

A copy of the full text of the 2021 Plan is filed hereto as Exhibit 10.8, a copy of the full text of the ESPP is filed hereto as Exhibit 10.10 and a copy of the full text of the 2019 Plan is filed hereto as Exhibit 10.6, and are each incorporated herein by reference.

 

In December 2021, the Old EQRx board of directors approved certain adjustments in the compensation of our executive officers and of our Executive Chairman. Accordingly, effective January 1, 2022, Mr. Borisy’s base salary will be increased to $390,000, Ms. Nallicheri’s base salary will be increased to $600,000, Ms. Rubin’s base salary will be increased to $449,000, and Dr. Hedrick’s base salary will be increased to $437,000 and his target bonus will be increased to 40% of his annual base salary.

 

Director Compensation

 

Descriptions of the compensation of the directors of Old EQRx and of CMLS III before the consummation of the Transactions are set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the sections titled “Executive and Director Compensation of EQRx” beginning on page 346 and “Information About CMLS III—Executive Compensation” beginning on page 246, respectively, and that information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions

 

Certain relationships and related person transactions are described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions” beginning on page 392 and that information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

Reference is made to the disclosure regarding legal proceedings in the section of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus titled “Information about CMLS III—Legal Proceedings” beginning on page 234 and that information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Market Price of and Dividends on Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

 

The Common Stock and warrant to purchase Common Stock began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbols “EQRX” and “EQRXW”, respectively, on December 20, 2021. As of immediately after the Closing Date, there were approximately 185 registered holders of Common Stock and 7 registered holders of the public warrants.

 

We have not paid any cash dividends on shares of our Common Stock. Any decision to declare and pay dividends in the future will be made at the sole discretion of our Board and will depend on, among other things, our results of operations, cash requirements, financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors that our Board may deem relevant.

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

Reference is made to the disclosure set forth below under Item 3.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K concerning the issuance and sale of certain unregistered securities, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Description of Company’s Securities

 

The description of New EQRx’s securities is contained in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Description of Securities” beginning on page 360 and that information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

9

 

 

Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

The disclosure set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K under the section entitled “Indemnification Agreements” is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.01.

 

Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

The information set forth under Item 9.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

 

Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, CMLS III entered into the Subscription Agreements with the PIPE Investors, pursuant to which, at the Closing, the PIPE Investors subscribed for and purchased an aggregate of 120,000,000 shares of CMLS III Class A Common Stock at a price of $10.00 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,200,000,000. The shares of CMLS III Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to the Subscription Agreements (the “PIPE Financing Shares”) have not been registered under the Securities Act in reliance upon the exemption provided in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. Pursuant to the Subscription Agreements, CMLS III agreed that, within 30 calendar days after the Closing Date, New EQRx will file with the SEC (at New EQRx’s sole cost and expense) a registration statement (the “Resale Registration Statement”) registering the resale of the PIPE Financing Shares. New EQRx will use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the Resale Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, but no later than the earlier of (i) the 60th calendar day (or 90th calendar day if the SEC notifies New EQRx that it will review the Resale Registration Statement) following the Closing and (ii) the fifth business day after the date New EQRx is notified by the SEC that the Resale Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review.

 

The foregoing description of the Subscription Agreements does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions thereof, the form of which is filed hereto as Exhibit 10.3 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

 

In connection with the consummation of the Transactions, CMLS III changed its name to “EQRx, Inc.” and adopted an amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws. Reference is made to the disclosure described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the sections titled “Proposal No. 5 – The Charter Amendment Proposal” beginning on page 230, “Comparison of Stockholder Rights” beginning on page 377 and “Description of Securities” beginning on page 360, which are incorporated herein by reference. This summary is qualified in its entirety by the text of New EQRx’s certificate of incorporation and by-laws, which are filed as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 hereto, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

In accordance with Rule 12g-3(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), New EQRx is the successor issuer to CMLS III and has succeeded to the attributes of CMLS III as the registrant. In addition, the shares of Common Stock of New EQRx, as the successor to CMLS III, are deemed to be registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act. Holders of uncertificated shares of CMLS III’s common stock prior to the Closing have continued as holders of shares of uncertificated shares of New EQRx’s Common Stock. After consummation of the Transactions, the Common Stock and warrants to purchase Common Stock were listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbols “EQRX” and “EQRXW”, respectively, and the CUSIP numbers relating to the Common Stock and warrant were changed to 26886C 107 and 26886C 115, respectively. Holders of CMLS III’s shares who have filed reports under the Exchange Act with respect to those shares should indicate in their next filing, or any amendment to a prior filing, filed on or after the Closing Date that New EQRx is the successor to CMLS III.

 

10

 

 

Item 4.01. Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.

 

On December 17, 2021, the audit committee of the Board approved a resolution appointing Ernst & Young LLP (“EY”) as New EQRx’s independent registered public accounting firm to audit New EQRx’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, and WithumSmith+Brown, PC (“Withum”) was dismissed from its role as New EQRx’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

Withum’s report on CMLS III’s consolidated financial statements for the period from January 25, 2021 (inception) to February 4, 2021 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, nor was the report qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

 

At no point during the period from January 25, 2021 through December 17, 2021 were there any (i) disagreements with Withum on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreement(s), if not resolved to the satisfaction of Withum, would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement(s) in connection with its report, or (ii) “reportable events” as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K, other than as noted above regarding New EQRx’s ability to continue as a going concern.

 

New EQRx has provided Withum with a copy of the foregoing disclosure and has requested that Withum furnish New EQRx with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether or not it agrees with the statements made herein, each as required by applicable SEC rules. A copy of Withum’s letter to the SEC is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

During the period from January 25, 2021 through date of this Current Report on Form 8-K, the Company did not consult with EY regarding any of the matters or events set forth in Item 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of Regulation S-K.

 

Item 5.01. Changes in Control of Registrant.

 

Reference is made to the disclosure in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Proposal No. 1 – The Business Combination Proposal” beginning on page 165, which is incorporated herein by reference. Further reference is made to the information contained in Item 2.01 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

Board of Directors

 

Upon the consummation of the Transactions, and in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, each director (except Eli Casdin and Amy Abernethy) and executive officer of CMLS III ceased serving in such capacities and nine new directors were appointed to the Board. The Board was divided into three staggered classes of directors and each director was assigned to one of the three classes. At each annual meeting of the stockholders, a class of directors will be elected for a three-year term to succeed the directors of the same class whose terms are then expiring. The terms of the directors will expire upon the election and qualification of successor directors at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held during the year 2022 for Class I directors, 2023 for Class II directors and 2024 for Class III directors. Paul Berns, Jorge Conde and Sandra Horning were appointed as Class I directors; Samuel Merksamer, Clive Meanwell, Krishna Yeshwant and Kathryn Giusti were appointed as Class II directors; and Alexis Borisy, Eli Casdin, Melanie Nallicheri and Amy Abernethy were appointed as Class III directors.

 

11

 

 

Furthermore, following the consummation of the Transactions, the Board established four standing committees: an audit committee, a compensation and talent development committee, a nominating and corporate governance committee and a research and development committee. The members of our audit committee are Paul Berns, Eli Casdin and Samuel Merksamer, and Eli Casdin serves as the chairperson of the audit committee. The members of the compensation and talent development committee are Jorge Conde, Sandra Horning and Krishna Yeshwant, and Krishna Yeshwant is the chairperson of the compensation and talent development committee. The members of the nominating and corporate governance committee are Paul Berns, Eli Casdin, Kathryn Giusti and Clive Meanwell, and Paul Berns is the chairperson of the nominating and corporate governance committee. The members of the research and development committee are Amy Abernethy, Sandra Horning, Clive Meanwell and Krishna Yeshwant, and Sandra Horning is the chairperson of the research and development committee.

 

Descriptions of the compensation of the directors of Old EQRx and of CMLS III before the consummation of the Transactions are set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the sections titled “Executive and Director Compensation of EQRx” beginning on page 346 and “Information About CMLS III—Executive Compensation” beginning on page 246, respectively, and that information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Following the Transactions, pursuant to New EQRx’s non-employee director compensation policy, each non-employee director will receive an annual retainer of $50,000, a $20,000 annual retainer for serving as the chair of the audit committee, a $15,000 annual retainer for serving as the chair of the compensation and talent development committee, a $10,000 annual retainer for serving as the chair of the nominating and corporate governance committee, a $15,000 annual retainer for serving as the chair of the research and development committee and a $10,000, $7,500, $5,000 and $7,500 annual retainer for serving on the audit, compensation and talent development, nominating and corporate governance and research and development committee, respectively, to be paid quarterly in arrears and prorated based on the number of actual days served on the Board or applicable committee. In addition, each new non-employee director who is first elected or appointed to the Board following the Effective Date will receive, upon such director’s initial election or appointment to our Board, an initial one-time grant of a non-statutory stock option to purchase the number of shares of Common Stock having a grant date fair value equal to $800,000 on the date of grant and a term of ten years (the “Initial Grant”). Such Initial Grant shall vest 1/3 on the first anniversary of the grant date and then in equal monthly installments over the next two years; provided, however, that all vesting ceases if the director resigns from the Board or otherwise ceases to serve as a director, unless the Board determines that the circumstances warrant continuation of vesting. Furthermore, on the date of each annual meeting of the stockholders of the Company, each non-employee director who will continue as a member of the Board following such annual meeting will receive a grant of a non-statutory stock option to purchase the number of shares of Common Stock having a grant date fair value equal to $400,000 on the date of grant and a term of ten years (the “Annual Grant”). Such Annual Grant shall vest in full on the earlier of (i) the one-year anniversary of the grant date or (ii) the next annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that all vesting ceases if the director resigns from the Board or otherwise ceases to serve as a director, unless the Board determines that the circumstances warrant continuation of vesting. If a new non-employee directors joins our Board on a date other than the date of the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders then, in lieu of the foregoing, such non-employee director will be granted a pro-rated portion of the Annual Grant at the next annual meeting of stockholders based on the time between such non-employee director’s appointment and such next annual meeting of stockholders of the Company.

 

The foregoing description of the non-employee director compensation policy does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions thereof, which is filed as Exhibit 10.11 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Executive Officers

 

Information with respect to New EQRx’s executive officers after the Closing is set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section entitled “Management After The Business Combination” of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus beginning on page 348, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

12

 

 

EQRx, Inc. 2021 Stock Option and Incentive Plan

 

At the Special Meeting, CMLS III stockholders considered and approved the EQRx, Inc. 2021 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”). The 2021 Plan allows us to make equity and equity-based incentive awards to officers, employees, directors and consultants. The Board anticipates that providing such persons with a direct stake in our Company will assure a closer alignment of the interests of such individuals with those of New EQRx and its stockholders, thereby stimulating their efforts on our behalf and strengthening their desire to remain with us.

 

We have initially reserved 59,353,357 shares of Common Stock for the issuance of awards under the 2021 Plan (the “Initial Limit”). The 2021 Plan provides that the number of shares reserved and available for issuance under the 2021 Plan will automatically increase each January 1, beginning on January 1, 2022, by 5.0% of the outstanding number of shares of Common Stock on the immediately preceding December 31, or such lesser amount as determined by the Compensation and Talent Development Committee (the “Annual Increase”). This limit is subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split, stock dividend, or other change in New EQRx’s capitalization. The maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued upon exercise of incentive stock options under the 2021 Plan shall not exceed the Initial Limit, as increased annually by the Annual Increase.

 

A more complete summary of the terms of the 2021 Plan is set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Proposal No.3 – The Incentive Plan Proposal” beginning on page 220. That summary and the foregoing description of the 2021 Plan does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the text of the 2021 Plan, which is filed as Exhibit 10.8 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

 

EQRx, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

At the Special Meeting, CMLS III stockholders considered and approved the EQRx, Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”). An aggregate of 4,876,326 shares is reserved and available for issuance under the ESPP. The ESPP provides that the number of shares reserved and available for issuance under the plan will automatically increase each January 1, beginning on January 1, 2022, by the least of (i) 1.0% of the outstanding number of shares of Common Stock on the immediately preceding December 31, or (ii) 4,876,326 shares of Common Stock or (iii) such lesser number of shares of New EQRx’s Common Stock as determined by the compensation and talent development committee. If our capital structure changes because of a stock dividend, stock split or similar event, the number of shares that can be issued under the ESPP will be appropriately adjusted.

 

A more complete summary of the terms of the ESPP is set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Proposal No.4 – The ESPP Proposal” beginning on page 226. That summary and the foregoing description of the ESPP does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the text of the ESPP, which is filed as Exhibit 10.10 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

 

EQRx, Inc. 2019 Stock Option and Grant Plan

 

The EQRx, Inc. 2019 Stock Option and Grant Plan (the “2019 Plan”) was initially adopted by the board of directors of Old EQRx and approved by stockholders of Old EQRx in January 2020. The total number of shares of common stock that may be issued under the 2019 Plan was 24,512,391 (as adjusted to reflect the consummation of the Business Combination) at plan adoption. In November 2020, Old EQRx increased the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the 2019 Plan by 19,691,304 (as adjusted to reflect the consummation of the Business Combination). Shares underlying any awards that are forfeited, canceled, or reacquired by Old EQRx prior to vesting, satisfied without the issuance of stock or otherwise terminated, and shares that are withheld upon exercise of an option or settlement of an award to cover the exercise price or tax withholding were added back to the shares available for issuance under the 2019 Plan. As of the Closing Date, Old EQRx has issued a total of approximately 29,165,874 stock options and shares of restricted stock (as adjusted to reflect the consummation of the Business Combination) under the 2019 Plan, and approximately 16,171,629 shares (as adjusted to reflect the consummation of the Business Combination) remained available for future grant.

 

13

 

 

At the Effective Time, each outstanding option to purchase Old EQRx common stock was assumed by CMLS III and converted into an option to purchase shares of CMLS III Class A Common Stock upon substantially the same terms and conditions as were in effect with respect to such Old EQRx option immediately prior to the Effective Time after giving effect to the exchange ratio in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, and each outstanding Old EQRx restricted stock award was cancelled and converted into restricted stock awards of CMLS III Class A Common Stock calculated in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement. The unallocated share reserve remaining under the 2019 Plan as of the Closing Date (including any shares subsequently returned to such share reserve as a result of the termination of awards issued under Old EQRx’s applicable stock plan) was included in the share reserve under the 2021 Plan, in accordance with the terms thereof, and no new Old EQRx options will be granted under the 2019 Plan following the Closing.

 

A more complete summary of the terms of the 2019 Plan and the treatment of equity awards thereunder is set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the section titled “Executive and Director Compensation of EQRx – Equity Plans” beginning on page 344 and “Proposal No.1 – The Business Combination Proposal” beginning on page 167, respectively. That summary and the foregoing description of the 2019 Plan does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the text of the 2019 Plan, which is filed as Exhibit 10.6 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Employment Agreements

 

We are party to employment agreements with Melanie Nallicheri, our President and Chief Executive Officer, Jami Rubin, our Chief Financial Officer, and Eric Hedrick, M.D., our Chief Physician Executive. A description of the material terms of these agreements with Ms. Nallicheri, Ms. Rubin and Dr. Hedrick are described in the section titled “Executive and Director Compensation of EQRx—Executive Compensation Arrangements” in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus beginning on page 340 and that description is incorporated herein by reference.

 

A description of the compensation of the named executive officers of Old EQRx and the compensation of the executive officers of CMLS III before the consummation of the Transactions is set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus in the sections titled “Executive and Director Compensation of EQRx” beginning on page 337 and “Information about CMLS III - Executive Compensation” beginning on page 246, respectively, and that information is incorporated herein by reference. Our executive officers are also eligible to receive bonuses under the Senior Executive Cash Incentive Bonus Plan, which is filed hereto as Exhibit 10.12 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

The disclosure set forth in Item 3.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.05. Amendments to the Registrant’s Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a Provision of the Code of Ethics.

 

Following the Closing, on December 17, 2021, the Board considered and adopted an amended and restated code of ethics, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code of Ethics”). The Code of Ethics applies to all of our directors, officers and employees. The foregoing description of the Code of Ethics is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Code of Ethics, which is available in the “Investors” section of our website.

 

14

 

 

Item 5.06. Change in Shell Company Status.

 

As a result of the Transactions, New EQRx ceased to be a shell company upon the Closing. The material terms of the Transactions are described in the section entitled “Proposal No.1 – The Business Combination Proposal” beginning on page 165 of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and in the information set forth under Item 2.01 in this Current Report on Form 8-K, and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(a) Financial statements of businesses acquired.

 

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Old EQRx for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and the related notes are set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus beginning on page F-43 and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

The audited consolidated financial statements of Old EQRx as of and for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 and the related notes are set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus beginning on page F-64 and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of CMLS III for the three months ended September 30, 2021 for the period from January 25, 2021 (inception) through September 30, 2021 and the related notes are set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus beginning on page F-3 and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

The consolidated financial statements of CMLS III for the period from January 25, 2021 (inception) through February 4, 2021 and the related notes and report of independent registered public accounting firm are set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus beginning on page F-27 and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

(b) Pro forma financial information.

 

Certain unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is filed hereto as Exhibit 99.1 is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(c) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number
  Description
   
2.1†   The Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 5, 2021, as amended September 21, 2021 and October 28, 2021, by and among CM Life Sciences III Inc., Clover III Merger Sub Inc., and EQRx, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Annex A to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus).
   
3.1*   Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of EQRx, Inc.
   
3.2*   Amended and Restated By-laws of EQRx, Inc.
   
10.1*   Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 17, 2021, by and among EQRx, Inc. and the stockholders party thereto.
   
10.2   Form of Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Form 8-K filed August 5, 2021).  
     
10.3   Form of Subscription Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Form 8-K filed August 5, 2021).

 

15

 

 

10.4   EQRx, Inc. Form of Director Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference as Exhibit 10.14 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4/A deemed filed by the Registrant on October 4, 2021).
   
10.5    EQRx, Inc. Form of Officer Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference as Exhibit 10.15 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4/A deemed filed by the Registrant on October 4, 2021).  
     
10.6¥   EQRx, Inc. 2019 Stock Option and Grant Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by the Registrant on August 25, 2021).  
     
10.7¥   Form of Incentive Stock Option Grant Notice, Non-Qualified Stock Option Grant Notice, Early Exercise Non-Qualified Stock Option Grant Notice, and Restricted Stock Award Notice, under the EQRx, Inc. 2019 Stock Option and Grant Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4/A deemed filed by the Registrant on October 4, 2021). 
     
10.8*¥   EQRx, Inc. 2021 Stock Option and Incentive Plan  
     
10.9*¥   Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement, Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for Non-Employee Directors, Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for Company Employees, Restricted Stock Award Agreement, Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for Non-Employee Directors and Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for Company Employees under the EQRX, Inc. 2021 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.
     
10.10*¥   EQRx, Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
     
10.11¥   EQRx, Inc. Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy (incorporated by reference as Exhibit 10.5 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4/A deemed filed by the Registrant on October 4, 2021).
     
10.12¥   EQRx, Inc. Senior Executive Cash Incentive Bonus Plan (incorporated by reference as Exhibit 10.6 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4/A deemed filed by the Registrant on October 4, 2021).  
     
10.13¥   EQRx, Inc. Severance and Change of Control Policy (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4/A deemed filed by the Registrant on October 4, 2021).
     
10.14¥   Amended and Restated Employment Letter Agreement, dated January 10, 2020, as amended June 16, 2021, by and between EQRx and Melanie Nallicheri (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4/A deemed filed by the Registrant on October 4, 2021).  
     
10.15¥   Employment Letter Agreement, dated March 8, 2021, by and between EQRx, Inc. and Jami Rubin (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4/A deemed filed by the Registrant on October 4, 2021).  
     
10.16¥   Employment Letter Agreement, dated June 5, 2020, by and between EQRx, Inc. and Eric Hedrick (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4/A deemed filed by the Registrant on October 4, 2021).  

 

16

 

 

10.17   EQRx, Inc. Form of Employee Confidentiality, Assignment and Non-Solicitation Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by the Registrant on August 25, 2021).  
     
10.18¥   Amended and Restated Employment Letter Agreement, dated January 10, 2020, as amended June 16, 2021, by and between EQRx, Inc. and Alexis Borisy (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4/A deemed filed by the Registrant on October 4, 2021).  
     
10.19¥   Founder Agreement dated December 19, 2019, by and between EQRx, Inc. and Sandra Horning, as amended August 21, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4/A deemed filed by the Registrant on October 4, 2021).  
     
10.20#   Lease Agreement by and between BMR-HAMPSHIRE LLC, and Surface Oncology, Inc., dated February 10, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4/A deemed filed by the Registrant on October 4, 2021).  
     
10.21#   Sublease Agreement by and between EQRx, Inc, and Surface Oncology, Inc., dated December 16, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4/A deemed filed by the Registrant on October 4, 2021).  
     
10.22#   Exclusive License Agreement by and between EQRx, Inc. and CStone Pharmaceuticals dated October 26, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4/A deemed filed by the Registrant on October 4, 2021).  
     
10.23#   Strategic Collaboration and License Agreement by and among EQRx, Inc., Hansoh (Shanghai) Healthtech Co., Ltd. and Jiangsu Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Company Ltd. dated July 22, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4/A deemed filed by the Registrant on October 4, 2021).  
     
10.24#   Exclusive License Agreement by and between EQRx, Inc. and G1 Therapeutics, Inc. dated June 22, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4/A filed by the Registrant on October 29, 2021).  
     
10.25#   Exclusive License Agreement by and between EQRx, Inc. and Lynk Pharmaceutical (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd dated April 1, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4/A filed by the Registrant on October 29, 2021).  
     
16.1*   Withum’s Letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission, dated December 20, 2021.
     
99.1*   Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information.
     
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

* Filed herewith.
¥ Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
Schedules and exhibits to this Exhibit omitted pursuant to Regulation S-K Item 601(b)(2). The Registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the SEC upon request.
# Certain of the provisions and terms of this Exhibit have been omitted in accordance with Regulation S-K Item 601(b)(10). The Registrant agrees to furnish on a supplemental basis an unredacted copy of this exhibit and its materiality and privacy or confidentiality analysis if requested by the SEC.
   

 

17

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

  EQRX, INC.
     
Date: December 20, 2021 By: /s/ Melanie Nallicheri
  Name:  Melanie Nallicheri
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

18

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

State of Delaware

Secretary of State

Division of Corporations

Delivered 08:12 AM 12/17/2021

FILED 08:12 AM 12/17/2021

SR 20214131010 - File Number 4838800

 

 

SECOND

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

 

CM LIFE SCIENCES III INC.

 

December 17, 2021

 

CM Life Sciences III Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY AS FOLLOWS:

 

1. The name of the Corporation is “CM Life Sciences Ill Inc.” The original certificate of incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 25, 2021 (the “Original Certificate”). The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “First Amended and Restated Certificate”), which both restated and amended the provisions of the Original Certificate was filed with the Secretary of the State of Delaware on April 6, 2021.

 

2. This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”), which is incorporated herein by reference, and which both restates and amends the provisions of the First Amended and Restated Certificate, was duly adopted in accordance with Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (as amended from time to time, the “DGCL”).

 

3. This Second Amended and Restated Certificate is being amended and restated in connection with the transactions contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated August 5, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Corporation, EQRx, Inc., and Clover Ill Merger Sub Inc.

 

 

 

 

THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION is executed as of this 17th day of December, 2021.

 

  CM LIFE SCIENCES Ill INC.
     
  By: /s/ Brian Emes
  Name:  Brian Emes
  Title: Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

SECOND

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

 

EQRX, INC.

 

ARTICLE I

 

The name of the Corporation is EQRx, Inc.

 

ARTICLE II

 

The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, 19801. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

 

ARTICLE Ill

 

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL. The Corporation is to have a perpetual existence.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

CAPITAL STOCK

 

The total number of shares of capital stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 1,252,000,000 of which (i) 1,250,000,000 shares shall be a class designated as common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and (ii) 2,000,000 shares shall be a class designated as undesignated preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Undesignated Preferred Stock”). Immediately upon the effectiveness of the filing of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Filing Date”), each share of the Corporation’s then-outstanding shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Prior Common Stock”), shall be, and hereby is, reclassified as one share of Common Stock, without any action on the part of the Corporation or the holders of the Prior Common Stock. Any stock certificate that, immediately prior to the Filing Date, represents shares of Prior Common Stock shall, from and after the Filing Date, automatically and without the necessity of presenting the same for exchange, represent that number of shares of Common Stock.

 

Except as otherwise provided in any certificate of designations of any series of Undesignated Preferred Stock, the number of authorized shares of the class of Common Stock or Undesignated Preferred Stock may from time to time be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares of such class outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.

 

The powers, preferences and rights of, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions upon, each class or series of stock shall be determined in accordance with, or as set forth below in, this Article IV.

 

A. COMMON STOCK

 

Subject to all the rights, powers and preferences of the Undesignated Preferred Stock and except as provided by law or in this Certificate (or in any certificate of designations of any series of Undesignated Preferred Stock):

 

(a) the holders of the Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors of the Corporation (the “Directors”) and on all other matters requiring stockholder action, each outstanding share entitling the holder thereof to one vote on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation for their vote; provided, however, that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate (or on any amendment to a certificate of designations of any series of Undesignated Preferred Stock) that alters or changes the powers, preferences, rights or other terms of one or more outstanding series of Undesignated Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series of Undesignated Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, on such amendment pursuant to this Certificate (or pursuant to a certificate of designations of any series of Undesignated Preferred Stock) or pursuant to the DGCL;

 

 

 

 

(b) dividends may be declared and paid or set apart for payment upon the Common Stock out of any assets or funds of the Corporation legally available for the payment of dividends, but only when and as declared by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) or any authorized committee thereof; and

 

(c) upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the net assets of the Corporation shall be distributed pro rata to the holders of the Common Stock.

 

B. UNDESIGNATED PREFERRED STOCK

 

The Board of Directors or any authorized committee thereof is expressly authorized, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to provide by resolution or resolutions for, out of the unissued shares of Undesignated Preferred Stock, the issuance of the shares of Undesignated Preferred Stock in one or more series of such stock, and by filing a certificate of designations pursuant to applicable law of the State of Delaware, to establish or change from time to time the number of shares of each such series, and to fix the designations, powers, including voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, preferences and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of the shares of each series and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof. Except as otherwise provided by any certificate of designations of any series of Undesignated Preferred Stock then outstanding or by law, no holder of any series of Undesignated Preferred Stock, as such, shall be entitled to any voting powers in respect thereof.

 

ARTICLE V

 

STOCKHOLDER ACTION

 

1. Action without Meeting. Except as may otherwise be provided by or pursuant to this Certificate (or any certificate of designations of any series of Undesignated Preferred Stock then outstanding) with respect to the holders of any series of Undesignated Preferred Stock then outstanding, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be taken or effected by a written consent of stockholders in lieu thereof.

 

2. Special Meetings. Except as otherwise required by statute and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any series of Undesignated Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Board of Directors acting pursuant to a resolution approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors then in office, and special meetings of stockholders may not be called by any other person or persons. Only those matters set forth in the notice of the special meeting may be considered or acted upon at a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation. Any special meeting so called may be postponed, rescheduled or cancelled by the Board of Directors.

 

2

 

 

ARTICLE VI

 

DIRECTORS

 

1. General. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors except as otherwise provided herein or required by law.

 

2. Election of Directors. Election of Directors need not be by written ballot unless the By-laws of the Corporation (the “By-laws”) shall so provide.

 

3. Number of Directors; Term of Office. The number of Directors of the Corporation shall be fixed solely and exclusively by resolution duly adopted from time to time by the Board of Directors. The Directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any series of Undesignated Preferred Stock, shall be classified, with respect to the term for which they severally hold office, into three classes. The initial Class I Directors of the Corporation shall be Paul Berns, Jorge Conde and Sandra Horning; the initial Class II Directors of the Corporation shall be Samuel Merksamer, Clive Meanwell, Krishna Yeshwant and Kathryn Giusti; and the initial Class Ill Directors of the Corporation shall be Alexis Borisy, Eli Casdin, Melanie Nallicheri and Amy Abernethy. The initial Class I Directors shall serve for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2022, the initial Class II Directors shall serve for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2023, and the initial Class Ill Directors shall serve for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2024. At each annual meeting of stockholders, Directors elected to succeed those Directors whose terms expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Directors elected to each class shall hold office until their successors are duly elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation, death or removal.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever, pursuant to the provisions of Article IV of this Certificate, the holders of any one or more series of Undesignated Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately as a series or together with holders of other such series, to elect Directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, filling of vacancies and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of this Certificate and any certificate of designations applicable to such series.

 

4. Vacancies. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any series of Undesignated Preferred Stock to elect Directors and to fill vacancies in the Board of Directors relating thereto, any and all vacancies in the Board of Directors, however occurring, including, without limitation, by reason of an increase in the size of the Board of Directors, or the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of a Director, shall be filled solely and exclusively by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Directors then in office, even if less than a quorum of the Board of Directors, and not by the stockholders. Any Director appointed in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of Directors in which the new directorship was created or the vacancy occurred and until such Director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation, death or removal. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any series of Undesignated Preferred Stock to elect Directors, when the number of Directors is increased or decreased, the Board of Directors shall, subject to Article VI, Section 3 hereof, determine the class or classes to which the increased or decreased number of Directors shall be apportioned; provided, however, that no decrease in the number of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent Director. In the event of a vacancy in the Board of Directors, the remaining Directors, except as otherwise provided by law, shall exercise the powers of the full Board of Directors until the vacancy is filled.

 

5. Removal. Subject to the rights, if any, of any series of Undesignated Preferred Stock to elect Directors and to remove any Director whom the holders of any such series have the right to elect, any Director (including persons elected by Directors to fill vacancies in the Board of Directors) may be removed from office (i) only with cause and (ii) only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock then entitled to vote at an election of Directors. At least 45 days prior to any annual or special meeting of stockholders at which it is proposed that any Director be removed from office, written notice of such proposed removal and the alleged grounds thereof shall be sent to the Director whose removal will be considered at the meeting.

