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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): April 21, 2022

 

East Stone Acquisition Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

British Virgin Islands

  001-39233   N/A
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

25 Mall Road, Suite 330

Burlington, MA 01803

 

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (781) 202 9128

 

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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

 

 

Title of each class

  Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which
registered
Units, each consisting of one Ordinary Share, one Right and one Warrant   ESSCU   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Ordinary Shares, no par value   ESSC   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Rights, exchangeable into one-tenth of one Ordinary Share   ESSCR   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Warrants, each exercisable for one-half of one Ordinary Share, each whole Ordinary Share exercisable for $11.50 per share   ESSCW   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01 Entry Into A Material Definitive Agreement.

 

BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT

 

This section describes the material provisions of the Business Combination Agreement (as defined below) but does not purport to describe all of the terms thereof. The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Business Combination Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1. Unless otherwise defined herein, the capitalized terms used below are defined in the Business Combination Agreement.

 

General Description of the Business Combination Agreement

 

On April 15, 2022, East Stone Acquisition Corporation, a British Virgin Islands business company (“East Stone” or the “Purchaser”), entered into a Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”) with Navy Sail International Limited, a British Virgin Islands company, in the capacity as the representative of East Stone and the shareholders of East Stone immediately prior to Closing from and after the Closing (the “Purchaser Representative”), NWTN Inc., an exempted company incorporated with limited liability in the Cayman Islands (the “Pubco”), Muse Merger Sub I Limited, an exempted company incorporated with limited liability in the Cayman Islands and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Pubco (the “First Merger Sub”), Muse Merger Sub II Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (the “Second Merger Sub”), and ICONIQ Holding Limited, an exempted company incorporated with limited liability in the Cayman Islands (the “Company”).

 

Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, at the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (the “Closing”), (a) the First Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “First Merger”), with the Company surviving the First Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco and the outstanding shares of the Company being converted into the right to receive shares of Pubco; and (b) the Second Merger Sub will merge with and into East Stone (the “Second Merger”, and together with the First Merger, the “Mergers”), with East Stone surviving the Second Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Pubco and the outstanding securities of East Stone being converted into the right to receive substantially equivalent securities of the Pubco (the Mergers together with the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and other ancillary documents, the “Transactions”).

 

Consideration

 

Under the Business Combination Agreement, the Aggregate Merger Consideration Amount to be paid to the shareholders of the Company is $2,500,000,000 and will be paid entirely in shares, comprised of newly issued ordinary shares of the Pubco, with each share valued at the Per Share Price.

 

As a result of the Mergers, (a) each of the Class A ordinary shares of the Company that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the First Merger Effective Time will be cancelled and converted into (i) the right to receive 90% of such number of Class A ordinary shares of the Pubco equal to the Exchange Ratio, and (ii) the contingent right to receive 10% of such number of Class A ordinary shares of the Pubco equal to the Exchange Ratio in accordance with the Business Combination Agreement. Each Class B ordinary share of the Company that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the First Merger Effective Time will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive the number of Class B ordinary shares of the Pubco equal to the Exchange Ratio; (b) each ordinary share of the Purchaser that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be cancelled and converted automatically into the right to receive one Pubco Class B ordinary share. Each of outstanding Purchaser Public Warrant and Purchaser Private Warrant shall be converted into one Pubco Public Warrant and one Pubco Private Warrant, respectively. Each issued and outstanding Purchaser Right shall be automatically converted into one-tenth of one Pubco Class B ordinary share.

 

1

 

 

For the purposes of the Business Combination Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

Exchange Ratio” means means (i) the Company Merger Shares as of the First Merger Effective Time divided by (ii) the total number of Class A and Class B ordinary shares of the Company.

 

Company Merger Shares” means a number of Pubco shares equal to the quotient determined by dividing (a) the Aggregate Merger Consideration Amount by (b) the “Per Share Price”.

 

Per Share Price” means the lower of (i) $10.26 (as equitably adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and the like after the Closing) or (ii) the Redemption Price.

 

Redemption Price” means an amount equal to the price at which each share of Purchaser ordinary share is redeemed or converted pursuant to the Redemption (as equitably adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and the like after the Closing).

 

Representations and Warranties

 

The Business Combination Agreement contains a number of representations and warranties made by the parties as of the date of such agreement or other specific dates solely for the benefit of certain of the parties to the Business Combination Agreement, which in certain cases are subject to specified exceptions and materiality, Material Adverse Effect (as defined below), knowledge and other qualifications contained in the Business Combination Agreement or in information provided pursuant to certain disclosure schedules to the Business Combination Agreement. “Material Adverse Effect” as used in the Business Combination Agreement means with respect to any specified person or entity, any fact, event, occurrence, change or effect that has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the business, assets, liabilities, results of operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of such person and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or the ability of such person or any of its subsidiaries on a timely basis to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement or the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party or bound or to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder, in each case subject to certain customary exceptions. The representations and warranties made by the parties are customary for transactions similar to the Transactions.

 

In the Business Combination Agreement, the Company made certain customary representations and warranties to East Stone, including among others, related to the following: (1) corporate matters, including due organization, existence and good standing; (2) authority and binding effect relative to execution and delivery of the Business Combination Agreement and other ancillary documents; (3) capitalization; (4) subsidiaries; (5) governmental approvals; (6) non-contravention; (7) financial statements; (8) absence of certain changes; (9) compliance with laws; (10) Company permits; (11) litigation; (12) material contracts; (13) intellectual property; (14) taxes and returns; (15) real property; (16) personal property; (17) title to and sufficiency of assets; (18) employee matters; (19) benefit plans; (20) environmental matters; (21) transactions with related persons; (22) insurance; (23) top suppliers; (24) certain business practices; (25) Investment Company Act; (26) finders and brokers; (27) information supplied; (28) independent investigation; and (29) exclusivity of representations and warranties.

 

In the Business Combination Agreement, East Stone made certain customary representations and warranties to the Company and the Pubco, including among others, related to the following: (1) corporate matters, including due organization, existence and good standing; (2) authority and binding effect relative to execution and delivery of the Business Combination Agreement and other ancillary documents; (3) governmental approvals; (4) non-contravention; (5) capitalization; (6) the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) filings, East Stone financials, and internal controls; (7) absence of certain changes; (8) compliance with laws; (9) actions, orders and permits; (10) taxes and returns; (11) employees and employee benefit plans; (12) properties; (13) material contracts; (14) transactions with affiliates; (15) Investment Company Act and the JOBS Act; (16) finders and brokers; (17) certain business practices; (18) insurance; (19) information supplied; (20) independent investigation; (21) the trust account; (22) registration and listing; and (23) termination of prior merger agreements.

 

2

 

 

In the Business Combination Agreement, the Pubco, the First Merger Sub and the Second Merger Sub made customary representations and warranties to East Stone, including among others, related to the following: (1) organization and good standing; (2) authority and binding effect relative to execution and delivery of the Business Combination Agreement and other ancillary documents; (3) governmental approvals; (4) non-contravention; (5) capitalization; (6) activities of the Pubco, the First Merger Sub and the Second Merger Sub; (7) finders and brokers; (8) Investment Company Act; (9) information supplied; (10) independent investigation; and (11) exclusivity of representations and warranties.

 

None of the representations and warranties of the parties shall survive the Closing except for certain representations and warranties of East Stone concerning its aggregate liabilities and prior merger agreements, which shall survive until the first anniversary of the Closing Date. The Losses incurred as a result of the breach of such surviving warranties will be indemnified through the issuance of certain Pubco Shares at no consideration.

 

Covenants of the Parties

 

Each party agreed in the Business Combination Agreement to use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect the Closing. The Business Combination Agreement also contains certain customary covenants by each of the parties during the period between the signing of the Business Combination Agreement and the earlier of the Closing or the termination of the Business Combination Agreement in accordance with its terms, including covenants regarding: (1) the provision of access to their properties, books and personnel; (2) the operation of their respective businesses in the ordinary course of business; (3) provision of financial statements of Target Companies; (4) East Stone’s public filings; (5) “no shop” obligations (which will commence from the initial confidential or public submission of the Registration Statement to the SEC and exceptions; (6) no insider trading; (7) notifications of certain breaches, consent requirements or other matters; (8) efforts to consummate the Closing and obtain third party and regulatory approvals and efforts to cause the Pubco to maintain its status as a “foreign private issuer” under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rule 3b-4; (9) further assurances; (10) public announcements; (11) confidentiality; (12) indemnification of directors and officers and tail insurance; (13) use of trust proceeds after the Closing; (14) efforts to support a private placement or backstop arrangements, if sought; (15) the loan to be granted by the Company to East Stone if the Extension of East Stone is approved; (16) intended tax treatment of the Mergers; (17) a cash incentive payable to each of the current holders of the Company’s shares (the “Sellers”) after the Closing; (18) additional review by East Stone of information regarding the Target Companies (the “Additional Review”).

 

The parties also agreed to take all necessary actions to cause the Pubco’s board of directors immediately after the Closing to consist of a board of seven directors comprised of: (i) two persons that are designated by East Stone prior to the Closing as independent directors; and (ii) five persons that are designated by the Company prior to the Closing.

 

East Stone and the Pubco also agreed to jointly prepare, and the Pubco shall file with the SEC, a registration statement on Form S-4 or F-4 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”) in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) of the issuance of securities of Pubco to the holders of the ordinary shares, rights and warrants of the Purchaser and the Company and containing a proxy statement/prospectus for the purpose of soliciting proxies from the shareholders of East Stone for the matters relating to the Transactions to be acted on at the special meeting of the shareholders of East Stone and providing such shareholders an opportunity to participate in the redemption of their public shares of East Stone upon the Closing (the “Redemption”).

 

Conditions to Closing

 

The obligations of the parties to consummate the Transactions are subject to various conditions, including the following mutual conditions of the parties unless waived: (i) the approval of the Business Combination Agreement and the Transactions and related matters by the requisite vote of East Stone’s shareholders; (ii) obtaining material regulatory approvals; (iii) no law or order preventing or prohibiting the Transactions; (iv) East Stone having at least $5,000,001 in net tangible assets as of the Closing, after giving effect to the completion of the Redemption and any private investment in public entity (PIPE) financing that has been funded; (v) amendment by the shareholders of the Pubco of the Pubco’s memorandum and articles of association; (vi) the effectiveness of the Registration Statement; (vii) appointment of the post-closing directors of the Pubco; and (viii) Nasdaq listing requirements having been fulfilled.

 

3

 

 

In addition, unless waived by the Company, the obligations of the Company, the Pubco, the First Merger Sub and the Second Merger Sub to consummate the Transactions are subject to the satisfaction of the following Closing conditions, in addition to customary certificates and other closing deliveries: (i) the representations and warranties of East Stone being true and correct on and as of the Closing (subject to Material Adverse Effect); (ii) East Stone having performed in all material respects its obligations and complied in all material respects with its covenants and agreements under the Business Combination Agreement required to be performed or complied with by it on or prior the date of the Closing; (iii) absence of any Material Adverse Effect with respect to East Stone since the date of the Business Combination Agreement which is continuing and uncured; (iv) receipt by the Company and the Pubco of the Founders Registration Rights Agreement Amendment; (v) each of the Founder Lock-Up Agreements entered into by and among the Pubco, the Purchaser Representative, the Company, East Stone and each holder of the Founder Shares shall be in full force and effect as of the Closing; (vi) each of the Sellers shall have received from Pubco a registration rights agreement covering the merger consideration shares received by the Sellers duly executed by the Pubco; and (vii) East Stone shall have obtained a written waiver issued in writing by JHD (defined below) concerning the general and full waiver of the liabilities of East Stone under the JHD Agreement (defined below) and any ancillary documents to the foregoing.

 

Unless waived by East Stone, the obligations of East Stone, to consummate the Transactions are subject to the satisfaction of the following Closing conditions, in addition to customary certificates and other closing deliveries: (i) the representations and warranties of the Company, the Pubco, the First Merger Sub, and the Second Merger Sub being true and correct on and as of the Closing (subject to Material Adverse Effect on the Target Companies, taken as a whole); (ii) the Company, the Pubco, the First Merger Sub, and the Second Merger Sub having performed in all material respects the respective obligations and complied in all material respects with their respective covenants and agreements under the Business Combination Agreement required to be performed or complied with on or prior the date of the Closing; (iii) absence of any Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Target Companies (taken as a whole) since the date of the Business Combination Agreement which is continuing and uncured; (iv) the Non-Competition Agreement and each Seller Lock-Up Agreement shall be in full force and effect from the Closing; (v) no factual finding in the Addition Review period would result in a failure of condition (i) in this paragraph to be satisfied, or East Stone has not delivered a notice to the Company within the Addition Review period setting forth such finding, or such failure is cured within 20 days after such notice from East Stone; and (vi) receipt by East Stone of the Founders Registration Rights Agreement Amendment duly executed by the Pubco.

 

Termination

 

The Business Combination Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing by either East Stone or the Company if the Closing does not occur by August 24, 2022 or such other date as may be extended for only one time pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement.

 

The Business Combination Agreement may also be terminated under certain other customary and limited circumstances at any time prior the Closing, including, among other reasons: (i) by mutual written consent of East Stone and the Company; (ii) by either East Stone or the Company if a governmental authority of competent jurisdiction shall have issued an order or taken any other action permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Transactions, and such order or other action has become final and non-appealable; (iii) by the Company for East Stone’s uncured breach of the Business Combination Agreement, such that the related Closing condition would not be met; (iv) by East Stone for the uncured breach of the Business Combination Agreement by the Company, the Pubco, the First Merger Sub, or the Second Merger Sub, such that the related Closing condition would not be met; (v) by either East Stone or the Company if East Stone holds its shareholder meeting to approve the Business Combination Agreement and the Transactions, and such approval is not obtained; (vi) by the Company in accordance with the “no shop” provision; (vii) by East Stone only within 15 days following the delivery of the Final EY Report if such report satisfies the description set forth in the Business Combination Agreement.

 

If the Business Combination Agreement is terminated, all further obligations of the parties under the Business Combination Agreement (except for certain obligations related to confidentiality, effect of termination, fees and expenses, trust fund waiver, miscellaneous and definitions to the foregoing) will terminate, no party to the Business Combination Agreement will have any further liability to any other party thereto except for liability for fraud or for willful breach of the Business Combination Agreement prior to termination, and the Note (as defined below) and any extension loan provided by the Company to East Stone will become immediately due and payable.

 

4

 

 

Trust Account Waiver

 

The Company, the Pubco, the First Merger Sub and the Second Merger Sub have agreed that they and their affiliates will not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in East Stone’s trust account held for its public shareholders, and have agreed not to, and waived any right to, make any claim against the trust account (including any distributions therefrom).

 

Related Agreements and Documents

 

Lock-Up Agreements

 

Simultaneously with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, the Pubco, the Purchaser Representative, the Company and East Stone have entered into lock-up agreements with certain holders of the Founder Shares and with certain Sellers. These lock-up agreements provide for a lock-up period commencing on the Closing Date and ending: (a) with respect to shares held by the controlling shareholder of the Company, (x) 12-month anniversary of the Closing Date with respect to 50% of such shares, (y) 18-month anniversary of the Closing Date with respect to 25% of such shares, (z) 24-month anniversary of the Closing Date with respect to 25% of such shares, and (b) with respect to the shares held by certain Founders and certain other Sellers, (x) 6-month anniversary of the Closing Date with respect to 30% of such shares, and (y) 1-year anniversary of the Closing Date with respect to 70% of such shares.

 

Shareholder Support Agreement

 

Simultaneously with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, East Stone, the Company, and certain shareholders of the Company have entered into a Shareholder Support Agreement (the “Shareholder Support Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, the shareholders of the Company have agreed (a) to support the adoption of the Business Combination Agreement and the approval of the Transactions, subject to certain customary conditions, and (b) not to transfer any of their subject shares (or enter into any arrangement with respect thereto), subject to certain customary conditions. The form of Shareholder Support Agreement is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.2.

 

Insider Letter Amendment

 

Simultaneously with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, East Stone, the Company, the Purchaser Representative, Double Ventures Holdings Limited (the “Sponsor”), the Pubco, Xiaoma (Sherman) Lu and Chunyi (Charlie) Hao have entered into an amendment (the “Insider Letter Amendment”) to that certain letter agreement, dated February 19, 2020 (the “Insider Letter”), by and among East Stone, the Sponsor and the directors, officers or other initial shareholders of East Stone named therein, pursuant to which the Pubco is added as a Party to the Insider Letter, and the lock-up period set forth in the Insider Letter, as applied to the Primary Initial Shareholders (as defined therein) with respect to their Founder Shares after Closing, was amended to be identical to the lock-up period set forth in the lock up agreement for the Founders. The executed Insider Letter Amendment is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.3.

 

5

 

 

The Business Combination Agreement contains representations, warranties and covenants that the respective parties made to each other as of the date of such agreement or other specific dates. The assertions embodied in those representations, warranties, covenants and agreements were made for purposes of the contract among the respective parties and are subject to important qualifications and limitations agreed to by the parties in connection with negotiating such agreement. The Business Combination Agreement has been filed to provide investors with information regarding its terms, but it is not intended to provide any other factual information about East Stone, the Company or any other party to the Business Combination Agreement. In particular, the representations and warranties, covenants and agreements contained in the Business Combination Agreement, which were made only for purposes of such agreement and as of specific dates, were solely for the benefit of the parties to the Business Combination Agreement, may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties (including being qualified by confidential disclosures made for the purposes of allocating contractual risk between the parties to the Business Combination Agreement instead of establishing these matters as facts) and may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to the contracting parties that differ from those applicable to investors and reports and documents filed with the SEC. Investors should not rely on the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements, or any descriptions thereof, as characterizations of the actual state of facts or condition of any party to the Business Combination Agreement. In addition, the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements and other terms of the Business Combination Agreement may be subject to subsequent waiver or modification. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of the representations and warranties and other terms may change after the date of the Business Combination Agreement, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in East Stone’s public disclosures.

 

The form of the lock-up agreements, the form of shareholder support agreement, and the executed Insider Letter Amendment are filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2, and 10.3 respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference, and the foregoing descriptions of the lock-up agreements, the shareholder support agreement, and the Insider Letter Amendment are qualified in their entirety by reference thereto.

 

PROMISSORY NOTE

 

In connection with the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, the Company issued to East Stone an unsecured promissory note effective upon the execution thereof (the “Note”) of up to an aggregate amount of $1,000,000, which funds will solely be used to pay certain third party service fees and expenses of East Stone in connection with the Business Combination. The first tranche of the Note of $300,000 will be disbursed to East Stone within five calendar days of the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, and the second tranche of $700,000 will be drawn down and paid directly to East Stone’s third-party service providers in connection with the consummation of the Transactions as such expenses are incurred. The Note bears no interest and will be due and payable (subject to the waiver against trust provisions) on the earlier of (i) the one year anniversary of the date of disbursing the first tranche of the Note, (ii) the date of closing of a business combination between East Stone and a third party other than the Company, (iii) the date of closing of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, (iv) the date of the occurrence of an Event of Default, and (v) the date of termination of the Business Combination Agreement. The Note may be repaid, at the Company’s discretion, (i) in cash or (ii) in the East Stone’s ordinary shares, based on a conversion price of $10.26 per share, or, if lower, the then-applicable redemption price of East Stone’s public shares, subject to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement.

 

6

 

 

The Note was issued pursuant to an exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

 

For the purposes of the Note, the following term shall have the meaning set forth below:

 

Event of Default” means (i) failure by East Stone to pay the principal amount or any portion thereof when due; (ii) the commencement by East Stone of a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy or similar law; or (iii) the entry of a decree or order in respect of East Stone in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy or similar law.

 

A copy of the Note is filed as Exhibit 10.4 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. The disclosures set forth in this Item 1.01 are intended to be summaries only and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Note.

 

PIPE TRANSACTION

 

In connection with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, on April 21, 2022, East Stone and the Pubco have entered into a subscription agreement (the “PIPE Subscription Agreement”) with an investor (the “PIPE Investor”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Pubco has agreed to issue and sell to the PIPE Investor, and the PIPE Investor has agreed to subscribe for and purchase, certain ordinary shares of the Pubco for a purchaser price at the Per Share Price and at an aggregate purchase price of $200,000,000, in a private placement (the “PIPE”).

 

The PIPE Subscription Agreement contains customary representations and warranties of each of East Stone, Pubco and the PIPE Investor, and customary conditions to closing, including the consummation of the business combination between East Stone and the Company. The purpose of the PIPE is to raise additional capital for use by the combined company following the Closing.

 

The securities sold in connection with the PIPE were sold under the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

 

A form of the PIPE Subscription Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.5 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. The disclosures set forth in this Item 1.01 are intended to be summaries only and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the form of the PIPE Subscription Agreement.

 

Item 1.02 Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

As previously disclosed, East Stone has entered into that certain Second Amended and Restated Business Combination Agreement, dated October 7, 2021 (as amended, the “JHD Agreement”) with JHD Holdings (Cayman) Limited, a Cayman Islands company (“JHD”), JHD Technologies Limited (“JHD Pubco”), Yellow River MergerCo Limited (“JHD Merger Sub”), a British Virgin Islands company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of JHD Pubco, the Purchaser Representative, Yellow River (Cayman) Limited, a Cayman Islands company, each of the holders of JHD’s capital shares, and Double Ventures Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company.

 

7

 

 

As previously disclosed in the current report on Form 8-K of East Stone on April 18, 2022, East Stone has terminated the JHD Agreement.

 

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

 

The disclosure contained in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference in this Item 2.03.

 

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sale of Equity Securities

 

The disclosure set forth above in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 8.01 Other Events

 

On April 21, 2022, East Stone issued a press release announcing the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, which corrects an inadvertent error with respect to the Company’s enterprise value and replaces the press release issued by East Stone on April 16, 2022. A copy of the updated press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.  Description
    
2.1* Business Combination Agreement
10.1  Form of Lock-Up Agreement
10.2  Form of Shareholder Support Agreement
10.3  Insider Letter Amendment
10.4  Promissory Note issued by East Stone Acquisition Corporation to ICONIQ Holding Limited
10.5*  Form of PIPE Subscription Agreement
99.1  Press Release, dated April 21, 2022

 

*The exhibits and schedules to this Exhibit have been omitted in accordance with Regulation S-K Item 601(b)(2). The Registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of all omitted exhibits and schedules to the SEC upon its request.

 

8

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

The Pubco intends to file with the SEC, a Registration Statement (as may be amended), which will include a preliminary proxy statement of East Stone and a prospectus in connection with the proposed Transactions involving East Stone, the Purchaser Representative, the Pubco, Muse Merger Sub I Limited, Muse Merger Sub II Limited and the Company pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement. The definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents will be mailed to shareholders of East Stone as of a record date to be established for voting on East Stone’s proposed Transactions with the Company. SHAREHOLDERS OF EAST STONE AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES ARE URGED TO READ, WHEN AVAILABLE, THE PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT, AND AMENDMENTS THERETO, AND THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH EAST STONE’S SOLICITATION OF PROXIES FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF ITS SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD TO APPROVE THE TRANSACTIONS BECAUSE THESE DOCUMENTS WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT EAST STONE, THE COMPANY, PUBCO AND THE TRANSACTIONS. Shareholders will also be able to obtain copies of the Registration Statement and the proxy statement/prospectus, without charge, once available, on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to East Stone by contacting its Chief Financial Officer, Chunyi (Charlie) Hao, c/o East Stone Acquisition Corporation, 25 Mall Road, Suite 330, Burlington, MA 01803, at (781) 202-9128 or at hao@estonecapital.com.

 

DISCLAIMER

 

This report and the exhibits hereto shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act.

 

NO ASSURANCES

 

There can be no assurance that the proposed Transactions will be completed, nor can there be any assurance, if the Transactions are completed, that the potential benefits of combining the companies will be realized. The description of the Transactions contained herein is only a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the definitive agreements relating to the Transactions, copies of which have been filed by East Stone with the SEC as exhibits to this report.

 

PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION

 

The Pubco, East Stone and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of East Stone in connection with the Transactions. Information regarding the officers and directors of East Stone is set forth in East Stone’s annual report on Form 10-K, which was filed with the SEC on April 15, 2022. Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants will also be included in the Registration Statement (and will be included in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus for the Transactions) and other relevant documents filed with the SEC.

 

9

 

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

The information in this report includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “expect,” “continue,” “should,” “would,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “future,” “outlook” or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, (1) statements regarding estimates and forecasts of financial and performance metrics and projections of market opportunity and market share; (2) references with respect to the anticipated benefits of the proposed Transactions and the projected future financial performance of East Stone and the Company’s operating companies following the proposed Transactions; (3) changes in the market for the Company’s products and services and expansion plans and opportunities; (4) the Company’s unit economics; (5) the sources and uses of cash of the proposed Transactions; (6) the anticipated capitalization and enterprise value of the combined company following the consummation of the proposed Transactions; (7) the projected technological developments of the Company and its competitors; (8) anticipated short- and long-term customer benefits; (9) current and future potential commercial and customer relationships; (10) the ability to manufacture efficiently at scale; (11) anticipated investments in research and development and the effect of these investments and timing related to commercial product launches; and (12) expectations related to the terms and timing of the proposed Transactions. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this report, and on the current expectations of the Company’s and East Stone’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of the Company and East Stone. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination Agreement; the risk that the Transactions disrupt current plans and operations as a result of the announcement and consummation of the Transactions described herein; the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Transactions; the lack of a third-party fairness opinion in determining whether or not to pursue the proposed Transactions; the ability to obtain or maintain the listing of the Pubco’s securities on The Nasdaq Stock Market, following the Transactions, including having the requisite number of shareholders; costs related to the Transactions; changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to the Company; the Company’s ability to successfully and timely develop, manufacture, sell and expand its technology and products, including implement its growth strategy; the Company’s ability to adequately manage any supply chain risks, including the purchase of a sufficient supply of critical components incorporated into its product offerings; risks relating to the Company’s operations and business, including information technology and cybersecurity risks, failure to adequately forecast supply and demand, loss of key customers and deterioration in relationships between the Company and its employees; the Company’s ability to successfully collaborate with business partners; demand for the Company’s current and future offerings; risks that orders that have been placed for the Company’s products are cancelled or modified; risks related to increased competition; risks relating to potential disruption in the transportation and shipping infrastructure, including trade policies and export controls; risks that the Company is unable to secure or protect its intellectual property; risks of product liability or regulatory lawsuits relating to the Company’s products and services; risks that the post-combination company experiences difficulties managing its growth and expanding operations; the uncertain effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and certain geopolitical developments; the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the proposed Transactions, including the risk that any required shareholder or regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the proposed Transactions; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Company, East Stone or Pubco or other following announcement of the proposed Transactions and transactions contemplated thereby; the ability of the Company to execute its business model, including market acceptance of its planned products and services and achieving sufficient production volumes at acceptable quality levels and prices; technological improvements by the Company’s peers and competitors; and those risk factors discussed in documents of Pubco and East Stone filed, or to be filed, with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that neither East Stone nor the Company presently know or that East Stone and the Company currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect East Stone’s and the Company’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this report. East Stone and the Company anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause East Stone’s and the Company’s assessments to change. However, while East Stone and the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, East Stone and the Company specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. Readers are referred to the most recent reports filed with the SEC by East Stone. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

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SIGNATURE

 

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

 

  East Stone Acquisition Corporation
     
Date: April 21, 2022 By: /s/ Xiaoma (Sherman) Lu
    Name:  Xiaoma (Sherman) Lu
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

11

 

Exhibit 2.1

 

 

 

BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT

 

by and among

 

EAST STONE ACQUISITION CORPORATION,
as Purchaser,

 

NAVY SAIL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED,

in the capacity as the Purchaser Representative,

 

NWTN INC.,

as Pubco,

 

MUSE MERGER SUB I LIMITED,

as First Merger Sub,

 

MUSE MERGER SUB II LIMITED,

as Second Merger Sub,

 

and

 

ICONIQ HOLDING LIMITED,
as the Company

 

Dated as of April 15, 2022

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I MERGERS 2
1.1 The Mergers. 2
1.2 Effective Time. 2
1.3 Effect of the Merger. 3
1.4 Organizational Documents of Surviving Company. 4
1.5 Directors, Officers and Registered Agents. 4
ARTICLE II CONVERSION OF SECURITIES; EXCHANGE OF COMPANY SECURITIES 4
2.1 Conversion of Company Securities. 4
2.2 Conversion of Issued Securities of Purchaser. 5
2.3 No Liability 7
2.4 Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action. 7
2.5 Surrender of Company Securities and Disbursement of Company Share Consideration 7
2.6 Fractional Shares. 8
ARTICLE III CLOSING 8
3.1 Closing. 8
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER 8
4.1 Organization and Standing. 8
4.2 Authorization; Binding Agreement. 8
4.3 Governmental Approvals. 9
4.4 Non-Contravention. 9
4.5 Capitalization. 10
4.6 SEC Filings; Purchaser Financials; Internal Controls. 11
4.7 Absence of Certain Changes. 12
4.8 Compliance with Laws. 13
4.9 Actions; Orders; Permits. 13
4.10 Taxes and Returns. 13
4.11 Employees and Employee Benefit Plans. 15
4.12 Properties. 15
4.13 Material Contracts. 15
4.14 Transactions with Affiliates. 16
4.15 Investment Company Act; JOBS Act. 16
4.16 Finders and Brokers. 16
4.17 Certain Business Practices. 16
4.18 Insurance. 17
4.19 Information Supplied. 17

 

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4.20 Independent Investigation. 18
4.21 Trust Account. 18
4.22 Registration and Listing. 19
4.23 Termination of Prior Merger Agreements. 19
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PUBCO, FIRST MERGER SUB AND SECOND MERGER SUB 19
5.1 Organization and Standing. 19
5.2 Authorization; Binding Agreement. 20
5.3 Governmental Approvals. 20
5.4 Non-Contravention. 20
5.5 Capitalization. 21
5.6 Activities of Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub Activities. 21
5.7 Finders and Brokers. 21
5.8 Investment Company Act. 21
5.9 Information Supplied. 21
5.10 Independent Investigation. 21
5.11 Exclusivity of Representations and Warranties. 22
ARTICLE VI REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY 22
6.1 Organization and Standing. 22
6.2 Authorization; Binding Agreement. 23
6.3 Capitalization. 23
6.4 Subsidiaries.. 24
6.5 Governmental Approvals. 24
6.6 Non-Contravention. 25
6.7 Financial Statements. 25
6.8 Absence of Certain Changes. 26
6.9 Compliance with Laws. 26
6.10 Company Permits. 27
6.11 Litigation. 27
6.12 Material Contracts. 27
6.13 Intellectual Property. 29
6.14 Taxes and Returns. 31
6.15 Real Property. 32
6.16 Personal Property. 32
6.17 Title to and Sufficiency of Assets. 32
6.18 Employee Matters. 32

 

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6.19 Benefit Plans. 34
6.20 Environmental Matters. 35
6.21 Transactions with Related Persons. 35
6.22 Insurance. 36
6.23 Top Suppliers. 36
6.24 Certain Business Practices. 37
6.25 Investment Company Act. 37
6.26 Finders and Brokers. 37
6.27 Information Supplied. 37
6.28 Independent Investigation. 38
6.29 Exclusivity of Representations and Warranties. . 38
ARTICLE VII CONVENANTS 38
7.1 Access and Information. 38
7.2 Conduct of Business of the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub. 39
7.3 Conduct of Business of Purchaser. 41
7.4 Annual and Interim Financial Statements. 44
7.5 Purchaser Public Filings. 44
7.6 No Solicitation. 44
7.7 No Trading. 46
7.8 Notification of Certain Matters. 46
7.9 Efforts. 46
7.10 Further Assurances. 47
7.11 The Registration Statement. 47
7.12 Public Announcements. 49
7.13 Confidential Information. 50
7.14 Post-Closing Board of Directors and Executive Officers. 51
7.15 Indemnification of Directors and Officers; Tail Insurance. 52
7.16 Trust Account Proceeds. 52
7.17 PIPE Investment. 53
7.18 Extension Loan.. 53
7.19 Tax Matters. 53
7.20 Cash Incentives to Seller.. 53
7.21 Additional Review after Signing.. 54
ARTICLE VIII CLOSING CONDITIONS 54
8.1 Conditions to Each Party’s Obligations. 54
8.2 Conditions to Obligations of the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger 55

 

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8.3 Conditions to Obligations of Purchaser. 56
8.4 Frustration of Conditions. 57
ARTICLE IX INDEMNIFICATION 57
9.1 Survival.. 57
9.2 Indemnification. 58
ARTICLE X TERMINATION AND EXPENSES 58
10.1 Termination. 58
10.2 Effect of Termination. 59
10.3 Fees and Expenses. 59
ARTICLE XI WAIVERS AND RELEASES 60
11.1 Waiver of Claims Against Trust. 60
ARTICLE XII MISCELLANEOUS 61
12.1 Notices. 61
12.2 Binding Effect; Assignment. 63
12.3 Third Parties. 63
12.4 Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants.. 63
12.5 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. 63
12.6 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. 64
12.7 Specific Performance. 64
12.8 Severability. 64
12.9 Amendment. 65
12.10 Waiver. 65
12.11 Entire Agreement. 65
12.12 Interpretation. 65
12.13 Counterparts. 66
12.14 No Recourse. 66
12.15 Purchaser Representative. 66
12.16 Legal Representation. 68
ARTICLE XIII DEFINITIONS 68
13.1 Certain Definitions. 68
13.2 Section References. 78

 

INDEX OF ANNEXES AND EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit Description

 

Exhibit A Form of Lock-Up Agreement
Exhibit B Form of Support Agreement
Exhibit C Form of Insider Letter Amendment

 

iv

 

 

BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT

 

This Business Combination Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of April 15, 2022 by and among: (i) East Stone Acquisition Corporation, a British Virgin Islands business company (the “Purchaser”), (ii) Navy Sail International Limited, a British Virgin Islands company, in the capacity as, from and after the Closing, the representative for the Purchaser and the shareholders of Purchaser immediately prior to the Effective Time in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement (the “Purchaser Representative” or “Navy Sail”), (iii) NWTN Inc., an exempted company incorporated with limited liability in the Cayman Islands, (“Pubco”), (iv) Muse Merger Sub I Limited, an exempted company incorporated with limited liability in the Cayman Islands and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“First Merger Sub”); (v) Muse Merger Sub II Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“Second Merger Sub”), and (vi) ICONIQ Holding Limited, an exempted company incorporated with limited liability in the Cayman Islands (the “Company”). Purchaser, Purchaser Representative, Pubco, First Merger Sub, Second Merger Sub, and the Company are sometimes referred to herein individually as a “Party” and, collectively, as the “Parties”.

 

RECITALS:

 

WHEREAS, on the date hereof the Sellers collectively own 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company;

 

WHEREAS, Pubco is a newly incorporated Cayman Islands exempted company that is owned entirely by the Company, and both First Merger Sub (a newly incorporated Cayman Islands exempted company) and Second Merger Sub (a newly incorporated British Virgin Islands company) are wholly-owned by Pubco;

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire and intend to effect a business combination transaction whereby (a) First Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “First Merger”), with the Company surviving the First Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco and the outstanding shares of the Company being converted into the right to receive shares of Pubco (the Company, in its capacity as the surviving company of the First Merger, is sometimes referred to herein as the “Surviving Company”); (b) one (1) Business Day following, and as part of the same overall transaction as the First Merger, Second Merger Sub will merge with and into the Purchaser (the “Second Merger”, and together with the First Merger, the “Mergers”), with the Purchaser surviving the Second Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco and the outstanding securities of the Purchaser being converted into the right to receive shares of Pubco (the Purchaser, in its capacity as the surviving entity of the Second Merger, is sometimes referred to herein as the “Surviving Entity”) (the Mergers together with the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents (as defined below), the “Transactions”), all upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the provisions of applicable law;

 

WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, certain Sellers have entered into (a) a Lock-Up Agreement with Pubco and the Purchaser Representative, the form of which is attached as Exhibit A hereto (each, a “Seller Lock-Up Agreement”), which will become effective as of the Closing; and (b) a Support Agreement with the Company and Purchaser, the form of which is attached as Exhibit B hereto (the “Support Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, each of the Company, Purchaser, Pubco and the Insiders (as defined thereunder) entered into an amendment to that certain letter agreement, dated February 19, 2020, by and among, Purchaser, Navy Sail, the Sponsor, Sherman (Xiaoma) Lu and Charlie (Chunyi) Hao (collectively, the “Founders”) and the other directors and officers of Purchaser named therein, the form of which is attached as Exhibit C hereto (the “Insider Letter Amendment”) and each holder of Founder Shares has entered into a Lock-Up Agreement with Pubco and the Company, the form of which is attached as Exhibit A hereto (each, a “Founder Lock-up Agreement”);

 

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WHEREAS, the Company has agreed to loan Purchaser up to an aggregate of One Million U.S. Dollars ($1,000,000) (the “Transaction Loan”), the proceeds of which are to be used solely for paying any fees and expenses of independent and reputable third party service providers incurred by Purchaser after the execution of that certain Term Sheet between Purchaser and the Company, dated March 15, 2022, solely and directly in relation to maintaining the Purchaser as a public company and the consummation of the Transactions hereunder, and such loan is evidenced by a promissory note in favor of the Company, dated as of March 16, 2022 (the “Promissory Note”);

 

WHEREAS, the boards of directors or similar governing bodies of each of Purchaser, Pubco, First Merger Sub, Second Merger Sub and the Company have each (a) determined that the Transactions are fair, advisable and in the best commercial interests of their respective companies and shareholders, and (b) approved this Agreement and the Transactions, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and in accordance with, as applicable, the BVI Act and the Cayman Companies Act (each as defined herein); and

 

WHEREAS, certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in ARTICLE XIV hereof.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, which are incorporated in this Agreement as if fully set forth below, and the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
MERGERS

 

1.1  The Mergers.

 

(a)  Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in ARTICLE VIII, and in accordance with the Cayman Companies Act, on the Business Day prior to the Effective Time, First Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the Company. As a result of the First Merger, the separate corporate existence of First Merger Sub shall cease and the Company shall continue its corporate existence as the surviving company (within the meaning of the Cayman Companies Act) in the First Merger pursuant to the provisions of the Cayman Companies Act.

 

(b)  Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in ARTICLE VIII, and in accordance with the BVI Act, at the Effective Time and one Business Day following the First Merger, Second Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the Purchaser. As a result of the Second Merger, the separate corporate existence of the Second Merger Sub shall cease and the Purchaser shall continue as the surviving entity for the purpose of the BVI Act of the Second Merger.

 

1.2  Effective Time. As promptly as practicable, but in no event later than three (3) Business Days, after the satisfaction or, if permissible, waiver of the conditions set forth in ARTICLE VIII (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, it being understood that the occurrence of the Closing shall remain subject to the satisfaction or, if permissible, waiver of such conditions at the Closing):

 

(a)  Pubco, First Merger Sub and the Company shall cause the First Merger to be consummated by executing a plan of merger (the “First Merger Plan of Merger”), in such form as is required by, and executed in accordance with, the relevant provisions of the Cayman Companies Act and mutually agreed by the parties, and filing the Plan of Merger and all such other documents (including, without limitation, a director’s declaration by a director of each of the Company and First Merger Sub made in accordance with Section 233(9) of the Cayman Companies Act) required to effect the First Merger pursuant to the Cayman Companies Act with the Cayman Registrar as provided in Section 233 of the Cayman Companies Act (the “First Merger Documents”), and make such other filings or records and take such other actions as may be required in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Cayman Companies Act to make the First Merger effective hereinafter (such effective time being the “First Merger Effective Time”); and,

 

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(b)  on the Business Day following the First Merger Effective Time, Pubco, Second Merger Sub and the Purchaser shall cause the Second Merger to be consummated by executing a plan of merger and the articles of merger (the “Second Merger Plan of Merger” and the “Second Merger Articles of Merger” respectively and together (including, without limitation with all such other documents required to effect the Second Merger as required by the BVI Act with the Registrar of Corporate Affairs of the British Virgin Islands) the “Second Merger Documents”, and, with the First Merger Documents, the “Merger Documents”), in such form as is required by, and executed in accordance with, the relevant provisions of the BVI Act and mutually agreed by the parties, and filing the Second Merger Articles of Merger, and make such other filings or records and take such other actions as may be required in accordance with the applicable provisions of the BVI Act to make the Second Merger effective hereinafter. The Second Merger shall become effective at the time of the Closing Date when the applicable Second Merger Documents are registered by the Registrar of Corporate Affairs of the British Virgin Islands (such time being the “Effective Time”).

 

1.3  Effect of the Merger.

 

(a)  On the First Merger Effective Time, the effect of the First Merger shall be as provided in the applicable provisions of the Cayman Companies Act. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the First Merger Effective Time, (i) all the rights, the property of every description including choses in action, business, undertaking, goodwill, benefits, immunities and privileges of the Company and First Merger Sub shall immediately vest in the Surviving Company, (ii) all Company Shares immediately prior to the First Merger Effective Time shall be cancelled and converted into the right to receive shares and convertible securities of Pubco, as provided in Section 1.1 and subject to Section 2.1(a), (iii) all First Merger Sub Share(s) immediately prior to the First Merger Effective Time shall be cancelled and converted into the right to receive the same class and number of shares of the Surviving Company, (iv) all the mortgages, charges or security interests, and all contracts, obligations, claims, debts and liabilities of each of the Company and First Merger Sub shall become the mortgages, charges or security interests, and all contracts, obligations, claims, debts and liabilities of the Surviving Company, and (v) the separate corporate existence of First Merger Sub shall cease.

 

(b)  At the Effective Time, the effect of the Second Merger shall be as provided in this Agreement, the Articles of Merger, and the applicable provisions of the BVI Act. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, (i) all the rights, the property of every description including choses in action, business, undertaking, goodwill, benefits, immunities and privileges of the Purchaser and Second Merger Sub shall immediately vest in the Surviving Entity, (ii) all outstanding shares of Purchaser Ordinary Shares shall be converted into the right to receive Pubco Ordinary Shares, as provided in Section 1.1, (iii) all outstanding Purchaser Warrants shall be converted into Pubco Warrants, as provided in Section 1.1; (iv) all outstanding Purchaser Rights shall be converted into such number of Pubco Ordinary Shares as provided in Section 1.1; (v) all the mortgages, charges or security interests, and all contracts, obligations, claims, debts and liabilities of each of the Purchaser and Second Merger Sub shall become the mortgages, charges or security interests, and all contracts, obligations, claims, debts and liabilities of the Surviving Entity and (v) the separate corporate existence of Second Merger Sub shall cease.

 

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1.4  Organizational Documents of Surviving Company.

 

(a)  At the First Merger Effective Time, the Surviving Company shall adopt the new memorandum and articles of association (the “Surviving Company Charter”), which are substantially in the form of the memorandum and articles of association of First Merger Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the First Merger Effective Time, as the memorandum and articles of association of the Surviving Company; provided, that at the First Merger Effective Time, references therein to the name of the Surviving Company shall be amended to be such name as reasonably determined by the Company.

 

(b)  At the Effective Time, (i) an amended and restated version of the memorandum and articles of association of the Surviving Entity (the “Surviving Entity Charter”), which will be substantially in the form of the memorandum and articles of association of Second Merger Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be filed with the Registrar of Corporate Affairs of the British Virgin Islands and once filed, as so amended, will be the memorandum and articles of association of the Surviving Entity; provided, that at the Effective Time, references therein to the name of the Surviving Entity shall be amended to be such name as reasonably determined by the Purchaser, in addition, the Purchaser confirms that, at or prior to Closing, the shareholders of Purchaser will have approved the amendment and restatement of the memorandum and articles of association referenced in the immediately preceding sentient and agree that the Purchaser’s registered agent is instructed to file a copy of the relevant resolution, together with the Second Merger Articles of Merger with the Registrar of Corporate Affairs of the British Virgin Islands pursuant to the BVI Act; and (ii) the Pubco Charter, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be amended and restated in its entirety to be in the form of the Amended Pubco Charter.

 

1.5  Directors, Officers and Registered Agents.

 

(a)  At the First Merger Effective Time, the board of directors and executive officers of the Surviving Company shall be such directors and officers as appointed by the Company, each to hold office in accordance with the provisions of the Cayman Companies Act and the Surviving Company Charter until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified.

 

(b)  At the Effective Time, the board of directors and executive officers of the Surviving Entity shall be such directors and officers as appointed by the Company or Pubco, each to hold office in accordance with the provisions of the BVI Act and the Surviving Entity Charter until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified.

 

(c)  At the Effective Time, the client of record of the registered agent of the Surviving Entity shall be such named individual or individuals as nominated by the Company or Pubco and the Purchaser Representative shall have provided the registered agent of the Surviving Entity with written instructions to recognize the authority of the new client(s) of record of the Surviving Entity on and from the Effective Time.

 

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ARTICLE II
CONVERSION OF SECURITIES; EXCHANGE OF COMPANY SECURITIES

 

2.1  Conversion of Company Securities. At the First Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the First Merger and without any action on the part of any Party or the holders of any of the following securities:

 

(a)  Company Class A Ordinary Share. Each Company Class A Ordinary Share that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the First Merger Effective Time shall, as of the First Merger Effective Time, be canceled by virtue of the First Merger and converted into (i) the right to receive 90% of such number of Pubco Class A Ordinary Shares equal to the Exchange Ratio, and (ii) the contingent right to receive 10% of such number of Pubco Class A Ordinary Shares equal to the Exchange Ratio (the “Earnout Shares”) in accordance with Section 1.1 and Schedule 2.1(a). All of the Company Class A Ordinary Shares converted into the right to receive Pubco Class A Ordinary Shares shall no longer be issued and outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist, the register of members of the Company shall be updated promptly at the First Merger Effective Time to reflect such cancellation, and each holder of a share certificate of the Company previously representing any such shares of Company Class A Ordinary Shares shall thereafter cease to have any rights with respect to such securities, except the right to receive the Pubco Class A Ordinary Shares into which such Company Class A Ordinary Shares shall have been converted in the First Merger and as otherwise provided under the Cayman Companies Act.