 

3

 

 

ARTICLE VII

 

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

 

1. A Director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of his or her fiduciary duty as a Director, except for liability (a) for any breach of the Director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (b) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (c) under Section 174 of the DGCL or (d) for any transaction from which the Director derived an improper personal benefit. If the DGCL is amended after the effective date of this Certificate to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of Directors, then the liability of a Director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended.

 

2. Any amendment, repeal or modification of this Article VII by either of (i) the stockholders of the Corporation or (ii) an amendment to the DGCL, shall not adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or modification with respect to any acts or omissions occurring before such amendment, repeal or modification of a person serving as a Director at the time of such amendment, repeal or modification.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS

 

1. Amendment by Directors. Except as otherwise provided by law, the By-laws of the Corporation may be amended or repealed by the Board of Directors by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors then in office.

 

2. Amendment by Stockholders. Except as otherwise provided therein, the By-laws of the Corporation may be amended or repealed at any annual meeting of stockholders, or special meeting of stockholders called for such purpose, by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote on such amendment or repeal, voting together as a single class; provided, however, that if the Board of Directors recommends that stockholders approve such amendment or repeal at such meeting of stockholders, such amendment or repeal shall only require the affirmative vote of the majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote on such amendment or repeal, voting together as a single class.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

AMENDMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

The Corporation reserves the right to amend or repeal this Certificate in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute and this Certificate, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation. Except as otherwise required by this Certificate or by law, whenever any vote of the holders of capital stock of the Corporation is required to amend or repeal any provision of this Certificate, such amendment or repeal shall require the affirmative vote of the majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote on such amendment or repeal, and the affirmative vote of the majority of the outstanding shares of each class entitled to vote thereon as a class at a duly constituted meeting of stockholders called expressly for such purpose.

 

4

 

 

ARTICLE X

 

APPLICATION OF DGCL SECTION 203

 

1. Section 203 of the DGCL. The Corporation hereby expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.

 

2. Limitation on Business Combinations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not engage in any business combination (as defined below), at any point in time at which the Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), with any interested stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

(a) prior to such time, the Board of Directors approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; or

 

(b) upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned by (i) persons who are directors and also officers of the Corporation and (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

 

(c) at or subsequent to such time the business combination is approved by the Board of Directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

 

3. Certain Definitions. Solely for purposes of this Article X, references to:

 

(a) “affiliate” means a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another person.

 

(b) “associate,” when used to indicate a relationship with any person, means: (i) any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity of which such person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of twenty percent (20%) or more of any class of voting stock; (ii) any trust or other estate in which such person has at least a twenty percent (20%) beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (iii) any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such person.

 

(c) “business combination,” when used in reference to the Corporation and any interested stockholder of the Corporation, means:

 

(i) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (a) with the interested stockholder, or (b) with any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the interested stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation Section 2 above is not applicable to the surviving entity;

 

(ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation, to or with the interested stockholder, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which assets have an aggregate market value equal to ten (10%) or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding stock of the Corporation;

 

5

 

 

(iii) any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation of any stock of the Corporation or of such subsidiary to the interested stockholder, except: (a) pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the interested stockholder became such; (b) pursuant to a merger under Section 251(g) of the DGCL; (c) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all stockholders of a class or series of stock of the Corporation subsequent to the time the interested stockholder became such; (d) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase stock made on the same terms to all stockholders of said stock; or (e) any issuance or transfer of stock by the Corporation; provided, however, that in no case under items (c)-(e) of this subsection 3(c)(iii) shall there be an increase in the interested stockholder’s proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of the voting stock of the Corporation (except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments); or

 

(iv) any transaction involving the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series, or securities convertible into the stock of any class or series, of the Corporation or of any such subsidiary which is owned by the interested stockholder, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption of any shares of stock not caused, directly or indirectly, by the interested stockholder.

 

(d) “control,” including the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting stock, by contract, or otherwise. A person who is the owner of twenty percent (20%) or more of the voting power of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds voting stock, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this Article X, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity.

 

(e) “Exempted Person” means the Sponsor and its affiliates, any of their respective direct or indirect transferees of at least 15% of the Corporation’s outstanding common stock after such transfer and any “group” of which any such person is a part under Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act.

 

(f) “interested stockholder” means any person (other than the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (i) is the owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, or (ii) is an affiliate or associate of the Corporation and was the owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation at any time within the three year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested stockholder; and the affiliates and associates of such person; but “interested stockholder” shall not include (a) any Exempted Person, or (b) any person whose ownership of shares in excess of the fifteen percent (15%) limitation set forth herein is the result of any action taken solely by the Corporation; provided that with respect to clause (b) such person shall be an interested stockholder if thereafter such person acquires additional shares of voting stock of the Corporation, except as a result of further corporate action not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person. For the purpose of determining whether a person is an interested stockholder, the voting stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include stock deemed to be owned by the person through application of the definition of “owner” below but shall not include any other unissued stock of the Corporation which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.

 

6

 

 

(g) “owner,” including the terms “own” and “owned,” when used with respect to any stock, means a person that individually or with or through any of its affiliates or associates:

 

(i) beneficially owns such stock, directly or indirectly; or

 

(ii) has (a) the right to acquire such stock (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such person or any of such person’s affiliates or associates until such tendered stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (b) the right to vote such stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of any stock because of such person’s right to vote such stock if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to ten or more persons; or

 

(iii) has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in subsection 3(g)(ii) above), or disposing of such stock with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such stock.

 

(h) “person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity.

 

(i) “stock” means, with respect to any corporation, capital stock and, with respect to any other entity, any equity interest.

 

(j) “voting stock” means stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LAWSUITS

 

1. Forum. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Court of Chancery”) shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Amended and Restated Certificate or the By laws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel, except for, as to each of (i) through (iv) above, any claim (A) as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or (C) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction, as to which the Court of Chancery and the U.S. federal district court for the District of Delaware shall have concurrent jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Article XI, Section 1 will not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any other claim for which the U.S. federal district courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the U.S. federal district courts shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, against the Corporation or any director, officer, other employee or agent of the Corporation. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article XI, Section 1.

 

7

 

 

2. Consent to Jurisdiction. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Article XI, Section 1 immediately above is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and U.S. federal district courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce Article XI, Section 1 immediately above (an “FSC Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.

 

3. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Article XI shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article XI (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article XI containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article XI.

 

*  *  *

 

8

 

 

Exhibit 3.2

AMENDED AND RESTATED

BY-LAWS

OF

EQRX, INC.

(the “Corporation”)

ARTICLE I

Stockholders

SECTION 1.     Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of stockholders (any such meeting being referred to in these By-laws as an “Annual Meeting”) shall be held at the hour, date and place as the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall fix each year, which time, date and place may subsequently be changed at any time by vote of the Board of Directors. Annual Meetings may be held either at a place within or outside the United States, or by means of remote communication as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may determine. If no Annual Meeting has been held for a period of thirteen (13) months after the Corporation’s last Annual Meeting, a special meeting in lieu thereof may be held, and such special meeting shall have, for the purposes of these By-laws or otherwise, all the force and effect of an Annual Meeting. Any and all references hereafter in these By-laws to an Annual Meeting or Annual Meetings also shall be deemed to refer to any special meeting(s) in lieu thereof.

SECTION 2.    Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations.

(a)        Annual Meetings of Stockholders.

(1)        Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be brought before an Annual Meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this By-law, who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who is present (in person or by proxy) at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this By-law as to such nomination or business. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing clause (ii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to bring nominations or business properly before an Annual Meeting (other than matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8 (or any successor rule) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), and such stockholder must comply with the notice and other procedures set forth in Article I, Section 2(a)(2) and (3) of this By-law to bring such nominations or business properly before an Annual Meeting. In addition to the other requirements set forth in this By-law, for any proposal of business to be considered at an Annual Meeting, it must be a proper subject for action by stockholders of the Corporation under Delaware law.

(2)       For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an Annual Meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (ii) of Article I, Section 2(a)(1) of this By-law, the stockholder must (i) have given Timely Notice (as defined below) thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, (ii) have provided any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this By-law and (iii) together with the beneficial owner(s), if any, on whose behalf the nomination or business proposal is made, have acted in accordance with the representations set forth in the Solicitation Statement (as defined below) required by this By-law. To be timely, a stockholder’s written notice shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive

Annex F-1

offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s Annual Meeting; provided, however, that in the event the Annual Meeting is first convened more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, or if no Annual Meeting were held in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be received by the Secretary of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to the scheduled date of such Annual Meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made (such notice within such time periods shall be referred to as “Timely Notice”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided herein, for the first Annual Meeting following the initial public offering of common stock of the Corporation, a stockholder’s notice shall be timely if received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to the scheduled date of such Annual Meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such Annual Meeting is first made or sent by the Corporation. Such stockholder’s Timely Notice shall set forth:

(A)       as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected);

(B)       as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, and any material interest in such business of each Proposing Person (as defined below);

(C)       (i) the name and address of the stockholder giving the notice, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and the names and addresses of the other Proposing Persons (if any) and (ii) as to each Proposing Person, the following information: (a) the class or series and number of all shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially or of record by such Proposing Person or any of its affiliates or associates (as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act), including any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation as to which such Proposing Person or any of its affiliates or associates has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future, (b) all Synthetic Equity Interests (as defined below) in which such Proposing Person or any of its affiliates or associates, directly or indirectly, holds an interest including a description of the material terms of each such Synthetic Equity Interest, including without limitation, identification of the counterparty to each such Synthetic Equity Interest and disclosure, for each such Synthetic Equity Interest, as to (x) whether or not such Synthetic Equity Interest conveys any voting rights, directly or indirectly, in such shares to such Proposing Person, (y) whether or not such Synthetic Equity Interest is required to be, or is capable of being, settled through delivery of such shares and (z) whether or not such Proposing Person and/or, to the extent known, the counterparty to such Synthetic Equity Interest has entered into other transactions that hedge or mitigate the economic effect of such Synthetic Equity Interest, (c) any proxy (other than a revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the Exchange Act), agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such Proposing Person has or shares a right to, directly or indirectly,

 

vote any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, (d) any rights to dividends or other distributions on the shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially by such Proposing Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, and (e) any performance-related fees (other than an asset based fee) that such Proposing Person, directly or indirectly, is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or any Synthetic Equity Interests (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (a) through (e) are referred to, collectively, as “Material Ownership Interests”) and (iii) a description of the material terms of all agreements, arrangements or understandings (whether or not in writing) entered into by any Proposing Person or any of its affiliates or associates with any other person for the purpose of acquiring, holding, disposing or voting of any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation;

(D)       (i) a description of all agreements, arrangements or understandings by and among any of the Proposing Persons, or by and among any Proposing Persons and any other person (including with any proposed nominee(s)), pertaining to the nomination(s) or other business proposed to be brought before the meeting of stockholders (which description shall identify the name of each other person who is party to such an agreement, arrangement or understanding), and (ii) identification of the names and addresses of other stockholders (including beneficial owners) known by any of the Proposing Persons to support such nominations or other business proposal(s), and to the extent known the class and number of all shares of the Corporation’s capital stock owned beneficially or of record by such other stockholder(s) or other beneficial owner(s); and

(E)       a statement whether or not the stockholder giving the notice and/or the other Proposing Person(s), if any, will deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of, in the case of a business proposal, at least the percentage of voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation required under applicable law to approve the proposal or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, at least the percentage of voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation reasonably believed by such Proposing Person to be sufficient to elect the nominee or nominees proposed to be nominated by such stockholder (such statement, the “Solicitation Statement”).

For purposes of this Article I of these By-laws, the term “Proposing Person” shall mean the following persons: (i) the stockholder of record providing the notice of nominations or business proposed to be brought before a stockholders’ meeting, and (ii) the beneficial owner(s), if different, on whose behalf the nominations or business proposed to be brought before a stockholders’ meeting is made. For purposes of this Section 2 of Article I of these By-laws, the term “Synthetic Equity Interest” shall mean any transaction, agreement or arrangement (or series of transactions, agreements or arrangements), including, without limitation, any derivative, swap, hedge, repurchase or so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, the purpose or effect of which is to, directly or indirectly: (a) give a person or entity economic benefit and/or risk similar to ownership of shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, in whole or in part, including due to the fact that such transaction, agreement or arrangement provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit or avoid a loss from any increase or decrease in the value of any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, (b) mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk of or manage the risk of share price changes for, any person or entity with respect to any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, (c) otherwise provide in any manner the opportunity to profit or avoid a loss from any decrease in the value of any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, or (d) increase or decrease the voting power of any person or entity with respect to any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation.

Annex F-3

(3)       A stockholder providing Timely Notice of nominations or business proposed to be brought before an Annual Meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information (including, without limitation, the Material Ownership Interests information) provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this By-law shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to such Annual Meeting, and such update and supplement shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the fifth (5th) business day after the record date for the Annual Meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date), and not later than the close of business on the eighth (8th) business day prior to the date of the Annual Meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting).

(4)       Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of Article I, Section 2(a)(2) of this By-law to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation is increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by the Corporation at least ten (10) days before the last day a stockholder may deliver a notice of nomination in accordance with the second sentence of Article I, Section 2(a)(2), a stockholder’s notice required by this By-law shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be received by the Secretary of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

(b)       General.

(1)        Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the provisions of this By-law shall be eligible for election and to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at an Annual Meeting as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this By-law or in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act. The Board of Directors or a designated committee thereof shall have the power to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made in accordance with the provisions of this By-law. If neither the Board of Directors nor such designated committee makes a determination as to whether any stockholder proposal or nomination was made in accordance with the provisions of this By-law, the presiding officer of the Annual Meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether the stockholder proposal or nomination was made in accordance with the provisions of this By-law. If the Board of Directors or a designated committee thereof or the presiding officer, as applicable, determines that any stockholder proposal or nomination was not made in accordance with the provisions of this By-law, such proposal or nomination shall be disregarded and shall not be presented for action at the Annual Meeting.

(2)       Except as otherwise required by law, nothing in this Article I, Section 2 shall obligate the Corporation or the Board of Directors to include in any proxy statement or other stockholder communication distributed on behalf of the Corporation or the Board of Directors information with respect to any nominee for director or any other matter of business submitted by a stockholder.

(3)       Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article I, Section 2, if the nominating or proposing stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the Annual Meeting to present a nomination or any business, such nomination or business shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Article I, Section 2, to be considered a qualified representative of the proposing stockholder, a

Annex F-4

person must be authorized by a written instrument executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such written instrument or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the written instrument or electronic transmission, to the presiding officer at the meeting of stockholders.

(4)       For purposes of this By-law, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(5)       Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this By-law, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this By-law. Nothing in this By-law shall be deemed to affect any rights of (i) stockholders to have proposals included in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor rule), as applicable, under the Exchange Act and, to the extent required by such rule, have such proposals considered and voted on at an Annual Meeting or (ii) the holders of any series of Undesignated Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances.

SECTION 3.    Special Meetings. Except as otherwise required by statute and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any series of Undesignated Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Board of Directors acting pursuant to a resolution approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors then in office. Special meetings may be held either at a place within or outside the United States, or by means of remote communication as may be determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion. The Board of Directors may postpone or reschedule any previously scheduled special meeting of stockholders. Only those matters set forth in the notice of the special meeting may be considered or acted upon at a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation and stockholder proposals of other business shall not be brought before a special meeting of stockholders to be considered by the stockholders unless such special meeting is held in lieu of an annual meeting of stockholders in accordance with Article I, Section 1 of these By-laws, in which case such special meeting in lieu thereof shall be deemed an Annual Meeting for purposes of these By-laws and the provisions of Article I, Section 2 of these By-laws shall govern such special meeting.

SECTION 4.    Notice of Meetings; Adjournments.

(a)        A notice of each Annual Meeting stating the hour, date and place, if any, of such Annual Meeting and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, shall be given not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the Annual Meeting, to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat by delivering such notice to such stockholder or by mailing it, postage prepaid, addressed to such stockholder at the address of such stockholder as it appears on the Corporation’s stock transfer books. Without limiting the manner by which notice may otherwise be given to stockholders, any notice to stockholders may be given by electronic transmission in the manner provided in Section 232 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”).

(b)       Notice of all special meetings of stockholders shall be given in the same manner as provided for Annual Meetings, except that the notice of all special meetings shall state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting has been called.

(c)        Notice of an Annual Meeting or special meeting of stockholders need not be given to a stockholder if a waiver of notice is executed, or waiver of notice by electronic transmission is provided, before or after such meeting by such stockholder or if such stockholder attends

Annex F-5

such meeting, unless such attendance is for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting was not lawfully called or convened.

(d)       The Board of Directors may postpone and reschedule any previously scheduled Annual Meeting or special meeting of stockholders and any record date with respect thereto, regardless of whether any notice or public disclosure with respect to any such meeting has been sent or made pursuant to Section 2 of this Article I of these By-laws or otherwise. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment, postponement or rescheduling of any previously scheduled meeting of stockholders commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice under this Article I of these By-laws.

(e)        When any meeting is convened, the presiding officer may adjourn the meeting if (i) no quorum is present for the transaction of business, (ii) the Board of Directors determines that adjournment is necessary or appropriate to enable the stockholders to consider fully information which the Board of Directors determines has not been made sufficiently or timely available to stockholders, or (iii) the Board of Directors determines that adjournment is otherwise in the best interests of the Corporation. When any Annual Meeting or special meeting of stockholders is adjourned to another hour, date or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting other than an announcement at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken of the hour, date and place, if any, to which the meeting is adjourned and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting; provided, however, that if the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days from the meeting date, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, notice of the adjourned meeting and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat and each stockholder who, by law or under the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as the same may hereafter be amended and/or restated, the “Certificate”) or these By-laws, is entitled to such notice.

SECTION 5.    Quorum. A majority of the shares entitled to vote, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of stockholders. If less than a quorum is present at a meeting, the holders of voting stock representing a majority of the voting power present at the meeting or the presiding officer may adjourn the meeting from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice, except as provided in Section 4 of this Article I. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed. The stockholders present at a duly constituted meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.

SECTION 6.    Voting and Proxies. Stockholders shall have one vote for each share of stock entitled to vote owned by them of record according to the stock ledger of the Corporation as of the record date, unless otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate. Stockholders may vote either (i) in person, (ii) by written proxy or (iii) by a transmission permitted by Section 212(c) of the DGCL. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission permitted by Section 212(c) of the DGCL may be substituted for or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission. Proxies shall be filed in accordance with the procedures established for the meeting of stockholders. Except as otherwise limited therein or as otherwise provided by law, proxies authorizing a person to vote at a specific meeting shall entitle the persons authorized thereby to vote at any adjournment of such meeting, but they shall not be valid after final adjournment

Annex F-6

of such meeting. A proxy with respect to stock held in the name of two or more persons shall be valid if executed by or on behalf of any one of them unless at or prior to the exercise of the proxy the Corporation receives a specific written notice to the contrary from any one of them.

SECTION 7.    Action at Meeting. When a quorum is present at any meeting of stockholders, any matter before any such meeting (other than an election of a director or directors) shall be decided by a majority of the votes properly cast for and against such matter, except where a larger vote is required by law, by the Certificate or by these By-laws. Any election of directors by stockholders shall be determined by a plurality of the votes properly cast on the election of directors.

SECTION 8.    Stockholder Lists. The Secretary or an Assistant Secretary (or the Corporation’s transfer agent or other person authorized by these By-laws or by law) shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every Annual Meeting or special meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting in the manner provided by law. The list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting as provided by law.

SECTION 9.    Presiding Officer. The Board of Directors shall designate a representative to preside over all Annual Meetings or special meetings of stockholders, provide that if the Board of Directors does not so designate such a presiding officer, then the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, shall preside over such meetings. If the Board of Directors does not so designate such a presiding officer and there is no Chairman of the Board or the Chairman of the Board is unable to so preside or is absent, then the Chief Executive Officer, if one is elected, shall preside over such meetings, provided further that if there is no Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Executive Officer is unable to so preside or is absent, then the President shall preside over such meetings. The presiding officer at any Annual Meeting or special meeting of stockholders shall have the power, among other things, to adjourn such meeting at any time and from time to time, subject to Sections 4 and 5 of this Article I. The order of business and all other matters of procedure at any meeting of the stockholders shall be determined by the presiding officer.

SECTION 10.  Inspectors of Elections. The Corporation shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the presiding officer shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Any inspector may, but need not, be an officer, employee or agent of the Corporation. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall perform such duties as are required by the DGCL, including the counting of all votes and ballots. The inspectors may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist the inspectors in the performance of the duties of the inspectors. The presiding officer may review all determinations made by the inspectors, and in so doing the presiding officer shall be entitled to exercise his or her sole judgment and discretion and he or she shall not be bound by any determinations made by the inspectors. All determinations by the inspectors and, if applicable, the presiding officer, shall be subject to further review by any court of competent jurisdiction.

Annex F-7

ARTICLE II

Directors

SECTION 1.     Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors except as otherwise provided by the Certificate or required by law.

SECTION 2.    Number and Terms. The number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed solely and exclusively by resolution duly adopted from time to time by the Board of Directors. The directors shall hold office in the manner provided in the Certificate.

SECTION 3.    Qualification. No director need be a stockholder of the Corporation.

SECTION 4.    Vacancies. Vacancies in the Board of Directors shall be filled in the manner provided in the Certificate.

SECTION 5.    Removal. Directors may be removed from office only in the manner provided in the Certificate.

SECTION 6.    Resignation. A director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, the President or the Secretary. A resignation shall be effective upon receipt, unless the resignation otherwise provides.

SECTION 7.    Regular Meetings. Regular meetings (including any annual meeting) of the Board of Directors may be held at such hour, date and place as the Board of Directors may by resolution from time to time determine and publicize by means of reasonable notice given to any director who is not present at the meeting at which such resolution is adopted.

SECTION 8.    Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called, orally or in writing, by or at the request of a majority of the directors, the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, or the President. The person calling any such special meeting of the Board of Directors may fix the hour, date and place thereof.

SECTION 9.    Notice of Meetings. Notice of the hour, date and place of all special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or in case of the death, absence, incapacity or refusal of such persons, by the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, or the President or such other officer designated by the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, or the President. Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director in person, by telephone, or by facsimile, electronic mail or other form of electronic communication, sent to his or her business or home address, at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the meeting, or by written notice mailed to his or her business or home address, at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the meeting. Such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when hand-delivered to such address, read to such director by telephone, deposited in the mail so addressed, with postage thereon prepaid if mailed, dispatched or transmitted if sent by facsimile transmission or by electronic mail or other form of electronic communications. A written waiver of notice signed or electronically transmitted before or after a meeting by a director and filed with the records of the meeting shall be deemed to be equivalent to notice of the meeting. The attendance of a director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because such meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Except as otherwise required by law, by the Certificate or by these By-laws, neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.

SECTION 10.  Quorum. At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but if less than a quorum is present at a meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from

Annex F-8

time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. Any business which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed may be transacted at such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present. For purposes of this section, the total number of directors includes any unfilled vacancies on the Board of Directors.

SECTION 11.   Action at Meeting. At any meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present, the vote of a majority of the directors present shall constitute action by the Board of Directors, unless otherwise required by law, by the Certificate or by these By-laws.

SECTION 12.  Action by Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the records of the meetings of the Board of Directors. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form. Such consent shall be treated as a resolution of the Board of Directors for all purposes.

SECTION 13.  Manner of Participation. Directors may participate in meetings of the Board of Directors by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all directors participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting in accordance herewith shall constitute presence in person at such meeting for purposes of these By-laws.

SECTION 14.  Presiding Director. The Board of Directors shall designate a representative to preside over all meetings of the Board of Directors, provided that if the Board of Directors does not so designate such a presiding director or such designated presiding director is unable to so preside or is absent, then the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, shall preside over all meetings of the Board of Directors. If both the designated presiding director, if one is so designated, and the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, are unable to preside or are absent, the Board of Directors shall designate an alternate representative to preside over a meeting of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 15.  Committees. The Board of Directors, by vote of a majority of the directors then in office, may elect one or more committees, including, without limitation, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee and an Audit Committee, and may delegate thereto some or all of its powers except those which by law, by the Certificate or by these By-laws may not be delegated. Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise determine, any such committee may make rules for the conduct of its business, but unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors or in such rules, its business shall be conducted so far as possible in the same manner as is provided by these By-laws for the Board of Directors. All members of such committees shall hold such offices at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may abolish any such committee at any time. Any committee to which the Board of Directors delegates any of its powers or duties shall keep records of its meetings and shall report its action to the Board of Directors.

SECTION 16.  Compensation of Directors. Directors shall receive such compensation for their services as shall be determined by a majority of the Board of Directors, or a designated committee thereof, provided that directors who are serving the Corporation as employees and who receive compensation for their services as such, shall not receive any salary or other compensation for their services as directors of the Corporation.

Annex F-9

ARTICLE III

Officers

SECTION 1.     Enumeration. The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a President, a Treasurer, a Secretary and such other officers, including, without limitation, a Chairman of the Board of Directors, a Chief Executive Officer and one or more Vice Presidents (including Executive Vice Presidents or Senior Vice Presidents), Assistant Vice Presidents, Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries, as the Board of Directors may determine.

SECTION 2.    Election. At the regular annual meeting of the Board of Directors following the Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors shall elect the President, the Treasurer and the Secretary. Other officers may be elected by the Board of Directors at such regular annual meeting of the Board of Directors or at any other regular or special meeting.

SECTION 3.    Qualification. No officer need be a stockholder or a director. Any person may occupy more than one office of the Corporation at any time.

SECTION 4.    Tenure. Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate or by these By-laws, each of the officers of the Corporation shall hold office until the regular annual meeting of the Board of Directors following the next Annual Meeting and until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal.

SECTION 5.    Resignation. Any officer may resign by delivering his or her written or electronically transmitted resignation to the Corporation addressed to the President or the Secretary, and such resignation shall be effective upon receipt, unless the resignation otherwise provides.

SECTION 6.    Removal. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Board of Directors may remove any officer with or without cause by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office.

SECTION 7.    Absence or Disability. In the event of the absence or disability of any officer, the Board of Directors may designate another officer to act temporarily in place of such absent or disabled officer.

SECTION 8.    Vacancies. Any vacancy in any office may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 9.    President. The President shall, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, have such powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

SECTION 10.  Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

SECTION 11.   Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer, if one is elected, shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

SECTION 12.  Vice Presidents and Assistant Vice Presidents. Any Vice President (including any Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President) and any Assistant Vice President shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time designate.

SECTION 13.  Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers. The Treasurer shall, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors and except as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may otherwise provide, have general charge of the financial affairs of the Corporation and shall cause to be kept accurate books of account. The Treasurer shall have custody of all

Annex F-10

funds, securities, and valuable documents of the Corporation. He or she shall have such other duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer. Any Assistant Treasurer shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time designate.

SECTION 14.  Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The Secretary shall record all the proceedings of the meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors (including committees of the Board of Directors) in books kept for that purpose. In his or her absence from any such meeting, a temporary secretary chosen at the meeting shall record the proceedings thereof. The Secretary shall have charge of the stock ledger (which may, however, be kept by any transfer or other agent of the Corporation). The Secretary shall have custody of the seal of the Corporation, and the Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary shall have authority to affix it to any instrument requiring it, and, when so affixed, the seal may be attested by his or her signature or that of an Assistant Secretary. The Secretary shall have such other duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer. In the absence of the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary may perform his or her duties and responsibilities. Any Assistant Secretary shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time designate.

SECTION 15.  Other Powers and Duties. Subject to these By-laws and to such limitations as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe, the officers of the Corporation shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, as well as such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.

ARTICLE IV

Capital Stock

SECTION 1.     Certificates of Stock. Each stockholder shall be entitled to a certificate of the capital stock of the Corporation in such form as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors. Such certificate shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary. The Corporation seal and the signatures by the Corporation’s officers, the transfer agent or the registrar may be facsimiles. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed on such certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the time of its issue. Every certificate for shares of stock which are subject to any restriction on transfer and every certificate issued when the Corporation is authorized to issue more than one class or series of stock shall contain such legend with respect thereto as is required by law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided in these By-laws, the Board of Directors of the Corporation may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares (except that the foregoing shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation), and by the approval and adoption of these By-laws the Board of Directors has determined that all classes or series of the Corporation’s stock may be uncertificated, whether upon original issuance, re-issuance, or subsequent transfer.

SECTION 2.    Transfers. Subject to any restrictions on transfer and unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, shares of stock that are represented by a certificate may be transferred on the books of the Corporation by the surrender to the Corporation or its transfer agent of the certificate theretofore properly endorsed or accompanied by a written assignment or power of attorney properly executed, with transfer stamps (if necessary) affixed, and with such proof of the authenticity of signature as the Corporation or its transfer agent may reasonably require. Shares of stock that are not represented by a certificate may be transferred on the

Annex F-11

books of the Corporation by submitting to the Corporation or its transfer agent such evidence of transfer and following such other procedures as the Corporation or its transfer agent may require.

SECTION 3.    Record Holders. Except as may otherwise be required by law, by the Certificate or by these By-laws, the Corporation shall be entitled to treat the record holder of stock as shown on its books as the owner of such stock for all purposes, including the payment of dividends and the right to vote with respect thereto, regardless of any transfer, pledge or other disposition of such stock, until the shares have been transferred on the books of the Corporation in accordance with the requirements of these By-laws.

SECTION 4.    Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date: (a) in the case of determination of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting and (b) in the case of any other action, shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such other action. If no record date is fixed: (i) the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held; and (ii) the record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

SECTION 5.    Replacement of Certificates. In case of the alleged loss, destruction or mutilation of a certificate of stock of the Corporation, a duplicate certificate may be issued in place thereof, upon such terms as the Board of Directors may prescribe.

ARTICLE V

Indemnification

SECTION 1.     Definitions. For purposes of this Article:

(a)        “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is serving or has served (i) as a Director of the Corporation, (ii) as an Officer of the Corporation, (iii) as a Non-Officer Employee of the Corporation, or (iv) as a director, partner, trustee, officer, employee or agent of any other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, foundation, association, organization or other legal entity which such person is or was serving at the request of the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 1(a), a Director, Officer or Non-Officer Employee of the Corporation who is serving or has served as a director, partner, trustee, officer, employee or agent of a Subsidiary shall be deemed to be serving at the request of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Corporate Status” shall not include the status of a person who is serving or has served as a director, officer, employee or agent of a constituent corporation absorbed in a merger or consolidation transaction with the Corporation with respect to such person’s activities prior to said transaction, unless specifically authorized by the Board of Directors or the stockholders of the Corporation;

(b)       “Director” means any person who serves or has served the Corporation as a director on the Board of Directors of the Corporation;

(c)         “Disinterested Director” means, with respect to each Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought hereunder, a Director of the Corporation who is not and was not a party to such Proceeding;

Annex F-12

(d)       “Expenses” means all attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of expert witnesses, private investigators and professional advisors (including, without limitation, accountants and investment bankers), travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, costs of preparation of demonstrative evidence and other courtroom presentation aids and devices, costs incurred in connection with document review, organization, imaging and computerization, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements, costs or expenses of the type customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, settling or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding;

(e)        “Liabilities” means judgments, damages, liabilities, losses, penalties, excise taxes, fines and amounts paid in settlement;

(f)        “Non-Officer Employee” means any person who serves or has served as an employee or agent of the Corporation, but who is not or was not a Director or Officer;

(g)       “Officer” means any person who serves or has served the Corporation as an officer of the Corporation appointed by the Board of Directors of the Corporation;

(h)       “Proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, inquiry, investigation, administrative hearing or other proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative or investigative; and

(i)         “Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other entity of which the Corporation owns (either directly or through or together with another Subsidiary of the Corporation) either (i) a general partner, managing member or other similar interest or (ii) (A) fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting power of the voting capital equity interests of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other entity, or (B) fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding voting capital stock or other voting equity interests of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other entity.

SECTION 2.    Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

(a)        Subject to the operation of Section 4 of this Article V of these By-laws, each Director and Officer shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), and to the extent authorized in this Section 2.

(1)        Actions, Suits and Proceedings Other than By or In the Right of the Corporation. Each Director and Officer shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation against any and all Expenses and Liabilities that are incurred or paid by such Director or Officer or on such Director’s or Officer’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation), which such Director or Officer is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in by reason of such Director’s or Officer’s Corporate Status, if such Director or Officer acted in good faith and in a manner such Director or Officer reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

(2)       Actions, Suits and Proceedings By or In the Right of the Corporation. Each Director and Officer shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation against any and all Expenses that are incurred by such Director or Officer or on such Director’s or Officer’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein by or in the right of the Corporation, which such Director or Officer is,

Annex F-13

or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in by reason of such Director’s or Officer’s Corporate Status, if such Director or Officer acted in good faith and in a manner such Director or Officer reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation; provided, however, that no indemnification shall be made under this Section 2(a)(2) in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such Director or Officer shall have been finally adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be liable to the Corporation, unless, and only to the extent that, the Court of Chancery or another court in which such Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite adjudication of liability, but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such Director or Officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification for such Expenses that such court deems proper.

(3)       Survival of Rights. The rights of indemnification provided by this Section 2 shall continue as to a Director or Officer after he or she has ceased to be a Director or Officer and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors, administrators and personal representatives.

(4)       Actions by Directors or Officers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall indemnify any Director or Officer seeking indemnification in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such Director or Officer only if such Proceeding (including any parts of such Proceeding not initiated by such Director or Officer) was authorized in advance by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, unless such Proceeding was brought to enforce such Officer’s or Director’s rights to indemnification or, in the case of Directors, advancement of Expenses under these By-laws in accordance with the provisions set forth herein.

SECTION 3.    Indemnification of Non-Officer Employees. Subject to the operation of Section 4 of this Article V of these By-laws, each Non-Officer Employee may, in the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, be indemnified by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, against any or all Expenses and Liabilities that are incurred by such Non-Officer Employee or on such Non-Officer Employee’s behalf in connection with any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding, or any claim, issue or matter therein, which such Non-Officer Employee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in by reason of such Non-Officer Employee’s Corporate Status, if such Non-Officer Employee acted in good faith and in a manner such Non-Officer Employee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The rights of indemnification provided by this Section 3 shall exist as to a Non-Officer Employee after he or she has ceased to be a Non-Officer Employee and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, personal representatives, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation may indemnify any Non-Officer Employee seeking indemnification in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such Non-Officer Employee only if such Proceeding was authorized in advance by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

SECTION 4.    Determination. Unless ordered by a court, no indemnification shall be provided pursuant to this Article V to a Director, to an Officer or to a Non-Officer Employee unless a determination shall have been made that such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, such person had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. Such determination shall be made by (a) a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors, (b) a committee comprised of Disinterested Directors, such committee having been designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors (even though less than a quorum), (c) if there are no such Disinterested Directors, or if a majority of Disinterested Directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (d) by the stockholders of the Corporation.

Annex F-14

SECTION 5.    Advancement of Expenses to Directors Prior to Final Disposition.

(a)        The Corporation shall advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of any Director in connection with any Proceeding in which such Director is involved by reason of such Director’s Corporate Status within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Corporation of a written statement from such Director requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by such Director and shall be preceded or accompanied by an undertaking by or on behalf of such Director to repay any Expenses so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such Director is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of any Director seeking advancement of expenses hereunder in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such Director only if such Proceeding (including any parts of such Proceeding not initiated by such Director) was (i) authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or (ii) brought to enforce such Director’s rights to indemnification or advancement of Expenses under these By-laws.

(b)       If a claim for advancement of Expenses hereunder by a Director is not paid in full by the Corporation within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Corporation of documentation of Expenses and the required undertaking, such Director may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and if successful in whole or in part, such Director shall also be entitled to be paid the expenses of prosecuting such claim. The failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors or any committee thereof, independent legal counsel, or stockholders) to make a determination concerning the permissibility of such advancement of Expenses under this Article V shall not be a defense to an action brought by a Director for recovery of the unpaid amount of an advancement claim and shall not create a presumption that such advancement is not permissible. The burden of proving that a Director is not entitled to an advancement of expenses shall be on the Corporation.

(c)        In any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that the Director has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL.

SECTION 6.    Advancement of Expenses to Officers and Non-Officer Employees Prior to Final Disposition.

(a)        The Corporation may, at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, advance any or all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of any Officer or any Non-Officer Employee in connection with any Proceeding in which such person is involved by reason of his or her Corporate Status as an Officer or Non-Officer Employee upon the receipt by the Corporation of a statement or statements from such Officer or Non-Officer Employee requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by such Officer or Non-Officer Employee and shall be preceded or accompanied by an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay any Expenses so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such Officer or Non-Officer Employee is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses.

(b)       In any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that the Officer or Non-Officer Employee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL.

SECTION 7.    Contractual Nature of Rights.

(a)        The provisions of this Article V shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and each Director and Officer entitled to the benefits hereof at any time while this Article V is in effect, in consideration of such person’s past or current and any future performance

Annex F-15

of services for the Corporation. Neither amendment, repeal or modification of any provision of this Article V nor the adoption of any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this Article V shall eliminate or reduce any right conferred by this Article V in respect of any act or omission occurring, or any cause of action or claim that accrues or arises or any state of facts existing, at the time of or before such amendment, repeal, modification or adoption of an inconsistent provision (even in the case of a proceeding based on such a state of facts that is commenced after such time), and all rights to indemnification and advancement of Expenses granted herein or arising out of any act or omission shall vest at the time of the act or omission in question, regardless of when or if any proceeding with respect to such act or omission is commenced. The rights to indemnification and to advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article V shall continue notwithstanding that the person has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the estate, heirs, executors, administrators, legatees and distributes of such person.

(b)       If a claim for indemnification hereunder by a Director or Officer is not paid in full by the Corporation within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Corporation of a written claim for indemnification, such Director or Officer may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim, and if successful in whole or in part, such Director or Officer shall also be entitled to be paid the expenses of prosecuting such claim. The failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors or any committee thereof, independent legal counsel, or stockholders) to make a determination concerning the permissibility of such indemnification under this Article V shall not be a defense to an action brought by a Director or Officer for recovery of the unpaid amount of an indemnification claim and shall not create a presumption that such indemnification is not permissible. The burden of proving that a Director or Officer is not entitled to indemnification shall be on the Corporation.

(c)        In any suit brought by a Director or Officer to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder, it shall be a defense that such Director or Officer has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL.

SECTION 8.    Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights to indemnification and to advancement of Expenses set forth in this Article V shall not be exclusive of any other right which any Director, Officer, or Non-Officer Employee may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate or these By-laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or Disinterested Directors or otherwise.

SECTION 9.    Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any Director, Officer or Non-Officer Employee against any liability of any character asserted against or incurred by the Corporation or any such Director, Officer or Non-Officer Employee, or arising out of any such person’s Corporate Status, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the DGCL or the provisions of this Article V.

SECTION 10.  Other Indemnification. The Corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify or provide advancement of Expenses to any person under this Article V as a result of such person serving, at the request of the Corporation, as a director, partner, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification or advancement of Expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or enterprise (the “Primary Indemnitor”). Any indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Article V owed by the Corporation as a result of a person serving, at the request of the Corporation, as a director, partner, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall only be in excess of, and shall be secondary to, the indemnification or advancement of Expenses available from the applicable Primary Indemnitor(s) and any applicable insurance policies.

Annex F-16

ARTICLE VI

Miscellaneous Provisions

SECTION 1.     Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 2.    Seal. The Board of Directors shall have power to adopt and alter the seal of the Corporation.

SECTION 3.    Execution of Instruments. All deeds, leases, transfers, contracts, bonds, notes and other obligations to be entered into by the Corporation in the ordinary course of its business without director action may be executed on behalf of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, the President or the Treasurer or any other officer, employee or agent of the Corporation as the Board of Directors or the executive committee of the Board may authorize.

SECTION 4.    Voting of Securities. Unless the Board of Directors otherwise provides, the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, the President or the Treasurer may waive notice of and act on behalf of the Corporation, or appoint another person or persons to act as proxy or attorney in fact for the Corporation with or without discretionary power and/or power of substitution, at any meeting of stockholders or shareholders of any other corporation or organization, any of whose securities are held by the Corporation.

SECTION 5.    Resident Agent. The Board of Directors may appoint a resident agent upon whom legal process may be served in any action or proceeding against the Corporation.

SECTION 6.    Corporate Records. The original or attested copies of the Certificate, By-laws and records of all meetings of the incorporators, stockholders and the Board of Directors and the stock transfer books, which shall contain the names of all stockholders, their record addresses and the amount of stock held by each, may be kept outside the State of Delaware and shall be kept at the principal office of the Corporation, at an office of its counsel, at an office of its transfer agent or at such other place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 7.    Certificate. All references in these By-laws to the Certificate shall be deemed to refer to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended and/or restated and in effect from time to time (“the “Restated Certificate”).

SECTION 8.    Exclusive Jurisdiction of Delaware Courts or the United States Federal District Courts.

(a)        Forum. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Court of Chancery”) shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its current or former directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or Restated Certificate or these By-laws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel, except for, as to each of (i) through (iv) above, any claim (A) as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or (C) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction, as to which the Court of

Annex F-17

Chancery and the U.S. federal district court for the District of Delaware shall have concurrent jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Article VI, Section 8 will not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any other claim for which the U.S. federal district courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the U.S. federal district courts shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, against the Corporation or any director, officer, other employee or agent of the Corporation. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article VI, Section 8.

(b)       Consent to Jurisdiction. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Article VI, Section 8(a) immediately above is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and U.S. federal district courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce Article VI, Section 8(a) immediately above (an “FSC Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.

(c)        Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Article VI, Section 8 shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article VI, Section 8 (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article VI, Section 8 containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article VI, Section 8.

SECTION 9.    Amendment of By-laws.

(a)        Amendment by Directors. Except as provided otherwise by law, these By-laws may be amended or repealed by the Board of Directors by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office.

(b)       Amendment by Stockholders. These By-laws may be amended or repealed at any Annual Meeting, or special meeting of stockholders called for such purpose in accordance with these By-Laws, by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on such amendment or repeal, voting together as a single class; provided, however, that if the Board of Directors recommends that stockholders approve such amendment or repeal at such meeting of stockholders, such amendment or repeal shall only require the affirmative vote of the majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on such amendment or repeal, voting together as a single class. Notwithstanding the foregoing, stockholder approval shall not be required unless mandated by the Certificate, these By-laws, or other applicable law.

SECTION 10.  Notices. If mailed, notice to stockholders shall be deemed given when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given to stockholders, any notice to stockholders may be given by electronic transmission in the manner provided in Section 232 of the DGCL.

Annex F-18

SECTION 11.   Waivers. A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder or director, or waiver by electronic transmission by such person, whether given before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to such person. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting need be specified in such a waiver.

Adopted by the Board on December 17, 2021

Annex F-19

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of December 17, 2021, is made and entered into by and among CM Life Sciences III Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), CMLS Holdings III LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), the undersigned parties listed on the signature page hereto under “Existing Holders” (the “Existing Holders”), the undersigned parties listed on the signature page hereto as “New Holders” (the “New Holders” and, together with the Existing Holders and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Agreement, a “Holder” and collectively, the “Holders”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, on April 6, 2021, the Company, the Existing Holders and the Sponsor entered into that certain Registration Rights Agreement (the “Existing Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company granted the Existing Holders certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company;

 

WHEREAS, on April 6, 2021, the Company, the Sponsor and each of the Company’s officers, directors and director nominees (the Original Insiders”, and together with the Additional Insider, as defined below, the ‘Insiders) entered into that certain insider letter, as amended on August 5, 2021, pursuant to which the Insiders and the Sponsor agreed to certain transfer and selling restrictions with respect to their Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (“Class B Common Stock”) issued and outstanding as of the date hereof and all shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (“Class A Common Stock”) issued upon conversion thereof;

 

WHEREAS, on August 1, 2021, the Company entered into that certain additional insider letter, by and between the Company and the undersigned party listed on the signature page thereto (the “Additional Insider”) and that certain joinder agreement to the Existing Registration Rights Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the Company has entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time in accordance with the terms of such agreement, the “Merger Agreement”), dated as of August 5, 2021, by and among the Company, EQRx, Inc., a Delaware corporation and Clover III Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company;

 

WHEREAS, upon the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, the Existing Holders and New Holders will hold shares of Class A Common Stock, in each case, in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as set forth in the Merger Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the Company is conducting a private placement of its Class A Common Stock (the “PIPE Investment”) pursuant to the terms of one or more Subscription Agreements, and certain Holders may purchase additional shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant thereto (the “PIPE Shares”);

 

WHEREAS, certain New Holders may receive additional shares of Class A Common Stock (the “Earnout Shares”) pursuant to certain provisions in the Merger Agreement;

 

     

 

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 5.5 of the Existing Registration Rights Agreement, the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth therein may be amended or modified upon the written consent of the Company and the holders of a majority-in-interest of the “Registrable Securities” (as such term is defined in the Existing Registration Rights Agreement) at the time in question; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and Sponsor desire to amend and restate the Existing Registration Rights Agreement in its entirety in order to provide the Existing Holders and the New Holders certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company, as set forth in this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, covenants and agreements contained herein, and certain other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

Article I
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1 Definitions. The terms defined in this Article I shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth below:

 

Adverse Disclosure” shall mean any public disclosure of material non-public information the disclosure of which, in the good-faith determination of the Company, after consultation with counsel to the Company, (i) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain any Misstatement, (ii) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, and (iii) which the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making public.

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person who, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under direct or indirect common control with, such Person, and, in the case of an individual, also includes any member of such individual’s Immediate Family; provided that the Company and its subsidiaries will not be deemed to be Affiliates of any holder of Registrable Securities. As used in this definition, “control,” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control”) shall mean possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, directly or indirectly, whether through ownership of voting securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise.

 

Agreed Disclosure Process” shall have the meaning given in subsection 3.5.4.

 

Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Block Trade” means an offering or sale of Registrable Securities by any Holder on a block trade or underwritten basis (whether firm commitment or otherwise) effected pursuant to a Registration Statement without substantial marketing efforts prior to pricing, including, without limitation, a same day trade, overnight trade or similar transaction.

 

Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Business Day” shall mean a day that is not a Saturday or Sunday or a day on which banks in New York City are authorized or requested by law to close.

 

  2  

 

 

Class A Common Stock” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Class B Common Stock” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Closing Date” shall mean the date of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

 

Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Commission’s Notice” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.5.

 

Company” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Company Shelf Takedown Notice” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.3.

 

Demand Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1.

 

Demanding Holders” shall mean, as applicable, (a) the Existing Holders of at least a majority in interest of the then-outstanding number of Registrable Securities held by the Existing Holders, (b) the New Holders of at least a majority in interest of the then-outstanding number of Registrable Securities held by the New Holders or (c) any Holder meeting the Minimum Amount.

 

DTC” shall have the meaning given in subsection 3.1.17.

 

DWAC” shall have the meaning given in subsection 3.1.17.

 

Earnout Shares” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Effectiveness Deadline” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.

 

Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

Existing Registration Rights Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Final Sponsor Shares Lock-up Period” shall mean, with respect to the remaining 50% of the Founder Shares held by the Sponsor or its Permitted Transferees, the period ending on the second anniversary of the Closing Date.

 

Form S-3 Shelf” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.2.

 

Founder Shares” shall mean all shares of Class B Common Stock that are issued and outstanding as of the date hereof and all shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon conversion thereof.

 

Founder Shares Lock-up Period” shall mean, with respect to the Founder Shares held by the Existing Holders (other than the Sponsor) or their Permitted Transferees, the period ending on the earlier of (a) one year after the Closing Date, (b) the first date that the closing price of the Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganization, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading-day period commencing at least 150 days after the Closing Date, and (c) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Class A Common Stock for cash securities or other property..

 

Holders” shall mean the Sponsor, the Existing Holders and the New Holders and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.2.

 

  3  

 

 

Immediate Family” shall mean any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law and shall include adoptive relationships.

 

Initial Sponsor Shares Lock-up Period” shall mean, with respect to 50% of the Founder Shares held by the Sponsor or its Permitted Transferees, the period ending on the earlier of (a) one year after the Closing Date, (b) the first date that the closing price of the Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading-day period commencing at least 150 days after the Closing Date, and (c) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Class A Common Stock for cash, securities or other property.

 

Initial Shelf” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.

 

Insider Letter” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Maximum Number of Securities” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.4.

 

Merger Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Minimum Amount” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.3.

 

Misstatement” shall mean an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or Prospectus or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus, (in the case of any Prospectus in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.

 

MNPI Provisions” shall have meaning given in subsection 2.1.3.

 

Nasdaq” shall have the meaning given in subsection 3.1.4.

 

Necessary Disclosure” shall have the meaning given in subsection 3.5.4.

 

New Holder(s)” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

New Registration Statement” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.5.

 

Permitted Transferees” shall mean (a) with respect to an Existing Holder or the Sponsor, any Person to whom a Holder of Registrable Securities is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities prior to the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-up Period, the Initial Sponsor Shares Lock-up Period or the Final Sponsor Shares Lock-up Period, as applicable, the Private Placement Lock-Up Period or any other lock-up period, as the case may be, under the Insider Letter, the Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, this Agreement and any other applicable agreement between such Existing Holder and the Company, and to any transferee thereafter; and (b) with respect to a New Holder, (i) in the case of an individual, any Person to whom a Holder transfers Registrable Securities (1) by gift to a member of the individual’s Immediate Family, to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of the individual’s Immediate Family or an Affiliate of such Person, or to a charitable organization, (2) by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual and (3) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; or (ii) in the case of an entity, any Person to whom a Holder transfers Registrable Securities (1) by distribution to such entity’s members, partners, stockholders or equityholders, (2) to any of such entity’s Affiliates or to any fund or other entity controlled or managed by such entity or any of its Affiliates, or to investment manager or investment advisor of such entity or an Affiliate of any such investment manager or investment advisor, and (3) to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under clause (b) of this definition, provided that such transferee to which a transfer is being made pursuant to clause (a) or (b) above, if not a Holder, enters into a written agreement with the Company agreeing to be bound by the restrictions, including restrictions specific to certain holders, herein.

 

  4  

 

 

Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, unincorporated association or other legal entity or business organization.

 

Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.1.

 

PIPE Investment” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

PIPE Shares” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

Private Placement Lock-up Period” shall mean, with respect to Private Placement Warrants that are held by the initial purchasers of such Private Placement Warrants or their Permitted Transferees, the Private Placement Warrants and shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise or conversion of the Private Placement Warrants, and that are held by the initial purchasers of the Private Placement Warrants or their Permitted Transferees, the period ending 30 days after the Closing Date.

 

Private Placement Warrants” shall mean the warrants to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock purchased by the Sponsor pursuant to the Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement.

 

Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement” shall mean that certain Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement by and between the Company and the Sponsor, dated as of April 6, 2021.

 

Pro Rata” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.4.

 

Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus and free writing prospectus, in each case, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

 

Registrable Security” shall mean (a) the Founder Shares and the shares of Class A Common Stock issued or issuable upon the conversion of the Founder Shares, (b) the Private Placement Warrants (including any shares of Class A Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants), (c) any issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock or any other equity security (including the shares of Class A Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any other equity security) of the Company held by a Holder as of the date of this Agreement, (d) any equity securities (including the shares of Class A Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such equity security) of the Company issuable upon conversion of any working capital loans in an amount up to $1,500,000 made to the Company by a Holder into private-placement equivalent warrants (the “Working Capital Warrants”) and shares of Class A Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Working Capital Warrants, (e) any outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock or any other equity security of the Company held by a New Holder issued in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (including any Earnout Shares), (f) any PIPE Shares, (g) any other equity securities (including shares of Class A Common Stock) of the Company held by a New Holder at the Closing Date and (h) any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to any such share of Class A Common Stock by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or reorganization; provided, however, that, as to any particular Registrable Security, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (i) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (ii) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; (iii) such securities have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such securities not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (iv) with respect to a Holder, all such securities held by such Holder could be sold pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission) without restriction on volume or manner of sale in any three-month period and without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the public information required under Rule 144; or (v) such securities have been sold to, or through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction. For purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities, and the Registrable Securities shall be deemed to be in existence, whenever such Person holds such Registrable Securities of record or in “street name” or has the right to acquire directly or indirectly such Registrable Securities (upon conversion or exercise in connection with a transfer of securities or otherwise, but disregarding any restrictions or limitations upon the exercise of such right and, in the case of Registrable Securities issuable upon exercise of warrants, assuming the exercise thereof for cash), whether or not such acquisition has actually been effected, and such Person shall be entitled to exercise the rights of a holder of Registrable Securities hereunder; provided a holder of Registrable Securities may only request that Registrable Securities in the form of Class A Common Stock be registered pursuant to this Agreement.

 

  5  

 

 

Registration” shall mean a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.

 

Registration Expenses” shall mean the documented out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:

 

(a) all registration, qualification and filing fees (including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.) and any securities exchange on which the Class A 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 and documented fees and expenses of one legal counsel selected by the Demanding Holders, not to exceed $50,000.

 

Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement that covers the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registration statement, and all exhibits to and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

 

Registration Trigger Date” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.7.

 

Requesting Holder” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1.

 

SEC Guidance” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.5.

 

Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereafter, all as the same shall be in effect from time to time.

 

Shelf Take Down Notice” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.3.

 

Shelf Underwritten Offering” shall mean an underwritten offering that is registered pursuant to a shelf registration statement, including a Block Trade.

 

Sponsor” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Sponsor Shares Lock-up Periods” shall mean the Initial Sponsor Shares Lock-up Period and the Final Sponsor Shares Lock-up Period.

 

Subscription Agreements” shall means those certain subscription agreements dated August 5, 2021 by and between the Company and certain subscribers to shares of Class A Common Stock.

 

Suspension Event” shall have the meaning given in Section 3.4.

 

Suspension Notice” shall have the meaning given in Section 3.4.

 

Trading Day” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.7.

 

Underwriter” shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.

 

Underwritten Registration” or “Underwritten Offering” shall mean a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.

 

Unrestricted Conditions” shall have the meaning given in subsection 3.5.2.

 

  6  

 

 

Article II
REGISTRATIONS

 

Section 2.1 Shelf Registration.

 

2.1.1 The Company shall, as soon as practicable, but in any event within 30 days after the Closing Date (the “Filing Deadline”), file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act (the “Initial Shelf”) to permit the public resale of all the Registrable Securities held by the Holders from time to time as permitted by Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor or similar provision adopted by the Commission then in effect) on the terms and conditions specified in this subsection 2.1.1 and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Initial Shelf to be declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, but in no event later than the earlier of (i) 60 days following the Filing Deadline and (ii) five Business Days after the Commission notifies the Company that it will not review the Initial Shelf, if applicable (the “Effectiveness Deadline”); provided that the Effectiveness Deadline shall be extended to 90 days after the Filing Deadline if the Initial Shelf is reviewed by, and receives comments from, the Commission. Without limiting the foregoing, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than three Business Days, following the resolution or clearance of all Commission comments or, if applicable, following notification by the Commission that the Initial Shelf or any amendment thereto will not be subject to review, the Company shall file a request for acceleration of effectiveness of such Initial Shelf (to the extent required, by declaration or ordering of effectiveness, of such Initial Shelf or amendment thereto by the Commission) to a time and date not later than two Business Days after the submission of such request. The Initial Shelf filed with the Commission pursuant to this subsection 2.1.1 shall be on Form S-1 or such other form of registration statement as is then available to effect a registration for resale of the Registrable Securities, provided, that the Company shall file, within 30 days of such time as Form S-3 is available for the Initial Shelf, a post-effective amendment to the Initial Shelf then in effect, or otherwise file a Registration Statement on Form S-3, registering the Registrable Securities for resale on Form S-3 (provided that the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the Initial Shelf then in effect until such time as a Registration Statement (or post-effective amendment) on Form S-3 covering such Registrable Securities has been declared effective by the Commission). The Initial Shelf shall cover all Registrable Securities, and shall contain a Prospectus in such form as permits any Holder to sell such Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor or similar provision adopted by the Commission then in effect) at any time beginning on the effective date for such Initial Shelf and the Company shall file with the Commission the final form of such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424 (or successor thereto) under the Securities Act no later than the second Business Day after the Initial Shelf becomes effective. The Initial Shelf shall provide for the resale pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, the Holders and shall include a customary “plan of distribution” permitting all lawful means of disposition of the Registrable Securities by the Holders, including block sales, agented transactions, sales directly into the market, distributions to affiliates, partners or equityholders and other customary provisions. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Initial Shelf to remain effective, and to be supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that the Initial Shelf is available or, if not available, that another Registration Statement is available at all times, for the public resale of all the Registrable Securities held by the Holders until all such Registrable Securities have ceased to be Registrable Securities. As soon as practicable following the effective date of the Initial Shelf, but in any event within three Business Days of such date, the Company shall notify the Holders of the effectiveness of such the Initial Shelf.

 

2.1.2 Form of Registration. If the Company files the Initial Shelf on Form S-3 (a “Form S-3 Shelf”) and thereafter the Company becomes ineligible to use Form S-3 for secondary sales, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file the Initial Shelf on Form S-1 as promptly as practicable to replace the shelf registration statement that is on Form S-3 and have the Initial Shelf declared effective as promptly as practicable and to cause such Initial Shelf to remain effective, and to be supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that such Initial Shelf is available or, if not available, that another Registration Statement is available, for the public resale of all the Registrable Securities held by the Holders until all such Registrable Securities have ceased to be Registrable Securities.

 

  7  

 

 

2.1.3 Underwritten Shelf Takedowns. At any time and from time to time following the effectiveness of the Initial Shelf, any Holder may request to sell all or a portion of their Registrable Securities in a Shelf Underwritten Offering; provided that such Holder(s) reasonably expects to sell Registrable Securities yielding aggregate gross proceeds in excess of $50,000,000 from such Shelf Underwritten Offering (such amount of Registrable Securities, the “Minimum Amount”). All requests for a Shelf Underwritten Offering shall be made by giving written notice to the Company (the “Shelf Take Down Notice”). Each Shelf Take Down Notice shall specify the approximate number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the Shelf Underwritten Offering and the expected price range (net of underwriting discounts and commissions) of such Shelf Underwritten Offering. Except with respect to any Registrable Securities distributed by the Sponsor to its members following the expiration of the Initial Sponsor Shares Lock-up Period, the Final Sponsor Shares Lock-up Period or the Private Placement Lock-up Period, as applicable, within five days after receipt of any Shelf Take Down Notice, the Company shall, subject to subsections 3.5.3 and 3.5.4 (collectively, the “MNPI Provisions”), give written notice of such requested Shelf Underwritten Offering to all other Holders of Registrable Securities (the “Company Shelf Takedown Notice”) and, subject to the provisions of subsection 2.2.4, shall include in such Shelf Underwritten Offering all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein, within five days after sending the Company Shelf Takedown Notice. The Company shall enter into an underwriting agreement in a form as is customary in Underwritten Offerings of securities by the Company with the managing Underwriter or Underwriters selected by the Holders holding a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities to be included in such Shelf Underwritten Offering after consultation with, and approval (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) by, the Company and shall take all such other reasonable actions as are requested by the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities. In connection with any Shelf Underwritten Offering contemplated by this subsection 2.1.3, subject to Section 3.3 and Article IV, the underwriting agreement into which each Holder and the Company shall enter shall contain such representations, covenants, indemnities and other rights and obligations of the Company and the selling stockholders as are customary in underwritten offerings of securities by the Company. The New Holders, on the one hand, and the Existing Holders, on the other hand, may each demand not more than two Shelf Underwritten Offerings pursuant to this subsection 2.1.3 in any 12-month period.