 

(b)  Company Class B Ordinary Share. Each Company Class B Ordinary Share that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the First Merger Effective Time shall, as of the First Merger Effective Time, be canceled by virtue of the First Merger and converted into the right to receive the number of Pubco Class B Ordinary Shares equal to the Exchange Ratio (which consideration, collectively with the per share consideration described in Section 2.1(a), shall hereinafter be referred to as the “Company Share Consideration”). All of the Company Class B Ordinary Shares converted into the right to receive Pubco Class B Ordinary Shares shall no longer be issued and outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist, the register of members of the Company shall be updated promptly at the First Merger Effective Time to reflect such cancellation, and each holder of a share certificate of the Company previously representing any such shares of Company Class B Ordinary Shares shall thereafter cease to have any rights with respect to such securities, except the right to receive the Pubco Class B Ordinary Shares into which such Company Class B Ordinary Shares shall have been converted in the First Merger and as otherwise provided under the Cayman Companies Act.

 

(c)  First Merger Sub Ordinary Shares. Each share of First Merger Sub Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the First Merger Effective Time shall, as of the First Merger Effective Time, be converted into and exchanged for one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Surviving Company.

 

2.2  Conversion of Issued Securities of Purchaser. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Second Merger and without any action on the part of any Party or the holders of any of the following securities:

 

(a)  Purchaser Units. At the Effective Time, (i) each issued and outstanding Purchaser Public Unit shall be automatically detached and the holder thereof shall be deemed to hold one Purchaser Ordinary Share, one Purchaser Public Warrant and one Purchaser Right and (ii) each issued and outstanding Purchaser Private Unit shall be automatically detached and the holder thereof shall be deemed to hold one Purchaser Ordinary Share, one Purchaser Private Warrant and one Purchaser Right, in each case in accordance with the terms of the applicable Purchaser Unit, which underlying Purchaser Securities shall be converted in accordance with the applicable terms of this Section 2.2 below.

 

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(b)  Purchaser Ordinary Share. At the Effective Time, every issued and outstanding Purchaser Ordinary Share (other than those described in Section 1.1(f) below) immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be canceled by virtue of the Second Merger and converted automatically into the right to receive one Pubco Class B Ordinary Share (such consideration, the “Purchaser Merger Consideration”). All Purchaser Ordinary Shares shall cease to be issued and outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and shall cease to exist, the register of members of the Purchaser shall be updated promptly at the Effective Time to reflect such cancellation, and each holder of a share certificate of the Purchaser previously representing any such shares of Purchaser Ordinary Shares shall thereafter cease to have any rights with respect to such securities, except the right to receive the Pubco Class B Ordinary Shares into which such Purchaser Ordinary Shares shall have been converted in the Second Merger and as otherwise provided under the BVI Act.

 

(c)  [RESERVED]

 

(d)  Purchaser Warrants. At the Effective Time, each outstanding Purchaser Public Warrant shall be converted into one Pubco Public Warrant, each outstanding Purchaser Private Warrant shall be converted into one Pubco Private Warrant and each outstanding Purchaser Underwriter Warrant shall be converted into one Pubco Underwriter Warrant. At the Effective Time, the Purchaser Warrants shall cease to be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist. Each of the Pubco Public Warrants shall have, and be subject to, substantially the same terms and conditions set forth in the Purchaser Public Warrants, each of the Pubco Private Warrants shall have, and be subject to, substantially the same terms and conditions set forth in the Purchaser Private Warrants, and each of the Pubco Underwriter Warrants shall have, and be subject to, substantially the same terms and conditions set forth in the Purchaser Underwriter Warrants, except that in each case they shall represent the right to acquire Pubco Class B Ordinary Shares in lieu of Purchaser Ordinary Shares. At or prior to the Effective Time, Pubco shall take all corporate actions necessary to reserve for future issuance and shall maintain such reservation for so long as any of the Pubco Warrants remain outstanding, a sufficient number of Pubco Class B Ordinary Shares for delivery upon the exercise of such Pubco Warrants.

 

(e)  Purchaser Rights. At the Effective Time, each issued and outstanding Purchaser Right shall be automatically converted into the number of Pubco Class B Ordinary Shares that would have been received by the holder thereof if such Purchaser Right had been converted upon the consummation of a Business Combination in accordance with Purchaser’s Organizational Documents, the IPO Prospectus and the Rights Agreement into Purchaser Ordinary Shares, but for such purposes treating it as if such Business Combination had occurred immediately prior to the Effective Time and the Purchaser Ordinary Shares issued upon conversion of the Purchaser Rights had then automatically been converted into Pubco Class B Ordinary Shares in accordance with Section 2.2(b) above. At the Effective Time, the Purchaser Rights shall cease to be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist. The holders of certificates previously evidencing Purchaser Rights outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to such Purchaser Rights, except as provided herein or by Law. Each certificate formerly representing Purchaser Rights shall thereafter represent only the right to receive Pubco Class B Ordinary Shares as set forth herein.

 

(f)  Cancellation of Capital Shares Owned by Purchaser. At the Effective Time, if there are any shares of capital stock of Purchaser that are owned by Purchaser as treasury shares, such shares shall be canceled and extinguished without any conversion thereof or payment therefor.

 

(g)  Redeemed Shares. Each Purchaser Ordinary Share for which a holder has exercised its right of Redemption shall be surrendered and cancelled and shall cease to exist and no consideration shall be delivered or deliverable in exchange therefor.

 

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(h)  Second Merger Sub Ordinary Shares. Each share in Second Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and exchanged for one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share, par value $1.00 per share, of the Surviving Entity.

 

(i)  Transfers of Ownership. If any certificate for securities of Purchaser is to be issued in a name other than that in which the certificate surrendered in exchange therefor is registered, it will be a condition of the issuance thereof that the certificate so surrendered will be properly endorsed (or accompanied by an appropriate instrument of transfer) and otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the person requesting such exchange will have paid to Purchaser or any agent designated by it any transfer or other Taxes required by reason of the issuance of a certificate for securities of Purchaser in any name other than that of the registered holder of the certificate surrendered, or established to the satisfaction of Purchaser or any agent designated by it that such tax has been paid or is not payable.

 

(j)  Surrender of Purchaser Certificates. All securities issued upon the surrender of Purchaser Securities in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been issued in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such securities, provided that any restrictions on the sale and transfer of Purchaser Securities shall also apply to the Pubco Securities so issued in exchange.

 

(k)  Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Purchaser Certificates. In the event any certificates shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, Pubco shall issue, in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed certificates, as the case may be, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the holder thereof, such securities, as may be required pursuant to Section 2.2; provided, however, that the Surviving Entity may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificates to deliver a bond in such sum as it may reasonably direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Surviving Entity with respect to the certificates alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

 

2.3  No Liability . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this ARTICLE II, none of the Surviving Company, Surviving Entity, Pubco or any other Party hereto shall be liable to any Person for any amount properly paid to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law.

 

2.4  Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action. If, at any time after the Effective Time, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement and to vest the Surviving Company or the Surviving Entity with full right, title and possession to all assets, property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of Purchaser, the Company, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub, the officers and directors of Purchaser, the Company, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub are fully authorized in the name of their respective entities to take, and will take, all such lawful and necessary action, so long as such action is not inconsistent with this Agreement

 

2.5  Surrender of Company Securities and Disbursement of Company Share Consideration

 

(a)  At the Closing, Pubco shall cause the Company Share Consideration to be issued and delivered to the Sellers as converted from their Company Securities in accordance with Section 2.1.

 

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(b)  At the Closing, the Sellers will deliver to Pubco their collective Company Securities, including any certificates representing Company Ordinary Shares (“Company Certificates”), along with applicable share power or transfer forms reasonably acceptable to Pubco. In the event that any Company Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, in lieu of delivery of a Company Certificate to Pubco, the Sellers may instead deliver to Pubco an affidavit of lost certificate and indemnity of loss in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Pubco (a “Lost Certificate Affidavit”), which at the reasonable discretion of Pubco may include a requirement that the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed Company Certificate deliver a bond in such sum as Pubco may reasonably direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against Pubco or the Company with respect to the Company Ordinary Shares represented by such Company Certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

 

2.6  Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no fraction of a Pubco Ordinary Share will be issued by Pubco by virtue of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, and each Person who would otherwise be entitled to a fraction of a Pubco Ordinary Share (after aggregating all fractional Pubco Ordinary Shares that would otherwise be received by such Person) shall instead have the number of Pubco Ordinary Shares issued to such Person rounded down in the aggregate to the nearest whole Pubco Ordinary Share.

 

ARTICLE III
CLOSING

 

3.1  Closing. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in ARTICLE VIII, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) shall take place at the offices of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole, LLP (“EGS”), 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10105, or by electronic exchange of documents and signatures, on the second (2nd) Business Day after all the Closing conditions to this Agreement have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions) at 10:00 a.m. local time, or at such other date, time or place as Purchaser, Pubco and the Company may agree (the date and time at which the Closing is actually held being the “Closing Date”).

 

ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER

 

Except as set forth in (i) the disclosure schedules delivered by Purchaser to the Company and accepted by Pubco on the date hereof (the “Purchaser Disclosure Schedules”), the Section numbers of which are numbered to correspond to the Section numbers of this Agreement to which they refer, or (ii) the SEC Reports that are available on the SEC’s website through EDGAR no later than 5:30 p.m. on the day immediately before the date of this Agreement (to the extent the qualifying nature of such disclosure is readily apparent from the content of such SEC Reports, but excluding disclosures referred to in “Forward-Looking Statements,” “Risk Factors” and any other disclosures therein to the extent they are of a predictive or cautionary nature or related to forward-looking statements), Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company and Pubco, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing, as follows:

 

4.1  Organization and Standing. Purchaser is a British Virgin Islands business company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the British Virgin Islands. Purchaser has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. Purchaser is duly qualified or licensed and in good standing to do business in each jurisdiction in which the character of the property owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification or licensing necessary. Purchaser has heretofore made available to the Company accurate and complete copies of its Organizational Documents, each as currently in effect. Purchaser is not in violation of any provision of its Organizational Documents.

 

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4.2  Authorization; Binding Agreement. Purchaser has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party, to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, subject to obtaining the Required Shareholder Approval. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (a) have been duly and validly authorized by the board of directors of Purchaser and (b) other than the Required Shareholder Approval, no other corporate proceedings, other than as set forth elsewhere in the Agreement, on the part of Purchaser are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Purchaser’s board of directors, either (A) at a duly called and held meeting or (B) by way of written resolution, has unanimously (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Second Merger, are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of Purchaser and Purchaser’s shareholders in accordance with BVI Act, (ii) approved and adopted this Agreement, (iii) recommended that Purchaser’s shareholders vote in favor of the approval of this Agreement, the Second Merger, and the other Purchaser Shareholder Approval Matters in accordance with the BVI Act (the “Purchaser Recommendation”) and (iv) directed that this Agreement and the Purchaser Shareholder Approval Matters be submitted to the Purchaser shareholders for their approval. This Agreement has been, and each Ancillary Document to which Purchaser is a party shall be when delivered, duly and validly executed and delivered by Purchaser and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement and such Ancillary Documents by the other parties hereto and thereto, constitutes, or when delivered shall constitute, the valid and binding obligation of Purchaser, enforceable against Purchaser in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforceability thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and moratorium laws and other laws of general application affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity (collectively, the “Enforceability Exceptions”).

 

4.3  Governmental Approvals. Except as otherwise described in Schedule 4.3, no Consent of or with any Governmental Authority, on the part of Purchaser is required to be obtained or made in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by Purchaser of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party or the consummation by Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, other than (a) pursuant to Antitrust Laws, (b) such filings as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, (c) any filings required with Nasdaq or the SEC with respect to the Transactions, (d) applicable requirements, if any, of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and/ or any state “blue sky” securities Laws, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and (e) where the failure to obtain or make such Consents or to make such filings or notifications, would individually or in the aggregate, material to the Purchaser.

 

4.4  Non-Contravention. Except as otherwise described in Schedule 4.4, the execution and delivery by Purchaser of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party, the consummation by Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and compliance by Purchaser with any of the provisions hereof and thereof, will not (a) conflict with or violate any provision of Purchaser’s Organizational Documents, (b) subject to obtaining the Consents from Governmental Authorities referred to in Section 4.3 hereof, and the waiting periods referred to therein having expired, and any condition precedent to such Consent or waiver having been satisfied, conflict with or violate any Law, Order or Consent applicable to Purchaser or any of its properties or assets, or (c) (i) violate, conflict with or result in a breach of, (ii) constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, (iii) result in the termination, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation or modification of, (iv) accelerate the performance required by Purchaser under, (v) result in a right of termination or acceleration under, (vi) give rise to any obligation to make payments or provide compensation under, (vii) result in the creation of any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) upon any of the properties or assets of Purchaser under, (viii) give rise to any obligation to obtain any third party Consent or provide any notice to any Person or (ix) give any Person the right to declare a default, exercise any remedy, claim a rebate, chargeback, penalty or change in delivery schedule, accelerate the maturity or performance, cancel, terminate or modify any right, benefit, obligation or other term under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of, any Purchaser Material Contract, except for any deviations from any of the foregoing clauses (a), (b) or (c) that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Purchaser.

 

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4.5  Capitalization.

 

(a)  Purchaser is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Purchaser Ordinary Shares, no par value per share, and unlimited number of preferred shares in classes A, B, C, D and E, no par value per share. As of the date of this Agreement, the issued and outstanding Purchaser Securities are set forth hereto in Schedule 4.5(a). As of the date of this Agreement, there are no issued or outstanding shares of Purchaser preferred shares. All outstanding shares of Purchaser Securities (i) are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to or issued in violation of any purchase option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of the law of BVI, Purchaser’s Organizational Documents or any Contract to which Purchaser is a party and (ii) except as set forth on Schedule 4.5(b), are free and clear of all Liens and other restrictions (including any restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of such Purchaser Securities). None of the outstanding Purchaser Securities has been issued in violation of any applicable securities Laws. Prior to giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, Purchaser does not have any Subsidiaries or own any equity interests in any other Person.

 

(b)  Except as set forth in Schedule 4.5(a) or Schedule 4.5(b) there are no (i) outstanding options, warrants, puts, calls, convertible or exchangeable securities, “phantom” share rights, share appreciation rights, share-based units, preemptive or similar rights, (ii) bonds, debentures, notes or other Indebtedness having general voting rights or that are convertible or exchangeable into securities having such rights or (iii) subscriptions or other rights, agreements, arrangements, Contracts or commitments of any character (other than this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents), (A) relating to the issued or unissued securities of Purchaser or (B) obligating Purchaser to issue, transfer, deliver or sell or cause to be issued, transferred, delivered, sold or repurchased any options or shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable for any capital shares, or (C) obligating Purchaser to grant, extend or enter into any such option, warrant, call, subscription or other right, agreement, arrangement or commitment for such capital shares. Other than the Redemption or as expressly set forth in this Agreement, there are no outstanding obligations of Purchaser to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of Purchaser or to provide funds to make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in any Person. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.5(b), there are no shareholders agreements, voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which Purchaser is a party with respect to the voting of any shares of Purchaser.

 

(c)  As of the date hereof, Purchaser does not have any Indebtedness except as set forth in Schedule 4.5(c). No Indebtedness of Purchaser contains any restriction upon: (i) the prepayment of any of such Indebtedness, (ii) the incurrence of Indebtedness by Purchaser or (iii) the ability of Purchaser to grant any Lien on its properties or assets.

 

(d)  Since the date of incorporation of Purchaser, and except as contemplated by this Agreement, Purchaser has not declared or paid any distribution or dividend in respect of its shares and has not repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired any of its shares, and Purchaser’s board of directors has not authorized any of the foregoing. 

 

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4.6  SEC Filings; Purchaser Financials; Internal Controls.

 

(a)  Purchaser, since the IPO, has filed all forms, reports, schedules, statements, registration statements, prospectuses and other documents required to be filed or furnished by Purchaser with the SEC under the Securities Act and/or the Exchange Act, together with any amendments, restatements or supplements thereto, and will file all such forms, reports, schedules, statements and other documents required to be filed subsequent to the date of this Agreement. Except to the extent available on the SEC’s web site through EDGAR, Purchaser has delivered to the Company copies in the form filed with the SEC of all of the following: (i) Purchaser’s annual reports on Form 10-K for each fiscal year of Purchaser beginning with the first year Purchaser was required to file such a form, (ii) Purchaser’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for each fiscal quarter that Purchaser filed such reports to disclose its quarterly financial results in each of the fiscal years of Purchaser referred to in clause (i) above, (iii) all other forms, reports, registration statements, prospectuses and other documents (other than preliminary materials) filed by Purchaser with the SEC since the beginning of the first fiscal year referred to in clause (i) above (the forms, reports, registration statements, prospectuses and other documents referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, to the extent publicly available through EDGAR, are, collectively, the “SEC Reports”) and (iv) all certifications and statements required by (A) Rules 13a-14 or 15d-14 under the Exchange Act, and (B) 18 U.S.C. §1350 (Section 906 of SOX) with respect to any report referred to in clause (i) above (collectively, the “Public Certifications”). Except for any changes (including any required revisions to or restatements of the Purchaser Financials (defined below) or the SEC Reports) to (A) the Purchaser’s historical accounting of the Purchaser Warrants as equity rather than as liabilities that may be required as a result of the Staff Statement on Accounting and Reporting Considerations for Warrants Issued by Special Purpose Acquisition Companies that was issued by the SEC on April 12, 2021, and related guidance by the SEC or (B) the Purchaser’s accounting or classification of Purchaser’s outstanding redeemable shares as temporary, as opposed to permanent, equity that may be required as a result of related statements by the SEC staff or recommendations or requirements of the Purchaser’s auditors (clauses (A) and (B), collectively, “SEC SPAC Accounting Changes”), the SEC Reports (x) were prepared in all material respects in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations thereunder and (y) did not, as of their respective effective dates (in the case of SEC Reports that are registration statements filed pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act) and at the time they were filed with the SEC (in the case of all other SEC Reports) contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Public Certifications are each true as of their respective dates of filing. As used in this Section 4.6, the term “file” shall be broadly construed to include any manner permitted by SEC rules and regulations in which a document or information is furnished, supplied or otherwise made available to the SEC.

 

(b)  As of the date of this Agreement, (A) the Purchaser Units, the Purchaser Ordinary Shares, the Purchaser Rights and the Purchaser Public Warrants are listed on Nasdaq, (B) Purchaser has not received any written deficiency notice from Nasdaq relating to the continued listing requirements of such Purchaser Securities, (C) there are no Actions pending or, to the Knowledge of Purchaser, threatened against Purchaser by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority with respect to any intention by such entity to suspend, prohibit or terminate the quoting of such Purchaser Securities on Nasdaq (D) such Purchaser Securities are in compliance with all of the applicable corporate governance rules of Nasdaq, and (E) except as set forth in Schedule 4.6, as of the date hereof, there are no outstanding SEC comments from the SEC with respect to the SEC Reports.

 

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(c)  Except for the SEC SPAC Accounting Changes, the financial statements and notes of Purchaser contained or incorporated by reference in the SEC Reports (the “Purchaser Financials”), fairly present in all material respects the financial position and the results of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows of Purchaser at the respective dates of and for the periods referred to in such financial statements, all in accordance with (i) GAAP methodologies applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved and (ii) Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K, as applicable (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto and for the omission of notes and audit adjustments in the case of unaudited quarterly financial statements to the extent permitted by Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K, as applicable), and (iii) audited in accordance with PCAOB standards.

 

(d)  Except to the extent reflected or reserved against in the Purchaser Financials, Purchaser has not incurred and does not have any Liabilities or obligations (whether determined, contingent or otherwise) that is not adequately reflected or reserved on or provided for in the Purchaser Financials, other than Liabilities of the type required to be reflected on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP that have been incurred since Purchaser’s incorporation in the ordinary course of business and not in excess of the Cap (defined below) in the aggregate. Purchaser does not maintain any “off-balance sheet arrangement” within the meaning of Item 303 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act. As of the date of this Agreement, no financial statements other than those of Purchaser are required by GAAP to be included in the financial statements of Purchaser.

 

(e)  Since the IPO, the Purchaser has not received from its independent auditors any written notification of any (i) “significant deficiency” in the internal controls over financial reporting of the Purchaser, (ii) “material weakness” in the internal controls over financial reporting of the Purchaser or (iii) fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees of the Purchaser who have a significant role in the internal controls over financial reporting of the Purchaser.

 

(f)  Except as not required in reliance on exemptions from various reporting requirements by virtue of the Purchaser’s status as an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, since the IPO, (i) the Purchaser has established and maintained a system of internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the Purchaser’s financial reporting and the preparation of the Purchaser’s financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and (ii) the Purchaser has established and maintained disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) designed to ensure that material information relating to the Purchaser is made known to the Purchaser’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer by others within the Purchaser, particularly during the periods in which the periodic reports required under the Exchange Act are being prepared.

 

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

 

(h)  As of the Closing Date, unless otherwise agreed by the Company in writing, the total Liabilities of Purchaser (including all Expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby) has not exceeded $10,000,000 (the “Cap”).

 

(i)  The total amount of debts, accounts payable and other Liabilities (including advisor and broker fees) of Purchaser as of April 15, 2022 has not exceeded $6,500,000.

 

4.7  Absence of Certain Changes. As of the date of this Agreement, except as set forth in Schedule 4.7, Purchaser has, (a) since its incorporation, conducted no business other than its incorporation, the public offering of its securities (and the related private offerings), public reporting and its search for an initial Business Combination as described in the IPO Prospectus (including the investigation of the Target Companies and the negotiation and execution of this Agreement) and related activities, (b) since December 31, 2019, not been subject to a Material Adverse Effect, and (c) not taken any action that, if taken after the date of this Agreement, would constitute a material breach of any of the covenants set forth in Section 7.3.

 

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4.8  Compliance with Laws. The Purchaser has since its incorporation been, in compliance with all Laws applicable to it and the conduct of its business in all material respects. Since its incorporation date, (a) Purchaser has not been subjected to, or received written notice alleging any material violation of applicable Law respect by Purchaser or any investigation by a Governmental Authority for actual or alleged violation of any Applicable Law, and (b) Purchaser is not and has not been in conflict with, or in default, breach or violation of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other instrument or obligation to which Purchaser is a party or by which Purchaser or any property or asset of Purchaser is bound, except, in each case, for any such conflicts, defaults, breaches or violations that would not have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Purchaser.

 

4.9  Actions; Orders; Permits. There is no pending or, to the Knowledge of Purchaser, threatened Action to which Purchaser or any property or asset of Purchaser is subject which would or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Purchaser. There is no material Action that Purchaser has pending against any other Person. Purchaser is not subject to any material Orders of any Governmental Authority, nor are any such Orders pending. Purchaser holds all material Permits necessary to lawfully conduct its business as presently conducted, and to own, lease and operate its assets and properties, all of which are in full force and effect, except where the failure to hold such Consent or for such Consent to be in full force and effect would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Purchaser.

 

4.10 Taxes and Returns.

 

(a)  Purchaser has or will have timely filed, or caused to be timely filed, all material Tax Returns required to be filed by it, which Tax Returns are true, accurate, correct and complete in all material respects, and has paid, collected or withheld, or caused to be paid, collected or withheld, all material Taxes that are shown as due on such filed Tax Returns and all other material Taxes required to be paid, collected or withheld, other than such Taxes for which adequate reserves in the Purchaser Financials have been established in accordance with GAAP. Schedule 4.10(a) sets forth each jurisdiction where Purchaser files or is required to file a Tax Return. To the Knowledge of Purchaser, there are no claims, assessments. audits, examinations, investigations or other Actions pending against Purchaser in respect of any material Tax, and Purchaser has not been notified in writing of any material proposed Tax claims or assessments against Purchaser other than, in each case, claims or assessments for which adequate reserves in the Purchaser Financials have been established in accordance with GAAP. To the Knowledge of Purchaser, there are no Liens with respect to any Taxes upon any of Purchaser’s assets, other than Permitted Liens. Purchaser has no outstanding waivers or extensions of any applicable statute of limitations to assess any material amount of Taxes. There are no outstanding requests by Purchaser for any extension of time within which to file any Tax Return or within which to pay any Taxes shown to be due on any Tax Return. Purchaser (i) does not have any material deficiency, assessment, claim, audit, examination, investigation, litigation or other proceeding in respect of Taxes or Tax matters pending or asserted, proposed or threatened in writing, for a Tax period which the statute of limitations for assessments remains open, and (ii) has provided adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP in the most recent consolidated financial statements of Purchaser, for any material Taxes of Purchaser as of the date of such financial statements that have not been paid.

 

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(b)  Since the date of its incorporation, Purchaser has not (i) changed any Tax accounting methods, policies or procedures except as required by a change in Law, (ii) made, revoked, or amended any material Tax election, (iii) filed any amended Tax Returns or claim for refund or (iv) entered into any closing agreement affecting or otherwise settled or compromised any material Tax Liability or refund.

 

(c)  Purchaser is not a party to, is not bound by and has no obligation under any Tax sharing agreement, Tax indemnification agreement, Tax allocation agreement or similar contract or arrangement (including any agreement, contract or arrangement providing for the sharing or ceding of Tax credits or Tax losses) or has a liability or obligation to any person as a result of or pursuant to any such agreement, contract, arrangement or commitment, in each case other than an agreement, contract, arrangement or commitment the primary purpose of which does not relate to Taxes (an “Ordinary Commercial Agreement”).

 

(d)  Purchaser will not be required to include any material item of income in, or exclude any material item of deduction from, taxable income for any Tax period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of any: (i) change in method of accounting made prior to the Closing under Code Section 481(c) (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. income Tax Law); (ii) “closing agreement” as described in Code Section 7121 (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. income Tax Law) executed prior to the Closing; (iii) installment sale or open transaction disposition made prior to the Closing; (iv) intercompany transaction or any excess loss account described in Treasury Regulations under Section 1502 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Tax law) entered into or created prior to the Closing; or (v) prepaid amount received prior to the Closing outside the ordinary course of business.

 

(e)  Purchaser has withheld and paid to the appropriate Tax authority all material Taxes required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any current or former employee, independent contractor, creditor, shareholder or other third party and, to Purchaser’s knowledge, has complied (including any applicable cure provisions) in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to the reporting and withholding of Taxes.

 

(f)  Purchaser has not been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated, combined or unitary U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. income Tax Return.

 

(g)  Purchaser does not have any request for a material closing agreement, private letter ruling, or similar ruling in respect of Taxes pending between Purchaser, on the one hand, and any Tax authority, on the other hand.

 

(h)  Purchaser does not have any material liability for the Taxes of any person (other than Purchaser) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. law), as a transferee or successor, or, except pursuant to an Ordinary Commercial Agreement, by contract or otherwise.

 

(i)  Purchaser does not have in any year for which the applicable statute of limitations remains open, distributed stock of another person, or has had its stock distributed by another person, in a transaction that was purported or intended to be governed in whole or in part by Section 355 or Section 361 of the Code.

 

(j)  Purchaser has not engaged in or entered into a “listed transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(2).

 

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(k)  Neither the IRS nor any other U.S. or non-U.S. taxing authority or agency has asserted in writing against Purchaser any deficiency or claim for any material Taxes or interest thereon or penalties in connection therewith.

 

(l)  There are no Tax liens upon any assets of Purchaser except for Permitted Liens.

 

(m)  Purchaser has not been a United States real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code. Purchaser has not received written notice from a non-United States Tax authority that it has a permanent establishment (within the meaning of an applicable Tax treaty) or otherwise has an office or fixed place of business in a country other than the country in which it is organized.

 

(n)  Purchaser has not received written notice of any claim from a Tax authority in a jurisdiction in which Purchaser does not file Tax Returns stating that Purchaser is or may be subject to Tax in such jurisdiction.

 

(o)  For U.S. federal income tax purposes, Purchaser is, and has been since its incorporation, classified as a corporation.

 

(p)  Purchaser has no interest in (i) any land located in the British Virgin Islands or (ii) shares, debt obligations or other securities of any entity which has an interest in any land located in the British Virgin Islands.

 

4.11  Employees and Employee Benefit Plans. Purchaser does not (a) have any paid employees or (b) maintain, sponsor, contribute to or otherwise have any Liability under, any Benefit Plans. Other than reimbursement of any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Purchaser’s officers and directors in connection with activities on Purchaser’s behalf in an aggregate amount not in excess of the amount of cash held by Purchaser outside of the Trust Account, Purchase has no unsatisfied material liability with respect to any officer or director. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents nor the consummation of the Transactions will (i) result in any payment or benefit (including severance, unemployment compensation, golden parachute, bonus or otherwise) becoming due to any director, officer or employee of Purchaser; or (b) result in the acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such payment or benefit.

 

4.12  Properties. Purchaser does not own, license or otherwise have any right, title or interest in any material Intellectual Property. Purchaser does not own or lease any material real property or Personal Property.

 

4.13  Material Contracts.

 

(a)  Except as set forth on Schedule 4.13, other than this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents, there are no Contracts to which Purchaser is a party or by which any of its properties or assets may be bound, subject or affected, which (i) creates or imposes a Liability greater than $100,000, (ii) may not be cancelled by Purchaser on less than sixty (60) days’ prior notice without payment of a material penalty or termination fee or (iii) prohibits, prevents, restricts or impairs in any material respect any business practice of Purchaser as its business is currently conducted, any acquisition of material property by Purchaser or any of its Affiliates, or restricts in any material respect the ability of Purchaser or any of its Affiliates from engaging in business as currently conducted by it or from competing with any other Person (each, a “Purchaser Material Contract”). All Purchaser Material Contracts have been made available to the Company other than those that are exhibits to the SEC Reports.

 

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(b)  With respect to each Purchaser Material Contract: (i) the Purchaser Material Contract was entered into at arms’ length and in the ordinary course of business; (ii) the Purchaser Material Contract is legal, valid, binding and enforceable in all material respects against Purchaser and, to the Knowledge of Purchaser, the other parties thereto, and is in full force and effect (except, in each case, as such enforcement may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions); (iii) Purchaser is not in breach or default in any material respect, and no event has occurred that with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would constitute such a breach or default in any material respect by Purchaser, or permit termination or acceleration by the other party, under such Purchaser Material Contract; and (iv) to the Knowledge of Purchaser, no other party to any Purchaser Material Contract is in breach or default in any material respect, and no event has occurred that with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would constitute such a breach or default by such other party, or permit termination or acceleration by Purchaser under any Purchaser Material Contract.

 

4.14  Transactions with Affiliates. Schedule 4.14 sets forth a true, correct and complete list of the Contracts and arrangements that are in existence as of the date of this Agreement under which there are any existing or future Liabilities or obligations between Purchaser, on the one hand, and any (a) present or former director, officer, employee, manager, direct equityholder or Affiliate of Purchaser, or any immediate family member of any of the foregoing, or (b) record or beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of Purchaser’s outstanding share as of the date hereof, on the other hand.

 

 

4.15  Investment Company Act; JOBS Act. Purchaser is not an “investment company” or a Person directly or indirectly “controlled” by or acting on behalf of a person subject to registration and regulation as an “investment company”, in each case within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. Purchaser constitutes an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the JOBS Act.

 

4.16  Finders and Brokers. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.16, no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission from Purchaser, Pubco, the Target Companies or any of their respective Affiliates in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Purchaser. Schedule 4.16 shall set forth, as of the date of this Agreement, the amounts of any such fees or commissions that are due or would, upon the Closing, be due.

 

4.17  Certain Business Practices.

 

(a)  Neither Purchaser, nor any of its Representatives acting on its behalf, has (i) used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees, to foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns or violated any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or any other local or foreign anti-corruption or bribery Law, (iii) made any other unlawful payment or (iv) since the incorporation of Purchaser, directly or indirectly, given or agreed to give any unlawful gift or similar benefit in any material amount to any customer, supplier, governmental employee or other Person who is or may be in a position to help or hinder Purchaser or assist it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction.

 

(b)  The operations of Purchaser are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with money laundering statutes in all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Authority, and no Action involving Purchaser with respect to the any of the foregoing is pending or, to the Knowledge of Purchaser, threatened.

 

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(c)  None of Purchaser or any of its directors or officers, or, to the Knowledge of Purchaser, any other Representative acting on behalf of Purchaser is currently (i) identified on the specially designated nationals or other blocked person list or otherwise currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”), the U.S. Department of State, or other applicable Governmental Authority; (ii) organized, resident, or located in, or a national of a comprehensively sanctioned country (currently, the Balkans, Belarus, Burma, Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, and Zimbabwe); or (iii) in the aggregate, fifty (50) percent or greater owned, directly or indirectly, or otherwise controlled, by a person identified in (i) or (ii); and Purchaser has not, directly or indirectly, used any funds, or loaned, contributed or otherwise made available such funds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, in connection with any sales or operations in any other country sanctioned by OFAC or for the purpose of financing the activities of any Person currently subject to, or otherwise in violation of, any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State in the last five (5) fiscal years.

 

4.18  Insurance. Schedule 4.18 lists all insurance policies (by policy number, insurer, coverage period, coverage amount, annual premium and type of policy) held by Purchaser relating to Purchaser or its business, properties, assets, directors, officers and employees, copies of which have been provided to the Company. All premiums due and payable under all such insurance policies have been timely paid and Purchaser is otherwise in material compliance with the terms of such insurance policies. All such insurance policies are in full force and effect, and to the Knowledge of Purchaser, there is no threatened termination of, or material premium increase with respect to, any of such insurance policies. There have been no insurance claims made by Purchaser. Purchaser has reported to its insurers all claims and pending circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in a claim, except where such failure to report such a claim would not be reasonably likely to be material to Purchaser.

 

4.19  Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by Purchaser expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference: (a) in any current report on Form 8-K, and any exhibits thereto or any other report, form, registration or other filing made with any Governmental Authority (including the SEC) with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Documents; (b) in the Registration Statement; or (c) in the mailings or other distributions to Purchaser’s or Pubco’s shareholders and/or prospective investors with respect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or in any amendment to any of documents identified in (a) through (c), will, when filed, made available, mailed or distributed, as the case may be, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by Purchaser expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference in any of the Signing Press Release, the Signing Filing, the Closing Filing and the Closing Press Release will, when filed or distributed, as applicable, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Purchaser makes no representation, warranty or covenant with respect to any information supplied by or on behalf of Pubco, the Target Companies or any of their respective Affiliates.

 

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4.20  Independent Investigation. Purchaser has conducted its own independent investigation, review and analysis of the business, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or assets of the Target Companies, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub and acknowledges that it has been provided adequate access to the personnel, properties, assets, premises, books and records, and other documents and data of the Target Companies, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub for such purpose. Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that: (a) in making its decision to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, it has relied solely upon its own investigation and the express representations and warranties of the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement (including the related portions of the Company Disclosure Schedules) and in any certificate delivered to Purchaser pursuant hereto, and the information provided by or on behalf of the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub for the Registration Statement; and (b) none of the Company and its respective Representatives have made any representation or warranty as to the Target Companies, or this Agreement, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement (including the related portions of the Company Disclosure Schedules) or in any certificate delivered to Purchaser pursuant hereto.

 

4.21  Trust Account. As of the date of this Agreement, Purchaser had an amount of assets in the Trust Account of no less than Thirty-Four Million U.S. Dollars ($34,000,000). The funds held in the Trust Account are invested in U.S. government securities or money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act and held in trust pursuant to the Trust Agreement. The Trust Agreement is in full force and effect and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of Purchaser and the Trustee, enforceable in accordance with its terms. The Trust Agreement has not been terminated, repudiated, rescinded, amended, supplemented or modified, in any respect, and no such termination, repudiation, rescission, amendment, supplement or modification is contemplated. Purchaser has complied in all material respects with the terms of the Trust Agreement and is not in breach thereof or default thereunder and there does not exist under the Trust Agreement any event which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, would constitute such a breach or default by Purchaser or the Trustee. There are no separate Contracts, side letters or other arrangements or understandings (whether written or unwritten, express or implied) that would cause the description of the Trust Agreement in the SEC Reports to be inaccurate in any material respect or, to the Knowledge of Purchaser, that would entitle any Person (other than (i) in respect of deferred underwriting commissions set forth in Schedule 4.21 or Taxes, (ii) the holders of Purchaser Securities prior to the Effective Time who shall have elected to redeem their Purchaser Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents or in connection with an amendment thereof to extend Purchaser’s deadline to consummate a Business Combination or (iii) if Purchaser fails to complete a Business Combination within the allotted time period and liquidates the Trust Account, subject to the terms of the Trust Agreement, Purchaser in limited amounts to permit Purchaser to pay the expenses of the Trust Account’s liquidation and dissolution, and then Purchaser’s Public Shareholders) to any portion of the funds in the Trust Account. Prior to the Closing, none of the funds held in the Trust Account have been released, except to pay Taxes from any interest income earned in the Trust Account, and to redeem Purchaser Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents, or in connection with an amendment thereof to extend Purchaser’s deadline to consummate a Business Combination. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no Actions pending or, to the Knowledge of Purchaser, threatened with respect to the Trust Account. Upon consummation of the Mergers and notice thereof to the Trustee pursuant to the Trust Agreement, Purchaser shall cause the Trustee to, and the Trustee shall thereupon be obligated to, release to Purchaser as promptly as practicable, the funds held in the Trust Account in accordance with the Trust Agreement at which point the Trust Account shall terminate; provided, however, that the liabilities and obligations of Purchaser due and owing or incurred at or prior to the Effective Time shall be paid as and when due, including all amounts payable (a) to holders of Purchaser Public Units who exercises such holder’s redemption rights in accordance with the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents with respect to its Purchaser Ordinary Shares in connection with the Transactions contemplated hereby, (b) to the Trustee for fees and costs incurred in accordance with the Trust Agreement and (c) with respect to filings, applications and/or other actions taken pursuant to this Agreement or required under Law.

 

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4.22  Registration and Listing. The issued and outstanding Purchaser Public Units are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on the Nasdaq under the symbol “ESSCU.” The issued and outstanding shares of Purchaser Ordinary Shares that were included as part of the Purchaser Public Units are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on the Nasdaq under the symbol “ESSC.” The issued and outstanding Purchaser Public Warrants that were included as part of the Purchaser Units are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on the Nasdaq under the symbol “ESSCW.” The issued and outstanding rights that were included as part of the Purchaser Public Units are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on the Nasdaq under the symbol “ESSCR.” As of the date of this Agreement, Purchaser has not received notice from Nasdaq that it is not currently in compliance with applicable continued listing requirements related to the Purchaser Securities. None of Purchaser or any of its Affiliates has taken any action in an attempt to terminate the registration of the Purchaser Units, the Purchaser Ordinary Shares or the Purchaser Public Warrants under the Exchange Act.

 

4.23  Termination of Prior Merger Agreements. As of the date of this Agreement, other than this Agreement, Purchase is not a party to or subject or otherwise bound by any Contract related to merger, consolidation, acquisition of equity interests or assets, or any other form of business combination (each such Contract, a “Prior Merger Agreement”), or any amendment of any such Prior Merger Agreement from time to time, or any ancillary documents entered into by the Purchaser in connection with the transactions contemplated under the foregoing (collectively, the “Prior Merger Documents”). Each Prior Merger Document has been terminated and except as set forth on Schedule 4.23, there are no further obligations or Liabilities of the Purchaser thereunder and each is of no further force or effect, none of the Purchaser and its Affiliates have breached any provision thereunder, and that there is no dispute arising out of or relating to the execution and performance of each Prior Merger Document.

 

ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PUBCO, FIRST MERGER SUB AND SECOND MERGER SUB

 

Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub represent and warrant to Purchaser, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing, as follows:

 

5.1  Organization and Standing. Each of Pubco and First Merger Sub is an exempted company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization. Second Merger Sub is a British Virgin Islands business company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation. Each of Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. Each of Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub is duly qualified or licensed and in good standing to do business in each jurisdiction in which the character of the property owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification or licensing necessary. Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub have heretofore made available to Purchaser and the Company accurate and complete copies of the Organizational Documents of Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub, each as currently in effect. None of Pubco, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub is in violation of any provision of its Organizational Documents in any material respect.

 

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5.2  Authorization; Binding Agreement. Subject to the filing of the Amended Pubco Charter, each of Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party, to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which each of Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate actions and no other corporate proceedings, other than as expressly set forth elsewhere in the Agreement (including the filing of the Amended Pubco Charter), on the part of Pubco, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which each of Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub is a party or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been, and each Ancillary Document to which Pubco, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub is a party has been or shall be when delivered, duly and validly executed and delivered by such Party and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement and such Ancillary Documents by the other parties hereto and thereto, constitutes, or when delivered shall constitute, the valid and binding obligation of such Party, enforceable against such Party in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

5.3  Governmental Approvals. No Consent of or with any Governmental Authority, on the part of Pubco, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub is required to be obtained or made in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by such Party of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party or the consummation by such Party of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, other than (a) pursuant to Antitrust Laws, (b) such filings as are expressly contemplated by this Agreement, including the Amended Pubco Charter, (c) any filings required with Nasdaq or the SEC with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (d) applicable requirements, if any, of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and/ or any state “blue sky” securities Laws, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and (e) where the failure to obtain or make such Consents or to make such filings or notifications, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Pubco.

 

5.4  Non-Contravention. The execution and delivery by Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party, the consummation by such Party of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and compliance by such Party with any of the provisions hereof and thereof, will not (a) subject to the filing of the Amended Pubco Charter, conflict with or violate any provision of such Party’s Organizational Documents, (b) subject to obtaining the Consents from Governmental Authorities referred to in Section 5.4 hereof, and the waiting periods referred to therein having expired, and any condition precedent to such Consent or waiver having been satisfied, conflict with or violate any Law, Order or Consent applicable to such Party or any of its properties or assets, or (c) (i) violate, conflict with or result in a breach of, (ii) constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, (iii) result in the termination, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation or modification of, (iv) accelerate the performance required by such Party under, (v) result in a right of termination or acceleration under, (vi) give rise to any obligation to make payments or provide compensation under, (vii) result in the creation of any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) upon any of the properties or assets of such Party under, (viii) give rise to any obligation to obtain any third party Consent or provide any notice to any Person or (ix) give any Person the right to declare a default, exercise any remedy, claim a rebate, chargeback, penalty or change in delivery schedule, accelerate the maturity or performance, cancel, terminate or modify any right, benefit, obligation or other term under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of, any material Contract of such Party, except for any deviations from any of the foregoing clauses (a), (b) or (c) that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Pubco.

 

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5.5  Capitalization. As of the date hereof, (i) Pubco is authorized to issue 500,000,000 Pubco Ordinary Shares, of which one (1) Pubco Ordinary Share is issued and outstanding, and owned by the Company,(ii) First Merger Sub is authorized to issue 500,000,000 ordinary shares of First Merger Sub, of which one (1) share is issued and outstanding and owned by Pubco, and (iii) Second Merger Sub is authorized to issue a maximum of 50,000 shares of one class of Second Merger Sub, of which one (1) ordinary share is issued and outstanding and owned by Pubco. Prior to giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, other than First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub, Pubco does not have any Subsidiaries or own any equity interests in any other Person.

 

5.6  Activities of Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub Activities. Since their formation or incorporation (as applicable), Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub have not engaged in any business activities other than as contemplated by this Agreement, do not own directly or indirectly any ownership, equity, profits or voting interest in any Person (other than Pubco’s 100% ownership of First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub) and have no assets or Liabilities except those incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which they are a party and the Transactions, and, other than their respective Organizational Documents, this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which they are a party, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub are not party to or bound by any Contract.

 

5.7  Finders and Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission from Purchaser, Pubco, the Target Companies or any of their respective Affiliates in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Pubco, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub.

 

5.8  Investment Company Act. Pubco is not an “investment company” or, a Person directly or indirectly controlled by or acting on behalf of a person subject to registration and regulation as an “investment company”, in each case within the meanings of the Investment Company Act.

 

5.9  Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by Pubco, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference: (a) in any Current Report on Form 8-K or 6-K, and any exhibits thereto or any other report, form, registration or other filing made with any Governmental Authority (including the SEC) with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Documents; (b) in the Registration Statement; or (c) in the mailings or other distributions to Purchaser’s or Pubco’s shareholders and/or prospective investors with respect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or in any amendment to any of documents identified in (a) through (c), will, when filed, made available, mailed or distributed, as the case may be, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by Pubco, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference in any of the Signing Press Release, the Signing Filing, the Closing Filing and the Closing Press Release will, when filed or distributed, as applicable, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of Pubco, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub makes any representation, warranty or covenant with respect to any information supplied by or on behalf of Purchaser, the Target Companies or any of their respective Affiliates. 

 

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5.10  Independent Investigation. Each of Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub has conducted its own independent investigation, review and analysis of the business, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or assets of the Target Companies and Purchaser and acknowledges that it has been provided adequate access to the personnel, properties, assets, premises, books and records, and other documents and data of the Target Companies and Purchaser for such purpose. Each of Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub acknowledges and agrees that: (a) in making its decision to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, it has relied solely upon its own investigation and the express representations and warranties of the Company and Purchaser set forth in this Agreement (including the related portions of the Company Disclosure Schedules and the Purchaser Disclosure Schedules) and in any certificate delivered to Pubco, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub pursuant hereto, and the information provided by or on behalf of the Company or Purchaser for the Registration Statement; and (b) none of the Company, Purchaser or their respective Representatives have made any representation or warranty as to the Target Companies, Purchaser or this Agreement, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement (including the related portions of the Company Disclosure Schedules and the Purchaser Disclosure Schedules) or in any certificate delivered to Pubco, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub pursuant hereto.