 

2.1.4 At least 10 Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of a Registration Statement pursuant to this Article II, the Company shall use reasonable efforts to notify each Holder in writing (which may be by email) of the information reasonably necessary about the Holder to include such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated to include such Holder’s Registrable Securities to the extent the Company has not received such information, and received any other reasonably requested agreements or certificates, on or prior to the third Business Day prior to the first anticipated filing date of a Registration Statement pursuant to this Article II.

 

  8  

 

 

2.1.5 Notwithstanding the registration obligations set forth in this Section 2, in the event that, despite the Company’s efforts to include all of the Registrable Securities in any Registration Statement filed pursuant to subsection 2.1.1, the Commission informs the Company (the “Commission’s Notice”) that all of the Registrable Securities cannot, as a result of the application of Rule 415 or otherwise, be registered for resale as a secondary offering on a single Registration Statement, the Company agrees to promptly (i) inform each of the holders thereof and use its commercially reasonable efforts to file amendments to the Initial Shelf as required by the Commission and (ii) as soon as practicable but in no event later than the 20th day following the first date on which such Registrable Securities may then be included in a Registration Statement, file an additional Registration Statement (a “New Registration Statement”), on Form S-3, or if Form S-3 is not then available to the Company for such Registration Statement, on such other form available to register for resale the Registrable Securities as a secondary offering; provided, however, that prior to filing such amendment or New Registration Statement, the Company shall be obligated to use its commercially reasonable efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with any publicly-available written or oral guidance, comments, requirements or requests of the Commission staff (the “SEC Guidance”), including without limitation, the Manual of Publicly Available Telephone Interpretations D.29. The Holders shall have the right to participate or have their respective legal counsel participate in any meetings or discussions with the Commission regarding the Commission’s position and to comment or have their respective counsel comment on any written submission made to the Commission with respect thereto. No such written submission shall be made to the Commission to which any Holder’s counsel reasonably objects. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any SEC Guidance sets forth a limitation of the number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered on a particular Registration Statement as a secondary offering, unless otherwise directed in writing by a holder as to its Registrable Securities directing the inclusion of less than such holder’s pro rata amount, the number of Registrable Securities to be registered on such Registration Statement will be reduced on a pro rata basis based on the total number of Registrable Securities held by the Holders. In the event the Company amends the Initial Shelf or files a New Registration Statement, as the case may be, under clauses (i) or (ii) above, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission, as promptly as allowed by Commission or SEC Guidance provided to the Company or to registrants of securities in general, one or more Registration Statements on Form S-3 or such other form available to register for resale those Registrable Securities that were not registered for resale on the Initial Shelf, as amended, or the New Registration Statement.

 

2.1.6 No Holder shall be named as an “underwriter” in any Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2 without the Holder’s prior written consent; provided that if the Commission requests that a Holder be identified as a statutory underwriter in the Registration Statement, then such Holder will have the option, in its sole and absolute discretion, to either (i) have the opportunity to withdraw from the Registration Statement upon its prompt written request to the Company, in which case the Company’s obligation to register such Holder’s Registrable Securities shall be deemed satisfied or (ii) be included as such in the Registration Statement. Each Registration Statement (and each amendment or supplement thereto) shall be provided to (and shall be subject to the approval, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, of) the Holders prior to its filing with, or other submission to, the Commission.

 

2.1.7 In the event that on any Trading Day (as defined below) (the “Registration Trigger Date”) the number of shares available under the Registration Statements filed pursuant to this Section 2 is insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities (without giving effect to any limitations on the exercise or conversion of any securities exercisable for, or convertible into, Registrable Securities and, in the case of Registrable Securities issuable upon the exercise of warrants, assuming the exercise of such warrants for cash), the Company shall amend such Registration Statements, or file a new Registration Statement (on the short form available therefor, if applicable), or both, so as to cover the total number of Registrable Securities so issued or issuable (without giving effect to any limitations on the exercise or conversion of any securities exercisable for, or convertible into, Registrable Securities and, in the case of Registrable Securities issuable upon the exercise of warrants, assuming the exercise of such warrants for cash) as of the Registration Trigger Date as soon as practicable, but in any event within 15 days after the Registration Trigger Date. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such amendment and/or new Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable following the filing thereof, but in any event no later than 60 days of the Registration Trigger Date (or 90 days if the applicable Registration Statement or amendment is reviewed by, and comments are thereto provided from, the Commission) or as promptly as practicable in the event the Company is required to increase its authorized shares. “Trading Day” shall mean any day on which the Class A Common Stock is traded for any period on the principal securities exchange or market on which the Class A Common Stock is then being traded.

 

  9  

 

 

Section 2.2 Demand Registration.

 

2.2.1 Request for Registration. Subject to the provisions of subsections 2.2.4 and 2.2.5 and Section 3.4 hereof, and provided that the Company does not have an effective Registration Statement pursuant to subsection 2.1.1, outstanding covering all of the Registrable Securities, following the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-up Period, the Initial Sponsor Shares Lock-up Period, the Final Sponsor Shares Lock-up Period, the Private Placement Lock-up Period or any other applicable lock-up period, as the case may be, a Demanding Holder may make a written demand for Registration 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”). Subject to the MNPI Provisions, the Company shall, within five days of the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, notify, in writing all other Holders of Registrable Securities of such demand, and each Holder of Registrable Securities who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration (each such Holder that includes all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Registration, a “Requesting Holder”) shall so notify the Company, in writing, within five 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, subject to subsection 2.2.4 below, 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 60 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 Registrations pursuant to a Demand Registration by the Existing Holders and an aggregate of three Registrations pursuant to a Demand Registration by the New Holders under this subsection 2.1.1 with respect to any or all Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Company shall not be required to give effect to a Demand Registration from a Demanding Holder if the Company has registered Registrable Securities pursuant to a Demand Registration (which has become effective) from such Demanding Holder in the preceding 120 days, and (ii) the Company’s obligations with respect to any Demand Registration shall be deemed satisfied so long as the Registration Statement filed pursuant to subsection 2.1.1 includes all of such Demanding Holder’s Registrable Securities and is effective. The registration statement effecting such Demand Registration shall provide for the sale or resale pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, the Holders and shall include a customary “plan of distribution” permitting all lawful means of disposition of the Registrable Securities by the Holders, including block sales, agented transactions, sales directly into the market, distribution to affiliates, partners or equityholders and other customary provisions.

 

2.2.2 Effective Registration. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 2.2.1 above or any other part of this Agreement, a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration shall not count as a Registration unless and until (a) the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration has been declared effective by the Commission and, (b) the Company has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto; provided, further, that if, after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, an offering of Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration is subsequently interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission, federal or state court or any other governmental agency, the Registration Statement with respect to such Registration shall be deemed not to have been declared effective, unless and until, (i) such stop order or injunction is removed, rescinded or otherwise terminated, and (ii) a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating such Demand Registration thereafter affirmatively elect to continue with such Registration and accordingly notify the Company in writing, but in no event later than five days thereafter, of such election. The Company shall not be obligated or required to file another Registration Statement until the Registration Statement that has been previously filed with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration by the same Demanding Holder becomes effective or is subsequently terminated.

 

  10  

 

 

2.2.3 Underwritten Offering. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.2.4 and Section 3.4 hereof, if a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders so advise the Company as part of their Demand Registration that the offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration shall be in the form of an Underwritten Offering, then the right of such Demanding Holder or Requesting Holder (if any) to include its Registrable Securities in such Registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such Underwritten Offering and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering to the extent provided herein. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.2.3, subject to Section 3.3 and Article IV, shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Company and the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating the Demand Registration after consultation with, and approval by, the Company (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

 

2.2.4 Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If a Demand Registration is to be an Underwritten Offering and the managing Underwriter or Underwriters, in good faith, advises the Company, the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) in writing that, in its opinion, the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other Class A Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell for its own account and the Class A Common Stock, if any, as to which a Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by any 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 such Underwritten Offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Securities”), then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering, as follows:

 

(a) first, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities held by each Demanding Holder and Requesting Holder (if any) and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities held by the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders (such proportion is referred to herein as “Pro Rata”)) that 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 (Pro Rata, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities held by each Holder) exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.3.1 hereof, 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 Class A Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell for its own account, 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 Class A 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.

 

  11  

 

 

2.2.5 Demand Registration Withdrawal. A Demanding Holder or a Requesting Holder shall have the right to withdraw all or a portion of its Registrable Securities included in a Demand Registration pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 or a Shelf Underwritten Offering pursuant to subsection 2.1.3 for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of its intention to so withdraw (“Withdrawal Notice”) (a) in the case of a Demand Registration not involving an Underwritten Offering, one Business Day prior to the effectiveness of the applicable Registration Statement or (b) in the case of any Demand Registration involving an Underwritten Offering or any Shelf Underwritten Offering, prior to the pricing of such Underwritten Offering or Shelf Underwritten Offering; provided, however, that upon withdrawal by a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration (or in the case of a Shelf Underwritten Offering, withdrawal of an amount of Registrable Securities included by the Holders in such Shelf Underwritten Offering, in their capacity as Demanding Holders, being less than the Minimum Amount), the Company shall cease all efforts to secure effectiveness of the applicable Registration Statement or complete the Underwritten Offering, as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt, any Demand Registration withdrawn pursuant to this subsection 2.2.5 shall be counted toward the aggregate number of Demand Registrations the Company is obligated to effect pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 unless (A)(1) the Demanding Holders reimburse the Company for all of its out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with any such withdrawn Demand Registration incurred through the date of such withdrawal and (2) such revocation or withdrawal shall have been made prior to the commencement of any marketing efforts or “road shows” by the Company or the underwriters in connection with such Demand Registration, or (B) such withdrawal or revocation occurs following the issuance by the Company of a Suspension Notice. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred by it in connection with a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration or a Shelf Underwritten Offering prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.2.5.

 

Section 2.3 Piggyback Registration.

 

2.3.1 Piggyback Rights. If 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 the stockholders of the Company including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof), other than a Registration Statement (a) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (b) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing stockholders, (c) for an offering solely of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company, (d) for a dividend reinvestment plan, (e) for any issuances of securities in connection with a transaction involving a merger, consolidation, sale, exchange, issuance, transfer, reorganization or other extraordinary transaction between the Company or any of its Affiliates and any third party, or (f) filed pursuant to subsection 2.1.1, then, subject to the MNPI Provisions, the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities (excluding the Sponsor with respect to any Registrable Securities distributed by the Sponsor to its members following the expiration of the Initial Sponsor Shares Lock-up Period, the Final Sponsor Shares Lock-up Period or the Private Placement Lock-up Period, as applicable) as soon as practicable but not less than 20 days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement, which notice shall (i) describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution (including whether such registration will be pursuant to a shelf registration statement), and the proposed price and name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, in such offering, (ii) describe such Holders’ rights under this Section 2.3, and (iii) offer to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to register the sale of such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within five days after receipt of such written notice (such Registration, a “Piggyback Registration”). The Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities identified in a Holder’s response noticed described in the foregoing sentence to be included in such Piggyback Registration and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Offering, if any, to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this subsection 2.3.1 to be included in a Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company or Company stockholder(s) for whose account the Registration Statement is to be filed included in such Registration and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. The registration statement effecting such Piggyback Registration shall provide for the sale or resale pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, the Holders and shall include a customary “plan of distribution” permitting all lawful means of disposition of the Registrable Securities by the Holders, including block sales, agented transactions, sales directly into the market, distribution to affiliates, partners or equityholders and other customary provisions. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.3.1, subject to Section 3.3 and Article IV, shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Company.

 

  12  

 

 

2.3.2 Reduction of Piggyback Registration. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration that is to be a Piggyback Registration, in good faith, advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that, in its opinion, the dollar amount or number of the Class A Common Stock that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (a) the Class A Common Stock, 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, (b) the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof, and (c) the Class A Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:

 

2.3.2.1 if the Registration is undertaken for the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Registration (a) first, the Class A 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 Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.3.1 hereof, Pro Rata, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (c) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (a) and (b), the Class A Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and

 

2.3.2.2 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 Class A 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 subsection 2.3.1 hereof, Pro Rata, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (c) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (a) and (b), the Class A Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell for its own account, 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 Class A 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.

 

  13  

 

 

2.3.3 Piggyback Registration Withdrawal. Any Holder of Registrable Securities shall have the right to withdraw all or any portion of its Registrable Securities in a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of his, her or its intention to withdraw such Registrable Securities from such Piggyback Registration (a) in the case of a Piggyback Registration not involving an Underwritten Offering or Shelf Underwritten Offering, one Business Day prior to the effectiveness of the applicable Registration Statement or (b) in the case of any Piggyback Registration involving an Underwritten Offering or any Shelf Underwritten Offering, two Business Days prior to the pricing of such Underwritten Offering or Shelf Underwritten Offering. 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.

 

2.3.4 Unlimited Piggyback Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, any Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof shall not be counted as a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration effected under Section 2.2 hereof or a Shelf Underwritten Offering effected under subsection 2.1.3.

 

Section 2.4 Reserved.

 

Section 2.5 Block Trades.

 

2.5.1 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, but subject to Section 3.4, if a Demanding Holder desires to effect a Block Trade with a total offering price reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, either (x) the Minimum Amount or (y) all remaining Registrable Securities held by the Demanding Holder, then notwithstanding the time periods provided for in subsection 2.1.4, such Demanding Holder shall notify the Company of the Block Trade at least five Business Days prior to the day such offering is to commence and the Company shall as expeditiously as possible use its commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate such Block Trade; provided that the Demanding Holders wishing to engage in the Block Trade shall use commercially reasonable efforts to work with the Company and any Underwriters or placement agents or sales agents prior to making such request in order to facilitate preparation of the registration statement, prospectus and other offering documentation related to the Block Trade.

 

2.5.2 Prior to the filing of the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement used in connection with a Block Trade, any Demanding Holders shall have the right to submit a Withdrawal Notice to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters or placement agents or sales agents (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Block Trade.

 

Section 2.6 Market Stand-Off. In connection with any Underwritten Offering of equity securities of the Company (other than a Block Trade), each Holder participating in the Underwritten Offering pursuant to the terms of this Agreement agrees that it shall not Transfer any shares of Class A Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company (other than those included in such offering pursuant to this Agreement), without the prior written consent of the Company, during the 90-day period beginning on the date of pricing of such offering or such shorter period during which the Company agrees not to conduct an underwritten primary offering of Class A Common Stock, except in the event the Underwriters managing the offering otherwise agree by written consent. Each Holder participating in the Underwritten Offering agrees to execute a customary lock-up agreement in favor of the Underwriters to such effect (in each case on substantially the same terms and conditions as all such Holders).

 

  14  

 

 

Article III
COMPANY PROCEDURES

 

Section 3.1 General Procedures. If the Company is required to effect the Registration of Registrable Securities, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof. When effective, the Registration Statements filed pursuant to this Agreement (including the documents incorporated therein by reference) will comply as to form in all material respects with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and will not contain a Misstatement. In connection with effecting a Registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible:

 

3.1.1 prepare and file with the Commission as soon as practicable a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and, except as otherwise set forth herein, use its commercially reasonable 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 a majority in interest of the applicable Holders of Registrable Securities registered on such Registration Statement 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, and no document shall be filed with the Commission to which any Holder or its counsel reasonably objects in good faith;

 

3.1.4 prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, but in any case no later than the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement, use its commercially reasonable efforts to (a) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request and to keep such registration or qualification in effect for so long as such Registration Statement remains in effect, and (b) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities or securities exchanges, including the applicable Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”), as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company or otherwise and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable, in each case, to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject;

 

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 no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;

 

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;

 

  15  

 

 

3.1.7 advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of (i) subject to the MNPI Provisions, any request by the Commission that the Company amend or supplement such Registration Statement or Prospectus or (ii) the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or Prospectus or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to amend or supplement such Registration Statement or Prospectus or prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued, as applicable;

 

3.1.8 at least five Business Days (or, in the case of a Block Trade, at least one day) 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, upon request of a Holder, copies promptly upon receipt of any comment letters received with respect to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus;

 

3.1.9 notify the Holders promptly 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 correct such Misstatement or include such information as is necessary to comply with law, in each case as set forth in Section 3.4 hereof;

 

3.1.10 permit a representative of a majority-in-interest of the New 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 any Registration Statement and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided, however, that, if requested by the Company, such representatives or Underwriters shall be required to enter into a confidentiality agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information;

 

3.1.11 obtain a “cold comfort” letter (including a bring-down letter dated as of the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration) from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Offering that the participating Holders may rely on, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “comfort” letters as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders and any Underwriter;

 

3.1.12 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 reasonably satisfactory to a majority in interest of the participating Holders and any Underwriter;

 

3.1.13 in the event of any Underwritten Offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriter of such offering;

 

3.1.14 otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and to make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least 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 the rules and regulations thereunder, including Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission);

 

  16  

 

 

3.1.15 if the Registration involves the Registration of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of $50,000,000, use its reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders or the Underwriter in any Underwritten Offering;

 

3.1.16 if applicable, promptly effect a filing with FINRA pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110 (or successor thereto) with respect to the public offering contemplated by resales of securities under the Initial Shelf (an “Issuer Filing”), pay the filing fee required by such Issuer Filing and use its commercially reasonable efforts to complete the Issuer Filing until FINRA issues a letter confirming that it does not object to the terms of the offering contemplated by the Initial Shelf.

 

3.1.17 cooperate with each Holder that holds Registrable Securities being offered and the Underwriter in any Underwritten Offering with respect to an applicable Registration Statement, if any, to facilitate the timely (i) preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends) representing Registrable Securities that have been offered and sold pursuant to such Registration Statement, and enable such certificates to be registered in such names and in such denominations or amounts, as the case may be, or (ii) crediting of the Registrable Securities that have been offered and sold pursuant to a Registration Statement to the applicable account (or accounts) with The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) through its Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian (“DWAC”) system, in any such case as such Holder or Underwriter, if any, may reasonably request;

 

3.1.18 for so long as this Agreement remains effective, use reasonable best effects to (a) cause the Class A Common Stock to be eligible for clearing through DTC, through its DWAC system; (b) be eligible and participating in the Direct Registration System (DRS) of DTC with respect to the Class A Common Stock; and (c) ensure that the transfer agent for the Class A Common Stock is a participant in, and that the Class A Common Stock is eligible for transfer pursuant to, DTC’s Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program (or successor thereto); and

 

3.1.19 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 and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,” all reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders except as otherwise provided herein.

 

Section 3.3 Participation in Underwritten Offerings. No Person may participate in any Underwritten Offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such Person (a) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Company and (b) 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.

 

  17  

 

 

Section 3.4 Restrictions on Registration Rights; Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure. If (a) during the period starting with the date 60 days prior to the Company’s good-faith estimate of the date of the filing of, and ending on a date 120 days after the effective date of, a Registration Statement in respect of a Company initiated underwritten Registration the Company receives a Demand Registration, and provided that the Company has delivered written notice to the Holders prior to receipt of a Demand Registration pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 and it continues to actively employ, in good faith, all reasonable efforts to cause the applicable Company-initiated 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 the 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 a Registration Statement with respect to such Demand Registration to be filed in the near future and that it is therefore essential to defer the filing of such Registration Statement, the Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a period of not more than 60 days. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing ability to defer the filing of a Registration Statement shall not apply to the Company’s obligation to file the Initial Shelf pursuant to subsection 2.1.1. Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement, or in the opinion of counsel for the Company it is necessary to supplement or amend such Prospectus to comply with law, each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until it has received copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement or including the information counsel for the Company instructs is necessary to comply with law (it being understood that the Company hereby covenants to prepare and file such supplement or amendment as soon as practicable after the time of such notice such that the Registration Statement or Prospectus, as so amended or supplemented, as applicable, will not include a Misstatement and complies with law), or until 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 (a “Suspension Event”), the Company may, subject to the MNPI Provisions, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders (a “Suspension Notice”), no later than three Business Days from the date of such Suspension Event, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement for the shortest period of time required to resolve such issue, but in no event more than 45 consecutive days, determined in good faith by the Board to be necessary for such purpose; provided that the Company shall not defer its obligations pursuant to this Section 3.4 more than twice during any 12-month period; provided further, that in no event shall the Company be entitled to delay or defer the filing or effectiveness of the Initial Shelf pursuant to this Section 3.4. In the event the Company exercises its rights under the preceding sentence, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the Suspension Notice, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities; provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that the foregoing shall not restrict or otherwise affect the consummation of any sale pursuant to a contract entered into, or order placed, by any Holder prior to delivery of the Suspension Notice. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders of the expiration of any period during which it exercised its rights under this Section 3.4. The Holders agree that, except as required by applicable law, the Holders shall treat as confidential the receipt of a Suspension Notice from the Company under this Section 3.4 (provided that in no event shall such notice disclose the basis for suspension or contain any material nonpublic information) and shall not disclose the information contained in such written notice without the prior written consent of the Company until such time as the information contained therein is or becomes public, other than as a result of disclosure by a holder of Registrable Securities in breach of the terms of this Agreement.

 

Section 3.5 Covenants of the Company.

 

3.5.1 The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144. Without limiting the foregoing, as long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities (without taking into account the exclusion of the definition of such term contained in clause (iv) thereof), the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange Act, covenants to file timely all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and to promptly furnish the Holders with true and complete copies of all such filings to the extent such reports are not available on the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR) system. 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 shares of Class A Common Stock 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.

 

  18  

 

 

3.5.2 Other than with respect to any contractual restriction applicable to any Holder, the stock certificates evidencing the Registrable Securities (without taking into account the exclusion of the definition of such term contained in clause (iv) thereof) (and/or book entries representing the Registrable Securities) held by each Holder shall not contain or be subject to any legend restricting the transfer thereof (and the Registrable Securities shall not be subject to any stop transfer or similar instructions or notations): (A) while a Registration Statement covering the sale or resale of such securities is effective under the Securities Act, if such Holder provides paperwork to the effect that it will sell, distribute or transfer such securities pursuant to such Registration Statement and the plan of distribution set forth therein or Rule 144, or (B) if such Holder provides customary paperwork to the effect that it has sold such shares pursuant to Rule 144, or (C) if such Registrable Securities are eligible for sale under Rule 144 (including Rule 144(i)) as set forth in customary non-affiliate paperwork provided by such Holder and such non-affiliate Holder agrees to sell or transfer such Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144 or pursuant to a Registration Statement and the plan of distribution set forth therein or (D) if such legend is not required under applicable requirements of the Securities Act (including judicial interpretations and pronouncements issued by the staff of the Commission) as determined in good faith by counsel to the Company or set forth in a legal opinion delivered by nationally recognized counsel to the Holder (collectively, the “Unrestricted Conditions”). The Company agrees that at such time as any of the Unrestricted Conditions is met or such legend is otherwise no longer required it will, no later than two Business Days following the delivery by a Holder to the Company or the Company’s transfer agent of a certificate representing any Registrable Securities, issued with a restrictive legend, (or, in the case of Registrable Securities represented by book entries, delivery by a Holder to the Company or the Company’s transfer agent of a legend removal request) deliver or cause to be delivered to such Holder a certificate or, at the request of such Holder, deliver or cause to be delivered such Registrable Securities to such Holder by crediting the account of such Holder’s prime broker with DTC through its Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian (DWAC) system, in each case, free from all restrictive and other legends and stop transfer or similar instructions or notations. If any of the Unrestricted Conditions is met at the time of issuance of any Registrable Securities (e.g., upon exercise of warrants), then such securities shall be issued free of all legends.

 

3.5.3 Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company will not provide any material, nonpublic information to any Holder without the prior written consent of such Holder, and in the event that the Company believes that a notice or communication required by this Agreement to be delivered to any Holder contains material, nonpublic information relating to the Company, its securities, any of its Affiliates or any other Person, the Company shall so indicate to such Holder prior to delivery of such notice or communication, and such indication shall provide such Holder the means to refuse to receive such notice or communication. No Holder nor any of its Affiliates or representatives shall have any duty of trust or confidence with respect to, or obligation not to trade in any securities while aware of, any material, nonpublic information provided to such Holder, Affiliate or representative in violation of this subsection 3.5.3.

 

3.5.4 Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent the Company reasonably and in good faith determines that it is necessary to disclose material non-public information to a Holder in order to comply with its obligations hereunder (a “Necessary Disclosure”), the Company shall inform counsel to such Holder to the extent such counsel has been identified in writing to the Company in advance of such determination without disclosing the applicable material non-public information, and the Company and such counsel on behalf of the applicable Holder shall endeavor to agree upon a process for making such Necessary Disclosure to the applicable Holder or its representatives that is mutually acceptable to such Holder and the Company (an “Agreed Disclosure Process”). Thereafter, the Company shall be permitted to make such Necessary Disclosure (only) in accordance with the Agreed Disclosure Process.

 

Section 3.6 Information. The Holders shall provide such information as may reasonably be requested by the Company, or the managing Underwriter, if any, in connection with the preparation of any Registration Statement, including amendments and supplements thereto, in order to effect the Registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to Article II and in connection with the Company’s obligation to comply with federal and applicable state securities laws.

 

  19  

 

 

Article IV
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION

 

Section 4.1 Indemnification.

 

4.1.1 The Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, each Person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) and each Holder’s and control Person’s officers, directors, members, partners, and managers against all losses, claims, actions, damages, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from any Misstatement or alleged Misstatement, except insofar as the same are contained in any information furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use in a Registration Statement or Prospectus. The Company shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers and directors and agents and each Person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to the indemnification of the Holder.

 

4.1.2 In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information relating to such Holder 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 Misstatement or alleged Misstatement, but only to the extent that such Misstatement or alleged Misstatement is contained in any information so furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use in such Registration Statement or Prospectus; provided, however, that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders of Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Holder of Registrable Securities shall be in proportion to and limited to the net proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities in such offering giving rise to such liability. The Holders of Registrable Securities shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers, directors and each Person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company.

 

4.1.3 Any Person entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which 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 in defending such claim) 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, conditioned or delayed). 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 (plus local 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 or includes any admission as to fault or culpability or failure to act on the part of an indemnified party.

 

4.1.4 The indemnification and contribution 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, manager, or controlling Person of such indemnified party and shall survive 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.

 

  20  

 

 

4.1.5 If the indemnification provided under Section 4.1 hereof from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any Misstatement or alleged Misstatement, 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 and the benefits received by the such indemnifying party or indemnified party; provided, however, that the liability of any Holder under this subsection 4.1.5 shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in subsections 4.1.1, 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 above, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this subsection 4.1.5. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

Article V
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 5.1 Notices. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be in writing and given by (i) deposit in the United States mail, addressed to the party to be notified, postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested, (ii) delivery in person or by courier service providing evidence of delivery, or (iii) transmission by hand delivery, electronic mail or facsimile. Each notice or communication that is mailed, delivered, or transmitted in the manner described above shall be deemed sufficiently given, served, sent, and received, in the case of mailed notices, on the third Business Day following the date on which it is mailed and, in the case of notices delivered by courier service, hand delivery, electronic mail (provided no “bounce back” or notice of non-delivery is received) or facsimile, at such time as it is delivered to the addressee (except in the case of electronic mail, with the delivery receipt) or at such time as delivery is refused by the addressee upon presentation. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be addressed, if to the Company, to: 50 Hampshire St., Cambridge, MA 02139, and, if to any Holder, at such Holder’s address or contact information as set forth in the Company’s books and records. Any party may change its address for notice at any time and from time to time by written notice to the other parties hereto, and such change of address shall become effective after delivery of such notice as provided in this Section 5.1.

 

Section 5.2 Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries.

 

5.2.1 This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company and the Holders hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company or the Holders, as the case may be, in whole or in part.

 

5.2.2 Prior to the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-up Period, no Existing Holder who is subject to the Founder Shares Lock-up Period or the Private Placement Lock-up Period may assign or delegate such Existing Holder’s rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, except in connection with a transfer of Registrable Securities by such Holder to a Permitted Transferee, to an Affiliate or as otherwise permitted pursuant to the terms of the Founder Shares Lock-up Period, the Private Placement Lock-up Period or other lock-up period, as applicable.

 

5.2.3 Prior to the expiration of the Initial Sponsor Shares Lock-up Period and the Final Sponsor Shares Lock-up Period, the Sponsor may not assign or delegate its rights and duties or obligation under this Agreement, in whole or in part, except in connection with a transfer of Registrable Securities by the Sponsor to a Permitted Transferee, to an Affiliate, or as otherwise permitted pursuant to the terms of the relevant Sponsor Shares Lock-up Period, the Private Placement Lock-up Period or other lock-up period as applicable.

 

5.2.4 This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and its successors and the permitted assigns of the applicable Holders, which shall include Permitted Transferees.

 

5.2.5 This Agreement shall not confer any rights or benefits on any Persons that are not parties hereto, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement and Section 5.2 hereof.

 

5.2.6 No assignment (including to a Permitted Transferee) 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 (a) written notice of such assignment as provided in Section 5.1 hereof and (b) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement). Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this Section 5.2 shall be null and void.

 

  21  

 

 

Section 5.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts (including facsimile, PDF counterparts or other electronic transmission), each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute the same instrument, but only one of which need be produced.

 

Section 5.4 Governing Law; Venue. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT (I) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AS APPLIED TO AGREEMENTS AMONG NEW YORK RESIDENTS ENTERED INTO AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION AND (II) THE VENUE FOR ANY ACTION TAKEN WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT IN NEW YORK COUNTY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

Section 5.5 Amendments and Modifications. Upon the written consent of the Company and the Holders of at least a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities at the time in question, compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects either the Existing Holders as a group or the New Holders as a group, respectively, in a manner that is materially adversely different from the Existing Holders or New Holders, as applicable, shall require the consent of at least a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities held by such Existing Holders or New Holders, as applicable, at the time in question; provided, further, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects one Holder, solely in 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; provided, further, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment to Section 2.6 that affects a party hereto shall require the written consent of such party. No course of dealing between any Holder or the Company and any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the part of a Holder or the Company in exercising any rights or remedies under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Holder or the Company. No single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder by such party.

 

Section 5.6 Other Registration Rights. Other than pursuant to the terms of the Subscription Agreements in connection with the PIPE Investment, the Company represents and warrants that no Person, other than a Holder of Registrable Securities, has any right to require the Company to register any securities of the Company for sale or to include such securities of the Company in any Registration filed by the Company for the sale of securities for its own account or for the account of any other Person. The Company represents, warrants and agrees that this Agreement supersedes any other registration rights agreement or agreement with similar terms and conditions among the parties thereto, and in the event of a conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail. To the extent the Company grants any Person(s) the right to request the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register any equity securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for such securities, the Company shall grant piggyback registration rights to the New Holders in connection therewith.

 

Section 5.7 Term. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of (a) the tenth anniversary of the date of this Agreement, (b) the date as of which all of the Registrable Securities have been sold pursuant to a Registration Statement (but in no event prior to the applicable period referred to in Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act and Rule 174 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission)) or (c) with respect to a particular Holder, the date as of which all Registrable Securities held by such Holder have been sold (x) pursuant to a Registration Statement (but in no event prior to the applicable period referred to in Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act and Rule 174 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission)) or (y) under Rule 144 or another exemption from registration under the Securities Act. The provisions of Section 3.5 and Article IV shall survive any termination.

 

Section 5.8 Rules of Construction. Any provision of this Agreement that refers to the words “include,” “includes” or “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” References to numbered or letter articles, sections and subsections refer to articles, sections and subsections, respectively, of this Agreement unless expressly stated otherwise. All references to this Agreement include, whether or not expressly referenced, the exhibits and schedules attached hereto. References to a Section, paragraph, Exhibit or Schedule, such reference shall be to a Section or paragraph of, or Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The word “or” when used in this Agreement is not exclusive. The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter genders of such term. Any agreement, instrument, law or statute defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such agreement, instrument, or statute as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of statutes) by succession of comparable successor statutes and includes references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein unless otherwise indicated. References to a Person are also to its permitted successors and assigns. In the event that any claim is made by any Person relating to any conflict, omission or ambiguity in this Agreement, no presumption or burden of proof or persuasion shall be implied by virtue of the fact that this Agreement was prepared by or at the request of a particular Person or its counsel.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

  22  

 

 

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

 

  COMPANY:
     
  CM LIFE SCIENCES III INC., a Delaware corporation
     
  By:

/s/ Brian Emes

  Name: Brian Emes
  Title:

Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

     
  EXISTING HOLDERS:
     
  CMLS HOLDINGS III LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
     
  By: /s/ Keith Meister
  Name: Keith Meister
  Title: Manager
     
  /s/ Christian Henry
  Name: Christian Henry
     
  /s/ Kwame Owusu-Kesse
  Name: Kwame Owusu-Kesse
     
 

/s/ Chad Robins

 

Name:

Chad Robins

     
  /s/ Harlan Robins
  Name: Harlan Robins
   
  /s/ Amy Abernethy
  Name: Amy Abernethy

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

Exhibit 10.8

EQRX, INC.

2021 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN

SECTION 1. GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE PLAN; DEFINITIONS

The name of the plan is the EQRx, Inc. 2021 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (as amended from time to time, the “Plan”). The purpose of the Plan is to encourage and enable the officers, employees, Non-Employee Directors and Consultants of EQRx, Inc. (the “Company”) and its Affiliates upon whose judgment, initiative and efforts the Company largely depends for the successful conduct of its business to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company. It is anticipated that providing such persons with a direct stake in the Company’s welfare will assure a closer identification of their interests with those of the Company and its stockholders, thereby stimulating their efforts on the Company’s behalf and strengthening their desire to remain with the Company.

The following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

“Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

“Administrator” means either the Board or the compensation committee of the Board or a similar committee performing the functions of the compensation committee and which is comprised of not less than two Non Employee Directors who are independent.

Affiliate” means, at the time of determination, any “parent” or “subsidiary” of the Company as such terms are defined in Rule 405 of the Act. The Board will have the authority to determine the time or times at which “parent” or “subsidiary” status is determined within the foregoing definition.

“Award” or “Awards,” except where referring to a particular category of grant under the Plan, shall include Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, Unrestricted Stock Awards, Cash-Based Awards, and Dividend Equivalent Rights.

“Award Certificate” means a written or electronic document setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to an Award granted under the Plan. Each Award Certificate is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

“Cash-Based Award” means an Award entitling the recipient to receive a cash-denominated payment.

“Closing Date” means the date of the closing of the transactions contemplated by that certain Merger Agreement, dated as of August 5, 2021, by and among the Company and the other parties thereto.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor Code, and related rules, regulations and interpretations.

“Consultant” means a consultant or adviser who provides bona fide services to the Company or an Affiliate as an independent contractor and who qualifies as a consultant or advisor under Instruction A.1.(a)(1) of Form S-8 under the Act.

Annex C-1

“Dividend Equivalent Right” means an Award entitling the grantee to receive credits based on cash dividends that would have been paid on the shares of Stock specified in the Dividend Equivalent Right (or other award to which it relates) if such shares had been issued to and held by the grantee.

“Effective Date” means the date on which the Plan becomes effective as set forth in Section 19.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

“Fair Market Value” of the Stock on any given date means the fair market value of the Stock determined in good faith by the Administrator; provided, however, that if the Stock is listed on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (“NASDAQ”), NASDAQ Global Market, The New York Stock Exchange or another national securities exchange or traded on any established market, the determination shall be made by reference to market quotations. If there are no market quotations for such date, the determination shall be made by reference to the last date preceding such date for which there are market quotations.

“Incentive Stock Option” means any Stock Option designated and qualified as an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code.

“Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board who is not also an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary.

“Non-Qualified Stock Option” means any Stock Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

“Option” or “Stock Option” means any option to purchase shares of Stock granted pursuant to Section 5.

“Prior Plan” means the EQRx, Inc. 2019 Stock Option and Grant Plan, as amended.

“Restricted Shares” means the shares of Stock underlying a Restricted Stock Award that remain subject to a risk of forfeiture or the Company’s right of repurchase.

“Restricted Stock Award” means an Award of Restricted Shares subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Administrator may determine at the time of grant.

“Restricted Stock Units” means an Award of stock units subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Administrator may determine at the time of grant.

“Sale Event” means (i) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company on a consolidated basis to an unrelated person or entity, (ii) a merger, reorganization or consolidation pursuant to which the holders of the Company’s outstanding voting power and outstanding stock immediately prior to such transaction do not own a majority of the outstanding voting power and outstanding stock or other equity interests of the resulting or successor entity (or its ultimate parent, if applicable) immediately upon completion of such transaction, (iii) the sale of all of the Stock of the Company to an unrelated person, entity or group thereof acting in concert, or (iv) any other transaction in which the owners of the Company’s outstanding voting power immediately prior to such transaction do not own at least a majority of the outstanding voting power of the Company or any successor entity immediately upon completion of the transaction other than as a result of the acquisition of securities directly from the Company.

Sale Price” means the value as determined by the Administrator of the consideration payable, or otherwise to be received by stockholders, per share of Stock pursuant to a Sale Event.

“Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and other guidance promulgated thereunder.

Annex C-2

“Service Relationship” means any relationship as an employee, director or Consultant of the Company or any Affiliate (e.g., a Service Relationship shall be deemed to continue without interruption in the event an individual’s status changes from full-time employee to part-time employee or Consultant).

“Stock” means the Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company, subject to adjustments pursuant to Section 3.

“Stock Appreciation Right” means an Award entitling the recipient to receive shares of Stock (or cash, to the extent explicitly provided for in the applicable Award Certificate) having a value equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price of the Stock Appreciation Right multiplied by the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right shall have been exercised.

“Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity (other than the Company) in which the Company has at least a 50 percent interest, either directly or indirectly.

“Ten Percent Owner” means an employee who owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10 percent of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation.

“Unrestricted Stock Award” means an Award of shares of Stock free of any restrictions.

SECTION 2. ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN; ADMINISTRATOR AUTHORITY TO SELECT GRANTEES AND DETERMINE AWARDS

(a)        Administration of Plan. The Plan shall be administered by the Administrator.

(b)       Powers of Administrator. The Administrator shall have the power and authority to grant Awards consistent with the terms of the Plan, including the power and authority:

(i)         to select the individuals to whom Awards may from time to time be granted;

(ii)        to determine the time or times of grant, and the extent, if any, of Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, Unrestricted Stock Awards, Cash-Based Awards, and Dividend Equivalent Rights, or any combination of the foregoing, granted to any one or more grantees;

(iii)       to determine the number of shares of Stock to be covered by any Award;

(iv)       to determine and modify from time to time the terms and conditions, including restrictions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award, which terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees, and to approve the forms of Award Certificates;

(v)        to accelerate at any time the exercisability or vesting of all or any portion of any Award;

(vi)        subject to the provisions of Section 5(c) or Section 6(d), as applicable, to extend at any time the period in which Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised; and

(vii)      at any time to adopt, alter and repeal such rules, guidelines and practices for administration of the Plan and for its own acts and proceedings as it shall deem advisable; to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award (including related written instruments); to make all determinations it deems advisable for the administration of the Plan; to decide all disputes arising in connection with the Plan; and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan.

Annex C-3

All decisions and interpretations of the Administrator shall be binding on all persons, including the Company and Plan grantees.

(c)        Delegation of Authority to Grant Awards. Subject to applicable law, the Administrator, in its discretion, may delegate to a committee consisting of one or more officers of the Company, including the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, all or part of the Administrator’s authority and duties with respect to the granting of Awards to individuals who are (i) not subject to the reporting and other provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and (ii) not members of the delegated committee. Any such delegation by the Administrator shall include a limitation as to the amount of Stock underlying Awards that may be granted during the period of the delegation and shall contain guidelines as to the determination of the exercise price and the vesting criteria. The Administrator may revoke or amend the terms of a delegation at any time but such action shall not invalidate any prior actions of the Administrator’s delegate or delegates that were consistent with the terms of the Plan.

(d)       Award Certificate. Awards under the Plan shall be evidenced by Award Certificates that set forth the terms, conditions and limitations for each Award which may include, without limitation, the term of an Award and the provisions applicable in the event employment or service terminates.

(e)        Indemnification. Neither the Board nor the Administrator, nor any member of either or any delegate thereof, shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in good faith in connection with the Plan, and the members of the Board and the Administrator (and any delegate thereof) shall be entitled in all cases to indemnification and reimbursement by the Company in respect of any claim, loss, damage or expense (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising or resulting therefrom to the fullest extent permitted by law and/or under the Company’s articles or bylaws or any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage which may be in effect from time to time and/or any indemnification agreement between such individual and the Company.

(f)        Foreign Award Recipients. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws in other countries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate or have employees or other individuals eligible for Awards, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to: (i) determine which Subsidiaries shall be covered by the Plan; (ii) determine which individuals outside the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan; (iii) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to individuals outside the United States to comply with applicable foreign laws; (iv) establish subplans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent the Administrator determines such actions to be necessary or advisable (and such subplans and/or modifications shall be attached to this Plan as appendices); provided, however, that no such subplans and/or modifications shall increase the share limitations contained in Section 3(a) hereof; and (v) take any action, before or after an Award is made, that the Administrator determines to be necessary or advisable to obtain approval or comply with any local governmental regulatory exemptions or approvals. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate the Exchange Act or any other applicable United States securities law, the Code, or any other applicable United States governing statute or law.

SECTION 3. STOCK ISSUABLE UNDER THE PLAN; MERGERS; SUBSTITUTION

(a)        Stock Issuable. The maximum number of shares of Stock reserved and available for issuance under the Plan shall be 59,353,357 shares (the “Initial Limit”), subject to adjustment as provided in this Section 3, plus on January 1, 2022 and each January 1 thereafter, the number of shares of Stock reserved and available for issuance under the Plan shall be cumulatively

Annex C-4

increased by (i) five percent (5%) of the number of shares of Stock issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31 or (ii) such lesser number of shares as determined by the Administrator (the “Annual Increase”). Subject to such overall limitation, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued in the form of Incentive Stock Options shall not exceed the Initial Limit, as cumulatively increased on January 1, 2022 and each January 1 thereafter by the lesser of the Annual Increase for such year or 29,676,679 shares of Stock, subject in all cases to adjustment as provided in Section 3(b). For purposes of this limitation, the shares of Stock underlying any awards under the Plan and under the Prior Plan that are forfeited, canceled, held back upon exercise of an option or settlement of an award to cover the exercise price or tax withholding, reacquired by the Company prior to vesting, satisfied without the issuance of Stock or otherwise terminated (other than by exercise) shall be added back to the shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan and, to the extent permitted under Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder, the shares of Stock that may be issued as Incentive Stock Options. In the event the Company repurchases shares of Stock on the open market, such shares shall not be added to the shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan. Subject to such overall limitations, shares of Stock may be issued up to such maximum number pursuant to any type or types of Award. The shares available for issuance under the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares of Stock or shares of Stock reacquired by the Company.

(b)       Changes in Stock. Subject to Section 3(c) hereof, if, as a result of any reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar change in the Company’s capital stock, the outstanding shares of Stock are increased or decreased or are exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of the Company, or additional shares or new or different shares or other securities of the Company or other non-cash assets are distributed with respect to such shares of Stock or other securities, or, if, as a result of any merger or consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, the outstanding shares of Stock are converted into or exchanged for securities of the Company or any successor entity (or a parent or subsidiary thereof), the Administrator shall make an appropriate or proportionate adjustment in (i) the maximum number of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan, including the maximum number of shares that may be issued in the form of Incentive Stock Options, (ii) the number and kind of shares or other securities subject to any then outstanding Awards under the Plan, (iii) the repurchase price, if any, per share subject to each outstanding Restricted Stock Award, and (iv) the exercise price for each share subject to any then outstanding Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan, without changing the aggregate exercise price (i.e., the exercise price multiplied by the number of shares subject to Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights) as to which such Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights remain exercisable. The Administrator shall also make equitable or proportionate adjustments in the number of shares subject to outstanding Awards and the exercise price and the terms of outstanding Awards to take into consideration cash dividends paid other than in the ordinary course or any other extraordinary corporate event. The adjustment by the Administrator shall be final, binding and conclusive. No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued under the Plan resulting from any such adjustment, but the Administrator in its discretion may make a cash payment in lieu of fractional shares.

(c)        Mergers and Other Transactions. In the case of and subject to the consummation of a Sale Event, the parties thereto may cause the assumption or continuation of Awards theretofore granted by the successor entity, or the substitution of such Awards with new Awards of the successor entity or parent thereof, with appropriate adjustment as to the number and kind of shares and, if appropriate, the per share exercise prices, as such parties shall agree. To the extent the parties to such Sale Event do not provide for the assumption, continuation or substitution of Awards, upon the effective time of the Sale Event, the Plan and all outstanding Awards granted hereunder shall terminate. In such case, except as may be otherwise provided

Annex C-5

in the relevant Award Certificate, all Awards with time-based vesting, conditions or restrictions shall become fully vested and exercisable or nonforfeitable as of the effective time of the Sale Event, and all Awards with conditions and restrictions relating to the attainment of performance goals may become vested and exercisable or nonforfeitable in connection with a Sale Event in the Administrator’s discretion or to the extent specified in the relevant Award Certificate. In the event of such termination, (i) the Company shall have the option (in its sole discretion) to make or provide for a payment, in cash or in kind, to the grantees holding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, in exchange for the cancellation thereof, in an amount equal to the difference between (A) the Sale Price multiplied by the number of shares of Stock subject to outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (to the extent then exercisable at prices not in excess of the Sale Price) and (B) the aggregate exercise price of all such outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (provided that, in the case of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right with an exercise price equal to or greater than the Sale Price, such Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be cancelled for no consideration); or (ii) each grantee shall be permitted, within a specified period of time prior to the consummation of the Sale Event as determined by the Administrator, to exercise all outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (to the extent then exercisable) held by such grantee. The Company shall also have the option (in its sole discretion) to make or provide for a payment, in cash or in kind, to the grantees holding other Awards in an amount equal to the Sale Price multiplied by the number of vested shares of Stock under such Awards.

(d)       Maximum Awards to Non-Employee Directors. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, the value of all Awards awarded under this Plan and all other cash compensation paid by the Company to any Non-Employee Director in any calendar year for services as a Non-Employee Director shall not exceed $750,000; provided, however, that such amount shall be $1,000,000 for the calendar year in which the applicable Non-Employee Director is initially elected or appointed to the Board. For the purpose of these limitations, the value of any Award shall be its grant date fair value, as determined in accordance with ASC 718 or successor provision but excluding the impact of estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting provisions.

SECTION 4. ELIGIBILITY

Grantees under the Plan will be such employees, Non-Employee Directors or Consultants of the Company and its Affiliates as are selected from time to time by the Administrator in its sole discretion; provided that Awards may not be granted to employees, Directors or Consultants who are providing services only to any “parent” of the Company, as such term is defined in Rule 405 of the Act, unless (i) the stock underlying the Awards is treated as “service recipient stock” under Section 409A or (ii) the Company, in consultation with its legal counsel, has determined that such Awards are exempt from or otherwise comply with Section 409A.

SECTION 5. STOCK OPTIONS

(a)        Award of Stock Options. The Administrator may grant Stock Options under the Plan. Any Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be in such form as the Administrator may from time to time approve.

Stock Options granted under the Plan may be either Incentive Stock Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or any Subsidiary that is a “subsidiary corporation” within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code. To the extent that any Option does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, it shall be deemed a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

Stock Options granted pursuant to this Section 5 shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator shall deem desirable. If the Administrator so determines,

Annex C-6

Stock Options may be granted in lieu of cash compensation at the optionee’s election, subject to such terms and conditions as the Administrator may establish.

(b)       Exercise Price. The exercise price per share for the Stock covered by a Stock Option granted pursuant to this Section 5 shall be determined by the Administrator at the time of grant but shall not be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option that is granted to a Ten Percent Owner, the exercise price of such Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than 110 percent of the Fair Market Value on the grant date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Stock Options may be granted with an exercise price per share that is less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant (i) pursuant to a transaction described in, and in a manner consistent with, Section 424(a) of the Code, (ii) to individuals who are not subject to U.S. income tax on the date of grant or (iii) if the Stock Option is otherwise compliant with Section 409A.

(c)        Option Term. The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the Administrator, but no Stock Option shall be exercisable more than ten years after the date the Stock Option is granted. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option that is granted to a Ten Percent Owner, the term of such Stock Option shall be no more than five years from the date of grant.

(d)       Exercisability; Rights of a Stockholder. Stock Options shall become exercisable at such time or times, whether or not in installments, as shall be determined by the Administrator at or after the grant date. The Administrator may at any time accelerate the exercisability of all or any portion of any Stock Option. An optionee shall have the rights of a stockholder only as to shares acquired upon the exercise of a Stock Option and not as to unexercised Stock Options.

(e)        Method of Exercise. Stock Options may be exercised in whole or in part, by giving written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company, specifying the number of shares to be purchased. Payment of the purchase price may be made by one or more of the following methods except to the extent otherwise provided in the Award Certificate:

(i)         In cash, by certified or bank check or other instrument acceptable to the Administrator;

(ii)        Through the delivery (or attestation to the ownership following such procedures as the Company may prescribe) of shares of Stock that are not then subject to restrictions under any Company plan. Such surrendered shares shall be valued at Fair Market Value on the exercise date;

(iii)       By the optionee delivering to the Company a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to promptly deliver to the Company cash or a check payable and acceptable to the Company for the purchase price; provided that in the event the optionee chooses to pay the purchase price as so provided, the optionee and the broker shall comply with such procedures and enter into such agreements of indemnity and other agreements as the Company shall prescribe as a condition of such payment procedure; or

(iv)       With respect to Stock Options that are not Incentive Stock Options, by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of shares of Stock issuable upon exercise by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price.

Payment instruments will be received subject to collection. The transfer to the optionee on the records of the Company or of the transfer agent of the shares of Stock to be purchased pursuant to the exercise of a Stock Option will be contingent upon receipt from the optionee (or a purchaser acting in his stead in accordance with the provisions of the Stock Option) by the Company of the full purchase price for such shares and the fulfillment of any other requirements contained in the Award Certificate or applicable provisions of laws (including the satisfaction of any withholding taxes that the Company is obligated to withhold with respect to the optionee). In the event an optionee chooses to pay the purchase price by previously-owned shares of Stock through the attestation method, the number of shares of Stock transferred to the optionee upon

Annex C-7

the exercise of the Stock Option shall be net of the number of attested shares. In the event that the Company establishes, for itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the exercise of Stock Options, such as a system using an internet website or interactive voice response, then the paperless exercise of Stock Options may be permitted through the use of such an automated system.

(f)        Annual Limit on Incentive Stock Options. To the extent required for “incentive stock option” treatment under Section 422 of the Code, the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time of grant) of the shares of Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options granted under this Plan and any other plan of the Company or its parent and subsidiary corporations become exercisable for the first time by an optionee during any calendar year shall not exceed $100,000. To the extent that any Stock Option exceeds this limit, it shall constitute a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

SECTION 6. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

(a)        Award of Stock Appreciation Rights. The Administrator may grant Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan. A Stock Appreciation Right is an Award entitling the recipient to receive shares of Stock (or cash, to the extent explicitly provided for in the applicable Award Certificate) having a value equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price of the Stock Appreciation Right multiplied by the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right shall have been exercised.

(b)       Exercise Price of Stock Appreciation Rights. The exercise price of a Stock Appreciation Right shall not be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted with an exercise price per share that is less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant (i) pursuant to a transaction described in, and in a manner consistent with, Section 424(a) of the Code, (ii) to individuals who are not subject to U.S. income tax on the date of grant, or (iii) if the Stock Appreciation Right is otherwise compliant with Section 409A.

(c)        Grant and Exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted by the Administrator independently of any Stock Option granted pursuant to Section 5 of the Plan.

(d)       Terms and Conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined on the date of grant by the Administrator. The term of a Stock Appreciation Right may not exceed ten years. The terms and conditions of each such Award shall be determined by the Administrator, and such terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees.

SECTION 7. RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

(a)        Nature of Restricted Stock Awards. The Administrator may grant Restricted Stock Awards under the Plan. A Restricted Stock Award is any Award of Restricted Shares subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Administrator may determine at the time of grant. Conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other Service Relationship) and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives.

(b)       Rights as a Stockholder. Upon the grant of the Restricted Stock Award and payment of any applicable purchase price, if any, a grantee shall have the rights of a stockholder with respect to the voting of the Restricted Shares and receipt of dividends; provided that if the lapse of restrictions with respect to the Restricted Stock Award is tied to the attainment of performance goals, any dividends paid by the Company during the performance period shall accrue and shall not be paid to the grantee until and to the extent the performance goals are met with respect to the Restricted Stock Award. Unless the Administrator shall otherwise determine, (i) uncertificated Restricted Shares shall be accompanied by a notation on the

Annex C-8

records of the Company or the transfer agent to the effect that they are subject to forfeiture until such Restricted Shares are vested as provided in Section 7(d) below, and (ii) certificated Restricted Shares shall remain in the possession of the Company until such Restricted Shares are vested as provided in Section 7(d) below, and the grantee shall be required, as a condition of the grant, to deliver to the Company such instruments of transfer as the Administrator may prescribe.

(c)        Restrictions. Restricted Shares may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of except as specifically provided herein or in the Restricted Stock Award Certificate. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award Certificate or, subject to Section 16 below, in writing after the Award is issued, if a grantee’s employment (or other Service Relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates for any reason, any Restricted Shares that have not vested at the time of termination shall automatically and without any requirement of notice to such grantee from or other action by or on behalf of, the Company be deemed to have been reacquired by the Company at their original purchase price (if any) from such grantee or such grantee’s legal representative simultaneously with such termination of employment (or other Service Relationship), and thereafter shall cease to represent any ownership of the Company by the grantee or rights of the grantee as a stockholder. Following such deemed reacquisition of Restricted Shares that are represented by physical certificates, a grantee shall surrender such certificates to the Company upon request without consideration.

(d)       Vesting of Restricted Shares. The Administrator at the time of grant shall specify the date or dates and/or the attainment of pre-established performance goals, objectives and other conditions on which the non-transferability of the Restricted Shares and the Company’s right of repurchase or forfeiture shall lapse. Subsequent to such date or dates and/or the attainment of such pre-established performance goals, objectives and other conditions, the shares on which all restrictions have lapsed shall no longer be Restricted Shares and shall be deemed “vested.”

SECTION 8. RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

(a)        Nature of Restricted Stock Units. The Administrator may grant Restricted Stock Units under the Plan. A Restricted Stock Unit is an Award of stock units that may be settled in shares of Stock (or cash, to the extent explicitly provided for in the Award Certificate) upon the satisfaction of such restrictions and conditions at the time of grant. Conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other Service Relationship) and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives. The terms and conditions of each such Award shall be determined by the Administrator, and such terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees. Except in the case of Restricted Stock Units with a deferred settlement date that complies with Section 409A, at the end of the vesting period, the Restricted Stock Units, to the extent vested, shall be settled in the form of shares of Stock (or cash, to the extent explicitly provided for in the Award Certificate). Restricted Stock Units with deferred settlement dates are subject to Section 409A and shall contain such additional terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine in its sole discretion in order to comply with the requirements of Section 409A.

(b)       Election to Receive Restricted Stock Units in Lieu of Compensation. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, permit a grantee to elect to receive a portion of future cash compensation otherwise due to such grantee in the form of an award of Restricted Stock Units. Any such election shall be made in writing and shall be delivered to the Company no later than the date specified by the Administrator and in accordance with Section 409A and such other rules and procedures established by the Administrator. Any such future cash compensation that the grantee elects to defer shall be converted to a fixed number of Restricted Stock Units based on the Fair Market Value of Stock on the date the compensation would otherwise have

Annex C-9

been paid to the grantee if such payment had not been deferred as provided herein. The Administrator shall have the sole right to determine whether and under what circumstances to permit such elections and to impose such limitations and other terms and conditions thereon as the Administrator deems appropriate. Any Restricted Stock Units that are elected to be received in lieu of cash compensation shall be fully vested, unless otherwise provided in the Award Certificate.

(c)        Rights as a Stockholder. A grantee shall have the rights as a stockholder only as to shares of Stock acquired by the grantee upon settlement of Restricted Stock Units; provided, however, that the grantee may be credited with Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the stock units underlying his or her Restricted Stock Units, subject to the provisions of Section 11 and such terms and conditions as the Administrator may determine.

(d)       Termination. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award Certificate or, subject to Section 16 below, in writing after the Award is issued, a grantee’s right in all Restricted Stock Units that have not vested shall automatically terminate upon the grantee’s termination of employment (or cessation of Service Relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason.

SECTION 9. UNRESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

Grant or Sale of Unrestricted Stock. The Administrator may grant (or sell at par value or such higher purchase price determined by the Administrator) an Unrestricted Stock Award under the Plan. An Unrestricted Stock Award is an Award pursuant to which the grantee may receive shares of Stock free of any restrictions under the Plan. Unrestricted Stock Awards may be granted in respect of past services or other valid consideration, or in lieu of cash compensation due to such grantee.

SECTION 10. CASH-BASED AWARDS

Grant of Cash-Based Awards. The Administrator may grant Cash-Based Awards under the Plan. A Cash-Based Award is an Award that entitles the grantee to a payment in cash upon the attainment of specified performance goals. The Administrator shall determine the maximum duration of the Cash-Based Award, the amount of cash to which the Cash-Based Award pertains, the conditions upon which the Cash-Based Award shall become vested or payable, and such other provisions as the Administrator shall determine. Each Cash-Based Award shall specify a cash-denominated payment amount, formula or payment ranges as determined by the Administrator. Payment, if any, with respect to a Cash-Based Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award and may be made in cash.

SECTION 11. DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT RIGHTS

(a)        Dividend Equivalent Rights. The Administrator may grant Dividend Equivalent Rights under the Plan. A Dividend Equivalent Right is an Award entitling the grantee to receive credits based on cash dividends that would have been paid on the shares of Stock specified in the Dividend Equivalent Right (or other Award to which it relates) if such shares had been issued to the grantee. A Dividend Equivalent Right may be granted hereunder to any grantee as a component of an award of Restricted Stock Units or as a freestanding award. The terms and conditions of Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be specified in the Award Certificate. Dividend equivalents credited to the holder of a Dividend Equivalent Right may be paid currently or may be deemed to be reinvested in additional shares of Stock, which may thereafter accrue additional equivalents. Any such reinvestment shall be at Fair Market Value on the date of reinvestment or such other price as may then apply under a dividend reinvestment plan sponsored by the Company, if any. Dividend Equivalent Rights may be settled in cash or shares of Stock or a combination thereof, in a single installment or installments. A Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of an Award of Restricted Stock Units shall provide that such Dividend Equivalent Right shall be settled only upon settlement or payment of, or lapse of restrictions on, such other

Annex C-10

Award, and that such Dividend Equivalent Right shall expire or be forfeited or annulled under the same conditions as such other Award.