 

5.11  Exclusivity of Representations and Warranties. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Article V, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub hereby expressly disclaim and negate any other express or implied representation or warranty whatsoever (whether at Law or in equity) with respect to Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub, and any matter relating to any of them, including their affairs, the condition, value or quality of the assets, liabilities, financial condition or results of operations, or with respect to the accuracy or completeness of any other information made available to the Purchaser, its Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives by, or on behalf of, Pubco, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub, and any such representations or warranties are expressly disclaimed. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, none of PubCo, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub nor any other person on behalf of PubCo, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub has made or makes, any representation or warranty, whether express or implied, with respect to any projections, forecasts, estimates or budgets made available to the Purchaser, its Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives of future revenues, future results of operations (or any component thereof), future cash flows or future financial condition (or any component thereof) of PubCo, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub (including the reasonableness of the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing), whether or not included in any management presentation or in any other information made available to the Purchaser, its Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives or any other Person, and any such representations or warranties are expressly disclaimed.

 

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ARTICLE VI
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

 

Except as set forth in the disclosure schedules delivered by the Company to, and accepted by, Purchaser on the date hereof (the “Company Disclosure Schedules”), each of which qualifies (a) the correspondingly numbered representation, warranty or covenant specified therein and (b) such other representations, warranties or covenants where its relevance as an exception to (or disclosure for purposes of) such other representation, warranty or covenant is reasonably apparent on its face or cross-referenced, the Company hereby represents and warrants to Purchaser as of the date hereof and as of the Closing, as follows:

 

6.1  Organization and Standing. The Company is an exempted company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the Cayman Islands and has all requisite corporate or other entity power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. Each other Target Company is a corporation or other entity duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has all requisite corporate or other entity power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. Each Target Company is duly qualified or licensed and in good standing in the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated or registered and in each other jurisdiction where it does business or operates to the extent that the character of the property owned, or leased or operated by it or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except for such failures to be so qualified or licensed and in good standing that would not, individually or in the aggregate, be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. The Company has provided to Purchaser accurate and complete copies of the Organizational Documents of each Target Company, each as amended to date and as currently in effect. No Target Company is in violation of any provision of its Organizational Documents.

 

6.2  Authorization; Binding Agreement. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is or is required to be a party, to perform the Company’s obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which the Company is or is required to be a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (a) have been duly and validly authorized by the board of directors and/or shareholders of the Company (if applicable) in accordance with the Company’s Organizational Documents, the Cayman Companies Act and any other applicable Law and (b) no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (other than the filing and recordation of appropriate merger documents as required by the Cayman Companies Act). This Agreement has been, and each Ancillary Document to which the Company is or is required to be a party shall be when delivered, duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement and any such Ancillary Document by the other parties hereto and thereto, constitutes, or when delivered shall constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

6.3  Capitalization.

 

(a)  The Company’s share capital is $50,000 divided into 100,000,000 Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 (the “Company Class A Ordinary Shares”) and 400,000,000 Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 (the “Company Class B Ordinary Shares”). The issued and outstanding capital shares of the Company consists of 50,000,000 Company Class A Ordinary Shares and 285,164,567 Company Class B Ordinary Shares. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.3(a), all outstanding shares of the Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, including that all amounts provided for in any agreements for the purchase of shares of the Company have been fully paid and such shares have been issued prior to the date hereof. After giving effect to the First Merger, Pubco shall own all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of the Company free and clear of any Liens other than those imposed under the Company Organizational Documents and applicable securities Laws. All of the outstanding shares and other equity interests of the Company have been duly authorized, are fully paid and non-assessable and not in violation of any purchase option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of the Cayman Companies Act, any other applicable Law, the Company’s Organizational Documents or any Contract to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or its securities are bound. The Company does not, directly or indirectly, hold any of its shares or other equity interests in treasury.

 

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(b)  As of the date hereof, except as set forth on Schedule 6.3(b), no Target Companies has, and no Target Company has had since its formation, any stock option or other equity incentive plans. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.3(b), there are no Company Convertible Securities or preemptive rights or rights of first refusal or first offer, nor are there any Contracts, commitments, arrangements or restrictions to which the Company is a party or bound relating to any equity securities of the Company, whether or not outstanding. There are no outstanding or authorized equity appreciation, phantom equity or similar rights with respect to the Company. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.3(b), to the knowledge of the Company, there are no voting trusts, proxies, shareholder agreements or any other written agreements or understandings with respect to the voting of the Company’s equity interests. Except as set forth in the Company’s Organizational Documents, there are no outstanding contractual obligations of the Company to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its equity interests or securities, nor has the Company granted any registration rights to any Person with respect to its equity securities. All of the issued and outstanding securities of the Company have been granted, offered, sold and issued in compliance with all applicable securities Laws. As a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, no equity interests of the Company are issuable and no rights in connection with any interests, warrants, rights, options or other securities of the Company accelerate or otherwise become triggered (whether as to vesting, exercisability, convertibility or otherwise).

 

(c)  Except as disclosed in the Company Financials or as set forth on Schedule 6.3(c), since January 1, 2022, the Company has not declared or paid any distribution or dividend in respect of its equity interests and has not repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired any equity interests of the Company, and the board of directors of the Company has not authorized any of the foregoing.

 

6.4  Subsidiaries. Schedule 6.4 sets forth the corporate structure chart specifying all Subsidiaries of the Company, and with respect to each Subsidiary (a) its jurisdiction of organization, and (b) the record holders of its shares or equity interests thereof. Except as set forth in Schedule 6.4, all of the outstanding equity securities of each Subsidiary of the Company are duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable (if applicable), and were offered, sold and delivered in compliance with all applicable securities Laws, and owned by one or more of the Target Companies free and clear of all Liens (other than those, if any, imposed by such Subsidiary’s Organizational Documents). There are no Contracts to which the Company or any of its Affiliates is a party or bound with respect to the voting (including voting trusts or proxies) of the equity interests of any Subsidiary of the Company other than the Organizational Documents of any such Subsidiary. Except as set forth in Schedule 6.4, there are no outstanding or authorized options, warrants, rights, agreements, subscriptions, convertible securities or commitments to which any Subsidiary of the Company is a party or which are binding upon any Subsidiary of the Company providing for the issuance or redemption of any equity interests of any Subsidiary of the Company. There are no outstanding equity appreciation, phantom equity, profit participation or similar rights granted by any Subsidiary of the Company. No Subsidiary of the Company has any limitation, whether by Order or applicable Law, on its ability to make any distributions or dividends to its equity holders or repay any debt owed to another Target Company. Except for the equity interests of the Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 6.4, the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any equity interests of, or otherwise Control, any Person. No Target Company is a participant in any joint venture, partnership or similar arrangement. There are no outstanding contractual obligations of a Target Company to provide funds to, or make any loan or capital contribution to any other Person.

 

6.5  Governmental Approvals. Except as otherwise described on Schedule 6.5, to the knowledge of the Company, as the date hereof, no Consent of or with any Governmental Authority on the part of any Target Company is required to be obtained or made in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of this Agreement or any Ancillary Documents or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than (a) such filings as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise in accordance with the Cayman Companies Act or the BVI Act, (b) any filings required with Nasdaq or the SEC with respect to the Transactions, (c) applicable requirements, if any, of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and/ or any state “blue sky” securities Laws, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and (d) those Consents, the failure of which to obtain prior to the Closing, would not individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to be material to the Target Companies, taken as a whole, or the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents to which it is or required to be a party or otherwise bound.

 

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6.6  Non-Contravention. Except as otherwise described in Schedule 6.6, the execution and delivery by the Company (or any other Target Company, as applicable) of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which any Target Company is or is required to be a party, and the consummation by any Target Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and compliance by any Target Company with any of the provisions hereof and thereof, will not (a) conflict with or violate any provision of any Target Company’s Organizational Documents, (b) subject to obtaining the Consents from Governmental Authorities referred to in Section 6.5 hereof, the waiting periods referred to therein having expired, and any condition precedent to such Consent or waiver having been satisfied, conflict with or violate any Law, Order or Consent applicable to any Target Company or any of its properties or assets, or (c) (i) violate, conflict with or result in a breach of, (ii) constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, (iii) result in the termination, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation or modification of, (iv) accelerate the performance required by any Target Company under, (v) result in a right of termination or acceleration under, (vi) give rise to any obligation to make payments or provide compensation under, (vii) result in the creation of any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) upon any of the properties or assets of any Target Company under, (viii) give rise to any obligation to obtain any third party Consent or provide any notice to any Person or (ix) give any Person the right to declare a default, exercise any remedy, claim a rebate, chargeback, penalty or change in delivery schedule, accelerate the maturity or performance, cancel, terminate or modify any right, benefit, obligation or other term under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Company Material Contract, except in cases of clauses (b) and (c), as would not individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to be have a Material Adverse Effect to the Target Companies, taken as a whole, or the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents to which it is or required to be a party.

 

6.7  Financial Statements.

 

(a)  As used herein, the term “Company Financials” means (i) the unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Target Companies (which do not contain notes) consisting of the consolidated balance sheets of the Target Companies as of December 31, 2020 (the “Balance Sheet Date”) and December 31, 2019 and the related consolidated income statements, changes in shareholder equity and statements of cash flows for the years then ended, (ii) the unaudited consolidated management accounts of the Company prepared by the Company for the period as of December 31, 2021 (the “Interim Balance Sheet Date”) and the related consolidated income statement, changes in shareholder equity and statement of cash flows for the year then ended and (iii) once available and delivered by the Company, the audited financial statements prepared pursuant to Section 7.4(b). True and correct copies of the Company Financials have been provided to Purchaser. The Company Financials (i) were prepared based upon the books and records of the Target Companies as of the times and for the periods referred to therein, (ii) were prepared in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied throughout and among the periods involved (except that the unaudited statements exclude the footnote disclosures and other presentation items required for GAAP and exclude year-end adjustments which will not be material in amount), and (iii) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Target Companies as of the respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of the operations and cash flows of the Target Companies for the periods indicated, except as otherwise noted therein and subject to recurring adjustments normally made at year-end, including accounting for the Company’s preferred stock, warrants, and share-based awards.

 

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(b) Each Target Company maintains books and records reflecting its assets and Liabilities and maintains proper and adequate internal accounting controls that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that (i) such Target Company does not maintain any off-the-book accounts and that such Target Company’s assets are used only in accordance with such Target Company’s management directives, (ii) transactions are executed with management’s authorization, (iii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the financial statements of such Target Company and to maintain accountability for such Target Company’s assets, (iv) access to such Target Company’s assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s authorization, and (v) adequate procedures are implemented to effect the collection of accounts, notes and other receivables on a timely basis. All of the financial books and records of the Target Companies are complete and accurate in all material respects and have been maintained in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and in accordance with applicable Laws. No Target Company has been subject to or involved in any material fraud that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the internal controls over financial reporting of any Target Company. For the past two (2) years, no Target Company or its Representatives has received any written complaint, allegation, assertion or claim regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies or methods of any Target Company or its internal accounting controls, including any material written complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that any Target Company has engaged in questionable accounting or auditing practices.

 

(c) Except as and to the extent set forth in the Company Financials, the Target Companies do not have any Indebtedness of a nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) required to be reflected on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for: (i) liabilities that were incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Target Companies and each Target Company, as applicable, since the Interim Balance Sheet Date, (ii) obligations for future performance under any contract to which any Target Company is a party or (iii) such other liabilities and obligations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, be material and adverse to the Target Companies taken as a whole. Except as disclosed on Schedule 6.7(c), no Indebtedness of any Target Company contains any restriction upon (i) the prepayment of any of such Indebtedness, (ii) the incurrence of Indebtedness by any Target Company, or (iii) the ability of the Target Companies to grant any Lien on their respective properties or assets.

 

(d) Except as set forth in the Company Financials, no Target Company is subject to any Liabilities or obligations (whether or not required to be reflected on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP), including any off-balance sheet obligations or any “variable interest entities” (within the meaning Accounting Standards Codification 810), except for those that are either (i) adequately reflected or reserved on or provided for in the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the Balance Sheet Date contained in the Company Financials or (ii) not material and that were incurred after the Balance Sheet Date in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice (other than Liabilities for breach of any Contract or violation of any Law).

 

(e) All financial projections with respect to the Target Companies are prepared in good faith, subject to assumptions specified therein.

 

6.8 Absence of Certain Changes. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.8 or for actions expressly contemplated by this Agreement, since December 31, 2021, each Target Company: (a) has conducted its business in all material respects in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (b) has not been subject to a Material Adverse Effect and (c) has not taken any action or committed or agreed to take any action that, if taken after the date of this Agreement, would constitute a material breach of any of the covenants set forth in Section 7.2.

 

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6.9 Compliance with Laws. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.9, no Target Company is or has been in material conflict or non-compliance with, or in material default or violation of, nor has any Target Company received, for the past four (4) years, any written or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral notice of any material conflict or non-compliance with, or material default or violation of, any applicable Laws in all material respects by which it is or any of its properties, assets, employee, businesses or operations are or were bound or affected, except, in each case, for any such conflicts, non-compliance, defaults, breaches or violations that would not have or would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect to the Target Company taken as a whole.

 

6.10 Company Permits. Each Target Company (and its employees who are legally required to be licensed by a Governmental Authority in order to perform his or her duties with respect to his or her employment with any Target Company), holds all Permits necessary to lawfully conduct in all material respects its business as presently conducted, and to own, lease and operate its assets and properties (collectively, the “Company Permits”), except where the failure to have such Company Permits would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect to the Target Companies taken as a whole. The Company has made available to Purchaser true, correct and complete copies of all material Company Permits. All of the Company Permits are in full force and effect, and no suspension or cancellation of any of the Company Permits is pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened in writing. No Target Company is in violation in any material respect of the terms of any Company Permit except for any such violations that would not have or would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect to the Target Companies, and no Target Company has received any written or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral notice of any Actions relating to the revocation or modification of any material Company Permit.

 

6.11 Litigation. Except as described on Schedule 6.11, there is no (a) Action of any nature involving an amount claimed against any Target Company that exceeds RMB1,000,000 which is currently pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened, to be made for the past four (4) years; or (b) Order now pending or outstanding or that was rendered by a Governmental Authority for the past four (4) years, in either case of (a) or (b) by or against any Target Company, its business, equity securities or assets. For the past five (5) years, to the knowledge of the Company, none of the current or former officers, senior management or directors of any Target Company have been charged with, indicted for, arrested for, or convicted of any felony or any crime involving fraud.

 

6.12 Material Contracts.

 

(a) Schedule 6.12(a) sets forth a true, correct and complete list of, and the Company has made available to Purchaser true, correct and complete copies of each Contract (subject to redactions only to the extent necessary to avoid disclosure of any confidential and proprietary information of the Target Companies) currently in effect to which any Target Company is a party or by which any Target Company, or any of its properties or assets are bound or affected (each Contract required to be set forth on Schedule 6.12(a), a “Company Material Contract”) that:

 

(i) contains covenants that limit in any material respect the ability of any Target Company (A) to compete in any line of business or with any Person or in any geographic area or to sell, or provide any service or product or solicit any Person, including any non-competition covenants, employee and customer non-solicit covenants, exclusivity restrictions, rights of first refusal or most-favored pricing clauses or (B) to purchase or acquire an interest in any other Person;

 

(ii) relates to the formation, creation, operation, management or control of any joint venture, profit-sharing, partnership, limited liability company or other similar agreement or arrangement relating to the formation, creation, operation, management or control of any partnership or joint venture;

 

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(iii) involves any exchange traded, over the counter or other swap, cap, floor, collar, futures contract, forward contract, option or other derivative financial instrument or Contract, based on any commodity, security, instrument, asset, rate or index of any kind or nature whatsoever, whether tangible or intangible, including currencies, interest rates, foreign currency and indices other than those entered into in the ordinary course of business of the Target Companies on behalf of a customers or any ordinary course transactions that are settled on a daily basis;

 

(iv) evidences Indebtedness (whether incurred, assumed, guaranteed or secured by any asset) of any Target Company having an outstanding principal amount in excess of $500,000, other than those incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Target Companies on behalf of a customers or any ordinary course transactions that are settled on a daily basis;

 

(v) involves the acquisition or disposition, directly or indirectly (by merger or otherwise), of assets with an aggregate value in excess of $500,000 (other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) or shares or other equity interests of any Target Company or another Person; 

 

(vi) relates to any merger, consolidation or other business combination with any other Person or the acquisition or disposition of any other entity or its business or material assets or the sale of any Target Company, its business or material assets;

 

(vii) by its terms, individually or with all related Contracts, calls for aggregate payments or receipts by the Target Companies under such Contract or Contracts of at least $3,000,000 per year or $5,000,000 in the aggregate;

 

(viii) involves payment by the Target Companies in excess of $500,000 and is with any of the top five (5) suppliers of the Target Companies ranked by dollar volume of payment by the Target Companies;

 

(ix) obligates the Target Companies to provide continuing indemnification or a guarantee of obligations of a third party after the Effective Time in excess of $100,000;

 

(x) is between any (A) Target Company and (B) any directors, officers or employees of a Target Company (other than employment, consulting service, non-competition and non-solicitation, assignment of Intellectual Property or confidentiality arrangements with employees entered into in the ordinary course of business), including all severance and indemnification agreements, or any Related Person;

 

(xi) obligates the Target Companies to make any capital commitment or expenditure in excess of $100,000 (including pursuant to any joint venture);

 

(xii) relates to a settlement of any Action for an amount greater than $500,000 entered into within three (3) years prior to the date of this Agreement or under which any Target Company has outstanding obligations (other than customary confidentiality or non-disparagement obligations); or

 

(xiii) provides another Person (other than another Target Company or any manager, director or officer of any Target Company) with a power of attorney other than in the ordinary course of business.

 

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(b) Except as disclosed in Schedule 6.12(b), with respect to each Company Material Contract: (i) such Company Material Contract is valid and binding and enforceable in all material respects against the Target Company party thereto and, to the Knowledge of the Company, each other party thereto, and is in full force and effect (except, in each case, as such enforcement may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions); (ii) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not affect the validity or enforceability of any Company Material Contract; (iii) no Target Company is in material breach or default in any material respect, no event has occurred that with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would constitute a material breach or default by any Target Company, or permit termination or acceleration by the other party thereto, under such Company Material Contract; (iv) to the Knowledge of the Company, no other party to such Company Material Contract is in material breach or default in any material respect, and no event has occurred that with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would constitute such a material breach or default by such other party, or permit termination or acceleration by any Target Company, under such Company Material Contract; (v) no Target Company has received written notice of termination by any party to any such Company Material Contract to terminate such Company Material Contract or materially amend the terms thereof, other than modifications in the ordinary course of business that do not adversely affect the Target Companies, taken as a whole, in any material respect; and (vi) no Target Company has waived any material rights under any such Company Material Contract.

 

6.13 Intellectual Property.

 

(a) Schedule 6.13(a) sets forth: as the date hereof, (i) all Patents and Patent applications, Trademarks and service mark registrations and applications, copyright registrations and applications and domain name registrations owned by a Target Company (“Company Registered IP”), specifying as to each item, as applicable: (A) the title of the item, (B) the owner of the item, (C) the jurisdictions in which the item is issued or registered or in which an application for issuance or registration has been filed and (D) the issuance, registration or application numbers and dates (if applicable). Schedule 6.13(a) sets forth all Intellectual Property licenses, sublicenses and other agreements or permissions that are material to the Target Companies’ main businesses as currently conducted (“Company IP Licenses”) (other than (i) “shrink wrap,” “click wrap,” and “off the shelf” software agreements and other agreements for Software commercially available to the public generally (collectively, “Off-the-Shelf Software”) and (ii) licenses, sublicenses and other agreements or permissions for any Target Company to use Intellectual Property owned by any third party specified in commercial agreements (including supply agreements) entered into in the ordinary course of business of the Target Companies., which are not required to be listed, although such licenses are “Company IP Licenses” as that term is used herein), under which a Target Company is a licensee or otherwise is authorized to use or practice any material Intellectual Property. Each Target Company owns, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens) all Company Registered IP, and where applicable, all assignments have been duly recorded with any governmental agencies or other Intellectual Property offices reflecting the correct ownership of such Company Registered IP in the applicable Target Company name(s). Except as set forth on Schedule 6.13(a), all material Company Registered IP is owned exclusively by the applicable Target Company without obligation to pay royalties, licensing fees or other fees, or otherwise account to any third party with respect to such Company Registered IP, except for fees and costs payable to file, apply for, register, patent or maintain Company Registered IP.

 

(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 6.13(b), to the Knowledge of the Company, each Target Company has a valid and enforceable license to use all material Intellectual Property that is the subject of the Company IP Licenses applicable to such Target Company (except, in each case, as such enforcement may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions). To the Knowledge of the Company, the Company IP Licenses include all of the licenses, sublicenses and other agreements or permissions for material Intellectual Property necessary to operate the Target Companies as presently conducted. Each Target Company has performed all material obligations imposed on it in the applicable Company IP Licenses, and such Target Company is not in material breach or material default thereunder in any material respect by any Target Company thereunder. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.13(b), to the Knowledge of the Company, all registrations for material Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks and domain names that are owned by any Target Company are valid and in force, with all applicable maintenance and renewal fees having been paid.

 

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(c) To the Company’s Knowledge, no Action is pending or threatened against a Target Company that challenges the validity, enforceability, ownership, or right to use, sell, license or sublicense any material Intellectual Property currently owned, licensed, used or held for use by the Target Companies for the Target Companies’ main businesses as currently conducted, except for (i) any Action relating to applications for Intellectual Property in the ordinary course of ex parte prosecution of such applications, and (ii) the adverse result or conclusion of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on the Target Companies. During the past two (2) years, no Target Company has received any written notice or claim asserting that any infringement, misappropriation, violation, dilution or unauthorized use of the Intellectual Property of any other Person in material respects is or may be occurring or has or may have occurred, as a consequence of the business activities of any Target Company. There are no Orders to which any Target Company is a party, or is otherwise materially affected thereby, that (i) restrict the rights of a Target Company to use, transfer, license or enforce any material Intellectual Property owned by a Target Company, (ii) restrict the conduct of the business of a Target Company in any material respects in order to accommodate a third Person’s Intellectual Property, or (iii) grant any third Person any right with respect to any Intellectual Property owned by a Target Company. To the knowledge of the Company, no Target Company is currently infringing, or has, in the past two (2) years, infringed, misappropriated or violated any Intellectual Property of any other Person in any material respect as a result of the ownership, use or license of any material Intellectual Property owned by a Target Company, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, in connection with the conduct of the respective businesses of the Target Companies. To the Company’s Knowledge, no third party is infringing upon, is misappropriating or is otherwise violating any Intellectual Property owned by any Target Company and material to the Target Companies’ businesses as currently conducted (“Company IP”) in any material respect.

 

(d) All employees and independent contractors of a Target Company who develop or have developed material Intellectual Property for such Target Company have assigned to the Target Company such material Intellectual Property arising from the services performed for a Target Company by such Persons. To the knowledge of the Company. no current or former officers, employees or independent contractors of a Target Company have claimed in writing any ownership interest in any material Intellectual Property owned by a Target Company. The Company has made available to Purchaser true and complete copies of templates of written Contracts used by the Target Companies under which employees and independent contractors assigned the material Intellectual Property developed for a Target Company to a Target Company. Each Target Company has taken commercially reasonable security measures for the purpose of protecting the secrecy and confidentiality of the material Company IP, and no Target Company is aware of any material breach or violation of any such measures by any Persons.

 

(e) To the Knowledge of the Company, during the past two (2) years, no Person has obtained unauthorized access in any material respect to third party personal information and data in the possession of a Target Company, nor has there been any other material compromise of the security, confidentiality or integrity of such information or data regarding individuals or their personal information that are protected by applicable data privacy Law. Each Target Company has complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to privacy, personal data protection, and the collection, processing and use of personal information and its own privacy policies and guidelines.

 

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(f) To the knowledge of the Company, the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not result in the material breach, material modification, cancellation, termination, suspension of, or acceleration of any payments by a Target Company under, or release of source code for software included in Company IP because of (i) any Contract providing for the license granted by a Target Company to a third party for material Intellectual Property owned by a Target Company, or (ii) any Company IP License. Following the Closing, the Company shall be permitted to exercise, directly or indirectly through its Subsidiaries, all of the Target Companies’ material rights under such Contracts or Company IP Licenses to the same or similar extent that the Target Companies would have been able to exercise had the transactions contemplated by this Agreement not occurred, without the payment of any additional amounts or consideration other than ongoing fees, royalties or payments which the Target Companies would otherwise be required to pay in the absence of such transactions.

 

6.14 Taxes and Returns. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.14:

 

(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 6.14(a), each Target Company has or will have timely filed, or caused to be timely filed, all material Tax Returns required to be filed by it (taking into account all available extensions), which Tax Returns are true, accurate, correct and complete in all material respects, and has paid, collected or withheld, or caused to be paid, collected or withheld, all material Taxes required to be paid, collected or withheld, other than such Taxes for which adequate reserves in the Company Financials have been established.

 

(b) To the Knowledge of the Company, there is no current pending or threatened Action against a Target Company by a Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction where the Target Company does not file Tax Returns that it is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction.

 

(c) There are no claims, assessments, audits, examinations, investigations or other Actions pending against a Target Company in respect of any material Tax, and no Target Company has been notified in writing of any material proposed Tax claims or assessments against it (other than, in each case, claims or assessments for which adequate reserves in the Company Financials have been established).

 

(d) There are no Liens with respect to any Taxes upon any Target Company’s assets, other than Permitted Liens.

 

(e) No Target Company has any outstanding waivers or extensions of any applicable statute of limitations to assess any material amount of Taxes. There are no outstanding requests by a Target Company for any extension of time within which to file any Tax Return or within which to pay any Taxes shown to be due on any Tax Return outside the ordinary course of business.

 

(f) No Target Company has any Liability for the Taxes of another Person (other than another Target Company) (i) as a transferee or successor, or (ii) by contract, indemnity or otherwise (excluding commercial agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business the primary purpose of which was not the sharing of Taxes). No Target Company is a party to or bound by any Tax indemnity agreement, Tax sharing agreement or Tax allocation agreement or similar agreement, arrangement or practice (excluding commercial agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business the primary purpose of which was not the sharing of Taxes) with respect to Taxes (including advance pricing agreement, closing agreement or other agreement relating to Taxes with any Governmental Authority) that will be binding on such Target Company with respect to any period following the Closing Date.

 

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(g) No Target Company is or has ever been (A) a U.S. real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code, or (B) a member of any consolidated, combined, unitary or affiliated group of corporations for any Tax purposes other than a group of which the Company is or was the common parent corporation.

 

(h) No Target Company is treated as a domestic corporation (as such term is defined in Section 7701 of the Code) for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

6.15 Real Property. Schedule 6.15 contains a complete and accurate list of all premises currently leased or subleased by a Target Company for the operation of the business of a Target Company, and of all current leases, lease guarantees, agreements and documents related thereto, including all amendments, terminations and modifications thereof or waivers thereto (collectively, the “Company Real Property Leases”), as well as the current annual rent and term under each Company Real Property Lease. The Company has provided to Purchaser a true and complete copy of each of the Company Real Property Leases. The Company Real Property Leases are valid, binding and enforceable against the Target Company party thereto and, to the Knowledge of the Company, each other party thereto, in accordance with their terms and are in full force and effect (except, in each case, as such enforcement may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions). To the Knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred which (whether with or without notice, lapse of time or both or the happening or occurrence of any other event) would constitute a material default on the part of a Target Company or any other party under any of the Company Real Property Leases, and no Target Company has received written notice of any such condition, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be material to the Target Companies, taken as a whole. No Target Company owns any interest in real property (other than the leasehold interests in the Company Real Property Leases).

 

6.16 Personal Property. Each item of Personal Property which is currently owned by a Target Company with a book value or fair market value of greater than Fifty Thousand U.S. Dollars ($50,000) is in good operating condition and repair in all material respects (reasonable wear and tear excepted consistent with the age of such items), and are suitable for their intended use in the business of the Target Companies. The operation of each Target Company’s business as it is now conducted is not in any material respect dependent upon the right to use the Personal Property of Persons other than a Target Company, except for such Personal Property that is owned, leased or licensed by, or otherwise contracted to, a Target Company.

 

6.17 Title to and Sufficiency of Assets. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.17, each Target Company has good and marketable title to, or a valid leasehold interest in or right to use, all of its assets, (except, in each case, as such enforcement may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions) free and clear of all Liens other than (a) Permitted Liens, (b) the rights of lessors under leasehold interests, (c) Liens specifically identified on the Interim Balance Sheet and (d) Liens set forth on Schedule 6.17, except for where the failure to have such good title or valid leasehold interests would not be material to the Target Companies, taken as a whole. The assets (including Intellectual Property rights and contractual rights) of the Target Companies constitute all of the material assets, rights and properties that are used in the operation of the businesses of the Target Companies as it is now conducted or that are used or held by the Target Companies for use in the operation of the businesses of the Target Companies, and taken together, are adequate and sufficient for the operation of the businesses of the Target Companies as currently conducted.

 

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6.18 Employee Matters.

 

(a) Except as set forth in Schedule 6.18(a), no Target Company is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or other Contract covering any group of employees, labor organization or other representative of any of the employees of any Target Company and the Company has no Knowledge of any activities or proceedings of any labor union or other party to organize or represent such employees. There has not occurred or, to the Knowledge of the Company, been threatened any strike, slow-down, picketing, work-stoppage, or other similar labor activity with respect to any such employees. Schedule 6.18(a) sets forth all unresolved labor controversies (including unresolved grievances and age or other discrimination claims), if any, that are pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened between any Target Company and Persons employed by or providing services as independent contractors to a Target Company. No current officer or employee of a Target Company has, to the knowledge of the Company, provided any Target Company written notice of his or her plan to terminate his or her employment with any Target Company. Additionally, none of the ten-highest paid employees or officers of a Target Company has, to the Knowledge of the Company, given oral notice of his or her plan to terminate his or her employment with any Target Company.

 

(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 6.18(b), each Target Company (i) is and has been in compliance in all material respects with all material applicable Laws respecting employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, health and safety and wages and hours, and other Laws relating to discrimination, disability, labor relations, hours of work, payment of wages and overtime wages, pay equity, immigration, workers compensation, working conditions, employee scheduling, occupational safety and health, family and medical leave, and employee terminations, and has not received written or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral notice that there is any pending Action involving unfair labor practices against a Target Company, (ii) is not liable for any material past due arrears of wages or any material penalty for failure to comply with any of the foregoing, and (iii) is not liable for any material payment to any Governmental Authority with respect to unemployment compensation benefits, social security or other benefits or obligations for employees, independent contractors or consultants (other than routine payments to be made in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice). There are no material Actions pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against a Target Company brought by or on behalf of any applicant for employment, any current or former employee, any Person alleging to be a current or former employee, or any Governmental Authority, relating to any such Law or regulation, or alleging breach of any express or implied contract of employment, wrongful termination of employment, or alleging any other discriminatory, wrongful or tortious conduct in connection with the employment relationship.

 

(c) Schedule 6.18(c) hereto sets forth a complete and accurate list as of the date hereof of all employees which hold the position of director or above of the Target Companies showing for each as of such date the employee’s name, job title or description, and department. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.18(c), (A) no employee is a party to a written employment Contract with a Target Company, and (B) the Target Companies have paid in full to all their employees all wages, salaries, commission, bonuses and other compensation due to their employees, including overtime compensation, and no Target Company has any obligation or Liability (whether or not contingent) with respect to severance payments to any such employees under the terms of any written or, to the Company’s Knowledge, oral agreement, or commitment or any applicable Law, custom, trade or practice. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.18(c), each Target Company employee has entered into the Company’s standard form of employee non-disclosure, inventions and restrictive covenants agreement with a Target Company (whether pursuant to a separate agreement or incorporated as part of such employee’s overall employment agreement), a copy of template of which has been made available to Purchaser by the Company.

 

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(d) Schedule 6.18(d) contains a list of all independent contractors (including consultants) currently engaged by any Target Company. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.18(d), all of such independent contractors are a party to a written Contract with a Target Company. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.18(d), each such independent contractor has entered into customary covenants regarding confidentiality, non-competition and assignment of inventions and copyrights in such Person’s agreement with a Target Company, a copy of which has been provided to Purchaser by the Company. For the purposes of applicable Law, including the Code, all independent contractors who are currently, or within the last six (6) years have been, engaged by a Target Company are bona fide independent contractors and not employees of a Target Company. Each independent contractor is terminable on fewer than thirty (30) days’ notice, without any obligation of any Target Company to pay severance or a termination fee. For the purpose of this section, “independent contracts” mean the individuals who are currently engaged by any Target Company to provide services and who are not full-time employees of any Target Company.

 

6.19 Benefit Plans.

 

(a) Set forth on Schedule 6.19(a) is a true and complete list of each Foreign Plan of a Target Company (each, a “Company Benefit Plan”). No Target Company has within the past ten (10) years maintained or contributed to (or had an obligation to contribute to) any Benefit Plan, whether or not subject to ERISA, which is not a Foreign Plan.

 

(b) With respect to each material Company Benefit Plan which covers any current or former officer, director, individual consultant or employee (or beneficiary thereof) of a Target Company, the Company has made available to Purchaser accurate and complete copies, if applicable, of: (i) the current plan documents and related trust agreements or annuity Contracts (including any amendments, modifications or supplements thereto), and written descriptions of any material Company Benefit Plans which are not in writing; (ii) the most recent annual and periodic accounting of plan assets; (iii) the most recent actuarial valuation; and (iv) all material communications in the past five (5) years with any Governmental Authority concerning any matter that is still pending or for which a Target Company has any outstanding material Liability.

 

(c) Except as set forth on Schedule 6.19(c), with respect to each Company Benefit Plan: (i) such Company Benefit Plan has been administered and enforced in all material respects in accordance with its terms and the requirements of all applicable Laws, and has been maintained, where required, in good standing in all material respects with applicable regulatory authorities and Governmental Authorities; (ii) no breach of fiduciary duty that would result in material Liability to any Target Company has occurred; (iii) no Action that would result in a material Liability to any Target Company is pending, or to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened (other than routine claims for benefits arising in the ordinary course of administration); (iv) all contributions, premiums and other payments (including any special contribution, interest or penalty) required to be made with respect to a Company Benefit have been timely made; (v) all benefits accrued under any unfunded Company Benefit Plan have been timely made, and (vi) no Company Benefit Plan provides for retroactive increases in contributions, premiums or other payments in relation thereto. No Target Company has incurred any material obligation in connection with the termination of, or withdrawal from, any Company Benefit Plan.

 

(d) To the extent applicable, the present value of the accrued benefit liabilities (whether or not vested) under each Company Benefit Plan, determined as of the end of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal year on the basis of reasonable actuarial assumptions, did not materially exceed the current value of the assets of such Company Benefit Plan allocable to such benefit liabilities.

 

(e) The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents will not: (i) entitle any individual to severance pay, unemployment compensation or other benefits or compensation under any Company Benefit Plan or under any applicable Law; or (ii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or increase the amount of any compensation due, or in respect of, any director, employee or independent contractor of a Target Company.

 

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(f) Except to the extent required by applicable Law, no Target Company provides health, life insurance or welfare benefits to any former or retired employee or is obligated to provide such benefits to any active employee following such employee’s retirement or other termination of employment or service.

 

6.20 Environmental Matters. Except as set forth in Schedule 6.20:

 

(a) Each Target Company is and has been in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Environmental Laws, including obtaining, maintaining in good standing, and complying in all material respects with all material Permits required for its business and operations by Environmental Laws (“Environmental Permits”), no Action is pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge threatened to revoke, modify in any material respect, or terminate any such Environmental Permit.

 

(b) No Target Company is the subject of any outstanding Order or Contract with any Governmental Authority in respect of any (i) Environmental Laws, (ii) Remedial Action, or (iii) Release or threatened Release of a Hazardous Material in each case that would reasonably be expected to give rise to any material Liability. No Target Company has assumed, contractually or by operation of Law, any outstanding material Liabilities or obligations under any Environmental Laws.

 

(c) No Action is pending, or to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened against any Target Company or any assets of a Target Company alleging either or both that a Target Company may be in material violation of any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit or may have any material Liability under any Environmental Law.

 

(d) No Target Company has manufactured, treated, stored, disposed of, arranged for or permitted the disposal of, generated, handled or Released any Hazardous Material, or owned or operated any property or facility, in a manner that has given or would reasonably be expected to give rise to any material Liability or obligation under applicable Environmental Laws.

 

(e) To the knowledge of the Company, there is no investigation by any Governmental Authority of the business, operations, or currently owned, operated, or leased property of a Target Company pending or threatened in writing that could reasonably be expected to result in a Target Company incurring material Environmental Liabilities.

 

6.21 Transactions with Related Persons. Except (i) as set forth on Schedule 6.21, (ii) any Company Benefit Plan or any stock option or other equity incentive plans as set forth on Schedule 6.3(b), (iii) the employment relationships and the payment of compensation, benefits and expense reimbursements and (iv) advances in the ordinary course of business, no Target Company nor any officer, director, manager, employee of a Target Company or any of its Affiliates, nor any immediate family member of any of the foregoing (each of the foregoing, a “Related Person”) is presently, or in the past two (2) years, has been, a party to any transaction with a Target Company, including any Contract (a) providing for the furnishing of services by (other than as officers, directors or employees of the Target Company), (b) providing for the rental of real property or Personal Property from or (c) otherwise requiring payments to (other than for services or expenses as directors, officers or employees of the Target Company in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) any Related Person or any Person in which any Related Person has a position as an officer or director, trustee or partner or in which any Related Person has any direct or indirect ownership interest (other than the ownership of securities representing no more than three percent (3%) of the outstanding voting power or economic interest of a publicly traded company) in each case, other than any Ancillary Document. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.21, or as contemplated by or provided for in any Ancillary Document, no Target Company has outstanding any Contract or other arrangement or commitment with any Related Person, and no Related Person owns any real property or Personal Property, or right, tangible or intangible (including Intellectual Property) which is used in the business of any Target Company. The assets of the Target Companies do not include any material receivable or other material obligation from a Related Person, and the liabilities of the Target Companies do not include any material payable or other material obligation or material commitment to any Related Person.

 

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6.22 Insurance.

 

(a) Schedule 6.22(a) lists all insurance policies (by policy number, insurer, coverage period, coverage amount, annual premium and type of policy) held by a Target Company relating to a Target Company or its business, properties, assets, directors, officers and employees, copies of which have been provided to Purchaser. All premiums due and payable under all such insurance policies have been timely paid and the Target Companies are otherwise in material compliance with the terms of such insurance policies. To the knowledge of the Company, except as would not be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on the Target Companies taken as a whole, each such insurance policy (i) is legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect and (ii) will continue to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect on identical terms following the Closing. No Target Company has any self-insurance or co-insurance programs. For the past two (2) years, no Target Company has received any notice from, or on behalf of, any insurance carrier relating to or involving any adverse change or any change other than in the ordinary course of business, in the conditions of insurance, any refusal to issue an insurance policy or non-renewal of a policy.

 

(b) Schedule 6.22(b) identifies each individual insurance claim in excess of $50,000 made by a Target Company for the past two (2) years. Each Target Company has reported to its insurers all claims and pending circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in a claim, except where such failure to report such a claim would not be reasonably likely to be material to the Target Companies, taken as a whole. To the Knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred, and no condition or circumstance exists, that would reasonably be expected to (with or without notice or lapse of time) give rise to or serve as a basis for the denial of any such insurance claim. No Target Company has made any claim against an insurance policy as to which the insurer is denying coverage.

 

6.23 Top Suppliers. Schedule 6.23 lists, by dollar volume paid for each of and the ten (10) largest suppliers of goods or services to the Target Companies (the “Top Vendors”), along with the amounts of such dollar volumes. To the knowledge of the Company, the relationships of each Target Company with Top Vendors are good commercial working relationships and (i) no Top Vendor within the last twelve (12) months has cancelled or otherwise terminated, or, has given the Company’s written notice to cancel or otherwise terminate, any material relationships of such Person with a Target Company, (ii) no Top Vendor has during the last twelve (12) months decreased materially or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened in writing to stop, decrease or limit materially, or modify materially its material relationships with a Target Company or stop, decrease or limit materially its products or services to any Target Company or its usage or purchase of the products or services of any Target Company, (iii) to the Company’s Knowledge, no Top Vendor intends to refuse to pay any material amount due to any Target Company or seek to exercise any remedy against any Target Company, and (iv) except as set forth in Schedule 6.23, no Target Company has within the past two (2) years been engaged in any material dispute with any Top Vendor.

 

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6.24 Certain Business Practices.

 

(a) Since its formation no Target Company, nor to the knowledge of the Company any of their respective Representatives acting on their behalf has (i) used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees, to foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns or violated any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or (iii) made any other unlawful payment. Since its formation no Target Company, nor any of their respective Representatives acting on their behalf has directly or knowingly indirectly, given or agreed to give any unlawful gift or similar benefit in any material amount to any customer, supplier, governmental employee or other Person who is or may be in a position to help or hinder any Target Company or assist any Target Company in connection with any actual or proposed transaction.

 

(b) Since its formation the operations of each Target Company are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with money laundering statutes in all applicable jurisdictions that govern the operations of the Target Company, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Authority that have jurisdiction over the Target Companies, and no Action involving a Target Company with respect to the any of the foregoing is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

(c) No Target Company or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any of their respective directors, officers, or any other Representative acting on behalf of a Target Company is currently (i) identified on the specially designated nationals or other blocked person list or otherwise currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, or other applicable Governmental Authority; (ii) organized, resident, or located in, or a national of a comprehensively sanctioned country (currently, the Balkans, Belarus, Burma, Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, and Zimbabwe); or (iii) in the aggregate, fifty (50) percent or greater owned, directly or indirectly, or otherwise controlled, by a person identified in (i) or (ii); and no Target Company has, directly or, knowingly, indirectly, used any funds, or loaned, contributed or otherwise made available such funds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, in connection with any sales or operations in Cuba, Iran, Syria, or any other country comprehensively sanctioned by OFAC (currently, the Balkans, Belarus, Burma, Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, and Zimbabwe) or for the purpose of financing the activities of any Person currently subject to, or otherwise in violation of, any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State in the last five (5) fiscal years. 

 

6.25 Investment Company Act. No Target Company is an “investment company” or a Person directly or indirectly “controlled” by or acting on behalf of an “investment company”, in each case within the meaning of the Investment Company Act.

 

6.26 Finders and Brokers. Except as set forth in Schedule 6.26, no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission from Purchaser, Pubco, the Target Companies or any of their respective Affiliates in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of any Target Company.

 

6.27 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by the Company expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference: (a) in any current report on Form 8-K, and any exhibits thereto or any other report, form, registration or other filing made with any Governmental Authority (including the SEC) with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Documents; (b) in the Registration Statement; or (c) in the mailings or other distributions to Purchaser’s shareholders and/or prospective investors with respect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or in any amendment to any of documents identified in (a) through (c), will, when filed, made available, mailed or distributed, as the case may be, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by the Company expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference in any of the Signing Press Release, the Signing Filing, the Closing Press Release and the Closing Filing will, when filed or distributed, as applicable, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representation, warranty or covenant with respect to any information supplied by or on behalf of the Company or its Affiliates.

 

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6.28 Independent Investigation. The Company has conducted its own independent investigation, review and analysis of the business, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or assets of Purchaser, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub and acknowledges that it has been provided adequate access to the personnel, properties, assets, premises, books and records, and other documents and data of Purchaser, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub for such purpose. The Company acknowledges and agrees that: (a) in making its decision to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, it has relied solely upon its own investigation and the express representations and warranties of Purchaser, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement (including the related portions of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedules) and in any certificate delivered to the Company pursuant hereto, and the information provided by or on behalf of Purchaser, Pubco, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub for the Registration Statement; and (b) none of Purchaser, Pubco, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub or their respective Representatives have made any representation or warranty as to Purchaser, Pubco, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub or this Agreement, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement (including the related portions of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedules) or in any certificate delivered to Company pursuant hereto.

 

6.29 Exclusivity of Representations and Warranties. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this ARTICLE VI, the Company has not made or does not make any representation or warranty, whether express or implied. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, the Company has not made and does not make any representation or warranty, whether express or implied, with respect to any projections, forecasts, estimates or budgets made available to the Purchaser, its Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives of future revenues, future results of operations (or any component thereof), future cash flows or future financial condition (or any component thereof) of the Company or any other Target Companies (including the reasonableness of the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing), whether or not included in any management presentation or in any other information made available to the Purchaser, its Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives or any other Person, and any such representations or warranties are expressly disclaimed.

 

ARTICLE VII
CONVENANTS

 

7.1 Access and Information.

 

(a) During the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 10.1 or the Closing (the “Interim Period”), subject to Section 7.13, each of the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub shall give, and shall cause its Representatives to give, Purchaser and its Representatives, at reasonable times during normal business hours and at reasonable intervals and upon reasonable advance notice, reasonable access to all offices and other facilities and to all employees, properties, Contracts, books and records, financial and operating data and other similar information (including Tax Returns, internal working papers, client files, client Contracts and director service agreements), of or pertaining to the Target Companies, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub as Purchaser or its Representatives may reasonably request regarding the Target Companies, Pubco or Merger Sub and their respective businesses, assets, Liabilities, financial condition, prospects, operations, management, employees and other aspects and cause each of the Representatives of the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub to reasonably cooperate with Purchaser and its Representatives in their investigation; provided, however, that Purchaser and its Representatives shall conduct any such activities in such a manner as not to unreasonably interfere with the business or operations of the Target Companies, Pubco First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub.