(b)       Termination. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Administrator either in the Award Certificate or, subject to Section 16 below, in writing after the Award is issued, a grantee’s rights in all Dividend Equivalent Rights shall automatically terminate upon the grantee’s termination of employment (or cessation of Service Relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason.

SECTION 12. Transferability of Awards

(a)        Transferability. Except as provided in Section 12(b) below, during a grantee’s lifetime, his or her Awards shall be exercisable only by the grantee, or by the grantee’s legal representative or guardian in the event of the grantee’s incapacity. No Awards shall be sold, assigned, transferred or otherwise encumbered or disposed of by a grantee other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a domestic relations order. No Awards shall be subject, in whole or in part, to attachment, execution, or levy of any kind, and any purported transfer in violation hereof shall be null and void.

(b)       Administrator Action. Notwithstanding Section 12(a), the Administrator, in its discretion, may provide either in the Award Certificate regarding a given Award or by subsequent written approval that the grantee (who is an employee or director) may transfer his or her Non-Qualified Stock Options to his or her immediate family members, to trusts for the benefit of such family members, or to partnerships in which such family members are the only partners, provided that the transferee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Plan and the applicable Award. In no event may an Award be transferred by a grantee for value.

(c)        Family Member. For purposes of Section 12(b), “family member” shall mean a grantee’s child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, any person sharing the grantee’s household (other than a tenant of the grantee), a trust in which these persons (or the grantee) have more than 50 percent of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the grantee) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the grantee) own more than 50 percent of the voting interests.

(d)       Designation of Beneficiary. To the extent permitted by the Company, each grantee to whom an Award has been made under the Plan may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to exercise any Award or receive any payment under any Award payable on or after the grantee’s death. Any such designation shall be on a form provided for that purpose by the Administrator and shall not be effective until received by the Administrator. If no beneficiary has been designated by a deceased grantee, or if the designated beneficiaries have predeceased the grantee, the beneficiary shall be the grantee’s estate.

SECTION 13. TAX WITHHOLDING

(a)        Payment by Grantee. Each grantee shall, no later than the date as of which the value of an Award or of any Stock or other amount received thereunder first becomes includable in the gross income of the grantee for income tax purposes, pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Administrator regarding payment of, any Federal, state, or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld by the Company with respect to such income. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the grantee. The Company’s

Annex C-11

obligation to deliver evidence of book entry (or stock certificates) to any grantee is subject to and conditioned on tax withholding obligations being satisfied by the grantee.

(b)       Payment in Stock. The Administrator may require the Company’s tax withholding obligation to be satisfied, in whole or in part, by the Company withholding from shares of Stock to be issued pursuant to any Award a number of shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date the withholding is effected) that would satisfy the withholding amount due; provided, however, that the amount withheld does not exceed the maximum statutory tax rate or such lesser amount as is necessary to avoid liability accounting treatment. For purposes of share withholding, the Fair Market Value of withheld shares shall be determined in the same manner as the value of Stock includible in income of the grantees. The Administrator may also require the Company’s tax withholding obligation to be satisfied, in whole or in part, by an arrangement whereby a certain number of shares of Stock issued pursuant to any Award are immediately sold and proceeds from such sale are remitted to the Company in an amount that would satisfy the withholding amount due.

SECTION 14. Section 409A awards

Awards are intended to be exempt from Section 409A to the greatest extent possible and to otherwise comply with Section 409A. The Plan and all Awards shall be interpreted in accordance with such intent. To the extent that any Award is determined to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A (a “409A Award”), the Award shall be subject to such additional rules and requirements as specified by the Administrator from time to time in order to comply with Section 409A. In this regard, if any amount under a 409A Award is payable upon a “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A) to a grantee who is then considered a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A), then no such payment shall be made prior to the date that is the earlier of (i) six months and one day after the grantee’s separation from service, or (ii) the grantee’s death, but only to the extent such delay is necessary to prevent such payment from being subject to interest, penalties and/or additional tax imposed pursuant to Section 409A. Further, the settlement of any 409A Award may not be accelerated except to the extent permitted by Section 409A. The Company makes no representation that any or all of the payments or benefits described in the Plan will be exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the Code and makes no undertaking to preclude Section 409A of the Code from applying to any such payment. The grantee shall be solely responsible for the payment of any taxes and penalties incurred under Section 409A.

SECTION 15. TERMINATION OF SERVICE RELATIONSHIP, TRANSFER, LEAVE OF ABSENCE, ETC.

(a)        Termination of Service Relationship. If the grantee’s Service Relationship is with an Affiliate and such Affiliate ceases to be an Affiliate, the grantee shall be deemed to have terminated his or her Service Relationship for purposes of the Plan.

(b)       For purposes of the Plan, the following events shall not be deemed a termination of a Service Relationship:

(i)         a transfer to the employment of the Company from an Affiliate or from the Company to an Affiliate, or from one Affiliate to another; or

(ii)        an approved leave of absence for military service or sickness, or for any other purpose approved by the Company, if the employee’s right to re-employment is guaranteed either by a statute or by contract or under the policy pursuant to which the leave of absence was granted or if the Administrator otherwise so provides in writing.

Annex C-12

SECTION 16. AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION

The Board may, at any time, amend or discontinue the Plan and the Administrator may, at any time, amend or cancel any outstanding Award for the purpose of satisfying changes in law or for any other lawful purpose, but no such action shall materially and adversely affect rights under any outstanding Award without the holder’s consent. The Administrator is specifically authorized to exercise its discretion to reduce the exercise price of outstanding Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights or effect the repricing of such Awards through cancellation and re-grants. To the extent required under the rules of any securities exchange or market system on which the Stock is listed, to the extent determined by the Administrator to be required by the Code to ensure that Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan are qualified under Section 422 of the Code, Plan amendments shall be subject to approval by Company stockholders. Nothing in this Section 16 shall limit the Administrator’s authority to take any action permitted pursuant to Section 3(b) or 3(c).

SECTION 17. STATUS OF PLAN

With respect to the portion of any Award that has not been exercised and any payments in cash, Stock or other consideration not received by a grantee, a grantee shall have no rights greater than those of a general creditor of the Company unless the Administrator shall otherwise expressly determine in connection with any Award or Awards. In its sole discretion, the Administrator may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the Company’s obligations to deliver Stock or make payments with respect to Awards hereunder, provided that the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the foregoing sentence.

SECTION 18. GENERAL PROVISIONS

(a)        No Distribution. The Administrator may require each person acquiring Stock pursuant to an Award to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that such person is acquiring the shares without a view to distribution thereof.

(b)       Issuance of Stock. To the extent certificated, stock certificates to grantees under this Plan shall be deemed delivered for all purposes when the Company or a stock transfer agent of the Company shall have mailed such certificates in the United States mail, addressed to the grantee, at the grantee’s last known address on file with the Company. Uncertificated Stock shall be deemed delivered for all purposes when the Company or a Stock transfer agent of the Company shall have given to the grantee by electronic mail (with proof of receipt) or by United States mail, addressed to the grantee, at the grantee’s last known address on file with the Company, notice of issuance and recorded the issuance in its records (which may include electronic “book entry” records). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any evidence of book entry or certificates evidencing shares of Stock pursuant to the exercise or settlement of any Award, unless and until the Administrator has determined, with advice of counsel (to the extent the Administrator deems such advice necessary or advisable), that the issuance and delivery is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any exchange on which the shares of Stock are listed, quoted or traded. Any Stock issued pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to comply with federal, state or foreign jurisdiction, securities or other laws, rules and quotation system on which the Stock is listed, quoted or traded. The Administrator may place legends on any Stock certificate or notations on any book entry to reference restrictions applicable to the Stock. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Administrator may require that an individual make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Administrator, in its discretion, deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements. The Administrator shall have the right to require any individual to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement or exercise of any Award, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the discretion of the Administrator.

Annex C-13

(c)        No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Administrator shall determine whether cash, other securities or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional shares, or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated or otherwise eliminated.

(d)       Stockholder Rights. Until Stock is deemed delivered in accordance with Section 18(b), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights of a stockholder will exist with respect to shares of Stock to be issued in connection with an Award, notwithstanding the exercise of a Stock Option or any other action by the grantee with respect to an Award.

(e)        Other Compensation Arrangements; No Employment Rights. Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, including trusts, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases. The adoption of this Plan and the grant of Awards do not confer upon any employee any right to continued employment with the Company or any Subsidiary.

(f)        Trading Policy Restrictions. Option exercises and other Awards under the Plan shall be subject to the Company’s insider trading policies and procedures, as in effect from time to time.

(g)       Clawback Policy. A participant’s rights with respect to any Award hereunder shall in all events be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment to the extent necessary to comply with (i) any right that the Company may have under any Company clawback, forfeiture or recoupment policy as in effect from time to time or other agreement or arrangement with a grantee, or (ii) applicable law.

SECTION 19. EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN

This Plan shall become effective upon the date immediately preceding the Closing Date, subject to prior stockholder approval in accordance with applicable state law, the Company’s bylaws and articles of incorporation, and applicable stock exchange rules. No grants of Stock Options and other Awards may be made hereunder after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date and no grants of Incentive Stock Options may be made hereunder after the tenth anniversary of the date the Plan is approved by the Board.

SECTION 20. GOVERNING LAW

This Plan and all Awards and actions taken thereunder shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as to matters within the scope thereof, and as to all other matters shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, applied without regard to conflict of law principles.

DATE APPROVED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS: August 5, 2021

DATE APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS: December 16, 2021

Annex C-14

 

Exhibit 10.9

 

FORM OF INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
UNDER THE EQRX, INC.
2021 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN

 

Name of Optionee:    

 

No. of Option Shares:    

 

Option Exercise Price per Share: $    
  [FMV on Grant Date (110% of FMV if a 10% owner)]

 

Grant Date:    
     
Expiration Date:    
  [up to 10 years (5 if a 10% owner)]

 

Pursuant to the EQRx, Inc. 2021 Stock Option and Incentive Plan as amended through the date hereof (the “Plan”), EQRx, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby grants to the Optionee named above an option (the “Stock Option”) to purchase on or prior to the Expiration Date specified above all or part of the number of shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Stock”), of the Company specified above at the Option Exercise Price per Share specified above subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Plan.

 

1. Exercisability Schedule. No portion of this Stock Option may be exercised until such portion shall have become exercisable. Except as set forth below, and subject to the discretion of the Administrator (as defined in Section 2 of the Plan) to accelerate the exercisability schedule hereunder, this Stock Option shall be exercisable with respect to the following number of Option Shares on the dates indicated so long as the Optionee continues to have a Service Relationship on such dates:

 

Incremental Number of
Option Shares Exercisable
*
Exercisability Date
_____________ (___%) ____________
_____________ (___%) ____________
_____________ (___%) ____________
_____________ (___%) ____________
_____________ (___%) ____________

 

* Max. of $100,000 per yr.

 

Once exercisable, this Stock Option shall continue to be exercisable at any time or times prior to the close of business on the Expiration Date, subject to the provisions hereof and of the Plan.

 

 

 

2. Manner of Exercise.

 

(a) The Optionee may exercise this Stock Option only in the following manner: from time to time on or prior to the Expiration Date of this Stock Option, the Optionee may give written notice to the Administrator of his or her election to purchase some or all of the Option Shares purchasable at the time of such notice. This notice shall specify the number of Option Shares to be purchased.

 

Payment of the purchase price for the Option Shares may be made by one or more of the following methods: (i) in cash, by certified or bank check or other instrument acceptable to the Administrator; (ii) through the delivery (or attestation to the ownership) of shares of Stock that have been purchased by the Optionee on the open market or that are beneficially owned by the Optionee and are not then subject to any restrictions under any Company plan and that otherwise satisfy any holding periods as may be required by the Administrator; or (iii) by the Optionee delivering to the Company a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to promptly deliver to the Company cash or a check payable and acceptable to the Company to pay the option purchase price, provided that in the event the Optionee chooses to pay the option purchase price as so provided, the Optionee and the broker shall comply with such procedures and enter into such agreements of indemnity and other agreements as the Administrator shall prescribe as a condition of such payment procedure; or (iv) a combination of (i), (ii) and (iii) above. Payment instruments will be received subject to collection.

 

The transfer to the Optionee on the records of the Company or of the transfer agent of the Option Shares will be contingent upon (i) the Company’s receipt from the Optionee of the full purchase price for the Option Shares, as set forth above, (ii) the fulfillment of any other requirements contained herein or in the Plan or in any other agreement or provision of laws, and (iii) the receipt by the Company of any agreement, statement or other evidence that the Company may require to satisfy itself that the issuance of Stock to be purchased pursuant to the exercise of Stock Options under the Plan and any subsequent resale of the shares of Stock will be in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. In the event the Optionee chooses to pay the purchase price by previously-owned shares of Stock through the attestation method, the number of shares of Stock transferred to the Optionee upon the exercise of the Stock Option shall be net of the Shares attested to.

 

(b) The shares of Stock purchased upon exercise of this Stock Option shall be transferred to the Optionee on the records of the Company or of the transfer agent upon compliance to the satisfaction of the Administrator with all requirements under applicable laws or regulations in connection with such transfer and with the requirements hereof and of the Plan. The determination of the Administrator as to such compliance shall be final and binding on the Optionee. The Optionee shall not be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares of Stock subject to this Stock Option unless and until this Stock Option shall have been exercised pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company or the transfer agent shall have transferred the shares to the Optionee, and the Optionee’s name shall have been entered as the stockholder of record on the books of the Company. Thereupon, the Optionee shall have full voting, dividend and other ownership rights with respect to such shares of Stock.

 

2

 

 

(c) The minimum number of shares with respect to which this Stock Option may be exercised at any one time shall be 100 shares, unless the number of shares with respect to which this Stock Option is being exercised is the total number of shares subject to exercise under this Stock Option at the time.

 

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof or of the Plan, no portion of this Stock Option shall be exercisable after the Expiration Date hereof.

 

3. Termination of Service Relationship. If the Optionee’s Service Relationship is terminated, the period within which to exercise the Stock Option may be subject to earlier termination as set forth below.

 

(a) Termination Due to Death. If the Optionee’s Service Relationship terminates by reason of the Optionee’s death, any portion of this Stock Option outstanding on such date, to the extent exercisable on the date of death, may thereafter be exercised by the Optionee’s legal representative or legatee for a period of 12 months from the date of death or until the Expiration Date, if earlier. Any portion of this Stock Option that is not exercisable on the date of death shall terminate immediately and be of no further force or effect.

 

(b) Termination Due to Disability. If the Optionee’s Service Relationship terminates by reason of the Optionee’s disability (as determined by the Administrator), any portion of this Stock Option outstanding on such date, to the extent exercisable on the date of such termination, may thereafter be exercised by the Optionee for a period of 12 months from the date of such termination or until the Expiration Date, if earlier. Any portion of this Stock Option that is not exercisable on the date of such termination shall terminate immediately and be of no further force or effect.

 

(c) Termination for Cause. If the Optionee’s Service Relationship terminates for Cause, any portion of this Stock Option outstanding on such date shall terminate immediately and be of no further force and effect. For purposes hereof, “Cause” shall mean, unless otherwise provided in an employment or service agreement between the Company and the Optionee, a determination by the Administrator that the Optionee shall be dismissed as a result of (i) any material breach by the Optionee of any agreement between the Optionee and the Company; (ii) the conviction of, indictment for or plea of nolo contendere by the Optionee to a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude; or (iii) any material misconduct or willful and deliberate non-performance (other than by reason of disability) by the Optionee of the Optionee’s duties to the Company.

 

(d) Other Termination. If the Optionee’s Service Relationship terminates for any reason other than the Optionee’s death, the Optionee’s disability, or Cause, and unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, any portion of this Stock Option outstanding on such date may be exercised, to the extent exercisable on the date of termination, for a period of three months from the date of termination or until the Expiration Date, if earlier. Any portion of this Stock Option that is not exercisable on the date of termination shall terminate immediately and be of no further force or effect.

 

3

 

 

The Administrator’s determination of the reason for termination of the Optionee’s Service Relationship shall be conclusive and binding on the Optionee and his or her representatives or legatees.

 

4. Incorporation of Plan. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Stock Option shall be subject to and governed by all the terms and conditions of the Plan, including the powers of the Administrator set forth in Section 2(b) of the Plan. Capitalized terms in this Agreement shall have the meaning specified in the Plan, unless a different meaning is specified herein.

 

5. Transferability. This Agreement is personal to the Optionee, is non-assignable and is not transferable in any manner, by operation of law or otherwise, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Stock Option is exercisable, during the Optionee’s lifetime, only by the Optionee, and thereafter, only by the Optionee’s legal representative or legatee.

 

6. Status of the Stock Option. This Stock Option is intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), but the Company does not represent or warrant that this Stock Option qualifies as such. The Optionee should consult with his or her own tax advisors regarding the tax effects of this Stock Option and the requirements necessary to obtain favorable income tax treatment under Section 422 of the Code, including, but not limited to, holding period requirements and that this Stock Option must be exercised within three months after termination of employment as an employee (or 12 months in the case of death or disability) to qualify as an “incentive stock option.” To the extent any portion of this Stock Option does not so qualify as an “incentive stock option,” such portion shall be deemed to be a non-qualified stock option. If the Optionee intends to dispose or does dispose (whether by sale, gift, transfer or otherwise) of any Option Shares within the one-year period beginning on the date after the transfer of such shares to him or her, or within the two-year period beginning on the day after the grant of this Stock Option, he or she will so notify the Company within 30 days after such disposition.

 

7. Tax Withholding. The Optionee shall, not later than the date as of which the exercise of this Stock Option becomes a taxable event for Federal income tax purposes, pay to the Company or make arrangements satisfactory to the Administrator for payment of any Federal, state, and local taxes required by law to be withheld on account of such taxable event. The Company shall have the authority to cause the required tax withholding obligation to be satisfied, in whole or in part, by (i) withholding from shares of Stock to be issued to the Optionee a number of shares of Stock with an aggregate Fair Market Value that would satisfy the withholding amount due; or (ii) causing its transfer agent to sell from the number of shares of Stock to be issued to the Optionee, the number of shares of Stock necessary to satisfy the Federal, state and local taxes required by law to be withheld from the Optionee on account of such transfer.

 

4

 

 

8. No Obligation to Continue Service Relationship. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is obligated by or as a result of the Plan or this Agreement to continue the Optionee in a Service Relationship with the Company or a Subsidiary and neither the Plan nor this Agreement shall interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate the Optionee’s Service Relationship with the Company or a Subsidiary at any time.

 

9. Integration. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to this Stock Option and supersedes all prior agreements and discussions between the parties concerning such subject matter.

 

10. Data Privacy Consent. In order to administer the Plan and this Agreement and to implement or structure future equity grants, the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates and certain agents thereof (together, the “Relevant Companies”) may process any and all personal or professional data, including but not limited to Social Security or other identification number, home address and telephone number, date of birth and other information that is necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan and/or this Agreement (the “Relevant Information”). By entering into this Agreement, the Optionee (i) authorizes the Company to collect, process, register and transfer to the Relevant Companies all Relevant Information; (ii) waives any privacy rights the Optionee may have with respect to the Relevant Information; (iii) authorizes the Relevant Companies to store and transmit such information in electronic form; and (iv) authorizes the transfer of the Relevant Information to any jurisdiction in which the Relevant Companies consider appropriate. The Optionee shall have access to, and the right to change, the Relevant Information. Relevant Information will only be used in accordance with applicable law.

 

11. Notices. Notices hereunder shall be mailed or delivered to the Company at its principal place of business and shall be mailed or delivered to the Optionee at the address on file with the Company or, in either case, at such other address as one party may subsequently furnish to the other party in writing.

 

  EQRX, INC.
   
  By:  
    Title:

 

5

 

 

The foregoing Agreement is hereby accepted and the terms and conditions thereof hereby agreed to by the undersigned. Electronic acceptance of this Agreement pursuant to the Company’s instructions to the Optionee (including through an online acceptance process) is acceptable.

 

Dated:__________________________  
  Optionee’s Signature
   
  Optionee’s name and address:
   
   
   
   

 

6

 

 

FORM OF NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
UNDER the eqrx, inc.
2021 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN

 

Name of Optionee:    

 

No. of Option Shares:    

 

Option Exercise Price per Share: $    
  [FMV on Grant Date]

 

Grant Date:    
     
Expiration Date:    
  [No more than 10 years]

 

Pursuant to the EQRx, Inc. 2021 Stock Option and Incentive Plan as amended through the date hereof (the “Plan”), EQRx, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby grants to the Optionee named above, who is a Director of the Company but is not an employee of the Company, an option (the “Stock Option”) to purchase on or prior to the Expiration Date specified above all or part of the number of shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Stock”), of the Company specified above at the Option Exercise Price per Share specified above subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Plan. This Stock Option is not intended to be an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

1. Exercisability Schedule. No portion of this Stock Option may be exercised until such portion shall have become exercisable. Except as set forth below, and subject to the discretion of the Administrator (as defined in Section 2 of the Plan) to accelerate the exercisability schedule hereunder, this Stock Option shall be exercisable with respect to the following number of Option Shares on the dates indicated so long as the Optionee remains in a Service Relationship on such dates:

 

Incremental Number of
Option Shares Exercisable
Exercisability Date
_____________ (___%) ____________
_____________ (___%) ____________
_____________ (___%) ____________
_____________ (___%) ____________
_____________ (___%) ____________

 

 

 

Once exercisable, this Stock Option shall continue to be exercisable at any time or times prior to the close of business on the Expiration Date, subject to the provisions hereof and of the Plan.

 

2. Manner of Exercise.

 

(a) The Optionee may exercise this Stock Option only in the following manner: from time to time on or prior to the Expiration Date of this Stock Option, the Optionee may give written notice to the Administrator of his or her election to purchase some or all of the Option Shares purchasable at the time of such notice. This notice shall specify the number of Option Shares to be purchased.

 

Payment of the purchase price for the Option Shares may be made by one or more of the following methods: (i) in cash, by certified or bank check or other instrument acceptable to the Administrator; (ii) through the delivery (or attestation to the ownership) of shares of Stock that have been purchased by the Optionee on the open market or that are beneficially owned by the Optionee and are not then subject to any restrictions under any Company plan and that otherwise satisfy any holding periods as may be required by the Administrator; (iii) by the Optionee delivering to the Company a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to promptly deliver to the Company cash or a check payable and acceptable to the Company to pay the option purchase price, provided that in the event the Optionee chooses to pay the option purchase price as so provided, the Optionee and the broker shall comply with such procedures and enter into such agreements of indemnity and other agreements as the Administrator shall prescribe as a condition of such payment procedure; (iv) by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of shares of Stock issuable upon exercise by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price; or (v) a combination of (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above. Payment instruments will be received subject to collection.

 

The transfer to the Optionee on the records of the Company or of the transfer agent of the Option Shares will be contingent upon (i) the Company’s receipt from the Optionee of the full purchase price for the Option Shares, as set forth above, (ii) the fulfillment of any other requirements contained herein or in the Plan or in any other agreement or provision of laws, and (iii) the receipt by the Company of any agreement, statement or other evidence that the Company may require to satisfy itself that the issuance of Stock to be purchased pursuant to the exercise of Stock Options under the Plan and any subsequent resale of the shares of Stock will be in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. In the event the Optionee chooses to pay the purchase price by previously-owned shares of Stock through the attestation method, the number of shares of Stock transferred to the Optionee upon the exercise of the Stock Option shall be net of the Shares attested to.

 

(b) The shares of Stock purchased upon exercise of this Stock Option shall be transferred to the Optionee on the records of the Company or of the transfer agent upon compliance to the satisfaction of the Administrator with all requirements under applicable laws or regulations in connection with such transfer and with the requirements hereof and of the Plan. The determination of the Administrator as to such compliance shall be final and binding on the Optionee. The Optionee shall not be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares of Stock subject to this Stock Option unless and until this Stock Option shall have been exercised pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company or the transfer agent shall have transferred the shares to the Optionee, and the Optionee’s name shall have been entered as the stockholder of record on the books of the Company. Thereupon, the Optionee shall have full voting, dividend and other ownership rights with respect to such shares of Stock.

 

2

 

 

(c) The minimum number of shares with respect to which this Stock Option may be exercised at any one time shall be 100 shares, unless the number of shares with respect to which this Stock Option is being exercised is the total number of shares subject to exercise under this Stock Option at the time.

 

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof or of the Plan, no portion of this Stock Option shall be exercisable after the Expiration Date hereof.

 

3. Termination of Service Relationship. If the Optionee’s Service Relationship ceases, the period within which to exercise the Stock Option may be subject to earlier termination as set forth below.

 

(a) Termination Due to Death. If the Optionee’s Service Relationship ceases by reason of the Optionee’s death, any portion of this Stock Option outstanding on such date, to the extent exercisable on the date of death, may thereafter be exercised by the Optionee’s legal representative or legatee for a period of [twelve] months from the date of death or until the Expiration Date, if earlier. Any portion of this Stock Option that is not exercisable on the date of death shall terminate immediately and be of no further force or effect.

 

(b) Other Termination. If the Optionee’ Service Relationship ceases for any reason other than the Optionee’s death, any portion of this Stock Option outstanding on such date may be exercised, to the extent exercisable on the date the Optionee’s Service Relationship ceases, for a period of [six] months from the date the Optionee’s Service Relationship ceases or until the Expiration Date, if earlier. Any portion of this Stock Option that is not exercisable on the date the Optionee’s Service Relationship ceases shall terminate immediately and be of no further force or effect.

 

4. Incorporation of Plan. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Stock Option shall be subject to and governed by all the terms and conditions of the Plan, including the powers of the Administrator set forth in Section 2(b) of the Plan. Capitalized terms in this Agreement shall have the meaning specified in the Plan, unless a different meaning is specified herein.

 

5. Transferability. This Agreement is personal to the Optionee, is non-assignable and is not transferable in any manner, by operation of law or otherwise, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Stock Option is exercisable, during the Optionee’s lifetime, only by the Optionee, and thereafter, only by the Optionee’s legal representative or legatee.

 

3

 

 

6. No Obligation to Continue Service Relationship. Neither the Plan nor this Stock Option confers upon the Optionee any rights with respect to continuance as a Director or in any other Service Relationship.

 

7. Integration. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to this Stock Option and supersedes all prior agreements and discussions between the parties concerning such subject matter.

 

8. Data Privacy Consent. In order to administer the Plan and this Agreement and to implement or structure future equity grants, the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates and certain agents thereof (together, the “Relevant Companies”) may process any and all personal or professional data, including but not limited to Social Security or other identification number, home address and telephone number, date of birth and other information that is necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan and/or this Agreement (the “Relevant Information”). By entering into this Agreement, the Optionee (i) authorizes the Company to collect, process, register and transfer to the Relevant Companies all Relevant Information; (ii) waives any privacy rights the Optionee may have with respect to the Relevant Information; (iii) authorizes the Relevant Companies to store and transmit such information in electronic form; and (iv) authorizes the transfer of the Relevant Information to any jurisdiction in which the Relevant Companies consider appropriate. The Optionee shall have access to, and the right to change, the Relevant Information. Relevant Information will only be used in accordance with applicable law.

 

9. Notices. Notices hereunder shall be mailed or delivered to the Company at its principal place of business and shall be mailed or delivered to the Optionee at the address on file with the Company or, in either case, at such other address as one party may subsequently furnish to the other party in writing.

 

  EQRX, INC.
   
  By:  
    Title:

 

4

 

 

The foregoing Agreement is hereby accepted and the terms and conditions thereof hereby agreed to by the undersigned. Electronic acceptance of this Agreement pursuant to the Company’s instructions to the Optionee (including through an online acceptance process) is acceptable.

 

Dated:__________________________  
  Optionee’s Signature
   
  Optionee’s name and address:
   
   
   
   

 

5

 

 

FORM OF NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
FOR COMPANY EMPLOYEES
UNDER the eqrx, inc.
2021 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN

 

 

Name of Optionee:    

 

No. of Option Shares:    

 

Option Exercise Price per Share: $    
  [FMV on Grant Date]

 

Grant Date:    
     
Expiration Date:    

 

Pursuant to the EQRx, Inc. 2021 Stock Option and Incentive Plan as amended through the date hereof (the “Plan”), EQRx, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby grants to the Optionee named above an option (the “Stock Option”) to purchase on or prior to the Expiration Date specified above all or part of the number of shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Stock”) of the Company specified above at the Option Exercise Price per Share specified above subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Plan. This Stock Option is not intended to be an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

1. Exercisability Schedule. No portion of this Stock Option may be exercised until such portion shall have become exercisable. Except as set forth below, and subject to the discretion of the Administrator (as defined in Section 2 of the Plan) to accelerate the exercisability schedule hereunder, this Stock Option shall be exercisable with respect to the following number of Option Shares on the dates indicated so long as Optionee remains in a Service Relationship with the Company or a Subsidiary on such dates:

 

Incremental Number of
Option Shares Exercisable
Exercisability Date
_____________ (___%) ____________
_____________ (___%) ____________
_____________ (___%) ____________
_____________ (___%) ____________
_____________ (___%) ____________

 

 

 

Once exercisable, this Stock Option shall continue to be exercisable at any time or times prior to the close of business on the Expiration Date, subject to the provisions hereof and of the Plan.

 

2. Manner of Exercise.

 

(a) The Optionee may exercise this Stock Option only in the following manner: from time to time on or prior to the Expiration Date of this Stock Option, the Optionee may give written notice to the Administrator of his or her election to purchase some or all of the Option Shares purchasable at the time of such notice. This notice shall specify the number of Option Shares to be purchased.