 

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(b) During the Interim Period, subject to Section 7.13, Purchaser shall give, and shall cause its Representatives to give, the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub and their respective Representatives, at reasonable times during normal business hours and at reasonable intervals and upon reasonable advance notice, reasonable access to all offices and other facilities and to all employees, properties, Contracts, books and records, financial and operating data and other information (including Tax Returns, internal working papers, client files, client Contracts and director service agreements), of or pertaining to Purchaser, as the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub or their respective Representatives may reasonably request regarding Purchaser and its businesses, assets, Liabilities, financial condition, prospects, operations, management, employees and other aspects (including unaudited quarterly financial statements, including a consolidated quarterly balance sheet and income statement, a copy of each material report, schedule and other document filed with or received by a Governmental Authority pursuant to the requirements of applicable securities Laws, and independent public accountants’ work papers (subject to the consent or any other conditions required by such accountants, if any) and cause each of Purchaser’s Representatives to reasonably cooperate with the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub, and Second Merger Sub and their respective Representatives in their investigation; provided, however, that the Company and its Representatives shall conduct any such activities in such a manner as not to unreasonably interfere with the business or operations of Purchaser.

 

7.2 Conduct of Business of the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub.(a) Unless Purchaser shall otherwise consent in writing (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), during the Interim Period, except as expressly contemplated, permitted or required by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document or as set forth on Schedule 7.2 of the Company Disclosure Schedules, or as required by applicable Law, the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub shall, and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to, (i) conduct their respective businesses, in all material respects, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (ii) comply with all Laws applicable to the Target Companies, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub and their respective businesses, assets and employees, and (iii) use commercially reasonable measures necessary or appropriate to preserve intact, in all material respects, their respective business organizations, to keep available the services of their respective current officers and key employees, and to preserve the possession, control and condition of their respective material assets, all as consistent with past practice.

 

(b) Without limiting the generality of Section 7.2(a) and except as contemplated, permitted or required by the terms of this Agreement or any Ancillary Document (including in connection with any PIPE Investment), as set forth on the Company Disclosure Schedules, or as required by applicable Law, during the Interim Period, without the prior written consent of Purchaser (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), none of the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub shall, and each shall cause its Subsidiaries to not:

 

(i) Terminate, amend, or otherwise change, in any respect, its Organizational Documents, except as required by applicable Law;

 

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(ii) authorize for issuance, issue, grant, sell, pledge, dispose of or propose to issue, grant, sell, pledge or dispose of any of its equity securities or any options, warrants, commitments, subscriptions or rights of any kind to acquire or sell any of its equity securities, or other securities, including any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any of its shares or other equity securities or securities of any class and any other equity-based awards, provided that the increase to share capital of any Target Company in the ordinary course of business shall not require the consent of the Purchaser;

 

(iii) split, combine, recapitalize or reclassify any of its shares or other equity interests or issue any other securities in respect thereof or pay or set aside any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, equity or property or any combination thereof) in respect of its equity interests, or directly or indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire or offer to acquire any of its securities provided that any intra-group transfer of equity interests or securities of the Target Companies shall not require the consent of the Purchaser;

 

(iv) incur, create, assume, prepay or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness (directly, contingently or otherwise) in excess of $500,000 individually or $2,000,000 in the aggregate, make a loan or advance to any third party (other than advancement of expenses to employees or payments to suppliers in the ordinary course of business), or guarantee or endorse any Indebtedness, Liability or obligation of any Person in excess of $500,000 individually or $2,000,000 in the aggregate (provided that this Section 7.2(b)(iv) shall not prohibit or restrict the Company from entering into and consummating the Transaction Loan and the Extension Loan);

 

(v) increase the wages, salaries or compensation of its executives other than in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice, and in any event not in the aggregate by more than five percent (5%), or make or commit to make any bonus payment (whether in cash, property or securities) to any executives, or materially increase other benefits of executives generally, or enter into, establish, materially amend or terminate any Company Benefit Plan with, for or in respect of any current officer, manager, director, in each case other than as required by applicable Law, pursuant to the terms of any Benefit Plans or in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

(vi) make or rescind any material election relating to Taxes, settle any claim, action, suit, litigation, proceeding, arbitration, investigation, audit or controversy relating to Taxes, file any amended Tax Return or claim for refund, or make any material change in its accounting or Tax policies or procedures, in each case except as required by applicable Law or in compliance with IFRS or GAAP or PRC GAAP;

 

(vii) transfer or license to any Person or otherwise extend, materially amend or modify, permit to lapse or fail to preserve any material Company Registered IP, Company Licensed IP or other Company IP, or disclose to any Person who has not entered into a confidentiality agreement any Trade Secrets;

 

(viii) terminate, or waive or assign any material right under, any Company Material Contract or enter into any Contract that would be a Company Material Contract, in any case outside of the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

(ix) fail to maintain its books, accounts and records in all material respects in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

(x) establish any Subsidiary or enter into any new line of business;

 

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(xi) fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to keep in force insurance policies or replacement or revised policies providing insurance coverage with respect to its assets, operations and activities in such amount and scope of coverage as are currently in effect;

 

(xii) revalue any of its material assets or make any change in accounting methods, principles or practices, except to the extent required to comply with IFRS or GAAP or PRC GAAP and after consulting with such Party’s outside auditors;

 

(xiii) waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any claim or Action (including any Action relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby), other than waivers, releases, assignments, settlements or compromises that involve only the payment of monetary damages (and not the imposition of equitable relief on, or the admission of wrongdoing by, the Target Companies, Pubco, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub) not in excess of $1,000,000 (individually or $2,000,000 in the aggregate), or otherwise pay, discharge or satisfy any Actions, Liabilities or obligations, unless such amount has been reserved in the Company Financials, as applicable;

 

(xiv) close or materially reduce its activities, at any of its facilities;

 

(xv) acquire, including by merger, consolidation, acquisition of equity interests or assets, or any other form of business combination, in each case, except for transactions in the ordinary course of business;

 

(xvi) make any capital expenditures in excess of $500,000 (individually for any project (or set of related projects) or $2,000,000 in the aggregate);

 

(xvii) adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization;

 

(xviii) sell, lease, license, transfer, exchange or swap, mortgage or otherwise pledge or encumber (including securitizations), or otherwise dispose of any material portion of its properties, assets or rights;

 

(xix) take any action that would reasonably be expected to significantly delay or impair the obtaining of any Consents or any Governmental Authority (if required) to be obtained in connection with this Agreement; or

 

(xx) authorize or agree to do any of the foregoing actions.

 

7.3 Conduct of Business of Purchaser.

 

(a) Unless the Company and Pubco shall otherwise consent in writing (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), during the Interim Period, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, as set forth on Schedule 7.3, or as required by applicable Law, Purchaser shall, (i) conduct its businesses, in all material respects, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (ii) comply with all Laws applicable to Purchaser and its businesses, assets and employees, and (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact, in all material respects, their respective business organizations, to keep available the services of its managers, directors, officers, employees and consultants, and to preserve the possession, control and condition of its material assets, all as consistent with past practice. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 7.3, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or restrict Purchaser from extending one or more times, in accordance with the Purchaser Charter and IPO Prospectus, or by amendment to the Purchaser Charter, the deadline by which it must complete its initial Business Combination (each, an “Extension”), and no consent of any other Party shall be required in connection therewith.

 

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(b) Without limiting the generality of Section 7.3(a) and except as contemplated by the terms of this Agreement (including as contemplated by any PIPE Investment) or any Ancillary Document or as set forth on Schedule 7.3, or as required by applicable Law, during the Interim Period, without the prior written consent of the Company and Pubco (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), Purchaser shall not:

 

(i) amend, waive or otherwise change, in any respect, its Organizational Documents;

 

(ii) authorize for issuance, issue, grant, sell, pledge, dispose of or propose to issue, grant, sell, pledge or dispose of any of its equity securities or any options, warrants, commitments, subscriptions or rights of any kind to acquire or sell any of its equity securities, or other securities, including any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any of its equity securities or other security interests of any class and any other equity-based awards, or engage in any hedging transaction with a third Person with respect to such securities;

 

(iii) split, combine, recapitalize or reclassify any of its shares or other equity interests or issue any other securities in respect thereof or pay or set aside any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, equity or property or any combination thereof) in respect of its shares or other equity interests, or directly or indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire or offer to acquire any of its securities;

 

(iv) incur, create, assume, prepay, repay or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness, Liability (directly, contingently or otherwise), fees or expenses in excess of $10,000 individually or $100,000 in the aggregate, other than the Transaction Loan or the Extension Loan, make a loan or advance to or investment in any third party, or guarantee or endorse any Indebtedness, Liability or obligation of any Person; or use the proceeds from the Transaction Loan or the Extension Loan to pay any amount other than those specified under and approved in accordance with the Promissory Note or specified hereunder;

 

(v) make or rescind any material election relating to Taxes, settle any material Action relating to Taxes, file any amended Tax Return or claim for refund, or make any material change in its accounting or Tax policies or procedures, in each case except as required by applicable Law or in compliance with GAAP;

 

(vi) amend, waive or otherwise change the Trust Agreement in any manner adverse to Purchaser;

 

(vii) terminate, waive or assign any material right under any material agreement to which it is a party;

 

(viii) fail to maintain its books, accounts and records in all material respects in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

(ix) establish any Subsidiary or enter into any new line of business;

 

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(x) fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to keep in force insurance policies or replacement or revised policies providing insurance coverage with respect to its assets, operations and activities in such amount and scope of coverage as are currently in effect;

 

(xi) revalue any of its material assets or make any change in accounting methods, principles or practices, except to the extent required to comply with GAAP or IFRS, as applicable, and after consulting Purchaser’s outside auditors;

 

(xii) waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any claim or Action (including any Action relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby), other than waivers, releases, assignments, settlements or compromises that involve only the payment of monetary damages (and not the imposition of equitable relief on, or the admission of wrongdoing by, Purchaser) not in excess of $100,000 (individually or in the aggregate), or otherwise pay, discharge or satisfy any Actions, Liabilities or obligations, unless such amount has been reserved in the Purchaser Financials;

 

(xiii) acquire, including by merger, consolidation, acquisition of equity interests or assets, or any other form of business combination, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, other business organization or any division thereof, or any material amount of assets outside the ordinary course of business;

 

(xiv) make any capital expenditures for any project (or set of related projects) (excluding for the avoidance of doubt, incurring any Expenses in accordance with the terms of this Agreement);

 

(xv) adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization (other than with respect to the Merger);

 

(xvi) voluntarily incur any Liability or obligation (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) (excluding the incurrence of any Expenses) in excess of $10,000 individually or $100,000 in the aggregate, other than pursuant to the terms of a Contract in existence as of the date of this Agreement or entered into in the ordinary course of business or in accordance with the terms of this Section 7.3 during the Interim Period;

 

(xvii) sell, lease, license, transfer, exchange or swap, mortgage or otherwise pledge or encumber (including securitizations), or otherwise dispose of any material portion of its properties, assets or rights;

 

(xviii) enter into any agreement, understanding or arrangement with respect to the voting of its equity securities;

 

(xix) take any action that would reasonably be expected to significantly delay or impair the obtaining of any Consents of any Governmental Authority to be obtained in connection with this Agreement; or

 

(xx) authorize or agree to do any of the foregoing actions. 

 

7.4 Annual and Interim Financial Statements.

 

(a) During the Interim Period, within forty-five (45) calendar days following the end of each quarter the Company shall deliver to Purchaser an unaudited consolidated income statement and an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Target Companies for such quarter affixed with the seal of the Company.

 

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(b) As promptly as practicable after the date of this Agreement, but in no event later than May 31, 2022, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to the Purchaser, audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, which financial statements shall have been audited in accordance with PCAOB auditing standards by a PCAOB qualified auditor.

 

7.5 Purchaser Public Filings. During the Interim Period, Purchaser will (i) keep current and timely file all of its public filings with the SEC and otherwise comply in all material respects with applicable securities Laws and shall use its best efforts prior to the Closing to maintain the listing of the Purchaser Public Units, the Purchaser Ordinary Shares, the Purchaser Rights and the Purchaser Public Warrants on Nasdaq; provided, that the Parties acknowledge and agree that from and after the Closing, the Parties intend to list on Nasdaq only the Pubco Ordinary Shares and the Pubco Warrants, and (ii) cooperate with the Company to cause the Pubco Ordinary Shares and the Pubco Warrants to be issued in connection with the Mergers to be approved for listing as of the Closing Date on Nasdaq and to do such things as are necessary, proper or advisable which may be requested by Nasdaq in connection with a listing pursued pursuant to this Section 7.5.

 

7.6 No Solicitation.

 

(a) For purposes of this Agreement, (i) an “Acquisition Proposal” means any inquiry, proposal or offer, or any indication of interest in potentially making an offer or proposal, from any Person or group at any time relating to an Alternative Transaction, and (ii) an “Alternative Transaction” means (A) with respect to the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub and their respective Affiliates, a transaction (other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) for the sale of (x) all or no less than 20% of the consolidated assets of the Target Companies (other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) or (y) 20% or more of the shares or other equity interests of the Company, in any case, whether such transaction takes the form of a sale of shares or other equity interests in the Company or other Target Companies, assets, merger, consolidation, or otherwise and (B) with respect to Purchaser and its Affiliates, a transaction (other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) concerning a Business Combination for Purchaser.

 

(b) Except as set forth in Sections 7.6(c) and 7.6(d), from and only from the initial confidential or public submission of the Registration Statement to the SEC until the earlier of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms (the “No Shop Period”), in order to induce the other Parties to continue to commit to expend management time and financial resources in furtherance of the transactions contemplated hereby, each Party shall not, and shall cause its Representatives not to, without the prior written consent of the Company and Purchaser, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate or knowingly facilitate or assist the making, submission or announcement of, or intentionally encourage, any Acquisition Proposal, (ii) furnish any non-public information regarding such Party or its Affiliates or its or their respective businesses, operations, assets, Liabilities, financial condition, prospects or employees to any Person or group (other than a Party to this Agreement or their respective Representatives) in connection with or in response to an Acquisition Proposal, (iii) engage or participate in discussions or negotiations with any Person or group with respect to an Acquisition Proposal, (iv) approve, endorse or recommend any Acquisition Proposal, (v) negotiate or enter into any letter of intent, agreement in principle, acquisition agreement or other similar agreement with respect to any Acquisition Proposal, other than confidentiality or similar agreements, or (vi) release any third Person from, or waive any provision of, any confidentiality agreement to which such Party is a party; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, this Section 7.6(b) shall be of no force or effect and shall not impose any obligation or restriction on any Party or its Representatives prior to the beginning of the No Shop Period.

 

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(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections 7.6(a) and 7.6(b), at any time during the No Shop Period, following the receipt of an Acquisition Proposal, the Company, its Affiliates and its and their respective Representatives may:

 

(i) contact the person who has made such Acquisition Proposal to clarify and understand the terms and conditions thereof;

 

(ii) grant a waiver, amendment or release under any confidentiality or similar agreement or Takeover Statutes for the purpose of allowing any person or group of persons to make an Acquisition Proposal;

 

(iii) provide information to the person who has made such Acquisition Proposal and its Representatives; and

 

(iv) engage or participate in any discussions or negotiations with the person who has made such Acquisition Proposal and its Representatives.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, during the No Shop Period, the Company and its Representatives may continue to take any of the actions described in this Section 7.6(c) with respect to any Acquisition Proposal received prior to the No Shop Period.

 

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, from the date of this Agreement and at any time prior to the expiration of the No Shop Period, if (i) the Company receives an Acquisition Proposal and the board of directors or similar governing body of the Company (the “Company Board”) determines, in its good faith judgment, that such Acquisition Proposal is more favorable to the Company’s shareholders (taking into consideration all factors the director(s) of the Company may deem appropriate, including without limitation the economic terms and certainty of such Acquisition Proposal and the potential synergies and benefits between the parties) (such Acquisition Proposal, a “Superior Proposal”), or (ii) by reason of any other event, occurrence, change or development affecting or with respect to the Target Companies or their respective business, assets or operations, and in the case of each of (i) and (ii), the Company Board determines that failure to taken any action described in this Section 7.6(d) would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law, the Company Board may authorize the Company to and the Company may terminate this Agreement by written notice to the Purchaser, but in the case of Section 7.6(d)(i) above, only (i) after (A) providing at least five (5) Business Days’ (the “Superior Proposal Notice Period”) written notice to Purchaser (a “Notice of Superior Proposal”) advising Purchaser that the Company Board has received an Acquisition Proposal that constitutes a Superior Proposal, specifying the material terms and conditions of such Acquisition Proposal, (B) negotiating with Purchaser in good faith (to the extent Purchaser desires to negotiate) to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement, so that such Acquisition Proposal would cease to constitute a Superior Proposal; provided, that any material modifications to such Acquisition Proposal that the Company Board has determined to be a Superior Proposal shall be deemed a new Superior Proposal to which the requirements of this Section 7.6(d) apply and the Company shall be required to deliver a new Notice of Superior Proposal to Purchaser; provided, further, that with respect to such new Notice of Superior Proposal to Parent, the Superior Proposal Notice Period shall be deemed to be a three (3) Business Day period rather than the five (5) Business Day period first described above; and (D) following the end of such five (5) Business Day period or three (3) Business Day period (as applicable), the Company Board shall have determined, in its good faith judgment, that taking into account any changes to this Agreement proposed by Purchaser in response to the Notice of Superior Proposal or otherwise, that such Acquisition Proposal giving rise to the Notice of Superior Proposal continues to constitute a Superior Proposal.

 

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7.7 No Trading. The Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub each acknowledges and agrees that it is aware, and that each other Target Company has been made aware (and each of their respective Representatives is aware or, upon receipt of any material nonpublic information of Purchaser, will be advised) of the restrictions imposed by U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC and Nasdaq promulgated thereunder or otherwise (the “Federal Securities Laws”) and other applicable foreign and domestic Laws on a Person possessing material nonpublic information about a publicly traded company. The Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub each hereby agree that, while it is in possession of any material nonpublic information of Purchaser, it shall not purchase or sell any securities of Purchaser, communicate such information to any third party, take any other action with respect to any securities of Purchaser, in each case in violation of the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC and Nasdaq promulgated thereunder or otherwise and other applicable foreign and domestic Laws on a Person possessing material nonpublic information about a publicly traded company, or cause or encourage any third party to do any of the foregoing.

 

7.8 Notification of Certain Matters. During the Interim Period, each Party shall give prompt notice to the other Parties if such Party: (a) fails to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it hereunder in any material respect; (b) receives any notice or other communication in writing from any third party (including any Governmental Authority) alleging (i) that the Consent of such third party is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) any material non-compliance with any Law by such Party; (c) receives any notice or other communication from any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (d) discovers any fact or circumstance that, or becomes aware of the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event the occurrence or non-occurrence of which, would reasonably be expected to cause or result in any of the conditions set forth in ARTICLE X not being satisfied or the satisfaction of those conditions being materially delayed; or (e) becomes aware of the commencement or threat, in writing, of any material Action with respect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement against such Party, or any of its properties or assets, or, to the Knowledge of such Party, any officer, director, partner, member or manager, in his, her or its capacity as such, of such Party. No such notice shall constitute an acknowledgement or admission by the Party providing the notice regarding whether or not any of the conditions to the Closing have been satisfied or in determining whether or not any of the representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement have been breached.

 

7.9 Efforts.

 

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts, and shall cooperate fully with the other Parties, to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws and regulations to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the receipt of all applicable Consents of Governmental Authorities) and to comply as promptly as practicable with all requirements of Governmental Authorities applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

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(b) As soon as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement, the Parties shall reasonably cooperate with each other and use (and shall cause their respective Affiliates to use) their respective commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with Governmental Authorities requests for approval of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to have such Governmental Authorities approve the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each Party shall give prompt written notice to the other Parties if such Party or any of its Representatives (or with respect to the Company, any Seller) receives any notice from such Governmental Authorities in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and shall promptly furnish the other Parties with a copy of such Governmental Authority notice. If any Governmental Authority requires that a hearing or meeting be held in connection with its approval of the transactions contemplated hereby, whether prior to the Closing or after the Closing, each Party shall arrange for Representatives of such Party to be present for such hearing or meeting. No party to this Agreement shall agree to participate in any meeting, video or telephone conference, or other communications with any Governmental Authority in respect of any filings, investigation or other inquiry unless it consults with the other parties in advance and, to the extent permitted by such Governmental Authority, gives the other parties the opportunity to attend and participate at such meeting, conference or other communications unless it consults with the other Parties in advance, and, to the extent permitted by such Governmental Authority, gives the other Parties the opportunity to attend and participate at such meeting, conference or other communications. If any objections are asserted with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement under any applicable Law or if any Action is instituted (or threatened to be instituted) by any applicable Governmental Authority or any private Person challenging any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document as violative of any applicable Law or which would otherwise prevent, materially impede or materially delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, the Parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to resolve any such objections or Actions so as to timely permit consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents, including in order to resolve such objections or Actions which, in any case if not resolved, could reasonably be expected to prevent, materially impede or materially delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. In the event any Action is instituted (or threatened to be instituted) by a Governmental Authority or private Person challenging the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or any Ancillary Document, the Parties shall, and shall cause their respective Representatives to, reasonably cooperate with each other and use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to contest and resist any such Action and to have vacated, lifted, reversed or overturned any Order, whether temporary, preliminary or permanent, that is in effect and that prohibits, prevents or restricts consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents.

 

(c) With respect to Pubco, during the Interim Period, the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause Pubco to maintain its status as a “foreign private issuer” as such term is defined under Exchange Act Rule 3b-4 and through the Closing.

 

7.10 Further Assurances. The Parties hereto shall further cooperate with each other and use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to take or cause to be taken all actions, and do or cause to be done all things, necessary, proper or advisable on their part under this Agreement and applicable Laws to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as soon as reasonably practicable, including preparing and filing as soon as practicable all documentation to effect all necessary notices, reports and other filings.

 

7.11 The Registration Statement.

 

(a) As promptly as practicable after the date hereof, Purchaser and Pubco shall prepare with the reasonable assistance of the Company, and file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 or F-4 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, and including the Proxy Statement contained therein, the “Registration Statement”) in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of the Pubco Securities to be issued under this Agreement to the shareholders, rightholders and warrantholders of the Company and the Purchaser, which Registration Statement will also contain a proxy statement of Purchaser (as amended, and supplemented from time to time, the “Proxy Statement”) for the purpose of soliciting proxies from Purchaser shareholders for the matters to be acted upon at the Special Shareholder Meeting and providing the Public Shareholders an opportunity in accordance with Purchaser’s Organizational Documents and the IPO Prospectus to have their Purchaser Ordinary Shares redeemed (the “Redemption”) in conjunction with the shareholder vote on the Purchaser Shareholder Approval Matters. The Proxy Statement shall include proxy materials for the purpose of soliciting proxies from Purchaser shareholders to vote, at an extraordinary general meeting of Purchaser shareholders to be called and held for such purpose (the “Special Shareholder Meeting”), in favor of resolutions approving (A) the adoption and approval of this Agreement and the Transactions (including, to the extent required, the issuance of the Company Share Consideration), by the holders of Purchaser Ordinary Shares in accordance with Purchaser’s Organizational Documents, the BVI Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC and Nasdaq, (B) the adoption and approval of a new equity incentive plan of Pubco (the “Equity Incentive Plan”), which will be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Company and Purchaser and which will provide that the total pool of awards under such Equity Incentive Plan will be a number of Pubco Ordinary Shares equal to ten percent (10%) of the aggregate number of Pubco Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding immediately after the Closing and shall include a customary evergreen provision, (C) the appointment of the members of the Post-Closing Pubco Board, in each case in accordance with Section 7.14 hereof, (D) to the extent required by the Federal Securities Laws, the BVI Act, the adoption of the Amended Pubco Charter, and (E) such other matters as the Company and Purchaser shall hereafter mutually determine to be necessary or appropriate in order to effect the Transactions (the approvals described in foregoing clauses (A) through (E), collectively, the “Purchaser Shareholder Approval Matters”), and (F) the adjournment of the Special Shareholder Meeting, if and as mutually agreed by the Company and Purchaser.

 

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(b) Pubco, the Purchaser and the Company each shall use their reasonable best efforts to (i) cause the Proxy Statement and Registration Statement when filed with the SEC to comply in all material respects with all legal requirements applicable thereto, (ii) respond as promptly as reasonably practicable to and resolve all comments received from the SEC concerning the Proxy Statement or the Registration Statement, (iii) cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable, (iv) to keep the Registration Statement effective as long as is necessary to consummate the Mergers, and (v) to satisfy the requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other applicable Laws in connection with the Registration Statement, the Special Shareholder Meeting and the Redemption. No filing of, or amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement or the Registration Statement will be made by the Purchaser or Pubco without the approval of the Company (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Each of the Purchaser and the Company shall promptly furnish all information concerning it as may reasonably be requested by the other party in connection with such actions and the preparation of the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement, provided, however, that neither the Purchaser nor the Company shall use any such information for any purposes other than those contemplated by this Agreement. All documents that the Purchaser, Pubco and the Company is responsible for filing with the SEC in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will comply as to form and substance in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

 

(c) Each of the Purchaser and the Company represents to the other party that the information supplied by it for inclusion in the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement does not and shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or fail to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading at (i) the time the Registration Statement is declared effective, (ii) the time the Proxy Statement (or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto) is first mailed to the shareholders of the Purchaser, (iii) the time of the Special Shareholder Meeting of the Purchaser, and (iv) the Effective Time. If, at any time prior to the Effective Time, any event or circumstance relating to the Purchaser (with respect to the Purchaser), or relating to the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub (with respect to the Company), or their respective officers or directors, should be discovered by the Purchaser or the Company (as applicable) which should be set forth in an amendment or a supplement to the Registration Statement or the Proxy Statement, the Purchaser or the Company (as applicable) shall promptly inform the other. Each Party shall promptly correct any information provided by it for use in the Registration Statement (and other related materials) if and to the extent that such information is determined to have become false or misleading in any material respect or as otherwise required by applicable Laws. Purchaser and Pubco shall amend or supplement the Registration Statement and, subject to Section 7.11(b), Purchaser and Pubco shall file with the SEC and disseminate to Purchaser’s shareholders the Registration Statement, as so amended or supplemented, in each case as and to the extent required by applicable Laws and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and Purchaser’s Organizational Documents.

 

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(d) Purchaser, Pubco and the Company each will advise the other, promptly after they receive notice thereof, of any request by the SEC for amendment of the Proxy Statement or the Registration Statement or comments thereon and responses thereto or requests by the SEC for additional information, and shall cooperate and mutually agree upon (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) any response to comments of the SEC with respect to the Proxy Statement. Purchaser and Pubco shall provide the Company with copies of any written comments, and shall inform the Company of any material oral comments, that Purchaser, Pubco or their respective Representatives receive from the SEC or its staff with respect to the Registration Statement, the Special Shareholder Meeting and the Redemption promptly after the receipt of such comments.

 

(e) As soon as practicable following the Registration Statement “clearing” comments from the SEC and becoming effective, Purchaser and Pubco shall distribute the Registration Statement to Purchaser’s shareholders and, Purchaser shall call the Special Shareholder Meeting in accordance with the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents and the BVI Act as promptly as practicable thereafter and for a date no later than thirty (30) days following the effectiveness of the Registration Statement. Purchaser, acting through its board of directors (or a committee thereof), shall (i) make the Purchaser Recommendation and include such Purchaser Recommendation in the Proxy Statement and (ii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to solicit from its shareholders proxies or votes in favor of the approval of the Purchaser Shareholder Approval Matters, and (iii) take all other action necessary or advisable to secure the approval of the Purchaser Shareholder Approval Matters. If on the date for which the Special Shareholder Meeting is scheduled, Purchaser has not received proxies and votes representing a sufficient number of shares to obtain the Required Shareholder Approval, whether or not a quorum is present, Purchaser may make one or more successive postponements or adjournments of the Special Shareholder Meeting for up to 30 days in the aggregate upon the good faith determination by the board of directors of the Purchaser that such postponement or adjournment is necessary to solicit additional proxies and votes to obtain approval of the Purchaser Shareholder Approval Matters or otherwise take actions consistent with the Purchaser’s obligations pursuant to Section 7.9, or for such additional periods of time that may be mutually agreed upon between the Purchaser and the Company. The Purchaser shall use its best efforts to obtain the approval of the Purchaser Shareholder Approval Matters, including by soliciting from its shareholders proxies as promptly as possible in favor of the Purchaser Shareholder Approval Matters, and shall take all other action necessary or advisable to secure the required vote or consent of its shareholders.

 

7.12 Public Announcements.

 

(a) The Parties agree that, during the Interim Period, no public release, filing or announcement concerning this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be issued by any Party or any of their Affiliates without the prior written consent (not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) of Purchaser, Pubco and the Company, unless otherwise prohibited by applicable Law or the rules or regulations of Nasdaq, in which case the applicable Party shall use reasonable best efforts to allow the other Parties reasonable time to comment on, and arrange for any required filing with respect to, such release or announcement in advance of such issuance.

 

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(b) As promptly as practicable after the execution of this Agreement (but in any event no later than March 31, 2022), the Parties shall mutually agree upon and issue a press release announcing the execution of this Agreement (the “Signing Press Release”) and the Purchaser shall file a current report on Form 8-K (the “Signing Filing”) with the Signing Press Release and a description of this Agreement as required by Federal Securities Laws, which the Company shall have approved prior to filing. The Parties shall mutually agree upon and, as promptly as practicable after the Closing (but in any event within four (4) Business Days thereafter), issue a press release announcing the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing Press Release”). Promptly after the issuance of the Closing Press Release, Pubco shall file a current report on Form 8-K (the “Closing Filing”) with the Closing Press Release and a description of the Closing as required by Federal Securities Laws which Purchaser shall review, comment upon and approve (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) prior to filing. In connection with the preparation of the Signing Press Release, the Signing Filing, the Closing Filing, the Closing Press Release, or any other report, statement, filing notice or application made by or on behalf of a Party to any Governmental Authority or other third party in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, each Party shall, upon request by any other Party, furnish the Parties with all information concerning themselves, their respective directors, officers and equity holders, and such other matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, or any other report, statement, filing, notice or application made by or on behalf of a Party to any third party and/ or any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby. Furthermore, nothing contained in this Section 7.12 shall prevent the Purchaser or the Company or its respective Affiliates from furnishing customary or other reasonable information concerning the Transactions to their investors and prospective investors that is substantively consistent with public statements previously consented to by the other party in accordance with this Section 7.12.

 

7.13 Confidential Information.

 

(a) The Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub agree that during the Interim Period and, in the event this Agreement is terminated in accordance with ARTICLE XI, for a period of two (2) years after such termination, they shall, and shall cause their respective Representatives to: (i) treat and hold in strict confidence any Purchaser Confidential Information that is provided to such Person or its Representatives, and will not use for any purpose (except in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents, performing their obligations hereunder or thereunder or enforcing their rights hereunder or thereunder), nor directly or indirectly disclose, distribute, publish, disseminate or otherwise make available to any third party any of the Purchaser Confidential Information without Purchaser’s prior written consent; and (ii) in the event that the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub or any of their respective Representatives, during the Interim Period or, in the event that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with ARTICLE X, for a period of two (2) years after such termination, becomes legally compelled to disclose any Purchaser Confidential Information, (A) provide Purchaser to the extent legally permitted with prompt written notice of such requirement so that Purchaser or a Representative thereof may seek, at Purchaser’s sole expense, a protective Order or other remedy or waive compliance with this Section 7.13(a), and (B) in the event that such protective Order or other remedy is not obtained, or Purchaser waives compliance with this Section 7.13(a), furnish only that portion of such Purchaser Confidential Information which is legally required to be provided as advised by outside counsel and to exercise its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain assurances that confidential treatment will be accorded such Purchaser Confidential Information. In the event that this Agreement is terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby are not consummated, the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub shall, and shall cause their respective Representatives to, promptly deliver to Purchaser or destroy (at Purchaser’s election) any and all copies (in whatever form or medium) of Purchaser Confidential Information and destroy all notes, memoranda, summaries, analyses, compilations and other writings related thereto or based thereon. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Pubco and its Representatives shall be permitted to disclose any and all Purchaser Confidential Information to the extent required by the Federal Securities Laws.

 

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(b) Purchaser hereby agrees that during the Interim Period and, in the event that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with ARTICLE X, for a period of two (2) years after such termination, it shall, and shall cause its Representatives to: (i) treat and hold in strict confidence any Company Confidential Information that is provided to such Person or its Representatives, and will not use for any purpose (except in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents, performing its obligations hereunder or thereunder or enforcing its rights hereunder or thereunder), nor directly or indirectly disclose, distribute, publish, disseminate or otherwise make available to any third party any of the Company Confidential Information without the Company’s prior written consent; and (ii) in the event that Purchaser or any of its Representatives, during the Interim Period or, in the event that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with ARTICLE X, for a period of two (2) years after such termination, becomes legally compelled to disclose any Company Confidential Information, (A) provide the Company to the extent legally permitted with prompt written notice of such requirement so that the Company may seek, at the Company’s sole expense, a protective Order or other remedy or waive compliance with this Section 7.13 (b) and (B) in the event that such protective Order or other remedy is not obtained, or the Company waives compliance with this Section 7.13 (b), furnish only that portion of such Company Confidential Information which is legally required to be provided as advised by outside counsel and to exercise its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain assurances that confidential treatment will be accorded such Company Confidential Information. In the event that this Agreement is terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby are not consummated, Purchaser shall, and shall cause its Representatives to, promptly deliver to the Company or destroy (at Purchaser’s election) any and all copies (in whatever form or medium) of Company Confidential Information and destroy all notes, memoranda, summaries, analyses, compilations and other writings related thereto or based thereon. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Purchaser and its Representatives shall be permitted to disclose any and all Company Confidential Information to the extent required by the Federal Securities Laws.

 

(c) The Company and the Purchaser agree that the Confidentiality Agreement entered into by the Company and the Purchaser as of March 5, 2022 shall be terminated on the date of this Agreement and be superseded by this Section 7.13 and the terms of this Agreement.

 

7.14 Post-Closing Board of Directors and Executive Officers.

 

(a) The Parties shall take all necessary action, including causing the directors of the Pubco to resign, so that effective immediately after the Closing, Pubco’s board of directors (the “Post-Closing Pubco Board”) will consist of seven (7) individuals, which shall include (i) two (2) persons that are designated by Purchaser prior to the Closing (the “Purchaser Directors”) as independent directors, both of whom shall qualify as independent directors under Nasdaq rules and shall initially serve a one (1) year term unless removed or resign in accordance with the Amended Pubco Charter, such term effective from the Closing, and (ii) five (5) persons that are designated by the Company prior to the Closing (the “Company Directors”) and shall include such number of independent directors to the effect that the board composition of Pubco will be compliant with Nasdaq rules. At or prior to the Closing, Pubco will provide each Purchaser Director and Company director with a customary director indemnification agreement, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to such Purchaser Director or Company Director.

 

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(b) The Parties shall take all action necessary, including causing the executive officers of Pubco to resign, so that the individuals serving as the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, respectively, of Pubco immediately after the Closing will be the same individuals (in the same office) as that of the Company immediately prior to the Closing (unless, at its sole discretion, the Company desires to appoint another qualified person to either such role, in which case, such other person identified by the Company shall serve in such role).

 

7.15 Indemnification of Directors and Officers; Tail Insurance.

 

(a) The Parties agree that all rights to exculpation, indemnification and advancement of expenses existing in favor of the current or former directors and officers of each Target Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub, Second Merger Sub and Purchaser (the “D&O Indemnified Persons”) as provided in their Organizational Documents or under any indemnification, employment or other similar agreements between any D&O Indemnified Person and the applicable Party or Target Company, in each case as in effect on the date of this Agreement, shall survive the Closing and continue in full force and effect in accordance with their respective terms to the extent permitted by applicable Law. For a period of six (6) years after the Effective Time, Pubco shall cause the Organizational Documents of each Target Company, Pubco, and Purchaser to contain provisions no less favorable with respect to exculpation and indemnification of and advancement of expenses to D&O Indemnified Persons than are set forth as of the date of this Agreement in the Organizational Documents of the applicable Party to the extent permitted by applicable Law. The provisions of this Section 7.15 shall survive the Closing and are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each of the D&O Indemnified Persons and their respective heirs and representatives.

 

(b) For the benefit of Purchaser’s directors and officers, Purchaser shall be permitted prior to the Effective Time to obtain and fully pay the premium for a “tail” insurance policy that provides coverage for up to a six-year period from and after the Effective Time for events occurring prior to the Effective Time (the “D&O Tail Insurance”) that is substantially equivalent to and in any event not less favorable in the aggregate than Purchaser’s existing policy or, if substantially equivalent insurance coverage is unavailable, the best available coverage, except that in no event shall Pubco be required to pay an annual premium for such insurance in excess of 200% of the aggregate annual premium currently payable by the Purchaser for such insurance policies. If obtained, Pubco and Purchaser shall, for a period of six years after the Effective Time, maintain the D&O Tail Insurance in full force and effect, and continue to honor the obligations thereunder, and Pubco and Purchaser shall timely pay or cause to be paid all premiums with respect to the D&O Tail Insurance.

 

7.16 Trust Account Proceeds. Upon satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in ARTICLE VIII and provision of notice thereof to the Trustee (which notice the Purchaser shall provide to the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement), (a) in accordance with and pursuant to the Trust Agreement, at the Closing, Purchaser (i) shall cause any documents, and notices required to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to the Trust Agreement to be so delivered and (ii) shall cause the Trustee to, and the Trustee shall thereupon be obligated to pay as and when due all amounts payable to former shareholders of the Purchaser pursuant to the Redemptions. The Parties agree that after the Closing, the funds in the Trust Account, after taking into account payments for the Redemption, and any proceeds received by Pubco or Purchaser from any PIPE Investment shall first be used to pay (i) Purchaser’s accrued Expenses, including Purchaser’s deferred Expenses of the IPO, (ii) any loans owed by Purchaser to Sponsor for Expenses (including deferred Expenses), other administrative costs and expenses incurred by or on behalf of Purchaser or Extension Expenses, and (iii) the Company’s unpaid Expenses that are directly related to the Transaction. Any remaining cash will be transferred to a Target Company or Pubco and used for working capital and general corporate purposes.

 

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7.17 PIPE Investment. Without limiting anything to the contrary contained herein, during the Interim Period, upon written request of the Company, Purchaser shall enter into and consummate subscription agreements with investors relating to a private equity investment in Purchaser or Pubco to purchase shares of Purchaser or Pubco in connection with a private placement, and/or enter into backstop or other alternative financing arrangements with potential investors (a “PIPE Investment”). If either of Purchaser or the Company elects to seek a PIPE Investment, the other party shall, and shall cause their respective Representatives to, use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with each other and their respective Representatives in connection with such PIPE Investment and cause such PIPE Investment to occur (including having their senior management participate in any investor meetings and roadshows as reasonably requested).

 

7.18 Extension Loan. If either the Company or the Purchaser reasonably believes that the Closing may not occur by August 24, 2022, then the Purchaser may, and at the request of the Company, the Purchaser shall, seek the approval of the Purchaser’s stockholders for an Extension to a date no earlier than November 24, 2022 (or such earlier date as the Company and the Purchaser may otherwise agree, and which may be structured as multiple monthly or other periodic extensions at the election of the Purchaser without the requirement to seek additional Purchaser shareholder approval), and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such approval. The Company hereby agrees that if such Extension is approved by the Purchaser’s stockholders and provided that there is no breach of Section 4.22, the Company shall lend to the Purchaser an aggregate amount of up to Three Hundred Fifty Thousand U.S. Dollars ($350,000) for the sole purpose of funding such Extension (and in the event that the Extension is structured as multiple monthly or other periodic extensions at the election of the Purchaser, the Company shall make multiple loans as required by the Purchaser to partially finance any such periodic extensions but subject to the foregoing cap on the aggregate amount) as a non-interest bearing loan (any such individual or collective loans, “Extension Loan”), repayable upon the earliest of the consummation of the Purchaser’s Business Combination (as such term is used in the IPO Prospectus), the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 10.3(b) or liquidation (subject to Section 11.1 hereof).

 

7.19 Tax Matters. The Parties hereby agree and acknowledge that for U.S. federal income Tax purposes, the Mergers are intended to qualify as an exchange described in Section 351 of the Code (the “Intended Tax Treatment”). Each of the Parties acknowledge and agree that each is responsible for paying its own Taxes, including any adverse Tax consequences that may result if the Transactions do not qualify under Section 351 of the Code.

 

7.20 Cash Incentives to Seller. Upon the cumulative exercise of 50% of the Pubco Warrants corresponding to the outstanding Purchaser Public Warrants that were issued by the Purchaser prior to the Closing, Pubco shall pay the Sellers an aggregate amount in cash equal to 40% of the total cash proceeds received by Pubco from the exercise of all outstanding Purchaser Public warrants which were issued by the Purchaser or Pubco (as applicable) prior to or upon the Closing that were exercised within two (2) years after the Closing Date (such amount the “Incentive Payment”). Each Seller shall be entitled to receive its Pro Rata Share of the Incentive Payment. “Pro Rata Share” shall mean the percentage calculated by the number of Company Securities owned by a Seller being divided by total number of Company Securities owned by all Sellers.

 

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7.21 Additional Review after Signing. The Company and the Purchaser agree that Purchaser shall have until 5:00 p.m. on the earlier of (i) May 31, 2022 or (ii) the initial confidential or public submission of the Registration Statement to the SEC (the “Additional Review Period”) to conduct review (the “Additional Review”) of the information regarding the Target Companies specified on Schedule 7.21, provided that the scope of review shall be limited to the information set forth on Schedule 7.21 (the “Additional Information”).

 

ARTICLE VIII
CLOSING CONDITIONS 

 

8.1 Conditions to Each Party’s Obligations. The obligations of each Party to consummate the Transactions described herein shall be subject to the satisfaction or written waiver (where permissible) by the Company and Purchaser of the following conditions:

 

(a) Required Shareholder Approval. The Purchaser Shareholder Approval Matters that are submitted to the vote of the shareholders of Purchaser at the Shareholder Meeting in accordance with the Proxy Statement shall have been approved by the requisite vote of the shareholders of Purchaser at the Shareholder Meeting in accordance with Purchaser’s Organizational Documents, applicable Law and the Proxy Statement (the “Required Shareholder Approval”).

 

(b) Requisite Regulatory Approvals. All material Consents required to be obtained from or made with any Governmental Authority in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been obtained or made.

 

(c) No Law or Order. No Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Law or Order that is then in effect and which has the effect of making the transactions or agreements contemplated by this Agreement illegal or which otherwise prevents or prohibits consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(d) Net Tangible Assets. Upon the Closing, after giving effect to the Redemption and any PIPE Investment that has been funded prior to or at the Closing, Purchaser shall have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001.

 

(e) Amended Pubco Charter. At or prior to the Closing, the shareholder(s) of Pubco shall have adopted the Amended Pubco Charter which shall be in a form prepared by the Company and shall fulfill the requirements set forth on Schedule 8.1 (e).

 

(f) Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by the SEC and shall remain effective as of the Closing.

 

(g) Appointment to the Board. The members of the Post-Closing Pubco Board shall have been elected or appointed as of the Closing with effect from the Closing consistent with the requirements of Section 7.14.

 

(h)  Nasdaq Listing Requirements. The Pubco Class A Ordinary Shares and Pubco Warrants contemplated to be listed pursuant to this Agreement shall have been listed on Nasdaq and shall be eligible for listing on Nasdaq immediately following the Closing, subject only to official notice of issuance thereof and any applicable requirement to have a sufficient number of round lot holders.

 

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8.2 Conditions to Obligations of the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub. In addition to the conditions specified in Section 8.1, the obligations of the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub to consummate the Transactions are subject to the satisfaction or written waiver (by the Company) of the following conditions: 

 

(a) Representations and Warranties. All of the representations and warranties of Purchaser set forth in this Agreement and in any certificate delivered by or on behalf of Purchaser pursuant hereto, other than the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.5, shall be true and correct on and as of the date of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date, except for (i) those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date (which representations and warranties shall have been accurate as of such date), (ii) any failures to be true and correct that (without giving effect to any qualifications or limitations as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect), individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on, or with respect to, Purchaser, and (iii) the representations and warranties of Purchaser set forth in Section 4.5 shall be true and correct except for de minimis inaccuracies on and as of the date of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date.

 

(b) Agreements and Covenants. Purchaser shall have performed in all material respects all of its obligations and complied in all material respects with all of its agreements and covenants under this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing Date.

 

(c) No Material Adverse Effect. No Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred with respect to Purchaser since the date of this Agreement which is continuing and uncured.

 

(d) Closing Deliveries.

 

(i) Director Certificate. Purchaser shall have delivered to the Company and Pubco a certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed by a director of Purchaser in such capacity, certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in Sections 8.2 (a), 8.2(b) and 8.2(c) with respect to Purchaser.

 

(ii) Secretary Certificate. Purchaser shall have delivered to the Company and Pubco a certificate from its secretary or other executive officer certifying as to, and attaching, (A) copies of Purchaser’s Organizational Documents as in effect as of the Closing Date, (B) the resolutions of Purchaser’s board of directors authorizing and approving the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party or by which it is bound, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (C) evidence that the Required Shareholder Approval has been obtained and (D) the incumbency of officers authorized to execute this Agreement or any Ancillary Document to which Purchaser is or is required to be a party or otherwise bound.

 

(iii) Good Standing. Purchaser shall have delivered to the Company and Pubco a good standing certificate (or similar documents applicable for such jurisdictions) for Purchaser certified as of a date no earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the Closing Date from the proper Governmental Authority of Purchaser’s jurisdiction of incorporation and from each other jurisdiction in which Purchaser is qualified to do business as a foreign entity as of the Closing, in each case to the extent that good standing certificates or similar documents are generally available in such jurisdictions. 

 

(iv) Founder Registration Rights Agreement Amendment. The Company and Pubco shall have received a copy of an Amendment to the Founder Registration Rights Agreement to, among other matters, have Pubco assume the registration obligations of Purchaser under the Founder Registration Rights Agreement and have such rights apply to the Pubco Securities, in the form to be mutually agreed by Purchaser and the Company (the “Founder Registration Rights Agreement Amendment”), duly executed by Purchaser and the holders of a majority of the “Registrable Securities” thereunder. 

 

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(v) Founder Lock-up Agreement. Each of the Founder Lock-up Agreement shall be in full force and effect in accordance with the terms thereof as of the Closing.

 

(vi) Seller Registration Rights Agreement. The Sellers shall have received from Pubco a registration rights agreement covering the Exchange Shares received by the Sellers, in the form to be mutually agreed by Purchaser and the Company (the “Seller Registration Rights Agreement”), duly executed by Pubco.

 

(vii) Prior Business Combination. The Purchaser shall have obtained a written waiver issued in writing by JHD Technologies Limited (“JHD”) concerning the general and full waiver of the liabilities of the Purchaser under the Business Combination Agreement dated as of February 16, 2021 by the Purchaser, JHD and certain other parties, its amendment made from time to time, and any ancillary documents to the foregoing agreements.

 

8.3 Conditions to Obligations of Purchaser. In addition to the conditions specified in Section 8.1, the obligations of Purchaser to consummate the Transactions are subject to the satisfaction or written waiver (by Purchaser) of the following conditions:

 

(a) Representations and Warranties. All of the representations and warranties of the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement and in any certificate delivered by or on behalf of the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub pursuant hereto shall be true and correct on and as of the date of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date, except for (i) those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date (which representations and warranties shall have been accurate as of such date), and (ii) any failures to be true and correct that (without giving effect to any qualifications or limitations as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect), individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Target Companies, taken as a whole.

 

(b) Agreements and Covenants. The Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub shall have performed in all material respects all of their respective obligations and complied in all material respects with all of their respective agreements and covenants under this Agreement to be performed or complied with by them on or prior to the Closing Date.

 

(c) No Material Adverse Effect. No Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred with respect to the Target Companies, taken as a whole, since the date of this Agreement which is continuing and uncured.

 

(d) Certain Ancillary Documents. The Non-Competition Agreement and each Seller Lock-Up Agreement shall be in full force and effect in accordance with the terms thereof from the Closing.

 

(e) Additional Review. Any one of the following (i), (ii) or (iii) is true: (i) No factual finding within the Addition Review Period from the Additional Review (and within the scope of the Additional Information) would result in a failure of the condition set forth in Section 8.3(a) to be satisfied, or (ii) the Purchaser has not delivered to the Company a written notice within the Additional Review Period setting forth in reasonable detail such finding and failure and together with reasonable basis thereof, or (iii) such failure (if any) is cured within twenty (20) days after such written notice from the Purchaser.

 

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(f) Closing Deliveries.

 

(i) Officer Certificate. Purchaser shall have received a certificate from the Company, dated as the Closing Date, signed by an executive officer of the Company in such capacity, certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in Sections 8.3 (a), 8.3 (b) and 8.3 (c). Pubco shall have delivered to Purchaser a certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed by an executive officer of Pubco in such capacity, certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in Sections 8.3 (a), 8.3 (b) and 8.3 (c) with respect to Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub, as applicable.

 

(ii) Secretary Certificates. The Company and Pubco shall each have delivered to Purchaser a certificate from its secretary or other executive officer certifying as to the validity and effectiveness of, and attaching, (A) copies of its Organizational Documents as in effect as of the Closing Date (immediately prior to the Effective Time), (B) the resolutions of its board of directors and shareholders authorizing and approving the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party or bound, and the consummation of the Transactions, and (C) the incumbency of its officers authorized to execute this Agreement or any Ancillary Document to which it is or is required to be a party or otherwise bound. 

 

(iii) Good Standing. The Company shall have delivered to Purchaser good standing certificates (or similar documents applicable for such jurisdictions) for each Target Company certified as of a date no earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the Closing Date from the proper Governmental Authority of the Target Company’s jurisdiction of organization and from each other jurisdiction in which the Target Company is qualified to do business as a foreign corporation or other entity as of the Closing, in each case to the extent that good standing certificates or similar documents are generally available in such jurisdictions. Pubco shall have delivered to Purchaser good standing certificates (or similar documents applicable for such jurisdictions) for each of Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub certified as of a date no earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the Closing Date from the proper Governmental Authority of Pubco’s, First Merger Sub’s and Second Merger Sub’s jurisdiction of organization and from each other jurisdiction in which Pubco or Merger Sub is qualified to do business as a foreign corporation or other entity as of the Closing, in each case to the extent that good standing certificates or similar documents are generally available in such jurisdictions.

 

(iv) Founder Registration Rights Agreement Amendment. Purchaser shall have received a copy of the Founder Registration Rights Agreement Amendment, duly executed by Pubco.

 

8.4 Frustration of Conditions. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, no Party may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in this ARTICLE X to be satisfied if such failure was caused by the failure of such Party or its Affiliates (or with respect to the Company, any Target Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub) to comply with or perform any of its covenants or obligations set forth in this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE IX
INDEMNIFICATION

 

9.1 Survival. Notwithstanding Section 12.4, the representations and warranties of the Purchaser under Sections 4.6(d), 4.6(h) and 4.23 (the “Surviving Warranties”) shall survive the Closing through and until the first anniversary of the Closing Date (the “Expiration Date”). If written notice of a claim for breach of any such Surviving Warranties has been given before the Expiration Date, then the relevant Surviving Warranties shall survive as to such claim, until the claim has been finally resolved.

 

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9.2 Indemnification.

 

(a) From and after the Closing, the Purchaser and its respective successors and assignees (each, with respect to any claim made pursuant to this Agreement, an “Indemnitor”) will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Sellers, their respective Affiliates and each of the respective officers, directors, managers, employees, successors and permitted assigns of the foregoing (each, with respect to any claim made pursuant to this Agreement, an “Indemnitee”) from and against any and all losses, Actions, Orders, Liabilities, damages (including consequential damages), diminution in value, Taxes, interest, penalties, Liens, amounts paid in settlement, losses paid, suffered or incurred by, or imposed upon, any Indemnitee (collectively, the “Losses”) to the extent arising in whole or in part out of or in connection with or resulting directly or indirectly from (whether or not involving a claim of a third party including any Governmental Authority) the breach of any Surviving Warranties.

 

(b) The Losses of the Indemnitees shall be indemnified by the Indemnitor through the issuance, within five (5) Business Days of the Indemnitee’s written request, to the Indemnitees, at no consideration, by the Pubco of a number of the Pubco Shares equal to (x) the total amount of the Losses incurred by the Indemnitees divided by (y) the Per Share Price.

 

ARTICLE X
TERMINATION AND EXPENSES

 

10.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any time prior to the Closing as follows:

 

(a) by mutual written consent of Purchaser and the Company;

 

(b) by written notice by Purchaser or the Company if any of the conditions to the Closing set forth in ARTICLE VIII have not been satisfied or waived by August 24, 2022 (as may be extended pursuant to the next proviso, the “Outside Date”); provided, that if Purchaser seeks and receives an Extension, either Purchaser or the Company shall have the right by providing written notice thereof to the Company or the Purchaser (as applicable) to extend the Outside Date by an additional period equal to the shorter of (A) three additional months and (B) the period ending on the last day by which Purchaser must consummate its initial Business Combination pursuant to such Extension; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 10.1 (b) shall not be available to a Party if the breach or violation by such Party or its Affiliates (or with respect to the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub) of any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation under this Agreement was a material and proximate cause of, or materially and proximately resulted in, the failure of the Closing to occur on or before the Outside Date.

 

(c) by written notice by either Purchaser or the Company if a Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction shall have issued an Order or taken any other action permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and such Order or other action has become final and non-appealable; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.1 (c) shall not be available to a Party if the failure by such Party or its Affiliates (or with respect to the Company, any Seller, Pubco, First Merger Sub, or Second Merger Sub) to comply with any provision of this Agreement has been a material cause of, or materially resulted in, such action by such Governmental Authority;

 

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(d) by written notice by the Company to Purchaser, if (i) there has been a material breach by the Purchaser of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement, or if any representation or warranty of the Purchaser shall have become untrue or materially inaccurate, in any case, which would result in a failure of a condition set forth in Section 8.2 (a) or Section 8.2 (b) to be satisfied (treating the Closing Date for such purposes as the date of this Agreement or, if later, the date of such breach), and (ii) the breach or inaccuracy is incapable of being cured or is not cured within the earlier of (A) twenty (20) days after written notice of such breach or inaccuracy is provided to Purchaser by the Company or (B) the Outside Date; provided, that the Company shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.1 (d) if at such time the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub is in material uncured breach of this Agreement;

 

(e) by written notice by Purchaser to the Company, if (i) there has been a breach by the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub of any of their respective representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement, or if any representation or warranty of such Parties shall have become untrue or inaccurate, in any case, which would result in a failure of a condition set forth in Section 8.3 (a) or Section 8.3 (b) to be satisfied (treating the Closing Date for such purposes as the date of this Agreement or, if later, the date of such breach), and (ii) the breach or inaccuracy is incapable of being cured or is not cured within the earlier of (A) twenty (20) days after written notice of such breach or inaccuracy is provided to the Company by Purchaser or (B) the Outside Date; provided, that Purchaser shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.1 (e) if at such time Purchaser is in material uncured breach of this Agreement;

 

(f) by written notice by either Purchaser or the Company to the other if the Special Shareholders Meeting is held (including any adjournment or postponement thereof) and has concluded, Purchaser’s shareholders have duly voted, and the Required Shareholders Approval was not obtained; provided that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 10.1 (f) shall not be available to a Party if the material breach or violation by such Party of any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation under this Agreement was a direct cause of the failure to obtain the Required Shareholders Approval;

 

(g) by written notice by the Company to the Purchaser in accordance with Section 7.6(d); or

 

(h) by written notice by the Purchaser to the Company only within fifteen (15) days following the delivery of the Final EY Report (as defined in Schedule 7.21) to the Purchaser, if the Final EY Report satisfies the description set out on Schedule 10.1(h).

 

10.2 Effect of Termination. This Agreement may only be terminated in the circumstances described in Section 10.1 and pursuant to a written notice delivered by the applicable Party to the other applicable Parties, which sets forth the basis for such termination, including the provision of Section 10.1 under which such termination is made. In the event of the valid termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 10.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void, and there shall be no Liability on the part of any Party or any of their respective Representatives, and all rights and obligations of each Party shall cease, except: (i) Section 7.13, this Section 10.2, Section 10.3, Section 11.1, ARTICLE XII, and any definitions to the foregoing under ARTICLE XIII shall survive the termination of this Agreement, and (ii) nothing herein shall relieve any Party from Liability for any willful breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation under this Agreement or any Fraud Claim against such Party, in either case, prior to termination of this Agreement (in each case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, subject to Section 11.1).

 

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10.3 Fees and Expenses.

 

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement and subject to Section 4.6 (d) and Section 4.6 (h) all Expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by (i) Pubco, provided that the Closing has occurred in accordance with this Agreement, or (ii) by the Party incurring such Expenses, if this Agreement has been terminated in accordance with Section 10.1. As used in this Agreement, “Expenses” shall include all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (including all reasonable and documented fees and expenses of counsel, accountants, investment bankers, financial advisors, financing sources, experts and consultants to a Party hereto) incurred by a Party or on its behalf in connection with or related to the authorization, preparation, negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement or any Ancillary Document related hereto and all other matters directly related to the consummation of this Agreement, all of which shall be supported with formal bills or invoices setting out in reasonable details the scope of services that have been provided if such Expenses of the Purchaser shall be borne by Pubco. With respect to the Purchaser, Expenses shall include any and all deferred expenses (including fees or commissions payable to the underwriters and any legal fees) of the IPO upon consummation of a Business Combination and any Extension Expenses.

 

(b) Upon termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 10.1, the Transaction Loan and the Extension Loan (if any) shall forthwith become immediately due and payable, and in respect of the repayment of the Transaction Loan, the Purchaser shall repay in accordance with section 3(b) of the Promissory Note, provided that the Company may elect for the Transaction Loan to be repaid in whole or in part through the transfer within five (5) Business Days of such termination to the Company or the Sellers, at no consideration, by the Founders of a number of Founder Shares held by them equal to (x) the outstanding amount (including any principal, interest and any damages and penalties) under the Transaction Loan divided by (y) $7.5 per share.

 

(c) Subject to Section 4.6 (d) and Section 4.6 (h) and Section 7.3 (b), the Company and Purchaser agree that during the Interim Period each Party’s discretionary Expenses, such as fees and expenses related to travel and communication, shall not without the prior written consent of the other Party, exceed One Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollars ($100,000) in aggregate.

 

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ARTICLE XI
WAIVERS AND RELEASES

 

11.1 Waiver of Claims Against Trust. Reference is made to the IPO Prospectus. The Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub hereby represents and warrants that it has read the IPO Prospectus and understands that Purchaser has established the Trust Account containing the proceeds of the IPO and the overallotment shares acquired by Purchaser’s underwriters and from certain private placements occurring simultaneously with the IPO (including interest accrued from time to time thereon) for the benefit of Purchaser’s public shareholders (including overallotment shares acquired by Purchaser’s underwriters) (the “Public Shareholders”) and that, except as otherwise described in the IPO Prospectus, Purchaser may disburse monies from the Trust Account only: (a) to the Public Shareholders in the event they elect to redeem their shares of Purchaser Ordinary Shares (or Pubco Ordinary Shares upon the Merger) in connection with the consummation of its initial business combination (as such term is used in the IPO Prospectus) (the “Business Combination”) or in connection with an amendment to Purchaser’s Organizational documents to extend Purchaser’s deadline to consummate a Business Combination, (b) to the Public Shareholders if Purchaser fails to consummate a Business Combination within 15 months after the closing of the IPO (provided such date may be extended by an additional six (6) months), subject to further extension by amendment to Purchaser’s Organizational Documents, (c) with respect to any interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, amounts necessary to pay for any franchise or income taxes, and (d) to Purchaser after or concurrently with the consummation of a Business Combination. For and in consideration of Purchaser entering into this Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, each of the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub hereby agree on behalf of itself and its Affiliates that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, none of the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub, Second Merger Sub nor any of their respective Affiliates do now or shall at any time hereafter have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account or distributions therefrom, or make any claim against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom), regardless of whether such claim arises as a result of, in connection with or relating in any way to, this Agreement or any proposed or actual business relationship between Purchaser or any of its Representatives, on the one hand, and the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger, or any Seller or any of their respective Representatives, on the other hand, or any other matter, and regardless of whether such claim arises based on contract, tort, equity or any other theory of legal liability (collectively, the “Released Claims”). Each of the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub on behalf of itself and its Affiliates hereby irrevocably waives any Released Claims that any such Party or any of its Affiliates may have against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) now or in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with Purchaser or its Representatives and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account (including any Public Shareholder Distributions) for any reason whatsoever (including for an alleged breach of this Agreement or any other agreement with Purchaser or its Affiliates); provided, however, that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing waiver will not limit or prohibit the Company from pursuing a claim against the Purchaser or any other person (other than Public Shareholders with respect to funds released from the Trust Account pursuant to the Redemption), in each case for (i) legal relief against monies or other assets of the Purchaser held outside of the Trust Account (and any assets that have been purchased or acquired with any such funds other than distributions therefrom to its public shareholders); (ii) specific performance or other equitable relief in connection with the Transactions, provided that (x) such claim is permitted pursuant to Section 12.7 and (y) the Company shall not be entitled to seek specific performance to enforce the release or other distribution of funds from the Trust Account; such irrevocable waiver is material to this Agreement and specifically relied upon by Purchaser and its Affiliates to induce Purchaser to enter in this Agreement, and each of the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub further intends and understands such waiver to be valid, binding and enforceable against such Party and each of its Affiliates under applicable Law. To the extent the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates commences any action or proceeding based upon, in connection with, relating to or arising out of any matter relating to Purchaser or its Representatives, which proceeding seeks, in whole or in part, monetary relief against Purchaser or its Representatives, each of the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub hereby acknowledges and agrees that its and its Affiliates’ sole remedy shall be against funds held outside of the Trust Account and that such claim shall not permit such Party or any of its Affiliates (or any Person claiming on any of their behalves or in lieu of them) to have any claim against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) or any amounts contained therein. In the event that the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub any of their respective Affiliates commences Action based upon, in connection with, relating to or arising out of any matter relating to Purchaser or its Representatives which proceeding seeks, in whole or in part, relief against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) or the Public Shareholders, whether in the form of money damages or injunctive relief, Purchaser and its Representatives, as applicable, shall be entitled to recover from the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates, as applicable, the associated legal fees and costs in connection with any such Action, in the event Purchaser or its Representatives, as applicable, prevails in such Action. This Section 11.1 shall survive termination of this Agreement for any reason.

 

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ARTICLE XII
MISCELLANEOUS

 

12.1 Notices. All notices, consents, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered (i) in person, (ii) by facsimile or other electronic means, with affirmative confirmation of receipt, (iii) one Business Day after being sent, if sent by reputable, nationally recognized overnight courier service or (iv) three (3) Business Days after being mailed, if sent by registered or certified mail, pre-paid and return receipt requested, in each case to the applicable Party at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified by like notice):

 

If to Purchaser at or prior to the Closing, to:

East Stone Acquisition Corp.

25 Mall Road, Suite 330

Burlington, MA 01803

Attn: Sherman Xiaoma Lu, Chief Executive Officer
Telephone No.: 781 202 9128
Email: sherman@estonecapital.com

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

Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Floor
New York, New York 10105, USA
Attn: Barry I. Grossman, Esq.
Facsimile No.: (212) 370-7889
Telephone No.: (212) 370-1300
Email: bigrossman@egsllp.com

 

If to the Company at or prior to the Closing, to:

ICONIQ Holding Limited
No.76 Mu Nan Road, Heping District, Tianjin, China
Attn: Baoji Su
Telephone No.: +86 022-23303776
Email: ir@iconiqmotors.com

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

Linklaters LLP

1290 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10104

Facsimile No.: +1 212 903 9100
Telephone No.: +1 212 903 9000

 

 

and a copy to:

 

Linklaters LLP

11th Floor, Alexandra House

Chater Road

Hong Kong SAR

Facsimile No.: +852 2810 8133
Telephone No.: +852 2842 4888

If to Pubco, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub at or prior to the Closing, to:

NWTN Inc.
No.76 Mu Nan Road, Heping District, Tianjin, China
Attn: Baoji Su
Telephone No.: +86 022-23303776
Email: ir@iconiqmotors.com

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

 

Linklaters LLP

1290 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10104

Facsimile No.: +1 212 903 9100
Telephone No.: +1 212 903 9000

 

and a copy to:

 

Linklaters LLP

11th Floor, Alexandra House

Chater Road

Hong Kong SAR

Facsimile No.: +852 2810 8133
Telephone No.: +852 2842 4888

If to Pubco, Purchaser, or the Company after the Closing, to:

NWTN Inc.
No.76 Mu Nan Road, Heping District, Tianjin, China
Attn: Baoji Su
Telephone No.: +86 022-23303776

Email: ir@iconiqmotors.com

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

Linklaters LLP

1290 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10104

Facsimile No.: +1 212 903 9100
Telephone No.: +1 212 903 9000

 

and a copy to:

 

Linklaters LLP

11th Floor, Alexandra House

Chater Road

Hong Kong SAR

Facsimile No.: 852 2810 8133
Telephone No.: +852 2842 4888

 

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12.2 Binding Effect; Assignment. Subject to Section 12.3, this Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement shall not be assigned by operation of Law or otherwise without the prior written consent of Purchaser (and after the Closing, Purchaser Representative), Pubco and the Company, and any assignment without such consent shall be null and void; provided that no such assignment shall relieve the assigning Party of its obligations hereunder.

 

12.3 Third Parties. Except for the rights of the D&O Indemnified Persons set forth in Section 7.15, which the Parties acknowledge and agree are express third party beneficiaries of this Agreement, nothing contained in this Agreement or in any instrument or document executed by any party in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall create any rights in, or be deemed to have been executed for the benefit of, any Person that is not a Party hereto or thereto or a successor or permitted assign of such a Party.

 

12.4 Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants. Without prejudice to Section 9.2, none of the representations, warranties, covenants, obligations or other agreements in this Agreement or in any certificate, statement or instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement, including any rights arising out of any breach of such representations, warranties, covenants, obligations, agreements and other provisions, shall survive the Closing, and all such representations, warranties, covenants, obligations or other agreements shall terminate and expire upon the occurrence of the Closing (and there shall be no liability after the Closing in respect thereof), except for (a) those covenants and agreements contained herein that by their terms expressly apply in whole or in part after the Closing and (b) in accordance with Section 10.2.

 

12.5 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement and all Actions (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement or the negotiation, execution or performance hereof (including any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of or related to any representation or warranty made in or in connection with this Agreement or as an inducement to enter into this Agreement) shall be governed by, construed and enforced in accordance with the Laws (both substantive and procedural) of the State of Delaware. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the following matters arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be construed, performed and enforced in accordance with the Laws of the Cayman Islands in respect of which the Parties hereby irrevocable submit it to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Cayman Islands: (a) the First Merger and (b) following the First Merger, (x) the vesting of the rights and the property of every description including choses in action, business, undertaking, goodwill, benefits, immunities and privileges, contracts, obligations, claims, debts and liabilities of First Merger Sub and the Company in the Surviving Company and (y) the cancellation of the shares, the rights provided in Section 238 of the Cayman Companies Act, the fiduciary or other duties of the board of directors of the Company and the board of directors of First Merger Sub and the internal corporate affairs of the Company, First Merger Sub and the Surviving Company; (ii) the following matters arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be construed, performed and enforced in accordance with the Laws of the British Virgin Islands in respect of which the Parties hereby irrevocable submit it to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the British Virgin Islands: (a) the Second Merger and (b) following the Second Merger, (x) the vesting of the rights and the property of every description including choses in action, business, undertaking, goodwill, benefits, immunities and privileges, contracts, obligations, claims, debts and liabilities of Second Merger Sub and Purchaser in the Surviving Entity and (y) the cancellation of the shares, the rights provided in Section 179 of the BVI Act, the fiduciary or other duties of the board of directors of Purchaser and the board of directors of Second Merger Sub and the internal corporate affairs of Purchaser and Second Merger Sub. All Actions arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined exclusively in any Delaware Chancery Court; provided, that if jurisdiction is not then available in the Delaware Chancery Court, then any such legal Action may be brought in any federal court located in the State of Delaware or any other Delaware state court (collectively, the “Specified Courts”). Each Party hereto hereby (a) submits to the exclusive personal and subject matter jurisdiction of any Specified Court for the purpose of any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought by any Party hereto and (b) irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert by way of motion, defense or otherwise, in any such Action, any claim that it is not subject to the personal or subject matter jurisdiction of the above-named courts, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that the Action is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the Action is improper, or that this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may not be enforced in or by any Specified Court. Each Party agrees that a final judgment in any Action shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law. Each Party irrevocably consents to the service of the summons and complaint and any other process in any other Action relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, on behalf of itself, or its property, by personal delivery of copies of such process to such Party at the applicable address set forth in Section 12.1. Nothing in this Section 12.5 shall affect the right of any Party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by Law.

 

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12.6 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, IN EACH CASE, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY, OR OTHERWISE. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF ANY ACTION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THAT FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 12.6.

 

12.7 Specific Performance. Each Party acknowledges that the rights of each Party to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby are unique, recognizes and affirms that in the event of a breach of this Agreement by any Party, money damages may be inadequate and the non-breaching Parties may have not adequate remedy at law, and agree that irreparable damage may occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed by an applicable Party in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. Accordingly, each Party shall be entitled to seek an injunction, restraining order or other equitable remedy to prevent or remedy any breach of this Agreement and to seek to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, in each case, without the requirement to post any bond or other security or to prove that money damages would be inadequate, this being in addition to any other right or remedy to which such Party may be entitled under this Agreement, at law or in equity.

 

12.8 Severability. In case any provision in this Agreement shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in a jurisdiction, such provision shall be modified or deleted, as to the jurisdiction involved, only to the extent necessary to render the same valid, legal and enforceable, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby nor shall the validity, legality or enforceability of such provision be affected thereby in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the Parties will substitute for any invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision a suitable and equitable provision that carries out, so far as may be valid, legal and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision.

 

12.9 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended, supplemented or modified only by execution of a written instrument signed by each of the Parties hereto.

 

12.10 Waiver. Each of Purchaser, Pubco and the Company on behalf of itself and its Affiliates, may in its sole discretion (i) extend the time for the performance of any obligation or other act of any other non-Affiliated Party hereto, (ii) waive any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties by such other non-Affiliated Party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (iii) waive compliance by such other non-Affiliated Party with any covenant or condition contained herein. Any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the Party or Parties to be bound thereby. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no failure or delay by a Party in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any other right hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any waiver of any provision of this Agreement after the Closing by Purchaser shall also require the prior written consent of the Purchaser Representative.

 

12.11 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the documents or instruments referred to herein, including any exhibits, annexes and schedules attached hereto, which exhibits, annexes and schedules are incorporated herein by reference, together with the Ancillary Documents, embody the entire agreement and understanding of the Parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, representations, warranties, covenants or undertakings, other than those expressly set forth or referred to herein or the documents or instruments referred to herein, which collectively supersede all prior agreements and the understandings among the Parties with respect to the subject matter contained herein.

 

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12.12 Interpretation. The table of contents and the Article and Section headings contained in this Agreement are solely for the purpose of reference and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and words in the singular, including any defined terms, include the plural and vice versa; (b) reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and assigns but, if applicable, only if such successors and assigns are permitted by this Agreement, and reference to a Person in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity; (c) any accounting term used and not otherwise defined in this Agreement or any Ancillary Document has the meaning assigned to such term in accordance with GAAP, based on the accounting principles used by the applicable Person, provided that any accounting term with respect to any Target Company shall be interpreted in accordance with the Accounting Principles; (d) “including” (and with correlative meaning “include”) means including without limiting the generality of any description preceding or succeeding such term and shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (e) the words “herein,” “hereto,” and “hereby” and other words of similar import in this Agreement shall be deemed in each case to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section or other subdivision of this Agreement; (f) the word “if” and other words of similar import when used herein shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the phrase “and only if”; (g) the term “or” means “and/or”; (h) the word “day” means calendar day unless Business Day is expressly specified;(i) any reference to the term “ordinary course” or “ordinary course of business” shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words “consistent with past practice”; (j) any agreement, instrument, insurance policy, Law or Order defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such agreement, instrument, insurance policy, Law or Order 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, regulations, rules or orders) by succession of comparable successor statutes, regulations, rules or orders and references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein; (k) except as otherwise indicated, all references in this Agreement to the words “Section,” “Article”, “Schedule”, “Annex” and “Exhibit” are intended to refer to Sections, Articles, Schedules, Annexes and Exhibits to this Agreement; and (l) the term “Dollars” or “$” means United States dollars. Any reference in this Agreement to a Person’s directors shall include any member of such Person’s governing body and any reference in this Agreement to a Person’s officers shall include any Person filling a substantially similar position for such Person. Any reference in this Agreement or any Ancillary Document to a Person’s shareholders or stockholders shall include any applicable owners of the equity interests of such Person, in whatever form. The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. Consequently, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement. To the extent that any Contract, document, certificate or instrument is represented and warranted to by the Company to be given, delivered, provided or made available by the Company, in order for such Contract, document, certificate or instrument to have been deemed to have been given, delivered, provided and made available to Purchaser or its Representatives, such Contract, document, certificate or instrument shall have been posted to the electronic data site maintained on behalf of the Company for the benefit of Purchaser and its Representatives and Purchaser and its Representatives have been given access to the electronic folders containing such information, or such information or documentation was made available or otherwise provided to Purchaser, its Affiliates or any of their Representatives in-person or by email.

 

12.13 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile, email or other electronic transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different Parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

12.14 No Recourse. Notwithstanding anything that may be expressed or implied in this Agreement, the Parties acknowledge and agree that no recourse under this Agreement or under any Ancillary Documents shall be had against any Person that is not a Party to this Agreement (including pursuant to a Joinder) or such Ancillary Document, including any past, present or future director, officer, agent, employee, equityholder or other Representative or any Affiliate or successor or assignee thereof that is not a Party (collectively, the “Non-Recourse Parties”), as such, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other applicable Law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any Non-Recourse Party, as such, for any obligation or liability of a Party under this Agreement or Person party to such Ancillary Document under any Ancillary Document for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or Liabilities or their creation. 

 

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12.15 Purchaser Representative.

 

(a) Navy Sail International Limited confirms that by execution and delivery of this Agreement, they have been irrevocably appointed by the Purchaser and the shareholders of the Purchaser immediately prior to the Effective Time in the capacity as the Purchaser Representative, as their agent, and attorney-in-fact and representative, with full power of substitution to act in their name, place and stead, to act on behalf of Purchaser from and after the Closing in connection with: (i) taking all actions on their behalf relating to the issuance of the Earnout Shares, indemnification claims under this Agreement, and any disputes or discussions with respect thereto, (ii) terminating, amending or waiving on behalf of Purchaser any provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Document which expressly contemplates that the Purchaser Representative will act on behalf of Purchaser; (iii) signing on behalf of Purchaser any releases or other documents with respect to any dispute or remedy arising under this Agreement or any Ancillary Document which expressly contemplates that the Purchaser Representative will act on behalf of Purchaser; (iv) employing and obtaining the advice of legal counsel, accountants and other professional advisors as the Purchaser Representative, in its reasonable discretion, deems necessary or advisable in the performance of its duties as the Purchaser Representative and to rely on their advice and counsel; (v) otherwise enforcing the rights and obligations of any Purchasers under this Agreement or any Ancillary Document which expressly contemplates that the Purchaser Representative will act on behalf of Purchaser, including giving and receiving all notices and communications hereunder or thereunder on behalf of Purchaser. All decisions and actions by the Purchaser Representative shall be binding upon the shareholders of the Purchaser immediately prior to the Effective Time, the Purchaser, their respective successors and assigns, and neither Purchaser, its shareholders immediately prior to the Effective Time, nor any other Party shall have the right to object, dissent, protest or otherwise contest the same. The provisions of this Section 12.15 are irrevocable and coupled with an interest. The Purchaser Representative hereby accepts its appointment and authorization as the Purchaser Representative under this Agreement.

 

(b) The Purchaser Representative shall not be liable for any act done or omitted under this Agreement or any Ancillary Document which expressly contemplates that the Purchaser Representative will act as the Purchaser Representative while acting in good faith and without willful misconduct or gross negligence, and any act done or omitted pursuant to the advice of counsel shall be conclusive evidence of such good faith. Purchaser Representative shall be indemnified, defended and held harmless by the shareholders of the Purchaser immediately prior to the Effective Time from and against any and all Losses incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Purchaser Representative (in its capacity as such) and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the Purchaser Representative’s duties under this Agreement or any Ancillary Document which expressly contemplates that the Purchaser Representative will act on behalf of Purchaser or its shareholders, including the reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel retained by the Purchaser Representative. In no event shall the Purchaser Representative in such capacity be liable hereunder or in connection herewith for any indirect, punitive, special or consequential damages. The Purchaser Representative shall be fully protected in relying upon any written notice, demand, certificate or document that it in good faith believes to be genuine, including facsimiles or copies thereof, and no Person shall have any Liability for relying on the Purchaser Representative in the foregoing manner. In connection with the performance of its rights and obligations hereunder, the Purchaser Representative shall have the right at any time and from time to time to select and engage, at the cost and expense of the shareholders of the Purchaser immediately prior to the Effective Time, attorneys, accountants, investment bankers, advisors, consultants and clerical personnel and obtain such other professional and expert assistance, maintain such records and incur other out-of-pocket expenses, as the Purchaser Representative may deem reasonably necessary or appropriate from time to time. All of the indemnities, immunities, releases and powers granted to the Purchaser Representative under this Section 12.15 shall survive the Closing and continue indefinitely.

 

(c) The Person serving as the Purchaser Representative may resign upon ten (10) days’ prior written notice to Pubco and Purchaser, provided, that the Purchaser Representative appoints in writing a replacement Purchaser Representative, provided that such replacement Purchaser Representative has been duly and irrevocably appointed by the shareholders of the Purchaser immediately prior to the Effective Time. Each successor Purchaser Representative shall have all of the power, authority, rights and privileges conferred by this Agreement upon the original Purchaser Representative, and the term “Purchaser Representative” as used herein shall be deemed to include any such successor Purchaser Representatives.

 

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12.16 Legal Representation. The Parties agree that, notwithstanding the fact that EGS may have, prior to Closing, jointly represented Purchaser and the Sponsor in connection with this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the Transactions, and has also represented Purchaser, Sponsor and/or their respective Affiliates in connection with matters other than the transaction that is the subject of this Agreement, EGS will be permitted in the future, after Closing, to represent the Sponsor or its Affiliates in connection with matters in which such Persons are adverse to Pubco, Purchaser or any of their respective Affiliates, including any disputes arising out of, or related to, this Agreement. The Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub, who are or have the right to be represented by independent counsel in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, hereby agree, in advance, to waive (and to cause their Affiliates to waive) any actual or potential conflict of interest that may hereafter arise in connection with EGS’s future representation of one or more of the Sponsor or its Affiliates in which the interests of such Person are adverse to the interests of Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub, Purchaser, the Company or any of their respective Affiliates, including any matters that arise out of this Agreement or that are substantially related to this Agreement or to any prior representation by EGS of the Sponsor, Purchaser or any of their respective Affiliates. The Parties acknowledge and agree that, for the purposes of the attorney-client privilege, the Sponsor shall be deemed the client of EGS with respect to the negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents. All such communications shall remain privileged after the Closing and the privilege and the expectation of client confidence relating thereto shall belong solely to the Sponsor, shall be controlled by the Sponsor and shall not pass to or be claimed by Pubco, Purchaser; provided, further, that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to be a waiver by Pubco, Purchaser or any of their respective Affiliates of any applicable privileges or protections that can or may be asserted to prevent disclosure of any such communications to any third party.

 

ARTICLE XIII
DEFINITIONS

 

13.1 Certain Definitions. For purpose of this Agreement, the following capitalized terms have the following meanings:

 

Accounting Principles” means in accordance with GAAP, as in effect at the date of the financial statement to which it refers or if there is no such financial statement, then as of the Closing Date, using and applying the same accounting principles, practices, procedures, policies and methods (with consistent classifications, judgments, elections, inclusions, exclusions and valuation and estimation methodologies) used and applied by the Company and/or the Target Companies in the preparation of the latest audited Company Financials (if any).

 

Action” means any notice of noncompliance or violation, or any claim, demand, charge, action, suit, litigation, audit, settlement, complaint, stipulation, assessment or arbitration, governmental inquiry, hearing, proceeding or investigation, by or before any Governmental Authority.

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly Controlling, Controlled by, or under common Control with such Person. For the avoidance of doubt, Sponsor shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of Purchaser prior to the Closing.

 

Aggregate Merger Consideration Amount” means Two Point Five Billion U.S. Dollars ($2,500,000,000).

 

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Amended Pubco Charter” means an amended and restated the memorandum and articles of association of the Pubco in a customary form to be determined by the Company and agreed by the Purchaser (which agreement shall not be unreasonably withheld).

 

Ancillary Documents” means each agreement, instrument or document including the Seller Lock-Up Agreements, the Non-Competition Agreements, the Support Agreement, the Insider Letter Amendment, the Escrow Agreement, the Amended Pubco Charter, the Incentive Plan, the Founder Registration Rights Agreement Amendment, the Seller Registration Rights Agreement and the other agreements, certificates and instruments to be executed or delivered by any of the Parties hereto in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Benefit Plans” of any Person means any and all deferred compensation, executive compensation, incentive compensation, equity purchase or other equity-based compensation plan, employment or individual consulting, severance or termination pay, holiday, vacation or other bonus plan or practice, hospitalization or other medical, life or other welfare benefit insurance, supplemental unemployment benefits, profit sharing, pension, or retirement plan, program, agreement, commitment or arrangement, and each other employee benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement, including each “employee benefit plan” as such term is defined under Section 3(3) of ERISA, maintained or contributed to or required to be contributed to by a Person for the benefit of any employee or terminated employee of such Person, or with respect to which such Person has any Liability.

 

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday on which commercial banking institutions in New York, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong Special Administration Region or China are authorized to close for business, excluding as a result of “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems, including for wire transfers, of commercially banking institutions in the foregoing locations are generally open for use by customers on such day.

 

BVI Act” means the British Virgin Islands Business Companies Act (No 16 of 2004), as amended.

 

Cayman Companies Act” means the Companies Act (2022 Revision) of the Cayman Islands, as amended.

 

China” means PRC, the People’s Republic of China.

 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor statute thereto, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the Code shall include such section and any valid treasury regulation promulgated thereunder.

 

Company Confidential Information” means all confidential or proprietary documents and information concerning the Target Companies, Pubco, First Merger Sub or Second Merger Sub or any of their respective Representatives, furnished in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that Company Confidential Information shall not include any information which, (i) at the time of disclosure by Purchaser or its Representatives, is generally available publicly and was not disclosed in breach of this Agreement or (ii) at the time of the disclosure by the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub, Second Merger Sub or their respective Representatives to Purchaser or its Representatives was previously known by such receiving party without violation of Law or any confidentiality obligation by the Person receiving such Company Confidential Information.

 

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Company Merger Shares” means a number of Pubco Shares equal to the quotient determined by dividing (i) the Aggregate Merger Consideration Amount by (ii) Per Share Price.

 

Company Ordinary Shares means the Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares, US$0.0001 par value per share, of the Company.

 

Company Securitiesmeans, collectively, the Company Class A Ordinary Shares and the Company Class B Ordinary Shares.

 

Consent” means any consent, approval, waiver, authorization or Permit of, or notice to or declaration or filing with any Governmental Authority or any other Person.

 

Contracts” means all binding contracts, agreements, arrangements, bonds, notes, indentures, mortgages, debt instruments, purchase order, licenses (and all other binding contracts, agreements or binding arrangements concerning Intellectual Property), franchises, leases and other instruments or obligations of any kind, written or oral (including any amendments and other modifications thereto).

 

Control” of a Person means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise. “Controlled”, “Controlling” and “under common Control with” have correlative meanings. Without limiting the foregoing, a Person (the “Controlled Person”) shall be deemed Controlled by (a) any other Person (i) owning beneficially, as meant in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, securities entitling such Person to cast fifty percent (50%) or more of the votes for election of directors or equivalent governing authority of the Controlled Person or (ii) entitled to be allocated or receive fifty percent (50%) or more of the profits, losses, or distributions of the Controlled Person; or (b) an officer, director, general partner, partner (other than a limited partner), manager, or member (other than a member having no management authority that is not a Person described in clause (a) above) of the Controlled Person.

 

Copyrights” means any works of authorship, mask works and all copyrights therein, including all renewals and extensions, copyright registrations and applications for registration and renewal, and non-registered copyrights.

 

Environmental Law” means any Law in effect on or prior to the date hereof any way relating to (a) the protection of human health and safety (to the extent relating to exposure to Hazardous Materials), (b) the protection, preservation or restoration of the environment and natural resources (including air, water vapor, surface water, groundwater, drinking water supply, surface land, subsurface land, plant and animal life or any other natural resource), or (c) the exposure to, or the use, storage, recycling, treatment, generation, transportation, processing, handling, labeling, production, release or disposal of Hazardous Materials.

 

Environmental Liabilities” means, in respect of any Person, all Liabilities, obligations, responsibilities, Remedial Actions, Actions, Orders, losses, damages, costs, and expenses (including all reasonable fees, disbursements, and expenses of counsel, experts, and consultants and costs of investigation and feasibility studies), fines, penalties, sanctions, and interest incurred as a result of any claim or demand by any other Person or in response to any violation of Environmental Law, whether known or unknown, accrued or contingent, whether based in contract, tort, implied or express warranty, strict liability, criminal or civil statute, to the extent based upon, related to, or arising under or pursuant to any Environmental Law, Environmental Permit, Order, or Contract with any Governmental Authority or other Person, that relates to any environmental, health or safety condition, violation of Environmental Law, or a Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials.

 

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ERISA” means the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Exchange Ratio” means (i) the Company Merger Shares as of the First Merger Effective Time divided by (ii) the number of Company Securities.

 

First Merger Sub Ordinary Shares” means the ordinary shares, of the First Merger Sub.

 

Foreign Plan” means any plan, fund (including any superannuation fund) or other similar program or arrangement established or maintained outside the United States by the Company or any one or more of its Subsidiaries primarily for the benefit of employees of the Company or such Subsidiaries residing outside the United States, which plan, fund or other similar program or arrangement provides, or results in, retirement income, a deferral of income in contemplation of retirement or payments to be made upon termination of employment, and which plan is not subject to ERISA or the Code.

 

Founder Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of February 19, 2020, by and among Purchaser, Sponsor and the other “Holders” named therein.

 

Founder Shares” means an aggregate of 3,450,000 Purchaser Ordinary Shares which were issued to the initial shareholders of Purchaser in a private placement transaction.

 

Fraud Claim” means any claim based in whole or in part upon fraud, willful misconduct or intentional misrepresentation.

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect in the United States of America.

 

Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, local, foreign or other governmental, quasi-governmental or administrative body, instrumentality, department or agency or any court, tribunal, administrative hearing body, arbitration panel, commission, or other similar dispute-resolving panel or body.

 

Hazardous Material” means any waste, gas, liquid or other substance or material that is defined, listed or designated as a “hazardous substance”, “pollutant”, “contaminant”, “hazardous waste”, “regulated substance”, “hazardous chemical”, or “toxic chemical” (or by any similar term) under any Environmental Law, or any other material regulated, or that could result in the imposition of Liability or responsibility, under any Environmental Law, including petroleum and its by-products, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon, mold, and urea formaldehyde insulation.

 

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Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money (including the outstanding principal and accrued but unpaid interest), (b) all obligations for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business), (c) any other indebtedness of such Person that is evidenced by a note, bond, debenture, credit agreement or similar instrument, (d) all obligations of such Person under leases that should be classified as capital leases in accordance with GAAP (as applicable to such Person), (e) all obligations of such Person for the reimbursement of any obligor on any line or letter of credit, banker’s acceptance, guarantee or similar credit transaction, in each case, that has been drawn or claimed against and not settled, (f) all obligations of such Person in respect of acceptances issued or created, (g) all interest rate and currency swaps, caps, collars and similar agreements or hedging devices under which payments are obligated to be made by such Person, whether periodically or upon the happening of a contingency, (h) all obligations secured by an Lien on any property of such Person, (i) any premiums, prepayment fees or other penalties, fees, costs or expenses associated with payment of any Indebtedness of such Person and (j) all obligation described in clauses (a) through (i) above of any other Person which is directly or indirectly guaranteed by such Person or which such Person has agreed (contingently or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire or in respect of which it has otherwise assured a creditor against loss.

 

Insider Letter” means the letter agreement, dated as of February 19, 2020, by and among Purchaser, the IPO underwriters as representatives of the several underwriters, Double Ventures Holdings Limited, and certain other directors, officers or advisors of Purchaser party thereto.

 

Intellectual Property” means all of the following as they exist in any jurisdiction throughout the world: Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Trade Secrets, intellectual property rights in Software and other intellectual property.

 

Investment Company Act” means the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

IPO” means the initial public offering of Purchaser Units pursuant to the IPO Prospectus.

 

IPO Prospectus” means the final prospectus of Purchaser, dated as of February 19, 2020, and filed with the SEC on February 21, 2020 (File No. 333-235949).

 

JOBS Act” means the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012.

 

Knowledge” means, with respect to (i) the Company, the actual knowledge of the executive officers or directors of the Company and any Target Companies, after reasonable inquiry, or (ii) any other Party, (A) if an entity, the actual knowledge of its directors and executive officers, after reasonable inquiry, or (B) if a natural person, the actual knowledge of such Party after reasonable inquiry.

 

Law” means any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or other law, statute, legislation, principle of common law, ordinance, code, edict, decree, proclamation, treaty, convention, rule, regulation, directive, requirement, writ, injunction, settlement, Order or Consent that is or has been issued, enacted, adopted, passed, approved, promulgated, made, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority.

 

Liabilities” means any and all liabilities, Indebtedness, Actions or obligations of any nature (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise, whether known or unknown, whether direct or indirect, whether matured or unmatured, whether due or to become due and whether or not required to be recorded or reflected on a balance sheet under GAAP or other applicable accounting standards), including Tax liabilities due or to become due.

 

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, attachment, right of first refusal, option, proxy, voting trust, encumbrance, lien or charge of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof), restriction (whether on voting, sale, transfer, disposition or otherwise), any subordination arrangement in favor of another Person, or any filing or agreement to file a financing statement as debtor under the Uniform Commercial Code or any similar Law.