 

Payment of the purchase price for the Option Shares may be made by one or more of the following methods: (i) in cash, by certified or bank check or other instrument acceptable to the Administrator; (ii) through the delivery (or attestation to the ownership) of shares of Stock that have been purchased by the Optionee on the open market or that are beneficially owned by the Optionee and are not then subject to any restrictions under any Company plan and that otherwise satisfy any holding periods as may be required by the Administrator; (iii) by the Optionee delivering to the Company a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to promptly deliver to the Company cash or a check payable and acceptable to the Company to pay the option purchase price, provided that in the event the Optionee chooses to pay the option purchase price as so provided, the Optionee and the broker shall comply with such procedures and enter into such agreements of indemnity and other agreements as the Administrator shall prescribe as a condition of such payment procedure; (iv) by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of shares of Stock issuable upon exercise by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price; or (v) a combination of (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above. Payment instruments will be received subject to collection.

 

The transfer to the Optionee on the records of the Company or of the transfer agent of the Option Shares will be contingent upon (i) the Company’s receipt from the Optionee of the full purchase price for the Option Shares, as set forth above, (ii) the fulfillment of any other requirements contained herein or in the Plan or in any other agreement or provision of laws, and (iii) the receipt by the Company of any agreement, statement or other evidence that the Company may require to satisfy itself that the issuance of Stock to be purchased pursuant to the exercise of Stock Options under the Plan and any subsequent resale of the shares of Stock will be in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. In the event the Optionee chooses to pay the purchase price by previously-owned shares of Stock through the attestation method, the number of shares of Stock transferred to the Optionee upon the exercise of the Stock Option shall be net of the Shares attested to.

 

(b) The shares of Stock purchased upon exercise of this Stock Option shall be transferred to the Optionee on the records of the Company or of the transfer agent upon compliance to the satisfaction of the Administrator with all requirements under applicable laws or regulations in connection with such transfer and with the requirements hereof and of the Plan. The determination of the Administrator as to such compliance shall be final and binding on the Optionee. The Optionee shall not be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares of Stock subject to this Stock Option unless and until this Stock Option shall have been exercised pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company or the transfer agent shall have transferred the shares to the Optionee, and the Optionee’s name shall have been entered as the stockholder of record on the books of the Company. Thereupon, the Optionee shall have full voting, dividend and other ownership rights with respect to such shares of Stock.

 

2

 

 

(c) The minimum number of shares with respect to which this Stock Option may be exercised at any one time shall be 100 shares, unless the number of shares with respect to which this Stock Option is being exercised is the total number of shares subject to exercise under this Stock Option at the time.

 

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof or of the Plan, no portion of this Stock Option shall be exercisable after the Expiration Date hereof.

 

3. Termination of Service Relationship. If the Optionee’s Service Relationship is terminated, the period within which to exercise the Stock Option may be subject to earlier termination as set forth below.

 

(a) Termination Due to Death. If the Optionee’s Service Relationship terminates by reason of the Optionee’s death, any portion of this Stock Option outstanding on such date, to the extent exercisable on the date of death, may thereafter be exercised by the Optionee’s legal representative or legatee for a period of [twelve] months from the date of death or until the Expiration Date, if earlier. Any portion of this Stock Option that is not exercisable on the date of death shall terminate immediately and be of no further force or effect.

 

(b) Termination Due to Disability. If the Optionee’s Service Relationship terminates by reason of the Optionee’s disability (as determined by the Administrator), any portion of this Stock Option outstanding on such date, to the extent exercisable on the date of such termination, may thereafter be exercised by the Optionee for a period of [twelve] months from the date of such termination or until the Expiration Date, if earlier. Any portion of this Stock Option that is not exercisable on the date of such termination shall terminate immediately and be of no further force or effect.

 

(c) Termination for Cause. If the Optionee’s Service Relationship terminates for Cause, any portion of this Stock Option outstanding on such date shall terminate immediately and be of no further force and effect. For purposes hereof, “Cause” shall mean, unless otherwise provided in an employment agreement between the Company and the Optionee, a determination by the Administrator that the Optionee shall be dismissed as a result of (i) any material breach by the Optionee of any agreement between the Optionee and the Company; (ii) the conviction of, indictment for or plea of nolo contendere by the Optionee to a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude; or (iii) any material misconduct or willful and deliberate non-performance (other than by reason of disability) by the Optionee of the Optionee’s duties to the Company.

 

3

 

 

(d) Other Termination. If the Optionee’s Service Relationship terminates for any reason other than the Optionee’s death, the Optionee’s disability or Cause, and unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, any portion of this Stock Option outstanding on such date may be exercised, to the extent exercisable on the date of termination, for a period of three months from the date of termination or until the Expiration Date, if earlier. Any portion of this Stock Option that is not exercisable on the date of termination shall terminate immediately and be of no further force or effect.

 

The Administrator’s determination of the reason for cessation of the Optionee’s Service Relationship shall be conclusive and binding on the Optionee and his or her representatives or legatees.

 

4. Incorporation of Plan. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Stock Option shall be subject to and governed by all the terms and conditions of the Plan, including the powers of the Administrator set forth in Section 2(b) of the Plan. Capitalized terms in this Agreement shall have the meaning specified in the Plan, unless a different meaning is specified herein.

 

5. Transferability. This Agreement is personal to the Optionee, is non-assignable and is not transferable in any manner, by operation of law or otherwise, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Stock Option is exercisable, during the Optionee’s lifetime, only by the Optionee, and thereafter, only by the Optionee’s legal representative or legatee.

 

6. Tax Withholding. The Optionee shall, not later than the date as of which the exercise of this Stock Option becomes a taxable event for Federal income tax purposes, pay to the Company or make arrangements satisfactory to the Administrator for payment of any Federal, state, and local taxes required by law to be withheld on account of such taxable event. The Company shall have the authority to cause the required tax withholding obligation to be satisfied, in whole or in part, by (i) withholding from shares of Stock to be issued to the Optionee a number of shares of Stock with an aggregate Fair Market Value that would satisfy the withholding amount due; or (ii) causing its transfer agent to sell from the number of shares of Stock to be issued to the Optionee, the number of shares of Stock necessary to satisfy the Federal, state and local taxes required by law to be withheld from the Optionee on account of such transfer.

 

7. No Obligation to Continue Service Relationship. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is obligated by or as a result of the Plan or this Agreement to continue the Optionee in a Service Relationship and neither the Plan nor this Agreement shall interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate the Service Relationship of the Optionee at any time.

 

8. Integration. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to this Stock Option and supersedes all prior agreements and discussions between the parties concerning such subject matter.

 

9. Data Privacy Consent. In order to administer the Plan and this Agreement and to implement or structure future equity grants, the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates and certain agents thereof (together, the “Relevant Companies”) may process any and all personal or professional data, including but not limited to Social Security or other identification number, home address and telephone number, date of birth and other information that is necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan and/or this Agreement (the “Relevant Information”). By entering into this Agreement, the Optionee (i) authorizes the Company to collect, process, register and transfer to the Relevant Companies all Relevant Information; (ii) waives any privacy rights the Optionee may have with respect to the Relevant Information; (iii) authorizes the Relevant Companies to store and transmit such information in electronic form; and (iv) authorizes the transfer of the Relevant Information to any jurisdiction in which the Relevant Companies consider appropriate. The Optionee shall have access to, and the right to change, the Relevant Information. Relevant Information will only be used in accordance with applicable law.

 

10. Notices. Notices hereunder shall be mailed or delivered to the Company at its principal place of business and shall be mailed or delivered to the Optionee at the address on file with the Company or, in either case, at such other address as one party may subsequently furnish to the other party in writing.

 

  EQRX, INC.
   
  By:  
    Title:

 

4

 

 

The foregoing Agreement is hereby accepted and the terms and conditions thereof hereby agreed to by the undersigned. Electronic acceptance of this Agreement pursuant to the Company’s instructions to the Optionee (including through an online acceptance process) is acceptable.

 

Dated:__________________________  
  Optionee’s Signature
   
  Optionee’s name and address:
   
   
   
   

 

5

 

 

FORM OF RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT
UNDER THE EQRX, INC.
2021 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN

 

Name of Grantee:    

 

No. of Shares:    

 

Grant Date:    

 

Pursuant to the EQRx, Inc. 2021 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) as amended through the date hereof, EQRx, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby grants a Restricted Stock Award (an “Award”) to the Grantee named above. Upon acceptance of this Award, the Grantee shall receive the number of shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Stock”) of the Company specified above, subject to the restrictions and conditions set forth herein and in the Plan. The Company acknowledges the receipt from the Grantee of consideration with respect to the par value of the Stock in the form of cash, past or future services rendered to the Company by the Grantee or such other form of consideration as is acceptable to the Administrator.

 

1. Award. The shares of Restricted Stock awarded hereunder shall be issued and held by the Company’s transfer agent in book entry form, and the Grantee’s name shall be entered as the stockholder of record on the books of the Company. Thereupon, the Grantee shall have all the rights of a stockholder with respect to such shares, including voting and dividend rights, subject, however, to the restrictions and conditions specified in Paragraph 2 below. The Grantee shall (i) sign and deliver to the Company a copy of this Award Agreement and (ii) deliver to the Company a stock power endorsed in blank.

 

2. Restrictions and Conditions.

 

(a) Any book entries for the shares of Restricted Stock granted herein shall bear an appropriate legend, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, to the effect that such shares are subject to restrictions as set forth herein and in the Plan.

 

(b) Shares of Restricted Stock granted herein may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of by the Grantee prior to vesting.

 

(c) If the Grantee’s Service Relationship is voluntarily or involuntarily terminated for any reason (including death) prior to vesting of shares of Restricted Stock granted herein, all shares of Restricted Stock shall immediately and automatically be forfeited and returned to the Company.

 

 

 

3. Vesting of Restricted Stock. The restrictions and conditions in Paragraph 2 of this Agreement shall lapse on the Vesting Date or Dates specified in the following schedule so long as the Grantee remains in a Service Relationship on such Dates. If a series of Vesting Dates is specified, then the restrictions and conditions in Paragraph 2 shall lapse only with respect to the number of shares of Restricted Stock specified as vested on such date.

 

Incremental Number
of Shares Vested
Vesting Date
_____________ (___%) ____________
_____________ (___%) ____________
_____________ (___%) ____________
_____________ (___%) ____________
_____________ (___%) ____________

 

Subsequent to such Vesting Date or Dates, the shares of Stock on which all restrictions and conditions have lapsed shall no longer be deemed Restricted Stock. The Administrator may at any time accelerate the vesting schedule specified in this Paragraph 3.

 

4. Dividends. Dividends on shares of Restricted Stock shall be paid currently to the Grantee.

 

5. Incorporation of Plan. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Award shall be subject to and governed by all the terms and conditions of the Plan, including the powers of the Administrator set forth in Section 2(b) of the Plan. Capitalized terms in this Agreement shall have the meaning specified in the Plan, unless a different meaning is specified herein.

 

6. Transferability. This Agreement is personal to the Grantee, is non-assignable and is not transferable in any manner, by operation of law or otherwise, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

 

7. Tax Withholding. The Grantee shall, not later than the date as of which the receipt of this Award becomes a taxable event for Federal income tax purposes, pay to the Company or make arrangements satisfactory to the Administrator for payment of any Federal, state, and local taxes required by law to be withheld on account of such taxable event. Except in the case where an election is made pursuant to Paragraph 8 below, the Company shall have the authority to cause the required tax withholding obligation to be satisfied, in whole or in part, by (i) withholding from shares of Stock to be issued or released by the transfer agent a number of shares of Stock with an aggregate Fair Market Value that would satisfy the withholding amount due; or (ii) causing its transfer agent to sell from the number of shares of Stock to be issued to the Optionee, the number of shares of Stock necessary to satisfy the Federal, state and local taxes required by law to be withheld from the Optionee on account of such transfer.

 

2

 

 

8. Election Under Section 83(b). The Grantee and the Company hereby agree that the Grantee may, within 30 days following the Grant Date of this Award, file with the Internal Revenue Service and the Company an election under Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. In the event the Grantee makes such an election, he or she agrees to provide a copy of the election to the Company. The Grantee acknowledges that he or she is responsible for obtaining the advice of his or her tax advisors with regard to the Section 83(b) election and that he or she is relying solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its agents with regard to such election.

 

9. No Obligation to Continue Service Relationship. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is obligated by or as a result of the Plan or this Agreement to continue the Grantee in a Service Relationship and neither the Plan nor this Agreement shall interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate the Service Relationship of the Grantee at any time.

 

10. Integration. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to this Award and supersedes all prior agreements and discussions between the parties concerning such subject matter.

 

11. Data Privacy Consent. In order to administer the Plan and this Agreement and to implement or structure future equity grants, the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates and certain agents thereof (together, the “Relevant Companies”) may process any and all personal or professional data, including but not limited to Social Security or other identification number, home address and telephone number, date of birth and other information that is necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan and/or this Agreement (the “Relevant Information”). By entering into this Agreement, the Grantee (i) authorizes the Company to collect, process, register and transfer to the Relevant Companies all Relevant Information; (ii) waives any privacy rights the Grantee may have with respect to the Relevant Information; (iii) authorizes the Relevant Companies to store and transmit such information in electronic form; and (iv) authorizes the transfer of the Relevant Information to any jurisdiction in which the Relevant Companies consider appropriate. The Grantee shall have access to, and the right to change, the Relevant Information. Relevant Information will only be used in accordance with applicable law.

 

12. Notices. Notices hereunder shall be mailed or delivered to the Company at its principal place of business and shall be mailed or delivered to the Grantee at the address on file with the Company or, in either case, at such other address as one party may subsequently furnish to the other party in writing.

 

  EQRX, INC.
   
  By:  
    Title:

 

The foregoing Agreement is hereby accepted and the terms and conditions thereof hereby agreed to by the undersigned. Electronic acceptance of this Agreement pursuant to the Company’s instructions to the Grantee (including through an online acceptance process) is acceptable.

 

Dated:__________________________  
  Grantee’s Signature
   
  Grantee’s name and address:
   
   
   
   

 

3

 

 

FORM OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT
FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
UNDER THE EQRX, INC.
2021 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN

 

Name of Grantee:    

 

No. of Restricted Stock Units:    

 

Grant Date:    

 

Pursuant to the EQRx, Inc. 2021 Stock Option and Incentive Plan as amended through the date hereof (the “Plan”), EQRx, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby grants an award of the number of Restricted Stock Units listed above (an “Award”) to the Grantee named above. Each Restricted Stock Unit shall relate to one share of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Stock”) of the Company.

 

1. Restrictions on Transfer of Award. This Award may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise encumbered or disposed of by the Grantee, and any shares of Stock issuable with respect to the Award may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise encumbered or disposed of until (i) the Restricted Stock Units have vested as provided in Paragraph 2 of this Agreement and (ii) shares of Stock have been issued to the Grantee in accordance with the terms of the Plan and this Agreement.

 

2. Vesting of Restricted Stock Units. The restrictions and conditions of Paragraph 1 of this Agreement shall lapse on the Vesting Date or Dates specified in the following schedule so long as the Grantee remains in service in a Service Relationship on such Dates. If a series of Vesting Dates is specified, then the restrictions and conditions in Paragraph 1 shall lapse only with respect to the number of Restricted Stock Units specified as vested on such date.

 

Incremental Number of
Restricted Stock Units Vested
Vesting Date
_____________ (___%) _______________
_____________ (___%) _______________
_____________ (___%) _______________
_____________ (___%) _______________

 

The Administrator may at any time accelerate the vesting schedule specified in this Paragraph 2.

 

3. Termination of Service. If the Grantee’s service with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates for any reason (including death or disability) prior to the satisfaction of the vesting conditions set forth in Paragraph 2 above, any Restricted Stock Units that have not vested as of such date shall automatically and without notice terminate and be forfeited, and neither the Grantee nor any of his or her successors, heirs, assigns, or personal representatives will thereafter have any further rights or interests in such unvested Restricted Stock Units.

 

 

 

4. Issuance of Shares of Stock. As soon as practicable following each Vesting Date (but in no event later than two and one-half months after the end of the year in which the Vesting Date occurs), the Company shall issue to the Grantee the number of shares of Stock equal to the aggregate number of Restricted Stock Units that have vested pursuant to Paragraph 2 of this Agreement on such date and the Grantee shall thereafter have all the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to such shares.

 

5. Incorporation of Plan. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement shall be subject to and governed by all the terms and conditions of the Plan, including the powers of the Administrator set forth in Section 2(b) of the Plan. Capitalized terms in this Agreement shall have the meaning specified in the Plan, unless a different meaning is specified herein.

 

6. Section 409A of the Code. This Agreement shall be interpreted in such a manner that all provisions relating to the settlement of the Award are exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code as “short-term deferrals” as described in Section 409A of the Code.

 

7. No Obligation to Continue Service Relationship. Neither the Plan nor this Award confers upon the Grantee any rights with respect to continuance as a Director or in any other Service Relationship.

 

8. Integration. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to this Award and supersedes all prior agreements and discussions between the parties concerning such subject matter.

 

9. Data Privacy Consent. In order to administer the Plan and this Agreement and to implement or structure future equity grants, the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates and certain agents thereof (together, the “Relevant Companies”) may process any and all personal or professional data, including but not limited to Social Security or other identification number, home address and telephone number, date of birth and other information that is necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan and/or this Agreement (the “Relevant Information”). By entering into this Agreement, the Grantee (i) authorizes the Company to collect, process, register and transfer to the Relevant Companies all Relevant Information; (ii) waives any privacy rights the Grantee may have with respect to the Relevant Information; (iii) authorizes the Relevant Companies to store and transmit such information in electronic form; and (iv) authorizes the transfer of the Relevant Information to any jurisdiction in which the Relevant Companies consider appropriate. The Grantee shall have access to, and the right to change, the Relevant Information. Relevant Information will only be used in accordance with applicable law.

 

2

 

 

10. Notices. Notices hereunder shall be mailed or delivered to the Company at its principal place of business and shall be mailed or delivered to the Grantee at the address on file with the Company or, in either case, at such other address as one party may subsequently furnish to the other party in writing.

 

  EQRX, INC.
   
  By:  
    Title:

 

The foregoing Agreement is hereby accepted and the terms and conditions thereof hereby agreed to by the undersigned. Electronic acceptance of this Agreement pursuant to the Company’s instructions to the Grantee (including through an online acceptance process) is acceptable.

 

Dated:__________________________  
  Grantee’s Signature
   
  Grantee’s name and address:
   
   
   
   

 

3

 

 

FORM OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT
FOR COMPANY EMPLOYEES
UNDER THE EQRX, INC.
2021 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN

 

Name of Grantee:    

 

No. of Restricted Stock Units:    

 

Grant Date:    

 

Pursuant to the EQRx, Inc. 2021 Stock Option and Incentive Plan as amended through the date hereof (the “Plan”), EQRx, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby grants an award of the number of Restricted Stock Units listed above (an “Award”) to the Grantee named above. Each Restricted Stock Unit shall relate to one share of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Stock”) of the Company.

 

1. Restrictions on Transfer of Award. This Award may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise encumbered or disposed of by the Grantee, and any shares of Stock issuable with respect to the Award may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise encumbered or disposed of until (i) the Restricted Stock Units have vested as provided in Paragraph 2 of this Agreement and (ii) shares of Stock have been issued to the Grantee in accordance with the terms of the Plan and this Agreement.

 

2. Vesting of Restricted Stock Units. The restrictions and conditions of Paragraph 1 of this Agreement shall lapse on the Vesting Date or Dates specified in the following schedule so long as the Grantee is in a Service Relationship on such Dates. If a series of Vesting Dates is specified, then the restrictions and conditions in Paragraph 1 shall lapse only with respect to the number of Restricted Stock Units specified as vested on such date.

 

Incremental Number of
Restricted Stock Units Time-Vested
Time-Vesting Date
_____________ (___%) _______________
_____________ (___%) _______________
_____________ (___%) _______________
_____________ (___%) _______________

 

The Administrator may at any time accelerate the vesting schedule specified in this Paragraph 2.

 

 

 

3. Termination of Service Relationship. If the Grantee’s Service Relationship terminates for any reason (including death or disability) prior to the satisfaction in full of the vesting conditions set forth in Paragraph 2 above, any Restricted Stock Units that have not vested as of such date shall automatically and without notice terminate and be forfeited, and neither the Grantee nor any of his or her successors, heirs, assigns, or personal representatives will thereafter have any further rights or interests in such forfeited Restricted Stock Units.

 

4. Issuance of Shares of Stock. As soon as practicable following each Vesting Date (but in no event later than two and one-half months after the end of the year in which the Vesting Date occurs), the Company shall issue to the Grantee the number of shares of Stock equal to the aggregate number of Restricted Stock Units that have vested pursuant to Paragraph 2 of this Agreement on such date and the Grantee shall thereafter have all the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to such shares.

 

5. Incorporation of Plan. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement shall be subject to and governed by all the terms and conditions of the Plan, including the powers of the Administrator set forth in Section 2(b) of the Plan. The Restricted Stock Units are granted as a stand-alone award, separate and apart from, and outside of, the Plan, and will not constitute an award granted under or pursuant to the Plan. However, except as otherwise expressly stated herein, the Restricted Stock Units are governed by terms and conditions identical to those of the Plan, which are incorporated herein by reference. In the event of any conflict between the terms and condition of this Agreement, on the one hand, and the Plan, on the other hand, this Agreement will govern. Capitalized terms in this Agreement shall have the meaning specified in the Plan, unless a different meaning is specified herein.

 

6. Tax Withholding. The Grantee shall, not later than the date as of which the receipt of this Award becomes a taxable event for Federal income tax purposes, pay to the Company or make arrangements satisfactory to the Administrator for payment of any Federal, state, and local taxes required by law to be withheld on account of such taxable event. The Company shall have the authority to cause the required tax withholding obligation to be satisfied, in whole or in part, by (i) withholding from shares of Stock to be issued to the Grantee a number of shares of Stock with an aggregate Fair Market Value that would satisfy the withholding amount due; or (ii) causing its transfer agent to sell from the number of shares of Stock to be issued to the Optionee, the number of shares of Stock necessary to satisfy the Federal, state and local taxes required by law to be withheld from the Optionee on account of such transfer.

 

7. Section 409A of the Code. This Agreement shall be interpreted in such a manner that all provisions relating to the settlement of the Award are exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code as “short-term deferrals” as described in Section 409A of the Code.

 

8. No Obligation to Continue Service Relationship. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is obligated by or as a result of the Plan or this Agreement to continue the Grantee’s Service Relationship and neither the Plan nor this Agreement shall interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate the Grantee’s Service Relationship at any time.

 

2

 

 

9. Integration. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to this Award and supersedes all prior agreements and discussions between the parties concerning such subject matter.

 

10. Data Privacy Consent. In order to administer the Plan and this Agreement and to implement or structure future equity grants, the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates and certain agents thereof (together, the “Relevant Companies”) may process any and all personal or professional data, including but not limited to Social Security or other identification number, home address and telephone number, date of birth and other information that is necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan and/or this Agreement (the “Relevant Information”). By entering into this Agreement, the Grantee (i) authorizes the Company to collect, process, register and transfer to the Relevant Companies all Relevant Information; (ii) waives any privacy rights the Grantee may have with respect to the Relevant Information; (iii) authorizes the Relevant Companies to store and transmit such information in electronic form; and (iv) authorizes the transfer of the Relevant Information to any jurisdiction in which the Relevant Companies consider appropriate. The Grantee shall have access to, and the right to change, the Relevant Information. Relevant Information will only be used in accordance with applicable law.

 

11. Notices. Notices hereunder shall be mailed or delivered to the Company at its principal place of business and shall be mailed or delivered to the Grantee at the address on file with the Company or, in either case, at such other address as one party may subsequently furnish to the other party in writing.

 

  EQRX, INC.
   
  By:  
    Title:

 

The foregoing Agreement is hereby accepted and the terms and conditions thereof hereby agreed to by the undersigned. Electronic acceptance of this Agreement pursuant to the Company’s instructions to the Grantee (including through an online acceptance process) is acceptable.

 

Dated:__________________________  
  Grantee’s Signature
   
  Grantee’s name and address:
   
   
   
   

 

 

3

 

Exhibit 10.10

EQRX, INC.

2021 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

The purpose of the EQRx, Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”) is to provide eligible employees of EQRx, Inc. (the “Company”) and each Designated Subsidiary (as defined in Section 11) with opportunities to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”). An aggregate of 4,876,326 shares of Common Stock have been approved and reserved for this purpose, plus on January 1, 2022, and each January 1 thereafter through January 1, 2031, the number of shares of Common Stock reserved and available for issuance under the Plan shall be cumulatively increased by the least of (i) one percent (1%) of the number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31st, (ii) 4,876,326 shares of Common Stock or (iii) such number of shares of Common Stock as determined by the Administrator (as defined in Section 1). The Plan includes two components: a Code Section 423 Component (the “423 Component”) and a non-Code Section 423 Component (the “Non-423 Component”). It is intended for the 423 Component to constitute an “employee stock purchase plan” within the meaning of Section 423(b) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the 423 Component shall be interpreted in accordance with that intent. Under the Non-423 Component, which does not qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” within the meaning of Section 423(b) of the Code, options will be granted pursuant to rules, procedures or sub-plans adopted by the Administrator designed to achieve tax, securities laws or other objectives for eligible employees. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Non-423 Component will operate and be administered in the same manner as the 423 Component.

Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms in this Plan shall have the meaning ascribed to them in Section 11.

1.          Administration. The Plan will be administered by the person or persons (the “Administrator”) appointed by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) for such purpose. The Administrator has authority at any time to: (i) adopt, alter and repeal such rules, guidelines and practices for the administration of the Plan and for its own acts and proceedings as it shall deem advisable; (ii) interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan; (iii) make all determinations it deems advisable for the administration of the Plan; (iv) decide all disputes arising in connection with the Plan; and (v) otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan. All interpretations and decisions of the Administrator shall be binding on all persons, including the Company and the Participants. No member of the Board or individual exercising administrative authority with respect to the Plan shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any option granted hereunder.

2.         Offerings. The Company may make one or more offerings to eligible employees to purchase Common Stock under the Plan (“Offerings”). The Administrator shall determine, in its discretion, when the initial Offering and any subsequent Offering shall occur and the duration of each such Offering, provided that no Offering shall exceed 27 months in duration.

3.         Eligibility. All individuals classified as employees on the payroll records of the Company and each Designated Subsidiary are eligible to participate in any one or more of the Offerings under the Plan, provided that as of the first day of the applicable Offering (the “Offering Date”) they are customarily employed by the Company or a Designated Subsidiary for more than 20 hours a week (or such lesser number of hours per week as the Administrator shall determine in advance of an Offering) and have completed such period of service prior to the Offering Date as the Administrator may require (but in no event will the required period of continuous employment be equal to or greater than two (2) years). The Administrator may

Annex D-1

exclude from participation in the Plan or any Offering employees who are “highly compensated employees” of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary (within the meaning of Section 414(q) of the Code) or a sub-set of such highly compensated employees. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, individuals who are not contemporaneously classified as employees of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary for purposes of the Company’s or applicable Designated Subsidiary’s payroll system are not considered to be eligible employees of the Company or any Designated Subsidiary and shall not be eligible to participate in the Plan. In the event any such individuals are reclassified as employees of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary for any purpose, including, without limitation, common law or statutory employees, by any action of any third party, including, without limitation, any government agency, or as a result of any private lawsuit, action or administrative proceeding, such individuals shall, notwithstanding such reclassification, remain ineligible for participation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exclusive means for individuals who are not contemporaneously classified as employees of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary on the Company’s or Designated Subsidiary’s payroll system to become eligible to participate in this Plan is through an amendment to this Plan, duly executed by the Company, which specifically renders such individuals eligible to participate herein.

4.         Participation.

(a)        Participants. An eligible employee who is not a Participant in any prior Offering may participate in a subsequent Offering by submitting an enrollment form, which may be electronic, to his or her appropriate payroll location at least 15 business days before the Offering Date (or by such other deadline as shall be established by the Administrator for such Offering).

(b)       Enrollment. The enrollment form will (a) state a whole percentage or amount to be deducted from an eligible employee’s Compensation (as defined in Section 11) per pay period, (b) authorize the purchase of Common Stock in each Offering in accordance with the terms of the Plan and (c) specify the exact name or names in which shares of Common Stock purchased for such individual are to be issued pursuant to Section 10. An employee who does not enroll in accordance with these procedures will be deemed to have waived the right to participate. Unless a Participant files a new enrollment form or withdraws from the Plan, such Participant’s deductions and purchases will continue at the same percentage or amount of Compensation for future Offerings, provided he or she remains eligible.

(c)        Notwithstanding the foregoing, participation in the Plan will neither be permitted nor be denied contrary to the requirements of the Code and any applicable law.

5.         Employee Contributions. Each eligible employee may authorize payroll deductions at a minimum of 1 percent up to a maximum of 5 percent of such employee’s Compensation for each pay period (or such other percentage as the Administrator may establish from time to time before an Offering begins). The Company will maintain book accounts showing the amount of payroll deductions made by each Participant for each Offering. No interest will accrue or be paid on payroll deductions.

6.         Deduction Changes. Except as may be determined by the Administrator in advance of an Offering, a Participant may not increase or decrease his or her payroll deduction during any Offering, but may increase or decrease his or her payroll deduction with respect to the next Offering (subject to the limitations of Section 5) by filing a new enrollment form at least fifteen (15) business days before the next Offering Date (or by such other deadline as shall be established by the Administrator for the Offering). The Administrator may, in advance of any Offering, establish rules permitting a Participant to increase, decrease or terminate his or her payroll deduction during an Offering.