 

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Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to any specified Person, any fact, event, occurrence, change or effect that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect upon (a) the business, assets, Liabilities, results of operations, or condition (financial or otherwise) of such Person and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries on a timely basis to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party or bound or to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder; provided, however, that for the purposes of clause (a) above, any fact, event, event, occurrence, change or effect directly or indirectly attributable to, resulting from, relating to or arising out of the following (by themselves or when aggregated with any other, facts, events, occurrences, changes or effects) shall not be deemed to be, constitute, or be taken into account when determining whether there has or may, would or could have occurred a Material Adverse Effect: (i) general changes in the financial or securities markets or general economic or political conditions in any country or jurisdiction; (ii) changes, conditions or effects that generally affect any industry or geographic area in which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries principally operate; (iii) changes or proposed change in the interpretation of any Law (including the Exchange Act or the Securities Act or any rules promulgated thereunder) or in GAAP or other applicable accounting principles or mandatory changes in the regulatory accounting requirements applicable to any industry in which such Person and its Subsidiaries principally operate, or any regulatory guidance, policies or interpretations of the foregoing; (iv) conditions caused by acts of God, epidemic, pandemics or other outbreak of public health events (including COVID-19), cyberterrorism or terrorism, war (whether or not declared), military action, civil unrest, earthquakes, volcanic activity, hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, floods, mudslides, wildfire, or other natural disaster and any other force majeure events (including any escalation or general worsening of any of the foregoing); (v) any actions taken or not taken by such Person or its Subsidiaries as required by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document; (vi) with respect to the Company, any failure in and of itself or its Subsidiaries to meet any internal or published budgets, projections, forecasts or predictions of financial performance for any period (provided that the underlying cause of any such failure may be considered in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur to the extent not excluded by another exception herein); (vi) with respect to Purchaser, the consummation and effects of the Redemption in and of itself (provided that the underlying cause of any such Redemption may be considered in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur to the extent not excluded by another exception herein); and (vii) the announcement or the execution of this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents, the pendency or consummation of the Transactions or the performance of this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents (or the obligations hereunder), including the impact thereof on relationships with Governmental Authority, partners, customers, suppliers or employees; provided further, however, that any event, occurrence, fact, condition, or change referred to in clauses (i) - (iii) immediately above shall be taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or could reasonably be expected to occur to the extent that such event, occurrence, fact, condition, or change has a disproportionate effect on such Person or any of its Subsidiaries compared to other participants in the industries and geographic location in which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries primarily conducts its businesses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to Purchaser, the amount of the Redemption or the failure to obtain the Required Shareholder Approval (provided that the Purchaser has not violated its obligations hereunder in connection with obtaining the Required Shareholder Approval) shall not in and of itself be deemed to be a Material Adverse Effect on or with respect to Purchaser (provided that the underlying cause of any such Redemption may be considered in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur to the extent not excluded by another exception herein).

 

Nasdaq” means the Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

Non-Competition Agreement” means a non-competition and non-solicitation Agreement in favor of Pubco, Purchaser and the Company to be entered into by no more than five (5) senior executives of the Company and in such customary form as reasonably determined by the Company in light of its commercial needs

 

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Order” means any order, decree, ruling, judgment, injunction, writ, determination, binding decision, verdict, judicial award or other Action that is or has been entered, rendered, or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority.

 

Organizational Documents” means, with respect to any Person, its articles of incorporation and bylaws, memorandum and articles of association or similar organizational documents, in each case, as amended.

 

Patents” means any patents, and patent applications (including any divisionals, provisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, substitutions, or reissues thereof).

 

PCAOB” means the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (or any successor thereto).

 

Per Share Price” means the lower of (i) $10.26 (as equitably adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and the like after the Closing) or (ii) the Redemption Price.

Permits” means all federal, state, local or foreign or other third-party permits, grants, easements, consents, approvals, authorizations, exemptions, licenses, franchises, concessions, ratifications, permissions, clearances, confirmations, endorsements, waivers, certifications, designations, ratings, registrations, qualifications or orders of any Governmental Authority or any other Person.

 

Permitted Liens” means (a) Liens for Taxes or assessments and similar governmental charges or levies, which either are (i) not delinquent or (ii) being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, and for which adequate reserves have been established with respect thereto, (b) other Liens imposed by operation of Law arising in the ordinary course of business for amounts which are not due and payable and as would not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of, or materially adversely interfere with the use of, the property subject thereto, (c) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with social security, (d) Liens on goods in transit incurred pursuant to documentary letters of credit, in each case arising in the ordinary course of business, or (e) Liens arising under this Agreement or any Ancillary Document.

 

Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership (including a general partnership, limited partnership or limited liability partnership), limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a government, domestic or foreign, or political subdivision thereof, or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

 

Personal Property” means any machinery, equipment, tools, vehicles, furniture, leasehold improvements, office equipment, plant, parts and other tangible personal property.

 

PRC” means the People’s Republic of China.

 

Pubco Charter” means the memorandum and articles of association of Pubco, as amended and in effect under the Cayman Companies Act.

 

Pubco Class A Ordinary Shares” means the Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of Pubco,

 

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Pubco Class B Ordinary Shares” means the Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of Pubco, which shares shall (i) be convertible, at the election of the holder, into Pubco Class A Ordinary Shares on a one-to-one basis and (ii) entitle the holder thereof to one (1) vote per share, as provided for and fully described in the Pubco Charter.

 

Pubco Ordinary Shares” means the Pubco Class A Ordinary Shares and the Pubco Class B Ordinary Shares.

 

Pubco Private Warrant” means one whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one-half (1/2) of one Pubco Ordinary Share at a purchase price of $11.50 per full share.

 

Pubco Public Warrant” means one whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one-half (1/2) of one Pubco Ordinary Share at a purchase price of $11.50 per full share.

 

Pubco Underwriter Warrant” means a non-redeemable warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one (1) Pubco Ordinary Share at a purchase price of $12.00 per share.

 

Pubco Securities” means the Pubco Ordinary Shares, the Pubco Warrants and the Pubco Convertible securities, collectively.

 

Pubco Warrants” means the Pubco Private Warrants, Pubco Public Warrants and Pubco Underwriter Warrants, collectively.

 

Pubco Warrants” means the Pubco Private Warrants and Pubco Public Warrants, collectively.

 

Purchaser Charter” means the memorandum and articles of association of Purchaser, as amended and in effect under the BVI Act.

 

Purchaser Confidential Information” means all confidential or proprietary documents and information concerning Purchaser or any of its Representatives; provided, however, that Purchaser Confidential Information shall not include Second Merger Sub or any of their respective Representatives, is generally available publicly and was not disclosed in breach of this Agreement or (ii) at the time of the disclosure by Purchaser or its Representatives to by the Company, Pubco, First Merger Sub, Second Merger Sub any of their respective Representatives, was previously known by such receiving party without violation of Law or any confidentiality obligation by the Person receiving such Purchaser Confidential Information. For the avoidance of doubt, from and after the Closing, Purchaser Confidential Information will include the confidential or proprietary information of the Target Companies.

 

Purchaser Ordinary Shares” means the ordinary shares, with no par value, of Purchaser.

 

Purchaser Preferred Shares” means the Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, and Class E, preferred shares, with no par value, of Purchaser.

 

Purchaser Private Unit” means a unit issued in a private placement concurrently with the IPO consisting of one (1) Purchaser Ordinary Share, one (1) Purchaser Right and one (1) Purchaser Private Warrant.

 

Purchaser Private Warrant” means one whole warrant that was included as part of each Purchaser Private Unit entitling the holder thereof to purchase one-half (1/2) of one (1) Purchaser Ordinary Share at a price of $11.50 per full Purchaser Ordinary Share.

 

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Purchaser Public Unit” means a unit issued in the IPO consisting of one (1) Purchaser Ordinary Share, one (1) Purchaser Right and one (1) Purchaser Public Warrant.

 

Purchaser Public Warrant” means one whole warrant that was included as part of each Purchaser Public Unit entitling the holder thereof to purchase one-half (1/2) of one (1) Purchaser Ordinary Share at a price of $11.50 per full Purchaser Ordinary Share.

 

Purchaser Underwriter Warrant” means a warrant issued to Purchaser’s underwriters at the IPO entitling the holder thereof to purchase one (1) Purchaser Ordinary Share at a purchase price of $12.00 per Purchaser Ordinary Share.

 

Purchaser Rights” means one right that was included as part of each Purchaser Unit entitling the holder thereof to receive one-tenth (1/10th) of a Purchaser Ordinary Share upon the consummation by Purchaser of its Business Combination.

 

Purchaser Securities” means Purchaser Units, Purchaser Ordinary Shares, Purchaser Preference Shares, the Purchaser Rights and the Purchaser Warrants, collectively.

 

Purchaser Units” means the Purchaser Public Units and the Purchaser Private Units.

 

Purchaser Warrants” means the Purchaser Private Warrants, Purchaser Public Warrants, and the Purchaser Underwriter Warrants, collectively.

 

Redemption Price” means an amount equal to the price at which each Purchaser Ordinary Share is redeemed or converted pursuant to the Redemption (as equitably adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and the like after the Closing).

 

Release” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, injection, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, or leaching into the environment. 

 

Remedial Action” means all actions required by Environmental Law to (i) clean up, remove, treat, or in any other way address any Release of Hazardous Material, (ii) prevent the Release of any Hazardous Material so it does not endanger or threaten to endanger public health or welfare or the environment, (iii) perform pre-remedial studies and investigations or post-remedial monitoring and care, or (iv) correct a condition of noncompliance with Environmental Laws.

 

Representatives” means, as to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective managers, directors, officers, employees, consultants, advisors (including financial advisors, counsel and accountants), agents and other legal representatives of such Person or its Affiliates.

 

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (or any successor Governmental Authority).

 

Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Sellers” means each of the holders of the Company’s capital shares, and a “Seller” means any one of the Sellers.

 

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Second Merger Sub Ordinary Shares” means the ordinary shares, of the Second Merger Sub.

 

Software” means any computer software programs, including all source code and object code.

 

SOX” means the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended.

 

Sponsor” means Double Ventures Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company.

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, association or other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of capital shares entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a partnership, association or other business entity, a majority of the partnership or other similar ownership interests thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons will be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a partnership, association or other business entity if such Person or Persons will be allocated a majority of partnership, association or other business entity gains or losses or will be or control the managing director, managing member, general partner or other managing Person of such partnership, association or other business entity. A Subsidiary of a Person will also include any variable interest entity which is consolidated with such Person under applicable accounting rules.

 

Target Company” and “Target Companies” means each of the Company and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries (excluding Pubco and First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub).

 

Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, information return or other documents (including any related or supporting schedules, statements or information) filed or required to be filed in connection with the determination, assessment or collection of any Taxes or the administration of any Laws or administrative requirements relating to any Taxes.

 

Taxes” means (a) all direct or indirect federal, state, local, foreign and other net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, value-added, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, social security and related contributions due in relation to the payment of compensation to employees, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property, windfall profits, alternative minimum, estimated, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments or charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts with respect thereto, (b) any Liability for payment of amounts described in clause (a) whether as a result of being a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group for any period or otherwise through operation of law and (c) any Liability for the payment of amounts described in clauses (a) or (b) as a result of any tax sharing, tax group, tax indemnity or tax allocation agreement with, or any other express or implied agreement to indemnify, any other Person.

 

Trade Secrets” means any trade secrets, confidential business information, concepts, ideas, designs, research or development information, processes, procedures, techniques, technical information, specifications, operating and maintenance manuals, engineering drawings, methods, know-how, data, mask works, discoveries, inventions, modifications, extensions, and improvements (whether or not patentable or subject to copyright, trademark, or trade secret protection), in each case, to the extent the foregoing are confidential and protected by applicable Law.

 

76

 

 

Trademarks” means any trademarks, service marks, trade dress, trade names, brand names, internet domain names, designs, logos, or corporate names (including, in each case, the goodwill associated therewith), whether registered or unregistered, and all registrations and applications for registration and renewal thereof.

 

Trust Account” means the trust account established by Purchaser with the proceeds from the IPO pursuant to the Trust Agreement in accordance with the IPO Prospectus.

 

Trust Agreement” means that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of February 19, 2020, as it may be amended (including to accommodate the Merger), by and between Purchaser and the Trustee.

 

Trustee” means Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, in its capacity as trustee under the Trust Agreement.

 

13.2 Section References.

 

The following capitalized terms, as used in this Agreement, have the respective meanings given to them in the Section as set forth below adjacent to such terms:

 

Term Section Term Section
Acquisition Proposal 7.6(a) Company Material Contract 6.12(a)
Additional Information 7.21 Company Permits 6.10
Additional Review 7.21 Company Real Property Leases 6.15
Additional Review Period 7.21 Company Registered IP 6.13(a)
Agreement Preamble Company Share Consideration 2.1(b)
Alternative Transaction 7.6(a) D&O Indemnified Person 7.15(a)
Balance Sheet Date 6.7(a) D&O Tail Insurance 7.15(b)
Business Combination 11.1 Effective Time 1.2(b)
Cap 4.6(h) EGS 3.1
Closing 3.1 Equity Incentive Plan 7.11(a)
Closing Date 3.1 Enforceability Exceptions 4.2
Closing Filing 7.12(b) Environmental Permits 6.20(a)
Closing Press Release 7.12(b) Expenses 10.3(a)
Company Preamble Expiration Date 9.1
Company Benefit Plan 6.19(a) Extension 7.3(a)
Company Board 7.6(d) Extension Loan 7.18
Company Certificate 2.5(b) Federal Securities Laws 7.7
Company Class A Ordinary Shares 6.3(a) Final EY Report Schedule 7.21
Company Class B Ordinary Shares 6.3(a) First Merger Recitals
Company Directors 7.14(a) First Merger Documents 1.2(a)
Company Disclosure Schedules ARTICLE VI First Merger Effective Time 1.2(a)
Company Financials 6.7(a) First Merger Plan of Merger 1.2(a)
Company IP 6.13(c) First Merger Sub Preamble
Company IP Licenses 6.13(a) Founder Lock-up Agreement Recitals
    Founders Recitals

 

77

 

 

Term Section Term Section
Founder Registration Rights Agreement Amendment 8.2(d)(iv) Purchaser Recommendation 4.2
Incentive Payment 7.20 Purchaser Representative Preamble
Indemnitee 9.2(a) Purchaser Shareholder Approval Matters 7.11(a)
Indemnitor 9.2(a) Redemption 7.11(a)
Insider Letter Amendment Recitals Registration Statement 7.11(a)
Intended Tax Treatment 7.19 Related Person 6.21
Interim Balance Sheet Date 6.7(a) Released Claims 11.1
Interim Period 7.1(a) Required Shareholder Approval 8.1(a)
JHD 8.2(d)(iv) SEC Reports 4.6(a)
Loss 9.2(a) SEC SPAC Accounting Changes 4.6(a)
Lost Certificate Affidavit 2.5(b) Second Merger Recitals
Merger Documents 1.2(b) Second Merger Articles of Merger 1.2(b)
Mergers Recitals Second Merger Documents 1.2(b)
Merger Sub Preamble Second Merger Plan of Merger 1.2(b)
Navy Sail Preamble Second Merger Sub Preamble
No Shop Period 7.6(b) Seller Lock-Up Agreement Recitals
Non-Recourse Parties 12.14 Seller Registration Rights Agreement 8.2(d)(vi)
Notice of Superior Proposal 7.6(d) Signing Filing 7.12(b)
OFAC 4.17(c) Signing Press Release 7.12(b)
Off-the-Shelf Software 6.13(a) Special Shareholder Meeting 7.11(a)
Ordinary Commercial Agreement 4.10(c) Specified Courts 12.5
Outside Date 10.1(b) Superior Proposal 7.6(d)
Party(ies) Preamble Superior Proposal Notice Period 7.6(d)
PIPE Investment 7.17 Support Agreement Recitals
Post-Closing Pubco Board 7.14(a) Surviving Company Recitals
Prior Merger Agreement 4.23 Surviving Company Charter 1.4(a)
Prior Merger Documents 4.23 Surviving Entity Recitals
Promissory Note Recitals Surviving Entity Charter 1.4(b)
Pro Rata Share 7.20 Surviving Warranties 9.1
Proxy Statement 7.11(a) Top Vendors 6.23
Pubco Preamble Transaction Loan Recitals
Public Certifications 4.6(a) Transactions Recitals
Public Shareholders 11.1    
Purchaser Preamble    
Purchaser Directors 7.14(a)    
Purchaser Disclosure Schedules ARTICLE IV    
Purchaser Financials 4.6(c)    
Purchaser Material Contract 4.13(a)    
Purchaser Merger Consideration 2.2(b)    

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK; SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

78

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Party hereto has caused this Agreement to be signed and delivered by its respective duly authorized officer as of the date first written above.

 

  Purchaser:
   
  EAST STONE ACQUISITION CORPORATION
   
  By: /s/ Xiaoma (Sherman) Lu
 

Name:  

Xiaoma (Sherman) Lu

  Title: Chief Executive Officer
   
  Purchaser Representative:
   
  NAVY SAIL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
   
  By: /s/ Chunyi (Charlie) Hao
 

Name:

Chunyi (Charlie) Hao

  Title: Director

 

[Signature Page to Business Combination Agreement]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Party hereto has caused this Agreement to be signed and delivered by its respective duly authorized officer as of the date first written above.

 

 

Pubco:

   
  NWTN Inc.
   
  By: /s/ Nan Wu
  Name:   Nan Wu
  Title: Director
   
  First Merger Sub:
   
  Muse Merger Sub I Limited
   
  By: /s/ Nan Wu
  Name: Nan Wu
 

Title:

Director

   
  Second Merger Sub:
   
  Muse Merger Sub II Limited
   
  By: /s/ Nan Wu
  Name: Nan Wu
  Title: Director
   
  The Company:
   
 

ICONIQ Holding Limited

   
  By: /s/ Nan Wu
  Name: Nan Wu
  Title: Director

 

[Signature Page to Business Combination Agreement]

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

 

THIS LOCK-UP AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of April 15, 2022, by and among (i) NWTN Inc., an exempted company incorporated with limited liability in the Cayman Islands (“Pubco”), (ii) Navy Sail International Limited, a British Virgin Islands company, in the capacity under the Business Combination Agreement (as defined below) as the Purchaser Representative (including any successor Purchaser Representative appointed in accordance therewith, the “Purchaser Representative”), (iii) ICONIQ Holding Limited, an exempted company incorporated with limited liability in the Cayman Island (the “Company”), (iv) East Stone Acquisition Corporation, a British Virgin Islands business company (“Purchaser”), and (v) the undersigned (“Holder”). Any capitalized term used but not defined in this Agreement will have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Business Combination Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, on April 15, 2022, the Purchaser, the Purchaser Representative, Pubco, Muse Merger Sub I Limited, an exempted company incorporated with limited liability in the Cayman Islands and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (the “First Merger Sub”), Muse Merger Sub II Limited, a British Virgin Islands company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (the “Second Merger Sub”), and the Company entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement (as amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, the “Business Combination Agreement”), pursuant to which, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, among other matters, (a) the First Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation (the “First Merger”), and as a result of which, (i) the Company will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco, and (ii) each issued and outstanding security of the Company immediately prior to the effective time of the First Merger will no longer be outstanding and will automatically be cancelled, in exchange for the right of the holder thereof to receive certain securities of Pubco, and (b) the Second Merger Sub will merge with and into Purchaser, with Purchaser continuing as the surviving entity (the “Second Merger”), and as a result of which, (i) Purchaser will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco, and (ii) each issued and outstanding security of Purchaser immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger will no longer be outstanding and will automatically be cancelled, in exchange for the right of the holder thereof to receive a substantially equivalent security of Pubco, all upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Business Combination Agreement and in accordance with the provisions of applicable law;

 

WHEREAS, at the Closing of the transaction contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (the “Closing”), the Holder is the holder of the number of Pubco Ordinary Shares in such amounts as set forth underneath Holder’s name on the signature page hereto; and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, and in view of the valuable consideration to be received by Holder thereunder, the parties desire to enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which certain share consideration to be issued to Holder (all such securities, together with any securities paid as dividends or distributions with respect to such securities or into which such securities are exchanged or converted, the “Restricted Securities”) shall become subject to limitations on disposition as set forth herein.

 

 

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, which are incorporated in this Agreement as if fully set forth below, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.Lock-Up Provisions.

 

[With respect to the controlling shareholder of the Company:

 

(a) Holder hereby agrees not to, during the period (the “Lock-Up Period”) commencing from the Closing and ending on the earliest of (x) the applicable Release Date, and (y) the date after the occurrence of a Change of Control, and (z) the date on which the closing sale price of the Pubco Ordinary Shares has equaled or exceeded $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any twenty (20) trading days within any thirty (30) consecutive trading day period, provided that in the case of clause (z), only one third of the Restricted Shares shall be released from the following limitations on each of the following three dates: the last day of the Lock-Up Period, the three (3)-month anniversary of the last day of the Lock-Up Period and the six (6)-month anniversary of the last day of the Lock-Up Period: (i) lend, offer, pledge (except as provided herein below), hypothecate, encumber, donate, assign, sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of or agree to transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), any Restricted Securities, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Restricted Securities, or (iii) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing, whether any such transaction described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above is to be settled by delivery of Restricted Securities or other securities, in cash or otherwise (any of the foregoing described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii), a “Prohibited Transfer”). ]

 

[OR]

 

[With respect to certain holders of the Founder Shares and certain other shareholders of the Company:

 

(a) Holder hereby agrees not to, during the period (the “Lock-Up Period”) commencing from the Closing and ending on the earliest of (x) the Release Date, and (y) the date after the occurrence of a Change of Control, and (z) the date on which the closing sale price of the Pubco Ordinary Shares has equaled or exceeded $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any twenty (20) trading days within any thirty (30) consecutive trading day period, provided that (1) in the case of clause (x), 30% of the Restricted Shares shall be released from the following limitations on the date after the expiry of the Lock-Up Period, and the remaining 70% of the Restricted Shares shall be released from the following limitations on the one (1)-year anniversary of the Closing Date, and (2) in the case of clause (z), only one third of the Restricted Shares shall be released from the following limitations on each of the following three dates: the last day of the Lock-Up Period, the three (3)-month anniversary of the last day of the Lock-Up Period and the six (6)-month anniversary of the last day of the Lock-Up Period: (i) lend, offer, pledge (except as provided herein below), hypothecate, encumber, donate, assign, sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of or agree to transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), any Restricted Securities, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Restricted Securities, or (iii) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing, whether any such transaction described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above is to be settled by delivery of Restricted Securities or other securities, in cash or otherwise (any of the foregoing described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii), a “Prohibited Transfer”).]

 

2

 

 

[With respect to the controlling shareholder of the Company:

 

(b) The foregoing Section 1(a) shall not apply to the transfer of any or all of the Restricted Securities owned by Holder (I) by gift, will or intestate succession, virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon the death of Holder, (II) to any Permitted Transferee (defined below), (III) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, divorce settlement, divorce decree or settlement agreement related to the distribution of assets in connection with the dissolution of marriage or civil union, (IV) to Pubco to satisfy tax withholding obligations pursuant to Pubco’s equity incentive plans or arrangements, (V) to Pubco pursuant to any contractual arrangement in effect at the Closing that provides for the repurchase by Pubco or forfeiture of the Restricted Securities, (VI) which was acquired in the PIPE Investment or in open market transactions after the Closing, (VII) the transfer in connection with any legal, regulatory or other order; provided, however, that in any of cases (I), (II) or (III) it shall be a condition to such transfer that the transferee executes and delivers to Pubco or the Purchaser Representative an agreement stating that the transferee is receiving and holding the Restricted Securities subject to the provisions of this Agreement applicable to Holder, and there shall be no further transfer of such Restricted Securities except in accordance with this Agreement.]

 

[OR]

 

[With respect to certain holders of the Founder Shares and certain other shareholders of the Company:

 

(b) The foregoing Section 1(a) shall not apply to the transfer of any or all of the Restricted Securities owned by Holder (I) by gift, will or intestate succession, virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon the death of Holder, (II) to any Permitted Transferee (defined below), (III) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, divorce settlement, divorce decree or settlement agreement related to the distribution of assets in connection with the dissolution of marriage or civil union, (IV) to Pubco to satisfy tax withholding obligations pursuant to Pubco’s equity incentive plans or arrangements, (V) to Pubco pursuant to any contractual arrangement in effect at the Closing that provides for the repurchase by Pubco or forfeiture of the Restricted Securities, (VI) which was acquired in the PIPE Investment or in open market transactions after the Closing, (VII) the transfer in connection with any legal, regulatory or other order; provided, however, that in any of cases (I), (II) or (III) it shall be a condition to such transfer that the transferee executes and delivers to Pubco or the Purchaser Representative an agreement stating that the transferee is receiving and holding the Restricted Securities subject to the provisions of this Agreement applicable to Holder, and there shall be no further transfer of such Restricted Securities except in accordance with this Agreement; provided further that with respect to Restricted Securities other than the Founder Shares, within first two (2) years after the Closing, before the Holder (other than [the controlling shareholder of the Company]) sells any Restricted Securities on the public market, the Holder shall provide [the controlling shareholder of the Company]or its shareholder with, and [the controlling shareholder of the Company] or its shareholder shall be entitled to a right of first offer with respect to such sale. If such Holder declines to accept the offer of [the controlling shareholder of the Company] or its shareholder, such Holder may not sell any Restricted Securities in the public market within such first two (2) years at a price lower than the price per share offered by [the controlling shareholder of the Company] or its shareholder without again providing [the controlling shareholder of the Company] or its shareholder with a right of first refusal.]

 

3

 

 

[With respect to the controlling shareholder of the Company:

 

(c) As used in this Agreement, the term (X) “Change of Control” shall mean: one transaction or a series of related transactions (whether by share transfer, tender offer, merger, consolidation or otherwise), following which (i) the shareholder of [the controlling shareholder of the Company] ceases to hold directly or indirectly shares representing no less than 50% of the voting power of Pubco or otherwise Control (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) Pubco, and (ii) the shareholders of Pubco and their direct and indirect equity holders immediately prior to such transaction or series of related transactions no longer holder directly or indirectly no less than 50% of Pubco’s shares; (Y) “Release Date” shall mean: (A) with respect to fifty percent (50%) of the Restricted Securities, the twelve (12) month anniversary of the date of the Closing, (B) with respect to twenty-five percent (25%) of the Restricted Securities, the eighteen (18) month anniversary of the date of the Closing, and (C) with respect to remaining twenty-five percent (25%) of the Restricted Securities, the twenty-four (24) month anniversary of the date of the Closing; and (Z) “Permitted Transferee” shall mean: (A) the members of Holder’s immediate family (for purposes of this Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean with respect to any natural person, any of the following: such person’s spouse, domestic partner, the siblings of such person and his or her spouse, and the direct descendants and ascendants (including adopted and step children and parents) of such person and his or her spouses and siblings), (B) any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of Holder or the immediate family of Holder, (C) if Holder is a trust, to the trustor or beneficiary of such trust or to the estate of a beneficiary of such trust, (D) if Holder is an entity, as a distribution to limited partners, shareholders, members of, or owners of similar equity interests in Holder by virtue of the laws of the jurisdiction of the Holder’s organization and the Holder’s organizational documents upon the liquidation and dissolution of Holder or (E) to any affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of Holder. Holder further agrees to execute such agreements as may be reasonably requested by Pubco that are consistent with the foregoing or that are necessary to give further effect thereto.]

 

[OR]

 

[With respect to certain holders of the Founder Shares and certain other shareholders of the Company:

 

(c) As used in this Agreement, the term (X) “Change of Control” shall mean: one transaction or a series of related transactions (whether by share transfer, tender offer, merger, consolidation or otherwise), following which (i) the shareholder of [the controlling shareholder of the Company] ceases to hold directly or indirectly shares representing no less than 50% of the voting power of Pubco or otherwise Control (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) Pubco, and (ii) the shareholders of Pubco and their direct and indirect equity holders immediately prior to such transaction or series of related transactions no longer holder directly or indirectly no less than 50% of Pubco’s shares; (Y) “Release Date” shall mean the six (6) month anniversary of the date of the Closing; and (Z) “Permitted Transferee” shall mean: (A) the members of Holder’s immediate family (for purposes of this Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean with respect to any natural person, any of the following: such person’s spouse, domestic partner, the siblings of such person and his or her spouse, and the direct descendants and ascendants (including adopted and step children and parents) of such person and his or her spouses and siblings), (B) any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of Holder or the immediate family of Holder, (C) if Holder is a trust, to the trustor or beneficiary of such trust or to the estate of a beneficiary of such trust, (D) if Holder is an entity, as a distribution to limited partners, shareholders, members of, or owners of similar equity interests in Holder by virtue of the laws of the jurisdiction of the Holder’s organization and the Holder’s organizational documents upon the liquidation and dissolution of Holder or (E) to any affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of Holder. Holder further agrees to execute such agreements as may be reasonably requested by Pubco that are consistent with the foregoing or that are necessary to give further effect thereto.]

 

4

 

 

(d) If any Prohibited Transfer is made or attempted contrary to the provisions of this Agreement, such purported Prohibited Transfer shall be null and void ab initio, and Pubco shall refuse to recognize any such purported transferee of the Restricted Securities as one of its equity holders for any purpose. In order to enforce this Section 1, Pubco may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the Restricted Securities of Holder (and Permitted Transferees and assigns thereof) until the end of the Lock-Up Period.

 

(e) During the Lock-Up Period, each certificate evidencing any Restricted Securities shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form, in addition to any other applicable legends:

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN A LOCK-UP AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF [__________], 2022, BY AND AMONG THE ISSUER OF SUCH SECURITIES (THE “ISSUER”), A CERTAIN REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ISSUER NAMED THEREIN AND THE ISSUER’S SECURITY HOLDER NAMED THEREIN, AS AMENDED. A COPY OF SUCH LOCK-UP AGREEMENT WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE BY THE ISSUER TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST.”

 

(f) For the avoidance of any doubt, Holder shall retain all of its rights as a shareholder of Pubco with respect to the Restricted Securities during the Lock-Up Period, including the right to vote any Restricted Securities, but subject to the obligations under the Business Combination Agreement.

 

2.Miscellaneous.

 

(a) Termination of Business Combination Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon Holder upon Holder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement, but this Agreement shall only become effective upon the Closing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the event that the Business Combination Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms prior to the Closing, this Agreement shall automatically terminate and become null and void, and the parties shall not have any rights or obligations hereunder.

 

(b) Binding Effect; Assignment. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns. This Agreement and all obligations of Holder and Purchaser are personal to Holder and Purchaser, as applicable, and may not be transferred or delegated by Holder or Purchaser at any time. Pubco may freely assign any or all of its rights under this Agreement, in whole or in part, to any successor entity (whether by merger, consolidation, equity sale, asset sale or otherwise) without obtaining the consent or approval of Holder (but from and after the Closing, the consent of the Purchaser Representative shall be required which shall not be unreasonably withheld). If the Purchaser Representative is replaced in accordance with the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, the replacement Purchaser Representative shall automatically become a party to this Agreement as if it were the original Purchaser Representative hereunder.

 

(c) Third Parties. Nothing contained in this Agreement or in any instrument or document executed by any party in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall create any rights in, or be deemed to have been executed for the benefit of, any person or entity that is not a party hereto or thereto or a successor or permitted assign of such a party.

 

(d) Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement and any dispute or controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of law principles thereof. All Actions arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined exclusively in any state or federal court located in Delaware (or in any appellate courts thereof) (the “Specified Courts”). Each party hereto hereby (i) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any Specified Court for the purpose of any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought by any party hereto and (ii) irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert by way of motion, defense or otherwise, in any such Action, any claim that it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that the Action is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the Action is improper, or that this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may not be enforced in or by any Specified Court. Each party agrees that a final judgment in any Action shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law. Each party irrevocably consents to the service of the summons and complaint and any other process in any other action or proceeding relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, on behalf of itself, or its property, by personal delivery of copies of such process to such party at the applicable address set forth in Section 2(g). Nothing in this Section 2(d) shall affect the right of any party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by applicable law.

 

5

 

 

(e) WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH PARTY HERETO (i) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF ANY ACTION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THAT FOREGOING WAIVER AND (ii) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 2(e).

 

(f) Interpretation. The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement. In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires: (i) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (ii) “including” (and with correlative meaning “include”) means including without limiting the generality of any description preceding or succeeding such term and shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (iii) the words “herein,” “hereto,” and “hereby” and other words of similar import in this Agreement shall be deemed in each case to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section or other subdivision of this Agreement; and (iv) the term “or” means “and/or”. The parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. Consequently, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.

 

(g) Notices. All notices, consents, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered (i) in person, (ii) by facsimile or other electronic means, with affirmative confirmation of receipt, (iii) one Business Day after being sent, if sent by reputable, nationally recognized overnight courier service or (iv) three (3) Business Days after being mailed, if sent by registered or certified mail, pre-paid and return receipt requested, in each case to the applicable party at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

 

If to Pubco:

NWTN Inc.

No.76 Mu Nan Road, Heping District, Tianjin, China

Attention: Baojin Su

Telephone No.: +86 022-23303776

Email: ir@iconiqmotors.com

 

 

 

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

Linklaters LLP

1290 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10104

Facsimile No.: +1 212 903 9100

Telephone No.: +1 212 903 9000

 

and a copy to:

Linklaters LLP

11th Floor, Alexandra House

Chater Road

Hong Kong SAR

Facsimile No.: +852 2810 8133

Telephone No.: +852 2842 4888

 

If to the Company, to:

ICONIQ Holding Limited

No.76 Mu Nan Road, Heping District, Tianjin, China

Attention: Baojin Su

Telephone No.: +86 022-23303776

Email: ir@iconiqmotors.com

 

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

Linklaters LLP

1290 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10104

Facsimile No.: +1 212 903 9100

Telephone No.: +1 212 903 9000

 

and a copy to:

Linklaters LLP

11th Floor, Alexandra House

Chater Road

Hong Kong SAR

Facsimile No.: +852 2810 8133

Telephone No.: +852 2842 4888

 

 

6

 

 

If to the Purchaser Representative, to:

Navy Sail International Limited

19/F On Hong Commercial Building

145 Hennessy Road

Wanchai, Hong Kong

Attn: Chunyi (Charlie) Hao

Telephone No.: +86 186 1006 0879

Email: hao.chunyi@foxmail.com

 

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

Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP

1345 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Floor

New York, New York 10105

Attn: Barry I. Grossman, Esq.

Facsimile No.: (212) 370-7889

Telephone No.: (212) 370-1300

Email: bigrossman@egsllp.com

 

If to Holder, to:

the address set forth below Holder’s name on the signature page to this Agreement

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

With respect to a holder of the Company Securities:

Linklaters LLP

1290 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10104

Facsimile No.: +1 212 903 9100

Telephone No.: +1 212 903 9000

 

and a copy to:

Linklaters LLP

11th Floor, Alexandra House

Chater Road

Hong Kong SAR

Facsimile No.: +852 2810 8133

Telephone No.: +852 2842 4888

 

With respect to a holder of the Founder Shares:

Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP

1345 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Floor

New York, New York 10105

Attn: Barry I. Grossman, Esq.

Facsimile No.: (212) 370-7889

Telephone No.: (212) 370-1300

Email: bigrossman@egsllp.com

 

 

(h) Amendments and Waivers. Any term of this Agreement may be amended and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance, and either retroactively or prospectively) only with the written consent of Pubco, the Company, the Purchaser (as represented by the Purchaser Representative) and Holder. No failure or delay by a party in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof. No waivers of or exceptions to any term, condition, or provision of this Agreement, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be or construed as a further or continuing waiver of any such term, condition, or provision.

 

(i) Severability. In case any provision in this Agreement shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in a jurisdiction, such provision shall be modified or deleted, as to the jurisdiction involved, only to the extent necessary to render the same valid, legal and enforceable, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby nor shall the validity, legality or enforceability of such provision be affected thereby in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties will substitute for any invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision a suitable and equitable provision that carries out, so far as may be valid, legal and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision.

 

(j) Specific Performance. Holder acknowledges that its obligations under this Agreement are unique, recognizes and affirms that in the event of a breach of this Agreement by Holder, money damages will be inadequate and Pubco will have no adequate remedy at law, and agrees that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed by Holder in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. Accordingly, each of Pubco, the Company and the Purchaser (as represented by the Purchaser Representative) shall be entitled to an injunction or restraining order to prevent breaches of this Agreement by Holder and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, without the requirement to post any bond or other security or to prove that money damages would be inadequate, this being in addition to any other right or remedy to which such party may be entitled under this Agreement, at law or in equity.

 

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(k) Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and any other written or oral agreement relating to the subject matter hereof existing between the parties is expressly canceled; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not affect the rights and obligations of the parties under the Business Combination Agreement or any Ancillary Document. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall limit any of the rights or remedies of Pubco, the Company and the Purchaser (as represented by the Purchaser Representative) or any of the obligations of Holder under any other agreement between Holder and Pubco, the Company or the Purchaser (as represented by the Purchaser Representative) or any certificate or instrument executed by Holder in favor of Pubco, the Company or the Purchaser (as represented by the Purchaser Representative), and nothing in any other agreement, certificate or instrument shall limit any of the rights or remedies of Pubco, the Company or the Purchaser (as represented by the Purchaser Representative) or any of the obligations of Holder under this Agreement.

 

(l) Further Assurances. From time to time, at another party’s request and without further consideration (but at the requesting party’s reasonable cost and expense), each party shall execute and deliver such additional documents and take all such further action as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(m) Counterparts; Facsimile. This Agreement may also be executed and delivered by facsimile signature or by email in portable document format in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

{Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Pages Follow}

 

8

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Lock-Up Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

  Pubco:
   
  NWTN Inc.
   
  By:
  Name: Nan Wu
  Title: Director
   
  Company:
   
  ICONIQ Holding Limited
   
  Name: Nan Wu
  Title: Director

 

{Additional Signature on the Following Page}

 

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Lock-Up Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

  Purchaser:
   
  EAST STONE ACQUISITION CORPORATION
   
  By:
  Name:Xiaoma (Sherman) Lu
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
   
  Purchaser Representative:
   
  NAVY SAIL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
   
  By:
  Name: Chunyi (Charlie) Hao
  Title:  Director

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Lock-Up Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

Holder:  
   
Name of Holder:  
   
By:  
Name:  
   
Address for Notice:  
   
Address:  
   
   
   
   
Facsimile No:  
   
   
Telephone No:  
   
   
Email:  
   

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

FORM OF SHAREHOLDER SUPPORT AGREEMENT

 

This Shareholder Support Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of April 15, 2022, by and among East Stone Acquisition Corporation., a British Virgin Islands business company (“Purchaser”), ICONIQ Holding Limited, an exempted company incorporated with limited liability in the Cayman Island (the “Company”) and the individuals whose names appear on the signature pages hereto who are or hereafter may become shareholders of the Company (each such shareholder, a “Requisite Shareholder” and, collectively, the “Requisite Shareholders”). The Purchaser, Company and the Requisite Shareholders are sometimes referred to herein as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Business Combination Agreement (as defined below).

 

RECITALS

 

A. On April 15, 2022, the Purchaser, NWTN Inc., an exempted company incorporated with limited liability in the Cayman Islands (“Pubco”), Navy Sail International Limited, a British Virgin Islands company, in the capacity as the Purchaser Representative, Muse Merger Sub I Limited, an exempted company incorporated with limited liability in the Cayman Islands and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“First Merger Sub”), Muse Merger Sub II Limited, a British Virgin Islands company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“Second Merger Sub”), and the Company entered into a Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”) pursuant to which, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein: (a) First Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “First Merger”), with the Company surviving the First Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco and the outstanding shares of the Company being converted into the right to receive shares of Pubco, and (b) one (1) Business Day following, and as part of the same overall transaction as, the First Merger, Second Merger Sub will merge with and into the Purchaser (the “Second Merger”, and together with the First Merger, the “Mergers”), with the Purchaser surviving the Second Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco and the outstanding securities of the Purchaser being converted into the right to receive shares of Pubco (the Mergers together with other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, the “Transactions”).

 

B. The Requisite Shareholders agree to enter into this Agreement with respect to all Company Securities of which the Requisite Shareholders now or hereafter have beneficial ownership (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) and/or record ownership.

 

C. As of the date hereof, the Requisite Shareholders are the owners of, and/or have voting power (including, without limitation, by proxy or power of attorney) over, such number and class of Company Securities as are indicated opposite each of their names on Schedule A attached hereto (all such Company Securities, together with any shares in the Company of which beneficial and/or record ownership and/or the power to vote (including, without limitation, by proxy or power of attorney) is hereafter acquired by any such Requisite Shareholder (or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Company Securities) during the period from the date hereof through the Expiration Time are collectively referred to herein as the “Subject Shares”).

 

 

 

 

D. As a condition to the willingness of the Purchaser to enter into the Business Combination Agreement and as an inducement and in consideration therefor, the Requisite Shareholders have agreed to enter into this Agreement.

 

E. Each of the Purchaser and each Requisite Shareholder has determined that it is in its best interest to enter into this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth below and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Definitions. When used in this Agreement, the following terms in all of their tenses, cases and correlative forms shall have the meanings assigned to them in this Section 1 or elsewhere in this Agreement.

 

“Expiration Time” shall mean the earlier to occur of (a) the Effective Time, (b) such date and time as the Business Combination Agreement shall be terminated in accordance with Section 10.1 thereof and (c) as to any Requisite Shareholder, the mutual written agreement of the Purchaser, the Company and such Requisite Shareholder.

 

“Transfer” shall mean any sale, assignment, encumbrance, pledge, hypothecation, disposition, loan or other transfer, or entry into any contract, agreement, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to any sale, assignment, encumbrance, pledge, hypothecation, disposition, loan or other transfer, in each case directly or indirectly and voluntarily or involuntarily, of any interest owned by a person or any interest (including a beneficial interest) in, or the ownership, control or possession of, any interest owned by a person, excluding entry into this Agreement and the Business Combination Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

2. Agreement to Retain the Subject Shares.

 

2.1 No Transfer of Subject Shares. Until the Expiration Time, each Requisite Shareholder agrees not to (a) Transfer any Subject Shares or (b) deposit any Subject Shares into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement with respect to any Subject Shares or grant any proxy (except as otherwise provided herein), consent or power of attorney with respect thereto (other than pursuant to this Agreement). Notwithstanding the foregoing (a) if a Requisite Shareholder is an individual, such Requisite Shareholder may Transfer any such Subject Shares (i) to any member of such Requisite Shareholder’s immediate family, or to a trust for the benefit of such Requisite Shareholder or any member of such Requisite Shareholder’s immediate family, the sole trustees of which are such Requisite Shareholder or any member of such Requisite Shareholder’s immediate family, (ii) by will, other testamentary document or under the laws of intestacy upon the death of such Requisite Shareholder, (iii) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order or (iv) pursuant to a charitable gift or contribution, (b) if a Requisite Shareholder is an entity, such Requisite Shareholder may Transfer any Subject Shares to any partner, member, or affiliate of such Requisite Shareholder in accordance with the terms of the Organizational Documents of the Company, and (c) a Requisite Shareholder may Transfer any Subject Shares upon the consent of the Company; provided, that in each case such transferee of such Subject Shares evidences in a writing, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser and the Company, such transferee’s agreement to be bound by and subject to all of the terms and provisions hereof to the same effect as such transferring Requisite Shareholder, prior and as a condition to the occurrence of such Transfer.

 

2 

 

 

2.2 Additional Purchases. Until the Expiration Time, each Requisite Shareholder agrees that any Subject Shares that such Requisite Shareholder purchases, that are issued to such Requisite Shareholder by the Company, that are otherwise hereinafter acquired by such Requisite Shareholder or with respect to which such Requisite Shareholder otherwise acquires sole or shared voting power (including by proxy or power of attorney) after the execution of this Agreement and prior to the Expiration Time, shall in each case be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement to the same extent as if they were Subject Shares owned by such Requisite Shareholder as of the date hereof. Each of the Requisite Shareholders agrees, while this Agreement is in effect, to notify the Purchaser and the Company promptly in writing (including by e-mail) of the number of any additional Subject Shares acquired, or over which voting power is acquired, by such Requisite Shareholder, if any, after the date hereof.

 

2.3 Unpermitted Transfers. Any Transfer or attempted Transfer of any Subject Shares in violation of this Section 2 shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, be null and void ab initio.

 

3. Voting of Subject Shares.

 

3.1 Voting of Subject Shares. Hereafter until the Expiration Time, each Requisite Shareholder hereby unconditionally and irrevocably agrees that, at any meeting of the shareholders of the Company (or any adjournment or postponement thereof), and in any action by written consent of the shareholders of the Company requested by the Organizational Documents of the Company or otherwise undertaken as contemplated by the Transactions (which written consent shall be delivered promptly, and in any event not later than two (2) Business Days, after the Company, as applicable, requests such delivery), such Requisite Shareholder shall: if a meeting is held, attend and appear at the meeting, in person or by proxy, or otherwise cause its Subject Shares to be counted as present thereat for purposes of establishing a quorum, and such Requisite Shareholder shall vote all of the Subject Shares to which such Requisite Shareholder has sole or shared voting power and is entitled to vote; and/or if a written consent or approval is requested, duly and promptly execute and provide such written consent or approval (or cause to be voted or so consented or approved), in person or by proxy, in respect of all of its Subject Shares: (i) in in favor of (a) the First Merger, the Business Combination Agreement, the Ancillary Documents, any required amendments to the Company’s Organizational Documents, and all of the other Transactions (and any actions required in furtherance thereof), (b) in favor of the other matters set forth in the Business Combination Agreement (clauses (a) and (b) collectively, the “Shareholder Approval Matters”), or if there are insufficient votes in favor of granting the approval of the Shareholder Approval Matters, in favor of the adjournment or postponement of such meeting of the shareholders of the Company to a later date, (ii) in opposition to, other than as contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, any material change in (x) the present capitalization of the Company or any amendment of the Company’s Organizational Documents or (y) the Company’s corporate structure or business; and (iii) in any other circumstances upon which a vote, consent or other approval with respect to the Shareholder Approval Matters is sought, to vote, consent or approve (or cause to be voted, consented or approved) all of such Requisite Shareholder’s Subject Shares held at such time in favor of the foregoing; provided, however, that such Requisite Shareholder shall not be required to vote or provide consent or take any other action, in each case to the extent any such vote, consent or other action would preclude SEC registration of the Pubco Shares being issued to holders of Company Securities as contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement.

 

3 

 

 

4. Additional Agreements.

 

4.1 No Challenges. Each Requisite Shareholder agrees not to commence, join in, facilitate, assist or encourage, and agrees to take all actions necessary to opt out of any class in any class action with respect to, any claim, derivative or otherwise, against the Purchaser, First Merger Sub, Second Merger Sub, Pubco, the Company or any of their respective successors or directors (a) challenging the validity of, or seeking to enjoin the operation of, any provision of this Agreement or (b) alleging a breach of any fiduciary duty of any person in connection with the evaluation, negotiation or entry into the Business Combination Agreement or any other agreement in connection with the Transactions.

 

4.2 Further Actions. Each Requisite Shareholder agrees, while this Agreement is in effect, not to take or omit to take, or agree to commit to take or omit to take, any action that would make any representation and warranty of such Requisite Shareholder contained in this Agreement inaccurate in any material respect. Each of Requisite Shareholder further agrees that it shall use its reasonable best efforts to cooperate with the Purchaser and the Company to effect the transactions contemplated hereby and the Transactions, including to take or omit to take such actions, and execute such agreements, as may be reasonably requested by the Purchaser or the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the Transactions or that are necessary to give further effect thereto.

 

4.3 Consent to Disclosure. Each Requisite Shareholder hereby consents to the publication and disclosure in the Proxy Statement (and, as and to the extent otherwise required by applicable securities Laws or the SEC or any other securities authorities, any other documents or communications provided by the Purchaser, the Pubco or the Company to any Governmental Authority or to securityholders of the Purchaser) of such Requisite Shareholder’s identity and beneficial ownership of the Subject Shares and the nature of such Requisite Shareholder’s commitments, arrangements and understandings under and relating to this Agreement and, if deemed appropriate by the Purchaser, the Pubco or the Company, a copy of this Agreement. Each Requisite Shareholder will promptly provide any information reasonably requested by the Purchaser, the Pubco or the Company for any regulatory application or filing made or approval sought in connection with the Transactions (including filings with the SEC).

 

5. Representations and Warranties of the Requisite Shareholders. Each Requisite Shareholder hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser as follows:

 

5.1 Due Authority. Such Requisite Shareholder has the full power and authority to make, enter into and carry out the terms of this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by such Requisite Shareholder (and, if such Shareholder is married and any of such Shareholder’s Subject Shares constitute community property or otherwise need spousal or other approval for this Agreement to be valid and binding, such Shareholder’s spouse), and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of such Requisite Shareholder enforceable against it in accordance with its terms (except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditor’s rights, and to general equitable principles).

 

4 

 

 

5.2 Ownership of the Company Securities. Such Requisite Shareholder is either (a) the owner of the Company Securities indicated on Schedule A hereto opposite such Requisite Shareholder’s name, free and clear of any and all Liens, other than (i) those created by this Agreement or (ii) as may be set forth in the Organizational Documents of the Company or (b) has the power to vote (including, without limitation, by proxy or power of attorney) the Company Securities indicated on Schedule A hereto opposite such Requisite Shareholder’s name. Such Requisite Shareholder has as of the date hereof and, except pursuant to a Transfer permitted in accordance with Section 2.1 hereof, will have until the Expiration Time, sole voting power (including the right to control such vote as contemplated herein), power of disposition, power to issue instructions with respect to the matters set forth in this Agreement and power to agree to all of the matters applicable to such Requisite Shareholder set forth in this Agreement, in each case, over all Subject Shares. As of the date hereof, such Requisite Shareholder does not own any other voting securities of the Company or have the power to vote (including by proxy or power of attorney) any other voting securities of the Company other than the Company Securities set forth on Schedule A opposite such Requisite Shareholder’s name. As of the date hereof, such Requisite Shareholder does not own any rights to purchase or acquire (i) any other equity securities of the Company or (ii) the power to vote any other voting securities of the Company, in each case except as set forth on Schedule A opposite such Requisite Shareholder’s name. There are no claims for finder’s fees or brokerage commissions or other like payments in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby payable by such Requisite Shareholder pursuant to arrangements made by such Requisite Shareholder.

 

5.3 No Conflict; Consents.

 

(a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Requisite Shareholder does not, and the performance by such Requisite Shareholder of the obligations under this Agreement and the compliance by such Requisite Shareholder with the provisions hereof do not and will not: (i) conflict with or violate any Law applicable to such Requisite Shareholder, (ii) contravene or conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, any provision of any charter, certificate of incorporation, limited liability company agreement, certificate of formation, articles of association, by-laws, operating agreement or similar formation or governing documents and instruments of such Requisite Shareholder, as applicable, or (iii) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a Lien on any of the Company Securities owned by such Requisite Shareholder pursuant to any contract or agreement to which such Requisite Shareholder is a party or by which such Requisite Shareholder is bound, except in the case of clause (i) or (iii) as would not reasonably be expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to materially impair the ability of such Requisite Shareholder to perform its obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

5 

 

 

(b) No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other person is required by or with respect to such Requisite Shareholder in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation by such Requisite Shareholder of the transactions contemplated hereby. If such Requisite Shareholder is a natural person, no consent of such Requisite Shareholder’s spouse is necessary under any “community property” or other Laws in order for such Requisite Shareholder to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

5.4 Absence of Litigation. As of the date hereof, there is no Action pending or, to the knowledge of such Requisite Shareholder, threatened, against such Requisite Shareholder that would reasonably be expected to impair the ability of such Requisite Shareholder to perform such Requisite Shareholder’s obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

5.5 Absence of Other Voting Agreement. Except for this Agreement, such Requisite Shareholder has not: (a) entered into any voting agreement, voting trust or similar agreement with respect to any Subject Shares or other equity securities of the Company owned by such Requisite Shareholder or (b) granted any proxy, consent or power of attorney with respect to any Subject Shares or other equity securities of the Company owned by such Requisite Shareholder (other than as contemplated by this Agreement).

 

5.6 Reliance by the Purchaser. Such Requisite Shareholder understands and acknowledges that the Purchaser is entering into the Business Combination Agreement in reliance upon such Requisite Shareholder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

5.7 Requisite Shareholder Has Adequate Information. Such Requisite Shareholder is a sophisticated shareholder and has adequate information concerning the business and financial condition of the Purchaser and the Company to make an informed decision regarding this Agreement and the Transactions, and has independently, without reliance upon the Purchaser or the Company, and based on such information as such Requisite Shareholder has deemed appropriate, made its own analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Such Requisite Shareholder acknowledges that none of the Purchaser or the Company has made or makes any representation or warranty, whether express or implied, of any kind or character with respect to the matters covered herein, in each case except as expressly set forth in this Agreement. Such Requisite Shareholder acknowledges that the agreements contained herein with respect to the Subject Shares held by such Requisite Shareholder are irrevocable.

 

6. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon the Expiration Time. The termination of this Agreement shall not relieve any party from any liability arising in respect of any willful and material breach of this Agreement prior to such termination.

 

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7. Miscellaneous.

 

7.1 Further Assurances. From time to time, at another Party’s request and without further consideration, each Party shall execute and deliver such additional documents and take all such further action as may be reasonably necessary or desirable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

7.2 Fees and Expenses. Each of the Parties shall be responsible for its own fees and expenses (including, the fees and expenses of investment bankers, accountants and counsel) in connection with the entering into of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; provided that the fees and expenses of the Company and the Purchaser shall be allocated as set forth in Section 10.3 of the Business Combination Agreement.

 

7.3 No Ownership Interest. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to vest in the Purchaser, Pubco, the First Merger Sub or the Second Merger Sub any direct or indirect ownership or incidence of ownership of or with respect to any Subject Shares.

 

7.4 Amendments, Waivers. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed by each of the Parties hereto. At any time prior to the Effective Time, (a) the Purchaser may (i) extend the time for the performance of any obligation or other act of any Requisite Shareholder, (ii) waive any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of each Requisite Shareholder contained herein or in any document delivered by any Requisite Shareholder pursuant hereto and (iii) waive compliance with any agreement of each Requisite Shareholder or any condition to their obligations contained herein, and (b) the Requisite Shareholders may (i) extend the time for the performance of any obligation or other act of the Purchaser, (ii) waive any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained herein or in any document delivered by the Purchaser pursuant hereto and (iii) waive compliance with any agreement of the Purchaser or any condition to their obligations contained herein. Any such extension or waiver shall be valid if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the Purchaser.

 

7.5 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by email or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 7.5):

 

if to the Purchaser:

 

East Stone Acquisition Corp.

25 Mall Road, Suite 330

Burlington, MA 01803

Attn: Sherman Xiaoma Lu, Chief Executive Officer
Telephone No.: 781 202 9128
Email: sherman@estonecapital.com

 

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with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP

1345 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Floor

New York, New York 10105

Attention: Barry I. Grossman, Esq.

Email: bigrossman@egsllp.com

 

if to the Company:

 

ICONIQ Holding Limited

No.76 Mu Nan Road, Heping District, Tianjin, China

Attention: Baojin Su

Email: ir@iconiqmotors.com

 

with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Linklaters LLP

1290 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10104

Facsimile No.: +1 212 903 9100

Telephone No.: +1 212 903 9000

 

and a copy to:

 

Linklaters LLP

11th Floor, Alexandra House

Chater Road

Hong Kong SAR

Facsimile No.: +852 2810 8133

Telephone No.: +852 2842 4888

 

if to any Requisite Shareholder, to the address for notice set forth on Schedule A hereto,

 

with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Linklaters LLP

1290 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10104

Facsimile No.: +1 212 903 9100

Telephone No.: +1 212 903 9000

 

and a copy to:

 

Linklaters LLP

11th Floor, Alexandra House

Chater Road

Hong Kong SAR

Facsimile No.: +852 2810 8133

Telephone No.: +852 2842 4888

 

8 

 

 

7.6 Headings. The descriptive headings contained in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

7.7 Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby or any of the other Transactions is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any Party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

 

7.8 Entire Agreement; Assignment. This Agreement and the schedules hereto (together with each Transaction Document to which the Parties hereto are parties, to the extent referred to herein) constitute the entire agreement among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the Parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof. Except for transfers permitted by Section 2.1, this Agreement shall not be assigned (whether pursuant to a merger, by operation of law or otherwise) by any Party without the prior express written consent of the other Parties hereto.

 

7.9 Certificates. Promptly following the date of this Agreement, the Company shall advise its transfer agent in writing that each Requisite Shareholder’s Subject Shares are subject to the restrictions set forth herein and, in connection therewith, provide the transfer agent of the Company, as applicable, in writing with such information as is reasonable to ensure compliance with such restrictions.

 

7.10 Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each Party, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

7.11 Interpretation.

 

(a) Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, (i) words of any gender include each other gender, (ii) words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively, (iii) the definitions contained in this agreement are applicable to the other grammatical forms of such terms, (iv) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereto” and derivative or similar words refer to this entire Agreement, (v) the terms “Section” and “Schedule” refer to the specified Section or Schedule of or to this Agreement, (vi) the word “including” means “including without limitation,” (vii) the word “or” shall be disjunctive but not exclusive, (viii) the word “person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, syndicate, person (including, without limitation, a “person” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), trust, association or entity or government, political subdivision, agency or instrumentality of a government, and references to a person are also to its permitted successors and assigns, (ix), an “affiliate” of a specified person means a person who, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified person, (x) references to agreements and other documents shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments and other modifications thereto and references to any Law shall include all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and (xi) references to any Law shall be construed as including all statutory, legal, and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending or replacing such Law.

 

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(b) The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the Parties to express their mutual intent and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any Party.

 

7.12 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts executed in and to be performed in that State. All legal actions and proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined exclusively in any Delaware Chancery Court; provided, that if jurisdiction is not then available in the Delaware Chancery Court, then any such legal Action may be brought in any federal court located in the State of Delaware or any other Delaware state court. The Parties hereby (a) irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts for themselves and with respect to their respective properties for the purpose of any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought by any Party, and (b) agree not to commence any Action relating thereto except in the courts described above in Delaware, other than Actions in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce any judgment, decree or award rendered by any such court in Delaware as described herein. Each of the Parties further agrees that notice as provided herein shall constitute sufficient service of process and the Parties further waive any argument that such service is insufficient. Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion or as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby any claim (a)  that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the courts in Delaware as described herein for any reason, (b) that it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise) and (c) that (i) the Action in any such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (ii) the venue of such Action is improper or (iii) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.

 

7.13 Specific Performance. The Parties agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof, and, accordingly, that the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement or to enforce specifically the performance of the terms and provisions hereof in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if that court does not have jurisdiction, any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction located in the State of Delaware without proof of actual damages or otherwise, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity as expressly permitted in this Agreement. Each of the Parties hereby further waives (a) any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate and (b) any requirement under any Law to post security or a bond as a prerequisite to obtaining equitable relief.

 

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7.14 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH OF THE PARTIES (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 7.14.

 

7.15 Counterparts; Electronic Delivery. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or portable document format (.pdf) transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different Parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery by email to counsel for the other Parties of a counterpart executed by a Party shall be deemed to meet the requirements of the previous sentence.

 

7.16 Directors and Officers. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to impose any obligation or limitation on votes or actions taken by any director, officer, employee, agent, designee or other representative of any Requisite Shareholder or by any Requisite Shareholder that is a natural person, in each case, in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Each Requisite Shareholder is executing this Agreement solely in such capacity as a record or beneficial holder of Company Securities.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

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In witness whereof, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first set forth above.

 

  Purchaser:
   
  EAST STONE ACQUISITION CORPORATION
     
  By:  
  Name: Xiaoma (Sherman) Lu
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Shareholder Support Agreement]

 

 

 

 

  COMPANY:
   
  ICONIQ HOLDING LIMITED
     
  By:  
  Name: Nan Wu
  Title:Director

 

[Signature Page to Shareholder Support Agreement]

 

 

 

 

  REQUISITE SHAREHOLDERS:
   
  [Name of each requisite shareholder]
                                 
  By:  
  Name:
  Title:

 

[Signature page to Shareholder Support Agreement]

 

 

 

 

Schedule A

 

Requisite Shareholder Company Class A Ordinary Shares Company Class B Ordinary Shares Notice Address
       
Total:     N/A

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

EAST STONE ACQUISITION CORPORATION
25 Mall Road, Suite 330

Burlington, MA 01803

 

April 15, 2022

Double Ventures Holdings Limited
19/F Hong Commercial Building

145 Hennessy Road

Wanchai, Hong Kong

 

Xiaoma (Sherman) Lu

19/F Hong Commercial Building

145 Hennessy Road

Wanchai, Hong Kong

     

Navy Sail International Limited

19/F Hong Commercial Building

145 Hennessy Road

Wanchai, Hong Kong

 

Charlie Hao

19/F Hong Commercial Building

145 Hennessy Road

Wanchai, Hong Kong

     

NWTN Inc.

No.76 Mu Nan Road, Heping District, Tianjin, China
Attn: Baojin Su

  ICONIQ Holding Limited
No.76 Mu Nan Road, Heping District, Tianjin, China
Attn: Baojin Su

 

Re: Amendment of Insider Letter

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to that certain letter agreement, dated February 19, 2020 (as amended, the “Insider Letter”), by and among, East Stone Acquisition Corporation, a British Virgin Islands business company (“East Stone” or the “Company”), Double Ventures Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands company (the “Sponsor”), Navy Sail International Limited, a British Virgin Islands company (“Navy Sail”), and the directors, officers or other initial shareholders of the Company named therein (the “Insiders”), pursuant to which, among other matters, each of the Sponsor, Navy Sail and the other Insiders agreed to the restrictions on transfer of their Insider Shares as set forth in Section 3(a) thereof. Any term used but not defined in this letter agreement (this “Amendment”) will have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Insider Letter or, if such term is not defined in the Insider Letter, in the Business Combination Agreement (defined below).

 

On the date hereof, the Company entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement, (as it may be amended, the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among East Stone, NWTN Inc., an exempted company incorporated with limited liability in the Cayman Islands (“Pubco”), Navy Sail, Muse Merger Sub I Limited, an exempted company incorporated with limited liability in the Cayman Islands and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“First Merger Sub”), Muse Merger Sub II Limited, a British Virgin Islands company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“Second Merger Sub”), and ICONIQ Holding Limited, a Cayman Island limited company (“Iconiq”), pursuant to which, among other matters, (a) the First Merger Sub will merge with and into Iconiq, with Iconiq continuing as the surviving corporation (the “First Merger”), and as a result of which, (i) Iconiq will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco, and (ii) each issued and outstanding security of Iconiq immediately prior to the effective time of the First Merger will no longer be outstanding and will automatically be cancelled, in exchange for the right of the holder thereof to receive certain securities of Pubco, and (b) the Second Merger Sub will merge with and into East Stone, with East Stone continuing as the surviving entity (the “Second Merger”, and together with the First Merger, the “Mergers”), and as a result of which, (i) East Stone will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco, and (ii) each issued and outstanding security of East Stone immediately prior to the effective time of the Second Merger will no longer be outstanding and will automatically be cancelled, in exchange for the right of the holder thereof to receive a substantially equivalent security of Pubco, all upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Business Combination Agreement and in accordance with the provisions of applicable law (the Mergers together with other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, the “Transactions”).

 

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In order to induce Iconiq, Pubco, First Merger Sub and Second Merger Sub to enter into the Business Combination Agreement, each of the Sponsor, Navy Sail, Xiaoma (Sherman) Lu, and Chunyi (Charlie) Hao (collectively, the “Primary Initial Shareholders”, and each individually, a “Primary Initial Shareholder”) and East Stone, have agreed to amend certain provisions of the Insider Letter, as such provisions are applicable to the Primary Initial Shareholders.

 

The Insider Letter may only be changed, amended or modified by a written instrument executed by East Stone and each officer or director that is the subject of any such change, amendment modification or waiver.

 

For good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, East Stone and each Primary Initial Shareholder hereby agrees as follows:

 

1.Addition of Pubco as a Party to the Insider Letter. The parties hereby agree to add Pubco as a party to the Insider Letter. The parties further agree that, from and after the Closing, all of the rights and obligations of the Company under Insider Letter shall be, and hereby are, assigned and delegated to Pubco as if it were the original “Company” party thereto. By executing this Amendment, Pubco hereby agrees to be bound by and subject to all of the terms and conditions of Insider Letter, including from and after the Closing as if it were the original “Company” party thereto.

 

2.Amendments to Insider Letter. The Parties hereby agree to the following amendments to the Insider Letter:

 

(a)Section 1 of the Insider Letter is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced by the following:

 

1.(a) If the Company solicits approval of its shareholders of a Business Combination (as defined below), the undersigned will vote all Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by him, her or it, whether acquired before, in or after the IPO, or whether such Ordinary Shares are underlying the Private Units, in favor of such Business Combination.

 

(b)       Without limiting the generality of Section 1.(a) above, each Primary Initial Shareholder hereby further unconditionally and irrevocably agrees that at any meeting of the shareholders of the Company (or any adjournment or postponement thereof), and in any action by written consent of the shareholders of the Company requested by the Organizational Documents of the Company or otherwise undertaken as contemplated by the Transactions (which written consent shall be delivered promptly, and in any event not later than two (2) Business Days, after the Company, as applicable, requests such delivery), such Primary Initial Shareholder shall: if a meeting is held, attend and appear at the meeting, in person or by proxy, or otherwise cause its Insider Shares to be counted as present thereat for purposes of establishing a quorum, and such Primary Initial Shareholder shall vote all of its Insider Shares to which Primary Initial Shareholder has sole or shared voting power and is entitled to vote; and/or if a written consent or approval is requested, duly and promptly execute and provide such written consent or approval (or cause to be voted or so consented or approved), in person or by proxy, in respect of all of its Insider Shares: (i) to approve in favor of the Shareholder Approval Matters, or if there are insufficient votes in favor of granting the approval of the Shareholder Approval Matters, in favor of the adjournment or postponement of such meeting of the shareholders of the Company to a later date, (ii) in opposition to other than as contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, any material change in (x) the present capitalization of the Company or any amendment of the Company’s Organizational Documents or (y) the Company’s corporate structure or business and (iii) in any other circumstances upon which a vote, consent or other approval with respect to the Shareholder Approval Matters is sought, to vote, consent or approve (or cause to be voted, consented or approved) all of such Primary Initial Shareholder’s Insider Shares held at such time in favor of the foregoing; provided, however, that such Primary Initial Shareholder shall not be required to vote or provide consent or take any other action, in each case to the extent any such vote, consent or other action would preclude SEC registration of Pubco Shares being issued to holders of Purchaser Securities (defined in the Business Combination Agreement) as contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement.

 

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(c)Section 3(a) of the Insider Letter is hereby amended by adding the following sentence at the end of the Section.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Insider Letter to the contrary, each Primary Initial Shareholder hereby agrees that commencing from and after the Closing, in lieu of the restrictions on transfer in Section 3 of the Insider Letter, which provisions shall not apply to the Primary Initial Shareholders after the Closing, the Insider Shares owned by such Primary Initial shall instead be bound by the terms and conditions of that certain Lock-up Agreement dated April 15, 2022, by and among NWTN Inc., Iconiq Holding Limited, the Company, Navy Sail (as the representative of the Company) and such Primary Initial Shareholders.

 

(d)Section 17 of the Insider letter is hereby amended by adding the following definition:

 

Primary Initial Shareholders” shall mean the Sponsor, Navy Sail International Limited, Xiaoma (Sherman) Lu, and Chunyi (Charlie) Hao, collectively.

 

(e)The defined terms in this Amendment, and the definitions incorporated by reference from the Business Combination Agreement, are hereby added to the Insider Letter as if they were set forth therein.

 

3.The Primary Initial Shareholder and the Company hereto acknowledge and agree that the letter agreement dated February 16, 2021, by and among the Company, the Primary Shareholders, JHD Technologies Limited, JHD Holdings (Cayman) Limited and Yellow River Cayman Limited was terminated and is void ab initio, upon the termination of the Second Amended and Restated Business Combination Agreement, dated October 7, 2021, by and among the Company, Navy Sail, JHD Technologies Limited, JHD Holdings (Cayman) Limited, Yellow River Mergerco Limited, Yellow River Cayman Limited and the Sponsor.

 

4.Miscellaneous.

 

(a)Except as expressly provided in this Amendment, all of the terms and provisions in the Insider Letter are and shall remain in full force and effect, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein. This Amendment does not constitute, directly or by implication, an amendment or waiver of any provision of the Insider Letter, or any other right, remedy, power or privilege of any party thereto, except as expressly set forth herein.

 

(b)Any reference to the Insider Letter in the Insider Letter or any other agreement, document, instrument or certificate entered into or issued in connection therewith shall hereinafter mean the Insider Letter, as amended by this Amendment (or as the Insider Letter may be further amended or modified in accordance with the terms thereof).

 

(c)The terms of this Amendment shall be governed by, enforced and construed and interpreted in a manner consistent with the provisions of the Insider Letter, including Sections 16 thereof.

 

(d)Neither this Amendment, nor the Insider Letter, may be changed, amended, modified or waived (other than to correct a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by (i) each Primary Initial Shareholder that is the subject of any such change, amendment modification or waiver and (ii) the Company, Pubco, and Iconiq.

 

(e)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the event that the Business Combination Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms prior to the Closing, this Amendment and all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall automatically terminate and be of no further force or effect.

 

{Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature page follows}

 

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Please indicate your agreement to the foregoing by signing in the space provided below.

 

  EAST STONE ACQUISITION CORPORATION
     
  By: /s/ Xiaoma (Sherman) Lu
  Name:  Xiaoma (Sherman) Lu
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

Accepted and agreed, effective as of the date first set forth above:

 

DOUBLE VENTURES HOLDINGS LIMITED  
     
By: /s/ Chunyi (Charlie) Hao  
Name:  Chunyi (Charlie) Hao  
Title: Director  
     
NAVY SAIL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED  
                                  
By: /s/ Chunyi (Charlie) Hao  
Name: Chunyi (Charlie) Hao  
Title: Director  
     
/s/ Chunyi (Charlie) Hao  
Chunyi (Charlie) Hao  
   
/s/ Xiaoma (Sherman) Lu  
Xiaoma (Sherman) Lu  

 

[Additional Signatures on the Following Page]

 

[Signature Page to Amendment to Insider Letter]

 

 

 

 
  Agreed and Acknowledged:
     
  NWTN Inc.
     
  By: /s/ Nan Wu
  Name: Nan Wu
  Title: Director
   
  ICONIQ Holding Limited
     
  By: /s/ Nan Wu
  Name: Nan Wu
  Title: Director

 

 

[Signature Page to Amendment to Insider Letter]

 

 

Exhibit 10.4

 

THIS PROMISSORY NOTE (“NOTE”) HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”).  THIS NOTE HAS BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT ONLY AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF REGISTRATION OF THE RESALE THEREOF UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY IN FORM, SCOPE AND SUBSTANCE TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.  

 

PROMISSORY NOTE

 

  Dated as of April 21, 2022
   
Principal Amount: $1,000,000    

  

East Stone Acquisition Corporation, a British Virgin Islands business company and blank check company (the “Maker”), promises to pay to the order of ICONIQ Holding Limited, an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability, or its permitted assigns or successors in interest (the “Payee” or “Lender”), the principal sum of ONE MILLION U.S. Dollars ($1,000,000) or such lower amount as defined under Section 2 hereof, with no interest bearing, in lawful money of the United States of America, on the terms and conditions described below. 

 

1. Lending. This Note shall be issued to the Lender and exercised in two tranches, provided in each case that the Maker has notified the Lender in writing of its designated bank account details in advance no less than three (3) business days prior to the funding date:

 

(a) First Tranche. THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS ($300,000) shall be paid to the bank account designated by and opened in the name of the Maker within five (5) calendar days after the entry by the Lender and the Maker into this Note.

 

(b) Second Tranche. Up to SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS ($700,000) shall be directly disbursed in one or more payments to independent and reputable third-party service providers engaged by the Maker solely in relation to the consummation of the contemplated business combination between the Maker and the Payee (“Business Combination”); provided that before each disbursement, the Maker shall furnish an official payment request in writing to the Lender setting out in reasonable detail the services that have been provided by the third-party provider (which services shall comply with the foregoing sentence of this Section 1(c)), the amount due to the third-party provider that corresponds to such services, and the due date for payment, attached with the photocopy of invoices issued by such third-party providers for the Lender to review; provided further that the date of each official payment request shall be no later than ten (10) business days prior to the due date for payment set forth therein. The Lender shall make such payments within ten (10) business days after receiving the payment request but shall only be required to do so and in such amounts with respect to which a payment request in compliance with the foregoing proviso reasonably satisfactory to it has been provided to it; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the aggregate amount to be made by the Lender under this Section 1(c) shall not exceed US$700,000.

 

2. Principal. The aggregate amount paid to the Maker’s designated bank account or to third-party service providers under Section 1 of this Note from time to time shall be referred to as the “Principal”. The Principal shall only be used solely for the purpose of paying for services provided by independent and reputable third-party service providers to the Maker following the execution of the non-binding term sheet on March 15, 2022 by the Maker and the Payer which set out the key terms of the Business Combination and directly in relation to maintaining the Maker as a public company and the consummation of the Business Combination.

 

3. Payment; Maturity Date.

 

(a) Subject to Section 5 hereunder, the outstanding Principal shall be due and payable by the Maker promptly on the date which is the earliest of (such date, the “Maturity Date”): (a) one year anniversary of the date of disbursing the first tranche under Section 1(a) hereof; (b) subject to Section 3(c) hereof, the date of closing a business combination by ESSC (whether in the same or similar nature as the Business Combination or otherwise) with any other party; (c) the date of closing the Business Combination; (d) the date of the occurrence of an Event of Default (defined under Section 4) and (e) in accordance with Section 10.3(b) of the business combination agreement entered into by the parties and such other parties thereof concerning the Business Combination on April 15, 2022 (the “Business Combination Agreement”).

 

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(b) Subject to Section 12 hereunder and the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, the outstanding Principal shall be paid (i) in lawful money of the United States of America to be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds by the Maker (or its successor) to such account as the Payee may from time to time designate by written notice in accordance with the provisions of this Note, or (ii) alternatively, only if so elected by the Payee, such number of newly issued, fully paid and non-assessable ordinary shares of the Maker (or its successor) equal to (x) the outstanding Principal elected by the Payee to be paid with shares divided by (y) $10.26, or, if lower, the cash-in-trust value per ordinary share.

 

(c) Subject to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, before the full payment of the outstanding Principal in accordance with this Section 3, the Maker shall not enter into any other business combination (whether in the same or similar nature as the Business Combination or otherwise) with any other party unless such other party (or the surviving company of such other business combination) assumes all of the obligations of the Maker hereunder in writing and fully repays the outstanding Principal prior to the closing of such business combination.

 

4. Events of Default.  The following shall constitute an event of default (“Event of Default”):

 

(a) Failure to Make Required Payments. Failure by the Maker to pay the Principal amount or any portion thereof when due pursuant to this Note within five (5) business days of the Maturity Date.

 

(b) Voluntary Bankruptcy, Etc. The commencement by the Maker of a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, rehabilitation or other similar law, or the consent by it to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Maker or for any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of any assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the failure of the Maker generally to pay its debts as such debts become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Maker in furtherance of any of the foregoing.

 

(c) Involuntary Bankruptcy, Etc. The entry of a decree or order for relief by a court having jurisdiction in the premises in respect of the Maker in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Maker or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days.

 

5. Remedies.

 

(a) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Sections 4(a) and 4(d) hereof, the Payee may, by written notice to the Maker, declare this Note to be due immediately and payable, whereupon the unpaid Principal amount of this Note, and all other amounts payable hereunder, shall become immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, anything contained herein or in the documents evidencing the same to the contrary notwithstanding.

 

(b) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Sections 4(b) and 4(c), the unpaid Principal balance of this Note, and all other sums payable with regard to this Note, shall automatically and immediately become due and payable, in all cases without any action on the part of the Payee.

 

6. Waivers. The Maker and all endorsers and guarantors (if any) of, and sureties for, this Note waive presentment for payment, demand, notice of dishonor, protest, and notice of protest with regard to this Note, all errors, defects and imperfections in any proceedings instituted by the Payee under the terms of this Note, and all benefits that might accrue to the Maker by virtue of any present or future laws exempting any property, real or personal, or any part of the proceeds arising from any sale of any such property, from attachment, levy or sale under execution, or providing for any stay of execution, exemption from civil process, or extension of time for payment, and the Maker agrees that any real estate that may be levied upon pursuant to a judgment obtained by virtue hereof or any writ of execution issued hereon, may be sold upon any such writ in whole or in part in any order desired by the Payee.

 

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7. Unconditional Liability. The Maker hereby waives all notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default, or enforcement of the payment of this Note, and agrees that its liability shall be unconditional, without regard to the liability of any other party, and shall not be affected in any manner by any indulgence, extension of time, renewal, waiver or modification granted or consented to by the Payee, and consents to any and all extensions of time, renewals, waivers, or modifications that may be granted by the Payee with respect to the payment or other provisions of this Note, and agrees that additional makers, endorsers, guarantors, or sureties may become parties hereto without notice to the Maker or affecting the Maker’s liability hereunder.

 

8. Notices. All notices, statements or other documents which are required or contemplated by this Note shall be made in writing and delivered: (a) personally or sent by first class registered or certified mail, overnight courier service or facsimile or electronic transmission to the address designated in writing, (b) by facsimile to the number most recently provided to such party or such other address or fax number as may be designated in writing by such party or (c) by electronic mail, to the electronic mail address most recently provided to such party or such other electronic mail address as may be designated in writing by such party.  Any notice or other communication so transmitted shall be deemed to have been given on the day of delivery, if delivered personally, on the business day following receipt of written confirmation, if sent by facsimile or electronic transmission, one (1) business day after delivery to an overnight courier service or five (5) days after mailing if sent by mail.

  

9. Construction. This Note shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the republic of the British Virgin Islands, without regard to conflict of law provisions thereof.

 

10. Arbitration. Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Note, shall be referred to and finally resolved in Hong Kong by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre under the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre Administered Arbitration Rules in force at the time.

 

11. Severability. Any provision contained in this Note which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

12. Trust Waiver. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Payee hereby waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind as a result of or arising out of this Note (“Claim”) in or to any distribution of or from the trust account (the “Trust Account”) established in which the proceeds of the initial public offering (“the “IPO”) conducted by the Maker (including the deferred underwriters’ discounts and commissions) and the proceeds of the sale of the units issued in a private placement that occurred prior to the closing of the IPO were deposited, as described in greater detail in the Maker’s Registration Statements on Form S-1 (333-235949 and 333-236527) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the IPO, and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. The provisions of this Section 12 shall be in addition to, and not in limitation of, any releases of Claims against the Trust Account which may be provided by the Payee pursuant to any other written definitive agreement among the Payee and the Maker.

 

13. Amendment; Waiver. Any amendment hereto or waiver of any provision hereof may be made with, and only with, the written consent of the Maker and the Payee.

 

14. Assignment. No assignment or transfer of this Note or any rights or obligations hereunder may be made by the Maker (by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the Payee and any attempted assignment without the required consent shall be void.

 

15. Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Note were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Note or to enforce specifically the performance of the terms and provisions hereof, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

 

16. Effective Date. Upon the date first written above, this Note shall become effective and the promissory note entered between the parties on March 16, 2022 shall be deemed null and void in all respects.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank. Signature page follows.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Maker and the Lender intending to be legally bound hereby, have caused this Note to be duly executed by the undersigned as of the day and year first above written. 

 

Lender:

ICONIQ Holding Limited

 

Maker:

East Stone Acquisition Corporation

     
By:   /s/ Nan Wu   By: /s/ Xiaoma (Sherman) Lu
Name:   Nan Wu     Name:  Xiaoma (Sherman) Lu
Title:  Director      Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

 

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Exhibit 10.5

 

FORM OF SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

 

This SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this “Subscription Agreement”) is entered into on [_____] by and among East Stone Acquisition Corporation, a British Virgin Islands business company (“SPAC”), NWTN Inc., an exempted company incorporated with limited liability in the Cayman Islands (“PubCo”), and the undersigned investor (“Subscriber”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Transaction Agreement (as defined below).

 

WHEREAS, SPAC, ICONIQ Holding Limited, an exempted company incorporated with limited liability in the Cayman Islands (the “Company”), PubCo, Navy Sail International Limited, a British Virgin Islands Company, certain merger subsidiaries formed by PubCo and certain other party(ies) thereto, have entered into a business combination transaction to the effect that upon consummation, both SPAC and the Company will become wholly owned subsidiaries of PubCo on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Business Combination Agreement dated as of April 15, 2022 (as amended, modified, supplemented or waived from time to time in accordance with its terms, the “Transaction Agreement”) (the “Transaction”);

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Transaction, Subscriber desires to subscribe for and purchase from PubCo, and PubCo desires to sell to Subscriber, that number of ordinary shares of PubCo, which are entitled to one (1) vote per ordinary share (“PubCo Ordinary Shares”), set forth on the signature page hereto for a purchase price of $10.26 per share or if lower, the Redemption Price (the “Per Share Price” and the aggregate of such Per Share Price for all such ordinary shares subscribed for by Subscriber being referred to herein as the “Purchase Price”), on the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein; and

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Transaction, certain other “qualified institutional buyers” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)) and certain other institutional “accredited investors” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act) (each, an “Other Subscriber”) have entered into or will enter into, severally and not jointly, separate subscription agreements with PubCo and SPAC (the “Other Subscription Agreements”), pursuant to which such Other Subscribers have agreed or will agree to purchase PubCo Ordinary Shares at the same Per Share Price as Subscriber.

 

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

 

1. Subscription. Subject to the immediately succeeding paragraph, Subscriber hereby irrevocably subscribes for and agrees to purchase from PubCo, and PubCo hereby agrees to issue and sell to Subscriber upon payment of the Purchase Price, such number of PubCo Ordinary Shares as is set forth on the signature page of this Subscription Agreement (the “Shares”) on the terms and subject to the conditions provided for herein (the “Subscription”).

 

 

 

 

2. Closing. The closing of the Subscription contemplated hereby (the “Subscription Closing”) is contingent upon the substantially concurrent consummation of the Transaction (the “Transaction Closing”). The Subscription Closing shall occur on the date of, and immediately prior to or substantially concurrently with, the consummation of the Transaction Closing (the “Transaction Closing Date”). Not less than five (5) business days prior to the scheduled Transaction Closing Date, SPAC and PubCo shall provide written notice to Subscriber (the “Closing Notice”) (i) of such scheduled Transaction Closing Date, (ii) that SPAC and PubCo reasonably expect all conditions to the closing of the Transaction to be satisfied or waived and (iii) containing wire instructions for the payment of the Purchase Price. On the Transaction Closing Date specified in the Closing Notice, the Purchase Price shall be delivered by wire transfer of United States dollars in immediately available funds to the account specified by SPAC and PubCo in the Closing Notice. On the Transaction Closing Date, PubCo shall deliver to Subscriber (i) the Shares in book-entry form, free and clear of any liens or other restrictions whatsoever (other than those arising under applicable securities laws or as set forth herein), in the name of Subscriber (or its nominee in accordance with its delivery instructions) or to a custodian designated by Subscriber, as applicable, and (ii) a copy of the records of PubCo’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) showing Subscriber (or such nominee or custodian) as the owner of the Shares on and as of the Transaction Closing Date. For purposes of this Subscription Agreement, “business day” shall mean any day other than Saturday, Sunday or such other days on which banks located in New York, New York are required or authorized by applicable law to be closed for business.

 

If the Transaction Closing does not occur on the same day as the Subscription Closing, PubCo shall promptly (but not later than one (1) business day thereafter) return the Purchase Price to Subscriber by wire transfer of U.S. dollars in immediately available funds to the account specified by Subscriber, and any book-entries shall be deemed cancelled.

 

Each book entry for the Shares shall contain a notation, and each certificate (if any) evidencing the Shares shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend, in substantially the following form:

 

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

 

If this Subscription Agreement terminates for any reason following the delivery by Subscriber of the Purchase Price for the Shares, PubCo shall promptly (but not later than one (1) business day thereafter) return the Purchase Price to Subscriber by wire transfer of U.S. dollars in immediately available funds to the account specified in writing by Subscriber, whether or not the Transaction Closing shall have occurred.

 

3. Closing Conditions.

 

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

 

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

 

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iiSubscriber shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all agreements and covenants required by this Subscription Agreement required to be performed or complied with at or prior to the Subscription Closing.

 

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

 

iall representations and warranties of PubCo and SPAC contained in this Subscription Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect (as defined herein), which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) at and as of the Subscription Closing except to the extent that any such representation or warranty expressly is made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such specified date, and consummation of the Subscription Closing shall constitute a reaffirmation by PubCo and SPAC of each of the representations, warranties and agreements of such party contained in this Subscription Agreement as of the Subscription Closing;

 

iiPubCo and SPAC each shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all of its respective agreements and covenants required by this Subscription Agreement required to be performed or complied with at or prior to the Subscription Closing;

 

iiithe Shares shall have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) or the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), as applicable, subject to official notice of issuance; and

 

ivother than the Other Subscription Agreements, SPAC and PubCo shall not have entered into any side letter or similar agreement with any Other Subscriber, and there shall have been no amendment, waiver or modification to any Other Subscription Agreement that materially benefits any Other Subscriber thereunder unless Subscriber has been offered the same benefits.

 

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

 

ino applicable Governmental Authority (as defined herein) shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any judgment, order, law, rule or regulation (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) which is then in effect and has the effect of making consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby illegal or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and no Governmental Authority shall have instituted or threatened in writing a proceeding seeking to impose any such prohibition; and

 

iiall conditions precedent to the Transaction Closing, including the approval of SPAC’s stockholders, shall have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions which, by their nature, are to be satisfied at the Transaction Closing).

 

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

 

5. SPAC and PubCo Representations and Warranties. Each of SPAC and PubCo hereby represents and warrants to Subscriber that:

 

a. Each of SPAC and PubCo is a company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its respective incorporation or organization and has the requisite corporate or limited liability power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is currently being conducted.

 

b. The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered to Subscriber against full payment therefor in accordance with the terms of this Subscription Agreement and registered in PubCo’s register of members, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of any liens or other restrictions (other than those arising under applicable laws) and will not have been issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive or similar rights under the memorandum and articles of association of PubCo (together, and in each case as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the “PubCo Charter”) or under the laws of the Cayman Islands.

 

c. This Subscription Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of SPAC and PubCo and constitutes the legal, valid and binding agreement of each of SPAC and PubCo, enforceable against SPAC and PubCo in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited or otherwise affected by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally, and (ii) principles of equity, whether considered at law or equity.

 

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d. The execution, delivery and performance of this Subscription Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Shares and the compliance by each of SPAC and PubCo with all of the provisions of this Subscription Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (i) conflict with or violate the SPAC certificate of incorporation and bylaws, in each case as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, or the PubCo Charter, (ii) assuming that all consents, approvals, authorizations, expiration or termination of waiting periods and other actions described in Section 5(e) hereof have been obtained and all filings and obligations described in Section 5(e) have been made, conflict with or violate any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over SPAC or PubCo, or by which any of their respective properties or assets is bound or affected, or (iii) result in any breach of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a lien on any property or asset of SPAC or PubCo pursuant to, any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other instrument or obligation to which SPAC or PubCo is a party, or by which SPAC or PubCo or any of their respective properties or assets is bound or affected, except, with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii), for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults or other occurrences which would not have or reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, financial condition, assets and liabilities or results of operations of SPAC or PubCo or materially affect the validity of the Shares or the legal authority of SPAC or PubCo to comply in all material respects with the terms of this Subscription Agreement (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

 

e. The issuance and sale of the Shares and the compliance by each of SPAC and PubCo with all of the provisions of this Subscription Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to, or expiration or termination of any waiting period by, any United States federal, state, county, local or non-U.S. government, governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, agency, instrumentality or commission or any court, tribunal, or judicial or arbitral body (a “Governmental Authority”), except (i) for applicable requirements, if any, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the Securities Act, state securities or “blue sky” laws and state takeover laws, filings required by Nasdaq and/or the NYSE, and filing with and registration by the Registrar of Companies of appropriate merger documents as required by the Companies Law (2020 Revision), as amended, of the Cayman Islands and (ii) where the failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications, would not have or would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or otherwise prevent SPAC or PubCo from performing its material obligations under this Subscription Agreement.

 

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f. Each of SPAC and PubCo is in compliance with all applicable laws, except where such non-compliance would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither SPAC nor PubCo has received any written communication from a Governmental Authority that alleges that SPAC or PubCo is not in compliance with or is in default or violation of any applicable law, except where such non-compliance, default or violation would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

g. Upon the closing of the Transaction, the issued and outstanding PubCo Ordinary Shares will be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and will be listed for trading on either Nasdaq or the NYSE. There is no suit, action, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of PubCo, threatened against PubCo by Nasdaq, the NYSE or the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister the PubCo Ordinary Shares or prohibit or terminate the listing of the PubCo Ordinary Shares on Nasdaq or the NYSE. PubCo has taken no action that is designed to prevent the registration of the PubCo Ordinary Shares under the Exchange Act.

 

h. Assuming the accuracy of Subscriber’s representations and warranties set forth in Section 6 of this Subscription Agreement, no registration under the Securities Act is required for the offer and sale of the Shares by PubCo to Subscriber.

 

i. As of their respective dates, all filings (the “SEC Documents”), if any, filed by each of PubCo and SPAC with the SEC complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder, and none of the SEC Documents, when filed (or, if amended, as of the date of such amendment), contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. A copy of each SEC Document is available to each Subscriber via the SEC’s EDGAR system. Except for comments on the Form S-4 filed with the SEC by SPAC on June 28, 2021 (as amended) in relation to the prior business combination with JHD Technologies Limited, there are no material outstanding or unresolved comments in comment letters received by SPAC or PubCo from the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance (the “Staff”) of the SEC with respect to any of the SEC Documents.

 

j. The authorized capital stock of SPAC consists of an unlimited number of shares of SPAC’s ordinary shares, no par value per share, (“SPAC Ordinary Shares”) and an unlimited number of preferred shares, no par value (“SPAC Preferred Shares”). As of the date of this Subscription Agreement, (i) 7174,245 SPAC Ordinary Shares are issued and outstanding, all of which are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to any preemptive rights, (ii) no SPAC Preferred Shares are issued and outstanding, (iii) 3,264,744 SPAC Ordinary Shares are held in the treasury of SPAC, (iv) 350,000 private placement warrants (the “Private Placement Warrants”) are issued and outstanding and 175,000 SPAC Ordinary Shares are issuable in respect of such Private Placement Warrants, (v) 690,000 underwriter warrants (the “Underwriter Warrants”) are issued and outstanding and 345,000 SPAC Ordinary Shares are issuable in respect of such Underwriter Warrants, (vi) 13,800,000 public warrants (the “Public Warrants”) are issued and outstanding and 6,900,000 SPAC Ordinary Shares are issuable in respect of such Public Warrants, (vii) 14,150,000 rights, exchangeable into one-tenth of one SPAC Ordinary Share to purchase (the “SPAC Rights”) are issued and outstanding and 1,415,000 SPAC Ordinary Shares are issuable in respect of such SPAC Rights. Each Private Placement Warrant, Underwriter Warrant and Public Warrant is exercisable for one-half of one SPAC Ordinary Share at an exercise price of $11.50. Except as set forth above and pursuant to the Other Subscription Agreements, the Transaction Agreement and the other agreements and arrangements referred to therein or in the SEC Documents, as of the date of this Subscription Agreement, there are no outstanding options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for, purchase or acquire from SPAC any SPAC Common Stock or other equity interests in SPAC, or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such equity interests. There are no securities issued by SPAC or instruments to which SPAC is a party containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered by the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement or the issuance of the Shares pursuant to this Subscription Agreement or PubCo Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to the Other Subscription Agreements that have not been or will not be validly waived on or prior to the closing of the Transaction.