7.          Withdrawal. A Participant may withdraw from participation in the Plan by delivering a written notice of withdrawal to his or her appropriate payroll location at least 15 days before the Exercise Date (or by such other deadline as shall be established by the Administrator for the Offering). The Participant’s withdrawal will be effective as of the next business day.

Annex D-2

Following a Participant’s withdrawal, the Company will promptly refund such individual’s entire account balance under the Plan to him or her (after payment for any Common Stock purchased before the effective date of withdrawal). Partial withdrawals are not permitted. Such an employee may not begin participation again during the remainder of the Offering, but may enroll in a subsequent Offering in accordance with Section 4.

8.         Grant of Options. On each Offering Date, the Company will grant to each eligible employee who is then a Participant in the Plan an option (“Option”) to purchase on the last day of such Offering (the “Exercise Date”), at the Option Price hereinafter provided for, the lowest of (a) a number of shares of Common Stock determined by dividing such Participant’s accumulated payroll deductions on such Exercise Date by the Option Price (as defined herein), (b) the number of shares determined by dividing $25,000 by the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Offering Date for such Offering; or (c) such other lesser maximum number of shares as shall have been established by the Administrator in advance of the Offering; provided, however, that such Option shall be subject to the limitations set forth below. Each Participant’s Option shall be exercisable only to the extent of such Participant’s accumulated payroll deductions on the Exercise Date. The purchase price for each share purchased under each Option (the “Option Price”) will be 85% (or such greater percentage determined by the Administrator in advance of an Offering) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Offering Date or the Exercise Date, whichever is less.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Participant may be granted an option hereunder if such Participant, immediately after the option was granted, would be treated as owning stock possessing five (5) percent or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary (as defined in Section 11). For purposes of the preceding sentence, the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall apply in determining the stock ownership of a Participant, and all stock which the Participant has a contractual right to purchase shall be treated as stock owned by the Participant. In addition, no Participant may be granted an Option which permits his or her rights to purchase stock under the Plan, and any other employee stock purchase plan of the Company and its Parents and Subsidiaries, to accrue at a rate which exceeds $25,000 of the fair market value of such stock (determined on the option grant date or dates) for each calendar year in which the Option is outstanding at any time. The purpose of the limitation in the preceding sentence is to comply with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and shall be applied taking Options into account in the order in which they were granted.

9.         Exercise of Option and Purchase of Shares. Each employee who continues to be a Participant in the Plan on the Exercise Date shall be deemed to have exercised his or her Option on such date and shall acquire from the Company such number of whole shares of Common Stock reserved for the purpose of the Plan as his or her accumulated payroll deductions on such date will purchase at the Option Price, subject to any other limitations contained in the Plan. Any amount remaining in a Participant’s account at the end of an Offering solely by reason of the inability to purchase a fractional share will be carried forward to the next Offering; any other balance remaining in a Participant’s account at the end of an Offering will be refunded to the Participant promptly.

10.       Issuance of Certificates. Certificates or book-entries at the Company’s transfer agent representing shares of Common Stock purchased under the Plan may be issued only in the name of the employee, in the name of the employee and another person of legal age as joint tenants with rights of survivorship, or in the name of a broker authorized by the employee to be his, her or their, nominee for such purpose.

11.        Definitions.

The term “Closing Date” means the date of the closing of the transactions contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 5, 2021, by and among the Company and the other parties thereto.

Annex D-3

The term “Compensation” means the regular salary or basic hourly rate of compensation. The Administrator, in its discretion, may establish a different definition of Compensation for an Offering, which for the Section 423 Component shall apply on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis. Further, the Administrator will have discretion to determine the application of this definition to eligible employees outside the United States.

The term “Designated Subsidiary” means any present or future Subsidiary (as defined below) that has been designated by the Board to participate in the Plan. The Board may so designate any Subsidiary, or revoke any such designation, at any time and from time to time, either before or after the Plan is approved by the stockholders , and may further designate such companies or Participants as participating in the 423 Component or the Non-423 Component. The Board may also determine which Subsidiaries or eligible employees may be excluded from participation in the Plan, to the extent consistent with Section 423 of the Code or as implemented under the Non-423 Component, and determine which Designated Subsidiary or Subsidiaries will participate in separate Offerings (to the extent that the Company makes separate Offerings). For purposes of the 423 Component, only the Company and its Subsidiaries may be Designated Subsidiaries; provided, however, that at any given time, a Subsidiary that is a Designated Subsidiary under the 423 Component will not be a Designated Subsidiary under the Non-423 Component. The current list of Designated Subsidiaries is attached hereto as Appendix A.

The term “Fair Market Value of the Common Stock” on any given date means the fair market value of the Common Stock determined in good faith by the Administrator; provided, however, that if the Common Stock is admitted to quotation on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (“NASDAQ”), the NASDAQ Global Market, The New York Stock Exchange or another national securities exchange, the determination shall be made by reference to the closing price on such date. If there is no closing price for such date, the determination shall be made by reference to the last date preceding such date for which there is a closing price.

The term “Parent” means a “parent corporation” with respect to the Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

The term “Participant” means an individual who is eligible as determined in Section 3 and who has complied with the provisions of Section 4.

The term “Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation” with respect to the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

12.        Rights on Termination of Employment. If a Participant’s employment terminates for any reason before the Exercise Date for any Offering, no payroll deduction will be taken from any pay due and owing to the Participant and the balance in the Participant’s account will be paid to such Participant or, in the case of such Participant’s death, to his or her designated beneficiary as if such Participant had withdrawn from the Plan under Section 7. An employee will be deemed to have terminated employment, for this purpose, if the corporation that employs him or her, having been a Designated Subsidiary, ceases to be a Subsidiary, or if the employee is transferred to any corporation other than the Company or a Designated Subsidiary; provided, however, that if a Participant transfers from an Offering under the 423 Component to an Offering under the Non-423 Component, the exercise of the Participant’s Option will be qualified under the 423 Component only to the extent that such exercise complies with Section 423 of the Code. If a Participant transfers from an Offering under the Non-423 Component to an Offering under the 423 Component, the exercise of the Participant’s Option will remain non-qualified under the Non-423 Component. An employee will not be deemed to have terminated employment for this purpose if the employee is on an approved leave of absence for military service or sickness or for any other purpose approved by the Company, if the employee’s right to reemployment is guaranteed either by a statute or by contract or under the policy pursuant to which the leave of absence was granted or if the Administrator otherwise provides in writing.

Annex D-4

13.        Special Rules and Sub-Plans. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrator may adopt special rules applicable to the employees of a particular Designated Subsidiary, whenever the Administrator determines that such rules are necessary or appropriate for the implementation of the Plan in a jurisdiction where such Designated Subsidiary has employees; provided that if such special rules or sub-plans are inconsistent with the requirements of Section 423(b) of the Code, the employees subject to such special rules or sub-plans will participate in the Non-423 Component. Any special rules or sub-plans established pursuant to this Section 13 shall, to the extent possible, result in the employees subject to such rules having substantially the same rights as other Participants in the Plan.

14.       Optionees Not Stockholders. Neither the granting of an Option to a Participant nor the deductions from his or her pay shall constitute such Participant a holder of the shares of Common Stock covered by an Option under the Plan until such shares have been purchased by and issued to him or her.

15.        Rights Not Transferable. Rights under the Plan are not transferable by a Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and are exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant.

16.       Application of Funds. All funds received or held by the Company under the Plan may be combined with other corporate funds and may be used for any corporate purpose.

17.        Adjustment in Case of Changes Affecting Common Stock. In the event of a subdivision of outstanding shares of Common Stock, the payment of a dividend in Common Stock or any other change affecting the Common Stock, the number of shares approved for the Plan and the share limitation set forth in Section 8 shall be equitably or proportionately adjusted to give proper effect to such event.

18.       Amendment of the Plan. The Board may at any time and from time to time amend the Plan in any respect, except that without the approval within 12 months of such Board action by the stockholders, no amendment shall be made increasing the number of shares approved for the Plan or making any other change that would require stockholder approval in order for the 423 Component of the Plan, as amended, to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423(b) of the Code.

19.        Insufficient Shares. If the total number of shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be purchased on any Exercise Date plus the number of shares purchased under previous Offerings under the Plan exceeds the maximum number of shares issuable under the Plan, the shares then available shall be apportioned among Participants in proportion to the amount of payroll deductions accumulated on behalf of each Participant that would otherwise be used to purchase Common Stock on such Exercise Date.

20.      Termination of the Plan. The Plan may be terminated at any time by the Board. Upon termination of the Plan, all amounts in the accounts of Participants shall be promptly refunded.

21.        Governmental Regulations. The Company’s obligation to sell and deliver Common Stock under the Plan is subject to obtaining all governmental approvals required in connection with the authorization, issuance, or sale of such stock.

22.       Governing Law. This Plan and all Options and actions taken thereunder shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as to matters within the scope thereof, and as to all other matters shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, applied without regard to conflict of law principles.

23.       Issuance of Shares. Shares may be issued upon exercise of an Option from authorized but unissued Common Stock, from shares held in the treasury of the Company, or from any other proper source.

Annex D-5

24.       Tax Withholding. Participation in the Plan is subject to any required tax withholding on income of the Participant in connection with the Plan. Each Participant agrees, by entering the Plan, that the Company and its Subsidiaries shall have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Participant, including shares issuable under the Plan.

25.       Notification Upon Sale of Shares under the 423 Component. Each Participant agrees, by entering the 423 Component of the Plan, to give the Company prompt notice of any disposition of shares purchased under the Plan where such disposition occurs within two years after the date of grant of the Option pursuant to which such shares were purchased or within one year after the date such shares were purchased.

26.       Effective Date. This Plan shall become effective upon the date immediately preceding the Closing Date following stockholder approval in accordance with applicable state law, the Company’s bylaws and articles of incorporation, each as amended, and applicable stock exchange rules.

27.       Equal Rights and Privileges. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, all eligible employees who are granted options under the Plan with respect to the 423 Component shall have the same rights and privileges as determined in accordance with Section 423 of the Code.

28.       No Right to Continued Service. Neither the Plan nor any compensation paid hereunder will confer on any Participant the right to continue as an employee or in any other capacity.

29.       Severability. If any provision of the Plan shall for any reason be held to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision hereof, and the Plan shall be construed as if such invalid or unenforceable provision were omitted.

30.      Entire Plan. This Plan constitutes the entire plan with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any prior plans and respect to the subject matter hereof.

Annex D-6

APPENDIX A

Designated Subsidiaries

 

EQRx International Inc., a Delaware corporation
EQRx UK Limited, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of England and Wales

Annex D-7

 

Exhibit 16.1

 

December 20, 2021

 

Office of the Chief Accountant

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, NE

Washington, DC 20549

United States of America

 

Commissioners:

 

We have read the statements of EQRx, Inc. (formally known as CM Life Sciences III Inc.) included under Item 4.01 of its Form S-1 dated February 24, 2021. We agree with the statements concerning our Firm under Item 4.01, specifically in which we were informed of our dismissal on December 17, 2021.

 

We are not in a position to agree or disagree with other statements contained therein.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC

 

WithumSmith+Brown, PC

New York, New York

 

Exhibit 99.1

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet of the post-combination company as of September 30, 2021 and the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations of the post-combination company for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and for the year ended December 31, 2020 present the combination of the financial information of CMLS III and EQRx after giving effect to the Business Combination, PIPE Investment and related adjustments described in the accompanying notes. CMLS III and EQRx are referred to herein, subsequent to the Business Combination and the PIPE Investment, as the post-combination company.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and for the year ended December 31, 2020 give pro forma effect to the Business Combination and PIPE Investment as if they had occurred on January 1, 2020. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of September 30, 2021 gives pro forma effect to the Business Combination and PIPE Investment as if they were completed on September 30, 2021.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is based on and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and unaudited condensed financial statements of each of CMLS III and EQRx and the notes thereto, as well as the disclosures contained in the sections entitled “The Company’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “EQRx’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been presented for illustrative purposes only and does not necessarily reflect what the post-combination company’s financial condition or results of operations would have been had the Business Combination and PIPE Investment occurred on the dates indicated. Further, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information also may not be useful in predicting the future financial condition and results of operations of the post-combination company. The actual financial position and results of operations may differ significantly from the pro forma amounts reflected herein due to a variety of factors. The unaudited pro forma adjustments represent management’s estimates based on information available as of the date of these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements and are subject to change as additional information becomes available and analyses are performed.

Description of Business Combination

The aggregate merger consideration for the Business Combination will be $4.2 billion, payable in the form of shares of CMLS III’s common stock valued at $10.00 per share, as well as contingent consideration of up to 50,000,000 additional shares of Class A common stock (the “Earn-Out Shares”) as described in Note 4 — Earn-Out Shares.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information presented gives effect to the Business Combination and PIPE Investment, as summarized below:

 

the conversion of CMLS III Class B common stock into CMLS III Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis;
     
the filing of the A&R Certificate of Incorporation to increase the authorized share capital, reclassify all outstanding shares of CMLS III Class A common stock as common stock and change its corporate name to “EQRx, Inc.”;
     
the merger of Merger Sub, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMLS III, with and into EQRx, with EQRx surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of CMLS III;

 

1

 

 

the issuance of 120,000,000 shares of post-combination company common stock for aggregate proceeds of $1.2 billion from consummation of the PIPE Investment;
     
the conversion of EQRx’s outstanding redeemable convertible preferred stock (on an as-converted basis) into post-combination company common stock pursuant to the estimated exchange ratio of 0.627 effective immediately prior to the Closing;
     
the payment of transaction costs incurred by CMLS III and EQRx; and
     
the payment of deferred legal fees, underwriting commissions and other costs incurred in connection with the Business Combination and PIPE Investment.

 

The exchange ratio is currently expected to be 0.627 shares of CMLS III Class A common stock per share of EQRx’s common stock and preferred stock.

 

Public stockholders of CMLS III had the option to elect to redeem their public shares for cash even if they approved the Business Combination. Additionally, pursuant to the Forfeiture Agreement, up to 50% of the CMLS III Class B common stock held by the Sponsor are subject to forfeiture based on the extent of redemptions from the Trust Account. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information below reflects the actual redemption of 39,587,066 shares of CMLS III Class A common stock by CMLS II’s public stockholders at $10.00 per share, and the forfeiture of 4,840,628 shares of CMLS III Class B common stock held by the Sponsor pursuant to the Forfeiture Agreement.

 

Old EQRx is considered the accounting acquirer, as further discussed in Note 1, Basis of Presentation, of the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.

 

2

 

 

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED
COMBINED BALANCE SHEET
September 30, 2021

(in thousands)

 

    CMLS III
(Historical)
    EQRx
(Historical)
    Pro Forma
Adjustments
        Pro Forma
Combined
 
Assets                            
Current assets:                                    
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 2,086     $ 456,470     $ 1,200,000     (A)   $ 1,756,362  
                      552,015     (B)        
                      (19,320 )   (C)        
                      (38,999 )   (D)        
                      (395,890 )   (K)        
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     87       10,568                 10,655  
Total current assets     2,173       467,038       1,297,806           1,767,017  
Investments held in Trust Account     552,015             (552,015 )   (B)      
Property and equipment, net           2,210                 2,210  
Restricted cash           633                 633  
Right-of-use asset, net           3,243                 3,243  
Other assets           11,535       (1,951 )   (D)     9,584  
Total assets   $ 554,188     $ 484,659     $ 743,840         $ 1,782,687  

 

3

 

 

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED
COMBINED BALANCE SHEET (CONTINUED)
September 30, 2021

(in thousands)

 

    CMLS III
(Historical)
    EQRx
(Historical)
    Pro Forma Adjustments         Pro Forma
Combined
 
Liabilities, Redeemable Stock and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)                            
Current liabilities:                            
Accounts payable   $ 21     $ 3,223     $         $ 3,244  
Accrued expenses     1,964       20,184       (250 )   (D)     21,898  
Lease liability, current           3,013                 3,013  
Franchise tax payable     134                       134  
Total current liabilities     2,119       26,420       (250 )         28,289  
Non-current liabilities:                                    
Lease liability, net of current portion           1,075                 1,075  
Deferred underwriting commissions     19,320             (19,320 )   (C)      
Derivative warrant liabilities     52,922                       52,922  
Earn-Out Liability                 329,348     (E)     329,348  
Restricted stock repurchase liability           943                 943  
Total liabilities     74,361       28,438       309,778           412,577  
Class A common subject to possible redemption     552,000             (552,000 )   (F)      
Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock           243,536       (243,536 )   (G)      
Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock           567,875       (567,875 )   (G)      
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity:                                    
Class A common stock                 12     (A)     49  
                      6     (F)        
                      30     (G)        
                      1     (H)        
                      4     (I)        
                      (4 )   (K)        
Class B common stock     1             (1 )   (H)      
EQRx common stock           4       (4 )   (I)      
Additional paid-in capital           4,530       1,199,988     (A)     1,729,785  
                      (40,700 )   (D)        
                      (329,348 )   (E)        
                      551,994     (F)        
                      811,381     (G)        
                      (72,174 )   (J)        
                      (395,886 )   (K)        
Accumulated deficit     (72,174 )     (359,724 )     72,174     (J)     (359,724 )
Total stockholders’ (deficit) equity     (72,173 )     (355,190 )     1,797,473           1,370,110  
Total liabilities, convertible preferred stock and stockholders’ (deficit) equity   $ 554,188     $ 484,659     $ 743,840         $ 1,782,687  

See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.

 

4

 

 

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED
COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

    CMLS III
(Historical)Period from January 25,
2021 (Inception) through
September 30,
2021
    EQRx
(Historical)
For the
Nine Months
Ended September 30,
2021
    Pro Forma Adjustments         Pro Forma Combined  
Total revenue   $     $     $         $  
Operating expenses:                                    
Research and development           61,893       4,148     (AA)     66,041  
General and administrative     2,284       39,681       8,228     (AA)     50,193  
Franchise tax expenses     134                       134  
Total operating expenses     2,418       101,574       12,376           116,368  
Loss from operations     (2,418 )     (101,574 )     (12,376 )         (116,368 )
Other (expense) income:                                    
Interest income           210                 210  
Other income           131                 131  
Offering costs associated with derivative warrant liabilities     (1,006 )                     (1,006 )
Change in fair value of derivative warrant liabilities     (6,674 )                     (6,674 )
Loss upon issuance of private placement warrants     (15,213 )                     (15,213 )
Income from investments held in Trust Account     15             (15 )   (BB)      
Total other (expense) income     (22,878 )     341       (15 )         (22,552 )
Net loss   $ (25,296 )   $ (101,233 )   $ (12,391 )       $ (138,920 )
Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic and diluted     53,736,402       38,332,938             (CC)     487,632,615  
Net loss per share, basic and diluted   $ (0.47 )   $ (2.64 )               $ (0.28 )

See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.

 

5

 

 

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED
COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

    CMLS III
(Historical)
    EQRx (Historical)     Pro Forma Adjustments         Pro Forma Combined  
Total revenue   $             —     $     $         $  
Operating expenses:                                    
Research and development           224,391       4,753     (AA)     229,144  
General and administrative           25,689       11,859     (AA)     37,548  
Total operating expenses           250,080       16,612           266,692  
Loss from operations           (250,080 )     (16,612 )         (266,692 )
Other income:                                    
Interest income           97                 97  
Franchise tax expenses                            
Total other income           97                 97  
Net loss   $     $ (249,983 )   $ (16,612 )       $ (266,595 )
Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic and diluted           25,486,021             (CC)     487,632,615  
Net loss per share, basic and diluted   $     $ (9.81 )               $ (0.55 )

See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.

 

6

 

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED
FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Note 1 — Basis of Presentation

The historical information of CMLS III and EQRx has been adjusted in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information to reflect pro forma adjustments related to the Business Combination and PIPE Investment in accordance with GAAP.

The Business Combination will be accounted for as a reverse recapitalization because EQRx has been determined to be the accounting acquirer under Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification Topic 805, Business Combinations. The determination is primarily based on the evaluation of the following facts and circumstances:

 

the former EQRx stockholders will hold the majority of voting rights in the post-combination company;
     
the former EQRx stockholders will have the right to appoint the majority of the directors on the post-combination company board;
     
senior management of EQRx will comprise the senior management of the post-combination company; and
     
operations of EQRx will comprise the ongoing operations of the post-combination company.

Under the reverse recapitalization model, the Business Combination will be reflected as the equivalent of EQRx issuing stock for the net assets of CMLS III, accompanied by a recapitalization whereby no goodwill or other intangible assets are recorded.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X as amended by the final rule, Release No. 33 — 10786 “Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses.” The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of September 30, 2021 combines the unaudited condensed balance sheet of CMLS III as of September 30, 2021 with the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet of EQRx as of September 30, 2021, giving effect to the Business Combination and PIPE Investment as if it had been consummated on September 30, 2021. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 combines the unaudited condensed statement of operations of CMLS III for the period from January 25, 2021 (inception) through September 30, 2021 with the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations of EQRx for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2020 adjusts the audited consolidated statement of operations of EQRx for the year ended December 31, 2020 as CMLS III did not exist during this period. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations presented give effect to the Business Combination and PIPE Investment as if they had been consummated on January 1, 2020, the earliest period presented. 

 

7

 

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information below reflects the actual redemption of 39,587,066 shares of CMLS III Class A common stock by CMLS II’s public stockholders at $10.00 per share, and the forfeiture of 4,840,628 shares of CMLS III Class B common stock held by the Sponsor pursuant to the Forfeiture Agreement.

 

The following summarizes the pro forma post-combination company common stock issued and outstanding immediately after the Business Combination and PIPE Investment:

 

    Shares
Outstanding
    %  
Public stockholders     15,612,934       3.2 %
PIPE Investors     120,000,000       24.6 %
Initial Stockholders     8,959,372       1.8 %
Former EQRx stockholders(1)     343,060,309       70.4 %
      487,632,615       100.0 %

____________

(1)     Amount excludes shares underlying outstanding option awards under the 2019 Plan and remaining shares available for issuance under such plan (estimated to total, in the aggregate and after giving effect to the estimated exchange ratio, 21,937,942 shares of post-combination company common stock) that may be exercised in the future.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet and statements of operations are based on the assumption that there are no adjustments to the pro forma shares outstanding for CMLS III private placement and public warrants issued in connection with its IPO, as such securities are not exercisable until 30 days after the Closing.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information does not reflect the income tax effects of the pro forma adjustments as any change in the deferred tax balance would be offset by an increase in the valuation allowance given that EQRx incurred significant losses during the historical periods presented.

Note 2 — Accounting Policies

Upon consummation of the Business Combination, management will perform a comprehensive review of the two entities’ accounting policies. As a result of the review, management may identify differences between the accounting policies of the two entities which, when conformed, could have a material impact on the financial statements of the post-combination company. Based on its initial analysis, management did not identify any differences that would have a material impact on the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information. As a result, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information does not assume any differences in accounting policies.

 

8

 

 

Note 3 — Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information

The pro forma adjustments included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of September 30, 2021 and in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and for the year ended December 31, 2020 are based on preliminary estimates. The final amounts recorded may differ from the information presented.

Balance Sheet

The pro forma adjustments included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of September 30, 2021 are as follows:

 

(A) Reflects the proceeds of $1.2 billion from the issuance and sale of 120,000,000 shares of post-combination company common stock at $10.00 per share pursuant to the PIPE Investment entered into with PIPE Investors.

 

(B) Reflects the liquidation and reclassification of $552.0 million of cash and marketable securities held in the Trust Account to cash and cash equivalents upon consummation of the Business Combination.
     
(C) Represents the payment of $19.3 million of deferred underwriting commissions incurred as part of CMLS III’s IPO that becomes payable upon the Closing of the Business Combination.

 

(D) Represents preliminary additional estimated transaction costs of $40.7 million to be incurred by CMLS III and EQRx related to the Business Combination and PIPE Investment, all of which have been reflected as a reduction in cash of $39.0 million and other assets of $2.0 million with an offsetting decrease in accrued expenses of $0.3 million and additional paid-in capital of $40.7 million.

 

(E) Reflects the preliminary estimated fair value of the Earn-Out Shares recorded as a liability as of September 30, 2021. For further information, see Note 4.

 

(F) Reflects the reclassification of CMLS III Class A common stock subject to possible redemption to permanent equity, assuming no redemptions.

 

(G) Reflects the conversion of EQRx’s outstanding Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock and Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock into post-combination company common stock pursuant to the estimated exchange ratio of 0.627 effective immediately prior to the Closing.

 

(H) Reflects the conversion of CMLS III Class B common stock to CMLS III Class A common and reclassification as post-combination company common stock immediately prior to the Closing of the Business Combination on a one-for-one basis.

 

(I) Reflects the conversion of EQRx’s outstanding common stock into post-combination company common stock pursuant to the estimated exchange ratio of 0.627 effective upon the Closing.

 

(J) Reflects the elimination of CMLS III’s historical accumulated deficit.

 

  (K) Represents the amount paid to public stockholders upon redemption of 39,857,066 shares of CMLS III Class A common stock for $395.9 million at a redemption price of $10.00 per share. Additionally, it is net of the forfeiture of 4,840,628 shares of CMLS III Class B common stock held by the Sponsor pursuant to the Forfeiture Agreement.

 

9

 

 

Statements of Operations

The pro forma adjustments included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and for the year ended December 31, 2020 are as follows:

 

(AA) Represents the estimated stock-based compensation measured as of the Closing Date for the portion of the Earn-Out Shares issuable to existing optionholders in the form of new restricted stock unit agreements with continuing service requirements, and assuming no forfeitures. For further details, refer to Note 4.
     
(BB) Represents the elimination of interest earned on investments held in CMLS III’s Trust Account for the nine months ended September 30, 2021.
     
(CC) Represents pro forma net loss per share based on pro forma net loss and 487,632,615 shares total pro forma post-combination company common stock outstanding upon consummation of the Business Combination and PIPE Investment. For each period presented, there is no difference between basic and diluted pro forma net loss per share as outstanding options, warrants, and Earn-Out Shares are anti-dilutive and are not included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share.

Note 4 — Earn-Out Shares

Following the closing of the Business Combination, the Earn-Out Service Providers, current EQRx stockholders and option holders including employees, are entitled to receive a pro rata share of up to 35,000,000 additional shares of post-combination company common stock if at any time between the 12-month anniversary of the Closing and the 36-month anniversary of the Closing (“Earn-Out Period”), the common share price is greater than or equal to $12.50 for a period of at least 20 out of 30 consecutive trading days (“Triggering Event I”). The Earn-Out Service Providers shall be entitled to receive an additional 15,000,000 shares if at any time during the Earn-Out Period the common share price is greater than or equal to $16.50 for a period of at least 20 out of 30 consecutive trading days (“Triggering Event II”). The earnout is subject to an early trigger upon certain change of control events.

Earn-Out Shares Issued to EQRx Shareholders

The Earn-Out Shares to be issued to EQRx shareholders in the form of earn-out award agreements were evaluated under ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, to determine if the earn-out award agreements should be classified as a liability. As part of that analysis, it was determined that the Earn-Out Shares are freestanding and not liability classified. It was next evaluated whether the Earn-Out Shares represented a derivative instrument pursuant to ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging. Paragraph ASC 815-10-15-74(a) states that a reporting entity shall not consider contracts that are both (a) indexed to an entity’s own stock and (b) classified in stockholders’ equity in its statement of financial position to be derivative instruments. In order to conclude that the Earn-Out Shares meet this scope exception and whether they should be accounted for as equity under ASC 815-40, it was evaluated whether the Earn-Out Shares meet both of these requirements. The Earn-Out Shares contain a provision in which forfeited shares can be reallocated to the remaining holders of Earn-Out Shares that could impact the settlement of the Earnout Shares and therefore results in the Earnout Shares being classified as a liability pursuant to ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging — Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity.

The preliminary estimated fair value of the Earn-Out Liability for Earn-Out shares to be issued to EQRx shareholders in the form of earn-out award agreements was $329.3 million as of the Closing Date in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance asset as of September 30, 2021. The Earn-Out Liability will be remeasured at each reporting date with changes in the fair value recorded to earnings.

 

10

 

 

Earn-Out Shares Issued to Holders of Stock Options

The grant of Earn-Out Shares to existing holders of stock options in the form of new restricted stock unit agreements is considered a compensatory award and accounted for under ASC 718, Share-Based Compensation as the restricted stock units are subject to forfeiture based on the satisfaction of certain service conditions. Under this guidance, the award is measured at fair value at the grant (or issue) date and expense is recognized over the time-based vesting period (Triggering Event I and Triggering Event II are market conditions and do not impact expense recognition) with a credit to additional paid-in-capital.

The preliminary estimated fair value of the Earn-Out Shares issued in the form of new restricted stock units was $43.7 million, assuming the service conditions were met and assuming no forfeitures. The amount recorded as stock-based compensation expense in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations was $12.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and $16.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Fair Value of Earn-Out Shares

As described above, the fair value of the Earn-Out Shares was determined to be $373.0 million based on the use of a Monte Carlo simulation valuation model that utilized a distribution of potential outcomes on a monthly basis over the Earn-Out Period using the most reliable information available. The preliminary fair values of the Earn-Out Shares are subject to change as additional information becomes available and additional analyses are performed. Such changes could be material once the final valuation is determined at the closing of the Transactions. Assumptions used in the preliminary valuation, which are subject to change at the Closing, were as follows:

 

Current stock price — The current stock price was set at the deemed value of $10.00 per share for the EQRx Common Stock.
     
Expected volatility — The volatility rate was determined by using an average of historical volatilities of selected industry peers deemed to be comparable to our business corresponding to the expected term of the awards.
     
Risk-free interest rate — The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of issuance for zero-coupon U.S. Treasury notes with maturities corresponding to the Earn-Out Period.
     
Expected term — The expected term is the Earn-Out Period.
     
Expected dividend yield — The expected dividend yield is zero, as we have never declared or paid cash dividends and have no current plans to do so during the expected term.

11