 

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k. As of the date of this Subscription Agreement, the authorized share capital of PubCo consists of 500,000,000 ordinary shares of PubCo, par value $0.0001 per share, of which one (1) Pubco ordinary share is issued and outstanding, and owned by the Company. All outstanding ordinary shares of PubCo are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, are not subject to preemptive rights and are held free and clear of all liens, other than transfer restrictions under applicable securities laws and the PubCo Charter. Except as set forth above and pursuant to the Other Subscription Agreements, the Transaction Agreement and the other agreements and arrangements referred to therein or in the SEC Documents, as of the date of this Subscription Agreement, there are no outstanding options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for, purchase or acquire from PubCo any ordinary shares of PubCo or other equity interests in PubCo, or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such equity interests. As of the date of this Subscription Agreement, there are no securities issued by PubCo or instruments to which PubCo is a party containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered by the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement or the issuance of the Shares pursuant to this Subscription Agreement or PubCo Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to the Other Subscription Agreements that have not been or will not be validly waived on or prior to the closing of the Transaction.

 

l. Except for such matters as have not had and would not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, there is no (i) action, suit, claim or other proceeding, in each case by or before any Governmental Authority pending, or, to the knowledge of SPAC or PubCo, threatened against SPAC or PubCo or (ii) judgment, decree, injunction, ruling or order of any governmental entity or arbitrator outstanding against SPAC or PubCo.

 

m. Other than the Other Subscription Agreements, neither SPAC nor PubCo has entered into any side letter or similar agreement with any Other Subscriber in connection with such Other Subscriber’s direct or indirect investment in PubCo, and such Other Subscription Agreements have not been amended in any material respect following the date of this Subscription Agreement and reflect the same Per Share Price and terms that are no more favorable to such Other Subscribers thereunder than the terms of this Subscription Agreement.

 

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n. Neither PubCo nor any person acting on its behalf has engaged or will engage in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D of the Securities Act) in connection with any offer or sale of the Shares.

 

o. In light of the “Staff Statement on Accounting and Reporting Considerations for Warrants Issued by Special Purpose Acquisition Companies” issued by the Staff on April 12, 2021 and related guidance by the SEC, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 5 of this Subscription Agreement, no representation or warranty is made by SPAC as to the historical accounting treatment of the Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants; any deficiencies in disclosure (including with respect to financial statement presentation or accounting and disclosure controls) arising from the treatment of the Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants as equity rather than liabilities in SPAC’s historical financial statements and SEC Documents; or any changes that may be required to SPAC’s historical financial statements and SEC Documents, including any required restatements of SEC Documents or of any financial statements contained therein.

 

6. Subscriber Representations and Warranties. Subscriber hereby represents and warrants to SPAC and PubCo that:

 

a. Subscriber is (i) a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) or (ii) an institutional “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act), in each case, satisfying the requirements set forth on Schedule A hereto, and is acquiring the Shares only for its own account and not for the account of others, and not on behalf of any other account or person or with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act (and shall provide the requested information on Schedule A hereto following the signature page hereto). Accordingly, Subscriber understands that the offering of the Shares meets the exemptions from filing under Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) Rule 5123(b)(1)(C) or (J). Subscriber is not an entity formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the Shares.

 

b. Subscriber (i) is an institutional account as defined in FINRA Rule 4512(c), (ii) is a sophisticated investor, experienced in investing in business and finance transactions and capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to all transactions and investment strategies involving a security or securities and (iii) has exercised independent judgment in evaluating its participation in the purchase of the Shares. Accordingly, Subscriber understands that the offering meets (x) the exemptions from filing under FINRA Rule 5123(b)(1)(A) and (y) the institutional customer exemption under FINRA Rule 2111(b).

 

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c. Subscriber understands that the Shares are being offered in a transaction not involving any public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act and that the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act. Subscriber understands that the Shares may not be resold, transferred, pledged (other than pledges in the ordinary course of business as part of prime brokerage arrangements) or otherwise disposed of by Subscriber absent an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, except (i) to PubCo or a subsidiary thereof, (ii) to non-U.S. persons pursuant to offers and sales that occur outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act or (iii) pursuant to another applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and, in each of cases (i) and (iii), in accordance with any applicable securities laws of the states and other jurisdictions of the United States, and that any certificates or book-entry positions representing the Shares shall contain a legend to such effect. Subscriber acknowledges that the Shares will not be eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act. Subscriber understands and agrees that the Shares will be subject to the foregoing transfer restrictions and, as a result of these transfer restrictions, Subscriber may not be able to readily resell the Shares and may be required to bear the financial risk of an investment in the Shares for an indefinite period of time. Subscriber understands that it has been advised to consult legal counsel prior to making any offer, resale, pledge or transfer of any of the Shares.

 

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

 

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

 

f. Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that Subscriber has received and has had an adequate opportunity to review, such financial and other information as Subscriber deems necessary in order to make an investment decision with respect to the Shares and made its own assessment and is satisfied concerning the relevant tax and other economic considerations relevant to Subscriber’s investment in the Shares. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Subscriber (for itself and, if applicable, for each account for which it is acquiring the Shares) acknowledges that it has reviewed the documents provided to Subscriber by SPAC and PubCo. Subscriber (for itself and, if applicable, for each account for which it is acquiring the Shares) represents and agrees that Subscriber and Subscriber’s professional advisor(s), if any, have had the full opportunity to ask such questions and receive such answers from SPAC and PubCo or any person or persons acting on their behalf concerning the terms and conditions of an investment in the Shares, have obtained such materials or information as Subscriber and Subscriber’s professional advisor(s), if any, have deemed necessary to make an investment decision with respect to the Shares and have independently made their own analysis and decision to invest in the Shares.

 

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g. Subscriber became aware of this offering of the Shares solely by means of direct contact between Subscriber, on the one hand, and PubCo, SPAC and/or their respective representatives on behalf of SPAC as a result of a pre-existing substantive relationship, and the Shares were offered to Subscriber solely by direct contact between Subscriber and PubCo or a representative of PubCo. Subscriber did not become aware of this offering of the Shares, nor were the Shares offered to Subscriber, by any other means. Subscriber acknowledges that PubCo represents and warrants that the Shares (i) were not offered by any form of general solicitation or general advertising and (ii) are not being offered in a manner involving a public offering under, or in a distribution in violation of, the Securities Act, or any state securities laws.

 

h. Subscriber acknowledges that it is aware that there are substantial risks incident to the purchase and ownership of the Shares. Subscriber is able to fend for himself, herself or itself in the transactions completed herein, has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Shares and has the ability to bear the economic risks of such investment in the Shares and can afford a complete loss of such investment. Subscriber has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as Subscriber has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision.

 

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

 

j. In making its decision to purchase the Shares, Subscriber has relied solely upon independent investigation made by Subscriber and the representations, warranties and covenants contained herein.

 

k. Subscriber understands that no federal or state agency has passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Shares or made any findings or determination as to the fairness of this investment.

 

l. Subscriber has been duly formed or incorporated and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation.

 

m. The execution, delivery and performance by Subscriber of this Subscription Agreement are within the powers of Subscriber, have been duly authorized and will not constitute or result in a breach or default under or conflict with any order, ruling or regulation of any court or other tribunal or of any governmental commission or agency, or any agreement or other undertaking, to which Subscriber is a party or by which Subscriber is bound, and will not violate any provisions of Subscriber’s organizational documents, including, without limitation, its incorporation or formation papers, bylaws, indenture of trust or partnership or operating agreement, as may be applicable. The signature on this Subscription Agreement is genuine, and the signatory has legal competence and capacity to execute the same and has been duly authorized by Subscriber to execute the same on behalf of Subscriber, and this Subscription Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Subscriber, enforceable against Subscriber in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited or otherwise affected by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally, and (ii) principles of equity, whether considered at law or equity.

 

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n. Neither the due diligence investigation conducted by Subscriber in connection with making its decision to acquire the Shares nor any representations and warranties made by Subscriber herein shall modify, amend or affect Subscriber’s right to rely on the truth, accuracy and completeness of SPAC’s and PubCo’s representations and warranties contained herein.

 

o. Neither Subscriber nor any of its officers, directors, managers, managing members, general partners or any other person acting in a similar capacity or carrying out a similar function is (i) a person or entity named on the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) or in any Executive Order issued by the President of the United States and administered by OFAC or any similar list of sanctioned persons administered by the European Union or any individual European Union member state, including the United Kingdom (collectively, “Sanctions Lists”), or a person or entity prohibited by any OFAC sanctions program, (ii) directly or indirectly owned or controlled by, or acting on behalf of, one or more persons on a Sanctions List; (iii) organized, incorporated, established, located, resident or born in, or a citizen, national, or the government, including any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, of, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, the Crimea region of Ukraine, or any other country or territory embargoed or subject to substantial trade restrictions by the United States, the European Union or any individual European Union member state, including the United Kingdom; (iv) a Designated National as defined in the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 515, or (v) a non-U.S. shell bank or providing banking services indirectly to a non-U.S. shell bank (collectively, a “Prohibited Investor”). Subscriber agrees to provide law enforcement agencies, if requested thereby, such records as required by applicable law, provided that Subscriber is permitted to do so under applicable law. If Subscriber is a financial institution subject to the Bank Secrecy Act (31 U.S.C. Section 5311 et seq.) (the “BSA”), as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (the “PATRIOT Act”), and its implementing regulations (collectively, the “BSA/PATRIOT Act”), Subscriber maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to comply with applicable obligations under the BSA/PATRIOT Act. To the extent required, it maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with sanctions programs administered by OFAC, the European Union and any European Union member state, including the United Kingdom, including for the screening of its investors against the Sanctions Lists and the OFAC sanctions programs. To the extent required, it maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the funds held by Subscriber and used to purchase the Shares were legally derived and were not obtained, directly or indirectly, from a Prohibited Investor.

 

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p. Subscriber has or has enforceable commitments to have, and at least two (2) business days prior to the Transaction Closing Date will have, sufficient funds to pay the Purchase Price and consummate the Subscription Closing when required pursuant to this Subscription Agreement.

 

q. Subscriber acknowledges that no foreign person (as defined in 31 C.F.R. Part 800.224) in which the national or subnational governments of a single foreign state have a substantial interest (as defined in 31 C.F.R. Part 800.244) will acquire a substantial interest in PubCo as a result of the purchase and sale of Shares hereunder such that a declaration to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States would be mandatory under 31 C.F.R. Part 800.401, and no foreign person will have control (as defined in 31 C.F.R. Part 800.208) over PubCo from and after the Transaction Closing as a result of the purchase and sale of Shares hereunder.

 

7. Registration Rights.

 

a. PubCo agrees that, within 90 days after the Transaction Closing Date (the “Filing Deadline”), PubCo will file with the SEC (at PubCo’s sole cost and expense) a registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) registering under the Securities Act the resale of all the Shares, and PubCo shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, but no later than the earlier of (i) the 60th calendar day (or 90th calendar day if the SEC notifies PubCo that it will “review” the Registration Statement) following the Filing Deadline and (ii) the 10th business day after the date PubCo is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the SEC that the Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review (such earlier date, the “Effectiveness Date”); provided, however, that PubCo’s obligations to include the Shares in the Registration Statement are contingent upon Subscriber furnishing in writing to PubCo such information regarding Subscriber, the securities of PubCo held by Subscriber and the intended method of disposition of the Shares as shall be reasonably requested by PubCo to effect the registration of the Shares, and shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as PubCo may reasonably request that are customary of a selling stockholder in similar situations, provided that Subscriber shall not in connection with the foregoing be required to execute any lock-up or similar agreement or otherwise be subject to any contractual restriction on the ability to transfer the Shares. In no event shall the Subscriber be identified as a statutory underwriter in the Registration Statement unless requested by the SEC and consented to in writing by Subscriber; provided, that if the SEC requests that the Subscriber be identified as a statutory underwriter in the Registration Statement, the Subscriber will have an opportunity to withdraw its Shares from the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the SEC prevents PubCo from including any or all of the shares proposed to be registered under the Registration Statement due to limitations on the use of Rule 415 of the Securities Act for the resale of the shares by the selling shareholders named therein or otherwise, such Registration Statement shall register for resale such number of shares equal to the maximum number of shares as is permitted by the SEC. In such event, the number of shares to be registered for each selling shareholder named in the Registration Statement shall be reduced pro rata among all such selling shareholders and as promptly as practicable after being permitted to register additional shares under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, PubCo shall file a new Registration Statement to register such shares not included in the initial Registration Statement and cause such Registration Statement to become effective as promptly as practicable consistent with the terms of this Section 7. For purposes of this Section 7, “Shares” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the Shares acquired by the Subscriber pursuant to this Subscription Agreement and any other equity security issued or issuable with respect to such Shares by way of stock split, dividend, distribution, recapitalization, merger, exchange, replacement or similar event, and “Subscriber” shall include any person to whom rights under this Section 7 have been properly assigned in accordance with the terms of this Subscription Agreement. PubCo shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the continuous effectiveness of the Registration Statement until the earliest of (i) the date on which the Shares may be resold without volume or manner of sale limitations pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (“Rule 144”) and without the requirement for PubCo to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144, (ii) the date on which such Shares have actually been sold and (iii) the date which is two years after the Subscription Closing (such date, the “End Date”). For purposes of clarification, any failure by PubCo to file the Registration Statement by the Filing Deadline or to have such Registration Statement declared effective by the Effectiveness Date shall not otherwise relieve PubCo of its obligations to file or effect the Registration Statement set forth in this Section 7.

 

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b. In the case of the registration, qualification, exemption or compliance effected by the PubCo pursuant to this Subscription Agreement, PubCo shall, upon reasonable request, inform Subscriber as to the status of such registration, qualification, exemption and compliance. PubCo shall, at its expense:

 

(i) until the End Date, advise the Subscriber as promptly as practicable: (A) when a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective; (B) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for such purpose; (C) of the receipt by PubCo of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Shares included therein for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and (D) subject to the applicable provisions of this Section 7, of the occurrence of any event that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement or prospectus so that, as of such date, the statements therein are not misleading and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, PubCo shall not, when so advising Subscriber of such events, provide Subscriber with any material, nonpublic information regarding PubCo other than to the extent that providing notice to Subscriber of the occurrence of the events listed in (A) through (D) above constitutes material, nonpublic information regarding PubCo;

 

(ii) until the End Date, use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement as promptly as reasonably practicable and to enable the undersigned to sell the Shares under the Registration Statement;

 

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

 

(iv) until the End Date, use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Shares to be listed on each securities exchange or market, if any, on which the PubCo Ordinary Shares issued by PubCo have been listed;

 

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

 

(vi) until the End Date, use its commercially reasonable efforts to remove the legend described in Section 2 (or instruct the Transfer Agent to so remove such legend) from the Shares if (A) the Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act, (B) such Shares are sold or transferred pursuant to Rule 144 (if the transferor is not an affiliate of PubCo), or (C) such Shares are eligible for sale under Rule 144, without the requirement for PubCo to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) as to such securities and without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions and without the requirement for PubCo to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144(c)(2) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable); provided that, in each case, the Subscriber agrees to provide PubCo, its counsel and/or the Transfer Agent with evidence reasonably requested by any of PubCo, its counsel and/or the Transfer Agent in order to cause the removal of the legend described in Section 2 (the “Representations”). If a legend is no longer required pursuant to the foregoing, PubCo will, as promptly as practicable following request by the holder, cause the Transfer Agent for the Shares to remove any restrictive legends related to the book entry account holding such Shares and make a new, unlegended entry for such book entry shares sold or disposed of without restrictive legends, subject to the delivery by an applicable holder to PubCo or the Transfer Agent (with notice to PubCo) of a legended certificate or book-entry position representing the Shares (endorsed or with stock powers attached, signatures guaranteed, and otherwise in form necessary to affect the reissuance and/or transfer), if required, and the Representations. Certificates or book-entry positions representing the Shares free from all restrictive legends may be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to the applicable holders by crediting the account of the applicable holder’s prime broker with DTC as directed by such applicable holder. PubCo shall be responsible for the fees of the Transfer Agent, its legal counsel and all DTC fees associated with such issuance.

 

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c. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Subscription Agreement, PubCo shall be entitled to delay or postpone the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and from time to time to require any Subscriber not to sell under the Registration Statement or to suspend the effectiveness thereof, if the negotiation or consummation of a transaction by PubCo or its subsidiaries is pending or an event has occurred, which negotiation, consummation or event, PubCo’s board of directors reasonably believes, upon the advice of legal counsel, would require additional disclosure by PubCo in the Registration Statement of material information that PubCo has a bona fide business purpose for keeping confidential and the non-disclosure of which in the Registration Statement would be expected, in the reasonable determination of PubCo’s board of directors, upon the advice of legal counsel, to cause the Registration Statement to fail to comply with applicable disclosure requirements (each such circumstance, a “Suspension Event”); provided, however, that PubCo may not delay or suspend the effectiveness or use of the Registration Statement on more than two occasions or for more than sixty (60) consecutive calendar days in any one instance, or more than ninety (90) total calendar days, in each case during any twelve (12)-month period. Upon receipt of any written notice from PubCo of the happening of any Suspension Event (which notice shall not contain material non-public information) during the period that the Registration Statement is effective or if as a result of a Suspension Event the Registration Statement or related prospectus contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made (in the case of the prospectus) not misleading, each Subscriber agrees that (i) it will immediately discontinue offers and sales of the Shares under the Registration Statement (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, sales conducted pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act) until such Subscriber receives copies of a supplemental or amended prospectus (which PubCo agrees to promptly prepare) that corrects the misstatement(s) or omission(s) referred to above and receives notice that any post-effective amendment has become effective or unless otherwise notified by PubCo that it may resume such offers and sales, and (ii) it will maintain the confidentiality of any information included in such written notice delivered by PubCo unless otherwise required by law or subpoena. If so directed by PubCo, each Subscriber will deliver to PubCo or, in such Subscriber’s sole discretion destroy, all copies of the prospectus covering the Shares in such Subscriber’s possession; provided, however, that this obligation to deliver or destroy all copies of the prospectus covering the Shares shall not apply (i) to the extent such Subscriber is required to retain a copy of such prospectus (a) in order to comply with applicable legal, regulatory, self-regulatory or professional requirements or (b) in accordance with a bona fide pre-existing document retention policy or (ii) to copies stored electronically on archival servers as a result of automatic data back-up. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 7(c), without the prior written approval of the Subscriber, PubCo shall not, when advising the Subscriber of any of the events set forth in this Section 7(c), provide Subscriber with any material, non-public information regarding PubCo other than to the extent that providing notice to Subscriber of the occurrence of such events listed above may constitute material, non-public information regarding PubCo.

 

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

 

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e. Each Subscriber shall, severally and not jointly with any Other Subscriber or any other selling shareholder under the Registration Statement, indemnify and hold harmless PubCo and each of their directors, officers, agents and employees, and each person who controls PubCo (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as incurred, arising out of or are based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any prospectus included in the Registration Statement, or any form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any prospectus, or any form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statements or omissions are based upon information regarding such Subscriber furnished in writing to PubCo by such Subscriber expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the indemnification contained in this Section 7 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Losses if such settlement is effected without the consent of such Subscriber (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in no event shall the liability of any Subscriber be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such Subscriber upon the sale of the Shares giving rise to such indemnification obligation. Each Subscriber shall notify PubCo promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Section 7 of which such Subscriber is aware. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of an indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of the Shares by such Subscriber.

 

f. If the indemnification provided under this Section 7 from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any Losses, 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 in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this Section 7(f) from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Each indemnifying party’s obligation to make a contribution pursuant to this Section 7(f) shall be several, not joint. In no event shall the liability of the Subscriber be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by the Subscriber upon the sale of the Shares purchased pursuant to this Subscription Agreement giving rise to such contribution obligation.

 

8. Termination. Except for the provisions of Sections 8, 9, 11 and 12, which shall survive any termination hereunder, this Subscription Agreement shall terminate and be void and of no further force and effect, and all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall terminate without any further liability on the part of any party in respect thereof, upon the earliest to occur of (a) such date and time as the Transaction Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms without the Transaction being consummated, (b) upon the mutual written agreement of each of the parties hereto to terminate this Subscription Agreement, (c) if any of the conditions to the Subscription Closing set forth in Section 3 of this Subscription Agreement are not satisfied or waived on or prior to the Subscription Closing and, as a result thereof, the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement are not consummated at the Subscription Closing, or (d) if the consummation of the Transaction shall not have occurred by the earlier of (x) the 10th business day after the anticipated Transaction Closing Date specified in the Closing Notice, or (y) the “Outside Date” as defined in the Transaction Agreement; provided that, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 9, nothing herein will relieve any party hereto from liability for any willful breach hereof prior to the time of termination, and each party hereto will be entitled to any remedies at law or in equity to recover out-of-pocket losses, liabilities or damages arising from such breach. SPAC shall promptly notify Subscriber of the termination of the Transaction Agreement promptly after the termination of such Transaction Agreement.

 

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9. Trust Account Waiver. Subscriber acknowledges that SPAC is a blank check company with the powers and privileges to effect a merger, asset acquisition, reorganization or similar business combination involving SPAC and one or more businesses or assets. Subscriber further acknowledges that, as described in SPAC’s prospectus relating to its initial public offering dated February 19, 2020 available at www.sec.gov, substantially all of SPAC’s assets consist of the cash proceeds of SPAC’s initial public offering and private placements of its securities, and substantially all of those proceeds have been deposited in a trust account (the “Trust Account”) for the benefit of SPAC, its public stockholders and the underwriters of SPAC’s initial public offering. For and in consideration of SPAC entering into this Subscription Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Subscriber hereby irrevocably waives any and all right, title and interest, or any claim of any kind it has or may have in the future, in or to any monies held in or distributions from the Trust Account, and agrees not to seek recourse against the Trust Account, in each case, as a result of, or arising out of, this Subscription Agreement; provided that nothing in this Section 9 shall be deemed to limit Subscriber’s right, title, interest or claim to the Trust Account by virtue of Subscriber’s record or beneficial ownership of shares of SPAC Common Stock that have or will be acquired outside of this Agreement.

 

10. Cleansing Statement; Disclosure.

 

a. SPAC shall, by April 21, 2022, New York City time, issue one or more press releases or file with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K (collectively, the “Disclosure Document”) disclosing all material terms of the transactions contemplated hereby, the Transaction and any other material, nonpublic information that SPAC has provided to Subscriber at any time prior to the filing of the Disclosure Document. From and after the issuance of the Disclosure Document, to the knowledge of SPAC, Subscriber shall not be in possession of any material, non-public information received from SPAC or any of its officers, directors, employees or agents.

 

b. Notwithstanding anything in this Subscription Agreement to the contrary, each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that, without the prior written consent of the other party hereto, it will not publicly make reference to such other party or any of its affiliates (i) in connection with the Transaction or this Subscription Agreement (provided that Subscriber may disclose its entry into this Subscription Agreement and the Purchase Price) or (ii) in any promotional materials, media, press releases or similar circumstances, except, in each case, as required by law or regulation or at the request of the Staff of the SEC or regulatory agency or under the regulations of Nasdaq or the NYSE, including, in the case of SPAC or PubCo, (a) as required by the federal securities laws in connection with the Registration Statement, (b) the filing of this Subscription Agreement (or a form of this Subscription Agreement) with the SEC, (c) the filing of the Registration Statement on Form F-4 and Schedule 14A and related materials to be filed by PubCo and SPAC with respect to the Transaction, and (d) the filing of listing applications and related materials to by filed by PubCo and SPAC to Nasdaq in connection with the Transaction or this Subscription Agreement; provided that PubCo and/or SPAC, as applicable, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide Subscriber with two (2) business days’ prior written notice of any such required public reference except those required public references made under subclauses (a), (b), (c) or (d), and provided further that Subscriber agrees to promptly provide any information that may be reasonably requested by PubCo or SPAC in connection with filings to be made pursuant to subclauses (a), (b), (c) or (d).

 

11. Non-Reliance. Subscriber acknowledges that it is not relying upon, and has not relied upon, any statement, representation or warranty made by any person, firm or corporation, other than the representations and warranties of PubCo and SPAC expressly set forth in this Subscription Agreement or in the SEC Documents, in making its investment or decision to invest in PubCo. Subscriber agrees that no Other Subscriber pursuant to the Other Subscription Agreements or any other agreement related to the private placement of shares of PubCo’s capital stock (including the controlling persons, officers, directors, partners, agents or employees of any such Other Subscriber) shall be liable to any Other Subscriber pursuant to the Other Subscription Agreements or any other agreement related to the private placement of shares of PubCo’s capital stock for any action heretofore or hereafter taken or omitted to be taken by any of them in connection with the purchase of PubCo Ordinary Shares.

 

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12. Miscellaneous.

 

a. Subscriber agrees that, from the date of this Subscription Agreement until the Subscription Closing or earlier termination of this Subscription Agreement, none of Subscriber or any person or entity acting on behalf of Subscriber or pursuant to any understanding with Subscriber will engage in any hedging or other transactions or arrangements (including, without limitation, any short sale or the purchase or sale of, or entry into, any put or call option, or combination thereof, forward, swap or any other derivative transaction or instrument, however described or defined) designed or intended, or which could reasonably be expected to lead to or result in, a sale, loan, pledge or other disposition or transfer (whether by Subscriber or any other person) of any economic consequences of ownership, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, of any securities of SPAC, whether any such transaction or arrangement (or instrument provided for thereunder) would be settled by delivery of securities of SPAC, in cash or otherwise, or to publicly disclose the intention to undertake any of the foregoing; provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 12(a) only, reference to “short sale” shall not include any short sale, options, puts, calls, hedging or similar arrangements if, at any point during the day the short sale, option, put, call or similar arrangement is entered into, the stock price for the SPAC common shares is at or above $15 (which shall be permitted); provided further that the provisions of this Section 12(a) shall not apply to long sales (including sales of securities held by Subscriber prior to the date of this Subscription Agreement and securities purchased by Subscriber in the open market after the date of this Subscription Agreement). Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 12(a) (i) shall prohibit any entities under common management with Subscriber that have no knowledge of this Subscription Agreement or of Subscriber’s participation in the transactions contemplated hereby from entering into any such transactions; and (ii) in the case of a Subscriber that is a multi-managed investment vehicle whereby separate portfolio managers manage separate portions of Subscriber’s assets and the portfolio managers have no knowledge of the investment decisions made by the portfolio managers managing other portions of Subscriber’s assets, this Section 12(b) shall only apply with respect to the portion of assets managed by the portfolio managers who have knowledge of this Subscription Agreement or of Subscriber’s participation in the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

b. Neither this Subscription Agreement nor any rights that may accrue any party hereunder (other than the Shares acquired hereunder, if any) may be transferred or assigned; provided that prior to the Subscription Closing, Subscriber may transfer or assign all or a portion of its rights or obligations under this Subscription Agreement to one or more affiliates (including other investment funds or accounts managed or advised by an investment manager who acts on behalf of Subscriber); provided, further, that, such transferee or assignee agrees in writing to be bound by and subject to the terms and conditions of this Subscription Agreement, makes the representations and warranties in Section 6 and completes Schedule A hereto; provided, further, that no such assignment will relieve Subscriber of its obligations hereunder if any such assignee fails to perform such obligations.

 

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

 

d. Each party acknowledges that the other parties hereto will rely on the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties contained in this Subscription Agreement. Prior to the Subscription Closing, each party hereto agrees to promptly notify the other party hereto if any of the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties of such party set forth herein are no longer accurate in all material respects. Each party agrees that the purchase by Subscriber of Shares from PubCo will constitute a reaffirmation of its own acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties herein (as modified by any such notice) as of the Subscription Closing.

 

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

 

f. Subject to Section 10 hereof, and except if required by law or Nasdaq or the NYSE, without the prior written consent of Subscriber, SPAC shall not, and shall cause its representatives not to disclose the existence of this Subscription Agreement or any negotiations related hereto, or to use the name of Subscriber or any information provided by Subscriber in connection herewith in or for the purpose of any marketing activities or materials or for any similar or related purpose.

 

g. All the agreements, representations and warranties made by each party hereto in this Subscription Agreement shall survive the Subscription Closing.

 

h. This Subscription Agreement may not be amended, supplemented, modified, waived or terminated except by an instrument in writing, signed by the party against whom enforcement of such amendment, modification, waiver, or termination is sought, except that prior to the Subscription Closing, SPAC may sign an instrument amending, supplementing, modifying or waiving this Subscription Agreement for and on behalf of PubCo.

 

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

 

j. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Subscription Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives, and permitted assigns, and the agreements, representations, warranties, covenants and acknowledgments contained herein shall be deemed to be made by, and be binding upon, such heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.

 

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

 

l. This Subscription Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts (including by facsimile or electronic mail or in .pdf or any other form of electronic delivery, including DocuSign) and by different parties in separate counterparts, with the same effect as if all parties hereto had signed the same document. All counterparts so executed and delivered shall be construed together and shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

m. Subscriber shall pay all of its own expenses in connection with this Subscription Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein.

 

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n. Any notice or communication required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and either delivered personally, emailed or telecopied, sent by overnight mail via a reputable overnight carrier, or sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, and shall be deemed to be given and received (a) when so delivered personally, (b) upon receipt of an appropriate electronic answerback or confirmation when so delivered by telecopy (to such number specified below or another number or numbers as such person may subsequently designate by notice given hereunder), (c) when sent, with no mail undeliverable or other rejection notice, if sent by email, or (d) two (2) business days after the date of mailing to the address below or to such other address or addresses as such person may hereafter designate by notice given hereunder:

 

  (i) if to Subscriber, to such address, facsimile number or email address set forth on the signature page hereto;

  

  (ii) if to SPAC (prior to the Transaction Closing), to:

 

East Stone Acquisition Corp.

25 Mall Road, Suite 330

Burlington, MA 01803

Attn: Sherman Xiaoma Lu, Chief Executive Officer

Telephone No.: 781 202 9128

Email: sherman@estonecapital.com

 

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

Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP

1345 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Floor

New York, New York 10105, USA

Attn: Barry I. Grossman, Esq.

Facsimile No.: (212) 370-7889

Telephone No.: (212) 370-1300

Email: bigrossman@egsllp.com

  

  (ii) if to PubCo (prior to the Transaction Closing), to:

 

NWTN Inc.

No.76 Mu Nan Road, Heping District, Tianjin, China
Attention: Jinbao Su
Email: ir@iconiqmotors.com

 

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

 

Linklaters LLP

1290 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10104

Facsimile No.: +1 212 903 9100

Phone No.: +1 212-903-9000

 

and a copy to:

 

Linklaters LLP

11th Floor, Alexandra House

Chater Road

Hong Kong SAR

Facsimile No.: +852 2810 8133

Phone No.: +852 2810 8133

 

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  (iii) if to SPAC or PubCo (following the Transaction Closing), to:

 

NWTN Inc.

No.76 Mu Nan Road, Heping District, Tianjin, China
Attention: Jinbao Su
Email: ir@iconiqmotors.com

 

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

 

Linklaters LLP

1290 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10104

Facsimile No.: +1 212 903 9100

Phone No.: +1 212-903-9000

 

and a copy to:

 

Linklaters LLP

11th Floor, Alexandra House

Chater Road

Hong Kong SAR

Facsimile No.: +852 2810 8133

Phone No.: +852 2810 8133

 

o. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Subscription Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Subscription Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Subscription Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such party is entitled at law, in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise.

 

p. This Subscription Agreement, and any claim or cause of action hereunder based upon, arising out of or related to this Subscription Agreement (whether based on law, in equity, in contract, in tort or any other theory) or the negotiation, execution, performance or enforcement of this Subscription Agreement, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.

 

q. Each of the parties irrevocably consents to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, provided that if subject matter jurisdiction over the matter that is the subject of the legal proceeding is vested exclusively in the U.S. federal courts, such legal proceeding shall be heard in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware (together with the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, “Chosen Courts”), in connection with any matter based upon or arising out of this Subscription Agreement. Each party hereby waives, and shall not assert as a defense in any legal dispute, that (i) such person is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the Chosen Courts for any reason, (ii) such legal proceeding may not be brought or is not maintainable in the Chosen Courts, (iii) such person’s property is exempt or immune from execution, (iv) such legal proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or (v) the venue of such legal proceeding is improper. Each party hereby consents to service of process in any such proceeding in any manner permitted by Delaware law, further consents to service of process by nationally recognized overnight courier service guaranteeing overnight delivery, or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, at its address specified pursuant to Section 12(o) and waives and covenants not to assert or plead any objection which they might otherwise have to such manner of service of process. Notwithstanding the foregoing in this Section 12(r), a party may commence any action, claim, cause of action or suit in a court other than the Chosen Courts solely for the purpose of enforcing an order or judgment issued by the Chosen Courts. TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW WHICH CANNOT BE WAIVED, EACH OF THE PARTIES WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY ON ANY CLAIMS OR COUNTERCLAIMS ASSERTED IN ANY LEGAL DISPUTE RELATING TO THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING. IF THE SUBJECT MATTER OF ANY SUCH LEGAL DISPUTE IS ONE IN WHICH THE WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL IS PROHIBITED, NO PARTY SHALL ASSERT IN SUCH LEGAL DISPUTE A NONCOMPULSORY COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT. FURTHERMORE, NO PARTY SHALL SEEK TO CONSOLIDATE ANY SUCH LEGAL DISPUTE WITH A SEPARATE ACTION OR OTHER LEGAL PROCEEDING IN WHICH A JURY TRIAL CANNOT BE WAIVED.

 

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r. The obligations of each Subscriber under this Subscription Agreement are several and not joint with the obligations of any Other Subscriber under the Other Subscription Agreements, and no Subscriber shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any Other Subscriber under this Subscription Agreement. The decision of Subscriber to purchase the Shares pursuant to this Subscription Agreement has been made by Subscriber independently of any Other Subscriber or any other investor and independently of any information, materials, statements or opinions as to the business, affairs, operations, assets, properties, liabilities, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of PubCo which may have been made or given by any Other Subscriber or by any agent or employee of any Other Subscriber, and neither Subscriber nor any of its agents or employees shall have any liability to any Other Subscriber (or any other person) relating to or arising from any such information, materials, statements or opinions. Nothing contained herein or in any Other Subscription Agreement, and no action taken by Subscriber or any Subscriber pursuant hereto, shall be deemed to constitute any Subscriber or any Other Subscribers under the Other Subscription Agreements as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that any Subscribers are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the this Subscription Agreement and the Other Subscription Agreements; provided that it is acknowledged that certain Subscribers may be under common management with an Other Subscriber. Each Subscriber acknowledges that no Other Subscriber has acted as agent for Subscriber in connection with making its investment hereunder and no Other Subscriber will be acting as agent of Subscriber in connection with monitoring its investment in the Shares or enforcing its rights under this Subscription Agreement. Each Subscriber shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation the rights arising out of this Subscription Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any Other Subscriber to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.

 

13. Massachusetts Business Trust. If Subscriber is a Massachusetts Business Trust, a copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of Subscriber or any affiliate thereof is on file with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and notice is hereby given that the Subscription Agreement is executed on behalf of the trustees of Subscriber or any affiliate thereof as trustees and not individually and that the obligations of the Subscription Agreement are not binding on any of the trustees, officers or stockholders of Subscriber or any affiliate thereof individually but are binding only upon Subscriber or any affiliate thereof and its assets and property.

 

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

 

Name of Subscriber:

[_____]

 

State/Country of Formation or Domicile:

[_____]

 

     
By:      
Name:      
Title:      

 

    Date: _______________, 2022
     
Business Address-Street:    
     
City, State, Zip:    
     
Attn:__________________    
     
Telephone No.:    
     
Facsimile No.:    
     
Email Address:    
Number of Shares subscribed for:    
     
Purchase Price: $[_____]   Price Per Share: $10.26 or if lower, the Redemption Price

 

You must pay the Purchaser Price by wire transfer of United States dollars in immediately available funds to the account specified by SPAC and PubCo in the Closing Notice.

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, SPAC and PubCo have accepted this Subscription Agreement as of the date set forth below.

 

  East Stone Acquisition Corporation
   
  By:  
   
  Name: Xiaoma (Sherman) Lu
   
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
   
Date: ____________  
   
  NWTN Inc.
   
  By:  
   
  Name:  Nan Wu
   
  Title: Director
   
Date: ____________  

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

Correction: CORRECTING and REPLACING East Stone Acquisition Corporation Announces Business Combination with ICONIQ Holding Limited, a pioneering smart electric vehicle company

  

Burlington, MA, April 21, 2022 – In the release dated April 16, 2022, the sentence that begins with “The transaction represents a post-combination valuation of …” has been correct to read: “The transaction represents a pre-combination valuation of $2.5 billion ($2,500,000,000) for NWTN upon closing (not taking into account any cash in trust of East Stone upon closing and any investment sourced or planned to be sourced by East Stone or NWTN in connection with the Business Combination), subject to adjustment.

 

The corrected release reads as follows:

 

East Stone Acquisition Corporation Announces Business Combination with ICONIQ Holding Limited, a pioneering smart electric vehicle company

 

Burlington, MA and Dubai, UAE, April 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- East Stone Acquisition Corporation (Nasdaq: ESSC) (“East Stone”), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, and ICONIQ Holding Limited (“NWTN”) announced today that they have entered into a definitive Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”). Upon consummation of the two mergers and the other transaction contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination”), NWTN, Inc., a newly formed subsidiary (the “Pubco”) will seek to be listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The outstanding shares of NWTN and East Stone will be converted into the right to receive shares of the Pubco. The transaction represents a pre-combination valuation of $2.5 billion ($2,500,000,000) for NWTN upon closing (not taking into account any cash in trust of East Stone upon closing and any investment sourced or planned to be sourced by East Stone or NWTN in connection with the Business Combination), subject to adjustment.

 

Headquartered in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), NWTN is a green mobility technology company which defines the Smart Passenger Vehicle (“SPV”) as a vehicle concept emphasizing AI technologies, autonomous driving and personalized passenger experience. NWTN’s core technology advantages are characterized by modular pure electric platform, digital on-board connectivity system, continuously-upgraded electric and electronic architecture as well as autonomous driving technology. All these technical elements, along with unique design language, contribute to NWTN’s vision of passenger-centric experience. NWTN’s primary target consumers are technology-savvy families and businesses who are becoming increasingly environmentally-conscious. Its first model SEVEN and second model MUSE have received industrywide recognition at various global auto shows.

 

Commenting on today’s announcement, NWTN’s Founder and Chairman, Alan Wu, said, “NWTN was born with a mission to bringing a passenger-centric green premium mobility solution to the world. To achieve this objective, our experienced international team and reputable strategic partners have been working relentlessly on our SPVs, a segment with remarkably untapped market potential where NWTN continues to lead.”  

 

“In NWTN we have found a company that has the vision, courage and talent to change the automobile industry. We believe that NWTN’s insights on the value of the passenger-centric experience will drive NWTN into a blue ocean market with enormous opportunity, functioning as the hub of future intelligent mobility life,” said Xiaoma “Sherman” Lu, Chief Executive Officer of East Stone.  

 

The boards of directors or similar governing bodies of NWTN and East Stone have approved the proposed Business Combination, subject to, among other things, the approval by East Stone’s shareholders of the proposed Business Combination, satisfaction of the conditions stated in the Business Combination Agreement and other customary closing conditions, including that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) completes its review of the proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed Business Combination, the receipt of certain regulatory approvals, and approval by The Nasdaq Stock Market to list the securities of Pubco.

 

NWTN’s Founder and Chairman, Alan Wu, is expected to continue to lead Pubco after the closing of the Business Combination.

 

Prior to the execution of this business combination agreement, East Stone has terminated its previously announced business combination agreement with JHD Holdings (Cayman) Limited.

 

ABOUT NWTN

 

NWTN is one of the world’s pioneering smart electric vehicle company which aims to integrate avant-garde design, life-style personalization, IoT connectivity, and autonomous driving technology into “a passenger-centric green premium mobility solution to the world”, a vision coined by its founder and chairman Mr. Alan Wu, who has defined this Smart Passenger Vehicle (“SPV”) vehicle concept for the global automobile industry.

 

ABOUT EAST STONE 

 

East Stone Acquisition Corporation (Nasdaq: ESSC) is a blank check company incorporated as a British Virgin Islands business company and incorporated for the purpose of acquiring, engaging in a share exchange, share reconstruction and amalgamation with, purchasing all or substantially all of the assets of, entering into contractual arrangements with, or engaging in any other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities.

 

 

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

Pubco intends to file with the SEC, a Registration Statement on Form F-4 (as may be amended, the “Registration Statement”), which will include a preliminary proxy statement of East Stone and a prospectus in connection with the proposed Business Combination involving East Stone, Navy Sail International Limited, Pubco, Muse Merger Sub I Limited, Muse Merger Sub II Limited and NWTN pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement. The definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents will be mailed to shareholders of East Stone as of a record date to be established for voting on East Stone’s proposed Business Combination with NWTN. SHAREHOLDERS OF EAST STONE AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES ARE URGED TO READ, WHEN AVAILABLE, THE PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT, AND AMENDMENTS THERETO, AND THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH EAST STONE’S SOLICITATION OF PROXIES FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF ITS SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD TO APPROVE THE BUSINESS COMBINATION BECAUSE THESE DOCUMENTS WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT EAST STONE, NWTN, PUBCO AND THE BUSINESS COMBINATION. Shareholders will also be able to obtain copies of the Registration Statement and the proxy statement/prospectus, without charge, once available, on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to East Stone by contacting its Chief Financial Officer, Chunyi (Charlie) Hao, c/o East Stone Acquisition Corporation, 25 Mall Road, Suite 330, Burlington, MA 01803, at (781) 202-9128 or at hao@estonecapital.com.

 

NO OFFER OR SOLICITATION

 

This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

NO ASSURANCES

 

There can be no assurance that the proposed Business Combination will be completed, nor can there be any assurance, if the Business Combination is completed, that the potential benefits of combining the companies will be realized. The description of the Business Combination contained herein is only a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the definitive agreements relating to the Business Combination, copies of which will be filed by East Stone with the SEC as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION

 

Pubco, East Stone and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of East Stone in connection with the Business Combination. Information regarding the officers and directors of East Stone is set forth in East Stone’s annual report on Form 10-K, which was filed with the SEC on April 15, 2022. Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants will also be included in the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (and will be included in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus for the Business Combination) and other relevant documents filed with the SEC.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

The information in this press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “expect,” “continue,” “should,” “would,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “future,” “outlook” or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, (1) statements regarding estimates and forecasts of financial and performance metrics and projections of market opportunity and market share; (2) references with respect to the anticipated benefits of the proposed Business Combination and the projected future financial performance of East Stone and NWTN’s operating companies following the proposed Business Combination; (3) changes in the market for NWTN’s products and services and expansion plans and opportunities; (4) NWTN’s unit economics; (5) the sources and uses of cash of the proposed Business Combination; (6) the anticipated capitalization and enterprise value of the combined company following the consummation of the proposed Business Combination; (7) the projected technological developments of NWTN and its competitors; (8) anticipated short- and long-term customer benefits; (9) current and future potential commercial and customer relationships; (10) the ability to manufacture efficiently at scale; (11) anticipated investments in research and development and the effect of these investments and timing related to commercial product launches; and (12) expectations related to the terms and timing of the proposed Business Combination. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of NWTN’s and East Stone’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of NWTN and East Stone. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination Agreement; the risk that the Business Combination disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the announcement and consummation of the transactions described herein; the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination; the lack of a third-party fairness opinion in determining whether or not to pursue the proposed Business Combination; the ability to obtain or maintain the listing of the Pubco’s securities on The Nasdaq Stock Market, following the Business Combination, including having the requisite number of shareholders; costs related to the Business Combination; changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; risks relating to the uncertainty of certain projected financial information with respect to NWTN; NWTN’s ability to successfully and timely develop, manufacture, sell and expand its technology and products, including implement its growth strategy; NWTN’s ability to adequately manage any supply chain risks, including the purchase of a sufficient supply of critical components incorporated into its product offerings; risks relating to NWTN’s operations and business, including information technology and cybersecurity risks, failure to adequately forecast supply and demand, loss of key customers and deterioration in relationships between NWTN and its employees; NWTN’s ability to successfully collaborate with business partners; demand for NWTN’s current and future offerings; risks that orders that have been placed for NWTN’s products are cancelled or modified; risks related to increased competition; risks relating to potential disruption in the transportation and shipping infrastructure, including trade policies and export controls; risks that NWTN is unable to secure or protect its intellectual property; risks of product liability or regulatory lawsuits relating to NWTN’s products and services; risks that the post-combination company experiences difficulties managing its growth and expanding operations; the uncertain effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and certain geopolitical developments; the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the proposed Business Combination, including the risk that any required shareholder or regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the proposed Business Combination; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against NWTN, East Stone or Pubco or other following announcement of the proposed Business Combination and transactions contemplated thereby; the ability of NWTN to execute its business model, including market acceptance of its planned products and services and achieving sufficient production volumes at acceptable quality levels and prices; technological improvements by NWTN’s peers and competitors; and those risk factors discussed in documents of Pubco and East Stone filed, or to be filed, with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that neither East Stone nor NWTN presently know or that East Stone and NWTN currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect East Stone’s, Pubco’s and NWTN’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. East Stone, Pubco and NWTN anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause East Stone’s, Pubco’s and NWTN’s assessments to change. However, while East Stone, Pubco and NWTN may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, East Stone, Pubco and NWTN specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. Readers are referred to the most recent reports filed with the SEC by East Stone. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

Contact:

 

East Stone Acquisition Corporation
Xiaoma (Sherman) Lu
25 Mall Road, Suite 330
Burlington, MA 01803
sherman@estonecapital.com

 

 

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